TheWashington - Fremont Unified
Transcription
TheWashington - Fremont Unified
The Washington Hatchet In-depth religion section Pages 5-7 October 4, 2006 Cheerleaders bring it on in Santa Cruz. Page 11 Washington High School · 38442 Fremont Blvd. Fremont CA, 94536 In the last two weeks, high profile violence in schools has exploded in examples across the nation and in Fremont itself. Ever since the massacre at Columbine High School, school security has shot through the roof. Somtimes it just isn’t enough. There may always be circumstances that can’t be accounted for and there may always be “troubled kids” who take out their hate in schools. Kennedy H.S. Co-Editor-in-Chief Kennedy High School exhibited violence different than our other featured schools. The stabbing that occurred on Wednesday Sept. 20, was gang related and unforeseen. Four victims where involved: two victims and two aggressors. They all were Kennedy students, with the two aggressors, brothers having just been enrolled. They had just started school about half an hour before the stabbing occurred. “It appears that two Kennedy students said something to provoke the new students,” Resource Officer Rick Jones said. The new students, whose names are not being released, then wielded a sharp object, stabbing one student in the abdomen and one in the left shoulder. The student stabbed in the abdomen was rushed to Valley Fair medical center, the most reliable available trauma center. The student, who was stabbed in the shoulder, went to Washington Hospital The two aggressors immediately fled the scene and were not found until they turned themselves in five days later into the Fremont Police Dept. The brothers, ages 14 and 17 were accompanied by their father and their attorney. They are now being held in a juvenile detainment center. The gang correlation with this stabbing brings questions to if such an occur- rence could happen at Washington. Though we have both had any violent actions by gang members on campus in the past few years, they still hold a presence. “We have approximately 30 Norteños and 20 Sureños here,” said Campus Supervisor Kathy Fetz. “I tell them that if they’re going to fight each other, they can fight each other somewhere else.” Kathy does not think we could have a similar violent act here, since she and Derek Best, the other campus supervisors are walking around campus all day. “Kennedy went into lock down mode exactly the way they were supposed to. They made sure everyone was fed. [They also made sure] that all emotional, physical and bodily needs were taken care of. [Kennedy] had to stay in lock down because they couldn’t have 1500 kids walking over the crime scene,” Jones said. These recent attacks showcase that Washington is at risk of such an attack, as is every other school in America. We have very little means of preventing such an occurrence but Officer Jones and the school administration are doing their best. This crime is a hometown look at the school violence sweeping America but it comes no where near the atrocities of the shootings that have occurred in past months. We can only hope that the tolerance of others can help to disuade these incidents. Facts on school violence in the United States 32 total acts of school violence: ✴ 1 suicide ✴ 6 Murder-suicides ✴ 3 stabbings ✴ 34 total deaths ✴ 4 under the category of other ✴ California accounted for 8 of the incidents ✴ Almost of the suspects were caught or committed suicide ✴ Youngest suspect in incident was 12 years old ✴ Youngest victim in incident was 15 years old According to www.schoolsecurity.org James Peng Staff Reporter Kimveer Gill, 25, stormed Dawson College in Montreal, Quebec with a hail of merciless violence. Gill opened fire on innocent students, killing eighteen-year-old Anastasia De Sousa and injuring nineteen others. According to CNN. com, Gill arrived at the college around noon. Gill held a passing lawyer hostage and forced him to carry his ammunition. When Gill reached the steps of Dawson College, he immediately opened Fremont CA Molly Sweeney Dawson College Montreal Quebec fire at students with his Berreta Cx4 Storm carbine. Gill reached the cafeteria ordering students to drop to the ground, while shooting at people until he was met by two police officers. Students fled upstairs, still being shot at by Gill while officers attempted to bring him down. Gill grabbed two students and held them as human shields against the police officers. He was shot in the arm by a police officer, dropped his carbine, took out his Glock 9mm and shot himself under the jaw. Gill’s intentions are still unknown. Platte Canyon H.S. Bailey Co David Lyons Staff Reporter Illustration by Pirouz Mehmandoost Weston H.S. Cazenovia WI Yoshi Kulkarni Staff Reporter In another fatal school shooting this week, fifteenyear-old Eric Hainstock shot and killed his principal at Weston High School in Wisconsin this Friday. Principal John Klang, a respected and loved educator, was shot while trying to reason with Hainstock as the freshman barged into school armed with a shotgun and a .22 caliber revolver. Authorities said that Hainstock was bitter about an earlier dispute with the principal and vowed to his fellow students “that he didn’t believe Mr. Klang would make it through homecoming.” According to CNN. As violence in schools multiplies, fatal shootings spurred on by disagreements with teachers are a growing concern for school officials. Incidents such as these raise questions about the safety measures at WHS. Using the events of this week, students and administrators need to be cautious and aware in order to protect WHS. By working together on topics such as gang activity, and graffiti, students can work together to do our best to avoid a shooting like this one. In yet another incident in the recent surge of violent crimes at high schools, last Wednesday Duane Morrison shot and killed sixteen-year-old Emily Keyes before committing suicide. He held six female student hostages in a classroom at Platte Canyon High School in Bailey, Colorado. Several of the survivors report being sexually abused. According to the Rocky Mountain News, Morrison, 53, walked onto campus armed with a semiautomatic pistol and a revolver. He also carried with him a backpack which he told his hostages contained a bomb. It was actually loaded with sex toys, with which he intended to sexual abuse the hostages. Keyes was shot in the back of the head trying to flee during the standoff which occurred when the SWAT team arrived at the classroom. After killing her, Morrison then shot himself in the head. This is just one of a series of violent incidents in Colorado and on high school campuses which has come to affect us locally with instances such as the gang fights at Kennedy and the fight outside Tak stadium. Amish School Bart Township PA Kyla Koger Opinions Editor Monday morning, in Pennsylvania’s bucolic Lancaster County, a gunman killed five girls at a oneroom Amish schoolhouse. Several others were taken to the hospital for injuries. 32 year old Charles Carl Robert IV was armed with three guns, a stun gun, two knives, and a bag holding 600 rounds oh ammunition. Police say Roberts walked into the schoolhouse, binding and shooting four girls execution-style before taking his own life. Police said this appeared to be a revenge killing for an unnamed incident when the gunman was a boy. Police surrounded the one-room school late Monday morning, and the Lancaster County 9/11 Web site reported that dozens of emergency units were dispatched to a “medical emergency” around 10:45 a.m. Two ambulances left the scene, and one person was taken on a stretcher to a medical helicopter. Although there have been some ugly things going on in Fremont, we don’t compare to the damage and grief this will cause to the Amish people of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The Washington Hatchet News Page 2 Insult marks high point in conflict Chen Yang Staff Reporter According to CNN, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez publicly insulted President George W. Bush during a UN session on Sept. 20. Speaking before an assembly of national delegates, Chavez repeatedly referred to Bush as “the devil.” “The devil, the devil himself is right in the house. And the devil came here yesterday, right here, and it smells of sulfur still today,” Chavez said. He then crossed himself, made a prayer gesture, and glanced at the ceiling. Chavez’s words and actions elicited laughter and applause from his audience. Chavez had, on many occasions, directed personal insults toward Bush. His behavior at the UN session was the first time he had attacked Bush in public. This incident was widely compared to Nikita Khrushchev’s fingerwagging and shoe-thumping episode in 1960. The insults marked a high point in the on-going conflict between the United States and Venezuela. In recent months, Chavez has been actively acquiring arms. His purchases include transport helicopters, 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles, as well as a license allowing Venezuela to manufacture small arms. Due to known connections between Venezuelan arms and organized crime in Latin America, analysts fear that Venezuela is “exporting chaos” into the region. The violence could flow into the United States, carried by the active drug trade. Chavez has also been suspected of forging alliances with America’s enemies. Venezuela has known ties with both Cuba and Iran. Chavez has made a mutual pledge of support with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who stated that “Iran and Venezuela should share all experiences of each other, stay by each other and they have to be supporters of each other.” Chavez has also requested a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, seeking a stronger relationship between the two countries. Tensions between the two countries could mean unstable gasoline prices for the American public. Also, organized crime could spill into California from Mexico. Staff Reporter In 2005, a sign went up at the NewPark Mall announcing renovations and a new movie theater for 2006. Now 2006 is winding down, 2007 is approaching and nothing has been built yet. It was announced this year that the development company, General Growth, has decided to reexamine planned renovations. The city of Newark has been supportive of the project and hopes something will still come through. “I am optimistic that they will surface soon with a proposal,” Newark Mayor David Smith said. With such a long delay, the project could have significant changes from the original. “At this point we are not sure if the movie theatres will be a part of the renovation. Illustration by Leah Andrews It is still being discussed as a possibility. Personally, I hope so, but at this point we don’t know,” Smith said. Even though a plan is expected soon, there could be some bumps in the road to the mall renovation. Mayor Smith said, “Sufficient parking will be an issue depending on the plans. They were talking about some free-standing restaurants somewhere in today’s parking lots.” A renovation at the mall could be coming at a particularly strategic time. The Pa- Irene Cheng Staff Reporter On Sept. 25, the former president Bill Clinton defended his efforts to kill Osama bin Laden and claimed that the Bush Administration had eight months to do so before the September 11 attacks, but “they did not try.” