Dec 3, 2004

Volume 48, Issue 3

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2004

Castro Valley, CA 94546

Library loses 95 percent of funding

By Brett Volz Staff Writer

The cast of "Seussical" practices its scenes for opening night.

Sean Ryan / Photo Editor

Building will replace portables Construction starts at the end of June next year

By Analisa Harangozo Business Manager

Say adios, au revoir or auf wiedersehen to the 900 foreign language and special education portables and hola, bonjour or hallo to the new 900 building which will replace them. Construction will begin around the end of June and cease the second semester of the 2005-2006 school year.

During the time of construction, three portables will be placed against the gym while the other six classes will be temporarily moved into the 300 hall. Portables 901 to

907 will stay where they are. The house offices and main office will then be moved into the 800 hall beforehand because current construction in the 800 hall will be finished.

Sound like something that’ll make the hallways more crowded than they already are?

“It’ll be slightly more crowded for a while,” said Assistant Principal Mark Autrey.

The portables are rentals that have been leased for numerous years.

However, the lease will soon be over, so the building must go up. The two-story building will include 15 classrooms, two bathrooms, one elevator, an upstairs balcony and computer access.

“I think this is yet another addition to making the school reflect its excellence in education,” said Autrey.

Spanish teacher Diane Baldwin has taught in the portables for two years.

She, like students who attend

Bathrooms opened with extra supervision

By Kara Lawrence Staff Writer

Smoking and vandalism have prohibited girls and boys from using the top 700 hall bathrooms.

However, the school has reopened the bathrooms with plans to more closely supervise them in the future, said Assistant Principal Mark Autrey.

After a freshman girl started a fire and the school temporarily closed the 700 hall bathrooms, there was a huge problem with lines in the girls’ bathrooms especially.

“Administrators know that there is a short supply of girls’ bathrooms at the school,” said Autrey.

Currently, there are five bath-

rooms open to girls, now that the school has reopened the 700 hall bathrooms.

“If the [700 hall] bathrooms for the students are closed, it is a mistake. A teacher might have locked it,” said Autrey.

Another bathroom girls might not know about is in the cafeteria.

“I opened the women’s bathroom in the cafeteria the day the fire happened,” said Principal Debbie Coco.

Students might not be aware that the 300 hall bathroom for girls is now in the nurses office.

Girls have also complained about the lines in the bathrooms.

“It is impossible to go to the bathroom at break. It is so crowd-

BATHROOM: Page 8

class in the portables, will undergo continuous adjustments into new classrooms. These temporary classes will no longer be in the peaceful setting near the field and basketball court but in a bustling hallway full of commuting students and noisy lockers.

“I like these portables, but I also like changes. A new building will bring improvements, although I feel really comfortable in these portables,” said Baldwin.

Unlike Baldwin, Spanish teacher Miriam Dominguez can’t wait to pack her things and say adiós to the dirty, irritating carpet her portable contained.

“I’m really happy about this because I feel that the foreign language department will finally have a permanent home. I’m excited about how the rooms will have no carpets. With all the improvements occurring on campus, we will finally get our own,”

PORTABLES: Page 8

The library, as of this year, will receive a mere shadow of its prior annual funding, going from $80,000 to less than $4,000 as a result of the statewide budget cuts.

As if that were not bad enough, next school year, the library will have this number halved, receiving not even enough money to keep up magazine subscriptions.

The library is taking strides to alleviate this problem, including several new clubs and a fee for late returned books.

The school library is a haven for those looking for some peace and quiet after a hard day at school.

It is a place where people who want to read a book, do their homework, or just get away from the hustle and bustle of campus can find what they are looking for, a place of solitude.

According to one of the librarians, Ms. Johnson, “There’s always room for improvement.”

Many people would wonder exactly what a library could possibly do with the prior budget of $80,000.

The library has been reinventing itself over the last few years, purchasing new computers, new books, even keeping the printers running takes money that the library now does not have.

The library subscribes to several research databases, which will be the first thing to go.

There will be no new books for a long, long time.

The library does not even have enough money to replace the items stolen from it at the beginning of the year.

“I’m really scared,” said Bucklin, one of the school librarians.

There are groups out there trying to help though. The Friends of School Libraries (FOSL), a community organization that raises money for all the school libraries in the district, has been meeting since last March to raise money for the dying library.

FOSL has sent a request for a $1,000 grant from the Castro Valley Rotary, which was granted, and will be delivered after the next fundraiser. Despite this success, the organization is “flying blind” according to the Vice President Angela Volz.

“There’s a dire need for money, and a dire need for parents with experience in fundraising,” said Volz.

Without more support from the community, the organization will not achieve its objective of keeping the library going.

For students, the Library Ambassadors Club (LAC) will begin meeting in December.

The LAC will help raise money, as well as promote literacy through book-drives and programs with the local elementary schools.

Bucklin has many plans for the club, and is currently looking for prospective members.

In the face of these tremendous budget cuts, the library has some of its own plans to raise money.

The first is a collection of used books to sell in a huge book sale.

The second is the institution of a late fee for borrowed books.

The fee will give students one ‘free’ week after the three-week rental, and then impose a fine of 10 cents a school day, for every day until the book is turned in.

But, as Bucklin will tell people, “librarians are not fundraisers,” so help is still needed.

Kara Lawrence / Staff Writer

Senior Kelly Boylan offers her blood for the annual American Red Cross blood drive.

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OPINION

Friday, December 3, 2004

"Get Elected" week passes muster Editorial:

In this day and age, it’s becoming common for young people to voice their political opinions.

