THE ROAR | Whitney High School | 701 Wildcat Blvd. | Rocklin, Calif. 95765 | 916-632-6500
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IN THIS ISSUE
12 editors ILAF ESUF SHAI NIELSON KAVYA PATHAK EMMA RICHIE
staff
ARIELLA APPLEBY ABI BROOKS JENICA DODGE HALEY ELLIS
THERESA KIM HARMONY REILLY KALEEN SINGH KAVLEEN SINGH
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8
6 Look-alike versions rival TOMS shoes in popularity 8 Prop 30 divides community between business, education 12 Drama department produces “The Crucible” this month 15 Athletes juggle academic, financial responsibilities
CARSEN VANDER LINDEN
adviser
SARAH NICHOLS, MJE
On the cover: Cover photo illustration by EMMA RICHIE The Roar is a student publication planned and produced by the journalism class at Whitney High School. The news magazine is an open forum for student expression. Student editors make all content decisions. Columns represent the viewpoints of individual writers and are not representative of the opinions of the student body, faculty or administration of Whitney High School or Rocklin Unified School District. Staff members of The Roar practice ethical student journalism by providing fair and balanced coverage as determined by community standards. Students working to publish each issue strive to achieve accuracy by
checking sources, spelling and quotes as well as obtaining a variety of credible sources. The staff regrets any errors or omissions. The Roar staff gladly accepts letters to the editor, either by email or delivered to Room C-2. All letters must be signed by the writer and may be edited for length or content. Libelous or potentially harmful material will not be printed. Multiple letters about the same topic may not be printed due to space limitations or may instead appear on www.whitneyupdate.com. For information about advertising, including rates, sizes and discounts, contact The Roar at theroar@rocklin.k12.ca.us.
Visit www.whitneyupdate.com for the latest in news, sports, entertainment, opinion and more
WHITNEY JOURNALISM
We’ll keep you posted.
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Whitney High School The Roar
your chance
T
here’s another presidential debate on TV: change the channel. There’s a poll on Facebook about who’s running for the open senate seat: ignore and post a picture of a cat. There’s an article in The Roar about a new proposition: skip the page and read the fun story about TOMS shoes instead. And that’s the problem. High schoolers who are just a few years away from voting are ignoring politics because it is “too boring” or “doesn’t pertain to their lives.” News flash: it does now and it will in the future as well. Of course there are always the students who live for the presidential debates and love getting into political discussions at school, but these are the exception. Most students have no knowledge of the political system until their senior year when they take a government course. And then, it’s just a class. Do they even pay attention enough to understand anything beyond what is on the next chapter test? Not usually. These students are waiting until they are 16 or 17 years old before learning what the electoral college is or before gaining any political knowledge whatsoever. And then a year or two later they take part and vote in a system they barely understand. How can we change that? The first step is to convince students that the issues discussed in the news and on TV are actually extremely important. Unless you educate yourself about the topics, you could end up voting against what you actually believe. Just getting a basic understanding about the political system and the main issues at hand should be a fundamental idea for teenagers who are about to be in the real world dealing with these issues firsthand. An easy way to start is by visiting cnn.com/studentnews. It provides election resources and has a daily news report with the latest election coverage and easy to understand political coverage. Shows like “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” are also vastly more interesting for teens because of the hosts’ humor. And this information isn’t just for future preparation, it should be meaningful in your life now. In the current election there two propositions that affect you directly: propositions 30 and 38 (see pages 9 and 10). These involve taxes and cuts at a state level that will end up affecting district and school budgets that could cut extracurricular programs like sports and VAPA programs like art and drama. You can’t directly vote on these issues if you are not 18, of course, but having a little bit of knowledge can go a long way. You can discuss your opinions with the adults in your life who can vote and you can still be an influence in the voting process. An important thing to learn now is that your influence in the voting process never goes away. Teenagers come into the political system at a young age already feeling like their opinions and votes don’t matter and
EDITORIAL
your state,
thus take the stance that politics doesn’t matter. The political system surrounds everything that happens in everyday life, from the regulation of food to the school systems to the money you make on a job. It matters. And if you believe it doesn’t matter because it doesn’t provide you with what you want or think you deserve, then the First Amendment guarantees you the right to “petition the government for a redress of grievances.” If you don’t like something, don’t sit around complaining. Change it. But before you do, educate yourself as much as possible. It may seem boring and pointless, but this is your country and your government. Even more so, this is your state and your school district. If you’re not willing to learn and participate, then you are not allowed to complain. It’s really simple actually, you can even start by turning to pages 9 and 10 of this issue of The Roar.
