Vol. 84 No. 2 (2014-2015)

Wildcat brea olinda high school

LEADERS OF THE ‘CATS Captains Shaylissa Jarrett, Sierra Bononi and Reili

Richardson aim to lead freshmen-loaded team to a tenth state championship.

issue

vol. 84

02

november 2014

I INDEX

S STAF F E D

Are you a feminist?

Boycott Sea World?

We know her as Hermione from Harry Potter, but Emma Watson is much more than a witch in a young adult fiction series. Read on to learn about Watson’s campaign, HeforShe, and about how our campus perceives “feminism.”

Kidnapped from their homes.

Placed into captivity. Forced to perform stunts in front of thousands. This is the life of a killer whale at Sea World.

Charlotte Kim voices her take on animal mistreatment and how we can end the suffering.

PGS 6-7

PG 8

Advanced Art student, Alexi Alives, sophomore, depicts a Sea World killer whale attraction without visitors.

Diabetes Awareness

Dreams come true

League champs

29.1 million people in the US have diabetes. These diabetics range in age, shape, ethnicity, and gender. Hear the story of Angela Messner, sophomore, who suffers from type 1 diabetes, and what you can do to prevent type 2.

Have you ever dreamed of being a princess or a knight in shining armor?

Four Wildcats live out their childhood fantasies as actors at the Neverland Co. Read about their fairytale careers as beloved Disney characters.

Boys’ cross country is having a season for the ages with another record breaking performance by Austin Tamagno, junior, and yet another league title. Read about the boys’ performance and their goals for the rest of the season.

PGS 12-14

PGS 16-17

PG 21

M MASTHEAD

What are your Thanksgiving traditions?

THE WILDCAT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR

Jessica Yim and Betty Lee Emiko Kaneoka

NEWS EDITOR

Nicole Nam

OPINION EDITOR

Anabel King

For Romula Magsino, custodian, Thanksgiving FEATURE CO-EDITORS consists of a blend of American and Filipino cuisines. The main dish is ARTS CO-EDITORS not turkey, but a roast pig which can feed more than 30 people, served with PHOTO CO-EDITORS rice. Filipino specialties like pancit, a stir-fried noodle dish, and adobo, PHOTOGRAPHERS pork or chicken cooked in vinegar soy sauce and garlic, are also present at the dinner table.

STAFF WRITERS Desserts such as sago gulaman, a cold tapioca pearl and dried seaweed jelly refreshment, and leche flan, a milk custard, complete the Filipino feast.

ADVISER

Astyr Ko and Stacy Uhm Joy Hsieh and Charlotte Kim

Hannah Dotan, Monica Hiemer, Halie Nam, Deval Patel, Hannah Roark, Brandon Yun Angelica Doan, Khurrum Elahi, Samantha Magpantay, Matthew Moon, Jacob Nam, Jean Park, Celeste Roh, Jessica Tseng, Elizabeth Wheat

Alex Koers

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.

2 THE WILDCAT November 2014

“We find the wish bone at the base of the turkey and get chicken pot pie from Marie Calendar’s.”

Rachel Lin, April Santonil, Michael Cho

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

2

“We start our Black Friday shopping at 4 a.m. the next morning.”

since 1930

the Wildcat

Brea Olinda High School 789 Wildcat Way Brea, CA 92821

bohs.wildcat.newspaper@gmail.com

FACEBOOK:

The BOHS Wildcat Newspaper

AS TEENAGERS, we’ve grown up with technology that instantly connects us to friends and family and significant others.

We were forced to watch the inevitable “Internet Safety” video in fifth grade; we were told to never go on a website without our parent’s permission; and we promised to never share personal information with strangers we met online.

But as we get older we become more dependent on the Internet, whether for breaking news, for research projects, for essays, or simply for listening to music watching videos. And as we get older, we connect with more people via Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and community message boards at our favorite websites. But because these online connections become as habitual and as natural as the connections we have with people whom we share homes and classrooms and athletic fields with, we sometimes forget that what we share on the worldwide web is, in fact, seen worldwide.

In early October, over 100 female celebrities’ private photos were stolen and posted on the Internet. Originally saved on iCloud, hackers were able to breach the Apple network and then leaked the pictures on various social media platforms. The event sparked nationwide criticism--of the hackers, of the celebrities, of the people who chose to view and download the pictures-and reminded us once again that in the world of social media, there is no such thing as privacy on the Internet.

Teens especially should be aware of the limited privacy and boundless accessibility of the Internet, no matter how many claims there are about absolute security. What we post reflects who we are. Are we a provocative poser? A selfie enthusiast? A cat video lover? Even if the account is private, photos are saved and shared and ultimately made accessible to a motivated hacker.

The fact is, we have no real control over who sees our posts. If hackers can access some of the most heavily firewalled “top secret” government sites, then those risque selfies you sent your significant other are easy pickings and could end up one day on your mom’s iPad screen. In order to prevent humiliation or harassment, teenagers need to understand that what is posted on the Internet is there for everyone to see, no matter how private they assume the picture is.

AP EXAMS CHANGE; TEACHERS ADJUST

by JACOB NAM // Staff Writer

ith the beginning of the current school year, changes have been made to the Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum.

Not only did the AP exam fee raise to $91 each, but the AP United States History (APUSH) and the AP Physics exams have also been redesigned.

According to collegeboard.org, the APUSH exam will now consist of 55 multiple choice questions, 4 short answer questions, a documentbased question (DBQ), and a free-response question (FRQ). Moreover, the revised APUSH exam now requires students to “apply historical thinking skills and knowledge of content when they respond to new short-answer, document-based, and essay questions,” according to collegeboard. org. Students will need to deeply understand the course content in order to analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources.

Furthermore, with the reorganization of the AP Physics course into two classes: AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2, the AP test has also been altered.

According to collegeboard.org, AP Physics 1 specifically covers Newtonian mechanics, energy, power, electric circuits, mechanical waves and sounds. AP Physics 2 covers fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, optics, and atomic and nuclear physics.

Instead of including 70 multiple choice questions and six to seven free-response questions, both the AP Physics 1 and 2 will have only 50 multiple choice questions. However, the AP Physics 1 exam will have 5 free-response questions and the AP Physics 2 exam will have only 4 freeresponse questions.

Due to the changes to the AP exams, teachers had to adjust their curriculum accordingly. “[The AP Physics course] is covering less information so it allows [teachers and students] to spend more time on each individual topic than it has in the past. We can do a little bit more in depth and have [the students] practice the concept more,” Phil Henderson, AP Physics teacher, said.

On the other hand, with the revision of the AP tests, many essential information is less emphasized for students compared to that of the past.

“It allows us to emphasize areas of the curriculum that we enjoy personally and add details that [students] will find valuable. I am worried that kids will not learn as many of the essential historical events and concepts that were emphasized in the past,” Jeff Sink, APUSH teacher, said.

w

RACHEL LIN // the wildcat

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Damages in the PAC were caused by a 5.1 earthquake last March.

After recently receiving approval from the state council, construction for the PAC is finally taking place. All construction is expected to be finished at the end of December.

PAC TO OPEN END OF DECEMBER

by JEAN PARK // Staff Writer

fter a 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit Brea in March, the Performing Arts Center (PAC) was severely damaged, resulting in its closure. The PAC is currently under construction, and the repairs will meet the updated building code requirements that have changed since the PAC was built 25 years ago.

According to Bob Parish, Assistant Principal, the repairs consist of not only fixing the roof, the structural beams inside, the rain damage on the stage, and adding handicap access work in the parking lot, but also adding new concrete to the parking lot.

“Hopefully, we will be done with all the repairs by the end of December,” Parish said.

With the closure of the PAC, students of the Performing Arts Department have been forced to find alternative areas to practice and perform.

Instead of regularly rehearsing on the PAC stage, show choir rehearses in the choir and dance rooms and performs at Brea Junior High.

Drama and dance production shows will be held at Esperanza High School and El Dorado High School respectively. But, these venues do not come without a steep cost.

“It is over $1,000 to rent another school’s theater in order to do a show. This is money that the drama students had to fundraise so that they could actually do a show,” Kim Ofcacek, Drama Production teacher, said.

Veteran performers, such as Taulima Nua, senior and choir member, are slowly adjusting to the change of concert venues.

According to Joseph Bartell, band director, the annual Hilltop Jazz Festival was canceled last year due to the cost of renting a facility. Band will also

A

forgo their annual winter concert this year, as they are unable to use the PAC. “It’s extremely inconvenient not to have the the PAC. We are unable to have the Evening of the Arts, which is tragic because it’s my senior year,” Samantha Ko, senior and band member, said.

While color guard was also affected by the closure of the PAC, the members found creative ways to make up for the lack of a theater.

“Our color guard team has decided to organize our own Winter Performance for family and friends since we can’t perform in the PAC this year,” Michelle Kim, junior and color guard captain, said.

