Talon Volume XXX, Issue 5

Los Altos High School, Los Altos, CA ■ February 10, 2015 ■ Volume XXX, Issue 5

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

COURSE CREDITS

YOUTH ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE

Student group organizes local activism District considers change in P.E. policy SPENCER DEMBNER ERIC KOPPS Staff Writers

WINTER GUARD KICKS OFF SECOND YEAR AFTER HIATUS

Instrumental music department coordinator Ted Ferucci reintroduced the school’s Winter Guard last year after a long hiatus. The group is back for a successful year two. News, 2

Freestyle: Past and Present Freestyle Academy provides students in the district with the chance to study communication arts. Take an inside look at what Freestyle means to its students, its history and exactly what goes on at this unique alternative. Features, 13

Biology teacher shares stories of being a paramedic Read about biology teacher Jacob Russo’s fascinating experiences as an EMT and paramedic. Features, 9

The Pros and Cons of Weekend Homework Parent advocates at the MVLA school board meeting request students be freed of the stress of weekend homework. Opinions, 8

PHOTOS BY IAN MACKEY

Left: Senior Phillip Almeda uses sticks as a prop during his speech on the power of joining together in protest. Top right: Junior Kaiana Jimenez speaks about her family’s experiences. Bottom right: Professor of African American studies at San Jose State University Akubundu Lott speaks at the rally outside Mountain View City Hall.

SITARA SRIRAM CHRIS DADOK Senior Writer Staff Writer

On December 3, 2014, tensions erupted in New York City and across the country after a grand jury decided not to indict police officer Daniel Pantaleo in the death of Eric Garner, who Pantaleo choked to death during a confrontation. To protest this and the events in Ferguson, students organized a March for Justice on December 10, 2015.

This event was the catalyst for the formation of a new student activist group, the Youth Alliance for Justice.

STUDENT ARTISTS

Alexander’s Patisserie Review Alexander’s Patisserie, located in downtown Mountain View on Castro Street, offers a wide selection of upscale pastries.

Entertainment, 14

“What’s cool about this group is that it wasn’t started like any other club on campus,” Youth Alliance for Justice member Tess Seltzer said. “We didn’t have officers come up with a group name and purpose, then try to get people to join; the group just kind of formed on its own as a product of our first March for Justice.”

After the first protest, march leaders such as Tess Seltzer and Kiyoshi Taylor used social media to keep the momentum going. They posted on the Facebook event for the march inviting the march participants, and anyone else interested, to a follow up meeting the next day at lunch.

“I’d say about 15 or 20 people

showed up excited to ref lect on the success of the march and discuss our next steps,” Tess said. “It was clear that the issue of police brutality wasn’t going to be solved with one protest, and we wanted to use the momentum and energy from our first march to ignite passion and change in our local community.”

Members of the group then decided that they wanted to extend their focus even further than just police brutality. They decided to work on ending U.S. state terrorism against people of color both domestically and internationally.

“Youth” continues on page 2

Delamare’s latest remix goes viral R E A D A B O U T H I S T R A N S F O R M AT I V E E X P E R I E N C E , H I S I N S P I R AT I O N A N D H I S P L A N S F O R T H E F U T U R E

Girls Basketball Team Re-analyzes Gameplay

On Monday, February 9, the Mountain View Los Altos (MVLA) board of trustees voted on a limited exemption that would allow freshmen taking seven classes to be excused from taking mandatory P.E. classes during a sports season. As of the press deadline, the decision had not yet been made; check out The Talon’s website at lahstalon.org for the result of the vote.

Under current district policy, all students must fulfill two years of P.E. credit to graduate. All freshmen are required to take a year of P.E., and if they pass California’s fitness tests at the end of their first year of P.E., they may use sports credit to complete the second year of the P.E. requirement. Freshmen with exceptional circumstances, such as injury or competing in sports at the state or national level, can receive an exemption from the P.E. requirement on a case-by-case basis.

At a meeting on May 12 last year, the board discussed the issue after board member Debbie Torok had earlier requested a discussion. Parents spoke for over an hour in favor of an exemption, and the meeting was moved to the Alta Vista multi-purpose room to accommodate the crowds. The board was inconclusive but directed the administration to look at options for an exemption. At the January 12 board meeting, district administrators presented three options, one of which was chosen on February 9.

“Exemption” continues on page 4

MAPPING THE HISTORY OF THIS SCHOOL

60 years of Los Altos High School IN-DEPTH PA G E S 1 0 A N D 1 1

Stronger competition and small team roster create new challenges for the team.

Sports, 19

LOOKING AT CHANGES IN CAMPUS DIVERSITY AND SPORTS

UPCOMING EVENTS Febrary 12

LUCHA Drug Awareness Information Night February 12, 11:35 am

Freshman Poetry Battle in the Eagle Theater Febrary 13, 12:00 pm

Valentine’s Day Faire Febrary 13, 7:00 pm

Talent Show in the Eagle Theater February 16

First day of Winter Recess February 27

Last day to register for AP Tests News Editorial Opinions

2 5 6

Features 9, 12 In-Depth 10–11 Entertainment 14 Sports 18

IAN MACKEY

Junior Scott Delamare works at his electronic music set up at home. Scott recently made a remix of “2h Du Matin” by Manila Killa, and his track received over 145,000 listens in just three weeks.

COLE HANSON Staff Writer

Think of the typical weekday night: maybe you’re in front of a couple binders and textbooks, grinding away at an essay, or maybe you’re in front of the television, catching up on your favorite show. Local music producer and junior Scott Delamare, on the other hand, can be found hard at work, editing oscillator types for a new synth or finalizing his sound through various distortions and filters to prepare for his next song.

All of his hard work has certainly paid off. Scott’s release of his “2h Du Matin”

(Manila Killa) remix sparked interest within the Soundcloud and electronic music community, amassing over 145,000 listens in just three weeks.

His recent remix has even been the subject of two articles published by major electronic music blogs: EDMTunes and onlythebeat.com. One article, titled “2015: The Year for Delamare” and written by the onlythebeat.com, highlighted the aspiring talent and fresh approach in Scott’s music.

“I still can’t really describe what it feels like to see my name on huge EDM (electronic digital music) blogs, right next to posts of [famous artists] Skrillex

and Diplo, or to see an article titled ‘15 : The Year for Delamare,’” Scott said. “I will say it’s unreal and incredibly heartwarming to see friends, family and random people all over the world support something I love to do so much.”

Despite establishing a network of local artists, today’s competitive music scene still means that it is increasingly difficult for small, homemade producers like Scott to get noticed. In light of this, Scott sent his remix to the original artist, Manila Killa, and Killa’s manager in an effort to spread his music.

“Delamare” continues on page 9

And the

Oscar

goes to...

WHO SHOULD WIN WHO WILL WIN SNUBS & HUMOR E N T E R TA I N M E N T PA G E S 1 6 A N D 17

The Talon February 10, 2015

Get daily LAHS updates and read the news archives at lahstalon.org/news

Winter Guard excels after recent revival CLAIRE BAI Staff Writer

The uniformed Color Guard and marching band have always had a large school presence at the school, but since last season, there has been an addition: Winter Guard, which is essentially the school’s Color Guard that practices and competes between January and March. Since its revival, Winter Guard has participated in six competitions and finished third place out of 11 schools in its division last year.

Restarted in 2014 after a long hiatus, Winter Guard was brought back by instrumental music department coordinator Ted Ferrucci. The Winter Guard team this year consists of 12 members, most of whom are veterans from last season.

“Two years ago, [the music department] tried to have a winter guard, but halfway into the season many people quit so they couldn’t complete the season,” Winter Guard member junior Amber Huang said. “Last year was the first year in seven years that LAHS had an official Winter Guard.”

At the beginning of each season, the winter guards of different schools must complete an evaluation to separate into divisions.

Afterward, they compete within either the Scholastic or the Independent divisions and receive a score based on an 100 point system.

Winter Guard’s performance during the diversity assembly last spring attracted several new members to the 2014 marching band and Color Guard season.

Much like Color Guard, Winter Guard trains for four hours on Wednesdays and Fridays and participates in five to six competitions throughout their season.

However, Winter Guard differs from Color Guard in a few ways.

Color Guard is completely outdoors during the fall season, while Winter Guard takes place inside a gym. “[During] Color Guard season, we need to perform with the band, so the show is longer, about seven to 10 minutes,” Winter Guard member junior Grace Zhang said. “Practices, competitions…and the size of the group [are] really different.

And for winter season...we have this mat that’s about the size of a baseball field...and it’s just [the guard]. The show is around three minutes long.”

Members believe that joining has many benefits, such as meeting new people.

“Two things [I’ve enjoyed about Winter Guard] are the people you meet, because... they’re not people I would’ve known otherwise, [so] it’s really awesome,” Grace said. “Also, [it’s] cool just learning a completely new skill and being a beginner at something again.”

PHOTOS BY BRANDON HONG

Top: Senior Clara Ramirez solos during a practice in January. Bottom left: The instrumental pit accompanies the guard and provides rhythm for the guard members to follow. Bottom right: Freshman Everett Henrie spins his flag in sync with the guard. Since its return in 2014, Winter Guard has participated in six competitions and finished third out of 11 schools in its division. It practices and competes from January to March each year.

Junior wins first bid to Youth Tournament of Champions EMILY AOKI Staff Writer

On Monday, January 5, junior James Naumovski received the first of two bids that would qualify him to compete in the Tournament of Champions (TOC), an annual debate tournament held at the University of Kentucky on the last weekend of April. His entrance into the Lincoln-Douglas (LD) elimination rounds at the Harvard Westlake tournament in Los Angeles guaranteed this highly sought after qualification.

“It was really exciting,” James said. “I guess I had done well in [preliminary rounds], which helped. It just feels extremely tense when you’re waiting for the decision, and you’re not completely sure if you’ve won.”

In order to qualify, competitors must get two bids at National Circuit tournaments, such as the Harvard Westlake tournament.

There are usually around 50 bidlevel tournaments per year, although the level at which bids are earned differs for each one.

Bids are obtained by reaching a certain point in the elimination rounds of a National Circuit tournament. Once a competitor has received two bids, they are qualified to compete at the TOC. Earning a bid in the circuit division of LD is difficult due to the competitive nature of the event.

“LD is really fast-paced,” James said. “There’s also the judging.

COURTESY JAMES NAUMOVSKI

Junior James Naumovski holds a plaque that commemorates his first bid for the Tournament of Champions (TOC) at the Harvard Westlake tournament in January.

Competitors must receive two bids to enter the TOC. It’s become a really competitive activity, so it isn’t just parents judging or anything...Everyone has a lot of knowledge. Also there’s a philosophy aspect that is unique to LD specifically...in LD you have to justify the philosophy and then prove why the topic impacts [it]. So that adds a completely different dimension to the debate.”

Lincoln-Douglas debate is a

one-on-one event that is centralized around logic, ethical values and philosophy. The topics change every two months, and competitors prepare two cases, one on the affirmative side and one on the negative side, going into each tournament.

“It’s one of those activities where everyone is really hypercompetitive, but also...where the material that you’re learning about is material that you immerse yourself into when you have free time,” Mountain View Los Altos (MVLA) Varsity LD coach Salim Damerdji ‘14 said.

“You definitely change as a person when your free time is no longer spent playing video games or something like that.”

James began debating on the MVLA team his freshman year, although he had participated in a debate camp prior to that.

“I’ve probably made some of my best friends from debate,” James said. “People love debating because although it’s an educational activity, it’s [also] like a strategy game based on time investment and time trade-off.

It becomes more of an activity that you do for fun.”

James hopes to gain another bid at his upcoming tournaments and qualify for the TOC this year. His upcoming qualifying tournaments are the Stanford Invitational (February 7-9) and the Cal Invitational at UC Berkeley (February 14-16).

CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE A few members of the organization met over December break and created a magazine called “March For Justice, End US State Terrorism Against People of Color,” that documents the history of police brutality and racially charged violence throughout America and by the American government toward people abroad. The organization plans to distribute the magazine at future events.

“This magazine is a major [way] to show that the organization is serious, that it is not just about a photo op, but it’s about doing serious research, taking on real issues and being educated,” Donnelly said.

The alliance’s next main goal is to convince the Los Altos and Mountain View city councils to rally Obama to pass a resolution in favor of the U.S. government joining the U.N. International Criminal Court.

To do so, the club held a rally and a march on Wednesday, January 28.

Protesters marched to the Mountain View Civic Center Plaza and passed out two petitions, one for the city of Mountain View and one for the city of Los Altos. As of the press deadline, the Mountain View petition has 48 signatures, the Los Altos petition has 28 and an online petition on change.org has 41.

The group feels this proposition will give it something concrete to work toward and hopes to connect the recently released Central Intelligence Agency torture report to

stricter law enforcement and intelligence bureau oversight.

“If the U.S. joined this court, high government officials could finally be prosecuted for their blatant violation of human rights, and we would be one step closer to justice,” Tess said.

Despite the unlikelihood that the federal government will pass the resolution, the Youth Alliance will pursue the petitions to raise awareness.

“We think that raising that kind of public awareness, that we should not be above the law as a country could, in the long run, lead to some change,” Donnelly said.

In the future, the club hopes to not only continue organizing marches and protests, but to also create more local, community organizations that limit the negative effects of globalization.

“Ideally, we can make local food co-ops and alternative clothing exchanges, so we’re not participating as much in the corporate economy,” Donnelly said. “[This way] we’re not just opposing things, but we’re supporting a better way of life.”

The Youth Alliance for Justice is optimistic about what is in store for them next and hopes that students will continue the organization’s mission even after some of the current leaders graduate.

“I’d say we are reaching out to youth who are passionate about equality and justice and taking action,” Tess said. “Youth who want to use their knowledge and education to do something greater than what’s assigned for homework.

Youth who understand that while these injustices may seem far away, they have a way of tainting the system and deeply affecting us all.”

The Talon February 10, 2015

Senior class hosts talent show fundraiser ELAINE LEE Staff Writer

O

n Friday, February 13, the senior class council will host a talent show featuring students from all four grades performing talents ranging from traditional ballet to jump rope.

Two weeks before the show, the senior class council held tryouts to select the most diverse and impressive talents from a pool of applicants.

The show begins at 7 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. in the Eagle Theater; tickets are $10 when purchased through a member of the senior class council or the finance office and $12 at the door.

All proceeds go toward lowering the cost of the senior picnic and prom and providing scholarships for seniors who cannot afford those events.

“It’s also amazing to see all the staff and students with talents, because so many unexpected people have fantastic skills,” ASB president Ramiel Petros said.

The Talon previews three of the acts to be showcased:

1

Kathryn Mueller

Senior Kathryn Mueller will perform a gigue, a ballet routine. Kathryn has been a member of Menlo Park Academy of Dance for 14 years and has garnered numerous national awards and recognition.

I

n addition to these performers, many more will showcase their talents in a variety of music genres and groups. The show will feature two faculty members with talents of their own; Assistant Principal Galen Rosenberg will perform a saxophone duet with his daughter Carson, and English eacher Michael Smith will sing for the audience.

The senior class council is also looking for visual artists who are interested in submitting their work, such as photographs

1

COURTESY KATHRYN MUELLER

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3

History week preview ALICE DAI PERLA LUNA

Entertainment Editor Senior Writer

The school’s history department will host the third annual History Week beginning Monday, February 9, to Friday, February 13. This year, the encompassing theme of History week will be “California on the World Stage.” History week was conceived two years ago by history teacher Michael Messner and recently retired social studies teacher DeeDee Pearce and is largely organized by parents and the History department. “[History week is] going to focus on activities in California, why it’s been important in history, what’s going on in California today, and... it will probably dispel some myths about the state and it will also increase some students’ knowledge,” Messner said.

The following is a preview of four speakers who will present during this year’s History Week.

Mas Hashimoto (Third Period Tuesday)

COURTESY KELSEY MORAN NOAH TSAO

2

Jia Seow

Freshman Jia Seow will present her skills in poi spinning, a physical performance that involves two lights at the end of two separate strings spun impressively around the performer.

3

Kelsey Moran

Junior Kelsey Moran will share her talent for jumping rope, an activity that has launched her to the national stage and has led to an invitation to compete in the World Rope Skipping Championships. She will be performing with her team, Sol Jumpers.

or drawings, to be put on display.

Los Altos can look forward to an entertaining and interesting talent show on February 13.

“The show is going to be so much fun,” senior class president Allie Crum said. “We were all impressed by the auditions and there will be all kinds of awesome talent.”

Hashimoto is a retired U.S. History teacher with a deep connection to the subject he teachers. At age six, Hashimoto and his family were sent to a Japanese internment camp during World War II. Hashimoto, a civil rights activist, will speak about how civil rights are still ignored and on the different forms of institutionalized racism that continue to plague society.

