Ho‘okele News Island Pacific Academy’s Newspaper I Mua Me Ka Ha‘aheo
The Hunters Weathered the Storm Phone: (808) 674-3523
Fax: (808) 674-3575
Email: newspaper@ipahawaii.org
November 2012
Hunters cheer team (left), Storm powder puff team (right), photos courtesy of the Yearbook Staff Staff Writer Lindsy Black
As the festivities of Fall Fun Week drew to a close on October 19, 2012, not one, but two classes came out as the Upper School’s spirit champions—for the first time in school history. The senior and junior classes both proved victorious in the activities that Fall Fun Week had to offer. It all started with the Wild West dance where everyone donned their bandannas, cowboy hats, boots, and belt buckles to get into the western spirit. “The DJ was super talented and the decorations were pretty cool,” said senior Madison Davis, after the school dance. Class colors and sports day
Editor-in-Chief Brieanna Sundberg
Every four years our nation nominates a leader who the people feel best represents their ideals and interests. This year the nominees were President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney, and the
Photos courtesy of Wikimedia
successfully displayed the Upper School’s spirit. “Watching the food wars really got everyone pumped up,” said freshmen Marc Delucchi. This was nothing in comparison to the amount of energy students invested in the Powder Puff game. The junior and freshman boys won the cheer, but that didn’t stop the sophomores and senior boys from giving it their all. Both of the cheers were full of energy and showed the personalities of each class. “I loved our cheer boys! They worked really hard and I was super proud of them for doing a good job,” said junior Camille Larkins, in support of her classmates. The food wars had heart pounding moments for every
student in the MPR. Jayda Moore and Darian Repoza finished first in the Baby Food Bolt contest, Corey Nakumura and Jason Brenner became the Marshmallow Maroney champs, and Chayla Bingham dominated the Gummy Worm Williams event. The last part of Spirit Week was highly anticipated and the hype that students experienced was tremendous. Signs were made for Powder Puff players, faces were painted, and inventive cheers were born. The seniors and sophomores emerged victorious at the end of the game, and the celebrations began. When the winning Powder Puff team was asked where they had gotten their name, Jennifer Jones replied that “we
The Election 2012
race was extremely close, with the people essentially divided down the middle on who to elect. Winning by 3,474,000 votes, and 126 electoral votes, Obama will once again be leading our nation. With America facing serious economic hardships, the choice of president can be crucial to recovery. Although most high school students are unable to vote, many still have strong views about which candidate they believe would best benefit our nation. With the seniors quickly approaching the voting age of eighteen, and other students not too far off, politics have become increasingly predominant, catching the attention of students from various party preferences. Choosing a candidate to support is often a very hard decision that depends upon: the current state of the nation, the personal opinions
of the public on prevalent issues, and the perception of the candidates’ record in office. Each candidate has their selling points, their best future policy ideas, and their own flaws, making the choice a difficult one. Defense spending was a critical issue that had greatly affected voter’s views of the candidates. This especially pertains to Hawaii where a large percentage of our population is affected by the military. The candidates have opposing views on the issue. Obama plans on decreasing military spending to reduce the deficit, while Romney planned on continuing military funding. Debate about what would be best for our nation has provoked passionate views from both sides of the argument within the Upper School. “I think Romney’s best idea is to maintain a strong military. A strong
came up with it at practice because storms are uncontrollable, feared, and bring lots of damage. They are strong and can’t be contained. Once you see a storm coming, you know it’s over.” The battle between the two history teachers, Ben Murphy and Cody Rodriguez, as Powder Puff coaches was epic, and will be sure to continue during Spirit Week. “I felt like there was a lot on the line. In some ways it was a battle of good vs. evil with no true definition, but at the end of the day there would be only glory,” said senior and sophomore coach, Mr. Rodriguez. With a successful kick start to promoting school spirit, many look forward to the oncoming event of Spirit Week.
military both projects a strong front abroad, but also gives the people at home a sense of stability,” stated Jennifer Jones, an avid Romney supporter. Continued on page 2
School News Continued from page 1
“One of the highlights of Obama’s next term would be if his deadline for extracting troops from Afghanistan by 2014 is met,” explained Makana Gionet, a proud Obama supporter. A candidate’s track record, especially in the case of the incumbent (current president), greatly influences a voter’s opinion and decision. This came into play during this election when disappointment from President Obama’s term in office cost him favor. Some,
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like Jones, felt that “Obama already had his chance, and we [as a nation] are not where we should be today,” explaining that she expects better. Others, like Gionet, felt that Obama “was dealt a bad hand, but has been a very good president, doing what he could to fix the recession.” Another deciding factor is the presentation of the candidate, and the way they carry themselves. Since our presidents are the face of our country, the way they handle themselves
in the public eye becomes extremely important. Obama’s “family man” approach to connecting with the people has gained him both approval and criticism. “He doesn’t act like the leader of the free world, like the commander and chief of the world’s most powerful military. He doesn’t project a strong face for the nation, while Romney presents himself to be more of a diplomat, politician, leader, and man of government,” Jones explained. Obama has also been described
as relatable and a man of the people, while Romney has been described as impressionable, and out of touch with the middle class. The American people voted for their new leader on November 6th, and the Presidential Inauguration will occur on January 21, 2013. Ordinarily it would have been on the 20th, however since this falls on a Sunday, the date will be pushed back. The world will be watching as Obama begins his second term in office.
