03.19.10

the VOLUME XXXII, ISSUE 7

Budget Cuts Strike Again

arrow Westlake High School

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

March 19, 2010

Track Reaches New Heights

Dashiell Young-Saver Sports Editor

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

George Deng ‘10 and Vivian Shen ‘11 were part of the WHS Science Olympiad team that qualified for State Competition to be held in Long Beach on April 10.

See CENTER.

PHOTO BY SAM WEXLER

The CVUSD budget board proposed $1.8 million in budget cuts during a meeting Feb. 5 to help alleviate a $7 million deficit.

The budget cuts now await approval from the district.

The high schools will cut $648,000 if the proposed budget passes. These cuts will come in the form of reduced work experience, coaching stipends, and staff. Over 50 pink slips will be handed out to secondary teachers in the District. More than half of these teachers work at the middle schools.

“The goal is to hopefully keep the cuts as far away from classrooms as possible, so the students will be the least affected,” said Principal Ron Lipari.

According to Lipari, no programs will be completely cut, but the student to teacher ratios in some classes may increase. The District is also considering taking five days off the beginning of the school year and reducing energy funding to schools.

Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget proposal will try to bridge California’s $20 billion budget gap. However, if it passes, the District’s deficit will increase to $11.7 million.

“I am drawing this line because our future economic well being is so dependent upon education. I will protect education funding in this budget,” said Schwarzenegger in his final State of the State address.

The governor promised to make no direct cuts to K-12 classrooms; however, many are skeptical that he can reduce California’s debt without making these cuts.

Critics are also worried because of the state’s history with education cuts. According to the California Teachers Association, $17 billion have been cut from California schools in the last two years, and 16,000 educators have been laid off within the same time frame. In addition, California’s spending rate per student and student to teacher ratio are far from the national average.

Both the State’s and District’s budget proposals are not finalized yet and will not be implemented until approved.

RAISING THE BAR: Brian Brousseau ’11 competed in the high jump at last week’s track meet against Birmingham High School. On Saturday, the Warriors placed first in the Varsity Boys Distance Medley Relay at the Ventura Invitational Meet. See PAGE 19

Intervention to Help Struggling Freshmen Max Avruch Copy Editor School to Career Counselor Dr. Laurie Looker paired 36 mentors with 36 students in an effort to improve the students’ academic abilities in the new Intervention program.

Since its beginning in the last week of February, the Intervention program has brought mentors and “mentees” together each week to help students with a 2.6 G.P.A. or lower develop better grades and improved attitudes toward school work.

The students meet alternating Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays at lunch.

Looker asked for mentors in

10th-12th grades who had strong academic records and a willingness to volunteer and help ninth graders who “were struggling and in need of intervention,” said Looker.

“There are two goals to this program. First is to positively connect the students at Westlake High. Two is to improve each of the students academically and get their grades up in their freshman year,” said Looker.

Before the program began, Looker met with around 40 students who showed an interest in volunteering for the program, and she trained them during the Monday after fall semester finals on how to become a mentor.

“It is a good way to help some freshmen who are stug-

gling in school and to help improve their chances of getting into college,”said Alex Bale ‘11, a mentor.

“The mentors wanted to work with students at school.

When it came to choosing a mentor, it was pretty random, except some students requested a male or female mentor.

“But these students are passionate about their mentees and their results,” said Looker.

By next year, Looker hopes to implement a class period devoted to one-on-one help.

The class would be called Organized Academic Supplement in School (OASIS) and “would bring the mentors and mentees together on a daily basis,” said Looker.

Looker has arranged for the

students to attend a conference at Moorpark College on Friday, March 26 called Connecting to Success “to make the most of their potential,” said Looker.

“My expectations have not been met yet, but by the end of the year, I hope to get the students’ grades up to at least a B or higher.

“And that would be an unbelievable accomplishment,” said Bale.

“I am really impressed with the interactions between mentor and mentee. Each of the mentors takes pride in his mentee,” said Looker.

The program will continue until school ends and most likely will reconvene in Fall 2010 as an actual class.

8 New Classes To Be Offered in Fall 2010 Celine Flores News Editor Students who would like to hone their software skills before entering the job market, or who wish to animate films for Disney, or become the next Wolfgang Puck may want to consider signing up for one of the eight new classes to be offered in Fall 2010.

Students at WHS are being offered the opportunity to expand their understanding of career fields with these courses that were added for the 2010-11 school year.

Many of the classes being offered—AP Art History, Microsoft Office, Web Page Design, Cabinet Making, Advanced Computer Graphics CP, Culinary Arts, Digital Photography and—focus on

skills applicable to careers and “real life,” said Assistant Principal of Instruction Jason Branham, substituting for Nicole Funfar who is on maternity leave.

Providing additional classes, Branham notes, proves useful in integrating students into the community following high school graduation.

PE Lacrosse will also be offered next year.

“The intention was to offer more electives. As we cut into our budgets, electives are the first thing to go,” said Branham. ”We wanted to let students grow and develop more.”

Many classes build on prerequisites and others replace advanced classes; Cabinet Making is replacing Wood 3, and Culinary Arts is essentially Advanced Foods.

Classes are offered based on student

requests. Branham included that as counselors, “anytime we can offer classes based on the number of requests, we love to. Just talk to your counselors.”

The effects of budget cuts have reached teachers and students; $17 billion was cut from the CVUSD last year, and the possibility remains that funds will drop another $2.5 billion

by August. Despite these cuts, Branham explained, “All the budget does is tell us how many sections we can offer. The budget has no impact on schedules; what the budget has an impact on is the size of classes and staffing.”

American Sign Language teacher Tina Carlisle participated in the March 4 demonstration against the government’s cutting of education funds.

“I do think [adding new classes] is a good use of the

school’s money,” stated Carlisle.

“If we stunt the growth of programs, we are not providing opportunities for our students.”

To lessen the impact of spending cuts, current teachers will be assigned to teach the new courses although the schedule will not be finalized until approximately July. Space is currently limited to 38 students per classroom and if the number of requests grows, more sections may likely be made available.

The expansion of choices will allow for students to further their knowledge and understanding in each field. “We like when students want to broaden their horizons,” said Branham.

For more information and indepth descriptions of each course, students can contact a counselor and pick up a Course Directory in the Counseling Office.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Cheer Camp to Begin in April Cheer Camp is set for the week of April 12 and will end with tryouts on April 17. Tryouts for the 2010-2011 spirit cheer team will take place in the WHS gym. Participants should bring all supplies from cheer camp and the parent meeting.

Dance into Spring

Seniors Prepare for Showcase Auditions for Senior Showcase were held the week of March 15. The meeting for the chosen performers will be on March 25 at lunch in the mezzanine. Senior Showcase will also be held at Thousand Oaks High School on April 15 and 17.

French Club to Celebrate Dinner The French Club will have a Spring Dinner event on Sunday, April 18 at Café Provencal at 5: 30 p.m. About 20 students will attend the three-course dinner. The club is also planning a community service project for March 23 at My Stuff Bags in Agoura Hills.

For more information, contact Marianne Preston in Room 61F or at mpreston@conejo.k12.ca.us.

Pi Day Celebrates Winners In celebration of Pi Day, WHS Math Department held multiple events, including a Piathlon, a Pi Poster Contest, a Pi Guessing Contest, and a Trivia Challenge. Winners included Cynthia Yin ‘14 for the Piathlon, Michael Chang ‘11 for the Trivia Jeopardy Competition, Cameron Wolff ‘11 for the Pi guessing contest, and Chang for the best overall in the Pi Poster Contest. For further information on prizes and winners, see whsmath@googlegroups.com.

JSA to Participate in Mini-Convention Junior State of America will have a one-day mini convention March 20 at Camarillo High School from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The theme will be Freakonomics, based on the popular book by Steven Levitt. Admission is free and anyone is welcome to attend.

Students to Direct One-Act Plays The WHS Drama Club, in conjunction with Newbury Park High School Drama Club, will perform student-directed one act plays at NPHS. These series of short plays will be performed by selected students from the Advanced Drama Class.

Dance Team Gets Ready for Nationals Charlotte Gibson Staff Writer For the past two months, the WHS Dance Team has performed in multiple dance competitions on the road to Nationals. Competing in six different dances, with the addition of four solo dances, the WHS girls proved to be valid contenders for this year’s national competition.

After competing in four competitions for USA and WCE organizations, all six dances qualified for Nationals. In order for dances to qualify, a score of 85 or above is necessary. Overall, the Prop dance, in which a rope is used to connect the girls’ movements, placed highest with three first place wins and two second place wins. Coach Becky Alderson said, “The Prop is all about moving the rope and we will work it for Nationals.”

Falling just behind the Prop dance, both Hip-Hop and the Officer’s dance scored well.

Performed at rallies and halftime shows at football and basketball games, the Hip-Hop dance is a crowd favorite, involving and stimulating the audience.

With one first place score, one second place score, two third place scores, and one fifth place score, Hip-Hop was a stand-out amongst USA and WCE judges.

The Officer’s dance consists of five dancers and won one first place, two third places, one fourth place, and one sixth place. The dance captures the true spirit of losing a life and the pain and suffering that follows it.

At Saugus High School, the dance team participated at the USA dance competition on Saturday, March 6, posting their highest scores with three first DANCING WITH THE STARS: Dance Team performed its award-winning dance at the Feb. 19 place wins, one Winter Rally. third place win, Steele ‘12, performed solos at that “all the schools at the one fourth place each of the four competitions. competitions are the top teams win, and one fifth place win.

At the WCE competition on that we will see at Nationals, and Two weeks later, the team competed at WHS on Saturday, March 13, Olandt placed third in with every competition we try to qualify a lot better than the last March 13, for the WCE dance overall for the soloists.

Both events were stepping competition.” competition, where Prop received At Nationals, on March 26 and first place, Lyrical second place, stones for the team’s path to Hip-Hop, Small dance, and Nationals. As the girls experience 27, the dance team will compete Officer’s third place, and Medium each competition, they develop against teams from all over the better understandings of dance states who have also qualified dance fourth place.

Additionally, Ruby Gibson and work to perfect every move in each category. The top 20% of each category will then move on ‘13, Madison Olandt ‘13, for the upcoming competition.

Coach Alderson believes to the finals held that night.

Makayla Yoshimoto ‘12, and Zoe

PHOTO BY SAM WEXLER

The neon-themed Spring Dance will be held on March 20 in the WHS gym. Students from both Thousand Oaks High School and Newbury Park High School will attend. Tickets for the dance are currently on sale for $10 with an ASB card and $12 without, and are available on at the door for $20. Bright attire is encouraged.

March 19, 2010 • THE ARROW

AcaDeca Wins Multiple Awards Meini Cheng Staff Writer Finishing in second place at the county competition, the WHS Academic Decathlon received an abundance of medals at the awards ceremony held at Pacifica High School in Oxnard, CA. “I was really happy and surprised because I’ve never gotten so many medals before,” President Karen Tsai ’10 said.

As a whole, Team A placed first in Literature and Language, Mathematics, second in Music, Essay, Art, and third in Science, Economics.

Individual team members received various awards, including the following:

From Team A Honors: Tony Jin ‘10 (Gold in Math, Music, Science; Silver in Essay, Economics; Third Place Super Quiz Team; Highest Score on A team); Michael Chang ‘11 (Gold in Economics; Silver in Speech, Music, Language and Literature, Art; Third Place Super Quiz Team); Kimberly Ha ‘10 (Gold in Language and Literature; Bronze in Essay, Science; Third Place Super Quiz Team).

From Team A Scholastic: Karen Tsai ‘10 (Gold in Math; Bronze in Economics, Music, Essay, Interview; Third Place Super Quiz Team; Team Spirit Award); Goldie Shih ‘10 (Gold in Music; Silver in Art, Math, Language and Literature; Third

Place Super Quiz Team); Rachel Andrews ‘11 (Third Place Super Quiz Team).

From Team A Varsity: Marin Spariosu ‘10 (Silver in Math, Language and Literature; Bronze in Art; Third Place Super Quiz Team); Katie Jackson ‘11 (Third Place Super Quiz Team); Adam Lazar ‘11 (Gold in Interview; Third Place Super Quiz Team).

From Team B Honors: President Karen Tsai ’10 said, Rebecca Suslik ‘11 (Gold in Language and Literature; Silver in Speech, Interview, Essay; Highest Score on B Team); Logan Stokols ‘10 (Gold in Economics; Silver in Literature and Language; Bronze in Math); Ariana Barton ‘10 (Gold in Language and Literature, Art,

Brain Connection Benefits Tutors and Students Michelle Noyes Staff Writer Through The Brain Connection seniors and juniors are offering tutoring services to younger students at Lang Ranch Elementary School.

Fourth and fifth graders at the school receive free tutoring every week for an hour from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.

The Brain Connection encourages interested students to accumulate community service hours and also provide educational help to elementary school kids.

Brain Connection founder Hanna Mandell ‘11 began with an idea to help younger students. ”The summer after freshman year, I wanted to create a

community service project that I could keep up all throughout high school.”

Mandell’s main goal is to help those younger students who are not failing but still need oneon-one attention: “I noticed that the 4th and 5th grade students at Lang Ranch needed a little extra help. Parents don’t want to pay for tutoring if their child is not failing.”

Katelyn Masket ’11, who has been a tutor since the founding of the program, said, ”I like teaching kids, and it is a very rewarding feeling when the children finally understand a subject.You feel like you’re actually helping them and doing something that makes a difference.”

In the future, Mandell hopes to extend the program throughout

the Conejo Valley. ”I would love to expand the program to different elementary schools and have tutors from every high school in the District.”

Mandell also hopes that underclassmen will start tutoring in the next few years, since she and the rest of the original tutors are all on the verge of graduation.

“When the program started there were only about ten tutors, and many students of all grade levels didn’t even know about it.

Now, parents are asking if their kids can participate and more tutors from WHS are attending,” said Mandell.

Mandell recommends anyone interested in joining the club visit thebrainconnectiononline.com and fill out a registration form.

Music; Silver in Economics).

From Team B Scholastic: Ali Ohringer ‘11 (Silver in Economics; Bronze in Speech, Mathematics; Team Spirit Award); Brandon Butler ‘11 (Gold in Math; Silver in Language and Literature; Bronze in Science); Wes Merrill ‘11 (Silver in Economics; Bronze in Essay, Language and Literature).

Honors Alternates: Jesse Hu ‘10 (Highest in Music, Interview); Josselyn Tsai ‘12 (Highest in Art); Vivian Shi ‘10 (Highest in Math, Literature and Language).

Tsai encourages students of all grades and GPA’s to audition for the fall semester’s Academic Decathlon team. “It’s not just studying. You meet people you wouldn’t normally get to meet.”

College and Career Center Upcoming Events •3/23

Pasadena Art Center Presentation in the College and Career Center.