you’ve got the POWER Take the first step to getting involved in what affects you right now and in the future
1 Educate yourself
Visit websites like CNN Student News or Huffington Post; watch shows like The Daily Show or The Colbert Report
2 Get motivated
Watch the presidential debates, keep up to date with election/ political news or talk with your parents/other adults about your opinions and ideas
3 Do something
Go to a rally for a new proposition you support, volunteer to work at the polls, or petition to change something you don’t like
You can even attend a rally today (Nov. 5) on the corner of Park and Sunset from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
NOVEMBER 2012 Issue 2
3
OPINION
end of high school years
brings college app fears Three years of hard work, applications still seem scary with college on the horizon
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eady to go with her small year would fly by backpack slung without many on her troubles and wi them, study even shoulders and he th relatively easy if you think you r ha ir in two short blonde classes. know everything pigtails, 5-yearfor the test, don’ t old me would ne waste so much I would see her ver realize as time watching TV turning every she walked into now and then to or pl ay in g ga mes on your ph her first day of see if her friends one, kindergarten th were still waiting that boy you lik at in what seem e can wait 20 for her, and ed to be forever bu wo m or ul d e m te in ll he ut es for you to fin r she needs to t was really just ish 12 listen close years, she woul your math hom ly to this last bit d have to start th ework before of e scariest proces ad re vic pl yin e: ju g to ni or his text, don’t wo year will have m s thus far in her rry ore life: applying fo struggles than sh about being cool r college. e’s used to and or popular (it her grades will wo Maybe I could fla n’ t m at te r in five years), an matter infinitely sh forward d a bit until I foun more, so she ca remember to br d her when she n’t give up and eathe. was 12 years old. she needs to take An d wh en you start filling She knew then that extra that college was 10 minutes to stu out your college her goal, though dy for precal. applications, getting there se Senior year will remember that emed so simple be exponentially yo u have done in sixth grade. more stressful th everything you could and that no an any year of t her life and she getting accepted It would perhap will want to spen s be best and to UC Berkeley d or Stanford most logical to more time napp won’t be life or go back to Aug. ing or hanging death. 17, 2009, when with friends, bu Each applicatio the girl would be t she can’t put off n will be scary 14-years-old an th an e d AP stressful, and, ye Lit book or study d starting her fir s, they are ing for st day of high scho that AP Physics pretty important ol. test. , but you will ge t through them an I would stop her And then will co d everything will just as she me the was walking fro ap be pl OK ica .” tio ns . m her mom’s old maroon 4Run She’ll be consta Sadly, that lette ner to the ntly filling r will never be front black gate ou de t liv he ered to her and r na m e, address, emai s of the school. she will have l, She would be al bi to rth wa day and grades it to learn all of most caught fro this until m ev er y up with her two year of high scho she’s a senior. Bu best friends at ol. She’ll feel t I guess that’s the school entra the pressure fro no t too bad as she nce, about to m herself to is now 17 years take a group ph have the perfect old and though oto with her cell she hasn’t done applications phone. I would to ev ge er t into her favorit ything she woul pretend to just d advise her e colleges. be a senior whom sh She’ll become tir younger self to do, she is doing e didn’t know ed and sick of and accidentally constantly doin ju st fine. g something for bump into her to get her attent college and neve She’s even thinkin ion. I would r getting to rela g of how x. crazy it is th apologize, mak Of course, even at every aspect e sure she was if I could go of okay and then ca back and talk to her life right no sually ask if she w truly does her, I wouldn’t was a freshman ha re ve volve around co enough time to . She would be a llege, even her tell her bit intimidated everything she ne stories for journa but would answ ed lism are college s to kn ow. So er with an anxious if I could, perhap ce ntered. But that yet excited yes. s instead I woul doesn’t worry d slip a note in he he Seeing her huge r to o m uch, she’s learn r backpack for he smile as she ing to r manage ever answered would to find later that ything better th distract me for day: ese a moment. It wo da “Y ys ou . ’re just starting high uld remind me of that first day an sc ho All she can thin ol and you’re ex d how the world k about now is cited, as you seemed so perfe should be. But in how this would ct and full of be an interesting a few years that possibilities. excitement will pe rsonal statemen be long forgotte t for an n and replaced wi application. Too In the few minut th anxiety, stres bad it’s more es I could keep s her attention, I an th d maybe even fe an 1000 words. would tell her ar. I don’t how freshmen an want that to happ d sophomore en. So start assignments as by SHAI NIELSO soon as you get N Photo Illustration by SHAI NIELSON