Kevin Nelson (Fourth Period Tuesday)

An award winning author of almost two dozen books, Nelson has written several times about different aspects of California’s history. This week, he will talk about the origins of California’s baseball history, from the sport’s beginnings as the pastime of Japanese Americans in internment camps to the transfer of the Giants to San Francisco.

Michael Whelan (Sixth Period Tuesday)

Right: Assistant Principal Galen Rosenberg poses with his daughter Carson at a recent performance. Rosenberg will be playing a saxophone duet with Carson during the show.

COURTESY GALEN ROSENBERG

Whelan’s regular job may be as a Professor of Communications at Santa Clara University, but in his spare time he has written, directed and produced television programs

Since Monday, February 2, the junior class has been selling Valentine’s Day grams in order to fundraise for future class events. The fundraiser will run through this Thursday, February 12.

“This is to support the junior class council, so all of the proceeds will go to [the junior class’] prom and senior picnic,” junior class president Jenny Chin said.

The class with continue to sell Valentine’s Day grams during brunch and after sixth period in the quad until this Thursday for 50 cents, as well as during lunch tomorrow and Thursday. Each gram includes a card with a pun and two pieces of candy and will be delivered to students during the third periods on Friday, February 13, the same day as the Valentine’s Day Faire.

—David Wu

Freshman Poetry Battle

During lunch on Thursday, February 12, the freshman

and award-winning documentaries.

He will explain why California came to be the home of Hollywood and what exactly California’s current role in the film industry is today.

Joel Selvin (Sixth Period Friday)

Selvin was the rock music columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle from 1972 to 2009. In addition to his column, Selvin is a New York Times Best Seller, featured writer in Rolling Stone and the Los Angeles Times and musician with multiple recorded albums. On Friday, he will talk about the 1967 “Summer of Love” in San Francisco and its impact on cultural movements and social progressions occurring during the decade.

Panel Discussion (Wednesday)

The school will host a panel discussion sponsored by the Los Altos History Museum on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the Eagle Theater. Former business columnist Mike Cassidy will be moderating a panel discussion related to latest exhibit, “Silicon Valley: The Lure and the Legends.” Panel participants will include Chuck Geschke (Adobe Systems), Donna Dubinsky (Handspring and Palm), Sandy Kurtzig (Ask Computer Systems) and Michael S. Malone (Silicon Valley author/historian). The event is free to the general public.

ADVERTISEMENT

NEWS BRIEFS Valentine’s Day Grams:

ALLEGRA MAESO

A banner promoting the Los Altos History Museum’s latest exhibit hangs outside the museum. The museum will be sponsoring a panel discussion tomorrow night, which will include many Silicon Valley technology experts.

English department will host the third annual freshman poetry slam in the Eagle Theater.

The participants in the event are exclusively freshmen, and the event is free to all students.

Winners in several categories, which will be determined by the judges, will be awarded cash prizes pooled together by the freshman English teachers.

Among the teachers organizing the competition is English teacher Carrie Abel. Working with poetry slam founder Jonathan Kwan, she helps promote the poetry slam to the rest of the school.

“We make sure the freshmen are informed about it,” Abel said. “I participate and sometimes have gone on the voting panel, which is a difficult task.”

The freshman poetry slam, modeled after the school-wide poetry slam, was a hit when it first began in 2012. The audience turnout was larger than expected, and students who participated made a promotional video, which boosted interest in the competition in the subsequent years.

The introduction of the fresh-

man competition also increased the quality of student writing regarding the poetry unit, as the competition was hyped up and more freshmen became interested. However, this has also significantly increased the level of competition for the interested poets.

“As the freshman class is growing, we have the same amount of spots available, so the competition is getting more intense for who can compete,” Abel said. “We’ve had little lunch competitions between the top three in each teacher’s class that we narrow down and vote for the top one.

But it is really hard to select, because there are so many great poets, and they are just very different. We want a diverse setting.”

Abel encourages everyone to attend the event.

“It is not just people up there reading poems; it is a performance, as they are engaging with the audience, and it is fun to watch,” Abel said.

—Robert Chin

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The Talon February 10, 2015

School welcomes three long-term substitutes Ryan Pollard

KATHERINE YEN ANNELIESE GALLAGHER

The Bay Area is familiar territory for substitute Ryan Pollard, who took over Megan Nijor’s Algebra I and II classes for the rest of the 2014-2015 school year. Nijor left for medical reasons.

Pollard grew up in Mountain View and attended King’s Academy in Sunnyvale. He majored in mathematics at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo for four years, with an extra year for teaching cre-

Features Editor Staff Writer

Since the beginning of second semester, the school has seen changes in staffing across several departments. The Talon introduces the three new long-term substitutes for these classes. All three substitutes began teaching on Friday, January 16 and will continue until the end of the semester.

Merlin Kwon

Merlin Kwon is teaching former teacher Robert Freeman’s three Economics classes and two Contemporary World Issues (CWI) classes for the rest of the semester.

After teaching Economics and CWI during the 2014 fall semester, Freeman retired mid-year, leaving his former teaching positions unoccupied for the first two weeks of the 2015 spring semester. During these two weeks, various substitutes including water polo head coach Seth Tasman and AP Economics teacher

Derek Miyahara took turns teaching Freeman’s former classes.

Kwon worked as a substitute at Mountain View High School (MVHS) last semester. Before working at Mountain View, Kwon received her undergraduate degree at the University of Southern California (USC). Kwon spent her fourth year in an exchange program at Waseda University in Japan, before returning to USC for a master’s in teaching.

After finishing her master’s degree at USC, Kwon attended Teachers College of Columbia University and majored in developmental psychology. Now, her favorite aspects of teaching at Los Altos are the friendships she has made and the support that she has found in the Los Altos community.

“People next door will pop in to ask me how I’m doing and offer me a lot of help, [and] show me a lot of resources when it comes to lesson plans,” Kwon said, “I’ve made a lot of friends already and I know the administrators, which is really helpful for a new teacher.”

PHOTOS BY MENSON LI

Connie Chen

Connie Chen is substituting for former Mandarin teacher Nicole Tsai until the end of the 2014-2015 school year.

In the beginning of second semester, Tsai left the school to take care of her daughter, who frequently gets sick.

“My toddler has been get-

dentials.

Pollard says he didn’t always harbor a passion for math. However, Pollard was encouraged by a fellow calculus classmate to pursue a teaching career.

“It wasn’t until I got to calculus that I really fell in love with math.

I’ve always been good at math, [but] it wasn’t until high school that someone pointed out that I was good at teaching it,” Pollard said. “I decided in my senior year

of high school that I was going to teach math.”

Pollard felt very welcomed by staff and students on his first day of teaching and is excited for what the rest of the year will bring.

“I look forward to getting to know all the students because I feel like I’m the big stranger in the room,” Pollard said. “I’ve loved the people I’ve met so far, and I’m looking forward to meeting more of them.”

ting sick too often, and my husband and I have been getting calls to pick her up during school every two weeks,” Tsai said. “So it’s easier if I just take the semester off to take care of my daughter. Hopefully, she will build up her immune system by [this] September so I can return to teaching.”

Tsai has taught all of the school’s Mandarin classes since fall of 2013. Connie Chen is currently teaching all four of Tsai’s classes.

According to Chen, Los Altos is already proving to be a good fit.

“I really enjoy the school atmosphere,” Chen said. “I look forward to teaching here.”

Born and raised in China, Chen came to America in 2007 and studied undergraduate economics at UC Berkeley.

Upon graduation, Chen spent

another year getting her foreign language teaching credentials from San Francisco State University.

“I chose Berkeley because it is one of the best public universities worldwide and I have [family] here in Northern California,” Chen said.

“Since then, I’ve taught at Aragon High School, Gunn High School and most recently, Woodside High School.”

For Chen, her love of the Chinese language and culture is a huge reason why she teaches: it allows her to share her interest with her students.

“I think the Chinese language and culture is just fascinating,” Chen said. “It’s so different from the Western culture and language...I just enjoy being with students and teaching the subject.”

Exemption CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE The first option was to maintain the current P.E. policy. The second would exempt all freshmen from attending P.E. during their sports season, while the third will exempt only freshman with seven classes including PE during their sport season.

If either option one or two passes, freshmen with full schedules will still have to enroll in a P.E. class. However, they may choose to skip their P.E. class during a sports season, which leaves them with a free period until the sea- Fiona Walter and Debbie Torok son ends. Once the season has were also supportive of an exempconcluded, they must to return to tion at previous meetings.

“Many families and students P.E. class. have invested heavAt the May 2014 ily in...activities meeting, the board that they cannot was generally oppursue if they are posed to an exemp- In P.E. we have [required] to attend tion. all of our stua P.E. class,” Faillace “At the meeting dents working said. “I don’t think last year, three board [MVLA] should members were lean- together and make a blanket ing in favor of...not creating bonds, judgment that valugranting any kind of [which will be able as the P.E. proexemption,” board lost] if students gram is, it is more member Phil Faillace valuable than these said. “Two members, come in and out other activities.”

Debbie [Torok] and of classes.

However, P.E. inmyself, were lean— P.E. teacher structors and adKiernan Raffo ing toward granting ministrators worry some type of exempthat students would tion.” miss out on imHowever, during the January 12 meeting, the board portant content and experiences appeared to be in support of the from freshman P.E. “[In P.E.], we have all of our stulimited exemption offered by option three. Speaking to The Talon, dents working together and creatboard member Faillace declared ing bonds with one another,” P.E. that he was leaning towards a vote teacher Kiernan Raffo said. “With for option three. Board members students coming in and out of the

VANESSA MARK

P.E. classes, those bonds aren’t going to be made. You lose that sense of camaraderie, which is really going to affect the entire class.”

P.E. instructors and administrators also voiced concerns about grading exempted students once

they re-enter their P.E. class, since these students would be tested on content they missed.

“If you say that [exempted students] should only graded on material from the three or four weeks that they attended, that could be seen as unfair to the students who

ALLEGRA MAESO

Freshmen jump for a ball while P.E. teacher Kiernan Raffo referees.

Yesterday, the MVLA school board voted on three options offered by district administrators regarding the availability of freshmen P.E. exemptions.

are in the course for the full semester,” Faillace said. “We need to figure out [grading] if we are to go forward.”

California state law provides the district legal authority to exempt freshmen from attending P.E. under education code 51242.

However some, including the district’s own lawyer, argue that the provision has been superseded by later laws providing for other exemptions. This interpretation led the district to discontinue the exemption in 2009. “[Students] need to get better time management skills [and] maybe not take so many classes,” Raffo said. “Freshman year is one year. There’s plenty of time to fit those classes in, but...you need to learn how to balance your schedule, have good time management and figure out how much you can take.”

To read about The Talon’s stance on P.E. exemption, read the editorial on the next page.

The Talon February 10, 2015

Please send letters to the editor to talon.lahs@gmail.com Los Altos High School

P.E. requirement benefits freshmen The district P.E. policy was decided on Monday, February 9. See lahstalon.org for the decision.

On Monday, February 9, the school board readdressed the district’s physical education (P.E.) policy requiring all freshmen students to take P.E. The current policy requires all freshman students to take P.E. with very few exemptions. After parent complaints surfaced last May, the board has discussed three options: keep the policy as is, exempt freshman athletes who are taking seven classes from their P.E. classes during their sports season or exempt freshman athletes from their P.E. classes during their sports season. Considering the many benefits P.E. provides students along with the logistical difficulties an exemption would create for P.E. classes, the school board must leave the current policy as is. All freshmen should continue to be required to take P.E. P.E. offers students benefits that cannot be obtained in afterschool sports. Freshman P.E. is one of the few courses offered to students that all students are required to take. Much like World Studies and Survey Composition Literature classes, all students take the same course and are thus able to interact with a variety of classmates that they may not otherwise meet.

After freshman year, there are fewer opportunities to take classes TALON FILE PHOTOS that are required of all students. Top pictures: Students play ultimate frisbee during ninth grade P.E. Bottom left: A student runs on the field.

Therefore, exposure to a diverse Bottom right: Freshmen play table tennis in the gym during P.E. The MVLA district board voted on a proposed classroom decreases. Freshman change to the freshman P.E. exemption policy on Monday, February 9.

P.E. offers an opportunity to meet other students that is vital to just as working in a lab afterschool something teachers recognize as are largely based on participation. cannot fully replace science class. forming an integrated campus. being very important coming into Additionally, students who are While some may high school. Exercise is known to exempt from much of a unit may Additionally, P.E. argue student ath- help lower stress, and a break in miss large amounts of instruction teaches skills that letes have too much the day helps students focus to al- material that may appear on a test. would not be otherof a time commitment low for a more productive schedwise obtained. For P.E. offers unThere are always points of imwith sports to take a ule overall. example, the weight deniable benprovement within the P.E. curP.E. class, sports are room unit in P.E. alEven if an exemption were de- riculum; for example, building on simply one example of sirable, the logistical challenges the current nutrition and fitness lows students to un- efits to freshsuch a time commit- of implementing an exemption lessons. However, P.E. offers understand how the men including ment. Most students should lead the board to reconsid- deniable benefits to freshmen inmachinery works and experience have extracurricu- er. If athletes were to be exempted cluding experience with a variety how to work out safe- with a variety lars that keep them during their sports seasons, class- of sports and activities and a sense ly. These skills are imof sports and busy after school, and es would be forced to adapt to a of community. The board should portant for students sports should not be constantly fluctuating class size vote to maintain the current policy to understand as they activities and a treated differently. which would prevent steady plans and not allow any form of freshcontinue to maintain sense of comThe set of skills taught and the creation of the best class man P.E. exemption. their fitness. And, munity. in sports do not re- community possible. while such skills are place that learned in a often expected out of Allowing athletes to skip P.E. To read a more on the after-school sports, are not a part P.E. class, but add to it. during their sports seasons would P.E. policy update, see P.E. is the one class a day stu- further complicate their ability to of school sport curricula. Sports News, page 4 cannot completely replace P.E., dents can get up and get active, catch up with lesson plans, which

THUMBS UP to the district for restoring the Young Parents Program at its January 26 board meeting.

The Young Parents Program provided child care, transportation and counseling services to students with children, allowing them to stay in school while caring for their children. The program cost the district $110,000 and served eight students. Since the program was cancelled last May, the district has found other ways to help the students, but it could never completely replace the services provided by the program, particularly child care. Reinstating the program means teen mothers will no longer have to choose between their children and their studies.

THUMBS UP

to ASB for creating an especially fun spirit assembly on Friday, January 30.

Other spirit assemblies had a similar format, with the captains of that season’s sports taking a turn at the mic and members of each sports team being acknowledged. However, while sports are an important part of LAHS, it was a refreshing change to see the focus of the assembly shift from athletes to overall class spirit. In this spirit assembly, members from each grade level competed in a series of competitions, from the traditional tug of war game to “tanks,” an ASB created game using blindfolds and dodgeballs. This assembly actively involved the student body and was decidedly better than ever before.

The Talon is switching entirely to web for the next issue. This means we will not publish a print issue at the beginning of March, but instead we will be constantly updating our website with everything you need to know. We will be coming at you with the first ever Talon news magazine at the beginning of April. In the meantime, check our website, lahstalon.org for daily updates.

201 Almond Ave., Los Altos, CA February 10, 2015 Volume XXX, Issue 5 Editor-In-Chief Carly Cohen Managing Editors Maya Acharya (Print) Zach Cohen (Print) David Wu (Web) News Editor Sofia Guo Opinions Editor Steven Cui Features Editor Katherine Yen In-Depth Editor Amelia Baum Entertainment Editor Alice Dai Sports Editor Daniel Rosenbaum Media Editor Noy Anisman Copy/Content Editors William Jow, James Sun, Maya Varghese, Kevin Yen Business Managers Johnny Scher, Leonardo Wai Senior Writers Robert Chin, Perla Luna, Sitara Sriram Staff Writers Emily Aoki, Claire Bai, Teddy Chmyz, Hannah Craford, Spencer Dembner, Annie Gaffney, Anneliese Gallagher, Cole Hanson, Olivia Jerram, Hanna Khosravi, Jessica King, Josh Kirshenbaum, Eric Kopps, Elaine Lee, David Lisbonne, Alexandra Milkey, Emily Terada, Eric Thiem Photographers Ian Mackey, Brandon Hong, Allegra Maeso, Noah Tsao, Elvis Li, Menson Li, Gina Kermode Graphic Artists Amanda Mell, Vanessa Mark Videographers Bonaventure Duprat, Carl Faust, Brandon Hong, Ian Mackey, Riley Moulds Adviser Michael Moul

POLICIES Los Altos High School’s Compositional Journalism class is solely responsible for The Talon, which is published eight times a year. The Talon also updates its website, www.lahstalon.org, with fulltime coverage.

The Editorial Board sets the policies of The Talon and crafts its editorials and thumbs. Its members are Maya Acharya, Noy Anisman, Amelia Baum, Zach Cohen, Spencer Dembner and Perla Luna.

