The Union - Milpitas High School - November 2012

E D I TO RI A L 3

UN I O N

O PI N I O N S 4

NOVEMBER 2012 Volume XXV Issue II

F E AT U R E S 5

T HE

S PR E A D 8

E N T E R TA I N M E N T 10

LI F E S T Y LE 12

SPORTS 14

MHSTHEUNION.NET For the latest updates

STUDENT VOICE OF MILPITAS HIGH SCHOOL

Speech and debate ranked

BY MARISA LOUIE

MHS’s Speech and Debate team was ranked in the top 10 percent of all high school teams in the National Forensics League (NFL) this year, according to Speech and Debate Advisor Charles Schletzbaum. The team also became a member of the NFL’s 100 Club, Schletzbaum added.

Teams are ranked according to their accumulated degrees, which can be earned for participation in competitions, Schletzbaum said.

Membership to the 100 Club requires a school’s speech and debate team to acquire at least 100 degrees in one year, Schletzbaum stated.

“It took us four years to [reach these accomplishments],” Schletzbaum said. “It helps that we have a school of over 3000 people and that we’re retaining members now.”

Degrees can be earned through a point system that awards competitors for participation and winning or placing. The more involved members are, the greater chance they have to earn degrees, Schletzbaum added.

Junior Rakshit Garg currently has earned a total of 383 points through debating. Garg and his debate partner, Junior Jonathan Ngo, were recently awarded eagle trophies for reaching a certain elimination round at a debate tournament held at The Harker School. “[The top 10 percent recognition and the 100 Club membership] signify that the Milpitas Speech and Debate program is growing, which shows a lot about how much potential we have for success,” Garg said. “It’ll serve as incentive for new people to come.”

New facility to be erected, to address student growth

BY RUITING QIN

Two major population challenges the Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD) must face in the next 10 years are the estimated increases of 550 elementary students and 500 high school students, according to Superintendent Cary Matsuoka.

Approximately 12,000 new housing units will be added to the south Milpitas transit area in the coming years, creating an overload of expected students, Matsuoka said.

MHS expects to see an increase of about 366 students by 2016, an issue

that will be addressed by the new Evergreen facility that will be built on campus, Matsuoka continued.

The San Jose Evergreen Community College District agreed to partner with MUSD to build a facility for its community college courses on MHS campus within the next five years, Matsuoka said. The idea of building another high school cannot be pursued right now because there are no resources or money to implement it, since most of the bond money from Measure E will go towards building SEE EVERGREEN ON PAGE 16

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Seniors Pilar Ferguson, Yesenia Patino, Mazie Edusada, and Carli Aiona (left to right) discover the winner of Homecoming Queen. Seniors Marquel Nelson and Yesenia Patino were crowned King and Queen on Oct. 19.

Homecoming celebrates school spirit

BY RACHEL ALVELAIS

Homecoming was held from Oct. 15 to 19, according to Activities Director Joanna Butcher. Students showed school pride throughout the week, Butcher said.

Homecoming Week improved from last year, according to Butcher.

School decorations remained intact longer, and more students dressed for theme days, Butcher said.

“The numbers for the theme days

... were higher than they had been the previous year,” Butcher said. “It’s fun to see people making their own memories of high school.”

Changes were also made to improve spirit events from last year, Butcher said. Activities such as Dodgeball and Movie Night were overall successful.

“I know that the winners [of Dodgeball] got really excited that they got to be announced at both rallies, and they got their little medals,” Butcher said. “And it’s the first year

Twenty-five iPads donated to school by Steve Wozniak

N EWS IN BR IEF Weighted GPA system �nalized Administration now considers Apluses in students’ Grade Point Averages (GPAs) and class rankings.

A-pluses are now worth 4.33, Aminuses are 3.66, B-pluses are 3.33, B-minuses are 2.66, and so on, for unweighted classes.

BY JAMIE LAM

A total of 25 iPads were donated so far to MHS this year by Apple Inc..

Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, who is also currently involved with GlobalMed, according to Principal Kenneth Schlaff. The iPads were shown to MHS students at a presentation on Oct.. 23, Schlaff said.

Science Department Head Letta Meyer said that GlobalMed would be displaying the iPads and demonstrating their applications at the presentation. Students from Advanced Placement (AP) Biology, AP Chemistry, and Anatomy and Physiology were chosen to attend the presentation from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the theater, Meyer said. Only 40 students in science classes were selected because Superintendent Cary Matsuoka had decided that the iPads were to be donated to the MHS science department, Meyer said.

“I got in touch with GlobalMed, wanting to understand where they wanted to see the iPads. They wanted to see them in a science setting,” Matsuoka said. “I thought about an elementary school, but elementary kids are still learning about basic science. Middle school would have worked, but the high school science department of MHS is great because you teach Anatomy and Physiology, AP Biology, and AP Chemistry. So, the iPads will be placed in the MHS Science department.”

An additional 11 iPads will be donated to the 25 iPads to make a complete

in three years that it hasn’t rained [on Movie Night], so we’re able to have it out on the green, and that’s usually much more fun than sitting on a hard bleacher.”

Seniors Marquel Nelson and Yesenia Patino were announced as this year’s Homecoming King and Queen at the football game on Oct. 19. Other nominees included Seniors Carli Aiona, Mazie Edusada, Pilar Ferguson, Aaron Linn, Alexander Nguyen, and Alexander Pham.

Students hosted Haunted Halloween House in theater Theater students hosted a Haunted Halloween House from Oct. 26 to 27 from 6 to 9 p.m. The class raised approximately $360 and 4 to 5 cans from the event.

Target donates check to MHS “Give With Target” Back to School Initiative raised $1,374.61 for MHS via votes on Facebook application.

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A GlobalMed representative points an otoscope connected to a computer at Junior Forrest Tran to see inside his ear after the presentation. 25 iPads were presented to MHS on Tuesday, Oct. 23 during �rst and second periods.

class set for 36 students, Matsuoka added. A cart will also be provided to store the iPads that will be shared by the science department, according to Matsuoka.

Meyer said that she was approached by Schlaff, who had been previously approached by Matsuoka, to write a proposal for the iPads.

Matsuoka had advertised the iPads to secondary schools in MUSD, including the middle schools and MHS, according to Meyer.

“Mr.. Schlaff asked me to write a proposal about what we would be able to do with the iPads and why the science department should get them,” Meyer said. “We heard back from [the superintendent] about a week later saying we could have the iPads.”

Meyer explained how the plethora of applications that are either free or inexpensive can benefit the classroom. She mentioned that biology apps allow students to dissect frogs and earthworms, anatomy apps show

all the bones and different parts of the body, and chemistry apps enable students to look at three-dimensional molecular structures.

GlobalMed gave a presentation about the company and how the iPads could be used by doctors in the telemedicine field. Several people from GlobalMed were present, along with Matsuoka. The 25 iPads were presented to Meyer, but iPads will not be accessible to students until the district barcodes them by Nov. 1.

Jack Emery Drive annually collects food and money The annual Jack Emery Food Drive will begin mid-November and will end by mid-December. Cans and money will be donated to Milpitas Food Pantry.

NJROTC visits Camp Parks Army Base in Dublin A total of 39 students undergo career orientation and leadership and physical �tness training from Nov. 8 to Nov. 22.

CSF and NHS to coordinate annual Stanford Blood Drive California Scholarship Federation (CSF) and National Honor Society (NHS) work together with the Stanford Blood Center to host the annual blood drive on Monday, Nov. 26.

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THE UNION

NEWS

NOVEMBER 2012

Propositions 30, 38 to fund education, to allot tax money for schools in state

BY MOSHE YANG

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MHS Marching Band performs on home �eld at the Homecoming football game on Oct. 19. This year’s fairy-tale theme is titled “Once Upon a Time.”

Band season ‘solid, great’

BY JONATHAN NGO

MHS Marching Band competed against other marching bands at Cupertino High School in its first competition of the season on Saturday, Oct. 13, according to Music Director Christopher Kaldy. The band placed first in musical performance, second in both percussion and color guard performance, and second attractions overall in its division, Kaldy said.

The performances this year, based on the theme “Once Upon a Time,” are about fairy tales and enchantment, according to Drum Major Sean Bautista. Three pieces of music make up the performance, he added. “[The competition was] absolutely fantastic,” Bautista said. “We were only 0.3 [points] away from taking first place.”

Other competitions took place at Dublin High School on Oct. 20 and will be held at Independence High School, Merced, and Fairfield in November, Kaldy said. To prepare for these competitions, the marching band practices after school twice a week, he said.

“We have every Monday and Wednesday with the band for two to three hours after school,” Kaldy

said. “We also have three separate practices on Saturday.”

On the day of the competition, the marching band arrives at MHS to prepare for the competition, Bautista said. Preparation includes practicing the show and making sure the band members are ready for their performance, he added.

“We run through some things and make sure that we’re all solid for the night show,” Bautista said. “After that, we go to the competition.”

Marching band competitions consist of anywhere between 12 to 22 schools, Kaldy said. The MHS Marching Band competes in the AAA division, which includes bands with fewer than 100 members, he said.

He and Senior Rory Pang are this year’s Drum Majors, the marching band’s two conductors, according to Bautista. As Drum Majors, they are responsible for conducting the band and ensuring everyone is doing well musically, physically, and mentally, Bautista said.

“This year is very different from last year,” Bautista said. “It is a different set up and has a different kind of feel to it. How do I feel right now? I think we’re going to do great.”

Foreign students visit MHS

BY LILLIAN KAO

High school students from two countries visited Milpitas through the Sister Cities exchange program, according to Assistant Principal Linda Rodriguez. The purpose of the visit, which took place during the week of homecoming, was to introduce foreign students to American schools, life, and culture, Rodriguez said.

The 22 visiting pupils were paired together and assigned to one of the 11 host families, according to Rodriguez.

A schedule was made for the week, with plans that included shadowing MHS students, attending various Homecoming week activities, and visiting local places such as the Tech Museum, Rodriguez said.

“Ten students came from Huizhou, China, on Sunday, and 12 students arrived from Dagupan, Philippines on Saturday,” Rodriguez said. “We tried to have them participate in some of the after-school and in-school activities.”

Host families were found through various methods, such as through Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) and SchoolLoop, Rodriguez stated. Other families were returning host families who were interested in hosting visiting students again, according to Rodriguez.

“The best part about this program is that we’re going to build connections with them that will last a lifetime,” Rodriguez said. “The hosts will be able to get to know two people from

a different country.”

Two of the visiting girls from the Philippines were hosted by the family of Senior Monique Sico, she said. Her family heard of the program through an email from the PTSA, according to Sico.

“I am an only child, so it was my chance to see what it’s like to have someone with me,” Sico said. “It was kind of hard living with them, since it was hectic trying to get ready in the morning.”

The two girls were introduced to various aspects of the American culture, according to Sico. They went on numerous shopping trips, visited San Francisco, and learned about the differences in American high school systems, Sico said.

“In the Philippines, students stay in classrooms while the teachers move around, so they had to get used to switching classes when the bells rang,” Sico said. “It was fun seeing their reactions to simple things that we do but they don’t do where they live.”

Junior Jessica Ali-Santosa has participated in the exchange program before, this experience being her third time, she said. The two students her family hosted went bowling for the first time and visited places in the Bay Area such as Stanford University, according to Ali-Santosa.

“It’s interesting living with them, although sometimes it’s hard to communicate with them,” Ali-Santosa said. “I would do it again next year.”

Proposition 30 on the November ballot proposes to raise income and sales taxes in California to fund education, according to Principal Kenneth Schlaff. If passed, this measure would save MHS and other schools from the $6 billion cut proposed by lawmakers, Schlaff said.

Governor Jerry Brown’s proposition would temporarily raise the personal income taxes of Californians earning over $250,000 until 2018 according to the Official Voter Information Guide. The Guide also states that the sales tax would increase by one quarter of a cent for every dollar of purchased goods until 2016. “[Proposition 30] will allow money to be funneled towards education.