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FASHION
SOLE RIVALS After two years on the market and encouragement by TOMS to copy their idea, BOBS gain new awareness from the public by ABI BROOKS and HARMONY REILLY
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TOMS versus BOBS
ecently, it seems as though companies have no shame about originality. Or, How the two brands, as well as in some cases, unoriginality. TOMS, which is a shoe line designed to help other similar shoes, match up those who are less fortunate, has been used as creative inspiration, which may not be too far off from creative theft. TOMS have been donated TOMS were created in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie who desired to help those less to kids in fortunate. For every pair of TOMS that are purchased, another pair are donated countries to help a child in need somewhere in the world. Just like TOMS, others have decided to aid the same cause with similar BOBS have styles, similar names and similar promises. been donated A spitting image of TOMS, BOBS by Skechers, which hit store shelves in to kids in 2010, serve the same purpose as TOMS. That is, with one purchase of their countries shoes, another pair of shoes is shipped off to a child in the world who would otherwise be barefoot. “I think the styles are basically the same, but when I see people wearing them, I always look for the tag to see if they’re real TOMS,” Kohl’s Nordstrom Stephanie Sadoma said. Macy’s Whole Foods Most BOBS range from $35 to $55, where TOMS can be DSW Journeys anywhere from $54 to as much as $114. For some, the price isn’t the deciding factor, it’s the brand name. “I’d want to get TOMS because they’re the original,” Sadoma for Groove said. Slip-ons, a shoe similar to TOMS Sophomore Abi Thomas owns three pairs of TOMS and is fully into the idea of charity through the purchase of shoes. for a basic pair for a basic pair “TOMS has a good cause behind it. When you buy a of BOBS of TOMS pair of TOMS, a pair goes to a kid in need,” Thomas said. Though Thomas likes the options of TOMS shoes better, she also believes that BOBS are just as great. “If they all support a similar cause it works out for everyone,” Thomas said. Junior Karly LaMar owns six pairs of TOMS and feels strongly about the original brand of TOMS. “I would never buy (BOBS)! I don’t like copycats. I would only buy TOMS,” LaMar said. To LaMar, even though BOBS are helping a similar cause, they’re trying too hard to look like TOMS, and they don’t pull it off. “BOBS don’t look as cute, they just look awkward!” LaMar said. Both shoes are very similar, and both shoes help out almost identical causes. What shoe would you wear? It almost doesn’t matter, since both shoes look pretty much the same.
40 25
buy BOBS at
$17 $35
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Whitney High School The Roar
Photo Illustrations by ILAF ESUF & EMMA RICHIE
buy TOMS at
$54
big step
TECHNOLOGY
another
Sophie Butler and Shad McCarty hold their new iPhones. The iPhone5 is available for as low as $199 in black or white, although online orders are currently delayed due to high demand. Photo by JENICA DODGE
for Apple
Apple’s iPhone 5 provides new options by JENICA DODGE & HALEY ELLIS
I
t’s thinner, faster and lighter. It has a bigger screen. The new camera is 8 megapixels and is able to capture panoramic shots. And don’t forget the new iOS 6. The new iPhone 5 is here. With a new processor, it runs faster and smoother. There is also a new sensor in the camera that allows for better pictures of moving objects or low light settings. It is the lightest Apple product the company has, weighing just 3.95 ounces. It is also is the thinnest one, with a width of 2.31 inches. Apple keeps improving its products, and the newest edition has been released. Senior Karen Garcia just received her iPhone 5. She pre-ordered the white and silver model two weeks in advance. The new phone also is available in black slate. Compared to her other phones, she said the iPhone 5 is a lot easier to use. “Having the iPhone 5 connects me to my friends more. Because of all the apps, I am able to check Twitter and Instagram without having to log onto a computer,” Garcia said. Junior Zack Tyler pre-ordered his iPhone 5 as well. It’s a great upgrade. He said he had no phone for a while, and after waiting several weeks, he finally he got his new iPhone. “I love everything about it other than the weak aluminum backing. It dents easily and the paint is beginning to come off. So get a light cover [to] keep it in pristine condition,” Tyler said. Sophomores Sara Miller and Samantha Smiley make iPhone cases. Their business is called Keep It Casey, and they sell their cases on Etsy. They will design requested ideas. The prices of these cases range from $10-25.
