Graduate Section pgs. 4-5
The Spectacle
Mesa Vista MHS ı PO Box 50, Ojo Caliente, NM 87549
The Spectacle c/o MVMHS PO Box 50 Ojo Caliente, NM 87549 (505) 583-2275 (505) 583-9133 fax
VOL. III, ISSUE 4 ı May 16, 2012
Staff, Administration Change in Last Month By Luke Villareal Reporter
Staff changes are commonplace at Mesa Vista. For the last month or so of school, students and staff have adjusted to end-of-year changes for the positions of superintendent, principal, guidance counselor and high school math teacher.
Official MV Super
Superintendent Tracie Phillips switched to acting superintendent on April 30. After a special meeting, the School Board appointed Phillips as the superintendent for the next school year, instead of interim superintendent. “I feel very excited, honored,
blessed for another year here at Mesa Vista,” Phillips said. “Even though I enjoyed being principal more we all have to respect the decisions that are made and do what you have to do.”
Bustamante Leaves
Counselor Pete Bustamante left Mesa Vista on April 17 to take care of family in Albuquerque. “Pete (Bustamante) really enjoyed it here at Mesa Vista and felt bad about leaving,” said counselor secretary Georgia Kuykendall. “He also wishes all of the students the best of luck.”
Earwood to Move
Former superintendent then Principal Randall Earwood was relieved of his duties as superintendent on Feb. 1, and then assigned as principal. On April 30, he was relieved of his duties as principal and moved to active counselor. Next year he will be working as the superintendant in Socorro. “I chose to work in Socorro because it’s close to where I grew up,” Earwood said. “...I enjoyed being principal.”
New Principal, For Now
Math teacher Kurt Fisk moved from the high school classroom cont. p 3,
see CHANGES
photo by Lily Hawley// Former Superintendent Randall Earwood and former Principal Tracie Phillips work together during Red Ribbon Week. The School Board voted to keep Phillips in the Superintendent position for next school year.
News Briefs: Finals, Summer, Culture Day End of the Year By Tiffany Archuleta Reporter
photo by Lily Hawley // Students in teacher Teresa Sandoval’s fifth period class wait in the hall while a member of K9 Specialties searches the room with Superintendent Tracie Phillips during a school-wide lockdown on April 24.
Graduation for the Class of 2012 is May 19 at 1 p.m. For students in grades 7-11, exams are May 16-21; with make-ups on May 22 (students must arrange them ahead of time with individual teachers). On May 23, students will participate in a field day (see related story), locker clean out is also on May 23 (by 3:15 p.m.) and Awards Day will be on the last day of school, Thurs. May 24 until 10 a.m. All students must check out on May 24, which means they must have all library books returned or paid for, all text books returned, class dues paid, and any other fees or dues owed must
be paid before checking out.
No Summer School
By Chastidy Trujillo Reporter
There will be no Mesa Vista summer school this year due to a lack of funds. Students who need to make up credit, however, still have options; they can take classes at another high school if the other school agrees to it, for example, or they may find online classes. “(Students can earn credit) at other places like Northern, UNM or any other college. Students will have to pay for their schooling, but if they want to do that, they can certainly do that. We just don’t have the funds for summer school,” Superintendant Tracie Phillips said.
Culture, Field Day By Laura Guzman Reporter
Culture day this year has been changed to a field day. Instead of seeing other cultures on May 23, students will get to enjoy the whole day with activities. Elementary principal Gina Terrazas said she thought it would be best for the elementary students to be with the other elementary students, because in the past, activities at culture day were more for middle and high school students. Then, with all the changes at Mesa Vista this year, staff just didn’t organize for culture day until it was too late to effectively plan, staff said. cont. p 3,
see BRIEFS
page 2
The Spectacle Staff This is the fourth issue of the 2011-2012 Mesa Vista student newspaper, The Spectacle, produced by the school’s journalism class. The goal of this publication is to provide accurate, informative and entertaining information in the spirit of responsible journalism and to operate as an open forum for students, staff and parents. Those who are not enrolled in the journalism class may still contribute to the publication in the form of a letter to the editor, a guest column, photography or artwork. No editorials will be printed, however, which complain or attack without factual justification. All guest editorials must be signed and approved for publication. The Spectacle also reserves the right to edit copy. Readers’ responses can be mailed to The Spectacle c/o MVHS, or sent in an e-mail to adviser April van Buren at avanburen@mesavista.k12.nm.us. Student journalists on The Spectacle staff will publish only legally protected speech following the legal definitions of libel, obscenity and invasion of privacy. The adviser of The Spectacle will not determine the content of the paper. The adviser will offer advice and instruction to help the staff cover all issues in a legal, objective, accurate and ethical manner according to the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics. Gossip columns, horoscopes, song dedications, senior wills and senior superlatives will be avoided due to the narrow audience they serve and the probability they possess of containing libelous material and content. Staff members will strive to correct any errors before publication. However, if the editorial board determines a significant error was printed, a formal correction will appear in the following issue. Congratulations to our editors who are graduating on Saturday! Thank you for your three years on staff!
