January 2016 issue

CHRONICLE THE HARVARD-WESTLAKE

Los Angeles • Volume XXV • Issue IV • Jan. 13, 2016 • hwchronicle.com

Virtual Venom

By Angela Chon and Eugenia Ko

“Fat,” “ugly” and “slut” burn into Natalie Blut’s ’18 mind as she scrolls through a Facebook page with line after line of scathing attacks. As a seventh grader reading comments suggesting she should kill herself, she has never forgotten the feeling to this day.

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ILLUSTRATION BY VIVIAN LIN

School aims to increase faculty diversity

By HENRY VOGEL

The administration will look to diversify the faculty and conduct a climate assessment in the future as a result of a joint meeting between President Rick Commons, Head of School Jeanne Huybrechts and members of the BLACC in December, Commons said.

“I had the sense that we needed to start the conversation here rather than wait for someone to feel undervalued or underserved,” Commons said.

“My goal was to understand what we as an institution can do to take steps forward, and it was my hope to do that on the same side [as students] rather than on opposing sides.”

The first of two concrete resolutions reached at the end

of the meeting was to make borhood where not that many an effort to diversify the fac- students from here lived and ulty. Participants in the meet- came from a public school,” ing noted that there are no Milligan said. “It was a big shock to go African-Amerifrom a public can classroom school where teachers at the [Having a diverse there was a upper school, healthy popuand there is faculty] kind of helps lation of Afrionly a couple you feel like you are in can-Americans at the middle school. A more a safe place when there to a school where there diverse faculty is someone there who aren’t that would make understands you.” many, and the transition then I didn’t to Harvard—Nina Milligan ’16 see any teachWestlake easier ers that look for an Africanlike me. [HavAmerican stuing a diverse dent, BLACC faculty] kind of helps you feel Leader Nina Milligan ’16 said.

“When I came to Harvard- like you are in a safe place Westlake in seventh grade, I when there is someone there knew no one, lived in a neigh- who understands you.”

“

Commons said that the school wants to continue to find extraordinary and inspiring teachers and simultaneously make the faculty more diverse.

“That is something that, prior to hearing from the BLACC and other members of the community, I and other administrators like [Head of Upper School Audrius Barzdukas] have been observing and have been concerned about: the fact that we don’t have a lot of diversity in our faculty,” Commons said. “It doesn’t match or even come close to matching the diversity in our students.”

The lack of diversity in faculty doesn’t affect learn-

INSIDE

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ILLUSTRATION BY ANNA GONG

INTOLERANCE: Muslim students feel that they are targeted by other students for their religious beliefs.

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Students adjust to new PSAT, SAT exams

By JONATHAN SEYMOUR

The College Board released scores Jan. 7 for the 2015 PSAT, which along with the new SAT that debuts in March, had a new structure and scoring system, and the HarvardWestlake juniors and sophomores who took the exam last October do not seem to have been adversely affected by the updates, upper school dean Beth Slattery said.

“Because the scores are on completely different scales, it’s difficult to compare,” Slattery said. “My initial glance at the scores suggests our kids did well overall, as they have in the past.”

The PSAT was changed in a variety of ways to make it a

more comprehensive test.

“There are now subscores, cross test scores [and] National Merit scores,” Slattery said.

“This test is now more like the ACT, and its intent is not just [for] National Merit, but to determine college readiness in a variety of areas.”

The new test is out of 1520 points and has a math, reading and writing section, although reading and writing are combined into one “super section.” Each of the three sections has a maximum score of 38 points. For test scoring, the math score is doubled, and all three scores are multiplied by 10 to compute a total score out of 1520.

One aspect of the PSAT that has not changed is that

a student’s junior year score is used by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in deciding National Merit Semifinalists in September of each student’s senior year.

To compute a student’s National Merit Qualifying Score, each of the three section scores is doubled and summed, so the maximum score is 228.

“From what I understand, the process hasn’t changed, but the scale is different,” Slattery said. “The National Merit Qualifying Score is now out of 228 instead of 240, and there’s really no way for us to know what the cutoff will be until semifinalists are named in the fall.”

Up until the past few years, the PSAT and SAT were domi-

nant in the standardized testing industry, but recently the ACT has surged and is now even more popular than the College Board-administered exams. The new PSAT was likely an attempt by the College Board to bounce back to supremacy, Slattery said.

“There were many factors that influenced these changes [such as a] decrease in market share compared to the ACT, alignment with Common Core [and] developing a test not just for college entrance, but for college readiness,” Slattery said.

Despite all of the changes to the exams, the deans believe socioeconomic status will • Continued on page A2

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A2 News

The Chronicle

Jan. 13, 2016

Students notified of PSAT scores PSAT 2.0

figure out how to understand and give counsel for this test. still affect test performance.

“From a practical stand“I don’t think there was point, the changes are diffimuch intent to make [them] cult because the website was a more ‘fair,’” Slattery said. “Bot- nightmare to navigate, and the tom line is that these tests will score changes require an inlikely always favor students dividual conversation with evlike the ones at Harvard-West- ery kid since they are not easy lake who have the advantage to translate,” Slattery said. “I of excellent guess I appreteachers, small ciate that the classes and report My initial glance score access to test has more inat the scores suggests prep. So ultidepth informamately, I don’t our kids did well overall, tion, but right think these now, the test as they have in the changes affect and its rollout past.” our kids very is sort of inmuch at this At —Beth Slattery convenient. point.

Hopethe same time, upper school dean I am in support fully these changes will of anything help students that helps level from disadvantaged school the playing field in education, districts, but it will be a while so if this attempts to do that, I before anyone knows if that am in favor. I’m just not sure actually happens.” it does.”

As much as the revamped Now that the juniors have PSAT was daunting for the taken the PSAT, they are prestudents who had to be the paring for the launch of the guinea pigs three months ago, new SAT in March, the first deans and test prep advisers new SAT in 11 years, accordnationwide also struggled to ing to Kaplan Test Prep.

• Continued from page A1

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Logistically, the SAT will return to the 1600-point scale, though it will be a split between Math and a new section, Evidence-Based Reading & Writing. The essay will be completely optional, though it will be scored out of 24 points as opposed to 12. Additionally, there will no longer be a quarter-point penalty for wrong answers.

Besides the scores for the two sections and the essay, there will also be two “cross-test scores,” History/ Social Studies and Science.

These will measure how students performed on history or science-based questions throughout the exam. Finally, the essay and other two sections will each have subscores for a total of seven, which will offer a more detailed analysis of students’ performances in these subjects.

In terms of focus, the SAT questions are being updated to better correlate to the Common Core curriculum utilized by most public school districts

• Continued on page A6

BLACC calls for on-campus diversity coordinator in future

• Continued from page A1

but it may be a problem for students looking to relate to teachers about issues concerning racial identity. “[The lack of faculty diversity] doesn’t prevent you from learning or being inspired because someone is of a different race, but when you are having concerns that are related to your racial identity and there is no one on the faculty that shares your racial identity, you lose something,” Commons said.

Historically, the school has used traditional channels to search for new teachers. Often times, the administrators involved in hiring (Commons, Huybrechts, Barzdukas, Head of Athletics Terry Barnum and Head of Middle School Jon Wimbish) use the Carney Sandoe recruiting services for independent schools, which

Commons said leads to tradi- mons said. The school plans to tional candidates. In the fu- bring in an independent third ture, these administrators will party to enable students to attend hiring fairs in places freely express their opinions they have not gone before with through focus groups and surthe goal of finding excellent veys, amongst other mediums. and inspiring teachers who This will probably happen next year, Commons said. also can diversify our faculty. “[Conducting a climate as“Obviously you don’t pick who to like based on race, but sessment] is easy to accomplish, but what will it makes you feel a come out of it will be little more comfortrecommendations, able and can help which will be hard to you adjust to a new accomplish,” Comenvironment,” Milmons said. ligan said. “Also, difAdditionally, ferent teachers bring members of the different perspecBLACC believe a ditives. The presence of versity coordinator more African-Amer’ would be another ican teachers would positive step on cambe a great start.”

Nina pus, Milligan said.

Participants of the Milligan ’16 Milligan pointed to meeting also concluded that the school should have the recent production of the a thorough climate assess- musical Westside Story as an ment, which is something that instance where a diversity coa lot of institutions do, Com- ordinator could have helped. nathanson s

To compete with the popularity of the ACT, the College Board changed the format and scoring of the practice SAT. The College Board released the new structure Jan. 7.

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A 1,520 point scale.

2

A Combined Reading and Writing section, called a “super section.”

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The three sections have a max score of 38 points.

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For scoring purposes, the math section’s total is doubled. Each section is then multiplied by 10 to compute the total score.

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The maximum score for the test when computed is 228.

“

I had the sense that we needed to start the conversation here rather than wait for someone to feel undervalued or underserved.”

—Rick Commons President nathanson’s

One of the main themes in Westside Story is race, so it is difficult to avoid that subject, she said. The program for the play said that casting was colorblind.

“Colorblind is not that great a word to use because no matter what you will see someone’s race. They could have done something like Romeo and Juliette [instead of Westside Story] where race isn’t an issue,” Milligan said.

“A diversity coordinator could have figured out a way to help them word what they were trying to say better and not fall into traps when talking about race.”

Milligan doesn’t believe people on campus are hostile

In the issue

PLAYING HER WAY UP: Cellist Saman-

tha Yoon ’18 plays at Carnegie Hall—for the second time.

B3

Features

QUEEN UP YOUR ACT: The Chess

Club, formed when four students thought of “punny” chess phrases, has sold more than 250 shirts.

A3

ON THE PROWL: Students are regularly

catcalled when leaving campus, regardless of their clothing or age.

C1

GOOD NIGHT’S REST: The Track Team

Opinion

TRULY NAMELESS?: Sammi Handler ’17 argues that the deans’ college matriculation binders violate students’ privacy, regardless of anonymously listing kids’ information.

A10

on purpose, but she does believe discussing race is sensitive and requires education.

“I know that most of the time when Harvard-Westlake students say things it’s not coming from a place of hatred or trying to offend anyone because there is no one like that at HW, but it is a lack of education,” she said.

Milligan was satisfied with the meeting and the administration’s efforts.

“I really do think that [Commons] really wants to help us create change, but I don’t think it’s something that might happen next year or the year after,” she said. “It’s a process that will take a lot of time.”

Arts & Entertainment

News

is participating in a study for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to study the effects of sleep and athletic performance.

A4

SOURCE: COLLEGEBOARD.ORG GRAPHIC BY COLE FELDMAN

Sports

D1 CAMERON STINE/CHRONICLE

HEARTBREAK: Wolfgang Novogratz ’16 drives through a pack of Crespi defenders The Wolverines lost on a last second gamewinner in overtime. The following game, the squad lost to Notre Dame on a last second game-winning layup.

The Chronicle, the student newspaper of Harvard-Westlake School, is published eight times per year and distributed free on both the upper and middle school campuses.

There are 727 students at the Middle School and 869 students at the Upper School.

Subscriptions may be purchased for $20 a year for delivery by mail. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the seniors on the Editorial Board. Letters

UP-TEMPO: The girls’ basketball team, already among the elite in Callifornia, is looking to cement a strong legacy after a fast start to their season.

D1 BEST OF 2015: 2015 had many highlights and exciting plays for the Wolverines. Explore these top performances with The Chronicle.

D4

to the editor may be submitted to chronicle@hw.com or mailed to 3700 Coldwater Canyon Ave., Studio City, CA 91604. Letters must be signed and may be edited for space and to conform to Chronicle style and format. Advertising questions may be directed to Kelly Loeb at kloeb1@hwemail.com. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or the school.

Jan. 13, 2016

hwchronicle.com/news

News A3

Club sells more than 250 shirts

6 Chinese students to visit

The Chess Club has sold more than 250 shirts in the past two months, although it has not officially met as a club yet.

While the front of the shirts says “HW Chess,” the backs of the shirts display a variety of puns about chess, including “What are you rooking at?,” “Queen up your act” and “Your worst knightmare.”

The most popular phrase is “Wanna rook up?” “[The club has not met] mostly because we have been really busy with the shirts, which take up a lot of time,” Kumar said. “I think once we finish selling the shirts and spreading awareness for the club we will have more time to start actually meeting and playing chess.”

The four club presidents, Dharan Kumar ’16, Troy Loizzo ‘16, Cole Hattler ’16 and Lucas Perez ’16, established the club in early November when they decided to make chess shirts.

“We were eating lunch and making jokes about chess, and then we came across some really funny puns that would be hilarious on shirts,” Kumar said.

Even though the four presidents of the club at first wanted to make personalized shirts for themselves, they later asked people to buy the shirts also. In their first order,

Six high school students from Shanghai will visit the school and stay with Harvard-Westlake students Feb. 7 -19, marking the first time the school will participate in a World Leading Schools exchange program.

WLSA is an organization founded by Harvard-Westlake, Eton College, Greelong Grammar School, Groton School, Beijing No. 4 School and a Chinese high school affiliated with Fudan University in 2011 to “bridge cultural differences, promote further understanding among secondary schools and improve collaboration between leading schools and institutions of higher education around the world,” according to the WLSA website.

The students will shadow Harvard-Westlake students and visit other classes to experience what it is like to be a high school student in the United States. Since the program at Fudan is designed to prepare students to continue their education outside of China, the students will tour USC and UCLA. “The purpose of having exchange programs is to allow students from different backgrounds to get to know each other and to really see what it’s like to grow up in different cultures in different parts of the world,” said Jim Patterson, who is the director of the Kutler Center and Summer Programs.

While the school has participated in WLSA programs in the past, this is the first time that students will participate in an exchange program, Patterson said. Last summer, four students interned in China and stayed with host families as a part of a WLSA internship program. Three of them, Jon Nelson ’16, Jed Kronenberg ’17 and Theo Velaise ’17 will host students.

“When I heard there were kids coming, [from China] I really wanted to host because of how great a time I had over the summer staying with a host family,” Kronenberg said.

“I want to give a kid a really great experience here, just like I had in China.”

Nina Woythaler ’16, Katherine Sing ’16 and Kathryn Tian ’17 will also host students.

By Tiffany Kim

By Sammi Handler

NOA SCHWARTZ/CHRONICLE

CHECKMATE: Sharon Chow ’16 (left) and Annabel Lassally ’16 (right) model Chess Club shirts. So far, the club has sold more than 250 shirts, and students have continued to place more orders with the club. the club presidents bought 44 shirts. Later, people began to come to them to request orders.

When the shirts became more popular the week before finals, they ordered about 200 more the second time.

“One day, I saw my friends brainstorming a list of ‘puns’ that would go at the back of the club shirts,” club member Jaebok Lee ’16 said.

“They were fun. They were captivating. I wanted one on my back. I even got one for my reluctant friend Siddharth Kucheria ’16, and I can say it is probably the best decision I have made in my life.”

In total, 226 shirts have been sold and 30 more have been ordered as of press time.

The club presidents charge students through their Didax

accounts as to not require students to bring cash, and do not make a profit from the shirts.

“First of all, they look really good, and second of all, they’re really funny, and I think people just want to be a part of a community on campus,” Kumar said. “We’re making the shirts more to build a community of people.”

School to no longer serve as April ACT venue

By Hannah Cho

The Upper School is no longer a venue for the April ACT Test due to a lack of proctors. Instead, the school will host the test Feb. 6.

Students who planned to take the test in April will have to either move their test to a different time or choose a different location.

In November, the deans and Upper School Technology Center Director Chris Gragg made the decision to switch to the February test and contacted ACT before winter break.

Though there was no penalty for their decision, some students who had signed up

for the April ACT at Harvard- and there was a shortage of Westlake had to pay a fee to faculty volunteers willing to change their location. oversee the test.

“I was looking forward to “Usually we need a staffing taking the ACT at Harvard- close to 30 people, but since it W e s t l a k e was the end of because I have spring break, It was kind of taken tests they didn’t want there before, to give up their inconvenient [to move so I would be time,” Gragg the test location], and comfortable,” said.

Izzy Wiesenthal Although I had to pay a fee to ’17 said. “So this problem move it.”

I was kind of has never upset when I —Izzy Wiesenthal ’17 occurred in the had to move it. past, to avoid It was kind of it in the future, inconvenient, and I had to pay the deans and Gragg hope to a fee to move it.” plan ahead to know how many While the school was proctors the school will be able originally designated a testing to provide for the tests. center for April, the test date “It was a lot more difficult coincided with spring break, to find the appropriate number

“

of proctors because it’s such a large scale test,” Upper School Dean Celso Cardenas said. “[For the future] it would be about planning ahead and looking at the calendar to coordinate those efforts.”

For the April ACT, there are 244 locations, including John Marshall High School, University High School, Inglewood High School and Imperial Valley College.

While the school is a venue for all seven SAT tests, the school only hosts three ACT tests a year.

The SAT tests were not affected by this decision, and the school will still serve as a venue for them.

Storm causes power outage on campus

By Jackson Novick

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF MELISSA WANTZ

LIGHTS OUT: Intermediate journalism students use their personal laptops after the power went out in Weiler Hall. The power also went out in Chalmers classrooms due to an El Niño storm.

A power outage struck two upper school buildings at about 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday, causing the loss of electricity for more than six hours in Chalmers and Weiler halls.

These buildings, along with the traffic light at the main entrance, were the only areas affected.

The outage, which was resolved by 6:20 p.m., was the result of one of several El Niño storms last week.

While the outage left Munger, Seaver and the library untouched, it still man-

aged to disrupt classes. The lack of electricity interfered with planned lessons and was an obstacle for teachers.

“The power outage made teaching in Chalmers extremely difficult,” mathematics and computer science teacher Kevin Weis said. “Classrooms on the south side of the building had almost no light. I had planned to use the projector in my computer science course and had to resort to writing some fairly complicated code on the board, which was obviously less than ideal. But we managed.”

While mostly math class-

es were affected on the upper floor, classes held on the lower floor, notably choir, were also affected.

Despite the inconvenience, teachers and students maintained a positive outlook in attempting to work with the conditions.

“It didn’t interfere. It just forced us to be resourceful,” choir director Rodger Guerrero said.

The Department of Water and Power has yet to issue an official statement on the issue but is looking into it, according to Upper School Plant Manager Dave Mintz.

A4 News

Students to research sleep deprivation

The Chronicle

Jan. 13. 2016

By Nicole Kim

the course of the study.

“Participation in the study Several students will inves- should be a valuable learntigate the effects of sleep de- ing experience for the participrivation for the track team’s pants,” Hinden said. “Everyacademic and athletic perfor- one will get a sense of what is mance for a study at the Chil- involved in producing sciendren’s Orthopedic Center at tific data, and hopefully some Childrens’ Hospital Los Ange- young minds will be turned onto the opportunities preles.