“Sara and I started making our own cases ever since we saw a post on Instagram of a homemade iPhone case, so we decided to try and replicate it and we figured out we were actually good at it,” said Samantha Smiley. The new camera is sure to capture everything in sight. “The camera quality is so much higher. The pictures that it can take are amazing,” Garcia said. Junior Shane Anderson has done some research on the new product from Apple. “I like the larger screen because all the other iPhone screens were too small, in my opinion,” Anderson said. Apple released a new charger for the phone, called the lightning, instead of the 30 pin charger that works for all other Apple products. This could potentially lead to a downfall because so many people have the other chargers and it would be hard because they’re not all the same. They also came out with new headphones, called the Apple EarPods. Tests of people running and jumping proved that the EarPods stay in the ear much easier and provide protection against sweat. “I have never really been ‘addicted’ to my phone but once I got my new iPhone I have to keep reminding myself to get off of it and do my homework,” Garcia said.
NOVEMBER 2012 Issue 2
7
FEATURE
budget
on the
ballot
As the election approaches, Proposition 30 divides voters on how to fund education by KAVYA PATHAK & EMMA RICHIE
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At the intersection of Park and Sunset, Tiffany Pelkey holds a sign at a rally by teachers in support of Prop 30 on Oct. 22. Photo by EMMA RICHIE
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Whitney High School The Roar
uried in the lengthy list of propositions for voters to consider this week lies one issue that could greatly impact the future of education in this district. Proposition 30, Governor Jerry Brown’s initiative to prevent $6 billion in trigger cuts slated to occur this year, would involve a tax increase of both income and sales taxes. For individuals earning $250,000 or more, income taxes would increase by one to three percent for seven years, while sales taxes would increase by a quarter of a cent for four years. Were the proposition to fail, $4.75 million would be cut from the district’s budget adding on to the existing $6.96 million that has been cut since 2007. If the cuts take place, the school board will be forced to make executive decisions regarding the continuation of academic, extra-curricular, sports and VAPA programs. “No one school will receive direct cuts. We will need to make district-wide decisions regarding staffing, class sizes, programs and support services. These decisions will have an impact on most if not all schools,” superintendent Mr. Kevin Brown said. With these broad guidelines for equal budgeting, cuts would be made in more specific departments and programs. “We would have to reduce funding for extracurricular activities, and the voluntary athletic contribution would go up. The district currently gives $650,000 to schools each year, most of which goes to sports, and that would be reduced (if the proposition fails),” school board vice president Mr. Todd Lowell said. In preparation for making these cuts, the school board has already devised plans for the district in order to implement the possible new budget. “(We would) raise class sizes in K-3 from
million in cuts to RUSD
next school year if Prop 30 fails
31
students in each K-3 class if Prop 30 fails, an increase from 26 per class
16
days of school
eliminated if Prop 30 doesn’t pass
26 students for each teacher to 31 students for each teacher, eliminate elementary music, reduce high school sports programs, limit transportation and mow lawns once a month instead of each week,” Brown said. However, the board plans to make as few changes as possible to the schools’ daily life despite the necessary budget cuts that could occur. “I would be least interested in cutting academic and enrichment programs, and I don’t want to reduce AP classes and electives,” Lowell said. “I also want to maintain our current high school schedule (with four classes each day), even though it’s more expensive than the 1970s model of having eight 50-minute class periods each day.” Though the district plans to keep drastic changes from occurring in schedules and core classes, cuts to electives could also deeply affect students. “I’ve been in ceramics for four years, and I definitely have noticed changes in the program, since we have not been able to do as many projects from year to year, due to cuts. My teacher has to ask for voluntary contributions from students in order to pay for materials,” Katie Gruessing said. Funding for VAPA programs has been decreasing, a trend that will not change if Proposition 30 fails. “For the music program, we get very little of our funding from the state, (due to cuts), and so we raise most of our money ourselves,” music teacher Mr. Kris Harper said. But for programs such as ceramics, which are unable to raise funds on their own, future students will face the reality of a decreasing budget. “For incoming freshmen, cuts will make it more difficult to take elective classes, since parents don’t expect to have to contribute to pay for classes in high school and so will limit electives their students can take. It will ruin
raised by Prop 38 than Prop $4 billion more 30
$650,000 from RUSD for sports would be heavily reduced without more funding Sources: RUSD’s Props 30 and 38 fact sheet, interview with school board vice president Mr. Todd Lowell