Adviser:
April van Buren
Editors:
Lily Hawley, Aubrie Kuykendall, Pauline Luhman, Katie Salas, Ashtyn Megariz, Ben Sandoval, and Raphaela Viereck
The Spectacle c/o MVMHS PO Box 50 Ojo Caliente, NM 87549 505-583-2275 505-583-9133 fax
Staff:
Damonica Alderette, Tiffany Archuleta, Shiann Barela, Kylie Coutu, Alicia Dominguez, Reina Duran, Laura Guzman, Brendon Herrera, Athena Martinez,
Morgan Mascarenas, D’Angelo Padilla, Matthew Sandoval, Chastidy Trujillo, and Luke Villareal
May 16, 2012
OPINION
The Spectacle
Needed: Environmental Impact Plans Staff Editorial
salaries. The regular school days are made longer to s Mesa Vista students we can’t help but wonder compensate for Fridays being off. With utilities and what our school is doing to be environmentally fuel costs rising rapidly, it is hard to determine the friendly. What is the size of our carbon exact cost of savings to the school district. Hopefully, footprint? Carbon footprint is a term used to describe the data that we have been collecting and will continue how much carbon dioxide is emitted because of the to collect, “will definitely show the true dollar amounts consumption of fossil fuels, basically how much carbon within the next few years,” Halder said. The school dioxide a person or group puts into the atmosphere. district plans to continue the energy saving days for “I don’t think that Mesa Vista is eco-friendly the 2012-2013 school year to help increase the savings because there aren’t any recycling bins. If we put brought in. recycle bins for aluminum, paper and plastic around “We are hoping, with the help of the new the school and have more administration for next year, encouragement from ...if we all work as a the cost savings will increase teachers to recycle, we will team... we will see a profit in and, if we all work as a team be more eco-friendly,” senior in shutting off all devices at the years to come. I am also Emma Hardison said. the end of the day we will see hoping that if we have a closed a profit in the years to come. Mesa Vista spends campus every Friday it will I am also hoping that if we an approximately $1,200definitely be a big plus for the have a closed campus every $1,500 monthly on district in cost savings electricity for the district Friday it will definitely be a and $4500 quarterly — district business manager big plus for the district in cost on propane said district Brenda Halder savings,” Halder said. business manager, Brenda Halder. In American schools, Teacher Connie energy costs about 2.2 percent of overall expenditures Lujan started her own for schools, according to the “Nationalgridus.” campaign to cut down energy costs. Her hope was This may not seem like much, but it is. In fact, it to encourage less energy waste from electricity in the represents thousands of dollars each month spent district. The agriculture class designed signs to be out on air conditioning and electricity. The national bill above light switches with catchy phrases reminding for energy costs is $6 billion, which is more than the people to turn off lights. They were set to be posted education cost of books and computers combined above all light switches in the district. This campaign according to “energystar.gov.” was not completed, however, because of a lack of For heat, Mesa Vista uses propane, which on time and preparation, Lujan said. She still plans on average costs more than natural gas; however, it is safer completing this project sometime next school year. for the environment because it is not a greenhouse gas, “I had students make the signs because according to the “Propane101.” A greenhouse gas— the district needs to save money and, by tuning off such as natural gas, carbon dioxide, methane and water lights and computers, we should be able to save some vapor—are gasses that contribute to the greenhouse money,” Lujan said. effect by absorbing infrared radiation. This newspaper staff believes that while the “I don’t think money is being wasted because district is doing much to save money, there is still more money needs to be spent on electricity and propane that can be done. While the students don’t attend but a way to help with the costs would be to turn off school on Fridays, the custodial staff is still working the computers when they are not in use, turn off the and teachers meet at least one Friday a month. The lights in the bathroom and don’t heat/cool the rooms district is not saving money on electricity or on airas much,” senior Pauline Luhman said. conditioning or heating on those days. In some rooms, There haven’t been many attempts to solve lights are left on when they are not in use, such as the the issue of energy consumption in Mesa Vista. For bathrooms. There are easy ways to find more ideas, the 2011-2012 academic year, the Mesa Vista School too such as the Disney Channel’s Friends For Change District cancelled school on Fridays in order to save website for example. We may start small but by the end energy. These “energy saving days” are designed to save of the year we could save a lot through a coordinated on food costs, fuel for transportation, utilities and effort as a district of students and staff who care.
