Volume 44, Issue 7, April 9, 2014 by El Estoque

elESTOQUE MONTA VISTA HIGH SCHOOL ELESTOQUE.ORG

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APRIL 9, 2014 ISSUE VII, VOLUME XLIV

Contents

NEWS 4

Affirmative action and us

He had to get working.

Understanding the new SAT

COLUMN: Little Lessons

“

The chairs were still in the same place, the lights were still dim and the floor was as dirty as it had been the night before.

Minimum wage debate

Catherine Lockwood | El Estoque

OPINION 12

Affirmative action: Check your privilege

New SAT opens up opportunity

Importance of female representation

COLUMN: No Monkey Business

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 18 A hairy affair

SuperSHEroes

Chain of creativity

Just cosplaying around

COLUMN: Out of the Blue

SPORTS 34

Are eSports real sports?

New PE classes

Breaking records

SPORTSFLASH

Harini Shyamsundar and Shuyi Qi | El Estoque Photo Illustration Catherine Lockwood | El Estoque

39 “

WE DO NOT LIVE IN A

POSTRACIAL S O C I E T Y.

12 20

SPECIAL REPORT page 25

Catherine Lockwood | El Estoque

ESTOQUE

21840 McClellan Road Cupertino, CA 95014 mv.el.estoque@gmail.com Editor-in-Chief: Amrutha Dorai Managing Editors: Karen Feng, Jennifer Lee, Athira Penghat, Yashashree Pisolkar Photo Editors: Catherine Lockwood, Colin Ni Copy Editors: Tanisha Dasmunshi, Pranav Parthasarathy Webmaster: Ashish Samaddar News Editors: Maya Murthy, Joyce Varma, Varsha Venkat Sports Editors: Nathan Desai, Mihir Joshi, Sarah Ramos Entertainment Editors: Anjali Bhat, Neesha Venkatesan, Kathleen Yuan Opinion Editors: Ambika Dubey, Daniel Fernandez, Eva Spitzen Special Report Editors: Yuna Lee, Namrata Ramani, Yifei Wu Design Editor: Rhonda Mak Graphics Editor: Shuyi Qi Business Editors: Elia Chen, Robert Sulgit Public Relations Editor: Claire Lu Staff Writers: Alina Abidi, Rochish Ambati, Ashmita Chakraborty, Kristin Chang, Elliot Ki, Colin Kim, Christine Liang, Steven Lim, Alaina Lui, Gabriella Monico, Amol Pande, Neha Ramchandani, Manasa Sanka, Lydia Seo, Ruba Shaik, Harini Shyamsundar, Sophia Tao, Joshua Tsuei, Jady Wei Adviser: Michelle Balmeo Credits Some images in this publication were taken from the stock photography website sxc.hu. Mission Statement El Estoque is an open forum created for and by students of Monta Vista High School. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the journalism staff and not of Monta Vista High School or the Fremont Union High School District. The staff seeks to recognize individuals, events, and ideas and bring news to the MVHS community in a manner that is professional, unbiased, and thorough in order to effectively serve our readers. We strive to report accurately, and we will correct any significant error. If you believe such an error has been made, please contact us. Letters of any length should be submitted via email or mail. They may be edited for length or accuracy. Letters cannot be returned and will be published at El Estoque’s discretion. We also reserve the right to reject advertising due to space limitations or decision of the Editorial Board that content of the advertisement conflicts with the mission of the publication.

APRIL 9, 2014

Letter from the editor This is our production budget. By this point (as I type this, it’s 8 p.m. Friday night), almost everything should be erased.

Colin Ni | El Estoque

Pages waiting to be edited. It’s overwhelming and stressful, and that’s what makes the payoff so rewarding.

Catherine | El Estoque ColinLockwood Ni | El Estoque

OKAY, BYE

am writing this letter — my final letter — on the last Saturday of March. (Today is Wednesday, April 9.) Let me be honest with you: right now, this magazine is in pretty bad shape. The majority of stories are not yet complete. Few pages have a design planned out. And due to some recent and shocking financial revelations, we may or may not have enough money to even print this issue. There’s a quote from Nelson Mandela that I think is pretty accurate: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Mandela’s words do a nice job of summing up my experience on this journalism staff both for the last three years and during my time as editorin-chief. (They also sum up my entire high school experience quite neatly, but that’s a story for another time.) The tasks we’ve assigned ourselves this year — build a new website, expose and fight bullying on our campus, finish a 40-page magazine by 9 p.m. Friday once each month — have often seemed insurmountable. But when it’s done, we ask ourselves, why did we ever doubt it would happen? The best stories are like that, too. A perfect marriage of impossibility and inevitability. Think about your favorite book or movie or TV show. Then think about the stories this magazine has

told over the past year: The quiet boy who found his voice through vlogging. AMRUTHA DORAI The soccer player of small stature who played so well that he had been recruited to play for Stanford by the beginning of his junior year. The girl who fought cancer twice and won. Impossible. Inevitable. Symmetry so strange that it just makes sense. I agree that journalists have a responsibility to serve as the watchdogs, to uncover the truth at all costs. But I also think that journalists have the responsibility to tell those symmetrical stories, the

THE TASKS WE’VE ASSIGNED OURSELVES THIS YEAR HAVE OFTEN SEEMED INSURMOUNTABLE. BUT WHEN IT’S DONE, WE ASK OURSELVES, WHY DID WE EVER DOUBT IT WOULD HAPPEN? ones that are easy to write off as fluff — because those are the stories that inspire us and challenge us and show us what we’re capable of. If you’re seeing this on Wednesday, April 9, then it means we finished the magazine. I hope you will find within its pages something of value — something that moves you, enthralls you, maybe even makes you think a little. It seemed impossible, but now I’m done. a.dorai@elestoque.org 3

RACE CARD PLAYING the

New affirmative action legislation in California impacts higher education in public schools, but has limited effects on students’ college acceptances

BY GABRIELLA MONICO AND MANASA SANKA

s the rain beat down in front of the Cupertino library on March 2, sophomore May Cui noticed many people waving signs and chanting “Say no to SCA 5.” They had one predominant feature: they were primarily Asian. Senate Constitution Amendment No. 5. allows for affirmative action in public education. With this legislation, discrimination or preferential action can be directed toward groups of people based on race and sex in the college admission process. Furthermore, the nine University of California colleges would not

be institutions of the state. Although the bill has been tabled for now thanks to protests by Asian-American groups, the legislators behind it hope to put it on the ballot in 2016. However, despite what many protesters believe, the race card might not actually be a game changer as long as the students’ efforts and the quality of education remain the same.

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The Race Advantage: According to Senator Ed Hernandez, when two students are equally qualified, SCA no. 5 permits race to be a determining factor for admission in the UCs. Race, however, is not the primary criteria by which applicants are judged for admission.

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Impact on students With an overwhelming Asian majority at MVHS, this law can impact high achieving students by denying them college admission due to demographic criteria beyond their control. Because it allows colleges to use race as a factor, there is the possibility of discrimination against Asians since they represent a large fraction of applicants in the UC system compared to the rest of the state. Asian-Americans comprise 40 percent of students at the UCs, however, they only account for about 14 percent of the state‘s population. Native Americans represent under 1 percent of UC students, yet account for 2 percent of the state population. The imbalance in representative racial diversity at the UC system is the problem that SCA no. 5 aims to solve. MVHS has a long history of sending its students into the UC system, with 37.5 percent of 2013 graduating seniors attending college at a UC. By the numbers, SCA no. 5 should not make a drastic difference in UC acceptance for students of Asian descent as a quota will not be enforced and merit will still be the first and foremost indicator for acceptance. While some students may be barred from the UC of their choice, there are still eight others available. Despite the fact that private

EL ESTOQUE

schools have always used affirmative action to increase diversity on their campuses, this does not reduce the number of students accepted into these colleges. The target audience Affirmative action increases diversity in schools by allowing administrators to actively try and promote diversity on campus through the admissions process. It targets underrepresented minorities, especially African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans — groups that are often considered under-privileged. In theory, affirmative action is meant to compensate for the lack of opportunities available to these groups. In essence, it is a second chance to succeed in life. However, according to research conducted by Richard H. Sander of the Stanford Review, students admitted to prestigious universities due to affirmative action on average have a much higher dropout rate than those who were not involved in affirmative action. Some affirmative action students are more likely to struggle academically because they are illprepared for the workload and academic sophistication present in their classes. According to Economics teacher Pete Pelkey, SCA No. 5 is an extension of a broken system. Affirmative action, he claims, simply does not work and has serious repercussions. “African Americans, Native Americans and Hispanic people have had it hard because of the prejudice they’ve dealt with. Now, 50 years ago we started affirmative action,” Pelkey said. “If we saw statistical evidence that affirmative action actually worked then I would say that’s a good thing. But after 50 years, statistically African American income or passing rates have not gone up dramatically. So based on that it’s an abject failure.” What we think Fifty-six percent of 144 students who responded to the El Estoque online survey believe that SCA no. 5 is a discriminatory policy and 58 percent believe it could harm their chances of getting accepted at a UC campus. Senior Arjun Krishna shares these concerns as he believes that all students should have an equal chance to be admitted to an institution of higher education, regardless of race. So while affirmative action is meant to augment opportunities for those lacking them, it can also have the adverse effect. “I didn’t mention my race when I turned in my UC app or Common App because I’m against the idea of people taking demographic data and using them to determine admissions,” said Krishna. “It’s my way of APRIL 9, 2014

