February 10, 2012

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INSIDE Feature Page 5

The Bucket List Bucket Lists gain popularity in popculture and on campus.

News Page 2

AcaDeca vs. Science Bowl Practice scrimmage was held between the school’s scholastic teams. SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS: (Top from left) Seniors Adam Gendler, Elizabeth Plascencia, Sam Han, Jung Pyeon,

Spirit Page 3

I am Granada: Ara Kelian Much loved friend leaves behind treasured memories.

Entertainment Page 6

How I Met Your Mother

Angela Medrano, Chelsea Thomas. (Bottom from left) Seniors Chelsea Green, Bianca Lepe.

James Powel / The Plaid Press

Eight seniors receive top scholarships By Eiman Kazi There are many scholarship opportunities available to students who plan on attending college, two of which include the Posse Foundation and QuestBridge scholarships. This year, the Posse Foundation granted its scholarship to seniors Chelsea Thomas and Adam Gendler (Syracruse University), seniors Elizabeth Plascencia and Angela Medrano (Dickinson College), senior Jung Pyeon (Kalamazoo College), and senior Sam Han (Tulane University). QuestBridge awarded its full-ride scholarship to seniors Chelsea Green (Stanford University) and Bianca Lepe (California Institute of Technology). “This is an amazing opportunity for the winners of each scholarship because they’ve been given completely free full tuition for four years of undergraduate schooling,” college counselor Liora Shvartz said. Each scholarship program has a distinc-

tive process for selecting scholars. The Posse process begins with the nominations of students by counselors and organizations. The students then attend a group meeting with up to 200 students and partcipate in activities that reflect leadership and teamwork. Students who continue have an individual interview with Posse staff members that focuses on the student’s character. At this point, students have chosen their top three colleges. If they become a finalist, they are matched with a college and attend a final interview with fellow finalists, along with the representatives from their matched college. Scholars are selected from this interview. “The Posse Foundation allows me to not only have a free college undergraduate education, but it will also be there to support me throughout my college career and guide me through job and internship opportuni-

ties,” Medrano said. Unlike Posse, QuestBridge applicants apply through the National College Match, which is designed for high school seniors who come from low income backgrounds and demonstrate strong academic qualities. Applicants choose up to eight of the schools that QuestBridge works with. QuestBridge selects finalists, and sends their transcripts to the respective college or university. If the students are chosen, they receive a full-ride scholarship that covers tuition, dormitory and food expenses, orientation fees, and textbook expenses. “Only 321 individuals were collegematched this year through QuestBridge, and I am personally honored and grateful to have received this full-ride scholarship. It provides my family with the greatest peace of mind in not having to worry about the college finances that they normally couldn’t afford otherwise,” Lepe said.

The top 2012 Republican Candidates

Learn how to be an awesome bro.

Opinion Page 7

Furlough Days A lack of furlough days reflects the school’s strength.

Sports Page 8

Boys and Girls Basketball Here is a recap of the season.

By Chelsea Green Based on the number of votes received during the primary elections, one of these Republican candidates will run against current President Barack Obama in the upcoming November 2012 elections. Mitt Romney: About the Candidate: Mormon, founder of the investment firm Bain Capital, former governor of Massachusetts. Platform: Eliminate economic regulations implemented by the Obama administration; open the US to new markets by signing trade agreements; reverse cuts to defense spending and “...modernize and replace the aging inventories of the Air Force, Army, and Marines,” according to Romney’s official website. Biggest Strengths: As the most moderate Republican candidate, many say he has the greatest chance of defeating Barack Obama in the November election. Biggest weaknesses: He has been accused of “flip-flopping,” or switching his views

on issues and putting money in tax shelters outside in the Cayman Islands. Rick Santorum: About the Candidate: Catholic, former senator of Pennsylvania, currently a congressman representing Pennsylvania’s 18th district. Platform: Strongly against gay marriage and abortion; wants to remove bans on oil drilling, pass a balanced budget amendment, and repeal Obama’s healthcare plan. Biggest strengths: His stance on religious issues makes him a favorable candidate to the Religious Right. Biggest weaknesses: Some critics say that he focuses too much on irrelevant issues. Newt Gingrich: About the Candidate: Catholic, former speaker of the House of Representatives, currently the House minority whip, taught at West Georgia College. Platform: Reform the visa program; establish a pay-for-performance system where teachers are evaluated on student

achievement; stop the 2013 tax increases and implement an optional flat tax of 15% for all Americans. Biggest strengths: As co-author and architect of “Contract with America” during a strong time for the Republican party, he holds solid conservative views and a mastery of foreign policy issues. Biggest weaknesses: He has a history of marriage scandals and resigned as a member of the House in 1998 after undergoing a firestorm of ethics allegations. The Democratic Response: As the incumbent, Obama has experience on his side. In his presidency, Obama oversaw the US recover from the Great Recession of 2008, the passage of a landmark healthcare bill, and the death of Osama Bin Laden. Yet under his administration the national debt has increased by approximately 4.7 trillion dollars; national employment is growing at a slow pace; and many feel that he has left his campaign promises of change unfulfilled.

02 news

February 10, 2012

Acadeca vs. Science Bowl in physics competition By Ahra Cho Amidst preparations for upcoming competitions, Academic Decathlon (AcaDeca) and Science Bowl, two competitive scholastic teams, engaged in a friendly scrimmage on Friday, January 20 in F7. The two teams competed on the topic of physics, a shared subject for AcaDeca and Science Bowl this year. Both teams’ coaches coordinated this match in order to gauge their teams’ physics knowledge and to give the students a unique opportunity to foster a sense of community. “We [AcaDeca and Science Bowl] were trying to get the competitive juices going by challenging each other. It’s a competitive atmosphere, but they’re all friends in the end,” Science Bowl coach Mel Zernow said. Moreover, AcaDeca and Science Bowl students seemed appreciative of this opportunity to work with each other. “These types of competitions between the various sects of the school create a sense of unity,” Science Bowl member junior Ara Jermakyan said. “By interacting more, we all gain a greater understanding for others and their respective capabilities.” This kind of enthusiastic attitude toward the scrimmage helped “increase student motivation. Each side really worked hard to impress the other,” AcaDeca coach Nicholas

BATTLE OF THE BRAINS: AcaDeca and Science Bowl members sit waiting for their next question at the competition. Weber said. For the scrimmage, there were three rounds. The first two comprised of fourmember groups competing against each other. In the final round, two of the best members from each team were selected for a highly competitive round. The match was held in the standard

Science Bowl buzzer format in which competitors press the buzzer to answer questions that are read out loud. Points were rewarded for correct answers, and the team with the most points won the round. Although AcaDeca members were never exposed to the Science Bowl procedures, the team coaches thought that putting the

costumes designed by Philippe Guillotel, and sets created by Academy Awardnominee Jean Rabasse. The show takes audiences through the first transitions from black and white films to color movies, silent pictures to talkies, and through different genres of cinema. “Iris” is not Cirque Du Soleil’s first show, but it is the first production to be performed at the Kodak Theatre. Though the Kodak Theatre gains attention during the Academy Awards, it is usually less noteworthy throughout the rest of the year. Therefore, Los Angeles contacted Cirque Du Soleil to attract audiences to the Kodak Theater with the widely known spectacle. The show is currently scheduled to run for the next ten years at the Kodak Theatre. However, Photo courtesy of whoALSE, wikimedia commons “Iris” will take a break

as preparations for the Academy Awards begin around January, and then commence regular performances after the award show around March every year. Despite being new in Hollywood, the producers of Cirque Du Soleil are not amateurs in the business. The company has been entertaining for 27 years, and has held shows in 300 cities on five continents. The company started with 20 street performers back in 1984, including founder and owner, Guy Laliberté, who was a fireeater and stilt walker at the time. Over the years, the company grew into the artistic powerhouse it is today. The organization currently has about 5,000 employees with more than 1,500 artists with various cultural backgrounds. There are two other Cirque du Soleil shows in L.A. or coming to L.A. “OVO” is currently showing in Santa Monia and “Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour” will be coming in August. Regular ticket prices for Iris start at $43 and go up to $133. VIP tickets are $253. All are available for purchase at cirquedusoleil. com.

