High Tide: March 9, 2012 Edition by High Tide

HIGH

TIDE Redondo Beach, CA // Redondo Union High School March 9, 2012 // Vol. XCV // Edition 10

hightideonline.org

DON’T GET

CAUGHT Using your phone on a test. Copying the answers off someone next to you. Using a friend’s homework from last year. We all do it and it’s becoming more and more common but what exactly is cheating? [continued on pg. 10-11]

p10-11 //

The robotics team made a robot that shoots basketballs.

p14-15 //

A look into different daycation spots including PV, Malibu, and Venice.

p20-21//

PHOTO BY LISA INOUE

Baseball beat PV last night 3-1 after a lose last week to Torrance.

NEWS // MARCH 9, 2012

Fighttothe

FINISH 2.

PHOTO BY ANDREW HAZELTINE

PHOTO BY MAX PITTMAN

Ball so hard. 1. Seniors Wesley Pate, Paul Stacey, and Jonathan Jara sprint to the center line with greater speed than their opponents. The three were part of the team, “The Wrath of the Gods,” that reached the final four of the tournament. 2. Seniors Zach Zent and Hunter Bradshaw look for victims in the early rounds of the tournament. They, along with the rest of “The Warlocks,” would go on to defeat “Old Skool” in the championship game. 3. “Old Skool” members Andy Saltsman and Jens Brandt surprised many students with their athletic ability on the dodgeball court. “I didn’t think they would be able to compete with us, but they definitely showed us that they can move,” senior Hunter Bradshaw said.

Recently, several of buildings were vandalized with graffiti. Principal Dr. Nicole Wesley has decided to put up more security cameras around school to prevent any further vandalisms. “We have such great students [that] I just can’t imagine it was one of our students [who vandalized the school]. I hope our student body will feel frustrated and angry and step up [to identify the vandal],”

—Dr. Nicole Wesley

PHOTO BY ANDREW HAZELTINE

Boys vs.Girls

Spring Musical

Rally

“This year we combined with our performance rally which people really seem to like. Also, it is the first rally in the new gym and we can’t wait to make use of our awesome new facilities.” –Senior Class President Madi Hall

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

March 16, 17, 22, 23 7 p.m.

March 24

2 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door

Band prepares for first major competition of the year by Jason Rochlin

RUHS band director Mark Aguero listens carefully as the sounds of his students evolve from jumbled chaos into an organized symphony, all with one pit center and all in tune to the music. He is focusing on the performance of his students as they prepare for the second annual Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Instrumental Music Festival held at Santa Susana High School. Redondo is sending about 70 students to the first festival of the year which includes multiple individual ensembles, including a wind ensemble, jazz band, and a percussion band. The Santa Susana festival has high school

and middle school bands from all over Los Angeles and Ventura counties coming to play. “Sometimes you’ll go to these things and hear the same song five times in the day, and at some point the judges start going, ‘really, this again?’ So I try to pick stuff that’s new and interesting that the kids will be interested in and highlight their strengths by picking newer music that not everyone thinks to do,” said Aguero. Each ensemble must come prepared to play three songs. “We are playing ‘Dreams,’ ‘Choreography,’ and ‘To Soar with Eagles,’” says drum major Clay Attig. “My favorite is ‘To Soar with Eagles’ because it has a lot of different speeds and dynamic differences in it, and it

just makes for a really intense piece.” The Santa Susana festival has four parts: warm up, performance, clinic and sightreading, each broken into 30 minute increments. “I thinks the sight-reading part is the hardest, because we have music that we’ve never seen before. I have a few minutes to discuss with the kids about what the piece is and what we have to do after they pass it out,” said Aguero. Attig agrees the sight reading is also the “most interesting of the four parts because you have to play a piece of music you haven’t seen before or practiced, so its really a test of each ensembles’ musicians’ musicianship.” Band has been practicing since late October during zero period. However, prepa-

ration for the festival has a different energy than just regular practice. “I usually just clear my head and just focus on what I need to do. I know the music well and I know what to do to make it sound good,” says Attig. Correction: In a story from Feb. 24, “Nevarez and Logan devoted to Mormon faith,” Susannah Nevarez is described as receiving a cup of coffee from her mother. Members of the Church of Later Day Saints church do not drink coffee, and the reporter’s draft of the story did not contain this description. The editor of the story added and created the detail without consulting the writer.

NEWS // MARCH 9, 2012

Recent string of murders bring awareness to domestic abuse by Navikka Dasz

According to a High Tide poll of 206 students,

87% 19%

of students say they feel safe in the city of Redondo Beach.

of students say they will change the way they go about their daily life because of the recent uptick in violent crime.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLETTE COSTA

Tragedy. A makeshift memorial at Andrew’s Park on Rockefeller Lane and Aviation Way depicts happier times for Vicki and Courtney Bergman and their friends and family. The two were murdered last week by Courtney Bergman’s former boyfriend Jonathan Chacon. According to friend Celeste Basich, Bergman was “a fun and independent girl” who “was getting her life together, finishing school, and was working hard as a hostess at the Cheesecake Factory.”

PHOTO BY JENNY OETZELL

Peace Out. Metta World Peace of the Los Angeles Lakers and Olympic volleyball player Sean Rosenthal paid a visit to the grand opening of the newly renovated Sea Hawk Pavilion. In his dedication of the gym, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steven Keller said “This gym is for our kids, for your kids, and for the community. We plan on taking care of this gym for decades to come.” To read the exclusive story by Benni McLaughlin, visit hightideonline.org.

Rehearsal.

&Safety

Crime

photos.

Gym Opening.

According to Courtney’s cousin, Lelanea McGee-Hall, this tragedy should teach other teenage girls not to live with abuse. “I just want teenagers to know that abuse is never okay. If someone is verbally abusing you, you can get away from that. Tell somebody. Do something about it. [This donation] is to help especially kids that are in high school, to make it easier to say I don’t need this anymore,” she said. Courtney’s friend, Nadia Basich, also feels that teenagers should not put up with abuse. “Don’t be with people who are going to hurt you. It’s just going to ruin your life like Courtney and her mom’s and it’s just not worth it. [Courtney] was such a beautiful girl and she didn’t deserve this,” she said. Celeste Basich, Nadia’s sister and Courtney’s friend, also thinks this murder was unfair. “She was a really fun person to be around. She was always smiling and really positive about life. She was doing great up until this point and was finally getting her life together. She did not deserve this at all,” she said. Friends and family of Courtney and Vicki hope for “any support, both financially or emotionally.” “We can’t save them but hopefully we can help save someone else,” McGee-Hall said. As reported in the Patch.com, The Bergmans’ murder is the second such crime in Redondo Beach in the past three weeks. Resident Margaret “Peggy” Goldberg’s body was found in an apartment on the 1200 block of Agate St. on the morning of Feb 22. The prime suspect, Goldberg’s husband, Russell Scott Goldberg, committed suicide after a standoff with police on Interstate 15 in Utah. This crime allegedly occurred as a result of a domestic dispute as well. The couple had two school aged children, aged 10 and 13. A fund was also set up to help the chil-

week in

Memorials.

Former Redondo student Courtney Bergman and her mom Vicki were found murdered in their apartment on Rockefeller Lane last Tuesday. According to The Daily Breeze, Jonathan Chacon, another Redondo alumni and Courtney’s boyfriend is on trial for their murder and may face the death penalty. Friends and family gathered at the Cheesecake Factory, where Courtney worked, on Sunday to help raise money to pay for the funeral. “We set up the Courtney and Vicki Bergman trust fund so people can donate whatever they can for funeral services. Anything that’s left over will go the battered women’s shelter,” Kristina Campese, a coworker of Courtney’s, said. The decision to donate the remainder of the money to a battered women’s shelter was because Courtney’s relationship with Chacon was said to be abusive. “It’s really important for us to make sure that their lives weren’t sacrificed in vain and that somebody in the future can benefit [from this],” Campese said. The Cheesecake Factory employees all mourn the loss of Courtney and are a huge support to fundraise the money. “She was a part of our family. We spent more time together than we did with our own families because we worked so often. We felt it was important as a little subfamily to take care of her. We hope that if something tragic like that ever happened to any of us there’d be someone there to take care of us,” Courtney Shaheed, another coworker, said. Her Cheesecake Factory “family” tried to help Courtney through her abuse and feel that all abuse victims should be able to talk to someone. “We want to let the girls in school know that they don’t have to suffer through [abuse]. There are people to talk to and all they have to do is reach out. Those shelters are there to help them. [No one] should have to suffer through that alone,” Campese said.

The

PHOTO BY JENNY OETZELL

How to succeed. The cast of the spring musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying rehearses for the premiere of the show on March 16. According to senior Jeremy Porr, who plays the lead role of J. Pierrepont Finch, participating in the play has given him an opportunity to showcase his talents as well as bond with his cast mates. “Our rehearsals are long and grueling but knowing you’re with your friends who love drama as much as you do makes it all worth it,” he said.

OPINION // MARCH 9, 2012

From texting answers to hacking school servers, cheating is a major problem. However, this rampant fraud is a reaction to an educational sytem that ignores true learning in favor of testing

Around

Redondo “Do you feel that graffiti can be artistic or is it always disrespectful?” “It can be a form of artwork but it depends on where it is.”

12th

—Brandon Kim

“It’s art depending on where it is and what it is.”

11th

—Nicole Pippard

“It can be art because it is people expressing themselves.”

by Julie Tran

I’ve had more than my fair share of teachers who teach to the test. This approach has not led to an improvement in students’ learning but rather an improvement in students’ cheating. In most classes, I am spoon-fed information that I am expected to regurgitate come test day, whether it be for in-class finals, proctor-regulated APs, or state tests, and that I am liable to forget after the stressful act. What I’ve crammed in the two weeks prior comes of no use to me in the future, outside of the school environment, and only serves as a waste of time or a GPA booster. The pressure to get the highest grades, to be the MVP in multiple sports, and to maximize volunteer hours just to gain admission into a top-tier college is aneurysm-inducing no doubt. As it were, it should come as no surprise that from the biggest project to the most miniscule assign-

ment, cheating occurs as though there is no tomorrow. Most, however, if not all of the work given in school, save for mathematics, is irrelevant and busy work from the student’s and parent’s perspectives. Of course, teachers may not be all to blame. Give credit where credit is due and, in this case, classroom politics should be given its fair share of the blame. In an attempt to reform the education system in order to catch up with other countries in areas of increasing importance to the technological era, politicians – Democrats and Republicans alike – have implemented programs, like No Child Left Behind, meant to bring us up to a higher level of achievement. While great in theory, it is not, in fact, the same way in practice. It sounds a lot more like Stalin trying to increase industrial output by 300% to catch up with the rest of Europe. Students don’t learn anything useful, and teachers are pressured to

the point that they might perform fraud on standardized tests. Everywhere we turn there is a scandal about to happen or happening right in our midst, whether it is plagiarism off of the Internet, involvement in an illustrious affair or even voter fraud. If everyone else does it- if it is in every facet of life, then why can’t you do it? In this cut-throat environment it may seem that cheating is an inherent part of secondary education and maybe even life, but it shouldn’t be. Fostering such an attitude toward learning and cheating is detrimental to the cheater, the person letting him or her cheat, and to society as a whole. One day, you may find that the cheater has fudged his company’s accounting records a little, the accountant letting him cheat, and the government having to give the company a bail-out on taxpayer money because the company is too big to fail. (WorldCom/Enron, anyone?)

