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Page 2 Seniors win Powderpuff game.
Westlake High School VOLUME XXXIV, ISSUE 8
Page 16 Page 12 Ean Silbar demonstrates the struggles of junior year.
100 N. LAKEVIEW CANYON ROAD, WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 91362
Tennis player Matt Gottlieb helped the team take 2nd place in League. May 25, 2012
Club Hosts Annual Art Show and Competition Catlett takes first place after student and faculty voting this week participate in the show to display their hidden talents, not necessarily just the art students, but Three artists, Amanda anybody who wants to,” said Art Catlett ‘12 (1st place), Troy Yama- Teacher John Farmer. Different mediums were saki ‘12 (2nd place), and Kayla Johari ‘15 (3rd place), were rec- used to create a variety of pieces. ognized for their creativity in the Artwork on display was split into four separate categories. On the school’s annual Art Show. right side of The cafetethe mural were ria was transfine arts, which formed by adincluded paintditional WHS ings and drawstudent artists. ings. The left From May 18 side displayed to May 23, both photography walls that line and computer the mural outgraphics. side of the the“I think atre displayed that the art various art show is a fanforms created tastic opportuby students. nity for artists This year, to showcase the school’s antheir hard nual Art Show work and share did not have a Amanda Catlett earned first place for their talents specific theme. her portrait of an old man. with fellow All WHS stustudents,” dents, not said Sherry only the ones Huang ’13. in art classes, In adwere welcome dition to to submit their sharing stuartwork to the dents’ artshow. work with Students their peers, and faculty Kayla Johari's Howl's Moving Castle; it fourth gradvoted on their won third place in the competition. ers from favorite piecCVUSD vises. WHS’s Art Club awarded cash prizes to the ited to view the art show as part entries that were voted as the of the Focus on the Arts program. “So much time and labor is overall favorites. Various prizes were given to the first three place put into these masterpieces. It is very rewarding to be recognized winners. “The intent of the show is to for the work we put in,” cominvite all students on campus to mented Huang. Michelle Noyes News Editor
Nicolette Blatt Staff Writer Newsweek recently released its ranking of high schools throughout the country. WHS is still number one in Ventura County, but it moved to 29th on the list of top high schools in California. WHS ranked 240th in the nation. Newsweek based their calculations on six components as selfreported by principals and other administrators: graduation rate, college matriculation rate, AP tests taken per student, average SAT/ ACT score, average AP score, and AP courses offered per student. According to U.S. News and World Report, WHS is currently ranked 59th in California and 307 in the nation. U.S. News calculated the scores on student performance on state exit exams and internationally available exams on college level courses. Assistant Principal of Instruction, Nicole Judd commented on the
news, "We are aware that the number moved and are in the process of evaluating the criteria that was used." According to The Daily Beast website the four main criteria were assigned the greatest percentages: •Four-year, on-time graduation rate (25%): the rate is calculated by dividing the number of graduates in 2011 by the number of ninth graders in 2007. •Percent of 2011 graduates accepted to college (25%): the proportion of graduates who were accepted to either a two- or four-year college for matriculation starting the fall after graduation. •AP/IB/AICE tests per student (25%): the total number of AP, IB, and AICE tests given in 2011, divided by the total enrollment in order to normalize by school size. •Average SAT and/or ACT score (10%).
PHOTO BY MICHELLE NOYES
PHOTOS BY EMILY GUERRA
WHS Ranks 29th in Newsweek’s Annual List
OH CRAW-DADDY!: Erickson talks with biology student Madison Simons about crayfish anatomy.
Erickson Selected Teacher of the Year Chamber of Commerce Recognizes Science Teacher for His Commitment to Students Michelle Noyes News Editor Teachers, administrators, the Thousand Oaks Chamber of Commerce, and community members gathered in the Carpenter Family Theatre to watch the Teacher of the Year Award presented to one hard working WHS teacher. On May 9 WHS science teacher Darin Erickson followed up his Teacher of the Month award with a subsequent award, Teacher of the Year. In response to the recognition, Erickson said,”I am overwhelmed with the award. I feel extremely humbled and grateful.” The week before on April 25
Erickson won the Teacher of the Month award which is given out 10 times a year. Winning Teacher of the Month automatically put him in the running to win the Teacher of the Year award as well. “To be recognized for your work by the Chamber of Commerce is a tremendous honor. I was very pleasantly surprised,” commented Erickson about his May Teacher of the Month award. Erickson was awarded with a plaque among many other prizes. His favorite prizes were the food gift cards. “For those that know me they know how much I love to eat. I love all food so pretty much any one of those food gift cards was equally the best and some
were to my favorite restaurants so that was like icing on the cake,” said Erickson. When Erickson first started teaching at WHS he did not think it would become his full-time job. “He is so different from any other teacher I have had and love his class, he really deserves Teacher of the Year,” said biology student Alexis Jurgens ‘15. Erickson was very grateful for the award “I love this school, I love working here, I love kids, and to be awarded like that is just a tremendous honor.” Members of the faculty brought Erickson’s son Kyle into the auditorium during the Common Planning Time, so he could see his father receive the award.
UC/CSU See Enrollment Drop Liz Mossessian Feature Editor Over the past decade, admission rates have steadily declined at California four-year universities. Despite the influx of students graduating, reaching an all-time high of 405,000 in 2010, the acceptance of applications has not paralleled this trend; instead, it has plummeted dramatically. While high school graduates are getting increasingly competitive, so have university demands for increased funds. State budgets have declined by an estimated $1.6 billion in the last decade. Although graduates applying to California universities are eligible, well-rounded profile students, reduced funds have made the enrollment process much more selective. At CSU and UC schools, enrollment has dropped by one-
fifth, to fewer than 18% of all state high school graduates in 2010, from about 22% in 2007. Such universities dependent on state budgets have been forced to adopt new methods of dealing with the crisis in budget management. Semester tuitions have been raised, leaving students unable to pay for education, courses offered previously have been narrowed down and minimized, and placement availability has been limited, resulting in capped enrollment. Ironically, California devotes a higher percentage of the state budget to correction facilities in comparison to that of public universities. Doesn’t that say something about our state’s budget priorities? California Governor Jerry Brown proposed a tax measure that would increase state budgets dedicated to public universities.
This year alone, such funding has lost $750 million and, if this extra tax measure fails to pass, it will lose another $200 million. Such unfair distribution of funds has left families struggling over providing a high level education for their graduates and seeking all different forms of financial aid. What was supposed to be a fallback option available to any student, community colleges have also been left on the sidelines. While they have not necessarily decreased in acceptance, class sizes have experienced a significant hike in numbers and previously available programs have been removed. Transfer students are now left dependent in out-of-state university acceptance, numbers increasing by 36% in just three years, from 13,909 in 2007 to 18,964 transfer students in 2010.
News
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May 25, 2012 • The Arrow
Class of 2012 Repeats Powderpuff Victory Two Seniors Receive Reagan Scholarships
WHS Students Recognized As Star Scholars Three WHS seniors, Kevin S. Chian, Kevin Yin, and Joyce Zhang were recognized for their academic accomplishments as Ventura County Star Scholars. The honored students were acknowledged not only for their impressive GPA, but also for their school activities and community service.
New Cyber High Recovery Class Available
Starting fall semester of the 2012-2013 school year, WHS will be offering a Cyber High Recovery class for students to make up credits to fulfill high school graduation requirements. The class will be offered to all grade levels, with students who are the most credit deficient having priority registration. Cyber High Recovery will count as CP credit in the UC system while filling a core credit needed for graduation.
FBLA Advances to National Competition
Three members from the WHS branch of Future Business Leaders of America placed at the State convention, one of them advancing to nationals. Inez Lam ‘12 placed fourth in Healthcare Administration, and Allen Li ‘12 secured sixth in Cyber Security and fourth in Computer Problem Solving. Bharath Mohan ‘14 placed third in Introduction to Technology Concepts in addition to first place at Cyber Security. Mohan will compete in the latter event at the national convention at San Antonio, Texas, from June 29-July 2. “Considering this is our second year, I feel the students were well prepared,” said Laurie Looker, the club adviser.
Girls Water Polo Team Enjoys Unique Banquet
A banquet for all the girls CIF Waterpolo players was held on May 6 at Knotts Berry Farm Resort in Buena Park. WHS was the only CVUSD high school to have such a unique celebration. At the banquet Madison Lyon ‘13 received a second team all- CIF award, and Emily Kerchner ‘13 earned a third team all- CIF award for Division II.
Student Wins CRPD Logo Design Contest
In 2013, Conejo Recreation and Park District will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with a new logo. CRPD set up a logo contest (entries were due Jan. 27, 2012) and invited high school students in the area to participate. The five finalists chosen were WHS students Fandi Lin ‘12, Gabrielle Breiter ‘13, Dylan Leung ‘12, Tyler Hom ‘12, and Kevin Chen ‘12. These students designed a logo using only four solid colors; they could not use or base their designs on pre existing designs (besides the current CRPD logo and tree). The judges announced Lin as the winner on March 29. The logo will be used for letterheads, giveaways, T-shirts, and more in celebration of the anniversary.
BUBBLES, BLOSSOM, AND BUTTERCUP: Junior Ashlie Bridge-Jackson runs for a touchdown against the senior Powderpuff team.
Shannon Reiffen Feature Editor
The 2012 Powderpuff game where a group of female Juniors battled a group of female Seniors, was held May 23 on the Warrior football field. Both teams played competitively and aggressively in a game that was a nail biter down to the end.
The Class of 2012, who dominated the class of 2011 last year, had much to prove in this game, driven to hang on to their crown. The game was close, but the seniors took home the win, 14-6. In an exciting game of four 10-minute quarters, Courtney Birkett ‘12 scored both touchdowns for the seniors. Once a year, the WHS football play-
35 Juniors Accepted into NHS
Lauren Chin News Editor
The 2012-13 inductees for the WHS Chapter of National Honor Society include 35 juniors, who will be honored at an induction ceremony on Tuesday, May 29 in the WHS Library. Parents, grandparents, and siblings are all invited to support the
2012-13 NHS Members: Matt Bishop Morgan Butler Jihwan (Brian) Chang Jane Chen Lisa Cheng Harry Chung Woody Chung Samantha Doctrow Kyle Erickson Yangzi (Jessie) Guo Lauren Harris Amir Hassan Vasant Iyer Stacey Kane Tiffanie Kim Paul Kwon Chris Lam
students who will receive the honor of membership in the Warrior Honors Chapter of NHS. Students will have various responsibilities and expectations in the prestigious club. National Honor Society requires its members to attend monthly meetings and to participate in different service projects throughout the year.
Joshua Lam Elizabeth Mossessian Grace Ng Nathan Noh Olivia Rothschild Josefina San Martin Arantxa Sanchez-Cruz Efthimia Sklavenitis Julia Shi Josephine Strauss Jacqueline Teobaldi Stephanie Thomas Jeremy Tran Kevin Wang Lily Wang Michael Wen Derek Yu Amanda Zhou
Thousand Oaks Library Invites Teens to Participate in Summer Reading Club
Dylan Moore Staff Writer
WHS teens are encouraged to participate in the Thousand Oaks Library’s Teen Summer Reading Club. “Own the Night” is the theme of the club, and it will be reaching for the stars this summer at the T.O. Library. The club runs from June 11 to Aug. 5. Teens in both middle school and high school are invited to join the club during that time by going to the library or by signing up online on the library web site at http://www.tol.lib.ca.us/teens. As teens read and submit online book rating forms for each book they read or audio book they listen to, they will be entered in weekly drawings for chances to win gift card prizes for electronics, books, pizza, frozen yogurt, movie tickets, and more. At the end of the summer, all club members who have submitted book rating forms will be entered in an Oaks Mall Gift Card Grand
PHOTO BY STACEY KANE
Two WHS seniors Ashley Chang and Jada Webster received scholarship awards from the Ronald Reagan Scholarship Foundation in recognition for their scholastic achievements, community service, extra-curricular activities, and character. They and 12 other honorees, Lisa Battaglia, Gabrielle Bloch, Stephanie Caranica, Aaron Demsetz, Rohail Hameed, Isabell Lee, Allen Li, Alexandra Ozder, Zak Shellabarger, Melissa Weiner, Haikuo (Kevin) Yin, Dashiell Young-Saver were recognized at a ceremony and dinner held at the Reagan Library on May 16.