students in an “unknown environment” would help them to assess how well the students react when confronted with a strange and unusual situation. “It’s hard to predict what kind of questions you’ll be hit with for Decathlon. So it’s good for students to put themselves in a new environment and learn how to react,” Weber explained. In the end, Science Bowl won with a good margin. But given the differences in style, format, information, and preparation, it is difficult to use this as an appropriate measure of the future successes of the teams in their respective competitions. “Physics is just one of ten subjects that everyone must know in AcaDeca. Unfortunately, preparation-wise, we did not have time to work on physics intensively,” Weber said. Both teams hope their efforts will pay dividends in their next big competitions. Their competitive spirit helped each team grow in ways that may not have been accessible to them otherwise. “What we as a team [AcaDeca] got out of it was that there will always be things that we might not know. And if we start being satisfied with being ‘good enough,’ we might never surpass that wall,” AcaDeca member and senior David Jang said.

Cirque du Soleil features Iris in LA CTE offers hands-on workforce experience

By Melanie Uemura Cirque Du Soleil, an artistic circus form of entertainment, is now performing at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood and Highland. “Iris,” Cirque Du Soleil’s newest show, combines the art of acrobatics, dance, and contortion to take audiences through the history of cinema. “Iris” features a music score written by Oscar-nominated composer Danny Elfman,

Students participate in Poetry Out Loud By Sophia Shin On January 13, the school held the annual Poetry Out Loud competition, a national recitation contest for high school students. To participate, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently attending high school. All participants must memorize two poems from the list of approved poems on the Poetry Out Loud website at poetryoutloud.org and recite them in front of an audience. The National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and U.S. state arts agencies sponsor Poetry Out Loud with the hope of helping students to “master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage,” according to the Poetry Out Loud website. Contestants must win at the school, regional, and state levels to attend the National Finals. Senior Natalie Hovsepian became the schools champion for Poetry Out Loud with her performance of “The Cities Inside Us” by Alberto Rios and “Ego” by Denise Duhame. The runner up was senior Jasmine Chris-

topher who performed “The Hospital Window” by James L. Dickey and “Time Does Not Bring Relief: You Have All Lied” by Edna St. Vincent Millay. Third place went to freshman Lule DeShields with “Backdrop Addresses Cowboy” by Margaret Atwood and “The Lost Land” by Eavan Boland. The audience appreciated all of the performances regardless of the placings. Furthermore, competitors said that they enjoyed the experience. “Standing backstage and waiting to go up was probably the most nerve wrecking part of the whole night. But once you’re up there, you just go for it; and it’s an amazing feeling, sharing a poem. I got to show people how I feel about the world and make them care about what I’m saying through a poem,” Hovsepian said. Hovsepian went on to represent Granada Hills Charter High School in the Los Angeles County Contest against other schools’ champions. She performed at the Actor’s Gang Theatre in Culver City on January 15. “At first it was pretty scary going to a new place and performing for strangers, but the audience and all the competitors

were surprisingly supportive and friendly,” Hovsepian said. Although Hovsepian did not move on to the state level, she encouraged potential competitors with some advice. “Future competitors should know that picking a poem is the most important part of the whole competition. You need to find a poem that resonates with you. It isn’t really about acting, but about believing in what you’re saying,” Hovsepian said. English teacher Karl Cyr initiated Poetry Out Loud four years ago because he believed that Granada students deserved a chance to compete and express themselves. “We’ve got outstanding talent at this school and they need a chance to show their abilities,” Cyr said. Cyr first heard about Poetry Out Loud five years ago. One year later, Cyr organized Poetry Out Loud at Granada. Ever since, Cyr has organized the contest at Granada and plans to continue doing so in following years. “Anyone who’s willing to get up there on stage and taken the time, dedication, and hard work to recite a poem with that amount of complexity deserves credit,” Cyr said.

By Lorena Ramirez The Career Technical Education (CTE) Program offers classes that teach students the skills to take on jobs in fields such as construction, auto tech, business management, and cooking. Unlike typical academic classes, CTE classes teach students about different communication skills in a more personal, direct way. These skills help students interact with and respond to different environments in a more hands-on way. Business management and reprographics combine different skills and teach the basics of business. Students learn to work with each other and experience the competitive side of the business world. “It is not necessarily the kind of class where students will go into business, although many of them do. It gives them an idea of how it will be when they go apply to a job or when they get into college and work part time in retail, perhaps. Its good training for that,” business management teacher Jim Severtson said. For example, construction students interact with each other and discuss how to construct a house on modular levels. They also work with the Robodox to help build training apparatuses. “We learned about the fundamental skills of building a house, like plumbing, roofing and electrics. If something is broken in my house I will be able to fix it,” senior Anthony Maradiaga said. Another real world opportunity happens in the auto tech class where students recieve their licenses to perform mobile air conditioning diagnosis and repair. This benefits them because they do not have to pay for training at a trade school or a post-secondary educational institute. These different courses help students acquire communication, personal, and practical skills. They can apply these skills outside of the classroom to business and technical careers in many different industries.

03 spirit

February 10, 2012

inbrief

Winter Formal Saturday February 11

Come enjoy a night of dancing and dining at the Universal Sheraton in Universal City.

“I Am Granada” In Remembrance

LUCE’s Rose Grams February 6 to 13

It is that time of year again and love is in the air! Purchase rose grams for Valentine’s Day on the quad during lunch.

Reach Out and Read Book Drive February 6 to 20

Students can donate books to LA Mission for children who are unable to afford them. Drop off the books at the library.

Yearbook staff captures high school moments By Lorena Ramirez With over four thousand student portraits and three hundred pages to edit and design, the Tartan yearbook staff works hard to record student events and high school memories. “The purpose of having a yearbook is to serve as a memory book for students; it is also a record of the school,” yearbook adviser Graham Mazur said. The Tartan staff does not simply take a photo at a Friday football game or ask the student body president about winter formal planning. They dedicate their time and effort to capturing countless events and acquiring stories and opinions of students. Tartan makes an effort to listen to all the different stories students have to share. Members of the yearbook staff begin their work before we even begin the school year. Their planning begins in August with their yearbook camp where the new Tartan staff learns the basics about the yearbook’s structure and organization from former members. “The Tartan staff is also a class where students can collaborate on a large publication project. The students get involved in their school, connect with more students than they ever would have and also have different jobs. Essentially, they learn not only to collaborate with each other

but to specialize and even manage other students,” Mazur said. The students also categorize and organize over three hundred pages: students, student life, sports and clubs are all categorized based loosely on the previous year’s yearbook and each category is assigned to editors. The editors in chief, seniors Paola Perez and Amanda Lac, are responsible for making sure each page and category is done well and finished on time with the help of their adviser. “Basically, the yearbook cannot exist without Mr. Mazur. He’s the backbone of our yearbook staff,” Perez said. Even though the yearbook requires much time and dedication from each member, the most important aspect of it is working as one staff. “Oftentimes, people and other students don’t understand why we work so hard or contribute so many hours for the yearbook;but if you had a staff like mine, you’d understand that we’re a family, trying to reach a common goal to provide the best Tartan yearbook yet,” Perez said. This year, the staff is including some exciting topics, such as a tribute to “Harry Potter” and “The Hunger Games.”It will also cover events like Homecoming and Winter Formal. Its closure will be unexpected and will end the year with many smiles and joyful memories.

