March 2013 - Contra Costa Journalism.net

Transcription

–Page 4
Clayton
Valley installs
black turf!
–Page 8
Pinerest
catching on
with teens
–Page 10
FEATURES
–Page 6
Preach, practice
anti-bullying
ATHLETICS
BACK PAGE
Dream of ballet
GUNS IN AMERICA
realized
Time to reload or renounce?
–Page 12
OPINION
March 2013
CC Spin
March 2013
Volume 6 Issue 2
News & Views From Contra Costa County High Schools
Northgate jazz bands excel at Folsom
By Jessica Bautista & Jana Magwili
Northgate High School
In a first time achievement, Northgate
High School's instrumental music department showcased not one, but two, jazz
bands at a major Northern California music
festival.
Jazz Band II debuted while Jazz Band
I took second place in late January at the
24th Annual Folsom Jazz Festival, beating
out over 100 other Northern California
jazz bands.
“It was wonderful,” said senior Will
Painter, a baritone saxophone player and
three-year band member. “We spent so
much time and effort preparing for that moment, and to play as we did was amazing.”
Jazz Band I, Jazz Band II and the school’s
six-person combo competed in their respective categories at the event at Folsom
Lake College.
Jazz Band I won its division, earning
a spot on stage in the encore evening
performance at the 800-seat Rolling Hills
Christian Church.
Jazz Band II, a new addition to the
music program, earned all superior scores
from the judges in their category.
The Jazz Sextet, made up of Eric Nakanishi on alto sax, Jeff Brown on tenor sax,
Edward Evans on trumpet, Nate Schwartz
on guitar, James Harrington on bass and
Mitchell Collard on percussion, earned top
honors for combos in their performance.
This is the first year for the addition of
the second jazz band.
Jazz Band II, composed of 19 students
in all grade levels, made their big debut the
previous weekend in the jazz festival that
took place at Northgate in mid-January.
At that festival, jazz bands from around
the Bay Area came to perform in Northgate’s
Jack de Rieux Little Theatre. The two-day
festival consisted of a theater performance
for each of the 29 bands, followed by a sight-
reading challenge, where a band plays a
new piece of music for the first time. The
instrumental music department hosts the
event, which raises some money but also
brings attention to the school and program.
“It takes the support and enthusiasm
of the parent boosters and parents to make
this project happen,”said attendance secretary Margaret Vercammen, whose daughter
graduated from Northgate and was part of
the jazz and music program. “You can plan
and organize until the cows come home,
but it takes extreme teamwork to actually
make this happen.”
In addition to the adult volunteers,
instrumental music students volunteer to
help run the festival.
“This year we had over 30 non-jazz
students working at the festival, for a total
of 75 total student workers in all,” Music
Director Greg Brown said.
NORTHGATE musicians Joey Harrington, Ben Lugten and
James Willis at the Folsom Jazz Festival. Photo by Jessica
Bautista, Northgate High School.
Monte Vista students
protest stricter ticketing
By Gretchen Koenen
Monte Vista High School
DANGEROUS HABIT, and illegal. Joey Peterson pretends to text while driving in the back parking lot of the school to raise
awareness. Photo by Kat Nelson, Deer Valley High School.
Despite bans, teens still text
By Ariane Hamner
Deer Valley High School
Despite "hands free" laws like
California instituted two years ago,
almost half of all drivers between
the ages of 18 and 24 are texting
while driving, according to Edgar
Snyder and Associates, a prominent
personal injury law firm.
That statistic alone should scare
all drivers. If one of every two young
drivers text while driving, then our
lives are in danger.
Experts say that younger drivers
often do not have enough experience to handle many distractions
while driving. Not only do they put
their lives in danger if they text,
everyone on the road is placed in
danger, too.
To address this issue, AT&T has
launched a campaign called, It Can
Wait, that encourages teens to make
a pledge not to text and drive.
People can take the pledge
on AT&T’s website, which also has
informative statistics about texting
while driving.
On other online sites, you can
find numerous groups against texting while driving, each highlighting
the possible deadly aftermath.
For example, there’s Mothers
against Texting and Driving, a group
formed by mothers who have had
one of their own children killed as
a result of someone’s texting and
driving.
These campaigns are not just
aimed at teenagers; some adults
are guilty of texting and driving as
well. According to a CNN report, “27
percent of adults say that they have
sent text messages from behind the
wheel.”
Currently there are 39 states that
outlaw texting while driving for all
drivers, and an additional five outlaw
texting by probationary drivers. For
a first offense, the ticket costs as little
as $20, but after court fees, it can end
up costing as much as $140.
Since California’s hands-free law
took effect two years ago, authorities
have issued an estimated 500,000
tickets to violators.
Now there are numerous smartphone applications to help people
avoid using their phones while
driving. Some apps that you can
download are txtBlocker, CellSafety,
iZup, Zoomsafer and Cell Control.
These applications block all texts and
calls while smart-phone users are in
a vehicle that is in motion.
The danger represented by
texting and driving is completely
preventable. If one person at a time
stops texting while driving, accidents
can be prevented and lives can be
saved.
College website, the Gateway to
College Program enables high school
students to complete their high
school diploma requirements while
simultaneously earning college
credit toward an associate degree
or certificate.
The program is aimed at young
adults from 16 to 20 who have
dropped out of high school or are
failing to meet credit requirements
and are unlikely to graduate. Since
Gateway is a scholarship program,
students receive free tuition and
books.
Hercules High counselor Alaina
Krystek said it is a great opportunity
for students who are struggling in
school, deficient in credits and need
a smaller environment.
“Here, our classes are larger,”
Krystek said. “Counselors have large
Hercules initiates college credit program
By Christine Soberno
Hercules High School
Just as no child should be left
behind, every teenager deserves a
second chance at earning an education.
Beginning the second semester
of this school year, Hercules High
School will participate in a program
called Gateway to College.
According to the Contra Costa
See COLLEGE CREDIT Page
3
The days of Monte Vista students
ripping up their parking tickets have
come to an end as the San Ramon
Valley School District changed the
vendor that processes the tickets.
Students will not experience an
increase in ticket prices from the
current range of $35 to $50, but violations will be more strictly enforced,
according to the district.
“It depends on what the offense
is on what the amount the ticket
will be,” Assistant Principal Debbie
Pettish said.
Offenses include parking in the
hash marks ($50), parking in a fire
lane ($50), parking in the staff lot
($35), and not having a valid permit
($35).
“I paid the tickets and I look back
and laugh at the fact that I only got
11,”senior Mark Hirsch said,“because
I parked illegally at least 25 times.”
The ticket reminders are now
sent in the mail. Each reminder will
have specific instructions on how
and where to pay the tickets.
“Students are now receiving
notification in the mail for tickets that
they haven’t paid,” Principal Janet
Terranova said.
The primary purpose of the
parking tickets is to keep Monte
Vista parking lots a safe and fair
environment.
“It’s not fair for a student who
purchased a $100 year-long parking
pass to not get a spot due to someone
who parked in the lot without a pass,”
campus supervisor Debra Ratich said.
The safety in the parking lot
has to do with where students park.
If there was an emergency and a
student was parked in the fire lane
or not in a designated spot, the
school could get fined by the Fire
Department.
“We mostly give out tickets to
students who don’t have permits,
or have parked illegally,” Ratich said. Gus Arroyo, a Monte Vista security guard, suggested that the school
put forth a lunch duty requirement
for students who receive two or
more tickets. This targets the repeat
offenders, as the administration finds
that it is usually the same people that
continue to illegally park.
Some students don’t like the
idea of a lunch duty penalty.
“I don’t think it is fair that
students have to pay for the ticket
and do lunch duty,” senior Kaitlyn
Haithcock said. “I think it should be
one or the other.”
Some students and parents are
angry that they weren’t notified of
the switch of service until they received reminders to pay their tickets
from as long ago as August.
“I think it is highly unfair that
Monte Vista never gave clear directions on what to do with the tickets.
Every student thought of these as
warnings and now I have 11 tickets
to pay to the Martinez Court House,”
senior Kaitlyn Haithcock said.
“I think the administration
should have more sympathy for us
and consider having assigned parking spots. I think this would alleviate
the majority of the reasons students
get tickets.” Some students feel frustrated
because they have received tickets
for no apparent reason. If this happens, the administration is very flexible with taking tickets back.
“I got my ticket for not having
my sticker on,” senior Carly Rashoff
said. “I don’t think that’s fair since I
have a permit.”
When students don’t pay their
tickets in a timely manner the price
of the ticket goes up. Violations that
are two weeks late increase $5 and
$15 or more after another two weeks.
Unpaid tickets could result in not
being able to register your car with
the California Department of Motor
Vehicles.
PARKING violation tickets Monte Vista High students have torn up. Photo by
Gretchen Koenen
News
2
March 2013
Few visitors to Las Lomas'
memorial to students
By Kelsey Angus
Las Lomas High School
Last spring, Las Lomas High students spent countless hours planning and constructing the Outdoor
Memorial in memory of Matt Miller and Gavin Powell,
Las Lomas students who died a year ago in a boating accident. However, students have had little opportunity to
enjoy the memorial and remember Matt and Gavin there.
Senior Carly Bauer recently went to the memorial
with her Spanish class, but says that she has not used it
many times before.
“I went there I believe three times last year, but
besides when I just went the other day with my Spanish
class, I haven’t gone at all this year,” said Bauer.
Although disappointed that she has not visited the
garden more often, Bauer understands why it can be
difficult for classes to use.
“It is kind of a hassle to get there, and teachers don’t
have all the tools from their classrooms or any way to
talk to their students, so I feel like they have to go out of
their way to go there,”she said.“They have to completely
prepare a lesson, especially for the outdoor classroom.
It just takes more effort.”
Bauer has also never been to the classroom without
a class or a teacher.
“I’ve never tried to use it on my own because I
have been under the impression that you can only go
there with a class,” said Bauer. “I can see how it would
be hard for the library to just say that you can go out
there whenever you want because people can just hop
the fence or something, but it would be an awesome
place to eat lunch.”
Unlike Bauer, sophomore Zoe Grenville has tried to
use the outdoor classroom to study with a friend.
“It’s annoying trying to talk really quietly in the
library when you’re trying to study, so my friend and I
saw the outdoor classroom and it looked really nice,”said
Grenville. “We sat out there, and it was really peaceful
and we were starting to get a lot done for about five
minutes, but then we got kicked out.”
Grenville was surprised that she and her friend were
told to leave. She thought that the library staff would
like to see people using the garden.
“They said that they only open the doors for fresh
air purposes and that only classes can use it, but I’ve
never actually seen a class go there other than when
I went with one of my classes last year,” said Grenville.
Librarian Mary Walfoort has also noticed that students and teachers do not often use the space.
“The choir came out and sang one time, and it was
beautiful, but it hasn’t gotten used much more than
that,” said Walfoort. “It could be used so much more.”
Walfoort acknowledged that, initially, she only
allowed students to use the space if they were with a
teacher.
“Originally I thought that students were not supposed to use it on their own because there is no supervision,” said Walfoort. “However, [library assistant] Nelson
Bermudez and I have started to let students use it, and
they have been very respectful.”
Junior Sydney Carroll thinks that many students are
unaware of the memorial’s existence.
“I think a lot of the underclassmen may not even
know it exists, especially not the freshmen,” said Carroll.
Among 10 random freshmen, not one knew of its
existence, including Sanam Noorani.
“I’ve never heard of the outdoor classroom,” said
Noorani. “I would imagine maybe a painted tree on a
wall, maybe a couch, possibly tadpoles. I don’t really
know what it would be like.”
As someone who put in hours of work in building
the memorial, Carroll hopes that more people will begin
to use it.
“It makes me disappointed that people don’t use it
much, not because I worked hard on it, but more because
I want to have Matt and Gavin remembered,”said Carroll.
Carroll hopes the situation will improve in the future.
“I know that most of the underclassmen didn’t
know them, but they definitely should still be able to
go and see and wonder what it was about and learn
about who they were.”
CC Spin
Stricter off-campus policy
aims to help local stores,
improve student safety
By Alison Spencer Molly O'Brien
San Ramon Valley High School
The off-campus world just got
a little smaller for San Ramon Valley
High School students.
Junior and senior students
have enjoyed the right to travel off
campus during lunch for the last
few years. San Ramon High’s downtown location provides a variety of
stores and eateries. Not all schools
can boast lunchtime favorites like
Chipotle and A Sweet Affair only a
short distance from campus.
But this year the number of
places to buy a bite between classes
shrank when students were no
longer permitted to drive off campus during lunch. The rule against
driving off campus has been documented for two years, but was not
put into effect until this school year.
In the homework planner from
last year, readers were informed
that,“Beginning with the 2012-2013
school year juniors and seniors will
not be allowed to drive off campus.
They will only be able to walk off
campus.”
The rule is about to be tightened. Last year’s planner also says,
“Beginning with the 2013-2014
school year only seniors will have
off campus privileges. They will only
be allowed to walk off campus. No
driving.”
The rule change is upsetting for
many students in the class of 2015,
who have waited patiently for their
'Red and Black' place first in
marching band competition
By Mitchell Marvin
BLACK AND RED on the march, not to be confused with San Ramon Vally High in green uniforms.
Photo by Mitchell Marvin, Monte Vista High School.
said the band’s award winning drum major
Nick Loey.
Loey, a senior, is the guy in the white
hat waving his arms at the band –the timekeeper of the group.
“I’m the conductor on the field - kind
of like a team captain,” Loey said.
Loey was the student leader of the
band and worked with professional field
technicians to ensure Monte Vista would
take home first place. Every Monday,
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday he
worked with the students at Monte Vista’s
field to ensure the band would outshine
its competition.
“This year was special because of the
amount of seniors that left last year -- this
year’s band was mostly a freshman band,”
Loey said.
“Usually at the beginning of the season
it’s pretty straight forward when it comes to
jumping in, but this year we had to go over
the basics a lot longer,” Loey said.
Loey said it requires a lot of effort and
dedication to perform upon the field at
halftime shows and competitions.
Last year’s band had 21 seniors, while
this year’s band had only seven. In spite of
this, the band did better this competition
season than ever, taking awards such as First
Place in Class A, Best Percussion in Class A,
and Best Music in Class A, as well as more
awards for Color Guard and Conducting
throughout its competition season.
“We finished the top band in Northern
California for the year in our division, and
for a while we were the top Class A band
in the state,” Loey said.
Brawl mars Northgate game with College Park
By Peter Welch
A varsity basketball game on Jan. 25
ended with a full-scale brawl involving
dozens of fans from host Northgate High
School and opposing College Park High
School.
After a 61-22 loss by the Northgate
Broncos, verbal exchanges between fans
became heated as people exited after the
game, and the situation became physical,
said students who witnessed the incident
outside the Northgate High gymnasium
entrance.
Northgate students claim College Park
students initiated the trouble.
“The game ended, and everyone began
to leave the gym. Right outside the gym
doors there were College Park students
who seemed determined to start a fight,”
senior Max Moore said.
Other Northgate witnesses also say
Student business
comes with hassles
for merchants
By Paulameena Shultes
A quick clarification for local readers:
members of the Monte Vista High School
Marching Band do not wear green uniforms.
They wear black and red.
Two years ago, the Marching Band
was evidently so unnoticed and unknown
that its uniform color was mistaken to be
green by a Stampede reporter in a quote
now infamous in the Monte Vista band
world: “There’s more to Marching Band
than green uniforms and loud drums, rally
performances or a like for music.”
To make sure this mistake never happens again, the first thing that needs to be
established is that the Monte Vista Marching
Band wears red, not green. Second, this is
Monte Vista, not San Ramon. San Ramon
wears green uniforms, not Monte Vista.
Now that all that’s been sorted out,
what exactly is the Marching Band? It plays
during football games and rallies, then
seems to disappear.
During prime season in October
through November, the 50 or so members
of the band (including this reporter) go
to competitions every weekend, visiting
schools like Foothill High in San Ramon,
Folsom High in Folsom, and Lincoln High
in Lincoln. They competes against the
marching bands of other schools, each
band trying to sound the best, look the
most impressive, and take home first place.
