May 25, 2012 1401 Artesia Blvd. Manhattan Beach, California 90266 Vol. LXII Issue 9 www.lavistamchs.com
Union bashes district’s proposal In response to MBUSD’s first proposed teacher contracts evaluation model, teachers have begun advocating a new course of action.
WATCH THE THRONE
BY DANNY KELLEHER EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR Leaders for the Manhattan Beach Unified Teachers Association bargaining team expressed discontent toward the district’s first official contract proposal on May 21. In a bulletin to Manhattan Beach Unified School District teachers from the MBUTA bargaining team on mbutanow.org, the team heavily criticized all three “main elements” of the district’s proposal. “We had hoped for more,” the bulletin said. “We had hoped for a new era of respect and recognition, ushered in by a new administration. We have been reasonable in what we have asked.” At a May 24 union meeting, teachers considered the idea of individually refusing to volunteer for Scholar Quiz, which many have volunteered for in the past. “I started the damn thing [Scholar Quiz],” social science teacher and bargaining team member Bill Fauver said. “But my lunch is my time, and I’ll give it if I feel that the community values me as a teacher.” MBUSD certificated staff employees have not received a market-rate adjustment since 2002, and this lack of wage increase has become a main platform of dispute. “They have budgeted for $1.89 million to be spent on books and supplies over the next three years, and no money toward salary increases for teachers,” Fauver said. “They value things and gadgets more than they value teachers.” MBUTA also brings up the district’s economic uncertainty reserve, which the district keeps at 5% of its general fund, more than the state’s requirement of only 3%. “It is our responsibility to have reserves for fiscal management,” MBUSD Board President Ellen Rosenberg said. The May 21 meeting was the fifth time the two negotiating bodies met, and the union plans on holding strong until changes are made. “We’re going to wait to see whether the district puts the teachers as their first priority,” Fauver said.
RYAN REEDE/LA VISTA
Mira Costa students and staff, with Principal Dale leading the charge, traveled to Cypress College in green and gold to watch the Costa boys volleyball team take home the CIF championship game over rival Loyola High School May 19. Read the full story on page A12.
Manhattan Beach celebrates centennial, disputes upcoming Beach Ball BY TAYLOR ST. GERMAIN STAFF WRITER
lowed alcohol and paid for by sponsors.” At the moment, the centennial committee is trying to coordinate another event for the city as a whole. The size and expense of the event will depend on the funds that the committee has left. “Right now, it’s a matter of whether the committee has enough money left to run a different event,” Howorth said. “If they do, it will happen. If not, they will either scale down or take a grant from the city.” The ball is only one component of the many festivities that Manhattan Beach has offered to celebrate the centennial anniver-
sary. On May 19, Manhattan Beach held a parade starting at Pacific Elementary School and ending at Polliwog Park. SevManhattan Beach recently paused plans eral organizations, including Costa clubs, for the “Centennial Beach Ball”, an event drove floats in the parade. that consists of a dance and dinner on the “The centennial parade has been inclubeach, which was originally part of the sive and has allowed the Mira Costa Partcity’s centennial celebrations. ners for the Planet Club to have a float in The city council disapproved of the the parade,” Costa Partners for the Planet planned event. The dance was planned for Club President junior Adam Gerard said. Sept. 22 and would be open to sponsors “We were excited to be showcased.” and donors of the centennial committee. Manhattan Beach was established in “I support the city council in denying the 1912 but was originally split into two diviidea for the event, as the restrictions on the sions, Shore Acres and Manhattan Beach. Centennial Beach Ball would The two parts were owned by only cause problems for the George Peck and John Merrill. town,” freshman Charlie When they decided to combine Durham said. the land into one town, a coin The event was rejected was flipped to decide the name. because it would have perMerrill’s choice, Manhattan mitted alcohol and perforBeach, won, and the name still mance bands on the beach stands 100 years later. and would also have been an “I have lived in Manhatexclusive celebration. tan Beach my entire life, and “The city council came even I have seen it evolve over up with plans for a ticketed only 16 years,” Costa freshevent on the beach,” Manman Aaron Chelliah said. “I hattan Beach city councilcan’t even imagine how much CONNOR WRIGHT/LA VISTA woman Amy Howorth said. Manhattan Beach has changed “The last plan that was put I GOT 99 PROBLEMS BUT A BALL AIN’T ONE: Manhattan Beach celebrated over all the hundred years of before us was ticketed, al- turning 100 in a centennial parade with themed floats. its existence.”
Costa administration continues search for replacement for Vice Principal Paula Hart BY ARI HOWORTH STAFF WRITER The administration has narrowed down the search for Vice Principal Paula Hart’s replacement to three candidates: a teacher from San Marino, an administrator from Centinela Valley School District and former Costa English teacher and current Culver City High School Assistant Principal Ian Drummond. Drummond taught at Costa for
10 years prior to his taking the assistant principal position at Culver City High School after the 200809 school year. He taught English and the Advanced Via Individual Determination, or AVID, course while at Costa before it was cut due to budget constraints. “I really enjoyed his class,” Costa class of 2010 alumnus Austin Siegmund-Broka said. “He really respected his students. He treated them like real adults, which I think is a good quality for
any administrator to have.” Hart, whose resignation will become effective July 1, handled athletic director duties for three years at Costa along with various other VP responsibilities. Next year, the administration hopes to split those responsibilities into two separate jobs, bringing back the athletic director position. The position was originally eliminated three years ago due to budgetary constraints. “There was no reason why the
jobs should be held by one person,” Principal Ben Dale said. The budget will increase to cover a new staff member, which Dale believes is necessary. “It’ll be much more efficient this way,” Dale said. While the process of finding a new athletic director is just beginning, the process of finding a new vice principal is almost complete. “I know Drummond was in the original pool, and I know he made it into the final three,” Hart
said. “But I don’t know if he got it. I’ve been too busy with CIF, and I haven’t been very involved in the process.” By the end of this school year, the administration hopes to have found a new vice principal and athletic director. “The major piece of advice I would give to my successor is be ready to work hard,” Hart said. “Enjoy the students and be good to the staff; they’re the ones who really make things happen here.”
CALENDAR
May 25, 2012
COMMUNITY MAY 31
The MBMS Spring Choral Concert takes place at MBMS from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
26-28
Fiesta Hermosa takes place in Hermosa Beach from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
JUNE 1 The Mira Costa High School Spring Band Concert takes CONNOR WRIGHT /LA VISTA
City of Stars: Mira Costa’s 2012 Prom theme, “City of Stars”, was released last week. Prom will take place on Saturday June 2 at the California Science Center in L.A. Today is the last day to purchase tickets.
CAMPUS
JUNE
place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the auditorium.
6 Mira Costa’s choir presents its spring concert in the auditorium from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
7 The MBMS Drama Showcase takes place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at MBMS.
2 Prom takes place from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
MAY
9-10 The School of Dance and Music presents “On the
5 Scholar Quiz finals takes place in the auditorium. 6-7 The Blood Drive takes place during school hours in
Dance Floor” at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts center all day.
section of the STAR testing, you must do a make-up.
Fisher Gym. Volunteer to give blood through ASB.
21 Mira Costa Class of 2012 graduates at Waller Stadium
25 Today is the last day of AP late testing.
13-15 Senior finals take place.
from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Grad Nite for seniors only follows at 7 p.m.
28 There is no school today due to Memorial Day.
15 Last day of school for seniors.
25 Summer school for Mira Costa students begins. Class
29 The
19-21 Finals for all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors
25 STAR testing make-ups are today. If you missed any
Scholar Quiz competition begins today during
starts at 8 a.m.
are today. All students will be let out at 12:21 p.m.
lunch.
30 PACE presents its “Every 15 Minutes” assembly in the auditorium during 2nd period.
30 The English Placement Test for CSU students takes place at Mira Costa from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
31 The All Awards Assembly takes place in the audito-
21 Today is the last day of school.
Overheard
“
rium during 2nd period.
Sports
CONNOR WRIGHT/ LA VISTA
ON THE WEB
I’m excited to spend time with my friends and family this summer before I leave for college. -Senior Adeline Allen on her plans for summer vacation
”
www.lavistamchs.com Comedy Sports has started a variety of new matches including a parent match last week and a teacher match Thursday night.
RYAN REEDE/ LA VISTA
TRACK & FIELD AND BOYS VOLLEYBALL DOMINATE IN CIF FINALS
COURTESY OF MCTRACK.SMUGMUG.COM
RYAN REEDE/LA VISTA
Senior Adam Perez competes at Bay League Finals at Redondo Union High School on May 4.
Senior Kevin Inlow celebrates the Mira Costa boys volleyball CIF Championship title after defeating Loyola High School in Game 5 at Cypress College on May 19.
Track & field led Costa to many victories, including 1st place overall in the South Bay Championships on April 20 and 21 at West Torrance. Seniors Kyle Hubbard, Acacia Moore, Dylan Gates, Corbin Gates, and Ashlee Dotson all placed first at the championships at West.
Throughout their season, boys volleyball has traveled near and far for matches and tournaments. Winning CIF quarterfinals against Dana Hills, semifinals against No. 2-seeded Esperanza, and defeating rival Loyola in CIF finals on May 19 at Cypress College, the boys volleyball team has made it extremely far this year. Costa won the first two games in the CIF Finals match and Loyola came back with the next two wins in Game 3 and Game 4. Mira Costa took the CIF Championship title after winning the fifth game, 15-12.
NEWS
May 25, 2012
Grand View receives Green Ribbon Award BY JACK ALLEN STAFF WRITER The United States Department of Education will present Grand View Elementary School of Manhattan Beach Unified School District with the newly-created Green Ribbon Award on June 3 in Washington, D.C. Grand View is now one of the 78 schools in the nation chosen to bear the title of “National Green Ribbon School.” According to the U.S. Department of Education website, the award is given to schools that save costs and energy while maintaining health and providing an environmentallyfriendly education. “To be in the top .0003% of schools is amazing,” Grand View Principal Rhonda Steinberg said. “We are one of the greenest schools in the United States.” According to Steinberg, the push toward becoming “green” started in 2007 when four parents talked to Steinberg about the prospect of teaching students and parents to become environmentally friendly. “They brought big ideas and I helped scale them down to make them workable and reasonable to work in an elementary school setting,” Steinberg said. Much has changed since 2007. The Gators now have instituted 38 programs dedicated to protecting and educating themselves
La Vista
Mira Costa band performs at Spring Percussion Festival BY CAMILLE JUTON STAFF WRITER
NICOLE FISCHER/LA VISTA
GREEN GET THE MONEY: As part of Grand View’s winning efforts to be ecofriendly, students helped plant the Children’s Organic Garden. about the environment. Roughly 80% of Grand View students participate in the “Walking School Bus,” which so far has saved over 22,000 pounds of carbon emissions. The program started as “Walk to School Wednesdays” and has grown into an everyday activity. Another effort to reduce emissions is the “No Idle Zone” for parents picking up their children. If parents are sitting in a place for more than 10 seconds, they must turn off their engine and if someone forgets, there are banners strung up as a reminder.
Some students also participate in Earth Club, which is a group dedicated to preserving Grand View’s campus environment as well as that of the community’s. Every year, a fifth grader is elected as the Grandview student body “Grades of Green” representative in Student Council. “Earth Club greatly helped us become a Green Ribbon school,” Grandview science specialist and Earth Club advisor Tanya Sanchez said. “At Grand View, we are constantly pushing toward environmental progress. We have an extremely motivated group.”
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The Mira Costa Percussion Band performed in the 4th annual Spring Percussion Festival on May 19th in the auditorium. The Spring Percussion Festival served as an opportunity to both practice and to learn new pieces. Joel Carlson, the Costa band director, invited university professors to the festival. “It’s in part performance, in part educational endeavor,” Carlson said. “We are bringing in clinicians to come and listen to our groups and make suggestions about how [band] can play better and more expressively.” Costa percussion players performed a variety of styles of percussion music at the festival. “The percussion studio concert
is a great show featuring the percussionists,” percussionist Ben Schwartz said. “It showcases their hard work put in after regular concert bands and school.” Band students played both traditional and contemporary songs at the festival. “Some pieces are more fun and lively,” Carlson said. “There’s one that’s centered around playing on balloons and the different sounds you can get out of balloons.” The Spring Percussion Festival was a way for the Percussion Studio to show its growth since the beginning of the year. “The concert went really well, but it was more like a percussion ensemble concert this year than in previous years, when I feel like we were more focused on fun and entertainment,” junior percussionist Zack Thomasson said.
EMMA SALZMAN/LA VISTA
BEAT IT: Mira Costa sophomore James Gillespie practices for the annual Spring Percussion Fesitival, which took place May 19 in the auditorium.
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NEWS
La Vista
May 25, 2012
PACE holds assembly on eating disorders, body image BY ALEX WYCKOFF STAFF WRITER
EMMA SALZMAN/ LA VISTA
PROM-A-RAMA: Junior ASB members Rachel Humphrey and Dillon Shambaugh (right) put finishing touches on the “City of Stars”-themed prom tickets. The Mira Costa prom will take place on June 2 at the California Science Center.
Associated Student Body prepares for Prom BY ARI GEVOV STAFF WRITER
that ASB hires for its service, is helping it plan for prom. The group has various responsibilities Mira Costa’s Associated Stu- such as contacting the photogradent Body has been preparing for phy company. Prom, which is going to be held “The event planners help us on June 2 at the California Sci- form our vision for Prom,” Humence Center from 7:30 to 11:30 phrey said. “They are an amazing p.m. group that helps execute what we The theme for this year’s prom wish to implement at Prom.” was announced on May 4 as “City Each place that Prom is held is of Stars.” selected two years in advance. A “After we went to visit the site group of students over the suma second time, we showed pic- mer visit six different venues tures and described the venue to with the event planner. After the everyone at an ASB meeting,” tour, the students make a decision Secretary/Treasurer junior Rahje about the venue. Branch said. “We then brain“Right now we already have stormed ideas and voted on the selected the venue for Prom theme.” 2013,” Activities Director Lisa Junior President Rachel Hum- Claypoole said. “It is going to be phrey, Vice President Natalie a great venue this year, though.” Pratt and Branch are in charge of ASB is trying to maintain most planning this year’s Prom. Event Prom traditions while adding new Group, an independent company ones. One junior boy and girl will
Costa’s People Attaining Complete Equality class held an assembly on May 4 that focused on eating disorders and self confidence. The assembly included two psychiatrist guest speakers that talked about the mentality behind eating disorders and exercise addiction as well as the motivations behind starting these habits. “We know a lot of people with eating disorders, and a lot of guys who exercise too much, so we thought it should be addressed at Costa,” PACE member junior Emily Roese said. The assembly included information not just on eating disorders, but on exercise. It stressed ideas like an individual feeling
the unquestionable need to work out every single day being unhealthy as well. “There’ is a very fine line between a person who likes going every day to work out and a person who needs to go every day to work out,” PACE adviser Dr. Rocky Wilson said. “The person who needs to can’t miss a day, even for a special occasion, or for studying. If you have to go to the gym every day, and you don’t feel right if you don’t go, then there’s a problem.” There will be one more PACE assembly this school year, and it will be a drug panel which will be held in the cafeteria in June. “This was an important assembly,” Roese said. “Students should watch their eating habits and also be more careful about their health.”
be named the Duke and Duchess along with the senior King and senior Queen. “This is a fun new idea we are implementing,” Humphrey said. “If it proves to be popular it will be a new tradition. It is a great way to have juniors involved.” On May 7, senior English classes nominated the King and Queen candidates. ASB then chose six boys and six girls from the nominations made by the English classes and will announce the 12 candidates today. Costa students will then vote for Prom king and queen, and at Prom the winners will be announced. “We did this last year and it was a fun way to give people time to see who is on prom court and get more people involved once CONNOR WRIGHT/ LA VISTA they arrive,” Humphrey said. “ASB can’t wait to see how much FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Costa students listen to various speakers discuss the fun prom will be this year.” harmful effects of eating disorders and over exercising.
Costa takes part in staff appreciation week BY ALEX WHITE STAFF WRITER
CLAIRE KEIFER/ LA VISTA
THEY’VE GOT MUN-AY IN THE BANK: (from left) MUN students Connor Kernochan, Braden Casady and Jack Rosenberg prepare for the May 18-20 conference at University of California, Davis.
MUN attends conference at UC Davis BY ANGELINA VOLUCCI STAFF WRITER
“We had impressive performances by freshmen and solid leadership by juniors,” MUN Co-Advisor Wayne Knutson said. Mira Costa Model United Nations mem- “This conference punctuated an outstandbers competed at the UC Davis MUN High ing year for Costa MUN.” School Conference from May 18-20 at the Although Davis is the last conferences of University of California, Davis and contin- the year, preparations have been made for ued planning for the 2012-13 school year. trips for the 2012-13 school year. Forty-five Costa freshmen, sophomores Some of the travel trips include conferand juniors were invited to compete at this ences in New York and San Francisco and intermediate travel conference. Mira Cos- others at UC Berkeley, University of Pennta received five gavels, or Best Delegate sylvania and Brown University. awards; four Outstanding awards; nine “We have already begun building the Commendation awards and eight Research Brown team for the next school year,” awards at the conference. MUN Co-Advisor Bob Timberlake said. “It was fantastic to have [junior] Jack “Like with Davis, students were selected [Rosenberg] as a partner to work with and based on high performance, exercises and help put me through my paces,” double excellent class work.” delegate security council junior Monique Timberlake and Knutson sent applicaRohrbach said. “It was rewarding to come tions to compete at specific conferences out on top of what is traditionally the most early this spring, as preparations are typicompetitive committee.” cally a year ahead. Preparations for this event began in early “The bottom line is that we’re there to April, involving extensive research of as- debate against the very best schools; it’s a signed topics such as rights of indigenous way of judging ourselves as a team,” Timpeople and rights of convicted terrorists. berlake said.