the elective experience for students,” Gruessing said. Despite these educational cuts, the opposition looks towards the tax increases and long-term fiscal consequences of Proposition 30. The arguments of those who oppose Prop 30 focus mostly on the increased taxes for small business owners, greatly affecting the economy of California as a whole. “Small business owners report income under personal tax returns (which would be taxed under the proposition). Is it appropriate to raise taxes on them?” Legislative Director of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association David Wolfe said. Although the sole argument of those in favor of Prop 30 is the increase in funding for schools, Wolfe said that in reality, the schools will not be getting anything that they would not already receive in time. “Under the California constitution a certain amount of tax revenue goes to schools. The state legislature has taken money from education for many years and Prop 30 would only restore it, not give schools any new funding,” Wolfe said. The at-risk funding, whether the proposition passes or fails, is accompanied by a safety net created by the state legislature. “Trigger cuts can be undone by state legislatures,” Lowell said. “It’s the crass human reality that the legislature likely won’t cut, since the members are up for reelection and don’t want to tell their constituents that education will face huge cuts. Jerry Brown wants you to think it will be drastic, but it won’t.” Other propositions on the November ballot, such as Proposition 38, also attempt to address the issue of shrinking school funding. This proposition would increase taxes by one to two percent on people earning
$1,000
increase in funding per average daily student attendance under Prop 38, compared to no increase under Prop 30
elementary music could be eliminated without Prop 30
FEATURE
$4.75
s m t w t f s
1-3% TAX increase on incomes under
Prop 30, compared to 1-2.2% increase under Prop 38
$7,316 and would increase tax rates for individuals with higher incomes for the next 12 years. However, the money it could raise cannot be used to alleviate all of the district’s budget woes.
budget CONTINUED
Scan here to read the rest of this story online or visit WHITNEYUPDATE.COM
At the intersection of Park and SunsetRTPA president Mrs. Barbara Scott and superintendent Mr. Kevin Brown holds Yes on Prop 30 signs for the teachers’ rally on Oct. 22. Photo by EMMA RICHIE
NOVEMBER 2012 Issue 2
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Students living with diabetes share about its effect on their lives byILAF ESUF
E
verything close to her moved farther and farther away when suddenly, it all went black. Her parents were frantic, but this was nothing new. It was sophomore Adriana Pena’s second diabetes attack. “I was only 2 (when I got diagnosed) so I can’t really tell you how I reacted, but I do remember the pain I went through every time I needed insulin, which I got through shots. My parents were naturally sad, confused and even mad that it was me who got diabetes,” Pena said. About 80 people a day are diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, an autoimmune disorder that prevents the body from producing an appropriate amount of insulin. Though the amount of people affected is constantly rising, the cause of Type 1 Diabetes remains unknown. “I was 13 months old (when I was diagnosed) and my mom and grandma noticed that it seemed as if a cold was coming onto me. I was running a high fever and I wasn’t really eating and I was sleeping a lot. I couldn’t really react when I got it because of my young age, but my family was shocked. They had no idea I would have diabetes,” freshmen Leilani Howell said. Although there is no cure for diabetes, treatment plans help those affected combat the disorder. “When a child is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, they generally have elevated blood sugar and may or may not need to be hospitalized. If they are hospitalized, it is because their body does not have the energy or glucose needed to function so their body shuts down in a sense. Their CO2 levels rise
and puts their body in a very sick state,” Kaiser Permanente nurse case manager and diabetes educator Staci Johnson said. “They would have to be on an IV drip until their blood sugar levels normalize and they would be discharged after that. Once they are discharged from the hospital, they would be considered an outpatient. Outpatients are patients who have already gone through the basics and have learned how to check their blood sugar levels on their own. Although they don’t have to be hospitalized after becoming an outpatient, they are urged to attend clinic visits with a team dedicated to educating and helping diabetes patients. “Clinic visit consists of a physician, a registered dietitian and a social worker so we address those aspects of diabetes. The doctor talks about the medical aspects of diabetes, the nurse works with how to manage the diabetes on a day to day basis, the dietician specifically talks about food and portion control and the social worker talks about how it affects the family,” Johnson said. Although hospitals do offer a supportive team, having Type 1 diabetes adds a lot of responsibility to those affected and the patients are ultimately in charge of their health. “The hardest part of diabetes is just dealing with it and constantly reminding myself to check up on it. If I don’t, it’s my life on the line. I have to test my blood sugar four to five times a day, and every time I eat I have to shoot insulin because my pancreas doesn’t produce any,” sophomore Hannah Arnold said.
HEALTH
a different type, a different struggle get
involved!
