March 2016 issue

CHRONICLE THE HARVARD-WESTLAKE

Los Angeles • Volume XXV • Issue VI • March 9, 2016 • hwchronicle.com

HWPA holds panel on diversity

By COLE FELDMAN

About 100 parents and administrators attended a panel on the types of diversity found at Harvard-Westlake March 3 at the Middle School. The event, organized by the Parents Association, was moderated by upper school dean Chris Jones. Interdisciplinary Studies Department Head Larry Klein, Director of Financial Aid Melanie Leon, Head of Athletics Terry Barnum and Jeff Valdez (Alex ’17, Max ’20) all spoke on the panel.

“I did enjoy very much participating and especially hearing the perspectives of the other panelists and the parents that attended,” Klein said. “This sort of open conversation about what we’ve accomplished and the manner in which we can expand our reach is important.”

The panelists spoke for a few hours about diversity in multiple areas, such as financial aid, gender, athletics and religion.

“I think it was one of the better conversations around diversity that I have heard because I felt that everyone in the room was taking the challenges seriously,” President Rick Commons said. “We were talking about the challenges of diversity and inclusion, but doing so in a way that was entirely constructive, optimistic and positive.”

A critical focus for the panel was to show how the school is promoting diversity, while acknowledging that there’s still plenty of room for growth and improvement, Jones said. “[The panel acted as] an opportunity to have a discussion about something deeply meaningful,” Jones said. “We had talking points we couldn’t get to, so it shows there’s sincere interest among a healthy number in our community.”

KELLY LOEB/CHRONICLE

LET’S GET ROWDY: The Harvard-Westlake section cheers for boys’ Varsity basketball led by Head Fanatics in a game against Notre Dame in the CIF playoffs Feb. 26. The Wolverines lost 56-54, taking them out of the running for the CIF championship.

Fanatics to equally promote both genders

By JONATHAN SEYMOUR The Head Fanatics are working to promote gender equality in sports and are also writing a mission statement.

These changes are the result of high tensions on the Fanatics’ Facebook page as members and supporters of girls’ sports teams pointed out the Head Fanatics’ lack of promotion for girls’ sports so far this year.

“We think that it was a great thing to hear everyone’s opinion on where the Fanatics can be better,” Head Fanatic Gabe Golob ’16 said. “There is no doubt that the Fanatics have improved this year from years past and in order to continue to improve, we have to make sure we support and promote all Wolverines.”

The tensions began Feb. 9 when students protested the fact that Fanatics were promoting the next day’s boys’ basketball and boys’ soccer

senior nights while not mentioning that the girls’ basketball team was in double overtime in a home league game and that girls’ water polo was playing its league semifinal the next day as well.

Following some back and forth between students over the inequity in promotion of boys’ and girls’ sports, the Head Fanatics stepped in and posted their response to the conflict, as well as changes they would make.

“As a way to help resolve the issues, I have decided to write a mission statement for the Fanatics and have had the idea approved by our athletic directors,” Golob said in his post. “When it is finished, it will be put in Taper above our student section and will serve as a reminder that we are not only here to support boys’ sports but girls’ sports, as well. I hope this post serves as a first step to calmly contin-

ue the discussion about equal representation and support for all sports.”

Since then, the Fanatics have made a noticeable effort to post equally about girls’ and boys’ sports.

“We are [also] working with the Athletic Department and would like to have the statement ready in the upcoming weeks,” Golob said.

However, the Fanatics still have work to do, as indicated by a March 16 Chronicle poll that shows 31 percent of students believe the Head Fanatics do a good job of equally representing both genders.

“I think they have been trying really hard honestly,” Taylor Ingman ’16 said. “After I posted a comment trying to quell the tension in the group, I got apologies texted to me from both [Head Fanatic] Nick [Richmond ’16] and [Golob], who both promised to be more mindful.”

More schools send ‘likely’ letters for academics

By JONATHAN SEYMOUR

A sizeable number of colleges and universities sent out “likely” or acceptance letters for academics rather than athletics more than a month before April 1, the expected date by which almost all colleges notify Regular Decision applicants of their decisions.

Though this isn’t the first year this has happened, more colleges than ever sent out acceptances much earlier than normal this year, the upper school deans said.

Increasing yield, which is the percentage of accepted students who enroll, is one possible reason behind the increase.

A higher yield can lead to colleges being ranked closer to the top of high-profile annual rankings lists published by Forbes and U.S. News & World Report.

The Wall Street Journal “Since these colleges are only sending [acceptances] to wrote about these so-called a very small number of appli- “wink” letters in its 2003 articants who are at the very top cle “Colleges Use ‘Wink’ Letters of their applicant pool, I think to Snare Top Students Early.”

“One of my they are doing previous stints it an effort to in college adyield kids who missions was they consider at a school, The idea was to their top applicants,” upper target kids early and get [Williams], in the mid-90s school dean the jump on recruiting that used an Beth Slattery ‘Early Write’ said. “Having a them, and as such, program for bit more time have a better chance at a very small to recruit those percentage of eventually yielding.” kids and offeradmits,” upper ing them spe—Chris Jones school dean cial opportunities may make Upper School Dean Chris Jones said. “The idea them more was to target likely to makids early who triculate.”

Though this practice seems we knew would be admitted to be more prominent this by April 1 and get the jump on year, there is evidence that it recruiting them, and as such, has been happening for many have a better chance at eventually yielding.” years on a smaller scale.

“

Deans predict more colleges will follow suit.

“If it’s starting now, I would imagine it will continue and may even spread,” upper school dean Adam Howard said. “Because if school A sees school B doing it, why wouldn’t they want to see how it plays out for them as well?”

This year, both public and private colleges at all tiers sent out early letters in some capacity, Howard said.

“I think this is like Adam Levine turning his chair before Blake Shelton during a country song on ‘The Voice,’ ” Howard said. “It’s an opportunity to raise the yield percentage, even if it may or may not pan out for the college or university, or Mr. Levine. Remember, after admission, the applicant becomes the buyer and has more power. Why not jump in • Continued on page A2

In the end, the Fanatics hope to use this conflict to strengthen their resolve and reputation as one of the strongest and most supportive student sections in the area.

“We hope the creation of the HW Fanatics Twitter page and the mission statement will be [lasting reminders of our legacy],” Golob said.

President Rick Commons and the administration are also optimistic that the Fanatics will continue their efforts to equally promote boys’ and girls’ sports.

“I think the crowd will follow the Fanatics, so I would say the Fanatics are great, and they have the ability to generate real excitement within our community,” Commons said.

“I hope they will draw us to contests where people have not been showing up in numbers because if the Fanatics show up, others will.”

INSIDE

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DANGEROUS DIETS: Some students take potentially harmful measures to achieve the figures that they want.

Follow the Chronicle @hw_chronicle

A2 News

Professor discusses racial stereotypes

By Maddy Daum and Danielle Spitz

University of Southern California professor Ange-Marie Hancock discussed implicit bias, stereotypes and deep political solidarity at an allschool assembly Feb. 29.

The Black Leadership, Awareness and Culture Club invited the speaker in honor of Black History Month.

Hancock teaches political science and gender studies at USC’s Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and is the founder and executive director of the Research Institute for the Study of Intersectionality and Social Transformation.

Hancock discussed the impact of the implicit bias that exists towards people of different races even though it is not necessarily intentional. She explained that starting from the age of three, one’s surroundings have a significant influence on their perception of others.

“Even if you are saying I’m not a racist person, even if you are saying I’m not a sexist or homophobic person, these are the things that are hardwired in your head that happen when you are under stress, when you least expect it,” Hancock said.

Behavioral evidence of this subconscious bias comes out in places as common as the

classroom or even in seemingly innocuous places like video games, Hancock said.

Although it might not seem serious in casual settings, this intolerance can eventually manifest in areas such as police brutality and unjust violence.

“When we think about implicit bias, we often want to separate the implicit bias, those things that are in the backs of our heads from this kind of behavioral evidence,” Hancock said. “But what any police officer will tell you is that traffic stops and suspect apprehensions are some of the most dangerous contexts in which [the officers] live their lives.”

Hancock also described psychological impacts on the black community stemming from common prejudice such as anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and triggers to stereotype threats.

For students, these repercussions can affect their academic performance and lower their test scores.

Hancock encouraged students to move towards “deep political solidarity” and create a society consisting of one unified community.

“Deep political solidarity focuses on this idea that we have to address feelings of anxiety, ambivalence and loss,” Hancock said. “So rather than just

The Chronicle

TERESA SUH/CHRONICLE

EXPLICITLY IMPLICIT: University of Southern California professor Ange-Marie Hancock addresses

students and faculty at an assembly Feb. 29. Hancock spoke about implicit bias and racial stereotypes.

thinking about having feelings, we have to do something about those feelings.”

To teach the audience ways to veer away from deep-rooted stereotypes, Hancock offered steps students could take to achieve equity, such as taking a free online test to determine one’s implicit bias, working to rewire one’s mindset by improving neuroplasticity and acknowledging the problem as a way to find a solution.

Early acceptance letters may cause concern for class of 2016 • Continued from page A1

early and get the applicant excited about your school?”

Though the exercise of sending early likely letters may seem to be purely for pragmatic reasons, it could have psychological effects on the students who do not receive these letters and see their friends or fellow classmates receiving them.

“For the kid who gets

the early ‘yes,’ it alleviates a lot of anxiety,” Howard said. “Unfortunately, there’s another side to that. The student not getting that early ‘yes’ is now left wondering about his or her application.

I would advise that, until you receive a definitive denial, the door remains open, but it’s tough to watch your peers receive word on a different timeline.”

Those who aren’t admitted

March 9, 2016

through an early letter could feel more pressured or discouraged as they wait for their decisions, especially because if they weren’t accepted with everyone else a month early, it may seem like denial is the obvious response from the college.

The deans believe this is an unwarranted concern, however, because there is still a chance that a student will receive an acceptance letter

“We could sit here, and we could talk about some of the amazing stuff that has happened in Black History Month in the past, but we also need to talk about how history is happening right now and how we are going to be part of a solution rather than allow the problem to keep going,” Hancock said.

BLACC co-leader Anya Andrews ’17 said she hopes the message of the assembly

“

The student not getting that early ‘yes’ is now left wondering about his or her application. I would advise that, until you receive a definitive denial, the door remains open.”

—Adam Howard Upper School Dean nathanson’s

later on in the year.

“More than anything, applicants who don’t receive early notification shouldn’t feel they can’t be accepted at those colleges,” Jones said.

“The numbers accepted at

In the issue

FLIX FOR FUN: Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin will host Harvard-Westlake’s annual student film festival March 18.

B1

BRIDGING THE GAP: Students attended the Gap Year Fair, where gap year providers presented programs to prospective students.

A6

Features

GIVING IT UP: Lent is traditionally a time of purification for God, but some also use Lent as a convenient time to diet.

C1

LAW AND ORDER: Members of the Hu-

Opinion

BOOK OF MORMON: Mormons, as well

as other cultural minorities, feel both positive and negative effects during daily life at Harvard Westlake.

A10

each school from HarvardWestlake don’t seem to vary all that much from year to year, so there’s still room for that to continue since only a few places have been allotted early for a handful of our seniors.”

Arts & Entertainment

News

man Rights Watch Student Task Force met with Representative Ted Lieu to discuss the Syrian refugee crisis Feb. 16.

A8

leaves a lasting impression on the school community.

“One of our goals as a club this year is to create and inspire more racially aware conversations on campus, not just in assemblies, but in classroom discussions as well to raise our voice on campus,” Andrews said. “I think Dr. Hancock really helped us emphasize that goal and raise some great questions and discussions among students.”

Sports

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EYE ON THE PRIZE: After being elimi-

nated in CIF playoffs, girls’ basketball aims to redeem itself in state playoffs.

D1

SACHA LIN/CHRONICLE

DUAL NATIONALITIES: Gabriel Jenkinson ’16, Eitán Sneider ’17 and science teacher Nadine Eisenkolb explain how they received dual citizenship and how they have used it while traveling abroad.

Continued on C6

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

WRAP-UPS: As many teams’ seasons come

to a close, players reflect on their individual and team performances and begin to look toward the offseason for improvement.

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.

March 9, 2016

hwchronicle.com/news

Cinema Sundays hosts actor

News A3

By Lauren Kim

Jason Segel ’98 answered questions from students, parents and alumni at Cinema Sunday following a screening in Ahmanson Lecture Hall of his most recent film, “The End of the Tour.” “[The movie] was really cool because it was just an interview the entire time, rather than any action, yet you still felt really engaged because the writing was so good and the characters were so relatable,” Cameron Cohen ’16 said.

Based on a true story, the film follows the interview of acclaimed writer David Foster Wallace (Segel) by Rolling Stones journalist David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg). The movie was based on David Lipsky’s memoir “Although Of Course You End Up Being Yourself.”

“I loved the movie even more the second time around, and I loved [Segel] even more the second time around,” Head of Performing Arts and Cinema Studies teacher Ted Walch said.

LAUREN KIM/CHRONICLE

TED TALKS: Jason Segel ’98 talks with McCabe Slye ’16 following the showing of his movie “The End of the Tour” Sunday. Segel visited performing arts teacher Ted Walch’s Cinema Sundays to discuss the movie and answer questions from students and faculty.

Segel discussed the beginnings of his acting career, the benefits and drawbacks of finding success, and exploring

his passion for writing. He also took questions from members of the audience addressing similar topics.

School to hold week-long service opportunites to promote activism

By Emory Kim

Prefect Council and Community Council will combine Community Service Week and the screening of March Madness March 14-18.

A community service fair during break will take place on the quad Monday. Representatives of non-profit organizations will speak with students

about upcoming events and ways to get involved.

During class meetings, students will take part in gradespecific activities designed to help local charities.

“We want to present all the community service opportunities from our school and in the broader community to students so they know what they can get involved in and how to

give back to our community,” Annabel Lassally ’16 said.

Throughout the week, students will be able to participate in a school-wide March Madness competition against Team Bot, a group of students headed by math teacher Bill Thill, who will use mathematics to project the outcomes of the games. Students will vote for their top five charities,

“He seems like someone that I could talk personally to and such a nice and genuine person. It was really cool hear-

ing how he felt about the movie, how he got involved in acting and his interactions with film,” Cohen said.

soundbyte

“Community Service week celebrates and promotes our commitment to outreach events, like our school-wide community service fair on the quad.”

—Chloe Zoller ’17 nathanson’s

and the top two will be paired with the top two seeded March Madness teams. The charity corresponding to the winning team will receive $1,000 from Charity Council and Prefect

Council.

To conclude the week, the councils will stream the NCAA tournament in Taper Gym. “Let’s Have a Cart Party” food trucks will serve dessert.

Club invites speaker to second annual series

By Noa Schwartz

year is more people that are advancing their companies The Society of Global Affairs technologically.” will host its second annual The event will feature speaker series March 20. The experts in science and series will explore the future of technology fields such as stem cutting-edge technology in the cells, animation, psychology business and entrepreneurial and the effect of video games world. on young children.

The series will be structured “We chose our speakers similarly to that based off of who we of a “TED Talks” thought people would series, with business find interesting, and professionals giving who has been the lectures to students. most distinguished for The series will also furthering technology build on the Society’s at their respective previous series, companies,” Woronoff which specialized said. in how to transform Speakers will student’s ideas into a ’ include Head of Walt reality.

Simone Disney Animation “After last year, Woronoff ’16 Andrew Millstein which was good for and Microsoft Head anyone that had a vision they might want to expand on in of Genomic Research David the future, we wanted to do Heckerman.

“This series will be something that people who came last year could build on, beneficial to anyone interested but would still be interesting in how technology is changing, and helpful for anyone else,” especially because it’s been club member Simone Woronoff so relevant lately, and we’re ’16 said. “Last year we had a hoping it’ll be an interesting ton of people who had started experience for anyone that companies come, and this comes,” Woronoff said. nathanson s

BRITTANY HONG/CHRONICLE

DRIVE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY: Google employee James Stout speaks to students interested in computer science and programming March 4. Stout assisted in designing Google’s self-driving car.

Speaker presents to technology class

By Brittany Hong

Google employee and programmer James Stout spoke about the programming formulas and principles behind Google’s self-driving car to computer science classes March 4.

Stout, who is a software engineering manager at Google and the brother of mathematics teacher Andy Stout, described the history and prin-

ciples of Google’s self-driving car and discussed the field of robotics.

“The purpose of [my brother’s presentation] was to demonstrate to computer science students what kinds of problems and solutions real life software engineers face on a huge, complicated problem,” Andy Stout said. “Also, it was meant to get [students] excited about what software engineers can accomplish.”

While Stout’s talk was directed toward computer science students, other students interested in the field of programming were allowed to attend.

“I really enjoyed the session,” Jonathan Damico ’18 said. “It was great to get a glimpse at how the technology that will power the future works and to see the types of algorithms and analysis done in such a complex system.”

A4 News

The Chronicle

Wafflebots place 27th in contest

March 9, 2016

By Kami Durairaj

The robotics team, also known as the Wafflebots, placed 27th out of 60 teams at the 10th Annual San Diego Regional FIRST Robotics Competition March 2-5, where they showcased the robot they built and programmed this year.

Competing in “alliances” of three teams, students programmed their robots to complete obstacle courses, throw balls into targets and play games against opponents. The game selected this year was “First Stronghold,” in which teams score points by breaching their opponents’ stronghold defenses.

Teams participated in qualification rounds, where they earned points based on their robot’s performance. The eight teams with the highest ranks moved to the final round of the tournament.

The Wafflebots’ robot has a tank drive and arcade drive, which allows team members to control the robot as if they were playing a video game.

Paul Lahera ’16 programmed the robot with help from Nomi Ringach ’17 and Johnny Berman ’17.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ISOBEL PHILLIPS

NUTS AND BOLTS: Wafflebots members Johnny Berman ’17 and Samantha Ho ’16 work on the team’s robot, 1148, in preparation for their first competition. The team placed 27th at its first competition and qualified as an alternate for the final round this weekend.

“In past years we have scrambled to finish the robot in order to partially accomplish the tasks in the competition, but this year we managed to complete the robot before the competition, which was amazing,” Isobel Phillips ’17 said. “The team works really well together, which helped so

much in completing everything we had planned to do.”

To prepare for this regional tournament, which is their first competition of the year, the robotics team met on the weekends and after school.

Throughout the year, they built mechanisms for the robot, programmed it and

tested it.

“We’ve been preparing for this for quite a while, and we were much more organized than in years prior,” Rasa Barzdukas ’17 said. “It really ended up paying off because we ended up doing a lot better than we ever have before.

The team works so well to-

gether, and we combined all our strengths into one amazing robot.”

With a record of 4-5 in the qualification rounds, the robot was selected as one of the eight alternates for the final round.

This weekend, the team will compete at the Los Angeles regional tournament.

KHWS goes on hiatus after provider shuts off

By Sammi Handler

DANIELLE SPITZ/CHRONICLE

PROFESSOR PASSWORD: Tony Lewis ’96, who is the Deputy Chief of the Terrorism and Export Crimes in the Los Angeles Department of Justice, informs students about the dangers of hackers.

Federal prosecutors caution students about dangers of cyber criminals

By Danielle Spitz

Federal prosecutors Tony Lewis ’96 and Stephanie Christensen spoke to the sophomore class Feb. 28 about the dangers of cyber criminals and how to avoid becoming a victim.

Both prosecutors work in the Los Angeles U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Department of Justice. Lewis serves as the Deputy Chief of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, and Christensen is the Deputy Chief of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crime Section.

To make students aware that seemingly private information posted on social media or shared on the Internet can become involuntarily publicized, the speakers reviewed cases involving cyber criminals and teenage victims.

“While using phones and social media might seem like

an intimate and sometimes personal way to communicate, it really, in reality, is something that can be permanent and irreversible, and that you really can lose control of,” Lewis said.