At our school, there are many clubs devoted to discussing and debating political issues, such as JSA (Junior Statesmen of America) .

Unfortunately, most CVHS students are not old enough to be able to vote.

However, the leadership class put on a “Get Elected” week in early Nov. and held a mock vote allowing students to vote for the candidate of their choice. Leadership announced the candidate who won, John Kerry (unlike in the real election where George W. Bush won), the day after the mock election.

Other events held that week included a post-elec-

tion debate, where JSA students debated the merits of various proposals from the viewpoints of the candidates, a chance for students to throw things at the Republican elephant and/or the Democratic donkey, and an announcement before the

election from “George W. Bush” (a student doing a pretty impressive imitation over the intercom about serving our country.)

The “Get Elected” week allowed students to speak their minds on political issues and vote for the presi-

dent of the United States, even if it didn’t really count in the real election. The “Get Elected” week was a grand idea and we at the Olympian applaud leadership for giving students at CVHS the chance to participate in the political process.

is a victimless crime. Sometimes, people doing drugs commit illegal acts. Those acts should remain illegal even when drugs are legal.

For instance, drinking alcohol is legal but driving while under the influence is not. Also, smoking tobacco is legal, but smoking in many public places is illegal in California. These same regulations could apply to all drugs. I recognize that people do not live in vacuums, and the actions of one member of society affects many other people, but drug use in and of itself is a victimless crime. The bottom line is that if people want to shoot heroin into their veins while sitting on their couches inside their homes, there is no reason for that to be criminal. There should only be regulations on actions that harm other people.

society and let law enforcement focus on protecting people and preventing crimes with victims like murder, rape, burglary, etc.

In 2001, taxpayers spent approximately $40 billion waging “the war on drugs” on federal and state levels (according to Mother Jones magazine). If drugs were legalized they could be taxed, creating a lucrative new source of revenue for the government.

Association). A study on heroin use by the Medical Journal of Australia concluded that an ambulance was only called in 10 percent of cases of overdose death, and in almost all of the cases there were people present. Countless deaths could have been prevented had those with the affected people felt safe to call an ambulance. If drugs were legal, fewer people would die from drug overdoses because they wouldn’t be afraid of getting arrested after receiving medical help.

Prohibition Redux

By Amanda Gelender Staff Writer

If there’s one thing we learned from alcohol prohibition it’s that the government cannot effectively ban items that are readily available on the black market. Eighty years later, we find ourselves in the very same predicament. Numerous drugs are illegal, and we are pouring in massive amounts of taxpayer funds trying to squelch drug trafficking and drug use.

And to what avail? Drug use is at an all time high, and it seems the only ones who are profiting off of this so-called “war on drugs” are the traffickers and dealers. It’s time for a change. Sooner or later, our country will have to face this civil rights fiasco that has unfairly damaged millions of lives in the guise of fighting illegal drugs.

The only fiscally sound, safe and reasonable solution that preserves personal freedom is to legalize all drugs. Here are my top five reasons to do so.

1. Personal Freedom We pride ourselves in living in a free society where people can do and say what they please as long as their actions do not infringe on the rights of others. Doing drugs

2. Jails, Money, and Police Priorities Drug criminals constitute over half of the entire prison population (55 percent of almost two million people in 2001 according to the U.S. Department of Justice). In 2001, states spent a total of $29.5 billion on prisons (according to the Department of Justice). If drugs were legalized, we could jail people who are actually threats to

3. Safety Currently, drugs bought on the street and from the black market are sometimes laced with any number of dangerous additives (such as glass and rat poison).

Also, the strength can change depending on the dealer or batch.

Therefore, the person taking the drugs never really knows what s/he’s getting. If drugs were legal, they would have a labeled concentration to avoid overdoses and the consumer would know the contents of the product, thus making them safer.

4. Saving Lives In 2000, approximately 17,000 people in the U.S. died as a result of illicit drug use (according to the Journal of the American Medical

5. Prohibition is not working People will always do drugs: People did them before they were illegal and people continue to do them now. In 2002, 35.1 million Americans age 12 and over used an illicit drug during that past year (according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health). As long as there is prohibition, there will be a black market. Legalizing drugs will cripple organized crime that relies on illicit drug sales for revenue. Drugs will become much easier to control once they are legal. There’s no telling exactly what would happen when drugs are legalized, but what we do know about is the current mess that prohibition has created.

Rock the casbah

By Rada Feldman Editor-in-Chief

Sing, don't synch

On a recent Saturday Night Live episode, the chart-topping, widely adored artist Ashlee Simpson was caught lip-synching in a horrifically embarrassing fashion. Due to the fact that Saturday Night Live is indubitably live, the East coast was treated to Simpson dancing like a moron as her band was playing a song different from the one supposedly intended to come out of her mouth.

What is tragically disturbing about this incident is that it unveils America’s obsession with crappy music and unauthentic, phony artists. Exactly why was Simpson’s album number one on the Billboard charts when she, for all we know, probably didn’t even lend one vocal chord to it?

Simpson is the only intelligent one in this situation. We are the idiotic consumers that shell out our money to see and hear an artist who, well, isn’t really even an artist. Exactly why are we spending money to hear pre-recorded tracks? Why are we wasting our time buying her record if she doesn’t even bother paying for a singing lesson?