silently protesting against race being considered in college admissions.” By not filling out the optional portion on the Common App which asks for race, he chose to be judged solely on his academic merit. Senior Ashwath Raghuram believes that it is a more complicated issue than it appears. He claims that diversity is an important aspect at any university as it parallels the reality of the outside world. Despite the imperfections of the legislation, he believes it is a viable solution to increasing diversity in these colleges. “In the end, the results show that it achieves [affirmative action’s] goals,” Raghuram said. “It works out not as they intended but it gets to the final purpose in that it does increase diversity. For the most part, ethnic background is a decent indicator of socioeconomic status. It’s not the ideal solution, but it sort of works.” The criteria of race indicates an innate problem with the legislation itself because SCA No. 5 assumes race is an indicator of economic status or opportunities available. Thus affirmative action, often labeled as “discrimination to end discrimination,” is perceived as discriminatory and even racist policy by a majority of the student body. “Giving certain races special status assumes all people of that race are unfortunate,” said Krishna. “That’s racist itself. We should focus on income level more than race because people don’t have control over race, and it isn’t fair to discriminate on things they have no control over.” The reality According Pelkey, students should not be worried by this legislation because it will not have a large impact on their admissions. “Statistically, it’s not going to change all that much. You apply to enough schools that somebody’s going to accept you,” Pelkey said. “If you don’t get into Berkeley and you have to go to [University of California Santa Cruz] you’re still going to get an education.” Despite SCA no. 5, MVHS students are still often more prepared for college than students at other California high schools because of the wide array of Advanced Placement classes offered, the number of clubs on campus and other educational opportunities to excel, show interest and differentiate from other applicants. According to survey data, 51 percent of students take standardized

NEWS •

Pro is le positio pre gislati n 209 o v tion ents d n that i b sc a • ethnic sed o rimina n i t SC A N y, and race, an o s . e 5 x e in h xcept create igh ion s • educa er leve for th t l pu is It a ls ion blic coll o exe ege mp sta nda s from ts UC rds sta te nas

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test prep classes. “You guys do have some advantage,” Pelkey said. “You’ve been well fed, well taken care of. You’ve been given SAT prep classes. You’ve been prepared to do this thing called college.” Legality With a law like SCA no. 5, legal ramifications are likely to follow. Constitutional Amendment 14, the Civil Rights Amendment, prevents any action that could cause discrimination by race or ethnic background. “There’s going to be a lawsuit. The standard is UC Board of Regents v. Bakke decision, [which] was an 1986 decision that said you can use affirmative action, but it cannot be the criteria with which you select people,” Pelkey said. “If everything else is equal, affirmative action can carry.” Despite the fact that affirmative action has few solid stories of success, Krishna believes that it is a way to fix the effect rather than the cause of the problem of fewer people of lower socioeconomic level graduating from higher education. “We need to ensure that people are provided with opportunities with no disparity in quality of education,” said Krishna. “If quality of education does differ, that is the root cause of limited success [for underrepresented minorities]. We are treating the symptom, not the cause.”

g.monico@elestoque.org | m.sanka@elestoque.org 5

NEWS

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National minimum wage change increases both salaries and unemployment rates BY ELIA CHEN

or nine months last year, every Sunday at 10 a.m. senior Blake Nishimoto (pictured above) arrived at an empty plaza and headed toward a small restaurant packed between Quickly and Dance Academy USA at the Oaks Complex. As he opened the door, he surveyed the room around him. The chairs were still in the same place, the lights were still dim and the floor was as dirty as it had been the night before. He had to get working. As he wiped the floors, cleaned the windows and prepared the containers of food that would be used later in the day, Nishimoto got ready for the busy six hours ahead of him: cooking ramen, waiting tables, washing dishes and working as a cashier. Although Nishimoto worked at the nowdefunct ramen restaurant Shin Shin Men Men mainly to fulfill the working experience requirement for culinary schools, he also appreciated the extra spending money that he

got from his minimum wage salary. He believed that he would enjoy the extra money from his job, along with the other benefits, if the minimum wage was raised. With President Obama’s Feb. 12 executive order to increase the national minimum wage to $10.10 an hour by 2015, the increase has become a divisive topic among students. The minimum wage increase will benefit MVHS students who work to earn extra spending money because it will increase their spending cash; however, it may adversely affect other students who rely on minimum wage jobs to pay for college, as it leads to higher levels of unemployment. Nishimoto’s minimum wage salary is not uncommon among student workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, even though workers under the age of 25 represent only a fifth of the entire workforce they make up half of those paid the minimum wage.

Benefits to students According to President Obama’s executive order, the increase will offer a number of benefits, including boosting workers’ quality and productivity of work, increasing job security and reducing turnover rates. Because minimum wage jobs, like cashiering and waitressing often consist of dull, unpleasant work, most workers voluntarily resign, so turnover rates are high. In a New York Times article by Annie Lowry, Michael Reich, an economist and professor at UC Berkeley, said that the turnover rates at Walmart are sometimes as high as 100 percent a year. Minimum wage supporters hope the increase will mitigate this by offering these workers a bigger incentive to stay at these jobs. As for students, junior Victoria Morris believes that the minimum wage will ease the pressure of school and work during the school year. Morris babysits for six hours every month and earns $10 per hour. Although EL ESTOQUE

the minimum wage increase will not affect mers, this is bad news. Sommers works at Is it necessary? her too much, she believes that it will give Goodwill for two hours a week, stocking Although the wage increase will benefit the students the time they need to study for clothes, cutting tags and organizing shoes. some MVHS students, it may be debilitating tests and do homework. Compared to other student workers, if she to other students, which is why some stu“Giving people more money will give gets fired, the stakes are higher because she dents and teachers are questioning whether them more opportunities to work less hours plans to use the money pay for college. the increase is even necessary. while still getting the same amount of mon“[The wage increase] can determine Although the increase is meant to lift ey, so [they] still have time to do things that whether or not you go to college,” Som- poor people out of poverty, according to they need to do for school,” Morris said. mers said. “I don’t want to go to college Forbes, about 60 percent of people living unSpecial Education teacher Lani Stevens empty-handed.” der the poverty line are unemployed, so only thinks that the increase will be especially The Congressional Budget Office esti- 19 percent of the minimum wage increase beneficial to students in special education. mates that 500,000 workers could lose their benefits will go toward these people. On the “More special [education] kids struggle jobs because of the minimum wage increase. flip side, 29 percent of the minimum wage to understand the importance of college Even if companies do not fire workers, increase benefits will go toward people who right away, so a lot more of them end up in they may cut down on benefits, and for stu- are already three or more times above the the workforce. I think that raising the mini- dents who rely on their jobs to support their poverty level. mum wage for special education kids is a little more important than for regular kids,” Stevens said. Stevens also believes that workPOTENTIAL Impact of minimum wage increase on student workers ing is an important experience that helps students adjust to the workStudent A and B are recent hires to the restaurant. Although place when they grew older because they are hard workers, they are fired because the manager must it provides the type of practical make cuts, and they are the least experienced. education that cannot be found in school. Thus, he would like to see more MVHS students working, and he believes that increasing the minimum wage will help. “It will cause more kids to want to work,” Stevens said. “I think that if you look at the minimum wage The restaurant manager pays right now, it’s kind of low, but if you his workers California’s $8 raise the minimum wage, more kids minimum wage. After the wage would be more apt to go out and get Student A is not heavily affected because she is financially seincreases to $10.10, he must fire a job.” cure. However Student B’s family needs the money for college, two employees. According to a report published so this job is important to him. Rhonda Mak | El Estoque Illustration by the State University of New York Brockport, the number of students aged 16 to 24 working full or part time increased from 49 to 57 percent from 1984 to 2001, and this increase cor- families, this can be debilitating. Although In an article by University of Pennsylvarelated with a $2 increase in the minimum companies are required by law to offer ben- nia’s business journal staff, Mike Grandinetwage. efits such as overtime and disability, they are ti, a professor at Hult International Business not obligated to offer benefits such as health School, believes that job training programs Not helping everybody care and paid sick leave. Faced with having for minimum wage workers are a better alAlthough the wage increase may of- to pay more for workers, these companies ternative. Grandinetti believes that the minifer some benefits to students, AP US His- might cut back on non-mandatory benefits. mum wage increase will not address the root tory teacher Viviana Montoya-Hernandez More importantly, Morris and Stevens of the poverty problem, so he does not bebelieves that these benefits will not reach are concerned over the issue of inflation. lieve that the increase will dramatically imeveryone in the community. According to Once the minimum wage increases, prices prove poor people’s living conditions. Montoya-Hernandez, small businesses will may also increase because businesses unBecause of its little impact on its target be hurt the most because they have less rev- derstand that people have more money to population, Morris does not believe that the enue than big businesses. In order to com- spend. According to the UC Berkeley Labor increase is justified because she believes the pensate for paying more for workers, small Center, San Francisco’s minimum wage in- benefits that it offers to MVHS students are businesses may cut workers. In Cupertino, crease, which has been over $2 in the past not worth its harmful effects on the people which has many small businesses, this pres- 10 years, has led to a 2.7 percent increase on who really need the money. ents a problem to students. restaurant prices. “I don’t think that it’s really neces“We have some large chains like BJ’s or “That’s the thing that scares me. You sary for students,” Morris said. “I feel like Target, but most students work in small busi- know, you go to McDonald’s right now,” the amount they they’re making is fine for nesses,” Hernandez said. “It would be more Stevens said, “and you pay six bucks, so if right now.” of a burden for [small businesses].” you pay everyone 15 bucks, is that stuff goFor students like senior Sara Som- ing to be 10 dollars now?” e.chen@elestoque.org

APRIL 9, 2014

the new

Standard

Check out students’ opinions on the new SAT at elestoque.org

BY MAYA MURTHY

eing able ntext of a definitions of hinking for a of students o correctly ded rather

On March 25, College Board president David Coleman announced that the SAT would be completely redesigned for the spring of 2016. While many students are upset at what they believe is a huge change in the test, overall the SAT will remain as it is, with a shift toward students having to defend their answers using evidence. Read below to see the top three changes to the test.