Christensen first explained the term “sextortion” and how common it is becoming among younger people. “[Sextortion] is the term we prosecutors use when someone online is threatening you, tricking you, coercing you in order to get from you usually images of yourself or something of a sexual nature,” Christensen said.

The speakers urged students to act with caution while sharing private information and to look out for “malware” as a way of avoiding a potentially harmful situation.

Malware, or malicious software, is one way cyber criminals acquire private files.

Malware includes suspicious links, e-mails and pop-up advertisements, and when downloaded, it can be used to access photos, videos and other files from a computer.

Lewis also discussed social engineering, another way private files can be hacked, which includes “phishing” and “spear-fishing.” Both are targeted approaches. Spearfishing is more individualized and exploits personal information to imitate a legitimate individual trusted by the victim as a way to access even more of their private information.

In phishing, cyber criminals target groups in a similar fashion.

“It’s important for us all to think about what we put [on the Internet],” Lewis said.

“What is something that anyone could know about us that they could use to send something harmful?”

Student-run radio station KHWS has gone on a hiatus for an undetermined amount of time as student leaders seek an alternate radio streaming service after the station’s broadcast program went off the air Jan. 31.

Students have used the internet streaming service provider Live365 as KHWS’s platform since the station first went live in 2012, but the service shut down when it could no longer afford the Copyright Royalty Board’s higher royalty rates.

“I would say a lot of the seniors are definitely bummed, since this is sort of a cornerstone program of HarvardWestlake, and this is their last year to participate in high school radio,” KHWS student leader Simone Woronoff ’16

said. “That being said, everyone has taken it really well and has been completely understanding. Stuff like this happens, and I think everyone understands that we’re doing our best trying to resolve the problem.”

Woronoff and the other student leaders, Jeremy Samuels ’16 and Daniela Grande ’16, have been looking into possible solutions, including fundraising to start using a new program so that they can end the hiatus, she said.

“I think it’s definitely possible [for KHWS to return this year], but mostly we’re focused on sustainability,” Woronoff said. “There are a few temporary solutions that we’ve looked at, but what we’re really focused on is finding a long-term solution so something like this doesn’t happen again.”

School to host field day

By Jadene Meyer

To bring students together and relieve stress, the Character Committee is holding a field day event called the Festival of Spring on the Ted Slavin Field March 24 during a special assembly schedule.

The Festival of Spring is intended to be a relaxing, fun event after the stress of third quarter to transition into spring break, Character Committee student leader Allison Gorokhovsky ’17 said.

The event will include activities such as all-grade dodge-

ball in Taper Gym, frisbee and tug of war on the field and Sudoku in designated classrooms.

There will also be an In-N-Out truck.

Students and faculty will compete in activities for points that will go to the three grades or the faculty, with the winning grade or the faculty receiving a special prize.

“A lot of times people will be separated into different groups or clubs, but what Character Committee is trying to get at is the bigger sense of community,” Gorokhovsky said. “We are trying to broaden those circles.”

March 9, 2016

hwchronicle.com/news

News A5

Police captain visits class

By Maddy Daum

TERESA SUH/CHRONICLE

JUMPING THE GAP: La Femme club member Maggie McCarthy ’17 sells a “Mind the Gender Gap” T-shirt to Jacob Tucker ’17. The club tried to design a shirt that can be worn by both boys and girls to spread the message of gender equality to everyone on campus.

La Femme sells gender equality T-shirts

By Claire Dennis

The La Femme club sold T-shirts advocating gender equality Feb. 23-26 on the quad, selling out of the shirts a day before the scheduled end of the sale and taking orders for additional shirts.

Head of Upper School Audrius Barzdukas will have a pie thrown in his face at the next First and Third assembly by one of the students who purchased a La Femme shirt.

Barzdukas agreed to being pied if the club members

raised $1,500, a goal which they surpassed.

The sale of T-shirts for $18 each raised over $2,500. The club sold out of the first 100 shirts one day before the sale ended and then sold another 40 shirts on pre-order. The pre-ordered shirts were distributed March 2.

Students who bought a shirt received a raffle ticket for the chance to throw the pie at the next assembly. The winner will be announced at the assembly.

The T-shirt’s design,

created by Alitzel Villanueva ’17, is based on the London Underground logo and is a play on the reminder in all Tube stations to “Mind the Gap” of space between the platform and the train.

“I think the T-shirts help push forward the message that La Femme is about equality and that it’s not that we’re just super pro-women,” founding club member and leader Sohni Kaur ’17 said. “We want everybody to be included and that’s why we came up with a generic T-shirt that even guys

could wear.”

Proceeds from the sale will be donated to Linda’s Voice, a non-profit organization to prevent domestic violence.

Veronica Crow ’16, who is not a member of the club, bought a shirt to support the issue of gender equality.

“I think it is a really simple, not overly aggressive way of reminding people that there is a gender gap and that there are inherent inequalities in society between men and women,” Crow said.

Los Angeles Police Department Captain Greg Meyer spoke to the Criminal Law and Advocacy class March 3 about police force and racial profiling.

“There is a whole lot less use of police force now than there was when I started [working as a police officer] 30 years ago,” Meyer said. “But at the same time, it has become more controversial in the past few years because there are so many videos out there. The videos of police use of force always provoke emotion but don’t often seem to provoke critical analysis of what went on and whether or not it was right.”

Racial profiling is not the issue it’s made out to be, Meyer said, and police officers are supposed to stop people in the street based on the potential danger of their behavior, not their race or sex.

Students challenged the officer with questions, said Laurie Levenson, who teaches the Kutler Center class and is a professor at UCLA School of Law and Loyola Law School, in an email. “[The students in the class] will remember the talk and take a leadership role in evaluating and changing how police work in our communities,” she said.

Debaters participate in USC tournament

By Sabrina

de

Brito

Debaters enjoyed success at their last regular-season tournament, the USC Damus Spring Trojan Championships Sunday.

At the tournament, Evan Engel ’17 made it to octafinals and Connor Engel ’17 advanced to semifinals, securing his qualification for the Tournament of Champions. Additionally, Matthew Gross ’19, Jake Davidson ’19 and Vishan Chaudhary ’19 advanced to double octafinals at the tournament.

Representing Team USA debate team at the International Worlds Schools Debate Tournament in Slovenia Wednesday through Sunday,

Liz Yount ’17 won second-place speaker overall.

At the Cal Invitational at Berkeley Feb. 13-15, Cameron Cohen ’16 advanced to quarterfinals.

At the Golden Desert, Julia Cosgrove ’18 reached octafinals, while Kimberly Kimura ’19, Spencer Paul ’19 and Chaudhary advanced to double octafinals.

Every week since January, debaters have volunteered to coach debate practices at the magnet school Valor Academy in Panorama City, which recently founded its debate program and reached out to Harvard-Westlake for coaching help. Head of Debate Outreach Opportunities Dario Madyoon ’17 said that he thinks the

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF CINDI TIMMONS

ARGUING ABROAD: Liz Yount ’17 prepares to give a speech in a debate round in Slovenia. Yount debated at the tournament with two other high schoolers from other schools around the United States.

collaboration is a great way for students to give back to the debate community and to work on their coaching skills.

“I’ve been going there for long enough to form connections with the kids,” Evan En-

Class to hold leadership conference

By Nicole Kim

Students from the Unconventional Leadership class will participate in the third annual leadership convention called “The Unconvention” on the upper school campus Saturday.

Students in the class will also have the opportunity to invite peers perceived as leaders to join attendees from other Los Angeles area high schools including Palisades Charter, Marlborough, Marymount, Oakwood,

Windward and Archer.

The convention will feature student-led discussions, activities to build teamwork, and a presentation by Brandon Beck, CEO and co-founder of Riot Games.

The discussions will relate to concepts taught in the Unconventional Leadership class, such as methods of effective communication.

“The preparation has been very hands on as [Director of Student Affairs Jordan] Church has stepped back to allow this to really be a

conference that we created ourselves,” Sophie Tippl ’17 said. “I’m looking forward to taking everything I’ve learned in the class this year and presenting it in a fun and interactive way, as well as introducing people to the class so they can take it next year.”

One of the activities to be offered at the convention is “Escape to Paradise,” in which participants will find ways to move across a room using only blocks to walk on.

Another activity is called

gel said. “I also think it’s a really good feeling to be able to pass along knowledge to people who are interested in the subject.”

The debate summer program debate.LA is accept-

“

ing registrants for their Harvard-Westlake-based camp.

There are spots available in the Lincoln-Douglas style debate class June 20-24 and the middle school debate classes occurring the same week.

I’m looking forward to taking everything I’ve learned in the class this year and presenting it in a fun and interactive way, as well as introducing people to the class so they can take it next year.”

—Sophie Tippl ’17 nathanson’s

the “Marshmallow Challenge,” in which teams will attempt to build structures that can support a marshmallow out of tape and raw spaghetti.

“The convention was successful last year, with about 80 kids showing up, so

we expect it to go well,” Jordan Goldstein ’17 said. “Also, since a lot of the kids won’t know each other, we expect it to be a little awkward at first, but with all the activities and discussions, they’ll have a good time.”

A6 News

The Chronicle

inbrief

March 9, 2016

Three students qualify for math competition Of the 53 students at Harvard-Westlake who took the American Math Competition last month, Benjamin Most ’16, Nicole Kim ’18 and Kylin Feng ’18 qualified to take the American Invitational Math Exam March 16. Juniors and seniors who took the AMC 12 had to score in the top 5 percent to qualify, while sophomores who took the AMC 10 had to score in the top 2.5 percent.

The AIME is more advanced than the AMC 10 and AMC 12.

Students have the opportunity to qualify for the USA Mathematics Olympiad if the combined scores of their AMC and AIME are high enough.

“I’m incredibly excited at the prospect of qualifying for USAMO, but I also know that the problems on the AIME will be incredibly difficult, and I’m a bit daunted by that,” Kim said.

—Danielle Spitz

Robotics Club competes in challenge The Middle School Robotics team competed in the Los Angeles FIRST Tech Challenge Feb. 27 at Monrovia High School. The team, known as the “Quantum Potentials,” had worked on their robot since September and qualified through a December competition. The team placed third in the qualifying round to make it to the final challenge, placing 17th out of 48 competitors.

—Ellis Becker

JCL to participate in annual convention

Students from the Junior Classical League club will participate in the annual California Junior Classical League convention at Woodbridge High School in Irvine March 18-19.

The club, led by Chloe Shi ’16 and Elizabeth Rao ’16, will engage in academic, creative, performing and graphic events, as well as athletic and recreational activities ranging from dodgeball to scrapbooking.

Club sponsors and Latin teachers Bradford Holmes and Derek Wilairat will accompany the students to the convention.

—Aaron Park

Students to take national French exam

French students of all levels will participate in “Le Grand Concours,” a national exam, Thursday after school in the Seaver Academic Center.

The assessment will test students’ ability to understand vocabulary and grammatical concepts, and reading and oral comprehension.

French teacher Jerome Hermeline said students usually score very highly.

Taking the test is not required but highly recommended, Hermeline said.

“I always recommend students take the test, because it shows a proficiency in the language outside of our curriculum,” Hermeline said.

—Noa Schwartz

Swimmers compete in meet honoring Justin Carr ’14

EMILY RAHHAL/CHRONICLE

IN MEMORIAM: Top swimmers from area schools participated in the third annual swim meet honoring Justin Carr ’14 last Friday. The girls placed first, and the boys took third, finishing behind Loyola and Palisades Charter High School. To open the meet, swimmers and supporters saluted the flag to a recording of Carr singing the national anthem.

Annual gap year fair attracts 70 students

By Ellis Becker

of advantages to taking a gap year,” Director of Kutler Harvard-Westlake hosted a Center and Summer Programs Jim Patterson said. gap year fair Feb. 23 “It can give students in the Kutler Center, opportunities to with members of the learn things about junior class invited themselves and for the first time. learn things about The school was one the world around of two sites in Los them. Some of these Angeles to host the things just can’t be fair for students taught in a traditional considering a gap classroom.” year through Dynamy ’ In past years, Internship Year, Jim seniors have been the a MassachusettsPatterson main target audience based organization for gap years, but for gap year this year, it was extended to opportunities.

“I think there are lots juniors. Approximately 70 nathanson s

students and parents from the different gap year providers were at the fair to present Los Angeles area attended.

“This was a different time opportunities to students in attendance. of year than when we’ve “I thought the gap year u s u a l l y I thought the fair was really hosted the event, and if great for kids gap year fair was really who are even we continue great for kids who are to host it in just considering even just considering taking a year off February, I before college,” think we’re taking a year off before going to focus Jessica Dickman college.” ’17 said.

“It on making presented a lot sure everyone —Jessica Dickman ’17 realizes it’s of opportunities and options in this time of year, instead of in January,” lots of different countries that I Patterson said. can definitely see myself going Representatives from 41 to.”

“

Alum declares candidacy for LAUSD board

By Sammi Handler

Public education advocate Nick Melvoin ’04 has declared his candidacy for a seat in the 2017 Los Angeles Unified School Board to “ensure that every student in Los Angeles has the opportunity to succeed,” according to his website.

Melvoin lives in Brentwood and has entered into the District 4 race. His vision for LAUSD includes learning from

charter and magnet schools how to give teachers room to be more innovative.

After graduating from Harvard-Westlake, Melvoin completed his undergraduate degree at Harvard University, earned a Master’s in Urban Education from Loyola Marymount University and a law degree from New York University.

While working towards his Master’s degree, Melvoin, a former Chronicle editor, taught at

Student places as semifinalist for award

By Connor Reese

Vincent Le ’17 was named a semifinalist for the Los Angeles County Spotlight Awards in the jazz instrumental category for his alto saxophone audition.

Roughly 1,100 high school students auditioned this year in various categories.

Le is one of 111 Southern California high school students to be selected for the semifinal round of judging, 15 of which were selected for the jazz instrumental category.

Le’s audition was judged by a panel of jazz artists. As

a semifinalist, he was then invited to various master classes with acclaimed jazz performers.One teacher of the master classes was Bob Sheppard, a famous jazz saxaphonist, clarinet player and flute player.

Other master class instructors include jazz saxophonist Arturo Sandoval and Metropolitan Opera star Cynthia Munzer.

“The judges’ critique was very helpful, and I learned a lot during my master class,” Le said. The finals will take place March 19 and will include a live audition with

Edwin Markham Middle School in South Central Los Angeles through Teach for America, where he taught English as a second language, coached sports and helped students launch a school newspaper. In 2010, Melvoin said Markham lost more than half of its teachers to LAUSD layoffs, and he was one of them.

He worked without benefits as a substitute teacher until the district rehired him.

“

Afterwards, Melvoin joined the American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit and won the case that layoffs violated the rights of students.

He detailed the problems that he had observed in an opinion piece for the Los Angeles Times.

Melvoin also serves as programming director at Camp Harmony, a summer camp for children living in shelters in the Greater Los Angeles Area, where he has volunteered for the past 15 years.

I’m really honored to have been chosen. I’d like to thank Mr. Constantino for all of his advice. I also couldn’t have done this without my friends who accompanied me on my audition.’”

—Vincent Le ’17 nathanson’s

musical accompaniment in front of a panel of professional jazz musicians.

Out of the initial 15 people chosen as semifinalists in the jazz instrumental category, two performers will be selected to perform at the Spotlight Grand Finale performance.

The performance will take place at Walt Disney Concert Hall in the early summer.

“I’m really honored to have

been chosen as a semifinalist,” Le said. “I’d like to thank Mr. Costantino for all of his advice. I also couldn’t have done this without my friends who accompanied me on my audition.”

Semifinalists win a cash prize of $300 each, and Le will have the chance to earn up to another $5,000 if he is named a finalist after the competition’s final round this summer.

March 9, 2016

hwchronicle.com/news

News A7

inbrief

Student journalists speak at conference

Members of the Chronicle staff spoke at the Jewish Scholastic Press Association’s conference Feb. 25.

Staff members presented journalism techniques to Jewish high school journalism students from across the country at B’nai David-Judea synagogue.

They talked about the Chronicle website, HWTV and issues of the newspaper.

“I thought it went really well,” Benjamin Most ’16 said.

“Everyone was talking about the Chronicle. The students in the crowd seemed really interested.”

—Alena Rubin TERESA SUH/CHRONICLE

Senior Appreciation Day brings free churros to the quad for seniors

A SWEET TREAT: Zoe Baxter ’16 gets a churro on the quad as part of the series of senior events. Volunteers from the Parent’s Association organized the event for seniors. Past events hosted for them include the senior sweatshirt distribution and other free food days to commemorate their time at Harvard-Westlake. All seniors were welcome to get churros free of charge.

Astronomer discusses research with club

By Hannah Cho

UCLA research astronomer Michael Rich (Jonathan ’16) spoke to students Feb. 22 about his recent projects, including the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX), an orbiting ultraviolet space telescope used to measure the history of star formation in the universe.

The Astronomy Club, with help of Upper School science teacher Antonio Nassar and Jonathan Rich, the club’s copresident, organized the event.

“I set it up with Dr. Nassar through the studies in scientif-

ic research [class],” Rich said. into the universe.

“The speech had a lot of in“We invited the astronomy formation, but I didn’t club and made the lechave enough knowlture available to the edge to fully underentire school.” stand what he was Michael Rich saying. However, on earned his Ph.D. in some level, it was inastronomy at the teresting,” Chris Lee California Institute of ‘16 said. “He spoke Technology in 1986. about research and He now leads a team his telescopes that that is working to he used to either map galactic bulges ’ discover black holes using the Dark EnJonathan or other interesting ergy Camera, the Rich ’16 phenomena in the world’s most powerful universe.” digital camera, which Rich also spoke about rehas the ability to looks deeply nathanson s

cent astronomical discoveries, including gravitational waves.

“Everyone’s probably heard about gravitational waves but not really understood the significance of this new discovery. I think we were extremely lucky to have Dr. Rich, who had worked with some of the leading researchers on this project to come and speak to us,” co-president of astronomy club Sean Jung ’16 said.

The event concluded with a question and answer session, and some students stayed after to speak with Rich.

JSA members run for regional office positions

By Indu Pandey

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF KEVIN O’MALLEY

HEAR ME ROAR: Mountain lion expert Johanna Turner spoke to students about photography and wildlife conservation.

Mountain lion expert visits photography class

By Jackson Novick

Mountain lion expert, environmentalist, activist and photographer Johanna Turner presented to students in Photography 3, AP Environmental Science and Spanish classes Feb. 25.

She discussed principles of photography and the importance of wildlife conservation.

The presentation focused on her documentation of mountain lions and other animals native to California.

Additionally, Turner pro-

vided advice and instruction on remote photography techniques, and used her wildlife work for examples.

“I enjoyed hearing about how she was able to capture such amazing shots of all these animals,” Juliet Nguyen ’16 said. “Not only were they beautiful, but it also proved to be very helpful for the scientists who were tracking the animals, as well. I really liked that she talked to us about all her trials and errors, and how she built on all those to get the shot she wanted.”

of establishing yourself as an individual early on and asTwo members of the Har- certaining that your speeches vard-Westlake Junior State of reflect who you are and what America club will run for re- you want to do as an elected gional office positions within candidate,” Kim said.

Those who run for general the organization.

Lucy Kim ’19 and Eleanor office positions in the orgaHalloran ’18 declared their nization must campaign for candidacy during the Los An- votes by participating in degeles Region Winter Congress bates, securing endorsements Feb. 20-21 for Los Angeles from JSA office holders, conRegion Senator and Mayor, re- necting with voters through social media and creating prospectively.

Senators represent their motional material, Halloran said. region on the JSA “I think it’ll help State Senate, which [the Harvard-Westcreates debate topics lake JSA chapter] beand JSA rules. One cause it’ll show that of the mayors’ duties HW JSAers are dediis to lead each region cated and actually and organize JSA like the club,” Halconferences. loran said.

