March 4, 2005

Volume 48, Issue7

Undocumented residents dare to DREAM

By Amanda Gelender Staff Writer

The future looks bright for children of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.; that is, if the DREAM Act passes in the U.S. Congress.

Senate Resolution 1545 and House Resolution 1684 is the “Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors” (DREAM) Act; a bipartisan sponsored piece of legislation currently pending in the Congress.

The DREAM Act would do two things: delete section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (a federal provision that prohibits states from determining their own definitions of “residents” in terms of granting state education benefits, including in-state tuition), and allow long-term student immigrants of “good moral standing” to apply for legal citizenship.

Currently, immigration status stems from the parents, and children of undocumented immigrants are unable to gain legal residency. The DREAM Act allows certain immigrant minors to get conditional, sixyear legal status.

Among the list of immigrants who are ineligible are crimi-

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2005

nals, and people who are security threats. The immigrants would qualify once they receive high school/college degrees or GEDs (general equivalency diplomas).

To lift the conditional status and receive lawful status, immigrants must keep good moral standing, avoid long trips abroad, and during the six-year conditional period either complete 910 hours of voluntary community service, study in higher education for at least two years, or serve military duty for at least two years.

This would affect many of the 50,000-65,000 children of undocumented immigrants who have been in the US. for more than five years and graduate from high schools in the U.S. every year (according to the National Immigration Law Center).

Supporters of the bill argue that children of undocumented immigrants had no choice about their citizenship status, and therefore it’s only fair to give them the mechanism to gain legitimate status and in turn the opportunities available to students with legal residency.

Supporters also cite fiscal benefits from the DREAM Act, including a decrease in school drop-out rates (which would

DREAM: Page 8

Castro Valley, CA 94546

Sean Ryan / Photo Editor

Seniors Christina Rae and Robert Pagan get down and funky at the Decades Dates Dance on February 25th.

Faculty speculates altering final schedule

By Katie Parr Staff Writer

The CVHS administration is considering changing next year’s schedule so that the first semester ends before winter break. Principal Debbie Coco spearheaded the idea and brought it to the rest of the administrators, who are currently discussing the proposal.

“I’m looking to de-stress the lives of the students and faculty,” she said. She believes that moving finals to the week before winter break will “calm down the campus and make it a safer place.”

Coco based some of her reasoning on an article by C.W. Nevius in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Nevius’ article explores the causes and effects of stressed-out students.

According to the article, many good students cheat and lie to appear more successful. Altering the finals schedule could be a solution

to this problem.

“The idea of a realistic interlude, with no vacation projects due and no finals looming, could be just the break that students need,” Nevius claims.

While many staff members embrace the idea, others worry about the problems the change could entail.

The most controversial issue is the two-week difference in length between the first and second semesters.

“I like it the way it is now,” said social studies teacher Sarah Burke.

“As a teacher of single semesterlong classes, I’m worried that the spring semester is going to be a lot longer than the fall semester. And I don’t like the idea of having to come back earlier in August.”

Science teacher Dr. Bill Southam doesn’t see the time difference as a problem.

“Some teachers are concerned about the imbalance of time, but

I usually find I can never get as much done second semester. All the testing distracts the students.”

According to Coco, STAR and AP testing each take a week from the second semester, and the Exit Exam takes another two days. She recognized that students receive instruction during these periods, but “it’s not the same quality of instruction, so the two semesters will even out.”

Many students would rather relax during break than have to worry about homework or impending finals.

“It’s the best idea the administration has come up with yet,” said junior Peter Bayuk. “I’d rather have finals earlier because after vacation, no one can remember anything. You have to re-learn everything when you come back.”

Southam agreed. “It’s a good idea because it lets us finish up before break,” he said. “Then we’ll have some time to relax.”

Assistant Principal Mark Autrey.

Rooms 906, 907 and 908 will be moved to the back of the gym.

The area now contains two basketball courts which are outside of the locker rooms. However, the basketball area will be removed for the portables. The school will provide more basketball hoops for the other side of the blacktop in place of those removed.

Classrooms 909-912 will not move for now. But by 2006-2007, school officials hope to have a practice gym in the place of those rooms.

Students with classes in the 900 hall will move to various places including the 300 hall which will now be open as a result of offices

moving back to the 800 hall.

“I don’t like the idea of being crammed into the 300 hall but it’s nice that we’ll have better 900 hall rooms. So, I’m okay with it as long as they don’t delay too long,” said junior Anisha Thomas.

Some students feel the change is unnecessary.

“Why should we build a 900 hall when the portables are perfectly fine? It’s a waste of money.

That money should be spent on buying other things such as new textbooks. Look at the Pre-Calculus books—they’re falling apart,” said sophomore Cynthia Chor.

The relocation of classrooms will be difficult, but most students

900 classrooms move to 300 hall

By Flora Tsang Staff Writer

Randy Eisenberg / Opinion Editor

Junior Ashlee Gillette along with others sing at the Pops concert on Saturday, Feb. 19. See page 4 for story.

Classrooms in the 900 hall will be moved while the offices in the 300 hall will return to their original location in the 800 hall during the last week of March while students are on spring break.

The portables all face different futures. For now, 901-905 will be unused but later on, they will be either demolished or put away.

By the year 2006, school officials hope to have a two-story building in place of those rooms.

“The new 900 hall will look like a motel with balconies and stairways outside. There will be an elevator, which is required,” said

MOVE: Page 8

2

OPINION

Friday, March 4, 2005

Shuffle the schedule

Editorial:

Finals are a hectic time in every student’s life. To add to the misery, what everyone calls “winter break” is more like studying in a half-conscious state while attempting to enjoy the absence of school. However, this once normal routine could all change.

A plan that might take effect as early as next year will enable students to take finals before winter break, thus, letting students actually take a real break during those blissful two weeks.

This proposed schedule would not only let studious students take a breather, but also allow the information

By Rada Feldman Editor-in-Chief

Lincoln should have let the South leave

pounded into their brains to stay fresh and ready to use on the tests, instead of having it slip away while on a school hiatus.