Relevant vocabulary in context

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The new emphasis placed on being able to identify relevant words in context of a passage, rather than memorizing definitions of obscure words, represents a shift in thinking for the SAT. The test now promotes the idea of students needing a deeper level of understanding to correctly answer questions rather than memorizing definitions of a word in the passage based on the context provided.

“No one uses [current SAT vocabulary] anywhere except in Lit essays. If [students] learn practical vocabulary, then maybe they’ll find sophomore Stephanie Chao the SAT useful.”

Optional essay analyzing a source The change in essay prompt to one which asks students to describe how the author of a passage creates their argument is a move that College Board hopes will stop students from focusing on lengthening their essays by adding incorrect facts and irrelevant quotes. By keeping the same prompt every year but using a different passage, the student mentality will change from memorizing random facts and quotes towards being able to analyze and take apart arguments.

freshman Anvay Jawadekar

“[Without the penalty] I think I would have gotten a higher score on my SAT. Definitely [when] guessing I felt guilty, like I was being penalized.”

No penalty for wrong answers As opposed to its current 1/4 point penalty per wrong answer, the re-designed SAT will only add points for correct answers. One of the largest changes to the SAT, removing the guessing penalty, means that students will be able to answer all questions to the best of their ability, rather than deciding against answering what they fear would be an incorrect answer. senior Vivian Chan

APRIL 9, 2014

“I think [making the essay optional] is a good thing, because people from outside [the U.S.], might not know the [right] specifications to write a good essay.”

m.murthy@elestoque.org 9

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AN APPLE A DAY

Obama and Microsoft give the people what they want

think it’s amazing that we have a president who cares so much about the citizens of his country. Whenever I see him on television or read about him in the news, I know that President Barack Obama sincerely cares about the American people. Regardless of the circumstances, I will always know that Obamacares. In order to fully recover from the pain of that joke, I recommend that you head on over little lessons and become one of the now seven million people who have signed up for Obamacare. Since everyone is required to be on some form of health care, I’m surprised that that number isn’t higher. More people have downloaded

NATHAN DESAI

Gates is still richer than Ghirardelli chocolate and didn’t get exiled in a Bane-led revolution. And his latest endeavor may push him into a Willy Wonka-esque level of sweetness. Microsoft set aside their nerd war with Apple as they finally released Microsoft Office on the iPad. I know the iPad is an astounding machine capable of streaming video, downloading music and playing games, but it took Apple four years to allow its users to type into a Word document with it. (Notepad is as much of a word processor as T-Pain is a singer.) The release of Microsoft Office on Apple devices was met with a positive response as it instantly flew to the top spot on the App Store charts. But in typical capitalist fashion, the free app is not exactly as it seems. Crafty Microsoft’s free version of Office is readonly, which obviously does not do much. Unfortunately, you will still have 99 problems if you want to fully enjoy Microsoft Office on your Apple device as there is still a s t e ep cost to fully enjoy it. Although I don’t think anyone has ever enjoyed using Microsoft Office. If you don’t already own the product on your computer, you’re going to have to give up almost a hundred bucks to afford it. Obviously, Microsoft’s biggest competition on the portable word processing platform will be Google Drive, which offers almost all the same services but for the extremely inexpensive price of zero dollars. Despite the cost of the service, Microsoft Office for iPad is providing something that many have asked for for a long time. The fundamental task of writing words down has dodged Apple

for the longest time and although there are now other services available (even though they all suck), Microsoft is giving the people what they want and Apple is finally complying with them. Much like Obama, Microsoft listened to the people and although it took them a long time to do it, they finally fulfilled everyone’s needs. Sure, Gates may be late to the party but he brought his share of Doritos Locos Tacos and Mountain Dew Code Red. Just make sure you take it easy on the tacos or Obamacare might have to save you. n.desai@elestoque.org

APRIL 9, 2014

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“Flappy Bird” than have signed up for Obamacare. (You would think that those things would come hand-in-hand due to the number of people who required mental help after playing the game.) However, considering Obamacare’s initial struggles, it has bounced back well. Sure, healthcare.gov was once more inconsistent than Nicolas Cage’s acting but with the kinks sorted out, the site is now fully functional. And now that Obamacare is accessible to the public, our president can focus on doing more important things, such as appearing on “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis.” (If only he could run a third time.) And now that the March 31 deadline to sign up for health care has passed, some Americans have something that they have wanted for a long time. No longer will they need to pay for a Lamborghini every time they get a basic physical. Now, with universal healthcare, the United States is becoming just like some of our other favorite countries, like Canada or Sweden or Russia. However, Obamacare is not the death of capitalism, evidenced by the fact that Bill

More people have downloaded ‘Flappy Bird’ than have signed up for Obamacare.

RACETO

OPPOrTUNITY

Affirmative action not a permanent solution, but students should recognize their privilege

f you’re above the socioeconomic median in Cupertino, your household income is over $120,000, and you probably slave over test-prep in a million dollar home. You don’t get to deny your privilege, and neither do we. Many of our reporters got rejected from some of the colleges we applied to this year — but even though some of us are Asian, we can’t blame that on affirmative action and invalidate the minority students who got into our top choice schools by saying they were “underqualified” and “got in just because of their race.” Although ethnicity does not and should not play the most important role in college

admissions, it still needs to be considered allow state universities in California to use because racial discrimiaffirmative action nation impacts opporafter a 15 year ban, tunity and success more made it through the than you might think — Senate but was tabled even today in the 21st in California on March century, and even when 17 partly because of living in the Cupertino a push from certain bubble may allow you to Asian-American initiathink otherwise. tives. Fifty percent of With regards to OPINION OF THE EL ESTOQUE MVHS students would other minorities, it’s not support the Senate easy to say, “Well, EDITORIAL BOARD Constitution Amendwhy didn’t they just ment No. 5, according work harder?” — but to an El Estoque online success is defined by survey of 144 students. SCA5, which would opportunity just as it is by hard work. Yes,

1961 executive order 10

Affirmative Action has been an ongoing controversy in the United States for more than 50 years. This timeline outlines some important turning points in the history of this controversial educational policy.

STAFF EDITORIAL

President Kennedy requires that government contractors “take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed without regard to their race, creed, color or national origin.”

1997 PROp 209

Approved in 1996, this proposition banned state institutions from using affirmative action. Two years later, the proportions of African American, Hispanic and Native American students dropped by almost 50 percent at UC Berkeley. EL ESTOQUE

OPINION you worked hard on improving your SAT attending low-performing high schools and score. But as data from the College Board subsequently less access to higher educahas found, 95 percent of the variation in SAT tion. Affirmative action attempts to scores is linked to students’ income. This remedy this. But why is kind of privilege doesn’t just extend it based on race? toward being able to afford SAT M i n or i t i e s classes (although that’s part have been of it). As stressful as MVHS histor ically can be, we’re privileged to racially the extent of attending a discr im ischool that offers us free n a t e d WiFi across campus. Our against OF MVHS STUDENTS socioeconomic status and efmeans we’re better off fec tively ARE AGAINST SCA5* than almost 61 percent of d i s ad*Based on responses from 79 of the American schools who do vantaged, 144 students surveyed who had an not offer Internet access to and here’s opinion on SCA5 the whole school, according why that’s to a 2013 article by The Atlanstill relevant: tic. And above all, our high-pera racial bias, forming high school — with tools like unconscious or not, Naviance and a career center — creates an still exists. In a 2003 study infrastructure in which students stay fo- by the University of Chicago, job applicants cused on getting an education and attend- with white-sounding names — “Emily” or ing university. “Brendan” — were 50 percent more likely to But it’s easy to forget about our privi- get called for an interview than applicants lege, especially when we face rejections with names like “Jamal” or “Lakisha.” The after four years of hard work. The culture same pattern was found more recently as at MVHS encourages us to view college as well, in a joint 2009 study by Duke Univeran outcome when education is, in fact, an sity, North Carolina State and the Chinese opportunity. Education can break the cycle University of Hong Kong. of poverty — but poverty often translates to This bias is based on numerous factors,

91%

Following outrage from Asian Americans, Senator Ed Hernandez tables a bill that would have allowed Californians to vote on whether to re-allow affirmative action in public university admissions. The 80-20 Initiative, an Asian American lobby group protested against the bill, but UC Riverside political scientist Karthik Ramakrishnan said to The Economist, they were mostly composed of Chinese -Americans, as South East Asians tend to support affirmative action.