“I can do everyJSA members thing the mayor is ’ hosted a voter regisrequired to do,” Vice Eleanor tration drive Feb. 26 President of HarvardHalloran ’18 on the quad and in Westlake’s JSA chapfront of Taper Gym ter Halloran said. “I can do it well, I can bring new from 2:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ideas to it and I can do it with in an attempt to get more stuthe input of the people of JSA.” dents to vote in the upcoming Voting will occur during JSA election.

“It was really great to see Spring Congress at the LAX Hilton April 8-10 by all those people signing up to vote, esattending from Angeles Re- pecially in a time when less than a fifth of young people gion.

“Thus far, I’ve learned voted in the last election,” Halmuch about the importance loran said. nathanson s

Roses sold for dance concert performers The Social Committee sold roses for the members of the Advanced Dance II Company who performed in the Upper School Dance Concert, as well as for guest performers and stage crew.

Flowers and tickets to the concert were sold at the Social Committee table on the quad last week.

The committee then prepared and delivered the roses to performers after their opening night.

—Claire Keller

Club hosts Chinese New Year luncheon

The Chinese Cultural Club hosted its annual luncheon Sunday at the Skirball Center.

Members of the Chinese Cultural Club, Chinese language students and faculty were invited.

The event is the club’s largest and attracted about 300 guests. Students in the Chinese language program performed a song.

“This is a time we get together friends and family and wish each other good luck for the coming year. We want to share our joy and culture with everybody,” co-chair of the luncheon Xihua Reiff (Skylar ’15) said.

—Alena Rubin

Students submit works to language magazine Student-run foreign language and culture magazine Babel received more than 65 submissions for this year’s issue. Students had the opportunity to submit photography, poems, short stories, articles and artwork that are relevant to any culture or people in the world.

The deadline to submit work was Feb. 28. Selected submissions will be edited by a student on Babel or a foreign language teacher.

Writing and artwork selected will be featured in a print issue coming out in early May. Student editors are hoping to accept as many submissions as possible.

“We have so many talented writers and photographers in our community,” student editor Alexa Frandzel ’18 said.

—Lara Mikhail

A8 News

The Chronicle

Pianists to perform for class

March 9, 2016

By Jackson Novick

The Kutler Center will host a performance of Igor Stravinsky’s 1913 ballet orchestral piece “Rite of Spring for Piano for Four Hands” March 20.

This will be the fourth annual performance for the Philosophy in Art and Science course, a Kutler Center class taught by performing arts teacher Ted Walch and math teacher Kevin Weis.

The two-person piece will be performed by 4handsLA pianists Steven Vanhauwaert and Danny Holt.

“They are a huge hit each time,” Walch said of the duo. “Hearing the Rite as transcribed for piano for four hands is almost as exciting as hearing it performed by full orchestra. The acrobatics of the pianists only adds to the fun.”

Holt will be the Kutler Center’s scholar in residence during the two school weeks preceding the performance,.

As scholar in residence, Holt will help to teach the aesthetics of 20th century music to the students in the Philosophy in Art and Science class.

“I am incredibly excited to attend the performance,” Javi Arango ’16 said. “We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to hear two amazing pianists playing one of the most important pieces of the 20th century.”

The performance will be prefaced with a lecture on Stravinsky by former HarvardWestlake parent and morning show host of Classical Music’s KUSC-FM radio Alan Chapman (Molly ’14, Jake ’12).

TERESA SUH/CHRONICLE

Students peruse course selections at Academic Fair DECISIONS, DECISIONS: Kat Edminston ’17 asks Agustine Letelier ’16 and history teacher David Waterhouse for information regarding AP Comparative Government on Feb. 17. Sophomores and juniors spent their activities period in Taper Gym at the Academic Fair learning about their potential classes for next year before filling out their course sign-up requests.

Alum discusses Rams’ move back to city

By Nicole Kim

Kevin Demoff ’95, the Executive Vice President of Football Operations and Chief Operating Officer of the Los Angeles Rams, spoke at an event hosted by the HarvardWestlake Alumni Association at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel March 1.

During the first Rams presentation in Los Angeles, Demoff discussed the process of bringing the team back to its hometown after 20 years, including purchasing the first 60 acres for the parking lot in 2013 and meeting with NFL staff members to develop the

stadium.

“The goal was to show what this project could become, how transformative it would be to Los Angeles and the passion that this city has for the Los Angeles Rams,” Demoff said.

“We were thrilled that the owners agreed with our vision and that they entrusted us with the opportunity to make Los Angeles truly an NFL destination.”

Demoff began his presentation with an anecdote from his time at HarvardWestlake, when he was a student of President Rick Commons, who used to be an English teacher. He recalled

bachelor’s degree writing a 10-page essay for earned Common’s class and receiving in history from Dartmouth College and a master’s degree in a D for a lack of proofreading. business from “It is one Dartmouth’s of my most Tuck School of vivid memories Business. Prior from HarvardWe were thrilled to overseeing Westlake, and I can tell that the owners agreed the Rams, he for the you that I with our vision and that worked Los Angeles proofread this they entrusted us with Avengers and presentation the Tampa Bay beyond belief,” the opportunity.”

Buccaneers Demoff joked.

—Kevin Demoff ’95 in the Arena “The things F o o t b a l l that you learn League. in tenth grade, A recording of the speech is the things that you learn from available online at livestream.

Commons are fantastic.”

After graduating, Demoff com/HWTVSchool.

“

Students meet with district congressman

By Alena Rubin

Rep. Ted Lieu met with the Human Rights Watch Student Task Force to discuss the Syrian refugee crisis Feb. 16.

The club supported Lieu’s vote against House Resolution 4038, the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act, which would have drastically reduced the number of Syrian refugees permitted to enter the United States by expanding the screening process in their entry to the country.

The Act was passed in the House of Representatives, but it was rejected by the Senate. President Obama later announced that if the Senate had passed the bill, he would have vetoed it.

“We supported people in Congress voting ‘no’ on House Resolution 4038 because it puts unfair restrictions on refugees from Syria, and we think that is a violation of the basic human rights of refugees,” club member Harry Garvey ’18 said.

The club thanked Lieu

for helping reject the act and delivered him handwritten thank you cards signed by other members of the community.

In the meeting, club members also learned more about Lieu’s plans to hold a screening of “Salam Neighbor,” a film documenting life as a Syrian refugee, on Capitol Hill March 14.

The Student Task Force, whose purpose is to expose students to current international issues and share their opinions with legislatures, also screened the film Feb. 22 at HarvardWestlake.

“The conference went really smoothly, and it gave us an insight into the workings of the Congress,” Garvey said.

“We taught him some things, and he taught us some things.

[It was] definitely a unique experience. I never thought that I would talk to someone in such a high-level government position.”

The club also hosted a tent on the quad Feb. 22 to raise

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF HARRY GARVEY

FIGHT FOR RIGHTS: Members of the Human Rights Watch Student Task Force talk to Congressman Ted Lieu. The group discussed the Syrian refugee crisis and how Congress is responding to it. awareness about the Syrian refugee crisis.

The tent displayed the types of food that refugees

eat and provided information about the general conditions of refugees. Students were also able to observe a small

backpack that held the typical amount of items refugees are permitted to take out of their countries.

C HRONICLE the harvard-westlake

Los Angeles • Volume XXV • Issue 6 • March 9, 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 • March 9, 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 Features Assistants: Josette Abugov, Nicole Kim, 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, Sammi Handler, Brittany Hong, Nicole Kim, Kitty Luo, Bryant Wu Online Reader Engagement: Lauren Kim, Jake Liker, Teresa Suh, Anthony Weinraub 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.

NICOLE KIM /CHRONICLE

Giving each team a time in the spotlight

A

s journalists devoted to bringing campus news to you, we are at many sports game. Whether we are photographing, broadcasting or keeping score, sometimes we are simply one face in rows and rows of screaming fans, and sometimes we are the only ones there, save for a few parents or family members. Either way, we can tell you firsthand, covering games is one of the parts of our job we love most.

Recent discussions on the Fanatics Facebook page have made it obvious that turnout at games is far from equal, whether across gender lines or different types of sports.

While the Fanatics have promised to continue to make an effort to increase game attendance for all teams, it is also a community movement we all can and should support.

It’s understandable that some sports may simply be more popular than others, but it is a problem that so many teams, and girls’ sports especially, often feel ignored. Most of the time, attendance is not necessarily a matter of how fast-paced or thrilling the sport is but of how well the game has been publicized.

Understandably, a basketball game in Taper on a Friday night naturally might draw a larger crowd than a field hockey match at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday in Glendora.

However, in an ideal world and in the spirit of equality, all games should be advertised, and the community should be informed so the decision to not go to a game is not due to lack of knowledge. If all sports are given equal attention and coverage, then our community will be more aware about sports that are less often in the spotlight.

The Fanatics are responsible for publicizing all games, but it is also on fans and

members of the Harvard-Westlake community to get there and support each and every one of our classmates.

Anyone who plays sports knows that fans can make a tangible difference in team performance, boosting morale in tough situations and helping team members get that last push of energy to finish strong. Ultimately, it comes down to more than rivalries, winning or courtside chants.

Sports culture at Harvard-Westlake is something so many of us share, defining us beyond grades or college acceptances, because it is what so many of us love to devote our time to. Most of all, it is meant to bring us together as a team and as a school. We know how unifying a game can be with the right energy, hype and crowd, and we should work to achieve that energy at every game, from Taper Gym to O’Malley Field.

For many of us seniors, Head Fanatics and fans included, we only have a few short months left to make memories as the Class of 2016. And the stage we set at swim meets and tennis matches, as well as at all the wild games with our varsity basketball team, will challenge underclassmen to rise to our level long after we are gone.

Looking back on high school, chances are we will not remember calculus and world history as much as the times we spent together, no matter if we won or lost. Each game is an oppotunity to grow closer as a community.

As the season comes to a close, we are shifting seasons from winter sports, like soccer and basketball, to spring sports, like tennis and softball, and we hope to see you all there, cheering from the stands and supporting our community.

A10 Opinion

The Chronicle

March 9, 2016

I have a firstdegree Bern

By Benjamin Most

L

egend has it that when the Grinch discovered the true meaning of Christmas, his heart grew three sizes larger.

The first time I saw Bernie Sanders speak, my heart grew four.

I was born into an America of massive corporate greed and concentrated political power. The only United States I have ever lived in is one run

by Coca-Cola and the Koch brothers.

I have never known a country without massive income inequality and powerful big business.

Then I saw a white-haired Democratic socialist named Bernie Sanders on the Democratic debate stage.

He looked like he had just woken up and barely managed to slip on his spectacles.

He was everything the others were not: a Vermont Jew with no Super PAC, no solid voter base and ideas that were anything but establishment.

And when I heard Sanders speak, I felt something awaken within me.

Sanders said that America doesn’t have to be like this.

He said that big business doesn’t have to run politics.

He said that institutional racism and unfair criminal records for nonviolent crime don’t have to continue anymore.

He promised to help millions of low-income families tired of almost all wealth going to the top one percent and insisted that healthcare is a right for all human beings.

I felt like I had found someone who genuinely cared about each and every individual; every senior without decent healthcare, every high school kid without the money to afford a college education; every illegal immigrant separated from his or her family; every black man earning less than a white man for the same work; every rape victim unable to get an abortion.

That’s the kind of man I want to be. A man who stands up for the poor, the weak, the

downtrodden. A man who, amidst the clamor and the chaos of politics, says to those in need: I will help you. I will guide you. And if you stand up with me, then together, we can make the world a better place.

For 18 years I had watched suited Washington aristocrats spew political rhetoric on my TV screen.

For 18 years I had listened to meaningless political voices murmuring like ghosts on the radio.

For 18 years I had watched with apathy as the American economy was destroyed and slowly rebuilt.

But Sanders did something powerful for me. He made me feel.

So I turned to the internet, where Sanders had already achieved somewhat of a cult following.

I learned about Sanders’ spotless record of fighting for civil liberty, feminism and the rights of the middle-class American worker.

I even called Nevada voters the night before the caucuses in a phone bank program; many voters thought Sanders was crazy, and one accused me of being a communist and hung up the phone.

When I hung up the phone the night before Nevada, I was faced with a question: since when is it crazy to have dreams?

Since when is it crazy to want an America where, finally, every man’s voice can be heard? Isn’t that what America is supposed to be about?

Since Sanders entered the race, he has been labeled a radical. But in a country where almost all wealth goes to the top one percent and where racism and sexism are as alive as ever, maybe radical ideas are exactly what we need.

So let me say to you what Bernie Sanders said to me on that fateful night months ago: Stand up with me. Maybe together, we can make the world a better place.

ANNA GONG/CHRONICLE

Life is not always fair, but the parking system can be

By Henry Vogel

L

ife isn’t fair. You know it, I know it, we all know it.

The other day I caught myself commiserating over the gap between the dunking ability of Cassius Stanley ’19 and my own. Why should he be gifted with the capacity to soar over defenders while I hang around at sea level waiting for his return?

The simplistically genius and simultaneously useful motto “Life isn’t fair” serves as a mechanism to cope with certain inequalities that are out of my control, such as the disparity in dunking prowess.

Where unfairness is a product of physical nature and uncontrollable by human efforts, the phrase is applicable. However, when we can realistically take steps towards fairness, the phrase is just a cheap copout that I can’t endorse. The parking arrangements for students is one of those situations.

I’m not talking about a problem-solving new structure in the future. I’m talking about an issue that we have right now and a solution that doesn’t take any money or legal action to implement.

Last year as a junior, I, like most of my classmates, filled out a request for a parking space. I didn’t write any note on the side or do anything to single out my application. I merely followed the instruc-

Musings of a Mormon

By Claire Keller

F

ive-thirty a.m. I lean over the side of my bed. My arm lazily falls on the snooze button of my alarm clock.

5:45 a.m. I silently convince myself not to go back to sleep as I roll out of bed for early morning seminary.

6:00-6:40 a.m. I sluggishly grab a bowl of cereal and sit down at the seminary table, tired but happy to be there learning with my friends.

6:45 a.m. Grabbing the cold metal handle of the bus, I pull myself up, preparing to sleep on the hour drive to school.

Every morning, Monday through Friday. Repeat.

There are over 390,000 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or Mormon, seminary students in over 170 countries who follow this routine daily. Mormon high school students can attend before-school seminary to complete a four-year course.

Though these numbers may seem large, I am one of seven in my seminary class.

I am also one of a few Mormon students attending Harvard-Westlake. Though I appreciate the diversity of Los Angeles, it doesn’t make it any easier to be one of only a few Mormons at school.

With every Mormon joke, each one resulting in an awk-

tions on the form and submitted it through the proper channels.

Despite all the hype surrounding the prospect of driving to school, I was dismayed to discover my assignment was in the Upper St. Michaels parking lot. For those of you who don’t know, it is a separate lot behind the church behind the Lower St. Michaels lot (the junior lot). In short: it’s far.

I was bummed but didn’t think too much of it. After all, fair is different than equal. As long as everyone was given a fair shot at a junior lot spot and I was randomly selected for the further lot, there was nothing to do but chalk it up to bad luck.

This year as a senior, I filled out the same form with the hopes that, after receiving one of the less desired spots as a junior, I would be awarded a senior lot spot this year.

When I received the letter with my assigned space, a stack spot, I wasn’t happy. For months, I’ve had to deal with the added hassle of sharing car keys and moving cars just to leave.

So here’s the point. I get that no matter what happens, equality is impossible; there is no solution where everyone has an equal spot, which is fine. Fairness, however, means giving everyone an equal op-

portunity to claim one of those prized spaces.

The senior lot should be comprised of only seniors, hence the name. And once all juniors have paid their dues in the further lots, they can move up to the senior lot.

Since a merit system is unrealistic to determine parking spaces, the higher ups in charge of the operation should cycle around the good spots to students who were stuck with inferior spots last year.

We all pay the same price for our spot, regardless of where it is, so we should all be awarded an opportunity to benefit from a better spot for at least one of the two years.

In broader terms, fairness and equality are too often jumbled up. Equality isn’t necessarily the goal or the best solution, but the fairness that comes from equal opportunity is what we should always strive for.

I don’t have the same vertical jump as Stanley, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have an equal opportunity to develop other aspects of my game.

Likewise, getting a bad spot at random for one year isn’t reason enough to complain, but when other factors impede what should be a fair system predicated on distributing the good spots to equal-paying students, change is in order.

Our community should be more respectful of religious minorities, especially because the insensitive jokes and stereotypes formed about religion are often misinformed.

ward laugh and inward sigh, I once again say nothing to my friends as they tease me with the best intentions. I find it funny that as they become more casual with my beliefs, I grow more tense.

Being a “representative” for my religion carries a lot of responsibility that at times feels like more than I want.

I grew up in the church, and, living in Los Angeles, I understand that my religion is seen as foreign to those unaccustomed to my views.

I have been raised to be prepared for inquisitive—or derogatory—questions at all times, from both strangers and close friends attempting

to familiarize themselves with my religion.

Because I’m still trying to learn about and make decisions about my faith, my uncertainty and limited knowledge of my religion make it difficult for me to challenge or correct the often misinformed or offensive Mormon jokes.

Despite the best efforts of our parents, teachers and community leaders to espouse religious and cultural appreciation, there remains social insensitivity and often generalized assumptions based on a lack of knowledge or on a single experience or exposure to a particular religion.

What we don’t recognize as

peers is that this phenomenon occurs between students of every faith, and upbringing.

Whether it is the cultural appropriation of “I have lots of friends who share your ethnicity, so it’s okay,” or assuming that my beliefs reflect those of my entire religion, it is each of our responsibilities to make our school a diverse and inclusive community for those who already face the challenges of cultural isolation outside of school.

So, the next time I walk by and you begin to hum “The Book of Mormon” theme song, know that though it may be music to your ears, it is just another Mormon joke to mine.

HWCHRONICLE.COM/OPINION

MARCH 9, 2016

quadtalk The Chronicle asked:

Making it worth the extra mile

By Sam McCabe

M

y phone buzzes, a generic Apple ringtone. I reluctantly turn it off and sit up. I rub my eyes and stretch out, reaching high up into the air. My feet slowly move towards the bathroom, and I turn on the warm water. I look out the window; it’s dark. My body still thinks it’s night, but no, it is 4:50 a.m., and I have volleyball practice in an hour.

Living 26.9 miles from school is a new experience for me. My last school was a two-minute drive, and all of my friends lived within ten minutes of me.

Now at Harvard-Westlake, it takes me upwards of an hour just to get to school or go home, and most of my friends live an hour away.

The distance between my house and school greatly affects my life. On an average day, I wake up at 5:30 a.m. and leave for the bus at 6 a.m. I go through the school day and have practice after school. Most of the time it is from 7-9 p.m.

At the end of the day, my head hits my pillow at around 11 p.m., just six hours before my next day will start.

When I wake up, my eyes fight the urge to shut and to take a snooze. By the time the school day finally comes to an end, my brain buzzes, feeling the full effects of sleep deprivation.

Those who live far from school know the struggle of riding on a cramped bus for hours each day. The bus drains an hour and a half of my afternoon, and I get off of it feeling drowsy and sore.

Some people are able to get homework done, but I am left nauseated if I read just one page in a book while riding.

My ability to make plans has drastically changed ever since Harvard-Westlake. With home so far away, I need to

make sure plans are concrete and settled, or one of my parents is going to have to drive two hours in Los Angeles traffic to get me. As a result, I end up missing out on social events.

The contrast between elementary school and high school isn’t a change of just academic rigor, but a social challenge. In elementary school, kids usually tend to hang out at school and only sometimes at each other’s houses.

High school ushers in parties and more hanging out with friends in the city. These parties are a major topic in conversation, so missing out on them because distance can directly affect social status.

Having friends all over Los Angeles is also a big advantage. I know I will always have a place to go in a time of trouble both in my hometown and near school. Also, exploring around school helps broaden my view on life.

My hometown is a small city on the beach. If I walk downtown, I can recognize almost a third of the people I see. Everyone knows everyone. Near school it’s like a different state. I barely know anyone and feel like a tourist sometimes.