“My favorite part is always competition
season -- it’s pretty dull up to that point,
but once you get there, it’s pretty awesome,”
turn to roam free during the 35 minutes of lunch time, an appreciated
break between almost hour-long
class periods. They now have to wait
another whole year before they can
have that privilege.
“I don’t think it’s fair for sophomores since we waited so long to
get the opportunity,” tenth-grader
Megan Cavallo said.
The rule changes are a result of
a district goal to close the campus
completely, with no students allowed to go off campus during lunch.
“I think Mr. Ianora was asked to
gradually phase it out,” said Principal Ruth Steele, referring to former
principal Joe Ianora.
The reasons for the no-driving
rule and the eventual closing of
the campus include the effect that
students have on local businesses
as well as safety issues.
“Businesses said (that) for every
kid who goes and is responsible,
some go and aren’t respectful,”
said Steele, who attends a monthly
meeting with a board that includes
Danville business owners.
While increased patronage
might sound like a benefit, local
stores are ambivalent about student
customers at lunch time. Some say
that disruption by students interferes with attracting more adult
customers.
In addition, students who drove
off campus often rushed to get back
before the lunch period ended. This
led to speeding and unsafe driving.
College Park students seemed determined
to fight.
“Some of the Sixth Man (cheering section) started walking outside. About 20 to
30 CP kids came out chanting ‘NG sucks,’ ”
senior Christian Montalvo said.
“They were waiting for us. We didn’t
want to fight. During the game we were
cheering like we usually do early on, but
once we fell behind, we were pretty quiet.
We didn’t yell anything that would instigate
anything like what happened,” Moore said.
Many people leaving saw the confrontation, and those who didn’t viewed
a video posted to YouTube showing the
one-minute- plus brawl.
By Friday night, the video had drawn in
over 1,500 views. The video has since been
taken off the site.
Northgate High School Vice Principal
Stephen Brady said the following week that
no arrests took place following the fight, and
he has no knowledge of any serious injuries.
“A serious crowd control issue arose,”
said Brady, who was the administrator in
charge that night. “We thank the student
and adult community members who
stepped up to make sure other community
members were safe.”
Moore said he tried to break up the
brawl. “I was in the parking lot when I saw
the mob in the breezeway. I knew I had to
go back and make sure no one was hurt. I
tried to make sure no one was trapped in
the middle of the mob.”
Northgate Principal John McMorris
responded to a reporter’s question about
any changes planned for security at basketball games.
“The entire administration met, and we
are going to put more administration on
home games, for the high profile games, like
College Park, Clayton Valley and Concord
High,” McMorris said.
Everyone at school has a favorite hangout. Whether
it is Starbucks, Chipotle or others, restaurants near San
Ramon Valley High affect what students do at lunch
and after school.
Many students buy meals during lunch and buy
snacks after school from places around campus. During
lunch hour, the number of student customers range
from 40 percent to 90 percent of shoppers, according
to local store managers.
John Anthony, the manager of Ike’s sandwich shop,
reported that “students have a very good effect on
business. Most of the customers we get are students.”
For Ike’s, having student shoppers is a main source of
income, so most of their restaurants are located next to
schools. The assistant manager of The Dog hot dog and
sausage shop said that students are “how they survive.”
In addition to the patronage, many businesses enjoy
having students around. Store managers said that San
Ramon High students are generally polite and pleasant
-- but not always. The few who are not respectful are the
ones the businesses tend to notice more.
At Starbucks, many students hang out before and
after school. All students are welcome, but there are rules.
“It’s chaos after the students leave,” said Starbucks
manager Leslie Cortez. “There’s trash everywhere!”
Sometimes it’s so bad that employees cannot clean up
quickly enough, causing adult customers to complain.
The biggest cause for complaint at Starbucks is water
cups. Starbucks gives out free water to those who ask for
it, but they expect the water to be drunk and the cups
to be thrown away. Often that does not happen. Cups
are strewn everywhere or left on tables to be picked up.
Debbis Wallis, “director of first impressions” at J.
Rockcliff Realtors has caught students smoking in the
alleys between and behind stores and loitering in front
of businesses with “no loitering” signs. She has called
police on students who break the law openly and often.
The most serious complaint reported came from
the manager of Trader Joe’s, who said he caught a San
Ramon student shoplifting. It happened only once, and
the manager said he does not believe it reflects on the
entire student population.
Gun control opinions mixed
A majority of Americans said they feel gun control laws should be
more strict, according to a new poll released Monday. Half said
they think that more strict laws would not have prevented the
Newtown, Conn., shootings.
Question
Gun laws should be ...
More strict
57%
DonÕt know
4
Less strict
9
Kept as
they are
30
Source: CBS News Poll of 620 adults
nationwide, Dec. 14-16, 2012;
margin of error: +/-4 percentage points
Graphic: Chicago Tribune
Question
How much would stricter gun
laws have done to prevent the
Newtown shootings?
No effect
It depends/
donÕt know
50%
8
A little
16
A lot
26
© 2012 MCT
CC Spin
Volunteering abroad
helps students learn
vital life lessons
By Sarah Cole
A handful of Las Lomas High School students have
had the chance to witness life in third-world countries
and help communities with their hardships.
Africa is a popular destination for many volunteers.
Junior Ellory Brunner traveled to southern Africa.
“I went to Lusaka, Zambia, which is completely landlocked,” she said in a text message. “It wasn’t a specific
place that I wished to travel to but it just so happened
to be the place that needed my help.”
Junior Emily Powell volunteered in Mozambique.
“My aunt is a leader for some Habitat for Humanity
trips, and I have always wanted to go on one with her,”
she said in a text message.
The students volunteered not only to help others,
but to have a life changing experience as well.
“Just the opportunity to help out people in need and
the great experience that would come with it inspired
me,” said Powell.
Students have volunteered on a variety of projects,
many of which help people gain access to the necessities for everyday life.
“For two weeks, about 15 others and I got to build
two separate houses for two different families living
out in the bush (desert) of Mozambique,” said Powell.
“We also got to bring the kids toys to play with. We really got to experience their way of life and culture, and
they were so grateful for our help and took us in as part
of their family.”
Brunner worked with an organization called Camp
Life, which assigned each of the volunteers to work with
about 10 children.
“We pull each child aside throughout the week for
what we call a blessing time,”said Brunner.“During these
30 minutes to an hour, I talk to the children through a
translator about their daily lives, whether that is struggling to have a meal a day, taking care of their ailing
parents, playing with friends, going to school or even
their dreams.”
Other students’ travels took them to South America
and different islands around the world. Senior Jackie
Amaro volunteered in the small Peruvian town of Corca
Pueblo.
“I chose Peru because it was honestly the coolest
sounding program and because I’ve always wanted to
go,” said Amaro. “I went with a program called Amigos
de las Americas, so one of the cool perks was that at the
end of the trip I got to go to Machu Pichu.”
Senior Sophie Akbar also traveled with Amigos. “I
volunteered in Paraguay,” said Akbar. “I wanted to go
because I wanted to improve my Spanish and travel,
and I knew it would look great on a college application.”
Amaro chose Peru because she was excited to help
teach health education there.“I was inspired to volunteer
there because it was a new project,” said Amaro.
The program had only been in existence for two
years when Amaro signed up to volunteer, and many
of the volunteers stayed with first-time host families.
In Paraguay, Akbar split time between construction
projects and teaching young people. “Our project was
basically building latrines for families,” said Akbar. “We
also built a community garden, established a youth
group and taught classes at the local school.”
Many of the organizations’projects involve the environment and the health of their people. Amaro’s project
in Cusco, Peru, focused on promoting not only mental
and physical health but also environmental as well.
“Every day out of the week my partners and I would
work 2-4 hours a day at the elementary and secondary
schools on the outskirts of our towns, teaching and
leading activities about health,” said Amaro.
“It’s surprising how much the children open up
after meeting you practically a day earlier,” said Brunner.
“Some of the stories you hear can surpass your wildest
nightmares. I’ve heard everything from children being
raped by their own fathers to having their grandmothers
force them to eat raw flesh from graveyards. It’s daunting almost to look a child’s father in the eye after having
his child sobbing in your arms speaking of their nightly
beatings for not finishing their chores on time or even
just for the father to blow off steam.”
“The worst part about volunteering are the constant
reminders in my head that right now one of my girls
could be emotionally or physically abused, and I can’t
do anything to stop it,” said Brunner.
For many of the students, the experiences have
changed the way they look at life in Walnut Creek.
“It was definitely a life changing experience,” said
Sophomore Ashley Coyne who volunteered in Haiti. “It
gave me a whole new perspective of my life in the U.S.
and how I should be thankful for the things I had never
really thought about before, like clean water, healthcare,
food and so much more.”
Brunner’s perspective changed the day she got back.
“The day I got home in 2011, I went to my swim
team’s pasta feed and was sick to my stomach by the
amount of food that was wasted and the shallowness
of everyone around me, both adults and children,” said
Brunner. “The things we take advantage of are unparalleled, and in my opinion it is necessary for people who
live as privileged lives as the Las Lomas community to
be aware of the hardships of others.”
For Akbar, it has helped her decide what she would
like to pursue in the future.
“This experience has assured me of my direction
in life and what I want to do, which is international
studies, and after college, the Peace Corps,” said Akbar.
“I’ve become a lot more selfless and humble as well as
very appreciative for the things I have. I wish a lot more
people had the experience I had, it gives you a totally
different mindset.”
3
News
March 2013
Students start clothing nonprofit
By Suying Rothrock
While many students wrote their holiday wish lists, two local freshmen turned
their thoughts toward others.
Northgate freshman Katie Easterly
and Bentley High School freshman Paige
Blake teamed up last summer to create
the nonprofit charity, What’s Mine is Yours.
The local organization collects donations of unwanted winter coats and gives
them to underprivileged girls between the
ages of 12 and 17.
“As you pull out your winter clothing,
remember there is someone out there that
does not have the luxury or accessibility to
a warm winter coat,” Easterly said.
Some 1.7 million young people in
America are homeless, according to a recent
federal study. Put another way, children
under the age of 18 account for 39 percent
of the nation’s homeless population.
Finding clothes in the wintertime with
a limited budget can be as important as
finding food and shelter.
The Northgate Sentinel sat down with
Easterly to talk about her charitable efforts.
Northgate Sentinel: What made you
decide to start the charity?
Katie Easterly: We started at the end of
spring last year. My mom was going through
my closet and saw how many clothes I had
that still had tags on them that I didn’t want
or were too small. So, my mom talked to
Paige’s mom and we’ve been running ever
since. Paige and I do most of the work, our
parents are there to guide us if we have any
questions or need opinions.
NS: Explain the whole process.
KE: First, we get the word out by contacting people by word of mouth through
our website (whatsmineisyours.us), Twitter
and Facebook. We get clothes at our drop off
place, and also Paige and I will collect it from
people’s homes. Sometimes people will just
hand clothes to me if I see them everyday.
We work with different organizations that
tell us what they need. We have worked
with Rising Above and Lilliput Services to
provide them with clothes we collect.
NS: Is there anyone else helping out?
KE: Yes, What’s Mine is Yours has a
vice principal, secretary and three board
members. Our secretary is Paige’s mom.
NS: What’s the most rewarding experience
you’ve had since you started What’s Mine
is Yours?
KE:The most rewarding is seeing all our
hard work in the organization pays off. I love
the reactions we get to making a difference
in our local community.
NS: What’s it like balancing the charity
and school at the same time?
KE: It’s a challenge; so far, we’ve put in
100 hours toward our organization, including summer. We usually have three-hour
meetings once or twice a week at either my
house or Paige’s house. Right now we are
starting a coat drive so we are on our emails
a lot. Our goal is to have a special project
with the same criteria in addition to our
clothes drive every quarter or three times
every year. Our plan is to drop off bags on
people’s doorsteps and set a date to pick
them up. Since we are officially classified
as a 501(c)(3), a non-profit organization in
California, people can get tax refunds when
they help our charity out. This also allows
us to get things for a lower price.
Easterly and Blake aren’t just stopping
at accepting coats, they are also open to
any other clothing donations that fit the
criteria of the age and gender.
All donations can be dropped off at
the office at 90 N. Wiget Ln. Walnut Creek
Ste. 102, 94598 between the hours of 12
noon to 4 p.m.
For further information email [email protected].
Measure D brings school improvements
By I. Gervis & J. Wright
What would you do with more than $55
million? San Ramon Valley High School will
build a new stadium press box, buy bleachers, renovate and construct classrooms.
The money comes from a $260 million
bond measure approved by voters last November to improve facilities throughout the
San Ramon Valley Unified School District.
Measure D passed by a slim margin
-- just 1 percent more votes than it needed.
This bond measure focuses only on
facilities, meaning that money will go to
constructing buildings, renovating classrooms, improving campus safety by creating better fire and earthquake plans, and
increasing use of technology with a larger
Wi-Fi bandwidth.
Money from Measure D cannot be used
to pay administrator salaries or go to the
state. Every penny must go for improving
the physical plant of San Ramon Valley
schools.
Scott Osterholt, assistant principal at
San Ramon Valley High School and facilities coordinator, says that the money will
be used toward a goal of “21st century
teaching and learning.”
At San Ramon Valley High, the bond
measure will provide $55,413,990. There
will be two construction phases. Phase 1
includes 47 replacement classrooms in the
older halls such as E and F, renovated science classrooms and a three-story building
and courtyard.
San Ramon Valley High also plans to
install solar heating panels for the pool,
more shade structures, and new fire alarms.
The first of these improvements will be
the press box and bleachers for the stadium.
Construction is planned to start this summer and is scheduled to finish in fall. Plans
for phase 2 are not yet official.
Dual careers as school security, actress
By Latori Shepherd
Some students may know Deer Valley
staff member Linda Livingston as a school
security guard. What they may not know is
that when she is not working on campus
she is on set as a movie extra. Livingston
is a member of the Rubbermatchseriez
Theater Company.
“There’s an agency in San Francisco,
that is the biggest and a lot of movie productions go to the agency when they need
background actors, and I heard about it and
I signed up,” said Livingston.
Livingston has not only been a security
guard here, she has also worked at the
Oakland Coliseum.
“I left my job of 24 years working at the
Oakland Coliseum. My neighbor worked for
the school district and she suggested that
I apply,” said Livingston.
Although Livingston loves being an
actress, it doesn’t pay the bills.
“There are not a lot of movies and
television shows being filmed in the San
Francisco Bay, so the amount of work is not
enough, and I still need the right amount
College credit courses
start at Hercules High
From COLLEGE CREDIT
Page 1
caseloads, but at Gateway to College, it’s
a very small number of students. They can
really watch over those students and students get more one-on-one interaction.”
Students are eligible to participate if
they have a 2.0 grade point average or below. According to the Gateway to College
brochure, students must follow five steps:
complete an application packet, attend
an information session, attend an evaluation session, undergo an interview and
wait for the selection committee reviews
to determine if they have been accepted.
Former Hercules High senior Alexie
McMahon has been a part of the program
for two weeks. She said the Gateway to
College program is better than attending
regular high school. ”McMahon said.“The
teachers are really understanding of what
we’re going through as teenagers, and
they are here to help us.”
Hercules High junior Sam Lacoste is
enrolled in three classes a week. “So far, it
is pretty fun,” Lacoste said. “I got to meet
lots of new people.”
of money to pay the bills,” said Livingston.
Livingston has played in multiple
movies and has also been in a couple of
television shows.
“Sister Act, Village of the Dam, so I married an Axe murderer, Fearless, Angel in the
Outfield, Metro and the Pursuit of Happiness.
I also was an extra in the shows, Nash
Bridges and Trauma.”
Livingston wanted to be an actress
since she was a kid.
“It’s something I have always wanted
to do since I was eight. I have been playing music since the age of 21 to present,”
she said.
She’s had the opportunity to work
with multiple celebrities while being an
extra on different sets.