Simpson is quite the businesswoman and unquestionably a fraud. She has tricked America into falling in love with her image and not what should matter, her voice. Music is no longer about the talent, the performance, and the connection. It is about money, our stupidity, and her great skill at convincing us that she just may be genuine. Simpson, when asked on her opinion of lip-synching, stated “I’m totally against it and offended by it. I’m going out to let my real talent show, not to just stand there and dance around. Personally, I’d never lip-synch. It’s just not me” to the readers of Lucky Magazine.

But of course, out here, in our ostentatious, image engrossed society, all that matters is that the majority of the population finds her hot and thus, she is well deserving of all those album sales.

Lip-synching, unfortunately, has been an integral part of pop music. There was the notorious fiasco with Milli Vanilli, Whitney Houston with the National Anthem, hell even the classic, ageless Beatles did it. But does that make this act fair? Is it fair to have people pay sometimes hundreds of dollars, such as in the case of Britney Spears, and merely receive an aesthetically pleasing performance sans quality music?

What exactly has happened to our definition of music? Have we, as a society, compromised everything that was once well-respected for the sake of making money?

Hopefully, this repulsive fetish with pre-recorded live shows that plagues our nation will soon cease to exist.

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OPINION

Friday, December 3, 2004

Internet music piracy funds happiness

By Brett Volz Staff Writer

Ever since Napster first graced the World Wide Web with its presence, the music industry has never been the same. When it is easier (and cheaper) to download the music and burn the CD yourself, why should you bother going to a store and buying it?

It is very hard to resist downloading music illegally when the price of buying music is so high.

Is half an hour of your time worth the $18 required to buy a CD? Sadly enough, the outrageous prices of these CDs do nothing to support the bands that create them. Most bands actually get as

little as eight percent of the earnings from record sales, according to www.laweekly.com and most of the eight percent goes to the recording company anyway.

The funny thing is that because music is so expensive to buy, many people decide to download it instead.

The first program to offer free music downloading was Napster.

It operated by transferring all files in a designated folder in the user’s computer into a central server, from which the files could be accessed by any user on the Napster network. This method of downloading meant that companies were able to sue those responsible for the server directly, effectively

So much to do, and so little time

By Analisa Harangozo Staff Writer

As the bell rings for the five-minute passing period, I gather my things and sprint out of my chemistry class in the second level of the 700 building.

My destination is U.S. history at the end of the 100 hall. Trying to stay civilized I keep myself from shoving and pushing through the overwhelming sea of students migrating up and down the staircase.

A minute has passed when I finally exit the building, breaking free from the hectic herd.

I power walk my way through the courtyard thinking: Is this supposed to make up for not having PE this year as a junior?

Once I enter the 100 hall I am faced with the same issue in the 700 building–crowdedness.

As soon as I reach for the door handle I hear the dreaded sound of the bell ring and enter the class as a student who gained a tardy and has lost a few calories and participation points.

In addition to this, the administration has mandatorily meddled with students’ schedules to resolve the overcrowded classrooms.

While I was sitting in Jesse Woodward’s fourth period Algebra 2/Trigonometry class, Assistant Principal Jim Maxwell came and randomly snatched out eight students and relocated them into Ruth Gasser’s class without their consent.

My class was left traumatized and relieved to still remain with the Trig teacher they grew attached to. I respect that it is the administration’s job to keep classroom populations at a certain limit.

However, it does not do them good to anger students who are just beginning to settle into their classes.

Even coming to school has become an issue for me and other students who have a late schedule.

For getting an extra hour of bliss by sleeping in, I sacrifice a parking spot. I circle the junior lot in search for a spot my compact Honda can fit into, but am unfortunately forced to go through the residential streets to test my luck.

Eventually, I find one that usually has no shade. I am then left to walk an extensive distance and have broken a sweat once I finally reach the campus. I always thought getting my license would be a privilege that would save me time, not a punishment that would involve more walking.

As a freshman, getting to school was a very minor issue to me, but as the years passed and I began to witness the significance this matter played on my education and high school experience.

I realized it was not something to brush off to the side. If I were given another minute to get to class, perhaps by then I would be in my seat rather than just opening the door and watching my participation grade slip through my fingers. The additional six minutes added to my day would be a small price to pay. Another resolution to the overcrowding would be to add an extra door to the 700 building. In addition, the students could play their parts by not taking their time going up and down the staircases. Hall monitors would be ideal for enforcing this. Although we did not need them back in elementary school, we can surely use them now.

The Olympian welcomes letters to the editor and reserves the right to edit letters for libel, spelling, grammar, length and style. All letters must be signed. Please submit letters to cvhsolympian@gmail.com or The Olympian office in room 113. Please limit letters to 200 words.

shutting the server down, and with it, the entire service.

Napster was by far the best thing that has happened to the music industry since the invention of digital music. Because of this one program, free music is now available to millions worldwide, completely revolutionizing the music industry.

Now, the newer downloading services have managed to get around this problem by avoiding a central server completely.

These new p2p (person to person) programs connect directly from two individual computers, so there is no server to shut down.

Anyone who wants to get rid of these programs would have to search literally every com-

puter that is connected to the web to find the program responsible for the illegal downloading.

And with more than 2.5 million people using Kazaa (one of the many p2p programs) at any given time, you are pretty much guaranteed to find whatever file you want.

And let’s not forget that you can download video games and movies using these programs too, so those companies would like to see p2p programs gone as well.

Many companies have attempted to punish p2p users. This usually takes the form of suing the individual for large sums of money. They target those individuals who store huge databases of songs on their computer, as many as 100,000

songs. These futile attempts have done nothing to dissuade those who use p2p programs.

