Three school groups raise relief funds

F
reshman, prepare for an Old
English invasion. The best
part: The deans are powerless to stop it. Watch out as English
teacher Margaret Mitchell’s European Lit. class stalks the halls in
masks and hats to scare those who
dare stand in their way. Their final
stop will be an unsuspecting freshman class where her students will
chant in ancient English tongue. It
can happen anytime in any class.
dents to rate teachers
objectively — or not.
Students can also go
to the site for advice
Page 8
Backpage
■ Web site allows stu-
Spotlight
LOWELL HIGH SCHOOL, CARDINAL EDITION, VOL. 204 NO. 1, SEPTEMBER 23, 2005, www.thelowell.org
In the news
Teacher report cards
Bay Area’s got back
■ Northern California’s
new sound is bringing
the Bay Area back into
the spotlight in America’s
music culture
Page 16
Three school
groups raise
relief funds
By Christine Au-Yeung
HREE SCHOOL-BASED groups are collaborating on a major relief project for the victims of
Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
Similar to last year’s Project Care for the tsunami,
Revolution Youth, the Red Cross Club and Student Body
Council are collecting donations and clothing to aid those
who suffered from the disaster.
“The victims in New Orleans are part of our country,”
social studies teacher and Revolution Youth sponsor
Robert Fisher said. “It is our responsibility to help our
fellow countrymen.”
The Red Cross Club immediately started its relief efforts when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, according
to club president senior Jennifer Tan.
“Since we have had experience with previous relief
efforts with disasters such as the 2004 tsunami, we are
leading this collaboration,” Tan said.
Fisher has already begun accepting donations in his
five American Democracy classes, where he collected a
total of $250 in one day.
“If students continue with such generosity, our school
will greatly help the entire New Orleans community,”
Fisher said.
Along with collecting donations, SBC is planning
to donate $2 of each homecoming dance ticket to hurricane relief efforts, according to SBC president senior
C.J. Mourning.
“This can be a really effective way to raise funds for
the victims, since the homecoming dance is one of the
school’s most profitable dances of the year,” Mourning
said.
All donations will be deposited to a separate school ac-
T
FIONA WOZNIAK
Smile, you’re on candid camera. A new sticker greets students as they enter the science
wing warning of video surveillance and motion detectors.
New security cameras
installed in courtyard
By Heather Hammel
OUR NEW SURVEILLANCE cameras
are monitoring the courtyard in a attempt to improve security.
The cameras, which were installed during
the summer, will only operate when school
is not in session, according to principal Paul
Cheng. An automatic timer will turn them on
and off, according to dean Ray Cordoba.
“We’re still programming and learning the
system,” vice principal Peter Van Court said.
F
See KATIRINA on Page 4
“There are a lot of capabilities that we don’t
know of yet.”
While school administrators are working
with the system, the cameras are sometimes
on during the day, for the purpose of programming, according to Van Court. However, when
the cameras are fully functioning, they will
always be off during school hours.
Poles in the courtyard have stickers, stating
“24 Hour Surveillance recorded on video camSee CAMERAS on Page 4
Budget shortfall decreases physiology classes
What’s
News
Pages
1-5
■ Clerical workers want
contract negotiations
■ New rock climbing wall
installed in weight room
Events
Page
6
■ As the sesquicentennial
approaches,
the school
prepares
celebrations
Katrina
Pages
By Steven Houang
ACK OF FUNDING and over
enrollment forced some students to drop classes on selfscheduling day while in the arena.
The school simply did not have
enough staff to accommodate the large
number of requests for physiology this
year. “This is very common,” assistant
principal Holly Giles said. “Each time
we do arena, we always have this kind
of situation.”
L
Science department head Dacotah
Swett dropped seniors and juniors who
were taking physiology as a third or
fourth year of science from the class
lists in an effort to balance class sizes.
“She asked me if I needed (physiology) and I said no, but I wanted a
fourth year of science,” senior Beatrice
Chan recalled.
Chan, who was part of the sixth
Rotating Alphabetic Priority to enter
the arena, did not receive a spot for
Decade decorators
Pages
9-11
■ The story behind the
controversial tie score in the
Lowell-Fairfield soccer game
Columns
Page
13
■ Shield and
Scroll member
defends her right
to be in the honor
society and help
the school
Opinion
Pages
14-15
■ Should the district’s policy
on teacher tenure be changed
to five years, or remain two?
SAM BOWMAN
Juniors Emily Hosea and Talent Tang paint posters in the
second floor hallway on Sept. 19 for the upcoming Spirit Week.
Giles said.
The science department could not
offer a seat for all the students who
signed up for physiology because
enrollment for the class increased
significantly from last year when the
course was first introduced, science
teacher Scott Dickerman said.
Although science teacher Christopher Newhouse teaches four sections
of the popular course, some students
See CLASS CAPS on Page 4
District proves source
of Internet problems
By Elisa Zhang
HE SCHOOL’S Internet connection access is very slow because no
money is available to upgrade the
school’s link to the district.
“We are trying to upgrade Lowell’s connection from one and a half megabytes to
a 10 megabyte connection,” Lance Auman
of the district’s information technology
department said. “ITD is able to absorb
the cost of the upgraded service itself, but
there is normally installation construction
that needs to take place in order to change
to the upgraded service.”
Other schools throughout the district
have similar upgrading problems, according to Auman. “Typically, this cost has run
in the tens of thousands of dollars per site,
which is the primary reason this upgrade
is not happening district wide on a larger
scale,” he said. “When we deal with this
kind of stuff, there’s always a significant
T
7
■ Lowell alumni share their
new college plans in the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
■ How well prepared for
natural disasters is SF?
Sports
the course. Shield and Scroll members
and students who entered the arena
earlier signed up for all the available
sections.
Students like Chan were not aware
of the lack of seats in the class prior
to entering the arena. However, the
lack of space has “always been the
case in any class in the arena,” Giles
said. “That’s why we have a rotation
to give people an opportunity at different times to get into the class,”
figure of money involved.”
The fact that all of the school district’s
computers are connected to only one central San Francisco Unified School District
office is a big factor in the Internet trouble,
which began to occur over the summer,
according to network administrator Alex
Hsieh. In order to access Web sites, all
computers in the school district must send
out signals that first go from the school’s
router to the district’s router and finally
to the site’s router. The one line handling
all the computers in the district makes
it imperative that the different schools’
connections be as efficient as possible.
However, this is not the case throughout
the district, as budget cuts have affected
the IT department, Hsieh said.
“We have about 50,000 computers
in the district reporting to one line,”
Hsieh said. “What it comes down to is
See INTERNET on Page 4
2 NEWS
September 23, 2005
NEWSBRIEFS
Fil-Am show draws crowd
The members of the Filipino American club held a
cultural assembly full of skits, songs and dances during
the summer.
The club first held Brownout as an assembly during
school last semester, after the administration refused
their original request to stage the event as an afterschool
fundraiser. For seven months, Fil-Am members searched
for a replacement site to perform the two-hour show
on July 16 and 17.
After considering different places to hold Brownout,
Fil-Am succeeded in finding a suitable low-cost facility.
“We decided to hold the performance at the Filipino
Cultural Center because of the facilitators’ generous
rental fee,” junior public relations officer Pamela Bustamante said. “We were charged $500 when other places
charged us $1000.”
Choosing a site was not the only problem the Fil-Am
club encountered. Members had trouble spreading the
word about the performance because of summer vacation. “Since we weren’t able to tell people at school
about Brownout, we used various ways of advertisement
such as Myspace, fliers, word of mouth and the Internet,” club secretary junior Katrina Cabral said.
The show was profitable and a success, according to
club president senior Junelle Empleo, adding that they
were “pretty packed both nights. We made admission
$3 for students and $5 dollars for adults.” The club will
donate the $400 of proceeds to sponsor unfortunate
children in the Philippines.
Members managed to pull off a great performance,
according to junior Tina Ngo. “The performance was
not only entertaining, but it was also a great learning
experience,” Ngo said.
“Brownout was a very successful show,” Cabral said.
“We did what we wanted to do: have fun spreading
our culture throughout the community.”
— Helene Servillon
Senior portraits relocated
Seniors, ready to take their pictures, were bewildered
on senior portrait day.
The confusion occurred on Sept. 13 when the location changed.
“I didn’t find out until someone told me on my way
to take my portraits,” senior Jennifer Yan said. Prestige
Portraits, the senior portrait photographers, moved from
their original location in the dance studio to the Carol
Channing Auditorium.
Students learned of this change by word of mouth.
“I found out a little before my portrait time, but frankly,
I was a little angry at the sudden location move,” senior
Eric Tsoi said.
Assistant principal Peter Van Court said, “We had to
move the location from the dance studio to the auditorium because the physical education classes needed the
room.” Prestige photographers and Van Court agreed
upon the location of the portrait-taking on the day of
the change.
The next time Prestige visits, Sept. 27, the location
will most likely change to a different open space because
rehearsals for the school play will be taking place in the
auditorium, according to Van Court.
— Vanessa Mai
F O R T H E C O M P L E T E V E R S I O N S OF STORIES, PLEASE VISIT
The Lowell on the Web
www.thelowell.org
Lowell High School
Classified workers call in sick
By Vicki Mac
LASSIFIED STAFF members
are back to work after a one-day
sick-out, on Aug. 29 in which they
expressed frustration over stagnant nego-
C
tiations with the district.
Nearly every janitor, secretary and
cafeteria worker joined other classified
workers by calling in sick for the first school
day, according to assustabt principal Peter
Van Court.
“It was a hectic day,” Van Court said.
“Custodians, cafeteria workers, secretaries
do a lot of work here.” Van Court, principal Paul Cheng and assistant principal
Holly Giles filled photocopying jobs and
book room shifts with the help of PTSA
volunteers.
District officials sent out notices a week
before school had begun, advising parents
to pack bag lunches for their children and
for school site councils to organize volunteers, in case of a work stoppage.
This is the first time that the 1,300 San
Francisco Unified District employees are
working without a contract, according
to a negotiation update released by their
union, Service Employees International
Union Local 790, on their Web site (www.
seui790.org). Although the contract expired
June 30, the terms are still viable, and union
members have the right to strike.
Representatives for the union have been
working toward an agreement with the
district for over 10 months.
“The district has basically scheduled
one meeting a week, which is not what we
wanted,” Karen Bishop, chapter president
for SEIU Local 790 said. “It seemed like
they were dragging it out and wanted us
to negotiate among ourselves.”
“Out of frustration, some of our members called in sick on the first day of school,”
Bishop said, referring to the sick-out. “It
should be clearly understood that it was
not sanctioned by the union, but was the
decision of individuals who happen to be
members of the union.”
Union members have gone three and
a half years without wage increases and
believe it is time for one.
“The central office has been laying off
workers and every school site has to pick
up the workload,” secretary Cheryl Bragstad said.
“We have already gone three years with
no increase in our wage, while our health
insurance increased,” custodian Kenneth
Tsui said. “We only ask for a 2 percent wage
increase to cover inflation.”
Among other demands, the union
seeks a promise that no members can be
furloughed over the next two years and that
they be included in Prop F, the early retire-
ment program for city employees.
“Prop F is for city employees — we want
equity with other employees of the city and
county of San Francisco,” Bishop said. “We
want to be treated with respect.”
As of Sept. 1, the SFUSD declared
“impasse” — defined by state law as the
point at which “the parties’ differences
are so substantial or prolonged that future
meetings would be futile.” According to an
Impasse Fact Sheet released by the district,
the decision came after the SEIU submitted 48 proposals, 29 of which the district
rejected, 19 of which it countered, and three
which it agreed to.
The SEIU has so far rejected all of the
district’s proposals.
“Regardless of the district and various
bargaining units, our job is to make sure
the school is functioning well and safe,
which is a full time job on a regular day,”
Van Court said. “No matter what happens,
we have to be prepared every day for any
emergency.”
Tsui said, “Our union members are not
against students, parents or teachers, only
against the district. We are not willing to
strike, but we have to if the district won’t
listen to our negotiation teams and what
we need.”
A strike vote among Local 790 members
is scheduled for Sept. 21-23.
Pranks leave freshmen unharmed
By Gaston Guibert
ENIORS RAN ACROSS THE CATWALK aiming waterballoons and eggs at freshmen on Sept. 2; however, several
seniors and a junior were on the receiving end of the aerial
assault.
The attackers, who were wearing assorted masks, made a swift
exit through the front of the school.
Lowell security took quick action. A guard sprinted after the
group of senior pranksters and caught up to one of the hazers.
“He tackled the s--- out of me. It felt like I got hit by a car,”
said senior Andrew Olbrycht, one of the culprits. After his capture,
the guard took him to the principal’s office. “They drilled me for a
long time because I wouldn’t give up my friends,” he said. “Then
they sent me home for a one-day suspension.”
The administration has taken a no-tolerance stance against
hazing, clearly evidenced during the day’s events.
On Sept. 7, the administration passed out a letter to sophomore,
junior and senior registries, stating that hazing is unacceptable.
“Hazing is a mindset that has gone on from one generation
to the next, to maintain tradition,” dean Ray Cordoba said. “This
tradition is not going to be tolerated by the administrators; we’re
trying to avoid someone getting hurt. The bottom line is, we’re
trying to break that tradition.”
Olbrycht said that he does not believe he and his senior friends’
actions fall under the category of hazing.
“Hazing is personal, it’s humiliating and disgraceful. What I did
wasn’t hazing, it was a joke; I didn’t single anyone out,” he said.
Though the first Friday of the year is traditionally called “Freshmen Friday,” no freshmen were affected by the senior strike.
“It was actually a pretty lame Freshman Friday; it didn’t really
have any influence on me,” freshman Anthony Bogodist said.
“They all pretty much just hit the tree.”
Flying water balloons did connect with several upperclassmen, including senior George Luu, who thought it was “f---ing
ridiculous, I’m a senior.”
S
Fellow senior Yuliya Djamgarova, also struck by a water balloon, was similarly unamused.
“It’s supposed to be a senior prank, but it back-fired on us,
which isn’t funny,” she said.
Not every upperclassman who was hit was upset. Junior Alexandre-Maurice Mandereau held no ill will towards his schoolmates. “I didn’t really care that I got hit; I was just embarrassed
that my school had such a pitiful Freshman Friday.”
Though the surprise attack didn’t hit any ninth graders, freshmen might be on the lookout for other senior strikes. The first
Freshman Friday of the year may have been just a taste of what
is yet to come in the way of senior pranks. Another senior, who
calls himself “the Masked Magician” and had a hand in the Friday
mayhem said, “The Masked Magician looks forward to every
Friday; freshmen should never walk alone.”
ANONYMOUS
The administration moved freshmen activities from the
scene of the crime after unknown pranksters vandalized the
bleachers on Aug. 23. For full story, see thelowell.org
September 23, 2005
The Lowell
Superintendent to leave district
By T. Riley York
F ALL GOES TO PLAN a new superintendent will arrive in the following
six to 12 months, after a national
search process.
Superintendent Arlene Ackerman’s
resignation announcement came on
Sept. 6, a week after she had threatened
to resign unless the school board signed
a written document assuring her of the
board’s support.
Hours before Ackerman’s resignation
announcement and the meeting that preceeded it, school board president Eric Mar
said “I think there will be a majority that
says we can’t sign a document like that.
The school board voted 4-3 on a contract with the resignation clause on Nov.
12, 2004, in a surprise meeting to give
Ackerman a $26,474 raise to $250,000
and numerous other benefits including the
“compatibility” clause, according to a June
23 article in the San Francisco Chronicle.
The clause states that if Ackerman’s contract and employment were terminated by
either the school board or by Ackerman
herself, Ackerman would stay six to 12
months and receive 18 months of salary
— $375,000 — in compensation.
I
On Sept.6, before the conference,
school board member Jill Wynns said that
“the point of the compatibility clause was
to give the superintendent and the board
an opportunity to discuss the possibility of
continued working together or not.”
Social studies teacher and teachers’
union political director Kenneth Tray
said that Ackerman’s “$375,000 bonus, of
course, is just appalling in a time when
we’re laying off school workers, paraprofessionals, teachers, and trying to fund
resources in the classroom. For a leader
of a public school district to take such an
enormous buyout is almost unimaginable.
