March 24, 2017 by The Castro Valley High School Olympian

Art and politics blend in students’ art

Outdoor school leaves a lifelong impact

Page 3: Counseling kids gives perspective

Volume 60, Issue 8

Logan slashes box-office competition

Page 5: Artists portray refugee crisis and more

March 24, 2017

Page 6: Hugh Jackman impresses in new film

We are born to seek the truth! www.cvhsolympian.com

It’s a jolly holiday with Mary Poppins Caution: construction may move classes and limit parking By Ria Panjwani Staff Writer

Sarah Nosseir / Sports Editor

Senior Andre Acosta tells a tale as Bert in the school musical. By Nisha Lal Staff Writer

The premiere of the CVHS production of “Mary Poppins” opened to a very supercalifragilistic start at 7 p.m. on March 17. The classic Disney musical has been revamped into an amazing production that will be put on by students from many different CVHS

departments such as drama, band, orchestra, choir, and even American Sign Language. “My favorite part of it all is being able to meet new people that I normally don’t hang out with,” said junior Kyle Estabillo, who plays a chimney sweeper. The show is filled with plenty of magic that is sure to capture the audience’s eye. Not only

do the props fly around stage, but Mary Poppins and Bert fly as well. All throughout the performance, the cast charms the audience with catchy songs and intricate dance numbers. “I’m really excited for “Step in Time” because it involves a huge dance number,” said Estabillo.

See MARY: page eight

Trump slams door on transgenders By Stella Ho

Opinion Editor The Trump administration decided to rescind protections for all transgender students in public schools that had previously allowed them to use the bathrooms they felt most comfortable with on Feb. 22. This goes against former President Obama’s policy to protect the right of transgender students to use the restrooms and locker rooms that best match their gender identities. Obama’s administration announced that the Title IX antidiscrimination law from 1972 applied to transgender students with regard to bathroom access. But Trump’s order said states and schools can choose their own policies on this issue. The issue of transgender bathrooms will no longer be decided by the federal government; it will instead be

handled by individual states. Thus, depending on the state, discrimination is not illegal, and schools are not obligated

“ It’s a slow process, but a necessary one. Kaiya Brown Vice President of the Gays and More club

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to allow students to use the bathroom of their choosing. Many gay rights activists and members of the LGBTQ community have expressed their disapproval of this action. “It was a terrible move,” said senior Kaiya Brown, vice president of the Gays and More club. “It only emphasizes how little

he cares for the marginalized citizens of the United States. All he’s done was say that the government will not protect children because of a certain orientation, which has only further displayed his unjust agenda.” Gays and More, which has made plans to install a unisex bathroom at CVHS, is upset at this turn of events. However, this will not deter the club from its goal. Members have spoken to the faculty about the issue of a multi-stall unisex bathroom and are currently waiting for approval. If approved, the bathroom will be installed on campus in two to three years. “It’s a slow process, but a necessary one. This will hopefully open doors for our school to gain more traction in their ability to protect transgender and gender nonconforming youth,” said Brown.

Castro Valley voters passed Measure G, which granted the Castro Valley Unified School District a $123 million general obligation bond to renovate and upgrade schools, in June of 2016. Of the $123 million, CVHS is receiving approximately $45 million to thoroughly update each building on campus, and add additional classrooms and facilities. After the approval of Measure G, the district, along with the CBOC (Citizens Bond Oversight Committee), created a timeline of projects to take place throughout schools in the district, starting January of 2018 and proceeding until 2024. In CVHS, the 400 and 500 hallways are expected to shut down for construction first. Classrooms in these halls can be expected to be relocated for the entirety of the school year. As of right now, it is unclear what will be done for students who have lockers in hallways being renovated. Classes will be relocated to 18 portables, the locations of which are currently being debated. The potential locations are the 500 parking lot, 800 parking lot, blacktop behind the gym, and on the field, between the back of 900 and the baseball outfield. CVHS is delegating $4 million towards a brand new health and wellness center. It will be used as a space to support CVHS

mental health needs, as well as space for more classrooms. “The new health and wellness center will be more of an outside resource for students, such as counselors (intervention type rather than academic) and also areas where advisors can do group sessions,” said Assistant Principal Patrinia Redd. During heavy construction time, safety will be the primary concern for parents and the school administration alike. The school plans to address this issue by ensuring that the majority of the construction during the school year will take place internally such as by closing hallways and renovating them from the inside so students will not be anywhere near hazardous construction sites. More external construction will occur during the summer. Another main issue concerning construction will be limited parking in certain parking lots, as the construction crews will require staging areas near the 500 and 800 lots. “It is realistic to assume that many of the things we take for granted now, such as parking, will be impacted… Students will likely lose a great number of parking spaces. We are looking at trying to secure off-campus parking near campus,” said Principal Blaine Torpey. For frequent updates about Measure G regarding various construction work projects and financial plans, visit the Measure G page on the CVUSD website.