Awareness should not be confused with activism

9th

—Lindsay Callahan

“I think it can be a form of art. It depends on the content.”

11th

—Michelle Chhun

“Depends on location and what is being shown. It can be artwork.”

10th

—Nicholas McCarthy

Compiled by Chris Nguyen Photos by Andrew Hazeltine

“KONY 2012!” my Facebook newsfeed shouted at me. It seemed everyone from my closest friends to random kids in my classes who I by Shannon Bowman couldn’t pick out of a lineup were sharing a 30-minute video from the organization Invisible Children. Already familiar with the cause (thanks to my middle school enjoyment of Fall Out Boy and their music video for the song “I’m Like a Lawyer (Me and You)” that featured children in war-torn Uganda circa 2007) I clicked, preparing myself for what was sure to be a life-changing experience. Rather, I witnessed what happens when white, middle-class hipsters decide to champion a cause. Instead of an intelligent look into the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Joseph Kony,

and the entire Ugandan conflict in general, there was one simplistic focus: Kill Kony. A liberal dose of privilege (“No one knew about these kids!” I’m sure their families, communties, and country were very aware. Does a problem only exist if Western teenagers on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr know about it?) helped round out the video as well as a lack of relevant information, like the fact that Kony has not been in Uganda for over six years or the reason why the LRA was organized in the first place. KONY 2012 was meant to raise awareness. And it has! Everyone is very aware of the conflict 5,000 miles away! We are even offered bracelets and posters to show how committed we are! Awareness is not activism. Posting a status is not how a decades-long and incredibly complicated conflict in a country whose customs we are woefully ignorant of is solved. Of course, being cynical won’t help

much either. Neither will bitterly proclaiming superiority over those who became aware of the Ugandan conflict later than others. Invisible Children is a flawed organization with a good heart. Its mission – U.S. military aid and intervention to the Ugandan army that is arguably just as corrupt as the LRA – may actually make things worse (http://www.theyorker.co.uk). To be frank, the Western world does not have a history of successful foreign interventions. To those who truly want to help, sending money to established organizations like UNICEF will do much more than buying a bracelet will. We have a duty to help our global community when human decency is being threatened, but it is all in the approach. Invisible Children has successfully spread awareness about Uganda. Any activism born from this should be well-informed with one goal: to help the Acholi people.

OPINION // MARCH 9, 2012

Graffiti: Senseless garbage or art?

HIGH TIDE

Fresh food from farms

Buying local has unparalleled advantages— Editor-in-Chief: Alison Peet-Lukes fresh, organic Managing Editors: Madeline Perrault; Meglyn items that have Huber low-biological News Editor: Daniel Garzon impact, as well as Opinion Editor: Shannon Bowman community supFeatures Editors: Taylor Ballard; Kimberly port. However, Chapman; Anacristina Gonzalez; Bethany Kawa; by Alison Peet-Lukes Tricia Light; Jeremy Porr; Emma Uriarte large-scale agriSports Editors: Tatiana Celentano; Julie Tran; cultural producers Zach Zent crowd out locally-grown produce and fill Photo Editors: Erinn Middo; Jenny Oetzell our markets and pantries with quantity but Copy Editor: Camille Duong neglect the most important aspect of food: Cartoonist: Cooper Lovano quality. Online Editor: Brianna Egan Staff Writers: Matthew Brancolini; Dylan Biggs; In the U.S., the average grocery store’s Taylor Brightwell; Torrey Bruger; Claire Chiara, Lo- produce travels nearly 1,500 miles between gan Collingwood; Navea Dasz; Mckenna Duffy; Ca- the farm where it was grown and your refrigmille Duong; Brandon Folkman; Dan Furmansky; erator. About 40% of our fruit is produced Shivaani Gandhi; Hana Ghanim; Andrew Hazeltine; Cedric Hyon; Craig Ives; Ilana LaGraff; Vivian Lam; overseas and, even though broccoli is grown Anthony Leong; Cooper Lovano; Kayla Maanum; all over the country, the broccoli we buy at LeAnn Maanum; Isaiah Madison; Kylie Martin; the supermarket travels an average of 1,800 Benjamin McLaughlin; Hayley Meyers; Madison miles to get there. Fresh produce like vegMitchell; Navikka Dasz; Cameron Paulson; Alegra etables and fruit is not the only outsourced Peelor; Alejandro Quevedo; Jason Rochlin; Nancy food we consume: nine percent of our red Silva; Jessica Shipley; Taylor Sorensen; Savannah meat comes from foreign countries, some as Stern; Hannah Son; Cody Williams far away as Australia and New Zealand (susAdviser: Mitch Ziegler The High Tide dedicates itself to producing a tainabletable.org). high-quality publication that both informs and enBuying local means fresher fruits, vegtertains the entire student body. etables, and meats. The delicious, succulent This newspaper is wholly student managed, detaste of a freshly picked apple is unmatched signed, and written newspaper that focuses on school compared to its grocery store counterpart. and community events. The High Tide is published by the journalism class The apples on display at your local Albertat Redondo Union High School, One Sea Hawk son’s are polished with wax to appear tasty Way, Redondo Beach, CA 90277. rather than actually physically being the Advertising is $7.50 per column inch, $6.00 if tasty food that nature intended to place on paid in advance. Call (310)798-8665 ext. 2210. our tables. Signed commentaries and editorial cartoons repBy buying local, traveling time between resent the opinions of the staff writer of cartoonist and in no way reflect the opinions of the High Tide the producer and the consumer will be restaff. duced, therefore helping our environment

STAFF

by lessening the release of carbon emissions from the millions of planes, trucks, cars, and buses that carry the food from one place to the next. What’s the point of buying an organically-grown, fair-trade, and environmentally-conscious banana if it is sent on cargo planes that emit fumes that attack our very planet? Our food is trucked across the country, hauled in freighter ships over oceans, and flown around the world. A tremendous amount of fossil fuel is burned to transport foods such long distances, releasing carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and other pollutants that contribute to global climate change, acid rain, smog and air and sea pollution. The refrigeration required to keep our fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and meats from spoiling during their long journeys burns up even more of our non-renewable resources all for the sake of saving a few dollars. Only 18 cents of every dollar go to the grower when buying at a large supermarket. Eighty-two cents go to various unnecessary middlemen. Cut them out of the picture and buy your food directly from your local farmer, who dedicates his or her time and energy to producing the best quality product possible (localharvest.org). Smaller growers are held accountable for the quality of their produce. One of the easiest ways to buy local is to go to a farmer’s market. There are endless amounts of fresh fruits to sample, friendly vendors and farmers willing to talk about their product, and a laid-back, relaxing atmosphere that makes buying local not only easy but a very enjoyable way to spend your Saturday morning.

There is a curious line between graffiti and street art that the tagger of the front office, if nothing else, compelled us to think about. The morality of tagby Anthony Leong ging is somewhat of an enigma for me. It is one of those topics which, as kids, we might all have agreed on, but which for the more critical thinker is not simple. The negatives are more readily apparent than the benefits. My first thought has always been that it is a waste of taxpayer dollars. It occurred to me, however, that the school doesn’t have to paint it over, however unrealistic an option that might seem to them. If it happened to me (especially repeatedly) I would not waste my resources cleaning it up, the precise reaction expected by the tagger. On one level, I would not like the aesthetic of my possessions changed without my consent. On another level, it really is just an aesthetic – and just a possession. A friend of mine pointed out that it is hard for us to empathize with taggers and street artists alike because most graffiti is stupid and pointless. The bulk of the graffiti I’ve seen in my life was either a penis or an illegible name or word, never anything receivable by others or aesthetically provocative, interesting, or at all artistic. It was only recently, in studying the work of street artists like Banksy, a pseudonym for a British grafitti artist who uses city walls as a canvas for his political and philosophical thought, that I learned of the value of street art. That is, the value of any art: to make us feel something. As I flip through a book of Banksy’s art I find myself either laughing or thinking. His work is always provocative. Street art has had other purposes as well. When the Berlin Wall was constructed to separate Germany from the Soviet-conquered Berlin, the west side of the wall became the largest canvas in the world (http:// history1900s.about.com/od/coldwa1/a/ berlinwall.htm). The east side remained relentlessly and symbolically blank. While the blankness on the east side clearly symbolized the oppressive Soviet regime, the west side seemed to simply state, “This is what free speech looks like. Get used to it.” Here, street art symbolized a right we cherish most dearly: the right to say what we want, especially in the face of someone telling us we can’t. I think this makes the moral issue a little simpler. If you’re tagging your illegible name I’m inclined to think you’re wasting time, energy, money, and paint. If you’re an artist–if you have a message to send or a feeling to evoke–I’m inclined to see it as the victimless crime that it is.

FEATURES// MARCH 9, 2012

CONFIDENTIAL

MUM’Sthe WORD by Kayla Maanum

Her dad was away on a business trip, leaving her to guess where. She glanced at a newspaper and read an interesting article: her dad’s company just launched a classified satellite. The daughter of aerospace engineers, freshman Victoria Friend guesses what other secret projects her parents have been involved in. Aerospace engineers, in general, design, build, or run spacecraft. Friend’s parents’ jobs are kept a secret because most of the projects that they work on are related to national security. Although her parents keep much of their work a secret from her, Friend does not believe this affects her relationship with them.

“I don’t really think it affects me too much because I know if they could tell me they would,” Victoria said. “It affects them more than me because they’re keeping secrets all the time.” However, her father Bob Friend, an engineer at Boeing, disagrees. “[Keeping information about work from my family] doesn’t bother me because it’s just part of the job.” Bob said. His wife Katheryn Friend, an engineer for Northrop Grumman, has different beliefs. She believes that communicating to her family about work is difficult. “Sometimes you would get frustrated at work and you would kind of like to talk about it but you can’t,” she said.

When is confidentiality broken between a student and a counselor?

“

Counselor [Confidentiality]

There are three incidents where confidentiality is broken between a counselor and a student: when a student wants to harm themselves, a person or others, and when a student is being abused or neglected. When one of these three are broken confidentiality is broken and the counselor must inform faculty. There is no “confidentiality” rule if a student is smoking pot, using drugs, or using alcohol. When one of those three things has happened the rule gets broken and the student’s parent(s) are called. If a parent asks their child’s counselor what was being discussed between them in there child, counselors are not allowed to tell the parent what was discussed and they advise them to talk to their child.