Beginning Feb. 1, partici- sented by the intersection of pants will assist former sci- sports, science and medicine.”

A trial of the study was ence teacher David Hinden and the Institute for Scholastic already conducted with the Sports Science and Medicine cross-country team from Octoheadquartered at Harvard- ber to November. Participating athletes were asked to wear an Westlake in research.

Although sleep depriva- ActiGraph watch, which monition has been shown to signifi- tors physical activity and heart cantly affect health, with nega- rate, though watches were not tive effects such as cognitive worn during races and when dysfunction, increased risk of the athletes were submerged in water. They heart disease also took an and impaired reaction time, Hopefully some hour-long neurocognitive test almost all reyoung minds will be for the study. search data “The most available on turned onto the opporimportant data the relationtunities presented by the they needed ship between intersection of sports, was when I was sleep, athletic sleeping, so I injury and perscience and medicine.” kept the watch formance is on college and —David Hinden on then and wrote in a adult athletes.

Head of ISSSM also sleep journal, Addressing recording when the need for I went to bed data on high school athletes, the study will and woke up, how much cafuse medical devices donated feine I drank and what I did by the Los Angeles Galaxy soc- before bed,” Sarah Conway ’18 cer team. Collected data will said. “I’m very excited to be then be compared to self-re- contributing to scientific reported data from the school’s search.”

Harvard-Westlake has past workload study surveys.

Research assistants will sponsored a number of rewrite an abstract for a poster search studies with outside inthat will be presented next Oc- stitutions in the past, but this tober at the American Academy study with ISSSM is the first in of Pediatric Medicine Confer- which students will be able to ence, one of the world’s largest contribute as more than just medical conferences, and will research assistants.

“This is the first we expect help the principal investigator of many studies that is being with a literature review.

In addition, participants implemented systematically as will receive three hours of part of a program where our community service credit and students will act as research will be able to attend weekly assistants as well as research lab meetings at the Children’s subjects,” Hinden said. “This Hospital Los Angeles to review is a central part of the vision the research finds throughout of ISSSM.”

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NOA SCHWARTZ/CHRONICLE

Psychology class designs masks of inner selves MASQUERADE WALL: Masks made by the psychology classes hang in Feldman-Horn. The masks are meant to represent how others see people versus how they feel about themselves.

It is part of a final project where students use theories learned during the course.

Former teacher to head ISSSM

By Eli Adler

Former science teacher David Hinden will return to run the school’s Institute for Scholastic Sports Science and Medicine.

Head of Athletics Terry Barnum and Head of Upper School Audrius Barzdukas founded the ISSSM three years ago to foster high school scientific and medical research dealing with sports.

The program was put under the leadership of Hinden last month.

“Over his life and especially during his time here, he has demonstrated he’s a person that gets things done and is able to take a project and see it through to its completion,” Barzdukas said.

Hinden will be responsible of the ISSSM wing of the athfor managing the implementa- letic training center, which tion and growth of the Insti- will house the locker rooms tute’s two main goals: having that are currently being built as well. a center for human He said he hopes research and facilitatto see equipment ing the integration of such as force plates sports and academand 3-D cameras so ics. that their recorded “The school has data can be used in tried for many years science, math and to integrate our athsports statistics letic and academic classes. programs, which has After taking a ’ proved to be a chalyear-long break, Hinlenge,” Hinden said.

David Hinden den said he is excited In addition, Hinden is currently overseeing to be back and at the helm of the school’s participation in a the program.

“I think this program is trestudy with Childrens’ Hospital Los Angeles about sleep depri- mendous, and my background here at school fixes well with vation.

Hinden will also be largely the principles of the ISSSM,” responsible for the outfitting Hinden said. nathanson s

Athletic department expands use of health technology for students

By Jean Sanders

When Paige Howard ’17 wakes up, the first thing she does is log into her Metrifit account and record how well she slept. Her coaches later use this data when they determine the difficulty of her practice that afternoon.

“Metrifit is great because [the data] gets sent to our coaches, so they know when we’re more tired or when we’re more stressed due to schoolwork, and they can plan practice based on how much energy we have,” Howard said.

Metrifit is a mobile app that allows athletes to record their sleep, energy and stress levels and diet on a daily basis.

Howard isn’t the only school athlete to use sports technology. At a faculty meeting Dec. 8, athletic director Matt LaCour presented a report on the various ways in which the athletic department utilizes technology.

Apps have allowed coaches The school uses Twitter, Facebook and Instagram ac- to perform more complex data counts to update alumni and analysis. Basketball program students on both upcoming head David Rebibo said that and current games. Collective- the varsity basketball team ly, the accounts have 5,500 uses an app called Hoopstats to track team performance. followers.

“It allows me to see who’s Hudl is a website and app in which coaches can send doing what we ask, and it allows [the players] to video clips to the see what they’re not players so that they doing and the miscan review specific takes they’re makplays and improve. ing,” Rebibo said. “It “It’s really helpgives us an opportuful to watch myself nity to decide what we in film and watch deem as valuable in a my positioning to game and at practice see where our team and monitor that, did something great ’ and I think that’s reor where something Paige ally important.” went wrong,” Howard Howard ’17 As well as letting said. ” The app Echo allows coaches see specific data for coaches to capture instant their teams, the analytics help replays on the sidelines of settle disputes with parents.

If a parent is concerned games. Coaches are then able to immediately judge the refer- with the amount of playing ee’s calls and tell their players time their child is getting, what they need to change dur- coaches are able to show them the specific percentages of ing the next play. nathanson s

MADDY DAUM/CHRONICLE

iHEALTH: A student athlete inputs her data into Metrifit, one of several apps that the athletic department is using this year. each game that their child is in the match.

Google Forms has helped coaches get more organized when ordering uniforms and gear for their teams because each player can record their

size and number conveniently in one document.

In the future, the athletic department is hoping to implement virtual reality as well, LaCour told the faculty.

Jan. 13, 2016

Team to debate identity

hwchronicle.com/news

News A5

By Sabrina de Brito Kami Durairaj

and

The upper school debate team will host a public debate with Team USA on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 18.

During the debate, participants will debate “identity, protest and the future of the struggle for civil rights” from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Rugby Auditorium. The event is open to the public and will feature a debate on the resolution “this house believes that the politics of individual identity threaten the future Civil Rights movement.”

Team USA, the national debate team that represents the Unites States at the World Schools Debating Championships, will argue this topic in front of a panel of judges and a public audience. Team members will discuss the role of universities, sports and media during the Civil Rights Movement.

The judge panel will feature judges with expertise in law, civil rights and various media industries, including Kenya Barris, creator of television shows “Black-ish” and “America’s Next Top Model”; Jeffrey Harleston, General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for Universal Music Group; Anne Haley Brown, Managing Assistant Attorney of the City of Los Angeles; Douglas E. Mirell, Vice President of the Southern California ACLU;

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF CINDI TIMMONS

THE GREAT DEBATE: Team USA member Liz Yount ’17 consults with her team in between rounds at the Winter Holiday Open tournament in Zagreb, Croatia, Dec. 18-20. Her team won first place in the tournament, and will publicly debate civil rights at school Jan. 18. and Kimberly West-Faulcon, the James P. Bradley Chair in Constitutional Law at Loyola Law School.

A discussion on civil rights in general and issues raised during the debate is scheduled to follow judging.

Recent debate accomplishments at the 82nd Annual Puget Sound High School Forensics Tournament in Washington on Saturday and Sunday include Indu Pandey ’18 winning top speaker. She and Connor Engel ’17 made it to octofinals, and William Park ’17 made it to double octofinals.

At the Cougar Classic New

Year Swing in Texas on the same weekend, Matthew Gross ’19 made it to octofinals, and Jake Davidson ’19 and Nick Platt ’19 made it to double octofinals.

The Harvard-Westlake International Public Policy Forum team moved on to the next round in the International Public Policy Forum essay-style debate competition Dec. 17, securing themselves a spot in the top 32.

The team of Jesse Nadel ’17, Alison Gorokhovsky ’17, Dario Madyoon ’17 and Kevin Wesel ’17 advanced to the next stage of the competition after defeating Scottsdale Prep, a

School encourages teachers to use grants to improve teaching

By Jesse Nadel

The school has increased its budget for betterment and development grants this year to allow for teachers to continue “honing their craft and to stay current,” science teacher and Dean of Faculty Dietrich Schuhl said.

Schuhl oversees the school’s betterment grants, which are small grants that teachers can use to attend various events across the coun-

try to improve their teaching knowledge. In the past, these events have included training conferences, leadership retreats and AP teaching workshops held by the College Board.

Schuhl has been encouraging the faculty to take advantage of the grants to improve their teaching and participate in different experiences.

“We have done a good job of using this money in the past, and I really want to make sure

that we spend the increased amount of money this year for teachers to learn and do new things,” Schuhl said.

The school also offers teachers development grants, which are larger amounts of money that allow teachers to participate in events that require more capital than the betterment grants offer.

Science teacher Wendy Van Norden and a committee of representatives chosen from every department over-

HW Works to co-host workshop

By Sophie Cohen

Harvard-Westlake Works and the Kutler Center will cohost an internship workshop for students Wednesday in the Kutler Center at 3 p.m.

The workshop will feature a student panel of about four students who will answer questions about how they found their respective internships, why they think internships are beneficial and what they thought about the whole internship process.

The purpose of the workshop offered by HW Works is to make students aware that

there is a resource to help them on their search for summer opportunities and internships.

Additionally, Spencer Villaseñor ’99 will teach the basics of resume writing, cover letter writing and interview skills, all of which help students in making a great impression on a potential employer, HW Works administrator Zaakirah Daniels ’10 said.

“Harvard-Westlake was very helpful in finding me an internship,” Izzy Wiesenthal ’17. “At the end of the school year [last year], I talked to Mr. Salamandra about finding me

an internship, and he set up an internship for me at the Bouchard Chemistry Lab at University of California.”

High school students have better chances of finding internships in more general or popular fields as opposed to specific fields, Daniels said.

Niche interests tend to have internships only offered to college students.

HW Works has compiled a summer opportunities directory that lists possible internships in ten different categories: academic enrichment, adventure/outdoor, arts, universities, community service,

“You’re so familiar with dehigh school in Arizona.

At the College Prep Lin- bate, but then you go to this coln-Douglas Invitational Dec. other country and there are other people who are 19-20 in Oakland, using their own lanEvan Engel ’17 was guages and cultures named 34th-best and are debating speaker, Matthew too,” Yount said.

Gross ’19 was ranked At the Alta Silver 53rd and Lauren and Black tournaMorganbesser ’19 ment in Utah Dec. was ranked 55th.

3-5, Pandey received The USA Debate her first bid and team, which includes closed out the comLiz Yount ’17, won ’ petition with Connor first place at the WinAlison ter Holidays Open in Gorokhovsky ’17 Engel. Both debaters won first place in Croatia that ran Dec. 18-20. The final round took their respective brackets. Evan place in an auditorium with Engel ’17 also received a bid at the tournament. about 400 spectators. nathanson s

“

We have done a good job of using this money in the past, and I really want to make sure that we spend the increased amount of money this year for teachers to learn and do new things.”

—Dietrich Schuhl Dean of Faculty

sees these larger grants. The development grants are used for “once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” as well as for funding masters and PhD degrees, Van Norden said.

These grants can also be used for trips to foreign countries and trips for large groups

nathanson’s

of teachers to improve their knowledge of their subjects and teaching styles. For example, 13 teachers traveled to the San Francisco Bay area this year using a development grant to visit several schools to learn about new teaching styles, Schuhl said.

HW Works Internships Students can find summer programs in these categories: Academic Enrichment

Arts

World Languages

Internships

International

Adventure/Outdoors

Specialized Interest

Colleges and Universities

Community Service

Summer Camps GRAPHIC BY ALEXA ZURIFF

international, internships, specialized interest, summer camps and world languages.

“We want to create some-

where or something that students can go to and know they will be supported in that journey,” Daniels said.

A6 News

inbrief

Party book to raise funds for scholarships Party Book, the largest Harvard-Westlake Parents’ Association Fundraiser, will launch Jan. 11 with an array of events for parents, teachers, administrators and alumni to encourage community building.

All of the money raised in the fundraiser will go towards Harvard-Westlake scholarships and financial aid opportunities.

The fundraiser will include a collection of parties for people to bid on. The parties will begin in late January and continue until the beginning of June.

—Katie Plotkin

Students to compete in math exam contest

Upper school students are encouraged to participate in the annual American High School Math Competition taking place Feb. 2. Last year, 98 students took part in the competition to see where they stood nationally among high school math students.

Two tests will be administered, including the AMC 10 for 10th graders only and the AMC 12 for 11th and 12th graders. Both tests contain 25 multiple choice questions and are timed for 75 minutes.

Test topics include algebra, geometry and pre-calculus concepts.

—Danielle Spitz

Magazine begins to accept submissions Babel, Harvard-Westlake’s foreign language magazine, is now accepting submissions for its upcoming issue.

Students are encouraged to submit stories, articles, reviews, poems and essays to the publication by Feb. 28, which can be written in any foreign language.

Submitting to the magazine earns students extra credit in their language classes, even if it is not the language they learn at school. Submissions will be proofread and corrected by foreign language teachers.

“It’s a great way to show to the community the diversity our school offers,” Chinese editor Theo Velaise ’17 said.

—Dario Madyoon

Spots filled for Spain Spring Break trip Spots are filled for the Spain trip over spring break, led by Spanish teacher Javiar Zaragoza and three other chaperones. The trip will take place from March 25 to April 10.

Nineteen middle and upper school students will study at two different language institutes in Granada and Toledo and spend their evenings with host families. Three eighth graders, six ninth graders and ten upper school students will attend.

“The goal this year for the upper school students is to prepare them for the AP Exam,” Zaragoza said.

—Hannah Cho

The Chronicle

Students prepare for new version of SAT

• Continued from page A2

so that the test becomes a more accurate representation of high school performance.

The New York Times Magazine reported March 6, 2014 that critics around the country found the questions to be esoteric, full of tricks and mostly unrelated to normal school curricula.

As was the case with the PSAT, the College Board most likely revamped the SAT to compete with the rising popularity of the ACT, Slattery said.

“Also, it’s an attempt to align the test with the Common Core, which is being instituted in many school districts across the country,” Slattery said.

Because the new SAT is meant to be more competitive with the surging ACT, it is also meant to have all of the same

functions, including acting as a better representation of college readiness.

The test is no longer just a means of measuring proficiency in reading, math and writing on a national standardized scale.

“I think as these tests appear to have higher stakes, I worry that more students will be taking more tests, which I personally dislike,” Slattery said. “I’d like to see most kids taking the SAT or ACT twice and then a few subject tests, rather than trying each test three or four times. I understand the necessity of standardized tests, but I think it can get out of control.”

The deans do not expect Harvard-Westlake students to prepare or perform any differently on the new version of the test.

“

Jan. 13, 2016

I am in support of anything that helps level the playing field in education, so if this attempts to do that, I am in favor. I’m just not sure it does.”

—Beth Slattery upper school dean

“The only issue is how to figure out which test is better for our students,” Slattery said. “That has been made more complicated by the changes because a valid concordance table doesn’t exist, but mostly, these changes should not negatively impact our kids.”

Along with current sophomores and juniors, the deans also have to prepare for the new exam’s debut.

“We have been given significant support from Compass Education Group, which has done extensive research on the new test and what it means to kids,” Slattery said. “They

nathanson’s

have met with us to do some training on reading the results and on how to help students choose between the two tests.”

Ultimately, Slattery thinks only time will tell whether the changes were for the better.

“I dislike any changes that create more of a frenzy, which these changes have certainly done,” Slattery said. “They have made it complicated for families, even families with access to good counseling, to know what to do. If these changes ultimately help make things less complicated for families once the dust settles, I’m all for it, but there’s no indication that [that] is the case.”

Alumni named to ‘30 Under 30’ list

By Kami Durairaj

Alumni Joshua Lederman ’05 and Charlie Stigler ’11 have been named to Forbes’ fifth annual ‘30 Under 30’ list standouts in the fields of finance and education. Lederman serves as a Principal of Capital Markets at global investment firm KKR. Stigler is co-founder of Zaption, a video-based educational tool.

The 2016 ‘30 Under 30’ list showcases ‘America’s most important young entrepreneurs, creative leaders and brightest stars’ younger than 30 years old, according to Forbes.

Lederman works for a division of the investment firm, KKR Capital Markets, where he executed $40 billion of debt and made equity deals for KKR’s portfolio companies and clients, according to Forbes.

Lederman previously worked at Morgan Stanley in the mergers and acquisitions group. He graduated from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree.

Stigler and his father founded Zaption to turn video into a dynamic educational tool with interactive elements to engage students. The application collects data for teachers so they can make sure that students are completing lessons. Edu-

Spring Break 2016: March-April

cators can also track student’s understanding of the material.

Zaption has $1.5 million in funding and over 200,000 users. The company was also awarded a Small Business Innovation Research grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Stigler attended Columbia University for one year and won the 2012 Thiel Fellowship to pursue ideas outside of the classroom.

Teachers cancel trip to Hawaii

By Lara Mikhail

SOURCE: MERCEDES BARLETTA GRAPHIC BY BRITANNY HONG

Administration approves Rome trip

By Anthony Weinraub

The first ever Latin trip sponsored by HarvardWestlake will give students the opportunity to travel to Rome April 3-10.

Middle school Latin teacher Mercedes Barletta will chaperone the trip along with a teaching assistant from The Paideia Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the study of classics.

Students will be staying in monasteries and guesthouses.

Throughout the trip, students will visit historical sights including the Coliseum, the Pantheon and the ruins of Pompeii.

At each location, chaperones will read students Latin and

“Seeing their excitement English passages that relate to the sight they are visiting. was enough incentive to make “My hope is that students me start looking into the process of ortake away not ganizing a only a better trip,” Barunderstand“Seeing [my letta said. ing of the The trip’s city of Rome students’] excitement was deadline for and its sigenough incentive to make early regnificance in me start looking into the istration world history, process of organizing a trip. was Dec. but also a 15, but studeeper appre—Mercedes Barletta dents may ciation of the Latin teacher sign up now legacy of the for an adancient Roditional fee. mans,” Barletta said in an email. All Latin students are alBarletta credited her lowed to sign up, but a maxistudents’ excitement at mum of 14 students are althe idea of a trip for inspir- lowed to attend. The cost of ing her to sponsor the tour. the trip is $4,200 per student.

“

The science trip to Hawaii that was planned for spring break has been cancelled due to lack of student interest, according to chaperone Wendy Van Norden.

The trip was open to all upper school students, and students who were interested had to fill out an application

by Nov. 20.