If not, the trigger cuts take place,” Schlaff said. “[Trigger cuts] put out a budget that says that if we don’t get more money by this date, there are going to have to be cuts.”

These cuts would force Milpitas

Unified School District (MUSD) to deplete its financial reserve and shorten school years, Schlaff said. If Prop 30 fails to pass, cuts would begin immediately, Schlaff said. “[The chances of Proposition 30 passing] were good a while back, but now, there’s a real ripple thrown into it because of Prop 38,” Schlaff said.

“And now [Prop] 38 is coming out with the ads campaigning against Prop 30.”

Prop 38 is another measure in the November ballot for raising taxes to support education, according to Schlaff. Prop 38 claims that all money from the tax increases would go directly to schools in California. The Guide states that Prop 30, however, only gives a portion of its revenue to higher school funding and allots the rest to balance California’s budget. “[Proposition 38] raises personal income taxes on most California taxpayers from 2013 through 2024,” the Official Voter Information Guide states. “The revenues raised by this

tax increase would be spent on public school, child care and preschool programs, and state debt payments.”

Propositions 30 and 38 cannot both pass but the measure receiving more “Yes” votes will prevail, according to The Official Voter Information Guide.

The Guide also stated that if Proposition 38 passes, it will not prevent trigger cuts from going into effect.

Billionaire Charles Munger’s daughter, Molly Munger, is Proposition 38’s main supporter, having donated $44 million to its campaign, according California Secretary of State Debra Brown’s website, sos.ca.gov.

The site also shows that Molly Munger’s brother, Charles Munger Jr., leads the “No on Prop 30” campaign having donated $35 million to independent committees that opposes Prop 30.

“Under our proposal, virtually all the cuts that the schools have suffered in the last four years would all be restored,” Molly Munger said.

“Under the governor’s initiative, virtually none would be.”

Lunch regulations reduce portion sizes

BY CINDY WANG

School lunch portions have consistently decreased over past years, according to MHS students. Federal government has placed new regulations on the food portions to encourage more healthful diets, District Dietician Barbara Rouse said.

The federal institute started modifying school recipes to promote better eating habits, Rouse stated. Its goal is to serve more fruits and vegetables and lower calorie intakes of school meals, Rouse continued.

“For the first time, [the federal government] has put a maximum on the meat portions and requirements to serve whole grain and beans,” Rouse said. “The reason is to help prevent the child obesity rates.”

Child obesity has become a primary issue, according to Rouse. Lunchtime supervisor Penny Ryan said that the federal government wants to help prevent obesity by offering a variety of meals and regulating calorie intake, a method that Principal Kenneth Schlaff advocates as a means to help bring down obesity rates.

“I support [the new lunch regulations] considering the obesity rate of this country is tragic,” Schlaff said. “[The obesity rate] is something for the country to grapple with.”

MHS is now required to measure

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Asian noodles and sandwiches are two entrees that have reduced in size.

MHS also recently began selling frozen yogurt at the a la carte for $1.50.

portion sizes, Lunch Worker Cathy Labena said. Students who dislike smaller serving sizes often take more than one entree, Labena added.

MHS students expressed their unhappiness with the significant

shrinkage of lunch proportions, their main concern being that portions decreased while prices have stayed the same. The new sizes are not enough to satiate appetites, according to Senior DeMarco Leonard.

EYE ON CAMPUS

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Seniors Cianne Anthony, Sonya Nava, Danica Bascos, and Junior Cortney Hyde (left to right) dance at the Homecoming rally on Oct. 19. Intermediate Dance classes had prepared to perform in both rallies during fourth period.

NOVEMBER 2012

THE UNION

EDITORIAL

PATRONS

EDITOR I A L : The Opinion of The Union

Student athletes should receive P.E. credits; current system inefficient and needs revision We, The Union, believe that students participating in school sponsored sports teams should be given school credits that count towards physical education (P.E.). Students who participate in school athletics are getting the same amount of exercise, if not more, than those who are enrolled in P.E. and are not a part of any other physical activities. The system currently imposed on MHS athletes is unfair and inefficient.

Taking P.E. requires athletes to give up an entire class for two years to meet graduation requirements.

This ineffective policy forces athletes to give up four semesters worth of courses that could be used for mandatory academic credits or simply for enjoyment.

There is a vast array of courses at MHS that students are unable to explore due to the simple fact that there is not enough room in their six-period schedules. P.E. only acts as a hindrance for those who play sports on a more rigorous level than the P.E. class provides.

There is a way to get around taking P.E. at school, which is to take an online P.E. course; however we find that this method is both a hassle and a waste of money. For every semester of P.E. that is taken online, there is a fee of at least one hundred dollars. There are students who are incapable of meeting this requirement, and it does not make sense to have them spend their own money in order to complete course credit requirements when they are already going above and beyond what is expected of students enrolled in P.E. P.E. introduces students to a wide variety of physical activities, allowing them to find one they enjoy and pursue in order to better their health. However, ath-

letes have already found a sport they enjoy and do not need this aspect that P.E. provides for other students.

In addition, the introduction to other sports may interfere with the skill set that the athlete requires for his specific sport.

Sports are seasonal and run only for a few months, but it must be kept in mind that athletes practice for more than ten hours every week compared to the approximately five hours for P.E. An entire season is equivalent, possibly even more, than a semester’s worth of P.E. in hours.

We do realize that what we are suggesting is not a simple process. New rules that follow the Education Code would have to be created and imposed upon current athletes to ensure that they are actually participating in the sport, rather than joining for the title to get out of taking P.E. during school hours. However, we feel that there are more benefits than potential harm. Creating this new policy would not only help athletes in terms of scheduling, but would also prevent overcrowding in P.E. classes. There are plenty of other schools that provide credits for their athletes, and they do not face any major problems. There is no real reason why MHS can not do the same.

If the school is able to abide by the Education Codes and state laws, students who actively participate on sports teams should be able to receive P.E. credits for the rigorous extracurricular activities. This arrangement would be both beneficial to the athlete as well as the school, and we hope to see a change in this policy in the near future.

T

he Union is a student-run publication that is partially funded by local businesses and private citizens. The patrons listed below have demonstrated their generosity by extending both moral and �nancial support to our newspaper for the 2012-2013 school year. The Union staff would like to thank them for their patronage and encourage others to contribute. If you are interested in becoming a patron ($25 donation), please contact our Business Manager.

Republic Services Jerry Glass D.D.S. and Staff Calaveras Montessori School Inc. Crescent Montesorri Mayor José and Susan Esteves Denny and Marianne Weisgerber Alan L. Grimm, D.D.S. Giorgio’s Italian Food & Pizzeria Thrive Milpitas - Dr. Kauffman Milpitas Rotary Club Luis Descanzo

UNION THE

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The Union is published by the Journalism class of Milpitas High School.

The views in The Union are those of the writers and do not necessarily re�ect those of the school, students, administration, or Milpitas Uni�ed School District.

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EDITOR I A L : The Opinion of The Union

Staff sponsors student academic programs, deserve praise for their continued efforts We, The Union, would like to commend the MHS staff and members of the administration for their dedication and financial investments in the school’s academic programs such as Science Olympiad, MHS Speech and Debate, and DECA. Academic teams and student education have improved and prospered as a result of their continued efforts, some even obtaining regional honors and national recognition.

One such program is the MHS Science Olympiad, which placed third overall at the 2012 Bay Area Regional Science Olympiad (BARSO) competition and fourth overall at States. In 2011, it had placed fourth overall at BARSO and seventh overall at States. These accomplishments would not have been possible without the time and dedication of the Science Olympiad coaches, as well as the financial contributions of the administration. The school administration pitched in by donating approximately $3000 to the team, enabling it to purchase necessary materials such as balsa wood, robotics kits, and field guides as well as pay registration fees.

Science Olympiad’s recent successes were largely due to the time its coaches dedicated to late days in order to provide resources and a classroom environment for students to work, often staying at school as late as midnight on the eve of competition days. They also host Saturday schools from 8 to 12 in the mornings to open their classrooms for student-led lessons and study sessions that effectively equip students with knowledge necessary for competition events.

Another group that has blossomed within the last few years is the MHS Speech and Debate team. Our chapter has placed in the top 10 percent of National Forensic League chapters nationwide and earned membership in the League’s prestigious 100 Club, and the coaches merit praise for their part in the chapter’s success.

The coaches volunteer time before and after

school to train debaters and even dedicate entire weekends accompanying students to tournaments at their own expense. We also commend the administration for helping the team get stipends and obtain permission to use the MHS campus for the annual Milpitas Speech and Debate Tournament. In addition, administration extended its moral support and helped organize the MHS tournament.

DECA is another competitive team on campus whose success is largely due to the MHS administration’s support. At the state-level competition, students placed in the Principles of Business Management & Administration and Human Resources & Management events.

Principal Kenneth Schlaff generously donated $1000 to Milpitas DECA from his principal’s fund that allowed competitors to attend the 2012 California Career Development Conference in Anaheim. A member of the school administration even chaperoned the event, traveling down to Anaheim with the students, and without him, students would not have had the opportunity to compete.

Outside of academic competitions, many teachers voluntarily open their classrooms before school or after school hours to offer additional tutoring sessions.

Math and science teachers especially have committed additional time to guide students through homework and practice problems in one-on-one tutorials that would not be otherwise available during regular class time, simply out of desire to see their students succeed.

We would like to express our appreciation by thanking the wonderful teachers and administration who have tirelessly worked to foster student potential in a variety of academic areas, including but not limited to science, forensics, and business. Without such dedicated staff members, MHS certainly would not have witnessed such accomplishments.

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Editors-in-Chief

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Journalism Advisor

L ETTER TO TH E EDITOR Homecoming rally’s lack of patriotism appalls Like many of my fellow Milpitas Highschoolians, I was appalled by our last rally’s blatant unpatriotism.

As you’ll recall, all our rallies in the past opened with a little tune you may have heard of called “The Star Spangled Banner.” But no! The leftist-fascists deceived us and replaced our National Anthem with the Exit Anthem. Initially I was relieved and even stood up and remarked aloud, “Well that was quick.” But I was fooled!

Unfortunately I couldn’t sit through two unorganized pantomime shows because I heard that during the First Rally the singer had begun to sing the anthem but was cut off! C’mon! How unAmericanny of them that close to the elections. Where was my precious reminder that teenagers respect our country when they holler and screech at inappropriate times during the anthem? Where was the crescendo of enthusiastically rude cheering that would overpower those beautiful, patriotic lyrics?

Folks, let’s not forget the noticeable absence of our local NJROTC too. Usually homecoming courtiérs walked under a bridge of Honor Guard swords or at least Color Guard would present our flags for the anthem. But like President Obama at

the first debate, they were nowhere to be seen.

If anything though, I’m glad ASB (Autocratic Socialist Bureau, I presume) had the enormous galls to finally portray one underexposed American value: physical violence. I cannot give them enough standing ovations for enacting two, realistic teenage brawls live AND to the faculty that approved it for two rallies.

It was great when two girls grabbed each other by the hair in a cat fight or when one guy picked up a smaller guy and swung him about like a helicopter.

So while I give a tip of my hat to the liberal student council (now 90% less council) for their brawls, they still put aside American values for school pride and monarchy promotion. As a proper, God fearing American I am completely appalled by our school’s growing unpatriotism. This would never have happened under a Romney administration. I suggest that if ASB wants to tamper with American tradition, they should just replace our anthem with something more appropriate like the anthem with all the swear words in it.

