Wildcat brea olinda high school
volume 85 issue 3
February 2016
FOSTERING LOVE For Libby Williams and Cameron Legendre, the bonds between family members reach farther than biological relations. For the Williams, what started off as a “cool idea,” resulted in new family members. by VIVIEN COOP pgs. 16-18
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index
9 8 The Force Awakens
As an Orange County Squad Leader of Vader’s Fist, Rob Stelmar, guidance couselor, and Star Wars fan since he was six years old, attended the Force Awakens premiere.
Foster Families
Libby Williams, senior, and Cameron Legendre, freshman, are both involved in foster families. Read on to see what it’s like to host and live in a foster home.
PG 9
PGS 16-18
Gun Control
Ladycats to CIF
How hard is it for pro-gun and anti-gun advocates to see eye to eye? The Wildcat takes a closer look at the current state of gun control in the United States.
PG 20
PGS 12-15
Wildcat brea olinda high school
volume 85 issue 3
The Ladycats finished the regular season with a 17 game winning streak, a Crestview League Championship, and a two seed in CIF play-offs.
February 2016
on the cover From left to right, Libby Williams, senior, Dhasti, Levi, Leon, and Emma Williams gather as a family. The Williams family has fostered four children, including Levi and Emma.
For two BOHS students, family is more than kinship. Libby Williams, senior, and Cameron Legendre, freshman, share their unique experiences of living as a foster family.
Front cover photo by RACHEL LIN
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the Wildcat EDITORS-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR
Anabel King, Astyr Ko, and Stacy Uhm Nicole Nam Matthew Moon
FEATURE EDITOR
Samantha Magpantay
OPINION EDITORS
Anabel King
NEWS EDITOR
Jacob Nam
A&E EDITOR
Astyr Ko and Stacy Uhm
HEALTH EDITOR
Anabel King
TRENDS EDITOR
Astyr Ko
FOODS EDITOR
Stacy Uhm
PHOTO EDITORS
Ethan Ahn, Harry Cho, Rachel Lin, and Brandon Yun
STAFF WRITERS
Erin Chung, Vivien Coop, Amos Heo, Juliet Isles, Diana Jarrah, Aisha Khawaja, Ethan Pham, and Amber Tovar
PHOTOGRAPHERS ILLUSTRATORS
FOSTERING LOVE by VIVIEN COOP
16 17
ADVISER
Monica Hiemer, Halie Nam, and Deval Patel Deziree Cervantes and Halie Nam Alex Koers
mission statement The Wildcat is the voice for the student body of Brea Olinda High School. The purpose of our publication is to inform and educate the Brea community, as well as to highlight campus life and student achievement. Our energy is dedicated to the research of facts and opinions, and focusing on issues that concern the high school experience. Opinions stated in the Wildcat do not necessarily belong to Brea Olinda High School administration, faculty, and students. Unsigned editorials reflect the views of the staff. Bylines columns reflect the views of the writer.
the Wildcat
Brea Olinda High School 789 Wildcat Way Brea, CA 92821
bohs.wildcat.newspaper@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: The BOHS Wildcat Newspaper
news
3
AP EURO: A TRIP TO REMEMBER
Sophomores and juniors had the opportunity to experience a trip to London from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, visiting places such as Hampton Court, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and London Bridge. photos courtesy of DEBORAH OH, HENRY PARK, ETHAN LEE and BREANNE CAREY
EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE: (clockwise from top left) A scenic view of London on top of St. Paul’s Cathedral; Jacob Edberg, Josh Evans, and Deborah Oh, juniors, pose inside Hampton Court; Breanne Carey, junior, smiles in front of Big Ben clock tower; Gil Rotblum, history teacher, and his family stand at St. Paul’s Cathedral; Rotblum and all the students take a photo in front of the London Bridge on New Year’s Day; Ethan Lee, junior, smiles at the Tower of London; A landscape view of Hampton Court
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news
New state hoverboard rules: how California rolls by ANABEL KING
H
photo by RACHEL LIN
overboards are the latest gadget craze coveted by children and adults alike. And according to a new California bill effective Jan. 1, all motorized wheeled devices, including hoverboards, can be used anywhere bicycles are allowed to go to accommodate commuters in bicycle and car traffic. The new law requires some regulations, however, such as an age requirement of 16-years old and the wearing of a helmet and other safety gear while riding. “While hoverboards are fun to ride on, the new rules are reasonable because sometimes the board will spazz out and send you flying,” Michael Flores, junior and hoverboard owner, said, referring to the instability of hoverboards when inexperienced riders lose their balance. The user manual even warns of death or injury 25 times. “But overall, in order to be safe 99 percent of the time, practice is key.” While the law legalizes hoverboard use in public, it allows local governments to regulate the motorized board, giving communities the right to ban or penalize them as they choose. In the city of Brea, there are no specific regulations regarding hoverboards, but the transports will be treated the same as skateboards until further city rules are made, according to Brea Traffic Sergeant Tim Mercado. “A lot of people are concerned about hoverboards being extremely dangerous, which is understandable,” Sam Linares, junior and experienced hoverboard rider, said. “But it’s clear that California is taking open-minded measures to
handle this new hoverboard situation, instead of banning them out of fear. Especially with the safety requirements, this new bill definitely takes into account the popularity of hoverboards while still being smart about how they are used.” Mercado strongly recommends that younger hoverboard riders wear a helmet and elbow and knee pads, while avoiding conflict with vehicular traffic. “As with any new toy or vehicle that children operate, I believe good old common sense should be the dominating theme when these devices are operated anywhere in regard to safety equipment. There will likely be push-back from whatever safety equipment we as parents will suggest to our children, but safety should always be the first consideration,” Mercado said. Hoverboards gained national attention when dozens of customers reported their gadgets catching on fire, even prompting companies like Amazon and Target to stop selling them, and airports, including LAX, to forbid them. (In August, music artist Wiz Khalifa was arrested at LAX for riding a hoverboard.) In addition, hoverboards are prohibited from college campuses such as UCLA and UC Berkeley to New York and Great Britain, mainly because they cause traffic and can pose a hazardous threat, according to the New York Times. But despite these dangers, Mercado claims that it’s more likely low-end hoverboards at fault for “spazzing out” or catching on fire. As long as riders safely and smartly follow the traffic rules and wear protective gear, hoverboard riders are free to skate in public.
Play Production hosts annual show by JACOB NAM
In honor of the classic Alice in Wonderland fairy tale, Play Production will be hosting their annual drama production from March 3 to 4. Drama’s rendition of the play will retain most of the key plot elements, but will include several “twists,” according to Sara Chee, senior. “We have our main characters like Alice, Cheshire Cat, Queen of Hearts, King of Hearts, Knave of Hearts, and White Rabbit, but we also have new characters like Humpty Dumpty that are added to the show so it’s going to be crazy [and] fun,” Chee said. Chee, who has been part of the school’s drama department since her freshman year, expects districtwide attendance to the production, especially elementary school students. “We do a kids’ show every year, and this year, we expect to draw in lot of the younger audience which is really cool. I’m excited for the opporunity to get to perform in front of them,” Chee said. “This is also the one show where we get to really be characters and [it’s] so much fun. The kids in drama have put all their effort in[to it].” Tickets for Alice in Wonderland are available for sale in Room 215, as well as from Play Production students.