•3/24

Knowledge for College during Common Planning Time in the Libraryjuniors only.

•3/25

Career Speaker Day.

•3/29

Moorpark Application Day in the Warrior Lab during Lunch- seniors only.

•3/30

Community College Application Day in the Warrior Lab during Lunch .

•3/31

Moorpark College Presentation in the College and Career Center.

3

NEWS

March 19, 2010 • THE ARROW

Mock Trial Earns 3 Awards at County Annie Gerlach Copy Editor

COURTESY PHOTOS

CASE CLOSED: The Mock Trial team poses at the Ventura County Courthouse between trials at the Feb. competition (above). Lauren Greg ‘11 and Lisa Battaglia ‘12 display their individual awards on the final day of competition (left).

3 Teachers Honored

Becky Sadwick Opinion Editor

Three teachers, English teacher Caron Battaglia, Spanish teacher and ASG advisor Diane Blackburn, and science teacher Scott Holloway, were honored for their efforts in the classroom last month at a reception during Common Planning Time.

Battaglia was named Teacher of the Month by the Chamber of Commerce, and Holloway was named the California Teacher’s Insurance Company Teacher of the Year for 2008-2009. Blackburn received recognition from the college of former student, because the student cited her an influential part of her high school career.

The awards for Battaglia and Holloway and the selection process were different, but had the same underlying message of appreciating the efforts of two WHS teachers.

“With the Teacher of the Month award, we let teachers know there are people in the community who appreciate their efforts for children and learning,” said Bala Kanayson, a member of the Board of Education and Chamber of

Commerce that recognized Battaglia.

The Chamber of Commerce’s districtwide Teacher of the Month program requires teachers be nominated by an administrator, and the recipients can be from any school in the District. Battaglia was nominated and ultimately chosen to receive the award because of her 30-year commitment to the school newspaper and English classes.

“It was such an honor and a surprise,” Blackburn said of her recognition. She received a certificate that reads, “Stanford University wishes to recognize Diane Blackburn for exceptional teaching. Your dedication to the field of education has contributed to your students, Stanford University, and your community.”

Holloway was nominated by a parent of a former student, and won $1,000 for himself and $500 for the school.“Of course I’m honored to have been selected among all the qualified teachers,” Holloway said.

“It’s nice to be recognized for all my hard work. It’s a mixed feeling. I’m so excited, but at the same time I see other teachers who should have received it ahead of me.

I was very surprised,” a humble Holloway continued.

FORCE WAS WITH HIM: Physics teacher Scott Holloway was recently honored with the California Teacher’s Insurance Company Teacher of the Year Award for 2008-09.

WHS Mock Trial team garnered three individual awards at the Ventura County competition on Feb. 22 and 23 despite placing 7th and not moving on to finals.

Lisa Battaglia `12 won First Place Pretrial Prosecution Attorney; Brian Chang ‘13 won Second Place Best Clerk; and Lauren Greg `11 won Second Place Best Witness for her role as Taylor Hudson.

“This year I have learned valuable communication skills, and I am so honored to be recognized,” said Battaglia.

The prosecution team from WHS faced the defense teams of other schools, while WHS defense competed against other prosecution teams.

Overall, WHS won three out of four trials: the defense team beat both Santa Susanna and Trinity Pacific high schools, while the prosecution won against Simi Valley. However, the prosecution lost to La Reina, a team which continually ranks high in Ventura County.

“The competition was close this year,” said prosecution head captain

Nik Crain `10. “Every school has improved a lot and we all rose to the challenge, which made it both interesting and nerve-racking.”

Twenty-four teams competed for a top-six slot and a chance to move on to the next level of competition.

WHS students piled into carpools and drove out to the Ventura County Courthouse, where they faced other schools in the Ventura County well into the night.

The Mock Trial team then came back for round two the next day, staying until midnight to hear the results of the trials and to receive their awards.

The competition itself was surprisingly realistic. Actual Ventura County judges presided over the cases, while pro bono lawyers acted as scoring attorneys. Shouts of “Objection!” and cutthroat crossexaminations further enhanced the professional nature of the event.

Add on months of preparation and hours of practices, and the teams were more than prepared to take a turn as real-world lawyers, defendants, and witnesses.

Nevertheless, by fewer than two points, the team lost a shot at finals.

Escalante Still Delivers Inspiration Katelyn Masket Staff Writer

Cheri Blackburn’s Spanish classes raised $101 for legendary Garfield High teacher Jaime Escalante, who is currently battling stage 4 bladder cancer.

All donations will be sent to a fund organized by cast members of Stand and Deliver, a 1988 movie based on Escalante’s work as a calculus teacher inspiring innercity students.

Although neither Escalante nor his family asked for any assistance, the cast hopes the donations will relieve the family, who can no longer afford the extensive medical expenses.

Blackburn feels it is important to raise money for this cause because Escalante “has given so much of his time and energy to help students, and his dedication and commitment should be recognized.”

According to KTLA.com Escalante’s friends and family are trying to raise $30,000 in order to make his time as comfortable as possible.

Doctors have only given him a few more months, but those close to the former teacher have hope that his trademark determination will carry him through.

Vanessa Marquez, an actress from the film, was deeply touched by Escalante’s example and in an interview with The San Fernando Valley Sun said, “I believe he has a chance. As long as he keeps fighting, we’ll keep fighting.”

The Bolivian-born Escalante, 79, started teaching at Garfield High School located in East Los Angeles in 1974.

After beginning with basic math, Escalante moved to teaching more advanced classes, like calculus, to former gang members and seemingly “unteachable” students.

Escalante also had a profound effect on actor Edward James Olmos, who played the teacher in Stand and Deliver.

In an interview with The Sun Olmos said, “The love and dedication [Escalante] gave to his inner city students and his unfailing conviction that every one of them was ‘gifted’ brought out talent that had been untapped—and unseen—by other teachers.”

Escalante, or Kimo as his students called him, often used the phrase “ganas,” which translates from Spanish into a desire to succeed, in order to motivate his students.

Olmos praises Escalante’s teaching methods and hopes that other educators around the world will take notice.

“It caused countless educators to reconsider what their students might really be capable of if, like Kimo, they could awaken the ‘ganas’ in them,” said Olmos.

Blackburn agrees and feels that Escalante’s methods have influenced her in the classroom as well.

“It inspires me when I see them continuing on and succeeding,” says Blackburn.

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4

OPINION

March 19, 2010 • THE ARROW

Improved Technology: Protection or Danger?

Tucker Higgins Staff Writer

COURTESY PHOTO

While technology is on the rise, car companies are racing to incorporate the latest gizmos into their automobiles. However, recent crash studies have proven that the same technology that we are so fascinated with is becoming an increasingly dangerous obsession and a distraction for drivers.

Sophisticated devices such as GPS displays and integrated iPod systems are some of the many distractions that are beginning to cost the lives of other drivers, pedestrians, and bikers—anyone who dares to share the road.

In response to the latest studies proving the cars of the future to be potentially distracting, companies such as BMW, Mercedes Benz, General Motors, and Lexus are on the forefront of solving this deadly issue. By adding LED lights and rear view mirror cameras to their models, car companies are giving drivers an element of awareness that reduces the chances of an accident.

Audi is one company that sheds light on the driver’s blind spots. LED lights have been mounted on the side mirrors of the car in order to alert drivers of other cars when changing lanes.

In addition, Lexus was one of the first companies to incorporate a rear view camera system that immediately switches the GPS screen into a real time back-up camera when the car is put in reverse.

These systems also have simulated tire tracks, allowing drivers to not only see what’s behind them, but also what direction the car is going.

Another example of the automotive industries’ groundbreaking resolution is

PUSHING THE LIMIT: Certain BMW models feature some of the most advanced technology now in cars.

the Heads Up Display, known for short as HUD. In an auto-tech article found on progressive.com, the process is explained as follows: The HUD uses a small projector in the dashboard of the vehicle that reflects the signals off of the windshield, displaying them in front of the driver. A coating on the windshield acts as a transparent reflector of the various signals, allowing the driver to see both the road and the information simultaneously.

The HUD was first used in military fighter jets, allowing pilots to stay focused

on their targets without neglecting vital information regarding their altitude, speed, fuel levels, and ammunition stocks. Similarly, the HUD that has been integrated within automobiles is serving the same purpose.

BMW’s 6 series, X5, and X6 all come with an optional HUD that projects LED warning lights including, a speedometer, turn signal indicator, navigation (distance until next turn, name of street, etc.), current gear, and Bluetooth info.

Although heads up displays are proving to be advantageous for drivers, it

comes at a costly price. Depending on the car company, HUD’s can range from $1,200 to $4,000, and in view of the current recession, many would find such a luxury to be wasteful when all they have to do is periodically take their eyes off the road.

As companies begin to set car safety as their first priority, devices such as the HUD will become standard features, eliminating the cost factor for drivers.

Most importantly, this technology saves drivers vital seconds that can make the difference between a crash and a near miss.

Toyota’s Problems Continue to Skid Out of Control Delaney West Staff Writer A delayed breaking system, a gas pedal that sticks and accelerates on its own, and a glitch in the steering system are some of the main reasons for Toyota Motor Corporation’s recent problems. A global recall of Toyota hybrids and a global recall of Toyota Camry’s are skyrocketing. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had cleared 3.8 million of its vehicles of having an unintended acceleration defect and faulty floormats while 8.5 million hybrids have been recalled for break issues. Many other models have been added to the list of recalls as well. Needless to say, Toyota is not living up to its usual and expected reliable and sturdy reputation.

Toyota’s problems have mushroomed

in a matter of months. The problems first started out small and insignificant, but now they have developed into huge safety issues and comes down to life or death when driving the car. Toyota knew of how monstrous the problems were that the cars were having, but kept it under the radar.

When the first crash occurred to a family driving a Lexus, Toyota released a statement saying that the floor mats were to blame for the accelerator sticking. On top of the floor mat, the car was a push button start, which made it impossible to shut off when the automobile reached the terrifying high speeds of 120 mph. But the floormats could not be blamed when the day after Christmas, a family from New Jersey was in a fatal accident and their floormats were all the way in the trunk.

According to the New York Times, the

president of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, finally issued a detailed statement and heartfelt apology that the floormats are not to blame but the actual problem is in the pedal and transmission. At a press conference, the New York Times documented Toyota releasing this apology: “Customers bought our cars because they thought they were the safest. But now we have given them cause for grave concern. I can’t begin to express my remorse.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more complaints are being filed against Toyota at this time than against all other automakers combined. Toyota has made things far worse by not coming forward and addressing its problems aggressively and assertively.

In addition, individuals in other coun-

tries are also being affected. According to the Los Angeles Times, “Tokyo consumers believe that the Toyota recalls have called into question the entire nation’s reputation for producing quality products.”

Toyota automobiles have been the goto cars for decades. They have always been the most reliable cars on the market and parents view them as the safest and most manageable cars for teens and new drivers. But unfortunately now the tables have turned, and what was once the safest car is now one of the most dangerous.

Toyota has tarnished its spotless record and is now viewed as not only unsafe, but completely untrustworthy as well. Even though we all hope that Toyota will get to the bottom of their issues, the question of whether drivers will trust them again is more problematic.

Txting for $s: 2 Good 2 B Tru Julia Shi Staff Writer

Des Moines native Kate Moore was crowned 2009 LG U.S. Texting Champion after defeating over 25,000 other competitors. With her LG enV3, Moore claimed the title, and a cash prize of $50,000. She then went on to represent Team USA in the worldwide championship alongside fellow finalist Morgan Dynda.

They placed second, behind a team from South Korea, and walked away with a total of $20,000.

It takes practice, though: Moore’s phone bills have been up to 294 pages.

In an interview with CNN, she admitted to sending about 400-500 texts a day, and being caught once or twice at school.

Consequently, her phone was confiscated.

Although Moore’s texting fairy tale has been a bright one, others, especially cases involving distracted driving, don’t always end with a happily ever after.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008 almost 6,000 people died in crashes due to distracted driving, constituting about 16% of all traffic accidents that year. Texting while driving was—and still is—a big problem, but that’s not to say nothing’s being done about it.

New state laws and regulations have appeared, promising stricter enforcement and severer punishments. Now, in some cases texting while driving can hold the same repercussions as drunk driving. A study at the University of Utah revealed that cell phone use slows a driver’s reaction as much as having a blood alcohol

concentration of 0.08% Many have joined the fight against distracted driving, including Oprah Winfrey. The talk show host asked viewers to take part in the “No Phone Zone” pledge, in which participants promise to use the safest driving behavior they can commit to. Winfrey also devoted two episodes of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” to victims of distracted driving.

The first “Drive to Life” PSA contest, organized by the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc (NRSF), awarded 16-year-old Bethany Brown $1,000 in scholarship money and a trip to New York.

The competition encouraged young people to send in public service announcement ideas addressing youth traffic safety issues. Brown’s video focused

on the dangers of texting while driving.

Even modern-day technology has stepped up to the challenge: Drivers who feel they need to immediately read new texts should consider downloading DriveSafe.ly, a cell phone application that reads text messages and emails out loud.

The process is hands-free, so eyes can remain focused on the road. Keep in mind, though, that despite preventing both manual and visual distractions, the risks of being cognitively distracted remain at large.

And any type of diversion “is potentially fatal,” Auto Safety teacher Alan Grant believes. With a potent mix of stricter laws, increased media coverage, and new technology, it is clear that progress is being made. Hopefully, the mindless deaths of those who have fallen prey to distracted driving can be prevented in the future.

5

OPINION

March 19, 2010 • THE ARROW

Robert’s Reality – Pokémania Returns?

unfit to serve?

Josh Pearlman Staff Writer

PHOTO BY BECKY SADWICK

Senior Robert Dillon is a freelance contributor to The Arrow.

CARTOON BY ARIANA BARTON

A new craze is sweeping our school.

It is an epidemic of modest proportions, but its effects are significant. Classes are interrupted by the sounds of plastic buttons being pressed and many students’ time is spent not studying, but playing GameBoy. Yes, it’s the Second Coming of Pikachu. Pokémon is back in style, and after a long hiatus, trainers have blown the dust off their “Blue Versions” and “Silver Versions” and to battle once again.

It’s not as glorious as it seems, however. Young adults are abandoning their responsibilities in the fantasy quest to become the ultimate Pokémon trainer.

They carry their GameBoys around everywhere like toddlers carry their blankets. It is getting to the point where it is affecting their schoolwork.

Ash Ketchum ‘10 (name has been changed to protect identity) has logged over 80 hours of gameplay. On many nights, he says, he will ignore his homework altogether, playing Pokémon until the sun rises. His grade in his English class has dropped from a B to a D, but Ketchum takes solace in the fact that his Dewgong is level 50 and knows Ice Beam.