grades 3-12 to develop the skills needed to thrive in today’s rapidly globalizing world. Supporters of the IB program applaud its methods of teaching in a more complete, hands on manner. “It leads to a more concrete understanding of the material,” explained junior Chris Chen when asked about the IB program compared to old styles of learning. “Memorizing material and regurgitating it back onto a test is not learning.” The IB program can help to develop more complete students that follow the values and ideas of accomplished, global learners.
For now, not everyone will be a part of the IB program. The entire senior class will finish off their year with AP classes, and some of the junior class will not be pursuing an IB diploma. Many students like it this way, “I see lots of advantages that come with the AP program,” said senior Brieanna Sundberg. “It fits the way I learn with its straight forward approach. Personally I don’t benefit from reflecting on things that have already happened, I’d rather correct problems as they occur.” The change to IB has been very hard for many students, as the rigor of IB
courses and requirements can be tough. “The system is definitely difficult to adapt to, especially the grading system,” said Chen. However, students look to their future with IB and what it has to offer. When applying to college, “It will give me a slight advantage,” explained freshman Marc Delucchi, “if someone has a very similar GPA and SAT score, it could help push me over the edge into admission.” With the new and improved IB program at IPA, the future looks bright. In the end, love it or hate it, IB is here to stay, and the opportunities are endless.
While E. coli can be harmful, in some cases causing severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting, it is commonly found in the intestinal tracts of healthy people and animals. Regarding the location of the found E. coli on the surface of the couches, Ms. Beth Crissy, who oversaw the experiment as the Advanced Biology teacher, suspects that this is a result of the recent rodent infestation at the school. Pathogenic bacteria can cause infections, but should not be a source of anxiety. Most are transmitted from the sick to the healthy through contact, an occurrence that is common as shown throughout the year with the average adolescent contacting colds two to four times a year as reported by Kaboose, a family health
centered site. Humans carry more bacterial cells than human cells; about 100 trillion types of bacteria live within each individual. With this in mind, it is common for there to be high amounts of bacteria in public places with constant use and heavy traffic. “I think people are always surprised with just how much bacteria is around them all the time because we’re just not aware of it,” said Crissy. Student government president, Zoey Araki, responded to learning about the Biology’s class findings with a renewed vigor to encourage school cleanliness and maintenance, especially after committing her efforts to the cause if elected. Through the student governments’ weekly duties of collecting recyclables and reminding students about food regulations, a special
emphasis on respecting the school environment has been made to get the student body to follow suit. Araki is set on accomplishing her goal of promoting and maintain cleanliness within the Upper School. “I think that it’s everybody’s responsibility to care for our community as a school, but I will take it upon myself to lead everybody to do the right things and follow the rules,” said Araki. While the findings from the Biology experiment are common and expected results, it should not be an excuse to neglect and disrespect our community. “I would like to think that [the findings] would make people more aware, and certainly the students are more aware at the moment, but I don’t know if that will translate overtime. I hope so,” said Crissy.
Hate it or Love it Staff Writer Kirt Spotkaeff
The transition to the International Baccalaureate (IB) program has come, bringing on a new era of academics at Island Pacific Academy. It has been a long process, taking years to plan and execute, and next year will be the first class with students graduating with an IB Diploma. Opinions on IB differ greatly among students and faculty, but love it or hate it, IB is here to stay. Founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1968, the IB program was developed for students
Under the Microscope Editor-in-Chief Kayla Economou
On October 4th, the results from the senior Advanced Biology class officially came in, and word got around to students and faculty alike. The purpose of the experiment was to test the effectiveness of certain kinds of antibiotics on bacteria collected from school grounds. A few of the troubling findings included, Escherichia coli (E. coli) found on the surface of the Upper School’s library lounge chairs and a human pathogenic (infectious) respiratory bacterium found on the school’s elevator button. Although the discoveries of the many kinds of bacteria present within the Upper School may seem alarming to most, this is actually quite normal. In fact, it is expected.
the staff of the Ho‘okele News EST.
