The View _ January by The View

late. What

happened and why?

– page 2

Go to DVThundermedia.com for more news, slideshows and more! January 2011

when people

don’t stand for the pledge?

– page 3

Learn more

about featured athlete Nico Campbell.

– page 7

Rumor about

SPORTS

NEWS

arrived a month

What does it mean

FEATURES

PSAT scores

OPINIONS

January 2011

having to be on a

club team to make the school soccer

team may be true!

The View

– page 7

Volume 15, Issue 4

Desert Vista High School

TSTDC does it again!!

r e d n u Th k c o Sh

Mascot gets new look for new year

by Alec Boucher and Mason Roberts

Staff Writers

Isabelle Tuli/The View

Kara Schaffer, Alison Brown, Jaimie Kleshock, Jessica Tueller, and Megan Shepard gather to discuss ﬁnal postings at ASU tournament.

by Isabelle Tuli Staff Writer

The last time the Desert Vista TSTDC competed at ASU, they crushed the competition. Once again, they dominated the tournament. The reason they won? Before the competition took place all the members were giving their all during practice. Team members have been preparing nonstop for this tournament since the end of last year. “ We h a v e prepared with the same intensity and focus we have for every other tournament - keeping state and nationals in mind, we work inch by inch to get better and better,” said head coach Erik Dominguez. “We are not so much interested in the end result of this tournament as much as we are in lessons learned and progress towards state and nationals.” Over a thousand enthusiastic students from 40 different schools, including the 120 members of Desert Vista’s TSTDC,

participated in this competition. The competition was spread out over a span of three days, January 6th-8th, with a whopping total of ten individual and three debate events. “Like sports, we see where our strengths and weaknesses are during these regular season contests and try to work on getting better and better with each practice and tournament,” said Dominguez. All of the hard work the dedicated students of TSTDC put into practicing for their events paid off. Not only did TSTDC take ﬁrst place overall, individual victories came from Michael Mazzella, Brendan Porter, Kelsea Moore, and Kohi Gill. Junior Alison Brown described how nervous she became during performances: “It depends how much preparation I’ve put into it, but, normally, I’m conﬁdent.” To learn more about our thunder speech theater and debate company, visit www. tstdc.com.

“WE WORK INCH BY INCH TO GET BETTER”

From an angry piece of cheese to a big blue superhero, the thunder mascot has changed dramatically. “The previous mascot had sustained serious damage over the years,” said student council sponsor Miguel Marrero. “We started a new quest on spirit so

Mascot makes appearance at pep assembly

we thought we should have a new way to represent ourselves as a school.” “It’s a symbol that truly represents a school as a whole,” said Coach Christoﬁs. “I think you could look at a mascot and no matter the successes or failures I think a mascot is a symbol that represents that fighting spirit that positive attitude of never say die. No matter what’s going on, the

Already??? by Jessica Tueller Staff Writer

The scent of newly printed paper descends on the school. Thousands of forms thud onto the tables of overwhelmed students. First semester has barely ended, but registration has just begun. Registration begins every year at the same time, and yet every year nobody feels ready for it. “Registration should be

Alec Boucher/The View

mascot is upbeat and ﬁred up and is motivating.” Mr. Marrero is looking for someone to play the mascot, “We aren’t looking for ‘gymnasts’ who can do two ﬂips in the air and still land on their feet. All we want is someone who is spirited, energetic, upbeat attitude, able to maintain grades, and proud to be a student at Desert Vista.”

Campus gears up to begin registration for next year

slightly later in the year,” said sophomore Kyle Pitman. “Students should be given more time to make their decisions.” Where has the time gone? Students are faced with choices that will impact the entirety of their next school year. Choosing a schedule that best suits a student is necessary for furthering education and maximizing enjoyment. Sophomore Jenny Chen admitted that she tended to perform best in her

Jessica Tueller/The View

favorite classes “because I have more motivation.” In a recent DV poll, 4 out of 5 students were found to have never switched out of a class. But sometimes students simply don’t like their schedule. In order for students to learn more and make a good choice about various courses (avoiding switches), each class sets up a stand and advertises at an open house- this year it is set to be on January 24th. The open house is a great opportunity for students to ﬁgure out their ideal schedule for next year. But decisions about classes don’t all come from what looks fun at the open house. 3 out of 5 students were college bound, taking tough classes to appeal to colleges. Junior Brian Huft bases his registration off of “options given with college interests.” Other students set goals on interests. “I prefer interesting classes even if they’re hard,” said freshman Astrid Camou. Continued on pg. 2 “Registration”