Compare that to Newsom voluntarily taking a 10 percent pay cut.”
However, contract issues still need to
be solved, according to the president of
the United Educators of San Francisco
Dennis Kelly.
In a Sept. 9 e-mail, Kelly described the
most significant issues left unresolved as
the contracts for the teachers, counselors,
paraprofessionals, as well as the other
unionized employees of the district.
Assistant principal Peter Van Court
agreed that the contract situation has
changed thanks to Ackerman’s resigna-
tion. Van Court said that he was “hopeful
that from her resignation at least some of
the warring and hostility would go away
since her salary seemed a huge part of the
negotiation.”
The school board is already beginning
the task of finding a new superintendent.
The first step is to find an “interim replacement from within the district,” according
to school board member Mark Sanchez.
After that, the school board will
perform a nationwide search for a new
superintendent. Sanchez said that he
wants to make that search “as open and
accommodating as possible.”
With Ackerman’s resignation from the
helm of the district imminent, many are
expressing hopes and concerns for the new
superintendent.
“I hope that the next superintendent,
interim or permanent, will be more receptive to honestly working with and respecting work of the teachers, paras, and other
school workers,” Kelly said.
Van Court added, “I hope the superintendent is able to work in building a
cohesive board,” and “I hope the board is
willing to work in a unified fashion with
whatever superintendent shows up.”
Raising money through high fashion
By Lucy Taylor
ONEY raised from
Macy’s 23rd annual
passport teen night,
a high fashion runway show,
will be used for HIV/AIDS
awareness and education.
An estimated $1.5 million
in donations raised at the Sept.
20 event will be used for vaccination research, as well as prevention, care and education,
according to informational
pamphlets.
Macy’s Passport has found
a way to combine a night of
fashion and free food with
HIV education. Since the first
show 22 years ago, Macy’s has
raised almost $20 million in
total.
“When Macy’s asked us
to sponsor the event…it was
natural for us to be a part of
this,” Maura Hamlin of Kaiser
Permanente said.
Kaiser Permanente Healthcare, which sponsored the
event, hung photos of AIDS
victims about the hall, in
which organizers set up numerous booths and promoted
HIV/AIDS education.
The photos were a constant
reminder of the virus.
“One fourth of high school
students will get an STD by the
time they graduate,” Hamlin
said.
M
Hamlin tours with the show modeled a Hot Wheels col- leche, JLO by Jennifer Lopez
“Secrets,” an HIV/AIDS educa- lection while skateboarding, and MAC Cosmetics. The
tional show that performs in biking and break dancing, as collections had names such
high schools. It came to Lowell MAC Cosmetics “Viva Glam” as “Snow Drift” and “Eclectic
two years ago.
had “Bollywood” belly dancers Eccentricity.”
As the start of the show shimmy across the runway.
As the night came to an
approached, teens entered
The featured collections end satisfied and informed
the auditorium and took their this year were Calvin Klein, teens received gift bags loaded
seats. Lights dimmed and the Calvin Klein Underwear, Hot with beauty products and
audience screamed as Miguel, Wheels by Mattel, Dulche de chocolate.
“HoodratMiguel”
of Wild 94.9 riled
up the crowds.
When the attendees settled
back into their
seats, William
Kongleton, a 21
year old spokesman who has
been HIV positive for two years,
talked about his
personal story.
“I won’t let the
virus dictate the
way I live my life,”
Kongleton said.
“Every hour two
young Americans
become infected,”
he added.
Models of all
ages displayed
the fashions with
dance, martial
arts and straight
JACK ZHOU
r u nw ay s t y l e .
Raising awareness. “HoodratMiguel” of the radio station Wild 94.9
Small children
warms up the crowd at the start of the show.
NEWS
NEWSBRIEFS
SFUSD wins $125,000
Additional scholarship money is now available for seniors.The San Francisco Unified School District took third
place in the nation for making major leaps in test scores,
particularly among poor and minority students, outperforming over 80 other school districts in a competition. It
will receive $125,000 for student scholarships.
“Seniors (this year) will be eligible to receive up to
$2,500 per scholarship,” principal Paul Chang said. “The
school district is still deciding on the criterion for eligible
students.”
The creator of the Broad Prize for Public Education
scholarship fund, Los Angeles philanthropist Eli Broad, told
KTVU reporters that San Francisco should be commended
for the progress it has made in closing the student-achievement gap.
— Michelle Lambert
Young playwrights needed
An alumna is holding a play-writing contest open to all
San Francisco high school students.
The winners, who will be announced in January 2006,
will receive $300. Professional actors will perform these plays
in May 2006. The one-act plays must have a performance
time of less than 30 minutes, be legible, have numbered
pages, and be in standard play format, according to the
San Francisco Young Playwright’s Foundation Web site,
(sfyoungplaywrights.org).
Class of ’03 alumna Lauren Yee founded the foundation
after applying for various playwright contests throughout
the country and realizing that San Francisco does not have
many programs for young playwrights.
Terence Thang, Class of ’03 alumnus and literary manager
for the foundation said, “I think it is important that teenagers
have the opportunity to express their own ideas and beliefs
in an artistic way.” Yee added, “It’s one thing to see a play by
Shakespeare or an adult who makes a career out of playwriting. It is quite another thing to see plays written by people
your age tackling issues that are important to you.”
— Michelle Lambert and Jessica Lee
PE has new athletic director
With a new athletics director, the PE department is off
to a positive start this school year.
John Donahue, physical education and varsity baseball
coach, stepped down from his position of athletics director. Being the athletics director is a very time-consuming
position, with a big workload, so after six years “the time
seemed right to step down,” Donahue said.
However, Donahue is optimistic about the future of the
athletics department. Physical education teacher and boys’
basketball coach Robert Ray will fill Donahue’s position. “I
believe he will do an excellent job,” Donahue said.
Ray said that he is excited about taking over the job.
With his new position comes the responsibilities of overseeing Lowell’s numerous sports teams and spirit squads,
and working with about 40 coaches, and 200 to 300 student
athletes.
Ray has one specific goal. “I would like to see a larger
student body following of Lowell athletics.” He said that he
noticed a much higher attendance at other schools. “Kids
here are missing out,” Ray said.
Donahue will stay involved with the Lowell Sports
Foundation by continuing to help raise money to fund
sports teams.
— Noey Neumark
F O R T H E C O M P L E T E V E R S I O N S OF STORIES, PLEASE VISIT
The Lowell on the Web
www.thelowell.org
3
4 NEWS
September 23, 2005
Lowell High School
Vandalism damages
bleachers, auditorium
Role playing
By Tony Dear
he administration is currently investigating
a number of incidents of vandalism, some
extremely serious, others less so.
Vandals shattered the windows outside the
auditorium, late Tuesday night.
Upon arriving at school, adiminstrators discovered seven circular fractures peppering the
front windows.
“It’s very disturbing to see people who don’t
respect property,” principal Paul Cheng said.
Earlier, vandals had painted the word “BOOBS”
and other vulgarities on the bleachers in the football field prior to freshman orientation, causing
a shift in the activities and forcing the district to
spend money cleaning them up.
Student officers and staff were very flexible in
adapting to the situation, Cheng said. “We found
it very unfortunate that somebody would decide to
vandalize school property. It’s an outrageous and
ridiculous act of vandalism.”
Instead of taking place on the football field, as
orientation activities traditionally do, the freshmen
assembled on the soccer field and the basketball
courts, after a short delay. The football team was
also denied access to the field, according to assistant principal Peter Van Court. The change in
location effectively shielded most freshmen from
the defacement.
The workers spent two days repainting the
T
SAM BOWMAN
Seniors Sanjay Sugarek, Michael Novak, Andrew Vose and sophomore Ramon Solis reenact a battle from the Fall play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Caps restrict student schedules
From CLASS CAPS on Page 1
who do not have the course are facing
potential problems. “I only have five
classes now and next semester, I’ll
only have four,” senior Kim Vo said.
The shortage of physiology classes
“doesn’t mean we don’t have enough
science courses available,” Newhouse
said. “There are other things available, but people signed up for this
class, and there’s only one teacher.”
An additional teacher in the science department would have ensured
a spot for all students who signed up
for physiology in the spring. However, the funds went towards returning positions instead of new teachers,
according to Dickerman. “We only
have money for a certain amount
of teachers,” he said. The school
was not able to hire an additional
staff member this year because the
Parent Teacher Student Association
and Alumni Association funds only
cover salaries for 7.4 returning positions, according to the PTSA Web site
(www.lowellptsa.org).
In fact, the school never planned
to hire an additional physiology
teacher. The demand was simply
higher than the resources available,
according to Giles. “The science department is small, and therefore, with
its limitations, they offer as many as
the staff is able to provide,” she said.
The number of classes a department can provide comes from the
district budget. However, the total
budget available is dependent on the
Ten Day Count , PTSA and the Alumni Association grants. The school “did
not have that option when we created
the master schedule,” Giles said.
Across from the science tables in
the arena, low student enrollment in
the German program almost forced
the department to cancel second and
fourth year classes. Instead, German
and Korean teacher Ah-Mi Cho combined the two groups into one class
meeting during the same mods.
“She’s teaching two levels in one
class, so that’s why she’s able to carry
German second, third and fourth
year,” foreign language department
head Dorothy Ong said. “She has a
full plate, but she wants to do that in
order to save the program.”
However, the department could
not avoid canceling German 1,
which “depends on how many of the
West Portal Lutheran children are
accepted here,” Ong said.
West Portal Lutheran offers German as a class, and its incoming
students traditionally take up most
of the spaces in German 1 and 3.
However, “in the last two years or so,
West Portal Lutheran has also offered
Spanish,” Ong said.
Incoming classes have been “gravitating towards the Asian languages”
while classes such as German dwindle
in enrollment. “In the last year, I
only had about 10 kids who signed
up for German as their first choice.
I couldn’t even get enough students
from second choice to constitute a
class,” Ong said.
Nevertheless, many students who
wanted to sign up for the more popular language classes were not able to
either. “It still goes back to whether or
not we have the teachers (available)
for German,” Giles said. Ong added
that the department has had to turn
away 75 students from Chinese this
year. “We just don’t have enough resources to accommodate them,” she
said. “Part of it is a funding issue.”
bleachers, according assistant principal Peter Van
Court. The school spent about $800 in labor and
another $200 in paint, adding up to about $1,000
in costs.
Cheng reminds students — and the vandals
— that the pranks are “a financial burden on the
school district. These vandals are not being mindful to school property and the district.”
The administration is currently looking for
leads. “We’re offering $100 for anyone who has
information,” Van Court said.
The vandals will be dealt with seriously when
caught, according to Cheng and Van Court. The
situation will involve the school district and the
police, and “it’s going to be serious,” they said.
“We’re going to catch and prosecute those
responsible,” Van Court said. “As those signs on
the lockers said, ‘It’s Coming,’ it’s coming” for the
vandals.
ANNA FRYJOFF-HUNG
Collaboration for
relief fund begins
From KATRINA on Page 1
count dedicated to the relief effort for
Hurricane Katrina, according to Tan.
“After we collect all the money, we
will write one big check to the American Red Cross,” Tan said.
The groups are currently promoting the project by setting up collages,
posters and flyers around the school
and informing students during registry.
“We will be passing out leaflets
around the school,” Revolution Youth
co-president senior Jacob Blanc said.
“We are really trying to raise awareness
concerning this tragedy.”
Individuals who donate will receive
black ribbons as tokens of appreciation for their help and will also help
promote the relief effort. “These ribbons will remind everyone that those
who haven’t donated can still help
out,” Mourning said.
In addition to getting students
more involved in helping the victims,
the three organizations are trying to
spread this project to parents and
faculty members, as well as local
businesses.
“We are thinking of writing letters
to parents and alumni to show them
how much Lowell cares for New Orleans and that we can really make a
difference,” Mourning said.
Blanc agreed. “Along with collecting donations, we’re planning to hold
a benefit concert with high school and
political bands performing,” Blanc
said. “We need to make sure everyone
is serving the unfortunate.”
Revolution Youth, SBC and the
Red Cross club are set to collect at
least $5,000 for the hurricane victims
together. “I know it sounds crazy, but
I really think we can do it,” Mourning said.
Tan agreed. “Red Cross alone collected about $3,400 for the tsunami
victims last year, so $5,000 is not an
impossible goal,” Tan said. “With SBC
and Revolution Youth in this project,
we can do it.”
Internet connection Courtyard now site for four new
high-powered surveillance cameras
lacks upgrades
From INTERNET on Page 1
that there’s not big enough bandwidth,” he said, adding that the district does not have the needed money to expand the bandwidth.
Hsieh traced a route from his computer to Yahoo (yahoo.akad.
ns.net). His computer signal’s traveling times through the first four
routers (switches that receive computers’ signals) were all under 10
milliseconds each. The fifth router, however, had a traveling time of
421 milliseconds. This router, according to Hsieh, was most likely
the school district’s router and the reason why computers around
the district take so long to get around on the Internet. “This is the
bottleneck,” he said. “We keep on buying computers for the district,
but have we expanded the bandwidth at all?” he asked.
Hsieh also pointed out that Lowell uses the computer network
a lot more often than other schools. “Other schools don’t have
[computer] labs, but we have the resources for labs.” Students use
the computer labs frequently for resource time, library research and
language practice.
Therefore, students have noticed the problem and found it
agonizing. Freshman Jonah Varon, using the library computers
for his freshman library orientation tour tasks, called the speed
“ridiculous” and going at “an almost impossible” rate for him to
access Web sites.
From CAMERAS on Page 1
era.” The stickers are a part of the procedure for installing
cameras on a school site, according to Van Court. “You cannot have cameras in the school without notifying people,”
he said.
Cheng said that the cameras are a “deterrence to anyone
vandalizing or breaking-in,” adding that, in the past, these
people have come in through the courtyard.
Van Court said he believes other parts of the school could
be made more secure through the use of security cameras,
but that with the available resources, the administration and
district were only able to install cameras in the courtyard.
No new money was spent on these cameras, according
to Willie Green, assistant director and security manager of
the district. It “was equipment that we already had here in
my office,” he said.
These cameras are new technology cameras, according
to Van Court. They have “very sharp images, and they will
work at night, in low light conditions.”
These new cameras are the first ever to be set up at Lowell,
according to Cordoba.
“At one point in time they were thinking about putting
cameras in the science wing, but they haven’t done anything,
to my knowledge.”
The science wing is actually covered by motion detectors,
according to Van Court. “They are all over the school; that’s
part of our alarm system,” he said.
However, motion detectors were deemed inadequate for
the courtyard, as animals could easily set them off, according to Van Court.
Cheng said that members of the school have “ talked
about cameras for a long time; it’s nothing new,” adding that
Green provided them and the cameras were set up.
The cameras create digital recordings, which delete themselves after four days to save hard drive space. The recordings
are only checked in the event of a crime by dean Corboda,
according to Van Court.
“There is nobody monitoring the cameras, and we have
not hired a guard,” Van Court said. “The only reason we
would be looking at (the recordings is) to be able to identify
our students or anyone breaking into the building.”
The general consensus among students is that cameras,
for security and not spying are okay. The cameras “are in the
courtyard and it is open space, so it’s not like it’s invading
your privacy,” sophomore Trenton Louie said.
Lowell is not the only school that has installed security
cameras. “Every high school in the district, except for Washington and Lincoln, has cameras,” Van Court said.
September 23, 2005
The Lowell
CAMPUS
New advanced placement language course offered
By Beatriz Datangel
HIS YEAR for the first time,
students can take an advanced
placement class to prepare for
an AP Italian language and culture
exam.
Many students and faculty members are excited about the new addition
in the world language program.
“I’m totally excited about (AP Italian),” second year Italian student and
sophomore Amanda Limcaco said.
“Anything to advance Italian classes
in our school is a good idea.”
AP Italian student senior Sandy
T
Huang enjoys the Italian program and
the new AP class. “It’s cool; a really
intimate setting,” she said.
“It’s the same kids since freshman
year. There’s direct attention from (Italian teacher) Ms. (Judy) Branzburg. Ms.
Branzie is awesome!” she added.
