Vol. 82, No. 6 (2011-2012)

the wildcat

789 Wildcat Way, Brea, CA 92821

est. 1930

April 5, 2012

Vol. 82 Issue 6

New contract results in mass cuts BOTA votes for furlough days instead of lay offs

PAUL LEE

Copy editor Faced with funding reductions by the state, the Brea Olinda Unified School District (BOUSD) and Brea Olinda Teacher’s Association (BOTA) came to a tentative agreement that includes two furlough days for the current year and a potential 25 furlough days for the 20122013 school year, resulting in district wide cuts in teacher and administrator salaries. Discussions involving the negotiations revolved around two primary issues: furlough days and workforce reductions. In the agreement outlined by the district, there will be ten furlough days split into five teacher workdays and five student days next year and two furlough days this year. The addition of these non-paid days to the school calendar allows the district to retain employment across all school levels. “The agreement we reached was about saving jobs, saving programs, and not increasing class size even further. Both the District and BOTA believe that creating the best instructional and education environment possible for our students during these tough economic

times must be our primary goal,” said A.J. “Skip” Roland, district Superintendent. There is also the possibility of 15 additional furlough days if governor Jerry Brown’s tax bill does not receive approval on the November ballot. These will be placed at the end of the student calendar, pushing forward the last day of school accordingly. According to an article on sacbee. com, Brown’s bill is an integration of his original budget initiative and the Millionaire’s Tax Initiative, and is designed to balance the state budget, prevent further cuts to education, provide a progressive tax structure and provide constitutional protections of public safety realignment funding. “While no one is excited to take furlough days, it is important to remember that it is the duty of our schools to provide a well-rounded education for our students. We felt it would have been more [detrimental] to allow extensive layoffs, which would have essentially created a school environment where students are not afforded the opportunities to participate in classes and activities where they can be competitive, creative,

Salary Cuts

Furlough Days

Lay Offs

Teachers will experience a

2011-12

5% pay cut if there are 10 furlough days; 12.5%

May 25, 2012 June 15, 2012 Additional 10 before Nov. 21 There is also the possibility of 15 additional furlough days if Governor Jerry Brown’s tax bill does not receive approval on the November ballot. These will be placed at the end of the student calendar, pushing forward the last day of school.

if there are 25 furlough days

A teacher with a Bachelor’s Degree and 45 upper division semester units or a Master’s degree and 10 years of employment would suffer either a $3544.75 (with 10 furlough days) or $8861.88 (with 15 additional furlough days) reduction in pay for next year.

The contract agreed upon by BOTA prevented an estimated 45 to 50 teachers from being laid off district-wide by adding furlough days to the school year. Compiled by LOIS AHN

and expressive,” said Joseph Bartell, band director and president of BOTA. The negotiations team for BOTA made its decision to integrate the furloughs after reviewing budget projections given to them by the California Teacher’s Association (CTA). Since each furlough day translates to about a 0.5 percent reduction in pay, teachers will experience either a five percent or 12.5 percent pay cut next year depending on whether the bill is passed or not. A teacher with a Bachelor’s Degree and 45 upper division semester units, or a Master’s

degree and 10 years of employment, would suffer either a $3544.75 (with 10 furlough days) or $8861.88 (with 15 furlough days) reduction in pay next year. BOTA and district members convened on March 5 to decide between two options: either lay off dozens of teachers or accept income reductions with the inclusion of multiple furlough days for the upcoming year. In a move to protect the employment of its members, the majority of participants in the final vote chose the latter option. “The decision to pursue furloughs was a philosophical choice that the

APR ‘Grease is the word’

Daniel Dwyer, sophomore, and Amy Czerwinski, senior, perform in the choir rendition of the 1978 movie, Grease. The musical opened on March 22 and continued through March 31. Along with Grease, choir is also rehearsing for Nationals. Masquerade and Spellbound will leave for Chicago on April 19. They will perform renditions of songs such as “Livin’ la Vida Loca” and songs from the musical Moulin Rouge. Rival, Los Alamitos High School will also compete at Nationals. Choir will return from Chicago on April 23.

AMORETTE VALERO / Wildcat

negotiations team agreed on. We decided that we represented all members of our union equally and that to ask some of our members to suffer unemployment so that the rest of us could keep our pay rates the same would be a betrayal of trust,” said Jonathon Gunther, history teacher and vice president of BOTA. “While a large pay cut is difficult, being unemployed in the current economy would be a nightmare.” A solution needed to be finalized before March 15, the deadline by law for the distribution of RIF (reduction in force) notices, which lets teachers know that they should not expect employment for the following year. Without the current agreement, approximately 40 to 50 teachers in the district would have received a notice. Although there were no layoffs as of March 15, teachers will have to cope with the loss of instructional time and income next year. According to Matthew Finnerty, math teacher some of the staff will have to “change the balance of how [they] schedule lessons” and “abbreviate some topics usually covered to get through the material” in response to the shortened calendar. Gunther stated, “The impact on the school will be heavy. The lost instructional time is obvious; up to a month of school time could disappear. I also expect that teacher morale will be very low next year; we will be working very hard for significantly less money.” While teachers will be forced to accommodate for the loss of school days, students will need to work around the shortened learning period as well. “Next year will be harder on both students and teachers, especially if they are involved in AP classes. Since students have less time with their teachers, those who usually work hard might perform well, but those who do not use their time wisely will probably have to study more to keep up,” said Spencer Woo, senior. Despite the potential for 25 furlough days next year, the majority of BOTA members still voted in favor of them over a reduction in the workforce. Though there will

See NEWS, page 2

FEATURE

SPORTS

INSIDE

Masako White, Japanese teacher, shares her stories of volunteering during the Vietnam War and facing discrimination in Jackson, Miss.

Girls’ track and field holds a 3-1-1 record in Century League as they head into their next meet against Foothill High School on April 19. Select athletes will compete at Arcadia Invitational this weekend.

News 2-5 Opinion 6-9 Feature 10-11, 14-15 Centerspread 12-13 Arts & Entertainment 16-18 Sports 19-24

page 10

page 19

N ews

page 2 April 5, 2012

Teachers spared, income slashed BOTA

be less instructional time overall, retaining teachers will protect jobs and keep class sizes at current levels. “I was very supportive [of the agreement]. Given the current economic climate, it’s important that everyone sacrifice a little bit to try to get through without impacting student class sizes and a number of teachers who could have been laid off,” said Finnerty. However, not everyone had favored the agreement. Leslie Leaming, history teacher, fought the decision. “The agreement is in no way a solution to the economic problems the state and the district encounter. Those teachers that voted ‘yes’ agreed to having the possibility of 25 furlough days, which is terrible for the education of our students. Teachers and our students did not create our economic problems and should not have to bear the brunt of the situation; voting ‘no’ would have put the problem back onto the district to find other ways of cutting costs,” said Leaming. Leaming also expressed unease over the potential disadvantages that would result from a shortened school year, and she questioned the district’s motives behind its proposed solution. “I believe the district came to this decision

from page 1

because it allows them to save face. Reduction in Force notices to teachers would not have resulted in 40 to 50 teachers being laid off, as threatened. Doing that would have not allowed schools to function,” said Leaming. Acting as an unofficial member of the negotiating team, Bartell acknowledged the difficulty in coming to a consensus on the agreement. Bartell said, “As with any contract agreement, there are going to be mixed emotions. In these trying times when you are talking about furlough days and salary, people are going to feel more passionate about their stance and beliefs. In the end, a majority of the teachers supported the agreement.” Though the agreement is centered on district employees, Dana Lynch, assistant principal, believes the shortened calendar will impact those who are not teachers as well. He points to the state as the primary source of the district’s economic issues. “Losing school days limits instructional time and could impact student achievement results and family budgets for childcare. There is nothing positive about furlough days (except that they don’t count against us in our retirement) and major reforms need to be made at the state level in order for public education to survive,” said Lynch. According to an article on latimes.com, Governor

Brown said, “California is recovering. We now have the possibility of eliminating, over the next several years, the deficits that have plagued California.” However, Brown’s plan to restore the failing education budget involves raising statewide taxes for the first time since 2004, and it has already received criticism by opposing Republicans. As of now, the inclusion of 15 more furlough days for the 2012-2013 school year hinges on the passing of Brown’s tax hike proposal. “It is important to note that where our frustrations should be directed is in Sacramento. If we want to fix things, then we need to start there and get people in office who are willing to stand behind education. We need leaders in our State who realize that the students are our future and if we want to continue to flourish as a society then we must put money and support back into our schools,” said Bartell, who believes the state is responsible for the failing budget. Lynch said, “The citizens of California need to be educated about the financial crisis and come to grips with the importance education plays in the overall well-being of a democratic society. I would love to see students learn more about this situation so that they can work to reform the system, prevent this from happening again, and restore the reputation public education in this state once had.”

Briefly Prom Expo

Hoping to provide attendees with every element needed to ensure the perfect prom night, an exclusive showcase of local vendors will be advertising their products to students at the Prom Expo on April 20 at lunch in the quad. This year’s prom theme is “A Night in New Orleans” and will be held at the House of Blues in Anaheim on May 19 from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Vendors such as Friar Tux Shop and La Petite Florist & Gifts, sponsors from previous years, are aiming to provide students with affordable deals exclusively for the day of prom. Alongside a showcase of vendors, students will find out who will be on the 2012 prom court. Nominations for prom court will be determined by the senior class vote. The top six girls and guys who are chosen will be eligible for prom king and queen nomination, which will be announced at the dance.

MELINDA CHHOUR

What are your thoughts on the BOTA agreement? “It’s never okay when someone’s paycheck gets cut when we don’t receive enough in the first place. Why should my paycheck be affected so that a couple more teachers can keep their jobs?” -Hengameh Moshirr, math teacher

“I do not support the tentative agreement that was arrived upon by the BOTA...the agreement is absolutely in no way a solution to the economic problems the state and the district encounter.” -Leslie Leaming, history teacher

“As long as it helps teachers keep their jobs and keeps them from getting pink slips, then I’m all for it.” -Jonathan Quiming, English teacher

“I think we have made a great sacrifice to make the contract happen. I’m glad our sacrifice will pay off with nobody having to lose their job.” -Gil Rotblum, history teacher

WASC endows six-year accreditation JEAN CHOW

Staff writer

Three years after their previous evaluation, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) returned March 15 to confer with students and administrators, review student performance data, and observe classes. The visit is part of the WASC accreditation process, which awards schools different terms of accreditation, ranging from zero to six years long, based on whether or not they think a school “[is] worthy of the trust placed in them to provide high quality learning opportunities” and “clearly demonstrates that they are about the critical business of continual selfimprovement”, according to acswasc.org. BOHS has continuously received six-year accreditations by the WASC and the Central Department of Education. “The process helps us focus our strengths towards continual improvement. Our staff members have been incredibly supportive of this by challenging themselves to reflect upon what they do, why they do it, and whether or not it works. Our main goal is for our students and school to reach even higher levels of success,” says Dana Lynch, assistant principal. This success has become apparent in the collected data on students’ academic performances. BOHS has achieved a +56 growth in Academic Performance Index (API) over the past three years, the biggest growth since 2006. In addition, 132 students were designated AP Scholars in 2011, a record number for BOHS. “The Visiting Committee was astounded with how teacher collaboration focused on improving student learning results has resulted in record levels of

Top Ranked Students

During the morning announcements on Feb. 24, six students were named valedictorian and salutatorians. Matt Schade, Jean Chow, Chad Sykes, Noelle Hannum, and Katrina Henrikson, seniors, were selected as valedictorians. Yoon Shin Lee and Cody Nguyen were announced as salutatorians. Seniors receive the title of valedictorian by having maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout all four years of high school and taken at least ten AP and or honors classes. Salutatorians are seniors who have taken all the required amount of AP and honors classes in order to qualify as a valedictorian. However, they received only one B. The valedictorians and salutatorians of 2012 will be honored at their graduation ceremony by receiving a special award, being recognized, and may be selected to give a speech.

TIM LIM

MORP 2012

ALANNA ARNO / Wildcat

Creative learning: (left to right) Kara Kasser, Emily Malotte, seniors, Dr. Warren Stephenson, WASC coordinator and Max Monahan, senior, participate in a meeting where a diverse group of students were selected to represent and discuss the happenings of the school and its classrooms. student achievement. We have more students who are taking more rigorous coursework and attaining even higher levels of achievement,” says Lynch. The visiting committee also met with a group of students to gain their perspective of the school. While many schools choose to have only students from their ASB meet with the committee, a diverse group of students from each grade level, some of whom participate in sports, clubs, ASB, and BITA, met with Dr. Warren Stephenson, WASC coordinator and chair of the visiting committee. “I was very impressed. BOHS invited students representing all of the various groups on campus,”

says Stephenson. “These meetings are essential, as students are always very honest about their school and help the [visiting committee] understand what is actually happening at the school and in the classrooms.” “All the students were very honest. I think we came off as a particularly well-rounded school with strong programs across the board – in the classroom and extracurriculars,” says Kara Kasser, senior, who was part of the group of students. BOHS’ six-year accreditation will end in 2015, and the WASC will make another visit to determine the new term of accreditation to award the school.

spelled (“Prom” Morp backwards) is a dance anyone can attend without a companion or date. This year’s theme is “Moonlight” and students are encouraged to wear pajamas and “dance under the stars.” Morp will take place April 27 at the food court from 8 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $8 with an ASB card and $10 without. The dance is set up by sophomore class officers in order to raise money for prom next year. Along with establishing the theme, they also plan the decorations and posters for the dance. “The decorations will be all dreamy and night-time related. Students will dance to music played by DJ Kris P and there will be free Hawaiian shaved ice available,” said Kyle Kasser, sophomore class president.

RACHEL PARK

April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

NEWS

ASB board members announced STEVEN LEE

Staff writer

LAUREN NAVAL and SANDYA SRIRAM

Staff writers

Photos by BRANDON KIM / Wildcat

Public speaking: (left to right) Kristen Park, junior and next years’ president, and Lauren De Leon, sophomore and next years’ secretary, gave their speeches when running for ASB Board positions on March 21. Students voted on March 22 and winners were announced March 23.

ASB Board Members, 2012-2013

Kristen Park

Jacob Meda

Lauren De Leon

President

Vice President

Secretary

The notion of spreading awareness of various activities was echoed by Meda. Both officers stated their desire to increase school-wide participation and to make leadership possible for the whole student body. “I want to increase the level of school spirit by creating activities that would increase personal

Jennifer Janneck Kristy Makris

Treasurer

School Board Rep

interest for students and help create a more unified and spirited school,” said Meda. Although the newly elected ASB officers officially begin their term next school year as seniors, they still have responsibilities to attend to. They will be busy planning throughout the summer while tending to their current duties.

Every 15 Minutes program to raise awareness LOIS AHN

News editor In 15 minutes, one person will experience death in an alcohol related traffic accident. To raise awareness of this reality, the biannual Every 15 Minutes program will take place on April 18-19. According to chp.ca.gov, Every 15 Minutes is a two-day program focusing on high school juniors and seniors, challenging them to think about drinking, driving, and the impact their decisions have on family, friends, and others. “The desired result through this event is that students will be able to get a clear picture of the reality and finality of the consequences of driving under the influence as we replicate the experiences and emotions of losing a loved one and how it can affect the people around them,” said Dan Moon, police officer and coordinator of the event. On the first day of the event, preselected students will be taken out of class every 15 minutes to become the “living dead”. Later that day, the junior and senior class will observe a mock traffic collision put together by participants including the Brea Fire Department, the Brea Police department, Placentia-Linda Hospital, and Brea Towing. The “living dead” will be taken away overnight and partake in activities and listen to speakers who will give them a first-hand experience of what it is like to be a victim of an alcohol related traffic accident. “The objective is to have a diverse group of students to get involved in the intensive activities prepared for them overnight so that when they go back to their circle of friends, they can hopefully share their experiences in that way and that is how we’re hoping to really hit home with this event for the entire student

Every 15 Minutes... “The Every 15 Minutes program is a two-day program focusing on high school juniors and seniors, which challenges them to think about drinking, driving, personal safety, the responsibility of making mature decisions and the impact their decisions have on family, friends, and many others.” chp.ca.gov

Fast Facts

Every 15 minutes, someone dies due to an alcohol related collision.

1 in 3 people will be involved in an alcohol related crash in their liftetime.

75%

of drunk drivers whose licenses are suspended continue to drive.

Disney’s Friends for Change and Best Buddies have teamed up to reduce pollution and raise money for students with disabilities. In preparation for Earth Day on April 22, Disney’s Friends for Change will be holding a Green Week from April 16 to 20. Recycling bins will be placed in every classroom for bottles and cans only, and larger recycling bins will be placed around the quad, in the gym, and on other athletic fields. “I think this recycling program will be really helpful in cleaning up the environment, and helping students in our Best Buddies program get involved and learn more about recycling,” said Paige Sampson, junior, and member of Best Buddies. Inside the Outdoors has sponsored and provided Disney’s Friends for Change with a grant of however much money is needed in order to implement the recycling program. Inside the Outdoors is administrated by the Orange County Department of Education, and is a self supporting organization that does not receive and taxed based funding. Inside the Outdoors gets grants to go to local high schools to start recycling programs, and help students connect to nature. The money collected will be used for Community Based Instruction (CBI) trips, through which students with disabilities receive the opportunity to go be part of real life experiences. “We go to places like Target and Ralph’s for grocery shopping training. We take the students to any business [or] stores where they could potentially work for job training [and] we also do travel training on the Orange County Transport Authority (OCTA) public buses once a month,” said Emily Malotte, senior, and Best Buddies president. Recycling around campus has been taking place since 2008. Gil Rotblum, history teacher, began a paper recycling program and in the month of February collected 1088 pounds of paper and 855 pounds in March. Collectively, since the beginning of the school year, he has collected a total of 6884 pounds. Susan Sieveke, science teacher, offers extra credit for students who bring in plastic bottles and cans, but requires them to research and hand write facts about recycling as well. “By having students research facts, I hope it educates them on the importance of recycling. In return I hope this encourages students to go out and recycle,” said Sieveke. As of now, teachers have exhibited tangible results with their recycling efforts; however, school wide recycling programs have not yet yielded similar outcomes. “This year, we are working harder on our advertising, by posting videos up on Facebook, and getting the students more informed,” said Katherine Gwaltney, junior, and Disney’s Friends for Change vice president. The new recycling program will become a permanent, year-round fundraiser that helps to improvbe the environment and raise money for Best Buddies.