Ketchum’s mother believes she knows the root of his Pokémon addiction. “He just won’t grow up!

Next fall, he’ll be going off to college, but meanwhile, he’s playing GameBoy on the couch like he’s in third grade!”

As Mrs. Ketchum points out the Pokémon craze is far from new. When Nintendo GameBoys are quickly becoming antiques, why have WHS students returned to old technology?

To answer that question it’s important to note that the Pokémon fad is most prevalent among seniors, who were six years old when the original games debuted. Most of us grew up with Pokémon. Playing the game again, hearing the music, and feeling the contours of a GameBoy console awaken fond memories that transport us back to our childhood – golden days of carefree innocence.

But as Robert Frost wrote, “nothing gold can stay.” Unlike Peter Pan, we can’t stay young forever and Neverland or Kanto are only real until the movie ends or the GameBoy runs out of batteries.

Seniors are fast approaching that critical point in their lives: the transition between high school and college (or a job), childhood and adulthood.

Undoubtedly, seniors are feeling doubts about the future, and some amount of trepidation is to be expected. With vague and intimidating notions of “the real world” looming in our minds, it’s no wonder that we seek to escape into the world of Pokémon just one last time.

In Japan, the birthplace of Pokémon, they have a word, aware, for the feelings that arise from the beauty of an ephemeral thing. In English, we call it nostalgia. It’s perfectly all right to indulge ourselves in nostalgia from time to time. After all, memories should be a source of happiness. But, just like a Squirtle who becomes a Blastoise, there comes a time for all of us to evolve into our final form.

Recent statistics released by the Pentagon show that around 75% of young adults ages 17 to 24 are ineligible for enlistment into the military. There are many reasons for the ineligibility, but some of the most prominent are failing to graduate from high school, having criminal records, and being overweight.

According to the Ventura County Star, about 3 million young adults in California alone are not qualified to enlist. Although some cannot enlist because they have not graduated from high school, 30% of teens who have graduated still fail the Armed Forces Qualification Test, a written test including math and language arts.

Obesity is another factor preventing would-be soldiers from joining the military.

About 27% of young Americans trying to serve their country are too overweight to do so. Amy Dawson Taggart, the national director of Mission: Readiness said, “The obesity rate is sky-rocketing, and it is a serious problem.” Although many teens who are overweight may not be able to execute some of the tasks presented by entering the military, some see it as discriminatory that they are prohibited from enlisting. Frank Maciel, a student at Oxnard High School, said, “I feel really bad because a lot of people do care about this country and do want to serve this country.”

Organizations such as Mission: Readiness have proposed ideas to address these issues, including making efforts to decrease high school dropout rates. If children start on the right track before high school, it can prevent problems later and increase the chance of their being eligible to join the military.

One in ten young adults cannot join because they have previous convictions.

Mission: Readiness believes that “We need a bold strategy to inspire our young people to do better, and to increase the chances that they will succeed.” Many

kids commit crimes because they are not properly educated, preventing youth from dropping out or committing crimes can increase the number who are eligible to enlist in the military.

Especially in a time when the U.S. engages in active combat with two hostile countries, the government should make every effort to provide youth the resources to prevent them from dropping out of high school, starting an early life of crime,

and becoming obese. Many of these can be addressed through welfare programs for underprivileged youth, including mentorship and fitness programs that can inspire kids to better themselves, and their country by extension.

There are many teenagers eager to serve their country who are not able to.

“It’s what they were born for what they want to fight for,” said Maciel. In times like these, we cannot afford not to let those who want to fight do so.

UCs Decide One SAT Is Enough

Jose Ermac Staff Writer

The Regents of the University of California recently announced that students applying for the Fall 2012 term will no longer be required to take SAT Subject Tests.

This policy change will go into effect for members of the Class of 2012 planning to attend a UC school.

“I agree highly with the new policy change,” Aimee Stauffer, a college counselor for the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District, said. “The test scores do not accurately reflect the abilities of students wanting to get in and sometimes colleges put too much weight on them.”

“There still won’t be much change in my workload because I don’t think many teachers base their lessons completely on the Subject Tests, especially for AP classes. Many students might still plan to take them anyway.” said Allison Zhong ‘12.

This policy change applies only to the UCs. Most private universities will still require one or two subject tests.

The tests are still highly recommended for certain majors, including Engineering, Biology, and other hard sciences. Each of the ten campuses will individually determine which majors still require SAT Subject Tests. Also, applicants may submit Subject Test scores for consideration (like Advanced Placement Exam scores) if they wish. “I will still be taking the Subject Tests because it is not only a learning experience, but also it looks good on a college résumé,” Chris Turnbull ’12 said.

“The regular SAT should be enough, though,” Stauffer said. “If the UC is not going to require it (the Subject Test), they should just get rid of it completely. It will decrease the cost of standardized test tak-

ing and make it a little bit easier to get into a UC.” The UC’s Eligibility in the Local Context program, or ELC, will also increase.

The top 9% of any high school’s graduating class will be automatically eligible to attend at least one UC, as opposed to the top 4% currently eligible.

Some students feel this policy change is not for the better.

“I would have applied even if the process hadn’t changed. It is not more appealing to apply to a UC because now you have to rely on things like extracurricular activities and classes to make you stand out,” said Emily Wong ‘12.

Even though the UC is trying to “lighten the load,” students have nothing to lose should they take the Subject Tests anyway.

Certain students feel that this change means more time to focus on school work and grades, while others feel the tests are still necessary to get into top tier schools.

Ultimately, the decision revolves around student preference. Whatever students feel will help boost their chances of getting into the college of their choice is what they should do.

For those who test poorly, the change may be beneficial and ease the burden of applying to UCs. Yet for those who test well and wish to demonstrate abilities further, taking subject tests could be in students’ best interest by setting them apart from other applicants.

This new policy is just one of many the UC is using to ease the burden of already stressed-out high school students. Some cite the policy change as a method of allowing people who wouldn’t normally be able to attend a UC campus to receive a degree in higher education.

CAMPUSES & MAJORS THAT STILL HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE MATH LEVEL 2 & SCIENCE (BIOLOGY E/M, CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS) SUBJECT TESTS: • Berkeley | Colleges of

Chemistry & Engineering • Irvine | Henry Samueli School of Engineering • Los Angeles | Henry Samueli

School of Engineering

& Applied Science • Riverside | Marlan & Rosemary Bourns College

of Engineering • San Diego | Jacobs School

of Engineering • Santa Barbara | Engineering

& Computer

Science majors

TESTING STILL REQUIRED: SAT Reasoning- (take

anytime before December of your senior year)

PSAT- (recommended for

your Sophomore & Junior years)

California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE)-Pass Sophomore year]

6

OPINION

March 19, 2010 • THE ARROW

Whale in Captivity: A Fish Out of Water?

IN CAPTIVITY: Some researchers say that orcas confined to their tanks may become anxious and dangerous.

Jamie Mark Staff Writer The fatal orca attack on a SeaWorld trainer on Feb. 24 has caused much controversy about animals in captivity and how it affects their behavior.

Researchers think that the attack against the trainer was caused by the an-

imal’s natural animal instincts, and they suspected it was not directly trying to hurt her.

“It was not a bloodthirsty attack,” Thad Lacinak, former SeaWorld Trainer, said of the recent incident at SeaWorld.

Although animals in captivity are supplied with daily plentiful meals, doctors to care for them, and dedicated em-

ployees, they are out of their natural habitat, and for some animals it is very difficult to adapt in captivity when they are made to live very differently.

“To expect a sophisticated creature, such as an orca whale to remain composed in captivity is ridiculous.

With such a closed habitat while lacking companionship and social stimulation, there is little surprise that tragedy would strike,” said Ezra Levy ‘11, “The situation displays little ethical responsibility and clear lapse of logic.”

“One of our biggest concerns about orcas in captivity is their emotional well-being. They are social animals that live and hunt in the wild within family groups.

Because they are social, there are probably some issues. However, to measure this is difficult since they don’t speak human, and we don’t speak whale,” said WHS Science Department Chair Kristi Hronek.

In the wild, whales and other marine animals are free to swim anywhere they please in the vast ocean and are capable of traveling as many as 100 miles per day.

However, when they are limited to a small training pool, they may become uncomfortable and anxious, potentially leading to unusual and dangerous behavior.

Containing killer whales in such

small, featureless tanks can lead to inevitable trouble for the whales and those working with them.

“Orcas are simply too big, too complex, too intelligent to be adequately accommodated in captivity,” said Naomi Rose, a marine mammal scientist in the Humane Society of the United States.

According to National Geographic, marine animals, such as seals, sea lions, other types of whales, fish, squid and seabirds, are equipped with speed, agility, and four-inch long teeth to hunt various sea mammals with ease. When these animals, are outside their natural habitats, they can use them inappropriately, though not intentionally maliciously.

According to SeaWorld.com, the whales participate in the Believe: The Spectacular Shamu Show and Shamu Rocks shows between one and four times a day.

“No animals were meant to entertain humans,” said Mark Berman, associate director at Earth Island Institute in Berkeley, CA. Using these large, complex animals to entertain humans, could explain unnatural behavior like violence against humans.

Until the public recognizes that it contributes to the displacement of these marine animals when they support such shows, amusement parks will continue to feature them in performances.

Despite the amount of care orcas are given in captivity, these animals do not belong in cages, subjected to performing many shows per day.

Green Houses May Help Solve Climate Problems Sarah Gerlach Staff Writer With the global temperature and sea levels rising, the climate is clearly in peril.

The human race, desperately addicted to fossil fuels, needs an alternative that will help it and the climate. The solution: green homes.

Green houses can be anything from the sleek and modern revolving buildings that follow the sun to an average-looking home constructed from natural timber.

Green houses can also be found anywhere in the world.

Germany is currently the leading country in eco-friendly buildings, thanks to legislation providing subsidies for solar panels. Homes and businesses earn a government-guaranteed price of as much

as 47 euro cents ($0.74) for each kilowatthour of solar power they generate. This has inspired many people all over the country, from large businesses to small farmers, to get solar panels because they can make a profit from soliciting solar energy.

Spain and France have followed in Germany’s footsteps. Both countries have passed similar legislations that provided subsidies to use renewable energy. This has made solar panels widely available all over Europe and provides an incentive for people to “go green.”

Efficient transportation could also help alleviate the climate crisis. “In Denmark, people walked everywhere,” said Adam Raudonis ‘10. “I did not ride in a car for two weeks. Everyone walks or takes the train and metro.”

Asia is also going green. According

to the National Development and Reform Commission, China has reduced prices for energy-efficient home appliances. The subsidies are beneficial to the environment by saving billions of kWh of power, and also help the consumers and the general economy.

“When I went to China, every house had a solar water heater,” Raudonis added.

In addition to solar water heaters, people can also use solar panels. According to smartpower.org, the most common type of solar panels used worldwide are photovoltaic solar panels.

These differ from the lesser-known thermal panels because they convert photon particles from the sun directly into electricity, rather than heating water or another liquid.

Stuck at Home over Spring Break? No Problem Michelle Noyes Staff Writer Spring Break is a time to relax and not worry about anything. A break from everything school related. Not going on a vacation this year? If you are stuck at home for spring break, make the most of it. If you can implement a few entertaining ideas, staying home all week is not as horrible as it sounds.

Be a tourist in your own city The Hollywood Sign, Walk of Fame, Grauman’s Chinese and El Capitan Theaters are a whole day’s worth of adventures.

Hollywood is filled with exciting day trips we never consider. The famous Walk of Fame and Grauman’s Chinese Theater on Vine Street are experiences you will never forget.

Grauman’s shows new movies daily for the same price as any other Mann Theater. There is a manageable, simple trail to hike up to the distinguished Hollywood sign and view the whole city. A whole day can easily be spent in the one and only

Hollywood.

Ice skating

Santa Monica Pier

The weather is warming up so nothing is better than going indoor ice skating.

Icoplex in Simi Valley offers daily public skate. Admission is $9.00 and $3.50 for a skate rental, while Tuesday night skating is only $7.00. Most weekday afternoons the rink is open to the public.

Within about a 30 minute drive you can be at the Santa Monica Pier. It is one of the most popular tourist spots in Southern California people travel hours to enjoy. The boardwalk is an amusement park but there is no fee for admission. Parking may cost several dollars, so be sure to get there early to beat the spring break crowds. The beach has very warm water in the spring. Venice Beach is about a 10 minute drive away and has miles of shoreline shopping. Unique shops line the beach along with many restaurants and merchants you can only find in Venice Beach.

Try Bowling Bowling can make this spring break more social. Harley’s bowl in Simi Valley or Camarillo offers bowling everyday.

With games starting at $1.50 on Monday or Sunday nights bowling is more affordable then a movie. Every Friday night Harley’s Bowl offers atomic bowling at both locations.

Enjoy a Picnic Picnicking is free and enjoyable.

Wildwood Park offers trails and has stunning views over Thousand Oaks.

There are short easy trails and also longer more challenging ones depending on if you want a to be ambitious. Hike with friends up to the top of a mountain and have a quiet picnic enjoying the scenery.

Triunfo Community Park has less difficult trails, and yet it still has stunning views over Westlake Village.

Spring break can be memorable this year if you try to make the best out of staying home.

Although a whole week at home may sound unexciting, a week can pass by faster than you think.

Making house eco-friendly could be as easy as switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and energy efficient appliances. Additionally, insulating windows and doors and sealing drafts would greatly reduce energy that is used to heat and cool houses.

Even using existing appliances more efficiently, like turning off the TV, lights or faucet can make a home more eco-friendly.

THE WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL

ARROW

100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road Westlake Village, CA 91362 (805) 497-6711 ext. 4225 whsarrow.webs.com westlakearrow@yahoo.com EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Tiffany Loh, Iris Yan COPY EDITORS Max Avruch, Annie Gerlach NEWS EDITORS Lisa Battaglia, Celine Flores, Katie Roughan OPINION EDITOR Becky Sadwick FEATURE EDITORS Brian Chang, Aaron Demsetz, Jared Erman, Julia Model, Marika Price, Sofia Talarico FEATURE EDITOR Jacob Cavanah SPORTS EDITORS Sam Wexler, Dashiell Young-Saver ADVERTISING MANAGER Rachel Bernstein ASST. ADVERTISING MANAGER Alexandra Biston ADVISOR Caron Battaglia STAFF WRITERS Meini Cheng, Celine Decker, Jose Ermac, Sarah Gerlach, Charlotte Gibson, Kayla Greenberg, Yimeng Han, Hanna Hong, Zak Kukoff, Jamie Mark, Katelyn Masket, Karisma Nagarkatti, Michelle Noyes, Steven Paro, Haley Pearson, Josh Pearlman, David Samuels, Julia Shi, Katie Wurtzel The Arrow is written, designed and run by the students of the Advanced Journalism and Journalism 1CP classes at Westlake High School and is published monthly. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent those of the Conejo Valley Unified School District, Westlake High School administration, faculty, or student body. We welcome feedback. Letters must be signed by the writer, though names can be withheld by request in the publication. Please send submissions to Mrs. Battaglia’s box in the main office or to Room 42E. For The Arrow online, visit whswarriors.com and click on Activities menu.