Eighth graders to tour campus by ETHAN PHAM
Young faces will appear at BOHS on March 4 as eighth graders from Brea Junior High return for the annual visit. The trek up Wildcat Way will give the prospective students an introduction to their future school. Before receiving a tour of the campus and interacting with Link Crew, the eighth graders will be welcomed by performances from choir, Color Guard, drama, cheer, and Dance Production. Eighth graders will then head to the PAC to learn about freshman course selections and be introduced to their future guidance counselor, Beth McDonald. “The visit to the high school familiarizes the eighth graders to the campus and surroundings. Also, it exposes them to possibilities to get involved at school, whether it’s through clubs, performing arts, athletics, or academics,” McDonald said. For the rest of their visit, students will explore the elective fair. Each table will be equipped with flyers, information, and incentives. Many clubs on campus, including Key Club, Best Buddies, and Girls’ League, will also set up booths to inform the eighth graders of other extracurricular activities.
opinion
A fine figure
of a man by ASTYR KO
G
rowing up, I thought that I would marry a guy that was tall enough for me to wear heels and strong enough to carry me off into the sunset. Every Disney princess married a man with flowing hair (Prince Eric) and a toned body (Tarzan). Although I did not realize then that every male in Disney movies, even the pauper on the street and the barbarian in the forest, had a model’s body, this image instilled in me a standard that all males should have flawless, chiseled bodies. Expectations for the “perfect” body type are established at a very young age (based on parental cues, according to mirrormirror.org) and instill the belief in boys and girls that they have to look a certain way to be attractive to society. While girls are expected to be lean with small waists and long hair (Aurora), boys are expected to be tall, muscular, and square-jawed (Aladdin). Girls learn that they need to be slim from Barbie dolls and males learn to be muscular from superhero action figures. Males are equally subjected towards high body expectations, but are oftentimes neglected by society in their
illustration by ACACIA HU
struggles with their insecurities. Many organizations such as The Body Positive and About Face promote a healthy society highlight the insecurities of females and strive to encourage females to be confident in their own skin. However, they oftentimes neglect the males who are equally
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insecurity issues with body image as adolescents may feel pressures to live up to society’s standards. “Teens will see images and try to replicate them, but the image that people see isn’t always the image with the full story,” Dr. Aguillon said. “Any environmental exposure to media is important. It can potentially influence anyone.” Media such as magazines, television ads, and public health campaigns can easily distort one’s perception on an ideal body because the “number of images we see in the media and the excessive amount of exposure we have to those images, according to mirrormirror.org. The average child watches 20,000 television commercials every year. Most advertisements, such as clothing, dieting, or even cars involve well built men. Anything we look at for hours has to affect us. The constant bombardment of unrealistic photos and ads can create feelings of insecurity. However, these advertisements and flawless photos are not a representative to the general population. According to mirrormirror. org, “the average American man is about 5’9” and weighs about 190 pounds” while the “average male fashion model, though, is about 6’1” and only weighs about 160 pounds”. Therefore, following models on Instagram or even online shopping can affect any male to believe that he should also be 6’1” to get a certain amount of likes on a post or to pull off the same sweater as well as the mode. Such media is not only a misrepresentation of the American population, but is also unreal and unrealistic. Justin Bieber’s Calvin Klein ad -- a photo of the shirtless, toned celebrity -- is one of many examples of an unrealistic expectation due to the amount of photoshop used on that photo. Society looks at such photoshopped photos posted on Instagram (andrehamann) and on front covers of magazines (Men’s Health) to hold all other males to the same standard. Anthony Keyvan, sophomore, and an actor who has numerous starring and supporting roles to his
It’s important that our generation realizes that boys are also insecure with their bodies too insecure. According to Psychology Today, 63 percent of men are unsatisfied with their abs, 52 percent with their weight, and 45 percent with their muscle tone. Insecurity is especially severe among teens due to an “imaginary audience”. According to Dr. Steve Aguillon, school psychologist, an imaginary audience is when someone feels like everyone is looking at them. This can cause more self esteem and
credit, shares that the flawless skin on screens are not real, after experiencing the professional hair and makeup process for television and documentaries. “Everyone has blemishes on their face. No one has a perfect skin tone without acne. I’d like to see Nickelodeon or Disney let their actors go makeupless. It would show that actors aren’t perfect,” Keyvan said.
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staff editorial
Smart use for smartphones A
productive day for a high school student consists of several things: studying, learning, and socializing. However, time spent on these obvious day-to-day activities is seemingly far less than the time students spend on their cell phones in class. As addicting as cell phones may be for teens, BOHS policy prohibits their use during school time, “unless instructed to use the cell phone by a supervising teacher.” However, according to a Wildcat survey, while 91.6 percent of the 228 students polled were aware of the school’s cell phone policy, 72.8 percent of these students admitted to using their cell phones for nonacademic use in class. There is no denying that there is an advantage to having a cell phone in school. Using cell phones in class can be a helpful tool for researching, writing essays, and completing assignments on Google Classroom. But despite the usefulness of cell phones, students should continue to adhere to the cell phone policy during instructional time. “One time I saw a student in Spanish class using his cellphone to translate his homework. Even though it was for homework, it was still disrespectful to the teacher. Students use cell phones in class all the time,” Stella Shim, freshman, said.
Even if teachers grant students permission to use cell phones during a lesson, a cell phone in hand, with immediate access to non-stop notifications, social media, and instant messaging, can easily distract students from learning. “[The students] can use cell phones in class for learning things, but there are times when it becomes a distraction,” Phil Henderson, science teacher, said. “Kids have them out and they’re trying to text or make phone calls, so [teachers] have to really monitor whether a student is on their cell phone looking at notes or whether they’re on the cell phone looking at texts and it’s not always so easy.” Non-academic cell phone use is disrespectful to teachers. The simple act of taking out a cell phone while a teacher lectures about algebraic equations or European history devalues the effort the teacher puts into his or her job. Most teachers spend hours preparing the lesson for that day, only to have their work ignored by a student’s apparent need to check their Snapchat or a text from their friends. “Respect. It’s the issue of respect,” Nargess Cornett, math teacher, said. “When somebody’s talking, you look at the person or the teacher, whomever that might be, rather than being too concerned with technology and who’s texting
you. It’s all respect.” During the 2014-2015 school year, Bob Parish, vice principal, had 322 confiscated cell phones delivered to his office and had to suspend students for up to five days as a result of cell phone abuse in class. However, according to Parish, it is unlikely that BOHS will make a change in its cell phone policy, since “a stricter cell phone policy wouldn’t make any difference [in disrespectful student behavior]” According to Parish, BOHS “implements [its] policies in a fair and consistent manner”. It is a student’s responsibility to follow the school policy. “Stricter rules don’t make people follow them any better. It comes down to the person who’s breaking the rules who has to decide to do the right thing. You can’t enforce a policy on a human beings’ choice,” Parish said. Make the wise decision today of listening to the lessons and improving your education instead of “discretely” checking that phone that’s tucked under your thigh or at the edge of your purse. Those Instagram updates, texts from friends, and celebrity Tweets can wait until the bell rings. Is using a cell phone during that 50 minutes of class time really worth it? Your teachers, at least, deserve more of your attention and respect. (And you might even learn something important.)
Will President Obama’s gun regulations be effective? Yes
No
by AMOS HEO
by ANABEL KING
W
hether it’s shooting students at school or killing innocent lives at an abortion clinic, gun violence cannot be ignored. But it’s also an issue that cannot easily be solved. President Barack Obama’s Executive Order on gun regulations, however, is a small step in the right direction. Those on the far left may call for a nationwide confiscation of guns, a federal act that has proven successful in other countries such as Australia, Sweden, and Great Britain, but because the right to bear arms is firmly protected by the Second Amendment, and because the fear of this amendment’s violation is regularly instilled by the National Rifle Association, the Executive Order presents a bold and effective move to address America’s gun problem. Critics often argue that strict gun laws are ineffective in combating gun violence (“If the government bans guns, then only criminals will have guns,” their argument goes). But, in commonsense gun laws such as the ones proposed in President Obama’s announcement, gun laws will have a dramatic impact on gun violence. In the case of the San Bernardino shooting in December, one could easily argue the ineffectiveness of strict gun laws since it occurred in California, a state that holds one of the strictest gun laws in the nation. How could two Californians attain such a large stockpile of weapons and ammunition in a state that vigilantly requires background checks and prohibits the sale of assault weapons? The answer: loopholes. In 2013, the California legislature attempted to close these loopholes involving the purchase of assault weapons, but it was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown, claiming, “the benefits would not outweigh the cost to gun owners’ rights.” President Obama’s Executive Order, however, mandates the closing of such loopholes, thus reducing the chances that guns do not fall into the wrong hands. President Obama’s announcement addresses almost all of the issues that appear in gun debates no matter what side of the aisle. It will work because it’s not too radical nor too weak, and it will be enforced because it satisfies advocates on both sides of the debate.