Every minute, one person is injured from an alcohol-related crash. When: April 18-19

Total Paper Recycled 1500

Who: Juniors and Seniors dontdiedrunk.org

Compiled by LOIS AHN body,” said Jennifer Cormier, guidance counselor. The rest of the junior and senior class will hear and see the experiences of these “living dead” students the next day in an assembly. Josh Castillo, senior and “living dead” participant, said, “I look forward to seeing the school, and the

senior class especially since we’re going to be on our own in college next year, see first hand what one bad decision can lead to. I hope that this event really hits home with all of us and hopefully we can bring out a positive learning experience so we can be prepared to make the right decisions later on in life.”

Pounds

Named to the following Executive Board positions for the 2012-2013 school year were Kristen Park as ASB President; Jacob Meda as ASB Vice President; Lauren De Leon as ASB Secretary; Jennifer Janneck as ASB Treasurer; and Kristy Makris as School Board Representative. The election results were announced on March 23. This year’s elections differed from previous years because Facebook was allowed as a campaign tool. In past years, the use of Facebook to campaign was forbidden because Facebook posts were too difficult to regulate. This year candidates were allowed to use Facebook as long as they followed certain conditions. “Their page had to have open access, so if I wanted to monitor their campaigns, I would not have to friend them from my Facebook account, and they had to follow the same guidelines of only positive campaigns for themselves, no negatives against their opponents, and their content had to be school appropriate. If any friends tried to add negative comments, they would have to delete them immediately,” said Pam Valenti, assistant principal. Some candidates felt that this change helped them reach out to more students then they traditionally would have. “By being able to tag people on Facebook with my poster, I was able to reach out to friends of friends that I did not know and build a common connection and get their vote,” said Park. The next step for the Executive Board is to decide what they wish to do in the upcoming school year in order to improve the experience for students at BOHS. “I feel that if I allow students to find ways to connect to the school, then I can show them how easy and fun it is to be involved within the school. I want activities such as rally set-ups and other activities to be easily accessible for students so that they can fully use the resources that our school has to offer,” said Park.

CLUBS HOST ‘GREEN WEEK’ IN SUPPORT OF EARTH DAY

3

750

0

388

Jan.

1088

855

Feb.

March

Month Total since September: 6884 lbs.

4

April 5, 2012

NEWS

Gallegos takes title of Brea Idol ‘12 The Wildcat

AKSHAY VERMA

Opinion editor

KRISTINE SEA / Wildcat

Grand

champion: Rachel Gallegos, junior, earned the title of Brea Idol ‘12 on March 8 with her cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You”. The Brea Idol competition consisted of a wide variety of performances from solos to group bands.

Performing cultural dances, hip hop solos, and covers of popular songs, students gathered in the PAC on March 8 to showcase their various talents in the annual Brea Idol competition hosted by the United Choirs of Brea. Rachel Gallegos, junior, received the highest score of the night, earning her the title of Brea Idol 2012. Divisions included vocal group, hip hop, band, vocal solo, dance solo, solo with instruments, and group dance. Contestants’ performances were judged on quality, level of preparation, and crowd reaction. The night’s judges consisted of Doug Kuhl, resident choreographer for show choirs, Aimee Mauzey, graduate and choreographer of Yorba Linda High School show choir, and Kurt Nielsen, member of the directing team of the musical, Grease. The show, hosted by Brandon Jones and Justine Garate, seniors, opened with a performance from The Regions, a competitor in the band division category. Four other bands performed throughout the night. The winner, The Originals, consisting of Joseph Mulock, Konner Mitchell, and Travis Morrill, seniors, performed “Lonely Boy.” Nathaniel Valdez, junior, Chris Serna,

senior, and Louie Jota, sophomore, won in the vocal group division with their cover of “Dictionary,” an original song by YouTube singer Gabe Bondoc. “Winning the group division in Brea Idol was the best experience I have had this school year,” said Jota. The vocal solo division followed with five contestants, who competed with song choices ranging from popular tunes by singers such as Adele and Amy Winehouse to show choir music. After being greeted to a standing ovation, Gallegos won the division with her cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You.” She then proceeded to win the Brea Idol Grand Champion title. “I honestly was not expecting to get the Grand Champion trophy at all. From the past, the majority of Brea Idol winners have been group acts, so I was sure a band or dance group was going to win,” said Gallegos. “When they called my name, it took me a few seconds to process what they said.” A new division of solo with instruments was created for this year’s show because many students had auditioned for the vocal solo category while playing their own instruments. Performances included covers of songs by Adele and, for Jake Thorum and Emily Malotte, seniors, selfcomposed songs. Malotte won the division with a performance of her original song,

Alumnus donates bench in memory of wife JOY KIM

Managing editor To commemorate former students, families of deceased alumni often donate benches to honor them. Most recently, Gerry Stack (’41) donated a bench built in memory of his wife, Ruby June Stack (’42). Ruby June passed away on Oct. 6, 2011. When Ruby June attended BOHS from 1938-1942, she was editor-inchief of the yearbook, the Gusher, and Activities Editor of the newspaper, the Weekly Wildcat. “She gave me 41 years of heaven on earth with her,” said Stack. This bench is one of many contributions the Stacks have made to BOHS. For several years, they have offered scholarships, and Stack will provide two this year, also in honor of his wife, at Senior Awards Night on May 31. “[The Stacks] have been giving back to provide opportunities for educational

success. When Mr. Stack’s wife passed away in October of last year, he was determined to give back once again, providing a memorial bench in her honor for the school,” said Laurry Bishop, AP Testing Coordinator and designer and facilitator of all benches on campus. Bishop worked with Stack in designing and ordering the bench on Feb. 3, and presented it to the school during a ceremony on March 13. The bench is located in the quad facing the flagpole, with “In Loving Memory”, Ruby June’s name, graduating class, and a poem written by Gerry inscribed. Though the Stacks graduated in consecutive years, they did not get married until later. Gerry studied for his Baccalaureate and Master’s degree at University of California, Berkeley, pursued a career in electrical engineering at Hughes Aircraft and Boeing, and was widowed before marrying Ruby June in 1969. Jerry Halpin, principal, said “We

Staff writer

When the girls’ swim team noticed an unknown female standing inside the locker rooms on March 19, they did not realize that she was a thief unaffiliated with BOHS who would be charged with stealing their possessions. At first, none of the members of girls’ swim were aware that a crime was occurring because of the female’s young appearance. She was later identified by the Brea Police Department as Paola Garcia. “She was just standing there in the locker rooms doing nothing so I thought she just had a friend on the team. I thought

Staff writer

HAILEY LEE / Wildcat

In loving memory: Dr. Jerry Stack (‘41) donated a bench in memory of his wife, Ruby Stack (‘42), located by the flag pole, facing south. Ruby Stack was the editor-in chief of both the yearbook and newspaper while at BOHS. have had nearly a century of tremendous students pass through the hallways of the former and current [campuses] and recognition of former students is always

“She was just standing there in the locker rooms doing nothing so I thought she just had a friend on the team. I thought nothing of it and left her alone”

Paige Edburg, junior nothing of it and left her alone,” said Paige Edburg, junior. However, once Edburg noticed her purse was missing, she immediately contacted Stan Sprague, varsity girls’ swim coach, as Garcia was heading towards the other locker rooms. Then, Megan Lane, junior varsity swim coach, and Edburg searched the school and chased Garcia until she was caught. Jerry Halpin, principal, Bob Parish,

off campus summer school classes offered TIM LIM

great.” Bishop added, “It is important to remember these generous alumni, for they are our connection to our founding past.”

Attempted robbery thwarted by girls’ swim SHARON CHO

“Turning Pages.” “My song is about growing up and learning how to make happiness out of hard times. I was really surprised when I won as I did not expect it at all,” said Malotte. Along with the various musical performances, a few contestants displayed their talents in dancing. Dylan Huynh, senior, Temitope Serihi, sophomore, and Izzy Perez, junior, competed in another new category, hip hop dance. Perez’s act, “Random Dancing,” earned him first place. The night concluded with a dance group division, including a cultural dance routine by Shawola+, and performances by I.DC and winning group For Blue Skies. For the audience, the night was a showcase of the various talents that students had offer. Yet, for many of the contestants and winners, the show was much more than just a performance. For Jota, the show was a “great way to get over [his] fear of being on stage.” Similarly, Gallegos believed that the show provided her with “the best moment of [her] life so far.” “Brea Idol is a great program to show the school how talented their peers are and was an amazing experience. I went into it purely for fun and to just have a good time, but I came out with so much more,” said Gallegos.

assistant principal, and Rob Stelmar, counselor, were notified as soon as the thief was apprehended. Garcia initially denied the accusations concerning her theft when questioned by school staff. However, once the Brea Police Department arrived, she made a full confession of stealing from the girl’s locker rooms. After being questioned by the Brea police officeres, Garcia ended up returning

all the stolen items to their original owners. “She intended to come to our campus to steal. When her car was checked, there were also other items like a laptop and an iPad,” said Dan Moon, police officer. Following the interrogation, Brea PD sent Garcia to county jail, charging her with burglary and possession of stolen items. “We realize that some of our athletic and PE lockers are not large enough to accommodate a book bag, textbooks, clothes and other items. But at least try to leave your valuables at home, properly lock items, and not share lockers or locker combinations,” said Parish.

Although summer school classes at BOHS have been cut due budget cuts, students who need to make up credits in order to graduate may be able to take classes at other campuses. “The cost for summer school is something that the school does not get reimbursed for. So, instead we adapted to a new summer school model by partnering with new programs. Because our district is smaller compared to other districts, we are able to send our students to other districts,” said Jerry Halpin, principal, in response to why summer school classes are no longer offered. Other options for summer school involve either online or in class courses. “There are nine different choices available for students. Some are free while others cost money. There are online classes and in person classes for lab sciences or elective credits,” says Becky Marchant, guidance counselor. Along with online courses, Rosary, Servite, and Pacific Coast are some high schools that offer summer school courses for students from other districts. Mt. San Antonio community college also carries many academic courses that high school students can enroll in. Different high schools provide different credits for students. Access classes in La Habra are available for students who simply want to gain enough credits to graduate, whereas Pacific Coast offers courses that are required by University of California schools. Although the state budget cuts have altered traditional summer school programs, students are still given multiple options in order to receive necessary credits.

April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

NEWS

BITA cuts ribbon, opens new ‘home’ NOELLE GRACIA

Staff writer

To some, the Building Industry Technology Academy (BITA) yard is just a sectioned-off corner of the back parking lot, filled with wooden structures and the din of pounding hammers and drills. But to others, like Matt Lochridge, junior and BITA 3 student, “it’s home.” After five years in the making, the ribbon was finally cut on the new BITA construction yard on March 23. Though the yard has been in production since the start of the school year, the ceremony was delayed so that the people attending could have the chance to witness the student workers in action. With 12 electrical poles, two large tool containers, a water spigot, and a location a safe distance away from traffic, the cordoned off piece of the back parking lot is the ideal outdoor classroom for this ROP program. Ever since the BITA program was first introduced to BOHS five years ago, there had been plans to provide a safe area for the students to work and design. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts in the last few years, the plans had to be postponed until sufficient funds could be collected. Bob Parish, assistant principal, said, “BITA is a wonderful program that our kids are getting a great benefit out of and it’s a good feeling to know that after all this time we can give them their own space to further work on their skills.” Javier Belmares, BITA instructor, is

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“I love the yard, it lets me know that the school is thinking of us and that they care for our use and what we do.”

Matt Lochridge, junior equally appreciative of his program’s new area, saying that since its conception, he has noticed that “there is more organization and structure among the students.” To the students themselves, the yard means more than just an area to work in, it is the school’s way to let them know that they “appreciate all that BITA had achieved so far, from laying concrete for the softball fields to earning the top five finalist spots at the Skills USA Competition,” said Parish. BITA students of all levels enjoy the fact that their hard work is being recognized. Lochridge said, “I love the yard, it lets me know that the school is thinking of us and that they care for our use and what we do.” “It’s a huge deal that after five years, we finally have our own building yard so to commemorate it with this big ceremony and show off BITA’s accomplishments, was a great experience for both me and students alike,” said Belmares. “The BITA kids are really happy about this new project, because we finally have something that’s ours, like how the football team has their own field or the basketball team has their own court, we have our building yard. It’s our home,” says Lochridge.

JULIA EBERHARDT / Wildcat

Cutting the ribbon: (top) Javier Belmares, BITA instructor, cuts the ribbon for the opening of the newly built BITA construction yard. (bottom) Sunny Kim, senior, adds finishing touches to his project in the new construction yard. After five years of delays and production, the ribbon to the BITA construction yard was finally cut on March 23 in a ceremonial fashion.

Japanese students visit classes, observe American culture DAVID KANG

Staff writer

“Although their visit was short, I feel great to have made another international friend,” said Timothy Ahn, junior, after a group of foreign guests departed from the school. On March 20, 30 students and four teachers from Kofu Minami High School in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, visited for three periods for a tour of an American school. In Japan, every high school student goes on an overseas field trip for one of their classes. These trips are for educational purposes, and Kofu Minami High School, with its focus on science and technology, visited Southern California to augment those aspects of their school. “At Kofu Minami High School, students passionately pursue their studies and extracurricular activities. We came to America to observe the kind of lifestyle that American students lead and see what kind of place America is,” said Natori Toshihiko, one of the visiting teachers. The visitors arrived during first period and gathered in the library. They were then assigned to their one-day student hosts from the Japanese classes. The guests then presented a DVD containing various information about their school. Afterwards, the guests visited one science class and one other class during second and third period with their hosts. During their visits, the Kofu Minami students experienced a class system

“At Kofu Minami High School, students passionately pursue their studies and extracurricular activities. We came to America to observe the kind of lifestyle that American students lead and see what kind of place America is.”

Natori Toshihiko, visitor different from that of their native country. The visitors were also given the opportunity to socialize with Japanese 1, 3, and AP students. Both sides exchanged personal introductions and descriptions of their respective schools, accompanied by special music performances by several BOHS students. At snack, the guests and their hosts found the time to mingle with each other. “During snack, I got the time to sit down and relax with my student, Takahiro Shiozaki,” continued Ahn. “We were able to discover many similarities between us, and I feel like that brought us closer together.” The hosts and their guests gathered at Wildcat Circle after third period for the final sendoff. The guests then boarded their bus and headed for their next destination as a part of their field trip, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “The Brea students were very orderly and respectful in class, and also very nice,” said Takahiro Shiozaki. “My visit was very memorable.”

OPinion

page 6 April 5, 2012

Students struggle with self image, confidence What may begin as minor and occasional negative thoughts often spirals into physical harm. The National Eating Disorders Association states that one half of teenage girls and one-third of boys undergo unhealthy methods of weight loss, including starvation, vomiting, taking laxatives, and smoking cigarettes. These actions and thoughts can only be reversed and prevented if students realize that they can never attain complete perfection. Unless we accept this truth that perfection is unattainable, there will always be someone to envy and we will be haunted by insecurity. “It’s human instinct to

JOY KIM MANAGING EDITOR Trying to look their best and follow trends is both natural and normal for teenagers. But when they begin to skip meals, force themselves to vomit, and get depressed over their appearance, the desire to acheive the ideal look has spiraled out of control. Only by having appropriate levels of selfconfidence can we prevent negative thoughts concerning self-image that threatens our sanity, health, and individuality. It is easy to blame the media for constantly bombarding us with images of the skinniest, sexiest women and brawny men. But truthfully, the sultry women in Victoria’s Secret commercials and pictures of half naked men and women on Abercrombie and Fitch advertisements will always surround us. Realistically speaking, there is no way of escaping from the images of such models. The process of reversing negative self-esteem must begin within ourselves. Though we often might believe that we will be happier if we look more like models, obsessing over our every flaw makes us even more miserable than anything else. Ultimately, life is more enjoyable when we are not always worrying about how people perceive us from the outside. According to the research of Teresa Coelho, former model and current activist and author on self-esteem, 75 percent of girls get depressed after reading magazines like Cosmopolitan and Teen Vogue. Also, only 4 percent of women consider themselves beautiful. These statistics prove that too many people doubt their self worth, and this doubt threatens their happiness as well as their mental stability. “Teens are desperately seeking after what they consider perfection and they are harming themselves

“It’s human instinct to criticize and compare yourself to others, but we talk ourselves into thinking the way we presently are isn’t good enough. I remember after the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show this year most girls who had watched it, even the skinniest ones, were swearing off food for the next week.”

