10.14.11

THE

Arrow

Page 5 Arleen Scavone from Sweet Arleen’s visits the WHS Foods class.

Westlake High School VOLUME XXXIV, ISSUE 2

Page 12 Page 6 Varsity XC runner, Mikey Giguere races against Royal and Moorpark.

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

Samantha Simon and Shane Landeen offer style tips for Homecoming Dance.

October 14, 2011

ELECTRIC BLACKOUT

Electrifying Warriors defeat the favored Oaks Christian to place 1st in the State and 5th in the Nation.

Lisa Battaglia Editor-in-chief

PHOTO BY TONY PANZICA COURTESY OF ACTIONPHOTOS.NET

Black-clad Warrior footballers dominated their next-door archrivals in a blockbuster game last Oct. 6 on the home turf, beating the Oaks Christian Lions 43-21.

In racking up more than double the points scored by the state’s fourth-ranked Lions, Westlake sent a convincing message that they owned the top spot in the Marmonte League standings at 5-0. Oaks Christian fell to a 3-2 overall record.

After several days of almost unbearable anticipation––including a Thursday rally, featuring players and cheerleaders pumping up the Warrior student body, who smacked a lion piñata and popped balloons adorned with OCHS logos––the team burst on to the field to the cheers of their highly spirited, screaming fans, also wearing black in solidarity.

With memories of last year’s heartbreaking one-point loss to Oaks in the CIF championship game in mind, the Warriors bounced back with a vengeance and gained a large measure of sweet redemption in an impressive offensive and defensive display. WHS piled up 432 rushing yards.

The Warriors were led by junior sensation Justin Moore ’13 with 222 yards on the ground in 14 carries. Exploding repeatedly through the Oaks defensive line on quarterback draw plays and options, Moore had runs of 72, 21,19, and 16 yards, shredding the Lions defense, which was clearly dominated by the Warrior offensive line.

It was hard to find fault in any part of Moore’s game, in fact. He acknowledged a couple of missed throws, but added, “when you have a 43-21 point win you are not too disappointed with your performance.”

Without Nick Isham ’11 who graduated last year, Moore has, no doubt, felt the pressure to fill Isham’s spot. But as Coach Jim Benkert observed, “They are two different types of players. [Moore] is getting better every week

and learning the players around him.”

Pressure is nothing new for Moore. After Isham’s injury in the 2009 Northern Division championship game, Moore came off the bench to lead the Warriors to a decisive victory against Moorpark HS—as a freshman.

Thursday’s decisive victory is additional testimony that Moore is a worthy competitor, a double threat in both the passing/rushing departments as well as defending. Playing defense, Moore intercepted a pass from the Oaks quarterback during the game. Moore’s leadership abilities are apparent on and off the field.

As team co-captain Adam Augustyn ’12 observes, “[Moore] is easy to get along with, a great teammate, and a great leader of the offense.”

For Moore, the most unexpected play was the seven-yard touchdown run. “I was expecting more of a challenge on that play,” said the junior quarterback.

Moore electrified the crowd with the pivotal play of the game in the second quarter with OC leading 14-13. Taking the snap from the eight-yard line, Moore dropped back to pass, pursued by a wave of several Lion defenders. Eluding them all the way back to the 25-yard line, the scrambling Moore, leaning back and off-balance, heaved a high arching pass to the waiting arms of Alex Egurbide ‘14 in the extreme left corner of the end zone for a touchdown and a lead that Westlake would never relinquish.

Adding to the four touchdowns scored by the offense, kicker Alex Ball ’12 hammered home five field goals, including monster shots of 47, 44, 40, and 33 yards. Ball also made good on all four extra point tries and sent all of his kickoffs into the end zone and beyond, forcing Oaks Christian to begin their offensive series from the 20.

The defensive play of the game came just before half time. With Oaks Christian driving deep into Westlake territory, Bradley Wellman ’13 intercepted a pass from Oaks quarterback Brandon Dawkins in the end zone, to keep the

LIGHTS OUT FOR THE LIONS: QB Justin Moore stuns Oaks Christian with his performance.

score at 20-14. The offense took over at that point and drove to yet another Westlake touchdown.

The Westlake rock-like defense also came up big. They picked off two Dawkins passes and recovered two OC fumbles. Westlake offense was perfect in the turnover department, giving up no interceptions or fumbles.

After the game, Coach Benkert said, “We went into the game with two objectives. We had to run the ball and the offensive line control the line of scrimmage. We also had to get after their quarterback.”

Responsibility for success was due to both the offensive and defensive linemen. “Realistically, it was the core of lines” that made the difference, noted Benkert, who added that with a strong opponent like Oaks Christian, “You always prepare for the worst,” obviously a strategy that paid off handsomely for the Warriors.

After conquering the Lions, Moore looks forward to the next challenges. “Every week is a challenge. Each team has its problems. You try not to look at the big games,” said Moore.

The Warriors will face off against Simi Valley in the Homecoming game tonight.

TV-Themed Homecoming Welcomes Alumni

PHOTO BY LISA BATTAGLIA

gather together again this time to crown a Homecoming King and Queen and welcome home alumni.

After a blast from the past with a decades theme last year, ASG ventured into the TV world with a TV shows theme. Students dressed as characters from Disney Channel, MTV, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon throughout the week.

Monday's HomecomCOURT NOMINEES: (From left to right): Stella Fang, Frank Duan, ing Rally kicked off a week Paige Harris, Rami Saifan, Alexa Lucas, and John Hagy pose as of activities that included Homecoming king and queen nominees (Javier “Sugarbear” Aguilera dress-up days and lunch and Zoe Steele not pictured). rallies.

Highlights from MonLisa Battaglia day’s rally included a creative rap video Editor-in-chief

by Casey Ryan ‘12, Max Goldberg ‘12 featuring Sodie Orr ‘12 and Jarrius Bishop Animation, music, and colorful family ‘12, and skits by all classes featuring their fare will be the focus for Homecoming themes.

2011 tonight at the game and tomorrow MCs Rami Saifan and Lovell Hairston night at the dance.

II ‘12 announced the nominations for In a stark contrast to last week's Homecoming prince and princess. blackout Thusrday against Oaks Christian Freshman nominees are Tara Beltran, High School, the Warriors are ready to

Hannah Chi, Kelsey Kimball, Maddy McClung, Joey Sapienza, Fred Wise, John Wise, Klayton Wood.

Sophomore nominees include Hanna Bluth, Victoria Doder, Sean Haney, Lexi Isham, Sierra Newell, Chase Rosenberg, Andrew Truhan, and Cynthia Yin. Nominees for the junior class are Matt Bishop, Jane Chen, Madeline NorlingChristensen, Brennan Ray, Dylan Ray, James Rodriguez, Laura Rosenblum, and Hannah Weigel.

Senior nominees are Javier “Sugarbear” Aguilera, Frank Duan, Stella Fang, John Hagy, Paige Harris, Alexa Lucas, Rami Saifan, and Zoe Steele.

Freshmen portrayed characters from Disney Channel such as Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, Mickey Mouse Club, and Lizzie McGuire.

Channeling their inner reality TV star power, the sophomores dressed up on Wed. as MTV show personalities, including Snooki from Jersey Shore, and wore concert tees of their favorite musical artists.

Juniors found inspiration in favorite Cartoon Network characters such as Dexter’s Laboratory, Ed, Edd and Eddy, Powerpuff Girls, and Courage the

Cowardly Dog. Seniors dressed up as Nickelodeon characters like Cosmo and Wanda from The Fairly Oddparents, Spongebob, and Jimmy Neutron. “A Nickelodeon theme gives us a chance to be kids again before we go off into the real world next year,” said Rachel Phillips ‘12.

The Warrior football team will face off against Simi Valley Friday night in what is expected to be another exciting show of force. The halftime show will feature the announcement of the Homecoming King and Queen.

Dressed-up cartoon characters will escort the nominees to the field. “It’s going to be beautiful,” said ASG treasurer Harris.

The Homecoming Dance will finish off the Homecoming week Oct. 15 in the gym from 8:00-11:00 p.m. Dance commissioner Nicki Ghazarian ‘12 is excited to introduce a new DJ. “The new DJ is really pumped and enthusiastic,” she said.

With a new setting, the gym will be decorated with several new light systems and a “fun light show,” said ASG adviser Diane Blackburn.

“There will be a different set up and circular lighting,” said ASG president Sam Wilson ‘12.

News

2

October 14, 2011 • The Arrow

In Brief Club Rush Activity to Feature 20 Clubs

JSA to Attend Fall State Convention Members of Junior State of America (JSA), whose purpose is to raise public awareness about national issues, will be attending the annual Fall State Convention Nov. 12-13 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott. Different political and social issues will be addressed and debated among high school students from all over Southern California. Those interested in practicing public speaking skills or in meeting new people are welcome to attend. Meetings are held every Thursday in 12F during lunch.

TEDx Event Looks for Young Innovators TEDx is holding an event in the WHS Carpenter Family Theatre on Nov. 20. TEDx is a series of local events organized by students for students to bring people together to share experiences and interact in deep discussions in small groups. Young thinkers and innovators are invited to share their experiences and exchange ideas. The theme is “We Have a Voice.”

‘Diversity Means . . . ’ Theme for PTSA Reflections Contest The yearly Reflections Art Contest will feature a diversity theme. The objective of the contest is to draw a picture, create a film, write a song or essay, or choreograph a dance depending on the yearly theme. Entry forms are available online at the school’s website’s PTSA Reflections link and in the library. Entries will be accepted until 3:00 p.m. Oct. 27.

Decathlon Team To Study Imperialism Academic Decathlon team members have begun preparations for the annual county competition. After coming in second to Oxnard High School last year, the team is deep in study once again, hoping this year will be different.

