2018-2019 Issue 8

@dhshub

@bluedevilhub

Davis, CA | Vol. 94 | Issue 7| 20 March 2019

The HUB

More every day at BlueDevilHUB.com

the

Crunching the numbers

CULTURE

HUB

HUB reporter visits a palm reader page 12

PEOPLE

Sophomore does more than walk the dog page 6

BlueDevilHUB.com | Davis Senior High School

By HANNAH CHO & SAEBEAN YI HUB Staff Junior Joey Huang commutes from his home in Woodland to Davis every morning because his mom works at UC Davis.

“DHS is a pretty good school, and it’s convenient because my parents just drop me off on their way to work so it’s not really a hassle,” Huang said.

Huang is just one of the 671 students in the Davis Joint Unified School District who commute in from other districts. Students like Huang are referred to as inter-district transfers (IDTs) and make up about 7.7 percent of DJUSD. IDTs are primarily separated into two categories: “resident by employment transfers” (RBETs) and “continuing students.”

RBETs like Huang, whose parents or guardians work in Davis, make up 73 percent of Davis’ IDTs. Another 26 percent of IDTs consist of continuing students—students who have previously resided in Davis but are currently living elsewhere.

Once a student is part of the DJUSD system, they may remain as part of the school, even if they move out of the boundaries. The only exception is removal due to disciplinary or attendance issues.

Some families want their children to go to the well-respected schools in Davis, but can't live in the city because of the high cost of housing.

Whatever the reason, the number of IDTs have remained fairly stable for the past few years.

Some Davis residents complain about the financial loss of accepting IDTs, but this complaint is a misconception, say district officials.

It is true that families of out of district students do not have to pay a parcel tax of around $1,230, a tax required for all legal Davis residents.

These taxes are used to improve and fund facilities and services for Davis students.

Surprisingly, however, this does not equate to IDTs bringing less potential revenue to DHS. In fact, they do the opposite.

IDTs fill gaps in classes, which actually aid in preventing declining enrollment and keeping a stable number for core classes. DJUSD Deputy Superintendent Matt Best compares this to open plane seats.

“The plane would run whether the seats were filled up or not,” Best said. “It works the same way for schools.”

The district estimates that $8,400 of revenue is generated per student, based on attendance. And since the IDTs serve to fill, not replace, a release of these 671 students would result in a loss of $5.5 million.

This could easily “lead to significant decreases in staff, school(s) closure, increased class sizes and the redrawing of school boundaries,” according to Best.

Da Vinci High School has an exceptionally high percentage of outof-district students. Out of the 299 students that fill the 10-12th grade s, 67 of them are non-residents, or 22 percent. According to Tyler Millsap, Da Vinci High School’s principal, this is because it is a charter school.

In a charter school, non-resident students do not follow the same IDT process as the other schools.

“As an innovative, inclusive and collaborative school of choice, we appreciate the opportunity to provide an exemplary secondary education to both Davis students and students from the surrounding area,” Millsap wrote in an email.

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No 5

bringing the music back to Paradise

HUB PHOTO/MOLLY BURKE

bring district dollars

CHARIT Y

Event raises $13,000 for wildfire victims

By MOLLY BURKE & TESS MCINTYRE HUB Staff

Paradise strong. This is the phrase gracing the back of the "Save the Music in Paradise" band festival t-shirts.

The festival, held on March 16 in the Brunelle Theater, was envisioned by DHS band director Thomas Slabaugh after the community of Paradise, Calif. was ravaged by wildfires last November.

Slabaugh knew Paradise High School’s band director Bob Schofield from college and invited him and the Paradise bands to play in a joint performance.

The festival featured band groups from around Davis, including junior high bands and orchestras, the DHS chamber and Baroque orchestras, the DHS symphonic band and Da Vinci’s Mariachi group, Mariachi Del Valle. The River City High School Big Band from West Sacramento also attended. The finale was a combined Davis and Paradise band performance.

The aim was to rebuild the Paradise music program. The event raised more than $13,000, mostly in $20 bills but with two $500 checks.

Additionally, more than 550 shirts with the motto “Paradise Strong” were provided to performers by Ink Monkey. The owner of Ink Monkey, Jason Steenbergen, also set up an online store in which people could buy the shirts, donating all the profits to the Paradise music program.

KHS America, an organization dedicated to enrichment through music, and Jupiter Band Instruments donated 22 instruments, worth more than $35,000. The group also agreed to provide just under $200,000 worth of instruments and equipment for a discounted rate of $40,000 to $50,000. Festival proceeds from DHS will help pay that

fee.

Since the fires, students from Paradise High School have been attending school in a vacated Facebook building in Chico. While the location has proved to be a challenge for some students, as they have to commute almost an hour to and from school each day, Paradise’s principal Loren Lighthall noted that the temporary location is the “best [they] could have hoped for.”

“A lot of the classrooms are just dictated by temporary walls we've put up in the middle of large open areas, and we’re fitting hundreds of people in a small, two story office building, so that's pretty tough,” Paradise student junior Greg Schofield said.

Though the set-up is adequate for most classes, the office space does not cater to the performing arts. A traditional music room, like the one found in the instructional wing of Brunelle Hall, has tiered seating and is soundproof.

Another challenge is instruments. Due to smoke damage many of the instruments and instrument cases at Paradise High were destroyed.

“We’re at a bit of a crossroads being able to find enough instruments currently to play, and even for the kids that are left to be able to practice,” Lighthall said.

But students have more on their minds than music.

“I'm just trying to be a pillar for other people,” Schofield said. “I've been thinking about getting rid of what clothes I don't need because we got them after the fire and other people still need that stuff, and trying to be helpful to my teachers who are stretched thin by the unusual conditions and being a good person typically.”

Added Lighthall, “School is the one place you go that it’s like, this is familiar to me, this is what I know, and there's a certain comfort level with that."

ACTIVISM

Students march to save the planet

By JUJU MIYAMOTO Copy Editor

Colorful signs exclaiming phrases like “The climate is changing why aren’t we?” and “There is no planet B” were held by hundreds of California students gathered at the Sacramento Capitol on March 15. The students skipped school to protest climate change and urge the government to take action.

Speakers at the protest educated the crowd about the growing importance of the topic, with the goal of bringing about California-related climate changes.

Sophomore Emme Dunning made her way to the march to express her feelings surrounding climate change. “Just like a lot of other people out here, we’re trying to tell legislators that we’re upset about the lack of what they’ve done about climate change and try to urge them to change it,” Dunning said.

Dunning recognizes protests and marches are the only way to get her opinions effectively heard. Mainly, “spreading the word” is the way to educate the masses about certain movements and concerns.

The climate change march even brought students from Riverside to advocate for the passing of measures like the “Green New Deal” that would focus on combating climate change.

“Basically every community has some sort of organization that you can join. First of all, I would say go out and support your local community organizations and from there, social media is a very powerful tool so you

HUB PHOTO/EMILY PERRY

Non-Davis students

Senior Cat de la Pena left school to take a stand and march at the capitol for climate change awareness on Friday, March 15. can reach out to organizations via social media. And then start on campus if you don’t have a green team or environmental justice club. Just start educating yourself about various solutions,” said Jessie Parks, a student at a Riverside high school.

Experts point to climate change as the overall cause of the extreme weather within California. Research published by UCLA climate scientists predicts severe wet and dry weather resulting from temperature increase from oceans and atmosphere. The study explains very wet seasons can lead to the perfect conditions for extreme wildfires during the dry season.

Davis is no stranger to the rainfall as of-

ficials warned of the flooding of the Sacramento River and Cache Creek mid-February.

Flood warnings are issued during eminent or prominent danger and could be a sign for residents to move to higher ground.

Those without access to cars to get to school resort to other modes of transportation in order to arrive at school on time. However, junior Collin Fitzpatrick bikes, rather than drives, to school rain or shine.

“When it rains I throw on some waterproof clothes and bike as normal. It’s not fun, but there are worse things in life than wet socks,” Fitzpatrick said.

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NEWS

20 March 2019

PREVIEW

Students participate in local government

B E

Youth in Government has been offered to DHS students since the late 1900s, and the program is still benefiting students today.

The program allows students to shadow City of Davis and California state officials for a day.

Junior Cariappa Kodira is in his second year in the program. “It helps me understand the role of certain government officials and how a government functions,” Kodira said.

He is currently shadowing a city council representative.

Kodira first signed up for the program because he thought it was interesting and he got to miss school for a day.

“I’m doing it again because it was really fun and I learned a lot about how a government functions,” Kodira said.

Kodira has always been interested and involved in student government. He’s been in student government positions since eighth grade.

“My first year in Youth in Government was pretty fun. Basically I spent that day going around UC Davis because I was shadowing the UC Davis administrator,” Kodira said.

Each year four people form a committee to coordinate the complex event. This year the committee heads are sophomore Emily Jiang, senior Iain Smith, senior Carina Fettinger and Bob Bowen, the public relations manager of the City of Davis.

The Youth in Government committee advertises the program to students and assigns positions to all participants.

However, the heads of the committee communicate with Bowen, who coordinates the government shadows.

“Youth in Government has definitely made me more appreciative of the government employees in Davis,” Jiang said.

Jiang just started her first year in the program as head of the Youth in Government committee.

Youth in Government educates students at DHS about different government positions. “I believe that Youth in Government provides students with a great opportunity to gain insight into Davis’ government and possibly experience a future job,” Jiang said.

Another head of the committee, Fettinger has been in the program for two years now.

“I enjoy being involved in the community and I think it’s a very good opportunity to see how parts of Davis work and how people come together to keep our city running,”

HUB PHOTO/ADAM DAPKEWICZ

By JAYKE SOMMERS HUB Staff

Bob Bowen, public relations manager of the City of Davis, helps run Youth in Government by pairing up students with government workers.

Fettinger said.

Unlike Jiang and Kodira, Fettinger is shadowing a different position. “I will be shadowing the Fire Chief on Tuesday,” Fettinger said.

“I’m paired with Iain Smith to shadow.”

Senior Jake Goidell is participating in his third year of Youth in Government. “I wanted to do Youth in Government because I thought it would be interesting to see the inner working of the city,” Goidell said.

Goidell has shadowed a couple of positions. “I’ve shadowed the city council and the fire marshal,” Goidell said. “This year I’m shadowing mayor Brett Lee.” Even though the shadow day is interesting and informative for Goidell, his favorite part is the mock meeting at the end. It is held after the day students shadow their government official.

Kodira also really enjoys the program because of its mock meeting too.

“My favorite part about it is the mock meeting that everyone does at the end where

the kids control a meeting and basically talk about whatever they want to,” Kodira said.

The mock meeting allows students to get an idea of what it is like to control a real meeting. “[The mock meeting] allows students to act like council members and it’s a really awesome thing for people interested in politics in politics and wanting to make those decisions,” Fettinger said. “[Last year] during one of the first meetings [discussions] about recreational marijuana. There was a lot of public comments from both angry constituents and business in the cannabis community,” Goidell said.

This was not the only topic discussed during one of last years' meetings. “Last mock meeting we talked about a bunch of things like the problem with turkeys in Davis and parking around the city,” Kodira said.

Correction

In the last issue of the HUB, the following error was printed: In the article titled "Speech and debate team members excel as 2019 competition season comes to a head," on page 7, the photo caption incorrectly named the pictured speech and debate competition as "state semifinals." However, such a tournament does not exist and it was actually the Cal Invitational tournament.

RESULTS

HUB diversity audit sparks plans for improvements As a high school newspaper, it is The HUB’s goal to reflect DHS as much as possible. Because interviews are such an integral aspect of our articles, videos and social media posts, The HUB staff conducts an annual diversity audit of the students interviewed so far in the year, in the print edition, on the website or on any form of social media.

By recording information about the gender, race/ethnicity, grade and course load of the interviewees, HUB editors compare the demographics of who was interviewed to the demographics of the DHS population.

The ultimate goal: that the demographics of the two populations are the same so this publication accurately reflects the school's students.

Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Firstly, the HUB failed to interview enough male students. While the school population is 52 percent male, only 38 percent of the interviewees are. Similarly, the school population is 48 percent female but 60 percent of the people interviewed were female.

HUB editors also compared the race of DHS students to the race of those interviewed. 58 percent of the people interviewed were white, while 52 percent of the school population is white. 21 percent of DHS students are Asian-Americans, while 28 percent of those interviewed are Asian-Americans. 3 percent of DHS students are African-Americans and 4 percent of the students interviewed were African-Americans. These three discrepancies are all within a reasonable margin of error of 7 percent.

However, The HUB is falling far short in following anothyer ethnic group; while 19 percent of DHS identifies as Latino, The HUB conducted interviews with Latino students less than 4 percent of the time. This major discrepancy of 15 percent has left Latino students’ voice severely underrepresented in The HUB’s platforms and publications.

Likely due to the makeup of The HUB’s class of almost exclusively juniors and seniors, we have failed to accurately represent the views of sophomores. While they are 35 percent of the school population (the largest class at DHS), they only made up 16 percent of the interviews. Meanwhile, juniors had 39 percent of the interviews and seniors had 45 percent of the interviews, while each only composes 33 percent of DHS students.