7

OPINION

March 19, 2010 • THE ARROW

Manifest Destiny

Global Warming

Defining American Exceptionalism Kayla Greenberg Staff Writer

to work for his or her own benefit.

Liberal intellectuals criticize American exceptionalism as biased. They reason that America has long seen itself as it exists because of pride and patriotism exceptional. As far back as 1630, John rather than evidence.

President Obama embodied this belief Winthrop declared that “we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The when asked whether he subscribes to eyes of all people are upon us.” In recent the idea of American exceptionalism: “I years, however, have seen a decline in the believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British belief of American exceptionalism.

With America seemingly deteriorating, exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in people are growing increasingly skeptical Greek exceptionalism.” Many go so far as of its values, actions, and place in the to compare American exceptionalism to world. They are beginning to relinquish the the vanity of the Roman Empire.

America is not perfect. People belief that America is inherently special.

American exceptionalism is not based can pinpoint America’s mistakes and on the belief that the continent itself is holy, shortcomings. America is not exceptional or that Americans are better than any other because of its infallibility. America is people. Rather, American exceptionalism is exceptional because it has set certain a celebration of rebelling against a system standards that it is constantly reaching out to meet. that either Richard does not work Dreyfuss or is not fair. stated that The quote merican exceptionalism grew out of the “the only on Ronald ones that Reagan’s tomb fact that a group of outcasts and misfits created don’t know defines the an economic superpower based on the principle that America is a values that miracle are America is everyone should be able to work for his or her own Americans.” based on: “I benefit.”

I r o n i c a l l y, know in my the factors heart that man that make is good, that America so what is right great are will always eventually triumph, and there is purpose causing a decline in the idea of America exceptionalism. America is based on and worth to each and every life.”

Any country could have implemented rights, which Americans have come to take this idea into its politics, culture, and for granted.

The Bill of Rights, for example, values. America is exceptional because it does not require anything of its citizens. was the only country to do so.

Military prowess does not define Rather, it guarantees them rights that no American exceptionalism.

American other group of people has ever had. Flag exceptionalism is, as Colin Powell pointed burning perfectly illustrates the paradox out, the fact that after saving Europe from Americans are in.

An American is protected by law to itself (twice), “the only land we ever asked burn the flag. However, it makes little for was enough land to bury our dead.”

Economic power does not define sense to burn the flag of a country that American exceptionalism. Since the protects a citizen’s right to burn its flag.

The world is terrifying. America is beginning of civilization, there has been one certainty, and that is that a person divided, and it seems as though the world will die in the class to which he or she was is waiting for it to fall.

Americans must come together born. We broke this standard.

American exceptionalism grew out of because even if they do not recognize the fact that a group of outcasts and misfits their country’s exceptionalism, they surely created an economic superpower based on understand the importance of America’s the principle that everyone should be able survival to every other country.

“A

Crisis or Scandal?

Jared Erman Feature Editor Especially since the 2006 release of An Inconvenient Truth, narrated by former Vice President Al Gore, Global Warming (also known as Climate Change) has become one of the most prevalent topics of debate. Despite the emotional appeals that we hear from Global Warming’s stronger supporters, the lead scientist for the United Nations Climate Research Unit has recently admitted some shocking news.

Professor Phil Jones of the University of East Anglia has collected a large amount of raw data from weather stations around the globe in order to prove the existence of Global Warming.

Unfortunately, he has “lost track” of some of the data vital to his argument.

The authenticity of Jones’ data was first called into question in Nov. 2009, when computer hackers uncovered thousands of documents and emails between Jones and his colleagues. One email included attempts to “hide the decline,” and another admitted that the scientists could not “account for the lack of warming,” hence the new title Climate Change.

Scientist Michael Mann even claimed that the truth does matter: “As we all know this isn’t about the truth at all, it’s about plausibly deniable accusations.”

In order to withhold the real data, Jones requested that his colleagues “delete as appropriate,” and not “tell anybody that the UK has a Freedom of Information Act” that would allow the authorities to view their work.

On Dec. 1, Jones stepped down as the director of the CRU. In a BBC interview on Feb. 13, he stated that there has actually been no “statistically significant difference between the rates of warming from 1860-1880 and 1910-

1940 and the rate from 1975-1998,” nor over the last fifteen years.

Additionally, he admitted that natural influences, such as the sun and volcanoes, could have contributed to the 1975-1998 warming, and that the Medieval Warm Period may have been as warm as the Current Warm Period, despite former claims that the Current Warm Period’s heat levels were unprecedented.

With all the evidence against Global Warming, why does our government continue to push for reforms that both fight a nonexistent fiend and cost Americans even more money and jobs?

President Obama has consistently proposed a new Cap and Trade Tax in order to tax businesses for selling their carbon credits. The businesses would be forced to raise consumer “electricity prices 5-15% by 2015, natural gas prices 12-50% by 2015, and gasoline prices 9145% by 2015,” according to U.S. News.

While Obama claims that 95% of Americans will not be affected by tax increases, he neglects to state that they will have to pay a significant amount more on their monthly utilities bills.

The president has also encouraged the expansion of the “Green Job Sector” as a tool to help get us out of the recession.

However, looking at Spain’s history with “Green Jobs,” it is obvious that the new jobs only hurt their economy: “The premiums paid for solar, biomass, wave, and wind power—which are charged to consumers in their bills—translated into a $774,000 cost for each Spanish ‘Green Job’ created since 2000,” wrote journalist Gianluca Baratti after reviewing a study from King Juan Carlos University in Madrid.

Despite the general public’s views of the issue, the evidence against Global Warming is stronger than ever. If the government accepts this truth, then perhaps we can escape this recession more quickly than the president anticipated.

A More Convenient Truth - Global temperatures have been cooling for the past eight years.

- The Medieval Warm Period may have been as warm as the Current Warm Period.

- In Spain, each “Green Job” costs an average of $774,000 (paid for by the Federal Government).

What Politicians Can Learn From Television Zak Kukoff Staff Writer A comment frequently made by cynics is that politics has been robbed of its idealism. A majority of Americans—71%, according to the Washington Times— agrees.

The problem is that politicians campaign with grandiose attacks on the status quo only to become a part of that very same status quo once they win, removing any motivation they may have had to implement change. That being said, we frequently see politicians in the media who are idealistic almost to a fault.

However, many real-life politicians can learn from their fictional counterparts on television.

Josiah Bartlet was the President of the United States from 1999-2007 in the TV show The West Wing. He was a highly active liberal who became more of a centrist towards the end of his term. He can be an example to our current politicians about political affiliation.

Bartlet is courageous and sticks

with his choices. At the beginning of his second term, Bartlet declares a bold new interventionist policy, meaning that he is prepared to intervene militarily if human rights are violated overseas.

Despite intense criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, Bartlet does not abandon his plan, which eventually becomes “law.”

What can the real President learn from Bartlet? President Obama, who has suggested many bold policies, has backed away from them as soon as they have become unpopular. He has failed to communicate clearly, and a large swath of the population has seen his plans, specifically health care and the bailout, as cumbersome. Obama can take a page from Bartlet’s book and take time to make sure that his plans are fully understood before making a large push for their adoption.

In the TV show Commander-InChief, Mackenzie Allen was the acting Vice-President when the President died.

Despite being urged to step down by members of her own party, she became the first female President of the United States.

Allen was a Republican, but she became an independent when she assumed the Presidency. Her strongest policy point is to protect women’s rights throughout the globe.

Too often, politicians sacrifice clarity so that they are “safe” and ambiguous in the middle. On her first day as Commander-In-Chief, Allen takes a clear stand against women’s rights violations by rescuing a Muslim woman sentenced to death for infidelity. Allen makes sure that everyone, even those in her own former

party, know that she is in charge.

What can the President learn?

President Obama has been seen by some as too eager to cooperate with Congress and the Republican party, inadvertently ceding some of his political capital to, well, everyone but him.

Politicians do their best to avoid having to take stances so as to be safe in the middle. Fictional politicians, however, have no such concerns, and end up becoming much more easily defined, and more easily liked.

8

FEATURE

March 19, 2010 • THE ARROW

College Drinking: A� Growing��

Princeton Review Ranks Top Party Colleges

Culture�Among�Future�Generations

1. Pennsylvania State University

Julia Model Feature Editor

As the years progress, students continue to misinterpret the college experience. Their purpose for attending has become jaded to the point where parties and alcohol access has become a top determining factor in whether one will choose a certain school.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) the tradition of drinking on college campuses has developed into a culture entrenched in every level of college student’s environment. College students have come to believe that alcohol consumption at parties and fraternity and sorority houses is a key element towards gliding up the social ladder.

“Students drink because they want to join cliques and fit in the ‘in’ crowd,” guidance counselor Melissa Kukta said.

“It’s sort of like a why not mentality where peer pressure gets in the way of making smart choices.”

High school students following the past generation think of college as a place to have the best time of their lives and where they can easily land a keg or two without getting into trouble. Hence, alcohol will always contribute to the idea of the ideal college experience.

Parents, on the other hand, pay so much money for kids to go to college,

Colleges Stalk Student Facebookers

but many students end up surrendering their academic efforts. Instead, students continue to turn to the drinking hype and drop out of school soon thereafter because they are unable to juggle a fun-filled social life combined with a heavy workload.

But according to an article from foxnews.com, a study published this June by the National Social Norms Resource Center found that college students may have actually become more responsible in their drinking habits. The survey of 28,000 students at 44 colleges found that 80% of students drink.

However, it also found that 73% of student drinkers have adopted wise practices such as designating sober drivers, counting drinks, and listening to friends who tell them they’ve drunk too much.

Students make a conscious decision whether they should take advantage of their educational opportunities or to forego them to have the most amazing four years of their lives with the constant presence of alcohol.

Obviously, underage drinking policies are rarely followed, and colleges these days are all party schools one way or another. Coming across a party where alcohol is present is simply becoming unavoidable.

“Alcohol is out there unfortunately, but I feel the only way to stop it from becoming the norm is to try and steer yourself away from the party scene,” Kukta said. “There’s so much more to do

on campus other than drink.”

According to Kukta, in order to avoid the alcohol scene and immerse themselves in a quiet environment, students can choose to attend private, or religiously affiliated schools. Also, students who participate in the honors programs usually avoid the party scene.

Schools located in warm places tend to set the bar for the largest among the party school list. According to the Princeton Review, UCSB, ASU, San Diego State, University of Florida, and University of Texas, as well as many other universities have that party school reputation.

However, most students like this attribute, and do not mind the party school reputation. Many feel that who you are as a person exceeds who you are going to be as college student.

“Sometimes, the stigma of a party school such as these isn’t always true; it is much more important to look at if the school is a good fit academically and characteristically,“ Kukta said. “A lot of students know what school is the best fit for them by visiting the campus and seeing if they can feel an instant energy from the student body.”

Despite the party school reputations accredited to various schools, having a successful college experience in all aspects of ‘fun’ simply comes down to the crowd in which you surround yourself with as well as the choices that you make while you’re there.

A Top Dollar Education

Alexandra Biston

Assistant Advertising Manager College applications. SAT testing.

Community service. All of these factors seem to be top priority in the eyes of the average junior and senior, but now they have another influence weighing heavily on the admission to their dream school: their Facebook page.

According to the Wall Street Journal, a new survey of 500 top colleges found that 10% of admissions officers acknowledged looking at socialnetworking sites to evaluate applicants and said that 38% of what they saw “negatively affected” their views of the applicant.

With 3.3 million graduating students nationwide each year, colleges need to carefully sift through hundreds of thousands of hopeful applicants that may need to take a closer look at their online habits by removing inappropriate pictures or postings. Many students tend to post racy photos, vulgar words, and unsuitable postings that they should be more aware of.

“Admissions officers at times receive anonymous tips, which may be from rival applicants, about embarrassing Facebook material, such as a picture of a student drunk at an underage party,” said David Hawkins, director of public policy and research for the National Association for College Admission Counseling. “Students need to be more aware of their actions.”

Not only do students need to be familiar with the fact that college admissions counselors may be “stalking” their Facebook accounts, but many employers have now added looking at applicants’ Facebook pages as part of their routine screening of prospective employees.

If you have the slightest bit of fear that there may be something on your facebook page that would prove unworthy of school acceptance, it would be an intelligent decision to delete it before it’s too late.

cost an outrageous amount of money either.

When asked about the value of cerIn the current state of our economy, tain colleges over others, College and Cathe price of college is on everyone’s minds. reer Counselor Cassie Sandifer said, “It’s Current and future college students across possible to obtain a great education at a the country must accommodate their origi- lower price and it’s more important to nal, idealistic plans to their individual eco- have a bachelor’s degree over not having one simply due to getting rejected from a nomic situations. major school.”

According to U.S. News “Small schools,” & World Report the recesSandifer continued, sion has forced 70% of pro“provide an equal edspective college students to t’s possible to ucation and a student alter their original plans in obtain a great education at might have more of an attending college with 53% opportunity because saying that they are consida lower price.” of small class sizes and ering attending a less expen- College & Career Counselor the chance to build resive school.

Cassie Sandifer lationships with the High school seniors and faculty.” juniors are now being enAlthough many couraged to think realististudents dream about cally about the expenses of traveling out of state school while still obtaining to attend college, many factors must be the best education possible.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine appraised before a decision like this is recently released a list of the 100 Best Val- made. Out of state fees, cost of living, and ues in Public Colleges for the 2009-2010 traveling costs all add up to huge quantischool year. Topping the list for in-state ties. Students must decide whether this value in California was UCSD with UCLA amount of money is worth it when an exa close second. Topping the out-of-state list cellent education can be acquired at a colwas State University of New York at Bing- lege or university closer to home.

According to Sandifer, students hamton with State University of New York should “look outside the box” when reCollege at Geneseo as second.

According to Kiplinger.com, college searching about college. She advises that rankings are based on a combination of students should have their popular collegacademics and affordability. Starting with es that they have always dreamed about a list of over 500 public four year colleg- attending but that they should have smalles and universities, they narrowed down er colleges that are not as talked about as the list according to measures of academic possibilities too.

“You may find a gem that you had quality -- including SAT or ACT scores, admission and retention rates, student-facul- never heard about and it may be perfect ty ratios, and four- and six-year graduation for you” Sandifer said.

U.S. News & World Report reported rates. Kiplinger then compared this data with the overall cost of attending the col- that 38% of surveyed students nationwide plan on saving money on college by lege or university.