A��� L��

Class of 2013

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THE UNION

PRO

Digitalization a wise decision; technology appeals to students In this fast-paced, evolving society, e-readers, besides initial expenses, it’s difficult for textbooks to remain is that losing your e-reader with all relevant for more than 5 years. five or six of your textbooks would be They’re expensive to update fre- more devastating and expensive than quently and a burden to carry around, the loss of a textbook. Otherwise, eso isn’t it logical for our school to tran- readers would save money in the long sition from paper to electronic? The run and improve the relevance and district has already installed Wi-Fi on validity of materials, assuming that campus and iPads were introduced to electronic textbooks would provide the science department. It’s possible updates more quickly and cheaply that within the next decade, MHS than physical textbooks would. will have some method Based off of personal for all students to access experience, students will electronic textbooks. treat e-readers with more Yes, purchasing a mascare than they treat textsive amount of e-readers is books. Generally, our genexpensive, and unlikely to eration values electronic happen with the current devices far more than budget cuts, but the use books, and using e-readof e-readers would save ers would stop problems the district money in the with the defacement and long run. E-readers could damage done to textbooks. be handed to students It’s also more appealing to CATHERINE each year, the same way use an electronic device FREY textbooks are distributed, than to flip open a book and students could use to most people - just look that single device for all of at the number of students their classes. who can’t be separated from their Besides the monetary aspect, e- cell phones or the internet for even a readers would provide a large edu- few hours - so issuing e-readers could cational value for students. Students potentially increase student interest could search for words in the text to learn. more quickly, highlight and take I really don’t see how more harm notes as they read, magnify text, and than good comes from replacing look up definitions all in one portable textbooks with e-readers. E-readers device. are portable and can carry massive I will acknowledge that there are amounts of data compared to textsome potential downsides to using books and they offer students valuelectronic textbooks, but the switch able, time-saving resources, like built is inevitable. A California law passed in dictionaries and easily searchable in 2012 mandates that all private and text. They make the learning matepublic post-secondary institutions rial easier to update. Students can just must use electronic textbooks by download an updated version of their 2020, so why shouldn’t elementary e-book and access the latest version and high schools soon follow suit? of text for considerably cheaper than The only major concern I have for purchasing a new set of textbooks.

CON

E-books lack comfort and ease; come with inconvenient aspects In the 21st century, keeping up with accessible because your digital reader the constant technological advance- cannot support the specific program. ments seems necessary, especially Other times, the information you in education. However, technology need may not even be available in brings disadvantages in the case of digital format. Thus, the ability to use digital textbooks. Even though they digital textbooks is limited; all condiare small, portable, and lightweight, tions must be met for the device to digital textbooks are extremely function properly. inconvenient. As a student, the duTechnology is not always 100% ties of everyday life include reading reliable. What if the electronic device textbooks, taking notes, malfunctions during class and answering questions. time or runs out of battery Based on my firsthand and needs to be charged? experience, it is often necThat is wasted class time: essary to refer back to the needing to fix the problem text in these situations, or waiting for the device and flipping back and forth to charge. Technology is between pages of text on a useless if it does not even mini-electronic device is work. Electronic devices annoying. Moreover, reare reliant on the working peatedly swiping your finconditions of the hardger across the screen just ware, software, Internet RUITING adds to the frustration. connection, and battery QIN Also, the comfort and fapower. After wasting time miliarity of a paper bound coping with malfunctionbook is lacking. Instead of opening ing technology, you may end up findthe book and flipping through the ing a paper copy of the information. pages, you have to learn to efficiently Although it seems to cost less in the use the tools on an unfamiliar device. long run, the fees spent on periodic The interface of digital textbooks is repair, maintenance, replacement not designed to be student friendly. and other factors still add up. Money The small screens and digitized pre- spent on high maintenance digital desentation make the text hard to read. vices could be used on more student Having to squint at a small screen and teacher friendly technology. strains your eyes. As a student, you In the future, digital textbooks already spend immense amounts may be an alternative, but now, the of time glued to computer screens. numerous disadvantages outweigh More eye strain from a small elec- the advantages of speed and portabiltronic device and screen glare serve ity. E-readers are designed for fast, as distractions from learning. easy reading, but not for textbooks.

In addition, some textbooks are Although using digitized textbooks is only compatible with specific de- a good idea, the tablets have too many vices. You may find that the infor- inconvenient aspects to be fully funcmation you need is available but not tional as learning tools.

OPINIONS

NOVEMBER 2012

Current fundraising regulations frustrating; humanitarian clubs unable to raise donations You’d think everyone would be in favor of raising money for non-profit organizations. Unfortunately, the fundraising restrictions the Associated Student Body (A.S.B.) places on clubs make donating money quite bothersome and inefficient. Currently, A.S.B. has set up a system in which each club is designated one week out of the school year when they are allowed to fundraise. This proves troublesome when a club’s main purpose is to raise money for charity.

Not only does the arrangement prove ineffective for clubs, but it’s also incredibly inconvenient. Fundraising works best when there are holidays close by. There’s an endless amount of ideas for winter holidays, especially Valentine’s Day: candy hearts, flowers, balloons, you name it. What is a club going to do in the middle of January, when it’s too early for Valentine’s Day and much too late for Christmas?

It’s an understandable argument that two clubs wouldn’t want to hold a fundraiser at the same time anyway, but I believe that two clubs would rather deck it out and raise some money for a cause rather than none at all. There’s also the matter of

two clubs wanting to work together the back where they were deserved, and advertise to a larger audience, the club was scolded for not adhering but how would the money to the restrictions set up be distributed? Because of that seem to only hinder how the fundraising weeks them. Never mind the fact are set up, the club doing that the all of the proceeds the fundraising during its went to a good cause. week would get all of the Never mind that. It’s inproceeds, which would be credibly frustrating when unfair and make no sense a club is constantly talking whatsoever. about all of the goals that it And of course, when wants to achieve, but can’t clubs complain about matdo anything to support its ters such as these, we’re ofcause.

LEANN ten told things like: “Make I realize that A.S.B. has WOO do with what you have. Be a set of guidelines that it creative. Plan it out. Make has to follow as well, and it work.” And yes, as dedithat just because it is in a cated officers would, we do plan for position of authority, doesn’t mean these things. Endlessly. Sometimes that it is exempt from rules. Howit feels like clubs consume our lives. ever, it would be nice if these kinds But things happen, and time doesn’t of changes were worked out with always allow convenience to pass. the clubs, rather than being abruptly Last year I thought of a great Christ- changed and not up for discussion. I mas fundraiser, but unfortunately my know from experience that it’s hard club’s fundraising week had already to stray away from how things have passed without my knowledge. always been, but I would much prefer I know of another club that did a to have a say in what changes are goreally successful fundraiser outside of ing to be made rather than none at all. its specific week without approval. All I hope that in the future, these matthe proceeds went to charity, and in- ters will be discussed with those who stead of being given praise and pats on they will affect.

Future of American politics compromised Many of my peers divulge a few But that wasn’t the worst -– when snickers or throw sharp looks of con- I asked one of my classmates why he tempt upon hearing the name “Mitt supported President Barack Obama, Romney,” and after every presiden- he responded with a shrug and an “I tial debate, my Facebook don’t know.” It’s a bit disnewsfeed erupted into a comforting to think that plethora of praise for Presisuch people will be eligible dent Barack Obama. to vote in a few years.

Forgive me for passing Arguably, the biggest judgment, but the majority concern is that the little of these people do not regpolitical knowledge most ularly keep up with politics students (the term “stuand are most likely joining dents” is interchangeable in the election frenzy to with the term “lemseem “educated” and “inmings”) possess is fettered formed.” Let’s be honest to deeply-rooted, unquesBRENDA – if you’re not going with tionable liberal beliefs inSU the flow, you aren’t going stilled upon them by their to be part of the fun! The peers and parents. In the extent of their “education” eyes of many at our school, is revealed through the profound, Romney is a despicable, rich man and pro-Obama and anti-Romney com- Obama is the savior of the common ments I’ve seen such as “Obama rules, people (these statements may or may Romney sucks!” The most upsetting not be true – not that most actually Facebook comment I’ve come across know), and anything conservative or is, and I paraphrase, “Obama is the Republican is shunned. These stugreatest thing since sliced bread! LOL dents block their ears from anything whats a defisit?” Please, stop embar- that could possibly contradict their rassing yourselves. regurgitated beliefs. Isn’t this mind-

set a bit hypocritical for people who champion themselves on being liberals and being open-minded? Perhaps this is understandable, since we live in California, a state that gives away all its electoral votes to the Democratic Party.

This leads to my next point: while I applaud students, who are yet unable to vote, for paying attention to politics, it’s pointless if they can’t process and analyze information critically and instead willingly pry their jaws open , swallowing the opinions fed to them by their peers and parents.

Next time students laud politicians, I hope they’ve done their research beforehand. Please, look up the politicians’ stances on crucial issues like the economy, welfare, foreign policy, and bills they’ve thrown their support behind. Only then, I say, are they qualified to blow up my Facebook newsfeed. In a country in which we are proud of our freedom of speech, let’s actually make use of this freedom by developing and voicing independent opinions.

Recycling bins necessary around campus Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Even if you’ve never heard these words in this very sequence, you can still figure out that they’re the three things that people should do to cut down on waste and conserve resources. Reduce the amount of waste you throw away.

Reuse items such as plastic and paper bags. Recycle plastic water bottles and papers. We should have all seen volunteers at lunch recycling trays and milk cartons back in elementary school. Fast forward years later to high school. Where do all these recyclables go now? The recycling bins right? Wait. What recycling bins?

Nope, our recyclables go into the trash cans. Actually, most of the time, they end up on the floor and rolling around school like tumbleweeds.

This is obviously a step backwards on our part. We should be continuing our efforts in recycling and taking the time to ensure that we’re not wasting any materials, not completely giving up and throwing everything back into the trash as if we don’t know what recycling means. There should be recycling bins around campus, where people can throw their water bottles, old papers, and other recyclables.

Most classrooms already have some sort of recycling bin or box laying

around in a corner, so why not have seconds to determine what goes into bins set outside as well? These new which box shouldn’t be impossible . recycling bins could be simple green If people still just throw their boxes placed right next to trash cans stuff away without separating their for convenience and marked with a items, then they may even feel guilt recycling symbol to inform people for taking part in the destruction of that they are for recyclables only. To our environment and recycle the remind students what can or cannot next time around. This may just be be recycled, there would optimistic on my part, be a sign on the boxes with but I have some hope that a list of items that can be our students are capable placed in them. of performing an action Some may argue that that elementary students students will just treat practice at lunch on a daily new recycling containers basis. We can’t be that as new trash cans, meanhopeless. ing everything will end up Even if just half of all in them as well. Honestly, students actually recycle if people feel that way, they around campus while must believe students to the other half remains ARTHUR be completely incompeapathetic about the wellTRAN tent. At least half of our being of our earth, that school should be smart is still a whole lot better enough to read a sign than everybody at school and separate their recyclables from throwing their recyclables away into their trash. It should take people five trash cans around campus. Some acseconds at most to throw away their tion taken on this issue is better than items into two different places. We none at all. Recycling bins need to have 30 minutes of lunch, 10 minutes be placed around campus so that we of break, and six minutes to get to can move forward to becoming ecoclass. If people can take the time to friendly rather than continuously walk up to a trash can and throw their waste our materials and completely things away, then taking an extra five fill up our landfills.

NOVEMBER 2012

THE UNION

FEATURES

5

Ex-biologist now teacher

BY VANESSA YEH

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Junior Johnathan Yeung plays the tuba with the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets, this being his �rst time performing with the group after auditioning last year to participate. Yeung has played the tuba for more than three years.

Yeung displays skill in Drum Corps Int’l

BY DAN LUO

Junior Johnathan Yeung played the tuba in the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets this summer. The Santa Clara Vanguard is a locally based Drum and Bugle Corps, which are prestigious marching bands that tour the U.S during the summer. The Cadets placed third in the Drum Corps International Open Class Finals with a score of 93.8, missing second place by 0.05 points.