If this plan means an earlier

start to the school year, then so be it.

It is a small price to pay for what could be a future of improved grades on finals as well as a leap in the overall

GPA. This new schedule would not only leave students calm and happy, but also sane. So keep the sanity and de-stress the stressed.

ing federal loans or grants for college tuition, and must pay out-of-state fees, even if they have lived in that state for a long period of time.

The future for minors of illegal immigrants looks hopeful and can change significantly, with the passage of the “Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors,” (DREAM) Act. This act would allow student immigrants with no criminal records to apply for citizenship.

Not only would the DREAM Act grant immigrant children legal residency, but it would also be beneficial to the government and society. An increase in government revenue would result from taxes paid by the new legal citizens. With the ability to pursue a higher education, these minors will be less likely to become involved in crime. It looks like a win-win situation.

We at The Olympian support the DREAM Act, and

believe it is only fair for children of undocumented immigrants to be able to gain lawful status, which will open up a world of opportunities, which many of us of legal citizenship already enjoy. The DREAM Act will allow these students to contribute fully to society.

If the DREAM Act passes Congress, children of undocumented immigrants will no longer have to dream about the “American Dream,” they will be able to live it.

DREAMs come true Editorial:

Language barriers, low incomes, and adjusting to a different country are some of the obstacles adolescents of undocumented immigrants must deal with.

Even though these children had no choice in their families’ decision to come to the U.S. undocumented, they face hardships in pursuing higher education beyond high school. They are prohibited from receiv-

Rock the casbah

Dear Editor: The Olympian is a publication of the Journalism Class, Castro Valley High School, 19400 Santa Maria Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546.©2005 Editor-In-Chief............................................................Rada Feldman City Editors........................................................................Erin Gaab Athena Gianopoulos Ben Topkins News Editor..........................................................Yelena Teplitskaya Opinion Editor.........................................................Randy Eisenberg Feature Editor.............................................Marie Antoniette Manuel Sports Editor.................................................Kawaianiani Malandish Copy Editors.............................................................Samantha Basto Divya Gopakumar Photo Editor.......................................................................Sean Ryan Systems Manager..............................................................Fabian Ma Business Managers................................................Moryah Schindler Analisa Harangozo Staff Writers: Krissy Bussell, Amanda Gelender, Meghan Heuer, Saritha Kosarussavadi, Alexia Laines, Eladia Laines, Kara Lawrence, Eric Lee, Trini McGeogh, Jasmine Nand, Katie Parr, Stephanie Spitzer, Arianna Spratley, Flora Tsang, Brett Volz, Denise Wong Advisor........................................................................Matt Johanson

To

LETTERS the Editor

I am disappointed that The Olympian continues to print articles that criticize and put down either individual Leadership students or the class as a whole. I fully understand that the Leadership students have chosen to be in a public position where they are vulnerable to criticism if an activity is not successful or they make an unpopular decision.

And, The Olympian staff has every right, and a duty, to express its opinion about such activities and decisions. However, far too many times some of your reporters, and even you as an editor, have written personal attacks that have nothing to do with decisions made or activities planned by Leadership.

The most recent example appeared in the Feb. 14 issue: “Ten Ways to be a Valentine failure.”

In reference to the Leadership class, item three stated “Is it really a surprise that no one would be caught dead even looking like

they’re going out with you?” I find it ironic that in an issue which devoted so much space to unity and tolerance, you also ran this article which puts down other groups of students in addition to Leadership: “8. Be a freshman. There is nothing that crawls the face of CVHS that is lower than a freshman. The seagulls? More popular than you.”

I suppose you assumed that by including yourselves in the ranking (“1. Join the Olympian staff.”), everyone would understand and appreciate sarcasm.

I understand the sarcasm, but the continued attacks on Leadership, in any form, make it obvious to me that you and/or other members of your staff have a personal agenda.

You begin to lose credibility as journalists when you allow this to happen. It is my hope that future articles that criticize Leadership students will focus on the activities they plan and the decisions they make.

Linda Little

The south has narrowly averted hitting an all time low. Attention low rider jeans, exposed thongs and out in the open boxer shorts: you can feel safe, now that the Virginian “droopy drawers” bill was dropped by state legislators after the entire situation became far too mortifying. It was just about to pants you and your $50.

However, before Virginia came to its senses, the Virginian State House of Representatives, by a 60-34 majority ruled that a fine for such indecent exposure was necessary in order to stop the ever so horrendous and appalling trend from, gasp, threatening the survival of the moral character of America. Clearly, the backbone of our imperialistic, oil hungry nation rests solely on a little ass cleavage.

The bill’s sponsor, Algie Howell, enlightened the house. “To vote for this bill would be a vote for character, to uplift your community and to do something good not only for the state of Virginia, but for this entire country.”

I find it absolutely daunting that amidst a futile war in Iraq, a disastrous tsunami in south eastern Asia, and a mentally incapable oil monger in the Oval office, our focus is diverted to aiding the behinds of Americans and not Social Security, Medicare or homelessness. Is it not just a tad bit depressing that Virginia holds the hypothesis that by dissolving the existence of g-strings our country will be cured?

Additionally, banning revealing underwear is an infringement of our Constitutional rights. The First Amendment, whether you like it or not, unquestionably protects that lacy, bow adorned at the triangle thong that peeks out in front of you in your history class. It does, in fact, constitute as an individual expression and thus, prohibiting it would be almost as unconstitutional as the Patriot Act. Also, I am pretty sure that a great chunk of those middle-aged, white, Virginian males fancy seeing a little behind every now and then. American government, let’s not be hypocritical now (just this once).

Hopefully this preposterous campaign against our behinds will not infect the minds of other states, or at least everywhere but the south, because that place is already doomed.

Republican lawmaker John Reid said, “Underwear is called underwear for a reason.” Well, Mr. Reid, rights are called rights for a reason too.