New scheduling policies bring good and bad

Editorial: Recent changes to the CVHS course drop/add policy elicited a variety of reactions from the student body. Under the new rules, students will only be allowed to drop a class if their schedules do not meet graduation requirements, if they are experiencing “major and unforeseeable personal situations,” if the school made a mistake with their schedules, or if changes are dictated by English proficiency, a 504 plan, or IEP. A student will also be allowed to switch into a different class if a student has put effort into succeeding in a class, but both student and teacher agree that the difficulty of a class is not suitable for the student. However, students will not be permitted to change classes because they do not like their teachers or because they changed their minds about their selections. We at The Olympian believe that this approach to schedule changes will have positive and negative effects. The new policy grants students more responsibility when choosing their classes and also gives them more time to decide wisely, and encourages all students to meet with a counselor

before making their choices. It could also prevent small class sizes in the fall caused by students changing their minds after school has started and dropping a course, which is an inconvenience to teachers and other students.

We also think that students will be more careful in choosing classes, especially AP and honors classes, with this new policy. However, it may discourage students from trying out demanding classes, since they might be afraid

Ethiopia: land of history and culture

By Beruk Tsegaye Staff Writer

Ethiopia: a country that you may or may not have heard of. To me, Ethiopia is home, the place that introduced me to myself, a place that showed me the morals and reality of the rest of the world. Ethiopia is located in the east of Africa, most commonly known as the horn of Africa. It’s known for its lasting legacy of extraordinary kings and queens who fought the infamous battle against Italian colonization and won, becoming one of Africa's only two countries to never be colonized. Just that

history alone essentially defines every Ethiopian you will meet. Ethiopia is a country that has held its place for centuries. It has always been independent, and all Ethiopians hold true that we are all one. By this I mean that Ethiopia is composed of numerous cultures and tribes all with different languages, ways of expressing each culture in their own way, but we never really separate from the country that we call Ethiopia. Every part of my country's pride is engraved in me, and in every Ethiopian you will meet. That sense of pride and principles gives me and all Ethiopian emigrants hope that we have something to go back to, something to work for. Unfortunately, not every country gets to have a completely great history, and there is a tragic side of Ethiopia. King Haile Selassie was overthrown by a dictatorship which essentially brought Ethiopia to its knees, and a series of events occurred which crippled the country. One of these unfortunate events was from 1984-1985, when Ethiopia went through a massive famine, crippling the economy.

The inept Ethiopian government has caused the core of Ethiopia’s belief in unity to be nothing more than a saying. The government has turned the tribes against each other to keep itself in power. It has shut down any communication to the outside world. People are killing each other; farmers are losing their lands to different countries without any notice. This is what my country has come to. Instead of being proud to have such diversity, we call each other by tribe names, rather than by simply Ethiopians. So you may ask what is the point, the reason for all of this talk? And the point is that there is a whole other world that is suffering to even keep its lights on. We are so focused on the new administration and what’s going to happen next, while shopping for that shirt you really want but don’t need. Although it is sad to see America in this state, we need to remember there are countries which have it worse. Throughout the rough years my country has faced, it has been the home that raised me and I am honored to be a part of it. I am proud to be an Ethiopian.

Audrey Manzano/ Staff Writer of being stuck in a class that is too hard for them. This way, students will not have the ability or encouragement to try out challenging classes. Additionally, this policy will also probably reduce the amount

Political ties to business By Halley Lin-Jones Editor-in-Chief

Navigating through the multicolored shoe boxes at Macy’s, my eyes seek out the perfect pair... only to be halted at the sight of a box reading “Ivanka Trump.” In that moment, it doesn’t matter to me whether the shoes are covered in gaudy crocodile skin or whether they are the vision of elegance that I have been seeking out; all I can see is the label and the blatant, connection to the president and all the principles that I cannot bring myself to stand by. Like many frustrated Americans would do, I turn my back on the pair of shoes and continue my monotonous search. But while it is relatively simple to recognize the connection between Ivanka Trump’s shoe line and President Trump, it is much more difficult as a consumer to be aware of other hidden connections between big companies and political organizations. When I look at other brands of shoes at the store, I have no immediate way of knowing whether the brands and companies in front of me have

PHOTOpinions “I don’t know how much it would affect my schedule personally, but I think the way scheduling is done now is fine the way it is.” Devin Green, freshman