“I have worked with Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Whoopi Goldberg,
Shirley Temple Black, Danny Glover, 2Pac,
and Eddie Murphy,” said Livingston.
Her first film to work in was Sister Act,
which was approximately 20 years ago.
More than just being an extra in films,
Livingston has had speaking parts as well.
“I’ve had talking roles in a few independent films such as Coming Out and
Cuff Me If You Can,” said Livingston.
Although she loves acting, the field
does have its ups and downs.
“I don’t like that when you do background work and the weather is bad and
they feed you cold lunches, or when they
treat you like a number,” said Livingston.
“However, I really like watching the production and seeing how the movie comes
together. I like watching the actual actors
work and just being on set gives me a
sense of belonging.”
Between her job at Deer Valley and
her acting career, of course she enjoys
being an actress a little more.
Excited about her latest work, Livingston plays a nurse in a new 15-minute
independent film called Coming Up, a
story about two troubled teens and the
caseworker who fights to keep them off
the streets.
Student creates ticket to college
By Emma Sol
All it took was a baseball game and a few
thousand emails for senior Jack Chabolla to
make a change.
Tickets to College is Chabolla’s nonprofit, which he created after attending a
baseball game with a substantial amount
of empty seats.
“They had said that all the tickets were
sold out, but there were seats still available,”
said Chabolla, a senior. “So I had thought
to myself, ‘People aren’t using their tickets,
what’s a better idea than to get those tickets
from those people?’ "
The idea was born–but it was time to
take action.
Chabolla knew a good amount of those
unoccupied seats were from companies
with season tickets. He sent out countless
emails asking companies to donate their
unused season tickets in return for a tax
write off.
After that, Chabolla took it upon himself to sell the tickets online and donate
the proceeds to Richmond High School’s
College is Real program.
College is Real helps students at
Richmond High School become the first in
their families to attend college.
Chabolla’s donations help fund this
program.
Jack Chabolla’s selfless efforts haven’t
gone unnoticed. He was recently awarded
the Jefferson
Award, a
national
award
that recognizes
people for
their community
and public service
efforts.
Viewpoints
4
March 2013
CC Spin
Preach, practice anti-bullying The cost of free
By Triya Marco
A
manda Todd was found dead in her home last
October. After two years of constant bullying, the
Canadian teen committed suicide days after posting a video of her struggle.
In the video, she explained the events that led to her
“anxiety, major depression and panic disorder”.
During middle school, she showed her breasts to a
stranger online. A year later, a picture of the incident was
used against her. The man blackmailed her, threatening to
release the photo to her entire world unless she provided
him with a “show”.
When he released the photo, she changed schools.
There was plenty of pressure and endless cruelty focused
on her. Some of the behavior was based on her Internet
infamy and other criticism was based on her own actions.
The reaction was wrong in so many ways. And there’s
no excuse for it.
The ageism reflected in the belief that kids are too
naïve to realize the gravity of their actions or the effects
of harassment is insulting. Age does not hinder a person’s
moral compass nor does it cripple a person’s ability to
simply feel. The idea that it does is ridiculous to the point
of idiocy.
Todd is only one of many people who have been
made to feel so desperate that a permanent end seemed
the only solution, and, unfortunately, she isn’t going to be
the last.
There are people who feel that the anonymity the
Internet has to offer is an excuse to unleash their malice.
On social media sites, people find themselves at ease with
telling others to go kill themselves. They do so as they
hide behind the collective name anonymous that shows
their absolute cowardice and vileness.
However, are those unseen faces really the worst in
the society that we live in?
Our present society finds it OK to preach against
these same vices but only after a recent tragedy.
Afterward, these same holier-than-thou people run
out of activism and turn their backs on the cause. They go
back to their regular routines, some of them committing
the same crimes they had railed against.
This is to you Facebook posters, Twitter trenders,
and Tumblr bloggers: Stop preaching and practice those
virtues. You say that you want bullying and prejudice to
stop. Then take the initiative. Speak up and stand up for
those that are harassed in front of your eyes, and stop doing it yourself.
Supremes take on Prop 8, same sex marriage
By Mileena Baldwin
College Park High School
I
n 2008, only 39 percent of Americans supported same-sex marriage. As of December 2012, 48
percent of Americans believe that
same-sex couples should have the
right to marry. The President of the
United States, Barack Obama, has
said that he also believes that samesex couples should have the right
to marry and share the same federal
benefits as heterosexual married
couples.
The U.S. Supreme Court has
decided to take up the subject of
same-sex marriage for the first time
by agreeing to review a case against
a federal law denying married samesex couples the federal benefits
that married heterosexual couples
receive.
The Supreme Court has also
decided to review California’s ban on
same-sex marriage, Proposition 8,
which was voted on in the year 2008.
So far, only nine out of the 50 states
have legalized same-sex marriage,
while it is still banned in the remaining states.
The Supreme Court discussed
considering seven cases they were
requested to review same-sex marriage on Friday, December 8, during
their last weekly conference before
their winter recess. Five of these cases
challenged the federal marriage law,
one challenged California’s ban on
same-sex marriage, another challenged Arizona’s law against domestic partner benefits.
Though unexpected, the Supreme Court decided to review California’s ban on same-sex marriage.
In February of 2012, the Ninth Circuit
Court of Appeals found it unconstitutional for the legality of same-sex
marriage to be taken away by Proposition 8, but it ruled narrowly in a way
that only affected California.
If the Supreme Court finds that
the same-sex marriage opponents do
not have a right to defend Proposition 8, then same-sex marriage will
become legal in California but the
court would still not be addressing
the broader constitutional rights at
stake.
Lawyers for 15 other states are
trying to urge the court to uphold
the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal’s
decision in support of Proposition 8
and claim that same-sex marriage is
not best for the ideal family life for
children and promotes responsible
propagation.
The court is expected to hear
arguments as early as this month and
their decisions are expected by the
end of June.
lunch overpriced?
By Melissa LaFortune
A
fter hours of academics in which some
teachers have strict rules about “no eating or drinking,” College Park High School
students grow really hungry. So when lunch comes
around many students find it easier to quickly
purchase a slice of pizza from the Falcons Nest,
rather than wait in line to buy a full lunch from the
cafeteria.
Interestingly enough, a lunch meal from the
cafeteria (meal, side, and milk) is $3.25, while just
one slice of pizza at the Falcons Nest is $3.50.
College Park purchases its pizzas from Round
Table Pizza, which charges the public $23 for an
extra-large pizza (16 slices.) At the rate the school
charges–$3.50 a slice– a Round Table Pizza would
cost $56.
Each whole Round Table Pizza sold at College
Park makes a profit of $37, but with all the expenses of making the food, Denise Grady, the manager
of the cafeteria, explained the $37 "does not make
up the deficit of monies collected that do not
equal the operating costs.”
For some students buying Falcons Nest pizza
keeps it simple. Junior Anthony Barnwell explains,
“Standing in line for a lunch is a hassle. I just buy a
piece of pizza and I’m done.”
But the major price difference is a problem for
some students. Junior Samantha Chang said, she
likes the pizza, “but it is so expensive compared to
a lunch from the cafeteria! That’s why I buy a full
lunch because I cannot afford to spend so much
money for so little food.”
Students who cannot afford the lunches can
apply to the Free and Reduced lunch program. To
qualify, a family’s overall salary needs to be evaluated.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires that the California Department of Education (CDE) verify applicants every fall, although an
investigation by College Park found that doesn’t
always occur.
Kathleen Corrigan, the former director of food
and nutrition services for Mt. Diablo Unified School
District, explained that only three percent of the
applications are verified.
“Only the standard sample size” of applications
are verified,” she said. “The standard sample size is
the most we can verify and that amount is three
percent of the applications we receive districtwide.”
In effect, the remaining 97 percent are automatically approved. No one knows what percentage of students receiving aid are qualified.
One student who requested his name be
withheld openly admitted, “My family definitely
doesn’t qualify for free lunch but I still get it. All my
brothers and sisters have . . . I mean if I can, why
not.”
“Who cares?” said parent Caroline Roberts, “If
a family goes through all the work of filling out an
application, I’m sure they have financial troubles.
Maybe not what is actually qualified, but they still
have hard times and they need the help, and I’m
happy there is help available,” she said.
Since the Free and Reduced Lunch Program is
federally funded, the school should charge $1.43
for each slice of pizza.
Many College Park students, who incidentally
love the school pizza, feel that there should be a
surplus of money. If the government monitored
the Free and Reduced Lunch Program more
closely, there’s a good chance not as many students would qualify for free lunches. If that was the
case, no one would have to pay $3.50 for one slice
of pizza.
CC Spin
CC Spin is printed by the Bay Area News Group but copy, photos, art and other
contents are produced by students at Contra Costa public high schools. Story
development is supervised by the journalism advisers at the participating schools.
Professional journalists coach the students and guide their reporting and writing. Staff
members from the Contra Costa Times and other local newspapers instruct
participating students in professional journalism standards and practices.
CC Spin is a product of the collaboration of The Lesher Foundation, the Bay Area
News Group, the Contra Costa County Office of Education, and the
California Scholastic Journalism Initiative.
All opinions expressed in CC Spin are the views of the student authors and do not
represent the opinion of the Contra Costa Times, the Lesher Foundation, any school,
district or county educational authority, or the California Scholastic Journalism
Initiative.
CC Spin is a product of student journalists and is guided by the tenets of
The First Amendment, the ethical guidelines of the Society of Professional
Journalists and California Education Code sections 45907 and 48950.
Facilitators
Faculty Advisers
Bert Robinson
Managing Editor/News
Bay Area News Group
Larry Freeman, Acalanes High School
Kathleen Odne
Executive Director
Lesher Foundation
Marialana Knorpp, College Park High School
Peggy Marshburn
Chief Communications Officer
Contra Costa County Office
of Education
Charleen Earley, Deer Valley High School
Steve O’Donoghue
California Scholastic Journalism
Initiative, Coordinator
Jim Finefrock, Writing Coach
Lesley Guth, Writing Coach
Carol Pogash, Writing Coach
Dick Rogers, Writing Coach
Brian Barr, California High School
Amber Lineweaver, Clayton Valley High School
Natalie Wojinski, Hercules High School
Emelie Gunnison, Las Lomas High School
Rebecca Bellini, Monte Vista High School
Karen Jenkins, Northgate High School
Giana Lillig, San Ramon Valley High School
Viewpoints
CC Spin
5
March 2013
Freedom of speech extends to teachers, too
Students also have the right to
“study
… in an atmosphere free of bias
and prejudice,” and to … “express their
hile everyone deserves the
own opinions on controversial issues
right to freedom of speech and without jeopardizing their relations with
is entitled to their own opinion, the teacher or the school.” no one likes to have opinions shoved
Rigisich thinks that all opinions
down their throat.
should be explored. “High school is
From time to time, teachers will
a place where you should explore all
occasionally over-share opinions during points of view,” she said. lessons, making students feel uncomRigisich doesn’t want to change
fortable and awkward. anyone’s mind about their religious or
Sophomore and Honors English
political views.
teacher Lisa Rigisich thinks that teachers
“The goal is to deepen your
deserve the right to speak freely in class, thoughts, to make you question what
but they shouldn’t abuse it. you think but not to change your mind,”
“My job is to make everybody think,” she said. “It might change your mind,
she said.
but it also might make you get down to
the roots of what you believe in and end
According to district guidelines,
schools don’t teach controversial issues,
up making you believe what you believe
but rather provide students rights to
in more strongly.”
Sophomore Christian Theodossy
study controversial issues, which have
political, economic or social significance. sees no problem with teachers sharing
By Spencer Cox
W
their opinions.
“I think it would make for interesting debate,” said Theodossy. “I see how it
could end up making some parents and
kids unhappy, but I personally don’t see
anything wrong with that.” Sophomore Abbey Wells agrees. “I think teachers should be able to
voice their opinions. Students get to
voice their opinions so teachers should
be able to have their opinions too,” said
Wells.
Theodossy has heard of some
students who have felt uncomfortable
because of their teacher’s opinions, but
he says it has never happened to him. Senior Annie Welden disagrees.
“There have been some instances
when some things have been said in
class, particularly regarding politics, that
have made me feel a little bit uncomfortable and upset,” she said.
“I respect all my teachers to the
fullest degree and I respect them having their own opinions," Welden said.
"However, I do not think it is appropriate
for them to voice their opinions openly
in class.”
Although Rigisich does not think
that any teachers go overboard with
their opinions, she still thinks that it
should not be a part of class time.
“A teacher sharing their personal
convictions in a classroom setting or in a
lesson interferes with the purpose of being here in the first place,” said Rigisich. Welden agrees.
“I feel that teachers don’t realize how
big of an impact they make on students,”
said Welden. Rigisich wants students to know that
she does not mean to put her opinions
on anyone.
“My job is to make you think and my
opinions are not a part of your education,” said Rigisich.
Buried by media selling to us nonstop
By Marcela Onate-Trules
T
he typical American consumes
about 12 hours of media per
day, according to the International Journal of Communication. I
know you may be thinking you don’t
watch that much TV or you’re not
on your smart phone that much,
but there’s more media swimming
around and getting inside of our
pretty little heads than we are aware
of.
Everywhere we go, products are
being sold to us. This past month
in my Media Studies class we were
studying how media portrays gender in advertisements, and it got me
thinking.
Women around the world are
being sold a fabricated image about
what it means to be a woman. The
media sells the idea of what a woman
should be like, how she should interact with people and what her place in
society is.
I never understood how much
the media influenced me until recently when I watched an old home video
of my sister and me dancing to the
“Loco-Motion.”
We stood in front of the camera
with our shirts folded over like bras
and we wore sunglasses. We were
trying to be cute in the video and
dance in front of the camera. After
re-watching this I realized the video
was funny, but I also realized how the
mass media has affected me from
such a young age.
When I was younger, Britney
Spears was selling what a teenage
girl should be like: sexy, rebellious,
cute, and definitely not innocent.
Even when I was 3 years old I was trying to be Britney Spears, because she
was all over TV and the radio.
Things have not gotten better in
13 years. In movies, songs, ads, and
music videos, women are almost always portrayed as vulnerable, dumb,
and easily walked over by men.
If a woman doesn’t have the
brains, the media indirectly tells us,
the next best thing we have is our
body. If we don’t have a small waist,
huge chest, toned legs, no stomach,
and a big butt, the media virtually
tells us we have nothing.
The media disparages girls and
women of all ages because they set
a standard too high for anyone to
achieve. We can’t retouch our faces,
because life is not Photoshop.
Why do we let them do this to us,
and why do we let them constantly
objectify our bodies and degrade us?
Why do we do this to ourselves?
We post lyrics to degrading songs
on Facebook. We call other girls hoes
and bitches, and even if it’s a joke
and we don’t mean it, we are putting
ourselves down.
We talk about other girls’ bodies,
about how they really shouldn’t be
wearing that top and how they need
to lose some weight.
I wouldn’t label myself a strong
feminist, but it’s hard for me to see
the self-degradation that women and
girls endure go unnoticed every day.
I am whoever I make myself to be
and I don’t define myself by what the
media tells me to be. We need to start
standing up for other women and let
our voices be heard.
We should not be portrayed as
women like Jessica Simpson with her
oversexualized body in her “These
Boots are Made for Walking” music
video. We should not be defined as
bimbos like Karen from Mean Girls,
and we are not going to ignore the
misrepresentation of women in the
media.
We need to call the grammar police
By Aislinn McNiece
Acalanes High School
A
lthough many people fail to
realize it, grammar is extremely
important.
Sure, we have spell-check, and
those little jagged green lines that
appear when we use passive voice
or the wrong form of “there” during
a midnight essay rewrite, but what
good is a computer when we can’t
even figure out what grammar mistake we just made?
No good. No good at all.
None of those machine-powered
tools suffice when it seems like an
increasing number of people have
never even heard of passive voice or
know that “there,” “their,” and “they’re”
do, in fact, have three very different
meanings.