O
bama wants your guns! He’s trampling on the Second Amendment! He plans to advance his political agenda! These were the words of Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush, and Ben Carson, who all individually spoke for those against President Barack Obama’s new orders on gun regulations. Although President Obama’s new orders on gun regulations, announced on Jan. 5, were issued to protect the American people, everyone should realize that the President’s new orders on gun regulations will not produce effective results. In light of the shooting in San Bernardino on Dec. 2, 2015, where a married couple opened fire at a holiday party at the Inland Regional Center, President Obama declared new gun regulations that enforced stricter control over background checks on gun owners -- too much control, actually. People often forget the consequences of a decision when they are busy persuading their position to others. The most protruding details can be overlooked, which in this case, are law-abiding gun owners. Among these innocent gun owners is BOHS junior Sean Ho’s father, who feels that President Obama’s new gun regulations will be ineffective. “The biggest problem I see is that all gun owners are being portrayed as prospective mass murderers. Over 300 million guns in America, and the number of gun violence committed by legal gun owners is such a low percentage statistically.” Studies from the Bureau of Justice Statistics have additionally shown that any efforts of increased gun legislation over the past several years has encouraged higher rates of crime, up to 50 percent, and that enforcing a stricter policy on gun laws has encouraged people to be susceptible to committing unintentional crimes. Obama’s new gun control action isn’t a bold display of strength and assurance, it’s indicative of his incurable weakness to keep promises. Just as he falsely promised to get the U.S. out of debt, his new gun regulations are a false promise of security to Americans. Not many people will realize now, but sooner or later they will begin to see how deceptive Obama’s new gun regulations are.
opinion
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On Jan. 5, President Obama took Executive Action to implement new gun regulations in the wake of December’s San Bernardino shooting. The Executive Action Gun sellers must have a selling license and conduct background checks on customers FBI must be more efficient and accurate when conducting background checks $500 million will be invested to increase access in mental health care Certain legal barriers preventing states from reporting information to NIBCS More research will be conducted or sponsored into gun safety techonology Greater communications between federal and state authorities Eliminate most dangerous and impactful cases in illegal gun trafficking
source: National Conference of State Legislatures
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feature
who wants to be a
MILLIONAIRE? BOHS Teachers’ Edition compiled by ETHAN PHAM, ERIN CHUNG, JULIET ISLES, & VIVIEN COOP
BOHS teachers are asked questions that Jerry Halpin, principal, answered from the TV game show Do You Want to be a Millionaire during his appearance on the show in 2000.
photos by HARRY CHO, BRANDON YUN, & DEVAL PATEL
Greg Higashi
Amanda Louis
history teacher
french teacher
$500
Halpin was on the show on the Season 1 Episode 52 aired on February 13, 2000. Halpin walked away with $32,000 after missing the $64,000 question, picking “Iran” incorrectly.
1. According to the expression, what does the squeaky wheel get?
2. What is the literal translation of the German word “kindergarten?”
A. Grease
B. Gasoline
A. House of Books
B. Children’s Garden
C. Muffler
D. Shaft
C. Sunny Garden
D. Small Relatives
Audrey Wertz
Beth McDonald
Amy Welch
english teacher
freshman counselor
biology teacher
$4000
$2000 3. What is the scientific classification for the human species?
$1000
4. What U.S. department is housed primarily in the Pentagon?
$8000 5. Which of the following is the name of a traditional pastry?
A. Anthro humanus
B. Equus zebra
A. State
B. Education
A. Lenin
B. Napoleon
C. Homo Sapien
D. Canis Iupus
C. Transportation
D. Defense
C. Mussolini
D. Franco
Phil Henderson
Gil Rotlum
$16000 6. What title was taken from Princess Diana after her divorce with Prince Charles?
Bob Parish
science teacher
history teacher
vice principal
$32000 7. Which of these bands is named after a dish made by the leader singer’s grandmother?
$64000 8. The ancient city of Babylon lies in which modern country?
A. Lady
B. Princess of Wales
A. Pearl Jam
B. Nirvana
A. Iran
B. Egypt
C. Her Royal Highness
D. Duchess of York
C. Meatloaf
D. Sugar Ray
C. Turkey
D. Iraq
1. Grease / 2. Children’s Garden / 3. Homo Sapien / 4. Defense / 5. Napolean / 6. Her Royal Highness / 7. Pearl Jam / 8. Iraq
Answers:
feature
9
a force awakens
For Rob Stelmar, guidance counselor, the Star Wars universe was more than just a fictional film series — it was his childhood. Now, 30 years later, Stelmar’s love for Star Wars continues with attendance at the force awakens World premiere and as leader of OC’s 501st Legion. by AMOS HEO
photos courtesy of ROB STELMAR
Once a Star Wars fan, always a Star Wars fan. Ever since May 1977, the release date of the first Star Wars film, A New Hope, Rob Stelmar, guidance counselor, has been a loyal fan of the series. In fact, Stelmar is more than just a fan -- he’s a Star Wars aficionado and a member of the world famous 501st Legion. When Stelmar was six-years old, his parents took him to see the movie that would lead to a lifetime of fandom. Upon its release, Star Wars:
“the largest screen-accurate costume organization in the world with 8,000 members,” according to Stelmar. The 501st Legion, founded by ‘Legion Commanding Officer’ Albin Johnson in August 1997, creates screen-accurate Star Wars costumes to perform charity work at communitybased ventures, while also celebrating and promoting the Star Wars universe with people of all ages. Their group has participated with other groups including Make-A-Wish Foundation, Walk Now For Autism, American
“
“It meant more to me taking my children to the World Premiere than me going to see it.” - Rob Stelmar, counselor
A New Hope was a film phenomenon that would become the highest grossing film of all time, surpassing 1975’s Jaws. Stelmar and his parents immediately fell in love with the movie and ever since then, it has been a part of the fabric of his family. With the release of 2015’s Force Awakens, Stelmar’s love of the Star Wars universe came full circle when he accompanied his parents at The Force Awakens World Premiere in Hollywood, and when he took his children to see the blockbuster on Dec. 18 release But Stelmar’s love of the Star Wars universe goes beyond mounting Star Wars posters on his office walls and attending opening nights -Stelmar is also the leader of Orange County’s branch of the 501st Legion,
Cancer Association, various regional children’s hospitals such as Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, as well as appearing at events like the Rose Parade. In addition to performing charity work, the 501st Legion works closely with many Star Wars actors and with Lucasfilm Ltd. According to the organization’s website, the Orange County Squad currently has 30 active members and is expected to continually grow with the popularity of the latest film and with ensuing releases of films set in the Star Wars universe. And as its leader, Stelmar is planning to recruit up to 75 members by the end of this year. Stelmar discovered the 501st Legion after he went to the Star Wars Celebration in 2007 and saw people wearing realistic stormtrooper
a ‘bad guy doing good’: (clockwise from top) Stelmar, far left,
holds the 501st Legion’s banner at the Hollywood Christmas parade; Stelmar meets Mark Hamill (a.k.a. Luke Skywalker) at a visit to Children’s Hospital of Orange County; the 501st Legion donates $1,300 to CHOC; Stelmar’s 501st Legion ID card
costumes. He was thrilled by the idea of dressing up as a Star Wars villain and performing charity work. He joined because of the 501st Legion’s motto of “bad guys doing good” -his passion and philanthropy. As a child, Stelmar was captivated by the next-level graphics, realistic action scenes, and drama of the films. Every moment in the movie was electrifying to him. However, seeing the new film 38 years later was no different. For him, The Force Awakens is equally, if not more, enthralling than A New Hope because “the next generation is coming in.” It meant more to him taking his children to the World
Premiere than himself going to see it in 1977. While he enjoys the action and story of the recent film, his favorite aspect of The Force Awakens is seeing reappearances of the original, iconic characters he was introduced to in 1977. At the premier, he choked up at the scene where Han Solo and Chewbacca board the Millennium Falcon and Solo says, “Chewie, we’re home.” Stelmar proves that time and age does not stop people from continuing to remain loyal fans. And now, as he continues to work with the 501st Legion -- may the force forever be with him.
