Vol. 84 No. 3 (2014-2015)

Wildcat brea olinda high school

State Champs Following a record-breaking season for boys’ varsity cross country, the team made school history, achieving their first state title at the California State Finals. PG 19

issue vol. 84

03

february 2015

Left to Right:

Giovanni Orellena John Dempsey Austin Tamagno Angel Escobar Chris DeDio Jeff Sipple Austin Shellito James Lindstrom

I INDEX

S STAF F E D Black History Month

School Time

Did you miss Mr. Brea? Don’t worry, we have it covered. Flip forward for a behind-thescenes look at the show from beginning to end. Meet the nominees, read about their performances, and see who reigns as Mr. Brea king.

February is dedicated to the celebration of African American history. Although it is full of remembrance, it leaves some thinking, “What about White History Month?” Read on to see what our response is to this controversial question.

Five Wildcat reporters conducted a study regarding the breakdown of time during an average school day. Flip to the center spread to see how much time students are spending on class instruction, discussions, and free time.

PG 3

PG 9

PGS 12-13

Willert’s Words

Hottest of 2014

Boys XC Takes State

Following a sudden stroke in 2012, Dave Willert, choir director, continues to lead the nationally-recognized United Choirs of Brea to success. Read his first person account of his setback and how he came back stronger.

Remember Flappy Bird? Remember when the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was viral? Remember when the San Francisco Giants won the World Series? Hit the rewind button on 2014 to reflect on the year’s most memorable.

Boys’ cross country ended their record-breaking season with yet another broken record—winning the state title for the first time in school history. Read on to follow the boys through their state victory and on to the Nike Cross Nationals.

PGS 14-15

PG 18

PG 19

Mr. Brea Recap

M MASTHEAD

THE WILDCAT since 1930

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

What are your plans for Valentine’s Day?

MANAGING EDITOR

Emiko Kaneoka

NEWS EDITOR

Nicole Nam

OPINION EDITOR

Anabel King

FEATURE CO-EDITORS ARTS CO-EDITORS

“I’m forever alone so I don’t have plans but I’ll probably just cry while I eat my mom’s chocolate.”

Jessica Yim and Betty Lee “I don’t know yet. I really want to go to Disneyland.”

Stacy Uhm and Astyr Ko

“I wait for the next day to buy all the chocolate on sale.”

Joy Hsieh and Charlotte Kim

SPORTS CO-EDITORS

Samantha Magpantay and Matthew Moon

PHOTO CO-EDITORS

Michael Cho, Rachel Lin, April Santonil

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Hannah Dotan, Monica Hiemer, Halie Nam, Hannah Roark, Deval Patel, Brandon Yun

“We are having ‘Pal-entine’ with all the pals.”

STAFF WRITERS

Angelica Doan, Khurrum Elahi, Jacob Nam, Jean Park, Celeste Roh, Jessica Tseng, Elizabeth Wheat

ADVISER

Alex Koers

MISSION STATEMENT // The Wildcat is published by the students of Brea Olinda High

School’s Newspaper class. The purpose of the publication is to inform and educate the Brea community, as well as highlight campus life and student achievement. The Wildcat encourages expression of reader opinion in the form of letters to the editor. Letters must be signed with a name and submitted to bohs.wildcat.newspaper@gmail. com. 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. Bylined columns reflect the views of the writer.

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2 THE WILDCAT February 2015

the Wildcat

Brea Olinda High School 789 Wildcat Way Brea, CA 92821

bohs.wildcat.newspaper@gmail.com

FACEBOOK:

The BOHS Wildcat Newspaper

Wake up, go to school, go home, do homework, repeat.

This is the basic schedule of an average high school student (not including extracurricular activities, work, or other responsibilities). While this phase of life may seem mundane to us students, it is one that some children only dream of. We, on the other hand, tend to despise school and take it for granted. According to UNICEF, 121 million children around the world do not attend school. Of these 121 million, 65 million are girls that are being denied their basic right to education simply because of their gender, which increases their likelihood of lifelong poverty and/or premature death. With these staggering numbers in our minds, how can we complain about school? We live in a country with rulings such as the No Child Left Behind Act, which ensures that we receive a proper education, no matter what challenges we may face while doing so. And in our country of freedom and general equality, denying a child an education simply due to their gender is unheard of. As our Wildcat reporters calculated the time that we spend on different classroom activities each day, we began to see how teachers are utilizing our time as students. We may complain about too much free time or too much lecturing, but the fact is simple—there is nothing to complain about. We are American students of the public school system, receiving free education. And we should absolutely take advantage of our free education while we can, as seven out of ten college graduates in 2013 journeyed into the real world with an average debt of $28,4000 on their shoulders, according to projectonstudentdebt.org. That’s a whole lot of debt for the majority of us collegebound students to look forward to. And that is exactly why we should appreciate our free public school education while we can. In a time when education equals financial stability and in a world where millions are denied the right to education, we should not complain about having to wake up for school. Instead, we should rejoice in the fact that our country ensures that each and every one of us has the ability to attend school. No matter what our financial background, gender, or social standing may be.

NEWS

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LAPIN AND CORP CROWNED MR. BREA IN ‘THE OSCARS’

by NICOLE NAM // News Editor photos by MICHAEL CHO and APRIL SANTONIL

After a long renovation of the PAC, the long-awaited annual Mr. Brea “The Oscars” show took place on Jan. 14, with ten senior and four teacher nominees. Hosted by ASB, the show began with an opening dance featuring all the nominees. While the crowd cheered on each of the boys, the nominees were introduced along with their escorts. Then an introduction video was shown showcasing each of the nominees’ celebrity alter egos. Matthew Cha acted as Matt Damon, Paul Green as Brad Pitt, Grant Soloway as Jim Carrey, Vinchy Jota as Heath Ledger, Josh Lapin as Seth Rogan, Jake McEntee as Aladdin, Dillon McKinley as Napoleon Dynamite, Nick Tango as Michael C. Hall, Todd Vu as Ryan Gosling, and Brandon Yang as “Elsa” from Frozen. This year’s teacher nominees were Thomas Dewey, science teacher, Jonathan Gunther, history teacher, Aemon Fowler, math teacher, and Rick Corp, math teacher. “I was nervous because I didn’t want to do it at first, but I figured if someone took the time nominating me, then I should [participate in the show],” Fowler, a first time participant, said. After this year’s nominees were introduced, all of the senior nominees

competed in various categories such as swim wear and formal wear. Nominees were dressed in their appropriate attire, along with their escort, as they walked across the stage. In addition, all of the student and teacher nominees participated in the talent performances, in which they showcased their individual skills through a variety of acts such as singing, dancing, story-telling, and even Cha’s mathematical theory that infinites are not greater than other infinites. “Showcasing my talent was interesting and fun. It was exciting to show what I am capable of,” Cha said. “It was also exciting to watch the other boys’ talents and the audience’s reaction.” Before the winner was announced, all of the participants gathered on stage and were asked several questions about themselves (for example, “What is the most unusual thing about your family?”). To end the show, the winners were announced. Corp was crowned by Gunther, last year’s winner, and Josh Lapin was crowned by last year’s winner, Jonathan Crampton (‘14). “I am so honored for winning [Mr. Brea]. I haven’t imagined winning this and I want to thank all of the people who helped me and supported me,” Lapin said.

THE OSCARS: (clockwise) Nominees gather on stage with last year’s winner, Jonathan Crampton (‘14) to reveal the results; Josh Lapin, winner, performs in the talent performance along with his escort, Josie Villavicencio, senior; Rick Corp carries his daughter as Teacher Mr. Brea.

According to Pam Valenti, ASB director, the show both develops friendships among the nominees and involves a majority of student

contribution. “It’s amazing that [the show] is student-driven and shows what teenagers can do,” Valenti said.

MR. BREA WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP

JOSH LAPIN WINNER

VINCHY JOTA RUNNER UP

RICK CORP WINNER

AEMON FOWLER RUNNER UP

February 2015 THE WILDCAT 3

LIFE SKILLS AND APES CLASSES RECEIVE RECOGNITION

by CELESTE ROH // Staff Writer

Following their ongoing collaborative efforts in the restoration and cleanup of Randolph Creek, the AP Environmental Science (APES) and Life Skills classes received a volunteeriwsm award of recognition from the mayor of Brea, Brett Murdock, on Nov. 25. This award also highlighted the efforts of Andrea Ramos, APES teacher, and Jeff Weber, Life Skills teacher, in organizing the annual field trips. Located across the street from Craig Park, Randolph Creek was in a state of severe pollution as a result of the trash and run-off water that accumulated there. Joyce Kang, senior and APES student, noticed litter and various pieces of trash along the creek and embedded within the plant-life that was present there. According to Ramos, any waste in Randolph Creek will eventually travel to the ocean and consequently cause more problems. In order to prevent these serious issues, volunteer organizations can help the community by ensuring that the area is kept clean, safe, and healthily populated by native plants. Although this is the first time the program has been formally praised by the city, the classes have made trips to Randolph Creek for three years. “The trips help teach important components of

environmental science. As the students clean up, they are able to understand first-hand how taking care of the environment is hard work. I’m happy that their efforts have been recognized,” Ramos said. Ramos states that the energy she has put into coordinating these field trips has been worthwhile because it allows her students to understand the importance of learning about environmental sciences in the world. In order to prepare for the creek restoration project, two experts, Kirk Pickler and Joel

Robinson, from Naturalists For You educate students about the importance of maintaining the surrounding habitats. According to their website, Naturalists For You is a non-profit organization that observes natural processes and interprets their significance in order to connect and educate the public about the natural world. “We would clean up trash, pull out non-native plants and seed non-invasive species of plants as we identified the health of the biodiversity of the area. It took about an hour and a half for each trip,” Caroline Choi, senior and APES student, said As students cleared the remaining waste out of the area, the APES volunteers documented the fluctuations in biodiversity at the creek in their science journals. “We document the changes that have occurred over the course of the year so we can later refer back to what plants and wildlife have grown or died and see how deep the Creek currently is compared to before. We’re learning and giving back at the same time,” Kang said. Ramos and Weber are confident that they will continue to educate their future students about the environment through these hands-on volunteer projects.