2 NEWS

The View January 2011

PSAT scores make some question late arrivals

Benedict chosen as one of Ahwatukee’s bests!

by Jessica Tueller Staff Writer

The PSAT scores didn’t arrive until a month after their due. Rumors are ﬂying, but what is truth and what is mere ﬁction? Students have complained and even parents have mentioned the lateness. Department head Larry Strom has received many questioning emails, “They want to know why Basha and Corona and Mountain Pointe got their scores on December 6th and we didn’t! They wanted us to give out the scores the same day, but they didn’t come to us in time.” Where were the scores? The stories are rumors, but Strom thinks that at least one rumor may have some truth to it. “The rumor is that someone had to leave the room because they were sick,” said Strom, “and then the college board had to see if there was any cheating that went on.” Strom went on to explain that if a student did leave the room, then they could take out their cell phone and text answers to their friends in the other rooms. “I kind of believe that,” said Strom, “but it’s not necessarily factual.” The second rumor may just have been an accident. Strom admitted, “I spread the rumor that maybe we had so many high scores (which we did, we had a lot of high scores.) So I spread that rumor, which wasn’t really true. I didn’t mean to spread it, I just said ‘well maybe we had so many high scores that they’re checking our scores.’” Some people took his guess and spread it around. The only people who know the true story are Mr. Kulik and the College Board, but neither gave any comment on the subject. No matter what the reason for the PSAT scores’ late ar-

Michele Abunaja/The View Jessica Tueller/The View

Junior Alison Brown finally gets to open her PSAT scores rival, students still managed to perform to their maximum potential. Strom guesses that there was a record number of 21 semifinalists and expects that number to increase in upcoming years. After struggling with the difficulties of a hectic PSAT, DV has come out on top. lateness. Department head Larry Strom has received many questioning emails, “They want to know why Basha and Corona and Mountain Pointe got their scores on December 6th and we didn’t! They wanted us to give out the scores the same day, but they didn’t come to us in time.” Where were the scores? The stories are rumors, but Strom thinks that at least one rumor may have some truth to it. “The rumor is that someone had to leave the room because they were sick,” said Strom, “and then the college board had to see if there was any cheating that went on.” Strom went on to explain that if a student did leave the room, then they could take out their cell phone and text answers to their

friends in the other rooms. “I kind of believe that,” said Strom, “but it’s not necessarily factual.” The second rumor may just have been an accident. Strom admitted, “I spread the rumor that maybe we had so many high scores (which we did, we had a lot of high scores). So I spread that rumor, which wasn’t really true. I didn’t mean to spread it, I just said ‘well maybe we had so many high scores that they’re checking our scores.’” Some people took his guess and spread it around. The only people who know the true story are Mr. Kulik and the College Board, but neither gave any comment on the subject. No matter what the reason for the PSAT scores’ late arrival, students still managed to perform to their maximum potential. Strom guesses that there was a record number of 21 semiﬁnalists and expects that number to increase in upcoming years. After struggling with the difﬁculties of a hectic PSAT, DV has come out on top.

The Ahwatukee Foothills News counted the over 43,000 votes one of DV’s own teachers placed in the top 5 for Best Teacher- Deb Benedict! The “Best Of” edition comes out on January 28th. “I was really surprised when it was announced at the assembly,” said Mrs. Deb Benedict, “and I was very honored.”

achieve. Your college, your way.

Registration process easy for some, difficult for others Continued from page 1

“I’d rather take a class that I enjoy than a class I ﬁnd boring.” The best schedule is a mix of needed credits, college appeal, personal interest, and enjoyable classes. As freshman Maddy Nelson said, “If you have everything planned

out, it’s not that big of a deal.” Maybe it’s early, “It’s ridiculous!” said Chen, but registration is already preparing us for an even better 2011-2012. Class of 2014 will get their registration information on February 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th, or 10th depending on their science class.

Class of 2013 will get their registration information on February 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, or 11th depending on their social studies class. Class of 2012 will get their registration information on February 3rd, 8th, 9th, or 10th depending on their social studies class.

The college of you. An EEO/AA institution.

