February 8, 2013

52.5

INSIDE ASB addresses state of the school

News Page 2

Highlander Fest

School hosts its first annual Highlander Fest

Entertainment Page 3

“The Maze Runner”

Menacing monsters, an impossible maze, and unforgettable adventure

Feature Page 4

Drama Teacher Fingeret revitalizes drama program

Opinion Page 6

Gun control

Call for tightening background checks to thwart gun violence

Sports Page 8

Dodgeball Inferno

Recap of the highly anticipated tournament

Photo courtesy of Josh Jhu

By Derek Ung On January 25, the Associated Student Body (ASB) hosted the first Granada Hills Charter High School annual State of the School Speech, where the student body was invited to learn more about how the school functions and operates. Leading members of ASB were present along with chief administrators of the school’s faculty. ASB President Brandon Camacho, Vice-President Hiro Bower, Secretary Fifa Tosunidis, Treasurer Elleana Dela Cruz, Historian Josh Jhu, and Senior Delegates Majde Al Salibi and Richard Kang detailed their positions and what responsibilities they hold. Outreach Director Carrie Boutros, Webmaster Jusay Jules, and Chief Academic Officer Dilmit Singh stated their goals for school and how they plan to ensure the success of the school. The event mirrored the United States traditional State of the Union Speech, where each year the president delivers an address about the condition of the nation.

The school wanted to host a similar event in the hopes of informing curious students about how their school is doing. “These speeches help bridge the gap between the ‘citizens’ of Granada and the ‘government’--that is, students and ASB. I hope students recognize the importance of these speeches and relate it to our actual United States government,” Camacho said. Camacho and Bower took the stand, addressing the audience and answering questions posed by students. There were questions concerning the high price of school lunches and dress code alterations including the possible resurgence of yoga pants. “The price jump in cafeteria food has to do with recent changes in the national standards for school meals. Federal guidelines required us to revamp the lunch menu and Cafeteria Manager Maria Hunsaker has addressed the new needs as best she can. As a result, we don’t have to deal with poor quality meals,” Bower said. Furthermore, ASB members addressed

the reasons for a strict dress code and why the school implements restrictions on inappropriate clothing. “As a woman myself, I understand that we would like to dress however we want and not feel restricted, but there are real reasons why we have banned certain types of clothing from the school environment. We come to school to learn, and some types of clothing can be distracting in the classroom. Furthermore, there is the issue of bullying. Some female students are called derogatory names based on their attire, and the school does what it can to promote a more positive environment for its students,” Bower said. Among these specific issues were other general questions, such as what motivated Camacho and other members to join the student government program and what exactly ASB’s responsibilities are. After having addressed all the questions, the state of the school ended with an interactive performance by Smooth White Chocolate.

By Grace Park On Saturday, February 2, the school’s all female acapella choir Once Upon a Time and one member from Happily Ever After attended an event called Diva Day, held at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. Female choirs from twenty-nine schools all over California participated in this event to compete for a chance to perform at the final showcase, which is considered to be the final concert for all choirs. Granada Hills Charter High School’s female choir and one other group received the opportunity to perform at this final showcase. The event was directed by Jennifer Perry Edwards, who won music teacher of the year in 2008. She teaches choir in Toledo, Ohio, and is a member of a first place

international quartet group. At Diva Day, “Once Upon a Time” showcased the songs “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepson, “Java Jive,” and “Wide Awake” by Katy Perry for the Harborlites Chorus, a group of older women who ran the event and are well-known barbershop singers. This group determined whether or not groups were to perform at the final showcase. Prior to the competition, Granada’s choir learned three barbershop songs— “Swing Down Chariot” by Golden Gate Quartet, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens, and “Scarlett Ribbons” by Harry Belafonte, performing them in acappella style. “We practiced all day for the event but I think Granada was the

most prepared because learned and prepared the songs before we got to the event,” senior Irene Enerio said. There will be an event similar to Diva Day that will be held for male choir groups in February. “Like the name states, there were a lot of divas that participated in the c o m p e t i t i o n ,” Enerio said.

Choir girls compete at Diva Day we

02 news

February 8, 2013

The school hosts annual Granada celebrates 10 8th Grade Orientation years as a charter school By Alison Montenegro On Wednesday January 29 and Thursday January 30, the school hosted its eighth grade orientation to give incoming freshman the chance to see programs and activities offered by the school. The orientation was timely as it took place during National School Choice Week. According to their website, National School Choice Week “shines a spotlight on the need for effective education options for all children.” National School Choice Week encourages support in school choice programs and proposals as well as charter schools. Many attendees of the eighth grade orientation showed interest in National School Choice Week. The school offered information on many of programs on campus such as the Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM), Global History of Ideas (GHI), Humanitas, and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. Teachers were available in several classrooms to talk about and explain each specific program to students and parents. Many clubs and organizations as well as sports teams were present to encourage incoming freshmen to become involved in the school. For example, The Highlander Band had instruments available for show. Many of the sports teams displayed their trophies. The robotics team also brought the Radiologist robot which shot and picked up basketballs.

“I thought articulation night was extremely successful and helpful to eighth graders. I was driving around robots for the robotics team and I could see many kids were hesitant about joining clubs. But we and the other clubs and teams there answered their questions as best we could. Many of them showed more interest because of this,” junior and robotics team member Reuben Rozario said. Most of the people who attended the orientation were students and parents from Nobel and Patrick Henry Middle Schools. Eighth grader Jasmin Maldonado came because she was interested in the cheer program. She became even more motivated to attend Granada Hills Charter High School (GHCHS) because she really liked the people at the booth and the information they gave her. Her mother also loved the school and the variety of activities and programs offered. At the end of the school year, incoming freshmen will begin to make the decision of what high school to attend and what programs to join. The orientation gave them much needed information for this choice. “In my opinion, 8th grade articulation night was a complete success. From clubs, teams, and sport booths to the many teacher speakers, articulation night gave the curious eighth graders a nice taste of what the school has to offer and of what their experiences might be if they decide to go to this school,” junior and Associated Student Body (ASB) member Eric Shuman said.