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The Spectacle
News Briefs,
cont. from p. 1
“This year we will be having a culture/field day so students get a day to relax. There will be activities going on, so it will be like culture day,” teacher Victor Jaramillo said. Students will wear their class color. The superintendent will address students; the school-based health clinic will present, staff will handout academic awards and classes will compete in events on the football field like a scavenger hunt, a dizzy bat race, an egg race and more.
Lockdown a Success By Brendon Herrera Reporter
The school searched students for drugs on Tue. April 24, during 5th period. Superintendent Tracie Phillip wanted to have a drug search, she said, but had been having trouble finding a company to do the search. K9 Specialties, a company that trains and deals with drug dogs, contacted Phillips to ask if she was interested in a campus search, and Phillips said ‘yes.’ She arranged the search with K9 Specialties, she said, because it was getting close to the end of the year and kids get a little crazy this time of year. It took a long time because the campus has several buildings and a lot of ground to cover, Phillips said. Overall, the search went really well, she said, because they did not find any drugs. “The lockdown this year was more quiet and serious. I was scared because I had just finished eating pizza and I was scared that the drug dog was going to sniff me out,” sophomore Ryan Valdez said.
MESA Wins Top 10
By Aubrie Kuykendall Editor Placing 9th, 12th, 26th and 46th out of 63 teams statewide, Mesa Vista Middle School students earned bragging rights at the 24th annual MESA Day statewide competition on Sat., April 21 at the
Changes, cont. from p. 1 to serve as the middle and high school principal on April 30, due to an administrative decision, Fisk
NEWS
May 16, 2012
page 3
University of New Mexico. “It was hard to compete against so many people because we didn’t know if they were better than us,” seventh grader Santana Marquez said. Mesa Vista team members included middle school students Marisol Archuleta, Brittany Garcia, Monique Martinez, Camille Valdez, Santana Marquez, Sundeep Taniguchi, Eduardo Maze, Raymond Salinas, Carlos Delgado, Celestino Martinez, Miguel Alire, Jonathan Alire, Andrea Varela, Heaven Pacheco, Jose Archuleta and Jarryk Jaramillo.
Costa Rica Trip
By Damonica Alderette Reporter
photo by Katie Salas // Sophomore Mercedes Velasquez identifies plants while in Portales, NM for the FFA Invitational at Eastern New Mexico University. Velasquez earned 3rd place.
Students can now travel to other continents. Science teachers Sabrina Maxwell and Victor Jaramillo will take a group of upperclassmen on a trip to Costa Rica next March (2013). The trip is mainly open to members of the class of 2013, however, Maxwell and Jaramillo said they are opening up the trip to any interested upperclassmen, as long as interested students speak directly to these sponsors about the conditions of the trip. The purpose of the trip, which will cost about $2,000 per person, is to provide Mesa Vista High School students with the opportunity to travel the world and gain a unique learning experience. To help with costs, students will be fundraising throughout the summer and fall, including events like bake sales at Bodes’ General Store and car washes. No limit has been set as to how many students can go, but Maxwell said she is hoping for about 20. Also, while there is also no real deadline to sign up for the trip, there is an informational meeting for any interested parents and students on May 30, 2012 at 6 p.m. in Maxwell’s science classroom. “Hopefully this will be the beginning of global learning opportunities for all Mesa Vista students,” Maxwell said. said. The district is still accepting applications and will interview for the principal position for the 2012-13 school year. Since April 30 and through the end of the school year, long term substitute, Eddie Campos will teach Fisk’s
FFA Update
By Shiann Barela Reporter
FFA members went to State Competitions April 11-14 in Las Cruces, a Leadership Contest May 2 in Shiprock and are going to a convention June 4-6 in Las Cruces. For the convention this summer, FFA will compete in Ag marketing, Ag sales, the job interview and the creed competition. The June convention is also when FFA comes together as a state to elect new officers and vote on amendments to the NM FFA constitution. On Wed., May 2, six FFA members competed in job interviews. Each competitor, one at a time, goes into a room for an interview and is judged on the quality of his or her answers. At the June Convention, senior Katie Salas will run for a State FFA officer position. Although Salas graduates on Saturday, she plans to continue her education at NMSU, where professors often work with students around FFA activities. FFA also awards the State Farmer Degree and the American State Degree, and seniors can get scholarships. Students earn these by filling out an online application and completing FFA projects. math classes. “Being principal is challenging because I’m busy all the time, but I like doing it because I can help more people than just as a teacher alone,” Fisk said.