AP Italian student senior Constance Mourning applauded the addition. “It’s amazing how now there are
two first year classes and two second
year classes,” Mourning said, after explaining that the Italian program was
almost completely eliminated when
the school needed to make cuts. “It
shows that it’s expanding.”
World language department head,
Dorothy Ong, expressed excitement.
“It’s a great addition in the foreign
language program,” Ong said.
She said that she trusts that Branzburg will do a wonderful job in preparing the students.
This fall will be the first time the
course is offered, according to College
Board Web site (www.collegeboard.
com).
During the summer a College
Board development committee refined
course descriptions, finalized exam
specifications and began writing exam
questions.
The addition of the test was new
to Branzburg, but she feels happy that
there is such a test.
“Because it’s a brand new test, no
one really knew about the addition
(of AP Italian) until this summer,”
Branzburg said. Culture will be a new
component on the exam according to
Branzburg, who contributed to the
Italian SAT II test.
“The test itself is not yet completed.
I was unsure which books to use.” But
despite the challenge of teaching a new
5
course and new test, she feels that her
students will be ready.
Class of ‘05 alumnus and former
Italian student Landon Dickey added
that it’s a great improvement to the
Italian program.
“If it was offered last year, I would
have taken it,” Dickey said. “It would
have gotten me more into the culture
and language.”
Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Russian have the most rapidly
growing enrollments of world language
classes in high schools, according to
the College Board Web site.
Horizontal climbing wall installed for PE classes in weight room
By Jessica Qu
HE COMBINED EFFORTS of the physical education
department and Wellness Center have finally paid off — a
new 10-foot climbing wall has been erected in the weight
room.
In 2003, the San Francisco Unified School District won the
Lincoln Education Activity and Food Fund from the California
Department of Education. The funding was given to help relieve
the obesity epidemic among school teenagers and to add
more healthy, nutritious food to the vending machines,
according to nurse Maryann Rainey.
The cost of the climbing wall, its installation and
the engineers’ safety evaluation added to more than
$10,000.
“All the money from the LEAF fund is gone,” Rainey
said. “But the climbing wall is here to stay.”
The idea of introducing a climbing wall was suggested
by the five-member LEAF student advisory committee,
after being asked what new sport facility they would like
to have on campus, according to Rainey.
“We wanted to encourage physical activities among
students,” senior LEAF student advisor Courtney Ball
said. “I hope now people will be more eager to participate in physical activities and not just sit around
watching TV.”
The 10-foot climbing wall runs laterally, which means students
are never more than a few feet off the floor as they traverse the
wall. No ropes, harnesses or other special equipment are needed.
The climbing panels offer an aesthetic real rock look and feel, and
each of them exhibits unique color variegations.
Along with the climbing wall comes a cordless mat locking
system. The mat loops are hung onto specially designed holds
and locked with a security wrench. Mats fasten to each other and
attach to the base of the wall with tabs. When not used to close
the wall, the 2-inch gymnastic mats provide a comfortable landing
surface for students.
The entire process of requesting funding, purchasing, installing,
and safety-checking the wall took almost two years.
curriculum
T
“There were many roadblocks,” Rainey said. “But I finally
pushed through them.”
Administrative assistant principal Peter Van Court, who returned to school over the summer, helped to ensure that all parts
of the wall were delivered and installed properly, according to
Rainey.
The SFUSD director of design and construction Rhoda Parhams
also contributed to the efforts to install the climbing wall.
“Ms. Parhams allowed us to pay for the engineers to come and
check the safety of the climbing wall,” Rainey said. “It could not
have happened without her.”
PE teacher and cross country coach Michael Prutz said the
department is currently discussing a plan to open more facilities
for intramural activities such as rock climbing.
Currently, some PE classes are using the climbing wall as part
of their curriculum, according to Prutz.
PHTOTOS BY JACK ZHOU
Climb along the wall. Senior Nathan Chang (above) and
sophomore Angela May Chen (right) try the climbing wall.
Clubs try to increase diversity of
student body, knowledge of world
clubs
S
Junior Connie Chung started the Taiwanese Club, to “inform people about the
political situation in Taiwan,” the club’s
vice president, sophomore Carter Chung
said. “For the past 50 plus years, China and
Taiwan have debated over whether Taiwan
is part of China or not. This club will give
us a chance to explore both viewpoints,”
he said. He added that the club would also
expose people to Taiwanese culture and food.
Chung said that he plans to bring Taiwanese
music and food to expose people to Taiwanese culture.
Social studies teacher and club sponsor,
Adam Michels, whose wife is Taiwanese, is
also interested in informing people about
Taiwan. “I want to try to help people understand the culture, such as the music, language
and food of Taiwan,” he said. He also thinks
that this will be a good learning and sharing
experience. “I feel excited because it gives me
another connection to Taiwan and my family,
and maybe I can share something and also
learn,” he said.
Other club members are also interested in
learning about Taiwan. “I would like to learn
more about Taiwanese politics and culture,
and especially their relationship with China,”
junior Morgan Jue said.
The Advocates of Increased Diversity
meets after school every Monday in Rm.
S203. The Taiwanese Club meets after school
every Thursday in Rm. 233.
Actors to perform Shakespeare’s romantic
comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
By Christine Lin and Noey Neumark
HESPIANS are busy rehearsing for the
upcoming production of William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, A Midsummer
Night’s Dream.
Many aspiring actors came to showcase their
theatrical talents at the auditions, on Sept. 6 and
Sept. 8 in Rm. 110.
Following warm-ups to pump up the actors,
the auditioners received numbers, and went to
wait in the courtyard outside. In turn, each actor
presented a monologue, a cartwheel, and a song.
The 83 actors were auditioning for only 42 roles,
22 of which are designated speaking roles.
Drama and English teacher and play director Teresa Bookwalter said that she included the
cartwheel and song in the audition, primarily to
“see if the actor is willing to be positive and say
yes to any suggestions.”
Although Bookwalter had the final say regarding who was cast, main stage manager junior Tiffany Quach offered suggestions on who possessed
certain qualities for specific parts. “We looked for
good projection, stage presence and good movement,” Quach said.
In addition to the primary auditions, a movement audition followed on Sept. 9. Bookwalter’s
daughter, Anne-Marie Bookwalter, who will be
working with the actors sporadically throughout
the production, led this audition. She taught the
actors a routine, and judged them on their ability
to respond to and learn the choreography.
Bookwalter posted the cast list in the art wing
on Sept. 13.
Junior Lily Drexler is in one of nine double-cast
roles, which she shares with her identical twin
T
sister, Michelle. They will trade off between the
roles of Titania and Hippolyta.
“There are parallels between Titania and Hippolyta, so casting relatives as these parts helps
to draw the connection between the characters,”
Drexler said.
Bookwalter has directed this play in the past,
but said with each new production
comes new possibilities.
“The actors drive the show,” Bookwalter said. “The relationships between
the different actors bring out unique
effects in every production.”
The set of the play will be much more
abstract than in the past, according to
Bookwalter.
“Instead of looking like real Athens scenery
and a real forest, it will be based on the strength
of Cupid’s bow and arrow,” she said.
Approximately 30 technical crew members,
under the guidance of tech director Darcy Villere,
will be working to create Bookwalter’s vision.
“Mrs. Bookwalter usually incorporates all
aspects of performing arts in the play,” junior
Tisa Vo said.
“There will be dancing, singing, and, of course,
acting. When you go to see the play you can expect to see a little bit of everything.” Vo is cast as
Cobweb the fairy.
Bookwalter is very pleased with the cast. “I was
really surprised by the strength of the actors at
auditions,” she said. She saw a lot of talent coming
from returning juniors and seniors; as usual, a few
freshmen and sophomores are also in the cast.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream will run from November 3-5 at 7 p.m., and November 6 at 2 p.m.
arts
By Jessica Lee
EVERAL NEW CLUBS are focusing
on increasing diversity in the school
this year.
Senior Jose Molina has started the Advocates of Increased Diversity to “increase
diversity at Lowell by reaching out to
underrepresented groups such as blacks,
Hispanics, American Indians and
Pacific Islanders.” He said that the
club plans to encourage people,
especially minorities to apply to
Lowell. “I plan to make flyers
and distribute them to schools
and encourage kids who usually
don’t apply, to do so,” Molina said.
He added that he “might set up
visits to (middle) schools to tell
them about Lowell life and why they should
apply.”
He bases his idea for the club on the experiences he had transitioning from middle
school to Lowell. He said that he knows how
hard it is for minorities to fit in. “I had to
make new friends, and it was difficult at first,”
Molina said. He wants to encourage people
to visit the school through the shadowing
program. Another goal is to encourage
them to make the best out of their Lowell
experience. “I want them to know that even
if Lowell is a tough school, they can achieve
a lot more with what Lowell offers,” Molina
said.
“We are not sure yet whether we will open a rock climbing class
in the department,” Prutz said. “But rock climbing has definitely
become a very popular activity among teens, and we hope to allow
more students to participate in intramural sports at school.”
6 Events
September 23, 2005
The Lowell
School prepares for the biggest event since 1981
Timeline
S
San Francisco High School
1874 Genders separated, name changed
to Boy’s High School
1876 Moved to Gough and Octavia
James
Russell
Lowell?
centennial because Dian Fossey was cording to Abad.
a distinguished alum, according to
“That was at Hilton, and more than
Cheng.
several thousand people showed up,”
Science teacher Dacotah Swett said he said. “This year we estimate more
the event is still in the early stages people will attend, so we are looking
of planning. “Nothing is really set for larger venues, and it looks like the
in stone yet,” Swett said, adding that only place big enough would be the
she is currently in contact with the Moscone Center.”
speakers.
Cheng said that he expects apAlthough students will be ma- proximately 5,000 people to attend
jor participants, many know noth- the banquet, most of whom will be
ing about the
dignitaries and
event. “Is a sesalumni.
quicentennial
The Alumthe 150 year
ni Associathing?” junior
Is a sesquicentennial tion will hold
Herman Chan
the third and
the 150 year thing?” largest event,
said.
Those who
Alumni Day, in
do are excited
Herman Chan, Oct. 2006.
and eagerly
“This will
junior
await the occaremind alumni
of all the good
sion. “I think
that this is a really great experience, things that go on at Lowell and inand students should take advantage of spire them to donate because, in my
this opportunity,” senior Luisa Tsang opinion, the best way to get donations
said, after hearing about the prospect from people is to let them see some
of meeting the renowned scientists.
things students have been doing.”
Meanwhile, the Alumni Asso- Abad said.
ciation is busy planning three other
Organizers expect the event to
events to be held throughout 2006 spark donations, and also to provide
in commemoration of Lowell’s grand an opportunity for students and
150th birthday.
alumni to connect. “We could have
“We plan to have a gala cocktail musical performances, lectures, panel
party event in City Hall between Janu- discussions, football or perhaps a food
ary and March,” Abad said. This will festival,” Abad said.
include a “historical display of Lowell
Shield and Scroll may possibly
memorabilia in the South Light Court provide tours to the alums, according
running for a couple of weeks.”
to senior and president of Shield and
The second event, which will occur Scroll, Julia Ye.
about midyear, around May, will be a
“These tours will bring back nosbig banquet similar to one held talgia,” Ye said. “They are a good way
for the 125th anniver- for alumni to connect with students.
sary celebration They ask us questions, we tell them
in 1981, ac- stories and it reminds them of when
they were here.”
Those not in Shield and Scroll
may have other ways
to join
“
I
1890 Girls slowly reintegrated
into college prep program
the celebration. “Right now we are
involved in planning some of the ordinary things like Homecoming and
getting freshman assimilated,” senior
Constance Mourning, president of
the Student Body Council, said. “We
are not working on the sesquicentennial just yet; I’m waiting to talk to Mr.
Abad.”
The yearbook has begun more
concrete plans. “We have already come
up with a cover. It’s all set,” said senior
Kimberley Anne Mark, one of four
yearbook editors. “The theme of this
year’s yearbook will be “Legacy,” and
we will look at yearbooks from the past
50 years as inspiration.”
Yearbook teacher Katie Glasser is
optimistic about yearbook plans. “This
is a very important year,” Glasser said.
“We feel honored to reflect the past and
present of Lowell, as well as to commend what the Alumni Association
has done for the school.”
In the past 150 years, Lowell has
consistently maintained a record of excellence. Test scores and awards aside,
students have an unparalleled voice
in the way their school is run, as well
as freedom of movement and speech
that is rarely available at other schools,
according to head counselor Ray
Cordoba. “Almost all of our graduates
matriculate into four-year colleges,
and succeed in life,” he said.
Members of the Alumni Association
are brainstorming other events such as
a footrace from the historical Hayes
and Masonic campus to the current
campus, a special Lowell alumni day at
a SF Giants’ game, a combined graduation ceremony for the Class of ‘06 with
alumi onstage, and Adopt-A-Gorilla,
a dual fundraising event for the Dian
Fossey Gorilla Fund International and
Lowell. The executive director of the
Alumni Association, Paul Lucey, is
also planning to put out a publication
celebrating the 150-year anniversary
featuring Lowell history published
next year.
1894 Name changed to Lowell High School in
honor of James Russel Lowell
COURTESY OF THE CENTENNIAL YEARBOOK
1908 Funds secured by bonds for new
building
By Connie Chung
NE question usu1913 School moved to new, larger campus on Hayes and Ashbury
ally stumps Lowell
students, who generally
have an answer to everything. “Who
1962 School moved to current campus to make room for future
was your school named after?”
expansion
of library, gymnasium and a larger auditorium
The 150-year anniversary of the school is
approaching, and attention is beginning to focus
on the school. In times like these, it is important
1966 Enrollment limited, school switched from neighborhood
to know the answer.
school to merit-based school
In 1894, Union Grammar School was renamed Lowell High School, after James Russell
Lowell. This may come as surprise for some
1968 20-period modular schedule
ILLUSTRATIONS BY ZACK CLARK
students, who have never heard of him.
Sophomore Kelly Yee was under the impression that Lowell was named after a scientist, Per1996 Lowell ranked 6th nationally in AP
cival Lowell, a member of the same prominent
exam scores
Boston family that James Lowell came from.
Senior Sara Maya De
2003 New academic/science
Guzman, however, had alLowell
wing opened on campus
ready discovered that Lowell
came from
was a poet and a lecturer.
The school built a prominent
“I looked through the
family, for which
2004 Unit 6 building
its reputation
student handbook,” she said.
the city Lowell, Massection renovation
“It had a brief biography, and
sachusetts, was named. He
on
itself,
not
on
completed and
we learned about him briefly
taught modern languages at
in U.S. history. However, De
bungalows
what Lowell did.” Harvard University, was an search
Guzman considers the man
ambassador to England and
14,15,16
for the
far less important than the
Sara Maya De Guzman, a minister to Spain.
moved
Holy
Grail.
school. “The school built its
A poet and a satirist,
senior
Lowell
started
a
reputation on itself, not on
Lowell was famous for his
short-lived magazine, The
what Lowell did,” she said.
quips and clever quotes.
WILLY ZHANG
Pioneer,
and was later an editor
However, James Russell may be much more Lowell once said,“All the beautiful sentiments in
of The Atlantic Monthly, a publication
pertinent to Lowell’s than we imagine.
the world weigh less than a single lovely action,”
2006 150th
“He was quite an intellectual,” principal Paul according to Yuni, an online sitewords of wisdom that is still around today.
anniversary!
Three
years
after
Lowell’s
death,
Union
GramCheng said, adding that the man was gifted as a (www.yuni.com).
mar School changed it’s name in his honor. ment of his
young person, and graduated from school early.
Lowell and his wife Maria were ardent abolihistory and cul“He was quite a genius in his time,” Cheng said. tionists, which inspired some of his anti-slavery Though not everyone knows who Lowell was,
ture. It’s so appropriate
many
do
stand
for
what
he
believed
in.
“To my understanding, his name was chosen works such as “A Stanza on Freedom.” He is also
He represented “justice, equality and intellec- that we’d be the school that carries
because he was outstanding.”
famous for his narrative poem, The Vision of Sir
on his name.”
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1819, Launfal, which tells the story of a knight on his tual excellence,” Cheng said. “We’re the embodi-
O
T
“
SOURCE: WWW.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
their classes, according to principal
Paul Cheng.
