October 2012 Issue

A16

PUT A RING ON IT: Senior Ceremony included handing out of class rings — a Westlake tradition.

B12

GET YOUR TIX: Andrew Meepos ’13 runs a $5,000 ticket re-selling business.

tHE HaRvaRd-wEstLakE

CHRONICLE Students to vote in mock election

By Julia aizuSS

JACK GOLDFISHER

TAKEDOWN: Linebacker Jeremy Tepper ’15 pulls down St. Paul running back Kurt Scoby ’14 in last Friday’s 44-11 win. Scoby lit up the

Catching up By luke holthouSe

The past two editions of the Wolverine football squad have not had a winning league record. After beating St. Paul, the team finds themselves in good standing in the Mission League.

LEAGUE HISTORY The football team moved from the Del Rey League to the Mission League for the 2010-2011 season, amassing a 1-9 league record during its first two years in the league.

2011

1-4

L 23-20 L 55-0 W 34-26 L 70-21 L 41-28

at St. Francis at Chaminade at Cathedral vs. Serra vs. St. Paul

2010

0-5

L 45-24 L 24-21 L 52-13 L 30-28 L 34-14

vs. Chaminade vs. Cathedral at Serra at St. Paul vs. St. Francis

Vandal defaces cougar sculpture INSIDE

By Michael SugerMan

ON THE RETURN: Despite losing to Notre Dame, the girls’ varsity volleyball team still has a chance to win the league title if they beat the Knights at Homecoming.

C6

A2 Preview

The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012 3700 Coldwater Canyon Ave. Studio City, Calif. 91604

ELANA ZELTSER/CHRONICLE

JAZZ IN THE QUAD: Nick Healy ’13, Martin Riu ’13, Robert Lee ’14, Daniel Sunshine ‘13, Nick Lee’15 and Andy Arditi ‘14 jam near the cafeteria at Back-to-School Day.

NEWS A10

MAZELLE ETESSAMI/CHRONICLE

TAKE TWO: Due to a corrupted memory chip, Nathanson’s Photography takes make-up yearbook pics.

FEATURES B12

MAZELLE ETESSAMI/CHRONICLE

MAKEUP ARTIST: Cafeteria cashier Phairot Janthep also works as a makeup artist and hairstylist.

SPORTS C1

ROBBIE LOEB/CHRONICLE

FIRST GAME: Sean Fisher ’13 prepares to shoot

offbeat Spears adopts stray dog, puppies ensue

By Jessica Lee Ten squirming balls of fur, distinguishable only by their coloring, cudof Performing Arts teacher Michele Spears’s apartment.

Towards the end of April, Spears’s boyfriend Dave Bushnell, long interested in “bringing home a special buddy,” was heading towards a pet adoption event when he spotted a small, white dog making its way across a parking lot by a busy intersection.

Bushnell parked on a side street and carefully approached the female stray. Only minutes later, the dog was settled comfortably in the backseat of Bushnell’s car.

After a week of posting signs and notices with no call-backs or purported ownership, Bushnell decided to keep the well-trained dog and named her “Lulu.”

Spears went out of town, but when she returned home, she noticed that Lulu seemed unnaturally round. A

about three weeks. On the next visit, the number of potential pups had risen to seven. On June 22, Lulu ended up having 10.

With her knowledgeable aunt set on speed dial, Spears began gathering information on raising newborn pups.

Spears and Bushnell rotated feeding sessions with Lulu and giving supplementary bottle feedings.

“It was constant work, and our summer was devoted to puppy care,” Spears said.

After two weeks, when the pups had opened their eyes and started exploring their cardboard, makeshift homes, “Dave turned our dining room into puppy land,” Spears said. “He built a pen, where the pups could sleep and play, and Lulu could also get in and out when she needed to feed them.”

Spears gave the puppies temporary names in order keep track of their six were named based on fur color and

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 Ave., Studio City, CA 91604. Letters must be

PERMISSION FROM MICHELE SPEARS

PUPPY LOVE: Michele Spears receives kisses from one of her newborn dogs. She adopted a small, white, spotted dog, “Lulu” who gave birth to a litter of 10 puppies. the remaining four had names ranging from “Travel Blogger” to “I Ching.”

Bushnell set up a blog, posting information every week on the puppies’ physical growth and also pictures and videos featuring their development, play, and interactions.

After about four weeks, the pups, good friends of Spears and Bushnell, and two were adopted by Performing Arts teachers Lisa Peters and Rees

Pugh. she curled up on my lap and fell asleep,” Peters said, who named her adopted pup “Ginger.”

“We’re hoping for constant updates and reunions,” Spears said. “We have become incredibly attached to all of them and the different personalities they developed. There has been notha 10-puppy pile-up.”

signed and may be edited for space and to conform to Chronicle style and format.

Advertising questions may be directed to Leslie Dinkin at 310-975-4848. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or the school.

oct. 10, 2012

hwchronicle.com/news

news A3

Lounge to feature computers, printers Prefect Council and the deans have enacted a plan to make computers and printers available for use in the lounge.

By lauren sonnenberG JACK GOLDFISHER/CHRONICLE

GRAND OPENING: More than 100 guests celebrated the opening of the Kutler Center, named for Brendan Kutler ’10. At the event, Head of Upper School Audrius Barzdukas, top left, spoke about Kutler’s academically diverse spirit. Kutler’s mother, Sara Kutler, cut the ceremonial ribbon, above. Hudnut, left, emphasized Kutler’s lasting legacy at Harvard-Westlake and his continuing guests mingled in the Mudd library and Kutler Center, far left.

Ribbon-cutting opens Kutler Center

By Jack Goldfisher

Brendan Kutler’s ’10 family dedicated The Kutler Center for Interdisciplinary Studies by cutting the building’s ribbon in a ceremony featuring speeches from top administrators Sept. 28.

More than 100 alumni and faculty as well as the Kutler Center’s architect Lester Tobias and friends of the Kutler family attended the dedication and ribbon-cutting celebration.

Head of School Jeanne Huybrechts opened the ceremony highlighting the history conception as “both an entity and a program, classrooms and a curriculum,” after Kutler’s death, to its present state as a

class space for more than 200 students currently enrolled in interdisciplinary courses. “[The Kutler Center] is a great start on what will be an ever-evolving program,” she said.

Huybrechts quoted Emily Dickinson’s poem “I Dwell In Possibility,” and said, “I can never resist and opportunity to speak a few phrases of poetry.”

“To be standing here now, in this beautiful space, our new academic hub, is to dwell in possibility,” Huybrechts said.

In Head of Upper School Audrius Barzdukas’s speech, he emphasized that “the welllived life is the interdisciplinary life,” which Kutler embodied.

He said that to fully live a

true interdisciplinary life, one must embrace both happiness and sadness, and expressed hope that the Kutler Center would serve as a reminder of this lesson to all members of the Harvard-Westlake community.

In the ceremony’s closing speech, President Tom Hudnut said that the building, “conceived out of tragedy and now risen in triumph,” is Kutler’s special gift to generations of students. “[The many interdisciplinary classes offered] here now are likely among the tool kit they move through college and into the workplace,” Hudnut said. “Every student at this school, for today and years to come, will be one of Brendan’s

School transitions to Google Drive online storage system By rachel schwartz

and students,” according to Jeffrey Snapp, math teacher Thanks to Ethan Madison’s and tech committee member. ’15 initiative, Harvard-WestSnapp was responsible for lake has adopted Google Drive explaining via all-school email as a media platform and cre- how to log on and merge the ated accounts for all students students’ new accounts with and faculty. their old S t u d e n ts ones. do not sign “The best into their part of this We can move towards drives directstory was ly through that one of a more cloud-based, Google. They my students, globally-friendly go through Ethan Madicommunity.” the same auson, came thentication up to me — Jennifer Lamkins one day afserver that signs them Technology Integration ter class and into The why Specialist asked Hub. Each [we weren’t] student’s ususing Google er-name and password is the Education Apps,” Upper same as for his or her Har- School Technology Integravard-Westlake email address. tion Specialist Jennifer LamThe new accounts are in- kins said. “I told him it had tended to allow for, “seamless been discussed but if he and collaboration among teachers his friends felt strongly about

“

it, then he should present to the Educational Technology Committee. He did. It was an excellent, comprehensive presentation. I credit him with making it a serious consideration and eventually leading to its implementation here at Harvard-Westlake.

Student voices matter.”

“If you forget a document on your computer at home or document, you’re out of luck,” Lamkins said. “With Google docs, you can access anytime, anywhere, with few if any compatibility issues.”

Snapp said the best part of the system is that multiple people can edit a document simultaneously, allowing for better group collaboration.

“We can move towards a more cloud-based, globallyfriendly community that rekins said.

legatees.”

Hudnut expressed his dismay upon discovering there was a typo on the plaque in the Kutler Center, which he found out from a student who had sent him an email.

“The more I thought about [the email and the young woman that sent it],” Hudnut said, “the more I thought that this is likely what Brendan would’ve done.”

“He would have spotted the error and he would have done something about it,” Hudnut said.

At the end of the presentations, Jon and Sara Kutler, Brendan’s parents, and his sister Caroline Kutler, cut the ribbon and led the guests up to for a reception.

Two desktop computers and two printers will be installed in the student lounge to compensate for the loss of computers in Chalmers when last year’s temporary “Mini Mudd” library was dismantled.

Prefect Council suggested the addition to make computers more accessible to students.

The computers and printers will be ordered sometime soon, Director of Campus Operations J.D. De Matte said.

De Matte will also set the computers and printers up when they arrive.

Head Prefect Michael Wagmeister ’13 said the initiative will allow students easier computer access throughout the school day.

Upper School Dean Sharon Cuseo brought the Prefect Council’s proposal to a dean meeting and, with approval from the other deans, Prefect Council began implementing the plan.

Wagmeister said students have gotten used to having computers in Chalmers. Because students generally spend most of their time in the lower part of campus, computers there are a convenience, he said.

Upper School Dean Coordinators Camille da Santos and Ryan Wilson will supervise the computer operations in the case of a malfunction or in case supplies need to be replaced.

National Merit Semifinalists 25 seniors qualified to be National Merit Semifinalists based on their 2011 PSAT/NMSQT scores

Charlie Andrews-Jubelt Wendy Chen Madeleine Friendly Samantha Frischling Ben Gail Brendan Gallagher Rhett Gentile Clinton Hooks Martine Johannessen Brian Jun Harrison Kalt Kenneth Kim Maya Landau

Joshua Lappen David Lim Elana Meer Yasmin Moreno Michael Rothberg Chris Sebastian Demren Sinik Ben Vigman Jack Wilding Liza Wohlberg Sam Wolk Ashley Wu

SOURCE: NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION GRAPHIC BY ENYA HUANG AND SCOTT NUSSBAUM

A4 News

Clubs advertise at Activities Fair By allY White

the chrONicle

Oct. 10, 2012

Fanatics quickly sold out of red T-shirts that featured a drawing of President Thomas Hudnut.

Prefect Council’s annual activities fair on Sept. 24 showcased a record number of clubs. time, Prefect Council manTables for each club were dated that club charters be set up on the quad, and dur- approved by a deadline. ing break students signed up The new deadline may have for those that contributed interested to the inthem. creased numC l u b s ber of clubs Activities Fair is an ranged from this year, example of the extreme the Robotics Head PreClub to the fect Michael diversity of interests Dungeons Wagmeister that Harvard-Westlake and Drag’13 said. students have and a ons Club, to N e w Girls Learn clubs were great time for all the Internationrequired to grade levels to come al and the email their Happiness c h a r t e r together.”

Club, many to Prefect — Morgan Hallock ’13 Council of which in gave out free order to seHead Prefect baked goods cure a table and candy to at Activities entice stuFair.

Previdents to join. ously approved clubs, however, “On the whole, Activities merely needed to resubmit Fair is an example of the ex- their charter from last year to treme diversity of interests be reapproved. that Harvard-Westlake stu“Because Prefect Council dents have and a great time knew that we wanted to set for all the grade levels to come a harder deadline for charter together as a community,” Se- submissions, we were better nior Prefect Morgan Hallock about publicizing the event ’13 said. and disseminating important Maps of the quad were information to the student posted in order for students to body via email,” Wagmeister locate clubs more easily. said.

In order to avoid large “Ultimately, though, the crowds of people in a single sheer amount of charter subarea, the tables of popular missions must also be attribclubs such as the Fanatics and uted to the genuine enthusiPeer Support were set up in asm of the individuals within open spaces. the student body, who were KHWS also played music eager to share their interests throughout the event, and the with others,” he said.

“

SARAH NOVICOFF/CHRONICLE

NEW RECRUITS: Members of the Youth Ending Hunger Club, top, encourage students in the quad to sign up for their clubs. Juliette West ’14, left, helps Lizzy Thomas ’14 join Habitat for Humanity. Jesse Liu ’14, right, explains

Corrupted camera chip requires photo retakes

Teachers use iPads to take roll

By Claire Goldsmith

By Noa Yadidi

A new Didax feature allows teachers to record attendance from any device with internet capabilities through the school website.

Before this year, teachers were required to use their school laptops to connect to the Didax program to record attendance.

The new feature allows teachers to use devices like smartphones, iPads and other computers to record attendance for their classes, attendance coordinator Gabriel Preciado said. venient,” science teacher Wendy van Norden said. “I use it much more often than I use the Didax connection. If I want to, I can bring my iPad to class and take attendance on that. It sounds so silly to admit that having one or two fewer clicks and passwords to type in makes my life easier, but it does.”

Preciado said the new capabilities improve attendance accuracy because teachers are able to quickly submit their attendance through an iPad or smartphone with their students in front of them, rather than waiting until after class.

“It is very convenient and has taken care of a lot of attendance errors,” Assistant to the Head of Upper School

EMILY SEGAL/CHRONICLE

DIDAX UPGRADE: French teacher Marilyn Shield uses the new feature to log her students’ attendance on her iPad. Michelle Bracken said. “When I wait to get to my desk after class to report attendance, I often forget who was absent.”

All teachers were given iPads this school year, which adds mobility and speed to the attendance process, Preciado explained.

“We’re trying to collect information a lot quicker, and it’s coming to us a lot faster,” he said. “If [teachers] have their iPads in front of them, they can send it right away, if not, we have to rely on them remembering to do it.”

“I use it for my 11th grade class each day,” history teacher John Johnson said. “The problem I was having since I teach on both campuses was that I would do my ninth grade classes on the computer each morning, but, after my 11th grade class, I had to vacate the room right away. I would forget to do the 11th grade atten-

dance until the next morning.

It has been very convenient for me to do attendance on my phone.”

Software Development Manager Alan Homan and Web Manager Lillian Contreras brought the idea to Preciado during the summer, and the new component of the website has been up and running since the beginning of the school year.

“When the decision to purchase iPads for all faculty and staff was made, we determined that making attendance available on any internet-connectHoman said. “This is a new feature that is very similar to the existing Didax attendance system, and faculty can use either.”

“I’m using it every day now because it simply loads and functions much faster than Didax,” math teacher Jacob Hazard said.

book photos, told the yearbook staff that one of the memory A camera chip containing cards had been corrupted, yearbook photos was corrupt- rendering all the pictures on ed last week, forcing yearbook it unsuable and forcing many staff to arrange two students to retake their make-up days last photos.

Monday Oct. 1 and Nathanson’s was Friday Oct. 5 so stu“very apologetic,” acdents could retake cording to Persky, and their pictures. the company set up two The make-up days make-up days for stuwere also open to students whose photos had dents who missed the been lost on the cororiginal picture days rupted card. nathanson ’s due to confusion or “We decided to inEmily Persky ’13 absence. vite people who had not Yearbook editors-in-chief taken their photos to partake Emily Persky ’13 and in this makeup day Alex Ravan ’13 plasbecause Nathanson’s tered signs around would be at school anycampus and members ways,” Persky said. of the yearbook staff Each member of the announced via Faceyearbook staff is rebook posts that the sponsible for collecting annual picture days the photos of a certain would be Sept. 19 and number of students, she 20. said. nathanson ’s Students could “If a member of have their pictures Alex Ravan ’13 someone’s group was on taken in Chalmers the list of students who Hall from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. said Persky, “our staff memThe dates were also marked bers emailed them notifying in student planners. them of the days to retake In a change from previous their photos and apologizing years’ procedure, the yearbook for the inconvenience.” staff said there would be no Courtney O’Brien ’15 had make-up day for students who to retake her yearbook picture did not take their photo on ei- because the original was lost ther of the appointed picture on the corrupted card. days.

“It was a little bit inconveAfter both picture days, nient but luckily it didn’t take Nathanson’s, the photography up much time to get it retakcompany that took the year- en,” she said.

hwchronicle.com/news

oct. 10, 2012

news A5

Taiwanese educators observe curriculum

By Michael RothBeRg

Administrators from the Taipei American School visited Harvard-Westlake in September to study its curriculum and teaching styles on their way to an educational conference in San Diego.

The visitors from Taiwan sat in on classes on both the upper school and middle school campuses.

“The woman who runs Taipei American School wants it to be less like an American public school and more like a top American independent day school,” President Thomas Hudnut said.

Hudnut chaired an accreditation of TAS and visited their campus as part of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges program.

“It’s a very good school,” he said. “It’s quite similar to Harvard-Westlake in many respects but she wants to take it to the next step to be more like Harvard-Westlake.”

The head of the elementary division Catriona Mora of TAS visited classes at the middle school, including history classes taught by Stephen Chan, John Corsello and Tim Newhart.

Karen Moreau, curriculum director at TAS met with Director of Studies Liz Resnick and also observed Larry Weber’s AP English class.

“They were particularly interested in the depth of questions that our teachers were posing, the expansiveness of the answers that our students were giving and the vocabulary that our students were employing,” Hudnut said.

Harvard-Westlake has received many requests for visitations lately, particularly from schools in China, Hudnut said. “[For] those that have some reason—those that are involved with us through the worlds leading schools association, those who are involved in a G20 group—we will extend ourselves.”

DAVID LIM/CHRONICLE

COMMUNITY VALUES: Jack Wildasin ’13 contemplates signing up for a Community Council event at activities period Monday

Coldwater Canyon entrances re-open, Hacienda Drive closure restricts left turns

By Jack goldfisheR

Students can no longer turn left onto Hacienda Drive from Coldwater Canyon due to construction, but two entrances have been opened to ease The main gate at HarvardWestlake Driveway is open to both northbound and southcan still turn right or left from Hacienda onto Coldwater.

This change has helped what, Director of Campus Operations J.D. De Matte said.

The Coldwater pipeline project, which has now been going on for more than two years, is scheduled to be completed during the upcoming ye ar.

“They’re telling me February or March of 2013 they’ll be 100% off of Coldwater Canyon. There are other phases of

Cracking the Dress Code The dress code aims to create a school environment in which students are “appropriately, neatly and fully attired.”

Dress code infractions: >>

“excessively revealing” clothing

>>

halter and tube tops

>>

undergarments that show >> clothing with “offensive printing” >> lack of footwear >>

hats and visors in assemblies

Punishments for violation: order the student to change clothes >> give the student school clothing to wear >> send the student home >>

INFOGRAPHIC BY MICHAEL SUGERMAN SOURCE: HARVARD-WESTLAKE DRESS CODE

the project, but Coldwater will look like Coldwater Canyon again, and you can take that almost to the bank,” De Matte said. “If I had to guess I’d say we’d be looking more at June or July, if I had to bet my own money on it.

“With the DWP, no matter what they tell you, they’re going to be four to six months, if not longer, delayed. It’s just the way the bureaucracy works, and it’s a shame,” he said.

De Matte also said that the effect the construction has had on campus has been less than expected.

“For what we’ve been thrown at with DWP, I think we did an amazing job of getting people in and out for day-to-day operations, special events, and athletic events,” he said. “I really have to give it to my security boys for working their tails off out there.”

JACK GOLDFISHER/CHRONICLE

BRAKING AND ENTERING:

-

Deans re-emphasize dress code

By elana ZeltseR

Dean Beth Slattery warned girls during sophomore, junior and senior class meetings that they would be forced to wear a sweat suit or go home to change if they continued coming to school wearing scant clothing.

The Student/Parent Handbook lays out a dress code to “create an environment in which all students, teachers and staff feel comfortable.”