2003

Gutter v. bollinger and gratz v. bollinger APRIL 9, 2014

including negative, harmful stereotypes that blacks commit more crimes or that Muslims are terrorists. And low employability translates to less wealth amongst whole groups of minorities like Latinos and African-Americans. In 2011, the median income for black households was about 59 percent of the median income for white households, according to the Pew Research Center. That’s only 4 percent above the median in 1967, during the Civil Rights Movement. We don’t live in a post-racial society. That’s not to say your problems are invalidated because of your privilege. Or that SCA5 could have solved all the problems created by years of oppression. Affirmative action does not bode well for underprivileged Asians, and it does not break the cycle for other underprivileged minorities. But it’s a start. It’s a band-aid to the problem, instead of a cure, but we need at least that. When the UCs stopped using affirmative action in 1997, the percentages of Latino, African American and Native American students dropped — at UC Berkeley, it was almost by 50 percent — which just contributes to the cycle of poverty that minority groups can get stuck in. Yes, affirmative action can make it more difficult for MVHS’ Asian American students to be admitted into universities — but this difficulty comes with a privilege we can’t ignore.

2014 SCA5

The Supreme Court rules that affirmative action can be used only as a “factor among factors”, and later decides that “point systems” are unconstitutional.

OPINION

S AT The Improved

The modified SAT makes significant improvements on its past flaws

By Robert Sulgit

t’s the test everyone loves to hate. No student wants to take it, but every aspiring college freshman knows it’s unlikely you’ll get into very many colleges without it. Many a high school student has had their Saturday morning ruined by it. It’s a multimillion dollar industry, and coming April 2016 it’s making changes to make itself more accessible to students across the United States. It’s the SAT. These changes are more than just an optional essay or learning words you’ll actually use in everyday conversation. The changes College Board is making are making the test more accessible by testing students on material that is more focused on things learned in school curriculum. The new version of the SAT means more students can do better on the test, not just those who can afford top tier prep classes. The new SAT will revise the vocabulary portions of the critical reading to include less archaic vocabulary and make the essay an optional portion of the test. Primarily, the SAT is designed to test students on material that is largely learned outside of the traditional classroom. Not only does it test material that is not truly applicable to the average high school student, it has spawned a wholly separate SAT tutoring industry that makes millions every year teaching students ways to find

loopholes and tricks to answer questions, in higher income brackets do better. Also or a formulaic approach to earning a per- seen in the study is the disparity in scores fect score on the essay section. between white and Asian students that The current system, in which those score 200-400 points higher than African who pay more do better, only perpetuates American or Hispanic students. The SAT the inherently flawed system in which the has had numerous changes over the years, lower socioeconomic classes cannot rise but these new changes may finally bridge to the same academic level as those who the gap between those who pay $2,400 are more fortunate than they are. for a 2400 and those who cannot. NationCollege al stanBoard also dardannounced The new version of the SAT means more i z e d a partner- people can do better on the test, not just t e s t i ng ship with is by no the hugely those who can afford top tier prep classes. m e a n s successper fect, ful Khan a n d Academy to create a series of making one change can upset an already videos designed to prepare students delicate balance between state and nafor the SAT much like a prep course does tional standards. To be perfectly clear, now, but for free. This helps blur the lines these changes do not make the SAT an of the socioeconomic divide that currently “easier” test, but they make it a more acplagues the SAT. cessible test.Changing the SAT is a great A Washington Post study published on step forward from its antiquated state, March 5, 2014 found that students with a and the changes will make it a more modfamily income of $200,000 or more score ernized test that will be equal parts dif1700 or more on average, while students ficult and manageable — without the with a family income of $100,000 or less enormous price tag. There is no easy way score 1500 or less on average. Countless to structure national standardized testing, studies have illustrated that ethnic minori- but the steps that College Board has taken ties and those in lower income brackets do are in the right direction. worse on the SAT on average, while those r.sulgit@elestoque.org

EL ESTOQUE

MISS LEADING

Female heroes need both representation and better portrayal in the media BY AMBIKA DUBEY

“T

here are more robots in this montage about movie heroes than there are women,” tweeted author John Green in response to this year’s Academy Awards video homage to heroes. I shared a similar sentiment when I first saw it, and decided to tally up the “heroes” who were featured. Here are the results: • •

• • • • •

54 male heroes Three clips of Katniss Everdeen of “The Hunger Games” (one of which featured her sister, Primrose, as well) Few seconds of Pepper Potts kissing Iron Man The wife of the hero from “Jaws” About four other female heroes Two clips of Neytiri, the blue alien woman from “Avatar” An astronaut who may or may not be Sandra Bullock

While John Green’s tweet may not be factually accurate — I identified only three robots, assuming aliens or alternative life forms do not count — it does expose a persistent disparity between the number of male and female heroes. An analysis of 200 popular books in a seven-year study from the journal Sex Roles found “nearly twice as many male as female title and main characters.” At the point

There are two extremes: Women are more attractive to males who would otherhypersexualized or simply wise shy away from a princess movie. created as “strong” While one may argue that from a busimen with women’s ness perspective, women faces and bodies. don’t “sell” like men do While Jennifer in the hero realm, we can Siebel Newsom’s film still take small measures to “Miss Representation” acclimate the general public famously exposed the hyto more equal representation persexualized portrayal of in the media. women in media, there has The recent success of dystobeen a more recent move to pian heroines, for instance, can reject the “strong” female charattest to a changing public atacter archetype. Inspired by Tumblr titude. In an article from Enteruser madlori’s response to a question tainment Weekly, Jeff Labrecque on May 30, 2013, many now identify reports that “Catching Fire” saw that “we’ve somehow backed ourincredible success, even pulling selves into this corner where the ahead of “Iron Man 3” in terms only acceptable portrayal of a of revenue earned. woman in the media is a strong, Art, whether it be written or kick-ass woman.” visual, reflects the social cliBut the entire argument — mate of the time at which it is “don’t write strong women, created, which begs the queswrite vulnerable, perseverant, tion: Why is it that in this day sensitive, intellectual, badass, inand age, when we’re enjoying teresting women” — isn’t relevant the greatest degree of freeuntil we start writing women in the dom and awareness we’ve first place. That said, since film and ever had, we still are not literature certainly have the power proportionally and accuto manipulate social norms, if we rately depicting women? do end up saturating the hero world Our primary mistake has with women without regard for the been trying to address the manner in which they are portrayed, problematic image of women we come full circle and in the media through a single trade portrayal for reprelens, when we need to be considsentation. ering rote numbers as well. The problem is While the end goal thus twofold, enmust include both compassing both representation and propor tional portrayal, a move representation toward a more and meanprogressive ing f ul image of depicwomen tion. d o e s With the few not hold female leads in w r i t the media, we see ers and Wonder Woman directors to with ungodly propora standard of perAmbika Dubey | El Estoque Illustration tions, Bella Swan portrayed as fection. Let it instead serve static, fragile and clumsy, and Disney alleg- as a challenge, a standard to reach for. edly marketing their 2010 film as “Tangled” a.dubey@elestoque.org rather than “Rapunzel” to make the film

THE PROBLEM IS THUS TWOFOLD, ENCOMPASSING BOTH PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION AND MEANINGFUL DEPICTION. where the same disparity between male and female leads is reflected in mainstream fiction, it is clear that the issue lies not only with the The Oscars’ curators, but in the way we write women. Perhaps most potently in the comic book industry, female lead (and even side) characters are still riddled with caricatured traits that mock, rather than capture complexity. APRIL 9, 2014

OPINION

I’M RIGHT

Because the truth doesn’t matter What happened to your hair?

I shaved it off

Why?!

I donated my hair to charity.

no monkey business

Also, I just kind of liked the idea of it.

SHUYI QI

But you had such beautiful long hair!

Why are you so stubborn? You’re being absolutely stupid!

What a difference.

Christ almighty, you make me sick.

I donated my hair to charity, and you still don’t see the merit in it. You provide the “bad” to my “good.” It’s pretentious, but that’s the fixed price for being a “good” person.

And you are right, it’s the worst I’ve looked. My head is veiny like an eyeball.

So what’s your reason for disagreeing?

B-but you look like a boy!

Irrelevant.

Actually, I take that back. You really want to know why? Cause you make me feel great. You remind me what a great person I am.

A-and you’ll be shunned by society!

I shudder at the thought.

When I see you, I think “Thank goodness I’m not that backwards, conservative, shrimp of a human being.”

But I don’t give a

DAMN!

Ditto

Being “right” makes me feel like a universally better human being. I can’t possibly give up that.

s.qi@elestoque.org APRIL 9, 2014

A&E SPECIAL

If hair could talk, what would it say?