2010
Editors-in-Chief
Kayla Economou Brieanna Sundberg
Assistant Editor Jordan Dean
Staff Writers
Alexandra Arnold Lindsy Black Jason Brenner Michael Brenner Marc Delucchi Steven Edwards Austin Hirstein Eric Kawatachi Keri Kawatachi Michael Lee Eric Longanecker Corey Nakamura Kirt Spotkaeff Kennedy Wilson
Contributors Dale Dolejsi Yearbook Staff
Advisor
April Babcock The Ho‘okele News is a publication of the journalism class/club of Island Pacific Academy’s Upper School. The Ho‘okele News is an open forum for students, faculty, and community. The opinions and views expressed in this newspaper belong solely to the respective staff writers and do not reflect the views of the Island Pacific Academy faculty and administration.
I Mua Me Ka Ha‘aheo
Student Life
Controversial Politics Staff Writer Jason Brenner
In an advanced, senior only class, the year’s first assignment revolved around one word, “politics.” As election day loomed around the corner, this project became a relevant issue to work on. “The theme of the [class] artwork was dirty campaigning,” said secondary art teacher Dale Dolejsi, explaining that, “politics are about vilifying the opposition, as opposed to actual political issues.” Brooke Granier, creator of the much talked about political graffiti poster said, “I am defiantly not bashing Obama.” Granier received
a lot of criticism, “I got a lot of hate at first; people were calling me a racist, an Obama hater… [they] called my project stupid and didn’t understand it,” she said. The fact that Hawaii has proven to be a reliably Democratic state in the past makes it difficult for the public to even consider supporting such artwork, especially without deeper knowledge on its intent. Granier’s artwork can also be easily mistaken for affronting the image of an iconic President such as Obama. However, intended interpretations were “to show the dirty side of politics and how candidates
will say anything in order to win. Another aspect of my piece was freedom of speech and how we are able to do and say anything and get away with it, or even how we can’t do or say anything,” explained Granier. The sign of good art is, “about telling meaningful stories and making people respond,” said Dolejsi. The political paintings on the wall have not gone unnoticed and have caused a stir within the Upper School. When asked about her first response to the Granier’s art, senior Lindsy Black said, “At first glance I thought the artwork was
Modern Voodoo? Staff Writer Eric Longanecker
Stressed from school? Sore from sitting at a desk all day? Sleep deprived and tense? Looking for a solution? It might be some ancient Chinese technique, it might even be modern voodoo, but one thing is for sure – it works. Foam rolling is the answer to all of your stress related problems. “Foam rolling promotes myofascial release from the involuntary relaxation of muscles through pressure applied by the foam roller,” Stephen Cadiz said, a veteran of the foam rolling class offered at the Kapolei Kroc Center. Myofascial release is a therapy directed towards the loosening of soft tissue to increase movement and reduce muscle pains. Well that sounds awfully boring, why should you care?
Are you an athlete looking to up your game? Austin Hirstein, Olympic hopeful and senior at IPA, dropped a total of six seconds from the combined five events he swam during his last meet. A second can be the difference between the podium and the sidelines in swimming; I know I’d be frothing over the chance to feel the weight of a gold medal around my neck. Austin isn’t the only student who saw an increase in athletic ability after taking part in foam rolling. “Foam rolling has made me more limber. It helped me with my sports, ultimately making me a better athlete,” Cadiz said. If you’re not an athlete, don’t worry. Foam rolling has plenty to offer everyone. “It releases my stress and gets me ready for the next day,” said Cody Schmidt. It can even be a source of physical alleviation. “I just like
3 smearing, [however] after further inspection upon the artwork, it was really great.” This project has turned into more than art; it has really opened the students’ eyes, showing how dirty the game of politics can be. This project wasn’t just an assignment, but was also a good experience for student artists to “have their voices heard and be willing to deal with the reactions of art,” said Dolejsi. This political project is a challenge for future student art to come; potential artists will be expected to create powerful artwork that dances on the edge of approval.
the loose feeling it gives me all over,” said another student participant, Dan Moore. By now I’d be shocked if you aren’t contemplating giving it a try. There is no better way to do so than to attend Anthony Chriscoe’s class at the Kroc Center on Friday’s from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. He will teach you proper form and set you on the path towards the ultimate relaxation. This is important as there are consequences for improper technique, as Sarah Li learned after getting a huge bruise on her shin the first time she foam rolled. “Never foam roll your bones or else you’ll get bruises, only foam roll your muscles,” Sarah Li reminded me. I am willing to wager you can relate to at least one of these situations. I am also willing to bet you will benefit from foam rolling. So why not give it a try?