Mira Costa’s staff was honored for its hard work and dedication with several staff events over the last few weeks. Breakfast, lunch and gifts were given to the staff the week of April 30. Furthermore, the Manhattan Beach Unified School District Board of Trustees designated May 9 as Day of the Teacher. “ASB decided to take an active role in teacher appreciation and it was a success,” ASB member Jill Thompson said. “We’re happy showing teachers we care.” The MBUSD joined with other school districts statewide in the initiative for the California Day of the Teacher. With approval on May 2, the Board officially recognized the vital role that teachers play in the students’ educational process. The teachers were enthusiastic about the appreciation that was shown to them.
Costa math teacher and MBUSD Teacher of the Year Linda Gesualdi believes there has been a beneficial relationship between students and teachers at Costa. “Students show appreciation the whole year, making work great,” said Gesualdi. ASB’s efforts included cookies and other small tokens of appreciation for the teachers. While no single Student Government member was in charge of the orchestration, all members helped the effort to honor the teachers. “We made sure teachers have something to look forward to each day,” junior ASB commissioner Morgan Thaler said. As always, the administration, in coordination with the MBUSD Parent Teacher Association, held an honorary breakfast on May 2 before school. Costa Principal Ben Dale thought the event was a success. “We went all out this year,” Dale said. “That said, nothing we do can ever be enough thanks for our great teachers.”
CARINA GLASSER/ LA VISTA
Knock Knock Comedy Sportz members (from left) Matt Phillips, Ari Howorth, Zack Gill, Matt McElroy and Eli Rivas in Improv club prepare for the Comedy Sportz Parent Match.
OPINION
May 25, 2012
La Vista
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Same sex marriage legalization will prove to be beneficial BY DANNY KELLEHER EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR Gay marriage should undoubtedly be legalized, and North Carolina’s recent passage of an amendment banning gay marriage to its state constitution only accentuates Americans’ need for rationality on the issue. President Obama made a strong step in the right direction by publicly declaring his support for same-sex marriage two weeks ago, and more Americans should follow suit in coming years. An argument used by opponents of same-sex marriage is that the endorsement of marriage between a man and a man, or a woman and a woman, contradicts the Bible, along with many other religious doctrines. The essence of this claim is constitutionally irrelevant, as gay marriage is backed by United States law. The forefathers of the United States established a secular na-
tion. Separation of church and state is a principle that has been laid into the legal core of the nation since its founding. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, as stated by the Declaration of Independence, are “natural rights” to which all Americans are entitled. When people base their opposition to gay marriage around the Bible’s teachings, they are neglecting the fact that the Bible has absolutely no standing in American law. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 1974’s Cleveland Board of Education v. LaFleur further justifies the legalization of gay marriage. In it, the court declared that “freedom of personal choice in matters of marriage and family life is one of the liberties protected by the Due Process Clause.” Under these legal parameters, states have no right to prohibit
JACKSON CASADY/ LA VISTA
gay marriage, as it is a fundamental right granted by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The other popular claim that opponents to the legalization of
gay marriage tend to derive their arguments from is the idea that the “Institution of Marriage” has remained unchanged and strong, and by opening marriage up to same-sex couples, American traditional values will become weaker. However, this too is a baseless claim. Similar statements were made about the institution of slavery and Jim Crow laws. The United States was founded more than 225 years ago, and breaking traditional trends is a complete necessity for a progressive society to flourish. The legal rights mandated to same-sex couples by the American legal code are not the only incentives present for the legalization of gay marriage, however. There are also some economic advantages. The New York City Comptroller found a clear financial motive for legalization, estimating the
state’s recent passage of legislation would over the next three years bring $142 million to New York City’s economy and $184 million to New York State’s economy. Similar effects could apply to legalization nationwide. On top of all this, there is undoubtedly a moral responsibility to support gay marriage. Seeing past the homophobia, traditionalism and fundamentalism, America is a nation based around equality and fair treatment for all, and by opposing gay marriage, many men and women are limited from fully pursuing and achieving happiness. When the moral, legal and financial motives for same-sex marriage’s legalization are examined, it is undeniably clear that states are not justified in banning same sex marriage. The Constitution and Supreme Court law permit it, and legalization would actually create tangible economic benefits.
STAR test should stay separate from transcripts that Costa students are getting a good education. The best option would be to allow students to add a suppleRecently, there have been disment to their application with cussions of putting STAR Test restate standardized testing scores. sults on California’s high school This way, students could include students’ transcripts for colleges scores that would benefit them to look at. As scores would only and prevent unimpressive reports be useful to a small number of from being sent to prospective California universities, mandating universities. Many unithem on transcripts would be There are already numerous bench- versities don’t require unnecessary and illogical. Having another score on a marks for standardized testing, and re- applicants to submit all SAT or ACT scores, and student’s transcript is unnec- quiring another exam is not needed. STAR scores should be essary because the students Mira Costa Principal Dr. Ben treated similarly. are required to take the SAT o r Furthermore, since the STAR ACT for admission to most uni- Dale and other proponents believe that the scores should be scores are relevant only to Caliversities anyway. The STAR testing scores, which on the transcript because they are fornia public schools, the test evaluate how well schools are part of the students’ academic per- scores for individual students teaching students, directly effect formance. But, there are already would be an irrelevant and pothe Academic Performance Index numerous benchmarks for stan- tentially harmful addition to trantotal. Costa’s score is 911 out of dardized testing, and requiring scripts sent out of state. Costa administrators must take 1000, which makes them the 3rd another exam is not needed. State highest-ranking high school in standardized tests are meant to the “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix evaluate schools and their perfor- it” approach to this issue. Costa the state of California. prides itself on consistently high According to College and Ca- mance, not individual students. Costa does add the API score API scores, high university mareer Center Counselor Gail Currey, if STAR test scores were put to students transcripts to show the triculation rates and successful on transcripts, the only colleges high performance level that the graduates, which results not from that would be considering scores school possesses. Since Costa’s an increased stress on test scores, would be California State Univer- API score is so high, that should but rather from the exemplary edbe enough to convince colleges ucation environment at Costa. sity schools. BY ARIANA GEVOV STAFF WRITER
California’s state standardized testing system is one of fifty different exams, unlike nationallyrecognized tests like the SAT, ACT and AP exams. This uniformity is what validates these scores in admissions officers’ eyes, and a single state test would only represent an arbitrary number to a majority of universities.
Top Ten things you told yourself that you would do after AP tests 10. Get through your Netflix queue. 9. Read books about the things you liked in US history. 8. Watch the extended cuts of all the Lord of the Rings in one sitting. Who were you kidding? 7. Get ready to take Microeconomics 101 in college next year. 6. Use that gym membership that you haven’t used since your New Years. It’s a good time of the year to lie to yourself again. 5. Spend less time at Coffee Bean. Those Mocha Ice Blendeds add up after a while. 4. Start your college applications. Heck if there is one thing you shouldn’t procrastinate on, it’s those. 3. Finding a job. Who knows, maybe you could do something productive over summer. 2. Watch every episode and read all of “Game of Thrones.” 1. Graduate. Really. That’s important. ALEC LAUTANEN, MICHAEL POWELL AND MAGGIE ROBAK/OPINION EDITORS DANNY KELLEHER/EXECUTIVE NEWS EDITOR
Application process for standardized testing accommodations needs reform BY ANGELINA VOLLUCCI ASSISTANT CIRCULATION EDITOR
mine eligibility include a profes- any family to bear in order to as- and students. sional diagnosis of the disability; sure that a student is given an opIn addition, disparity in requireevaluation or diagnostic testing; portunity to test on a “level play- ments impose substantial costs In an attempt to prevent cheat- relevant educational, medical ing field.” and time-consuming re-evaluaing on the SAT, ACT and Ad- and developmental history; tions on some students and vanced Placement exams, College comprehensive descriptions The application process for accom- their families and is inherBoard and ACT have developed of the techniques used to modations on the College Board ex- ently discriminatory. strict requirements to receive ac- arrive at the diagnosis and ams has become strenuous and costly The College Board and commodations such as extended functional limitations of the ACT have recognized that time. disability. However, the testing and docu- accommodations such as extendThe application process for The specific documentation mentation required to obtain a ed time may be abused by those accommodations has become that supports a student’s request 504/IEP Plan, which are used by seeking an unfair advantage. strenuous and costly to the extent for accommodations depends on public schools to determine class Therefore, it is logical to make that it discourages qualified ap- the student’s disability and the accommodations, is a much more the process to obtain accommoplicants from applying and penal- accommodation being requested; efficient process and much bet- dations more difficult to prevent izes those who are not financially however most require a neurop- ter than the rigourous procedure this. able to provide the voluminous sychological evaluation, which College Board requires. ApplyThese problems could be cordocumentation required. can cost from $3,000 to $6,000. ing for accommodations for both rected by a government mandate The current College Board and Whether one is affluent or not, public schools and testing is re- that a fully documented current ACT general guidelines to deter- this cost is an undue burden for dundant and punitive for families 504/IEP Plan translates and au-
tomatically qualifies a student for accommodations needed on the SAT, ACT, PSAT and AP Exams. Those attempting to obtain accommodations dishonestly would be discouraged, as the 504/IEP process is rigorous enough to prevent fraud without making the procedure for aid too complicated for needy students. The current application process for accommodations on College Board and the ACT exams places unfair burdens on students with true disabilities to have to prove their right to a reasonable accommodation for their disabilities – unfairly penalizing the very people whom the accommodations are intended to help.
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Religion at Costa COMPILED BY DUNCAN GREGORY, JAKE MAHR AND EMMA ROSENBAUM/THEME EDITORS AND RICK ALVES/PHOTOGRAPHER
On a Global Scale Christianity - 33% Mostly Roman Catholic Mostly Protestant Mostly Eastern Orthodox Islam - 21% Sunni Shia Other Hinduism - 14%
6%
Judaism - .22% Buddhism Shinto and Buddhism
*13.78% of the population is nonreligious
Chinese Religions - 6% 6%
Traditional and Tribal Tribal and Christian Tribal, Christian and Muslim
La Vista sits down with practicing students “Religion has never played an important role in my life. For me, the idea of a higher being is very obscure and unrealistic, but I think it is fine for others to follow their own religions.”
Nkki Bordokas Atheist
“Being Hindu doesn’t really differentiate me from the student body as much as people would think. I do enjoy my religion, but I do not think it completely interferes with my school life.”
Abha Nath Hindu
“As a Muslim, I am aware of the different cultural values that exist in Mira Costa, but I’ve never really felt that different to those around me.”
Salman Latif Muslim
“Costa is a very nondenominational school in terms of demographics and, while I find myself disagreeing with a vast majority of students, religious and atheist, I acknowledge that the school does a nice job of promoting a tolerant environment.” Jon Park Baptist
A7
Mira Costa: the melting pot of religion Most students are aware that the Costa campus hosts a wide variety of students with different passions, personalities and goals. The religious affiliations of Costa students vary equally as much. In a La Vista survey of 400 students, two of the most obvious prominent religions found on campus were the different Christian sects and Judaism. “Most students on campus seem to be either Christian or Jewish,” junior Nikki Bordokas said, “But religion doesn’t seem to play a huge part in most students’ lives.” The poll also revealed that there are many students who are affiliated with less popular religions such as Hinduism or Islam. While the school population may be smaller than that of Christianity or Judaism, Hinduism and Islam are still ranked in the top five most prominent religions of the world according to the 2005 CIA World Factbook. “Although Christianity and Judaism are very prevelant on campus,” junior Abha Nath said, “it is still not very difficult to find someone of a less practiced religion.” Considering the statistics of Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach residents, Costa students also have a surprisingly large population of atheists. 10.6% of students consider themselves atheists, while the total statistics for Manhattan Beach claim that most Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach residents are affiliated with some religion or another. “I know a few atheist people who are not sure what to believe in,” junior Meghan Riordon said. Atheism is not the only opinion where students claimed a disconnect between their beliefs and their parents.’ 30% of students polled said that they practice a different religion than their parents. “Religion is comforting, but it also provides society with a measure of discipline and culture, so I understand how religion is so necessary,” senior Jon Park said. While there are several different religions all throughout Costa, the question of how much influence they hold on campus is answered with ambiguity. During the Pledge of Allegiance, many students say the words “under God,” but
many wonder whether this is pressure to believe in God. “The pledge is not a religious expression,” history teacher Andrew Caine said, “but a showing of allegiance to our country.” In the United States, separation of church and state are well known and upheld thoroughly in all public schools. But Costa students continue to study biblical literature in their sophomore English classes. While this is merely a study of the bible’s literary value in the modern world, many students wonder at how appropriate such subject matter is to teach in public schools. “It is valuable for students to understand how art in our culture from literature to film has been impacted by the bible,” sophomore bible literature teacher Wendy Thornton said. Next year, bible literature will also be offered as an English seminar for seniors. The class will be taught by Eng-
lish teacherDavid Piorek. “I go to church and I think it will be really interesting to see how the bible is taught from a non-religious point of view,” junior Maurice Welch said. The controversy over religion in public schools, including Costa, is that of disrupting the learning experience, including religious practices. “I think that students’ religious practices have very little impact on the learning experience at Costa,” junior Brady Stroyke said. While religion is consistently controversial, Costa still boasts a wide variety of religions along with an accepting atmosphere, so claim several students. “I have a lot of friends from a lot of different religious backgrounds,” junior Rachel Humphrey said, “It’s great to see such a diverse atmosphere.”
RICK ALVES/LA VISTA
RELIGION IN PRACTICE: Jewish Cultural Club, just one of the many religious clubs on campus, meets every Tuesday. They are frequently joined by a rabbi, and they meet in order to discuss Jewish politics and holidays.
-7 %
0.6 -1 ist Ath e
- 8%
Mo rm
on
%
Protestant - 2%
Anglican - 1%
ostic
“I’m not the best Catholic when it comes to practicing my faith religiously and strictly, but when it comes to my beliefs and morals, I couldn’t feel more strongly about my faith and God. My faith means the world to me, and I was brought up to be proud of it and live by it.”
Agn
Religion Distribution at Mira Costa
Catholic - 18.9% Jewish - 17%
Lut
her
.5%
8%
-5 sm
er Oth
%
-7
hi
n
ria
dd
te by
Bu
7%
es
st - 6%
“I don’t find my religion to be that relevant in my daily life here at Costa, but it is something that is important to me. Costa is simply an accepting enough place for my being Jewish to not make any difference whatsoever. It is something I greatly appreciate.”
an -
Pr
Bapti
Emily Mollinedo Catholic
Hindu - 2% Do you practice the same religion as your parents? Yes - 70%
No - 30%
In your opinion, how strong is the presence of religion at Costa? Moderate - 24%
Low - 43%
Very Low- 32%
Strong - 1% Do religious practices impede the learning process at Costa?