The amount of grammar abuse I
see, whether I’m editing a freshman’s
English essay in Peer Tutoring, reworking a seasoned Blueprint writer’s
story, or just scrolling through my
Twitter or Facebook feed, is obscene.
And, even though I hate to sound
like the crazy, grammar-obsessed
freak patrolling everybody’s sentences, there comes a time when it is no
longer an acceptable mistake to use
“your” instead of “you’re.”
I want to make a point, so, for
anybody who is passably literate, the
following paragraph will not make
any sense. For anybody who is, like
me, kind of a grammar hound, be
prepared to cringe.
Grammer is’nt importent and
niether is spelling. In modern times,
you’re computer does it four you
and if your not technologicaly-savy
enough to figure that out, than youre
computer can help you with that to.
They’re was a time and place for good
grammar, but that was back in the
1800’s when their were’net computers or other helpful things to help
people with there grammar and stuff.
So, yes, maybe grammar is a little
bit important. Actually, more than a
little bit. Maybe you actually kind of
agree with me. Grammar is flat-out
important.
I don’t want to sound patronizing
or conceited, but somebody has to
help these poor souls who can’t tell
the difference between a word with
an apostrophe and a word without.
For grammar-challenged individuals,
here are some helpful examples.
1) They’re walking their dog over
there.
2) You’re going shopping with
your friends today.
3) Then, I realized I had more
homework than I had thought.
4) I need to go to the grocery
store, too.
5) I have good grammar even
though I don’t feel well.
I feel like the simple rules of
grammar are not that hard to remember, but maybe I’m wrong. Maybe
people need to be taught good
grammar at an earlier age, or maybe
everybody, students and teachers
alike, needs to recognize the need for
good grammar.
In a world where problems
so obviously outnumber the solutions, maybe I’m being naive and a
bit ignorant to care so much about
grammar. However, I truly believe
that the first step toward fixing some
of these problems is a solid education, and grammar is without a doubt
an integral building block of a solid
education.
While any education must largely be based on the ability to think for
ourselves, as well as the development
of enough fact-based knowledge to
be able to dream up feasible ideas
and plans of action, the ability to
express these ideas and thoughts effectively is also crucial.
It is nearly impossible to reach
this point in most career fields without knowing basic grammar.
No boss will ever take an intern
or lowly office hand’s proposals seriously if the basic sentences presented
to him or her are completely nonsensical.
If somebody has perfect grammar in his or her formal essay, it says a
lot about the person when his or her
social media profiles are clogged with
posts saying, “your a great friend,” or,
“I can’t wait to go back their!”
Practice makes perfect.
Grammar does make a difference.
Its time people got of there high
horses and just tried to learn something four once!
Just kidding. Grammar is good.
Learn it. Thanks.
Art by Miranda Konoplisky
Corrupt form
of feminism
plagues Tumblr
By Mirand Konoplisky
B
ecause of the lack of feminists in my life, I,
like any modern American, turned to the
all-knowing Google to learn about women’s fights for political and social equality. While
the search engine led me to amazing places such
as Amnesty International’s website and Rookie,
an online feminist magazine, it also brought to
my attention the epidemic of faux-feminism that
is coursing through Tumblr.
When I first browsed feminism-related posts
on the popular social networking site, I did not
find anything of true interest: a famous quote
from an activist here and a badly worded rant
there. I was just about to end my search when I
came upon a photo of a young man holding a
sign that read, “It’s just as hard to be a Ken as it is
to be a Barbie.” And I completely agree. The pressures of society are not exerted solely on women.
However, many Tumblr users think otherwise.
Scrolling down, I saw comments saying that
as a white male, he had no right to complain
and that women will always have it worse than
men. Even when others who backed up his claim
would try to reason with the masses, they were
quickly shut out.
It is painfully clear that these girls are not
feminists, but bullies attempting to hide their
hate under the excuse of “girl power.” Feminism
was born out of inequality, out of others constantly telling women that their political and
social issues were unfounded. Claiming that this
man shouldn’t complain about his social problems because he has certain privileges as a white
male seems disturbingly similar to what women
were told in the 1960s, when they said they were
tired of just cleaning their houses and making
dinner for their husbands and kids.
I do understand that women have and still
do face more adversity than the average white
male, but it does not make that man’s feelings
and experiences any less valid. It doesn’t matter if someone is a man or a woman, Catholic or
Jewish, Korean or Irish or gay or straight, society
has a stereotype for everyone, and therefore, has
a problem for everyone.
Putting one group’s issues above another’s
minimizes the already slim chance of ever breaking the social and political barriers in place today.
Viewpoints
6
March 2013
CC Spin
Students speak to
Guns in America gun control issue
14
How many more
Sandy Hooks?
By the numbers:
Amount in millions of dollars the National Rifle
Association spent during the 2012 election in an attempt to defeat President Obama
By Tim Hoffman
By Kelly Carson
How do high school students feel about proposed
gun control issues?
Northgate High School reporters conducted a survey
in January, handing out written questions randomly
and collecting them in person. Below are the samples
from responses to the three questions, out of a total of
50 responses. The purpose was to sample of student
views while retaining student anonymity. Here are some
responses:
“If you made gun ownership illegal, the law-abiding
citizens cannot have access to guns. When ownership is
illegal, the law-abiding citizens cannot have access to
guns when a killer will still have [that access] illegally.”
“All visitors should be checked in at the gates of the
school. It should be harder to get a gun, not insanely
hard, but harder than it is now.”
“If we ban guns, criminals will still find a way to
get them.”
“All visitors should be checked in at the gates of the
school. It should be harder to get a gun, not insanely
hard, but harder than it is now.”
“By changing the regulations, I think it would cause
more problems. People might start getting angry.”
“There isn’t a way to help anything. As long as there
are guns, someone could steal them.”
“Teachers are trained for dangerous situations.”
(Survey questions and distribution by Kelly Carson.
Page design by Hansen Chang.
By the numbers info collected by Alyssa Lederman
from cnn.com, businesstimes.com, nytimes.com, fbi.
com, emerson.edu.)
California High School
H
ow many more schools? How many more movie theaters? How many
more houses of faith?” These questions were asked within days following the Sandy Hook Elementary school tragedy.
In the last twelve months alone there have been three school shootings,
a shooting at a theater, a shooting at a Sikh temple, and massive amounts
of gang violence. If we really want to stop these acts of gun violence, we
need to enact better gun laws.
Recently, President Obama proposed a bill that would ban the sale of
military grade assault rifles and high capacity magazines across the country.
This law should be passed as it could help reduce the death toll on gun
violence significantly.
This law would also require more effective background checks on
all guns. With better background checks, we could keep guns out of the
hands of people who should not own them, such as the James Holmes, the
murderer at the Aurora Colorado movie theater.
How many more students must die? Since 1996 over 50 school shootings have occurred across the country. Many of these acts of gun violence
come down to the same factors–lack of gun control, mental illness, gang
issues, or racism.
While critics of gun control often blame violent video games and media,
there is evidence that disproves that theory. In Japan, a huge contributor to
what we in the US define as violent media as seen in video games, anime,
and literature, only two gun crimes were committed in that country last
year according to a You Tube video by the Young Turks, who are an online
news organization.
According to the New York Times, many of the world’s other wealthy
countries have very strict gun laws, which are effective at preventing violence. Gun crimes are relatively uncommon in the UK, France, Germany,
South Korea, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Poland, Norway, Italy, and India
due to their strict gun laws according to The Washington Post.
Civilian gun ownership compared
United States 270
India 46 mil.
4 guns per
100 people
China 40 mil.
5 guns per
100 people
U.S. 89 guns per 100 people
Germany 25 mil.
30 guns per
100 people
Pakistan 18 mil.
12 guns per
100 people
Source: Small Arms Survey (2007)
Graphic: Michael Hogue, Dallas Morning News
47,856
People who have been killed in the U.S. by
firearms between 2006 and 2010
11,493 Homicides by firearm in 2009
7,879 Number of gun purchases denied because
of circumstances relating to the would-be purchasers’ mental health between November 30, 1998 and
December 31, 2011
62 Number of mass murder incidents in America
since 1982
47 Percentage of people in favor of having guns in
schools, while 36 percent are opposed
40 Percentage of guns sold through unlicensed
private sellers
39 Percentage of state-denied applications due to
felony convictions or indictments
31 School shootings in the U.S since Columbine
High School in 1999
GUN CONTROL: both sides speak out
A
million firearms
© 2013 MCT
If we can keep certain people from getting their hands on guns there
will be a reduction in crime. Background checks should be required for
everyone who purchases a gun, as well as be required for purchasing a gun
online and at gun shows, as they aren’t required in either case.
Anyone who attempts to buy a gun is affiliated with a gang, hate
group, has a history of mental illness or of violence, a criminal record, or
has been dishonorably discharged from the military shouldn’t be allowed
to have a gun.
We also should make the background checks longer than the typical
three-day waiting period, and have them required for all guns. Some guns,
such as assault rifles, which can easily be changed from semi-automatic to
fully automatic, should not be sold in the US.
More than half of America’s gun owners say they use their guns for
hunting and self defense. So why do Americans need a military grade assault rifles with a high capacity magazines, laser scopes, and silencers to
take down a deer? We are civilians, not soldiers. We don’t need such high
tech and dangerous equipment, especially when a mentally ill person can
just go buy the same gun and cause mass havoc.
In states like Nevada it is legal to buy these kinds of weapons. Some
say that the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is to give a good guy
a gun as well. Well what if the “good guy” gets shot first, who will stop the
bad guy then?
And what about those who say that everyone should carry a gun, that
way we all should have protection? Sounds like a bad excuse to try and
improve gun sales.
Some people also say that if teachers carried guns, that perhaps tragedies like the one at Newtown could’ve been prevented. I don’t think I trust
a teacher with a gun any more than I trust a student with a gun.
How many more schools will become crime scenes before we decide
that it’s time we limit what guns should be sold? How many more acts of
gang, religious, and hate violence will it take for us to keep the insane, racist,
or gang affiliated people from having guns? How many more public places
have to be shot up before we decide it’s time for change?
We need change, we need a plan, and we need better gun laws.
far less reported story in America than the Sandy
Hook tragedy: In mid-December, 22 elementary
school students in China were stabbed by a
knife-wielding man who invaded their class. China has
very strict gun control laws. The attacker did not have
a gun. All 22 children survived the attack.
I am not going to propose any concrete policy
changes. I do firmly believe, however, that gun policies
in the United States need to change. I also believe that
most of the arguments for no new gun control laws are
illogical and misleading.
Using the Second Amendment as an argument
against stricter gun control is intellectually dishonest.
What the Founders meant by “a well regulated Militia,
being necessary to the security of a free State, the
right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be
infringed” is up to interpretation. Letting people who
lived 226 years ago with muskets dictate gun policy in
today's world is dangerous and illogical.
Another common argument against more gun
control is “it didn’t work in Chicago, or Washington D.C.”
Chicago banned guns from 1982 to 2010 and Washington D.C. banned guns from 1975 to 2008. Whether or
not the gun bans worked is debatable— in the years
after lifting the bans, Chicago’s murder rate spiked,
while Washington D.C. had record-low homicide rates
in 2012. No one can use empirical evidence to say that
the gun bans worked or not because the results have
been so wildly different. Also, a citywide ban is different
from a national ban—it is far easier to leave Chicago
and return with a gun than to leave the United States
and return with a weapon..
I am not suggesting that we outright ban guns. I
completely understand the desire for guns as a selfdefense tool. What I do not understand is the necessity
of a 33- round pistol magazine for self-defense. When
a gun is being used for self-defense, it is realistically
being used inside a home or against an assailant in
public who is very close. Jared Lee Loughner had a
33-round magazine when he shot Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 18 other people in January 2011 in Tucson.
Guns can be used as a self-defense tool, but claiming
that all guns or gun accessories should be allowed is
clearly ridiculous.
The need for high-capacity weapons for hunting
purposes is also ridiculous. Claiming that stricter gun
control hurts hunters is a fraudulent argument.
Whatever we decide -- whether its more gun control, redesigning our mental health system, or taking
a look at our fetishization of violence -- we need to do
something. We cannot continue the pattern of a mass
shooting every seven weeks.
Nick Dyess, Northgate High School
PRO
W
hat happened on Dec. 14 at 9:39 a.m. in a
Connecticut elementary school will never be
forgotten. One man’s decision led to the tragic
events that are driving the call for change. Unfortunately,
we are headed down the wrong path with these outcries.
Guns are not the problem here.
The events that happened in Connecticut were
terrible, as were the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech, the
January 2011 shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
and seven others in Arizona, and the Aurora, Colorado
movie theater rampage last July. Yet is any or this more
tragic than the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives
that we would have suffered during a World War II invasion of America?
When a Japanese admiral after the war was asked
why Japan did not invade America, he responded by
saying that there was "a gun behind every blade of grass.”
The reason we were not invaded, one of the reasons
that we have not been invaded since the war of 1812, is
that around 50 percent of our citizens are armed with
guns. Can you imagine the fear evoked in any army
knowing that even civilians not involved in the greater
war effort could fight back?
Of course, there is also the subject of public safety.
Common logic would dictate that if there are fewer
guns in the country, there would be less violence, but
in reality this is not the case. If there were fewer guns in
the country, there would be fewer guns in the hands of
normal citizens, not criminals. And say what you want
about a handgun being adequate to protect yourself
against a robber armed with a machine gun breaking
into your house. I don’t think so.
Still, these two are only the most superficial reasons
to advocate for gun control. But to really understand
why gun control is an issue try to look at this through
the eyes of the framers of the Constitution. The right to
bear arms was not written into our Constitution just so
that every citizen can go quail hunting on the weekends.
It was for the day when our government tries to take
away our freedom. The right to bear arms is guaranteed to
every citizen because the framers of our nation feared the
government. It’s true that this issue is not very prevalent
right now, but neither is the issue of quartering soldiers.
But ask yourself a question. Do you truly believe that
our government is incorruptible? No matter how many
years pass and what events transpire, do you believe
that our government will never have evil men in charge?
If the answer is no, then consider the other alternative to gun control: that we need to stop these tragedies
by taking action to get at the real root of the problems
before we immediately turn to the easy scapegoat of
gun control.
Drew Kosturos, Northgate High School
CON
What it takes to buy a gun in California
Californians can buy guns if they donÕt fall into one of several categories, such as having been convicted of a felony or some misdemeanors;
committed to an institution or found by a court to be mentally unstable or incompetent; or put under a restraining order.
DriverÕs
license
If you walk into a
California gun
store or gun
show and want
to buy a firearm,
hereÕs
what happens:
1 ID check
You must show a valid driverÕs
license or state ID with your
current address and correct
age; you must be at least:
18 years old to
buy a rifle or shotgun
21 years old to
buy a handgun
Source: California Department of Justice
Trigger
lock
HANDGUNS ONLY
2
Proof of
residency
If buying a
handgun, you
must also show
separate proof
of California
residency such
as a lease, auto
registration or
utility bill
3
Safety
certificate
You must also show
separate proof of a
California Handgun
Safety Certificate
earned by passing
the state Justice
DepartmentÕs test,
administered by a
certified instructor
Graphic: Josh Richman, Doug Griswold, Bay Area News Group
4
Safe-handling
demonstration
You must also give a safehandling demonstration Ñ
using the gun youÕre buying
or the same model Ñ proving
to a certified instructor that
you know how to check that
the weapon is empty, unlock
it, load it with a dummy
round, unload it and relock it
5
Firearm
safety device
For any firearm,
you must also buy
a firearm safety
device Ñ a trigger
lock, cable lock,
qualifying gun
cabinet or lock box,
or gun safe Ñ or
prove that you
already have one
6
Background
check
The gun dealer
sends the buyerÕs
information
electronically to the
California Justice
DepartmentÕs Dealer
Record of Sale
system so that it can
conduct a
background check
7 Waiting period
The dealer keeps the
gun for a 10-day
waiting period, after
which the buyer can
pick it up if he or she
passed the
background check*
*Background checks also
apply to Californians who buy
a gun through a private seller;
buyer and seller must get a
federally licensed seller to run
a background check to
complete the transaction
© 2013 MCT
Viewpoints
CC Spin
7
March 2013
Cliques don't have Real life 'gamers' defy stereotype
The facts don't support the image of violent, crazed players
to be threatening
By Paul Turek
By Raya Scott
E
ver wondered if those movies about the
popular groups of teenagers that roam the
halls referred to as cliques were actually
true? When asked this question, College Park
High School freshman Iliyana
��
Cruz said,“Not really, but I kind of thought they were true.”