Photo courtesy of Pearl Lo

Speech students compete at Monroe High School

SABE REPRESENTATIVES: Four GHCHS students and other representatives took part in the Student Advisory Board on Education. By Marilyn Ramirez On Saturday, January 26, the speech and debate team competed at the Valencia High School Open Debate tournament where many novice and junior varsity (JV) debaters won superior certificates. Many debaters on the team won awards including senior and speech captain Pearl Lo, junior Tara Dadashian, Lesly Silva and Emaan Rashidi, who all won Superior awards and Rheiana Laney, Serapia Kim, and Jasmin Kim who all won Undefeated Trophy Awards. The speech and debate team also competed in other tournaments including the Monroe High School Open Speech Tournament on January 19 where Lo won a superior certificate in Dramatic Interpretation, third place in Original Prose and Poetry and first place in Thematic Interpretation. Lo also won overall scores at the tournament and received the top speaker award, which is the number one award given to the best competitor out of the over 150 entries from about 20 schools. “That was a real honor to receive. To prepare, I had practice my speeches consistently,” Lo said. At each competition, there is one judge who ranks the speaker. There are normally six to seven competitors per room. Judges count up the scores that each competitor receives. The lower the overall score, the

better the speaker. For example, the highest cumulative score a speaker can get is three, which means he or she got a one in each of the three rounds. Based on these scores, the competitors receive awards. The speech and debate team has to attend weekly practices in order to prepare for tournaments. The goal of each tournament is to allow speakers and debaters to showcase their public speaking and professionalism. The speech team focuses more on performing and theatrics. There are several different categories of speaking which range from Dramatic Interpretation pieces to Original Oratory. For speakers, the first step is to either find or write an original speech depending on the individual category. The debate team primarily focuses on debating different resolutions that are relevant to society. For example, the debaters are currently debating rehabilitation and the prison system. Each debater has to write cases and compile evidence to either affirm or negate the resolution they are debating. “Overall we have had such a successful season and the team really made me such a proud captain. We’ve always had a reputation as a good team and we always maintain dominance in our league. The weekend of Feb 8 we’ll be competing in both speech and debate at the third largest tournament at Stanford University,” debate captain Maha Kamel said.

Victor Wu / The Plaid Press

Highlander Fest: The Robodox team set up the field for Granada Hills community members to play with the vex robots and win prizes. By Alyssah Pinitak On Saturday, January 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the school hosted its first annual Highlander Festival to commemorate the school’s ten year anniversary as an independent charter school. The goal of Highlander Festival was to bring the community together to celebrate the founding of the school in 1960 as part of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and later its conversion in 2003 to a charter school that ensures financial autonomy in order to improve student academic performance. Balloons on Zelzah Street and streamers in the hallways ornamented the school to attract and welcome members of the Granada Hills community. Colorful neon footprints were scattered throughout the school campus to attract visitors to more events such as karaoke in L-Building and making ceramic projects in F-building. The festival also had a petting zoo, a rock wall, an obstacle course, bungee jumping, and a hamster ball. At the end of the event, the school raffled off an iPad mini and a MacBook Air. Also, many of the school’s clubs and teams such as Key Club, World Vision, Eco-Plant, and Robodox were there to

fundraise and spread awareness of the clubs’ organizations and goals. The school’s Key Club, California Scholarship Federation, and National Honors Society club members also volunteered throughout the festival to ensure that the event flowed smoothly. To fundraise, Key Club sold pizza, Rachel’s Challenge sold cupcakes, and Robodox hosted a game of basketball where the person playing had to use a remote to control the robot to shoot the basketball and make a basket in the gym. In addition to games and fundraising, some of the school’s musical groups performed in the large gym and on the blacktop. Some of the school’s choirs, “Smooth White Chocolate,” “Once Upon a Time,” and “Happily every After,” sung songs such as “Wide Awake” by Katy Perry, “Java Jive” by the Ink Spots, and “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen. The Korean Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) also performed traditional Korean drumming and dancing for the community. “I really enjoyed seeing some of my friends working together to raise money for their clubs or class. The festival was an event that brought the school and Granada community closer together,” senior Joshua Azali said.

By Neda Salami On Saturday, January 12, seniors Julia Santos and Amanda Hutchinson won first place in a six hour baking competition at the Art Institute North Hollywood. The school’s advanced cooking class prepared the students by having them bake several types of cakes before the competition. Set up like Food Network’s shows “Cupcake Wars” and “Food Network Challenge,” The Tree Heritage organization chose this year’s theme based on the new “Hansel and Gretel” film. The students had to bake a cake that represented a scene in the “Hansel and Gretel” film. The competition involved making cookies and cakes with specific secret ingredients including ginger, orange, and zucchini. Santos and Hutchinson’s winning cake had a top that resembled a forest, with a sun

perched on top. The contestants had limited time to plan what they were going to bake based on the ingredients they received. The students had an hour and thirty minutes to complete baking the cake. “When I was handing the food to the judges I was extremely nervous, but the entire experience was amazing,” Santos said. As the winning students, the girls received movie tickets. Along with prizes, the competition also helped the students acquire scholarship opportunities to culinary and pastry schools. The students also gained experience with competing and working under pressure. “Overall, the experience was amazing, nerve-racking, and something I will never forget. It was so much fun and I am happy that we won because this proves that we are able to do great things in our culinary class,” Santos said.

Students bake to win

17801 Chatsworth St. Granada Hills, CA 91344, 818-363-9825 www.asweetdesign.info

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entertainment

February 8, 2013

Applications for Apple and Google Play users By Ramanan Sivasundaram

“Time Surfer” by Kumobius is an enhanced version of “Tiny Wings.” Its improvement comes from the game’s colorful and vibrant environments and visuals. “Time Surfer” is all about surfing faster than the end of time. You play as a plucky space explorer equipped only with an intergalactic space-surfing board, and it’s up to you to stay a couple of seconds ahead of the end of the universe behind you. If you have played “Tiny Wings,” then you know how the game works, but for the rest of you, don’t worry, the game play is pretty simple. You tap on the right-hand side of the screen to squat down and pick up speed on the down sides of dips, and then release it to spring on the up sides. What makes the game better than “Tiny Wings” is that there are obstacles to avoid and speed boosts to grab. If you were a fan of “Tiny Wings,” before or just want some casual fun, then download “Time Surfer.” You won’t be disappointed.

“Pulse” is your onestop source of a myriad of information with topics varying from Hollywood drama to politics. “Pulse” may not be the first app to collect news feeds for you, but the easy accessibility of this app makes it one of the most popular. “Pulse” lets you choose and share the stories you are interested in, including top news sources, your favorite blogs and social networks such as ESPN, Popular Mechanics, and The Huffington Post all in one seamless and fluid experience. In order to view an article, you just click on the image with the description of the article that you wish to view. At the end of your article, the bottom of the screen displays the thumbnails for the row of the feed your article is in. This allows you to easily switch between articles in the same feed after you are done reading. “Pulse” requires a short setup and will have the latest news stories from all your favorite web sites and publications ready for you in a sleek interface upon launch.

Not satisfied with the filters on “Instagram”? Want to make your pictures have a little more pizzazz? Well, look no further. If your cell phone has replaced your point-and-shoot camera, “Snapseed” is an essential app. It’s an excellent photo editor with the ability to share the pictures to your favorite social networking services in one sleek, fast package. “Snapseed” features about twelve filter modes that mimic apps like “Instagram” without any of the useless filters that nobody actually uses. Then, you can move any of your smartphone’s photos into the app to do all sorts of editing on them. This app gives you all of the features you want to make quick edits to your photos and promptly share them with friends. It combines the retouching ability of social sharing apps with all the editing magic your computer has. If you take any photos with your smartphone and want to make them look amazing, “Snapseed” is a must download.