Opinion 3

The View January, 2011

Students Taking a Stand

Cuts are on the wayas New Congress takes seats by Joseph Beck Staff Writer

Some Students choose not to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Is it their right? Joseph M. Beck/The View

by Kelly Bodine Staff Writer

The voice on the intercom rings, “Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance” at the beginning of third period. I stand with others for our country and our freedom and for those who defend us. I value America and believe that it is a great country. I look around at my peers and see they are standing with their hands over their hearts the same as me. Wait a second… do I see someone sitting down? Why do they ignore the Pledge? Do they even hear it? Are they being lazy? Not everyone stands when

the Pledge of Allegiance plays on the Friday announcements or any other day of the week. I don’t know why they don’t stand, but I believe that no one is required to. Everyone, in my opinion, should have the choice to stand. If we do not have the choice to stand or not stand for our flag, we are not living in a fair, constitutional society, no matter how patriotic standing is. Carson Mohr, Freshman, shared his opinion, “It’s important to stand for the Pledge because it shows that I’m loyal to my country, Patriotism is an important part of an American citizen’s life.”

The View Staff

The View is published by the Journalism students of DVHS. Contact us at 16640 S. 32nd St., Phoenix Az 85048, (480) 706-7900 ext 9-1156 or newspaper.dvh@tuhsd.k12.az.us. Read The View and other projects by the Thundermedia staffs online at www. dvthundermedia.com. The paper is printed by Valley Newspapers. Opinions, commentaries and features with the bylines are the opinions and research of the writers and do not necessarily express the opinions of the View Staff, the school faculty or other students. Letters to the editor are welcome and encouraged. All letters must be signed and verifiable in order to be published, but names will be upheld upon request. All letters are subject to condensation. The View cannot publish any materials which violate laws governing student publications. Letters should be sent to room A156, placed in the advisors mailbox, or emailed no later than one week after the previous issue. If you are interested in writing for The View staff as a “MoJo” (Mobile journalist) contact Mrs. Coro’s through the school website. Editors Roseana Cruz, Melissa Dean and Joseph Beck Staff Writers Michelle Abunaja, Eliza Bell, Kelly Bodine, Alec Boucher, Chrisanda Grandell, Shannon Masel, Nicole Salsburg, Jessica Tueller, Isabelle Tuli Adviser Michelle Coro

The View wants you to be a staff writer! Sign up for HI62 to be a part of the Thunder Media Team!

I don’t agree with Mohr that loyalty has everything to do with standing or not, I think it only shows respect; however, standing is not the only way to show respect for America. People who obey the law show respect, people who vote have respect, even young children and teens show respect by paying attention to our country’s history in class. Standing during the Pledge should not be a must. Standing is a gesture that is patriotic, but is it really so important that students who do not want to stand need to be forced? Angie Bumstead, a sophomore, said, “I choose not to stand for the pledge because I don’t believe people stand for the right reasons. I believe they are standing because that’s what they are told to do. I don’t want to stand for something I don’t understand, and I don’t fully understand the Pledge.” I respect her decision not to stand, and I understand why she does not want to stand. I believe she should not have to. The precedent set by West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943) made it clear that it is not illegal to sit during the Pledge, and that not a single teacher, parent, or principle can force you. So, not standing for the Pledge may not be patriotic, but it is within your rights. Ms. Chung, a Government and World History teacher had some thoughts, “Students who tend to do things like not standing for the Pledge seem to have a reason, although I’ve never noticed a student not standing.” So, stand up if you wish to, stay seated if you don’t. I happen to stand for the Pledge, but I also stand for the choice.

Once again, change is on its way. The 111th congress took their seats earlier this month prepared to take a hacksaw to necessary and pork-barrel spending alike. Education will most likely be on the chopping block of the new budget negotiations. Coming in at a depressing forty-ninth place, Arizona spends about $7,600 per student in our public schools. In an analysis of the fifty states and the District of Colombia, Arizona comes in as the 49th, just above Utah and Idaho . Another blow to our state’s education system could be fatal. Already class sizes have exploded as new teachers are laid off and old teachers struggle to hold on to their jobs. It is perhaps hard to see how destitute our schools are becoming in a place like Desert Vista. With it huge courtyard, record amount of National merit finalists, and sprawling sports fields it is easy to get lost in it all.. Republicans have promised to cut one hundred billion dollars from the federal budget. While the amount to be cut is certain, where that money will come from is any one’s guess. Social Security is fairly safe and those who want to cut defense must proceed with a delicate hand. Our Principal, Dr. Anna Battle, is optimistic of our school district’s capability to withstand cuts. “The Tempe Union High School District has expected and prepared for the potential cuts. Cuts that occur on the state level won’t