KIMBERLY HOWLAND, JUNIOR

JESSICA YIM / Wildcat with the idea that obsessive exercise, eating disorders and others types of addictions are the solution. Our culture is too critical and it is damaging how this generation views itself,” said Coelho.

criticize and compare yourself to others, but we talk ourselves into thinking the way we presently are isn’t good enough. I remember after the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show this year most girls who had watched it, even the skinniest ones, were swearing off food for the next week,” said Kimberly Howland, junior, and one of countless teenagers who has felt insecure about her image. We try to lose weight, buy clothes, and overall appear in a way that is “acceptable” to our peers. We undergo painstaking efforts not just to better

ourselves, but to fit in and avoid the judgment of our friends. When we call a girl “fat” or “ugly”, we destroy individuality and self-esteem. These kinds of comments should not be regarded lightly for they can be highly offensive. Most people who hear criticism of their image will make their appearance their first priority and will hesitate to be unique if it means getting criticized by peers. If a person is told he or she is not good enough, it often becomes truth to them. Although we often judge others to relieve our own insecurity, it will only harm us because the same critical attitude could be directed at us. By excessively making verbal criticisms against peoples’ images, we normalize an unhealthy attention on outer image and encourage each other to be critical of our peers and ourselves. Also, those who hear criticism of others’ appearances, even if it is not directed to them, can become insecure because they wonder if they are given the same scrutiny. As a result, they will then be quicker to judge their peers to make themselves feel better. For example, Daniel Truesdale, sophomore, has witnessed the effects of trying too hard to be accepted by others. “Society’s standards of beauty and the mindset of many Americans contradict each other because we are encouraged to ‘be ourselves’ while being shown that being abnormal is bad. If people showed each other the respect and acceptance they desire, insecurity would no longer exist,” said Truesdale. If we looked for the inner beauty in people and made an effort to be less critical, we can prevent others from becoming overly insecure. We can reverse the trend of being so hard on ourselves and instead encourage positive thinking. In truth, insecurity and the desire to have the Victoria’s Secret “hot body” will never disappear. There is nothing wrong with trying to better ourselves, but we should never allow it to harm ourselves mentally or physically. We must accept the fact that no one is perfect, and only then can we be learn to be content with ourselves and who we are rather than always pursuing the image of perfection set by society.

Students’ fidgeting habits reduce stress, lead to focused thinking BRIANA PERLSON

STAFF WRITER

F

idgeting. We all know who fidgets from the ticks, clicks, fiddles and wiggles they make. We are the people who can never seem to sit still regardless of how many times that person we sit behind asks us to stop tapping their chair for the tenth time that week. Whether we are waiting in long lines, listening to a boring lecture, or taking a hard test, we fidget when we are stressed, agitated, nervous, excited and bored. It is the constant go go go that runs most people’s lives and, as a society, we rarely actually rest with absolutely no distractions. For most, “relaxation” time usually includes some type of technology to distract us like the television or computer that we tune into. Our phones are constantly beeping, buzzing and ringing that a text message or call will be received, regardless of where we are or what we are doing. As a result, our minds are constantly being stimulated and doing many things at once, which is a thriving atmosphere for those who fidget. According to additudemag.com, “experts believe that engaging in an activity that uses a sense other than what’s required for your primary task — listening to music while reading a social studies textbook, for example — can enhance focus and improve

performance in children with attention deficit disorder. These secondary tasks are called fidgets—mindless activities you can do while working on a primary task.” Fidgeting does not mean simply wiggling in one’s chair or tapping one’s foot; it is often intentional to relieve stress. Pacing in the hallway, drawing while listening to a lecture, or chewing gum during a test all fall under the fidgeting category. It is a habit that does not distract from the task at hand, but is done to relieve tension and help oneself focus. For kids with Tourette Syndrome and Attention Deficit Disorder, fidgeting is a normal aspect in their everyday lives. I have Tourette’s and, as a child, my tics were very obvious. I was pegged as a very active kid, and even now, I can never sit still, I constantly move and have to do something. According to timemagazine.com, “[ADHD] kids use movements — like swiveling in a chair or folding a leg underneath themselves…the way adults use caffeine: to stay focused. In other words, it may be that excessive movement doesn’t prevent learning but actually facilitates it…[and that] our activity level…is one of the most fixed parts of our personalities. If you are a fidgety kid, you will be a fidgety adult.” This correlates to why as teenagers we are so obsessed with coffee; every Wednesday morning in class you can see students sipping a Starbucks drink.

Coffee is used to wake us up and keep us focused throughout our day. Fidgeting is used in the same way, focusing our minds and releasing the stress of taking a test or listening to a lecture. In class, by tapping my foot, I am able to stay calm, especially if I am starting to panic or am becoming frustrated. Ultimately, fidgeting helps me the most with forcing me to pay attention. It keeps the part of my brain that wanders during a lecture, distracted, so that the rest of my mind can stay zoned into the topic at hand. Another positive of fidgeting is that it burns calories, helping a person lose weight. According to the washingtonpost.com, “The extra motion [from fidgeting] is enough to burn about 350 extra calories a day, which could add up to 10 to 30 pounds a year, researchers found.” This extra movement from fidgeting can count towards those 60 minutes of recommended daily physical activity. For those of us who fidget all day, every day, we are like fitness gurus; we burn extra calories. Fidgeting: we all do it at one point in our lives, some more than others and for some, like me, it is ever-present. So next time the person behind you is fidgeting and you find it annoying, remember, it is simply a part of who they are and adds to the beautiful diversity on this campus. Give fidgeting a try; it may even help you stay focused in school.

What is fidgeting? An often times involuntary mannerism used to relieve tension or help one focus. Common acts of fidgeting include: * tapping your foot * biting your nails * chewing on your pens * listening to music * shifting in your seats * biting your lips * chewing gum

BRANDON KIM / Wildcat

April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

OPINION

Can social media really empower students?

SMALL TALK

Although sites like Facebook... are not really the traditional method of gaining global news, teenagers are becoming more active in society as a result.

KELLIE GALENTINE

STAFF WRITER

Are social networks a good way for teens to be informed on global issues?

yo u ca n lea rn “I th in k any way er Face bo ok or th he w , ab ou t ne ws .” te lev isi on, is go od -K risten Far rel l,

sop ho mo re-

With just the click of a mouse, teenage apathy is resolved. As a generation consumed by technology it only makes sense that social media is the primary way in which teenagers hear about worldwide news. “I do not really watch the news on TV or read newspapers, but I see what happens on Facebook every day,” said Amanda Garcia, sophomore. Although sites like Facebook and Twitter are not really the traditional method of gaining knowledge about global news, teenagers are becoming more active in society as a result of reading what their friends have to say about global issues which trend online. This newfound way of spreading knowledge is a revolutionary way for teens to gain important information which they would otherwise be ignorant to. As causes such as Kony 2012, a movement aimed at capturing Ugandan war criminal Joseph Kony, trend online it is evident that the usual cycle of teenage apathy has been broken. By changing their profile pictures on Facebook and sharing the Kony 2012 video, it is evident that our generation has

become passionate about something. “I plan to leave my profile picture [as the Kony 2012 photo] until I truly see a change. I don’t care if it is a few weeks or even a year, until I see proof of change and difference, my profile picture and even my twitter icon will all remain the same. Little things like that, brings the right awareness and although it doesn’t change anything itself, it helps other people become aware of [the war crimes in Africa] and helps them decide to become a part of this movement,” said Sabah Baloch, junior. Through social media, teens have actively been getting involved with causes which help them to become aware of the fact that there is a world much greater than the confines of their life in a safe suburbia. Although scam.com states that only 31 percent of the donations for Invisible Children is actually donated to Uganda, at

NATHAN YOO

STAFF WRITER

“I thi nk tee ns sho uld rea d newspa pers and watch the news bec aus e that is bet ter tha n sta ring at an ele ctronic screen .” -Alexis Hig hto wer, fres

hm an-

At last it seems as if students have gained a desire for learning of the atrocities occurring around the world. However, the media’s portrayal of the oppressive Konyled Lord’s Resistance Army not only exposes a criminal, but also our student body’s failure to make a significant difference in the lives of those in need. The fact that people need Youtube in order to be motivated to take action exemplifies teenagers’ ignorance and apathy toward global issues. Our daily news comes from checking Facebook statuses, and few students seem to have a genuine desire to educate themselves about global happenings and act upon that knowledge. “I think [the shocked reactions to the Kony 2012 video] tell us that our generation really is unaware about what is happening outside of our country,” said Danielle Robles, junior. “We are so absorbed in our own lives that we do not even know about the horrible things happening in other places.” However, instead of merely talking about a cause, students should prove their passion by taking physical and measurable action, be it through volunteering or sending direct relief to improve the lives of the oppressed. Only then will they have fulfilled

COUNTER POINT

“Fac eboo k and othe r online web sites are the main sources of news for today’s yout h and are a good way to lear n abou t issue s.” -Cole Calho un, senio r-

“No, because usually, what teens hear about on social net working sites is either inaccurate or not the full story.” -Rachel Penningto n, junior-

Je

way to “So cia l site s are a gre at ending on dep but on, ati spread inf orm cou ld be it wh at the inf orm ati on is, ” ul. har mf -Alexa Am an, sen ior-

7

f

least people are still becoming aware of the fact that there are people suffering outside of the US. The idea that teenagers have actually become interested in something other than their everyday routines is huge. Critics also claim that teenagers follow causes trending online without having sufficient researched the issues. This, however, is untrue because once they learn about what is going on, teens are inspired to use technology in order to gain more knowledge. “I think that the young people often do not know about [global news] until they see things on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, but they also have resources so that when they learn about these things they are able to research and really look into them,” said John Gunther, teacher. If social networks are necessary to pry the eyelids of students open to global problems, then I say let them flourish. Instead of criticizing the generation for spending too much time embracing technology, it is imperative that the methods of social networking at our disposal are embraced in order to make a profound difference upon the world.

The fact that people need Youtube in order to be motivated to take action exemplifies teenagers’ ignorance and apathy toward global issues.

the responsibility they willfully assumed when they enthusiastically typed the words “Kony 2012!!!” onto their computer screen. It is ironic that many students have changed their Facebook profile pictures, posted statuses, or tweeted pledging to stop at nothing as a means of showing support for a cause, because in reality, they have ended their contribution there. By doing so, they have done little to put a stop to global evils such as terrorism and child abduction. Change requires action, and action requires more effort than just the click of a mouse. There may be some students who are still verifying the facts stated in the Kony 2012 video, but the list of problems occurring around the world goes on and on. Hunger, preventable disease, lack of clean water, and dictatorships are prevalent in many countries. However, the list of organizations that combat these problems is just as long and includes clubs at our school such as Red Cross, UNICEF, World Vision, Habitat for Humanity, and Invisible Children. Apparently, students either do not know about these clubs or do not care enough

POINT

to join them and better the lives of the less fortunate. “It is disheartening that we only have about 30 members in our club when there are over 2000 students on campus,” said Jasmine Chow, senior and president of UNICEF club. “I think students fail to grasp the knowledge that they have the power to make a difference even as high school students.” If students truly support a cause, they will show it through their actions, not just their words. Merely watching a video on child abduction does not help end those injustices; that knowledge must be used to create active volunteers who devote their time to a worthy cause. Amnesty International, a nonprofit organization devoted to protecting human rights, released an online article in response to the Kony 2012 video agreeing that although knowledge of global happenings is beneficial, the multitude of human hardships does not allow for students to wait around for a video to call them to action. “Awareness is an important first step,” stated Amnesty International, “but we need to stop all the Konys of the world.” Using Facebook to post a status that may spread awareness does not justify the amount of time students waste on social media and will not put an end to global issues. Real impact can only be made when many hands, not keyboards, work in unison to make the world a better place.

‘Kony 2012’ exemplifies social media’s effect on teenagers

JESSICA YIM / Wildcat

VIRAL KONY: Kony’s actions were publicized through a YouTube video, which earned 10 million views within hours.

The month of March signaled the cyber invasion of red, blue, and black campaign posters labeled with the words “Kony 2012.” Students used Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter to show their support of the Kony 2012 campaign. The campaign, as endorsed by Invisible Children Co., aims to spread awareness about the actions of Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Invisible Children released a video exposing how the LRA abducts children and forces them to kill family members and innocent civilians. The video asks everyday citizens to contribute by changing their facebook profile pictures to Kony 2012 campaign images and participating in the event Cover the Night, which is set to take place on April 20. 200 people have pledged to attend the Facebook event Cover the Night: Brea and plaster posters around the city to raise awareness about Kony. Kony campaign images and Cover the Night attest to student’s awareness on the Kony issue, but the impact of these actions is questionable. - Nathan Yoo

8

April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

OPINION

Teenagers lack restaurant etiquette

Small tips and filthy tables are common sights following the departure of teenagers dining out KELLIE GALENTINE

STAFF WRITER

Two-hours of lingering, a filthy table, and a small tip: this is a scene commonly left behind by none other than teenagers in restaurants. “I think that [teenagers] are very inexperienced on how to act in a formal setting, so when I see them walk in I have to prepare myself on how to treat them,” said Alexa Vander Meer (’11), a hostess at Lascari’s Italian Grill. Teenagers often go out to eat with friends. However, they are sometimes inconsiderate while dining and must learn basic restaurant etiquette. Having worked in three different restaurants, I have seen some pretty strange things left behind after teens leave their tables. Ketchup squeezed into drink glasses, sugar sprinkled all over the tables, and food mashed all over plates are not uncommon sights. The lack of basic table manners reveals how the age-old “don’t play with your food” saying fled from the minds of teens, resulting in messes that people like me are left to clean up. According to a survey by pewresearch.org, 66 percent of Americans eat at a restaurant at least once a week. This means that these seemingly inexperienced teenage diners should understand how to act in a restaurant; however, many seem unaware of the dining etiquette expected of them.

The biggest offense of teenage customers is If teenagers are able to put themselves in the lingering at a table for an extensive period of time, position of the workers, they will see how their lack while not ordering very much food. of restaurant etiquette negatively affects those around “Sometimes [teens] come in and only one of them. their friends will order something but six of them An improvement of simple table manners and will sit down; we only have sixteen tables so it makes usage of those handy dandy tipping calculators may [getting customers in and out] pretty difficult,” said just improve the teenage reputation amongst restaurant Tara Mazeika, senior, and a runner at Bruxie in Brea. staffs and allow teens to become more polite adults. Establishments such as Starbucks and Corner Bakery are examples of more suitable establishments. Teens oftentimes confuse restaurants as places where they can stay as long as they would like because they do not understand that every seat equals money for the business. This is why just “chilling” in a restaurant for hours without ordering any food is rude, especially when actual patrons of the business are looking for a place to sit down. Teens also forget that tipping is essential. According to emilypost.com, at a sit down restaurant with wait service, a 15 to 20 percent tip off of the bill is expected. “I do not think that [teenage customers] really understand the work that the servers put in while waiting on their tables, and that shows up in how they tip,” said Vander Meer. Despite the fact that most cell phones have a tipping calculator and most teens have a cell phone, students still have MICHELLE SUH / Wildcat trouble remembering to leave a decent TIGHTFISTED TEENS: Proper restaurant etiquette calls for a tip. I have seen as little as two-cents tip between 15 to 20 percent of the total bill. Yet, teenagers left as a tip by teenagers, which is not an often leave mere coins as tips for their servers, which can be regarded as a sign of disrespect and lack of courtesy. uncommon occurrence.

Tips from the Wildcat 15 percent to 20 percent of the total bill should be left as a tip for the server. When using coupons or discounts the tip should be based upon the initial total. Once the bill is paid, try to leave within 10-15 minutes of finishing your meal. Make sure you know what time the restaurant closes and be respectful about how long you stay. If you have a reservation and need to cancel, be sure to call ahead and let the hosts know you will not be coming in. Compiled by KELLIE GALENTINE

Students’ growth limited by generic formula for success NATHAN YOO

STAFF WRITER

AP Classes? Check. ASB? Check. Students tend to automatically turn to rigorous academic courses and leadership classes thinking they will be guaranteed future success, but in doing so limit their own potential by conforming to a generic formula. Alternative pursuits such as club officer positions, career-related courses, and business ventures provide opportunities to turn passions into professions and are equally useful in developing crucial skills. “When I was in high school, I was a part of the newspaper and an officer on ASB,” said Jennifer Cormier, guidance counselor. “Neither was specifically related to my current job, but through these different activities, as well as working on group projects, I learned to be civil with others and complete significant tasks, and these skills translate to the job I have today.” High school can equip students with the skills needed to tackle the formidable realm of bills and businesses, but they must fully commit themselves to the list of activities they participate in, be it one activity or five. “There is only so much you can do, so it is better to be the best in one thing than just okay in multiple things,” said Neha Ansari (’11). “Applying myself

fully as a part of the newspaper staff increased my writing abilities and interest in journalism, influencing me to select it as my minor.” However, being enrolled in specific courses does not ensure that a student will become a leader in that field. Students should not limit themselves by focusing on a list of offered courses, because preparation for life does not stop with sixth period; every class and activity is an opportunity to grow. Instead of following the formulaic checklist of academics and activities that seem to promise future success, students should consider what makes them happy and find a way to incorporate that into their high school activities and professional lives. For example, developing a hobby into a practical application can be just as beneficial as a leadership class, and can be more fulfilling because it allows personal interest to thrive. Cory Birenbaum and Lucas Keller, juniors, founded War Hawk Computers, a custom computerbuilding business, last year after being exposed to the projects from business representatives from Global IT Academy, BOHS’s computer science program. “I have been working with computers all my life, and finally I have been able to turn that hobby into a useful skill,” said Keller on warhawkcomputers.com, the business’s website that Birenbaum and Keller built using the coding expertise they developed in GITA.

Instead of following the formulaic checklist of academics and activities that seem to promise success, students should consider what makes them happy. Keller and Birenbaum may seem like extraordinary students who took an unusual path to increase their professional abilities, but there are simpler ways to develop personal strengths and career options. “Growing up as the oldest of five siblings, I have always had a passion for working with children,” said Elissa Kang, sophomore. “I joined Red Cross Club and became vice president of Imagiscience because I needed extracurricular activities for college, and I was surprised to find that these activities and my passion for kids were connected.” Although she joined these activities to boost her résumé, Kang found herself doing what she had always loved to do in a more professional setting. “I was able to work with children and grow as a leader at the same time,” said Kang. “I got to work at a charity festival for underprivileged children and teach science experiments at an elementary school, and these activities helped to expand my career interests and skills. Since I am only a sophomore, I will definitely continue participating in these

organizations and I feel like this will be an advantage in my future career.” Trying new things and participating in activities to increase chances of acceptance to a dream school are worthy endeavors and are not necessarily detrimental to a student’s development. However, students need to realize that high school affords them the chance to improve upon their natural gifts and find gratification through their activities. “I did a lot of things in high school just to get into college by following the cookie-cutter formula,” said Ansari. “It may have worked, but looking back, the activities I valued the most were the ones that showed me where I wanted to go in life.” When people love what they do, they are able to succeed in other aspects of life than just financial figures and college admissions. Students should not blindly follow a predetermined recipe for success, because each individual will achieve satisfaction through his or her unique path. These four years have the power to change the way students perceive themselves and their future world. Skills required for life in the adult world can be attained through a multitude of activities, not just a certain AP or leadership class. Students should expand their mindsets and take advantage of the infinite resources around them, because personal growth is initiated by the person, not a class.