Do not be fooled however, p2p programs are not the devils that large corporations would have you believe they are; they are in fact just one of many tools available to the consumer to influence big businesses. If music downloading continues to grow at the rate it is now, music companies, seeing their profits plummet, will have no choice but to lower the prices of their merchandise.

When they do, it will finally be affordable to buy music. So let the musical revolution continue, so that we may one day be able to afford to buy our favorite music.

By Denise Wong

claring individuality. Some consider skateboarding to be a creative and fun activity. Others even view it as the art of using inanimate objects and bringing them to life through artistic and athletic interest. Being a skater does not mean being the stereotypical '70s style punk who always damages, curses and hates everyone else. Skating is there for the purpose of enjoyment: to be able to land a fivestair ollie or nail a grind on a rail.

I am a skateboarder myself and I have encountered people who have called me a vandal. I hear the words real clearly, but my mind does not seem to register it as what I am and what I want to be.

I have always wondered what stereotypes were for. I never really understood why people should judge people as all the same, based on what they enjoy doing. The main

problem is that most people do not take time to realize that everyone is his or her individual person.

One skater may directly vandalize property, but that doesn't mean all skaters do the same.

Vandalizing skaters are idiots with inexcusable actions, and they only make it a lot harder for the rest of the skating world. I do know that skateboarders are not the most angelic people in the world. Well, in fact, no one will ever be the most angelic person. Everyone has their own flaws, which makes them who they are. That's what life is about: being a distinct individual.

We are a diverse population.

Skating is about no rules and no boundaries. Society needs to wake up and accept skateboarding the same way it accepts the damage and pollution cause by other human activities, like driving.

When freshman year came around we were so excited to be in high school and we thought life couldn’t get much better. I entered the school proud and I thought I was ready for anything to be thrown at me. Boy, was I wrong.

My close friend started to smoke marijuana and I felt her drift away that year. I don’t smoke myself so she hung around people who did. She seemed to care about her grades before, but soon they meant nothing to her.

When sophomore year approached we were still friends but we continued to drift further.

It wasn’t only weed she was doing anymore, it was harder drugs.

Weed was just like a cigarette to her. Cocaine was what she was

into, but she also liked ecstasy.

School was really nothing to her now and she didn’t seem to care about anyone or anything anymore.

Sophomore year passed quickly and now I’m looking at her as a junior. Not only am I surprised that she passed the tenth grade, but I’m surprised at what she turned into. She is just another person always drunk or high that doesn’t care about anything. I never thought this could happen to a friend of mine but life does throw you unexpected turns.

Drugs are present everywhere and I can’t believe how many are at CVHS. My wish is that I had stopped my friend in the beginning. Don’t be like me. Make a difference now.

Don’t hate those who skate Staff Writer

Stereotyping must be the worst disease ever. People generalize other people every day, just because of first impression, based on whom they have seen before.

Is it supposed to be a way to make fun of others, or is it a way of making complications so simple?

Or does it even serve a purpose?

Skaters can't even skate down the street without someone assuming that they are vandals. Because of stereotyping, other people directly vandalize things, such as breaking windows on purpose, claiming that skaters do just the same.

I do agree that skateboarding can be damaging at certain points, but it can't be compared to outright vandalism because it isn't.

Skateboarding is a way of de-

There is no hope with dope

By Krissy Bussell Staff Writer

Drugs are everywhere in Castro Valley and the problem with them seem to be getting worse every day at CVHS. I have witnessed first hand someone I know get more involved in drugs as the days went on. As this person got more involved in drugs, she got less involved with her friends and school.

I know that drugs are all over CVHS and it scares me to think that people get sucked into a life of lies and deceit everyday.

More and more people become dependent on drugs each year and it scares me to think that a friend of mine is one of them.

FEATURE

Friday, December 3, 2004

5

Students voice opinions on Bush’s re-election

By Amanda Gelender Staff Writer

AVID students take a break before continuing their hard work in class.

Eric Lee / Staff Writer

AVID sparks college dreams in eager students Trini McGeogh Staff Writer

As most students know, getting through high school is a stressful challenge. Add trying to get into college and life as a high school student gets crazier and even more stressful than it already is.

Most students want to go to college, but need help in achieving that goal. Here, at CVHS, there is a program devoted to giving students the support and preparation they need to go to college, called

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID).

“AVID’s goal is to give students the power to know that they can achieve their dreams, and to help them achieve their dreams, whatever that may be,” said K.C. Wachs, an AVID teacher.

In AVID, students do many different activities such as Monday and Thursday Tutorial, in which students come to receive help from fellow students or the teacher. Other AVID activities include: team, trust, self-esteem

building exercises, guest speakers, and tutorials, where students can review and go over material from any class.

“AVID helps you get into the college that you want by helping you get high grades in school,” said sophomore Lily McCann.

When asked if AVID has achieved its goal of helping students achieve their goals, Wachs stated “I think so. This program is national, and statistically it’s been proven successful in helping students. I love it.”

ally well but the moderator got confused and there was no time for a written vote so we had to do an oral vote. One moderator said Bishop O’Dowd won, but the other moderator corrected him and I got the win,” said Lane.

“The subject of the debate was already a heated topic and then it was vs. O’Dowd so things got pretty crazy because they are our rival,” commented Lane. “It would be nice if there wasn’t animosity between the parties and the schools, but there is nothing you can do about that.”

Lane stated that a lot of people from the school went and everyone had spirit. “People tried to see each other’s debates and cheer them on,” Lane stated. Lane also com-

mented that the trip went well and everyone from CVHS won their debates and five out of six CVHS debaters got best speaker awards.