The Drum Corps consist of brass instruments, percussion, and color guard. The Cadet divisions consist of 15 to 22-year-olds with musical and marching ability. The audition fee is $75 with a tour fee of $1800 if you get in. This year was Yeung’s

first time participating in the Drum Corps, but he said he would do it again if given the chance.

“I wanted more than my high school marching band could provide,” Yeung said. “Basically I wanted to do [marching band] all year long.”

Although the competitions are during the summer, the Drum Corps practice on the weekends all year long. Yeung said it sometimes interferes with school, but it isn’t a big deal.

The specific name for Yeung’s instrument is a contrabass bugle.

It works similarly to how a trumpet works, but it is a lot larger and produces the lowest sounds in the bugle family. The bugle weighs 22.5 pounds, and Yeung has to practice

with weights on. That’s like holding five or six textbooks while playing an instrument.

“The music is way harder than high school and university marching band music,” Yeung said.

Although it’s difficult to assign precise difficulty levels to music, two of the songs that the Vanguard Cadets played were Medea’s “Dance of Vengeance” and “Wishing You Were Somehow Here,” from “Phantom of the Opera.”

In order to compete this summer, Yeung had to attend multiple auditions last year, including one that required him to live at a school for a weekend. The auditioning period for this year is from Nov. 17 to Dec. 22 with separate dates for different types of instruments.

Bike clubs exhibit varying styles, techniques

BY MARTIN YAO

Biking clubs Life Behind Bars and Ciclismo both involve biking but vary in style. Ciclismo is meant for distance cycling, primarily with road or mountain bikes, President Justin Crick said. On the other hand, the purpose of Life Behind Bars is to show newcomers local spots to practice tricks on their fixed gear bikes and bicycle motocrosses (BMXs), President Alex Chau said.

Ciclismo’s activities involve taking its members to local trails such as Mt. Hamilton or through the streets of Piedmont and East San Jose, Crick said. No community service events have been planned, according to Crick.

“What I don’t like about [fixed

gears and BMXs] is that there are no brakes,” Crick said. “Kind of defeats the purpose.”

Ciclismo meetings are held in F-19 every other week, Crick said.

Information about activities can be found online through Facebook since maps can be used as a visual aid, Crick added.

Around ten people show up at bike rides, but the head count can depend on the difficulty of the ride, Event Coordinator Graham Cross said. “These guys always want to ride flat,” Cross said. “I’m trying to get them up a hill.”

Life Behind Bars helps members buy bikes since there is a vast range in the customization of fixed gear bicycles and BMX’s, Secretary Christophe Te said. Life Behind Bars also differs from Ciclismo in

that it offers community service by having members fix bikes at Good Karma Bikes in Downtown San Jose, according to Te. “Right now we don’t have many events planned because of the rainy season and I am busy with college apps,” Chau said. “But there will be more riding in the spring and we’ll be hitting new spots farther away from Milpitas.”

Life Behind Bars is currently 10 to 15 members strong, Chau said.

Chau also added that he is trying to get his members to enter upcoming trick competitions.

Life Behind Bars currently has no interest in doing any collaborations or joint activities with Ciclismo, Chau said. “We have no affiliations with them because our interests are just not similar enough,” Chau said.

Students tune in to Pugatch’s smartphone app

BY LILLIAN KAO

Unlike most students who listen to music on campus, Senior Jason Pugatch has helped develop a music streaming service, which released its iPhone application in October 2012 and Android application in August 2012. Since summer 2011, Pugatch has worked with two other individuals to develop HypedMusic, a music streaming service that allows people to legally listen to and access music for free.

The idea first arose back when Pugatch and his friend from another school, Luke Li, wanted a solution to downloading and listening to free music. Both used various music streaming services, such as Spotify and iTunes, but disliked paying for the services, according to Pugatch.

They also noticed that it was harder to download music from piracy sites, so they decided to come up with a solution to their problem.

“There’s an unmet need meaning free unlimited legal music anytime anywhere,” Pugatch said. “Kids our age don’t have credit cards, and we weren’t willing to buy music, which is ultimately why we made HypedMusic.”

In the beginning, Pugatch and Li started out by working from their own laptops. Pugatch made a basic prototype of the iPhone app, while Li coded the Android app. Later on, Pugatch became the chief operational officer and handed over the iPhone coding to George Morgan, a former classmate at his old high school who joined their team during the summer of 2012.

“We had an idea and guidelines, but this was all formulaic and we edited as we went along,” Pugatch stated. “In my role as the chief operational officer, I manage all the work done on all the platforms. I am also more of the legal and financial side of the project, and I also do

most of the graphics for the website and the iPhone app.”

Pugatch originally told a few friends about HypedMusic, and from there the popularity of the program spread through word of mouth and the internet, he said.

People in other countries caught on as well, and the app became part of the charts at 153 for the iPhone app.

Upcoming projects for HypedMusic include improving browsing experience and coding social interactions, according to Pugatch. The trio of developers is also working on a music blog that will contain music reviews, DJ software, and a radio feature.

“The best thing about this experience is that I’ve been able to work with incredible people along the way,” Pugatch said. “ I’ve been able to extend my network in Silicon Valley by meeting some CEOs of other tech companies.”

The science department has one more interesting teacher with the addition of Forensic Biologistturned-Biology teacher Gordon Sanford. Before teaching, Sanford worked as a marine biologist and then later, a forensic biologist for the federal government.

According to Sanford, a marine biologist works with many kinds of marine animals, whereas a forensic biologist takes normal trace evidence ranging from blood stains to narcotics to even working with bugs and making reason of it.

After graduating college, Sanford was immediately recruited by the Smithsonian (Museum) to work with the Environmental Peace Corps located in the Philippines.

There, Sanford’s daily tasks would range from performing biopsies on animals to processing forensic DNA within salmon hatchings.

Sanford first got introduced to forensic biology in the late 1970s while in the West Indies, where he was asked by a medical examiner to help examine a body that was dumped into water.

After this, Sanford was frequently recruited by many other medical examiners to help out with cases involving water. Slowly, Sanford worked more crime scenes and in 2000, officially retired from marine biology.

After traveling the world and constantly being indulged in work, Sanford stated that he was missing his family and decided to take some time off from marine and forensic biology and become a Biology teacher. Despite his long term absence from the government, Sanford says he is still on call for duty whenever needed.

Before teaching at MHS, Sanford taught the Central County Occupational Center (CCOC) course for five years at Irvington High School in Fremont. For five years, Sanford had also been working with 13 different high schools through the forensic science course available through the CCOC program; this is his 13th year teaching.

Sanford is also the new Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Club advisor. “If you enjoy any forensic show, the club gives you definite hands on experience,” Sanford said.

“We also bring in speakers from the forensic field.”

Because Sanford has been so involved in forensics for a majority of his life, he can’t let it go. If a forensic class at MHS ever opens up, he would eagerly take the opportunity to teach the course, subtly adding, “I’ve had some conversations with Mr. Schlaff about it; forensics could be a CSU/UC approved course at MHS someday,” Sanford said.

Teen issues tackled by SAC; Ngo, Sastry, Tao represent

BY LEANN WOO

Congressman Mike Honda leads his Student Advisory Council, the SAC, every year in order to face the issues that teens are confronted with in the Bay Area. Three students currently represent MHS at meetings in Honda’s office twice every month, according to Activities Director Joanna Butcher.

The three student representatives, Junior Jonathan Ngo, Junior Vikram Sastry, and Senior Eric Tao, all went through an application and interview process administered by Butcher. She noted that there was an increase in applicants this year since she had sent out a message through School Loop to all of the juniors and seniors at MHS. The three student representatives go to meetings to give input about the social issues that are affecting teenagers, according to Butcher.

However, they are also there to learn about what is influencing the Bay Area’s teenage community as a whole and to bring that information back to MHS to implement changes.

“The representatives are going to be giving a report at each Student Congress meeting, and also at our Unity meetings,” Butcher mentioned. “I believe Eric presented at the last Congress meeting.”

Each year the SAC takes on a single issue affecting teens around the Bay and expands on what can

be done to solve it. Tao said that at the next Congress meeting, the representatives will be talking about the projects the SAC has been discussing.

“We organized ourselves into committees that we wanted to be in and came up with issues we wanted to discuss,” Tao said. “All three of us, Jonathan, Vikram, and I, are part of the agenda and logistics committee.”

Topics that were discussed at the meetings included health, education, and bullying, according to Sastry. As a representative for MHS, he feels that he is lucky to be able to do something about these problems in our community.

“Other schools have drug programs, stress programs, bullying programs, but we don’t,” Sastry said. “Eric, Jonathan, and I are just messengers, and hopefully the information we present at Student Congress gets into the right hands that can change something.”

Sastry recognizes the prestige that comes with his position on Honda’s Student Advisory Council.

However, he also appreciates the opportunity that was given to him to impact social issues that are affecting teens.

“Yeah, we get recommendation letters from Congressman Honda, but what we really get is the opportunity to change something,” Sastry commented. “How often are we going to get to help the 3,000 kids at our school?”

6

THE UNION

NOVEMBER 2012

FEATURES

High school tardy policies compared

BY SHELDON HENTSCHKE

A challenge to the reader: explain Milpitas High School’s tardy policy.

There is more than just “Be in class on time” and “Detention if you’re late on tardy sweep day.”

At MHS, for first period, “Grades sanctioned as per individual teacher grading policies. Tardy sweeps — detention is issued to all students that are tardy. Administrative case management of students that have excessive 1st period tardies, including a[n] attendance contract,” according to the MHS website.

For second through sixth periods, 10 tardies earn a detention; 16, 22, and 28 tardies earn Saturday Schools. MHS’s website says, “If [students miss] an assigned

Saturday School they will be given a one-day in-house suspension or home suspension.”

If a student is tardy in first period, the student must get a tardy pass from the office. For other classes, teachers can either report tardies or send students to the office for a pass, depending on how late the student is. If a student is over 30 minutes late, the student must get a pass.

The Tardy Sweep was introduced this year. An administrator will play a song over the school’s loudspeaker at the two-minute bell. On these days, a tardy to first period results in a 45 minute detention.

For many students, the intricacies of the tardy policy are too much to remember. Senior Brendan Lin said, “I just know that [MHS] changed

the policy, but I didn’t know what it was before that.”

English Teacher Ginger Roy could not recall the policy’s details.

She commented that the policy has changed thrice in the last six years.

Junior Amanda Barth said the tardy policy at Summit Preparatory School requires students to spend half an hour on Fridays after school for each tardy after the first two. The tardy policy there has not changed since she has attended Summit.

Junior Arjun Goyal from The Harker School said at his school, students pick up paper slips from the office if they are over five minutes late, and detentions are issued for having more than five tardies. This tardy policy has not changed recently.

Ferguson, Tao partake in military programs

BY YING LUO

Health, law, or engineering are typical career choices that high school students gravitate toward, but not Seniors Eric Tao and Pilar Ferguson, who both hope to serve in the U.S. Army and Military. They explored their interests in June, when they attended the West Point Summer Leaders Seminar (SLS).

The program is an intense, weeklong physical exertion that requires attendees to wake up at 4:30 a.m., take classes, stand at attention with their platoons for roll call, and rush meals in a limited time span. Their sweat and efforts paid off, for benefits that come with attending academies, including receiving commissions as officers upon graduation, free tuition for

four years, and guaranteed jobs in the U.S. Army.

The Service Academy also held a military day when candidates cycled through the obstacle course, weapons training introduction, and vehicular introduction session. Tao also attended the Naval Academy Summer Seminar in Annapolis, Maryland, where its military day was a prelude to its “Plebe Summer” day for incoming freshmen, a training so physically and mentally taxing that many candidates eventually drop out.