Molly Koch/ A&E Editor

“I think I’ll be more conflicted when I get my schedule because if I don’t get a class I like, I guess I won’t be able to get out of that class unless I fail it.” Katelyn Wong, sophomore

of electives available at our school because, in the past, elective classes with very few students enrolled in them usually filled up when more transferred in during first quarter, and that won’t be possible anymore with new policies. Keeping all of those effects in mind, The Olympian has some recommendations for the administration. We think that similar to the elective fair, CVHS should have an AP fair where people can talk to teachers and current students in those classes and receive more information, and that attendance at both of these fairs should be mandatory for all students returning to CVHS the following year. We also suggest that students be able to spend a period in a class they might want to take before they turn in their course selections; that way, students can assess the difficulty of the class and see what it is like. In addition, we believe that making entrance exams for accelerated classes harder would ensure that only qualified and determined students sign up for them. Giving summer homework out earlier would also allow students to figure out if the difficulty of a class is right for them.

ties to politics that I disagree with. Indeed, it is another thing we need to worry about in a culture of consumerism, coupled with a democratic system that is unfortunately still tied to massive amounts of money. The reality of the matter is that companies have an amplified influence in politics because of their great monetary power. The boycotting of Trump products and companies e n d o r s i n g Tr u m p i s a wide movement entitled “#grabyourwallet,” which has its own website advising consumers on which businesses have the greatest ties to Trump and his campaign. Many, such as Trump hotels and golf courses will come as no surprise. But some big retailers like Macy’s and New Balance have also come under fire from anti-Trump protesters, either for selling Trump products, or for support through social media and PACs. While boycotts are an effective method for political activism as a citizen, I think the longterm solution lies in reforming campaign financing to limit the influence that corporations have.

How do you feel about the new scheduling policy? “It sucks because it’s more strict, but I guess it’s understandable because of how many changes there were this year.” Christian Caliwag, junior

“There’s no way for someone to know if they like a class unless they try it. If you’re stuck in a class you don’t like, there’s a good chance you won’t do well in that class, either.” Ariana Faizi, senior

The Olympian March 24, 2017

Outdoor school brings fun and learning

By Nisha Lal Staff Writer

“Who will keep my Snapchat streaks while I’m gone?” That was the first question that crossed my mind as I turned in my outdoor school application. A week away from any form of technology seemed impossible until I did it. Little

did I know, one week off the grid would change me for the better. My week at Camp Loma Mar in Pescadero was filled with an endless amount of singing and cheesy inside jokes. I was lucky enough to be a counselor for a well-behaved group of seven sixth-grade girls, which made the week go by without a hitch. During our time together, we bonded really well and I got to know each one of my kids on a personal level. Every day we experienced a new hike. Monday night took us stargazing, Tuesday was a trip through an oak tree forest, Wednesday was a stroll through the redwoods, and Thursday was an amazing experience at the tidepools of Pebble Beach. Each day we saw the world through different eyes. We learned to see the

beauty in our time together rather than worrying about our lack of social media. Out of all the fantastic things that we did that week, I would say that my favorite was campfire every night. We sang songs and told stories that made me feel completely at ease. This was the time that I felt my stress melt away as I listened to everyone in camp sing. I really enjoyed the fact that the campfire made us all feel like a family. That time of the day made us forget that we were away from home and out of our comfort zones. This trip taught me so much. As each day went by, I learned to appreciate what I have around me. I saw the true beauty of Earth and fell more in love with the outdoors. I also made some amazing friends along the way. When it was time to leave,

Mia Babasyan / Feature Editor

Outdoor school counselors pose for a picture together. it didn’t feel like a week had passed by. I wasn’t anywhere near ready to say goodbye to Pescadero (Oh Pescadero!). On the bus ride home, I noticed

that my outlook on life really did change when I turned to my best friend and asked, “What even is the point of Snapchat?”

Despite wet winter, conserve, conserve, conserve!

By Hannah Johansson

Staff Writer It seems crazy to think that Californians are losing their homes because of flooding, when just six months ago,

watering front yards in the middle of the night to avoid both evaporation and judgy neighbors was common practice. However, California has had many droughts in the past and will continue to have droughts in the future. What can we do to take advantage of this opportunity to prepare for future droughts? Californians need to continue to conserve water, but first we need to figure out methods for better water containment. After all, we cannot conserve water if we do not have water to conserve. We need to begin with the basics: fixing our current water containment systems, such as dams like Oroville.