Fernanda Velazco/ The Plaid Press

YEARBOOK: The Tartan staff editors work diligently to format all photos and pages.

Photo Courtesy of Sevan Sabezian

Ara Kelian leaves behind the cherished memories By Shiva Jafaripour On Friday, December 9, 2011 at 11:08 p.m., senior Ara Kelian, passed away due to a tragic car accident on the 118 freeway. He was leaving his friend Daniel Delanian’s house and crashed his car when he was just two minutes away from his home. In remembrance of a fellow student and dear friend, nine students gathered to discuss their memories of Kelian. They all said that he was one of the funniest people they had ever met and that he could always put a smile on anyone’s face. But the ways in which he made every day at Granada Hills Charter High School enjoyable for his friends are what set him apart from others. The group elaborated on how Kelian’s cheerfulness affected not only students, but also staff members. Every day Kelian would stroll around school with his friends, acting mischievous, using jokes to lighten up staff members and easing his way out of trouble. “He brightened up everyone’s day. He was just fun, loud, and outgoing. It was good seeing him at school because hanging out with him made life seem so easy and feel so right,” senior Paul Zerounian said. He was an optimist. His friends always noticed that even if he was bad at something he did, he tried hard until he came out on top. “He would rub his victory in your face, but always made sure the peace was kept between his competitors,” senior Kevork Tashejian said. Still, aside from his humor, Kelian had a caring heart. He kept a picture of his mother as his phone’s wallpaper and treated both his friends and family as his first priority. No matter his mood, he would set aside his problems to assist those who were feeling down or were in a difficult situation. “Last Thanksgiving, Ara drove to Best Buy to give me food his mother made while I waited in the freezing weather. It was the

nicest thing anyone could have ever done for me. He was just the kind of person who would spread his love to anybody,” senior Christopher Posdaljian said. While he was funny, nice, caring, he also had a prankster side to him. Ara would stroll around school tricking people into falling for his humorous, but harmless, pranks. “Each time he succeeded in startling someone, he would shine his million dollar smile and proceed to joke around with staff members. It saddens me to know that none of us can see that smile just one more time,” senior Danny Garmanian said. Through talking with his friends, most can come to know that Kelian never took life for granted. All nine students agreed that if there was one thing about Kelian that stood out, it was his appreciation for everything in life. “His car was not super pricey or the nicest model around, but he treated it like a Ferrari, always yelling out, ‘bro I love it so much because it goes so fast’. He knew his family was not rich and he never complained. We each have a part of his car that we keep with us to help us remember the good times,” Baltayan said. Throughout the discussion amongst Kelian’s friends, the one reoccurring word was amazing and everything his friends have openly shared prove what an amazing person Granada has lost. No matter how boring the day was, Kelian always made sure something was happening and lightened up each and every one of his friends’ faces. Now it seems that a part of them is missing. “He was special. He was my student and teacher’s assistant. When I walk into class, I see a row of shining faces, and now there is a dark spot where a kind and generous kid use to sit,” English teacher Lisl Spangenberg said.

perienced players,” Lee said. TCG club’s current accomplishment was a completely unexpected outcome because the club was first made as a small group of friends. “Basically over the summer my friends and I all got together and pulled out our own old cards, and played using them,” Lee said. Drawn back into the card games, the group created its own Facebook page to gather others from the school to compete. “When we had a tournament, we had a lot of fun and it really brought us together,” Lee said. “We decided to make a club so we could come together and play during school.” That venture drew science teacher Melissa

Savage into the game as the advisor of the club. “The idea intrigued me. I never knew what trading cards were,” Savage said. As she became the adviser of the club, its members would agree to teach her Yu-GiOh!. For Savage, the game has been a way to try a different pastime. “I got a deck for my husband, and sometimes at home I would say, ‘Let’s play Yu-GiOh!!’” Savage said. With devotion and determination, the TCG club has rediscovered for us a new way to play across social barriers. It could pave the way for exploring other interests that we would have never bothered to look at. So if you have an interest in Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, be sure to check out the TCG club.

The Trading Card Club brings back Yu-Gi-Oh! By Gary Zhang Trading card games, such as Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokémon, use special sets of collectible cards for strategic, turn-based gameplay. Moreover, you get to trade cards with your friends to collect the ones you want. For some of us in our elementary school days, we were absorbed in collecting and trading cards. But as we grew and moved on to other interests, those cards probably began collecting dust somewhere. One club in our school is breaking that age barrier. the Trading Card Game (TCG) club, has revived the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game for us high school students. The TCG club sports about 100 members, and most of them meet every single day during lunch. And during that time,

they play Yu-Gi-Oh!. One member finds an opponent to play, and the game begins immediately—perhaps with spectators watching. The club frequently organizes tournaments. This isn’t just a way for past and current Yu-Gi-Oh! players to gather and partake in a hobby. For those who have never heard about Yu-Gi-Oh!, the club is the number one way to introduce yourself to this game. “A lot of people have heard about it,” club president John Lee said. “They come to ask about the easiest way to get into the game.” With the cooperative spirit of the club, no one is left out. “We have an After Hours Activity from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. where more experienced players can teach and give tips to the less ex-

04 feature

February 10, 2012

How much longer will Islamaphobia plague us? By Shilpa Bhongir The Aoudes are expecting a baby. The newlyweds of Dearborn, Michigan hurry to make the plans for their new son, who will be brought up with the perfect mesh of the Muslim and American culture. The Aoudes are one of the five MuslimAmerican families featured on the new TLC reality television show, “All-American Muslim.” The show highlights how these families integrate Islam into their daily lives, but ultimately depicts scenarios that are really no different from those of the average American family. After Lowes, a major hardware company, pulled its commercial during the show’s air time, many have claimed that an inherit prejudice against Islam still exists within many parts of America. In December 2011, Lowes made the decision to pull all of its advertisements from the show’s airtime, bringing to light controversy over Islam in America today. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, Florida Family Association, a conservative Christian group that sponsors Lowes, claimed the show was hid “the Islamic agenda’s present danger to American liberties.”