County and other adjacent counties. According to Roslyn Lau, Community Development Department member, the four mile trail, divided into six segments, will be transformed piece by piece into a two-way paved bike line and a pedestrian path that will consist of decomposed granite. Unique amenities will also include a bike repair station and innovatively designed bike racks. Once funding becomes available, elements such as play equipment and an interactive water feature may be added. Also, due to the requests of local residents, there will also be a community garden and seasonal fruit stand along the path. So far, only the first segment has been completed. According to city officials, since three of the six segments contain contaminated soil, the project has required additional steps of testing and cleaning the soil. In order to remove pollutants from the contaminated soil, $1.2 million was granted in 2013. Although construction started last year, the third segment’s soil remediation has been postponed to next month due to the discovery of arsenic.

In response to this issue, The Tracks project was given $350,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to add to the City’s EPA Revolving Loan Fund. About $14 million has emerged from 23 grants towards The Tracks project, including two Active Transportation Program (ATP) grants awarded in December. “None of the City’s General Funds have contributed to this project thus far, enabling the trail to purely facilitate unity in Brea for outdoor activity and increased use of healthy modes of transportation,” Lau said. By the end of this year, the trail will be pollutant-free and half of it will be completed. The construction of two of the three remaining segments is expected to begin while the city continues to seek additional funds for not only the last segment, but also for the proposed community amenities. “A trail allowing residents convenient, free access to amenities, nature, and exercise is sure to have a positive impact on the community,” Lau said.

photo courtesy of JOYCE KANG

HELPING THE COMMUNITY: Students note the changes occurred. APES and Life Skills received an award for their arduous work in the creek.

POLLUTANTS FOUND IN SOIL OF ‘THE TRACKS’ TRAIL

by JESSICA TSENG // Staff Writer

APRIL SANTONIL // the wildcat POLLUTION: Contaminated soil found in soil of ‘The Tracks’ trail. Due to the pollutants, the trail’s completion date is postponed.

Creating a future haven for joggers, bicyclists, and walkers alike, the Tracks at Brea project will be a continuous bike path and walking route for not only Brea, but also for the entirety of North Orange 4 THE WILDCAT February 2015

OPINION

provoking the people Rotting lungs. Sullen eyes. A mouth full of inflamed sores. These images of human organs were distributed on Australian Marlboro cigarette packaging covers on Dec. 1 in an attempt to warn its users of the effects of smoking. Although supporters of the anti-smoking campaign applauded the marketing technique, its impact varied polarly among its consumers, with some calling the ad the “final push” to quit smoking, and others criticizing it as an exploitation of warning labels, according to businessweek.com. But the fact that a marketing stunt is able to engender so much attention and controversy shows just how powerful and effective a simple advertisement can be. Unfortunately, not everyone, smoker or not, is on board with advertisements that portray such controversial topics of domestic violence, animal rights, and gun control, including allads.com, a site that showcases all types of ads and provides in-depth analysis. The site claims that advertisements depicting controversial topics in a profound, thought-provoking approach should not be a regular public service announcement (PSA) found in highway billboards or YouTube ads, but should instead be limited to an appropriate pamphlet for an interested bystander. But we need these ads. We need a billboard of a child being aborted. We need the AT&T commercials of a driver’s last text. We need YouTube ads of a man who struggles to breathe, yet continues to put a cigarette in his mouth. It’s a slap in the face. A cold, hard reminder that doesn’t explicitly tell us what to do, but emphasizes what happens if we don’t. The HRA of New York released an ad last March about the effects of teen pregnancy, which not only sparked controversy but was publicly disapproved by the city’s mayor, according to nytimes.com. But the truth is the effects of teen pregnancy are as statistically-negative as the ad claims. The HRA’s choice is in depicting the topic in an emotional, humanistic way is necessary if they want to get their message across. In a society that is so easily distracted by pop culture and hot gossip and door-busting holiday sales, it can be hard to reiterate calls for action when everyone’s heard it before and no one wants to listen. What greater way to plea to the masses than on a board that everybody sees or a screen that everybody watches to show them what is wrong with our society and what can be done to fix it? Ads like these should not be kept hidden or criticized. They need to be embraced if the message will ever succeed in getting its point across.

theaustralian.com

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An ad on cigarette packaging in Australia must be sold with graphic images of the effects of smoking as health warning as of 2012.

An ad on gun control by the Moms Demand Action organization sparked backlash from the National Rifle Association in September.

Ad on abortion among African Americans by thatsabortion. com

by ANABEL KING // Opinion Editor

February 2015 THE WILDCAT 5

With a school year almost half over, it’s easy to wait for the end of the semester to work for your grades. Managing editor Kaneoka gives tips on how to overcome this academic dry spell and why finishing strong is important. by EMIKO KANEOKA // Managing Editor

As the holiday season comes to an end and students drag themselves out of hibernation in a food-induced haze, we are faced with the ultimate challenge--finals week. Some will surrender to their unsatisfactory grades and await the new semester to hit the refresh button, while others will shake off their drowsiness with a surge of end-of-semester determination. In order to ensure that your finals experience is the latter, navigate through the impending academic hell-week with these tips in mind. STOP PROCRASTINATING. While binge watching entire seasons of How I Met Your Mother on Netflix was semi-acceptable during the break, there is no time to waste time when finals week comes around. Logout of Netflix, put Barney Stinson on the backburner for the week, and take out those study guides. You will find that starting is often the hardest part. Once you begin, you will already be one step closer to finishing the semester successfully. In order to keep up the momentum, eliminate distractions that may surround you on your phone, computer, or TV. Applications such as SelfControl or Cold Turkey can be installed on your computer to block all distracting website for a predetermined amount of time. MAKE A PLAN. Say you need to raise your literature grade by 10 percent, your US History grade by a whole letter, and your FST grade by just one percent. Seems daunting, doesn’t it? Before you become overwhelmed and give up,

Wildcat Wishlist

start formulating a plan. According to forbes.com, a Harvard Business study revealed that only three percent of the student population has their goals written down, whereas 14 percent have goals, but have not written them down. Those that wrote down their goals proved to be three times more successful (in terms of income) than those that did not. When setting these last-minute academic goals, remember to be realistic and specific. For example, it may not be possible to raise your grade by 20 percent within three days, however you may be able to raise your grade five percent within the allotted time. Some goals may need to be re-evaluated to allow for prioritization of realistic ones. BREATHE. Once you are on a roll while studying the periodic table or trigonometry identities, it can be hard to put your studies aside and just breathe. In order to avoid academic burnout, remember to take quick breaks. Make it a goal to study for an hour (or two), then take a 10 minute break. Stepping away from the history facts periodically will prevent you from resenting the subject matter due to an overload of information, and keep a clear mind. BE OPTIMISTIC. While it is important to get enough sleep, eat breakfast, and of course study before finals, it is most important to be positive about the challenges that you face. Doubting your own intelligence and ability to do well could be the biggest downfall of your semester.

While our school provides a great environment for learning, there are some aspects of our school that can better improve our high school experience

1. Cleaner bathrooms

2. More guest speakers

3. Music during lunch

4. More spirit days

5. Longer lunch break

The sanitary conditions of our bathrooms have insufficient toilet paper, clogged toilets and sinks, inadequate hand soap, dirty mirrors, vandalized bathroom stalls, and frequently broken hand dryers.

Stu Cabe was a fantastic motivational orator during You Matter week, but it shouldn’t stop there. More inspirational speakers are what the school needs to lift the spirit of the student body.

ASB’s Friday lunch tunes are a great way to kick off the weekend, but why not make it a daily lunch concert? The sounds of jazz music flowing through the quad is a great way to relax during break.

Fancy First Day? Pajamas at school? What better way to show off your school pride than to participate in our school spirit days! Dressing up with friends can be a fun way to show your Wildcat love.

30-minute lunch breaks seem like enough time to eat lunch, but it definitely isn’t enough time for students who have tests to make up, textbooks to retrieve, and club meetings all during lunch break!