“Although Oxnard defeated us last year, I hope that we will be able to take the lead in the competition because of the influx of strong, new students,” said Aca Deca veteran Lily Wang ’13.

Imperialism is the focus of this year’s competition. Aca Deca students are expected to balance the demands of this additional material with their schoolwork, They study enormous amounts of material, including reading the Joseph Conrad novella Heart of Darkness.

They spend their class time and after school hours reading packets of information, taking tests on the packets, and participating in Jeopardy-style activities in order to memorize all the necessary information.

Students explore ten areas, including literature, math, science, music, art, and economics. The superquiz this year is in history. Each participant must also prepare for an interview, as well as both impromptu and prepared speeches.

COURTESY PHOTO

Club Rush will be held during lunch on Oct. 21 in the quad. With over 70 active clubs on campus, about 20 will set up information tables with representatives to talk about club activities, including the community service projects they are involved in. Clubs will also take the opportunity to recruit new members and distribute fliers and food items.

HAVING A LAUGH: MCs Jessica Evaristo, Valerie Lee, and Chase Rosenberg provide comedic relief between acts at Choir Department’s talent show.

Choir’s Got Talent

Michelle Noyes Victoria Wang Feature Editors

The Choir Department drew back the curtains for an impressive talent show on Oct. 1, that featured 34 singers from Vocal Ensemble and Women’s Chorale. Each of the two performances—an afternoon show and an evening show—featured 14 unique numbers.

Show acts varied from “Lullaby” to “Save the Last Dance for Me” to “Harry Potter in 99 Seconds.” Between each act, MCs Jessica Evaristo ‘12, Valerie Lee ‘12, and Chase Rosenberg ‘14 provided brilliant comedy relief to help provide energy to the vocal marathon. Colored background lights also added personality to each performance.

Both shows garnered roaring support from the audience. “[The show] was a great success,” said Alan Rose, director of the WHS Choral Music Department.

Rose himself had little involvement in the talent show. “I didn’t do anything. This is a completely student driven, directed show from start to finish.”

Choral Music Department President Daniel Au ‘12 managed the director’s work while Rose watched over everything.

“This is something I want the students to learn to put together themselves,” Rose explained.

One of the highlights of the afternoon show was the hilarious “Harry Potter in 99 Seconds” performed by Sierra Drummond

‘14 and Carly Pierson ‘14. It was different from every other performance and very upbeat. The broom and poster props added a quidditch element to the fast-paced song.

Also, in the afternoon show Anica Stemper ‘13 sang an original piece while playing the piano.

“It was really fun and I loved the talent show,” said Stemper. “You get to see how talented other people are.”

The show ended with Stemper and Colin Carpenter ‘13 singing “A Whole New World.”

The evening show was just as exciting.

It began with slight mishaps: the music began a minute late for Megan Rittenhouse ‘12 and Rosenberg’s act. Halfway through Diego Rivera’s ‘12 “Lullaby” a stage crew member had to hold the microphone up for him. But the audience was very supportive and Rivera did not miss a beat.

Rosenberg and Rittenhouse mixed acting, singing, and originality for a dorky, cute, and funny performance of “The Song That Goes Like This.” Daniel Nebens ‘12 danced his way down to the audience and gave his mother a sweet surprise: a kiss to the cheek.

Kyle Van Dyke ‘14 sang “Home” with his grandmother as piano accompanist, a pairing that made the lyrics even more meaningful. The show closed with Michael Mancuso ‘12 and Courtney Allen ‘12 performing “Awake.”

“I was excited - I knew Courtney and I were ready to perform [our song],” said Mancuso. “It was a great way to start my senior year. It’s a memory I’ll always have.”

Freshman Class Officers Elected Brian Danziger Staff Writer

After all the candidates’ poster making and self promotion, four freshmen emerged victorious.

Campaigning paid off for Maddy McClung who was elected Freshman President; Vice President went to Meisha Lamb-Bell; Secretary went to Amanda Francisco; and Treasurer to Ryan Chen.

The elected individuals aimed to stand apart from their opponents and promised to bring new and improved ideas for the Freshman Class.

McClung reflected on how she separated herself from the others by stating that “my enthusiasm and my clear points in the video got the voters’ attention.”

McClung is trying to help the lackluster image of her class. “I plan on improving so the freshmen are not always known as the ‘unspirited’ and ‘disorganized’ ones.”

Despite the deep set notion that freshmen are unspirited, McClung remains optimistic about this school year, stating that “this year will be awesome” and intends to implement many new ideas to catapult the freshman class to spirited success.

The freshmen who were elected are going to do whatever it takes to make freshman year better and more exciting than in past years. McClung wants all the freshmen to get more involved and more spirited so they can compete with the other classes for spirit points. She is expecting a very exciting and productive year.

Feature

October 14, 2011 • The Arrow

3

Cupcake Wars Champion Shares Baking Tips Woody Chung Staff Writer

PHOTO BY HARRY CHUNG

Students of Maria Scirone’s Advanced Foods class were given a sweet treat on Oct. 7 when Sweet Arleen’s owner and business manager Arleen Scavone and executive pastry chef Julia San Bartolome spoke about Scavone’s business and her success as a competitor on Cupcake Wars on the Food Network channel.

Dressed in a professional Sweet Arleen’s chef uniform, Scavone shared her interests in the culinary world and the challenges and benefits of creating her own business.

At the height of the financial crisis, Scavone was laid off from her executive position at Washington Mutual. “I then had the decision to work again in bank- SWEET SPEECH: Sweet Arleen’s owner Arleen Scavone visits Maria Scirone’s Advanced Foods ing or to follow my love of food,”said class.

Scavone. She chose the latter but eventhe culinary world by consistently asking ed Sweet Arleen’s the right to cater to the tually started her own banking busifor a job at Sweet Arleen’s for half a year Tony’s awards, gave the company national ness as well.

“I didn’t get an opportunity to go to paid off when she was hired on her 16th publicity, and pushed Arleen to launch her culinary school. All of my learning came birthday; and how San Bartolome helped Sweet Arleen’s food truck.

Afterwards, Scavone introduced Jilfrom being in the kitchen, loving it,” said open the store by developing part of the lian Stern ‘15, a foods student who had enScavone. “Luckily, depending on where menu right before opening day.

Scavone also shared the five secrets to tered and won Sweet Arleen’s Fall Recipe you want to land in your culinary fields, maintaining a culinary business: product, Campaign with her Cocoa Cupcake. Stern you have a lot of options now.”

She then shared stories of the obstacles pricing, placement, promotion, and profit. was awarded a gift certificate to the bakery and opportunities in making her business, Many of these were bolstered by Sweet and her recipe was crowned the December including how a kleptomaniac ex-girlfriend Arleen’s second victory in the Food Net- flavor of the month. The cupcake will be of her son’s best friend attempted to steal work’s Cupcake Wars, in which the baker featured all month long in the store.

Then, San Bartolome lectured on how her first cupcake recipe, the red velvet; how battled other winners of previous seasons a student’s attempt to put herself out into in culinary challenges. The victory grant- to properly ice a cupcake, inviting Aaron

Freshii Restaurant Opens in Promenade With limitless combinations, the new fresh food store offers a customized menu with an earth friendly approach to serving takeout.

Feature Editor

Staff Writer

“When you are hungry and there is only a candy bar in sight, do you grab for that candy bar? Now, imagine if between your hand and that candy bar, we placed an apple? Would you choose that apple?

Our goal is simple: Freshii wants to be that apple.”

This is the mission of the new eatery, Freshii, located in the Westlake Promenade, which opened on Sept. 26.

Freshii offers a healthy, simple, and fast way to enjoy a sat- i s f y i n g meal.

The founder, Matthew Corrin, opened the original Freshii in Toronto, Canada in 2005. “ We liked all the different food choices in the Promenade and we wanted to add a healthier concept,” said Tony Owen, Area Developer and Owner of Freshii stores in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

“The menu offers a variety of food, and gives you the ability to customize your item. Our focus is on food that gives you energy, using fresh and healthy ingredients,” added Owen.

As soon as you walk into Freshii you get a unique, yet refreshing vibe. Starting with the way you order your food, you receive a ticket that either lets you order an item off of the Freshii menu or allows you to start from scratch and customize your meal. New York independent restaurants inspired this idea, which gives the customer flexibility

while m a k i n g Freshii more unique.

The Freshii atmosphere gives a bright and welcoming feel. It is painted in white and bright green, to go along with the green theme. Utensils are earth friendly and beverage choices are naturally sweetened.

For upper classmen, if you are wondering how you can enjoy a Freshii meal and still be back to school in time the answer is simple. Freshii offers a free app, where you are able to see the entire menu and order from the nearest location. Also, freshii.com is another way to place an order ahead of time.

Freshii has a variety of food choices ranging from soups and salads to spicy noodle bowls. To go along with your meal you get a choice of three different original Freshii “tiis” to drink. Your possibilities for a fresh, healthy meal are endless and are now served at the Westlake Promenade.

“I like the Bangkok burrito; it’s substantial enough to eat for dinner,” according to Owen.

Q&A with Arleen Scavone After introducing herself and San Batolome, Scavone opened the forum for student questions: Q: What is your favorite cupcake?

A: My favorite cupcake to make is the red velvet.

Q: Any advice for students?

A: Definitely be out there. There are a lot of options these days.

Q: Why did you go into the cupcake business?

A: At the time I launched my business, people were really concerned with the economy, with money. And the idea of the cupcake is something affordable, something that people can treat their kids to, and it’s fun. From a business strategy perspective, the cupcake is the right thing. It’s a great alternative to cakes. Everybody loves cupcakes.