Kiplinger’s list is a great tool for pro- attending a college that’s close to home. spective college students because it shows However, foregoing an education at a mathat a school does not have to be the most jor school or out of state cannot be viewed popular, most prestigious, or most heard as a downgrade if the smaller, less expenabout to be capable of providing an excep- sive, in state college provides more “bang tional education. It also does not have to for your buck.”

Christina Vasiliou Staff Writer

“I

Academics: B Nightlife: B Campus Strictness: B

2. University of Florida Academics: B Guys & Girls: A Local Atmosphere: B

3. University of Mississippi Academics: BGreek Life: A Drug Scene: B+

4. University of Georgia Academics: B Nightlife: AWeather: B+

5.Ohio University Academics: BGuys & Girls: A Health & Safety: B+ Ratings from collegeprowler.com

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine Releases the Top 5 Best Value Colleges in California 1. University of California San Diego Academics: B+ Weather: A+ Transportation: B-

2. University of California Los Angeles Academics: B+ Athletics: ADiversity: A+

3. University of California Berkeley Academics: ALocal Atmosphere: B+ Athletics: B+

4. University of California Irvine Academics: B Weather: A Diversity: A

5. University of California Santa Barbara Academics: B Transportation: C+ Athletics: B Ratings from collegeprowler.com

Embrace the Feminine Side

Let Inner Beauty Shine Through Sofia Talarico Feature Editor

Jacob Cavanah Entertainment Editor Most women feel that men do not appreciate what they go through to look their best, but men are doing the same to impress women.

For men to look their best, they must “get in touch with their feminine side” first.

When a man takes good care of himself, he has a more substantial amount of self-esteem than he would if he disregarded his appearance.

In “Men’s Skin Care – Solutions to Common Men’s Skin Care Problems,” by Daniel Billet, the face is what men most care about because it is their most public feature.

A specific precaution that they take is to know which shaving cream and which after shave to use because some bother certain skin types. Men are told to stay away from base aftershaves, which contain alcohol, because it is known to irritate skin.

Problems such as blackheads and other acne related issues are resolved by getting facials, as women do. All men know clear skin attracts more females than someone with an oily or a broken out face.

As well as presenting a nice face to look at, men also like if their body turns heads.

According to the website, theartofseduction.com “Top 100 things that attract women to men,” a man’s physical composition is the fourth highest attraction.

When men have muscles to flaunt, they provide a sense of security for women, and most importantly, it turns them on as well. To compliment big arms, muscular abs are a popular goal men aspire to because they show good health, and like large muscles, they are used as sex appeal.

“I like to stay fit because I always want to be healthy.

Also, I like to stay fit because it makes me feel good to be working out and keep my body strong,” said Taylor Messuri ’11. Remaining healthy is also a reason for men to stay fit, rather than just appealing to the opposite gender.

To go with a nice body structure and handsome face, stylish clothes and a pleasurable cologne top off how a man presents himself. “When you look good, you feel good,” said John Salangsang ’11. “The way you dress and present yourself will reflect the way others feel about you.”

Males do their best to earn the approval of women by pampering themselves, staying in shape, and being conscious of how they dress.

9

FEATURE

March 19, 2010 • THE ARROW

The miracle makeup Bare Minerals presents a natural look that women embrace: it is proven to actually rejuvenate your skin and can be applied to any and all skin types.

Bare Minerals Makeup is a line of sensitive beauty products composed entirely of minerals that are used to provide a natural look while also covering up unwanted blemishes. It is the largest mineral skin care line and continues to grow every day.

It can be used on all age and skin types and are made to match all skin types. Six types are available: fair, light, medium, tan, dark, and deep. In addition to the healthy and light powders, the makeup also includes SPF 15 that will protect skin from UV damage. Also, the makeup is so light that, according to Beauty Ambassador Desiree Reyes, it can be worn to work out and can even be worn all night at dances and will not melt off.

Another important factor of the makeup is that it will remain in the form it was bought in year round. The makeup works as a double feature in that it covers up and heals acne and also reveals one’s real skin. “People who have scars and burns should definitely use this product,” said Reyes.

If one does not have much experience with makeup, a visit to the Bare Escentials Boutique will clear up any questions and confusions.

A typical visit will result in a “consultation” with one of the beauty ambassadors. An ambassador sits a customer down and asks her what she does not like about her skin and

what she would like to change.

An ambassador can work with sheer to full coverage, use certain brushes for each layer of the powders, and even show the customers how to use the brushes properly. After teaching the customer how to properly apply makeup, the starter kit that matches the customer’s skin tone is suggested for purchase.

Also, beauty ambassadors will assist anyone in matching makeup to prom dresses. If one brings in a prom dress, she will find help in choosing the perfect sequences of eyeshadow and makeup to match the outfit. The eye shadow is $13 each, but a deal includes three containers of eyeshadow at $36.

Bare Minerals Skin Revival Treatment is also very sleep-over friendly; even if one leaves her makeup at home, her skin will not break out.

According to skin-care website www.wellsphere.com, Buxom Lash promises 12 hours of smudge-free mascara without flakes—an essential to any girl who loves the nightlife.

In Reyes’s opinion, the Buxom Lip Gloss is one of the best products from the line because it works and feels like a lip balm but also gives a shiny “lip-gloss” look.

Bare Escentuals boutiques also offer special benefits to customers, such as a 15% discount on one’s birthday and a $10 discount after receiving ten stamps on a stamp card.

Bare Escentuals has boutiques and sells products at beauty stores such as Sephora. The closest Bare Escentuals boutique is located at The Oaks Shopping Center on 538 Hillcrest Drive. For more information about the products, visit www.bareescentuals.com.

Pamper Yourself the Natural Way Marika Price Feature Editor

Pampering yourself is always a good thing, but it turns out enhancing natural beauty is more than skin deep. The average person slathers, lathers, sprays, and rubs ten different skin care products daily, according to Self Magazine and absorbs nearly 130 exposed chemicals. Granted, cosmetic companies and the FDA assure that these chemicals are safe in small doses, but considering the average woman ingests as much as four pounds of lipstick in her lifetime, it’s clear that a quick dab here and there quickly adds up.

Very little information is known on exactly how certain chemicals affect us and how they react in our bodies in combination.

Products with strong scents or odors contain volatile organic compounds which destroy brain cells, disrupt hormone function, and can cause cancer. Products with long, impossible-topronounce names are indicators that these products are untested and usually synthetic. Reducing exposure is not difficult once the alternatives are in your home; the real battle is learning what ingredients to avoid and what ingredients to choose. A few simple tweaks can make a world of difference to not only looks, but also to the environment.

The best way to know exactly what goes into skin-care products is to make your own. On top of saving money and packaging, you’ll get the satisfaction of knowing that no preservatives or toxic chemicals were used in the process. Bananas and powdered oats make an effective face mask, and green tea can create an acne fighting toner. Simply changing your diet can pack nutrients essential for healthy skin and

cause no damage to the planet.

Personal care products with plant based oils such as almond oil or jojoba or even a legible reading list are favorable alternatives.

Products labeled “organic” or “all - natural” are signs to look for, but to ensure organic standards, look for “USDA Certified Organic” or “Quality Assurance International” labels.

By making these changes and buying with caution”, you are not only reducing your chances of developing illnesses like cancer, respiratory problems, and heart disease, but you are also reducing you’re family’s chances.

If something is harmful to health, it is likely to be equally harmful to skin. Piling strawberries, citrus fruits, and broccoli on a plate, creates a smoother skin texture, and a fresh complexion can be achieved by incorporating dark oranges, leafy greens, and red veggies daily.

Avoiding sweets and sugary snacks is crucial to maintaining clear skin; however, dark chocolate supplies skin with oxygen which actually improves skin hydration and reduces sun sensitivity.

Swapping convenient beauty products for more eco-friendly alternatives is an effective way to treat the environment with more care. Removing makeup with single use synthetic cleansing pads is handy, but the pads also clog landfills. Using a washcloth made from organic fibers is naturally resistant to bacteria and exfoliates even the most sensitive skin.

Air drying saves electricity and improves air quality. It takes two trees ten years to absorb the carbon dioxide created from blow drying ten minutes a day for just one year.

When saving Mother Nature all the small changes count.

10

FEAT

march madnes

Spring’s arrival signals the competition season for many students who ties. From Pi Day to Science Olympiad to Orchestra Festival, they are in their highest talents, and maybe even garner awards.

Mad Pursuits in Science

WHS Ban

Meini Cheng

this chosen, Staff Writer year’s team is more selective than those of HS Science previous years.

Team Olympiad Shi said the placed 5th in aspect best the Los Angeles team this of County Regional is the strong which Contest, motivation the took place at Cal members have.

State Los Angeles “Our team on March 6. is very well“Even though rounded. We about half of some have our team this people who are year is new, we good at taking still managed to written tests, better perform BEAUTIFUL MINDS: WHS Science Olympiad placed 5th in the LA and others who than any other County Regional Contest. Next, they will compete at State. are good at said year,” building,” said President Vivian team member Tony Jin ’10. This year, the team improved Shi ’10. “Our team is strong in every aspect.” exponentially in building events with the contributions The team’s hard work and careful preparation is of Michael Chang ’11 and Jeffrey Kurohara ’12. shown through the successful results. “After the team With a total of 23 events in the competition, the was chosen at the beginning of the school year, we met subjects include anatomy, biology, environmental every week to monitor the progress of each event and science, physics, chemistry, and engineering, and to bond as a team,” explains Shi. ornithology and many others. WHS won 1st place in Because only half of the 30 applicants could be the categories of Chemistry Lab, Ornithology, and Write It/Do It. “When I hear the team members exclaiming how easy and how amazing they did, it feels great,” said Shi. At the awards ceremony, Shi says, “It is impossible to get us to stop screaming and cheering. And this year we got to cheer a lot!”

Since Science Olympiad was founded at WHS four years ago, the team has been continually improving. Shi said, “Our competition is much fiercer this year. If we had this score in previous years, we would have gotten in the top three.”

Other team members include seniors Kimberly Ha, Karen Tsai, George Deng, Emily Yen, Joe Sanchez, Tom Ziccardi, juniors Vivian Shen, Joyce Shi, Ali Ohringer, Inez Lam, Stella Wang, Allen Li, Josselyn Tsai.

Out of the 36 schools that participated in the Regional Competition, WHS placed 5th and will be heading to the State Competition on April 10.

THE PI’S THE LIMIT: Students submitted posters, Even with these accomplishments, the team hopes memorized the digits of pi, and participated in a math to bring home more medals and place in the top half of contest in celebration of Pi Day. Cameron Wolff ‘11 the teams there. As Shi says, “We’re up there with the (left) was awarded a pie for correctly guessing the volbest of them.”

W

COURTESY PHOTO

PHOTO BY SAM WEXLER

ume of the pie.

Brian Chang Feature Editor

hirty WHS musicians T participate in the Ventur

Band, which performed School on Feb. 26 After a tough audition high school musical p chosen to represent Vent band. WHS had 30 mem any other school. program The five included pieces, all of which were a grade 4 or meaning higher, that the level of the music was above average. After just rehearsals four over the course of a month, the honor band was able to perform this type of music. amazed FR “I’m that so many kids Eric from so many high stu schools can perform the musical difficult literature after just four re band director Brian Peter The students felt the Kuecks ’13, a trombone p Symphony and Ventura Band, noted that the short although demanding, we “With the great musicia said, “they weren’t much best was that our band ha and we used our time wis Kuecks also noted the the honor band provided meet new people, and y takes on different mus conductors,” he stated. worth it to try out for.”

This year’s conduct Mooy, a conductor for the L Ensemble and the Symph Santa Barbara City Colleg

11

TURE

ss

engage in various activin mad pursuit to portray

nds Hit High Notes

COURTESY PHOTO

For the WHS instrumental department, the bands are getting ready for the annual Southern California School Band and were chosen to Orchestra Association Band and Orchestra ra County Honor Festival at TOHS on March 24. at Buena High The Symphonic Band, the Wind Symphony, and the Wind Ensemble will n, 81 of the best be performing various musical literature performers were in front of three judges. The Festival will tura County as a also include a sight reading section, where mbers, more than students will be given a piece to perform in a matter of minutes in front of a judge.

Peter is optimistic about the Festival.

“Our top band is exceptional playing and difficult music,” he said “This ensemble is the most talented in my four years here at WHS, and there isn’t a weak section in the whole band.”

Every year, the WHS band program different chooses ROM THE TOP: Trombone player songs to perform at the c Kuecks ‘13 is one out of 30 WHS Festival. “I don’t want udents who were chosen to be in to repeat the same e Ventura County Honor Band. music because I want ehearsals,” said a wide exposure of music and composers r. for my students,” Peter added. He further e same way. Eric explained how this wide variety of music player in the Wind over time would give more learning as well a County Honor help in sight reading in the future. practice periods, When asked about his overall feelings ere manageable. about this event, Peter said, “It’s the time ans we had,” he when a student can hear and see feedback of a stretch. The from pro adjudicators. Festivals are the ad great etiquette, ultimate test, where a student has to play sely.” under pressure.” e experience that Peter’s thoughts on the grading level d. “It’s fun; you were optimistic as well. “What we want,” you get different he stated, “is a Unanimous Superior. This sic by different is ultimately what Mr. Gangemi and I are . “It’s definitely preparing the students for. If we’re ready, we won’t be nervous.” tor was James A judge is simply an audience member Lunch Break Jazz who can talk and criticize during our hony Orchestra at performance. If the audience is pleased, ge. so are the judges.

I N T H E S P O T L I G H T

IN PERFORMANCE: (From the top) At the Winter Rally, Kevin Kaproff sang Sweetbread by Andrew Bird, C.O.L.O.R (Luke Hubbard) rapped, Comedy Sportz improvised, and Men in Tights sang.

12

FEATURE

March 19. 2010 • THE ARROW

Sullivan Skates into Spotlight Sofia Talarico Feature Editor

on the list by four years.

Sullivan feels that competing in a Midget 18AAA team when he should have been in first year 16’s is his biggest success.

In addition to playing hockey, Sullivan is a barista at Beanscene Espresso, and is Junior Class Vice President.

He played baseball for ten years and volleyball at WHS for two, in addition to his years in hockey.

In the future, Sullivan plans to take a year off after he graduates high school and play for a Junior team, where he hopes to be called up to the NAHL. From there he hopes to earn a scholarship and go to college.

Sullivan said that there is “no sport that compares mentally and physically” to hockey.

Undoubtedly, Sullivan will continue to impress others with not only his talent, but also his passion for the game he loves.

PHOTO BY ADAM BALDWIN

First-Year Photographer Finds His Focus Steven Paro Staff Writer For up-and-coming photographer, Adam Baldwin, ‘12 capturing the perfect moment is essential.

“I love to capture the moment, I have my camera waiting for the perfect shot,” said Baldwin.