Food Policies Staff Writer Corey Nakamura
The new eating policy here at Island Pacific Academy has created quite the stir. Students are prevented from snacking throughout the day by limiting them to eating only during designated breaks, which occur once a day leaving many students hungry during class. Bruce Hobin said, “As students, we should be allowed to eat wherever and whenever we want.” For this reason, many students are opposed to the new rule. This policy was created due to the large amounts of trash that was left behind by food consumers. Leftover food residue left around the school began attracting mice, and droppings have been discovered on teacher’s desks on the third floor. For that reason, some students such as Stephen Cadiz support the new policy. “I have a debilitating fear of mice so it has really helped me in that area,” said Cadiz. To enforce the policy, teachers use referrals as consequences for those who disobey the rule. Due to this, “more people have been getting in trouble,” said Cadiz, explaining that he thinks “the school is worse for it.” Other students feel that “it is affecting our school because the teachers are mad at the students, and the students are mad at the teachers,” said Hobin. There are both positives and negatives that come with the new policy. There has been a decrease in mice population, but there has also been an increase in student hunger leaving them tired and unfocussed. “[Eating] gave us energy throughout the day to be more productive in our classes,” said Cadiz. Hopefully in the near future, the new policy will bring awareness to the problem, but for now, hungry students will have to go outside to eat their snacks.
The Next Step in Life
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Staff Writer Austin Hirstein
Tips - Be aware of the pros and cons of areas in the US (i.e. midwest, west coast, east coast, and the south) - Keep a list of colleges you are interested in - Narrow down your search of potential schools to your top 10 - Create a Common Application account - Keep track of deadlines for applications - Have an English teacher, friend, or family member look over your essay - Do the application process in chunks! Thirty minutes a day should be a good start. - Double triple check the responses on your application - Sit back, relax, and wait for a response
It’s that time of year again, where the senior class becomes accustomed to the abundance of stress accompanied by sleep deprivation. A new chapter in seniors’ lives awaits them just around the corner. The class of 2013 is as diverse as they come, with varied interests, backgrounds, and extracurricular activities. Unsurprisingly, the senior class is also applying to a diverse set of colleges. A collected sample of where students are applying to show an assorted collection of schools. While a few students plan on staying in Hawaii the rest of the class has chosen to sprawl out over the country, British Columbia, Canada, included. “I think it’s great the senior class is so diverse when it comes to applying to colleges, it really brings out our individuality,” said senior Eric Longanecker. When I asked a few students where they
were applying to and why, I received some interesting responses. Student entrepreneur Jack Uesugi plans on applying to Santa Clara to study business. He was looking for a bigger school with a larger student body that also had his major--Santa Clara matched it perfectly. Uesugi’s future plans are to “study abroad every year to become more culturally diverse and to see the world.” Interested in pursuing biochemistry in college, Brittany Stevers is has been searching for schools with this interest in mind. “I’ve been looking for a smaller school with a great bio chemistry program, and Regis university fits that mold perfectly. I have also been looking for a school that is surrounded by nature, hiking trials, and outdoor activities.” Stever’s future plans are to “preserve our natural resources.”
Santa Clara St. Louis Arizona community college Regis University University of Hawaii Duke Occidental Wyoming University of San Diego University of Iowa University of Portland University of North Carolina, Greensborough University of Oregon University of Washington Puget Sound Pacific University Southern Oregon University of Las Vegas University of British Columbia University of Florida, Gainesville University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Local
5
New Venue Holds High Hopes for Hawaii’s Music Scene
styled crowd space gives the audience is a more personal interaction with the band. In this way, the venue benefits from its density restriction by July 30th marked the soft opening for enhancing the atmosphere of held gigs. Honolulu’s newest concert venue, The Republik. While bands at the pinnacle of Indie-rock group Bloc Party had the independent and mainstream music scenes have honor of playing on the newly minted stage, graced The Republik’s short lived blessing Oahu’s music scene with stage already, it is important to note their massive hits. Significant the lesser-known groups that make for not only being a fantastic the trip to Honolulu. It’s all good performance, the show was also and well that radio-friendly artists noteworthy for being the band’s such as Third Eye Blind have played introductory gig on the island. gigs there, but shows by Grouplove Since this date, over four other and Future Islands are also deserving artists