“We were basically subjected to a day-long physical training day that involved running the Naval Academy’s Endurance course [an miles-long, mountainous mud trail], exercising knee deep in the Severn River, and [doing] brick

workouts in the pool,” Tao stated.

“The best part, however, was [when] candidates were berated at for 30 minutes while being questioned about various naval knowledge.”

While SLS has inspired and created fond memories for both Tao and Ferguson, the two have ultimately diverted in their career paths. Ferguson considered other options and realized that academies were not the right fit for her.

“Being an only child raised by a single parent, moving to New York for four years and having to serve for five years is not the most ideal given my family situation,” Ferguson explained. “Also, being a girl makes it harder because [West Point] is a school made up of 84 percent boys and 16 percent girls.”

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Senior Kennedy Kenney models a hand-embroidered satin top bustier and taffeta silk skirt. She appeared in Bay Area’s Fashion Week in September.

Kenney, Riyat walk runway, plan to model in future years

BY MARISA LOUIE

You see models on television and in magazines but would hardly expect to see them walking around campus. Ordinary students by day and models in their free time, Seniors Jasmine Riyat and Kennedy Kenney can often be found modeling the latest fashions on the catwalk.

Riyat always had an interest in modeling and began her career last April after a friend who was involved in the industry suggested that she try it out. The designers at the first show Riyat appeared in took notice of her and asked for her to appear in more shows and in photo shoots.

“I feel I’m very blessed to have these opportunities to model,” Riyat said. “I used to feel insecure about being tall and skinny, but now I can embrace it.”

Kenney began modeling in August after making her debut at a fashion show in Milpitas. Kenney has appeared in four shows and has modeled pieces from Group USA, Camille LaVie, and Max Studio.

“I’ve always wanted to be a model since I was little,” Kenney said. “Being 6’1” and having long legs, people said I should try [modeling].”

Riyat has participated in 12 to 13 shows and has modeled fashions from A’GACI, Group USA, and Max Studio. When asked what

her favorite part about modeling is, Riyat replied, “The going out and walking and knowing that everybody’s watching you wearing a certain designer’s clothes and working that designer’s piece at that moment. You’re the center of attention, and you’re showing off what you have.”

Both Riyat and Kenney have appeared in Bay Area Fashion Week, a 9-day fashion show extravaganza that raises money for local charities. Preparation for this event was demanding, requiring Riyat and Kenney to attend weekly practices, spending three to five hours in heels each time. “[Bay Area Fashion Week] introduced me to industry; what it was really like,” Kenney said. “It was hard in the beginning balancing school work and going to practices, but it was worth it in the end.”

Riyat and Kenney plan to continue modeling after high school. When she turns 18, Kenney hopes to try out for “America’s Next Top Model,” and to perhaps one day fill Tyra Banks’ shoes.

“One day I hope to inspire girls who are insecure with their height – who are really tall – to embrace it because it’s a beautiful thing,” Kenney said. “It’s a hard thing to get used to, when I was younger, being taller than all the boys, but that’s what makes me unique, and now I can’t imagine life not being this height.”

Senior writes for NaNoWriMo

BY CINDY WANG

Writers, pick up your pencils, because it’s time to get busy!

National Novel Writing Month is from Nov. 1 to 31. To celebrate this, CreateSpace and other companies have sponsored a national writing challenge called NaNoWriMo. What is NaNoWriMo about?

According to the website, it is a challenge for writers to write a novel of at most 50,000 words within a month. Writers can sign up for the event on the event’s website http://nanowrimo.org, and start writing Nov. 1.

Senior Brianna Gonzales is one of the many people interested in participating in the event. Gonzales stated that this is her first year entering the challenge. She said that she found out about this event through an online writing program.

"Mostly it’s my teachers and family who got me into writing because they say that I have a crazy

imagination." Gonzales said. Since then, she has been an active writer.

This national event started in 1999 with just 21 people but skyrocketed in popularity in 2012 with over 2 million participants.

This event is for people of all ages who want the satisfaction of writing a novel in a month. Although there aren’t any official prizes, the NaNoWriMo event emphasizes that all writers who reached the goal of writing 50,000 words in a month are considered winners.

"It’s interesting and fun and it’s not so much about winning or losing but getting together and having fun." Gonzales said. The NaNoWriMo goal is to encourage aspiring writers everywhere to write. It brings people together in that the writers all go through the joys, sorrows, and stress of writing a novel in a month.

If you enjoy creative writing, or have always wanted to be an author of your very own novel, November is the month for you!

NOVEMBER 2012

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THE UNION

7

Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship Award: $1000 Deadline: Nov. 30, 2012, 8:59 PM PST Sponsor: ScholarshipExperts.com Description: If you are older than 13 and applying to college this year, you can apply. Pretend that your high school is overrun by zombies and create a plan detailing where to hide and which five items you would need to survive; best plan wins.

Beans for Brains Scholarship: Award: $3000 (Up to 5 winners) Deadline: Apr. 1, 8:59 PM PST Sponsor: Jimmy Beans Wool Description: For seniors attending college next fall. Applicants must know how to knit or crochet, provide an original pattern or a photo of a recent project, and must be OK with having publishing their photo in media.

Olive Garden’s Pasta Tales Essay Award: $2500 Deadline: Jan. 21, 8:59 PM PST Sponsor: Olive Garden Description: The contest is open to first through 12th grade students.

Describe, in 50 to 250 words, “How furthering your education beyond high school will help make your dreams come true.”

Big Dig Scholarship Award: $3000 Deadline: Dec. 31, 8:59 PM PST Sponsor: AntiqueTrader.TV Description: Open for high school seniors to apply. Pretend that in 200 years, one of your relatives will be digging in what is now your backyard and find something that you buried in 2012. What you decide to bury will have immense value in the future. The item must be in stores today and can be purchased for under $500. Write an essay 500 to 1000 words in length that details what item you will bury, where you can buy it, why you chose it, and why you think it will be worth so much in 200 years.

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Boston University

Minneapolis/St. Louis, MN

Boston, MA Ave. weighted GPA: 3.53 Ave. SAT: 1918 Ave. ACT: 28 Popular Majors: Business/Marketing, Engineering, Health

Ave. SAT: 1900 Ave. ACT: 27.5 Popular Majors: Biology, English, Interdisciplinary Studies, Journalism

University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)

Northeastern University

Santa Barbara, CA Ave. weighted GPA: 4.00 Ave. SAT: 1892 Ave. ACT: 27.6 Popular Majors: Biology, Economics, Psychology, Communications

Ave. weighted GPA: 3.70 Ave. SAT: 1990 Ave. ACT: 30 Popular Majors: Accounting, Biology, Business, Communications

Boston, MA

Philadelphia, PA

San Diego, CA

Autumn is the college application season for seniors. Whether you’re planning to apply to a private, University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), or to a community college (CCC) , this has all the information you need.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS Many private schools use the Common Application, which provides students and member colleges with a uniform admission application that can be submitted to any of the member colleges, according to the Common Application.

After a Common App account is made, the applicant adds the colleges he wishes to apply to. There are subheadings for the different sections of the Common App, including a supplement composed of short answer questions and essays, according to the Common App website. Many schools require teacher and counselor recommendations.

The application fee varies for each school. The admissions site for each school should be checked for fees. A fee waiver can be obtained if the applicant also used fee waivers when applying for standardized tests, according to the Common Application site.

Some schools do not use the Common Application; check their admissions site.

UCS 10 public research universities are in the UC system. The application

UC

UC

Ave. weighted GPA: 3.76 Ave. SAT: 1143 (Math + Reading) Ave. ACT: 25 Popular Majors: Business, Criminal Justice, Psychology

Ave. weighted GPA: 3.40 Ave. SAT: 1780 Popular Majors: Business/Marketing, Engingeering, Health Professions

California State University (CSU), Long Beach

The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) University Park, PA Ave. non-weighted GPA: 3.77 Ave. SAT: 1780 Ave. ACT: 27 Popular Majors: Business/Marketing, Engineering, Communications

Long Beach, CA Ave. weighted GPA: 3.60 Ave. SAT: 1100 (Math + Reading) Ave. ACT: 24 Popular Majors: Nursing, Psychology, Business, Liberal Studies

SD

CSU LON

PENN

UNI MINN

DREXE

Drexel University

San Diego State University (SDSU)

University of California- Los Angeles (UCLA)

St. John’s University

Los Angeles, CA Ave. weighted GPA: 4.20 Ave. SAT: 2008 (Math + Reading) Ave. ACT: 28.9 Popular Majors: Political Science, Psychology, History, Economics

Ave. weighted GPA: 3.76 Ave. SAT: 1143 (Math + Reading) Ave. ACT: 25 Popular Majors: Business, Criminal Justice, Psychology

Queens, NY

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College application processes for seniors

BY ALANNA TRAN

Average

in-state

College tuition rates rise each year, and it’s harder for students and their families to pay for higher education.

Fortunately, there are scholarships for practically anything.

The colleges below were selected to represent the most popular colleges in each of the following categories: Universities of California (UCs), California State Universities and In-State Public Colleges (CSU & CA STATE), Out-ofState Public Colleges, and Private Colleges by numbers of applicants:

out-of-state

BY CATHERINE FREY

Popular colleges attract ma Univ. of CA

creative ways to pay for college tuition

PUBLIC

SCHOLARSHIPS:

SPREA

NOVEMBER 2012

PRIVATE

8

filing period is from November 1 to November 30. The UC system has a separate application on admission. universityofcalifornia.edu, which is filled out once, and then sent to the campuses the applicant wishes to apply to, according to the UC website.

The applicant must make an online account and fill out personal information, such as academic history, extracurricular activities, family information, and more. There also are two essay questions that require responses, with a maximum of 1,000 words total, according to the UC Admissions site.

The UC application costs $70 per campus. Official score reports from testing agencies need to be sent to only one campus. The other campuses will be able to access the information once it has been submitted.

Updates can be made after the application is submitted, such as address or school changes, according to the UC admissions website.

CSUS 23 CSU campuses are in California.

Online applications for fall 2013 are on CSU Mentor (CSUMentor.edu), which opened on October 1. The deadline is November 30, according to the CSU site.

To apply for multiple campuses, an individual application must be filled out for each school, according to CaliforniaColleges.edu. Each application costs $55 fee. After submitting the application, a notification is sent via email within 3 weeks.

CA COMMUNITY COLLEGES There is no rigid timeline for applications to community colleges. The only deadline an applicant must meet is the one the community college has set for that term. For example, fall term applications may be due during August, before the term starts. The application should be turned in a few weeks early to ensure better class choices and time to fulfill prerequisite testing, according to CaliforniaColleges.edu.

If an applicant has an account on CSU Mentor, the same account can be used for CCC Apply. The applicant can fill out the information online or on paper. After applying, registration information is sent to the applicant for classes, according to CCCApply. org.

Those going to a community college may also consider the option of a two year transfer. After two years and obtaining a certificate from the community college, the applicant can transfer to CSUs, UCs, or privates to continue their education for a fouryear degree.

For private schools, go to: www.commonapp.org For UCs, go to: admission.universityof california.edu For CSUs and CCCs, go to: www.CSUMentor.edu

W H AT IS YO

GRACE SHOU

9TH GRADE “Cornell, because it’s the only ivy leaduge with a good marine biology program”

MATTHEW OLSON 11TH GRADE “My dream school would be Santa Clara University because it has a good engineering program.”

Students have many differe

BY ALICIA NGUYEN

As high school life continues and students get closer to adulthood, everyone finds themselves wondering what to do with their lives after graduation. The opportunities seem endless—getting a job, joining the military, going to college, etc. However, choosing the right path is not as easy as it seems.

One common option is immediately joining the work force after high school. This option seems rewarding for now, however it has its drawbacks.

Job choices are limited due to the fact that most professional occupations require college degrees, according to Counselor Cory Nakamoto.