OPINION

Friday, March 4, 2005

3

Irate about Irish pride

By Stephanie Spitzer Staff Writer

There is a holiday celebrated in our culture with T.V., beer, and pinching. It’s a day for wearing green and celebrating the Irish way of life. Oops, did I say Irish? Yes, I’m talking about St. Patrick’s Day. A great holiday, no? No purpose except to wear green and pinch friends, because that’s the point of St. Patrick’s Day, right?

Wow, call our society superficial. And I grew up thinking St. Patrick’s Day celebrated Irish heritage. Boy, was I wrong.

I’ve received plenty of bruises from this crazy holiday. I’m not a huge fan of the color green and I tend not to think about what day it is when I’m getting dressed. I’d feel guilty about it, but not a large part of my ancestry is Irish, so I

don’t see the need to celebrate an Irish holiday.

So where does this leave me?

Pinched and bruised. Many of my “friends” must have pent-up rage stored inside them, because they pinch really hard. Everyone I know pinches me, even when I’m wearing green. I accidentally wore green last year, and people said, “Oh, it’s yellow,” and pinched me anyway. Excuse me?!

Do I pinch back? No. I don’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, so I don’t see why I should pinch people, nor be pinched. I commend the Irish people for celebrating their holiday, but it’s not my holiday and I shouldn’t be hurt because I’m not wearing the correct color.

So here’s a good idea, friends: leave the non-Irish alone before we’re checked into the hospital for bad bruising.

Hail to the Why aren’t youngsters young? female

By Samantha Basto Copy Editor

By Analisa Harangozo Business Manager

Since 1789, 43 presidents later, a testosterone-bearing individual still represents the country. Isn’t it time we have a female (the gender that makes up the majority of America’s population) represent our nation as president?

Over the years, women have come far in gaining equal rights to men. From gaining the right to vote to more equal pay in the work place, discrimination against women and gender inequality has lessened. However, as much as the public wants us to think that this nation is overflowing with gender equality, women are still being cheated out when it comes to playing certain roles in society.

Other countries, such as the Philippines, have looked past gender and elected women as their presidents. Why can’t America do the same? The White House Project, a non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing the roles of women in leadership, claim that there are 31 women living today, none of which are American, who are now or have been the president or prime minister of their countries.

It makes me question whether or not our nation continues to be envisioned as a male-dominated country. Our country’s Constitution has guaranteed that all mankind is created equal. Has it taken the word “man” in too strongly and forgotten the other half of the population?

I admit women may not be as physically strong as men. However, the role of president does not require an individual with protruding muscles. I could name plenty of females capable of filling in the shoes of George W. Bush. I am most certain that if a female were elected president, we would not go into war as quickly as we have in the past. A female president would take more consideration not only for the nation, but the soldiers who would be fighting. She would protect them as if they were her own children and want them as far away from harm as possible.

A female running the White House is long overdue.

No longer should women stay in the shadows of a man, especially on our campus. I have always wondered, why do girls get so riled up over powderpuff football? Girls vigorously prepare for about two weeks for one game in the year.

Regular football takes place year round and contains numerous games. On top of all this, male coaches and football players coach the girls. A campus with stronger gender equality could start with a female football team that takes place year-round. It’s a small, but efficient way to promote gender equality and reduce sexism for the future.

Time has passed long enough where we have taught younger generations about our forefathers.

I am looking forward to the day where the word foremother will exist and be taught to generations to come.

I see young girls clutching Louis Vuitton or Dooney and Bourke purses and wearing an obscene amount makeup everyday. Walk into any mall and you are bound to see a little girl talking on a cell phone, while walking aimlessly past each store without a glance.

Who could she possibly be talking to? Passing by any elementary school or a middle school, I see young kids talking on cell phones.

Who could they be talking to?

There have been many incidents where I have seen young boys and girls acting older than they are.

While there are kids that actually act like kids, I have noticed more and more kids trying to act and dress older than their true age.

What’s the rush? I realize that it is all right for kids to want to grow up; it was something we all wanted when we were younger. I guess one can say that a lot has changed from elementary and middle school from years past.

I also see a lot of young kids wearing designer clothes. It may just be me, but I don’t remember wearing designer clothing in elementary school. As a kid, a jacket was just a jacket, or a shirt was just a shirt. It may be the media that influenced young people or it may be the growing fashion industry bombarding us from angles; print ads, MTV, TV commercials, billboards. Whatever the cause may be, a lot has changed.

It is not just the way kids or young teens might dress that makes it apparent that adolescents seem to be getting older or more “mature.” We live in the year 2005, and it isn’t too surprising to hear about a 13-year-old girl being pregnant. What makes a 13-

year-old think she’s old enough to even care for a baby? These sorts of things make me question how adolescents get in those situations in the first place. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy reported that 34 percent of teenage girls get pregnant at least once before they reach age 20. This results in 820,000 teen pregnancies a year. Here in the US, we have the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the fully industrialized world. Although teen pregnancy rates have recently declined, the percentage is still high. It is scary to see kids

having kids. Statistics also show an increase in the use of drugs by adolescents.

Kids need to enjoy their childhood and not be in such a hurry to grow up. Along with growing up comes more responsibilities and school only gets tougher, with a much higher standard and competition to get into colleges and universities. Kids these days are so eager to grow up. Being older, with all the stress that comes along with it, I often wish I could just be a kid again with no worries.

COMPILED BY SARITHA KOSARUSSAVADI

PHOTOpinions What do you think of the proposed schedule change?

“It would be good. We wouldn’t have to worry over break.” – Sunny

“That’s a fine idea.It has after all worked in colleges for years.” – Jeff

“Starting school early is dumb because we didn’t ask for finals.”

–Erin Duncan,

“I don’t like the proposal but I wouldn’t really mind if it passed.”

Kalra, freshman

junior

Hensley, senior

– Chen Wang, sophomore

4

FEATURE

Friday, March 4, 2005

Pops directors put their dreams “On Air”

By Trini McGeogh Staff Writer

Many people dream about life after high school. Some dream of an easy life at the beach or just getting away from their hometowns while others dream of fame, self-acceptance, or just falling in love.