—Arond Schonberg Compiled by Claire Tisius

Victoria can attest to difficulty in communicating. “If they’re working on something classified, then they’ll just be like ‘my day was bad’ but they can’t really tell me anything else,” Victoria said. Even though his work is kept separate from his family, Bob has grown used to the policy. “I’m accustomed to keeping some things separate. There are some things that you don’t talk about even though you wish you could,” Bob said. Because her parents work for different aerospace companies that compete to be the first to have projects in space, they are also not permitted to tell one another about their work. “It’s hard to keep it from my wife because she works in the same kind of industry, and depending on what you say it can actually give things away,” Bob said. Although it’s hard to keep information about their work projects from each other, Katheryn believes it makes it easier. “[Having a spouse who also cannot tell specifics of work] makes it easier since we’re both used to that kind of thing,” Katheryn

“

” “

said. To keep her parents from leaking any classified information, precautionary polygraphs, or lie detector tests, are given. “If they are working on a classified project they have to take polygraphs, and I know that stresses my mom out a lot,” Victoria said. Her mother’s job requires her to take polygraphs if she has a security clearance, an occupation requiring testing more often. “In general they probably give you a polygraph every five years, and some jobs that require security clearances you might [require] a polygraph a lot more often than that,” Katheryn said. Victoria does not know if she will ever be able to know about what her projects her parents work on. “It’s up to their companies to decide if they can declassify something,” Victoria said. Though her curiosity remains, so does Victoria’s acceptance of her parents’ work policy. “I guess I really didn’t have any other choice but to accept it, because there’s nothing I can do about it,” Victoria said.

Counselors’ opinion on confidentiality:

It [confidentiality] creates a sense of trust where students can come share personal things. When it comes to a safety issue we have to get others [administration] involved and it’s hard for students to agree to let their parents or other administration know about their problems. In the end they thank us.

—Kelly Goo

” ”

I agree with the fact that it [confidentiality] allows students to know that they can talk to us and that we won’t speak about the conversations we had. It is a difficult conversation when confidentiality has to be broken for the sake of protecting themselves.

—Tiffany Straight

FEATURES // MARCH 9, 2012

These days, stumbling across question-

ONLINE

SAFETY by Logan Collingwood

Keeping sensitive personal information private is becoming increasingly difficult with the advent of the digital age.

able pictures from last weekend’s party on Facebook is becoming increasingly common. As people continue to use Facebook and other social networks as extensions of their social lives, the security of their data becomes increasingly relevant. It is becoming relatively easy to find addresses, phone numbers, pictures, and other pieces of personal information online. A simple Google search of a person’s name will likely yield some worrying results, be it your Facebook profile, Twitter profile, or Tumblr. Despite this, on March 1, Google entirely revamped its privacy policy. This new policy has concerned many, as it will allow advertising companies to search and collect more data about its users. Not only is this data collected when you are sitting in front of your computer; this new policy allows them to collect data from mobile devices as well. “In short, we’ll treat you as a single user across all of our products, which will mean a simpler, more intuitive Google experience,” the company said in a blog post. This new privacy policy initiated by Google has caused representatives from 35 states to send complaints to the company, which subsequently caused the White House to issue an outline for Internet safety. “American consumers can’t wait any longer for clear rules of the road that ensure their personal information is safe online,” President Obama said. In order to legally enforce this outline, Congress would have to pass a comprehensive law regarding digital privacy, and a company’s right to store private data.

Currently, companies like Google gather data about what you are searching, browsing, downloading, and viewing, and use that information to target you with advertisements that are better tailored to your interests. If, for instance, you search for a new type of shoe, the company could then show you advertisements for that specific shoe even on entirely different websites. Facebook is somewhat infamous for gathering data about you, and subsequently giving it to advertising companies and other third party websites in order to deliver a personalized experience. The Facebook privacy policy currently states, “we occasionally need to provide General Information about you to preapproved third party websites and applications that use Platform at the time you visit them.” This is somewhat worrying, because Facebook could essentially gather your personal data, and use it for purposes other than what you are aware of. There are many ways to protect yourself from having private information publicized. One of the best ways to do this is by checking your privacy settings on websites like Facebook. Most of these companies set it so by default some of your information is public. If you take the time and effort to look through the settings, you can be easily protected with the click of a button. However, the absolute best method for protection would be the obvious solution of not putting up your phone number, hometown, or current location online. The companies won’t ever be able to use it for their own benefit.

Student struggled with Facebook impersonator by Madison Mitchell

Her friend stared at the door of their Spanish class before the first bell rang. Junior, Chelsea Hernandez was greeted with news that an impersonator had made a Facebook account under Hernandez’s name. Her impersonator was messaging her friends and starting fights over Facebook with them. Her friend told her that people were looking her up in the yearbook trying to see who it was. “[My impersonator] claimed she was in their classes and she knew them,” Hernan-

dez said, “She was messaging [my friend] saying how she really liked her and she was pretty and making inappropriate and rude comments to a lot of different people at school.” Hernandez’s friend, alumna Crystal Anderson informed her about the page after the impersonator messaged her. “The person was confessing things and telling people things using Chelsea’s identity on Facebook to hide behind,” Anderson said. A few weeks after Hernandez’s impersonator made the fake Facebook account,

she put up a picture of herself and people realized it was not the person they thought they were talking to. The page came down soon after. Hernandez was angry, but able to move on. “It was obvious [it was not me] because I don’t have a Facebook and I don’t even cuss,” Hernandez said, “It aroused some anger for a bit but I got over it quickly.” Another friend who the impersonator messaged was alumnus Christian Tosolini who has a Facebook account but saw first handed how easy it is to make a fake account.

“It really just showed me how easy it is to get online and become someone else and have the potential to create a lot of drama and problems, “ Tosolini said. Hernandez realizes that her impersonation was not as intense as a lot of others, but it could have become a bigger deal. “I think I was pretty content with the fact that the girl was not me,” Hernandez said, “People that know me know I am absolutely nothing like what the girl claimed to be and that is all that matters.”

8 FEATURES // March 9, 2012 T HE

DECIDING

Many students must make decisions that will have a great effect on both their day-to-day lives and their plans for the future.

FA C T OR

Stark chooses drama over athletics by Justin Lee

Torn in two. Stark chose to appear in the fall play, The Ninth Guest, instead of joining cross country.

PHOTO BY JENNY OETZELL

Junior Austin Stark has made the decision to go from running the mile to going the extra mile in this year’s upcoming play. After a series of injuries, Stark made the decision to quit cross-country and track and join drama instead. “I am very laid back, and I didn’t really need to think too much [about the decision]. I knew that either way I would have fun,” Stark said. This is the first year that Stark joined drama instead of participating in athletics. He was in the fall play and will appear in the spring musical. “I wasn’t expecting to get a role. It’s something that I haven’t done before. It is a very exciting thing to feel,” Stark said. Although Stark was pleased to receive the part, he was still skeptical about the drama experience. “I gave it some thought, and my decision for this year would be to join the musical. If I liked it, I wouldn’t go back [to track],” Stark said. According to drama teacher Justin Baldridge, participating in the productions was a good decision for Stark. “Through the plays he is maturing. [Austin’s] track record for grades is not perfect, but now that he has joined drama, I feel that he is trying to improve his grades and work habits,” Baldridge said. Stark is now in drama and is a teacher’s assistant for Baldridge. “I really love drama, and I will most likely continue to be in it next year,” Stark said.

K e nne dy dec i d e s to l i ve w i th h e r m o th e r by Vivian Lam

Feelings of guilt and turmoil churned inside her stomach as she considered the decision she would need to make. It was one parent or the other. The choice would affect her freedom, social life, relationships with her parents, and more. Freshman Kristine Kennedy* decided to live with her mother when she was given the choice to live with either parent earlier this year. “I [chose] my mom because my dad is way too stressful for me to deal with,” she said. According to Kennedy, her father said that she disappoints him. “He expects too much out of me and judges everything

that I say. I can’t [tell him] something that I would be able to tell my mom about,” she said. Kennedy’s mother was “scared to lose” her daughter. “I never asked her to choose. Her dad was making her choose,” Mrs. Kennedy said. Kennedy did not like the idea of living with her father for many reasons. “My life would be way different with my dad,” Kennedy said. “No friends on weekends, more responsibility, [and no privacy]. I would be part of his system, which consists of rules.” She considered many points when making her decision. “I considered the factor of independence mainly. I don’t even live with my dad, and he still breathes down my neck,” Kennedy said. “My older brother is also a factor. He is my

best friend. I would miss him too much if I didn’t live with him.” Nevertheless, Kennedy had trouble choosing when she was forced to make the decision. “I felt like I couldn’t help but let down one of them. I knew [that] by picking and choosing, it would make the other parent think I love them less or more,” she said. She finally decided by carefully considering the consequences. “In the end, I realized I can’t base my life on how others feel. I had to make the choice that I knew would be right and not let their feelings stand in the way,” Kennedy said. *Name has been changed to protect the identity of the person.

College of Choice by Lia Quilty

(?)

A student’s happiness, future, and livelihood can all depend on one simple decision: the choice of where to go to college. As colleges acceptance letters trickle in, many seniors are struggling to decide which school is right for them. “I actually do not have [a top choice] at this moment. I am trying to leave my options open so that once I have all of my decisions and scholarships I can make an objective decision,” senior Haley Miller said. Miller has been accepted to Vanderbilt, USC, and Stanford so far. “All of my top choices are top research universities that are very well rounded in all aspects including academics, athletics, social, and community service,” she said. She feels that she has many things to take into account before deciding. “The academic programs and the science department are the most important aspects,” she said. “How I feel on campus is [also] important to me. I like a very warm and welcoming campus.” She has been collecting information about each university. “I have visited all of the twelve schools that I applied to, except two. Campus visits, sitting in on classes, and talking to students there help,” Miller said. “I also independently research information about the colleges in my free time, so that I [will] end up making the best possible decision.”

FEATURES // March 9, 2012

As the May 1 deadline rapidly approaches, seniors must decide where they will spend the next four years of their life.

She does not feel that her parents are trying to influence her decision. “Both of my parents are leaving the final decision to me even though they have been helping me along the process. They both want me to find the college that is best for me,” she said. While she admits that the decision is daunting, she is not afraid. “[Making a decision] is really hard, [which] is why I am trying to have as much information as possible about my schools,” Miller said. “I am not worried about making the wrong choice because I know that I will be happy at any of the colleges I applied to. I know I will think long and hard before making my final decision.” Senior Nicolette Barba is also trying to decide between colleges. She has been accepted to San Diego State, as well as to schools in New York, Oregon, Colorado, and Utah. “I’m deciding between two schools at the moment. I’ve just been weighing the pros and cons between the two,” Barba said. “It’s a lot to think about. It’s a decision that will affect the rest of my life.” Like Miller, she is taking several different factors into consideration before making her final decision. “The majors, housing, campus, enrollment size, sports, and location are all big factors,” Barba said. She is leaning towards going out of state, either to Portland State University or the University of Utah. “I thought about being in state, but I decided that I want

a chance to really be on my own and figure things out for myself,” said Barba. “I’ve visited both schools and I’ve talked to all sorts of people about each school. It’s definitely helped me with some decisions of what I want and don’t want from college.” Senior Chris Lew is also faced with the similar difficult decision of choosing which college to attend. He has applied to Stanford, University of Chicago, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and others, and has so far been accepted to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. “I’d like to go to Stanford because it attracts the best and brightest. I want to go to a school where I could be surrounded by those types of people,” Lew said. Like Miller, Lew does not feel pressure from his parents to go to a certain school. “My parents have encouraged me to keep my options open, and to be prepared for any response from colleges,” he said. Lew is primarily looking for an inspiring college experience. “The rigor of the school is very important to me. I want to be at a school that always challenges me and helps me grow,” Lew said. Lew also refuses to let the fear of making the wrong choice worry him. “I’m fully convinced that I will make myself happy wherever I decide to go,” he said. “I will end up where I am meant to be.”