Lastly, we examined the course load of students. 62 percent of students take at least one

AP or honors class, but 68 of the interviewees did. 38 percent of students do not take any AP or honors classes, but only 30 percent of interviewees didn’t.

In summary, the most significantly underrepresented groups include males, Latinos, sophomores and those who do not take any weighted classes.

HUB editors are meeting to address these discrepancies. In April, they will talk with the staff about these findings, so all reporters will have a clear understanding of who is under-

represented. Reporters will be required to interview underrepresented students whenever possible during the following issue cycle and beyond.

The HUB will conduct another audit following the interviews in the next cycle and brainstorm other solutions if discrepancies B persist.

The HUB invites DHS clubs, classes, andH individuals to contact us with story ideas at bluedevilhub.com@gmail.com.

u g e b t

p i J T e g J 5

t l g t t o a

HUB GRAPHIC/ AMY DING

By MOLLY BURKE Editor-in-Chief

The HUB examined the demographics of interviewees since August 2018, as shown above.

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The HUB

3

ACTIVISM

LGBTQ+ youth find community in support group

By MOLLY BURKE Editor-in-Chief

By JUJU MIYAMOTO Copy Editor

HUB GRAPHIC/MORGAN KONG

In a craft-filled, sunlit room, about 10 teens gather around a table. They take turns introducing themselves: names, pronouns, how their week has been and the answer to a fun question.

Next come the community agreements.

The LGBTQ+ youth support group doesn’t have rules, though they have made a continually growing and changing list of agreements to foster a comfortable space where everyone feels respected.

The youth agree to keep what others share confidential, but make sure to apply what they learn all the time. When covering sensitive subjects, they should preface it with a warning and use “oompa loompa” as a safe word that will stop any further discussion on a topic that is too sensitive. Everyone should learn from their mistakes and assume that any mistakes weren’t meant to cause any harm.

For the teens who attend, identifying with the LGBTQ+ community in various ways, the group serves as a safe space.

“We use the right pronouns, which is real nice,” senior Finley Lindberg said.

At their most recent meeting, the teens wrote and decorated cards about the support group that would be displayed at a dinner for the Davis Phoenix Coalition, a community organization formed to fight hate that funds the youth group.

The last meeting was spent decorating and filling jars with messages of kindness to unfold whenever they are needed.

While they often have planned activities, mostly related to arts and crafts, much of the time ends up being spent in casual conversation about issues that they face in daily life.

“We talk about things and share stories.

It’s just about getting out of whatever environment I’m in and going to a place where I know I’ll have fun and eat some snacks. High school tends to get really stressful [...] so it’s always nice to have a couple hours not to worry about other things,” junior Lee Libet said.

Both Lindberg and Libet describe the gathering as a “home away from home.”

“You can really be yourself here. It’s also educational and you learn things, like thinking about what these things mean to you, which is really interesting,” Lindberg said.

Since the first anniversary of the group’s founding, on Feb. 14, the group has moved locations and separated from the City of Davis, allowing them to talk about sex, though not in “vulgar terms,” which Joel Gutierrez, one of the facilitators, believes is important to be able to discuss.

Gutierrez, a junior at UC Davis who works in the UCD Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex Asexual (LGBTQIA) Support Center, helped to form the group last year alongside the interested teens. The

Elementary schools to recognize LGBTQ+ figures

mission they decided upon was to provide a place where they could be themselves, support one another and learn through exploratory activities.

“There’s not a lot of space outside of the internet to have conversations about our identities and the things that impact our community as LGBTQIA people,” Gutierrez said.

Another facilitator, Makenzie DeLaughder, who recently graduated from Sacramento State and grew up in Davis, wishes that the group had been available to them as a teen.

“Having this specific youth group is really vital to students right now. I think that especially in this climate it’s important that students have a space to be free to who they are,” DeLaughder said.

They also believe that while Gender and Sexualities Alliance is an incredibly important support system at schools like DHS, it can be helpful to have an organization outside of school where teens may feel more comfortable and be able to talk about issues they have experienced at school.

The group also works closely with Yolo Rainbow Families, an organization that supports LGBTQ+ parents and parents of LGBTQ+ children. Anoosh Jorjorian, a member and coordinator of the youth group,

believes that the group is a vital part in supporting a community of people who has always been a part of Davis.

“Every community will have LGBTQ+ youth and adults living among them. The only question is are those folks closeted or living out and proud? We know that when LGBTQ+ folks are closeted and don’t feel safe, it puts them at risk for depression and suicide,” Jorjorian said.

Libet is grateful for the youth group’s existence due to the connections it forges between teens.

“I’ve met a lot of people through this group which is fun because I get to see them around and know who they are. It helps with the idea of having people in the general area of Davis that I know and have gone through similar experiences,” Libet said.

“It’s definitely a space to talk about things that you don’t want to talk about one-onone with really good friends all the time. It’s a good place to get out of your head.”

The youth group meeting happen twice a month, though they are trying to make them a weekly event. The meeting times and places for the LGBTQ+ youth support group and Yolo Rainbow Families are posted on their Facebook pages.

In an Elk Grove school board meeting on Feb. 5, parents and teachers gathered in the meeting to hear an education altering decision. The board came to a conclusion after opinions and concerns were heard from passionate speakers to change the K-8 social science curriculum to include LGBTQ+ and other controversial topics in history.

Other districts in California, including the Davis Joint Unified District, have yet to adopt the new textbooks which educate kids on topics like the Armenian genocide and important figures like Harvey Milk and Ellen DeGeneres.

Tom Adams, a trustee on the Davis board of education, works as the deputy superintendent of the California Department of Education. He oversaw the instructional material added to the curriculum and made sure the information was "Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful" (FAIR) as California law instructs historical material to be covered in respect to LGBTQ+ and other marginalized groups.

“It’s so important that we get to learn about the different people in our communities, and recognize that diversity has many levels and meanings,” Adams said.

DJUSD needs a “few more dollars” to be able to purchase the new materials, according to Adams. He believes Davis education should be focused on “telling the full story.”

Senior Sam Choquette, president of the LGBTQ+ history club, is vocal about the importance of informing her peers.

“I felt the need to create the club because I noticed there was a distinct gap in the curriculum, especially regarding AP U.S. History,” Choquette said.

Choquette felt that the minimal mentions of LGBTQ+ history were “disturbing” and was confused by the lack of information being given about the community.

“People are afraid of what they don’t understand. Even LGBTQ+ people who do understand, usually don’t know their history and it’s really important to know about the past [...] and it shows that there is still a need for change even as far as we’ve come today,” Choquette said.

Choquette believes DHS should make an effort to improve the curriculum. “Stonewall gets mentioned a lot and that’s basically the only thing people remember. But there’s also events like the Compton’s Cafeteria riots and nobody hears about it, nobody knows,” Choquette said.

FESTIVITIES

Grad night preparation in full swing

With the 2018-19 school year wrapping up, end of the year festivities are set to begin. Planning for one of the most esteemed events of the year, Grad Night, has already been underway since the beginning of September.

Grad Night is a night long celebratory party for seniors, from all four high schools in the district, that takes place at Emerson Junior High, on the night of graduation.

The night is filled with food, beverage, entertainment, dancing, activities, casino games and prizes. This year the event is on June 14, starting at 9:30 p.m. and ending at 5:00 a.m.

Grad Night has been a tradition since the mid-1980s in response to alcohol-related car crashes the night of graduation. A group of parents was determined to resolve the issue by creating Grad Night to ensure that seniors could enjoy their last moments of high school, without parents worrying about their safety.

The volunteer team it takes to make sure that this event runs smoothly is extensive, to say the least. There are nearly 60 committee head volunteers, running all different aspects of the party including: activities, decorations, food and beverage, fundraising, business and operations.

Setting up this grand party for nearly 700 graduating seniors is no easy feat. “We begin minutes after school is let out on the last day of school and almost a hundred volunteers descend on Emerson to put all the pieces in place for a magical night,” Tricia Bosco, Grad Night vice president said.

Emerson becomes unrecognizable after its 24-hour transformation. The theme

COURTESY PHOTO/TRICIA BOSCO

By JENNA DYER HUB Staff

The class of 2009 gathers at R. W. Emerson Jr. High's gym to watch a hypnotist, one of the many surprise activities of Grad Night. A decade later the class of 2019 will be celebrating in the same gym, but with cell phones instead of cameras. each year is decided at the first committee meeting in September. “We vote on the best ideas that night and narrow it down to one by the end of the evening,” Bosco said.

The theme is kept under wraps all year, so seniors are surprised once they arrive.

Past themes were ‘Roadtrip’, with decorations consisting of cars and road trip themed items. Another theme was ‘Time

Machine’, taking students from the past to the future with different decades of decorations.

Grad Night tickets are currently on sale for $85 and prices will rise to $100 after May 30. Students can buy tickets on the Grad Night website, pay by check or can purchase at the door, the night of. If any students face any financial hardships,

they can see their school counselor for more information.

The event offers volunteer opportunities for all parents and guardians, volunteers can sign up to help out, on davisgradnight.org under ‘Volunteer,’ while information regarding Grad Night, as well as raffle winners the night of, can be found @davisgradnight2019 on Instagram.

4

SPOTLIGHT

20 March 2019

Staff who Care

Some DHS staff go above and beyond to show how much they care about their students. Spencer Elliott’s fourth period ACES class listed the following staff members as people who make the effort to better everyone’s day.

Brown bets against bad days /MA NP

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By JASPREET BAATH HUB Staff

HUB PHO TO

In between classes, the hallways are crowded with students rushing to their next class or in their own cliques talking to their friends. However, in the midst of the flurry of students, you may find one staff member coming out of the blue to ask how you are doing and if you need any help.

That staff member would be Ty Brown. Brown is a paraeducator as well as an assistant coach for varsity football, but most people may know him better for just being a friendly face who you can talk to.

Junior Dice Ferrick used to play JV basketball as a sophomore and remembers many times that Brown would come up and talk to him and just encourage him to do better.

“I was surprised because I really didn’t know who he was at first, but he just came up to me after practice and we just had a friendly conversation and he just provided words of encouragement and also told me to keep up the good work,” Ferrick said.

For Brown, getting to know students better is just what he does to form more connections and help high schoolers relieve some of their stress.

“Sometimes I’ll just check in with kids to ask them about their next test or softball game, just because everyone, even the straight-A student or the star athlete is going through something,” Brown said.

For Brown, all these qualities of empathy were stressed and taught by his grandmother and mother from a young age. He hopes that his 5 and 9-year-old sons will learn this as well and be treated the same way he treats other children.

“The main reason that I like to help other children, is the fact that I know one day my own kids will be here at DHS and have to deal with the same people. Hopefully, everyone will learn to appreciate empathy and pay it forward as well,” Brown said.

He also believes that it is important for kids to be acknowledged by someone for their value, outside of their parents, and he considers a little motivation by someone else can go a long way.

“I always have thought of it this way: there are a billion people who are trying to put you down in the world, but if I can be the one picking you up and helping you out then that can make a major difference in someone’s life,” Brown said.

As a football coach, Brown tries to bring the same energy on the field as well. Junior Jonathan Roberts played on the varsity football team and appreciated how Brown helped comfort and help him through the

loss of his grandmother.

“Most coaches just care about how you are physically doing but [Brown] cares about your emotional health and mental health as well. He let me miss a game because he understood that family comes first,” Roberts said.

In addition to this, players have also noticed the extra effort put in just to make sure that everyone can participate. Junior Teddy Oldham, another varsity football player, appreciates how far Brown goes to help the players.

“He doesn’t have to drive kids to zero period in five in the morning or stay long hours in study hall to make sure we have a 3.0, but yet he still does every day and we make sure to work hard to show him our appreciation,” Oldham said.

Sometimes in order to help, his wife would also drive kids in the mornings to make sure everyone had the opportunity to make it to practice.

“At first she would always ask and complain and be like why am I driving other parent’s children so early in the morning,” Brown said. “But years later when those kids come back and are doing great things like being coaches or firefighters, they come back to thank us, and it makes everything worth it.”

E MOTE

how to write a good essay and he taught me in a way that I understood,” Mark said.

She also appreciates the extra time that Elliott puts in to make sure that she is truly learning. Elliott makes an effort to make sure his students are heard in class.

“He is also willing to answer all my questions and spend extra time with me to make sure I understand the material,” Mark said.

Mark added that while his class is extremely informative, Elliot is still entertaining and engaging. During class, Elliott makes sure to use his passionate personality to his advantage.

“And he also has a great sense of humor which keeps me upbeat and ready for his class,” Mark said.

OTO/ELL

Teachers are students’ mentors. They guide us to the next step of our lives and they teach us what we need to know in order to reach our goals in the future.

Some of the outstanding teachers on campus have qualities that encourage students to work hard in their classes, and find a way to make going to school fun and interesting.

English teacher Spencer Elliott, who also teaches Academic Coaching Empowering Success (ACES) as well as coaches track, has been able to captivate his students by having many group discussions, peer reviews and intriguing content to learn in his classes.