Prize Drawing. Teens who join the reading club can also qualify to win other prizes by entering other contests. To encourage teens to stop by the library more often, the library will host weekly puzzles and other brain teasers. Students who answer the questions correctly will be eligible for prizes. The library is also offering programs for teens at the Grant R. Brimhall and Newbury Park Branch libraries such as Wii gaming tournaments, acting and writing workshops, and after-hours movie programs. The library hopes that the programs will encourage more teens to read and “Own the Night” at the T.O. Library this summer. It doesn’t matter whether you are entering your first year of middle school or your last year of high school—the T.O. Library Teen Summer Reading Club is for kids of all ages and reading abilities. The Summer Reading Club is a great way to stay focused over the summer as well as expand your literature horizons.
ers trade in their helmets and pads for tshirts and whistles, as their role switches from player to coach with the arrival of the Powderpuff football game. The seniors and juniors competed in a fierce battle of flag football. The head coach of the senior team, Jose Muguerza ‘12 said, “Powderpuff is fun because it takes us back to when football wasn’t so serious, and we can just enjoy ourselves.” Trained in rudimentary football skills by varsity football players in their respective grades, each of the teams practiced for weeks in advance. All the hard work came into play at the main event, which attracted a fairly large audience. “Powderpuff is a great team bonding experience,” said team member Shelby Sterling ‘12. The road to Powderpuff was not easy, however, as there were rumors of conflicts. But Dean of Activities Brandy LaRue and Social Science teacher Christina Harrison, who helped coordinate the event, put a stop to the rumors in the very beginning, and the game proceeded as planned. Each team came to school in their jerseys and coaches dressed up in suits and ties. The seniors gathered at the bottom of the parking lot to play music and pump up the players and the rest of the senior class.
College Board Implements New Rules
Shayna Kudler Staff Writer
The SAT and ACT college-entrance exams are imposing new rules beginning in the 2012-13 school year. Between 2008 and 2011, a New York cheating scandal broke out, causing concern for test takers. Twenty students from Long Island were arrested after paying college students thousands of dollars to take the SAT and ACT for them. Next year, students who register to take the SAT and ACT will have to mail or upload a photo of themselves that will be published on their ticket. On the day of the test, students will present a photo identification of themselves that will be checked with the ticket. Another rule the College Board and ACT have established is that all students are required to sign up ahead of time and cannot switch tests or locations. Criminal charges can result if a student imitates another and now students are required to sign an updated certification statement acknowledging the consequence. Students taking the exam across the country will have a fairer chance with these new security rules being put in place.
Final Exam Schedule
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
7:00 - 9:00 Period 1 Exam 9:07 - 9:51 Period 2 9:58 - 10:42 Period 3 10:49 - 11:33 Period 4 11:40 - 12:24 Period 5 12:24 - 1:04 Lunch 1:10 - 1:54 Period 6 2:01 - 2:45 Period 7 Wednesday, June 6, 2012 8:00 - 10:00 Period 2 Exam 10:00 - 10:14 Break/Passing Time 10:20 - 12:20 Period 3 Exam 12:20 Dismissal Thursday, June 7, 2012 8:00 - 10:00 Period 4 Exam 10:00 - 10:14 Break/Passing Time 10:20 - 12:20 Period 5 Exam 12:20 Dismissal Friday, June 8, 2012 8:00 - 10:00 Period 6 Exam 10:00 - 10:14 Break/Passing Time 10:20 - 12:20 Period 7 Exam 12:20 Dismissal
Feature
May 25, 2012 • The Arrow
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Five Teachers Make Retirement Plans Flanderka’s Dedication to Tennis Unmatched
Ettaro Leaves 42-year Legacy Lisa Battaglia
Photo By Brian Chang
Monica Huskins
Staff Writer Dedicating 34 years to WHS is just one of the many accomplishments of P.E. teacher and tennis coach Connie Flanderka. Although Flanderka is retiring from teaching, she will continue to coach the girls and boys tennis programs. Teaching for such a long period of time takes passion and generosity which Flanderka clearly possesses; she has coached the girls tennis program since WHS opened in 1978. In addition to her 34 years at WHS, Flanderka has taught an array of courses for 39 years including Physical Education, Adapted Physical Education,
Biology, Health, and elementary classes. She has coached the boys tennis program for nine years. “I have some of the best memories and have thoroughly enjoyed my teaching experience,” said Flanderka. Apart from the joy she receives from teaching and coaching, Flanderka also enjoys hearing from past students and teaching or coaching the children of past students. “Having played on the tennis team for four years, I have seen Mrs. Flanderka’s drive and dedication. I am very glad she will continue to inspire the tennis team for even more years to come,” said Elise Bass ‘12. Spanish teacher Cheri Blackburn has known Flanderka for 20 years. She describes Flanderka as being, “welcoming, generous, and kind-hearted.” Flanderka “would give you her last penny,” said Blackburn. The kindness and compassion Flanderka resonates touches everyone, from fellow teachers to students. She looks forward to retirement and plans to spend her well-deserved free time reading and traveling. No doubt Flanderka will be missed from teaching, but the tennis program is lucky to still have such a vital leader.
Prezzano Looks Forward to Travel Courtesy Photo Photo By Genna Gmeiner
photo by genna gmeiner
David Huang Staff Writer
Orly Greenberg Feature Editor
After educating students for the past 28 years, math teacher Janice Prezzano is retiring. However, the decision to end her teaching career did not come without careful consideration. Prezzano started at St. Xavier College
in Chicago, Illinois where she grew up. Prezzano notes that she always desired to be an educator, explaining, “I knew I wanted to teach math, and I always wanted to be a teacher. I thought I could see different ways to do things and notice different patterns in math.” It was this inspiration that motivated Prezzano to enter the WHS staff almost 20 years ago. Since arriving at WHS, Prezzano has taught subjects ranging from Geometry to Algebra 2. After teaching for so long, Prezzano has many favorite aspects about teaching. However, her favorite part about teaching is “getting to meet the kids and the other people that I work with, and the challenge of teaching math. When I chose math, I thought it was a very unemotional subject and I found out that it’s not; it’s very emotional for some people!” said Prezzano. Had Prezzano not ended up a teacher, she believes her life would have led to a very different career: entrepreneurship. “If I were not a teacher, at this point in my life, I would probably go back
and become some sort of entrepreneur. Something probably involving technology. I don’t know if I could keep up with it anymore though!” explained Prezzano. While it is no small feat to retire after almost 30 years of teaching, Prezzano admits that she has her retirement years planned out. The teacher hopes to “take my dog for longer walks in the daylight which will be nice, travel with friends, and visit family in the United States and other countries.” Besides traveling, Prezzano has long fostered a passion for quilt making, which she hopes to pursue in her newly free schedule. “I want to seriously get into making art quilts because I’ve taken courses and tried my hand in that, and have lots of ideas running around in my head. I also have a lot of reading I want to do.” And while retirement will open a new chapter of Prezzano’s life, she has hundreds of memories she can look back fondly on. Her favorite? “Each time a student smiles when the math light bulb goes off inside his or her head.”
Petelin Prepares RV for Road Trip Michelle Noyes News Editor
Photo by Michelle Noyes
After teaching for 34 years at WHS, Thomas Petelin is in his final days as a U.S. History teacher. He is one of the few original teachers left at the school since it opened in 1978. Petelin spent one year at NPHS and four years at TOHS until he switched to WHS and has stayed ever since. “Everything was brand new. All the kids got to start the new traditions: the school colors, the school nickname, and all those types of things,” said Petelin as he reminisced about the opening of WHS 34 years ago. Over the years, he has taught a variety of subjects in the history department including United States History, Government, Economics, and California History. In addition, he has also taught P.E.
classes and coached the baseball team. “Not only do I work with him, but I was a student when he was teaching. He is a great guy and awesome to work with. He will be sorely missed,” commented his former student and Department Chair Mike Lynch. Petelin says when he retires he will most miss ”the camaraderie of the staff that I work with and the kids, just kind of the everyday routine that you get into.” After retiring, he is planning to travel the country in his RV. Petelin also hopes to work with Gettysburg or Williamsburg Foundation after retiring. He also is going to spend more time with his grandchildren. “My goal has always been that my kids enjoy my class. They got to learn some history and they enjoyed it. They came here, were not pressured to be here, learned history and walked away with a good feeling about what it is,” said Petelin.
Courtesy Photo
After 29 years of teaching, English teacher Ann Aroyan is retiring. She has enjoyed a career in education for five years in Ohio, and 24 years in Conejo Valley. She has been teaching at WHS for five years. Before teaching at WHS, she has taught at Los Cerritos Middle School and Ladera Elementary School, and she has worked as a beginning teacher consultant. From her years at WHS, she will remember the camaraderie among the English teachers and the science teachers on the third floor. “I appreciate her enthusiasm and her willingness to improve her teaching. Here she is pushing retirement after 29 years, and she still asks me, ‘What can I do better?’ That is why she is such a star,” said English Department Chair Lora Novak. Aroyan will also greatly miss the enthusiasm of the students: “It’s so fun to talk to my previous students who are now seniors and hear about their plans for the future.” Aroyan noticed that in the fall, the students all come in as strangers, but throughout the year, they all begin to bond, and that each class period develops its own personality. After retiring, she plans to move up to the Palo Alto area. To future teachers, Aroyan advises to “keep high expectations, because WHS is a phenomenal school.”
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spect. Let kids know that math is more than arithmetic, open their minds, have the goal to make it the best four years of math in high school so that they have choices, and keep standards up," said Ettaro. Ettaro has always tried to make her classroom comfortable and welcoming because "you can’t teach kids mathematics unless they want to walk into your room," she said. Her warm, loving qualities have made her a memorable math teacher and WHS will always remember from her that "math is beautiful."
Courtesy Photo
Aroyan to Settle in N. Calif.
Courtesy Photo
Math teacher Carmella Ettaro is retiring after teaching at WHS for 34 years since the school opened. Ettaro will leave behind an unforgettable legacy with her excellent math skills, wit, unconditional love for Bruce Spingsteen, and relationships with her colleagues and students. Ettaro started teaching in 1970 and has taught math classes at Pierce College and WHS. The math expert may continue to teach temporarily at Pierce later on but is planning to take some time off for traveling and family. Ettaro is looking forward to not getting up at 4:30 a.m. and feeling confined by a nine month schedule. The math teacher will mostly miss "the kids and the close friendships I've made at this school and I hope they continue afterwards," she said. Ettaro will remember all the memories within her classroom with her students. "There are so many fun times with the kids, lots of little funny memories," said Ettaro. Ettaro's most memorable classroom item is Pascal the Penguin who sits on her desk always available for comfort. "I don't know if he should stay and who would give him a home," said Ettaro. Her advice to future math teachers is to "treat students and colleagues with re-
Photo By Brian Chang
Editor-in-chief
Opinion
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A Dash of Sanity: One last call— Six lost “call”umns
Dashiell Young-Saver Editor-in-chief
I’m finishing this column the way it started—with silliness. Seniors, if you want a solemn and appreciative goodbye, please go to my senior reflection in the senior issue or talk to your mother in three months. For now, enjoy: Not many people know this (probably only me and a couple of hackers), but deep in the “documents” tab under “my documents” in the “miscellaneous documents” folder of my document storage device, there exist some documents. These aren’t just any old documents though, they are lost documents. They are unfinished and unpublished columns suffering from my neglect. Some are two lines, others are twenty. But they are all incomplete thoughts, floating around in cyberspace, waiting for a home. I once told a very good friend that there are three voices in my head, and they are always fighting. Two are crazy and the third is crazier. That’s why I can write satire. These columns were the casualties of those fights. Some incomplete thoughts were missed opportunities that had the potential to be good columns. Others... not so much. So, I figured, since it’s my last shot to publish something, I should give these lost columns a home. I have compiled small quotes from the beginnings of six lost pieces I never finished. Instead of writing a 600 word goodbye, I am giving you six different beginnings. Graduation is just a beginning for seniors, and, even though this column ends here, my writing won’t end, this newspaper won’t end, this school won’t end, and this world won’t end. The following beginnings are like our many possible futures—somewhat guided but still unclear, ready for more to come, waiting for fulfilling explanations and promised hope, and made possible by this great school. We will all feel a little lost while finding the future, but hopefully, like these columns, our futures will find a home. Lost column about general public restrooms: There remains only one truly beautiful place in the world. Sure, there are the flowing sewers of Cleveland, the soaring smoke stacks of Pittsburg, and the waves of golden, shimmering oil in the Gulf Coast, but there is only one place where there is true beauty: men’s public restrooms. They aren’t much to look at, but what makes them beautiful isn’t the scenery; it’s the atmosphere. It is the last place on Earth where men cooperate and understand one another. Lost column about cars: I pulled into my driveway just before midnight after doing…uh… let’s say charity work all night, when I saw a glow from across the street. Out of my neighbor’s garage was an unmistakably heavy fluorescent hue; the overhead lights poured out that unrelenting and annoying brightness that you would find in a doctor’s waiting room amidst entertaining magazines like “Staplers Gone Wild” or “The History of Walls Pt. 1.” It was the essence of fluorescence. It was the sole disturbance in an otherwise crisp and cool night. Lost column about Newt Gingrich’s plans to establish a state on the moon: On Tuesday, President Obama gave his State of the Union address, speaking to all the branches of government and the 50 states of the union. The day after, leading astrophysicist Newt Gingrich boldly stated that 50 states weren’t enough. By his second term, he plans to one-up Obama by addressing 51 states—the extra one being, of course, the moon. Lost column about female beautification: Snooki is a great model for feminism. Although she sold out her body to beautification, Snooki has conquered a professional field once dominated by men. She, quite literally, took control of “The Situation” and showed great strength in the process. She may show less strength though if you asked her to do a push-up with her enhanced body parts. Lost column about debt ceiling crisis: After Congress’s long-winded bickering over the debt-ceiling, Congressional approval ratings have, for the first time in many years, fallen below Congressional integrity ratings. In the eyes of many Americans, the legislature has confirmed that it is run by fat cats who are funded by special Wall Fannie-Pack Freddie-Mac Street interests perched on high ivory towers, thinking of ways to prey on the values and steal from the pockets of the “main streets” of America. Lost column about senior year workload: It is true what they say about senior year—it’s tough. I’m so busy splitting my time between napping and watching television, I never have any time to study or do work. And on top of all that, it is such a burden having to watch the juniors do all of their schoolwork. Who knows? Maybe one day, I will finish some of these… I propose a toast to the readers and to their new beginnings. Onwards and Upwards and Waywards, three cheers!