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May 16, 2012
Features
The Spectacle
Class of 2012 Graduates Saturday By Alicia Dominguez Reporter
Graduation for the Class of 2012 is May 19 at 1 p.m. in the Mesa Vista High School gymnasium. Teacher Theresa Sandoval will be the Master of Ceremonies and UNM professor John “Al” Forthmann has been invited as the guest speaker. “Unlike previous speakers at graduation, he’ll be fun, interactive and make the audience laugh,” senior Lily Hawley said. Forthmann, who says his speech will probably be about choices, obtained his Master’s Degree in School Administration with an emphasis in Elementary Ed., Health Ed. and Physical Ed. from California State University. Additionally, Forthmann worked as an elementary and junior high teacher, the physical education program coordinator, the security director, junior high vice principal and several other administrative roles for the Glendale Unified School District in California for 25 years overall. Since 1999, Forthmann has been an instructor for UNM. For the past few years, Forthmann taught Mesa Vista students in his UNM-Taos Sociology class, including a class of 73 students in 2010. “It is an honor for me to be speaking in front of the graduating class,” Forthmann said. The theme for graduation is “It Ends with Us” and the class colors are orange and silver. The class flower is the Tiger Lily, however, this is not a flower available from most florists, so the flowers at graduation will be Aziatic Lilies. Traditionally, Mariachi Marivilloso members
Mesa Vista class of 2012 TOP FOUR How would you describe your time at Mesa Vista?
photo by Ben Sandoval// The class of 2012 gather after the Baccalaureate ceremony at San Juan de Nepomuceno Parish in El Rito on Sunday, May 13. (Front Row from left): Seniors Lily Hawley, Morgan Mascarenas and Ashley-Ann Martinez, (Middle Row, from left) Pauline Luhman, Aubrie Kuykendall, Ashtyn Megariz, Julia Martinez, Onesimo Archuleta, Sharlene Ocana, Yacxubeli Campos, Samantha Terrazas, Alexandria Terrazas and Felicia Jaillet. (Third Row, from left) Ben Sandoval, Jr., Lucas Gallegos, III, Sean Richardson, Lawrence Trujillo, Robert Herrera, Tomas Romero, Fabian Maestas and Katie Salas. (Back Row, from left) Alejandro Griego, Andres Coronado, Phillip Rodriguez, Jerome Gurule, Rogelio Garcia and Domenique Lopez.
perform live at graduation, but this year the group is too small, so teacher Andrew Valdez has created a special recording of the Marivilloso’s group and their take on Pomp and Circumstances. Graduate Tomas Romero is going to perform the song “The Motivation Proclamation” by Good Charlotte for graduation. Additionally, the class chose “2012” by Jay Sean to be their class song. “It’s such an exciting time for the students and
their families. It’s a once in a lifetime experience for them and I’m excited to share it with them. It’s going to be a good day and I’m very proud of the graduates,” Superintendent Tracie Phillips said.
Theme: It Ends with Us Colors: orange and silver Speaker: Al Forthmann, UNM-Taos Sociology Professor
Ashtyn Megariz Valedictorian
My time here can be described as a whirlwind. There were always times of excitement and times of sadness but I wouldn’t take back any second of it .