Nicole Rosen Jewish
No - 14% *Based on a random survey of 460 students at Mira Costa High School on May 2
Yes - 86%
A8 La Vista
OPINION
May 25, 2012
EDITORS’ NOTES
Into the depths of the darkness on the edge of town BY ZACK ROSENFELD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MIRA COSTA HIGH SCHOOL 1401 ARTESIA BOULEVARD MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIFORNIA (310) 318-7330
For those who can’t bear to hear another one of my nostalgic rants, here is the last. From the days of running around in my “Winnie the Pooh” shirts and watching endless amounts of cartoons, to driving around town and morning shaves, the last 18 years have been memorable. It’s tough to accept after today I will be walking away from the place that provided so many great memories and inspirational colleagues along the way. It has not only been a privilege, but also an honor to work with everyone on this staff. Although many things have changed, there has been one main constant throughout my life: Bruce Springsteen. Yes, those of you who know me well are probably letting out a sigh, but from the time I was a little kid hearing “Born to Run” resonating throughout my house to attending the Sports Arena last month to see the Boss live, Springsteen has stayed with me. My case of “Brucitis” started when I was a toddler and my parents would play Bruce
MAY 25, 2012 VOLUME LXII, ISSUE 9 LAVISTAMCHS.COM EDITORS-IN-CHIEF KYLE ALLEN ZACK ROSENFELD MANAGING WEB EDITOR KATIE BARGER MANAGING EDITOR ROBIN JANOTTA COPY EDITOR ERIC ZHENG NEWS EDITORS DANNY KELLEHER, EXECUTIVE JOANI GILLAM AVA KLEIN OPINION EDITORS ALEC LAUTANEN, EXECUTIVE MICHAEL POWELL MAGGIE ROBAK ARTS EDITORS HANNA MCGUIRE, EXECUTIVE DYLAN FAIR ZACK GILL LIFE EDITORS ALEX PARDUCCI, EXECUTIVE ERICA SCHNEIDER
BY KYLE ALLEN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
SPORTS EDITORS ZANE FRANKLIN, EXECUTIVE RYAN ERICKSON REGAN ESTES RYAN FRANKLIN CALENDAR EDITOR LOGAN SCHLOSSBERG PHOTO MANAGER CONNOR WRIGHT PHOTO EDITOR LELAND LESNEVER BUSINESS MANAGER JEROME REDMAN ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGERS NICK BLOCK SYMPHANIE ROSARIO CIRCULATION EDITOR JESSICA WU ARTISTS JACKSON CASADY RAMIE LANDIS ASSISTANT CIRCULATION EDITOR ANGELINA VOLLUCCI ADVISER MICHAEL MCAVIN STAFF WRITERS JACK ALLEN, KATIE BROWN, ARIANA GEVOV, REBECCA HEXT, JULIANA HOFT, ARI HOWORTH, CAMILLE JUTON, KYLE KHATCHADOURIAN, ELIZABETH KNEISLEY, EMILY LOCKWOOD, MICHELLE MCKENNA, CARLY MONTAN, AMANDA NEWELL, HANNAH PROCTOR, RISHA ROHERA ISAAC SIEGEMUND-BROKA, TAYLOR ST. GERMAIN CASEY SUBLETTE, ALEX WHITE, ALEX WYCOFF PHOTOGRAPHERS KATIE BELKNAP, NICOLE FISHER, CARINA GLASSER, JESSICA HANLEY, CLAIRE KEIFER, EMMA SALZMAN, SEKINAT SHIWOKU EDITORIAL BOARD KYLE ALLEN, JOANI GILLAM, ROBIN JANOTTA, DANNY KELLEHER, AVA KLEIN, ALEC LAUTANEN, MICHAEL POWELL, MAGGIE ROBAK, ZACK ROSENFELD, ERIC ZHENG DISCLAIMER: LA VISTA IS THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MIRA COSTA HIGH SCHOOL, SERVING 2,700 STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-12. CONTENT, WHICH IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LA VISTA STAFF, IS NOT SUBJECT TO ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL. UNSIGNED EDITORIALS REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF THE NEWSPAPER, WHILE OPINION COLUMNS REPRESENT ONLY THE WRITER’S VIEWS. ADVERTISEMENTS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF LA VISTA. LA VISTA PUBLISHES 10 ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR ON A TRI-WEEKLY BASIS AND DISTRIBUTES 3,000 COPIES TO BOTH MIRA COSTA CLASSROOMS AND SUBSCRIBERS. LA VISTA IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLUMBIA SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION AND WELCOMES SIGNED LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ON TOPICAL ISSUES FROM THE MCHS COMMUNITY. THEY MAY BE MAILED TO MICHAEL MCAVIN IN THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING MAILBOX OR SENT TO LAVISTAOPINION@GMAIL.COM. LETTERS MAY BE EDITED FOR LENGTH AND CLARITY. PLEASE CONTACT LAVISTAMEDIA@GMAIL.COM FOR ANY ISSUES REGARDING CORRECTIONS. FOR AD RATES, CONTACT LAVISTABUSINESS@GMAIL.COM
PROVIDING
ONLY
THE
HIGHEST
QUALITY
IS
Then came high school. One could say I was a little kid in the big city coming into Mira Costa. I would walk into the bright lights of room six with ambitions of one day becoming editor-in-chief, but the intimidation of disgusting floors and photoshopped faces was pretty intense. It was after my junior year when I began
to mature and listened to more than just the sounds of Springsteen’s music. From influential conversations with my dad and enlightening lectures from Bob Fish and Pam Jenning, I began to understand thematic concepts better, especially in music. At the same time, making this transition from childhood to adulthood isn’t easy. For me, this transition is like stepping into a dark room. Before someone turns on the lights I don’t know what to expect. In the past couple months I’ve been struggling with this fact of life until I came across “Darkness on the Edge of Town.” “Darkness” is a song about transitions in life while maintaining the values attained in your hometown, explains “darkness” as a symbol for uncertainty and the unknown and the idea of the “edge of town” being the values attained from growing up. As I step into this proverbial darkness, I thank you not because of the great memories we had in the depths of the night in room six or hanging out at the beach in the blazing heat. I thank you because I now I have the tools needed due to those who have made an impact on my life.
Use Costa to find what makes you tick, and who you are
THEME EDITORS DUNCAN GREGORY, EXECUTIVE JAKE MAHR EMMA ROSENBAUM
MISSION STATEMENT: LA VISTA
though out the house. For me, it was just loud rock and roll at a time when life was simple. Go to school, draw some pictures, watch cartoons and then fall asleep with the assurance that Mommy and Daddy were keeping the monsters away at night.
COMMITTED
REPORTING
TO
WHILE
MAINTAINING A STRICT STANDARD OF JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY AND PROVIDING ITS READERS WITH RELEVANT CONTENT.
I found that place when Duncan Gregory (now our executive theme editor and that guy with an uncanny ability to make any audience laugh) dragged me to a La Vista story conference I was way too shy to attend on my own.
seemed to want me to succeed, so I kept writing stories and spending time in Room 6 during lunch. You’ve spent freshman year exploring I found myself drawn to the intellectual what Mira Costa has to offer. You’ve made drive of both the people on La Vista and new friends and grown away from some those who simply spent time in Room 6 for old friends. You’ve taken new classes and fun. It was something exciting and new, tried your hand at exciting extracurricular and the staff had an undeniable character activities and sports. that anyone who’s ever stepped inside La Most everyone will tell you to find Vista has experienced. something you love doing and stick with it. Some people found their calling in ModThere is a pressure to find that one elective el UN, Student Government, music, art, or or that one sport to show commitment to community service. Some found it in acafor all four years of high school. demics. Success in high school is marked Everyone wants to find a place to benot by a perfect GPA, popularity, a CIF long and a place to feel at home. Some of championship or getting to put “Editor-inus (like myself) were lucky enough to find Chief” on your brag sheet. that place early on in high school, others Success in high school is graduating with took longer. the knowledge of who you are. I will look As a freshman, I was in search of someI wish I could say I knew how much I back on my experience at Mira Costa with thing to belong to, somewhere to feel at would come to love La Vista on that day, satisfaction, knowing that my time spent home at Mira Costa. My group of friends but like all good things, it took time. There both in and out of the classroom taught me from middle school didn’t feel the same, were periods of uncertainty and worry more about myself than I could have imagand while I had spent an entire summer and where I wasn’t sure if I would find a place ined in the fall of 2008. This knowledge is fall season playing water polo, I was still that felt like home. invaluable, and will allow you to face any searching for something more. But, the people were friendly, and they challenge that will cross your path.
STAFF EDITORIAL
District iPad program is not focused on cost, utility The district began the iPad pilot pro- Middle School, they hope to have a “one to gram this year in order to test the efficacy one” program where every student has an of iPads in the classroom. The Manhattan iPad. Dale states that Costa will adopt an Beach Unified School District has provid- optional “bring your own device” policy. ed a class set of iPads to a few select teachAt MBMS, students can either lease or ers across the district to test this potentially receive an iPad from the district. Students expensive new technology. who lease one will eventually own their During a time of budget cuts and finan- iPad, while students who receive a free one cial uncertainty, the district should not be will return it at the end of the school year. trying to pilot a new, costly technology program that has not been proven Over five years, the cost of a digital texteffective. Instead of pursuing an un- book will be roughly the same as a tested and costly program, the district traditional textbook. should attempt to find less costly ways to improve technology. The appeal of iPads in many districts is The Manhattan Beach Unified Teachers that iPads can replace the use of textbooks. Association has recently stated its opposi- However, iPad textbooks are much more tion to this program. According to Costa expensive than traditional textbooks now social studies teacher and MBUTA nego- as textbook manufacturers have to charge tiating team chairperson Adam Geczi, if a yearly fee for textbook use. But, over five there is money for an expensive technol- years, the cost of a digital textbook will be ogy program, it should be spent on teacher roughly the same as a traditional textbook. salary adjustments. iPads are expensive and limited in their According to Costa Principal Dr. Ben functionality. Instead of using grants to Dale, the district will attempt to further im- fund this program, the district should implement the iPads. At the Manhattan Beach prove computers on campus and provide
teachers who wish to use iPads with the iPads directly, instead of a sweeping one to one program. Although iPads may prove to be effective, there are many other improvements that should be made to technology at Costa. Many of Costa’s computers run very outdated programs. This outdated technology does not have the processor power, memory and speed that is need for modern programs. This would be a more effective use of money, as it would be more cost effective than implementing a “one on one” iPad program. Having an up-to-date system of computers is essential for students and teachers to be able to perform their jobs to the best of their ability. Also, the wireless network available to students at Costa has not yet been completed. This may not render the iPad useless, but it severely limits the usable programs. The iPad program lacks necessity and a focus on efficiency. These flaws coupled with unrealistic expectations make for a costly, ineffective and wasteful program.
OPINION
May 25, 2012
La Vista
A9
PRO/CON
Are prerequisites needed for AP, honors classes? PRO:
Prerequisites prevent student failure
CON:
Flexibility is needed, not restrictive rules
BY ALEX WHITE STAFF WRITER
drop classes. If every student is allowed BY ALEX WYCOFF these classes and allow unfit students into to take on a load of as many advanced STAFF WRITER the class. classes as he or she pleases, the number However, the prerequisites could be Prerequisites for AP and honors classes of students dropping is sure to increase. The Manhattan Beach Unified School changed to be based solely on a GPA reare completely necessary requirements for Furthermore, students in AP and honors District is currently considering lower- quirement for all classes. Costa’s 2012-13 difficult courses designed to ensure stu- classes need more individualized attention ing prerequisites for entry into Advanced course handbook describes an appropriate dents have the knowledge and skills to be from teachers. Teachers shouldn’t have to Placement and honors classes. Lowering AP level student as self-motivating, orgasuccessful in a class before taking it. Mira spend their time giving attention to stu- these requirements for entry is a necessary nized and with high academic achievement Costa’s policy on the issue is the best so- dents who will drop the course anyway. action which will bolster Costa’s commit- and intellectual ability. A high GPA would lution for this situation, and a looser apOpponents of prerequisites claim that ment to high quality advanced placement certainly reflect these qualities. proach would hurt the current system. Costa could also add an entrance exam all students should have the opportunity to programs. Prerequisites are meant to prohibit stu- take as many advanced classes Entry into an AP class usually requires that students must pass in order to enter the dents at Costa who are not fit to take a high as they please. However, no a certain prerequisite course of the same class. A passing score would allow a stulevel courses from enrolling in them. These student at Costa is barred subject as well as a particular grade in dent to take the class. rigourous classes require that students from taking an AP class;; that class. A look at the 2012-13 class handbook have certain important skills as well as all they have to do is These requirements should be shows that numerous AP courses just like prior knowledge about the subject, both of succeed in school to more lax. Not all students can AP statistics require an unweighted 3.0 which are needed from the first day of the prove they can hanmake it into an AP class GPA. However, some students that have a course. Those students who have not met dle AP classes. It that they might be GPA of 3.4 or higher have been unable to the prerequisites are not sufficiently pre- is very rare for able to excel in take the class due to a few poor grades, even pared for the class and, therefore, should a student to because they though they’ve earned high marks in prior not be let into the class. do not meet math classes. Low grades in courses comnot do well The prerequisites for the AP European in a CP the require- pletely unrelated to AP classes shouldn’t history class are a good example of the ne- class, but ments. Some limit students from enrolling. cessity of students’ training prior to enter- thrive in students are For example, AP European history, ing the course. The requirements are an A an AP class simply bet- which is one of the first AP classes that stuin English 1-2 or a B in Advanced English of the same ter or worse dents can take, requires an A in English 1-2. 1-2. AP Euro requires a high writing level s u b j e c t ;; at different However, AP European history is a history that would earn a student an A in a CP class when this subjects. and social studies class and is a different or a B in a more advanced one. Those who is the case, The AP type of learning experience from English. lack the requirements are disadvantaged w a i v e r s statistics Some students who would excel in a hisand behind on information from the very are availc o u r s e , tory class never get their chance because first day. for ex- they are less advanced in English than they able. But this isn’t to say the so-called “mida m p l e , are in social sciences. Two of dle student” should be barred from taking the most requires an Furthermore, the lowering of class reany advanced classes. Not all students can i m p o r t a n t unweighted quirements would allow more students to handle a full schedule of advanced class, keys to success in 3.0 GPA, and a B in take AP classes. This would, therefore, inJACKSON CASADY/ LA VISTA but if students feel they will excel in cer- an AP class are a strong Algebra 3-4. This course has crease the academic prestige of Costa. tain subjects, they should be encouraged to work ethic and organization. been described by AP statistics teacher It would be counter-productive to comtake them. Mira Costa’s waiver system al- If students don’t have the study skills to Daniel Debevec as a course which utilizes pletely eliminate prerequisites. Eliminating ready allows get the necessary grades a great amount of reading, writing and ana- the requirements would allow many unfor students Those students who have not met in the prerequisite cours- lytical skills. qualified students to take a class that they who are actu- the prerequisites are not suffi- es, they are probably not F u r t h e r m o r e , are unprepared for. ally qualified fit to take more advanced some students who AP Requirements should be more The requirements ciently prepared for the class and, and passionclasses simply because might excel at a lax. Not all students can make it should simply be ate to avoid therefore, should not be let into the they will be unprepared. certain course may into an AP class that they might be lowered to accomprerequisites class. At the same time, not be able to take able to excel in because they do not modate a larger that they may number of students, more is required of an it simply because meet the requirements. have trouble meeting. This looser system AP student than just a good work eithic. they were not able without opening the currently works well. classes up to all Costa students. An AP student must have a strong grasp to take some of the prerequisite classes. Eliminating prerequisites altogether of the subject;; therefore, a simple GPA reSome people who oppose liberalizing the Changing the requirements of the AP would create a nightmare for administrators quirement is not sufficient. prerequisites might argue that the inability classes to make it easier to get into them and teachers alike because of the increased Mira Costa adopted prerequisites for AP of students to meet the requirements means would allow increased flexibility for some number of scheduling changes. Even with and honors classes for a reason, and the that they are not fit for the class. They may of the capable students who simply did not the current standard of AP commitment problems they eliminated then would still also say that lessening requirements for an have the opportunity to excel in a more difforms, students are still finding ways to plague us today if they were repealed. AP class would lead to overcrowding in ficult class.
ROVING REPORTER
Are Advanced Placement prerequisites fair to all students?
PHOTOS BY SEKINAT SHIWOKU/ LA VISTA
“Yes, AP classes require a lot of work;; the prerequisites evaluate if you can handle the work of the course.”
“Yes, prerequisites are necessary because it is ultimately up to students to know what they are getting themselves into.”
“No, because [prerequisites] don’t allow students to reach their full potential. They hold back students with passion.”
“Yes, because it prepares kids for the AP as well as showing them whether or not they would be successful.”
“I think prerequisites are important, otherwise people would enroll in AP classes for credit and not for the content”
Montana Hunter Junior
Spencer Vale Senior
Valerie Park Art Teacher
Olivia Waldorf Sophomore
Geoffrey St. John Freshman
A10
SPORTS
La Vista
Boys lacrosse loses in second round CIF, finishes season with newfound chemistry BY HANNAH PROCTOR STAFF WRITER Despite ending the season with a losing overall record of 7-8, the Mira Costa boys’ lacrosse team maintained a winning Bay League record of 5-3 and a positive outlook on the overall season after losing to Westlake May 3. Costa had a lead of 5-2 in the beginning of the game against Westlake. The Mustangs appeared to be in control. “I’m really happy with how we started the game,” senior Chris O’Brien said. “We thought we were on the right track since Johnny [Goodlad] was making good saves and we were getting around on offense. It was tough at the end since we kind of got worn-out and Westlake kept scoring.” As the game progressed, Costa began to fall behind but worked hard to not let Westlake take too large of a lead. The game ended with a score of 15-11. “I’m proud that we fought through the whole game and didn’t just roll over when Westlake came back and took the lead,” O’Brien said. “We kept playing hard and scoring and gave them a battle until the last whistle.” Although Costa lost to Westlake in its final playoff game, it
CIF PLAYOFFS BRIEFS Kim places fifth at Victoria, advances to boys golf CIF round four Although the Mira Costa boys golf team has officially ended its season, Senior David Kim is hoping he can keep golfing for the Mustangs for a little longer. On Monday, Kim competed at Victoria Country Club in Riverside in the third round of CIF individual playoffs. In the first two rounds of CIF, Kim soared through with scores of 75 and 68 in the first and 68 in the second. Kim shot a 72 on Monday, placing him fifth overall out of 110 people advancing on to the fourth round on May 31 at Brookside Country Club in Pasadena. “I’ve dedicated my senior year to preparing for next year at Illinois,” Kim said. “Winning state was a goal of mine this year, but I still have a lot of work to do to get in that situation.”
Baseball stumbles in the wildcard round of CIF versus Arlington
CLAIRE KEIFER/ LA VISTA
TEMPLE OF BRO: (From left) Senior captains Alec Weaver, Austin Hafdell, Grant Meersand, Chris O’Brien, and Dakota Randell maintain a positive outlook despite losing in second round CIF to Harvard Westlake on May 3. was able to defeat Harvard Westlake in the first round, 13-8. “I thought we had a pretty good season,” coach Chris Jewett said. “We had a quality win against Harvard Westlake and ended up losing to a really good team.” The team struggled a lot in the beginning of the season in terms of team chemistry that hindered its game. By the end of the season, though, the Mustangs were able to pull together and develop a strong bond. “Overall I wasn’t as happy with the season as I thought I would
be,” senior Dakota Randall said. “I expected us to go further. I do, however, think we developed as a team toward the end of the year and improved our chemistry.” The Mustangs’ goal is to continue to improve and advance farther in CIF next year. “I think based on preseason expectations the season wasn’t so hot, but the finish of the season was good,” O’Brien said. “We’re really glad we won a game in the CIF playoffs and lost in a tough and close game and we didn’t just roll over.”