The main speaker at the symposium will be Dr. Patrick Mehlman, the
vice-president of African programs
at the institute, according to Class of
’76 Terence Abad, director of Lowell
Alumni Association’s alumni relations
and development.
Furthermore, Dr. Tara Stoinski and
Ms. Netzin Gerald-Steklis, directors
of resource development and science
support, will also each speak for 15
minutes on their work at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.
Mehlman plans to discuss the current state of gorillas across the African
continent, and how the institute is conducting conservation to save gorillas.
In addition, he will also focus on a
topic more closely related to Lowell’s
sesquicentennial, Class of ‘49 alumna
Dr. Dian Fossey. Shortly after she
graduated, she began her lifelong career in the study and conservation of
gorillas, but her career ended shortly
after she started a successful fundraiser
for her favorite gorilla, Digit. Fossey
was found mysteriously murdered in
her cabin.
Parent Teacher Student Association member and parent Geri Green
was first to suggest combining
the symposium with Lowell’s
1856 Union
sesquicentennial. Green
Grammar School
wanted to have the
founded
event coincide
with the
1858 Name changed to
sesqui-
By May Chen and Christine Lin
TUDENTS SWARM through the
hallways, going about their daily
business, largely uninformed of a
major event celebrating their school’s
existence.
Lowell’s 150th birthday approaches,
but most students are still unaware.
However, this occasion will not go
unnoticed. The administration, in
cooperation with the Lowell Alumni
Association, is planning four events
between this and next October.
The first of these, the Dian Fossey
Gorilla Fund International Symposium, which will take place on Oct.
25, will officially launch the anniversary, kicking off a series of
celebrations.
The event will begin
with a two-hour-long
symposium, followed
by a break-out session where visiting speakers and
alumni will
speak to
students
in
September 23, 2005
The Lowell
Hurricane Katrina
AFTER THE STORM
7
Lowell and SI alumni return amid hurricane
It was terrifying to get used to leavBy Andrew Linford
OVING AWAY from home ing home, and then immediately go
to a college dorm usually back at home,” Robertson said. “I didn’t
involves settling into a small know whether my friends and family
room and meeting a roommate and were okay.” Later he learned that all of
other lost souls anxiously looking to his friends who stayed behind at Xavier
make friends. However, for both Class University returned home safely.
Garcia also managed to leave beof ’05 Jabarri Robertson and Maria
Altany and Class of ’05 Saint-Ignatius fore the hurricane. “My mom called
graduate Amanda Garcia, their college me and told me to evacuate from my
starts have been anything but ordi- dorm,” said Garcia. She moved to her
nary. Chances of
grandmother’s
having a normal
house in New
first semester at
O r l e ans b e I didn’t know
college drowned
fore the storm.
whether my friends “We left when
in the dark waters of New Orwe heard the
and family were
leans, Louisiana,
mayor call for
with Hurricane
a mandatory
okay.”
Katrina.
e vac u at ion.”
Katrina has
She then left
JABARRI ROBERTSON,
saddened and
for Houston
Class of ‘05 alumnus
disrupted milbefore the hurlions of lives in
ricane struck,
the Gulf Coast region. Just like thou- and flew to San Francisco shortly
sands of fellow first-year students, thereafter.
Robertson was to start his first year at
Altany left New Orleans on August
29 when the university told her dorm
Xavier University in New Orleans.
The university has told Robertson to evacuate, two days before classes
that classes will resume January, but he were to start.
has said that he is doubtful. Loyola has
“After being at Loyola for a week,
informed both Garcia and Altany that I had been registered for my classes,”
school will most likely not be in session Altany said. “People have been crazy
until January. They are optimistic that about not going back.” She left with a
graduate student, and flew out of San
it will happen.
Before the hurricane hit on Satur- Antonio to San Francisco.
day night, Robertson grabbed several
The lives of these three students
clothing items, fled the New Orleans along with thousands of people in the
scene, going to Georgia where he region will forever be affected by this
catastrophe, but they are not throwing
caught a flight to the Bay Area.
M
I
“
in the towel just yet. After the catastro- a handful of clothing. She lucked out
phe, Garcia enrolled at the University in the sense that her dorm is above
of San Francisco, which has welcomed sea level, so her belongings are still
about 30 students from New Orleans. there. Accessing her room, however,
Altany has also been accepted is a whole other story.
Robertson says that he has not
at USF and will also attend the San
Francisco Conservatory of Music for lost much personal property except
for a few clothes, a minor loss in
voice lessons.
At first Robertson didn’t seem to comparison to the massive tragedy.
“It is heart-wrenching what is gohave much luck enrolling in another
university. “I was calling and apply- ing on, and I feel lucky to be where I
ing for jobs and other school rograms am,” Robertson said.
that would take me in,”
Robertson said.” He was
finally accepted into UCBerkeley. “I had to catch
up on my reading for
the Working CivilizaCOURTESY OF MARIA ALTANY
tion class, but otherwise
the transition has been
okay.”
Universities such as
UC-Berkeley and the
University of Texas,
Houston have offered
places to students affected by the tragedy.
However, UC-Berkeley isn’t giving details on
whether students will
be allowed to continue
in January, implied the
administration will be
checking on the condition of the schools in
Louisiana and the availability of spots.
COURTESY OF AMANDA GARCIA
COURTESY OF JABARRI ROBERTSON
Garcia had brought
everything to Loyola for College freshmen Amanda Garcia, Maria Altany and Jabarri Robertson are now back in
college and left with only San Francisco due to the New Orleans catastrophe.
San Francisco should evaluate its own emergency plan
By Jen Lee
W
EEKS HAVE PASSED since Hurricane Katrina first struck New
Orleans.
Disaster aid still lags, and the city remains
in ruins.
As the disappointment and sorrow grow and
the stench of decomposing bodies lingers, this
American tragedy illustrates the necessity of a
city keeping and practicing a well-thought out,
emergency preparedness plan in case of unexpected disaster.
While the fight for humanity and restoration
continues in the Gulf States, the question of how
prepared San Francisco is for a natural disaster
cannot be ignored.
The city’s new Disaster Council, chaired by
mayor Gavin Newsom, has recently started meeting quarterly and making annual reports of the
city’s current standing.
The main duty of the council, as well as the
Emergency Services of San Francisco, is to develop plans for meeting any emergency and to
produce efficient resources for the community.
The city already has plans for shelters and
evacuation lots, according to city administrator
Edwin Lee.
“We have certain areas staged for people to go
to for food and shelter, such as school sites and
makeup tents in yards,” Lee said.
“We have agreements and contracts with
firms that make temporary structures for medical purposes.”
Newsom has been regulating numerous city
training exercises and updates, but Lee feels that
a greater challenge is to get the public involved
and ready. “
Because San Francisco is so multi-cultured,
we’re making sure that all ethnic populations
are receiving specific information and training
to utilize resources and access the government,”
Lee said.
San Francisco’s general emergency plan consists of an overview of the city’s organization and
its basic plans in case of an emergency.
The second part of this plan, called the “functional” plan, deals with shelter and organization,
according to the emergency manager for City
Hall’s public works, Cynthia Chono.
“One lesson learned from Katrina is that around the city to assist families and neighbors
people have to plan to be alone for at least 72 in time of disaster, according to Chono.
hours,” Chono said. “One of the most critical
“NERT is a great way to be prepared for any
things everyone must do
type of disaster — it keeps
is have a family plan,” she
the community close and
added.
aware of what’s
One lesson learned socially
In a major disaster, begoing on in your neighborcause it may take several
hood,” Chono said.
from Katrina is
days before necessary serAll schools have plans
that people have to in case of an emergency.
vices are restored, each
person must know how to
Local fire and police staplan to be alone for tions
work with the comhelp himself.
The Office of Emermunities and receive trainat least 72 hours.”
gency Services provides a
ing for evacuation plans,
Web site (www.72hours.
CYNTHIA CHONO, according to dean Ray
org) which features instrucpublic works emergency manager Cordoba.
tions in three different lan“Lowell has an enorguages on how to prepare
mous emergency plan,”
for an emergency, titled, “Make a Plan, Build a assistant principal Peter Van Court said.
Kit, Get Involved.”
In case of an emergency, Lowell has an EmerOther disaster preparedness groups strive to gency Response Resource Binder that contains a
attain the same goal.
“living, working” document, which the adminisThe San Francisco Fire Department’s tration revises annually because of staff changes,
Neighborhood Emergency Response Team according to Van Court.
(NERT) has established bilingual programs
Locations, such as fire exits, extinguishers,
O
“
horns and devices are listed.
Pictures for locations for evacuation are
posted in every room on campus, and first aid
boxes are stored in designated areas of each
school building.
“If an earthquake hit, we would wait until it’s
over, evacuate the building and then teachers
would take roll,” Van Court said. “We would
still go through every inch of the building even if
there was supposedly 100 percent attendance.”
Lowell staff members train annually, and the
students practice fire drills and lockdowns several
times a year, ensuring knowledge and smooth
execution in case of a disaster.
“The main thing is for teachers to know where
to go,” Van Court said. “Teachers are responsible
for the students.”
While San Francisco officials have been preparing for potential disasters, this cannot guarantee that the city will be successful in protecting
all its residents.
Administrators encourage individual preparedness and adherence to warnings.
“(We can only) plan for the worst and hope
for the best,” Van Court said.
Want to lend a helping hand to survivors?
Project Katrina
Revolution Youth, Student Body Council and the Red Cross club have joined
forces to raise money and awareness
for the victims of Hurricane Katrina,
by asking the student body to donate
as much as possible. Representatives
are visiting registries and collecting
money.
American Red Cross
Online:
www.bayarea-redcross.org
Mail to:
85 Second Street (eight floor)
San Francisco, Ca 94105
91 percent of donation to aid
Jewish Community
Federation
Online: www.sfjcf.org
Jewish Community Federation
121 Steuart Street
San Francisco, Ca 94119
Write “Hurricane Katrina” in the
memo section of your
check
Salvation Army
www.salvationarmyusa.org
Mail to:
Salvation Army
Attn: Hurricane Katrina Fund
P.O. Box 193465
Catholic Charities USA
Online:
www.catholiccharitiesusa.org
Call: (800)919-9338
America’s Second Harvest
(800) 244-8070
98.1 percent of donation to aid
SPOTLIGHT
The Lowell
September 23, 2005
How do you rate your teachers?
The controversy over popular student Web site that critiques teachers
By Elan Lavie
R. HATHWELL is simply the
most brilliant, arrogant,
exciting and amazing English teacher ever,” an anonymous source
states. “If his class is open when you get to
the arena, build your schedule around it.”
This advice comes from a posting on
ratemyteachers.com, a Web site which
has been a source of controversy in many
schools across the country. The site allows
anyone with Internet access to do exactly
what the URL implies — rate his or her
teachers. The simple design and colorful
format makes it very easy for students to
rate their teachers on a scale of one to five
in categories of easiness, helpfulness and
clarity. In addition, students have the option
to designate a “cool” teacher by putting
sunglasses on a smiley face rating, and they
can write up to 500 characters about why
they like or dislike a teacher’s approach.
RateMyTeachers, which has grown exponentially since it was founded in August
2001 by a California Internet entrepreneur
and two teachers, now receives more than
8,000 new ratings per day, according to
the site. Students are becoming quite fond
of RateMyTeachers, especially at Lowell,
where it has become a tool for many selfschedulers. Students have posted over
3,500 teacher ratings for 194 teachers on
the site. “If I really don’t know anything
about a teacher, I go on the site to look at
how much work they give and whether or
not they have a good atmosphere in the
classroom,” junior Christine Sierra said.
Despite its popularity among students,
some administrators question its reliability.
“It’s too unstructured. I would look at the
ratings with a great deal of caution,” principal Paul Cheng said.
“M
Although no lawsuits have been filed
“Comments could be from Fargo, North
Dakota,” math teacher Laura Neri pointed against RateMyTeachers, attempts to take
out. “If my students in the classroom told similar Web sites to court have been made.
me the comments, it would mean a lot In 2000, two instructors at City College of
San Francisco filed a lawsuit against Teacher
more than anything on the Web site.”
Review, a review site
Nancy Davis, a
for college professors,
co-founder of Ratebecause several ratMyTeachers, explained
I thought I
the purpose of the
ings were posted that
deserved an ‘A,’
were extremely offensite in an e-mail. “I
sive to a gay English
hope the students use
but I was given a
teacher. The charges
the site as intended,
as a feedback tool
were dropped a few
‘B,’ so I went on
for their education
months later because
the site and rated the Communications
— and I encourage
Decency Act of 1996
teachers to not be
him all ones.”
gives immunity to
afraid of the site, but
to use it to improve,”
ANONYMOUS, Webmasters who run
she said. “We are
Lowell student open forums online.
all in this together
Since the ratings were
— students, teachers
anonymous, the inand parents — and if we want to see edu- structors had no case.
cation improve, then anything that helps
RateMyTeachers insists that these types
should be encouraged, not feared.”
of postings should not be a problem, as
Fear is a common response to Rate- each school has its own student moderator
MyTeachers. More than 700 of over 44,000 who reviews each comment and decides
registered middle and high schools in the whether it is appropriate for online display.
United States are blocking access to the “We have over 4,000 student moderators
site on their computers. RateMyTeachers who handle their school and the ratings
lists the names of these schools on their from schools without moderators,” Davis
“Wall of Shame.” A few of these schools are writes. “I think the success is because of the
located in the Bay Area, but none in San
student involvement. We couldn’t do this
Francisco. Two schools even threatened to without them.” The Web site states that if
suspend students who visit the site, one in a rating happens to get past a moderator,
Manitoba, Canada, and one in Maine.
anyone can flag it, citing obscenity or
I
“
inappropriateness, and it will be reviewed
again and removed if necessary.
However, the Lowell site does include
ratings by students who bash their teachers for revenge. One student, who wished
to remain anonymous, admitted that he
gave a teacher the lowest possible rating
because he was upset about the grade he
received. “I thought I deserved an ‘A,’ but
I was given a ‘B,’ so I went on the site and
rated him all ones.”
RateMyTeachers believes teacher bashing is not a serious problem, claiming that
about 70 percent of teacher’s ratings are
favorable. This seems to be true for Lowell
where the average teacher quality rating is
3.7 out of five.
English teacher David Hathwell looked
at the site and its effects on the teaching
community. “I wish the site were less of a
polling booth for a teacher popularity con
test — who’s cool, cooler, coolest. That
puts us in a bad, competitive relationship
with one another.”
Problems on the site for students are
simpler. “Everyone has different opinions,”
sophomore Nick Rosenheim said. “I’ve taken
teachers who were rated highly but ended
up disliking them, and I’ve taken teachers
who were rated poorly but ended up really
liking them. From now on, I might just go
with the opposite of what the site says.”
Hathwell admits though,“I couldn’t
help but see the gallery of faces and gloat
that mine wasn’t green.”
LAWDAN PAHLAVAN
■ ASL and Urban Step begin the
year in high spirits at games.
■ Fantasy sports is becoming a
new pass time for students
Lowell High School
September 23, 2005
Page 10
Varsity football bounces back from preseason loss
By Gaston Guibert
OWELL VARSITY FOOTBALL split the first two games
of their rigorous preseason schedule with a win against
Mills High Sept. on 9 and a loss to St. Ignatius on Sept.
3. In both games, the Cardinals gave fans a preview of what
to expect this season: a rock solid, hard hitting defense, and
a run-oriented offense with the capability of breaking off an
electrifying big play.
In their 18-6 victory over Mills at Mike Voyne field, Lowell
exhibited a dominance reminiscent of last year’s Turkey Day
defeat of Balboa.
The team is extremely undermanned, with injuries stripping the active roster to less than 20 players. Nevertheless, the
Cardinals still managed to outplay their opponents in every
facet of the game.
The lack of able bodies has forced many players to play both
offense and defense without backups. Often times they will be
going up against a player who just has to play one way and has
been resting for the entire game.
“Everybody was fatigued; we never had fresh backup,” senior
tight end/linebacker Wes Milligan said of the SI contest.
That fact didn’t deter the Cardinals in their thorough drubbing of Mills. A spirited defense stuffed run after run at the
line of scrimmage, and never allowed the Mills passing game
to get into a rhythm.