In February, the possibility of the disintegration of Oroville Dam’s two emergency spillways prompted the evacuation of more than 180,000 Californians. The water from the dam flooded many houses, streets, and acres of agricultural land. If good water storage infrastructure had been a priority from the beginning, this would not have happened. From the Oroville incident, we should learn that all water infrastructure is important to keep in top-shape, not only to prevent flooding, but also to conserve water. Besides renovating current containment systems, we should also be looking for opportunities to store even more

water. For example, UC Santa Cruz and Pajaro Valley’s local conservation district have partnered on a ground water recharging project. Around 40 percent of all California’s water comes from the ground, so many underground water sources are depleted. The project’s goal is to take runoff from hills and channel it back into depleted aquifers. Ground water recharging prevents runoff from flowing into the nearby stream. This reduces flood risks (less water in the rivers means less flood risk for those who live around it) and allows the water to be used by farmers or households (whoever has their well in the recharged aquifer).

Another idea for water collection is a rainwater harvesting system. In Australia, where conditions similar to California often leave the land parched, many houses have individual tanks underground or attached to the house which collect rainwater from the roof. The water is filtered and then used by the household. The events in Oroville have showcased the inadequacy of our state’s water collection systems. To take full advantage of the opportunity this year’s rain has provided us, we must fix existing infrastructure problems as well as come up with newer solutions.

Letters to the Editor Re: “Late to school, late to life: more tardies, more detentions,” by The Olympian “I think it’s a good idea to have a consequence due to tardiness, but I think it should be taken into account that it’s not always the students’ fault. In relation to being on time in the morning, many kids are driven to school and have to deal with traffic, as well as waiting on whoever is driving them. So there should be consequences to being tardy, but maybe less of a punishment for those who are late to the very first class of the day rather than someone who is late to a class after lunch.” Afifa Abdullah Re: “Why we should keep conserving as the drought ends,” by Hannah Johansson “A while ago, I heard somewhere that California would need several months (or even

years) of nonstop rain for the state to be completely drought free. While I’m not sure how accurate that is, I totally agree that Californians should continue to conserve water. If everyone is under the notion that wasteful water usage is okay, then we could send the state back into a situation of an even worse water shortage. Simple everyday water saving habits like shorter showers, watering lawns at night, and using leftover water to water plants are ways to conserve without significantly disturbing your lifestyle. Thanks for the awesome info!” Lindsey Guan Re: “Trojans aim to reduce waste,” by Nisha Lal “I hope that the school population as a whole can work towards sorting their trash correctly. I always sort my trash carefully, but sometimes

the bins are so full of incorrect items that they are all dumped into the same place to become part of the landfill instead of being recycled or composted. I would love to see actions that would keep each bin sorted so that we can recycle as much of our waste as possible and keep it out of the landfill.” Victoria Quijano Re: “Trump's Inauguration imparts ‘a sense of duty,’” by Will Stein “It’s surprising to hear that people in the crowd started to boo when equality for accepting people of all sexual orientations and gender identities was brought up. This was upsetting to read about. I hope our country will be able to overcome negativity like this in the future. Well written article, William Stein.” Matt Betti

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, Audrey Manzano, Jason Mays, Mara Moysen, Megan O’Brien, Ria Panjwani, Wailea Siler, Will Stein, Lina Stoyanovich, Beruk Tsegaye Advisor........................................................................Matt Johanson

Humans of CV: Backstage Genius Carly Becerra

Haley Booth/ staff writer

Carly Becerra rehearsed for musical Mary Poppins.

By Haley Booth Staff Writer

Aaqil Ansar gets into position as he throws a dodgeball at his opponents.

Will Stein/ staff writer

Dodgeball players throw heat By Will Stein Staff Writer

The annual CVHS dodgeball competition made its dodgy return in early March, featuring a multitude of teams in many grueling matches. After teams made their valiant attempts to go down in history avoiding projectile spheres, the Dodgeballers came out on top. Each team competed in a winner-takes-all match, with the victor moving on to the next round until, at last, only two remained. The finals—featuring the Average Joes and the Broke Lane$—was a best-ofthree-games competition that would crown the true dodgeball champions. “I gotta say, it looks fierce

out there,” remarked junior Dominic Miller of the Spaghetti Spooners before a match. There was some concern before the event started that there were not enough teams signed up. “I’m surprised how many people showed up,” noted junior Owen Shannon. The drama was sustained throughout the championship series. The Average Joes routed the Broke Lane$ with minor difficulty in the first match, but the ever-persistent Broke Lane$ were able to even it up with a fiercely fought win of their own. With both teams having a win under their belt, it came time for the deciding match.

Michael Kentris sounded his whistle and both teams made a mad dash for the no-man’sland that was the center court. The Broke Lane$ picked off players one by one, until there was only one Average Joe left facing multiple them. The lone remaining Average Joe was able to survive for the remainder of the match, but that was not enough to win the tournament. At the end of regulation time it was the Broke$ that had more players, and to them the victory went. T h e B ro k e L a n e $ w e re awarded their plaque, eternal bragging rights, and their the legacy of being the 2017 CVHS dodgeball champions.