Karren Cobb, Lowes’ spokesperson, explained that the move to pull advertising was not based on discrimination against religion, but rather a response to complaints from important advocates of the company. “I think every person should see the ad pullout as a fierce example of the growing Islamaphobia in this country. This is not about standing up for All-American Muslim, this is about standing up against bigotry and hatred in this country founded on peace, justice, and equality,” junior and president of the school’s Muslim Student Association Maha Kamel said. Recently, there has become a growing trend of “Islamaphobia,” in the political system. Nezar Hamze, director of Florida’s council on American-Islamic Relations, applied for membership to the Broward Republican County GOP in September 2011. Upon his request, the Broward Republican Executive Committee immediately changed the rules so that Hamze would have to go through a question and answer session before a crowd of 200 people before his acceptance, according to an article in a local Florida newspaper , Broward Palm Beach. Hamze claimed that within fifteen min-

utes of questioning, members of the crowd shouted hateful slurs, calling him a terrorist and part of the Al-Qaida organization just because of his faith. Other board members even took the initiative to create flyers and posters convincing members not to vote for Hamze. With a vote of 158-11, Hamze was almost unanimously denied membership from the Republican committee. The political exclusion of Muslim Americans is not reserved to just one party, however. For example, in Oklahoma, entire state amendments have been proposed to limit the influence of Islam. The proposed “Save our State Amendment,” which was denied by the State Supreme Court for its infringement on First Amendment rights, aimed to prohibit state courts from making judicial decisions that incorporated Islam. The amendment would have had the power to prevent courts from legalizing a will that even mentioned the religious beliefs of the deceased, or allowed Muslims to hold a marriage license that incorporated Islam. While the amendment was immediately denied upon review, its mere proposal and

influence within Oklahoma reveals that many regions are far from harboring a truly tolerant America. However, in a diverse city such as Los Angeles, many maintain a greater sense of acceptance towards different faiths.“People have interacted with Muslims and have come to the conclusion that they are normal people and there really isnt anything to be scared about,” sophomore Ziba Farsai said. Our own school greatly emphasizes this tolerance. “Going to Granada is truly a blessing because there is commitment to equality and diversity. I am accepted based on myself not my religion. We’ve been running MSA for five years on campus and have had nothing but positive support from fellow clubs and staff members,” Kamel said. TLC’s “All American Muslim” is one step towards providing awareness to areas that are not as diverse as Granada Hills. After watching the very similar life situations of the Auodes, or any other of the families, the hope is that discrimination of Muslim-Americans, whether in a small Republican committee in Florida, or throughout an entire state, will become a part of the past.

By Fatima Castaneda and Shiva Jafaripour You are walking down the grocery aisle, and you want to buy a healthy snack. You spot a box of fruit gummies labeled “100% natural,” so you automatically assume, they must be organic. You might be wrong. There are many misconceptions concerning the term “organic.” Confusing labels on goods, such as “all natural ingredients,” or “made with real fruit” mislead individuals into thinking they are buying healthy products. In reality, many manufacturers can use the term “natural” or “all natural” on their merchandise because the Food and Drug Administration has a

loose definition of the term. Additionally, people often believe certain fruits and vegetables are organic because they are not manufactured and are beneficial to our health. Although people hardly take into consideration the process of producing food, the word “organic” reflects the manner in which goods are produced. All organic products are made without using harmful chemicals that would have a negative toll on the products and the environment. Examples of nonconventional practices include the use of natural fertilizers, crop rotations, and beneficial insects that reduce pests and promote healthy growth for plants. The main point of organic products is to provide healthy products that encourage positive ecological practices. On the other hand, the manufacturers of regular products use methods that promote efficiency but also promote the use of chemicals. For instance, producers using conventional practices include herbicides, pesticides, bug repellants, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics, and growth hormones. By eating these products, we

consume chemicals which can take a negative toll on our health. To be classified as organic, products must pass an inspection of “uniform national standards for the production and handling of foods” created by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA monitors the production of different organic products and makes sure that certified foods follow set guidelines. “Organic food handlers, processors and retailers adhere to standards that maintain the integrity of organic agricultural products. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people,” according to the USDA National Organic Standards Board. Since producers of organic substances need to fulfill certain standards and expectations, they expend more time and resources into making their products. Therefore, organic items cost more. Despite the higher prices, the health benefits of eating organic have encouraged many Americans to consume these products. Once a scarcity, organic foods can now be found in mainstream grocery stores, such as Trader Joes, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Ralphs and Vons. Despite their popularity, organic products have gotten some criticism. Many complain about high prices and that without the use of conventional methods farmers, cannot feed an entire population.

Producing organic products take more time, energy, and resources. This makes organic products pricier, and for this reason many cannot afford to buy organic products and instead purchase food that is more affordable and within their budget. In addition, by using nonconventional methods, farmers often produce fewer goods than a farmer that uses conventional practices. In the United States, with a population grossing over 300 million, feeding everyone through solely organic means seems impossible. “I eat food to enjoy and indulge. I feel there are good positives to eating organic, but it’s not 100 percent a better option,” said senior Jacob Harris. Although people perceive organic foods as healthy, controversy surrounds the extent of their benefit. Despite the criticisms, evidence suggests that eating organic does provide positive effects on the body. Dr. Kirsten Brandt of Newcastle University, who lead research on organic carrots, apples, peaches and potatoes said, “This research shows there are benefits [to organic foods]… it’s extremely difficult to measure the health benefit in any food, but we can say that if you eat 400g of fruit and vegetables per day you would get 20 percent more nutrients in organic food. “It’s important to have healthy eating habits because it will help in the long run. When you get older you can get high cholesterol and other diseases if you don’t eat healthy,” freshmen Douglas Ayala Jr. said.

Taste the real meaning of today’s “organic” products

Valentine customs around the world Korea has three days for valentines. On February 14, Valentine’s

Day, girls give their gifts to the guys. On March 14, White Day, the guys either give a return gift (two or three times the value of the girl’s gift) or confess their love for the first time. On April 14, Black Day, all the lonely single people get together and eat Jjajang noodles (black bean paste noodles) to mourn their lonely single lives. In Denmark, men sent forms of valentines called gaekkebrev or “joking letter.” The sender would write a rhyme and replace their name with dots, one dot for each letter. If the girl who received the card guessed his name, he would give her an Easter egg later on in the year! Children in Great Britain have another day of singing for treats. On Valentine’s Day, children who sing special songs are rewarded with candy, fruit, money, or maybe even some delicious Valentine buns made of caraway seeds, plums, or raisins.

Japan

In , chocolate can have various meanings on Valentine’s Day. There are two types of chocolate that girls give to guys: Giri chocolate (obligation chocolate) and Honmei chocolate (prospective winner chocolate). Giri chocolate has no romantic association and is often store-bought for close guy friends. Honmei chocolate is special and is often made by hand for boyfriends, lovers, or husbands. Guys are obligated to return the favor on White Day, but for those who received those special, carefully made honmei chocolate, the return gift is expected to be ten times the cost!

France

In , unmarried girls would call for their lovers from their windows in a custom called “drawing for.” This could have been romantic if they all paired off and lived happily ever after, but some guys would desert their lovers if they weren’t interested anymore. For girls who were deserted, a bonfire would later be lit so that they could burn images of their lovers and curse at them. It’s no wonder that the French government later banned the custom.

By Fernanda Velazco There is one thing that ancient heroes try to avoid: death. Gilgamesh in “The Epic of Gilgamesh” sought for immortality. Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon explored Florida as he searched for the fountain of youth. And ever since the beginning of time, people have been searching for a special elixir to take that will help them avoid the end of their lives. The truth is that there is no way to avoid death. Death is the number one killer in the world, and it seems that it is going to stay WKDWZD\IRUDORQJWLPH8QWLOZHÀQGWKH “cure” for death, we should be living our lives to their fullest extent. Because we cannot lose sight of how precious life can be, we need to have bucket lists. A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you “kick the old bucket,” a euphemism for death. It is a list of all of the goals you want to achieve, dreams you want WRIXOÀOODQGOLIHH[SHULHQFHV\RXZDQWWRJR through before you die. Bucket lists express the good things in OLIH WKDW UHÁHFW XSRQ ZKDW W\SH RI  SHUVRQ you are and what you want to achieve in life. The things on your list can range from rolling down a hill in a wheelchair to earning a Ph.D degree. Without a bucket list, you might spend \RXU GD\V OLYLQJ LQ D UXVK WU\LQJ WR ÀQLVK mundane daily errands. Look back at the last

05 feature

February 10, 2012

three months and think about what your accomplishments were. Did you do anything truly meaningful for yourself ? Look at the next three upcoming months. What do you want to achieve by then? Most people seem to set up goals at a young age but forget about them after a while. Eventually, people end up at a point in their lives where they realize that they have little time left to accomplish the dreams they had when they were older. This is known as a “mid-life crisis.” Many middle-aged adults end up in this position because they realize they are quickly going to face an end to their life and are unhappy with the little they have accomplished. By setting up a bucket list we could set up baby steps needed to become that gold album-selling rapper or that worldrenowned fashion designer. “It’s important to have a bucket list, because it helps give you a small boost so that you can achieve your goals, whether fun or serious. It’s a perfect way to organize your thoughts and ideas so that you can take VPDOO VWHSV WR IXOÀOO >\RXU JRDOV@µ MXQLRU Narah Lee said. Your goals, dreams, and aspirations are not going to come true by themselves, but EXFNHWOLVWVDUHQRWMXVWWRKHOS\RXDFKLHYH work. The point of a bucket list is to not lose focus of the fun things in life.

