Humans of CV: John Hargrove
CVHS looks for ways to reduce tardies Page 2: Olympian favors rewards system
Page 6: Actor aims for college and beyond
Trojans pin Pirates Page 7: Wrestlers strive for postseason
Happy Valentine’s Day! Volume 60, Issue 6
February 14, 2017
We are born to seek the truth! www.cvhsolympian.com
As Trump era begins, millions protest
Will Stein/ Staff Writer
President Donald Trump takes the oath of office on Jan. 20.
Ria Panjwani / Staff Writer
Protesters convey powerful messages through their signs.
Inauguration imparts a “sense of duty”
Trojans join nationwide opposition movement
By Will Stein
By Megan O’Brien
Staff Writer
When I signed up for Close Up last fall, I thought Inauguration Day would be a positive event, highlighting what’s working in our country and what we can to do improve America. I was wrong. Instead, the Jan. 20 inauguration was overwhelmingly negative with the crowd heckling notable figures from the Democratic Party such as Bill and Hillary Clinton, as well as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Jeers ranged from “you suck” to the occasional “shut up.” Perhaps the most troubling part of the whole inauguration was when Senator Schumer called for accepting people of all sexual orientations and gender identities and was met with a wave of hateful boos. Students from CVHS made the transcontinental trek all
Staff Writer
the way to Washington D.C. with the Close Up organization to see the inauguration of Donald Trump, as well as learn about our government, politics, history, and how to maximize political efficacy. Most of the 28 students were surprised and disappointed by the negative atmosphere surrounding the event. We even saw a fight nearly break out at a pre-inauguration concert between Trump’s supporters and opponents. "This is the fourth time I have attended an Inauguration with students, starting with George W. Bush in 2005. This is the first time I have been surrounded by so many people saying awful things about members of the party that lost the election. It was very upsetting," said Close Up veteran and CVHS social
See TRUMP: Page five
“I am no longer accepting the things I can not change. I am changing the things I can not accept,” read the text of a protestor’s sign. This saying
and many others could be seen all over the streets on Saturday Jan. 21, as millions of women and men marched worldwide to show their support for multiple causes threatened by Donald Trump’s presidency. “The whole point of the march was to come together to fight Trump because even if we differ in views, it’s important to come together,” said sophomore Terra Finnegan-Canepa who attended the march in Oakland. People of all races, genders, religions, and ages came to-
gether to voice their concerns coming into the new presidency. There were over 100,000 people marching in the streets of Oakland, so many people they took different paths and even with that, there were points where people were barely moving. The BART station was packed full with people eager to march. Turnout in Washington D.C. was three times as much as the inauguration the day before. “Everybody was just so lov-
see MARCH: Page eight
Hurry up! Tardies crackdown coming By Wailea Siler
Staff Writer Starting this semester, truancy letters will begin to infiltrate the mailboxes of frequently tardy CVHS students. Students who receive two truancy letters will also receive a Saturday school, which could increase the amount of punishments dealt out. School officials are also considering issuing more tardy detentions, though have not finalized the details. A few years ago, during the 2013-2014 school year alone, CVHS saw a grand total of
36,432 tardies. That number was then brought down to 29,443 tardies this past 20152016 school year. While the sharp decrease is a major improvement and overall dent in the amount of tardies, Principal Blaine Torpey and other administrators don’t think it’s quite enough yet. In fact, the amount of tardies through winter break has increased from 10,221 in the 2015-2016 school year to 11,749 this year. “There are still too many tardies. And what we see now
is that while the number has dramatically decreased, what we still see is a percentage of students who have a tremendous amount of tardies,” said Torpey. Truancy letters aren’t necessarily a new policy; receiving truancy letters as a consequence of being tardy, however, is a recent development that seemed like the next fitting step in limiting the extent to which students are late to class. When students receive nine tardies, they will receive truancy letters.
See TARDY: Page eight
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Positives needed to fix students’ tardy problem Editorial: CVHS students accumulated 1,500 additional tardies through winter break this school year compared to the last. The administration is considering both old and new ways to address this problem. We at The Olympian believe that the school can help to prevent tardies in a variety of ways. We believe that the most effective method would be to emphasize consistently coming to class on time with positive reinforcement, rather than punishing those who are constantly late. In previous years, the school administration used tardy sweeps to encourage coming to class on time in order to avoid being left outside during one of the dreadful affairs. This year, the administration has not run any tardy sweeps. Rather, the current system to combat tardiness
is to send a truancy letter home for every nine tardies received. If students are sent two truancy letters, they are assigned Saturday
school. There is also talk of adding more detentions for students who are frequently late. The school administration
continue to conserve water. Like most California teens, I have almost always known a California plagued by drought. Growing up, I witnessed an ongoing cultural change and increased awareness of the importance of conservation, and an increased effort to use less water. I moved to Castro Valley with my family when I was around six years old. Because most of my life has been spent in the Bay Area, most of the cultural changes I witnessed have been related to urban or suburban living. The progressions in sustainability I have observed mostly have to do with improving water efficiency in the household. It became socially acceptable to “only flush on two.” It has become common sense to water the yard at night, and we learned that if you are not going to drink the last of your water, there is always a plant that could use it. Before the Bay Area, my family and I lived in Modesto, close to my mother’s farming family. Because I still have lots of family in the Central Valley, I have also witnessed changes in agricultural sustainability because of the drought. Even my grandfather, who is not particularly enthusiastic about conservation, changed from flood irrigation to a more sustainable sprinkler system at the start of the drought. To drop our newly acquired habits because of one abnormally wet winter seems illogical. We
should be continuing our progression toward sustainability. But you might ask, if we have enough water, why do we need to keep conserving it? Well, we do not have enough water yet. While most of northern California is now out of the drought, over half the state still is in at least moderate drought. However, even if all of California was completely drought-free, we still need to think about the future. Californians need to know that our state is naturally dry, and could become even more arid by global warming in the future. There will be another drought. Californians need to continue the conservation habits we have formed. According to Jay Lund, from the University of California, Davis, “California must reconcile itself to being a dry place.” Besides keeping existing cultural changes, we should continue to progress further. According to Save Our Water, a statewide conservation program, the average Californian uses about 196 gallons of water per day. According to the Department of Water Resources, annually, “California agriculture irrigates 9.6 million acres using roughly 34 million acre-feet of water.” That is a lot of water. Apparently it is not cities or agriculture that is taking all the water, but both. Only through the combined effort of all Californians can we make water conservation what it should be: a part of living in California.