6 THE WILDCAT February 2015

Stick with it

Having trouble following through on your New Years’ Resolutions? Hsieh gives tips on how to stay committed by JOY HSIEH // Arts Co-Editor

et better grades. Save money. Lose weight. Go to bed earlier. Every year, students make promises to themselves to change for the better, and every year, those promises are broken. The new year is a great opportunity to start fresh; but even if you missed it, it’s not too late to commit yourself to change. Self improvement shouldn’t be tied to one date, it should be a year round journey. According to a study at the University of Scranton, only eight percent of people who make New Year’s resolutions stick to them. However, not all hope is lost. Making clear, reachable resolutions is the first step to succeeding in a quest for selfimprovement. Trying to break a lifelong habit is going to take a lot of work, so rather than trying to fix all of them at once, choose one to focus on completely. “New year, new you” may sound nice, but it’s nothing more than a pretty and unrealistic catchphrase. Change can be a slow process, and it’s important to recognize that a quick and complete transformation is nearly impossible. Setting short term goals will make the process seem a lot easier. Dr. John Norcross, clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Scranton, says “if you can’t measure it, it’s not a very good resolution because vague goals beget vague resolutions”. So say you sleep at midnight every night and you can never wake up on time for zero period. Instead of trying to go to sleep at 10:00 right away, be in bed by 11:50 for a week, 11:40 the next, then 11:30. Before you know it, you’ll be getting enough sleep and be at school on time everyday. Trying to save money? Put away a quarter a day and by the end of the year, you’ll have more than 90 dollars saved up. Breaking the work into smaller pieces makes progress more noticeable.

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Rewarding yourself is the best way to stay positive as willpower begins to run low. Earned an A on your essay? Spend some time with friends over the weekend instead of hunched over a textbook. Didn’t eat junk food for a week? One scoop of ice cream won’t undo it all. Having small prizes to look forward to will make working towards your goals more enjoyable and achievements more tangible. Completely cutting yourself off from pleasures is an easy way to undo all the hard work put into resolutions. Sudden withdrawal can result in harmful lapses that set you farther from your goals than you were before they were created. According to Dr. Norcross, “most successful resolvers slipped in January. But they discovered that a slip, a momentary lapse in a resolution, need not be a fall. They picked themselves up and they recommitted themselves to the resolution after a slip”. Friends and family can help keep you accountable for your goals. It may seem hard to find support with only about forty percent of Americans making resolutions each year, but to compare, about one-third of Americans watch the Super Bowl (Forbes.com). Friends encourage you to stay strong when willpower is running low. Family can help keep you on track by monitoring your progress. If getting your phone taken away by your mom is what you need to focus on your homework, it may be a wise decision to let her keep it until you are done. Even something far less drastic can help. Asking your sister to keep the bag of chips hidden away can give you the restriction you need until the temptation passes. Strong accountability can lessen the impact of lapses and give you more motivation. Failing New Year’s resolutions can feel defeating and ultimately worsen bad habits, But with the proper planning, the new year is the perfect time for self improvement.

Was Taylor Swift right for taking her music off of Spotify? by CHARLOTTE KIM // Arts Co-Editor Spotify: the promise of free music to the listener, but the downfall of an artist’s profit and dignity. Taylor Swift, a pop sensation grossing in 57 million dollars annually, has raised eyebrows by removing her music from this music-streaming website. However, her action was mainly manipulative and ignorant; Spotify is her scapegoat of decreased, store-bought album sales. After learning from her manager Scott Borchetta that Spotify keeps most of the money instead of giving it back to the artists, Swift believes that this company claims to promote piracy by letting free music streaming be a better alternative than buying the artists’ albums. Even though Swift denounces their effectiveness, Spotify is actually very helpful to artists by promoting their albums, which results in profit through intense streaming. Artists, such as Ariana Grande and Ed Sheeran, have used this company to expand their online popularity. According to Spotify, a song played on a radio usually attracts about 500,000 listeners with no compensation to the artist. However, with Spotify, 500,000 streams equal three or four thousand dollars! With this ridiculous debate going on, Swift might as well accuse the radio stations for promoting piracy. Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify, is an innocent victim under Swift’s unjustified backlash. This business is trying to be moral and fair. Their main goal is to advertise music in general to the public and discourage piracy by distributing equally more than 70 percent of their whole revenue-intake to prominent labels through advertisements. To be the peacemaker, Spotify message Swift to come back. But, Taylor Swift with her red lipstick and enormous fan base manipulated other artists, such as country singers Justin Moore and Brantley Gilbert, to remove their music with her talk of justice. Does she not know that Spotify is the future to sales? More and more people are depending on technology for everyday purposes. From brushing teeth with an electronic toothbrush to flicking a light switch, listening to music is a small aspect that makes up our life. The future is changing, and Taylor Swift better catch up. February 2015 THE WILDCAT 7

The King’s speech

Mourning Cartoons

by ANABEL KING // Opinion Editor

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never considered myself addicted to TV, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t play some role in my life. When I was little, my parents would wake me up for school by turning on the morning news. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the breaking news of murder and thievery were how I started my kindergarten mornings. When I came home from school, I watched Nickelodeon shows and caught up with my friends Danny Phantom and Timmy Turner. Sometimes, when my mom was still at work and my dad was busy working in the garage, my sister and I would sneak out of our bedroom when we were supposed to be sleeping and into the living room to turn on the TV to watch reruns of Full House. Then we’d scurry back to our room when we heard footsteps down the hallway. And when the weekend arrived, we woke up at the crack of dawn and turned on the TV to watch Saturday morning cartoons on ABC. I remember how we tried to stifle our fits of laughter to not wake our parents and how we repeatedly shut off the TV, paranoid that they were awake. Most memorably, I remember taking the cushions from our couch and building a pillow fortress with a “window” to see the TV screen and all of a sudden my dad would come and lift the “roof” up and act surprised that we were in there. Then he would make breakfast and watch the cartoons with us. But this doesn’t happen anymore because I refuse to do anything on a Saturday morning

Reeling it in

8 THE WILDCAT February 2015

illustration by BETTY LEE

before 10 a.m., and, as of Oct. 4, Saturday morning cartoons are no longer available on broadcast networks. After NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX gradually discontinued their weekend cartoons, the CW announced on Sept. 30 that they too would follow suit and eliminate Saturday morning cartoons.The reasons: a declining audience (which, in teens, has dropped 21.7 percent over the past three years, according to stateofthemedia.org) and a ruling from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that requires broadcast networks to offer at least three hours of educational programming every week between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. So instead of starting the day with “The Vortexx,” the network’s usual Saturday morning programming, the CW now runs five hours of “One Magnificent Morning, a non-animated TV program geared towards teens and families,” according to washingtonpost.com.

The death of Saturday morning cartoons shouldn’t be a surprise, as the rise of online streaming of TV (think Hulu, Netflix, even HBOGo) continues to attract more and more viewers. But its passing does engender some level of nostalgia. Saturday morning cartoons had always been there for me when I was bored, sick, tired, or sad. They were my childhood friends that could brighten any morning, my pals that could entertain me for hours. And though I admit I haven’t been watching these cartoons over the past few years, it always gave me comfort to know that were still making other children happy. Is this an end of an era? Maybe. And it’s likely that whatever’s entertaining kids today will probably disappear too. And soon, future generations of grown-up kids will lament on the passing of their childhood entertainment, and the world will be full of sad, wistful adults.

A look back at cartoon programs from broadcast networks that no longer air on Saturday mornings. From left: CW’s Vortexx, ABC’s 1 Saturday Morning, CBS’s Cookie Jar, FOX’s Fox Kids, NBC’s NBC Kids

black history month

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Does this make me racist?