Taylor Mills, a senior at CVHS said the trip was a success.

Mills did not debate herself, but her favorite debate had Allie Weiner, another CVHS senior on the topic of ex-felons voting.

“Allie was for the ex-felons voting and it was a really good debate,” said Mills.

“People had a lot of fun meeting people from all the different chapters. There were students that were home schooled up to students that go to private schools,” Mills commented. “It was a lot of fun hearing the opinions about what is going on in the world today.”

First JSA convention of the year proves successful

By Krissy Bussell Staff Writer

Members of the CVHS chapter of the Junior State of America (JSA) attended the fall state conference at the Mariott hotel in Santa Clara on the weekend of Nov. 20.

There were debates on Saturday and Sunday and there was even a dance on Saturday night, stated Sandra Lane, a junior at Castro Valley High School and publicity manager for JSA. Lane debated on the topic of America establishing a negotiation policy with terrorists. She was pro for the negotiation policy and said things got heated with her opponent from Bishop O’Dowd.

“I felt that my debate went re-

George W. Bush beat Democratic nominee John Kerry to successfully win a second term as the U.S. president on Nov. 2. Bush received 51 percent of the popular vote and 286 electoral votes.

Kerry received 48 percent of the popular vote and 252 electoral votes.

In this election, 56 percent of young people who voted opted for the democratic contender Kerry, and 44 percent chose Bush.

In every other age group, B u s h w o n a m a j o r i t y.

Students at CVHS are very opinionated about the results of the election.

“When I watch Bush speak before our country I want to slap (him) because he’s just annoying to look at,” said senior Robert Triplett.

“He has absolutely no idea what he’s talking about.”

Sophomore Dean Bacho disagrees. “I’m all for Bush, I’m a hardcore Republican. All those Democratic people out there can shove it,” said Bacho. “I think Kerry likes to kill babies and Bush doesn’t. Viva la Bush!”

According to Professor William Galston of the University of Maryland, 51.6 percent of young people ages 18-29 (at least 20.9 million people) voted in this election; that is a 4.6 million voter increase from the 2000 election.

This is the first election where a majority of young people voted.

“I was extremely disappointed when he was re-elected,” said freshman Katie Caploe. “We’re a divided country right now and I feel like we need a uniter, not a divider.

I think he has a big challenge ahead of him and that’s bringing the country together.I personally don’t think he’ll be able to do it.”

Senior Marek Brezula expressed mixed feelings about the incumbent president’s victory.

“I feel pretty good about him getting elected, but I would like to see some of his viewpoints change, for example stem-cell research and abortion; those should be more open,” said Brezula, who is also vice president of the CVHS Teenage Republican Club. “But as far as the economy goes, I think he’ll do some good for small businesses.”

In Alameda County, Kerry received 74.3 percent of the votes and Bush received 23.9 percent of the votes.

In the CVHS mock election, 168 students voted; Kerry received 62 percent of the votes and Bush received 34 percent.

“I would have preferred if Kerry got elected, but I don’t see much of a difference between the two candidates,” said junior Kevin Draper.

“The worst thing about him getting elected is if three or four Supreme Court Justices die or have to step down from the court and Bush gets to appoint three or four super-ultra-conservative members to the court and they would overturn decisions like Roe vs. Wade.”

Junior Meaghan Rembold was glad to see Bush get re-elected.

“I think he [Bush] is already working and his plans are in action,” said Rembold. “It’s good to let him finish and continue what he needs to do.”

Junior Alana Northup disagrees.

“I hope he can get us out of the war we’re in now and not get us

“ I was ex-

tremely disappointed when [Bush] got re-elected.

KATIE CAPLOE Freshman

”

into any other war that’s completely pointless,” said Northup.

“I’m a 16 year old kid living in America and I feel guilty for the mistakes George W. Bush has made.”

Two days after the election at Boulder High School in Boulder, Colorado students took over the school had an all night sit-in to express extreme anger over Bush’s re-election.

They also protested the possibility of a military draft during Bush’s second term.

Some students at CVHS are also concerned about the possibility of a draft in the coming years.

“If there’s a draft I’m going to Jamaica,” said senior Chris Lawton.

W. Terrence Plunkett Notary Public

510.537.3007

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SPORTS

Friday, December 3, 2004

Girls’ Volleyball team loses in NCS Trojans football forfeits overturned

By Haseeb Sadat Staff Writer

Fans of the football team took a huge sigh of relief when North Coast Section officials decided to overturn the Trojans’ three forfeits.

“Greatest feeling in the world,” said head coach Craig Nieves.

Those forfeits were due to the Trojans’ use of an ineligible player who decidedly had no impact in the outcome of the games that were forfeited. The NCS rule says no player under the age of 15 can be used in a Varsity game. Nieves would like the ineligible player to remain anonymous.

Those forfeits were Trojan victories over San Lorenzo (54-20), Bishop O’Dowd (35-34) and Mt. Eden (13-12). Although two of

those games were decided by a point, former North Coast Section commissioner Paul Gaddini believed the ineligible payer did not have an effect on the outcome of the game.

The ineligible player played a total of 36 seconds on the kickoff coverage team in all three games.

Players on the team actually made a tape that highlighted the ineligible player during the kickoff and helped prove to the NCS officials that the player had no direct effect.

Nieves could have easily ignored the rule infractions and sent the ineligible player back down to the Junior Varsity level. Instead, he owned up to his mistake and decided to play by the rules.

“It’s all about integrity,” said Nieves. “I cannot lie.”