BY RUBA SHAIK AND NEESHA VENKATESAN

Kat h

leen

Yua n

l Es

toq

Illus

trati o

ot many students at MVHS can say that they keep a special comb in their back pocket at all times. However, freshman Pierre Grubb is an anomaly. Grubb, who has sported an Afro since birth, keeps a comb with him at all times to get rid of any tangles in his voluminous hairdo. This comb has become something he almost always keeps with him, and he isn’t often seen without it. Though Grubb has a unique hairstyle at school, for him, it has become normal. For this very reason, he wants to maintain his afro for as long as he possibly can. “My mom wants to get [my hair] cut in June, but I am going to try to avoid it as much as I can,” Grubb said. Grubb feels a sense of attachment toward his hairstyle because he hasn’t really known a time when he did not have it. However, he is open to temporarily changing it up for his prospective profession: acting. If my character has a different hairstyle, I would change with it,” Grubb said. “But there are [other] ways you can do that, like with bald caps and wigs.” Grubb’s hair has become a part of his identity, and even though he often stands out in a crowd, he isn’t bothered. “Compared to everyone else [at school], my hair is unique,” he said. “I’d rather be unique than the same as everyone else.”

his is something freshman Ori Lavi hears himself being called all the time. He knows that it could only refer to one student at MVHS, and that student is him. Lavi started growing out his dreadlocks in sixth grade because he wanted to see what would happen and how they would turn out. Little did he know that he would sustain that hairstyle four years later. Dreadlocks may be unique and edgy to the average observer, but Lavi acknowledges that they are fairly high maintenance. “Shampooing and conditioning my hair takes a while, and it’s a lot of work,” Lavi said. 18

‘THE GUY WITH DREADLOCKS’

Despite the substantial amount of time Lavi has to spend on his hair, he doesn’t mind it because his hairstyle has become vital to his persona. Lavi reveals that people seem to recognize him for his hair. For this very reason, he thinks that he will groom his dreadlocks for years to come. “It’s just like part of my identity,” Lavi said. “It’s been four years now, and people get used to it … and looking around, I don’t see other people with hair like me.”

THE AFRO

veryone has spontaneous moments. Most people might rearrange their furniture, start watching a new television series, register to vote — or in junior Caressa Suarez’s case, shave her head. The only difference between most of these choices and hers is that Suarez has no regrets. That’s not to say that Suarez doesn’t miss her long locks, but she knows her hair will grow back eventually. Suarez shaved designated as “the girl who shaved her head earlier this year in her head.” Suarez warns that a shaved an effort to eradicate the hair head is not for the faint of heart. damaged she received from a “If you’re sure you want to do it, dye job. and you know you’re A f t e r [YOU] CAN’T BE SUPER not gonna regret it, shav ing INSECURE AND SELF CONCIOUS you should go for it all it,” Suarez said. “But off, she OF WHAT OTHERS THINK. [you] can’t be super donated junior Caressa Suarez insecure and self what she conscious of what others think.” could to cancer patients. When Suarez returned to school, r. shaik@elestoque.org she quickly realized she was n.venkatesan@elestoque.org EL ESTOQUE

FEM

ERMENT

Depictions of superheroines raise concerns about objectification

unior Sowji Akshintala was on a simple mission – to find an Avenger’s t-shirt. She remembered strolled through the Target aisles, looking through the Avengers merchandise. To her disappointment, there were only men’s shirts, which overpowered her frame. Unsatisfied with the baggy fit, Akshintala wandered to the women’s section. To her outrage, the only piece of Avengers merchandise for women was something she found demeaning. “Avengers panties. Now isn’t that a wonderful message,” Akshintala said. “Guys can have their cool fun times with superheroes and girls should use superhero [apparel] to look cute half naked.” Akshintala’s observation is not an isolated incident. Power Girl’s costume includes a window between her breasts; Emma Frost’s costume resembles risque lingerie; Starfire’s costume consists of a thong, pelvic covering, mask and heels. So who are Power Girl, Emma Frost, and Starfire? They are all superheroines created to fight crime, found in DC and Marvel Comics, as well as movies produced under the same franchise. Superheroines are not only designed to wear costumes that sexualize them, but also have unfeasibly large breasts and lack muscles, which are traditionally seen as masculine attributes. Oversexualization Akshintala, a passionate feminist, believes that the hypersexualization of female superheroes in movies exists solely for the pleasure of male viewers, specifically Scarlett Johannsen who plays Black Widow. “In movies, she’s wearing revealing, tight clothing and heavy makeup,” Akshintala said. “You can see a difference in the types of interview questions they ask. They will ask Robert Downey Jr. how he prepared for his role as Iron Man, but for Johanssen, they only care about how she lost weight for the role.” According to Akshintala, because male writers and directors have a hard time shaping female characters, it seems that the only way they know how to give female characters in superhero films legitimacy is to hypersexualize them. Dimensionless Furthermore, none of these women APRIL 9, 2014

actually have stories or dimensions of their own. They all revolve around men, which could be attributed to the fact that every major superhero film has been directed and written by a man. Iron Man was directed by Jon Favreau, the Batman series was directed by Christopher Nolan, and X-Men First Class was directed by Matthew Vaughn. Although not intrinsically bad, it becomes a problem when only men tell stories about women. “All male superheroes have a distinct characteristic that defines them,” Akshintala said. “For example, Batman has this ‘vigilante-justice’ aspect, but female superheroes are just... there. They just exist. They don’t have any distinctive quality. Lack of female interaction Senior Pooja Desai, president and founder of the Feminist Club, sees a fundamental

Kathleen Yuan| El Estoque

Raising a fist Wonder Woman, a superheroine created during World War II, breaks out of the constraints the patriarchy has imposed on her. problem with the way females interact with each other in films. She mentioned the Bechdel test, which is a set of criteria for judging films. There are three conditions — one, the film has to have at least two females; two, the two females have to interact with each other; and three, the two females have to interact for longer than a minute and talk about something other than their love lives or a man.

BY CLAIRE LU

“Surprisingly, very few films fulfill these characteristics,” Desai said. “And this is problematic because it doesn’t provide an accurate portrayal of women.” Disproportionate representation Besides being disproportionately represented in terms of number of superheroes and level of interaction, females who are not superheroes are also relegated to more insignificant roles, or roles that are used for props by men. While sophomore Alice Zheng, a comic book and superhero connoisseur, is looking forward to upcoming female-fronted movies, she is unhappy with not only female superheroes, but also the general plight of females cast in superhero movies. “Most of the females in these movies are relegated to support roles, mostly girlfriends or secretaries,” Zheng said. She also mentions that although female characters in superhero films may appear to be empowered, in reality, they are just props, objectified in order to exist in relation to the men. What we can change In the meantime, Akshintala advocates we all push for three-dimensional female characters whose personal beliefs are not ignored, but celebrated. Change needs to occur at the grassroots level. Even simple actions, such as not commenting on a girl’s weight or clothing choices, can curb the patriarchal obsession with the female body. “[Screenwriters] should portray female superheroes in a way that focuses more on actions than body,” Akshintala said. “They should have their own beliefs, which women lack in a lot of comics.” Despite the persistent objectification and oversexualization, Zheng maintains a more optimistic perspective. “In the past decade or so, [the culture of objectification] has been changing,” Zheng said. “There are good examples of strong female characters in comic books and movies. These women are strong, which helps transition the way for a good femalefronted superhero movie.” c.lu@elestoque.org

CHAINSPIRATION

A&E

Following the artistic flow

Useed with

BY KRISTIN CHANG AND NEHA RAMCHANDANI

Useed with permission of Lindsy Teng

of Lindsy Ten

junior LINDSY TENG El Estoque: What kind of art do you do? LT: I do animation and digital art. I use Macromedia Flash or Photoshop and draw frame-by-frame of whatever motions I want, and then it all comes together. g EE: What are some challenges of being an sion of Lindsy Ten Used with permis artist? LT: I’m pretty competitive, so whenever I see my friends improve, I feel down about that. When I was first starting out, I would see my friends so much better than I am, and I wouldn’t listen to their advice, and I thought that maybe I would do something else, maybe go into science. There are times when I think, “Wow, this is the best thing I’ve ever done,” and other times I’ve thought that “This is the worst thing I’ve ever done.” It’s a love-hate relationship….But the love does override the hate. EE: Is there an art community on campus? LT: Yes… Sometimes we’ll say, “I really like your idea...I want to use it and change it and make it better.” It’s a supportive community, it’s more of an internal competitiveness. As in, “I know I can do better next time.”

junior DANA SHEVACHMAN EE: How would you describe your art? DS: I dance 10 different ballroom and Latin dance styles. For the Latin ones, you wear short dresses that are open. I feel like it’s more fun. The other type, ballroom, is more conservative. You wear long dresses, and it looks more elegant. EE: How did you start dancing? DS: I started randomly dancing at home when I was little, and my parents said, “This girl’s going to be a dancer.” When I was little, my parents put me everywhere, they made me try everything. EE: Is there a certain moment in your dance career that really stands out to you? DS: I remember this one time when both [my partner and I] messed up the steps. It was when I was little, so I didn’t know how to hide it and I had to stop and start from the beginning. This was the moment where I was afraid of going on the floor again. But now, we still make mistakes sometimes because no one is perfect. As time passes, you learn to listen to your partner. No matter what happens, even if someone messes up the steps, the other one has to fix it and make it up somehow. 20

permission

An in

Whether animating a sce artists unearth their inspir and most of all, each othe people on campus, resulti