English 10 Honors student Halle Gabriel loves Elliott’s class.

“I like his class because he treats us as his equals, not like a classroom of kids,” Gabriel said.“He

makes sure that he goes to every student in his class, to clarify that everyone knows the curriculum [...] and gives us assignments that helps us improve our weaknesses.”

Elliott understands each student in his class is different as his teaching style and curriculum reflect that. His class is structured around keeping students engaged and interested.

“I teach each class according to each year [...] the curriculum changes every year [...] the curriculum is usually interesting enough to engage the students in full class discussions,” Elliott said.

“He cares if you don’t understand the rubric, he wants you to learn about you can fix your mistakes,” Gabriel said.

Not only does Elliott keep his class interesting, students are able to learn easily from his strategies. Another sophomore student of his, Mia Mark, recalls how much she has learned this year.

“Before Mr. Elliott’s class I didn’t know

HUB PH

By AVERI BRAYTON HUB Staff

KAITIS

Elliott evades boring lectures

Sequeira lends a helpful hand

By JASPREET BAATH HUB Staff

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Vice principal Kellie Sequeira deals with incoming sophomores as well as making sure that students are adjusting and doing well in the new setting. However, most people will recognize her from seeing her around campus or from visiting their classroom.

“Even though I deal with kids in meetings as a part of my job, I also enjoy standing in the quad and communicating with kids that way or I love it when I get the opportunity to go fill in as a substitute for a teacher,” Sequeira said.

Junior Marco Iandolino has noticed her presence around campus and has noticed how she goes out of her way during lunch to make sure that she is able to reach as many students as possible.

“Just recently I saw her holding the door open for students in the library, just to see how their day was going and if they needed any help. I thought it was really surprising because most staff just want to enjoy lunch but she actually wanted to be with the students,” Iandolino

said.

The reason for this is that Sequeira believes that even simple conversations can help students change their attitudes and know that she is there for them and will listen.

“When you talk with a student you may just change their attitude and a simple conversation can spark their inner voice and give them the ability to discover what they can do,” Sequeira said.

One student who has taken note of this is junior Collin Yee, who has talked to her many times during lunch and has noticed that she is always willing to talk to you.

“She is super nice and always is willing to listen to me complain about a test or a problem, even though I do not know her that well; whenever I see her I know that she will talk to me,” Yee said.

Sequeira values building not just academic relationships but rather ones that truly connect with the students and she encourages other staff to do it as well.

“When you build a community, care goes both ways between the staff and students. If the staff is able to convey that they truly care

about students then it ends up encouraging them to care more about school and try to do better,” Sequeira said.

English teacher Curtis Miller has noticed that Sequeira is always trying to get to know students better and has swung by his class on a variety of occasions. Whenever a student needs anything, simple or complex, Sequeira is always there to help.

“In my class we have to do a book project, and one time [Sequeira] went out of her way to buy a bunch of books and let the students pick any to read. She was talking to students and making recommendations, which was surprising and something I have never seen before,” Miller said.

Sequeira feels well-rewarded for her kindness and hard work.

“I remember one day before school began, and I just answered questions for over an hour for this one mom who was stressing about her daughter coming to DHS. Two years later I ended up running into the same mom, and her being so thankful is a constant reminder of the impact that I am able to make,” Sequeira said.

PEOPLE Shim’s Trims

The HUB

Senior John Shim offers top notch haircuts from the comfort of his own garage

5

“Every time I went to the barber I paid close attention to what they were doing and always thought i could do better.”

By KATE MACAULAY HUB Staff

HUB PHOTO/ WILL ZIEGLER

A single chair sits in senior John Shim’s garage, surrounded by towels, clippers, hair product and a propped up mirror. Shim has been cutting hair this way for about a year.

Shim started off giving free cuts to his friends and as he began to build confidence in his ability saw the business opportunity he had.

It all began in a physics class this school year, senior Henry Siegler came up with the catchy name: Shims Trims, and Shim created his own logo and new instagram account @shims_trims to begin promoting.

“I was always interested in cutting hair,” Shim said. “Every time I went to the barber I paid close attention to what they were doing and always thought I could do better.”

After watching and waiting, one day Shim tried trimming for himself. “It turned out pretty well so I continued doing it,” Shim said.

According to Men’s Hairstyles Today, men’s haircuts in the United States can range from $10 to $100, averaging at $28 for the whole country. A trim by Shim costs the low price of $8, with appointments made from direct messages through the @shims_trims Instagram account.

His Instagram currently boasts 75 followers along with a personalized logo featuring a barber’s pole. The account posts 360 degree videos of Shim’s cuts along with catchy rap music in the background.

Before the creation of Shim’s Trims, Siegler frequented a barber downtown who did a consistently good job, “but the [...] price at Shims Trims is too good to pass up,” Siegler said. “Not to mention the quality cuts I receive.”

“My garage may not look like it but in the end of the day, all that matters is the quality of the product,” Shim said.

As a friend and business supporter, Siegler considers himself a loyal customer and important piece in the puzzle that is business, because he also offers a customer’s perspective and feedback to help improve Shim as a barber.

“So far, I have received two phenomenal cuts from Mr. Shim,” Siegler said. “[This is] a wonderful business ran by a truly talented young man with a passion.”

Senior Erick Lengtat also believes that Shim gives the best hair cuts in town, and rates his experience as five stars, even though it wasn’t without flaws. “[Shim’s trims has] excellent customer service, great hair cutting skills, and a cheap price,” Lengtat said.

“He cut my ear, but quickly stopped the bleeding and handled the situation professionally.”

John Shim cuts senior Jackson Feldwick-Jones’ hair in Feldwick-Jones’ backyard.

In the barber business, word of mouth travels faster than the posts on Along with cutting hair in his garage, Shim also travels to his clients upon request.

Instagram. Senior Iain Smith learned about Shims Trims from a teammate at soccer practice.

Smith was a frequenter of Great Clips in the past, but now has had two “good” cuts from Shim and is satisfied. “If I were to leave a review I’d give him a 10 because he’s a stud,” Smith said.

GAMING

Move over Fortnite, Apex Legends is up next Apex Legends, a battle royale game, has exploded onto the video game scene.

Since releasing on Feb. 4, Apex Legends has amassed more than 50 million downloads on Xbox One, Playstation 4 and PC. Fortnite, currently the most popular battle royale, has about 200 million downloads. However, with an incredibly fast growth rate, Apex Legends may not be behind for long.

In Fortnite, you can play in a solo, duo or squad. Loot is found on the ground, in chests and in supply drops. In duos or squads, you can be knocked, and your teammate can revive you as long they reach you before your 100 hp reaches zero.

Apex Legends’ lobbies consist of 20 teams of three players, with each team member choosing from eight characters, each with unique abilities. In Apex Legends, you can be knocked down then eliminated and still be revived by your teammate by taking a banner to a drop point.

Both games follow a similar model with opportunities to make in-game purchases for skins and other items. Following Fortnite’s lead, Apex Legends will soon have a battle pass available for purchase, in which gamers unlock new items as they gain experience.

Apex Legends has reached a wide audience through Twitch, a platform allowing people to watch their favorite gamers play in real time. Apex Legends recently

HUB PHOTO/ ADAM DAPKEWICZ

By WILL ZIEGLER HUB Staff

Many gamers, including senior Nate Ade, have turned to Apex Legends because of recent changes to Fortnite, the once most popular game on PC. eclipsed 8 million hours watched in one day, only the second game to ever reach such a milestone.

Apex Legends’ fast growth rate may be due to the condition upon which the game released. “The game was super balanced and polished when it released,” sophomore Franco Sanchez said.

Sanchez also liked the uniqueness of the map, and said that it was a nice change of pace for gamers who have been playing Fortnite.

“Apex brings a new twist to battle royale games by allowing you to have options […] providing gamers with the best experience to their given playstyle,” junior Cody Taylor

said.

With different characters and team compositions, there is great variety in the game keeping Apex Legends fresh.

With download numbers continuing to increase, Apex Legends may soon take over the battle royale world.

21 March 2019

By SHERLYN GARCIA HUB Staff

When his friend sophomore Henry Sadler brought a yo-yo to school, sophomore Franco Sanchez took notice of the new contraption. A few months later, Sanchez visited Peru, his homeland, and began yo-yoing because he was bored and figured, “Why not?”.

Since then, Sanchez has grown fond of yo-yoing.

Sanchez moved to Davis in the fifth grade, and it was not all that easy at first because he was homesick for his hometown and for family.

He eventually grew to love Davis and enjoys living here. He made friends—whom he started yo-yoing with. He also has family here so home did not seem all that far to him anymore. “It’s like Davis is almost becoming my home,” Sanchez said.

For Sanchez, the yo-yo itself represents his home in Peru and his home here, in Davis. He first learned what it was in Davis but he taught himself his first tricks and first experienced it when he was in Peru. It holds a special place in his heart for that very reason.

“I always have a yo-yo with me, in my pocket, wherever,” Sanchez said. “It’s like I have a little piece of both homes with me anywhere I go.”

With both homes at the reach of his pocket, Sanchez takes his yo-yo to places like Chico to compete. The California State Yo-Yo Contest is where Sanchez has showcased his skills for the past two years—ever since he began.

Placing 41st place out of 45 competitors his first year and 26th place out of 41 opponents in his second year, he hopes that this year, he will land in the top 10 or 20.

Remaining optimistic is one of the many things that keeps yo-yoing lively for him. Another is patience, “If you don’t like to yo-yo, you won’t stay with it, you have to like it and you have to be patient because it takes a while to learn it,” Sanchez said.

HUB PHOTOS/ MANPREET KAUR

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COURTESY PHOTO/ EVAN AMOS VANAMO MEDIA

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Sophomore Franco Sanchez demonstrates one of his yo-yo tricks outside the art building. He has been practicing with the toy for almost three years, since he began in 7th grade.

TRENDS

By TESS MCINTYRE HUB Staff

An apple a day keeps the doctor away as the saying goes, but some students are turning to an alternative apple format for their daily snack: applesauce. GoGo Squeez and similar products that feature a nozzle that allow consumers to eat the sauce without a spoon have found their way into students’ lunch boxes and backpacks.

Junior Gavin Mick and senior Maria Andrade agree that not needing to use a utensil to consume the snack was a benefit to GoGo Squeez.

“Originally I just often forgot to bring spoons to school, and it just became a habit,” Mick said. “The consistency of the apple sauce seems a little different from drinking it versus using a spoon, so it’s really just a personal preference.”

“The squeeze and suck method is much more convenient since I don’t have to carry around a spoon with me all the time,” Andrade said.

Senior Shayleigh Thompson noted the portability of the pouches as a reason to include the snack in her midday meals.

“I like how it’s quick and easy. They make packing a lunch a lot easier and saves me time in the morning,” Thompson said. “It’s easier to just grab the pouch and go.”

The GoGo Squeez website lists 13 applesauce flavors, but students found the Apple Apple and Apple Cinnamon flavors to

be the most enjoyable.

Mick said that while the original apple flavor is pleasant, the majority of the other flavors, which have apple mixed with another fruit, are too strong.

Senior Mia Jones-Zamora agrees with Mick, as she is not peachy-keen on the Apple Peach flavor, stating that the combination of peach and apple is not a “match made in heaven.” However, Jones-Zamora is not averse to the other flavors; she simply prefers the classic apple flavor over the others.

“My favorite flavor is Apple Apple because I appreciate the simple things in life,” Jones-Zamora said. “The other fruity flavors are good but original applesauce is the best. Why fix something that ain’t broke?”

GoGo Squeez’s mission is “to make it easier for families to be healthier and happier,” according to its website. While an increase in happiness level due to the applesauce would likely vary from person to person, the healthiness of the product can be assessed based on the nutrition facts label on the back of the pouch.

Most of the flavors contain a scant 70 calories and 12 to 14 grams of sugar per 90 gram pouch. Furthermore, every flavor is nut, dairy and gluten free, 100 percent fruit, kosher certified and vegan friendly.

The benefits of GoGo Squeez go beyond the elements of being a tasty and convenient snack. According to the company’s website, it is partnered with Terracycle, an “innovative recycling company that has become a global leader in recycling

HUB GRAPHIC/ AMY DING

DHS’s new main squeeze

hard-to-recycle waste.”

GoGo Squeez and Terracycle encourage applesauce consumers to send their empty GoGo Squeez pouches to Terracycle facilities with the incentive of earning points per pouch mailed in. The points can then be

redeemed for money to benefit one’s community group or charity of their choice, and the empty pouches can be recycled into things like playground equipment and tote bags.

academics

The HUB

7

OPINION

Students need a head start on learning life skills Lili MA

How will the Pythagorean Theorem help when it comes time to do taxes? Will the ability to answer a data-based question teach you how to change a flat tire? The simple answer is: they won’t. The skills that are taught in high school are insufficient to help students solve real world problems.

The current culture on campus focuses far too much on the pursuit of purely academic interests that will not necessarily benefit every student.