Injections are only one of the treatment options offered. Some students Volunteers can walk affected by Type individually or with a 1 diabetes prefer team. Once the free the pump to the registration is complete injections. on the JDRF website, “I started doing volunteers will gain the injections access to all JDRF and I am now on fundraising tools. an insulin pump and I’ve been on it since I was 10. The insulin pump is easy to use and is connected to me. Designed for all fitness It is way easier than levels, the shots, I have to volunteers change it every three who are days rather than interested having to take like 10 in riding to shots per day,” Howell cure diabetes said. will have the Regardless of the opportunity to work with treatments patients a trainer and prepare for the choose, they tend event. Riders must commit to a to attract attention. fundraising minimum of at least Family members and $2,000 and will have the support friends can help. of fundraising tools online Howell’s friend provided by JDRF. Braedon Horn said, “Some tips for other people with diabetic friends are don’t act like anything is different, when he/she is doing Elementary schools can sign something don’t make a up to be a big deal about it. Diabetes part of a walk doesn’t hold anybody designed back; they are still totally for younger normal and functional participants. people.” Each school
to walkcure
ride
to cure
kids to
walk cure
story continued on PAGE 14
will have their own goal. Those who participate will have access to all JDRF fundraising tools online after completing the free registration.
NOVEMBER 2012 Issue 2
11
ENTERTAINMENT
WORD of Mouth
Fall production of ‘The Crucible’ provides opportunity for actors to tackle challenging script, themes by KAVLEEN SINGH
W
ords hold a lot of power. As teens can attest, gossip and rumors can affect people positively, negatively, and everything in between. Such power is explored in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” running this week as the theater department’s fall play. Shows start at 7 p.m. and run through Nov. 10. Caitlin Schantz, who plays Elizabeth Proctor, said she enjoys the prominence of her role. “It’s really exciting for me to get into the mind of a character completely different from who I am,” she said. Megan Sanders has a supporting role as one of the girls involved in the doings of the main character, Abigail Williams. “I don’t have many lines. Since I’m an afflicted girl, it’s mostly just screaming,” Sanders said. Director Mr. Rick Eldredge said he is up to the challenge of producing a play of this caliber, which has been in production since auditions and casting at the end of August. “I think it will be difficult to pull off as a dramatic piece; it’s going to require a lot from the actors and actresses in it to pull it off successfully. We work really hard on building up the drama of every scene to keep it moving and exciting. What I’m hoping is that the audience finds it as exciting as it can be. It can be a really exciting, energetic play,” Eldredge said. The characters are an important aspect — they deliver the dialogue and engage the audience. There’s one in particular that Eldredge feels carries strong significance. “I really like the character of Reverend Hale because he goes from being super high-and-mighty and the super religious authority of the play, thinking he knows how to solve every problem to realizing that he’s made mistakes. He realizes what’s going on around him, that all these innocent people are being hung as witches. He realizes that something really bad is happening and he does everything he can to right the wrong. I love characters of journey. He has a huge journey in this play that’s really fun to watch,” Eldredge said. The audience has much to take away from this play, including things that relate to life as it is right now. “There’s so many layers to this play, and it was originally written as a commentary to McCarthyism and the Red Scare in the 1950s. (It relates to) the way that everybody was accusing other people of being communists and everything like that. But on a very basic level, it’s about rumors and gossip and people behaving badly to each other, you know? In this play, people, in order to make themselves better and
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Whitney High School The Roar
Cast members playing the role of afflicted girls surround Blu Hunt as Abigail Williams during rehearsal for “The Crucible” on Oct. 24. Photo by EMMA RICHIE
in order to escape punishment, make false accusations about other people. The teenage girls of this play, that’s what they do. So I think anybody in the audience, especially teenagers, can see how powerful it is, the power of gossip and rumors and all that sort of thing. It has a huge, devastating effect in this play. So I think people can go ‘Oh my gosh, yeah’ in this day where bullying happens (often). People can see this happens all the time, and people can keep control over the things they say and the things they do,” Eldredge said. Eldredge said he hopes that those who see the play feel like it was worth the time. “I want people to leave the play just feeling like, ‘Ah, gosh, I can’t believe this actually happened!’ I want them to go away thinking it’s an exciting play, that they had fun. Even though it’s a tragic play, it’s still exciting and I hope they leave feeling like, ‘Wow, I went on a wild ride here,’” Eldredge said. “The Crucible” is set around the first settlement of Salem, Massachusetts by the Puritans. In this society, people tended to be very extremist in their views and that led to the conflicts that the characters in the play suffered through. Eldredge said, “I hope people can see that extremism is never good. Fanaticism is never helpful. What you need are sober minds who can see things from other people’s point of view, who can work well with each other, who can actually have some compassion. That’s what I want to leave with the audience, a temperance in everybody’s behavior.” READ THE REVIEW Scan here to read our review from the opening night performance of “The Crucible” online or visit WHITNEYUPDATE.COM
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“This is my second year playing water polo. I like playing for Whitney because my teammates are awesome. Coach Chavez is a good coach, but he’s really strict. The practices are usually similar; first we do laps in the pool holding chairs above our heads, then we work on passing, shooting and different plays. At the end we usually do a scrimmage. My favorite memory was going to Golden Corral Buffet to celebrate after a tournament with the team.”