have made their Oahu debut of the excitement sparked within at The Republik. Hawaii’s independent music scene. It is remarkable to see the The importance of The Repubik’s local music scene flourish this establishment reaches beyond a new much in such a short time, thanks space for bands to play. Despite to BAMP Projects. The production having respectable venues in Oahu company has been raking in already, it seems that indie bands are respectably known independent partial to playing in an area of this artists for the past few years even size and stature. though the number of noteworthy This gives residents the opportunity bands passing through Oahu has Kele Okereke of Bloc Party, a band that recently played at the Republik, photo courtesy of LivePict.com to attend shows while also allowing been scarce. However, with the these bands to spread their fan creation of The Republik, it seems this could 20 x 30 feet, marginally occupying the space. This base throughout the islands. An expansion in change very soon. leaves a 2,000 square foot zone adjacent to the the interest of independent and diverse musical The venue itself is in an odd place. stage. interests has already occurred to an extent. Located just above a back alley near the hectic Ala The standing-room-only and limited Hopefully, this is just the start. Staff Writer Michael Brenner
Moana Shopping Center, The Republik appears to be strangely positioned for a building meant to host major headlining shows. Of course, this is what BAMP Project has intended. A defining factor to the venue is its suitability towards intimate shows. The stage is
Black Friday: Deals & Steals
Staff Writer Keri Kawatachi
For many people, a highlight of the Thanksgiving weekend is not the holiday itself, but the day after–Black Friday. It’s the day where we have an actual incentive to wake up at the wake of dawn to shop; the crowds, the sales, the excitement, all of these aspects are what make Black Friday a national phenomenon. The name “Black Friday “originated in Philadelphia, where the day’s noisy and disruptive traffic would occur after Thanksgiving. As the official start of the holiday shopping season, many department stores sponsored Thanksgiving parades for advertisement reasons. Black Friday is the known as the official start of the holiday shopping season. Since the late 19th century, many of the Thanksgiving parades were sponsored by department stores, all of which used the event as a platform to capture national attention. As a result, an unofficial rule was made between stores to try to not to do Christmas advertising until Thanksgiving parades were over. Since Black Friday became so popular, there have been many spinoff events from it. Some include Black Thursday and Cyber Monday. Black Thursday has been one of the more recent spinoffs, a trend where stores open up that Thursday night. It became popular last year with stores like Wal-Mart, Target, and Best Buy opening up at around 10:00 PM. Cyber Monday happens on the Monday after Black Friday and is a day for customers to shop online. It started in 2005 as retailers noticed that many
people were too busy to shop in person over the Thanksgiving weekend and had opted for online purchases conveniently made from work or home. For many of us, we love to shop and Black Friday is a day in the year where we get up ridiculously early to do so. Some of us might be pros by now, but for others this year might be their first experience. Here are some tips for making your Black Friday experience a little bit better. 1. Do your homework. Look at the ads and store times of where you’re planning to go beforehand. Also check out the best and worst things to buy. Electronics and apparel are great items to look for, but skip toys and jewelry. 2. Make a list. Write down which items you plan to get and the stores you want to go to. Having a list will make shopping easier and more efficient, especially with all of the Black Friday excitement going on. 3. Prioritize. Think about which items you need to get and other items that you can wait to get at a later time. Consider which stores you have to go to in order to get to those items. Get what you need first and then buy your secondary items later in order to be an effective shopper. 4. Wait until Cyber Monday. Shopping on Black Friday doesn’t necessarily mean that the best sales and deals will be present. Think about waiting until Cyber Monday to buy online. One of the best places for deals on Black Friday is Amazon.com where there are some deals that grant 20-90% off on products. 5. Shop for Christmas gifts, not just yourself. As an official start to the holiday
shopping season, it would be wise to begin your Christmas shopping. Try to get part of your holiday shopping out of the way during Black Friday while also shopping for yourself. For example, a rumor is that if you spend over $65 at Victoria’s Secret or $100 at Bath and Body Works, you’ll receive a free tote bag filled with products 6. Don’t overspend. Simple. It is easy to get carried away with Black Friday’s sales, signs, and overall excitement, but make sure that you are not overspending on useless items. While Black Friday isn’t considered an official holiday, to some people, it is a day of the year many look forward to during the holiday season. Sure, the day might be hectic and crazy, but it is a fun occasion to experience. Use some of these tips to become a pro at Black Friday.