According to Miss Leonardo, Performing Arts Department Chair and dance teacher, the first dance concert was originally planned for December, but was rescheduled to November due to the PAC repairs. The annual Evening of the Arts will also be affected by the closure of the PAC. “[The Performing Arts Department] is also going to change what we do as a collaborative department. We are working on a collaboration day in December in place of Evening of the Arts this year,” Leonardo said.

While the PAC undergoes repairs, the affected Performing Arts Department teachers and students are appreciative of their dedicated supporters, despite the changing show locations. The closure of the PAC has caused the performers on campus to realize the true importance of the theater.

“The PAC is our life,” Dave Willert, choir director, said. “It is more important to us than anything else on this campus. We have been performing at the BJH stage, but it is very small.

All of our [singers] will improve 20 times when going back on [the PAC] stage.”

November 2014 THE WILDCAT 3

LINK CREW HOSTS YOU MATTER WEEK

by NICOLE NAM // News Editor

n order to remind students that they are treasured and important, Link Crew is holding its annual You Matter Week from Dec. 1 to Dec. 5.

According to ineedalighthouse.org, about 20 percent of teenagers will experience depression before they reach adulthood, increasing a teen’s risk for attempting suicide by twelve times.

With untreated depression being one of the main causes of suicide, suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers.

You Matter Week reminds students that they are cared about and are wanted and that no one should take the drastic

i

‘You Matter Week’ fast Facts

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers

Wear your favorite pajamas for Pajama Day

Dec.

Wear your favorite sports team attire for Sports Day

Dec.

Dress up like a cowboy or cowgirl for Western Day

1 2

30% of teens are treated for depression

Each day, there are approximately 12 youth suicides

Dec.

3

Dec.

4

source: psychcentral.com

measure of ending his or her own life.

“I hope that the student body will learn or at least understand that this subject is not taken lightly and that

nobody needs to resort to taking their life. They need to know that they matter,” Alexis Camacho, junior, said.

To further emphasize

Dress up for Jungle Day

1 out of 5 teens will experience depression before reaching adulthood each student’s self-worth, dress up day themes and activities involving all grade levels will happen every day during the week.

Beginning on Monday,

Dec. 1, “Compliment Grams” will be provided

by Link Crew during lunch at the flagpole and around campus for students who wish to write a kind message for others. These compliments will be delivered throughout the week. Also, students will be able to write a pledge stating that they matter in chalk at the quad near the flagpole.

Similar to Red Ribbon Week, all of the students’ names will be written on a paw that will be displayed on campus.

“I hope the student body gets several things out of You Matter Week. Most importantly, I hope they realize just how special and unique each and every one of us is,” Kara Dietz, Link Crew advisor, said.

AMERICAN RED CROSS HOLDS BLOOD DRIVE ON NOV.20

by JEAN PARK // Staff Writer

Someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds. Therefore, more than 41,000 blood donations are needed every day, according to redcrossblood. org, The biannual Red Cross blood drive will be hosted at the auxiliary gym on November 20. Sign up with forms are available in the activities office with appointment times ranging between 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“There’s a huge need for blood in Southern California.

Last summer, we had an alltime low for blood donations, but ton of people still needed blood. It’s a scary situation to need blood [and not have it available], you should know that when you need

FAST FACTS ABOUT DONATING BLOOD About 32,000 pints of blood are used daily in U.S. Someone needs blood every three seconds One pint of blood can save about three lives

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Be in good general health Be at least 16 years old Weigh at least 110 pounds source: redcrossblood.org

blood there’s enough,” Chloe Adler, junior, said.

According to Pam Valenti, Assistant Principal, the blood drive will be conducted by certified professionals from Red Cross who will collect around 100 pints of blood

4 THE WILDCAT November 2014

from an estimated 100 students who donate. Each pint obtained can save up to three lives.

Redcrossblood.org states that in order to donate blood, eligibility requirements must be met. Donors must be in a healthy state, be at least 16 years of age with parental

consent, and weigh at least 110 pounds. According to Valenti, students should be honest about their height and weight requirements because if they lie and donate blood, their bodies might not be able to handle the blood loss.

Donating blood consists of a simple fourstep process: registration; a short physical to check the temperature, pulse, blood pressure and hemoglobin level present in a sample of blood; the donation of blood; and refreshments. According to redcrossblood.org, donors should make sure to drink at least four glasses of water and eat healthy, iron-rich meals after donating blood.

Although there are occasional cases of fainting

every year, many different factors contribute to whether a donor will faint. However, if students are well hydrated and take good care of themselves, fainting can be avoided.

After years of overseeing the blood drive, Valenti noted, “It’s like the power of suggestion. The first [fainter] triggers a chain reaction.

One person goes, and maybe two more faint.”

In order to deter the unwanted side effects such as fainting and dizziness, donors should get a good night’s sleep the evening prior to the donation, maintain a healthy iron level, and drink an extra 16 ounces of water before the donation, according to the Red Cross.

OPINION

O

th e s n ap p e n i n g

200,000

nude photos

were taken,

stolen, downloaded, manipulated, hijacked, abused,

uploaded, shared, for anyone to see, for e ve ry one to ta k e .

In Snapchat we trust Provocative photos are no stranger to the average social media user. The seductive gestures, the enticing looks, the suggestive text captioned on the photo--it’s an element teens would never acknowledge in front of their parents but of which one in five teens have explored, according to usatoday.com. The latest catalyst? Snapchat, a social networking app that allows users to send photos and deletes it once it has been opened by the recipient after a certain time.

In early October, over 200,000 private photos taken on Snapchat were stolen by anonymous hackers and uploaded on the Internet. Users were outraged at this invasion of privacy and immediately blasted the photo sharing social media app for letting such an event take place. But their anger, criticism, and “hate-tweets” are misdirected. The fault of the “Snappening,” as the release of the photos came to be called on the Internet, lies not in the photo messaging application itself, but in us, the users of Snapchat.

Like most smartphone apps, Snapchat relies on third-party apps to support the features of the app (destroying a sent picture, alerting a saved photo, adding time and temperature on the snap), according to their blog. These third-party apps are not created by the original company but have access to Snapchat’s database, thus enabling them to manipulate any features based on user data.

During the Snappening several third-party apps were hacked, and the culprit was free to seize Snapchat user photos and share them with the world.

But what do you expect from an app that claims to ensure privacy to all yet has been hacked and compromised several times since its launch?

On December 27, 2013, Snapchat released new features to the app but were soon hacked by anonymous perpetrators, according to techcrunch. com. On December 31st, just a few days later, 4.6 billion usernames and phone numbers were stolen from Snapchat and posted on a website called snapchatdb.info, according to time.com. And in October this year, 200,000

by ANABEL KING // Opinion Editor

photos were taken from Snapchat and released online.

Many people condemned the app for being untrustworthy and ignorant, but can we really blame them for being something we knew from the beginning?

In a 2014 Conference Program for Financial Cryptography, a study revealed that 79.4 percent of the surveyed people who regularly use Snapchat are aware of the app’s unreliability but continue to use the app anyway.

This “Snappening” serves as a reminder that too often we place our trust in things that give us every reason not to do so. We trust the unreliable. We ignore its little faults here and there and convince ourselves that in those moments bliss is possible, perfection is attainable. And we pour our blinded trust onto this untrustworthy thing and expect it to fulfill a promise it has never kept before. And then we are hurt, angered, infuriated when the unreliable once again proves its name that it is, in its purest form, unreliable. In these moments, we are the victim, but we are also the villain.

From the moment we create an account, we know that Snapchat isn’t just made up of Snapchat (all the screenshot alarms, photo timers, replay options have to be funded by someone). And we know that third-party apps are unstable and we know that Snapchat has had privacy issues before and we know this and we know that and we continue to use the app anyway because, well, the app description claims that privacy is their priority so they can’t possibly let an invasion of privacy happen again. After three times. In one year.

Snapchat users, and social media users in general, should know that nothing on the Internet is ever really private or ever really deleted. And when using an app that contains third-party apps, the user should expect undependability and inconsistency. In order to prevent social media hackings from becoming a personal affront, the user should consider the security of their photo, private or not, before sending it through the app who sends it through the third-party apps who sends it to the recipient.

November 2014 THE WILDCAT 5

I

“

Emma Watson promotes her gender-equality organization, HeforShe, at the United Nations

The definition of equality

6 THE WILDCAT November 2014

am a feminist.”

Leslie Leaming, history teacher, encourages her students, both male and female, to freely and comfortably voice their support of women’s rights in her classroom each year. While the girls are more apt to confess their identity as feminists, the boys often feel uneasy while expressing their pro-women beliefs.