Against Mills, the offense was every bit as impressive as the
defense. The Cardinals showed off a powerful running game,
capable of both controlling the clock on long drives, and awing
the crowd with long gains.
It will be crucial for the offense to consistently control the
clock during the regular season. Their undermanned defense
can’t be expected to spend the majority of the game on the
field and perform to elite standards. As the saying goes, the
best defense is a good offense.
Seniors Hanson Yu and Phil Stern will lead the Lowell ballcontrol offense, as they carried the brunt of the load in the first
two preseason games.
L
JACK ZHOU
Senior running back Philip Stern charges over the opponent’s goal line to secure the victory for the Cardinals against Mills on Sept.
New JROTC
recruits hope
to win title
By Jessica Qu
FTER SCHOOL ON any given weekday, a
familiar tempo sounds. In your chest, you feel
it. In your ears, you hear it. It is the sound of
the JROTC drum corps. Drum corps members held
clinics beginning on Sept. 8 for prospective new
members. Approximately 20 people attended, most
of them freshmen and sophomores who are not yet
a part of the JROTC program but expect to join in
the spring semester, according to senior drum corps
commander Derrick Chao.
“I’m very satisfied with the turnout rate,” Chao
said. “I’m looking forward to this new season.”
Drum corps is building up momentum, ready
to win back its rightful title during this upcoming
fall season.
This year the team aims to include an additional
four to seven new members to the current 16-member team in order to match the size of other schools’
drum corps units, according to Chao.
“It will definitely be a challenge for us to adjust
to the new size and to distribute individual attention
to all,” Chao said.
Senior drum corps member Tim Chin also feels
that the overall expectation of the team has increased
dramatically since last year’s fall competition, where
they lost first place to arch rival Washington High
School.
“We are setting our standards higher than ever
before,” Chin said. “We want to start conditioning
and strengthening our team for our upcoming fall
competition in November.”
Now, drum corps continues to practice daily for
their performance at the annual Wells Fargo Invitational at Everett Middle School on Sept. 28.
“This is our third consecutive year,” Chao said.
“It is quite an honor.”
A
Soccer tie because ‘unfair’ call
become a routine during the preseason games. through a quickly thrown-together wall of
By Joey Bien-Kahn
OLD WIND PIERCES the Cardinals Still, the Cardinals continued to dominate on Lowell defenders and tied the game at 1.
“I was disgusted with that call,” Jimenez
standing idly near the center of the defense and a shutout seemed eminent for
said.
large grassy meadow. Suddenly, a senior goalkeeper Carlos Jimenez.
Suddenly, however, the Cardinals fortunes
Kornfield had stronger words for the refsharp whistle cuts through the air and a lone
Cardinal darts toward the goal. Defenders changed when a Lowell defender kicked the eree. He argued passionately with the referee
peel away, with looks of awe plastered to their ball in the direction of his goal. Senior de- on the field and felt cheated when the game
faces. Seconds later, senior midfielder Nick fenseman Gennadiy Samarin attempted to had ended a tie.
Murphy scores the game’s first goal.
strike the ball but missed, so the ball rolled
“We had our faults,” Kornfield said. “But
Lowell dominated most of the Sept. 6 to Jimenez. A rule in soccer states that if a they need to get a new ref.”
game against Fairfield High, but a question- position player intentionally passes the ball to
Although they felt cheated out of a vicable call led to a 1-1 tie, adding another tie a goalkeeper, the goalkeeper loses the right to tory, Cardinal players are still optimistic
to their preseason record, which currently use his hands to control the ball. Though the about their chances to defend their league
stands at 4-3-2.
ball did go directly from a Lowell player to Ji- title. Their preseason record of four wins,
After their early score, the Cardinals al- menez, the pass first went through a crowd of three losses, and two ties is better than in
lowed their defense to take over the game. both Lowell and Fairfield defenders, making it the past three years, when they were AAA
champions twice, according senior forward
Senior defensemen Thomas Nakamura and hard to believe the pass was intentional.
However, the referee differed. He called Armen Mekhdjian.
Sam Kornfield used their speed and foot
“We’ve done really well considering we’re
skills to stop each of Fairfield’s offensive at- the pass intentional, and granted Fairfield a
tempts on goal, and senior defenseman Javier free kick. The Fairfield striker shot the ball not the most talented team,” Murphy said.
Padilla showed unparalleled hustle, helping the
Cardinals to shut down
the increasingly frustrated
Fairfield offense.
“All of the defenders
have been playing with
each other for two or three
years, which helps us anticipate where we should
be on the field,” Nakamura
said.
Fairfield had its first real
chance on goal late in the
first half, when their forward’s shot hit the crossbar
above the goal. Lowell
defenders swarmed the rebound, and Fairfield’s only
true chance in the first half
was thwarted.
Before the second half
started, Lowell coaches
JOEYBIEN-KAHN
replaced half of the starters
Seniors
Javier
Padilla,
Sam
Kornfield,
and
Gennadiy
Samarin
display
great
teamwork,
only
to
unjustly
with substitutes, which has
C
10 SPORTS
September 23, 2005
Lowell High School
JV volleyball is set on another championship
By Ashley Yu
FFERING fresh talent, overwhelming spirit and spectacular jumping ability, the girls’ JV volleyball team is
climbing its way to the top.
The team’s current pre-season record stands at 2-2, including a
recent 25-16; 25-22 win, against Mercy High School on Sept. 13.
Freshman setter Katrina Lau said that she is happy with the
team’s performance and acknowledges it was a fairly easy win.
“In the beginning, (Mercy) didn’t seem to try that hard,” Lau
said. “I think we did pretty well.”
Despite great potential, the team still faces a few obstacles.
“Everybody is still kind of divided and quiet,” sophomore outside hitter Karrie Liu said. “One of our goals is to start acting more
like a team and grow more comfortable with everyone.”
Although this year’s freshmen have yet to grow accustomed to
each other and to Lowell’s rigorous practices, they do offer height,
a strong passion and effort, and according to Liu, surprisingly
good “hops.”
“It was unfortunate that we lost many of our starting players
who moved up to varsity this year,” Liu said “but the freshmen
give us more height, and I’m glad to see them putting in a lot of
effort.”
Sophomores moving up include setter Tayrn Wong and middle
blocker Jamelle Shim.
In addition to a lack of team unity, the team has also faced
several days without an official coach, prolonging the tryout session for the team.
Ex-coach Bori May gave up his position because of a full work
schedule, according to head coach Darlene Lee.
“Bori accepted the position and unfortunately was forced to
resign,” Lee said, “but now that Mikey (coach Michael Brogonia)
is coming back, things are going to be okay.”
Lee said that a coaching job is no small walk in the park.
“The thing about a coaching commitment is that it’s big, so
you have to have a lot of time and flexibility with your job,” Lee
said. “May just couldn’t commit.”
As he takes over for May, Brogonia plans to help make this
season fun and successful.
“This is the best talent I’ve seen in a while,” Brogonia said.
“Working together and communicating on the court is going to be
the challenge this year, but I think this will be a good season.”
The next match is 4 p.m. today against Marin Academy at
Marin.
O
MICHELLE LEE
Freshman Lily Kurkjian leaps up for a spike against Mercy opponents on their Sept. 13. Lowell won both sets at 25-16 and 25-22.
Strong girls’
golf swings
into season
By Beatriz Datangel
FTER COMPLETING a victorious season
last year, the girls’ golf team started the season with two solid wins over Wallenberg and
O’Connell.
The team won its first match 211-250 on Sept. 7
against Wallenberg and scored with an amazing 180-263
against O’Connell on Sept. 13.
Coach Lee Silverstein feels that the team started
the season very well. “We really have a nucleus of good
players,” Silverstein said. The team consists of returning
players, senior and co-captains Jane Reynolds and Lilly
Page, and five new players, senior Michelle Lee, juniors
Cristy Cobb and Devalin Jackson, sophomore Renee
Leung and freshman Lindsey Fong. “They’re turning
out to be a solid team,” Silverstein said.
Page hopes to lead this year’s team to a successful
season. “I really want to help out the new additions in
order to have a great core team when I leave. ”
Reynolds also said that she enjoys helping and
practicing with the new players. “Although I cannot lead
the team with the lead score, I can lead with spirit and
technical help,” she said. “I feel that each game will help
us achieve our personal goals.”
With the core of the team having competition already
in their repertoire, the members look to have a bright
future this season. After an intense golf-training regimen
this summer that consisted of playing in two tournaments, junior Ananda Rochita hopes she will do better
as a player and contribute more to the team. “Last year
was awful, I shot in the high 30s in Golden Gate (Golf
Course),” Rochita said. “Hopefully I’ll shoot in the low
30s this year.”
With a few championships under the golf team’s belt,
members’ goal this season is to be solid. “The team’s
goal is to have a solid season, especially against Lincoln
and Washington,” Reynolds said. Rochita added: “I feel
that there is promise this season. Hopefully we can do
real well at NorCals and/or qualify at least one player
to go to State.”
The next match will be held at 3:30 p.m on Monday
at Lincoln Park against Galileo.
A
ASL/Urban Step high on spirit, style
By Sabine Scherer
HEERLEADERS BOUNCE and
scream. Their megawatt smiles glow,
but this is no football game.
Earlier this month new cheer members
were celebrating a rare opportunity to join
the team.
Cheer held clinics Monday through
Thursdays for the two weeks before the Sept.
16 tryouts, according to senior varsity cheer
member Alicia Dorfman.
However, the Cardinal Cheer, a piece of
choreography traditionally taught for candidates to perform at tryouts, was absent from
this season’s event because of a lack of time.
“We are going to work mainly on angles,
technique and jumps,” Dorfman said.
Results from the tryouts were posted Sept.
19 on the ASL display case on the first floor.
“I screamed a lot, I just couldn’t talk,” sophomore JV cheer member Joanne Lee said.
Sophomore JV cheer member Ramon
Solis’ reaction was equally joyous. “I thought
I had done badly at tryouts, so when I found
out that I had made the team, I jumped
around and hugged everyone I saw.”
This season’s JV cheer team consists of 12
members, while the varsity squad swelled to
17 members.
“I am really just looking forward to doing
some stunts and working with the team,”
sophomore varsity cheer member Wendy
Lei said.
Cheer members will attend practices
with the team to learn the tricks of the trade.
During the summer, cheer members will be
expected to participate in various training
camps and clinics.
Song members attended camps and
frequent practices throughout the summer,
according to senior varsity song co-captain
Christina Diep. “We went to a four-day training camp at UC-Davis run by the United
Dance Association,” she said.
The clinics were challenging, but worth
the extra effort. “Coaches worked with us on
routines and turning, spinning and jumping
techniques,” senior song member Lauren
Dizon said.
JV and varsity song squads are organiz-
C
ing various fundraising events to sponsor
summer training camps and tournament
expenses, according to senior JV song captain
Lucy Li. Magazine, beverage and candy sales
are in the works, according to Diep.
However, now the squad’s main focus is
raising spirits at school sports events.
Urban Step
ASL members are not the only students
demonstrating their dancing and cheering
ability at school rallies and sports games. Urban Step is increasing momentum, according
to sophomore Urban Step member Clara
Baldwin. “The team is really getting going,”
she said. “We have a lot of great people.”
Urban Step demonstrated dedication
throughout the summer, attending practices
two to three times a week according to Baldwin. Practices focused
on reviewing dance
steps and fine-tuning
routines. “Urban Step
is really fun because
everyone gets to do
some choreography,”
she said.
Unlike other spirit
squads, Urban Step
is both a club and a
team. No audition is
required to join the
step club, but team
membership does involve a tryout, she
said.
Tryouts for Urban
Step will be held toward the end of the
year, following two
weeks of clinics.
Hopefuls will be
taught a dance routine during clinics,
according to junior
Urban Step co-captain
Amanda Sherman.
Auditions will consist
of that routine, along
with a freestyle chore-
ography and a traditional step, she said.
Current team members will be the judges
at tryouts, according to Baldwin. Candidates
will be judged on their demonstration of
dancing and stepping skills, as well as creativity, style and dedication. Making the team is
worth the weeks of practice and nerves of
tryouts, according to Baldwin. “Urban Step
is just not like anything else at Lowell.”
Urban Step members attend practices two
times a week, according to Sherman. During
practices, different squad members take the
role of teacher, contributing their ideas and
dancing style to the group. “We try to mix up
the choreography,” Baldwin explained.
Many practices spent together created a
unique bonding experience like no other for
Urban Step members, according to Baldwin.
“We are like a family.”
TALIA COOMBES
Senior Jose Oviedo lifts cheer hopeful up during Sept. 16
September 23, 2005
The Lowell
SPORTS
11
Fantasy sports —
more than just a
game, it’s a skill
By Elan Lavie
ONTRARY to what the
name implies, fantasy sports
have nothing to do with
Quidditch. The players are not wizards, nor do they require great physical ability other than the strength
to push their index finger down
on a mouse. What is required is an
extraordinary ability to understand
the dynamics of sports statistics.
Fantasy sports players draft
professional athletes to create their
own teams at the beginning of a
sport’s season.
The team wins a
certain number of
points depending on
how well the athletes
perform in the day’s
real-life games.
My experience with
fantasy sports started
six years ago with fantasy baseball on www.smallworld.
com. The game’s benefits were twofold; I learned how to read baseball
statistics and to understand the
dynamics of economics.
Since I needed to create a team
with a $30 million salary cap, I had
to choose my team wisely.
I learned to avoid the big-name
players who were inconsistent and
expensive, and instead sought players with a good “bang for the buck”
— players who produced at higher
levels than originally expected,
causing their prices to be relatively
low.
Being more of a baseball player
than spectator, I now began to explore baseball statistics.
I learned baseball’s basic law of
threes — a good batting average is
around .300, over 30 home runs in
a season is a great number and a
pitcher with an ERA of under 3.00
is doing tremendously.
Graduating from Smallworld, I
turned to Yahoo! for a higher level
of competition and complexity.
The number of teams in a league
expanded to 12, and the statistical
categories became largely dependent on mathematical calculations.
I learned about slugging percentages (total bases divided by
at bats), on-base percentages (hits
C
MICHELLE WILENS
Junior doubles player Jennifer Tsang races to slam back a hard shot during practice on the courts on Sept. 19.
Undefeated, girls’ tennis breezes
through early preseason matches
By May Chen
T MUST HAVE BEEN a painful
experience to watch the Cardinals’
play on Sept. 14 for supporters of
opposing teams. The girls’ official tennis season has not begun yet, but the
team is already rolling, leaving behind
a trail of destruction in itspath.
In its latest preseason match,
the team trampled Tamalpais High
School, with a mind-blowing 7-0
score.
The singles players won every
match, with more than half of the sets
ending 6-0. “We had expected to win,
but it was a good preseason practice,”
coach Terence Doherty said.
The doubles team played equally
well, easily dominating all three
matches. “It wasn’t exactly what you
would call a challenging match,” senior co-captain doubles player Marina
Kofman said.
A new member of the team, freshman Michelle Lam, displayed astounding skills on the court, defeating
Tamalpais’ second ranked singles
player, 6-0, 6-0. Other key players are
returning defending All-City singles
champion junior Lana Tsodikova,
and the defending All-City doubles
I
champions, sophomores Monica Lam
and Theresa Nguyen.
“Our team is looking very strong
this year, especially our singles varsity
team,” senior co-captain Alice Le said.
“They’re all very consistent. They give
110 percent all the time, never making
a mistake.”
The Cardinals have so far remained undefeated in their preseason
matches, crushing Mills, Sacred Heart,
International High School, and Urban, scoring 5-2, 9-0, 5-1 and 6-0,
respectively.
Their success is due to their determination and enthusiasm, according
to Doherty. Official team practice
began on Sept. 1, but “many have
been practicing off-season since
the beginning of summer, which I
think, is what makes us really ahead,”
Doherty said.
One particularly satisfying victory
was the match against St. Ignatius
on Sept. 7, with a final score of 5-4.
“The team feels really great,” senior
co-captain Ellen Yu said. “We haven’t
beaten SI in years. It really is a nice
note to start off the season.” The last
time Lowell defeated SI was in 1999,
according to Doherty.
However, Lowell did not fare
as well at the Wawona Peach Tree
Invitational, where over 80 schools
participate in a three-day tennis
competition.