Carly Becerra will be in the spotlight, in the school musical Mary Poppins this year, but typically, one would find her working backstage making sure that all the props are in order, that people are in their correct cues, and making sure nothing catches on fire. She has worked as a crew member in every school musical since her freshman year, and has decided that it suits her better than acting on stage. “I don’t like having to remember lines…and be people-ready every day…,” said Becerra. “As a crew person, I get more satisfaction knowing that I am a moving piece of the show…as a stage manager I get that because I’m telling everyone where to go at what time and I’m making it all come together.” Along with the self-satisfaction, working as a crew member has allowed Becerra to meet and work with some very professional people, including Thomas Miller who works in

Prom promises to “Bond” juniors Secret agents unite

from 007-11 p.m. on April 1 (no fooling) By Pau Gutierrez

Staff Writer Prom is the most magical evening of the year for almost every high school student. Salons are fully booked, girls are shopping for dresses, and everyone talks about who is going with whom. Once this endless chatter begins, we know prom season has begun. “I’m really looking forward

to having a fun night with all of my friends, wearing my dress and making memories that will last a lifetime,” said junior Reya Hancock. This year’s prom will be on April 1 from 7-11 p.m. at the Oakland Scottish Rite Center with the theme “Agent 007.” Tickets went on sale at the student store in room 607, on Feb. 27 for $75, with the price increasing by $5 per week. The last day to buy tickets, for $90, will be March 31. One of the most exciting and nerve-racking aspects about prom is dates. Every year, a “promposal”

contest is available for everyone willing to participate. The most creative promposal will win two free tickets. “I felt great because I put a lot of work into it to make it really special and he read it out loud in front of the class and I felt so happy that everyone got to see,” said Alyssa Porte after inviting her boyfriend. Even though some people prefer to go by themselves, both men and women find prom to be something to look forward to. “I see it as a way of a person going out their comfort zone by asking a person they like. It en-

courages creativity in the way you ask. I love how it brings your family and class together. You create memories that you will remember for the rest of your life,” said ASB Vice President Vadozzi Yasi. However, big proposals, corsages, and color-coordinated outfits might not be for everyone. For one night, the whole junior class will come together in the same place. Everyone gets to dance with people they usually don’t hang out with. We should celebrate the class unity that prom creates and inspires, because prom really is a once-in-a-lifetime event.

the musical Finding Neverland. “I’ve made lots of older brothers and older sisters through it… I get lots of little sister favors because in the theatre world I’m very young,” said Becerra. Meeting lots of professional people in the theatre world is just one of the perks she gets from starting early in the theatre business. “I get more resources [as a crew member]...because I get to learn lots of cool stuff about building things and as well as just learning how to work with other people,” said Becerra. Having these skills at such a young age has allowed her to work in bigger productions than school musicals, such as Shrek the Musical and La Cage Aux Folles. She hopes to continue doing what she loves at San Francisco State University in the fall. “I hope to produce and tech design my own show, but I’m not necessarily jumping to Broadway. The Bay [Area] is just fine for me!”

The Olympian March 24, 2017

Political art guides students through chaos Student artists address political issues By Anastasia Le Copy Editor

In the bleak, charmless realm of politics, art serves as a vivid instigator of change. "Art and politics are both deeply personal, getting at the heart of our values and what inspires us," said studio art and sculpture teacher Alexis Knudsen. For small-town high school students, the problems of the world often seem far away, but politically-driven art has helped many students use their voices where they are generally unheard. Senior art student Michaela Budde’s work focuses

on the Syrian Refugee Crisis. “It struck me that my peers had never heard of the crisis,” explained Budde. “Just like many global issues it can be hard for it to really get to people.” Budde’s role as an artist amidst this humanitarian crisis not only helped her fully understand the situation in Syria, but also her role in the matter. “The research my art required has given me a much more wholesome perspective on who is involved in the crisis and how it got to be so terrible,” said Budde. “To be in such a dire position in a world where there is such privilege and wealth...the disparity between these two worlds is disheartening.” Budde evokes the fear and vulnerability of those caught within and escaping a war zone, illustrating families amidst the chaos. Art teacher Jo Sutton explains

Three-on-three brings competition during lunch

Audrey Manzano/ Staff Writer

Senior Sam Higuera attempts a lay-up. Higuera, Nicholas Jacoby, and By Audrey Manzano

Staff Writer With players jumping, running, and dribbling the ball, the energy was definitely high in the auxiliary gym during the three-on-three basketball tournament. From March 6-10 during lunch, the gym was filled with students and teachers watching the teams go head to head in their half-court matches. On the last day of the matches, there were two finalist teams playing. The teams consisted of seniors Jaylin Dempsey, Robert Calloway, and Okwaas Muhammad, against seniors Sam

Cole Coffey. In an attempt to catch up with the opposing team in the last three minutes of the game, Higuera, Jacoby, and Coffey scored five consecutive points. After 20 minutes, the game ended with a score of 16-14 as Dempsey, Calloway, and Muhammad won the tournament. “The game was ours in the beginning. When Okwaas started going off, so did the rest of the team. This is a team effort kind of thing so we have to be a team to get through. And if I had another year I’d definitely go for it again,” said Dempsey.