Applicants were required to write a paragraph about why they would have liked to participate, and get a recommendation from their science teacher.

Ten students would have been selected to travel with science teachers Van Norden and Nadine Eisenkolb to the big island from March 25 through April 6, where they would apply scientific methods in real world scenarios.

Students would have had the opportunity to explore the natural wonders of Hawaii, while simultaneously making science more applicable to daily life.

There were multiple excursions over the island planned, such as a whale watching cruise, Volcano National Park, snorkeling and horseback riding in the Waipio Valley.

In addition, students would have been able to investigate a scientific question of their choice relating to Hawaii over the course of the trip.

Jan. 13, 2016

hwchronicle.com/news

News A7

inbrief Novelist to visit Middle School

Chinese-American graphic novelist and writer for DC Comics Gene Luen Yang will speak at the Middle School Jan. 25.

Yang will sign copies of his books and give workshops for student artists and creative writers, Head of Middle School Jon Wimbish said.

“I’m hoping for a blend of Chinese-American experiences in comics and how he has become so big,” middle school English teacher Adam Rose said.

—Benjamin Most

Club hosts holiday drive for hospital TERESA SUH/CHRONICLE

School partakes in Winterfest activities

WINTER WONDERLAND: Katie Kim ’18 and Jeremy Yariv ’18 write cards for patients at Children’s Institute Hospital as part of the Winterfest festivities brought to students by Prefect Council and Social Committee Dec. 7-11. Theme days included Merry Monday, Twinter Tuesday, Onesie Wednesday, Tacky Sweater Thursday and Frozen Friday.

Students to participate in hackathon

By Layla Moghavem

Students will collaborate in computer programming and learn about technological entrepreneurship at Hack HW, a 36-hour student hackathon Jan. 16-17.

Participants will divide into multiple groups and work on a programming project throughout the event as part of a competition.

Though most hackathon participants generally create

apps or websites, students are free to pursue whatever hardware or software ideas they have. Prizes for the competition include an iPad Mini 2, a virtual reality system and a mini 3-D printer.

Shelley Jain ’16 and Justin Rose ’17 created the hackathon to give students of all experience levels the opportunity to explore computer science and its role in technology and entrepreneurship.

“After reading about [hackathons] online and attending one, I realized that Harvard-Westlake needs this,” Jain said. “Most high schools only offer one computer science course, AP Computer Science, but we offer three computer science courses. Hackathons are an opportunity for students to apply the skills they’ve learned in these courses on a project and for inexperienced coders to realize that this might

be a field they’re interested and take advantage of HW’s courses.”

The event is open to 50 students and will provide 10 mentors from technology companies and the California Institute of Technology, who will supervise the projects.

Representatives from technology companies such as Apple will host workshops to discuss app and web development and programming.

Alumna chef cooks with science class

By Claire Keller

Celebrity chef Jamie Gwen ’92 taught molecular gastronomy students how to make dairy-free banana ice cream, palmiers and homemade chocolate hazelnut spread, recipes featured in Microsoft’s Food and Drink App during a class period Jan. 7.

“I think it went incredibly,” molecular gastronomy teacher and Senior Alumni Officer Harry Salamandra said. “I think she connected well with the students and had a lot of

fun as well.”

Four senior students attended the seminar.

“It was really interesting to hear her backstory, how she went to culinary school right after graduating from Harvard-Westlake and became interested in cooking,” Hannah Wilen ’16 said.

After graduating from the school, Gwen attended the Culinary Institute of America in New York.

She won the reality show “Cutthroat Kitchen” and has served as a judge for Fox TV’s “Master Chef.”

Michael Kaplan ’08 won an Emmy in the Outstanding Investigative News Journalism category for a “60 Minutes” segment that he co-produced.

After graduating from Harvard-Westlake, Kaplan graduated from Northwestern’s

Medill School of Journalism in 2012, and has written for the New York Times and worked for NBC Chicago.

A former editor-in-chief of the Chronicle, Kaplan was nominated twice in the category.

The winning segment is about Alex Rodriguez,

Prefect Council names grant winners Prefect Council awarded grants of up to $500 to the Health and Awareness Club, the Martial Arts Club, Velvet Daisies, For Vida, the HarvardWestlake Outreach Performers, the Chinese Pen Pal Club, Habitat for Humanity, the Human Rights Watch Student Task Force and the Quiz Bowl Club.

To apply for a grant, club leaders had to fill out a form indicating how the money would be used and how they would use the money to benefit the school community.

—Sarah Lee

Tutoring group recruits members

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF HARRY SALAMANDRA

TURN UP THE HEAT: Jamie Gwen ’92 teaches one of her original dessert recipes to students enrolled in molecular gastronomy.

Producer, alum wins Emmy for journalism piece

By Lexi Bowers

The Miles of Smiles Club hosted a holiday drive for students to drop off Christmas presents to go to a child and his or her family at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Myria Chen ’18 organized the drive to help a family that could not afford to buy Christmas gifts.

She delivered the wrapped items to the hospital Dec. 10.

“It’s nice to be able to give this family items they might not be able to get,” Chen said.

“They aren’t able to afford presents for the kids of what they want or need.”

—Alexa Zuriff

a baseball player for the Yankees suspected of having used steroids to enhance his performance.

The segment includes the only interview with Anthony Bosch, who was Major League Baseball’s chief witness against him.

The other segment for

which he was nominated is about teenage schizophrenia and focuses on a politician whose son violently attacked his father and later committed suicide. Kaplan screened and discussed this segment with the Chronicle staff last year when he returned to campus as a guest speaker.

The student-led group Transitional Village Tutors is looking for new members for their trips to the Salvation Army Westwood Transitional Village.

The group helps children living in the shelters and travels to Westwood every Tuesday after school to assist kids from ages five to 18 for an hour and a half.

The tutors try to ensure some form of stability for the students.

“We think it’s really important because they don’t really have the access to any counseling or tutoring, or a lot of the programs [Harvard-Westlake students] have before college,” club cofounder Serena Davis ’17 said.

Students can contact Davis to join the club.

—Wilder Short

A8 News

The Chronicle

Jan. 13, 2016

Author to discuss parenting

By Noa Schwartz

CLAIRE DENNIS/CHRONICLE

School holds Christmas Convocation in St. Saviour’s Chapel

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: The Christmas Convocation: A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in St. Saviour’s Chapel signaled the beginning of the Christmas season Dec. 13. Students, alumni, parents, faculty and administrators gathered for the traditional service, which featured performances by the Madrigals and an upper school instrumental ensemble.

Administrator receives Bell Crow Award

By Liz Yount

Senior Advancement Officer and Director of Major Gifts Jim Pattison received the Robert Bell Crow Memorial Award from the International Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

The award honors longterm private school advancement officers for their professional accomplishments, ability to allocate funds for their schools and service to CASE. “I was pleasantly surprised,

“

and it was quite moving for man of the Board of Trustees me,” Pattison said. “I’m very Chris Hazy and former President Tom grateful. I have Hudnut. always tried He said he to be a mentor I have always did not know to people, and tried to be a mentor to he was nomithat was paranated for the mount.” people, and that was award until Pattison was paramount.” after he had nominated by an institutional —Jim Pattinson received it.

“We are advancement Senior Advancement c o n s t a n t l y officer outside of HarvardOfficer trying to find resources for Westlake and received two letters of recom- the school,” Pattison said. “I mendation from former Chair- appreciate the fact very much

that I can be a mentor to people. I hope that I can continue to be a mentor for a lot of people.”

Pattison gathers donations from alumni and parents for donations to allocate to the advancement office.

From there, funds are used to support various programs, both in school and out of school.

Pattison said that he plans to continue using funds from these donations to act as a mentor and improve the school.

Professor and author Richard Weissbourd will address the Parent’s Association Feb. 3 at the Middle School to discuss parenting and developing children’s moral compasses.

Weissbourd works as a psychologist at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and Graduate School of Education, where he studies.

In addition to his research at Harvard University, he wrote the book “The Parents We Mean to Be: How Well-Intentioned Adults Undermine Children’s Moral and Emotional Development.”

Middle school psychologist Susan Ko connected the Parent’s Association with Weissbourd after hearing him speak at a conference on children and their moral compasses.

“Dr. Weissbourd often discusses that an important way for students to develop their moral compass is to help them to value and want to understand people who are different from them,” Parents Association head Nancy Kaleel said.

“This concept seems to fit well with Harvard-Westlake’s mission statement — striving for a diverse and, inclusive community.”

In addition to the development of a child’s moral compass, Weissbourd will also address how to be a conscious parent as described in his book.

“We hope that parents will gain valuable insight from Dr. Weissbourd’s teachings,” Kaleel said.

English teacher leaves after first semester

By Ellis Becker

tory during the summer at the University of Cambridge.

He will continue his reMegan Shakow has replaced English teacher Am- search in Cambridge for the ber Caron, who left just before next three years while Caron hopes to take the spring off for winter break.

For the remainder of the personal time and to adjust to year, Shakow will take over her new life in a foreign country.

Caron’s five English classes.

Caron hopes to return to Shakow has taught English for many years at both a teaching eventually, even if high school and collegiate level it will have to wait until she and is eager to help students returns to Los Angeles, when her husband’s job congrow as readers. tract expires within “For students, it the coming years. can be a bit strange “I’ll have a little bit and challenging to of time in the spring change teachers to read and write and mid-year, but I’ll do get used to living in my best to remain England,” Caron said. consistent with the “I’d like to teach again, expectations and and I’m not sure what policies that [Caron] that will look like.” has established ’ Although Caron’s while bringing my Amber Caron abrupt move will force own personality and passions to the classroom,” a transition for her students, many say that they will still Shakow said.

Caron taught English for remember the lessons she five years at the Upper School- taught them. Andres Walker and has moved to Cambridge, ’18, a student of Caron for one England with her husband, semester this year, appreciatwho recently took a job teach- ed her constant dedication to ing and researching history all her students.

“Ms. Caron is an unbelievand its impact on today’s soable teacher,” Walker said. ciety.

Caron’s husband recently “I learned so much from her, completed his master’s degree and she will be very dearly and will earn his PhD in his- missed.” nathanson s

CLAIRE DENNIS/CHRONICLE

JUMP START: Julianna Hicks, the new executive assistant to the Head of Athletics, sits at her new desk in the athletics department, where she assists coaches and athletic directors.

School employs new athletics assistant

By Claire Dennis

Julianna Hicks joined the athletics department full-time as the executive assistant to the Head of Athletics after working part-time for the girls’ and boys’ volleyball programs.

She started the position Jan. 3, replacing Alyxis Trujillo.

As executive assistant, Hicks manages the front desk of the athletics department and performs tasks for the coaches and athletic directors, including assisting with scheduling and coordinating

logistics for teams. “[I perform] many of the behind-the-scenes responsibilities that allow our sports [programs] to run smoothly,” Hicks said.

Hicks graduated from California State University at Northridge in 2015 after playing on the women’s volleyball team there.

For the past two years, she has been head coach of the girls’ JV volleyball team, assistant coach of the girls’ varsity volleyball team and assistant coach of the boys’ varsity

volleyball team. In addition, Hicks coaches the Los Angeles Volleyball Academy club volleyball girls’ 14-1 team. Hicks will continue her coaching responsibilities while working as an assistant in the athletic department office.

Hicks looks forward to merging her love of sports with her work with athletic administrators and other coaches, Hicks said.

“I grew up in a sport,” Hicks said. “I get to continue what I enjoy doing with people I enjoy working with.”

C HRONICLE the harvard-westlake

Los Angeles • Volume XXV • Issue 4 • Jan. 13, 2016 • hwchronicle.com

Editors In Chief: Eugenia Ko, Henry Vogel Managing Editors: Angela Chon, Benjamin Most, Jonathan Seymour Executive Editors: Sacha Lin, Kelly Riopelle

Opinion The Chronicle • Jan. 13, 2016

editorial

Presentations Editors: Su Jin Nam, Pim Otero Ads

and

Business Manager: Kelly Loeb

Assistant Ads and Business Manager: Oliver Richards News Managing Editor: Cole Feldman News Section Heads: Sammi Handler, Layla Moghavem, Jesse Nadel, Teresa Suh News Copy Editor: Jackson Novick News Assistants: Gabi Berchtold, Maddy Daum, Claire Dennis, Brittany Hong, Emory Kim, Indu Pandey, Noa Schwartz, Wilder Short, Danielle Spitz Opinion Managing Editor: Jonah Ullendorff Opinion Copy Editor: Lexi Bowers Opinion Section Heads: Hananh Cho, Kami Durairaj Opinion Assistants: Brittany Hong Claire Keller, Jiwon Park, Anthony Weinraub, Matthew Yam Features Managing Editor: Sharon Chow Features Section Heads: Sabrina de Brito, Jean Sanders, Liz Yount

MADY MADISON/CHRONICLE

Features Assistants: Josette Abugov, Nicole Kim, Sophie Levy, Kitty Luo, Jadene Meyer, Alena Rubin, Kate Schrage, Alexa Zuriff A&E Section Heads: Lauren Kim, Tiffany Kim, Katie Plotkin A&E Assistants: Jacqueline Ayestas, Ellis Becker, Isabelle Eshraghi, Sarah Lee, Caty Szeto Health & Fitness Section Heads: Eshanika Chaudhary, Sophie Cohen, Claudia Wong Health & Fitness Assistants: Sofia Guillen, Kristen Kuwada Sports Managing Editor: Bennett Gross Sports Section Heads: Juliana Berger, Zac Harleston, Jake Liker, Dario Madyoon, Carina Marx, Rian Ratnavale Sports Assistants: Eli Adler, Oliver Akhtarzad, Andrew Ahn, Jordan Bedikian, Elly Eun Seo Choi, Ethan Knight, Sam McCabe, Aaron Park, Adam Yu Sports Photography: Cameron Stine Photohraphy: Pavan Tauh Creative Director: Vivian Lin Cartoonist: Mady Madison Chief Digital Editor: Benjamin Most Digital Editors: Ellis Becker, Sabrina de Brito, Isabelee Eshraghi, Brittany Hong, Nicole Kim, Kitty Luo, Bryant Wu Online Reader Engagement: Sammi Handler, Lauren Kim, Jake Liker, Teresa Suh Adviser: Melissa Wantz The Chronicle is the student newspaper of Harvard-Westlake School. It is published eight times per year. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the seniors on the Editorial Board.

Letters to the editor may be submitted to chronicle@hw.com or mailed to 3700 Coldwater Canyon, Studio City, CA 91604. Letters must be signed and may be edited for space and to conform to Chronicle style and format. Advertising questions may be directed to Kelly Loeb at kloeb1@hwemail.com. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or the school.

MADY MADISON/CHRONICLE

Widening Our View of Diversity

We gave our thanks last issue in November, but we wanted to devote a few more lines here, to say thank you to our school president.

Mr. Commons: thank you for talking to the Black Leadership Awareness and Culture Club, for bringing to our attention the importance of diversity, not only within the student body, but in the faculty as well.

Once again, you have started a conversation that is sure to leave a substantial, positive impact on the Wolverine community.

Take any school profile, whether it be a college or a high school. You will probably find the ethnic breakdown of the student population and the student-faculty ratio, which, of course, are both very important.

But the emphasis about diversity in faculty members is far less palpable. It seems that there is such a focus in today’s society on students’ welfare and equality of educational opportunity that we forget about the faculty, our teachers, counselors and mentors.

When people hear the word “diversity,” they usually do not think about diversity within the faculty. But it doesn’t take much to realize that a diverse faculty is just as valuable as a diverse student body, for all the same reasons, too. While all teachers are supposed to follow the same curriculum, they don’t all give the same lectures or lead the same discussions word-for-word.

As for the stories they tell, you surely won’t

hear the same one from different teachers.

Each teacher has a lifetime of experiences to share, and ethnic and religious background most definitely contribute to different perspectives that enrich the classroom environment.

We also don’t typically go to class every day and leave without exchanging a word or two with our teachers. Every teacher, every faculty member on campus, is a potential guide and mentor to us. Adults, with decades’ worth of experience, can often tell us something that our friends cannot and offer a wiser perspective. But we only ask for help from teachers when we are comfortable, when we feel like our teachers might relate to us. In an ideal environment, any student of any background could find an adult on campus from a similar background.

In the offices and in the classrooms, there really isn’t much diversity among the Harvard-Westlake teaching staff. Thankfully, the administration has recognized this issue and has proposed to do something about it. All that remains now is the follow through.

The more that we are exposed to the world, the more we open our minds and realize what is out there, the better informed we will be in the future. But now it is time to apply the concept of diversity to the entire school community, students and faculty alike.

A10 Opinion

The Chronicle

Jan. 13, 2016

Embracing the Dark Side

By Benjamin Most

L

ast week, the lights in Chalmers went out. Math classrooms were thrown into chaos. Teachers struggled to restore order however they could. Without light, they were lost and confused. The school rushed to bring back the electricity, and by 6:20 p.m. the lights were back. But looking back, I wish they had stayed off.

In the darkness of Chalmers, I could barely tell one person from another. In some ways, this lack of vision made movement and identification difficult. But it was also a refreshing change.

Prejudice was no longer an issue in the dark. Nobody could judge me on my complexion or my appearance.

Nobody could mock me for my sleek cargo shorts or for my somewhat lanky build. Nobody cared if I hadn’t brushed my hair well enough or if my shave had been less than optimal.

In the dark, all people are equal. We forgot momentarily about our innate prejudices, our pointless opinions and our petty judgments. We realized that, at the end of the day, we’re all just shadows in the dark, looking for a light together.

When the electricity went out, the American dream became reality.

This is what Jefferson had wanted when he wrote the Constitution. This is the ideal to which Susan B. Anthony aspired. This is the dream that Martin Luther King, Jr. shared with the American public.

Hatred dissolved. Looking around, we didn’t see strangers and others. We didn’t note people’s differences or shortcomings. We realized that fundamentally, we are all the same. We embraced one another as brothers and sisters.

During those dark hours, I felt my primeval instincts take over. I was no longer a student, studying from books

and taking tests. I was an evolutionary masterpiece, the result of billions of generations adapting to suit the harsh conditions of planet Earth.

Without my vision, I realized what it meant to be alive. For 18 long years, I had woken up every day and welcomed the sun. I had navigated the world based almost exclusively on what I saw, and I trusted my eyes above all else.

Those days are over. We don’t need to be chained to the daytime. We don’t need to rely on light. We can trust our hearing, our smell, our sense of touch, to guide us through the darkness.

We don’t need electricity or the sun to help us navigate the world; we can forge our own paths.

For so long, we have run from the dark. Darkness has come to represent evil. It inspires fear and distrust. One of the most common fears, especially among young children, is fear of the dark.