May 25, 2012 • The Arrow
Supersize U.S.
Americans overuse food, gasoline, and water resources Victoria Wang Staff Writer
Let’s face it: America is fat. And I don’t mean the people, though obesity is a part of the whole equation. I mean American consumption as a whole. According to the United Nations University, the US makes up 4.47% of the world’s population and 21.67% of the world’s GDP. That by itself isn’t a huge problem, but couple it with the stereotypical American habit of pleasure-spending without considering the consequences and it becomes a heavy strain on world resources. With the world population continuing to grow, consumption must be more conscientious and sustainable than ever. America needs to go on a diet. Here are some of the Big Macs and cheesecakes that we need to cut back on the most: Food It’s not just McDonald’s. Everywhere in America, food is being raised, stuffed, and slaughtered with the same brutal efficiency as industrial toothpicks. And we don’t need it. Billions of dollars’ worth of surplus food is shipped overseas, and still there are enough uneaten food scraps to make up over 12% of U.S. municipal solid waste, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Yet food industries continue to try every way possible to increase revenue, which means finding new ways to put more food into American stomachs. Corn is a good example. As recorded in The Omnivore’s Dilemma, corn has invaded one fourth of America’s 45,000 supermarket products (cereal, peanut butter, soft drinks, etc), often in the form of high fructose corn syrup. Because corn syrup is as fattening as any other sugar but doesn’t trigger the chemical reaction for feeling full, people are starting to eat more and more without even realizing it. As a result, diabetes and other overweight-related diseases are on the rise. An obesity epidemic is a clear indication that the overwhelming girth of our country’s food supply isn’t necessarily a good thing. However, this issue can be solved by each individual’s choice to buy only as much as he or she will actually eat, and buy locally grown produce. In the long run, this will force the big brand food industries to either cut their production or find some other outlet. Gasoline The Energy Information Administration reports that America uses 18.8 million barrels of oil per day—more than the next four biggest energy-guzzling nations (China, Japan, India, and Russia) combined. The environmental impact of oil drilling has come under fire in recent years. As the Gulf of Mexico disaster showed, drilling is difficult to control at best, devastating at worst. And if the touchy Middle East ever wants to hurt the United States, all it has to do is tighten its grip on its oil exports. It will not be easy to wean ourselves off dependence on oil, however. Besides our own cars and other forms of private and public transportation, oil is needed to ship consumer goods around both the nation and the rest of the world. Some people advocate replacing oilbased energy with nuclear power and other sources. But burning radioactive uranium isn’t exactly the most eco-friendly way of life, and wind-farming, solar power, and hydroelectricity are not perfect solutions, either. There are sure to be more sustainable ways to generate energy in the future; but for now, the best course of action is to reduce the energy we use in the first place. Try to buy locally produced goods. Those handwoven Indian baskets? The oil spent to transport it to America outweighs
its environmental “benefits.” Public buses could also be replaced with more energyefficient trains or subways. Water Water is essential for life on Earth, and it is drying up fast. Some claim it will eventually be worth more than oil. Thousands die from drought-related conditions. And here we are in the middle of a desert, with water parks, triple shower heads, and lush front yard lawns. Los Angeles is the driest metropolitan city in the United States, followed by San Diego, Oxnard, and Riverside, according to Sterling’s Best Places. Yet there is an illusion, like a desert mirage, that water here is endless. We use it without thinking and as if there was no limit to our supply, even though most of it has to be pumped through extensive aqueduct systems from miles and miles away before reaching us. The problem isn’t drinking water; that hardly makes a dent in the environment. It is when residents start splurging on swimming pools, laundry machines, and sprinklers that the future grows bleak. “About 95% of the water entering our homes goes down the drain,” said the Huffington Post. To solve the issue, some people opt to completely abandon old water-wasting habits; compost toilets and water recycling systems are spreading in popularity. But there are easier ways for each person to save hundreds of gallons of water a week. Water the lawn in the morning or evening and cover your pool with a tarp to keep water from evaporating. Also, adjust the sprinklers so that water doesn’t overflow onto the sidewalk. In the house, run the clothes washer and dishwasher with full loads. Use your water bill to check for leaks (if you have to pay an abnormally high amount, something’s fishy) and fix them immediately.
THE WESTLAKE HIGH SCHOOL
ARROW
100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road Westlake Village, CA 91362 (805) 497-6711 ext. 4225 westlakearrow@yahoo.com EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Lisa Battaglia, Dashiell Young-Saver MANAGING EDITOR Brian Chang NEWS EDITORS Lauren Chin, Michelle Noyes OPINION EDITORS Cam Clark, Chris Lam, Vivian Xu FEATURE EDITORS, Tracy Chavez, Meini Cheng, Samantha Doctrow, Orly Greenberg, Vivian Hu, Hanyi Huang, Stacey Kane, Stephanie Kim, Krista Lamorie-Foote, Frances Ling, Liz Mossessian, Shannon Reiffen, Julia Shi, Tara Spencer, Morgan Stark, Vallia Yu SPORTS EDITORS Alex Farkas, Jonathan Rifkind STAFF WRITERS Nicolette Blatt, Shane Bogan, Katrina Brewer, Ryan Cheng, Harry Chung, Brian Danziger, Genna Gmeiner, David Huang, Monica Huskins, Teodor Jaich, Skye Kriger, Shayna Kudler, Alexa Lucas, Kelly Mark, Kelsey Murphy, Dylan Moore, Melanie Rosen, Robert Varblow, Max Wang, Victoria Wang ADVISER Caron Battaglia
The Arrow is written, designed and run by the students of the Advanced Journalism and Journalism 1CP classes at Westlake High School and is published monthly. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent those of the Conejo Valley Unified School District, Westlake High School administration, faculty, or student body. We welcome feedback. Letters must be signed by the writer. Please send submissions to Mrs. Battaglia’s box in the main office or to Room 42E.
May 25, 2012 • The Arrow
Opinion
5
Zimmerman Trial Ignites ‘Stand Your Ground’ Issue Chris Lam
the conflict, and in that sense, it shouldn’t have happened at all. When he was in contact with 911, the dispatcher told him not to pursue Martin. But he continued to follow him on the grounds that Martin was acting suspiciously. In short, Zimmerman was fed up with all of the crime in his neighborhood. He could have just been trying to stop the problem before another incident occurred. Martin was talking on the phone with
Staff Writer When George Zimmerman opened fire in a suburban neighborhood Feb. 28, he simultaneously ended a teenager’s life and began renewed criticism over an already controversial law. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman, was patrolling the streets at night when he confronted Trayvon Martin, 17 years old and black, as Martin was walking home to a friends house. A scuffle ensued, with the exact events known only by the dead and the accused. One of the few things that is clear is that Martin was shot and killed by Zimmerman. Whether it was self defense or racial profiling remains to be seen. However, what once seemed a case of black and white in the ensuing debate now has shades of gray. Eyewitnesses and evidence have confirmed Zimmerman’s account of Martin decking him in the face and bashing his head on the ground, while Zimmerman called for help, yet the overwhelming support for Trayvon Martin has led to the arrest of the neighborhood watchman as he is put on trial. Both of the men do not necessarily have a clean record. Martin was under a ten day suspension from school for possessing marijuana on school grounds. The L.A. Times painted a picture of Zimmerman as a
A PICTURE IN CONTRAST: Zimmerman, right, has been arrested for killing Martin, left.
self-appointed vigilante, repeatedly calling police to report anything from a pothole to an aggressive driver to suspicious persons in his neighborhood, which had recently suffered seven burglaries in the span of eight months. Zimmerman’s defense is the “StandYour-Ground Law,” which allows a person to use deadly force to prevent “imminent harm.” The subjectivity of the law makes it highly controversial, as people are left to wonder what defines “imminent harm.” In this case, the law has certainly gained renewed scrutiny. Standing on the other side of the line
include The New Black Panthers, who have issued a $10,000 reward for Zimmerman, Reverend Al Sharpton, and Martin’s family, whom Yahoo news recorded as saying Florida police are trying to “demonize the victim.” They contend that Zimmerman went after Martin because he was a lone black in the middle of the night, and that Zimmerman went free simply because he was “white.” Zimmerman, however, has been called by his father as Latino, according to a letter he sent to the Orlando Sentinel. Whether Zimmerman had a right to shoot Martin in self defense, Zimmerman—it appears—was the one who started
“A person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if... such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.” -2011 Florida Statutes his friend and he said to her that someone had been following very close behind him for a long time. Martin could have been just as suspicious of Zimmerman as Zimmerman was of him. In that case, Martin was also acting on the Stand-Your-Ground law. Whether Zimmerman walks free or stays behind bars, he is the one at fault, and all sides should accept that.
Florida Law Has ‘No Duty To Retreat’ Legal Murder ly judged as murder instead of self defense. People think the same way about race. It astonishes me how people who believe racial prejudice is still as it was 50 years ago are prejudiced against those who have any hint of resemblance with the past. So when people heard that George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin, many cried foul. A gun was used against an African American, and therefore must have been a racial murder. But even as it became very clear that the tragedy had nothing to do with race, those who stopped ignorantly calling Zimmerman racist began to attack his justifications for self-defense. As Zimmerman faces judgement, it appears that the only thing that can save him is the stand-your-ground law, which bears similarity to the Second Amendment. However, since the federal government is, in the eyes of some, completely incompetent, it is now the state’s job to enforce the constitutional ideals. A unique aspect of Florida’s standyour-ground law is that those who are in mortal peril or see another in mortal peril do not have the obligation to retreat. This Lethal Force: When it comes to the law, power to the people may be the least thing society needs. means that people do not have to run or await for assistance, but can instead take Cam Clark Villagers, however, weren’t helpless. action without consequence. Zimmerman killed Martin out of fear. Staff Writer They were armed. While the army fought the enemy, the villagers would fight wild He did not know what we now know about I remember rushing home from my animals who tried to eat the sheep and Martin and as a member of the Neighborhood Watch he had a first grade class, simple addition, spell- crops, as well as shoot right to pursue him. ing, and hula-hooping forgotten, bearing arrows from buildings in mind only the five sacred blessings of to defend the city from “Zimmerman killed Martin Zimmerman had many my early childhood: lemonade, Bionicles, the enemy soldiers. out of fear. He did not know head wounds when he Game Boy, Cartoon Network, and most imBut life is not a what we now know about was arrested, which suggested he was in portant of all, Age of Empires II. computer game I played Age of Empires II was a strategy game when I was five. People Martin and as a member of danger during the enin which you control villagers and armies don’t slay knights, they the Neighborhood Watch he counter. However, both sides must realize that to conquer your neighboring civilizations swat flies. They don’t had a right to pursue him.“ he will not escape withand advance through the Dark Ages to travel in transport ships, out punishment. He become a massive empire. The most basic they drive carpool. Most military units you could spawn were the importantly, as much as it feels like it, ev- pursued Martin even when a 911 operator specifically told him not to, utilizing the ‘no militia, the weakest and most pathetic mili- ery day is not a battle for survival. tary force in the entire game, but also were But does this change anything? Be- duty to retreat’ part of the Florida state law. The state-enforced Stand-your-ground crucial to surviving the Dark Ages. cause we aren’t constantly in danger, do According to the Second Amendment, citizens even have the right to wield fire- law is not going to give Zimmerman “A well regulated militia being necessary arms? Our founding fathers didn’t think the justice he deserves. Only the Second to the security of a free state, the right of so. They created the Second Amendment to Amendment will. Zimmerman had reason the people to keep and bear arms shall not the Bill of Rights, which allows people to to pursue and had the right to shoot. He be infringed.” But what does militia mean? legally own fire arms and use them when should receive a small punishment for not According to Merriam-Webster, a militia is they feel that someone is threatening a life. listening to the operator and not trying to “a body of citizens organized for military Unfortunately, we live in an age of as- communicate with Martin, but not a punservice.” Ironically, in Age of Empires, mili- sumption and simple-mindedness. Since ishment for man-slaughter. This was not a tia were spawned in a completely different guns kill people, and killing people is murder, and certainly not race-related. As building than the regular villager unit was. wrong, then guns must be wrong. There- citizens of America, we need to follow our And despite how weak it was, the militia’s fore, those who wish to own them must 2nd Amendment and see that Zimmerman attack power was still greater than those of only want them for evil purposes. So killed out of self-defense, and there is noththe villagers. whenever people use firearms, it is instant- ing illegal about that.