By Emily Salazar
also plans to implement a new rewards system for students who are consistently on time. The idea
is still in the works, but Principal Blaine Torpey would like to use this method in order to support positive student behavior. The Olympian recognizes that it is very important that students get to class on time and be present for the full class period. This prevents the disturbances in the classroom that occur through coming late and interrupting a lesson or lecture. That is why we believe it is a good idea to implement various methods such as truancy letters and detentions as punishment for multiple tardies, but more importantly, to focus more on rewarding students for being on time. If students who are chronically late to class have an incentive to come to school earlier, they will more likely want to change their normal routine so that they may benefit from the rewards.
Get Green: keep saving water Local businesses have
By Hannah Johansson Staff Writer
It’s finally raining! I no longer have to listen to my grandfather, an almond grower, complain about “city slickers” stealing the Central Valley’s water. I no longer have to sit through announcements at CVHS chastising almond farmers for irresponsible irrigation. The Bay Area and 40 percent of California are officially drought-free. This is a shocking and welcome fact, since a year ago 95 percent of the state was in drought. However, we should not let go of water conservation. Gov. Jerry Brown issued an executive order in 2015, requiring that California reduce its urban water use by 25 percent. In 2016, after some El Niño rains, Brown lifted some of the restrictions. Now that we seem to be heading towards a drought-free California, the governor is considering lifting the restrictions entirely. Even if Brown does, we should
PHOTO
unique appeal
By Megan O’Brien Staff Writer
Castro Valley is filled with local businesses, but many people don’t appreciate their importance in our community. You can tell a lot about a community just by looking at the small independent businesses it has. They give a town its character. All local businesses have their own sense of unique style, differentiating them from other businesses. They are a breath of fresh air when you’re used to all the basic chain stores that cover most areas. Little local restaurants often serve food prepared using their own family recipes, giving them something special. I love driving through little towns on
road trips and seeing all the small, local businesses clustered on the main street. Local business owners are dedicated to the communities that they are a part of, and are usually very nice. My family and I used to go to Jenny’s Cafe on Castro Valley Blvd. for breakfast almost every Sunday, but it recently closed. The couple that owned the restaurant knew us very well and knew our orders by heart. They would get excited when they saw us walk through the door. They are very friendly people and loved to hear about how our lives were going. Another great small business in Castro Valley is Portales, a cute little Mexican restaurant on the Boulevard. The owners are extremely kind and the food is fantastic. Local businesses thrive solely on their success in one location unlike bigger chain businesses, which operate elsewhere. These small businesses may not seem to have a big impact but they are a huge part of a small town. Instead of going to the chain restaurant for your next meal, why not try a local business instead?
What do you think about having pinions more tardy detentions? By Cristian Garcia
“I believe giving tardy detentions will discipline the students, and in a way motivate the students to get to their classes on time.” Losimani Lauti, freshman
“I feel like enforcing more detentions is the easy way out.” Amy Mota, sophomore
“I think that more tardy detentions will cause m o re s t u d e n t s to get to class on time.” Monet-Chanel Khanyahl, junior
“More students will feel the urge to come to school on time. It’ll make students more disciplined.” Pariya SadeghiNedjad, senior
The Olympian Feb. 14, 2017
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Women’s march promoted unity, justice
By Ria Panjwani Staff Writer
The Women’s March on Jan. 21, a day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, was in general a successful protest. The sheer size and the message of the crowd made one thing clear: women will not sit back and leave their rights ¨up for grabs” given the provocative actions and statements of the newly elected president. The protest took place around the world with an estimated four million people of different genders, religions, and cultures
in the United States, showing up to protest many issues the new Trump administration has taken a clear stance on. Many of the marches were so crowded that public transport systems overflowed with people; people couldn't even walk! I probably moved only one block in my experience in Oakland. The protest constituted the largest inauguration protest in this nation’s history, and despite the massive crowd size, no cases of violence were reported. A recent study by Yahoo News stated that one in every 100 Americans attended an anti-Trump protest this year. One of the main factors that led to its success was the fact that there was not one report of violence worldwide in these protests, unlike the anti-Trump protests that had taken place the day before in D.C. People came out with an attitude of unity and joy with creative signs, leading to a safe and positive environment despite crowd size. My favorite signs included, “We shall overcomb,” or “ XX=XY, it's not algebra it's justice.”