I am no longer afraid of the dark. Darkness fears me.

I laugh at darkness and its weak attempts to blur my senses. In the cool of the darkness, when I have only my intuition, I am strongest.

For too long, we have trusted our eyes. It’s time to trust our hearts.

We assumed that the world could be illuminated only by physical light. But all this time, we’ve been ignoring the true light: the light inside of us.

Sunlight can show us the paths of life, but it can’t show us which one to take. It can’t show us what is right and what is wrong. It can’t teach us why we exsist or where to go. Those answers are inside of us.

I don’t know when the electricity will go out next.

But I am ready to embrace the darkness. I am ready to give myself to the Dark Side.

MADY MADISON/CHRONICLE

College matriculation binders deprive students of privacy

By Sammi Handler

I

n the competitive nature of the school, we make decisions every day about how much we want our peers to know about our academic records, but that gets taken away from us once we graduate.

In each of the dean offices, big black binders sit on bookshelves with pages titled by the name of the university and an anonymous list of the students who applied. The binders list each applicant by gender, weighted and unweighted grade point average, reported SAT or ACT score and best subject test score.

The information also includes admission or rejection decisions and to which specific program, if any, the applicant applied and whether the school rejected or accepted him or her for early or regular decision.

Already, the anonymity does not matter anymore.

There is enough information for younger students to be able to connect the dots between the last year’s graduates currently and the “anonymous” students. But of course, there’s more.

Next to some GPAs, there’s an asterisk indicating that another factor, such as sports or legacy, played a large role in that applicant’s admission, in some ways diminishing the overall accomplishment of admission. Now the anonymity is

Mental health days help students manage stress

really there only for decency’s sake.

Thinking that the binders provide anonymity and privacy means discounting the fact that, yes, at Harvard-Westlake we do talk to each other. We generally know who’s getting recruited and who has parents who are legacy at X, Y or Z Ivy League school. We hear who got in early, and we generally know where our friends are applying.

Also, any student who was the only one to apply to a college now has his or her academic information available for any other student to see. And seniors cannot request to have their information omitted from these binders that reduce them to the school that they were admitted to.

Sure, current college freshmen are not around to be offended or hear hurtful comments about their grades and test scores, but as the administration pushes the acceptance of the new mission statement, which is meant to refocus the goal of each student’s education around learning rather than just admission to an elite school, this binder diminishes a student’s entire academic career to a few numbers and a school.

I’ve frequently entered a dean’s office with students peering intently into the

binder, pointing to pages and saying “I can’t believe he had a 4.3!” or “Oh, that’s her. She only got in for track.” Even from students who have never opened the binder, I hear “Can you believe he had a 4.5 and was rejected from Harvard? ” Some do use the information as a source to guide them throughout their college processes, but others use the information as a way to make themselves feel better as they’re in the midst of applications: “At least I didn’t think I could get into Columbia with a 2.9 like she did.” There’s a reason we have passwords that prevent others from logging in and viewing our grades or emails that contain our test scores: privacy.

I understand that the binder is meant to be a resource for students, but it would be just as easy to print out a range of scores and GPAs, with a note that says there are some exceptions. Or the information could be kept as a resource for the deans, but not available for students to peruse.

Clearly the administration and the deans thought it was important to try to protect the students since their names are not printed at all, but anonymity in names is just a façade when virtually all other information present is enough to uncover who the real person is.

Taking a break from school can help students avoid feeling overwhelmed with homework assignments, tests and stress.

Mental health days should be considered legitimate sick days.

By Pim Otero

A

t one in the morning, I stared at the pencil shavings sitting on my desk. The cursor blinked expectantly over my English essay, shaming me for the third straight hour and turning my brain to mush. This lull, which my friends and I branded the “Twelve A.M. Break,” is the toughest trial period to test the willpower of any procrastinating student.

Usually, this was around the time I read or sent texts containing the makings of a mental breakdown. This situation is a result of my and others’ own failure to plan.

However, the panic attacks and self-hatred that control these early morning hours

sometimes define students’ daily lives.

When things become too tense, students often disappear due to mysterious “illness,” conveniently missing an important exam or presentation. Every student has stood teary-eyed in the attendance office, slipping away before eighth period. These breaks are often stigmatized by other students, earning the “slip-away” student taunts upon return. However, for students suffering from mental illness, these days make all the difference.

When a student comes back from an absence with a stuffy nose and a cough, they are warmly welcomed by com-

forting words and sympathetic looks. However, the teasing and awkward silences following the return of a physically healthy student belittle the possible internal challenges he or she has faced.

In short, missing a school day to take care of mental health is just as important as missing a day to take care of physical health. No two students have the same immune system, and as a result, no two students may be expected to adhere to the same mental health expectations. Because every student on our campus is unique, an increased understanding can encourage a healthy change in the atmosphere on our campus away

from mute condemnation and towards open discussion.

While some may believe that taking a mental health day is merely an excuse to avoid work, often these days are a last desperate resort.

Taking a break allows students to reset perspective and allow the mind and body a well-deserved rest. Additionally, taking a break during the bleakest of weekdays allows risk management to take place. To avoid performing badly on several exams, presentations, or projects, taking a break would allow a mental recharge and enable a student to perform at maximum capacity (preventing the repeat of a vicious cycle that

may be triggered by more low grades.)

Consequences still lie in wait upon return, unfinished work often doubling, or tripling, in the student’s absence. As a result, these breaks will not be taken on a whim.

The build-up of stress, anxiety, or depressive symptoms can clearly affect performance; embracing such a tradition as mental health days would boost student growth and cooperation. The fostering community so embraced by Harvard-Westlake would be encouraged, forming a more welcoming and open rapport between students, faculty and learning.

JAN. 13, 2016

HWCHRONICLE.COM/OPINION

quadtalk The Chronicle asked:

Will written letters become obsolete?

By Lexi Bowers

W

in the mail rather through the Internet. Sending a text message to thank someone for a gift she gave you takes a lot less time and effort than it took to choose the gift. Personally, a thank you letter in the mail brings a smile to my face more than a single text message. Sending a physical thank you note shows the recipient that you appreciated her gift enough to want to personally thank her.

Although writing letters is a nice gesture that ought to be preserved in some fashion, I do believe that it will become obsolete. Soon holiday cards will be sent online, “thank you” notes will be sent via text, and the only addresses we will need to keep track of will be email addresses. This change is already happening and as each generation of children is born without understanding the significance of written letters, it will become extinct.

I understand that the impending demise of the written letter is not that big of a deal, but I think it speaks more to the kind of society that the world is destined to become.

Soon, every aspect of our lives that used to be personal could become part of a virtual reality. Instead of meeting with our friends at school, we could resolve to taking all online classes and only talking to friends through the computer. Real laughing will be replaced by ‘haha’ written in white on a screen and smiling will be replaced by a uniform, yellow emoticon.

This may seem dramatic, but it is already happening.

Right now, I urge all of us to make more personal and physical connections with other people, and the next time you want to thank someone, try sending them a letter rather than a text.

ith the increase in online communication, what is the benefit of written letters?

One of the most exciting feelings in the world is the feeling I get when I receive a letter in the mail. My name, written thoughtfully in the sender’s handwriting, adorns the envelope as I carefully break the seal, making sure to preserve the sender’s address.

In modern times, the only physical mail people receive anymore are bills, orders from online purchases, or holiday cards. Handwritten mail has been replaced by emails and text messages.

While many believe that sending mail is pointless, I think that it can be a really nice gesture and is much more thoughtful than sending a quick text message.

For example, instead of receiving invitations in the mail, most people now use Evite, the online service that works as a digital invitation.

Ripping open a letter and receiving a personalized invitation is replaced by clicking a button and a universal message sent to everyone on the emailing list. While this can be more efficient for last minute planning, sending an invitation by mail shows that time and effort were required to send the invitation. That may seem arbitrary, but it reflects how much a person appreciates your company by taking the time to make an invitation.

Personally, I think sending both an Evite and an invitation is a good idea because online you can find out the number of people attending, while obtaining the personalized effect of the physical letter.

I think “thank you” cards should almost always be sent

“Would you consider our faculty diverse?”

“Regarding race, I think they are not diverse; they are primarily white, but I can’t respond to any other factors.

Diversity has a lot of factors.”

KAMI DURAIRAJ/CHRONICLE MATTHEW YAM/CHRONICLE

T

he phone rang.

I answered, not expecting much, but when I hung up, I became a future Harvard-Westlake student.

I was in the sixth grade at the time, and I didn’t really consider the full impact of my acceptance into one of the most prestigious prep schools. My middle school ended in eighth grade and leaving all my friends for a three-hour daily commute wasn’t exactly appealing.

I took my ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) lightly and did not prepare, but my scores were still decent. The school wait-listed me, and it wasn’t until I received a phone call in midApril that I knew that I would be attending.

Ever since I can remember, I always felt that I was at the top of my class. In second grade, two of my classmates finished a math worksheet before I did, and from my

desk I heard them excitedly exclaim to each other, “We beat Matthew! We beat Matthew!” I recall sitting at my desk feeling proud of myself because if “beating me” at classwork called for that much celebration, I must have been doing something right.

My days in elementary school were filled with successes. I always had the most tickets (class currency earned for being a good student), won my school math contest, and when my parents met the parents of other students, they were met with, “You’re Matthew’s mom? He’s so smart! My child has told me all about him!”

When I came to Harvard-Westlake, everything changed. I became surrounded by students from all over who were exactly like me: the smartest kids that had always been at the top of their class. I experienced the

—Daria Arzy ’18

“If you just look at the amount of African American faculty [members] we have, we only have one or two at the most, one being the dean, so I think diversity is a goal. I think the community services we do help bring people all over the state and city.”

—Erick Gredonia ’17 MATTHEW YAM/CHRONICLE

HANNAH CHO/CHRONICLE

Small fish in a big pond

By Matthew Yam

OPINION A11

Students often feel inadequate adjusting to H-W coming from schools where they are the top of their class. Nevertheless, coming to a competitive school prepares students for their futures.

“big fish, little pond” effect, which is so common for many Harvard-Westlake students.

At elementary school, I was comparatively at the top, which is why when I was dropped into a bigger pond, the change was harsh. Without warning, I was hit with a wave of my own mediocrity.

For the first time in my life, I had to study for tests and quizzes, and even when I tried my absolute best, I still received unsatisfying grades that I was not used to. Now, school consumes my entire life. My daily routine is go to school, study, go to bed, repeat.

I often feel overwhelmed by the never-ending climb (literally and figuratively) that is the Harvard-Westlake upper school. I feel as if all my work is for nothing. I spend all my time completing assignments and studying, but when I get my test scores back, they simply aren’t good

enough. I am disappointed at myself and feel even more helpless. I feel like I will never be able to improve my grades which causes me to think I will not go to a good college, engendering a sinking feeling that I will never amount to anything in life.

Teachers tell us that grades aren’t everything, but the majority of my time is spent trying to get good grades. I have often been told by counselors, friends, and family that colleges look only at GPAs during the application process.

I know that many of my peers feel the exact same way. Many of my friends tell me that they have unhealthy levels of stress, some hopeless and depressed from constantly studying and receiving unsatisfactory grades.

I feel our futures are taken away because of our poor marks.

However, even through all

my struggles here, I understand my decision to come to this school. I, along with every other student, chose to be here in order to train myself to take on whatever life throws at us in the future.

Although I feel overwhelmed with stress and pressure, the only way to learn to cope with these things is by experiencing them.

Instead of focusing on being inadequant, we should remember who we are and where we come from. Focus on our accomplishments and be proud that we chose a school where we can surround ourselves with peers who are as talented as us.

Know that we will be prepared for college and our careers.

Sure, Harvard-Westlake may feel like manacles holding us down, but when we graduate, and the shackles are finally released, we will be ready to take over the world.

A12

Fancy Footwork

exposure

Jan. 13, 2016

Dancers from the Art of Dance I and II classes and two solo dancers performed Dec. 8 to a selection of songs, including “Say Something”

by A Great Big World and “Do I Wanna Know” by the Arctic Monkeys.

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND LEARN TO FLY: Alexa Frandzel ’18 spreads her arms like wings and looks ahead during a dramatic moment of a performance of the Art of Dance I and Art of Dance II showcase.

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

POWER OF MUSIC: Carlos Guanche ’16, Hannah Tuchman ’17 and Blair Sullivan ’18 perform the emotional “Say Something” dance, which portrays the sad moments in which loved ones are lost.

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

STAYING ANCHORED: Sohni Kaur ’17, Carlos Guanche ’16 and Ariel Saballos ’17 ground Amira Yashruti ’17 as she reaches forward. The dance, which was about being frightened of losing loved ones, was performed and choreographed to the song “Say Something (I’m Giving Up On You)” by A Great Big World.

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

THE TROLL: Carlos Guanche ’16 dances in the spoken word performance “Troll,” portraying the story’s bully.

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

ROLLING IN THE DEEP: Blair Sullivan ’18 and Amira Yashrui ’17 stage an interpretive dance duet about desire that they choreographed, based on the resurrection stone in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Chronicle • Jan. 13, 2016

Six Seconds of Fame Andres Walker ’18 features his comedy in his vines.

He was inspired to make vines by his late uncle.

By NICOLE KIM Andres Walker ’18 does not remember much about his late uncle — just his record player playing his favorite Spanish vallenato on repeat and a cream-colored poncho that he wore to every family dinner.

Although the last time they were together was many years ago, Walker said rewatching home videos of family barbecues and birthdays has kept him close to his uncle.

Before every family gathering, Walker wipes off a film of dust settled on top of a cardboard box and chooses one out of dozens of VCR tapes to play on a box television set in his Los Angeles home. In one of his favorites, it is an overcast day. His uncle sits at a table in the middle of the yard, dressed in a pale yellow button down and khakis, among other familiar faces belonging to aunts, uncles and cousins living in Colombia.

He is eating a sausage straight off of the grill, not even bothering to use a fork.

In between bites, he talks in quick, fluid Spanish; the end of each of his sentences is followed by the table erupting in unbridled laughter.

“My uncle passed away in an accident when I was young, but he always had such a positive view on life and always had something great to say at

the right time,” Walker said.

“When I watch those videos now, I see a part of myself in him. It’s a real and authentic humor, and he just says the right things at the right time.”

Friends say that Walker, like his uncle, has the type of quick wit and humor that can easily be captured by a short video like the ones posted in Vine.

"Andres has a unique humor,” Sam Krutonog ’18 said.

“It’s very short and to the point, but he’s so witty that everything he says seems like a punchline. It can be really funny when he takes something you say very literally."

Instead of VCR tapes, Walker has turned to Vine as a platform for his comedy. Since it was founded in 2012, Vine has quickly become the most used video sharing application from the App Store. Users, called Viners, can record video clips up to six seconds long that loop continuously. Thus, popular Vines must effectively be funny and engaging within the allotted time.

For his own vines, Walker incorporates music in the form of rapping and rhyming, and his humor reflects everyday situations that many viewers find relatable.

In one Vine, he poked fun at old people dancing at parties.

In another, Walker took a

literal interpretation of the lyr"I absolutely think that Anics "Money on my mind, you dres is the outgoing person he should think the same / J's on, is because he's not afraid to be pinky ring" from Drake's "All who he is, and I admire that Me" by stuffing dollar bills into quality in him," Krutonog said. his cap and twirling Air JorWalker's friends say that dan basketball shoes around his strong sense of self and his pinky. Although he recalls vivacious personality are even initially garnering only a few apparent in his style, which hundred views, his follower Krutonog describes as "classy and view count increased with but bold." each Vine that he posted.

"You can tell that Andres The hours Walker spent exudes confidence in the way making countless drafts for he presents himself," Chris each Vine bePark ’18 said. gan to pay off, "He dresses he said. People very well and When I watch approached both his sense those videos now, I see him at school of style and and compliloud humor a part of myself in [my mented him reflect how he uncle]. It’s a real and on how funny isn't afraid to authentic humor, and his Vines were. shine in the His friends spotlight." he just says the right watched them W a l k e r things at the right time.” said that for enough times to be able to —Andres Walker ’18 the time being, recite his raps Vine is just a from memory. hobby and not Walker rea practical cacalls scrolling through Vines reer path. over a bowl of cereal on a SatFor him, Vine is an outlet urday morning when some- for self-expression and merely thing caught his eye. another avenue, like his sense “Hey mom!” he called to her of style, to showcase his magfrom across the room. “I got netic personality.

3,000 views on my Vine.”

“I’ll always love making But Walker's larger-than- other people's lives a bit more life presence on campus can lively,” Walker said. “Just tobe attributed to more than just day, I had a really funny mohis sense of humor. It stems ment with a friend. Then, I from his unwavering confi- thought, ‘Hey, I should make a dence, students said.

Vine of this.’”

“

NICOLE KIM /CHRONICLE

THE CHRONICLE

B2 A&E

JAN. 13, 2016

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ELIZABETH GABA

EMILY RAHHAL/CHRONICLE

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF JENNY LANGE

STRIKE A POSE: Casey Giolito ’17 (left) sings “The Jet Song” in “West Side Story,” a musical about a love story between two members of rival gangs. Elizabeth Gaba ’17 (top right) sings in a student showcase for A Capella Academy. Jenny Lange ’17 (bottom right), in white, models for a clothing company called Olivia Rose.

Going Pro

By JESSE NADEL

While most students are waiting until later to pursue professional careers, some are working on improving their singing, modeling or acting skills while in school.

Guild, has been in several national ad campaigns and has On a typical school day, been through countless audiwhile all of her friends begin tions.

Though many disappointtheir homework, Anya Andrews ’17 runs down Holly- ments come with the audiwood Boulevard in pajamas tions, Andrews tries to not let and slippers, receiving strange these get her down, she said.

“I’m always going in for looks from those who pass by commercials,” Andrews said. her.

“I get called in for Soon after, she voice-overs a lot too. bursts through the It’s really fun, and it’s doors of her destinakind of disappointing tion into a room full when you don’t get of teenage girls who it, but when you do, are all dressed exactthere’s nothing like ly like her. it.”

It is a casting diLast spring, Anrector’s office, one of drews shot a national more than 20 she has ’ commercial for Infinvisited in the last two Anya ity TV and recently months.

Andrews ’17 got a callback for a For Andrews, actRaisin Bran commering is her passion, and audicial. tions are a part of that.

Andrews is not the only “Going into auditions is honestly just like going in and student at Harvard-Westlake having a mini-conversation, who wants to pursue a career and it can be really fun,” An- in the entertainment industry.

After playing the lead role drews said. “Sometimes they’ll have you do ridiculous things, in his mandatory fifth grade but they just want to see how production of Grease, Casey Giolito ’17 found that acting you’ll react.”