The Spectacle
FEATURES
May 16, 2012
page 5
2012 Where are they going?
NEW MEXICO Albuquerque - CNM
Andres Coronado Jerome Gurule
Albuquerque - UNM
Lucas E. Gallegos III Lily Marie St. John Hawley Evan Paul Jaramillo Morgan Victoria Hope Mascarenas Ashtyn Megariz Phillip Rodriguez Benjamin Christopher Sandoval Lawrence Trujillo Jennifer Valdez Raphaela Singleton Viereck
Hobbs - USW
Pauline Luhman
Las Cruces - NMSU
Onesimo Archuleta Marcos Garcia Kathleen Salas Samantha-Mercedes Terrazas DeAngelo Trujillo
Las Vegas – Highlands
Sean Richardson
COLORADO Alamosa – Adams State
Aubrie May Kuykendall
Fort Collins – Colorado State
Kimberly Margarita Baca
CALIFORNIA Pomona – Carrington College
Felicia Nicole Jaillet
WORKFORCE
Robert Herrera Domenique Cesario Lopez: apprentice as a lineman electrician Dominic Torrez: Police Academy in Albuquerque Justin Varela: enlisting in the Marines
“It Ends With Us” Espanola - NNMC
Cynthia Jasmine Nicole Alire Rogelio Garcia Alejandro Griego Estrella Gutierrez Emma C. Hardison Fabian Maestas Ashley-Ann Martinez Sharlene Ocaña Christopher John Pacheco Tomas Romero
Lily Hawley Salutatorian Mesa Vista has been a dysfunctional adventure. I’ve met the strangest and best people here. Given the choice, it’s still the only place I would go.
Portales – ENMU
Julia May Martinez
Santa Fe – SFCC
Haliey Lucero
Taos – UNM-Taos
Alexandria Marina Terrazas
Aubrie Kuykendall I would describe it as unique and that even throughout the ups and downs, I wouldn’t want anything else the people here are my second family.
LOCATION UNKNOWN
Yacxubeli Campos: ITT Tech (nursing) Shadow Salas: Aviation School (Mechanics)
Morgan Mascarenas (My time at Mesa Vista) was great. I met some of my best friends here and got to know the teachers really well.
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May 16, 2012
NEWS
The Spectacle
Baseball Wrap-Up Basketball Practice Starts By Benjamin Sandoval, Jr. Editor
Although they got only a #10 seed in the state tournament, the Trojans turned in a 14-8 record on the season (3-3 in districts), one of the most successful seasons in school history. The season started off on a high note with a win over the defending state champions, Estancia. They followed that up with an NRG Tournament championship by outscoring the second place team McCurdy with eight runs in the overall team point spread. This was the first time the Trojans have won NRG’s. They continued to get better during the season by beating quality teams like Santa Fe Prep, Questa and Estancia one more time before district play. When district play was finished, the Trojans turned in a district record of 3-3 including a split double-header against Navajo Prep and two wins over Tohatchi. However, what ultimately hurt the team’s seed in the State Tournament were losses against eventual district champion Jemez Valley. They lost to the Warriors the first game 10-1 and the second game 9-5. When the Trojans lost the district title, Jemez players were guaranteed a higher seed in the State Tournament. On May 2 the Trojan baseball players received their seed, which was 10 and they played Loving on May 5 (who got a 7 seed). In Proview Networks’s coverage of a pre-state tournament show, one sportscaster stated that the match-up between Mesa Vista and Loving was an even one and the Trojans had a chance to surprise some people throughout the state. However, it was not to be, as they fell to Loving 10-0. Senior Sean Richardson pitched in the game and said he was shocked at the team’s many errors, but also that he had fun overall this season and hopes the team wakes up for next season.
By Chastidy Trujillo Reporter
every once in a while, it will move to the weight room. Vigil and coach Miguel Open gym begins next week and car- Garcia will be coaching this summer. Vigil always ries on until the end of keeps a log of July. Through May 24, who shows up the hours will be 4 to 6 (We offer open at open gym and p.m. This year is also the gym) to maintain who does not, first year eighth graders interest in basketball, he said. There will be allowed to particiincrease skills and are no requirepate in open gym. give students positive ments for open “(We offer open gym) activities during the gym except to to maintain interest in summer. be there on time. basketball, increase skills Students should and give students positive — teacher bring basketball activities during the summer,” teacher Tomas Vigil shoes, water and Thomas Vigil said. athletic clothing Once school year ends, the open gym hours will be Monday through Thursday (like gym shorts). Students who take from 7-9 p.m. School rules still apply more effort to be at the open gym practices will have a better chance at being in during open gym. Usually practice is in the gym, but the top five next years, Vigil said.