The Cardindals had a final rank of
32 out of 80.
“I thought that it was such a good
learning experience The team looked
really good and definitely stepped
up their game. Many of the players
discovered their inner aggression,”
Yu said.
The invitational did not accurately
reflect the Cardinals’ abilities, since
four of the top players weren’t able
to attend due to injury and personal
reasons, according to Greg Simmons,
the coach of Lincoln’s tennis team and
a Lowell security guard.
“Lowell’s girls’ team cannot be
matched by any other,” Simmons said.
“They belong on a pedestal above all
the rest.”
Despite the upsetting loss at the
Wawona Peach Tree Invitational, the
Cardinals are ready for their next
match, according to Yu.
The official season begins at 3:30
next Wednesday against Wallenberg
in Golden Gate Park.
plus bases on balls divided by plate
appearances), and WHIP (walks
and hits allowed divided by innings
pitched).
The hours I put into becoming a
baseball statistical guru helped me
in the math classroom, on the baseball field and online, where I began
to win fantasy baseball titles.
But fantasy baseball is just one of
many popular fantasy sports among
Americans. Almost 30 million
people in the United States participated in fantasy sports, according
to a 1999 survey conducted by the
Fantasy Sports Trade
Association.
Yahoo! and CBS
Sportsline, the most
popular fantasy sports
Web sites, take advantage of the fact that
85 percent of fantasy
players use the Internet, generating millions of dollars
in revenue annually through their
services.
In order to join a Yahoo! fantasy
sports league, a player needs a Yahoo! account and then can log onto
www.fantasysports.yahoo.com.
If a fantasy player is serious
about the game, he can sign up for
a “Plus” league at $24.99 for a season
where the winner receives a T-shirt
or plaque, and, of course, bragging
rights.
Most people choose the free
option, which does not include
scouting reports and live updates
on player stats.
Recently, new opportunities
for hardcore players have become
available, such as a challenge by the
San Francisco Giants to 12 fantasy
baseball players.
The winner will be hired for a
year to help the Giants with player
analysis, front-office decisions, and
although the Giants are saying that
the pay will be under 100 grand, it
is possible the winner may be hired
for the long term.
With a generation of sports fans
growing up using the Internet, the
prospects are bright for the future
of fantasy sports, and the jobs are
there to utilize people with these
multiple talents.
Girls’ varsity volleyball triumphs in first game of the season
W
By Jen Lee
ITH AN ADRENALINE rush, senior
co-captain and setter Diana Peng
leaps into the air with all her strength
and serves an aggressive jump float across the
court in the Cardinals’ first preseason game
against Drew High School on Sept 7.
The Cardinals dominated throughout the
game, besting the Dragons in every match, 25-12,
25-23 and 25-23. As a result, senior co-captain
and defense specialist Megan Luu thinks highly
of the team’s potential.
“We played pretty well our first game, especially since we all had first-game jitters,” Luu
said.
Despite the jitters, junior middle blocker
Stephanie Drumright smashed a back slide into
Dragon territory after a perfect set from Peng,
driving the crowd wild.
With its first preseason victory under varsity’s
belt, the Cardinals are more than prepared for the
upcoming regular season.
In fact, it looks promising according to coach
Darlene Lee.
“The preseason matches will help a lot,” Lee
said. “The team has great enthusiasm, and its
spirit and talents will carry them home.”
Also, with five returning seniors, Peng, Luu,
defensive specialist Dianne Gallo, outside hitter Christine Hom and opposite hitter Marissa
Chin, the team has a significant advantage in
leadership.
“The seniors definitely have a lot of experience, so they are a really strong group to look up
to and exemplify,” Drumright said.
However, this year’s newer and younger
players can be winning factors for the Cardinals.
Although most members of the team are young,
the team has “a lot of potential this year,” Hom
said.
Luu agreed with Hom.
“We have a lot of juniors and a few sophomores stepping up to play,” Luu said. “They’re
very talented and hardworking.”
As the team continues to learn to communicate and bond with each other, this season looks
promising to defend the AAA title, and has potential for a 24th title win, according to Peng.
“We still need some time to get used to each
other since most of the juniors were on JV last
year,” Peng said. “But since we’re improving our
skills and relationships with each other everyday,
we’re definitely going to play our best this year
and try to take champs.”
The first regular season game is at 5:10 p.m.
on Sept. 28 against Burton at Lowell.
MICHELLE LEE
Sophomore outside hitter Annie Li hammers a deep line shot at Mercy defense on Sept. 13.
12 SPORTS
September 23, 2005
Lowell High School
Cross country loses members and pre-season meet
By Glenn Mercado
ELCOME TO cross
c o u n t r y,” t r a c k
coach Andy Leong
screamed into his bullhorn as exhausted freshmen crossed the finish
line at the 33rd annual Lowell Invitational at Lindley Meadows in Golden
Gate Park on Sept 17.
The invitational consisted of
seven races, highlighted at the end
of the day by the boys’ and girls’
varsity races. New head coach,
Michael Prutz used the invitational
to see his runners in an actual meet.
With several open spots on varsity,
all runners start anew according to
Prutz. “I want to get a better idea of
who shines, and who is a competitor,”
Prutz said.
“Even seniors feel like newbies,”
senior William Chau said who finished the 2.8 mile race with a time
of 17:45.
Lowell had fewer runners at
this year’s invitational compared to
last year’s. In the girls’ JV race, the
Cardinals entered only one runner,
junior Jeena Arnold, who ran with
an injury and had a time of 20:55.
Half of last year’s boys’ varsity team
graduated and another runner is out
for the season with an injury.
In addition to the injuries, other
runners have decided not to continue on cross country this year. Last
year’s boys’ varsity MVP, Augustin
“W
ANNA FRYJOFF-HUNG
Senior Mike Novak runs swiftly, unfortunately, it was not enough for a victory.
V. football looks
to win AAA
championship
Varsity Football from Page 9
Yu came through with a run of 43 yards against SI and
scored two touchdowns in the Mills game, while Stern showed
an impressive blend of speed and power in both games, outrunning opponents to the outside, and also plowing them
over up the middle.
“Phil Stern is the total package,” senior team captain and
linebacker Nick Andrus said.
The Cardinals may also have a secret weapon in junior
fullback Anurat Rojanapairat.
Though stout in appearance, Rojanapairat outran the SI
defense for a 61 yard score and ended the Mills game with a
58 yard dash that came up just short of the end zone, as time
expired.
In their loss to the Wildcats, the Cardinal defensive secondary hung tough when they came face to face with a quality
quarterback in SI junior Chris McCaffrey. Junior cornerback
Enrique Ayalde shut down SI receivers all day, and Andrus
came through with a clutch interception to stall the Wildcat
passing game.
This year’s main competition remains Balboa, the Chronicle’s pick to win Turkey Day. The Buccaneers are led by senior
quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who is one of the
top quarterbacks to come through the city in recent memory,
according to the Chronicle.
If Lowell wants to be the last team standing on Turkey Day,
its defense must find a way to stop the Balboa passing game.
If their performance in the Wildcat game was any indication,
the Cardinal defense is up to the task.
With one game remaining in the preseason, the Cardinals
are looking forward to the return of some of their key players.
Sophomore wingback Bismark Navarro, last year’s JV offensive MVP as a freshman, has been out of action with a pulled
hamstring for the first two games.
Andrus missed the Mills game with a torn ligament in his
right elbow sustained during the SI game, but will be back on
the field as soon as he is granted medical clearance. The senior
team captain was the team’s biggest playmaker in the season
opener, and his return will spell good news for the beleaguered
Cardinal defense.
With a fully healthy roster, the Cardinals can defend their
league title and prove that last season’s titanic title game performance was no fluke.
“Even though we’re low in numbers we should be able to
defend our title,” senior team captain and offensive lineman
George Luu said. “We’ve worked very hard this summer and
will be able to defeat any team we play.”
Lowell begins its drive for back-to-back championships
against Mission at 3 pm, Sept. 29 at Kezar Stadium.
Feliciano, is one of the many runners
who is not returning.
Two days after the Lowell Invitatonal several more runners quit
including frosh-soph runners Logan Weir and girls’ varsity runner
Heather Hammel. Prutz said, “I
hold no grudges. I hope they quit for
the right reasons.” He added, “Time
heals all wounds.”
Despite these changes, expectations are still high for the team. The
girls are striving for their 29th consecutive title, and boys, for their 17th
title in 20 years. Although victory
is a top priority for the team Prutz
said he believes getting to know the
runners is “first and foremost,” on
his agenda.
The roster is made up of 70 runners, but a little more than half of the
team ran at the invitational. Prutz
has a new five-day mandatory rule
which requires daily attendance.
Missing a practice may result in being cut from the team.
“The mandatory rule is a turnoff ”
Chau said. “It’s impossible to try
other sports or clubs.” Despite critics, Prutz has high hopes for his runners and wants them to be focused
and dedicated to running.
As the new coach, Prutz plans
to use new training methods. He
records times and enters them into
his computer databank. However,
“most runners believe that a running
log is for more serious runners, and
we just run for fun and to compete
against other schools,” senior runner
Susanna Liu said.
The new methods, which Prutz
finds efficient, feel a bit dark to some
runners. “It feels a lot less intimate;
I feel like I have a barcode on my
forehead,” said senior runner Michael Novak, who finished the Lowell
invitational with a time of 17:09.
The runners are asked to wear
watches to pace themselves, and find
their heart rates in order to avoid
overexertion.
In the upcoming season, the biggest individual competition for the
boys’ varsity team will come from
Dawit Melak of ISA. At last year’s
All-City he took first place running
3.1 miles in 16:56.
“The team is not too worried
about Melak because they are looking for the team win,” Novak said.
Lincoln seems to be their closest
competition. “This season will be
hard work, but I know we can do it,”
Novak added.
Likewise, girls’ varsity looks
strong as four of the top five placers for Lowell return this season
including senior runner Anna Li
who placed in the top 20 at the invitational with a time of 18:10.
“We expect that we’ll do really well and win the championship
again,” Liu said.
Despite losses JV football wins
Team losses two
but gains a win
against Mt. Tam
terback Spencer Macdonald, made some
great passes including a beautiful 25 yard
pass to Piauwasdy, who sprinted 40 yards
for the second touchdown, later in the
second half.
However, the first half was not as
pleasant as the Cardinals played terribly
allowing 34 points and scoring none.
They pulled together in the second half,
holding the Mills offense to only one early
touchdown. “We really turned it on in the
second half,” John said. “but it was too
little too late.”
Sophomore wingback Chris Colbert
said that the Cardinals looked like a whole
new team in the second half.
The Cardinals, game against Mills
was nothing like their first scrimmage
against Saint Ignatius on Sept. 3, where
the Wildcats beat Lowell by a margin of
4 touchdowns. A scrimmage is different
than a regular game because no official
score is kept and each team is on offense
for a set amount of plays.
“The offensive and defensive lines
consisted of new, less experienced players.”
Colbert said. “Some had never played a
game of football before.” For many of the
freshmen, this was a very important game
because they recieved their first taste of
competitive high school football.
Even though the Cardinals were outscored, the returning sophomores made
some outstanding plays, and the team’s
future looks promising. MacDonald also
said that the lack of experience players led
to less points.
The future of the JV football team is
looking bright, and barring injuries, the
team will be in contention for the title.
“We didn’t do too bad for the first game,”
Piauwasdy said. “It really showed the
teams potential. If we put in the effort, we
will be city champs.”
The veteran players stand to be the
backbone of the team. Sophomore running back Marcus Lee scored the only
touchdown for the Cardinals in the SI
scrimmage with one an incredible 40- yard
touchdown run. Macdonald made a great
throw to Piawasdy for a 20 yard reception, the longest catch for the Cardinals
that day.
On defense, John showed great poise
with many open field tackles. The entire
defensive line also showed improvement
throughout the game.
One major setback for the Cardinals
while playing SI, was the numerous injuries. Many of returning starters could not
play including sophomore Casey Bates, an
anchor of both the offensive and defensive
lines, and Colbert who was also out with a
fractured ankle and sprained tendon that
he injured on at practice.
John said, “We came together as a team
and tried our best, but in the end we had
too many mistakes to overcome SI.”
By Avi Baskin
OPHOMORE WINGBACK Misu
Minhaz pounds through the defense
to put up two yard touchdown run
that put the JV football team ahead for
good.
Hard work and practice finally paid off
for the JV Cardinal football team as they
ended their 3 game losing streak with a
triumphant 6-0 victory over Mount. Tamalpias high school on Sept.17.
The reason the Cardinals won the game
was because of the huge defensive effort.
They held Tam to no points and showed
a lot of passion despite a injury to sophomore Andrew Lee, a crucial member and
leader of the defensive line. “The defense
did a great job of staying focused and
intense throughout the game.” Lee said.
Also, Freshman Wang Han came up with
an interception.
Although the Cardinals defense was
impressive, other than Minhaz’s score, the
offense had trouble putting up points. The
all run offense might not be as effective
as using both run and pass plays as the
Cardinals used during there preseason
game verse Millbrae High school.
On their Sept. 9 preseason game
against Millbrae
high school the
C ardinals lost
41-12 but showed
some signs of life
in the second half.
The Cardinal’s
first score of that
second half came
from sophomore
safety and wingback Francis
John. When John
gained possession
of the ball on the
Mills 10 yard line
converted a running touchdown
after tight end
Vieje Piauwasdy
blocked a punt.
JOEY BIEN-KAHN
Sophomore quar- Freshman Wong Han carries the ball through defenders demonstrating the signature “running game.”
S
September 23, 2005
The Lowell
COLUMNS
13
There is more to shield and scroll than perfect grades
By Courtney Ball
S I SAT at the world language desk
proudly wearing my infamous red and
white beanie, I felt eager and honored
to be serving Lowell on self-scheduling day. I
greeted familiar faces and began signing frantic overachieving students into AP Spanish. It
made me feel that I was really giving back to
my school community and aiding students in
all their stress.
But surprisingly, once again I was asked the
same painful questions I heard last spring: “How
did you make it on Shield and Scroll? How come
they let you on and not me? That’s unfair.”
I have heard those questions over and over
from at least 20 different people, half of them
supposedly my “friends.” Being sensitive, I began to wonder: Why did they let me, a 3.00 GPA
student, on Shield and Scroll?
Ten seconds later it hit me. It is not the “Perfect GPA Society” nor the “Five on the AP Tests
Society.” It is Shield and Scroll, the honor and
service society of Lowell High School.
I believe I am a very intelligent young person
who personifies integrity and service to the
school I have unexpectedly grown to love. When
people question the validity of my position, I feel
A
offended and frustrated, but I decided not to let
my anger get the best of me.
Instead of allowing naysayers to know exactly what was on my mind, I silently accepted
the criticism with a sullen heart. However, that
stopped when someone
in an English class said,
“Shield and Scroll accepts
a token black person every
year, even if they are not
qualified.”
That is pathetic. No
matter what an African
American person goes
through to get into “the
best school in the city,”
his or her efforts and achievements are still
belittled.
Now, I have made it on the honor society, and
I’m only a token black person? Ridiculous!
Last year, Shield and Scroll was blessed to
have a proud African-American student with
a 4.25 GPA and the dance moves of a pro who
provided an abundance of selfless service to
Lowell. Was he a token black guy? Get out of my
life. Of course not.
As an African-American student I continuously undergo scrutiny about my admission to this school because ignorant people
attribute it to affirmative action. Affirmative
action is not practiced by
the San Francisco Unified
School District.
I worked extremely hard
in middle school to achieve
nearly perfect test scores
and grades, and I consistently take pride in my work
and service, here, at Lowell.
For me, that is the essence
of Shield and Scroll. It is not
about having the highest
GPA in your class or about
the number of AP courses you have on your
transcript.
It is not only about taking pride in your
work and service, but also about being a good
role model and citizen. I truly believe I have
all these qualities. Being a member of Shield
and Scroll is a privilege that teachers and past
members have given me, and I accept that
honor as I proudly serve my school in my
notorious red and white beanie.