Sports
6
Kekoa, the Man behind the Pads Staff Writer Eric Kawatachi
Senior Kekoa Iseri stands at 6”, 240 pounds and is the only senior from Island Pacific Academy on the Pac-5 football team. He benches 259 pounds and squats 330 pounds. Iseri carries the football with ferocity, intimidating all who look his way. “Kekoa is such an amazing athlete. Every time he touches the ball, the stadium collectively holds its breath. With his unmatched skill and freakish talent, he’s a threat to take it to the house on any given play,” said former teammate Kirt Spotkaeff. He is the stereotypical jock that everyone is scared of—but who is he
behind the pads? “Kekoa is an excellent friend, who has always been there for me in my times of struggle,” said senior Stephen Cadiz. Senior Eric Longanecker describes Iseri as powerful, stout, and agile for he knows how athletic he is. Having been on the receiving end of many hugs, handshakes, and chest bumps, Longanecker knows his prowess as an athlete. However, senior Daniel Moore described the senior as docile, sensual, and quiet, yet meaningful. “One time, he helped distract Corey Nakamura so that I could steal a Honey Walnut Shrimp from him,” said Moore. When one looks at Iseri, they normally do not see the loving and
caring side that he shows to everyone. When asked what his spirit animal is, Iseri replied that the Koala bear embodies his inner self. This may be an unexpected choice for some, but anyone who knows Kekoa can understand why he chose the Koala bear, as it is cuddly, bashful, and amenable—all traits that Iseri displays. Iseri is not only a great friend, but is also an introspective and knowledgeable student. Excited to be a senior, Iseri feels bittersweet about his last year competing in high school sports. His thoughts on the dreaded grade check? “They are really annoying, yet I see the necessity and appreciate the concern that the teachers have,” he replied. He juggles academics and sports, going to Mid-Pac everyday for practice. “I need to be there for my team,” Iseri replied. Many people know Iseri as a ferocious, intimidating football player, yet friends see him as something polar opposite when he is not on the football field helping his team to achieve success. If you have the time, give Braddah Keks a highfive, he will surely love it.
Two Freshmen on a Varsity Team Staff Writer Alexandra Arnold
Kekoa Iseri, photo courtesy of the Yearbook Staff
Should Hawaii Football be Division I? Staff Writer Michael Lee
The University of Hawaii ‘s football program has had its day in the sun. Not bad for a small budget program, but the fact of the matter is we are not even supposed to be here in the first place. Originally, Hawaii started off as a club team, which played college teams once in a while. The ‘Bows eventually worked their way up the NCAA ranks, making it all the way to Division I in 1974. In 1976, the NCAA decided to reclassify college football into two subdivisions, Division I-A (higher division), and Division I-AA (lower division). Hawaii was classified by the NCAA in the lower Division I, but UH appealed and was reclassified to the higher division. Is UH doing the right thing in being a Division I school, or is it not? Does the football program get in the way of an institution’s main purpose of academics? The main goal of any academic institution is to
provide an outstanding educational experience to students, not to take a back seat to athletics. The problem is that considerable resources are only benefitting a few, while money issues persist throughout the state budget. A recent example of this fact was the Stevie Wonder Concert, otherwise known as the “Wonder Blunder.” Recently, the “Wonder Blunder” was a failed attempt by the athletic department to bring Stevie Wonder in, and hold a benefit concert for UH athletics. This whole debacle has caused many
Aloha Stadium, photo courtesy of Wikimedia
problems and has shed light on the issues of the business of collegiate sports. It has resulted in the University wasting millions of dollars that could’ve been spent on scholarships and other programs that would benifit the university. They’re wasting money on a football program that fans don’t even support. In recent years, Hawaii fans have had high expectations of their football team, but don’t support it on a consistent basis. They expect Hawaii to compete for championships, but only show up in droves when the team is winning. Fans fail to support the team when they need it most. So what are the chances of Hawaii leaving Division I? Very unlikely, however, when you look at the current situation, Hawaii has just been saved from this recent mess in the Western Athletic Conference, but with a rotting stadium, and a not so successful football team, does it make sense? Hawaii needs to decide whether they are “all in” and either commit the necessary resources to be a top 25 program, or just stay the same way and wonder why the Warriors keep blundering.
“There are barely any freshmen on a varsity team because generally their skills aren’t good enough yet,” said upper school teacher and head volleyball coach, Stan Vincent. This year however, two young freshmen girls competed at the varsity level—Tehani Havrilla and Jaycinth Hitzeman. They liked playing on a higher level and integrated nicely into the team, according to Vincent. The varsity team practiced every day, except when they had a game. During practice, they would run, stretch, and work on skills . Having Volleyball practice every day made it hard for the freshman to keep up with school. In order to finish their homework and all the other things they have to do for school, they had to stay up late, and sometimes it was a real struggle. “I’m at a new school, it’s my first year of High School and I still need to get used to all the things,” said Havrilla. Now that the season is done, the girls have their well earned highlights. For Havrilla, it was serving the ball in practice. Hitzeman’s highlight was in the last match of the Division 3 Championship where she scored the last point. The team has done incredibly this past season, and we look forward to watching their success continue next fall.