At DHS, where academic rigor is not so much encouraged as it is required, many students find themselves taking classes they do not truly see the purpose of; they only take these classes due to pressure from their peers and parents.

Taking an excess of academic classes will only be beneficial if the student wants to specialize in those fields. Doubling up on science classes will only help those who want to be a science major. There is no need for an intended International Relations major to take a class like AP Chemistry, as it will not contribute to their success in their future field of study.

Many students take such academically intense courses in order to become more desirable to top universities, but what these students may fail to realize is that even in

HUB PHOTO/CADEN NEEL

Hub Staff

Students in Intermediate Auto Shop learn to fix the brakes of a car, a skill many current high school students may need in adulthood. college, the skills necessary for personal and economic stability are not always taught. For example, according to LendEDU, a financial education website, 59.3 percent of college students do not even know what a credit score is.

DHS offers a handful of courses in Career Technical Education (CTE), but the number of these classes is easily trumped by the number of academic courses.

In addition, tudents are only required to take one semester of a CTE or practical art course to graduate from high school, in comparison to the two-year science and two-year

math requirement.

Due to this skimpy requirement, CTE courses are generally less of a concern to DHS students.

Instead of taking a practical, career-oriented class that could help prepare students for adult life, like auto shop, students opt for easy ‘A’ CTE classes that won’t take as much time out of their schedule, or AP classes that will help them stand out in the college admissions process.

Not only are CTE classes being swept under the rug, but they are also actively being cut from the DHS course catalog. Just last

year, the Food Science and Nutrition class was removed.

It does not look like the school is hoping to implement new CTE courses in the near future either. DHS administration just rejected the proposal for a Sports Medicine class that students who have worked with the athletic trainer, who would have taught the course, are interested in.

Taking classes, like Food Science and Sports Medicine, that teach life skills can help students in two ways: they can prepare them to live independently and they can offer a route to a potential occupation.

DHS should spend more time emphasizing the need to take classes like fashion, cooking and auto shop. These classes can help in the future regardless of what path a student takes.

We, as a community, have a preconceived idea that these things are something that parents will teach or that they are not necessary for success because college is when you learn how to be independent. This notion can’t be relied on. Not everyone gets these resources.

This lack of focus on teaching life skills is why high school graduates are not usually ready to be completely independent.

If training for independent living was stressed at the high school level, then students wouldn’t struggle to do their laundry in the post-high school years. If students don’t learn the skills they need to succeed soon, it will be trial by fire when they graduate.

EXCURSIONS

Field trips provide handson learning experience

HUB PHOTO/ELLE MOTEKAITIS

By TALULLAH MANGHISE Clubs/Academics Editor

Some of tutor Danielle Cisneros’s many jobs at the Academic Center are filing paperwork, preparing study materials and helping students with their homework.

STUDENT SUCCESS

Academic Center provides resources for students

By GABRIEL LEE HUB Staff Tucked between the L building’s elevator and the library, hidden beneath the stairwell, lies classroom L-10. To a random passerby, this classroom seems inconspicuous. However, within its doors is the Academic Center, a resource available to students looking to either keep up with, or get ahead in, their classes.

The overlooked catalysts of this program are the tutors, who come from UC Davis to lend their expertise to students seeking academic assistance.

“My favorite part about working here is seeing the clarity on the kid’s face when they finally understand their work,” said Danielle Cisneros, a tutor in the Academic Center.

Cisneros, who was an Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) tutor at her high school in Southern California, heard about the program through Aggie Job Link, a website that helps students at UCD find work nearby. After learning about the Academic Center at DHS, she was immediately intrigued.

“I liked helping out other kids when they didn’t understand something so I thought this would be a good position for me,” Cisneros said.

In order to get the job, Cisneros and the other tutors had to go through a thorough application process.

First, Academic Center supervisor Elodia Alvarez posts an ad for the job on Aggie Job Link and sends out an email to all of the department heads at UCD. By the end of the

summer, aspiring tutors send in an application consisting of their course schedule, resume, reference letters and their transcript.

Finally, they are interviewed by Alvarez to see if they are a good fit for the job.

“We are not just looking for tutors who can help students out, but it is also a matter of if they can connect with them,” Alvarez said.

Junior Raza Shazil both works in the Academic Center as a peer tutor and seeks help from the UCD students.

“They don’t just give away answers, they walk you through the problem so you learn way better,” Shazil said.

Shazil added that although the tutors are very helpful to some students, not everyone finds it equally helpful. He explained that they are sometimes not as helpful to those seeking supports in more advanced courses such as Calculus AB AP or Chemistry AP. The skill of patience is one of the characteristics that is most sought after in the UCD tutors.

“The one thing I really look for is patient tutors so if we’re having an interview and it doesn’t seem to be clicking well, then it won’t be a good fit for the kids,” Alvarez said.

“It’s a great place to get help. I didn’t really know anyone that went there so I was uneasy but once I started, it really helped me,” Shazil said.

Alvarez emphasized this acceptance as one of the defining factors of both the tutors and the Academic Center as a whole.

“Honestly, the Academic Center is a safe place […] this is a very comfortable environment where we don’t judge anyone,” Alvarez said.

According to senior Sophie Lodigiani, field trips are a great way to “mix up a mundane school week while still getting an education.”

Many classes on the DHS campus involve on-site learning, and Lodigiani currently takes two classes that hold field trips: Environmental Science, which takes students to both Lake Tahoe and Bodega Bay, and Zoology and Botany, which offers students the opportunity to travel to Catalina Island.

On those trips, students participate in various activities like examining specimens, studying Chinook salmon and walking on nature trails.

These trips have been of great value to Lodigiani, as she will be attending the University of Hawaii as a Natural Resources and Environmental Management major in the fall.

“I learned a lot of possible career paths I could take with that major that I hadn’t really considered before, which I think is just as important as the actual science part of the both field trips,” Lodigiani said.

However, like most things, field trips do have their drawbacks.

Though field trips are useful, fun experiences, a concern for some students is having adequate time to complete the work they missed while they were away on their trip.

“I love field trips, but sometimes I worry about getting all my work done,” junior Jenny Silva said.

Lodigiani does not share this worry, as she has an “easy schedule” this year.

“I’ve barely had any schoolwork to catch up on […] if I had missed this much school my junior year, I would have been drowning in make-up work,” Lodigiani said.

Regardless of the make-up work, Silva still enjoys going on field trips.

“Being able to get a hands-on learning experience while hanging out with friends is

super valuable,” Silva said.

Field trips can cause additional stress for students due to the rollover coursework, but Lodigiani claims field trips can be a pain for teachers too.

“I know a lot of teachers dread having to put them together and get plans approved. I do think they’re worth the trouble, though,” Lodigiani said.

Environmental Science teacher Eric Bastin confirms this, stating that “funding is always a challenge,” as it is a lengthy process to get a field trip request approved and get the necessary funds for it.

Orchestra conductor Angelo Moreno agrees that funding is always an extensive process. One of the three orchestra ensembles—Baroque, Symphony or Chamber— goes on a trip each year. Destinations include Disneyland, Carnegie Hall in New York, Italy and Austria. Trips range in cost from $20,000 to $60,000 for the entire group.

To raise this money, the three ensembles hold car washes and candy sales, and also perform at special events, wine tastings and funerals.

Though the financial aspect of orchestra trips is laborious, Moreno enjoys the creative side of the logistics, like planning activities for students.

“Organizing is actually pretty fun. You get to be creative and you learn a lot about the history of the city and where composers lived and worked,” Moreno said.

Moreno takes the orchestra on these field trips each year because he believes students gain camaraderie and improved performing skills, all while learning about a new location.

“Every time we travel to some place, we learn about the music, culture and historical importance of the area,” Moreno said.

Like Moreno, Bastin is a firm believer in the value of field trips; that’s why he takes his Environmental Science classes on two of them each year.

“Instead of just hearing about something or seeing a picture of it, students can be there and experience it,” Bastin said.

HUB GRAPHIC/AMY DING

Over the course of the school year, clubs and classes travel to numerous destinations in California, as well as out-of-state and abroad.

10

Opinion

21 March 2019

Staff editorial

Almost every DHS student remembers watching uncomfortable videos during health class many years ago about their “changing bodies” and how they might feel themselves becoming more irritable and prone to mood swings throughout adolescence. While everyone experiences seemingly unjustified emotions, many are justified—by unwelcome questions that teens deal with every day. Whether they come from our parents, teachers, peers or other people in our lives, there are a few questions that, without a doubt, illicit an inevitable groan.

“What grade did you get on the test?”

This question heard all over classrooms has no positive end result. Everyone loves to compare and is dying to find out how so-and-so did, but there is no good answer to this question. One of the people will undoubtedly have a lower grade than the other and will feel bad because of it.

“What colleges are you applying to?”/”Did you get accepted to _____?”

Similar to asking someone about their scores, questions related to college acceptance are often only presented to compare each other. Again, this will only lead to hurt feelings for at least one person, especially considering that this is often asked as soon as colleges release notices of admission and rejection, when the emotions are still raw.

Also, this question often leads to awkward moments when a person is assumed to be going to college, rather than following a different path, like a vocational school, a gap year or a job.

“Have you finished your homework?”

While parents often only ask this to make sure that their kids are staying on top of their workload, students get frustrated because it only adds unnecessary stress.

Most often, as high school students who have been in school for over a decade, we are well aware that we have work that must be done. Additionally, this question leads to making us feel we are not trusted enough to be responsible for our own work.

“What’s going on with you and ___?”

While parents want to know about their teens’ social lives, prodding about relationships is not the smartest way to bond. When students are ready to or have something of importance to say, they will. If they stay mute on the subject, it is likely because they truly don’t want to talk about it.

“What are you majoring in?”

In a time of trying to figure out the next step after graduating high school, this question leads to a stomach-dropping sensation.

Yes, some students may have it all figured out, but the majority of us don’t. According to College Rank, the majority of college students switch their majors three times. The answer to this question will likely not be the major they really plan to pursue. A much less loaded question, like “what are you interested in both in and outside of school?,” can help someone understand more about the person they’re asking and lead to a lot less stress.

“Can you drive me?”

When you are constantly asked this question by a friend, you might feel used for your car instead of your friendship. From time to time it’s fine, but overuse of the question is infuriating. Instead, ask the person if they are going in the same direction in order to avoid being an inconvenience.

“How long will you be there?”

This question is far too general. While parents want to know where their kids are, we often don’t know. We just want to spend as much time as we can with friends and feel like our parents trust us to make the right decisions. By guessing at the time, students are forced to place a time restraint on both the students and the parents, adding unneeded stress for both parties.

HUBPHOTO/GIA FANUCCHI

A new etiquette to talk to teens in transition

Clockwise from left, seniors Brittany Steenbergen, Maddie Tomasello, Jayce Tracanna and Oliver Nichols all sport new tattoos.

Your tattoo is your decision, even at 18

The HUB spoke with Derik Birdsall’s fourth period Precalculus students in class for suggestions on how to improve the school environment.

To suggest improvements to our school’s rules, policies, classes, and extracurriculars, send your ideas to bluedevilHUB.com@gmail.com

Paige Ochoa

Manpreet Kaur

Hub Staff

Hub Staff

Turning 18 brings new legal rights and responsibilities to high schoolers including being able to vote, join the military and play in the lottery.

It also means that one is able to get a tattoo without parental consent. To that I say: go right ahead.

The trashy reputation of tattoos has been forcibly fed down young people’s throats, typically by parents worried that getting a tattoo will ruin their child’s life.

Turning 18 is a rite of passage in America and anyone who wants a tattoo should get one.

A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that 38 percent of people ages 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo. Even though DHS is not home to any 29 year olds, there are more than enough 18 year olds who have already visited the tattoo parlor.

18 year olds should get permanent tattoos when they truly believe in what they are marking on themselves, whether that means a phrase, a symbolic image or aesthetic pattern.

When preparing to be inked up, as long as one is clearly mindful about it, they should not be too worried about their feelings towards their tattoo in the future.

Tattoos cost more than enough money, especially for those on a high school student’s budget. At Urban Body Tattoo and Piercing, the cost is $150/hour, but there is a minimum of $80.

Because of their extravagant price, high schoolers would not spend their money funding tattoos in which they truly did not care about.

Tattoos have also raised health risks, however new research from Christopher Lynn, an anthropologist at the University of Alabama, proves that not all tattoo health related effects are negative.

Lynn found that “the inking process may turn on the immune system, helping to keep such individuals healthy.”

The fact that tattoos could help stimulate one’s immune system strengthens the idea that getting body art may not be all that bad.

That being said, don’t look at getting a tattoo as a health perk; view it as an added plus to one’s decision to get inked.

Body ink is a way to express oneself.

Though some find it tacky, others see beauty behind the tattoo artist’s work and the thoughtfulness put into finding the right design.

Suggestions

Tattoos are too permanent for the immature

Improve school spirit by bring back candy on Fridays.

Admin should have less strict rules on dances.

With growing trends and conformity, many feel that they need a tattoo simply for the sake of the ‘aesthetic’. However, getting a tattoo at such a young age is ignorant and highlights the lack of maturity.