Autumn Brings Season of Spices and Flavors

Michelle Noyes

Kelly Mark

Semain ’12, Cynthia Agnetti ‘15, and Stern to ice and decorate their own. According to San Bartolome, her favorite part of the job is catering to other people’s needs by “baking at 3:00 a.m. on a really busy Saturday.”

“I love Sweet Arleen’s,” said Radale Guyton ‘13. “After this presentation, I’m more interested in the cupcake field.”

Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays make us long for the scents and tastes that fade too quickly.

Halloween is approaching in less than three weeks and many wait for the traditional Brach’s candy corn. Brach’s candy company originated in 1904 and has been in the sweets business ever since. The iconic candy corn is also know as mellowcream and is sold in other seasonal shapes and colors. Another Brach item for the child at heart is caramel candy corn which is sold in stores for a Halloween treat.

For a more sophisticated taste, coffee breweries have many options to satisfy.

Starbucks whips up a seasonal steamed Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Another seasonal drink on the menu is Steamed or Iced Salted Caramel Mocha. The bakery offers pumpkin flavored baked goods including cream cheese muffins, bread, and scones. To go along with baked goods the pumpkin drinks include spice crème,

spice frappuccino, and blended spice crème frappuccino.

“My favorite fall drink is the pumpkin spice frappuccino. It is different and has a sweet spice to it. Very fall like and a hot one is always great for a cozy cold fall day,” said loyal Starbucks customer Lexi Chase ’13.

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf has two specialty drinks for the autumn months. Salted caramel and cinnamon mocha cappuccinos are their features.

To get in the spirit of fall try a homemade pumpkin pie recipe. If pie is not your preference for dessert there are plenty more pumpkin based recipes to solve that problem. Pumpkin flavored cake, gingerbread, and cheesecake are all alternatives to the typical pumpkin pie with whipped cream.

F r e s h apples are another popular fall taste. Besides biting into an apple at lunch on a typical day, apples can be made into delicious desserts. Caramel apples are for the sweet tooth and can easily be homemade. Apple pie is a yearly favorite.

Snacking on candy corn, pumpkin pie and caramel apples are sure to get anyone in the spirit of autumn.

Opinion

4

October 14, 2011 • The Arrow

Fresh Takes on Environmental Issues Windmills with Birds for Brains Scatter Birds’ Brains

A Dash of Sanity:

An affinity for nature is unnatural.

Dashiell Young-Saver Editor-in-chief

I don’t really like nature. It is smelly, dirty, and dangerous, kind of like the school locker rooms after they have been cleaned. I prefer to stay inside. Watching the weatherman’s green screen is the closest I get to the green outdoors and real weather.

Trees, for instance, are some of the most despicable and terrifying creatures that inhabit this planet. They lurk over us, watching, waiting to strike, taking every opportunity to snatch up all the sunlight and cast a shady gloom over our lives. It is as if they are stalking us, taking pictures of our private lives with their “photo”synthesis. They hog all the carbon dioxide that we need to keep the weather nice and warm, and all they give back is oxygen. Like we need oxygen, I mean the stuff is as abundant as air. Lumberjacks should be given Medals of Honor rather than minimum wage, and treehuggers should be shot for “treeson.”

Then again, nature can be useful in some respects. For instance, how could I live without my baby seal skin jacket, my elephant tusk toothpicks, or my speed boat which runs on the tears of Siberian tiger cubs and crude oil?

The Earth Club would have you believe that we kill the environment and destroy the purity of the planet. Many say that we have disturbed the harmony of nature with our greed. But the truth is that we are a part of nature. We are creatures that have prospered through years of evolution and natural selection. We have built cities while most animals continued to live in their own feces. We have made weapons while most animals continued to use their claws. We have killed one another in wars while most animals (the brutish beasts that they are) continued to not mass-murder members of their own species. We naturally evolved in the name of survival, and we have become the dominant species. We put the “natural” in natural selection. Helping nature, as the Earth Club insists, is just unnatural.

The fact that other organisms die off due to our lifestyle just shows they are inferior. Logically, we should purposefully kill more species to become more dominant. That is why so many companies and politicians support anti-green actions.

Wasteful companies are like rappers: the more competition they kill, the better they are, no matter how bad they sing…or speak…or heavily pant and spit colorful vocabulary between breaths into a microphone…or do whatever rappers do.

The UN (United Nations) estimated that between 150 and 200 species become extinct every day. That is between 150 and 200 reasons why we are the best every day.

This number is only dwarfed by Kanye West, who, according to a UN (un-United Narcissists) estimate, thinks of over 9000 reasons why he is the best every day (Reason #1: Last name rhymes with best).

It’s also true that our behavior, like Kanye’s, can be self-destructive. Our resources are running low as we destroy ecosystems, and our icecaps are melting as we burn more coal. As long as we continue on this natural rampage against nature, we will eventually destroy ourselves.

We will finally be so dominant as to kill the world’s greatest species: man.

I guess we are not evolved enough yet to curb our self-destructive nature and, by natural selection, must die off. Confused?

Don’t worry. It’s only natural.

wind energy if a condor hits the turbines?” I’m going to take the liberty of representing the public and answer with Wind turbines are a wholehearted, “Still pretty scattered across the green field, good, Doug.” quietly humming as they churn Sure, birds are fine for out renewable energy. Wildlife some things. What would surrounds the turbines, dead upper class hunters shoot at birds litter the ground, flowers without ducks? What would sway in the wind. Wait, what’s steal food at the beach without wrong with this picture? seagulls?

Wind turbines, a windmill But natural selection used to create renewable teaches us that species unable sources of energy, are becoming to adapt to their environment increasingly frequent in should eventually become California.

However, the extinct. Who are we to interfere turbines have recently with the natural order of life? I come under attack for being say we kill two birds with one environmentally unfriendly, wind turbine, and wish the due to the surprisingly high bird-brained monsters a nice number of birds killed after flight to bird purgatory (there flying into the machine. But is is, of course, no bird heaven). there anything really wrong Birds are not the victims with killing birds? in this situation. If anything, Birds are the worst. environmentally conscientious There’s no kind, politically people are the ones who truly correct, environmentally suffer. Contrarian hipsters find friendly way to twist it; birds themselves morally divided are by far the worst bipedal between supporting birds and vertebrates (a surprisingly supporting wind energy. When vast category). The benefits it comes to advocating for they provide are nonexistent, IN-TOON WITH NATURE: Windmills kill about 440,000 birds annually, nature against nature, what particularly when compared leaving many questions about their environmentally-friendly reputation. are the hipsters of America to the threat they pose (see the mostly scientifically accurate depiction of at wind farms annually, according to www. supposed to do?

While environmentalists may disagree, birds in the aptly named thriller The Birds). gazettenet.com. Even better, nearly extinct Birds have proved themselves time and California condors fly dangerously close creating a source of energy is decidedly time again to be the single most useless part to the wind turbines, thereby making more important than saving birds. So if complete eradication a whole lot easier. the wind turbines succeed, birds will be of nature, narrowly defeating lap dogs.

The Fish and Wildlife Service boasts Field biologist Doug Bell complains, singing their swan songs soon enough, and that an impressive 440,000 birds are killed “How’s the public going to feel about the world will finally become bird-free.

Orly Greenberg Sports Editor

Animal Testing More Cruel Than Beneficial Brian Chang

Managing Editor Research and experimentation have contributed to the sudden increase in our ability to identify and cure problems that humans encounter. Some of the most prominent discoveries include developments in cancer treatment, cloning, organ transplants, penicillin, and even the whooping cough vaccine, according to the UK Coalition for Medical Progress.

Unfortunately, the main way these “miracle developments” sprout is thanks to trial and error methods—on animals.

Testing various vaccines on humans obviously is an issue of enormous controversy, and thus humans have resorted to the “inferior” species in order to find out whether their vaccinations work properly or not.

Annually, in the United Kingdom alone, 2.5 million animals are tested for the sake of the health of humans, according to the BBC. The testing ranges from injecting the AIDS virus into animals to test a new vaccine, assessing the side effects of a certain medication, or even testing new makeup products before selling it to the public. Animals that are tested vary from small rats to the chimpanzee, which is the most similar organism to the human both physically and mentally.

To say that these tests have not helped improve the medical innovations in recent years is false. Undoubtedly, the results that we have acquired from experiments on animals have aided in bolstering our knowledge of diseases and cures. However, even the largest improvement in medical society does not compensate for the potential and massive damage that animals face in these experiments.

Most animal rights activists argue this

stance under the justification that animals have some inherent rights that must be protected. But this argument is highly arbitrary; in order to argue that animals deserve at least the basic rights of life or to not be tortured, one must look at the rights humans receive and exactly why they receive these rights.

In the United States, life is a guaranteed right to all humans when they are born. No one can take away someone’s life without reason, and the only cases when there is a reason to kill someone is if the person asks for euthanasia, or if (in some states) the person receives capital punishment for committing a serious crime. In no instance are humans’ lives taken away for the sake of medical testing.

Why do humans receive this right?

Clearly, it is not that they are “higher beings” or have better mental capacities. It is that they are sentient, living beings. If we give rights only to those who have higher mental capacities, then we wouldn’t give rights to infants or mentally disabled people.

Clearly, the only criterion that humans posit for the protection of life for humans is that they are alive and sentient. Under the same criterion, animals too should deserve these fundamental rights—the right to life, or the ability to live without torture.

I’m not arguing that animals should be given all human rights such as the right to vote or a right to a jury.

These rights are exclusively human rights, as these rights can only be exercised properly with higher mental capacities (that would be why only adults are allowed to vote).

What I am saying is that it doesn’t take a sophisticated brain to feel pain, and to have a life. To manipulate such lives and fill them with pain is not justifiable.