However, Slattery said that teachers began calling her asking whether or not a dress code was actually enforced.

“As a dean, I became a little oblivious to these things,” Slattery said. “Once I started paying attention, I realized that there were a lot of things that weren’t appropriate for school. We were getting ready to walk into junior assembly

and there were two students wearing entirely see-through shirts.”

Another concern is what the dress code refers to as “excessively revealing” shorts.

“The other issue that I have noticed is walking up the Chalmers staircase. When you are behind someone and their behind is at face level it’s really noticeable,” Slattery said.

Slattery said that as years go on, fashion-related issues come and go.

A few years ago, she said, the main problem was that boys would sag their pants.

An announcement was not made because it was easier to tell a boy to pull up his pants, she said.

“There is nothing a girl can do if she has on shorts that are too short,” she said.

Slattery decided to make this a dean-enforced initia-

tive, fearing that it could taint student-teacher relationships.

“It should come from the deans because we have a different relationship with students,” she said. “It would be kind of awkward if a kid knew that their teacher thought they weren’t dressed well.”

Despite concerns, President Thomas C. Hudnut said that there was never a discussion of adopting a stricter dress code.

“We never talked about having a particularly restrictive dress code and certainly not a uniform because I’m not interested in hiring teachers that are interested in enforcing a dress or uniform code,” Hudnut said.

Slattery said she hopes her announcement served as a reminder to students to consider the environment of the school while making style choices.

the chrONicle

A6 News

inbrief

Oct. 10, 2012

Track resurfacing to begin next year

The track at Ted Slavin faced this summer, Director of Campus Operations JD De Matte said.

The track was scheduled to be redone last summer but was postponed due to other construction on campus.

“The track was put in nine years ago, so it’s due,” De Matte said. “The track was damaged during construction this past summer, so sections of it had to be patched and repainted, “but that was just to get through this year,” De Matte said.

He estimates that the project will cost nearly $25,000, and will take around a month to complete.

—

Cafeteria to sell protein smoothies The cafeteria will offer protein boosts to their fruit smoothies in an effort to bring a healthier option for athletic students, cafeteria manager Nipa Boonyamas said.

Students can supplement their smoothies with Cytopercent whey protein starting Oct. 9.

“Once in a while, I like to experiment with new cafeteria options,” she said. “I don’t want the kids to get bored. I have the same customers every day.”

—

SARAH NOVICOFF/CHRONICLE

‘WE ARE H-W’: Nicole Gould ’13, a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, sells Nike sponsored shirts during Activities Fair

Nike sponsors SAAC shirts

By Carrie DaviDson anD MiChael sugerMan

The Student Athletic Advisory Council’s apparel reof a high school organization.

Natalie Florescu ’13 created the shirt on CustomInk. com.

After other SAAC members approved the design, SAAC adviser and Athletics Director Darlene Bible submitted the shirt to Nike, who agreed to print the shirt as part of their “My School” apparel.

Florescu came up with the

idea while shopping for basketball shoes on Nike’s website.

“I saw a University of Virginia shirt that had this ‘We are VA design,’” she said. “I thought it would be really cool if we did the same for Harvard-Westlake.” at Activities Fair two weeks ago to the rest of the student body for wear at athletic events.

“I ended up really liking the design,” Florescu said.

SAAC plans to print more shirts, adding a tank top option and even a black design at

KHWS, Harvard-Westlake’s student-run online radio station, will hit the air waves

why I love it so much,” station co-founder Sam Wolk ’13 said.

Fifty DJs will broadcast this year which is more than KHWS has ever had in previous years.

People can tune at khws. blogspot.com.

—

HWAAN hosts first career night The Harvard-Westlake African-American Alumni of Speed Networking event on Thursday, Sept. 27.

Alumni spoke “about their career, their career path and what struggles or accomplishments they encountered along the way,” Alumni Administrator Janiece Richard said.

Students in attendance were taught about the Harvard-Westlake Job Board, offer jobs within the HarvardWestlake network.

—Jensen Pak

“We thought that they would be a great thing for everyone to wear to show school spirit and support for SAAC,” varsity squad member Kacey Wilson ’13 said.

SAAC will sell shirts next at homecoming Oct. 27 and throughout the school year.

“It’s a really amazing feeling to see people wearing the shirts because they genuinely like the design,” Florescu said.

“I don’t know if I’ll design anything else. Maybe I’ll submit an idea for our senior sweatshirts.”

JACK GOLDFISHER/CHRONICLE

DOUBLE MEANING: The new SAAC designed shirts say “We are HW” and“We are 1.”

International Journal publishes teacher’s paper

Highest number of students to DJ year on Oct. 22.

Created in April 2011, KHWS is made up of student DJs who broadcast music to comedy shows to poetry readings “The freedom with which KHWS allows students to express themselves through an outlet that isn’t traditionally

the request of the varsity girls

By sara evall

LAUREN SONNENBERG/CHRONICLE

MONTHLY MEALS: Erin Sugarman ’13 pays Head Prefect Michael Wagmeister ’13 for a pastry during Monthly Meals.

Prefects sell Porto’s pastries

By lauren sonnenberg Prefect

Council

earned

“Monthly Meals” event Oct. 1. The money, raised by selling cheese rolls, apple strudel and chicken empanadas from Porto’s Bakery, will be used to tivities throughout the year, including additional Monthly Meals days.

In past years, food from nearby restaurants has been sold only on special occasions. With the institution of Monthly Meals, the Council aims to make off-campus food options a regular occurrence.

Head Prefect Katie Lim ’13 said students have always lobbied for an event like this one, but that Monthly Meals was fellow Head Prefect Michael Wagmeister’s ’13 “brainchild.”

“Not only has the student body asked for something like

this, but, I mean, who doesn’t love food?” Lim said.

Wagmeister encouraged the plan so underclassmen, who are not permitted to leave campus during school hours, could get off campus food.

“We were able to bring off-campus food to those who might otherwise not be able to go out and buy it during the cant amount of money which will directly be used to benWagmeister said.

Food was sold from break to the end of the day on Monday. Students had to pay in cash: one food item was $3, and two items sold for $5.

“Hopefully though, this was just a taste of what students might expect in the futo expand upon this idea and enhance this monthly event,” Wagmeister said.

sumptions.”

A few of Nassar’s papers Upper School science have been published with his teacher Dr. Antonio Nassar former Harvard-Westlake - students. search paper on quantum me“School is a great place to chanics in the International inspire, and the course I teach, Journal of Physics.

His paper is about dissipa- search, is a great environment tion in quantum mechanics, just to keep me thinking about or friction at the microscopic new ideas,” Nassar said. “It level. just makes me very happy to Nassar’s paper, have a chance to wit“Time-Dependent ness and to see stuGaussian Soludents thinking and tion for the Kostin coming up with an Equation Around idea.”

Classical TrajectoNassar does most ries,” went through of his work on papers a review process in at UCLA during evwhich an editor and ery summer. two to three physiHe has worked cists edited his work both independently nathanson ’s and decided that his and collaboratively Antonio Nassar work was both acwith students, as well curate and meaningas with colleagues and ful prior to being submitted. friends on his physics papers.

Physicists replicate an author’s Nassar said that to him, experiments and compare the enthusiasm and passion are results to ensure its accuracy. especially important in his “You have several models classes and his own work. and out of these models people will do experiments,” Nas- of the most important things sar said. “They test for which in teaching is inspiring your theory makes more sense. It’s students to do things,” he sort of something that moti- said. “I don’t think anyone will vates further discussions, it question that motivation and motivates experimenters like inspiration are essential in physicists to carry out the ex- the academic world, especially periments guided by some as- teaching.”

Go to hwchronicle.com/news/nassarpaper for an in-depth interview with Dr. Antonio Nassar about his research on quantum physics.

hwchronicle.com/news

oct. 10, 2012

news A7

inbrief

Bose-Pyne case reaches conclusion The parents of Ishan BosePyne ’12 will not appeal the verdict from a jury that found no legal liability in his death, according to a statement from their lawyers.

On Aug. 31, a federal jury ruled that the Wahl Clipper Corporation was not guilty of a manufacturing defect or negligence in design of an electric razor that was alledgedly responsible for Bose-Pyne’s death two years ago.

“Although we are disappointed that the jury did not

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ED HU

BACK IN THE CLASSROOM: Video game designer Anthony Newman ’01 poses with Performing Arts teacher Ted Walch, left, and video game design teacher Jacob Hazard, right. Newman spoke about his experiences working at video game company Naughty Dog Inc.

Alumnus discusses video game design career, development process

By Jensen Pak

Game designer Anthony Newman ’01 told students enrolled in the new video game design class about his career as a video game designer at Naughty Dog, Inc., known for the “Crash Bandicoot” and “Uncharted” franchises.

Newman talked to the class for 40 minutes about the process and technology used to make video games, in a large company. He spent the last design, including the relation between game mechanics, aesthetic, and the background story.

“Since it was a computer science class, a lot of what I

covered was pretty technical,” Newman said. “This included the challenges of console game development and the methodologies we use to get around those challenges. I also showed a lot of under-the-hood footage of what the games look like when we’re working on them.”

At Homecoming last year, Performing Arts teacher Ted Walch, who taught Newman in tenth grade English, ran into Newman. Video game design teacher Jacob Hazard and math teacher Kevin Weis did too.

The reunion led Newman to invite Hazard, Walch and Weis to visit the Naughty Dog studio. He gave Walch an overview of video games, tech-

nically and creatively. “[Newman] is very smart, very quick, loves HarvardWestlake and is eager to help,” Walch said. “I think part of him wants to make up for the times he drove me just a bit crazy when he was in 10th grade. He was a naughty dog then and he’s a Naughty Dog now.”

Shortly after their meeting, Newman talked to Hazard about the possibility of a guest lecture.

“Understanding what is involved will allow us to better align our goals with our resources and potential,” Hazard said. “It is intrinsically interesting to learn about the complexity involved in such ambitious endeavors as mak-

ing video games.”

Hazard said that the presentation was effective, as students could learn from someone they could identify with — a young alum working at a distinguished video game company. He said it also allowed them to learn more about “what is actually involved in making industry-grade video games.”

As a game designer, Newman is currently working on Naughty Dog’s upcoming game “The Last of Us.” “If you’re a student at Harvard-Westlake, you’re in a really special place,” Newman said. “Enjoy your time there, and don’t sweat the small stuff.”

Database publishes students’ research on rockfish By ana scuric

The National Center for Biotechnology database published research compiled by last year’s Genetics and Biotechnology students, with thors.

“It was a really big honor to see my name alongside people that have way more expeDavid Manahan ’14 said.

This class was the third to participate in a DNA barcoding project with Coastal Marine Biolabs.

The students sequenced a The

students

were

given

samples from the organisms and then had to isolate and quence.

The process comprised of many steps to make sure samples were as pure as possible and did not become contaminated, Sam Lyons ’13 said.

“My favorite part was checking the database and beons said. “Just to know that I have concrete results in the biggest biology research database, felt awesome.”

This year’s class will continue the project and will collect their own specimens. They will isolate sequences of DNA

soundbyte

“It’s cool to think that you’ve done something no one else has done and benefits science for the next however many years.”

—Kassie Shannon ’13

Islands National Park.

“It astounds me that we can do this in a high school

nathanson ’s

class,” genetics teacher David Hinden said. “It’s a chance to bring real science to the classroom.”

The Hub login page designed for one-time login

By Jessica Lee

On the login page of The Hub a bold red sign warns against bookmarking the authentication page.

The sign was put up by Network Administrator David Hartmann and Web Manager Lillian Contreras after a glitch was discovered.

The Hub is designed for a one-time login only — the au-

thentication page where students are asked to input their login information has a URL that is unique for that one session.

After the student has logged in, the URL and information about the authentication page will disappear. Thus, if students or faculty bookmark the login page, the web browser will save and try to access a web address that no

longer exists.

Educational Technology Committee Chair Jeffrey lem during the second week of school when he repeatedly received an error message when trying to access the The Hub. Snapp contacted Hartmann, and they discovered that the issue had to do with the single-use URL that The Hub was designed for.

“This isn’t really a problem, rather an unforeseen glitch that emerged as more people began to use web resources in different ways,” Snapp said.

Instead of bookmarking the authentication page, students and faculty can save the URL of the home website that appears after logging in.

“I like to tell people to bookmark the destination not the journey,” Snapp said.

cause of Ishan Bose-Pyne’s death, we are grateful that we were chosen to be counsel for Ishan’s parents,” attorney Arnold Peter said in a statement.

—Sarah Novicoff

Chronicle finalist for Pacemaker Last year’s edition of The National Pacemaker. The staff at the National Scholastic Press Association Journalism at the Fall Convention in San Antonio the weekend of Nov. 15-17.

Students will be accompanied by yearbook adviser Jen Bladen, Spectrum adviser Steve Chae and Chief AdThe 2011-2012 Chronicle also won All-American honors from the NSPA and the George Gallup Award from Quill and Scroll.

Both the Chronicle and the sports magazine, Big Red, won Gold Medalist and All-Columbian from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

—Elijah Akhtarzad

Science teachers to face Scibowl The Science Bowl team will hold a student-teacher competition on Oct. 15 in Ahmanson Lecture Hall during activities period.

Rob Levin and Head of Upper School Audrius Barzdukas placed a bet on the outcome of the competition, Science Bowl president Kenneth Kim ’13 said. If the students win, Levin will throw a pie in Barzdukas’ face, and vice versa if the teachers win.

“I thought that kids might enjoy watching their teachers play and possibly fumble around for answers in their area of specialty,” Kim said.

—Julia Aizuss

GSA attends clergyman’s speech The Gay-Straight Alliance plans to expand its relationships with other schools and begin hosting its own events, GSA leader Patric Verrone ’13 said. Members attended the Oct. 7 screening of the documentary “Love Free or Die” at Crossroads School and heard a speech from Gene RobinEpiscopal Church.

“It’s important for us to support the GSA community,” Verrone said.

—Kenneth Schrupp

the chrOnicle

A8 News

Oct. 10, 2012

Spanish trip returns to Mexico By allana rivera

teacher Andrew Brabbee for

The

three-year

suspenPRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF CARINA MARX

students on the Costa Rica -

-

-

BOOK CLUB: Orson Scott Card, author of Middle School All-Community Read “Ender’s Game,” far right, studies his novel with French teacher Heath Wagerman, yearbook advisor Jen Bladen and students in Munger Library. He visited the middle school campus Sept. 24.

‘Ender’s Game’ author addresses Middle School on government, leadership, military

By Keane MuraoKa-robertson

-

Orson Scott Card, author of the award-winning science

-

Students on the Costa Rica sight-seeing, in addition to -

shared his passion for history

-

-

intensity of such an engaging

author, Card is on the board -

-

-

-

-

they wanted to continue their discussion or get another au-

-

by DaviD liM

-

to an end, not a way station on

-

-

-

think that certain safeguards -

-

-

First HWPA gathering provides time to look back on Hudnut’s career

-

-

-

sorry that we brought a speak-

this incident and instead focus -

hudnutisms

In addition to this year’s character theme “Do Well and Do Good,” President Thomas Hudnut is known for other maxims. Head of School Jeanne Huybrechts shared a few favorite “Hudnut-isms” at the Parents’ Association meeting Sept. 19.

“If you want to learn to swim fast, go where people swim fast.” >> Hudnut said this at AdmissionS Open Houses to explain the school’s academic environment.

“The only constant is change.”

>> Hudnut said this to remind faculty of the need for a flexible mindset and regular experimentation.

nathanson ’s

Thomas Hudnut

“Be a force for good.”

INFOGRAPHIC BY JULIA AIZUSS

a young student to this past -

gin to think about returning to

-

-

-

started his tenure as head-

-

-

-

tion of science, arts, and ath-

-

-

-

oct. 10, 2012

hwchronicle.com/news

news A9

Faculty to select 15 for Africa trip By scott nussbauM

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF BEA DYBUNCIO

SURPRISE AWARD: Jordan Elist ‘13 learned that he was one of 80 students in the country who had won $10,000 in college scholarships from the Nordstrom Scholarship Program.

Elist was recognized for “exceptional scholastic achievement and involvement in the comOct. 3 and received his check in the lounge, with Community Council present. Elist started “Save a Bottle, Save a Life,” which donates money collected from recycled bottles to charity.

Faculty leaders of the summer Africa trip, taking place from June 10 to July 13, will select 15 students from a pool of 20 applicants to embark on the trip.

This group will visit several countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The group will stop at national parks, historical sites and villages.

Participants on the trip will observe the science, ecology, photography, history, culture and art of Africa. Students will perform community service in several underprivileged areas.

Students will spend nights both camping outdoors and sleeping in hotels.

Assistant Director of Admissions Melanie Leon, upper school science teacher Dietrich Schuhl and Senior Salamandra will be chaperones on the trip.

Middle school science teacher Florence Pi initiated the whole trip, which costs between $10,000 and $12,000, and will be leading the expedition.

“I am looking forward most to sharing a place that I love so much with the students and chaperones,” Pi said. “It makes it so special and even more amazing to see Africa through their eyes as they’re time.”

The chaperones will post a list of the accepted students within two weeks and will notify them by delivering letters printed on safarithemed stationary. “[This trip] sounds like a great opportunity for me to learn more about a country that I am unfamiliar with,” applicant Emily Maynes ’15 said. “I would love to interact with other people through community service and experience the beauty of Africa’s landscape.”

Junior showcases heart failure research at Seattle conference

By Michael RothbeRg

Lizzy Thomas ’14 presented the results of her medical research at the Heart Failure Society of America Conference in Seattle.

Thomas researched the correlation between obesity, muscle mass and heart disease this summer during an internship with Dr. Tamara Horwich, an assistant professor in residence in the Medical Cardiology department at UCLA. In the Seattle Convention Center on Sept. 11, Thomas and her mentor explained their research and answered the questions of cardiologists and medical researchers.

“I had such a good time,” Thomas said. “It was really fun to do the presentation and have the poster. That was really cool for me. Also, poster sessions are a really good way to make connections because

you can meet people that you can collaborate with on journal articles in the future.”

Thomas’s research investigated the “Obesity Paradox,” a phenomenon that describes the tendency of overweight people with heart failure to live longer than thinner patients with heart failure.

“Our goal was to determine whether the ‘Obesity Paradox’ existed because the heart failure patients had increased fat mass or increased muscle mass,” Thomas said.

Thomas conducted her research using an “InBody,” a body composition analyzer, which measures weight, body fat, muscle mass, and total body water volume.

“The InBody does a cool thing,” Thomas said. “It puts all of the data entries into an measurements and correlated them to prognostic surrogates,

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF LIZZY THOMAS

HEART HEALTHY: Lizzy Thomas ’14 stands with UCLA mentor Dr. Tamara Horwich in front of the poster she made depicting her research on heart failure. Thomas presented her poster in Seattle. measurements to tell you how healthy a person is, such as blood pressure, heart rate, heart volume, heart size and waist circumference.”

Thomas compiled the bank of medical data and analyzed the results that she presented at the conference.

“We got a result that we weren’t expecting,” Thomas said. “It turns out that the people who fared the best with heart disease were people with higher fat mass as well as higher lean muscle mass.”

Thomas and her mentor are still in the process of

building the database of their paper in the spring.

“In the long term we want to look at how people’s body compositions affect their long term survival with heart failure,” Thomas said.

Four students explore LA culture By cheRish Molezion

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF KATHERINE HOLMES-CHUBA

CITYGOERS: Kennedy Green ’14, Henry Hahn ’14, Tom Thorne ’14 and Grace Levin ’14 (from left) explore Los Angeles culture.

Four juniors and two teachers immersed themselves in the culture of Los Angeles through the Los Angeles Service Academy, which began in August.

Kennedy Green ’14, Henry Hahn ’14, Grace Levin ’14 and Tom Thorne’ 14 traveled around the city with LASA to better understand the life, planning and politics of Los Angeles.

Executive Director of LASA Doug Smith contacted upper school Dean Jim Patterson, who put LASA in contact with upper school history teachers Katherine HolmesChuba and Francine Werner, who both became chaperones of the program.

The program consists of around 25 students from Los Angeles and Montebello, including Harvard-Westlake and Polytechnic School in Pasadena.

LASA provides transpor-

tation to the Huntington Library, the program’s monthly Saturday meeting place, where they occasionally host guest speakers.