JESSICA YIM / Wildcat

April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

OPINION

Teachers voice concerns about contracts A Wildcat interview with Susan Luce, English teacher

History teacher explains reasoning behind new BOTA contracts; offers perspective JONATHAN GUNTHER, GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

Full disclosure: I am a member of the team that negotiated this contract. Next year, students will have five less days of school, and due to furloughs, teachers will miss an additional five days of work that normally do not involve students. This will have a strong negative impact on student achievement, it will mean a five percent cut in pay for teachers, and I suspect it will mean very low morale among the teaching staff. None of these things are good. If the Governor’s tax initiative fails to gain passage the contingency language kicks in which adds additional furlough days. If the cuts are as bad as projections say they might be, this could total twenty-five furloughs, twenty of which would be school days. This would obviously be disastrous to scholastic achievement, mean an excruciating 12.5 percent pay cut to teachers, and leave many families with younger children struggling to find additional childcare. None of these things are good. Why then, if these things are not good, have they come to pass? The answer is Sacramento politics. Schools up and down the State are being held hostage in a game of political brinksmanship between Governor Jerry Brown and the State Legislature. The Governor has made it a cornerstone of his agenda to provide California with a more balanced budget. In order to do this he will need to make cuts to the budget and raise taxes. The Legislature has steadfastly blocked tax increases. The Governor has now turned the issue directly to the people in the form of a November initiative. Polls have consistently shown that the people of California oppose even the most modest of tax increases, unless they benefit education. So the Governor has decided to hold the state’s

schools hostage, either his bill passes or schools take apocalyptic cuts. This is why we face such an unfavorable contract next year; hopefully it will all work out and not be too bad, but until then we can only watch and wait. The Brea Olinda School District has to maintain a balanced budget, since it is accountable to the County Department of Education and upward to the State. BOUSD is a small district and because of its high socio-economic status it is disfavored by funding formulas even in good years. The average student in the US gets about $11000 in funding, California averages about $9500, and Brea students get just a tad over $5200. In spite of all of these obstacles, and more the District has to show that it can have a balanced budget for next year. These are the constraints under which the contract was negotiated. In the end, the district moved around some money to slightly soften the blow to staff by a few percent, and then there were two stark choices: furloughs or layoffs. None of these things are good either. In the end, this contract represents a choice for furloughs for all teachers, instead of lay-offs for 45 to 50 teachers. Some would argue that these teachers would somehow all end up being hired back, but 27 to 30 of these teachers would have to remain unemployed until after the November election even in the sunniest scenarios. On a personal note, I could not engage in the type of algebra wherein trading two teachers’ jobs away would get back one furlough day. I could not envision for instance trading Amy Welch and Jennifer Ryan for the equivalent of 0.5 percent of my pay. Three hundred odd dollars would be cold comfort, knowing that it cost friends like Chris Schaadt and Matthew Finnerty their jobs.

Q: A:

What is your general opinion on the new contract? At this stage I am done thinking about it. It is done. I am looking for ways to supplement my income so that I will not feel the huge financial deficit too badly.

What are some benefits of the new contract? A: There are no benefits other than savings. The problems are legion. Bigger class sizes equal more work for much less money. We are going backwards. Q: How do you think the contracts will affect students, teachers, and the overall quality of teaching? A: Luckily for the community, most of the teachers will work harder to maintain and even surpass the achievements already made. Is Q: there any larger issue that you think is reflected in the contract? A: Yes. Equitable pay for all. There should be some way to pay teachers for what they actually do, for the time spent both in class and out of class. Each position should be looked at specifically so that everyone is paid fairly. For example. The classes that require more time out of class for games, performances, grading, etc. should come with equal stipends. I also think it might be a good idea to place a cap on the number of students allowed to enroll in a course. After that maximum is reached, the teacher is compensated for each student.

Q: Is there any possible “solution” to the

problems that are created by the contract that you could propose? A: I think everyone in society has to take a look at how we have been doing things understanding that the way things were done doesn’t really work anymore. We are in the middle of a giant transition in every arena. There is a serious paradigm shift that must be acknowledged, addressed and accepted. Hopefully we are headed in the right direction.

SMALL TALK

How do you feel about next year’s furlough days?

KAREN HER Sophomore

“It is not fair for the teachers because they get less pay.”

MEGAN SMITH Sophomore

“It is sad because it interferes with the students’ education.”

GAVIN SAUCEDO Freshman

“Personally, I am happy because we get more days off of school.”

staff

editorial

“Dear Student: I am pleased to offer you admission to our university.” Underclassmen, do you want to read these words in an acceptance letter senior year? Want to better your chance of receiving a favorable financial aid package in the midst of rising tuition? Then you need to act now so that you can increase your chances of acceptance and prepare for life after high school. Because while senior year seems far away for many of you, the college selection and application process is just around the corner. For many of BOHS’ seniors, their dreams are currently being realized with acceptance letters arriving from the East Coast (MIT, Boston College), to colleges and universities close to home (USC, UCI, Cal State Fullerton). How did they get in? Being well-rounded and utilizing all available resources at BOHS before attacking the college application process is one strategy our most successful students employ. Another strategy: Don’t be narrow-minded and set limited goals like a 2400 SAT score or valedictorian status. While these accomplishments look great on a résumé, they need to be supplemented by activities that will set you apart. Tens of thousands of students with 4.0 (and higher) GPA’s apply to topnotch institutions, and less than twenty percent are accepted.

End your frustration about recent budget cuts by voting BRIANA PERLSON

STAFF WRITER

Most things are out of our control, but try as we might, we cannot control the uncontrollable, the things that are simply out of our hands.This powerlessness is exemplified by budget cuts that have led to overcrowded classrooms, less money to pay for school upkeep, and the continuous cutting of resources, staff and school days. Governor Jerry Brown put together a proposition, currently known as the Governor’s Tax Proposal Proposition that we will be able to vote on in the upcoming November 2012 election. If passed, the revenue that will be generated from the tax increases on the wealthiest one percent and sales taxes will go towards education. “If the proposition passes there will only be ten furlough days; if it does not pass, there could be up to 25 furlough days next year,” said Jon Gunther, history teacher and BOTA vice president. Many student’s initial reaction on the potential of 25 furlough days next year is of excitement that there will be about an entire month less of school. However, we are missing the bigger picture. Furlough days means less time to learn the material needed for the STAR and AP tests. This results in a much faster paced classroom setting so that teachers can cram in all of the needed material by the May deadlines. It also means more homework, projects and time spent outside of class by the students. For many students with AP classes, there will be more morning and after school sessions to learn the material that cannot be taught. In addition, furlough days are a major pay cut to teachers, which means they will get paid less to work even more. So what can we do as students, parents and teachers, against more cuts to our education system? We can vote. The Governor’s proposition is one way that our vote can directly impact us on the local level. By voting to pass it in the November election, an election that most current BOHS seniors will be able to participate in, our siblings and friends will be able to directly experience the results right here in our schools this next year. This proposition is a way to directly affect an issue that impacts every one of us. It is time to bring our enthusiasm and voice to the polls this November 2012. Stand up for our students education, stand up and go vote.

WILDCAT

Being involved in endeavors outside of the classroom is just as important as a sky-high GPA. BOHS offers over twenty service clubs, an award-winning band, nationally ranked choir and cheer programs, two leadership classes, two journalism classes, and a host of sports programs that welcome motivated students. In addition to being well-rounded, use every opportunity to increase your knowledge. Build meaningful connections with teachers and counselors; they can provide insight about the college experience, write letters of recommendation, and offer muchneeded support during the often grueling high school experience. One last bit of advice: Don’t be afraid to try something new. If there isn’t a club on campus that meets your interests, try starting your own. Many of our most popular clubs were created by students. Act now and pursue leadership opportunities and develop effective work and study habits. Be proactive and research colleges and universities and start building your résumé. And don’t stop there: Commonapp.org allows any student to download application forms so they can better understand how to fill them out, and our award-winning counseling staff is always eager to steer you in the right direction. Don’t procrastinate, because before you know it, it will be your turn to nervously await the letter that will open the doors to your future education.

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The Wildcat is the official newspaper of Brea Olinda High School. The opinions expressed in this paper reflect the views of our staff writers and editors. Unsigned editorials reflect the views 789 Wildcat Way, Brea, CA 92821 of the Wildcat staff. The Brea Olinda Unifed School District has not reviewed, (714) 990-7850 bohs.wildcat.newpaper@gmail.com nor does it endorse, the products or www.facebook.com/theBOHSwildcatnewspaper services advertised.

Matt Schade & Anar Bata...........Co-Editors-in-chief Joy Kim.............................................Managing Editor Paul Lee.....................................................Copy Editor Lois Ahn....................................................News Editor Selina Che.............................................Feature Editor Akshay Verma......................................Opinion Editor Hailey Lee....................................Centerspread Editor Anish Patel................................................A&E Editor Sherman Uyeno......................................Sports Editor Michelle Suh & Amorette Valero.........Photo Editors Grace Chung & Amy Kim............Business Managers Alex Koers........................................................Adviser Staff writers: Erik Benavides, Olivia Chapman, Melinda Chhour, Sharon Cho, Jean Chow, Kellie Galentine, Noelle Gracia, David Kang, Alex Kim, Kevin Kim, Lauren Lee, Steven Lee, Vivian Lee, Tim Lim, Lauren Naval, Rachel Park, Briana Perlson, Sandya Sriram, Joseph Yim, Nathan Yoo Photographers: Alanna Arno, Rainee Castillo, Irisa Charles, Julia Eberhardt, Brandon Kim, Kristine Sea, Jessica Yim

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Feature

page 10 April 5, 2012

White's journey leads to Brea From China to the United States, ambition, education take White around the world

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Sharon cho Staff writer The majority of Japanese and ESL teacher Masako White’s students who enter her class everyday see the standard rows of desks, a white board, and an enthusiastic instructor with a lesson ready to teach. However, what many of White’s students are unaware of is that their seemingly ordinary teacher has traveled the world, volunteered in the South during the Civil Rights movement, and experienced war first-hand.

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Life in wartime

White was born in Shanghai, China, in 1943, during World War Two. Because White’s father, Saburo Yamanouchi, had a kidney ailment, he was exempt from military service in Japan and was sent to work at an international bank in China. Of her childhood, White remembers playing with her siblings and neighborhood friends without any worries about the conflict between the neighboring countries. “My sister was nice and gentle while I was a wild tomboy,” laughed White as she recalled memories of playing “war” with her neighborhood friends. While most parents have everyday worries such as paying the bills and caring for their children, White’s parents struggled with the additional stress of living in a war-torn country that was taken over by Communists after World War II. White’s family wanted to move back to Japan, but the Chinese government denied her family’s exit visas because they were Japanese. During that time, most foreigners were suspected of being spies and were interrogated. White’s father was ultimately imprisoned without a trial, while White’s mother, Tayeko, was allowed to take care of her family. “Even though my parents were questioned as spies, I was only a child so I still lived my normal life of playing with the kids in the neighborhood,” said White. After three and a half years, the Chinese

A lifetime in a nutshell: 1. White, bottom left, stands with her mother, Tayeko, father, Saburo, and older sister, Sachiko, for a family portrait. 2. Taking a break from her volunteer work in Vietnam, White, second from right, spends time and relaxes with friends and fellow volunteers. 3. White serves as marshall at a college graduation as result of her volunteer work during the Vietnam War.

government freed White’s father in 1956 and allowed White and her family to return to Japan. In Japan, White attended a public school. As result of being home schooled and attending a private school for most of her life, White struggled at her new school. She found solace in literature like Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Emma. “It was hard adjusting to wearing a uniform, learning the content, and everything. Luckily, I was a reader of the classics so that’s what kept me going,” said White. After graduating high school, White decided to move to America for college instead of continuing her education in Japan because she wanted to travel like her mother. “My mother had spent a lot of time in Great Britain, which is where she learned English. She had constantly read to me and my siblings in English which explains my British accent,” said

Captured memories: (left) Due to her time as a volunteer during the Vietnam War, a newspaper in Japan published a feature about White for her volunteer work. (right) White spends time with ex-husband, Stewart E. White, Jr., on the front steps of their home. Photos courtesy of Masako White

White.

Bryn Mawr, Penn., U.S.A.

In 1962, White’s mother arranged for her daughter to stay with her Quaker friends in Pennsylvania while she attended Bryn Mawr College. However, after a year of adjusting to her new home at Bryn Mawr, White felt homesick and contemplated a return to Japan. “I learned all that I could in America already,” wrote White in a letter to her mother. “I think I might be ready to come back home.” However, walking through Bryn Mawr’s office one day would change her mind, and her life. White noticed a bulletin that announced a weeklong exchange program at Tougaloo College, a historically African American college in Jackson, Miss. After filling out an application and getting accepted, a group of students, including White, drove to the South. It was not long after they arrived that they experienced the harsh realities of a region plagued by segregation and discrimination. White had quickly made friends with a few AfricanAmerican students enrolled at the college. While purchasing stamps at a post office one day, one of her new friends said, “Masako, we have to leave.” While the cashier initially treated White kindly, the kindness quickly evaporated once he noticed White’s African American friends. “Once he saw who I was with, the man’s face changed. It was really scary seeing how a man’s face could show so much hatred,” said White. This incident would not be the only act of discrimination that White would witness during her time in Jackson. Reverend Ed King, a Caucasian Civil Rights activist, asked White and her African American friends to attend a concert with him. The announcement in the newspaper said that the public was allowed to attend. However, once King, White, and her friends were near the entrance, a few men in suits approached them and said, “Your group is not

“Once [White] told a story during class that she was riding her scooter and an American helicopter, which was ordered to shoot anyone they saw, began to follow her. But she said that she kept riding like nothing was wrong and the helicopter eventually stopped following her” Taylor Quaranta, senior welcome.” King protested, but the choice to leave was made for them once a large group of policemen surrounded them.

The Vietnam War

Instead of fulfilling her parent’s wishes to return home and attend graduate school in Japan, White moved to Saigon, Vietnam. She decided on heading to Vietnam in order to volunteer with the American Friends Service Committee’s Volunteer International Service Assignments program during the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War began in 1954 and pitted the north against its southern neighbors. In 1961, the U.S. entered the war and assisted South Vietnam by sending money, military advisors, troops, and volunteers. In Vietnam, after learning Vietnamese through an intensive three-month course, White and the other volunteers attended a Buddhist school for training. White then continued working with the Buddhist school and traveled to many different villages and orphanages that were in need. As a volunteer in a country embroiled in a rapidly escalating war, there were no guarantees that she would be safe. Taylor Quaranta, senior and a former student of White, said, “Once [White] told a story during class that she was riding her scooter and an

see FEATURE, page 14

April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

Feature

11

Quiming’s tips help students lead healthier lives Joy kim Managing editor While some might say an English teacher giving workout tips and relationship advice during class is unusual, sophomores in the class of Jonathan Quiming, English teacher and fitness guru, consider such lessons as a part of the daily curriculum. On top of learning about literature and improving their writing, Quiming’s students are accustomed to seeing a “health tip of the week” on the white board and the banning of processed foods in the classroom. He has also taught his students yoga, how to make a wholesome parfait, and the elements of a healthy sandwich. “Whenever someone takes out any processed or packaged snacks, [Quiming] will question them and demonstrate healthier choices.

Sometimes he brings healthy snacks like yogurt and strawberries and shows us how to eat healthier,” said Phoebe Song, sophomore. Though some may find these attributes quirky for an English class, many students heed Quiming’s wisdom and regard him as a go-to source for health and fitness advice. For example, when teachers distributed Rice Krispies treats during the CAHSEE, Quiming’s students looked to him for permission to consume the processed snack. “It is interesting because a lot of kids take what I say and remember it. I am not expecting everyone to be as into fitness as I am, but at least I have an impact on their decisions at a young age and give them knowledge I did not have when I was in high school,” said Quiming. Quiming holds a lifelong interest in sports, having played baseball during high school and travel to Australia to surf. However, he did not always have such stringent workout routines and diet restrictions. Starting in the summer of 2008, his brother, Chris, gave him an issue of Men’s Health magazine that inspired him to transform his lifestyle. He took wisdom from other articles on the Internet and watched YouTube videos to create a healthier diet and make his workouts more

effective. For example, Quiming learned that the quality and precision of an exercise is much more crucial than the length of a workout. This also marked the beginning of the removal of processed foods from his diet and a new devotion to whole foods. “I had always lifted weights, went running, surfed, hiked, and did activities that helped me stay active and fit. But the summer of 2008 was a summer of discovery for me, and starting from that point to the present day I learned so much about health and fitness and began to design my own exercise programs and experiment with different diets,” said Quiming. After disciplining himself to his new lifestyle, he shared his discoveries with his friends. One friend from high school lost 30 pounds after the first three months of training with Quiming. Word got around about Quiming’s expertise and others soon requested his guidance. He currently meets with four men three times a week for training sessions as a hobby without pay. Emphasizing exercise variety, Quiming created 200 different workout routines for his trainees. He also takes them to grocery stores to help them make wholesome dietary choices, and records their progress as evidence of their physical

Healthy Tips by Jonathan Quiming Diet

Health

Philosophy

Cook and prepare your meals with whole, unprocessed foods and eat out less, eliminate carbonated beverages and drink only water. You will feel and see a tremendous difference in your body’s health.