Michaela Budde stirs emotion through her detailed artwork. the role of an educator in times of political turmoil, and how she feels that it's an educator’s job to help students decode what the world is telling them. “It’s our job as art educators to help give our students the tools to unlock some of the propaganda which may only be subliminal to them at an early

age, but as you learn to see the world for what it is and you learn to question every image that comes before you, then propaganda becomes a powerful tool that you as the viewer are in charge of, and you recognize it as such,” Sutton said. Sutton created a project based on Edvard Munch’s “The

Scream” to allow her freshmen to develop their political voice by responding to current situations. “I encouraged them to come up with their own ‘Scream,’ and visually represent what makes them scream in the world right now,” said Sutton. Sophomore Kameela Hassan illustrated “The Scream” with the White House in the background as a representation of herself screaming. “If I have any kids whose families voted Trump or voted conservative, it’s my responsibility to make sure they feel just as safe as every other kid at this school, so I have to walk that line carefully as a teacher,” said Sutton. Though we often surmise an apocalyptic end to our world, the process of getting to that point is much more complicated. We have political art to guide us through the confusion and chaos.

Get Out blows away box office competition By Jason Mays Staff Writer

Da Di / Staff Writer

Wolverine retracts his claws By Harley Penn Secret Superhero

Hugh Jackman has been the Wolverine for 17 years, and he could not have done a better job of saying goodbye to his fans than he did in Logan. Taking place in the not-sodistant future, Logan has hidden himself away from society, only coming out to do a few jobs to get money. But as always, he just wants to be left alone, and something happens that makes him have to come out of hiding. Logan has a different feel to it than other superhero movies such as Captain America, or even the other X-Men movies. While there aren’t many main characters, the movie is driven

by its characters and not so much by the plot. Usually, superhero movies have a big bad guy that the heroes must come together to fight before they take over the world. But Logan’s lack of a main villain allows the characters to shine more, because they are able to react to situations without having to worry about saving the world. Another thing to be noticed throughout the movie is that the filmmakers don’t explain why the characters react to situations the way they do. But they also don’t have to, which is the brilliant part. We have been with the main characters for 17 years, and we as the fans know why they do what they do. This allows for more time for the

actual movie that might otherwise be wasted on flashbacks or other forms of explanation for the characters’ behaviors. Could this be a new era of superhero movies? We have been with many of the heroes for a long time, and unless filmmakers keep using new characters in their movies, it might start to get repetitive if the creators just keep throwing bad guys at them that they have to defeat. And while they don’t have to make every superhero movie rated R, it would not be such a bad thing if they started to transition their movies to Logan’s format. Fun fact: Before the X-Men comic books, Wolverine was one of the Hulk’s enemies.

Jordan Peele is commonly known for his comedic roles in TV shows such as Key and Peele on Comedy Central, but decided to flip the script recently. He decided to direct one of the most thrilling, action-packed movies that will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time. What would seem to be a drastic change in genre for the 38-year-old actor/comedian actually ended up being extremely natural for him. The movie is the fastest to surpass $100 million in the U.S. box office. Get Out’s main character is played by Daniel Kaluuya, who has also acted in Netflix’s popular TV show, Black Mirror. Kaluuya plays a young African American man who

is about to meet his white girlfriend’s parents in their secluded suburban home, and is a little nervous. When he gets there, he immediately gets the vibe that there is something unusual with the situation. Everyone there is white, but the few other black people act extremely strange as his girlfriend continues to assure him that everything is fine and well. Things progressively get stranger and stranger until your heart is racing and you don’t know what to expect next. One of the more popular scenes in the movie has sparked an internet sensation known as the #getoutchallenge, in which you reenact a scene in which a character runs toward the camera in a frightening fashion. Kaluuya does an amazing job acting in this heart-racing thriller, and really sells the plot well. I highly recommend this film to anyone, and everyone, especially those who enjoy thrillers.

