LIFE
February 8, 2013
La Vista
13
Despite Obama’s second-term win, political clubs fight to create political presence Both Young Democrats Club and Young Republicans Club make attempts to remain politically active BY DANNY KELLEHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Political activism clubs at Mira Costa have had to make new efforts to stay politically involved after President Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term. Prior to the Obama’s win, the main political clubs on campus focused primarily on the national election. According to members of both Young Democrats Club and Young Republicans Club, attendance at meetings almost always peaks in the months prior to presidential elections. “In my freshman year before the 2008 presidential election, [Bill] Fauver’s room would literally be packed,â€? former Young Democrats Club President and Costa alumnus Michael Powell said. “It was always a struggle to ÂżJXUH RXW ZKDW WR GR DIWHU ´ In Young Democrats Club, presidents senior Adam Gerard and junior Joe Marine have decided to go in a direction of local advocacy and city politics in order to maintain the club’s relatively high attendance levels. Âł:H DUH GHÂżQLWHO\ IRFXVLQJ RQ local politics,â€? Gerard said. “It’s important to stay involved in the community Manhattan Beach City Council elections, along
LISA VALICENTE/ LA VISTA
REAL POLITIKIN: Young Democrats Club presidents senior Adam Gerard and junior Joe Marine (left) and vice president junior Hannah Daly (middle left) decided to alter their focus from national to local Manhattan Beach politics. In doing so, Gerard and Marine hope the Young Democrats Club can lend a hand and become involved in Manhattan Beach City Council and School Board elections. Similarly, Young Republicans Club Co-President Morgan Thaler (right) is currently deciding where to direct the funds the club has raised this year and last year. Thaler hopes to maintain the club’s attendance level by recruiting new members. with [School] Board candidate endorsements. These elections are great ways for us to be involved.� Young Republicans Club is currently looking for different ways to remain active and involved in both the Mira Costa and Manhattan Beach communities. Club presidents seniors Nick Jones and Morgan Thaler are currently deciding on which direction to take
their on-campus club. Âł:H DUH WU\LQJ WR ÂżJXUH RXW what we want to spend our money on because we have raised so much,â€? Thaler said. “We are having some trouble deciding which political avenue we want to donate to, but this is what the club is planning on discussing within the next couple weeks.â€? Thaler and Gerard both acknowledge that there has been a
dip in club attendance since the November elections. “We have a core of around 10 members who consistently come, EXW EHVLGHV WKDW LW UHDOO\ Ă€XFWXDWHV by week nowadays,â€? Thaler said. This past October, the two clubs co-hosted a lunch debate centered around the November presidential election in the auditorium. Roughly 200 students attended. Both clubs, although there was
no declared winner, felt the event was an extreme success. 2IÂżFHUV IURP ERWK FOXEV DUH already planning another one of these debates for later in the school year. “I have talked to Nick [Jones], and we want to do another debate,â€? Gerard said. “We’ve thought about job creation, debt reduction and immigration for next year’s debate.â€?
Hayden broadens horizons by conducting Honor Choir BY GASSIA ASHIKIAN STAFF WRITER
MIRA LAING/ LA VISTA
BONJOUR MONSIEUR: Timothy Hirsh was hired to replace French teacher Robert Lattimore. He teaches French 1-2, French 3-4 and French 5-6.