Andrews realized her love was something he really loved for acting at a very young age. to do.

“I hadn’t even thought The daughter of an actor and a writer, she believes that per- about acting up until [the forming simply “runs in her play],” Giolito said. “That’s when I realized my love for the family.”

“My dad had to babysit theatre and just having people me when I was younger, so watch me turn into a different he would take me on audi- character.”

Giolito, who had to split his tions with him, and I would just hang out with the casting time between West Side Story directors as he did his audi- rehearsals and baseball practions,” Andrews said. “Soon, tices last fall, does not want I just started getting called in to act professionally while still for my own auditions, and I in school because he does not realized how fun I thought it have enough time for it.

“Right now, I just want to was.”

Now, over a decade later, take acting classes and get Andrews has an agent, is a better,” Giolito said. “I don’t member of the Screen Actors really want to be a child actor, NATHANSON S

but when I’m an adult, I think see myself pursuing any other that’s the time to pursue it as sort of career. Even if singing a career. Acting is probably doesn’t work out, I still intend my number one pursuit in life. to try to make a living doing There is nothing that I think is something with music.” more fun to do, and the idea When Jenny Lange ’17 got of doing that for a job is really an Instagram direct message exciting.” from the owner of a clothing Elizabeth Gaba ’17 has company called Olivia Rose, a similar philosophy when she had no intention of modit comes to her passion for eling. But, after the company singing. Since the age of sev- owner asked her to do a few en, Gaba has been practicing shoots for the online retailer, singing.

Lange became one of their ofFor the past 10 years, she ficial models. has been taking vocal lessons Since then, Lange has with the same teacher and has been asked by several other attended numerous summer companies to be a brand amcamps to improve her singing bassador, meaning that she skills. represents the companies on “Singing has always been social media platforms. very therapeutic for me,” Gaba Despite her experience said. “It was always something modelling and sponsoring that I had gotten a lot of en- brands, Lange says that her couragement for. I have such real passion is for acting. a passion for music in gener“I definitely don’t want to al, and singing is just the best be a model as a career. It’s fun way I know how to express it.” right now, and I would always As a result of her passion, love to help a company, but Gaba co-founded the school’s acting is definitely more of my first a cappella group. passion and what I would like Additionally, she has been to pursue in the future,” Lange in Chamber said.

Singers for the However, past two years similar to GiActing is and was in olito, Lange West Side Stofinds it hard to probably my number ry this past fall. pursue a proone pursuit in life. There fessional acting While Gaba is nothing that I think is career while atis mainly performing in tending school. more fun to do.” school and not “Acting is —Casey Giolito ’17 something that professionally, she said she I’m somewhat hopes to find a pursuing right career that involves singing in now, but I haven’t had much the future. time to audition,” Lange said.

“It’s absolutely something “I’ve been auditioning for small I hope to do with my future,” things. Definitely in the future, Gaba said. “My dad worked in when I learn more and gain the music industry, and mu- more experience, I’d want to sic is such an important part actually pursue acting as a caof my life that I really don’t reer and study it in college.”

“

JAN. 13, 2016

HWCHRONICLE.COM/A&E

A&E B3

Playing her way to Carnegie Hall

A cellist since age six, Samantha Yoon ’18 played at Carnegie Hall for her second time after winning the American Protegé International Concerto Competition.

CATY SZETO/CHRONICLE

By CATY SZETO

more than just an instrument, another activity that children It was March 2012. Twelve- were supposed to do.

“My mom actually played year-old Samantha Yoon ’18 stood behind two tall, white the clarinet, and my older sisdouble doors waiting to enter ter actually played the piano for 10 years, so I think my the stage.

Dozens of thoughts ran mom just wanted me to play through her mind; all the hard something,” Yoon said.

Back then, she had no clue work and months of preparation was finally going to pay that the instrument would beoff. She couldn’t let herself come such an important part down, and she couldn’t let ev- of her life or that it would erybody else down. Her name eventually lead her to the diswas announced. The doors tinguished concert hall.

For the next nine years, opened. Everything was silent.

All thoughts of nervousness Yoon practiced daily and and “what ifs” seemed to dis- took private lessons twice a week. Every Tuessipate. day and Thursday, Her mind was Yoon would stand blank.

Once she facing her teacher in reached the center of a white-walled room, the stage, she turned focused on her cello to face the audience. playing. To the left The lights dimmed. A were her cello cases spotlight centered on for traveling; to her her. Looking back be’ right was her ever hind her, she nodded Mark Hilt growing collection of to her pianist, took a trophies and awards. deep breath and began to play at Carnegie Hall for In the back she kept bow rosin, extra strings, tuners and sheet the first time.

A few years later, already music, which were stacked on an accomplished cellist, Yoon top of each other like office pawas selected for the second pers. In sixth grade, Yoon autime to play at Carnegie Hall ditioned for American Protegé, through the American Protegé an international competition International Concerto Com- for student instrumentalists, petition. While the rest of her for the first time.

She was recommended by peers took their mid-year assessments, Yoon flew to New her teacher, Sylvia Seunhee York for her performance in Kang, to audition, and after Weill Recital Hall Dec. 19. making it through as a finalBorn into a family of mostly ist, she performed at Carnegie musicians, Yoon began her at age 12. In her first taste of cello journey at age six. She the “big time,” Yoon reached picked up the instrument after a place that many professiona suggestion from her moth- als only dream of. Playing at er, and she saw it as nothing Carnegie meant playing at the NATHANSON S

same venue as some of the top petitve and even rose above musicians in the world, such those more experienced than as Yo Yo Ma. her. Yoon’s ability to focus and “Carnegie Hall is one of her dedication to the instruthe most important concert ment elevate her to a standard venues in our country,” up- above most her age, Hilt said. per school symphony director She has also entered many Mark Hilt said. “I mean, when local competitions, which have the New York Philharmon- helped prepare her for the ic wants to sound good, they pressure of high-level performove to Carnegie Hall.” mance.

Inspired from her first perIn the summer of 2011, formance at the hall, Yoon de- Yoon entered a contest where cided to audition again this she came off stage feeling inseyear, but in the next age cat- cure about her playing. egory. This time she would Due to her past losses, be competing Yoon was unagainst celsure about the lists four to results of the From then on, five years oldcompetition. every moment I get on er than her, She felt that if stage I play my best and she lost, she with four to five years more would let her pour out everything experience parents down. that I have practiced for, However, and training. at so that in the end, I do However, dethe awards cerspite the age emony, they not have any regrets.” disparity, Yoon called up the —Samantha Yoon ’18 grand still qualified prize for the second winners, and time with her to her surprise, audition of “Cello Concerto No. a loud, clear voice called out 1 in E-flat major, opus 107” by ‘Samantha Yoon!’ through the Dmitri Shostakovich. speakers.

“It was an honor and an “As I went up on stage to amazing opportunity to per- accept my trophy, I made sure form the first time, so I wanted that there was no wax in my to audition again. I think I’ll ears,” Yoon said. “I was in continue to audition in the fu- awe. From then on, every moture after this performance as ment I get on stage I play my well, maybe in different genres best and pour out everything of music,” she said. that I have practiced for, so For nearly a decade, she that in the end, I do not have has dedicated at least one any regrets. Playing my best hour per day to practicing cel- with confidence was the best lo in addition to lessons twice reward that I could get. This a week. It was not a surprise experience shaped me into the to those who have worked confident player that I am towith her that she was com- day.”

“

B4 A&E

The Chronicle

Jan. 13, 2016

Ensembles perform in choir show

By Ellis Becker

Choir students performed at the Winter Choral Concert at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica Dec. 5. The theme was “Sing of Peace: Sing for Joy.” The concert showcased the upper school choirs Bel Canto, Chamber Singers, Jazz Singers, Wolverine Chorus and Combined Choir, and each choir sang multiple songs for the performance.

“We have been learning our songs since September, and we have put a lot of effort [into the concert] and are so proud of what we have accomplished,” Wolverine Chorus member Harry Garvey ’18 said.

The show began and ended with performances from the Combined Choir.

The first song performed at the concert was “Sim Shalom,” arranged by Mark Brymer.

The song name means “great peace” in Hebrew.

The group ended with songs including Rick and Sylvia Powell’s “Peace, Peace,” and “Cartoon Christmas,” arranged by Andy Beck.

During the Combined

ELLIS BECKER/CHRONICLE

CONCERTED EFFORT: Upper school choirs showcased multiple acts at the annual winter choral concert in Santa Monica. Choirs that performed included the Combined Choir, Bel Canto, Jazz Singers, Wolverine Chorus and combined male and female choirs.

Choir’s rendition of “Cartoon Christmas,” all the singers wore Santa hats for the duration of the performance.

Performing arts teacher Rodger Guerrero was also en-

couraged to wear a hat, along with accompanist Sara Shakliyan.

Chamber Singers sang songs including John Paynter’s “The Rose” and “I Won-

der as I Wander,” arranged by Guerrero.

“I cannot recall a finer Winter Choral Concert in my 15 years at Harvard-Westlake,” Guerrero said. “Every

Walch to host film showings on weekends

Musicians to play in two shows

By Brittany Hong

nity,” Patterson said.

The program, named “SunPerforming arts and cine- days with Ted” in past years, was renamed as “Cinma studies teacher ema Sundays.” AnTed Walch launched other change is that “Cinema Sundays” the Kutler Center will Jan. 10 in Ahmanbe sponsoring the son Lecture Hall with event.

Francois Tuffaut’s “Film as a medi“The 400 Blows,” folum is very interdislowed by a discussion ciplinary in the sense of film resarch done that they can cover a by students. ’ wide range of artistic “This event is goTed Walch topics.” Director of ing to be very special the Kutler Center and because the amount of time put into the research Summer Programs Jim Pattinof these films by Walch and son said. “Having the Kutler all the students will really be Center sponsor a film series brought to life to the commu- certainly fits with the mission nathanson s

By Claudia Wong

JOSIE ABUGOV/CHRONICLE

LAZY SUNDAY: Students went to Ahmanson Lecture Hall to see “The 400 Blows” on Sunday for the first Cinema Sunday. of the Kutler Center to promote interdisciplinary studies.”

The event used to cost $35 per session. Starting this year, however, the admission is free. “[Cinema Sundays] used to be a fundraiser, but we decided to make it a gift to the

community.” Walch said. “It’s open to anybody who wants to come.”

Alejandro Iñárritu, director of “Birdman,” will speak to students as a special guest May 8 during the discussion session of the program.

Spoken Word chooses members for new season

By Jadene Meyer

The Spoken Word Club added eight new members to this year’s team.

The announcement was made Dec. 12 after the auditions Dec. 1.

For the auditon, each student delivered a classic poem of their selection and wrote a

response to their poem. “[The auditions] were a little nerve-wracking, especially because poetry is so personal, but it was a really cool experience to share with other classmates and to listen to their poems too,” club member Sakura Price ’18 said.

When tournaments begin, the team will be cut down to

six members.

The team will continue to meet every Monday to practice for small performances. These events are practice for the Get Lit Classic Slam in April.

The competitions are comprised of group and individual pieces. Students are scored on several aspects of their poem delivery and selection.

The team has started their preparation by writing group response poems.

“We’re all really excited to see where this year takes us and how our team will develop to create even more amazing poetry that hopefully scores well and speaks to every single one of us,” club member Natalie Choi ’18 said.

Students to showcase ‘The Madwoman of Chaillot’

By Tiffany Kim

Students will perform “The Madwoman of Chaillot” Feb. 5-7.

“The play was written at the end of the Second World War in France by a man who had grown up during the glorious ‘fin de siècle’ period in Paris and had lived to witness

what must have seemed like, by 1943, the utter destruction of the world,” performing arts department chair and director Rees Pugh said. “In spite of this, he seems to have managed to find some hope for humanity amidst this horror.

For a modern audience, and where we now sit in the midst of so much bad news about

choir performed up to its potential, and the joy expressed by all of the singers mesmerized the audience. I am the proudest and luckiest teacher on the planet.”

the world and our prospects for the future, the simple and hopeful message of this play reverberates for me. I hope it does so for our audience as well.”

The play was written by Jean Giraudoux and adapted

by Pugh.

Auditions and call-backs took place the same week

“West Side Story” close Nov. 10-13 in the Drama Lab. The show has 25 students in its cast.Students have had rehearsals Sundays through Thursdays since then.

“I feel that much of the message of the play is as relevant and pertinent today as it was when it was written in the 1940s,” Pugh said.

The Camerata Strings and the Symphony Orchestra will perform two concerts Feb. 12 and 13.

Small groups will perform pieces separately. No piece will be played by the entire orchestra.

“There’s several small ensembles, everything from a cello-harp duet to a string ensemble of about 20 players, and everything in between,” performing arts teacher Mark Hilt said.

The pieces to be played at the concert include “Spanish Dance No. 5” by Enrique Granados and “Promenade a I’automne.”

“There were so many pieces that the concert had to be held over two days,” Hilt said.

One concert will be held in the Feldman-Horn art gallery and the other in St. Saviour’s Chapel.

The group will play a movement of a Haydn string quartet and a movement of a Brahms piano trio in the gallery.

In St. Saviour’s Chapel, a group with players from Wind Ensemble, Symphony, jazz groups and string ensembles will perform. “[The Chapel] is a terrific space for certain types of music. It’s very, very echoey because it’s so tall, and it’s a beautiful, beautiful old space,” Hilt said.

He will be conducting some of the pieces and letting his students play other pieces on their own.

Features The Chronicle • Jan. 13, 2016

Uncalled For Female students feel objectifed and violated when they are catcalled. These instances occur while leaving campus and during their daily lives.

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LIZ YOUNT

C2 FEATURES

THE CHRONICLE

JAN. 13, 2016

The Real Terror Incidents of Islamophobia are on the rise on college campuses across the country. For Muslim students, the insensitive remarks common in public and at school are the real terror.

By LAUREN KIM At Virginia Tech, graffiti was written on the walls of a bathroom that read “I will be here 11/11/2015 to kill all muslims [sic].” At American University, threatening posters were hung with one that read “#StopTheJihadOnCampus” below images of knives, targets and blood.

Incidents such as the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo shooting and the November I noticed that people started 2015 Paris attacks, attributed making more jokes that gento Islamic terrorist organiza- eralized all Muslims to be tions, have sparked fear and terrorists,” Iken said. “I really outrage amongst many Amer- didn’t find them funny. I feel like now I hide my opinions ican citizens.

Students at various univer- more, especially with all of sities across the country are this discrimination from peorallying against instances of ple like Trump. But ultimately, everyone is entitled to racism and bigotry on their opinions.” their campuses, leadIken believes that ing to multiple proHarvard-Westlake tests and demonstrastudents experience tions at prominent less of the Islamophouniversities. Howevbic sentiment that er, less widely known may occur at large than the “white girls universities.

While only” remark at a this is partly because Yale fraternity party ’ Muslims constitute or the resignation of Sahar only a small fraction University of MissouTirimzi ’16 of the student body, ri president Timothy it is also because M. Wolfe is the rise in Islamophobic sentiment that students at Harvard-Westlake has manifested itself increas- are exposed to the many different cultures of Los Angeles ingly over the past year.

At schools, this tension can and are relatively educated on be manifested in innocuous many aspects of the religion, forms such as jokes or quips Iken said.

Yet even in a city as diverse directed toward Muslims, or even in threats of violence and as Los Angeles, Muslim students have experienced some brutality against them.

Muslim student Ali Iken level of discrimination or hate.

“When I was in the third ’17 has noticed the exacerbation of discrimination against grade playing in the playground, a boy I knew came people of his religion.

“After any terrorist attack, up to me and said he needed NATHANSON S

to poop,” Iken said. “I told him to go to the bathroom, but he said that since I was Muslim and Muslims kill people, I was as good as poop. So then he tried to poop on me.”

Insecurities that Muslims face are too often validated. A Muslim boy, age 14, was arrested in Dallas for his homemade clock, which the police mistook for a bomb. The incident led to a storm of criticism of the police for its apparent discrimination against Muslims.

Sahar Tirmizi ‘16, who identifies as Muslim, considers her faith a large part of her life, and she practices Islam regularly through prayer and celebration of religious ceremonies. The violence and intolerance associated with Islam prevalent in various forms of media made her self-conscious to tell people that she is Muslim, she said. Tirmizi herself has been the subject of many Islamophobic comments.

“One of my teachers was saying that Islam is actually really similar to Christianity and Judaism for a number of reasons,” Tirmizi said. “One of the students made an audible comment along the lines

Muslims are terrorists is so deeply ingrained in society, but there’s nothing that can really be done about that,” he said. “People are arrogant and don’t want to listen to opinions that are different from theirs.

We are a minority. People don’t interact with us everyday, so people don’t know us. People are afraid of things they don’t know.”

Tension on campuses naILLUSTRATION BY ANNA GONG tionwide is due to the increasof ‘don’t muddy the waters by ing demand for inclusivity and comparing us to them.’ Com- tolerance. With Harvard-Westments like that generally don’t lake students leaving relative bother me because I think that security for college, the need everyone’s opinions are valid, to expose prejudice and disbut something like that was crimination becomes more hurtful to me, and it certain- urgent. Tirmizi points to the ly didn’t help the perception actions of Mona Haydar as an of my own faith that I was de- example for positive and forveloping at the ward change. time. That was In December, an incident Haydar stood After any terrorist outside a Camwhen I definitely felt insebridge library attack, I noticed that cure.” with signs that people started making However, said “Ask a more jokes that Tirmizi exMuslim” and pressed worry “Talk to a Musgeneralized all Muslims that she would lim,” offering to be terrorists. be persecuted free donuts and after graduat—Ali Iken ’17 coffee to those ing from Harthat asked her vard-Westlake. opinions about “Something that’s a little her faith. bit unsettling is that when I “Events like that, where don’t know someone, and this people can shed some light will be especially relevant in on the truth, are constructive college when I’m introduced to steps in the right direction,” a large group of new people, I Tirmizi said. “Anybody who’s do fear that people might in- looking for answers should tentionally or unintentionally have access to them. So I think make assumptions or judg- instead of speaking out in a ments,” Tirmizi said. confrontational way, sharing Iken has a less than pos- your knowledge with someone itive outlook on Muslim dis- who you think would benefit crimination. from understanding more of “The stereotype that all the story is better.”

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JAN. 13, 2016

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LIZ YOUNT

Surveying the Survey

By BENJAMIN MOST

doing more than 4 hours of homework each night, regardIn 2002, the school formed less of what’s been assigned.”

Some of this increase in the Workload Committee in response to students’ con- homework may be due to stucerns about their stress lev- dents registering for more and els. Fourteen years later, the more difficult courses, Pike Workload Committee’s policies said.