This year’s pops concert, “On Air,” was about dreams of life after high school and was set on a high school radio station hosted by senior Andres Enriquez.

Seniors Jillian Williams, Erica Tirado, Lauren Santos and Andrea Blunt directed the pops concert.

The CVHS orchestra backed up all performances.

“On Air” started with a strong performance of the song, “There’s a Kid Inside,” with the entire cast clad in Varsity jackets, t-shirts, and jeans. Enriquez then told the audience members about the dreams of the easy life.

Wearing hula skirts, Hawaiian tshirts and sunglasses, the Kokomo boys sang about “Aruba, Jamaica.”

In addition, they demonstrated

their vocal talents and hilariously bad hula skills.

Later came the girls singing, “In the Summertime,” talking of a life of fishing and swimming.

Next on people’s dreams of life after high school came self-acceptance and fame. Performances included “Voice Within” by Kellean Beyella, “I’m a Woman” by director and main choreographer Williams, Robert Pagan and his backup boys with “Lullaby of Broadway” and Amanda Anderson with a solid performance of “Applause.”

Along with the songs performed in this part of the show, the audience got a treat when watching extremely impressive tap dancers Williams, Tirado, Marsha Donat, Karina DeHerrera, Santos, Zachary Porter and Enriquez. The song the dancers tapped to was a traditional tap song and then in the middle of the song had a clip of catchy Jennifer Lopez hip-hop music in which all the dancers did kicky moves and were completely in sync. The dancers nailed every single move and had energy that

most definitely made the audience want to get up and dance with them.

The entirely non-schmaltzy but pleasing performance of “Burning Love” started the dreams of falling in love. Jeff Hensley danced with backup boys that were wearing ties on their heads.

One could see the love and strong bond that singers Blunt and Kevin Gundred shared while singing, “I Want to Spend a Lifetime Loving You.” Kelly Drinkward then finished the love dreams with her beautiful performance of “So This Is Love.”

Getting away from the same old town was Tirado’s dream in her song, “Somewhere it’s Green.”

Tirado really delivered and turned a slightly odd song into a song that was quite enjoyable.

The pops concert ended on a positive note with the reprise of the song, “There’s a Kid Inside.”

When asked how she felt about the overall performance of the pops concert, sophomore Sarah Sandford said, “I felt good about it and like I did my very best.”

volunteer.

“I volunteered for seven years in Berkeley middle and high schools, and enjoyed helping students solve their academic and personal problems. I went to graduate school so that I could get more training and a degree that would permit me to continue this work in a more effective way,” said Hecker Before attending graduate school, Stauffer worked in after school programs, a counseling and family support agency and a center for students with physical and mental disabilities.

“I sincerely enjoyed working at an after school program while I was in high school. I enjoyed helping serve as a link between parents, their students and the school and helping the students connect with community resources,” said Stauffer.

Adriance previously taught second grade in Compton, CA and worked as a case manager with parenting and pregnant teens.

“I became interested in social work through my teaching and case management experiences with children and their families,” said Adriance. “The various roles of a social worker as an advocate, counselor and mentor, to name a few, appealed to me” Rodriguez understands their motivation to counsel and mentor students in high school.

“Teens are at such cross-roads in life between being a child and an adult. It’s a challenging time of life but an exciting one,” said Rodriguez.

The interns regularly receive information about teens in need

of services from counselors, teachers and parents, meet with students individually and in groups to address concerns and problems of the students, consult with parents and teachers and help students and families connect with community

Social worker interns invade campus

By Erin Gaab City Editor

CVHS not only provides a study site for more than 2,500 high school students, but one for the three graduate students from UC Berkeley’s School of Social Welfare. Three college women, Jessica Adriance, Cynthia Hecker and Laura Marie Stauffer are available and interested in learning and working with students while at CVHS. The interns are here to serve the student body. According to school psychologist Christina Rodriguez, they are well-suited to succeed here.

“The social work interns … appear very motivated and into their work.”

The interns began working in the district on Sept.15, 2004.

They spend two days at the high school and one day at another school in Castro Valley each week.

Two of them at a time are here on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

They plan to graduate this May with masters in social welfare degrees, and the work they do in Castro Valley is part of their schooling.

Janice Friesen, a licensed clinical social worker (and alumna of the graduate program at UC) and a member of the Castro Valley school board supervises the interns.

Although Adriance, Hecker and Stauffer come from diverse backgrounds, they each share the ambition to help others overcome obstacles in their lives.

Hecker began her adult life as a lawyer, then switched careers to become a mother and school

“Teens are at

such a crossroads in life between being a child and an adult.

”

CHRISTINA RODRIGUEZ School psychologist

resources for basic needs such as clothing, food, medical care and shelter.

Their jobs as school social workers will require them to “work with students, their families, and sometimes their teachers to help find more helpful ways of dealing with difficult and stressful situations. A school social worker may help a student with anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, [or] an eating disorder.

School social workers also work with families, teachers, and the community to help solve problems and connect various groups with needed resources.”

It sounds like they’re already fulfilling their duties.

Stephanie Spitzer/ Staff Writer

Gravestones between the 100 and 200 halls commemorate students who died while attending CVHS.

Gravestones commemorate past students

By Stephanie Spitzer Staff Writer

Joseph Matteucci and Jody Banchero have memorial gravestones at CVHS because they died before they graduated from high school.

Banchero lived from May 25, 1978 to Aug. 12, 1995. She drowned during the summer before her senior year.

“She was hiking and her foot got caught in a rock and she fell in the water below and drowned,” said senior Christina Robertson. A rock also caught Banchero’s hair and kept her under the water.

Matteucci was a junior when he died on May 17, 1993. He went to pick up a friend of his from a baseball game when he was hit in the head by the catcher with a baseball bat. Matteucci’s

brain stem was crushed and he never regained consciousness.

The catcher had been riled by another boy, but that boy moved out of the way, according to www.jmf4peace.org/.

In addition, there is a plaque to Vietnam soldiers from Castro Valley in the library. There also used to be a tree and a plaque for Mike Ballejos, who died in 1989.