ADVERTISE & SUBSCRIBE Send advertisement and subscription inquiries to Johnny Scher and Leonardo Wai at talon.lahs@gmail.com.

Talon Supporters Honorary Pulitzers Kamal and Sharmila Acharya, Hadas and David Anisman, Holly and Andy Cohen, Henry Dai and Dan Shen, Chuyen Do and Quyen Nguyen, Anne Marie Gallagher, Lisa Gordon, SuJane Hsieh, Jerry Scher and Susan Stark, Lillian Terada, The Varghese Family, Talon Volume 26 editors, Tracy Weatherby, Wendy Yang, Yongmei Zhou

Silver Supporters Sam and Ann Baum, Bruce Cohen, Amy and John Gaffney, Bob and Janis Harrison, Samrand Hesami, Rick and Corrie Jow, Jade Kandel, Hanna Khosravi, Vivian Mao, The McColl Family, Angie and Steve McDonald

The Talon February 10, 2015

Read more opinions articles at lahstalon.org/opinions

Structural changes highlight benefits of Intro to CS AMELIA BAUM In-Depth Editor

Major changes are coming to the school’s Introduction to Computer Science class starting in fall 2016. The course will shift from a one semester course taught in the SNAP! programming language to a year-long course incorporating one semester of Java syntax instruction and other enrichment activities.

Though the course has been helpful for many students in establishing foundational computer science understanding, the length of the class and the lack of written programming language instruction made it less appealing to students who were looking for a more rigorous computer science class. The changes go a long way toward ameliorating these concerns, underscoring the value of the class for students wishing to begin their computer science educations and prepare for the AP Computer Science (APCS) class.

The Introduction to Computer Science course is modeled after UC Berkeley’s CS10 Beauty and Science of Computing course and currently teaches students the basics of computer science logic using SNAP!, a drag and drop programming language. In drag and drop programming languages, commands consist of (usually) colored blocks that the user “drags” and “drops” onto a command line for the computer to execute. Drag and drop languages such

as SNAP! allow students to learn computer science fundamentals without getting bogged down in the syntax of a specific language.

The school and district have been discussing ways to expand the computer science options offered to students for several years, and the improvements to the intro course make up a large part of their solution. The hope is that the class will give students more time to develop an interest in computer science and their programming skills in a supportive environment. The intro class, which is not currently advertised as an official pre-requisite to AP Computer Science, is bypassed by the vast majority of students who enroll in the AP course. Out of the 118 students who enrolled in this year’s AP Computer Science class, just 21 had taken

Introduction to Computer Science.

“It might not have been clear that [students] should take Intro first,” Introduction to Computer Science teacher Jeanne Yu said. “They might have just thought it was OK to jump right into AP.” This lack of prior experience likely contributes to the course’s high drop rate. In total, 40 students have dropped APCS so far this year, five of whom took the introductory class. The changes to the intro class to include written language instruction in Java will hopefully encourage more students to take Introduction to Computer Science, resulting in a higher proportion of qualified students enrolling in APCS. At the same time, it is not yet clear how well the current intro class is preparing students for APCS, since

it has only been offered for four semesters. Sophomore Leah Bourgan, who took the class last semester and is planning on enrolling in APCS next semester, says she plans to take a supplemental Java course over the summer.

“I do feel like I learned a lot [in Intro] but I don’t think I am very prepared for AP yet,” Leah said. “I know that next year they are adding a section in on Java and that will definitely prepare people better; that is what would have helped me be more prepared for AP.” For this reason, the improved intro course will become a reasonable middle ground for students who do not have prior programming experience but want to learn a written language, with the option of enrolling in the AP course later in their

AMANDA MELL

high school careers.

The combined SNAP! and Java curriculum allows students to first learn fundamental computer science principles without the hindrance of a specific written language and later apply them using Java syntax. Once students have a working understanding of programming principles such as arrays, loops and iteration, the transition to Java is much easier.

“The reason why Teals and Berkeley teach [the class] with SNAP! first is because then you are learning concepts that you can translate to any language that you want,” Yu said. “[When you transition to Java], instead of dragging the block you write the word down instead.”

In addition to Java instruction, the improved version of the course will give students more opportunities to learn about the computer science field outside of technical coding.

The class will offer more “culture days” in which students learn about concepts or aspects of the field such as computer hardware, Moore’s law and fractals.

In the two years it has been offered at the school, the Intro to Computer Science class has been instrumental in introducing students to the world of computer science at a foundational level. The extension of the course and the introduction of the Java language are positive changes that are critical in giving students the best computer science education and ensuring that those who wish to enroll at the AP level are academically prepared to do so. More students, particularly underclassmen, should consider enrolling in the course, which is only getting better with time.

BYOD Program successful, should be continued EMILY TERADA CHRIS THIEM

Staff Writers

At the beginning of this year, the school provided laptops to students and implemented the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program which requires students to bring a device to school every day with the intention of enhancing the learning process. While some argue that this new system merely increases opportunities for distraction in class, its overall ability to raise the quality of learning outweighs such costs. Some students may still need learn how to responsibly use a device in class, but overall the BYOD program has helped increase the productivity of students and should be explored and continued in the future.

This program is a marked improvement from last year’s system of computer carts. Many of the former school-provided laptops were old and sometimes unresponsive.

This left some students fidgeting with their computers as the rest of the class proceeded with the lesson plan for that day. In addition, many teachers who wanted laptops in their class for the day were unable to find an available laptop cart.

With students bringing in their own laptops and new Chromebooks, teachers can plan a lesson around an online resource without worrying about not getting laptops and students falling behind.

“I think it’s useful for teachers to be able to rely on students having computers so they can more effectively utilize online resources without it being a pain for everyone,” junior Zack Davis said.

Some worried teachers and parents have questioned the resolve of students to stay focused in class.

However, with technology becoming a larger aspect in our lives, if the school wants to prepare students for college and future jobs, students will have to learn how not to

become distracted by their devices.

“Students should just realize that they need to gain more responsibility [with the devices],” senior Karen Zellers said.

In that same regard, devices should be a shared responsibility between teacher and student. By teaching students how to use their devices in a responsible manner, the school can enhance the learning process and improve the effectiveness of the devices.

“I think that one of the big things for me that would help improve [the program] from a teacher’s standpoint is some type of program where we can monitor the screens …[and] improve the use,” science teacher Darren Dressen said.

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VANESSA MARK

With a screen-monitoring sys- been very successful so far. The tem, teachers can check that stu- school will continue to use devices, dents are following the lesson as benefits outweigh the cons in rather than getting terms of learning distracted by their material. devices. Addition“I think there is ally, this will help I think there is no no question that reduce distrac- question that human human beings in tions that can in- beings in advanced advanced societterrupt the flow of ies are going to societies are going class. Because disbe functioning a tractions still exist, to be functioning a lot on digital deit can be difficult lot on digital devices, vices, and they’re to tell whether stu- and they’re going going to be a part dents should have to be a part of their of their work and their devices out or therefore educanot during a class work and therefore tion,” Assistant education. lecture.

Principal Galen “I think stuRosenberg said.

— Assistant Principal Galen Rosenberg dents probably Overall, the have a better feel BYOD program’s for [this] than teachers, because success is due to the good coopthey go into different classes but it eration between teachers and stuseems like teachers are struggling dents. Though the program has with the norms and not exactly reaped many benefits, there are sure how much they should have still improvements to be made. them open or should they be open Students must keep in mind that during lecture,” Dressen said. “Is it their actions could have a negaOK for them to follow along on a tive effect on their schoolwork, Powerpoint or should they be tak- and must therefore use their deing notes? I think a lot of us are vices responsibly in order to get uncertain of that.” the most of their devices. Keeping Though students may agree that that in mind, the school should even though typing out notes is continue using the BYOD promore efficient, they seem to learn gram, as it has been beneficial to the material better when it’s writ- student’s learning and will conten out. Although distractions still tinue to play a central part in the remain, the BYOD program has future of education.

If you would like to write about your stance on an issue that’s affecting students at our school, email Opinions Editor Steven Cui at talon.lahs@gmail.com with a summary of your idea.

The Talon February 10, 2015

Just Maya Thoughts

Students should be wary of jumping on political bandwagons SITARA SRIRAM Senior Writer

By Maya Varghese

Celebrating Free Speech ≠ Celebrating Intolerance On Wednesday, January 7, the world’s eyes turned to Paris in wake of the terrorist attacks on the Charlie Hebdo magazine headquarters there.

The attacks were committed

by Muslim extremists who were provoked by the satirical cartoons published in the magazine, many of which were intended to be offensive to Muslims.

Within hours of the attacks, people around the world had started tweeting and commenting on social media in response, using #JeSuisCharlie, which means “I am Charlie.” Many of these tweets and posts were about freedom of speech. While in some ways the shooting was about freedom of speech, the terrorists attacked because they were offended by Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons. It’s problematic that the Charlie Hebdo cartoons are being held up as the definition of free speech.

The freedom of speech should be fought for, and Charlie Hebdo had every right to publish their cartoons.

However, that doesn’t mean that the cartoons themselves should be celebrated. The point of free speech, and satire, is so that individuals and publications can criticize powerful people in society.

That isn’t what Charlie Hebdo was doing. The cartoons were mocking Muslims as a whole, and Muslims are one of the most marginalized minorities in France. Racism and intolerance should be legal because the freedom of speech should be guaranteed. But that doesn’t mean that they should be celebrated as what free speech is all about.

The problem, really, is not that Charlie Hebdo published the cartoons. The problem is that global support is not only for the dead journalists and their families but also for the content of the papers.

The problem is that in wake of a terrorist attack that most Muslims condemned, the digital world responded with attacks on Muslims, not on terrorism.

The deaths of the journalists were a tragedy. It should go without saying that the shootings were a despicable act of terror. The 12 journalists should be mourned as humans, just as the people who were killed at a later attack at a Paris kosher market should be mourned as humans. The response to the attack should not be about fighting a vicious hate crime by spouting hate on the Internet but about mourning the people who lost their lives for no good reason.

“What good is saying ‘black lives matter,’ if you’re not willing to do whatever it takes to protect those lives?” social activist Taurean Brown tweeted.

A few months ago, the death of black teenager Michael Brown, along with the death of Eric Garner, both at the hands of white police officers, sparked a national debate on the state of police brutality, particularly towards people of color.

Los Altos students have risen to take action in light of these recent tragedies. Organizations have been formed and marches have been organized nearly overnight to show support for these causes and to urge our local law enforcement to take action to combat these injustices. These efforts should be commended and will go a long way in raising awareness throughout the community.

However, whenever issues of social justice rise to the forefront, it is easy for people who have limited knowledge to blindly declare support for a specific person or cause.

Jumping on bandwagons is harmless when it comes to things like sports teams or bands, but it can have serious ramifications when it comes to political issues. Students should be commended for taking political action but should recognize that calling yourself an activist when you have limited information can be dangerous. Doing so can even end up impeding the cause you are trying to support.

The nature of social media means that supporting a cause is now as simple as liking a photo on Instagram, retweeting on Twitter or reblogging on Tumblr. This makes it much easier for people on social media to support causes without fully researching their significance.

The Egyptian Revolution in January 2011 is one example of a movement that was primarily organized online and through social media.

“Egypt’s revolution was created as an event on Facebook eleven days in advance,” Rasha A. Abdulla, an associate professor in the department of Journalism and Mass Communication at the American University in Cairo, wrote in the “Cairo Review of Global Affairs.”

“People clicked ‘I’m attending.’ Social media prepared Egyptians for the revolution and enabled them to capitalize on an opportunity for change when the time came.”

Social media, particularly blogging platforms such as Tumblr, can be a valuable tool for learning about issues and events such as Ferguson. Twitter, Facebook and hashtags such as #BlackLivesMatter can also be a powerful tool for

raising awareness. However, it also on a poster at a protest, simply becreates an illusion that people are cause they saw a few posts on social helping when they really aren’t do- media with that hashtag, are iming much. “#Activism” is certainly peding the cause, not helping it. Of a type of activism, but it must be course all lives matter—but that’s supplemented by something more. not the issue here.

Furthermore, it’s also problematic Posting on social media about when people gain limited knowl- these issues is not wrong in its own edge through social media, believe right; it becomes wrong when people they are experts and spread false equate these posts with real action. information.

Taking action does not need to A key example of be necessarily in the this in the context form of attending of racism and pomarches or protests, lice brutality is the Students need to though these are cerdifference between remember that with tainly effective ways. #BlackLivesMatter Especially with issues things like social and #AllLivesMatter. like Ferguson, tak“Telling us that all justice, jumping on ing action can be as lives matter is redun- the bandwagon is simple as spreading dant,” Julia Craven not acceptable. accurate knowledge wrote in a Huffingto friends who may ton Post article titled not be as informed as “Please Stop Telling Me That All you. Taking action can be pointing Lives Matter.” “We know that already. it out to your friends or family when But, just know, police violence and they make racist comments. Taking brutality disproportionately affects action can even take form in chang[black] people. Justice is not applied ing the way you think about issues equally, laws are not applied equally such as racial privilege. and neither is our outrage.”

Students need to remember People who have not done their that with things like social jusresearch and put “#AllLivesMatter” tice, jumping on the bandwagon is not acceptable. Make these issues a part of your daily life. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr can be good ways to get informed, but it is also important to check information you see on these sources with credible news organizations. Social media is an important part of the movement for change, but it also poses a unique set of challenges, and will take more than posts for things to change. Keep this in mind next time you “like” a post about how tragic Michael Brown’s death was, or tweet “#AllLivesMatter.”

AMANDA MELL

Mountain View should abolish its curfew SPENCER DEMBNER Staff Writer

There are few laws that are as common, yet rarely talked about, as the curfew. Almost two thirds of U.S. cities and towns are estimated to have a curfew law preventing young people from being out at night. However, studies show that curfews don’t reduce crime committed by juveniles, nor crime committed against them. Currently, Mountain View’s curfew is on hold while the city works on revising it as part of its regular process.

Mountain View should take this opportunity to evaluate whether it needs one at all.

Mountain View’s curfew bans those under 18 from being out after 10 p.m. Officers pursue violations they notice while patrolling, but none are assigned specifically to go after curfew offenders.

“When a police officer goes out in the middle of the night, they are not saying, ‘I am going to enforce juvenile curfew laws all night,’” police public information officer Saul Jaeger said. “[Curfew] gives us the ability, if we see someone that looks like a juvenile that’s out late, to find out what’s going on.”

Officers also practice wide discretion in how they respond to a curfew violation.

“If I stop you, at 1 o’clock in the morning, and I decide to call your parents and have them get you, is that considered enforcement?”

Jaeger said. “What if I write you

a ticket? What if I arrest you?...

There’s a lot of [police] discretion.”

Considering the wide authority they grant to police, there simply isn’t enough evidence that curfews reduce crime.

When the New York Civil Liberties Union compared the results of all the previous studies it could find, they found zero evidence that curfews lead to overall crime reductions, merely shifting crime to different times of day.

“Overall, the weight of scientific evidence...fails to support the argument that curfews reduce crime and criminal victimization,” the study said.

In fact, the curfew applies during the time of day when youth are least likely to commit violent crimes. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, violent crime

VANESSA MARK/DATA FROM NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFERENCE SERVICE

by juveniles is highest after school, between 2 and 5 p.m. The time between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when curfew is in effect is also the time when they are least likely to be committing crimes, even though one in three U.S. towns have no curfew whatsoever.

Mountain View has not conducted any formal studies on the effectiveness of its own curfew.

However, its enforcement is similar to other cities, meaning its effectiveness is likely also similar.

Curfew laws are frequently justified by arguing that young people have no reason to be out at night.

However, this reverses the matter. The government needs to justify its actions, not the people. If there’s no specific evidence that curfews reduce crime, then cities should not have curfews, and the fact that the law might affect only a few people does not justify its continued existence.

In addition, having a curfew leaves significant room for discriminatory enforcement, especially since officers have so much discretion with how to enforce the law. There is always a possibility that implicit biases could lead minorities to be stopped or cited more often for violating the curfew.

Restrictive laws such as curfews should be based on clear evidence of effectiveness, not inertia. With enforcement of its curfew suspended, Mountain View has an ideal chance to revisit the law, and the city council should consider the possibility that the law should be not just revised but abolished completely.

The Talon February 10, 2015

Student Life: Should weekend homework be banned?

CLAIRE BAI JESSICA KING Staff Writers

Weekends are supposed to be downtime; they are time to relax, rejuvenate and catch up on sleep.

Healthy teens should be sleeping at least nine hours a night; most get a maximum of seven hours or less, according to Nationwide Children’s Hospital states. Initiating a no weekend homework policy could relieve the burdening stress a majority of students carry and leave time for relaxation.

