The Roar April Issue 2016

2016 election sparks political interest

Vol. XVI No. 5 Friday, April 29, 2016

The Roar SCroar.net

see pg. 12

Santa Clara High School 3000 Benton St. Santa Clara, CA 95051

Student battled anorexia because of modeling standards Junior Peri Baser shares her story on how she turned to beauty pageants after overcoming an eating disorder.

By Sadia Hasan

Joseph Hughes/Roar Staff

Breaking bounds of binary bathrooms

School considers unisex restrooms for transgender students

By Hannah Shin Though most students can enter either a male or female bathroom with confidence and no further thought, some face a confusing dilemma every time.

These are the transgender students of SCHS. Transgender, or “trans,” is a term used to describe those whose gender identity, or internal sense of being a man or woman, differs from their given sex at birth. For transgenders, their born sex and gender identity do not match.

SCHS is currently trying to solve one of the many complications and struggles that arise from being a transgender -- the bathroom problem. To solve this, SCHS is working on creating unisex bathrooms -- private, one-stall rooms open towards any gender.

“This school was not designed with the needs of our transgender students in mind,” said Principal

Gregory Shelby. “We are now trying to figure out how to help all of our students.”

Some SCHS teachers, including Kate Flowers and Michael Wilson, who both worked with the Gay Straight Alliance club, are actively supporting the plan of unisex bathrooms. Flowers and Wilson are part of the Including and Supporting Transgender Students, a group of teachers working on making SCHS a friendlier campus towards trans students.

“I wanted to learn more about how we can better the school for transgender students [because] they are at the greatest risk for emotional trauma and bullying,” Flowers said.

Compared to the 4.6 percent of the general population, more than 40 percent of transgender people have attempted suicide, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The goal is always going to be creating a safe environment, whether it’s through unisex bathrooms or not, Shelby said.

According to California’s Assembly Bill No. 1266, which passed three years ago, students are allowed to use facilities consistent with their gender identity. But for some non-transgender students, it may cause discomfort to share a bathroom with others of different physical bodies.

This is why SCHS is considering unisex bathrooms.

At the moment, unisex bathrooms are still an idea in progress - nothing guaranteed. SCHS has yet to gain approval from the district to fund and make the facilities. Cost and budget are still unknown, but Shelby is confident that SCHS will be able to find funding, even from alternate sources if the district is unable to underwrite the expense.

See Restrooms, Page 5

Badminton players debunk assumptions of their game

By Emily Grossman John Park stands shoulder width apart with the racquet in his right hand as the birdie flies toward him. He lifts off the floor, his arm swings back, and he smashes it precisely at his opponent’s feet.

Park, a junior, is on SCHS badminton team. Badminton is similar to tennis, but is faster paced and played with lighter equipment. It’s a huge version of ping pong, according to sophomore varsity player Alicia Luong.

Hitting the small birdie may not seem intimidating, but quickly moving around on the court requires fitness and agility.

“A track and field athlete that runs five-minute miles would not last a full game,” varsity player Park said.

However, badminton holds a reputation of being “easy.”

“The common thing that people think is that it’s not a quite a real sport, and that there’s nothing hard about it,” head coach Selina Rios said.

At SCHS, the badminton

team is co-ed. Games can be played between one player and one opponent of the same gender, or in teams of two boys doubles, girls doubles, and mixed doubles.

The team begins intense conditioning long before the season commences, including running and exercising the legs and abs.

“It’s a lot of stamina and a lot of leg muscle,” Rios said.

“It’s a more precise sport.

A birdie is super light, so you have to perfect how much energy you put into it,” senior

varsity badminton and tennis player Alice Hsieh said.

Hsieh and her mixed doubles partner, Park, can spend up to fifty hours a week practicing, Hsieh said. Besides regular practices at school, they go to Bintang badminton center, a gym with over 15 badminton courts, for additional hours of practice. They go on most Saturdays and on some Wednesdays and Fridays.

“I can spend eight hours a day practicing,” Hsieh said.

See Badminton, Page 9

While some may view modeling as a life of flash and glamour, for one student it was destructive.

At just 17 years of age, junior Peri Baser has seen the dark side of modeling, and has opened the eyes of other teens by sharing her experiences. Having left modeling, she has switched to beauty pageants, which she finds more constructive and supportive.

Baser was first introduced to modeling by her grandmother, who was a model in Turkey, and began her career at the age of 6.

But soon enough, it became an emotional roller-coaster for her.

“Modeling had a detrimental impact on my health and self-image. It was pretty scary going into that industry, since there’s so much pressure on how you’re supposed to look,” Baser said.

According to Baser, models are pushed to be skinnier so that they will fit into a certain size, as the only successful models in the industry are the ones who are extremely thin.

“I felt like I had Baser said that she experi- to be thin because enced negative that’s what they comments on were looking for. her weight, and What modeling the fact that she companies want wasn’t as thin as you to do is starve modeling agencies wanted her yourself.” to be.

“There was this one time where I was wearing something and they said to me ‘it’s barely fitting you.’ Hearing comments like that makes you focus on outward appearance and your body at all times,” Baser said. “I felt like I had to be thin because that’s what they were looking for. What modeling companies want you to do is starve yourself.”

Apparently Baser is not the only model to encounter such pressures, prompting one Bay Area legislator to introduce a bill that would create health standards and workplace protections for professional models in California. In a legislative hearing on Assembly Bill 2539, former models described harsh working conditions that involved coercion to reach unhealthy weights, according to an article earlier this month in the San Jose Mercury News.

After hearing comments regarding her weight from casting directors, Baser progressively got thinner, and was soon hospitalized for anorexia at the end of her eighth grade year.

“It was honestly the hardest thing I’ve ever

-Peri Baser, junior

See Peri Baser, Page 10

2

OPINION

Editorial

APRIL 22, 2016

Transphobic legislation cannot stick around For most students, going to the bathroom is easy. You raise your hand in class, ask, and the teacher gives you the pass and lets you go. You get back in five minutes.

For transgender North Carolina students, however, going to the bathroom has suddenly gotten a lot harder. In March, the governor signed a “bathroom bill” into law.

The North Carolina bill makes it so that students can only use the bathrooms that match their birth certificate, not the one with which they identify. This bill stigmatizes trans students, forces them to use incorrect bathrooms and locker rooms, and helps perpetuate the myth of trans people as perverts.

It’s discriminatory. It’s dehumanizing. It’s one of many laws across the nation attacking the rights of trans people, who deserve the same respect as cis people.

North Carolina isn’t alone.

There are over a dozen transphobic bills that have been introduced throughout the United States, and they’re all slinking towards adoption without much public outcry.

South Dakota got a bill all the way to the governor’s desk before a veto. As for bathroom bills such as North Carolina’s, there are twelve

Alex Dacus and Raquel Bowman/Roar Staff

more, pertaining to either schools or general public areas.

This doesn’t even include Mississippi’s HB 1523, the most sweeping anti-LGBT law in the United States, which got passed.

The law says businesses and public employees can’t be punished for denying services based on the belief that marriage is between a man and a woman or other religious beliefs.

It protects transphobes who believe that gender is determined at birth.

Under this pernicious legislation, counselors could reject LGBT

people calling suicide hotlines, marriage licenses could be refused if one of the partners is divorced, women can be fired for wearing pants at work, taxpayer-funded shelters could turn away a pregnant teen - and dozens of other discriminatory scenarios could play out. Whatever happened to the concept of “separation of church and state, ” the idea that one’s religion shouldn’t infringe on other’s rights?

Even when nondiscrimination laws are in place, discriminatory laws that override them get passed.

North Carolina’s bathroom bill, for instance, expressly strips away the protections offered by a Charlotte ordinance which allowed transgender people to use public restrooms based on their gender identity.

“Trans panic” is a valid defense in 49 states - one that, like “gay panic”, according to the LGBT paper and online site Advocate, “saw defendants claiming they were so shocked to learn that their victim was gay or trans that they had no other recourse besides violence.”

Trans and gay panic defenses are used in cases where LGBT people are assaulted or murdered. The only state that has banned panic defenses is California. The LGBT Bar, an activist group of LGBT legal professionals, is actively trying to ban these defenses.

Transphobic legislation is unconstitutional, cruel, and offensive.

But it’s trans people and there’s hardly a response.

So make a response. Petition, protest - trans people are people.

Future bills need to be shot down, current ones repealed for discrimination and transgender homicide rates need to go down.

After all, going to the bathroom should be easy for everyone.

Editors’ Picks

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THE ROAR 2014-2015

editor-in-chief Tomás Mier assistant editor-in-chief Athena Ghilarducci online| Hannah Shin campus | Maya Singh focus | Joseph Hughes a&e | Athena Ghilarducci opinion | Alex Dacus sports | Jonathan Tran spotlight | Raquel Bowman photography | Olivia Brady graphics | Joseph Hughes design | Tomás Mier copy editors | Nancy Do, Sunny Gandotra, Emily Grossman, Bonnie Liu, Alyssa Nguyen, Hannah Shin staff writers Cleo Chow • Nancy Do • Sasha Espinosa • Daila Euley • Sunny Gandotra • Emily Grossman • Sadia Hasan • Daniel Huynh • Sydney Fonderie • Navdeep Kaur • Bonnie Liu • Alyssa Nguyen • Cindy Le Nhu • Sameeha Shafik • Hannah Shin advisor Maya Suryaraman Mission Statement The Roar works to inform students, showcase their accomplishments, and explore issues relevant to them as individuals and as a generation. We value journalistic ethics and professional behavior toward both our sources and our readers. We will investigate and inform students about happenings onand off-campus, and provide information comprehensibly. As a student-run newspaper, The Roar strives to establish itself as a reliable news source for Santa Clara High School.