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defended Bush and accused Clinton of failing to leave a strategy for fighting Al-Qaeda. Students on campus have opinions about this issue. Here are thoughts from two students. Junior Christopher DellaValle (for Bush): I, for one, refuse to believe that the leadership of any country would over- cific Commons development is the newest in Fremont, but would lose that distinction in just a few years. Most of Washington’s population lives either equally far from the two developments or closer towards NewPark. This could greatly help the city of Newark. Lots of tax revenue generated by the mall could come from Fremont residents living close to Newark. Fremont would lose out on this tax revenue that could have gone to Pacific Commons. Facing a newer mall could be devastating for Pacific Commons. If Pacific Commons is to stay competitive, it would need to establish a base of customers in the next few years. Mayor Smith thought that the NewPark renovation, even with the city giving it priority, would take about two years to be fully completed. However, an interior renovation of NewPark could happen sooner. Teen relationship violence addressed Molly Sweeney Co-Editor-In-Chief BTW, there is an answer to this maze. “Does the road to college ever look like this?” COLLEGE CROSSROADS We Can Help! Our Services: College Admissions Advising Pre-College Planning Personal Statement Editing Personalized SAT I + II Tutoring Private AP Tutoring Phone: (510) 579-8858 Email: [email protected] Website: www.CollegeCrossroad.com Present this coupon for 10% off you first purchase. SAVE is a foundation committed to reducing the amount of domestic violence in our community. By running safe houses for battered men, women and children they provide safe planes for victims of domestic violence to stay and receive emotional help. They also have a hot line where anyone, teens in particular, can call in to talk to someone about an abusive relationship. On Friday September 29th SAVE held their fourth annual breakfast eye opener. A 75-dollar a plate breakfast raised funds. The breakfast 2006 Clinton and Rice bicker NewPark Mall theater delayed again Sam Mahood October 4, was held form 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Fremont Marriot by California state Senator Liz Figueroa and included many prominent guests. A skit, which depicted teenagers who were in abusive relationships, was presented by seniors from Mission High School struck a chord among the breakfast attendees most of whom have children. “My boyfriend never hit me but I felt consistently degraded for a little over two years before we broke up,” an anonymous Washington student said. If you are in an abusive relationship, call the SAVE hot line at 510-7946055. look a document that had as much importance as one containing a “comprehensive and anti-terror strategy.” If such a document existed in the first place, it would have been used to circumvent the terrorist plot of 9/11. Further, any argument based on the Bush Administration leaving Clinton’s “strategy” intentionally unused is absolutely unjustifiable. To me, the exchange between Clinton and Rice sounds like political name calling. It’s a huge waste of time and isn’t helping with the present situation, which just leaves more room for our media to tear Bush apart just in time for the November elections. Junior Morgan Goldstein (for Clinton): It is sad when the former and current leaders of our nation are reduced to the equivalent of schoolyard bickering. During his years of Presidency, Clinton made huge attempts to stop terrorism and kill Osama bin Laden. When he was unable to kill bin Laden, Clinton left for the new administration an “antiterrorism strategy” nearly eight months before the 9/11 attacks occurred. While the Bush Administration was given tons of information on the urgency of this problem, it did nothing. So which man are you going to blame? The man who tried and failed or the man who sat around and did nothing? WHS gets $925K grant for new programs Ryan Guerra Staff Reporter Washington High school along with Irvington and Kennedy High recently received a Smaller Learning Community (SLC) grant from the U.S. Dept. of Education for $925,000 each. On Oct. 16 and 17, WHS, IHS, and KHS will each send a representative to Arlington, Virginia to a conference meeting to decide on the conditions of the grant. The representative will report the information he/ she gathered in Virginia, and then each high school will decide how they will spend the money. Former principal and current Assistant Superintendent Dr. Milt Werner got the call Friday that said they finally earned the grant. The search for a grant started in 2004, when WHS saw the opportunity to get money for school reform. The grant proposal organized a plan to improve student achievement, a plan needed to remain accredited. After adding the block schedule in 2005-2006 school year they applied for the grant, but did not receive it. The schools applied again this year, despite dismissing the block schedule but leaving READ and latestart Monday, and received it. U.S. rep resigns in scandal Dennica Fernando On Campus Editor Former Rep. Mark Foley, a Florida Republican, finally gets officially investigated for a scandal involving teenage boys. Since mid-2005, there have been rumors circulating that Foley, 52, has been communicating, through e-mail, with a 16-year-old-boy. Foley asked for the boy’s picture, asked the boy inappropriate questions, and told the boy inappropriate information. The boy was uncomfortable with the messages and consulted his parents and other Representatives. The other Representatives denied that the e-mails were sexual. Further action was halted when Foley promised to immediately stop communicating with the boy. Foley did stop communicating with the boy. But just recently, other conversations through instant messenger were found with him and other young men. These new messages were even more explicit than the first ones. There were many groups requesting for an investigation on him, and he resigned from office and apologized. He is currently in an institute for alcoholism and there are several investigations being conducted on his case with the teenage boys. This corruptness in our authoritative figures can be quite unnerving. Foley is supposed to be someone that is representing the state of Florida, in a manner that displays the American way. He is supposed to have a manner of professionalism and high morality, a model for the people and especially the youth of our nation. Instead he is harassing minors and possibly breaking laws. The Washington Hatchet October 4, Page On Campus 2006 3 WHS readies for spirit week Ryan Guerra Staff Reporter Spirit week is near and for a lot of students excitement is growing high. Starting on Oct. 16 students will start to dress in crazy costumes according to the theme of their class for the day. Students unite to show their husky pride. They also show their class skits. These skits are a mixture of pride, hard work, and dedication, all brought together by each class. “This is the highlight of the school year and is the most looked forward to,” Helen Paris said, “the Washington High School spirit week embodies the rich history of our school.” The first WHS Spirit Week dates back to the mid ‘40s. We were the first school in Fremont to have a spirit week. And while other schools are known for their art program or their academic program, Washington is known for the most school spirit and pride. Have you ever wondered with all the huge posters, backgrounds, sound, and costume if spirit week had a budget? Well it does. ASB covers all of the cost for the recordings and the sound. Each class covers the cost for their skit’s backgrounds and props, while each student participating in the skit will cover the cost their own costumes. If this year follows the example of previous years, there will be quite an amount of students dressing up. “Our theme this year is Harry Potter,” senior Katie Kinson said, “I’ve done the Photo by Dennica Fernando skit every year and it’s my faJuniors Nick Matthiesen, Vanessa Ayab, and Payum Mehmandoost paint scener y. vorite part of the week.” When asked what the with excellence for their first sophomores are doing for dance for another hour.” Homecoming Royalty “Our theme this year is time. their skit, sophomore Tina candidates announced Freshmen Jaban Hibari Nevin said, “We practice at Hercules,” junior Renee OliBoys: Muer Park about two to three phant said. The juniors prac- said, “We practice hard and Michael Wheeler Lance Raby times a week, and practice tice at different locations to often. We will win this year!” Saami Siddiqui lasts for about two hours.” suit the needs and availabil- The freshmen will be perJames Kim forming Toy Story for their Nevin and other sophomores ity of the performers. Kenny Durbin “We practice at random skit and they are confident in are dancing and acting in PiKevin Tobin rates of the Caribbean, their places like at Allie’s house their ability to pull it off. Tanvir Dhillon Besides being a week for skits theme. Nevin also said, today and someone else’s Russell Morris “During practice, we grab a house on Friday,” Oliphant orange and black and pride, Justin Montez spirit week provides students bottle of water and hydrate. said. Jason Tawaih Just like classes of ’07, with some fun in the midst Then we dance together for Girls: Urshila Durani about an hour. We get a ten ’08, and ’09, the freshmen of a busy school year. Shelly Gupta The week ends Oct. 20. minute break, and then we this year hope to perform Tuesday Wednesday Monday Superhero Freshman Hawaiian Sports Sophomore Cowboy Pirate PJ Junior Senior Toga Army 20s 70s 50s Celebrity Thursday Friday Spy Orange/Black Punk Orange/Black Orange/Black 80s Nerd Orange/Black More than 100 give blood Becky Allen and Kyla Koger donate blood,” senior John O’Donnell said. World News Editor and O’Donnell was hooked Opinions Editor up to the Double Red maThere are a lot of ways to chine. This machine gives give to the community, and plasma back so that you are Washington does so much to not as tired or dehydrated contribute. The blood drive when you’re done donating on Friday was an example of your red blood cells. one of the ways it does so. First-time donors juniors All day long students from Amanda Deponte and Chloe grades 10-12, were coming Senadenos talked about how into the main gym to donate nervous they were. a pint of blood. “I even cried!” Deponte Some students donated said. just to get out of class, but “I don’t like