affect TUHSD for at least a year.” Even still, she cautions against reduction of our budget. “Anytime resources are removed from the class room there could be repercussions.” According to Battle, the M&O budget, which manages teachers and staff, would be the first one to feel the damage. The M&O budget had been tapped before and it could be reduced as soon as this spring. Desert Vista is pretty safe as far as funds goes. As a school, DV almost always ends in the black in areas of extra curricular revenue. Ending “in the black” is Econ jargon for making more than you spend. Between sports and club membership, as well as money we bring in from sporting events and meets, Desert Vista can generally offset the lack of adequate federal funding with those additional funds. While our school district won’t be heavily affected for at least a year, Battle acknowledges the effect of further cuts to the education budget. “The $7,600 per pupil is definitely the rock bottom.” For years, schools have been forced to cut their expenses again and again. We are in the midst of two wars, economic collapse, and one of the worst social security deficits. We must not neglect our youths or their education. If we do not invest in our future, we are surely doomed to fall behind.

Joseph Beck/The View

CENTER-

Just Dance!

Spotlight On ... Mrs. Caryl Sharing her time, talents, and treasures through dance is how long-time teacher and business owner stays on her toes.

Staff Writer

We all see the amazing dancers around here at Desert Vista, during the pep assemblies and the dance shows, but not everybody knows who is in charge of it all. Mrs. Caryl, who teaches the company level dance classes, is at the head of the dance program at DV. Not only does she work at Desert Vista ﬁve days a week, but she also owns and runs a studio of her own seven days a week. Although she was a dancer as a child and in high school, Caryl didn’t always see herself working in the dance world. “I ﬁrst considered majoring in Interior Design or History in college. My parents were the ones who actually encouraged me to major in dance and I thank them for that everyday!” said Caryl. After getting her degree in dance at ASU, Caryl owned a studio in Mesa for three years. Caryl decided to give up own-

Staff Writer

Brittany Woolgar/The View Bianca Caryl leads the DV Dance program as well as owns her own studio, located in Tempe near 48th anStree and Warner road called, Center Pointe.

That would be super-cool but I’m not sure we have the time or energy for that.” That sure sounds like a lot of work, but after 12 years of teaching dance, and three of owning a studio, Caryl has made a name for herself and it would not be a surprise, that if in 10 years expanding her brand name is exactly what she and her family will be doing.

Balancing The Beautiful Beats by Melissa Dean

Staff Writer

Melissa Dean/ The View

A by Melissa Dean

When it comes to dancing, it can be a very competitive sport, which requires a lot of practice. There are those who practice constantly, and those who practice to the point of exhaustion. While many dancers concentrate on dancing for one team, others balance the intensity of dancing for two teams, inside and out of school. Aside from schoolwork and dancing for their school team, many dancers contribute and are committed to other dance teams around the state. They must not only show up for practice at school, but travel to others. Some dancers who balance both try to level them out as best as they can. It can be difficult for them at times, but in the end, they manage to get things done and turned in on time. “It can be difficult balancing dance at school and outside of school sometimes,” said sophomore Marlayna Tillery. “It’s sometimes difficult to get your schoolwork done and to be everywhere on time.” For others, trying to multi-task is part of their schedule. Some of the dancers try to fit a little homework in their practices during their breaks, when they have one. Getting as much done as possible is their mission, due to the face that “During my breaks at practice, I try and get my homework done, so that I don’t have as much when I get home,” said sophomore Rachel Madril. With all of the practices, homework, and cross-town trips to the next event, these multi-tasking dancers know how to balance the beats, even if it means balancing a little bit in between, because a lot of hard work can go a long way.

lthough we have over seventy-ﬁve choices for extra-curricular activities, there is one in particular that is the most popular out of all: dance. The dance program, or as many of us call it Desert Vista Dance Company, has been increasingly growing as the years have gone by. More and more students come and try out for the team and sign up for classes that are provided. The dance program is split up into levels; those levels are grouped from low to high, Beginning Dance, Intermediate Dance, Advanced Blue, Advanced Silver, Advanced Gold, Junior Company, and Senior Company, and there are also 10 dance classes that are provided. When it comes to trying out for the dance team, there are dance tryouts that take place to see which students make a certain level. “Two-hundred and thirty girls and guys tried out this year. The students audition for the level of class they will be in next year, said Ms. Peace, dance instructor. The growth in the program has increased through almost every level, with more and more students becoming interested in it, and has had programs being added to represent our school. “DV has always had a very strong Senior Company (one of the best in the state) but we have seen tremendous