Why is it that boys and men are often too uncomfortable to express their support of women? Does it compromise their own manhood? Perhaps these men have fallen victims to the ever-popular view of feminists as “too strong, too aggressive, isolating, anti-men and, unattractive,” as stated

by Emma Watson, actress. Or do they view the women’s rights movement as a battle to be fought and won solely by women? This general understanding that “feminism”

by EMIKO KANEOKA // Managing Editor illustration by BETTY LEE

is simply a feminine issue is entirely irrational, as the denial of women’s equality is a crime against gender equality itself.

“The more I have spoken about feminism the more I have realized that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with manhating,” Watson said in her speech to the UN on Sept. 20. “If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop.”

Our generation knows Watson as “Hermione” from J.K. Rowling’s internationally famous “Harry Potter” series. However, future generations may recognize Watson not just as Harry and Ron’s sassy witch friend, but instead as an activist for gender equality.

Following her appointment as United Nations (UN) Women Goodwill Ambassador, Watson promoted her pro-gender equality organization, HeforShe, in her speech to the UN. While some may describe Watson’s agenda as “feminist,” HeforShe strives to eliminate this one-sided fight for equality by “[engaging] men and boys as advocates and agents of change for the achievement of gender equality and women’s rights,” according to the organization’s website.

Feminism, by definition, is “the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.” Still, the word “feminism,” marred by its recently acquired negative connotation, scares away many potential supporters—especially of the male variety. Although the activism of women is essential to their own advancement, the lack of support from the opposite sex will ultimately hinder gender equality as a whole.

Discrimination towards women is evident in the US political and corporate worlds, as “less than 20 percent of our elected representatives are women,” “less than 5 percent of the Fortune 500 CEOs are women,” and “less than 17 percent of board members in the U.S. are women,” according to “The Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation Pushes Back from the Brink” via the OC Register.

On our campus, clubs such as Girl Up and Lady IT are committed to empowering the women of the world with equal opportunities in education and information technology, respectively. Similar to the lack of women represented in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers (women comprise less than 24% of the STEM workforce, according to whitehouse.gov), few women take on jobs in Information Technology (IT).

“The stereotype is that girls aren’t interested in math or science and that they aren’t as good in those subjects as boys are. Many people think computer

See page 12

Why are you a feminist? (top row, left to right) Kristin Camacho, Jacob Cain, Evan Lockett, Gil Rotblum; (second row, left to right) Leslie Leaming, Jenny Shin, Josiah Madrigal, Susan Luce; (third row, left to right) Amber O’Barr, Nataly Raskin, Lacey Currey, Chloe Adler; (last row, left to right) Josh Kim, Amber Tovar, Michael Flores, Lindsey Lystad

November 2014 THE WILDCAT 7

Captured from his natural habitat at birth, performing show after show, and subjected to injection after injection, Tilikum, SeaWorld San Diego’s most popular marine animal, was in a floating hell.

Gabriela Cowperthwaite, director of the eye-opening 2013 documentary “Blackfish”, followed Tilikum’s psychological and physical abuse at SeaWorld after the orca killed his former trainer, Dawn Branchea.

As scenes of bloody orcas and gory deaths, tortured whales and cries for help, flood the screen with horror, the true nature of this beloved theme park unravels as a silent monster, tormenting the great creatures of the sea while collecting entrance fees and donations from our pockets.

In response to this film, SeaWorld mentioned to CNN that the director failed to acknowledge SeaWorld’s commitment to the care and welfare of its animals, as demonstrated by the recent improvement to its killer whale facilities. However, their “facilities,” their homes, provide no shade, little water depth, and cracked fixtures for these sensitive creatures, who are regularly exposed to human contact, especially provocation.

The only natural environment for a killer whale to thrive healthily and peacefully is the ocean.

Not only do these 22,000-pound, 27-foot whales live in this “bathtub” every day, but they are isolated from each other due to capacity requirements. With no social contact or exercise, these killer whales float listlessly around with nothing to do. Imagine living in a concrete basin for the rest of your life with no human contact. There is no family, but the traumatizing memory of your kidnap. There is no happiness, but the depression of performing for the same people who took you away from your parents for entertainment.

Wouldn’t you lash out, too?

SeaWorld is a business, and we are the customers. We pay to see live shows, thrill rides, and to interact with sea creatures, and in doing so, we fund the torturing that takes place behind the scenes of SeaWorld. We support the park’s cruel treatment and unhealthy environments for its orcas whether we know it or not.

For a marine amusement park that claims to 8 THE WILDCAT November 2014

FIT TO KILL SeaWorld’s inhumane practice of capturing wild orca whales and abusing them in captivity must stop

by CHARLOTTE KIM // Arts Editor and ANABEL KING // Opinion Editor illustration by KALINAH TALLASE

provide maximum safety and nurturing for its creatures, the organization seems to focus more on its “amusement” aspects rather than its “marine” inhabitants, or rather, “performers.”

Marine researcher Dr. Terry Newby studied the behavior of killer whales in Washington, and observed in horror as SeaWorld “collectors” ripped baby whales from their families.

According to his findings, the parents trailed after the ship that carried off their babies, but were deterred by the shouts of strange men with nets and diving suits.

The babies were then dragged on to the heated ship deck and shoved into cramped crates.

Eventually, more than half of the offspring die, either from dehydration during the ride home or from their imminent death sentence once brought to SeaWorld. And yet we pay them.

Whale capturer Don Goldsberry recounted his experience working for SeaWorld and describes the gruesome process of obtaining a wild whale. Baby orcas must be separated from their pods “swiftly” and “quietly.”

Those that put up a fight or get tangled in the nets? Drown them. Swimming to the orcas tied in the nets, divers slice a deep gash down the middle of their stomachs. They then place heavy rocks in the bloody folds to weigh the orca down. And to seal their death, they attach metal anchors around their tails and watch as they sink helplessly to the ocean floor. And yet we still give the “amusement” park our money.

The bottom line is that SeaWorld resorts to these cruel, unjust treatments of beautiful creatures for the sake of luring in more visitors and maximizing profits. But to what extent is human entertainment achieved when the psychological and physical health of marine mammals is endangered?

Underneath the shows, underneath the costumes, the acts, and the choreography, SeaWorld cleverly succeeds as a typical entertainment business (doing whatever it takes to amuse the audience), but it comes nowhere close to being a safe, supportive environment for its killer whales. The only way to end these beautiful creatures’ torment and pain is to actively oppose the misdeeds of SeaWorld.

T

eenagers joke about a lot of things—pop culture, hipster trends, the American education system. Humor is our social outlet and a measurement of peer approval. But the boundaries of humor have never been universally defined, and therefore its varying forms of expression range from frivolous topics such as our school bell schedule, our acne problems, and Miley Cyrus, to controversial issues like religious toleration, immigration protocols, and, more recently, ebola.

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a dangerous virus that originated in several unrelated West African outbreaks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC). In August, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the rising severity of these outbreaks a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” As of October, the virus has spread internationally, resulting in 17 diagnosed cases outside of Africa,

we joke. The homeless, the hungry, the diseases that kill and the infections that spread—we joke about the societal issues of our world as if they’re classic punchlines read off of a Popsicle stick.

And too often we forget—or rather, ignore—the weight of such a topic that terrifies people across the globe.

The issues we joke about, the topics we use, the punchlines we give, the reactions we want, often reveal a truth about how seriously we take the said issue.

Either we, as a generation, are ignorant of a civil issue’s extremity or we are unaffected, and therefore uninterested by it’s reality. And never have two words better exemplified the teenage behavior during a serious social crisis—ignorant and uninterested.

Ebola has already taken thousands of lives across West Africa and continues to take more as it spreads across the oceans without any known

EBOLAEXPOSED three of which are from the United States, according to WHO. Through the plethora of controversies involving treatment protocols, vaccine-testing, and even the basis of its transmission, the deadly virus has garnered worldwide attention, and has even become a topic of school hallway conversation.

So popular is the killer that teenagers have begun to use its name in ironic punchlines and casual hyperbole for comedy’s sake.

But just when you think that the youth of today is finally participating in international issues, teenagers are actually treating the lifekilling disease by mocking its existence without understanding its seriousness.

Last week, a classmate sneezed during class, and a nearby student shrieked and sarcastically claimed that she was now infected with ebola. A few days ago, a student-athlete refused to accept water from his teammate, jesting that he didn’t feel like dying from ebola that night. And yesterday, a student joked that she would rather get ebola than complete an assignment for French class.

And that’s the problem with our generation— Ebola viruses were first identified after outbreaks in southern Sudan and Zaire in 1976.

The name “Ebola virus” is derived from the Ebola River in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), the location of the 1976 outbreak. source: wikipedia.com

by ANABEL KING // Opinion Editor compiled by ANABEL KING

cure or cause, according to WHO, and yet we joke about it in casual conversations and everyday exchanges. So, even if we are aware and interested in the severity of ebola, why do we treat it like an innovative wisecrack?