Many celebrities also attended the march, which I believe didn't help the cause. Having Madonna drop f-bombs live on CNN was not the best method of speech at the protest. During a rising speech, she declared “Yes, I have thought about blowing up the White House!” People who voted for Trump disregard the protest because they detest Hollywood and feel neglected. A more impactful way of conveying the march’s purpose would have been to have politicians and motivated citizens speak about what they're going to do to challenge the Trump administration There were also issues with how these protests were covered in the media. On his first day, President Trump had no remarks on the march and instead gave a speech to the intelligence community; this was the only issue FOX news television program covered. Of three hours of morning coverage with protests happening against Trump worldwide, little to no words were uttered about any of them on one of the most viewed news channels in
houses, stuck to the bumpers of cars—they will be there long after Obama has left office. Many expressed their unwillingness to let Obama go, but that’s how our government works. However, just because we have to see him leave the White House does not mean we have to forget his eight years of accomplishments as president. One of his biggest successes was the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Since 2010, Obamacare has helped around 20 million people get health insurance who couldn’t afford it before. It also makes sure that insurance plans cover preventive services and immunizations so people with preexisting conditions such as diabetes or asthma can’t be turned away when looking for insurance. It also allows those 26 years and
younger to remain on their parents’ plans until they can find their own. There has been serious talk by Republicans about repealing Obamacare ever since it came into existence. And now that they have the majority, they have the power to get rid of it. However, they face the challenge of coming up with a decent replacement that won’t take insurance away from those who currently are insured through Obamacare. Hopefully, this will be one of Obama’s legacies that sticks around for a long time. When Obama came into office, our country was in one of the biggest recessions in its history. Unemployment rates skyrocketed and housing costs plummeted along with family incomes. It took a while, but with the help of tax cuts as well
Ria Panjwani/ Staff Writer
Protestors show disapproval of President Trump’s actions.
America. This bias was later praised by Trump in a tweet regarding media coverage. His only response to the women's march was a tweet which said, “Watched the protest yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly.” If you attended the march or simply believe in helping the is-
sues faced by women, there are many things you can do: donate to Planned Parenthood, write a letter to your senator about your beliefs on these issues, or even drop off to a local office personal stories relating how the Affordable Care Act has helped your family. I am proud of the statement women have made and as we face difficulties ahead. Let’s keep fighting.
as the president and Congress working together for a change, jobs were created and unemployment dropped lower than pre-recession rates. Now we are in a better spot financially than we have been in years. Obama also helped in the signing of the Paris Agreement, a pact between more than 190 countries that addresses climate change through measures such as diminishing the use of fossil fuels. Being one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters, many were thrilled to see the U.S. supporting environmental protections for our planet. The next issue to address in the fight to preserve our planet is to educate those who don't fully understand the threat that climate change poses.
Let’s not forget who led the strike against Osama bin Laden and won. It took years of preparation for the offensive attack, but once the Black Hawk helicopters went in, all that prep work paid off. The operation took 40 minutes total. Obama will always be remembered as the president who avenged the 9/11 attacks. President Obama is a role model for many Americans. He worked with a Congress that did not want to compromise with him, he fought to keep the promises he made to the American people, and all the while, he was a loving father and husband. His contributions to our nation benefitted the lives of millions, and for that, we are grateful.
Remembering President Obama’s legacy: “Yes we can”
By Haley Booth Staff Writer
“Yes we can.” These words, spoken by former President Barack Obama many times, were meant to bring us together as a nation and create hope for the future. These words were on the buttons of his supporters, written on the windows of
Russian hacking shows security problems
By Da Di
Staff Writer Donald Trump won the election on Nov. 8 and became the 45th president of the United States. Normally, there would not be any problems with a new president. However, the U.S. government has claimed that Russia hacked the Democratic National Committee and other political organizations, resulting in hack-
ers releasing thousands of emails, including some information that damaged the Democratic Party and its candidate, Hillary Clinton. It seems to be a substantiated theory because Russia has been supporting Trump. Clinton showed a tough attitude toward Russia, which means that if Clinton had been elected, Russia would not have benefitted. President Barack Obama decided to take action towards Russia by contacting President Vladimir Putin through the “MoscowWashington hotline.” Obama stated, “I think there is no doubt that when any foreign government tries to impact the integrity of our elections that we need to take action and we will at a time and place of our own choosing.” Trump had totally different thoughts about Russian hacking, and its influence on the election. Trump dismissed Russia having any effect on the election. He thinks it is ridiculous to accuse
Russia of doing something that it might not have done. “I think it’s just another excuse. I don't believe it,” Trump said, “No, I don't believe that at all. They have no idea if it's Russia or China or somebody. It could be somebody sitting in a bed or some place. I mean they have no idea.” I think that Russia causing the email leaks might have influenced Clinton’s support and votes. However, I don’t think that is the main reason that caused her to lose the election. It is also true that Trump has a close relationship with Putin in some ways, but there is no evidence to prove that Russia caused him to win, so there is no reason to blame either Trump or Russia. But if Russia hacked Democratic accounts, they could also hack our personal ones. The internet security problem should be solved as fast as possible, so we can have a safer online environment.