Student looks to bring COSA to life

By Alexia Laines

Haseeb Sadat / Staff Writer

Kendyl Gerstenberger and Amanda Shepherd share an emotional moment after losing their NCS match to Liberty.

Trojans not ashamed of defeat

By Haseeb Sadat

Staff Writer The Castro Valley girls’ volleyball team’s successful season was capped off with another disappointing ending.

For two consecutive years the Trojans (25-8) were bounced out of the North Coast Section Division I playoffs against the defending champions from Liberty High. “(The girls) were really disappointed,” said head coach Shari Rodriguez. “I’m just very proud of the way they fought and never gave up.”

The Trojans came into the semifinals match with the No.1 seed and booming with confidence after an earlier first round win over Berkeley high.

The squad was also looking to avenge a crushing defeat it had to endure by Liberty in last years’ NCS finals match.

“The team knew we had the potential to win,” said Rodriguez.

Unfortunately for the Trojans, they were swept in a best-of-five match 25-23, 25-10 and 25-10.

Staff Writer A new organization to help CVHS athletes hit campus this year. Senior Stephanie Lassalle leads the program.

“Being an athlete myself I thought it was important to give athletes an outlet to their onand-off-the field problems,” said Lassalle.

The Coalition of Student Athletes (COSA) is an organization including high school athletes, parents, school advisors, coaches and Castro Valley community members.

It is a union that strives to create a more unified Hayward Area Athletic League (HAAL) by attempting to build the appreciation between the different contributing schools. It is also hoping to enlighten HAAL athletes about the

violence in sports, drug awareness and overall athletic conduct.

“Stephanie is a very organized young lady, and she has many leadership skills,” said Athletic Director Marie Gray about Lassalle.

Lassalle has been thinking of bringing COSA to life for a while.

“There’s a lot of stereotyping between schools and I’ve had the idea for quite some time.”

Last April, Lassalle sent the official proposal for COSA to Principal Debbie Coco to get an approval. According to Lassalle, Gray and teacher Sue Anderson are big supporters of her attempts with the union.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said sophomore Lindsay Gottermeyer, a member of the girls’ Varsity wrestling team. “Even though I haven’t heard too much about it I think it will be successful.”

Haseeb Sadat / Staff Writer

The front line stand ready to play during the NCS game.

Stand-out player Kendyl Gerstenberger had eight kills, and Savannah Trakes added seven for the Trojans, but it wasn’t enough.

“ The team

knew we had the potential to win.

Shari Rodriguez Head coach

”

Rodriguez simply blamed the loss on the other team’s ability to pass

better.

The Trojans, however, have nothing to be ashamed of. With key injuries throughout the season and a considerably young group of players, the team secured a No. 1 seed by wrapping up the regular season with impressive wins over Bishop O’Dowd and Moreau Catholic.

“Our team went through some adversity,” explained Rodriguez.

“We had some injuries but managed to pull through. We were a good and cohesive group.” Besides, there is always next year.

“We are going to be young,” said Rodriguez. “But we always have a good bunch of girls that come out.”

Eric Lee / Staff Writer

Crystal Chu and Lindsay Fischer run down the court during practice at CVHS.

SPORTS

Friday, December 3, 2004

7

Girls’ Varsity cross country wins NCS

By Eric Lee Staff Writer

The CVHS girls’ Varsity cross country team ended its season on a high note by winning the North Coast Section Division 1 Meet of Champions, their first time ever winning.

Led by freshman Karlina Beringer, the team claimed a victory over Amador Valley, the school favored to win.

“It was not expected of us to finish higher than the top four,” admitted cross country coach Peter Brewer before the race. “It will require a great race from everyone involved.”

Later on, both boys’ and girls’ teams celebrated by pelting cross Brewer’s home and car with 430 rolls of toilet paper.

Beringer won fourth place overall in the meet with the running time of 19:02. Also following her were fellow freshmen Kaitlin Santistiban (19:40) in seventh place and Kwai Philpott (19:50) in eleventh place, and junior Amy Sweetman (20:02) in fifteenth place.

Rounding out the squad were

junior Kaitlyn Banchero (20:30) in twenty-third place, sophomore Andrea Chow (20:48) in twentyseventh place, and sophomore Pauline Simmons (21:06) in thirtyeighth place.

The team finished second in the Hayward Area Athletic League rankings, only behind longtime nemesis Bishop O’Dowd.

The season started off on a rocky start when the team’s top runners were unable to race due to injuries.

Fortunately, the surprise of the season came in the arrival of freshman stars like Beringer, Santistiban and Philpott.

“The emergence of the freshmen girls changed the complexion of the season,” Brewer recalls. “They exceeded all of our expectations.”

The team qualified to compete in the CIF State Cross Country Championships at Woodward Park in Fresno on Nov. 28. This was the team’s first appearance at the State Meet in ten years.

“This was a great, outstanding season,” said Brewer. “I have no idea what next season will be like, but based on what I see, I will build on that.”

Sean Ryan / Photo Editor

The NCS girls cross country team poses for a team picture after the NCS meet. .

Boys’ cross country season ends

Boys’ cross country team placed third at NCS meet

By Krissy Bussell Staff Writer

Sean Ryan / Photo Editor

Jordan Bailey and Karlina Beringer compete during the HAAL Championship meet.

The boys’ cross country team placed third at the HAAL Championship meet on Nov. 13. Since 1960, the boys have placed first 27 times, but the last three years haven’t been as successful.