“Without a degree, the pay is very ba-

sic,” Nakamoto said. “The potential for earnings is so much lower.”

Nakamoto said that, compared to people with college degrees, people who join the work force with just a high school diploma make about two million dollars less over a lifetime. Nakamoto suggested that students think about their long term life when making these decisions and at least get an associate’s degree.

However, there are many who would like to take a break from the pressure of being in school by taking a gap year.

Although not common, gap years are sometimes recognized by the college a student applies to, as long as the student is using the year to learn, volunteer, or do something productive.

AD

9

THE UNION

any applicants

Alumni and Stanford Sophomore, Caroline Zhang and friends spell out “STANFORD” during a scavenger hunt. Zhang graduated from MHS in 2011 as salututorian of her class.

e Numbers of Applicants and Acceptances

CLA Courtesty of Caroline Zhang

Alumni reveal college experiences

CSB

BY YING LUO

DSU

1000 = APPLICANTS

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N STATE

IV. OF NESOTA

EL UNIV.

EASTERN NIV.

1000 =APPLICANTS

ON UNIV.

ACCEPTED

N’S UNIV.

$ $$$ 0

50,000

25,000

AVERAGE COST FOR ONE YEAR OF COLLEGE:

42,224

$31,700

$30,000

(approximately) $23,447

PRIVATE UC

PUBLIC

(out-of-state) (in-state)

S by Caryn Tran, DATA COLLECTED by Dan Luo , DATA AND PICTURES PROVIDED by Collegedata.com, Calstate.edu, and respective College Websites

CAROLINE ZHANG - MHS Class of 2011 Stanford University Palo Alto, CA

Caroline Zhang, now a college sophomore, partakes in campus organizations and activities such as a public health journal, Design for America (DFA), Stanford Women in Business, and Sorority TriDelt. She will be editing for the journal with an interest in current policy and scientific research on global health topics, working with teachers to improve education outcomes in DFA, and networking and gaining skills for the business world in Stanford Women in Business. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with her sorority sisters in TriDelt.

Zhang also ascribes as to how Stanford students remain down-to-earth and approachable despite their accomplishments. Students maintain open minds as they meet new people, engage in scintillating conversations, and contribute to the collegiate environment.

“It’s easy to be intimidated by the national rock climbing champion a floor down or someone who can speak six languages down the hall, but I’ve been so pleasantly surprised at how approachable and friendly everyone is,” Zhang commented. “In the dorms, you can easily have a conversation about anything—the purpose of life, even—with literally anyone, and it might just be one of the most enlightening experiences you’ll have.”

One piece of wisdom Zhang would like to offer to high school students is to let go of societal inhibitions. College is an exciting period of time that students should take advantage of to



“My dream school would have to be UC Berkeley because it has an environment that fits

ERIC ZIEN 9TH GRADE “UC Berkeley because it’s a good school. I’ll make grandparents proud and beat my brother, Evan Zien.

ing points for many is personal finance.

Although universities may seem out of reach financially, Nakamoto suggests that students apply for scholarships and financial aid through www. fafsa.ed.gov.

Another issue when dealing with college is whether or not to live away from home. Although this is mainly personal preference, many people suggest that college students live in the dorms.

Alumnus Andy Lien, who attends UC Santa Cruz, said that he found living in the dorms to be a positive experience.

“At best I can say [the dorms are] synonymous to a community,” Lien said. “You have peers who have a lot of things in common.”

Nakamoto also insists that freshmen

University of California (UC), Berkeley Berkeley, CA

Leanna Leung is now a college freshman who intends to apply to the Haas School of Business. Leung enjoys strategizing and event planning, both of which are reasons why she chose to explore the business field.

She joined the Asian Business Association (ABA) to familiarize with her potential major and future career.

Recently promoted as a professional committee member, Leung helps promote and coordinate professional events ranging from speaker panels to networking socials that the organization hosts.

“Forty or so [members of my committee] stayed at a retreat house in Aptos, near Santa Cruz, for the weekend,” Leung described a recent ABA retreat. “And at night, we ventured to

On the Web

OPINION: College worth investment;

high-salary jobs more attainable

BRIAN DINH 10TH GRADE

“UCSD because it’s far from home, and I’d like to experience something completely different from Milpitas. ”

ent options to consider after high school “Gap years are geared to structure.

You don’t use it to spend a year playing video games,” Nakamoto said.

Most students who take a gap year go to other countries, volunteer, or work with an organization under the supervision of a mentor, Nakamoto explained.

Not all colleges accept a gap year though. You must reapply as a freshman the year you return to school. It is suggested that those considering this option be as organized as possible and ask colleges to look over your plan.

Another popular choice for high school graduates is applying for college and pursuing a higher education. It can be difficult to decide which option to take: community college, CSU, UC, private college, etc. One of the main decid-

LEANNA LEUNG - MHS Class of 2012

a Santa Cruz beach for a bonfire.”

Leung is also a staff member for the BARE Magazine, which is Berkeley’s premier fashion, arts, and lifestyle publication. Leung contributes to the magazine’s marketing team by running social media pages and publicizing events and contents.

Berkeley offers a variety of courses, and some are taught by renowned professors. In fact, Leung plans to enroll in the Intro to Astronomy course next semester that is taught by a national award-winning professor.

“Classes are a lot more demanding. It’s not so much fill-in-the-blank, mindless problem solving,” Leung warned. “[There is] more analysis.

Essays are more frequent, longer, and given a shorter time span to write.”

Class sizes at Berkeley vary, the smallest usually being English classes with 30 to 60 people while the largest lecture Leung had attended held 650 students. Professors are not known to make PowerPoint presentations for students to copy, so students are responsible for taking their own notes as professors speak.

As for the social scene, Leung describes the two main types of parties on Berkeley campus: fraternity and apartment. Frat parties are open to many people with a plenitude of drinking games, loud music, dancing, and sweat; apartment parties are more “kickback” and mainly confined to close groups of friends.

“My friends aren’t really the partying type, so I haven’t been as active as some of my peers in that aspect,” Leung commented. “I went to one frat party and occasionally go to an apartment party.”

Go to www.mhstheunion.net for the alumni features of June Fabillaran (UC Davis), Daryl Purificacion (CSU East Bay), and Daven Lagman (Univ. of Minnesota, Twin Cities)

OU R DR E A M SCHOOL A N D W H Y ?

VILAN LE 12TH GRADE

explore their passions when given the freedom and opportunity.

“Once you get to college, regardless of where you are, you are no longer limited by what you think you should do to please your parents, teachers, or college admissions officers,” Zhang advised. “You now have this smorgasbord of options laid out right in front of you, and you have the ability to try new things and surprise yourself at what you can do.”

To those still unconvinced, Zhang highlights the beauty of the Stanford campus. The fountains particularly capture student attention with the freshman tradition of fountainhopping: They jump into a fountain, splash around, and run frantically to the next. Zhang’s goal is to have run through all 25 by senior year!

in college should consider living in a dorm if they can afford it.

“Living in the dorms is a great way to meet new people and is very interactive,” Nakamoto said. “Off-campus housing makes it harder for students who want to meet a lot of people.”

Despite everything, Lien admitted that living in dorms had its flaws.

According to Lien, not everyone was willing to make the best of their dorm experience, He also adds that some traditions people are used to at home aren’t possible in the dorms.

“One of the disadvantages is there is a little less privacy than at home,” Lien said. “You can’t expect every faucet to be clean.”

Is College worth it? Yes it is.

As high schoolers, we should have all heard the plan set up for most of us by now. Apply for colleges, graduate from high school, go to college, graduate with some sort of degree, and then find a job. Of course, that sounds all so simple in our heads, or on paper. With rising tuition prices of colleges and our yet to recover economy, is college even worth the money anymore?

Higher education is thought to open up the road to success; going to college is supposed to automatically make you thrive in the future. The reality of it all, of course, is that college will not guarantee you a decent career and nice living conditions.

College is not going to ensure that you will have a great economic standing in the future and a huge paycheck.

What it will pretty much guarantee people most of the time is a mountain of debt from student loans the moment they graduate, and that’s where people think that college is a total waste of money.

Tuition, for example, may cost up to $14,000 dollars. This does not even include room and board, books and supplies, and health insurance. College is obviously not cheap, whether you choose to go to a private or public institution.

However, going to college and getting a degree does open up doors of opportunities to careers with high salaries that can make repaying loans nothing but a trifle. According to an article by the New York Times, of all

Americans that earn over $150,000 annually, 82 percent of them have a Bachelor’s degree. A mere 6.5% of those people only have a high school diploma.

The conclusion is clear: a college degree will give one much greater chances of having a high salary compared to someone who only has only a high school diploma.

One may argue that the debt accumulated by student loans may haunt a person for the rest of their lives. However, a study done by the Hamilton Project has found that investing in an Associate’s degree and a Bachelor’s ARTHUR TRAN degree both have over a 15 percent internal rate of return. This means that an investment into higher education will be extremely beneficial in the long run as debt would not be an issue.

It should be added that choosing a more profitable field will lower your chances of incurring a large debt.

You should, therefore, be selective in choosing your major.

Again, college may not guarantee success. You may find yourself out of college with your degree(s), but no job. However, those degrees do open up a whole world of careers for you to pick from, making college worth your time and money.

10

THE UNION

NOVEMBER 2012

ENTERTAINMENT

3-D ‘Pokémon’ sequel a success RATING: (out of �ve stars)



BY ALICIA NGUYEN

After 16 years, you would think Nintendo’s Pokémon franchise would run out of ideas for its games.

Surprisingly enough, with the release of “Pokémon Black and White 2” on Oct. 7, the game fares well. As the first direct sequel to the prior games, “Pokémon Black and White,” the game is an improvement as Nintendo gets more accustomed to 3-D animation. With over 1.08 million copies of the games sold in just the United States on the first day, “Pokémon Black and White 2” presents a great game for both new and veteran Pokéfans.

Compared to its predecessors, “Pokémon Black and White 2” GAME still has a similar genREVIEW eral storyline. However, when getting into specifics, there are actually many changes that make the game more of a sequel to “Pokémon Black and White” rather than another remake of the game. Characters from the previous version, including the two rivals, return as assistants to the Pokémon professor and the first gym leader. Half of the gym leaders in the previous version are replaced with four new gym leaders with different specializations.

In addition, completely new towns have been added to the game. There are also new forms of legendary Pokémon, and Pokémon from other generations of the games are now accessible early on. Some new features are the introduction of the Pokémon World Tournament, which allows you to battle every Gym Leader and Champion from the entire main Pokémon franchise, and the Pokéstar Studios, which is the replacement of

ƒ

the PokéMusical.

In terms of improvements, the game is now stocked with fully animated character sprites for battle, including more unimportant sprites such as the well-known “Youngster Joey.” There is also a bit of improvement in the animation of backgrounds as well as walking sprites as Nintendo takes full advantage of 3-D animation, which, although not required, looks absolutely fantastic on a Nintendo 3DS. There are also many gameplay additions that make it easier for the player. The level of difficulty for Non-Player Characters (NPCs) can now be set to either Challenge Mode or Easy Mode for players who either enjoy the challenges of Pokémon or want to take the easy route. Also, although a minor improvement, the character designs for the villains, Team Plasma, are completely revamped and much more attractive than the previous ones.

However, the games are still lacking in several aspects that Nintendo failed to correct. While the graphics for most of the game are very nice, the battle sprites for Pokémon are still very pixelated and the animation of the sprites are barely satisfactory.

The addition of the PokéStar Studios as a replacement for the PokéMusical is better than its counterpart but still a boring addition compared to past versions of the game extras, such as the Pokéathlon. The Dream World addition to the global Pokémon network still remains as useless as that of the last games.

Despite these issues, the game is overall a fun way to pass the time and keep in touch with your childhood.