The Olympian is a publication of the journalism class at Castro Valley High School, 19400 Santa Maria Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546. © 2016
Editors-in-Chief.......................................................................Jessica Mi Halley Lin-Jones Copy Editors......................................................................Anastasia Le Elizabeth Chan Fiona Richter News Editor..............................................................Jacob Schoenfeld Opinion Editor............................................................Stella Ho Feature Editor.....................................................Mia Babasyan Sports Editor................................................................Sarah Nosseir Arts and Entertainment Editor......................................Molly Koch Photo Editor........................................................Gavin Halloran Video Editors........................................................Desiree Broome Lauren Eisenman Video News Reporter..............................................Brittany Bracy Business Manager........................................Emily Salazar Staff Writers: Haley Booth, Da Di, Cristian Garcia, Pau Gutierrez, Hannah Johansson, Nisha Lal, William Lao, Audrey Manzano, Jason Mays, Mara Moysen, Megan O’Brien, Ria Panjwani, Wailea Siler, Will Stein, Lina Stoyanovich, Beruk Tsegaye Advisor........................................................................Matt Johanson
Gruesome Playground Injuries a major success By Nisha Lal Staff Writer
The Castro Valley Dramatic Arts Academy (CVDAA) production of Gruesome Playground Injuries showed the true significance of live theatre as it captivated an audience with a two-person show depicting the story of an accident prone couple. The show was held on Jan. 21 at Canyon Middle School. The show was about a developing relationship between a girl named Kaileen and a boy named Doug. The story was told over the course of several time jumps in which the characters were introduced at several different ages leading up to adulthood. The play consisted of only two actors, junior Sarah Dove and senior
John Hargrove. The play begins in the school nurse’s office where the two protagonists meet at the age of eight. They reluctantly become best friends and, by the end of eight scenes, the characters are 38 and falling in love while dealing with other problems in life. “My favorite part about this play was my character. I think it’s an amazing feeling when you feel what the character feels and you just really connect,” said Dove. Hargrove’s character, Doug, is especially accident prone. He experiences several accidents which include getting struck by lightning, losing an eye, and knocking his own tooth out. Despite his constant injuries, he puts all effort into helping Kaileen who experiences severe depression throughout the play. “My favorite part of being part of the production was being able to perform in a more intimate space alongside a
phenomenal actress and amazing director. I got to work on my technique and feel a real sense of accomplishment,” said Hargrove. Overall, the performance was a major success. Proceeds from the full house of audience members and the silent auction before the show went to CVDAA. The performance was produced by CVDAA, a non-profit program that teaches people of all ages about performance and theatre.The company earns most of its funding through shows like this held at Canyon Middle School. The organization prides itself with the promise that participation is never refused to anyone based on financial needs. Both Dove and Hargrove have been long-term members of the organization. They also participate in the drama class at CVHS and will be involved with the spring production of the musical Mary Poppins.
Milkcow offers ice cream and mooore
By William Lao Staff Writer
With so many new chain restaurants opening up around Castro Valley recently such as iTea and T4, Milkcow Cafe does not escape that list. Opening up in early December of last year, it has been a major attraction of late. Since there are so many other places to go to get ice cream and hang out such as Loard’s or Ice Creamery, why is Milkcow Cafe a good place to go? Located at 3223 Castro Valley Blvd, Milkcow Cafe offers fun and nice environment with an abundance of options for entertainment including board games, a TV, and a photobooth. The place is also clean, smells fresh, and has lots of chairs and tables for a longer stay. The decor is also nice with exotic plants and items such as cow-condiment containers to support the black and white painted walls, which contribute to an overall theme of cows. When we’re talking about ice cream, Milkcow Cafe can offer a variety of choices ranging from classic milky way to the creative black pearl. According to customers, the best items on the menu are are the milky honey and the milky cube. One
William Lao/ Staff Writer
thing I liked about the ice cream is that it’s not too sweet and has a nice balance of cream, and my favorite item is the classic milky way, a vanilla ice cream with a perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess. In addition to ice cream, you can also get sweet snacks at Milkcow Cafe such as egg puffs, a waffle with spheres shaped like eggs, mochi, a sweet sticky rice paste, cotton candy, or tasty macarons. You can also use these snack items as toppings on your ice cream in addition to the many toppings already available. My favorite topping on my ice cream
at Milkcow is cotton candy, an odd but creative choice. Since Milkcow Cafe uses all natural milk, it’s healthier and tastier than regular ice cream. It also offers a unique environment that I have never seen in any other ice cream place in Castro Valley. Crowds were pleased when a Milkcow Cafe opened up in Castro Valley so they wouldn’t have to drive far to get a delicious treat. Overall, Milkcow Cafe is definitely a good place to hang out with your friends after school, and you will most likely be pleased by the nice treats offered there!
The Last Guardian: a puzzling adventure By Da Di
Staff Writer
A story that unfolds in a mysterious world, an adventure of a lost boy and a mysterious monster, with friendship between a boy and a creature named Trico: that is the story of The Last Guardian. The Last Guardian is an action-adventure video game developed by SIE Japan Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment on PlayStation 4. It was released worldwide in December 2016. The game is about an unnamed boy and a made-up creature named Trico set in a large castle called The Nest. The game starts off when the boy wakes up in the castle and finds a monster lying down beside him. His body and wing are injured, so he is unable to fly. The boy finds out that there are some barrels in the castle, which is Trico’s food source, and can also help him fix his injures. The two grow to trust each other throughout the story as they struggle for survival. Both of them try to escape from The Nest, so they work together. During the time of work together, their bond and friendship become harder and stronger. Later during the game, the two reach the white tower. However, an unknown signal suddenly gets sent out from the tower, and what it brings back, you’ll just have to play the game yourselves.