Nichols plans to enter the military by Cody Williams

Life in the military is extremely different from the frivolous college life many students dream of. Late-night partying is replaced by drills, freedom from parents is exchanged for service under a drill sergeant, and procrastination is swapped with discipline. In spite of the sacrifices he will need to make, senior Jabari Nichols has decided to join the army after graduation. “If I went to college, life would just be more school,” Nichols said. “I can’t fight the enemy in college.” Nichols feels that his primary motivation in choosing to join the military is his desire to perform his patriotic duty. “In college you are only helping yourself,” Nichols said. “The military gives you a chance to serve people other than yourself.” Although Nichols has decided to join the military, he also considered attending college. “If I didn’t sign up for the military, I would go to El Camino College,” he said. Even though he is risking his life for the United States, he does not anticipate anything in return. “I’m not expecting to get anything,” Nichols said. “I didn’t sign up for the perks.” However, he does plan on facing many difficulties during basic training and beyond. “What I am expecting is a lot of physical work, early mornings, and just good times,” he said. His eagerness to give back to his country is just one of the factors motivating him to join the military. “There is a war going on,” he said. “There is a fight that

needs to be fought.” He also chose to join the military because of his ideological opposition to extremists. “Terrorists are bad and I’m against what they do,” Nichols said. “I just think that they need to go.” Another reason why Nichols chose to join the military is family tradition; Nichol’s father and two of his grandparents served in the military. “They served, so now it’s my turn,” Nichols said.

“ In college you are only

helping yourself. The military gives you a chance to serve people other than yourself.

”

Even though members of Nichol’s family have served in the military, his parents feel that the military may not be the best option for him. “My parents are supportive, but like any parents, they wish I would have chosen another route,” he said. Overall, Nichols is excited about joining the Army. “The military is the biggest adventure out there,” he said. “I’m excited to have a chance to get out and do something big.” Even though Nichols is eager to join the military, he is aware of the challenges that he will face. “I know most of it won’t be fun, but it is for a good cause,” Nichols said.

PHOTO BY JULIE D’EATH

Army strong. Nichols plans to continue his family legacy and join the military after graduation.

FEATURES // MARCH 9, 2012

Robotics team builds friendship by Shivaani Gandhi and LeAnn Maanum

The moment they walk through the blue double doors, sophomores Petra Grutzik and Matt Mardesich and junior Francisco Peralta become an engineering family. As the hours tick away, they perfect their robot, tweaking wires and testing their prototype. “Everyone is nice and cooperative. I always have fun and everyone’s just really friendly,” Grutzik said. Grutzik has been a member of the robotics team for two years and will compete in her second FIRST Robotics competition on March 15 in Long Beach. The six week “build period” that leads up to the competition has already passed, and the team has designed, assembled, and programmed their robot. “So far we have a great design,” Grutzik said. “I’m really excited because all the work that everyone’s put into [the robot] is finally going to pay off. I can’t wait to see it come out ready to compete.” In order to make sure their robot is up to par, the team meets five times a week for three hours each day. Mardesich sometimes struggles to balance robotics, school work, and his social life, but the team is flexible to members’ schedules. “[The team] is usually pretty understanding if you have a lot of work to do and can’t make it,” he said. “We just do what we need to do.” Peralta also finds it challenging to keep up with all his other work during build season. “It was tough during season, but I’ve learned how to deal with people and get stuff done efficiently,” Peralta said. The team spends so much time together that, according to Grutzik, the members are “like a family.” “We have to figure out how to deal with all these challenges and hard or stressful times. We really get to know each other really well, so practices are always lots of fun,” she said. In order to create a complicated robot, the robotics team is split into groups responsible for different

parts of the robot. The three Redondo students make up the intake and outtake team responsible for getting the basketballs in the robot and up into the shooter. “Our system worked pretty well and we didn’t have to do any major redesigns after we started building, so that was good,” Mardesich said. The Beach Cities Robotics Team consists of students from RUHS and Mira Costa who work to build a robot that is able to perform challenges for the next competition. This year, the team’s robot will compete in “Rebound Rumble,” where it will have to be able to shoot a basketball into three baskets at different heights. “We’re a really good team. We’ve done well in the past, and I’m confident that this competition will be fun,” Grutzik said. According to Grutzik, although they work with Mira Costa students, the team is not segregated by school. “We all just work together because we all want to have a really good robot. It’s all our robot. So it’s not really like we have any disputes or anything,” Grutzik said. Grutzik believes that despite the desire to win, the competition can be a learning experience. “It’s always good to see what we can do better, because it’s a constant process for trying to improve the robot,” Grutzik said. According to Grutzik, although it is “competitive,” the team is a friendly society with lots of help from older members. “Everyone is always helping each other. We have great mentors who teach us. They’re all engineers from Northrop Grumman and Boeing,” she said. Grutzik also believes that robotics is a great learning experience and would like to see more people join the team. “It’s an amazing program because it’s hands-on and lots of fun.” she said. “[There are] so many great mentors and so many great kids that are so knowledgeable and really push you to try new things,” she said.

Making aSlam Dunk Robot

3. ALL PHOTOS BY JENNY OETZEL

A slam dunk team. 1. (from left) Peralta, Grutzick, and Mardesich huddle around the robot they helped to build. 2. Although they have already sent in their finalized robot, the robotics team built another robot to practice with before the competition. 3. In 2001 the students of Redondo and Mira Costa displayed their camraderie by painting the back cabinets after they won the FIRST world championship for robotics.

FEATURES // MARCH 9, 2012

PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER Students put a lot of work into making a robot. Hundreds of nuts and bolts, tiny motors, and wires come together to make a spinning, roving, complicated machine capable of shooting some hoops.

The Stats: Weight: 150 lbs Shooter Speed: 14 ft/sec

Shooter: Two different motors spin the wheels while a linear actuator adjusts the angle of the shooter.

Tower: Synthetic rubber pulleys propel the basketballs up the robot to the feeder.

Intake: Basketballs are steered into the robot through this opening and taken into the tower.

Feeder: The feeder rotates 270 and places the basketballs in the shooter.

For an extended audio interview and more photos of the team and robot, watch the sound slide at hightideonline.org.

Cover Story

MARCH 9, 2012

CHEATING: PRESSURE OR LAZINESS? by Matthew Brancolini

CARTOON BY VALERIE CHOI

74%

of students polled have never been caught cheating.

percentage of students

What subjects have students cheated in?

Whether it’s copying off of another student’s exam or Googling answers on an iPhone, cheating is becoming increasingly rampant in high schools across the nation as it becomes easier and safer. According to math teacher Bill Dargen, students cheat because they do not care about learning the material. “Students cheat because they are focused on getting a better grade and not on learning. As long as we give grades, people will want to cheat to get a better grade,” Dargen said. “As long as grades are important to colleges and parents, some kids will cheat. It’s a part of the academic world.” History teacher Brooke Mata also believes that students cheat because it is easier than studying and they do not believe cheating is bad. “Kids know that if they cheat they can definitely get a good grade and they think they won’t get caught. I’ve had kids say to me ‘Why shouldn’t I cheat if I know I can get away with it?’” Mata said. “It also depends on the student. Some kids would feel guilty whereas others wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.” The pressure to stay competitive with other students who cheat successfully may encourage more students to cheat, according to Mata. “It may be frustrating for kids to see their peers cheat and do well, especially for kids who are trying to keep a certain GPA so they can get into college,” Mata said. “Everyone, especially competitive people, looks for shortcuts. Cheating, if you’re successful, is a way to get ahead.” Most students do not realize the seriousness of cheating and the far-reaching effects that getting caught cheating can have on a student’s life, says Mata. “What students don’t understand is that getting caught

“When I see [cheating] going on during a test, I take the test [away] and they get a zero for sure. It’s hard to monitor with so many kids in the class and with so many different ways of cheating now, with the phones and the texting, and the taking pictures of tests; it almost makes our job impossible to try and monitor it but I think that all of us teachers try to do our best to prevent it.”

Amanda Morton subject

cheating in college gets you kicked out of most places and [getting caught cheating] can really make your life a lot harder,” Mata said. “It’s something teachers need to take seriously and students need to take teachers more seriously because it can affect college and their futures.” According to Mata, most students also fail to understand that cheating negatively affects teachers also. “Teachers always feel disappointed when they catch a student cheating. We know the kids aren’t bad kids because they cheated, they just made a mistake. Unfortunately, it seems like cheating is getting worse,” Mata said. Technology has made cheating easier and more widespread than ever, according to Mata. “Cheating is definitely worse because of technology. Back before cell phones, kids would write answers on their bodies, sit on their notes or look at other student’s papers. Now people text and take pictures of tests and send it to people,” Mata said. Mata believes that certain measures could be taken to reduce the amount of cheating. “To stop cheating, we could allow no bathroom breaks during a test and use desk dividers so students couldn’t copy off of each other,” Mata said. “Also, teachers could collect cell phones prior to the test and give them back at the end of the period. I think these solutions will be a discussion in the near future.” Although new policies could prevent students from cheating, Dargen believes that cheating will always go on in schools. “Obviously cheating is bad and we should try to stop it as much as possible but you can’t really stop students completely. They will always find new ways to cheat,” Dargen said. “It’s difficult to stop them even with extreme punishments and policies. Students will always cheat. It’s human nature.”

52% of students polled believe cheating in high school to get into a good college is not okay. “Cheating on homework will hurt you because it helps you study for the test and see if you understand the material.” -Jack Jarvis, sophomore

academic dishonesty. theSTATISTICS Quotes compiled by Andrew Cuzak

81% believe that the public education system fosters cheating. “Back when I was a student, cheating was not really an issue. The pressure that society has placed on the kids creates a negative culture of cheating.” -Julie Ferron, AP European History teacher

62% feel guilty about cheating. “If you cheat in, you will get kicked out of the class, so you should learn in advance that cheating is wrong.” -Moiz Ansari, junior

96%

What do you think the punishment for cheating should be? “Students who cheat and have a record of cheating need to be removed from any high level course they are in. In addition, they should recieve a zero on the assignment and be under heavier scrutiny.” -Leila Williams, AP & Honors English teacher

Is cheating ever justified? “No, because in the long run, you’re just cheating yourself out of knowing material and that will cause problems in the future.” -Donna Williams, Algebra 2 teacher

would not report other students for cheating. “I think they are eventually going to get caught, but I don’t want to be the one to deal with them and the whole process of reporting it.” -Alyssa Galvan, senior

“My students have [a paper] that says ‘Don’t be a cheater’ in Spanish, obviously, which they cover the answer sheet with…Frequently, if someone has to take a makeup test, the make-up test would be a different test. The other thing I do is physically monitor; I don’t ever sit down at my desk….I don’t give the same test; I make up a new test from year to year.”