Perhaps for many, comedy is the escape from tragedy, humor the savior from horror. We are so used to living in our bubble of bliss that when we are exposed to the evils of the world, we suppress our apperception and resort to an element that has always brought us joy, not anguish. The problem with this “coping method” is that the solemnity of the topical issue is portrayed as whimsical and ridiculous, ultimately defining it as a source of entertainment.

Our generation needs to realize that there are just some things we can’t use for the sake of comedy. Teenagers highlighting a serious matter for a good-hearted laugh benefits neither the joker nor the matter. Most importantly, it degrades the thousands of victims affected, influenced, and killed by the problem at hand every day.

However comforting comedy may be, the line between what is entertaining and what is offensive should not be as blurred as teenagers want it to be. Even though there is no general consensus on the definition of “humor,” determining the appropriateness of serious issues should be common sense. In order for teenagers to grow in a world full of controversies and deal with the criticality of them all, they must first understand the difference between what’s funny and what’s not.

sources: WHO.int, CDC.gov, sciencemag.org, washingtonpost.com, PBS.org, BBC.com, NIH.gov

47% of 301 BOHS students are worried about the introduction of Ebola into the United States

Out of 412 BOHS students

98%

have heard another student joke about ebola

have made a joke about ebola:

22%

believed at some point they would get ebola

have heard of ebola, but do not know what it is

Countries with Widespread Transmission: 1. Liberia 2. Guinea 3. Sierra Leone

4,000 cases have been reported in Liberia as of October

74% 37% Infected Countries with Localized Transmission: 1. United States 2. Spain 3. Nigeria 9 cases have been diagnosed in the U.S. as of November

How is Ebola Transmitted?

Direct contact with: blood/body fluids contaminated objects infected animals

+

=

The CDC declined to recommend close monitoring on flight passengers boarding the same plane with a person who came in close contact with an ebola patient.

November 2014 THE WILDCAT 9

from PAGE 6

Emma Watson science is only about math and science, which isn’t true. We don’t solve complex math calculations in GITA, we solve problems,” Remi Wedin, Lady IT founder and president, said. “Unfortunately, the IT field is similar to football—it’s pretty much a man’s world.”

However, few recognize the injustices of gender inequality that affect men. While women struggle to find their place in the government, corporate, STEM, or IT worlds, men find insecurity in their own homes, where their “role as a parent [is] being valued less by society,” as stated by Watson, and in terms of their emotional well-being, as they conceal their sensitive side for the sake of being “macho.”

create a disheartening sequence of events: men feel it necessary to be “aggressive” controllers, and in turn women fulfill a submissive, inferior position. This accepted stereotype of gender roles can only be eliminated by awareness and acceptance on both fronts. Men must give women a leg up in their social, political, and economical endeavors, while women must support men in their exploration of social roles commonly associated with the archaic view of femininity.

“I want men to take up this mantle,” Watson said. “So their daughters, sisters and mothers can be free from prejudice but also so that their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human too—reclaim those parts of themselves they abandoned and in doing so be a more true and complete version of themselves.”true. We don’t solve complex math calculations in GITA, we solve problems,” Remi Wedin, Lady IT founder and president, said. “Unfortunately, the IT field is similar to football—it’s pretty much a man’s world.”

However, few recognize the injustices of gender inequality that effect men. While women struggle to find their place in the government, corporate, STEM, or IT worlds, men find insecurity in their own homes, where their “role as a parent [is] being valued less by society,” as stated by

“Unfortunately, the IT field is similar to football—it’s pretty much a man’s world.”

“Our history, as a whole, has really separated men and women into certain roles. I think that it is hard for men, mostly because over time they have been perceived as being the ‘bread winners’ and the protectors of their family. And it is difficult for them to take on more feminine-type positions like being nurses, or stay-athome dads,” Leaming said. “That’s unfair also, that we would place this stereotype on men so that when they step outside of that, they are being ridiculed.”

As described in Watson’s speech, the gender equality issues that define the roles of men and women 10 THE WILDCAT November 2014

Watson, and in terms of their emotional wellbeing, as they conceal their sensitive side for the sake of being “macho.”

“Our history, as a whole, has really separated men and women into certain roles.

I think that it is hard for men, mostly because over time they have been perceived as being the ‘bread winners’ and the protectors of their family. And it is difficult for them to take on more feminine-type positions like being nurses, or stayat-home dads,” Leaming said.

“That’s unfair also, that we would place this stereotype on men so that when they step outside of that, t h e y are being ridiculed.”

A s described in

Watson’s speech, the gender equality issues that define the roles of men and women create a disheartening sequence of events: men feel it necessary to be “aggressive” controllers, and in turn women fulfill a submissive, inferior position.

This accepted stereotype of gender roles can only be eliminated by awareness and acceptance on both fronts. Men must give women a leg up in their social, political, and economical endeavors, while women must support men in their exploration of social roles commonly associated with the archaic view of femininity.

“I want men to take up this mantle,” Watson said. “So their daughters, sisters and mothers can be free from prejudice but also so that their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human too—reclaim those parts of themselves they abandoned and in doing so be a more true and complete version of themselves.”

Letter to the Editor Dear Editors-in-Chief,

In response to your article entitled “School Hacks,” I am compelled to write regarding the [article’s] conclusions that teachers are no longer needed as they can be replaced by new technology. As a student, I am angered and upset that the overall argument promoted monotonous machines over human interaction.

Lectures can be transmitted to students via Google Drive and students can record their teachers’ lectures, making it redundant for teachers to keep lecturing period after period, day after day, year after year. With the ever-increasing power of smartphones and computers, virtual teachers can lecture students from projected screens while students listen and absorb the information as their smartphones record the lecture and take pictures of the notes and charts on the screen.

However, a teacher’s curriculum is a far cry from [allowing] technology [to] potentially replace it. The teachers’ watchful eyes could be replaced and their ears [improved] with super-sensitive microphones. A person’s job could easily be done efficiently by a machine, but students would lack exposure to [interaction] between an authority figure and themselves at school or anybody to recommend them to universities. If teachers were to be replaced and simply disappear, the population of students across America would learn in a strict environment as opposed to a comfortable classroom.

Sincerely, Cameron Herbert, sophomore Editor’s Note: The intent of the article was to demonstrate how today’s advancements in technology can enhance and supplement the classroom experience by using direct, already-existing technological tools to make the student’s learning more efficient.

F EATU R E

NOT JUST SERVING TURKEY

F

Bread of Angels

Eating turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, and apple pie is not the only way to celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a time to appreciate life, family, and friends as well as serving others. Here are few local opportunities to give back to the community.

by MATTHEW MOON // Staff Writer illustrations by MATTHEW MOON

Blood Drive

Bread of Angels

DATE: Every Saturday TIME: 7 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

LOCATION: St. Angela Merici Church

DATE: Nov. 20 TIME: all day LOCATION: Auxiliary Gym BOHS will be holding a schoolwide blood drive for November.

The donations will help patients in hospitals. Though some students will cower over a needle, there are patients that have to endure surgeries and tests everyday. To donate, students must reach a certain weight for your height, and must not have low iron. This will be tested on the day of the drive. Students must also be at least age 16. There are forms to fill out to be eligible for the drive, contact ASB for more information. Students who choose to donate through the Alyx method will receive In-n-Out on a later date.

According to the bloodcenter.org, Alyx is a machine that separates the blood’s components. Red blood cells are collected in a blood bag, and the remaining components are returned to the donor.

Bread of Angels is a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide dignity and respect to those that are less fortunate than us by serving meals and providing food. Students that choose to volunteer will be helping homeless or needy citizens that have a hard time finding any meals from day to day. There are 30 volunteer spots available and latecomers will be turned away unless there are still spots open.

Clash of Cans

DATE: Nov. 1 - Nov. 18 TIME: school hours LOCATION: BOHS BOHS Student Government is organizing a canned food drive for the holiday season. All donations will go to the Brea City Emergency Council (BCEC) and will go toward feeding hungry families in Brea. BCEC assists families during financial crisis.

Though people always talk about helping people in far off countries, there are people right here in our community that need our help. For more information on what you can donate, please contact Mrs. Valenti, ASB Advisor.

DATE: Nov. 20; Nov. 21; Nov. 22 TIME: 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.; 6 a.m. - 9 a.m.; 3:30 p.m..- 5:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Brea Community Center The Nutcracker Boutique, Brea’s yearly winter craft fair, will be accepting volunteers. The craft fair brings in shoppers from surrounding cities as well as skilled vendors from around Orange County. It is a big, fun family event for Brea where beautiful winter-themed crafts are purchased or appreciated. Student volunteers can be part of what makes this happen.

Supplies Drive

DATE: Nov. 1 - Dec.31 TIME: during school hours LOCATION: BOHS

The BOHS Key Club will be holding a school supplies drive for needy and underprivileged children. All donations will be going to the Boy’s and Girl’s Club. Though donating some colored pencils or a couple of gluesticks may seem

like nothing to an average student, it means the world for children who have no money to buy anything. Think about it: the poor children showing up on the first day of school with no supplies because their families cannot afford it. So run down to the store and grab some supplies to donate to this cause. *There is a special list of supplies for the drive which can be received from Michelle Shin, senior, for more information.