The point of school is to learn and develop as a person. Not having enough sleep affects this ability to learn and grow and living far away cuts down on the time to sleep.

At the Middle School, they had Rest and Recharge days, which relieved me of all homework and worry of studying. At the Upper School, there exists no such thing.

If I had just one day every few weeks to relax, I think it would immensely lessen the stressful burden known as high school.

“Do the Fanatics equally represent each gender?”

“I think that there is more representation for boys’ games, especially the big-time, premier basketball games.

There is some representation for girls, but there could be more.”

— Griffin Richter ’17 HANNAH CHO/CHRONICLE

“It’s obvious that everyone goes to the boys’ games, and very few people go to girls’ sports events. I think the Fanatics were not doing well with posting.

I think they only emphasized boys’ basketball and nothing else. So it was really just sports that the head Fanatics liked the most, which is unfair. Everyone should get equal representation.”

—Emma Wasserman ’16

O

ne of the things that sets Harvard-Westlake apart from almost every other school is its unbelievably safe environment.

You can leave your laptop or phone unattended with full confidence that it will be there when you return. You can save a seat in the library by leaving your backpack there. Most lockers do not even have locks on them.

I think in part because most people at our school have so much, stealing is not in our culture. When owning a MacBook is the norm, why would someone steal anyone else’s?

I think most students fail to appreciate how unusual this is.

At other schools, careless behavior like leaving electronics or backpacks unattended would be reprimanded.

But at Harvard-Westlake students are actually encour-

aged to leave their belongings unattended, such as when leaving their after-school sports equipment by the gym on their way into school.

In some cases, HarvardWestlake actually enforces rules that leave students no choice but to leave their possessions unattended, such as leaving backpacks outside before entering the cafeteria.

Harvard-Westlake is supposed to prepare you for the real world beyond high school, both academically and emotionally.

And I worry that by creating too safe of an environment, the school is missing the opportunity to teach an important lesson.

Theft is prevalent. The outside world is not as safe as Harvard-Westlake.

We should be learning to care for our belongings and to consciously think about keeping them safe.

HANNAH CHO/CHRONICLE

INFOGRAPHIC BY HANNAH CHO

Safety comes first

By Claudia Wong

OPINION A11

Students at Harvard-Westlake often leave their belongings unattended. However, they should be more mindful and cautious because the real world is not as safe as our community.

It’s a real luxury to not have to constantly worry about someone stealing from you.

At my old school, students would take money out of unattended backpacks. No one brought laptops to school, for fear they would be stolen.

We have a luxury that often gets taken for granted.

The real world is not as conscientious a place as Harvard-Westlake.

I received a rude reminder of this a few weeks ago when my brand new jacket went missing.

While I was at swim practice, I left my new puffy jacket hanging on a hook in the Pool House bathroom, where the other girls and I had been hanging our jackets every other day that month without any problems.

Because it was the norm to leave jackets unattended, I assumed that mine would

be safe.

That day, however, a visiting high school team was sharing our bathroom.

By the time practice was over and I had returned to the bathroom, my jacket was gone.

I had grown so accustomed to the feeling of safety that it hadn’t even occurred to me that someone might steal something that didn’t belong to them.

My first thought was to blame the other team. People at Harvard-Westlake don’t steal. That’s below us.

But I have no way of knowing whether or not the culprit was from our school or from the visiting team. It may have been just a coincidence that the day my jacket was taken was the day the other team was sharing our bathroom.

Either way, I have since learned my lesson about tak-

ing better care of my things.

Being at Harvard-Westlake we forget sometimes that the surrounding world is a very different place.

It’s nice to have the luxury to forget this fact, but it also concerns me for when we enter the real world upon our graduation.

The attitude that many of the students at our school carry toward their belongings is not reflective of that of the rest of the world.

The safety of our school— while being one of its best qualities—is also one of its worst qualities.

It builds a feeling of trust within the community that does not actually exist beyond our campus.

We need to be more aware of the bubble of safety we live in and that we cannot be as trusting of the outside world as we are of the community we currently reside in.

A12

The Golden Ticket

exposure

March 9, 2016

Students performed this year’s dance show , “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” March 4, 5 and 6 in Rugby Auditorium. Performers used dances to depict the ticket winners’ adventures in Willy Wonka’s factory.

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

A SUCKER FOR CHOCOLATE: Alexa Ranger ’16 (Willy Wonka) mimes giving Erick Gredonia ’17 (Charlie Bucket) the key to her Chocolate Factory in one of the final scenes of the dance performance, showing their close relationship.

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

ROLLING ON THE RIVER: Willy Wonka leads golden ticket winners and their family members down the river to her factory. This dance depicted the beginning of the contestants’ journey in the competition.

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

FREE WILLY: Alexa Ranger ’16 (Willy Wonka) ends her time as factory owner in the final dance of the performance to “Pure Imagination.”

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

CANDY CRUSH: Annabel Lassally ’16, Emory Kim ’18, Alexa Ranger ’16, Angel Hoyang ’18 and Madison Froomer ’17 (left to right) dance the salsa.

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

SALTY, THEN SWEET: (Left to right) Oompa Loompas Maddy Harbert ’17, Lizzie Litchmann ’17, Jane Lee ’17 and Kami Cooper ’17 embrace Annabel Lassally ’16 (Veruca Salt) after a dance illustrating her character’s demise.

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

SUGAR RUSH: Erick Gredonia ’17 (Charlie Bucket) expresses his joy in the dance “Charlie is a Message” after Willy Wonka realizes that he is the perfect successor to his candy business and hands down the Chocolate Factory.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Chronicle • March 9, 2016

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF CHERI GAULKE

MOVIE MAGIC: The documentary “Embargo on Love” (left) follows a young, female filmmaker who uses her camera to bring love to the once forbidden island of Cuba.

The scene shows a man playing his trombone. In the music video for “Astro, Naught” by Moollz (right), a woman takes to the skies in her quirky quest to find love.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF CHERI GAULKE

ON THE BIG SCREEN: “The Story of Three Rings: A Memoir of Dana Schwartz” (left) is an animation about Schwartz’s survival in the Holocaust. In “When a Man Texts a Woman” (middle), a boy attempts to find love in modern society. In Lamplight” (right), a boy struggles to sleep while confronted by issues at home and school.

The Best of the West

By SOPHIE COHEN

be screened.

There were 219 total subThe WestFlix Film Festival missions.

The student films are from will screen 15 student films at the ArcLight Cinemas Holly- programs such as the Los Angeles County High School for wood March 18.

The festival celebrates the the Arts, Echo Park Film Cenwork of teen film directors and ter and the Orange County producers from across Califor- School of the Arts.

The films cover an array of nia.

The event will occur from topics, from lottery numbers 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Presenta- to serial murder.

Five of the chosen movtions will begin at 7:00 p.m.

This year, festival directors ies were produced by Harrenamed the “Harvard-West- vard-Westlake students: “Aslake Film Festival” as “West- tro, Naught” by Sacha Lin ’16 and Katie Speare ’16, Flix” to avoid confu“Embargo on Love” by sion over Lauren Rothman ’17, requirements for film “Lamplight” by Jared submissions.

Gentile ’16, “When a Screenwriter and Man Texts a Womproducer Aaron Soran” by Jack Stovitz kin (Roxy ’19) will give ’16 and “The Story of a presentation as the Three Rings: A Memfestival’s guest speakoir of Dana Schwartz” er.

Sorkin’s criti’

by Elly Hong ’17, cally praised works Shannyn Dora Schoenberg ’16 include “The West Schack ’16 and three students Wing,” “Moneyball” from Immaculate and “Steve Jobs.”

“I am really interested Heart and John Adams Middle in what he has to say on his School.

This year’s festival direcwriting process and how writing feature films is different tors are Jack Stovitz ’16, Jenthan writing shorts,” Shannon na Thompson ’16, Tiana Coles ’16, Javier Arango ’16 and Schack ’16 said.

Following Sorkin’s presen- Shannyn Shack ’16.

They were responsible for tation about screenwriting and his career, student films from organizing the event and nar13 schools and programs will rowing the submissions down NATHANSON S

Students will hold their annual WestFlix festival, featuring 15 films, at ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood at 7:00 p.m. March 18.

to the 15 films that will be featured. Students will have the opportunity to converse about their work with other students and learn about the industry from workshops led by professionals.

“I am most looking forward to seeing the other filmmakers’ films because it is fun to see your own film on the big screen, but it is also fun to see what other people have created,” Schoenberg said. “I find it really interesting how all films are so different and what everyone comes up with.”

There will be a cinematography workshop led by Lance Acord, who worked on “Lost in Translation” and “Where the Wild Things Are.” A producing workshop led by either Alexandra Milchan, who produced “Wolf of Wall Street,” or her husband, Scott Lambert, who produced “The Fighter,” will also be offered.

“I hope that with WestFlix, we are able to create an environment in which the talented and diverse group of filmmakers we have assembled are able to both be rewarded for their work and to learn from the work of others,” Arango said.

Additional reporting by Aaron Park ’18 and Kitty Luo ’18

The Selected Films “Lucky Numbers” by Chester Milton “Untitled Documentary Project” by Robert Gordon “Embargo on Love” by Lauren Rothman ’17 “Astro, Naught” by Sacha Lin ’16 & Katie Speare ’16 “Lead and Shrooms” by Max Wehner “When a Man Texts a Woman” by Jack Stovitz ’16 “Whip It” by Ryan Porter & Jaxon Schriever “Dooble - The Small Winged Quail” by Marcus Emery “Lamplight” by Jared Gentile ’16 “The Story of Three Rings: A Memoir of Dana Schwartz”

by Felix Audelo-Ruiz, Juli Freedman, Elly Hong ’17, Carolina Martinez & Dora Schoenberg ’16 “Wolf ” by Bridger Hart & Patrick Verdeja “III” by Izabella Garcia “Dear, America” by Gabrielle Gorman “Daggers and Daguerreotypes” by Natalia Ferrara “Lola & Elaine” by Tia Mayer, Chris Razniak, Piper Conley, Thomas Wade, Jayden Gillespie & Ceren Fitoz INFOGRAPHIC BY TIFFANY KIM

B2 A&E

THE CHRONICLE

Art classes use new furnace

MARCH 9, 2016

By SOPHIE COHEN The arts department recently purchased a glassblowing furnace.

Using the new furnace, students have the capability to shape and blow molten glass more quickly and with more ease. Previously, artists in the glass course and in Three-Dimensional Art III were forming pieces of glass and putting them in a kiln, where the glass would slump and melt. They also practiced sandblasting glass and cutting glass. With the furnace, students can manipulate hot glass and blow glass.

“None of the universities, including Cal Arts, UCLA and other top-ranked art schools have a glass-blowing furnace,” visual arts teacher Dylan Palmer said.

Palmer, a glassblowing artist in his own right for the past 20 years, said he has wanted

SOPHIE COHEN/CHRONICLE

SOPHIE COHEN/CHRONICLE

SOPHIE COHEN/CHRONICLE

THROUGH THE GLASS: Miles McQueen ’16 and Mady Schapiro ’16 talk about the featured glass sculptures displayed in the Feldman-Horn Gallery. The visual arts department recently bought a glass-blowing furnace that the students have been using. the kiln for six years and recently drew up a proposal to purchase one.

“There’s no other material that is so malleable and gives you such immediate results,” Lola Clark ’17 said. “The entire process is mesmerizing,

and the end products are even more incredible.”

Students are exhibiting their glass creations in their own show called “Fluid,” which opened Monday.

“Drawings were done using the glass furnace, so essen-

tially it’s a crucible filled with glass, and what the students did was they scooped some glass out of it and used the heat from the glass to do the drawings on the illustration board,” Palmer said.

While some of the art dis-

plays were made using the kiln, the pieces on display that are clear and wrapped in wire are all blown glass, Palmer said.

“Fluid” will remain on display in the Feldman-Horn Gallery until March 24.

Chamber performers Kimura ’18 learns the kendama sing at choral conference

By ELLY CHOI

By KRISTIN KUWADA

The students performed a 25-minute piece under the diThe Chamber Singers were rection of Guerrero.

This was the third time the selected as one of five high Chamber Singers were school choirs from chosen to perform at hundreds of choirs the Western Division in the western UnitConference in the past ed States to perform 15 years. a concert for the The concert began Western Division with a performance of Conference of the “Hosanna” arranged American Choral Diby Hillsong United rector’s Association and ended with “SolFeb. 27. ’ dier Soldier,” an 18th The performance Rodger century folk song was held at the First Guerrero composed during the United Methodist American Revolution.

Church in Pasadena.

A total of eight pieces were This year’s Chamber Singers earned their position in the presented to the audience of conference after submitting a more than 1,200 choral direcperformance of “Nunc Dimit- tors.

“I think it went well, betis” in St. Saviour’s Chapel. cause in the “Only a performance handful of enwe weren’t sembles from I think it went worried about California, Hawell because in the being too techwaii, Nevada, performance we weren’t nical, which Arizona and Utah are seworried about being too could lead to a downfall,” Taylected among technical, which could lor Jones ’18 hundreds who said. “I think it lead to a downfall.” audition, and was good that the competi—Taylor Jones ’18 we got caught tion at the high up in more of school level the emotional is absolutely fierce,” performing arts teach- side, so we had to sacrifice a er Rodger Guerrero informed couple details for the sake of the music.” his students in an e-mail.

NATHANSON S

“

“The day I landed my first difficult kendama trick was No matter how many times Nov. 29, 2014,” he said. “I felt Yusuke Kimura ’18 repeated so excited and pumped. You’re the same bend of the knees just glad that you finally got it and slight flick of the wrist, he after working so hard.”

Looking at his son, Kaz could not get the wooden ball Kimura sees a mirror image of onto the spike.

This was one of the times himself, tirelessly working and he felt like quitting. He wanted practicing, just to be able to do to break the handheld wooden one move.

Kaz Kimura had also toy called the kendama and played with the kendama stop.

“I really wanted to break when he was his son’s age.

“When I see him play with it,” Kimura said. “I wanted to the kendama, I think back to smash it. I wanted to quit.”

He was on the brink of in- my childhood and remember how I used to sanity. play with it,” Then, as he he said. “I see was about to I can’t wait to that he is takgive up, Kimura see what new things ing on a chaldecided to try I learn in the future. lenge by playone last time.

One...two...

Kendama is only limited ing with the kendama. This three. by the scope of your has grown “I did it,” he imagination.” his patience exclaimed.

“I mental did it!”

—Yusuke Kimura ’18 and fitness, and The Thankshe is gaining giving break more self-conof his freshman year, when Kimura was in Las Vegas, he fidence.”

The kendama originates had the chance to watch a performance by the Jabbawock- from Japan, where Kaz Kimueez. During a break in the ra was born.

“It has a cultural imporconcert, he spotted one of the performers showing off tricks tance because [Kaz] was with a wooden contraption. born there,” Yusuke’s Amy He found out it was a ken- mother dama. The goal was to get the Kimura said. would ball attached with a string “He bring it to onto the spike. and When he returned home, school Kimura became intent on get- play with it. Kids ting his hands on one of his these days have phones, but back own.

Finding one at a Japanese then, he had the kenstore was the easiest part, he dama hanging around his said. Getting his first trick neck. They didn’t know what it was, but he was proud.” down was the hardest.

Likewise, Yusuke Kimura Just to get the simplest trick down, he practiced for is thankful for his talent.

But he still has obstacles more than an hour each day.

Once his body understood to overcome, he said.

After his daily practice, what to do, he could start perKimura is not physically sore. forming harder tricks.

Rather than spend time Rather, the repeated motions on his phone, Kimura spends test his mental strength and time practicing and perfecting emotionally strain him.

“It’s time for a new one,” different skills.

“

Kimura said as he looked down at the battered spike of his first kendama.

A sentimental wave washed over him.

He knew that he had come very far.

That was a year ago. In that year, Kimura has not only added to his collection of tricks but also grown as a person.

“It has really helped with his concentration and confidence,” his mother said. “It’s something he’s good at. Because people don’t know what the kendama is, it creates conversation and allows him to meet and connect with people he would never otherwise have. He’s an inspiration to himself because he made the effort to try it. I’m proud of him.”

Although Kimura said he does not know what he will do with the kendama in the distant future, he knows that as of now, he wants to continue learning new tricks and maybe teach friends and family who want to learn the art.

“I can’t wait to see what new things I learn in the future,” Kimura said. “What I have to say is that kendama is only limited by the scope of y o u r

imagination, and you can never stop learning or getting better because there is so much you can do with it.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ANGELA CHON

March 9, 2016

hwchronicle.com/AE

A&E B3

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PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

GOLDEN PERFORMANCE: Dancers (left) display their golden tickets as the other children plead for them. Annabel Lassally ’16 and Adam Yaron ’16 (top right) show off the golden ticket that they have won. Erick Gredonia ’17 (bottom right), who plays Charlie, celebrates after being given the key to Willy Wonka’s factory.

Dancers perform ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ Ensembles

By Jacqueline Ayestas and Kitty Luo

boy named Charlie, who is portrayed by Erick Gredonia ’17, as he explores Willy WonAdvanced Dance II students ka’s Chocolate Factory with depicted characters such as his elderly grandfather, who is played by James Willy Wonka, Charlie Hansen ’16.

Bucket, Veruca Salt, In dances choMike Teavee, Augusreographed maintus Gloop and Violet ly by students, the Beauregarde during company illustrated their show “Charlie the consequences of and the Chocolate greed and arrogance.

Factory,” inspired by “What I love most Roald Dahl’s novel, in about the show is its ’ Rugby Theater March uniqueness and creAlexa 4-6. ativity,” Joyce Shin Ranger ’16 The show fea’18 said. tured 37 performers, Clad in simple brown outincluding guest dancers from fits, the cast danced to upbeat Advanced Dance I and volun- numbers as children started teer male dancers and teach- to give in to Wonka’s temptaers. tions.

The show follows a young Inspired by the inner worknathanson s

ings of the human brain, the the whole process because we show featured themes such as spent so many long hours with the importance of imagination each other,” Breidsprecher and humility. said.

“Our main goal is to have The dance production the audience bring their imag- concluded with Willy Wonka, ination to the played by Alshow, hence exa Ranger ’16, our plain cospresenting the What I love tumes,” Annekey to his chocmost about the show liese Breidspreolate factory to cher ’18 said.

Charlie, the is its uniqueness and In the most selfless creativity.” weeks prior child. to their show“My favor—Joyce Shin ’18 case, dancers ite thing about rehearsed evthe show was ery weekend, as well as after definitely the bonding expeschool in the last days before rience throughout the entire their show. process,” Breidsprecher said.

“The rehearsals were a “I got so close to everyone huge time commitment and a there, and it’s really helped me work in progress, and we got with my integration into the so much closer throughout school.”

“

Jazz Band to travel to Spain, Portugal on spring break trip

By Josie Abugov Jazz Band students and a select group of Studio Jazz Band seniors will tour Spain and Portugal during spring break.

They will depart from Los Angeles March 25 and travel to Granada, Seville and Lisbon, returning April 3.

The group will be traveling to schools for exchange concerts and activities with Spanish students during the day.

In the evenings, they will perform in theatres or with a jazz choir.

Jazz Band teacher Shawn Costantino, part-time music teacher Matthew Yeakley and Director of Sports Medicine Milo Sini will chaperone the 31 student performers.

“It’s like a supplement to the class time,” Constantino said. “Only four days a week for 45 minutes; it’s hard to make a really great music program [in that amount of time].

When we travel together, we get to be together, talk about music, play music, and we’re

in a new country that most of the kids haven’t been to. We’re stuck on a bus together, so there’s nothing to do but talk about jazz.”

They will begin in Granada, explore the Albayzin and conclude the first day with dinner in a local restaurant. They will continue in Granada with a guided tour of the Alhambra palace, an excursion to the Costa del Sol and the first concert performance. “[I’m excited about] just getting to bond with the class,” Jazz Band member Melanie Hirsh ’18 said. “I’m in a combo with some people from Studio Jazz, so I don’t get to play with them everyday. So it’s definitely a good experience to play with different and new people.”