Ballejos was in a car accident.

“The tree wasn’t cared for and died after a while. Mike’s best friend Ben Sarno came and tore the plaque out because he felt it shouldn’t be here if it wasn’t going to be taken care of,” said said social studies teacher Jeff Goldstein. “[The graves] are here to memorialize them,” said Robertson.

“To remember them,” added Goldstein.

Getting technical with Cisco

By Trini McGeogh Staff Writer

Cisco Networking, named after worldwide corporation Cisco Systems Inc., is one of the many classes offered at CVHS where students can fulfill their technological desires.

“Cisco is basically the backbone of the internet,” says Cisco teacher Chris Burns.

Cisco is the main provider on almost all systems of the Internet.

Cisco products include routers, dial-up access servers, and network management software.

“I love it. We learn so much useful information in class,” said junior Stacy Shaw.

Cisco makes the networking equipment to create Internet solutions that enable individuals, companies, and countries to increase productivity.

Cisco teacher Chris Burns has been teaching Regional Occupational Program (ROP) and other computer classes at CVHS for three years.

“It’s not easy, but it’s not as hard as something like Calculus,” said Burns.

It is suspected that a lot of students do not know about the Cisco program on campus.

“We think a lot of students don’t know that there is an ROP class offered on campus that isn’t offered in Hayward,” said Burns.

“I heard about this class from the program planning guide,” said senior Scott Hirayama.

The Cisco program prepares students for demands of the workplace and is a good class to take for interested in careers in networking, education, business, government, and home education.

“I’m not really interested in a career in networking, but I am interested in a career in engineering and you need computer skills for that career,” said Shaw.

The program is a one-year course; there is Cisco 1 the first semester and then Cisco 2 for the second semester. CVHS offers the program for free, while many other places that offer the program charge a fee.

Cisco requires students to memorize wires, and connect protocols, learn how the Internet works, and set up networks, among many other things that students learn.

FEATURE

Friday, March 4, 2005

5

Students bang their heads to a rockin’ beat

By Analisa Harangozo Business Manager

CVHS holds a number of talented bands which not many students are aware about. These bands contain aspiring musicians that take pride in bringing their music to their audience’s ears.

Sophomore Doug Winkenbach, junior Ryan Murtey and his younger brother Justin Murtey are in the rock band Adelie. They have been together for a year and have played at birthday parties and several events including the DECA Variety Show.

“As of now, we’ve gained a lot of experience and we hope to get bigger as we go on,” said lead singer and guitarist Murtey (Ryan).

When it comes to experience, juniors Dilip Priyanath, Chuck Lattin, Steve Prakash, and Nick Sherwood have stuck together in their alternative rock and punk band, Fast Life, for over two years. They started off playing at their church, then moved onto playing at Imusicast, a big venue where various local bands play at.

Their songs are usually about girls, fans, and unsurprisingly, life.

“We’ve gained a lot of respect, girls, and attention from playing in this band,” said drummer Prakash.

On the contrary, junior Robbie

Garecht and sophomores Jesse Law, Matt Silva, and Jason Holyoake have recently formed the band To Bleed Tragedy. As their first show gradually approaches,

they do their best to get as much practice in as possible.

“Hopefully after we play at Blake’s in Berkeley on March 20, we’ll have a bigger fan base,” said

Analisa Harangozo / Business Manager

Junior Paul Phish, seniors Alex DeMiguel, Cory Rose, and sophomore Alan Barbour (left to right) express themselves through their band Confined Lies.

lead vocalist Garecht.

“They’re really good for a newly formed band. They deserve a lot more support! Go support them!” cheered freshman and devoted fan Ariana Neves.

Sophomore Alan Barbour, junior Paul Phish, and seniors Alex DeMiguel and Cory Rose compose the punk-hardcore band, Confined Lies. They have played all over the East Bay for over a year. For five days a week (including time during lunch), these motivated musicians practice whenever they can.

“We’re not in it to be rock stars and make money. We’re in it for the music, to express ourselves, to make music we like, and to just have fun,” said lead singer Rose.

“Confined Lies is an awesome hardcore band that creates awesome music. They go out and support the local scene, which is definitely something to respect.

They’re just awesome guys,” said junior Katie Darfler, a supportive fan of Confined Lies.

These are just a few of the many local CVHS bands that you can show some love and support by attending their head-bobbing, fist-raising, hip-moving, shoulderswaying shows.

Spanish Club goes tropical New nurse aids students

By Analisa Harangozo Business Manager

As the summer gradually approaches, so does the Spanish Club’s trip to the tropical, exotic country of Costa Rica. Originally, the club planned their trip for Peru, but some parents of club members grew concerned of the country not being very safe for their kids.

“I think it will still be an interesting trip culturally and linguistically,” said Spanish Club Co-President Ben Topkins.

For the past few months, club members worked hard to raise money for the trip. From car washes to selling See’s Candies, they went through numerous fundraisers to pay for the trip averaging

about $900 per person.

“In my opinion, the most lucrative fundraiser will be the CastroValleyopoly,” Topkins said.

The Spanish club plans on creating this version of Monopoly and selling it in May. It will contain well-known sites in town like Castro Valley Boulevard. So far, about seven kids plan to go on this funfilled trip the weekend school ends.

Club advisor Mariam Dominguez will accompany them. Every two kids will stay in the homes of native Costa Ricans in the city of San Joaquín de Flores.

For the ten days that they stay in Costa Rica, they will experience four hours of Costa Rican education at CPI Heredia (a Costa Rican school) where they will touch

base with their Spanish skills.

Afterwards, they will do various activities such as bungee jumping, waterfall repelling, visits to a butterfly farm, rain forest canopy tours, dancing lessons, cooking classes, trips to museums, and visiting theaters, and nightclubs.

“One of the highlights of this trip will most likely be the river boat excursion we will take to Totuguero to witness how sea turtles lay their eggs,” said Spanish Club Co-President Mark Andre.