“Weekends are, for teachers and for students, time to relax, recuperate, recharge,” social studies teacher Kelly Coble said, “Both teachers and students work really hard all week. There’s lots of homework, lots of clubs, sports and just sitting through all of your classes every day takes a lot of energy physically, mentally, emotionally.”

Stress is one of the main arguments against weekend homework. As students have stated, teachers often assign enough homework to take up the whole weekend, most likely rationalizing that the two days are plenty of time to finish it. By the time Sunday night swings around, the majority of

students may have barely gotten halfway through their weekend homework because of weekend extracurriculars such as sports tournaments and music lessons.

However, there are definitely positives of weekend homework. As Coble points out, both students and teachers agree that weekends are a great time to review material and practice concepts and ideas learned over the week.

She argues that ignoring schoolwork over the weekend can cause the lessons to fade and slip from one’s mind.

Also, those who take honors and AP classes should especially remember that their signing up for the courses signifies that they are willing to work extra hours beyond what a college preparatory student would do. Still, even students with multiple AP classes deserve rest and should have time to catch up on sleep.

“I don’t mind when we are eased into new material with a light assignment during the weekend to jumpstart the coming week,” sophomore Jaclyn Saik said. “It’s when I’m spending my entire Saturday or Sunday working and stressing that I get irritated.”

When students rush to do their homework, the quality of the work goes down the drain. Students do their homework for the purpose of getting it done, not to learn or benefit from it.

As a result, weekend homework goes

to waste. Stanford Lecturer Denise Pope researches school environments and is the cofounder of Challenge Success, a research project that aims to reduce unhealthy pressures on youth. In her book “Doing School,” Pope discusses student mindset over homework assignments.

“Instead of thinking deeply about the content of their courses and delving into projects and assignments, the students focus on managing the workload and honing strategies that will help them to achieve high grades,” Pope wrote.

Homework, admittedly, has its benefits. That’s why teachers assign it in the first place. However, it does have cons that must be addressed, which is why many have questioned the purpose and efficiency of weekend homework. A balance must be found and established between reviewing over the weekend and having time to do extracurriculars and catch up on sleep. The current homework policy states: “The administration and certificated staff shall design homework plans and assignments so that through their homework, students can reinforce academic skills taught in school and learn how to conduct research effectively, develop ideas creatively and become lifelong learners.”

The homework policy’s purpose is clear. Weekend homework has benefits, but only in moderation.

negative implications of a ban on weekend homework. If we place restraints on teachers when it comes to assignments, they may be forced to give crushing amounts of work on the weekday, when students typically also have school and extracurriculars. Opponents of weekend homework think that the quality of homework diminishes since students rush through weekend homework; taking this perspective, imagine the horrors of low homework quality and frantic schedules on the weekday.

By assigning homework on the weekend, teachers are able to withhold from assigning the more intellectually-demanding and time-consuming projects on the weekdays. Instead, they are able to use weekend homework to emphasize more thoughtful projects that force students to draw from sources outside the classroom.

Logically, weekend homework is the solution to alleviating constant weekday pressure: since there is a generally more relaxed mood among teenagers on days when they don’t have school, students will approach their bigger, weekend assignments with a clearer mind.

In addition, weekend homework creates the incentive to be organized and mindful of time, without giving too much of a restraint so as

to prevent people from having their own plans. In manageable amounts, weekend homework maintains high expectations of people and continues the learning process when students are out of school.

Another source of the problem may be students overestimating their time management and busy workload.

When a student chooses to take on numerous advanced courses, the stress becomes their responsibility to handle, not the district’s to reduce. Those who learn to balance their workload will absolutely be able to partake in sports, music, art, and still manage academics.

While people are quick to blame the homework itself for the supposed large amount of time spent on homework over the weekend, a refreshed look into time management and work ethics may help alleviate the burden of the problem. Seeing that high school is preparing young teenagers to become adults, weekend homework is an essential way to teach high school students to be prepared and more responsible. Getting in the habit of bringing ourselves to complete homework on the weekend creates a strong work ethic that will strengthen people’s character.

Homework quantity isn’t in need of change: it’s the attitude toward it that needs a revival.

If we instead assigned students to participate in immersive experiences over the weekend rather than doing homework, like an outing or a visit to the

PRO & CON

ELAINE LEE Staff Writer

With shrinking college admissions rates and increasing academic competition, banning weekend homework seems like the best way to give students at least some time away from stress. But people need to realize that a weekend homework ban would bring a negative change rather than a positive one. Weekend homework isn’t a dreadful evil: it’s necessary in moderate amounts, and banning it may lead to a lack of discipline and artificial, stiff attitudes toward academics and learning. That’s not to say there aren’t flaws. It is also important for classes themselves to assign homework that will truly help a student develop in a meaningful way.

We first need to consider the ADVERTISEMENT

A NEW VIEW

Students of all ages have long coveted the possibility of a stressfree, work-free weekend, and this dream has now gained a few parent supporters. Worried that their children are barely sleeping and always doing homework, two parents spoke up at the MVLA school board meeting on November 10, 2014, to propose a new no-weekendhomework policy. In a more recent meeting on December 8, 2014, the suggested policy was more deeply discussed on the board agenda.

AMANDA MELL

museum, arguments against weekend homework would be different.

We need to consider the larger reasons why we have homework in the first place and stop viewing homework as a chore. Rather than try to segment academics to the weekday and “free time” to the weekend, we need to shift our perspective and look at homework in the bigger picture. Weekend homework doesn’t function to just reinforce academic content: building discipline, time management skills and responsibility are just as important.

Though the debate is about homework, it really should be about learning. Weekend homework shouldn’t be seen as a source of misery that punishes kids and takes away their free time. It should be seen as a positive way to continue learning in the real world, not as a horrible chore that is boring, stressful and unhealthy in large doses.

AMANDA MELL

The Talon February 10, 2015

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Read more features articles at lahstalon.org/features

The Life of a Former Paramedic

Forklifts, cocaine addicts and now biology...

MAYA VARGHESE SITARA SRIRAM Copy/Content Editor Senior Writer

I

t’s Thursday during seventh out his six-year career, he worked on we get there, because this guy’s carperiod. Calls of “Mr. Russo, a number of memorable cases. He rying a weapon, and he’s got a lot of can I see the cellular respira- did everything from bringing back a drugs on him.” tion, digestive system and ner- councilman’s pulse in a packed city As a result of working in such vous system test?” and “Can you hall to stabilizing a man whose face high-stress situations, Russo explain to me how the cardiovas- had been mauled by a forklift when learned to work well with others. cular system works?” fill the room. his jewelry got caught in the chain Students might be surprised to AP Biology and Biology Honors drive of the machinery. hear him call himself shy, but Rusteacher Jacob Russo “It literally tore his so credits his time as a paramedic remains unfazed. face in half,” Russo with teaching him to overcome his Russo is no stranger said. “I thought he was shyness and become a more effecto chaotic and stress- And here I sit, dead…[but] all of a sud- tive communicator. ful situations. Before 15 years later. den his eyes just opened “I wasn’t comfortable asking people coming to Los Altos I had no idea I wide. I saw these bright to do things,” Russo said. “I really had High School as a sci- wanted to be a whites. I got so scared, to just get over that. I was the person ence teacher this year, I fell backwards out of in charge in these situations, so I had he worked as a para- teacher. the fork lift. We stabi- to delegate and tell these firefighters…

—biology teacher medic and witnessed lized him as best we and police what to do. And initially, Jacob Russo a variety of strange could and...the [doc- that was pretty hard for me.” medical situations. tors] sewed him back Though he enjoyed his work as His path to becoming together.” a paramedic, Russo quit his job in a paramedic began when he took Sometimes, the situations Russo 1997. After moving to the Santa an emergency medical technician and his partners found themselves Cruz area, his commute to Ventu(EMT) class at Santa Barbara City in were dangerous. Typically, they ra became too long to be feasible, College while attending UC Santa did not work on crime scenes un- and he knew that he didn’t want Barbara. Part of this course involved til police had cleared the scene as to be a paramedic for the rest of spending three to four days observ- safe for emergency medical person- his life. While Russo was trying to ing in a hospital emergency room. nel. However, on occasion, Russo figure out the next stage in his life, “[I remember] someone came in received calls to go to he remembered how with just this really nasty flap of tis- places that had not much he had enjoyed sue hanging off their arm,” Russo been identified as teaching classes at a I’m a very wellsaid. “It made me sick and the ER crime scenes...yet. paramedic school and doc looked at me and said ‘Go into One time, Russo rounded person decided to enroll in [the break room] have some sal- and his partners were because I had a teaching certificate tines, drink half a can of 7-up and called to the scene of the experience program at San Jose come back. Just fight through this a traffic accident. As of being a paraState University. once, and see what happens. If it he was loading the “And here I sit, 15 keeps making you sick, this is not male victim into the medic. years later,” Russo said. for you.’ [After that,] nothing ever ambulance, he noticed “I had no idea I wanted — biology teacher Jacob Russo bothered me again.” something strange. to be a teacher.”

Russo graduated from UC Santa “I’m standing over For Russo, his bigBarbara in 1990 and drove an am- him, and I get a look gest takeaway from his bulance as an EMT for a year before into his bag,” Russo said. “And I see career as a paramedic was the emgoing back to school, this time to cocaine and a gun. There’s a revolver pathy he gained from dealing with become a paramedic. After com- in his bag. I just got in the passenger a variety of people and situations pleting the six-month paramedic seat and said, ‘Drive faster.’ And I got while on the job. course, Russo started working in on the radio… telling the hospital to “Some of the homes I went into, Ventura County in 1992. Through- make sure the police are there when that’s where I really started to learn

Delamare CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

“Within a week, I got a response from both of them,” Scott said. “Manila Killa is an extremely humble and talented professional producer, but, to be completely honest, he isn’t hugely known. I think this largely helped my chances of getting noticed by the original artist.”

The idea behind his “2h Du Matin” remix, which instantly became

COURTESY SCOTT DELAMARE

Local music producer junior Scott Delamare uses this logo for his Soundcloud account. Scott is a budding producer who has already had a song go viral.

popular on soundcloud.com, was As one might expect, the road that simply from the work of the original Scott traveled from the conception of artist, Manila Killa. Other inspira- his musical career has not been withtions for Scott’s work include artists out obstacles. Scott developed his such as Swedish House Mafia, Mad- professional sound from years of trial eon and ODESZA. and error, long nights of work and fer“A remix is giving an artist’s song vent dedication. another life or spin in another artist’s “When I first started making mustyle,” Scott said. “Usually, a remix is sic, it was difficult but captivating at done on songs with vocals, allowing the same time,” Scott said. “There was for the remix artist to produce the mu- so much to learn, and I think I really sic behind the voice. For liked the challenge of example, the tropical figuring out what evxylophone sound was I make music to erything did and how to inspired from a remix make a certain sound. of [Killa’s] own and a make not only With every song, I learn different remix by [an- myself, but othsomething new.” other artist], Kerala.”

In December this ers, happy Scott’s musical career year, Scott joined an — junior Scott Delamare began with the piano unofficial group of talin elementary school, ented musicians and but ended in just five months after he producers called Musicians Mutual found the instrument too monoto- in order to share his ideas and music. nous. However, after getting his first The group is an important resource audio workshop program for Christ- for Scott to get opinions and reviews mas four years ago, Scott started ex- on his music before he shares them perimenting with drum beats and with the public. synthesizers and began producing his “It’s an easy way to get feedback own music in eighth grade. from a fresh pair of ears,” Scott said.

“I started listening to genres of EDM “We upload songs or clips privately at that time of year too, but not to any and send each other the sharing of the genres I produce today,” Scott link. After writing anything, I almost said. “It wasn’t until the end of fresh- always go straight to a good friend man year that I uploaded my first real of mine from UCSB, Zack Morgan. song to my Soundcloud page.”

We’ve been giving each other feed-

MENSON LI

Biology teacher Jacob Russo presides over his classroom. Before becoming a teacher, Russo was an emergency medical technician and a parademic, careers that exposed him to a wide variety of people and situations. how fortunate I was to be raised in the environment that I was raised in,” Russo said. “The way some people have to live just blew me away.

And so it really helped me develop a sense of empathy and start to understand why people made the choices they did, when they weren’t good choices. I didn’t have to like their choices, but I could understand why they were doing what they were doing.”

Russo believes that this same ability to understand people makes him a more effective teacher as well.

“It’s so much more mild here, but if a kid’s struggling in class, I’m very quick to try to figure out what’s behind that, and help that person try to correct it,” Russo said. “The empathy’s important for me. Like I’ve really seen the worst of the worst and you know, just started to think deeply about how people got there. It was good. It was good for me. I’m a very well-rounded person because I had the experience of being a paramedic, so I love that I had that experience.”

back for a long time and know each other’s style very well, even though our styles are completely different.”

Today, Scott’s music style falls under the stylistically broad EDM. However Scott classifies his compositions under the up-and-coming Tropical House genre. Tropical House is a kind of EDM music that is generally conceived with an summeresque, island or tropical theme, which means incorporating relaxed beats, light vocals and melodic chimes.

“I have a lot of things planned for the future of my music,” Scott said.

“I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say there will be collaborations, brand new original songs

and of course more remixes!”

Producing any kind of music is a unique skill, one that has the potential to make many positive effects in other people’s lives. Scott’s inspiration for the work he creates lies at the heart of this concept.

“When people ask me why I make music, I guess I kind of just answer, ‘Why not?’” Scott said. “It has an incredible power to bring people together and put smiles on their faces, and to me, that’s what it’s really about. I make music to make not only myself, but others, happy.”

Check out Scott’s music at: soundcloud.com/scott-delamare-music

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The Talon February 10, 2015

Junior hones sword fighting skills WILLIAM JOW JAMES SUN

Copy/Content Editors

In a whirl of motion, two blackrobed figures rush at each other with impossible agility, bamboo swords clashing. Another blink of the eye and the final point is scored by the left competitor with a strike to his opponent’s neck. The two fighters resume their greeting stance and bow to end the match. On the sidelines, the victor takes off his mask, and junior Alex Tseng’s beaming face appears. He has just won another kendo match.

Kendo is a Japanese martial art that Alex has been practicing for over 10 years. It adds a competitive aspect to traditional samurai swordsmanship. Practitioners use bamboo training swords (shinai) in-

stead of edged samurai swords (katana) and wear armor to reduce the risk of injury. During kendo matches, competitors aim to score three points by deliberately striking the opponent on the wrist, abdomen, neck or top of the head. In addition to making contact with a scoring area, the attacker must express his or her fighting spirit with correct footwork and a shout in order for the point to count. “[In kendo,] we practice the way of using katana, strengthen the spirit through using one’s sword and learn to focus with strength in mind,” Alex said. “Back in ancient Japan, samurai would fight and one would end up dying. I think the point of kendo is that it is training to be a samurai, but without killing and [with] the ability to stand back up again.”

PHOTOS BY ELVIS LI

Junior Alex Tseng practices the Japanese martial art kendo in his backyard. With over 10 years of experience, Alex is one of the top fighters in his dojo and considers kendo to be an integral part of his life.

Although Alex’s father and great “If we win one, then we all get in uncle also practice kendo, they had a huddle because we are so happy,” little to do with his introduction to Alex said. “We yell and that kind of the sport. Rather, Alex’s fascination stuff. It’s almost as if we are brothers.” with sword fighting and subsequent After much practice and experienrollment at the Mountain View ence at tournaments, Alex and his and Palo Alto Kendo Dojos (halls teammates have earned the Palo Alto where martial arts is practiced) at Kendo Dojo a reputation as one of the age of five was sparked by online the top dojos in California. The dojo videos and movies like Star Wars. wins over three-quarters of the dozHowever, at such a young age he en or so Northern California Kendo found that kendo required much Federation tournaments that are more patience and discipline than hosted yearly. This success has led he initially thought. the team to get its feet wet with in“At the beginning I thought it ternational competition by entering was a fun thing to do… tournaments in Kyoto but when I actually and Osaka in Japan. entered the dojo, the “[The Japanese tourIf I didn’t have first five months were naments] are pretty just basic striking; you kendo...then I exciting,” Alex said. didn’t even put the ar- would probably “Competitions in Japan mor on and you only not be who I am feel more serious [than worked on one single today.

Californian tournastrike,” Alex said. “I ments] though. Every— junior Alex Tseng got tired of it and I one’s focus seems to gave up for like a week step up a level.” or two. I was just kind of frustrated, Still, kendo is much more than just thinking ‘Why don’t they teach us a sport for tournaments. Outside of different strikes?’” the dojo, Alex finds that kendo has Despite the brief hiatus, Alex even- helped shape his identity and bentually got back into kendo after deep- efits his day-to-day activities. ening his understanding of the art.