“When we are at the Huntington, we get to see manuscripts from the library linked to the topic of the day,” Holmes-Chuba said. “Last month, we saw engineer reports, water reports, drawings, proposals for various dams and water projects.”

In addition, the group goes geles. They have visited the Metropolitan Water Treatment facility, Warner Bros.

Studios, the Los Angeles Public Library Central Branch and City Hall, and they plan to visit a manufacturing site for the space shuttle. raised my awareness of the city’s operations, historical developments, and political machinations,” Thorne said.

“We don’t learn much about our local government and its

past in school, and LASA is a Levin said that LASA has allowed her to learn how diverse and complicated the city is.

“Los Angeles is such a unique place to live in with so much diversity and so much to learn about,” she said.

Thorne believes the leaders of the program have given the students a great opportunity.

“My favorite part of the organization is the knowledge and expertise of its leaders,” Thorne said. “They are historians of the American West, and they bring a vast wealth of information to the program.”

LASA has enabled its members to become more aware of the importance of the city’s functions.

“It was 105 degrees in Azusa and we were looking at water plants,” Holmes-Chuba said. “With that kind of heat, you are more aware of how important water is.”

the chrONicle

A10 News

Oct. 10, 2012

Alum co-hosts on HuffPost Live MiChaEl SugErMan

tial candidate debate last week, Jacob Soboroff ’s ’01

video conference, a and clips of each candidate, Soboroff and two other co-hosts b r o k e down the debate, each candidate’s effectiveness

“

how what we see in the news The

show

We’re trying to give a voice to those who don’t really have one in the mainstream media right now. It’s really cool to be a megaphone for those people.”

—Jacob Soboroff ’01

He joined the project in January 2012, when a few forjob that was “new, different and hadn’t been done before,” between

invites professionals to speak and provide inmost of the conversation is spurred by viewer comstreams are all on one screen, inteter reactions, and live inter-

Soboroff is a host for the

discussion

ally it’s a form for everyone to become part of the news,

normal

“The idea of my job is that I facilitate conversations, not -

Often, HuffPost Live hosts invite viewers into the video chat if they speak authoritaSoboroff was also part of ventions,” where HuffPost Live covered issues not discussed on a national platform

SCreeNShOT PrINTed wITh PermISSION Of huffPOST LIve

TALKING POLITICS: Jacob Soboroff ’01, right, sits back while conversing with television personality and political satirist Bill Maher, left, about vice presidential candidate, Paul Ryan. one in the mainstream me-

“Shadow

Conven-

clear about his job, it’s that

at their conventions: the war

done interviews with televiabout pertinent political policies and topics that will affect “It’s one, all-encompass-

The

He said if he wants to

to those who don’t really have

on our site that says ‘join this

-

people like you - students - to tell us what’s on your mind so that we can broadcast sto-

takes questions some from cast, he posts who he’ll be

to read viewers’ questions on -

terest from friends and fam-

Alumnus launches political discussion website before election

By Eojin Choi

to really try and create some-

Austin Sherman ’12 launched his website thepoliticalparty last week after as the “Party,” “The Soapfeatures improve communication between the website When Sherman created the website last year, only the election correlation quiz was

PrINTed wITh PermISSION Of AuSTIN ShermAN

IT’S A PArTY: Users of Austin Sherman’s ’12 website create avatars and join “Party” rooms where they can take politically challenging and in-depth quizzes, see and share information regarding the candidates, and broadcast live to one another.

The quiz matches up the user’s political views with those of the candidates to make pemore informed be-

By allana rivEra

tal Science students kayaked activist, helped deem the river pedition down the river four talize the river and make it “a connector between the LA er Expedition, the company which Wolfe founded and now took control of the river af-

The river then ended up in the hands of the Army Corps

Wolfe, however, wanted to The only way to do so was the Clean Water Act, which -

and aims to open up access to it for recreational purposes nized the river as more than a concrete embankment, if they ronmental Club leader Kevin “We have a river!” Adler

The last new feature is

With the help of a tech-

sues like healthcare and the

virtual room creation, he was able to add the “Party” rooms that can be created for candidates to use for fundraisers and for political and social in-

Sherman plans to keep man and local representative, so that people will continue to stay involved with politics

Users can choose avatars into any of the rooms, which also can stream content and

involved in politics,” Sherman

Another feature that will be available before the election is “The Soapbox,” a spe-

-

the participants can broadcast themselves live to the

APES students boat down LA River

-

tropics; there were trees all The river was clean, populated with wildlife, and clear of

-

that I hope will be the foun-

soundbyte

“It was the best seeing all the wildlife, and it was really surprising how clean the river water actually was.”

—Kay McCarthy ’14

nathanson ’s

mental science teachers Hilary Ethe ’00, who spearheaded discussed topics that would be covered later in the year in their AP Environmental Science courses, such as cultural “It was a nice introduction to later parts of the class,”

However, the expedition encompassed every topic that and promoted a connection between classroom material

Schuhl and I always try to do: -

dents are out there to experiAlso, the Environmental Club, headed by Adler and

The documentary was centered on environmental activ-

oct. 10, 2012

hwchronicle.com/news

Under Obamacare, companies may follow school’s health policy

By Julia aizuss

follow numerous PPACA provisions that apply to fully insured plans, Ryan said.

However, some new rules still do apply. The school began making changes to the healthcare plan in 2010, when the

If the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), better known as “Obamacare,” is allowed to continue to full effect by whoever wins the presidential election, more companies may institute self- enacted, Ryan said. By 2014, funded employee health insur- there will be no preexisting ance plans similar to the one condition waiting period for all that governs Harvard-West- individuals, Ryan said.

“This may increase the lake faculty and staff.

Unlike many other schools, number of people on the plan, the Harvard-Westlake faculty which is obviously going to healthcare plan, which cov- increase the costs of medical care,” Ryan said. “I ers all full-time emthink we have some ployees for no cost, is uncovered dependents self-funded. that may not be covThis means that ered under a health the school doesn’t pay insurance plan right premiums to a health now because their insurance company parents want to save to take on the risk money.” of faculty’s medical “In 2014 uncovclaims, and it can deered individuals will sign its own plan. nathanson ’s have to pay a hefty “Self-funding tax penalty if they’re Rob Levin is going to be the not covered,” she said. way to save money for health insurance,” “That’s part of the ACA. So - everybody has to have health trator Nicole Ryan said. insurance.”

As of 2010, the plan also no “Harvard-Westlake has been increasing [healthcare spend- longer has lifetime limits on ing] one percent per year for medical care, Ryan said.

Lastly, 2010 marked the rethe last ten years. Fully insured companies are going to moval of the cost for covered preventive care like mammoseven-and-a-half percent per grams and colonoscopies.

Ryan thinks that PPACA’s year. So more companies are going to become self-insured biggest and only negative change for Harvard-Westlake in the next couple years.”

Due to this self-insured set up, the plan does not need to ible spending plan, or the Sec-

tion 125 cafeteria plan, which changes in 2014.

Flex is a plan employees can use to tax shelter some of their money for medical expenses, which is a way to reduce payments made to taxcollectors like the government.

While the tax shelter limit is currently $5,000, in 2014 that limit will be cut in half to $2,500.

Despite these new PPACA mandates that will increase healthcare plan costs, Chief does not think the increases

news A11

By the numbers: faculty health $2.7 million spent on healthcare $63 million total in the school budget

$2000 $300

of tuition from each student is dedicated to faculty healthcare

of tuition dollars per student saved under the self-insured plan INFOGRAPHIC BY MICHAEL SUGERMAN SOURCE: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ROB LEVIN

in relation to the healthcare plan budget of $2.7 million.

“It’s heads or tails. You could Although being exempt have the $40,000 accident. from several new PPACA pro- But if you had 1,000 people in visions is a plus, the school ad- your family, are they all goministers a self-funded plan ing to have an accident in the for multiple same year? It other reabecomes real sons. predictable, “We have like a thouYou’re going to have the money,” sand coin Levin said. some heads and some He comhave 500 peotails. So why pay an pared the ple involved in chances of a insurance company a our plan.” certain num“They’re profit to take on that ber of people not all going risk? getting sick to get sick the and oversame year,” he —Rob Levin said. “They’re whelming Chief Financial Officer not all going the budget to the chances to be healthy of a certain the same number of people getting in a year. You’re going to have some car accident. heads and some tails. So we “If you have one driver, it’s know that it’s pretty predictable, and we’ll have good years

“

15% Discount for Harvard Westlake Students

and bad years, but we can afford the bad year. So why pay to take on that risk?”

He said that because the sign a plan tailored to the employees instead of paying an the self-insurance plan saves the school about $500,000 a year, which cuts students’ tuition by about $300.

On the other hand, the healthcare plan’s budget of $2.7 million a year adds about $2,000 to tuition.

Besides saving money, Levin said the healthcare plan is not worse but “as good or better.”

“We get the best of both ably saved over the [past 25] years $10 million by doing this,” Levin said.

Pick-ups and Dine-ins from the regular menu

The harvard-wesTlake

ChrOniCle Editors in ChiEf: David Lim, Elana Zeltser Managing Editors: Robbie Loeb, Michael Rothberg, Camille Shooshani ExECutivE Editor: Rachel Schwartz PrEsEntations Editors: Jamie Chang, Gabrielle Franchina

OpiniOn The ChrOniCle

OCT. 10, 2012

sPorts Editors: Michael Aronson, Luke Holthouse ChiEf CoPy Editor: Allana Rivera nEws Managing Editors: Michael Sugerman, Ally White nEws sECtion hEads: Elizabeth Madden, Lauren Sonnenberg, Noa Yadidi infograPhiCs ManagEr: Jivani Gengatharan nEws CoPy Editor: Jessica Lee nEws onlinE ManagErs: Claire Goldsmith, Jensen Pak assistants: Leily Arzy, Sara Evall, Haley Finkelstein, Enya Huang, Sophie Kupiec-Weglinski, Jensen McRae, Nikta Mansouri, Scott Nussbaum, Jonathan Suarez, J.J. Spitz, Jake Saferstein oPinion Managing Editor: Ana Scuric sECtion hEads: Beatrice Fingerhut, James Hur, Kyla Rhynes, Tara Stone oPinion assistants: Parker Chusid, Lucas Gelfen, Kenneth Schrupp fEaturEs Managing Editors: Maggie Bunzel, Carrie Davidson fEaturEs sECtion hEads: Eojin Choi, Sydney Foreman, David Gisser, Morganne Ramsey, Lauren Siegel infograPhiCs ManagEr: Sarah Novicoff fEaturEs assistants: Carly Berger, Zoe Dutton, Cosima Elwes, Jacob Goodman, Aimee Misaki, Marcella Park, Nadia Rahman, David Woldenberg sPorts Managing Editors: Aaron Lyons, Keane Muraoka-Robertson sECtion hEads: Patrick Ryan, Grant Nussbaum, Lucy Putnam, Lizzy Thomas assistants: Elijah Akhtarzad, Mila Barzdukas, Tyler Graham, Miles Harleston, Erina Szeto, Jeremy Tepper BusinEss ManagEr: Cherish Molezion ads ManagEr: Leslie Dinkin PhotograPhErs: Mazelle Etessami, Rebecca Katz, Scott Nussbaum, Emily Segal MultiMEdia tEaM: Mazelle Etessami, Jack Luke Holthouse, Eric Loeb, Sam Sachs advisEr: Kathleen Neumeyer 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 Leslie Dinkin at 818465-6512. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or the school.

ILLUSTRATION BY AVALON NUOVO

ILLUSTRATION BY AVALON NUOVO

Cleaning up after ourselves At Harvard-Westlake, we are given a lot. A $5 million pool here, a multi-million dollar library there. In spite of the things that are given to us, however, students have mistreated our campus to the point of administrational intervention. Where is the respect?

Material luxuries aside, Harvard-Westlake gives us the friends, teachers and opportunities that make it a place we can call home.

With these things in mind, it’s pretty dalized the bronze cougar statue sunbathing near the fountain in Feldman-Horn Plaza.

When Feldman-Horn Gallery was constructed and dedicated, the donor family held an exhibit of their own art pieces. Their bronze cougar, a work by renowned artist Gwynn now that they had it recast and presented the copy to the school.

Obviously, whoever defaced the cougar is but one among us, but this is not the only example of vandalism. This year the administration planted signs all over the quad that read, “Most people clean up after themselves.” Some students have made a mockery of these signs, crossing out “up after” with markers, or simply throwing them on the ground. Some dislodged the placards on the “senior tables,” writing that “most people use better adhesive.” Laugh all you want, but

there is validity in the somewhat passiveaggressive reproach. After all, “most people clean up after themselves” can mean a variety of things.

The words serve as a reminder to pick up signs are a mandate not to vandalize school property, something especially pertinent following last year’s table drawings in response to the “make your mark” motto. Believe it or not, doing so is a crime. The signs are a plea to respect your environment and, in doing so, respect those who must tend to it.

Overall, the directive is to leave your environment as pristine as you found it if not more so. It’s a fair request. After all, would you scribble on the walls and furniand throw the wrappers on your living room Most people clean up after themselves.

Most people don’t draw on the generously donated sculpture. Most people appreciate their surroundings rather than defacing them. Don’t think you are an exception.

hwchronicle.com/opinion

oct. 10, 2012

opinion A13

Don’t take your vote for granted

By Luke Holthouse

ILLUSTRATION BY AVALON NUOVO

Current events need background

By Sydney Foreman In 2008, my preteen mind was consumed with hopes of getting my braces off rather than the beginning of the recession. I never thought about how fortunate I was to have health care because with Sesame Street merchandise that my mother dragged me to once a year. 9/11 was a tragedy that marked my I was oblivious to its political I am more informed now, Presidential debate, I realized how much I still don’t know.

All of my history courses have increased my knowledge of eras past, but I’d never been regularly questioned about current issues until I encounmy tenth grade history class.

Tested on content from the Los Angeles Times, I did not have a problem remembering the week’s news, but I lacked a deeper understanding of it.

I still don’t fully understand how the economy works or what causes it to collapse.

I still do not entirely comprehend the arguments against universal healthcare. Reciting

facts from a newspaper will not further my ability to be a well-informed citizen.

It makes more sense for students to self-educate.

Though I know it is very hard, even nearly impossibly, history curriculum, students could be assigned a political issue to read up on each month and instead of taking a quiz they could write a short paragraph analyzing their topic. Students would be well versed in political issues, rather than simply memorizing them.

I am not the only student who seems to be lacking information. In my eighth grade history course, the student sitting next to me exclaimed “America is the best. Why should I learn about anywhere else?” Our British teacher Matthew Cutler responded with a pop geography quiz the following day on every country in the world.

“Afghanistan,” Cutler said, “You should know where it is, considering your country is A chorus of sighs burst out as most of the students failed to correctly label the country.

Hustling out of the classroom,

I heard a classmate saying she there, but had no idea why.

Learning Afghanistan’s location is a simple task, yet we were not truly aware of major foreign affairs. If we are not up-to-date on these matters it is impossible to formulate opinions.

As I approach voting age informed about political issues. In the upcoming election many Harvard-Westlake students will be eligible to vote.

It is important that they are not solely replicating the ideas of parents or friends, but are using their own knowledge to cultivate ideas.

Just because some students cannot vote does not mean they shouldn’t be informed. Educated minds are not only useful when it comes to voting, but also in day-today conversation. I constantly hear people on campus conversing passionately about their opinions, yet rarely feel cal awareness to engage.

When 2016 comes around and I, as well as my classmates, am able to vote in the election, I hope that we will be as informed as possible.

You should care about healthcare

By Claire Goldsmith During this election season, there’s been a lot of discussion about Obamacare, Romneycare, the Affordable Care Act, healthcare and Medicare. And at this point, it is likely you don’t care.

Why should you? Maybe you think Medicare is for old people so it doesn’t matter.

Maybe you don’t know the difference between Medicare, Medicaid, and Medical.

But here’s the thing: you have to care. Healthcare reform doesn’t just affect the elderly and the uninsured.

Provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), which aims to reduce the number of Americans without healthcare and lessen health insurance costs, have already changed your health insurance policies.

Right now, you are likely covered under your parents’ health insurance. They might have insurance with a private company or through

their workplace. Often, your parents will have to pay a certain amount of money per year, a “deductible,” before the insurer will cover the remaining costs. When you get a prescription, you pay a small percentage of the cost, a “copayment,” and the insurance company will pay the rest.

Some of these policies will change. I’m by no means an expert on healthcare, but I’ve read the bill, and this is stuff you need to know. These are details of the healthcare reform plan taken directly from the PPACA bill that affect you right now and provisions that will change your ability to get health insurance in the future.

Since Sept. 23, 2010, children have been allowed to remain under their parents’ insurance coverage until they turn 26, even if they don’t live with them.

Insurance companies can no longer drop people if

they become ill.

Starting Aug. 1, 2012, all plans have to cover preventative care, including check-ups and contraception, without charging a deductible.

To pay for the healthcare expansion, the income tax of those in the highest tax bracket will be increased by 3.8 percent starting Jan. 1, 2013.

By Jan. 1, 2014, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage based on sex or pre-existing conditions.

This means you are covered under your parents’ insurance plan until your 26th birthday, so you’ll have dependable healthcare during college, graduate school, and even an unpaid internship. If you suddenly become sick, your insurance company can’t decide to stop covering you because it costs them. If you, like nearly 50 percent

I am voting against our current president.

In Iran, I would not be surprised if the government executed me for writing this in a newspaper. In Syria, maybe the punishment would be less severe for openly opposing the President’s reelection bid, like a life imprisonment for myself and my family.

But in the United States, a country that is based on freedom, I can use the 600 words allotted in this column to say whatever I want about how President Barack Obama has not led the country in the direction I think he should have in the last four years.

I’m free to say that unemployment and the national debt have all gotten worse under his tenure, while Mitt Romic problems at every business he’s worked at is stronger than any other candidate in the history of the Grand Old Party.

But I’m not spending more words going into further detail about my faith in Romney’s ability to stimulate job growth better than Obama why I’m not voting for the President this upcoming election.

I’m fully aware that my ballot will make zero difference in our country’s future.

California will be bright blue this November, whether or not I vote.

The point of voting is not come of elections. It’s to celebrate the freedom and rights we all have as Americans and show appreciation for those who gave them to us.

Millions of Americans have been killed throughout history so that citizens like those students over the age of 18 can vote in elections on Nov. 6. Today, thousands of American troops are still deployed around the world

to protect us and our way of life from the radical religious fanatics in the Middle East.

Even if you don’t support the fact that our government has continued to keep a military presence in parts of the world, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t appreciate the fact that the people called to duty by our government are out there trying to protect you. Just because you don’t think the effort the military puts towards protecting us is effective or worth the cost does not mean that we should forget the freedom that all of those men and women are risking their lives to protect.

So, on Nov. 6 don’t forget to show the world that you appreciate being an American. We’re far from a perfect country, with our economy struggling, our education system below international averages and discrimination still present in some areas of the country.

But we still provide more opportunity than any other country on this planet–that’s something to be proud of. The standard of living we have in the United States should not be taken for granted.

If the ideas of liberty, fairness and opportunity mean anything to you, then show it by voting. It takes less time to register online as a Californian voter at registertovote. ca.gov than it did to read this entire column.

So why am I not voting for our President this upcoming election? I’m not voting for him because I can act on my beliefs. If you’re a student that turns 18 before election day, then you should make sure you register. Wear an “I Voted!” sticker with pride all day Tuesday. Maybe you’ll cross paths with a veteran later that day, and that sticker will show him or her that to our country were worth it.

Have an opinion on healthcare reform. It may have already changed your insurance policies, and it has certainly made a difference in your future. of non-elderly Americans, according to a 2011 Human Health Services study, have a pre-existing condition (including diabetes, autoimmune illnesses and cancer), an insurance company cannot refuse to cover you. It also means that the wealthy will pay more taxes to cover the health insurance costs of those who can’t afford to.

Providing comprehensive health insurance for a nation of 315 million people is not an easy task, and I don’t claim this bill solves every problem in the healthcare system, outweigh the drawbacks. It’s extremely important that in the future, I will be able to get health insurance regardless of my sex or a pre-existing condition. I am glad that I have the option to use my parents’ insurance until I’m 26, because I don’t know if I health insurance immediately

out of college.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 75 percent of our healthcare costs stem from treatment of preventable illnesses. I believe access to preventative care will help both individuals’ health and, the overall physical and economic health of the country.