Having any problems staying organized? Then “Evernote” is the app for you. “Evernote” is just one part of an excellent and easily accessible note-taking system. There are many ways to create notes and collect your notes in notebooks. Your notes can consist of words, images, or even clippings from the web, but a premium account (unfortunately with a monthly subscription) will let you save other file types too. In addition to using “Evernote” on your apple device, you can also create and get to your notes from a variety of smart phones (including an app for Android) and any web browser on any computer. A free “Evernote” account links all your notes together. “Evernote” lets you take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders and view them all from either a computer or a phone. If you’re looking for a worthy note-taking app that syncs across all technological devices, “Evernote” is a worthwhile download.

By Marilyn Ramirez When one thinks of a Disney princess, they automatically invision Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty or any other stereotypical and oppressed damsel in distress. Their charming prince heroically comes, sweeping in on a white horse to take away his one true love to happily ever after. This Disney image may have been true for all the years before the 90s. However, lately Disney animation has transitioned from perceiving women as damsel in distressed princesses to women who can fend for themselves and be independent. This transition began with Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” where princess Ariel dreams of a life beyond the sea, and the unknown. Ariel, the youngest daughter of King Triton, is unhappy with life in the sea. Unlike other princesses, she strives for adventure outside the confinements of her home. She longs to be with the humans above the surface and is often caught in arguments with her father about giving her freedom as a young

woman. She goes to meet Ursula, the Sea Witch, to help her live on land, but Ursula has bigger plans for this mermaid and her father. When she meets Prince Eric and falls in love with him, she ends up saving him from the evil Ursula. Rather than the prince having to save the princess, Ariel proved to be the savior. Similarly, in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” Belle sacrifices herself to save her father, showing true courage and love. Belle is a girl who is dissatisfied with life in a small French town, constantly trying to fend off the conceited Gaston who wants to make Belle his wife. She believes that “There must be more than this provincial life.” The Beast is a prince who was placed under a spell because he could not love. She learns to love the beast despite his looks. For once, a princess has a mind and her character reveals strength and independence in loving someone for their personality rather than their superficial appearance. Also, in Disney’s “Mulan,” the protagonist

Mulan is the perfect example of a princess heroine. Mulan fails to fulfill a Chinese girl’s traditional duty as desirable bride. When the empire mobilizes a man from every family to fight the invading Huns, Mulan fears her father, an honorable veteran, is no longer up to fighting and joins in his place, pretending to be a son named Fa Ping and becomes one of China’s greatest heroes in the process. Mulan breaks all barriers of female stereotypes, such as women being weak and incapable of tough work in war. She does everything a man is expected to do and ends up gallantly saving her emperor. Currently, Disney has taken a complete turn with their release of “Brave” in 2012. In this animated film, Princess Merida wants to fulfill her own dream, and it doesn’t include finding a prince. Merida, whose interests include archery and horse riding, is told by her mother that her hobbies are not what a princess should be doing and that she has to marry. However, Merida chooses to defy her mother; and when a witch turns

her into a bear, Merida is forced to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it is too late. “Brave” is not a fairytale romance, which is a first for Disney. The entire plot does not even include a male love interest. Rather it revolves around the valuable lessons Merida and her mother learn from each other. The Disney Princesses have come under a lot of scrutiny for being a bunch of delicate and helpless ladies waiting for princes in shining armor to free them from oppression. No matter how generous and kind Cinderella, Snow White, or Sleeping Beauty are, their charming princes determine their destiny for them. On the other hand, Disney characters such as Ariel, Belle, Merida, and Mulan each have the courage to take control of their own lives. They have priorities other than finding a suitable husband, and take charge to establish their own identities and destinies. These heroic, bold princesses can now be worthy role models for young girls.

What we’re reading “The Maze Runner”

By Kilee Splettstoesser Menacing monsters. A group of teenage boys. An impossible maze. An unforgettable adventure. All of these are at your fingertips with James Dashner’s adventurous novel “The Maze Runner.” In this page-turner, Dashner introduces a sixteen year old named Thomas. Thomas wakes up in a box, and what he finds when he steps out is enough to change anyone’s life. He finds himself right in the middle of a small community, consisting entirely of teenage boys, a farm, a few buildings, and a maze located outside of the walls that enclose them. If this isn’t strange enough, his memory has been completely wiped. He doesn’t remember anything about his friends or family. The only thing about his personal life he remembers is his first name. Thomas quickly adapts to life in the community that the boys have dubbed the “Glade.” He learns that the box he showed up in provides supplies such as food and medicine every couple of weeks, and that a “Newbie” (a new teenage boy) shows up once a month. The boys have even created their own slang, using words and phrases

such as “shank” and “good that.” All of their efforts focus on figuring out how to get out of the Maze, which resides outside of the Glade. They are convinced getting out of the maze is their only ticket to freedom from the Glade. Thomas learns that the community is divided based on occupation, and the boys get sorted into a job based on what they are the best at doing. Some of the jobs include MedJacks, who take care of the sick, Sloppers, who work in the farm, and Builders, who build tools and shelter. One job in particular entices Thomas, a Runner. Runners sprint around in the Maze all day, searching for a way out and only taking breaks to eat their lunch. It is the most taxing and dangerous job, yet he wants it more than anything else.

In this novel, Dashner establishes a very unique community filled with eerie half-beast, half-machine monsters called Grievers, a group of boys who sleep outside in sleeping bags, and a sky that never changes (since climate is consistently the same every day). The setting and concept of the novel set this book apart from many of the other fiction books targeted for a teenage audience. In addition to this, he tackles a challenging task of keeping readers interested despite not leaving much room to introduce new characters or places, since the story remains in the Glade. One of the most captivating things about this story is that readers only know what Thomas knows. It’s easy to understand his frustration, confusion, and all of the other emotions he goes through as he learns more information that only makes him understand less than

he did before. As a reader, you are in the same boat as him as you experience everything he experiences. Without this element, it would be hard to connect with Thomas, especially since not many teens have had their memories wiped and been transported to an unfamiliar community whose only concern is getting out of the maze they’re in. “The Maze Runner” keeps you guessing on every page and drives every reader’s curiosity to almost a breaking point. The book contains cliffhangers, which give readers a hint and the slightest shadow of an answer and then builds their interest again within the next few paragraphs. It’s adventurous, incredibly addicting, and definitely a book that readers will get through fast. In “The Maze Runner,” Dashner delivers an action packed adventure that transports readers to a whole new world that has never been described before. It keeps them wondering about Thomas’s fate until the very last page and even then their curiosity isn’t satisfied until they can get their hands on the second book in the series, “The Scorch Trials,” which is already out in stores.