Max Wang Staff writer
Though many Americans condemn George Zimmerman, who fatally shot Florida teen Trayvon Martin, they don’t understand that, according to Florida law, Zimmerman is not guilty for murder: as long as he establishes that he had a reason to believe that Martin had the potential to cause him bodily harm. The “stand-your-ground” law, according to the 2011 Florida Statutes, allows people to use “deadly force” as long as they have “a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm to himself.” With this law on their side, people like George Zimmerman have the right to kill anyone that they assume will cause them bodily harm. This law allows people being assaulted to stop the attacker before the assault actually happens. However, despite its good intentions, this law has many significant problems within it. Florida law does not specify what a “reasonable fear” is, and any provocation can be claimed to be a reason to kill. Reasonable fear in Florida law can be anything from a gun-wielding burglar breaking into a living room to a hooded teenager walking around with skittles and a drink. This ambiguity in the definition of “reasonable fear” allows anyone to judge whether or not it is right to kill someone that seems in any way suspicious. According to the stand-your-ground law, Zimmerman, who thought that he had a good reason to kill Martin, was completely in the right. Though he had been wrong to follow Martin around, when he felt threatened and shot Martin, he was acting within the bounds of the law. The “stand-your-ground” law, if not revised, will allow people like Zimmerman to get away with murder, as long as they claim that they felt threatened. The stand-your-ground law allows anyone with a firearm to become the judge, jury and executioner of anyone else. Without revision, this law allows the taking of a person’s life to be decided by the arbitrary decision of any suspecting person. Whether or not George Zimmerman is guilty or innocent, the stand-your -ground law needs to be abolished or revised. The tragedy of the Trayvon Martin case is not just that a teenager was killed, but that a suspected murderer is able to get away because of the lack of clarity of lawmakers.
6
Feature
May 25, 2012 • The Arrow
Repossessed Renews Appreciation for Everyday Life
Moriarty Mixes Humor, Mystery in The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie
Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins
The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie by Jaclyn Moriarty
Victoria Wang Staff Writer
Don’t call him a demon; he prefers the term Fallen Angel. And besides, it’s not all that demonic to possess a slacker teen two seconds before he gets creamed by a cement mixer, right? Kiriel, the ultimate rebel and Satan’s underling, is at the end of his rope with tormenting the sinful. He decides to ditch his depressing duty and takes a little vacation to the human world. To get the most out of life before the Unfallen (boring lapdogs of the Creator) kick him back into the fiery pits of eternal punishment, he slips into the body of a teenage boy named Shaun—and the way he sees the world is forever changed. A. M. Jenkins’s Printz Honor Book Repossessed begins as a comedic take on the under-appreciated wonders of high school life, but before the laughs get old the novel jacks up the tension and begins exploring the deeper, darker parts of the human soul. Don’t underestimate this book because of its sprightly cover—the humor serves to lighten Jenkins’ otherwise weighty philosophies on sin, freedom, and spirituality. While the religious theme is obvious, Kiriel’s musings on faith are presented in a way that both the pious and the skeptical can relate to. Instead of analyzing the Bible’s doctrine like your neighborhood preacher, Jenkins focuses on bringing to the reader’s awareness how miraculous the simple act of living can be, using plain, casual language that teens can easily relate to. Kiriel revels in every small pleasure of life, from colors to ketchup to petting a cat. Of course, he can get a little overboard playing with Shaun’s body (there is no limit to a demon’s social awkwardness), but it’s nothing for parents to cry about.
Compared to the secondhand suffering cloaking Hell, or the uniform perfection choking Heaven, every experience felt on Earth is an irreplaceable treasure. Jenkins transmits one powerful message: life is beautiful, even when things are a little more sour than expected. The amusement Kiriel finds in life’s most mundane events inevitably puts a damper on the book’s pacing, though, and the first half barely stays afloat with the a heaping serving of slapstick humor. But the plot picks up speed once Jenkins starts to drop chilling hints that Kiriel’s playtime is rapidly drawing to a close. The supporting characters have subtle nuances that help them define their own personatlities, allowing them to pass as representations of different problems in adolescent life, but here Jenkins could have done better. Most character interactions are built on two-dimensional observations and only manage to squeeze out condensed, stereotypical snapshots of each personality. The short, straightforward plot doesn’t leave much room to get cozy with the characters, either. By the end of the book, Kiriel is still the only one properly fleshed out. It could be argued, though, that Kiriel is all the story needs. Once he realizes that he was looking for more out of Shaun’s life than pleasure, he embarks on a short but inspiring quest to make that life worth taking. Kiriel’s struggle to prove himself as more than just a screw in God’s clock propels the plot forward, and his craving for the basic human needs of attention and recognition is sure to strike a sympathetic chord with many rebellious teenagers. It’s what the book pivots around: Kiriel’s battle to have in his possession a personality, a life, and keep from being repossessed by Heaven and Hell.
Julia Shi
Feature Editor Author Jaclyn Moriarty paints the picture of an isolated super student who excels at school but struggles to get along with her fellow students in The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie. In Moriarty’s typical style, the novel consists mainly of Bindy’s journal entries. Due to Bindy’s careful, almost obsessive, maintenance of her journal, readers are offered an endearingly honest glimpse into Bindy’s mind. In the novel, Bindy is entering her final year at Ashbury High School. She has, up to that point, consistently achieved academic success. However, her meticulous plans for a smooth final year are soon derailed. The school introduces a new Friendship and Development class, which, true to its name, is supposed to foster bonds between students. Bindy has difficulty connecting with her peers and often comes off as arrogant and unbearable. She is also struck by a bout of inexplicable ill health, which significantly affects her academic performance. Bindy’s flawed relationships, especially those with her classmates and parents, are focal points of the novel. In Bindy’s journal a sense of well-intentioned superiority toward her less academicallydriven peers is evident. She has an almost unhealthy relationship with her demanding father, and her mother, although loving, is often absent. Moriarty’s use of the first person is intrinsically tied to the success of the book; by reading Bindy’s innermost thoughts, readers develop a deeper understanding of her oftentimes questionable actions. Instead of disliking Bindy for the glaring flaws in her personality like her classmates do, readers empathize with her and are more likely to not only stick around and watch Bindy develop, but also root for
her as it happens. Bindy manages to be simultaneously touching and witty. Her subtle development throughout the novel is well-documented in her personal journal entries. The book’s format, although out of the ordinary, still helps the plot flow beautifully. Moriarty does an excellent job of shaping major and minor characters alike. The fictional people in Bindy’s Friendship and Development class are nicely fleshed out, allowing readers to connect with each individual student. The appearance of a sudden mystery complicates the plot and gives the novel a more sinister tone. Although a humorous novel, The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie also has plenty of messages hidden underneath its light-hearted exterior. Jaclyn Moriarty has authored several other book for young adults, including The Year of Secret Assignments, Feeling Sorry for Celia and Finding Cassie Crazy, which was selected by the American Library Association as “Best Book for Young Adults.”
Crais Presents Thrilling Mystery in Latest Novel Taken sheds light on the darker side human trafficking in the Elvis Cole series’ 15th book.
Taken by Robert Crais
Vallia Yu
Feature Editor After the release of The Sentry in 2011, New York Times bestselling author Robert Crais quickly returns with his latest masterpiece: Taken.
Elvis Cole’s debut as the witty, laidback, private-eye protagonist in The Monkey’s Raincoat was accompanied by Joe Pike, the stoic and ever vigilant partner in crime. Originally starring solely Cole in his series, Pike finally gained his own stardom in The Watchman, taking on the center stage and earning praise from fans and critics alike. Now, nearly 25 years later, the two finally have a chance to share the limelight in one of their most perilous cases yet. When Nita Morales comes to Elvis Cole, the “world’s greatest detective”, she doesn’t even seem fazed as she reports the disappearance of her daughter, Krista Morales and Krista’s boyfriend, Jack Berman. Nita Morales suspects that Jack may have played a role in the disappearances. Emotional turmoil rages in Cole as he gives chase to the missing teenagers and makes desperate decisions in order to save both Krista and Jack. Elvis Cole find that he can relate to Ms. Morales. In The Last Detective, the ninth installment of the series, an anonymous person of his past kidnaps his girlfriend’s son and leaves him in a strikingly similar situation. The plot thickens when secrets are unraveled and Cole is forced deeper and deeper into the world of human trafficking. Before the two teenagers are recovered,
he is kidnapped by the gang, and finds himself in dire need of aid. It is then up to Joe Pike to track down the gang in order to rescue the rescuer and finish what Cole had started. Crais’ style of writing in Taken is very unique in aspect to other works; instead of containing a linear storyline, the novel is broken up into varying sequences of the case. Events that happened chronologically in the future may appear rather early in the novel. The orders of the chapters are cunningly arranged, and each section either builds on or introduces the previous section. Crais’ arrangement of the novel also gives it a high ‘reread value.’ On the second run-through, details such as character connections or trivial little quotes hold much more significance to the reader. But despite the exhilarating buildup and thrilling disclose of the finale, the ending was simply too short. In the entirety of the 340 page-turner, the climax of the case takes up only a mere 20 pages, five of which were dedicated to the conclusion of the novel. The quick wrap-up of the story leaves the reader feeling somewhat disappointed and not sure what to expect from an ending so short. It is similar to the feeling of expecting a brand new Mustang from your parents, but only receiving a Hot Wheels
mini-model of your hopes and dreams. As the 15th book in the series, however, and as the first novel that both protagonists share the spotlight, Crais leaves very little room for character development or interaction between characters. New characters are even introduced nearly three-fifths of the way into the book, and play relatively insignificant roles for the few moments that they have. Nancie Stendahl, aunt of the kidnapped Jack Berman, is an important figure in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and seems to have been added in halfway through the novel by Crais, simply to give the kidnappers a flimsy reason to keep Jack alive another day. While the characters were necessary to fill in the plot holes and act as witnesses or typical civilians, they aren’t fleshed out and don’t feel as real as Cole. The minor characters are cast away as soon as their jobs are done. But overlooking the dings and scratches on the surface of an otherwise intricate and thrilling plot, Taken is certainly one of Crais’ most exhilarating adventures to date. This novel is, however, certainly not for the faint of heart. Crais shows the dark side of human trafficking rather explicitly, with vivid descriptions of the vile conditions the hostages were subjected to.
Feature
May 25, 2012 • The Arrow
7
Eat the Best and Avoid the Worst
Eating nutritious snacks is vital to maintain a healthful lifestyle. Here is a basic introduction to six common foods. Choosing these three alternatives to frequently consumed junk foods can help create greater health awareness.
Nuts Nuts may have a bad reputation due to their high fat content, but the fat in these small, ready-to-eat bites of joy is monounsaturated and polyunsaturated, which can lower levels of LDL or “bad” cholesterol. Nuts should be consumed everyday in order to sustain a healthy, happy heart. Nuts are a nutritious snack and the options are endless: pistachios, almonds, cashews are just a few options.
Apples An apple a day keeps the doctor away! This wellknown adage should not be taken lightly. Apples are easy to eat while students walk from the student parking lot or during passing periods. They are filled with enriching vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Along with their many varieties, apples are available year-round. Buy one for yourself to stay fit and one for your teacher to be the teacher’s pet.
Cottage Cheese This may be unusual, but cottage cheese is an excellent protein source. With its funny, thick texture and odd, rather unappetizing look, cottage cheese is not commonly consumed; you either love it or you hate it. Cottage cheese is low in cholesterol, but take note of the high sodium content. Eating it for breakfast will help achieve any fitness or dietary goal.
Salty Chips High in trans fats, carbohydrates, sodium, artificial flavoring, and preservatives, Lays, Pringles, Cheetos, Doritos, and Fritos are good for nothing except weight gain and acne, so do not waste your money and body on these nutrition-less, half-empty packets of oily bites. These small but devastating bites are also the leading cause of high blood pressure due to the abnormal amounts of salt they contain. Distancing yourself from such highrisk snacks will help avoid health problems for years to come.
French Fries Unfortunately, with their popularity and low cost at fast food restaurants, it seems the consumption of French fries will never cease. When the potatoes are cooked in trans fat at high temperatures, extremely unpleasant things occur, including the emergence of a potentially cancercausing substance: acrylamide. Some chains will go the extra mile, adding extremely high doses of sugar, to make them even harder to resist. Put your energy into avoiding French fries rather than wasting it on digesting them.