by ANABEL KING // Opinion Editor illustration by JESSICA YIM

he beauty of African American History Month is that it reminds us more than ever of the “too-often neglected” tragedies and triumphs of a long-oppressed race, as President Ford said in his speech officializing Black History Month in 1976. And perhaps it’s because of strong, successful African American dignitaries, like Oprah Winfrey or President Obama, that our perceptions and assumptions against them are slowly but significantly starting to change. Yet inevitably, this celebration of one race ignites another, specifically white people, to question why they don’t have a month dedicated to their race’s history to the point where Black History Month seems to also be Why Isn’t There a White History Month. And though there are in fact dedicated months for white history, such as Irish and Greek-American Heritage Month (March), Jewish-American Heritage Month (May), and German-, Italian-, and Polish-American Heritage Month (October), the initial, ignorant belief that African Americans are allowed to raise awareness for their past while white people are not, makes one wonder if it is okay to ask of such a thing for fear of sounding racist. The Black Student Union club here at BOHS, for example, “strives to foster a sense of community for,” according to their website, sparking support, pride, and awareness. But would the same reaction towards the creation of this club still be applied to a White Student Union? Such a club was created last year at Georgia State University, in which students of European-American descent would “celebrate their shared history and culture and discuss the issues that affect white people,” according to the

w. Soon its creation sparked debate, but the organization insisted that their intentions were purely supportive and empathetic. “If we are already minorities on campus and are soon to be minorities in this country why wouldn’t we have the right to advocate for ourselves and have a club just like every other minority?” Patrick Sharp, founder of the White Student Union, told the Constitution. “Why is it when a white person says he is proud to be white he’s shunned as a racist?” Taking pride in one’s heritage is neither wrong nor racist. Regardless of ethnicity, it’s okay to celebrate the past accomplishments of one’s race; it’s okay to raise awareness to the challenges that the race faces. It’s not okay to promote racial superiority, flaunt privilege, or pretend that the seriousness of racial inequality does not exist. And demanding a White History month suggests all of those. To believe that adding a White History month will solve this nonexistent inequality of who has the most celebratory history months, who gets to display the achievements of their past, or who is allowed to shed light on their struggles is to suggest that the current attitudes, treatment, and assumptions toward African Americans are now equivalent to those toward white people. It is to suggest that adding a White History month is the last tally to mark that will finally even the score between whites and non-whites. It is to suggest that despite all the unlawful killings of unarmed black citizens, despite all the statistics displaying correlations between race and authorities, these social issues cannot be compared to the issues white people face. Again, there’s nothing wrong with taking pride in one’s heritage. But in doing so, one must acknowledge all aspects, all issues that involve their heritage. It is illogical to take pride in something of which you do not fully accept, or choose to not accept. And to move forward in this quest for racial equality and racial awareness, the start of Black History month cannot be met with “Why isn’t there a White History month?”.

February 2015 THE WILDCAT 9

“Never again.”

That is what Jews have promised themselves since the end of the Holocaust in 1948. Following a United Nations charter, David BenGurion, the primary founder and first prime minister of Israel, proclaimed the establishment of the Jewish state in Palestine. Since then, the country has grown and flourished as a strong ally to the United States, and I firmly believe in the need for a Jewish state. The Jewish people need a safe haven to escape prejudice in the world. Anti-Semitism still exists today throughout the world—even here in Brea. According to the AntiDefamation League, one quarter of

In my brother’s seventh grade history class, the teacher was discussing a particular event where Jews were rounded up, locked inside a synagogue, and burned alive. A student applauded this event. It took numerous calls from my mother to even get a counselor to speak to the student about his behavior. Worse, the teacher said nothing in response to the student’s actions. Just recently, on a poster advertising BOHS’s annual dodgeball tournament, there was a large swastika scrawled on the center of the poster. My mother emailed our local chapter of the Anti-Defamation League to ask them to visit our

I go to school like everyone else and I worry about college. I watch reality shows with my friends. I’m not looking to hurt anyone. So why should anyone hate me just because of my religion? I can only conclude that they have been taught to hate. I do not blame the teachers. I have had teachers who have been sympathetic to not only the plight of the Jews, but other minorities as well. The Brea Olinda Unified School District (BOUSD) English curriculum includes The Diary of Anne Frank, Night by Elie Wiesel, and The Chosen by Chaim Potok, all three of which are critically acclaimed and accurate in their

source documents. I have been lucky to have taught students that were very respectful when it came to the matter of discussing the Holocaust.” While I am happy to hear that, I can’t help but wonder if Rotblum’s experience is the exception, rather than the rule. The classroom isn’t the best place for one to share views that he or she knows might be controversial. Those conversations, I would imagine, take place at home, in the quad, or online. “I believe the faculty is doing all that they can. It is up to the students to stand up against bigotry,” Boliver said. There should be more education on the subject to teach them what

WHEN PREJUDICE PREVAILS by HANNAH DOTAN // Photographer photo courtesy of HANNAH DOTAN

On Aug. 7, Hannah Dotan, junior, attended a rally in downtown Boston, Mass., supporting Israel’s right to exist and their tactics and choices of defence against rockets being fired from a neighborhooding Palestinian territory into Israel. Dotan writes of her experiences as a Jew within the Brea schools. the four billion people surveyed have anti-Semitic attitudes. My brother and I have experienced numerous incidents of anti-Semitism in Brea. Last year, after a lesson in my history class, I heard a classmate tell another, “The Jews killed Jesus.” Why is this controversy still being discussed? I thought that the subject had been settled in 1964 by the ecumenical council, arranged by Pope John XXIII in 1962 to discuss the unChristian accusations of the Jews killing Jesus, and the need to stop such claims.

10 THE WILDCAT February 2015

district to provide staff “sensitivity” training. “Anti-Semitism has been ever present in our district since elementary school. I see anti-Semitic symbols all the time, everyday, in the bathrooms, and in graffiti, but I realize that it is just ignorance,” Maddie Boliver, senior, said. Just recently, I noticed a swastika on the handball courts. Does anyone else even notice this? I ask myself, is it just because we’re different? If so, how am I different? To quote Shakespeare, “If you prick us, do we not bleed?”

depictions of the tragic consequences of anti-Semitism in the world. By choosing to teach those books, one would think that students would be more empathetic. Yet I hear students uttering racial slurs in the hallways, and I see students painting Confederate flags in art class. I began to wonder what goes on in history class, so I spoke with a teacher. “I try to make my students skeptical consumers of information,” Gil Rotblum, history teacher, said. “When teaching about the Holocaust, I always use primary

they are really implying, when they say things out of ignorance and hate.” While I have been disappointed by some behaviors I have observed, I remain hopeful because of the many positive interactions I have also had. We must not stop in our attempts to build awareness. We must not relapse on the mistakes of our past. We must see each other as fellow human beings. It is when we cease to be human and lose our ability to empathize with our fellow man that we become no better than animals. And we must be better than that.

F EATU R E

UNVEILING DIVERSITY Despite the freedom in the U.S. racial discrimmination still exists through small actions rooted from a lack of knowledge about different cultures. However, students can be educated through cultural events. “Is there racial discrimination on campus? It may not be blatant, but it does exist,” Matthew Finnerty, mathematics teacher, said. R a c i a l discrimination happens all over the world—in Israel, as discussed by fellow writer Hannah Dotan; in Ferguson, Missouri, where African Americans are currently targeted, not protected, by their police officers, according to nytimes.com; and in BOHS, from the smallest snide remark to the most offensive racial slur. “Our campus may not have the most diverse student body,” Anthony Giannini, senior, said. “And I think that’s part of the reason why a lot of people are so ignorant and careless about it. We’ve never been exposed to a huge group of people who come from so many different backgrounds and beliefs, and sometimes, but not always, we forget just how big the world is because we live in such a small town, and this is what factors into [racial discrimination] the most. We don’t know how to respect a million different cultures, and this makes us look ignorant, naive, and even racist.” Diversity at BOHS is celebrated to an extent, in the annual International Week, where the school dedicates an entire week to recognize other cultures by dressing up as tourists and tasting foreign delicacies. The Hanno exchange students also attend and participate at BOHS, providing small but significant perspective on

foreign cultures. “I feel like [International Week] focuses too much on foods, rather than the international cultures and embracing all these cultures, and this just goes to show how limited our will to expand our awareness is,” Liah Kim, honors chemistry teacher, said. According to greatschools.org, in the 2013-2014 school year, 44 percent of the student body were white, 31 percent were Hispanic, 18 percent were Asian, and two percent were African American. According to Alex Martinez, sophomore, these statistics are “much more diverse than [her] last school.” “People take our school’s wide diversity for granted,” Martinez said. “At my old school, you would see one race gang up on another simply for being who they are. [Racial comments are] really underrated amongst teens, and I don’t think we realize how big of a deal it actually is. One time I was just with my group of friends and I had done an action and they claimed it was because I

by ANABEL KING // Opinion Editor photo illustrationw by DEVAL PATEL

was ‘white.’ But I’m not white— I’m Mexican, and just based on my skin tone they say I’m not. They would all make jokes about one another’s race and it doesn’t tend to bother me because I know that they are only joking. But this is why racial discrimination occurs so much. When people like me are [racially profiled], and we don’t do anything about it because it’s just from our friends, then by doing that, we are allowing racial discrimination to continue.” Racial discrimination has always been an issue when it comes to “closely-working peers” such as students, according to stateoftheopportunity.org. The site claims that attitudes on this issue can be improved through raising awareness of other cultures, but not enough schools provide that opportunity for their students. “I think students can raise their awareness of diversity through cultural events,” Finnerty said. “But the thing is, we don’t have those kinds of stuff [at our school]. If we raised our awareness on another ethnicity’s culture, we’d be acknowledging, and more importantly, accepting, just how big and diverse our world really is. Knowledge is power. We have all these clubs on campus, why can’t we do things to promote [racial diversity] during lunch? And not just clubs for one specific race, but a club for all races so no one is underrepresented.”

F

19% In the past ten years, the number of white students who enrolled in public schools dropped by 19%.

17% of the teaching profession are people of color, while students of color make up 40%.

2.9

million is the number of Asian students expected to be enrolled in school in 2023 compared to the current 2.5 million.