Cliques are essentially groupings of people
who share similar tastes like athletes, nerds,
and hipsters. One may fear joining one of these
cliques because it may affect his or her reputation at the school. At College Park there are not
many cliques.
Though College Park High School is a pretty
unified school, as in most schools, there is a separation between upper and lower classmen. Due
to the highly popular Freshmen Friday, there
have been a few incidents involving milk and
eggs. This “cake-making” certainly seems like the
wrong way to welcome the incoming freshmen
class. Chants of “freshmen suck” at rallies also
creates a separation between upper and lower
classmen. The entertainment industry has glorified the
sense of cliques in high school. The movie Odd
Girl Out is an example of one of the films that
gave me the impression that cliques ruled the
school. This film is about a girl named Vanessa
(Alexa Vega) who is a straight A student with a
popular best friend, Stacey (Leah Pipes). Due
to some scheming by Stacey’s followers, their
friendship falls apart and Vanessa starts to
crumble mentally and emotionally. But with the
help from another “outcast” she slowly starts to
get herself back on track.
Fortunately, in my short time at College Park
I have found that cliques are not something
students need to fear. There aren’t many cliques
at College Park and being a member of one of
these cliques is not something to be ashamed
about.
In retrospect: advice
from upperclassmen
By Yuki Pan
High school will be over before you know it,
is the first of many pieces of advice most students
hear from teachers, parents, and upperclassmen
alike. And it’s true.
These four years seem like nothing, and yet,
it’s like we all go through accelerated growth.
We’re different year to year. We end up somebody
completely different than the person who first
walked through these gates freshman year.
Given the chance, upperclassmen, what
would you do differently? What advice would you
give to freshmen?
"I regret not doing enough extracurriculars
that I was interested in because I couldn’t balance it with academics," said senior Rebecca Tran.
"Time management is a life skill, so the earlier
you learn it, the better."
Even so, it’s never too late to get started,
and it’s always the time to begin. Tran is now the
president of Deer Valley’s chapter of the California Scholarship Federation, despite her earlier
inactivity in school events.
Jason Nguyen, a senior who realized his interest in tennis two years ago, offers some complementary advice.
"Join a club or sport early on,” said Nguyen,
“because by your senior year, you might wish you
started earlier because it’s going to end soon."
Although four years seem like a long time,
there is never enough time if you find something
you like to do.
"Don’t be in a rush to date," said senior Lucy
Wu. "It’s more fun just getting to know everyone
and having good friends rather than getting into
a relationship."
Crowned the 2012 Junior Prom Princess, Wu
has clearly found a balance between making
time for both her friends and her boyfriend.
So ultimately, the secret to being happy in
high school is to take charge and make yourself
happy. It seems obvious, but many people forget
to do so somewhere along these four years.
At the same time, don’t laze at home watching TV or trolling the Internet because these
temporary joys seem to make you happy.
Take advantage of these times. Find something that you love to do, and do all that you can
for it.
Keep up your grades so you can graduate
and choose for yourself what you truly want to
do with your time. Don’t let these four years of
high school pass you by.
A
h, the stereotypical gamer: A
person who sits in their mom’s
basement playing World of
Warcraft or Call of Duty until 2 a.m.
surrounded by half-eaten hot pockets.
Of course we all know the real
world is very different from a virtual
world, although many concerned
mothers and politicians are trying
to find correlations between video
games and violent crimes. Video games are awesome: many
help improve motor development,
cognitive skills, hand eye coordination, teamwork, social skills and much
more. Yet, many politicians and mothers
around America believe video games
are influencing young minds to go in
the wrong direction, more than other
popular media such as: music, movies
and social networks.
Furthermore, while video game
sales quadrupled between 1998 and
2008, the arrest rate for juvenile murders actually fell 72 percent, and the
arrest rate for violent crimes overall
fell 50 percent. The Pew Researched Center did
a study in 2008 that reported 97
percent of teenagers between 12 and
17 played some type of video game,
and two-thirds of these games were
violent. If there really is a correlation
here, then we›ve got a lot of crazy
teens out there to worry about.
In some studies, researchers strap
test subjects to heart rate monitors and blood pressure sensors to
monitor aggression while they are
playing violent games. Studies have
shown that some actually do have an
increase of heart rate and blood pressure these games.
But of course everyone gets
a little agitated when playing any
game, whether it is violent or not. Correlation does not necessarily
mean causation.
People who associate violence
with video games are generally too
lazy to deal with the more obscure
and underlying foundations of violence in humans. A person who continuously plays violent games will not
be more prone to violent thoughts
and actions, just as a car continuously
staying in a garage will not become
any faster--there is no link between
either. While I strongly encourage
questioning everything, using video
games as a scapegoat for senseless
violence when there are so many
other factors does not make sense.
Additionally, the 99.9 percent of
gamers know that it›s just a game,
made for enjoyment and pleasure. A
normal person who can easily differentiate reality and the virtual world
will restrain himself from imitating in
real life what goes down in a video
game. Dreaming, perchance, of sleep
By Ian Summer & Nick Wittwer
T
he warm glow of the streetlight
illuminates the streaks of water
on the windows as rain patters
outside, refracting the distant lights
of downtown Walnut Creek. The
clock ticking away on the wall is the
only thing reminding us that it is just
6:30 p.m.
As the days grow shorter and
night falls sooner, sleep seems to be
on our minds. Because of our natural
response to the lack of light, people
generally get more sleep in the winter. Unfortunately, that is not always
the case for students. According to a survey of 454 Las
Lomas students, students go to bed
around 11 p.m. and wake up at 6:30
a.m. This means that they’re getting
far fewer than the nine hours recommended for teenagers.
The less adolescents sleep, the
more the effects of sleep deprivation
show according to Rebecca Spencer,
a sleep researcher at the University of
Massachusetts.
Graphic by Ian Sumner and Nick
Wittwer, Las Lomas HS
“Sleep deprivation impairs your
memory, makes you emotionally dysregulated (i.e., an emotional roller
coaster), causes you to make poor decisions, [and] makes you more likely
to get sick when exposed to germs,”
said Spencer in an email.
Although many students know
they need to sleep a few more hours
each night, they are largely unable to.
It’s not just homework, Facebook and
busy schedules keeping students up
at night. “High school students are sleep
deprived because their circadian
clock (the biological clock in your
brain) is not able to fall asleep until,
say 11 p.m.,” said Spencer. “Your
body at that age needs nine hours of
sleep, so there’s usually no way to get
enough quality sleep.”
Student athletes also feel the
pain of sleep deprivation because
sleep helps with more than just with
retention of information. According
to Spencer, it also helps retain motor
functions, like muscle memory.
Not sleeping well in the two days
prior to a sports game can impair
motor skills and cause other symptoms of sleepiness. The best way to
prepare (sleep-wise) for a game is to
sleep well two nights in a row, aiming
for nine or more hours each night to
get the necessary quality sleep.
There are various options for
making up for lost beauty sleep with
such a full schedule. By napping for
an hour or going to bed earlier and
waking up an hour later than normal, you will have a better chance of
catching up on sleep.
Sleep is a great way to boost
grades, performance in school and
mood. Reinstate the bedtime!
Teen celebrity obsession can harm
By Danielle Rector
G
etting tattoos of celebrities
and stalking their every move
are part of the social norm for
fans of today’s entertainment world.
Recently though, Justin Bieber devotees demonstrated how an obsession can go too far.
The drama arose after a photograph of Bieber holding what appeared to be a marijuana joint went
public. Some fans responded by
cutting themselves in protest.
“He had such a clean cut image
that people could idolize him easily,”
said California High senior Miranda
Shakes. “They thought of him as a
good role model even though his
objective never was to be a good role
model.”
TMZ posted the photograph in
early January and an anonymous
user on 4chan, the same website that
once claimed Bieber was diagnosed
with cancer, started the #BaldForBieber Twitter trend, suggested the
“Cut for Bieber” campaign.
“Self-harm as a way to express
love for an idol is a really scary concept,” said English teacher Donna
Montague. “There’s definitely something psychologically lacking; they’re
(the fans) trying to have this pseudo
relationship with a celebrity to fill
that need.”
Twitter users posted mock
photos, with ketchup spread on
their wrists like blood and scissors
in mid-cut of pictures of the singer.
But when photos of Bieber fans truly
inflicting self-harm began to surface,
the practical joke became an eye
opener to the horror that can manifest from the click of a button.
“When we look at middle to
younger adolescent females, they do
tend to have higher rates of cutting
in general as a response to many
things,” said psychology teacher Brandon Quick.
“In my opinion it is more of a
product, especially in Bieber’s particular situation, of the age of the star
and the age of the fans.”
Many blame the fans for letting
the campaign get so out of hand.
“The #CutForBieber trend was so
unnecessary,” said sophomore Jason
Sawdey. “It’s good to be a fan but
when you hurt yourself for no reason
it just becomes ridiculous.”
Junior Melissa Jayasuriya, a
Bieber fan, thinks the trend was unjustifiable. “I was not personally upset
by the picture of him smoking weed,”
said Jayasuriya. “It was his choice to
smoke and there is nothing I can do
about it.”
Many Twitter users, including celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, fought
back against the campaign that encouraged fans to hurt themselves.
“Everyday growing and learning.
Trying to be better. U get knocked
down, u get up (sic),” Bieber tweeted
after the photos surfaced.
The “baby” singer is known for
keeping a close relationship with
his fans via social networking sites
like Twitter and Facebook, but some
Justin Bieber performs at Time Warner Cable
Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina, Tuesday,
January 22, 2013. (Jeff Siner/Charlotte
Observer/MCT)
students question whether these
websites are beneficial to pop culture
in the long run.
“Celebrities feed into obsession
when they allow fans to have immediate connection so they think they
are friends,” said Montague.
Quick suggested that celebrities
simply let fans see them in the public
eye, doing normal activities that are
unrelated to their performances, in
order to remind the world that stars
are real people too.
“People generally become obsessed with that illusion of perfection
in celebrities, we forget they’re real
people,” said Quick. “The information
is so much faster and more plentiful
now.”
“Anytime that you do something
to dramatically alter your life because
of somebody,” said Shakes. “I think
that’s obsession.”
8
March 2013
Athletics
Carranza defies hockey stereotype
for a boys’team closer
to home.
But being the
only girl on the team,
things weren’t exactly easy for her. “The
dads on the team
were sexist,” she said.
“I was always the odd
one out.”
Carranza recalls
team parents telling
her that she didn’t
deserve to be on the
team because she
was a girl.
Her father, JoEN GARDE! California High sophomore Rachel Carranza smashes the
seph Carranza, also
stereotype of hockey as a male only sport. Photo courtesy of Rachel
remembers this as
being a hard time for
her. “It was isolating
By Erica Drake
at times,” he said. “Also some boys gave
her a hard time or didn’t fully accept her
hen most people picture hockey because she was a girl.”
players, they imagine buff CaShe didn’t let this stop her from proving
nadian men, but California High them wrong. Because Carranza has to travel
sophomore hockey player Rachel Carranza to San Jose three times a week for practice,
is breaking the mold.
juggling hockey and school can be a hassle
Carranza has enjoyed hockey from a for her. But seeing as how little opportunity
young age. Her dad and her brother both there is for a female hockey player in the
played hockey and eventually Carranza East Bay she doesn’t have much choice.
picked it up. “I got bored of waiting for
She does additional traveling around
(my dad and brother) to stop practicing so the Bay Area for games.
I decided to try it out,” she said. That was
But her travels don’t end there. Last
when she was eight-years-old and she has October, Carranza was one of 20 people
been playing ever since.
from California and Minnesota picked by
While Carranza is currently playing for the U.S State Department and USA Hockey
the all-girls San Jose Jr. Sharks, for the first to go on a ten day trip to Russia where she
six years of her hockey career she played trained with Russian students and profes-
W
sionals. She stayed in the training center in
Novogorsk, a city outside of Moscow.
Carranza said that although most of
the Russian students knew how to speak
English, hand gestures played a role in
communicating with each other.
At the end of her trip, she, along with
her American and Russian teammates,
played against a team from Moscow. Carranza wishes to play hockey in the future
and hopes for a hockey scholarship to
college.
But her future in hockey here in the
Bay Area has been put into question. Next
season, it seems likely that there won’t be a
San Jose Jr. Sharks for Carranza to return to,
as there might not be enough people for a
full team. As a result she has been looking
elsewhere for hockey.
She has already applied to several
schools with hockey teams and hopes to
finish high school at one of them. Some of
these schools include Deerfield Academy
in MA, Westminster School in CT, and The
Gunnery School in CT.
Sophomore Kelsey Aguirre said Carranza always puts schoolwork first. “Rachel
is a hard worker and she gets things done,”
Aguirre said.
Despite previous hardships, she has
faced being a girl in a male-dominated
sport, Carranza believes that it is actually
a good thing. “As a girl playing hockey,
you can go so much further with it,” Carranza said.
Fellow hockey player, junior Willie
Chan, agreed. “It’s pretty difficult to get
far with hockey,” Chan said. “It’s really
competitive.”
Longero hangs up his cleats after 14 seasons
By Jonathan Hawthorne
After 113 career wins in 14 seasons as
head football coach at Las Lomas, Doug
Longero has decided to temporarily step
down.
Longero told his team that he had
decided to take a year off to pursue a
master’s degree.
“I made promises to some people that I
would finish my education to get a masters
degree, and I’ll be looking to do that,” said
Longero. “And I’ve got some other things
growing that are going on, but it was time
for me to take a break because I’m overwhelmed.”
Longero will help oversee the transition next season, as Mike Downing will
become head coach.
“He’s very organized and very detailed,”
said Longero. “He knows the way that we’ve
always done things here. He’s been around
the program for eight years.”
Downing was surprised and honored
to be chosen as Longero’s replacement.
“I’m excited by the challenge, but a little
freaked out to be honest,” said Downing.
“I want to not drop the ball, to continue
with the program that he has established.
I intend on running pretty much the same
program.”
Although stepping down from the
program, Longero will continue to be a
P.E. teacher at Las Lomas. The Knights are
coming off a 5-7 season that ended with a
21-14 loss to Rancho Cotate High School
of Rohnert Park.
Longero said that his decision to leave
the program was not related to the team’s
season.
“It’s had nothing to do with how the
team performed, or anything like that,”said
Longero. “It’s just that, internally, it’s time
for me to take a break.”
Dealing with the stress and time
required to successfully run a football
program has taken its toll.
“You manage it every year,” said Longero. “You’re going to have victories and
defeats and competition.”
There is much speculation that Longero will pursue a coaching job at a higher
level.
“I know that he’s a great coach and
I know that he has a lot of contacts at
different levels, and I know that he loves
coaching at Las Lomas,” said Principal Matt
Campbell. “I hope he does come back, but
if he doesn’t, I’d understand. Right now, we
are planning for one year.”
Longero has seen plenty of success
over his tenure with four North Coast
Sectional titles in his time at Las Lomas.
Only twice has one of his teams missed the
playoffs. He attributes his success to support from the community and his players.
“You’re only as good of a coach as the
players that you have on the field, and I’ve
had a lot of guys that really worked hard and
inspired to be great people,” said Longero.
“It’s been a remarkable run.”