New teacher Timothy Hirsh sheds fresh, new light on the French Department BY EMILY LOCKWOOD LIFE EDITOR Mira Costa’s teaching staff is one of the most reputable attributes of the school. However, the administration stops at no limit to improve the educators who inhabit Costa’s classrooms. Before the start of the second semester, a panel with members of the Foreign Language Department and school administration decided to hire Timothy Hirsh to replace Robert Lattimore as a Costa French teacher. “We hired Hirsh because of his background, even though he is a new teacher,� Vice Principal Jaime Mancilla said. Hirsh has a Bachelor’s degree in French and psychology from UC Davis and a Master’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin. “I was planning on getting a doctorate in French,� Hirsh said. “It was starting to take a toll on me mentally after being alone in
the library for so long. I needed to do something where I would interact with people, and teaching was the way to go.â€? Prior to being hired at Costa, Hirsh lived in France and taught students English at the middle school level. “Teaching in France was very different,â€? Hirsh said. “I mainly taught English vocabulary words to my students.â€? When Hirsh was a student teacher at Los Alamitos High School several months ago, Principal Dr. Ben Dale and Vice Principal Ian Drummond observed him at the school. “It didn’t affect me to have them watch me teach,â€? Hirsh said. “Being a good teacher is to not let unexpected situations rattle you.â€? This semester, Hirsh is teaching three levels of French: French 1-2, French 3-4, and French 5-6. “Hirsh has an enthusiastic personality and is a great teacher,â€? sophomore Erin Clifford said. Âł+H LV D JUHDW ÂżW IRU RXU FODVV ´
members from around the central region of Sacramento. Hayden had total creative control, selectAfter over 30 years of teach- ing the songs the Honors Choir ing one subject, some teachers performed. One of these was need a new and creative forum “Vita de la Mia Vita,â€? a piece to express their true passions. about unrequited love, by WilSeveral months ago, Mira Costa liam Hawley. choir instructor Michael Hayden “I chose music that covered seized the opportunity to conduct a variety of time periods and the Capitol Section High School styles,â€? Hayden said. “I selected Honor Choir in Sacramento. songs that I knew would be sucHayden has been a choral in- cessful but also challenging.â€? structor for 33 years but has only Hayden was only able to pracbeen instructing at Costa for six. tice with the choir a day before “I was a choir instructor at the the performance. According to University of Indiana, Purdue, Hayden, with such little time, it Fort Wayne and Butler Univer- was crucial for each sity,â€? Hayden said. “At those uni- choir member versities, I conducted Vocal Jazz to practice the Ensembles, Men’s and Women’s selected songs Choir and Chamber Choir.â€? on his or her Dr. Don Kendrick, director of own. choral activities from the Capi“The setol Section High School, selected lected music Hayden as the guest conductor of could not the Sacramento Honor Choir. Sev- EH WRR GLIÂżeral months ago, Kendrick attend- cult because ed a Western Division Conference it needed to where Hayden conducted one of come togethMira Costa’s choirs and was very er nicely in a impressed with Hayden’s elegant short amount conducting style. of time,â€? “I keep my eyes open for talent- Hayden said. ed conductors who I think would “But we always EH JRRG ÂżWV WR WHDFK RXU VWXGHQWV ´ put forth all our Kendrick said. “I was mostly im- effort in the mopressed with Mr. Hayden’s poise ment.â€? and elegance on stage. He really According to captivated the entire audience Hayden, it is imporduring the performance.â€? tant for singers’ developments as Hayden conducted the Sacra- young musicians to work and colPHQWR +RQRU &KRLU IRU WKH ÂżUVW laborate with different conductors time on Jan. 27 at Fremont Pres- to receive distinct critiques on byterian Church. The choir was their vocal skills. composed of 150 high school “I think it is very important for
young musicians to work with various teachers because each teacher they earn from, they will gain new insight,â€? Hayden said. The choir was not critiqued based on a numeric score. It solely performed to entertain the Sacramento community. “Honor Choirs come together for a great experience,â€? Hayden said. “It is a time for the students to show their talents and meet new people.â€? Costa choir members believe Hayden has had a positive impact on their musical development and that he deserved the opportunity to guest conduct the Sacramento Honor Choir. “I know that any choir Mr. Hayden instructs will do a great job,â€? sophomore Mckay Gillette said. “He is absolutely wonderful with the students and is always looking for ways we can improve as an ensemble and individually. He has been a great musical LQĂ€XHQFH IRU PH DQG our ensemble in general.â€? According to Hayden, conducting the Sacramento Honor &KRLU ZDV D WHUULÂżF H[perience that helped his own personal development as a MIRA LAING/ LA VISTA high school conductor. “It was a fantastic concert overall,â€? Hayden said. “The kids were amazing, and the audience loved what we performed. I couldn’t be happier with their performance.â€?