THIS & THAT

by Brittany Woolgar

ership of her studio in order to go back to graduate school and get her Masters Degree in Education, which helped her get her job as a dance instructor at DV. Caryl has been teaching at DV for the past 12 years and just recently gained ownership of Center Pointe Dance. She has been balancing both jobs for two years now, and her whole family likes to get involved and help out. Caryl and her husband have ﬁve children, and in some way or another they are all involved. “My husband does book keeping and payroll for the studio but he is the Ultimate Dance Dad moving props at competitions and performing in the Dads Dance every year!” When asked where she wished to be in ten years Mrs. Caryl answered, “Hopefully still at DVHS and Center Pointe Dance. My husband and I also talk about having a franchise of successful dance studios throughout the Valley. We read an article about a woman in California who graduated from U of A and owns SEVEN studios.

growth in our Intermediate/Advanced Program. We have also added an elite group of Senior Company dancers to represent DV in state dance competitions. We also are continually trying to vary our program and add new elements (ie ballroom, ballet/pointe, belly dance, tap, and dance from around the world),” said Ms. Pease, dance instructor. The students who dance here, in class and even on the dance team, believe that it’s a fun and active program that is deﬁnitely growing, one student at a time. “I decided to do Desert Vista Dance because I thought it would be fun to take. My favorite part is after putting in all of our hard work, we get to perform it on stage for everyone. I also enjoy it because it is a great way to make new friends, I have a ton of new friendships, thanks to dance,” said sophomore Melissa Lum. With one of the largest Performing Arts areas, DV’s Dance Program is the major subject in that area. Bravo to Dance!

wHy DaNcE...?

“Just Dance is a great game to play at any time of the day. It’s fun and there are so by Nicole Salsburg many features, I never get bored when I play it. I like to stay active, but with school Staff Writer and homework it’s hard to find the time. Just Dance makes you work and move around, In the words of famous meatso I burn calories every time I play it. It’s no wearer, Lady Gaga: “Just Dance!” game of soccer, but its exercise!” According to a recent DV poll, -Amber Maggi, Freshman three out of five students had the popular game Just Dance on their holiday wish list. Just Dance is one of the most popular Wii games, and the sales performed strongly, becoming the most successful Wii release ever. As of December 2010, a total of 4.3 million games were sold worldwide. There are three game play modes. First is Classic mode, in which players pick any song and attempt to dance with the on-screen movement. Then there is Last One Standing mode, where players are eliminated if they don’t score enough points or mess up too many times. Last there’s Strike a Pose mode, where players start and stop dancing by following the on-screen dancer. Just Dance is a great way for students to have fun with friends, exercise, and learn great and fun dance moves. The popular Wii game holds some of the top songs all the way from Elvis Presley’s A Little Less Conversation-1968 to Britney Spears’ Womanizer-2008. And it doesn’t stop there. Just Dance 2 was released in November 2010 as an improved sequel of Just Dance. It has the same concept as the first edition, but there are four new dance modes: Just Dance, Non-stop Shuffle, Duets, and Just Sweat Mode. With new songs and new movements, Just Dance 2 is another big hit. Be on the look out for Just Dance 3, coming out soon in 2011. “I love Just Dance! Even though only four people can play and get scored at a time, a bunch of people can still dance and follow the movements. So it’s a great way to have fun with tons of friends. I’ll have ten friends come over and we will spend hours and hours just dancing to the fun songs and just having a blast. Just Dance is one of the better Wii games, because not everyone has to have a controller to have fun.”

–Tori Miller, Freshman

Nicole Salsburg/The View

Just Dance has quickly taken over the “Gamezone” with its countless purchases.

What is YOUR signature dance move? Why? “The Knee-Popper, because I popped my knee out at Sadies. It’s a good memory.” -Joey Steigerwald, Sophomore

“The Disturbance. It shocks people. Especially the ladies.” - Jake Moran, Senior

“The Shopping Cart, because Superstar the movie cracks me up!” -Kelly Conrad, Sophomore

“The Sprinkler! It’s just awesome and I love to do it.” -Gretchen Proulx, Sophomore

Sports 6

The View

January 2010

We got spirit, yes we do! Recognizing... DV Cheer

Hshoes ? ow much do your cost by Shannon Masel

Staff Writer

Some sports equipment can run really expensive. Here is a chart of some of the shoes worn by players of the inseason sports and their average prices.