Permanently marking your body with ink comes with a handful of consequences, not to mention possible regrets in the future.

There is no rush in getting a tattoo as soon as you turn 18. It’s better to wait until you are fully mature to understand what permanently marking yourself means.

Being 18 may mean you are legally an adult, but the element of maturity is still lacking. Without much life experience, putting permanent ink on your body is absurd.

Views on life may change when you get older and having a tattoo is a constant reminder of who you used to be, rather than who you are.

When hiring, employers view tattoos as a sign of incompetence and immaturity.

According to Business Insider, 37 percent of Human Resource managers cite tattoos as the third most likely “physical attribute that limits career potential.”

Tattoos influence possible employment, therefore, getting one can hold you back from a successful career. It’s just not worth the risk.

The same study concluded that 96,000 tattoo removals took place in 2014. Getting a tattoo just to have it removed seems pointless. Not only is it more painful, but it also takes longer than actually getting a tattoo.

More importantly, there are serious medical consequences if a tattoo goes awry. Many teens tend not to take this into consideration. For them, it’s more about doing it now and figuring it out later.

According to the Advanced Dermatology survey, 78 percent regretted at least one of their tattoos.

There is no rush, it is not a rite of passage.

Getting a tattoo simply because you can will lead to future regrets. It may be a trend but that’s not how future employers will view it.

If someone is too immature to analyze the consequences and make a plan, then they are definitely not ready to get a tattoo.

Waiting is always a better option. Not only does it give you time to research and make a plan, but also allows you to mentally mature and physically grow.

Gaining more life experience helps develop a moral compass. 18 year olds are often confused about what they want to do in life, and making this impulsive, permanent decision is foolish.

The school needs better bathrooms.

There should be trashcans in the parking lots.

Consistently refill the soap dispensers.

Plant more flowers and plants on campus.

in-depth

21 March 2019

The HUB

9

THE Road to success after dhs TE HI

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Kelly McInturf

Julie Clayton

Drew Barclay

Q: In your words, what does it mean to be successful?

“They are able to complete goals that they set for themselves to follow through on, and that they find fulfillment in whatever they’re doing.”

“I think being successful is ultimately being happy with whatever choice you make in life, and that you are following what you’re passionate about.”

“I think for a student to be successful they need to be content with who they are and the life that they lead.”

Q: What resources does DHS provide to help students plan their future?

“There are a lot of support in place here like the Academic Center, MAST and clubs that give students the opportunities that could further their academic aspirations.”

“One of the best resources is the Career Center. The Career Center is designed to help kids find what they’re going to do, what they’re going to pursue.”

“I know a lot of my students use the Academic Center, the Career Center and counseling for one-on-one type of stuff.”

Q: How should students ask for help with their goals and future plans?

“Asking a teacher when they have time to talk. A lot of teachers want to help students, it’s just that we have so many that we can’t possibly notice all of the small things that a student might need.”

“The first place to start is with your counselor. From picking out classes, to figuring out how to pursue college if you want to, your counselors can help you with all of that.”

“Everyone’s going to tell you something different. Pick someone that is in the field you are interested in and straight up ask them, ‘How did you do it?’”

Q: What factors should students consider when choosing a path after high school?

“You should decide what you want most and what you need to get there. Also looking at different programs schools have and asking yourself, ‘Are they good for the area that I think I want to study?’”

“If you take personality tests, like we have on Naviance, or other places online, it will give you an idea of what your strengths are, and what could be right for you.”

“Debt is insane. The fact that college cost has been compounding in faster rates than it ever has. Have a plan. You also should consider what will make you happy.”

AVID teacher

Career Center

AVID teacher

ALUMNI THAT MADE IT

By CLAIRE STEVENS HUB Staff

For some former Devils, the path to success was jump-started not in high school, but at a community college.

At DHS, there can be a stigma surrounding going to a community or junior college.

Owen Yancher, now a writer for the Davis Enterprise and coach for the DHS swim team, experienced this first hand when he decided to attend community college.

“I remember feeling bad about how people would react when I’d tell them what I was doing. That needs to change,” Yancher said When Davis-loving Yancher was rejected from UC Davis his senior year of high school, he opted to spend two years at Sacramento City College before transferring to UC Davis.

“It was one of the best choices I ever made,” Yancher said.

He found many advantages to attending a community college. He saved money, had smaller classes and sometimes even professors who taught concurrently at Sacramento State or UC Davis. “I was literally taking the same course that was being taught at the [four-year schools] and paying less than a fraction of the price. And the professors all knew my name,” Yancher said.

Yancher also noted that there can be a stigma that community college isn’t as hard as a four-year school, but said his Sac City classes were just as hard as his UC Davis ones, if not harder.

Denna Changizi, a DHS graduate who currently attends Santa Barbara City College, also finds that the level of rigor at community college is commonly underestimated. While her friends who went to four-year colleges were able to let their grades slip or even fail a few classes, Changizi had to focus on her plan in order to try and transfer to UC Santa Barbara, where she hopes get a degree in biology.

“You definitely don’t have the luxury of frolicking around and having fun 24/7—that

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teachers talk about success

Choosing community college

Senior Rachel Hedman enters the student lounge at Woodland Community College to learn more about her options after high school. is if you want to transfer within the average [two to three] years,” Changizi said.

Every class at community college factors into the GPA that students can ultimately use to try to transfer.

Kathy Garcia graduated from DHS in 1977 and went to Sac City after graduation when she didn’t feel ready for a state college or university.

“I gained more independence and learned to organize and prioritize better while trying to decide what I would like to major in,” Garcia said. After college, Garcia spent 12 years teaching in Davis and now is a clerical sub in the district.

Garcia doesn’t recall any judgement for her decision. “We were all trying to find our way back then,” Garcia said.

DHS grad Danny Dyer decided to start his post-high school journey at Sac City after losing motivation in his final years of high school and failing to be accepted to any University of California schools.

Unhappy with his other options, Dyer elected to spend two years at Sac City and take “time to get my act together” before transferring to UC Santa Barbara where he now manages the basketball team.

“In Davis there’s a lot of pressure to go to a four-year straight out of [high school],” Dyer said. Still, he had classmates returning to go to community college after their first year at universities didn’t work out and has had others tell them they wish they had taken the community college route to cut back on costs.

Community college students aren’t kids

who slacked off while at DHS either, Yancher maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout much of high school. Allison Killmer, another graduate currently attending Sac City, was involved in Madrigal Choir, Concert Choir, cheerleading, badminton and Link Crew while at DHS. Killmer, who decided on community college because she didn’t feel “ready to leave home” is planning to transfer to a four-year university to pursue a degree in elementary education. Killmer feels that community college is a path that isn’t always given enough credit by DHS, but “It’s an amazing way that students can get the same education that they would receive at a four-year while being able to live at home,” Killmer said.

While in community college, Killmer is also pursuing a unique opportunity that few college students get. In the fall, Killmer will take online classes while participating in the Disney College Program, an internship in Orlando, Fl. where she will be working at Disney World.

“I have always dreamed of working for Disney,” Killmer said.

Henry Burke also made use of the opportunities available at a community college. Burke decided to attend Sac City after graduating from DHS and was able to intern with the International Rescue Committee and serve on the board of directors for the American Civil Liberties Union chapter of the Sacramento region.

“I had aspirations that outpaced my high school GPA,” Burke said. From Sac City, Burke was able to transfer to UCLA after two years.

He experienced many benefits similar to those of the other students, cutting back on costs, enjoying smaller classes, and expanding his range of school options.

“I think a lot of high school students, especially ones at schools as competitive as DHS feel a sense of shame for going to community college, but there’s no reason to and in the end it almost always pays off,” Burke said.

By RAYAN TILMATINE, JAELI WILLIAMS, LAUREN LEE, ANNIKA FISK & ALLYSON KANG HUB Staff

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Jalil Anibaba currently plays for the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.

Anibaba grew up in Davis and graduated from DHS in 2007. He later went on to play soccer for Santa Clara University for three years and, in his fourth year, at University of North Carolina.

He then began his professional career.

As well as being on the soccer team, Anibaba was involved with other extracurriculars at DHS, including basketball and working on projects and events with the Black Student Union.

“DHS helped build a foundation for my academic and professional career,” Anibaba said.

Anibaba gives the most praise to his high school coaches for instilling the athletic mindset within him. “As far as sports are concerned, the coaches I played for, [former] soccer coach Ashley Yudin and [current] basketball coach Daniel Gonzalez, is where

I built my foundation from,” Anibaba said.

Anibaba partially credits the community for his success. “The overall high bar that is set at Davis High as far as doing anything you can to set yourself up to get into the best schools,” Anibaba said. “Doing extracurriculars to make sure your perspective was broader than it would be had you not, and also being part of a community that is a sports community but also a university community, making it easy to find a lot of support as a kid.”

Anibaba credits Yudin for the work ethic that he has developed and his ability to stay humble and composed on the field. “I joined the team as a freshman, and Yudin treated me like all the other players and treated me like a professional adult. It was really good at teaching me how to be a member of a talented squad and how to handle myself,” Anibaba said.

Mark Inouye started playing trumpet in fourth grade and is now the principal trumpeter for the prestigious San Francisco Symphony.

Inouye currently teaches trumpet lessons at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in addition to his symphony job.

Inouye graduated from DHS in 1989. After high school, Inouye attended UC Davis as a civil engineer major but transferred to The Juilliard School in New York to pursue his trumpet career.

At DHS, Inouye played the trumpet for the orchestra, concert band, jazz band and honors band. He also participated in JV baseball.

“Hard work generally yields great things,” Inouye said.

Mark Inouye’s hard work paid off. He has been playing trumpet for 18 seasons (now on his 19th) with the San Francisco Symphony.

After graduating Juilliard, Inouye looked for musical groups that needed a trumpet player.

Most orchestras only have three to four trumpet positions and when they are taken, the musicians usually remain there until they decide to retire. “[Getting a spot in an orchestra is] very similar to being on a professional sports team […]

Competition is fierce,” Inouye said.

Before the San Francisco Symphony, Inouye lived in South Carolina and was part of a smaller orchestra. When Inouye found out about the open position, it was kismet. The San Francisco Symphony was respected and well known, it was close to his hometown and it was the home to the Giants, one of Inouye’s favorite baseball teams.

“On so many levels it was my dream job,” Inouye said.

Los Angeles, Paris, New York and Sacramento. Those are just a few of the many places Malcolm MacKenzie has performed on his journey as an opera singer, which started right here in Davis.

MacKenzie went to St. James, Emerson Junior High and then graduated from DHS in 1986.

His interest in singing started when his sixth grade choir teacher had him join the choir because they were short on boys. He enjoyed singing with the choir but did not yet know if it was something he wanted to pursue.

He continued singing in the choir at Emerson under the direction of Rachael Kessler, where he got to perform shows with the choir from Holmes Junior High as well as his own.

Once he got to DHS, MacKenzie started performing with the Madrigals, performing about 50 shows a year. This turned out to be great preparation for his cur-

rent career.

“After a year of that it’s just normal,” MacKenzie said.

After he graduated from DHS, MacKenzie went to college at UCLA. At first he was intent on becoming a doctor.

Although he was not majoring in music, he joined the Madrigals choir at UCLA. During his time at UCLA, he was introduced to opera. Before this, he had only ever seen one opera, which was during his time at Emerson.

Something MacKenzie enjoys about his job is the fact that he likes almost all of the people he works with. “Do what you like to do and do it with people you like,” is his advice.

MacKenzie did not see himself pursuing opera in high school, but is glad he does it today and has many things he likes about his job. His favorite part is when they do the first rehearsal side by side with the orchestra.

Gina Miles competed in the 2008 Olympics and now works as a trainer for riders and their horses.

She went to DHS planning a busy schedule for herself. “I overcommitted myself like all DHS students,” she said. “I was on the ski team, in band, the mascot and in dance.” Besides school, she also had horse riding lessons year around.

She graduated in 1991 and took a year off to focus more on her equestrian skills.

She moved to Petaluma, California and worked for horse trainer David Adamo.

She practiced dressage, cross-country and show jumping with her horse McKinlaigh. In 2004 she was very close for qualifying for the summer Olympics, but her horse had breathing difficulties. Miles persisted despite her loss and tried again in 2006 for the World Championships.

Unfortunately, she did not make it through.

But in 2008, she qualified for the Summer Olympics. Miles described the feeling as “pretty amazing” when she went to Beijing. When she arrived, she wasn’t flabbergasted at the sight of the Olympics until after her competition because she was focused on getting the job done.

The experience of it all finally soaked in. “I was in the heat of the moment. Completely focused,” she said. “You don’t take on that you are performing in the Olympics.”

Afterward, Miles continued working with horses. She opened up a horse training business in Danville, California. She enjoys her current job because she gets to help people, and watch their horses improve with their riders.

“It’s very satisfying for me to see,” Miles says. “I get to see their milestones, and their changes.”

38 years ago, Dave Scott ran his first Ironman triathlon and won.