Sports
NBA Predictions
7 Staff Writers Marc Delucchi & Kennedy Wilson
The NBA season is upon us. This is a time when many people—experts and fans alike—voice their opinions about the surprises and picks for the upcoming season. The following is an analysis on the top teams and players in the league and what to expect this year. 1st: Miami Heat 1st: Miami Heat With LeBron James, the best player in the game, as well as Dwyane Wade In my opinion the best team in the league is the Miami Heat. LeBron James, and Chris Bosh, the defending champions have remarkable talent. In addition to Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh have found the perfect way to utilize their strengths Ray Allen, one of the best shooters of all time to while also covering their weaknesses collectively. come off the bench, the Miami Heat has a team The acquisitions of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis of formidable players. add more depth to their bench and now make the Miami Heat the best offensive and defensive 2nd: L.A. Lakers combination. The Los Angeles Lakers still have Kobe Bryant, and made the biggest splash of the off2nd: L.A. Lakers season by acquiring the most dominant center As Steve Nash and Dwight Howard become new in the league, Dwight Howard, along with one members of the Laker team, it seems as if another of the top Point Guards, Steve Nash. They still title might go them this NBA season. Howard’s skill have the same weakness that they have had for as a center surpasses any other player in the league years now, that is, lacking bench players who by a long shot and gives the Lakers an upper hand can contribute, but if they can stay together and against any team. This is because the NBA today is a remain healthy this could be a great season. guard based league where few big men like Howard exist anymore. As a thirty-seven-year old, Steve Nash defied the effects of aging by taking on the role of Kennedy Wilson ‘13 Marc Delucchi ‘16 3rd: Oklahoma City Thunder leading the Laker’s, which he’ll do again this year. In The Thunder didn’t make any significant off-season acquisitions, however, addition, Kobe Bryant will remain the one of the most dominant perimeter players, they made one of the biggest trades when they traded 6th man of the year (2011) giving the Lakers clutch shots in times of need. James Harden to Houston. With the talent of Kevin Durant, top five P.G. Russell Westbrook, defensive big man Serge Ibaka, and a great bench built around Kevin 3rd: Oklahoma City Thunder Martin and other acquisitions in the Harden trade, the Thunder is sure to make With Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and now Kevin Martin, the Thunder an impression this season. has the combination of pure scorers and defensive stoppers. The team can rely on Westbrook’s quickness to attack the basket and alleviate pressure on Kevin Durant. 4th: San Antonio Spurs Every year critics always say that the Spurs are too old and can’t win, but 4th: Chicago Bulls Gregg Popovich and the Spurs G.M. seem to always put together a team that can Derrick Rose, a previous MVP of the league, has returned this year to the mesh. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker are all not top ten players, Bulls, bringing back that spark that they used to have. With Rose’s offense alongside but the San Antonio Spurs will do it again and find a way to win. defensive anchor Joakim Noah, who took Kevin Garnett’s place as best defensive coordinator on the court, the Bulls will be sure to make an impression. 5th: Chicago Bulls Derek Rose should come off his injury as good as new and he will join 5th: L.A. Clippers one of the most underrated players in the league, Luol Deng, with the best Talented, raw, and athletic are the perfect words to describe this team. With defensive on court coach and one of the best defensive players in the league, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and outstanding bench player Jamal Crawford, the Clippers Joakim Noah. They also have a P.F. I like in Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson to seem to be biting at the heels of the Lakers and the Thunder as the best team in the come off the bench. west. 6th: Indiana Pacers The Pacers have eight to nine players who could all start or contribute off the bench. They have a core three of Roy Hibbert, Danny Granger, and David West. This is all along with D.J. Augustin, Paul George, George Hill, Sam Young, Tyler Hansbrough, and Gerald Green, all of whom add depth in the Indiana Pacers’ lineup.
6th: San Antonio Spurs I had a tough decision putting the Spurs so high on my list, but Greg Popovich, the head coach, seems to find a way to hide his older players’ weaknesses while simultaneously making the team play perfect team basketball.
7th: L.A. Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are a lock for the playoffs and some people say their raw talent turns them into a championship team. I like Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Jamal Crawford, Chauncey Billups, and I love Chris Paul. As much talent as they have, I don’t think they have the team chemistry or the coaching to win a championship.
7th: Indiana Pacers Danny Granger and Paul George are starting to come out as star players in the NBA. Granger, however, has a history of becoming injured, and the Pacers can’t afford to lose any members of their team. They are still raw from their experience with Roy Hibbert, a very skilled offensive post and defensive player.
8th: Philadelphia 76ers As one of the four teams involved with the Dwight Howard trade, the Philadelphia 76ers acquired Center Andrew Bynum, a very good big man if he can stay healthy, to join the most depth in the league with Thaddeus Young, Jason Richardson, Nick Young, Jrue Holliday, Evan Turner, Kwame Brown, Spencer Hawes, and Dorell Wright.
8th: Philadelphia 76ers With the acquisition of the second best center in the league, Andrew Bynum, who is surrounded by talent from this team, should become an offensive showcase. The only downfall to the team might be Andrew Bynum’s attitude and his ability to stay in shape.