The simple act of writing a bucket list is an invaluable exchange. The time that you give up to actually write your bucket list gives you time to gain clarity and focus on what you really want to achieve during your time alive. After you write your bucket list, put it in action. In order for you to actually try to IXOÀOO \RXU OLVW DQG QRW ORVH VLJKW RI  \RXU bucket list, you have to use environmental reinforcement. Print out your list and put it up in your locker or closet. Set it up as your wallpaper; pin it up on the bulletin board you have at home; or write it on a sticky note to put on your computer. Put your list in a prominent place so you’re constantly reminded to seize the day. And to help your bucket list make the most of what you want to do everyday, here are a couple more tips to help you write your bucket list. First, try not to be so generic. Almost everybody has “travel the world” or “meet the president” on their bucket lists. Be a little PRUHVSHFLÀF,QVWHDGRI ´WUDYHOWKHZRUOGµ SLFNDVSHFLÀFSODFHZLWKDFHUWDLQSXUSRVH like senior Khylan Jones who said she wants to “have a food adventure through Paris.” Or you can switch it up and deviate from typical things on a list. Instead of swimming with dolphins, try swimming with sharks. The next thing you want to keep in mind

when writing your it personal. You that your bucket tion of yourself. ULÀHG RI  KHLJKWV the San Francisco LV WKH ÀUVW WKLQJ leave this world, I I overcame my climbed to one of bridges. The third to improvise! For be able to cross your list. Instead and adopt a pet, saving a life! Actually, crossyour list is one of the world. Physithat you achieved VLJQLÀHV WKDW \RX try to reach your ter than most In the end, the shots you yourself the plete some bucket list

bucket list is to make need to make sure OLVWLVDJRRGUHÁHFPersonally, I’m terthat’s why climbing Golden Gate Bridge on my list. Before I want to be able to say fear of heights and the America’s tallest thing to consider is example you may not off “save a life” from go to a pet shelter technically you’re ing off an item from the best feelings in cally checking off one of your goals took the initiative to goals, which is betpeople even try. you miss 100 % of never take, so give chance and comof those awesome ideas.

What’s on your bucket list?

Write music and pursue music professionally

Senior Aleena Rodriguez Find the best places to eat around the world

Junior Jennifer Figueroa

Senior Omar Qureshi

History teacher John Yamazaki

Experience Zero gravity

Go skydiving

Sophomore David Molina Work at Disneyland

Freshmen Desiree Meza Become a professional dancer

Private colleges, trade schools offer other options By Jane Pyeon High school seniors are done with their college applications and are waiting for their decision letters. On the other hand, the juniors are on the brink of beginning their journey to find the school that is right for them. But many California students are only aware of the Ivy Leagues (Ivies), the University of California (UCs), and the California State Universities (CSUs). Students do not realize that other posthigh school options are available such as trade school and online colleges as well as many other private schools. Along with academics, the atmosphere in which a student studies is very important in the student’s academic future. Some students work better within a smaller population, which can be offered in private schools. UCs can pose a problem because they are relatively large schools with a large student population. They are also able to provide students more individual attention due to the smaller ratio between the student population and faculty population.

Some of those schools include Midway College, Oberlin College, Occidental College, and Mills College. Midway College is a college of 200 acres that is located in Kentucky. It offers 30 majors in areas such as business, healthcare, nursing and teacher

education. There is a low 13 to 1 student teacher ratio allowing students and teachers to know each other. Along with studying on campus, students may take courses on Midway College’s online college which allows for students to receive

their degree online and from the comfort of their own home. Midway College is not the only college that has a separate online college accessible for students. Many other colleges either have an online college

as an extension or exist solely online. These online colleges offer options to those who are not able to attend the college conventionally. Private schools pose another benefit since they offer much more financial aid than is available within the UCs. Another option for students is trade school. Students who decide to study a spe-

cific skill rather than continue in academics may attend a trade school, a school that gives instruction in a specific trade or offers general vocational courses and focuses on job skill training instead of a liberal arts education. Some trade schools in California include the Art Institute of California, Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, and the ITT Technical Institute (ITT Tech). Trade schools like ITT Tech offer classes that help prepare students for career opportunities in fields such as Computer and Electronics Engineering Technology, Criminal Justice, Business Administration, Computer Drafting and Design, Computer Network Systems, Web Development, Multimedia, and more. These trade schools usually help students to earn their associates or bachelor’s degree in these fields. Whether it is private schools, online colleges, or trade schools, students should know that there are many other options available to help them further their education and to have a stable and successful future.

06

entertainment

February 10, 2012

“Chronicle” is predictable but worth a ticket

A SUPER WATCH: “Chronicle” was released in theaters on February 3rd.

By Kathy Zerbib As much as “Chronicle” appears to be a mediocre cross of “X-Men” and “Cloverfield,” it is definitely worth watching more than most of the other movies just released in theaters. For one thing, “Chronicle” has the potential to be cheesy, but thankfully does not succumb to that possibility. The film is, however, pretty predictable. The plot revolves around three high school seniors and their experiences with a newfound power of telekinesis, the ability to move objects with the mind. It largely centers on Andrew (Dane DeHaan of “True Blood”), an abused social outcast who experiences a brief taste of stardom. The two other prominent characters are Andrew’s adorable cousin Matt (Alex Russell) and the overly hilarious Steve (Michael B. Jordan of “All My Children”). As expected, the boys use their powers for fun and mischief, until all goes wrong and innocent people are hurt. Then, of course, the weakest link (Andrew, in this case) loses his grip on reality and wreaks havoc.

The characters in “Chronicle” are most relatable to the high school crowd, as it incorporates many of the activities high school students engage in as well as including their understandable reactions to acquiring superhuman powers. The film is not meant for those who agonize over the infamous found-footage style. Anyone with a severe problem with shaky camerawork might as well save the money and go watch “The Vow” next week. In all honesty, the idea of actors carrying around cameras for realism is overused. The found-footage concept in this movie is no better than the ones in “Paranormal Activity,” “Cloverfield,” or “The Devil Inside.” Yet this low-budget method of filming does have its perks, despite the vomiting it tends to induce. Due to the lower quality filming, the special effects in “Chronicle” actually look extra realistic. The computer-generated imagery (CGI) is not as apparent in the movie, allowing it to seem more natural than the typical,

“Avatar-effect” many other films display. Because of this presumable simplicity, any instance of a surprise (and there are definitely a number of “Woah!” moments) is much more intoxicating to watch. In order to prevent spoilers, the most that can be said about the conclusion of “Chronicle” is that it ends on a slightly cliffhanger note. The movie leaves room for a potential sequel. Despite the fact that the film made over $20 million in its opening weekend, “Chronicle” should definitely refrain from jumping on the sequel opportunity, regardless of its popularity. If there is any ounce of justice in the filmmaking industry, “Chronicle” will not allow itself to become a repeat sequel offender of the likes of “Paranormal Activity.” Though there is a good deal of overacting and blatant exaggeration of certain characters, these shortcomings are overshadowed by everything else “Chronicle” has to offer. Movie-goers are ultimately reminded that a highly recognized cast is not necessarily required to make a good movie, especially one of this caliber.