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feature
Lunch with C ormier
6
Carbon
by SAMANTHA MAGPANTAY
photo by DEVAL PATEL
feature
81
Th Thalium
e lunch bell rings while Wade Cormier, science teacher, admires the contrast of the mass of red and blue Spider-Man merchandise to the assortment of clear beakers and flasks in his
chemistry classroom. While the remaining students file out of the room, Cormier scans the classroom before his eyes settle on a pair of framed photographs at the corner of his desk. A wooden frame of simple sandal sketches displays an image of Cormier’s son, Quentin, proudly holding a plaque with the words “August 24, 2015: The First Day of Kindergarten.” The second picture, this one framed by a border of flowing letters repeating “Father-Daddy”, showcases a grinning Cormier and an even bigger-grinning Quentin, both facing the camera with matching Anaheim Angels t-shirts. Cormier smiles, his eyes wandering over the memories, thinking that the “best memories are everyday” with his son. His gaze settles on a family photo of his son and his wife, guidance counselor Jennifer Cormier. He wonders how it all began. Born in Los Angeles, Cormier grew up in a “rough neighborhood.” However, when he was four, Comier’s family moved to Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, located about 64 miles east of Vancouver, to “live in a cleaner place.” In Canada, his family indulged in a new hobby, fishing. He remembers how every weekend his parents would haul not only rods, baits, and hooks, but also his brothers, Chris, Clay, and Michael, to a nearby lake to fish every weekend. The physical but rewarding toil of the task amidst the mountains and lakes of British Columbia never failed to satisfy Cormier. But he soon came back to his roots. After receiving his high school diploma at Chilliwack’s Sardis Secondary High School, Cormier once again found himself under the sunny skies of California as an undergraduate student at Cal State University, San Bernardino. And it was here that Cormier would discover his true passion: teaching. Creaks escape his black chair as Cormier rhythmically rocks back and forth, caught up in his musings about a childhood spent in Los Angeles and Western Canada. A knock on the door startles him.
The “Lunch” series:
11
A student tentatively enters and asks about a discrepancy with a grade. With the latest chemistry packet clutched tightly in his hands, he is clearly hoping to change his grade to the correct one. Cormier notices the boy’s nervousness and reassures him that he’ll change it. The student thanks him profusely in return and exits the classroom. Waving goodbye to the student, Cormier’s memory returns to the beginning of his teaching odyssey. He remembers how, exactly, he came to be a science teacher, from a young child with a big love for fishing to standing in front of a few dozen teens lecturing on chemical compounds and conducting hands-on experiments. Heavily influenced by a friend to try teaching, Cormier was still unsure about the specific subject
Cormier smiles, his eyes wandering over the memories, thinking that the ‘best memories are everyday’ with his son. he wished to teach. But while obtaining his Master’s of Education at National University in San Diego, Cormier became a substitute teacher. It was when he was assigned a job filling in for a high school science teacher that Cormier realized his calling. The assortment of family photos catch Cormier’s eyes again, unwittingly. He thinks that it’s been awhile since they’ve gone bowling for family night and he resolves to make plans for a trip to the local alley that afternoon. Cormier reconsiders. Maybe a long dog walk instead. Or a trip to a museum. Uncertain, Cormier rhythmically taps his pen on the desk. Although the ink is already starting to spill from the point, he pays no heed, still debating the afternoon’s options. Then Cormier abruptly shoots up from his chair, a wide grin on his face. A solution: a father-son fishing outing. The lunch bell rings signalling the end of Cormier’s musings. He allows the thought of fishing with Quentin to linger a moment before greeting the incoming stream of fifth period students. And just like that, fishing is forgotten as Cormier focuses on the other passion in life.
In this monthly series, Wildcat editors engage BOHS staff members at lunchtime. This month Feature Editor Samantha Magpantay sits with Wade Cormier, science teacher.
feature
12
Barreling into gun cu by ANABEL KING
illustration by MATTHEW MOON
H
e picked up the gun and took a deep breath. His hand curled around the grip and his fingers slipped easily into the trigger guard. It was a 4.5 mm BB gun with zinc plating and a shooting range of up to 480 feet per second. The other Cub Scouts in his pack were already firing at any target they saw (paper targets mostly), while the rangemaster kept close watch over the boys. Almost all Cub Scouts came to the Firestone Shooting Reservation in Brea to learn how to use a gun, and eight-year old Nick Ryti’s pack was no different. Ryti took another breath and scanned the dirt trail for a target. Where would he shoot? What would he shoot? He was nervous -- his Scouts pack had a rivalry with another troop on the reservation and they were determined to appear as intimidating as possible. Then Ryti steadied his hand, pulled the trigger, and fired.
At 11, Ryti, now a junior at BOHS, graduated to the Boy Scouts -- Troop 871 -- and once again
they went to the Firestone Reservation. This time, however, the Scouts used .22 long rifles, one of the most common in the world today in terms of units sold, according to gunnersden. com. The rifle was trickier, Ryti noticed. It felt awkward to hold in his arms. The rangemaster walked over to him. “The trick to this big guy,” he said as he kneeled beside Ryti, “is to lean the stock against your shoulder. It shifts the weight.” Ryti adjusted his stance accordingly. He raised the rifle into position, pulled the trigger, and fired.
At 14, his dad let him use his pistol for the first time. He was surprised at how heavy it was -- not as heavy as the rifle, of course, but still heavy. Again, they went to a shooting reservation and again he fired the gun. Before long, he earned a pistol certification by the National Rifle Association (NRA). Ryti practiced every month with his Scouts at the Firestone Shooting Reservation and at the Boy Scouts’ camp. The more he practiced, the better his accuracy became.
“I’m not a master at it yet, but I’m a pretty good shot,” Ryti joked. But although Ryti was comfortable, adept, and now certified to use a gun, there were still some “significant and necessary” restrictions: he can only shoot at an appropriate shooting range under expert supervision, and at home, his father locks up their guns every night in secret location. “For safety and protection,” Ryti said.
Like many gun advocates, Ryti supports gun control. He believes that gun regulation, especially expanded background checks, is important to ensure that a gun does not “fall into the wrong hands.” In a 2014 poll by Quinnipiac University, 92 percent of gun owners, and 86 percent of Republicans, supported expanded background checks. But according to the Washington Post, these middle-of-the-road voices often get muted in the left-versus-right debates, leading to a misconception that all gun owners are strictly against gun control. “It’s not just guns that hurt people -- people
feature
culture
13
Mass shootings and President Obama’s Executive Order have put civilian gun owners, like Nick Ryti, junior, in the national spotlight. The Wildcat examines the current state of gun ownership in America.
hurt people,” Ryti said. “Guns aren’t weapons. They’re tools. It just depends on how you use them. And regulations like background checks reduce the chances of a gun being shot by someone who shouldn’t have a gun. It doesn’t mean that the government will take away our guns, because that’s against the Second Amendment. It just means we have to take steps and measures to prevent more violence.” Such steps and measures were taken when President Barack Obama announced an Executive Order on gun regulations on Jan. 4, which included expanded background checks, additional funding for mental health services, and research for advanced gun safety technology. However, President Obama’s speech was met with controversy. Progressives applauded the President, saying his gun reform was “about time,” or even claiming it wasn’t enough, while conservatives, including some Republican Presidential candidates, criticized Obama’s Executive Order as an abuse of power and argued that the action was a small step closer to federal confiscation of arms, according to the New York Times.