Deberah Forester

How easy is it to cheat? “I do not think it is super easy to cheat in my class, but with thirty to thirty-five students in the class, it can happen. I’ve already caught some people this year. -Timothy Baumgartner, AP Stats teacher

“Making sure the desks are cleared off and everything looks correct before you even pass the test out and things aren’t out that shouldn’t be out, walking around to monitor during the test, taking note of any movement that appears to not mesh with sitting at your desk and taking a test, just making your presence known in the classrooms so the kids see you’re watching what’s taking place.”

Dawn Hunter

FEATURES // MARCH 9, 2012

Going Green From veganism to celebrating Irish roots, students embrace green.

PHOTOS BY ANDREW HAZELTINE

Meat is murder. Gallipeau and Miller-Hack do not eat meat as a part of their vegan lifestyles, as well run the Animal Recscue Club.

Gallipeau and Miller-Hack adapt to vegan lifestyle by Hannah Son

While her family orders their hamburgers and steak, senior Liz Gallipeau ops for rice with tofu and vegetables. After becoming a vegan last January, Gallipeau is still trying to convince her family of the benefits veganism offers. “None of my family is vegan yet, but even if they have not yet warmed up to the idea of being vegan I still think that shedding more light on what goes into their food and how their decisions affect animals and the planet is a step in the right direction,” Gallipeau said. For many, the definition of being vegan is unclear and often confused with being a veg-

etarian. Gallipeau states that, “being vegetarian means refraining from eating meat. Being vegan means refraining from buying anything made from animal products and eating meat, eggs, dairy, and even honey.” For her, even bees and insects should be considered. “When I learned more and more about the mistreatment of animals in the food industry, I decided that I could not live with myself if I continued to buy into that industry,” Gallipeau said. After watching a few videos of animal mistreatment Gallipeau was determined to start her new year as a new person living a vegan

life style. “Watching videos of cows being kicked by factory workers and having their babies dragged away from them to be turned into veal made me feel sick to my stomach and has convinced me to not only be vegan myself but also to try to explain to others what goes on behind closed doors at factory farms,” Gallipeau said. Gallipeau helps animals and informs people through numerous volunteering events. “I volunteer at animal shelters separately from the Animal Rescue club and help to rehabilitate stray animals if they are sick or in-

jured,” Gallipeau said. Gallipeau along with friends Charlotte Kim and Josie Miller-Hack, a fellow vegan, have established the Animal Rescue Club. “As a club we do a lot of volunteering and fundraising for local animal shelters” Gallipeau said. She plans on continuing her lifestyle and her Animal rescue club, “I fully intend to continue doing this in the future and hopefully I can start an Animal Rescue Club at whatever college I decide to attend so that I can continue to spread the word about animals,” Gallipeau said.

FEATURES// MARCH 9, 2012

Lovano overcomes frustrating allergy

by Cooper Lovano

I can’t quite remember the first time I saw it, but there it was again. I could recognize that smile from any other. I could pinpoint that specific expression of joy, that face of euphoria, in a room full of lottery winners. It grew across her oily face, her grin slowly uncovered her festive red, white, and blue braces, each bracket seeming to reflect light from a different disco ball, flickering neon sign, or static filled television in the bowling alley. “I’m sorry, can you say that again?”she condescendingly asked. I didn’t need to, as she had heard me correctly the first time. The smile that I have grown accustomed to see is not initially a smile, but a look of confusion. The facial perversion created as if I had ordered my food in a Scandinavian dialect that only 400 people can understand gradually turned into a smirk as she realized the paradox that I had created. Ordering a pizza without cheese is a task not for the thinskinned and sensitive type, and this specific encounter at a bowling alley at my friend’s eighth birthday party would set a precedent in a series of food-related embarrassments from which I am unable to escape. No, this task is a test only for those willing not only

to accept, but to request the scoffing that the man at El Burrito Jr. partakes in after a brief period of confusion when he hears my altered version of a bean and cheese burrito. If I was the only human in a world abundantly filled with food, I can honestly say I would have no problem being violently allergic to dairy. I have been my entire life so I don’t know what I’m missing. The problems arise when others come in and look for answers as to the details of my being defective. “So you’re lactose intolerant? Have you ever almost died? What happens if you eat this much cheese?” I have nothing against people that are lactose intolerant, but they have certainly made my life a lot harder than it needs to be. “Yes,” I have learned to reply, “I am lactose intolerant.” While people with a lactose intolerance have the inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in dairy products, I have an allergy in which my throat closes up and my airway is severely constricted. To explain this to a friend on the phone ordering a cheeseburger for me is less than practical, so I have instead begun to accept this new title.

ILLUSTRATION BY COOPER LOVANO

Rubke appreciates beauty Smith family Irish in nature through garden culture remains strong by Dylan Biggs

by Mannal Haddad

Sophomore Daniel Smith’s got the luck of the Irish on his side. Between his Irish heritage and being raised in America, Smith has a unique medley of cultures that fuse into his Irish-American way of life. Smith is between 85-95% Irish and a “pure bred” has led to a respect for his family’s culture, such as participating in Catholic ceremonies and having catholic symbols in his house despite being Mormon. “Irish culture is influenced extremely by Catholicism so I was raised with a lot of strict Christian morals,” he said. “A lot of us even still do Lent even though we’re not Catholic.” According to Smith’s mother, Denise Smith, their Irish ancestor’s struggle when they first arrived in America also helps them value their sacrifices. “Our ancestors were not always welcome here and they had to work very hard to get ahead,” she said. “The lessons I have learned from my ancestors are the reason I value hard work and my family.”

The Smiths’ appreciation for their ancestor’s sacrifices and their heritage have led them to be close knit and supportive, sometimes his family will travel all the way from northern California just to help him with some repairs around the house. “Irish culture is primarily based around family. The idea that family comes first is pretty much bred into us,” he said. “No matter how far away we are we still always try to get together or help each other.” Smith and the rest of his family all wear Irish Claddagh rings with symbols meaning love, friendship, and loyalty, which are all traits Smith’s mother has noticed in his personality. Smith’s culture has heavily influenced his life and personality because of the respect he has for his heritage and ancestors. “I come from a family of strong, dedicated workers, and just all around respectable people,” he said. “I’m proud of my heritage because it’s a culture of people who don’t know how to quit.”

The scent of watered roses fills the air of a beautiful garden. A multitude of vibrant flowers are seen throughout. Maintaining his garden and breeding roses is a favorite pastime of biology teacher Mark Rubke. Rubke believes that it is not a green thumb as much as his knowledge of plants that make him a successful gardener. The insight into nature from his personal garden has made Rubke appreciate nature more. “You can just get caught up in [nature] itself,” he said. Not only has gardening made him realize the beauty of nature but it also is something he just enjoys. “I find gardening kind of calming,” Rubke said. Rubke knows that to be able to continue with his hobby, he needs a good earth to grow on. “I really think people need to wake up and realize that some of our everyday practices are harming the environment,” he said. One thing Rubke thinks people should start doing is conserving water so he can continue with what he is doing.

“I don’t have a front lawn anymore because maintaining a lawn is kind of an environmental nightmare,” he said. He realized that if he was going to try to grow roses, a very water dependent flower, he should try to reduce the amount of water he used. Rubke not only grows roses but ornamental flowers, trees, and vegetables when in season. Rubke says that the feeling of growing something is alluring. “Whether you’re producing a flower or a vegetable it’s kind of nice to see something get bigger, produce fruit, and give you something to eat,” Rubke said. Rubke says that of all the things that make gardening such a pleasure, the fact that it makes him a better person is one of the greatest. “It’s helped mute my bad qualities’” he said. Rubke knows that if something isn’t done about the environment the shape of the coasts will change. “The climate change is just downright frightening,” he said.

FEATURES // MARCH 9, 2012

Coastal treasure

The Palos Verdes tide pools provide breathtaking views and never ending trails

by Sophia Richie

PHOTOS BY DIIANA LUNA

High tide. 1. The deserted Palos Verdes coast is actually sprawling with life if you look close enough. 2. Just one of many tide pools that can be found full of sea life.

An adventure begins just below the sheer cliffs along the rocky coast line of Palos Verdes. About 15 minutes away various tide pools allow you to explore and get away from life. “The amount of sea life in the tide pools is really amazing and beautiful” junior Josh Hong said. Abalone Cove and Malaga Cove are one of the few spots that are open to the public to view at any time. Not only are these places beautiful but they are also a great place to go to for just a short day trip. As you pull up to Abalone Cove you hike down the short trail you end up on a rocky beach where the adventure beings. Malaga Cove and Abalone Cove are both great places to hike, relax, swim and explore. “I like to look at all the sea urchins and jump off all of the coral reefs with all of my friends,” sophomore Tate Crisfield said. At Abalone Cove there are many different tide pools that you can see on low tide and

you can walk across to look through all of the different coves. At the end of Bluff Coverdown 300 foot cliffs lies Malaga Cove. While walking down the beach there are some of the best tide pools containing many forms of sea life. Keep walking and there is an old rusted abandoned ship wreck that lies on the rocks that attracts many sea life animals to look at. You can also reach the tide pools by starting your hike on Torrance Beach and hiking around the cove. Around sunset the view is serene and is very relaxing to sit on the rocks and watch the sun set. “I like to just go down there with all of my friends and hang out and watch the waves go in and out,” sophomore Lisa Hurley said They both make a great day trips are not to far and they are full of all kinds of adventures. “It’s such a beautiful place and going to them makes me feel close to nature,”Crisfield said.

Catalina has something for everyone by Navea Dasz

Located just 22 miles off the coast of Los Angeles, Catalina Island is a great place for kids, teens, and adults to have fun with friends and family on a day-trip. Redondo students and teachers both agree that visiting Catalina is a “wonderful” experience. “It is a very family-oriented place,” junior Kristen Currie said. “You can bond with your family with all the activities offered on Catalina such as snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, running, and biking.” According to Spanish teacher Deborah Forster the scenery is beautiful and picturesque “It was a beautiful day [when I visited], with the blue ocean, blue sky, and the rocks,” Forster said. “The sun, the ocean, the green, the warmth; it was a pleasant experience.” Currie was also fascinated by the scenery she witnessed. “I went on a morning hike, and there

were a lot of cactus around. When you got to the top of the hill, you could see a really pretty sunrise,” Currie said. “It was so orange and yellow and really pretty. I remember you could look over and see these really green hills. You could see everything.” Junior Bronwyn Kim went to Catalina with her family last summer and found that there were many leisure activities to do together as a family. “The whole island is not too busy, like in big cities, so the whole trip is relaxing,” Kim said. Although some people stay for more than a day, Kim feels that staying for the day or the night is more than enough. “If you stay for more than one day, then it might get boring, because the island is so small,” Kim said. According to Forster, the expensive prices on the island are another factor that deter-

mines the length of the trip. “If you stay there, the accommodations are fairly expensive, because there aren’t very many accommodations,” she said. “I just went for the day. It was a nice way to spend the day.” Even though she only spent a day at Catalina, Kim felt that the trip was an adventure. “Para-sailing is really expensive, but it was totally worth it. After I came down from the sky, I felt like a different person, like I overcame some kind of limit in me,” Kim said. English teacher Leila Williams went to Catalina with her family more than ten years ago. “I grabbed any opportunity to spend a few relaxing hours with [my daughters], since all them had been incredibly busy during high school,” she said.