Baldwin adheres to an important rule of photography, waiting for the shot to come to you. According to photographers, things prepare themselves.

Adam loves photography because it’s the most personal form of art. He shoots outside of school and shoots film. To him, the most personal photos are in black and white.

“I prefer black and white because it’s a more artistic way of looking at something ordinary.”

Baldwin chooses to shoot black and white because it’s more diverse. According to him, color photos are too common and normal.

“Black and white seems right. It seems to tell a story behind a picture and creates feeling.”

Baldwin is going into Advanced Photography next year and is looking forward to the new dark room that will be built.

COURTESY PHOTO

Junior Matt Sullivan skated into the hockey spotlight when he was seven years old and has continued the sport ever since.

Sullivan first got involved in hockey when his dad noticed that he was rapidly improving on roller skates.

Recognizing his natural talent, his father asked Sullivan if he wanted to play roller hockey, and from there he made the transition to ice hockey. Sullivan admits, “It started as a fun way for me to get away from school.”

Sullivan has played defensive positions on a variety of teams, including the Ventura Mariners, So-Cal Vipers, West Valley Wolves, Anaheim, and SoCal Titans, all club teams.

These teams have enabled Sullivan to travel to many different places around the

United States. Excelling in the hockey field has also led him to compete in Canada where hockey is the native sport. However, Sullivan’s favorite place to play is New Jersey, which is where he participated in a tournament with the eight best teams in the country.

Hockey has also brought Sullivan many memorable experiences. One of his favorite moments occurred when his team traveled to San Jose and won the Inaugural Season Championship.

Another notable memory was when he was on the Anaheim Ducks, which were ranked number one in the nation.

Sullivan has been mentioned in the USHL top prospect list for three years in a row, which consists of the top Junior hockey players in the country.

Along with being captain and assistant captain on numerous teams, he is the youngest player

TEARING UP THE ICE: Matt Sullivan ‘11 hopes to turn hockey into a lifelong passion.

S

FEATURE

March 19, 2010 • THE ARROW

uperstitions By exploring old wives’ tales—from broken mirrors, hated ladders, the dreaded number 13, and midnight black cats— people can better understand their unique historical roots.

Max Avruch Copy Editor Do not break a mirror. Do not walk under a ladder. Do not associate with the number 13. And by all means, do not walk in the path of a black cat.

Seemingly old-wives’ tales, the latter fallacies root back in history to important events and cultural incidents which initiated the passing of these tales.

Now, a panicked society fears such simplistic things despite what technology and modern resources have done to debunk them as mere superstitions.

Four of the most popular superstitions that have universal occurrences include breaking a mirror, walking under a ladder, associating with the number 13, and walking in the path of a black cat.

Breaking a Mirror:

Most people know that when one breaks a mirror, one will be enslaved to seven years of bad luck and that one’s family is in jeopardy of receiving bad luck also.

According to The People’s Almanac by author David Wallechinsky, when people gazed at their reflection, their “other self,” in pools, ponds, and lakes would appear. If the image was distorted, it was a mark of impending disaster.

The “unbreakable” metal mirrors of the early Egyptians and Greeks were valued items because of their magical properties.

After glass mirrors were introduced, Romans claimed the broken mirror a sign of bad luck.

The length of the prescribed misfor-

tune, 7 years, came from the Roman belief that man’s body was physically rejuvenated every 7 years, and he became, in effect, a new man.

Thus, seven years of bad luck will “presumably” occur if someone breaks a mirror.

Walking under a Ladder:

Another popular superstition, walking under a ladder, derives from the concept that a ladder leaning against a wall forms a triangle with the wall and the ground.

According to religious theology, this triangle signifies the Holy Trinity and if one enters into the sacred enclosed area, he or she will suffer a punishable offense.

People associate walking under a latter with severe bad luck, comparable to the breaking of a mirror.

The Number 13:

The number 13 has also long haunted the superstitious.

One of the earliest known theories roots back to the ancient, Nordic religion Valhalla.

According to legend, twelve gods dined at a feast but a thirteenth, the God of Deceit, arrived without an invitation. The number 13, thus, had a negative connotation and association to deceit, lies, temptation, and evil.

A l though romanticized by the popular historical fiction novel, The Da Vinci Code, legend said that the Knights Te m p l a r were a Christian military order founded in Jerusalem in 1118 C.E., during the Crusades,

whose mission was to protect Christian pilgrims.

Over the next two centuries, the Knights Templar became extraordinarily powerful and wealthy.

Threatened by that power and eager to acquire their wealth, King Philip of France secretly ordered the mass arrest of all the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307 - Friday the 13th.

Hence, Friday the 13th, especially in October, has sparked people to flee work, school and stay at home until the 14th comes.

Finally, in Christian theology, twelve disciples dined at the Last Supper until the traitor Judas made the thirteenth guest, Subsequently, Judas caused Jesus’ arrest and death.

The Black Cat:

Finally, the black cat superstition entails that if one crosses the path of a black path, then t h a t pers o n w i l l suffer extreme bad luck or death.

The origin of this superstition comes from the Egyptians who worshipped “the cat,” and punished anyone who dared to kill one.

Yet, during the Middle Ages, the black cat was connected to witches and Satan.

Because people during this time period believed a witch could transform herself into a cat, people thus thought that a cat that crossed one’s path actually was a witch in disguise.

Whether events happened to coincide with objects or numbers, like the number 13, people continually use superstitions as a way to push the blame away from their own actions.

13 JINXES, MYTHS, AND LEGENDS:

The Good and Bad of Superstitions

Dashiell Young-Saver Sports Editor

Even though they are not rational, superstitions help people get through their day.

Superstitions give people confidence in the form of good luck and warn people about the danger of falling ladders.

Because superstitions were made to reflect moral values, to create scapegoats, and to teach lessons, people thus followed them religiously.

Before 2004, the Boston Red Sox had not won the World Series since 1918.

After 86 years of disappointment, fans explained the teams’ championship drought with a curse.

Although it is not logical, the curse gave the fans a scapegoat for their blame.

The curse kept the fans loyal to their team despite every frustrating season because it was no longer their team’s fault for losing the championship, it was the

curse’s.

When the Red Sox finally won in 2004, it seemed as if they overcame the curse, making the victory even sweeter.

Superstitions like curses give us a scapegoat to place our blame on and divert us from dangerous acts.

Children learn superstitions at a very impressionable age.

Instead of giving the same lecture to their kids, parents could keep their offspring safe by threatening them with bad luck.

For example, the common superstition of breaking the glass in mirrors protects unsuspecting youths of glass shards.

The jinx has many meanings such as bad luck resulting from having too much confidence in something, a cursed object, and a game where people say the same thing at once.

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word was first used in 1911 and originates from the 17th century word

jyng meaning “spell.” Jinxes teach people to be humble and vigilant.

For instance, if an amateur skier lands a jump and says, “Wow I guess I’m really good and won’t fall,” he or she may become careless and, with too much overconfidence, try a larger jump and fall flat on his face.

The jinx and his cuts will teach him or her to not be overconfident again.

Good luck superstitions also give people confidence.

A lucky sock for a football player can make him feel like he will do better in his next game.

People will wear an unsanitary rabbit’s foot around their necks just for this confidence.

All superstitions were made for the benefit of people.

We believe them, whether they are rational or not, partly because of our fascination with the mystical, but mostly because they are helpful.

13

Be a True Sport

Jacob Cavanah Entertainment Editor Many athletes practice unseen rituals or routinely do certain superstitions before and sometimes during their events, that make them confident to perform their best.

Superstitions or rituals are used as a “coping mechanism,” which helps athletes deal with the pressures that are put on them to win.“ Athletes begin to believe, and want to believe, that their particular routine is enhancing their performance,” said Richard Lustberg, a sports psychologist in New York.

“In swimming, I used to have superstitions, including a specific stretching routine, and a couple of years ago, I would only drink red gatorade,” said Nora Darago ‘10.

The rituals give athletes comfort before it is time for them to perform.

Specific superstitions are formed depending on how the season is going too.

For example, in the 2006 Super Bowl, the Steelers head coach, Bill Cowher, elected for the team to wear their away jerseys, even though they were considered the home team.

He did so because he felt that it would bring them luck because all of their playoff games were on the road, which would mean they wore the white jerseys for those games. The Pittsburgh Steelers did end up winning the Super Bowl that year, in those jerseys.

“Traditions are born out of creativity and invention. Sports superstitions only last until they are replaced with a more powerful spiritual force.

To create that, one must believe that they have tapped into the supernatural,” said Stal Herz in his article titled Sports Superstitions – Super Bowl Not Immune From the Voodoo.

If the ritual is creating success for the player, he or she will keep doing it until it fails, but if it does not result in the way it was destined to, the player will find a new one to do before it is time to play.

Divine intervention is a popular superstition that players believe in, which is turning to God for his blessing.

With all of the pressure they face when they are playing, a blessing from God makes them feel like they are more at ease when playing time comes.

According to Sports Superstitions,

by Michael Morrison, there are universal superstitions used.

For instance, in baseball it is bad luck to touch the baselines while running of and onto the field, and speaking to a pitcher while he is pitching a perfect game or a no-hitter is forbidden. In basketball, it is good luck to dribble before a foul shot, and the last person to shoot during warm-ups is set to have a good game.

With all of the special routines before and during games that a lot of athletes do, some athletes prefer not to be as enthusiastic about it, but still have a certain criteria they follow.

“I always get away from everyone, and just think about the game for a little by myself. It helps calm me down,” said Nelson Spruce ’11.

Whether it is not washing underwear because of a six game win streak, or listening to music to get in the zone before a big game, athletes consistently do the same routine before their games.

Yet, not until it a particular “superstition” no longer leads to success do students stop their patterns of behavior.

14

FEATURE

March 19, 2010 • THE ARROW

A Fresh Look at a Hot Issue: Climate Change JUST ONE OF MANY ISSUES

A PROBLEM THAT DEMANDS ACTION Zak Kukoff Staff Writer There’s a reason why scientists help shape public policy: it is their job to be right, or at least more correct than the general populace.

So “Climate-gate,” the so-called death knell for the scientific community, caught many people off guard.

Climate-gate, for those who do not know, is a series of emails and memos between prominent members of the scientific community.

These emails, to put it nicely, are sarcastic, rude, snide, and disrespectful: qualities that we should never encourage in anyone, no matter how smart they may be.

But I think you would agree that a scientist’s attitude has no effect on his or her science, which is presumably based on objective research and data.

Isaac Newton, Galileo, and Einstein may have been privately dismissive of their colleagues, but nobody would use that fact to attack gravity, relativity, or the solar-centric view of the universe.

So it baffles me that politicians, who comprehend just slightly more than the layperson, would use Climate-gate to attack the very concept of global warming, especially when there is so much data to back it up.

One of the most popular graphs, the so-called “hockey stick” graph, (developed by both the United Nations and the Canadian Environmental Department) shows a rapid increase in global temperatures and

CO2 in the last few decades.

Besides Climate-gate, another popular method to discredit those who support vital action towards slowing—and eventually stopping—climate change’s assault on our very being is to claim that “there is significant debate in the scientific community as to whether global warming is even occurring.”

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, however, there is, in fact, no debate at all as to whether global warming occurs and if it is manmade.

Most big corporations have actively denied climate change as of late, and those who do recognize it try to capitalize on it without making changes.

For example, BP (British Petroleum) changed their slogan to Beyond Petroleum without actually making any changes in the way they did business, resulting in a greener image without actually helping the environment, according to the Greenwashing Academy Awards.

The Academy gives awards to corporations who engage in Greenwashing— corporate whitewashing of activities—to appear more environmentally friendly.

One of the biggest upsides to having a varied culture like ours is that we train people to specialize in certain fields.

For example, the scientists who were involved with Climate-gate had years of experience, something which the politicians who oppose climate change measures do not have.

We need to trust our scientists more than we trust our politicians.

Steven Paro Staff Writer It is safe to say that the Earth has its fair share of issues. Throughout each continent, there is a different conflict.

In Africa there is poverty, world hunger, and a struggle to survive. Here in the U.S., there is a constant debate about whether or not to pass the health care bill. The country has had to cope with the enormous recession and national debt along with trying to lower the unemployment rate and get people jobs. In addition, the whole world tries to help and find a cure for the deadly AIDS disease.

These major issues bring much concern to all, but it seems they are taking a back seat to a new and more high-profile issue: global warming.

Climate change, better known as global warming, is an increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere.

This results in the melting of ice caps near Alaska and in the Arctic, creating a hotter Earth.

It seems that the rise in popularity of climate change has come from celebrities and activists who make it sound like it is the next apocalypse.

Sure, this is a big issue, but it does not seem the most urgent. When someone lives in this day and age without a job and is unable to put food on the table for his or her family, not knowing if one day he or she will be shipped to the Middle East to fight in a never ending war seems of more concern.

Every year one trillion dollars is spent

Biodegradable: the New Way to Go Brian Chang Feature Editor During the recent increase in environmental awareness, many large companies have begun to turn to greener and more ecofriendly products. Likewise, Frito Lay’s SunChips also introduced a new biodegradable bag that, in 14 weeks, will become a part of the earth again.

These bags are made with a unique polymer called polyastic acid (otherwise known as PLA).

According to the SunChips website, “PLA is made from lactic acid. Lactic acid is made from dextrose by fermentation.

Dextrose is made from starch, and starch is made from carbon dioxide and water. Because it’s made with plants that grow annually instead of petroleum (which takes millions of years to form), the impact on greenhouse gasses is much lower.”

The conditions that these bags require are also very wide.

All that these bags need is an environment that is over 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and they will start breaking down.

SunChips is the first large brand company that introduced eco-friendly snack bags.

In addition to their contribution to the earth through biodegradable bags, SunChips is also implementing solar energy in their factories. Modesto, California is one of these factories where solar panels fuel the plant.

Greg Coull, advisor of the Earth Club, gave positive remarks about the new change.

“I think it’s a positive sign, he said. “Although I feel that they are doing it more for their profits than the environment, I still think the change is good.”

And this is somewhat true.

SunChip’s new approach towards a green earth is creating a great turn for their sales. According to an article from Brandweek, “The Frito-Lay product has rooted its brand in environmental causes as well as health-forward thinking.

This strategy has paid off handsomely as Sun Chip sales are up 17.6%, totaling $201.8 million for the 52 weeks ending June 15, per IRI.” SunChips is also on TV due to its approach towards an eco-

on research for global warming.

This seems nearly pointless, since everyone knows about the Earth getting warmer. What is the need of having more money go to that cause? What many don’t know is the number of people who are aware of the spending. In a poll conducted, only 3% of WHS students know that there is a trillion dollar spending spree.

Most importantly, according to the Global Development and Environment Institute, “the cost of climate change could be as high as 74 trillion US dollars.”