Donuts As they have been stripped of every possible bit of nutritional value, donuts should never be consumed. Full of sugar and trans fats, eating a doughnut for breakfast is definitely one of the worst possible ways to start off your day. Due to their high contents of acrylamide, they are without nutritional value.
Pink Slime Scare Ryan Cheng Staff Writer Lean finely textured beef, popularly known as pink slime, is a filler used in beef products that has drawn overwhelming criticism from the public. Pink slime has been compared to pet food, as it is created from the same trimmings; however, it is treated with ammonia gas or citric acid. This treatment, despite what most people think, results in a safer meat than most other ground beef products, as it kills bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli. Due to public outcry, many large grocery chains have stopped stocking their shelves with meat containing pink slime, which is allowed to constitute up to 15% of product, and schools have excluded food items containing pink slime from their lunch menus. Widespread disgust at this product may simply be a result of its appearance and name. Pink slime has gained
approval from the USDA, but is banned in the European Union, and is not permitted in countries such as Canada and those making up the United Kingdom. Overall, there is a huge problem with the over-consumption of red meat in the Unites States, and the gravity of this situation has not been emphasized enough to the general public. • It is estimated that, out of the average American meat consumption, 55% is of red meat, 36.7% of poultry, and 8.2% of seafood. • Heart disease and malignant neoplasmas, are about four times more likely to be the cause of death in Americans than respiratory problems or cerebrovascular issues. • The average adult consumes over 70 pounds of red meat each year in United States, Canada, and Australia, while less than 40 pounds of red meat are consumed per person each year in Asia, Africa, and Mexico.
Compiled by Liz Mossessian
Westlake Harbors Secret Hideaways Shayna Kudler Staff Writer
Many of the best Westlake eateries go unnoticed. Some tasty, local places include Cholada Thai, For Heaven’s Cakes, Justine’s, and Hugo’s. Cholada Thai is located on Thousand Oaks Boulevard right across from Seven Eleven and has been around for quite a while. It has a sister restaurant located in Malibu on PCH with a more elaborate and extended menu. The portion sizes are big with relatively low prices that you can’t resist. Some of the best menu items include the pineapple-fried rice and pad Thai noodles. Another hidden café is Justine’s located on Via Colinas in the industrial buildings near WHS. It is a fast and inexpensive place to eat lunch especially for students who have limited time. The menu ranges from Mexican food to salads and sandwiches. Some recom-
mended items are the grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken caesar wraps. Hugo’s, located in Agoura Hills off Kanan, is an upscale version of the well-known Natural Cafe, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday. Great for any veg-heads, everything on their menu is available as gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian. Finally, for an amazing dessert place, For Heaven’s Cakes is the best. It is located on Thousand Oaks Boulevard, but tucked away, so it is hard to find. Look for their “$.99 Cupcakes Everyday” sign; it’s impossible to miss. Yes, that’s right—$.99 for each cupcake, all day, everyday. They are not just a bargain; the cupcakes are outstanding. A few of the most popular cupcakes are the chocolate bomb, red velvet, and Oreo. All of the cupcakes are delicious and you won’t be disappointed. Next time you want to go somewhere that is not too crowded and still offers the tasty food, try one of these great hideaways.
Healthful Recipe Alternatives to Fast Food Lunch Compiled by Samantha Doctrow and Stacey Kane Simple & Fast Portobello Mushroom Burger
• 1 pound cooked chicken • 1 cup seedless red grapes • 1/4 cup chopped pecans • 1/2 cup chopped celery • 1/4 cup light sour cream • 1/4 cup light mayonnaise • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 12 medium Portobello mushrooms • 2 small Italian eggplants • 2 yellow squash • 2 zucchini • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt • 12 dinner rolls • 9 ounces Swiss cheese, thinly sliced
Dice the chicken into bit-size pieces and place it in a large bowl. Add cut in half grapes, chopped up celery, and chopped up pecans to the chicken and mix well. In a separate bowl, mix together sour cream and mayonnaise. Toss the chicken mixture in with the sour cream and mayonnaise mixture and season with pepper. Cover and refrigerate for one hour. This can be served on a wrap, roll, or salad, and is a healthy meal that can last in the fridge for many days.
Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Trim the stems from the mushrooms. Slice the eggplant, squash, and zucchini into 1/4 inch thick rounds. Brush vegetables with canola oil, sprinkle with salt, and grill until softened and grill marks have formed, about 10 minutes each side. Transfer to a baking pan. Heat broiler to low. Split the buns and layer the squash, zucchini, eggplant, and mushroom on the bottom bun halves. Top each with cheese and broil until cheese melts, about 1 minute. Top with remaining seeded bun tops and serve hot.
COURTESY PHOTOS
Delicious & Easy Chicken Salad
The Politics The rise and fall of radicalism Shane Bogan Staff Writer
When people think of the 1960s, the image that often flashes through their heads is Woodstock. It conjures up images of a large hoard of hippies hanging out listening to rock and folk music while promoting peace and love. But their motivations for doing so were political. As anyone who has seen the movie Woodstock can confirm, there were any number of antiwar songs and wide-scale promotion of the legalization of drugs, particularly cannabis and LSD, during the festival. After the festival was over, the media declared it a disaster zone, whereas the counterculture claimed it as a triumph of the Age of Aquarius; a sign of the deep divide of the generation gap. But how did the counter culture even come to be? From the mid1950s to the early 60s, establishment Republicans and Democrats were virtually indistinguishable from each other. Both touted their anti-Communist credentials, promoted moderate reform of the social welfare system, and supported civil rights. The only thing distinguishing them was the degree to which they wanted to push reform. That changed in 1964, when the Republicans chose Barry Goldwater as their nominee for President, hoping to win the votes of southern Democrats disillusioned with President Kennedy’s, and later Johnson’s, support of civil rights. While running
for president, Barry Goldwater declared “Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” If one looks forward only a year, he could have been describing the Democrats philosophy, as well as that of his party. The civil rights movement and the war in Vietnam are probably the major reason for the splintering of the New Deal coalition of Democrats formed under President Roosevelt in the days of the depression. Whereas mostly only southern Democrats would be alienated by presidential support of Martin Luther King, working class whites reacted strongly when Malcolm X came to the forefront of the civil rights movement. Malcolm X condemned what he saw as mass racism among white Americans, and preached complete social revolution. Although he would be assassinated in 1965, his words still carried political weight. In 1966 the Black Panthers, inspired by Malcolm X’s rhetoric, were formed in Oakland. They preached violent revolution, believing it the only way “A change is gonna come.” Those who saw America’s war in Vietnam as unjust and wrong burned their draft cards; sometimes moving to Canada. This, coupled with the rise of protest songs by musicians self-identified as Democrats such as Bob Dylan and Country Joe Fish, convinced many formerly stalwart Democrats to become Republicans, to whom the younger generation’s politics were too radical and shameful. It was too much, too fast. Nixon, who had run for president and lost to Kennedy in 1960, saw his chance to make a political comeback. He ran on the platform of promising to listen to the Silent Majority, those whom he said were hardworking, pa-
The Race Space technology thrived with the frantic race beyond the skies.
Teodor Jaich Staff Writer
In 1962 President John F. Kennedy made the bold promise that within the decade, the Americans would be on the moon. With the “space race” started and the Russian launch of the Sputnik satellite in 1957, Kennedy’s speech can be considered the declaration of war between the United States and the Soviet Union. The 60’s was a period of great uncertainly and take of nuclear war. The Cuban Missile Crisis would bring the world to the brink of World War just a few months after Kennedy’s speech. Americans were consumed with the “Red Menace” and everything Communist was considered a threat. With the growth of the Soviet space program including the first man in space in 1961, Americans felt their pride and technology were losing to the bad guy. The Kennedy and later the Johnson administration in the 1960’s committed millions of dollars to making sure the United States would not come second in the space race again. The Russians and the Americans both saw space travel as a way to show their cultural and political superiority. While both governments talked
about joint projects in space none of that would happen until the 1970’s. In the mid-1960’s the Russians kept racking up achievements: the first two man space capsule, the first three person ship and the first “extra vehicular activity” or space walk. In the late 1960’s, though, we saw a number of setbacks and accidents for the Russians while the Americans grew more confident with both the Gemini and Apollo flights around the earth and circumventing the moon. After a massive campaign to beat the Russians, Buzz Aldrin stepped on to the moon on July 20, 1969 as President Kennedy had predicted. We had won the early space race and had beaten the Russians. Other Russian/ American conflicts would continue but the our “man on the moon” was at least one clear win. This conflict, as well as others, pushed a major growth in science and science programs in the United States and has had a huge impact on modern space sciences such as Mars rovers, satellite phones, and the recently built space station. The “space race” was a period of major scientific advancements and was a major part in the rise of U.S. power and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
triotic Americans, and won the Presidency. One of the iconic shows of the 1960s is The Andy Griffith Show. It stars Andy Griffith as the sheriff for the smal town of Mayberry, North Carolina. Not much ever really happens in Mayberry; maybe they’ll have to jail Otis, the town drunk, every once in a while for his own protection, cheer up a Christmas Scrooge, or keep some big city criminal in the jail while he’s going up to the state penitentiary, but that’s about as troublesome as things get in Mayberry. All the people know each other and are pretty friendly to one another. In other words, it was the idyllic American life brought to the small screen. It spoke to American’s fear of their country being politically ripped apart at the seams. The show’s immense popularity seems to show this. In 1968, the year of the riot at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King’s assassinations, the show finished its final season as number one in the Nielson ratings. It also launched the careers of Don Knotts and Ron Howard. The 1960s effectively ended in 1970. Nixon was president, and was not sympathetic to the hippie cause at all. Altamont Speedway, supposed to be the Woodstock of the west, had ended disastrously with the death of a black attendee by a member of the Hells Angels who, under the influence of LSD, thought he had seen a gun. The Beatles, seen as leaders of the counterculture, broke up and released their last album. Perhaps most tellingly, when a student demonstration at Kent State University in Ohio led to the deaths of four students at the hands of the National Guard, a Gallup Poll taken immediately after the shooting found 58 percent of respondents blamed the students, 11 percent blamed the National Guard, and 31 percent expressed no opinion. Ultimately, the reason why what happened in the 1960s is worthy of being written about is that the decade is still relevant. When one party shifts to far to an end on the political spectrum and embraces extremism,
Th 60
there will be repercussions. Anyo followed the current presidentia can see this. The Republican Party imploded on itself trying to find a to defeat the incumbent, Barack The fact that a man like Rick managed to get so much traction nominated for the Republican tick that there is a divide in America. T there’s not an age gap, but there is a culture clash. Mitt Romney se Republican nomination, but as a he does not have much support fro publican base, which has shifted s the right since the days of Preside hower. If it wants to gain power, not want to suffer the same conseq the Democrats did in the 1960s, th lican Party must move towards t and Mitt Romney must not allow be swayed by radicals within his p
The Fashion Mini, Maxi, Mod All the Rage
Kelsey Murphy Staff Writer
Sixties fashion, most think of it as a crazy, psychedelic style that mainly hippies of the era wore. Actually, because of the baby boom, sixties fashion was known as the Youth Quake; meaning that you can thank the sixties for your teenage clothing. In the early sixties the trend was a traditional continuation of fifties fashion; ladies wore long pencil-like skirts and dresses, or large puffy dresses with layers of stiff underskirts. Men wore long and lean suits in neutral colors and simple patterns, with Italian laced pointed shoes. In 1962, children and teens had their own choice of clothing. This meant that girls no longer had to wear copycat versions of their mothers dresses and guys wore comfortable dress pants and vests instead of their fathers suits. The mid-sixties completely reinvented fashion; the look was young with long chopstick legs, perfect for the new trend, the mini skirt. Girls had to have a moun-
tain of eye makeup, pale l a short pixie cut to be co wore suits in every patter and fabric you could t This fashion moveme known as the Peacock tion. During this time tress Twiggy made he as a fashion model. G women now craved h style, boys began flowery clothing wi hair. People bega plaining that girls b w look like boys wi flat chests and b gan to look like bo their floral style. In the late sixties, came into play, and t was long hair and ba both boys and girls, wi going airy long clothing colors and designs. T maxi skirt was introduc took girls fashion by sto hippie movement contin until the early to mid 19 The sixties was a lievable fashion movem introduced young fashion
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The Music
Robert Varblow Staff Writer
When The Beatles decided it was time for each member to go his own way, it was “the break up heard round the world." Not many bands in the history of rock and roll can say they had such an impact on music and human nature. No other band has gone through such a trans- THE BEATLES influenced the music scene with its unusual sound and notable lyrics. formation in style. The first song they recorded was "Love Me The Beatles were re-inventing the pop music From the pure rock and roll of the CavDo," a song Paul and John had written. Paul genre. As their creativity grew they found a ern Club to India and the height of hippie wound up singing vocals so John could play the need to break rules in the studio to create new idealism to the break up and respective solo harmonica. Ringo could not keep a steady beat sounds: backwards guitars, finding a better way careers, the band had gone through many so he had to settle for playing tambourine while to record bass, pushing the artists to their limits, names and musicians led by teddy boy John a studio drummer came to fi nish the job. George creating a musical revolution. Listen to any BeaLennon, Paul McCartney the cute one, and was on guitar and Paul on bass and vocals. Listles song and compare it to any other song of the George Harrison the "quiet" one. teners can hear his voice shake from nervousera. From the psychedelic "Lucy in the Sky with Paul started out playing guitar, then ness as they record their first official number. Diamonds" to the heavy metal infused "I Want eventually drums for a brief period before Soon they recorded "She Loves You" and You (She's so Heavy)" and "Helter Skelter," they permanently picking up the bass. Ringo then, specifi cally for the American audience "I inspired generations of artists to to take risks joined the band when The Beatles received Want to Hold Your Hand" which reached numand create for themselves as much as others. their first record deal. They had met Ringo ber one across the pond. From the beginning No matter how many generations go by, years before in their Hamburg days. The Beatles will always be classics.