African American

Asian

White

Hispanic

Diversity ratio at schools in the US African American

Asian White Hispanic

Diversity ratio at BOHS sources: nces.ed.gov., nytimes

February 2015 THE WILDCAT 11

C

CENTERSPREAD The Average Wildcat School Day

Distracted or Focused? Let’s take a look at what these numbers mean. A quarter of our school day (25.7%) is spent listening to lectures about Animal Farm or mitosis. That seems reasonable, since we are here to learn. But, the majority of our time is spent on independent work or free time (36.4% total).

25.7% Lectures / Lessons 22.1% Independent Work

59,400

14.3% Free Time 12.2% Labs 10.9% Tests / Quizzes 5.4% Classroom Discussion 3.3% Instructions / Directions 3.3% Homework

minutes of school is equivalent to

2.8% Unrelated Discussions

Did you know? Students spend 330 minutes in class each day, but the average attention span of a student is about 10 to 15 minutes. time.com

29,700 Hot Pockets made

scienceblogs.com

12 THE WILDCAT February 2015

6.6 times the moon orbits the Earth universetoday.com

264 consecutive SAT tests

sat.collegeboard.org

3,382.5 feet traveled by a snail

clipartlord.com

CENTERSPREAD

C

Like

Clockwork by JEAN PARK // Staff Writer illustrations by BETTY LEE

F

or five consecutive school days, five Wildcat reporters of all grade levels recorded the duration of different activities in each of their academic classes. The criteria included instructions, lessons, classroom discussion, hands-on activities, testing, homework, independent work, unrelated topics discussed, and

free time. The data proved that the majority of time was spent on being taught by teachers (25.7%) and independent work (22.1%). However, the next category that students spent the most time on was free time, at 14.3%, higher than the 10.9% of time spent testing or the 12.2% of time spent on doing hands on activities. These numbers point to a question about the true value of a student’s time during the school day. “I realized that there is actually a lot of talk about off topic subjects in most of my classes. It’s mostly sitting and listening, or sitting and writing. I am really only hugely productive in my two AP classes. The other three are more of individual work or whatever I’d like to work on in that period of 55 minutes,” Hannah Dotan, senior and Wildcat reporter, said. According to Examiner.com, the way students absorb information has changed. It is harder to keep the attention of students and keep them focused—instant entertainment has caused students to grow accustomed to learning visually. Therefore, the amount of interactive time in the classroom is important in keeping the students engaged and focused. According to time.com, the attention span of a student maxes out at around 10 to 15 minutes. The average student at BOHS

spends 29% of their school day (about 16 minutes of a 55 minute class period) hearing directions and being lectured by teachers. Although the time spent by teachers lecturing is in line with the average attention span of the student, the extra free time could be spent on more classroom discussions to reinforce the lessons taught. Students generally feel that they “focus” better with more instruction in the classroom, according to Eric Yang, junior. “There is an imbalance of instructions for each class. Some classes teach for a whole period but others only have a little bit of instruction time and free time. In those classes with lots of instruction, I tend to be more focused than those with free time,” Yang said. Others feel that their current class period filled with more independent work prepares them for the future. “I think it’s definitely a good thing because it’s like that in college, no one holds your hand. Most of my classes are instructions and you just do it,” Jameson Hohbein, senior, said. However, it is important to note that the data collected does not reflect all classrooms, only averages that reflect the entirety of the student’s day. The true amount of time spent on different activities varies by teacher and subject matter. “Every teacher has their own style [of distributing class time]. It depends on the subject they are covering as to how much time students should have to work together. The teacher has to make that call,” Todd Channel, physics teacher, said. Each teacher also has different goals they wish to achieve within the given time frame. “I know my goal is to pack my classes with academic content. Every minute is important, even the last few minutes before the bell rings,” Laurel Bachelor, literature teacher, said. While conducting this investigation, the Wildcat reporters came to realize how they are truly spending their time each day. “This experience made me realize that every second, every minute, and every hour is valuable and spent on something from the independent work to the free time. There’s just more free time in a typical high school student’s day than I thought there would be,” Samantha Magpantay, freshman and Wildcat reporter, said. Although it is obvious that the amount of free time is somewhat disproportionate to the amount of time spent on academic activities, it may be attributed to classrooms moving towards a more “student-driven” learning experience, according to Jessica Yim, senior and Wildcat reporter. “It was an interesting experience because I never realized how much time we spent on just talking with friends or with the teacher about matters that were completely irrelevant. At the same time, I realized that education has shifted to a student-driven learning atmosphere instead of teacher-driven which I think improves a student’s experience and knowledge in their education,” Yim said.

February 2015 THE WILDCAT 13

WHY MY STROKE DID NOT HAVE THE LAST WORD One night changed his life. Dave Willert, choir teacher, faced a sudden stroke that hindered his confidence. However, Willert fought through his insecurities with the support of his family and students. by DAVE WILLERT// Guest Contributor photo by APRIL SANTONIL // Photo Editor

14 THE WILDCAT February 2015

m

y adventure began the night of May 11, 2012.

It was late Saturday night, and I went to bed with a stomachache. About 3:00 a.m., I woke up and fell out of bed. I was startled to discover that my mind was suddenly very foggy. The entire right side of my body didn’t work and I couldn’t speak coherently, I could only make sounds. My wife, Margaret, immediately woke up and asked me what had happened. When I couldn’t respond verbally, she asked me to raise both arms and to smile. I tried, but I was only able to lift one arm, while the side of my mouth drooped severely. I heard her say, “Oh, God!” She called 911 and the fire department soon arrived. My mind was completely confused. One of the firefighters calmly asked what had happened. I momentarily regained mental clarity and began explaining the situation to him. But the recovery was short-lived and my mind suddenly became foggy. I heard him say to the others in the room, “He’s going down again.” After we arrived at St. Jude’s Hospital in Fullerton in the ambulance, a CAT scan was taken. Nothing irregular was found, and I was diagnosed with a probable seizure. But by the third day, I had not improved so the doctor ordered an MRI at my wife’s request. It was here they found the tiny stroke—-a blockage of blood flow to the brain—at the base of my skull that had caused so much damage. The next four and a half weeks were spent in the hospital convalescing and rehabbing from the effects of the stroke. I had daily physical therapy, occupational (life skills) therapy and speech therapy. As a result of the therapies, my speech became understandable when I spoke slowly and I learned to dress myself and get ready in the bathroom without using my right arm, but my abilities to walk and balance were still very weak.

Thankfully, my wife spent almost every day and night with me in the hospital while my son, Alex and friend, Doug, were frequent visitors. Aside from them, I would not allow anyone else to visit me. I was too self-conscious about the negative effects of the stroke. When I left the hospital 36 days after entering it, I went home, unsure of what my future held. I wasn’t sure if I would ever teach again and aside from going to therapy three days a week, I really never left the house. The beginning of my emotional and psychological recovery came when my wife and Doug began taking me to Disneyland to watch Alex perform in the parade. It was frightening for me to go out in public. I was acutely aware of the sagging right side of my face and my wheelchair, but no one seemed to care. When I did run into acquaintances there, we actually had some pretty nice conversations. We began going to the movies. I was still self-conscious, but it got easier with every trip. By late October of 2012, I began taking driving lessons twice a week to learn to drive with my left foot. We had my car customized to accommodate this, and by December I was at the Norco DMV taking my driving test. I passed! I was well on my way to returning to BOHS and Brea Junior High as the choir teacher. Something magical had happened prior that had given me the courage to go back to school and return to my students, something completely unexpected. It was the middle of October and I hadn’t been back to school since attending part of a Summer Magic concert in July while I was still confined to a wheelchair. I had gone inside the theatre after the show had started and left before it ended to avoid talking to anyone. I tried a

similar strategy for Fall Magic but neglected to leave soon enough. Before I got to the car parked near the door leading to the Choir Room, I found myself surrounded by at least 100 excited choir kids…my kids! I was overwhelmed by this spontaneous and genuine show of caring. I spent the next hour speaking individually with each child. It was truly amazing to see them patiently waiting their turn to talk to me. That single, magical event suddenly gave me a compelling reason to return to school. I felt loved and it became my duty to return to my kids as soon as possible. By early February of 2013, I returned to my role as Choir Director at both BOHS and Brea Junior High. I will not tell you that returning to school was easy then, or that it is completely easy now, but it’s getting easier all the time. I limp now, but the good news is that I can walk unassisted. My right arm doesn’t function well, but it does have movement in it, and it is getting stronger with every biweekly visit to the gym. The muscles in the right side of my face are not completely back, but I am thankful that I can speak clearly and smile—two of the most important components of being a teacher. None of this recovery would have been possible without the loving and caring of my immediate family and my close friends. Half the battle now is convincing people not to feel sorry for me and my handicaps. The way I see it, I can do everything that was important to me before the stroke by adapting to what I have to work with. The bottom line is I needed a good challenge in my life anyway. In many ways, dealing with the fallout caused by this stroke has made me a better and more understanding teacher and that, after all, is what I am.