The Last Guardian is a third person perspective game that has both action, adventure and a puzzle element. The player needs to control the boy and collaborate with Trico to solve puzzles, and find new areas until reach the white tower, although that is not the end of the game just yet. Players can control the boy to climb, run, throw, push, jump, and walk, and can also make the boy learn how to make Trico do certain actions while playing. When players achieve certain requirements in the game, they get rewards for their actions. There are enemies in the game: ancient, alien-like robots. These robots try to catch the boy and bring him into a door whenever they see the boy. According to video game review aggregator Metacritic, most reviewers of the game praised the game’s environment and model for it realism. Players enjoy the game for the realism of the Trico’s behaviors. GameSpot’s Pete Brown praised the game about the relationship between the boy and Trico saying, “if it’s a concerted effort to test out patience for a lovable-yetstubborn creature.” For me, I really enjoyed this game, and I recommend you to play it. This is a game that you can really fall into it. This game doesn’t have very many hard operating techniques like Overwatch or BattleField, nor does it have much historical background or real world meaning like Abzu or Civilization VI, but it is a game that to tell the player a story about friendship, adventure, and sacrifice.
The Olympian Feb. 14, 2017
Batman builds a Lego blockbuster
By Harley Penn Secret Superhero
“Hello secret camera,” whispered Dick Grayson to a hidden camera in Bruce Wayne’s ginormous mansion. That was just one of the hilarious moments in The Lego Batman Movie. Will Arnett’s stern and egotistical role as Batman garnered many laughs from the audience as he fought almost every villain in his batcomputer files. Feeling threatened by the other villains, the Joker did all he could to show Batman that he was his greatest enemy. But while Batman tried to stop the Clown Prince of Crime, he faced another battle. A huge part of the movie was Batman’s fight with his fear of being part of a family again. This was tested when he unknowingly adopted an orphan, who later turns into Robin, and they had to work together to save Gotham. His fear of belonging to a family was kryptonite for Batman in this movie, and resulted in many hilarious scenes between Batman and the jovial Robin, who always wants hug him and call him “Batdad.” I think they played too much on Batman’s fear of family, since when there wasn’t any
action, the entire story hung on this theme. However, it didn’t take away from the movie, because the action and the comedy made up for the slight lack of story. Trailers built up tension by showing many villains, and the movie didn’t disappoint. DC and Warner Brothers pulled out a lot of old villains, such as Polka-Dot Man, Calendar Man, and Crazy Quilt. The Joker pokes fun at how obscure these villains are by telling a pilot to google who Condiment King is, swearing that he is a real villain (which he is, he first appeared in Batman: The Animated Series). This was a fun detail for Batman megafans. And even those who aren’t could still enjoy the small things, such as Bane’s iconic voice and Catwoman’s meow-filled way of speaking, which gave most villains with more than two seconds of screen time their own personality. With the battle Batman faced on the battlefield against the horde of villains, and his internal battle against his fear of family, The Lego Batman Movie was action and emotion-packed, and had enough laughs to fill three movies. PS: as your comic book writer, Harley Penn, I have a certain expectation of how Harley Quinn should be portrayed. Her giggly attitude should be blended with a fearless ferocity that matches her love for her Puddin’ and her red and
Close Up students experience history
TRUMP: from page one
studies teacher Carmelina Frasca, referring to the jeers and boos from many in the crowd. While Trump’s inauguration drew his most fervent supporters, there was an even larger outpouring of expression the following day at the Women’s March in D.C., only this crowd was unified against the new president. There are estimations that the Women's March in Washington outnumbered the Inauguration by several hundred thousand, not to mention the millions that marched around the world from Iceland, Iraq, to Brazil. I attended both the inauguration and the Women's March, and it seemed to me that the Women’s March had far more positive energy as well as many more people.
Despite the negativity at the inauguration, I’m still glad I went because the experience taught me about our country and it gave me a sense of duty to be involved in local and national politics. If you are reading this and you are not happy with how these events turned out, I recommend that you take a long objective look in the mirror. Try to see what went wrong, regroup and try again in 2018 and 2020. If you are reading this and you are happy with how things turned out, I recommend exercising some empathy. Lead by example and work for all Americans. Hopefully as a nation we will be able to bridge this everincreasing divide and realize that we all have more in common than we have apart.
Jason Mays / Staff Writer
black wardrobe. All of those expectations were met in this movie. But another important one wasn’t. Harley Quinn’s voice is part of her character. Her thick New York accent adds the spice to her puns, and brings a smile to those hearing them. Some may disagree with me, but I believe that Harley Quinn was not done justice by the voice provided for her, as it had no New York accent, and wasn’t bubbly or anything more than the voice of your average side-kick. Aside from that, every part of her was depicted flawlessly. Fun Fact: In an alternate universe, Spider-Man was replaced by Spider-Ham, a spider named Peter who was bitten by a pig scientist who had irradiated herself with an atomic powered hairdryer. Spider-Ham, now called Peter Porker, was then transformed into a pig, but kept his spider abilities.
Hidden Figures is the perfect feel-good movie By Lina Stoyanovich Staff Writer
Crowds are loving the blockbuster film Hidden Figures, and for good reason. It comes at the perfect time: many people need a feel-good movie, and perhaps some need to be reminded that our country will always do better when we work together and disregard our differences. Set during the Civil Rights Movement and the space race against the Soviets, the film is centered around three black women doing work for NASA that is vital to President Kennedy’s mission to put a man in space. Based on the true stories of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, it follows the lives of these three young women working as hard as they can for a country that only puts them down. It was inspiring to see these women's incred-
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ible stories finally being told, and to watch them receive the appreciation that they deserve. I love that these stories are surfacing right now, as a lot of racism and hatred is also being exposed to the public eye, and many Americans need a reminder that racism and hatred in any form is harmful to everyone, not to mention unjustified and unacceptable. I think this movie could not have come at a better time in history, and I loved it. Nominated for numerous awards, including Academy Awards and Golden Globes, and complete with an original soundtrack, Hidden Figures is full of talented actors and witty dialogue, and showed the world (that maybe needed a little reminder) that racism and discrimination of any kind hurts not just one group of people, but all of us, and our progress altogether.