Soccer cleats are about $65 dollars, but it depends on how fancy your taste is. Cheer shoes cost around $80.

Basketball shoes

Giving it their all The freshmen cheer squad works really hard in practice to compete against other schools and cheer on their peers.

Year Round Amy Hirsch, Freshmen

Spirit

Cheerleading is one of the only year round sports on campus. by Shannon Masel

Staff Writer

They start with camps and drills in the summer, include getting students rilled up at every pep assembly, and demonstrate tons of spirit throughout the year. And that’s not counting the hours of practice to prepare for competitions. As one of the only year round sports at Desert Vista, cheerleaders constantly are pushing themselves to the limit. In the fall they cheer for the football teams, winter for basketball, and in the spring they participate in competitions in state and in California. “We have the Cactus Cup coming up, and the West Coast Regionals in March,” said Kendra Butts, math teacher and cheer coach. Every cheerleader has to keep up with their grades to cheer at the games and they must go to practice. It is enough to make any person stressed, and these girls do it with flying and flips. “Our team is the best team there is because our girls are so spirited and dedicated, even with the time commitment involved,” Butts added. It is clear that the girls work hard because they love it.

can be priced at as much as

$250, but the average price is around $50. The average price of

Q: Were you surprised when you made the team, since so many

lacrosse shoes runs at about 60$.

people tried out?

A: Yeah, I was very surprised, since I had never cheered before. Q: You’re a flier. Are you ever afraid of being dropped? A: When I first flew I was afraid, but I have a strong stunt group that I trust. Q: What is your opinion on the stereotype of cheerleaders? A: I think people classify us as being dumb or stuck-up, but none of us are like that.

Kari Loesl, Senior

Q: How do you balance school and practice? What happens if your

grades slip?

A: Since I am a senior, I have early release so it’s easy to get

homework done before cheer. If a grade slips, you are benched and can’t cheer at games.

Q: Are you pursuing cheer in college? A: I’m going to U of A and I might try out there. Q: What’s your favorite memory of being on the squad? A: Eating churros in Disneyland with Megan Neumayr.

Legally

Blo nde by Chrissy Grandell and Shannnon Masel

Staff Writers

Do blondes really have more fun? Apparently they do if using it as a way to intimidate an opponent. Varsity wrestlers have once again bleached their hair. When Alex Bambic was asked why beach blond, his response was “It’s not mandatory, but it’s a great look.” A lot of teams on campus do crazy things to their hair because they say it creates unity in the team: both girls varsity

cross country and varsity girls soccer died a streak of their hair before important meets and games. Does it work? The wrestling team has had a fantastic season so far, and have been known to always do well in tournaments. “Dying our hair makes us look intimidating I think,” said Tristan Ezel, freshman on varsity. But the blond will not stick around once the season is over; the teammates plan on dying it back to their natural color. “It’s a team tradition; not only to dye our hair together, but to dye it back after the season,” said Bambic.

SPORTS 7

The View

January, 2011

Girls excel in a sport where boys often get more acclaim

Gimme

Chrissy Grandell

the ball!

Staff Writer

ince 1891, when the sport of basketball was invented, basketball has generally been thought of a man’s sport. It wasn’t until 1893 when the ﬁrst women’s game was held. Even with women all over the country playing basketball, people still know it as a man’s sport. “The history of womens basketball started in

the 1940s where they were still considered bueaty pageant contestants. They were not allowed to

compete in anything other than skirts and only play half court. 1976 was the ﬁrst women’s olympic team. Now that we have the WNBA the girls are respected a little more by many poeple across the country,” explained varsity coach Rachel Proudfoot. All over the world there are girls playing and participating in basketball teams. Desert Vista has both strong girls and boys basketball programs, but is it the same being a gal in a guy’s world. “I think people see it as a male sport because that is how basketball started out to be,” said MacKenzie Holmes, who played on both JV and Freshman this year, as the rosters shifted to best use her skills. So much argument has happened over the years on if girls are better than boys, or vise versa. Who is the strongest, who’s the smartest, who can play sports better, and what not. Each sex thinks that their gender is dominated; although, it is possible to be equal. “Girls can be just as good as the boys if they put their mind to it, work hard, and believe in themselves,” said freshman Emily Wolph. “No matter who you are, remember that perfect practice makes perfect.” According to a few of the girl’s on the basketball teams, it doesn’t bother them that they are girls attempting to rule a boys sport. “It’s