By Chelsea Green Something about classic black-and-white movies grabs modern audiences by the heartstrings. Characterized by old-fashioned romance, raw emotion, and sometimes cheesy action scenes (where bad guys throw fake punches and high-speed chase scenes are obviously shot with the car at a standstill), movies from the era before Technicolor have a lot to teach to contemporary Hollywood. Today, modern audiences tend to thrive on the nitty-gritty, the blood, and the risqué. We live in a world where the “Twilight” saga and the “Mission Impossible” series (although Tom Cruise does undeniably have the ‘It’ factor) rule the box office. And yet,

with these primal qualities so prevalent in film today, we often end up seeing the same type of plotline over and over again without much variation. So, what made movies from the 1930’s to the late 1950’s so special? First of all, they knew how to be classy. On the romance scale, passion in films such as “Gone With the Wind” and “Casablanca” score an absolute ten without the characters braving more than a kiss. Modesty reigned in a world where characters expressed so much without words. Tantalizing glances screamed longing and true intimacy without displaying overpowering lust. Then, of course, are the oh-so memo-

rable phrases. From “Round up the usual suspects,” in “Casablanca” to my personal favorite from “Anna Karenina,” “Not a word, not a gesture of yours shall I ever forget, nor can I,” the eloquence and subtle wittiness is clearly evident. Because Hollywood produced these movies during a time period when audiences and film crews alike appreciated and savored cinema, every aspect of the film was considered important and was carefully crafted. Even the music in the background played a starring role, dancing behind the emotion of particular lines that depend upon its choreography. Some of the most renowned composers of

all time wrote for the music industry during the black-and-white period, including George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, and Henry Mancini. Scenes like Holly Golightly’s singing “Moon River” in the treasured film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” testify to the power an amazing score can bring to the screen. As far as the acting is concerned, on-screen performances from the likes of Marlon Brando, Charlie Chaplin, Elizabeth Taylor, and Katherine Hepburn have set the standards for modern actors and those to come. Maybe Hollywood should take a cue from the traditional classics and take five before overlooking the elegance, eloquence, and pure electricity of excellent filmmaking.

Photo courtesy of Best Movies Ever

Modern cinema needs to learn from the classics

“How I Met Your Mother” helps bros be awesome By Sean Bujarski and Gabriella Koek Are you tired of being lame and not awesome? Well, you should be. But luckily for you, the hit television show “How I Met Your Mother” offers all the advice you need to be legend-wait for it-dary. First of all, whenever you get sad, stop being sad and be awesome instead. You can do so by giving awesome high fives. The Around the World, the Phone Five, the Self Five, and the Relapse High Five are just a few of the amazing ways to tell your bro how awesome he is. Fist bumps are also acceptable. More importantly, always remember that you may never leave a bro hanging at all, for any reason. If your friend makes a joke that is as incomprehensible as the action in a Michael Bay movie and demands a high five anyway, then by golly you better give him one. In addition to high fives, one can always suit up. Face it; suits are classy. They are the epitome of awesomeness. The only way to be classier than a guy wearing a three-piece suit is to walk out of a horse-drawn carriage looking like the monopoly man; coat-tails, top hat, and monocle included.

(As recorded by Barnabas Stinson on July 4th, 1776)

Photos courtesy of Hollywood Stars

However, since we don’t live in Victorian England, there is nothing better than wearing a button down shirt and sports coat. So ditch the ratty jeans for khaki’s, and remember that nothing says “like a boss” quite like dressing, well, like a boss. For guys, always follow the Bro Code, the official guide to being awesome by Neil Patrick Harris (need we say more?). Go to the nearest bookstore (which, considering the current market, means you might as well walk the entire length of Africa); buy a copy; and do not stop reading

until you can accurately recite Articles 47 through 134. Trust us, you’ll thank us later. Another thing you can do that is both fun and useful is to stage interventions for your friends’ idiosyncrasies. In modern times, interventions have gotten a bad reputation for being depressing cry fests over heroin overdoses and prison. On the contrary, interventions can be an excellent way to weed out your friends’ annoying habits. A classic example is when your friend decides to enforce the grammar rules like the Nuremberg laws. Then stage an intervention and write letters to convey your heartfelt vexation. Also, remember that new is always better. Old is boring and repetitive, but new is different and mysterious. There are a few things that could cancel out your legendary nature, so be aware of and try to avoid the following. First, never “pull a Mosby.” In other words, do not say, “I love you” to someone way too early in a relationship. Also, try not to “Ted-out,” or to vastly overthink something. Keep to these tips and watch “How I Met Your Mother” on CBS, and you will be awesome. True story.

SOPA threatens Internet freedom By Gary Zhang For the 24 hours of January 18, content on Wikipedia was inaccessible to the public. Web surfers across the U.S. panicked without their universal source of information. Wikipedia’s blackout was a small taste of something much worse than not being able to look up information about things like TV shows, chemistry topics, or famous politicians. That something is called the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), the name given to House Bill 3261. SOPA was introduced in October of 2011 to fight illegal distribution and trafficking of copyrighted material such as movies or software on the internet. At first glance, it seems reasonable to try to protect companies’ intellectual property. However, SOPA is just the wrong way to do that. SOPA allows copyright holders to instigate denial of advertising and payment services to websites that are accused of copyright infringement, and requires search engines and Internet service providers to remove access to websites. If Congress passes SOPA, we will start seeing blocked websites. Americans will live under Internet censorship. In fact, SOPA is much worse than government censorship because private businesses, not the government, will have this power; history has shown us that SOPA will be used for reasons other than copyright infringement. Businesses can potentially use SOPA to shut down competitors’ websites or take down bad customer reviews. Under the current system of preventing Internet piracy, certain companies have been abusing their rights with false copyright claims. These false claims can be sent to websites with user created content like YouTube or Facebook. Rather than spend resources to verify these claims or risk liability, YouTube, Facebook, and other sites have taken down the content that appears to violate the copyright. Then it is up to the creator of that content to prove that it doesn’t violate copyright. It’s a system of guilty until proven innocent. Some businesses actually offer services which depend on these false copyright claims. Medical Justice, for example, had a service for doctors which allowed them to claim copyright infringement on negative reviews posted by patients online. This service continued until it was taken down after court cases caused negative publicity. Even well-known names such as CBS Broadcasting have been guilty of this corruption. On YouTube, CBS claimed copyright infringement against a satirical John McCain 2008 campaign video containing footage of CBS News anchor Katie Couric, and the video was taken down in spite of the fact that the video contained fair use of the footage. The campaign called YouTube with a complaint in order to put the video back up. With SOPA, “guilty until proven innocent” will only get worse. Copyright holders will have the ability to completely shut down a website that contains just one item that infringes copyright. Meanwhile, companies and trade organizations such as the Motion Pictures Association of America, or the Entertainment Software Association can literally create blacklists of websites which internet service providers or search engines are forced to block. Imagine this kind of power, but with the corporate abuse we all have seen. Our Internet will become a virtual Soviet Union, where any wrong word can result in “death.” It won’t be Joseph Stalin or the Politburo that will be leading this, but companies who are willing to go to great lengths to stay at the top and keep a public facade, even if it means destroying the freedom of others, or the rest of the Internet.