February 2015 THE WILDCAT 15

HEADING TOWARDS A BETTER FUTURE

AS A CHILD, MARIA BARCELONA, SPANISH TEACHER,

watched her father working on the agricultural fields of the San Joaquin Valley for hours and observed her mother cooking, cleaning, fixing the car, and raising her and her seven siblings. Inspired by her hard working parents, Barcelona strived to study diligently to escape the poverty of her hometown. Many Mexicans around the San Joaquin Valley were immigrants, by ASTYR KO and STACY UHM // Feature Co-Editors and were often looked down upon. According to Barcelona, even photo courtesy of MARIA BARCELONA her school teachers demonstrated bigotry towards her and her photo by RACHEL LIN // Photo Editor Mexican-American classmates. For example, her P.E. teacher made Maria Barcelona, Spanish teacher, grew up his Latino students run the entire P.E. period, even when some in an agricultural town with hard-working students collapsed from exhaustion. But with her hard-working parents as motivation, Barcelona parents. Inspired to work diligently by her determinedly went to school. Her parent’s hard-working natures mom, despite the hardships of immigration, influenced her to do well in school and she desired to make her father proud. Barcelona became a successful teacher. Barcelona’s father, Isidro Nuñez, left his rural home in Mexico and set out for the San Joaquin Valley at the age of 20 to have a “better” life for himself and his future family. Due to Barcelona’s father’s inability to speak English and his lack of education, he struggled to find a job. However, he was fortunate to have a year-long job as an irrigator for farms, unlike other immigrant farmers whose jobs were mostly seasonal. Despite the somewhat steady job, the family still experienced financial struggles as there were eight children to feed. However, Barcelona’s mother, Reginalda Nuñez, balanced raising her children, cooking, cleaning the house, budgeting strictly, and hand-fixing anything that was broken. Barcelona’s mother was her biggest inspiration because “there was nothing she couldn’t do.” But although Barcelona respected her mother’s handy abilities, she sought an academic education. Because Barcelona’s community did not prioritize the education of Barcelona teaches Spanish 2 and 3. She broke the status quo of her hometown by choosing women, her parents were not entirely to go to college rather than marrying a man after high school. Barcelona got her teaching supportive of her active involvement credentials after college as she had always loved to help others. She involves her passion for singing by teaching students songs about grammar. in school. This led Barcelona to work

Immigrantion by the Numbers sources: migrationpolicy.org, ppic.org

The US consists of a diverse array of immigrants, including Hispanics, who total 28% of all US immigrants. 16 THE WILDCAT February 2015

Only 7% of immigrants from Latin America have college degrees Los Angeles has the largest number of Mexican immigrants in the US 37% of Mexican immigrants settle in California

even harder in order to prove that the common pathway to success in her culture—finding a job out of high school or a man to marry—was not the only way to success. She went against the social norms, graduated high school as a valedictorian, and attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, for college. “This was my ticket out. There’s no one to put me down because I am a woman. There was no one to put me down because I have less than others,” Barcelona said. “I felt that if I got my education, I got a new start for who I was going to be. It was going to be on me to have something better for myself and my future family.” Along with her determination to succeed in academics, Barcelona Top: Barcelona takes a photo with her parents, Isrido Nunez, and Reginalda Nunez, on her graduation day. In was always driven by her honor of her dad, Barcelona studied hard to become faith in God. According to Valedictorian, and made a speech for Tranquility High Barcelona, it was through class of ‘92. God that she was able to stay positive through all the struggles. In college, she joined a Christian club where she received encouragement from other members. “Different things will come in life whether it’s a misfortune or fortune. Whatever it is, it’s an opportunity to grow and trust,” Barcelona said. She believes God saved her when she suddenly had a seizure when she was a toddler. The two ambulances that had Maria Barcelona taken her to the hospital broke down, so Spanish Teacher a helicopter was sent. After an hour of

“

This was my ticket out. There’s no one to put me down because I am a woman. There was no one to put me down because I have less than others.”

seizing, the doctors told her mother that she would die soon, but if she were to survive, all senses and ability to walk would be lost. In hopes of saving her daughter, Barcelona’s mother prayed for days as Barcelona slowly recovered all senses, which was a “miracle.” God continues to shape her life daily. Barcelona believes it is through “God’s grace” that she is blessed with education and a happy life. “It’s surprising to see how willing people are to help. Being in a community that can encourage you and lift you up makes a difference. You need to look for it and ask. You can’t assume that people know what you’re going through. I learned that at an early age,” Barcelona said. Along with other club members, Barcelona attended a church while at UCSB where she became a singer for a band that traveled to lead worship. Later, Barcelona aspired to become a teacher as she always enjoyed helping others. Others also told her that she was good at teaching, so she thought that teaching would be the perfect job for her. Although she started as a computer teacher, the desire to teach Spanish was in her heart. She always wanted to share her first language. Once the job for a Spanish teacher opened, Barcelona excitedly applied. “I’ve always felt that I had a purpose. I’m very thankful that God gave me the opportunity to be with my family and to grow and be here and to shine at this school however I can,” Barcelona said. “Whether it’s through joy or a smile, or by helping someone out. I never want to stop, for as long as I can.” Although Barcelona went through personal challenges and financial obstacles as a child of immigrant parents, she used these difficulties to motivate herself to succeed and “enjoys” what she does today: singing with her students, teaching Spanish, and sharing her culture.

16% 20%

of all immigrants worldwide move to the US

Top 10 countries with permanent immigrations to the US (illustrated in blue)

of 58.8 million college-educated persons are immigrants.

February 2015 THE WILDCAT 17

T TRENDS Looking back into

2014 Fashion

Random

BIRKENSTOCKS

ARIANA GRANDE

Events

EBOLA

NIKE ROSHE RUNS

SAN FRANCISO GIANTS WIN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

FLAPPY BIRD

People

JOGGERS

GRUNGE

CHRIS PRATT LUPITA NYONG’O

MILEY CYRUS

SAM SMITH

TAYLOR SWIFT

LEBRON JAMES BACK TO CLEVELAND

ROBIN WILLIAMS

FERGUSON illustrations by BETTY LEE & JESSICA YIM

Fast Forward to 2015 •

• • • • •

Movies & Books

BIG HERO 6

18 THE WILDCAT February 2015

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

INTERSTELLAR

• • • •

Spring/Summer Fashion: Gingham prints, bohemian hippy delux, and tailored culottes Lady Gaga ARTPOP Tour Samsung S6 iPhone 7 Super Bowl XLIX: Feb. 1 Avengers: Age of Ultron: May 1 Jurassic World: June 12 Inside Out: June 19 Minions: July 10 Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens: Dec. 18

SPORTS

S

BOYS’ VARSITY X-COUNTRY WINS FIRST STATE TITLE by MATTHEW MOON // Sports Co-Editor

The cool morning breeze brushed against six runners—hawklike eyes examined their competition, while bodies were posed in a readied stance. As the horn went off, they disappeared, quickly rounding a bend out of sight. Though starting off inconspicuously, the day held many surprises, as boys’ varsity cross country won their first state title in school history. The California State Finals, held yearly in Fresno on Nov. 29, brings together the best teams across California, according to Jeff Sipple, senior and team captain. The team qualified for State for the first time since 2004, when they finished in 11th place. “We’ve had [that goal] forever. Even when I first started coaching 14 years ago, people were talking about it,” Jeremy Mattern, boys’ cross country coach, said. “It’s been a long time in the making, and [now that] we’ve won, its just an amazing sense of gratification and joy. I’m really happy for those guys that did it. They’ve put in a ton of work and I couldn’t be more proud of them.” The race was won by Austin Tamagno, junior, with a time of 15:09. Austin Shellito, senior, followed in sixth place with a time of 15:29; Gio Orellana, sophomore, placed 13th with a time of 15:36; and

photo courtesy of JEFF SIPPLE

STATE CHAMPS: Boys’ varsity cross country basks in their success in placing 20th at the Nike Cross Nationals.

“It’s been a long time in the making, and [now that] we’ve won, its just an amazing sense of gratification and joy. I’m really happy for those guys that did it. They’ve put in a ton of work and I couldn’t be more proud of them.” - Jeremy Mattern, boys’ cross country coach Angel Escobar, senior, placed 21st with a time of 15:49, according to OCVarsity.com. “It was a big moment for [us],” Sipple said. “The [program] has had that goal for a long time now, so for us to achieve it, it feels like you’re part of something special, and that’s something that people can’t take a w a y from you. It’s huge.”