When the U.S. is in a $12 trillion debt and spending a trillion a year, spending this much is definitely not a good idea .

In a poll, 69 people out of a total of 157 said that the current recession is of utmost importance. According to the students, the concern of the planet is only third important in their eyes.

Many believe that global warming is caused by man due to the smog emissions and carbon dioxide accompanied by the green house effect. If the problem is caused by man, then why are we spending large sums of money when the problem is evident?

Instead, money should go to help find a cure for the AIDS disease, a disease that has taken many lives and will take more.

The U.S. has a lot of issues to deal with, but global warming should be set aside at the moment. Many would rather see the U.S. become a financial powerhouse again or have the troops deployed in Afghanistan come back home rather than waste money to fight a nearly impossible war against the earth.

Recession Tops Students’ List of Concerns

friendly company. Along with its frequent advertisements about its new biodegradable bags, Discovery Channel and Planet Green have also featured Frito-Lay for its commitment towards a green earth.

Frito-Lay isn’t the only company that supports the environment.

According to business pundit.com, companies such as McDonald’s, Starbuck’s, Coca Cola, and Budweiser are going green. Even the environmental world’s number one enemy, Wal-Mart, is now positioned to change their values. According to MSNBC, “Wal-Mart Stores Inc. wants its suppliers to reduce 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2015.”

That’s equivalent to 3.8 million cars off the road.

It is evident that over that past decade, more industries are looking towards saving the earth. With large brand name companies like these taking the step towards a green environment, we just might survive 2012.

FROM PLASTIC TO DIRT: SunChip’s new bag will go from a chip bag to a part of the earth in 14 weeks. With this new change, 92% of all manufacturing waste from the company will be reused.

WHS students find the recession the most pressing issue, according to the results of a recent poll of approximately 157 students. Sixtynine percent of the students felt that the economic problems of the country outweigh the War in Afghanistan, climate change, and health care.

Also, statistics show that 56% of the students believe that climate change is caused by humans, not nature.

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16

ENTERTAINMENT

March 19, 2010 • THE ARROW

Get Lost in Shutter Island David Samuels Staff Writer

COURTESY PHOTO

“THE MAD HATTER” TOPS IT OFF: Johnny Depp’s oddball character adds to the artistic style of the film.

Audiences Fall Into Wonderland

Haley Pearson Staff Writer “If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense.”

Few can explain the phenomenon that is Alice in Wonderland.

Naturally, Tim Burton was quick to pounce on this real-life adaptation of the Disney classic, Alice in Wonderland. Mia Wasikowska stars as a beautifullyblossomed 19-year-old Alice. The actress serves as the perfect mixture of physical maturity and adolescent curiosity.

In this retelling, Alice has already been ‘down the rabbit hole’ several times in her young life; in fact, Alice notes that it is the only ‘dream’ she has ever had. Like any good start to a character’s internal conflict, Alice’s like-minded father is said to have passed away many years prior. Now she is left with a mother who has lit-

tle amusement from her daughter’s comparison of a corset to a codfish (regarding societal absurdities).

Alice’s only vice is picturing men in dresses and women in trousers, hoping to God someone else will find it just as entertaining.

Hamish, a hideously arrogant lord with a uniquely sensitive digestive tract and flaming red hair, seems to be the closest one to fit the bill. He too finds her a bit too dotty. Alice is told that she will never marry higher than this lord, and knows her porcelain features won’t last.

In addition, wedding such a ‘rare gem’ could seriously benefit the depleting ginger population. It seems to be in Alice’s best interest to take one for the team.

After quitting her engagement ceremony, Alice falls helplessly into the depths of Tim Burton’s

Underland.

The Tweedles, voiced by Matt Lucas, are hilarious. Anne Hathaway portrays a virtuous queen who is freakishly innocent. Johnny Depp wowed his audience again as the very “Mad Hatter.”

However Helena Bonham Carter’s portrayal of the Red Queen is what made this movie memorable. Her speech impediment and fear of abandonment perfectly satirize her mature, wicked way of running the kingdom. “Off with their heads!” is a phrase that Carter brought back.

This remake delves deeper into Wasikowska’s identity search. Even if it is just to count the oddities in the Red Queen‘s castle, like the ratio of marmosets under furniture to the number of cranes suspending chandeliers mid-air, give Alice in Wonderland a spin and have a Frabbulous Day!

Imagine being assigned to investigate a mysterious asylum where danger lurks around every corner, and there is no way to return to the outside world.

This scenario is the premise for Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island, a film adaptation of the popular novel by Dennis Lehane.

Released on Feb. 19 by Paramount Pictures, the film has been a hit so far. Even though it does not rank among the best, Shutter Island is still worth watching.

On the positive side, the film was visually appealing, aside from a few minor eyesores when the camera paneled across scenes. Some unique yet daring camera angles were utilized as well.

However, green screens were put into effect for plenty of scenes which did not require them, making the movie seem less realistic.

In general, the Gothic tone of Shutter Island was choreographed with detail but could have been improved.

The first hour of the movie captured the audience’s interest with eerie dialogue and

fascinating views of the island from which the movie was filmed, but from there onward the suspense seemed to vanish “straight through the walls”, as Dr. John Cawley (Ben Kingsley) might say.

There were too many hints which gave away the twist long before it was revealed.

In addition, the nightmares which Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) traverses become very confusing to the point where one wants to just skip them altogether.

However, when the audience finally pieces together the fascinating truth of Shutter Island, the dreams make sense.

A n o t h e r p o s i t i v e feature of the movie is the acting. DiCaprio does not fail to impress despite the variety of mixed emotions his character is burdened with.

Chuck Aule, Teddy Daniels’ novice partner, does a significant job as well from beginning to end.

Simulating the dreadful atmosphere of an asylum like Shutter Island is a feat for every member of the cast, from doctor to patient.

To sum it up, Shutter Island has aesthetic appeal, despite the disappointing story line.

Abarat: Imagination at Its Finest

Katie Wurtzel Staff Writer Ever since the Harry Potter series ended, readers have been looking for new books to pursue. Abarat, by Clive Barker, just might fill the void. Although this mixture of fantasy—two parts Barker, one part The Wizard of Oz, and one part Alice in Wonderland—was published seven years ago, it never seemed to make the headlines like Harry Potter or Twilight. Even so, Kirkus Reviews called it “an intriguing

City of Bones Keeps Fantasy Alive

COURTESY PHOTO

creation...ruled by the logic of dreams.” Abarat tells the story of Candy Quackenbush, a teenager with an alcoholic father and a petty teacher, living in Chickentown, Minnesota.

Her story begins when she explores the history of Chickentown and ends up in the care of a man named John Mischief who has eight heads sharing a single body, all with distinct personalities.

Candy is entrusted with a key, hidden in an abandoned lighthouse on a lake that had only recently appeared. Once in Abarat, a world just as real and defined as Candy’s yet nowhere near the reality she knows. The mysterious Lord of Midnight is out to capture Candy— ostensibly to get the an entertaining key, but really for other purposes.

The book is at times hard to follow: it winds along with too much description in parts, and in some places the action is equally as confusing due to the complexity and unnerving oddities of the various characters. Despite these flaws, the book is beautifully crafted.

Barker also includes a special treat in his book: 100 full-color, beautifully illustrated pictures by the author.

Although targeted for ages 12 to 14, according to publisher HarperCollins, Abarat is so unique that it may as well have no age target at all.

COURTESY PHOTO

INDIE FICTION: Clive Barker’s novel provides alternative to mainstream fiction

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BOOK REVIEWS

March 19, 2010 • THE ARROW

RESURRECTION: City of Bones sparks interest in the fantasy genre

Celine Decker Staff Writer When the much-loved Twilight series concluded, other young-adult gothic romance novels sprang to life. Countless authors have attempted to duplicate Stephanie Meyer’s success by creating yet another successful vampire romance. But what happens when the lead character is slaying demons instead of sucking blood? Then you’ve got an interesting spin on urban fantasy. In City of Bones, the first volume of The Mortal Instruments trilogy, Cassandra Clare explores a girl’s transition from the real world to that of the shadows.

When 15-year-old Clary Fray witnesses three strange tattoo-covered teenagers murdering another teen, she is unable to prove the crime ever took place. The victim disappeared before her

and to everyone else the murderers seem oddly invisible. Soon after, Clary’s mother disappears, and she again finds herself in the midst of the murderers, three teenagers who call themselves Shadowhunters— dedicated to ridding the Earth of demonic beings.

She is quickly taken up into their order upon the discovery that her mother was secretly a former Shadowhunter.

Clary and her new companions soon discover that her mother was the only person who knew the whereabouts of the coveted mortal cup—an object designed to convert humans to Shadowhunters. The four of them are plunged into a search for the Mortal Cup, encountering werewolves and cunning vampires along the way.

Each of the characters seen in the books are relatable, despite being slightly stereotyped. There’s Clary—the sweet innocent, Jace—the hard killer with a hidden soft side, and Simon—the geeky but devoted best-friend. Fortunately, the author manages to bring an air of originality to each character, mostly through witty dialogue and unique, hidden traits.

However, while the characters are lovable, the trilogy’s driving force is surely its inventive storylines. Clary seems to have a full understanding of the world and races she has created. This, combined with several unsuspected turns on the plot, will keep fantasy readers avidly flipping pages.

City of Bones is the first of a trilogy that follows Clary in her adventures to find her mother, save her new world, and pursue the man of her dreams. The series fits perfectly into the unique fantasy void that has been left empty for some time.

Readers who loved the Twilight and those who desire a departure from cliché novels will fall for this gothic twist on young adult romance

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Did you Always Dream of Acting?

Acting Studio for Kids Will Open at Former Stage Door Theatre WHO ARE YOUR TEACHERS?

Reprinted with permission from THE ACORN, December 12, 2009

By Stephanie Bertholodo Tube Star Studio, an on-camera acting class for children and teens, will be opening on Thursdays at the former Stage Door Theatre—now Blue Star Theatre—on Agoura Road in Agoura Hills. Lori and Timothy Carhart, Tube Star owners, are both working actors.

The class is designed for children ages 10 to 18. Performances are filmed, which allows the students to see what works and what doesn’t.

“When you view yourself on the screen, you start to comprehend how you are presenting yourself in the world,” Lori Carhart said. “This makes for a little detective work that stirs the interest of the actor.”

The Carharts are currently using the same techniques to coach students. Skye Braband, a 13-year old Lindero Middle School student, wrote an original performance piece for this year’s National History Day. Skye’s depiction of Thomas Jefferson defending his actions to 21st century critics was polished with the help of the Carharts.

Skye won the performance category of the competition and will perform his piece at the regional History Day competition in March. “They really taught me a lot of acting secrets I didn’t know,” Skye said. Taryn Braband, Skye’s mother, said, “The Carharts took my son’s acting and performance to a whole new level.”

Emily Harrison, a Carhart student, and also a student at Lindero, just landed the lead role for her school’s performance of “Guys and Dolls.” “It was a tough little play,” Emily said, explaining that the role of Adelaid required her to use a strong New York accent.

The Carharts, she said, helped her nail the accent, as well as prepare her to portray the character more authentically.

“We get them up in front of the camera right away.” Timothy Carhart said. “It’s amazing how fast people can learn by watching themselves and having everyone watch them with an objective eye. The camera serves as a productive learning tool.”

Later in the Spring, Tube Star Studio will also offer a creative course for kids and teens interested in producing a video for YouTube, the popular internet site. Students will learn about scripts, casting, lighting, shooting and video editing. The YouTube prep program will run for two weekends in April.

The Carharts have ample acting credits between them. Timothy Carhart played Harlan in the movie, “Thelma and Louise,” and has been in more than 100 feature films, t.v. movies and shows, including, “Law and Order,” Fraser”, “Roseanne,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” and many others. Lori Carhart has appeared in over 100 commercials in the last 25 years.

We’ve all heard the horror stories about frauds who promise your kid an acting career, just to steal your dreams and money. How can you know the Carharts are legitimate? Just look at their credits: Tim and Lori Carhart are industry professionals, with over 50 years combined experience and far too many credits to list. Tim has acted in over 100 roles in film, television, movies of the week and on Broadway (he starred in “Streetcar Named Desire,” opposite Jessica Lange and Alec Baldwin).

Lori has acted in over 100 national and regional commercials. She wrote and starred in the film “Just for Kicks,” playing Dylan and Cole Sprouse’s mother (“Suite Life of Zak and Cody” on Disney Channel).] With the Carharts’ professionalism and authentic acting techniques, your child will receive a strong acting foundation that is legitimate, exciting and expansive, in a class they will love:

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CONTACT: tubestarstudio.com / 818-917-1357 LORI’S COMMERCIALS: {Partial List} Over 100 national and regional commercials, including Sears w/Tye Pennington, Payless Shoes, White Rain, Maxwell House Coffee, Crystal Light, TGI Fridays, and many more.

TIM’S T.V. and FILM CREDITS: {Partial List} Lie to Me, 24, Frasier, CSI, Twilight Zone, Law & Order, Any Day Now, The Practice, Touched By An Angel, 30-Something, The X-Files, Judging Amy, Roseanne, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Black Sheep, Beverly Hills Cop 3, Hunt for Red October, Witness, The Manhattan Pro-ject, Ghost Busters, Working Girl, and many more. For complete resume, see imdb.com.

Stop dreaming and call Tube Star today!

(818)917-1357

18

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March 19, 2010 • THE ARROW

19

SPORTS

March 19, 2009 • THE ARROW

Golfers Begin Season Undefeated

PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE GIBSON

erhouse WHS boys’ team.

Team leader Jake Katz ‘10 and Chris Doyle ‘10 led the way posting low scores of 68 and 69. This premiere score illustrates this year’s team’s abilities to post scores just as promising as those from last year.

Despite losing four strong golfers last year (Brandon Hagy, Marshall Colby, Cole Seeger, and Justin Edwards), the team retains talent with the return of multiple players such as seniors Doyle and Katz, juniors Matt Imbrogno and Tim Snyder, and sophomore Brandon Shaw.

Last year’s team went all the way to the CIF State Finals and finished third overall. Although this year’s team may not be stacked with as many seniors, they are definitely ready to win more titles and matches and pursue FORE: Tim Snyder ‘11 prepares to drive the balll off the tee. yet another chance at the State Finals.

Charlotte Gibson This year, the team will be comprised Staff Writer of 26 golfers from both the Varsity and JV teams. With six of the seven returning At their first match of the year, the varsity letter men playing, Coach Dave boys’ golf team proved that they still reign Costley said, “We have a solid four and I supreme posting a 367 at Soule Park in will rotate the rest of the players in and out Ojai on March 1. They were only nine to see if we can get our best fifth and sixth strokes behind last year’s dominant pow- player by tournament time.”