04 feature

February 8, 2013

By Jennifer Riley The school has a new theater teacher, Stuart Fingeret, a first time high school teacher. But don’t worry; Fingeret is not new to high schoolers, having worked with young actors in theaters all around New York. In fact Fingeret always enjoyed theatre. Even as a child, he began directing his cousin in small productions, recreating scenes from popular movies and shows. What started as a hobby soon turned into a passion for the arts that continues through Fingeret’s drama classes. Fingeret began his acting career with minor roles in a New Jersey theatre, Centbery Stage. From there, he studied at Ithaca College and New York University where he majored in acting and received his masters in educational theatre. After acting, directing off-Broadway productions, and teaching summer camps for the fine arts, Fingeret moved to California with the sole for the purpose of teaching here. Immediately, after directing a production in upstate New York, Fingeret packed his bags and got a one-way ticket to his new career as a

By Romina Pizarro Thousands of girls shrieking and jumping joyously for their favorite celebrities wait in long lines for days just to catch a glimpse of them. These are not your typical fans. These are the kinds that constantly stalk celebrities, knowing exactly when and where they will be throughout the day. They obsessively cry over or attack their said celeb just to touch them. These are the kinds of fans that willingly go to great lengths to show their dedication, whether it be loads of twitter posts, shrines, or even tattoos. According to MTV.com, Niall Horan describes his crazy encounter in New York when fans ran through traffic when they caught a glimpse of One Direction driving away after leaving Radio City Music Hall. Horan also recalls another instance when “We were on our day off, and me and Liam were going down the street with one of our security guys and we got absolutely mobbed by about 600 people in Times Square, so it was kind of nuts.”

drama teacher. It was love at first sight as Fingeret met students filled with a passion to learn about theater. Together, Fingeret and his students have put on plays such as Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Needless to say, Fingeret is a true lover of the arts and could not be happier with his current position, although it was not all smooth sailing. Fingeret reported the adjustment to the bell schedule was the hardest part of joining the Granada family, having to ask students what the second bell was for and starting the class when the minute bell rang. However, students were there to help him out. “I adore his teaching and I think he is really improving Granada’s performing arts,” senior Madison Snow said. Fingeret is now directing the musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” and is very excited for the upcoming production, already having cast the actors. “The main reason why I enjoy working at Granada is the students themselves,” Fingeret said.

The hardcore fans have even sent death threats to their favorite celebrities’ love interests. The New York daily news posted news of Kim Kardashian receiving death threats from Justin Bieber’s fans after she had briefly met him at the White House Correspondents’ dinner in Washington D.C. Bieber posted a picture of him with Kardashian on Twitter that read, “Look it’s my girlfriend.” However, his two million twitter followers and obsessed fans with Bieber fever did not take the joke lightly. 19-year-old Demi Lovato was sighted exiting her plane in South America when a half a dozen security guards tried to shield her from her adoring fans that tried to grab her and chased her car down the street. Not to mention her encounter earlier in the week where a fan climbed on stage during her concert in Paraguay, forcing Lovato to exit the stage. Some of the craziest fans include those die hard Twihearts. These passionate Twilight fans started lining up for the premiere of the new “Eclipse” film days before. They

camped outside in their pajamas waiting to just get a small peek of the stars of the movie and not even a chance to see the actual film. Year after year, the popular “Twilight Saga” attracts thousands of fans across the nation to wait in long lines in the cold to see the films. Some fanatical fans even go to the extent to tattoo Edward or other characters on their body because of their immense passion. One of the strangest fan crazed stories includes Tom Felton’s offer for adoption. Felton reported to Attitude Magazine, “A man changed his name legally to Lucius Malfoy, showed me the documentation and then sent me documents to disown my parents and move to be with him in the States in his house, which he had named Malfoy Manor. I kindly rejected that. That was quite scary.” Despite the great perks of a fan base and support from others, some fan girls are a little too crazy and extreme, even for their own celebrities.

Ramanan Sivasundaram / The Plaid Press

By Kilee Splettstoesser It’s safe to say music is a big part of most peoples’ lives. Whether it entertains them on the car ride to school, motivates them while they exercise, or soothes them as they study, it is, in a way, a friend and lifelong companion. But what’s the reasoning behind this dependence on music, if there is one at all? It could just be another addiction, like texting or mindlessly surfing the Internet. But scientists have undergone studies that shoot down these theories. A variety of studies, which normally involve a bunch of complicated wires attached the heads of subjects whose brain waves are fed into a computer, prove that there’s more to music than most people think. When patients hear classical music, the computer shows an increase in the activity of right side of the brain. Have you ever heard anyone say classical music is good to listen to while you study? Well it’s not just a myth; it maximizes learning and retention of information and allows the brain to be more capable of processing information (www.cerebromente.org). According to The Center for New Discoveries in Learning, learning potential can be increased a minimum of five

times by using the 60 beats per minute music baroque music or Mozart’s music. Dr. George Lozanov, a Bulgarian psychologist, designed a way to teach foreign languages in a fraction of the normal learning time. Using his system, students could learn up to one half of the vocabulary and phrases for the whole school term in one day. Along with this, the average retention rate of his students was 92%. Dr. Lozanov’s system used certain classical music pieces from the baroque period. He believes that foreign languages can be learned with 85-100% efficiency in only thirty days by using these baroque pieces. His students had a recall accuracy rate of almost 100% even after not reviewing the material for four years. But it’s not just classical music that benefits the mind. Listening to music that you enjoy, be it rap, rock, or heavy metal, causes your brain to release dopamine. Dopamine is like your brain’s natural drug; and when it’s released you feel a pleasure similar to the pleasure you feel from eating food when you’re hungry. In this sense, music really can become addicting, and those addicted don’t suffer any severe consequences, unless you count getting caught dancing around

your room using your remote control as a microphone. Finnish researchers from the University of Jyväskylä found yet another benefit of listening to music. They found that listening to music engages auditory areas of the brain. For instance, they discovered that the processing of musical pulse recruits motor areas in the brain, which supports the theory that music and movement are closely related. Limbic areas of the brain, which are associated with emotions, were found to be involved in rhythm and processing tone. This discovery means that every time you put your ear buds in or blast your speakers, your brain becomes fully engaged and active. This is refreshing information; listening to music is a lot less work than reading or studying for your classes. So the next time your mom tells you to turn your music down, or complains about how you are always listening to your iPod, stun her with the useful facts you have just learned. The benefits of music listening outweigh any complaints your mother may have. So listen on, whether your music of choice is classical, hip-hop, or hard rock. Feel no guilt; your brain is active and you are happy. It’s a win-win situation for all.

05 feature

February 8, 2013

By Lisa Ramirez and Myra Shaikh

Expectation:

You catch him sneaking a gaze at you in class, and as soon as your eyes meet his, he quickly looks away out of modesty and embarrassment. That short yet intimate gaze sends your mind wandering, and you picture all the possibilities that could become of the two of you outside the classroom. Butterflies flutter in your stomach, hope accumulates in your heart, and your self-esteem dramatically increases as you think to yourself, “He totally likes me too.”

Reality:

So sorry sweetheart, but the truth is that the millisecond of eye contact that meant so much to you was probably an accident for him. It was not fate, nor was it the first chapter of your love story. It was simply a coincidence. Chances are that the moment that sent your heart racing made his stomach sink, and he looked away quickly not out of humility, but so you would not get any ideas (little does he know). His mind was probably absorbed in how badly the Lakers lost last night, not how he wants to make you his future wife. Take it easy.

Honestly, it is not the cute boy across the room you are crushing on, but the boy you have imagined inside your head. Suppress all unrealistic expectations, and simply be happy if he decides to talk to you after that insanely awkward moment. To increase your chances of him actually noticing you, maybe you should stop your voyeurism and just go up and talk to him yourself. This way, you can stop fancying the idea inside your head, and concentrate on what the reality of the situation is.