If you don’t know where you stand, think about it. Are we as a nation obligated to help those who can’t provide for themselves? Is access to healthcare a right? Should insurance companies have the right to decline coverage to people with pre-existing conditions because it will cost more to insure them?

This issue should be important too. You don’t have to agree with me, support the PPACA, or even be eligible to vote in November, but you do need to have an opinion. This is an issue that affects you every day of your life.

the chrOnicle

A14 OpiniOn

Suffering senioritis differently

Oct. 10, 2012

By Michael Sugerman I may have an acute case of senioritis. My symptoms, however, vary from the stereotype of apathy. I’m not kicking back and skipping class. It’s a new strain of the disease. I’m plagued by: Nostalgia: continual discussion of the old middle school campus. Jovial reminiscing about my kvetchy Spectrum column, “What Grinds my Gears.” I marvel at Facebook pictures of eighth grade me, remembering my high voice; I was really a little kid.

Aging: every time I hop in my car to drive off campus for lunch, the freedom shocks me.

It’s something of a phenomenon. I feel older, almost like an adult. And yes, I can see over the steering wheel.

Fraternity: I’ve made an effort not to just hang with my usual entourage. I’ve spoken to people with whom I rarely made eye contact in years past, and the connections are surprisingly strong. You don’t spend six years with a person without at least inadvertently learning about them.

School spirit: I probably won’t say “Go Big Red” if asked “Do you like it?” But I’ve gone to more games this year than the combined total of the last two years. Even though I’ll wear the shirt, I wouldn’t necessarily classify myself as a Fanatic. However I’m more likely to be at a home game than sitting in front of the TV. Enthusiasm: senior year is

JACOB GOODMAN/CHRONICLE JACOB GOODMAND/CHRONICLE

Take off your college app glasses

By Julia Aizuss

“Join this club! It’ll look good on your college application, and you don’t even need to do anything!” one club president shouted from behind their club table during Activities Fair, the volume of their voice competing with the clamor, candy and chaos of all the other clubs lined up through the quad.

Of everything vying for my attention at the Ac-

baked goods, even Jensen Pak ’14 dressed up as a bowl of noodles for Junior Classical League—this declaration was what ensnared me, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since.

The gimmick worked. can choose every aspect of your The club’s signup sheet ran schedule. I feel truly passionate several pages, and though I’m about each of my classes. That’s sure some of those students unique and always encouragwere truly interested in what that club had to offer, there’s semester of senior year. no denying that most of the So yeah, I do have seniorisignups were due to the club tis. But it’s not a bad thing. president’s college-friendly

advertising.

Again, we had fallen into the trap of examining our lives through the lens of a college application, of participating in extracurricular activities simply because we think they will look good on our apps. I say “we” because I too signed up for this club, though I’ve been a member since last year. I thought I’d broken free of such a prescription.

I’ve learned that dropping extracurriculars I don’t truly enjoy always ends up being a good choice, and often points me towards activities I do care about. When I decided to quit clarinet the day before ninth grade began, dropping any instrumental interest from my college app three years down the road, the space in my schedule allowed me to become a staff member of the Spectrum, which led me to the Chronicle.

Even though I now enjoy what I do outside of my

Learn for learning’s sake

By Jack Goldfisher When I was 5 years old, I practiced writing the alphabet or sounding out sentences at school, while my brother was already using the sharp scissors. I quickly found myself becoming tired of drawing while watching my brother bring home 20 addition and subtraction problems each nally spurred me to do what I did next, but it is a decision I would later question for years: I asked my teacher to give me homework.

Actually, begged is probably more accurate. The homework I was given was simple: draw a stovepipe hat on an ink thumbprint and write a few sentences about our 16th president. I really loved that assignment. I felt like a grown up. I looked around, or rather down, at my classmates, wallowing in intellectual mediocrity as I had just conquered the most arduous assignment

ever. Of course, it was a 4” x 6” piece of paper with just 14 out of 23 words spelled correctly, but looking back on it I may have been originally.

Back then, I was never knew or the boundaries of what I understood. I’m sure if I said any of this to my 5-year-old self even he would call me pretentious, but then again, he had endless free time to think and write down his nonsensical musings; I just get one column each month.

I’ve never exactly lost my I have had to exert far more force to stretch my knowledge the same amount. I don’t read as much as I used to, I don’t write as much either.

It’s understandable that this is a part of growing up, that not every discovery I make at age 16 will wow me like it did when I was 5, and that as I

academic curriculum, I’m still tempted to sign up for clubs and include them in a college application as if that will increase their value—even if they don’t belong there.

Just a few days before the Activities Fair, I had remarked, only semi-jokingly, “Long-distance relationships should count as an extracurricular.” My girlfriend probably didn’t appreciate her reduction to another meaningless detail on my future college app, but I couldn’t take the remark back.

Once again I was looking through that lens, thinking about my life not on its own terms but on how every last piece of it could be taken apart to prove my character and desirability to a college.

Leading our lives and plotting our extracurriculars for maximum appeal to colleges isn’t what they want from us. More importantly, it’s not

what we should want from ourselves.

Quit the club that looks good on a college application still two years away. Take off the college app glasses that distort your vision. Consider stopping by the club that intrigued you but seemed to have no cachet whatsoever.

If it truly interests you, that is cachet. Or, let’s go back to that club, the one from the beginning, the one that was advertised to you as looking great on your college application. So maybe you signed up for it for that reason, and maybe it really will raise the eyebrows of an admissions right reason to attend the out anyway. Maybe you’ll end up liking it not for its college value but for its intrinsic value. And when you list it on your college application, how good it looks there won’t even cross your mind.

Expand your knowledge while you can to improve the value of your education.

take on more responsibilities it will be harder to encounter new academic challenges.

I’m also aware, however, that this capacity for discovery will only keep decreasing with time, and that I have to take action to enrich my mind as much as I can now. There that we can learn on our parents’ dime and take classes in topics so supremely inapplicable to our future careers that we will perhaps never talk about again. To me, these are the topics that make for the fullest education.

This isn’t to say that I don’t believe in traditional classes, but I do believe that even if something won’t be applicable in daily life, there education for education’s sake.

This is why I feel the Kutler Center classes are the best things to happen to our school in a long time. Some students

in these classes will apply skills learned here to future endeavors, but the classes also draw students who simply love to learn and want to push the limits of what an already tremendous Harvard-Westlake education can offer.

The new curricula also made me realize the wide breadth of already existing academic electives for willing students to explore fascinating topics most high-schoolers wouldn’t dream of taking.

I don’t plan on being an avant-garde chef, but I plan on taking molecular gastronomy nex year. I watch my fair share of Top Chef and wouldn’t mind learning a bit more about making a raspberry gelee. I implore you to indulge in the stimulating classes taught by some of the most interesting people you will know. Take classes that you’ll love instead of for their appearance on your col-

lege app. While I’m certainly guilty of doing the latter, I’m trying hard to tap back into my 5-year-old self and ask him what he wants to learn.

According to scientists, our brain stops developing when we’re 25. I used to be scared of this number, thinking I could never truly learn anything new after Oct. 21, 2021. Now I see it as a challenge, a race against time to load my brain with knowledge of all subjects I’m passionate about. It’s an impossibly daunting task, and one that I will inevitably fail at, but to me this is part of the fun of intellectual pursuit. So to you, universe, I say challenge accepted. To other chasers of you good luck. And to you, the Kutler family and everyone else who has facilitated the beginning of a new era of academic exploration at HarvardWestlake, I say thank you.

oct. 10, 2012

hwchronicle.com/opinion

letter

Take ownership

Editors:

What probably happened was that someone drove past that empty space, went back to the faculty lot, circled, and then tried to get into the rather narrow empty slot, and accidentally bumped my fender. Or maybe they came straight from Coldwater and tried to back in and accidentally hit my

Upper School Back-to-School Day was costly for me this year.

I arrived about 8 a.m. and parked my car in my assigned faculty spot between Chalmers and Weiler. nathanson ’s Nobody was parked Kathy Neumeyer on either side of me yet.

When I left, shortly after noon, most fender. people had left, and there was It probably didn’t make a nobody parked on either side big crunching noise. Perhaps of me. the driver didn’t even know that they had damaged my dent on the fender of my car, car. At least, that’s what I’d on the driver’s side, between like to hope. Because it is disthe door and the front. Really maying to think that someone no way I could have caused in our community would hit that dent myself, unless I another car, and not even could drive sideways. leave a note.

It is going to cost $580 to repair, and I will need to rent Kathy Neumeyer a car for three or four days to Head of Upper School get back and forth to school.

Communications

reportcard

A B+ C DF

quadtalk

The Chronicle asked:

“Do you think the new ‘Most people clean up after themselves, ’ signs are effective?“

330 students weighed in on the Chronicle poll

76

Yes No

254

“They are not effective. I actually find the urge to leave my trash just because of that sign.”

—Alan Yousefzadeh ’15

“It is actually extremely ineffective. I just notice that there is more trash now that these signs have been put up.”

—Arielle Winfield ’13

Upper school to hold an online mock election Deans to crack down on the dress code with increased consequences

“I feel like the signs have no reaction at all from anyone.”

—Jessica Johnston ’14

Coldwater construction doesn’t allow left turn onto Hacienda Corrupt memory card forces students to retake yearbook photos Cougar at Feldman Horn is defaced by students

opinion A15

“Why do the signs say most instead of all people? If you use all, then more people will actually respect it.”

—Jack Flaherty ’14

Subway guilt

By Alex McNab Have you ever felt guilty for eating a submarine sandwich? I have.

It happened in Beijing, where I am spending my junior year of high school at School Year Abroad, at a Subway in between a café and a McDonalds. If only the café was a Starbucks and the Subway sold its sandwiches for $5 instead of 30 yuan, I would have practically been in America.

The sandwich had mayo, bacon, pickles and American cheese–toasted, and it was the longest footlong I’ve ever eaten.

It was 12 inches of wheat bread with an additional three feet of shame, or four feet counting the added embarrassment from the sound of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” playing in the background.

I came to China to stop being an American for a how people in other parts of the world live, and yet here I was with two other S.Y.A. students, one from Texas and the other from Montana, sitting in a Connecticut-based

fast food restaurant with sepia maps of New York City plastered all over the walls.

This was not the kind of cultural exchange I expected.

Things only got more western from there when a man walked in and, in stereotypical, the-louder-andslower-I-repeat-myself-themore-you-will-understandme American tourist English, said “I’ll have the sub of the day,” to the young Chinese woman behind the counter, who clearly didn’t understand a word he was saying.

The man was getting on my nerves, so I decided to step in and try to say “sub of the day” in Chinese. It didn’t work, but, eventually the man’s sandwich conundrum was resolved, but my issues The man decided that because I was an American, and I tried to help him speak to the sandwich artists who, he told me, usually speak English, we were now friends, and so he decided to get to know me better.

I found out that he was from Los Angeles and that he

was in Beijing as an English tutor, which didn’t make any sense to me since he couldn’t speak a lick of Chinese.

I told him that I was also from Los Angeles and that I went to Harvard-Westlake.

He looked confused and told me he’d never heard of the school although he lived in the Van Nuys area.

After that, I dismissed him as an idiot as he had probably done a long time ago to the poor Chinese women who he most likely thought were too dumb to understand his order.

When the man left, I didn’t sigh, but I felt relieved.

Not just the man but the entire Subway experience was too much of a culture shock. I it wasn’t that good, and I left.

At home, I told my host mother that my friends and I had only gotten a snack, and, the three of us, baba, mama, and I took out our chopsticks and noisily slurped up our homemade noodles, and I was happy because I knew that was the way it was supposed to be.

Go to hwchronicle.com/opinion/mcnabsya for updates from Alex McNab’s year in China with School Year Abroad.

visit us

at hwchronicle.com

The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle launched its new website this week to take advantage of our new multimedia content and live broadcast games and other school events.

Online developer/coder Austin Chan ‘13 worked over the summer to design and build the site from scratch.

To learn more about the website and how it was created, head to hwchronicle.com/about

A16

Ring it on 1 2

4

exposure

5

The Class of 2013 received their class rings or keychains at the annual Senior Ceremony. The Chamber Singers provided musical accompaniment.

3

PHOTOS BY LIZ MADDEN AND MAZELLE ETESSAMI/CHRONICLE

7

Oct. 10, 2012

6

ON A SUNNY AFTERNOON:

1: The seniors sit on the bleachers as they await rings and keychains.

2: Mike Hart ’13, Molly Harrower ’13, Hans Hansen ’13, Greg Ha ’13 and

3: From left, prefects Katie Lim ’13, Morgan Hallock ’13, Mikaila Mitchell ’13, Luke Holthouse ’13, Ben Gail ’13 and Michael Wagmeister ’13 pose.

4: Chamber Singers prepare to sing.

5: Ben Gail ’13 gives a speech about the school’s crest and traditions.

6: The families of the senior class watch the ceremony from their seats on Ted Slavin Field.

7: Elana Meer ’13 shakes President Thomas Hudnut’s hand. This was Hudnut’s last senior ceremony as president of Harvard-Westlake.

Features

OTE

B6-7

The upcoming presidential and state elections sparked debate and discussion amoung students and teachers, especially new voters.

the chrOnicle

B2 Features

UP

in the

AIR

Oct. 10, 2012

Before they drive a car, some students are learning to fly.

Junior logs 90 hours at controls in the sky

By lauren sonnenBerG

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF AMIYA BROWN ’14

PREPARING FOR TAKEOFF: Amiya Brown ’14 stands next to his plane before he takes off at the Santa Monica Airport.

Juniors take first solo flights at 10,000 feet

By Jack Goldfisher In the parking lot of the DMV on an October afternoon, Henry Hahn ’14 was nervously tapping his foot on as he awaited his driver’s license test. Forty miles away, but in a completely different world, Ross O’Shea ’14 sat in the cockpit of a Cessna 172 aircraft excitedly awaiting his Bennett Victor ’14 had a similar experience this summer, as he sat sweating in an un-airconditioned cockpit with the sweltering June sun beating down on his skin.

The only relief came as he pushed his throttle down and the wind whistled through

trying to stay out of trouble,” Brown said.

However, one requirement of license training is puporsefully stalling your aircraft and recovering from the stall. more mundane maneuvers such as landings, touch and goes, [and] slips,” Victor said. their training in ninth grade.

The last stage to getting a license has several requirements, includnight and a so-called which in reality is

several takeoffs and landings. To complete this last stage of training, an apnathanson ’s plicant must be 17 Bennett years old.

Victor ’14 What impressed Brown, O’Shea and passenger aircraft. On Victor the most that day, Victor was the only sive views a pilot sees from the For a few people, the age 16 cockpit. represents a more ambitious tive perspective which is both beautiful and telling,” Brown the last stages in the process to get a license, and is often said to be the most monumental step. gan, directly alongside the Chicago skyline. It was just and Victor all sat alone in the an amazing sight. The lights cockpit of planes speeding of the city, and the buildings down the runway before they in all shapes and sizes sparever sat alone in the front kled and shimmered like you seat of a car. For them, sail- couldn’t believe – close enough ing and whooshing past clouds to touch. I was kind of amazed at 10,000 feet above the earth that Homeland Security would was a more important ex- allow a small plane to have perience than turning a car that kind of proximity to a major city.” street. Learning to pilot an Brown quoted Leonardo da aircraft requires years of dedication and the will to become a master of the instruments and you will forever walk the earth technical skill. with your eyes turned sky- ward, for there you have been, lots are generally just traveling and there you will always long to return.”

Sitting in an airplane cockpit with his hands gripping the controllers, Ross O’Shea ’14 opens the throttle as he races runway and lifts into the air.

O’Shea has repeated this scene time after time in his more than 90 hours behind the controls of an aircraft over the past two years. O’Shea has young age. His grandfather, who worked in the aviation industry, recounted tales of young O’Shea, and he has been With approval from his parents, O’Shea enrolled in

O’Shea buckled his seat belt

years later, O’Shea can now the day after his 16th birthday, before he was legal for him to drive a car. Since then, often as his schedule allows.

In a rented plane, O’Shea fornia, and at every airport where he lands, O’Shea continues his tradition of taking a quick picture to remind him of his travels when he returns home. His taken him all the way to Death Valley, but his longest

feeling in the world to look around the plane and look outside the Pismo Beach, more window and realize that than 160 miles I am in control,” O’Shea from the upper said. nathanson ’s O’Shea loves looking out the cockpit window Ross O’Shea ’14 tor Will Schaeur at landscapes and sunsets he would not expeyou get up in the rience the same way on the air, you will never want to - come down.” O’Shea said those words have resonated with him, and he does not plan to world is. come down any time soon.

For graduation, she wants to fly

By MaGGie Bunzel

Tate Castro ’13 sat at her kitchen table one summer afternoon, pen in hand, pad of paper at the ready. She was brainstorming, admittedly a little early, for a very big gift that she’d been waiting for a long time – her graduation present.

cause, as any parent of a teenager would be, she was concerned for her daughter’s safety. diving instead?” her mom asked her, imploring her daughter to change her mind.

cate when they turn 17. There as long as you are medically In order to get her license, Castro must take pilot lessons school. Typically that can cost from about $3,000 to $4,000 for simple ground school and

to receive clearance from a that I would be safe licensed medical doctor and Tate Castro ’13 and that it was some- must make sure her vision is thing I really wanted near perfect. Then, she must to try,” Castro said. take the training course for Europe?” her mom asked her, To her excitement, her mother eventually agreed and end of those weeks, she will be cruise somewhere?”

Castro couldn’t have been hapShe sat there, staring at pier. the page of college-ruled paper Castro must to do somethen comtogether. She had a list of pos- thing difplete 30 to 40 sibilities sitting right in front ferent, not I can’t wait to do this. of her, but nothing seemed to common or time with a I’ve dreamed about it catch her attention. She want- generic,” she licensed ined to do something for gradu- said. structor and for a long time, and to ation that was unique. That’s S o o n , me, it’s an experience I’ll when, thousands of miles up Castro will never forget. above, she heard a plane shoot begin the If she passes, process of she will be ca—Tate Castro ’13 pable and lejust like that, she knew exactly receiving a what she wanted to do. license, or gally allowed what the I’ve always been fascinated single-engine member telling my mom when I was a lot younger that one the time of graduation next June, but according to the about it for a long time and to because I thought it was the me, it’s an experience I’ll never coolest thing.”

- forget.” nathanson ’s

“

hwchronicle.com/features

oct. 10, 2012

features B3

DaviD lim/CHRONICLe

Admit One

By Rachel SchwaRtz

Waiting alone in a local Starbucks, Andrew Meepos ’13 sips a coffee as he waits to meet a complete stranger.

Strewn across the table in front of him are concert tickets that he has sold over the internet. Meepos uses Craigslist or Stubhub to re-sell tickets to concerts. He spends a couple of hours each day switching between music sites on his laptop and researching what events are going on in Los Angeles.

He gets update emails from every major concert venue in the area and from promoters such as Golden Boy Promotions and Insomniac Promotions, which sometimes even gives him access to presales.

He has to be constantly aware because concerts sell out quickly and the ones that sell out are also the ones that “Nobody really likes the word scalping,” Meepos said.

“It has a bit of a negative connotation. I prefer ticket reselling.”

According to seatgeek.com, “It is illegal to sell tickets that were bought for the purpose of resale for more than face value on the grounds of the event venue without the written permission of the event sponsor,” but other than that, reselling tickets at an elevated price is completely legal.

Meepos began his business in July 2011 when he saw some tickets to the Lollapalooza music festival up for giveaway in a trivia competition. Once he

Private party wishes to sell two side-by-side interment spaces Lot #1678, location Abiding Trust $4500 for one or $8000 for two Endowment Care Fund included Address: Forest lawn Memorial Road 21300 Via Verde Drive Covina Hills, CA

For more information, contact Lan Ky: (626)-392-1692; (626)-675 1556

Andrew Meepos ’13 makes Starbucks his headquarters for his ticket reselling business.