“I expect to receive additional insight into the Costa Rican culture and to have an experience that I will be able to take with me throughout the rest of my life,” said Spanish Club Vice President Stephanie Austin.

Analisa Harangozo / Business Manager

The Spanish Club welcomes anyone to join this year’s Costa Rica trip.

Flora Tsang/ Staff Writer

New CVHS nurse Sandra Velasquez assists students in need. more time with the family. Even

By Flora Tsang Staff Writer

Perhaps you feigned a stomachache in class and happily tottered down to the nurse’s office only to feel surprised. Low and behold: standing there was a new nurse.

Sandra Velasquez, a resident of Castro Valley for the past eight years, has graced CVHS with her presence as the new school nurse.

A registered nurse since 1981, Velasquez is extremely experienced, well trained and knowledgeable in all areas including how to figure the difference between sick and faking sick teenagers.

“It’s not that hard to tell the difference. After so many years, you know when a person is sick and when they’re not really sick,” said Velasquez.

With two kids at Vannoy Elementary School, our new nurse decided to work at CVHS—so she could work more with kids and have

though she just started working here in January 2005, she has high hopes for the campus.

“My goal is to be more of a health information resource. Maybe there could be open forums or classes at lunchtime or something,” said Velasquez, “I also want to be involved in encouraging healthier food choices and teaching people about the perils of soda.”

For many years, Velasquez was located at a private practice in San Francisco as a Nurse Practitioner.

Originally, she had wanted to be a Pediatric Nurse and work with kids, but the job market was low.

Now, she hopes to make up for that loss by working more with the teenagers here.

“It’s been an overwhelming experience trying to learn everything from how to use the computers to getting to know the people,” said Velasquez. “I like the kids here though and hope to meet more of them–not just the sick ones.”

6Track kicks up dust with new coach Girls soccer team falls

SPORTS

By Kara Lawrence Staff Writer

Track is kicking up dust; starting the 2005 season with a new coach. Barbara Klews, the German teacher has recently accepted the responsibility of being head coach of the CVHS track team.

“I’ve coached volleyball for eight years and have coached shot put and discus for two years,” said Klews.

Peter Brewer an English teacher, coached the team for 25 years, but said that he decided to step down as head coach due to kids not holding up their responsibilities to the CVHS track team.

Although track has tons of kids, and it is easy to skip practice and not be noticed, Brewer and Klews would prefer a more dedicated team.

“I was tired of dealing with kids that were not committed and resisted being encouraged,” said Brewer.

Klews and Brewer are enforcing the attendance policy more than

Friday, March 4, 2005

ever. Last year Brewer had the athletes line up to take attendance at the beginning of every practice.

Now, athletes have to check in by themselves. If one practice is missed and not cleared then that athlete will not be allowed to participate in the next track meet.

“We want to get rid of kids that are not serious about the team. We are serious coaches and we want serious athletes,” said Brewer.

Brewer did not pass on any vital secrets on coaching the CVHS track team, with the exception of rules.

“She doesn’t need help with [motivating] kids, and I wouldn’t dare to tell her about that,” said Brewer.

Klews was an athlete on the track team at CVHS when she was a student and threw the shot put and the discus for her events.

Klews holds the record for the shot put distance.

“I did volunteer to coach for track this year, but Brewer and I are sharing the position, he takes care of running and I take care of

the attendance policy,” she said.

“I expect hard work and dedication from the team, just like every year.”

Top athletes for the 2005 season are expected to do quite well this season.

“Veteran athletes that achieved outstanding marks last year would be senior Charis Chan (she holds all the school sprinting records), Russel Johnson is expected to do well in the 400 meter dash, Kirk Marciel for the high jump, pole vaulters Kevin Turner, Chris Casey, and Kevin Teel,” Brewer said.

“Two new additions to the track team are Tisha Uwadialle from Washington state, and Allison Smalley, a high jumper from Texas,” he said.

Two hundred twenty students signed up for track, but after all the other winter sports stop, Brewer expects 175 athletes to turn out.

“It is a much bigger commitment but, it is a fun sport, and I’m having a fun time coaching,” said Klews.

short in NCS match

By Kawaianiani Malandish

Sports Editor The girls Varsity soccer team made it through the Hayward Area Athletic League (HAAL) with their standings at 20-3-1, only to fall short in the North Coast Section (NCS) 3-A girls soccer quarterfinals game against San Ramon Valley High.

The game on Feb. 19 was moved to San Ramon Valley High after Castro Valley Athletic Director Marie Gray moved the game due to the field conditions at CVHS. The game was very competitive, with the only goal scored at the beginning of the second half, off of a corner kick.

School soon to feature new bleachers

By Brett Volz Staff Writer

Brett Volz / Staff Writer

Junior Carrie Hilderbrand warms up with freestyle before practice.

Swimmers swim swiftly

By Randy Eisenberg

Opinion Editor Rival Bishop O’Dowd swimmers will be quaking, for the CVHS swim team is starting its season.

The team will be without last year’s coach, Brian Berry. Coach Todd Esguerra will be returning and Trevor Croghan, a CVHS swim team alumnus and Creekside teacher will be joining the staff. “[Croghan’s] easy,” said junior swimmer Daniel Nowicki. In Esguerra’s opinion, competition isn’t the total focus of the season.

“I just want to make everyone faster than they were last year and get the new kids up to speed,” said Esguerra. For the Trojan swimmers, competition is far more publicly important.

“Our overall goal is to win league championships and make it to NCS in relays,” said senior Rebecca Bartlow.

“A lot of our fast seniors left, so we’re sort of screwed,” said junior Sarah Kavaler, describing the relays. Esguerra feels confident about the season.“I think we have a good shot of doing better than [Bishop] O’Dowd this year,” said Esguerra.

With 15 minutes left in the game and the Trojans looking for a scoring opportunity, midfielder Holly Matheney was fouled. The call was controversially called as outside the penalty area and the ball was placed outside the 18 yard box.

The team insists that Matheney was clearly inside the penalty area.

“She was inside the penalty box.

We have it on tape,” said senior Ali Sill.