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 EDITOR Lauren Chin OPINION EDITOR Meini Cheng FEATURE EDITORS Nicolette Blatt, Vivian Hu, Alexa Lucas, Michelle Noyes, Julia Shi, Victoria Wang ENTERTAINMENT EDITORS Skye Kriger, Shannon Reiffen SPORTS EDITORS Alex Farkas, Orly Greenberg STAFF WRITERS Katrina Brewer, Tracy Chavez, Ryan Cheng, Harry Chung, Woody Chung, Brian Danziger, Samantha Doctrow, David Huang, Monica Huskins, Stacey Kane, Stephanie Kim, Shayna Kudler, Krista Lamorie-Foote, Frances Ling, Kelly Mark, Elizabeth Mossessian, Victoria Wang, Vivian Xu, Vallia Yu 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, though names can be withheld by request in the publication.

Please send submissions to Mrs. Battaglia’s box in the main office or to Room 42E. For The Arrow online, visit www.conejo.k12.ca.us/whs and click on Activities menu.

Opinion

October 14, 2011 • The Arrow

5

Is Free Speech Truly Free?

Muslim students found guilty of violating free speech.

Shayna Kudler Stacey Kane

Harry Chung Staff Writer

Staff Writers

Courtesy Photo

Should free speech be allowed to proliferate? Or should individuals be harshly punished for voicing their opinions in inappropriate places? Both of these are important questions that have been brought up in the infamous Irvine 11 trial.

On the fateful day of Feb. 8, 2010, Michael Oren, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, came to the University of California Irvine to give a speech on relations between the U.S. and Israel.

Eleven Muslim students, appalled by Oren’s position on a controversial issue involving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, chose to interrupt his speech and publicly protest his actions; they stood up one by one spewing out messages such as “Propagating murder is not an expression of free speech.” These interjections initiated an eruption of verbal harassment both at the students and at Oren.

These Muslim protesters, now dubbed the Irvine 11, have faced severe consequences. After threatening the students with academic punishment and suspending the school club in which they planned these protests, the Muslim Student Union, the UC Irvine officials took retribution one step further by pursuing criminal charges.

Despite multiple protests from advocates of the Irvine 11 cause, including the dean of UC Irvine’s Law School, Erwin Chemerinsky, the case started on Sept. 7.

Defense lawyers claimed that despite being rude, they did not break the law and the protesters had a right to free speech.

Prosecutors countered, claiming that by premeditating this disruption the students censored the free flow of ideas and infringed upon the rights of 700 people who had gone to the Irvine campus to hear Oren.

While one defendant was dismissed pending completion of 40 hours of community service at a local soup kitchen,

Peaceful Protest: Students demonstrate at the office of the Orange County District Attorney.

on Sept. 23 the other 10 defendants were found guilty.

What is so infuriating to many is not the fact that these students were punished, but rather, the degree to which they were punished. Indeed, interrupting a speech in a private setting is wrong. However, isn’t being academically suspended, as many point out, punishment enough?

Furthermore, there have been similar situations related to free speech with vastly different outcomes.

When 30 Palestinian students at the University of Chicago disrupted former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s speech, not only were they free to go, but they weren’t even brought to trial.

In an even more disturbing free speech case, when Fred Phelps, of the hate-mongering Westboro Baptist Church, decided to bombard a dead U.S. soldier’s funeral with homophobic remarks,

Supreme Court justices voted in favor of Phelps 9 to 1 because he had the right to free speech.

Could this possibly be a case of Islamaphobia?

“The targeting of a group of Muslim American students, who were already sanctioned and whose organization was already suspended by their university as punishment, is unacceptable and will only strengthen Islamophobia and attempts to stifle political speech in this country,” said Jewish Voice for Peace.

Cases like these are unnecessary and costly. To target and prosecute Muslims students while letting others, such as the Palestinian protesters, go unpunished is wrong and unjust.

If our American courts choose to prosecute protesters who disrupt the environment, we should prosecute all protesters equally.

Dodger Blues for McCourt

Courtesy Photo

A Dim Future: Owner Frank McCourt looks out at the opening of the season.

Alex Farkas

Sports Editor Frank McCourt, the Los Angeles Dodgers owner, filed bankruptcy back in July because the team “owes a total of $74,121,433 to their players, food and travel vendors, and even the city of Los Angeles,” according to The Huffington Post. Two

Halloween for Teens?

years ago, the Dodgers were on track to make it to the World Series, but now they are just another team barely squeezing by the .500 mark. What happened?

The Dodgers cannot continue to afford players like Manny Ramirez and Andrew Jones who are no longer with the team, but the Dodgers still have financial obligations to them based on guarantees in their contracts. For many such reasons the

Dodgers can only afford young players; their salaries are much lower compared to those of high caliber players.

Not only are the Dodgers losing money, but they’re also losing fans. Dodger stadium holds about 57,000 people; however, towards the end of the season, the Dodgers were only attracting as few as 10,000 fans. No fans means no money. This does not help reimburse their major losses.

The Dodgers have been on a downhill slide ever since the McCourts filed for a divorce. In April 2011, another court case was filed to try to determine the rightful owner of the Dodgers, Frank and Jamie McCourt. Furthermore, these court cases and high bills caused the Dodgers to file for bankruptcy.

Many Dodger fans have lost hope and interest in their team because of its major financial problems and its 2011 win-loss record of 82-79. Although the Dodgers may have produced a possible Cy Young Winner and MVP, Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp, respectively, they may not receive recognition because of the team’s problems on and off the field.

As a Dodger fan myself, I am embarrassed for them. They are turning into the West Coast version of the Florida Marlins. The Marlins have one of the worst attendance records in the history of baseball and it seems like the Dodgers are on the same path.

The Dodgers need to find a way to resolve their financial problems to regain the respect they deserve from both Major League Baseball and from their fans.

Halloween candy sales average about $2 billion and equate to a quarter of the candy sold in the United States annually. This billion-dollar industry adds up when considering more than 93% of children go trick-or-treating each year.

Although Halloween originated as the day before the ancient Celt’s New Years, it has become a joyous occasion for dressing up, throwing parties, and carving pumpkins. The night before the New Year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead becomes blurred.

Walking around school during the Halloween dress up day, students notice a weird turn of events in their classmates.

Cats begin to roam the hallway, witches and ghosts fly swiftly by, and the number of nerds on campus increases (although the grades don’t prove an increase).

Unfortunately, this year Halloween will fall on a Monday, with school still in session the following day. About 35% of approximately 120 WHS students polled claim they will trick-or-treat, 14% will hand out candy or watch Halloween movies, and about 19% will be in for the night, working on homework. As we grow older, Halloween becomes less about trick-or-treating and more about the Halloween parties.

According to a poll, about 56% of students believe that there should not be an age limit on trick-or-treating, but as many of us teens know, some candy givers refuse to hand out candy to children over a certain age. “I hate when people don’t give me candy because I’m a teenager. I dress up and trick-or-treat just like all the other kids. The only difference is how many years I’ve been doing it,” said Sami Simon ’13.

Teenagers are stereotyped as disobedient to the rules, and the stereotype appears to be true. Students were asked if, when they arrive at an empty house with a candy-filled bucket and a sign that reads “Take one please,” they take only one or the whole bucket.

“The whole bucket. It’s their fault for leaving the candy out, duh,” admitted Danielle Gilbert ’13, along with one third of the other surveyed students.

The results are not shocking knowing that teenagers are rebels. It is believed that some of the 53% of students who claimed they would grab only a few pieces buffered their true opinion to look better.

Halloween Humor Q: Why didn't the skeleton dance at the Halloween party?

A: It had no body to dance with.

Q: What do you get when you divide the circumference of a jack-o-lantern by its diameter?

A: Pumpkin Pi. Q: What is a mummy’s favorite type of music?

A: Rap. Q: Why is a ghost such a messy eater?

A: Because he's always a goblin.

Q: What kind of makeup do ghosts wear?

A: Mas-scare-a.

Spo

6

Fall Sports Standout

PHOTO BY GENNA GMEINER

COURTESY PHOTO

A SHINING STAR: Dillon Galvin heads the team under new coach Jason Nevis.

ANOTHER ONE BITES Giguere leads the pack as up the hill during a home m

DILLON GALVIN: Weathering the Waves of Competition WHAT A SAVE: Goalie Dominick Zingale and Thomas Turner (12) attempt to save a ball shot by an Agoura player.

Brian Danziger Staff Writer

T

he boys water polo team is brimming with talent and looking to do some damage.

Dillon Galvin ’12, team captain, has consistently displayed impressive leadership and a deep passion for the game.

“I get a real thrill from the fast pace of the game and the adrenaline rush of going seven minutes straight and with only one minute breaks,” Galvin explained.

Expectations are very high at WHS, but Gal-

vin is confident that the team lives up to the hype, noting that “we could go to CIF, because we trust each other and are like a family. No other team really has that sense of unity that we have.”

There are some holes to fill from last year’s graduating class; however, Galvin says that they have the gaps filled with players such as Luke Haga ‘12, a transfer student from T.O., and Dominick Zingale ‘12, “who is the heart and soul of our defense,” boasts Galvin.

Galvin’s goals stretch beyond high school games and extend to college water polo. “I am basing my college choice on the best place to play,”

said Galvin. Galvin’s top choice is Pepperdine University.

Coach Jason Nevis is the new face of the water polo team, and Galvin has welcomed him with open arms.

“He is really helping us improve,” said Galvin about Nevis. “He is getting the team that much better everyday.” The team’s record is 3-3 in league and 13-5 overall.

The water polo team’s CIF hopes are looking very promising so far. Galvin and the team look to keep their winning ways consistent throughout the rest of the season.