“All Craigslist does is let were the same every time and people communicate with each just rearranged themselves, he other,” Meepos said. “It lets took the quiz again and again, me meet the person locally made sure he was the highest and get cash for it. It lets them scorer in the world and subse- get the ticket at a lower price quently won the competition and lets me make more money two days in a row. He won four so it’s kind of a win-win.” free tickets that he sold for With an iPhone at his ear $1,200. and his hands on a keyboard, “Andrew has always liked Meepos tries to buy tickets as money and what money can soon as they are available. If do for you they are sellso he was ing out he brainstormwill buy a pair ing a way to both digitally Nobody really likes make money and over the the word scalping. It in an area he phone. has a bit of a negative loves,” his unHe immecle, Accoundiately posts connotation. I prefer tant Robert the tickets on ticket reselling.”

Meepos said.

Stubhub and “He realized Craigslist, —Andrew Meepos ’13 on that he had the loweston to be able to Stubhub. predict the Though at market. He’s been right about 95 percent said his parents were nervous of the time. He’s using his he might meet a “Craigslist acumen and his understand- killer,” rather than a person ing of the music business and trying to buy some tickets, the ticket business to make he said they don’t worry anymoney. He’s already paid back more. what he borrowed from his “I found a good system dad to get started. He makes which is basically meeting someone inside a Starbucks,” Meepos has never had to Meepos said. “There’s safety sell for less than face value since there are lots of people after what he described as and my car is parked nearby so “a bit of a disaster,” buying I never need to walk through Snoop Dogg tickets when ev- dark alleys.” ery rap fan in LA was at the Previous client Nancy Staples Center seeing Jay-Z Mares said that she has mainand Kanye West. tained a client relationship Meepos prefers to use with Meepos and would probCraigslist rather than Stub- ably purchase directly from hub because Stubhub has a 15 him in the future. percent transaction fee.

“Upon meeting Andrew at

“

work, I was shocked at how young he is,” Mares said. “The transaction was smooth and simple. We exchanged my cash for his print out tickets and about an hour later he sent me an email as promised.”

Meepos often buys tickets for himself as well as for resale and admits that for the most part his musical taste dictates the concerts he buys for. He attended around 23 concerts this summer and said that when he buys tickets for “I don’t want to be scalping my friends,” Meepos said.

“That’s not cool. I don’t want He mostly sells for indierock concerts saying it is a good market because demand is high and prices are relatively low depending, on the venue and the band.

He has been branching out to more expensive tickets for mainstream bands such as Coldplay and Red Hot Chili Peppers, which reap a greater ment.

He made around $400 on recent Coldplay sales.

Meepos has a personal checking account where he most of it is tied up in buying more tickets. He has made over $5,000., he has decided to look into stocks since interest rates are so low right now.

“It is very possible to come up with an idea when you are young and then make it into a multi-million dollar company,” Robert Meepos said.

the chrOnicle

B4 Features

Oct. 10, 2012

4 new ways to take a break

A record number of clubs have submitted charters this year. Catching up on television series, planning nature walks, doing good works or just being happy are possible respites from homework during activities periods.

Hike, grill, enjoy nature 1

By enya Huang The Country Gentlefolk Club, reestablished this year, will bring nature walks to Harvard-Westlake.

For those who love the outdoors or just want to relax, the Country Gentlefolk Club is planning a hike in Will Rogers

2

‘Crank’ up the volume PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MAZELLE ETESSAMI

By Lauren SiegeL Examining and analyzing the popular drama, the Breaking Down “Breaking Bad” club is among the new clubs on campus this year.

Oliver Goodman-Waters ’14 founded the club with Alexander Thal ’14 and Jack presidents and English Teacher Isaac Laskin as their fac-

ulty sponsor.

The club is based on the television show “Breaking Bad” about a high school chemistry teacher who turns to producing crystal meth in order to provide for his family after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Goodman-Waters and the rest of the club welcome both viewers alike.

Twenty Five

meeting.

The club will generally meet on Mondays during break, but the leaders plan on inviting members to occasionally meet on weekends to watch marathons of certain episodes at school. season will not air until summer 2013, the club will watch all previous seasons of the

show on DVD and complete the series thus far.

Members will be assigned to watch an episode weekly, which they will then discuss and analyze when they convene at school on Mondays.

Goodman-Waters, Thal, watching the show last spring.

“I’m completely obsessed with it,” Thal said. “How could I not be [part of the club]?”

club adviser and math teacher Catherine Campbell said.

With the slogan “Grillin’ and Chillin,’” the group made its comeback this year with more than 150 students who signed up, she said.

The club was started in 2010 by Patrick Edwards ’11, Mitchell Oei ’11 and Brandon Zeiden ‘11, who enjoyed going out in nature to have fun and relieve stress.

After the initial leaders graduated, the club experienced a lull in 2011 before being revived by club leader Matthew Zeiden ’13, who wanted to continue the tradition, Campbell said. Zeiden’s brother was an original founder of the newly revived club.

The group “aims to reconnect the Harvard-Westlake community with nature, both on and off campus,” Zeiden said.

The club meets in Rugby on Mondays.

Perform at hospitals to cheer up sick children and elderly patients 3

By Carrie DaviDSon

In addition to the play that the club will perform for The Harvard Westlake the Children’s Hospital and a Outreach Performance Club, nursing home, “we will also started by Tigist have individual perMenkir ’14, will put formers from the on plays for the ChilHarvard-Westlake dren’s Hospital and community, such a nursing home this as singers or musiyear. cians,” Menkir said.

HWOP (prouSanah Ebrahim nounced “hope”), ’14 is one of the memcurrently plans on bers of the new club, performing a shortwho says she was ininathanson ’s er version of “Aratially drawn to their bian Nights” as one Tigist Menkir ’14 table at activities fair of their two perbecause her friends formances, as well as a stage were running the club. reading of “A Happy Journey” “When I heard what they

by Thornton Wilder. were doing I thought it was reMenkir said that the plays ally cool so I decided to join,” “will mostly be happy, uplifting Ebrahim said. “I want to sing ones so that we can at their perforlift their spirits.” mances since I don’t “I thought of the really act.” idea in the middle of Ebrahim said last year but it was that she is excited too late [to start a about their pernew club] so I talkformances because ed to [performing “the idea of being arts teacher Chris able to sing for the Moore] and he said kids or seniors and nathanson ’s that he would help make them smile is me start the club,” really nice because Christopher Moore Menkir said. it will hopefully give Around a dozen people at- them something to look forward to.”

SARAH NOVICOFF/CHRONICLE

YOU MAKE ME SMILE: Mariel Brunman ’13 hands out stickers at the Clubs Fair to recruit new

4 Don’t worry, be happy, wear stickers

By Lauren SiegeL Maddie Lear ’13 and Mariel Brunman ’13 started the Happiness Club to brighten students’ days through fun and unique events.

“Our purpose is to do random, awesome things that make people around campus happy,” Lear said.

Lear came up with the idea during a college tour last spring, where she was inspired

by Northwestern University’s happiness club.

“The original happiness club comes from Northwestern, but Maddie and I are putting our own spin on things,” Brunman said.

Lear and Brunman are already planning a wide array of events, such as Bubble Day, where students can blow bubbles in the quad, and Mustache Mondays, where they will pass out fake mustaches to the entire campus.

“Everyone is so stressed out all the time,” Lear said.

“Why not have a good time while we can?”

The club has around 100 members and counting, however they hope to include the entire student body and faculty. “[Our events] are for the entire community,” Brunman said. “In some ways, anyone that chooses to partake in

Happiness Club shenanigans will be a member.”

Lear and Brunman aim to “make everyone smile just a bit, so hopefully they can proceed with their day in higher spirits,” Brunman said.

With math teacher Kanwaljit Kochar as their faculty sponsor and Dean Peter Silberman as their team captain, the club will meet during break a few times throughout the year to brainstorm events.

Brunman said their mission is “to increase the happiness and decrease the tension around school.”

“We can all feel like kids for a while and just have a good time,” Lear said.

oct. 10, 2012

hwchronicle.com/features

The Artful Bloggers

By Noa Yadidi Self-described best friends since seventh grade, Conor Cook ’13 and Maddie Lear ’13 were separated for a full school year when Cook attended School Year Abroad in Spain last year.

Upon reuniting in June, they decided to start a project together.

Cook was the editor-inchief of the literary magazine at his school in Spain, while Lear was on Harvard-Westlake’s art and literary magazine, “Stonecutters.”

Lear said she found it odd that Stonecutters didn’t have an online version.

The two created a website called “Before the Letter,” an art and literary website by which high school and college students can display their painting, drawing and writing.

“The idea is that kids are creating art all the time and we wanted to make something that could showcase art as often as it’s created,” Lear said.

The two enlisted Josh Shapiro ’14 to code the website.

“We reached out to anyone who could help us make our vision into a reality,” Cook said.

The three worked throughout the summer to launch the website on Sept. 4. “[Shapiro] is the best,” Lear said. “We were just trywe knew nothing about websites.”

Lear emphasized that posts are coming directly from the artists themselves, without any reblogging or reposting.

“Everything is with the artist’s permission and generally if you click on the name of the artists, you can be forwarded to their contact information in case you want to commission them, or work with them, or write them a letter to tell them you like their stuff,” Lear said.

So far, Lear and Cook have received submissions for “Before the Letter” from Harvard-Westlake students, as well as students who live or attend college in New York,

keyboard. With each click a character appears on the screen. Josh Shapiro ’14 is in his own world, creating a new website.

Shapiro started coding this past summer when interning for his brother-in-law’s web design and development company, Spiegel Design Group.

“I am so privileged to have learned from some of the best,” Shapiro said. “SDG does big websites for companies and people like Brandy Melville, Drybar and Frank Ocean.”

While working at SDG, Shapiro taught himself how to

Maddie Lear ’13, Conor Cook ’13 and Josh Shapiro ’14 teamed up this summer to create a website for artists to showcase their work without booking a gallery.

Texas, Michigan and Canada.

Artists submit their work through the website, or can send an email to submissions@ beforetheletter.com Lear and Cook read through the submissions and decide when to post each piece to vary the content on the website.

“I think we’re both really committed to it and inspired by a lot of the pieces,” Cook said. “We’re both really enjoying the process.”

Lear and Cook publicized their website through Facebook and word of mouth, with the help of friends they have made at summer camps and school.

Both photographers themselves, Lear and Cook are each currently doing independent studies revolving around photography this year.

Lear’s independent study is tography while Cook’s is on printing.

“Cook emailed me and told me about the new website,” Rebecca Moretti ’13 said. “I think that in this increasingly digitalized world it is important for people to still have a means of sharing their art, way to do that.”

Their goal for the website is to act as a middleman for an artist to have his or her own work expanded, Lear said.

Sarah Shelby ’13, another Before the Letter contributor, said, “I think Before the Letter is a fantastic idea. It is not only inspiring because it was created by high school students, but also because it showcases the talent of young artists that can make amazing and unbelievable works of creativity.”

Lear and Cook plan to continue the site, even as they go off to college next year.

“It’s nice because I think as we both go off to college, and we might not be at the same school,” Cook said. “It would be a nice way for us to keep in touch and work on something that we’re both really, really passionate about.”

Coding line by line

By LucY PutNam

features B5

SNAPSHOTS: Students’ original work that has been submitted to the online literary and arts magazine, beforetheletter.com, includes these photographs by, clockwise from the top, Ashley Volpert ’14, Xenia von Viragh ’15, Kallista Kusumanegara ’13, Conor Cook ’13 and Maddie Lear ’13.

Web designer Josh Shapiro ’14 has coded multiple websites for fellow students and as part of a summer internship.

code. had been pregnant the year His brother in law and boss before, had struggled with at SDG, Ariel Spiegel said, deciphering between which “Josh worked hard and learned food she should and shouldn’t a lot very quickly. have been eating.

It was a different After four weeks of learning experience hard work, the two because I pushed created “Can Mommy him to solve probEat,” a search bar for lems on his own and pregnant women to this turned out to explore the risks and be the best learning technique for him.” foods.

After Shapiro After “Can Mombecame familiar my Eat,” Shapiro nathanson ’s with how to code, started coding on his Josh Shapiro ’14 he and his older own time. He was sister Julia Spiegel came up hired by Maddie Lear ’13 and the idea of creating a website Conor Cook ’13 to design a website for their new online out what to eat. Spiegel, who art and literary magazine,

“Before the Letter.”

Over the course of three meetings, Lear and Cook relayed their vision of their website while Shapiro, using what he learned earlier in the summer, provided insight as to what was actually possible.

“The hardest part of the process was transforming the many ideas in their heads into a practical, interactive, aesthetically pleasing website that everyone loved,” Shapiro said. it took a week to code. “Coding mistake counts, and you have Shapiro said.

The website was up and ready for use the night before school began on Sept. 3.

“The website turned out better than we had imagined,” Cook said. “Josh was so helpful and resourceful. Web design is very complicated, but Josh helped us understand each step of the process. I don’t know what we would have done without him.”

Shapiro said, “I plan on coding as a hobby and hopefully will be able to do more websites during the year in computer programming.”

“The best part about codits always worth the effort,” Shapiro said.

the ChroniCle

B6 Features

Political Fix

242 students and 48 faculty weighed in o poll over Survey Monkey this past week their preferences for the Nov. 6 election

First time voters to enter world of politics

By Rachel SchwaRtz

On Nov. 6, many seniors will face a blank ballot alone between presidential candidates is not the only decision.

Students will face a variety of California propositions.

Should they listen to their of sources, some more biased than others, can seem overwhelming rather than useful.

American history teacher Drew Maddock has advice for making decisions with the complicating proliferation of opinionated and impartial sources from the internet.

“Read, think and pay attention,” Maddock advises. “I think you just have to avoid campaign ads.”

He suggests reading local newspaper articles editorials and considering multiple sources and points of view.

He also pointed to an “easy way out,” saying that students could lay out the voting recommendations from a party pamphlet of their choice and those made by the Los Angeand sweep across to pick out what aligns with their views.

Although he knows how he ident, Raymond Schorr ’13 admits he is not very informed about all the propositions on the Californian ballot.

He plans a different approach than Maddock suggests, saying: “I’m going to talk to someone who is really knowledgeable and shares the same beliefs as me,” said Schorr. “I’m too lazy to actually read through all of it.”

Kacey Wilson ’13 shared similar sentiments.

“Obviously I’m going to vote for Obama,” Wilson said.

“I don’t know if it’s just because I’m African-American, but Obama is just a lot more relatable, I never feel like ‘good point, Mitt.’ I just agree more with Obama’s policies and how he has run the country so far.”

While she seemed sure about her views on who should following her mother’s advice about propositions.

“I trust her because — I don’t know — she’s my mother,” Wilson said. “I’m going to do my own research as well.”

For some, however, the question is not how to stay informed. Rather, it’s how to stay calm.

Josh Lappen ’12 turns 18 the day after the election, on Nov. 7, a disappointing coincidence considering Lappen’s avid interest in politics.

“It’s a frustrating circumstance but they have to have a cutoff,” Lappen said.

Maddock, who has always voted, follows in a similar vein, as he still regrets turning 18 before 1971 when the 26th Amendment was passed and

the voting age was lowered to 18.

“I lost out on at least one presidential election and it would have made a difference,” Maddock said. “I’m sure of it!”

Seana Moon-White ’12 may look back with the same sort of regret as she will likely not be able to vote for many years. She is ineligible to vote because she is not a citizen.

However, she still feels that voting is not the only driving factor to stay informed.

“I’d like to have a say in the country I’m living in. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to vote,” Moon-White said.

Not everyone feels this same sense of responsibility.

Nicole Green ’12 also will miss ity to act discouraging.

“I am interested in politics but since I cannot vote it seems like kind of a waste of time to follow all of the politics and speeches and debates.” Green said.

Still, there are those who, despite missing the date by a large margin, seek to stay informed, in both scope and depth. ing able to vote, Sammy Lyons ’12 is trying to combat the apathy he senses among the student body.

“Most people that aren’t informed only care about the presidential election and since we are in California it can feel like your role doesn’t re-

67%

2

THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE 73% of respondents said they thought Romney won

89 sa ch

is still an important election. ballot. “ American history teacher David Waterhouse said that Proposition 30 is the one to watch out for in the upcoming election.

“Californians voted for Prop 13 back in the ‘70s and didn’t think of the repercus-

12% of respondents said they thought Obama won

sions,” Waterhouse said.

property taxes but resulted in the decline of California’s oncethriving public school system.

Now, Waterhouse said, passing Proposition 30 is vital. It raises sales tax and income tax for high-income brackets and will use these revenues to prevent $6 billion in cuts to public schools.

Waterhouse warns, though, to be careful not to skip 30 in favor of Proposition 38, which also proposes tax increases and aid to public schools with a more 30 is Governor Jerry Brown’s bill and if constituents vote yes on only one of the measures the vote could split and neither would succeed and cause irreparable damage to public schools, Waterhouse said.

When he can vote, Lappen intends to follow the news and research the necessary and relevant issues in order to make an informed vote.

“Whether I can vote or not, I still have a responsibility to remain informed about the future and society and to remain a part of civic culture,” Lappen said.

oCt. 1

15% of respondents said they thought it was a tie

18

CAN YOU VOTE?

12% of student respondents say they are eligible to vote

75 sai the

PROPOSITI CALIFORN

18.9% respo inform

81.1% respo inform

10, 2012

hwChroniCle.Com/Features

on the Chronicle kend, expressing n.

History classes learn about election through projects By emily Segal

presidential election, students

Students sign up for AP U.S. Government because they want to learn how America’s democracy works.

current events relating to the election and formulate a reasoned prediction about whether their state will vote for President Barak Obama or Governor Mitt Romney, turning in a paper in November.

“We want students to look

interested in the formation of our constitution, separation of powers, civil rights, federalism and the foundation of American government. Juniors taking the U.S. history course are introduced to these topics that they will later cover in depth.

Students in both classes, however, share a common fo-

29%

Features B7

election. Both classes have been assigned a project in which they track the election swing state such as Florida, Ohio or Michigan.

Although the details of each project differ slightly, both revolve around researching a swing state and making a prediction about whether it will go red or blue on Election Day. In the AP U.S. Government course, an election project centers on either the presidential, congressional or past elections.

During this year’s 2012

through the eyes of a state because the Electoral College is eventually what determines it,” AP U.S. Government teacher Celia Goedde said. was actually part of the inspiration for starting the election project in the regular U.S. history classes.

In 2000, when President George Bush won the electoral vote but lost the popular vote to Democrat Al Gore, “we realized that we should do something to illustrate the importance of the electoral vote,” U.S. history teacher Nini Halkett said.

Starting in 2004, U.S. history classes began assigning projects to focus on whichever election was taking place that year.

“We wanted to not only stimulate students’ interest in elections but also familiar-

ize them with issues that have divided Americans in the past and why Americans chose different political parties,” Halkett said.

Students in the U.S. history course are assigned a swing state that they research, follow and make a prediction about, just like in the AP U.S. Government class.

Each week, they turn in links to articles about current events in their state regarding the election along with a couple sentences summarizing the main points of the article.

On Election Day, each student will present their research and explain why they believe their state will vote one way or another.

“I had one student say to me, ‘I don’t know anything about politics!’” Halkett said.

“But that’s the point: to learn about politics and encourage you to take an active role in politics and American government.”

“Eventually you guys are all going to be voters, and it’s important to be informed about what each party stands for so that when you go to vote, you know what you’re voting for,” Halkett said.

5% of respondents id they watched e debate

IONS ON THE NIA BALLOT

% of student ondents feel med

% of students ondents don’t feel med

242 students voted for their three most importent issues.

Here are the results:

64%

Economy

39%

Education

34%

Health Care

30%

*4% voted for “Other”

9% of respondents aid the debate did not hange their opinion

The Issues of the Election

7 10 IN

96% 4%

STUDENTS SAID THEY SUPPORT PRESIDENT OBAMA IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OVER MITT ROMNEY

Foreign Policy

30%

FACULTY FOR OBAMA FACULTY FOR ROMNEY

Taxation

Prop 30: Raises California’s sales tax 3.45% over current law and increases income taxes for higher income families.

Prop 31: Establishes a new two-year budget system that places emphasis on performance goals and reviews of all state programs.

Prop 32: Bans both corporate and union contributions to state and local candidates, and would ban contributions by government contractors to the politicians who can award them contracts.