‘

Expectation:

As you set foot on campus, you receive flattering compliments on your Valentine’s Day outfit, hair, and makeup that required waking up two hours early. Despite the kindness of others, you really hope those compliments would be from that special someone instead of these random people who you did not take so much effort to impress. Once you reach your locker you realize you are seconds away from the moment you have been anticipating for quite some time now. As you open your locker you see them: beautiful pink and red roses, chocolates, and a letter signed from your beloved secret admirer. Held in a trance from the spell that was the letter, you see him, walking slowly towards you with that intoxicating grin and a giant teddy bear just for you.

Reality:

Though this is a dream that many of us have imagined, it most likely will not happen, unless you are in a Disney Channel Movie. It is most likely that when you open your locker, surprise-surprise, it will be empty! As for the boy who is approaching you with a horrendous Costco giant teddy bear, we will be there to hug you as he passes by and gives it to that girl in your math class. If you think your day cannot get any worse, think again because it can. Although you may not have a special valentine, there are other happy couples all around you, so be prepared for the torture of seeing those couples holding hands and holding gifts.

Other than to stop wearing pink and red together, the only advice we have for you is to enjoy Valentine’s Day and keep your loathing for all the happy couples to yourself. You don’t need a boyfriend or girlfriend to celebrate this day, instead celebrate by buying yourself some chocolate (we recommend, Ferrero Rocher). If you are still dwelling on whether you have a Valentine or not, keep in mind how shallow the holiday can be. If you see couples who take only one day out of the year to express love to their significant other, don’t envy them, for their relationship must be pretty shallow if their love is expressed only one day out of the year.

By Victor Wu We are quite a unique species. We, as humans, experience a mental and physical state that other animals only encounter for a fraction of their lives. Where animals experience this state during life-threatening conditions, we experience it in everyday life. This experience is stress: a combination of adrenaline and cortisol that changes the functions of our body to cope with a serious environment. Stress, however, has become a by-product of the responsibilities of civic life such as attending school, paying rent, working jobs, or simply driving in traffic. The overwhelming responsibilities in civic life create an excess of stress, and we do not make use of the chemical fuel that is created for our body. In fact, scientific studies have shown that an excess of stress can potentially damage

our health. But before delving into the health dangers of stress, it is important to note that not all stress has a negative effect on the way we live. Stress is an important natural factor that can exert a dramatic change on the human body. In moments of high stress, we shut down or minimize unimportant functions of our body and overdrive other body functions that are essential to survival. This mechanism is similar to the burst of adrenaline a predator experiences when hunting prey or when the prey, who is stressed about being eaten, flees the predator. Sure, stress has its benefits, but we are stressed in daily activities that do not require a physical boost or rush of adrenaline to ensure our survival. This stress that sits in our body can result in higher blood pressure, abnormal heartbeats, slower tissue repair, a weakened immune system,

concentrated fat, and even the unraveling of brain chromosomes. In a sense, we trick our bodies into a life-threatening situation every day, and in the long run it deteriorates our body. What does this exclusive humanly experience say about who we are as civilians? Though we may think we are of a higher and more orderly caliber than animals in the wilderness, we are actually in a constant state of stress. We create stress due to a lack of control, certainty, and comfort in our environment. The plethora of civil responsibilities, which we once thought would organize our lives, has become the cause of our high stress abnormality. It is interesting how stress, a natural tool for survival, has become a parasite that damages our body.

06 opinion

February 8, 2013

I believe that God exists because of. . .Math?! By Maral Margossian A function is continuous if the limit from the left hand side equals the limit from the right hand side. Only in math do we find continuity. Everything else in life is under construction, constantly forming and reforming but never reaching perfection. Life is a function with holes, jumps, and oscillations. The only continuity in life is that it changes; nothing stays the same. That aluminum can you hold in your hand as you sip your soda was once the bicycle I grew out of. The chair you’re sitting on won’t be a chair a hundred years from now. Everything changes—but in math, there is a beautiful continuity. Sine may be bounded by its range from negative one to one, but its waves constantly swell and recede against its infinite shoreline. Plato presented us with his theory of “forms.” According to the Oxford American Dictionary, forms are “the essential nature of a species or thing, regarded as an abstract ideal that real things imitate or participate in.” Plato stated that there are forms for everything in the material world: books, chairs, trees, people, anything. However, the material in the physical world is an imper-

fect replica of its form. Numbers are forms. They are a priori; we do not need experience or evidence to prove that they exist. Though we do not materialize these number forms into their physical representation, we use numbers to comprehend various phenomenon that occur around us. Math is the purest way that we can understand the world. For example, through mathematical models, such as population, weather, and predator-prey models, we can recognize the patterns in the world that surround us. Thus, numbers are Plato’s forms realized, and we use math as a means to harness the perfection of numbers, without destroying that perfection in the process. We add, subtract, multiply, divide, and take the square roots of these numbers. We discover functions that illustrate life. Note how I chose the word “discover” rather than “create.” We do not create functions to mimic the life around us; we simply discover that they exist. Mathematical operations are not man made. They exist innately. Moreover, math transcends the limits of man’s language. It doesn’t matter whether or not I know the word “nine.” If I see a group of nine marbles, I know that there are nine

marbles. Language allows us to easily convey the “nine-ness” of that group of marbles, but math does not rely on language for the recognition of quantity. Because math is not limited by language, we do not lose its perfection as we calculate. The errors in calculation are only a result of the fault-ridden man attempting the problem; it is not an error in math itself. Numbers retain their purity during mathematical operations. When I realized this purity and perfection in math, I finally realized what my older brother meant when he told me a year ago that for him, math is proof that God exists. Last year, my brother and I took an evening stroll when he visited during his winter break from college. As we walked, he tried to explain to me the mathematical proof he was working on at the time, but my comparatively limited knowledge of math prevented me from understanding what he tried to explain. Naturally, the conversation digressed and he began talking about why he loves math when he eventually said, “That’s why for me, math is proof that God exists.” Again, I didn’t really understand his reasoning and I didn’t think much about that conversation until a few weeks ago after I had the same realization.

Einstein once said, “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” Many find the dichotomy between science and religion irreconcilable; they are two worlds that cannot meet. Math bridges the gap between the two. Science is objective. We collect data, analyze numbers, and then translate those numbers back into a language that we can understand. Religion is faith. It gives us something to believe in beyond the limits of our world. It presents us with a tri-omni being: omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, an eternal being. Math, as previously stated, allows us to comprehend the world objectively, but it also extends beyond the limits of our world and of our minds. Math keeps the secrets of the world hidden within its numbers, secrets for us to decode, secrets we are slowly discovering, and secrets our minds will never truly comprehend. Infinity, for example, is a concept we do not yet understand; nevertheless I know no man that doubts its existence. Through its solutions to its problems, math offers us hope that the possibility for omniscience exists. But it teases us with that hope, as it grows more complex, more abstract, less defined, but still entirely perfect.