However, winning the state title wasn’t the only victory the team claimed that day—the team also came in second overall. As result, the team qualified for the Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) for the first time in school history. Held in Portland, Ore., the NXN serves as the unofficial national competition for high school level cross country, according to ktva.com. This year’s nationals took place on Dec. 6. The team’s expenses for the trip were entirely covered by Nike, according to Mattern. While at the event, Mattern said that the team was treated like “rockstars,” and had the opportunity to meet with famous Olympian runners. “We got to meet Mo Farah, an Olympic

dyecalstate.com

gold medalist, Galen Rupp, an Olympic silver medalist, and other professional runners. It was just an inspiration to meet them all,” Escobar, senior, said. “We were lucky enough for them to give us advice of how we should treat big races and how we should handle stress and stuff like that. It was a good experience that all of us could learn from going forward.” The race took place at the Glendoveer Golf Course, which was extremely muddy due to heavy rains, according to Escobar. Racing without Tamagno, who was preparing for the Foot Locker Nationals, Orellana “filled” in as lead, followed by Chris DeDio, Sipple, Escobar, and James Lindstrom, seniors. The team placed 20th overall out of 22 high schools from across the country. Making it to the NXN was an accomplishment in itself for the team. “When you’re twentieth in the nation, with over 26,000 high schools in the country, we’ll gladly take [the position]. Though we would have been in the top ten had Austin been there, twentieth or tenth--it’s not a huge difference,” Mattern said. Tamagno, meanwhile, was preparing for the Foot Locker Nationals, a competition that brings together 40 of the best male and female runners in the nation. Racing at Balboa Park in San Diego, Tamagno achieved fifth place with a time of 15:15. Tamagno is expected to race with the team at Portland next year, hopefully racing to help achieve the “tenth place” in the race that the team is aiming for. “Out of all the high schools in the nation, our team was skilled enough to place 20th. I think that’s a testament to the quality of the team as a whole, and I’m sure that next year will prove to be another successful year for cross country,” Sipple said.

February 2015 THE WILDCAT 19

LADYCats CONTINUE Season: League Title with Reach

by SAMANTHA MAGPANTAY // Sports Co-Editor and JACOB NAM // Staff Writer

W

ith an undefeated three win streak in league, the Ladycats continued to fulfill expectations by taking out longtime rival El Dorado 59-48 on Jan. 20. The seniors played a major role, scoring more than half the points. Shay Jarrett, senior and varsity co-captain, led all scorers with a team high of 20 points with 16 of her points being scored in the first half of the game, according to OCvarsity. com. Sierra Bononi, senior and varsity co-captain, was the third leading scorer with a season high of 12 points. Both Reili Richardson, junior and varsity co-captain, and Tyiona Watkins, freshman, delivered as usual with 15 and 10 points, respectively. This victory set their Crestview League record to 3-0. The previous games against Villa Park and Esperanza on Jan. 16 and

Jan. 13 resulted in their first two league victories, at 73-28 and 61-28 respectively. To ready themselves for league, the Ladycats also participated in national tournaments such as the West Coast Jamboree 2014 and the Tournament of Champions,. In the San Francisco Bay Area’s East Bay, the 15th Annual West Coast Jamboree 2014 took place on Dec. 27 and Dec. 29-30. On the first two days of the Jamboree, the Ladycats lost both games against Reno’s Bishop Manogue and Fairfield’s Vanden, 4547 and 68-80 respectively. “Our team is really young so I just felt like everyone was full of exhaustion. We were not mentally ready for the games, so it was really defeating to get that [loss], but you learn more from failure than you do from victories,” Bononi said. Learning from their losses, the

Ladycats defeated Santa Rosa’s Cardinal Newman on the third day 52-42 for their first 7th place finish this season. The Jamboree occurred only two days after the Ladycats brought home the John Anderson Division Championship from the Nike Tournament of Champions (TOC) in Phoenix, Ariz which took place on Dec. 18-19 and Dec. 22. At the tournament, the Ladycats won against Windward, a team that Jeff Sink, head coach, considers a tough rival, in the championship

BY THE NUMBERS

28 6 33-4

game of TOC. “The fourth game was a tough game because they are ranked really high, but we beat them. It was good to play in a big atmosphere where there are a lot of people,” Richardson said. As the Ladycats increase their win percentage and face tough opponents, they play with goals “to win league and make a real run at CIF,” according to Sink. The results of all games since Jan. 23 were not available at time of press.

source: maxpreps.com

The Ladycats are ranked 28th in the nation and 13th in the state, according to maxpreps.com

An unprecedented six freshmen make up the 13-member varsity roster Combined records of the Ladycats and league rival Foothill (as of Jan. 23)

BOys’ Basketball Aims FOr League TItle despite inexperiencE by EMIKO KANEOKA // Managing Editor and KHURRUM ELAHI // Staff Writer

F

ollowing

a

record-

breaking season that ended at the CIF Southern Section Championships at the Honda Center, boys’ varsity basketball is hoping for an equally successful season, despite their current 3-13 overall record as of Jan. 21, and loss of the majority of their senior leadership. “So far, we’ve been through a rough start, but throughout practices and games, we’ve been improving more and getting better,” Mark DeLeon, senior and point guard, said. Despite their rocky start with the loss of their first league game against El Dorado on Jan. 20, the team is remaining focused, celebrating the small victories. According to DeLeon, a highlight of the season so far was the team’s performance against Foothill of Henderson, Nev. on Dec. 29 at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic in Palm Springs. “Even though we lost 53-73, 20 THE WILDCAT February 2015

MICHAEL CHO // the wildcat

SWOOSH: Trey Marsh makes a shot at the basketball game against Villa Park on Jan. 16. we competed and fought against them. Our coach was happy that we were competing. They’re bigger and stronger than us, but we didn’t give

up,” DeLeon said. While the team refocuses for the league games ahead, their priority remains set on their usual goals to “win league, win CIF, and win state,” Wasson said. In order to reach their goals, the team is working on building skill and experience. And although they have only four senior varsity returners, the newcomers “have a lot of potential,” according to Collin Greenwood, senior and varsity co-captain and forward. Going into league games, the Wildcats will continue to gain valuable experience. With each new win, the team reflects on the past experience that allowed them to find success in the present. “Canyon will always be a big rival for us. We beat them for the first time last year in the 12 years we been in the Century League,” Hilliard said. The result of their game against Canyon on Jan. 23 was not available

at the time of press. In terms of their team dynamic, the seniors are leading the way to make “everyone feel like a part of the team,” according to Deleon. With the mix of returning varsity seniors and newcomers, the team will be working on their bond as the season progresses. As the seniors enter their final year of high school basketball, they hope to “make it to CIF again,” to end on a high note. After several years on varsity, Wasson feels that he has “become more mature in basketball” and “understands the game a lot more.” Hilliard, a big believer in the value of experience, has also guided many of the seniors to their current success within just his first year of coaching the varsity team. Deleon and his teammates are thankful for Hilliard’s “dedication” and “focus” in coaching the team.

Diaz returns to ‘Cats after Academy stint by MATTHEW MOON and SAMANTHA MAGPANTAY // Sports Co-Editors

Idle dreams of NASCAR racing were the only signs of an interest in sports for the young Alexis Diaz, senior. Then, at the age of eight, Diaz began playing soccer and now the sport is something he can’t imagine life without. Playing on his club team, Cal South, for the majority of his childhood, Diaz quickly grew in skill until he was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime--to join an academy soccer team after being scouted at a Fullerton Rangers soccer game. The day started out normal enough, beginning with some quick warm ups and the usual pre-game ritual of watching Cristiano Ronaldo videos on his phone. Unbeknownst to Diaz, there was someone special sitting in the audience, carefully observing him play. “I look back on it and I just remember how happy I was when I found out,” Diaz, said. After watching him play, the Chivas U.S.A. Academy scouter asked Diaz to come to Bell Gardens, Calif. to try out, and Diaz accepted. Though nervous before the tryout, Diaz made the team and was excited for the opportunities that lay ahead. Considered the “trainee team” for the Chivas, the academy team presents opportunities for high school soccer players to “make it in the bigleagues.” Especially skilled players can be drafted after college. But with this success, “bad news” also came hand-in-hand. Academy teams are the level beneath professional, and due to this, they do not allow athletes to play on any other soccer teams, including high school and club teams. “I was so happy that I made the [academy] team,” Diaz explained, “but at the same time, I

MOVING FORWARD

Alexis Diaz, senior and varsity soccer player, is pictured in his club soccer uniform. Diaz’ frequently plays the forward position on his club soccer team as well. APRIL SANTONIL // the wildcat

While on the team, Diaz experienced a taste of the professional soccer life; “The academy was super professional. I got to train with the professional team, Chivas U.S.A. I also got to see how it feels to go in the locker room and hang out with the team and go out and practice with the pros,” Diaz said. “It allowed me to realize that there’s a lot of talent out there; it’s not just here in California, it’s all around the world.” But eventually, Diaz made the decision to leave Chivas Academy after missing his high school team. Now that he is back on the BOHS team, Diaz is “happy to represent his school,” and be a better player. As of Jan. 22, the boys’ varsity soccer team

“I got to train with the professional team, Chivas USA, a couple of times. I got to see how it feels to go in the locker room and hang out with the team and go out and - ALEXIS DIAZ, senior practice with the pros.” knew I couldn’t play for [BOHS] anymore.” Though initially missing his team, Diaz looked forward to the new experience. He was able to join in the middle of the season and traveled across the U.S. with the Chivas U.S.A. Academy team to compete. The highlights of his experience include Florida where he played against the Philadelphia Union, and Washington where he played against the Seattle Sounders.

holds an overall record of 8-5-1, according to ocvarsity.com. “I didn’t really play my hardest on the high school team when I was younger because I just thought club teams were everything. This year, I’d love to play and try my hardest,” Diaz said. His new teammates are positive about his return to the high school soccer team.