Now, after becoming a six-time triathlon winner and the first Ironman hall of famer, Scott is an athletics coach and still exercises daily. This strong work ethic was encouraged by the competitive environment he experienced at DHS. “Growing up in Davis, I just felt like I had to do well, to just get it done or else [...] it helped with the roots of who I am now,” Scott said.

During high school, Scott had quite a lot of activities to “get done or else.” Although there were no Advanced Placement classes at the time, Scott enrolled in the highest levels of math, English, and science classes.

Now, after graduating from UC Davis and placing in 10 of the 14 Ironman triathlons he competed in, Scott is still going.

Scott, 64, coaches five athletes personally, runs four Kona camps a year, teaches two master swim classes, participates in one running session per week and recently launched the Dave Scott Tri Club.

And even with all of this on his plate, he still finds time to work out daily.

“This morning, I rode 45.5 miles,” Scott said. “I’ll probably swim and run later today.”

Scott currently lives in Denver, Colo., where there are more than 85 miles of biking trails.

However, even after moving a thousand miles away from his hometown, Scott has not forgotten about his high school career and still credits a part of who he is right now to his experience at DHS. “I feel lucky that I went to Davis High […] Davis High was a solid platform that helped me get to where I am now,” Scott said.

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CULTURE

21 March 2019

REVIEW

Davis Psychic gives HUB staff member new life perspective

By ANNIE MITCHELL HUB Staff

purpose, perhaps from a past life.

My hands told Marino that I work better with men than women, that I do not like to “make waves” when dealing with other people and that I have a spiritual female guardian looking after me.

“They’re all vibration readings,” Marino said of her predictions.

The

“They are all vibration readings” -Paula Marino

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Good news everyone. I’m not going to die for at least another 65 years.

How do I know this? The Davis Psychic told me.

Paula Marino, the short, friendly seer in the pink-trimmed Davis Psychic, located on E St. downtown, was born with her psychic gift. She is the only one of her siblings with the ability to read people’s vibrations, but her family has a supernatural history.

Marino said the eldest daughter of every generation has her perceptive ability.

Marino has offered her palm readings, card readings, crystal ball readings and psychic readings to the public for more than 40 years. The psychic moved to Davis after a decade of working with a Bay Area police department, which to her was “too strenuous.”

The Davis Psychic’s business card assures that a reading “can help you find your life’s purpose, soul mate, true love.”

This is where I come in.

I sat across from Marino a few weeks ago, ready to open myself up to a stranger and discover my life’s purpose. I opted for a palm reading, mostly because it was the cheapest option at $40, but also because I was interested in what the creases of my hands had to say about my personality and future.

Marino told me to think of two things that made me happy (I thought of writing for The HUB and eating Talenti tiramisu gelato), then I laid my hands face up on a small table and the psychic unleashed a 10-minute stream of predictions, assessments and advice, all while staring at the triangular configuration of my palm lines.

According to the palm reading, I am going to live to be at least 83 years old, have two healthy children and marry someone who I have known for a long time. Marino predicted that I will travel a lot in the next few years, which I hope means I will study abroad in college.

I learned that the intersection of creases at the base of my hands means that I have been sent to this world with a

predictions.

Immediately, Marino assured me that I was the more sensitive twin, but that Ruthie was the moodier. I was impressed, as I agree with both characterizations.

The psychic added that I will soon experience a separation with Ruthie, but that I should remember that our twin bond will always be there.

“You can’t change the future,” Marino said.

Eventually, I ran out of questions to ask, and the psychic thanked me for spending time with her and invited me to return for another reading. Though the crystal ball reading costs $85, I may return for the experience if I ever need self-assurance or advice for a large life decision.

Call me when I am 83 and ask me if the rest of Marino’s predictions came true. Even though I would not bet money based on psychic power alone, the half-hour visit I had with the outgoing, sensitive Davis psychic was a calming and introspective way to spend an afternoon.

psychic then invited me to ask her questions, which I appreciated as a journalist. I told her that I have a twin sister, Ruthie, and I wondered if that meant anything to her

COSMETICS

By LINDSEY SU HUB Staff From waxing to threading to self-plucking, people have their own unique preferences on how to shape their eyebrows. Each technique provides a different brow shape and brow hair removal experience.

“I feel like my brows help frame my face so it’s important how I get them done,” senior Julia Pan said.

Junior Ally Yoo likes to get her eyebrows threaded at EZ Eyebrow, located in the University Mall. Yoo believes that threading is the most accurate and gives her the eyebrow shape she likes.

“When I first got them threaded, I really liked how they turned out so I kept getting them done that way,” Yoo said.

Threading is done with a single cotton thread that twists and rolls over the skin.

The thread grabs unwanted hairs and pulls them out of the hair follicle. This technique allows the brow specialist to have a lot of control, ensuring precise brow removal.

According to EZ Eyebrow, threading is “by far the gentlest form of hair removal.”

The technique, perfected over centuries, can be traced back to the Middle East and Asia.

Yoo has sensitive skin, so she prefers threading rather than waxing, which can also take off the top layer of the skin when pulled.

Junior Cate Lautzenheiser agrees with Yoo. “I really liked getting my eyebrows waxed but my skin was really sensitive to the wax and it burned my skin so now I can’t get them waxed anymore,” Lautzenheiser said.

However, to some, threading hurts more

because each hair is pulled out individually by the twisted string. Senior Emma Nance prefers to get her eyebrows waxed because it happens very quickly, which to her is less painful than threading.

“WaxIng is also very convenient because my hairdresser happens to also wax eyebrows,” Nance said.

Popular places that students like to go to for waxing include European Wax Center, located downtown, and InStyle Hair & Nails, located in South Davis.

At InStyle Hair & Nails, in addition to waxing your eyebrows, they will trim them and pluck out small hairs that they may have missed while waxing to ensure their customers leave with clean, precisely-shaped eyebrows.

Both threading and waxing can cost between $10-$15. For those who prefer to have more control over their own brows and save money, hair removal can also be done at home.

Junior Henna Sandhu buys wax from a beauty supply store and cleans up her brows herself. “I know how I want them to look and it’s cheaper than going out to get them done,” Sandhu said.

Waxing at home can be daunting, so junior Ainsley Dahl chooses to have full control by plucking her brows. “I’ve heard of my friends having pretty bad experiences at eyebrow salons and I don’t want the one time I get them waxed professionally to mess them up and make them too skinny,” Dahl said.

In addition, Dahl adds that her brows do not grow very thick, so plucking them by herself is easier than paying a professional to do them.

HUB PHOTO/WILL ZIEGLER

How does DHS fix its eyebrows?

The HUB

13

REVIEW

Davis burger battle brings friendly competition Competition is heating up in Davis this spring, but it’s no contest between the Devils and the Marauders nor the Aggies versus the Hornets. The rivalry is between Davis restaurants, all vying to create the best veggie burger.

COOL Cuisine, a Davis-based coalition of individuals and organizations seeking more plant-based food options, is hosting a ‘Burger Battle’ that will last throughout March.

Seventeen Davis restaurants, including several UC Davis on-campus dining halls, are offering a signature, vegan burger option as part of the challenge.

Participants can sign up as individuals or in a team to taste burgers and rate them on taste, presentation, texture, unique flavor, juiciness and similarity to real meat. The points will be tallied up at the end of the month to see which restaurant created the ultimate veggie burger.

If 17 different veggie burgers sounds pretty repetitive, not to fear, the burgers are far from standard fare. There are a fair number of classic burgers meant to imitate the typical All-American hamburger, but there also several creative interpretations of the label ‘burger’.

The Hotdogger is competing with a vegan rendition of a bratwurst complete with sauerkraut. The Spokes Grill is serving up a glazed bulgogi burger with spicy mayo, kimchi, cucumber and pickled mushrooms.

Yeti Restaurant is serving a ‘Bara Bara Nepalese Burger’ that comes with a side of tomato soup.

The burgers are also available at an array of price points from the least expensive at Spokes Grill for $6.49 to most expensive at Bistro 33 for $16.

Chay’s Corner Chay’s Corner, a new vegan restaurant tucked inside of Lazi Cow Boba, offers a Vietnamese spin on their veggie burger.

They serve seasoned fake pork sliders with cucumbers, pickled daikon and carrot, cilantro and jalapeno, reminiscent of a Bahn Mi sandwich.

The faux meat is convincing, and with the seasoning and extra toppings you certainly don’t feel like you’re missing out on anything. The sliders are also fun and make the meal easy to split.

Davis Food Co-op The Co-op offers another twist on the idea of a veggie burger with an Indian Pakora fritter with tomatillo aioli, tomato, pickled red onion, and micro-green salad. Basically, if you’re looking for a veggie burger that at all resembles the classic, real beef burger either in taste or appearance, you’ve come to the wrong place.

That said, the Co-op burger does not disappoint. If you go into it not expecting anything like burgers you’ve had before, you’ll find an uber-flavorful patty complimented with a bit of spice from the aioli and a freshness from the tomato and greens Plus, any concept that vegetarians only eat tiny portions of salad is crushed with this burger. The patty is large and the burger comes stacked high with its many toppings.

Redrum Burger Redrum brings a more traditional veggie burger to the table, but with a bit of a California spin.

The patty is nothing too exciting, a standard black bean mixture that could be found anywhere. Where the Redrum burger does shine is in its toppings. The burger comes loaded with grilled mushrooms, avocado and red salsa.

The mushrooms help to add back the savory, meaty flavor that a hamburger has but a bean burger lacks, and the avocado and salsa add a fresh twist to the burger.

The unique tastes of all three burgers make them strong competitors in the Burger Battle.

Cool Cuisine Burger Battle Bistro 33 Chay Corner @ Lazi Cow Cuarto Dining Commons Davis Food Co-op DeVere’s Irish Pub Foodnome Redrum Burger Segundo Dining Commons Smokin’ Ewe BBQ Solomon’s Delicatessen Spokes Grill Tecero Dining Commons The Gunrock The Hotdogger Yeti Restaurant Zumapoke & Lush Ice

Source: Water Footprint Network

HUB GRAPHIC/SARAH CARNEY

By CLAIRE STEVENS HUB Staff

TRENDS

Rainy day attire in Davis brings new fashion “What do you grab to prepare for rain?”

Smile “It’s important to keep a happy attitude on rainy days.”

-Junior Nathan Lee

Umbrella “I love staying dry when I walk between classes.”

-Junior Jatin Parbhu

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Rain coat “I need to keep the rain off me and stay dry.”

-Senior Zach Ringer

ADEN

Rainy days and freezing temperatures have been bringing a brand new assortment of warm and unique winter trends to the DHS campus.

Cold winter storms give students an opportunity to dress in their comfiest clothes at school. Sophomore Susannah Costello enjoys rainy day weather because it is a “good excuse not to try” and because most rainy day clothes feel cozy and warm.

The transition from chilly winter days to spring rains in Davis brings out a variety of new student favorites. While some students can be seen wearing rain boots and waterproof jackets, others will wear colorful pajamas and fuzzy slippers even on the coldest days.

Sweatpants are a favorite of many students because they “feel like you’re wearing a blanket” according to sophomore Emma Nansen. Nansen likes sweatpants and sweatshirts because it allows her to be “warm and comfortable on a rainy day when it’s already uncomfortable”.

Leggings are also a good option because they dry quick in a warm classroom after being in the rain, and are a great alternative to denim and other fabrics that take a long time to dry. Jeans can get uncomfortable for students, making them shiver at their desks after getting poured on.

Waterproof clothing can also help students stay dry. Senior Isa Palacio bikes to school, and wears waterproof pants as well as a jacket that she can take off when she gets to school.

Flooded school hallways often force students to switch their shoes for more practical options such as rain boots from brands like Hunter Boots. They’re especially popular among

While some students embrace the cold weather to stay on top of the latest trends with fashionable winter outfits, others are not a fan of their winter attire. Senior Emma Nance does not enjoy dressing for rainy days because she “feels restricted for outfit options and rainy day clothes aren’t as cute as other clothes”.

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students. Palacio likes wearing rain boots to school “to go in puddles”.

Some favorite winter clothing brands of Students include Lululemon, North Face, Patagonia, Champion, Columbia, Urban Outfitters and others.

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By EMILY PERRY HUB Staff

Pair of jeans “The jeans keep me warm.”

-Junior Fernando Carona

HUB PHOTOS/JOEY VOSS

Opinion

11

People should be open to talk about religion ISABELLa Stein Hub Staff In history class, students learn about major events of the past. One thing many events have in common is they were motivated by strong religious beliefs.

However for students, It can be difficult to connect with the religious duty historical figures felt, as Generation Z is considered to be the least religiously involved generation yet. Talking about religion with friends is a great way to gain better understanding of the diverse spiritual beliefs people hold.

Many students are atheists, agnostics or are not actively participating in religion.

The decrease in religion is somewhat of a new phenomenon; the generation that parented today’s students was raised in an environment where it was almost unheard of to be without religion. This means that parents are not necessarily adept at guiding their children through the process of learning about religion, as many of them were raised with one religion which they followed through, and frequently beyond childhood.