Time Machine: time capsule, students teach
Nisha Lal/ Staff Writer
John Hargrove smiles minutes before his show Gruesome Playground Injuries, presented by CVDAA.
Excerpts from The Olympian’s archives show the way things were at CVHS: May 23, 2007: Rap, Grand Theft Auto Not to Blame “When something violent occurs in the world and shows up on the news, people tend to blame it on the media... People should realize that the violence in movies and video games are just acting and graphics. The Virginia Tech massacre occurred when Cho Seung Hui went on a killing spree... Hui and others like him are not products of a ‘violent media.’ Grindhouse, 300, Grand Theft Auto, Halo, and 50 cent are not the reason people become killers in America.” It is unfortunate that blaming the media for how people are is still prevalent in today’s society. If you were to take away “violent” media, that does not mean there will not be any violence. People in the world will still be violent. If anything, “violent” media is based on how people are in the
world. June 6, 1997: Contributions from the class to school “This year’s senior contributions to the school include not only the gift, but a time capsule to capture the memories as well … The time capsule will be filled at the Senior Breakfast with various items marking the passage of our class through Castro Valley High.” The time capsule is supposedly buried either between the 100 and 200 halls or somewhere on the field. Twentieth reunion coming soon, time to dig it up? Feb. 12, 1987: Terrorists, how can we stop them and make this world a safer place? “The only one way to combat terrorism is direct and immediate military action by our armed forces whenever a terrorist action occurs against any of our people in a land which the president has deemed unsafe.” Although it seems to be how the world is approaching terrorism today, direct military action actu-
ally ends up hurting civilians a lot more than it does terrorists. In a time when our president deems any middle eastern country that he does not do business with as unsafe, we cannot always trust his judgement on what countries actually pose a threat to the US. Nov. 3, 1967: Students could replace teachers in near future “In the near future, students and teachers at Castro Valley High may trade places for a day.” Teachers and students changing places, what could go wrong? Feb. 27, 1957: Chemical analysis of female reveals much Women “can be found wherever man exists… Chemical Properties: extremely active in the presence of men... great affinity for gold, silver and other precious metals.” Yes, both men and women exist on this planet. I didn't know females had chemical properties. Maybe they have indications like the formation of bubbles or precipitation.
Humans of CV: John Hargrove, star of the show By Jason Mays Staff Writer
Everyone loves a good movie, and almost everyone will say that they’ve thought about becoming an actor one day. Performing in Hollywood movies, walking down the red carpet, having your face on the cover of a magazine. However, few people have the audacity to pursue this career or have what it takes to succeed. But senior John Hargrove aspires to be one of Hollywood’s finest one day. It all started when he was about 13 years old.
“I know that it’s dif-
ficult and there is the stigma of trying to become an actor, but I’m going for it. John Hargrove Senior
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“I was an eighth grader who didn’t really do anything, and my mom wanted me to get into something,” he said. “So my mom offered for me to go to a youth community theatre that was run by my brother’s baseball coach. She said to just try it and if I didn’t like it I never had to go again. I went to it, and I had enough fun to want to keep coming until I one day realized it was more
than a hobby. It may sound a little cliche, but I sort of found the art in it.” Hargrove is capable of being an actor one day, and he’s ready for whatever obstacles are to come. “I know that it’s difficult and there is the stigma of trying to become an actor, but I’m going for it,” he said. Hargrove is already well on his way to becoming an actor. “I just got accepted to Cal State Fullerton, although it’s not a super standout college, it has a really good economics program, and a really good theatre program and they offer a BFA in acting, which is like a regular bachelor's degree but for the fine arts,” he said. “I’m doing everything I can at school to be a part of our productions and doing things outside of community theatre. I’m going to be crewing a show in February.” When asked about his favorite project he replied, “Just this past weekend, the guy that originally got me into the community theatre asked me and my friend Sarah Dove to do a small show with just the two of us to have a more professional style, more rehearsal, shorter time frame, and we just did a two-person show versus a 17 people cast, and just working in a small group was very fun and different.” It is obvious that Hargrove has the experience, drive, and audacity to pull of this career choice. Break a leg!
CVHS DECA members pose for their last picture after competing against 20 other school districts.
DECA heads to NorCal conference By Beruk Tsegaye Staff Writer
CVHS DECA took the NorCal conference by storm with over 30 participants recognized amongst other school districts, to top it off, junior Christopher Kusumonegoro’s appointment as the 2017-2018 VP of NorCal. From Jan. 13 to 15, members had the chance to rigorously compete with 20 other and well-prepared school districts. DECA is a club that helps students prepare for a future in finance and entrepreneurship in marketing, hospitality, and management. DECA members have prepared for the conference for the past three months, using class and free time to perfect their roleplay and writtens. The roleplay consisted of 100 multiple choice question in student-selected categories, followed by an interview about a business-related scenario that they must find a solution to and present it to the judges. In the written competition, students chose a business or marketing plan and wrote a five to 30 page report. “This year like every year is
different because of the young people in charge. Each student member is unique and creative in their own way. They bring something new and innovative to the chapter that makes it different from previous years,” said marketing teacher Michelle Stephens. “Going to the state conference, I definitely feel like there is a weight of expectation on my shoulders, now that I’m Vice President of NorCal and also placed second in International Business Plan (IBP). However, I always try to go into things with the mindset of ´no expectations´. Whatever happens, happens, and besides, there’s more value in the journey going into competition rather than in the end results,” said junior Christopher Kusumonegoro. DECA requires hard work and dedication, but it also provides an unforgettable experience that will stay with the students. For the roleplay portion, students came in second and third place, and seven students came in top eight. Senior Karina Masalkovaite came in second; Freshmen Isabella Siu, second; Senior James Keith Vega third, and Seniors Aditi Gupte
and Sophia Torres senior, third. In the written portion, several came top three and one students came in top eight. Chris Kusumonegoro Junior came in second, Seniors Kevin Tai and Song Quan third, and Seniors Sarah Lau and Jennifer Lie third. “I expect the competition to be tremendous... there will be close to 2000 students ready to take the win and represent our state association on the international state [competition] in April. However, I’m confident we will rise to the challenge,” said Stephens. As students again prepare for a more challenging conference, they present a sense of pride and professionalism within this small community. “I feel overjoyed that I have such a supportive community of teachers, students, and staff, who have flooded me with endless encouragement in my journey. To the members of my DECA chapter, thank you so much for all you hard work and faith in me,” said Kusumonegoro. As his name was called, Castro Valley students roared and shouted to show their support.