“One of the issues we have and quarterly homework surveys have become a key part of to acknowledge is the fact the school’s efforts to decrease that kids are also taking more courses, especially AP coursstress.

How successful these pol- es,” he said. “The mean numicies and homework surveys ber of AP courses, for example, was 2.5 in 2002, but have been in lowering in 2013 it rose to 2.9. stress is debatable, It makes sense that, however. as our kids take more In addition to courses, they’ll have quarterly homework more homework.” surveys that monThe quarterly itor the work each homework surveys course assigns, the yield very different committee conducts data from the worka thorough investiload surveys and sug’ gation of students’ gest that only a few Moss Pike ’16 overall homework classes assign more loads called the workthan three hours of load survey every few years.

Workload Committee member work a week, homework surand Latin teacher Moss Pike vey overseer Liz Resnick said.

More classes assign less said the last workload survey, which took place in 2013, indi- than three hours of work per cated that students now have week than more, she said.

The original 2002 Workmore homework than ever.

“Generally, the level of load Committee set guidelines homework assigned and done recommending that academic decreased from 2002 to 2006, courses assign three hours of but it has since increased work a week, Resnick and Pike again and is even higher now said that the homework surveys reflect most courses folthan in 2002,” Pike said.

In 2013, 48 percent of up- low those guidelines.

The homework surveys per school students reported formerly conducted being assigned more than four were hours of homework nightly, through pieces of paper disPike said, up from 41.8 per- tributed to every student in cent in 2002 and 38.6 percent every class at the end of each quarter. These papers asked in 2006.

However, students don’t students if they have more, necessarily do all the home- less, or approximately three hours of homework a week for work they are given, he said.

“Interestingly, kids report a particular class.

This year, homework surdoing less than assigned,” Pike said. “Only 35.5 percent report veys were given online and NATHANSON S

Putting in Overtime?

40

% feel that they only somewhat have an outlet to express thoughts and concerns about their stress levels and workload.

allowed students to input no actual data and students more precise data instead of just self-report, teachers don’t choosing from three options, take it seriously,” Belateche but Resnick said the goal of said. “You’re supposed to say the homework survey has not how much homework you have, but it’s really, ‘Am I hapchanged.

“The electronic homework py with how much homework survey has the same goal as I have, do I want less, or do I the old paper surveys: to see want more?’ Teachers know if any courses or teachers are what they mean, so they don’t in violation of our published care.”

Resnick said that she behomework limits,” she said.

Despite the optimistic lieves the homework surveys homework survey results, are valuable because they some students still feel that give teachers insight into how they have burdensome work- much homework students are loads and question whether doing, regardless of wheththe homework surveys are er or not this insight leads to capable of actually enacting change.

“I do think it’s worthwhile change.

“I don’t really think that for the teachers, departments they’ve changed anything,” and administrators to have Dharan Kumar ’16 said. “Even a sense, reported by our stuafter I’ve entered four hours of dents, of how much time they homework a week for a par- are spending for each class outside of the ticular class, I class time,” don’t really see Resnick said. a change in the Even after I’ve For Pike, actual homeentered four hours of his time on work.”

Kumar said homework a week for a the Workload Committee has he feels that particular class, I don’t helped him unteachers do not derstand how value student really see a change. to minimize the input as much —Dharan Kumar ’16 stress his stuas they should. dents feel, he “I just think said. that the teach“Personally, I’ve significanters should listen to us more and give us less homework,” ly cut down on the amount of Kumar said. “Maybe then we homework I give, and I’ve also would stress less. I don’t think changed how I assess hometeachers take us seriously work,” Pike said. “Thanks to the conversations from Workenough.”

Zachary Belateche ’16 said load, I have a better underthat he believes teachers don’t standing of what’s valuable to trust the homework survey my kids, and so I’m trying to data and that many students design the sorts of classroom inflate their amounts of home- experiences that they find work in hopes that they will valuable, thus allowing us to receive less homework later as change our attitudes toward the work we do or don’t have a result.

“I feel like, because there’s to do outside of class.”

“

The Chronicle asked 408 students their opinions on the homework survey and their workload.

71

% do not believe that the workload surveys every two years are successful in monitoring and changing students’ stress levels and workload.

88

% do not believe that the quarterly homework surveys are successful in monitoring and changing students’ stress levels and workload.

INFOGRAPHIC BY ESHANIKA CHAUDHARY

The Chronicle

C4 Features

73 percent reported having witnessed someone they know be“I felt so small and that ev- ing targeted. eryone hated me,” Blut said. “I “It’s basically a new word thought that I had no friends for the old term ‘harassing,’” and was in a very dark place.” counselor Luba Bek said. “If In 2014, the Centers for Dis- you’re harassing somebody, ease Control and Department of doing something unpleasant or Education defined the core ele- deliberately unpleasant to anments of “bullying” as unwanted other human being, it used to aggressive behavior, observed or be called ‘harassing’ and ‘being perceived power imbalance and mean,’ but now it has a name, repetition of behaviors ‘bullying.” or high likelihood of Bek said cyberbulrepetition. lying is not as prevCyberbullying in alent at the Upper particular primarily School compared to the involves verbal aggresMiddle school. sion, including elecBlut also said that tronic harassment, and she has not experirelational aggression, enced the same level of including electronically bullying since coming spreading rumors. to the Upper School. ’ Cyberbullying rates “Middle School kids Mikaela have decreased in rehave less of a prefronWolfsdorf ’16 cent years, though cytal lobe cortex to conberbullying rates still trol their impulses and remain higher in feactions,” Bek said. male students, according to the “But it happens here too, but no Department of Education. increase whatsoever.”

In a Chronicle poll of 363 Recent honor board cases students, 33 percent of stu- described during class meetings dents said that they have been that involved bullying over Twittargeted on social media and ter and other social media have • Continued from page A1

Attacking Behind A Screen With the increase in the use of social media among high school students also comes an increase in online bullying and harassment, which can have a lasting effect on the victims.

Jan. 1

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Features C5

Cyber Stats We polled 363 students about their experiences with online harrasment and bullying.

15 percent have posted something mean about someone online.

15%

33 percent have been targeted on social media by someone online.

33%

73% GRAPHIC BY KITTY LUO AND JEAN SANDERS

ILLUSTRATION BY VIVIAN LIN

shown that cyberbullying is still an issue at the Upper School.

Though Bek was not at liberty to comment on the cases, she explained, as the peer support advisor, the consequences leaders or trainees must face.

“We take it on a case by case basis because even with cyberbullying, it could be a minor slip up or something really big,” Bek said. “And if it’s something really big and mean, we’re done. The person is not going to be there.”

Bek said that when these “slip ups” are minor, some students will get second chances if they show that the are “truly remorseful” and “learning from the mistake.”

Some students who have witnessed cyberbullying have experienced that it can lead to more.

Mikaela Wolfsdorf ’16, whose friend was cyberbullied, explained that though it began only with light jokes on Twitter, it soon escalated into face-toface bullying.

Wolfsdorf and Bek believe one of the pitfalls of cyberbullying is buying into the false sense of distance and anonymity of so-

cial media sites.

“Your generation is so used to doing everything online,” Bek said. “And there’s so much more to language than words that, when you say something to a person face-to-face, their facial expressions and their non-verbal cues might not come off as bullying. I think a lot of things that happen get started where people join in totally innocently, but you cannot understand sarcasm without non-verbal cues, and it’s going to snowball.”

Wolfsdorf believes the students who bullied her friend were not trying to be mean, but funny. She said they didn’t understand that the jokes were seriously hurting her.

Bek believes that “mean, intentional bullying” is caused when people are “delusional” in their thinking.

A recent trend of “finstas” or “fake” alternate Instagram accounts meant to provide more privacy than “real” Instagram accounts have created a space for further cyberbullying.

Many accounts upload posts that ask their followers to write in the comment section about a

specific person. and support.”

Although only the account “Do not negate and try to get user and the commenter know the person who is bullying, but the name of the person being give the person your uncondiwritten about, the comment it- tional love,” she said. self can be seen by anyone who One of the most common follows that account. mistakes for a friend or victim “I just think it’s stupid, hon- is to try to point fingers at who estly,” Bek said. “I think it’s perpetrated the cyberbullying, stupid, and gossip is gossip. I Bek said. don’t think it’s as “The witchharmful as goshunt is never a sip, which has a thing,” Bek I felt so small and good name and is out said. that everyone hated there, but I like For Blut, the saying that me. I thought that I had her experiences ‘successful peohave taught her no friends and was in a ple talk about to try to be an ideas and unadvocate of anvery dark place. successful people ti-bullying.

—Natalie Blut ’18 talk about what “I try to shut other people did.’ ” it down immediEventually, ately because I this bullying does diminish, and don’t want anyone to feel how I Bek believes that it will decline did,” Blut said. after college, when people start Bek said that there’s no “having other interests in life point in trying to avoid social and the social media world is media, because “that’s where different.” you live.”

For now, however, Bek sug“Treat [social media] as real gests that as a friend or witness, life, and be a nice person,” Bek “your role is to provide uncondi- said. “What other people think tional love and positivity to the of you is their business, and person and listen, empathize this applies to cyberbullying.”

“

73 percent have seen someone they know targeted on social media.

C6 Features

highstakes

The Chronicle

Jan. 13, 2016

ILLUSTRATION BY NICOLE KIM

The First Reveal

With early application decisions released, the four players now consider their options going into the regular decision round.

By Sharon Chow The All-Around: When Virginia* ’16 was deferred from Princeton, she was really disappointed since it was her dream school. However, she used this deferral as a motivation to regain her focus in school and work harder on her fourteen regular applications and art supplement during winter break.

“I took a couple weeks off track and cross-country to get my college stuff together and focus on school because it’s just easy to start making excuses for lower grades because of how much I’m doing,” Virginia said. “I wanted to sort of narrow down my responsibilities and get my grades up for now.”

Since most of her schools require art supplements, Virginia has also been working on her pieces. She has just started her concentration in art class and is doing pretty well in terms of finishing them by deadline.

“I’m actually a pretty fast worker,” she said. “I can probably finish a piece in a weekend if I pull an all-nighter.”

With her increased workload, Virginia also views her deferral in a positive light as well.

“I’m honestly pretty thank-

ful for the necessary motivation to do well in school, so I think it forced me to look at my studies again and try to get more happiness in studying that I previously had,” Virginia said.

When the time comes to decide on a school, Austin wants to avoid all regrets.

“I’m just excited to wait and see where I get in and decide based off of that,” Austin said.

“What you hear about [the application process] is too stressful,” Homer said. “The process isn’t nearly as bad as what you hear.”

He is looking forward to doing more theater in college.

The Brain: Winter break could not have come at a better time for Austin* ’16.

After being deferred from Harvard and accepted to the University of Michigan, Austin was able to weigh his options and plan his next steps.

“I’m definitely happy to be into Michigan,” Austin said.

“They have a really strong engineering school and a really strong art school, and it’s just a really unique and strong community, so I’d definitely be happy to go there.”

However, Austin wanted more options when it came to college, so during the break, he spent about two hours every day working on college applications.

“I applied to around 18 or 19 schools, which is a lot,” Austin said. “I actually didn’t realize how it was until I actually had to get the apps done.

And while it is kind of a waste of time and money, there were so many things I liked about each of the schools that I have on my list.”

The Artist: Because Homer* ’16 didn’t send in any early applications, he spent much of his winter break working on his college applications, which totaled ten.

Because Homer doesn’t really mind what size school he goes to, he has applied to schools ranging from smaller liberal arts schools to some bigger Ivy Leagues.

“All of [the schools], with the exception of William and Mary, are kind of liberal arts schools, which is what I’m interested in,” Homer said.

“That, to me, is the best mix of all the subjects I’m interested in. I can do a lot of different stuff like science, history, the arts. Anything I want to do, I can do at these schools.”

Throughout the application process, Homer felt as if the process itself was not as stressful as he had expected it to be. He’s found it relatively easy to work on his applications while also focusing on play rehearsals and school work.

The Athlete: Willa* ’16 was accepted Early Decision to Emory University and plans to continue playing basketball there.

“Even though I was verbally committed to Emory, I was really, really nervous because it’s Division III and nothing was 100 percent sure even though I had the support of athletics,” Willa said. “When I got the e-mail, it was actually right after practice when I read it. I was really excited, and I was really happy that my teammates were around me.”

Division III athletics are never a guarantee because unlike Division I athletics, the colleges cannot offer athletics scholarships, so the decision is based on both academic and athletic merit.

“It makes me really happy obviously. Knowing that I have a place to go next year is really awesome,” Willa said. “It just makes playing my last season so much better and so relaxed, and I’m just really excited to finish it off with the end of my high school athletic career.”

JAN. 13, 2016

By EUGENIA KO AND KELLY RIOPELLE

HWCHRONICLE.COM/FEATURES

Calling Her Out

the issue of catcalling include beliefs that catcallers intend to compliment women or that alancing in the gutter of what women wear provokes Coldwater Canyon, Ve- catcalling behavior.

“A huge misconception in ronica Crow ’16 turned away from the truck full of our society is that catcalling men whistling at her and con- should be taken as a complitinued walking with her moth- ment, which makes women er. For all the times men have believe that it isn’t a problem, catcalled her, she has been when in reality, it very much taught it’s safest to ignore is,” Taylor Ingman ’16 said.

Ajmere agrees that misconthem. It’s happened to her less than 10 feet from school, ceptions undermine the belief at charity events and crowded that catcalling is an issue.

“Even if you had a boardwalks, around bikini on, it’s still not silent bystanders, in okay,” Ajmere said. jean shorts and full“And that’s the probbody running gear. It’s lem that I have. And even happened to her I’ve heard guys say, during soccer practice, ‘Well, look at what from a father within she’s wearing.’ That earshot of his wife and doesn’t give you the children. ’ license to do anyApart from men Veronica thing.” who have politely told Crow ’16 Even though her “Have a nice day” many people view or “You’re very pretty,” Crow has been catcalled catcalling as a compliment, with demeaning whistles and Ajmere believes understandobscene comments about her ing the extent of the problem body more times than she can is simple.

“It’s a problem because it recall.

Eighty-seven percent of really violates how a girl feels,” women will have been cat- Ajmere said. “Girls feel objecticalled by age 17 and 13 per- fied. That’s the biggest thing. It cent by the age of 10, accord- makes them feel like an object. ing to research done by Cornell The main thing is the objectifiUniversity and anti-harass- cation of women, bottom line.”

She also believes that catment group iHollaback. In a Chronicle poll of 408 students, calling can become a safety is45 percent said they have ex- sue very quickly.

“There are so many times perienced catcalling ranging from whistling and honking to when I wanted to turn around and say something equally vulsexual comments. “[Being catcalled] feels like gar, and I hadn’t because you a violation,” school psycholo- don’t know what someone else gist Kavita Ajmere said. “You is capable of,” Ajmere said. “I walk away feeling like you grew up in Chicago, and I lived have to take a shower, versus in Chicago, and I never dared ‘that made my day.’ That’s a to turn around and say somebig difference, and I would say thing to somebody because it that depending on the nature always felt like, ‘Well, what if of the catcalling, it borders on they had a weapon on them or they lunged at you?’ ” harassment.”

Fear of possible violence or Though almost half of polled students have been catcalled, harassment leaves many girls 48 percent think catcalling is feeling helpless and embarnot a serious problem. Com- rassed when catcalled, unsure mon arguments for belittling of how to react.

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“It makes me want to curl Both Ajmere and Sohni up into a ball, and I feel like I’m Kaur ’17 agree that cultural always looking over my shoul- messages, whether from famder,” Crow said. “It makes me ily or mainstream media, add mad that men have this much to the idea that catcalling is power through catcalling, but acceptable.

I can’t help it. It makes me feel “I remember a boy whistled pathetic.” at me in fifth grade, and clearly Many girls have also found it wasn’t some sexually motithemselves in dangerous cat- vated action, but rather somecalling situations that extend- thing he’d maybe seen someed beyond comments or whis- one he knew do in a movie or tles. One man followed Crow something,” Kaur said. “I just and her friend around Venice think that behavior like that Beach, repeatedly asking them is ingrained today, whether in for personal information like the media or behavior that we their Instagram accounts. Two find acceptable.” men in a car followed Lucy YetHarry Garvey ’18, who has man-Michaelson ’17 and Mag- witnessed catcalling, said he gie McCarthy ’17 as they were doesn’t understand catcalling walking home late at night, behavior. pursuing them even after the “You’d think that people girls tried to walk away. are above catcalling, and then “They slowed down and you’re appalled when you acsaid, ‘Hey, tually see it you girls 18 happen,” Garyet?’ and they vey said.

There is nothing continued to Even though empowering as a drive and folHarvard-Westlow us as we female to get catcalled. lake and its surwalked away,” roundings are You’re left feeling Yetman-Minot immune to helpless. You don’t treat the catcalling so chaelson said.

“It was dark many students women like that. out and very face, Ajmere —Kavita Ajmere said there is scary.”

Ajmere beSchool psychologist safety in being lieves the monear the school. tive behind Part-time catcalling is “absolutely pow- security officer and LAPD deer.” tective David Hayden said stu“There is nothing empow- dents can call the non-emerering as a female to get cat- gency police line if a catcalling called,” Ajmere said. “You’re situation gets out of hand left feeling helpless. That’s the off-campus. hard part. I think a lot of men Ajmere said it will take a lot know that, and that’s the pow- of effort to change how society er piece.” views catcalling. However, it She also believes cultural is an effort everyone needs to and societal factors play a role participate in, especially men, in the widespread nature of she said. catcalling.

“It takes a lot of men and “There are still a lot of boys women to say ‘that’s not okay,’ ” who grow up to be men who Ajmere said. “I think it’s great feel like [catcalling] is part of when women say that, but it’s being a man,” Ajmere said. really wonderful when men “They somehow feel like that’s stick up for women. You don’t in the man code. It’s not in the treat women like that. You man code. That’s not a part of don’t treat guys like that. You being a boy.” don’t treat people like that.”

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C8 Features

The Chronicle

Jan. 13, 2016

GRAPHICS BY SABRINA DE BRITO ILLUSTRATION BY ALENA RUBIN

Make a Note of It

Listening to classical composers such as Mozart and Brahms at low volumes while doing homework can help reduce anxiety and yield more efficient studying.

By Teresa Suh

students because the rhythm and tonal patterns in the piecEvery day Max Robertson es generate meditative moods ’17 goes home and turns on and slower brainwaves.

Connor Engel ’17 has tried some smooth jazz as he pulls out his homework assigned to listen to music genres other that day. After a stressful day than classical while studying.