Discussing religion can be seen as taboo in American society. Students raised with the belief that talking about controversial subjects, such as religion, politics and money, with people outside the family is rude may feel uncomfortable discussing their beliefs with their peers.

However, for students who are still curious about religion or whose parents have not taught them about other people’s values, discussing religious beliefs with friends is helpful.

Within DHS, there are a multitude of different religious denominations represented within the student body.

The most visible religion at DHS is Christianity, with several youth organizations which reach out to the student population.

But other religions are also present; Judaism and Islam both have representative clubs.

One benefit of talking with friends about their religious beliefs is that it gives a broader, more diverse view of the various beliefs students hold.

Gaining a better perspective of varying religious beliefs breaks down stereotypes and allows one to empathize with others’ viewpoints, but approaching conversations about religious beliefs can be intimidating.

For starters, finding the appropriate setting for a serious conversation can be difficult when many students meet in casual settings. It may seem like texting or chatting online is the best way to talk with your friend, but it is easy to misunderstand or misinterpret someone when a discussion isn’t face-to-face. Ideally, your conversation would take place somewhere you won’t be disrupted or overheard.

Next, it’s important to approach the conversation well. One concern that prevents people from talking with their friends about religion is the fear that they will offend them.

Religion can be very sensitive, so it is imperative to talk to your friends in a respectful way. Ensure that your questions aren’t rude or stemming from unfair stereotypes. By acting seriously, a conversation is opened up and your friend will feel more comfortable.

Religion is a very important aspect of people’s lives, and it should be treated with respect. Understanding the role of religion for your friends allows you to understand them better. Although religion can be a tough subject to talk about, especially when you don’t know where the other person stands, learning the motivations behind a person’s actions leads to more understanding and compassion.

HUBGRAPHIC/MORGAN KONG

Follow your own path, choose your best fit Viktoria Anderson Hub Staff Arguably the biggest part of being accepted to college is announcing the name and seeing people’s reactions based on its popularity or ranking. Harvard could be the worst fit for someone, but everyone will praise them anyway because of the weight the name carries. As a society, we hold the greatest value in popularity, and most of the time it’s subconscious.

The United States is the only country in the world with 5,300 college choices with everything from beauty schools to Ivy Leagues, as calculated by the Urban Education journal. Yet, as high school students, we feel pressured to apply to the same pool of 20 schools as our peers.

For example, it’s difficult to name seniors at DHS who did not apply to Cal Poly. In fact, it’s almost a rite of passage at DHS and I’m sure every high school has its own college where a majority of its students applied.

Modern day is a competitive world. Every career choice whether it be in arts, sciences or anything in between has so much competition now that in order to be successful as an individual, you must find the place that can fuel your unique talents.

Your resume is important to make an impression, but at the end of the day it’s your talent and drive that will pave the way for your future.

College can be the guide to create that path, but to be frank, the name should have nothing to do with it. Ranking and reputation can help determine credibility and experience of its resources and faculty, but if the school doesn’t make you happy or ‘fuel your fire’ it’s not right for you.

I think sometimes it’s hard for us students to put our pride aside and realize that a less-

VISUALIZING THE NEWS with Sarah Carney

Questions? Comments?

Concerns? Write a letter!

The HUB appreciates its readers and enjoys hearing feedback. To write us a letter, submit to Room L-28 or email us at bluedevilhub.com@gmail.com.

Your opinion matters!

The HUB 315 W. 14th St. Davis, CA 95616 The HUB Policy The HUB is written, edited and designed by members of the DHS HUB class. It is a non-profit publication paid for by advertisements, subscriptions and donations. The HUB was established as an open forum of student ideas and expression. Our content reflects the interests and ideas of students but not necessarily those of the DHS administration and faculty. Staff opinions are the majority opinion of The HUB staff. This publication is not subject to prior review. The administration of DHS should not be held responsible for The HUB’s content.

er known liberal arts college in a smaller city could help us create the future we dream of even if people don’t swoon at the mention of its name.

Senior year is flooded with parents and teachers asking, “do you know where you’re going to college?” This pressure often causes insecurity knowing what adults expect to hear versus the reality of which school students will actually attend.

But you know your field of interest better than they do because you have been working towards it for years, so stay honest and trust your instincts and go where you feel most at home. Visit schools of all ranks and apply to a variety in cities that you love so that you can begin to create the life you want starting with college.

The concept of attending an Ivy League may seem impressive but it’s better to give up popularity than to drown in it.

How involved should parents be in the college application process?

“I dont think they should be that involved except for encouragement and support.”

- Junior Nelly Cox

“They should be involved in helping with the application but I don’t think they should be involved in the major decision.”

- Junior Mia Di Genova

“They should be there for support because it’s a really stressful time but not...directly involved.”

- Junior Kylie Seward

Print Editor-in-Chief: Molly Burke Copy Editor: Juju Miyamoto News Editor: Kate Macauley People Editor: Aleena Yarovaya Op-Ed Editor: Maggie Warren Clubs/Academics: Talullah Manghise Culture Editor: Sherlyn Garcia Sports Editors: Gabe Lee In-Depth Editor: Lindsey Su Spotlight Editor: Molly Burke Art Director: Morgan Kong Graphic Artists: Amy(Qinhan) Ding, Sarah Carney Photo Editor: Manpreet Kaur Photographers: Will Ziegler, Caden Neel, Lauren Limburg, Adam Dapkewicz, Elle Motekaitis, Emily Perry, Billy Easton, Gia Fanucchi Web Editor-in-Chief: Annie Mitchell Web Copy Editor: Hannah Cho

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16

CONFLICTS

Devils stretch to balance religion and sports The life of a student-athlete creates a hectic schedule for high schoolers. Many events that students generally have time for become put to the side. Finding excuses for not making a practice or game are few and far between. However, religious obligations can oftentimes cause a dilemma for athletes and their families in deciding whether or not to put them before sports.

Junior Dice Ferrick had to miss a track meet on Ash Wednesday, a Catholic Holy Day, because of his family’s religious priorities. “My grandparents are very religious and they make me go to church every Sunday,” Ferrick said.

Luckily

for Ferrick and others, the coaches at DHS understand these obligations. “Coach is totally fine with it,” Ferrick said. “It would be wrong for the coach to not let me miss it.”

Coaches also have an open-minded attitude towards religious headwear. Junior Ruggaya Musa wears a hijab while participating in hurdles and pole vaulting for the track and field team.

“They allow me to wear it and it doesn’t get in the way of my performance,” Musa said.

“It feels n o r-

mal to me because I’ve been wearing it for a while.”

According to football coach Ty Brown, “we don’t have the right or authority to dictate that to kids. It’s a very sensitive subject, it’s generally religion over practice.”

Luckily for the football team, this is rarely an issue. “I don’t see religion as a thing that stands in the way of athletics,” Brown said.

Despite coaches like Brown and others being lenient towards athletes missing events, sometimes religious commitments are too much for them to still be on the team full time.

This is the case for junior Brandon Folb who has played tennis for the majority of his life but is not this year because of his involvement in his Jewish youth group.

Folb has taken

on a leading role in his Jewish youth group, the NFTY. “With that came a huge time commitment,” Folb said. “I have something going on every day.”

“The plan was to play this year,” Folb said. “But once I committed to being the VP I could no longer play.”

Folb has to travel for his position as well.

His religious commitments have taken him to places like New York, Dallas, Hawaii and all over California.

Overall, the reaction from Folb’s family and the majority of those around him has been positive and supportive.

“I still play some tennis on the side,” Folb said. “I am hoping to play n e x t year because school won’t be as heavy.”

HUB PHOTO / GABE LEE

By JOEY VOSS HUB Staff

Junior Ruggaya Musa warms up before practice with leg swings. Musa competes in both pole vault and hurdle events for the track team while wearing a hijab.

COLUMN

WEATHER

Preparing for more madness

Teams recover from rain delays

By MOLLY BURKE HUB Staff

By GABE LEE Sports Editor

HUB PHOTO / BILLY EASTON

While the baseball and softball seasons are just beginning, they have already encountered major difficulties due to several days of unexpected rain.

The women’s softball team cancelled eight games over the course of two weeks, placing them far behind schedule. Senior Brittany Steenbergen is worried that with so many cancelled games, they likely won’t be able to reschedule them, placing them behind other teams in the area who have been able to play the majority of their games.

Though a game will be cancelled if it is raining at the time, the field can be affected from rain at any point during the day.

The players can’t perform well on a wet field, meaning that any rain often cancels games for the next day.

“When it rained a bunch and was sunny later in the day, the field still wouldn’t dry on time,” Steenbergen said.

Senior Claire Inouye’s father has taken charge of maintaining the field to make it playable following the rain, but opponents’ fields often aren’t fixed on time.

“We were supposed to play Oakridge and Yuba City, but neither of their fields were good enough still so we played at Davis,” Steenbergen said.

Steenbergen has felt frustrated about the cancellation of so many games, but knows this often comes with an outdoor spring sport.

“I think that it’s a lot more than usual.

Last season, we had four or five rainouts, which was a lot, but this year so far it’s eight,” Steenbergen said.

The men’s baseball team, not surprisingly, has experienced almost identical difficulties. Coach and physical education teacher Dan Ariola believes that the players have done a good job adjusting to moving practices off of the field. They have had to use the football field and, when it has been particularly rainy, inside the gym.

“The guys kept working. They made every day productive. They didn’t complain about the weather. Then they came out and won our first two games which was nice,” Ariola said.

“the guys kept working, they made everyday productive.” -dan ariola

Senior Sam Luxa rakes the mound to prepare the field for use after a rainy day The baseball team is almost “caught up” in terms of rescheduled games, but some of the missed contests are going to be played near the end of the season.

Senior Jonah Henrickson wasn’t too mad about the games because he knows that they will all be rescheduled.

“We were really looking forward to Vacaville because they’re our rivals. It was tough that that one got cancelled, but we’re going to be able to make them all up so it’s not too deep,” Henrickson said.

Despite the frustration of not playing for over two weeks, Ariola says that the weather won’t affect the team’s attitude.

“We’ve got a lot of veterans. They’re ready to play. We know you get rained out every once in a while. So, we handled it.

We handled it really well,” Ariola said.

Both the softball and baseball teams have made successful comebacks following the rain, each winning games that will boost their team records for the season.

This season, the league games are beginning earlier than they did in the past, as there will be 18 games instead of the typical 14 games. The game cancellations affected some of the few weeks that the team has before their league games, but Ariola believes that no matter what they are still ready to play.

Henrickson adds that the team has had impressive pitching and defense, but their offense will improve with the more games they play over the season.

March Madness brings about the most unique sporting event in the world. As if a tournament featuring college basketball’s 64 best teams was not enough, it is single-elimination, win or go home. With the decline of perennial powerhouses like Villanova and Kansas, this year’s tournament is wide open. Teams like Florida State University (FSU) and Murray State are seeking the beloved March “Cinderella story.”

Meanwhile, Duke, the University of North Carolina (UNC) and Gonzaga are back to justify their ranking vie for the ultimate goal: NCAA champion.

The Winner: Univ. of North Carolina Cameron Johnson shot a league leading 46.5 percent from beyond the arc and averaged 16.9 points per game (ppg), enough to earn him an ACC first team nod. Along with senior Luke Mayes’s 14.7 ppg and 10.5 rpg, the Tarheels appear to be in good hands. However, if they want to bring the NCAA title back to Chapel Hill, the catalyst for their March Madness run will be renowned freshman Coby White. White can score the basketball as well as anyone in the nation as he averaged 16.3 ppg on a UNC roster that has a lot of mouths to feed. However, his greatest asset is his ability to control the tempo of a game.

The 6-foot-5-inch point guard is the perfect player to run Roy William’s high-octane offense. With the ability to push the tempo of the game, run the half court offense on the rare occasions that the Tarheels want to slow down the game and MARCH MADNESS continued on page 14

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20 March 2019

seemingly score at will, White is a one of a kind athlete. This weekend, they were able to stay within a point of the Duke Blue Devils in the ACC tournament semi-finals in a game where Zion Williamson was ostensibly unstoppable. But Duke is playing across the bracket from UNC and that trend is not going to be an every night affair.

When their rivals falter, White and the Tarheels will be there to capitalize on the opportunity and cut down the nets come April.

The Overrated: Gonzaga On paper, Gonzaga looks like an elite contender and one of the teams to beat this March.

Juniors Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke form a formidable frontcourt that put up impressive numbers while leading the Bulldogs to a 30-3 record and a number one ranking in the AP poll, making them the landslide favorites heading into the WCC tournament. However, a loss to St. Mary’s made for an early exit and a national embarrassment for Gonzaga.

Furthermore, Gonzaga showed weakness as the team went 2/17 from beyond the arc and shot a dreadful 37.5 percent from the field. If teams can jump to an early lead and not allow Hachimura to find his groove, Clarke will struggle to put Gonzaga on his back. With the NCAA national tournament just days away, a sweet sixteen upset at the hands of FSU or Marquette is more likely than many would like to admit.