November 2014 THE WILDCAT

11

INSULIN PUMP As a type 1 diabetic, Messner must wear an insulin pump, which provides a constant supply of insulin to the body rather than injecting it with needles.

Easy Bolus

Display Screen

Increases the amount of insulin injected into the body.

Shows the history of injected insulin.

Reservoir

Down Button

The plastic cartridge that holds up to 300 units of insulin.

The cartridge is changed every two to three days.

Express Bolus Injects insulin into the body.

Decreases the amount of insulin injected into the body.

ESC Button

Erases the amount of insulin in case of an inaccurate submission.

ACT Button

Submits the amount of insulin that will be injected into the body.

Not Just a Diabetic

Angela Messner, sophomore, is a Ladycat and a Youth Ambassador of PADRE despite living with type 1 diabetes. Messner manages her busy schedule while wearing an insulin pump, which continuously injects insulin into her body.

by ANABEL KING // Opinion Editor

“Are you okay?”

“You don’t look too good.”

“Do you want some water?”

Angela Messner, sophomore, was in geometry class when she started to taste something funny in her mouth. She became drowsy, weak, dehydrated, fighting to concentrate in class while her head pounded and her vision strained. Her teacher droned on about theorems and postulates, but her lecture soon became mere fragments, mere words, mere noises. It became harder to stay awake, to pay attention, to learn. And slowly drowsiness tempted her to lie in the arms of sleep, and she struggled to decline the invitation.

Messner suffers from type 1 diabetes, a genetic disease in which the body does not produce enough

12 THE WILDCAT November 2014

insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar and other foods into energy for the body, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). One in four American teenagers have diabetes, according to time.com, with a minority of patients having type 1.

“Most people in general have never heard of type 1 diabetes,” Messner said. “And if they have, they usually aren’t able to tell the difference between type 1 and type 2. Most people know about type 2 because that’s the most common type in America, which is why when I tell people I have diabetes, they think I have type 2.”

For the average person, a typical blood sugar level would range between 70 to 100 milligrams per deciliter, according to the National Institutes of

Health (NIH). For Messner, her blood sugar levels can range from 350 to 500 milligrams per deciliter when insulin medication is not injected. However, if too much insulin is taken, her blood sugar can drop dangerously, with her lowest level ever being 32 milligrams per deciliter. Type 1 diabetes cannot be cured, but it can be treated through insulin therapy.

“Since second grade, [Angela] has had to deal with peers and teachers who mistakenly think that she can never eat any sugar and/or that she might die from it if she does,” Kathy Messner, Angela’s mother, said. “But that is not the case. Angela can still eat sugar, but she must control the size of the portion. She keeps track of her carbohydrate count throughout the day and allows for it, but

doesn’t have to feel deprived from not ever having something sweet.”

Messner’s mother also said that one of the “more frustrating” times of having type 1 diabetes for Messner is having to constantly test her blood sugar levels, usually five to seven times a day.

Even though testing blood glucose is “vital” in checking that the condition is controlled, according to the ADA, there are times where testing blood sugar and taking insulin to treat it is sometimes forgotten.

“Whenever I forget to [take insulin], I don’t feel so good for the rest of the morning,” Messner said. “I get these massive headaches and I feel really tired for no reason. Especially [during school], I get so focused on trying not to look sick rather than paying attention to what we’re learning during class.”

Diagnosed at age seven, Messner’s diabetes soon engendered hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland fails to regularly produce hormones. These hormones, according to the NIH, control body cells that affect the body’s process of turning food into energy, or metabolism.

Growing up, Messner received training classes to regulate her condition from the PediatricAdolescent Diabetes Research Education (PADRE), which were at the time held at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC).

According to their website, PADRE provides positive support, programs and services designed to aid type 1 diabetes patients. Messner also attended several “Diabetes Retreat Weekends,” provided

by PADRE, where she learned more about type 1 diabetes with other diagnosed teens as well as how to be responsible about treating the condition.

At the age of 12, Messner became a Youth Ambassador for PADRE, volunteering her time and participating in activities such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) walks, the Harvest Carnival, and various holiday parties, along with PADRE’s “Diabetes Retreat Weekends.”

In addition, PADRE will also be sponsoring an ad featuring Messner in her basketball uniform that will appear in the December issue of the Ladycats Basketball Media Guide.

All her life, Messner has been involved in sports, such as swimming, horseback riding, baseball, and, more recently, basketball.

Since

“

To think that [Messner] plays with such a high energy level with Type 1 diabetes is amazing and inspiring to me. She is one of the most courageous people I’ve ever met.”

MICHAEL AIKMAN

Girls’ JV Basketball Coach

freshman year, Messner has played on the girls’ JV basketball team. During the season, the Ladycats JV team practices every day, sometimes for one and a half to two hours. While off-season, Messner has hour-long practices four times a week with tournaments every Monday.

“Basketball is a very physically and emotionally draining game to play,” Michael Aikman, girls’ JV basketball coach, said. “To think that [Messner] plays with such a high energy level with type 1 diabetes is amazing and inspiring to me. She does a great job monitoring herself and knows when to pull herself out of a game to take a quick rest.

She is one of the most courageous people I’ve ever met.”

As a type 1 diabetic, Messner must wear an insulin pump, which provides a constant supply of insulin to the body rather than injecting it with needles. The pump must be attached to clothing like pants or shorts in order to be fully supported, and is then connected to the body through a tube attached to a small section of the skin. During a basketball banquet last year, Messner was unable to wear her pump because she was wearing a dress.

Without her insulin treatment, she quickly became exhausted. According to Messner’s mother, Messner wishes there were more clothing choices targeted for girls with diabetes that would allow the pump to be easily attached and supported.

But even though pump-supportive clothing options are a hassle for patients with type 1 diabetes, most teenage activities are quite normal.

Like most high school sophomores, Messner is taking a driver’s education class, but is required to wear a medical identification bracelet when operating a motor vehicle. Because type 1 diabetes unpredictably fluctuates the patient’s blood sugar levels, the driving patient can become drowsy, confused, nauseous, or even unconscious behind the wheel, according to the ADA. “[Angela] has not let her diabetes stop her from doing anything,” Messner’s mother said. “She has always been very open to discuss [her diabetes] and she manages [it] extremely well.”

Messner may be a lot of things—a type 1 diabetes and hypothyroidism patient, a basketball player, a student driver, a youth ambassador, an honor student­—but she continues to live her life like any other teenager, while raising awareness and inspiration for thousands of teens across the country that live with type 1 diabetes.

November 2014 THE WILDCAT 13

LAY OFF THE SUGAR About 30 million adults and children are diabetic in the US. Diabetes is a metabolic disease, in which the body cannot create enough insulin, causing high levels of blood glucose.

by EMIKO KANEOKA // Managing Editor

Glucose, a form of sugar, is crucial to all bodily functions, according to mission-health. org. This vital substance can be derived from the carbohydrate-rich foods that we consume, like fruit, bread, and dairy products—all favorites at the American dinner table.

But, what happens when you devour your favorite cheesy garlic bread, and nothing happens? Sure, you digest the food—it travels from your mouth, through your esophagus, into your stomach, and through your intestines where the nutrients are absorbed, and out of your body.

But, the glucose from your meal, absorbed by your small intestines, simply lingers in your bloodstream, accumulating and awaiting use.

This inability of cells to properly utilize glucose in the blood is called diabetes, and it is a nationwide issue, according to the American

14 THE WILDCAT November 2014

Diabetes Association. Diabetes involves the lack or scarcity of insulin, which brings glucose from the blood into cells to use as energy, according to endocrineweb.org.

In the US, about 30 million adults and children are diabetic, 208,000 of which are under the age of 20, according to the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP).

There are three different types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational. Type 1 diabetes occurs when “the cells in the pancreas that make insulin are destroyed,” according to the NDEP, and is the most common form in minors.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the “pancreas still makes some insulin, but cells cannot use it very well.” This type of diabetes was formerly called “adult onset” diabetes, according to the NDEP, although it no longer correlates with age, but with

obesity.

Gestational diabetes is triggered in pregnant women, and may only persist throughout the pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “the prevalence of gestational diabetes is as high as 9.2 percent.”

In recent years, type 2 diabetes, often onset by unhealthy weight, has become of increased concern, as American obesity is on the rise, according to the NDEP. Teens who are overweight, have a family history of diabetes, or are “American Indian, Alaska Native, African American, Hispanic/ Latino, Asian American, or Pacific Islander” have an increased risk for type 2 diabetes.