“Just meditating and getting more Now, after more than 10 years’ chances to hone my spirit is probably experience in the martial art, Alex why it is such a big part of me,” Alex has become one of the top fighters said. “If I didn’t have kendo...then at his dojo. For team competitions, I would probably not be who I am the five best fighters in the dojo are today and might have a harder time chosen to represent the dojo and concentrating on other things like participate in a series of five match- studying and practicing music.” es against another team, one pair of Looking into the future, Alex opponents at a time. Alex primarily has committed to cement kendo competes in team events because he as a mainstay in his life, whether enjoys the sense of comradery that it be by joining a college team, stems from each teammate’s depen- training at a local dojo or simply dence on another for a victory. practicing at home.

Math teacher’s career spans continents drawn to an entirely different, and perhaps unexpected career path.

She decided to pursue teaching after From deleting Russell Crowe’s observing one of the math classes script to roundhouse kicking a mon- that her ultimate frisbee teammate key to producing an award-winning taught. As chance would have it, Yu documentary, math teacher Jeanne received and accepted a job offer at Culver City Middle School. At the Yu never lacks a story to tell.

Yu stood out from the beginning, same time, she began taking her being one of the few Asian people classes at Pepperdine University.

“It was really stressful the first growing up in a mainly Irish-Catholic Boston suburb. After high school, Yu year because I was trying to get my stood out once again when she chose Masters’ degree at the same time,” to major in film and media studies Yu said. “After a few years, it got at MIT. She had originally planned better, but that first year, I definiteto major in engineering, but her ad- ly had no social life.”

After teaching at the middle school, venturous nature and love of excitement led her to choose film instead. Yu taught at Culver City High School Throughout college, she worked as for a year. While there, a co-worker an intern at several film companies, suggested that she teach abroad, an idea Yu found appealing including SBS Televibecause it appeased her sion in Australia. Durlove of adventure. She ing the summer of applied to Woodstock 1997, she also interned Life always School in Mussoorie, at Sam Raimi’s com- throws surIndia but didn’t get the pany, which later pro- prises, so who position. Instead, anduced Spider-Man, and other opportunity came worked for James Cam- knows?...I’m up to teach English at a eron, who directed just taking it summer camp in NanTitanic. However, Yu’s one year at a jing, China, an experitime in the industry time. ence that helped Yu was not without some — math teacher become “more comfortbumps in the road.

Jeanne Yu able with [her] identity Yu once accidentally growing up in America erased one of Russell as a Chinese-American.”

Crow’s movie scripts.

About a year later, Yu applied “It was on a floppy disk, and it was the only copy that he had,¨ Yu said. once again to Woodstock School ¨I ejected the disk with a paperclip, and got the job. She spent the next and the file disappeared. He spent two years teaching high school in the whole day trying to re-type it, the mountains of India.

Teaching wasn’t Yu’s only advenand then I think he just gave up on ture in India. Every day, she would the project. It was a cowboy story.”

While one might think the fame make the journey on foot, through of the film industry would excite the jungle and up a mountain to most people, Yu found herself get to her apartment. On the week-

EMILY AOKI Staff Writer

MENSON LI

Math teacher Jeanne Yu solves an example problem on the projector.

Among her many adventures, Yu has worked in the film industry, taught in India and even produced an award-winning documentary. ends, Yu and friends would go on hikes to the bazaar for shopping.

On one such occasion, Yu and her friend were waylaid by a pack of aggressive monkeys.

“The alpha male monkey was in front, and I roundhouse kicked his head,” Yu said. “He was stunned for a while, but then started coming toward us again...So I picked up [a] rock, and they all ran up the hill...

Now that I think about it, I think it was because of the truck that came up behind us, not because of my skills.”

While in India, Yu was inspired by the villagers to draw upon her background in the film industry and to work with her students on a documentary called “Palayan: A Story of Exodus” which conveyed the villagers’ difficulties in choosing whether or not to migrate to the city. The film won the Golden Halo Award at the

2010 Script Film Festival and was also selected at the Commffest Global Community Film Festival.

Yu returned from India in 2009, but she once again met with the villagers in the summer of 2013 to start a micro-financing trust with the 15,000 rupees ($244.16) the documentary won. The seed money was loaned to women who needed financial help realizing their entrepreneurial ideas.

Three years after returning to the U.S., Yu became a teacher at LAHS where she has worked for the past three years teaching Algebra II and Intro to Computer Science. Yu currently plans to stay at the school permanently, but nothing is certain.

“Life always throws surprises, so who knows?” Yu said. “[My] whole [life], I never even knew what I was going to do a few months from then, so it’s the same thing now. I’m just taking it one year at a time.”

This Side of Lunadise

By Perla Luna

The Tipping Point There comes a point in every senior’s life when you realize that second semester isn’t the slack-off semester everyone makes it out to be. It seems easier in the sense that you’re done with your college applications and the last set of semester grades that’ll be looked at by colleges, but it’s not actually easier because, contrary to popular belief, you don’t suddenly revert back to a freshman-level workload. If anything, stress over standardized tests and college applications gets replaced by stress over the senior project, scholarships, jobs and whatever else you’re unlucky enough to have on your plate.

I came to realize the truth when my freshman brother was complaining to me about how he didn’t have any time to read the books I was trying to force him to read. I took his excuse as a weak one because how could he not have time? He was a freshman; they don’t do much. I, on the other hand, was doing much. As I rattled off to him a list of things I had to do before I graduated, it finally started to settle in: I’m never going to have it as easy as I did before. The responsibilities will just keep piling on.

I don’t mean to be a glass half empty kind of person about this.

Responsibilities don’t mean we can’t ever have fun again. It just means we have “grown up”— or are at least in the process of growing up. As in, you have to make your own doctor appointments and figure out how that whole money thing works, which in itself isn’t too bad. It’s tedious, sure, but it means we’re responsible for ourselves.

However daunting or frightening that might seem, taking on responsibilities is also a worthwhile experience that can’t be put off. Eventually it has to happen. It may be more comforting to know you can always have your parents (hopefully not literally) bail you out, but the possibility of real consequences makes any accomplishment all the more important because you took a risk and you succeeded. And if you fail, you get to learn from your mistake because sometimes suffering the consequences is the best option. Otherwise we’d still be putting our hands on hot stoves.

Of course, there will be slipups. Procrastination continues to rear its ugly head for me time and time again, but at least I’ve learned to manage myself better. People, like society, don’t have the best track record when it comes to keeping on the straight and narrow path. But that’s just it: slip-ups are slip-ups and they’re bound to happen to anyone. The real challenge is accepting our responsibilities and doing the best we can with them.

The Talon February 10, 2015

The Ins and Outs

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or Los Altos High School students, Freestyle requires a daily commute to the old Alta Vista High School campus, which is adjacent to the Mountain View High School (MVHS) campus.

Most students drive themselves or carpool with friends, but there are a few who use a bus system called KidsKab that ferries students to and from the MVHS campus.

On campus, students either attend the a.m. or the p.m. session, both of which are modeled as block periods.

The a.m. session spans periods two to four, while the p.m. session spans periods five to seven. During these sessions, Freestyle students take a popculture-based English class, a design seminar and a multimedia course: either film or web and audio.

In a typical class period, students learn about and begin a new project or continue work on a pre-existing one. The majority of the work students complete at Freestyle Academy are large projects, created over a long period of time.

One major project option is the documentary project, in which students choose their own topic to research and use. Over a time period of a couple months, students lay

Think creatively,’” senior Niamh McLoughlin said.

“Freestyle introduced me to thinking on the right side of the brain and solving problems creatively.”

The program’s habit of throwing students into the new and uncomfortable is seen best Freestyle students can use a green screen for in the students’ their filming projects. first unit of junior out and create a book and either a year. In the selffilm or website based on what class portrait unit, students quickly have to they are taking. adapt to expressing themselves to their “People usually join freestyle think- classmates through silent films. ing it’s a breeze, but it’s a lot of work,” “We had to adjust to the teachers senior Laurel O’Such said. “Fun work, saying, ‘You need to be able to tell evbut work. We do a lot of things out- eryone what you’re feeling, and make side of class which take a lot of time. metaphors out of it,’” junior Maddie For example, yesterday, I spent three Stitt said. “We were all a bit uncomfortto four hours filming for my next able with it, because it was like letting project. But, I’d rather spend my en- your classmates into your mind: people tire Sunday painting or filming than you barely knew yet.” doing a history project.”

In each unit in Freestyle, students One of Freestyle’s main emphases are challenged to stretch their imagis developing students’ creative and inations. Through the combinametaphorical thinking. In Freestyle’s tion of all three classes, English classes, students read graphstuic novels, comic books and bestsellers as they are challenged to think outside the box in their own assignments.

“We would be given homework assignments that would only say ‘Write a page about a person.

dents have to fully develop their ideas with few restrictions from their teachers.

“All these projects that we do are all integrated and they all come together,” Freestyle film teacher Matt Taylor said. “Whether they’re working in English or whether they’re working in film or design or web/ audio, all the things they’re doing come together in one big project.”

In the narrative unit of junior year, for example, students are given the opportunity to create whatever they want, however they want. Film students create movies to display their work, while web/ audio students may create websites.

The freedom of the project allows for both creative development and more enjoyable schoolwork.

“We get to decide our whole stories, and we’re filming a zombie love story,” Maddie said. “Every time we film, we have so much fun because it’s such a strange story that we came up with from thin air, and now it’s coming to life.”

Students at Freestyle Academy are encouraged, through alternative assignments and loose guidance, to explore all of their interests and create multimedia products to convey their findings.

“At Freestyle, they want you to be coming up with the crazy ideas, and to figure out a way to create something out of your crazy ideas,” Niamh said. “They give you the resources and technology to do whatever you want.”

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A Brief History

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en years ago, then-superintendent Rich Fischer decided that the Mountain View Los Altos school district needed a program to guide students in media, arts and communication. He asked current Los Altos High School (LAHS) librarian Gordon Jack to help him launch the program. Together, the two men explored alternative high schools around the Bay Area.

“We just tried to learn from... [these schools] and we took the best parts of these different programs to create Freestyle,” Jack said.

In 2005, the district hired four teachers and started Freestyle at the old Alta Vista High School campus, next door to the Mountain View High School (MVHS) campus.

Since its founding, Freestyle has grown and changed in a variety of ways. It has expanded to accommodate additional students, as well as added equipment and facilities.

Freestyle program director Leo FloHoused near the Mountain View High School campus, rendo, both a teacher and a coordiFreestyle Academy is a creative program in which nator, is the last of the original four junior and senior students have the opportunity teachers who remains. In addition, to meditate in English classes, produce their the projects students complete are Written by Annie Gaffney, own music videos and create self-portraits constantly changing.

Olivia Jerram, Spencer through silent films. Here, The Talon “We didn’t start our Music Video Dembner, Jessica King presents an inside look at this excitUnit until 2010,” Florendo said.

Staff Writers Freestyle offers many resources for its students, ing creative arts program.

Graphics by Amanda Mell “New this year is the production of Photos by Brandon including a fully-equipped film and recording studio.

T-shirt design...We’re always focusHong ing on making our program better by making curricube displayed on panels, computers lum changes.” and on the big screen,” Freestyle Freestyle is fundEnglish teacher Jason Greco said. ed by a number of “It’s a very busy and exciting day for different sources. Its everyone!” main source, howThis showcase is an opportunity ever, is a tax on busifor all Freestyle students to present nesses, collected their completed projects from first

by Mountain View semester to friends and family. and distributed “For me, [the most exciting part to school districts of the showcase is] seeing all the within the city. n Friday, February 6 from students work in a large collection “The...School 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the as the culmination of lots of staff Board decided in Computer History Mu- planning and teaching,” Freestyle 2006 that the money seum in Mountain View, Freestyle program director Leo Florendo that comes in [from Academy held their annual mid- said. “It’s rewarding to know that the tax] would be our plan [worked] as we enviyear exhibition showcase. earmarked for Free“On Exhibition day, it is all hands sioned…Every year students seem style Academy so on deck as we travel to the museum to raise the bar and I’m excited to that no money was and set up all the project work to see the bar raised again.” taken away from the general funds available to LAHS and Above: LAHS senior Jeffrey Wang studies his video project carefully. Below: LAHS senior MVHS,” Florendo Alex Appel takes a short break in the recording studio where he is creating a music video. said. “We also apply for various local and Freestyle], I’ve gained a lot of experistate grants every ence with design, photography, film, year to help with equipment and group working skills and solving software purchases.” problems creatively.”

Ultimately, Florendo sees FreeDespite its artistic base, students style as another option for students are not expected to have a particular looking to explore interests outside A Freestyle student edits his video as affinity for the arts coming into the of the basic core classes offered at part of his project. program. For some, the main appeal traditional high schools. reestyle provides the oppor- of Freestyle is that it is an alternative “Our school district is an ‘option tunity for students to engage to traditional schooling. rich’ district,” Florendo said. “Free“I hated going to school everyday,” in designing and creating style Academy is simply another their own projects that exemplify the senior Laurel O’Such said. “I felt very choice available to students at all application of current art technology. behind and that I didn’t fit in. Then, schools in the [district]...much like “I’ve always been very interested in my best friend got accepted [into any other program like Talon, Conart and technology, especially film- Freestyle Academy] and encouraged struction, Marching Band or AP making,” senior Niamh Mcloughlin me to apply, so I did and decided to Classes. Freestyle Academy just hapsaid. “I’m also a hands-on learner, so try it out. I fell in love with the propens to have classes that mix sturegular school can get tough. [With gram and the people.” dents from these schools together.”

UpComing Showcase

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Why Did You Join?

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The Talon February 10, 2015

Robert Chin, Senior Writer |Alice Dai, Entertainment Editor | Sofia Guo, News Editor| Olivia Jerram, Staff Writer | Jessica King, Staff Writer | Daniel Rosenbaum, Sports Editor | David Wu, Web Editor

Want to see more?

Mapping Los Altos High With a huge empty space between the school and the field, the school decided to take advantage of the extra space and build the 700 wing.

1961

1999

See an extended version of this spread at lahstalon.org/in-depth

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The cafeteria was known as the “cafetorium” by students because of the small stage at the end that served as the theatre. However, the original gym, music building and admin building remain.

The current quad was occupied by 100 and 200 wings with a smaller quad located where our library is now.

The science and math classes, which used to reside in the 400 wing, were moved into the back of the 700 wing.

GRAPHICS BY VANESSA MARK

The Story Behind LAHS Diversity

L

AST YEAR, the school was 47 percent white, 27 percent Hispanic/Latino, 21 percent Asian and 5 percent African American, American Indian and other, according to school sources. However, the school wasn’t always this diverse.

The LAHS student population began to diversify in 1981 when the Mountain View Los Altos (MVLA) school district closed the former Mountain View High School (MVHS) on Castro Street due to low enrollment rates and district budget cuts which prevented expensive renovation to meet earthquake standards. The two remaining high schools, Awalt High (now known as the new MVHS) and LAHS, accommodated the displaced s t u dents, which changed the demographics of the schools.

The process of closing the old MVHS and preparing to transfer the students took around 18 months.

There were few problems with the logistics Assistant Principal of the restructure, but the relocation to Awalt Galen Rosenberg and LAHS still wasn’t easy for many of the old MVHS students.

In order to help the transferred students feel more at home in their new schools, the district implemented some changes. Originally known as the Knights, LAHS changed its mascot to that of the old MVHS and became the Eagles, and Awalt changed its name, becoming the new Mountain View High School.

However, the discomfort felt by the newlytransferred students was not grounded solely in the loss of their old school. “[The restructure] resulted in two high schools

Whenever we do surveys, the diversity of the school community is one of the things students say they like best about going here.

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that overnight went from close to zero minorities to close to 40 percent of students from other cultures, ethnic and language backgrounds,” Associate Superintendent Bridgette Sarraff said.

The old MVHS was predominantly made up of students of ethnic minorities, and when these students were transferred to the new high schools, both of which were mostly white, the diversity of the student populations spiked.

When current LAHS principal Wynne Satterwhite first arrived at the school to teach in 1984, she very quickly noticed the racial and socioeconomic polarization on campus.

“The diversity on the campus was amazing,” Satterwhite said. “But it was very tense; kids didn’t know how to get along. They were still coming from different feeder schools which were very different from LAHS in terms of [their level of diversity], so I think kids just hadn’t been exposed to racial diversity... and I don’t think [coming to LAHS] was a very comfortable [transition].”

Before the restructure, LAHS had been seen as the “white” school due to the small proportion of minorities in the student body. “[Before the restructure] almost everybody was Caucasian,” former history teacher, who began teaching in 1967 and retired in 2006, David Squellati said. “Back then, it was basically Caucasian and then some Asian students.”

This perception of a “white” school held even following the sudden influx of a large mix of racially and socioeconomically diverse students.

In order to help change this perception and ease the tension on campus, the district took steps to further integrate the student body.

The school decided to provide first-year students with more diverse class environments by offering only one level of freshman World Studies and Survey classes. This provided students with the opportunity to mingle with peers of all different backgrounds and therefore hopefully integrate the student body.