An inspiration: Dana Shevach

Useed with permission of Alexander Shevachman

EL ESTOQUE

art teacher BRIAN CHOW

An inspiration: Brian Chow

Used with permission of El Valedor

scene or waltzing to Mozart, these MVHS spiration from their environment, their families other. We asked artists to refer to other creative ulting in a chain of self-expression. junior REBECCA KAO

vachman

APRIL 9, 2014

EE: How would you describe your art? BC: I focus more of my attention on photographic art forms, meaning that it’s not just isolated to traditional photography... it’s all about how I can express my ideas using the photographic process. So the product might be more of a sculptural device relating to photography, or a painting with photography in it. EE: Is there a specific piece of art that you’ve made that means a lot to you? BC: I’ve been working on device-oriented pieces that require an amount of audience interaction. [One of the projects] I’m working on is about Asian identity in the United States. EE: Are you ever inspired by the MVHS environment? BC: Asian-American identity is something that’s really interested me...and just seeing the diversity of people here from different Asian cultures helps influence some of the ideas I have about Asian identity. Someone of your generation is much different from someone of my generation, or my grandparent’s generation, and that’s something I see a lot here...It’s influenced me as an artist, not just a teacher. EE: How do you plan to execute an art piece about Asian-American identity? BC: I plan to make a book out of it. I think that it’ll look at each of us essentially as people. Some people have a strong Asian identity, others don’t, and I want to touch upon that [using photographs] and portraiture. The challenge is being evident and clear in the photographs...while shedding stereotypes and filters of what an Asian person should be like.

EE: How would you describe your art? RK: I do a lot of graphic art. I use more solid colors, and my work isn’t realistic. EE: When did you start getting interested in graphic art and design? RK: Ever since I was young, I’ve always wanted to be an artist. For a period of time, I stopped because my dad lost his job and we didn’t have money for classes. But, this is when I grew more, because I had freedom to do my own thing instead of going by what the teachers said. EE: Is there a specific moment through all of your years of art that really stands out to you? RK: In tenth grade, I did the PTSA Reflections art competition. The prompt for that year was “Magic of the Moment.” Basically what happened was, I turned my piece in and wasn’t really expecting anything because it was the first competition I ever entered. Out of a hundred people in Santa Clara County, I got in the top four. I think when people validate your work and say it’s good, it really makes you feel like you can do something.

Rebecca Kao

An inspiration:

A&E

CAUTION: STUDENTS AT PLAY

Cosplay takes root on campus

BY ANJALI BHAT

he knew they were staring. She knew created and sustained by fans. that this was out of the ordinary. Senior “Fanime is a different convention Katrina Chan was standing by the grass compared to things like Anime Expo or San in Kelley Park in San Jose, and she could Diego Comic-Con,” senior Marina Nguyen sense the curiosity of young children and said. “People are making money off of those their parents. Chan thought that her black ... but at Fanime, there isn’t an expectation jacket with cat ears and a tail was cute, but of being fired or earning money. It’s all done she was surrounded by friends and strangers by fans volunteering their free time, though in costumes that were far more eye-catching. sometimes it can lead to inefficiency.” It wasn’t Halloween — it was only March However, regardless of the size or type 15. So why were so many people, including of gathering, or the age of the cosplayers in Chan, all dressed up? attendance, Nguyen believes that the cosplay It was the first Northern California community is welcoming — when fans take cosplay gathering of the year. a little initiative. A portmanteau of the “You need to do things words “costume roleplay,” yourself. You need to make cosplay is an art form for an effort to meet people which participants typically and make friends there,” make their own outfits and Nguyen said. “If you’re accessories to represent shyer, try to find someone characters and objects from you like to do stuff with. from fictional worlds. In a Feb. There’s power in numbers.” 28 issue of TIME magazine, reporter Lily Rothman wrote Out of the crowd of two women in their twenties But while she does who were so fond of the film have friends involved with “Frozen” that they decided to cosplay, freshman Olivia sew their own versions of the Wu doesn’t need power heroines’ costumes. This kind in numbers, or even a of dedication to fandom exists convention. Nearly every at MVHS too. Students make Friday, Wu arrives to outfits to emulate favorite school in full costume, just characters simply because because she can. they can. “I guess you feel more “I think the first time I got weird and out of place, into cosplay was in 7th grade, when you’re doing it where when I made my own costume others are not cosplaying,” based off of an anime series,” Wu said. “But it’s unique Chan said. “But I really got because you feel that you’re into it sophomore year, when getting more attention MAKO TO THE RESI went with my friends to my since you’re the only one. CUE Freshman Olivia Wu very first con.” But at cons, it wouldn’t be Cons are just another name dresses up as anime charout of the ordinary to see a for conventions, or much character you recognize.” acter Mako Mankanshoku. larger, costlier versions of As a huge anime fan, Wu the cosplay gathering Chan Every Friday, without fail, cosplays characters from attended. The Bay Area’s most Wu dresses up in costume. popular anime series, such notable convention, Fanime, as “Naruto” and “Attack hits the San Jose Convention on Titan.” She notes that Center this Memorial Day weekend from people often find her costumes strange, May 23 to 26. Fanime and other smaller but she does not mind the weird looks. Wu conventions are run entirely by volunteers. is determined to keep cosplay in her life, The convention’s tagline, “By fans, for especially considering that her parents were fans,” represents the idea that pervades the once against cosplay — it takes a lot of time, cosplay community — cosplay is a movement energy and money. 22

DRESS UP TIME Seniors Katrina Chan and Sydney Ji pose as Anna Kushina and Yashiro Isana from the anime series K-Project. The two attend conventions together. Cosplay can become expensive because of the amount of supplies necessary, including fabric, sewing machines, wigs and props — and most costumes are only worn once or twice. For Nguyen, costumes can add up to $100 or more. In fact, she originally believed that her mother would not allow her to cosplay or attend cons because of the cost. Luckily for her, her mother was supportive. According to Nguyen, she isn’t a “pictureperfect” type of person, and she does not mandate that her costumes appear exactly as they do on screen. Even the process of making a costume is just as enjoyable as the end result. “Making a costume is a relaxing activity for me,” Nguyen said. “One time I had to make a skirt, and it had to be hand-sewn. But even though it was tedious, it distracted me from the other difficult work and helped me de-stress.” The Manga, Anime and Cosplay club — Chan and Wu are members — often screen episodes of anime shows at their meetings so members can relax and socialize. However, not all members of the club are also cosplayers, though they could be. “I don’t see too many MVHS students at conventions, though I’ve seen a huge interest in anime at MVHS,” Nguyen said. “But I think cosplay is a good way to break up real life in a way. You may have to go a little out of your comfort zone, but it’s worth it.” a.bhat@elestoque.org EL ESTOQUE

A&E

AMERICANA

Finding America in the middle of a New York subway

Rhonda Mak, Kathleen Yuan & Maya Murthy| El Estoque Illustration

o a couple weeks ago, I was riding the subway in New York City. It was a little dark, harsh with the artificial lights but not overly so. The fumes rising from the tracks smelled like ammonia. There were the metal bars, shiny with the sweat of a hundred palms, and the plastic seats that began to look more out of and more inviting every night I collapsed after walking for what felt like a lifetime. And of course, there was the white businessman in the long coat and fedora, his thumbs flying as he typed on his smartphone. The Muslim teenager clothed completely in a black burqa who stood si-

multaneously holding the bar above her and reading out of a textbook. there was also the Asian girl in the big glasses making out with her piercing-riddled black boyfriend in the corner as if the apocalypse was coming post-haste and their mutual spit swapping would save them from the fire and brimstone of hell. Sitting next to me the second the blue time I rode the subway, a middle aged Latina woman asked me in her lilting accent who I was and where I was from because obviously a teenager who tumbles from side to side trying to look cool is not a native New Yorker. I’m not actually sure if I got the right information across — that we were high

MAYA MURTHY

APRIL 9, 2014

school journalists from Cupertino — because about a minute later, we were being rushed out of the sliding doors. What I am sure of is the brilliance of her smile as she waved goodbye. Living in Cupertino, or what I’ve heard lovingly referred to as “Indochino,” racial diversity means that when I want to go and eat dinner, I can choose a restaurant from any of the different regions of my home state of Tamil Nadu, India. And yet, in all my life, I’d never seen as many people from different minority groups before that first day in New York when I stepped off at Penn Station at 2 a.m. and saw a group of young black and Latino men trying to catch the next train. Every day I tell myself how lucky I am to live in such diversity, in a place where I can visit the Japanese Cherry Blossom festival, sing 3,000 year old classical Indian music in the Thyagaraja Aradhana and bully one of my best friends into giving me lotus mooncakes on Chinese New Year. And yet, sixteen years into my life, all I can see in my little corner of America are the subtle shades of the same color as I try to find that “American” uniqueness I always thought we had. And then in the subway, I saw for the very first time the little bits that make up the Great American Salad — the tomatoes and lettuce and onions, rather than just those little tiny jalapeno peppers. For the very first time, I lived in the country I’ve only ever seen on the silver screen, one where people of all ages and races and sexualities and social statuses all get crammed into a tin shuttle racing underneath the earth together. I saw everything that the inspirational posters and government propaganda told me my country could be, and well, it was glorious. Because where else could you ever find that old Mexican lady sitting right next to the punk black kid with the piercings who’s making out with his Asian girlfriend in the hipster glasses and skinny jeans, who’s standing near the old white man in a fedora and trenchcoat who’s texting next to the Middle Eastern girl about my age in a long black burqa. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what I call America. m.murthy@elestoque.org 23