Eat a good, healthy breakfast every morning within 90 minutes after waking up to fuel and stoke your metabolism. Studies show those who skip breakfast end up with larger waistlines later in life.

Stay active and invest in good health. Living an active and healthy lifestyle is free. Get creative and reinvent yourself - go outside and do something you love.

Photos and illustrations by Brandon kim, Julia Eberhardt, and Jessica yim / Wildcat

transformations whether it is weight loss, muscle gain, or other areas. As the off-season trainer for the baseball team, Quiming also offers his unique and challenging workouts to the players. They find his wisdom evident in their stronger bodies and higher energy levels. Mitch Miralaie, junior, has developed a respect for Quiming and has benefited from his mentorship. “It is obvious that [Quiming] loves us from the way he helps us. When I eat according to his diet, I have more energy and feel livelier. There is a real difference in that kind of lifestyle,” said Miralaie. Although Quiming enjoyed serving as the freshman baseball coach, he withdrew from coaching to develop his skills as a personal trainer and will pursue a professional trainer’s certificate this summer. “I realized that I enjoyed instructing fitness and designing workouts for players more so than the coaching aspect. I stepped back from baseball to prepare for a trainer’s certificate and hopefully I will work in a gym since this is becoming more of my interest,” said Quiming. Along with promoting physical fitness, Quiming also encourages students to cherish life to promote emotional health as well. For example, he has a compliment jar to foster encouragement. “Besides health tips, [Quiming] tells us philosophical things about life too. I remember he said ‘Close your eyes if you want to remember something’ and I thought it was cool,” said Song. Quiming, also known for his dating tips, encourages his male students to respect girls and helps them ask girls to dances. During the Mr. Brea pageant in Dec. 2011, he taught Josh Castillo, senior, how to impress girls by dancing and making sandwiches. By combining his passion for fitness and teaching, Quiming’s knack for helping others is evident both in and out of the classroom.

Sitt’s magnet creations, YouTube tutorials gain popularity Alex kim Staff writer Clocking in at over two million views, Ethan Sitt, senior, has achieved YouTube fame with videos of his unique sculptures, constructed entirely out of small magnetic spheres called Zen Magnets. “I first got introduced to Zen Magnets when my dad brought a couple of them home three years ago for me to try out. After I started watching videos online, I ordered a single large set of magnets and started making structures of my own. Once I got comfortable enough, I opened a YouTube account and posted videos of them online,” said Sitt. With his initial set of magnets, Sitt entered his creations into competitions and won even more sets. Gradually his arsenal grew, allowing him to tackle projects that required greater size and proportions. “When I first started, I could only make small objects like hexagons and cubes because each magnet is only about five millimeters in diameter. However, now, I have about 16,000 individual magnets, so I can build more complex designs,” said Sitt. Two years after he started his hobby, Sitt received an unexpected notification from YouTube. “I started my YouTube channel in 2009 and nothing really happened, but around September of 2011 [YouTube] sent me an offer to be sponsored. I put it off until I turned 18, so I’ve only been officially sponsored by YouTube for a couple months,” said Sitt. Through that sponsorship, Sitt earns a couple hundred dollars per month, and as of March 2012, Sitt, under the alias of EraZorX13, has over 1000 subscribers and two million channel views, with

“He’s really talented and passionate about what he does so I think he really does deserve credit for all his work.”

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Melody Sitt, sophomore each number increasing on a daily basis. “He’s really talented and passionate about it so I think he really does deserve credit for all his work. Some weeks he works more than others. Some weeks he would work for half the day after school, building and shooting, while other weeks he would just think of ideas,” said Sitt’s sister, Melody, sophomore. Some of his more popular constructions include a magnetic structure of a magnum revolver and a representation of a camera. Each video has an average of over 800,000 and 700,000 views, respectively. “When my videos started to gain a lot of views, I was pretty surprised. I had been posting samples of my magnetic constructions for a while, but all of a sudden the view count went up to 100,000 and then even 1,000,000. I just thought to myself ‘Hey, some people actually watch my videos!’” said Sitt. In addition to YouTube, Sitt is also sponsored by the Zen Magnets company and receives complementary magnet sets while the company uses his work in advertisements. “I will continue to work with magnets even during college and help pay for the costs. Basically I get paid to do something I like at my own convenience,” said Sitt. Using his imagination and innovation, Sitt has developed a talent unseen in others in something that is not only practical, but also enjoyable.

More on YouTube.com Want to see more of Sitt’s creations? Check out his videos on his YouTube channel, EraZorX13.

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Magnetic structures: 1. Sitt uses 3500 Zen Magnets in three hours to recreate “Camera Clone,” a nearly exact copy of his own camera. 2. Sitt squeezed magnets into the proper shape of a man, taking him a total of 10-minutes. 3. Inspired by biology notes, Sitt creates a microscope.

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Photos courtesy of ethan sitt

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April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

CENTERSPREAD

facing your fears

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Defined as “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc.” according to dictionary.com, experiencing fear is something that we all have in common. Whether the source of our terror are creepy critters, carniverous sharks, or blood-thirsty vampires, everyone has something to be afraid of. Researching the science behind the “distressing emotion”, the Wildcat explores the true meaning of fear.

How did you overcome your fears? The Science of fear ANAR BATA Co-Editor-in-chief

Whether it be heights, spiders, flying, or riding a roller coaster, fear is a common emotion shared by all. Fears can range from miniscule once in a life time events to something that affects someone on a daily basis. Fears or phobias can be caused by a past event in which a person has had a traumatic experience. According to nativeremidies.com, the amygdala, a component of the brain, stores the experiences a person has and is the source of strong emotions. When the brain senses a situation similar to the one that caused fear, it sends a fear reaction to the body, which results in the emotion. After sending the fear reaction, another part of the brain known as the hypothalamus, instigates the “fight or flight” by activating sympathetic nervous system and the adrenalcortical system. The two together create interactions in the body through the nervous system and the blood stream, which can result in the body becoming alert, having an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, and sweating. Anxiety can also accompany fear when someone is unaware of certain outcomes, which then makes them nervous and suffer similar effects of being fearful. For example, a person may be terrified of being involved in a plane crash without having ever experienced one before. Panic, on the other hand, is an “immediate physical response to unrealistic and irrational fears, ” according to kidshealth.org. Panic can affect a person’s emotional and physical well being as it causes them to be in a constant state of unrest. Regardless of the cause, fear is a unstoppable emotion that one must face in order to overcome it.

“I had a fear of clowns but overcame it by going to the circus and seeing the clowns there.”

“I used to be afraid of dogs but I overcame it by becoming an owner of four dogs.”

MIGUEL VACA, freshman

CHRISTINE HUNG, Chinese teacher

Arachnophobia: fear of spiders People with arachnophobia tend to feel uneasy in any area they believe could harbor spiders or that has visible signs of their presence, such as webs. If arachnophobics see a spider, they may not enter the general vicinity until they have overcome the panic attack that is often associated with their phobia. Some people scream, cry, have trouble breathing, excess sweating or even heart trouble when they come in contact with an area near spiders or their webs.

7%

CHRIS LOPEZ, junior

“I got over my fears of spiders by making myself study them to get even with her seven brothers as a kid.”

“I was afraid of birds and I had birds placed on my arms and my fear went away.”

MANDY PIECUCH, senior

NANCY MICHAL, science teacher

wacky fears Aurophobia: fear of gold

Helminthophobia: fear of being infested with worms

Deiphophobia: fear of dining or dinner conversations Vestiphobia: fear of clothing

Dextrophobia: fear of abjecs at the right side of the body

Cibophobia: fear of food

What are you afraid of?

20%

“I had a fear of snakes and overcame it by getting a pet snake for my birthday.”

Bibliophobia: fear of books Papypophobia: fear of paper Photos by BRANDON KIM, JULIA EBERHARDT and HAILEY LEE / Wildcat Compiled by HAILEY LEE , TIM LIM, LAUREN LEE Source: fearofstuff.com

226 Students surveyed 32 percent answered “other”

4%

10%

5%

Roller Coaster Phobia: fear of roller coasters

Coulrophobia: fear of clowns

Katsaridaphobia: fear of cockroaches

Roller coaster phobia appears to actually be based in several other phobias, any of which can be enough to trigger a fear of coasters. A fear of roller coasters is not necessarily a phobia at all. Instead, it may be a very real concern based on the individual’s medical history. Many refer to the fear of roller coasters as simply “roller coaster phobia,” because there is no Latin word for roller coaster and thus no Latin phobic term.

According to dictionary.com coulrophobia is defined as “an abnormal fear of clowns”. A negative experience as a child many trigger this fear. Most agree that the main reasons for coulrophobia are the make-up and exaggerated features of the clown. Painted eyes and painted smiles, as well as the red bulbous nose, can be frightening initially to children.

MedicineNet.com indicates this fear may be characterized by, “An abnormal and persistent fear of insects [cockroaches]. Sufferers of this fear experience undue anxiety even though they realize that most insects pose no threat. To avoid insects, they may frequently clean rooms and carpets, sweep hallways, spray insectkiller or seal off doors and windows.” One of the primary causes for this phobia can often be traced by to a previous incident involving cockroaches.

Musophobia: fear of mice or rats Musophobia is created by the unconscious as a protective mechanism. This mechanism was probably created as some point in the persons past when they had a traumatic experience with a mouse or rate. This fear could be triggered by the presence of a mouse or rat in a room or store, seeing them on TV or in movies, someone joking about them, or smelling them.

13%

9% Galeophobia: fear of sharks

Thanatophobia: fear of death Many, if not most, people are afraid of dying. Some people fear being dead, while others are afraid of the actual act of dying. Many people’s fear of death is tied into their religious beliefs, particularly if they happen to be going through a period of questioning. Some people think that they know what will happen after death, but worry that they may be wrong. Some believe that the path to salvation is very straight and narrow, and fear that any deviations or mistakes may cause them to be eternally condemned.

When a person fears sharks, they will shun waters where sharks swim, and they will be terrified by media reports of shark attacks. People with this phobia will avoid documentaries and films that feature the shark. It’s not hard to ascertain why some men, women and children dread sharks and shark attacks. The appearance of a shark can be frightening to almost anyone.

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April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

the

FEATURE

ultimate

Break Nathan yoo Staff writer

Although spring break is only nine days long, it provides the opportunity to retreat from our structured schedules and take a breath of air before finishing off the school year. Four staff members shared their favorite spring break memories with the Wildcat, which ranged from going sightseeing and experiencing new cultures to spontaneous trips with friends and family. While some may consider the vacation too short to plan a travel itinerary, spring break allows us to pause our everyday activities and pursue the enjoyment of being free from the responsibilities of a student or teacher. A week without school is a week without obligatory studying or grading, and a chance to make a week’s worth of lifelong memories.

Dana Lynch

A Trip to Europe I went to Paris and London with Susan Luce, AP Language and Composition teacher, Mayra Martinez and Lorraine Hale, attendance clerks, and a group of students last year. This was my very first trip to Europe! Although there was panic when we were separated from the group at the London airport, the trip was full of exciting first time experiences that I will never forget. It was especially exciting to see the places in London that would be part of the Royal Wedding that would take place later that month. Paris was by far my favorite stop; I saw the Eiffel Tower light up as we cruised along the Seine River and shopped at “Tiffany’s” in Paris for a souvenir!

Greg Higashi

Photo courtesy of Nancy Avery

Economics Teacher

My favorite spring break was when I went to Cozumel, the “Island of the Swallows,” in Mexico. Some highlights of the trip include taking a scooter around the entire island, diving around a sunken ship, lounging on a hammock under the stars on the beach, hiking around Mayan ruins, snorkeling in the bluest waters in the Caribbean, interacting with the locals, chasing iguanas, and having the biggest lobster tail in my life!

Luck of the Irish

Matt Sorenson

Student Services

Caribbean Adventures

Assistant Principal

My family planned on visiting Ireland for twelve days in 2002, but our vacation was extended because the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull erupted, halting air traffic for four days. We took advantage of the extra time to take some road trips to the countryside. It was by far our favorite vacation!

Nancy Avery

Photo courtesy of Dana Lynch

U.S. History Teacher

Fun in Florida I played baseball for the first four years in college and we always played games over spring break so I couldn’t do much. However, when I was in my fifth year in college my eligibility to play was up. I piled into a Jeep Wrangler with four other friends, drove to Panama City, Fla., with only $240 in my pocket, and had the time of my life!

Where do YOU want to go for SPRING BREAK ? The Wildcat asks students where their dream spring break destination is. 123 students were polled

Spring Break Plans ?

“My friends and I ran around Birch and got chased by security before, so we'll probably do that again.”

“I am probably going to go to restaurants and order food in a different accent.”

“I am going to visit Clarkson University in New York to meet the volleyball team.”

- Natalia Calvillo

- Michael Song

- Aishvina Arasu

freshman

sophomore

senior

Paris, France

Tokyo, Japan

Compiled by Sharon Cho and Joseph Yim

London, Sydney, Cancun, England Austrailia Mexico

Other

Compiled by Nathan yoo

‘I was a reader of the classics so that’s what kept me going’ White from page 10 American helicopter, which was ordered to shoot anyone they saw, began to follow her.But she said that she kept riding like nothing was wrong and the helicopter eventually stopped following her.” When White’s volunteering stint ended, she returned to Japan and became an anti-war protestor. Returning to Japan would take her life in another new direction.

A new life

In Japan, White met Stewart E. White, Jr., a U.S. serviceman, while working at an anti-war coffee shop. They married in 1972 and had their first son, John, a year later. In 1975, White and her young family traveled to Florida where their first daughter, Sachi, was born. Stewart soon enrolled at a local college and the White family moved to a housing complex on campus next to other married students. “We basically lived off of $200 a month. I grew my own vegetables, which got me into health food, and was determined to keep my family healthy because we had so little money,” said White. “But that was probably the happiest part of my life because my neighborhood friends, who came from different cultures, and I would cook dishes and share them with each other.”

After Stewart graduated, the couple had their third child, Oliver. Finally, the White’s settled in Brea. “The atmosphere and everything was just fitting to our family. The houses were also were ones we could afford,” said White. While her husband worked at Kodak, White Masako White did freelance jobs as a translator for Japanese japanese families who had recently moved to America. teacher The former principal at BJH then suggested that White embark on a career as a teacher, so White enrolled at California State University, Fullerton, where she earned her teaching credential and Master’s degree. White was soon employed at BOHS and made an impact early by launching the Japanese language program in 1990. She also began an exchange program with Brea’s sister city, Hanno, Japan. This program led to undoukai, translated as “sport’s day,” which is a day where all Japanese levels and the ESL classes spend a day with the Hanno exchange students playing games and eating a traditional Japanese dish, inarizushi (fried tofu pouches filled with rice) with edamame, or soybeans. Of White’s contributions to BOHS, Jerry Halpin, principal, said,

“Our students over the past 20 years have been enriched from the cultural exchange between Hanno, Japan. Sensei White...has really been a great teacher.” White also began the Japanese Booster Club, the Japanese Cultural Dance Club, and the Taiko Club, where students play traditional Japanese drums. In order to expand the knowledge of Japanese culture to students, she additionally started an annual trip to Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo for all Japanese and ESL classes. On this trip, students visit Marukai, a Japanese food store, and take a tour of Little Tokyo. Moving to America was a permanent change for White, but the passion for travel that she inherited from her mother would continue and lead her parts of Europe, Asia, the U.S., and Africa. For White, the horizon held potential trips to Australia, New Zealand, and parts of South America. White’s lifetime of globe trotting and her array of experiences such as witniessing war first-hand have made a profound impact on her that will last forever. “My work camp experiences during high school, my college experiences in Vietnam, traveling, bringing up my children, 27 years of good marriage and divorce in 1999, all have contributed to unique memories that I will treasure all my life,” said White.

April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

Feature

15

Kony 2012 campaign inspires club to take action Selina che Feature editor Invisible Children Club members have joined the fight against Joseph Kony, who was launched into notoriety through a viral 30-minute YouTube video. Since its release, millions of people world-wide have become aware of who Kony is: the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, or LRA, and the most wanted criminal by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity and war. Invisible Children Club, which meets on Tuesdays during lunch in room 231, gives students an opportunity to support the movement against Kony through fundraising. The club donates all of its funds to a program organized by Invisible Children Inc. called Schools for Schools, which allows students to help improve the lives and education of children in northern Ugandan villages. “Since the club started this year, the members have basically been doing little fundraisers to collect money to give to Invisible Children, Inc. What we are collecting money for is to build schools in Uganda for the kids,” said Leslie Leaming, history teacher. Prior to the release of the “Kony 2012” video, the club held a fundraiser called “Mystery Bags,” in which members sold Valentine’s Day goody bags around their neighborhoods. Money collected from the fundraiser was sent directly to support the Schools for Schools program. According to invisiblechildren.com, the Schools for Schools program specifically targets schools in northern Uganda and works with eleven of the most promising schools in the region. The program works to improve the overall quality of education in order to make longterm advancement possible. According to invisiblechildren.com, instead of simply placing students in classrooms and expecting them to

“I think that [contributing to Invisible Children,Inc] is a very positive experience in a sense that it is really getting kids to look at charities and to find what charities are legitimate organizations. I think that it is an eye-opening experience.” Leslie Leaming, u.s. history teacher learn, Invisible Children sends trained teachers to the schools. In addition to certified teachers, the program also provides access to books and technology. “In the long run, [Schools for Schools] helps the next generation of African children deal with the war going on and better ready themselves to end [the war] peacefully,” said Sarah Mandvi, senior, and president of Invisible Children Club. However, despite its efforts to contribute to the organization, the club has received negative criticism from peers because of reports that Invisible Children sends only 37 percent of donations directly towards the campaign against Kony while the majority of funds are used for entertainment purposes such as promotional videos and advertising. “Yes, Invisible Children, Inc. sends only that much [money] out [to Uganda] and uses [most of the money] for entertainment, but there are also other programs within the organization that the money goes towards too, like we are donating to Schools for Schools,” said Julie Gazzoni, junior and member of the club. To counter the criticisms, members researched and pinpointed exactly where their donations were spent. “Every charity is going to have administrative costs, but since the whole world knows about Kony, maybe [Invisible Children] will change their

numbers of direct aid from 37 percent to maybe into the 40 percentage range,” said Mandvi. Invisible Children Club will continue to fundraise and contribute to the Schools for Schools program and the movement to stop Kony. “I think that [contributing to Invisible Children] is a very positive experience in a sense that it is really getting kids to look at charities and to find what charities are legitimate organizations,”

Fast Facts

said Leaming. “I think that it is an eye-opening experience to a lot of kids.” Members of the club hope that by donating towards Schools for Schools, the next generation in Uganda will be able to better protect themselves from, and ultimately end, the Uganda Civil War. Through their fundraisers, the club as a whole will therefore benefit and contribute towards the fight against Kony.

source: invisiblechildren.com

What is Schools for Schools? Schools for Schools is a fundraising program that has students and schools in First World countries compete to raise money and rebuild schools in northern Uganda.