— Maddie Dart
BOYS’ SOCCER
— Tyler Olson
1 2 1: Haley Ellis runs in a cross country race in Southern California on Oct. 19. Both girls’ and boys’ cross country missed school Friday for their tournament trip in Los Angeles. Photo by JENICA DODGE 2: Zach Watkins tackles for the ball at the boys’ varsity soccer game against El Camino on Oct. 3. The game resulted in a 2-2 tie. Photo by ROBYN ROSENFELD story continued from PAGE 11
Though more research is being conducted on this disease, as of now, injecting insulin and maintaining a healthy diet helps control the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes. However, prevention and precaution are two key aspects to combatting the disorder. The issue of producing an adequate amount of insulin also puts pressure on doing extra curricular activities such as sports. Arnold, who runs track, must constantly make sure she checks her blood sugar before running and must also keep track of her carb intake so her levels don’t drop while running. However, some would argue that the mental strains caused by juvenile diabetes outweigh the physical ones. “At first I wanted to show everyone how strong I was so I acted or still act like I’m perfectly fine with it. But the truth is I hate it. I have even came to the point where I’ve wanted to die rather than keep up with the pain,” Pena said. “It’s been 13 years with 4 shots or more everyday of my life It’s hard to deal with it but I got great support and I know I can do it. Not too long ago I was in a hospital bed being told it was a miracle i was alive, my life was not worth skipping a few shots! My advice is keep fighting and be strong cause no one can help you till you help yourself.” It is because of similar struggles that students think awareness must be raised and support groups must be formed. “I think that people should definitely be aware about it. It is life threatening and there is no cure yet. I help out with JDRF(Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). We do a walk every year and we try and do a golf tournament each year to
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Whitney High School The Roar
“I’ve been playing since I was 6. I like the team, the coach, and just the fact that I get to play soccer for my school. (My favorite moments have been) playing in the games. It’s a great sport! Most played sport in the world.
— Parker Stewart
CROSS COUNTRY
“My favorite part of cheer would definitely be stunting. It is such a workout and my stunt group I are always striving to be better. It’s extremely rewarding when we gain new skills. This is my second year cheering. My favorite memory of this season was the sleepover we had. We made bows, ate a ton, watched movies, bonded, then woke up at 9 a.m. to go to our Saturday game.”
“I’ve been in cross country for two years. I like that while you compete with others during the races, you’re also racing yourself to beat your own times. My teammates are awesome, and the coaches are very knowledgeable; they always try to push us to exceed our limits. The practices are pretty lax, but you still get a good workout. It’s just an all around good time.”
— Kyle Curtis
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
by ARIELLA APPLEBY & CARSEN VANDER LINDEN
WATER POLO
athletes
CHEER
SPORTS
SEASONED
“I’ve been playing since I was 4. I like how we have a good team, and how we get along well and play well together; they’re all good friends. We had team bonding at my house. We all made tie dye T-shirts, and that was fun. I like the coaches; we all get along well with them. (The team) played Antelope a couple weeks ago, and it was a really close game. We ended up winning 25-23.”
— Tyler Cable
raise money and try to help find a cure for diabetes,” Howell said. The 2012 Walk to Cure Diabetes took place Oct. 7. Participants could walk with a team or could walk as individuals. In addition to the walk, students can also find support by visiting the JDRF’s support group on their website. Seeing the importance of providing support for those affected with Type 1 diabetes, Kaiser Permanente does their part by holding an annual camping trip, inviting around 70 kids from ages 9 to 16. “Getting together and seeing those kids outside of the clinic is really exciting; you get to see a kid being a kid without having to talk about their diabetes,” Johnson said. “We try to put ourselves in a supportive role for the families and praise them for the improvements they’ve made, but there are times it can be quite challenging for families when they feel like they’ve done their best and still feel like there’s more to be done. Sometimes they feel a little criticized but we try our best to build relationships and build positives so they want to continue to come in and see us,” Although diabetes has a significant impact on one’s life and can be quite frustrating, Arnold offers some words of encouragement. “Don’t give up on it because it’s your life and it is going to determine how long you live. You just have to know that you’re the same person and throughout the challenge you’re going to be the same person. It’s not going to change you. There’s a saying: “Don’t let diabetes define you, let you define diabetes.”