Prop 33: Allows insurers to offer discounts, known as “persistency discounts,” to new customers who can prove they are not liabilities.

Prop 34: Repeals the death penalty as a possible punishment and grants a sizeable amount of money to law enforcement agencies.

Prop 35: Increase punishment for human traffickers, sex offenders, and increases law enforcement budget for these areas.

Prop 36: Revises the “Three Strikes Law” to make it slightly more lenient and impose a life sentence only when the felony is “violent.”

Prop 37: Imposes more stringent laws on natural foods and raises health standards, requiring genetically altered food to be labeled as such.

Prop 38: Increases state income tax rates for most Californians, resulting in increased revenues to the state of about $10 billion a year Prop 39: Applies more strict taxation guidelines to out-of state businesses, making them base taxes off of California sales.

Prop 40: Permits a recent California state senate redistricting measure. If rejected, California Supreme Court will redistrict.

INFOGRAPHIC BY JACK GOLDFISHER

SOURCE: VOTER-GUIDE.SOS.CA.GOV/PROPOSITIONS

30% LGBT Rights

23%

Abortion

18%

Environment

the chrOnicle

B8 Features

highstakes

Oct. 10, 2012

Courtney* commits to Williams

Caitie Bennell ’13 has committed to Williams College. The Chronicle will follow another athlete through his college recruitment process.

By RAchel SchWARtz

-

Courtney*

“I

early

-

cocky,” Bennell said. to have an application

-

visited

Wil-

three school so every-

decision

and

ber 15th,” Bennell said.

-

application and that While she is excited and happy, Bennell is still a little bit stressed since she needs to keep

nathanson ’s

Caitie Bennell ’13

lationships that she is no lontive schools.

Phillip* Phillip is a varsity

Doug*, the brain “It’s so steeped in history,” -

Restrictive Early Action to

-

Francesca*, the all around Francesca has elected to apply Restrive Early Action to

choice,” Bennell said. “It didn’t feel real for a little bit.”

After her mom made cel-

-

started to sink in.

Bennell plays the barrel position on her volleyball

Courtney*, Caitie Bennell

illustrAtion By JACoB gooDmAn

empty position on Williams’

By Ally White

do not.

-

tially have that as an option is of kids to explore,” said dean Dean James Patterson.

Location is not the only -

Phillip*, the athlete

-

er

breadth fered than in schools in America.

For Sneider, the path she in life, International Reschools are especially ap“I aspire to be a member of service

in

“

-

or a combination therof. Many schools do not

The idea of being somewhere other than the U.S. for three years is appealing. I would get the opportunity to experience a different culture and political environment” —Jonathan Loewenberg ’13

transcripts these scores.

For example,

versity

from

States,

they -

scores of at least 700 in Criti-

said.

Like the Common -

at 700 or better.”

Very selective -

Admissions

also have other tests that they re-

Service,

simplify the applicaapplication

“has

a -

James Patterson -

one receives a bachelor’s de-

-

the North East and

or her in order to be able to attend the school. If at the end of the year, they still fail ments, they cannot be denied or also can

said. for some is that the Jonathan Loewenberg ’13

systems pletely

accepted. process and differences of phi-

mation session in September.

are comdifferent -

is to have an experience like

-

apply] is that I realized that

name

and

address,

schools and one letter of recommendation,” said Patterson.

While most schools do ac-

that are part of the school life.

-

nathanson ’s

as part of the applications. Based on -

experience.”

-

take. If one applies to Oxford, there

nathanson ’s

merely

Cal or Stanford. It’s a little bit

and immerse myself in a for-

-

to

the other processes, he or she ed. With the conditional ac-

as far to travel to Scotland as it is to California. It’s not

nathanson ’s

also expect Grade 5 in three or more Advanced Placement

-

opposed

Specialized education at universities in the United Kingdom draws applications.

-

are very test driven as opposed to the holistic approach of -

Arthur*, the performer

cation Restrictive Early Ac-

Looking beyond the horizon Even before she started her common application, Carla Sneider ’13 had already versities. Sneider is part of an

nate,” said Phillip. “I feel bad

Carla Sneider ’13 -

a decision on acceptance.

If one hasn’t met the re-

is also pretty extensive Other

reasons

apply seem to be that

versities in Scotland. Not only schools not a deterrent, it’s a positive.

-

to Patterson. Distance is also “A lot of kids in the north-

cal environment.”

-

Arts&EntErtAinmEnt Scene Monkeys hold open improv workshops

By ReBecca Katz

Jamie chang /CHRONICLE

Smile for the camera: Photography teacher Kevin O’Malley poses with students Emily Plotkin ’13 (left), Maria Gonzalez ‘13 (left), and Maddie Lear ‘13 (right) outside the museum.

Photo III explores rock n’ roll through art By eojin choi

Q Magazine named O’Malley’s favorite photograph the best As visual arts teacher rock and roll photo of all time.

Kevin O’Malley slowly walked “As a 20th century student, through the “Who Shot Rock it was like a walk down memand Roll” photography exhibit ory lane for me,” O’Malley said. “Or as at the Annenthe Rolling berg Space for Stones would Photography, say, ‘It’s been one image As a 20th century a lonely night i m m e d i at e ly at the Memocaptured his student, it was like a ry Motel.’” attention.It walk down memory O’Malley was Pennie and his seven Smith’s black lane for me. Or as the students from and white Rolling Stones would Photography photograph of III visited the bass guitarist say, ‘It’s been a lonely exhibit durPaul Simonon night at the Memory ing their class smashing his Motel’. ” trip on Oct. Fender Pre3.

O’Malley cision Bass —Kevin O’Malley noticed that against the the crowd was stage durmainly stuing the dents or baby “Clash Take the Fifth” US tour on Sept. boomers.

“I had a lot of fun at the 21, 1979, shot on O’Malley’s birthday when he had just trip and I thought it was a started teaching at the West- nice break from school,” Maddie Lear ’13 said. “ I especially lake School for Girls.

“

about a musician, because I thought it was put together really well.”

The trip was organized to help the students connect as a class and to help them get inspiration for their new project, taking photos of student musicians on stage and in the studio. These photographs will be displayed in the upcoming exhibition, “Musicians in performance.”

O’Malley said that they are trying to arrange for the musicians in the photographs to perform during the opening. me realize that there is so much to do with our project,” Seana Moon-White ’13 said.

“There are so many moments when an artist is on stage that a photographer can capture.”

The trip ended after the class went to Century City to see ceramics teacher John Luebtow’s fountain “Venus Vitae,” featured in O’Malley’s documentary.

son is saying, and you have to be with them at all times.

From new sophomores un- You can’t be in your own mind familiar with improvisation, to doing your own thing. It’s so experienced seniors, 50 people much fun, and it’s always hidanced, yelled, and acted at larious. There’s very little the Scene Monpressure. It’s not like keys worksop Oct. a cutthroat musical 5. Two more workaudition. It’s very laid shops were schedback.” uled for Oct. 9 and The workshops today. are from 3 p.m. to 5 Performing arts p.m. Spears warmed teacher Michelle the students up with Spears led the games, and then they Scene Monkeys’ went into role-playing workshop along and character enactnathanson ’s with experienced ment.

Nick Healy ’13 improvisational Alan Yousefzadeh actors and ’15, who had never comedians. tried improvisation before, had The workshops teach actors an interest in Scene Monkeys how to portray and harness and attended the workshop. their improvisational skills.

“It was a lot of fun. There’s By observing current Scene really nothing to be nervous Monkeys, new-comers learn about,” Yousefzadeh said. how to play improvisational Yousefzadeh aims to games and be a team player. audition for Scene Monkeys “You have to make it a for this school year. Auditions group effort,” Scene Monkey for the Scene Monkeys troupe Nick Healy said. “You have to will take place at the end of listen to what the other per- the month.

Directed studies, Sculpture II classes to visit LACMA exhibit

By MoRganne RaMsey

Students in Sculpture II and their instructor, art teacher Dylan Palmer, were scheduled to view the limitedtime exhibition “Ken Price Sculpture: a Retrospective,” on Oct. 9.

The exhibition includes some of contemporary LA artist Ken Price’s sculptures such as “L. Red” and “Zizi.”

“The simple-looking forms that he creates are very unique and I’m excited to see it up close and in person,” Sculpture II student Liza Woythaler ’14

said.

The exhibition was designed by the world renowned architect Frank Gehry, who also designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown Los Angeles. In addition to Ken Price’s work, the students explore the rest of the LACMA’s contemporary art collection, seeing the work of artists such as Richard Serra and Chris Burden.

“The LACMA has a great collection of contemporary art,” Palmer said.

The exhibit runs from Sept. 16 through Jan. 6.

Senior, alumni independent art displayed in Feldman-Horan gallery’s first show of the year By taRa stone

Sarah Shelby ‘13

wendy chen ‘13

maya landau ‘13

opportunity to be shown. The art being displayed by Tobias’ senior students were recently

man-Horn Gallery featured a “mixed bag” of photogra- of school, and the photophy and paintings, many cre- graphs from O’Malley’s Photo ated during the summer. The III students were taken over show opened the summer on Sept. 14 break. and was the Added to backdrop for the mix was It’s refreshing to be the Alumni work creReception, ated over the given full responsibility Faculty Apsummer from and freedom in the preciation Katie Ehrlich Luncheon, ’14, an indeamazingly individual a few prependent phoart called photography. t o g r a p h e r , sentations and classes and a video I love it because I can for Back-tofrom video fully expressive myself .” arts teacher School Day, a l l o w i n g Gaulke.

—Maria Gonzalez ‘13 Cheri parents and Though teachers to Hall orgasee student nizes the artwork, as actual galwell. lery schedule, the placement “It’s a real mixed bag with this show,” photography teacher Kevin O’Malley said. for each class to get the best The artworks on display showing space. The back wall are the creations of senior is a favorite, O’Malley said. students under teachers Mari“This is the show that I anne Hall, Arthur Tobias and really like the best,” O’Malley Kevin O’Malley. said. “Every year, they bring in Hall’s students’ art is work completely original artwork.”

For O’Malley’s students, last year but never received an at least, this improvement in

“

detail is partially due to the reviewing exercise practiced at the end of the students’ junior year. Since so many seniors will be sending their artwork to colleges as supplements with their applications, it is useful for them to review holes and strengths within their bodies of work with a class and teacher there to advise them. Four out of seven of O’Malley’s students traveled overseas, photographing places such as Italy and Morocco during the summer, bringing a foreign twist to the already diverse show. It is really up to the students at this point what they are choosing to shoot.

His instructions are simple and straightforward, “Okay, you’ve got three months. Get to work.”

“It’s refreshing to be given full responsibility and freedom in the amazingly individual art called photography. I love it because I can expressive myself fully in this medium,”said photography student Maria Gonzalez ‘13.

“The reason I like it so much is it’s a complete surprise. When they come in with their work, their pictures don’t look anything like their previous art,” O’Malley said.

the chrOnicle

B10 A&E

Oct. 10, 2012

inbrief Jazz Combo, Explorers to perform at Vibrato Grill

The Advanced Jazz Combo perform at Vibrato Grill Jazz “This is the most important gig,” bassist Robert Lee a good amount of people going to the show, and it’s people who we want to come to the show, not just parents, we’ve The bands have been premance since the beginning of They have practiced nearly The songs are “bee-bop

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF JENSEN MCRAE

BIRTHDAY GIRL: Jensen McRae ‘15, (right), records the music video for her new song, “Amazing,” with extra Nathan Otaño, her family friend. The video, which has over 2,400 views and counting on YouTube as of Oct. 7, features McRae singing and playing the piano.

It’s her birthday and she’ll sing if she wants to

“

By DaviD WoLDenberg

sic teenage love story, McRae

Jensen McRae ‘15 celebrated her 15th birthday with the

The song was produced by West Wave sound, and features Nathan Otaño, a family friend, along

and music video to YouTube McRae said that she had always had a passion for singthe Harvard-Westlake community singers club at school, she said she wanted to exreleased the original song, “Amazing,” in which she per“I started working on my music seriously two years ago, it felt appropriate that the culmination of all that work be A crush inspired McRae’s amazing” and “how could you be so blind?” the song is a clas-

“I felt like it was something a lot of people could relate to,”

counting, and has been posted

santino will also be playing —Nadia Rahman

Orchestra to perform at winter concert

fun things I have done because music is my life” McRae

McRae is just beginning her music career, and two more songs are already in the

McRae said that her biggest inspiration is singer Alicia

For her next tracks, she is working with charitable organizations, and these next songs will be about those particular

orchestra winter concert on

McRae said that her father is great singer recreationally, and both her parents really

Unlike previous years, their concerts will be held at the First Presbyterian Church

It feels amazing that everything I’ve been working so hard on has finally culminated into this video.”

—Jensen McRae ‘15

bined software instrumentals with guitar and piano, which were played by

the best most exciting gigs to

McRae started writing songs at seven and recorded her

mostly sings R&B and alternative music, she is appreciative of a wider range of music, which is apparent in the rock “It feels amazing that everything I’ve been working so

In fact, her younger brother is a pianist and a singer as musical energy, McRae said gravitate in a musical direc“Being a singer is something I’ve always wanted to -

“We changed our procedure a little this year and some of the new students are still learning how to rehearse,” ent, but I’m excited about the principal of the trumpet sec—Eojin Choi

“[It] was one of the most

Winner of national music competition performs at New York’s Lincoln Center

By Jessica Lee

Raking back any stray black strands from her forehead, Chelsea Pan ’14 smoothed dark lavender dress, exhaled softly, and gently pressed her Pan played the piano at the Lincoln Center in New York for the American Fine Arts University for the Los Angeles Young Musician International Through the encouragement and recommendation of her teacher, Pan auditioned for AFAF, a national music competition for highly qualiPan

performed

Liszt’s

A minor last June for the qualing the piece towards the end of her sophomore year, balancing two hours of daily practice on the piano, academics, and player on the girls’ junior var-

voting that much time to the piano when I had so much else For the qualifying round, AFAF judges traveled across the country to audition musicians and score their perforwas nervous to audition because she knew that she was among many other talent-

at the actual festival, I was more excited and eager to be on the stage because I knew “And I loved getting to know musicians who shared my love

For the LA Young Musician International Competition, Pan performed B e e t h o v e n ’s Pa t h e t i q u e I loved getting to hear different styles peting against musicians and techniques from from across musicians all over the the United world.”

“

“It was really nervewracking be—Chelsea Pan ‘14 Pan passed cause I knew that all the both selective other particirounds and pants auditioning were really skilled and experienced,” Pan Pan was happy to have the opportunity to meet and learn posted on the AFAF website, from a wide array of other and the selected winners from each state, including Pan, were “It was a great experience; invited to perform their pieces I loved getting to hear different styles and technique from “Though I was so nervous musicians from all over the during the qualifying rounds,

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF CHELSEA PAN

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Chelsea Pan ‘14 practices before her performance at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Pan began the piano at the age of four, with the support and eager prodding of her years later, Pan pushes her way through her daily octaves, which Pan said is the hardest part about the piano because As her pieces have become more advanced and technically challenging, Pan allocates consistent hours of practice every day, despite taking four

playing on the junior varsity schedule, Pan said she enjoys playing the piano and expressing herself to others through “The most rewarding part about the festival was when some of the audience members came up to me to tell me how much they enjoyed my piece,” ally made me feel that all my

hwchronicle.com/features

oct. 10, 2012

A&E B11

In the Spotlight 12 student produced films have been chosen to be screened in various film festivals.

International film festival selects PSA made by junior

By Sydney Foreman

Two years after Molly Cinnamon ’14 worked on Public Service Announcement “See,” it has been selected for The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.

The festival is scheduled for Oct. 26 through Nov. 4. It will be viewed along with 245 chosen from 900 entries.

Cinnamon, who wrote, codirected and co-animated the

While attending the Harvard-Westlake Summer Film

made “See” to raise awareness lution in ecosystems.

shot and edited.

Editing was

Cinnamon’s

“

cause it is the ence with most detailanimating, so oriented. they sought “Editing Editing is when you assistance is when you truly see every little shot truly see evfrom Visual and every little detail Arts Teacher ery little shot Cheri Gaulke and every litflow together.” and animating consul—Molly Cinnamon ’14 t o g e t h e r , ” tant Rachel Cinnamon Johnson. Ussaid. ing only a camera, the Dragon Although Cinnamon will not be attending this festival, and Final Cut Pro, Cinna- “See” has been shown at other mon brought her vision to the festivals including LA Student screen. Within a little over a Media Festival, the Harvard-

either by students working in-

were screened in the Youth ley Film Festival in San Rafael on Oct. 6. of more than 100 entries by students from all over Califor-

ifornia Film Institute.

“It felt very gratifying to The Mill Valley Film Festival makers, and this is the fourth Westlake have been in it,” ViCheri Gaulke said.

Six Harvard-Westlake stuFestival in Columbia, Missouri from Oct. 19 to Oct. 21.

This is the third year stu-

conscious consumerism to the lives.

“It feels really awesome

shown include “A Day” by Jacob Weiss ’13, “Baseline” Homer”

by

Alex

Thal

’14,

the festival, but this year had PrinTeD wiTH PermiSSiOn Of alex Haney

finiSHeD film: Alex Haney wrote, directed, and “This PSA is Gay” by Miranda Patric Verrone ’13, and “Learn the Difference” by Rebecca Hutman ’12, Idia Wilson and Adam Yaron ’16.

‘Oklahoma!’ will play next month By david GiSSer

is this year’s fall musical and 3, and 4 in Rugby Auditorium.

Performing arts teachers Ted are the Directors. history of American musicals.

Broadway shortly after the start of World War II, and songs such as “Oklahoma” and “Can’t Say No” by songwriting team Richard Rodgers Oscar Hammerstein II. The show Award and Citation in music in 1944. a love triangle between Laurey (Megan Ward ’13), Curly (Ben

Gail ’13) and Jud (Nick Healy ’13), and a forbidden relation-

designed the set, wants to give the feeling that the state of

Ado Annie (Jaslin Marine ’13) and Will Parker (Will Hariton ’15), with a third suitor, Ali Hakim (Lucas Foster Alex Kolmanovsky, who designed the set, wants ing to win Ado over as to give the feeling that well. formed in a “minimalist” style, in which characters only

“

the state of Oklahoma was ripped out of the earth and implanted on the stage.”

—Ted Walch

that they would logically be carrying on stage.

According to Walch, ancy.

-

Westlake 2011 Film Festival and the Los Angeles Film Festival, all of which Cinnamon attended.

“The PSA is only two min-

By nikta manSouri

Art classes at school or in the Summer Film Program, which also included non-HarvardWestlake students.

in the festival,” Alex Haney said. “I started out acting, and maker was the right thing to do, but it was so much fun and being in this festival just really shows how much hard work

GOOD SHOT: Molly Cinamon ’14 poses in front of the North Hollywood El Portal Theater for the Los Angeles Media Festival 2012. tant to me that its message resonate far beyond when the screen goes dark,” Cinnamon said.

Citizen Jane Festival to show six films

Mill Valley Festival presents five films

By Zoe dutton

PrinTeD wiTH PermiSSiOn Of mOlly cinnamOn

the stage,” Walch said.

“We are trying to evoke the mood, leaving as much to the imagination of the audience as Walch said.

The music duction will

different sections of the String Orches1997, the entire orchestra has learned the score as a class

year are “Voodoo Child” by (A Righteous Conversations Project)” by Rebecca Hutman ’12, Adam Yaron ’16 and India Wilson (Crossroads School), “Love Our Families (A Righteous Conversations Project)” by Xochi Maberry(Marlborough School), “This

PSA is Gay” by Patric Verrone

by Molly Cinnamon ’14, and berry-Gaulke ’12 and Jamie Feiler ’12. made by women all over the The goal of the festival is to makers from all over the world and in all stages of their -

tions.”

our work featured in a women’s festival because not a lot Arts teacher Cheri Gaulke.

