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Volume 47, Issue 7
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2004
Castro Valley, CA 94546
Girls wrestlers dominate state championships By Haseeb Sadat STAFF WRITER CVHSʼ girls wrestling team captured the title of State Champions at the prestigious California Girls State Wrestling Championships on Feb. 7 at Vallejo High School. In just two years of existence, the girl grapplers accomplished something no other Castro Valley High team had ever achieved – winning a team championship at a state event. Head coach Steve Solis says the formula to success was any easy one to follow. “Itʼs a simple formula,” said Steve Solis. “ If [the girls] put the work in, good things will happen. Set high goals and good things will happen”. Junior Sharlee Solis (weight class 126) and senior Summer Scott (weight class 132) led the way with the only individual titles.
Castro Valley also got third-place finishes from Katrina Dutchover and Danielle Freitas, a fifth-place finish from Gabrielle Solis and Ashley Mora, a sixth-place finish from Jessica Cleaver and an eighth-place finish from Jessica Fazzio. The Trojans won by 22.5 points over San Leandro. Sharlee Solis won her finals match in stunning fashion. Losing by two points with 20 seconds remaining in the final period, Sharlee Solis needed a takedown. She shot in and tied the match 5-5 to take it into overtime. Sharlee Solis wasted little time in the overtime period as she used a counter takedown to win 7-5. “I feel proud because all my hard work paid off,” responded Sharlee Solis when asked about her first-place finish. “It was our goal at the beginning of the season. Iʼm really happy for my
teammates and proud of our accomplishments.” Scott also overcame a dramatic finish to win her title bout. Scott got an escape point with 11 seconds left to prevail in doubleovertime. Scottʼs match was particularly special because her opponent had beaten her at the beginning of the season. “It feels good,” said Scott. “All our had work paid off.” Scott was also glad to see her teammates do so well. “They really put out,” said Scott. “They did extremely well at the tournament.” Steve Solis attributes the teamʼs success to setting goal before the season began and working hard. “[The girls] put the extra time in.” said Steve Solis. Six CVHS wrestlers qualified for National Championships on March 28 in Detroit, Michigan.
Anatomy and Physiology students dissect cats to explore body systems By Yelena Teplitskaya STAFF WRITER
If you thought that dissecting frogs in Biology was the only thing gross enough to make you reconsider your position as a student, think again. Anatomy and Physiology classes on campus are dissecting cats to learn about the digestive system, the heart, blood, arteries and more. Many of the students taking the class agreed that if you get past the gross-factor, it would definitely pave the way to an excellent learning experience. “Itʼs good to explore the natural body,” said junior Darwin Tsang. And the closest thing to the natural human body, that is available to the school in large numbers, is a cat. “Cats are very similar to humans,” said Carol Dixon, Anatomy and Physiology teacher. “Theyʼre small and easy to manipulate. I think itʼs an excellent learning experience.” The cats are supplied every year by Wards Bio Supply House in North Carolina, where the cats are embalmed and injected with latex into their veins for preservation. “Traditionally, every Anatomy and Physiology class in college and high school uses cats,” said Dixon. “Itʼs not my favorite thing to do, but you donʼt ever see what tissue is like [without it].” Students taking the class have to slice open a preserved, but still just as dead, cat and identify whatever anatomical aspect they are learning that week. The slice can be a mid-line incision “like a two-door refrigerator,” explained Dixon, with the flaps held down by stainless steel T-pins. From there,
MORYAH SCHINDLER / STAFF WRITER
CVHS girl wrestlers competed at the state championships. Shown left to right: (top) Jessica Fazzio, Jessica Klever, Danielle Freitas, Stephanie Vossekuil, (bottom) Katrina Ducthover, Summer Scott, Ashley Mora, and Gabby Solis
California Governor proposes reduction of CSU and UC funds By Matt Rice STAFF WRITER
ATHENA GIANOPOULOS / COPY EDITOR
Anatomy and physiology student Perry Hung dissects a deceased cat for a hands-on experience in the classroom. students can examine the four chambers of the heart, the lungs, the liver and more. Despite the intense sight and smell of a deceased cat in front of them, students agreed that thereʼs nothing like learning Anatomy and Physiology first-hand. “Itʼs kind of cool to learn [the anatomy of a cat] hands-on rather than from a mannequin or something,” said Laura Watkins. Senior Kiran Bal agreed, “it makes so much more sense now that weʼre looking in the cat.”
Naturally, there is a substantial amount of doubt about the ethical prospect of dissecting cats from the students. “I think a few [students] were a little scared and nervous at first,” explained Dixon, “but in the beginning of the year, itʼs one of the things I said weʼd do.” With all the hassle and issues of dissecting cats in the classroom, teachers still have faith in the process after all this time. “Itʼs worth it,” Dixon concluded.
California State Universities (CSU) and Universities of California (UC) could possibly take big financial hits if the governorʼs proposed budget is enacted. Governor Arnold Schwarzeneggerʼs new state budget proposes a nine percent ($240 million) reduction in CSU funding and a $372 million cut from the UC system. According to the budget plan, “[the state] continues to recognize the significant contributions and benefits to society from broad access to higher education,” but finds it, “necessary to reduce General Fund spending in both the CSU and UC [systems].” Student reorganization is also proposed in the budget. The plan calls for ten percent of incoming CSU and UC students to be placed in the California Community College (CCC) system instead of a CSU or UC. Students are also facing some tough monetary decisions. Students attending CCCs will face a hike in cost per unit to $26 for undergraduates and $50 for graduates. The plan is met with harsh criticism and opposition from most high school students, the group it would affect the most. Lower-income students will probably suffer most from the proposed budget. In the plan, financial aid programs in the UC system are
planned to take a dramatic 33 percent funding reduction, decreasing the number of lower-income students able to attend. “Instead of denying people the right to their education, he should just raise taxes like any sane person would,” said senior Maxine Wiseman. Other students cite the fact that the budget may have its priorities in the wrong order. “Education is very important for California right now, having a balanced budget isnʼt,” said senior Channing Cheng. CSU and UC officials also take the proposed cuts as a poor choice for the future of California. “While we continue to share the pain of the stateʼs fiscal crisis, the public must realize that these budget reductions will negatively impact student access to the California State University because all qualified students will not be admitted,” said CSU Chancellor Charles Reed. “Fewer students admitted means fewer educated citizens entering the workforce to stimulate the economy and provide the jobs that the governor stressed in his State of the State address,” Reed said. “Not investing in higher education will have a devastating impact on the stateʼs economic future.” In the end it will come down to the voters to choosing whether or not Schwarzeneggerʼs plan will be the new standard, or the memory of a failed plan.