Travel time Travel options: Ferry Price: $70 round-trip Helicopter Price: $211 round-trip

Restaurants: Where: Avalon Catalina What: Mr. Ning’s Chinese Garden Price: $5 - $10 Where: Avalon Catalina What: Pancake Cottage Price: $5 - $20

restaurants found on tripadviser

FEATURES // MARCH 9, 2012 A sun-drenched strand of artisans, lined with towering palm trees sets the bohemian atmosphere. A scent of incense lingers everywhere. A sunset that resembles melting rainbow sherbet illuminates the sky. The chaos is engrossing. Venice serves the most picturesque conclusion to an eventful weekend. Los Angeles’ various cultures clash in Venice to form a unique urban art district that can create a new adventure each time you go.

mazes. There are also many fortune tellers along the boardwalk, claiming to foresee destiny. Vendors man tables full of trinkets, accessories, and artwork. Most items are either Rasta inspired or serve as Los Angeles propaganda. Across from these tables are shack-like shops that are filled with an endless variety of inappropriate, tacky t-shirts. They also carry Venice souvenirs of all types. It’s the perfect place to purchase a humorous birthday present.

VISITING VENICE BEACH by Isaiah Madison

Graffiti violently plasters every wall. Art so ornate and abstract it’s incomprehensible. Walking down the boardwalk, street performers rally spectators just till there about to leave then awe until they are with break dancing and acrobatics. The amazing strength of the human body is pushed to the limit at Venice’s Famed Muscle Beach, where leathery bodybuilders lift massive weights. The Boardwalk is lined with weird museums that claim to own 3 headed dogs, and legged snakes. These museums are filled fun house mirrors and confusing

For the more conventional clothes shopping, head inland to Venice’s Abbot Kinney Boulevard, where pop-up stores form a Hipsters paradise and boutiques full of pricey merchandise await trendy youngsters. Boots of leather, denim, wool, boots with zippers, buckles, heels. These stores offer a blend of beach culture and indie style. This area also has new age restaurants here where you can eat health conscious, tasty food. End your day by dancing, singing, or watching the ceremonial drum circle. This festive conclusion begins just as the sun sinks below the horizon. PHOTO BY ERINN MIIDDO

Hopkins park, a relaxing getaway from fast paced life by Cedric Hyon

PHOTO BY ERINN MIIDDO

Sitting ducks. Hopkins Wilderness Park provides a peaceful setting for all.

Shadows become more prominent as one walks deeper into the woods, leading to a murky, quiet pond filled with moss and fish in the center of Hopkins Wilderness Park in Redondo Beach. My first time at a wilderness park, I wasn’t so sure what to expect. I saw little to no signs of life. Going through Hopkins is boring if one goes alone. The eerie park is motionless for the most part and one could almost imagine it as the setting of a horror flick. One should definitely bring a friend to the park to make it more enjoyable and junior

Sarah Finch and senior Jovan Orozco take the opportunity to do so with their church. “It’s a really good place to bond because you don’t really focus on your phone, you focus on what’s in front of you,” Finch said. According to Orozco the different environment makes it an easy place to bond. “There’s hardly anyone there. The park doesn’t have the same vibe as Redondo. It’s a really different environment,” Orozco said. Finch also describes Hopkins as quiet, but resourceful. “It’s pretty mellow because there’s not a lot of people. The place is relaxing and quiet. It’s

also resourceful because there’s different summer camps there were kids can learn more about nature,” Finch said.

Address: 1102 Camino Real Parking: Free Park Hours: 10 a.m. -

4:30p.m. daily Closed Wednesdays.

FEATURES // MARCH 9, 2011

MARKET CENTRAL

Farmers’ markets are available in every city in the south bay. Redondo, Hermosa, El Segundo, and Torrance offer Farmers Markets that sell fresh food in their own way.

Torrance market has large variety By Alejandro Quevo

The delicious zest of organic produce, freshly baked goods, and local treats gives a warm rumble to everyone’s stomach. They can all be found at the Torrance Farmer’s Market. Every Saturday for the past twenty years, the Torrance Farmer’s Market has brought organic foods to the South Bay. Running from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Charles H. Wilson Park, it provides fresh fruits and vegetables, cultural foods, live music, and raffles at noon. Vendors attribute the market’s success over others like it to its large size and the perks it brings. “This is a big market, so you get a wider variety of foods and vendors,” Espie Miranda, who has been selling cactus foods (Nopal) there for three years, said. “People also enjoy it because it’s local and fresh. It’s definitely one of the better markets.” The farmers work hard to make sure the

food they bring to market is fresh, and is often picked as early as the morning of or the day before the market. “I work from four until I can’t see anymore,” Jason Nakatani, who works with Orange County Produce, said with a laugh. “My cousin has been selling here since [the market] opened 20 years ago. I’ve been working with him ever since, picking berries, tomatoes, potatoes, whatever needs to be done. I’ve been doing it ever since I can remember; it’s all I know.” Those who come to enjoy the farmer’s market are never disappointed, and with its fresh, delicious foods and homely atmosphere, people can see why. “What I like most about this market is how it’s really big, so you get a wide variety of fun foods you can’t get anywhere else. It’s also right next to the park, which is a great place to enjoy what I buy,” Louise Conlon, a patron of the market, said. “I love it here; it’s the best market that I know.”

Hawthorne market is family friendly By Llana LaGraff

Families of venders gather around the parking lot of Da Vinci Charter School, putting up their tents and setting out their food for the oncoming crowd of families that will begin arriving at 8 a.m. and won’t stop coming until the market closes at 1 p.m. Ivan Gama, a citrus fruit seller, hasn’t left the Hawthorne Del Aire Certified Farmers’ Market since “day one.” “I’ve been here so long, and I know mostly everyone. There are little kids that come with their families and I’ve known them since they were in the bellies,” Gama said. Gama likes how Hawthorne’s Framers’ Market is very family oriented, as does all natural bologna and spread vender Jonathan Matos.

“There are more families that come and shop, or come and sell, together. Unlike other places I sell, everyone here is very relaxed and not in a hurry,” Matos said. Farmers’ Markets always pride themselves on having locally grown food. Gama grows her fruit at her “uncle’s little farm in San Diego,” where she and her family grow “non-genetically altered products without pesticides.” Along with having only locally grown or made products, Greg Fito of State Recycling is also there every Saturday to collect any broken or unwanted electronics that shouldn’t be thrown away. “I have my pick-up truck and my fliers and I keep computers, TVs, cell phones, and other electronics out of landfills,” Fito said.

Market on the sea. 1. A man peruses the market in search of a delicious local food to buy. The Redondo Farmers Market offers a large variety of different products. 2. A peanut vendor puts his freshly toasted peanuts into a bin ready to cool. He gives out free samples.

2. PHOTOS BY ERINN MIDDO

Redondo Market provides a laid-back atmosphere By Cameron Paulson

The view of the ocean. The sound of the waves. The sight of fresh fresh flowers and fruits, and the smell of various foods brings you to the Redondo Farmers Market. Every Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. the farmers market is open to the public. Abigail Gomez, one of the many vendors and Julie Maxwell, an avid farmers market goer, have strong feelings about Redondo’s farmers market. “I love working at the farmers market every Thursday,” Gomez said. “The variety of foods, vendors, and people is always nice to look forward to.” Gomez has been working at farmer’s markets for about three years now and it is her “favorite” activity each week. “I have been to many different farmers markets but none seem to compare to Redondo’s,” Gomez said. “The atmosphere and people here just set a great mood overall.” Sitting in the same spot each Thursday with the same “sweet smelling” strawberries waiting to be bought in front of her, Gomez develops a rapport with customers who come frequently. “When I first started here I noticed familiar faces returning, but a certain [person] kept coming to my booth,” Gomez said. “Now [Maxwell] is a long time friend who not only do I see on Thursdays but every Saturday morning as well for breakfast.” Maxwell first developed a relationship with Gomez when she too first started going to the Redondo farmers market. “Living in Palos Verdes, I always went

to the farmers market up there but once I found Redondo’s farmers market I never went back,” Maxwell said. “Not only is there much more to offer at the Redondo farmers market the people there and the beautiful view of the ocean make it a perfect place to be bright and early in the morning.” With a family of three the farmers maker is somewhat of an “escape” from Maxwell’s normal routine.

“

“I have been to many different farmers markets but none seem to compare to Redondo’s. The atmosphere and people here just set a great mood overall.” —Abigail Gomez

”

“On a usual day I am running errands, cooking, cleaning, and of course taking care of my children,” Maxwell said, “The only time I have to myself is on Thursdays when I go to the farmers market, get a coffee and a crepe and pick up some strawberries from [Gomez] and just take a breather.” With both very “busy” lives, Maxwell and Gomez can agree that Redondo farmers market is the only one for them. “[Redondo farmers market] is a simple get away where you can grab your food of choice, chat with your friends or even sit a lone and just watch the ocean and the waves,” Maxwell said.

FEATURES // MARCH 9, 2011

Hermosa serves many generations By Claire Tisius

One of the vendors Weiss has sold with from the start is Harry’s Berries. Harry’s Berries is run by Jennifer Jean, who runs multiple markets throughout the week alongside the Hermosa Market. “We do 26 markets a week, in Santa Monica, Ventura, and Santa Barbara. When in full season, we multiply the number of markets and when there isn’t a lot of berries we save up for the big markets. I do five markets [now] and it’s my full time job,” said Jean. Harry’s Berries was started by her grandfather, Harry Jean. According to Jennifer her grandfather started in 1967. When Harry passed away in 1993, her father took over. “Our most popular crepes are the strawberries covered in chocolate, but for lunch we have a savory crepe that is filled with cheese, mushroom, and tomatoes,” said Murray. Just like Harry’s Berries, Michelle Murray is in the family business with her aunt Muriane, who Michelle covers for when she is out of town. Murray’s crepes recipe comes from her grandmother, who came from another group of chefs that eventually retired and started making crepes. Muriane’s Crepes De France also sells at many other markets in the South Bay including Torrance, Peninsula, and Redondo.

As people walk into the parking lot, the atmosphere is loud and talkative. The smell of sugar and fresh popcorn attracts people to the kettle corn stand. As people make their way to the stands, they can find all organic fruits and vegetables, while the enticing smell of crepes permeates the air. At the Hermosa Beach Farmers Market, there are two sections, the Certified Section, for farmers who have a certificate to grow), and Non Agricultural Products, (people make the product and prepare it on site). The market consists of 17 farmers. “Our longest farmers have been here as almost as long as the market has been running, 22 years. Farmers like Smith Farms, Arenet Farms, Bender Flowers, and Harry’s Berries,” Mary Lou Weiss, Market Manager, said. Weiss has been the Market Manager of the Hermosa Market since it opened. She is also the manager of two other markets in Torrance, Charles H. Wilson Park and Downtown Torrance (Sartori and El Prado). The Hermosa Market began in downtown Hermosa on 14th street because the city wanted the area to become more populated. As more people moved into downtown Hermosa, the market was moved to where they are now on Valley Drive between 8th and 10th street. 4.