Letters and Opinion columns submitted to The Roar must be signed, although names can be withheld.Submissions should be limited to 200 words and may be edited for content, libel, or grammar. Opinion submissions can be delivered to Ms. Suryaraman’s mailbox in the front office.

DISCLAIMER The opinions on these pages reflect the views of the individual writer, not those of Santa Clara High School.

The Roar Newspaper Santa Clara High School 3000 Benton St. Santa Clara, CA 95051 (408) 423-2720

The center of Mission College, a community college.

Both images courtesy of Wikimedia labelled for reuse

The science library at UC Irvine, a four-year university.

Is community college the best post-highschool option?

Yes

By Raquel Bowman

With school year coming to a close, many seniors are making decisions about where they will be attending for the next four years.

Some, however, remain silent, ashamed to say that they will be going to community college.

Despite the connotations of community college, it provides an education, gives students a stepping stone towards university and keeps debts low. Tuition alone is enough to make community college more appealing than a four year.

Tuition at CSUs is around $5,472 a year according to the CSU website and UCs cost around $13,400 a year in tuition, according to the UC website. According to the College Board website, the average cost of tuition for community college per year is $3,435.

Many students who enroll in UC or CSU out of high school find themselves buried in debt because tuitions at both CSUs and UCs are twice or five times that of a community college. However, a way to save money and attend four-year would be to take two years at a community college, then transfer.

Come graduation, both will receive a degree, so why pay extra?

Community college is also a starting point for students who aren’t sure what they want to do or aren’t ready yet to move on. According to College Board, over 40 percent of undergraduate students

attend community college and majority are within 18 to 24 years old.

Moreover, actions have been taken in states to make the transfer from community college to university easier than going from high school to university.

Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger passed SB 1440, the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act, making transferring from community college easier, by giving those that complete an Associate’s Degree for transfer guaranteed admission to the CSU system as a junior.

Transfer is also available for UCs and privates according to SCHS counselor Jeanne Mustille.

Even if community college is your only option, it isn’t a bad one.

Going to a community college could be the stepping stone to your dream school. Every year, about 50,000 students transfer to the California State University system according to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

Naysayers say that those who attend community college stay there.

About 20 percent of community college students transfer to a four year, and 60 percent of those will earn a bachelor’s degree according to a study by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Community college has much more to offer than people give it credit for. It saves students the headache of large amounts of debt, and offers an opportunity for them to transfer to a university.

No

By Cleo Chow

As graduation creeps nearer, seniors fret over where they’ll go, stopping by the part of the B-hall dedicated to those accepted into schools they applied to for inspiration. It’s not surprising to see that many of those schools are four year universities.

Going to a university has many great benefits, including the glowing pride when accepted into one.

One, universities are better funded than community colleges, so, there’s more money for the students. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, during 2012-13, the amount of money spent per a student at a private nonprofit institutions was $50,145, public institutions was $29,338, and private for-profit institutions was $15,745. Universities fit in all categories whereas community colleges are public.

However, community colleges are cheaper. According to Cappex, a leading college search website, as an in-state student Mission College costs about $14,902 annually, while University of California, Irvine, costs about double that. But that doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the same quality education as a four year university. If money is your primary concern, there are state universities, which are cheaper than UCs. For example, San Jose State University costs around $20,902 annually.

Two, more money means more campus facilities and resources for students, and more opportunities, including internships, independent studies and research funding, so universities are better for students who know what they want to do and want to explore possibilities.

Most university students will grow while managing their lives as a college student, especially if they’re living away from home for the first time. During university, useful skills such as managing money, time and responsibility will develop. Many students attending community college live at home, which means their independence and personal growth can be inhibited by their family.

But most importantly, it’s a whole new experience.The college life is famed for being spirit-filled with clubs, events and dorm activities, so it’s easy to get involved.

For example, UC Los Angeles boasts over 1,000 clubs and student organizations. Being exposed to different cultures and traditions in the university can open your mind to new ideas.

But community colleges have their benefits as well. For instance, they have smaller class sizes, around 30 per class so students interact with their professors more often, whereas university classes have around 400 students. But university students could use the professor’s office hours.

After all, there’ll never be an experience quite like at university.

3

OPINION

APRIL 22, 2016

Islamophobia is a disease and education is the cure

By Sameeha Shafik They call us terrorists. They tell us we are oppressed. They say we spread hate and violence. They say we should be banned. “They” are politicians. “They” are media. “They” are everyday people.

“They” are Islamophobes.

I am a proud Muslim, and living in the diverse Bay Area, I still witness name calling, hateful slurs, and bullying towards minorities, in particular Muslims.

Islamophobia has become more obvious lately. Last year, at Irving, Texas, a 14-year-old boy named Ahmed was accused of making a fake bomb, when he had actually made a clock. Girls have had head scarves pulled off, and boys have been called terrorists because they have a beard.

Because I wear a headscarf, I am easily identified as a Muslim, and the stereotypes and prejudices that fall on Muslims are more apparent to me.

No, Muslims are not terrorists.

In fact we condemn it. It’s ironic that when Muslims greet one another, we say “Assalamu Alaikum” which translates to “Peace be upon you”, yet we get labeled as being hateful and violent people.

It’s shocking that it has become

acceptable for politicians like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz to proudly declare “I think Islam hates us” and “we need to patrol Muslim neighborhoods”. They are using hateful rhetoric to get votes, but the Muslim community is paying the price.

It’s unfortunate that the majority of Americans have not interacted with Muslims, so they believe everything they hear and become fearful.

To fight against Islamophobia, two things have to happen; education and activism. The Muslim community has to spread knowledge about their religion and show people who they really are.

The sad reality is that Muslims around the world are as vulnerable to ISIS attacks as non-Muslims, if not more.

According to the United Nations’ report from September 2014, at least 24,015 Syrian civilians, with the majority being Muslims, were either killed or injured by ISIS in 2014. This is a continuous cycle, but gets overlooked in the news.

When terrorist incidents like the Paris Attacks or the San Bernardino shootings occur, the Muslim community feels the same sense of horror as everyone else. Yet this also gets overlooked in the news.

It is disheartening and shameful

Courtesy of Wikimedia , labelled for reuse

Donald Trump, the Republican front runner for President of the United States of America who has proposed bans on all Muslims coming into the United States. to see the media amplify the minority of Muslims who create chaos, but to not report on the peaceful majority.

As an active Muslim and a journalist, I see this as unfair and biased. It is the news reporter’s job to show both sides of the story. and

not to unjustly villainize groups of people for the views and money. As for politicians, they are using hateful rhetoric to get votes, but this is at an expense to Muslim lives.

We are not defined by how society portrays us or by what other people do, but by what we make

ourselves to be, and by our own actions.

So the only way to fight this hate and fear is by coming together as Americans, as people who care, and as people who want a positive change, and fight for justice.

If someone can imagine superheroes, they can imagine LGBT ones, too

By Alex Dacus When I was a little kid, I kind of thought gay people were the unicorns of fiction.

Not in the sense that they all had super powers or were special, but in the sense that, like unicorns in the real world, they didn’t exist in the media.

There were a few gay characters around in television shows then (near 2006), namely “The L Word”, “Queer as Folk”, and “Will and Grace” and a handful of others scattered around, none of which would’ve been suitable for a child such as me having that gay realization.

According to Pew Social Trends, the median age for LGBT people to start realizing, they’re LGBT is age 12. It stands to reason, then, that they would also want to see their new reality reflected in the media. At age 12, I wanted gay superheroes.

I wanted lesbian fantasy characters, and probably would’ve tripped over myself for even the slightest hint of something queer

in those genres.

I know I took everything I could find - I literally jumped and jogged to the library when someone told my 12-year-old self about “The Mortal Instruments,” a fantasy action series with several diverse characters. A fantasy series with a gay character who’s treated like a person rather than a sassy gay sidekick shouldn’t be revolutionary. We need more diverse fantasy, more diverse superheroes, more diverse everything.

There have been improvements, of course - there’s Batwoman, who was kicked out of the military based on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Wiccan and Hulkling, America Chavez, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, all of whom are comic book characters who are in LGBT relationships or openly LGBT - and it’s all good, but it’s not enough. Especially since these aren’t, for the most part, the ones on screens, the ones that get all the publicity. Especially when their sexuality is in the background, or never mentioned. Especially when

Courtesy of Wikimedia

America Chavez, or Ms. America, is a comic book character, lesbian and one of a few LGBT superheroes.

there have been 12 lesbians or otherwise LGBT women killed off in 2016 on TV alone, bringing the total to a bit over 150 LGBT women on TV killed, mostly on sci fi/superhero shows.There are people who claim including more LGBT superheroes is not realistic. - not realistic for what? Not realistic for queer people to exist in dystopias and spaceships and sci-fi? Why is it not realistic for a lesbian to be a superhero, for a bisexual to survive, or for a trans girl to exist?

My father told me once that in comics, every city is Chicago or New York, and it’s true. Yet Chicago and New York have one of the highest gay populations in the United States. Why is it, then, that comic-book writers want every part of New York but the diversity?

This is fantasy, it’s sci fi and superheroes - how come people can imagine everything but queer people, when diversity is the most real aspect they can bring into it?

People can’t argue against politics in comics - comics were always political. Captain America

was made by Jewish men to be the ‘Aryan ideal’ while being viciously against everything Hitler stood for.