In addition, Voces Latinas, later renamed LUCHA, was introduced in 2000. LUCHA caters to first generation Latinos who arrived at LAHS following the restructure. Its main goal is to help improve Latino student academic achievement and give underrepresented, nonEnglish-speaking parents a voice at LAHS. “LUCHA provides a forum for understanding and discussion of the college-going culture [which] helps break the stereotypes [surrounding minority, first generation students],” assistant principal Perla Pasallo said.

Although the school has been making great strides towards further integration at LAHS, some students express concern that there is still work to be done.

“I think there is a defi- Principal Wynne Satterwhite nite but not total separation between races at LAHS,” senior Ryan Wu said. “I think we find friends in the groups we are most comfortable in, and it just so happens that we seem to be most comfortable with people who share our beliefs and backgrounds.”

Senior Ryan Adibi sees the potential for greater integration.

“Because of the classes I take, there are certain groups of people which, unfortunately, I don’t get to socialize with,” Ryan said. “The path that I took definitely connected me with a certain [group], so I didn’t really get to [experience] the true diversity our school offers.”

Ultimately, although LAHS still has more work to do to better integrate its student body, the school still offers a high level of diversity made possible by the 1981 restructure.

“Whenever we do surveys, the diversity of the school community is one of the things students say they like best about going here,” assistant principal Galen Rosenberg said. “It’s unlikely [students] will ever be in an environment this diverse again, educationally or in the workforce, unless [they decide to] work at LAHS.”

I think kids just hadn’t been exposed to racial diversity... and I don’t think coming to LAHS was a very comfortable transition.

-

The Talon February 10, 2015

The 900 wing was built to provide more room for classes and students. The addition of the 900 wing created a space for most of the language and arts classes and more space for core classes in the center of the school.

The field, which was previously dirt, was replaced with rubber turf in 2004.

.

2000

.

2012

The future of Los Altos...

. .

At the same time, the “cafetorium” was transformed into the Eagle Theatre, while next to it, a cafeteria and kitchen was built.

An expanded library was built because of the limited space of the previous library.

1950s-1970s: LAHS’ Most Storied Athletic Era

P

RIDE. TRADITION. COMPETITION. COMMUNIT Y.

Sports, perhaps more than any other activity on a school’s campus, have the power to seamlessly weave all of these dynamics together. Since its establishment in 1955, Los Altos has maintained a longstanding tradition of athletic excellence.

Throughout the school’s storied athletic history are countless achievements, records, performances and events. Here, The Talon looks back on Los Altos’ most definitive sports era, the period from the late 50s through the 70s during which the school became a powerhouse in numerous sports including water polo, football and track and field.

A Track and Field Dynasty Under the coaching of Leo Long (after whom the school’s track is named) starting in 1956, the school’s track and field program, the finest Los Altos has ever seen, produced performances at a level which remains unparalleled to this day.

Long led the school to 18 league titles, two Central Coast Section championships and the keystone moment in the school’s athletic history: a state championship in 1970. During Long’s tenure, Los Altos amassed a staggering 128-3 record. Los Altos was also home to multiple nationally ranked track and field athletes, the likes of which haven’t been seen since. Bob Stoecker ‘62 and Chris Adams ‘72 both held national records in the discus. Rick Brown, one of the most prodigious athletes in school history, took the 440 and 880 yard runs (the equivalent of the 400 and 800 meter runs today), and anchored Los Altos’ mile-relay Head football coach Tom Burt led the team at States in 1970. His to six SCVAL championships in 10 years. wins, along with Ad-

Currently, Los Altos High School is working on renovating the bleachers.

The visitor’s side is being replaced, a new handicap accessible ramp is being added on the home side and a new press box is being built. In the future, it is likely that the gym will be renovated in order to stay up with new safety codes. Next year, after the bleachers and press box are finished, the locker rooms will be redone.

ams’ in the shotput and discus in the same mental in penning the most prestigious meet, were consummate performances of chapter of the school’s athletic narrative. the time.

“Sports became important [at Former MVLA Superintendent Barry the school] because it was imGroves, who ran track and field for Peta- portant to him,” Lodge said. luma High School ‘71, recalls competing “Dude was an athlete. He against Los Altos in its prime. really pushed athletics be“I vividly remember the Los Altos... cause that was his love.” track team in 1969, 1970 and 1971,” Groves However, runs of domisaid. “LAHS was considered a track dynas- nance were not exclusive ty, probably the best track team ever as- to these handful of sports. sembled in California. They were the team Gymnastics, under Lodge that everyone aspired to be like.” (who then served as the Widespread Success gymnastics coach), took Winning a league title, by any standard and SCVALs an astounding 22 times in any sport, is an accomplishment. Los Altos’ in 25 years starting from 1967, status as an athletic powerhouse in the decades along with five CCS championships.

ALL PHOTOS FROM PAST after its opening is perhaps no better substanti- Los Altos’ tennis program regularly proLAHS YEARBOOKS ated than by the fact that it won every single duced championship wins, with boys tennis varsity championship title possible in the 1963- winning 13 times in 16 years (1958-73) and the 64 school year in a 10-school league. Outstand- girls’ team taking the title eight times in 10 ing coaching across the board propelled Los years (1966-75).

Altos to the top during this era.

“I think anytime you have those kinds Swimming and water polo coach Nick of dominance, it’s just this configuration Thornton’s team secured the school’s first boys of powers that be,” Principal Wynne Satwater polo championship in 1957, a scant two terwhite said. “You have to have the right years after the school’s opening. Los Altos went coach, you have to have the right group of on to win four consecutive boys water polo ti- kids… all of these pieces have to come totles. Boys swimming reigned at the top of the gether and be there in that moment.”

SCVAL league in the same four years (‘57-’60).

A similar brand of dominance was being forged on the football field under the leadership of Tom Burt several years later. With Burt at the helm, Los Altos football took the SCVAL championship six times in 10 years (‘61-’70), and according to Monica Lodge, a former coach, teacher and athletic director who retired from the school in 2006 after 41 years at the school, inspired great fear.

“Other schools… were afraid to step on the football field at Los Altos High School when Tom Burt was there,” Lodge said. “They were afraid to step on the field because they knew they were going to get killed. Tom Burt made them into superstars.”

The trio of Long, Burt and Thornton was assembled by former Athletic DirecBrooks runs a 15.0 time in the 110-yard hurdles, smashing his tor Dude Angius in 1956, who was instru- Ric competition in a 1970 track meet against Cupertino High School.

The Talon February 10, 2015

Catch reviews of new movies, music and more. Plus, read the entertainment archives at lahstalon.org/entertainment

FOOD

Alexander’s Patisserie brings croissants, class to Castro AMELIA BAUM In-Depth Editor

Alexander’s Patisserie Bakery Cafe

209 Castro Street Mountain View, CA Price Range: $$$

★★★★☆

The Anatomy of Alexander’s Coffee Tart

Wor th the Splurge }

By the looks of the place on any weekend afternoon, it’s clear that Alexander’s Patisserie is already becoming a hit in its location on Castro street in downtown Mountain View. With an exquisite, diverse selection of pastries and artisan coffee, the shop gives downtown customers the upscale European patisserie they didn’t even know they needed.

The patisserie, which had a soft opening in mid-October, is the newest addition to the Alexander’s chain, which owns the restaurants AlCOURTESY ALEXANDER’S STEAKHOUSE exander’s Steakhouse and The Vanilla Tart Sea. For the first few weeks, the store had trouble with consistent pastry production and was unable to keep up with demand.

The store remedied that situation quickly and currently is able to keep up with the steady stream of customers that come through the large glass doors.

If you miss the strikingly modern sign on the front of the building, the place looks like an upscale ballroom at first glance. Large white cushioned chairs surround regal marble tables, and chandelier lights hang from the ceilings. Glass cases with backlighting display the

goods: rows and rows of gorgeous croissants, tarts, cakes and most famously, macarons (not the coconut kind: those are macaroons).

It is undoubtedly fun to just ogle them, but doing so leaves out the best part—they taste as good as they look.

The shop is already building a it should be and more. To start, it’s reputation for its colorfully dis- big and easily shareable (if one is played French macarons. The va- so inclined). It’s wonderfully light nilla macaron, with visible bean despite its richness, and manages flecks and an authentic flavor, is to not be weighed down by the butsuperb and makes up for the pista- ter as do its counterparts at some chio, which is less impressive. At $2 other local stops (like Philz Coffee). a piece, the price of the tiny gems Perfectly caramelized sugar adds have raised some eyebrows, but the another layer of complexity. On secprice at Alexander’s is reasonable ond thought, you might want to recompared to that of other epicu- think that whole sharing thing.

Amongst the dazzling counter rean bakeries. Across the industry, the delicate baking process and display, the items that stand out high-end ingredients of French the most are the expertly decoratmacarons have earned them both a ed tarts. There are currently four cult following and a hefty price tag. flavors available: coffee, chocolate, vanilla However, and lemon, the extra with flavors dollar for The Talon picks rotating a gift box s e a s o n a l ly. four items that are (when you Though they purchase a are all imset of six) pressive, the p ro b a b ly isn’t doing Cappuccino . . $2.5 coffee tart is perhaps Alexanthe most der’s any Kouign Amann . .$4 s t r i k i n g . customer Its multirelations layered apfavors.

Vanilla Tar t . . . .$6 p e a r a n c e If you combines are lookkinds ing someL’Orange . . . . . $8 four of dessert thing more into one: buttery to dense cake, complement your sugary macaron, be sure thick ganache, fluffy mousse and to check out the Kouign Amann smooth, rich chocolate disks. A coffee glaze keep the cre(pronounced Kuwee-Ahmahn).

The Anatomy ofhelps Alexander’s Kouign Amann is a sweet, flaky puff ation architecturally sound, as originating from France. Essentially, well as donning a shiny finish. it is a more glamorous croissant, The coffee tart is truly fantastic, but with fewer layers, more buttery bringing new meaning to the decadence and caramelized sugar coffee-themed desserts genre. spread throughout. The Kouign It’s dark, rich and wonderfully Amann at Alexander’s is everything smooth, but not at all overwhelm-

ing. Even non-coffee drinkers can enjoy this decadent treat.

Of course, Alexander’s wouldn’t be a true Europeanstyle patisserie without an elaborate drink menu. They offer a variety of teas and espresso drinks, all made on big shiny machines just steps from the counter. Their espresso is excellent, and under $3, which is undoubtedly appreciated by customers already paying a significant amount for pastries.

A variety of teas are served in beautiful glass teapots to match the glamorous decor.

Currently, the store has a limited assortment of pastries available, but store manager DaPHOTOS BY ELVIS LI vid Thompson says soup, Macarons sandwiches and chocolate truffles are on the way. Alexander’s might be the upteenth coffee shop on Castro, but a bite of a tart, a sip of a cappuccino or just a step inside the beautiful Coffee Tart room reveals it as something truly unique. Its high prices mean it’s not likely to be an everyday option for most, but its quality, service and diverse selection make it a destination for those in the mood for a little more from their local coffee shop.

Coffee Mousse Creamy, rich coffee mousse provides a distinct coffee flavor that is just the right balance of sweetness and bitterness.

Dark Chocolate Squares Wafer-like chocolate squares add extra finesse to the tart’s aesthetics and are sweet treats on their own.

Dense Chocolate Cake An elegant layer of moist chocolate cake builds a strong base that complements the rest of the tart.

Almond Shell A crisp almond crust provides a light finish to the dessert’s full-bodied chocolate and coffee accents.

Chocolate Ganache Silky chocolate ganache and a shiny layer of coffee glaze compose the final layer of the tart.

GRAPHIC BY AMELIA BAUM

LOCAL

TRENDING BAR Grab a bite...

BOWL OF HEAVEN

YOGURTLAND

RAMEN IZAKAYA YU-GEN

Juice & Smoothie Bar 1040 Grant Road, Mountain View Price Range: $$ Rating: ★★★★☆

Frozen Yogurt 1035-B El Monte Avenue, Mountain View Price Range: $ Rating: ★★★★☆

Japanese Ramen 152 Castro Street, Mountain View Price Range: $$ Rating: ★★★☆☆

The Talon February 10, 2015

MUSIC

FKA twigs masters genre of her own creation ZACH COHEN

Print Managing Editor

FLICKR USER GLENN J. MASON

Former dancer Tahlia Debrett Barnett is the face behind FKA twigs. Her music is an unorthodox mix of R&B and pop.

Attempting to capture British singer, songwriter and dancer FKA (formerly known as) twigs (Tahlia Debrett Barnett) in any coherent form seems like an impossible task at the offset. Trying to capture anyone quite as multifaceted as twigs could fill novels or ruminations for days on end. However, as a rising force in the music industry, twigs’ artistry and history merit examination, and it turns out that there are some major consistencies in her several seemingly disparate characteristics. When it comes right down to it, FKA twigs can be described with just one mere word: weird.

FKA twigs grew up in rural England, where she attended a prestigious grade and high school on an academic scholarship. At 17, she left home for London and began to pursue a career in dance. For several years, she danced back-up for other rising artists—you can find her in Jessie J’s video for “Price Tag.” Eventually, twigs abandoned dancing backup and fully dedicated her career to producing music. In December 2012, she self-released EP1, an extended play with the four tracks “Breathe,” “Ache,” “Hide” and “Weak Spot.” Soon after their release, twigs uploaded a music video for each track.

Her following work, EP2, was released through the record label Young Turks. This second extended play contained the critically

acclaimed “Water Me” and “Papi Pacify.” Pitchfork gave the album an 8/10 rating, and BBC nominated twigs for the “Sound of 2014” prize. Her most recent release, LP1, her first full-length album, dropped shortly thereafter.

All of twigs’ songs have an allencompassing, ethereal feel to them. Each song welcomes the listener into an elevated atmosphere, surrounding the consciousness with distorted chord progressions made by synthesizers tuned to extract the deepest bass or trillest treble from classical instruments.

“Lights On,” a track on LP1 opens with a repeating tone as it skips into lower and lower clefts and then rears back up to its original pitch. Met with twigs’ soft whispering and falsetto, the synthetic elements of her tracks feel natural. There’s something mysterious about every song twigs produces, which is perhaps what makes them so engaging.

Her music can perhaps be best illustrated with elements of her past. A professional dancer, twigs’ songs often sound like the staccato cadence trap style in which she specializes. There are precise choices being made; the music is obviously elaborate and maniacal in its control of the audience.

However, slip within the cracks and one can find elements of pain associated with the austerity of the act, audacity mixed with formality.

To gain this level of complexity is not an easy journey to make.

FKA twigs’ artistry is certainly

challenging, which makes it a refreshing departure from its origins in UK underground pop music; although, there are times when her works come off as deliberately enigmatic solely for the sake of obscurity. The lyric, “I don’t want to see through you / when all I can see is what you are not,” from “Breathe” is interesting, but falls short of being impactful, simply because its meaning is not apparent, even after extended analysis.

However, more dynamic lyrics and stronger synths (which come together almost miraculously on LP1’s “Pendulum,” the opening bars of which waver pendulously between left and right headphones) make the challenging bits of twigs’ songs that much more rewarding. Even though one might have to come back to a song several times to truly understand and appreciate it, the bittersweet taste of victory is that much sweeter.

Other potent tracks on LP1 include “Give Up,” which employs several conflicting and yet bizarrely satisfying bursts of background music, and “Two Weeks,” the lead single from the album.

After recently releasing a video for “Pendulum,” it seems like twigs is just approaching the peak of her capabilities as an artist. Listening to EP1, EP2 and LP1, though, it’s not clear any “peak” exists, as that would imply an inability to rise to an even greater level of accomplishment, something twigs, even given her confusing sides, is simply not familiar with.

TELEVISION

“Agent Carter” a welcome addition to Marvel Cinematic Universe ALEXANDRA MILKEY Staff Writer

‘Agent Carter’

ABC: Tuesdays @ 9|8c

Female representation in the media has long been an issue.

A quick glance at the films that make up the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) proves this.

Though 10 of these movies have been released, a woman has yet to play the lead role. Marvel’s answer to this lack of female representation is “Agent Carter,” a new MCU-set television show that features Peggy Carter, bestknown for her supporting role in the Captain America movies.

Marvel says that the show is a way for the studio to gauge how much interest there is in female superheroes.

The clamor on social media for greater representation in the media should tell Marvel that they don’t need a television show to see how responsive their audience would be to a femaleled MCU movie. Because of this, their reasons for creating “Agent Carter” are silly, but thankfully they don’t have a large presence in the show itself. In fact, with all serious side-eyeing of Marvel aside, “Agent Carter” succeeds in its own right as an actionpacked drama. This is mostly due to its stereotype-breaking characters, although a lack of complexity weakens some of the show’s surrounding cast.

Peggy Carter herself might not be the most original of characters, but she’s refreshing all the same. A no-nonsense type of person, she’s a more realistic character because of the complexity the show gives her.