NANCY LIU: Entering the Season with a Swing in Her Step Orly Greenberg Sports Editor

A

squint into the sun. A repositioning of a club. The final calming breath before the swing. Decidedly unlike the brute force of football, golf is all calculated movement, measuring distances, and impeccable concentration.

And Nancy Liu, ’13, is the picture of that concentration before teeing off, the epitome of what a focused golfer should be.

Admittedly, the girls golf team captain did not have the most promising start. “I decided to play golf around five years ago, more as a hobby…golf seemed like a better alternative to keep me in shape than running,” joked Liu. What started off as a means to avoid running quickly took shape into something more significant: a passion for golf. As the perfect combination of a calming hobby and an exhilarating sport,

Liu noted that her favorite aspect of golf is that “the golf course is pretty peaceful.”

Liu also mentioned the independence of golf, stating, “Golf isn’t like some other sports, where you have people all up in your face trying to distract you. In golf, everything is based on yourself, and sometimes it’s better that way; you know that if you played badly, it was because of something you did wrong.”

Not that Liu plays badly very often. The golf captain boasts a par 34 score at Los Robles, and is second overall on the team. With such impressive stats, Liu has considered continuing her golf playing throughout college. “’I’d definitely play golf in college if they’d take me!” stated Liu. And while Liu may enjoy quality golf scores and a peaceful atmosphere, she too gets nervous.

“Even though I’ve been playing for a while, I still always get nervous before playing golf, even if it’s just something really small, for I am still not

extremely confident in my golfing skills. Nonetheless, although I do get nervous before playing golf, it’s not because I am playing against other schools.”

In fact, Liu feels right at home playing against other schools. Liu mentioned that after years of playing against the same girls in the Marmonte League, “I am pretty comfortable around them, so we actually have a lot more fun than we are supposed to have.”

Liu also enjoys the company of her team. Because she is captain, she does try, “to provide a bit of leadership or motivation to help our girls. Of course, sometimes it doesn’t work out that well because I am quite good friends with the girl.”

Besides excelling in golf, Liu also plays violin and participates in JSA and Homeless Helpers.

From establishing her leadership to honing her golf skills, Liu has proven herself to be a valuable member of the WHS golf team.

EYES ON THE BALL: Shaw

cent game.

orts

ts :

Leading their teams to victories and possibly into CIF contention, these five athletes have delivered notable performances in recent Marmonte League action.

MIKEY

AND

JENNY GIGUERE:

Double Trouble in the WHS XC Team

Alex Farkas

Sports Editor

A

s they race towards the finish line in different races, they both glance at the clock as they muster every last bit of strength left in their bodies to place or get that personal record (PR) they are hoping for. They are the Gigueres.

Siblings Mikey Giguere ’14 and Jenny Giguere ’15 are the two fastest runners for the WHS cross country team.

Not only have the Gigueres led the team to multiple victories, but they also have displayed leadership. Numerous teammates look up to them as they provide helpful and encouraging tips for running races.

“Athletes look to all members of our varsity squad for guidance and support. For example, Mikey Giguere consistently models the correct way to complete workouts, takes athletes for warm-ups or cool-downs on race days, and provides encouragement for his teammates,” said Coach Chad Scott.

“For Jenny it is really more of following Nicki Ghazarian’s ‘12 lead and then leading by example.

As a freshman, she races without fear against other great runners in our league,” said Coach Troy Burns.

Running PR’s of 15:18 and 17:35, respectively, at the Woodbridge Invitational, the Gigueres have both made the top WHS All Time list for Cross Country runners.

“I get physically prepared to race by going to practice and doing the workouts that my coaches perscribe for me. I get mentally prepared to run by developing a strategy whether it be to stay with a certain person or to run a particular part of a race

a certain way. When I prepare mentally and physically effectively, I usually run a great race,” said Mikey.

Jenny has the all time WHS girls record, and Mikey is only five seconds away from Garret Drogosch ‘09, who ran a 15:13 at Woodbridge his senior season. Mikey is on pace to break that record.

“So far, I feel like he [Mikey] is running to his potential. Not only do I think he is going to break Garret’s record, but I also believe that he can break 15 minutes this season,” said teammate Rocky Peterson ‘11.

On the girls side, with Giguere and Ghazarian leading the way, the girls varsity team is on track to make it to the state meet, just as the 2004 and 2005 girls team did previously.

Both of the Gigueres have led the WHS Cross Country team to winning records. But one person cannot win the team meet. In addition to the Gigueres, both the boys and girls varsity teams have a young squad. The girls team is comprised of freshmen Clarice Douille and Katrina Jenkins; sophomore Kelly Colwell; junior Alicia Williamson; seniors Ghazarian and Deanna McNurlan.

The boys team is made up of freshman Graham Rigby; sophomores Chris Costa and Sean O’Bryan; juniors Michael Lacey and Peterson; senior Nick Sommers.

“To make it to CIF and possibly state, we must stay healthy, run as a team, and try to close the time gap between each person,” said Jenny.

With experience from many of the runners on the boys varsity team such as Giguere and Costa, the boys team appears to be on its way to state as well.

The boys and girls teams are traveling up to the Mt. SAC Invitational on Oct. 22.

SHAWNA KORSHAVN: Setting the Tone for a Playoff Spot

PHOTOS BY ALEX FARKAS

THE DUST: Mikey he focuses on running meet.

7

FRESHMAN FEAT: Jenny Giguere has proven to other schools that she’s talented enough to keep pace with them.

Upcoming Games 10/14:

Boys Footballvs. Simi Valley

10/18:

Girls Tennisvs. Simi Valley

Meini Cheng

Girls Volleyballvs. Simi Valley

Opinion Editor

A

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE KIM

wna Korshavn sets the ball for an outside hitter in a re-

lthough WHS girls volleyball lost to Royal this week, the team is having a strong season overall. Many valuable players returning from last year have improved their game.

So far this season, the team, along with 40 others, traveled to Nevada to play in the Las Vegas High School Invitational Tournament. WHS won the tournament championship, losing only one game. The team also played in the San Luis Obispo Tournament, placing 5th with a record of 4-2.

Standout Shawna Korshavn ‘12 was named Most Valuable Player at the Las Vegas tournament. “I was already so excited that we won the tournament that getting MVP was the icing on the cake. The passers made my job easy and the hitters made my sets look good, so I think my receiving MVP is a reflection on the whole team,” said Korshavn.

In 4th grade, Korshavn first began playing volleyball in United States Youth Volleyball League. “I chose volleyball because I liked it from the very beginning. It’s an indoor sport which is definitely a plus.” During the school season, she spends 10-12 hours a week practicing. Six-hour tournaments take place every other weekend during club season.

The demanding practice hours keep her schedule busy. Playing the sport has taught Korshavn not only to be more efficient and budget her time well, but also to be a leader. As a key player, she consistently works well with her teammates.

Korshavn comments that the best part of playing on a team is the “relationships I build with all the girls during practice, league play, and travel tournaments. I also like that it is a fast-paced sport and there’s not a lot of standing around.”

Korshavn has high hopes and expectations for the team this year: “My goal is to finish high in league and go farther in the playoffs than we did last year.”

10/19:

Girls GolfLeague Tournament Boys Water Polo@ Thousand Oaks Girls Volleyball@ Calabasas

10/20: Girls Tennis@ Calabasas

Girls GolfLeague Tournament

10/21: Boys Football@ Moorpark

Boys Water Polovs. Calabasas

Feature

8

October 14, 2011 • The Arrow

Useful College Websites From choosing a college to figuring out how to pay the cost, students are faced with pressures on all sides of the application process. Websites like College Prowler, Fastweb, and College Confidential help make the college process appear less daunting.

Monica Huskins Staff Writer

“Reviews by students and for students” is the College Prowler motto.

With realistic reviews, this free website is available to all students. College Prowler is also available in book form.

This go-to site is very unique in that the reviews are all unbiased. Actual students write these reviews based on different categories such as athletics, diversity, and overall experience.

“College prowler is different from other college websites because it offers statistics students would not necessarily think about initially, such as nightlife and hotness ratings of the people there” said Juanna Zhai ‘12.

The resource also provides a report card that rates everything from academics,

Katrina Brewer Staff Writer

College Confidential has many features to help students understand various admission processes as well as to describe the college experience.

It is home to the busiest college discussion community on the web and provides links to a myriad of other informational websites and blogs that students may find helpful.

athletes, weather and transportation. ”College Prowler is great because its grading scale is easy to understand and the categories the site focuses on are relevant to future students,” said Ari Sadwick ‘12.

Many of the universities on the website offer online virtual tours. Also, scatter plot charts represent how students match up with students who have been accepted, denied, accepted and will not attend, or been placed on the waiting list.

The website gives basic information such as the school’s price tag. College Prowler offers admission difficulty, average SAT and ACT scores, application deadlines, and number of undergraduates.

“The reviews come from the student’s perspectives which is much more firsthand than reading what an administrator has to say about their own school,”said Kylie Conniff ‘12.

Skye Kriger

It includes a “campus vibe” link where people can upload informational videos that include tours as well as student opinions.

Visit reports are available where those who have been to the campus update their impressions of the live tour.

The “ask the dean” tab is especially helpful. There are many FAQs answered personally by the dean inquired.

The “college rankings” section not only gives you lists of how colleges are

ranked locally and nationally, but helps explain the benefits and pitfalls of obtaining information from these lists. College Confidential helps tell students when not to overlook colleges.

Oversight of a low-ranking college could keep a student from his or her perfect match. It provides links to different rankings on various websites, and provides pro and con opinions added in by College Confidential.