The performers will continue their tour in Seville, stopping in Cordoba for a guided tour and a concert at the Seville music conservatory.

After another day of sightseeing, they will participate in a rehearsal with local jazz artists and a joint concert at the Seville music conservatory.

“Aside from being excited practice time, he hopes the exabout seeing these great cities, tra rehearsals will allow stuI am very excited to be able dents to bond before the trip. to play and perform in them,” “It’s a very extracurricular Ben Weinman ’17 said. “I am thing,” Constantino said. “The most looking forward to expe- parents come. We’ll have panriencing a real tour and what cakes and French toast. Then that is like. I love to play and we rehearse from [10 a.m. to 1 perform jazz and think all will p.m.],” Costantino said. go well.”

Jazz Band Lisbon will will also perbe the final I don’t think the form at Vibradestination, to Grill Jazz jazz program would be March 20. and after two days of sightThe proas good as it is if we seeing in the ceeds from didn’t travel.”

Portugese capthat perforital and a clos—Shawn Constantino mance, which ing concert, Jazz Band teacher is open to the Jazz Band will public, will go return home. toward finanIn preparation for the up- cial aid for the trip. coming trip, Costantino has In his 10 years with the been holding weekly Sunday Harvard-Westlake music prorehearsals since Jan. 15. gram, Costantino has led sev“I have three jazz combos eral trips abroad. and a 20-piece big band, so we “I think that as part of the really have four independent overall educational experience bands going,” Constantino for the kids here, it’s very imsaid. “We’re playing almost 50 portant,” Costantino said. “I pieces of music. There’s a lot don’t think the jazz program to do.” would be as good as it is if we In addition to getting more didn’t travel.”

“

to collaborate in Europe

By Katie Plotkin Chamber Singers will tour Poland and Germany March 29 to April 9.

“I’m super excited,” Elizabeth Gaba said. “I feel like we’re such a tight-knit group already, and I’m really looking forward to getting even closer and experiencing Germany and Poland together.”

While they are in Poland and Germany, Chamber Singers will be performing and working with multiple choirs at many of the schools that they will visit. “[I enjoy] experiencing new things through [my students’] eyes because they are always fresh, fun and excited,” choir director Rodger Guerrero said.

“It makes me feel alive to see that.”

One of the many locations at which the singers will be performing is Auschwitz.

“We are actually going to try and create some beauty by singing some songs in Hebrew there,” Guerrero said. “I’m looking forward to all the music, and I’m looking forward to how life changing that’s going to be.”

Chamber Singers will be singing 15 songs in their concerts and exchanges throughout the trip.

“My favorite song is definitely, ‘Noche de Lluvia,’ mainly because the chords in it are so tight and intricate, and the lyrics are so passionate,” Gaba said. “I think we sound great on it, and I think it’ll sound even better in the venues we will be singing at.”

In addition to Chamber Singers, Jazz Singers has prepared five songs for the trip. “[I look forward to singing at Auschwitz because] being able to see it and make music, something beautiful, in a place that has seen so much death and evil is really moving,” Abby Shaum ’16 said.

B4 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Writing Up a Storm

“I was inspired to write [my play] by my experiences in high school and by observing people my age and how they interact. I’m very excited to see how it turns out, and all the other plays as well, not to mention the Jazz Explorers.”

—Jared Gentile ’16

THE CHRONICLE

“I went to the read-through for the play, and the actors are amazing. They are perfect, and it was just incredible to be sitting there seeing it all come to life. I’m so appreciative of everything the actors and directors have done. It’s going to be amazing getting to see it all come to life with real people. ” —Sabrina de Brito ’17

A 34-member committee led by performing arts teacher and Playwrights Festival producer Christopher Moore chose 13 student-written plays out of 32 submissions to be performed April 28-30 in Rugby Theatre.

“Our play is about three friends who get in the habit of lying to their local newspaper, but one of their sisters gets in the way, and they have to deal with the consequences. We were really inspired

by William Faulkner, Brett Steffensen and Robert Diggs. ” —Henry Roskin ’16

Top row (left to right): Josh Friedman ’16, Henry Roskin ’16, Jack Stovitz ’16, Jillian Sanders ’17, Jenny Lange ’17

Bottom row (left to right): Kenneth Noble ’16, Gillian Gurney ’17, Jesse Nadel ’17, Sammi Handler ’17, Sabrina de Brito ’17, Sakura Price ’18, Jared Gentile ’16, Chloe Shi ’16, Dylan Schiffrin ’16.

Not pictured: Kitty Luo ’18, Emma Kofman ’16

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

MARCH 9, 2016

The Plays

“Adoption”

by Gillian Gurney ’17 and Jesse Nadel ’17

“As the Seasons Change”

by Jenny Lange ’17

“Dark”

by Kitty Luo ’18

“Delayed”

by Sammi Handler ’17

“Girl Meets Boy and No One Cares”

by Jared Gentile ’16

“Gwendolyn”

by Dylan Schifrin ’16

“If You Squeeze Your Eyes Shut You Can See It Happening”

by Emma Kofman ’16

“Legat”

by Kenneth Noble ’16

“One Annoying Sister”

by Josh Friedman ’16, Henry Roskin ’16 and Jack Stovitz ’16

“The 1997 Possession Park Massacre”

by Jillian Sanders ’17

“The Hidden Empire”

by Sabrina de Brito ’17

“The Kimono”

by Sakura Price ’18

“When the Sun and the Moon Stood Still”

by Chloe Shi ’16

FEATURES The Chronicle • March 9, 2016

With or Without Religion Religious and secular students alike observe Lent, the 40day period when many Christians fast or give up luxuries.

However, some partake in Lent not for its religious significance but as an opportunity for self-improvement.

By SHARON CHOW AND PIM OTERO Every year when Ash Wednesday comes around, people emerge from St. Saviour’s Chapel after a service with the ashes of palm leaves on their foreheads, marking the start of the Lent.

There are both religious and secular students who observe Lent, the 40-day period

when Christians prepare for Easter Sunday through fasting and service. Seventeen percent of the world’s adult population participates in Lent, the majority of which are Catholics or Protestants, according to the website of the Barna Group, a research and resource company on faith and culture.

Ash Wednesday is most commonly the first day many Christians give up a good,

habit or vice in recognition of the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert. Lauren Weetman ’16 and her mother are giving up sugar, and her brother is giving up Youtube videos. “[Lent] can be perceived as a way to give up something that you normally wouldn’t have the willpower to do or • Continued on page C2

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SACHA LIN

C2 FEATURES

THE CHRONICLE

MARCH 9, 2016

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SHARON CHOW AND SACHA LIN

“The real intention, really, is to focus more on God.” the church and that sort of Wednesday is to remind us of Others partake in Lent thing at the two parishes we our humanity,” Father Young alongside friends. you wouldn’t normally give up go to. Sometimes I get my stu- said. “It is a humbling experi“A friend of mine gave up [but] that you know has a neg- dents involved. I’ll collect ei- ence.” all drinks other than water ative influence on you,” Weet- ther food or small donations Ash Wednesday services this year, and I know he’s man said. “It can also serve to contribute to a food have always been not really religious,” Shannyn as a reminder to yourself that bank.” held on the upper Schack ’16 said. “It’s just like when you really want a cookHowever, some no school campus due [he’s participating in a] chalie, or in the case of my broth- longer view Lent as to the religious affil- lenge with me.” er, really want to watch those primarily a time of iation of the school.

Like Schack, a friend of other video game Youtube spiritual purification.

“We had a really Nunley is observing Lent to shows, you’re giving it up for “For most people, good turnout for Ash provide her with “moral supJesus and it’s all for a cause. the common question Wednesday on both port,” though Nunley said she In our daily lives, it’s a slight you get asked as a campuses,” Young would rather observe Lent by reminder of our faith.”

Christian is ‘What did said.

“It’s interestherself. ’ Courtney Nunley ’17 has you give up for Lent?’” ing that it has be“I would prefer to particiLauren observed Lent since she was Father James Young come the single most pate [in Lent] independently Weetman ’16 10 or 11 years old. said. “And I think it well-attended time because it gives the most gen“My mom had always prac- has perverted the original in- for people to go to our chapel uine outcome of how far I can ticed Lent, so I observed it for tent of Lent because for a lot on Ash Wednesday. In terms push myself to keep going,” a while before I started,” Nun- of people, Lent has become of religious acts, Ash Wednes- Nunley said. ley said. “I eventually asked to a convenient time to diet, or day has definitely become the Although Lent is not alparticipate when I was older to give up smoking or to do primary choice in terms of ways celebrated in its purest because it was hard for me things in their life that they number of people that attend.” sense, Young said he believes to participate in something I know darn well they should be An increased number of recognition of the religious didn’t really understand the doing anyhow, and it becomes secular stupractice is alreligious ima convenient dents have beways benefiplications of. I time to do it. gun to practice cial in that it For a lot of people, calls attention think I gave up I would prefer That detracts Lent alongside candy the first from what the their Christian to Christian to participate [in Lent] real intention counterparts. Lent has become a morals. time.” independently because is. The real in- Carlos Guanche convenient time to diet, Instead “I’m hapof giving up it gives the most genuine tention, real- ’16 has ob- or to give up smoking, py whenever a good, habit ly, is to focus served Lent the anybody celeoutcome of how far I more on God.” past three years or to do things in their brates Lent,” or vice, some life that they know darn Father Young can push myself to keep Christians do Y o u n g as motivation to well they should be said. “I don’t more charitahas led Ash eat healthier. going.” ble work and Wednesday “[I started to really care doing anyhow.”

—Courtney Nunley ’17 services pray more freat participate in how they do —James Young it. I’m not a quently.

St. Saviour’s Lent] because “[My famChapel for 19 it provided an Chaplain purist, and ily and I] just try to do extra years. While marking a fore- excuse to betI’m just hapservice,” upper school histo- head with an ashen cross, he ter myself,” py to see peory teacher Gregory Gonzalez has always said, “Remember Guanche said. “It’s like when ple in this community or any said. “We don’t really give up that you are but dust and to you give yourself a deadline to community recognizing Lent, candy or anything like that. dust you shall return.” motivate yourself to do some- even if I would say they’re misWe try to do extra help with “The significance of Ash thing.” understanding a little bit.”

• Continued from page C1

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Percent on Lent

63 out of 415 students said they observe Lent.

The Chronicle polled 415 students about their experiences with Lent.

30 students said they are giving up some type of food for Lent.

24 students said they are giving up a bad habit for Lent.

SOURCE: MARCH 5-6 CHRONICLE POLL OF 415 STUDENTS GRAPHIC BY SHARON CHOW

MARCH 9, 2016

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FEATURES C3

Different Demons

Though everyone experiences stress in their lives, not everyone is afflicted with anxiety. Anxiety causes such buildup of stress that the only release is a crash.

By EMILY RAHHAL

big game if you’re an athlete, it can happen before a test, beSpencer* ’16 stands out- fore an ACT, before anything, side her classroom waiting to and it actually mobilizes your take one of her many tests of system to fight.”

Different magnitudes of the day, knowing she will not do well. The stress of mul- stress are described using tiple tests always results in words that seem interchangethe same thing: doing badly able: fear, stress, anxiety and on one test for the sake of the pressure. But each of these others. Anticipating the disap- feelings elicits a unique repointment from her teacher, sponse. Fear is generally a feeling of dread overwhelms stress experienced the moSpencer. The worry extends ment something traumatic far beyond sitting and taking is occurring. Anxiety, on the the test itself; Spencer quickly other hand, is generally stress feels ashamed that the task at experienced outside of the window of when something hand is impossible.

“It’s always very preemp- stressful occurs. For example, anxiety can be tive,” Spencer experienced said. “I’ll feel about a converbad the night It’s easy to think sation that has before or the morning bethat feeling anxiety and happened or is yet to come, or fore, and I’ll get stress is normal. But, in the night bethis dread that fact, there are outliers fore a big perwill force me formance or to act in ways which are more serious evaluation. that are differand need to be treated.”

“If you get ent, like not going to school, —Spencer* ’16 your test back, you open it, [because] of you see a Canxiety.” and your body It feels normal for all the people around campus to feel [jumps], that’s fear. You’re reanxious and overwhelmed in ally afraid of that grade,” Bek the “pressure-cooker” envi- said. “Anxiety is when you are ronment at Harvard-Westlake, studying for the test, and the Spencer said, but for her, it’s actuality of the test or bad a little different. She was diag- grade is not there; it’s just the nosed with an anxiety disor- hypothetical that it can hapder in 9th grade. While a little pen.”

Anxiety and stress are enbit of anxiety over day-to-day occurrences can push her tirely different feelings. Stanfriends to do better, it can be ford University’s associate chair of psychiatry and behavcrippling for Spencer. “[Stress and anxiety are] ioral sciences David Spiegel normalized at school,” Spen- told the Huffington Post that cer said. “But in fact, there are with stress, it is easy to identioutliers which are more seri- fy what is causing the feeling of uneasiness. With anxiety, it is ous and need to be treated.”

Everyone experiences more difficult to define where stress and anxiety in their dai- the anxious reaction is coming ly life, counselor and human- from, and soon the anxious ities teacher Luba Bek said. A reaction becomes a new cause big test or a date with some- for anxiety.

Stress is triggered by one cute, even a meeting with a teacher can trigger a loss of something externally disturbsleep and focus. Eighty per- ing, while anxiety comes from cent of 407 students polled a situation that is not being diMarch 6 by the Chronicle said rectly experienced. According that they experienced moder- to MedlinePlus, chronic acute ate to severe stress every day, stress can lead to an anxiety while 57 percent of students disorder. “[Anxiety] is something polled said that they experithat people don’t really reence anxiety every day.

This every-day anxiety is alize is super distressing for completely normal, Bek said, the person who actually has as long as it’s released before a clinical anxiety disorder, as a new stress-inducing process opposed to someone who is begins. The trouble is when just really stressed out,” peer the anxiety is not normalized support trainee and abnormal and it builds up so high the psyche student Kent Sheridan only option is to completely ’17 said.

There are many different crash, causing a more severe types of disorders which fall state of anxiety.

“Anxiety about what’s go- under the category of anxiety ing to happen is normal,” Bek disorders. The most commonsaid. “It can happen before a ly known are Obsessive Com-

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ILLUSTRATION BY VIVIAN LIN

pulsive Disorder, Generalized year. While she doesn’t expect Anxiety Disorder and Social everyone to completely underAnxiety Disorder. According to stand her situation, the collothe National Institute of Men- quial usage of words like ‘anxtal Health, anxiety disorders ious’ and ‘panic attack’ can are the most common mental be upsetting and confusing illness in the United States; to people who have diagnosed they affect 25 percent of 13- anxiety disorders. to 18-year-old Americans.

“A common misconception Twenty-two percent of Har- with anxiety is just that everyvard-Westlake students polled one’s anxious,” Ingman said. reported that they have been “Last year there were a lot of diagnosed with an anxiety dis- times when I would [think], order.

‘It’s true, everyone is anxious, Anxiety can be confusing to and I just can’t handle it.’ ” people who suffer from clinical At a school like Haranxiety, as well. It’s a disorder vard-Westlake, stress levels that manifests itself physically are a hot topic. Students use as well as psychologically. Ac- reasons such as lack of sleep cording to the Anxiety and De- and extreme stress to expression Association plain why their work of America, people turned out the way it with General Anxiety did or to display the Disorder commonadversity they overly experience muscle came to complete tension, fatigue and their work. Anxiety the feeling of being can be helpful for tense or on edge for many people in mono apparent reason. tivating them to get ’ These symptoms can their work done. ClinLuba Bek be distracting; many ical anxiety, however, students who suffer it can make everyday from anxiety often see grades life so difficult that it becomes and relationships deteriorat- isolating, Spencer said. ing.

“For me, anxiety is para“In my relationship last lyzing,” Spencer said. “It’s not year, I used to get really para- productive at all because it’s noid a lot,” Taylor Ingman ’16 such a heightened version of said. “I would read into things it. So that’s sometimes where a lot. If you’re with someone I feel alienated.” who can’t really wrap their Anxiety is treatable. For head around that, it can be re- clinical anxiety, there are medally perplexing.” ications that can be taken to Ingman was diagnosed control daily anxiety and panwith General Anxiety Disorder ic attacks. However, it can be the summer before her junior difficult to come forward and NATHANSON S

ask for help when dealing with anxiety, Ingman said. She encourages students to use the resources available to them on campus like the counselors.

“Even assemblies like the suicide assembly, even if it’s not going to be a soapbox lecture about [suicide], just the guy getting up there and sharing his stories says that this is real, this is out there, and you can be dealing with this,” Ingman said.

Assemblies like this can begin conversation on campus about mental health, which leads to a greater awareness and a loss of the stigma surrounding mental health on campus, Ingman said.

A greater understanding of mental health disorders such as anxiety can lead to a more accepting student body, Sheridan said.

After taking an abnormal psychology class and training as a Peer Support Trainee, Sheridan has been able to apply the lessons he learns in class to the people around him on campus.

“Not just at Harvard-Westlake, but in general, there is a huge stigma about mental health and psychological disorders because people don’t really know that much about them,” Sheridan said. “Being exposed to issues like [anxiety], you really develop a mindset where you are more accepting.” *Names have been changed.

THE CHRONICLE MARCH

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junior at a Los Angeles area high school, Zaria* remembers how her mother used to measure her waist and compare it to her own.

“If we were close, she would be really excited,” Zaria said. “I thought it was like a competition.”

For Zaria, dieting and body consciousness are very familiar concepts.

“My family works in the film industry, which is very oriented around weight loss,” Zaria said. “A lot of our family friends are concentrated on that. I grew up around it.”

As she got older, Zaria began to notice the extreme diets her parents used to lose weight.

“My dad did the Angelina Jolie [diet], where you put cayenne pepper in lemon juice and you only drink that for a week,” said Zaria, who added that she thinks the environment she grew up in contributed to her eating disorder.

Extreme diets are characteristic of eating disorders, but they are also prevalent among teenagers who try to lose weight quickly.

Zaria started to develop pre-Anorexic-type eating habits in sixth grade and later began making herself throw up regularly, which ultimately led to her diagnosis of bulimia

nervo year.

“I thing find m that a would that d one p did c only g red or Wh use guid they line, like Z Gertru come their ets, o knowi their h simila assoc eating Ge tried ercise never she m order.

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Although many students will try a diet at some point in their lives, some students choose to go on severe diets that can be detrimental to their health.

osa during her freshman

come from a number of sources that include an internal started doing this weird need for control and outside that I sometimes still influences like friends or unmyself doing, which was realistic body expectations at the end of the day, I promoted in the media, said d think about what I ate Michelle Carlson, executive diday and if it would fit on rector at the national hotline plate,” Zaria said. “I also Teen Line. colors, like one day I’m “It’s just important to do evgoing to eat stuff that’s erything in moderation,” Carlr yellow or blue.” son said. “Especially if you’re a hile some teen and you’re dieting already at a delines healthy weight, Seeing fad diets find onextreme diothers eting can be promoted left and right Zaria and very dangerous brings back a nostalgia and sometimes ude* ’17 for that addicting, but up with even leads to own dieating disorfalse sense of safety.” often not ders.”

—Christine* ’17 ing that Talking habits are about extreme ar to those diets can ofciated with disordered ten be harmful for those like g.

Christine* ’17 who are in reertrude, who at first just covery for their eating disorto eat healthier and ex- der. e to lose weight, said she “I honestly don’t know how admitted to herself that I even made it this far in my might have an eating dis- recovery with the amount of . diet talk I hear around me,” I was very in denial,” Ger- Christine said. “Despite almost said. “I did my own ver- killing me, [my eating disorder] of an extreme diet, but I was above all a coping mecht really follow anything. anism and an addiction, and uld have very restricted seeing fad diets promoted left ons, and then at night and right brings back a nostaluld have to sleep on my gia for that addicting, but false ach because I would go to sense of safety.” nd still be hungry. It was With discussions about of suppressing hunger.” extreme diets, it is important ressure to be thin can for people to be aware of their

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surroundings and realize how When Crosson’s cross their words can affect others, country coach suggested a diet Carlson said. for his runners that focused “We wouldn’t talk about on minimizing chemicals and how much we drank if we refined sugars, she jumped on knew someone is an alcoholic, board and wound up continuand we don’t make jokes about ing the diet even after the seasexual assault,” Carlson said. son was over.