While diabetes can be a daily struggle for those who have it, most diabetics can lead a normal, healthy life with the assistance of insulin injections or supplements, in addition to a healthy lifestyle.

photo by APRIL SANTONIL

BEHIND THE SCENES Lorenzo Casas, senior, analyzes his negatives in ROP Photography.

The photography class, led by teacher Vieira, is currently learning to edit photos using Photoshop.

November 2014 THE WILDCAT 15

PART OF DISNEY’S WORLD Four Wildcats take on the world of Disney to make the birthday wishes of children come true with Neverland Princess Co. Little girls and boys across the globe only dream of one day being princesses and princes, carrying out their fantasies by dressing up in elaborate costumes purchased at the local Disney store. While these imaginative children may simply pretend to be their favorite fictional characters, four wildcats bring their favorite Disney characters to life as actors at Neverland Princess Co. Tatiana Alvarez, senior, was dressed as Ariel and brought into the backyard by a sailor. A little girl at the party saw her and jumped out of the pool dripping wet, screaming “Ariel!” as she ran to Alvarez.

“It’s really magical,” Alvarez said.

Driven by her passion for singing and love for Disney, Alvarez knew the job was perfect for her. Best Female Performer at last year’s FAME competition, Alvarez performs as Anna, Ariel, Rapunzel, Belle, Drizella, and Jasmine.

“Everyone wants to be a princess,” Alvarez said. “It’s exciting. Sometimes you forget about how much joy you bring to the kids. It’s fun to see the kids’ reactions.”

16 THE WILDCAT November 2014

(above) Seniors Tatiana Alvarez and Julianne Sexton dress as Anna and Elsa from Frozen. Often sent to birthday parties as a pair, their friendship exists both in Show Choir and in their work at Neverland Princess Co.

by ASTYR KO // Feature Editor photos courtesy of JULIANNE SEXTON, SHAY JARRETT, TATIANA ALVAREZ, TRAVIS MILLER

Alvarez trained to become a princess by learning to face paint, rehearsing songs, and memorizing lines for skits. Her favorite character to play is Cinderella’s ugly stepsister, Drizella, because Drizella is “crazy.” She forgoes the use of a mirror to apply makeup for the wacky character.

Although she loves her roles within the Neverland Princess Co., she struggles with the “sassy” boys who tend to tease her and question her character. “[The boys] say, ‘You’re not really Elsa. Show us your ice powers.’ You just have to make up an answer, but it has to be believable. It’s improv acting—it’s fun,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez hopes that her work as a princess for Neverland Princess Co. will prepare her to work at Disneyland in the future, and that, added to her experience as show choir dance captain and Masquerade president, will one day bring her to Broadway.

“Performing has always been her passion. When she is not rehearsing at school she is at home working on choreography, practicing her parts, working on her voice,

taking dance classes, and acting classes,” Rossana Alvarez, Tatiana’s mother, said. “Her drive is unstoppable and her passion is truly visible.”

Soon after Tatiana learned the ropes at Neverland Princess Co., she invited her friend and fellow show choir performer, Julianne Sexton, senior, to join the team.

Growing up, Sexton dreamed of singing all day in a gorgeous castle with countless sparkling dresses. Although she has not exactly achieved this (yet), she works as Elsa from Disney’s Frozen, singing “Let It Go” while making birthday wishes come true.

Sexton auditioned in June and became Aurora, Snow White, and Elsa. Although she has only played Elsa so far—a big hit at birthday parties—she hopes to play Cinderella, her favorite Disney princess.

Sexton recalls when she and Alvarez went to Target as Elsa and Anna—a favorite memory of hers. The duo decided to buy carrots for their reindeer, Sven, so that they could talk with the children in the store and give business cards to parents.

“I asked ‘Do you know where the carrots are? Christoph sent us all the way from Arendelle to buy carrots for Sven, but we don’t know where the fresh produce is!’ and the kids were speechless,” Sexton said.

Despite the fun in being a princess, the job requires training in special party skills (face painting is the hardest for Sexton). The job also requires the actors to remember accurate information from the film.

“Before every birthday party I like to watch the movie.

I dream about it, sleep on it, and when I wake up, I’m like ‘Oh! I’m a princess!’” Sexton said. “But you also need to have a great personality, and work well with kids. They want someone active, responsive, and passionate about what you do.”

Sexton, named the Best Female Soloist in both the mixed advanced division and unisex division at last year’s Nationals, also participates in all three levels of show choir.

“Julianne works so hard as Tiffany’s president. She sets an example and helps the underclassman. I had her for six years, and in seventh grade, she was great, but now she’s phenomenal,” Dave Willert, choir director, said.

Shay Jarrett, senior, is also a natural-born performer.

Juggling modeling, singing, and leading the varsity ladycat basketball team as captain keeps her busy, along with her career at Neverland Princess Co. Jarrett has been working for Neverland Princess Co. for almost a year as Tiana from Disney’s Princess and the Frog. Her first experience as a princess began at an annual tea party fundraiser, which is her favorite memory thus far. She especially enjoyed singing “Almost There” from Princess and the Frog on stage.

“I loved seeing the expressions on the girls’ faces. When they look at you, they have this face like ‘Oh my gosh I’m meeting a princess!’ Knowing that you can make someone feel so happy is the greatest feeling ever,” Jarrett said.

To get into character, Jarrett watches the movie again and listens to the soundtrack in the car. However, there

(top) SHAY JARRETT, senior, poses as Princess Tiana from Disney’s Princess and the Frog. Before performing, Jarrett must perfect her New Orleans accent and her rendition of “Almost There.” (center, bottom) TRAVIS MILLER, sophomore, and ALVAREZ dress as Flynn Rider and Rapunzel from Tangled. At birthday parties, they sing “I See the Light” together.

is more to Tiana than her singing and beauty. Tiana has a sassy attitude along with a New Orleans accent. Although most people sing in the shower, Jarrett practices her Tiana accent in the shower and with her family.

Despite Tiana’s lingo, Jarrett can relate to Tiana’s hardworking personality.

“I think Tiana doesn’t need a man. She likes to work and can take care of herself because she is independent. She’s very adventurous and brave. She just goes for it, which is like me,” Jarrett said.

While Jarrett is definitely determined, the greatest struggle for her is balancing her basketball, modelling, and singing careers. But the numerous activities do not tire Jarrett. Instead, they give her strength to carry on through the week.

“I really love performing. It’s fun knowing that at the end of the day, I am doing what I love and I am still a student who is active in school through basketball,” Jarrett said.

Following his friends and show choir veterans, Travis Miller, sophomore, auditioned for the much-needed male position at the Neverland Princess Co. Miller often transforms from a sophisticated and grand soldier, Captain America, to the cocky and laid back Flynn Rider from Disney’s Tangled to the ice-harvesting Christoph from Frozen.

After being introduced to the job in August by Alvarez and Sexton, Miller auditioned for Neverland Princess Co., where he sang a Disney song and improvised as the employees pretended to be children asking questions.

“We had to adlib, and it was challenging because it’s not what I’m good at, but it was fun,” Miller said.

Although Captain America does not sing, Miller performs “I See the Light” as Flynn Rider, and “Love is an Open Door” and “Reindeers are Better Than People” as Christoph.

“It’s so much fun. Tangled is my favorite Disney movie.

I know the character so well. Being able to play the part is really cool.”

At birthday parties, he also conducts “super hero training” to interact with the boys.

“We do army calls and somersaults. We teach them how to do a spiderman crawl or set up an obstacle course. We just play around with it,” Miller said.

However, preparing for the unexpected can be the most difficult part of the job. Miller recalls a birthday party when the birthday girl pleaded for him to make a balloon Olaf for her, and then wanted a snowflake, which he did not know how to make.

Staying in character as Captain America can also be difficult because of Captain America’s serious persona.

However, being the sarcastic Flynn Rider is a breeze for Miller.

Although it may be difficult to balance school activities and their work at the Neverland Princess Co., these four actors have proven that fulfilling their lifelong dreams to perform can be accomplished with just a little “faith, trust, and pixie dust” (and hard work).

November 2014 THE WILDCAT 17

A

ARTS & E NTE RTAI N M E NT >>>>

PERFORMING ARTS

<<<<

SPOTLIGHT

Michelle Kim, junior, and Jorel Caluza, sophomore, share a love for Color Guard as a form of expression.

Even though they make it look easy, a lot of hard work and discipline go into each performance. compiled by JOY HSIEH photos by BRANDON YUN

What is your inspiration?

My first inspiration when I first started Guard was my captain, Amanda Rae Garcia (‘13). I looked up to her a lot in Guard and aspired to be as graceful in my performances as she was.

What are you looking forward to most this year?

The thing I look forward to the most this year is the one thing I look forward to every single year: being able to perform an amazing show with my even more amazing Guard team! All I can say is that I love every second of Guard.

of. I was always scared of not being able to do something or not being good enough, so I gave up on goals easily; but, Guard really helped me to overcome that fear. Because of that, I became more confident in myself and I learned that I’m capable of doing much more than I had ever thought possible. I never would have figured it out by myself.