Luke Cage was a black man with unbreakable skin made in response to the assassinations of MLK Jr and Malcolm X. The X-Men series started as a parallel to anti-Semitism and anti-racism, but it also has heavily paralleled the LGBT rights movement from the beginning - with some more obvious allegories being Rogue and the Legacy Virus.

There’s a million pieces of analysis about how Rogue parallels the LGBT community better than anyone else in the series, especially after she refuses a ‘cure’ for her powers, and the Legacy Virus is explicitly a parallel to the AIDs Crisis.

But when people say not to bring LGBT characters into comics and sci-fi, that it’s not ‘believable’ to have gay characters in fantasy, they’re really only saying one thing: that aliens, dragons, and superheroes born from radioactivity are realistic, but gay people are too wild to imagine.

Tattoos and piercings are just a form of non-harmful self expression

By Sasha Espinosa “Aren’t you going to regret that when you’re older?” “Why would you do that?” “I could never get that done.”

These are a handful of sentences people with tattoos and piercings are all too commonly confronted with. Although body art has become more acceptable, it still carries a stigma in the eyes of many. But why?

People should be able to express themselves in any way they want without being judged for it.

It’s unsettling to think that people will go out of their way to judge

people because they have a piercings or tattoos.

During our teenage years, we try to discover ourselves, and some of us venture into tattoo or piercing territory, a more public way of self-expression. Younger people today have a much higher interest in altering their bodies than older generations because it has become more acceptable to express ourselves creatively. This is because tattoos and piercings have become more of an artistic and meaningful form of expression over the the rebellious reputation it has had for the older generations.

If piercings and tattoos have become more mainstream in the

workplace and in schools, why do some still view it negatively?

Because they still associate them with rebellion. Based on personal experience, when I stretched my ears and got a nose piercing, I felt like I was judged differently by my friends and people from older generations such as family members and teachers.

Many people, especially those from older generations, question those who have tattoos or piercings by arguing that they will regret them when they get older.

In a 2008 Harris poll, 83 percent of people with tattoos said that they did not regret their decisions to get tattoos. Yes, some people will re-

gret the decision they made to get a tattoo or piercing, but most don’t, and they are not looking for judgemental opinions to validate them.

After all, who would regret a tattoo of their mom’s name or birthday?

Many people have tattoos that have a lot of meaning to them, such as a tribute to a loved one who passed or a cultural symbol that shows their heritage. Both piercings and tattoos have been around for thousands of years for rites of passage and religious reasons.

Telling people who get these tattoos that they could regret it when they are older is harmful to them.

An issue the younger generations run into when getting tattoos

and piercings is that they are not properly informed about the health hazards that could follow from unsanitary shops. Body art can be exciting; however, it’s important to do the research and get tattoos and piercings done in licensed and sanitary shops.

Self-expression is an art itself, and people should feel free to express who they are in any way they please. Society needs to stop making body art into such a scandal, so we can start accepting each other for what’s inside, not external.

CAMPUS

4

APRIL 29, 2016

Students feel disconnected from their teachers, survey shows

By Maya Singh

A survey conducted by the state last year of Santa Clara High’s juniors and freshmen shows a sizable percentage do not feel respected by adults at the school.

Some 22 percent of freshmen and 23 percent of juniors last year reported such feelings according to the California Healthy Kids Survey.

For over a decade, SCHS has used the California Healthy Kids Survey to identify areas of school strengths and weaknesses. The goal of the survey is to improve school climate overall, according to WestEd, which developed the survey for the state. It assesses not only the physical aspects of student safety but the mental ones as well.

Principal Greg Shelby noted that despite the feeling of disconnect, surveys over the last several years showed that most students also feel “extremely safe” at school. In fact, in that area, SCHS scored within the top 1 percent of schools that took the survey.

Shelby said that the school is beginning to address the issues with the scores.

“We need to continue to provide more opportunities for teachers and students to see each other as human beings by personalizing education as much as possible,” he said. “I stand by that and will continue to

Raquel Bowman and Nancy Do/Roar Staff

According to last year’s Healthy Kids Survey, 22 percent of freshmen and 23 percent of juniors reported being disrespected by an adult at school. Of these students, 10 percent of freshmen and 12 percent of juniors reported that it was because of their cultural background. do so.”

SCHS students have ideas on how the student-teacher bonds at school can improve.

Freshman Gina Becerril Montano says that small talk helps her bond with teachers.

“Just talking about random stuff here and there makes it better,” Montano said.

Junior Kendall Watson appreciates it when teachers consider students’ workload.

“Many students have seven classes, not one,” Watson said.

Kendall thinks teachers’ understanding strengthens the studentteacher bond.

In addition to simply understanding what students are juggling, some students believe that doing a little something extra as a class can help bridge the gap.

Sophomore Danielle Procaccia doesn’t feel like she has any particularly strong bonds with her teachers this year but has had good relationships with teachers in the past.

One way she suggests teachers and students can bond is through ice-

Junior Jerod Collins has netted more than 1,200 community service hours

By Nancy Do

All SCHS students need at least 20 hours of community service to graduate high school. While some of us have none, others, like junior Jerod Collins, have over 900.

As Collins’s friend, junior Jeremy Cerda, puts it, “He has hella hours.”

Collins may have 900 official hours, but he has another 315 he hasn’t submitted yet.

His goal is to have 1500 community service hours by his senior year.

Currently, Collins has the most community service hours at SCHS and probably has the most in school history, according to Collins’s counselor Katy Weeks.

Almost every day after school since freshman year, Collins has been going to the YMCA, a program similar to daycare, at Montague Elementary School. Collins volunteers for three hours and assists the YMCA staff by cleaning up, setting up games, and helping kids with their homework.

At first, Collins volunteered to spend more time with his litter sister. He continued after she graduated because he enjoyed the feeling of giving back to the same YMCA program that he was in and liked the fun-filled atmosphere.

“I love volunteering there. The kids are always happy, and everyone is like one big family,” Collins said.

The kids really make you excited for things you wouldn’t otherwise care about, according to Collins.

“A few years back, YMCA had

much time at YMCA, he doesn’t get any money from it.

“If there was a phrase to describe Jerod, it’d be ‘little money, lotta heart,’” junior Minh Nguyenvuong said.

Regarding his volunteer work, his friends note his connection with the YMCA kids.

“I think it’s because he’s sort of a kid at heart, and that makes him really good with Tomás Mier/Roar Staff them,” junior Andrea Cuevas said.

Although he loves working with kids, Collins “If there was a phrase to soon has to decide whether to condescribe Jerod, it’d be ‘lit- tinue volunteering at YMCA, or to stop after high school. tle money, lotta heart.’”

“I think the main thing is where I end up going to college. If it’s -Minh Nguyenvuong, junior nearby, I’d really consider becoming a YMCA leader,” Collins said.

Collins plans to either go into a Harry Potter week where the teaching or aerospace engineering. kids were all separated in different “Being surrounded by kids alHogwarts Houses. I never really most every day has really influconsidered myself a Harry Potter enced my decision for my major. fan, but seeing the kids get excit- I get along well with kids so I ed made me really get into it to,” thought teaching would be a good idea,” Collins said.

Collins said.

Collins thinks volunteering Regardless of his college plans, at YMCA has given him proper Collins is positive he will continue communication skills with adults to volunteer at the YMCA until he graduates high school. and an understanding of kids.

“I think the most important “I know a few students who thing isn’t how many community volunteer at random places just for service hours you have, but what hours, but I think I’m blessed to you learn from the time you’ve have found a place where I can be spent volunteering,” Collins said. happy volunteering,” Collins said.

Even though Collins spends so

breaking team activities.

Procaccia believes that competing in games to get everyone involved and form more trust help students “relate on a similar plane” with their teachers.

Some SCHS staff members, like history teacher Kristina Flores, use ideas like Procaccia’s in their classes already in order to keep good relationships with students and to keep them interested in class. In addition to having fun during lessons, Flores says it helps when she makes her lessons applicable to the

real world.

“I understand my target audience and teach at that level,” Flores said.

Flores believes that studentteacher bonds are crucial.

“The stronger the connection, the better learning that takes place,” she said.

As for what might prohibit students from feeling close to their other teachers, Flores says lack of “genuine concern” for their students, and offensive, racist comments “really put them off”.

Watson agrees, saying he often feels discriminated against because he’s black.

“I feel like they judge me the minute I walk in the room,” he said.

According to the survey, 10 percent of freshmen and 12 percent of juniors last year said they had been disrespected by an adult at school because of their race, ethnicity, or culture.

No matter what the cause of the scores, though, Shelby promises to use the data as what the CHKS intended it to be: an opportunity to grow.

“We remain committed to SCHS being the kind of place where every student has an adult to whom they can turn in a time of need and in whom they trust,” Shelby said.

SCHS students share their

bizarre job experiences

Junior Jordan McGilvery Trail Guide at Garrod Farms

“I usually lead the Peanuts characters around the park and a lot of kids actually hit and try to injure the characters! Who knew seven-yearolds could be so violent?”

Victor Cocio Former Touchdown Entertainment Employee

“Once, I was leading a group of customers on the trail on horses. The funny thing was, they were all drunk!

They started talking to the horses.”

Senior Cecilia Subia Great America Entertainer

“They had me work at the Super Bowl halftime show and I got to meet Bruno Mars and Beyonce. I went for a fist bump with Bruno and he gave me a really awkward high five.”