OKLAHOMA! RUGBY THEATER

Curly Laurey Aunt Eller Jud Ado Annie Will Parker Ali Hakim Carnes Gertie Dream Laurey

CAST

Ben Gail Megan Ward Arden Williams Nick Healy Jaslin Marine Will Hariton Lucas Foster Cory Batchler Arianna Lanz Anna Wittenberg

Female Ensemble Sabrina Batchler Claire Nordstrom Katherine Calvert Sophia Oman Molly Chapman Emma Pasarow Mazelle Etessami Julia Safir Solange Etessami Abby Sandler Lexi Fadel Camelia Somers Samantha Frischling Sophia Sunkin Kennedy Green Andrea Torre Grace Levin Marianne Verrone Mikaila Mitchell Aiyana White Delilah Napier Autumn Witz

Male Ensemble Noah Bennett Donhem Brown Justin Carr Landon Fadel Jacob Goodman Josh Lappen Teddy Leinbach Alex Musicant Angus O’Brien Patric Verrone Michael Wagmeister

the chrOnicle

B12 Features

Oct. 10, 2012

When he’s not working in the cafeteria, Phairot Janthep has a second job as a makeup artist.

By Sydney Foreman He dabs powder onto the newscaster’s face, adding bronzer and blush to bring her skin to life under the studio lights. Three hours later, Phairot Janthep sits in the the Harvard-Westlake cafeteria, swiping ID cards through the scanner at his day job.

Janthep’s makeup career took off in 2007 when he won tition at the Long Beach California Convention Center.

“My name goes everywhere now,” he said.

In 2010, Janthep faced his focus of her makeup was light smokey eyes as described by Janthep.

“I think I did it very well,” Janthep said.

This task ignited his passion for “painting on the human face and body.”

Since then, he has done countless weddings. In addition to brides, Janthep has also worked as a personal makeup artist for KNBC morning news anchor Alycia Lane. When he has the opportunity, Janthep does both her makeup and hair for special events.

Makeup by Janthep has appeared in runway shows for MAC Cosmetics. He prefers the art of runway makeup to that of everyday makeup.

“It is heavier and it has to be done in a shorter time,” Janthep said. “It sometimes has to be more colorful than normal makeup.”

Janthep’s knowledge of various types of makeup comes from his training at the Joe Blasco Makeup School. Since 2009, he has been a part-time student, learning special effects makeup and hairstyling. His favorite assignment at the school was to transform a human into a zombie with makeup techniques.

Although he spends much of his time making up clients, Janthep has remained a staff member at Harvard-Westlake for the past 20 years.

Janthep was born in Bangkok, Thailand on Aug. 18, 1969.

He graduated from Bangkok University in 1991. The following year he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his education.

His stepfather Thiak Lor, former owner of the cafeteria, who died in 2008, is honored by a plaque and bamboo stem memorial in a back corner of the cafeteria.

While he thoroughly enjoys both jobs, Janthep feels particularly at home in the HarvardWestlake community.

“I think everyone here is my best friend,” Janthep said.

Between constant makeup jobs and working at HarvardWestlake, Janthep is always on the go.

“I am a very busy person,” Janthep said. “In my free time I don’t really do anything but spend time at home with my puppies.”

He owns a small Yorkie named Bagel and a mixed breed named Mochi.

“I love them like my babies,” Janthep added.

JACK GOLDFISHER/CHRONICLE

EASY, BREEZY, BEAUTIFUL: Cafeteria worker Phairot Janthep applies dark red lipstick to the face of Tara Stone ‘14.

Maybe she’s born with it. Maybe it’s makeup tips from Phairot.

For everyday makeup, keep it light.

Wear a little powder foundation or none at all and just a little bit of mascara and eyeliner.

Apply foundation and blend at the hairline and jawline before applying eye makeup.

Never apply lipstick directly from the tube. Always use a lip brush for application.

Make eyelashes appear longer with false lashes and one coat of volumizing mascara to blend the false lashes with natural lashes.

Apply bronzer to either side of nose to contour, sharpen and make it appear slimmer.

GRAPHIC BY SYDNEY FOREMAN, PHOTOS BY SYDNEY FORMAN AND STOCK EXCHANGE

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PHAIROT JANTHEP

PHAIROT’S PORTFOLIO: Cafeteria worker Phairot Janthep attends the Joe Blasco Cosmetics & Makeup School part time. He did the hair and makeup on these mannequins for various school projects.

SportS the ChroniCle oCt. 10, 2012

ON THEIR OWN: Four Wolverines achieved national recognition in solo sports without putting on a Wolverine uniform.

C4-5 Flaherty commits to UNC

Pitcher and third baseman Jack Flaherty ’14 verbally committed to play baseball for the Tar Heels.

By Sam SachS

ROBBIE LOEB/CHRONICLE

PRIMETIME: Sean Fisher ’13 takes a shot in the boys’ water polo team’s 13-8 victory over Huntington Beach on Sept. 28. The boys

Camera ready

For the first time ever, a Wolverine boys’ water polo game will be televised.

Time Warner Cable will cover the game against Loyola,the team’s main rival.

By PaTrick ryan Loyola and HarvardWestlake have been bitter league rivals for decades. The two schools more often than League standings in every sport, making each CubsWolverines matchup all the more critical. The last league title for the boys’ water polo team came in 2007 and Loyola has brought home all four titles since.

This year, the lone matchup between the schools will take on a whole new feel on Oct. 17, as Time Warner Cable will broadcast the bout as part of its Game of the Week segment for Southern California high school sports.

Players said the muchanticipated game will be crucial to the Wolverines’ stand-

ing, as they only play four league games a season and would need to beat Loyola to “That’s the game we have been preparing for the past couple weeks,” Andrew Miller ’13 said. “We are just looking forward to Oct. 17. That’s the date that is in everyone’s mind right now.”

The Cubs are ranked second in the CIF Division I coaches poll, behind Mater Dei, a team the Wolverines have lost twice to this season. “[The broadcast is] a great opportunity for the program to gain a lot of exposure with the local community,” Head Coach Brian Flacks ’06 said. “It should be a great game like it was last year, and if we can do the small things right, I think we

have a great shot.”

The Wolverines lost 12-9 in their only matchup against Loyola last year. The boys’ ranking in the CIF polls depends on the outcome of the Loyola game, along with other upcoming matchups against Long Beach Wilson and Agoura.

“This is one of our biggest games this year,” Warren Snyder ’14 said. “Everybody really wants to win Mission League and we are going to need to beat Loyola for that.”

The team has only four seniors, relying on young players such as Anthony Ridgley ’15, who was named Most Outstanding Goalkeeper at America’s Finest Tournament last month, and Snyder, who received AllTournament honors.

ninth in the S&R Tournament in Irvine this past weekend, playing Miramonte, Clovis West, Davis and Bellarmine Prep.

The boys had an early lead against Miramonte but fell 11-8. The team was then placed in the bottom half of the bracket but won its next three games, bringing its overall record to 14-6 on the season.

They play Long Beach Wilson this Friday before taking on Loyola the following Wednesday in the televised matchup.

“We want to win [the Loyola] game so badly,” Johnny Hooper ’15 said. “They have won Mission League, they have taken away that championship from us for years and it is our time to take it from them.”

Games of the Trimester showcase fall teams to prospective students

By Lizzy ThomaS

Five of the lesser-watched fall sports teams put on a show in front of faculty, students and prospective students as part of the Games of the Trimester on Oct. 4. feated Glendora, the varsity, junior varsity and freshmen girls’ volleyball teams each beat their respective Chaminade opponents and varsity boys’ water polo beat Damien.

AARON LYONS/CHRONICLE

ON THE OFFENSIVE: Katie over Glendora during the Games

Trimester took place last spring, with a faculty Game of the Trimester.

The second installment of the program saw 58 faculty members in attendance at the games, enticed in part by free tacos.

The event grew to add an admissions component, as ap-

plicants and their families were invited to attend.

More than 240 students and their family members attended the games, Head of Athletics Terry Barnum said.

“We are strongly considering making the admissions component an annual event,” Barnum said.

By at least one athlete’s estimation, the larger crowds helped the teams’ performances. had fans, not just parents, Annie Wasserman ’13 said.

“We were all excited to have a pretty good turn out, so we put in 100 percent of our effort in the game to represent our school and beat our biggest rival in the league.”

The Student-Athlete Advisory Council helped orga-

nize the event, handing out T-shirts as well as putting together a competition during game that included current and prospective students.

“We got four contestants 50-yard line,” SAAC member Natalie Florescu ’13 said.

Jack Flaherty ’14 had never thought about playing baseball at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill until he visited the campus last spring for the USA Baseball National High School Invitational tournament in Cary, N.C..

“Once I stepped on campus, it felt like the right place,” Flaherty said.

Flaherty verbally committed to play for the Tar Heels on Sept. 26. He will join teammate Arden Pabst ’13, a Georgia Tech commit, in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Flaherty was also interested in UCLA, UCSB, USC and Vanderbilt to play college ball.

“Committing is a huge weight off my shoulders,” Flaherty said. “Not having all the eyes watching me, and having a great plan I can rely on is very comforting.”

Flaherty, who was a starting pitcher in his freshman and sophomore years, moved up to the No. 2 spot in the Wolverines’ rotation last season after former ace and current Washington Nationals prospect Lucas Giolito ’12 suffered a season-ending injury.

Flaherty went 6-1 on the mound with a 1.77 ERA in 51.1 innings, the second highest total on the team. He also batted .397 last season with two home runs and 13 RBIs. Flaherty may have to make another decision come MLB draft time if he has to decide whether to follow the career path of Max Fried ’12 and Giolito to the MLB, or that of Austin Wilson ’10, who passed on the MLB to play baseball at Stanford.

“Hopefully, things will progress and I’ll be able to put myself in the position to make another tough decision,” Flaherty said.

INSIDE

C2

more yards and put on gogand then get a ball and hit it into the goal.”

A student applying for a spot in next year’s seventh grade class won the competition, earning a SAAC “We Are H-W” shirt as a prize.

Both the winter and spring athletic trimesters will feature their own Games of the Trimester.

MISSION LEAGUE WORTHY: Sports columnist Luke Holthouse weighs in on the football team’s recent Mission League victory over St. Paul.

the chrOnicle

C2 SpOrtS

Facts &

Oct. 10, 2012

Figures Jessica Wibawa’s ’13 score in nine holes at Encino Golf Course in the girls’ golf team’s 199-225 win in a league match over Alemany

-1

13: 1

Quarterback Chad Kanoff’s ’13 touchdown to interception ratio through six games this season

The margin of victory in the boys’ water polo team’s 20-1 win over Crespi in its first league match of the year

19

58

Faculty members who attended the Oct. 4 Games of the Trimester, according to Head of Athletics Terry Barnum

Game to watch

JACK GOLDFISHER

A REASON TO CELEBRATE:

A first for Wolverine football

By LUKE HOLTHOUSE

FOOTBALL

-

Oct. 27 vs. Cathedral

-

-

7:30 p.m. @ Ted Slavin Field

-

The Wolverines will face the Cathedral Phantoms in a Mission League matchup at Homecoming. Cathedral finished its nonleague schedule undefeated before starting Mission League play. Cathedral is seeking revenge after losing to the Wolverines last year 34-26. Cathedral has won its first six games by an average of 27 points.

-

-

Opponent to watch Hayden Rettig ’13

Rettig recently committed to play quarterback at LSU, the eighth best team in the nation according to the most recent USA Today poll. Eleven other schools made offers to the Phantoms’ quarterback, including Auburn, Arizona and UCLA. He missed most of last season with a knee injury.

Junior Varsity Boys’ Water Polo 2-4 Next Game: Oct. 12 v. LB Wilson Cross Country Next Meet: Oct. 19 at Mt. SAC Field Hockey 7-0 Next Game: Oct. 16 at Chaminade

-

Field hockey remains undefeated in league

By AAron Lyons Goalie

Daniella

-

Grande -

MICHAEL ARONSON

Football 0-6 Next Game: Oct. 13 vs. St. Francis

SLAPSHOT:

Girls’ Tennis 6-1 Next Game: Oct. 11 vs. Notre Dame Girls’ Volleyball 11-4 Next Game: Oct. 18 vs. Flintridge SH

-

-

-

Oct. 10, 2012

hwChroniCle.Com/SportS

Notre Dame sweeps volleyball

By Eric LoEB

Former Israeli Olympic swimmer Max Jaben will join the varsity swimming coaching staff next month as an assistant. the Maccabiah Games in Netanya, Israel, where he won bronze, and set two individual Maccabiah Game records.

Jaben was a member of the Israeli national team and Olympics in Beijing. swimming program in November, serving as an assistant to Head of Swimming and Diving Jonathan Carroll and Head Coach Cheyne Bloch.

“I am very excited to be part of the Harvard-Westlake community,” Jaben said. “I have heard nothing but wonderful things about it, and it’s just an honor to be part of such a tradition as they have at Harvard-Westlake.”

—Elijah Akhtarzad

MS football teams remain undefeated

PHOTOS BY JACK GOLDFISHER/CHRONICLE

BLOCKED OUT: Molly Harrower ’13, top, spikes in the girls’ volleyball team’s loss to Notre Dame in three straight sets. Nicole Gould ’13 and Mia Natsis ’14, bottom, stretch for a block in the same game.

Athletic department to induct 6 to Hall of Fame

By Sam SachS

Five former Wolverine athletes and coaches will be inducted into the HarvardWestlake Athletic Hall of Fame during halftime of the Homecoming football game Oct. 27.

Bridget Ballard ’06, Meredith Butte ’06, Brian Flacks ’06 and the late volleyball coach Jesse Quiroz will be inducted this year, along with basketball player Ed White Soccer player Ali Riley ’06 and basketball player Alex Stepheson ’06 were also both elected as members of this year’s class but will not be in attendance at the ceremony, so they will not be inducted this year.

Flacks, the head coach for both the boys’ and girls’ water polo teams, was a four-year varsity water polo player and swimmer. Flacks also earned his sophomore, junior and senior years for his performance on the polo team. His sophomore and senior season

he was named a third-team ter polo player. Butte was also All-American and went on to a varsity swimmer and water play collegiately for the UCLA polo player at UC Berkeley.

Bruins.

White won four straight “This school and the wa- CIF Southern Section chamter polo program have done so pionships with the Wolverines’ much for me that it’s a great basketball team and was also a honor,” Flacks said. three-time all-league selection Ballard, a four-sport ath- during his career. In his last lete who was a member of season as a Wolverine, White the swim, won the John cross counR. Wooden try, track and Award for soccer teams, CIF Division This school and the went on to III player play soccer of the year. water polo program and swim for White conhave done so much Brown Unitinued his versity. basketball for me that it’s a great A senior career at Yale honor. captain for University. the WolverQuiroz, —Brian Flacks ’06 ine soccer who died in team, Ballard March 2011, won a CIF won three championstate titles as ship in one of her four varsity a Wolverine volleyball coach. sports all four years of high He added seven Southern school.

Section championships and Another multi-sport ath- founded the Santa Monica lete as a Wolverine, Butte Beach Club for boys and girls was a two-time all-CIF and club volleyball. Quiroz spent all-league selection as a wa- almost 20 years as a Wolverine

“

inbrief

Olympian joins swim coaching staff

ines are 2-1 overall, and 2-0 in league play, with wins against Chaminade and Flintridge Sacred Heart and a loss to Lakewood. This gives the team an opportunity ter record than last year’s team, which

The atmosphere in the Sept. 27 varsity girls’ volleyball game was different than most, in part because of the screaming Notre Dame fans crammed into the Notre Dame gym nathanson ’s to watch their team Josephine play.

“Our ultimate Kremer ’14 “Both teams and goal for the season fans came out with a has been and still is lot of energy,” Nicole to win league,” outGould ’13 said. side hitter Josephine The Wolverines Kremer ’14 said. “I fell to the Knights in think we’ve made three games, meangreat strides on our ing that in order to other goals – to play have a chance to win as a team and to work league, Harvardon not letting down Westlake will need to through the whole nathanson ’s win all of its remainmatch – but we’re ing games, including still working on imNicole a Homecoming reproving.”

Gould ’13 match against Notre Despite the early Dame. league loss, Head Coach Adam “We’ll get another good Black said not much has opportunity to beat them at changed since preseason.

Homecoming,” Caitie Benell “No surprises,” he said. ’13 said. “They’re a good “The girls are working hard team, they have solid players, and improving. We have all but I think we could still win been doing some good things league.” in practice and in games. It Prior to the Notre Dame isn’t the efforts of one person but of many that make our league match against Alemany program move forward.” and had winning records at No information was availtournaments in Las Vegas and able about the team’s Tuesday Orange County. game against league opponent “We started off strong Louisville as of press time, but with some good tournaments the team will play in the Caliand went into league winning fornia Challenge Friday and Saturday and will return to Strom ’14 said. play Flintridge Sacred Heart Since the loss, the Wolver- on Thursday, Oct. 18.

C3 SportS

coach before moving to Campbell Hall. His daughter, Kimberly Quiroz ’00, will accept the honor for her father.

Riley, who competed at the London Olympics for New Zealand, was a two-sport athlete for the Wolverines. Riley went on to play soccer for Stanford after leading the Wolverine soccer team to the 2006 South2006, Riley was awarded a spot on the all-CIF Southern Secher second season.

Stepheson, who played college basketball for the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and for USC, now plays professionally in Athens. The 6-foot-10 former Wolverine joins Riley as an elected member who won’t be inducted this year. Stepheson set the school records for rebounds in a game and for a season and was a fourth team Parade AllAmerican.

“It’s a great list,” Head of Athletics Terry Barnum said.

“I know we’re excited about it.”

WRITING YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAYS? Former LOS ANGELES TIMES EDITOR (and mom of HW alum) is an essay specialist who will help you write an attention-getting personal statement in your own voice. Because she accepts only a few students each season, you will receive close personal attention. Zero in on the right topic. Avoid common pitfalls. Reduce senior stress.

Rosanne Keynan 310.710.5901 rosannekeynanediting@gmail.com

The middle school football program is off to its best start in its six-year history, with both teams undefeated through four games this season.

“This has been a very enjoyable year, and the team is extremely talented,” Coach Jim O’Leary said.

Varsity Head Coach Scot Ruggles is pleased with the teams’ performance.

“The middle school program is very important to me and to the success of our program,” Ruggles said. “We’re starting off on the right foot by working from the bottom up.”

Mirroring the varsity program in games and practices has been a priority at the Middle School this season.

“We have a similar playbook to varsity and we’re pleasantly surprised to have gone so far,” O’Leary said.

—Marcella Park

Daily News blog ranks junior in top 25

Preps Sports named Der-

must-watch players in high school basketball this year.

ESPN ranks Newton as the 26th best player in California for the class of 2014, and as the 43rd best small forward in his class.

Newton led the team in scoring last year with 17.1 points per game.

Newton also averaged 6.9 rebounds per game last season, second on the team behind Zena Edosomwan ’12.

—Jake Pulier

the chrOnicle

C4 SpOrts

Off the beaten path

Oct. 10, 2012 A select few Wolverines deviate from typical sports to compete in equestrian, table tennis, rock climbing and shooting.

Table tennis player competes internationally

player, that improvement has taken place and I am getting better.”

Friedman currently has two coaches. He plays with a

By Jeremy Tepper

At age 14, Oliver Friedman ’17 has already traveled all across the globe in pursuit of becoming an Olympic table tennis player. Friedman, who a week, but also works with a has played in Vienna, New New York-based coach.

With both coaches, the York, Las Vegas and Baltimore, has won tournaments eighth grader engages in a throughout the nation and ultimately plans to make the called “multi-ball,” in which U.S. table tennis team for the Friedman in 2016 Olympics a minute and in Rio de Jahe returns neiro. them all. The Friedman, Next summer, I plan to drill aims to who practictrain with the Filipino improve reaces two hours tion time, ena day, three national team in durance and times a week, Mandaluyong City. I technique. placed second plan to make the junior “I am a at the U.S. very offensive Open tournanational team within Friedment for his two years, and after that, player,” man said. rating group. hopefully qualify for Rio “I have two He was a kinds of shots, 2016.” a setup and an a Los Angeles Table Ten—Oliver Friedman ’17 attack shot.

My setups can nis Federation be uncomforttournament, competing in the A-division, able chops to my opponent’s which consists of the most weaknesses, or spin shots that highly ranked players in the force my opponent to block area. He was moved up to the back slowly. My attack shots A-division after winning the put pressure on my opponent, or they can even put the ball B-division seven times.

“My greatest motivations away. My backhand and foreare my losses,” Friedman said. hand perform both of these “Since I tend to always play shots.”