actually really exciting to play a boys sport,” explained Holmes. “It’s almost like it’s showing the boys that we can do anything they can if we want to.” It goes to show that no matter who you are, you can do anything if you just put you’re mind to it. While the availability of scholarhips have progressed so that the same number are made available to girls as are to boys, the support of both sides still leaves something to be desired. “Girls have to play without any mistakes when we play,” said Varsity team manager, Hilary Franklin. “I know when I played I felt like you have to work that much harder to have anyone come to your games besides your parents. It’s frustrating. We have good teams, but no one gives you the time of day because it’s all about the boys.” “I dont like being a girl on a guys sport because all of the guys say they are better than me because I’m a girl,” said juniorl, Jamee Brugman. Photos by M. Coro/ThunderMedia

GETTING TO KNOW

STUDENT

ATHLETES Michelle Abunaja Staff Writer

NAME: NICO CAMPBELL YEAR: FRESHMAN PLAYER INFO: HEIGHT: 5’3 WEIGHT: 110 LBS WEIGHT CLASS: 112 Q: How did you get into wrestling? A: “My Dad, because he use to wrestled.” Q: Do you know what college you want to go to? A: “No, but I want to go to one out of state.” Q: Wrestling story: how did you get on varsity?

A: Not now, I was on varsity but Jesse Ortega beat me, but I’m going to wrestle him off this week.” Q: Do you play other sports?

A: “Not right now, I played football, soccer and I box.” Q: What do you feel about making varsity?

A: It makes me feel accomplished but it also makes me feel like I need to try harder.” Q: Have you ever had any major injuries?

A: “I’ve, broken my arm and have had the back of my head stapled together.” Q: What is the best thing about wrestling?

A: “Winning, it’s the best feeling!”

PLAY HARD, PLAY SMART Varsity players Jaymee Brugman (a junior) establishes a post up position in the lane, while Emily Wolph (a freshman) focuses on defense and a chance to steal the ball from her St. Mary’s opponent.

Photo by M. Abunaja/The View

Ideas On Harsh Cuts Chopped Up Based on New Evidence Michelle Abunaja

Staff Writer

’m learning that when writing articles, what you think is true, has a whole other layer, depending on who you talk to. In the December issue of T h e View, I wrote a n a rt i c l e looking into the rumor that only club players make sports teams. I stated that that was not true. In the article, I mentioned two girls who have not been playing club throughout high school made the team, proving that not being in club isn’t an immediate cut

from the soccer team. But it turns out the players had been playing with clubs. The day before winter break I was called into Journalism teacher, Mrs.Michelle Coro’s classroom to see an email regarding the false facts. The concerned parent who sent it demanded an apology because the two girls had been playing club throughout high school! As a new reporter I’m still learning from my mistakes and should have found the time to check my sources and verﬁy whether the information given to me was accurate. I thought I had reliable sources. and I followed their direction. Varsity coach Paul Manoogian and JV coach Leah Dompier shared the names I referred to, but I mixed up the fact they were captains, instead of non-club players. I

should have checked. So does this means the rumors that you have to play club to make a DV team are true? Maybe, to a point. Since the current soccer teams have only members who play club,a point is being proven. More than anything, sports at DV are ultra competitive. While some non-cut sports teams such as swim, or track may not be as difﬁcult to make, they are still competitive and have many strong and decitated athletes who are devoted to their sports. I found that students are very optimistic about the chances of non-club players and even newbies getting on these teams. Though it’s still hard to make the team because “the talent pool is so deep” (as soccer coach Manoogian said), but there is always a ﬁghting chance.

“Club isn’t everything,” senior track member Sydney Freeman said. “If your good at running, then you’re good at running. I mean club just helps it. It makes you better.”

In closing, I found that being on club isn’t a necessary component. But at the same time, if one really wants a spot on these competitive teams, participating in club sports is a very smart idea.