“So why do we continue to ca“It was really a ‘you don’t sually mention our diets, our have to do this, but it would weight and other potentially be good for you if you did,’ ” triggering things?”

Crosson said. “It actually enWhen Christine was strug- couraged us to eat more—our gling with her eating coach encouraged disorder, she would us to eat five times a frequent online foday—so I was never rums that discussed hungry once. It was weight loss diets. more that I felt better.

“I tried all of them, I felt healthier, just every single one I because I wasn’t eatcould get my hands ing lots of Cheetos.” on in a desperate atCyra’s diet for tempt to lose weight,” ballet is similar. It ’ Christine said. “It consists mainly of Casey Crosson ’17 only led to me feelavoiding desserts ing really undernourand processed carboished, uncontrollably binging hydrates found in foods like as a result, and trying to find a bread and pasta, and while way to purge.” her studio does not track or She specifically remem- enforce her diet, she does feel bers reading that mono diets, pressure to be thin for her where people only eat one type sport. of food for several days, and “Especially before a show the 2-4-6-8 diet, where in five- or competition, [my teachers day cycles, people eat 200, are] like ‘you need to fit in your 400, 600, 800 calories per day costume,’ ” Cyra said. “It’s just and then fast, were the most always that you can be thinpopular. ner, which is really annoying, Some teenagers like balle- and it’s especially hard berina Cyra ’16 and runner Ca- cause not everyone has a thin sey Crosson ’17 are encour- body type. It’s kind of sad that aged to adopt restrictive diets when you’re in ballet, you’re to improve their athletic per- looked down upon if you’re not formance. skinny.”

NATHANSON S

While Cyra has never done anything unhealthy or taken her diet to an extreme, she knows people who have.

“A lot of people just drink a ton of water, and this girl that I knew, she would drink a ton of coffee because it would make you go to the bathroom,” Cyra said. “A lot of people, I realized, do Adderall because it’s also an appetite suppressant.”

However, there are also checks in place to ensure that dancers get help once the teachers notice that they seem unhealthy or unnaturally thin.

“At my studio right now, nobody has an eating disorder, and at most of the summer programs I’ve gone to, they haven’t either because it’s a big liability,” Cyra said. “Usually if you’re unnaturally skinny, they will send you home.”

Ultimately, it is important to recognize that it can be incredibly dangerous for teenagers to adopt risky diets, Carlson said.

For Zaria, looking back on her years of disordered eating fills her with regret.

“It makes me just really annoyed because there are so many other things you could be focusing on right now,” Zaria said. “And it is kind of sad, too, because most of the time, you don’t look bad. Also, nobody’s perfect, so it doesn’t even matter.” *Names have been changed.

SOURCE: MARCH 5-6 CHRONICLE POLL OF 415 STUDENTS GRAPHIC BY ISABELLE ESHRAGHI

C6 FEATURES

THE CHRONICLE

MARCH 9, 2016

ILLUSTRATION BY VIVIAN LIN

Worried Sick ticed that when she misses school for shorter time periWhen Phoebe Sanders ’17 ods, it is more difficult to catch went to the emergency room at up since she has less time.

“It’s so hard to make up UCLA Medical Center last year for a 104-degree fever, one work when you come back of her first thoughts was, “At if you miss school,” Shauna Hannani ’18 said. “I’d rather least now I can take a break.”

The doctors told Sanders be at school getting work done than miss school and have to that she had conmake it up at home, tracted pneumoget notes from somenia and that her illone and be behind.” ness was most likely Dr. Shakti Soni, a caused by stress, pediatrician at Brentsomething Sanders wood Pediatrics, said said she had become that she frequently very familiar with sees students push during her “daunting” themselves to attend sophomore year. ’ school despite their “Back then, I’d Phoebe sickness and despite stay up super late Sanders ’17 her advice to rest. stressing out over lit“In my practice, tle quizzes and trivial things,” Sanders said. “So I often find that it is the students themselves who are remaybe that’s why I got sick.”

Students often attend sisting their parents’ requests school when they’re not feel- to stay at home and rest,” Soni ing well due to concerns about said. “They feel the pressure to missing class and having to continue to attend school and deal with the stress of making keep up with their curriculum up missed work, attendance so that they can maintain their coordinator Gabe Preciado grades.”

The student handbook adsaid.

When Sanders had pneu- vises students to stay home monia, she had to miss three and rest when they feel unweeks of school and was scared well, adding that they should about the prospect of making do so especially if they are experiencing a “fever of 100 up all her missed work.

To her surprise, she found degrees or higher, persistent that teachers were very ac- or severe cough, persistent or commodating to her situation. severe headache, severe sore After missing an entire unit throat, an undiagnosed rash in history, her teacher let her or a concussion or concussion write an essay on the subject symptoms not under the care and treatment of a physician.” instead of taking a test.

Most students try to follow However, Sanders has no-

By LAYLA MOGHAVEM

NATHANSON S

When dealing with a full courseload, some students choose school over missing class to recuperate. However, this pattern of behavior often has consequences. these guidelines, saying that helpful [when students miss the grading period for the first they will come to school with a school], but it’s just so hard to quarter, there is generally an cold, but not a fever. catch up that it doesn’t really increased number of tests, However, coming to school matter.” quizzes and assignments due, with even milder sicknesses Student absences tend to which Preciado believes may like colds can still be harmful rise and fall at the same times, be the cause of the drop in atto one’s health, and, moreover, which could be a result of stu- tendance. these illnesses are contagious dents coming to school with Similarly, in the week beand can spread to others on contagious illnesses, Precia- fore midyear assessments this campus, Soni said. do said. Last year, there were year, illness-related absences “[When you are sick], your 1,669 student absencrose to 103 from 90 body is actively using up all es due to illnesses the previous week. its energy stores to fight off from the beginning of During the week of an infection, so when you re- school to Feb. 13. This assessments, howmain physically active, you year, during that same ever, there were only further deplete your metabol- period of time, the nine absences due to ic resources,” Soni said. “This number of illness-reillness. means that yes, it will take lated absences was Though Sanders longer for you to recover from 1,783, an increase of is in her junior year, your illness. Another reason to about seven percent. which often presents ’ stay at home during an acute However, Preciado a heavier workload Gabe Preciado phase of an illness is one of a said he believes most than sophomore public health concern and to of the illness-related absences year, she said that she now prevent you from being con- have a higher correlation with lets herself stay home and rest tagious and spreading your stress than with contagion, when she’s not feeling well, afgerms to your classmates.” like in Sanders’ case. He said ter seeing the consequences of In addition, he notices a pushing herself too hard. students find greater number She found that her grades that they have of illness-re- had not been ruined by her abI draw the line a harder time lated absences sence. Coming back to school when I can hardly walk concentrating during weeks and catching up was “quite up the stairs or barely and doing well where there are easy,” she said, with the math in class when more academ- and history departments being open my eyes.” they’re sick, ic obligations. especially accommodating.

—Anneliese He but they feel believes “I think my experience that attending Breidsprecher ’18 that the stress actually made me less nerclass is worth of those times vous [about missing school] their hindered makes it easier because it’s like, ‘Okay, so I abilities and the risk it poses for them to get sick. made it through missing three to their health as well as that During the last week of first weeks. I can miss two days of others. quarter this year, the num- now,’ ” Sanders said. “In the “I draw the line when I can ber of illness-related student end, [missing three weeks of hardly walk up the stairs or absences rose to 122, more school] wasn’t bad. It was kind barely open my eyes,” Anne- than double the 52 absenc- of a blessing and a curse beliese Breidsprecher ’18 said. “I es from the previous week. cause I was able to finally redo think teachers are slightly Since that week is the end of lax.”

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Helping Hands Many students find that volunteering at a hospital is a way to get community service hours, learn more about the medical profession and make a difference.

BY JESSE NADEL AND JEAN SANDERS

act with them,” Hong said. “It’s something I would never be able to experience unless I was Every Wednesday after- volunteering at the hospital.”

As part of her weekly rounoon, Ashley Frey ’17 puts on her uniform and teen vol- tine, Hong will assist nurses unteer badge and spends two and run errands for patients, hours visiting patients at Ce- bringing them food, water and dars-Sinai Medical Center in personal items such as hairLos Angeles. Throughout the brushes, socks and playing course of each day, she will cards that they would not have bring them water, flowers and otherwise.

“The other day I got water magazines, but most importantly, she will give them her for a woman who had cancer,” Hong said. “She was extremely time.

“Talking to patients is re- nice and grateful and thanked ally important because a lot me for the volunteer work I do, of times they are really lonely which was really rewarding.”

Student volunteers at Hunand don’t have anything to do,” Frey said. “Having someone to tington Hospital in Pasadena talk to makes them feel sup- provide over 35,000 hours of ported during a hard time in service each year in over 60 their lives. It’s really rewarding different areas of the hospital, providing to know that I a monetary can make a pavalue estimattient’s day betTalking to ed to be over ter just by being $750,000, said there for them.” patients is really JohnFrey is not important. It’s rewarding Mary stone, the stuthe only stuto know that I can make dent volunteer dent to volsupervisor at unteer at the their day better just by the hospital. hospital. Many being there for them.”

In addition students spend their time help—Ashley Frey ’17 to being able to help paing out at vartients, many ious hospitals throughout Los Angeles. The students volunteer because reasons why each student de- they are interested in pursuing a career in medicine. Their cides to volunteer vary.

Carolyn Hong ’17 has been time volunteering allows them volunteering at Cedars since to see the inner workings of October because she enjoys a hospital by interacting with the opportunity to help those doctors and nurses and comgoing through an illness or pleting administrative work.

“Volunteering in a hospital surgery and finds that volunteering at a hospital is a re- has taught me how hard evwarding way to get communi- eryone in a hospital works and ty service hours while giving how long the hours are, especially for doctors and nurses,” back, she said.

“It’s really nice to be able to Kevin Wesel ’17said.

Although Wesel is also entalk to the patients and inter-

“

rolled in AP science courses at never encounter in her life. school, he said that working in “I spoke to a Holocaust the hospital allows him to see survivor,” Frey said. “It was the real world applications of good to actually connect with a the theories that he learns in person who had been through the classroom. so much.”

“I get to observe the daily Other students find that work of doctors and see as- while the work is rewarding, signments getting done, which the bureaucracy of a hospital is really helpful since it could can get in the way of patient help me decide whether I want interactions. to go into a medical field later “I learned that a lot of pain life,” Wesel said. tient-hospital interaction was One of the main reasons more formal and policy-cento volunteer at a hospital is tered than empathetic, which to gain a deeper understand- makes sense logistically but ing of the way that a hospital isn’t something I completely runs, Johnstone said. realized prior to spending so “One reason students vol- much time at the hospital,” unteer is definitely for career said Nicole Araya ’16, who exposure,” Johnstone said. has been volunteering at Hun“Students are trying to figure tington Hospital for two years. out what they want to do as “Volunteers are not allowed a career, and getting them- to interact much with the paselves into the envitients because of ronment and seeing liabilities, and a lot the daily operations of of the time I found a hospital and the job myself more afraid duties that come with of doing something specific careers is way wrong with potenmore eye-opening and tially devastating beneficial than reading consequences than a book or seeing it on excited about makTV.” ing a difference.” ’ Volunteers are also Some volunCarolyn able to develop relateer simply because Hong ’17 tionships with patients they’re passionate who are there for longer peri- about helping others. ods of time.

“I truly believe that our “One time I talked to a youth are more philanthropwoman every week for over a ic that we think,” Johnstone month,” Frey said. “She was said. “It’s amazing to me the waiting for a heart transplant, number of students who come and one week when she wasn’t to volunteer for no other reathere, I learned that she had son except to help. They aren’t successfully received the interested in the medical field, heart, which was such a cool and they haven’t had any exthing to be a part of.” periences with hospitals in the One of Frey’s favorite parts past, but they want to help of volunteering at the hospital other people, and they feel that is her ability to interact with the sick are the most in need people who she would usually of that.”

NATHANSON S

“

Volunteering in a hospital has taught me how hard everyone in a hospital works and how long the hours are.”

—Kevin Wesel ’17

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JEAN SANDERS

C8 FEATURES

THE CHRONICLE

MARCH 9, 2015

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ESHANIKA CHAUDHARY

Double Identification Students with dual citizenship are able to travel more easily to visit friends and relatives overseas. Multiple citizenships also help students connect with their alternate cultures.

By LIZ YOUNT

not officially recognize dual citizenship.

Despite his ability to live When traveling to foreign countries, Gabriel Jenkin- permanently and work in three son ’16 has the choice to go other countries, Jenkinson through border security either said he plans to remain in the as an American or Italian cit- United States because of the izen. In approximately three increased opportunity here.

“I have the strongest conmonths, he will also receive his Canadian passport, pro- nection to the U.S. because viding him yet another possi- I’ve represented [the country] ble identity when exploring the before for track and field before I came to Harglobe. vard-Westlake and “I got my Canadialso because I’ve lived an passport because here the longest,” I applied to a college Jenkinson said. in Canada, and it was Science teacher much cheaper,” JenNadine Eisenkolb, kinson said. “I also originally from Gerhave to use my Italian many, does not have passport anywhere in U.S. citizenship and Italy because people ’ instead possesses a [dislike] Americans.”

Gabriel green card, a permit Jenkinson is also Jenkinson ’16 that allows a foreign a natural born citinational to live and zen of Jamaica and Canada, which means that his work in the U.S. She plans to mother and father have citi- become a dual citizen in the zenship in these countries, re- future.

“I feel strong loyalty that spectively.

With no official registry I am truly a dual citizen, and tracking the number of Amer- as soon as I am eligible to apicans who hold multiple cit- ply for dual citizenship, I will izenship, it is estimated that apply for it,” Eisenkolb said. anywhere from one million to “While all of my cultural backthree million dual citizens live ground and childhood was in the United States, according lived in Germany, I’ve lived my entire adult life in the United to the U.S. State Department.

While the U.S. Citizen and States.”

Eisenkolb moved from GerImmigration Services defines dual citizenship as “a person many to study at a college in who is a national of two coun- the U.S. “I decided there were a tries at the same time,” the U.S. State Department does lot of beautiful places where NATHANSON S

you could go scuba diving side of the freeway saying, plans to get a European Union and study marine biology at ‘Last exit in the U.S.’ I missed passport for either Poland the same time, as opposed to the exit, and then I was driving or Lithuania, countries from northern Germany, which is straight towards the [Mexican] which his great grandparents very cold,” Eisenkolb said. “I border.” came, because proof of anceslooked at English-speaking Eisenkolb said she was ex- tral lineage qualifies American places, and I decided to go to tremely concerned becitizens to obtain the University of Hawaii, and I cause she was still on passports in some never left [the U.S.].” a temporary visa and European countries.

Before receiving her green did not have the propSneider said he card, Eisenkolb had a U.S. er identification to get may use his Mexivisa, which only allowed her back into the United can passport when temporary residence in the States. he attends the 2018 country.

“I played it through World Cup in Rus“Now that I have a green several times and had sia, since relations ’ card, when I come back [bor- multiple international between the U.S. and Eitán der agents] say ‘Welcome phone calls to people Russia have suffered Sneider ’17 home,’” Eisenkolb said. “And in the United States since the Ukrainian that’s really nice because I do and to my mother in border conflict. feel like I’m home here. It’s Germany,” Eisenkolb said.

“Considering the inconsisgreat to hear “ W o r s t - c a s e tency of U.S. diplomatic relasomeone say scenario, I tions with Russia, it might be that.” would’ve had beneficial going to Russia as a Although Now that I have a to have gone to Mexican citizen, as opposed to her time as a embassy in a U.S. citizen,” Sneider said. green card, when I come the resident in the Mexico. I had “Same thing happened when back [border agents] U.S. has mostalso planned my family was considering goly been posiother routes of ing to Cuba as Mexicans.” say ‘Welcome home.’ tive, there have having someAlthough the majority of And that’s really nice been difficulone break into his family lives in Mexico, because I do feel like I’m my apartment Sneider said he has equal ties along the way. In 2008, and drive my loyalty to both countries and home here.” when she was passport to plans to remain in the United —Nadine Eisenkolb Mexico for me.” States in the future. still on a temporary visa, Eventually “Growing up in the UnitScience teacher Eisenkolb accithough, Eisen- ed States, I am loyal to the dentally drove kolb said she U.S. because it’s where I was across the Mexican border was able to cross the border raised,” Sneider said. “It’s while going to San Diego from safely back into the United where my friends are from, and Los Angeles.

States. it’s my country. But I think a “I had this feeling that it Eitán Sneider ’17 and his lot of what makes me who I am was really far away,” Eisenkolb family have both U.S. and comes from the Mexican culsaid. “Then suddenly there Mexican citizenship. To make ture and the background I was was a sign on the right hand international travel easier, he raised with from my parents.”

NATHANSON S

“

Sports The Chronicle • March 9, 2016

Girls’ Basketball

Track & Field

Young team takes win in first meet

By Carina Marx Cameron Stine

and

PAVAN TAUH/CHRONICLE

SWINGING: Lauren Lapesarde ’17 passes the ball to the guard during the game against Hart. The team won 68-24 against the Hart Indi-

ans and has a current record of 19-10. After its loss in the CIF playoffs, the team will enter the state playoffs Wednesday.

Girls defeated in consecutive CIF games, continue to state CIF playoffs

By Dario Madyoon and Rian Ratnavale After losing 59-56 in a nailbiter against Serra in the CIF Playoffs, the girls’ basketball team looks to redeem its playoff hopes in its first state playoff matchup Wednesday at home against Carson.

Despite two tough playoff losses by three points each, the squad has an overall record of 19-10 for the season and finished 4-4 in league play in the competitive Mission League.

The team has much to learn from its playoff woes and will look to use those lessons to fuel it in its next playoff run.

“By losing early in playoffs,

the team learned how valuable every game is,” guard Sydney Tsutsui ’17 said. “Each game we had lost was in our grasp, but due to unnecessary lost possessions and not being able to control the game, we fell short by very few points. Even in league, games that we should’ve won slipped through our fingers, and we won’t let that happen again since we have such a great opportunity to win state.”

While there is definitely pressure on this team to perform well in state playoffs following a stellar regular season, during which they were ranked as high as eighth in the state, the team has the right leadership to be able to take everything in stride.

“I would say we’re a little nervous for state because of the fact it’s one and done,” captain Lindsey Tse ’16 said. “If you lose, you’re eliminated. But I think we’re more excited. Losing the first two games means that we’ve been working extremely hard and practicing for one full week. We haven’t played a game in a week and a half and are just excited to be able to play again.”

Although the team does not plan to alter its game plan entirely, as it was very successful throughout the regular season, it does plan on making minor tweaks in order to fix mistakes that might have cost them two very close games.

“Heading into state, we

aren’t going to change much, but we are going to work on our offense a bit more and work on a zone defense in case we need to go to one during one of our upcoming games,” center Lauren Lapersearde ’17 said. “For our offense, we are going to try to just purely score out of it more.

We are going to learn more ‘hot spots’ in our offense that will create easier baskets for us in games. Overall, we are going to change little things to make our offense more effective and efficient to complement our team defense.”

The Wolverines will look to use their combination of young • Continued on page D6

Both boys’ and girls’ track and field teams are poised to go deep into CIF prelims and finals this season, with a strong roster and stronger bond all around.

Their first meet against Crossroads, Brentwood and Pacifica Christian went extremely well, with the boys scoring 82 points and the girls scoring 100 points against the other three’s combined 37.