pain; the the majority came to do their finger was the worst part.” part for our community. Senadenos said. “Each pint of blood given When Senadenos was 12 can save three to five lives,” years old, she hid under her nurse Mary-Ann Yadollahi doctors table because she said. didn’t want to take the teta“Definitely eat before you nus shot. But now she was able to conquer her fear and give her blood. Junior Deanne Hokanson was the one who put this all together. “We scheduled it about eight months ago and started publicity about one month ago,” Hokanson said. It had been a long process of nine months, but in the end yielded 120 donors. For the most part the blood drive went smoothly. There were a few upsets throughout the day. There were a few students who weren’t allowed to donate. The next blood drive will be organized by Hokanson again. It will take place in the auxiliary gym on Friday, May 17. Photo by Jonathan Kim Senior Lindsay Dooley hands donor, junior Travis Solverson a drink. Caitlin Allen KaRynn Perry Deanne Hokanson Geneva Climent Lily Barone Katie Kinson Jackie Sloves Tiffanie Petett Chess club is back Bharadwaj Ramachandran Sports Editor After years of break, chess club has come back. They have a great team consisting of many new players and some experienced players like senior Jackie Sloves. The club has many plans for this year which include, holding tournaments inside school and going to outside tournaments. To play in these tournaments come to Mr. Jim Macleod’s room E-128 every other Friday. There are also chess teaching and training times every Tuesday in the same room the tournaments are conducted. The president of the club is Jackie Sloves and the vicepresident of this club is Bharadwaj Ramachandran. Other officers are, the treasurer is Michael Wheeler, and the secretary is Marrisa Floro. There is an entrance fee of three dollars. There are many reasons for collecting this fee, one being that we need to buy new chess board and pieces another being we need to pay for the tournaments we will be attending through out the year. Jackie believes that we will have a strong chess team. Hip-hop club forms Fred Del Carpio Staff Reporter During the 1970’s street gangs ravaged the streets of New York. Crime rate was up and everyone wanted it to stop. The hostile environment caused the youths of New York to find a weapon against the violence and lead everyone to come together in harmony. This phenomenon was ultimately called Hip-hop culture. The movement helped bring unity and peace among gangs and neighborhoods thus creating a more positive environment for everyone. What does this have to do with Washington high school? Since the Kennedy stabbing and other school related violence, the question of making a positive nonviolent environment for students in and out of school is prompted. Washington is a diverse school. Many cultures are seen within Washington and sometimes it’s hard for students to interact with each other because of it. Often conflicts occur between certain groups in and out of school environment. Also you see similar racial groups hang out with only each other. Why not make a club that utilizes the diversity of Washington to bring unity in the school and make a positive environment? Hip-hop club will enable students to express their creativity in many different ways such as dancing, rapping, creating new music, and tagging. Although tagging has a bad reputation at the school, the club will influence people to make it a positive representation of artistic expression rather than making it act of vandalism. In this way we will able to change any negative representation about the culture to a more positive one. Everyone will have a way to contribute to the club and Washington will benefit from it. Students will want to see their peers do incredible things on stage or anywhere else. This will help open up interaction between students regardless of race or groups’ students are in. The club will break down any barrier that oppresses unity and harmony of the school. Having everyone united for a good purpose will help the school’s environment to be safe and fun. Hip-hop’s influence to the student’s of Washington will bring fun and unity as a school to make great things happen. “I hope to make hip hop bigger...to keep hip hop alive, and actually get [the club] started,” said junior Aylmer Jordan Abrea who would like to see a lot more people express themselves. Hip-hop will be more than an entertainment club; it will help empower students to have a voice in which they are able to make positive changes to themselves and the community. License #2559 Driver Education & Training *ONLINE DRIVER’S ED* 489-6933 bayareadriving.com Classes held at KENNEDY COMMUNITY CENTER 1333 Decoto Rd — Behind James Logan High School NEXT Classroom DRIVER’S ED CLASS: Winter Break The Washington Hatchet Page October 4, Around the World 4 2006 Students discuss Pope’s speech and effects on Middle East Kate Pyatybratova Staff Reporter During a current events discussion in Mr. Tom Vargas’ government class, students brought up the speech Pope Benedict XVI’s gave in Regensburg, Germany, on Sept. 12. While speaking out against religious intolerance and aggression, Pope quoted a 14th-century Byzantine Emperor Manuel Paleologos II, saying “Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.” Against the intended purpose of the speech, Pope’s inappropriate quotation provoked a great deal of aggression in Muslim-dominated counties. “It is rather ironic that despite Benedict’s hopes for peace, his speech caused such hostility,” said senior Shirley Pan. Despite Pope’s expressions of regret, Muslim radicals around the world have incited violence against Christian institutions and representatives of the faith. Numerous churches were bombed in Gaza and West Bank. In Somalia, a 64-yearold nun was assassinated outside the children’s hospital. The majority party in Turkey, which likened the Pope to Adolf Hitler, chaffed his attempts at ‘reviving crusader mentality.’ In a series of military campaigns during the Middle Ages, the Byzantine armies, sanctioned financed by the Vatican, fought for control of the city of Jerusalem in the Middle East, the ‘Holy Land’ to Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions. Some may argue that such ‘religious wars’ still occur, adopting a new title, ‘terrorism’, in the 20th century. Pope’s ‘insult’ provided a further provocation for aggression and misunderstandings. “I doubt if one in ten thousand people had read the speech. The mullahs of Iran said he should be killed for his statement. When asked whether he read [it], ‘No’,” said Vargas. “The media took the Pope’s speech totally out of context and sensationalized it. This caused the Islamic leaders to react the way they did.” On Sept. 26, Muslim leaders met Benedict XVI at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo in Rome in an attempt to resolve their differences. Major Muslim groups have called for a more ‘direct apology’. Despite their short meeting, and lack of pro-longed dialogue between the two sides, they seem to have achieved an understanding. According to a report in Los Angeles Times, Sergio Yahe Pallavicini, an Italian Photo by Kate Pyatybratova Seniors James Kim, Shelly Gupta, Matt Hiari, Vince Dinicola, Saami Siddiqui, and Tanvir Dhillion discuss the pope’s speech in Mr. Vargas’ class. Muslim who visited Pope’s residence said, “It was a very positive meeting, and it could be more positive if we can consider this a starting point.” “I feel that Muslims in the Middle East took it [the quote] the wrong way,” said senior Mariam Behashti, a practicing Muslim. “But now since the Pope met with the Muslim leaders to put things at rest, feelings aren’t overpowering our perspectives.” Global Warming: Heating Up Illustration by Laura Ramie James Peng Staff Reporter One thing everyone has been thinking is, “Why is it so hot?” Global warming has been on the rise recently, and every year the temperature is increasing. Temperatures change the amount of precipitation as well as cause a rising sea level. These changes can increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather such as hurricanes, tornados, heat waves, etc. We don’t get that in California, right? No, but we will get a wider range of diseases as well as a lower production of agriculture. Scientists estimate a 2.5°F-10.5°F degree change in temperature from 19902100. Every year it’s going to get hotter unless we do something about it. “…inconvenient truths do not go away just because they are not seen. Indeed, when we do not respond to them, their significance doesn’t diminish; it grows,” said Al Gore. Democrat or Republican, everyone is starting to see these inconvenient truths. “I think that global warming is a major issue that has been overlooked for years. It is sad that we have waited this long to start to attempt and prevent it and that still we are having a hard time believing that it is occurring. If we don’t act now, we will face dire consequences in the future,” junior Parth Chokshi said. “The heat wave we had this summer was horrible. It was very inconvenient for my schedule,” said junior Sahibjit Ranu. What can you do to help? Use less energy. Be efficient on the road. Neutralize your pollution. You’ll be surprised how great of an impact the world will have if everyone adjusted their lifestyle a little. So please, if you see a plastic bottle on the street, recycle it. It makes a difference. Be the change you want to see in the world. Photo by Molly Sweeney Senior Sholah Ramish prays often during the month of Ramadan. Ramadan, a time of prayer and fasting Mina Baber Staff Reporter On Sept. 23, 2006 the month of Ramadan began for some, for others it began on Sept. 24, 2006 in the month of Ramadan. Muslims fast for thirty days, meaning they go without eating or drinking. They stop eating when the sun goes up and begin again when the sun goes down. Ramadan is over Oct. 22, 2006 for those who go by what the Saudi’s say. For those who look at the moon it’s over on Oct. 23. 