Despite the kick being placed outside the box, the Trojans still had a good scoring opportunity.

The free kick sailed over the goal and San Ramon kept their 1-0 lead for the rest of the game.

Roughly one month ago, CVHS lost one of its most notable landmarks.

The bleachers, which once towered over the football field and gave onlookers a commanding view, are now gone.

This is a smart move on the part of the administration, because it had no choice. According to Assistant Principal Mark Autrey. the school district deemed the bleachers unsafe.

“There are codes for buildings in California, and the bleachers did not meet the standard,” said Autrey. “They did not provide a safe environment for those using them, so they had to go.”

This is good news to any students who has ever had to sit on the bleachers.

“That’s good. I hadn’t even realized that the bleachers were gone

until you told me, I don’t go up there very often anymore,” said senior Matthew Keehner. “I’m glad they got rid of them, they were pretty crappy in my sophomore year, so they must have been bad when they were taken down.”

Temporary bleachers will be erected in there place. These are light weight and are not meant to last for very long, so they will be replaced as soon as possible by new permanent bleachers.

“This is all part of our plan to re-build the field, track and bleachers,” said Autrey. “Until plans are finalized for the new all-weather track and astroturf field, the bleachers can’t be built because they might get in the way.”

Note that this construction will not affect the graduation ceremony, and the new bleachers are expected to be in service by that time, although it is unclear whether the bleachers will be back in time for the next assembly.

Sean Ryan / Photo Editor

The CVHS bleachers don’t exist as of about one month ago.

Portraits

Friday, March 4, 2005

7

Journalism students get familiar with artistic portraits

Saritha Kosarussavida / Staff Writer

CVHS custodian substitute Richard Davis shows his softer side behind the broom.

Analisa Harangozo / Business Manager

Junior Matt Day loves to sing soulful songs.

Flora Tsang / Staff Writer

Freshman Katrina Han excitedly celebrates her birthday with Dumbo.

Jasmine Nand /Staff Writer

English teacher Elisa Banks shows off her wild side.

Sophomore Nicole Abraham is singing in the rain.

Stephanie Spitzer / Staff Writer

8

DISTRACTIONS

Friday, March 4, 2005

The wrath Board of Trustees changes CSUH to Cal State East Bay of senioritis overtakes seniors

By Krissy Bussell Staff Writer

By Brett Volz Staff Writer

Senioritis, the disease that causes seniors to stop working, has existed since the transition between high school and college first appeared. Maybe it was a senior prank, vandalization during the last few days of attending a school that the graduating class would never have to see again, or maybe just the desire to have it all end sooner than scheduled.

Whatever the case, now that second semester has begun, senioritis is showing its ugly head once again.

“It’s usually an affliction that besets second semester seniors, when the end is in sight, where they are more concerned about the future they see in college, rather than the present they see at CVHS,” said counselor Bob Kaer.

Although Kaer calls senioritis an affliction, many seniors see it as exactly the opposite. They see it as their time to, having paid their dues, sit back and watch the rest of the school work.

“I’ve been working my butt off for almost four years now, it’s finally time for me to take a break.

I intend to make full use of the opportunity,” said senior Svilan Ivanov.

After all, when students have already applied to college using their first semester grades, it is the opinion of many that the second semester grades really don’t matter. This can lead previously hard working students to not even show up to class.

“Class? Are you crazy? My grades don’t matter anymore, I just have to pass. That’s what, 60 percent of the time? I might show up to take tests, but that’s about it,” said Ivanov.

As can be expected, the teachers of these students are less than pleased about this attitude.

“It’s not that bad in my class, because government is required to graduate,” said teacher Kathleen Cassidy. “I would imagine it gets pretty bad in other classes though.

It really depends on what kind of student you were before. If you were a good student before, you might stop doing your homework.

If you didn’t show up to class to begin with, then not much will change.”

So is senioritis an affliction or a godsend? Well it really depends.

For students, the opportunity to slack off can be a welcome respite to the doldrums of daily life at school. To teachers, it can have a disastrous effect on classroom attendance and participation.

“Yeah, I’ve got it pretty bad, but that’s OK,” said senior Matthew Keehner. “I’m just glad that the worst is already done. One more semester, I think I can coast.”

California State University Board of Trustees voted unanimously to change Cal State Hayward’s name to Cal State East Bay on Wednesday, Jan. 26.

The idea to change CSUH to CSUEB was brought up in October 2004 and voted on in January 2005.

Jack Erlwein, a 2004 CVHS graduate, said that the name

change doesn’t affect him but he doesn’t like it.

“I think the name change is stupid because now they have to change everything from CSUH to CSUEB. The name change doesn’t really have an effect on me because I don’t really care what the name of the school is, but I thought CSUH was better.”

“I don’t really care about the name change and I think that people are making too big of a deal out of it,” said Kristine Telles, a

former CVHS student.

“I don’t know if what we said went to account, but Cal State students did vote on the issue. I was in my statistics class and we got a ballot where we could check yes or no on the name change,” stated Telles.

“People were protesting the day that name got changed and class even got canceled. They turned off all the power and made such a huge deal over nothing.”

Herman Haller, a 2004 CVHS

ment supports this. “I like the family community that we form,” she said. HBBC is not only called Hand Building Bridges because of its link to Sign Language. It also refers to the metaphoric bridge that the club members are creating by interacting with members of the Deaf community.

Members often volunteer at organizations such as Saint Joseph’s Center for the Deaf and Deaf Hope, creating a way for Deaf people and the hearing members of HBBC to interact and gain a better understanding of each other’s cultures.

“You get to reach out to other people that aren’t even in ASL to be part of the Deaf community,” said senior Alexandria Alonga, who has been a member of HBBC for two years.

One of the most unifying activities that HBBC members take part in is the club’s annual Variety Show. Full of unique expressions of American Sign Language, the Variety Show is put together and performed by club volunteers.

Advisor Ovida DeJulia and President Joe Jazwinski are among the many talented people taking part in

making this year’s show a success.