Last year Imani Cook-Gist ’15, Courtney Corrin ’16 and Alexandria Florent ’15 qualified for the CIF Masters meet. They competed against the other athletes who qualified in the Southern Section, making them some of the best athletes in the region.

The loss of two of these girls was supposed to be a hit to the girls’ team, but it clearly did not affect them.

Both teams have been practicing together in groups based on their event, which allows for players to become closer to one another. With one of the largest rosters for both the boys’ and girls’ teams, this works well by isolating skill groups.

“Although I feel track is an individual sport, that individual couldn’t be successful without the support of their teammates and coaches alike,” Corrin said.

“They’re going to be my ultimate support system, but success truly lies in your inner belief.”

The majority of the team is made up of freshmen and sophomores, which will lead to stronger players in the future.

Both teams want as many runners as possible to qualify for CIF. The boys’ team won its first league match against Crespi 8735 and is predicted to continue its dominance in league.

“I’m feeling really optimistic about this season,”Jonah Ring ’18 said. “This team has a lot of talent and a lot of focused, dedicated people that are ready to give it all they have.”

Boys’ Lacrosse

Team starts new era with wins

By Dario Madyoon and Rian Ratnavale

As the boys’ lacrosse team begins its 2016 campaign, it will not just be entering a new season but also a completely new era in Wolverine Lacrosse.

New head coach Erik Krum has introduced a lot of new aspects to the team.

The former Salisbury University lacrosse player often jumps right into drills with his players and is guiding the team to have more cohesiveness, as well as aggression.

“I think just having the boys following some structure and giving them a little bit of organization is good,” Krum said.

“It’s a smart group of kids, and with a little bit of guidance and

information, they’ll get the system. They were able to take two months of training and information and put it all into one game that was really cool to see.”

When talking about the team’s strengths and weaknesses, the coach alluded to its strong skills but acknowledged that there is still work that needs to be done organizationally.

“I would say that their stick skills were already there, but they just need a little bit more organization and a little bit of teamwork,” Krum said. “The team is a hard-working team.

We have some good seniors right now that are stepping up in their leadership roles. They’re doing a great job of leading.”

Former head coach Alex Weber stepped down after three

years at the helm, and Krum stepped in to lead the Wolverines.

He was an All-American at Mira Costa during his playing days and won three national titles while in college.

“There have been a lot of changes since Krum stepped in,” Paul Rodriguez ’18 said.

“Coach Weber was a great coach and helped us grow as a team and as a program. Krum has brought a whole new energy to the team. He will often lace up his cleats and hop into shooting drills with us.”

After a 13-3 win over Culver City in the squad’s first game, the lacrosse team found it was able to reap the rewards of playing in its new head coach’s system.

• Continued on page D3

DARIO MADYOON/CHRONICLE

VICTORY CHEER: The team huddles up after a 6-5 win over Agoura Hills High School in triple overtime Saturday.

D2 SPORTS

THE CHRONICLE

Game to watch

MARCH 9, 2016

Baseball

MARCH 22

Boys' volleyball vs.

Loyola High School @Loyola High School Led by hitter Colin Shannon ’17, the boys’ volleyball team will play longtime rival the Loyola Cubs in an away game March 22.

Last year, Harvard-Westlake lost both its games to Loyola.

The game marks the halfway point of its season and is a key game for the team’s momentum going into the second half of its season.

BENNETT GROSS/CHRONICLE

KEY PLAYER Colin Shannon '17 Coming off a strong performance in the team’s opener against Notre Dame, Shannon looks to help lead the Wolverines to victory against Loyola. The 6’ 7” opposite is integral to the team’s success and could play a key role in the game against Loyola.

& Figures Facts

3

Number of overtimes in the lacrosse victory over Agoura

20

Consecutive league wins by girls’ water polo since Jan. 6, 2015

Average points scored per game by basketball player Jayla Ruffus-Milner ’18

.48

14 Average goals conceded per game by girls’ soccer

Junior Varsity Baseball Next Game: March 16 @ Chaminade

Boys' Golf Next Match: March 15 @ Chaminade

Boys’ Lacrosse Next Game: March 11 @ Westlake

Swimming & Diving Next Meet: March 10 @ Notre Dame

Boys’ Tennis Next Match: March 15 @ Palos Verdes HS

Boys’/Girls’ Track Next Meet: March 10 vs. Chaminade

Boys’ Volleyball Next Game: March 10 vs. Crespi

CLOSING IT OUT: Relief pitcher Nico Mannucci '17 throws a strike at the top of the 7th inning of the Wolverines' 8-4 Easton Tournament quarterfinal victory over the Simi Valley Pioneers. During his one and only inning, Mannucci threw one strikeout.

Wolverines start season on a win streak

By BENNETT GROSS

Despite the loss of last year's head coach Matt LaCour, who has stepped into the role of Athletic Director, new coach Jared Halpert has not skipped a beat.

The squad had notable winter league victories over Vista Murrieta, Junipero Serra and Fountain Valley.

A big indicator of the team’s Mission League potential was how the squad played in the Easton Tournament.

The Wolverines are currently 4-0 in the tournament with wins over Poly, Newbury Park, Simi Valley and El Camino Real.

“We have had a great start to the year, and I definitely feel that we have progressed since the fall,” pitcher Gabe Golob ’16 said. “With this start, we have proven that we can compete with some of the

best teams in the state. When we play together, like we have so far, we are going to be really tough to beat.”

In the Wolverines’ first game at Poly, they easily handled the overmatched Parrots and moved onto the second round of the Easton Tournament with a 10-0 win.

In Harvard-Westlake’s home opener, the Wolverines claimed a 7-0 victory over Newbury Park. The squad was aided by six innings of one-hit baseball from McCabe Slye ’16 and a 2-3, one-RBI performance from Casey Slattery ’17.

The squad continued its dominance in an 8-4 home win over Simi Valley. Starting pitcher Paul Giacomazzi ’16 was awarded the win, and he was helped by Loren Franck ’18, who finished the game 3-3 with two RBIs. The Wolverines continued

their winning streak by defeating defending City Section Division I champion El Camino Real 3-1 in the semifinals.

Bergin continued his dominance with a six-inning, five-strikeout performance.

Suddleson went 1-3 and hit a three-run home run to give the Wolverines the win.

“I have relied on my defense this season, and all I wanted to do was to get back into the dugout and let our offense go hit,” Bergin said.

In the Wolverines’ four games this season, Bergin has a 0.82 ERA, Suddleson is hitting .417 with eight RBIs and Franck is .455 with six RBIs. “We understand that we have a great lineup from top to bottom, and that no matter what happens, we are really solid, and if it is not me one day, then it will be someone

else,” Suddleson said. “I am just trying to not put too much pressure on myself because everyone can do what is necessary and has the will do it.”

The Wolverines continued their Easton Tournament title defense Tuesday against Burroughs. The results of the game were unavailable as of press time.

Last season, the Wolverines defeated Alemany in the Easton Tournament finals 6-1.

“Winning the Easton Tournament is not the longterm goal, but it is a good start for sure,” Suddleson said. “We have aspirations beyond winning the Easton Tournament, and we are looking to build off of our early success.”

The Wolverines will begin Mission League play March 15 at Chaminade.

Softball

Squad looks to build on strong early start

By E LLY C HOI O LIVER A KHTARZAD

There, it suffered a close loss of 3-2 to Sylmar, but quickly bounced back with a 9-3 win With a change in against Venice the same day.

The team’s strength this leadership in the softball program, the squad started year is that it has a diverse off its season with a 2-2 team that has members who are skilled at each position, record.

After previous head McCaffrey said.

The squad hopes to softball coach Claire Rietmann-Grout stepped strengthen its bond and play as a more cohesive down from her unit during games. coaching duties after Although there one year at the helm, is only one senior Melanie Williams to lead the team stepped in as the this year, the squad new head coach. does not believe that “With our new this will affect its coach, I feel like play for the season we are having a lot because everyone more fun, and we ’ is adapting to each all enjoy going to Kinly other’s playing practice," pitcher McCaffrey '18 style, and the team and third baseman dynamic is stronger Kinly McCafferey ’18 said. "We have fun together than ever, right fielder because we aren’t losing as Princie Kim ’18 said.

The team has also lost much as we were last year, and with the new coach, to Notre Dame Academy 9-3 we have better drills. Also, and defeated Windward 12from the new coach, we have 2. The Windward game was a better dynamic, which I called in the fifth inning, as think comes from her, which the mercy rule came into makes us a better team play.

“The season just started overall.”

The team began its season two weeks ago and so far with games at the Lincoln we’ve been doing really well,” Classic Tournament Feb. 27. Kim said.

AND

ADAM YU/CHRONICLE

NATHANSON S

ADAM YU/CHRONICLE

BATTER UP: Hailey de la Vara ’17 (top) pitches in a victory against Woodward March 3. Kelly Loeb ’16 (bottom) steps up to the plate.

March 9, 2016

hwchronicle.com/sports

Sports D3

inbrief

Boys’ Lacrosse

Alum signs 10-day contract with Clippers

DARIO MADYOON/CHRONICLE

DARIO MADYOON/CHRONICLE

STICK IT TO THEM: Zac Harleston ’17 (left) runs to the goal during the Wolverines’ 6-5 victory over Agoura High School last Saturday. Phil Thompson ’16 (right) hurries up the field in the same game. The duo combined for four goals in the triple-overtime thriller.

Team riding high from strong set of games • Continued from page D1

“Tuesday at Culver City was our first game, and I think that gave us a lot of confidence coming into a tough part of our schedule,” Rodriguez said. “We ran our offense well and played aggressive defense. I think with a little bit more refining we’ll be ready for anybody. We have been battling really hard and practicing, and as Coach Krum says, it was nice to get ‘fresh meat’ to prove to ourselves our identity as a team.”

Zac Harleston ’17 led the team with four goals in the team’s opening game, solidifying his place as a key contributor to the team.

In the team’s second game player and mainly played deagainst Agoura High School, fense, but he has dramatically Harleston scored a game-ty- gotten better and will be a ing goal in regulation and hit real force this year. His game against Culver a clutch gameshows that.” winning goal in The team triple overtime If we get better as enters league to give the Wola unit and peak at the play with verines a 6-5 a contest win, scoring end of the season, we against archrithree goals in should be in the mix.” val Loyola on the process. a “[Harleston] —Troy Hattler ’17 Tuesday, game many has worked so Lacrosse Goalie players on the hard all offteam point to season, so his as being pivgame against otal this year.

Culver City “I’m looking forward most was only unexpected to people outside of the program,” team this year to playing Loyola,” captain Phil Thompson ’16 Thompson said. “A lot of peosaid. “Last year he was a role ple in Los Angeles are already

“

saying that they are favorites to win it all, and I’m excited to beat them and show everyone we are legit.”

Arguably the toughest part of the schedule lies ahead for the squad, so it is important for the team, filled with many underclassmen, to step up and start the season strong.

“We are a young team that needs to take each game one by one and improve along the course of the season,” goalie Troy Hattler ’17 said. “We have a tough part of our schedule coming up the next few games, so players will have to step up. If we can get better as a unit and peak at the end of the season, we should be right in the mix.”

Boys’ Tennis

Squad off to slow start this season

nathanson s

Cheer dances at professional game The varsity cheerleading squad performed during a Los Angeles D-Fenders game in El Segundo on Feb. 21.

The D-Fenders are the developmental league-affiliate of the Lakers. They played against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants that night.

Cheerleading coaches Octavia Ellison and Angel Dudley are former Laker Girls, the cheerleading squad of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers.

Ellison is still affiliated with the Lakers and was able to schedule a performance at halftime. When they weren’t on the court, the cheerleaders were able to watch the Laker Girls, who were also performing at the same game as the cheer team.

—Aaron Park

S.A.A.C. names Athletes of the Month

By Connor Reese and Bryant Wu

However, the doubles teams of Jed Kronenberg ’17/Sacha Pritzker ’18, Jared Eisner ’16/ The boys’ tennis team has Kenneth Lee ’19, and Jacob started their season 1-2 with a Tucker ’17/Stanley Morris ’16 10-8 victory over West Ranch were all swept by an aggresHigh School, a 14-3 loss to sive University squad.

“It was a tough day for the University Irvine High School and a 12-6 loss to San Marino team, but I don’t think the result is indicative of how our High School.

The team’s victory over season will progress,” Tucker West Ranch proved to them said. “We were trying out some that they could manage on different doubles combinatheir own after losing key tions that were new for us, starters Michael Genender ’15, and we lost some tight sets in the first round. Had who is currently playwe played a little beting at Stanford Uniter in the tight moversity, Jaird Meyer ments in the begin’15, who is taking a ning of the match, gap year and committhe scoreline could’ve ted to playing for the been way different.”

University of Chicago, Many members of and doubles players the team predict that Parker Chusid ’15, this season will be Jacob Adler ’15 and succesful like the last Josh Rubin ’15. ’ one was. This year However, the tide George the Wolverines have turned against them Noonan’16 six returning varsity going up against University Irvine, who had just starters and 10 returning varlost their streak of six straight sity players, including Tucker, Sraberg, Kronenberg, Morris, CIF Championships.

During the loss to Univer- Noonan and Pritzker.

Last year, the Wolverines sity Irvine, Adam Sraberg ’17, Hunter Brookman ’16 and went 18-1 in their regular seaGeorge Noonan ’16 each took son and 10-0 in league play. a singles set, and team man- As of now, the Wolverines are ager and player Noah Redlich on a 178-game Mission League ’16 was leading in his singles win streak, their last Mission set as the match progressed. League loss coming in 1999.

Former Harvard-Westlake basketball player standout Alex Stepheson ’06 signed a second 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Stepheson, 28, made his NBA debut the same day he signed his first 10-day contract with the Clippers on Feb. 20, providing frontcourt depth.

Stepheson recorded his first NBA points and his first NBA block against the Phoenix Suns Feb. 22.

The center and power forward finished his college basketball career after playing for the University of North Carolina and the University of Southern California. After going undrafted in the 2011 NBA Draft, Stepheson played professional basketball in Turkey, Greece and Slovenia.

Stepheson led HarvardWestlake to a CIF-SS title in 2005.

—Adam Yu

The Student Athletic Advisory Council named Hannah Eliot ’16 and Max Rolnick ’16 the February athletes of the month for their respective sports. Eliot, a senior on the girls’ water polo team, led the Wolverines in their 19-10 season. Rolnick, a senior captain on the boys’ soccer team, led the squad in goals this year. The team’s overall record was 7-9-3.

—Zac Harleston

TYLER GRAHAM/CHRONICLE

SERVED: Jacob Tucker ’17 serves during a singles match at the 2015 CIF Finals. The squad lost to University High School to finish the season, ending 18-1 overalland 10-0 in league play.

In addition to their league accomplishments, the team reached the CIF Southern Section finals and CIF State semifinals last year, beating teams such as Palm Springs, Northwood and Viewpoint.

“Last season we had a lot of talent and came close to getting the championship, but we underperformed as a team in the finals,” Tucker said. “We lost a lot of seniors this year, and this season is a lot about development.”

Despite losing multiple senior talents to college last year and having a shaky start to the season, Keon Niknejad ’16 remains confident for a successful season.

“We hope to win CIF,” Niknejad said. “We have a few new guys who can definitely do some damage.”

The Wolverines’ record currently stands at 1-2 (0-0 in league play). The first Mission League game for the team is against Crespi High School.

Hilliard named to CIF Coaches Hall of Fame Former varsity basketball coach Greg Hilliard was inducted into the CIF Southern Section Coaches Hall of Fame March 5.

Hilliard coached basketball for 40 years, 30 of which were at HarvardWestlake. He led the Wolverines to nine CIF titles and two state championships during his career. Hilliard retired after the 2014-2015 season as the coach with the most wins in Harvard-Westlake history and is now the director of alumni athletics.

—Sam McCabe

the chronicle march

D4 SportS

’ Twas the Season Boys’ Basketball: Qualified for State Girls' Basketball: Qualified for State Boys' Soccer: Did not qualify

By Carina marX emily raHHal

Girls' Soccer: CIF Quarterfinals Girls' Water Polo: Second round CIF Wrestling: CIF Individual Quarterfinals

Girls’ Soccer

and

The girls’ soccer team lost to Santa Margarita in the quarterfinals of CIF playoffs 0-0 (4-3 in penalties) on Feb. 25 after beating Lakewood 2-1 and Villa Park 1-0.

The team finished its league season with a record of 7-0-1.

“What really worked was possessing the ball and stretching teams out and then sending the balls behind,” Paige Howard ’17 said. “We had a really fast offense so we used our speed a lot. What didn’t work was when we would allow teams to come at us because we were much bet-

ter when we would be on the attack.”

The squad lost from penalty kicks after both the regular game and overtimes ended scoreless. Howard, Bridget Stokdyk ’18 and Karla Alas ’16 made their goals.

"I think that having a lot of dual-rostered players helped," Lindsay Avant ’17 said. "We had more players who were ready to play when CIF started."

The young squad impressed with both its defensive and offensive game, and it was able to improve its offense throughout the season. By the end of the season, the squad was playing in its opponent's half of the field for the majority

of the game.

A lot of changes were made in the last year, including the double roster, and the team has no plans to change anything going forward.

The team’s strong bonds helped it on the field. Considering there are a lot of freshmen on the team, they will be experienced going into next season, Lindsay Avant ’17 said.

Going into next season, the squad looks to maintain the new environment of hard work, Howard said.

“Everyone genuinely loved coming to practice and being with each other,” Howard said.

“It showed on the field. Everyone played so hard.”

CARINA MARX/CHRONICLE

EYES UP: Quinn Frankel ’16 kicks the ball towards a teammate during their league opening 3-2 win over Newbury Park Dec. 2.

Boys’ Soccer

By Connor reese

ELLY CHOI/CHRONICLE

BRINGING IT IN: Theo Velaise ’17 challenges a St. Francis defender for possession of the ball in the boys’ soccer team’s 3-1 victory Feb. 5. The team’s season ended after a 3-2 loss to Loyola.

The boys’ soccer team’s season ended with a 3-2 loss to Mission League leaders Loyola Feb. 11.

In the final minutes of regulation with the score tied 2-2, Loyola scored a goal off a set-piece to put it on top, and the Cubs remained ahead until the end. “[The Loyola loss] was pretty tough,” center-back Ethan Blaser ’17 said. “Everyone handles defeat in different ways. We were coming off only a day of rest since playing Chaminade, and we gave it everything, but by the end of the game we had no legs.”

The loss was a difficult blow to a team that was incredibly close to playoff contention, Theo Velaise ’17 said.

“After the loss we were demoralized because we knew how close it was and how close we were to going through,” Velaise said.

The Wolverines ended the season in fifth place in league standings.

“Over the course of the year every game was very close and competitive,” Velaise said.

Despite early losses, the team gained points when it mattered, taking ten points in the five games leading up

to the loss to Loyola. Those points put them in control of their own destiny heading into the final game of the league season.

“The last game sums up our season pretty well,” Blaser said, “We were the only team that was able to put goals on [Loyola] and we were so close [to beating Loyola] with the two goals.”

Despite the strong push at the end of the year to make playoffs, the squad came up just short.

“At the same time [that we had good performances like the Loyola game], we also had games earlier in the season where we made some mental mistakes in the last minutes of the game,” Blaser said, “We let teams that were worse stick around and that came back to bite us. We didn’t always have the mental sharpness we needed to have in some of those games.”

The team improved as the season wore on, as it started the season with two losses but ended with three wins through the final six games.

“As the season went on we definitely improved,” Blaser said. “We played as brothers, and we had a real bond on the field that we’re proud of.

We had a nice run at the end of the season, and I’m proud of how we fought.”

9, 2015

hwchronicle.com/features

Sports D5

Boys’ Basketball

By Bennett Gross In Head Coach David Rebibo’s first season at HarvardWestlake, he advanced the Wolverines to their first state playoff appearance since winning the CIF-SS 3A title in 2011. Since then, the Wolverines lost in four consecutive quarterfinal matchups.