School installs black turf during winter break
By Charley Jang
CC Spin
Concussion deceptive,
dangerous injury
By Alex Shimberg
Clayton Valley High School
Injuries stink. As an athlete, there is nothing worse
than watching from the sidelines, not being able to
help your team. I suffered a concussion during a recent
high school soccer game. I was immediately sent to the
hospital for a CAT scan, which thankfully showed no
hemorrhaging in my brain.
I figured I’d be able to play again soon, possibly
within a couple of days. To my surprise I had to sit out
for more than two weeks. I felt like I could play, but was
not allowed to participate in athletics. When I asked
why I couldn’t play I was told that even though I may
have felt fine in the moment, if I returned too soon and
got another concussion then I could have permanent
brain damage.
The tricky thing about concussions is that there is
no noticeable physical reason for restricting a return to
the sport. If an athlete has a broken leg it is obvious why
he or she can’t play. All one has to do is look at the cast
on the athlete’s leg to understand why he isn’t active.
With a concussion it’s different. A player may look
fine, but might be as prone to a devastating injury if he
returns too soon as the kid with the broken leg. Sitting
out was depressing, but looking back I’m thankfuI I
wasn’t allowed to return too quickly.
My change of mind comes as more and more research has been conducted on the damaging effects
of concussions, especially if left untreated. From high
school to professional sports, coaches are encouraged
(sometimes even forced) to be on alert for head injuries,
and send any athlete who might have a concussion to
get tested.
The National Football League is behind a movement to inform athletes of the dangers of concussions.
Strong evidence shows that former San Diego Chargers
linebacker Junior Seau’s suicide may have resulted from
recurring concussions throughout his career.
For decades athletes have been almost encouraged to adapt a heroic attitude toward injuries and play
through them. Nobody wants to let down their team or
lose a starting position, so many injuries go unreported
or ignored.
And it isn’t just with concussions. Recently, Washington Redskins star quarterback Robert Griffin III played
on an injured right knee. Late in their last game of the
season, RG3, as his fans refer to him, reinjured his knee.
He had to undergo knee reconstruction, and will likely
never be the standout quarterback he once was.
Most high school athletes won’t make it to the pros.
Having a healthy brain and body well into adulthood
is more important than acting tough and playing with
an injury.
Athletes like RGIII who are idolized by youth should
be role models by making smarter choices when it comes
to injuries. Research has proven that the heroic attitude
toward injuries causes major health problems later in life.
The risks of playing injured outweigh the rewards of
returning early, and it’s about time that athletes begin
to realize this.
Spelunky is a
gamers delight
Clayton Valley High School
Since Clayton Valley High School’s
conversion to a charter school in 2012,
there has been interest in remodeling the
battered stadium as students, athletes,
coaches, and teachers have complained of
worsening track and turf conditions. The
biggest debate has been over the color of
turf that was installed this winter-break.
Think basic black.
“We are a charter school now and we
can do it,” said Director of Operations Pat
Middendorf. “We can go outside of the
box, be different, and be innovative. In
the end, you have to be different and be
the school outside of the box.”
Coach Tim Murphy, who took control
of the football team, leading the school to
its first NCS Championship in the 2012-13
season, proposed the design for the new
stadium and is a major advocate for the
BLACK TURF! The 'innovative" new surface of the Clayton Valley Charter High School is unique in
color.
“It’s more than a ‘like’ for Tim Murphy; area schools. The new surface was installed over winter break. Photo from Clayton Valley Charter.
it is almost like an obsession. But we have
his could potentially draw NCS and
a coach that we believe in and trust,” Mid- shown that the turf will have little effect
dendorf said.
and at most, will raise the temperature by state events to Clayton Valley. The school
Murphy had heard the school wanted 3 degrees.
also plans to double the size of the stands
to design a new stadium, so he went to
Amid debate, the design of the stadium and add concession stands and a grand
work and started researching. A school in underwent many stages, from having dif- entrance.
West Salem, Ore., sparked his interest in ferent shades of green to changing the
“I am excited. It’s the only black turf that
the black turf as and he fell in love with it. school’s eagle logo. But the decisions to I know of in California. It’s unique and one of
“I think it’s one of those things that is install the black turf and to keep the logo a kind. We are going to have a world-class
unique,” Murphy said. “It’s so different that the same have been made and preparations stadium,” Linzey said.
you can’t wrap your head around it. It will are under way.
Since the school’s conversion, there
bring a lot of kids out to sports and get
“It’s going to boost school spirit. I love has been a new spirit about the school and
them excited and people fired up to play. it that it was really the kids who made it about sports as the teams continue to excel.
It will attract people from around the area.” happen and decided it. We trusted them,”
“I think it (the turf ) would be a great
There are concerns about whether said Executive Director Dave Linzey.
addition to the new culture of the Clayton
black turf will cause higher temperatures
The school plans to install the turf Valley Charter High School’s football team
and potentially raise risks for heat stroke. during winter break and the tracks during and to all the other sports like track and
At first, many believed the temperature summer break. There are hopes to add a soccer,” said senior varsity football captain
increase would be dramatic.
ninth lane to the track, which Granada High Jesse Medrano.
But according to Murphy, studies have School in Livermore possesses. T
By March Bachofer
In a world dominated by multiplayer shooters,
massive online games, and open-world adventures,
the humble side-scroller is often overlooked as a thing
of the past.
But Spelunky is a little game that changes all of that.
Developed by Derek Yu and Mossmouth, Spelunky
is a two-dimensional side-scroller with eight-bit graphics. In this indie action game, the player controls an
Indiana Jones-like spelunker, who explores a series of
underground caves, often at his own risk!
For the caves are not only filled with treasure, but
also fraught with danger. For the inexperienced player,
the caverns of Spelunky can lead to a quick and painful
death. Spike traps, yetis, giant piranhas, and countless
other dangers await the unwary.
But the final rewards of treasure, idols, and sparkling
gems are well worth the danger.
A common complaint about recent games is their
repetitiveness. This is a concern that is well addressed in
Spelunky, as it uses a random level generator. Every time
one plays the game, the map is different.
Another great feature of Spelunky is that it is free! The
publisher of Spelunky has made both the full game and
the source code available for download on his website
at www.spelunkyworld.com.
An updated version with new characters, graphics, and gadgets has been released for Xbox. However,
someone just looking for a quick game will be satisfied
with the free version.
Spelunky is a great game, for both the hardcore and
casual gamer.
Athletics
CC Spin
Keeping fit
Pogo a unique
form of transport
By Andrea Catt
When people think of sports, what comes to
mind are usually the big three: baseball, basketball,
and football.
But there is quite an abundance of strange and
wacky sports that are overlooked.
Tristan Bergonia, a Deer Valley High School senior, is
a pogo stick hobbyist. He pogo-sticks everywhere, from
the corner store to friends’ houses, and even to school.
“I just got it for Christmas one year and I’m usually
interested in things that will probably kill me,” said
Bergonia with a laugh.
Some would consider pogo-sticking a bit dangerous since it’s done on pavement and it all depends on
balance.
It’s only natural that Bergonia has had a few accidents in his time with his pogo stick, Delilah.
“I tried flipping the stick around my leg in the
air and almost landed, but I landed on the bottom of
my calf muscle and I had a dent in my leg for a week,”
said Bergonia
The general thinking behind sports is that the
players play to win.
So how do you win at a sport that only involves
one person?
“When I fail a million times attempting to do a trick,
then finally get it right, it feels kind of amazing. That’s
kind of winning in itself,” said Bergonia.
9
March 2013
Petite size disguises martial arts pro
A brown belt, Poon is zeroing in on her black belt
By Michelle Nguyen
W
alking through the hallways of
Monte Vista, senior Cameron
Poon may look like just another
student in the crowd.
Howeve this rather petite and quiet girl
has a side not many people would expect –
she is a martial arts master. Poon’s love for
this sport began about 11 years ago. Her
parents signed her up at East West Kung Fu
in Alamo, wanting to give her more strict
discipline.
Discipline has gotten her to where she
is now. As a second-degree brown belt,
Poon was given the opportunity to compete
in the Fourth Kuoshu Tournament in Malaysia. She had to prepare herself through
rigorous training, four months ahead of the
mid-October event.
“The tournament was held on top of
the mountain,” Poon said. “Because of the
altitude, I did a lot of cardio workout to
expand my lung capacity in order to avoid
passing out during my forms.”
The cardio workout consists of running,
pushups, and situps. The routine allows
Poon’s body to warm up and stretches her
muscles, so they do not tense up when
she engages in martial arts. In addition,
she practices the splits to increase her flexibility, an important attribute in achieving
high kicks.
Poon performed for a panel of five
judges over the course of three days, spending around 10 hours a day at the venue.
Eight hundred people were present at
the competition, which was less than the
previous years, since it was located farther
for most than usual. However, as Poon’s first
world tournament, it was daunting for her.
“There was a lot of adrenaline rush
because a million thoughts were going
through my brain at 20,000 miles an hour,”
Poon said. “I got really scared before my
first event, but afterwards it was much less
stressful going out there and performing.”
She showcased her skills in seven
different events at the competition. The
number of people competing against Poon
in a single match ranged from between
four and 30. Seventeen countries in total
attended the tournament, including those
from Europe, Asia and South America.
“The most challenging part of the
competition was going up against people
not from other countries, but from my own
team,” Poon said. “It’s hard to look at the
people you’ve trained with together and
see them as enemies, but in the end you
just have to really go for it.”
“You have to make it your own form,”
Poon said. “It makes you stand out against
your competitors and it really impresses
the judges.”
She placed first for the Chinese Southern Open Hand Form, third for the Chinese
Other Weapon, and fourth for sparring.
Not only did she compete individually,
Photo by Monte Vista High Stampede
but her team represented the United
States as a whole. The results Poon received
on each event added up towards the country’s score. The United States made their
way to the top of the scoreboard, ranking
first place.
Since she is close to achieving her
black belt, Poon plans to attend Diablo
Valley College for two years after graduating high school. Poon wants to be able to
attain her black belt before she transfers to
a university. “Everyone goes their different
paces,” Poon said. “Some people are more
talented than others, but we just worry
about ourselves as an individual martial
artist.”
Son, father, grandfather coach Acalanes football teams
Three generations of Finns still inspire Dons
“Football was kind of
in the blood,” said registrar
Emily Finn, Mike Finn’s wife.
It’s pretty uncommon to have two mem- “My boys started playing
bers of one family standing beside each other youth football in middle
on any one sporting field. Try to imagine a school in Martinez and
football team that features both Peyton and they played football in
Eli Manning. Now, envision that the coach of high school just like their
dad and their grandpa did.”
that team is their father.
After playing football
This is the remarkable situation that the
Finn family finds themselves in after fusing at El Cerrito High School,
three generations into one unified force Gordy was recruited to
leading the Acalanes Dons junior varsity play for UC-Berkeley. After
college, he began teaching
football squad.
This year’s Dons junior varsity assistant physiology and biology at
football coach, Gordon “��
Gordy” Finn, now ap- Del Valle High School in
proaching 75, is no stranger to the tumbling 1962, and he joined the
tackles and grueling gameplans of the football Acalanes faculty in 1979.
Gordy has left a lasting
world. Gordy has been seen on the Acalanes
turf since 1979, and he has been varsity head impression on Acalanes
coach for several non-consecutive years dating Sports. He coached the
Acalanes Football team
as far back as 1981.
Gordy’s son, Mike Finn, follows closely in 1980, leading it to the
behind. Mike is also a frequenter of his favorite North Coast Sectionals
home field at Acalanes, on which he first played championship title. He
is thrilled to finally have
more than 40 years ago.
Inspired by his grandpa, Gordy, and his the opportunity to coach FAMILY Acalanes High coaches Mike Finn , Gordon “Gordy” Finn, and Lucas “Luke” Finn, a family trio dedicated to football.
father, Mike, Lucas “Luke” Finn literally picked again this year, not only Photo courtesy the Finn Family.
up the ball and ran with it. For the past four with his son, but also with
During the 2012 season, the JV boys
the only one functioning.
years he has played at Alhambra High School, his grandson.
“They always manage to keep away from sustained only one loss and sat atop the Diablo
and the youngest Finn experienced his first year
“It’s going to be really fun,”said Gordy prior discussing family things and stay focused on Foothill Athletic League standings.
of coaching this year with the Acalanes junior to the 2012 season.“My son and I have coached what we have to get done in practice,” said
“They work very well together and
varsity team. For this coaching trio, football is together in different settings numerous times. junior Tommy Kresnak.
produce a well-coached team,” said Kresnak.
tradition.
The three of us coaching together, (we’re) going
Although the Finns excel in keeping “They all have the same mentality about how
to have a great time.”
personal life and work separate, their passion to play against our opponents: No matter what
As a new coach, Luke has for the game does not allow them to keep their the score is, keep putting points on the board
Personal Trainer
been learning alongside his rela- work out of their home.
and stop the other team from scoring.”
tives, absorbing any tips he can.
For Luke, his inaugural coaching season
“Once football season hits, the whiteboards
Because Luke plans to continue come out and there are X’s and O’s all over the could not have been better spent. As a young
The basic pitch in baseball is the fastball; young players first
learn to throw strikes with the fast, accurate Òfour-seamerÓ type.
his coaching career in the future, house,”said Emily.“That’s what the dinner table coaching prospect, the lessons and memories
he will undoubtedly develop to conversation is, it’s football.”
he picked up with the 2012-2013 JV Dons will
his own signature style, just as his
Emily’s father-in-law, husband, and son not soon be forgotten.
Four-seam fastball
grandfather and dad have done.
Put index and middle fingertips
“It’s rare to see three generations of
are all coaches on the team, leaving her in the
just over seam of ÒhorseshoeÓ
“Since it was my first year of center of endless football conversation. She has coaches on one team. It was the perfect way
Ball rotates from
coaching I took any advice my been familiar with the sport of football for as to start my coaching career,” Luke said.
bottom to top; batter
father and grandfather gave to long as she can remember.
The most rewarding feeling for the JV
sees what looks like
me,” said Luke. “Maybe I’ll develop
four spinning seams
“Especially since we had the boys, football Dons’ football staff is being able to watch their
my own coaching philosophy as I has played a huge role in our everyday life,”said players develop skills on the field while they
When thrown very fast*, curves
continue to grow as a coach.”
slightly outward from pitcherÕs
Emily. “It can be a little overwhelming and by grow as young men off the field.
throwing arm
However, as is the case for any the end of the season you’re ready for it to be
"I love being with the kids and developing
*Over 90 mph (145 kph)
set of coaches, occasional strategy over, but I think more than anything it’s been them to be the best they can be in everything
Side view
disagreement is expected. Luckily, a real asset.”
they do,”said Mike.“From a player’s standpoint,
because of their easygoing nature
Because football has evolved over the it’s the love of the game, competition
and their love for the game, these past 50 years, Luke sees the game through an and camaraderie of being on a team. My
Top view
differences of opinion never create entirely different set of lenses than that of his experience as a player and coach has been
anything more than a harmless dad and grandfather.
so positive and enriching for me that I never
debate.
These differing views between all three seem to get tired of it. I’m always hungry for
Two-seam fastball
“There are disagreements, Finn coaches expose players to a variety of new experiences with new players, which is
Hold two fingers over seams
but
it
never gets to the point of coaching styles that the average team does why I come out to coach.”
where they are closest to
being heated because none of us not have the luxury of experiencing.
each other
Gordy, who has spent the majority of his
is like that,” said Gordy. “If there is
“They each give us a different perspective life out on the football field, has seen it all.
Slower than
four-seamer; tends
something that one of us does that on football and coaching,” said sophomore For the oldest Finn, having the opportunity
to curve downward
the other thinks could be done Jared Finney. “They know each other and what to work alongside both his son and grandson
differently, it’s a discussion rather each one wants to do football-wise. It’s always is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The softSide view
than an argument.”
beneficial when they are all on the same page.” spoken yet impressive man applies the same
Separation of work and family
However, there is a method to the Finn philosophy to coaching as he does to life and
affairs has been key to the trio’s coaching madness. If the reverence displayed family in general.