5 CAMPUS Students learn another Science teachers share classrooms language outside of SCHS because of increased enrollment APRIL 29, 2016

By Bonnie Liu

After a long, tiring week of school, freshman Vivian Tran arrives at her Chinese class, where she starts formulating Chinese characters with precise, meticulous strokes on her paper.

While some students barely scrape by in their foreign language classes at SCHS, a few like Tran manage to study another language outside of school.

These students despised going to language schools and often tried to dodge classes when they were younger, but their parents forced them to attend to ensure native language and culture proficiency.

“I didn’t really have a choice. I remember crying on Saturdays in kindergarten because I didn’t want to go,” said senior Kentaro Tanaka, who attends a Japanese school.

Now, many of them understand the importance of knowing their native language and even enjoy taking these classes.

“It’s nice learning a new language that is a part of your culture,” Tran said. She goes to Lynbrook High School for her Chinese program every Friday. Learning Chinese has helped her communicate with her relatives who do not speak English.

Vivian’s father Hoc Tran believes that knowing multiple languages is an economically beneficial skill. “Employers would see speaking more than one language as a plus,” he said.

Through language school, the students have also had the opportunity to meet new friends. In fact, Tran met one of her best friends at her Chinese school.

Junior Seika Hagihara has met many close friends at San Francisco Japanese School too.

“Since class sizes are so small, I’m friends with everyone. We’ve known each other for a long time.

It’s like a big family,” Hagihara said.

According to a study conducted by Cornell University, multilingual children are able to take different perspectives better than those who are monolingual. In one experiment, 80 percent of multilingual children could view situations from others’ perspectives.

According to Hagihara, there are many cultural events at Japanese school each year, including a Japanese calligraphy exhibition and the Kendama Festival, but her most memorable experience was the Talent Show.

“It was chaotic. People were running and screaming backstage, but it was fun. Everyone got closer to each other,” Hagihara said.

Going to language schools doesn’t count for language credits at SCHS, but Hagihara, Tanaka, and Tran believe that it should.

World Language Department co-chair Justin Williams believes that if someone has already passed the AP exam for a specific language, that person should be able to receive those credits since he or she would have proven to be fluent and proficient enough.

Amanda Vrabel, also co-chair of the World Language Department, supports students learning languages that they’re interested in, even if they’re not offered at SCHS. “Learn a language you’re passionate about. It will drive and motivate you. The counselors will work with you ” to make that possible, she said.

Although going to a language school doesn’t count for her language graduation credits at SCHS, Hagihara is glad she has the opportunity to go to Japanese school.

“I am thankful to my parents for letting me go every week since I was five,” Hagihara said.

Restrooms Continued from Page 1 Sophomore Dakota Menard, GSA co-president and transgender male, or female to male, likes the idea.

“Unisex bathrooms are good because I usually hold it the entire day - I’ll be able to go to the bathroom without worrying that I’ll scare someone,” Menard said.

But SCHS teacher Cory Morbo, who was excited for the unisex bathrooms at first, sees potential downsides.

“Having transgender kids go to unisex bathrooms is marginalizing them even more. [It’s] like saying, ‘You can’t go to this one, or this one, but this one’s for you.” Morbo said.

However, Gabrielle Antolovich, president of the Billy Defrank LGBT Community Center in San Jose, supports unisex bathrooms in schools and has two in the center.

“Gender neutral bathrooms are wonderful,” Antolovich said. “We cover the spectrum ourselves [at Billy Defrank] and support the freedom to use any bathroom you choose.”

Aside from unisex bathrooms,

some ISTS teachers are also working on having curtains in the changing rooms for P.E. locker rooms.

Though Flowers thought that curtains would be easy to obtain, she said that it has been “ridiculously difficult” to convince the administration. So she and some other teachers took matters into their own hands and started a small collection to buy curtains themselves.

SCHS has come a long way despite its current obstacles, said Shelby. He remembers the time when he was still a teacher, about a decade ago. At that time, there was still violence against gay people, and gay kids would get thrown into trash cans at school.

“We have made massive strides,and we are at the point where the majority of our students are supportive of our LGBT students,” Shelby said.

Morbo agrees.

“Some of my students are transgender, and I don’t see them being marginalized by my other students,” she said.

“Social change happens in steps,” added Shelby. “This is the step we’re on now.”

By Sadia Hasan

A typical day for Earth Science teacher Suzanne Miller-Moody begins with organizing papers, checking emails - and loading lesson materials onto a cart to wheel out to rooms S116 and S119.

Like many other science teachers at SCHS, Miller-Moody alternates between classrooms, starting off in room S116 teaching periods two through four, and then heading off to room S119 for the rest of the day.

Classroom sharing has been a common practice for a few years now at SCHS, but began recently in the science department due to an increase of students enrolled in science classes, along with overall student enrollment growth in the past two years. The school had to hire more science teachers to accommodate the extra students, but then was faced with a dilemma: there weren’t enough classrooms for every teacher.

Principal Gregory Shelby said classroom sharing was the most cost-effective solution to the problem.

“There were two possible solutions to the school not having enough classrooms: either sharing rooms, or installing more classrooms,” said Shelby. “But since installing classes is expensive, sharing was the best choice.”

Currently, there are 13 science teachers in the department, and they are sharing 10 classrooms

between them. The science teachers sharing classrooms include Eric Wozadlo, Benjamin Wylam, Tracey Gunn, Suzanne Miller-Moody, Siddhi Shah, Amanda Heinisch and Hawken Ruis.

The growth in student enrollment is largely due to new construction taking place around Santa Clara. Since early 2014, due to the new homes that have been built in the city, as well as in parts of North San Jose, the school has seen the number of students rising.

“The school population has gone up by 40 this year in the department, and I strongly believe that number will continue to grow,” Shelby said.

Science department co-chair, Sara Carvalho, said that sharing was a much better option than having the teachers teach in a portable, as that would raise more issues such as no water, gas and electrical outlets.

“It’s not a safe environment for us to be doing labs in,” Carvalho said.

Many science teachers say that classroom sharing is working out well and keeps students safe while they perform labs.

Chemistry teacher Siddhi Shah, who shares a classroom with Miller-Moody, said that it has helped her to stay organized as well, as she has to keep the area ready at all times for the next teacher.

“It’s working well because the teachers in the science department

get along and communicate thoroughly,” Shah said. “We all adjust our lesson plans so that we can do labs and lessons effectively.”

But despite that, Miller-Moody said that it can get quite frantic during the day going from one class to another.

“Moving around is hectic, specifically between 5th and 6th periods, because I can’t be in the classroom to set up the lesson while the other class is still in there,” MillerMoody said.

Senior Roya Torshizi, who has Shah for Chemistry, said that her learning is impacted, as it is hard to find Shah whenever she needs help.

“It’s just harder for me since I can’t find my teacher as easily,” Torshizi said.

Despite its downsides, classroom sharing will likely continue and even increase at SCHS in the near future.

Enrollment at SCHS is expected to rise for at least the next two to three years, but only until a new high school is built at the Agnews site in North San Jose, according to Shelby.

“We expect a steady increase in class sharing in most departments until that time, but we anticipate a significant drop in students once the new school opens, which will likely create a scenario that will result in little-to-no classroom sharing,” Shelby said.

Did you know?

School nurse participates in archery competitions

By Bonnie Liu

While holding her bow in one hand and the string and an arrow in another, she carefully aims toward the target 80 yards away.

Holding her breath, she releases the arrow.

Thud! The arrow hits the four-inch bull’s-eye with incredible accuracy.

This is the daily practice routine of school nurse Karen Keating, a professional archer who competes all over the world from Las Vegas to Australia.

Keating developed her interest six years ago when her son was taking and enjoying weekly archery lessons. When she bought a bow for him, she bought one for herself too, since not many people watch the sport on the sidelines.

Just ten weeks after she discovered her new hobby, Keating flew to Australia for her very first archery competition. Despite being a novice, she placed eighth out of 14 people in her group.

Though her son is no longer involved in archery, Keating continues practicing archery and has participated in many competitions at local, state, regional, national, and international levels, and she has placed first in each of these divisions, receiving medallions, big silver bowls, and other trophies.

Despite her love for archery, her job as a school nurse is still Keating’s first priority, so she has to make sure the tournaments she goes to match her work schedule. Luckily, most of the

Courtesy of Karen Keating

School nurse Karen Keating receives her first gold medal at the World Indoor Championship in Yankton, South Dakota. state and national archery tournaments are during summer, and the other tournaments are generally on the weekends. If the location of the competition is farther away, however, she drives for hours on Friday nights after work to get there in time.

“I pick and choose which ones I can drive to and from, so I don’t miss work,” Keating said.

In addition to motivating her to get more exercise and eating healthier to stay in shape, archery has helped her focus better on her work for the Santa Clara Unified School District as archery can “improve skills of focus, patience, and concentration,” according to FITTODO, a program that aims to implement healthy lifestyles.

To stay consistent, she tries to practice every day at the Predator’s Archery Shop in Gilroy, Calif. When the weather is nice, she shoots outdoors.

Although Keating has won multiple competitions, she believes winning is a minor compo-

nent in archery.

“It doesn’t matter what your score is,” she said. “You just go and have fun.”

Because of archery, Keating had the opportunity to make many new friends with a lot of generosity, integrity, and chivalry.

For example, when one of her archery friends went to Africa to compete, his bow was accidentally delivered to Italy. Another archer participating in the same competition lent him a bow, allowing him to continue competing.

Keating herself has helped encourage her fellow archers as well.

When part of his bow broke in his very first competition, Keating’s friend, only a beginner at the time, was devastated and wanted to give up, but she persuaded him not to.