2006. It’s a very special occa- FREE SINCE 1985 Y 4 DAation c ere! u d E sH Clas (510) 795-1549 www.allstarsdriving.com Drivers Ed Online with Paid 6 Hours Driving Call Now Limited Time Offer APS Affiliate • Dual Control Cars • Meet Your State Requirements ONLINE • Automatic Shift • Permit Assistance Bonded • • Free Pick-Up & Delivery • Beginners & Brush/Ups DMV Lic. #2739 • Full Liability Insurance • • Lessons From Home or Work Serving Fremont, Newark, Union City, Hayward • Central Office: 1040 The Alameda, Suite A, San Jose, CA 95126 sion that doesn’t get much notice. In Islam Ramadan is an important event. Ramadan is the month in which the Quarn is revealed. In the Quran it is said that in that month of Ramadan the prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). Fasting is one of the five pillars, Ramadan is the third pillar. The five pillars are Iman (faith), salah (prayer), Zakat (the financial obligation upon Muslims), swam (fasting), and the pilgrimage to the hajj otherwise known as Mecca. These five pillars are part of Islam. In addition to the fasting you also are required to pray more. Palwasha Baber said, “During the month of Ramadan God forgives all.” Jabar Baber, who is a religious leader, said “Ramadan is an important pillar in Islam.” He also explained why the twenty seventh day is important. “On the twenty seventh day of the month, Muslims celebrate the Laylat-Ul-Qadar (the night of power). On the twenty seventh day, people pray for the whole night to get a closer relationship with God. When asked if people get excited about the celebration he laughed. Baber said “You know, a lot of kids get excited because of the big celebrations after the thirty days are over.” After the month of Ramadan there is a big celebration called Eid-al-Fitr. Eid is a way of celebrating the end of Ramadan. This Celebration lasts three days. In this celebration there is one thing that makes the kids extra happy, that is the kids make money from the adults. Friends and family exchange gifts during Eid. Also during Eid people give more to the needy. The month is all about giving and being thankful for what you have. Eid happens twice a year every year. The first one is the little Eid which lasts three days, and it just celebrates the end of Ramadan. The other is the bigger Eid which lasts seven days and that is to celebrate the earth going around the sun. October 4, 2006 The Washington Hatchet In Depth The diversity at WHS contributes to the variety and range of different backgrounds, cultures, and, especially, religions. However, with common misconceptions, many religions have been misunderstood and misinterpreted . Learning the facts about different religions helps everyone to focus on the simliarites rather than the differences, creating a diverse, yet unified, student body. CREDITS: Christianity cross, Buddha, Arabic writing and menorah illustrated by Pirouz Mehmandoost. Star of David, Buddhism circle, Bible and moon and crescent illustrated by Leah Andrews. Aum and elephant illustrated by Pritika Kumar. Layout design by Pirouz Mehmandoost. Photos by Pritika Kumar, Pirouz Mehmendoost, Rebekah Lee, David Lyons, and Pam Sloves. Pictured above (from Buddhism clockwise to Hinduism): Phra Michael Buddhiko, Muhajireen Masjid, Jewish Steven Kaplan, Paul Lee, Arun Thaker. Page 5 Hinduism Photos and illustration by Pritika Kumar Hinduism has grown to become the world’s third largest religion after Christianity and Islam. Commonly regarded as the world’s oldest organized religion, Hinduism traces its roots to the early phase of the Vedic tradition in India, between 10,000 - 7,000 B.C. Hinduism evolved by the sages of ancient India as a ‘dharma,’ or way of life. Mr. Arun Thaker, administrator of the Fremont Hindu Temple explained Hinduism through its definition of God. “Hinduism is not a straightforward sermon to be followed. It is wide and deep like an ocean and everything can be proved and disproved in it.” The Hindu religion was not derived from a single book, but from several. It has many sacred writings such as the Vedas, Upanishads, the Puranas, and the Epics - Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita. Junior Parth Chokshi sees the Gita as a manual for life, “Say- Buddhism Religions at WHS by Pritika Kumar by David Lyons Photos by Pritika Kumar and David Lyons Buddhism is based on the teaching of Siddhartha Gotama, also known as Buddha, who was born in northern India in the fifth or sixth century BCE. “The main purpose of Buddhism is trying to see things the way they are,” says Phra Michael Buddhiko of Wat Buddhanasorn. “I think that religion is just a way to get at truth.” “A Buddhist is someone who wants to achieve enlightenment, to have better control of one’s self,” says junior Grace Chu. “It’s more of an idea than a religion. It can be anyone who is willing, no matter the background.” At the age of twenty-nine Buddha left his wealthy and privileged family in search of enlightenment, which he obtained under the Bodhi-tree at Bodh Gaya on the full moon of May. Shortly after this he delivered his first sermon, in which he spoke of the “four noble truths,” a central practice in Buddhism today. Poll by Pritika Kumar ing that the Gita pertains only to Hindus is a misconception because nowhere in the Gita will you find the word “Hindu.” The Gita is a manual for mankind as a whole.” Hinduism has had no past history of global conflicts with other religions however there are many common misconceptions in understanding the religion. Hinduism differs from Christianity since it does not have a single founder or a specific theological system. Hinduism consists of thousands of different religious groups that have evolved in India since 1500 B.C. Common misconceptions include the Swastika, often confused for the Nazi sign. The Swastika is an ancient solar sign in Hinduism while the Nazi symbol is rotated 45 degrees. Hinduism is not a polytheistic religion. Hindus believe in one Supreme God. Hindus also do not worship the cow, but honor it. The cow is a symbol of purity, motherhood, and non-violence. During the week of Sept. 22 - Oct. 1 Hindus celebrated Navaratri, a festival of pure happiness, one of the most auspicious occasions in Hindu culture. Navaratri is a festival of worship, dance and music celebrated for nine nights. Dances include the traditional Garba and Dandiya-Raas. Hindus also celebrated Dussera on Oct. 2. For more facts on Hinduism, its beliefs, and history, visit www.hinduwebsite.com. According to him they are these: 1. Life is suffering. 2. Suffering is due to attachment. 3. Attachment can be overcome. 4. There is a path for overcoming this. He also described this path, which he called the “eightfold path.” These are eight basic values we should hold in order to achieve enlightenment: right view, right aspiration, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. Gotama spent the majority of his life preaching and in the process attracted a large communal following known as the Sangha. A few months after his death at the age of eighty, the Sangha met at Rajagaha to come to a consensus about the Buddha’s teachings. Together they came up with the Suttas and the Vinaya, which were passed down orally until they were finally written down in the first century BCE. These writings form the basis for modern Buddhism, though they have been altered by religious leaders with different interpretations over the centuries. The period between 150 BCE and 100 BCE saw the rise of Mahayana Buddhism, which is practiced by over fifty percent of Buddhists today. One estimate says that there are approximately 350 million Buddhists in the world today, with the largest population in China. The largest proportions of Buddhists to population in nations today are in such countries as Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Other 12% Islam 7% Buddhism 12% Hinduism 14% Judaism 4% Chr Total Students Polled: Freshmen: 104 Sophomores: 108 Juniors: 11 People o faiths a whs com Everyone has their own identity, taste, are a million things that separate and seg mon: we are all students at Washington H has caused conflicts abound throughout h these people, who believe in peaceful, lov that different, will never cease to amaze ery faith, be it Buddhism, Hindu, Muslim come together in a community; a league mitted to their faith and those who hav friends. We could not possibly cover every we have gathered our best to display our unity. Our community is a whole despite Christianity by Yoshi Kulkarni Photos by Monica Huang and R Faith in Jesus Christ is what keeps believers g tians believe that to go to heaven, all you need to God’s gift into your heart and make him your Lord Senior Jordan Berrner says, “No matter what happens, G all your sins away if you embrace the gift God has given you Pastor Paul Lee, the pastor at Home of Christ in Frem when he was a teenager in high school, his friends would c like “holy Joe” or “righteous.” “Even though they may not li that God still loves me and loves them as well, so I smile at Lee said. ristianity 51% 11 Seniors: 57 Christianity- Hinduism- Buddhism- Islam- Judaism- Other- The Breakdown Seniors Juniors Sophomores Freshmen Seniors Juniors Sophomores Freshmen Seniors Juniors Sophomores Freshmen Seniors Juniors Sophomores Freshmen Seniors Juniors Sophomores Freshmen Seniors Juniors Sophomores Freshmen 14% 18% 23% 45% 0% 28% 39% 33% 13% 27% 20% 30% 10% 20% 40% 30% 20% 0% 20% 60% 0% 47% 20% 33% of many are one mmunity , culture, ethnicity, style, and religion. There gregate us, yet we all have one thing in comHigh school and we are all Huskies. Religion history, causing hatred and war. The fact that ving gods, are killing others who really aren’t e. Yet, here at Washington people from evm, Christian, Jew and everything in between, of friendship. Those whom are deeply comve no organized faith coexist as equals and y religion on campus or every sect. Threfore, religious difference while exemplifying our e our differences. i, Rebekah Lee and Aaron Williams Rebekah Lee going. Chrisdo is accept d and savior. God will wash u: Jesus Christ.” mont, says that call him names ike me, I know t them,” Pastor Although Christianity is one entire religion, there are many different groups, one of which is Roman Catholic. Led by the Pope, the Roman Catholic faith is one that’s full of tradition and customs that have been practiced for more than a thousand years. The Roman Catholic faith only has minor difference from that of basic Christianity, such as Saints. A common misconception is that praying to these saints is idol worship, which Christianity restricts. However, Deacon Bill Drobick says that’s completely false. “When someone who has done positive in the faith dies, they go into the spirit realm and watch us [on Earth}. I don’t see anything wrong with praying to those people for help. It still doesn’t replace the idea of Jesus.” Another thing different about the faith is the fact that sometimes, two other books are added in the bible. Drobick only sees it as “addition to the faith” however, and most catholic churches use the new international version. All in all, Christianity is a religion that preaches one message: Jesus was the son of God and he was sent to forgive every one of their sins. No more are the days of sacrifices done in the Jewish faith for Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. Not only that, but Christianity preaches a universal message of loving everyone around you living for others before yourself. For more information, there are many churches that are great places to find out what Christianity is about. Islam by Pirouz Mehmandoost Islam has carried a stigma since the time of the Crusades. The religion whose name literally translates into “peace”- covers front pages in violence. “It is difficult not to put Islam and aggression on the same page, because in every news article they are on the same page”, Muhajireen Masjid (the Islamic Center of