What has been your most rewarding experience in Color Guard?

I can’t think of any specific moment that was especially rewarding for me in Guard. Just being in Guard altogether and having this experience has been extremely rewarding for me in so many ways.

How has Color Guard influenced you?

When I first started Color Guard in 8th grade, I was really unconfident and doubtful when it came What advice do you have to what I thought I for new Guard members ? was capable and incapable To all new Guard members, Which routine has been your favorite to perform, and why?

My favorite routine to perform was our winter show last year called “Water Colors” with a cover of the song “Little Talks”

by Kurt Schneider. I loved that show so much, especially since I dedicated it to the seniors.

This show was beautiful in a way I didn’t know such a show could be.

decided to join freshman year.

How has Color Guard influenced you?

It just looked so cool back when I was in Junior High, so I

What is the most challenging part of Guard?

I think the most challenging

18 THE WILDCAT November 2014

What are you looking forward to most this year?

I’m looking forward to being a student leader this year as The Color Guard Lieutenant!

What advice do you have for new Guard members ?

My advice for new Color Guard members is to focus, respect others, and have fun.

part about Guard is finding your inner performing spirit.

What is your favorite section to perform, and why?

I personally don’t have a favorite section. I actually love them all - flag, rifle, sabre because they each have unique qualities.

my advice is no matter what don’t give up. Not everything is going to come naturally right away and it can be incredibly frustrating, but the most important thing is to keep trying, brush off your failures, learn from your mistakes, and always keep moving forward and striving for perfection.

If you weren’t in Color Guard,what would you be in instead?

I would most likely be in band since that’s what I used to do, but it’s hard to know for sure.

It’s such a huge part of my life now that I can’t imagine what I would do without it!

What other hobbies do you have outside of Guard?

Outside of Color Guard, my hobbies consist of a lot of reading and writing.

SAFARI

T

BUCKET

BEANIE

TRENDS

Jeff Sink teacher

“I like these hats because they are unique and you do not see many people wearing them. It is also what I am known for.”

Bryan Kwoun

Rianne Paracuelles sophomore

freshmen

“I enjoy wearing the latest trends and I liked how it looks so I decided to get a bucket hat.”

Flat CAP

SNAPBACK

tradition

“It was my cousin’s beanie that he gave to me when he left to join the marines. I used to always borrow it and he just ended up giving it to me.”

Jane Lee

Joseph Alimonti

senior

junior

“This hat is special to me because it was the first thing that I bought with my first paycheck.”

“My favorite baseball team is the Red Sox so I wear it for them. I have been wearing this hat since elementary.”

Kendon Fuller sophomore

illustrations by JESSICA YIM photos by HALIE NAM, MONICA HEIMER

“I like these hats because they are unique and you do not see many people wearing them. It is also what I am known for.”

November 2014 THE WILDCAT 19

S

SPORTS

first League title achieved in eight years

by ANABEL KING // Opinion Editor

For the first time since 2006, girls’ varsity cross country won league finals in the North Hills League on Nov. 4. This season, the varsity team has remained undefeated, winning races such as the Bronco Invitational and League Preliminary.

“As a team it’s empowering and really nice to know that all of our hard work paid off,” Meredith Lehman, junior, said.

As the varsity team prepares for CIF finals, with the top seven girls being Lehman, Carly Halm, Jennifer Frazier, Kylee Grubs, and Lauren Blake, juniors, and Breanna Rios and Noelle Stewart, seniors, with their alternatives Vivian Kim and Kayla Libed, sophomores. The team is “confident” in making CIF finals, setting their goals on the state title, according to Blake.

In their previous race, the Orange

xcbrea.com

COOL DOWN: The girls’ varsity team at the Orange County Championships prepares for their race with warm ups and drills.

County Championships (OCC), the girls placed fifth overall. According to the cross country website, the girls “welcomed the extra competition,” where the team also saw the breakout race of freshman Lin-Yi Recinos,

who ran her first varsity race that day.

Halm, team captain, has been running with varsity since freshman year, consistently leading her team into victory.

The cross country team, including

JV and frosh/soph, practices six days a week since the summer, training on different terrains, such as the Wildcat Way hill, dirt trails, grass fields, and the BOHS track. They also practice during extreme weather conditions, such as California heat waves and morning rain showers. All their training has significantly affected their race performance, improving their performance from last year.

Before every practice, the entire cross country team gathers together to “give the love,” where teammates recognize the achievements of others.

Such a tradition inspires support and unity among the team.

“The atmosphere of the girls’ team is really encouraging,” Blake said. “Their spirit is always inspiring to me. Everyone on the team is so nice and down-to-earth, and that’s a huge factor in creating a successful team.”

Season Preview

Girls’ varsity water polo aims for league success

by ASTYR KO, STACY UHM // Feature Co-Editors

Despite the lack of returners to girls’ varsity water polo, the team is powering through this shortage with their sharp awareness and speed in the pool, according to Stan Sprague, girls’ water polo coach.

“If the girls work hard enough, and if we can have a few things gelled, I think we can be very successful,” Sprague said.

This year, Sprague trained a few talented freshman to place into varsity.

Although he believes that there is a “short number” of team players, the team is faster, and smart thinking will be their key to success this season.

The team also focuses on their basic skills to compensate for the lack of returners, according to Sprague.

“We have some really good freshman who came in this year and really good sophomores who are returning,” Sprague said.

20 THE WILDCAT November 2014

HANNAH ROARK // the wildcat

STRATEGIZING: After practice, the girls’ varsity team plans for the season ahead. Their first game will be at home on Dec. 16 at 4 p.m.

With the new and “aware” team, Sprague believes that the girls have a chance at making it to CIF, with the help of left-handed Emily Spadt, senior. According to Sprague, their is a possibility that the opponent will have to double team Spadt. This will

open up scoring opportunities for her teammates as the opponent must have an “extra special eye” on her. Despite Spadt’s capability, Sprague hopes to raise the amount of shots she scored as this improvement of skill may be the “biggest” strength of the team.

Under the new captain, Cassandra Chavarria, the team is determined to win at least one league game, according to Chavarria. Chavarria believes the team can improve their overall performance by continuing to “work hard” and “stay focused.”

In addition to the team’s work ethic, Sprague hopes to advance in tactical skills. Due to the small team, which consists of 30 girls, “conditioning and substituting properly is going to be very important.”

Improving on their defense, counter attack, and man-up advantage (where an opponent player is ejected from the pool due to an ejection foul), will also help their season, according to Chavarria and Sprague.

“I look forward to another successful season, and I want the girls to have fun—a lot of times fun comes with success,” Sprague said.

Boys’ varsity cross country claims another league title

by ANABEL KING // Opinion Editor MATTHEW MOON // Staff Writer

The crowd was silent. The air was still. Seven boys stood among the masses in their crisp, green uniforms, anxious to race against the wind. This was the big one—this was the Orange County Championships. The gun went off at 9:58 on a Saturday morning, and the seven disappeared.

Led by Austin Tamagno, the seven boys darted into the dusty trail against the heated October winds as they prepared for the first hill.

“It’s very hard for a smaller school like Brea to win a big race like this,” Jeremy Mattern, boys’ cross country coach said.

But in the final moments, Tamagno, along with teammates, Austin Shellito, Angel Escobar, and Jeff Sipple, seniors, Gio Orellana, Caleb Myers, and Daniel Perez, sophomores, finished in triumph, winning first place in the Orange County Championships, and once again claiming the Orange county title.

On Oct. 18, boys’ varsity cross country competed to defend their county title, which they won for the first time in school history just last year. The Orange County Championships (OCC), held yearly at Irvine Regional Park, gathers some of the top teams in California to compete against each other. It is one of two major invitational races in cross country, the other being the Mount San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) Invitational.

So far, boys’ cross country has remained undefeated in league and brought home yet another league title from Boys’ League Finals on Oct. 5.

They hope to win state for the first time this photo: breaxc.com

year.

“You don’t get to be in the position that we’re in without being really well rounded. And that’s not to say, ‘Oh you’re okay at everything,’ because you have to be really good at everything,” Mattern said. “In Orange County, we have ten guys faster than every other team’s seventh, so we’ve got a lot of depth. Everyone believes that they can make that top seven, so I think that the competitiveness of trying to [race on] our varsity team really helps people push each other.”

And that team depth was proven at Mt. SAC, considered one of the hardest courses in California.

While OCC is a mostly flat course with a couple of hills, Mt. SAC is the complete opposite.

“Whenever you go to Mt. SAC, you run around this field for the first mile and the rest of the race is

Coach Mattern’s expectations.