“I said to him, ‘Don’t quit.’”

In the end, he was able to borrow a bow from someone else to finish off the competition.

“Helping each other for the love of the same sport is what archery is about,” Keating said.

6

FOCUS

Balancing religious beliefs and social pressures as a teenager

By Tomás Mier For most students, staying true to their religion while following the social norms of an American teenager is easy. For Muslim students though, it can be difficult.

Whether it be attending the prom or going to a party, some Muslim students prefer to simply stay away, like senior Sana Ansari, who said she would not be attending prom next month, since it is against her faith to mix freely with the opposite gender.

“I have to be careful to have modest interactions with boys,” Ansari said.

Unlike Ansari, senior Mariam Aiyad describes herself as “not the most religious Muslim” and chooses to attend prom because it is a “huge high school event.”

“I’m not going to miss it. I know my religion, and I know my limits. Prom isn’t testing any of them,” Aiyad said. “Going to dances depends on the parents. Mine don’t think it’s a big deal.”

Aiyad said she sets her own boundaries and makes her own religious decisions -- such as wearing a hijab, or head scarf, which she said represents who she is.

Both Ansari and Aiyad find the hijab to be an important part of their religious identification. Male Muslim students, on the other hand, do not have visible identifiers that signal their social conservatism to their peers. As a result, senior Hassaan Haq said he must make it clear he’s Muslim at a social gathering.

“If I were to be offered alcohol or drugs, instead of just saying ‘I don’t drink,’ I’d say, ‘I don’t drink because I’m Muslim, and it’s against my religion,’” Haq said.

Haq, however, believes that “it is not practical” for parents to send their children to a public school and expect them to “not try to fit in.”

“Going to a dance isn’t as bad as drinking or smoking, so many of us would rather do that than go to a party, where we know we’d be doing things that are completely against our religion,” Haq said.

Haq said he is proud of being Muslim, and because of that, he has even memorized Islam’s holy book, the Qu’ran. Haq also said he goes to the mosque at least once a day.

Like Haq, senior Bariul Chowdhury does

not drink or smoke, is not allowed to date, or to stay out late at night because of his strict, religious parents.

“I have to center everything around what they want,” he said. Chowdhury explained, though, that these beliefs have become “a part of him” and have not necessarily affected him socially.

“My friends know what I can and cannot do, so it doesn’t become that much of a conflict,” he said. “I don’t put myself in a situation where I would have to do anything I don’t want to.”

In addition to dealing with school dances and teen parties, Muslim girls, or hijabis, are generally required to dress more conservatively, having to hide their legs, arms, and hair from the general public.

At SCHS, where swimming is a physical education requirement, hijabis must alter their swimwear in order to not reveal themselves, even though the swimming unit is separated by gender.

Though she did not take swimming at SCHS, Sana Ansari said she has to wear something she dubs a “Muslim swimsuit” that covers her entire body.

Vice principal Antonio Vela explained that SCHS tries its best to do school activities without going against anyone’s faith.

In class, some Muslim students said that at times, they feel discriminated against or clearly glared at because of their religion, especially with recent terrorist attacks of groups like the Islamic State, which claim to represent their religion.

When the Paris attacks orchestrated by the Islamic State happened in November, senior Aya Abdelhadi said she was confronted by a peer during class. “There was a student who had lived in Paris, and he kept on bringing it up,” she said. “He kept on mentioning some terrible things about my religion. I tried to step in and give him some insightful information, but he kept on putting me down.”

Yet, there are also non-Muslims who try to be accepting and respectful.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) president Grace Wills said she notices that some students judge their Muslim classmates, but she does not.

“I think of them as just another human,” she said. “It makes no difference to me.”

All photos: Olivia Brady and Tomás Mier/Roar Staff

”Islam is not only a religion, it’s also a mindset. It’s a peaceful, modest, and humble religion.”

-Mariam Aiyed

Senior

7

APRIL 29, 2016

I am Muslim, and I have a voice The Roar reporter Sadia Hasan speaks up for a greater understanding of her religion

To be young, American, & Muslim.

By Tomás Mier, Joseph Hughes, Sameeha Shafik, Sadia Hasan Reporting by Bonnie Liu, Emily Grossman, Hannah Shin, Sunny Gandotra, Cleo Chow, Alyssa Nguyen, Daniel Huynh

As I come into school, the mall, the airport, or just about anywhere else, I can sense hatred towards my persona. I look around to see faces staring at me -- judging.

And I know exactly why. I am a female teen who wears a hijab, or headscarf. I’m only recognized by one aspect of my identity.

I am an American Muslim. I am also a journalist, and I’m not Sadia Hasan afraid to stand up and give my religion a voice.

As a young Muslim, I sometimes feel as if people think I’m not educated, or that I’m just not good enough. Or that for some reason, as Muslims, we’re somehow involved with the terror attacks going on worldwide.

People don’t understand that I, along with other Muslims, feel heartbroken when we hear about innocent lives lost in Lebanon, France, Belgium, Pakistan, and other places where terrorist attacks have occurred.

Being a Muslim in America means constantly being targeted by Republican candidates like Donald Trump, who tell us that we should be put under surveillance, and call for things like a “total and “I want everyone complete s h u t d o w n to know that we’re of Muslims people, we e n t e r i n g real the United have feelings, and States.” As if we are all ter- we’re friendly.” rible people.

It hurts because our grief is read as insincere, and we are held accountable for events that we have absolutely nothing to do with.

The media, particularly news channels like CNN, slant their coverage on us, only reporting terrorist incidents involving a small num-

ber of Muslims. They seldom cover the countless positive things that occur daily and regularly in the Muslim community.

With Trump speaking nonsense and the media portraying us out of context , Islamophobia is being injected into the public conversation. People are being deceived by what they hear, which creates fear and resentment towards Muslims.

This fear and resentment has changed my life.

Walking into the mall, I sometimes feel as if some store employees don’t want to talk or interact with someone who wears a hijab. Or if I’m in the grocery store with my family, it seems as if some cashiers avoid talking to us or won’t be “I am an American as friendly as they are Muslim. I am also a with other journalist, and I’m customers.

Being a not afraid to stand up Muslim in and give my religion A m e r i c a a voice.” means that most of the time, I’m seen as an outsider despite being born here.

However, I’m proud of who I am because I have the opportunity to represent a peaceful religion -- Islam. A religion that encourages and promotes peace and unity, not violence.

It is the world’s second largest religion with a following of over 1 billion people.

It’s a religion of connecting with and believing in one God. So the God that you believe in and the God that we Muslims believe in, are the same.

Even though Islamophobia cannot completely be removed from this world, it can be contained if we educate people about Islam and Muslims.

I want everyone to know that we’re real people, we have feelings, and we’re friendly. So don’t be afraid to talk to us. Meet a Muslim, and get to know them for yourself before making assumptions.

What is Islam to you?

It’s a religion of peace, love, unity, and acceptance. Islam teaches us to be open-minded to different ideas and encourages us to learn about different religions.

-Hassaan Haq

Senior

“Islam is a beautiful religion of peace. Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God revealed through all His prophets.”

-Hafsa Razzack

MSA president

SPORTS

8

APRIL 29, 2016

Marcus Biddle races toward CCS playoffs

Olivia Brady/Roar Staff

Track and field runner senior Marcus Biddle trains year round and runs 30 to 40 miles each week to keep his body in shape.

By Navdeep Kaur

Taking heavy breaths, pumping his arms, and making his strides even longer, senior Marcus Biddle races across the finish line, completing his mile run with a new record of four minutes and 34.94 seconds at the invitational track and field event at DeAnza College.

Finishing first isn’t something uncommon for Biddle. With four years of experience on the SCHS track and field team, Biddle has also made it to the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs the past two years.

Biddle trains year round to maintain his body, speed and stride.

Running 30 to 40 miles a week, he adds extra weight to his legs and wears a breathing mask, which helps him run faster and maintain his respiration. Along with running, Biddle also bikes 50 to 60 miles over the weekend.

“I run because running lets me relax and get away from all my problems. Its an escape from the issues of my life,” Biddle said. “By running I’m able to clear my head and focus on the event I’m running for.”

Crosscountry and track and field head coach, Julie L’Heureux, holds a big hand behind Biddle’s success

of improving over the years through her constant support, encouragement, and constructive criticism.

“Marcus works very hard and goes the extra mile. As the years have gone by, he’s just gotten more and more faster and a lot more focused on his running,” L’Heureux said.

Biddle’s goal is to make his mile time under four minutes and 30 seconds along with getting into SCHS’s top ten list of fastest mile, 800 meters, and 3200 meters.This year, he hopes to go to CCS for the the mile and 800 meter sprint.

Along with his mom, Biddle and

his friends, seniors Alice Hsieh and Alejandro Martinez, have been through everything together to support Biddle and his running career.

“They are the most influential people I know, and they are the reasons I run today,” Biddle said.

As for his teammates, Biddle is considered a captain of the cross country and track team by his companions, because they look up to him as their leader and a person who strives to do better than he already does.

“I look up to him because he has more wisdom by age. He’s also been through many of the

Jonathan Tran/Roar Staff

Marcus Biddle’s record time on the mile run. same situations that I have and is easy to get information from when I need it,” sophomore Ronnie Blancas said, who has also been on the crosscountry and track teams since his freshman year.

Biddle is attending the University of California Riverside to continue his studies. He is also currently talking to the crosscountry and track coach at the university for more details on the program so that he can continue running in college.

“I hope all my hard work and dedication could lead into the direction of becoming a professional runner,” Biddle said.