When the President held a town hall meeting later that week to discuss the Executive Order, the NRA, the powerful gun rights organization, refused to attend, citing that they did not want to participate in “a public relations spectacle orchestrated by the White House,” according to an NRA spokesman. President Obama later called out the NRA, questioning why an organization that’s founded on guns would not want to sit down for a debate concerning the subject, according to the Times. But this is only one example of how difficult it is to get one side to listen to the other. According to a 2012 study by the Pew Research Center, the partisan gap over gun control has widened increasingly over the past decade. Why exactly is it so hard for advocates on both sides of the issue to agree, or even listen, to each other? One factor is the uniqueness of gun culture in the U.S. As of Jan. 8, the U.S. holds the highest rate of gun ownership in the world with 112 guns per 100 civilians, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. This statistic translates into an estimated 270 million civilian guns. (The next leading country,
India, boasts 46 million civilian guns.) And in a 2007 report by the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey, although the U.S. accounts for less than five percent of the global population, it has about 35 to 50 percent of the world’s civilian-owned guns. “America’s love for guns is historic,” Jeff Sink, history teacher, said. “We still see ourselves as a cowboy and Indian nation. If you look at all the periods of time for the Great West, the Indian Wars, World War I and II, Vietnam, and in Desert Storm, we see ourselves as the police of the world. We still view America as the nation of the frontier. It’s in our culture. It’s a love affair. It’s like the car. We love the car and we love our guns. In most places in Europe, very few people drive cars; they have mass transit, they have the subway system. We don’t in America, because we don’t want it. We want to drive our own cars and we want to defend ourselves. And that’s part of our cultural heritage.” The roots of gun culture date back to the
See page 14
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feature from pages 12-13
American Revolutionary War, where the American colonists were often stripped of their right to bear arms under the British government. Thus, when America created their own government, they ensured that this right remained an integral part of the U.S. Constitution. “The Second Amendment was important in 1787 when the Constitution was written because guns were important for self-defense against hostile Native Americans and for Americans who hunted regularly. During this
“The NRA is one of the most powerful political lobbies in America,” Sink said. “They are probably 80 percent upper class white men. They have a lot of money and they feel that the Second Amendment and gun rights are absolutely essential to their well-being and the well-being of the country. They have lots of political power because they have so much money. And what they’ll do is they’ll back political candidates who run for local office, state office, and national office, even up to the presidency, as long as those candidates are willing to support gun rights for them. [The actions of the NRA] [are] legal, everything
Attempts to find a compromise have proved ‘nearly impossible’. time, guns were a way of life,” Sink said. “Plus, we knew we were on the edge of a civil war. After the Revolution, we still had enemies with England and the Ohio Valley. We’ve got the French. We’ve got the Spanish. So an armed population was important. But when they wrote the Second Amendment there was one viable weapon -- a musket. It fired one shot, it wasn’t accurate, and it took minutes to reload. And I’m not sure they would’ve considered the guns that we have today even guns. They would consider them massive weapons of war. So I think, when we talk about the Second Amendment, we’ve forgotten that it was written in 1787. Times have changed. Weaponry has changed. And thus the needs of the individual has changed.”
Today, the NRA’s role in gun culture is apparent in its influence in Congress. According to Think Progress, an independent editorial site, the NRA spent $19.7 million on Republican candidates in previous elections, including $984,152 on campaign contributions during the 2014 election cycle, more than $3 million on lobbying in both 2013 and 2014, and over $28 million on outside political contributions during this period, including ads paid for directly by the NRA. That makes it the tenth biggest contributor in political spending.
they do is legal. I just wish the nation was more educated to the power that the NRA has so that counter points of view can be heard.” America’s love for guns comes with a price -- human lives. According to a 2004 Harvard study, there is a direct relationship between the amount of firearms in high-income countries and the rate of homicides in those countries. The U.S. also has the highest level of gun violence among wealthy countries such as Britain, Canada, and Australia. Another 2011 study looking at the 23 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that U.S. homicide rates were 6.9 times higher than rates in other rich countries. Every day in the U.S., nearly 90 people are victims of gun violence, resulting in approximately 32,000 deaths every year, according to the Violence Policy Center. In addition, none of the states in the U.S. with the most gun violence requires permits to purchase various gun types, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Therefore it is proven that easy access to guns in the country are putting people more at risk of gun-related violence. As for states with strict gun laws, gun violence still occurs. California, for instance, a state with one of the strictest gun regulations in the country in terms of background checks and firearm training, faced dramatic increases in gun
sales compared to prior years in the gun market (fueled, primarily, by Black Friday events, and the San Bernardino shooting). These new sales for 2015 made 2015 a record year for gun purchasing in California, according to the Los Angeles Times.
While the far left may call for more regulations and the far right may call for more gun rights, the voices of the middle ground, voices of those like Ryti’s, will continue to be left out of the conversation, the arguments, and the statistics when politicians debate the always-ongoing issue. For Ryti, a gun is more than just a gun. The safety lessons he learned from his days in Cub Scouts have stuck with him throughout the years along with his respect for gun regulations in the U.S. “Guns may seem intimidating at first,” Ryti said. “But like most new things, you learn to appreciate its appeal over time, while also understanding why some people might not be comfortable with it. It was definitely challenging and tricky and it made me really nervous at first. But after hours and hours of practice, eventually a gun wasn’t intimidating to me at all.” Every time Ryti goes out to practice, whether it’s during the summer with his Boy Scouts troop or weekends with his father, safety and protection not only become a priority but an “instinct”. “The sole reason why America has guns in the first place is for self-defense and protection, and I think most responsible gun owners understand that,” Ryti said. “Sure, there are irresponsible gun owners that violate gun rules just as there are irresponsible drivers that violate driving rules. But those are the exceptions, not the normality.”
While the moderate perspective of Ryti, and the liberal perspective of Sink, depict only two sides of the always-contentious gun debate, finding common ground on events like school shootings, child safety, and mental health is not impossible. All sides understand that a gun can easily be used to hurt just as easily as it can be used to help, but it is up to the person squeezing the trigger to be responsible, law-abiding, and mentally-sound.
feature
Breaking Down the Gun Violence With an estimated 270 civilian million guns, the United States accounts for 35 to 50 percent of the world’s civilian-owned guns. But how does this number relate to gun violence across the nation? compiled by VIVIEN COOP
Under the hammer
A barrel by the numbers
infograph by SAMANTHA MAGPANTAY
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270 million
firearms in America are possessed by civilians and 897,000 are carried by police. Approximately 20 percent of gun owners own 65 percent of guns in the U.S.
Americans
were killed by guns on an average day in 2015.
Out of front sight
The leverage Pulling the trigger
School shootings From 2000 to 2010, there were 51 school shootings. In 2015, there were 64.
Getting a grip
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2,677 children die from gun violence in per year on average.
280,000 Americans have been killed by guns in the last decade. In 2015, 13,286 people were killed and 26,819 people were injured by firearms in the U.S.