Boys 4x400 relay squad breaks record in CIF BY ZANE FRANKLIN EXECUTIVE SPORTS EDITOR
May 25, 2012
“Kyle and Acacia will be sorely 6-feet, 3-inches. missed next year,” Calderon said. “I was really proud of Dan’s “They’re great leaders and very performance,” Calderon said. The Mira Costa track team that inspirational for the entire team.” “The amount of growth is phehas received praise all season for Senior Ashlee Dotson also nomenal.” breaking numerous records fin- competed in CIF in the 400-meter This concluded the season for ished strong in CIF by surpassing dash and placed seventh with a the boys, who finished in first in yet another Costa record. time of 58 seconds, concluding Bay League with undfeated reNine individuals from the boys the girls’ season. They were an cords of 9-0 overall and 5-0 in and girls track and field squads overall success, finishing second Bay League. competed in CIF Southern Sec- in Bay League with records of 8-1 “It felt great to end the season tion Division II Finals on May overall and 4-1 in league. on a high note like that,” Hubbard 19 at Mt. San Antonio College. “The girls came a little short of said. Costa left its mark on the meet winning Bay League, but one deWith the track and field seawhen the boys 4x400-meter relay feat is nothing to be ashamed of,” son coming to an end, the Musteam broke the Costa record that Calderon said. tangs’ underclassmen have big was set in 2010 at 3:22.44. In the pole vault, senior Dan shoes to fill after a run filled with “We were really surprised at Golubovic placed fifth overall first-place finishes and broken rethe time we broke the record with 14-feet and 3-inches. Junior cords. with all the other fast runners at Sean Griffin also competed and “Everybody will have to step the meet,” senior Kyle Hubbard had a height of 13-feet and 9-inch- up next year to fill the shoes of all said. “We gave it our all during es. Golubovic also placed fifth in the seniors,” Calderon said. “We the 4x400, and all of our effort re- the high jump with a height of should have another good year.” ally paid off.” The 4x400 team, consisting of Hubbard and seniors Dylan Gates, Corbin Gates, and sophomore Carter Anderson, finished the relay with a time of 3:20.55, the fastest time in Costa history. “The 4x400 performance showed how much our team runs with guts and determination,” coach Roberto Calderon said. “Their competitiveness paid off in the end.” Hubbard also competed individually in the hurdles, placing third overall in the 110-meter with a time of 14.71 seconds and fourth in the 300-meter with 39.06 NICOLE FISCHER/ LA VISTA seconds. Senior Acacia Moore also competed for the girls in the WALKING DOWN A DREAM: (From left) Senior Dylan Gates, sophomore Carter hurdles, placing sixth in the 100- Anderson, and seniors Kyle Hubbard and Corbin Gates strut after breaking the meter with a time of 15.31. 4x400-meter relay record in the CIF Finals at Mt. SAC on May 19.
With a 4-0 loss to Arlington on May 15, the Mustangs baseball team ended the season with an overall record of 18-15 and a Bay League record of 7-3. The Mustangs started the season consistently, hovering around .500 until April when the team went on an eight-game win streak, sweeping Peninsula, West and Leuzinger. Senior Anthony Lombardo pitched three scoreless innings until giving up three runs in the fourth. Junior Gordon Cardenas came in to relieve Lombardo and gave up another run, making the score 4-0 in favor of Arlington.
EMMA SALZMAN/ LA VISTA
BUNT N’ RUN: Senior third baseman Turner Conrad bunts for a hit in Mira Costa baseball’s home game versus Arlington High School on May 15. The Mustangs lost by a score of 4-0 in the wildcard round, ending Costa’s season and putting its record at 18-15 overall and 7-3 in Bay League.
Boys tennis falls to Santa Margarita in first round of CIF playoffs The Mira Costa boys tennis team was eliminated in the first round of the CIF playoffs on May 9 against the Santa Margarita Eagles. The Mustangs fell with a final score of 11-7, making their record 12-9 overall and 4-4 in Bay League. The boys ended up finishing third this season Bay League. Singles player junior Michael Carella won only one set in the Mustangs’ defeat. Freshman Evan Han won two of his sets, but the rest of the singles players could not manage any other victories. The doubles players picked up the pace a little bit but could not get a victory, winning only four sets. Junior Tom Wissel and senior Brian Brothers won two sets. The rest of the doubles pairs won only two sets.
Girls lacrosse comes up short against Palos Verdes in CIF Finals The Mira Costa girls lacrosse team lost in the CIF final game to Palos Verdes on May 10, ending the girls’ season with a seasonal record of 14-7 and a Bay League record of 8-4. The game took place at Redondo Union High School and resulted in Palos Verdes winning, 13-12. Juniors Carly McGuire and Taylor Pool contributed to the team’s strong offense, and defender junior Noelle Claycomb helped tighten the team’s defensive effort against Palos Verdes. “Our season this year has overall been very successful, and it was a great team to be a part of,” Claycomb said.
Girls 4x400 team breaks Costa swimming record in CIF Finals The Mira Costa boys and girls swimming squads finished their season on May 12 in CIF finals at Riverside High School Aquatics. The girls finished their season strong when the 4x400-meter relay team, consisting of juniors Macielle Osterling, Akemi Aiello, Mariel Mitsakos, and senior Natalie Lavinsky, broke a Costa record after placing fifth with a time of 3:39.41. The boys 4x100 team, consisting of junior Eric Agliozzo, seniors Ryan Reede and Jason Rupp, and freshman Ed Geon, had the second fastest Costa time ever with 3:18.36 after finishing 17th overall. Of 59, the girls (4-0) finished 10th while the boys (2-4) were 50th. COMPILED BY RYAN FRANKLIN AND REGAN ESTES/ SPORTS EDITORS, CASEY SUBLETTE AND AMANDA NEWELL/SPORTS WRITERS AND ZANE FRANKLIN/ EXECUTIVE SPORTS EDITOR
TEAM RECORDS Sport Overall Boys Volleyball Baseball Softball Boys Lacrosse Girls Lacrosse Boys Tennis Boys Golf Boys Swimming Girls Swimming Boys Track & Field Girls Track & Field
A11 Softball advances to the CIF quarterfinals after come-from-behind win over Atascadero SPORTS
May 25, 2012
Bay League
Win Loss Tie Win Loss Tie Rank 32 4 - 8 0 - 1 18 15 - 7 3 - 2 24 7 - 8 2 - 2 7 8 - 5 3 - 3 9 5 - 5 2 - 1 12 9 - 4 4 - 3 11 4 - 3 3 - 2 2 4 - 2 4 - 2 4 0 - 4 0 - 2 9 0 - 5 0 - 1 8 1 - 4 1 - 2
TOP PERFORMERS
Keyon Allen (Junior) Baseball Allen had a pair of bunt singles to third base against Bishop Amat High School on May 10 at home.
Natalie Lavinksy (Senior) Swimming Lavinsky swam on the 4x400 team that broke a Mira Costa High School swim record on May 12.
La Vista
BY RYAN ERICKSON SPORTS EDITOR
The Mustang softball team has had clutch performances from many different sources this sea- son. The most recent of these came in the form of clutch hitting in the late innings with junior out- fielder Montana Hunter against Atascadero High School at home on Tuesday in the second round of CIF playoffs. Hunter hit a double that tied up the game in the bottom of the fifth inning and put the Mustangs back in line for a 10-8 victory. Mira Costa’s record moves to 24-7 on the year, and the Mustangs played the number-one team in the CIF- SS tournament, Chino Hills High School, yesterday on the road, but scores were unavailable due to the time of publication. “I was trying to move the run- ners over and get my teammates into scoring position in my at- bat,” Hunter said. “I hit it well Nikki Gialketsis (Junior) and fortunately was able to do my Softball job and help the runners score.” The Mustangs started the game Gialketsis hit two home runs in softball’s CIF win on the road at off strong against Atascadero with senior pitcher Breanna Kelly Highland High on May 17. striking out the first three batters of the game, and in the bottom half of the first, junior outfielder Taylor Glover hit a home run. Junior outfielder Nikki Gialketsis added to the rally with an RBI single to give Costa a 2-0 lead at the end of the first. “This team has done a great job at scoring runs throughout the year,” coach Dick Amberick said. “Our underclassmen have also Carter Anderson (Sophomore) contributed very well overall to Track and Field our team.” In the next two innings, Atasca- Anderson was on the 4x400 track dero battled back, scoring three team that broke a record with a runs on three Costa errors. How- time of 3:20.55 on May 19.
SEKI SHIWOKU/ LA VISTA
WIND IT UP: Senior Breanna Kelly pitches in the Mustangs’ home 10-8 CIF win against Atascadero High on Tuesday. The girls played yesterday in the quarterfinals against Chino Hills with results unavailable due to time of publication. ever, Costa’s offense was sparked again by Glover, whose lead-off bunt single was soon followed by singles from senior catcher Katie Saunders, senior shortstop Meghan Von Behren, Gialket- sis, freshman first baseman Ulufa Leilua and senior third baseman Stephanie Lajuenesse, bringing the lead 6-3 in favor of Costa. “I was just trying to relax and let myself play the game natu- rally I saw the ball well today, and things worked out well,” said Glover, who went 4-4 with two doubles, a home run and a single. After another three-run inning in the top of the fourth for Atasca- dero, Kelly was pulled in favor of junior pitcher Shannon Savino. After walking two batters, Savino was quickly replaced with fresh- man Kasey Hutton, who walked in two runs that put the Mustangs
in an 8-6 hole. “I was nervous when I first came into the game,” Hutton said. “I was able to settle down and get some outs for us.” Costa staged its final comeback of the day in the bottom of the fifth, when Atascadero committed two consecutive fielding errors on slow-hit groundballs, putting run- ners on first and second. Hunter then pinch hit a two-run double and scored on the next play off an error by the Atascadero third baseman. The inning ended with the Mustangs leading, 10-8. Hutton settled down for the top of the sixth and seventh innings and shut down the Atascadero hitters to end the game in a 10-8 Mustang victory. “This team has excelled around a solid group of seniors,” Am- berik said.
A student section for all Costa events Kevin Inlow (Senior) Boys Volleyball
Well, we finally have a sport to celebrate. Congratulations to the boys volleyball team, which fi- Inlow had nine kills and eight McGuire led the Mustangs with nally ended Boyola’s undefeated digs in the CIF finals win on May seven goals in Costa’s first-round streak in championship games 19 against Loyola at Cypress. CIF playoff win on May 3. this past Saturday. The team played great, but anyone who watched the game knows who the real winner is: the Rage Cage. It was clear that the Rage Cage was a deciding factor in the game. number of Costa’s spring varsity teams that finished first The rowdy, often inappropriate in Bay League. and always accurate student sec- tion propelled Costa to another number of sets it took Costa volleyball to beat top-ranked CIF title. With the Lakers’ season over so early, it’s clear from the Loyola in the CIF Division I championship match. Rage Cage’s success that it’s got- ten too big for just basketball and number of 13 possible Costa sports teams that made CIF volleyball games; in other words, the Rage Cage has to expand. playoffs this spring. Although Cameron King may be royalty on the green, the Costa COMPILED BY RYAN ERICKSON, REGAN ESTES, RYAN AND ZANE FRANKLIN/SPORTS EDITORS golf team could use some sup- PHOTOS TAKEN BY CONNOR WRIGHT/LA VISTA portive obscenity. Don’t get us
DIGITS
3 5 9
Carly McGuire (Junior) Girls Lacrosse
wrong; David Kim can swing a mean nine iron, but imagine what power he could unleash with the support of the Rage Cage tearing up the back nine on their ATV’s. Cross country has some of the hardest-working athletes at our school, but they’re just too damn nice for their own good. The Rage Cage needs to take matters into its own titanus hands. Josh Huttinger will be administering shots of testosterone (and other “protein boosts”) to get these runners big, bad and buff. C’mon, Zach Adler, work that stiff arm. ASB needs a boost in running the UCLA Blood Drive smoothly. Expect the Rage Cage to stick an ominous foam finger in the face of any donor who looks like he or she is about to faint. Can anyone hear anything said at NHS meetings? Expect chants
of “We can’t hear you” when the Rage Cage takes control. Next up: Scholar Quiz. Not only will finalists have to deci- pher Mr. Cook’s animated ques- tion-asking, they’ll have to deal with deafening chants of “Hack” and “We want Enzo.” There’s no way Michael Powell would’ve gotten away with those election shenanigans last year if the Rage Cage were patrolling Young Democrats Club. Expect a contingent to show up ready to chant “Bull****” if Mike pulls any funny stuff, until of course a bearded and disguised Principal Ben Dale, Ph.D, gives them the silent stink-eye from the corner. Of course, you could always just catch them at the Six-Man in August; nothing says “Rage Cage” like a “safe and structured” family event.
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La Vista
SPORTS
May 25, 2012
“I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN”
Mira Costa perseveres in five sets to take home seventh CIF championship in school history, sweeps Cathedral High School in straight sets in first round of regionals #3 Mustangs stun rival #1 Cubs in CIF championship
Mira Costa sweeps Cathedral in first round of regionals
BY REBECCA HEXT STAFF WRITER
BY REBECCA HEXT STAFF WRITER
The Mira Costa boys volleyball team defeated rival Loyola High School, the number-one ranked team in the nation, to take home the CIF Divsion I championship on May 19 at Cypress College. Each game was tightly contested, but Costa gained an early edge by winning the first two games. After facing two match points in the third, Loyola won two consecutive games to force a fifth and final game, but Costa edged out a 15-12 win in the fifth game to take home the crown. “We came out strong, and we caught them off guard,” senior outside hitter Kevin Inlow said. “We served well for the first time this year during CIF, and it was huge to get that win.” Costa jumped out to a quick start in the first game, winning 25- 19, marking the first time Loyola had lost a set in the CIF playoffs. The second set was again tightly contested until Costa gained a three-point lead with two powerful hits from senior outside hitter Keith Waddell and a Loyola missed serve. Costa was able to maintain its lead and finish the second game with a 25-22 win. “It was nice to jump out and win those first couple games in the match,” coach Mike Ninnis said. “We knew that if we got them on their heels with those games, we could rattle them.” With the season on the line in the third set, Loyola came out charging. Costa fought hard to keep the match from extending another game. “We didn’t want the match to go into the fifth game, so we were fighting hard to get the sweep in three games,” senior middle blocker Karl Acres said. Loyola jumped out to an early lead, and toward the end of the game the Mustangs found themselves down by a daunting 20-15 score; however, they rallied to tie the score at 22-22. Costa had the opportunity to close the match with two championship points, but Loyola fought back to win the match, 27-25. “We came out a little bit flat, and Loyola fought back,” senior libero Brooks Varni said. “We were able to hang with Loyola, but they ended up edging out the win in the end of that game.” Loyola rode the momentum from its game-three win to a fast start in the fourth game. Loyola took an early lead with the help of its star outside hitter, the UCLAbound Nick Porterfield, who scored four consecutive points to make the score 14-9. Loyola was able to maintain its lead and finish the game with a score of 25-21 to
Costa defeated Cathedral High School in the first round of the CIF regional playoffs at Fisher Gym on Tuesday. Costa swept Cathedral in straight games, with scores of 25-9, 25-12 and 25-13. Costa dominated the first set by holding Cathedral to nine points. “We came out and were able to put a limit on our mistakes,” senior libero Brooks Varni said. “This really helped us control the pace of the game.” After winning the first game by such a large margin, coach Mike RYAN REEDE/ LA VISTA Ninnis decided to sub out Costa’s THE ROOF IS ON FIRE: Senior Kevin Inlow successfully blocks a hit from Loyola outside hitter Nick Porterfeild in the CIF starters to give the second team Division I championship match against the Cubs on May 19. It was the first time Costa beat Loyola this season. playing time. With Costa’s deep roster, the second-string boys commanded the second game. “It was good to make our first- round victory a team effort,” senior libero Duncan Lau said. “We had a few different line-ups each game, and every line up got the job done quickly without much struggle.” With Costa up 7-3, Cathedral called a timeout in hopes of making a comeback, but the team’s efforts proved to be unsuccessful. The game ended with another blowout of 25-12. “We definitely had control of the game,” senior Riley Thomas said. “It was cool seeing the entire team dominate the game.” RYAN REEDE/ LA VISTA For the third game, Ninnis deTHIS IS COSTA: The members of Costa’s “Rage Cage” hold up one finger in anticipation of one more point to finally cided to play members of next defeat Loyola in the CIF championship on May 19 at Cypress College. The Mustangs defeated the Cubs in five games. year’s 2012-13 team, consisting of juniors Riley Mallon, Grant Chalmers and Casey White. After a rough start, the boys found their rhythm and gained the lead back with two hits and a block by White and senior middle blocker Michael Debevec. “We didn’t come out very strong because we haven’t played a lot with each other,” White said. “We picked up our energy a third of the way through the game, and that’s when we started to blow them out and take the game.” Even with the loss of a starting lineup that led the team to a seventh CIF title, the underclassmen looked strong. “It was fun to put in all of our juniors,” Mallon said. “I think LELAND LESNEVER/ LA VISTA we will be able to make it this far THE SETUP: Senior setter Jackson Carr (left) completes a set to senior outside hitter Keith Waddell (right) in Mira again next year.” Costa’s three-game sweep of Cathedral High School in the Mustangs’ regional match on Tuesday night at home. The boys played in the 2nd round of regionals last night; force a decisive fifth game. an early lead. The Mustangs came “We have worked so hard for however, due to the time of publi“We didn’t execute our game out firing, taking an early 5-3 lead, multiple years for this,” senior cation, results were unavailable. in the third and fourth games, and but Loyola fought back to tie it Chris Orenic said. “It was the If the Mustangs are able to win [they] took advantage of our un- up 8-8. The Costa boys quickly best crowd I have ever seen.” the regional finals, they will have forced errors,” Waddell said. “We secured another two-point lead, By the end of five sets, senior a strong case for the unofficial nahad a comfortable lead for most with the score 14-12. setter Jackson Carr had accumu- tional championship. of the game also, which is when Facing a third championship lated 58 assists and 10 blocks and “It was good to keep our mothose guys play their best.” point, Porterfield served into the Inlow recorded nine kills. mentum going from the win on With the final game only going net, giving Costa the fifth game “It’s exciting we get to try for Saturday,” Carr said. “It is anothto 15 points instead of the usual and its seventh CIF championship the first triple crown in Mira Cos- er stepping stone to get a National 25, Costa knew it had to secure in school history. ta history,” Carr said. Championship win for Costa.”