FRACTALS: Fractals are geometric shapes where if you zoom into any part, the figure repeats itself. This is just one example of the infinite beauty of math.

Culturally influenced fashion borders on disrespect By Nezia Rahman The United States of America is well known for its abundance of cultures and nationalities, all mingling, interacting, and sharing their values and traditions. It’s often described as a melting pot, where all the individual pieces blend and mix to create a new culture altogether. But other times, it’s a “salad” with all distinct components, just not all melded into one. Which is correct? Maybe neither. While the amount of diversity here is stunning and commendable, the conflicts that arise from clashing points of views are always present. How do we reconcile the vast amounts of cultural influences? Appropriation, or assimilation. Whichever you want to call it. Cultural appropriation, the adoption of some specific elements of one culture

by another cultural group, has become a hot topic for social activists, and recently piqued my interest when I was asked, “Does it bother you when non-Indian people wear the bindi?” A bindi, is a decorative piece of jewelry used on the forehead during celebrations in India and neighboring countries. The question was something I’d never really considered before. I googled pictures of people wearing bindis and to my surprise, it irked me. I had a feeling of annoyance with no idea how to justify it. I should be happy that some part of my culture was being adopted. But I wasn’t. My irrational resentment bothered me endlessly. The root of my irritation perhaps came from the fact that it’s more damaging when something from a minority culture is taken and adopted into mainstream culture. The

respect is drained, the cultural and traditional significance diminished, used only for aesthetic purposes. The contradiction with the bindi however, is that in its original culture it was a simple decoration to begin with. I then realized that my annoyance came from a sense of feeling cheated. I’d never been proud of my culture, especially growing up; I felt uncomfortable and alienated from everyone else around me. To see someone now, taking a piece of my culture and baring it proudly to the world annoyed me, angered me even. I was not alone in this sentiment. Last year’s fashion trend of Native American styles of dress, particularly the ‘Navajo’ collection at Urban Outfitters, created outrage and fueled the debate on cultural appropriation. Many felt that taking customary form of dress and using them in mainstream

fashion was severely offensive, especially considering the country’s history with the treatment of Native Americans. Taking cultural tokens from a society which has been historically subjugated doesn’t act as reperation. It’s like saying “Sorry for being insensitive. We love how you dress though. See, we’re being totally tolerant now.” But as a person who enjoys the availability of different perspectives and modes of dress, and sometimes indulges in them, I can’t find cultural mixing to be a completely awful part of our lives. There is, of course, unfortunately an extremely fine line between being appreciative and being offensive when it comes to adopting the traditions of others. Melting pot or salad: only time will tell.

ed States gun-homicide rate per capita is 30 times that of Britain and Australia, 10 times that of India and four times that of Switzerland. Population can’t be accounted for the high rates, considering United States’ populace of 300 million citizens is significantly lower than India’s one billion. The United States handgun-ownership rate is 70% higher than Yemen’s, the country with second highest rate of gun ownership. Clearly, the U.S has more access to guns in comparison to the rest of the world. Wherever there are more guns and other firearms, there are more homicides. The Harvard School of Public Health obtained data from 26 developed nations that reveals that the American murder rate is 15 times more than that of other wealthy countries that have tighter laws controlling gun ownership. And while the rates for violent crime, forced assault, and non-firearm homicides have been declining over the past decades in the U.S, the rate of firearm homicides has remained relatively the same, according to

Time Magazine. The facts show that there is a correlation between the violent shooting massacres and the level of access to firearms. The only actual method to thwart further violence is to implement effective gun control laws. Countries including Britain, Scotland, Australia, and Japan have enforced stricter gun control laws which have revealed significantly less crimes due to firearms. The New York Times reveals that in 2008, only 11 people were killed with guns in Japan, where as the U.S experienced 12,000 deaths by firearms that same year. Opponents of gun control suggest that the real root of the shooting massacres is the mental illnesses of the gunmen themselves. While each mentally ill patient deserves the best facilities and treatment, gun control is the fastest way to mitigate violence. According to CNN, Henan Province in China experienced a similar incident as the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre where a mentally ill man attacked 22 Chi-

nese elementary school children. However, none of the 22 children died since he was wielding an 8 inch knife rather than a gun. The difference in the two cases was not the situation, motive, setting, or even the suspects, but rather the weaponry they used. Of course proposing to ban all guns from the nation is nearly impossible and impractical. Rather, the United States must adopt gun control laws to ensure those purchasing guns or have licenses to guns have thorough background checks in order to limit the number of guns that can be purchased. The police must have evidence that the person purchasing the gun has a legitimate reason to obtain the firearms such as sporting, collecting, or work related reasons. While proponents of the Second Amendment say that “the right to bear arms” is a precious American liberty and gun control is a violation of our civil rights, we the citizens are entitled to live in a public safe environment where no adult or child has to pay the price of severe gun violence.

Tightening background checks can thwart gun violence By Eiman Kazi “We cannot and will not be passive in the face of such violence,” President Barack Obama passionately said at a national convention in January 2011 after a man shot Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 18 other people, killing six in total. And yet despite the articulate words promising to deter gun violence, the nation witnessed even more gun crimes: the killing of 12 innocents at a movie theater in Colorado in July, a shooting at a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin in August, and recently the Sandy Hook Elementary school massacre killing twenty children and six adults. With these shooting massacres, there is perpetual debate about whether these tragedies are due to our nation’s faulty mental health care system or its lack of appropriate gun control. Although the United States must identify and help the mentally ill individuals acquire better treatment, the main issue is easy gun access. According to Time Magazine, the Unit-

07 opinion

February 8, 2013

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Key to New Year’s goal is patience By Danielle Bulante January 1, 2013: The official first day of my newly adopted workout regiment. Like most New Year’s, I decided to make a resolution to exercise daily so that I could fit into the prom dress I have been dreaming of since freshman year. However, as the days pass by, I slowly grow disillusioned by the amount of time I sacrifice for little to no results. Soon, what started to be a gleaming promise of a “new me” turned into another failed New Year’s Resolution. Luckily, I am not alone in this struggle. The Huffington Post reports that of the 40% of people who create a resolution, the majority will fail by the end of the year. This lack of commitment to a simple goal ultimately highlights a trending problem in American society, a growing impatience. Since we were young, we have been wired to quickly produce results. Whether it be in a game of “hide and seek” or “tag,” there was no time for error as we tried to triumph over our opponents. When things did not go our way, it was easy for us to give up on our

People who make resolutions are 10 times more likely to succeed

hose in 39% of t wenties t r i e h t their e v e i h c a h year c a e s l a go Source: University of Scranton, Journal of Clinical Psychology

game because we feared failure. But what started out as an innocent way to protect ourselves, soon turned into a habit that we continue to carry into adulthood. Recently, growing technology exacerbates our need to control uncertain circumstances by exposing us to media that promotes “quick fixes” to our everyday problems. A simple commercial pitch advertising diet pills, the newest exercise routine, or fast-working detox diets has the power to promote a mentality that suggests we can fix our major problems in a few simple steps. America’s fascination with perfection ultimately leads us to give up as soon as we notice a hint of disappointment. Instead of jumping to extremes, it is important for us to recognize that we cannot establish lasting change in a few days. Rather than put large amounts of pressure to succeed in a few days, it is vital to establish small goals that will aid in reaching a more difficult goal. For example, if the perfect prom body is what you are dreaming of, think about cutting your junk food intake