For example, her times of selfdoubt take her from being just another strong female character to being someone who’s defined by more than what crazy stunts moves she can pull. She might be a skilled fighter, in high heels nonetheless, but she’s human first and a superhero second.

After someone close to Peggy

dies because of her work, Peggy doesn’t brush it off and pretend that emotions are for the weak. She grieves and reacts to it, defying the stereotypes set for superheroes of this caliber.

Her gender is a sticking point for many of the other characters on the show—and Marvel, it seems—but Peggy never allows it to impede her. It doesn’t define who she is, and this allows Peggy to be a complex character who’s not as black and white.

There’s a distinct lack of complexity, though, when it comes to the men who make up the

backdrop of the show’s 1940’s post-war America. Peggy’s many enemies can easily be spotted by how they belittle her at every possible turn. Her coworkers in the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR) delegate the lowest tasks to her, like filing papers and bringing them coffee, though she’s clearly just as capable as they are.

By contrast, her allies and the characters that are supposed to be admirable are the ones who believe in her, and there are few of these characters. It’s historically accurate; real women

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“Agent Carter” is an engaging, action-packed television series from Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, the show should not be treated as progressive because a female superhero protagonist is long overdue.

in the 1940’s would have faced much of the same sexism that Peggy Carter endures, especially in the workplace. But a few more shades of gray in terms of the surrounding characters in “Agent Carter” would go a long way to developing them and making the show not seem quite so heavy-handed. What about a villain who doesn’t underestimate Peggy at every turn and instead sees her as an equal?

Characters who take a stance in their own right and who are defined by more than how they see Peggy would benefit the show, and not just from a storytelling viewpoint. Sexism might manifest itself in simple ways, but it’s also a much more complex issue than just a lack of rights in the workplace. For Marvel to make it appear so black and white cheapens both “Agent Carter” as well as the history it’s trying to recreate.

“Agent Carter” itself succeeds as an action-packed thriller, although it’s overkill for Marvel to be using it as a test run for a full-f ledged female superhero movie. We live in an era where headlining a female character isn’t—or shouldn’t be— revolutionary or progressive. Movies like “Agent Carter” would be popular based on premise alone. There’s a widespread clamor for more female characters, especially on social media, and this should show Marvel that people do want lead females. And when these characters are realistic, as Peggy Carter is, it’s all the better.

The Talon February 10, 2015

OSCARS A night at the

87th

And the Oscar goes to. . .

Written By: Johnny Scher, Business Manager | Perla Luna, Sitara Sriram, Senior Writers| Claire Bai, Olivia Jerram, Hanna Khosravi, Emily Terada, Jessica King, Staff Writers Graphics By: Vanessa Mark, Graphic Artist

H

osting an awards show isn’t easy and hosting an awards show as hotly debated as the Oscars is even harder. Some past hosts like Chris Rock have made the production seem effortless and fun. However, others like James Franco and Anne Hathaway flop under the pressure, and their moments of embarrassment become the center of internet meme ridicule. On February 22, Neil Patrick Harris will host the 87th Oscars. Harris faces the difficult task of placing his performance in the category of memorable host instead of joining the ranks of Seth MacFarlane and others.

However, Harris is no stranger to awards shows and pressure. He has hosted the Tony Awards four times and the Primetime Emmy Awards twice, but it still remains to be seen what Harris will do to top the Twitter-breaking Oscar selfie and the impromptu pizza party of the Oscars ceremony Ellen Degeneres hosted last year. Nonetheless, Harris has proven abilities as an awards show host and will no doubt create some memorable moments during the four hour long ceremony.

Harris must work to keep the star-studded night entertaining through the more obscure awards and maintain the increase in viewership from last year, but with “Birdman” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel” leading the nominees with nine nominations, Hollywood’s biggest night is looking like a ceremony worth tuning in to.

Predictions ★

Best Picture

★

Will Win: “Boyhood” Should Win: “Boyhood” Could Win: “Birdman”

Will Win: “How to Train Your Dragon 2” Should Win: “Big Hero 6” Could Win: “Tale of Princess Kaguya” Snubbed: “The Lego Movie”

E

ver since its limited July release, “Boy- passing on screen. Linklater’s vision managed hood” has arguably become the most to defy media standards, and while the praise talked-about film of the year, a marvel in he has already received is a merit in and of itmodern cinema and a true emotional jour- self, he rightly deserves this award. ney for viewers and critics alike who have The movie’s toughest competitor is “Birdman,” awarded the movie with practically unani- another unique and innovative film directed by mous admiration. The image of a six-year- Alejandro González Iñnáritu, whose unconvenold Mason Jr. (Ellar Coltrane) laying in the tional filming method makes the movie unravel grass made waves across the internet as the on screen as if it had all been taken in one shot. film began to get rave reviews and film festival The story bears semblance to a play both in its praise for its impeccable acting style and in its creation as it foland genius directorial methods. lows the life of movie star Riggan The idea for the film itself imThomson who tries to reestablish “Boyhood” has mediately brought the film forward himself on Broadway. “Birdman” is as a frontrunner for awards season. been thrown another ambitious take on a simple However, its dialogue and power- into center story and could upset “Boyhood” house performances from Coltrane, stage, and is for the award because of its equally Oscar contender Patricia Arquette poised to win creative but thematically and stylisand fellow nominee Ethan Hawke, tically polar production. “Birdman” give the film emotional depth that the film induswon the award for Best Ensemble made it relatable, heartwarming try’s biggest Cast at the Screen Actors Guild and tragic all at once.

Awards (SAG), the SAG’s equivalent accolade.

“Boyhood” has done what of a Best Picture prize, strengthenmany films in Oscar history have ing its status as a frontrunner for the not been able to do: come out with a summer Oscars. It also won Best Picture at the Producer’s release and not only maintain buzz but, in Guild Awards, a lesser known but arguably more fact, build it continuously. This is a milestone important award. in modern cinema, and Linklater’s idea to film Despite its fierce competition, “Boyhood” has the movie over 12 years beautifully captures been thrown into center stage, and its whirlwind the true essence of growth and aging with- success has bolstered its place as the best and in a movie. Until now, film seemed like safest bet to win the film industry’s biggest accoa time-sensitive form of art, depending lade. With a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice on age-progression technology, and ex- Award for Best Picture secured as well as a promtensive hair and makeup teams, but ising frontrunner status for the Best Director and “Boyhood” has revolutionized the Best Supporting Actress categories, “Boyhood” is ability to create a true sense of time poised to be the night’s dominant contender.

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Best Animated Feature

B

est Animated Feature nominee “How To Train Your Dragon 2” (HTTYD 2) was made for the big screen. Audiences and critics were immediately impressed with its release, especially as the film surpassed not only the hedge of the typical movie sequel but also the great success of the original “HTTYD.” Dragon-trainer Hiccup develops from a scrawny boy into a tough leader, and Toothless continues to be a loyal sidekick. Along with a strong plotline, the animation by Dreamworks is well-crafted in setting and character. “HTTYD 2” is the top contender for the Oscar in this category, and its balance in all aspects is deserving of the nomination.

On the other hand, “Big Hero 6,” a film praised for its creation of the beloved robot Baymax, competes almost equally with “HTTYD 2.” Its strengths lie in family-friendliness and a good moral: loss is inevitable, but recovering is not. In comparison to “HTTYD 2,” “Big Hero 6” has an inadequate plot line. The typical orphaned hero who embarks on a journey with a few friends to defeat a longtime villain is suspiciously familiar and predicted one too many times. Aside from plot, the graphics in “Big Hero 6” are extraordinary in both character and setting design. The assets of Baymax and Disney’s impeccable details in the animation bump up the winning

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chances of “Big Hero 6.”

One of the other nominees, “The Tale of Princess Kaguya” is unique in animation technique and is qualified in its attention to traditional animation styles, like 2-D and handmade, rather than big budget for the box office. Studio Ghibli’s “The Tale of Princess Kaguya” is completely handdrawn, and produced by the legendary Isao Takahata. It also features music from Joe Hisaishi, the famed composer and conductor of several Ghibli soundtracks like “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle.” The juxtaposition of these two aspects enhance “The Tale of Princess Kaguya” in an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere.

The biggest shock in animation nominations came when “The Lego Movie” did not qualify for the Best Animated Feature category. Beat out in the Golden Globes by “How To Train Your Dragon 2” and deemed unworthy of the Oscar nomination, “The Lego Movie” failed to adhere to the standard of classic, Oscar-bait animation films, and thereby lost some support from traditional animation experts. Although “The Lego Movie” stands out for its originality and lighthearted humor, the movie’s overall artistry is lacking compared to the advanced computer graphics of “HTTYD 2” and “Big Hero 6” and the nostalgic creation style of “The Tale of Princess Kaguya.”

The OSCARS coverage continues on lahstalon.org ★ 9 Nights of Oscars Movie Reviews: February 13 through February 21 & Grammy Award Predictions ★ Tune in to Grammy and Oscars Award Ceremony Live Tweets @ The_Talon

The Talon February 10, 2015

★

Will Win: Michael Keaton

WIKIMEDIA USER GEORGE BIARD

Michael Keaton is a frontrunner for the Best Actor Oscar.

M

Could Win: Benedict Cumberbatch

ichael Keaton’s raw performance in “Birdman” captures the maniacal desperation of washed-up Hollywood actor, Riggan Thomson, who attempts to remake himself on Broadway. As Thomson descends into a stressful delirium, his alter-ego, Birdman, the onscreen superhero he played in the prime of his career, begins to haunt his thoughts, pressuring him to return to Hollywood and regain his lost stardom. However, Keaton manages to convey a softer side of Thomson’s personality, brilliantly capturing a sense of humanity in the midst of his descent into insanity.

This ability to demonstrate the multi-faceted nature and emotional complexity of the character makes Keaton’s performance convincing and Oscar-worthy.

Will Win: Julianne Moore

oping with struggle was an encompassing theme in this year’s nominations. The most moving and highly anticipated of these performances is Julianne Moore’s fictional portrayal of linguistics professor and Alzheimer’s patient Alice Howland in “Still Alice.” Diseases oftentimes inhibit character development to go further than guilt tripping the audience into empathizing, but Moore steps out of the traditional boundaries of this character genre to prove that illness is not always a tragedy; it serves as a catalyst for her to achieve more. Moore’s transition from a sharp-minded professor to

Should Win: Eddie Redmayne

Eddie Redmayne, entering the spotlight for his role as Stephen Hawking, in the British biopic, “The Theory of Everything,” is also a top contender for this year’s Oscar. Redmayne’s phenomenal portrayal of Hawking’s transformation from an able-bodied and ambitious young man to a physically deteriorated character suffering from motor neurone disease is intensely emotional.

However, Redmayne’s performance also maintains striking biological accuracy in its portrayal of the disease’s progression.

Throughout the course of the movie, Redmayne compellingly alters his speech and walking patterns, making his performance even more convincing and engaging. Redmayne’s dedication to honing his performance and his natural talent as an actor makes

★

C

Best Actor

Best Actress

Should Win: Felicity Jones

advanced-stage Alzheimer’s patient ing, the ex-wife of Stephen Hawking, is stark and uncensored, as seen in in “The Theory of Everything” is harHowland’s unrelenting strength to rowing and has garnered a number keep her family togethof rave reviews from film er despite a clear mencritics and awards orgatal regression. Moore nizations alike. Jones’ Moore’s perdoes not hide behind nuanced interpretation the solemn veil of her formance in of Jane is stylistically porole as a dying patient “Still Alice” is lar to Eddie Redmayne’s and exposes both the an emotionally physical role as her counpain and joy Howland complex masterpart Stephen Hawkexperiences, making ing, and this contrast Moore’s performance terpiece. elevates both perforin “Still Alice” an emomances. Hawking’s phystionally complex masical deterioration serves terpiece. as a center in which Jane’s emotional Felicity Jones’ role as Jane Hawk- maturation from a young and vital

Snubbed: David Oyelowo

him most deserving of the Oscar.

However, the award is ultimately a toss up between Redmayne and Keaton, who tackle very different stories, but both achieve incredible performances.

Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays the brilliant mathematician Alan Turing in “The Imitation Game,” also has a chance to win.

The film climaxes with Turing’s incredible breakthrough: cracking the World War II Nazi enigma code by creating the world’s first computer. Cumberbatch’s diversity as an actor is seen in his closing evolution in the film. Turing turns from a quirky genius full of eccentricity and vitality to a man whose mind runs blank at the sight of a crossword puzzle because he is forced into hormonal therapy due to the anti-homosexuality laws at the time. Although

Cumberbatch’s performance is a noteworthy accomplishment, “The Imitation Game” is not the only highly-publicized British biopic nominated for the award and he will mostly likely fall short of the Oscar.

While deserving, David Oyelowo’s role as Martin Luther King, Jr. in “Selma” did not receive an Oscar nomination.

Oyelowo’s performance was emotional and moving, and his ability to capture and convey the lesser-recognized aspects of King’s personal life humanizes him on the big screen.This year, the Academy solely nominated white actors, actresses and directors, which is disappointing in light of recent, highly-publicized events regarding police brutality and the treatment of African Americans.

Could Win: Reese Witherspoon girl to Hawking’s wife is sharp and elaborately developed. Jones delicately draws the intimacy of Jane’s relationship with Hawking, bringing out her subtle but equally resilient mental strength.

Throughout the film, Jane is the fountain of hope, and through Stephen’s disease, triumphs and breakdowns, Jones strikes a precarious balance between soft-spoken woman to the anchor of their marriage.

Reese Witherspoon is back with her second Oscar nomination for her performance as Cheryl Strayed in “Wild,” which recounts the story of a woman who embarks on a soul-

cleansing thousand mile hike in the Pacific Crest Trail. Witherspoon channels the competing feelings of Strayed’s desperation and self-conflict, which are developed through her hike in the wilderness and constant flashbacks from her past. Strayed’s character progression is crucial to Witherspoon’s performance because the movie is nonsequential and requires Witherspoon to evolve and understand Strayed’s current and former self. The overarching intensity of “Wild” shines with Witherspoon’s lone trek into the wild and into selfdiscovery, and she could be the dark horse to take the Oscar.

Created By

VANESSA MARK & AMANDA MELL

The Talon February 10, 2015

Get daily updates on Eagle athletics and read the sports archives at lahstalon.org/sports

Los Altos should host the 2028 Olympics IRE T A S ALEXANDRA MILKEY Staff Writer

On January 8, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) chose Boston to represent the United States in the bidding for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Boston beat out San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. for the chance. Los Altos’ bid must have gotten lost in the mail or something. Whatever the reason for its not being chosen, Los Altos should be considered to host the 2028 Summer Olympics. Though the idea might seem absurd, it’s really not as outlandish as it seems.

There are 11 technical criteria that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) uses to judge a location’s suitability to host an Olympic Games. Going through each, point by point, seems rather unnecessary.

It seems better to talk about common criticisms that the idea’s skeptics might have.

Los Altos’ facilities—or a lack of them, more like it—might be the first objection a critic has. But think about it. Here, Los Altos has two perfectly good options, and both have been used heavily by other host cities.

The first option is to utilize already-existing stadiums and buildings, no matter if they’re in the city proper or not. Just because a city claims to host an Olympics doesn’t mean that all of the Games actually take place there. If selected, Boston has plans to host events in a variety of different locations. It wants to hold the soccer events, for example, nearly 30 miles away from the city in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Besides, some of the facilities already exist in Los Altos itself, or at least suitable buildings do. There’s already a place for an Olympic village—Enchanté, our very own boutique hotel in downtown. It’s small, of course, with only 19 rooms. Athletes from 205 countries participated in the London 2012 Games; that’s just

under 11 countries a room. But hey, at foresight to install a fleet of buses least it doesn’t have water that’s dan- to take tourists around the city. It gerous to drink, unattached door- seems like there’s nothing a host knobs or live wires in the showers. city won’t do to impress, and there’s Sochi, site of the 2014 Winter Games, no reason Los Altos can’t do somebecame infamous for all of these thing like that. problems and more. You would The economy might be a skepthink that athlete accommodations tic’s next point. Wouldn’t so much would be of the utmost construction, they importance to the IOC, might ask, just put a but I guess not. burden on taxpayers?

There’s already Or, Los Altos could Wouldn’t it hurt the demand that as a host, a place for an economy rather than all of the events would Olympic vilhelp it? These are the have to take place in- lage—Enchanté, wrong questions to side the city proper. be asking. Despite reour very own There’s a simple way ports discussing the to do this: build a ton boutique hotel economic drain that of new facilities. Los in downtown. hosting the Olympics Altos, like every other can cause, cities still would-be host, is alroutinely believe that ways under construction; what’s hosting one will bring in money, a little more in the long run? The not deplete it. If such a belief is good new buildings might not get used enough for them, why isn’t it good long-term, but at least they’ll have enough for Los Altos? their two weeks of glory before fadUnlike these other cities, Los Altos ing into disuse. Before hosting its has a strong economy that can better Olympics, London installed a high- afford to host such a big event. What’s speed train. Sochi, notorious for its true, too, is the fact that during an lack of preparation, had enough Olympics, all of the host city’s tour-

Squaw Valley gained international recognition after they hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics.