9th: Denver Nuggets A team that acquired Andre Igoudala in the off season to join one with no stars, but with good all around players in Corey Brewer, Wilson Chandler, Danilo Galinari, Ty Lawson, Javale McGee, and Andre Miller, the Denver Nuggets don’t have the talent to go all the way, but are still a top ten team in the league. 10th: Atlanta Hawks One of the smartest moves of the off-season, in my opinion, was unloading an ageing and overpaid Joe Johnson for a younger player in return for Devin Harris. They recruited Harris to add to the team of Anthony Morrow, Al Horford, Josh Smith, and Lou Williams. They are a very top loaded team.
9th: Celtics It pains me that I have them so low on the standings; the power rankings in the East have changed drastically in the past few years. If the Celtic’s veteran players such as Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry remain healthy and follow the guidance of Rajon Rondo, the best pure point guard in the league, the Celtics can easily move up to the second best record in the East Coast. 10th: Denver Nuggets The last team was very difficult to choose. I ended up with the Denver Nuggets, because ever since Carmelo Anthony left, they have been able to play team ball—defensively and offensively. The only downfall in the Nugget’s organization is the fact that the team has no stars.
Reviews Staff Writer Steven Edwards
The first episode of any TV show must be gripping, well-acted, intriguing, and full of character development. Last Resort, ABC’s new entry for the fall TV season, has all of these qualities fit into one hour of action packed TV. When Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher), commander of the U.S. ballistic submarine, the U.S.S. Colorado, is ordered to nuke a village in Pakistan, he requests confirmation on whether his order was legitimate, and this is where it all started. His ship was fired upon by another U.S. warship, forcing Chaplin to use drastic measures to ensure the safety of his crew, where he eventually got his ship underway and took over an island that is home
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to a covert communications post. Meanwhile, there is turmoil over the apparent sinking of the Colorado in Washington DC. This is a recipe
for thrilling and action packed television. Last Resort was full of great action packed moments. I
felt Braugher was well casted as the stoic and serious submarine captain. There were new faces to television such as Daniel Lissing, as a Navy SEAL lost at sea, and Scott Speedman as Braugher’s stalwart, XO LCDR. These were solid, well casted actors that seemed really capable of providing a believable performance of their characters. However, some parts of the pilot that didn’t make it seem like a cohesive, full bodied first episode. I felt that there were too many characters for a pilot and that they could have easily introduced new characters as the series progressed. An intricate, heavily populated series is what normally fails on network television and it is hard to know whether Last Resort will repay the investment, but that is a question for later. As of right now, I am onboard.
>Album Title Goes Here< Staff Writer Steven Edwards
Techno, electronica, and house are all genres of music that may be hard to understand. Instead of traditional instruments, they rely on synthesizers and samples instead. Numerous artists champion electronic dance music—EDM— from Daft Punk to Benny Benassi. Only one adorns a mouse mask.
energy with memorable beats. The synth and bass line on “Channel 42” is the highlight of those songs and easily makes this track one of the best. However, the songs are quite
with dreamlike vocals laced over a heavy beat and calm synth-keyboard line. Relaxing and akin to a Daft Punk song, this is a track worth listening to. The album then skips
Overall, >album title goes here< is a great electro-house album that had a mix of strong and weak songs. With a semi-strong start and a weak ending, this album failed to deliver like Deadmau5’sprevious work 4x4=12. It had great, catchy songs that were highly infectious, but most felt too long as some tracks clocked in at eight minutes.
Deadmau5’s newest studio release, >album title goes here<, is fueled with house inspired mixes and heavy vocal tracks. It may have its weak points, but it has lots of heavy hitting tracks full of adrenaline and energy. The opening track, “Superlimminal,” is a slow, melancholic build up to the album, ramping the listener up. It is very reminiscent of Mau5’s previous track “Some Chords” from the album 4X4=12. It pales in comparison to the other tracks, but does a great job at introducing the track and setting the tone. “Channel 42,” “Fn Pig,” “There Might Be Coffee,” and “Take Care Of The Proper Paperwork” are considered to be the album’s more heavier tracks. These are all voiceless songs that are catchy and full of
choice as a lead single. Other songs on the album are a little bland and seemed to have the sole purpose of filling up time. “Faitbait,” which features hip-hop artist Cypress Hill, felt a little out of place while “Telecommunications,” which features Imogen Heap, felt like a weak ending to a strong album.
If I had to give >album title goes here< a rating, it would be a solid 3.5 out of 4 stars.
long and get boring after a while. But the real treat on this album is “The Veldt,” which was inspired by a story of the same name. This track has a light feel
to an angst filled, electro-rock track “Professional Griefers.” This song has a prominent beat and catchy chorus with a hint of paranoia. Highly danceable and addictive to listen to, this song was a great