Return policies leaves teens penniless

By Tessa Weinberg I could feel the eyes on me and the questioning stares as I stood in Forever 21 at the Northridge Fashion Center listening to my mom argue with the store manager. I silently cheered her on as she argued over a dress I had bought the day before for my friend’s party. I found a tear in it at home, but when we went to the store to return it, all they would only give me store credit. I needed my money back, in cash, so I could go buy a different dress for the party, which was now tonight. But by giving me store credit for a damaged piece of clothing, I was forced to spend my money at Forever 21. In the end it all worked out. I was able to exchange my store credit with a woman waiting in line for cash, and I settled for wearing an old dress to the party. However, a new problem unveiled itself that day. The fact that I couldn’t get my money back for a damaged item amazed me. Through obscure return policies, stores seem to be ensuring sales by only giving out store credit. This could be especially dangerous to unsuspecting teenage shoppers. Whether we work after school or do chores around the house to earn our weekly allowance, spending cash is what allows us to have a social life. It’s hard to hold onto that coveted cash when businesses are swindling customers out of their money to ensure future business. According to the California Department of Consumer Affairs, “if a retail seller is required to conspicuously display its return policy, the policy must be on signs posted at each cash register and sales counter or at each public entrance, or on tags attached to each item sold under the policy” allowing

customers to be informed about what they are buying. When I was shopping at Forever 21, there was no sign notifying me of their return policy, and I wasn’t told at checkout either. If I had known, I would have waited on the dress and maybe not have bought it at all. After all, it was my own money I was spending, not my parent’s. But with the economic crisis we’ve been in, and the continued search for jobs, businesses may have to result to these sorts of tactics to ensure continued business. “Our research shows that [Hurricane] Sandy clearly depressed the start to the early holiday season with the storm significantly

amount on the gift card to purchase what you wanted. If you have store credit or a gift card to a store that you enjoy shopping at, then you’re bound to find something useful to buy. But that’s not always the case. You could have used that money to buy something else that you really needed, rather than settling for less. The employee at Forever 21 claimed that he only ever gets about 1 complaint about their return policy every month. Well, 12 months in a year, multiplied by over 480 locations that Forever 21 has, and you’ve got a lot of complaints. Something needs to be done so customers don’t leave stores with empty pockets. In an article by the New York Times, Nordstrom reported that sales numbers from 2012 were up “8.6 percent, shooting past estimates of 3.4 percent,” from 2011. With consumers slowly willing to spend more money again, maybe stores will ease up on their return policies, giving shoppers a little more room to breathe. Stores need to be more adamant about posting signs and making sure that customers really understand the details of the transaction. Teenagers especially, need to make sure that they’re informed on a store’s return policy before they make a purchase. Being upfront and honest will only help a company receive continued business in the long run. My experience at Forever 21 was just one out of many, and like the popular Latin saying goes, caveat emptor, “let the buyer beware.” As teenagers we can be impulsive and irrational when it comes to the things we want. But we need to take the time to read the fine print and be prepared to put our money away, even if it is over an amazing pair of jeans you just “have to have.”

“Through obscure return policies, stores seem to be ensuring sales by only giving out store credit.” impacting the year-over-year growth rates in key holiday categories over the first week of November,” Michael McNamara, global solutions leader at MasterCard SpendingPulse said. Retailers still have to make a profit, and pay their own hard-working employees as well. It’s logical that they would default to store credit, as it guarantees that the buyer will spend money at their store in the future. But I didn’t say it was moral. Besides, when do you ever have a convenient amount of store credit or money on a gift card that someone gives you? Most of the time, it is not enough to buy something worthwhile. More often than not, you end up spending extra money on top of the

in small increments. In that way, your transition towards a healthier lifestyle is bearable and more likely to stay a part of your daily routine. Change is uncomfortable. It calls us to step into environments that seem uncertain and risky. However, it is only through this process that we inch closer towards what we desire the most. Although this journey may lead us to face eventual frustrations, we develop lasting characteristics as we cultivate an inherent perseverance and maturity. We may achieve more than initially intended. America must come to terms with this false hope of reaching “perfection” through quick-fix gimmicks. There are things that we cannot control as we aim to reach our desires. In this fast-paced society, it is important that we invest time in achieving such ambitions, even if it means spending more than one week trying to exercise. So for this New Year’s, my new resolution is to choose to be fearless when coming face to face with the obstacles that prevent me from reaching my goals.

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 Editors Feature Editors Sports Editor Online Editor Business Manager Photographers Staff Reporters:

Eiman Kazi Nezia Rahman Ramanan Sivasundaram Victor Wu Alyssah Pinitsak Maral Margossian Derek Ung Danielle Bulante Grace Park Tessa Weinberg Joshua Lavine Marilyn Ramirez Alison Montenegro Romina Pizarro Alison Montenegro Romina Pizarro Lisa Ramirez Marilyn Ramirez Jennifer Riley Neda Salami Humaira Shaikh Kilee Splettstoesser

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Jeremy Vargas

Adviser

Melissa Mason

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

08 sports

By Joshua Lavine Dodgeball Inferno pitted students and teachers against one another on Thursday, January 24, in a fifteen-game competition of agility, acrobatic moves, upsets, and crowd-pleasers. In the first game, Tres Diablos, the baseball team, beat the Chancellors, a group of seniors. With fast arms and a proclivity to catch balls, the baseball team eliminated nearly all of the Chancellors in a blur. But senior Arad Talehakimi, the last man standing, put up a show that got the audience standing and cheering his name. Talehakimi said he felt the adrenaline and the fear. If the crowd came to see awesome spectacles showcasing the limits of the human body, then the next game satisfied their needs. As the ball came at top speed towards Girls on Fire’s Amanda Woodbury, a senior who dances outside of the dodgeball arena, Woodbury collapsed her body like a foldable chair dictated solely by the force of gravity. Reminding the audience of a

Photo Credit: Kenny Nguyen/Tartan Yearbook, Zarina Ceniza, Tessa Weinberg/The Plaid Press