07 opinion

February 10, 2012

Prepare for post-furlough depression By Sean Bujarski As a senior with friends that go to Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools, I have become very familiar with what I call post-furlough depression. As the name implies, post-furlough depression is the combination of anger, sadness, and hopelessness you feel when you wake up to go to school on a LAUSD furlough day (which is where where students and faculty don’t come to school on days other than holidays). You know that while you are taking an eight o’clock test on related rates problems in calculus, your friends are taking an eight o’clock test on the back of their eyelids in a warm bed. Regardless, despite my knowledge of this feeling, this article is not about how we should embrace furlough days like a golden retriever puppy wrapped in a Snuggie. Quite the opposite, I’m against them. Yes, you read that right. I, an 18 year old teenager with a life and enough backed up hours of TV episodes to last until the sun explodes, am about to argue in favor of more school. I’ll give you a moment to pick your jaw up off the floor. The main problem with furlough days lies not with the fact that we get the day off, it is what that day off represents. Contrary to popular belief, furlough days are not special gifts granted by the LAUSD fairy to reward students for putting up with school for four years. In reality, furlough days are quick money saving tricks that LAUSD uses so that its students’ lockers and books don’t get replaced with cardboard boxes and cave paintings.

Here’s how furlough days work. Since teachers are paid by the hour, the price of teachers alone in a school the size of ours is $34001.03 per day, according to LAUSD’s pay scale from 2011. Running a school gets expensive faster than maintaining a World of Warcraft account. As a result, LAUSD uses furlough days, in which the school does not need to pay any member of the staff for a day, in a desperate attempt to keep the school deficit from reaching astronomic proportions. With this in mind, our lack of furlough days is a great thing; it is a sign that our school actually has money to buy Smartboards, books, and all the other teaching aids that help keep our collective California Standardized Testing (CST) scores and GPA’s from looking like Tiger Woods’ golf score. However, I still hear the dissenting voice of freedom crying out, “Who cares about school budgets and Smartboards, I just want to wake up at 12:00 p.m. on a Wednesday and know that I don’t have to deal with school for 24 glorious hours.” To be honest, I totally understand that. School is hard and stressful, and can be filled with life sucking, soul draining, facepalming hours of endless tedium and monotony. Unfortunately, I fear that these disciples of school-less weekdays are praying to a false god. According to the official LAUSD 2010 - 2011 calendar, of the six mandated furlough days, only two actually kept students from going to school. The other four were in early in September and late June, well into winter and summer break respectively.

This lack-luster aspect of furlough days is like Moses saying he is going to receive the Ten Commandments and then coming back down Mount Sinai carrying a rock engraved with the words: “chill out bro-sky.” Not exactly worth wandering the desert for 40 years. Now, since this topic of furlough days is at the heart of it, in attempt to quiet the roar of anger that students howl at the administration, I’m going to spend the next couple paragraphs talking about how we can change that relationship instead of discussing the merits of three-day weekends. Let’s be honest, this school is not perfect. I’m sure every student, teacher, or even administrator could fill an entire newspaper with complaints and arguments against the school we inhabit: from dress code to cell phone policy, from tardy rules to an obsession with ESLRs. However, these minor complaints are only able to surface because of the major problems that do not exist here. We can complain about a strict cell phone policy because we do not need to argue about iPhones being used to openly cheat on tests. We can be angry over tardy lock out because we do not need to worry about half the school not showing up to class. Therefore, I’d propose that we as students tone down our anger at our school just a tad. You can still be angry at the school on the occasion where you have school and your LAUSD friends don’t, but before you start a flame war on Facebook, remember that while our school may be a taskmaster, it is trying to be a benevolent one.

Gary Zhang/ The Plaid Press

AP testing: the price is right By Fatima Castaneda and Shiva Jarafipour A college counselor walks into your second period Advanced Placement (AP) Biology class and provides the class with information about the AP exams. During her presentation, she states the cost of each AP exam: $87 or $5 for students who qualify for free and reduced lunch. Immediately, you become flustered as you add up the total cost for your testing. Although prices for AP exams are expensive, this price is fitting when considering all the expenses that go into manufacturing, distributing, and processing the test. Additional costs must be made to post scores online on collegeboard.org and to mail them home, as well as to hire a proctor and professionals to hand-grade hundreds of exams. Charging the $87 allows students to take challenging college level classes and obtain college credits. Students upset over the price should think of it as the school having their best interest in mind. The school offers students a chance to prove their intelligence to colleges without paying the full cost of a college level class. A typical history class unit costs $695 at California State University Northridge (CSUN), whereas an AP exam costs only $87, while also giving students credit for the college course. “Students need to keep in mind that the AP test price is minimal compared to how much that class would cost if taken in college. Granada allows students to take college-like courses for a price that is far less than if they were taken at a college,”

office assistant Claudine McDonald said. Still, some may wonder why the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), a nationwide test given multiple times during the year is only $49. The SAT, taken by approximately five times as many people as those who take AP exams, also shows colleges the skills students acquired throughout their secondary school years, but there are differences that make the AP’s higher price understandable. The SAT is a multiple choice test that is scanned for a score, while the short essay portion is hand graded. AP tests require more graders to correct several free response questions and essays, which adds to the overall cost of testing. “Taking APs gives you an advantage over the millions of other people applying to the same colleges as you. A more challenging class appeals more to colleges and even that small difference between an honors and AP class can not only prepare you for college, but can also help you get into the college of your dreams,” senior Ashley Garr said. Gary Zhang/ The Plaid Press

The Plaid Press The Plaid Press is published by the Advanced Journalism class at Granada Hills Charter High School. 10535 Zelzah Ave. Granada Hills, CA 91344 Phone: (818) 360-2361 The Plaid Press welcomes all letters and commentaries on all matters and reserves the right to edit as required. Unsigned letters will not be printed. Opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Plaid Press, its adviser, Granada Hills Charter High School faculty or student body. Editors-in-Chief News Editors Entertainment Editor Opinion Editor Feature Editors Sports Editor Spirit Editor Business Manager Cartoonist Staff Reporters:

Adviser

Ahra Cho Shilpa Bhongir Gabriella Koek Jane Pyeon Kathy Zerbib Chelsea Green Sophia Shin Fernanda Velazco James Powel Eiman Kazi Jane Pyeon Gary Zhang Sean Bujarski Fatima Castaneda Shiva Jafaripour Lorena Ramirez Melanie Uemura Gary Zhang

Melissa Mason

The Plaid Press is a proud member of National Scholastic Press Association.

08 sports

Varsity Girls

By Melanie Umeura The girls varsity basketball team has shown its true capabilities with an overall record of ten wins and six losses and a 3-1 record in league play. “We have a really good team this year, with emphasis on the team part. They really are united as a team this year,” coach Louis Cicciari said. The total amount of assists has gone up this year, which is proof of teamwork and cooperation. To enhance their individual skills further, the team has implemented new practice methods this year. For example, the team has introduced the ladders drill, which is a type of running drill that focuses on endurance and enhancing agility. “Although most of us dread the ladders drill, it has positively affected our ability to run with other teams without getting out of breath so fast,” varsity captain and shooting guard, senior Cassidy Wong said.