Do students get awarded for fundraising? At the end of the competition, students who have raised the most funds are awarded trips to Uganda.

How does the program work? When a school registers on the site, they are assigned to one of 10 “school clusters,” each of which is partnered with a specific school in northern Uganda that they must raise money for. The money raised goes towards rebuilding and refurbishing the partner schools in five main categories: water and sanitation, infrastructure and facilities, teacher training and incentives, equipment and resources, and technology.

Why northern Uganda? Due to the long-lasting war in northern Uganda, the standards of educations and facilities have suffered. Prior to the war, at least five of Uganda’s top 10 schools came from the north, whereas now, not one school from the north is in the top 100.

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A &E

page 16 April 5, 2012 February 2, 2011

Odds favor Hunger Games, sets box office record

Hunger Games overtakes Twilight as new pop culture obsession

are especially excited about the series because, although there is extreme violence, Katniss’s fears and overcoming of adversity parallel the fears and turbulent lives of real-life teenagers. “The plot doesn’t rely on splatter and gore but instead focuses on the frantic and vulnerable expressions of kids in a desperate state of fight or flight. Is it violent? Yes. Do we back off from what it is? No, we don’t. But I’m not interested in violence for violence’s sake. This is a character’s story; it’s about Katniss’ journey,” said Ross in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. With the end of the Harry Potter series with Deathly Hallows Part 2 in July 2011, and with the impending conclusion of the Twilight series with Breaking Dawn Part 2 next November, The Hunger Games -- both its best-selling books and films -- have become the Next Big Thing.

JOSEPH YIM Staff writer Move over Bella and Harry, there’s a new literary and film hero in town. A six-hour wait in a line that stretched down Birch Street for those hoping to score prime seats at the midnight premiere of The Hunger Games was all the evidence necessary to see that The Hunger Games series and its bow-and-arrow-wielding heroine Katniss Everdeen had supplanted

Q & A with fans 1. How well did the movie plot follow that of the book? 2. Did the actors portray the characters well?

Harry Potter and Twilight as the Next Big

Thing. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, centers on teen Everdeen who, with fellow District 12 “tribute” Peeta Mellark, must fight 22 other teenagers to the death in a giant wilderness arena. The annual games are broadcast live to the twelve districts as both entertainment and as a means of instilling order and hope in a dystopian future ravaged by violence. The books’ popularity was most evident in the $152.5 million opening weekend haul of the film adaptation on March 29. It is third largest opening weekend of all-time (trailing only Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and The Dark Knight, while besting all installments of the Twilight franchise), according to boxofficemojo.com. The film pulled in another $61 million last weekend to remain atop the box office. Since its publication in Sept. 2008, The Hunger Games has been a hit with both teenagers and adults alike. Kathy Simonetta, (’10), enjoys The Hunger Games because the problems that the characters endure in the novel parallel the challenges young adults face. “Twilight is a love story, but Hunger Games incorporates [a] romance not-to-be- embarrassedabout for teens. Students feel relatable to the plot as it clearly illustrates that life isn’t fair, especially

3. What was your favorite scene in the movie?

Danielle Robles Junior

romance,” said Simonetta. Michaelangelo Talag, sophomore, is drawn to the series’ colorful setting. “The adventure of Hunger Games takes you to a different world. The story goes so into depth that I feel I’m in the story too, except not in the position to harm anyone. I could feel the richness of the Capitol, as if I was there to watch the games myself,” said Talag, whose family won tickets to the world premiere in Hollywood. Danielle Robles, junior, explained why teens were willing to wait so long for the movie’s premiere: “The Hunger Games is its own sense of creativity, where teens enjoy the rabid fighting and anguish of being forced to end another life. This catches the attention of mind-wandering teens, since we naturally stray away from boring topics, especially in school,”

said Robles. Adam Meadows, junior, who customized his own Hunger Games sweater for the midnight premiere, credits the film’s cast for its success. “Jennifer Lawrence played Katniss so realistically, to the point that the whole story revolved around her. Josh Hutcherson [as Peeta] and his sort of quiet-butsensible acting was great too, and really went along well with Katniss’ seriousness,” said Meadows. Nancy Thompson, librarian, shares her thoughts on why The Hunger Games was a hit for teens.“ Since the movie recently came out, teens naturally want to follow the current trend. Also, the Twilight-like love story entices students to believe that it relates to their own lives,” said Thompson. Director Gary Ross explained that teens

Stacey Jung Junior

Andrea Ramos Science teacher

1. The movie followed the book really well; it was just a shortened version. 2. The actors fit the characters perfectly, especially Josh Hutcherson. 3. My favorite scene is in the cave where Peeta and Katniss had their first kiss.

1. Most of the movie followed the original story, but many crucial points were left out. 2. Only Jennifer Lawrence fit her role well, but everyone else was mediocre. 3. The best scene was when the tracker jackers attacked the people on the ground.

1. The plots were similar. 2. Everyone suited their roles well, but I was disappointed in Peeta. He was not a good counter to Gale. 3. My favorite scene was The Reaping because it was the most similar to the one in the book.

Kathy Simonetta

Alyssa Alcaraz

Courtney Tindal

(‘10)

junior

junior

Hunger Games Fans get creative

Alcaraz expresses her passion for the story line with a painting of the mockingbird symbol on fire.

Simonetta’s journal, filled with musings and illustrations, is signed by the cast of The Hunger Games.

Tindal fashions a customized Hunger Games sweater that she wore with other fans to the midnight premiere.

Compiled by JOSEPH YIM / Wildcat

backSTAGE Look

Hunger Games (16) Dana Poore and Jessica Arias, freshmen, read The Hunger Games while anxiously awaiting the midnight premiere of the film on March 22.

BRANDON KIM / Wildcat

I.DC (17)

Coffee Shops(17)

Upcoming Releases American Reunion

4/6

The Cabin in 4/13 the Woods

Choir (18)

Two-Faced Toucans (18)

Headlines

Patel’s Dressing Room

• Masquerade show choir ranks seventh in the nation

After a stellar production of Grease, I look forward to choir’s remaining competitions and their trip to Chicago. Their annual Spring Magic concert in May will definitely highlight the year’s success.

• Spellbound show choir remains undefeated at regional competitions.

The Three Stooges

4/13

• Based on the film from 1978, Grease was held in the PAC the past two weekends.

The Lucky One

4/20

• Spring Magic will be held in May, with show choir performing competition shows.

April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

17

I.DC ‘breaks’ way onto campus dance scene KEVIN KIM Staff writer International Dance Crew, better known as I.DC, is garnering popularity among students through its blend of break dancing and hip-hop. The eight member crew first formed before the Brea Dance Concert, held Feb. 2, when Jon Densing, junior, and other solo dancers realized their potential as a group while choreographing for the show. “For the concert, some B-Boy Club members wanted to show to the people their love for dance,” Densing said. “Due to our same passions and close friendships, we decided to form a group interested in performing at school concerts, rallies, and special events.” Izzy Perez, junior, said the Brea Dance Concert was the first step in I.DC’s path to success. He said his group was excited to perform a dance genre unfamiliar to many students. “I.DC members simply wanted to represent the missing hip-hop culture on campus,” Perez said. “I believe the students still give us much attention because we were the first to perform the unexpected and unknown hip-hop styles.” The majority of the members utilize popping and waving styles of dance in their choreography. I.DC exercises popping, sporadic motions to create robotlike movements, and waving, fluid motions to create wave-like movements. Although all members know how to pop and wave, Nathaniel Valdez, junior, is I.DC’s popping and waving representative. He said the two styles are easy to pull off, if one is willing to dedicate time and effort into the practicing the skill. “I hope I.DC will improve in our new hip-hop style as the year continues on,” Valdez said. “I get hyped up when I’m able to understand and pull off a new popping motion or a waving continuum. Hip-hop genre offers thousands of motions, and I’m stoked to learn and develop the moves.” Evette Rodriguez, junior, said she is the only female member in the club. I.DC members believe that the group mixture makes the crew more ethnically

and stylistically diverse. “Evette is the only female member in our group,” Densing said. “Because of her, I.DC is able to pull off powerful dance moves that the guys cannot do. In addition, I think it’s a blessing to have members who are able to represent different ethnic groups, as well as demonstrate distinguished hip-hop styles.” During International Week, I.DC demonstrated freestyle dancing in the quad. During the freestyle, the members, unconstrained by choreography, danced to their own preferable styles. A circle of students cheered on for the rookie hip-hop crew throughout the performance. “Dancing in front of all those people during International Week was incredible,” Anthony Pham, senior, said. “I.DC members were all doing our own dance moves, hoping a couple people would watch. We were humbled to see students actually gather to watch us. The hard work we put in our practices really paid off that day.” Although they debuted only two months ago, I.DC also performed at the ‘90s Rally, marking its third public show in school. Understanding the infinite varieties of hip-hop dancing, the crew renovated its choreography for the rally. With snippets of comical and freestyle dance moves, Jacob Elias, junior, said the group works hard to provide better entertainment to their fans. “It had been only a couple of months since we debuted, but we wanted to show how much we learned from dancing as a group,” Elias said. “In the ‘90s Rally, we performed an improved version of our Brea Idol choreography with comical innovations in the end. We still lack a lot, but I hope others can still see our dedication towards what we love.” The members agree in spreading I.DC’s popularity both on and off campus. Marvin Momongan, senior,​ said garnering popularity is vital for future success. “Our goal right now is to get out, get noticed, and most importantly, have fun through the whole experience,” said Momongan. “Our friends have been helpful by offering us requests in churches in and out of Brea. We’re excited to show everyone what we have in store for 2012.”

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Photos by ALANNA ARNO, BRANDON KIM and JESSICA YIM / Wildcat

Swag

masters:

1. Anthony Pham, senior, and Temi Seriki, sophomore, demonstrate body popping skills at Brea Idol. 2. Isidoro “Izzy” Perez, junior, ‘dougies’ in the main quad, as students pour in following International Week events. 3. Evette Rodriguez, junior, leads the ‘90s rally performance as I.D.C display a choreographed dance.

Wildcat evaluates best coffee shop study spots

RAINEE CASTILLO Photographer

LAUREN LEE Staff writer

IRISA CHARLES Photographer

AKSHAY VERMA Opinion editor

VIViAN LEE Staff writer

• Summary: Though the most recently established restaurant, Panera has been able to draw more students than Corner Bakery. Students cite the warm atmosphere with large tables and younger patrons as Panera’s primary calling card.

• Summary: Without the large customer base of Starbucks, the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is often not considered for study sessions. However, the Coffee Bean has always catered to older customers, as it offers healthier beverages and a more elegant décor.

• Summary: Starbucks has always been the go-to place for the regular coffee drinker. Soothing music and a peaceful atmosphere allows for focus and concentration for study. The workers’ friendly attitude gives the café a comfortable atmosphere.

• Summary: Corner Bakery has been serving up diner style food at Downtown Brea for the greater part of the decade. However, the distractions of Downtown with its higher amount of traffic take away from Corner’s great food and makes studying rather difficult.

• Summary: Midastee, only a stone’s throw away from Yogurtland on Imperial, is a largely unknown tea house that serves Taiwanese Food and specialty sandwiches. Many people do not realize it exists as its exterior is vague and outside seating is minimal.

• Atmosphere:

• Atmosphere:

• Atmosphere:

• Atmosphere:

• Atmosphere:

• Food & Beverage: sandwiches, soups, salads and baked goods

• Food & Beverage: organic teas, coffee drinks, snacks/baked goods

• Food & Beverage: coffee & tea drinks, paninis & sandwiches, snacks and baked goods

• Food & Beverage: classic diner food, soups, sandwiches, salads, baked goods

• Food & Beverage: Traditional Café Food, Oriental Food, Specialty Teas

• Price: $2.49 for a medium coffee

• Price: $3.55 for a medium latte

• Price: $4.25 for a grande latte

• Price: $3.39 for medium latte

• Price: $3.50 for tea

•Bonus: Wi-fi, drive-thru, outdoor fireplace

•Bonus: Wi-fi, holiday specials

•Bonus: Wi-fi, variety of locations

•Bonus: Wi-fi, located in the downtown area

•Bonus: Wi-fi, Tea Time Specials, Tea Ceremonies

• Recommended Order: broccoli & cheddar soup w/ turkey sandwich & berry acai iced tea

• Recommended Order: hot chocolate with a slice of blueberry cheesecake

• Recommended Order: Upside Down Caramel Macchiato

• Recommended Order: Half Moon Cheese Ravioli with caesar salad

• Recommended Order: Mango Green Tea with Midastee Chicken Sandwich

•Overall:

•Overall:

•Overall:

•Overall:

•Overall:

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April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Two-Faced Toucans on way to fame #that awkward moment when

ANAR BATA Co editor-in-chief With their musical duo, The Two-Faced Toucans, Joseph Mulock and Jake Thorum, seniors, offer a different take on high school bands through their fusion of acoustic indie folk and pop. Although the band is new, Mulock and Thorum have a long history with music. Both began playing instruments such as the drums and piano when they were in seventh grade. “I just love to perform. I like feeling nervous before the show and just the atmosphere that comes with performing,” said Thorum. The boys formed The Two-Faced Toucans last November, with Thorum serving as lead singer and Mulock as drummer. The Toucans began performing live shows in December at venues such as the International Coffee House in Brea. While the band often performs famous covers by artists such as Bob Marley, they also perform many self-written songs such as “Found You”, “Silence”, and “Trendsetter Jerry”. “‘Ends’ is probably my favorite song that I have written. It’s really about resorting back to your comfort zone and bad habits even when you don’t want to,” said Mulock. Thorum acknowledged that writing is one of the harder parts about being in a band. “Sometimes I have writer’s block and it is hard to come up with new material that I like. Even after writing a song, it is difficult to know if the audience will like it or not.” stated Thorum. The Toucans publicize their band through friends

Will_Parke Junior

“Your girlfriend’s wristband gets cut off at Sadies but yours doesn’t.”

#duckanddip

Grace_Chung

Junior

“You open the wrong car door thinking it’s your mom.” #oops

Luis_Delgado

Sophomore

“You hear two guys talking about their girlfriends while they poop.’”

#relationshipsdownthetoilet

MICHELLE SUH / Wildcat

Taking the stage: Joseph Mulock and Jake Thorum, seniors, performed at the Night Owl in Fullerton,

Andrew_Purpura

March 23. The Two-Faced Toucans played mostly original songs as well as a few covers. and family, many of whom support them at local shows. Konnor Mitchell, senior, and a friend of Thorum and Mulock, has been to every performance and believes the band is “unique and out of the ordinary.” “Their style of writing and performing is really different. I really think this is a good fit for them, especially Joseph. You get to see a different side of him and he is able to channel his energy towards music and performing,” said Mitchell. The Two-Faced Toucans also utilize social media

Senior

to publicize events. “We basically just use Facebook to update concert dates so people should like our page on Facebook to get all of the updates,” said Mulock. In terms of future aspirations, the Toucans are working on getting singles produced and an album made. “As for where we go in the future, I am staying optimistic. While I would like to play in big stadiums, I would be happy with just performing at coffee houses for the rest of my life,” said Mulock.

“Your license plate says ‘BOYS4US’.” #moms car

Sandya_Sriram Junior

“When Mr. Corp trips you and you fall flat on your face during a track run.” #ouch

Compiled by JOSEPH YIM

Masquerade ranked seventh in nation; prepares for Nationals Successful Grease run ends; choirs prepare for Chicago competition 1

JOSEPH YIM Staff writer

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3

Photos by AMORETTE VALERO / Wildcat

‘We go together’: 1. Teen Angel, played by guest Pastor Doug Green, and Frenchy, played by Marissa Leite, junior, performs the duet “Beauty School Dropout.” 2. Danny, played by Jones, sings with his fellow T-birds in their act “Grease Lightning.” 3. Choir members dance in their opening number of “Summer Nights”.

After sweeping the regional qualifying round at “Fame” in Hollywood on March 21, Show Choir now prepares to take the stage at Nationals. Boys’ and girls’ Masquerade choir currently ranks seventh in the nation while advanced girls’ Spellbound choir remains undefeated. At the competition in Hollywood, Masquerade placed second and Spellbound placed first, which qualifies both groups to compete against the top 20 schools at Nationals in Chicago, Ill., on April 2021, according to Charisse Green, senior president of Masquerade. “Nationals is nothing to be taken lightly. The other top-competing schools are facing us with more experience and professional shows, but that doesn’t mean we have any chance to place, we have a shot,” said Green. Competitors are assessed in three categories: music, choreography, and performance, where judges look for energy in dancing and singing. Show Choir prepares for the competition through individual vocal training and setting special effects. Last year, choir entered Nationals for the first time and although the teams placed fifth, the experience prepared them for a return to Nationals, according to Rachel Gallegos, junior, and member of Masquerade and Spellbound. “Through this pressure we get a better understanding of each other, so we use that to our advantage. Then, we can produce something so intense that it would blow away our competition. This is the difference between the lower-leveled competitors and those who stand out among the rest,” said Gallegos. The teams give most of the credit for their success to Dave Willert, Choir Director with their consistent wins in competitions. “Willert can be intense. Yet he is an inspiration for all of us to strive for the goal of dominating the competition. He rose us up from bottom to top, and his tough love really works to pull the teams together, making every practice fired up and homely at the same time” said Samuel Cho, junior and member of Masquerade.