ALL PHOTOS BY CLAIRE TISIUS

Gettin’ Fresh. 1. Vendors sell a variety of fresh vegetables from green beans to lettuce and tomatoes. 2. Jennifer Jean sells strawberries, strawberry juice, and a unique salsa made from fresh berries. 3. Michelle Murray concocts a fresh crepe for a hungry customer, with strawberries and chocolate. 4. Visitors stroll past the non-agricultural portion of the market.

Market to

Redondo

309 Esplanade at the Pier adjacent to Veterans Park 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Market

Torrance Wilson Park on Crenshaw Boulevard 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Hermosa Valley Drive and 11th Street 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Hawthorne Aviation and West 135th St. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

SPORTS // MARCH 9, 2012

ONE POINT AT A TIME

Boys’ tennis defeats Culver City despite injuries by Allegra Peelor

Despite a lack of healthy and eligible players yesterday, boys tennis beat Culver City 11-7. According to junior Derek Levchenko, one of the main reasons the boys won was because of their overall mindset. “We always have a pretty positive attitude before the match,” he said. “We have fun whether we win or lose.” Junior Christian Grantz agrees that the team works well together and just likes to have fun. “We have good chemistry among the returning players,” he said. Not only are the boys able to stay positive, but they are also “intelligent.” “We know we can work things out,” Grantz said. “We can actively think of strategies and use our skills effectively to win.” Head coach Jessica Siebert believes that they would have beat Culver City by a larger margin if there weren’t as many missing players due to injuries and other commitments. She did believe, however, that the boys did extremely well. “Despite us missing our best doubles player, we still had a good day,” she said. “But our singles lineup was definitely the best.” Their next match is on Monday against El Segundo. Siebert believes that they have a good chance of winning because their opponent.” “They have a smaller school and therefore not a very big pool to draw good players from,” Siebert said.

The team begins competing against Bay League schools next week. According to Levchenko, they have a good chance of placing third or fourth. “We beat West the last two years, so we are hoping to keep that going. We also had a win against Costa last year, so we are hoping that we can do that again this year,” he said. “As for PV and Penn, they were two of the top seeds in CIF last year, so we’re not looking to beat them; we’re looking to do well against them.” Siebert agrees that placing first or second in Bay League is unlikely because Peninsula and Palos Verdes are such powerhouses. “We are in the toughest league so we know it’s an uphill battle,” she said. “Usually our matches in the beginning of the season are easy, and it gets tougher as the season goes on.” Grantz believes that the team needs to work on more strategical things in order to be able to rise to Peninsula and PV’s level. “We need to definitely work on being a little more aggressive but also consistent so we can compete with the teams that already have those attributes,” he said. According to Siebert, if the team is able to follow through with what they have been working on in practice and keeps up a good attitude, their hard work will pay off. “Beating West ups our chances of getting into CIF, which is always a goal,” she said. She also believes that, in order to come through, the boys need to “get used to a tougher pace.” “A higher level of play is required the deeper in season we get,” Siebert said.

Baseball bounces back by Jessi Shipley

Varsity baseball beat Palos Verdes 3-1 last Thursday. The boys came back from a loss and feel as if their improvements will continue through the season. With a loss in their previous game against South Torrance, the boys were determined to make a difference in their play and beat P.V. “The intensity needed to change, and we made that change. We came out with more energy, and more of a will to win,” senior Jake Jimenez said. According to the team, the boys felt like they did good all around, and “competed hard” in their game against P.V. “We did great, capitalized on their errors, and shut them down,” Jimenez said. With senior Matt Esparza pitching the whole game, the boys felt “confident” against P.V.’s hitters. “Matt really came through for us. He lead our defense, and held the other team from getting ahead,” senior Dominic Sutton said. The boys were not only pleased with their fielding, but were also impressed with their hitting. “We came out swinging when the pitches were right, and with all of the support from the dug out, we hit great,” Sutton said. Although the team felt the game was a success, they know that they have a lot to work and improve on. “We’re not perfect. We need to improve on execution and take advantage of other teams’ mistakes, so that in the future we can score even more runs,” Esparza said. The boys feel as though their chemistry as a team will help them improve and win. “We need to keep competing hard as team, because we want to win as a team,” Esparza said. But overall, the team was happy with how they played and are ready to keep it up.

PHOTO BY ANDREW HAZELTINE

Three strikes. Senior Rock Capone pitches ball in game against South on Tuesday.

“We focused on the game and kept the energy going throughout even though we were winning. We never got ahead of ourselves. We started strong, played strong, and ended strong,” Sutton said. According to the boys, their goals for the season are to win Bay League and go far in CIF. “This is our year. We’re going to do well. We have a great team with lots of potential. We just have to be strong and prepare for the worst,” Sutton said. The boys do not think that the season will be easy, but are determined to fight and come out on top. “It’s going to be tough, and we are going to have to work hard, but we are willing to do whatever it takes,” Sutton said. With the season off to a good start, the boys are excited for what they have in store in their games to come. “We are ready for anything. This win is not just a one time thing. We’re going to win all the time, and even when we don’t win, we’re gonna give the other team a hard game to play,” Sutton said.

SOFTBALL by Jessi Shipley

on Wednesday’s game vs. South...

“We’re a good team. We

have a lot of talent and potential to do really well in league. We just have to be ready for anything and be alive for anything that comes our way. We have the ability to mesh as a team and do really well this season.

PHOTO BY CAMILLE DUONG

Line of defense. Senior Kevin Diep volleys while his partner senior Bram O’Bell covers the baseline on Monday’s match against Torrance. The team won 13-5 despite the many injuries.

-Morgan Moczygemba

”

PHOTO BY JULIE D’EATH

Pitchin’. Sophomore Katrina Cohen pitches a softball to a South High batter.

The softball team lost 0-14 against South on Wednesday. With the first game out of the way, the girls are ready to improve and move towards doing well in their future games. They are determined to continue their season with the energy and optimism they need to be strong and win.

SPORTS // MARCH 9, 2012

Track starts off strong with win against West

PHOTO BY ERINN MIDDO

Follow the leader. Junior Garrett Klatte finishes second after following teammate, junior Evan Malone, at a four-second spread in the 800-meter dash in a meet against West High yesterday. by Diana Luna

Despite the wind, the team dominated last night in the meet against West. West is not traditionally considered a strong opponent in Bay League but the team feels they performed extremely well, according to senior Rachel Bush. “I did pretty good even though I couldn’t break five minutes into the mile,” said Bush. “ I wanted our team to sweep the mile to have a good start, and we accomplished that goal. We did really well on our first mile.” According to Bush, one of the major goals for the rest of this season is to beat everyone in League and get as many people into CIF prelims at the end of the season. “I think were going to be to be really strong for the rest of this season. We’re

starting off on a good note at the beginning of our races, which is what we need,” said Bush. “We’re running good marks so if we keep this up, keep up our training and peak at the right time then we will definitely have a great season.” In the 1600 meter relay, junior Cara Ulizio placed third right behind junior Kayla Ferron who placed second. “I could have done a little better with my time but we swept so I’m happy to have gotten the full points against West,” said Ulizio. Ulizio feels that they worked well together by drafting each other but they could work with a little more chemistry. “We need to work on staying closer together,” said Ulizio. “We are doing just fine, we have good sprinters and great distance runners.”

According to junior Dagmay Demsas, they ran well overall last night, although he feels there is room for improvement. “Everyone was running hard and they all put their best effort forward,” said Demsas. “I feel we need to work a little harder and maybe take the workouts a little bit more seriously.” Junior Jordan Washington agrees with Demsas. “I personally feel that I need to work more on my conditioning. I’ve come to notice that I get too tired towards the end of the meets,” Washington said. The boys’ were able to sweep in there first 1600 meter relay with junior Evan Malone White placing first. White feels a positive turnout for the rest of the season. “We’re expecting to continue winning our races,” said White. “We’re just going to

start strong and finish strong in our races, practices and meets.” According to junior Garrett Klatte West is not typically big competition, so the team decided to start off slow and finish strong. “We concentrated in improving our times and strategies rather than worrying about West,” Klatte said. Coming into the season the team was skeptical because they had lost so many talented seniors last year, according to White. “The team is coming together a lot better than we thought,” White said. “I’m really surprised with the turn out this year but excited to see what we can accomplish.” Klatte agrees that the season looks promising. “We want to start on a good foot and end it well for the rest of the season,” Klatte said.

Extra practice pays off for boys’ golf by Colin Welch

With a 192-233 victory over West, the boys’ golf team is now 3-0. The team’s strong performance was attributed to the practice they have put in on their own time according to senior Michael D’ Angelo. “We have been putting extra practice to increase our consistency,” D’ Angelo said. The team had high expectations for this season and so far have met those standards according to junior Matthew Ferradas.

“We plan to go far in CIF this year but that means we need to be self-motivated and never slack off,” Ferradas said. According to junior Ray Malazo, practice is much more relaxed when surrounded by friends. “It is much easier to practice with teammates,” Malazo said. “It makes practice more enjoyable and fun.” The extra practice and the support from the rest of the team helps them continue to excel on the course according to Ferradas. “We are constantly pushing each other to do better by working on our mistakes and focusing at practice,” Ferradas said.

The team’s work ethic created a unique bond between the players according to Malazo. “We, as a team, have become much closer because of all the time we spend together,” Malazo said. The bond is held together by senior captain Kenny Cole, according to Ferradas. “He is the leader,” Ferradas said. “He keeps everyone focused and level headed.” The team’s chemistry and focus will result with their most successful season in years according to Ferradas. “The strength of the team this year will hopefully end in CIF victories.”

PHOTO BY JENNY OETZELL

Swingin’. Senior Kenny Cole aims for the green as Redondo beat West 192-233.

SPORTS // MARCH 9, 2012

NO TIME TO RELAX Girl’s lacrosse faces difficulties to fill the shoes of last year’s graduated seniors but looks forward to develop new leaders and come out with a successful season.

Captain

by Kylie Martin

The girls’ lacrosse team had initial doubts that they would not be as successful this year as last year because they lost six seniors. However, the new additions to the team have been doing their best to fill the shoes of those that left and by defeating La Canada10-3 on Tuesday, the team furthered their hopes for a winning season. “The team can really feel the absence of the seniors that graduated last year but the freshman are playing really well and filling the holes that the seniors left behind,” Senior Ariel Mistuloff said. Mistuloff accredits freshmen Maddie Farmer and Kayla Maanum for positively attributing to the team. According to senior Alina Misuloff, the girls have played on club lacrosse teams and they bring a lot of talent to Redondo. However, junior Lydia Roth feels that there is a downside to the loss of so many players this season. “We lost a lot of dynamic players that were very experienced and could play anywhere on the field and do a lot for our team.” Roth said. “So it is hard to transition to having a lot of new players that only specialize in one thing. But we are adjusting.” Roth believes that with the loss of last year’s senior captains, the team has lost the strong motivation they had last year. “The captains last year were always encouraging the team to practice their hardest and strive for improve-

Corner

complied by Kylie Martin

ment everyday and their passion for the game really inspired the entire team,” Alina said. “This year a lot of people had to adjust to stepping up, becoming a leader, and devoting time to the team and the girls.” Roth believes that captains Ariel Mistuloff, Makayla Kotzbach, and Jayden Bronsworth are doing a good job of taking responsibility for their role as team leaders and that they are helping the girls get comfortable with the new team. “Our first game was like our warm-up of the season and we are just getting accustomed to playing with each other and to how the team works as a whole,” Roth said. According to Alina the girls could have played a lot better than they had but they were adjusting to playing together. “We can really feel the loss of some of our key players from defense. We weren’t communicating as well as we should have been or running back to where we should have been all the time,” Alina said. However, the girls do acknowledge the strengths of the team thus far. Ariel believes the girls communicated well and made good transitions up and down the field. “Although I know we are capable of achieving much better, we did clear the ball well when we needed to and we were always getting ground balls.” Ariel said. “I think we are off to a pretty good start and we can look forward to a great season this year.”