SCHS athletes test out new sports supplements

While there aren’t many studies behind sports supplement usage, more athletes have been trying them out to test their effects.

By Jonathan Tran

Being an athlete requires more than a balanced diet and workout routine - and some SCHS athletes have begun testing out sports supplements that are advertised to improve performance.

These items include foods, energy drinks, and protein powders - supplements these athletes believe help them in and out of the game.

However, unlike with medicines, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) barely regulates sport supplements, and there aren’t many studies on whether these supplements work or not.

This doesn’t deter senior Brody Thorn. Before he dives into the SCHS swimming pool, he takes a scoop of his red Cellucor C4 preworkout powder, pours it into his water bottle, and shakes it up.

According to the label, the C4 pre-workout powder gives athletes a boost of energy with the caffeine in it and increased muscular endurance with the creatine nitrate.

By drinking this fruit-punch-fla-

All photos by Olivia Brady/Roar Staff

Brody Thorn vored workout supplement, Thorn believes he’s been able to swim harder and for a longer period of time.

“It keeps me going, especially during long distance sprints,” Thorn said. “I’ve been using it for almost two years, and I recommend using it if you are looking for a good source of energy.”

While taking pre-workout supplements can boost an athlete’s performance temporarily, there is much controversy behind the amount of caffeine in each serving.

Typical supplements may contain

chance hall from 100 milligrams (equal to a cup of coffee) to 300 milligrams of These are many diffferent types caffeine.

In a study on the effects of cafLike Thorn, senior Chance Hall feine by Jennifer L. Temple of the uses a sport drink before particiUniversity of Buffalo in New York, pating in track and field. Hall runs “moderate to high doses of caffeine long distance races on the Bruins (approximately 100- 400 mg) led to varsity track team and uses Gatoincreased reports of nervousness, rade to keep his energy up. jitteriness, and fidgetiness.”

Gatorade is a type of sports Currently, CCS does not have drink that can be seen in use at any restrictions on sports supple- many school sporting events, or ments that boost an athlete’s ener- even during an NFL football game. gy. CCS, however, does have a re- Each bottle of Gatorade has carbostriction on performance-enhancing hydrates and electrolytes for endrugs such as steroids. ergy, but also has sugar, which is

Courtesy of Google Images/Labeled for reuse

supplements that can be used. why many athletes like the taste.

“It helps to refresh me between races - it gives you a lot of electrolytes and energy,” Hall said. “I also eat Nature Valley bars as a snack to keep my energy up.”

Because there’s little known about sports supplements, it’s not guaranteed that they work. Still, many athletes swear by them as giving them an added boost on top of a well-maintained diet and exercise routine.

Back to the basics with new coach

badminton 5/5 SCVAL Leagues Time TBA

baseball 5/4 @ Lynbrook Varsity 4:00 5/6 vs. Gunn (@ Washington) Varsity 7:00

Navdeep Kaur/Roar Staff

New tennis coach Bill Barnes explaining warmup stretches to the team before practice starts. players to a court and works with them on the basics while others do the drills or play games that they are assigned. Barnes mostly works with players who need more practice with basic skills.

“The best coaching is to let them work on what they need to and help them apply what they have learned to their games,” Barnes said.

Due to lack of athletes, SCHS only has a varsity tennis team and not JV, which gives opposing schools an advantage. Also, other teams are able to pull up JV athletes if a varsity member is absent, but due to the lack of players, the SCHS boys tennis team loses points if any of the members are absent, forfeiting the game.

Nevertheless, Barnes and his

Continued from Page 1 “The hours I put into badminton are three times more than tennis.”

The stereotype of being unathletic is not the only misconception surrounding badminton.

“People say it’s an Asian-dominated sport,” Luong said. According to her teammate, it depends on the setting.

“If you go to an actual badmin-

5/13 vs. Mountain View (@ Washington) Varsity 7:00

5/2 League Finals TBA

softball Navdeep Kaur/Roar Staff

athletes have high hopes for a better season than their prior one. Although the team has not won any of their games so far this season, according to the coach, they don’t lack the slightest bit of confidence

By Olivia Brady

Badminton

5/11 @ Fremont Varsity 4:00

golf

and keep their hopes up high.

“I expect my athletes to enjoy themselves, become better physically and mentally, finish the season as a team, and take something away from the game,” Barnes said.

Giants fans aim for another World Series win The San Francisco Giants will battle it out on the field this season as they attempt to win their fourth World Series championship in the past six years.

The team first gained momentum in 2010 after winning their first World Series championship since 1954. The win in 2010 also marked the first time they won the championship since they relocated from New York to San Francisco in 1958.

As a franchise, the Giants have the second most World Series appearances, with 20 overall, behind only the New York Yankees, who have 40 appearances.

Following their victory in 2010, the team went on to gain the title of World Series champions in two of the following years, 2012 and 2014.

These previous wins have made the Giants something of a baseball dynasty, as they have won three of the past five championships, all in

spring SPORTS

Upcoming dates

By Navdeep Kaur

Stepping back and forth across the tennis court, sophomore Anish Bharadwaj returns each ball his coach serves to him, hitting each one with more intensity.

The coach, Bill Barnes, is new to campus and this one-on-one approach is part of his coaching style.

Barnes replaced the old coach Jeffrey Ottey, who coached last season.

Prior to this, Barnes coached in Texas for 19 years, before moving to California to teach special education, biology, and earth science at Wilcox High School. He also coached the JV tennis teams at Wilcox.

This season, girls tennis coach DeeDee Kiyota asked Barnes to coach for the boys tennis team at SCHS. Many players are noticing changes from their previous coach, Ottey. Sophomore Jayson Myung Yi, who plays Singles 2, notices that Barnes makes the team do more exercises and conditioning, whereas Ottey emphasized going onto the courts and practicing with each other.

“Our coach is teaching us the fundamentals and basics. The previous coach focused more on rallying and didn’t make us do exercises before practice, like warmups,” senior Brandon Toy said.

Barnes believes in a more handson practice because he thinks that it’ll make the players more familiar with the courts, their racquets, and the game. He takes one or two

9

SPORTS

APRIL 29, 2016

even numbered years.

Fans of the Giants are holding on to hope that there will be another series win for the team in 2016, since this is the next even numbered year.

In order to make it into the postseason, the team will battle other teams in the MLB’s National

League, including their main rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were the National League West champions last season.

Unfortunately for many longtime fans, many familiar faces from the team’s three previous World Series wins - including Pablo “The Panda” Sandoval and Tim Lince-

cum - have either left for different teams or were not signed on to stay with the Giants.

Still, these departures do not seem to cause panic in the team’s fans.

“It’s true that we have lost a lot of players over the years, but we’ve also acquired a lot of good, new people each season,” senior Saira Singh said. “The team has been very successful because of the acquisitions, so they must be doing something right.”

Many of the fans do not know how the Giants will perform due to the pressure that comes with this season.

“There is a lot riding on this season, mostly the belief that the team will win again,” senior Michael Brown said. “I think the fans will be really upset if they don’t, but we’ll be able to get over it.”

The Giants currently have a record of 7-10 and their next game will be April 29 against the New York Mets.

ton center, most of the people are not Asian. Being Asian, I actually feel like a minority,” Hsieh said.

Although the team wins a game against another school based on their collective success, individual players or doubles partners can progress to play in league tournaments and beyond. It works like track and field or swimming - a team can win a meet, but individuals participate in their respective events.

The highest level of play for high school students is Junior Nationals, where they can earn a national ranking, Park said. To get to that point, however, one must progress far past CCS - and nobody from SCHS has even played in the CCS tournament in four years. Beyond high school, badminton is not a National College Athletic Association sport in the United States, but is played in the Olympics.

Park’s goal is to beat the top

four mixed doubles teams in the El Camino league in order to advance to the Central Coast Section playoffs.

Although badminton appears to meet all of the criteria to be considered a “real sport,” some people still assume it doesn’t require the same athleticism, time, and dedication as other sports, senior Daniel Kim said. “It’s frustrating, because they don’t take the time to learn or play the sport.”

Courtesy of Google Images/Labeled for reuse

5/3 @ Palo Alto Varsity 4:00 5/5 vs. Fremont Varsity 4:00 5/10 @ Cupertino Varsity 4:00

swim & dive 4/29 Boys/Girls Finals @ Milpitas 2:00 5/13 CCS Trials TBA 5/14 CCS Finals TBA

boys volleyball 4/29 @ Harker Varsity 6:30 5/4 vs. Wilcox Varsity 6:30

Current standings varsity baseball Mountain View 7-3-0 Monta Vista 6-3-0 Santa Clara 6-3-0 Gunn 3-6-0 Lynbrook 3-6-0 Fremont 3-7-0

girls softball Mountain View 6-0 Santa Clara 5-2 Palo Alto 4-3 Fremont 4-3 Lynbrook 1-6 Cupertino 0-7 Schedule and standings are according to MaxPreps.com

A&E

10

APRIL 29, 2016

Aspiring YouTube stars create their own channels

By Sameeha Shafik

409 subscribers on her channel “Victoria Bergonia”.