Unlike websites that only provide

Entertainment Editor Even after finally deciding on a handful of colleges to apply to, students must face one looming issue: how to pay for tuition. With college fees on the rise, most students need financial aid to be able to attend their schools of choice. But how do they find scholarships?

Fastweb.com is a free website where students can locate hundreds of college scholarships, ranging from small $100 grants to full tuition scholarships. After creating an account, users complete a profile, which allows the website to match each user to various scholarships he or she is eligible for. This eliminates the need to rake through the countless results that come up on a normal search engine such as Google or Yahoo.

By checking Fastweb frequently,

students will receive notifications on new opportunities to receive money and reminders for scholarship deadlines. The scholarship search engine also allows students to find scholarships based on interests and possible majors.

“You want to use fastweb.com. There are so many scholarships available there,” states a financial expert from Money 911, a segment of NBC’s Today Show.

Fastweb also provides students with useful tips regarding applications, using previous applications as examples and giving pointers as to what to do and what not to do.

“No matter what college I end up going to, I know I’m going to need money to help pay for the expenses,” said Gabrielle Bloch ‘12. “Fastweb has so many different options and opportunities that it’s impossible not to find a scholarship that is right for you.”

guidance in the application process and general information on an institution, College Confidential is an interactive site that is always changing, giving students the inside scoop on what it is really like to go to a certain college, be on campus, take the classes, and hammer out the financials.

The website acts as a personal friend telling visitors, straight from the people who have experienced the school, whether a college is what it appears to be or not.

A Day in the Life of...

Compiled by Katrina Brewer and Stephanie Kim

Three WHS alumni from the Class of 2011 take us through an average day at college.

CA UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVE Name: Christina Vasiliou School: UC Berkeley Mascot: Golden Bears Major: Media Studies

PUBLIC UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVE Name: Casey Bliss School: University of Michigan Mascot: Wolverines Major: Business

IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE Name: Nicole Chang School: Cornell University Mascot: Bears Major: Human Development

Time spent studying: 3 hours per night

Time Spent Studying: Monday-Thursday: 5 hours total Friday- Sunday: 10 hours total

Time Spent Studying:

8:00 a.m.-Wake up 8:30 a.m.-Breakfast (stolen fruit from the dining hall) 9:00 a.m.-Statistics Lecture (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays; 50-60 students) 9:30 a.m.- Sociology Lecture (Tuesdays and Thursdays; 50-60 people) 11:00 a.m.- Geography Lecture (Tuesdays and Thursdays; 50 people) 1 or 2 p.m.- Lunch at either Crossroads Dining Hall with friends, or various places around campus (Chipotle, Yogurtland, cafes) 3:30 p.m. - Gym 4:30 p.m.- Homework until dinner 6:00 p.m.- Clark Kerr dining hall (Thai food, Taco Tuesday, Seafood night, etc) Free Time: Reading and studying in the library 11:30 p.m.- Bedtime (Monday- Thursday)

8:00 a.m.- Wake up and eat eggs for breakfast in the West Quad 8:30 a.m.- First Year Writing Course (Tuesdays and Thursdays; 18 students) 10:00 a.m.- Political Science (Tuesdays and Thursdays; 500 students) 11:00 a.m.- Salad and sandwich for lunch Free Time- Study or hangout with friends 2:30 p.m.- Astrobiology (Monday and Wednesday; 75 students) 2:30 p.m.- Early Middle Ages (Tuesday and Thursday; 100 students) Free Time-Hang out with friends, Play Nintendo 64 Super Smash Brothers 6:00 p.m.- Pasta and a salad Free Time- Study, hangout with friends 1-2 a.m.- Go to sleep

8:00 a.m.- Sleep/Wake up and shower (if it’s Monday) 9:00 a.m. - Sleep/Biology Discussion (again, if it’s Monday; 200 students) 11:00 a.m.- Nutritional Science (600 students) 12:00 p.m. - Wake up (if it’s not Monday) 1:00 p.m.- Government Class about Economic Conditions and Theories Regarding Developing Countries (18 students) 2:00 p.m. - Infancy to Childhood (250 students) 3:00 p.m. - Flat bread, salad, taco, and coffee for lunch at Appel Dining Hall or Terrace Cafe 4:00 p.m. - Nap until dinner 6-7:30 p.m.- Stir-fry, salad, and ice cream at Appel, Risley Free Time - Hang out with friends, go online shopping, visit college town, check out new student organization meetings, study, and Skype friends from CA. 3-4 a.m. - Go to sleep

How would you compare the academics to high school?

The academics are much different from high school.

The amount of reading is very excessive but also super important to succeed in class. Getting A’s is not as feasible as it was in high school. I had a professor explain to my class that getting an A on a paper means your work is publishable, getting a B means it’s excellent, and getting a C means you did a good job.

Is college what you expected?

No. You have a lot of free time to do whatever so it’s difficult to find motivation to study.

Is college what you expected?

Kind of. You really have to be independent. Figuring out your own way without having someone next to you is sometimes kind of hard and confusing. People on the East Coast are very different from people in CA. They are more reserved and sometimes seem cold and distant. I have lots of friends from NYC and they told me they don’t hug. In a sense, they come off as more genuine.

How would you compare the academics to high school?

More independent. Most teachers won’t notice if you don’t go to class; going is for your benefit. There is also a lot more writing involved.

“Before an exam, I stay in the library and make up for all the time I didn’t spend before. I’m not used to a teacher not checking homework.”

Feature

October 14, 2011 • The Arrow

What’s an SAT Prep Class Worth? Plenty

Julia Shi

Feature Editor With one SAT testing date already behind them, students know testing opportunities to increase their scores are few and far between. At this time, many students begin to panic. They flip through flashcards, take practice tests, and scour the internet for helpful tips.

Many students prepare by signing up for SAT classes. These SAT courses vary in intensity, ranging from casual classes to more rigorous programs. In many cases, it can be difficult to ascertain to what degree one needs to prepare. SAT classes can be quite expensive, and some people may find that it is more reasonable to save money by purchasing practice books and other study aids. Others simply lack the discipline necessary to self-study and may need some kind of teacher to give them the occasional nudge.

Obvious reasons to stay away from SAT classes are the high price and the lack of time in a busy student’s schedule. As users of the College Confidential website have noted, SAT classes require a commitment. The work demanded of students by these classes often turns kids away. At the same time, though, part of the reason these programs work is a result of the effort they ask of students. Those debating whether or not to enroll in an SAT class should make sure they have enough time and energy to participate in the class and get the results

STUDY AID: Instructors help students learn and improve their scores at bootcamps.

they want.

Students should also keep in mind that not all SAT classes are the same. Some have benefits that go past SAT scores. For example, Elite has two directors that students and parents can talk to to obtain advice and information about things like college. Students also get practice tests, worksheets, and packets of information In addition, teachers are on hand to explain topics and answer questions. These teachers usually have enough experience with the SAT to offer practical tips that do not usually appear in practice books.

However, for those not interested in taking an SAT class, there are plenty of resources they can use to boost their scores.

If used properly, online services like Collegeboard’s Official SAT Question of the Day can prove very beneficial to students.

Another useful website is “PWN the SAT”, a blog that helps students study for the SAT while infusing each lesson with a touch of humor.

SAT books may also be helpful, but, like every other study book, the difficulty levels of different books vary: some are harder than the SAT is, while others are easier.

Students should refine their SAT study schedule to their own tastes. After all, no matter how students approach the SAT, it is better that they use some kind of study method than they not study at all.

Q: What did you think was the hardest section on the SAT? A: Critical Reading; there is no right answer.

-Michael Wen ‘13 A: Math; all those numbers get me confused.

-Jack Donovan ‘12 A: The critical reading for its subjective qualities; I just don’t think like them.

-Isabell Lee ‘12

Online SAT Classes Help Frantic Studiers Staff Writer Junior year is easily the most stressful year; anyone who has gone through the late nights poring over endless textbooks and workbooks will agree. Juniors have a good reason for all that stress, for looming above the plethora of schoolwork and

Tips to Ace the SAT Feature Editor Vivian Hu has compiled strategies to help boost test scores.

1. KNOW THE TEST. The SAT is split up

The Arrow surveyed 95 juniors and seniors about their experiences with the SAT.

Vivian Xu

9

studying is the dreaded SAT. Most juniors, if not all, spend countless hours trying to formulate schedules and prepare themselves for what will inevitably come. Many, desiring to test themselves on their SAT savvy, purchase numerous books and/or attend classes and camps, each claiming to boost a student’s score.

However, there is an easier way—a

PrepMe delivers personalized, one-on-one PSAT, SAT, and ACT preparation. PrepMe has a diagnostic test which allows the site’s system to analyze each individual’s strengths and weaknesses. It can also generate a schedule of specific lesson, quizzes, and tests according to when you’re taking the SAT. Students have access to over 60 hours of lessons; four practice SATs, as well as more than 50 quizzes and tests from the College Board or ACT, Inc. Answer explanations for all questions are included.

PrepMe also has an online chat forum where students can chat with tutors who have scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and ACT. The tutors try to personalize each student’s experience and are available up to 24 hours a week. They can produce detailed reports on student progress and lessons taken as well.

Students using PrepMe see an average 305 point score increase on the SAT, and an average 5 point score increase on the ACT. Find them online at http://www.sat-preparation.co.il/

way that will do all that the classes and bootcamps claim to do, and will focus on the individual rather than the class: go online.

Dozens of online sites offer SAT help and practice, and most can be accessed at any time and done in the comfort of one’s own home. The following are two helpful study sites.

Kaplan is divided into communities where students can find programs, read articles, and access special events and tools all geared towards their specific goals and needs.

Kaplan also has PSAT, ACT, and AP features, all free of charge.