This season, Rebibo guided the Wolverines to an overall record of 22-8 and a Mission League record of 7-5, which included sweeps of St. Francis, Loyola and Chaminade.

The Wolverines’ marquee win of the season came when the squad defeated eventual Open Division Consolation Champion Crespi on the road 74-66 Jan. 27.

Harvard-Westlake entered the playoffs with three straight Mission League victories and were awarded the number two seed in the CIF-SS Division 4AA bracket.

“Our success during the regular season really motivated us for the playoffs, especially beating Crespi on the road and sweeping Loyola,” Ray Mueller ’17 said.

In the team’s first-round matchup, it was pitted against an overmatched Pacific squad who the Wolverines easily handled in an 86-40 victory.

In the second round, the squad was forced to play at Workman. The game was

tightly contested throughout the first half, and the Wolverines only led the Lobos 31-25 at the break. However, Harvard-Westlake dominated the second half, outscoring Workman 41-6 in the final two quarters. The Wolverines cruised to their second consecutive playoff victory with a 72-31 win.

The squad’s quarterfinal was another road game, this time at Laguna Beach. The Wolverines were challenged throughout the night, and had to claw their way to an eventual 72-57 victory, with 22 points from Wolfgang Novogratz ’16.

The win set up a crucial semifinal game between the Wolverines and Mission League rival Notre Dame for a spot in the coveted Southern Section Championship game.

The teams had faced off twice previously: both Notre Dame victories. Notre Dame won the first matchup at home 65-63 on Jan. 8 on a Chibueze Jacobs ’16 tip-in. The Wolverines lost again on Jan. 29 7570 at home.

The semifinal matchup was sold out, and the Wolverines were without starting shooting guard Ali Iken ’17 who suffered a right ankle injury in the squad’s quarterfinal matchup.

The game was back-andforth until the final horn, with the Knights eventually pulling

CAMERON STINE/CHRONICLE

EYES UP: Ali Iken ’17 looks to pass to a teammate during a game against Loyola on Jan.18. The Wol-

verines defeated the Cubs 64-56. The squad finished the regular season with an overall record of 19-7.

out the 56-54 victory on a Jacobs 13-foot jump shot with 3.8 seconds left in the game to seal the win for the Knights.

Despite losing in the CIFSS 4AA semifinals, the Wolverines were awarded an at-large bid into the state tournament.

The Wolverines will play at home tonight against Porterville at 7:30 p.m.

“Getting to state is a huge accomplishment and is something that we haven’t done in years,” starting guard Carter Begel ’17 said. “It’s just a testament to how hard we have

been working since we started practice last spring.”

Next season, the squad will continue its revolution under Rebibo, who hopes to push his team even farther and win a Southern Section title. The Wolverines will lose starters Henry Vogel ’16 and Novogratz, but will return with every other contributor.

Phenom Cassius Stanley ’19 will continue his ascension to stardom. Iken, Begel, Aaron Glazer ’17 and Mueller will be the senior leaders in their final season as Wolverines.

L Simpson ’19, Cameron Jones ’18 and Neil Iken ’18 will be thrust into bigger roles next season, as they continue to improve and see playing time.

“I plan on working on my handles, stamina and threepoint shooting, so I can offer an offensive threat for our team and not just a defensive presence,” Simpson said. “Next year, I plan on being someone who the coach can always count on to work his hardest while on the court, and someone whom he can trust during crunch time.”

Wrestling

By Joe Levin and Cameron Stine

’17 says. “He’s been working really hard, and he finished the season strong by going to Ryan Ruiz ’16 saw his sea- CIF.” The loss in the quarterfison and high school career come to an end in the quar- nals will be Ruiz’s final wresterfinals of the CIF-Coastal tling match ever, as he does not plan to wrestle in college.

Tournament Feb. 20.

Even if he does not step The Mission League champion had secured a bye in the foot on the mat and continue first round and won 9-5 in the wrestling in college, Ruiz says he will take 134-pound the lessons division the he learned He’s been day before.

Ruiz was working really hard, and through wrestling to whatthe team’s he finished the season ever his future captain and plans. strong.” lone senior.

“Wrestling “I was a —Russell Davis ’17 has definitely little disaptaught me a pointed in lot about how how I finished off my season,” Ruiz to commit to something,” he says. “But I was really proud says. “When you’re deterof how I wrestled throughout mined to doing something 100 the year and how I improved percent, 24/7 instead of just two hours a day, [and are] alfrom last year.”

The tournament was Ruiz’s ways focusing on something last chance to qualify for the and doing something as best as you can until you prestigious Masters get it right, you’ll be Tournament, which successful.” he had been shootNow the wresing for throughout his tling team will look Harvard-Westlake cato Davis and Calvin reer.

Kaleel ’18 to lead the Each weight class team next year. sends its top nine Davis says that wrestlers from CIF to head coach Patrick the Masters Tourna’ Cartmill has plans ment. Ruiz came up Ryan Ruiz ’16 for the pair to pracshort. tice leadership skills The season was by through exercises in no means a failure, however.

In addition to winning match- the offseason.

Ruiz hopes the younger es at the team’s duals, Ruiz was an invaluable role model players on the team will follow in his footsteps of hard work. for his younger teammates.

“Put in the hours, and “[Ruiz] had his best season ever last season, so that was it’s definitely worth it when really a great way to send him it comes to competitions,” he off,” teammate Russell Davis says.

“

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JULIANA BERGER/CHRONICLE

TAKE YOUR SHOT: Hannah Eliot ’16 prepares for a shot on goal in the team's win over Marymount Jan. 28. The Wolverines beat the Sailors 18-0 before they competed in the Bonita Tournament.

Girls’ Water Polo

By Juliana Berger and Bryant wu The girls’ water polo team ended its season with a loss to Martin Luther King High School Feb. 20, finishing with an overall record of 19-10 and a league record of 8-0.

After defeating Notre Dame 10-4 in the League Tournament Finals, the team became Mission League champions for the 20th consecutive year.

“Our third game against Notre Dame was a huge win,” Daily Hartmeier ’16 said. “It showed how far we had come and how much we had improved. We lost to them our first game by one, beat them our second game by one and then ended up beating them by six our third time playing them.”

The team credits its development to bonding and learning how each girl plays over

the course of the season.

Even though the team fell short in its goal to get farther in CIF, the squad was still happy with most of the results and proud of its growth over the course of the season.

“Although we did not end up winning CIF, I’m super proud about how we ended the year,” Hartmeier said. “I think that from the beginning of the year we have improved so much. We look like a brand new team so it’s really nice knowing that our hard work paid off.”

“We have a lot to be proud of what we accomplished as a team,” Camille Oswald ’17 said. “We are definitely motivated for next season.”

One third of the team consists of graduating seniors, so younger players will have the chance to play more and be more involved in the program in the coming season.

“We are going to be a really mixed team and a well-balanced team in terms of ages,” Head of Aquatics Brian Flacks said. “We won’t be as topheavy as we were this year, and so it will be a really great opportunity for the girls to get experience and start playing.”

Flacks says that he plans to use the same year-round training program he does for the boys’ water polo team for the girls’ squad this coming season, with the hope that it will lead to greater successes in the team’s future.

The team met the end of its season with strong emotions.

Hartmeier already knows what she is going to miss most about her time playing at Harvard-Westlake.

“Just playing water polo in general, I’m going to miss [that],” Hartmeier said. “And being able to play with my teammates.”

D6 Sports

The Chronicle

March 9, 2016

Squad preps for state playoffs

Swimming

• Continued from page D1

EMILY RAHHAL/CHRONICLE

DIVE IN: Cami Katz ’16 dives at a swimming and diving meet in honor of the late Justin Carr ’14. The meet included top swimmers from seven different Los Angeles high schools. To honor Carr, the meet opened with a recording of him singing the national anthem.

Wolverines start season with first home victory, tribute meet to Justin Carr ’14

By Juliana Berger and Emily Rahhal

Both the boys’ and girls’ swim teams started their seasons with wins over Orange Lutheran, with the boys finishing 117-53 and the girls 92-88.

“The swim team is really strong this year, and I think the girls’ side has a really good shot at winning mission league,” Haunani Bautista ’17 said. “I know the girls in the 200-free relay plan on breaking the record for a second consecutive year. I think [Swimming and Diving Program Head Jason Schwartz] has really big plans for the season, and I am

excited to see how everything plays out.”

During his first year as program head, Schwartz plans to maximize points earned by each swimmer rather than having each one swimming in their best event.

The team also has a lot of promising new athletes, such as Jameson McMullen ’19 and Alyssa Kam ’19, who helped replace the lack of seniors.

“Although we lost some really incredible seniors last year, we have gotten tons of new blood that have really proved they are committed to the team,” Bautista said.

Marcus Tse ’17 said that

the boys’ team had put in a lot of work during the offseason and believes the squad could win league.

“I can tell that our team is more dedicated and structured,” Tse said. “We are more devoted to technique and acting more as one team. I am excited to see what this season will bring.”

On Friday The squad hosted its annual meet in tribute to Justin Carr ’14, who died in 2013. The Justin Carr Invitational is open only to the top swimmers from seven Los Angeles high schools. The event opened with a recording of the national anthem sung by Carr.

The boys’ team placed third behind Loyola and Palisades Charter High School.

This was also the first time the girls’ team has placed first in the invitational, defeating defending rival Notre Dame.

“Winning the Justin Carr meet was a major highlight because we competed against some really competitive schools that we will also be seeing later on this season,” Bautista said.

“This meet was a good indicator and a huge ego boost for our girls, and I cannot wait for the rest of this season.”

The team’s next meet will be Thursday at Notre Dame High School.

talent like Jayla Ruffus-Milner ’18, who leads the team in scoring with an average of 14.3 points per game, and senior leadership from Tse, who leads the team in assists with 4.0 per game.

As this could be many of the players’ last push as Wolverines, there is plenty of excitement to come out stronger than they have ever been in state playoffs.

“I really want a banner,” Tse said. “As a senior, this would be a great fairy-tale ending to my Harvard-Westlake basketball career. We can be the Division II State Champions as long as we work together, trust each other and make sure everyone has confidence.”

Tse also wants to leave an example for the team.

“I also just want to be a great leader and captain to the team throughout this state tournament and hopefully set an example for the underclassmen,” Tse said. “I want to be the leader who they can think about when it’s their time to lead the team.”

While the team has great aspirations for the playoffs, it still takes pride in its very successful regular Mission League season, as well as its positive and energetic approach to every game it plays.

“I’m proud of how in each game, we have never given up,” Tse said. “No matter the score, we have never quit. For example in the Vista Murrieta game, we were down as much as 21 points in the third quarter and fought back to tie it with four minutes left and eventually lose by three. We just need to get over the hump and close out our games better and fix mistakes earlier in the game to get the win.”

Boys’ Golf

Team wins first match, expects strong season

By Joe Levin

game,” Kewalramani said.

“Every year, we just get in The boys’ golf team kicked our own way, so that’s the big off its season with a win thing this year. We have to get against St. Francis Thurday out of our own way.”

In preseason practice, a shooting a team total of 184, spurred by a 1-under-par per- main point of focus was teamwork. formance by Trey Fearn ’16.

“We’ve been working on Alex Hong ’19 had the second lowest mark on the team improving all of our skills by shooting par and Brandon while at the same time workKewalramani ’17 finished at ing on improving our team chemistry,” Furman one over par. Dylan said. “The captains Wan ’18 finished his have tried to bring round at two over the team together by par, Matthew Ursinspending more time Smith ’16 finished at with different players three over and Bryon the team. I think ant Wu ’17 finished it has been comat four over. ing along great, and This year’s team everyone has really is led by three se’ bonded together.” niors: Fearn, Daniel Daniel Entering into the Furman ’16 and Bray Furman ’16 fray is Owen CalvinCaverly ’16, who all Smith ’17, who transhope to golf in college. Caverly has recently ferred from Loyola this year. committed to play golf at Ke- Due to CIF transfer rules, he nyon College, a Division III will have to sit out the first month of the season, but he’s team.

Brandon Kewalramani ’17 taking the extra time to get readds another routinely low adjusted to high school golf. scorer to the fold.

“High school golf is a lit“We just need to play our tle different [from outside of

COLE JACOBSON/CHRONICLE

SEALING THE DEAL: Brandon Kewalramani ’17 putts the ball during a boys’ golf team match last season. The team started its season with a 184-211 victory over St. Francis.

nathanson s

school tournaments],” CalvinSmith said. “You’re coming from school instead of sleeping and waking up in the morning, and it’s nine holes on a course that you might not have played for a long time rather than a course where you have played practice rounds at, so it’s impor-

tant to just get the reps in and make sure you feel comfortable there.”

The team has its eyes set on making it past the CIF playoffs and to the state championships, which features California’s top 10 teams.

“I know we have a lot of kids who can shoot low

enough that we can make it to state,” Calvin-Smith said. “If we make it out of the beginning stages, I feel very confident that we can make it all the way.”

For Kewalramani, the path to state is simple.

“We just have to stay focused,” he said.

hwchronicle.com/sports

March 9, 2016

Sports D7

Boys’ Volleyball

New coach brings culture of commitment and accountability

By Jake Liker

coach you need to go in and you have to be there at evIt was understood that the ery practice. You can say all offseason would be “out with you want, but if you don’t do the old, in with the new” for it yourself, they won’t follow the boys’ volleyball program. you.”

In addition to preparation, Eight seniors had graduated, leaving behind a relatively in- Casey has brought analytics into play. All practices are experienced team.

The arrival of first-year taped.

“There is a new Head Coach Ryan sense of analytics Casey (replacing and analysis going Adam Black, Volleyinto our play and ball Program Head everything we do, and assistant coach and [Casey] knows for the boys’ varsity the practice plan for squad) has brought practice every day,” new analytics, new outside hitter Chris practice schedules Hedley ’16 said. “It and new cameraderie ’ was always very deto the team. manding, but now we Alec “There have been have lifting, practice, Winshel ’16 some different things meetings and video in terms of practice plans and, it’s not to say there sessions all the time.”

Casey is also focused on wasn’t a positive culture under Coach Black, but there’s been improving effort and attitude.

“Not every program can get a huge emphasis on camaraderie, really coming together,” the best athletes all the time, middle blocker Alec Winshel but if you can get people who are committed and want to im’16 said.

Casey is well on his way prove and want to get better, to achieving his goal for the and you invest in those people, program: building a culture of then that’s, I think, how you start [a new culture],” Casey commitment.

“Our goal is to work togeth- said.

That attitude and effort er really as a team and develop a culture around improve- was apparent in the third set ment, teaching and learning,” of the squad’s Mission League Casey said. “We really want to opener at Notre Dame.

After losing the first two make sure that our athletes are dedicated to the program, sets, both 25-16, the Wolverare treating it as athletes ines found themselves with should, and are making this their backs against the wall, more of a program [with] com- trailing 24-23 in the third set.

The Wolverines and mitted athletes. That’s really Knights then traded points the big goal for us.”

Casey acknowledges that back and forth; five times the the increased level of commit- Knights had a match point, ment, and especially the early- and all five times the Wolvermorning practices, has turned ines saved themselves.

It was only on the sixth try some people away from volleythe Knights were able to seal ball.

For Casey, the key to es- the deal, winning in straight tablishing a culture of ac- sets, 25-16, 25-16, 31-29.

“I think we’re trying to decountability and commitment velop a culture where everyis to lead by example.

“You need to model [ac- one plays for each other, and I countability and commitment] think that was really prevalent to start,” Casey said. “As a in the end,” Hedley said. “Evnathanson s

eryone wants to win because they don’t want to let the guy next to them down, and that’s a good attitude for the whole season.”

It is a team in which everyone has a role, even the guys on the bench.

At least five players were on the bench for the entire game, but remained enthusiastic.

Led by outside hitter Michael Kellman ’16, kills would occasionally draw a coordinated celebration from the bench; such as miming the defibrillation of a teammate to bring him back to life, or a synchronized archery shot using imaginary bows and arrows.

“I think the culture has changed,” Hedley said. “I think that last year the team was formed of two or three groups, but now it’s one unified team.

Last year there was only a senior group chat, and it was really separate, but this year the whole team is equal.”

The camaraderie that transcends age and grade is evident.

“I am one of the younger kids on the team, but I definitely view myself in a leadership position a lot of the time,” team co-captain and three-year varsity player Colin Shannon ’17 said. “I would consider myself one of the more knowledgeable and more experienced players on the court, so I definitely see that pressure to let the coaches coach but always be there to support the other players no matter what.”

Shannon, who is six feet seven inches tall, was suddenly interrupted by Winshel.

“If I may jump in, we definitely look up to Colin physically, but emotionally we all kind of look down on him,” Winshel said.

“He’s the meanest kid on the team,” another teammate added, sarcastically.

Shannon and his teammates broke out laughing.

BENNETT GROSS/CHRONICLE

BENNETT GROSS/CHRONICLE

GET SET: Roy Dritley ’16 (top) sets the ball in the Wolverines’ 3-0 loss to Notre Dame March 3.

Standing in front of the bench, first year Wolverine Head Coach Ryan Casey looks on.

X-MAN: Xander Klein ’18 (top) serves the ball against Notre Dame Thurdday. The Wolverines lost in straight sets, 25-16, 2516, 31-29. Alec Winshel ’16 and Klein (middle) jump to block a hit. Klein (bottom) swings to hit from the opposite position.

THE CHRONICLE

D8 SPORTS

Q&A

MARCH 9, 2016

Casey Crosson Girls’ Track and Field

By ELI ADLER How did you start running? How long have you been running? What distances?

I started on the track team in seventh grade, but I didn’t do cross country until eighth grade and didn’t really begin to take it seriously until ninth grade. I just did it because I always liked to run in elementary school, so I tried track out, and soon realized that I was better at longer distances, which is why I also joined cross country. I run both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters, but I like the 3,200 more because I like running long distances.

What made you want to pursue it more seriously, and when?

I took it somewhat seriously in ninth grade, but at the end of ninth grade, I decided I really wanted to make varsity and be a contributing member. The thing was that varisty cross country had a really strong cap of only seven varsity runners, and only the top five of those seven score. I really wanted to contribute more to the team, so decided I was going to train as much as I could to be the best contributing member that I could be.

Why do you like running long distances more than short distances?

I initially liked it because it is very stress-relieving and you can do a lot of thinking when you’re running those longer distances.

I also like that you get out of it exactly what you put in to it.

There is really a difference between the kids who are really halfcommitted and run 10 miles a week, compared to the kids who are really consistent, run 60 miles a week and really try their best. Those runners will see the result. I feel like it might be a little more obvious in long distance, because in sprints you can improve by one second, and that is a big deal, but it isn’t as fulfilling as breaking your two-mile personal record by 30 seconds.

What is your training/practice regimen like, both in season and out of season?

It all starts in the summer, where we practice four times a week, but we run every day on our own from July on. During cross country season, it’s the same: seven days a week, but with morning practices two days a week where we also lift. After cross country season, we reset for a bit and rebuild our mileage.

Now track season is the same, with every day running and then lifting and swimming.

What do you do to prepare for meets? Any pre-meet rituals? What’s on the playlist?

The day before meets, we only run two miles easy so that we are pretty well rested, and I always get a good night of sleep.

On meet day, since I don’t get that nervous anymore, it’s basically a normal day for me. I always drink a ton of water, and I eat a peanut butter sandwich, but I don’t like listening to music before meets.

Does your role differ between running with just cross country in the fall and with the entirety of the track program in the spring? How?

Stats 5:30 11:49 60

What I notice when we run with the sprinters is that distance runners are used to longer [races] with less rest, and so when we do these shorter [races] and a lot of them, the sprinters definitely push me, which is really encouraging. But I think the biggest change is that because I am more distance-oriented, I will be going the same speed on every single one, but sprinters can rally on that last one. They always destroy that last one, and so that really has made me push myself.

Mile Time Two-Mile Time Avg. Miles Run per Week

EMILY RAHHAL/CHRONICLE