Whether it is worth the forty dollars is up to the player. For those who have been with the Pokémon games since the beginning, I highly doubt the games will not be enjoyable.

NOVEMBER 2012

THE UNION

ENTERTAINMENT

11

‘Vampire Diaries’ bites back RATING: (out of �ve stars)



BY KAREN CHI

After a five-month break between seasons, the highly anticipated fourth season premiere of “Vampire Diaries,” “Growing Pains,” premiered on Oct. 11, 2012. Expectations for the episode and new season were high, seeing as the last season ended on a major cli�anger.

“Vampire Diaries,” based off the book series of the same name by L.J. Smith, follows the life of Elena Gilbert in the town of Mystic Falls. A love triangle forms between her and the Salvatore brothers when the brothers return to TV-SERIES REVIEW town, bringing with them memories, lies, and danger. The past three seasons follow the lives of Elena, her friends, and her family as their lives are threatened when intertwined with the supernatural world of vampires, witches, werewolves, and hybrids.

Season four picks up right where season three left off: Elena, who was killed in a car crash on Wickery Bridge and fed on vampire blood, wakes up in transition to become a vampire. She is definitely not happy about this, and neither is anyone else throughout the whole episode. The majority of the episode is centered around the issue regarding Elena’s current state: whether she can be saved from her awaited vampire fate

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Sonmi~451 (Bae Doona), a clone on the run, is discovered by Unanimity forces. “Cloud Atlas” has six different storylines told in parallel, intertwining Sonmi~451’s with Cmdr. Hae-Joo Chang’s (Jim Sturgess) in Neo Seoul.

‘Atlas’ spans multiple storylines, themes RATING: (out of �ve stars)



CLOUD ATLAS RELEASE DATE: October 26 RUNTIME: 164 min.

MPAA RATING: R

BY CARYN TRAN

What an ambitious movie. With three directors, Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, and Tom Tykwer, and a set of powerful actors and actresses, “Cloud Atlas” set a high bar. Based on the book of the same name, “Cloud Atlas” spans over time with multiple storylines that weave through each other.

With a decent blend of action, comedy, romance, and sci-fi, “Cloud

Atlas” is mostly enjoyable. It is three hours long, which is a drag.

I was tired about three-fourths of the way through. With six stories, I didn’t expect much in terms of editing , but I was amazed by how seamless the stories were. Each of the stories was average, but the links between the storylines created another dimension MOVIE to the film in its enREVIEW tirety.

The stories rotated actors and actresses, reinforcing the movie’s theme of interconnectivity in time. Each actor played many characters, changing sex, age, and race through make-up and special effects.

The actors and actresses invested

∑

themselves in the characters. Out of them all, I thought Korean Actress Bae Doona was a standout. Her acting was amazing, with all the right emotions at the right time.

The special effects and the makeup were exceptional. While the make-up looked more alien than whatever they were aiming for, it was still good. There were lots of special effects, due to futuristic stories, which were at caliber of the movie “Tron: Legacy,” a little better even. Beautiful, I tell you.

“Cloud Atlas” was about living and the consequence of actions over lifetimes in explorations of homosexuality, slavery, kindness, love, justice, and more. If there was some other message, I totally missed it.

Two Door Cinema Club plays, highlights new album ‘Beacon’ RATING: (out of �ve stars)



BY RACHEL ALVELAIS

MUSIC REVIEWS

HALCYON

NAPALM

by Xzibit Rap

NIGHT VISIONS

by Imagine Dragons Alternative

RATING: (out of �ve stars)

RATING: (out of �ve stars)

BY MARTIN YAO

BY YING LUO

BY VANESSA YEH

Rapper Xzibit returns to his music career with the release of his new album "Napalm." After years on the MTV show "Pimp My Ride," Xzibit still manages to impress with great lyricism in his gangster persona. However, the album has faults in production and composition.

"Napalm" lacks the successful variance in tempo and rhythm that makes other hit rap albums so exciting and profound when revisited. Catchy beats and samples are needed to go along with Xzibit’s deep, guttural �ow and witty wordplay. Instead, we are given clunky and awkward choruses to bridge otherwise great verses.

Aside from production issues, the album is bolstered by its guest artists, such as E-40, Wiz Khalifa, and many other prominent West Coast artists.

The track "Movie," produced by Akon, avoids the problems seen, creating an interesting beat-lyricism blend.

Overall, "Napalm" does not impress much, especially amongst the hip-hop community. Though Xzibit returns from a long hiatus to drop impressive lines and reinstate his gangster theme, as many rappers do nowadays, his recent album is not remarkable and, in fact, can be tiresome to listen to.

"Night Visions" was highly anticipated following releases of the single "It’s Time" and EP "Continued Silence." The album succesfully blends synth-based dance/pop with British-pop-inspired alternative/rock to create a style that appeals to listeners of all genres.

More popular songs range from "It’s Time" to "Radioactive" and "On Top of the World," while lesser known but nonetheless memorable songs include "Amsterdam," "Hear Me," and "Every Night." The band's general style is to incorporate a heavy backbeat with soft acoustics and echoing vocals.

Possibly the gem of the album, "Demons" portrays a self-hatred and vulnerability that resonate with listeners through lyrics "No matter what we breed / we still are made of greed" and "Don’t want to let you down / but I am hell bound." The slower tempo and intense rhythm create a bittersweet tragedy with a catchy tune.

Reoccurring themes of redemption and transformation of emotional pain to art enable songs to come together organically. The single �aw of the album would be its tendency to fall back on a basic blueprint, as exempli�ed in the songs’ repetitive structures, leaving little room for variation.

Singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding released her second album, “Halcyon,” highly anticipated by fans after her hit, “Lights,” consists of songs ranging from synth-pop to ballads.

Goulding’s dark vocals in “Only You” give the song an odd vibe. Her unique voice does not need autotune, but the gothic feeling of some of her songs do not do her talent any justice. The album has moments of light pop and hearttugging vocals. “Anything Could Happen” starts off with a vocal loop, a big contrast compared to the other songs.

Goulding’s voice sets the song off by using delicate and playful expressions, immediately attracting the listener.

The direction of the album seems to be more poignant, with many emotional lyrics. Goulding gives “Dead in the Water” a hopeful vision to the listener. “I’m there in the water/still looking for you” repeats throughout the entire song over a solemn muted background. Notable songs in the album are “Joy,” “Dead in the Water,” and “Anything Could Happen.”

The songwriter side of Goulding meets expectations in this album, but the murky melodic lines present throughout the �rst tracks of “Halcyon” do not leave a lasting impression.





by Ellie Goulding Pop RATING: (out of �ve stars)



or not. Considering that the impossibility of her being saved is made quite clear at the beginning of the episode; it’s hard to believe Elena will actually be saved and remain human for any longer. It seems as if the main focus point of the episode is somewhat of a waste.

With that being said, the first episode did have everything fans love about the series. Romance plays a crucial part in every decision, our heroes find themselves in grave danger, magic fixes some problems but creates others, and death is among them all. It highlights romance, betrayal, and, of course, bloody deaths. New villains are indirectly introduced in this episode, but they don’t make for strong antagonists that fans are used to.

The best performance of the episode is Michael Trevino’s almost effortless portrayal of Tyler as Klaus in Tyler’s body. Trevino avoids fake accents and strange actions, and instead uses speech inflections and strong facial expressions to make the audience believe there is another character living in his skin. His performance is very impressive coming from a supporting character.

Although flawed, the first episode does somewhat live up to expectations. The quality of “Vampire Diaries” has not died out. Just like Elena’s vampire self, it lives on. The premiere episode wraps up old storylines and paves way for new ones, making this new season definitely worth watching.

Two Door Cinema Club performed at the Fox Theater in Oakland on Oct. 23, one of the last stops on their longest tour of the United States to date. The Northern Irish independent electropop and alternative rock group released its sophomore album, “Beacon,” just prior to the tour, and over a month later the excitement over “Beacon” was still tangible.

The intimate venue, featuring a general admission floor allowing audience members within an arm’s reach of the stage, created an atmosphere that was more dance party than major concert. Between the crystal-clear and deafeningly-loud sound system and the close proximity to the performers, it was easy to forget that it was Oakland outside.

The show was opened by Brooklynbased St. Lucia performing mellow but scream-inducing singles from the self-titled Extended Play (EP), St. Lucia. The set shifted gradually from St. Lucia’s trademark gentle tone to a slightly more upbeat one, but, as the group was founded just this year and therefore has a limited number of singles to choose from, the set ended before the audience had a chance to get excited.

The next band that took the stage caused a flurry of conversation among the audience, not because it was extraordinarily famous, but rather because it featured a transvestite in a skin-tight leather dress and platform heels and not much else.

The band, later introduced as the Brooklyn-based group Friends, drew heavily from a collection of breathy gasps, broken squeals, and diva-like demands to be brought water. When the noise coming from the lead singer’s mouth could be identified as music, it resembled something once heard from a paranoid street-side prophet in Berkeley.

The group members themselves seemed rather unsure of who they were. Lead singer Samantha Urbani appeared to style herself after the 80s Madonna, while Sasha Winn, the transvestite, who was not actually

part of the band, seemed to be trying to go for a Ziggy Stardust look, with hair like Tahno’s from the animated television series “The Legend of Korra.” Winn’s presence attracted more attention than the music that accompanied him, and not long after Friends got on stage, he stripped down to black plastic underpants and jumped into the crowd.

By the end of Friends’ performance, the shock had long worn off, and it was clear the audience was just waiting for the main act. After almost 45 minutes of inactivity, Two Door Cinema Club entered the stage to a dazzling light-show and a copious amount of smoke used to great effect.

The very moment the trio came on stage, the energy of the room hit an all-time high, and it remained at a constant state of excited frenzy for the rest of the night. The band opened with “Sleep Alone” off of “Beacon,” and then lead vocalist Alex Trimble said a few grateful words before the band brought out a number of songs from its previous album, “Tourist History.” They played almost 20 songs in the hour they were on CONCERT REVIEW stage, a selection of the most-loved tracks from both albums. The light show, designed by the lighting designer known only as Squib, complemented the band perfectly. The displays were vivid but not blinding, and they were perfectly synchronized with the music. The show added to the dance party atmosphere but did not diminish the nature of the event as a concert.

The band members appeared to enjoy themselves as much as the audience. Trimble, lead guitarist Sam Halliday and bassist Kevin Baird would step back and smile at the dancers in front of the stage or would dance themselves. Baird thanked the audience after every song, often more than once, and the group performed an encore when requested.

After the show was over for the night, they hosted a party just down the street, where the band members disc jockeyed.

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THE UNION

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NOVEMBER 2012

NOVEMBER 2012

THE UNION

LIFESTYLE

Emerging genre blends electronic and rap

BY SIDNEY LE

Listen closely to the musical climate now, and you will be thoroughly confused. Elated screams of “Run the trap” and “Damn, son, where’d you find this?” increasingly litter the already cluttered mess that is electronic music. Some call it trap, others call it dubstep (spoiler alert: trap is not dubstep), but the truth is far more complicated.

The blanket term “trap music” is now far too broad, incorporating dub and hardstyle elements with rap and hip-hop. A summary is somewhat too simple; for a better understanding of what the genre is, a history lesson is required.

The long journey began in the year 1980, when the Roland Corporation released the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer, known simply as the “808.” It was initially meant to be a drum machine, but like most other

early electronic instruments, it did not sound much like it was intended to. The TR-808 had snares and hihats, which sounded far too light and cheap, and bass, which sounded far too low and deep. It was not for the traditional musician.

However, the rapid growth of a Southern hip-hop style called “chopped and screwed,” pioneered by DJ Screw in the late 1980s and early 1990s, led quickly to the adoption of the TR-808 as a staple hip-hop/rap tool. The Southern hip-hop scene continued to grow in popularity, with Outkast and Cash Money Records leading the way.