Robertson looks forward to He said that they inhibited him listening to music that calms from studying efficiently behim down and lets him enjoy cause he starts to take notice working on homework and of the music, which detracts his attention from his work. studying just a little bit more. “[Other genres are] thor“When I do homework, I really only listen to jazz because oughly distracting. I just either if I listen to anything else, I need complete silence, or I can can’t focus,” Max Robertson situate myself to background ’17 said. “[Jazz] doesn’t have noise like if it’s white noise, or any words, and it’s just kind of people talking or something like soothing music, so it lets your brain is generally used you focus on what you’re doing to hearing,” Engel said. “If and not hear anything around it’s music, I have to focus on that, and it distracts you.” things. Do you ever The University imagine things while of Southern Califorlistening to music? nia’s research team It clouds out what in France discovered you’re actually supthat students who posed to focus on.” listened to a lecture Engel’s claims are with classical music supported by profesin the background sionals. proved to be more at“Even the simtentive. ’ plest forms of multiAt the University Max tasking can lead to of Toronto, a team of Robertson ’17 glitches in the moresearchers proved that Brahms, Handel, Mo- ment-to-moment processing of zart, Strauss and Bach lulled information known as working nathanson s

Of the 363 poll responders:

memory … taking a toll on our attention,” Adam Gazzaley, an associate professor of neuroscience at the University of California, San Francisco, said in “The Proceedings of International Conference on Cloud Computing and eGovernance,” published in 2014.

Conversely, University of California at Irvine psychologist Frances H. Rauscher claims that music does not always have a negative effect on productivity and that music will only enhance a student’s productiveness when listened to passively. But he does agree that if a student listens actively to music, his or her focus shifts from the work to the song.

A study conducted at the University of San Diego and published in the British Journal of Health Psychology in 2004 showed that students who listened to louder, more booming music had an increased heart rate and increased susceptibility to anxiety and inefficient concentration.

The Silent Study is provided for students to work in a room free from outside conversations and excessive noise.

60% listen to music while studying

However, at Harvard-Westlake, students say that excessive silence can also become a distraction. What seems like an ideal place to study can actually make it difficult for students to focus if they become focused on the absence of any sound.

“I sometimes can’t concentrate because I get too weirded out by the silence [of the Silent Study], and I have to keep rereading things and doing things to understand things,” Robertson ’17 said. “Music keeps me on track.”

Research from Stanford University School of Medicine, has shown that silence can actually stimulate brain activity rather than decrease it. In other findings, the brain displayed the most activity during the silence in the transition between two classical pieces. The peak of brain activity happened to be during the time where relatively no sound was made.

Some types of music may be more condusive to focused studying than others.

Ethan Blaser ’17 listened to jazz for all of his sophomore year and stopped when he began junior year.

“I used to listen to mu-

47% think listening to music helps them concentrate better

sic because it kind of keeps you motivated,” Blaser said.

“Sometimes silence is distracting for people. When you have too much going on, even though you’re not focusing on [the music], your brain is still thinking about it whether you like it or not.”

Dr. Charles Limb, a professor of otolaryngology at John Hopkins University, found that jazz acts as a brain simulator because it mimics the improvisational style of jazz with pulsating rhythms and swinging melodies.

It is better to listen to familiar music that does not fluctuate in rhythm or melody and does not include sudden crescendos or decrescendos.

Monotone music can also enhance a student’s ability to study if it is played at a low volume, making it easier to listen to music passively and concentrate on the task at hand.

“Whether you like it or not, when your listening to music, your brain is putting attention to it,” Blaser said. “My efficiency [while studying] has gotten better, and the time it takes to do homework has definitely reduced.”

23% of those who listen to music while studying listen to classical music

MUSIC NOTES AND CLEFS CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSED

Sports The Chronicle • Jan. 13, 2016

Girls’ Basketball

Girls’ Soccer

Team falls at Texas showcase

By Carina Marx and Emily Rahhal

PAVAN TAL/CHRONICLE

REACHING IN: Guard Sydney Tsutsui ’17 dribbles by an Indians defender during a game against Hart High School on Jan. 8. The Wolverines won the game 68-24. The team’s overall record thus far is 13-4, and the Wolverines are currently undefeated in Mission League play.

Girls’ squad starts season strong in league play

By Dario Madyoon and Rian Ratnavale After winning its league opener against Notre Dame Academy in blowout fashion by a score of 72-40, the girls’ basketball team yet again has the momentum it needs to make a championship run in CIF-SS Playoffs this year.

The team has an overall record of 13-4 and is 1-0 in league play. It is led by captains Lindsey Tse ’16 and Jordan Brown ’16. Another large factor in the team’s success so far has been the January Student Athlete Advisory Council Athlete of the Month Jayla Ruffus-Milner ’18, who has been averaging a teamhigh 13.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

However, despite the team’s strong start, Head Coach Melissa Hearlihy still experiments with different starting lineups depending on its opponent.

“Our rotations and lineups aren’t set, and the kids understand that,” Hearlihy said. “It’s going to be about matchups and practice performance. That’s what makes our team great, the kids understand that.”

The Wolverines have been playing well all season, but have now seemed to finally hit their stride and are playing their best basketball, with the team approaching more important mission league rivalry games.

“Overall, I’m proud of how far we have come this year,” Sydney Tsutsui ’17 said. “We started the year with a few great wins over

Chaminade and Oaks Christian who had beat us last year. Farther into season, we have seen some great competition and always put up a fight till the very end. It’s a different atmosphere compared to last year.”

Perhaps the biggest key to the Wolverines’ success this year has been the chemistry developed from playing with each other very early on in the year.

“The biggest factor to whatever success we’ve had would probably be thanks to the chemistry we’ve built throughout the summer, fall and the beginning of season,” Tse said. “Basketball is a huge time commitment, so over the months we’ve probably seen each other almost every day, allowing us to build such a

strong bond.”

The team recently returned from the Sandra Meadows Classic in Texas, where they finished 3-2 overall in the tournament and gained valuable experience playing against skilled teams.

“Traveling in itself is a great experience for a team to have, living together really emphasized our already present family atmosphere,” Tsutsui said. “On the court, we faced great competition that we wouldn’t have seen in California. The game in Texas has longer half court possessions and the referees are very sparing when it comes to fouls, so we have to be more aggressive, which is definitely something we took back to California.”

Coming off of a championship win at the OC Winter Showcase, the girls’ varsity soccer team struggled in the National Elite Prep Showcase in Texas from Jan. 7 to Jan. 9. The squad lost against Hebron, Byron Nelson High School and Coppell and tied Boyd High School.

“The Texas teams were more competitive than most of the Southern California teams,” goalie Lindsay Avant ’17 said.

“We were playing out of our comfort zone and learning to deal with adversity. We also played some of our games really early in the morning, and the temperature was much colder.”

The team, ranked #69 in the nation by MaxPreps, has an overall record of 8-4-2, but they still hold a 1-0 mark in league.

Although the team can’t improve on last season’s overall record of 15-3-2, the Wolverines can still surpass their 2015 CIF-SS postseason result, where they reached the round of 16. The showcase in Texas forced the squad to play at a higher level, preparing them for the Mission League season.

“Although on paper it looks as if the results in the National Elite Tournament were worse than expected, I think our team really came together in Texas,” defensive and midfield player Bridget Stokdyk ’18 said.

The squad is working to improve its concentration and scoring skills after the National Elite Prep Showcase.

“Though we have a strong defensive game, the team will need to improve on pushing forwards towards the goal,” forward Paige Howard ’17 said.

“We’re great at keeping possession but we need to keep

looking for ways to get behind the other team’s defense to • Continued on page D3

Boys’ Basketball

Boys drop first 2 Mission League games

By Bennett Gross

CAMERON STINE/CHRONICLE

NOT IN VAIN: Carter Begel ’17 drives the ball past Crespi forward De’Anthony Melton ’16. The team lost 77-75 in overtime.

Guided by returning stars Wolfgang Novogratz ’16 and Ali Iken ’17, along with newcomer Cassius Stanley ’19, the varsity boys’ basketball team has exceeded last year’s tournament success in David Rebibo’s first season as Head Coach.

The squad has an overall record of 12-4 and has started 0-2 in Mission League play.

Facing the loss of Alex Copeland ’15, who is currently playing basketball at Yale University, the Wolverines have a more balanced attack this season, with Novogratz, who has averaged 15.5 points in league play, and Stanley, who has averaged 19 points in the Mission League.

Stanley and Iken were named to the All-Tournament team at the Joe Fraiser Calabasas Tournament, where the team fin-

ished as runners-up, losing in the finals to Viewpoint 73-55.

Novogratz was the most valuable player in the El Segundo Tournament. The Wolverines were champions of that event, with pool play victories over El Segundo, Pacific Hills, Mira Costa and a 73-47 win against La Salle in the finals.

Both Stanley and Novogratz were selected to be members of the MaxPreps Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team in the Gatorade Division. HarvardWestlake went undefeated in pool play, including a 57-55 win over Saguaro (AZ). However, St. John Bosco defeated the Wolverines in the championship 57-50.

Along with the dominance of Stanley, Iken and Novogratz, returning varsity players Carter Begel ’17, Aaron Glazer ’17 and Ray Mueller ’17 have all been crucial to the team’s success thus far.

Begel, who started for the team last season, quit football to focus on his basketball career, and it appears that the decision may be paying off for the guard. He is averaging 8.5 points in Mission League play, including a 15-point performance against Crespi on Jan. 6.

Glazer and Mueller have shared playing time down low as the Wolverines’ primary big men. They do not have high point totals, but their presence in the paint and rebounding have contributed greatly to the team’s record so far, Glazer said.

For a second consecutive season, the team is facing a significant size disadvantage, with no players listed above six foot five.

“We have to come together and do what we know we are capable of doing,” Glazer said. “We • Continued on page D2

D2 SPORTS

Game to watch

THE CHRONICLE Boys' Basketball

Team shows promise in early league defeats

JANUARY 18 Boys' Basketball vs.

Loyola Taper Gymnasium The team looks to avenge its two league losses early in the season with a win against Loyola on Jan. 18.

A win against Loyola would be especially meaningful since the team lost in both of its meetings last year, and Loyola is one of the school's long time arch rivals.

• Continued from page D1

KEY PLAYER Wolfgang Novogratz '16 With his gritty defense and crafty offense in the lane, Novogratz ’16 should help lead the team to a great season. As always, he has the capacity for breakout games, as evidenced by his stellar performance in recent games. Not only is he a great player himself, but he should be able to shine as a leader of the team.

& Figures Facts

1.9

Number of goals scored per game by girls' soccer

7

CAMERON STINE/CHRONICLE

SILKY SMOOTH: Wolfgang Novogratz ’16 puts up a floater in a 77-75 overtime loss at home against the Crespi Celts on Jan. 6.

have to come together and do what we know we are capable of doing," Glazer said. "We have shown a lot of resilience, and down the stretch, we have kind of strayed away from playing as a team. If we change that, I think that we can do some great things.”

After tournament play, the Wolverines played in the New Year’s Ball Showcase against the Max Heidegger ’16 led Oaks Christian Lions. The Wolverines won the game 80-67 behind 25 points from Stanley.

Entering Mission League play, the Wolverines’ record sat at 12-2. However, in the league opener, Harvard-Westlake hosted Crespi, the 10th best team in the state and the defending Division IV State Champions.

Rebibo was formerly an assistant under Crespi Head Coach Russell White. Also, this was the first high school matchup between McDonald’s All-American Game Nominee De’Anthony Melton ’16 and one of the top freshmen in the nation, Cassius Stanley ’19.

Crespi ended up defeating the Wolverines 77-75 with a Brandon Williams ’18 onehanded flailing 16-footer as time expired in overtime.

In the Wolverines' next Mission League matchup, Harvard-Westlake played their first true road game at Notre Dame. Led by Chibueze Jacobs ’16, who scored 33 total points, including 18 in the first quarter, the Knights defeated the Wolverines 65-63 and gave Harvard-Westlake their second consecutive league loss.

“We have to value our possessions more and pick up the intensity defensively,” Rebibo said. “On offense we have to find the open man and box out on rebounds. We missed a lot of free throws and a few layups, which would have been crucial down the stretch.”

So far, the team has a point differential of +212, which is second best in the Mission League, only behind Crespi whose point differential is +261.

“We have played two incredibly tight games in league, both coming down to just two points,” Iken said. “I think that we just need to come together as a team and use each other to maximize our talent.”

The Wolverines, who are currently ranked 47th in the state according to MaxPreps, will continue their league slate with a home game against Alemany on Wednesday at 7 p.m., followed by a game at St. Francis on Friday at 7 p.m.

Boys' Soccer

Goals scored by boys' soccer this season

64

The average points per game scored by boys' basketball

8

JAN. 13, 2016

Girls' basketball state ranking

JAKE LIKER/CHRONICLE

Junior Varsity Boys’ Basketball Next Game: Jan. 15 @ St. Francis

Girls’ Basketball Next Game:

Jan. 16 @ El Camino

Boys’ Soccer Next Match: Jan. 15 @ Harvard-Westlake

Girls’ Soccer Next Match:

Jan. 15 @ Harvard-Westlake

Wrestling Next Match: Jan. 16 @ Anaheim High

CAMERON STINE/CHRONICLE

MAN DOWN: Theo Velaise ’17 and Ethan Blaser ’17 (left) attend to Max Rolnick ’16 after he sustained an injury on a play in a 1-1 draw against Notre Dame on Jan. 8. Brendan Sanderson ’16 (right) dribbles in a 2-0 loss against Palisades High School on Dec. 4

Squad off to slow start in league play

By JAKE LIKER AND CONNOR REESE

Following a defeat in its first league game against Crespi, the boys’ soccer team brought its league record to 0-1-1 with a tie against Notre Dame Jan. 8.

The game against Crespi was scheduled as the league home-opener.

However, the game was moved to Crespi because the lights for the field were not able to properly illuminate the field due to a power outage.

“I would say [the change to Crespi affected us] the slightest bit,” goalkeeper Michael Gaven ’18 said. “Even with the situation, we went out and fought harder and with more intensity than I’ve ever seen the team before."

Gaven thought the team was playing well, but would be able to have more positive results if the team shot more.

“We have to shoot a lot more, and if we [do], we’ll get a lot more on target,” Gaven said.

Head of Program and Varsity Head Coach Lucas Bongarra thought the change of location only affected the team’s play slightly.

“We started with such a big change, and suddenly you’re playing at a different game with different weather conditions,” Bongarra said. “I honestly don’t think that was why we didn’t win the game. I don’t like to put excuses. The boys played really well and really hard.”

Bongarra was proud of how the team played in their first

league game despite the tough conditions and circumstances.

“We need to finish because my analysis of the game was that we controlled the game in the first half and defensively we controlled it so much until we got the red card,” Bongarra said. “Down to 10 men, we still managed to keep the game competitive, and we came back and tied the game. We ran out of legs. We told the boys that we’re very proud of the way they played.”

The biggest strength of the team heading into the second game was how compact and organized the team played and how aggressive they were, Bongarra said.

Heading into the second half of a hard-fought game against Notre Dame, Bongarra felt a tactical change would

not have helped the team.

“In the big scheme of things, we are trying to maintain the same style of play,” Bongarra said. “Tactically, the formation hasn't changed. We [are] still playing 4-2-3-1. What is happening is that we need to change as a team and protect some players that do not have enough experience.

Make new partnerships like we had last year. We need to have the chemistry kick in. We are close, and we see the team very motivated and unified. It’s a good start.”

Junior centerback Ethan Blaser ’17 is optimistic about the team’s chances to be successful this season.

“We've got a great group of guys, [and] we have a good mixture of youth and experience,” Blaser said.

Jan. 13, 2016

hwchronicle.com/sports

Sports D3

inbrief

Wrestling

Squad comes together for holiday giving Following its unexpected run to the second round of the CIF-SS playoffs, the football team took part in the annual Holidays for the Heart event on Dec. 6 for the fourth consecutive year.

The varsity, eighth and seventh grade teams gathered in Chalmers for seven hours to wrap presents that players on the team bought beforehand.

Afterwards, the squad delivered the presents to several families in need. Some of the items they delivered were toiletries and toys.

—Elly Choi

Lacrosse holds annual alumni game CAMERON STINE/CHRONICLE

DOWN AND DIRTY: Calvin Kaleel ’18 stares down his opponent from Alemany on Jan. 7. The two met in a duel, which the Wolverines lost 68-5, in large part due to the squad’s lack of players. Patrick Cartmill is the Wolverines’ new head coach.

Squad dominates individual matches

By Joe Levin and Cameron Stine

In case there was any need for a reminder, the Wolverine wrestling team is proving that a win-loss record is only part of the story. They squad has yet to win a duel, dropping one to Chaminade 60-15 and another to Alemany 68-5.

What those scores don’t reflect is the fact that the Wolverines have only nine players, not all of whom are healthy for every match, while other schools have around 20 wrestlers. Any weight class in which the Wolverines can’t produce a competitor has to be forfeited to the opposing team.

Since winning duels is out of the question, the wrestling team can’t focus on the win column either.

“We just have to win every match,” Russell Davis ’17, who has been sidelined for a few weeks with an ear infection.

“We don’t have enough guys

to win a duel, but we can win and Dec. 30 and took fifth place in his weight class at the every match.”

For young players, the du- West Coast Classic Tournaels and tournaments provide ment. He reached the quarterthem with invaluable practice finals in the Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 Asics Challenge Tournament, against true competitors. but not the fi“It’s really nals, which not all about was a disapthe wins, esWe just have to pointment for pecially for the win every match. We a wrestler like younger guys,” Ryan Ruiz ’16 don’t have enough guys Ruiz.

“I was able said of the to win a duel but we can to take a lot Asics Chalaway from [the lenge Tournawin every match.”

Asics Challenge ment.

“They —Russell Davis ’17 Tournament], fought very hard, and my Junior Wrestler and there is a lot I now know I coaches and need to improve I saw potential in all of them and found on as we move closer to CIF,” things that each of them can Ruiz said.

According to Ruiz, the work on.”

Ruiz, the team captain, highlight of his season was provides vital leadership to the his second place finish at the squad. The Student Athlete Shark Tank tournament.

“I was seeded eighth, so to Advisory Council’s December Athlete of the Month, Ruiz prove to the coaches that did made the finals in the Shark the seeding that they underesTank Tournament on Dec. 29 timated me was a pretty great

“

feeling,” Ruiz says.

For other team members, Ruiz is an instrumental leader as the only senior on the team.

“Ryan’s putting together a really great season, and his influence on the room has always been positive,” Davis said. “He just keeps us motivated.”

First-year head coach Patrick Cartmill has his squad practicing together as a team.

His coaching style is different from former head coach Gary Bairos, whose practices were more individualized.