Arts&Life May 25, 2012
1401 Artesia Blvd. Manhattan Beach, CA, 90266
Vol. LXII Issue 9
www.lavistamchs.com
Congratulations Class of 2012 See where everyone in the Class of 2012 is going to college in La Vista’s annual college page B8-9
La Vista’s seniors give one final goodbye to Production Nights and Room six B6-7
B10-11
In anticipation of summer, what sounds better than a tall glass of ice cold lemonade?
B3
Editor’s take: La Vista ranks the top six movie premieres of the summer
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B2 La Vista
LIFE
May 25, 2012
Mustangs support life and fight cancer with Relay For Life BY KYLE KHATCHADOURIAN STAFF WRITER For the second year in a row, Mira Costa hosted the annual 24hour cancer awareness event, Relay For Life, at Waller Stadium on May 19. Two years ago the community became aware of the relay when Costa senior Eliza Gesten formed a Relay For Life Club on campus. The event is held to raise awareness about cancer and how the disease affects everyone, not just the one diagnosed. Anyone is allowed to participate in the event, and all community members are encouraged to join the event to further cancer awareness. “Last year was such a good outcome and so many people were involved, I really didn’t think it would get much bigger, but it did,” Gesten said. In order to participate in the event, members had to join a team that included between seven and 14 participants. Each team member takes turns walking around the track a certain amount of times. At least one member from each team must be either walking or running around the track during the duration of the relay. “When I heard that I could be involved in a fundraiser that draws more attention to cancer and the awareness needed to raise money for the good cause, I was
NICOLE FISCHER/ LA VISTA
CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES: Mira Costa hosted the Relay For Life event May 19 in Waller Stadium. The relay was brought to Costa in order to raise awareness for cancer, to make money to donate to the cause and to celebrate life within Manhattan Beach. Participants camped out for the 24-hour walking event. more than willing to put my all in,” senior Stevie Giovatti said. Throughout the day, teams and individuals participated in games and activities to keep everyone involved and engaged in the cause while they took a break from the track. “Watching the fundraiser bring in more people was like a dream come true,” Gesten said. This year, the Relay For Life had a much larger turnout with more than 350 participants. Relay for Life Club was able to surpass the average goal $25,000 with $40,000 raised, but didn’t raise as much as last year’s $60,000. “Watching the event get bigger feels like such an accomplishment,” Gesten said. “It feels really good to know that you’re spending your own time to help a cause that affects the majority of
today’s society.” Even though the relay seemed identical to last year’s event, the purpose changed slightly. Previously, the fundraiser focused solely on raising enough money to reach their goal. This year, all parties involved decided to focus more on the event and
COURTESY OF ELIZA GESTEN
FIGHT CLUB: The Manhattan Beach community races to cure cancer and spread awareness city-wide. Cancer survivors were some of the many there.
Principal Dale’s inspirational messages resonate with the Costa family BY LUKE TRIMBLE STAFF WRITER
spreading cancer awareness. “This year was really neat to be a part of,” senior Delphi Borich said. “I got to perform with Costa’s ComedySportz team on the main stage, and it was such an honor to entertain while participants had some down time.” Along with entertainment, the
Dale said. “I talk about our standards and values of our school.” In his February message, Dale dabbled As the school year winds down, stu- into ancient Greek philosophy and spoke dents everywhere ask the question: “What of sound values that could be impressed are we doing here?” For the answer, we upon pupils by wise teachers. He then turn to the internet, more specifically, the questioned what sort of values Mira Costa Principal’s Message section of the Mira strives to impress upon students. Costa website. “As educators we are here to teach What is a Principal’s Message, one English, math, science, social science and might ask? Exactly what it sounds like: a the arts,” Dale asserted. “We can, though, designated space for the educational leader model responsibility, accountability, reto address the school. The topics cover a demption and other virtuous qualities.” wide range of themes, but the overall mesIn another message, Dale describes the sage is always clear: Principal Dale is qualities necessary for success at Mira proud of the student body he guides. Costa. These traits are toughness, courage, “I hope that it’s always school-related, excellence, valor, resoluteness, vitality, but there have been a couple that haven’t honor, devotion, focus, liberality, industribeen,” Dale said. “It’s just what’s going on ousness and dependability. at school. It’s to get a feeling from me.” Through exposure to these qualities, In his March message, Dale attempted Dale believes every student will have the to establish a more personal connection ability to succeed both at Mira Costa and with the Mira Costa family and shared sto- in life. ries of his adventures in New York City. Largely unbeknownst to the student Almost anyone would groan at the idea body, the page can be found by visiting of listening to a friend drone on about a the school’s website and scrolling over the vacation, but through these brief messages “About Us” section. The first tab down Dale creates a sense of familiarity. contains a log of Principal’s Messages. “Doesn’t every school have one?” Dale New messages are posted monthly. Dale said. “It’s good to know that Costa is keep- encourages students to actually take a moing up with the Joneses.” ment each month and read his message and Under Dale’s leadership, Costa has allow him to impart his knowledge; it will sought to become the Joneses. New tech- be worth it. nology plans have followed up with the While Dale’s anecdotal boasting might continuation of Dale’s many technology- seem irrelevant at first, it ultimately seeks themed sermons. to unite the school and creates a sense of While most students would agree that community. Dale’s post for May included Edmodo is useless and agonizingly slow, a list of the top ten things you should know Dale shows support for the program and about MCHS and MBUSD teacher of the promotes similar educational apps like year Linda Gesualdi. Evernote and Penultimate. “She’s a vampire. Go look at the 1986 “Generally, the Principal’s Message is Costa yearbook staff page…she hasn’t something that is on my mind at the time,” aged,” Dale wrote.
event had multiple guest speakers who talked about personal involvement with cancer and how it has effected them and the people around them. “Being a part of a fundraiser that is helping a cause that hurts so many families is so special,” junior Abha Nath said. For more information on Relay For Life, visit the Facebook group “MB/Costa Relay For Life.” “It is truly an honor to be a part of Relay For Life and to know that this is going to be an annual event at Mira Costa,” Nath said. The Relay For Life Club on campus hopes to continue the celebration of life and the fight against cancer. “Don’t be afraid to come out and support the cause; we’re all here to raise awareness about cancer,” Gesten said.
LIFE
May 25, 2012
La Vista
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CONNOR WRIGHT/LA VISTA
SQUEEZE IT: Los Angeles’ healthy eatery and lemonade stop, Lemonade, plans to open a location close to our South Bay readers’ homes in Metlox, downtown Manhattan Beach; by the middle of the summer. The modern restaurant incorporates meats, fish and vegetables into unique meals and showcases eight flavors of lemonade that vary in color and taste, but never in satisfaction.
When life gives us lemons, Manhattan Beach makes Lemonade BY RISHA ROHERA CONTRIBUTING WRITER Picking up trays and moving down a line is no longer reserved for school lunches and food courts. Lemonade, the modern cafeteria-style restaurant, uses this unique style with a variety of healthy foods and many unique flavors of lemonade. After succeeding in seven other locations in Los Angeles, Lemonade will soon bring its health-conscious food to Manhattan Beach. It will be located in Metlox center, in place of Tea Exchange. “The South Bay has always been on our radar in terms of our development plans,” Chief Operating Officer Ian Olsen said. “The area serves as a tremendous
cross-section of both our demographic profile and the high traffic counts.” Enfolding around the stationary store, Papyrus, Lemonade will have an indoor and outdoor seating area. The menu will include braises, sandwiches, soups, salads and various desserts as well as eight different variations of lemonade. “It’s healthier [than other cafes], and the food is really delicious,” freshman Taylor Grant said. “I love the lemonades because they’re unique and different. My favorite one is the blueberry mint.” The Manhattan Beach location will also have a take-out component available for customers who are on the go. It will feature a “to
go” picnic basket as well as the availability of all the different fresh-squeezed lemonades. “One unique aspect of this location is that we will be adding a significant grab-and-go component for all the beach-goers,” Olsen said. “We’ll be serving fresh-squeezed lemonades like watermelon rosemary, ginger peach and blueberry mint as well as ‘to go’ picnic baskets that the local sunseekers can take with them to the beach.” In an effort to cater to more of the Los Angeles population, Lemonade will also open up in
areas such as Thousand Oaks and LAX Terminal 5. “The vision of Lemonade is simply to expand,” Pasadena Manager Dion Hurley said. “LAX is going to give us exposure to the entire country. It is really growing.” Lemonade first opened in 2007 at its locations in downtown Los Angeles and in West Hollywood. After the first two, Lemonade has opened in Venice Beach, Brentwood, Pasadena, the University of Southern California campus and at the MOCA museum entrance in Los Angeles.
“Since the L.A. basin encompasses such a large land and population mass, we see [the opening of the Manhattan Beach location] as simply filling a void and serving a major need of the community,” Olsen said. “Our brand evokes the spirit of a bright, sunny day with a menu complete with colorful ingredients and inventive recipes.” The restaurant had to tie together four different leases before beginning this project and has focused on the Manhattan Beach location for over a year. Lemonade hopes to open the restaurant mid summer. “We are hoping to be open by the 4th of July,” Olsen said. “We have a lot of work to do, but that’s the game plan.”
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LIFE
La Vista
May 25, 2012
Costa’s Doreen Forson walks the walk in the pageant world BY EMILY LOCKWOOD STAFF WRITER With a passion for fashion and design, sophomore Doreen Forson will be participating in the national American Miss Pageant on July 27. The national American Miss Pageant takes place at the Marriott Anaheim hotel in Anaheim, California. “This competition is a great way for me to meet girls from across the country,” Forson said. “I will have the opportunity to work with girls whom I have never met before.” There are four specific elements to the competition: formal wear, personal wear, the interview and community involvement. Each contestant will be judged and critiqued in every category by the judges. In addition, contestants have to meet a school grade requirement. “I am very excited for Doreen and for her competing in the pageant,” father, Samuel Forson, said. The intensive interview asks the contestant various questions, the focus of which will be along the lines of the contestant’s inner maturity and growth. The judges want someone who is well rounded, poised and will be a good representation of the state.
“I am a little nervous for the interview portion of the American Miss Pageant,” Doreen Forson said. “However, I think I will do well enough in the interview to win this competition.” This competition will award the winner with several prizes. Two of the major prizes are $1,000 and an authentic modeling scholarship, which would give Forson money to pursue a life in fashion and modeling. “Winning the prizes would be incredible,” Doreen Forson said. The prizes are to help the contestants start a career related to the pageant or the fashion industry itself. “The scholarship would be quite beneficial in helping me get into some colleges,” Doreen Forson said. Forson has designed a piece of clothing that she plans on wearing in the
pageant. Her dress will consist of a material called sateen, and the style is relatively casual. “I want the look of the dress to be sassy and cute,” Doreen Forson said. “I am excited to model my design in the pageant.” This is Forson’s first pageant, and this will be a new experience for her. The point of this pageant is to give girls a chance to take their first steps into the fashion world. “Because this is my first pageant, I am a little anxious,” Doreen Forson said. “Depending on whether or not I like the atmosphere, I will most likely participate in other pageants. Forson is in the fashion class at Mira Costa, which has prepared her greatly for the American Miss pageant. “The fashion design class at Costa seems to be a really wonderful, creative outlet
NICOLE FISCHER/ LA VISTA
POISE: Mira Costa sophomore Doreen Forson posses won a certificate from one of the national beauty pageant competitions, National American Miss.
for students wishing to enhance for this competition. The pageant their experience in the world of will be a good experience for design and even modeling,” ju- her.” nior Kaitlyn McQuown said. Forson hopes to have a career Forson has in clothing design “I really love fash- and hopes to belearned about the aspects of fash- ion, and this is seri- come a wardrobe ion such as how ously what I want to stylist. Along with to design clothes do with my life. It designing clothes, and how to sew she also enjoys would be amazing to choosing them. hair “Taking this win the awards and styles and doing class has opened scholarships so I can makeup. my eyes,” Doreen start my career.” “I love pickForson said. “I ing out clothes have learned so for people as if Sophomore much this year, they were dressDoreen Forson and I think my up dolls,” Doreen knowledge from this class will Forson said. “I hope to work for help me in the competition.” a television show where I can In addition to learning about create characters through what fashion, Forson has learned about they wear and how their makeup the industry as well. The fashion looks.” industry is difficult to succeed in, The pageant covers a lot of and one must develop endurance real parts of working in fashion, to prosper. and this will allow Forson to par“This competition will be take in an experience that she can good for her, and it shows her that learn from. her school grades really count “I really hope to win the comoutside of school,” Samuel For- petition,” Forson said. son said. Forson plans to take her Forson has prepared herself knowledge that she learns in this well in the understanding and pageant and possibly apply it to mechanics of putting together future competitions. garments for a show. “I really love fashion, and “Doreen definitely has what this is seriously what I want to it takes to make it in the fashion do with my life,” Doreen Forson world,” Mira Costa fashion teach- said. “It would be amazing to win er Priscilla Ratcliff said. “She is the awards and scholarships so I fearless and is very well equipped can start my career.”
LIFE
May 25, 2012
La Vista
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ASB sets Costa apart from years past with Prom this spring
COURTESY KELSIE MARTEL
DON’T GO BREAKIN MY HEART: Senior Max Reyes surprised senior Kelsie Martel with lighted candles, a bouquet of flowers and a shirt that said “Prom?” on former Costa student Ashley Pepper’s dog.
A brief history of American prom and hopes for the future BY NICHOLAS BLOCK STAFF WRITER
COURTESY MONTANA HUNTER
TOW-AWAY: Senior prankster Max Roseman asked junior Montana Hunter to prom through a fake parking ticket with some cute offenses.
COURTESY MEGHAN BURNS
BURNING UP: (Right) Senior Tyler Hext sunburned the words “Prom? YOLO” onto his chest to ask junior Meghan Burns to be his date.
COURTESY STEPHANIE PULIDO
GOT IT IN WRITING: At the Urth Caffe in Santa Monica, senior Jon Ho asked senior Stephanie Pulido to prom with the creme in her coffee.
will really be what you make it.” As proms have became more elaborate, their activities also have grown. Teens now The anticipation leading up to that one compete for the best-looking date, best special night on which high school stu- form of transportation, and best attire. The dents wear colorful gowns and fancy tuxe- “Prom Queen” and “Prom King,” voted by dos, rent limousines that provide a fashion- their fellow students, have become the most able entrance, stay up all night, and pose prestigious awards given at the events. for some of the most memorable photos in “I am excited to see who will be nomitheir lives, is about to end. nated for Prom Court,” senior Kathryn Di Mira Costa student government will be Rado said. “It is so cool how even today, hosting this year’s Prom at the California we still nominate Prom kings and queens. Science Center on June 2 at 7:30 pm. It is a tradition that I hope future genera“I believe that prom is a good social tions continue.” event because it gives people an excuse People continue to find increasingly into ask someone out if they are shy,” senior novative ways to ask one another to the Austin Harding said. “Prom also allows me Prom. Students have created enormous to dress with as much class as I want with- banners, bought expensive bouquets of out getting weird looks.” their favorite flowers, and even gotten help Prom, short for “promenade,” was origi- from other students. nally an exclusive upper-class co-ed ban“I asked my date to prom by holding up a quet. Historians believe that proms started huge sign on top of the Costa Band Hall, so in colleges in the late 1800s despite the fact yeah, I’d say that people are getting more that yearbooks only began to be published creative with their questions,” senior Phil in the 1930s. Wong said. “Prom is the one event that every single The traditional prom structure has also ASB student is always exchanged. Being asked by cited about working on,” “We want to make this the “perfect” guy or even Costa Activities Director year’s prom a great having a date is increasLisa Claypool said. ingly less important. ToIn early times, Prom was surprise, and we plan day, more and more people just another junior and se- to live up to the ex- are going “stag” or with a nior class dance, certainly pectations set by the group of friends instead of not the “larger-than-life” previous year’s proms a date, and more girls are event that it is for presentasking guys to the prom. and dances.” day high school students. “I’m really anticipatIn the 1950s, however, ing this year’s prom even Lisa Claypoole Prom started to evolve into though I don’t have a date,” the elaborate celebration junior Sean Griffin said. “A Activities Director that it is today. lot of my friends are also “Prom is very different now than it was going ‘stag’.” when it first began,” Harding said. “I feel The evolution of Prom has also involved like it is more casual.” the incorporation of new elements. StuWith the post-war economy came a dents now view Prom not only as a joyous transition in the setting of proms. Instead event where seniors can have fun, but as of high school gyms, proms were moved one of the last celebrations they can share to country clubs and hotel ballrooms. In before they go their separate ways. 1960, President Kennedy decided to move “Although previous years have somethe time of his fund-raiser to allow a local what disappointed me, I believe that this school prom to take place at the Beverly year’s prom will be amazing,” senior Chris Hilton Hotel. In 1975, President Henry Allen said. Ford allowed Susan, his daughter, to have Each year the prom has a different theme. her prom at the White House. This year’s was announced on May 12 dur“We have some great plans in terms of ing lunch as “City of Stars.” the theme, and the California Science Cen“We want to make this year’s prom a ter is a perfect location,” Claypool said. great surprise, and we plan to live up to the In addition to the more elaborate event expectations set by our previous proms and that Prom has become, it has undergone dances,” Claypool said. cultural changes. In 1979, the first same- Prom is and for many years has been the sex couple attended a prom in South Da- culmination of the students’ high school kota; in 1994, a principal in Alabama was careers, an event at which they can release sued for threatening to cancel the event af- all the pressure that they have built up durter learning that interracial couples would ing the last four years. This year’s Prom be attending. Today, proms are open to all continues that tradition. students, regardless of race, ethnicity, or “Prom is important to attend, especially sexual preference. if you’re a senior,” senior Rachel Wess said. “There is a really intriguing atmosphere “It’s the last big activity, and it’s important at Prom,” senior Lily Granados said. “It to make the most out of senior year.”