Hayward) attendee Ali Mohseni said. “There is irony in militant actions. Extremists tie religion closely to their incentives, and then the world gets the idea that violence and Islam are related.” Muslims do not consider hostile militants to be of any religion. “We would truly be fools if we considered members of wrongdoers to be true Muslims,” Mohseni said. At WHS, sophomore Hira Bhatty exemplifies the spirit of a budding young Muslim generation. Bhatty is currently spearheading the creation of the Muslim Students Association. “I think everyone should know that Islam is an open belief. I choose to follow the religion myself.” Islam is a prominent religion from the Middle East to Southeast Asia. Its holy book, the Koran, overlaps stories in the Bible and the Torah, including figures such as the angel Gabriel. The Muslim prophet Muhammad spurred the growth of Islam 1437 years ago. On Sept. 23, and Sept. 24, the special month of Ramadan began. It is a time when Muslims fast for thirty days from sunrise to sunset. During Ramadan, Muslims celebrate the time when the Judaism Photos by Pirouz Mehmandoost verses of the Koran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. It is a time of worship and contemplation. “Fasting makes me more alert, and not even in a spiritual sense. It isn’t as hard as it seems”, Mohseni said. “I think of it as a religious diet.” Despite the sadness of events involving the name of Islam, Muslims keep a positive eye on the future. With time, Mohseni hopes that more people will learn about the religion, and that it isn’t as foreign a belief as it may seem. “A part of Islam is in everyone. It’s the part that makes you love, and it’s in every religion. Muhammad emphasized good morals and humanitarianism like Abraham and Jesus before him.” The Muhajireen Masjid Islamic center is open to all. There is no membership required to enter. Visit http://www.sbia. info/htmlpages/BayAreaOrgs.htm for more information. by Kate Pyatybratova Judaism, the first recorded monotheistic religion in the world, has 14 million followers, reports a religious tolerance website. Practitioners observe commandments outlined in Torah, the Holy Scripture, which is said to have been given to Moses by God after Hebrew liberation from Egyptian slavery 3000 years ago. The event is commemorated by Passover. Other Jewish calendar holidays include Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Chanukah (festival of lights), and recently celebrated, Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew New Year). “[Judaism] is essentially a way of life, the goal of which is to be a better person,” Stewart Perlman, Washington’s English teacher, said. When remembering the ancient Jewish traditions, one also thinks of persecution against its people: from Egypt and Roman domination, to purges during the Middle Ages, pogroms in Russia, and the Nazi-perpetrated Holocaust. Between 1939 and 1945, nearly six million Jews were systematically murdered in European concentration and death camps, as a part of Hitler’s “Final Solution.” It is not surprising, hereafter, that following Holocaust, many Jews, who at first scoffed the idea of Zionism, or returning to the original Jewish homeland in the Middle East, now flooded to the newly-established state of Israel. The importation of thousands of Jews into Israel has created strong antagonisms from Muslim Arabs in the Middle East, who initially did not recognize Israel’s legitimacy. Photos by Pam Sloves “Israel has a right to exist, which does not preclude the Palestinians’ right to exist,” Perlman said. “Jews were in the Middle East centuries before Muhammad.” Israel continues to be plagued by radical Muslim groups from surrounding countries, which, this past summer, provoked a war between Israel and Lebanon. “If I had to choose a side, I would be in favor of Israel, but I think that both Israel and Palestine are at fault for the terrible situation,” said senior Jackie Sloves, member of the local Temple Beth Torah. The violence in the Middle East has partially been a result of anti-Semitism and stereotypes about Jewish People. “People think that Jews are generally cheap, value education, have big noses, and are liberal, but these are false stereotypes,” said Sloves. To learn more about Judaism, visit: www.religioustolerance.org The Washington Hatchet Page October 4, Opinion 8 Campus safety begins with you Our view Staff Editorial This past month has seen a surge of school violence. In Montreal, a young man strolled onto a college campus and opened fire on students. In Colorado, a gunman began a siege in a high school classroom that ended with the death of a hostage. In Wisconsin, a student fatally wounded his high school principal. In Fremont, two students were stabbed at Kennedy High School in a gang-related altercation. What can be done to keep us safe in our school? The installation of metal detectors and surveillance cameras has been suggested. The extensive construction on campus was possible only by years of fundraising. Repairing damage caused by theft and vandalism drains away more money. Installing electronic equipment would require a tax bond or massive fundraising. Red Lake High School, located on a Native American reservation in Minnesota, had metal detectors and a guard. But these measures failed when a student shot the unarmed guard and entered the school with deadly intent. Technology won’t always keep us safe at school. Although high-tech means of detection and monitoring are out of our reach, we are not helpless. We can take a number of simple steps to safeguard ourselves. Washington currently has a zero-tolerance policy on weapons and death threats. More strict enforcement of such discipline is another way of deterring school violence. The school administration could also cooperate with law enforcement and parents, keeping a closer watch on students with police records. In the end, advanced technology is not the answer to everything. It is the people that make all the difference. Let’s face it – Washington’s staff of less than a hundred is far less effective at spotting danger than the vast student body. The students as well as the staff must be vigilant and report any suspicious behavior in order to ensure a safe environment for all. Letter to the Editor Instead of just thrashing one form or another, I believe the best way of going about this article would be to state pros and cons about the topic. Now, I love rock music but I wouldn’t go as far as to say that it’s the only form of music to portray a message. Rap music, I will admit has gone downhill over the past few years. Both Tupac and Dr. Dre alone rapped about so many problems the world had and tried to share how to fix them. If you want to hear a message with some relevance to anything then just listen to “Changes” by Tupac. Now as for rock music, there are so many types of rock that if you only listen to one type it would be unfair to judge rock as a whole saying that “true rock has lost its roots” is just plain ignorant. Go buy yourself a copy of Velvet Revolver, you can’t get more “true rock” than Slash (Guns’N roses) and Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots). In my personal opinion a song, Rap or Rock, is about whatever you want it to be about and is art no matter what. If you have never seen rappers in a studio then don’t be so quick to judge. I was once at a studio for my friend’s band practice and 2 studio rooms over these 3 rappers drilled away at one beat from before we got there until after we left. Rappers put their hearts and souls into their music. All in all I’d have to tip the scale in Rock’s favor, but saying Rap isn’t an art form and they have nothing to talk about is just a biased opinion. There are so many forms of Rock and Rap that I’m sure there is something for everyone to enjoy in both. -- Taylor Christopher Staff Reporters Leah Andrews Mina Baber Rachael Bridges Irene Cheng Frederick Del Carpio Ryan Guerra Jonathan Kim J.J. Kochly Yashad Kulkarni Rebekah Lee David Lyons Sam Mahood Pirouz Mehmandoost Daniella Morariu James Peng Kate Pyatybratova Laura Ramie Chen Yang Sam Mahood Staff Reporter The Iraq War has become a tired act. Its parallels to Vietnam are uncanny, we are hopefully headed towards its end. Polls this year have shown 50% to 60% of Americans disapproving of the war. President Bush has held extremely low approval ratings over the past year. The architect’s plan may be crumbling. Bush and his cronies have spewed sound bite after sound bite to the American public. As soon as one stops working or is disproved, they are on to the next. We were told that Saddam Hussein was building “weapons of mass destruction”. Now Bush’s message has evolved to suggest that Hussein had a hand in 9/11—a rumor completely false since Hussein preferred to rule as a secular dictator than an Islamic extremist. We’ve also been Co-Editors in Chief Molly Sweeney Melissa Yao In-Depth Editors Melissa Yao Pritika Kumar News Editor Sharanya Kuppuswamy A&E Editors Nate Miu Aaron Williams On Campus Editor Dennica Fernando Around the World Becky Allen Sports Editors Bharadwaj Ramachandran Cody Bolce Opinions Editor Kyla Koger Business Manager Daniella Morariu Mission Statement The staff ’s objective is to provide a forum for the opinions, interests and activities that affect the students of Washington High School in an unbiased, informative, and entertaining manner. We wish to produce a factual and honest representation of our Embrace your curves that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but being beautiful and unhealthy are two different things. Not only is being underweight unattractive for models, but it is also dangerous. Girls, teenagers, grown women, just about every female, will look at models and want to be like them and have the image the media produces for us. It makes women feel awful about themselves because no one looks like that. I know when I see modDrawing by Laura Ramie els in magazines or any type of media I will feel a twinge Becky Allen of self-consciousness about World News Page Editor my looks and weight, even Ever since I read an ar- though I know that I am neiticle from the New York ther ugly nor overweight. Times I have been absolutely I know girls who have takthrilled. en the ‘perfect’ model image It seems the rest of the too seriously and have hurt world is finally catching themselves in more ways up to my kind of thinking. than one. World officials are saying Some developed eating that models are too skinny. disorders, believing they I’ve always thought that. need to be a size zero to be In my opinion models have pretty. always been unreasonably Others will doubt themskinny and sickly looking. selves, are they too fat? Gaunt eyes and jagged Are they pretty enough? cheekbones are not my idea Are they wearing the right of beauty. Yes, I have heard clothes and make up and hair? Will guys still like them if they look the way they really do or should they try to be the pretty girls in the magazines? The