Moreau Catholic placed first with 30 points, Bishop O’Dowd placed second with 54 points and Castro Valley placed third with 71 points at the HAAL Championship meet in Hayward. Senior Jordan

Bailey placed first for Castro Valley and seventh overall with a time of 16:43.

“I had a good race at HAAL and grabbed seventh,” said Bailey. “I was really happy to make All League.” Bailey said that his year was full of ups and downs because he came in with high expectations.

He then got sick, but was still able to finish the year strong.

CVHS placed third at NCS behind De La Salle and Liberty, with a score of 106. Senior Scott Clark came in first for CVHS with a time of 16:38. Mike Langella placed second with an identical time.

Baily placed third with 16:41.

“Usually, people run alone on the race but this year it was something different. With one mile left there was five of us running together. We were all pushing each

other along and there was a huge team effort,” said Bailey.

Clark said the season went well and he was very happy with the teams performance of the team at NCS. “It was like nothing I have ever seen before,” said Clark. “We all ran as a team really well and we all pushed each other. We set personal records for our times on the course, too.

“A downfall of the season was when Jordan got sick towards the end of the year.When he recovered he did really well. I was sick at the beginning of the year and was out for two weeks,” said Clark.

One of the runners attributes the team’s success to the coach. “Peter Brewer deserves a lot of credit because he has brought our team together,” said Bailey.

S u p e r S a v v y S p o r t s SBytKaraa Lawrence rs Freshman Kimberley Willis

Kimberly Willis might be young at CVHS but she has put a lot of time in cheerleading.

Willis has been cheerleading for three years and has made it on the Varsity cheerleading squad. Willis also participates in gymnastics and soccer.

“It’s a lot of pressure, and I don’t like messing up because a lot of people notice,” said Willis. Although she likes cheerleading she would not choose it as a career choice.

“I’d like to be a cheerleader in college, but I don’t think its going to happen,” Willis said. “To be good at cheerleading you have to be sharp in motions and memorizing dances easily.”

Sophomore Devon Shultz Devon Schultz, a sophomore on the JV football team, has fun while improving his skills. “One time we were playing football and this guy had the ball and someone accidently pulled his pants down but he still just ran all the way to the touchdown line,” said Schultz.

Schultz has been playing football for four years and is interested in playing sports in college and possibly involving sports in his career. The time is a problem.

“Training is all year around, but the season only lasts two months,” stated Schultz.

He is also in wrestling. “One thing I’d like to work on is team work,” said Schultz.

Junior Becky Ribiera

Senior Leona Chan

Becky Ribeira, a junior, knows what it is like to run as fast as Forrest Gump. Ribeira has participated in cross country for three years and is on the Varsity team at CVHS. Ribeira would like to improve more on her speed and answering the phone [a technique that helps use your arms while running to go faster]. “It takes speed and endurance to get in shape to run in cross country,” said Ribeira.

Although she likes both her coaches, Peter Brewer and Raul Perez, Ribeira said, “I’m not planning to run in college or as a career.” One thing Ribeira does not like about cross country is, “Getting in shape which is hard and it hurts really bad.”

Tennis player, Leona Chan hates it when she spits water on a serious opponent. “I was drinking water before this really serious match and someone said something funny and I spit my water out and hit my opponent,” said Chan.

Chan has been playing tennis since eighth grade with Mr. Lawrence at Canyon Middle School. She is now a senior and on the Varsity girls’ tennis team at CVHS. She is also involved in badmitton. She doesn’t plan to pusue tennis as a career.

“Tennis is tiring and I do get hungry out on the courts when I play. I would also like to improve on my back stroke and playing in double matches,” stated Chan.

8

DISTRACTIONS

Friday, December 3, 2004

Senior stopped for wearing ‘Super-Jew’ shirt

By Amanda Gelender Staff Writer

Campus patroller Sue Peppler told senior Michael Siegel, a Jewish student, to go to his assistant principal’s office for wearing a shirt that read, “Super Jew,” on Oct. 13.

“At first I felt confused,” said Siegel. “Then I felt oppressed, offended, and upset.”

Peppler stated that she acted with Siegel’s safety in mind.

“I thought Jewish students might find it offensive,” said Peppler. “I wasn’t trying to discriminate against him or anything.”

Peppler said that when there is the possibility that a student is violating the dress code, she is supposed to send the student to the administration, which is why she decided to leave the decision about Siegel’s shirt up to his assistant principal.

When Siegel arrived at the House one office, he spoke to counselor Steve Ghidinelli.

He happened to be there at the time of his arrival.

“The school’s position on this shirt was that it was funny, but it

could be seen as inflammatory in terms of the “super” [in ‘Super Jew’],” said Ghidinelli. “Kids may be not understanding what “super” had to do with it, and the interpretation that ‘Super Jewish’ meant ‘Super Israeli’ and I think with the number of Arab students that we have, that may seem confrontational.”

Assistant Principal Lisa Garcia, who briefly spoke to Siegel about the matter, expressed her concern that his shirt may offend Muslim

I“felt oppressed, offended and upset.

MICHAEL SIEGEL Senior

”

students on campus.

“I personally don’t find it offensive,” said Garcia. “But given the state of world affairs and the relationship that the U.S. has with certain Muslim groups and with Israel and how certain people

perceive that, we do have a campus where we want everybody to feel safe and good.”

Siegel stated his strong opposition to the concern surrounding his attire.

“I have my First Amendment right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression,” said Siegel. “The shirt does not violate any school rules. The school allows shirts with pictures of Jesus, phrases like, ‘Jesus is my homeboy’ and Bible proverbs written on them. There are a lot of other shirts that are allowed that are more offensive than my shirt would ever be.”