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lost

ARTS Preserving tradition in an everchanging world

Junior collects antique stamps

Finding obsolete household items

Technology transforms lifestyle

Why we still use film photography

APRIL 9, 2014

SPECIAL

lowly, she flipped through the glossy pages of her book. Lines of colorful stamps were placed in clean columns on the shiny, laminated surface. Images of mythical creatures and glorious landscapes populated one side, followed by a stamp of the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics. After a moment of marveling over her collection, she came to a page that was incomplete. There were only a few lines trailing at the top, and then, the pictures ended. This is junior Julia Miao’s mission: to continue an age-old “I know it was something my family tradition by completdad always loved to do when ing her book. “My dad started colhe was young ... It’s special lecting stamps when he for him, and I was really was very young, and one happy he passed down that year he finally decided to pass it on to me and tradition that year to me.” my sister,” Miao said. junior Julia Miao “It’s really a continuation of our family legacy.” However, stamp collecting has become a challenge for Miao. As letter writing becomes a fading tradition, people are no longer licking stamps and sticking them onto envelopes as they once did. According to an article written by The Patriot News, about 3,100 branches of approximately 34,000 postal service sectors face the threat of imminent closure. Among the reasons for consolidation: the dwindling volume of I Y WE D mail. A J Y B o a i Less letters inevitably mean less stamps, and that M lia u que y l J i El Esto lustration hinders Miao’s ability to preserve a tradition passed r | d m o o Il ckwo ue Photo uni -held fa ting rine Lo oq j down the family line for multiple generations. Cathe Qi | El Est , s i y p Shu tam n a long tter wri She was a five-year-old when her father began s f o e o r teaching her and her older sister how to pick out lecto arrying lture of l l o c c u stamps from the letters they received in their mailbox. Red i c v An a ered from the dying moving stamps cleanly from envelopes requires extreme focus and d skill, because it is very easy to tear and ruin the precious pictures. is hin on due to “It was really hard to remove the stamps [my first time] because they were really i t i trad sticky and I don’t want to rip or cut them,” Miao said. “My dad taught me a special way to soak it in water, wait a couple of minutes, let it dry and then peel it off.” After seeing that the girls were so enthusiastic to work with the stamps, Miao’s

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lost

Script BY LYDIA SEO

Visit elestoque .org to learn more about the lost traditions.

ost high school students of this generation remember the mandatory cursive lessons that they endured in their earlier elementary school years. Cursive as a form of writing used to be an essential part of the school curriculum. As time went on, printing letters became more popular, although some elementary schools continue to teach students how to write in cursive. With the implementation of the Common Core standards in 2010, cursive is no longer mandatory in the United States.

“I think that over time, the requirements for writing got a lot less strict,” sophomore Anna Hsiao said. “In elementary school, I had to practice cursive, but the thing is, when you get to high school, you never actually use it because you just type everything for your homework assignments.” As cursive writing fades away, some students still remember the outdated style. l.seo@elestoque.org

EL ESTOQUE

father decided it was time to pass on the tradition, that he received from his own father many years ago, to the girls. “I know it was something my dad always loved to do when he was young,” Miao said. “It’s special for him, and I was really happy he passed down that tradition that year to me.” Miao and her sister spent days flipping through their father’s old collection books to observe the stamps. After familiarizing themselves with the types of stamps to look for, they began searching through letters to start their own collection. At first, Miao easily attained a large variety of stamps from the numerous letters her family received. They contained diverse images and represented different cultures. Over the years, Miao developed a propensity for Chinese stamps. To her, they are the epitome of beauty and cultural significance. In particular, Miao is mesmerized by the stamps with ancient Chinese calligraphies engraved onto the side. “Chinese calligraphy is like a flower that represents the thousand years of Chinese civilization,” Miao said. After years of pursuing her tradition, Miao has now completed two collection books with roughly a thousand stamps. But, in a society where the culture of sending stamped letters is dying, it is no longer very easy for her to find new stamps. Miao is one of the few people who is still partaking in the fading art of stamp collecting. Nowadays, the only stamps Miao receives in her mailbox are those attached to grocery advertisements or department store magazines. But as long as there is still hope, Miao will not let go of the family tradition that has stood for lines of generations. “My goal now is to try to collect one of every type of stamp in the world,” Miao said. “At the end, I will pass down this tradition to my next generation.”

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APRIL 9, 2014

Video games rapidly establishing

Story by Pranav Parthasarathy with illustration by Shuyi Qi

aving just finished the last of his homework, sophomore Jeffrey Du tosses aside his world history textbook. A competitive person by nature, Du now seeks the adrenaline that victory over professionals provides. For him, playing against internationally ranked competition is a daily occurrence, and he wishes to join the ranks one day. However, he does not run to the garage to grab a basketball. Nor does he head to the attic to grab a racket. No, he boots up his computer and clicks “Play.” Du has just booted up a game of League of Legends. In this game, teams of players select champions which they control in a fictional arena. The team that manages to destroy its opponent’s base first wins. Deceptively simple yet incredibly complex. And that’s the beauty of the game according to Du. “What I really like the most about League of Legends is the feeling of outplaying my opponent: of doing everything that he does but better,” Du said. The nature of this specific type of video game — sufficiently complex enough to demand regimented, professional training — draws many parallels to serious sports, leading the gaming community to call these activities “eSports.” But do these colorful, seemingly unrealistic online games deserve the serious, committed connotation of the word “sport”? Junior Young Guo, a top 10 percent ranked League of Legends player, has his doubts. “At this point, videogame players don’t deserve to be called athletes; there is too much of a culture

Sophomore Jeffrey Du in character

barrier,” Guo said, “[In addition,] video games are more accessible and more likely to be abused.” However, Guo does state that fans are finally realizing the potential of competitive games. Last year, Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends, sponsored a tournament league called the League of Legends Championship Series (better known as LCS), with eight teams paid throughout the season to compete for a prize pool of $5 million. Other competitive leagues have also sprung up, with Coca-Cola sponsoring League of Legends play as well. Millions of dollars in corporate sponsorships now flow into this realm of competition, bringing it closer to parity with its physical counterpart. The phenomenon of eSports, however, started far before Riot released League of Legends in 2009. In the early and mid 2000s, Starcraft I, a real-time-strategy war-themed video game, assumed the stage, drawing crowds upwards of 50,000 people into vast stadiums in Seoul. Dominating players in this video game acquired riches and huge fan followings, with two in particular, Lee Young-ho and Lim Yo-hwan of Korea, earning well in excess of $250,000 annually at their peaks. Such standouts really do define the word “exception” according to Guo, for the vast majority of professional video game players fail to earn even close to the same amount, earning on average around $10,000 or less annually in Korea. “In order to succeed in this business, you basically need to be either extremely lucky or work extremely hard,” said Guo. This work ethic, however, also applies to physical sports, and EL ESTOQUE

SPORTS

ng themselves as legitimate sports parallels do exist. Junior Justin Ma much time to the activity as he plays competitive badminton, is wants due to important projects ranked third in the United States or tests. for his age group. He also deNevertheless, Du continues to rives significant satisfaction from grind away at his quest, hoping League of Legends and respects to see great results in the future. its competitive similarity. Currently ranked in the top 100 Ma believes that eSports on the North American server out should be viewed as legitimate of over 800,000 players, Du does competition due to the similarity command a respectable amount between certain video games and of skill in his eSport. Fifteen-yearsports. Both require the “sports old Du, however, faces a problem: mentality,” and Ma states that He cannot compete in LCS, the in many professional video game cream-of-the-crop competitive teams, coaches prescribe spelevel, until he turns 17. cific schedules, taking into That, however, does not account exercise and diet mean Du cannot draw in order to optimize their any fulfilling experiences player’s physical condifrom the game. On the tion, similar to their peers contrary, he has earned in other sports. Once, in several notable experithe third game of a deciences from the activsive set, Ma decisively ity, chief of which smashed a point includes winning down the line and from seemingly took the champiuntenable posionship 21-19. After WHAT I REALLY LIKE THE tions. Playing the training for three character Fizz durMOST ABOUT LEAGUE OF ing one game, Du hours a day, six days a week and forc- LEGENDS IS THE FEELING faced four enemies ing himself to eat OF OUTPLAYING MY barreling toward his mainly white meat OPPONENT: OF DOING base. His actions for a month before, per minute spikMa realized the re- EVERYTHING HE DOES BUT ing over 200, Du ward of his dedica- BETTER. stunned the main sophomore Jeffrey Du tion. That feeling threats while dodgof earned victory ing their spells, applies equally to launching his ultivideo games, according to him. mate ability while continuing to Du hopes to earn victory as hammer down his opposition. well and is currently considering Saving his team from almost becoming a professional video guaranteed defeat against top game player. Du, however, acfive percent caliber players, Du knowledges that he does face then managed to clutch victory challenges on his quest toward soon after, vanquishing his ophis ideal occupation. Fitting in ponents in a successive coup-detwo hours a day of homework grace under similar circumstancand three to five hours a day of es. Satisfaction from honed skill League of Legends practice does does not solely grace the players not help his schedule, and he finds of athletic sports. himself often unable to commit as p.parthasarathy@elestoque.org APRIL 9, 2014