COURTESY CARLY MCGUIRE
POSTED: (Right) Senior Tim O’Banion covered (left) junior Carly McGuire’s car with post-it notes spelling “prom” in the Costa parking lot.
COURTESY CHLOE FELLOWS
SWEET SURPRISE: Costa senior Austin Halfdale asked fellow senior Chloe Fellows to prom with the help of the local SusieCakes cupcakes.
COURTESY LOGAN SCHLOSSBERG
THE PROPOSAL: Senior Riley Thomas (left) suprises senior Chloe Basmajian at the volleyball game by holding up a sign before the game.
May 25, 2012 B6 La Vista SENIOR FAREWELLS As we finish our final issue of the year, La Vista’s 2011-12 senior class gives Room six and Mira Costa High School one final goodbye
Rosenbaum reporting for duty its way into my memories as well. I hate to get so personal, but my words are empty without some sentimentality. In my head, there
By Emma RosEnBaum ThEmE EdiToR
But the point is not that I am a pathetic person. The point is that,
the world is loneliness. No one
struggles and tidal waves. High school certainly doesn’t help. Still, I can’t help but look back at my time, not only here at Mira Costa, but growing up in the South Bay with everything going not once been alone. Despite that poor grade on that AP biology test that everyone else seemed to pass, despite the lost position that could have been
imprinted upon the human being that I have grown into. eryone, including me, is getting
that I have had since kindergarten picked me up and took me to In-N-Out. I cried the entire way
one night with a problem. Her
you were wondering). The point is that there were
place. I drove over with chocolate and as we ate ourselves sick, it rushed through me like a wave that this
tantrums and my bitterness like it was normal and mentally healthy.
child or an ambitious youth. This
tell me how smart I am, others that I should poop in a box and send it to said college.
it wasn’t going to suddenly disappear behind other wants or distractions.
completely
hard work and exertion that went isn’t that bad. I must include the
Emma RosEnBaum/ la visTa
understood
exact-
From MUN to La Vista to APs, Powell diversifies Costa experience
thought I was being melodramatunderstand how much you and the tears you shed that night have
lucky.
down to is that they cared enough shape (literally).
ribly lonely and desperate, it occurs to me that a shining beacon
I GOT SOUL: Due to peer pressure, Powell joined staff this year.
grown-up, everyone else is in the exact same place with the exact same disappointment. The second most important
truth that I wandered upon in my high school years; other people care more than you think. In many cases, they care less, but what does it matter? Someone out there cares. People don’t always get what they want, but too bad. What is really important is that you do not
It may be cliche to say it, but
By michaEl PowEll oPinion EdiToR I remember it like it was yesterday: a broken leg, braces, being a
When I was in the La Vista room you know where you are going to college and you could care less about your multiple AP tests. High school has been amazing. I’ve been blessed to have some subject. I know that Costa has taught me so much both inside Vista and MUN will be with me in the La Vista class, and I look
nicolE FischER/ la visTa
A HOBBIT’S TALE: After a semester of advanced drama, Rosenbaum joined La Vista in her sophomore year.
Vista, I have learned how camaraderie leads to sympathy. So remember not only that you have your own army here in high school or college or work or home, but you are also a soldier in someone else’s army.
tellectual, and most entertaining students on campus and I will miss them all.
Austin Siegemund-Broka told me that I should join La Vista. I thought that I wouldn’t be deciding to do it I have absolutely no regrets; you are never too busy to do something awesome. The reason I enjoy Costa isn’t because I’m a nerd (which I am), but because I come at everything with an open mind. There is so much to learn here at Costa, and I thank every teacher and student who have made my years here Thank you Costa, MUN and La Vista; I know that I will miss you, but everything that I have learned here will allow me to succeed,
Gregory emerges from siblings’ shadows into a dynamic high school experience By duncan GREGoRy ExEcuTivE ThEmE EdiToR “How do you know you're going to do something, until you do it?” – The Catcher in the Rye. Up until about a month ago, whenever I quoted Holden Caudesperate college applicant trying to relay the everlasting impact that J.D. Salinger had on me as a Recently, however, I’ve realized that this seemingly cliché high school. man what I wanted to do when I grew up, I would’ve said that I
you asked me that question today, I would say that I have absolutely no idea what I want to do in my
decide. So, my advice is to not let anyone or anything limit you, and always keep an open mind. Say yes. A negative attitude will only -
Between ComedySportz, two spring musical, La Vista, practicing instruments, occasionally
I started this goodbye with a in high school, and I will end this
people asked me the same question all throughout high school: the activities you do?” Although
Emma RosEnBaum/ la visTa
book I will read here. I’ve enjoyed my time at Costa, and it is
EVERYTHING MAN: Gregory joins his sister as a La Vista alumnus. He was also an editor all three years on staff.
gling many things at one time is extremely doable. When you juggle, you have to
dence to throw something up in
doing at once; you have to know where each ball is and treat every one with equal weight. Staying -
track it you are going to have to drop it (like I did with soccer… sorry Mr. Smith). Now that I have experienced all
know what I want to do with my gression when compared to my a journalist, but to me, it has been an endless progression.
til the tower clock struck three in the morning. He still saw that outside the window everything was beginning to grow light. Then, without his consent, his head his nostrils streamed his last weak breath.” – Metamorphosis
SENIOR FAREWELLS
May 25, 2012
La Vista
B7
La Vista loses pair of “Ryans” but the legacy will live on for dynamic duo By Ryan ERickson and Ryan FRanklin spoRts EditoRs Once or twice in every person’s life, you have the opportunity to meet someone who you know is destined to do great things. We were lucky enough to join together as best friends starting in the 7th grade at Manhattan Beach Middle School. Growing up playing sports together and partaking in family trips across the country only sought to bring us closer heading into high school. While both having a love and passion for baseball, we began playing for the same team as a Mustang. Becoming teammates was simply an easy transition. We were taught a lot of lessons throughout our high school and baseball career that will only lead us to success in our lifetime. Knowing that we have had each other’s backs in any set situation has allowed us to thrive the past four years as athletes and as individuals. The time spent in high school has been something we will remember for the rest of our lives. In both our perspectives, it is safe to say that without the dynamic “Ryan” combo that we have created, things would have not been nearly as memorable or where they are today. Being roommates on the East-
nicolE FischER/ la Vista
RYAN TO RYAN: ern Europe trip our sophomore year and going on a journey of a lifetime to the Senior League World Series in Bangor, Maine the summer of 2010 are two memories that will stand out as moments of our high school career that we will never forget. It is common for people to room with their best friends and
our friendship was strengthened throughout. At this time we fully came to the realization that our similarities and common interests really made us feel like the same person, not just because we share the same name. Loving sports and wanting to write about them, it only seemed right for us to join up as sports
newspaper staff under great leaders such as Shannon Hagedorn. With much hard work, determination, and long nights working on stories, we were promoted to sports editors after just one
along with each other; however, after 10 days in seven different countries rooming together had the opposite effect occur as
year as members of the awardwinning newspaper, we were lucky enough to learn the process and skills that it takes to be on a
and sleep deprivation are all traditions of La Vista and bring us together as friends and as a family taking on the same burden and ac-
and only year as editors, we were fortunate to experience what being on La Vista is all about. The
complishing one goal. We have enjoyed our time on La Vista, in the Mira Costa baseball program and as Costa Mustangs all together. But our time here has almost come to an end. As we start our next journey in the fall at Loyola Marymount University and the University of Redlands, things will be different, but our friendship will not be altered. We can honestly say that we have faced a couple bumps in the road along the way, but each time we move past them stronger than we started. We have shared memories together as teammates, editors, friends, and as true brothers. We sit here today reminiscing the good times shared throughout our days and nights of the last four years. It has been fun; there is no question to that. The whole college experience is yet another one of those bumps, and a friendship as strong as ours does not falter in the face of adversity and distance. The setting will change, we may change, but being best friends will never be a problem for us and will absolutely never change. We thank everyone who has been part of both of our high school memories and the support and friendships we have received. Without those people, the memories wouldn’t have been the same. We have truly been blessed.
Mira Costa class of
“You have brains in your head.
2012
You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go. - Dr. Suess, “Oh the Places You’ll Go”
”
COMPILED BY DUNCAN GREGORY, JAKE MAHR AND EMMA ROSENBAUM/THEME EDITORS
Claire Barnett Chris Beuder Vivien Cherrette Allie Sather
CSU Humboldt Emily Lemon Nick Fender Melissa Star
U of La Verne Quinn Goldman
U of San Francisco Divya Khosla Riley O’Connell
Stanford Jonathan Colen Jordyn Irwin Vincent Liu Andre Vasilyev Richard Wedeen
UCSB
Gabby Armato Suzanne Caflisch Kara Gieseking Cassie Gonzales Christine Inouye Danielle Jung Emma Rosenbaum Joshua Shu Connor Toscano
Boise State Dominic Costa Michael Staley-Anderson
U of Colorad Boulder Chloe Basma Brian Brother Marissa Delg Jonathon Ho Travis Meers Andy Macedo Zach Missior Jake Quattleb Zack Rosenfe Ryan Silver
Madison Baldo Madi Bauman Devin Gold Gina MacRae Emily White St. Mary’s College Charlotte Barnett Ian McLoughlin UC Merced Michael Diaz Whittier College Nick Guerrero
ASU Cole DeForest Briauna Fletcher Ca’Che Jones Gabby Nahle Leah Nunn U of Arizona Joe Buege Chase Caprio Andrew Carranza Tyler Chaplin Cara Furlan Stephanie Greller Austin Houska Acacia Moore Cooper Pugnale Michael Ruppert
UC Davis Zach Adler Jennifer Anderson Jennifer Bandel Courtney Duong Gregory Fong Max Roseman Carolyn Wood
CSU Sacramento
Fabian Perez Chris Allen Teddy Sampson Kirby Beaton Jessica Endo Patrick Foster Azusa Pacific U Lily Granados Payton Buckley Robin Janotta Brittany Richardson Katherine Kious Biola U Duncan Lau Jeremy Soh CSU Northridge Eli Mulvihill CA Institute for the Arts Taryn Kamimoto Spencer Phillips Katie Barger Anthony Lombardo Maritime Inst. Marshall Pittman Cal Poly (Pamona) Andrew Bichlmeier Emily Rogers Allan Betts UC Santa Cruz Travis Taylor Ryan Hou Connor Bennett Shelbi Thompson Pitzer College Jonathan Chow Matt Thornton Ryan Daly Kyra Firestone Courtney Ung Chapman Lauren Kordonsky Eric Vandenberg Art Institute of CA Taylor Cajka Carly Montan Phil Wong (Hollywood) Michael Nick Westmont College Richard Campbell Graham Smith Turner Conrad LMU UC Irvine Ryan Walker Allison Crawford Ryan Chase Kyle Hubbard Jessica Wu Betsy Crawford Ryan Erickson Michael Mullin Alex Ziff Cal Poly (San Louis Obispo) Albert Johnston Dennis Ngyen Talia Bondelli Yovanna Iniguez Rachel Weiner Erica Schneider Kelli Sugimoto Meghan von Behren USC UCLA Jiabao Zhu Sarah Anthony Los Angeles Southwest Julia Bakerink Michael DeVirgilio Pepperdine U Maalik McClain Noel Castellanos Marcianna Guziewicz Brian Dietz Musicians Institute Darren Draper Michael Jedynak Irene Hilton CSU Long Beach Trent Fujii Enzo Kajiya Otis College of Art and Design Ben Kartub Taylor Dominguez SatKartar Khalsa Cameron King Claire Patrick Sara Gonzales Maddie Klineman Notre Dame de Namur U Adela Moreno Saenz Natalie Lavinsky Chris Kuo Chris Fiorentino Kristen McNeal Anna Pavlova Marissa Mayeda Gabriel Mel Celena Smith Marymount College Kelsi Nelson Yesenia Menendez Embry Riddle Jorge Flores Pierce Thue Chris Orenic Aeronautical U CSU Channel Islands Alan Tokashiki Jenn Padilla Adam White Desirae Gordon Samantha Wong Kelsey Reinhardt Alex Sullivan Clara Woodie Jenna Tong Rachel Wess Brooks Varni Justin Yu
UC Berkeley
25. DUE TO THE SELF-R VEY, ACCUR
Sonoma State U
CSU San Marcos
LL DATA U
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Sierra Nevada College Carl Rump
Sara Kimberly Carly McPherson Colleen Real Adam Perez
CSU San Francisco N’Dea Johnson Haley Meisenholder Stephanie Sakahara Amber VanBuskirk Tyler Weber Bree Willard
Linfield Maggie Hawkins U of Oregon Trevor Kostan Chris Massey Southern Oregon U Alec Marchant Lewis & Clark Luke Trimble
Santa Clara U
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*A
Washington State Jessie Dizenfeld Madison White U of Washington Zane Franklin Puget Sound Rachel Perlot Jon Park Jessica Tondo Shannon Trachy Spencer Vale Gonzaga Christine Keever
CSU Fullerton Andrew Cardenas Joe Licciardone CSU Dominguez Hills DJ Castillo
Northern AZ U Laurel Shimamura Michael Debevec Maiya Dworkin Matt McElroy U Rachel Meyer P David Davis Sam Shipp
Hunter Sartini Paul Smith Alex Steinbrook Alec Swanberg Riley Thomas Riley Versfelt Max Watson Alec Weaver Ashley Tucker Jen Freeman
UC Riverside Corbin Gates Dylan Gates Carina Glasser Bharath Murthy Trevor Taugner Ryan Timmons
U of Redlands Ryan Franklin Nick Block
Hawaii Pacific U Sabrina Hutchinson
UCSD Yasin Ahmed Merrick Chai Bianca Chong Zane Curdes Chris Griebenow Daniel Golubovic Ashley Hughey Katie Saunders Corey Shono
SDSU
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MAY
TO THESE TIME CONSTRAINTS AND
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RACY IS NOT GUARANTEED.
U of North Dakota Jake Bryan
Syracuse U Jonathan Alcaraz Delphi Borich Paige Gill Tiffany Gomez Alex Parducci NYU Grant Cederquist Sanjana Sinha Keith Waddell Eric Zheng
Vassar College Maggie Ginoza Bates College Hofstra U Jackson Moore Sabrina Yates Columbia U Joelle Boxer John Jay College of Criminal Justice Middlebury Dominique Avery Samantha Horn
Trinity College Monica DiFiori Qinnipiac U Skylar Ellington Connecticut College Mia Haas-Goldberg Wesleyan U Hannah New Brown U Delaney Brow Vivan Morgowicz Jake Rosenfeld RISD Ramie Landis
Carnegie Mellon U Drexel U Alexandra Guggisberg Austin Ahn U of Michigan Muhlenberg College Temple U Josh Mogel David Atmajoana Shelly Murad Blake Rebak Penn State Kayla Neely Amherst College Ari Stern Dickinson College Kelly Nutten Katie Warshaw Michigan State U Penn Kendall Busby Berklee College of Music Hannah Rhodes Michael Powell Brandon Hafetz Bucknell U do at Purdue U Delaney Charney York U Ryan Halberg Grinnell College Dakota Randall Christina Buckley Tyler Julius Boston College ajian Mira Hall Alex Rosen Ryan Reede Case Western DePaul U rs Villanova U US Naval Academy Boston U Jake Schwartz Matt Collins gado Raquel Doke Gavin Jernigan Victoria Torres Ohio State Jessica Ganter U of Denver U Virginia Emerson College Evan Steinberg U of Illinios sand Nick Coffman Mackenzie Austin Brighton Hernandez David Kim o U of Missouri Colorado State VA Tech Emmanuel Colleges Loyola U of Chicago reck U of Kansas Columbia Alex Fischer Ryan Barney Ashleigh DeRosa Camila Marmol baum Haley Orzeck Dan Burdiak Air Force Academy George Mason U Harvard U Mary Williams eld Logan Schlossberg Brett Clark Ian Goodbody Jackson Carr Eli Rivas Duke U Fisk U Emma Walsh Kathryn DiRado American University Mnt. Holyoke College Caitlin McGough Camera Bacon Alex Williams Jackson Dzus Kassandra Kershaw Belmont U Georgetown U New England Culinary Chloe Fellows Furman U Zach Kay Institute Rhodes College Elizabeth Bundy Meg Luthringer Celine Mons Trey Tamura U of South Carolina Nick Perez Northeastern U U of New Mexico Ally Sloway Howard U Nina Granow U of Mississippi Pablo Diaz U of Alabama Southern Methodist U Khadijah Louis Erin Jones Brittany Clark Emily Gold Chris Alfano Suffolk U Stephanie Pulido TCU Dylan Santos Emory U Kellie Wesser Austin Beller LSU Christina Anderson Tufts U Birmingham Southern Katie Brown Nick Champagne Kyle Allen GA Tech Austin Hafdel Breanna Kelly Loyola U Sammy Nunan Chris O’Brien Auburn U U Texas (Austin) Aurora Foster Morehouse College U of MA (Amherst) Kelsey Herrera Charley Binkow Adam Gerber Femi Oyewole Jeremy Prim Josh Huttinger Kevin Inlow Tulane U Chari Noddings Marissa Knell Hannah Shuler Stephanie Palencia Rice U of Miami Jill Thompson Melissa Cespedes Shelby Brand Connor Wright Lee Eisen Texas Southern Morgan White U of Wisconson - Madison Addie Allen Stefanni LaJeunesse Campbell Maier Charlie Sevy Lawrence U Keira Jett
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May 25, 2012 B10 La Vista SENIOR FAREWELLS After learning and maturing, Janotta takes a new view on the community By RoBin Janotta Managing EditoR Just like any other high schooler in the history of high school, I’ve gone through quite a bit and have tales to tell for generations to come. What makes my stories differ from any other student’s isn’t the content of what I went through, but the realizations about my community, peers and society that they brought. I’ve come to accept that Manhattan Beach has quite a bit of problems that have to be addressed immediately. First off, as lame as it sounds, a standing ovation for my parents. My entire academic life I have been pushed to succeed and always encouraged to strive by both of them. My parents have never contacted an administrator; instead, they told me my academic life is my responsibility. They’ve never yelled at one of my teachers for giving me a bad grade; instead, they chided me for not working to expectations. As much as it pains me to say it, not every parent is like mine. In a community like Manhattan Beach, where the gap between parent and student is constantly lessening, I worry for our students’ futures. Parents (and you know who you are): you aren’t in high school anymore. Before someone
response to this article, think of this: your child is a high school student about to enter the real world. Let them fail; let them do their own work; let them go through hard times. They’re in school; shouldn’t they be able to learn? If you really want what is best for your high school students you must leave us alone. We are a generation that thrives when left to ourselves, and to let parents control our intellectual lives and shape district policy is a degradation and insult to our culture. Before I’m painted a villain, let’s take a step back and examine my point. Your child’s boss or professor or spouse can’t be angrily called. While I don’t doubt your good intentions, on the grand scheme of things you are hurting your child more than helping. Self reliance is key to the high school experience. I used to love to act out in class and be a general delinquent. I was that one student that every teacher hated as well as most of the students. Eventually, I matured enough to understand the value of an education. Thanks to teachers like Shannon Vaughan, Anne Brown, Greg Kloes and Valerie Park, I’ve come to respect educators throughout the years. So it disturbs me to see how we, a socalled “intellectual community,” treats these educators.