Garcia told Siegel that there is nothing in the school rules that explicitly states that he cannot wear the shirt.

She simply wanted to be sure that Siegel understood that students may find it offensive.

Principal Debbie Coco was not involved in the matter, but was available for comment.

“There’s a big, fine line between the First Amendment and putting someone down,” said Coco. “Especially when you’re talking about religion.”

Voc/Tech course variety may change

By Flora Tsang Staff Writer

Vocational and technical courses (Voc/Tech) are here to stay until the 2005 school budget is released, according to Assistant Principal Shamar Edwards. If there is not enough money, a few courses may be dropped.

“The thing is we don’t know anything until the budget comes out. It all depends on how much we get. We applied for some grants, but we don’t know whether we will receive them yet,” Edwards said.

Students are diverse in the opinions about the courses because while some enjoy them, others find them tiresome.

“I don't find the Voc/Tech classes very useful for myself, but if I had the chance to not take Voc/Tech, it would give me more room in my schedule to take other classes,” said junior Amanda Wu. “It's good because it gives us something to do that doesn't involve math, history or English.

It’s way less boring than any of the other classes," said freshman Eric Wang.

At CVHS, Voc-Tech courses offered to the students include business, foods, auto shop, woodshop, metal shop, computer and other various classes. The reason for the school graduation requirement is for every single student to have learned a lifelong skill before leaving for the outside world.

“30 percent of students graduate college with a bachelors degree.

What about the rest of them? They won’t be prepared,” said Larry Weiss, teacher of five auto classes.

“All the mechanics and electricians are retiring. Without them, the economy will go down.”

However, if courses do get cut because of a lack of monetary funds, the least popular courses will leave, not the most popular.

“Foods will definitely be staying, as well as the business class.

It really all depends on how much money our school receives. We’ll keep the courses that the students want,” said Edwards.

900 hall construction ends at the end of 2005-2006 year PORTABLES: From Page 1 Dominguez said.

French teacher Teresa Marshment, who has taught in portable 906 for about ten years, will miss the serene surroundings of the portables but looks forward to the positive changes that are to come.

“This is a good interruption. It’s

a good change,” said Marshment.

Some students think that the portables won’t compare to how amazing the new building will be.

“A new building that’s similar to the 700 building is definitely something I could get used to after being in those boxed-up portables for so long,” said junior Rolando Lee, who has taken French for two years in the portables.

700 hall bathrooms re-opened

BATHROOM: From Page 1

door,” said junior Jenny Arnaiz.

“We shouldn’t have to all pay just because one freshman decided to light a fire.”

“It is inconvenient to walk so far and teachers are surprised after students come back from the

bathroom and take so long,” said freshman Corinne Velasquez.

Administrators expect the increased security to solve the remote bathrooms’ problems.

“Patrollers and teachers will be more aware of checking often on the top 700 building because it is a really isolated bathroom,” said Coco.

Stephanie Spitzer / Staff Writer

Sophomore Alex Livingston, senior Danny Marino and freshman Kyle Davilla enjoy the metal shop course offered by Voc-Tech.

New advanced math courses proposed

By Stephanie Spitzer Staff Writer

The math department is thinking about making an Honors Geometry course and an Honors Algebra 2 with Trigonometry course.

Nancy Cavalieri, the head of the math department, said that teachers think that it would be a good idea to make a new course. “It’s a possibility,” she said. “We don’t know for sure if we’ll have those honors courses.”

According to Cavalieri, the math department has been going through the process of creating the Honors Geometry course. “Some teachers have speculated about creating an Honors Algebra 2 with Trigonometry course for students to go to after that,” she said.

A lot of work must be put into making a new course. The teachers will need to purchase new books and solve the problems that come with creating an honors course.

The University of California system does not recognize an extra grade point in a ninth grader’s re-

port card, which is a matter many students would be unhappy with.

“Because most of the students in an Honors Geometry course would be ninth graders, they’d have a year of fast-paced, hard work and then have to go to Algebra 2 with Trigonometry, which won’t be as advanced because it’s not an honors course. That’s why some teachers are suggesting we should make an Algebra 2 with Trigonometry Honors course,” Cavalieri said.

It isn’t so easy. “The University of California at Berkeley sets the rules for honors classes,” said math teacher Ruth Gasser. “The rule is that there must be a regular class with the same name as the honors one, and we don’t have that.”

The Algebra 2 class does not count, Gasser said, because it does not have the same name. The administration can’t change the name of either class because that would show misinformation on students’ transcripts. Trigonometry is not taught in Algebra 2.

Robyn Monsen, a sophomore

in Algebra 2 with Trigonometry, does not feel happy that the administration is trying to make the class an honors class. “If I pass it now, I don’t get the honors credit.

I’d have to fail to get the honors credit, and that’s kind of redundant,” she said.

Jessica Fitzpatrick, another sophomore with plans to take Algebra 2 with Trigonometry, thinks differently. “I’m in between whether it’s good or not,” she said.

“The class would just get faster, giving us a harder time keeping up, but then we’d get a higher GPA. With a higher GPA your chances of getting to college are better. It depends.”

The students are divided on the issue of whether or not it is good to have Algebra 2 with Trigonometry as an honors class. “They’d have to give everyone who had ever taken the class the extra grade point for it to be fair, and that is close to impossible. It’s a lose-lose situation, except for people taking Algebra 2 with Trigonometry in the future,” said Monsen.