The Art
Drama and repetition were very important elements in Pop Art. Images were often repeated several times Boom! Crash! Pow! One of the most (for example Warhol’s Soup Cans), or sensational art movements to emerge in were slightly altered in each image, America, Pop Art came from the United giving the viewer a stronger impact. Kingdom in the late 50s and blossomed For example, Warhol’s famous in the United States throughout the 60s. painting of Elizabeth Taylor (left) is This art form was mainly a reaction to a commentary on fame and artificialthe abstract expressionist movement, ity. At first glance, it is a very vividly and it developed around the time of neon image of a well-known celebrity. minimalism and the beginnings of However, upon further examination, modern art. It incorporated elements one notices that the garish blobs of of popular culture, advertisement, and makeup and a perfectly solid block of cartoons to make an impression on the hair mocks the artificial nature of Holviewer’s mind. The term Pop Art could lywood gloss. be interpreted in two ways: Pop Art was Pop art, like most other art, meant to “pop” out at the viewers and reflected its time period’s societal make an impression; and secondly, eletastes. It was the beginning of easy ments of “popular” in mainstream pop ARTIFICIAL: One of the 13 Elizabeth portraits Warhol proaccess to movies and television, and culture, advertisements, major figures, duced in 1963. people were growing more and more cartoons, and television were used to inclined to brightness and flash. The such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and 60’s was a very liberal and rebellious deoffer views on culture, often with an ironic Lucille Ball, became American icons and fu- cade which framed the anti-war moveperspective. eled much of the Pop Art movement. The 1950’s was the era of television and ment, civil rights movement, the social Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein revolution, and the rise of feminism. As mass media. These decades introduced fax were the leading figures of the Pop Art an art form, Pop Art offered commentary machines and Polaroid cameras, which made movement. Other major artists include and humor on the commercialism and it easier to capture images expediently. By David Hockney, Jasper Johns, Robert conventions of society. the 1960’s, televisions were present in 90% Rauschenberg and Richard Hamilton. of homes in the United States. Personalities,
David Huang Staff Writer
Feature
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May 25, 2012 • The Arrow
T eachers ’ R eal P ets Kari Ballard’s Grace Martin’s Maria Scirone’s Lisa Ryder’s Khatty Khat Tookie K.C. and Lucy Aston and Remy
Pets: Shiba Inu and Pointer (K.C.) and Pit-Bull Mix (Lucy) Gender: Females Age: 7.5 years old (K.C.) and 12 years old (Lucy) Q: How did you get them? A: My husband bought me K.C. after his team (Kansas City Chiefs) won a difficult game, and we rescued Lucy after coming out of a restaurant in Westwood six years ago. Q: Worst habits? A: Barking at little things Q: What do you love most about them? A: [Their] unconditional love
Jilian Penn’s Jake
Pets: Shih-tzu (Aston) and American Domestic cat (Remy) Genders: Male (Aston) and Female (Remy) Ages: 1.5 years old (Aston) and 10 years old (Remy) Q: Worst habits? A: Aston: Barking at the cat Remy: Hissing at the dog Q: Pets’ personalities? A: They are like Pinky and the Brain. Aston: Pinky—he is such a puppy with bursts of energy followed by long naps. [I] can’t wait until he outgrows this puppy stage. Remy: “The Brain—she is always plotting something. She has that look of “I’m going to kill the dog someday and you won’t be able to prove that I did it.”
Diane Blackburn’s Callie
Pet: Short-haired domestic Calico cat Gender: Female Age: At least 11 years old Pet: Maine Coone Mix Gender: Female Age: 2 years old Q: How did you get her? A: Adopted two years ago from Petco in Thousand Oaks Q: Favorite activity to do with pet? A: Playing fetch with her toy mouse. Yes, she really does bring the mouse back to us! Q: Worst habit? A: While holding her, she likes to bite the buttons on our clothes.
Evan Postal’s Keats
Q: How did you get her? A: [We] adopted her from the Agoura Shelter in 2002. Q: Favorite memory of pet? A: When I got her from the shelter, the staff warned us we wouldn’t be able to catch her and get her in the cat carrier. But when I brought the carrier, she walked right in and lay down! Q: Worst habit? A: She likes to catch and kill rats and have them at the door for me to clean up. One time she killed three rats in two hours. Q: Favorite activity to do with pet? A: She likes to hide under a chair then jump out and grab my foot. Then she likes to be chased up and down the hallway. She also likes to play with a small ball. I roll it past her, and she attacks it and bats it around the room.
Pets Prevent Stress Morgan Stark Feature Editor
Pet: American Longhair Gender: Female Age: 6.5 years old Pet: Golden Retriever Gender: Male Age: 7 years old Q: How did you get him? A: We just adopted him from a rescue. He was turned in to a shelter because of an injured leg. Q: Favorite activity to do with pet? A: Jake loves to go for walks. He likes to hold the leash in his mouth and “walk himself.” Q: What do you love most about him? A: He is very sweet and loyal. You can tell he is happy to have a new home.
Q: An interesting fact about your pet? A: She is named after Cal Berkeley (my husband’s college) Q: Favorite activity to do with pet? A: Combing her while watching Dancing with the stars (it’s her favorite show). Q: Favorite memory of pet? A: Wearing a Santa hat for our holiday card. Q: What do you love most about her? A: It is nice to come home and be greeted by her meowing. We both love ice cream and fall asleep on the couch watching TV.
Q: Favorite memory of pet? A: Seeing Jake swim in the pool for the first time.
Q: Pet’s hobbies? A: Callie’s hobbies include eating ice cream, exploring the town of Calabasas and sleeping… just about anywhere!
Q: Worst habit? A: He doesn’t have any! He is a perfect dog- it is kind of unbelievable!
Q: Worst habit? A: Scratching our new sofa and waking up at 5:30 a.m. on weekends.
Pet: Dog Gender: Male Age: 4 years old Q: Back Story? A: He is a rescue. Q: What do you love most about him? A: He is always happy. Q: Favorite memory of pet? A: The day Keats came to me he ran through the doors right into the pool. He also ate some leather bound Shakespeare books. Keats ate Shakespeare! Q: Worst Habit? A: Jumping in the pool [and] running into the house
By the Numbers 85% of WHS teachers own pets 49% own dogs 18% own cats 18% own pets other than dogs or cats 15% own both dogs and cats All photos are courtesy of the pet’s owner.
Pets do more for us than we could have ever thought. They are great to cuddle with, play with, love, and new studies show that they relieve stress as well. Pets (specifically dogs) have been found to be great stress relievers. If we have had a hard day, having our dogs flop down on the ground next to our chairs while our hands dangle down, stroking its soft fur has a very calming effect to our bodies and minds. Studies have shown that dogs can lower blood pressure, improve recovery from heart disease, reduce rates of asthma and allergies with children, and improve people’s psychological wellbeing. Pets can bring out our nurturing instincts and a sense of responsibility. They make us feel needed and more relaxed. According to Holistic Online, even watching the “hypnotic explorations of fish” can have a calming effect on the stressed mind. Studies in the City Hospital in New York have shown that owners of pets who were recently discharged after a heart attack are more likely to live longer than people who do not own pets. It does not matter what animal we own. As long as we love our pets, we will be happier, healthier, and heartier.
Feature
May 25, 2012 • The Arrow
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AMERICAN CLASSICS WITHSTAND TIME ‘Gone With The Wind’: Classic for All Time Tara Spencer Feature Editor
Since 1939, the film Gone with the Wind has remained a classic. Earning 15 Academy Award nominations, and 10 awards, including, Best Actress, Best Music, Best Sound, and Best Effects this classic has remained a favorite film of all time. In 1989, it won the People’s Choice Award as Favorite All-Time Motion Picture. Described as an American historical epic film, Gone with the Wind was adapted from Margaret Mitchell’s novel of the same name. Winning a “Pulitzer Prize for Fiction,” the novel inspired David O. Selznick to produce an authentic film that depicted the South’s point of view during the Civil War. Many agree that this film is a time-honored production. “By any and all standards, Mr. Selznick’s film is a handsome, scrupulous and unstinting version of the 1,037-page novel, matching it almost scene for scene,” said critic Frank S. Nugent in the New York Times when it was first released. In the opening scenes, The South is displayed as a happy and carefree world However, as the story progresses, the four main characters of the film struggle through hardships while they watch their own society deteriorate before their very eyes. The misleading judgment that the soldiers will be home by Christmas, along with the grueling years within the war, make it unbearable for the characters. This drives an interesting parallel to the plight of our soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of them thought that they were going to come home from their mission in Iraq. However, they were simply redirected to another location in the war on terror. The indomitable character Scarlett O’Hara provides comic relief throughout the film. The beautiful and utterly self-absorbed daughter of plantation owner, Gerald O’Hara, finds herself in complications of a love triangle. O’Hara is madly in love with neighboring plantation owner Ashley Wilkes. However, Wilkes is devoted to his cousin, Melanie. In anger, Scarlett marries Melanie’s brother Charles to tie the two families together. Unfortunately, Charles later dies of pneumonia. Throughout the story, we follow Scarlett through the ravages of war, near starvation, the ruin of the plantation “Tara,” and the fall of Atlanta. On the contrary, O’Hara continues to rely on a man she met the night that war was declared, Rhett Butler. She continues to reject him and tries to convince herself that she still holds true love for Ashley. A prominent theme of the movie is that in the midst of the devastation of the entire country and the lifestyle of the Southern aristocracy, there is faith that tomorrow will be a better day. This is very much the theme of society today in light of the recent recession, loss of jobs, loss of homes, and demise of our quality of life as a whole. Scarlett O’Hara and Gone with the Wind are about hope, which is stronger than any adversity that confronts the human spirit. It is a fundamental drive within us. Since its publication we remain the same spirited Americans who are driven by hope. Regardless of the obstacles and hardships that we confront “tomorrow is another day.”
Glinda, Elphaba Redefine Friendship in ‘Wicked’ Kelly Mark Staff Writer
Wicked is a classic and entertaining musical that proves the meaning of friendship and the true importance of accepting oneself. The play is based on Frank L. Baum’s book and the original 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. The play is told from the perspective of the misconstrued, greenskinned ORIGINALS Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel played the leads in the witch, Elphaba, and Broadway stage production of Wicked. the blonde, admired, and accepted girl, sonalities, but learn that both their personGlinda. Wicked is known as “The untold alities complement each other in helpful story of the witches of Oz.” ways. The musical has many plots but focusThe musical was nominated for 10 es prominently on Elphaba and Glinda’s Tony Awards (won three) and also won six similar love interest and disregard toward Drama Desk Awards. In addition, Wicked a judgmental society. They both struggle has also won a Grammy Award. with tolerating each other’s different perThe play tours all around the world. It
is appropriate for young children, but also entertaining and fun for adults. The play is known for its mystical, yet relatable concepts and not to mention its memorable songs especially Popular and Defying Gravity. Reviewers recognized the musical’s enduring qualities from the beginning. “Hooray! Broadway’s got a big new musical that’s good enough to run for a decade or two! If it doesn’t please you, you’re too tough to please. It’s funny and touching and full of beans and it is child-friendly,” wrote Terry Teachout in his Wicked Review that appeared in The Wall Street Journal. Wicked has become a modern classic breathing new life into the stage musical. It is extremely inspirational and heart-warming, as well as enjoyable and fun. The play inspires in moral, ethical, and important morals and ethics. Wicked tickets for future tours range in prices from $84 to $300. The play is a favorite of many and inspires exceptional performances from the actors fortunate enough to play the roles. Wicked goes above and beyond this meaning making the musical truly a “classic.”