Trojans pin Pirates in WACC win
Athletes of the Month
Myla Ogle - Soccer
By Audrey Manzano Staff Writer
Molly Koch / A&E Editor
Senior Ryan Ramierez attempts to pin his opponent in his winning match. teams, the Trojans were able little that I won’t ever have a By Molly Koch A&E Editor
The boys varsity wrestling team defeated rival San Leandro High in a meet on Jan. 27. As this was the last regular meet of the season, the four seniors of the team received special recognition for Senior Night. Team captain Steven Decker, Ryan Ramirez, Nizam Khwaja, and Tyler Henderson have all been wrestling with the team for multiple years. Between the JV and varsity
to win six of their matches. Ramirez won his match with a 7-0 decision, making the match seem to pass by quickly. Overall, the Trojans gained the victory over San Leandro High with a score of 45-27. When asked about how he feels about his last high school wrestling season coming to a close, Ramirez commented, “it’ll be weird when the season is over because wrestling is a year-round sport and it will be the first time since I was
wrestling practice again. I’m also excited and ready for the conclusion of my high school career.” The Trojans will be participating in the West Alameda County Conference at Castro Valley on Feb. 18. If they do well at this meet, our Trojans will qualify for the NCS individual championships, which start on Feb. 24 at James Logan High School.
Basketball team dunks on Piedmont
we got the rebounds, we scored a lot. We did what we had to do to get the win tonight,” said junior Mohomed Dia. Good team offense and team defense were required to win this game. “We were able to move the ball and our team defense was good, we were engaged the whole game. We stayed focused on offense and defense,” said junior Reggie Conley. This game was an important
By Megan O’Brien Staff Writer
They dribble! They shoot! They score! They win! CVHS’s boys basketball team beat Piedmont 76-57 at CVHS on Wed. Feb. 8 with a 40-29 lead at halftime. The boys played really hard, showing lots of hustle out on the court. “Today they played hard. Our guys play hard every night. They hustle, they hustle hard, they play hard. Tonight we stayed focused, we were struggling with that a little bit but they are truly starting to turn the corner on that,” said head coach Lawrence Bains. The Trojans played as a team, showing Piedmont that they were not going to lose this match. “We played good together as a team, we pressured well when we played defense, we hustled,
“This is actually
the start of a streak we need. Lawrence Bains Head Coach
Megan O’Brien / Staff Writer
Jaylin Dempsey shoots a free throw.
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win to start a winning streak needed for the Trojans to secure a spot in the playoffs. “This game really means something. We had a really up and down season. This win here helps us to solidify a spot in the playoffs. We just got to win the next three games. This is actually the start of a streak we need,” said Bains. Will the boys be able to pull it off and make it to playoffs this year, or will they fall short of the victories needed? Only time will tell.
Freshman Myla Ogle is a hard worker with the skill to reach her goal of being an effective member of the girls varsity soccer team and making important plays. Her favorite memory was when her team competed in the league for State Cup and won first place. Winning made her feel like she was rising in levels, since she would be able to play stronger teams. Ogle started playing soccer in second grade and is now the right and center forward. She got into the game because her brother loved soccer, and has continued to play because it keeps her active. Ogle has come to enjoy the game and learned skills from it. “I really like soccer because my coaches have been really good and I’ve just been surrounded by soccer. I’ve learned a lot of skills and a lot of my friends
play soccer too so it’s a part of my life,” Ogle explained. Ogle is on the varsity soccer team, and also used to do karate, swimming, dance, baseball, and gymnastics. “I quit the other sports and chose soccer as my main sport so I can give 100 percent of my time to it,” Ogle said. In her free time, Ogle enjoys drawing, reading, listening to music, playing with her dog, and watching her favorite soccer team, FC Barcelona. Ogle plans to play soccer throughout high school and is unsure of whether or not she will play in college. Coach Lauren Nadler, who just met Ogle this year, describes her as a hard worker who always wants to get better. “Myla is fast, technical, and defends well,” Nadler added. Being a freshman on the varsity team, Ogle definitely has time to hone her skills and become an even better player than she already is.