Michelle Abunaja/The View

The View January 2011

REAR VIEW

One for one by Ellie Bell

Staff Writer

What if you could make the wolrd a better place just by buying a pair of shoes? One of the latest trends around campus is doing just that by wearing TOMS. They are a casual shoe that can be worn with practically everything. “I wear TOMS because they are cute and super comfortable,” said Freshman Brynna Lappin. Your purchase also comes with some fun amenities. “When you buy TOMS they give you the TOMS ﬂag, a bag to put the shoes in that says one for one, and a sticker that says TOMS,” said Freshman Michaela Duarte. However, something much better than these trinkets comes with buying a pair. The real story behind these chill shoes is that for every

pair you buy, the company TOMS Shoes gives a pair of TOMS to a child in need. They give shoes to 24 different countries including Argentina, where the very ﬁrst pair of TOMS was given. In 2006 Blake Mycoskie went to Argentina for vacation and he saw that the children had no shoes to protect their feet. Walking barefoot through public streets and Rachel garbage exposes Walker, the little ones to disease. Mycoskie freshman, rocks the has the shoes lunch table made to ﬁt the children’s feet so with her they last longer. hip TOMS He was moti- shoes.

Spotted all over campus, TOMS shoes offer a new way to give-back in style. vated to build a company that gives to the less fortunate. Some people may think that since the name of the shoes is TOMS that the man who founded them would be named Tom. In reality TOMS is short for, a better tomorrow. In buying a pair to give a pair you are creating a better tomorrow. Mycoskie still participates in handing out TOMS in the other countries. There is even a program where customers can go with them and do Shoe Drops. Shoe Drops are where the company takes some of the many customers to a country to deliver shoes to the children that are less fortunate. Customers themselves can actually travel with the company to deliver the shoes he shoes to the kids. Michelle Abunaja/The View

Dances with swans Thriller Black Swan is both shocking and enticing viewers. by Roseana Cruz

Editor-in-Chief

Summary

Starring: Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis Winona Ryder, Barbara Hershey

Director, Darren Aronofsky, takes you through ballerina Nina Sayer’s (Portman) maddening journey to perfection. Sayer is an obsessively devoted dancer whose dedication has left her social skills a bit underdeveloped. When her choreographer’s (Cassel) former starlet (Ryder) is forced to retire, Nina has her heart set on achieving the star role for the season’s ﬁrst performance, Swan Lake. Her perfectionism begins to warp her mental state once she attains the spot, which turns out to be a dual role. Meek and sweet Nina has mastered the technique of the regal, graceful White Swan, but struggles to release her inhibitions for the part of the exotic, seductive Black Swan. On her journey she struggles with the pressuring mind games of her choreographer, the tormenting rivalry of her fellow dancer (Kunis), and the overbearing control of her mother (Hershey). However, Nina’s toughest challenge is the battle within herself from which the Black Swan must emerge victorious before she achieves perfection.

Why you should see it

Do not be mislead if the ballet setting sounds at all boring or girlie- trust that this movie is more than just tutus and pirouettes. The pretty ballerinas are actually just the backdrop for a twisted psycological thriller. Nina’s obsessive, destructive, self-mutilating personality will perplex you, make you cringe, and leave you shocked. Natalie Portman has already won a Golden Globe award for this haunting performance. Co-star Mila Kunis, who we all know from That 70’s Show and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, was nominated for a Golden Globe. If you are a fan of Portman or Kunis, their performances are reason enough to see this movie.

This offers a great experience to see how people who do not have such an easy life. TOMS Shoes hopes that this experience will make people feel like they can make a difference in the world. Most of the TOMS owners do know about the charitable part of buying the shoes and do not just care about the shoe itself. Although this is a great way to give back it is also a new style of shoe that is great for almost every activity. These shoes have a natural canvas like feeling that makes them easygoing and breathable. These shoes are available for purchase at Nordstrom and online at toms.com.

Missing baby doll needs help getting back to drama class

Have you seen a little baby doll, about 14 inches tall, a short afro and likely without clothing? The Toy, known to students taking the class as “LBB” or Little Black Baby doll has been a beloved ﬁxture in Kenny Fajman’s Black Box theater room for ten years and is now missing. Fajman said his former students often return with toys and trinkets meaningful to shows and performances done in class or performances. Students currently drama would often stage the doll by sitting it on chairs, in rafters and hidden in various places within the classroom, promoting responses of “Where’s the baby now?” The last time anyone saw the doll it was near the drama set of a ﬁreplace in the theater. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact Fajman.

Black Box Theater Doll