Friedman has been playseveral rating groups higher than my own, I know that ing table tennis for six years. when I have frequent wins or during a boring experience at

“

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF BETH FRIEDMAN

PING PONG RALLY ON: Oliver Friedman ’17 practices table tennis in his garage. Friedman has played in the US Open for table tennis and has travelled as far as Austria to compete in tournaments.

summer camp when he turned to the sport for fun.

Upon returning from camp, he began working with In a sport dominated in large part by Chinese and Japanese players, Friedman is most inspired by top-10 worldwide player Timo Boll, a three-time European Championship winner. In table tennis, players are rated on a scale of 0-2800, with a rating of 2500-2600 being the typical Olympic threshold.

Friedman is currently rated at 1650, but hasn’t played in many major tournaments lately, so he considers himself to be in the 1800-1900 range at this point in his career.

Ratings do not restrict matchups between players, however.

After playing for two-anda-half years with a rating of 850, Friedman defeated a player with a rating of 1500 in the second round of the California State Open. “[The victory] was com-

pletely unprecedented and unexpected,” Friedman said. ability in the coming months.

“Next summer I plan to train with the Filipino national team in Mandaluyong City.

I plan to make the junior national team within two years, and after that, hopefully qualify for Rio 2016.”

He will also play in this year’s U.S. national tournament, and has already qualiGames in Israel.

Horse rider returns to competition

By Sarah Novicoff At 6 months old, Sydney Cheong ’14 was carried by her parents into a stable and lifted into the saddle on a horse.

This marked the beginning of a 16-year passion.

“Near where we have our horses, there was a jumping barn and I thought it’d be really fun to take lessons,” Cheong said. “It just seemed very natural. I never remember making a conscious decision to start competing.”

Initial curiosity has since grown into competitive success, as Cheong defended her titles this summer by winning the Open Hunter Pleasure Championship, the 17-and-under Hunter Pleasure Championship and the Hunter -

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF SYDNEY CHEONG

RIDING SOLO: Sydney Cheong ’14 poses after a competition on her horse Treble’s Evening Star this past summer.

Show.

She won despite breaking her ankle in March playing softball and not having been cleared to ride again until the only tournament of the season

took place in Spanaway, Wash. from Aug. 24 through Aug. 26 just a few days after her medical clearance.

“I love being around [the horses] and riding them,” Cheong said. “Most of all, I love building relationships with them. The most satisfying feeling is going into a horse’s stall and feeling as if you’ve really bonded. Each horse has his or her own personality, so it’s always like making a new friend.”

Cheong began competing at age six and joined the Morgan circuit at 10. Her godmother breeds Morgan horses, a type of horse used commonly in shows, and introduced her to the breed, causing a transition from other breeds to mostly Morgans.

Cheong and her family own four horses, but Cheong only shows one of them, a Morgan named Treble’s Evening Star and nicknamed Brian. Brian is kept at a stable in Walla Walla, Wash. and is shown in competition across the country from May to October. During those

months, Cheong visits Walla Walla almost once a week to practice with Brian and train for her upcoming competitions.

For the remainder of the year, Cheong competes as a member of the school equestrian team with her three other horses. “[Cheong] always wants to make her second attempt at something better than the Christa Choe ’94 said. “She has a combination of athleticism and dedication that makes her great.”

The Wolverine equestrian team competes in the Los Angeles Interscholastic League, which hosts one competition show each month of the season. Each rider must own or lease their own horse for the competition.

“It’s not all about you because it’s the horse too,” Cheong said. “It’s a sport where how well you do is really dependent on the horse that you ride. I really like my horse.”

hwchronicle.com/sports

oct. 10, 2012

sports C5

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF BOB LOCkHART

HANGING ON TIGHT: Charlie Andrews-Jubelt ’13 competes in an indoor rock climbing competi-

Senior rock climber finishes 18th overall in worldwide competition

By Ally White

Competing in the Youth National Championships, winning the Young Gun Award for climbing and climbing in two World championships, Charlie Andrews-Jubelt’s ’13 life these past few months was dominated by rock climbing.

From July 5 through July 8, Andrews-Jubelt competed in the U-17 nationals, placing 10th in sport climbing.

Sport climbers complete winner is determined by whoever climbs the highest. He cipline.

“Charlie’s edge has always been his desire to learn and get better, his attention to detail, his motivation and his discipline,” Andrews-Jubelt’s former private coach Taylor Reed said. “If I asked him to And if I asked him to improve some part to his form, which was rare, he’d perfect it until

the lights went out.”

At youth nationals, Andrews-Jubelt joined the ranks of some of the most talented young climbers of the decade, winning the most prestigious award any youth climber can win, The North Face Young Gun Award.

This award is given only twice each year, once in the summer and once in the winter, for leadership in the climbing community, commitment to the sport, long-term competitive achievement and dedication to service.

“Charlie is a ‘Young Gun’ in the truest sense of the teammate Alex Fritz said. “He is an incredibly hard worker in climbing, school and all aspects of life.” at Nationals allowed him to qualify for the Youth World Championships in Singapore, where he placed 18th in the speed climbing event for the Male Juniors category.

“Our collective focus on

speed training was unprecedented for American athletes, and even though we didn’t win any medals, I think our group was a historic one,” AndrewsJubelt said.

On Sept. 14, AndrewsAdult World Championship.

Andrews-Jubelt had competed in four youth World Championships before.

In the adult category, Andrews-Jubelt competed against professional speed climbers in front of hundreds of spectators. He placed 38th, sonal best time.

“It’s dizzying to consider how far I’ve come over the last nine years, from starting as a little kid too young to qualify for Worlds, looking up to the giants who made Young Gun ing that reality,” he said. “I’m blessed to have parents, sponsors, and friends that have given me the constant support I needed to make that happen.”

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF JOSH LEvIN

CLIFFHANGER: Charlie Andrews-Jubelt ’13 free climbs a

Marksman wins bronze in Junior Olympics

By JivAni GenGAthArAn

David Lee ’14 approached the target. He lifted his Morini air pistol and focused on

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF HELEN OH

MEDALIST: stands on the medal podium at this year’s Junior Olympics.

unusually shaky. One look at anything else or one twitch could change his aim drastically.

Lee racked up a bronze medal in the marksman nior Olympics in Colorado Springs, Colo. this past April, scoring two points lower than his opponent.

He said he was very nervous and distracted by his opponent’s numerous bull-eyes.

“I thought that I had lost the match since the beginning,” Lee said. “Had I stayed positive, I would have brought home the gold.”

Before focusing on shooting, Lee searched for a new,

unique interest by trying a variety of sports including

Shooting caught Lee’s attention when he watched the marksman competition of the pics.

Lee started taking lessons at the beginning of ninth grade and continues to learn from his coach In Kim. “He is like a second father to me, showing continuous care and support,” Lee said.

His training sessions occasionally incorporate hikes, saunas and trampolines. Because holding a 3.5 lb gun can periods of time, Lee’s coach takes Lee on hikes to practice holding the gun while walking uphill. Training in saunas asimilates hot temperatures in which shooting can be dif-

training improves steadiness and aim. Once balance on a trampoline is achieved, steadiness becomes easier in a marskman competition under pressure, Lee said.

He usually practices at the public shooting ranges in La Puenta and Diamond Bar. Lee said his role model is marksman Ruby Fox, a silver medalist in the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games.

Her determination despite her lack of shooting equipment has inspired Lee and helped him to develop his skill.

He also had the opportunity to be coached by Fox. Lee describes the process of shooting as focus-oriented and challenging. that I shoot guns, they think

that I can jump around and something,” Lee said. “In reality, I am completely still and focused on the front sight of my gun.”

Focusing on the target does not produce better scores, Lee said, but rather increases perfection.

He said that releasing oxygen and focusing completely eradicate even the slightest movement. One twitch can from a perfect shot into a Lee is interested in becoming a professional shooter and participating in the Olympics.

In the meantime, he looks to the bronze medal hanging in his room as a constant source of inspiration.

the chrOnicle

C6 SpOrtS

Oct. 10, 2012

Runners achieve individual feats

By Grant nussbaum

After runners from both the girls’ and boys’ programs won individual races this season, the cross country are ready for League Finals on Oct. 19, where the girls’ squad will try to defend their league title and the boys’ will begin their quest for State Finals. league meet on Sept. 6, and the girls took second overall at both league cluster meets at Balboa Park.

Thomas, Trishta Dordi ’15, and Audrey Wilson ’15 placed second, fourth, and sixth respectively at the most recent cluster meet on Oct. 4.

The girls’ team has been the Mission League titleholder for the past four years. While they’ll be running with a target on their backs as the champions, the Wolverines nevertheless feel ready and able to defend their title.

“Since the summer, I think our work is paying off,” girls’ co-captain Yasmin Moreno ’13 said. “A lot of the pressure to defend the title comes from ourselves. This year a lot of the teams have been looking to beat us, and one of our main goals is to show everyone how hard we’ve worked.”

Ben Weissenbach ’15 has won two races over the course of the season and leads the While Weissenbach placed second in his race in the most recent league meet, the boys league cluster meets.

LIZZY THOMAS/CHRONICLE

SIDE BY SIDE:

Although he has enjoyed his regular season victories, for the postseason to be the highest priority.

“The races that really matter are at the end of the season, so the races that we have right now are very good indicators of what kind of shape we’re in,” Weissenbach said. “Success is fun, but the goal is success at the end of the season. We’d all really like to qualify for the State Meet as a team, so the main goal is to get to Fresno.”

As League Finals mark the start of the postseason, ability to advance past League

Finals to CIF and potentially State competition.

Boys’ cocaptain David Manahan ’14 also has one

“

two

minutes

that means that our The races that really scoring is matter are at the end of going to be season and good, the season, so the races very placed ninth which that we have right now help us in will in his race the are very good indicators postseason,” on Oct. 4. He attributes Manahan of what kind of shape the team’s said. “We’ve we’re in.” been doing their depth. really well in —David Manahan ’14 league this “ We ’ v e definitely year. We set had the most depth I’ve seen our goals high, and we don’t since I’ve been here. The see any reason why we can’t time difference between our do better.”

The cross country teams will run in their last competition before League Finals at the annual Mt. San Antonio College Invitational on Friday, Oct. 19.

On Wednesday, Oct. 31, the Wolverines will return to Balboa Park for League Finals, where the girls’ Mission League title will be up for grabs again.

Runners will then head back to Mt. SAC for CIF preliminaries on Nov. 10 and, if they qualify, CIF Finals on Nov. 17.

If they advance from CIF, the runners will travel to Woodward Park in Fresno for State Finals on Nov. 24.

Girls’ golf remains unbeaten despite dispute over lost ball

by Lucy Putnam Despite a dispute regarding a lost ball allegedly hit by an opponent, the girls’ golf team remains undefeated in the Mission League.

In golf, a sport where individuals, on the honor system, keep track of their own scores rules disputes are not uncommon.

“I think we have all been in a situation where we need the rules to clarify something,” Jessica Wibawa ’13 said.

Kushi hit her fourth shot into the trees and dropped before she could see where it went.

Then, Kushi’s Chaminade opponent apparently hit Kushi’s ball laying on the ground under the trees.

The Chaminade golfer claimed that she instead was

LUKE HOLTHOUSE/CHRONICLE

DRAIN IT:

just took another one out of her bag and dropped it for a one-stroke penalty.

When Kushi reached the brush she thought her ball Kushi felt she was unable to locate the ball because he

opponent had hit it.

Kushi confronted the girl, telling her that she had hit her ball, but the girl again said that she had dropped a ball instead of hitting Kushi’s.

Kushi said she found a DMX ball, the brand her opponent was using, near the bushes but the ball her opponent hit onto the green was a Titleist, the brand Kushi used.

Both team’s coaches consulted the rulebook and decided Kushi and her opponent had to re-drop and take penalties because neither of them properly marked their balls.

Despite the fact that they were using different brands, players must mark their ball with some sort of a permanent marker.

Without a way to differentiate one ball from another, there was no way of proving the ball hit was Kushi’s.

Kushi ended up shooting a worse score than usual, and the team’s 9-stroke margin

of victory was their closest of the season.

Unlike other disputes the fact that Kushi’s match against Chaminade on Sept. 11 was not easily resolved was unusual. nathanson ’s Ne v e r t h e l e s s , the team moved passed the controversy and won their next three matches by a combined margin of 112 strokes.

The Wolverines still have to against Notre Dame on Oct. second to Notre Dame at the Sept. 27 Mission League Tournament and will need to get past the Knights to secure time since 2009.

The team stands at 4-0 in head-to-head competitions after beating Louisville, Marymount, Alemany and Chaminade. The Wolverines beat Chaminade 238-249, but potentially could have won by a larger margin if the dispute was ruled in Kate Kushi’s ’14 favor.

oct. 10, 2012

hwchronicle.com/sports

sports C7

Girls’ tennis seeks ranking jump before CIF

By Lizzy Thomas

A lot can change in a month. For the girls’ tennis team, it is equally important that in the month that stands between them and CIF playoffs, some things change while some stay the same. The team, currently ranked seventh in the CIF Division I standings, needs to move up in standings, in order to have an easier time in the postseason, Head Coach Chris Simpson said.

“Ideally, you want to be the four or because those are very deep programs and we wouldn’t be able to trouble them,” Simpson said.

The team will achieve that by playing the same as they have been.

The Wolverines are 9-1 as of press time, and have won seven straight matches, including a nailbiter against Santa Barbara on Oct. 3. The score against the Dons was 9-9 in matches, but 81-75 in games. This six game lead was the deciding factor for the overall match.

The Santa Barbara victory takes on added importance as Santa Barbara is

JACK GOLDFISHER/CHRONICLE

YARDS AFTER CATCH:

Football wins league opener seven guys every time,” Hartmeier said. “So the secondary was pretty much always open.”

Despite the addition of running back Kurt Scoby, who transferred to St. Paul at the end of last season after averaging over 8 yards a carry with Charter Oaks, the Wolverine defense surrendered 30 fewer points than in last year’s matchup. Scoby, a junior with scholarship offers from the University of Miami and Oregon State, was held to one touchdown. Defensive lineman Henry Schlossberg ’13 said that the Wolverines had spent their bye week the game.

“Our main focus was stopping the run,” defensive lineman Henry Schlossberg ’13 said. “We knew they on them for two weeks, so we knew everything they were going to do the second they came out.”

The Wolverines have already matched their total of league wins in the past two seasons with the win. The Wolverines went 0-5 in 2010, the year they joined the Mission League, then went 1-4 last season.

The top three of the six teams in the Mission League automatically qualify for playoff. Non-league performance plays no factor and just the record in league play determines the end of the year standings.

Ruggles said that the team can almost guarantee a spot if they win at least two more games.

“The top two teams I’m sure will be undefeated [or with] one loss and the third team I’m sure will have two [losses],” Ruggles said. “I think if you win three games, you’re in the playoffs.”

The Wolverines stand at 5-1 overall after coming into the game with non-league wins over Granada Hills, Sylmar and El Camino Real. They beat their last three league opponents by a combine score of 144-27. Due to the

regards to playoffs, the football team schedules relatively weaker opponents before league play to ensure that players are not too physically drained for the playoff push. The Wolverines host league opponent St. Francis on Friday, Oct. 12. Defensive lineman Chase Klein ’13 said that if the team plays as well as it did last week, it should stay undefeated in league.

“No, [not] if we play like we did tonight,” Klein said when asked if needed to improve for St. Francis. “I think they throw the ball a little more, but our defense is looking [very] good.

Whatever we face, we’ll scheme it up pretty good.”

Beyond the St. Francis game, the Wolverines will face three opponents that may give the Wolverines more trouble.

They host Chaminade on Oct. 19 then Cathedral on Oct. 27 before ending the regular season at Serra.

Chaminade and Serra both defeated the Wolverines by over 40 points last year. Cathedral was the only team Harvard-Westlake beat last season.

However, quarterback Hayyden Rettig, who missed all of last season with an injury, is back this year to lead the team.

He committed to play college football at Louisiana State, who was the runner-up National Champion in the Div. I-A last year. Defensive lineman Matt Edelstein ’13 said that although next week’s St. Francis matchup was a must-win game, the team always puts everything it has into preparing for each game every week.

Edelstein said. “We have got to take it week-by-week and keep playing like this. This was a great showing by the team tonight.”

Ruggles concurred.

“It’s a step in the right direction for our playoff hopes. One at a time, though. That’s what we tell our kids every week. Our goal is to be 1-0 at the end of the week and we did that today.

We’ll enjoy this one, but get to work tomorrow.”

co-captain Kristina Park ’13 said.

“After the Santa Barbara win, we have a lot of momentum, and I think we’ll make it really far.”

To secure that all-important no. 5 ranking, the team needs to win in its Oct. 17 and Oct. 22 matches against Palos Verdes and Thousand Oaks, according to, Simpson.

“Palos Verdes has always been a tough match for us, but what I told the girls is even if you don’t win your

match just focus on every single game because that’s what it came down to in the Santa Barbara match,” co-captain Savannah de Montesquiou ’13 said. “I think just focusing on one point at a time instead of winning or losing an entire match is what’s really going to make the difference.”

The team’s lone loss came Sept. 12 against No. 4 Peninsula.

“We’ll be much improved by the end of the season where they’ll be the same as always,” Simpson said of the Peninsula team. “By the end of October, we’ll be a good team.”

The Wolverines have struggled with injuries recently, both large and small.

Star freshman Julianna Simon ’16 will miss the rest of the season due to a stress fracture in one of her lumbar vertebrae.

Three other freshman have stepped have played singles.

Julia Goldberg ’16 now plays at the team’s No. 1 two singles spot, behind de Montesquiou ’13 at No 1.

“It’s very different from middle school tennis,” Goldberg said. “You get to interact a lot more with your team, and the matches are a lot longer.”

Freshmen are also playing prominent roles in doubles. Joelle Choi ’16 is one half of the No. 1 doubles team along with Park.

“We play really well together because I’m more aggressive at the net and she sets up plays and shots for me,” Park said. “Even though there’s a big age gap, it’s not a big deal. We’ll do well in playoffs.”

The team will play Notre Dame and Flintridge Sacred Heart tomorrow and next Tuesday, respectively.

C8 SpOrtS

the chrOnicle

Oct. 10, 2012

On the gridiron with

Henry Schlossberg ‘13 & Thomas Oser ‘13 Offensive & Defensive Linemen

Henry Schlossberg’s ’13 and Thomas Oser’s ’13 work on both the offensive and defensive lines has helped the football team start the season 5-1 and put the team in a position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

By Luke HoLtHouse

Q A

What roles do you play on the team?

Oser: I’m predominantly an offensive player. I play offensive line and I’m the center but I really can play anywhere they need me to move. I play a little bit of D-line but that’s in cases where they really need me.

Schlossberg: I’m more of the defensive specialist, but I also play offensive line.

We sort of complement each other in that way, one on the defensive line one on the offensive line.

Q A Q A Q A Q A

How has the change in coaching staff affected the team?

Oser: I see a lot of times when a team gets a new coach it doesn’t always here right away and just laid down the law and let us know what’s going to happen. We took it to heart and coming out 5-1 in the

Do you think you will continue to face more rushing based offenses in league?

Schlossberg: There are no more double-league teams on the schedule right now, but there are some great running backs in league like

How do the offensive lines you’ve faced so far compare to the league teams’ lines you’ll face Who wouldlater win this year?

JACK GOLDFISHER/CHRONICLE

Schlossberg: We’ve faced some good lines with good players, but in league it kind of kicks into a new gear. We are in for a challenge and we are ready for it.

Do you think the passing attack will be as effective in league as it was before league?

Oser: is to protect him, so we are going to see a lot of defesive fronts.

We know we are going to see a lot of different looks and we are can get a good push, we are going to score a lot of points.

Q A

Do you think you are legitimate playoff contenders this year?

Schlossberg: football, so going into every game we have the mindset that playoffs.”

LUKE HOLTHOUSE/CHRONICLE

Watch a full video interview with Thomas Oser ‘13 and Henry Schlossberg ‘13 online at hwchronicle.com/sports/oct12QandA

RIP AND SWIM: Thomas Oser ’13, top, blocks an El Camino defensive lineman.

Henry Schlossberg ’13, bottom, pepares to tackle St. Paul running back Kurt Scoby.