‘Lights, camera, ac“I started making Yoution’ is a phrase heard in Tube because I wanted to the movie studio everyrecord myself and share moday, but with the uprise ments of my life with peoof YouTube, many SCHS ple,” Bergonia said. students have challenged Junior Christian Ariza themselves to film, edit, made challenge and gamproduce and upload their ing videos for games such own videos from their as Minecraft. However, like homes. former Youtubers, Courtesy of Ashley Heeke/Youtube many YouTube, which nets he realized how difficult over four billion views a Sophomore Ashley Heeke describing items from it was to be successful on day, has attracted these stu- different stores in her video “Collective/Try On Haul: YouTube, and took a break dents as a way to earn some Forever 21, Pacsun, Kohls, & More!” from making videos to foextra cash, freely express them- subscribers. Her videos range anycus on school. selves and showcase their talents. where from haul videos to makeup “Making YouTube videos deThey have been inspired by suc- routines to challenges, such as the mands that you put out videos that cessful YouTubers such as Smosh, Yoga Challenge. The days where people want to see. That is how you Nigahiga and PewDiePie, and have Heeke uploads her videos, she can gain more subscribers,” said Ariza. started their own YouTube chan- spend up to five hours filming on Junior Arnold Bergado started her camera and editing through nels. uploading videos on his YouTube While Youtubers can earn mon- iMovie. channel as a hobby. On his channel Heeke’s friend, Isabella Niey through videos, merchandise, “HellaBrightKid,” Bergado posts advertisements, viewership and block, also started uploading vidskits, school projects and gaming subscribers, only the best of the eos on her channel “LifeAsBella”, videos for Pokemon and Minecraft. best have been able to make a self- and currently has 83 subscribers.

“I started making YouTube vidsustaining career out of it, such as As a YouTuber, Niblock knows the eos because I wanted to be able to PewDiePie who makes between time and energy it takes to film and relive these moments and share it $75,199 and $375,996 annually. edit, but she has also gained from with other people,” Bergado said.

However, this does not deter soph- the experience.

Although posting videos on the “YouTube is like my own TV omore Ashley Heeke.

Internet might not be the traditional “Because I have a smaller audi- show,” Niblock said. “It’s helping way to earn an income, it is becomence, I don’t get that much mon- me pursue an acting career because ing a popular one among teens as it ey, but it was still exciting when I am able to express myself on allows them to share their passions I earned my first dollar,” said camera.” with the world.

Inspired by YouTube prankster Heeke, who has become partners “I want to, of course, accomwith YouTube to earn some rev- and vlogger Romanatwood, freshplish being a famous YouTuber, but man Victoria Bergonia started upenue. overall I want make people smile Heeke started her own You- loading daily vlogs, challenges and and inspire them with my videos, “ Tube channel, “Ashley Heeke”, reaction videos to television shows Bergonia said. three years ago and now has 385 like X Factor. She currently has

Students enhance their looks with contouring

By Sasha Espinosa Beginning at the top of her ear and blending the bronzer halfway down her cheek, senior Daisy Nava drags her brush up through her temple and around the top of her forehead, seamlessly contouring her face.

Like Nava, many makeup lovers of SCHS have been practicing this technique in order to pull makeup looks together and enhance their photos.

In an interview with Teen Vogue, Kristen Stewart’s makeup artist, Beau Nelson, described contouring as “giving shape to an area of the face.”

A simple contour kit consists of angled brushes, bronzers, dark and light powders and concealers.

Nava said the easiest way to remember how to contour is to shade the cheekbones, top of the forehead, jawline and nose. She then explains to highlight under the eyes, middle of the forehead and the chin, to brighten the parts of the face where the sun hits.

“I think contour gives you the ability to modify the features of your face,” Nava said.

Senior Nancy Villavicencio, a fellow makeup enthusiast, said contouring can even be done on body parts such as the neck, breast and abs. She adds that contouring is typically used to slim facial features like the nose and forehead, and enhance other features such as the cheekbones.

“I usually contour my cheeks and my forehead, and sometimes my nose if I’m feeling fancy, but not on an everyday basis, mostly

Courtesy of Google Images labeled for reuse

Ideal places to contour are the cheekbones, forehead, jawline, nose, neck and breasts; using angled brushes, bronzers, concealers, and powders.

Complementary highlight is used to brighten the face where light hits.

just when I feel like doing it,” Villavicencio said.

Sophomore Joselyn Zarate is another contouring enthusiast. She likes to play around with different types of foundations.

“I usually put foundation or concealer on before anything else because I need a base. I don’t use any liquid if I’m only using powder contouring, and if I use liquid foundation, I use liquid contouring,” Zarate said.

Sophomore Michela Ghilarducci, also a contouring fan, uses NYX’s wonder stick instead of a powder contouring kit.

“Contouring gives you more detail in photos,” Ghilarducci said.

“Your face will look flatter if you had just taken it with a bare face.”

Ghilarducci said she picked up contouring through watching YouTube makeup tutorials and practice.

“I remember seeing Bethany Mota on YouTube doing contour-

ing and I thought it was a really cool technique,” Ghilarducci said. “ I tried the technique on myself and I loved it.”

Over the past couple of years, contouring makeup tutorials have become increasingly popular, reaching millions of views on several social media sites such as YouTube and Twitter.

Like Ghilarducci, Villavicencio has learned from them.

“I love Nicky tutorials on Twitter, she’s the best,” Villavicencio said.

A few of Nava’s favorite contouring products are the popular Anastasia Beverly Hills and Kat Von D shade and light contouring kits. Prices for contour kits can range anywhere from $3 to over $200, depending on the brand.

“Contouring changes your look by making your face cleaner and defined. The best part is that you’re in control of it,” Nava said.

Courtesy of Peri Baser

Peri Baser‘s contestant photo for Miss California Teen USA 2017. After her negative experiences with modeling, Baser found a new calling in pageantry.

Peri Baser Continued from Page 1 I don’t think people understand the impact. I lost everything, I let other people’s words define who I was,” Baser said. “I was gone from school, I wasn’t allowed to go out with friends because my mom didn’t know if I was going out throwing up. I couldn’t be alone.”

Peri’s mother said that she was very concerned from the beginning about Peri going into modeling, as she had heard many negative things about the industry.

“I noticed Peri was over-analyzing her photos, and I could tell she felt the pressure to lose weight, and seeing my daughter go through an eating disorder was one of the hardest things to experience as a parent,” Aysen Baser said. “The beauty and fashion industry, with their heavily airbrushed photos, victimize teens and make them believe that they need to look a certain way.”

Baser added that her eating behavior was impacted.

“In the industry, you get passive-aggressive comments like ‘this is a size 4’ or ‘this barely fits you.’ That’s when I would think, I have to get smaller, so that way I’ll get more castings and be more successful. I directly correlated being skinnier with being better,” Baser said.

One year after her hospitalization, in the summer following her ninth grade year, Baser was sent away to a residential treatment program, where she was completely cut off from family and friends.

“I was always monitored.

There would be a physician on call, and I was with a lot of other girls who had eating disorders,” Baser said. “It was a nightmare for me, because I was just thrown into something that I wasn’t mentally prepared for, and I felt like I had lost all my freedom and everything that made me happy.

I had restricted access to everything, and it was terrible. No one wants to live that way.”

But Baser feels appreciative that she has learned and grown from the experience, and can openly talk to girls who deal with eating disorders as well.

“Since I’ve been in the hospital and been through treatment, it’s just kind of like ‘listen, I’ve been where you are, and look at me now, because I’m happy.’

Even though it was hard, it did produce a positive outcome for me at the end of the day,” Baser

said.

Last year, Baser left the modeling industry and entered the world of beauty pageants, motivated by how many girls had distinct leadership roles in the pageants.

“I wanted to give off a positive impact and I started to think about pageantry a little bit. I would still get to enjoy the dresses and the glam, but I would also have a platform to do something positive for the community and for other girls.

I saw pageantry as the happy place for me to just be myself,” Baser said.

In December, Baser won the title of Miss Santa Clara County Teen, and is now mentored in pageantry by both a coach and a trainer.

Marissa Auby, Baser’s friend of seven years, describes Baser as a “very intelligent and a truly kindhearted person.”

Baser’s physics teacher, Jyothi Sunkara, agrees.

“Peri is an excellent student.

Even on her seemingly down days, she really attempts to think about the classroom discussion and participates. She’s a wonderful example to her peers,” Sunkara said.

By sharing her experience, Baser has been able to help other teens dealing with eating disorders. For National Eating Disorders Awareness week, she posted an Instagram photo of herself taken when she was hospitalized for anorexia, and she was overwhelmed by the responses from people struggling with eating disorders who found her post courageous and inspirational.

“I just felt so happy after that,” Baser said. “It was such a sensitive topic, but by me sharing my story, I was able to help a lot of people.”

Baser said that her happier outlook on life would not have been possible without her making the switch to pageantry.

“Pageantry is more positive because it doesn’t just focus on how I look, but more on how I am as a person, so what I say has more of an impact than my appearance.

You also don’t have to be a certain size to enter a pageant, and I think that’s the reason that I’m so motivated, because I believe that a lot of girls struggle with their self-image, and through pageantry I have the platform to tell girls to accept themselves the way they are,” Baser said.

All in all, Baser feels at peace with the life that she has now, and hopes to help others make a difference in their own lives.

“I definitely have more freedom now and I’m so much happier. I just hope to make a positive difference in people’s lives, I want to help people who are struggling, and help them get better,” Baser said.

11

A&E

APRIL 29, 2016

Marc Velayo inspires others with his intricate artwork

By Raquel Bowman

From a young age, senior Marc Velayo has had a “creative flair”, but it wasn’t until he reached seven years of age that art stopped being a hobby, and became a serious pursuit.

Velayo is an aspiring artist who draws portraits, sceneries, buildings and abstract figures.

“I can draw pretty much anything as long as I have a reference,” Velayo said.

For Velayo, drawing is a means of stepping away from the “crazy” and “busy” world Marc Velayo he lives in.