Mass shootings
account for less than two percent of annual gun deaths. In 2015, there were 372 mass shootings in the U.S., killing 475 people and wounding 1,870. A mass shooting is defined as a single shooting incident in which the assailant kills or injures four or more people.
sources: bradycampaign.org, Mass Shooting Tracker, thetrace.org, and gunviolencecearchive.org
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feature
there’s no place like
L
ibby Williams, senior, dropped the last of her moving boxes on the living room floor and exhaled with a sigh. Peering around the barren walls of her new home, she caught glances of her father and step-mother filtering through the household alongside her five brothers and stepbrothers. The transition of adding new members to a family was new for Williams, who had always been the “baby” -- and the only daughter -- of the family. It was a significant shift in her daily life -- the new house, her recently-adopted brother, and her soon-to-be-first sister who would no longer be a foster child. Fostering a child is when a state-licensed family takes a child into their home temporarily, oftentimes for a couple of years. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the children placed into foster homes in the United States are often victims of neglect, abuse, or simply don’t have a family to care for them. (Currently, there are 62,000 foster children in California, according to the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health.) Six years ago, Leon and Dhasti Williams, father and stepmother of Libby, made the decision to become a foster family, “not to save the world,” but to make a difference in the lives of young children in need of a home and a family. Though the Williams’s journey with fostering involved many sleepless nights and enormous responsibilities, they think of it as “an honor and a privilege” and cherish the ongoing experiences correlated with fostering. What started off as a “cool idea,” resulted in the reality of welcoming a host of new members to the family. “We do have many challenges. Balancing our available time with our biological children is a struggle as there’s only so much time in each day, each week, and they too have been sacrificial by
by VIVIEN COOP
accepting the role that we stepped into. Everyone in our family is now very supportive with our efforts in fostering. The kids that have come through our home have been loved and treated very much as though they’ve been a part of our family forever,” Leon Williams said. The Williams family is one of thousands of families across the United States who foster children who have been deprived of permanent homes. Dhasti Williams, who had previous experience with fostering children, introduced the idea of creating a home for foster children to Leon and Libby. To date, they have collectively
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as an infant. However, Levi was born 12 weeks premature, weighing just two pounds at the time. The Williams were required to wait until he had reached five pounds to finally take him home from the hospital. Then, two years later, Levi, a “blessing”, was adopted, and he continues to excite his family with his energy, enthusiasm, and love of Hot Wheels toys. “[Levi] was the one who taught me that fostering and adoption is more about sacrifice and it’s something I enjoy doing because overtime you begin to love who you are taking care of in your house. I’d say with him, he taught me the
Fostering and adoption is more about sacrifice and it’s something I enjoy doing because over time you begin to love who you are taking care of in your house.” Libby Williams, senior
fostered four children, including Levi, four, and Emma, one. The family eventually came to adopt Levi and is in the process of adopting Emma after having fostered each separately. “We all have something we can do,” Dhasti said. “We can donate time, energy or resources. These children are real people with real feelings, hopes, needs, and dreams and often they are simply the victim of the choices that other older people have made around them.” The first child the Williams’ fostered, a threeyear old girl, only remained with them for four days before the child’s biological parents were once again able to care for her. Five years ago, the Williams’s applied to foster a second child, Levi. As in many foster children’s cases, Levi was introduced to the home
inset photo courtesy of LIBBY WILLIAMS
photos by RACHEL LIN
whole sacrifice bit and what you have to give up being a foster family,” Williams said. It was a “big leap” to take care of baby Levi, and along with that, Libby had to give up the role of being the youngest in the family. However, despite all of the work and all of the changes in her daily routine, Williams cherishes the many memories she has of watching Levi growing up and is grateful to be such a vital part of his story. Approximately a year later, Emma was taken into their household with barely a few days’ notice. “With Emma it was more of an overnight thing. We [decided to] take her in after two days, so it was kind of a shock to me,” Williams said.
continued on page 18
feature
“The funny thing one can learn about love is that the more [one] gives it away, the more of it one seems to have.� Dhasti Williams
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Emma, nine weeks premature, was the Williams family’s fourth foster placement. However, since she weighed only two pounds, the Williams waited to take her home until she was six-weeks old and had reached five pounds. Now the new “little angel” of the family, the Williams “fight” over who gets to hold the 16-month old baby, whom the family aims to adopt in the coming months to once again welcome another member into their blended family. Although Williams’s family later adopted both Levi and Emma, not all foster families are fortunate enough to adopt their foster children. One of the Williams’s family friends, also a foster family, had welcomed a child into their home, but had to give the child back to the child’s biological parents. The biological parents then refused to allow the foster parents from seeing the child. It is unusual, Libby said, for the biological parents to no longer let the foster parents have contact with the child again, but the heartbreaking scenarios do occur. “We are one of the luckier foster families to have been able to adopt Emma and Levi after a year of having them. At the Christmas party we host every year [for fostering and adopted families], we have met people who have had foster kids for a year who have then had to give them back to their biological parents, but it’s hard to do because they become a part of their family,” Libby said. This love and compassion is embodied by Libby, her stepmother, and their blended family. By having run a local non-profit organization for the homeless, fostering unites the Williams family. “The funny thing one can learn about love through fostering is that love is one of the only things where the more of it you give away, the more of it one seems to have. So, in as much as our daily schedule and family calendar became extremely busy, our hearts really became extremely full,” Dhasti said.
Cameron Legendre, freshman, demonstrates that being in a foster family and being adopted is a new and different experience, but after awhile, it “becomes your new home.” In comparison to other adopted children across the country, Legendre shares some of the struggles associated with living with an unfamiliar family. After leaving their home country of Russia at
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The bonds between family members reach farther than the relations between blood.”
a young age, Legendre and her sister, Paige, now 14, were adopted into their foster family when she was three and her sister was two. Joining a new family in another country was a significant challenge. One of the more immediate obstacles was learning a new language. “When I first got there it was different because I didn’t know any English, so we had to have sticky notes all around the house with different words to learn them,” Legendre said. The transition from Russia to Brea was not always a smooth one. In fact, at one point in her life, she felt like she “wasn’t part of the family” and was “left out.” However, she overcomes this by spending more time with her new family, including an array of relatives, and adopting new family traditions. Legendre enjoys playing with her aunts, uncles, and sister, as well as the feeling of being included in a family whom she knows loves her. Legendre, like Libby Williams, encourages people to adopt once they are an adult because it is “a miracle” and means the world to the child. With 400,000 foster children in this country, and an estimated 7 million in “institutional care” worldwide, according to SOS Children’s Villages, any help can go a long way to these children in need.
Glancing around Libby’s house once again, the once blank walls of the Williams home are covered with pictures of her six siblings, father, and stepmother. Framed moments of Williams family bliss adorn walls and shelves. LEGO and Hot Wheels blanket the hallways. And across the city, Cameron and Paige dart through their home with open arms ready to greet their grandparents, aunts, and uncles in an embrace on the night of another of their cherished holidays. Whether they are from different cities or even countries, it matters not. The bonds between family members are as strong -- stronger, really -- than the bonds between blood .