‘Glory’ Continues to Open Eyes Dylan Moore Staff Writer
Glory, directed by Edward Zwick, is a 1989 American war film that doubles as a powerful dramatic story. The movie stars famous actors Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, and Morgan Freeman. The screenplay was written by Kevin Jarre, based on the personal letters of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, and the novels “Lay This Laurel,” by Lincoln Kirstein, and “One Gallant Rush,” by Peter Burchard. The story is based on the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first formal unit of the U.S. Army to be made up entirely of African-American men, as told from the point of view of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw (played by Matthew
Broderick), its white commanding officer during the American Civil War. The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Editing and Best Art Direction. It won a number of awards from the British Academy Awards and the Golden Globes. The historical significance of this film is that it shows the poor living conditions, awful treatment by their white superiors, and inexperience with a rifle. Glory goes into the mind of a soldier fighting for the North in the American Civil War, as Denzel Washington gives a powerhouse performance that won him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Trip. th It also shows how unfairly the 54 Infantry was treated and how hard Shaw had to fight to get them better equipment.
Glory also made a greater contribution than any other film as it shed more light on African-American soldiers fighting during the Civil War. Other movies portrayed the war as North vs South whereas Glory focuses on the experience of a black man fighting during that time. By going into detail of the intricacies of how a black man fought not only the South, but also racist men in his own unit, Glory opened eyes across the country. Society re-evaluated its preconceptions about the Civil War. The movie still has an extreme amount of relevance to today with its depictions of how the brave men of the 54th Infantry fought hard to help the North beat the South. Few war movies are as accurate and informational as Glory.
12
A Day in the Life of...
Junior
6:00 a.m. - I dread the alarm clock ringing in my ears. Why is it not possible to turn back time? I only need a few more hours of sleep.
6:45 a.m. - Speeding to school and stopping at Starbucks because making it through a day at WHS, as a junior, without a venti coffee is just not possible.
VS.
12:07 p.m. – Finally lunch has arrived. But for a junior, this means going off to a school club or getting in an extra 45 minutes of studying. Who needs food?
Senior
6:00 a.m. – My alarm clock is ringing? That’s a joke. This is why the snooze button was created. It must have been an invention for senioritis. 6:45 a.m. – Bleh. Fine, I’ll get out of bed, but I am staying in my pajamas all day. What is senioritis for?
12:07 p.m. – School’s out, this day has been way too long already. I can’t believe I used to go to school for 6 whole hours! Time to go home and take nap number two. Part of the definition of senioritis requires two naps a day.
1:47 p.m. – School is out. I can’t wait for the drive home where I have ten minutes to myself to just listen to music. This is the best ten minutes of my day where there are no tests, no notes, and no homework to do. 7:00 p.m. – Still doing homework… 9:30 p.m. – Finally, I finished all of my homework. Time to move on to my projects and study for the tests I have in every class tomorrow. Time for a quick bit of the leftovers my family had for dinner or a nice hot cup of coffee.
7:02 a.m. - Last spot in the lot, of course, and I now have to sprint to class. I can’t be late to first period! Good thing I spent so long on my hair this morning that is now ruined by my run down the parking lot. 10:30 a.m. - Fourth period. Only an hour and a half left until I get a break for school and these insanely intense classes.
May 25, 2012 • The Arrow
7:02 a.m. – Second to last spot in the lot, score! I’m too lazy to walk to class and it’s only my first AP class of the day. I’ll give Patricia a ring using Siri on my iPhone (typing is too much work) so she can come drive me to class in the golf cart. The privileges of senioritis.
2:30 a.m. – I’ve officially passed out over all of my papers spread out across my desk. My teeth remain unbrushed, drool covers my papers, and my clothes from the previous day are still on my body. Can’t wait to wake up in 3 and a half hours to repeat the every day cycle of my junior year.
2:00 p.m. – So rested but still too tired to get out of my bed. Luckily, my laptop is right next to me and Facebook is the first thing to pop up. But after a few minutes, my hand is tired from moving around stalking people on their latest updates. Senioritis trumps Facebook.
7:00 p.m. – Call mom to bring me up my favorite dinner. After all, it is too much work to walk all the way downstairs and make it myself, and mom will be happy to make it for me. She only has a few more months until I’m a college kid. Another advantage of senioritis. 9:30 p.m. – Time to crawl up into my bed and fall asleep. My day has been so hard and I need to get some more beauty rest. Ahh the beauty of senioritis. 10:30 a.m. – Nap time, that’s what a fourth period is for. Senioritis.
2:30 a.m. – Already on my 12th hour of sleep for this day. I love senioritis.
Incoming Junior Advice:
Incoming Senior Advice:
“Stock up on sleep during the summer.” -Grace Ng ‘13
“Rarely do you have such an opportunity to be this exceedingly lazy with a valid excuse: it’s Senior Year.” Emile Nelson ‘12
“Book an appointment with the psychiatrist before it’s too late.” -Patricia Teodorescu ‘13 “Give up before the school year even starts.” -Adam Aranout ‘13
“Don’t be afraid to skip on senior ditch day.” -Jake Leonard ‘12 “Minimum work, maximum results.” -Matt Kaufman ‘12
Compiled by Krista Lamorie-Foote, Samantha Doctrow, and Stacey Kane
Feature
May 25, 2012 • The Arrow
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Summer Movies Promise to Bring the Heat Samantha Doctrow Feature Editor
How to Score A Summer Job Tracy Chavez Feature Editor
Teddy Scare: In an upcoming summer comedy, John (Wahlberg) confronts Ted (voiced by MacFarlane).
fight to preserve the nation in the Civil War while simultaneously crushing vampires and their slave-owning helpers. The historic sci-fi comes to theaters on June 22. Taking over the role from Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield plays the geeky
Peter Parker and his superhero alter-ego in the action-packed The Amazing Spider-Man. The movie completely eradicates all traces of Maguire’s Parker from the three previous films, and introduces a new version of the hero. The film begins as Parker gains
Kicking off Summer with Hot Shows Genna Gmeiner Staff Writer
As the SPF and flip flops come out again, summer time shows are also returning to the summer scene. This break is filled with returning and new shows that are sure to entertain. Coming back for its second season on June 3, is MTV’s hit show, Teen Wolf. This returning drama had a very successful premier season last summer. The story follows teen Scott Mykal as he battles through the struggle of being a new werewolf. Filled with romance, action, and an extremely attractive male cast, Teen Wolf is acquiring devoted followers. ABC Family’s addicting drama, Pretty Little Liars comes back again on June 5 for its third season. With the continuous search for answers to long-asked questions, the four main characters are deprived of finding A’s true identity. This highly popular series is finally giving the audience some answers, but when everyone thinks they have it figured out, the plot takes a 180 de-
gree turn changing everything. For the fans of Twilight and other vampire storylines, HBO’s True Blood returns June 12 for its fifth season. More returning series include, ABC’s WipeOut (June 28), and MTV’s Awkward also June 28. The summer would not be complete with out at least one of the Jersey Shore cast members. On June 21, MTV will premier Snookie and J-Woww vs. the World, an all new reality spin-off series that takes place in Jersey City. Audiences get to see Snooki and J-Wwow away from the rest of the cast, living an everyday life. Keep in mind that both of them have boyfriends, but that does not mean there won’t be any nail biting drama. ABC Family will bring another new drama to the scene. Bun Heads, premiering June 11, tells the story of a Vegas show girl who moves to a small town with her new husband. She then lands the job of working for her mother-in-law at her dance studio. With an entire summer to relax, be sure to get into a new or returning show.
COURTESY PHOTO
Finding a first job when you are a teen might be scary, especially when there's not much to pick from. In today's economy most jobs will already be taken by older folks. But no fear, summer is almost here! By this time all the college kids will be leaving their jobs behind, increasing available jobs for the average high school student. Thankfully, some jobs don't require any professional training or education. Places like Kohl's, KMart, Chick-fil-A, Apple Stores, and Muvico Theaters are just some of the places willing to hire teens this summer. Other jobs that require a bit more training include camp counselor, child care assistant, baby-sitting, lifeguard and others. Training for most of these occupations are offered at local programs such as YMCA, located in Conejo Valley, and First on Scene Training LLC, in Ventura. Even after getting a call back from a prospective employer, don't forget about the interview. Most employers realize that summer workers really want extra cash in their pockets. Adding a deeper or more personal reason during the interview, such as wanting to build character or wanting to gain job experience can increase a student’s likelihood of securing the job. Also, during the interview, don’t forget to talk about your strengths and skills that make you the best candidate for the job. Always remember during the interview to display a welcoming attitude, outgoing personality, and proficient social skills. Perhaps equally as important, remember to relax during that interview. Before the interview, make sure to do research on what the job entails. Bosses are more likely to hire students who understand the responsibilities of the job. Lastly, forget about the economic forecasts of last year. According to Snag-a-Job.com, there will be an increase in summer jobs this year. If you were rejected last year by retail stores like Hollister or Abercrombie and Fitch, this summer may be your lucky one.
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The best way to cool off from the blazing summer heat is to go inside a movie theater. Here is a preview of the variety of films coming out this summer. Rock of Ages, the 1980’s rock n’ roll musical adapted from the Broadway play, tells the story of small-town girl Sherrie (Julianne Hough) and aspiring rocker Drew (Diego González Boneta), who meet on the Sunset Strip while pursuing their Hollywood dreams. Tom Cruise stars as the ultimate rockstar, Stacee Jax, who tries to steal Sherrie away from Drew. Their rock ‘n’ roll romance is told through the hits of classic rockers like Def Leppard, Joan Jett, Journey, Bon Jovi, and more. The head-banging musical opens on June 15. You may think you know all about the Civil War, but you do not know the true reason the war started: vampires. In the fantasy-thriller Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, the 16th president (Benjamin Walker) takes on blood-suckers who are planning to take over the Union. Lincoln must
his super powers in high school and follows the hero on his quest to discover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of his parents. As Parker gets closer to the truth, he must battle his father’s old lab partner, Dr. Connors (Rhys Ifans), and his alter-ego, The Lizard. Garfield’s real-life girlfriend Emma Stone plays Parker’s crush, Gwen Stacy. The superhero epic premieres in 3D on July 3. Nearly every child has a favorite stuffed animal, but what would life be like if the animal you grew up with could talk? Family Guy creator Seth Macfarlane attempts to answer this question in his first live-action film, Ted. Mark Wahlberg stars as John, who as a child, wishes for his beloved teddy bear to come to life. Fast-forward 20 years, John and Ted (voiced by the audacious Macfarlane) still remain best friends, though Ted has transformed into a lazy, cursing, overdependent house guest. John is forced to choose between his childhood pal or his girlfriend (Mila Kunis). The riotous comedy hits theaters on July 13.
Bringing their “a” Game: Pretty Little Liars will return to ABC Family on June 5.
Athletes Search for Greatness in Great Britain Former American Olympic medalists and new hopefuls will travel to London this summer to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Shayna Kudler Staff Writer
Every four years one of the world’s most entertaining events, the Olympics, brings the world together. London, England will be hosting the 2012 Olympics this summer with athletes from more than 200 countries. Athletes are preparing for the upcoming event by putting in countless hours of hard work. The Olympic Torch Relay began on May 19, with the events set to begin on July 27. The competition will run for 70 days. The Torch will be lit, with 8,000 inspirational people chosen, and it will travel around Europe. Many American athletes will participate. A new rule implemented for gymnastics this year is that each country can send only five gymnasts for each male and female team instead of the usual six. Danell Leyva, who is a United States gymnastics champion, is clearly the nation’s biggest weapon for men’s gymnastics. It is undecided whether or not Olympic champion Shawn Johnson will be competing in the 2012 Olympics. She tore her ACL while skiing about a year ago and she has been recovering ever since. Johnson hopes to make it through the Olympic tri-
als in June to be able to compete in London. Jordyn Wieber is one of the top female gymnasts in the world heading to the Olympics. She is 16 years old and won the all-around competition at the 2011 World Championships. A friendly competitor and possible teammate of Wieber and Johnson is Nastia Liukin, who competed in the 2008 Olympics and won five gold medals. All three girls are very talented and hope to make it past trials to London. We also cannot forget Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps, who will be competing in his final Olympic games this summer. Phelps lost his interest in swimming for a while, but realized he missed it and has started training again. Over the course of 12 years he has won 14 gold medals in individual events, holding a record. Phelps’s biggest threat is Ryan Lochte, who beat Phelps in the 2011 FINA World Championships. At the June trials the two competitors will face off for another race. The U.S. men’s basketball team’s final roster has not yet been posted, but some of the top players listed to play include Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, and Chris Paul. The United States is still favored to
bring home the men’s basketball gold medal, especially with the amount of talent on this year’s team. The dream has finally come true for 16-year-old Ariel Hsing, who is headed to the Olympics as a member of the U.S. table tennis team. Her rigorous schedule everyday consists of practicing for a few hours and then attending school, while taking advanced classes in order to excel academically as well. Having realized that she cannot pursue a career in table tennis, Hsing hopes to attend Harvard or Stanford. For now, however, she is looking forward to London. One male athlete hoping to gain Olympic fame is wrestler, Jordan Burroughs. Burroughs received a wrestling scholarship to Nebraska for college and has extremely improved his wrestling skills for the Olympics. Many people consider him to be the best chance the U.S. has to win an Olympic gold medal in male wrestling. With over 40 sports in the Olympics this summer, interested viewers will have a sport that they may be interested in watching. Our nation looks forward to seeing all the U.S. athletes excel and compete. These athletes inspire American pride when participants score gold, silver, or bronze. London is calling.