“I feel like I’m in my own world when I’m doing it,” Velayo said.

Velayo first started with drawing abstract doodles, and in 2014 he began working on calligraphy and typography to become more versatile. He searches up motivational quotes on websites such as brainyquotes.com or social media apps such as Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and incorporates them into his artwork.

“I use quotes that inspire and motivate me and give me that extra push every day,” Velayo said.

His artwork is spontaneous, and he uses it to recapture a moment in time that resonated in him. During a camping trip for Interact,Velayo was a cabin leader and was inspired to create a typography piece by a camp speaker whose mantra was “today is going to be a terrific day”.

Instead of using a variety of bright colors, Velayo usually sticks to a single Sharpie to make multiple pieces of calligraphy or typography art. The majority of his pieces involve words that are inspired by his emotions.

“One day during finals, I became so overwhelmed that I decided to create a piece that said ‘You Can Do it’ to get myself through it,” Velayo said.

When Velayo does integrate different colors into his piece, the color scheme depends mainly on his emotions, which for the most part end up being pastels.

Velayo’s latest challenge has been portrait drawings.

“I can’t draw them by memory, but it’s something I’m still working on,” Velayo said.

So far, Velayo’s favorite memory of his artwork comes from the 2014 charity show of Interact clubs

Courtesy of Marc Velayo

Using inspirational and motivational quotes, Marc Velayo creates meaningful messages into pieces of typography or caligraphy artwork, like the ones seen above. in the Bay Area. At the show, his artwork “Skyfa11” was given to raffle winners.

“It was a really humbling experience, and to see people interested in my work gives me that feeling

of satisfaction,” Velayo said.

Velayo’s dream is to work for Disney and be in the movie credits.

His ultimate goal in life is to create an unforgettable animated character.

“I want my art to represent who I was in the past, what I feel in the present and who I want to be in the future,” Velayo said.

Poki Bowl’s raw meals and large portions aren’t for everyone -- and not for me

By Sunny Gandotra

The Bay Area is notable for its $10.25. easy access to exotic foods and As a person with a selective taste restaurants, and many SCHS stu- and a lack of fondness for raw meat, dents rave about this. The newest I decided on a regular bowl with a addition to the list of exotic eater- base of half rice and half lettuce, ies is a Japanese and Hawaiian res- three scoops of fish, including spicy taurant named Poki Bowl near the tuna, raw salmon, and octopus, all Santa Clara of the toppings, and a spicy mayo County fair- sauce. grounds in With quick and satisfactory serSan Jose. vice, I grabbed my bowl and headed At my off to take a bite. At first, I noticed first visit the multitude of items in my bowl. at the res- I was continually overwhelmed with taurant, I the different tastes I experienced understood from one bite to another. However, why so I enjoyed how the sauce blended all Sunny Gandotra many stu- the flavors together. dents were The bowl wasn’t too bad, but attracted to it. The shop’s unique I would be lying if I said the raw bowl-like meals and youthful staff salmon didn’t freak me out. I don’t and customers make the restaurant typically enjoy raw fish, and the one of a kind. salmon in the bowl wasn’t outstandUnlike other Japanese restaurants I have been to, which mainly offer sushi, Poki Bowl offers dishes featuring a mixture of raw seafoods, vegetables, and flavors.

To fill their bowls, customers go through a four-step process.

First, they must Sunny Gandotra/Roar Staff choose a base with the options A regular bowl with a base of half rice and half letof rice, greens, tuce, three scoops of raw fish and all toppings. or chips. Next, ing, but the sauce made it bearable they choose from different fish like to eat. raw salmon, spicy tuna, shrimp, Additionally, the regular size octopus, or yellowtail. Then, the bowl was too much food for me. I customer decides the level of spici- could only consume about half of ness, and adds toppings like avo- the bowl. cado or crab.

In sum, Poki Bowl is not horriThe bowls come in two sizes ble, but it is not for everyone. Espebased on the number of scoops of cially if someone is not too hungry seafood: Regular, or 3 scoops, is or does not enjoy raw fish. $9.50, and large, or 4 scoops, is

/SC.Roar

@ SCHSROAR

SPOTLIGHT

12

APRIL 29, 2016

2016 elections The presidential election happens every four years, but this one has proven to be unlike any other, with many SCHS students split between seasoned politicians, those new to politics, and some students are becoming more politically active

SCHS Democrats ‘feel the Bern’

By Cindy Le Nhu

As for the Democratic side, the two nominees which started with six have made their choice for Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders and former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

Despite the fact there is a 50 percent chance for each of the candidates, the polls are still not clear enough to see who will officially be the Democratic nominee. Though according to CNN Politics, young voters are more likely to support Bernie Sanders than they are to support Hillary Clinton.

According to CNN Politics, Sanders policies connect most to the younger demographic about 83 percent at the ages of 18-29. During the debates at the beginning of the race, Sanders often spoke about issues that relates to the students in this generation: free college tuition, expanding the voting age, and LGBT rights.

Agreeing with Sanders ideas about free college and university tuitions, senior Joy Hackett will be voting for Sanders in the June California primary. “People say that it is going to be impossible for that to ever happen but that’s just because they aren’t open minded enough,” Hackett said.

Sanders’ inspiring speeches and hopeful policies have brought people to trust that Bernie is truly working for the people. From his standpoints on the corruptions of Wall Street, to the end of student tuitions debts and income inequality, Sanders propositions help bring out the struggles that everyday citizens might go through.

Another Sanders supporter is junior Tamara Pantic, who thinks Sanders comes off as an approachable and relatable person. “He is

Republican Bruins campaign for Trump & Cruz

giving a straight-forward message to the people and he is not dumbing it all down.” Pantic said.

Regarding Clinton, students have felt that the main reason why a majority of the students don’t want to vote or support Clinton is due to the muddy tracks she’s left behind.

“I think there are a lot of scandals and questionable things that are revolved around Clinton,” junior Emily Whitten said.

According to the Washington times, Clinton’s campaign looked a lot different now compared to how it was when she ran in 2008, that now she is trying to gain more young liberal voters to her side.

“It doesn’t matter if she is a women but Clinton on the other hand just doesn’t know where she stands. She looks at the polls and tries her best to appeal to the biggest demographic of people,” said senior Brandon Leyva.

Compared to Clinton, Sanders views and position stands clear. His past hasn’t affected him as much Clinton history with certain scandals and policies. Sanders has stood by his ideas and policies and has never changed. Clinton has lead some students to believe that she is not well fitted to be the next president.

“I don’t think it’s right to vote for Clinton just because you want to have a female president. I agree that she is experienced but for right now Sanders just seem to be the better choice.”

Pantic said.

Overall students who lean towards the Democratic side have favor Bernie Sanders to be the best option for the Democratic nominee. Even if Clinton is neck and neck with Sanders in votes, students have shared their support to Sanders. Though votes are still tallying in for each state and the Democratic nominations is still anyone’s game.

By Raquel Bowman

Having started with 17 candidates and now only left with three in the race, the Republican voters are stuck with the Republican sideentrepreneur and T.V. personality Donald Trump, Texas senator Ted Cruz, and Ohio senator John Kasich. However, the interest on the Republican side has not wavered, in fact, it has grown. Advocates of both Cruz and Trump are anxious for the upcoming election and some have become active participants in the candidates’ campaigns.

Trump has made many students excited as they hope Trump will indeed “make America great again,” as his campaign puts it.

“What’s important to me is not what he says, but his character.

He’s the voice of promise,” senior Kaelan Mikowicz said.

Students supporting Trump, like Mikowicz, are upset by the establishment candidates, or individuals that fall under the more traditional and orthodox parts of their party, and feel that they make empty promises.

“His candidacy is about protecting the freedom and livelihood of the American people. He reflects the anger that Americans feel about the crumbling political system,” Mikowicz said.

Other advocates of Trump, like junior Richard Ravenscraft, believe that Trump, compared to any other candidate, has the best economic plan for the country and will bring jobs back to the American people.

“He’s going to create 6 million jobs, lower our taxes, which will lead to an 11 percent growth in the GDP, higher wages, and an increase in larger capital stock,”

Age Statistics for Democrats (left) and Republicans (right) On the Democratic side, those in the age group of 18 to 29 tend to vote for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders more than former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

On the Republican side, those aged 65 and over tend to vote for entrepreneur Donald Trump rather than either Texas Sen. Ted Cruz or Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Graphics: Nancy Do and Raquel Bowman/Roar Staff Source: field.com

Ravenscraft said.

Ravenscraft, who has actively supported Trump by endorsing him on social media and owning both a Trump hat and shirt, believes that he will bring change to America.

“He reminds me most of Ronald Reagan, the best republican president to this day,” Ravenscraft said.

Some, however, have not become anti-establishment and are currently advocating for an establishment candidate such as Texas senator Ted Cruz.

“I like him because of his morals, and truthfully he is the best person to be the next commanderin-chief,” senior Benjamin Paredes said.

Paredes, a declared Republican, is the only one in his family to declare himself a supporter of the GOP. Paredes’ father is a Libertarian and his mother is a declared Democrat.

Paredes will not only be voting in the upcoming June 7 primary, but will also be a “caller from home” delegate, which means he will be making calls from home when the primary approaches to vote for Cruz. He is also a promoter, and has signed up to canvas for Cruz, and will be working at the polls at the upcoming primary in California. Like Ravenscraft, Paredes also tries to persuade others to vote for the Texas senator through social media.

“My appraisal goes out to Ted Cruz, he’s the conservative that we need,” Paredes said.