8.5

million

CONCURRENT ONLINE VIEWERS FOR LEAGUE OF LEGENDS 2013 CHAMPIONSHIP Source: Riot Games

400 million PLAYERS OF ONLINE MULTIPLAYER GAMES Source: Destructoid

120

thousand Live viewers for Starcraft Sky Proleague Grand Final 2005 Source: MBC Korea

22,810 PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THE DREAMHACK LAN/ TOURNAMENT

Source: Dreamhack Sweden

Rhonda Mak | El Estoque Photo Illustration

VARSITY PHYSICAL EDUCATION

New PE classes give students more options, encourage upperclassmen signups BY ELLIOT KI AND ATHIRA PENGHAT

t the beginning of the school year, the taken either PE Elect or Weight Training. He basketball or a racquet sport competitively, Physical Education department con- pointed out that the students who sign up for this would give them the opportunity for ducted a survey of the freshman class PE Elect generally look most forward to the more gym time to improve their skills. in order to find which sports, if further in- basketball and racquet sports units. The structure of these classes will in part corporated into the curriculum, would en“We said, ‘If this is what the kids want to support the idea of making sophomore year gage the most students. The results were do, let’s go ahead and offer a class that al- PE as engaging as possible by incorporatclear: Badminton and basketball topped the lows them to to do that,’” Thomas said. “As ing more games and tournaments because list. This prompted the department to re- teachers, you want to teach something that it tends to be the last year most students quest the addition of two new classes, PE the students enjoy.” take a PE class. However, Thomas hopes Basketball and PE Racquet Sports, to the that the addition of these new courses will MVHS course selection guide for the encourage more juniors and seniors to 2014-2015 school year. take additional units of PE because According to Assistant Prinhe believes that everyone should cipal Ben Clausnitzer, though take four years of PE despite these courses have not been the fact that there are very few offered at MVHS thus far, they states that still make this a rehave been available at other quirement. Thus far, PE BasketFUHSD schools, so the process ball and PE Racquet Sports have of making these classes an optogether accumulated around 25 tion for MVHS students was a signups from upperclassmen, a simple one that only required adturnout that may be a great benministrative approval. efit to the classes as upperclass“Courses on our ‘books’ men tend to serve as mentors for are allowed to be taught at the sophomores. Class will focus on refinThe units are based on the MVHS,” Clausnitzer said. “I have a Weight Training ing skills and strategy assumption that the stuAs stated in the course class, and I have a lot of [upSports will include tennis, dents who take the class selection guide, PE Basketperclassmen] that are big time badminton and pickleball will have some background ball “enables students to gain into weight training, and they in basketball, but if that is Table tennis is also being knowledge of basic team baspretty much teach the class,” not the case, there will be considered as it is part of ketball skills,” such as dribThomas said. “I mean I start the beginner modules offered Lynbrook High School’s PE bling, passing and shooting, class, but they patrol the class during the first few weeks. Racquet Sports curriculum as well as help students underand make sure people are dostand the rules and roles of the ing things the right way, and the game. PE Racquet Sports will kids look up to them, and it’s refocus on “refining skills and strategy” with The new classes, which can be easily sup- ally helpful to have models in class.” regard to sports like tennis, badminton and ported by the PE department because every In the future, the PE department wants pickleball. staff member has the skills to teach both PE to give students even more options. For in“There will be a much higher level of Basketball and PE Racquet Sports, are also stance, completely new classes, such as teaching than in a three-week unit in PE9, viable options for students who already play a potential football-orientated class that when we rush stuff through to get things either basketball or a racquet sport, whether was offered as an option on the freshman done in a timely manner,” PE teacher Jef- it be recreationally or through either school survey but did not receive enough backing frey Thomas said. “Now the content will be or club sports. to create as of now, could be a possibility spread out throughout a whole year, so we “Most of the kids who play basketball down the road, though they would have to can really get in depth with strategy, focus love it,” Thomas said. “They’re out there receive approval at the district level first. But on skill [and incorporate] more gameplay.” playing during brunch and lunch and tuto- in general, the PE department, referencing On account of the fact that not all stu- rial, so why not take it as a class and get the PE Racquet Sports class offered at LHS dents registered for their classes on Infinite credit for it?” which was introduced a while back but still Campus, there is no way to currently deThomas also brought up the fact that in garners interest, believes these new courses termine the interest in these newly offered PE9 toward the end of the year, the teachers will benefit the student body. courses with accuracy. Most likely, though, offer the students a choice of playing either “The response has been overwhelmingly Clausnitzer believes there will be one period an indoor sport, outdoor sport or badmin- positive so far,” Thomas said. each of PE Basketball and PE Racquet Sports. ton; approximately a 2:1 ratio in favor of According to Thomas, the new classes prob- badminton has typically been the trend over ably drew people who would have otherwise the years. And for students who play either e.ki@elestoque.org | a.penghat@elestoque.org

PE RACQUET SPORTS

APRIL 9, 2014

PE BASKETBALL

SPORTS

for the

RECORD

Record breakers share thoughts on their achievements BY ALAINA LUI AND SOPHIA TAO

t’s not every day that school sports records are broken. While some of the all-time individual records are held by alumni, there are impressive record-breaking athletes who are among us in the classroom today, whom we hear about on the announcements, whom we congratulate the day after the sporting event. But as a student body we don’t hear much about the story behind their records, how it happened and how they felt — so we asked them.

Running Yards

Records: Longest run from scrimmage, vs. Los Altos (2013):

94 Yards

Longest touchdown run, vs. Los Altos (2013):

94 Yards

Total rushing yardage in a season (2013):

“

1550 Yards

I remember thinking how cool it would be to break [the record] … I actually didn’t think I would be able to break it … but the coaches supported me and put me back in the second half [during the Gunn game]. That got me the carries I needed to break the record. And a shoutout to my linemen or else they’ll be mad.

Run, Jenny, Run

Records:

Toro Park, 3 mi Earlybird (2011):

18:59

Stanford 5km cross country course (2011):

18:50

“ Junior Jenny Xu Sport: Cross Country

Alaina Lui | El Estoque

”

Senior Justin Cena Sport: Football Position: Running back

I found out I beat the record awhile after the race. It was a pretty good time, so I was already happy, but since it was a record, even better … I know what the times are, and those are my goals, but it’s not such a big deal because I just try to do my best. Getting personal best is the goal. As long as I can do my best then I’m happy.

”

Winning stroke

Record: 100 breaststroke (2013):

“

Mihir Joshi | El Estoque

1:02.30

I realized I broke the record when I looked up at the scoreboard because I had looked at the current records at the beginning of the season. I broke the record multiple times before during dual meets, but this was the fastest time of them all during the high school season … I was happy and proud because I helped contribute to our goal of having the girls win CCS.

”

Senior Sarah Kaunitz Sport: Swimming Ashish Samaddar | El Estoque

a.lui@elestoque.org | s.tao@elestoque.org 38

EL ESTOQUE

SPORTS FLASH

Stats accurate as of April 4 BY NATHAN DESAI

Check out video highlights for MVHS sports, including Intramural Basketball, on elestoque.org/category/sports Junior Madeline Lee swims backstroke at a meet against Los Gatos High School on March 28. Though the meet was a real test for the team, the swimmers did well overall; in preparation for the meet against Gunn High School on April 11, the team seeks to swim sharper, starting with working on starts. Going into CCS, senior Carly Reid seems to be the athlete to beat, having competed in the All-American Consideration Time in the 50-yard Freestyle, an impressive feat at this point in the season.

Athira Penghat|El Estoque

Senior Matt Cheung fights for position in the Intramural Basketball semifinals on April 4. Cheungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team, Harsh and the Fruits, fell to Dub Nation who will move onto the finals on April 23. They will face either Team Nae Nae or the Stivers Soldiers, depending on who wins that semifinal matchup on April 9. Both of those teams have plenty of experience, with varsity boys basketball senior co-captains Ramana Keerthi and Aditya Raju leading Team Nae Nae and Stiver Soldiers rostering five players from the Matadorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; basketball team. The tournament began on March 31 and the finals will be on April 23. Catherine Lockwood|El Estoque

Senior co-captain Ryan Manley serves in a match against Mountain View High School on March 26. The Matadors lost to the undefeated Spartans 3-0 for their only league loss of the season thus far. The Matadors left empty-handed in both of their matchups against the Spartans this season. After a loss earlier in the season to Mountain View, the matadors played well against all other opponents. Led by Manley and the other co-captains senior Ryan Bishop and junior David Chang, MVHS has a 15-2 overall record in the midst of the CCS race. APRIL 9, 2014

Catherine Estoque ColinLockwood|El Ni|El Estoque

n.desai@elestoque.org 39

MOST COMPETITIVE

2014 Powderpuff finals feature sophomores versus seniors. Tune in for game highlights