answer to all of those questions is obvious – they should be exactly who they are and not compare themselves to unreasonable role models. You should just be comfortable with who you are. I understand that it is hard to be comfortable with yourself, especially in high school, but the sooner you face who you are and what you really look like, the better off you’ll be. Models conform to impossible images, but that doesn’t mean you have to. Now before anyone jumps down my throat let me explain my meaning. I am not saying that models are ugly or that all are underweight, only that most are capable of being beautiful if they’d only add a few pounds on. So I say embrace your curves, shakes those hips and eat all you want. Just because models don’t do it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t as well. Tired of the Iraq war, or do we support it? The Washington Hatchet 38442 Fremont Blvd / Fremont, CA 94536 [email protected] Tel (510) 505-7300 / Fax (510) 794-8437 2006 school as a historical record while following journalistic standards and precisely reporting on the sports, news, issues, people and places that affect our readers. It is created by the students for the students reflecting the students’ voices. told that we’re freedom fighters, helping the spread of democracy. I find it funny that we don’t seem to care too much about spreading demo crac y in Africa or any South American country that doesn’t have oil. Like during Vietnam, over 30 years ago, our government has become arrogant. They refuse to give up on the war, thinking they will be viewed as failure. Well, it is too late for that. Fewer Iraqis have electricity and clean water now, than when Hussein was in power. We’ve destabilized a region we were supposed to stabilize. A new report from the State Department shows that the Iraq War has encouraged a new generation of terror rather than stop it. Billions of dollars have been spent on destroying a foreign country, when it could have been spent building this one. This money could have been invested on alternative energy, education, or fighting domestic crime. It is time that President Bush realizes America comes first. We have become so caught up fighting a war that benefits the oilmen, when we could have tried to fix our own problems. Drawing by Kate Pyatybratova J.J. Kochly Staff Reporter Bush is not perfect. That is something that even conservatives like myself need to understand. But he’s not doing as bad of a job as everybody thinks either. Why do people dislike Bush? I will tell you now that the definitive answer is because he’s a republican. If they stuck a little “D” in front of his name, everything would be hunky-dory. But we don’t treat him as we should. So why do we dislike Bush? The first thing anyone will say is because of the war. Admittedly, we have been there for a long time. But why did we make a big deal when he fought back, practically after terrorists declared war on us? And then we got mad at him for invading Iraq because we believed they had ties to Al-Quada? Think of it this way: if a doctor told you that you might have cancer in a part of your body but wasn’t sure, you’d want to get a tissue sample, right? And when the results came back and you found out you didn’t have cancer, you might be slightly mad that you went out of your way to find out that it was a waste of time, but you’ll still be glad that you checked. That’s what basically happened in Iraq. Only Saddam attacked us while we were at it, so we bounced back. So really, there’s nothing evil in it. Almost every war in the 20th century was started by a Democrat. World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam—all the work of democrats. Now we’re attacked by anti-American extremists, we invade them, and everyone gets mad at Bush? The next thing people will say is that he’s an idiot. He graduated from Harvard, a place where idiots are not welcome. As for his performance in speeches; maybe he’s just not good at public speaking. The president doesn’t have to be good at everything. Other people hate him because he focuses on our national interests rather than being bullied into treaties by little countries that wouldn’t matter. What’s wrong with focusing on our best interests? Practically the only things he’s conservative about are being pro-life and cutting taxes. But now that Bush is elected, 9/11 happens and he escalates the work in the Middle East that Clinton was doing, makes him evil. October 4, 2006 The Washington Hatchet Arts & Entertainment Ardenwood festival showcases Cajun culture Laura Ramie Staff Reporter Sat., Sept. 23 was the 10th Annual Cajun/Zydeco Festival, held at Ardenwood Historic Farm. Proceeds contributed to the Parks Express Program, to provide inner-city youths and senior citizens transportation to East Bay parks. The term “Cajun” refers to the unique culture of southern Louisiana. Cajuns are descended from the French settlers of Acadia in eastern Canada, who settled the Louisiana frontier from 1764 to 1785 after being kicked out of Nova Scotia by the English. The Cajuns evolved into a medley of cultural influences: indigenous peoples, French and Spanish settlers, African Americans, the English, Irish and Scottish settlers, and German immigrants. The name “Acadians” gradually changed into “Cajuns.” Cajuns today still speak the language of their ancestors, a dialect of French. The two biggest attractions at the festival were Photo by Laura Ramie Young and old, black and white dance together at the Cajun Festival Sept. 23. the regional cuisine and the lively music. Festival-goers sporting cowboy hats and Mardi Gras beads lined up to taste the spicy dishes: etoufee (creamed crawfish served over rice), beighet (a deep-fried doughnut), seafood gumbo, catfish, jambalaya and red beans and rice. Traditional Cajun music is characterized by the sweet whine of a fiddle and the soulful accordion. It’s influenced by French dance melodies and country music. The vocals are often in Cajun French. Zydeco music, some- what different, is the music of south Louisiana’s native black Creoles, borrowing some traits from Cajun music, just as Cajun tunes borrow from Zydeco. It is fairly modern, developed after World War II. It’s increasingly performed in English. Influenced by blues and rock and roll, Zydeco features the accordion, electric guitar and bass, drums, sometimes a saxophone, and a metal rubboard called a “frottior” worn over the chest and rapped with metal instruments. Bright parti-colored umbrellas and folding chairs surrounded a large tent, where Zydeco bands played as dozens of couples danced on a wooden platform. By mid-afternoon, the stage was packed with people dancing, their feet stomping in rhythm and ladies’ skirts flying. Olivia “Tee” Guillory gave a half-hour dancing lesson, leading the crowd in a line dance. Cajun music is danced to simple steps, relying on individual expression instead of showy technique. Ardenwood farm is a festive place throughout the year, offering well-attended celebrations, ranging from Civil War reenactments to the Celtic Festival. The next event is the Harvest Festival on the weekend of Oct. 14 and 15. Artist Spotlight of the Month: Nikita Gurnani Leah Andrews Staff Reporter It’s not often a freshman comes along who shows such an incredible amount of pride and confidence in her work as Nikita Gurnani, but then again, it’s not often there is such a talented artist as her. Ever since she was a child creating arts and crafts in kindergarten, Gurnani has been interested in art. Since the fourth grade, when her father bought her a paint set from Costco, she has been creating incredibly stylized pieces over a wide range of media. “I try not to stay in a box”, she says, “I try to experiment with a variety of different things”. Image by Nikita Gurani Here is one example of the abstract work Gurani does. Not only is she interested in drawing and painting: Gurnani also has a passion for photography and poetry as well. After taking a photograph, she will sometimes edit the pictures using Adobe Photoshop to create certain moods, styles, or looks us- ing various techniques. For example, in a piece she created about LSD, she rose the contrast to create a chaotic feel to it. She also uses the program to adjust lighting and other things she is not satisfied with in her photographs. Gaining inspiration from the music she listens to, ranging from Gothic industrial to hip-hop, as well as from the people surrounding her, she creates fascinating works of art that are distinctive to her own style. Her piece she titles “Self Portrait” is particularly impressive and demonstrates her shear talent. To create it, she used a variety of images that she pasted together and later detailed further with pen. “It’s supposed to be kind of sarcastic” she says, “This is the real me”. Currently, Gurnani is working on her next big project, a painting on an extravagant canvas. Though she has not yet physically began painting, she is searching for inspiration. In accordance to her constantly changing media and subject matter, she hopes to work with ceramics in the future. Gurnani is an incredible artist that deserves to be recognized for her phenomenal achievements. It is hoped that more amazing works of art will be seen from her in the near future. The next generation consoles: which should you choose? Aaron Williams A & E Editor It has been close to five years since the original release of the Playstation 2, the Xbox, and the Gamecube. Gamers have been eager to see what each company will bring this year. The future is here today with the next generation of video games consoles. This fall, Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony will be unleashing the next wave of digital entertainment. Sony, who won the last generation’s console war, is here to deliver the Playstation 3. They insist that the PS3 is the ultimate console for it boasts the strongest Page components inside and has multiple external uses. Microsoft, last fall, released the Xbox 360. A HD DVD add-on will be added to compete with the blu-ray technology of the PS3. Microsoft hopes that their new software line-up this year will help them secure victory. Nintendo, which has been rather unorthodox with its approach this year, has released the Wii. Although the Gamecube had weak sales, Nintendo is hoping that the Wii will attract hardcore gamers and non-gamers alike with its crazy controller and innovative software. Here’s the new consoles: http://www.sfgate.com/blog Photo by Photo by http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/ http://www.egadgetmag.com - Name: Playstation 3 - Name: Wii - Name: Xbox 360 - Company: Sony - Company: Nintendo - Company: Microsoft - Price: $499.99 for core - Price: $149.99 for entire - Price: $399.99 for core system, 599.99 for system!!! system, 499.99 for premium. - Notable Games: premium. - Notable Games: Super Smash Bros. - Notable Games: Heavenly Sword, Brawl, Gears of War, Warhawk, Legend of Zelda Halo 3, Resistance: FOM