“Our guys ran really well in the heat at the end of the day, and even though we raced without Austin Tamagno, Austin Shellito ended up winning [the race]. That was great because without one [Austin], the other one steps up and so we still had really great front-running and a good pack running as well,” Mattern said.

Boys’ cross country has consistently claimed the title of league champions, ranking first in their division since 2009.

“I don’t think people understand when they go to this school that, looking in from other schools, we are really good. It’s a huge honor [to be] known for something and [to be] one of the

“Our long term goal for this season would be to win CIF. We’d like to win our first state title in school history and get into the top ten at nationals.”

-JEFF SIPPLE, senior and varsity captain a bunch of hills,” Tamagno said. “There are these three hills that get harder and harder. It’s a race where you have to stay really strong and you have to get used to breathing really hard because you’re going to be breathing really hard a lot earlier than you would if you ran at, say OCC. It’s a good race for us to get used to suffering a little bit.”

Though Tamagno didn’t participate in the varsity race, choosing to race in the Sweepstakes race the following day, the team went well above

best teams in history,” Myers said.

“Our long term goal for this season would be to win CIF,” Sipple, varsity team captain, said.

“We’d like to win our first state title in school history and get into the top ten at nationals.”

After their win at League Finals on November 5 and after all the training the team has done during the summer and this year, the boys prepare for CIF state competitions, in hopes of winning their first state title in school ever.

November 2014 THE WILDCAT 21

LADYCATS PREVIEW

Veteran leadership key to success

by SAMANTHA MAGPANTAY // Staff Writer

The leadership of veteran upperclassmen is usually a key component of any varsity team’s success. But for this year’s Ladycats, the leadership and experience of the team’s juniors and seniors will be especially important with the unprecedented influx of six talented freshmen.

But despite what should be the youngest varsity squad in their division, the Ladycats will again be expected to repeat as Century League champions and another run to section and state titles.

Last year, the Ladycats won the Century League title with a record of 11-1, according to maxpreps.com. In the 2014 CIF Division 1AA Southern Section girls’ basketball playoffs, the team made it to the semifinals before falling to Millikan High School. The loss ended the girls’ season with a 20-8 overall record.

“Last year’s season was better than expected.

It was kind of a rebuilding year and it’s funny because everyone said, ’You’re going to come fourth in the Century League. You’re not going to even do anything.’ We ended up winning [league] and [advancing] to the semifinals,” Sierra Bononi, senior co-captain, said.

Nearly half of this years’ roster is stocked with ninth graders.

“This year several good freshman decided to attend Brea. We basically have the nucleus

THE CAPTAINS

Captains Reili Richardson, Sierra Bononi, and Shaylissa Jarrett lead the Ladycats.

back from last year and a really great freshman class,” Sink said. However, regarding the teams’ readiness for the campaign, Sink said that “the freshman are going to have to mature both emotionally--and on the court, physically--very quickly for us to be excellent.”

On a team with so much inexperience, the

veteran upperclassmen will be relied on to not only help the newcomers adjust to the pressures of competing against some of the best high school basketball teams in the country, but also help in their adjustment to high school in general. Thus far, the upperclassmen have created a “loving and family-like environment” and have emphasized team chemistry and performance.

“We don’t really have any cliques because we are all friends and family.” Reili Richardson, junior, and varsity co-captain, said.

The upperclassmen will be expected to provide much more than leadership, however.

Both of last season’s leading scorers--Richardson, (16.5 points per game), and Shaylissa Jarrett, (15.5 points per game)--return. Jarrett was crowned CoMVP of the Century League last year. Richardson received First Team honors, while Bononi earned Second Team honors, according to ocvarsity.com.

Richardson was also awarded Second Team AllCounty honors.

“We believe that we can make a real run at CIF and get our 18th [league] championship. We also believe that we can make a long run at State and possibly win our division,” Bononi said.

On Nov. 22, the Ladycats will kick off their season with the annual Green and Gold intrasquad scrimmage. From Dec. 1 to Dec. 6, BOHS hosts the Ladycat Classic Tournament which draws the country’s best teams and players.

“We believe that we can make a real run at CIF and get our 18th [league] championship. We also believe that we can make a long run at State and possibly win our division,” co-captain Sierra Bononi said.

THE FRESHMEN

The Wildcat asked the six varsity Ladycat freshmen: ‘What is your goal for the season?’

Krislyn Marsh

Iyree Jarrett

Brooke Fogarty

Janei Fuamatu

Terree Johnson

Tyiona Watkins

“I really want to go far with the team and I want to work on my post game.”

“My individual goals are just eliminating any weakness I have as player.”

“I want to become a better player.”

“I want to become better as a point guard and become a really great teammate. I want to be somebody everyone can rely on.”

“My goals for the season are to start with the five and go to CIF.”

“Become Gatorade Player of the Year, [earn] All-CIF all four years, and be MVP as a freshman.”

22 THE WILDCAT November 2014

practices Limited to 18 Hours-a-week

S

by MATTHEW MOON // Staff Writer

In order to prevent excessive hours of practice, a new CIF ruling enforces a practice hour limit for sports teams to abide by. According to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), starting this year, all high school sports teams in CIF will not be able to practice over 18 hours per week and four hours a day. The rule was proposed due to concern over student athletes’ mental, emotional, and physical health and was debated for over a year.

CIF defines practice as any kind of activity with the team, such as drills, weight training, scrimmages, film reviews, chalk talks, and meetings.

Since all these activities are part of “practice,” they count toward the 18 hour limit. However, if the practice is held during school hours, then it does not add to the allotted hours. Team meals, bonding, and equipment/locker distribution do not count as practice time.

In addition to practice activities, games or competitions will also count toward the limit.

Regardless of their true duration, competitions will always count as three hours, which can be either advantageous or disadvantageous for the teams.

“For us, our tennis games run much longer than three hours,” Tiffany Lee, senior, and co-captain of girl’s tennis, said. “Since games help us to prepare for CIF and league, I’d say that this helps us a lot because we get more ‘practice’ in than we are accounted for.”

This bylaw also includes several other restrictions. Twice-a-day practices can no longer be held on consecutive days and three hour rest periods between practices are mandatory. Also, no practices can be held directly after competitions or games.

Specific to golf, teams can only practice on 18hole courses two times per week, which count as four hours of the 18 weekly.

But what happens when sport seasons overlap?

Although each sport is limited to four hours a day and 18 per week, the limitation benefits studentathletes. It does not matter if an athlete has tennis practice after school and basketball in the evening— they are still limited to four hours of practice a day.

“I try to spread my time out, but I almost always have enough time for both sports,” Kennedie Doyle, sophomore, said. “For tennis, practices are usually about an hour and a half and for basketball, around an hour. It does get tiring to do the two practices,

but I like sports a lot so I don’t care. The limit is fine where it’s at because it gives you enough time to practice but not too much time gets taken out of your day.”

Violation of any aspect of the bylaw can result in the loss of practice days. But, while some sports are not affected or even helped by the bylaw, others are placed at a disadvantage

High School get around [this rule] because they have both zero period and the last period of the day set as cross country. Because of this, they continue to be better than us.”

CIF Executive Director Jim Crichlow explains that, in the past, parents contacted CIF and individual schools to complain about the lengthy practices, resulting in the addition of the new bylaw.

"Football, in the fall, had to change their schedules around quite a bit to meet the bylaw, due to their long practices. Between all the activities they have to do—film time, weightlifting—18 hours is a pretty short time to get - MIKE KNAUS, boys’ athletic director it all done."

“Football, in the fall, had to change their schedules around quite a bit to meet the bylaw, due to their long practices,” Mike Knaus, boy’s athletic director, said. “Between all the activities they have to do—film time, weightlifting—18 hours is a pretty short time to get it all done.”

The bylaw may even cause sports to lose their competitive advantage.

“It’s difficult,” Matt Rainwater, girls’ cross country coach, said. “We can’t have double day [practices] on consecutive days, so where in the past we might run doubles on Monday through Thursday. Now, there has to be a day in between.

Schools like Great Oak High School and Temecula

Crichlow adds that CIF will not send additional workers to enforce the new law themselves, because they know that the combination of social media, technology, and concerned parents will be enough.

Rainwater is concerned about boys’ cross country as well. He explains that since they are already a “national caliber team,” they have more pressure to maintain that title. Rainwater explains that to be the best, teams must train “twice a day four days a week and train for the entire week,” to be able to compete at a national level. And since they bylaw prevents [them] from doing that, it becomes more complicated to get the team ready.”

APRIL SANTONIL // the wildcat

TAKE FIVE: Evelynn Burt, junior, takes a break during girls’ varsity tennis practice. Tennis practices for about two hours per day during the fall season, in addition to weekly matches.

November 2014 THE WILDCAT 23

Rapping Rick Corp Rick Corp, math teacher, performs an original BOHSthemed rap during the Homecoming Rally on Oct. 24.

24 THE WILDCAT November 2014

photo by MICHAEL CHO