February 8, 2013

fight scene from “The Matrix,” Woodbury fell to the ground, as the ball flew overhead, and then sprang back up into the game as the crowd sprang up with her. “It didn’t hurt. It’s a normal dance move: a death drop into a Chinese splits,” Woodbury said after the game. In the fourth game, Channel 4 Action News Team, who donned mustaches, ties, and dress shirts in the style of Ron Burgundy from “Anchorman,” played the Cobras. Senior Danny Corona from Channel 4, who “played a good game” according to teammate Hugo Zul, was the last man standing in a field of Cobras. “I looked to my side,” Corona said, “and was like, ‘Where is everyone?’ and then bam! the ball hit me.” The competition also gave students a chance to express themselves through elaborate costumes, as the Pokèmon Masters demonstrated. The ninth game, the beginning of the second round, revealed to any cognizant

observer the advantage of playing not with a group of friends, but rather with a sports team. The basketball team competed against the baseball team; both were physically trained and well-versed in the strategy of moving up and down the court together as a cohesive unit. The game featured a fierce competition of the school’s sports teams that literally came down to the last second before the baseball team, Tres Diablos, clutched a final out. Senior Collin Dudley has played on the baseball team as pitcher and third-baseman for four years now. He said that the coordination among his team members allowed them to use strategies, like distracting the other team by seemingly carelessly rolling a ball to the other side while a teammate picked off the enemy team, without any verbal communication. “Playing with these guys off the field and on a different territory felt great,” Dudley said. Tres Diablos won the game and ad-

vanced to the final game versus the teachers. Teachers and students both thought the final game offered an intense challenge. Social studies teacher Annet Rudoy said she saw some former students, who have since “gotten involved in athletics and, thus, much stronger.” Dudley, who faced his current physiology teacher Melissa Savage, felt no reservations during the game because he told her before the competition in class that he plays to win. In the end, Tres Diablos, won first place, the Cobras second place, and Victorious Secret third place. The proceeds from Dodgeball Inferno, the most profitable event the Senior Leadership Counsel has hosted for the past four years, contribute to winter formal and prom. Senior Claire Simon, who headed the committee that organized the event, said that, despite last-minute problems like an entire team dropping out, “everyone had a lot of fun and the event was successful.”

Football players star in a pro bowl of their own By Lisa Ramirez On Saturday, January 19 at El Camino Real High School, four seniors from the varsity football team took part in the Sport Scholarships USA (SSUSA) all-star football game. The SSUSA strives, “to provide every high school athlete an opportunity to showcase their talents through exposure to potential colleges and universities,” according to its mission statement. Since the 1st annual all-star football game in 2010, the SSUSA gives football players the opportunity to be seen by scouts from colleges all across the country. The four seniors who participated in this year’s all-star game were Gavin Khosa, Max Richman, David Salazar, and Adrian Torres. The varsity football’s head coach Billy Parra

nominated them to the SSUSA by sending the organization a film of each player. These tapes helped the SSUSA make the final decision of which players to choose for this year’s game. To help prepare for the game, the boys joined together with the all-star game team every other day to practice for their game. They also practiced with our school’s football team every day. Despite a loss of 33-0, each player played well individually. Khosa played both defense and offense, had two successful tackles, and almost completed a sack. Richman also played both offense and defense, and by the end of the game completed four tackles and one forced fumble. Torres stepped into the game last minute to pitch hit at center, as the player assigned to play

that position fell ill. Playing football since their freshman year, both Khosa and Richman were a part of the junior varsity (JV) team. During their sophomore year, they both helped lead the JV team to win the Division Conference. Following that win, they were both called up to varsity to play against Crenshaw High School in the Semi-Finals. During their junior year the boys advanced up to varsity. Doing well in both academics and sports, the players plan to attend college and continue playing football. Richman is currently being recruited by several schools like Eastern Washington, Occidental, and Cal Lutheran. He hopes to secure a football scholarship in which he can study physical therapy to give back to athletes who have been injured like he was his junior year.

Khosa hopes to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) were he plans to join the football team and study to pursue a career to become a doctor like his father in India. Aside from all the success, the boys agreed that one of the greatest advantages of being a part of the football team was being able to create a great group of close friends. “It was great to get to work together with people who were not only my friends, but also my teammates. We used teamwork to pursue a common goal and they motivate me to do well not only in football, but in everything that I do,” Khosa said.

Three uncommon sports you might try

Named after the magical sport in the “Harry Potter” series, you may already be familiar with the rules of Quidditch. Players can score points by throwing a ball representing the quaffle through a series of hoops, which are guarded by one member of the opposing team. Other players can throw a different ball that represents a bludger at the players themselves, who must run back to their own goals as a penalty for getting hit. A neutral player, known as “the Snitch,” runs around the field. One player from each team called “the Seeker” tries to grab a flag or ball attached to the Snitch. When the Snitch is caught, the player’s team earns bonus points and the game is automatically over. All the players run around with broomsticks between their legs to imitate flying broomsticks. Players pay homage to “Harry Potter” by having team names such as The Womping Willows and The Quiberon Quafflepunchers.

Broomball is a recreational ice game originating in Canada, and played around the world. Broomball is played on an indoor or outdoor ice rink, similar to hockey, but with a few fun and unique twists. Like hockey, the objective is to score more goals than your opponent, but unlike hockey, the players are dressed in regular clothes and special rubber- soled shoes, rather than uniforms and skates. Instead of a hockey stick they use a broom to pass and hit the puck. The goaltenders are dressed more similarly to ice-hockey goalies since they have a full-face cage, thick padding on the legs, thighs, chest, and shoulders, and a specially designed glove attachment to block shots, called a blocker. Also, the game does not allow any form of tackling. Some counties offer players state/provincial leagues, and national championship competitions, with the chance to compete every few years at a world championship event.

Photo Credit: Tim Hipps

Boys Soccer Photo Credit: Geremetta Moreno

Photo Credit: Taylor Pierola

By Alison Montenegro

According to legend, a 19th century French messenger once had to ride, fence, shoot, swim, and run to complete his mission and deliver his message. These five challenges make up the Olympic pentathlon event today. The modern pentathlon is a contest that consists of five events including pistol shooting, fencing, 200 meter freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a 3 kilometer cross-country run. Originally, the competition took place over four to five days. However, in an effort to appeal to a wider audience, the competition now takes place all in one day. Greek philosopher Aristotle described competitors in the pentathlon of the ancient games as the most “perfect sportsmen, because in their bodies strength and speed are combined in beautiful harmony.” David Svoboda, from the Czech Republic and Laura Asadausekaite from Lithuania won gold in the pentathlon at the 2012 London Olympics.

2/6 vs El Camino Real 2-3 (L) 2/1 vs Cleveland 1-0 (W) 1/30 vs Chatsworth 2-0 (W) 1/25 vs Taft 0-1 (L)

Girls Soccer 2/4 vs Taft 3-0 (W) 2/1 vs Cleveland 1-0 (W) 1/30 vs Chatsworth 3-0 (W) 1/23 vs Birmingham 3-0 (W)

Boys Basketball 2/1 vs Cleveland 65-50 (W) 1/30 vs Chatsworth 47-32 (W) 1/25 vs Taft 40-51 (L) 1/23 vs Birmingham 56-49 (W)

Girls Basketball 2/6 vs El Camino Real 31-42 (L) 2/1 vs Cleveland 56-19 (W) 1/30 vs Chatsworth 49-24 (W) 1/26 vs St. Bonaventure 42-47 (L)

Girls Water Polo West Valley League Champions 1/30 vs El Camino 18-6 (W) 1/28 vs Birmingham 14-5 (W) 1/25 vs Cleveland 8-2 (W) 1/23 vs Verdugo Hills 16-1 (W) 1/16 vs Van Nuys 23-0 (W)