Top view
coaching success, and they always by the multitude of past, present, and probable
“Don’t put on any fronts or acts,”said Gordy.
manage to leave personal issues at future JV football players isn’t a testament to “Be yourself, just do what you do, and hopefully
© 2012 MCT
Source: Former Texas Rangers pitcher John Thomson,
the house. When each Finn steps the coaches’ effective system, their record you do it well enough that it rubs off onto the
Dallas Morning News
Graphic: Paul Trap
onto the field, his football brain is certainly is.
people around you.” By Natalie Goepel & Tommy Bush
How to throw a fastball
Features
10
March 2013
CC Spin
Foreign exchange students enliven campus
IN COUNTRY Hercules High foreign exchange students Elena Rosellini, Arthur Grigoryan, Morena Sutter and Janina Sternemann. Photos from Hercules High School
By Bettina Tan
It seems like Hercules has become a tourist
spot for students.
Senior Arthur Grigoryan, from Armenia,
attended Hercules High School for the first
semester and now resides in Portola Valley.
Seniors Morena Sutter, from Switzerland, and
Elena Rosellini, from Italy, bid Hercules farewell
and departed for their hometowns Jan. 15. Junior Janina Sternemann, from Germany, came
here to study in the second semester.
Grigoryan came to America on Aug. 8 and
attended Hercules High until Dec. 14 through
the American Field Service Intercultural Program. He is studying at Menlo-Atherton High
School for his second semester. Grigoryan
enjoys exploring American cities such as San
Francisco.
“I think the biggest difference was the
diversity because in Armenia it is not very diverse” Grigoryan said. “California is one of the
most diverse states, so I think that’s the most
different thing.”
Nanette and Nestor Hinojales are the host
parents to Sutter, Rosellini and Sternemann.
The Hinojales’daughter studied abroad, which
sparked their interest in becoming a host family
for the foreign exchange programs. They enjoy
showing the foreign exchange students the
popular sites of America and participating in
this program.
“Having some friends outside of America
is the best thing,” said Nanette Hinojales. “Also
knowing their culture and language is interesting.”
Rosellini came to the United States on
July 31 while Sutter came on Aug. 3. They lived
together at their host family’s home in Hercules.
Sutter and Rosellini are from Education First, a
study abroad company.
Their host family took them to places in
California such as San Francisco, Disneyland
and Sacramento.
“Our host family has been so great to let
us travel through California,”Rosellini said.“We
went from Lake Tahoe snowy mountains to the
sandy beaches in Pismo beach.”
Not only did Sutter and Rosellini travel in
California, they also had the opportunity to
travel to other places such as Las Vegas, Reno
and Minneapolis.
“I’ve experienced quite a lot,” Sutter said,
“from new food, new sports, to new places. I’ve
never traveled so much in my whole life like I
did in the last six months.”
This six-month trip to America was a lifechanging experience for Sutter and Rosellini.
“I am going to miss the cheerful and positive atmosphere here. I met wonderful friends
that each day made my day,” Rosellini said.
Sutter agreed and thinks it is hard to com-
Pinterest catching on with teens
By Simone Stankus
Getting home from school each day
used to mean one thing: Facebook. However, this year I have found a new, more
effective distraction.
At first glance, Pinterest seems like an
average website to post and share photos,
but it’s so much more. It is a website dedicated to inspirational quotes, phenomenal
photography and delicious recipes that
provide endless distraction.
Pinterest is unlike photo-sharing platforms such as Tumblr and Instagram where
people upload and re-post pictures that
usually have little or no purpose.
Junior Sara Chen discovered a big
difference between these sites. Pinterest
“isn’t cluttered with pointless statuses or
obnoxious advertisements, but instead is
filled with things that are personalized to
what you are interested in,” said Chen.
Two years ago, Ben Silbermann
launched Pinterest, a pin-board style site
designed to let its members create virtual
boards to display a multitude of images
gathered from the Internet. Pinterest allows
people to organize their favorite things on
the Internet all on one website.
Sophomore Haley Zeiger has been
hooked on Pinterest for over a year and a
half:“I can find really cool tutorials on stupid
things that nobody else needs,”said Zeiger.
Unlike Tumblr and Instagram, Pinter-
est consists of boards, where pictures and
videos with similar themes are stored.
Junior Shahar Roda has also fallen in
love with what Pinterest has to offer. “With
Pinterest, Roda said, “I am able to create
boards based on different categories of
things I have pinned. It provides me with
a place to gather all of the neat ideas I find
into organized boards that I can always go
back to.”
The user names each board. The name
corresponds to what the specific board
contains, like ‘Artsy Fartsy’ for a board
containing craft ideas or ‘Speaking Words
of Wisdom’ for inspirational quotes.
Junior Ruth Liou has been using
Pinterest for about a year. “It’s definitely
convenient to gather a diverse set of ideas,”
she said. “There is so much to explore and
being able to organize those great ideas in
a personalized way makes it user-friendly
and visually appealing.”
The photos on Pinterest aren’t just for
viewing, they also act as a link to lead the
user to the original site that the image was
found on. For example, pictures of quirky
nail polish designs often lead to a blog
filled with hundreds of new techniques
and instructions on how to recreate them.
Sophomore Alex Rossi has put her pinning to good use and found a useful tool
that she is excited about. “I have found out
how to make a frappuccino that tastes just
like Starbucks,” Rossi said.
One major recent addition to Pinterest
is secret boards. For now, each member is
limited to three secret boards. These boards
can only be accessed by the user and cannot
be seen by others. They make a perfect hiding place for holiday or birthday gift ideas.
What makes Pinterest even better is
that doesn’t cost a thing.
Pinterest is loved for infinite reasons.
“Pinterest inspires me to try new things
and take my own spin on them as well,”
said Roda.
Junior Lauren Fitterer is another enthusiastic user of the site. Fitterer said, “It’s
a good way to find inspiration for style and
beauty or things like food and traveling and
limitless other categories.”
Netflix an economic way to stream films, games
By Austin Brown
Unlimited movies and TV for only $7.99
a month? That is exactly what Netflix offers
to customers, “anytime, anywhere.”
One can catch up on past seasons of
TV programs such as Breaking Bad, Supernatural, and The Walking Dead. Netflix also
gives members the opportunity to watch
episodes in order immediately, without
commercials or ads.
Additionally, viewers do not have to
wait a week for the next episode. Netflix
also sorts movies and shows by genre so
if one gets tired of watching a hardcore ac-
tion flick he or she can immediately switch
over to watching a love story.
Another reason why Netflix is popular
is that it is available on over 50 different
devices such as gaming consoles, blu-ray
players, HDTVs, streaming players, home
theater systems, smartphones, and tablets.
Netflix probably offers more titles than
anyone could watch in a lifetime. If potential
customers do not think they are ready to
commit to $7.99 a month until they have
tried it, then they can start a one month
free trial, and if they are disappointed,
cancelling is a simple process.
One unexpected advantage of Netflix
is that multiple people can share one Netflix
account.
Another great thing
about Netflix is it gives
members a chance to view
underrated, independent
films such as Neo Ned, Memento, Basketball Diaries,
and much more.
However, if one does
nothave very good internet connection, buffering
will become your nemesis.
And, there are however, no
DVD extras, so if one enjoys
bloopers then Netflix is not
for him or her.
The Good
• Offers thousands of titles
• Available on over 50 different devices
• 1 month free trial
• Past seasons of great shows
• Multiple people can share an account
The Bad
• Requires a internet connection
• No DVD extras
Added Benefits
Being a gamer and being a Netflix
member go hand in hand. If you have a
gaming console such as Xbox, Ps3, or Wii,
you can stream Netflix instantly through
your console.
Today there are more than 23 million
subscribers who agree that Netflix is worth
the money.
pare America to Switzerland. She is also going
to miss everyone she met in America and hopes
to keep in touch with them.
“I think it’s always the people that make
the place,” Sutter said. “It doesn’t matter where
you are, as long as you’re with people you love
it’s always fun.”
As Sutter and Rosellini left America, Sternemann flew from Laichingen, Germany, on
Jan. 16 to study here through the Dr. Frank
Sprachen & Reisen organization. She is the
sibling of former student Jule Sternemann,
who attended Hercules High in 2011.
Janina Sternemann will study at Hercules
for the second half of the school year. Sternemann plans to participate in many activities
that are not offered in Germany, such as the
yearbook class. She wants to meet friends and
to be able to speak English during her stay.
“I decided to study abroad because I heard
how good my sister spoke English and I wanted
On the road again
Moves strengthen
my family ties
By Alex Faulkner
C
alifornia. Colorado. California. Washington. And
back to California again. With a lot of little in-state
moves in between. That’s been the pattern of my
life as a result of my dad’s job.
By the time I was six, I was used to hearing the words,
“we’re moving.” Emotions would flood through me. My
first reaction was always sadness because I knew I would
miss the friends that I had made, and then it automatically switched to moving OCD.
This included the stressful thoughts of, “When are
we moving?” and, “How much time do we have to pack?”
One time I only had two weeks to prepare before we left.
Soon enough, my dad and I were professional movers,
the super two-person packing group on a mission.
I helped pack everything while he organized the
moving van, driving and figuring out what school I
would be attending. Moving is very hard on both your
body and mind because it is extremely exhausting,
stressful, saddening and exhilarating. You don’t know
where you’re going, and the anxiety of getting used to
your new home or school is scary.
I was always the new kid, or in Walnut Creek, the
returning kid. (I have moved to and from Walnut Creek
three times.) I had learned to adjust to my new environment fairly quickly, which was hard. Luckily, making
friends was a skill I had developed over time, but with
that came the unfortunate skill of saying goodbye.
I guess you could say making introductions is like
muscle memory: the more you do it, the better you will
be at it. More than once, I have walked nervously into
my new school, with my dad quietly telling me, “Have a
great day, honey, you’ll do great.”
There was a message hidden behind those words:
he was telling me to always introduce myself, be friendly
and, most importantly, always be myself.
My dad’s words always stayed with me the whole day,
encouraging me on to find new friends. The best thing
was when the other children understood my situation,
but sometimes, the other kids were vicious.
When I moved to San Diego, my first school day was
at a sleep away camp in the mountains. I didn’t know
anyone, and the teacher sat me next to the three meanest girls in the grade. Needless to say, I did not have a
good experience.
My dad knew moving was hard on me, but I also
knew it was equally hard on him because he was super
busy working, and raising a kid. I always tried to make life
easier for him. Even when I was six years old, I would try
to keep my room clean, wake myself up for school, and
even attempt (and fail) to fold my own laundry.
When the time would come to move, I packed up
my room and helped out everywhere else I could.
Moving is a big responsibility, and it teaches you to
really look at life from a different point of view. I would
always ask myself, “How is this going to change my life?”
and, “Is this really that bad?”
Sometimes, you have to do what’s necessary to better
yourself and those around you. Looking at my father and
me from the outside, you would expect that we would
be totally dysfunctional and disorganized.
It is completely the opposite. We are probably the
closest family of two there is. I wouldn’t be the person I
am today without my dad, or our 10 moves.
11
Features
CC Spin
March 2013
Case of the dueling Sherlocks
Rivalry between
Marvel, DC comics,
continue right on
into the digital age
'Adventures,' 'Elementary' vie for classic detective fans' attention
By Triya Marco
A work of art is truly great when it
outlasts its creator and transcends lifetimes.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is
one such work. Written by Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle in 1887, these detective stories have
been retold countless times.
Today, there are two main television
adaptations that place the Victorian era
detective in the 21st century: Sherlock, a
British series on BBC; and Elementary, an
American series on CBS.
Per Conan Doyle, the Sherlock Holmes
in both series is a consulting detective for
their local police.
From here, the two stories diverge from
the original work.
In Sherlock, the audience meets Dr.
John Watson (Martin Freeman), an army
doctor discharged from Afghanistan. He is
introduced to Sherlock Holmes (Benedict
Cumberbatch), consultant to the Scotland
Yard. Soon, they become roommates in
London, as Holmes had conveniently been
looking for someone to split rent with.
In Elementary, the audience meets
Dr. Joan Watson (Lucy Liu), an ex-surgeon
and a sobriety supervisor. She is assigned
to supervise Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee
Miller), the New York Police Department’s
By Mark Bachofer
C
rash! With the breaking of glass and a whirl of black
cape, Batman smashes through the roof to tackle
the criminal. Meanwhile, in the theatre across the
hall, Spiderman slings his way around the city in pursuit
of the supervillain the Lizard.
Today, superhero movies are the most prevalent
genre. The comic books of old, which have thrilled kids
for generations, are now the modern-day blockbusters.
But when regarding these films and comics, one
question arises above all others. Which is better, Marvel
or DC?
Together, both companies control a multibillion dollar industry and share over 80 percent of the comic book
market in America. Both have made a splash in recent
news with blockbuster movies such as the Dark Knight
trilogy, The Avengers, and The Amazing Spiderman.
But while movies are a good judge of these two
entertainment giants, they are not their origins. Comics
were where these companies were born, and comics
remain as one of their largest franchises.
From the original “Detective Comics” featuring Batman, to Captain America being frozen in the Arctic for
decades, the comic book plotlines of Marvel and DC
have enthralled the public.
A comic is nothing without its characters, and the
Justice League has some of the most well-known ones.
Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman head the flagship of DC Comics. But recently, lesser-known heroes are
also stepping into the spotlight.
Following the success of the television series Smallville, which chronicled the young life of Superman is Arrow, the story of Green Arrow, a vigilante archer dedicated
to eradicating crime in his city. After being stranded on
an island for five years, he takes on the thugs and crime
bosses in Starling City.
But even as DC gains ground on television, Marvel
has struck gold on the big screen. The Avengers was the
end result of five other buildup movies. Featuring the
best of the Marvel Universe, the movie featured Captain
America, Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Hawkeye, Thor,
and Black Widow. Loki, the evil brother of Thor, brought
an intergalactic army to Earth, and it was up to the
Avengers to stop him.
Another well-known group has also been the focus
of recent movies: the X-Men. A longtime favorite of fans,
Charles Xavier and his fearless crime-fighters returned
to trounce Magneto and his followers.
Through movies and comics, both DC and Marvel
have been thrilling But is there a winner? Some say yes,
others no.
“DC has Batman, Superman, and Green Arrow,” said
Austin Brown, a sophomore at College Park High School.
His opinion is not unchallenged though.
Joseph Crawford, a junior, likes Marvel better. “I like
mutants more than aliens,” he says.
However, students are not the only ones interested
in the epics of comic books. Lance Johnson, an English
teacher, has been a longtime fan of both Marvel and DC.
“I’m a little more partial to Marvel,” he said. “Spider-man
will always be my favorite. When I was five years old I
thought he was a real guy.”
“People tend to favor the one they started reading
as a kid,” he said.
No one person can define the winner. The answer
must come from the masses.
consultant who is fresh out of rehab.
A notable difference between the two
series is the Watson-Holmes dynamic. In
Sherlock, Holmes craves distance from the
common man. He fights to become a godlike detective, he who holds all the answers.
As a result, Holmes dominates his relationship with Watson. The audience can’t
help but pity Watson as he follows Holmes
like a puppy dog, essentially clueless in
crime scenes.
But the captivation of Sherlock lies in
the undoing of Holmes’ elitist mystique.
As the series progresses, Holmes becomes
more likable as the character cracks little by
little to show ounces of humanity.
In Elementary, Watson’s supervisor
status lends her relationship with Holmes
some equilibrium, proven as Watson applies her own brand of deduction in the
pilot episode. In short, Watson can hold her
own when it comes to crime solving. This
equal standing makes it easier to like both
characters right from the start.
Technology also plays a differing role
in the two series.
In Sherlock, Holmes texts, emails and
updates a blog. He utilizes much of the 21st
century technology effectively as support
for his deductions.
In Elementary, Holmes only uses his
iPhone to take some photographs. He relies
on typical methods of investigation, like
stalking police records and staging good
old-fashioned break-ins. This reluctance to
use available resources differentiates this
character from Doyle’s vision of Holmes — a
man always so technologically innovative
for a man of his time.