Academy Awards: more diverse, still controversial By Emily Salazar Business Manager

The signature red carpet, paparazzi, fashion, and envelopes of this year’s awards season came to a close on Feb. 26 with the memorable 89th Academy Awards, more commonly referred to as the Oscars. Funny moments, snafus, and political statements all took the spotlight at this awards ceremony in celebration of the movie entertainment industry. The most popular accessory this year was not a jewel encrusted Valentino clutch, but a blue American Civil Liberties Union ribbon. Donned by stars such as Ruth Negga, Busy Phillips, Karlie Kloss, and Lin Manuel-Miranda, the blue rib-

bon symbolized their stance with the organization that filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's original travel ban, temporarily stopping the ban at that time as a judge ruled in their favor. The politics didn’t stop there, as Jimmy Kimmel started his monologue with several jokes about the president. The tension was slightly alleviated when he released candies into the star-studded crowd. Over the past two years, the Oscars have come under scrutiny for the lack of racial diversity in their nominees in many categories. This year’s nominees, however, included a record-tying seven minority actors. Each acting category this year, for the first time in Academy history, has contained black actors. Notable winners included Viola Davis, who became the first AfricanAmerican to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting by winning

Best Supporting Actress for Fences, and Mahershala Ali, who won Best Supporting Actor for Moonlight. However, the Oscars continue to be criticized for their lack of non-black minorities, having almost no Latino or Asian nominees. More controversies included Casey Affleck winning Best Actor for Manchester by the Sea against Denzel Washington for Fences. While directing the faux documentary I’m Still Here in 2010, two women working with Affleck filed separate lawsuits against him, detailing repeated instances of harassment throughout the production. Affleck settled his suits after mediation and threats to countersue the two women. Affleck was never found liable for any offenses, and through this awards season he continued to deny the allegations when asked by reporters. Oscar tradition has the previous year's Best Actress present

the next year’s Best Actor. Brie Larson won last year ’s Best Actress for her portrayal of a sexually and physically abused woman in Room and presented Affleck with his Oscar, yet refused to applaud him. Many immediately sided with Larson in her muted response, showing that an increasing number of people are growing tired of the long-time stereotype that allegations against men shouldn’t affect their career outcomes. People cited Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, Mel Gibson, and Donald Trump in their arguments. The Academy Awards did not stop giving fuel to the fire on the internet. Some of this year’s top memes include napping Chrissy Teigen, Nicole Kidman’s strangely long-handed clapping, and “Whispering Ryan Gosling.” Nonetheless, the most memorable moment was the presentation of the Best Picture award.

The two most highly regarded films of the night were La La Land, which won six awards, and Moonlight, which walked away with three, and both were up for Best Picture. Presenters Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty were mistakenly handed the back-up envelope for Best Actress by accountant Brian Cullinan in a back-stage mixup. Dunaway, seeing the words La La Land beneath Emma Stone’s name, declared the musical romance the Best Picture winner. As the producers of La La Land were giving their acceptance speeches, Oscar crew members rushed onstage with the real card, which was presented by La La Land producer Jordan Horowitz to announce Moonlight as the Best Picture of the 89th Academy Awards. It was an unforgettable and memorable award ceremony in more than one way.

Lady Trojans’ season sadly ends

Athletes of the Month

Austin Fields - Track & Field

By Mara Moysen Staff Writer

Since the age of six, Austin Fields has always had a passion for football. “My favorite sport is football. I love football,” said Fields. The junior played as wide receiver, safety, and outside linebacker in the last football season. He believes that he excels in being a wide receiver because he can catch well and sprint long distances to dodge from the other team. “The best game I played

Torrie Nelson holds her pose as she shoots a free throw. By Jason Mays

Staff Writer The Castro Valley girls basketball team had a hard-fought battle against Folsom High School that ultimately led to a Trojan defeat on March 8, with a final score of 68-50. The Trojans started out strong, going back and forth with the Bulldogs. Although, near the end of the first quar-

ter, the Bulldogs began to pull ahead by about ten points. The Bulldogs committed many fouls and frustrated the Trojans, although they did not give up or let their focus be deterred. They kept playing their best defense, although with the troubling fouls, the team’s shots became hurried and forced, which caused a lot of missed shots.

in would probably be Berkeley. Because in Berkeley I had three receptions for 103 yards, and one touchdown,” stated the junior. Fields is also on the track and field team, and competes in the long jump, high jump, and triple jump. His stats include jumping the 19’ for long jump, 6’2” for high jump, and 41’6.5” for the triple jump. “My favorite memory is probably just hearing everybody cheer for you because you get that adrenaline,” said Fields.

Jason Mays / Staff Writer

By halftime, Folsom was ahead by 22 points and things did not look good for the home team. After halftime the Trojans came out determined to get those points back. Bailey Jones had 19 points, which were key to the close comeback in the third quarter. Although, in the end it was not enough to make up for the large deficit, leading to their defeat.