nicolE FischER/ la Vista
BIG O’LE ROB: Janotta has been in the La Vista program for all four years of high school and went from a staff writer and news editor to managing editor. Irritating students are one thing (I should know; I used to be one), but when teachers have to dodge civil lawsuits because of misunderstandings and enraged parents, we have a problem. Being a teacher is one of the hardest and most important jobs in the world, and we must have the only community that actually can’t stop bothering our educators. I seriously doubt anybody in our community would critique our teachers so harshly if they were handed a college textbook
and told to explain its entire contents to kids foaming at the mouth futures are in the hands of these men and women, so I strongly urge our community to re-examine its entitled views on education and stop telling professionals what to do. I see this as a common denominator in Manhattan Beach: we live in a town of closed minded people. We are a community that embraces the regurgitation of facts on scantron tests instead of
encouraging our students to think for themselves. We’re a community that embraces low-work ethic but expects high results. We’re a community that has the potential to foster some of the greatest minds in the nation but is bogged down by foolish actions and outlandish values. After spending great times and memories for a lifetime in Manhattan Beach, it’s time for us to take a step back and look at our actions. This is a great community, but its time for it to act its age.
SENIOR FAREWELLS
May 25, 2012
La Vista
B11
A bump and a bruise form a friendship to last a life time for Montan and Wu -
By carLy Montan LifE Editor and JESSica Wu circuLation Editor
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Ten years ago in a classroom
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nicoLE fiSchEr/ La viSta
UNSEPERABLE:
For Schneider, the couch days are over By Erica SchnEidEr LifE Editor
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nicoLE fiSchEr/ La viSta
SNAP:
Blink once and your in high school, blink twice and you are graduating By aLEx Parducci ExEcutivE LifE Editor
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nicoLE fiSchEr/ La viSta
COUCH GIRL: Another three year veteran, this
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B12 La Vista
ARTS
May 25, 2012
Tim Burton’s “Dark Shadows” entertains but is easily forgettable BY ISAAC SIEGMUND-BROKA STAFF WRITER
television show. Aside from this misstep, the romance of “Dark Shadows” is acWhen an eccentric death-intually quite well written. Harkenfused Johnny Depp movie hits the ing back somewhat to “Corpse theaters, there’s only one thing to Bride,” Burton entwines love and think: Tim Burton. Burton is at it death in a paranormal love trianagain with “Dark Shadows,” the gle between a vampire (Collins), darkly comedic tale of Barnabas a witch (Angelique) and a woman Collins, an 18th-century vampire who perpetually sees ghosts (Vicpropelled into the wildly different toria). The final resolution is laden world of 1972. with melodrama but is rewarding While riddled with hokey misnonetheless. steps, “Dark Shadows” is saved The majority of the humor in from disaster by an entertaining “Dark Shadows” relies on the plot and the irresistible intrigue gimmick that culture and lanof Burton’s visual sense. guage are different in the 1970s “Dark Shadows” was originally from what they were when Cola late 1960s soap opera directed lins last walked the earth. Collins by Dan Curtis. With campy paraspews silly 18th-century linguisCOURTESY SPINOFF.COMICBOOKRESOURCES.COM normal drama and inventive plot tic constructions, and his inabiltwists, the show amassed a de- OUT FOR BLOOD: In “Dark Shadows,” Johnny Depp excellently portrays Barnabas Collins, an 18th-century vampire ity to understand modern culture voted cult following. that wakes up in 1972 after being buried by Maine townspeople. Tim Burton makes “Dark Shadows” enjoyable with an results in humorous ordeals with In Burton’s version (much like intriguing plot, imagination and a star-studded cast. hippies and technology. the original), a young Barnabas Depp is excellent as usual, asmigrates with his family from discover that the Collins name no Bonham Carter); the disheveled both horrifying and humorous suming the role of Barnabas ColEngland to Maine, where his fa- longer enjoys the respect it once manor caretaker, Willie (Jackie air, complimented by his palatial lins with both charm and maladapther finds great success in the did. Barnabas sets about reviving Earle Haley); and the curious Vic- House of Usher and the creepy tive kookiness. After working fishing business. his family name while battling toria Winters (Bella Heathcote), a ghostly happenings within it. with Burton so many times, Depp When Collins resists the ro- Angelique, who fights to keep the governess who experiences other- Simply by way of Collins’ vam- has mastered the right level of mantic advances of a young witch Collins in disgrace. worldly visions. piristic condition, Burton’s ob- Gothic quirkiness to match that named Angelique (Eva Green), All the while, Collins must acThe plot is intriguing and amus- session with death carries the plot of Burton’s plots and imagery. she kills his parents, forces the quiesce to the bizarre 20th cen- ing despite its wacky supernatural and imagery. “Dark Shadows” is a good rosuicide of his lover and curses tury Collins family, composed of jumble. While a few ending twists “Dark Shadows” is, however, mance, action movie, drama and him to be a vampire. He is soon the moneyed matriarch Elizabeth feel out of place and somewhat (unfortunately) set apart from comedy. However, in no genre is captured by fearful townspeople, (Michelle Pfeiffer); the unruly overburden the action, Burton other Burton films by its overt and it truly great. For a fun afternoon who bury him in the woods. teenager Carolyn (Chloe Grace brings the plot full circle with a unnecessary sexuality. Several at the movies, “Dark Shadows” is When Collins’ coffin is found Moretz); and the introverted son satisfying conclusion. bizarre sex-charged scenes seem worth the time, but it will not go nearly 200 years later, the bro- David (Gulliver McGrath). Nevertheless, this Burton out of place amidst the fantastical down in history. “Dark Shadows” ken-hearted vampire remains Also present are the perpetual- weirdness does not disappoint. plot and certainly would not have is rated PG-13 and is playing in alive within it. He is released to ly hung-over psychiatrist (Helena Gaunt white-faced Depp carries found their way into the original theaters everywhere.
Beach House proves versatility with “Bloom” BY JAKE MAHR THEME EDITOR
As the track continues, the vocals, drums and guitar build up until everything finally explodes into a dynamic war song. Still, one key part to the band’s sound is the simplicity of its music. Sticking with just a small handful of instruments and Legrand’s voice, the band has very little to work from but still creates the perfect sound that everyone wants to hear. Beach House uses its usual equipment, yet there are subtle differences that take a few listens to fully grasp. However, these differences improve the band by helping to make it unique. Throughout various tracks, including “Troublemaker” and “Wishes,” the presence of drums increases and is more complex. While the band is still using pre -programmed drum beats, these beats seem to increase in variety
and lose the simplicity, giving the band a heavier noise. One deviation from the band’s previous albums, and not even a critique but merely an observation, is that Legrand’s voice is constantly becoming more instrument-like and blending in too much with the music. Yet in tracks such as “Other People” and “Out on the Sea,” she has pulled herself out of the dream-pop haziness and has set her place as lead vocalist of the group and in the music industry. Beach House will certainly profit from this most recent release, and their fans will definitely be pleased. “Bloom” proves that Beach House is capable of versatility while still maintaining their original sound. The album is available in most music retail stores as well as on iTunes for $8.99.
It is always a joyous moment when a band that has been successful thus far in the music industry suddenly comes out with a new album that proves the group’s ability to evolve and create eversuperior records. “Bloom,” the latest album from the indie dream-pop band, Beach House, has proven the group’s transformation in the musical world. From the explosive tracks to the plain old bubbly dreampop Beach House is known for, the band has truly “bloomed” into something incredible. Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally formed the band in 2004 in Baltimore, Maryland. They released their self-titled debut album in 2006; it gained minor success for the group and was critically acclaimed. The duo then released its second album, “Devotion,” and its third album, “Teen Dream,” both of which were successful. The first track on the album, “Myth,” is a stereotypical Beach House single, yet as the album unfolds and finally approaches the final track, “Irene,” which is nothing like anything Beach House has ever created, a complete transformation has occurred. While “Irene” is still dreampop, it is easily one of the more thunderous tracks on the album. The song starts off with simple COURTESY BIGBANGPOP.BLOGSPOT.COM white noise and then slowly oozes into the typical wistfulness of DREAM STATE: (From left) Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally make up the band Beach House. Beach House. The band’s “Bloom” is creative and versatile.
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MODEL BEHAVIOR: (from left) Stephaine Seymour, Cindy Crawford, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell are photographed by Herb Ritts. His exhibit “Herb Ritts: L..A. Style” is on display at the Getty Museum.
“Herb Ritts: L.A. Style” impresses BY EMILY LOCKWOOD STAFF WRITER The Getty Museum in Los Angeles goes back to the 1980s and 1990s with the “Herb Ritts: L.A. Style” exhibit. The exhibit consists of work that includes Ritts’ vintage prints, magazine covers, commercials and music videos. Ritts began his photography career in the 1970s. In addition to portraits, he was known for his work in editorials, ad campaigns and music videos. Another talent of Ritts is his ability to photograph the human body. He captures the body in a way that evokes great strength and composure. “Man With Chain” is a black and white photograph that was taken in 1985. It is of a man who curves his muscular build while clutching a heavy metal chain. The piece shows the duality of a man, comparing his strong and graceful side. “Stephanie, Cindy, Christy,
Tatjana, Naomi, Hollywood” is a photo of the famous super models of the time. In this shot, the models are nude and huddled together. The photo captures the angles of their bodies in a way that makes them look angelic and statuesque. In keeping with the style of Los Angeles, Ritts shot Cindy Crawford on the beach in Malibu. Crawford wears a velvet gown with her hair neatly pulled back. This shot has an over exaggerated atmosphere to it, which reinforces Crawford’s superstar status. “Richard Gere” is a shot of the actor at a gas station smoking a cigarette in San Bernardino in 1977. In this photograph, Gere runs his fingers through his hair as he leans on his car, revealing a sensual side to the actor. “Herb Ritts: L.A. Style” shows a range of pieces that encompass Ritts’ talent. The exhibit opened at the Getty Center and will be on display through Aug. 26. Admission to the Getty is free and parking is $15.
B13 “Max Payne 3” reaches the high standard of past Rockstar Games titles ARTS
May 25, 2012
La Vista
BY ALEC LAUTANEN EXECUTIVE OPINION EDITOR In a market so heavily saturated with shooters, it’s hard to make a game that truly stands out as unique and interesting. However, “Max Payne 3” does just this, and its extremely cinematic gameplay provides an entertaining video game experience. Whereas most shooter games, such as those in the “Call of Duty” series, focus solely on providing players with a straight-forward, basic product, “Max Payne” elevates the video game to a higher art form and resembles an interactive Tony Scott movie more than a video game. “Max Payne 3” is the latest installment in the “Max Payne” trilogy and follows ex-New York Police Department homicide detective Max Payne as he travels to Sao Paolo, Brazil, to work as a private bodyguard for a wealthy family after being recruited by an old acquaintance from Payne’s tenure in the police academy. Payne, whose wife and infant daughter were murdered during the first game, is now an alcoholic and addicted to painkillers. With nothing to lose, he fights his way through a complex plot of Brazilian gang violence and political corruption involving the family he was supposed to protect. One of the most creative parts of the game is the frequent and
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NO PAYNE NO GAME: In the newest installment of the “Max Payne” franchise, Rockstar Games has crafted an in-depth and cinematic experience. “Max Payne 3” features smooth game play and dazzling next-gen graphics in combination with gorgeous cut scenes that flow seemlessly in and out of game play. sometimes profound narration by the protagonist, Payne. Whether he’s commenting on the twisted nature of the plot events or his own pathetic personal state, his soliloquies add a layer of philosophy and dark humor to the game. Transitions from cut scenes to
gameplay are flawless. The fact that they are uninterrupted by a loading screen and lead right into action-packed gameplay makes them much more interesting and critical to the game. Another cool facet of the game is the soundtrack, which is pri-
marily composed of music by L.A. noise rock band HEALTH. The group created hundreds of hours of music for the game, and the resulting background music accentuates the high-octane emotions of the game. A unique feature to “Max Payne
3” is the heavy use of bullet time as an in-game strategy. Damage is taken quite easily, but the use of controllable, slow motion dives, dodges and attacks makes the game more tactical, challenging and entertaining. Furthermore, the choice to use a third-person perspective means that the cover system is extremely easy to use. It’s not as simple as “Gears of War,” where one button is used for virtually all player actions, but it still blends nicely with the rest of the game and doesn’t get in the way of combat. Possessing a quality multiplayer online mode in addition to the single player campaign is crucial to a game’s success and replayability, and “Max Payne 3” definitely accomplishes this. Although the online aspect of the game isn’t terribly innovative or ground-breaking, it functions smoothly. Multiplayer game modes are numerous, and online play is simple, seamless and feels like a comfortable extension of the single player game. Minor drawbacks aside, “Max Payne 3” is truly an exceptional game and one that simultaneously bucks the trend of cookie-cutter shooters but creates a comfortable, intuitive gameplay environment. The game will please both new players and seasoned gaming veterans as well. “Max Payne 3” is rated M and is sold in stores now.
“Diablo III” proves to be worthy successor, despite a myriad of technical problems BY ZACK GILL ARTS EDITOR
being chosen. In “Diablo III,” players still gain new skills upon leveling up, but there are no skill trees - players can switch all of Before video game studio Blizzard’s their skills on the fly. merger with the conglomerate Activision, In “Diablo II,” players were stuck in the company was known for its strict regi- cookie-cutter builds deemed the best by ment of quality and fan service. Now, fol- the game’s community, if they wanted lowing the launch of “Diablo III,” one of to remain viable in multiplayer. With the the most anticipated game releases in per- new skills system in “Diablo III,” players haps the entire history of video gaming, can play the game exactly how they want, many believe that Blizzard has betrayed its vastly shifting play-styles on the fly. Bemultitude of fans. cause of this, all characters remain viable It’s not that “Diablo III” isn’t a good for multiplayer. game - in fact, it’s a great game. It’s incredOnly the Barbarian class from “Diablo ibly fluid, challenging, and addictive in II” returns, although it has been extensively both the best and worse ways possible. It’s revamped. “Diablo III” also features four that Blizzard has completely dropped the entirely new classes. The Wizard shoots ball on its release, rendering its own game offensive magic from a range (emulating unplayable in the hands of millions. Bliz- the Sorceress from “Diablo II”), which zard has delivered a wonderful game while gets a bit boring. The interesting hybrid simultaneously punishing gamers every- Witch Doctor (roughly corresponding to where with a rocky launch and always-on- the Necromancer from “Diablo II”) utilizline digital rights management (DRM). es controlled minions and voodoo magic, “Diablo III” starts off several years after remaining fresh and versatile throughout its predecessor, “Diablo II.” The demons the game’s campaign. The Demon Hunter Diablo and Baal are long dead, and Deck- employs traps and ranged weapons, from ard Cain, the series’ signature harbinger crossbows to guns, but suffers from being of doom, is an elderly man living in New a bit squishy in tight situations. The Monk, Tristram, a city sprung over the ruins of the most fun class of “Diablo III,” uses games past. Leah Cain, his niece, assists in martial arts abilities in combination with his investigations of the demonic. complementary spells. Players fill one of five classes of heroes “Diablo III” will be forever marred by who attempt to discover the source of dark its disastrous launch. The game utilizes an magic behind a fallen star, a sign of the end always-online DRM - in order to run “Diatimes, that crash lands just beyond New blo III,” players annoyingly must always Tristram. The fallen star turns out to be have an internet connection, even if playfan-favorite character Arch-Angel Tyreal, ers go at the campaign solo. who has become a human in order to warn This also means that if there’s ever a humanity of the coming of the last remain- problem on Blizzard’s end, people will ing demon lords. lose access to “Diablo III.” In one of the “Diablo III” has some notable devia- rockiest launches ever, many players lost tions from its predecessors. In “Diablo II,” access to “Diablo III” for nearly three days players, upon leveling up their characters, because of problems with Blizzard’s servwere forced to pick skills from elaborate ers. One of the most fan-friendly compa“trees.” These skills were permanent after nies has officially sold out in a last-ditch
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STRAIGHT TO HELL: “Diablo III” continues its series’ tradition, featuring hack and slash action, surprisingly deep customization, a myriad of class options, a dark, epic story and cooperative game play for up to four players. effort to deter piracy. This doesn’t mean Blizzard won’t make good games from now on -- they will continue to do so. They just aren’t on our side anymore. Further, “Diablo III” is launching without several promised features. First, a few months before release, Blizzard announced that player versus player combat, in which players battle it out with one another for various prizes and rank awards, would be withheld for release at a later date via downloadable patch. One of the most lauded, controversial, and eagerly anticipated features is also absent. Blizzard announced the Real Money Auction House long ago, promising that players could put the rare items that they find in-game up for sale through an in-
game interface - for real money. The feature was supposed to launch on the release date of “Diablo III” but has been delayed indefinitely because of the game’s disastrous launch. Blizzard isn’t just cutting features ahead of time to reach a launch date; they’re cutting features promised on the box to be included with the game. In spite of some garbage, anti-consumerist features, “Diablo III” is going to be popular for years to come - until Blizzard stops supporting it or “Diablo IV” releases -- and rightfully so, because the game is, most importantly, a bucket of unadulterated fun, even if Blizzard is no longer our friend. “Diablo III” is rated M for mature and is available at major retailers and for download via Battle.net.