“He’s really good, he’s just an inspiration,” Courtland Hawkins, varsity soccer player, said. “He always makes the practices fun and I look forward to working with him.” Because of Diaz’s prodigal ability in soccer, University of California, Los Angeles sent him a letter during his sophomore year, and most recently University of California, Irvine reached out to Diaz. “I just want to be the first person in my family to go to college. I feel great knowing that I’m [setting] a good example for my brother and sister showing that if I can [go to college], so can they,” Diaz said. “After college, I hope to get drafted [into the pros].” When asked about his motivation, Diaz attributes it all to his parents and his coach. “My parents have never given up on me, even on my worst days. They always tell me ‘to give it a 100%, even when no one’s looking,’ and I’m just so thankful for them. My coach, Kenneth Castellanos, has been with me since I was 10 years old. He’s always helped me improve and tells me what I need to work on. I’d never be this far without him.” Diaz’s supportive parents always maintained their belief in their son, and anticipate the next chapter of his life with joy and excitement. “I always knew he had it in him to go [far],” Agueda Diaz, Diaz’s mother, said. “He would always work hard at practices and would sometimes practice by himself sometimes to get it all in. I can’t wait [to see what he does next].” February 2015 THE WILDCAT 21

BOYS’ VARSITY WRESTLING PLACES IN TOP 5 in VEGas By SAMANTHA MAGPANTAY and MATTHEW MOON // Sports Co-Editors

L

as Vegas, known for its neon casinos and towering hotels, may not seem like an ideal setting for the first wrestling tournament of the new year, but the atmosphere was perfect for boys’ varsity wrestling. At the Centennial High School Tournament, which took place from Jan. 9 to Jan. 10 in Las Vegas, the team was able to place four wrestlers in the top five of their weight classes in the individuals’ portion of the competition. Jorge Castro, senior, Braden Baker, sophomore, and Brian Bilotta, junior, placed fourth in each of their weight classes, while Ryan Gutierrez, junior, rounded out all of their performances by placing first in his weight class. At a previous tournament Ed Spring, held at BOHS on Dec. 19 to Dec. 20, five wrestlers— Ryan Gutierrez, Brian Bilotta, juniors, and Jacob Santuci, Justice Huynh, and James Driscoll, seniors —achieved positions in the top eight. Gutierrez placed second, followed by Driscoll, third, Huynh, fourth, Bilotta, fifth, and Santuci, eighth. The team’s success can be attributed to their hard work and love for the sport as “their passion for the sport is a definite strength,” according to Feargus McTeggart, head wrestling coach. Although the team strives to be their best, only 14 of the 30 athletes, one in each weight class, can participate in league and CIF tournaments. “Off the mat, we’re like brothers. On the mat, we want [a spot] for ourselves, not so to be selfish, but we want to be the ones to win the CIF title,” Justice Huynh, varsity team co-captain, said. Though most of the success can be credited to the athletes, McTeggart has over 20 years of experience coaching the team and has been wrestling “on the mat” for over 40 years. Also being recognized as Orange County Coach of the Year in 1999, McTeggart is described by his fellow coaches as “the real deal.” Brian Schlueter, co-head wrestling coach, has been coaching the team for 12 years and has been wrestling since he was four. With the combination of the athletes’ raw talent and preparation, as well the coaches’ valuable experience, there are high expectations for this season. “They have a good chance of winning CIF, in fact, I plan on them winning,” McTeggart said. 22 THE WILDCAT February 2015

Dashing for Drinks

Staff writer and girls’ track and field athlete Angelica Doan tested out four different sports drinks to find out which one reigned supreme in both taste and overall satisfaction. compiled by ANGELICA DOAN // Staff Writer

PROPEL

4th

Cost: $1.59 Flavor: Grape Taste: The drink was extremely sugary, as if someone decided to dump bags of sugar into the drink. In fact, the sweetness was so overwhelming that it made me want to throw the drink away. Though the flavor claims to be “grape”, it tasted more like candy. The energy received seemed purely based on sugar and felt really unhealthy.

POWERADE

Cost: $1.79 Flavor: Fruit Punch Taste: Powerade has a mediocre taste, was overly sweet and tasted like a sugary, fruity mess. Even though it does replenish my energy, it seems to be coming from the sugar rush, rather than electrolytes or carbohydrates. The energy received does not feel like it will stay long and felt extremely sugar based.

3rd

VITAMIN WATER

2nd

Cost: $1.29 Flavor: Lemonade Taste: Although advertised as a sports drink, that might be contrary to what it actually does and tastes like. The drink tastes just like flavored water, yet doesn’t even manage to quench my thirst like how regular water would. The flavor is flat, weak, and does little to enhance the drink, failing to give me any type of rejuvenation after a workout.

GATORADE

Cost: $1.99 Flavor: Fruit Punch Taste: The drink has an nice taste but did not “stick out” compared to others, flavor wise. However, the drink was very refreshing to drink after a long run and rejuvenated me with plenty of energy. It is one of the more effective energizing products on the market.

1st

BUT: Despite the “workout-must” image of sports drinks,

the majority of them contain a large amount of sugar and sodium, which is unhealthy, according to the University of Minnesota. Some may even be unhealthier than sodas. According to abc.net.au, it is okay to drink sports drinks once in a while, but not on a daily basis. The best alternative? Water. Even though water doesn’t have all those “fancy” energy-regaining additives, it quenches the thirst without containing large amounts of sugar and sodium, in turn being healthier.

Player Profile

GIRLS’ VARSITY WATER POLO Eliana Chavarria > What motivated you to become a varsity water polo player? As a freshman, I saw the older girls on the team and saw how well they all clicked. The responsibility to become a varsity player is something I’ve been wanting to achieve since I was a freshman. Getting to be on the highest level is something to be proud of, so it’s good to work for it.

Cassandra Chavarria

Twin water polo senior captains, Eliana and Cassandra Chavarria, share their passion for water polo and their posthigh school plans. photo by RACHEL LIN compiled by JACOB NAM // Staff Writer

For this year, I hope that our team can come together and improve our skills like passing, shooting, and swimming and be able to play better because it’s our first year with all these girls on the varsity so we’re hoping to make it to CIF.

My strength would probably be my defense because I’m pretty good at defending a player. But, my weakness would probably be not communicating all the time because sometimes I just watch the game instead of helping everyone.

My favorite season was probably last year because it was a building season for us. I was on the JV team last year and we won a league game or two. That’s the first time we’ve won a league game in a long time.

> What advice do you have for future varsity water polo players? To be on varsity, you have to practice at every practice like it’s a game. This sport takes a lot of time and commitment, so make sure you’re willing to be able to go to all the practices. Most importantly, always do your best and remember to have fun.

> Who do you look up to?

I like going to Disneyland and collecting Disney merchandise like Mickey Mouse ears.

> What are your season goals?

> What is your biggest strength and weakness?

> What was your favorite season?

> What are your hobbies beside water polo?

I was just going to do swim, but then my coach suggested to do water polo too. I didn’t want to play at first because I heard that it was hard and people get hurt, but I was happy that I joined the team.

Our season goals as a team is to improve our communication a lot. We just want to be able to improve our skill level in order to win some league games and hopefully have a chance to make it into CIF.

> What are you looking forward to this year?

I look up to my coach because he has gone really far- he went and also coached for the Olympics. He was a college coach, and he loves this sport so much. It’s an honor to have him, and we don’t take it for granted. We’re lucky because he has such a high skill and it helps us improve.

> How did you first get into water polo?

> What is your favorite part of water polo? > What are your post high school plans? I want to go to a Cal State University. CSU is my goal right now. If the college I go to has a recreational water polo team, then I would join.

I want to go to a four-year university and study there. [If I continued water polo in college] I would probably play at the University of the Redlands.

My favorite part of water polo is having the opportunity to meet all the girls and being able to bond with them. It’s also a fun sport to play even though it can get kind of physically challenging. The coaches also make it fun and encourage us in order to improve.

February 2015 THE WILDCAT 23

FLASHBACK TO THE WILDCAT PAST Blast to the past with a 1954 edition of the Wildcat, published 61 years ago this month. While there are several clear differences between then and now, many traditions are still celebrated.

D

A. Senior Ditch Day has always been a tradition amongst our school’s “senioritis” victims.

E

B. Girls’ League has been active in creating school fun since the 1930s.

C. The “54” Gusher team (aka the yearbook staff ) set up some “monstrosity” of a camera for the student body’s use.

F B

C

D. Formal dances were held in the cafeteria in 1954 but now they are held in majestic venues outside of campus.

E. Back then, live bands like The Continentals from Garden Grove were the usual sources of music for school dances.

G

F. While the average ticket price for dances can range from $10 to $40 for one ticket, they used to cost $1.50 in 1954. And now, it is never a requirement to bring a date.

G. In 1954 there was a total of only 214 students, so a newcomer was an exciting addition. Now there are over 2,000 students enrolled at BOHS.