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Athletes Recall Memories By Matthew Sandoval something more exciting. senior Julia Martinez, Reporter “My most memorable former basketball coach It all comes together: practice was when Coach the hard work, the sweat, Thomas Vigil said that the drama, the excessive I would be playing at running, the laughs, the varsity level. It was very wins and the losses. Even scary but very exciting though the season ended, at the same time,” the memories My most last a lifetime. “My most memorable practice was m e m o r a b l e when Coach Tomas Vigil practice was said I would be playing at when I got varsity level. It was scary i n i t i a t e d . but very exciting at the It (stunk),” same time. freshman — eighth grader A n d r e s Isaac Baldonado Sanchez said. Although Sanchez’s Baldonado said. Vigil helped make memory was a bit scary, basketball memorable eighth grader Isaac Baldonado remembers for Baldonado, but for
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photo by Lily Hawley // Senior Sean Richardson swings the bat during baseball practice. The varsity baseball team ended the season with a 14-8 record. The baseball team ends the season having won most of its double headers. The team also ranked #10, making it to the State tournament, but losing in the first round.
James Branch made the sport more humorous. “My most memorable practice was when Coach James Branch slid across the floor. It was funny because he looked like a penguin,” Martinez said. After all of these memories – good, bad and just plain silly – athletes still manage to focus on the sport. “For every sport that I’ve been in, after all of the laughs and messing around, we have done well every year and have gone pretty far,” Richardson said.
The Spectacle
SPORTS
May 16, 2012
page 7
Seven Track Members End Season at State By Reina Duran Reporter
The track team ended the season with 13 wins at districts and 4 wins at state. The 2012 track season led to many accomplishments, including 2nd place at districts for the girls and 4th place for the boys as well as athletes sophomore Selina Sequeiros, senior Julia Martinez and senior Andres Coronado placing at state. Sophomore Ashlee Alire placed in the 2-mile run, Siqueiros placed in the 100 meter dash, 200-meter dash and 400-meter run, junior Brandy Valdez placed in the long jump and Martinez placed in the mile and the high jump. Valdez, Martinez, Alire and Siqueiros placed in the medley relay. Sequeiros was also able to break the record for the 200 meter dash with a time of 26:09. For the boys, Coronado placed in the pole vault, long jump and triple jump. “It’s my first year in track and I’ve already made it to state. Let’s see photo by Ben Sandoval, Jr. // Sophomore Selina Siqueros practices the high jump in Dulce. Siqueros placed 2nd at Dulce in the high jump. what I can do next year,” Alire said The strength for the track team this season was the team’s leadership, “The good thing this year is all of the young kids and strong juniors and seniors from the older athletes, while the team’s weakness was a lack of overall to help them. So I’m looking forward to next year,” coach Ben Sandoval said. experience with several new athletes.
Time is Running Out! Pre-order the Yearbook only $35 through May 24
To ORDER:
Bring cash or check to the library, and Ms. van Buren will give you a receipt. Checks should be made payable to: Mesa Vista Yearbook
Please write on the MEMO line which MVMHS student will be picking up the yearbook when it arrives in August.
Olympic Sports Bring Community By Benjamin Sandoval, Jr. Editor
For only two weeks every four years, the Summer Olympics brings the whole country together. Since 1896, when the United States started competing in the Olympics, we’ve dominated earning an average of 92 medals every Olympic Games. The women’s soccer team is one of the United States’ best hopes for a gold medal when it comes to teams. The women went undefeated in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Qualifying Tournament in late January beating Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Canada in the finals. Team captain Abby Wambach helped qualify the team to their fifth straight Olympics, scoring 9 out of the teams 55 goals in the tournament. Another team that has a chance at a gold medal this year is the men’s national basketball team. The team still has to qualify for the Olympics in the Federation Internationale de Basketball Amateur (FIBA) World Qualifying Championship
the week of July 2. However, with players from the NBA like Kevin Durant and LeBron James, it seems like the United States will have no problem qualifying for the Olympics and winning the gold medal like they did in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. When the American public thinks “Olympic Games”, they usually think about the glamour Olympians like United States swimmer Michael Phelps, who surpassed Mark Spitz’s 1972 record of seven gold medals in one Olympics, by winning eight gold medals of his own in Beijing. People rarely hear about athletes like United States fencer Sada Jacobson, however, who has won three Olympic medals (one gold and two bronze). In one of the most little known sports on Team USA’s National Team, Jacobson is a seasoned fencing veteran, competing in more than 25 international competitions since 2003, including the Athens Olympics in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. Jacobson is also one of the favorites going into the 2012 London Olympics and should bring home more hardware for Team USA.