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ARTS
May 25, 2012
Editor’s Take: 2012’s summer films vary, with not only entertainment but drama BY ZACK GILL ARTS EDITOR
his place as a controversial political filmmaker. While his newest film, “SavagAnother summer brings another es,” doesn’t look to be the least bit set of tentpole films, from another political, it does attempt to emuset of CGI-animated family com- late one of Stone’s most stylish edies to a new batch of superhero films, “Natural Born Killers.” But films to high-octane ultraviolence where “Killers” was grungy and vehicles. overtly satirical, “Savages” looks “Snow White & the Huntsman” to be slick and action-packed. is 2012’s second Snow White film “Savages” tells the story of (after March’s visually-appeal- two California-based pot growing-but-ultimately-vapid Julia ers (Aaron Johnson of “Kickass” Roberts film, “Mirror Mirror.”) and “John Carter” himself, Taylor The film also stars wannabe teen Kitsch) and the girlfriend they heartthrobs Kristen Stewart and share (Blake Lively), who gets Chris Hemsworth. kidnapped by a Mexican drug Hemsworth proved to have cartel led by Selma Hayek. quite a bit of charisma via “Thor,” “The Dark Knight Rises” is the “The Avengers,” and the massive- wildcard of the summer. Director ly underrated “The Cabin in the Christopher Nolan has become Woods” in the titular roles. the king of quasi-highbrow sum“Snow White & the Huntsman” mer fare, first with the shockingly re-imagines the Snow White fairy complex “The Dark Knight” and tale as a dark fantasy, action-driv- then with the ambitious dreamen blockbuster. The film looks heist film “Inception.” to have cool-looking, ornate But still, we at La Vista have production design, and Charlize our reservations about “The Dark Theron, who portrays the iconic Knight Rises.” Is there any way it evil queen, has proven that she can live up to “The Dark Knight,” can play an ice queen quite well the best superhero film ever with 2011’s “Young Adult.” made, “Avengers” be damned? But with five credited screen- Will we even be able to underwriters, the film is likely a mess of stand the film’s villain, played conflicting ideas and flashiness. by Tom Hardy, whose voice has “Prometheus” could be the high- been electronically manipulated light of the entire summer. With to sound like Bane’s, when he is an incredibly convincing viral talking through tin foil? campaign featuring fake TED-X What’s up with Joseph Gordon- conferences and ads for cyborgs, a Levitt’s character? Does Nolan screenplay have the “Snow White & the Huntsman” gall to kill co-written by “Lost” re-imagines the Snow White fairy off Batcreator Da- tale as a dark fantasy, action-driven man? And mon Lin- blockbuster. is anyone delof, and the promise of Ridley else already getting some weird Scott’s return to science-fiction, vibes toward Anne Hathaway’s legions of geeks are already high- take on Catwoman? ly anticipating the film. One of the most appealing feaThe movie is set in the same tures of “The Dark Knight” was universe as the “Alien” series, how astounding some of its set although hundreds of years be- pieces looked - it was often diffore those films. Hopefully, its ficult to even see much of the newly gained R-rating will allow computer generated effects of the the film to continue the tradition film, two-Face’s face aside. of intensity from Scott’s earlier But the computer work of “The sci-fi masterpieces, “Alien” and Dark Knight Rises” is much more “Blade Runner.” obtuse, from the horrible-looking There was a time where every collapsing football field in the Pixar release was a celebration, initial trailer to the newer images but with the release of “Cars 2,” of collapsing bridges. Either way, Pixar’s reputation has taken a it looks as if Nolan will show us massive hit. “Brave” looks inter- plenty of collapsing things when esting enough - Pixar’s first take the film opens on July 20. on a fairy tale, set in the Scottish The other major superhero film highlands. It has some great voice of the summer doesn’t carry neartalent, with Scots Kelly Macdon- ly as much promise. “The Amazald and Billy Connolly. ing Spider-Man” is a reboot set in But the way Pixar is marketing canon separate from Sam Rami’s the film is worrisome. Pixar is hit- “Spider-Man” trilogy. ting two markets with separate ad Taking place during Peter campaigns. They’re going after Parker’s high school tenure, “The the little girl via the “Disney Prin- Amazing Spider-Man” borrows cess” method, while also pursuing from Brian Michael Bendis’ acolder viewers with ill-conceived claimed “Ultimate Spider-Man.” parody ads for kilts. Andrew Garfield is Spider- Either way, it seems as if Dis- Man, while Rhys Ifans, who gave ney-Pixar is marketing the film to one of the most underrated perbuilt-in audiences, as if they don’t formances of the previous decade have confidence in the film. in 2010’s “Greenberg,” portrays From the insipid “World Trade the villain The Lizard. Center” to the bloated “Alex Still, director Marc Webb only ander” to the pretentious “Wall has one, lackluster film under his Street: Money Never Sleeps” to belt (“500 Days of Summer”). the mild George W. Bush biopic It’s unlikely that Webb will be “W.,” Oliver Stone has left be- able to compete with the high hind him a decade of lackluster level of stylization and tone of cinema. He has failed to replicate Rami’s first two “Spider-Man” the passion and energy of the di- films. Let’s all forget about “Spirectorial efforts that earned him der-Man 3,” shall we?
“Prometheus” Director Ridley Scott makes his return to science fiction with “Prometheus.” The film doesn’t feature the biggest stars in the world, but it does have some of the most talented. Noomi Rapace (center) looks to be taking the Sigourney Weaver role as Scott’s female protagonist, while Michael Fassbender (far right), one of the best actors around, plays a sinister cyborg. “Prometheus” opens on June 8. COURTESY PROMETHEUS-TRAILER.BLOGSPOT.COM
“Brave” Pixar returns with a decidedly feminist reading of the fairy tale with “Brave,” its first real foray into the realm of the Disney Princess. Pixar has to rebuild a lot of good will after its disastrous effort with “Cars 2.” Pixar has to prove that it has a scrupulous level of writing and originality. “Brave” opens on June 22 in standard formats and 3D. COURTESY WHATCULTURE.COM
“Savage” Oliver Stone breeds controversy wherever he goes, be it for his stylistic ultraviolence (“Natural Born Killers”) or his perpetuation of irresponsible conspiracy theories (“JFK”). But with his newest film, “Savages,” it looks as if, for the first time in a very long time, Stone is simply setting out to entertain, shock and amaze. “Savages” opens on July 6. COURTESY LIVEFORFILMS.COM
“Dark Knight Rises” Christopher Nolan’s epic “Dark Knight” trilogy comes to its conclusion with “The Dark Knight Rises,” one of the most eagerly anticipated films of the year. With flying vehicles and the rumored return of “Batman Begins” villain Raz al Ghoul (Liam Neeson), the film could stretch plausibility into realms of stupidity. “The Dark Knight Rises” opens on July 20. COURTESY FILMOFILIA.COM
“The Amazing Spider-Man” Spider-Man was early in his transition from comic book pages to the silver screen. Now, for whatever reason, Sony Pictures is rebooting the series with a promising cast (Andrew Garfield, right, and Emma Stone) and a terrible director (Marc Webb of “500 Days of Summer”). The film opens on July 3. COURTESY 3.HDNUX.COM
“Snow White & the Huntsman” Charlize Theron (left) portrays the wicked witch in the actionpacked “Snow White & the Huntsman,” continuing her affinity for villainy after critically lauded turns in “Monster” and “Young Adult.” The cast also includes Kristin Stewart and Chris Hemsworth. “Snow White & the Huntsman” opens on June 1. COURTESY BLACKBOOKMAG.COM
B15 “Transformers: the Ride 3D” gives much needed new life to Universal Studios May 25, 2012
BY ZACK GILL ARTS EDITOR
ARTS
La Vista
the vehicle does something cool, the films go into slow motion, in perhaps the most cinematic touch Since the beginning of the preon a ride ever. vious decade, America’s triple-A Screens are strategically placed theme parks, namely Disney’s for the fullest immersion; when parks and the Universal Studios, EVAC stops in front of one of the have participated in a game of exmassive IMAX-sized screens for treme one-upmanship, often laya simulator-portion of the attracing down hundreds of millions of tion, often times Decepticons will dollars to compete in creating the “hit” the ride vehicle in the film. most visually lavish, technologiPromptly, the ride vehicle spins cally advanced attractions. into another room which also Universal Studios may have ficontains a massive screen and nally, once and for all, come out portrays the action previously beon top, following its incredible hind the car. For example, during “Harry Potter and the Forbidden a scene above a city street, EVAC COURTESY 3.HDNUX.COM Journey” attraction in Florida is knocked backward into a room with “Transformers: The Ride MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE: “Transformers: the Ride 3D” is Universal Studios Hollywood’s latest creation, utilizing containing a screen portraying the 3D,” here in California at Uni- high-tech ride vehicles that can move at a full 360 degrees and high definition animation on multiple IMAX screens same city street in the opposite versal Studios Hollywood, which featuring bright and bold stereoscopic 3D. direction. This essentially creates opened May 22. “Transformers: dynamic, high definition environThe Ride 3D” combines a thrill- ride begins, and chaos ensues. stereoscopic 3D glasses, provided Through this clever concept, ments in 360 degrees. ing vehicle apparatus and incred“Transformers” borrows tech- during the line). EVAC is thrown through absoThe best thing of all is that ible 3D effects to create what is nology from Universal Studios However, in the 10 years since lutely massive environments and “Transformers” clocks in at possibly the greatest ride in the Florida’s 10-year old ride “The the “Spider-man” attraction, the put in situations that could never more than four minutes, providentire world. Amazing Adventures of Spider- engineers at Universal Studios be built physically. ing a much lengthier ride time In a lengthy, heavily-themed man.” Both attractions feature have access to greater technolThe films on the screens depict than most equivalently high-tech queue through the United States’ vehicles on a hydraulic chase ogy and have improved in ride the ride vehicle flying through attractions at competing amuseTransformers base, riders are in- that allows for motion similar to design. There are some key dif- cityscapes and fighting Decepti- ment parks. formed of an imminent Decep- the jeeps in the “Indiana Jones” ferences between the attractions: cons along the way. The screens The new “Cars Land” at Disticon attack, who are looking to attraction at Disneyland. The ve- namely, “Transformers” features are so massive that even the simu- ney’s California Adventure featursteal the Transformers’ All-Spark hicles can spin a full 360 degrees a much greater number of mas- lator portions of the attraction are ing the massive “Radiator Springs (the MacGuffin from the first (and are strategically designed so sive screens that are often even thrilling. A smart use of physical Racers” is expected to be the “Transformers” film). Riders that riders can only look forward larger than IMAX. effects, like heat and wind, also main competitor to “Transformthen board EVAC, a Transformer so as to not ruin the 3D effect). “Transformers” features vehi- helps compliment these sections. ers.” Unfortunately for Disney, created specifically for the ride The ride moves through both cle movement on a track, but its Because park guests are actual- there’s almost no possible way that attempts to smuggle the All- real scenery and through rooms vehicles also stop for extensive ly riding in a Transformer, the ride that it will be able to top UniverSpark out of the city. EVAC and containing massive high definition moments at the massive screens, vehicle participates in the action sal. “Transformers: The Ride 3D” the riders are almost immediately 3D screens (riders are required to where it basically becomes a by launching missiles and punch- opens Memorial Day weekend at ambushed by Decepticons as the wear “battle goggles,” in actuality simulator on a massive scale. ing enemy robots, and every time Universal Studios Hollywood.
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Roger Avary is an Academy Awardwinning film and television producer, screenwriter and director in the American mass media industry. Currently, he is living in Canada.
Anitra Ford ‘60 Anitra Ford is one of the original models for the game show, “The Price is Right.” Ford was a popular West Coast model while also modeling worldwide.
Fisher Gymnasium
revolves around honoring the alumni. This day will include alumni sharing their experiences with current Costa students. “I’m really excited to be on the planning committee for this event, especially because this is the first year,” Humphrey said. Sept. 28 will begin with a meeting of local press to announce the inductees. Then there will be a schoolwide assembly announcing the first recipients of the Hall of Fame award. Then there will be a lunch in their honor. During halftime at the football game that night, they will be given their awards. “I’m happy to be a part of the process,” Humphrey said. “I feel like it will get students excited about life after high school.” The honorees will be recognized in a permanent celebration. Many ideas of how to honor the recipients will be discussed with architects to include in the construction plans. “With the creation of the Hall of Fame, the administration is hoping to improve school spirit,” Vice Principal Jamie Mancilla said. “We want to inspire our students to reach for the stars.”
Roger Avary ‘83
THEME
COMPILED BY REBECCA HEXT, JULIANA HOFT AND ELIZABETH KNEISLY/STAFFWRITERS
WALK OF FAME On Sept. 28 a group of Mira Costa students, faculty and others will recognize famous alumni with admission into the new “Hall of Fame.”
Lloyd Waller
from the class of 1988. It could also include members of the band Pennywise, including Jim Lindberg (1983), Fletcher Dragge (1984) and Jason Thirsk (1986). “It’s interesting to hear about students who went to Costa and ended up making it big,” sophomore Sammy Furlan said. “It is cool that they are getting recognized for their hard work.” Recently graduated alumni such as actress Kelly Vitz (2006) and actor Dylan O’Brien (2009) began their careers shortly after graduating from Costa. After attending University of California at Berkeley, Vitz went on to play Magenta in the Disney movie “Sky High” and Trish in “Nancy Drew.” O’Brien is currently starring as the character Stiles in the popular MTV series, “Teen Wolf.” “It is inspiring that the people my friends and older brother knew from high school became famous,” junior Lauren Schnuckel said. “It makes me want to chase my dreams.” Rachel Humphrey, ASB student representative, took part in the distinguished alumni program. She will help plan an entire day that
Costa alumni receive recognition in new Costa “Hall of Fame” While students at Mira Costa excel in academics and sports, high school is still only the beginning. A group of alumni in coordination with Mira Costa administrators have created a distinguished alumni “hall of fame” to honor Costa graduates that excel once they leave the school and to establish an alumni mentoring program. This is the inaugural year of the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. Induction will begin on Sept. 28, 2012 and continue annually for years to come. The Distinguished Alumni program was created to honor and memorialize the successful, influential alumni from Mira Costa. As of May 14 there are 10 official nominations. “We wanted former students who have gone on to great success to become connected with current students,” Principal Ben Dale said. A committee of Costa staff, Costa alumni, the ASB president and a PTA member will review the nominees from a vast array of successful alumni. Nominees could include world-class athletes like Eric Fonoimoana, a gold-medal-winning Olympian in volleyball,
Costa’s Legacies
Waller Stadium
Dylan O’Brien ‘09
Jeff Atkinson, 49 years old, is a former middle-distance runner who held the record at Stanford University for the fastest mile. He was also in the 1988 summer Olympics.
Jeff Atkinson ‘86
Milo Aukerman David Benoit Mike Dodd Fletcher Dragge Falyn Fonoimoana Eric Fonoimoana Keith Morris Robert Hecker Holly McPeak Joe Moeller Mike Okwo Jim Pena
May 25, 2012
N O M T S AU B LT EA N G S
Margie Profet Jeff Rohrer Bill Stevenson Dana Short Danny Strong Michelle Tafoya Jeff Tarango Jason Thirsk Kelly Vitz Dewey Weber Scott Whyte Scott Williams
Other Notable Costa Alumni
Jim Lindberg graduated from Costa in 1983 and was the main lyricist for Pennywise. He was an English major at UCLA and now plays guitar for the band The Black Pacific.
Jim Lindberg ‘83
Actor Dylan O’Brien graduated in 2009. He joined MTV’s “Teen Wolf” as Stiles, one of the main characters. He also starred in works including the film “The First Time.”
Marriane and Cormac Wibberly ‘88
Marriane and Cormac Wibberly graduated from Costa and UCLA together and are now a duo that has written screenplays for “National Treasure,” “I Spy” and “Charlie’s Angels.”
Carl Fisher
After 15 years as principal of Mira Costa, Lloyd Waller’s legacy is honored with Waller Stadium, which students use every- After being a sports coach and math teacher, Carl Fisher became the second principal of Mira Costa in 1963. Fisher day. Lloyd Waller was the first principal of Mira Costa and held the position for 15 years. He is a reason for Costa’s expan- held the job for 18 years, the longest of any principal in Mira Costa history. His legacy is seen in the Fisher Gymnasion and lasting reputation of excellence. sium and many trees planted around campus. Fisher improved the athletic program at Mira Costa.