Willert describes the choir’s attitude as “positive”, stating that they always bring an untiring atmosphere to practices, and deal with hectic schedules calmly. “Everyone knows what they are here for, with the mind-set to win, which makes an effectively competitive group. Through the crazy schedules of competitions, the students still practice on their own for home shows like Brea Idol. This dedication is awesome,” said Willert. Choir’s development has been exemplified through Grease, their most recent production which wrapped last Saturday. The show is based on the original story line about two people from different social cliques falling in love with each other despite their major differences. Jerry Halpin, principal, involved himself in choir’s success as he sang with them during their “Teen Angel” performance on March 22. “I did a lot of praying, because I had never sung in public nor performed on stage since I led the kindergarten band when I was five. I rehearsed with the real talent (the rest of the cast) a few times before opening night, and they all were very supportive. I figured that our outstanding teachers ask our students daily to step out of their comfort zone, so I should be able to model that as well,” said Halpin. Though busy preparing for other scheduled shows, choir members have dedicated their time in perfecting their future performances for Nationals in Chicago according to Herman Hope, senior and member of Masquerade. “Everything disappears, and I just feel everyone around me, their tempo matching mine, and we just suddenly know when to move together, as if we were meant to win at Chicago,” said Hope.

Grease Cast Members Sandy:

Nicole McEntee and Julianne Sexton

Danny:

Brandon Jones

Kenickie:

Travis Morrill and Herman Hope

Rizzo:

Nicole Berkey and Justice Bolden

Sports Brea Olinda High Winter Sports Baseball

4/2

• Brea Olinda Lompoc

Baseball

1 0

page 19 April 5, 2012

the Tape 4/3

Brea Olinda • LB Poly

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Softball

3/29

• Segerstrom Brea Olinda

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B. Volleyball

3/31

• Canyon Brea Olinda

3 0

Golf

3/27

• Brea Olinda 205 Foothill 208

B. Tennis

3/29

• Foothill Brea Olinda

13 5

B. Tennis

4/3

• El Dorado 15 Brea Olinda 3

Track and field program in full stride NOELLE GRACIA Staff writer

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Nguyen, Poore, lead boys’ track and field to third place in Century League

To most of the spectators in the crowd, the entire boys’ varsity 400 meter race was summed up at the halfway mark. Two El Modena High School runners had passed the BOHS runners by the first curve, and there was almost no question as to which team would be crossing the finish line first. However, pulling ahead of both Vanguards in the last 50 meters was Brandon Poore, senior, clinching the win for the Wildcats. Poore not only came in first, but also achieved a new personal record of 53.2 seconds. “Since they both passed me early on, I figured I’d just keep my form and hope they died out later on. By the second turn, you could tell one of the runners was slowing down so I just kicked it and I kept good form throughout the straightaway, and eventually caught up to them,” said Poore. “I was so psyched out, I didn’t think I could catch them, I really didn’t. But I heard the crowd and it just fueled my energy and I knew I couldn’t just give up then. It was a great race.” The Wildcats currently hold a 3-2 league record and a third place standing in Century League. Poore’s comeback win is only one of the many highlights that has occurred for boy’s track this season. “Some guys to look out for are seniors like Max McBride, Cody Nguyen, and Elliot Ramirez, the distance runners being a strong point for the team,” said Jeremy Mattern, head coach. Nguyen’s races were also a highlight of the El Modena meet as he won his first three races (the 800 meter event, the 1600 meter event, and the 3200 meter event), and although the 4x400 meter relay team lost, Nguyen still won his leg of the race. Though BOHS lost to both Canyon and Esperanza, Dylan Huynh, senior, maintains hope that his team will advance to CIF in the end. “For the runners, in order to beat teams like Canyon and Esperanza, we will have to gain endurance and more speed,” said Huynh. “But for hurdlers, the more speed to get, the worse your form is. We have the form and just need to work on our speed with the form.” Ramirez believes that BOHS is capable of making it to the championships, it’s just a matter of practicing harder and employing Mattern’s philosophy to get

preGAME Look

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Photos by AMORETTE VALERO and BRANDON KIM / Wildcat

Kicking them down: (1) Dylan Huynh, senior, competes in the triple jump event. (2) Jennifer Janneck, junior,

pulls ahead in the 100 meters. (3) The boys’ varsity 3200 meter event is led by BOHS runners Jared Daedler, Addison Mendez, juniors, Cody Nguyen, senior, and John Janneck, junior. Nguyen went on to capture the “Triple Crown” against El Modena High School by winning the 800, 1600, and 3200 meter events. (4) Brandon Poore, senior, comes down the home stretch during his leg of the 1600 meter relay. The Wildcats defeated the Vanguards and improved to 3-2 in league. ahead: Do the things that your competition isn’t. “It’s the little things like Brandon Poore’s race; Jordan Brown racking up a lot of points with the triple long jump; and Cody Nguyen winning three out of his four races that really have huge benefits for us. Going against tough schools like Canyon and Esperanza, it’s difficult to come out with a Century League championship. We could possibly be co-champions with Canyon and that would be great but if not, second place is nothing to hang our heads

N. Rogers (20) B. Swim (20)

about. We’re just doing our best with the talent we have right now,” said Ramirez.

Girls’ track and field driven by team chemistry, personal bests

Track and field usually features the feats of the individual, but most girls on the track team attribute their success to their coaching, intense practice sessions, and team chemisty. “I think that this year we’re more united, we all do our warm ups together,

Baseball (21)

Roster (Baseball): K. Kasser

A. Minor

G. Volmer

J. Love

A. Vivian

M. Miralaie

N. Kern

R. Olson

N. Martino

C. Lechuga

R. Gallegos

R. Main

L. Lee

C. Stoerck

E. Potts

J. McFarland

J. Vandergriff

K. Cawdrey

M. Chavez

B. Ruano

C. Bishop

with both sprinter and distance girls. It takes all the different aspects of track to come together, the sprinters, the distance, the hurdlers and jumpers to score well individually and that will eventually lead to a team victory, which is really the main objective,” said Sarah Smith, senior. While winning the overall meet is the girls’ main focus, another goal is beating personal records. Kaylin Peterson, junior and varsity hurdler, takes pride in meeting the expectations she has set for herself over

Golf (21)

Ladycats (22)

ALANNA ARNO / Wildcat

See SPORTS, page 23

Hockey (23) T. Nua (23)

Baseball Headlines

Uyeno’s Locker Room

• The Wildcats are currently fourth in the Century League with a record of 3-4

Led by the pitching staff, I believe that if baseball can qualify for CIF then they will be able to make a deep run in the playoffs. Because when it comes to postseason, it comes down to pitching staff wins.

• Erick Potts, senior, leads the pitching staff with a 3-1 record and 0.95 ERA. Potts’ next start is in the Lion’s Tournament

Nick Kern, senior, drives the ball deep against La Habra High School.

the course of the season. “I feel like I’ve done pretty well so far this season; my personal best for the standard hurdle race [is] 47.44 seconds. Only one girl has beaten me so far, but I don’t mind, I plan on getting her back at League anyways. Like everyone else, I’m focused on beating my own personal records and exceeding my own limits but at the end of the day, it’s the team’s overall scores that matter the most. I’m

• Kyle Kasser and Cameron Bishop are the only sophomores on varsity this season • UCLA-bound Nick Kern, senior, holds a .366 batting average and 2.59 ERA

20

April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

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Boys’ swim on brink of league title ERICK BENAVIDES Staff writer Boys’ varsity swim is off to a fast start in Century League, with an undefeated record in all competitions and a number ten ranking in the Orange County by ocvarsity.com. The Wildcats dominated their Century League season opener on March 7 at El Dorado, winning every event at the competition and tallying a final score of 132-38. At the 29th Annual Canyon Relays on March 9, the Wildcats finished first out of eight schools, and winning five of eight events contested. The first ever first place finish for the Wildcats at the event included a nine second win in the 4x100yard Individual Medley with a time of 3:54.45. Following their win at the Canyon Relays, the Wildcats traveled to Foothill High School on March 16 in what would be the Wildcats toughest challenge of the season. With the Wildcats trailing Foothill heading into the final event, it seemed as if the Wildcats would record their first defeat in Century League meets. However, Lucas Keller, junior, swam a personal best and placed third in the 100-yard breast stroke, securing a win for the team. “We swept the breast stroke which led directly to our victory. If he does not get third we do not win the meet,” said Gil Rotblum, head coach. With momentum on their side the Wildcats comfortably defeated the Canyon Comanches 116-54 at home on March 21. The Wildcats hosted their final home meet against El Modena on March 28 and won with a score of 126-44. Although the Wildcats won off the strength of veteran leadership from Nolan Rogers, Ryan Lank, and Adrian Harary, seniors, the Wildcats youth, including Diego Pabalan, freshman, and Cody Wood and Calvin Rogers, sophomores, ensured that the score would be a blowout. The emergence of Pabalan, is a key addition who the Wildcats hope will put them over the top.

“I think we are a really young team and have a lot of new swimmers who’ll continually get better. I think we definitely have a lot of potetial.”

NOELLE GRACIA Staff writer

Calvin rogers, sophomore “Pabalan is an excellent addition to the team. He will add depth and has experience swimming long course meters with excellent technique,” said Rotblum. “I think we are a really young team and have a lot of new swimmers who’ll continually get better. I think we definitely have a lot of potential,” said Calvin Rogers. The Wildcats will place their 3-0 league record on the line and travel to Esperanza, April 17. League Finals begins May 1.

BRANDON KIM / Wildcat

Fly

to the finish:

Ryan Lank, senior, races in the Individual Medley in the Canyon meet, March 21. Boys’ swim competes in league Finals, May 1.

Rogers competes in Olympic trials RACHEL PARK Staff writer Since he was six years old, Nolan Rogers, senior, has been passionate about swimming, and this devotion has led him to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Trials. In the Junior Olympics in Florida last summer, Rogers competed in the 200m breaststroke and placed ninth. This year, Rogers was eligible to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team with his 2:24 in the 200m breaststroke. However, in order NOLAN to make the team, ROGERS Rogers will have to senior time in under 2:20. Roger will compete in the Olympic trials this summer in Omaha, Neb. However, in order to qualify for the 2016 Olympics Nolan will have to swim the

200m breaststroke in 2:20, four seconds faster than his personal record of 2:24. In order to earn this opportunity, Nolan has devoted most of his time to practicing in the pool. “I feel really blessed to have this opportunity. The amount of work that I have put into this has been extremely difficult but the sacrifice is definitely worth it,” said Rogers. A typical day for Rogers consists of training in Huntington Beach at 4:30 a.m. for an hour and a half and than heading back after school for a two-hour night practice. Rogers swims about ten miles a day along with an hour of land training three days a week and an hour of lifting three days a week. Nutrition is also a major aspect of Roger’s training; he consumes 8000 to 10,000 calories per day. “The amount of training took some time getting used to, but now I am accustomed to it. After the first couple of weeks you get used to it,” said Rogers.

In order to improve his time, Rogers has also been working on the mental aspect of his training. “I am focused on working on imagery, visualizing what I have to do in the race. I am also working on lucid dreaming,” said Rogers. Along with the long practices outside of school, Rogers competes amongst the top swimmers in Century League and is undefeated. “Nolan is very humble, and yet confident in his abilities. He speaks more of his actionand we enjoy having him in the team since he leads such a great example,” said Gil Rotblum, boys’ swim head coach. While preparing for future Olympic events, Rogers will attend Golden West College part-time next fall to train. However, he is ultimately looking to transfer to a Division I swim power like University of Southern California or the University of Texas.

Moore (‘03) uses NFL experience to inspire ERIK BENAVIDES Staff writer Current National Football League player and alumni Evan Moore (‘03) visited on March 21st to speak to the students of Hans Backer’s World History classes. The teacher-led discussion featured questions from students ranging

topics from Moore’s professional football career with The Cleveland Browns to Moore’s high school career that led him to Stanford University. Moore, a two-sport athlete, dreamed of playing in the National Basketball League throughout his childhood. However, a frustrating freshman season in which he did not play single minute of

ALANNA ARNO / Wildcat

Words

of wisdom:

Evan Moore (‘03) speaks to Hans Backer’s World History class about his college and NFLcareer, while sharing words of encouragement.

Ruiz takes on water polo; will focus on team cohesion

JV basketball deflated his spirit. Instead of quitting, Moore worked harder to earn playing time, and fortunately grew five inches. “I was competitive but I never played, and that was probably the most frustrating part in all of high school sports,” said Moore. By his junior year, Moore had the attention of the top Universities in the state for his play on the basketball court. A scholarship offer from Stanford lured Moore from the local area and up to Palo Alto. Not satisfied with merely being a basketball star, Moore decided to try a new sport, football. Using his height to dominate opposing cornerbacks, Moore would score 13 touchdowns his senior season as a wide receiver while leading the basketball team in scoring with 24.5 points per game. Though a gifted athlete, Moore also heavily dedicated himself to academics, graduating from high school with a grade point average of 4.4. “I used to get a hard time from some of my friends because school was really important to me. Grades were always a premium for me, homework was a priority and I made sure I was on top of that,” said Moore. Not until his junior year at Stanford did Moore decide to focus the majority of his

time on football and pursue a professional career. After graduating with a degree in political science from Stanford, Moore went undrafted in the 2008 NFL draft, but luckily he was able to sign with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers as a free agent. His time with the Packers would be short and injury filled, and Moore would be cut before the season. Despite that, Moore would continue to believe in his talents and keep working out for NFL teams. Landing in Cleveland for the 2009 season, Moore would finally have his breakout season and prove his standing as an NFL tight end. “It is okay to be confident and believe in your ability, even if someone tells you they do not believe in you, you have to be a self starter, one of those people who do not always need encouragement from others,” said Moore. “I had a great support system with my family but the thing is you are going to fail at things but you just have to find a way to bounce back and believe in yourself.” Though his NBA dream was never realized, Moore never stopped dreaming big. “I thought he was going to be arrogant and cocky because he is a famous athlete but I did not expect him to be so down to earth and inspiring,” said Devin Jurist, sophomore World History student.

A new season, a new batch of players, and a new head varsity coach are all on the agenda for the 2012 boys’ water polo season. Next fall, former junior varistycoach Mario Ruiz will be at the helm. A former varsity player for Mater Dei High School (‘07), Ruiz played water polo at Santa Ana College (SAC) where he was named to the All-Conference team his second year. After graduating from SAC in 2009, Ruiz transferred to Chapman University, where he played out his final two years for the Chapman Panthers. MATT When asked what MUNET the team’s thoughts junior were on their new leadership, Matt Munet, junior, said, “I think the varsity team will really benefit from Coach Ruiz leading us, because he knows TAELOR all of us and we like AWAA how he’s a familiar freshman face as well. He knows what needs to get done and his style is different from our last coach, [Chris Ansevin]. [Ansevin] was more aggressive while Ruiz is a lot calmer and I think that’s what our team needs. He’s a good balance.” Ruiz attributes his coaching style to his former coach at Mater Dei, Chris Segesman. “Coach Segesman was the smartest coach I’ve ever played for and demanded nothing but excellence from his players. With his coaching style having rubbed off on me, I know I can bring that same passion to Brea,” says Ruiz. After spending this past summer working with the varsity team and getting familiar with the team’s playing style, Ruiz plans to change things up for the upcoming season. “The biggest change I would like to see with this program would be the cohesion between the player, the coaches, the parents, and the school. We have the talent, we have the support, we just need that sense of playing as a team and working together in a synergistic way,” says Ruiz. Taelor Awaa, freshman, who has played under Ruiz on his club team, Brea Olinda Aquatics, agrees with Munet that Ruiz will definitely meet the expectations set for him. “Having Ruiz as my coach has been really great, he respects his players and his mindset is one that pushes us. He knows what he’s doing and he’ll be great for the team. Plus the fact that we’ve already worked with him over summer, makes it even better,” said Awaa. Though the sudden resignation of Coach Ansevin came as a shock to the varsity water polo team, they’re ready to embrace the new direction Ruiz is prepared to take them in. “Becoming head coach for the program came as a quite a shock to me and although I’m still relatively young, I know that I have what it takes to lead this team and make an impact on this program,” said Ruiz.

April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

SPORTS

21

Baseball riding behind ace pitching staff SHERMAN UYENO Sports editor

BRANDON KIM / Wildcat

Southpaw ‘strike’: Mitchell Miralaie, junior, delivers a pitch against El Modena

High School, March 21. The Wildcats hold a 9-6-1 record and head into a league game against Canyon High School, April 16.

Head coach Matt Sorensen and senior leadership have led the Wildcats to a winning record, 9-6-1, and a fourth place standing in Century League. “Our seniors are really buying in to the coaching philosophy and setting the tone at practice on a daily basis,” said Sorensen. “We still need a couple more guys to buy into the system, and when we get everybody on the same page, we can make a serious run at a league title. That is our team goal, win the Century League. We will definitely make the playoffs, and I expect these men to accomplish both.” The Wildcats started their season in the Newport Elks Tournament, in which the Wildcats played a series of five games. Only losing to Savanna High School, the Wildcats boosted their record to 4-1 with wins over Newport Harbor, Valencia, St. Paul, and La Habra. The team boasts an impressive earned run average (ERA) of 2.56, including Erick Potts’ ERA of 0.95. “Our greatest strength is our pitching staff, which has carried the team to our wins,” said Nick Kern, senior. The Wildcats began league with their first game against El Dorado High School on March 12. The Golden Hawks beat the Wildcats 8-2, dealing the Wildcats their second loss of the season.