Observing European life changes Learn from letting
views on the American lifestyle your hair loose
By Elan Lavie
S BRITISH Airways flight number 284 began
its descent into London’s Heathrow Airport, my
sweaty palms clasped the armrests. “The highest
chances for a plane to crash are at takeoff and landing,” a
little boy sitting next to me repeated. I took a deep breath,
and he threw up.
We landed safely, and soon I was admiring the city.
London was congested, dirty and diverse. But the people
were different than San Franciscans — they took their
time to do everything. I watched as a few businessmen
and women slowly strolled along the
sidewalk, drifting in and out of stores
while conversing with one another,
unlike businesspeople here who keep
their heads fixated at the next crosswalk.
When I rode the famous doubledecker buses only a month after the
bombings, I relied on my Americanbred terrorist identification instincts to
protect me. My cold stare only yielded
warm smiles though, as well as a “good
day” in that charming British accent I
would so much like to have.
Soon we boarded the Eurostar, a
high-speed train that travels from London to Paris. The
city was magnificent; the perfection of its design took
me aback. Rows of trees lined the avenues, each trimmed
identically. The city was wide in every direction, I felt as
though I were gazing over the entire kingdom of France
from this royal perch called Paris.
The city seemed to be the world capitol of street artists,
with an attraction at each corner. People sat still in chairs
while artisans scrutinized their faces, creating priceless
portraits in 20 minutes. A block away, street performers juggled on unicycles
before a crowd of
hundreds of
enthusiastic
tourists.
A
ILLUSTRATIONS BY LAWDAN PAHLAVAN
Though similar to Fisherman’s Wharf, the atmosphere
felt more authentic in Paris. It felt as if I were witnessing
world-renowned spectacles, not street performers who
relied on my tips to pay their rent.
That same night I went to a Moulin Rouge show. I’ll
admit, at first I wasn’t so “turned on” by the thought of
lots of semi-naked men and women dancing in colorful costumes. I figured it was something I’d seen in San
Francisco — but that changed when I was served an
authentic French steak dinner with champagne as the
show began.
The dancers were spectacular,
their costumes so bright and
flamboyant that I couldn’t decide
whether to fixate on the scantly
clad breasts, the peacock feathered hats or the extraordinary
dance routines.
While the dancers changed
outfits, two acrobats stood on
one another with only their heads
touching, a topless woman with
pythons wrapped around her
swam in a pool that rose from
under the stage, an unicyclist
flipped bowls on top of his head
and a witty comedian called up audience members to
perform his wordless skit. The show was as much fun as
Broadway, but better, because dinner was included.
The next train took us south to Nice on the Mediterranean. As a 16-year-old familiar with Ocean Beach,
I greeted the warm turquoise water and innumerable
topless women with open arms. Well, not literally, but
my walks along the sand “to get a view of the area” did
have a subconscious motive. The area surrounding Nice
was just as beautiful. Carefully scattered casinos did not
overwhelm the tourists, but made you careful to keep your
wallet out of reach. However, as I started to picture my
life in an estate similar to Bill Gates’ two-pool mansion
overlooking the harbor, it was time to go home.
Before my trip, I didn’t consider countries
outside of America to be very interesting, and I
never gave a thought
to the idea of living
outside of the United States. Now, although I still believe
San Francisco to be the
greatest city in the world,
I realize that there are
millions of other places
to explore, each one with
its own distinctive characteristics. I can’t wait
to see them all.
those who decide to hide their African
By Mellina Stoney
A N G G I R L ! Wh e n hair in shame.” After this conversation
you gon’ pick up a hot I decided to “go natural,” dropping the
comb?” Friends and fam- hot combs and throwing the perms
ily members often echo these words in away once and for all. Little did I know
churches, beauty parlors and many how hard this was going to be.
Three weeks after I met that beautiAfrican American households. What
they are really saying is, “Dang, girl, yo’ ful female, I analyzed my hair. It was
hair is nappy.”
definitely time for
To some peoa trip to the salon,
ple, “naps,” as they
time to cut out
are so offensively
those kinks and
My people still
called, are bad. Aciron those naps.
put themselves
cording to these
But wait — I’m
people “naps” are
to go
through hell just supposed
hard to untangle
natural. It was
and represent poor
so their hair can then that I really
hair care. Because
had to take a seblow in the wind. rious look at my
of this false conception of African
hair. Did I actually
American hair, little girls are intro- want this? Was I ready to withstand the
duced to the agony and pain of hot ridicule from my friends or the second
combs, pressing irons and perms at looks from family members?
the tender age of six.
I figured it wouldn’t hurt me to give
I, for one, ask, “Why?” Why do it a try. I canceled my appointment and
parents feel the need to erase this braided my hair myself. Parting my
black trait?
hair at my scalp, I was shocked at the
Although I do not know the answer, thickness and kinkiness of my hair.
I do know that since the forties and
I wanted to stop, but realized that
fifties, blacks have been straightening I was on a mission. I had to do this
their hair in order to blend in. To be to find out what going natural was
taken seriously in the business and all about.
corporate world, it was a must.
Three hours and a head full of
For years African Americans have braids later, I reached a conclusion.
Na t u r a l b l a c k
felt the need to
hair is beautiful.
look like whites
I don’t need fire
in order to work
or chemicals to
alongside them.
Thank heavens
show that I am
these times are
beautiful.
no more; howevAs the womer, my people still
an had told me,
put themselves
“Black hair is all
through hell just
about a journey.
so their hair can
Braids, locs, or
blow in the wind
twists, the final
or hang at their
result is always
shoulders.
a new sense of
One day I met
self.”
a very nice woman on the street whose
And she was right. I walked out of
hair blew me away. She had immacu- my house with a new regality and pride
lately groomed dread locs hanging that day. People complimented me on
below her shoulders that were deco- my braids and asked me about them.
rated with red, black and gold glass I had never even gotten this attention
beads. I was amazed by her beauty. when I was wearing a permed-out
Everyday she styles and grooms her ponytail.
dreads, which she has been growing
So, whenever I am confronted with,
for almost five years. She told me that “Yo’ hair is nappy, why don’t you go
in Africa hair was considered sacred. straighten it,” I just say, “You are right.
She said, “Those who take the time I got some naps, but I rock them well,
to appreciate it are one step ahead of so why change anything?”
“D
M
“
14 OPINION
September 23, 2005
Lowell High School
EDITORIALS
District needs to change
unfair admissions policies
I
n 1983, a federal court ordered the
San Francisco Unified School District to
change its admissions policies in order
to desegregate the schools. In 2003, the
district began working to create a plan to
increase diversity within public schools, but
failed to do so by August 2004, as originally
expected. The delay occured because the
district did not allocate enough time and
resources to the issue. The district must
increase racial diversity on campuses, ideally
without using ethnic and racial data. Delaying tactics cannot be tolerated while the racial percentages in our schools continue to
become more and more disproportionate.
The federal ruling demanded that desegregation end in 2005. Any extension
would only prolong use of the controversial Diversity Index as the sole means
of contributing to diversity. The index is a
computerized lottery system that SFUSD
uses to assign incoming students to schools
based on factors including socioeconomic
background and test scores. The system,
intended to increase academic performance
at individual schools, instead limits access to
high performing schools such as Lowell.
However, the district has not begun to
devise a plan to replace the Diversity Index,
according to Board of Education member Jill
Wynns. Even with the expected 2007 extension request, the district has not prioritized
formulating a new admissions system.
“We have started some discussion with
experts,” Wynns said. However, the district
is currently dealing with labor negotiations
as well as searching for a new superintendent instead of working on the racial
problems in schools. Solving the issues of
diversity remains a priority for the Board of
Education, but members won’t come up
with a new plan until the next year or so,
according to Wynns.
The current system inconveniences a
large number of students and needs to
be replaced before the 2006 school year
begins.
In 1999, the school board assembled a
“task force of parents, teachers and other
community members” in order to propose
ideas on enrollment, according to an
August 2005 article in the San Francisco
Chronicle. However, the Board of Education disregarded the task force and stalled
in planning a new system.
Lawyers involved in the desegregation case were forced to file for the 2007
extension date because the district stalled
in settling the controversy over student
placement. Now that Ackerman has set a
date for her resignation, the district and the
Board of Education need to develop a plan
to encompass diversity and keep students in
their neighborhood schools because neither
schools nor students should wait two more
years for reform.
Consumers should look
towards fuel efficiency
W
hat draws people to over-sized earth’s temperature, increases the rainfall
gas-guzzling cars? American in some areas, and has caused the sea level
consumers have been moving to rise. Global warming also endangers the
towards larger vehicles, despite the rapidly Earth’s atmosphere.
In 1997, the United States was responrising gas prices in recent years. Non-fuelefficient cars also pose environmental sible for emitting 1/5 of the world’s total
problems in addition to the cost. The earth greenhouse gases, according to the U.S.
is running out of fossil fuels, and the effects Environmental Protection Agency. We
of burning them are being felt all over the can do something simple to make a big
world with global warming. Like European change. A driver can prevent the release
and Asian drivers, American consumers of 15 tons of greenhouse gas pollution
should begin to buy smaller, more fuel-ef- by choosing a vehicle that gets 25 mpg,
ficient cars to save their money and protect instead of just 20.
Other options for fuel-efficiency are just
the environment.
as new and exciting.
In 2000, both Toyota
Greasecar Vegetable
and Honda introduced
Fuel Systems makes a
hybrid cars to American
In 1997, the
conversion system that
consumers. These cars
sells for $795. It can
use an electric motor
United States was
be installed into diesel
with a gasoline-powresponsible for
cars to make them run
ered motor, to achieve
mainly on filtered vegfuel-efficiencies of up
emitting 1/5 of
to 60 miles per gallon.
etable oil. Using diesel
Although hybrids cost
to heat the vegetable
the world’s total
more than the averoil, the conversion sysgreenhouse gases.
age compact cars, an
tem allows any diesel
average driver can save
car to get around 200
miles per gallon.
$600 to $1,000 per
Santa Rosa High juyear on gasoline, according to E/The Environmental Magazine’s nior Rio Scharf installed the parts needed to
“Earthtalk” (ems.org/earthtalk).
allow his 1998 Volkswagen Jetta TDI to run
As gasoline prices rise, hybrid cars will on vegetable oil after learning of it at the
save their drivers more money annually. Santa Rosa Harmony Festival. “I would feel
Using the same gallon of gas, hybrid cars guilt-ridden the whole time I was driving if
can drive four times as far as average SUVs, I was wasting fossil fuels and polluting the
which get 14 to 15 miles per gallon, accord- environment,” Scharf said.
ing to the Environmental Media Services
The next generation for fuel-efficient
website (www.ems.org).
automobiles may be “the hydrogen fuel
What do SUV drivers see in their huge cell,” powered by mixing hydrogen and
cars that they don’t in fuel-efficient cars? oxygen. Instead of emitting greenhouse
When comparing the Toyota Prius to the gases, the car emits pure water.
Toyota RAV4, Toyota’s small SUV, the Prius
However, car companies have yet to
has more inches of shoulder room in the find an economically and environmentally
front seat, as well as more inches of hip friendly way to extract hydrogen from waand leg room in the back seat.
ter. Environmental science teacher KathBut more important than a car’s size and erine Melvin pointed out that scientists
price are the effects a car has on natural must still burn fossil fuels to provide the
resources. The Toyota Prius emits only 3.5 power needed to extract hydrogen cells at
tons of greenhouse gasses per year, com- a reasonable price. “If we could generate
pared to 10.9 tons emitted annually by the enough hydrogen through solar power, that
Toyota 4Runner SUV, according to a U.S. could be a real solution,” she said.
As long as hydrogen cars remain expenDepartment of Energy model. Greenhouse
gases emitted by cars are one of the main sive and relatively untested, fuel-efficient
causes of global warming, which raises the cars are the only option.
I
LETTERS
TO THE
EDITORS
Student protests
unfair punishment for
senior pranks
I am writing with a serious
complaint about a ridiculous
school policy. On Friday, Sept.
2, my good friend was held
hostage for the better part
of the day for the crime of
“hazing”. As most know, the
first Friday of the new school
year is traditionally known as
“Freshman Friday”, when the
seniors welcome freshmen to
their new school with a bit of
humorous initiation. This year,
however, the class of 2006 was
assaulted by security as a group
of seniors crossed the catwalk,
playfully tossing water balloons
at the crowds.
My friend, whom for this
letter I will call “Bandrew Colbrycht,” was a participant in
this epic tradition, and was
violently taken into custody
by a certain Lowell security
guard. His parents were called,
and he was forced to remain
in a small, airless chamber for
several hours and miss several
valuable classes.
In conclusion, I would like
to express my rage at the ridiculous accusations of “hazing”
CHRISTINA LIMCACO
that were thrust at those seniors
on that inauspicious Friday. No
matter what, “Freshman Friday” will continue as it always
has, no matter how “serious”
a crime our administration
believes it is. It is a tradition
that all, even freshmen, classes
can understand is playful and
well-meaning. I am outraged
by the reaction of the faculty
and hope for a higher degree
of administrative restraint in
the future.
— Nick Allen (0608)
Student calls for
higher security
So what’s the deal with
those cameras in the courtyard? I mean, honestly, we
should have bought some
more books or pencils or
something. If I really wanted
to deface the school at night,
I could still just put on some
overalls and do it without a
problem. Big Brother would
just think I was Lil’ Abner or
something. Honestly. Nobody
wears overalls these days.
If they really wanted to
improve school security, they
would install some motion
detectors that automatically
sprayed acid whenever they
were activated. This would
both burn erstwhile vandals
and thieves and kill pesky
vermin such a rats and flies.
To those who may hold con-
Lowell
The
Cardinal Staff
Editors-in-chief
Sabina Hatipovic • Connie Chung
Andrew Lee • Fiona Wozniak
News Connie Chung, Alanna Wong, Fiona
Wozniak
Sports Courtney Ball, Michelle Lee, Mayra
Lopez
Hurricane Katrina Sabina Hatipovic
Events Willy Zhang
Spotlight Laura Fong
Backpage Mellina Stoney
Columns Erica Edwards
Opinion Andrew Lee, Marianna Tishchenko
Reporters Christine Au-Yeung, Avi Baskin,
Joey Bien-Kahn, May Chen, Beatriz Datangel,
Tony Dear, Megan Dickey, Gaston Guibert,
Heather Hammel, Steven Houang, Susan Lau,
Elan Lavie, Michael Lazarus, Jen Lee, Jennifer
Lee, Jessica Lee, Christine Lin, Andrew Linford,
Jonathan M. Louie, Vicki Mac, Vanessa Mai,
Glenn Mercado, Noey Neumark, Jessica Qu,
Sabine Scherer, Helene Servillon, Carmen Sze,
Lucy Taylor, Natyssa Tossany, Griffin Tyree,
Logan Weir, Victoria Wu, Lawrence Yee, T. Riley
York, Ashley Yu, Elisa Zhang
Photographers Talia Coombes, Anna
Fryjoff-Hung, Michelle Wilens, Jack Zhou
Illustrators Zack Clark, Christina Limcaco,
cerns that these acid sprinklers
might do irreparable damage
to the vandals’ health, I say
worry not. Those hooligans
should have taken that into
mind before they attempted to
break into our turf. In the event
that some high-tech hooligans
invent some acid-proof coveralls, maybe we should consider
installing some ceramic owls to
scare them away.
— Timothy S. Kline (0601)
Barbecue Club speaks
out against theft
Recently, the Lowell Barbecue Club fell victim to
an act of thievery. After an
amazing grilling experience,
our Weber was stored in the
teachers’ lounge. The security in this room, however,
proved pitifully ineffective
in protecting our treasured
grilling device.
The club was extremely
distraught by this event,
and humbly asks for any
information leading to its
discovery or to the apprehension of its kidnappers.
That barbecue was like a
brother to us, and we miss
it dearly. Please help us track
it down, or send donations
to the BBQ Club sponsor
Wade Tam. Thank you for
your support.
— Julian Logiudici,
Barbecue Club President
Lawdan Pahlavan
Accounting Griffin Tyree
Advertising Angela Chen, Ivana He, Fion
Lau
The Lowell on the Web
Web editors-in-chief
Sam Bowman, Anthony Batiste
Web editors Ashley Yu, F. Brady Gillerlain, Brian Ho, Edward Tuchfield, Helene
Servillon, Jennifer Lee, Peter Li, Jonah Varon, Kevin Lee, Logan Weir, Michelle Lambert, Natyssa Tossany, Victoria Wu
Advisers
Katharine Swan & Jennifer Moffitt
Published every four weeks by the journalism classes of
Lowell High School, Room S108, 1101 Eucalyptus Drive, San
Francisco, CA 94132 Phone: (415) 759-2730 Ext. 3426 Internet: [email protected]; http://www.thelowell.org.