February 10, 2012

The team has also introduced a training method that involves consequences when a player does not perform her best. While it might not be a lot of push-ups, each drill adds up in the end. During the first varsity game of the season against Verdugo Hills High School, junior and center Danielle Ward missed a lay-up. The minute the Verdugo Hills coach called for a 30 second timeout, Ward went to the sidelines and did her push ups, without being asked. “I felt that a missed lay-up is the same whether in a game or in practice. Every time I am on the court, I am motivated James Powel/The Press to do my best, or elsePlaid I will have to face a consequence,” Ward said. With its solid team work, the team looks to make a run in the playoffs. “We have a very good chance of taking city this year, as long as we keep playing hard and keep improving as a team,” Wong said.

James Powel/The Plaid Press

Varsity Boys

By James Powel The Highlander boys varsity basketball team looks to finish the season strong. The team has come down the home stretch by going 5-5 in its last ten games, giving them an overall record of 10-15, with their season finale scheduled for tonight at El Camino Real Charter High School. The record includes a 4-5 league record including key wins against Cleveland High School, Chatsworth High School and an out of league 52-47 victory over crosstown rival Kennedy High. It has been a grueling season for the team but one that has brought the team together. Preparing for every game with daily after school practices, beginning at five o’clock and often lasting late into the night. “I’m proud of how the team has come together through some of our struggles,” head coach Don Loperena said. It is a sentiment echoed by senior captain Josh Horosny. “We have learned a lot about playing under pressure and keeping our

collective cool this season,” Horosny said. The team seeks to use tonight’s game as a final test before entering the Division II Playoffs for the sixth year in a row. All six apperacenes under coach Loperena. Last season the team made the second round of the Los Angeles City Section Division Two Tournament. Though they were defeated by San Pedro High School, the experience brought player ability to a new level. “Our run last year showed us what can be accomplished when a team works together and it is our hope that we can make a deep run this year,” senior captain Chris Johnson said. According to the MaxPrep.com playoff predictor the team looks to enter the tournament as the 5 seed, a prime position to make a deep run into towards the City Title. “A lot can be accomplished here if we can come together as a unit and make a long run,” Loperena said.

James Powel/The Plaid Press

BREAK AWAY: Senior and shooting guard Kylie Campos tears away from the opposing defense during the girls varsity win over Taft High School.

HIGH FLYING: Senior and small forward Jino Labao drives for a lay-up during the boys varsity game against Taft High School.

By Fatima Castaneda Here in Los Angeles, sport talk mainly consists of the NBA championships, the Super Bowl, or the All-Star games. However, what about other sports that no one seems to pay much attention to, like rugby? On an international level, this exciting and relatively violent sport has millions of people entranced. According to the Rugby World Cup website, the Rugby World Cup is currently the third largest sporting event in the world,. More people are starting to play and watch this sport. Despite its growing popularity, rugby is still not known to the average American sports fan. Endurance, passion, and stamina are only a fraction of the traits rugby players must possess in order to win a match. “I think it’s really cool how rugby can be in the Olympics. I don’t really watch the sport, but I’ve heard that the players are

physically strong because they get tackled often,” senior Oscar Blanco said. Since tackling and violence are used to regain possession of the ball, the sport may seem a bit chaotic to those unfamiliar with rugby. However, tact and strategy are needed to win this game. There are two types of rugby: Rugby Sevens and Rugby Union. Rugby Union is played with fifteen people on each team; while in Rugby Sevens, there are seven people to a team. Players flip a coin to see which team gets to start with the kickoff. The objective of rugby is to score more points, known as ‘tries,’ than the opposing team. To score tries, players must cross the field, constantly passing the ball to other teammates to move it across the field to the opposing tryline. Once this line is crossed, a teammate must make sure the ball touches the ground to be awarded five points. Whichever team

scores more tries wins the game. Both rugby and football share many similarities, probably because the sport originated from football. Rugby was developed in 1823, when William Webb Ellis, a college student attending Rugby College broke the rules while playing football. During that era, people were not allowed to run with footballs, only pass it to different players. However, at the time, he did the unspeakable-he picked up the ball and ran past the goal line. Shortly after this incident, the school adopted this new method of playing football. Then, slowly, the sport gained popularity, and different colleges around England began to play the rugby version of football. Today, participants of the Rugby World Cup compete for the “William Webb Ellis Trophy,” named after its founder. Rugby has previously been in the Olym-

pics five times, but after the Paris games in 1924, the international Olympic committee cancelled Rugby as an Olympic sport. Rugby fanatics have pushed for legislation that would add this sport back to the Summer Olympic; their efforts have allowed Rugby to be added to the 2016 Olympics. Rugby USA is an official member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). The Tomahawks, the United States National Rugby League team, participated in the 2011 Pan American Games to qualify for the 2016 Olympics. In response to Rugby returning to the Olympics, USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville said, “This is great news for USA Rugby... We look forward to making a positive contribution to the Olympic family in the future... Thousands of young Americans are picking up the ball and running with it for the first time and dreaming of Olympic glory in 2016 and 2020.”

By Gabriella Koek The school’s cheerleading squad competed in the Cheer for a Cure competition on

February 4, 2012 at Universal Studios. Both the junior varsity and varsity cheer teams placed first at the competition. This competition raises funds for cancer research and awareness. The school’s team raised about $5400, which was more than any team at the competition. In preparation for Cheer for a Cure, the team added Tuesday and Thursday practices until 8 p.m. to its usual Monday through Wednesday practices, in addition to summer and winter break. During practices, which start during sixth period, the girls stretch, rehearse stunts, choreograph routines, and run. They finish practice with jump, strength, or endurance conditioning to stay in shape. The girls have had to work extra hard this year to perfect routines for competitions and football andcourtesy basketball because their Photo of games GHCHS Athletics coach, Melanie Silva, has been on maternity leave. “Things have been tough since she has been gone, but we have pulled it together,

and I have dedicated a lot of my time to step in and lead the team,” senior and captain Alexis Schomer said. Luckily, Silva’s replacement for after school cheer practices, English teacher Heather Macias, has 20 years of dance experience that she applies to her temporary position helping guide the cheerleaders. Macias works along with Amy Eggbert; Eggbert is Silva’s substitute for periods one through six. “In addition to Ms. Macias, we’ve also had help from Ms. Eggbert, Ms. Silva’s substitute. Thanks to the both of them, we’ve cleaned and perfected our performances,” Schomer said. Although she has experience, Macias is not planning on making any major changes or redirecting the team to make it her own. “I’m trying to keep everything as Ms. Silva does,” Macias said. With Silva absent, the team has had to rely more on their captains, Schomer and senior Haylie Richardson, for direction and

support in order to stay focused on its goals. “The team had to listen to the captains more, and Alexis and I had to do more work to keep the team going. We had a few rough patches throughout the year, but this had made our team more of a family,” Richardson said. Clearly, the team’s hard work and dedication paid off. The girls invested extra time to overcome obstacles and polish the routines that led them to first place in the recent competion. “For next year, I would really like to see the team compete in national’s and to go in with a strong routine,”varsity cheerleader, junior Cassidy Petersen said. The cheer team has worked hard and come together even with its usual coach on maternity leave, and has shown how working together can make a group successful. “They want to be united, supportive, and school spirited while demonstrating role model behavior and keeping a positive energy,” Macias said.

Rugby rumbles into American sports landscape

Cheer places first in charity fundraising competition

James Powel/The Plaid Press

NEW ROUTINE: The cheer team practices for Cheer for a Cure.