“I think the only way to describe it is different,” Ruiz says. “It was weird at first as I’d been wrestling with my previous coach for four, almost five years, but Coach Cartmill has definitely stepped up and done an amazing job taking over the the program.”

While their record says they’re winless, the Wolverines aren’t lacking in confidence.

As Davis tells it, “We’ve been

Girls’ Soccer

the other team’s defense to be more successful,” Howard said.

Throughout the season, the team has been able to improve its passing skills to make the overall play more efficient and speed to make the game flow better.

The Wolverines are able to make quicker and better decisions on the field as they become closer as a team, but even better and even stronger bonds could help the team step up their game as the season goes on, Stokdyk said.

“Since the beginning of the season, our team has really been trying to work on our camaraderie,” Stokdyk said.

“Even though we lost a bunch of starting seniors last year, there have been some new fresh additions to the team,

making it our goal to incorporate and guide them to be a part of this season’s success.”

They did, however, beat Oaks Christian, who are not league rivals, but are still the team they reserve the most ill feelings for, according to Howard.

Last year, the Wolverines lost a close game to the Lions 1-0, and this year they made that up by winning a 1-0 thrill-

“

er, with a goal scored by Whitney Elson ’19.

The squad goes against Chaminade Feb. 3.They will be fighting to defend both of their 3-0 wins against the Eagles.

“I’m looking forward to the Chaminade home game a lot, because it’s always been a battle between us, and we always get a crowd for the game at home, so it’s a fun atmosphere,” Howard said.

Although on paper it looks as if the results in the National Elite Tournament were worse than expected, I think our team really came together in Texas.”

—Bridget Stokdyk ’18 Defensive Midfielder

CARINA MARX/CHRONICLE

nathanson’s

Boys’ soccer holds first alumni game The boys’ varsity soccer team took part in the program’s annual alumni game Jan. 2.

Former players played against members of the current team in a friendly match on Ted Slavin Field. At the end of regulation, the match was tied 4-4. They went straight to penalty kicks and the varsity soccer team won with help of goalkeeper Michael Gaven ’18, who saved three of the four penalties and scored one penalty kick of his own.

—Sam McCabe

Erik Swoope ’10 makes Colts’ active roster

Squad continues league success

• Continued from page D1

The current students beat the alumni in the lacrosse program’s first-ever alumni game Dec. 23. Twenty alumni and 25 current students took part in the contest, which lacrosse program head Erik Krum said was a stronger showing than expected.

Although the alumni, led by Luke Holthouse ’13 and Conor O’Brien ’10, had the lead for much of the game, the current students came from behind and propelled themselves to a 9-8 victory.

“It was a friendly yet competitive game that I felt was a great experience, so I am excited for the one next year,” varsity player Jared Goldman ’18 said.

—Eli Adler

BALL UP: Annabelle Heisel ’19 dribbles against Newbury Park. So far, the team is 13-4.

Former basketball player Erik Swoope ’10 remains on the Indianapolis Colts’ roster after the 2015 NFL season.

Swoope played basketball for four years at the University of Miami after playing at Harvard-Westlake.

He never played a snap of football.

After going undrafted in last year’s NFL Draft, Swoope was on and off the Colts’ roster, bouncing around the practice squad and waivers.

However, on Dec. 30 the Colts promoted the tight end from the practice squad onto the active roster due to the injury of starter Dwayne Allen.

Although he did not make a reception, Swoope suited up for the last week of the NFL’s regular season. He will enter training camp on their roster.

—Oliver Akhtarzad

the chronicle

D4 SportS

Jan. 1

2015 Rewind Girls' soccer has 10-game win streak Uploaded in January

COLE JACOBSON/CHRONICLE

Last season, the varsity girls’ soccer team dominated Mission League play with a win-streak from Jan. 7 to Feb. 14, which included both league and tournament games. The Wolverines' league score was an unblemished 8-0. Over the eight league games, the squad scored 30 goals and was only scored on two times. No opposing team was able to score half the number of overall goals of Harvard-Westlake. By the time the season was over, the team was ranked 11th in the state by MaxPreps.

Girls' water polo wins 19th straight title Uploaded in February

CAITLIN NEAPOLE/CHRONICLE

Girls’ water polo won the Mission League for the 19th year in a row. The team finished with an 8-0 Mission League record in 2015, were league champions over rival Notre Dame and was ranked ninth in the Division III CIF Southern Section. The girls won their matches against Marlborough, Marymount, Louisville, Alemany and Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy by at least 10 goals each game during the 2015 season. The squad also was able to continue its 85-game league win streak.

Rebibo takes over basketball program Uploaded in March

CARINA MARX/CHRONICLE

David Rebibo was announced as former Boys' Basketball Head Coach Greg Hilliard's successor, who retired at the end of last season after coaching the team for 30 years. Rebibo was an assistant coach for two years at the University of San Francisco.

Prior to coaching at USF, he was the head coach at his alma mater, El Camino Real High School, for six seasons. So far in Rebibo’s first season at the helm of the boys’ basketball program, the team is 12-4 overall.

Thompson '16 sets scoring record Uploaded in April

COLE JACOBSON/CHRONICLE

Midfielder Philip Thompson ’16 set the varsity single-game scoring record against Chaminade with ten goals, leading the team to a 26-6 victory over the Eagles. Finishing the season with 49 goals and 23 assists, Thompson was also chosen as a U.S. Lacrosse High School All-American for 2015. The varsity team ended at 5-3 in Mission League play. Harvard-Westlake fell to the Westlake Warriors 16-11 in CIF playoffs, its second straight elimination in the divisional quarterfinals.

Baseball upset in CIF playoffs Uploaded in May

BENNETT GROSS/CHRONICLE

The baseball team was shut out by El Dorado in the second round of the CIF playoffs May 26. The 3-0 defeat ended the Wolverines season with a record of 24-6, with only one loss outside of Mission League play. Pitcher Cameron Deere ’16 was named Mission League Pitcher of the Year, and second baseman Chase Aldridge ’15, who now plays baseball at Harvard, was named first-team All-League. The Wolverines were the last Mission League team to be eliminated from playoff contention.

13, 2016

hwchronicle.com/sports

Sports D5

Here are the big headlines for Harvard-Westlake athletics in 2015.

Included are the highs and lows for various Wolverine teams and players in a year that had win-streaks, records and CIF appearances.

Corrin '16, Florent '15 make Team USA Uploaded in July

COLE JACOBSON/CHRONICLE

Courtney Corrin ’16 was named an All-American in June. Along with high jumper Alexandria Florent ’15, she qualified to represent Team USA at the Pan-American Junior Games in Edmonton after her 21-foot, 6.25 inch long jump at the USA Track and Field Junior National Championships. Although she jumped a couple feet short of her personal record at the Pan-Am games, she still placed second in the Junior Athletics Championships with a jump of 20 feet, 1.3 inches.

Cohen '16 reinjured in season opener Uploaded in September

BENNETT GROSS/CHRONICLE

Starting quarterback Marshal Cohen ’16 tore his ACL (announced in September) in the season opener against Loyola, which kept him sidelined for the remainder of his senior season.

He spent it assisting the coaching staff and players at practice.

It was his second ACL injury in three years, having torn his ACL and meniscus against St. Paul as a sophomore. The 2013 injury prevented him from playing for the remainder of his sophomore season and limited his production during his junior year.

Football wins with a Hail Mary Uploaded in October

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF COLLEGELEVELATHLETES.COM

Quarterback Noah Rothman ’16 connected with receiver Alex Barnum ’16 on a last-second Hail Mary pass to win the game on Oct. 16, bringing the Wolverines to 2-0 in the Angelus League.

The pass was tipped by two St. Francis defenders before landing in the arms of Barnum, capping off an improbable comeback win from 14 points down. The win brought the Wolverines to 2-0 in Angelus League play, and they went on to finish the season as co-champions. A week earlier, they overcame a 21-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat St. Paul 28-21.

Boys' cross country wins CIF title Uploaded in November

AUDREY WILSON/CHRONICLE

The boys’ cross country team was Division IV CIF-SS champions and went to California State Finals in Fresno on Nov. 28. After their loss last season at state qualifiers, the Wolverines looked forward to the 2015 season where they went on to place second in all Mission League clusters, including the Mission League finals, and first at the Mt. Sac Invitational. The girls’ team also qualified for CIF, placing 12th out of the 16 teams at the finals.

Stanley '19 makes Taper Gym debut Uploaded in December

CAMERON STINE/CHRONICLE

Cassius Stanley '19, who is touted as one of the top high school basketball players in the nation, made his home debut Dec. 4 against Heritage Christian. His 19 points, including severaldunks, electrified Taper Gym and helped propel the Wolverines to a 76-59 victory in what was also Head Coach David Rebibo’s first home game. Stanley, who has already garnered offers from Santa Clara, University of Southern California and UCLA, is averaging 19 points, seven rebounds, and four assists per game.

D6 Sports

The Chronicle

Jan. 13, 2016

Alums win collegiate awards

By Jake Liker

Two former Wolverines now playing Division I college basketball, Zena Edosomwan ’12 and Derick Newton ’14, won conference player of the week awards.

Edosomwan, a junior center at Harvard, won Ivy League Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 21 for his record-setting performance at the 2015 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

Edosomwan led the Crimson to the championship game of the eight-team invitational, averaging 20.3 points and 13.0 rebounds per game.

The big man set a pair of tournament records in the seventh iteration of the Diamond Head Classic – most rebounds in a single game with 17 in the team’s 85-82 overtime win over BYU, and most total rebounds in one tournament with 39 of them.

“I knew how important it was for our team to compete at a high level on Hawaii, so I had to step up,” Edosomwan said in an email. “Our team looks to play through me, and I don’t want to let them down.”

After the victory over BYU, the Crimson advanced to the semifinal, in which they dispatched Auburn 69-51 to

move on to the championship game, where they faced Oklahoma, who was ranked third in the country by the AP at the time.

Edosomwan rose to the occasion, scoring a career high 25 points and grabbing 16 boards in the 83-71 loss.

“I have a lot of confidence in my game because I put in a lot of work on my game,” Edosomwan said. “I enjoy big games and big moments as well as the not-as-hyped-up games.”

As of press time, Edosomwan is averaging a double double, leading Harvard in points per game (13.7) and rebounds per game (10.5).

Newton, a freshman forward at Stetson University, was crowned Atlantic Sun Basketball Co-Newcomer of the Week for the week of Nov. 23, sharing the award with Deion Holmes of South Carolina Upstate.

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Newton led the Hatters to their first two victories of the season, putting up 20 points and 10 rebounds against Division II Fort Valley State and tallying 22 points and 11 rebounds against BethuneCookman.

“It meant a lot,” Newton said in an email. “It meant that all the hard work that I did in the preseason was paying off. But at the end of the day I still felt like I had something to prove, and I still do.”

For Newton, the wins affirmed the idea that despite starting the season with three straight losses, the Hatters still had what it took to win.

“With the first two wins, they felt great because I was sick of losing, and it showed me and my team that we could be really good if we do everything right,” Newton said.

As of press time, Newton is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 15.1 points per game.

I have a lot of confidence in my game because I put a lot of work in my game. I enjoy big moments as well as not-as hyped up games.”

—Zena Edosomwan ’12

Girls’ Water Polo

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nathanson’s

ON POINT: Derick Newton ’14 takes the ball up the court as a high school senior in 2014. He now plays at Stetson University.

Squad looks toward playoffs

By Bryant Wu and Juliana Berger

BENNETT GROSS/CHRONICLE

The girls’ water polo team is currently undefeated in league play. The squad is 2-0 in league play and 6-3 overall.

The team has the added pressure this season of maintaining their streak of 19 consecutive league titles.

“I think that each week we are getting better, which is really good,” Caitlin Neapole ’16 said. “We focus a lot on one specific aspect of the game each week, and by carrying that over to scrimmages and games, I really think it’s helping us improve.”

Before league play, the team had a very strong start, defeating Oaks Christian 14-6.

During the annual Mistletoe Classic hosted by Newbury Park High School, the team won three out of five matches. In this tournament, the Wolverines defeated Granada Hills, Pacifica and Ventura, losing 8-4 to Foothill Tech and

BRYANT WU/CHRONICLE

6-5 to Notre Dame.

“The main purpose of our regular season this year is to prepare us for the playoffs, specifically the Mission League Championship,” said Head of Aquatics Brian Flacks ’06.

“Our loss to Notre Dame in the Mistletoe Classic really gave us the motivation to do better this season.”

The team was able to defeat the Knights in its first league match.

“Leading up to our game against Notre Dame we spent a lot of time working on our defensive skills because we knew that they have a strong offense and we had to be prepared to defend them,” Neapole said.

“Currently we’re undefeated in league as we had hoped, and beat Notre Dame by one at home,” Daily Hartmeier ’16 said. “Previously this year in a tournament we lost to them by one, so I am very pleased.”

The team has greater depth this season, including veteran seniors such as Hartmeier,

Hanna Eliot ’16 and Neapole, while also having younger players such as Pria Pant ’18 and Taylor LaCour ’19.

Seniors have stepped up to take on a bigger leadership role during this season. “[Eliot] has been playing very important games since her freshman year, so she has more experience than any of the other girls on the team, and she’s helping the younger players develop,” Flacks said.

“She reminds the girls of the traditions of the program, and has provided them with a lot of wealth and experience to help them later on.”

Younger players are accepting a larger roles this season than in the past.

“Pant has been a huge aspect in our game plan,” Hartmeier said. “She has been getting more shooting opportunities [and] has been scoring a lot more for us. She’s really stepped up for how young she is and become a critical piece in our team.”

BRYANT WU/CHRONICLE

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT: Pria Pant ’18 (top) fights for a ball against a Notre Dame defender in the Wolverines’ 9-8 win over Notre Dame on Jan. 5. Helene Miles ’16 (left) looks to shoot on a Notre Dame goalkeeper. Daily Hartmeier ’16 (right) dives to save the ball against Notre Dame.

Jan. 13, 2016

hwchronicle.com/sports

Sports D7

Boys’ Water Polo

Hallock named 2015 LA Daily News Player of the Year

By Oliver Akhtarzad

remind the team of all their prior accomplishments, HalThe Daily News named cen- lock said.

He did not want them to ter Ben Hallock ’16 Player of the Year for the second year in focus on the negatives of the a row after he led the boys’ wa- season and wanted them to ter polo team to a 24-3 record realize that what they did was and its third straight CIF Final quite amazing.

In this past season, the appearance.

“Winning player of the whole varsity team together acyear for the second straight cumulated a total of 459 goals. year was simply amazing and Hallock recorded 97 of those was a feat I couldn’t have ac- goals, but assisted another 86, complished without my team- making him responsible for a mates over the past few years,” total of 183 goals.

Outside of school, Hallock Hallock said. “I’m so proud of the teams that I have been on has also participated in many international and have been games. In 2012 blessed to he helped his have an amazteam place secing coach like ond in the JuBrian Flacks Winning was nior Pan Ameri[’06] to help me simply amazing and can Games. In develop into a feat I couldn’t have 2015 he comthe player I am peted in the today.” accomplished without Volvo Cup and In the bemy teamates.” played in the ginning of the Senior National season, Hal—Ben Hallock ’16 Team’s games lock’s leaderagainst Austraship was key lia and Italy. in the squad’s Hallock scored four goals 13-game win-streak, but the team fell in its 14th game to for Team USA and helped the team place third at 2015 FINA Mater Dei on Oct. 14.

The Wolverines then went tournament. He now hopes to on to win all of their remain- be selected for the 2016 Olyming games except for two more pic Games.

“As far as my plans for the matchups against Mater Dei, once in league play and again future, I am training with the men’s senior national team in the CIF Finals.

The 9-8 loss to Mater Dei and am in the process to be in the finals was devastating selected for the 2016 Olympic for Hallock and the rest of the game in Rio,” Hallock said. “I’ll squad, but after the final buzz- also be playing water polo at er sounded, he did his best to Stanford in the fall.”

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CAITLIN NEAPOLE/CHRONICLE

CAITLIN NEAPOLE/CHRONICLE

AQUAMAN: Ben Hallock ’16 (above) prepares to shoot during the Wolverines’ 18-5 victory over Huntington Beach High School on Oct. 3. Hallock (below) warms up before the same non-league match.

D8 SPORTS

Q&A

THE CHRONICLE

JAN. 13, 2016

COURTNEY GAZMARIAN Girls’ Soccer

By ELI ADLER How and when did you start playing soccer?

I started playing soccer when I was five. I played [American Youth Soccer Association], and then from there, I just kept moving up from different clubs, and then I eventually found myself playing soccer here.

What has been the most memorable moment during your Wolverine career?

One of the most memorable moments was this year, when we finally won our first penalty kick shootout [over El Toro in the championship of the OC Winter Showcase]. It was a really big deal because since my freshman year we have never won a PK shootout. Even though the tournament was not very big, it was still pretty awesome. Winning the Mater Dei tournament two years in a row, my freshman year and my sophomore year, was also pretty memorable.

What is the practice schedule and training like?

In season, we have practice every day except for Sun. and sometimes Sat. For my club, I practice Tues. and Thurs., or Mon. and Wed., along with Sat. However, there is never conflict between the two because Harvard-Westlake, as high school soccer, has a different season from club soccer. When I’m playing for Harvard-Westlake, I’m on a break from the club, and viceversa.

How has the dynamic changed with the JV and Varsity teams being combined?

We’re only combined in the fact that we practice and lift together, so the teams themselves aren’t actually combined. However, I do think the dynamic has changed a lot. Before it was separated, varsity did its own thing and so did JV. Now, it’s a more inclusive program. The varsity players help make the JV players better, and the varsity players also get more practice.

Another advantage of the combined practices and lifting is that you get to make new friends with people that you wouldn’t have seen if it was still just varsity and JV separate. It’s the best of both worlds.

How do you prepare before every match? Is there music you listen to?

I listen to music and be quiet and to myself. I try to focus a lot on what I want to do during the game. I like pump-up music: I think listening to rap music before is great. I especially like J. Cole and Drake.

What’s on your mind when you’re on the field?

I want to win. I try to slow the game down so I can read the field better and see the options that I have. It helps me to envision the field being smaller than it actually is, as I feel it makes me play better.

What are you going to do differently this year?

Stats 69

Team’s National Rank (MaxPreps)

63

Career wins

3

I am trying to be more of a leader. Because I am one of the oldest on the team, I have a responsibility to take charge and take care of the younger players. I am responsible for helping them out if they don’t know what to do and acting a bit like a coach to them.

What do you want the soccer team to accomplish this year?

Obviously, winning league and even winning a championship is something I really want. Most of all, I hope that the younger players are able to grow in their skills and as part of the team, and that they become closer and establish really good relationships.

Career-high singlegame goals

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