BACK PAGE
The Spectacle
May 16, 2012
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Students Have Common, Not-So-Common Fears By D’Angelo Padilla Reporter
Ghosts, spiders and the dark all scare people. Some people think of themselves as big and tough and are not afraid of anything, yet the world we live in is full of dangers. Mesa Vista students are not alone in feeling afraid from time to time. “When I get into the shower every morning I always check for spiders. The one time I didn’t check, I went to grab the shampoo and I saw a spider. So I threw the shampoo bottle, squashed the spider and then jumped out,” freshman Leeann Quintana said. Spiders and Ghost are the most common fears. “Arachnophobia” is what scientists call the fear of spiders, and studies show that people are afraid of spiders because our brains react to them as a phobia of animals. So some people fear spiders like they fear dogs, cats or tigers.
“Phasmophobia” is the fear of ghosts. The way people can determine if they have this fear is if they can’t sleep alone in a room, according to www.outsmartanxiety.com. “I hate spiders because they are ugly and feel weird when they crawl on you,” freshman Andres Sanchez said. “Arachnophobia,” the fear of spiders, is an ageold fear. People used to call it “the plague of spiders” because they were everywhere. Some people even go into hysterics when they see spiders, especially those in the Amazon. Yet, Piaroa Indians used eat them. In the Middle East, there are spiders called camel spiders that are as big as a cat. “My biggest fear is when I get into water where I can’t stand and the reason why is because I had an instructor that wasn’t that great,” staff member Chon Chavez said. Scientist calls the fear of swimming “Aquapho-
bia.” This phobia is determined when the water in an ocean, lake, creek or even a bathtub may pose imminent threat. In the united States, 19.2 million adults suffer from Aquaphobia. “I’ve always been afraid of the dark and death. I don’t think I will ever overcome this fear when my family and friends are always scaring me,” sophomore Adrienne Lopez said. Getting over a fear can be difficult and takes work. If a person doesn’t let anything get in his or her way, they can get over their fear, Quintana said. People can overcome a fear by analyzing the fear, gradual desensitization, watching others, being direct, destroying that fear symbolically and changing one’s actions, according to wikihow.com. “I think that people can get over their fears if they just believe in themselves and deal with their fear,” eighth grader Amado Ramirez said.
Teacher, Student Fashion ‘Travel’ Back to 1980’s By Lily Hawley Reporter
Fades, shades, leg warmers, suspenders, bangles, teased hair, ripped jeans, neon clothing, off-the-shoulder shirts and hi-tops : like it or not, Mesa Vista students are bringing it all back, resurrecting the style of the ’80s. “Students think they’re so trendy, but they just don’t realize that they’re wearing what their teachers did in college,” Computer Apps teacher Bernadette Galvez said. Some students, however are aware
and even embrace the similarity of their style to that of the ’80s. Sophomore Rusti Varela likes the ’80s, she said, and even uses the style in a mash-up with current trends to create her own unique style. An almost modified Justin Bieber style Varela wears hats, scarves and stripes. “My style is a mix with a bit that is all my own and that’s what I like about it. It’s different, but not too different,” Varela said. There are always two sides of the coin, however, and therefore where
there are the kids in school who rock the style and make it their own there are also those who simply have it, but they don’t know it. For example a fade is a short hair cut that boys wore in the ‘80s and now the fad of fades is sweeping the school with every buzz of senior Rogelio Garcia’s razor. It’s as if half the school’s population has designs cut in their hair or look like they are about to enlist. “The fades are clean. They’re old school and it’s interesting that to this day people are still doing them. They
are more stylish now, though, because there are medium and low fades and with the low fades you can cut designs in,” Garcia said. Afterall 2012 isn’t so different from the 1980’s. Walkman radios are just smaller and don’t require a cassette tape; we call them iPods. Hair is a little tamer, but not by much. Boy’s pants are still tight. Converse will never go out of style that’s why, even as the ’80s seem strange and far too colorful, it’s in fashion and not going away anytime soon.
What’s Your Favorite ’80s-Inspired Clothing Item? “Converse because they are comfortable and stylish. They also go with everything, no matter that type of person you are,” freshman Alex Gallegos said. “I like skinny jeans because they are comfy and I like the way they fit - just right,” sophomore Emiliano Martinez said.
“I like long ’80s-style hair bacause it’s unique and different,” senior Alejandro Griego said. “Neon clothes because they are so bright and energetic, plus they are fun,” junior Alicia Dominguez said.