The top four players are Doyle, Katz, Shaw, and Snyder; however, juniors Tyler Soosman, Imbrogno, Matt Weitz and freshman Brock Drogosch will be rotating in matches to give a complete balance of different talents within the varsity team.

Doyle and Katz feel confident in their team this year.

“I feel that we can go undefeated,” Katz said. “However, we know that we can have a bad day at any given time. I think that we can easily get past the first round of CIF, but for all the rounds after that, we need to play our best which is not out of reach.”

With strong talent and strong hopes for the season, team leaders Doyle and Katz agreed that “a top six needs to be established that can play consistent golf.”

In addition to the seniors, Coach Costley believes that “this year’s team can make it just as far as last year’s, although they will need to play consistently and never fall behind.”

With similar low scoring averages, both seniors Doyle and Katz will play as number one and number two on the team.

“I will practice hard and try to help be one of the team leaders with Jake and hopefully promote better play out of our team,” said Doyle.

These veterans on the boys golf team plan on finishing their senior year strong with another Marmonte League and CIF title on their records.

On Monday, March 15, the boys’ golf team played at Wilson Golf Course at Griffith Park, where they posted a score of 397 against Valencia High School putting the team 7-0 overall.

Varsity Track and Field Starts Off on the Right Foot Aaron Demsetz Feature Editor

CLEAR: Adam Augustyn ‘12 stretches over a hurdle at the meet against Birmingham High School.

Varsity Baseball Defeats Moorpark in League Opener Haley Pearson Staff Writer The seventh inning hot bats of the Yelich brothers—Collin ‘12 and Christian ‘10—gave the Warriors a come-frombehind 8-7 victory against Moorpark to lead off Marmonte League play last Wednesday on Westlake’s home field.

The team had the lead going into the sixth inning but then gave up four runs to give Moorpark a 6-5 lead.

Collin’s double in the seventh tied the game, setting up his brother for the winning single. Collin also hit a home run earlier in the game.

Needless to say, the team is feeling optimistic by starting the season 4-2, 1-0 in league meets.

They have maintained a balance of experienced players and promising underclassmen in this year’s starting lineup.

In the first official game, which was against Ventura, Christian Yelich broke the record for the WHS batting average, previously untouched for over two decades.

Coach Zach Miller expects the biggest obstacle in the season to come not from any opponent, but from the team itself.

“We’re only competing against ourselves,” he said.

This is not to say that the team is by any means struggling. With veterans like Tim Wise ‘10 protecting on-base threats and Christian Yelich defending the left infield, the team is feeling hopeful.

Coach Miller also described their underrated pitching staff as more “crafty” and “efficient” than most competitors give them credit for.

With the pitching of Danny Nieves ‘10 and consistency of Cameron Cuneo ‘10, the team’s uniquely left-hand-dominant

pitching is turning into something to watch out for. “There’s a special emphasis on every pitch,” said Coach Miller.

Though seniors make up the majority of the starting lineup, underclassmen are just as strong a threat.

This is especially the case in the eyes of someone who most on the varsity team refer to as “Little Yelly.” Collin Yelich is the younger brother to the highly publicized Christian Yelich.

Coach Miller described the relationship between the brothers on the field as supportive when it comes to achieving their dreams.

The Warriors were competing in the Easton Tournament for the past two weeks, and finished with a record of 3-2.

Varsity will play at Calabasas on Friday at 3:30 p.m. and then return to the homefield to face off with Santa Monica on Saturday at 11 a.m.

PHOTO BY SAM WEXLER

On March 11, WHS matched up against Birmingham Senior High School in the year’s first track and field meet, culminating in the team’s first victory of the season.

Stellar athletes such as Sam DeMello ‘10 in the boys 1600 meter varsity run and 400 meter dash, Nicki Ghazarian ‘12 in the girls 1600 meter run, and Adam Augustyn ‘12 in the boys 110 meter hurdles and triple jump won their events.

Also victorious were Jaymee Gray ‘12 and Brian Brousseau ‘11 in high jump.

The track and field team’s victory at the Birmingham meet sets the team up for a great season ahead. With WHS boys’ events scoring 79 points to Birmingham’s 57 and girls’ events scoring 70 points to Birmingham’s 61, the team can look forward to their first league meet against El Camino Real and Oak Park and hope to perform just as well.

Without breaking a stride, the

Westlake track and field team then competed in the Ventura Invitational on March 13th. There, Westlake’s 4x1600 boys’ relay team posted the 3rd fastest time in the state.

“It was a fun race for both the spectators and the atheletes. Westlake’s first place finish in the distance medley on Saturday shows that we have a wellbalanced team, with high expectations for future races,” said James McAfee ‘10.

Fourteen rival schools, including Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, and Royal, competed at the meet against WHS. Athletes obtained some hard-earned medals and new personal records.

The track and field team has benefited from an abundance of new athletes on the team.

These new additions put the total at over 200 members, allowing for a wide range of new skill to enter the team.

One can expect to see great things from this year’s team, as well as teams in the years to come.

Snyder, Laguna Lead Wrestling Jacob Cavanah Entertainment Editor Junior wrestlers Jake Snyder, 154 lbs., and Shane Laguna, 162 lbs., are both Marmonte League champions.

“Prior to this year, Jake was looked at as a leader. He put in the hours and hard work in the offseason.

Everybody looked up to him in the room; he’s such a great guy,” explained teammate Sterling Jackson ‘11.

“Shane was looked at as a leader as well. He was very quiet in the room, but when he stepped on the mat it was go time. He never gave up; he wrestled until he heard a whistle.

He fights through every match, even through a triple overtime, and that’s a guy I look up to and want to be,” he added.

Along with being a league champion, Snyder also had the honor of being named the Marmonte League Most Outstanding Varsity Wrestler 2010, a well-deserved recognition.

“After not placing at CIF last year, I realized how much it would take for me to really find success in this sport. From that day on I spent the majority of my free time practicing and used nearly every weekend of my summer traveling to seek out the most challenging competition in the state. I also spent the month of July training at a Minnesota wrestling camp,” explained Snyder.

All of the dedication he has towards wrestling resulted in his achievements this season.

“The main improvement was a change in my mental strength. It gave me confidence to know that nearly nobody had done so much work, and that I couldn’t be more prepared,” said Snyder.

An injury that occurred at CIF unfortunately ended his memorable season, but Snyder is confident that he can repeat the success he had this year.

“I have proven myself to myself, and I know that whatever my goal for next year is, as long as I work for it, it’s within reach,” said Snyder.

Laguna put in a lot of time this offseason to improve his wrestling this season too.

“I trained at least four days a week: speed, strength, and conditioning. I practiced wrestling three nights a week also, and over summer I went to two pretty intense camps, one at Oregon State University and the other at the famous Kistler Camp in Riverside,” said Laguna.

He was determined to make this season a success. “I would say that the work I put in during the off season was by far the biggest reason that I went from non-qualifying to League Champion,” he added.

Laguna’s motivation for this year was the disappointing finish last season.

He now knows how to turn last year’s losses into wins. His confidence has gone up significantly because of his improvement.

“My biggest motivation is to achieve what I know I am capable of, and of course, being the first Westlake wrestler to go to state or to win CIF wouldn’t be bad either,” said Laguna.

Laguna and Snyder were able to motivate the team through their achievements this season and have made the rest of their teammates recognize what must be done to accomplish what they have.

“I can’t wait to see what they have in store for next season,” said Jackson.

20

SPORTS

Swim Team Dives into New Season

March 19, 2010 • THE ARROW

Hanna Hong Staff Writer

STROKE BY STROKE: (Above) Conrad Aleks ‘10 swims the 50-meter freestyle. (Below) Swimmers begin the 200-meter freestyle relay. (Right) Thomas Ziccardi dives into the pool.

PHOTOS BY SAM WEXLER

With two previous CIF titles and numerous Marmonte League championships, the WHS Swim Team enters another season of competitive rivalry. Each year the WHS swim team manages to acquire key swimmers who contribute to years of overall domination during meets, and this year is no exception.

When asked what advantages WHS has over other schools, Coach Todd Irmas explained “Westlake has both talent and depth this year.”

He hopes with the “talented line up” and “strong swimmers,” WHS can continue its streak of another undefeated season.

“The girls’ team will secure yet another league title, because Westlake simply has the most talent and depth in the Marmonte League,” stated Nora Darago ‘10. Besides being a four-year high school swimmer and one of the valedictorians of her class, Darago will continue to work on improving her times. She also hopes to “even out [her] tan lines.”

Similarly, Hayley Preston ‘12—a transfer this year who “definitely makes the girls’ team the favorite to win league,” stated Irmas—is also trying to better her times. She “wants to place in the top three

in the 100 backstroke and top eight in the 200 freestyle” at CIF this year.

Preston, like other swimmers, is training to qualify for CIF this season. With the girls defending their previous CIF title, Darago explaied, “we have large shoes to fill this year. With the loss of three senior club swimmers last year, this year’s CIF might be the closest yet.”

With a good start so far, both the girls’ and boy’s team defeated Newbury Park High School last Friday, they are one step closer to accomplishing their goals.

Boys Tennis Takes Charge in Opening Matches Tiffany Loh Editor-in-Chief With a solid first win against Taft High School (13-5) and a recent 18-0 win against Hart, the WHS boys varsity tennis team is ready to start a competitive spring season.

Besides having intense practices after school every day, the team is mainly composed of returning players from last year, giving the Warriors the advantage of more experience.

Micah Smith ‘10 feels confident about the team’s experience and expressed a determination to beat Thousand Oaks— “main competition”—this year.

In addition, between last year’s season and this year’s, many players have made “huge improvement,” said Smith.

“We are still adjusting to the lineup and our teammates’ strengths and weaknesses, but we are confident in how the season will turn out for us,” said Josh Lefkovitch ‘10.

This year, the singles players include Zach Drost ‘10 and Mitch Krems ‘12.

Double teams are: Smith and Richie Greentree ‘11, Brian Ho ‘12 and Harrison Han ‘12, and Adam Kane ‘11 and Brett Kaplan ‘12.

Led by senior captains Drost, Kevin Weiss ‘10, and Clyde Lee ‘10, the boys

team is aiming to win Marmonte League this year.

Although WHS lost to Dos Pueblos High School (8-10), the match was extremely close and has only inspired the athletes to work even harder.

“We’ve had some good non-league matches against tough opponents,” said Drost.

“I’m proud of the way our guys kept fighting and performed on the court. We hope to gain some momentum heading into our league matches this week. Our team is very strong from top to bottom and our goal is a league championship,” he added.

Basketball Finishes Memorable Season Jacob Cavanah Entertainment Editor

PHOTOS BY SAM WEXLER

A tough 60-52 loss to Damien ended the Warriors’ basketball playoff season hopes.

Following the first playoff game, in which the they took care of Rio Mesa 84-59, the Warriors were not able to repeat their success at home against Damien.

“The difference was our shooting percentage and Damien’s inside presence compared to Rio Mesa,” said Head Coach Tom Donahue. The lack of experience that the Warriors had going against a dominant player in the paint hurt them significantly.

“We should have concentrated a bit more on their big man. Also, they played zone all year and unexpectedly came out in a man to man,” added Donahue.

Despite the loss, the Warriors accomplished much this season and are proud of their overall performance.

The players noticed a team improvement as well. The Warriors’ chemistry was built on everybody on the team being on the same page and each individual knowing his role. Their great connection encouraged team and individual successes.

“I had a huge responsibility as far as being a leader goes, not only because I’m a senior but because I was co captain as well,” said JJ Koss ‘10. “The younger players look up to me because I’ve been there before, and if I can keep my composure, it sets an example for everyone else.”

Senior captain Mark Friedman and co-captain Koss both took on the role of

HOOP DREAMS: JJ Koss shooting from outside during a season game

being team leaders during the year, which benefited the success of the team, and the play from other seniors and the younger varsity players.

“Mark Friedman gave us a great example of what every player should model himself after,” said Michael Topper ‘11. “He always worked hard and was always ready to play the game. He never complained and was supportive of the team. His work ethic was outstanding, and he helped us all become better players.”

“Even though you don’t get a lot of

playing time during the game, getting moved up gets you mentally prepared and gives you an idea of what varsity is going to be like next year,” said Dan Schneider ‘11. Schneider and sophomore Quinton Weinerman, who played junior varsity this past season, also have an advantage for next year because they received the opportunity to play and practice with varsity during the playoffs. “In a short period of time I found out that playing at the varsity level is much more serious and takes a lot more work than at the other levels,” Schneider continued.

Since most of the kids have been playing together since elementary school on travel teams and in NJB, the chemistry for next year’s team is expected to be a factor in the team’s success. The players all get along well, and understand each others’ strengths and weaknesses.

“Playing wise, we have a group of well-rounded players who are all fast,” said Topper. “Quickness will be a key advantage in this upcoming season. We should be able to run every team off the court.”

Even though a good portion of the varsity players from this season are graduating, next year’s team is “fully equipped with shooters, ball handlers, rebounders, passers, and aggressive offensive players.” Next year can only go uphill for the Warriors.

“Next season looks very promising, and we are prepared to reload,” said Donahue. “I will miss the seniors. Not only are they very good players, they are great kids as well.”

Some of the team’s strongest rivals are Calabasas and Thousand Oaks High School.

“The match against TOHS is going to be really intense,” said Smith. However, although TOHS was ranked #2 in the nation the previous year, “they have lost some of their strong players, so hopefully, we will have a good match with them,” he said.

With their determination, the boys are ready to compete in an intense season.

Winter Season Recap Girls Soccer

The WHS girls soccer team advanced to the first CIF game at the end of the season. With an intense game against Trabuco Hills, WHS scored the first half with high hopes of a win, but later in the second half Trabuco Hills tied the game 1-1. Entering sudden death, the girls endured two tenminute halves that were intended to end the game. Unfortunately, no one scored so the two teams went to penalty kicks as the resulting factor. With WHS falling short, the girls ended the season soon after. However, even with this loss, the girls finished the season with a 6-4-4 record and first in league.

Wrestling

With three male wrestlers who advanced to CIF, the WHS Wrestling Team ended the season on a good note. Freshman Amir Hassan experienced how it felt to wrestle some of the best of his weight division at CIF, while Jake Snyder ‘11 knows how it feels to be the best. Snyder was seeded first in his weight class and placed first in league prior to CIF. Unfortunately, due to a hurt back, Snyder had to forfeit his semifinals match, leading to the end of his season. Junior Shane Laguna also participated in CIF and concluded at a 4-2 record.

Girls Water Polo

With one of the most successful seasons to date, the WHS girls water polo team surpassed expectations. As second in league and with a record of 8-4, the girls advanced to CIF and gave it their all. They dominated against Mark Keppel High in the first round of CIF, but concluded the season when they went against Villa Park High in the second round.

Compiled by Hanna Hong