Feature
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May 25, 2012 • The Arrow
Big Brother Is Watching You! 5 Ways Your Privacy Can Be Exploited Compiled by David Huang
1. Public exposure of information aids the process of stealing money and collecting people’s financial data. 2. Purchased records from credit cards and public demographic data can give statisticians enough data to calculate very personal information about customers. 3. Using an email platform such as Gmail or Yahoo allows companies to collect information and tracks your every move online. INVASION OF PRIVACY: People are involuntarily being monitored by their computers.
CON: Computers Invade Human Rights Hanyi Huang Feature Editor
Today’s technology is constantly improving. Better technology leads to better security, but it also leads to increasing invasion of our human rights. Our society is slowly progressing towards the society in George Orwell’s 1984. Surveillance cameras and the internet constantly track people’s actions often causing more problems than solutions. Consider, the use of traffic lights. Usually, when a person is pulled over for violating a traffic law, a police officer issues a ticket immediately. The driver is instantly aware of his or her mistake. When a violator is caught on camera, the ticket is mailed to the owner of the car, based on the car’s license plate. The owner receives the ticket days after the time of the violation, and, by then, the owner can no longer recall the details of that day and is unable to provide evidence to challenge the ticket. Additionally, the vehicle’s owner may not have been the driver on the day of the violation. Nonetheless, the car owner must pay the fine. Rather than improving society, the traffic system often bungles it. According to a 2005 study by the Washington Post, rear-end collisions have increased where traffic cameras were installed. Injuries and fatalities have also increased 81%. “It is clear that money and not law enforcement” is motivating the use of the system, said the American Automobile Association (AAA). Traffic cameras are not the only things violating people’s rights. Commonly used search engines on the internet, such as Google, covertly steal from their users. Google’s Street View collects personal information from unprotected, private Wi-Fi networks. eWeek.com said that Google executives originally denied claims that any personal data had been collected, but Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman, admitted that the company had collected fragments of personal data and blamed it on one employee. Google has also been accused of invasion of privacy for asking its users to identify random house numbers in order to access the webpage. The internet company claims to be only using the system for security purposes; however, the use of real house numbers has raised security questions. The company’s actions are unprofessional, and its words are paradoxical. Technology makes our lives more
convenient and provides better security, but there have been too many infringements of our rights for us to continue trusting it. Thus, as with all things, we must exercise caution in trusting technology to protect us.
PRO: Surveillance Provides Safety
checks, airports are also experimenting with new biometric tactics. Project Hostile Intent, for example, uses algorithms to detect behavioral cues that show deception. In spite of complaints that such processes are an invasion of privacy, they remain necessary to the prevention of major disasters. Technological surveillance is a powerful tool that, when put to use correctly, can drastically cut down crime and protect the public.
4. Using a GPS-enabled device (such as an iPhone), permits websites like Google to collect and process information about your actual location. 5. Advertisers can more easily track your online activity and can therefore direct ads suited to your needs and preferences, even if you do not want them to.
Ryan Cheng Staff Writer
In today's world, technology is implemented into every aspect of society, especially for security purposes. Hightech devices such as security cameras, biometric surveillance, and body scanners are present in many common locations, helping provide a safer environment for all activity. Thus, the safety provided by such technologies outweighs the concerns of privacy violation of the public. In general, security devices protect people in two ways: they cause people to act more carefully by being more aware of their actions, and they help make it easier to identify and track down perpetrators. Devices such as surveillance cameras are common in most locations already and are useful because they are easy to install, cost-effective, and flexible. In locations such as banks, it becomes a necessity for the business to have video surveillance because of the amount of money being exchanged at all times. Surveillance cameras are also utilized on public roads in order to enforce traffic laws and catch potential perpetrators by allowing the police to track one car from area to area so that a nearby officer can apprehend the driver. Although some people believe this is an invasion of privacy, it is necessary to protect the safety of drivers and to insure that people drive responsibly. In schools, cameras can catch misbehaving students, and, according to the Institute of Education Sciences, more and more schools are beginning to use surveillance cameras to monitor their students. By doing so, they protect the students from harming each other, a great improvement from the traditional security measure of the “yard-duty.” Another technology with benefits that outweigh its detriments, biometrics is a way to identify people electronically based on physical traits. Despite media portrayal as technology exclusive only to government buildings, fingerprint scanners, a popularized biometrics technology, are found at places such as Disneyland. Even schools are beginning to use them to monitor students. In addition, aside from the usual body and luggage scans and identification
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Sports
May 25, 2012 • The Arrow
15
Boys Tennis Ends Season Strong
Volleyball Closes Season in 9th
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their final tournament at the Redondo Union High School Tournament on May 5. At the tournament, varsity placed ninth, while JV earned fifth overall. The varsity team was dropped by Redondo Union High School and the JV team fell to Loyola High School. Before the Redondo tournament, the team placed first overall in the league. JV ranked an overall second place, falling short only to Thousand Oaks High School. A key loss from Thousand Oaks High School against Newbury Park High SKY-HIGH: JV member Kevin Ye prepares to School secured League spike at the Valencia High School Tournament. for the varsity team. In playoffs, the team placed ninth Brian Chang overall, which to many players Managing Editor was a disappointing end to a team of great caliber. After a season that included Varsity middle blocker Miraj hard-fought victories and close Patel ’13 expressed his regrets losses, boys volleyball finished about the Redondo tournament.
Individuals Advance to Masters Meet in Cerritos Brian Danziger Staff Writer
Victories at last week’s CIFSouthern Section Track and Field Championships for track team members added a satisfying feeling to the season. Qualifying for the Masters Meet at Cerritos College May 25 are several WHS competitors: The 4x100 girls relay team managed a spectacular finish. Sara Schwartz ‘14, Abigail Smith ‘15, Nicole Greenberg ‘14, and Brooke Edell ‘14 ran a combined 11.70. Smith also won the 100 (11.63). Pole vaulter Luigi Colella ‘14 will also compete at the Masters after earning a top spot at the Championships. The WHS track season for both the girls and boys teams had its ups and downs throughout the year. The boys teams finished 3-4 and placed fifth in league while the girls finished 4-3 and placed fourth. Despite their records, the teams did stay very competitive during the duration of the season. Coach Joe Snyder stated, “A primary goal in any sport is to be competitive as possible as a team.” The coaching staff did whatever it could to help this team produce. “Coach Jim Benkert spent several hours strategically planning where they could maximize their point scoring with their different events before each meet,” stated Snyder. The team responded to the coaching staff’s hard work. ”Our athletes really tried to compete as a team and get every point they were asked to score. This is a major accomplishment for our boys and girls track teams this season,” stated Snyder. Qualifying for CIF Southern Section Prelims were the girls 4x100 team. Schwartz also qualified for individual 400 meter race.
In addition, Edell and Smith qualified for the girls 100 and 200 meter race. In the boys 1600 race Rocky Peterson ‘13 qualified. For both the boys 110 hurdles and the triple jump, Adam Augustyn ‘12 qualified. In the girls and boys 3200 race, Nicki Ghazarian ‘12 made it from the girls side while Mikey Giguere ‘14 qualified from the boys side. Clark Nelson ‘14 qualified for the boys high jump and Colella qualified for the boys pole vault competition, Colella earned first in that competition.
“At the competition, our team lost a match that we had in the bag, but just couldn’t finish.” Led by captains Jacob Delson ‘12 and Brandon Kohler ‘12, and Coach Doug Magorien, the team, according to Patel, seemed to “bond more as a team rather than play as separate individuals” compared to past years. Similarly, the JV team earned large successes in the season in great part to the improved teamwork. Outside hitter Kevin Ye ’14, said, “I think the team bonded together well. Our coach Jordan Craig worked on our fundamentals so I feel that my personal game has also improved.” Next year’s team will focus on bonding as a team rather than a specific individual ‘superstar.’ “Next year will be similar to this year in terms of team chemistry,” stated Patel. “We’ll have to focus on bonding as a group and mastering teamwork like this year in order to place high and win tournaments.” With a combination of experienced and newly-skilled players, the team is hoping to achieve even greater success next season.
Trailing only behind rival Calabasas, Warriors take second place in the Marmonte League. Harry Chung Staff Writer
After many great accomplishments this year, the boys varsity tennis team is ready to end the season. The team came close to winning the Marmonte League, barely trailing behind Calabasas High School. It ended up placing second overall. The members of the WHS tennis team were also able to play in CIF championships. Despite fierce competition, they were able to make their mark in the tournament. “We had a really solid team led by strong seniors. We advanced to the second round of CIF and we are really looking forward to next season,” said Sumant Iyer ’15. Sadly, the team will have some big shoes to fill with the loss of the many tennis giants who once roamed the WHS tennis
courts. Graduating this year are seniors Frank Duan, Harrison Han, Brian Ho, Alex Farkas, and Brett Kaplan. Coach Connie Flanderka has also chosen to retire from teaching physical education. Not ready to walk away from WHS entirely, she has decided to stay with the team and continue coaching. Coach James Azevedo will also continue to train the team members as well. Even after achieving such a successful year, the tennis team still has one very specific goal in mind for next season: to win league next year by defeating their rivals, Calabasas. Overall, the boys varsity tennis team has had a fantastic season as a group of athletes sharing their passion for the sport. “We’ve come through not only to enhance and promote the art of tennis but also to strengthen the mind and body,” said varsity player Alex Loh ’14.
Cobleigh Takes 1st Place at C.I.F.
Michelle Noyes News Editor
Hunter Cobleigh ’12 sprinted to first place in breaststroke at the CIF Division 1 Finals. Riverside Aquatics Complex held the CIF Division 1 swimming finals all day on May 12, where the boys team won eighth place and the girls team took 11th.Overall, the team won eighth place at the CIF Division 1 meet. Cobleigh had a successful first place win with a time of 56.39 seconds for the 100 breaststroke. At the meet, the team won third place in the 200 medley relay in 1:33.96 minutes.
Swimmers for the medley were Michael Wen ’13, David Puczkowski ’15, Juson Hoo ’13, and Cobleigh. Wen won third place in his 200 individual medley swimming it in 1:51.24 minutes. He swam the 100 breaststroke in 57.79 seconds placing seventh. Puczkowski took sixth place swimming the 100 backstroke in 50.93 seconds. Sasha Mitrushina ’13 placed 17th in the 500 freestyle at 4:39.57 minutes. The girls team swam the 200 medley relay in 1:48.15 minutes. Haley Preston ’12, Savannah Miller ’12, Julia Farfan ’13, and Haley Crowley ’14 placed fourth.
First place in the 200 freestyle was won by Preston swimming the race in 1:52.67 minutes. At the meet she also swam the 100 backstroke in 56.69 seconds, placing sixth. In the 100 freestyle, Miller took first place with a time of 50.95 seconds in the event. In the 50 freestyle she tied for eighth with 23.76 seconds. Farfan placed 17th with a time of 1:00.07 minutes in the 100 backstroke. In the 100 butterfly she placed nineteenth at 1:00.12 minutes. The final event of the meet was the 400 freestyle swam by Lacey Anderson ’14, Preston, Farfan, and Miller. The four girls placed 15 in the event.
Sports
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May 25, 2012 • The Arrow
Athletes to Watch for 2013 Colby Magorien
X-Country
Volleyball
Football
Future Goal: To play professionally and overseas.
Future Goal: To play Division I Football in college.
Future Goal: Play Divison I Tennis
High School Goal: To receive a full scholarship to Cal State Northridge.
High School Goal: To become a starter on the varsity team
High School Goal: To improve and help Westlake win a championship.
Recent Achievement: Won the Marmonte League
Recent Achievement: Was the co-MVP of the freshman team.
Recent Achievement: Won the Arcadia Tournament.
Future Goal: No idea. High School Goal: To break the school cross country record. Recent Achievement: Beat everybody in the Marmonte League Finals.
Gianna Insogna
Julia Mannisto
Tennis
Volleyball
Quincy Bennett
Matt Gottlieb
Mikey Giguere
Lauren Diaz-Yi
Golf
Future Goal: To get a scholarship and play for a Division I college.
Future Goal: To get a scholarship to a California university.
Future Goal: To be the top college player and to go pro.
High School Goal: To stay number one on varsity.
High School Goal: To stay on varsity and get a scholarship.
High School Goal: To win Marmonte League MVP and to advance to the CIF championship.
Recent Achievement: Made finals at the Burbank Tournament.
Recent Achievement: Broke Westlake’s records for most kills and aces.
Recent Achievement: Earned full scholarship to University of Virginia.
Tennis
Rocky Peterson
Track Future Goal: To run for a Division I college. High School Goal: To compete at the Masters and State meets and run a 4:16 mile. Recent Achievement: Ran a 4:25 mile at the Ventura County Championship.