Reggie Conley - Basketball
By Pau Gutierrez Staff Writer
Junior Reggie Conley has caught the attention of the entire school with his extraordinary basketball skills. Starting his basketball career seven years ago, Conley has always been a fundamentally strong player on all the teams he has played for. He is currently one of the top guards on our school’s varsity team. “I like the competitiveness. It’s fun being together with my teammates and playing with them,” Conley said. Conley’s favorite memory this year was a game against rival San Leandro. The Trojans and Pirates fought into overtime. “It was a close game, a fight all the way to the end, we hit some shots down the stretch and got the win,” he recalled. Conley says he can slam dunk, but hasn’t done so in a
game yet; he’s “saving it for a special occasion.” It all started when he was little. Watching basketball inspired him to start playing. As most athletes out there, the one thing he enjoys the most is winning, making all those practice hours and effort worth it. Consequently, his least favorite thing is losing a game. “Reggie is a great basketball player, he is very strong minded and mentally tough. He is also a very confident player, he has a great shot and the will to get a win every night. He makes everyone around him a better player, he’s a great teammate,” said team manager Nick Cabral. Conley has received tons of mail this past summer from college coaches, such as Santa Clara and Davidson. This Milwaukee Bucks and Warriors fan has a long journey ahead of him.
The Olympian Feb. 14, 2017
8
No peaceful end in sight to Syria’s civil war By Jessica Mi Editor-in-Chief
More than 470,000 people have lost their lives as a result of a bloody civil war in Syria that has been raging for almost five years. The war began in March of 2011, when peaceful demonstrations against President Bashar Al-Assad’s rule quickly escalated after a forceful government crackdown. Protesters began fighting back and by July, the Free Syrian Army was loosely organized and many civilians joined the cause. Syria descended into civil war as rebel groups fought government forces for control of the country. Soon, a terrorist group called Islamic State (IS) joined the conflict; extreme violence has been continuous for over five years. War conditions for civilians in the country are bleak. According to Mercy Corps, “horrific human rights violations are widespread. Basic necessities like food and medical care are sparse.” The UN has also cited incidences of war crimes such as murder, torture, rape, and enforced disappearances on
both sides of the conflict. Assad even used chemical weapons against civilians in August 2013, prompting threats of airstrikes from the Obama administration. The war is much more complicated than a conflict between rebels and Assad; racial and religious factors also play a part. “There is no likeminded force on the ground in Syria,” said Max Fisher of Vox News. Syria is dominated by followers of a denomination of Islam called Sunni, pitched against the president’s Shia Alawite group. The Kurdish people are also
Marching for women MARCH: from page one
ing and supportive. It was more positive [than the inauguration],” said senior Zephan Wood who attended both the women’s march and inauguration in Washington D.C. There were anywhere from about 3.4 to 4.8 million people partaking in 673 marches around the world. Data shows that about one in every 100 Americans participated in one of the marches in the U.S. People turned up with homemade signs displaying their concerns about Trump’s upcoming presidency, and wore pink “pussy” hats, knitted hats with cat ears that
fighting to secede from Assad’s rule as part of the conflict. “There are too many people with too many different agendas all crammed into one part of the world, and they’re all fighting,” said CVHS history teacher Ian Rodriquez. Iran and Russia support the Syrian government, while the Sunni rebels have gained the support of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, France, the U.K., and the U.S. The war has caused a humanitarian crisis. More than 4.5 million people have fled
Syria to neighboring countries, and according to the UN, about 13.5 million people are in need of help inside Syria, including 6 million children. BBC reports that about 70 percent of the population doesn’t have access to clean drinking water, one in three people are unable to meet basic food needs, and four out of five people live in poverty. “We always go ‘never again, never again,’ with the Holocaust and other genocides, yet this is another humanitarian crisis, but it’s a bit more complex due to the turmoil in the area,” Ro-
driquez commented. Syrian refugees are in desperate need of help, but President Trump has already drafted an executive order to indefinitely block Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. Moving forward, it seems this war will not be drawing to a close anytime soon. There have been a few attempts at peace talks, but they have always fallen apart. As Rodriquez explained, “There is no easy solution.” What people can do in the meantime is raise awareness of the situation and donate to humanitarian organizations to aid to the people of Syria. The crisis in Syria has already gained some attention on social media due to the massacres in the city of Aleppo a few months ago. “Social media is helping you guys be more aware,” said Rodriquez. Because social media is a powerful tool that no earlier generation had, it will be essential now to enacting social change by spreading the truth and speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.
School plans to get tough on tardies
alluded to crude comments made by Trump about women in the past. Signs expressed concerns about healthcare, reproductive rights, racial injustice, religious freedom, xenophobia, immigration rights, LGBTQIA rights, gender-based violence, education, and environmental justice. There were signs saying things like, “Build bridges not walls,” “A woman's place is in the resistance,” “Sea levels are rising and so am I,” and “Love Trumps hate.” Clearly, the marches showed that Trump’s presidency will face considerable opposition.
Wailea Siler / Staff Writer
TARDY: from page one “By the attendance law and policies, three tardies equals an absence. What hasn’t happened in the past is that the effort to decrease truancy has always focused on period cuts or day cuts as opposed to including tardies. What we’re really doing is following through on the next step, which is saying that tardies are going to part of that,” said Torpey. While this update to the tardy policy at CVHS is fairly recent, it is safe to say that Saturday school attendance will be on the rise. However, the school isn’t just looking to punish students as a repercussion of them being habitually late to class. A rewardbased incentive program is also in the works. “Instead of doing something punitive, such as a tardy sweep,
what we would really like to do is build a positive incentive system. That would mean rewarding students for being on time, because that’s what we want. We really want to make this shift as a school to support positive student behaviors,” said Torpey. In the current tardy system,
students receive detention if they are inexcusably late three times in the same class in a week or five times in general within the span of a week. The changes being discussed could extend the period of time tardies are counted over, and therefore, increase the number of detentions handed out.