Students can find and enroll in Kaplan’s classroom-based classes at over 180 locations worldwide, access online test prep and admissions programs, sign up for private tutoring, and purchase books and software through the site’s online store.

Each interactive and personalized environment provides users with the information, tools, and advice they need through a tutor. These tutors are available 24 hours a day, and are always willing to help.

Kaplan strives to provide students with more options to suit their unique schedules, budgets, and learning styles. Access Kaplan at http://www.kaptest.com/.

into 10 sections, and each of them is 1025 minutes long. There are three writing, three critical reading, and three math sections, plus an experimental section. See http://www.studybeans. com/sat/time_breakdown.html for a full breakdown with tips.

2. Remember that guessing the wrong answer has a penalty. One point is given for every right answer, but 1/4 of a point is docked for every wrong one.

3. Practice! The SAT becomes a lot easier if you take multiple practice SATs prior to the real test.

4. Don’t freak out. As long as you follow tip #3, there’s no reason to. Stressing out only increases the chances of making a mistake.

5. If there’s a hard question, mark it and skip it. If there’s time, go back and answer it; if not, at least there is more time to spend on easier questions.

CRITICAL READING 1. Sentence completion will always have words that most people have never heard of. Ignore those at first. Check to see if any of the words known are correct answers.

2. Knowing prefixes, roots, and suffixes really does help decipher words. For example, magniloquent: Magn means great, and loque means speak, so it can be inferred that magniloquent means a great speaker.

3. For double blanks, eliminate choices if even ONE of the words doesn’t fit in the sentence.

4. For passage reading, it’s okay to first read the passage and then answer the questions. It isn’t necessary to read the questions and then skim the passage to find the answers; you will have plenty of time.

5. Don’t bring in outside information.

The SAT will often give a choice that looks correct, but was never mentioned in the passage.

6. Remember that passage content always comes from the humanities, social science, science, and literal fiction genres.

WRITING 1. For the essay, spend at most five minutes brainstorming and about 20 minutes writing.

2. Always take a stance! Don’t try to support both sides; there isn’t enough time, and it looks like the writer has not fully developed his or her idea.

3. Use literary works and historical examples. Personal experiences can work, but using a literary work or historical example will make the essay sound more educated.

4. Avoid wordiness. It wastes time, and the SAT proctor will think that the writer is unsure of what he or she is saying.

5. The SAT answers (a, b, c, d, e) are fairly evenly divided. When it comes to fixing a sentence, don’t be afraid to choose ‘e’ “No Error” a few times.

6. Pay attention to subject-verb agreement questions; they are the most common error on the sentence correction section.

MATH 1. The questions in the math section go from easy to hard. Finish the easy ones first; then ponder the hard ones.

2. There is a fill-in grid section. Know how to fill in the grid before taking the test.

3. There is no penalty for guessing on the grid section of the math test, so if worst come to worst, just guess.

4. Memorize the formulas before the test. Even though they are provided, it’s a waste of time to look at them.

5. Bring a calculator. It can help speed things up.

6. Use a calculator only if it really will help to save time. Otherwise, don’t use it.

Entertainment

10

October 14, 2011 • The Arrow

Drama Dept. Faces Challenges of Gender Crossover in Twelfth Night Krista Lamorie-Foote Tracy Chavez Staff Writers

photo by shannon reiffen

CRazy in love: Ryan Malouff and Katie Woodward take lead roles in Drama Dept’s staging of Twelfth Night.

Lights beam down, the crowd hushes to a murmur, the curtains slowly part, and the actors and actresses take one last breath before stepping onstage.

In the WHS production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, audiences will witness a transformation when Viola, played by Lexi Sloan ‘12 and Meghan Wells ‘14, disguises herself as a man. It gets even better when Olivia, played by Amanda Whitaker ’12 and Katie Woodward ‘14, falls in love with Viola, believing she is a man.

In order to get into character, the actresses spent numerous hours watching the movie Twelfth Night, memorizing lines, looking up YouTube videos, and taking lessons to learn how to act like men.

According to Whitaker falling in love with a girl on stage is no easy feat. “It’s weird to act attracted to [Viola].

If it’s a guy on stage, it’s easier to act interested, but when it’s a girl you want to get away.”

The fun, light-hearted play is not only comical to the

audience, but to the actresses as well. “It’s funny working with Lexi and Meghan and imagining them as men,” said Woodward.

Shakespeare’s play has received acclaim for centuries; in fact, “She’s the Man,” starring Amanda Bynes, was based on Twelfth Night, and Sloan says one of the many reasons she wanted to play Viola was Bynes’s funny portrayal.

“Twelfth Night is one of a kind. We’ll make the audience understand Shakespeare,” Wells stated.

As Wells predicts, this comedy is sure to be a hit, as everyone involved in the production has dedicated many hours making the play the best it can be.

Assistant director, Nate Adamsky ’12 said, “There is no such thing as a small part; every single person is important to the production.”

One of the famous lines from Shakespeare’s play is, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, some have greatness thrust upon ‘em.” The WHS production under the direction of DeDe Burke will try to live up to that greatness.

Performances are in Carpenter Family Theatre Nov. 17-19.

“50/50” Finds Heartfelt Message in Cancer Samantha Doctrow Staff Writer

Blink, Back in the Neighborhood Skye Kriger

Entertainment Editor Popular rock band Blink-182 released its sixth studio album, titled Neighborhoods, after an eight-year hiatus on Sept.

27.

Many fans worried that this album, the band's first since their incredibly successful self-titled album in 2003, would be disappointing. However, according to wegotthiscovered.com, a reviews website, "Neighborhoods is the album that was not only expected to follow their self-titled release; it is the album that was meant to follow it."

The album features 14 new tracks— some, like Wishing Well and Hearts All Gone, with the classic Blink-182 upbeat tempo, others, such as Fighting the Gravity, with a spacey feel that the band has not displayed before. Up All Night, the album single released on July 14, reached top three on Billboard's US Alternative Songs and received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and fans.

One striking difference between this album and the previous ones is the bleakness of the lyrics—before, most Blink-182 songs contained dirty jokes which, while comical, lacked maturity and deep meaning. During the eight years since their last album, it seems the members of Blink-182 "have grown up, mostly because life forced them to." "Neighborhoods is a deep, dark, downright auto-biographical effort," said MTV. The out-of-the-norm desolate lyrics work well with the rock melodies and create an overall enjoyable album that more than lives up to the name of Blink.

is flawless, and his playful repartee with Gordon-Levitt is so natural, it seems improvised. Kendrick brings to her role the perfect combination of awkward and adorable; the chemistry between her and Gordon-Levitt is completely tangible.

The authenticity and factuality of “50/50” appears so genuine because it is actually based on screenwriter Will Reiser’s own experience. At age twenty-five, he was diagnosed with spinal cancer, and his friends and Superbad duo Rogen and Evan Goldberg convinced Resier to write about his disease. His buddies’ reaction to Reiser’s physical and emotional setback was the inspiration for the plotline. “50/50” is a rare film that can evoke laughs, while simultaneously eliciting tears without being sappy or artificial. The tragi-comedy proves that even during life’s hardest moments, friends and family can always be counted on to turn the frown upside down.

COURTESY PHOTO

Cancer is anything but a hilarious experience. However, the movie, “50/50,” draws humor out of a young man’s illness and still manages to rouse a heartfelt message: friendship and love can always heal life’s pains.

Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a benevolent radio producer whose life is turned upside down when he is diagnosed with a rare spinal tumor. “I don’t smoke.

I don’t drink. I recycle,” Adam declares in shock of his misfortune. According to his doctor, Adam’s survival odds are 50/50.

“50/50” is as much about Adam’s friends and family response to his cancer as it is about Adam’s personal methods of coping. After drastically shaving his head, Adam becomes a recluse, only leaving his house to receive chemotherapy. His wor-

rywart mother (Anjelica Huston) treats Adam like he is an incompetent infant, and his egocentric girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard) will not join Adam in his chemotherapy sessions because of the hospital’s “negative energy.” Only Adam’s goofy buddy, Kyle (Seth Rogen, in his typical testosterone-driven role), offers the best support to Adam with his farcical, wild antics.

Another supportive “friend” is Katherine (Anna Kendrick), an eccentric psychiatristin-training, who provides awkward solace during Adam’s bursts of rage and depression. As Adam’s cancer grows worse, their chemistry grows stronger.

Gordon-Levitt is a standout in the lead role, a slightly more emotional version of his lovelorn greeting-card writer in 2009’s “(500) Days of Summer.” His character is easy to root for because of Gordon-Levitt’s portrayal of an everyday guy in a largerthan-life situation. Rogen’s performance

FACING CANCER TOGETHER: Rogen and Gordon-Levitt star in the new hit movie “50/50.”

Feature

October 14, 2011 • The Arrow

TheWhite Darkness Blurs Line Between Reality and Fantasy Victoria Wang Feature Editor

Wandering through Antarctica, a thick mist cloaks the icy ground and blocks out the glaring sun. It is a welcome relief, offering protection from the blinding white of the ice just as blissful ignorance does from harsh reality. Geraldine McCaughrean calls the mist “the white darkness.”

In McCaughrean’s young adult novel The White Darkness, the awardwinning British author explores themes of obsession, love, falsehood, and survival, using the barren yet beautiful backdrop of Antarctica.

The book won the 2008 Michael L. Printz award for its gorgeous imagery.

Be warned, however, that the book includes many disturbing ideas and brushes against adult themes. Even though it was written for teenagers 13 and up, I recommend it only to mature readers.

The White Darkness is told from the point of view of Symone Wates, a 14-year-old antisocial girl obsessed with Antarctica.

Her sole confidant is an imaginary character she created, based on a real-life explorer who died in a failed South Pole expedition.