Cameron Legendre, freshman
FOSTER CARE BY THE NUMBERS
62,097 2,389 the total number of foster children in California
the total number of foster children in OC
= 2 percent of foster children in California foster children who return to their parents
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foster children adopted to their foster family
foster children left to live with a legal guardian
Number of children in “institutional care” worldwide, according to UICEF. An estimated 153 million children have lost one or both parents.
sources: ppic.org, childrensactionnetwork.org, kidsdata.org, unicef.com
How do I get involved? For information on how you or your family can participate in the fostering and adoption process, visit adoptuskids.org. Steps to successfully become a supportive foster parent include contacing a local agency, completing required training, and getting approved to provide foster care.
arts & entertainment
MALALA he named me
Staff writer Diana Jarrah reviews He Named Me Malala, a documentary about a young activist who faces a deadly shooting because of her support for female education rights in Pakistan. by DIANA JARRAH
A
t 18, most teens focus on finishing high school and moving onto college. Education has never been viewed as a privilege, but more of a right. For others, however, education is a luxury that isn’t easily attained. In the latest documentary by Davis Guggenheim, He Named Me Malala, the director transcends the expectations of the film industry in his attempt to portray the life of Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani
illustration by ASHLEY CAMACHO
through social media and the news. Before watching the movie, I read about her story and was inspired by her devotion to help all children, regardless of gender, gain an education. Her dedication to helping young girls especially is one of the main reasons she is the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize. “I have the right to sing. I have the right to go to the market. I have the right to speak up. I will get my education — if it is at
achievements and impacts on child education, the movie also sheds light on her ordinary teenage life. Malala Yousafzai is only 18 and like young adults the world over, she too talks about how she has strong opinions “about pizza and Twilight.” She even tries to show her father how to use Twitter, adding a light-hearted moment to film that deals with heavy and important themes. By showing these scenes, it displays how Malala is an average teenage girl whose
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Sometimes people like to ask me why should girls go to school, why is it important for them. But I think the more important question is why shouldn’t they, why shouldn’t they have this right?”
woman who was shot in the head by the Taliban for being an advocate for education rights for girls. Guggenheim’s film goes beyond just showing the audience the great influence that Malala has had on girls around the world, but also shows the more ordinary aspects of her life. Malala was born in Pakistan in 1997 and from a young age she was taught that everyone, no matter what gender, deserves an education. In the movie, Malala explains how she was on the way to school when she was suddenly stopped and shot in the head by Taliban militants. She survived the attack. In the Taliban’s efforts to silence the young activist, they instead empowered a voice that was soon heard around the world
home, in school, or any place. They cannot stop me,” Malala said. After several years of gaining attention for her courageous act of defiance, she started her own organization called The Malala Fund that is continuing to help the 60 million girls who aren’t receiving an education as her organization’s promise is to “allow girls 12 years of guaranteed and safe education”. At one point in the movie, she sends a powerful message of how “in some parts of the world, students are going to school every day. It’s their normal life. But in other parts of the world, we are starving for education... it’s like a precious gift. It’s like a diamond.” Aside from her astounding
desire was to receive an education, and she didn’t let anyone get in the way of that aspiration, not even riflewielding extremists. Though she faced an extraordinary amount of obstacles, she ended up achieving her goal of allowing young girls to receive free, safe, and guaranteed educations. Davis Guggenheim portrays the life of Malala beautifully in He Named Me Malala, and exceeds the expectations of the viewers by depicting the characteristics of her everyday life as well as demonstrating the struggles she overcame and the message she spreads. This film captures the balance between ordinary and extraordinary life.
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Excerpts from Malala Yousafzai’s 2014 Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech I am proud, well in fact, I am very proud to be the first Pashtun, the first Pakistani, and the youngest person to receive this award. Along with that, along with that, I am pretty certain that I am also the first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize who still fights with her younger brothers. I want there to be peace everywhere, but my brothers and I are still working on that. I am also honoured to receive this award together with Kailash Satyarthi, who has been a champion for children’s rights for a long time. Twice as long, in fact, than I have been alive. I am proud that we can work together, we can work together and show the world that an Indian and a Pakistani, they can work together and achieve their goals of children’s rights. Dear brothers and sisters, I was named after the inspirational Malalai of Maiwand who is the Pashtun Joan of Arc. The word Malala means grief stricken”, sad”, but in order to lend some happiness to it, my grandfather would always call me Malala – The happiest girl in the world” and today I am very happy that we are together fighting for an important cause. This award is not just for me. It is for those forgotten children who want education. It is for those frightened children who want peace. It is for those voiceless children who want change.” I am here to stand up for their rights, to raise their voice…it is not time to pity them. It is time to take action so it becomes the last time, the last time, so it becomes the last time that we see a child deprived of education. source: nobelprize.org
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sports
WINTER OVERVIEWS
compiled by JACOB NAM, ERIN CHUNG, ASTYR KO, STACY UHM, ETHAN PHAM
photo by MONICA HEIMER
Ladycats
Richardson paves way to CIF, state playoffs Coming off a convincing win against Foothill, 76-39, on Feb. 11, girls’ varsity basketball was crowned Crestview League champions with an 8-0 league record. The Ladycats concluded their regular season with a 17-game winning streak and an overall record of 23-2. For her play in the regular season, ASU commit Reili Richardson was awarded O.C. Player of the Year honors. Last season, although the Ladycats ended their CIF run with a quarter final exit against Mater Dei, the team went on to win the CIF Southern California Division Reili Richardson III Regional girls senior basketball final against El Dorado, 50-46. This year, the Ladycats head into CIF play ranked first in Orange County, sixth in the state, and 12th in the nation, according to maxpreps. com. Going into CIF, they also boast the county’s largest winning streak. Their last loss was to La Jolla Country Day on Dec. 21, 51-53. The Ladycats’ first round game in the Open Divison (the second most competitive play-off division in the country, according to head coach Jeff Sink), as a two seed, is against an Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) team that finished their regular season 19-6, and swept through the Marmonte League with a 10-0 record. (Results of the Feb. 20 contest were not available at press time.) “We are an extremely talented but young team. We are probably the youngest team in the Southland, so we [are] very proud of our accomplishments so far,” Sink said. With a successful regular season under their belts, the Ladycats hope to advance deep into CIF and make another run at a state championship. “I expect all of us to play with heart and to just leave it on the court no matter what happens. I have so much hope for this team this year, and I can’t wait to see this team improve,” Tyiona Watkins, sophomore and co-captain, said.
Varsity girls’ water polo holds their plaque from the Lady Brahman Second Annual Winter Classic. The team placed second in the tournament.
Girls’ Water Polo
Water polo advances to CIF play-offs For the first time in nine years, girls’ varsity water polo advanced to CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs. However, the team fell short against fourth-seeded La Canada, who held an overall record of 19-6 and a league record of 7-1, 4-8. Regardless of their loss, girls’ water polo is still proud of their advancement to CIF. “[Going to CIF] is what we worked for. It’s an awesome feeling to know that we accomplished our goal,” Alli Gracia, junior and co-captain said. “Being here since my freshman year, I’ve seen us go from barely winning my freshman year to now advancing onto CIF.” The team will use it as a learning experience to improve their next season, according to Stan
Sprague, head coach. With a league record of 3-8, the team played their “best season” in Sprague’s stint as head coach. After sharpening their defensive skills over the summer, the team placed second to Sunny Hills at the Lady Brahman Second Annual Winter Classic. One of the team’s strengths this season: defense. Opposing teams this season were forced to take more outside than inside shots against the team’s starting goalie, Meghan Lopez, freshman. Since all of the starters will return next year, Sprague formed a two -ear plan for the team. Along with a defensive foundation, the team will focus on sharpening their offensive skills during the summer.
Girls’ Soccer
Third place finish a ‘learning experience’
Girls’ varsity soccer finished league play placing third with an overall record of 9-9-5. The team’s only league victory, by a 1-0 score, was against El Modena on Jan. 22. Molly Melanson, junior and varsity captain, admits it was “disappointing,” to place third in league, but accepts this year’s season as a “learning experience.” “Whenever our team loses, I feel like we really take it to heart and it makes us an even stronger team for the future. If we play hard and with high intensity throughout the entire season. From our first league loss to our last league game, I feel that we improved,” Melanson said. Mike Knaus, head coach, attributes the team’s progress to the leadership of co-captain Melanson, and senior midfielders Madison Yourstone and Maddy Gates, who are continuing to “do a great job.” Melanson is “proud” of the team’s accomplishments, despite the Wildcats’ failure to qualify for CIF. “The team had some goals and I think that we really accomplished some of them since we were strong as a team,” Melanson said “We worked super hard and I know that we’re a group that’s really driven towards winning this year. We were a very young team this year only losing six seniors compared to last year where we lost 16. I am extremely hopeful for next year’s season that we will come out stronger than ever. “
sports
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ATHLETE SIGNING DAY photos by BRANDON YUN
Soccer Stunts: Josh Lee, junior and co-captain, attempts to intercept the ball from Derek Von Puschendorf, sophomore, while goalie Jackson Swindle, freshman, positions himself at goal.