Now, people from all over the world come to the Squaw to enjoy its exceptional slopes, diverse terrain and numerous runs. However, for those just starting out, be warned that some trails may be more rugged and are not suited for beginners. Lift ticket prices range from $82-119.

Kirkwood

WIKIMEDIA USER IANGAD GRAPHICS BY NOY ANISMAN

HANNAH CRAFORD

Sugar Bowl

Squaw Valley

Best places to ski in Tahoe

If you’re looking for high elevation and some of the driest, and what many call the best, snow in Tahoe, Kirkwood is your resort. The surrounding scenery is gorgeous, and the resort offers other amenities as well including cross country skiing, snowshoeing and dog sled tours. Yet there are a few drawbacks: the ski terrain is known to be difficult to navigate, and the trails are in need of repair. Lift tickets are reasonably priced ranging from $79 to $96.

Staff Writer

The start of ski season brings a definite sense of excitement to the brisk winter air of our campus. Students passing in the hallway will inevitably stop to discuss their plans for the break, with many of them listing pop-

ular ski resorts as their destination of choice. But it can be difficult to know exactly which resort is the best. With the help of this guide, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying your ski week at one of the best resorts in Lake Tahoe.

ism rates go down. Except, of course, for sports-related ones. Well, Los Altos doesn’t have much to lose in the way of tourism, especially compared to other prospective hosts. It can only stand to gain from increased sports attendance. If a city like Boston, home of the Red Sox, the Celtics, the Bruins and the Super Bowl-winning Patriots, feels as though it could benefit from increased sports tourism, there’s no question that Los Altos could, as well.

At first glance, the idea of Los Altos hosting an Olympics might seem absurd. But when you break it down, it’s really quite clear that Los Altos can and should host a Games.

The Olympics have come a long way from their birth in ancient Greece, where the honor of winning an athletic event itself was more important than the honor of hosting one. From all of the extravagance that goes into hosting a Games, it’s easy to see how much times have changed. When a city wins a bid, the competition for that Olympics might as well be over. With that in mind, Los Altos for 2028!

How to Get There: Ski Bus Bay Area Choosing the best resort is not the only challenge skiers face. There is also the problem of transportation to the resorts. And that’s where the Bay Area Ski Bus comes in. A local bus system, it shuttles people from various locations around the Bay Area and drops them at multiple resorts in Tahoe on weekends and holidays. Passengers have the option of either going on a day trip or staying over for the weekend. A round-trip one-day ticket costs between $129-159, and overnight trips range anywhere from $329-399.

The largest cross country resort in North America, Sugar Bowl is known for its familyfriendly ambience and top-notch ski instructors. It offers runs in a range of difficulties to accommodate any skier’s preferences. Lift tickets cost anywhere from $63 to $95.

Northstar If you are looking for somewhere luxurious to spend your time skiing, Northstar is the place for you. Due to its size and large funds, Northstar is able to produce a lot of man made snow. It is one of the more expensive resorts in Tahoe with the lift ticket for adults (19-64) costing $120. The young adult ticket (13-18) costs $98.

Sierra-at-Tahoe One of Tahoe’s largest resorts, Sierra-at-Tahoe roams around 2000 acres of skiable terrain and has access gates into backcountry terrain. Sierraat-Tahoe is a family oriented resort, with a high annual snowfall.

The lift tickets for Sierra are a lot more affordable than Northstar, they only cost $93 for adults (2364). The young adult (13-22) cost is $83.

SOARING EAGLE

Quinne Woolley Grade: Sophomore Sport: Soccer Position: Defender Experience: 10 years Club Team: MVLA ALLEGRA MAESO

With two goals and three assists, sophomore Quinne Woolley is one of the leading scorers for the varsity girls soccer team. Last season, she was awarded Freshman of the Year for being the most outstanding freshman varsity player in the league. Quinne is known for being a skilled defensive player and always having a great attitude. “[Quinne’s] defensive savvy is one of the rocks of our defense,” co-captain senior Rebecca Andrews said. “Most importantly though, Quinne is a wonderful teammate who helps everyone improve by being supportive even when things go poorly.”

Quinne has been playing soccer since she was five years old, and joined her current soccer club, MVLA, when she was seven years old.

“I have loved growing up with my best friends and watching them improve just as I have,” Quinne said.

When Quinne was 12, she decided to drop all of her other sports, including a significant basketball commitment, in order to devote all her time to soccer.

On average, she plays about eight hours of soccer per week, year-round.

Like most high-level athletes, Quinne has a pre-game ritual. Be-

fore every game, she eats an egg and a piece of toast because, as she says, “It’s the only food that doesn’t bother my stomach.” Her favorite team traditions include pasta feeds and gameday snack buddies.

Quinne’s favorite thing about soccer is how it brings her closer to her teammates and her twin sister, Megan.

“We are both good at our positions on the field and can be a really strong defensive team,” Quinne said. “I’m really glad that we both enjoy [soccer] equally and have the privilege to play it together.”

The Talon February 10, 2015

Bay Area Sports Round-Up

Girls basketball faces new challenges after moving up to De Anza League COLE HANSON Staff Writer

By Josh Kirshenbaum

Warriors Aim to Continue Hot Start in the Second Half Sports fans often joke about how the media can bring bad luck upon a team by giving them attention. The so-called “broadcaster’s jinx,” “Sports Illustrated curse” and “Madden curse” have claimed hundreds of teams and athletes, ended streaks, kept records intact and caused injuries. I’ve done it myself; two issues ago, I wrote about how the Oakland Raiders were winless, only to have them win their first game the night after the issue was printed. I’m going to chance it again: The Golden State Warriors are currently the best team in the NBA and it doesn’t look like they’ll be slowing down anytime soon.

As of the press deadline, the Warriors are 37-8, boasting the best record in the Western Conference. Much of their success can be attributed to Golden State’s star, Stephen Curry, who leads the team in (take a deep breath) minutes per game, points per game, assists per game, steals per game, field goals made per game, threepointers attempted per game and free throw percentage. All this made Curry the leading vote-getter for the All-Star game and has made him a legitimate contender for league MVP. It takes more than just one admittedly great player to lead the league in points per game, though. Aside from Curry, the Warriors have five players averaging over 10 points per game.

The other “Splash Brother,” Klay Thompson, is averaging over 21 points per game, and is shooting .444 from beyond the arc while making the second most three-pointers in the NBA (111).

Despite the Warrior’s blazing hot start, the scariest part for opposing teams is this: they’re only going to get better. The Warriors had their problems with injuries to start with, and players are just starting to come back. Forward David Lee and center Andrew Bogut, two of the more veteran players on a very young roster, have recently come back after missing significant time due to injuries. Their return combines their experience with the youth of Curry, Thompson and starters Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green.

All of this has give the Warriors not only good performances, but dominating ones. Of their 36 wins so far this season, only two have been by under five points.

“I think our team has done a good job of keeping our energy up and keeping our spirits up,” Lee said to The Associated Press after a demolition of the Miami Heat. “And I think it all goes back to having that depth and having that cohesiveness as a team that helps us at these times.”

With the season in full swing, the varsity girls basketball team has learned what it means to play in the most competitive environment around; the De Anza League. After winning the El Camino League last year, the team moved up a league and is facing new obstacles because of this transition.

As of press deadline, Los Altos is currently 2-5 in league and 5-12 overall, a record that reflects the fact that it is their inaugural season in the top league. This dramatic shift in the level of their competition has required them to re-analyze their gameplay, team dynamics and preparation.

“We are working hard and are definitely competing in this

PHOTOS BY MENSON LI

Above: Junior Rachel Glein splits two Saratoga defenders on a drive to the hoop. In the game, she made the game winning free throws with 30 seconds left. Right: Junior Meg Enthoven goes for a layup. The team is graduating two seniors and looking to come back strong next year.

league,” center junior Rachel Glein said. “We held our own and did not lose by much to either of the teams we lost to... We just need to focus, and like our coach always says ‘it’s the mental game’ that we need to work on.”

The Eagles’ preseason provided important foreshadowing for what they would experience in a new league. In the offseason, the team worked hard on conditioning and focused on pushing the floor in preparation.

“This season is completely different now that we are in the top league,” head coach Jaclyn Brode said.“The teams up here don’t have bad nights, they’re too talented.”

Due to a lack of a senior participation–the team only has two–Los Altos has also had to adapt to a smaller roster, a factor that can often make or break a team. However, the Eagles have not let this disadvantage hold them back or affect their mentality.

“Our numbers are smaller than last year but it’s made us stronger in a way,” Brode said. “We were able to do away with ‘me’ players and really bring together a group that is about ‘we.’ It’s made for a group of girls that want to be here, want to work hard and love the challenge of competition.”

Due to a smaller roster, the girls have had more opportunities to establish close relationships and an intimate team environment. This has been an important factor for the team as they have pushed on against extremely tough opponents.

“One team bonding ritual we have is a dance circle before our home games. It really helps to get

everyone pumped up and ready to play and it’s one of my favorite things that our team does,” co-captain junior Meg Enthoven said. “Stuff like that brings our team together and I think that as a result, we play better together on the court.”

The team continues to maintain focus on the future of the program by concentrating its efforts and perspective into each practice, intentionally making sure not to become distracted by looking too far ahead in anticipation.

“Our goal is to get a little bit better each day, and you can’t do that by looking too far ahead, you have to stay focused on the task in front of us each day,” Brode said. “Next season will be a big year because a majority of our team will be seniors. We hope to stay up in the De Anza League so that next year our seniors can show what they can do in the top league and can go out together competing with the best.”

Boys soccer struggles to develop team rhythm ERIC THIEM Staff Writer

The varsity boys soccer team has had a rough start to the winter sports season, going 1-6-1 in league so far, as of press deadline. This season has proved to be a building year for the team, with the Eagles securing their only win against Monta Vista.

Due to inconsistent play, the boys have not been able to repeat this performance against stronger teams.

The team has allowed 16 goals in its first eight games, and only scored an average of once per game. A faltering offense and no

support from their backline the have prevented the Eagles from making a push in the league standings so far.

“We need to work on our finishes,” center back junior Joe Kull said. “We can create chances, but we can’t put it in the back of the net.”

All the fault cannot be put on the offense, however. The boys’ defense have consistently let in goals over the course of games, such as during its 2-5 loss to Mountain View or its 1-4 loss to Homestead. The team on averages allows 2.3 goals for every one they score.

In hopes of scoring more often, the team has implemented a new practice routine to teach the players how to better finish plays. The team thinks that with better finishers, the forwards will be more in line with the skill levels of other schools’ players.

“We have been working a lot on offense and finishing in practice, and we want to bring some of that to the field and win some more games now, ” sophomore Albin Mollerstedt said. “One of our many goals is to move up in the rankings and make CCS.” While getting to CCS may be a stretch for the Eagles, players hope that the team will find its rhythm by the end of the season.

“We have a lot of really strong and skillful individual players, but we need to turn our great players into a great team,” Joe said.

PHOTOS BY NOAH TSAO

Above: Junior Nicky McConnell takes a strike. Left: Junior Ryan Ratner fends off a Palo Alto defender. The team has struggled thus far and holds a 1-6-1 record but is looking to turn it around in the second half of the season.

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The Talon February 10, 2015

Girls Soccer Looks to Find Footing Amid Changes “We are a young team that has a lot of trouble adjusting to the physical play and just When the curtains fell on the girls soccer working together,” co-captain senior Rebecca season last winter, it signified the close to Andrews said.

Another obstacle has been the departure two historic seasons–2013 culminated in a CCS Championship with wins over power- of former head coach Armando Luna, who houses Archbishop Mitty and St. Francis, left after being promoted to Director of while the 2014 season saw the Eagles near- Coaching at his soccer club. Stephen Nichols, ly dethrone Mitty once again in the early Los Altos’ new head coach, has employed a stages of CCS. The theme of the Eagles’ coaching style which players have cited as new and different. season this year has not been “[Coach Nichols] is very big a continuation of immense on building from the defense success, but rather one of reand switching the field,” goalie building and reacclimation.

After going senior Elena Strawn said. “BeAs of press deadline, Los through some ing patient has been tough for us Altos is 1-7 in league and 2-12 this season–we sometimes want overall, figures which contra- adversity, we’re to just go forward and force our dict last year’s second place fin- playing more way up the field.” ish. A number of factors have to what this Other issues that have arisen contributed to this turnaround. team is capable include multiple players sustainOne is the drastic demoof. I’m really ing injuries, thereby affecting graphic change of the team’s their performance on the field. players. The graduation of excited for this Rebecca suffered a high ankle many seniors and the depar- second half sprain, while sophomore Emily ture of several juniors has of the league Pye had a muscle strain and meforced the team to fill its ranks season. dial collateral ligament sprain. with freshmen and sopho— head coach Co-captain senior Allie Crum mores. Of the 19 players on the Stephen Nichols and freshmen Meghan Huang team’s roster, six are freshmen and Hannah Yang have all strugand seven are sophomores; gled with injuries as well. only six are upperclassmen.

In an inauspicious mix of these two The relative youth of the team has given rise to two challenges: bridging the experi- challenges, Nichols fell ill for six weeks, ence gap and learning to work in tandem. keeping him off the field for a significant The speed and physicality of soccer at the amount of time.

“You look at our current record, 2-12, and high school varsity level is something underit’s not great, and I take full responsibilclassmen must adjust to.

DAVID WU Web Editor

NOAH TSAO

Freshman Nika Darvish kicks the ball. The girls soccer team faced many challenges in the first half of the season. However, after a win versus Los Gatos and healthier players and coach, Los Altos looks to regain its strength. ity for it,” Nichols said. “I was really sick for six weeks dealing with a severe illness and missed four games and a chunk of practices.

That along with the injuries and this being my first year with players having to learn a new system, the first half of the season has been a challenge.”

With a majority of its league games already under its belt, the team looks to find its footing in the back half of the season.

“[On January 20], we played Santa Clara and that was the first game we truly ‘clicked,’ Nichols said. “We have been much more consistent in our play since then and we recently got our first league victory against Los Gatos. After going through some adversity, we’re playing more to what this team is capable of. We’re having more fun out there, and I’m really excited for this second half of the league season.”

NOY ANISMAN

The Best Super Bowl Ads HANNA KHOSRAVI Staff Writer

According to Forbes contributor Avi Dan, the average 30-second Super Bowl ad costs businesses as much as $4 million. This astronomical price tag for a mere TV spot seems ludicrous.

However, according to CNN, this year’s live telecast of the Super Bowl was the most-watched event in U.S. history, drawing in 114.4 million viewers. These are The Talon’s commercial awards.

Best Commercial

Jeep “This Land is Your Land” ★★★★★ This was, undoubtedly, the most poignant and visually compelling commercial in the mix on Super Bowl Sunday. With a lovely rendition of the classic American tune, “This Land is Your Land,” playing throughout the advertisement and serving as a backdrop to scenes of our nation’s most stunning landscapes, the commercial started out as a salute to America’s magnificence.

FLICKR USER FIAT

Within seconds, though, it started to morph into images from all over the world. It was a simple way to bring forth a fantastic message: “This Land is Your Land” is not just a patriotic song for the United States, but a mantra that we should align with the entirety of our world, regardless of race and religion. Jeep’s decidedly moving commercial was a perfect way for the company to make its Super Bowl Sunday mark.

Best Use of a Celebrity

Most Heartwarming

Clash of Clans with Liam Neeson ★★★★★

Dove Men + Care “Real Strength” ★★★★☆

Liam Neeson’s “Clash of Clans” commercial was also spot-on. It was Neeson at his best, channeling his famous “Taken” character and vowing to get revenge on anyone who manages to beat him in “Clash of Clans.” There’s an entertaining bit, halfway through his impassioned speech, in which the barista at the coffee shop that Neeson is waiting at makes a huge gaffe out of the pronunciation of his name, and Neeson corrects him with deadly, action-hero intensity. Liam Neeson ends on the pitch-perfect quote, “You will regret the day you crossed AngryNeeson52.” It’s one of those celebrity promotion ads that gets it just right.

Dove’s “Men + Care” line rocked Super Bowl Sunday with the heart-warming “Daddy” commercial, a composition of videos showing children of all ages saying “Daddy” to a father who is presumably behind the camera capturing the short films. It’s a true winner, and the kind of thing that great Super Bowl commercials are made of. Its ability to draw in the audience emotionally made this commercial a perfect display of the power of advertisement and also made viewers want to go and give their father a big hug after witnessing the touching commercial on screen.

To read a full version of the Best Super Bowl Ads, visit our website: lahstalon.org