Her life changes dramatically when an eccentric family friend, “Uncle Victor,” whisks her away to Paris and then the land of her dreams, Antarctica. But what appeared to be an exciting vacation soon develops into a nightmarish ordeal, where every step Symone takes draws her deeper

into a chilling mosaic of lies. Nothing is as it seems.

In the haze of the white darkness, the line between fantasy and reality all but disappears.

The book’s writing style is brilliant.

McCaughrean is a seasoned expert with her use of similes and metaphors.

However, her lengthy descriptions tend to confuse readers and grind the limited action to a halt.

Those with a taste for dark literature with a nice dash of fantasy may still enjoy this book. As The Guardian said, “Reading Geraldine McCaughrean is like being on a spiral staircase. You move down and down and it gets darker and darker, but somehow you’re traveling towards some kind of light.”

But those seeking a conventional adventure novel will be disappointed. The main character fantasizes about a man dead for over 90 years, and she usually takes the most passive course of action possible.

Besides, few people want to know all the gritty details of being stranded in the most uninhabitable place on Earth.

McCaughrean drew inspiration for The White Darkness from Franz Kafka’s quote, “A book must be an ice-axe to break the sea frozen inside us.” Whether she succeeded in touching the reader’s heart, though, is subject to the reader’s own interpretation of the book.

Thrasher Grips Readers in Isolation

Vallia Yu

Staff Writer Jim and Stephanie Miller are missionaries looking for a way to escape from the stresses of life for a while, and decide to move with their two children to patch up their strained relationship by starting anew.

But when a blizzard strands them in their house on the solitary mountains of North Carolina, the Miller family is revealed to have more secrets than they could have possibly imagined. When a killer is let loose within the house, who and what will they turn to for help?

Far different from your regular thriller, Travis Thrasher’s Isolation manages to ensnare readers into its intriguing plot and nerve wracking suspense. I quickly began to sympathize with the family and their troubles and became distressed by their demented world.

Separated into four parts, the book does a wonderful job of introducing the main characters and their backgrounds before leading into the main plot of the novel.

The book includes spiritual themes as well as physical. With only God and their own family to rely on, Thrasher explores the human mind under pressure and creates scenarios that make the readers ask themselves what they would do in such a dire situation. The characters’ faith is tested and bonds with each other are pushed to their limits.

Thrasher does not question faith, however, and neither does he try to answer why some people believe that God seems to ignore people in their times of need. He manages to convey the loss of the Miller’s sense of connection to both the spiritual as well as material world through the family’s struggle with each other and their questioning of why something so horrible would happen to them.

While I commend Thrasher for creating a realistic world in a fictional setting, there were moments where I wondered if the character had really done the smartest thing. Jim, for example, should probably have paid more attention to his wife’s psychedelic attacks and had second thoughts about their move.

Usually, I would stay far away from the supernatural and religious drama, but the unique plot and presentation of the storyline captured me hook, line, and sinker.

Despite Isolation being the first of his two supernatural thrillers, Thrasher conveys a sense of fear that I’ve never read before.

A terrifying read, certainly not for the faint of heart, Isolation will leave you reeling and glancing behind you every few seconds to look at creeping shadows.

Other novels with a similar genre by Thrasher include The Ghostwriter and The Second Thief, which both revolve around religious faith and horror, but are both just as shocking as Isolation.

11

The Maze Runner: An Unpredictable Terrain for Readers to Navigate Frances Ling Staff Writer

Thomas wakes up alone in a box. Only metal and darkness surround him. What’s more, the only thing he can remember about his past is his name. The Box slowly moves upwards and screeches to a halt.

Author James Dashner has created a futuristic dystopia in The Maze Runner. It is an intriguing novel filled with mystery and unexpected plot twists. Dashner takes the reader on a wild ride that keeps his or her eyes glued to the pages, praying for the well-being of the characters.

The main character, Thomas, is rescued from the Box by several teenage boys who explain that they live in the Glade, a vast courtyard surrounded by four huge stone walls covered in ivy that open every morning and close every night.

None of the Gladers remember anything but their names. They have adapted to the way of life in the Glade—a new boy is delivered to them through the Box every thirty days, food and supplies come once a week.

However, they are all determined to find a way back to their homes through a

maze that surrounds the Glade.

Only the Runners, the toughest of the Gladers, are chosen to explore and map out the Maze in hopes of finding an exit. The only catch is that the Maze walls rearrange themselves every night.

However, the situation changes when a girl is brought by the Box—the first ever to enter the Glade. The girl brings a startling message. She reports that she is the last person to be brought by the Box and that the end of the Glade is near. The Gladers must find an escape route before their time runs out.

The characters are diverse and grow through their mistakes while uncovering secrets from their pasts. They learn to trust each other through thick and thin and set aside their differences, unifying to achieve a common goal: finding an escape.

Dashner maintains a quick pace without skimping on details. He brings readers into his world in a clear and concise way.

His focus is directed on Thomas, but through him, the rest of the Gladers as well.

The Maze Runner is a great read for anyone who enjoys a sci-fi novel with a sprinkle of mystery and suspense.

Sedaris’ Essays Offer Laughs and Lessons

David Huang Staff Writer

For most high school students, essays evoke the image of grueling sleepless nights spent furiously typing at their laptop (i.e. as I am right now), fueled by nothing more than a 16-ounce can of caffeine and the ever present fear of failure.

In other words, essays are not fun.

Usually.

When You Are Engulfed In Flames by David Sedaris begs to differ. In his sixth book of essays, Sedaris recounts his various past decisions, musings, and quirky experiences in a way that leaves the reader reduced to laugh-induced tears.

Each essay in the book is presented in

a journalistic, short story style, imparting food for thought, biting humor, and something you will definitely not forget.

The stories range from his lack of sense of direction in foreign countries to the time when he had an argument on a plane over a seat he called the “bulkhead”.

Althought Sedaris writes in a dry and almost simplistic way, he still manages to keep a gentle composure while telling the most bizarre stories, like his attempt to quit smoking in Tokyo or his arguments with his far-fetched New York neighbor.

He tells his adventures--or misadventures--in the way that a child might tell a funny joke while trying to maintain a straight face.

All of the essays in the book are injected with a certain measure of unpredictability that contributes to both the hilarity and enjoyment of the reader.

Some of the stories, such as the ones that visit harsh subjects like drug abuse, might leave the reader unsettled or upset if Sedaris had not maintained his ability to bring even the most humorless reader to stitches and stomachaches--from amusement, of course.

The essays are extremely readable and overall short, quick, easy, and unforgettably hysterical.

Sedaris’ voice, at once warm and satirical, is a sparkling read for anyone looking for biting wit and a high-quality laugh.

Homecoming Fashion Alert Nicolette Blatt Feature Editor

Homecoming is the perfect time to showcase a love for fashion.

The trends for this homecoming season are simplicity and innocence. “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous,” said fashion designer and icon, Coco Chanel.

Use the first dance of the school year to make a bold statement.

Show your flirty side with loud colors such as red, purple, and blue.

Tone down your shoes with black platforms or wedges. Long gone are the days of kitten heels, girls. It’s time to let your feet bleed for fashion.

Samantha Simon ‘13 chose a bold red Alice and Olivia dress. Joe Zee, the creative director of Elle magazine said, “Kiss your LBD goodbye and say hello to the BCD: the bold color dress!”

Even the biggest fashion designers have changed up their colors from black and whites to bold colors. Balenciaga has bright purples, Bottega Veneta has audacious oranges and pinks. Those little black dresses are so yesterday.

Show your true colors with those bold and fun vivid colors.

The second dress is another Alice and Olivia dress. This one is a toned down version of an all sequined dress. Soft and feminine, this subtle colored dress is an alternative to an all-sparkle dress. For this dress pair it with soft heels or wedges.

Shane Landeen ‘14 wears a maroon button up from Forever 21, a classic black blazer from Forever 21, and lastly, a fun bow tie from Macy’s. Because Homecoming

FAST TIMES AT WESTLAKE HIGH: (center) Samantha Simon in a bold red Alice and Olivia dress. Shane Landeen in a maroon button-up from Forever 21, and his own jeans and converse. (upper left) Samantha in a cream sequin Alice and Olivia dress. Shane in the same maroon button-up, a classic black blazer from Forever 21, and (lower right) a fun bow tie from Macy’s. His own jeans and Converse. (lower left) To add the finishing touches, use the deep red lipstick Nars Jungle Red. The nail color is Iron Butterfly by Orly. The fancy octopus ring is by the brand Noir. Those shoes are Christian Louboutin.

is semi-formal, guys can play up their personal style. Ties are for very formal affairs, not necessarily Homecoming.

However, a lighter, fun alternative is a bow tie. According to executive producer Rick Kaplan, “Wearing a bow tie is a statement.

Almost an act of defiance.”

Jazz up your Homecoming outfit with some snazzy accessories and fun makeup.

Makeup trends for this season are deep burgundy red lips with a more muted natural skin tone.

While shopping for accessories remember that necklaces do not always look good with everything.

When picking a necklace make sure you have an honest friend there to help you decide. The person buying the necklace is always biased.

Go with a chunky ring with pretty and simple bracelets. As far as nail polish goes, use jewel tones or metallics.

As far as shoes go, either go for really soft and feminine or go in a totally different direction, like a rebel without a cause.

Look in magazines such as Womens Wear Daily, Teen Vogue, and Teen People. Don’t forget that there are cheaper alternatives to every high end look.

There is no need to spend an obscene amount of money on a dress you will wear only once. For knockoff look-alike dresses, go to Lulus.com, Asos.com, or Topshop. com.

Follow these simple guidelines and you will look amazing. Do not forget to have fun on this very special weekend.

Photos by Nicolette Blatt