Boys’ Soccer
Third place in league, overall record 12-8-1 Boys’ varsity soccer ended their season placing third in league with a record of 1-4-1, and an overall record of 12-8-1. “We started these games off [full of] hope and even though the games did not work out in the end, we can definitely use these games to improve for [next season],” Josh Lee, junior co-captain, said. The Wildcats found success in their preseason tournaments, when the team achieved second place in the annual Wildcat Cup for the second year in a row. Despite some difficulties with the team defense, a couple of adjustments in team practices led them to “improve dramatically,” according to
Lee. Arturo Reynoso, senior co-captain, believes that through the “team’s chemistry,” they can “be even more successful both on and off the field,” next season. “Unfortunately, the season didn’t go as we hoped for. Initially the team came out strong and we won our first game. We lost our next crucial game against El Dorado which was a must win to go atop of league. Following that loss, the team went through a slump and lost the next three league matches. Although we lost those games, every single one of them was a close, hard-fought match. I have more expectations from the team for next season,” Reynoso said.
Boys’ Basketball
‘Lack of experience’ leads to league cellar Boys’ varsity basketball ended their season placing last in league, with a 1-6 league record and an overall record of 2-23. The team’s sole league victory arrived during the last game of the year, a 56-41 triumph over El Modena. “We’ve kind of had a rough start, but I feel like we got used to playing together as the season progressed,” Andrew Soby, senior and team co-captain, said. According to Soby, the team’s greatest obstacle this season was their “youth” and “lack of experience”. Improving the fundamentals of the young roster, which included six sophomores and four juniors, is a major goal for the team for next season. Currently, the team plans to improve on “its offensive identity” and maintaining its strength in “playing good defense”, according to Brett Lumsden, senior and co-captain. By doing so, Lumsden believes that this integrity will pave the way for a successful next season. “Everyone has been focusing more [in practice] and I think next year, we can finally break out of our slump,” Lumsden said.
ATHLETE: Jalani Ambrose SPORT: Soccer COMMITTED: Santa Clara University
ATHLETE: Austin Tamagno SPORT: XC, track & field COMMITTED: University of Oregon
ATHLETE: Maddy Gates SPORT: Soccer COMMITTED: University of Hawaii at Hilo
sports
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WHO DO WE CHEER FOR?
BOHS students choose their favorite NBA, NFL, NHL, pro-soccer, and MLB team. 254 students surveyed for each sport
MLB
compiled by MATTHEW MOON
Los Angeles
1 ANGELS 47% Anaheim
2 DODGERS 3 A’s 4 GIANTS
29% 5% 4%
Oakland
San Francisco
photos by HARRY CHO
2 WARRIORS 19% 3 CLIPPERS 15% 7% 4 HEAT Oakland
NBA
1 LAKERS 37% Los Angeles
“I watched the Angels [a lot] when I was young because of my dad. But, once I got into high school and started playing a sport, my appreciation for [baseball] increased, and so did my love for the Angels.”
Los Angeles Miami
“I’ve always loved sports. Growing up in Southern California, I’ve been a Lakers fan for as long as I can remember. Everyone around me also like[d] the team so it stuck.”
Ajay Vadukul senior
Felix Recinos senior
NHL
1 DUCKS 56% Anaheim
2 3 4
Los Angeles
23% San Jose SHARKS 6% Pittsburgh PENGUINS 3% KINGS
2 RAIDERS 2 CHARGERS 4 SEAHAWKS Oakland
NFL
1 49ers 17% San Francisco
“Ever since I can remember I’ve been going to games and watching them on TV. I have stood in five-hour lines to meet players, get autographs, and even touched the Stanley Cup. “
San Diego Seattle
8% 8% 7%
“I’m from San Jose so I grew up in the Bay Area. I’m 49er faithful. I’ll bleed red and gold until I’m dead and cold.”
Alexis Camacho
senior
Alison Crawford junior
1
2 BARCELONA Los Angeles 3 MAN. U GALAXY 35% 4 REAL MADRID Pro Soccer
Spain
England Spain
14% 12% 5%
“My whole family enjoys the sport so I just naturally fell in love with it. We try to go to as many soccer games as possible. Living in the area made me want to root for the Galaxy.”
Madilyn Cerwinkski freshman
BOHS’s Favorite Sports These top five sports were chosen by a free-response survey taken by 1,247 students.
9.6% 7.7% 5.8%
16.1%
16.5%
sports
23
PLAYER PROFILE
Girls’ Varsity SOCCER
The team ended their season with a third place finish in league and an overall record of 9-9-5.
MADDY GATES
MOLLY MELANSON
> Who is/are your biggest supporter(s)?
> Who is your biggest inspiration?
“My parents are my biggest supporters because no matter what, they support me in everything that I do. They are always there for me, and they always cheer me on.”
“My biggest inspiration is Ali Krieger, an outside back defender. She has the same position as me and also tore her ACL. She showed me that it was possible to come back from such a traumatic injury.”
> Do you have any pregame rituals?
> What is your favorite part about being on soccer?
“Before every game, our team gets together in the locker room and we have pep talks. We also play music and pump each other up.”
“The best part is the relationships I have made with my teammates and coaches. It is always fun to have friends who enjoy the same activities that you enjoy.”
> What is your favorite thing about the sport?
> Have you ever had an embarrassing moment during a soccer game/practice?
“Scoring goals is my favorite part. I get so excited and I love the adrenaline rush that I get. It is such an awesome moment because it makes you feel like you can conquer anything.”
“On my 12th birthday I had a soccer game and I tripped in a hole when no one was around me and broke my arm. It was quite embarrassing.”
> What advice would you give to future athletes?
> What obstacles have you overcome to be the athlete you are today?
“My advice would be to never give up. Always work hard, and just make the most of your time on the team. The seasons are short, so work hard and have a ton of fun.”
I tore my ACL in my knee last September and played on it until March when I finally had surgery and it was the worst feeling knowing that I could not play in our CIF semi-final game. It was a seven month recovery that definitely has changed my view on life entirely. It has definitely made me not only physically but mentally stronger as well.”
> What obstacles have you overcome to be the athlete you are today?
“I tore my ACL freshman year and had to do nine months of rehabilitation. It was hard to come back from that because I had to relearn a lot of techniques, and I had to get my body back in shape after being out for so long.”
> What advice would you give to future athletes?
“My best advice would be to always work hard even when nobody is watching. Also to never take anything for granted because it could be gone in a blink.”
> Do you believe soccer is a good preparation for life?
“Yes because you learn more than just soccer. You learn to be on time, to work with large groups of people, to be responsible. You also gain leadership skills, which are all really important when preparing for life.”
> Are you planning on continuing soccer in college?
“I would like to continue soccer in college, but I am not sure where I am going to play. I am okay playing soccer anywhere.”
Varsity athletes Maddy Gates, senior, and Molly Melanson, junior, share how soccer has impacted their lives throughout high school. photo by RACHEL LIN compiled by DIANA JARRAH
> Do you have any pre-game rituals?
“Before games I always listen to Hall of Fame twice. It gets me focused and ready to play.”
> Do you believe that soccer is a good preparation for life?
“Yes; it gives you a competitive edge and teaches you how to handle diversity.”
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Behind the Scenes
GETTING CREATIVE
Stephanie Escobar, senior, colors her orignal art in Advanced Drawing, taught by Delaina Hofacre. Advanced Drawing is currently focusing on line shading and blind contouring.
photo by DEVAL PATEL