to the
next level
Competitive student athletes work hard to balance school sports, club teams and life to hopefully take their sports to college
SPORTS
taking it by KALEEN SINGH AND THERESA KIM
I
t’s a typical school morning and the sun hasn’t even risen yet, but sophomore Kat Nham can be found working out at the gym. Then between school and sleep, she juggles her schedule of varsity girls’ basketball practice, AAU practice and studying for her AP and advanced classes. She isn’t the typical student athlete, but she isn’t alone. Students interested in taking the next step toward their goals in their sports dedicate hours after school practicing, learning techniques and working out at gyms. Sure, one may expect an athlete to have decent grades in order to stay on the team and the athletic “look” of staying fit. But what people don’t see is the stress, time and the vast amount of financial obstacles these athletes have to go through particularly the ones who plan to take their passion to the level of college athletics. Sophomore Makeila Lee spends 10 hours a week practicing, and junior Austin Harris spends about 18 hours a week dedicated to baseball, practicing four to five days a week. With the hours poured into their love for their sport, there still is school work to consider. Some students seem starved for time, especially doing homework late at night. “I get tired and I come home around eight or nine and I have homework so I go to bed late,” golfer Kelsey Ulep said. Students such as Ulep, Lee and Harris play their sport competitively outside of the school team. While it creates a struggle to fit all their educational needs into one day, they also have their reasons to spend so much time in what they’re doing, besides their love for the sport. “It gives me more training and more time to work toward goals. On the school team we work as a team, but outside of school we are evaluated individually,” Lee said. “I’ve been dancing since I was 7. I have been to college auditions, since some colleges let you audition when you are younger and meet some professors,” dancer Breanna Stewart said. Sometimes players participate in their sport because it helps guide them through school. With rules set by parents aiding athletes to focus not only on sports but also academics. “(In order to play) I have to stay focused in school and keep my grades up. I also have to make sure I have to seem like I want to play,” softball player Taylor Cotton said. But parents aren’t the only things that make athletes want to keep playing. “(Playing baseball) helps me stay focused (in school) and
stay out of trouble,” Harris said. Competitive athletes also take notice that playing on the school team is a lot different than playing on a team outside of school. “In school there is not as many serious athletes. I play with people (in golf for Nationals) that practice seven hours a day who are homeschooled and more competitive,”Ulep said. After so many years of playing, athletes know what is best for improving. “If you don’t play outside you will never get better. Playing outside helps you get better,” baseball player Trevor Abrams said. Although full of passion, there is still another looming obstacle having to face the reality of paying to pay for their teams as wells as travel expenses and coaches. Cotton travels to Los Angeles every weekend for tournaments, not to mention gym memberships and pitching lessons, too. The amount of money spent monthly for a single sport can cost from a few hundred dollars to almost $2000. With the costly expenses on the sport students can not always pay for all of their expenses. “With my (financial) situation, I get sponsored by other people,” Ulep said. Sports offered here also allow students to learn how to play the sport as well as interacting with others and having fun. Athletes must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher with one or no NMs. Living in the school boundaries, having medical insurance, and having a physical from a doctor are required. “The cost depends. Sports should be free for athletes, but some programs aren’t. Such as football camp and uniforms,” athletic director Mr. Jason Feuerbach said. With National Signing Day coming up on Nov. 21, athletes are getting ready for colleges to take a look at their grades and plays. “San Jose State came up to look at me. Stanford is waiting for my SAT scores, and (I’m interested in) UPenn and Columbia as well,” Abrams said. But some students have the honor of being accepted to a college early. “I got a full ride athletic scholarship to UC Berkeley at the start of junior year,” Cotton said. The time and dedication can sometimes time starve athletes and put an enormous amount of stress. “It can be time starving, but if you really enjoy it, it’s not stressful or hard. I go out and have fun. It’s not a job (for me),” Abrams said. Varsity baseball players Evan Beauchamp and Diego Susbilla warm up before practice on the baseball fields. Photo by THERESA KIM
november 2012 Issue 2
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