Jessica Mi / Editor-in-Chief

Lauren Francis - Swimming

By Megan O’Brien Staff Writer

Flying through the water, striving to do her best; that’s what freshman Lauren Francis swims for. Francis has been swimming since she was about four and currently swims for the CVHS swim team and the Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics orcommonly known as PASTA. One of her best times was during the 100 yard swim that she completed in one minute and one second. “It was a really good thing because I was trying to do that for a long time- for about three months,” said Francis.

Francis enjoys swimming for the CVHS swim team because she is able to meet new people from every grade that she would otherwise never cross paths with. Francis likes swimming for PASTA because she has many friends on the team that challenge her keeping pushing. “They’re a really fast team,” Francis said. In the future Francis hopes to swim in college and if she gets a chance, to the Olympics. “If the Olympics come up and I’m good enough then let's go for it but if not I’m not going to be devastated,” said Francis.

The Olympian March 24, 2017

Seniors/sophs rout juniors/freshmen in Powder Puff game By Gavin Halloran Photo Editor

As afternoon became evening, the ticket and concession stands swelled with parents and students at the eagerly awaited Powder Puff football game. The game took place on March 17 in fresh spring weather. The game comprised of two teams, seniors/sophomores and juniors/freshmen. The seniors/sophomores team wore black jerseys and the juniors/ freshmen team wore white. As the opposing teams warmed up the spirit boys dressed in cropped shirts and short shorts, ramping up the crowd for some pre-game entertainment. The first quarter of the game was fought hard with by both teams. By the beginning of the game, it was clear that the seniors/sophomores team put an emphasis on defense. The juniors/freshmen team put out a strong offense but became troubled by the momentum of the senior/sophomore defensive line. The first quarter also saw the start of the spirit boys routine dancing to the rhythmically heavy music blasted over the fields speakers. The crowd grew wild between each play of the game from the hilarious dancing of the spirit boys. The

Gavin Halloran / Photo Editor

Senior Journie Candelaria runs with the football in the annual game. seniors/sophomores were able to pick up some touchdowns and closed the first quarter with a 16-0 lead. By the second quarter, both teams began to take on an aggressive playing style. Seniors/sophomores lead with the score of 16-0 when an amazing play took place. Senior Brittany Bracy received a hard thrown pass and ran through the dense freshmen/juniors defense. Amazingly she stopped thinking that her flag had been

Sarah Nosseir / Staff Writer

Senior Sophia Delucchi flies through the scene and the end of the production. lot of hard work and it's really MARY: from page one The cast has put countless hours of rehearsal into the play. This musical has a very advanced score of music to accompany it and the orchestra has been doing an amazing job in making the play come to life. These talented people have brought back all of the classics including, “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” “I really like being a part of the musical because it brings people together. We put in a

nice to see everything come together,” said senior Carly Becerra who portrays the story’s antagonist, Miss Andrews. Tickets for the show are $15$20 at the Center for the Arts box office. They can also be bought online at the CFA website. The play was performed March 17-19, and will also be performed today, tomorrow, and Sunday, March 24-26. Show times will remain the same both weekends, at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Be sure to see it!

pulled. However no whistle had been blown and her team screamed to keep running. Within a split second she was at flank speed again and pushed through for a touchdown. Her team became ecstatic and they rushed her to the sideline surrounding her. The seniors/sophomores defense was now in the spotlight not letting the juniors/ freshmen team hit the 50 yard line. Each play attempted by the juniors/freshman team was

met with ferocious defensive maneuvers by the seniors/ sophomores. Halftime was met with the mustering of the opposing teams on both sides of the field. The spirit boys now overtook the field and assembled in lines for the show. The boys jumped into a frenzy of coquettish, mangled dance routines that sent the crowd into cheer. The boys made their way through several maneuvers to rap and bass heavy pop tunes. After an

extremely entertaining routine, the boys left the field by accidentally dropping one of their members in a fit of adrenalineinduced craze. Despite the lack of coordination the boys gave it all they had and provided hilarious entertainment for the crowd and the girls. The third quarter started with excellent defense from the seniors/sophomores team. The juniors/freshmen team had still failed to put any points on the board and the senior/ sophomore team was just getting started. “We put a lot of work into our defense. Offense just fell in after. Dimitri was a great defense coordinator and put a lot of work in to make sure we were set for whatever they threw at us,” said coach Hamza Saad, a senior. In the fourth quarter, the juniors/freshmen offense was met again with a tough defense from the seniors/sophomores. The game would end with a score of 30-0 seniors/sophomores. “I think it was long, hard good week of practice. I enjoyed working with the girls, they put in a lot of work. Our defense was down and our offense was producing yards throughout the entire game,” said coach Sam Higuera, a senior.