Others to watch: Duke The Blue Devils have made noise all season as the most exciting college basketball team of the century. Predictably, they are everyone’s favorite to both win and choke. Boasting maybe the best recruiting class of all time, Duke has the two best players in the ACC and maybe in all of college basketball.

Freshmen Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett averaged 22.1 and 22.9 ppg respectively while leading the Devils to a 29-5 record and yet another ACC title.

However, rather than the 29, I want to focus on the five. Of Duke’s five losses, three came at the hands of top three teams.

Additionally, those losses all came in tournament finals or rivalry games. When the spotlight shines on Duke, they do not always perform as well as they are capable of.

In addition, three point shooting has become a necessity in modern basketball. Of Duke’s top three scorers, none of them are shooting over 35 percent from beyond the arc.

During the regular season, Barrett and Williamson used their superior athleticism to bully their way to the W. However, when the big dance comes, teams play on only days of rest and fatigue begins to grab ahold of the players. If Duke is forced to rely on their outside shooting, they could run into serious problems late in the tournament.

Keep an eye on: Tennessee Last year, Grant Williams took home the SEC player of the year award as a sophomore, beating out seven players that would be drafted to the NBA that June. However, the Vols were upset by Loyola Chicago in the round of 32. This season, Williams returned with a vengeance, racking up 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds, on his way to another SEC player of the year honor. He was joined by senior guard Admiral Schofield (16.6 ppg) to form one of the best duos in the nation. Coming out of the second seed in the South region, Tennessee will face a number of tough challenges such as Virginia and Purdue, but if Williams and Schofield maintain the offensive prowess that has become their standard and receive necessary support from players like Jordan Bone and Jordan Bowen, the Volunteers have a group of veterans who look primed to make a final four run.

PROFILE

Softball is a homerun for McIsaac

By RAYAN TILMANTINE HUB Staff Senior outfielder Ellery McIsaac, in her fourth year on the varsity softball squad, is never happier than when she’s catching fly balls.

At a young age, McIsaac and her family knew that softball would be her passion. “I loved the sport, for some reason it just clicked and I felt like this was going to be my sport,” McIsaac said.

McIsaac began her softball career at 8 years old on a recreational team that the young girls named the “Sugar Babies.” After four years, she went on to play on a summer travel team named the Davis All Stars.

“With the All Stars, it gave me a new perspective. I began to play against tougher competition which drove me to dig deeper within myself and train hard in order to excel,” McIsaac said.

McIsaac developed high goals for herself as she grew as an athlete, many of which you do not see from most young children. “I told myself I was going to be an Olympic athlete and that I would train like the best so I could become the best,” McIsaac said. “I didn’t quite get there but it’s all right.”

McIsaac would go on to play for the local club team, Davis Lady Demons, and be a part of the squad for the next six years.

Although McIsaac was up for the commitment of being on a competitive team,

she admits that it was not easy. “You make sacrifices, you give up almost all of your weekends,” McIsaac said.

However, if she could go back she would make the same decision. “No matter what is going on in your life you have to force yourself to keep your head up and give max effort for the team,” McIsaac said.

McIsaac also has a great appreciation for the last 10 years of playing softball, as it provided her with the opportunity to play the sport that she loves as well as helping her grow and mature.

“It taught me to put my emotions aside and grow thick skin in order to be in the moment and prepared to take on pressure,” McIsaac said. “It’s one of the greater things sports provide to the athletes that a lot of people don’t necessarily acknowledge.”

These ideals have made McIsaac a leader on the DHS team.

Although she contributes on the diamond, she also has a way of setting the tone for the program.

“Ellery is a senior who has a special way of keeping our team loose, always joking but a great balance of focus and fun,” said Lyn Christopulos, the coach of the varsity softball team. “You have to keep things in perspective and she does a great job of understanding when to work and when our team needs a laugh.”

McIsaac has now begun her fourth and final year as a member and starter for the Blue Devil softball program and she has never been more excited for an upcoming season. “The group is just a big family. There is no doubt in my mind that we will be able to take lead head on and create a winning culture this year,” McIsaac said.

“Every year we are overlooked and we’ve had enough, you can tell by the mindset that we have in practice and heading into our games this year that we plan to turn heads with our play,” B McIsaac said.

As the team seeks success, McIsaac will be a pivotal player in that quest. “As coaches, you beg to have an Ellery on your team. We are lucky to have her,” Christopulos said.

HUB PHOTO / WILL ZIEGLER

MARCH MADNESS continued from page 16

Senior Ellery McIsaac waits for a pitch during the women’s varsity softball game on March 12 against River City.

Gabe’s “Perfect Bracket”

Michigan, Duke, UNC and Tennessee all have complete rosters that appear capable of rising above the rest of the pack during the coming tournament Duke NCC/NDAKST

Duke

VCU UCF

UCF

Miss. State Liberty

Miss. State

Va. Tech Saint Louis

Va. Tech

Maryland BELM/TEMP

BELM/TEMP

LSU Yale

LSU

Baylor

Marquette Murray St.

Marquette

Florida St. Vermont

Florida St.

Buffalo AZST/STJOHN

AZST/STJOHN

Texas Tech N. Kentucky

Texas Tech

Nevada Florida

Florida

Michigan Montana

Michigan

Michigan

N. Carolina

N. Carolina

Villanova

Villanova Saint Mary’s

Purdue

Purdue Ole Doiminion

Cincinnatti

Cincinnati Iowa

Tennessee

Tennesee Colgate

N. Carolina

N. Carolina Iona

Washington

Utah St. Washington

Auburn

Auburn N. Mex. St.

Kansas

Kansas Northeastern

Ohio Sate

Iowa St. Ohio St.

Houston

Houston Georgia St.

Seton Hall

Wofford Seton Hall

Kentucky

Kentucky Abilene Chr.

N. Carolina

Gonzaga Florida St.

N.Carolina Auburn

Florida St. Michigan

N. Carolina Houston

AZST/STJOHN Michigan Michigan

Kansas St. UC Irvine

Tennessee

Michigan State

Syracuse Baylor

Kansas St.

Tennessee

LSU

Gonzaga

Wisconsin Oregon

Purdue

LSU

Gonzaga F. Dickinson/Prarie View

Oregon

Tennessee

Duke

Michigan State

Ole Miss Oklahoma

Oregon

Miss. State

Michigan State Bradley

Oklahoma Virginia

Duke

MINNESOTA

Virginia Gardner Webb

Virginia

Duke

Louisville Minnesota

Virginia

Houston Kentucky

HUB GRAPHIC / SARAH CARNEY

14

The HUB

15

HUB PHOTO / EMILY PERRY

LOOKING OUT FOR THE TEAM

Ben Samrick watches the women’s varsity softball team compete at DHS on March 11. Samrick’s stepdaughter plays on the team and he helps the team in a number of roles.

TEAMS

Programs depend on passionate parents

By MORGAN KONG HUB Staff Ben Samrick sits in in a blue foldable camping chair next to the dugout as he peers through the chain link fence at the softball game before him. As a parent volunteer and the scorekeeper for the women’s softball team at DHS, he arrives early to every game and takes notes on his iPad. Samrick is one of the many parents who elects to help out with their teens’ sports teams during their seasons. Parents volunteer with a range of different jobs depending on the type of sport, including carpooling, working the snack bar and fundraising.

Samrick, who is senior Rylee Gresham’s stepdad, has previously stepped up to lead Rylee’s club softball teams as head coach and assistant coach, and currently scorekeeps for the DHS softball team.

Along with Samrick, the softball team employs a number of other parents during the season.

“Well, number one this field wouldn’t be ready to play [...] if it weren’t for some of our parents getting involved. Claire’s dad, Al Inouye, has come out and he’s drained

in the past, is the secretary for the Davis Blue Devil Athletic Boosters this year. She helped raise funds for the new swim team speaker system at Arroyo Pool. “[Something] I’ve done across the board is carpool driving, lots of that. And then here and there, whatever different coaches need. Swimming sometimes it’s timing, bringing food, and basketball sometimes they need people to work the snack shop, or tickets at the gate,” Brennan said.

But while Brennan is heavily involved in the sports teams at DHS, she does it because she can and not necessarily because she enjoys it.

“I do it because I get to be a mostly stay at home mom, and I have the flexibility to be free at 2:30 in the afternoon to drive them to Elk Grove or to be at an early game for the freshman teams at 4,” Brennan said.

“It’s a value of mine to do volunteer work if I have the time to do it. And I like to watch most of the sports.”

Like Brennan, McConnell likes to volunteer with his kids’ sports because he believes “we make time for the people and things we love.”

McConnell also likes the environment that surrounds team sports.

“I like getting to know the kids and

coaches. Hearing the funny stories and learning the silly nicknames like ‘RiRi’.

However, my favorite volunteering experience was hearing Coach Brown give inspirational pregame speeches to the badminton team before every game,” McConnell said.

Samrick helps with the softball team for a different reason. He used to play baseball, but says that he “really likes softball” and has “grown to like it better than baseball.”

Gresham and fellow senior teammate Ellery McIsaac, are appreciative of the help that they receive from parents.

“Not only is [Samrick] crazy supportive and shows up to every single game and multiple practices, but he’s also super involved with the sport. He knows all the girls’ names, positions and our stats and records score book during every game,” said McIsaac.

Gresham agrees. “I love having [my parents] around. I really like it when they come out to support the team and I especially like my dad there since he’s coached me all my life, so if I’m ever doing anything wrong he can always tell me what I need to do to fix that,” Gresham said.

FEATURE

Badminton serves up new friendships

By ALEENA YAROVAYA HUB Staff

The varsity badminton team consists of eight single players and seven doubles teams, each with their own unique relationship and dynamic on and off the court.

Juniors Lia Elms and Maya Alexander have a close friendship, partly because of their partnership playing badminton together. This will be the pair’s second year playing together on the varsity badminton team.

The two were encouraged to try badminton by their friend, senior Phoebe Levine, who is the captain of the team this year. “It sounded really fun and Maya and I were already really good friends before playing badminton because we do dance together at Applegate studios, so we were like ‘why not?’” said Elms.

Levine also dances with the two, and she and her partner, junior Mei McConnell, are currently one of the top duos on the varsity team.

Elms and Alexander both tried out in their sophomore year as a doubles team and after a few weeks of practice, they were playing well and played for the varsity team for a few games.

“We’re in sync when we play now, since we only play doubles, so we’ve had lots of time to practice communicating and working our way around the court and our indi-

vidual skills,” Alexander said.

Levine and McConnell however had a different beginning to their partnership.

“I had a different partner freshman year but then my partner stopped playing and I needed one so I saw that Mei was pretty good and I stole her from the partner she originally had,” Levine said.

Now, the pair has learned to play together effectively. “I think for sure we have different styles of play and different strengths that help us work together the way we do,” McConnell said.

Elms and Alexander credit their relative success to each having their own strong point, and being able to make up for the others’ weaknesses.

“They don’t have a lot of weaknesses, they’re both very athletic and they move well,” head badminton coach Justin Mcburney said. “When they come together they’re worth more than the sum of their parts.”

On the badminton court, Elms plays in the back of the court, and Alexander plays in the front. “Maya is really good at hitting drops and serving, whereas I’m better at doing smashes in the back of the court,” Elms said.

Levine and McConnell have a similar playing dynamic, in that McConnell covers the back while Levine plays in the front.

“Mei is really tall and strong so she is better at clears and smashes from the back. I’m more of a quick technical player so I’m bet-

HUB PHOTO /GABE LEE

e

puddles and standing water,” softball coach Lyn Christopulos said. A number of parents are also required to help the badminton team carpool to games. Stu McConnell, whose daughter is junior Mei McConnell, has even received a certificate so he can open up the gym for the varsity players to practice right after school. McConnell underwent a background check, completed a number of online courses and updated his CPR certification.

Other sports like swimming require a lot of parent assistance.

Team moms like Amanda Rales and Heidi Pfeiffer organize carpools, coordinate shifts for the snack bar and timing shifts during meets and plan the end of the year banquet for the swimmers.

Other parents drive to meets and help out during races.

“It’s so big having the swim meet help, [...] we have timers, scorers, we have starters that come to start the kids and then all the snack bar help,” coach John Varley said.

Joanne Brennan, whose daughters are sophomore Caroline Brennan and DHS alumna Annie Brennan, helps out in not just swimming, but every sport that her children participate in.

Brennan, who was a swim team parent

Senior Pheobe Levine and junior Mei McConnell have been playing together for three years and are the top ranked duo on the varsity ladder. ter in the front at drops and front smashes,” Levine said.

Although the teams play very well together and enjoy playing to win, they do not forget why they joined the team in the first place: to have fun.

“Even though we get really competitive sometimes, we still always have a way of having fun no matter if we’re winning or losing, and I think that’s what makes badminton so enjoyable,” Alexander said.

Even though both Alexander and Elms both have rigorous school schedules and dance competitively, they still see badminton as a fun stress reliever after school rather than another burden on their agenda. “It doesn’t even feel like an obligation because it just feels like I’m hanging out with my friends after school, and everyone on the badminton team is super nice and welcoming,” Elms said.