Red Steel Blue Dragon -Mishaps: -Mishaps: -Mishaps: No rumble feature?! The name?! $200 HD add-on?! 9 Four new shows to watch for Chen Yang Staff Reporter www.cbs.com Shark: Sebastian Stark was a charismatic, highly successful defense attorney until a shocking outcome in one of his cases forces him to rethink his career. Seeking redemption after suffering an attack of conscience, Stark turns his skills to prosecuting highprofile criminals. www.cbs.com Jericho: The residents of a small Kansas town watch as a nuclear mushroom cloud blossoms silently across the horizon. The people look on in disbelief, unsure of their fate. In this promising series, Lost meets Cold War-era Armageddon. www.cbs.com Smith: On the surface, Bobby Stevens is simply another family man with a normal, boring job. Under that guise, however, he is a professional thief who accepts high-profile heists with the assistance of an elite team of criminals. www.fox.com Vanished: The beautiful young wife of a prominent congressman vanishes without a trace. An investigation is mounted under pressure. As the instigators work to solve the disappearance, they begin stumbling upon disturbing evidences suggesting that all is not what it seems…. The Washington Hatchet Page October 4, Arts & Entertainment 10 2006 The Zune Jay-Z refers to Lupe Fiasco as “wunderkind” Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Yoshi Kulkarni Jonathan Kim Although Microsoft denied the existence for a while, in the end they could not keep it under wraps. Info is posted online, and even appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. The Zune has many features to combat it’s great predecessor. The 320 x 240 resolution and, three inch screen yet again rivals that of the iPod. Surpassing the iPod, the Zune has a Zune to Zune feature that allows users to share anything from songs, to pictures to videos. Just as iPod was incompatible with windows in the beginning, the earlier Zune not cooperate with the macs at launch. Costing about $300, the price is comparable to the the current 30gb Video iPod. Is the Zune really just a rival for the iPod or could it be it’s successor? Starting out at the top of his game, newcomer Lupe Fiasco has already received praises for his talents. With a solid past, stemming from being signed to various labels and appearances on albums such as Late Registration by Kanye West, Fiasco is taking the hip-hop world by storm. Using inventive Liquor explodes with excellence. Songs like “Kick Push” redefine the meaning of hip-hop with touching lyrics and ideas which apply to a variety of audiences. Straying from stereotypical raps about drugs, sex and money, Fiasco explores the game on a new level. With support from the biggest cats in the game and a confident attitude, Fiasco is here to stay. college age would be virtually unable to relate to these. With actors like Bilson and Braff that draw a predominately teenage crowd, this appears to be problematic as this film is not meant for them. With Braff ’s enormous teenage fan-base formed from the success of his previous film, Garden State, high expectations were made, most likely because there was a common misconcep- tion that Braff, like Garden State, also wrote and directed this film. Despite its flaws, this film is entertaining and has an impressive soundtrack with popular artists like Snow Patrol and Coldplay. If you liked the Garden State soundtrack, you’ll like The Last Kiss soundtrack, but if you liked Garden State the movie, you probably won’t enjoy this film in comparison. David Lyons like the first time, with only their opinions changed. One main theme is Vonnegut’s lament of the decline of traditional family values, reading, and ties to a single area. He uses as an illustration of the latter point his own family’s tie to Indianapolis, where none of the remaining Vonneguts live and few are buried. Vonnegut makes constant references to a wide variety of his own family members in Timequake, and it is a statement about his views on family values that he himself is a successful writer with close ties to his family while his alter ego, Kilgore Trout, is an unsuccessful writer with no family. Timequake is classic Vonnegut: bleak, inconsistent, and absolutely hilarious. Tony Goldwyn’s ‘The Last Kiss’ Leah Andrews Staff Reporter http://gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2006/08/zune.jpg The Last Kiss, starring Rachael Bilson and Zach Braff, is quite an exceptional film, but has certain aspects that alienate its teenage audience. This movie follows the different love lives of a gathering of emotionally hindered characters, each suffering a midlife crisis. This film does make effective, however anyone younger than post- Dance Classes for All Ages Sign Up Now! Your neighborhood dance studio since 1978 MISSION DANCE & PERFORMING A R T S MISSION DANCE & PERFORMING ARTS 42068 Osgood Road ▪ Fremont, CA 94539 (510) 651-2783 Beginner Dance Classes For Teens Hip-Hop ▪ Tap ▪ Jazz ▪ Ballet ▪ Lyrical ▪ House/Break (boys) ▪ Leaps & Turns ▪ Wed 7:30, Fri 6:30 Monday 8:30 Friday 5:30 Friday 3:30 Thursday 3:30 Tuesday 6:30 Tuesday 3:30 CLASSES NOW AVAILABLE for AGES 3 - ADULT Now is the time to join! Also classes for experienced dancers in Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballet, Tap, House & Lyrical www.missiondancefremont.com FREE SHOES techniques and beats with a lot of jazz roots and inspiration from the likes of EasyE, Lupe weaves intricate patterns under his seemingly simple raps. With his new album, titled Food & Liquor, Lupe also brings into play his Muslim beliefs, as well as life on the streets of Chicago’s West Side. Called “refreshing” by Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, Food & with three consecutive months enrollment and registration fee in Tap, Jazz, Ballet or Kinderdance Program. Vonnegut’s last novel Staff Reporter Timequake, which Kurt Vonnegut has called his last novel, is in fact less of a novel and more of a prolonged rant about everything from the creation of the universe to the negative influence of the media in the modern world. The story is largely autobiographical, but he also spends a lot of time interacting with Kilgore Trout, the fictitious, long-out-of-print science fiction writer. The premise and namesake of the novel occurs when the universe suffers a crisis of confidence. It begins to question the purpose of expanding indefinitely, so it jumps back ten years from 2001 to 1991. Everyone living in it is forced to relive all of their experiences exactly ‘Studio 60’ is quick and witty Sam Mahood Staff Reporter For the past several years network television has become a reality show wasteland. However, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip bucks this trend. Created by Aaron Sorkin, who created the West Wing, the writing is fresh and witty. Studio 60 takes place on the set of a fictional sketch comedy show by the same name. The fictional show has lost much of its humor and provocative material over the past few years, and we witness a network censorship of a skit deemed too offensive for TV in the opening scenes. This causes the show’s producer to stop the show highjack the screen and blast what the media has become over the past few years. His firing shortly ensues. With the direction of the show uncertain, a young new ex- ecutive—played by Amanda Peet—makes a bold move. She decides that the show has been dieing and that it is time to bring back Studio 60’s ex-writers. These ex-writers, Matt and Danny and played by Matthew Perry (Friends) and Bradley Whitford (The West Wing) respectively, are much more edgy and unafraid to be politically incorrect. The dialogue on Studio 60 has a witty, quick pace to it—not unlike that of Sorkin’s West Wing. What is almost as key to the dialogue is the message of the show. Studio 60 hasn’t been afraid to examine the corporate world of network television that it lives in. With the media becoming increasingly superficial and afraid to dissent in the past years, it is a breath of fresh air for viewers to watch Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. The Washington Hatchet October 4, Sports Cheerleaders place first in Santa Cruz competition Page 2006 11 Sharanya Kuppuswamy News Editor The On Sept. 23, both Varsity and junior varsity cheerleading squads competed in the Santa Cruz Regional Competition, which determined whether or not they will go to Nationals, taking place in Disneyland. WHS placed first when competing against six other schools. “It took all of us to work together in order to make it happen. I was really proud of how my team came together and finished on top,” said coach Tiffany Wittmer. Even though the team had been practicing for the entire summer, they only learned the routine two weeks before the competition. Their victory is all the more amazing because they practiced the routine only eight times. “We were really worried because half of the team is new, so getting first was like giving birth - really crazy,” said senior captain Tiffanie Petett. Photo by Angie McCoy 2006-2007 Cheerleaders pose after winning first place at the Santa Cruz competition. Cross country shines A’s open playoffs with win The Oakland Athletics defeated the Minnesota Twins 3-2 in the opening game of the ALDS. The A’s began their standard mid-summer march toward the playoffs in early June and finally put a cap on their run Sept. 26 at Safeco field, capturing the American League West division from the Anaheim Angels. Despite having only a pay roll of slightly over 62 million dollars, they beat out the Angels who spent nearly double that this season. Whether the A’s will make noise in the playoffs is yet to be seen, but the fact that they made the playoffs with such a low payroll beating out the Red Sox, the Angels, and the World Champion White Sox, is an accomplishment. Rebekah Lee Staff Reporter Brian Peterson/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT Oakland Athletics’ Frank Thomas gets a high-five at the plate from teammate Eric Chavez (3) after hitting his second home run of the game in the eighth inning at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Tuesday, Oct. 3. On Saturday, Sept. 16, WHS cross-country runners junior Edriane Luna and sophomore Ranvir Dhillon broke the boy’s school record for the 1.9-mile course. The team that met at Farmer Invitational at Hayward High broke through the finish lines with smiles on their faces. The previous boys’ record was 10:55, which Dhillon beat by 41 seconds. “I was proud of my accomplishment, but there’s still a lot of work,” he said. Luna came in only 2 seconds behind Dhilon, coming into the finish lines with a 10:06. Both were delighted and proud. “To do something great, it takes time and dedication, but you also need the desire and ambition to accomplish it,” Luna said. Juniors Elizabeth Raymond and Theresa Richardson also broke the girls’ record. The previous record Photo by Rebekah Lee (From Left to Right) Sarah Hughes, Alexandria Smith, Lyla Rayyan, Clare