“

Our job is to lead warm-ups and to keep the team focusedin practice and ont he field. For the most part we’re just tesmmates, its up to each girl to play their hardest. -Jaden Bronsworth

“

”

You have to be the connection between players and the coaches. You also have to be a positive role model and make sure the team is getting along. -Micayla Kotzbach

“

”

I hope i can execute what i’ve learned from them (last year’s captains) and prove to be as good of a captain as my teammates were to me. -Ariel Mistuloff

”

PHOTOS BY LISA INOUE AND DIANA LUNA

Desynchronised by Brandon Folkman

PHOTO BY JENNY OETZELL

Running the line. Senior Tyler Clinton lines up for a hit against Loyola player. As a midfielder, Clinton must cover the whole field. “I need to work on executing my offense better and being in the right places at the right timesg, ” Clinton said.

After a disappointing loss to a well-disciplined Loyola team, boys’ lacrosse turn their focus to rival Mira Costa next week. According to Coach Phil Comito, the team was strong on defense, yet an attempt to run a new offense this season led to confusion and a lack of shots on goal throughout the game. “Our offense was confused and not executing today,” said Comito, “We really thought our guys were more prepared.” Senior Eddie Clites agreed that the team’s offense was the main problem. “We struggled a lot on offense from transitions, to finding the right passes, to shots on goal,” said Clites. Though the loss dampened the moral on the team, they are optimistic in facing Mira Costa next week. According to Senior Jeff Clark the team has the potential to beat Costa if they work hard during the week. “Mira Costa will be tough team, but we can beat them if we work harder in practice

and don’t slack off,” said Clark “We have a lot skill, but we need to bring it out on the field.” Clites also feels the team’s mentality during practice needs to improve for them to beat Costa. “We really just need to show up to practice everyday focused and alert. We are learning and trying out a lot of new plays, so we need to come ready to learn,” said Clites. Comito agrees with his players that the team has a lot to work on as they head into their rivalry game and plans to work on the team’s execution of their new offense. “We’re gonna be a better team a week from now,” said Comito. Though the beginning of their schedule will be tough, Clites feels that they have the potential for a successful season. “I feel that this team has the most talent we’ve ever had,” said Clites, “We just need to learn from our mistakes and move forward.”

SPORTS // MARCH 9, 2012

YOUNG BLOOD

Boys’ volleyball adjusts to new players and learns how to work as a team rather than as indviduals.

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER PALIUNGAS

Bump, set, unite. 1. Sophomore Louis Richard hits in game against Mater Dei. They are working to improve together this year.

“Since we are a young team we will be together for a while and now is the perfect time to start learing how to play together,” Richard said. 2. Sophomore Vincent Pizzutti hits the ball over to blocker form Mater Dei. Pizzutti is satisfied with the team’s performance because they are a younger team. “I felt that we started out strong and as the game progressed we lost momentum and we never came back,” Pizzutti said.

by Allegra Peelor and Haley Meyers

Despite their empowering undefeated win in last weekend’s tournament and an early lead in their match on Tuesday, boys’ volleyball lost to Mater Dei in four games, 25-23, 23-25, 23-25, and 23-25. According to coach Duncan Avery, the team’s “mental errors” mainly caused their loss. “I’m okay with physical errors, but not with mental errors,” Avery said. Senior Austin Bowen believes that the team needs to show better focus in practice to reflect a stronger mental state in their games. “Yesterday we had an okay practice and today we had an okay game,” Bowen said. The team gave away their first four consecutive points to passing errors, which continued to hurt them throughout the match. “They were a better passing team than

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER PALIUNGAS

us and that’s why they won,” Avery said. According to sophomore Louis Richard, they also need to improve their attitude to be successful against future competitors. “Our E.T.A. [effort, teamness, and attitude] was not as good as it was in our previous games, which was a let down,” Richard said. In addition to their lack of focus as a team of “young blood” this season, the boys struggled to “close each game” after winning the first game and losing the last three games by only two points despite significant early leads. “Mater Dei has so much more experience,” junior Nick Williamson said. “The majority of our starters just moved up from JV.” After losing eight seniors, the remaining two senior, two junior, and three sophomore starters struggled to work as a team

instead of as individuals, which brought inconsistency in their play. Due to the newly-bonding team’s lack of focus, Avery called seven time-outs within the match to bring the team back together. “Our time-outs really bring individuals off the court and a team back on the court,” Bowen said. Time-outs are not the only times the team can work on playing more like a group; according to Richard, they will be working on this throughout the season. “I see this season as an opportunity to work better together since we are a young team and we have a couple years together ahead of us,” said Richard. Their next game is in San Diego this weekend at the Best of the West Tournament. Although the team lost on Tuesday, Avery believes that they will “have success” in the tournament.

“We will face some of the best teams in the country, so we need to work hard,” Avery said. According to Williamson, the upcoming tournament will give the team the needed practice against challenging opponents like Mater Dei to give their “young blood” some needed experience. “Mater Dei had an advantage since they won CIF last year and they have a lot of experience at a higher level,” Williamson said. “We are preparing to face more of these higher level teams like Hawaii this weekend.” The players took this game as a “wakeup call” to take practice more seriously in order to grow as a new team. “This loss has left us with a truly bad taste in our mouths that is sure to motivate us to learn from our mistakes,” Richard said.

Just keep swimming by Camille Duong

PHOTO BY MAX PITTMAN

Breaking the surface. Freshmen Elle Inscore swims breast stroke in yesterday’s meet against South. “After this meet I am excited to see how much I could improve on in the future,” Inscore said.

Last night the girls lost 62-106 and the boys won 103-68 against South. According to senior Adam Rudow the team did better than he had expected. “A lot of our swimmers got their best time this meet,” Rudow said. According to Rubke a few key stand out swimmers were freshmen Elle Inscore, and seniors Declan Andrew and Ashton DeRojas. “Our strongest swimmer was Declan,” Rubke said. “He was strong on two relays for the team which made a huge impact.” The team’s focus is on improving their times for their next meet.

“In swim the main emphasis is knowing your time and improving on it,” Rubke said. “We are also looking for better attention to detail.” Rudow looks to improve on his times for backstroke, butterfly, and freestyle. “I really want to work on my technique,” Rudow said. “I need to make a change from water polo to swim.” Rudow also looks forward to improvements through the rest of the season. “I’m looking forward to the end of season when people’s time taper off,” he said. “It’s always exciting.”

SPORTS // MARCH 9, 2012

Sprint. 1. Junior Erin South poses in her track uniform. 2. She currently holds the second place record in the 400m.

Faster. Harder. Stronger. The thoughts flood through your head. One moment. No holding back.

PHOTOS BYJENNY OETZELL

by Taylor Brightwell

As she steps up to the starting line all she thinks about is breaking 60 seconds. With her stomach inside out and her heart pumping in her ears junior, Erin South gets set to sprint the 400m. In their first official league meet last night South set the school record with an unofficial time of 58.6 seconds. She beat out previous record holder Chloe Curtis’ time of 59.12 seconds. “A couple of times throughout the day I closed my eyes and pictured my race. I watched a clock’s second hand tick and imagined myself crossing certain gates around the track,” she said. “It helped me focus, and get in my head in the game for [the race].” South blocks out distractions

ALL UNDER

to keep her focused on her goal of a shorter time. “All I think about when I approach the lane is timing. Not of my competitors, nor if I’m aching,” South said. According to South, the 400m is a fight between your mind and body. Debating whether to push through the pain or slow your pace. “The 400m, its a mind game with yourself. Finishing the last 100m of the race, or “pushing through the wall” as track kids know it as, is really painful to do,” she said, “Yet it’s the most motivating feeling in the world.” South has committed herself to practicing harder and eating healthier

60 this season in hopes of improving. “You’re only as good as the food you put into your body. The hardest thing to cut out was In n’ Out,” she said, “After season that’s definitely my first stop.” She pushes herself at practice to improve her technique.

“My coaches help me by knowing how hungry I am for a win. They know I’m capable, and that I run to be first. Slacking in a workout isn’t an option,” South said, “They set aside for me to check out my running form, to break down a certain lift in the weight room, and to explain logistics of sprints, But the high five and “Good work, South!” makes it all worth it.” South’s fellow sprinters in school keep her motivated and working hard to improve. “Two amazing freshman joined our track team this season. Amber Gore, a junior olympian, and natu-

rally gifted Anevay Hiehle,” South said, “I push them, and they push me.” South said her motivation is the love for her team. She not only wants to win for herself but for the team as a whole. “I have met some of the kindest and have-your-back people this year,” South said, “There’s a level of love, respect, and encouragement that we have for one another and I’m honored to be part of the team.” With the school record as motivation South is determined to keep improving.   “Now that I’ve done it, I’m ready to do it again. I feel like I could have gone even faster,” she said.

year,” Brandon said. “They really are a great group of kids.” According to Brandon, playing with a close group of friends has allowed the team the build a better sense of team chemistry. “We all know each others weak points and each others strengths,” Brandon said. Brandon also believes that being close off the field allowed the team to develop on the field. “In a way we have developed a sense of where the other players are and that has really helped us in the long run,” Brandon said. Brandon is a hard worker and contributes a lot to the team according to teammate senior Jeff Clark.

“He brings a really good attitude to the game,” Clark said. “He is the kind of player that can stay positive.” Clark also believes that Brandon is a great leader for the team. “Jeff’s the morale that brings the team together,” Clark said. “When people are fighting he is able to resolve it and bring the team back together.” Coach Phil Comito believes that Brandon has always put the team’s success before his own. “Jeff’s got a great attitude,” Comito said. “He’s extremely hardworking and extremely competitive.” According to Comito, Brandon

plays a huge role on the team and does not want to think about the team without him. “He is truly a difference maker on the team,” Comito said. “He’s going to be tough to replace next year.” Brandon looks forward to playing his last season of high school lacrosse. “I feel confident,” Brandon said. “I think that we are going to have a good season this year.” According to Brandon he is glad to play with some of his best friends in his last year. “I am really happy to be here and I hope to make it a good season with a lot of memories,” Brandon said.

JEFF BRANDON ATHLETE OF THE

ISSUE by Camille Duong

Lax bro. Senior Jeff Brandon awaits a pass in yesterday’s game against Loyola.

For senior Jeff Brandon lacrosse started off as a sport but has changed into so much more. “It has become more than just a sport to me,” Brandon said. “After playing for a long time it becomes a part of who you are.” Brandon has been playing for several years and has making friends with all of him teammates. “I’ve been friends with most of them since freshmen or sophomore