Technological differences affect the
cinematography as well.
The scenes in Sherlock are crisp and
high-tech. As Holmes solves crimes, the
audience is invited along for the ride. The
show displays Holmes’ thought through
scene annotations: Pictures and words
splash across the screen as he reasons.
Elementary scenes are darker, simpler
and lack special effects. It doesn’t highlight
clues as clearly as its British counterpart,
leaving the audience in the dark during
the crime-solving process.
So which show better captures the
mystery of Sherlock Holmes? It depends
on the audience.
Some appreciate the innovation of
Sherlock; some think it’s gimmicky. Some
prefer the simplicity of Elementary; some
think it’s creative laziness.
Either way, both series do Conan
Doyle’s work justice. Sherlock Holmes
enthusiasts craving for a modern retelling
would likely appreciate the mystery of both
Sherlock and Elementary.
separately,” said Jones. “Dates were more
formal than what you guys experience.
The boy really would pick you up. He really
would meet your parents. He really would
open your door for you.” Fifteen years later, it seems that this
is no longer the case. Junior Camille Fuller
said that many of today’s teenager’s dates
play out differently.
“Dates can be formal if you’ve been
dating for a while, but if it’s early in a relationship, then it’s whatever you can do to
not spend a lot of money and avoid meeting
parents,” said Fuller.
Susan Tierney, who attended high
school in the early 1950s, said that when
she was in school, it was important to bring
a date to social functions.
“Dating was more formal then. Students never went to dances, for example, in
groups,” said Tierney. “If you weren’t asked,
you didn’t go. It seems, in contrast, that
there is much more informality now with
kids often going around in mixed groups.
When you were dating someone, you met
up with them at times in school, talked to
them on the phone at night, and generally
went out on Friday or Saturday night. You
generally went to a game, the movies or
a party.” Oftentimes after being seen together,
people naturally begin to wonder, “Are
those two official?” The way that couples
have established whether they are “official”
or not has also changed over time.
For most high school couples, being
“official” means the boy has asked the girl
out or formally asked her to be his girlfriend.
In contrast, Jones said that the conversation
about becoming “official” was much less of
a production during her high school days.
“A boy didn’t have to ‘ask you out’ as
you guys say. One of you would bring up
the topic of being “official,” and if the feelings were mutual then you could go ahead
and call them your girl or boyfriend. If I’m a
guy right now, it probably went something
like this: ‘So, uhh, I was thinking, uhh, are
we like, um, together?’ And if you said yeah
then you were,” said Jones.
Tierney said that without modern
technology, word travelled about new
couples through gossip and even what
these couples wore.
“When a couple was ‘going steady,’
the girls wore their boyfriends’ letterman
sweater at school. Generally it was confirmed merely by calling each other ‘my
boyfriend’ or ‘my girlfriend’,” said Tierney.
Toriggino, on the other hand, said that
relationship status on Facebook plays a very
large role in informing peers.
Tierney said that she met the majority
of her boyfriends while on vacation. In her
day, long-term relationships could quickly
turn very serious.
“Depending on the person, boyfriend/
girlfriend relationships lasted from a few
weeks to years. In those days, non-college
bound students often got married right out
of high school,” said Tierney.
Although the formalities of dating have
changed, the feelings that come with knowing that there is someone special out there
have been felt by teenagers throughout
past generations and will continue to be
felt in those to come.
Young love still haunts the hallways
By Victoria Lewis
Students always seem to notice when
there is a new couple strolling down the
hallways of Las Lomas High School. Young
love has existed since the beginning of
time, but how teenagers have gone about
exploring it has vastly changed through
the ages.
According to Ashley Jones, who attended Las Lomas in the late 1990s, the
subject of one’s “crush” was made known
then through rumors.
“It would go about the school that
someone liked you, and once that got back
to you, that’s how you knew,” said Jones.
Junior Sam Toriggino said that today,
“you know someone likes you when they
text you just saying ‘what’s up’ and when
they ask you to hang out.”
Nowadays, there are fewer expectations that come along with knowing that
someone is interested in you. However, that
was not always the case.
“You guys refer to‘talking’as the period
when you’re not really sure you’ll date but
you like each other,” Jones said. “I’d say I
didn’t really experience that until college.
If a guy was calling me, I automatically
had an expectation that it would lead to a
relationship of some sort.” Without modern conveniences such as
cell phones, texting and social networking,
boys and girls had to go about getting to
know each other in different ways.
“The boy would call your house phone
to talk to you, or you would hang out with a
group and kind of break off and start talking
Your money is accepted: The true cost of applying to the college(s) of your choice
By Alyssa Coakley
Any high school student planning on
going to college should be well aware that
college is going to be expensive. What they
may not be aware of is that there is more than
college tuition to worry about.
The first step in becoming a college
student is applying. The cost starts with an
application fee. The average application fee is
around $50 per school. Most UC’s are $70 per
school. Some schools waive the application
fee, which can save you hundreds of dollars.
The next step after applying is to send your
SAT or ACT scores to the colleges you applied
to. The Collegeboard website will give you two
or three free scores to send to colleges of your
choice, and after that it costs $11 each time
you send your scores. If you qualify for reduced
lunch then you can send your scores for free.
The last step is to send an official transcript
to each college you apply to. The first transcript
is free, and after that they cost $5 per school.
So, total application fees for one school
would be around $66, or if it’s a UC, then $86.
Since most students apply to several schools., it
can amount to hundreds of dollars, in addition
to the thousands of dollars in tuition. That’s a
lot of money to spend when you might not
even get into some schools.
Finally, when you receive admission to a
school, and you decide that’s the one you want
to go to, there’s an enrollment fee. It’s usually
around $350, which is used just to save your
spot at that school.
Saving for college — from risky to safer
By starting early, parents can use this 401(k)-like product to make more aggressive, riskier investments early in the childÕs life and transition to safer ones closer to the college years.
Why are the totals greater than 100 percent? The allocations here are the averages of many different 529 plans, each with its own formula. Some, for instance, put more than
85 percent in stocks; others put less. The same is true for bonds and cash, making the average amounts add up to more than 100 percent. The important thing to note is the
relationship between investment types: As the child ages, money is moved from riskier stocks to safer bonds and cash.
Higher risk
Average asset allocation in 529 plans by age of child
For age-based plans, excluding age-based conservative, moderate, aggressive,
active, growth, index, multifirm and options
Stocks
Lower risk
Bonds
Variable level of risk
Cash
Other (Includes preferred stocks, convertible
bonds and various other investments.)
120
2
100
80
9%
9
7
14%
19
0.7
85%
61
38
80
29
10
73
60
60
40
33
20
9
Birth
Source: Morningstar
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Graphic: Chicago Tribune
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© 2013 MCT
BACK PAGE
12
March 2013
CC Spin
Top trends of 2012, from YOLO to dip dyeing
By Tatum Turetzky
Northgte High School
Whether it’s a winning sports team,
a crazy dare, or the newest way to “fit in,”
every year a new wave of trends takes
over. Just like any other year, 2012 was
full of them, and the truck seemed eager
to pull up, allowing just about everyone
around to hop onto the most recent
bandwagon.
YOLO. The catchy abbreviation for
You Only Live Once originated in a popular song, but then evolved to be one
of the year’s most well-known phrases.
Need a reason to do something crazy?
Why not? YOLO!
One Direction. When you combine
British Accents, five cute boys, and some
pretty toe-tapping songs you come out
with One Direction. The newest boy
band filled the hearts and iPods of teenage girls everywhere.
Instagram and Pinterest. A few years
ago it was MySpace, and now even Facebook is thought of to be “ancient”. This
year, two creative social media websites
took over the smart phones of people
of all ages. Whether you’re posting a
picture of you and your friends to Instagram or “pinning” the most fabulous
wedding dress onto one of your many
Pinterest boards, you know how addicting and fun these sites can be.
KONY 2012. This heart-breaking 30
minute video of enslaved African children painted the page of almost every
user on Facebook and got over 96 million views on one of the world’s quickest
means of transportation, YouTube. But,
A 240-year-old instrument
for a young developing artist
like most crazes, it was gone and forgotten about in the click of a mouse.
Olympics. All of the world’s best athletes in events including rowing, gymnastics, beach volleyball, water polo,
diving, and more in one city? Sounds to
me like the 2012 London Olympics.
The Cinnamon Challenge. Dumping a teaspoon of cinnamon into your
mouth without water doesn’t exactly
sound like the ideal way to spend free
time. But thousands of teens would beg
to differ.
Nail Art. Whether they were donned
with cute cartoon characters, assortments of fruit, or sparkling night skies,
highly decorated nails were spotted
everywhere this year from wrapped
around the handles of a bright colorful
shopping bag from your favorite store
to the many specialized blogs and pages
devoted essentially to this trend.
Dip-Dying Hair. Colorful locks looked
almost delectable enough to eat, and
they almost were, when dyed with sugary concentrated Kool-Aid packets.
#Hashtags. Just a few short years
ago when the “Shift and three” keys were
pushed, you came out with what was
thought of as simply a number sign. But
now they represent “hashtags” on some
of the hottest social media websites and
apps around, Instagram and Twitter. So
#SorryNotSorry if you aren’t #UpToDate
on your #Lingo.
Being a “Hipster”. Beach waves, highlow cut skirts, and vintage-feeling tops
all came to represent those who don’t
aspire to be too “mainstream”. But what
will happen when this trend becomes
Lung transplant turns teen
into organ donor activist
By Tessa Swenson
A
for.
VIOLIN STANDOUT Sharon Yau of Acalanes High School. Photo from Acalanes High.
By Ana Poulsen
M
ost high school students ask for cars for their sixteenth
birthday, but junior Sharon Yau’s request was a little different. Instead of browsing used car dealerships and scrutinizing makes and mileage, Yau shopped for a violin, and ended
up with an extraordinary handcrafted violin that was created in
1772 by Franz Placht.
“My old violin wasn’t very good and my parents decided it was
time for me to get a new one,” said Yau.
Because her worn-out violin would no longer suffice, Yau’s
parents took her to Ifshin Violins in El Cerrito in search of a new
instrument. Finding the perfect violin can be a long and arduous
process; extra time must be spent experimenting with various
violins in order to find the perfect one.
“You choose a violin by picking a whole bunch of violins that
you like. You take them home, and you just trial them, play them
all for a week or two, and then you decide which one you like the
best,” said Yau.
Yau tried several violins in her search for the right sound and
performance, but she knew that she had achieved perfection
when she finally found the ideal instrument: a Franz Placht violin.
“After taking it home and playing it, the sound of it was so
sweet and mellow, and I just loved it,” said Yau. “That violin just
sang to me, and it was like a fairytale moment.”
While Yau does not know who the previous owners of her
violin are, she enjoys the mystery of where it might have been. The
instrument was on consignment when she bought it, meaning
Ifshin Violins was selling it for someone else and had to keep the
information private. However, Yau is honored to be a small part of
musical history through her ownership of her incredible instrument.
“My new violin has been around for 240 years,” said Yau. “There
are so many possibilities for the history of that violin and I wish I
knew who owned it and how it came from Germany to America.”
A seasoned professional, Yau understands that even seemingly insignificant variations between violins can make all the
difference.
“Every violin has its own character, its own voice,” said Yau.
“Just like how each person is unique, each violin is unique.”
Yau has played the violin since she was 10 years old and has
been hooked since her first time playing. “The first time I picked up
the violin, I was just amazed at how a hollow piece of wood could
make such beautiful sound,” said Yau.
As is usually the case with people learning a new instrument,
the first few years required hours of effort and perseverance and a
forced acceptance of the fact that callused fingers come with the
territory.
“In the beginning it was really hard for me to find the motivation to keep playing,” said Yau. “I got my motivation not from how I
sounded, but from my strong desire to actually be able to play an
instrument.”
She was intrigued by how powerful the instrument was, and
this motivated her through difficult times.
The pursuit of musical perfection has also driven Yau to continue to reach higher levels of performance. She pushes relentlessly to become a better player every day. The better the violin,
the greater her desire to challenge herself and reach heights that
she has not achieved in the past.
Yau has progressed tremendously from her first violin encounter and now takes private lessons and participates in the Acalanes
and Young People Symphony orchestras.
fter fighting for her life for over a year,
Monte Vista grad Clare Dowling, Class of
2009, found another cause worth fighting
Daughter of English teacher Pat Dowling,
Clare was diagnosed with an rare disease called
Pulmonary Veno Occlusive Disease, which caused
her to need a double lung transplant.
Since her ordeal, Clare and her mom have become organ transplant crusaders, talking to high
school and college students about the importance of organ donation and serving as ambassadors of the California Transplant Donor Network.
“I think being an organ donor is one of the
most selfless things people can do,” Clare said. Clare first realized she was sick during her
first semester at Chico State. She was diagnosed
with pneumonia, but she struggled to recover
from it.
“I would feel out of breath from just walking
to class,” she said.
She came home and saw a doctor during her
second semester and she was diagnosed with
the lung disease that if untreated, would be fatal.
The doctors gave her a very short time to
live and since this disease is so rare, they didn’t
even really know how long she had, giving her
anywhere from two months to two years. Her
condition deteriorated quickly and they referred
her to UC-San Francisco for treatment.
“I was only 19 and really scared,” she said. “At
that age you don’t think about what happens if
and when you die. It hit me like a ton of bricks.”
While she was at UCSF, she was on the
waiting list to receive a double lung transplant.
The family got news that she was going to
receive lungs, but then that didn’t work out.
This is particularly hard for patients and families,
because in order to move up on the organ
transplant list, a patient has to get more sick.
“It was an emotional rollercoaster,” her mom
said.
Clare spent over six months in the hospital
before getting her transplant and even set the
hospital record for time on life support–six
weeks. She suffered many complications during
this time such as short-term memory loss and
even a heart attack.
“She’s a very well-rounded gal who is joyous
and upbeat,” her mom said. “The only thing that
got her through was her youth.”
After the transplant, like many transplant
patients, Clare suffered some serious
complications and was told that she might never
walk again.
FIGHTERS Pat Dowling and Clare Dowling, Monte Vista High
graduate and her English teacher mother. Photo by Pat
Dowling.
“I was overwhelmed and scared,” she said. “I
kept wondering, how am I supposed to live my
life without being able to walk?”
Thankfully she beat those odds and is now
back on her feet. “Through determination she is
doing really well and has even been able to get
back to horseback riding,” her mom said.
Clare and her mom share their story to
inform people about organ donation. Dowling
visits classrooms on campus to tell Clare’s story
and to share how important it is to be an organ
donor.
Becoming an organ donor is actually easy.
“All you have to do is go on Facebook or go to
the DMV and say that you would be interested in
being an organ donor,” Dowling said. It is also important tell your family of your wishes as they will
be the ones to make the decision if something
happens to you.
Clare is also doing her part in spreading
the word. She has visited many high schools,
including Monte Vista, to share her story, and she
has also been to UC Berkeley. Clare has also been
invited to the University of Kentucky to speak to
medical personnel and doctors from all over the
world.
Besides talking to students about the
importance of organ donation, Clare has been in
several UCSF commercials and several different
campaigns, as well as serving with her mom as
ambassadors to the California Transplant Donor
Network.
Visit Donate Life California at https://www.
donatelifecalifornia.org/ or http://www.ctdn.
org/ for more information.
Global reach
Facebook will have to make big inroads in markets around the globe, especially in Asia where only
a quarter of those with Internet access log on to the social network. Facebook users and total
Internet users by region:
Total Internet users In millions
North America
69.0 percent of
Internet users
are on Facebook
Europe
Monthly active Facebook users In millions
48.7 percent of
Internet users are
on Facebook
Asia
25.7 percent of Internet
users are on Facebook
Rest of the world
53.6 percent of
Internet users are
on Facebook
1,077
537
519
274
189
Source: Facebook, Internet World Stats
253
277
Graphic: Scott J. Wilson, Los Angeles Times
288
© 2012 MCT

March 2013 - Contra Costa Journalism.net

Transcription

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