Cisneros, Allison Gower, Elizabeth Raymond, Theresa Richardson, Shantall Prad line up for a photo. was 12:22. Richardson beat the record, timing 11:38. Raymond came four seconds ahead of Richardson, with 11:34. The cross-country team looks forward to doing better as the season continues. The next meet will be on Oct. 14th at Castro Valley. New and better players, hope for 49ers team this year Sam Mahood Staff Reporter The San Francisco 49ers have gotten off to a 1-3 start to the 2006 season. Most teams would not be too thrilled with this record, but 49ers fans are the more excited than they have been in the past few years. Unlike in the last two years, the 49ers now have a group of players that have enough talent to play in the National Football League for years to come. These two past years 49ers won a total of six games, and there is a chance they will win as many this year. This turnaround started in the last off-season. Determined to improve, the 49ers set out to re-stock their personnel. This year they signed a free agent wide receiver Antonio Bryant an offensive lineman Larry Allen, and drafted tight end Vernon Davis. The team’ running back Frank Gore has come back to the team for a second year, and seems to have improved his game a lot. All of these players are now offensive weapons for quarterback Alex Smith, who has shown the biggest improvement. As a rookie he was left with untalented receivers and a shoddy offensive line. This year he has shown incredible maturation and a newfound confidence, stepping up in the pocket and avoiding mistakes. With a re-stocked offensive arsenal, there needed to be a master plan. Last year offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy left to become the Green Bay Packers head coach. To replace him, the 49ers hired former Oakland Raiders head coach Norv Turner. Although Turner was unpopular in Oakland, he has a better reputation as an offensive coordinator than as a head coach. Early in the 1990s, Turner was instrumental in developing Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, and designing an offense that went on to win three Super Bowls. The 49ers hope that he can do the same for Alex Smith. Smith has the mobility and intelligence to be a superstar, but he still has a lot to learn. The past two years have been brutal for the 49ers Faithful. This young core of players, however, might change all of that. There is a real chance for a sustained run of success that hasn’t been seen since the 1990s. The 49ers probably won’t make the playoffs for a year or two, but with time a return to their past glory could one day be achieved. It will be a long hard road, but with a few good drafts and the emergence of Alex Smith, it can be done. The Washington Hatchet Page Rachael Bridges Staff Reporter Wham! Buzzzzzz! Are the sounds of a water polo game, starring your very own boys’ water polo teams! Go Huskies! While watching the game, I learned a lot about the fouls and how to score. I interviewed driver Jake Jarman, an offensive player that plays on the perimeter of the pool. When asked how he feels about the team he says “We are doing all right, but we are still making some mistakes.” When I asked Jarman what he would change or improve about the team he answered confidently “definitely the passing.” On the other hand, Jarman says he loves the coaching staff and the way they coach. He says he wouldn’t change a thing about them. Being a senior and an impressive player on the varsity team, Jarman, with only two seconds left in a tied game, with the crowd excitedly cheering, scored the winning point. Jarman said he had a lot of areas he needed to improve in! The crowd went nuts! I was lucky enough to watch the game. Up to the last two seconds, it was so exciting it made your muscles tense. The game was close, I will give Mission San Jose that, but there is no stopping the fierce, persevering, snapping-teeth-atyour-throat Huskies. I would like to thank Jake Jarman for being so cooperative, sweet, and helping me learn a lot more about the game. So when you hear the team is playing go out and watch, I guarantee you will have an awesome, exciting time, and the Huskies won’t let you down. Photo by Rachel Bridges Senior Jake Jarmen reaches out to grab the ball. Serving the Tri-City Area for 35 Years CAPITOL CITY DRIVING SCHOOL Driver Education • Driver Training • Traffic Violator School Lic. # 3555 • Fully Licensed by DMV • Competitive Prices Free Cookies and Chips! 3679 Thornton Ave Fremont, CA 94536 791-7200 capitolcitydriving.com Need Better Grades and Test Scores? Let us show you how at XCEL offers tutoring in Algebra to A.P. Calculus as well as Chemistry, Biology, Physics, AP Exams, SAT and HS Exit Exam. Testimonial: Jaamal is doing well; his Math grade came up from an “F” to a “B.” Praise the Lord for all your help and support. Location: Math/Science Nucleus 4074 Eggers Drive, Fremont (Across the street from Washington High School) Xcel instructors are cool and have degrees from schools such as Cornell, M.I.T., UC Berkeley and San Jose State University. For more information call 510-792-1614 or email us at [email protected] to set up a FREE initial interview. 2006 Strong start for girls volleyball Jarman’s goal wins game in last two seconds Mention this ad & receive a 10% discount. October 4, Sports 12 Jonathan Kim Staff Reporter Photo by Jonathan Kim Junior Paulina Gentr y sets during warm-ups. The game on Tues. Sept. 26 was what I expected from the girls volleyball squad this year. The Huskies were clearly a stronger team when they played against Kennedy. Setting the pace for the rest of the day, JV came out strong and took the match in the first two games. They came out with a bang in game one when we took it 25-11. We put it in the books with another win in game two, 25-14. I knew that our team had the potential to come together, and this slaughter was a clear demonstration of what being a Husky is all about. Clearly these girls have been practicing hard, it is showing, and it is clearly paying off. Using the momentum that JV started, varsity brought they’re game as well, taking the first game 25-14. Clearly Kennedy was no contest. The second game was another murder, 25-11, this was our way of saying that the Titans weren’t getting a lucky break. The Huskies set the game in stone with yet another win in the third game 2521. This match was clearly a massacre, this is Husky volleyball. The game last Tues. was exactly how I imagined every match to be this season for our girls volleyball team. We will continue to see this throughout the season, as the Huskies continue to work hard during practice and stay dedicated to the sport they love. I belive that the girls can keep this wonderful perfomance going on for the rest of the season. JV football team seeks to improve after loss Kyla Koger Opinions Editor The Rolling Stones are right- you can’t always get what you want. Much of life, for most of us, is spent dealing with the gaps between what we want and what we get. When a good luck streak occurs where you are winning for a long period of time, there has to be a point of loss. Last year was an undefeated season for the JV team. But with losing a game, some might not have faith that they will do as well this year. All you have to remember is that there must be a balance between winning and losing. One bad game does not mean an unfortunate year. We need to support our JV Football team. They tried their hardest and gave it all their heart, it would be a shame on our part not to keep cheering them on. We went into the game pretty confident,” junior Chris Heimsoth says about their first game against Arroyo. They tried their hardest against San Ramon, but ended up losing because the other team was good and bigger. “For our next game I want to have everyone feel confident in playing against the other team and not be afraid at all to “hit” whoever we face,” says junior Jordan Voytilla. Of course losing doesn’t feel good at all, but that doesn’t mean that our JV team should be discouraged to play more games. “We played the two toughest teams of the season and everything now should be easier, and we won’t stop playing our hardest,” said Voytilla. Coach Antoine Evans felt husky pride when he saw Photo by Bharadwaj Ramachandran Junior Jeremy Hunt runs the ball during practice. what his team was able to do against their opponent. Some of the players on the JV team said they would like to work on tackling, more passing plays and come up with something that the other teams would not expect. Some of the mistakes the team made during the game were missing tackles, not wrapping up to make tackles, and not running to their full advantage. So maybe The Rolling Stones are somewhat right when they say you can’t always get what you want, because we all know that when we want something enough, you can most definitely get it. And I know that our JV football team can win if they really try hard. Girls’ tennis starts season off slowly B. Ramachandran Pritika Kumar Sports Editor In-Depth Editor Girls’ tennis is off to a shaky start in their 2006 campaign, losing 0-7 to Castro Valley and their home opener 1-6 to James Logan in recent matches. The lone win against the Colts came at Varsity #3 singles, where Vivian Zhang prevented a shutout loss. However it is still early in the season, and many more league matches remain to be settled. Coach Maria Ramos described her team as an “intermediate level team,” with many objectives and aspirations. She also said the team certainly has expectations of defeating Kennedy and Newark Memorial. Varsity captain Emily Kowalski gave her opinion on the team and the season so far. “We’re a good team this year, not just with our playing but with our attitudes.” The team is split up into three teams, varsity, and two junior varsity teams. Some objectives laid out by Coach Maria Ramos are “hoping to become more ag- Junior Nicolette Nario swings at the ball during practice. gressive, more independent on court, just learning how to play without needing help from me.” She later said to what one thing she hopes the team can accomplish this year “It’s hard to say…,” because there are many aspects to the game. Being physically fit and mentally tough are the two most important ones. The team is showing unity, all having a common goal of improving their game, and working hard in practice to have good results shown in matches. Most of the players replied in saying they look forward to probably challenges posed by American, and said their first match went well, giving a good moral boost to everyone for future matches. Varsity players gained more match experience at a tournament hosted at Ohlone Photo by Joel Capra College Sept. 23 through October 3rd. The tournament was hosted by Coach Maria’s company, Maria’s World of Tennis. Show your support for the Girls’ Huskies at their next home game against the Mission Warriors on Oct. 5 at the WHS tennis courts. The coach also says they hope to good in the rest of the season.