All contents copyright Lowell High School journalism classes.
All rights reserved.
The Lowell and The Lowell on the Web strive to inform the
public and to use their opinion sections as open forums for
debate. All unsigned editorials are the opinions of the staff.
The Lowell welcomes comments on school-related issues
from students, faculty and community members. Names will
be withheld upon request. We reserve the right to edit letters
before publication.
2005 CSPA Gold Crown
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September 23, 2005
The Lowell
OPINION
15
Should the tenure requirement increase?
By Logan Weir
RI SKOWRONSKI works as a science teacher on campus, teaching
over 150 kids a day and
making $41,000 a year. Although
he has just finished his two-year
probationary period, he may have
to work another three years before he receives
job security, because of the governor’s contempt for teachers.
“Skowronski rules,” sophomore Hayley
Lawrence said. “He lectures really well, and
makes everything really
easy to understand.”
Under Proposition
74, which has been approved for the ballot,
teachers who are attempting to acquire tenure will continue have
to work for two years
on probation, a trial
process during which
teachers prove that they
meet ‘professional standards.’ In addition, if it
passes, they can continue to be easily fired for
an extra three years.
Let me first congratulate our governor on so aptly naming
this the “Put the Kids
First Act.” On a primitive level, it makes tenured teachers sound
evil: Save our beloved
and innocent children
before those wicked,
tenured and probably
starving teachers hurt
their precious grade
point averages.
Schwarzenegger’s misguided bill is retroactive. Though Skowronski has just finished
his two years of probation, he will have to
teach another three years to receive tenure.
Upon hearing this, Skowronski expressed
dismay. And when told that this act wouldn’t
profit schools in any he way replied, “We
need to make education a first priority, and
we need to fund it as though it were a first
priority.
The United Educators of San Francisco
has its own special name for this bill: The
U
Blame the Teacher’s Act.
“What this act does instead of putting
money towards schools, is make it harder
for teachers to feel secure about
their job and lessens the chance
of having more teachers join the
public school system,” said Ken
Tray, UESF political director and Lowell
on-campus representative. “These days fewer
and fewer people are becoming teachers, and
the state is working to encourage people to
try this and help the public school system,”
No
By Griffin Tyree
EACHING IS MORE than a profession;
it’s a passion, and the quality of a teacher
depends on his or her will and drive to
teach even more than on any well of knowledge.
The concept of giving a teacher tenure, or job
security, after two years is unfair to both the
teachers and the students. The Putting Kids
First Act on the ballot for the November special
election would offer a better alternative: tenure
after five years.
As students at one of the best-known public
schools in the
Bay Area, we
are blessed with
a contingent of
dedicated teachers and educators, so it’s hard
for us to understand the concept of teachers who are just
“not into it.”
Nonetheless, the relatively high level
of benefits and
vacation time
that teaching
of f e r s , w h e n
compared to the
uncertainty of
such benefits in
the non-government job sector,
draws in a number of people interested more
in the perks of
the profession
ZACH CLARK
than in actually
teaching. Why is tenure and the Putting Kids
First Act important?
A requirement of two years for tenure does
not provide enough time for passionate, driven teachers to prove
themselves, and for the other teachers to decide whether they really
want to teach or not.
“I really don’t like to teach, but
I get some of the best benefits in the job sector
if I do. Should I continue teaching?” If teachers who ask this question choose to continue
teaching purely for the benefits, they not only
T
Are the governor’s policies unreasonable?
principal Paul Cheng said.
He added that the bill is probably going
to discourage people from teaching, and will
not help the lack of teachers.
The governor is telling people to leave the
business world to become teachers, and at the
same time making it harder for them to find
job security.
In a time of political turmoil, teachers
should be the last ones targeted. They work
for next to nothing, teaching hundreds of kids
in some of the worst conditions, and generally
manage to succeed.
damage a class full of students, but also take
up the job space of a truly dedicated teacher.
Fifty percent of teachers drop out in the first
five years, according to teachers’ union political
director Ken Tray. This statistic shows that even
three years after receiving tenure, teachers who
feel the need to will quit regardless of their job
security status.
“We all know… I’ve had them; you’ve had
them… Maybe teaching is not what they should
be doing,” social studies teacher Steve Shimmon said, referring to unfair and unmotivated
teachers..
Also according to Shimmon, the yearly
examination for a tenured teacher is a one-day
period in which an administrator watches the
teacher instruct a single class.
One day is inadequate to evaluate a teacher’s
quality. School districts have difficulty have in
dismissing bad teachers after they have received
tenure. The governor’s Putting Kids First Act will
prevent more bad teachers from entering the
school system by establishing tenure after five
years instead of two so that school administrators have more time to observe teachers and
students, and teachers will have more time to
prove themselves. Although it won’t be a miracle
solution that will work immediately, it will be a
step in the right direction.
This does, however, seem unfair to our current untenured teachers, who in an underfunded
school district face constant layoffs. That being
said, to secure an academically and financially
secure future, the school district should help
ensure for the proper education of students
through monitoring teachers and trying to dismiss the bad while recognizing the good
Although it seems unfair for teachers now
and in the near future, an increase in tenure requirement allows the districts an opportunity to
be more selective when facing budget problems
by giving them more time to recognize and sort
out the motivated from the disinterested and to
recognize and improve the qualities of the good
and bad untenured teachers alike.
The initial short-term problems
arising from increasing the tenure
requirement to five years may well
give way to a future where budget
woes may be reduced and teachers won’t even need tenure for
job security — provided the state government,
school district, and educator union take action
to help cultivate such a future, Putting Kids
First Act or not.
Yes
Ailing social security system demands immediate reform
By Marianna Tishchenko
HE COUNTRY celebrated social security’s 70th anniversary
on Aug. 14. Unfortunately, the
baby boomers arrived early and now
all that remains of the party is debris
that the youth of the nation must
clean up.
The social security system is heading toward economic collapse. An
increasing individual life expectancy
and a deficiency of young workers to
sustain America’s retirees are exhausting government funds. These issues
have aggravated tension among Congress’ Republicans and Democrats,
who bicker and squabble instead of
focusing on the issue. In only three
years, baby boomers will begin to retire, instigating an economic recession
if reform does not occur.
The government created the social
security program in 1935, after the infamous stock market crash of 1929. At
that time, 40 workers supported each
retiree, according to the government
Web site (www.thewhitehouse.gov).
House. In 1950, 16 workers supported
each retiree, and today only 3.3 workers sustain each retiree, displaying the
feeble state the program. The ratio of
workers to each social security beneficiary will dwindle even further if
the government does not take drastic
measures. As this ratio continues to
decline, taxpayers will be obligated
to refund an additional percentage of
T
their income, which will stoke further
debate and tension.
Left-wing politicians feel that
reform is unnecessary in spite of the
imminent collapse of the hitherto
most successful and efficient American
governmental program. Instead of
proposing more effective and lucrative
means of saving the ailing program,
Congress’ and the Senate’s Democrats
simply repudiate any proposals from
the Republican Party.
Republicans are not the sole people
who feel that the current social security system needs reform. Seven of
10 American college students are not
confident in the current system, according to a national poll by Harvard
University’s Institute of Politics. Evidently, young workers want security
— a nest egg, which the government
cannot deplete — to provide retirees
with income.
In 2004, the price of social security
was $10.4 trillion, nearly equivalent
to twice the combined salaries of
every working American, according
to the government Web site (www.
whitehouse.gov). Each year, government vacillation adds an additional
$600 billion to the social security
deficit, according to a 2004 Report of
the Social Security Trustees. The Bush
administration predicts that in 2019,
social security will be disbursing more
money than it will be receiving, necessitating benefit cuts and jeopardizing
the country’s economy.
security with substantial return.
deposit social security funds into the
In a State of the Union address on
Throughout history, the American stock market is dangerous and haphazFeb. 2, Bush said that he would evalu- people have fought for freedom — be ard. On the contrary, personal retireate the current program with the Con- it freedom of speech, of the press or of ment accounts would be protected
gress. He proposes limiting benefits civil liberties. Should not the liberty from market swings that occur near
for wealthy retirees and increasing the to manage of one’s own income also the age of retirement.
retirement age to deter early collection be included?
Investment allocations could shift
I emigrated from a socialist coun- from high growth funds to secure
of benefits. Currently Bush’s is the sole
proposal, which is both sensible and try, where absolute government con- bonds. Workers would have the oppragmatic.
trol forced people to become sub- tion of choosing a life cycle portfolio,
Instead of depositing all
which would adjust to the
social security funds into
worker’s age and the amount
History of the Dow Jones Industrial Average
government trusts and
of risk involved. By altering
bonds, Bush’s proposal would
investment allocations from
allow young workers to place
high growth funds to secure
their retirement money in
bonds, workers could miniinvestment vehicles of their
mize the effects of market
choice.
swings on their accounts.
Yearly contributions
Not only could workers
could steadily augment, so
gain a sense of security and
that workers would eventuthe opportunity to monitor
ally be able to deposit up to
their accounts’ growth over
four percent of their payroll
time, but they could also pass
taxes into voluntary pertheir accounts on to their
sonal retirement accounts.
future generations.
COURTESY OF WWW.GHERRITY.ORG
If workers decided that they
Young workers would
did not want the benefits of
receive a higher rate of return
the new system, they could choose to missive puppets, dependent on the from this long-term investing than
invest their income in government government to manage their most what they would otherwise.
bonds such as those used in the cur- important financial matters.
Bush’s social security reform prorent system.
People had no inkling of the type posal will not generate additional costs
However, workers would not have of civil liberty that the president is to Social Security thereby strengthenthe option of moving back and forth offering our nation. Bush’s proposal ing the economy. Hopefully interest in
between personal retirement accounts offers us an opportunity to secure our the program’s anniversary will create
and traditional government bonds. futures, and we must take advantage constituents who will arduously fight
This system would replace the govern- of it.
for reform. Our futures must not be
ment’s vacuous promises of retirement
Some feel that Bush’s proposal to bargained.
California
Crunk
COURTESY OF WWW.E-40.COM
E-40 (above) and Mac
Dre (left), two of the most
celebrated and recognized
Bay Area rappers, set trends
throughout Northern
California.
Hyphy takes over
By Megan Dickey and Mellina Stoney
HE STREETS are buzzing with high-energy
music; teenagers are jumping and swinging
their heads violently with their hands flailing
as if they are trying to relieve themselves of a demonic
twitch and speaking in a loud, obnoxious jargon. A
scene straight out of The Exorcist? Nope, it is just
another day on the San Francisco streets.
Only one word can accurately discribe the force
that has the power to compel the city’s youth to act in
such a way — hyphy.
T
Heard
all the
way from
San Francisco to
San
Jose,
been
the
The Lowell Backpage
9-23-05
m e n t
and the
w a y
o f
for many of
hyp h y
h a s
t h e
sound,
movelife
to-
day’s teens.
“B eing hyphy
Heard all the
way from San
Francisco to
San Jose, hyphy
has been the
ment, and
sound, moveway of life for
most of today’s
COURTESY THIZZ ENTERTAINMENT
teens.
“Hyphy is all about being
crazy and out of control,” junior Niamh Parsley
said.”
The Bay Area, referred to in many hip-hop songs
as the “Yay Area,” is frequently recognized for its talented musicians. Though some local musicians feared
the West Coast music scene would suffer after famed
rapper Tupac’s death, Hyphy has those representing
the Bay Area optimistic about the West Coast’s future
in music.
“For the last year, ‘Hyphy’ has been the (nightclub)
song,” junior Nick Parker-Foster said. “That kind
of music is going to get the Bay Area recognized
nationwide.”
Many local rappers are getting frequent air time,
which is helping to launch their careers nationwide.
“Super Hyphy,” by Oakland’s own Keak Da Sneak is
the third most requested song on local radio station,
106 KMEL’s, playlist. Other songs on the tongues of
teenagers include “Get Stupid” by Vallejo’s Mac Dre,
“Supa Sick Wit It” by Oakland’s Mistah FAB, and
“Bang It” from Richmond’s The Frontline.
The Frontline, one of the better known
local rap groups from Richmond, released
its first single “What Is It.” This is one of
the most requested songs playing on radio
stations and in clubs from Atlanta to Los
Angeles and as far as Australia, according
to its Web site, www.thefrontline.com. The
Frontline was first recognized nationally in an
MTV battle in May 2003 and has been steadily
increasing in fame since then.
However, without nationwide radio
ILL
US
stations, it is hard for people in the
TR
AT
IO
Midwest and beyond to have any
N
BY
LA
knowledge of Bay Area music.
UR
A
“I’d never heard that kind
KU
NG
,
of music before,” Wilmette, Illinois resident
Rachel
Cas-
tlewitz said. “I’m used
to Kanye West and other
‘normal’ rap. I heard this song
when I went out west, and my friend
played it for me. It’s a song I love to listen
to when I want to dance and be hyper.”
Hyphy is a Bay Area slang word
that represents a style the bay offers: acting crazy, hyper and knowing how to have
a good time. The term was featured in The
Federation’s 2004 song, “Hyphy.” In their lyrics,
they promote the Yay’s new sound, slang and moves.
They also give props to local teams, such as the 49ers,
Raiders, and A’s.
Although The Federation was one of the first Bay
Area groups to get signed to a major label, Virgin Records, in a long time, they were not the first artists to
represent. Mac Dre, one of the Bay’s most prominent
and recognizable artists gave locals a whole new anthem with his hits, “Get Stupid,” “Feelin’ myself,” and
“Thizzle Dance.” Unfortunately, Mac Dre was killed on
Nov.1, 2004 in Kansas City. The Bay mourned, then
decided to celebrate his life. In Keak Da Sneak’s hit,
“Super Hyphy,” he says:
“I’m in da building and I’m feelin’ like yeeeee.
RIP to the Mac D.R.E.”
Among those who have publicized the Bay Area
is the late Tupac Shakur, considered by many hiphop fans to be the greatest rapper who ever lived. He
got his big break in the eighties in Oakland when he
joined the Digital Underground, a group which used
“massive bass beats and frenetic, Parliament-Funkadelic-style rhythms,” according to www.2paclegacy.
com, a site created by Tupac’s mother.
“We can’t forget Mac Dre or Tupac,” freshman
Chartrell Webster said. “We can just get hyphy like
we know how.”
The bay is getting hyphy in the same way the southern part of America gets crunk. Crunk means to be
crazy and drunk, while hyphy joins hyper and fly.
Besides “Hyphy and Get Stupid,” another move
the Bay Area has promoted is “poppin your collar.”
Platinum-selling Bay Area rapper E-40 popularized
the move in his music videos when he first began
rapping in 1987. “Nowadays, it means either congratulating yourself or saluting a person and saying,
‘I acknowledge you,’” E-40 said in an interview with
USA Today in April 2005.
In addition to rap artists striving to reach fame,
the Bay Area also has many R&B and punk rock
musicians.
Green Day, a local Berkeley band, cleaned house
at MTV’s 2005 Video Music Awards, winning all
six of the awards they were nominated for plus the
Viewer’s Choice Award proving to America that the
Bay Area has talent. Starting off with a local record
label, Lookout! Records, Green Day soon moved to
a larger label, Reprise Records, to gain popularity
throughout America.
“I thought they deserved it,” senior Brita Potenza
of Mercy High School said. “They have been a band
for so long, 15 years and they have worked so hard.
They showed everyone how they could come back
and sweep all the good awards.”
Newcomer, Keyshia Cole, raised in Oakland, has
a soulful sound to her voice that made A&M Records
realize her talent instantly. When her first album was
released on June 21, it went platinum nationwide,
preparing her to take the music world by storm.
Whatever the genre, the Bay Area is determined
to be known throughout the nation. Musicians
continue to produce hits that make people bounce,
while fans in turn buy their mixtapes and CD’s. Now
that’s Bay Love.