“Our greatest strength is our pitching staff, which has carried the team to our wins.” Nick kern, senior

The Wildcats prevailed over Canyon High School 6-0 on March 16, dominating in the home game. “On defense, we made the routine plays and executed pitches,” said Potts. “On offense, we moved runners over and put the ball in play, which helped us put up our six runs.” Later, the Wildcats took on Century League leader Esperanza High School on March 19. The Aztecs prevailed, 3-1. Sorensen said, “We are getting strong performances from our two senior starting pitchers, [Potts] and Nick Kern. There are guys playing solid defense behind them including seniors Garrett Volmer and Jacob McFarland, and junior Luke Lee. The coaching staff works hard to prepare the team for success and the players are doing what they are coached to do and executing in important situations. We are getting really good defense and pitching, which is the name of the game.” Continuing league play, the Wildcats

competed against the Foothill Knights on March 27. The Wildcats, tied 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth, scored two runs to secure the win and finished the first half of the league season with a 3-3 record. Kyle Kasser, sophomore, said, “We’ve been playing good ball; we just haven’t come on the right side of the scoreboard. Sooner or later, our bats will come alive and we’ll go beat the top teams.” For the Wildcats, seniors, Jacob McFarland (.350), Kyle Cawdrey (.333), and Kern (.323) have helped the Wildcats to a .233 team average. UCLA-bound Kern said, “In the second half of season, our offense is going to have to step up. Our two-out clutch hitting will have to start coming through.” At the start of the second half of the season, the Wildcats were again defeated by the El Dorado Golden Hawks, 4-0 on March 28. “We faced a tough pitcher, Kyle Twomy, who silenced our bats. He had all three of his pitches working for him,” said Potts. In pursuit of the Century League title, the Wildcats hope to improve on their .500 win-loss record and will resume league play against Canyon in an away game April 16. (Results of the Lion’s Tournament play were not available at press time.)

Boys’ golf swinging behind leadership of new coach Smith MELINDA CHHOUR Staff writer After finishing ranked eighth as a team in state last season, boys’ varsity golf is hoping to continue their success as they are led by new head coach Nancy Smith. Smith said, “This is my first year coaching boys’ golf. I decided to do it because I have a passion for coaching and a love for golf. The boys’ season is so much more competitive because there are so many other good players in the league that we compete against.” Varsity began the season by placing fourth out of 20 teams in the Ayala Invite at Los Serranos Country Club on Feb. 27. University of Arizona-bound Michael Choe, senior, tied for first place against another player from Mater Dei High School in individual rankings. Competing alongside Choe are seniors Trevor Polverini, Sunny Kim, and Jeremy Verone; junior Kyle Back; sophomores Tarn Suv and Louis Kim; and freshman Johnny Cardenas. During their first Century League match on March 1 against El Modena High

School at Yorba Linda Country Club, the boys prevailed with a score of 193-244. “Our team has a lot of potential and I think that we have the ability to compete in CIF, but for right now we are still adjusting to our new coach and we are going to wait until everything clicks,” said Choe. On March 6, the team lost to Servite High School by a score 182-206 at Western Hills Country Club. Polverini said, “Despite our losses so far into the season, I think that we still have room to grow as a team. We will have to learn from our mistakes and just continue to move forward.” Choe, Polverini, and Verone earned fourth place out of 40 teams at the Glendora Invite on March 5. “It was a huge team accomplishment because it took our individual efforts our team,” said Choe. ”In an individual sport, it is hard to play well together.” So far the boys stand with a 4-6-1 record overall, and a 3-3-1 record in Century League. “Our goal this season is to head to CIF Individual and Team finals. Also, we’d

like to improve as a team all together,” said Kim. The Wildcats’ next league match will take place on April 16 against El Modena High School at Riverview Golf Course. “We are still trying to find our identity. Our team goal is to learn to respect each other as competitive golfers and to play as a team throughout the season,” said Smith. Century League Prelims and Finals will take place May 2 -3 at Los Serranos Country Club.

Varsity boys’ golf Head Coach: Nancy Smith Seniors:

Overall Record: 4-7-1 League Record:

3-3-1

Next league game: 4/16

Top player: Michael Choe League finals: 5/2-5/3

Join the DEN at boys’ volleyball April 19, Esperanza @ BOHS

Four

Photo courtesy of the GUSHER

Teeing off: Michael Choe, senior, looks to tee off at Diamond Bar Golf Course. Boys’ golf competes in Century League prelims and finals, May 2-3.

22

April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

SPORTS

Ladycats fall short of state title to LB Poly “After the game, I just kept thinking I could not believe my career here is over.”

MATT SCHADE Co-editor-in-chief One more game was all the Ladycats needed to set up a pivotal CIF Div 1 Regional Final rematch against Mater Dei High School. Instead, the first season of the Kim Cram-Torres era was brought to a close as the Ladycats were stunned in the CIF Div 1 Regional Semifinals, March 13, losing to Long Beach Poly High School, 64-50. “My final season as a Ladycat might have been my best, as I grew both as a player and person,” said Keitra Wallace, senior, who led the team with 18 points. “Coach Cram-Torres was a great coach and taught us that you do not have to be the biggest or the fastest, you just have to play the hardest and everything will work out.” However, the Ladycats did not get the breaks they needed, as Long Beach Poly pulled away to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter. “Nothing was really lacking from our team. I felt the main difference was that [Long Beach Poly] could not miss a shot and we did not adjust well to that,” said

BRANDON KIM / Wildcat

In disbelief: Keitra Wallace, senior, is comforted by her father after the Ladycats lose to the Mater Dei High School in the CIF-SS Division 1AA Final.

Ladycats Season Timeline

Keitra wallace, senior Taylor Spears, senior. Wallace managed to help bring the team back with 12 of her 18 points coming in the first half. Despite her contribution, the Ladycats still headed into the half down 35-31. “We executed our style of play well which helped us get back into the game,” said Spears. “We only let [Long Beach Poly] get one shot up and no offensive rebounds which helped us get back into the game.” Long Beach Poly continued their offensive streak in the second half as Keyla Morgan, junior, added 12 of her 16 points in the half. After being knocked out by the Ladycats in the CIF-SS Div 1AA Semifinals, Long Beach Poly won the Regional Semifinals, 64-50. “ I ’ m really proud of our kids,” said Cram-Torres, head

coach, in an interview with OCVarsity. com.”I don’t think that tonight was a reflection of our best, but I was very proud of them for what they’ve done this year. They’ve been through a huge transition with a lot of changes and this group has made it pretty painless. I’ve really appreciated this group and what they’ve done this year.” Cram-Torres finished her first season as head coach of the Ladycats with a 26-8 overall record. During this season, the team captured a Century League championship and a second place finish in the CIF-SS Div 1AA Final. “With a new group of girls and a brand new coaching staff, we had a pretty good season and did a lot of things people thought we could not,” said Spears. Both Spears and Wallace are taking their talents to the collegiate level where they will compete for Cal Poly SLO and Pepperdine University, respectively. Wallace added, “After the game, I just kept thinking I could not believe my career here is over. I wish I could have done more defensively to maybe have stopped their runs and give us a chance.”

Kim CramTorres becomes coach

Ladycats lose to Long Beach Poly, 64-50

April 2011

March 13, 2012

Feb. 9, 2012 Ladycats win Century League title

Varsity tennis relies upon senior experience, respect MATT SCHADE Co-editor-in-chief Programs are not built overnight, and despite the recent struggles of boys’ tennis, the program’s future looks optimistic as the youth is gaining experience on a senior-heavy team. Though the team currently holds a league record of 1-5 and sits at sixth place in the Century League, one cannot consider this a rebuilding year as it is led by group of seniors. However, it is not the win-loss column that reflects the importance these

seniors bring to the program. The experience that is being passed down to the underclassman in the program is this season’s success story. “I think it is definitely helpful to the younger players, especially seeing the seniors play against the better competitors in our league,” said Raymond Lu, senior. “We have five new players on varsity and I think it is really important for them to see how other people play on the varsity level as well as how we play.” Bob Walton, head coach, said, “The seniors lead the younger players by

JV tennis thrives under Carlton SHERMAN UYENO Sports editor Under Coach Bobby Carlton, junior varsity tennis has taken off to a 5-4 start in the first half of the season. Joe Kim, sophomore, said, “[Carlton] has been a great help to the team and has pushed us in running, drills, and playing matches with each other to improve our tennis game. JOE Carlton has KIM had plenty of tennis sophomore experience, from playing in the Ojai Valley tournament, a highly selective tournament in which the top players of Southern California compete, to competing alongside professional players, like Michael Chang. “Consistency,” said Carlton, when asked about what will allow the team to become successful in Century League play. “When I’m coaching, I want to teach a type of game that will allow the team to play [tennis] for life. There are lots of kids that have the potential to be good players; it’s just a matter of keeping

the ball in play and waiting for opportunity to come to net.” In the first match of league, the Wildcats took on the El Dorado Golden Hawks on March 8 and prevailed 15-3. After the upset, Kim said, “Our biggest issue last year was the lack of focus in our matches and it just came down to whether the players had the determination to win. In the El Dorado match, we all had the mindset that we were going to win because of our development before the start of the season.” The Wildcats competed against Villa Park High School on March 27. The Wildcats lost 8-10. Sam Lee, sophomore, said, “In single, our team needs to work on placing the ball. For doubles, their team was more familiar with each other and a lot of out doubles teams have not played together as a team.” “We have the ability to beat the top teams in league,” said Carlton. “The guys just have to be patient to keep the ball in play, and we will have a shot at winning our league matches.” The Wildcats will next take on the Glendora Tartans in a non-league match April 11.

“We shake hands, and... have a positive attitude towards tennis matches.”

Spencer Woo, senior example. In tennis, like most individual sports, a lot can be taught from just watching matches. Hopefully, the underclassmen learn to work hard like this year’s group of seniors.” Gaining knowledge of the game is one aspect that the underclassman this year will benefit from, win or lose. However, there is also a sense of accountability among this group of seniors also as they feel responsible for passing on their wisdom of the game. “As older players we take responsibility by hitting with [the underclassman], watching their games, and cheering them on during matches. Overall have each other’s backs,” said Spencer Woo, senior. “We do not specifically coach them or anything, but just overall hitting with them and feeding them shots they need to practice improves their game play. After practices, if they want to hit we will stay later and hit with them.” Another positive this season is the respect the upperclassmen show both their underclass peers and the team’s opponents. In an era that routinely witnesses hazing of underclassman, this program is built on the respect of individuals. “Respect is a good thing and I believe we show the [underclassman] this,” said Woo. “Our team does respectable line calls and cheers during proper times. We also watch each other’s matches rather than goof around when our matches are over. We shake hands, and all in all have a positive attitude towards tennis matches.” The impact that this group of seniors will leave on the tennis program from their mentorship will last for years to come.

ALANNA ARNO / Wildcat

In the zone: Miguel Vaca, freshman, focuses on finishing a point down the line

in a league match against the Canyon High School Comanches, March 15.

Varsity boys’ tennis

Head Coach: Bob Walton Returning seniors:

Nine

New varsity players: Season record: NAMU KIM sophomore

Five

4-8-0

USTA* ranked players: Three Next home match:

Apr. 11

*United States Tennis Association

April 5, 2012 The Wildcat

SPORTS

23

Nua competes in all-girls rugby league NOELLE GRACIA Staff writer Upon hearing the word “rugby”, the image that comes to most people’s mind is that of a hard-muscled British man sporting the smile of a jack-o-lantern, their bodies a patchy mosaic of bruises and lumps. For Taulima Nua, freshman, this picture could not be further from the truth. Nua, teeth intact, has been playing for the Fullerton Rugby Foundation on the Girls’ Under 16 team for the past two years. There are currently 88,000 rugby players registered in the U.S. versus England’s 5,062,396 according to RFU. com and the majority of these players are male. However, Nua didn’t let these statistics or the fact that she’s a girl, deter her decision to engage in this rough, full contact sport. “I got into rugby by my dad playing when he was little and my brother started playing a year before I did. I thought since they did it, why not I go for it,” said Nua. Although rugby has the reputation of

Photo courtesy of TAULIMA NUA

Line-out: Taulima Nua (14), freshman, is lifted by teammates to gain possession for her team in a Fullerton Rugby Foundation match.

being one of the more higher-risk sports in the world (according to injuryresearch. bc.ca, rugby’s injury rates are nearly three times higher than football or soccer), Nua has had nothing but support by her family

and friends. Nua’s mother, Robin Nua, said, “I never hesitated on letting her play even though it is a very fast and physical game. Yes, I do worry about injuries, but you can

break your leg stepping off the curb,” So far, the biggest injuries she has sustained are cuts and bruises. According to bleacherreport. com, rugby is the third fastest growing sport in the U.S. but Nua feels that since most people aren’t familiar with the mechanics of rugby, they don’t always give it the credit it deserves. They think it’s just one big scuttling huddle, when in reality it’s similar to a combination of American football and soccer. Two teams of around 15 players, play on a field of 100 meters long and 70 meters wide, the main objective being to take the oval-shaped ball and score a point, or “try” by running or grounding the ball to the opposite side of the field. The huddle that most people associate rugby with is called a “scrum”, and is a way to safely restart the game after a minor violation. “It’s a really intense game, just as physically trying as football. Except football players have body pads to protect them while rugby players only have flimsy headgear, if that. Even for a girls’ league,

“It’s a really intense game, just as physically trying as football...Even for a girls’ league which doesn’t allow tackling, you still have to have skill and agility.” Taulima nua, freshman which doesn’t always allow tackling, you still have to have skill and agility.” said Nua. So chalk up a try for the girls because physical contact isn‘t just for the boys anymore. “I think it’s really cool how she can hold her own in such an aggressive sport,” said Angela Truesdale, freshman. Nua will continue to play rugby despite the high injury risk and lack of attention that some sports like football or basketball receives simply because this is the sport she grew up with and came to love.

Wildcats make debut in Interscholastic Hockey Federation ERIK BENAVIDES Staff writer A dedicated group of hockey players at BOHS have formed a varsity roller hockey team that plays at the highest level of the Interscholastic Hockey Federation, an organization that includes 23 schools in Orange County. “We found out there was a hockey league so we got it approved by [Principal Jerry Halpin]. Once people figured that

there was a team they started to join,” said Daniel Fuller, junior. The IHF, which is one of the largest high school roller hockey organizations in California, holds its competitions at the Irvine Roller Rink and provides a venue for high school hockey players to compete. The Wildcats played their first ever indoor roller hockey game in school history on March 15 against the Vaqueros of Irvine High School. The Wildcats

Select track and field athletes head to Arcadia Invitational TRACK from page 19 proud of the girls on my team who are scoring points where we need them and contributing to the whole team by their own personal victories. With these contributions, I think we’re ready to take on CIF,” said Peterson. Emily Carman, freshman and varsity

BRANDON KIM / Wildcat

Off to the races: Emily Nolen, sophomore, competes in 200 meters.

hurdler, knows the benefits that a close, cooperative team can reap. “In the beginning of the year, when I joined there was always separate warm ups, sprinters with the sprinters, jumpers with the jumpers and so on. All these separate groups and practices didn’t really make it seem like it was one team. But when everyone was made to start practicing together, there was on obvious difference,” said Carman. “People were getting closer and we were working better together. Just because track is considered individual, doesn’t mean that being close with your teammates won’t be good for us.” That newfound camaraderie has proved itself advantageous so far, as the girls have won all of their meets except one against Canyon High School. “Although we have been doing great so far, there will always be room for more improvement. I would just like to see this new morale of the team keep up and keep pushing them to win. Because at the day, at the of the meet, it won’t matter how many personal records were beat, all that is going to matter is that we won, or we lost, as a team,” said Janneck. Select athletes that have ran qualifying times will head to Arcadia Invitational this weekend. Arcadia is one of the top invitationals in the country and qualifying for the meet is an accomplishment in itself. Janneck, Jean Chow, senior, Emily Nolen, sophomore, and Kaitlin Gishwiller, junior, qualified for the invitational heat of the 800 sprint medley relay.

prevailed 5-2 in what would be an easy victory and precursor to the upcoming season. At their second outing on March 22, the Wildcats led early until a run by the Marina Vikings put the score at 4-3. A goal scored by Jacob Steinfeld, junior, in the final minute of regulation tied the score at 4-4, and would salvage the point for the Wildcats. Tied for third in the IHF Varsity League, the Wildcats played a non-league

game on March 29 against the Villa Park Spartans. The Spartans, who play in the IHF’s Junior Varsity League, would be outmatched as the Wildcats would “mercy” the Spartans with a final score of 9-1 in the second period. “Hockey isn’t as big it was ten years ago; some [sections] have gotten CIF approved, but not [the Southern Section] so we want to build it up again,” said Steinfeld. Due to the rise in popularity of hockey

in San Diego, the California Interscholastic Federation sanctioned the CIF-Metro Conference, a formerly independent hockey league serving the CIF San Diego Section. The IHF, however, remains independent as the Southern Section has not seen enough interest shown in roller hockey. The first place Wildcats played the second place Damien Spartans on April 2. Scores and statistics were not available at time of publishing.

24 inFocus

Track and field releases McCracken Hannah McCracken, junior, participates in the girls’ varsity triple jump event. Girls’ track and field is currently 3-1-1 after defeating El Modena High School March 29. (right) Miles Robertson, sophomore, competes in the boys’ varsity 200meter event. Boys’ track and field stands at a league record of 3-2 after also defeating the Vanguards. Both boys’ and girls’ track and field will compete in league preliminaries and finals April 28 and May 5, respectively. Photo by AMORETTE VALERO / Wildcat Inset photo by BRANDON KIM / Wildcat