They, along with the volunteers, put in time and effort during lunch, tutorial, and after school, when it is needed, to make the show as amazing as possible.

But the Variety Show isn’t the only way that this club manages to bring its members together and have fun. The club goes on a trip to Disneyland every year as a group for the park’s Deaf Awareness Day. Members not only get to have a great time, they also learn about Deaf culture and get opportunities to communicate with Deaf people while they are there.

“Silent Nights” are another form of fun activities that the group participates in. Members meet up at different places in town, like the Ice Creamery, to have a fun filled night of complete silence. This allows members to have fun and friendly conversations with one another while only being able to use ASL to communicate.

The Hand Building Bridges Club is constantly growing and is always welcoming to new members who wish to join their family.

The club meets every Thursday in Room 405.

Spartigras (named after the old CV Spartan mascot) came to an end when seniors lost interest in the mid-sixties. Now we have the annual “Mr. C.V.” for comical senior boy performers.

April 1, 1960—“Fashion Reform Needed Badly on Castro Valley High Campus: Clothes are much too revealing. Girls are no longer modest. Boys dress too casually and without good taste and sophistication…Knee length skirts should be disposed of. Members of the faculty say that male students spend more time concentrating on legs than they do on their studies.

A noted physician has stated that ‘unprotected legs are susceptible to germs as well as frostbite.’”

Although our handbook no longer contains medical reasons for following the dress code, it still requires the girls wear skirts or shorts which “reach the tips of the fingers with the student’s arms at his or her sides.” Knee length skirts are actually considered modest today.

Nov. 22, 1968—“School Clubs To Help Needy: As seasonal projects, the Aeolian Club will be collecting clothes for Vietnamese

war orphans while homemaking classes and the Future Homemakers of America (FHA) will send cookies to soldiers in Vietnam and clothing to Navajo Indians.”

With the removal of helpful homemaking classes came the addition of several community service clubs, including Key Club.

Key Club members volunteer at Operation MOM (Mothers of the Military) events to pack boxes of food, hygiene, and recreation items for soldiers fighting in Iraq.

April 28, 1972—“Castro Valley High School Boys Build Trailer for Horses For $500.”

That hasn’t happened in years.

Need I say more?

Dec. 15, 1972—“Resolutions: Mario Harper—I resolve to help beautify this beautiful school, and help my country as much as possible and to see that Mr. Nixon gets all my support in the oncoming years. God Bless America.”

Principal Debbie Coco reminds students to carry on Harper’s dream of beautifying the campus by picking up their garbage every day. Government classes learn about Nixon’s Watergate scandal now.

HBBC provides link to ASL

By Meghan Heuer Staff Writer

American Sign Language (ASL) is a handy language and members of the Sign Language based Hand Building Bridges Club (HBBC) never thought that car washing could be so fun. When asked about what her most fun experience in the club was, sophomore Chelsea Gault said, “I remember during the HBBC Car Wash, Joe kept spraying me with the hose and dumping soap on people.”

So, what is HBBC? HBBC is a club at CVHS for people in the school’s ASL classes, former students of those classes, as well as others who are simply interested in the subject.

When asked what she likes best about being a member of HBBC, freshman Melanie Pittman said, “All the people in it are really fun and friendly.”

Many of the club’s members share Pittman’s sentiment. The feeling of friendship that members share is why they tend refer to HBBC as more of a family and not just a club.

Sophomore Staci Pei’s state-

History shows drastic CVHS differences

By Erin Gaab City Editor

Did you know that The Olympian used to be called The Achean?

From looking at old issues of the CVHS newspaper, you can tell that a lot of other things changed at our high school as well. Here are some articles which illustrate the most drastic differences of the times…

Oct. 11, 1957—“Serve it up…

Pipin’ Cold: The homemaking classes at Castro Valley High are learning many things that will help them when they get a home of their own…The girls in Mrs. Maedelle Evan’s classes are learning how to freeze foods.”

The days of sexist homemaking are over. Now our campus offers “On your Own,” a class which prepares both boys and girls for independent living.

Mar. 25, 1960—“‘Seagulls’ Play at C.V. Sparti-Gras April 7, 8: A satirization of Castro Valley High School will be featured at the third annual Spartigras…The Show, called ‘Seagulls on a Hot Gravel Roof,’ will poke innocent but meaningful fun at some of the senior teachers and classes.”

graduate, said he didn’t care about the name change and thought it wasn’t a big deal. “I didn’t really care. I think the upper classmen cared more but the freshmen didn’t [care].”

“I think the name change was made to represent all of the East Bay. CSUEB is a local college and it is meant to attract people from all over the East Bay. The name CSUH attracts more people from Hayward and it doesn’t represent the entire East bay,” said Telles.

DREAM act faces opposition DREAM: From Page 1

effectively lower the criminal justice costs), and an increase in government revenue from taxes paid by the new citizens.

Additionally, many immigrants of legal status may readily join the work force and give back to their communities.

Those in opposition to the DREAM Act argue that the bill would treat undocumented immigrants better than citizens because they would receive in-state tuition rates (if the immigrant lived in the state), while many U.S. citizens must pay out-of-state rates. They argue that the bill rewards criminal behavior and that between the ages of 12 and 21, immigrants have plenty of time to apply for legal status without the special programs of the DREAM Act. The opposition also says that the bill encourages illegal immigration because of the benefits given to immigrant students. Additionally, they say that there is already limited space in colleges and universities, and that U.S. citizens should have preference in the demanded spots.

“Issues around immigrants always create controversy,” said government teacher Carmelina Frasca. “But I think that education is always a good thing.”

Teachers tolerate change MOVE: From Page 1

and teachers seem to tolerate the change.

“In the long term process, it will improve our school because it accommodates more students on campus. But for the short term, it’s pretty inconvenient for everyone.

But it has to be done; the portables are too old,” said Spanish teacher Wendy Hahn. “I just hope the students will be flexible.”

The classrooms were supposed to move during winter break but 800 hall construction wasn’t done.

“They were supposed to be done with construction in January so they’re over by about two months,” said Autrey.