In 2003, rapper T.I. released his second album, “Trap Musik,” and the term “trap music” found its genesis. In the late 2000s, the hiphop group 1017 Brick Squad began recording, with artists like Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame at the helm. Finally, in 2010, Waka Flocka

Flame released “Flockaveli,” largely produced by Lex Luger, defining the genre of trap music, with its simple, bass-laden production and a void of almost all meaning or significance.

Fast-forward to today, and we see the trap trend on the upswing. Junior Christian Quiocho notes that he only heard of trap “a few months ago” when his older brother, a disc jockey (DJ), showed it to him. Quiocho, on what draws him to trap music, said, “It’s like the best of both worlds.”

Junior William Le, a hobbyist DJ, hopped on the trend early, and has ridden it all the way out, incorporating trap music into his music library with great vigor. “It’s not too fast, not too slow,” Le said. “Tempo’s just right, and it slaps hard.” RL Grime, Baauer, Flosstradamus, and Dylan Francis are among his favorite artists. When asked exactly why people like trap so much, Le said, “We like to cook.

I’m done.”

Galaxy SIII holds strong against competitors

BY ALANNA TRAN

Months before the release of the iPhone 5 last month, there was already a clear competitor on the market – the Samsung Galaxy SIII. With its latest offering, the SIII, Samsung is clearly TECH trying to distinguish itself in the smartphone REVIEW competition, especially from the rival iPhone 5. Yet, which smartphone is better? The iPhone 5 or the Galaxy SIII? Clearly, from a glance, the SIII is aesthetically pleasing. The SIII is 5.4 inches tall with a 4.8 inch display. The smooth plastic casing has a beautiful glossy sheen and comes in multiple colors: white, blue, and red. The SIII has an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera.

The SIII has many unique features, including the S Beam, frequently demonstrated in the Samsung Olym-

pic torch commercials. The S Beam allows for the transfer of files, photos, videos, or documents between two SIII phones simply by touching the backs of two SIII phones together.

Push the backs together, and after files transfer, pull apart. The speed of the beam is dependent on the size of the file; it is not as instantaneous as the commercials lead you to believe.

There are other more minor, useful features, one of which is the SmartStay. This program uses the front-facing camera to scan for your pupils. If it “sees” them, it will not dim the screen and enter into screen lock, which would prove useful for reading text or watching videos. The SIII also allows users to perform certain actions through basic gestures, such as placing one’s hand over the screen to pause or mute the sounds of media.

Other little software programs on the phone allow for quick, easy sharing of photos taken. With face recognition software in the SIII,

BY CINDY WU

WOMEN

Bright, sunny days have passed, and it is that time of the year when T-shirts and sundresses are replaced with heavier, warmer clothing. As the weather transitions, it gets more difficult to be comfortably warm and stylish. Here’s the scoop on the newest trends this fall which will allow you to add style to your outfit. I’ve compiled a few general trends.

Colored/Print bottoms: All the bold patterns from the spring and summer are making their way into the colder season with some adaptations! Show off your wild side with animal prints, floral prints, and tribal prints on your jeggings this fall! Walk into an American Eagle store, and it will be promoting prints and colored denim at reasonable prices.

FASHION SPOTLIGHT

Vilan Le

Red: Women are making the bold choice of bright red lipstick, possibly influenced by stars such as Taylor Swift. Different shades of red, including oxblood red, have been dominant. Part burgundy and part scarlet, this brownish, wine-colored red offers a darker alternative to the flamboyant shades of red.

Menswear: Traditional military outfits, loafers, boots, blazers, and vests are given a feminine twist this fall. This trend has a mysterious, androgynous appeal to those who are not into feminine outfits. It steers away from short skirts and summery dresses and is perfect for the cool weather.

Senior

1

1. Beanie H&M $8 2. Leather Bomber H&M $40

2

3. Shirt Forever 21 $9

3

4

6. Boots Cathy Jeans $30

5 Fashion Inspiration: “I get my inspiration from fashion blogs and sites like lookbook.nu, music, and my friends.”

6

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Matthew Caradang

1

Junior 1. Beanie ASOS $4

2 3 4

British: As GQ magazine calls it, "British heritage tailoring" is now a popular fall 2012 trend for men. It’s a more sophisticated and well-dressed look, with a lot of dots, microprints, and technical patterns.

C���� W� | THE UNION

These out�ts modeled by Justin Le (12) and Gianne Pineda (9) highlight popular trends of the season, like leather bomber jackets and menswear.

Leather bomber jacket: This trend comes back year after year and not without good reason. Originally worn primarily by pilots in World War II, this jacket gives off an aura of manliness.

2. Denim Vest thrift shop $3 3. Sweater Topman $50 4. Necklace Forever 21 $4 5. Jeans PacSun $30 6. Suede Shoes Marshalls $25

5

Fashion Inspiration: “I get ideas from Asian street style, websites like redsnap.com and streetpeeper.com, and people I see around school.”

MEN Scarves: Such pieces of garment are not just a ladies-only option, unless you’re modeling a bright pink infinity scarf. It is the best accessory to have in the harsh weather, and as long as the colors are conservative and neutral, feel free to wrap it around your neck for warmth and acceptable fashion.

4. Backpack Urban Out�tters $40 5. High Waisted Jeans Forever 21 $22

there are prompts to tag yourself or someone else in the photo. Once someone is tagged in a photo, one of the programs can be used to instantly send that person’s phone a copy of the photo.

Compared to the iPhone 5, some of the features of the SIII are somewhat lacking. The screen of the SIII is dimmer overall than the screen of the iPhone 5 when both are set on full brightness. It also displays colors more accurately, which appear much more saturated on the SIII’s screen.

Also, the S voice is disappointing.

In theory, the application can launch apps, voice dial, search contacts, search the Web, send emails and texts, etc.

The S Voice is also much more dependent on a rigid syntax than Apple’s Siri and takes longer to process commands when it does work. Although Siri has its own issues, it is a stronger voice command system compared to the S Voice.

Trends revitalize outfits this autumn season

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THE UNION

NOVEMBER 2012

SPORTS

Chu commits to table tennis, qualifies for World Challenge

BY JAMIE LAM

S����� L� | THE UNION

Cross Country Head Coach Bridget Hall watches the Cross Country team condition during practice. This year, the Varsity Boys Cross Country team quali�ed for CCS and ranked eighth overall, their highest since the early 2000s.

Varsity Boys Cross Country advances to CCS

BY ANDREA WANG

Varsity Boys Cross Country made it to CCS finals during the qualifying meet at Crystal Springs last Tuesday, October 30.

They have been at an all-time high and haven’t done this well since the early 2000s, according to Cross Country Head Coach Bridget Hall.

During the season, varsity boys had been ranked 8th in CCS. Along with Senior Yohaness Estifanos, the varsity boys have been doing well with the help of underclassmen athletes Sophomore Ralph Balaoing and Freshman Jeremy Shaw. “The boys have placed top 5 at least in every meet,” Hall said.

This will be Estifanos’ fourth year in CCS. Both Sophomore Sierra Brenciaglia and Senior Connor Prior also qualified for CCS for a second year.

Aiming for his fourth consecutive CCS win, Esitfanos has achieved some personal bests and broken several course records in the process.

According to Hall, Estifanos has broken the top course records at Lynbrook Center, Central Park, and Toro Park. On Oct. 15, Estifanos also claimed one of the top five times at Crystal Springs, a 2.95 mile course known for its steep hills. This feat has not been accomplished since the 1980s.

Estifanos enjoys running cross country because it’s something he is good at and loves. “I’ve enjoyed running with the cross country team here, and I wish the best of luck to the underclassmen,” Estifanos said.

Along with the improvement of the Varsity Boys, the amount of cross country athletes this year has also been steadily increasing. “This is the

biggest team there has been since I started coaching,” Hall said.

With the influx of cross country athletes, the addition of Cross Country Assistant Coach Bernie Ramos has been helpful. Hall originally would have had to limit the amount of people that could join, but with the help of Ramos, cross country has become a no cut sport. “[Bernie] has areas of expertise that I do not,” Hall said. “It’s nice to have some help, especially with the dynamic stretching the team now does.”

Shaw and Freshman Vanessa Abarca both said that being a varsity athlete can be difficult. Thus, it can be really hard sometimes, Shaw and Abarca said.

Sophomore Megan O’Brien agreed.

“The sport is hard, but the team is great,” O’Brien said.

Dedicating oneself to a sport is a major time commitment, especially in Sophomore Isabel Chu’s case.

Isabel Chu plays ping-pong competitively, and she’s used to spending much of her time practicing and playing ping pong. This fall, Isabel Chu participated in the Canadian Junior Cadet Open, a tournament involving ping-pong players from around the world.

According to Isabel Chu, the competition held in Toronto was for players under the age of 18. Chu went with the US Team, which consisted of 2 girls and 3 boys. She placed second in the cadet girls singles event for girls aged 15 and under and received third place in the cadet teams event. She was paired with a Canadian player for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) North American Team, Chu said.

“There was another US/Canadian team,” Chu said. “But since my partner and I both qualified to go to the World Cadet Challenge, we had a more official name.” There were 8 other mixed country teams in the tournament, Chu said.

The World Cadet Challenge will take place in Mangilao, Guam from October 27 to November 4, according to Chu. In order to qualify for the tournament, players aged 15 and younger play in the North American Trial held in North Carolina. The top 2 players from the US and the top 2 players from Canada are then chosen to attend the World Cadet Challenge.

A total of 32 players from around the world are chosen to participate in the World Cadet Challenge.

Although she enjoys playing pingpong, balancing school and sports is hard, Chu said. “Sometimes I miss school because of competitions that I go to,” Chu said. “I try to not procrastinate and do things ahead of time.”

Chu practices ping-pong for 2 hours a day and 6 days a week.

Isabel Chu and her brothers, Junior Nathaniel Chu and eighth-grader Anthony Chu, began to play ping-pong because their dad often played the sport. The siblings have been playing ping-pong competitively since 2006, Nathaniel Chu said.

“We’re better than our dad now,” Isabel Chu said. “My brothers and I are around the same playing level, but since I’m a girl, my competition is easier. That’s why I’m on a team and they aren’t.” Isabel Chu said that she is currently ranked 136 in the world for girls under the age of 15, and has a 2119 for her United States of America Table Tennis (USATT) rating. Nathaniel Chu said that he has the highest USATT rating out of his siblings with 2194, but Isabel Chu is the only sibling with a world ranking.

“The most memorable moment [in playing ping-pong] is when I got first place at the 2009 US National Championships,” Nathaniel Chu said. He started playing in tournaments ever since he first began learning how to play ping-pong, while Isabel Chu became more serious about playing ping-pong three years after she began playing. Isabel Chu doesn’t have a specific moment in ping-pong that she remembers most. “I love the feeling you get the moment after you win, because then you see that all of your hard work has paid off.” Isabel Chu said.

NOVEMBER 2012

THE UNION

SPORTS

15

Tennis moves up division, competition on higher level

BY RUITING QIN

R����� A������� | THE UNION

Running Back Vita Vea (88) runs down the �eld as the Wilcox defense attempts to tackle him. Although the Trojans lost 24-21, they rebounded with a win over Los Gatos, 17-15, to stay in �rst place in the De Anza division.

MHS beats Los Gatos in ‘game of the year’

BY GIANG HA

The MHS Varsity Football team hung on for a 17-15 victory over the Los Gatos Wildcats on Oct. 26. They improved to 4-1 in league and 6-2 overall.

Milpitas remains tied in first place with Palo Alto, whom the Trojans had beaten earlier in the season. This win comes after a close homecoming loss to Wilcox, 24-21, the Trojans’ first league loss of the season.

Milpitas was able to drive the ball down the field; however, they could not convert key fourth downs, according to Starting Quarterback Ronnie Reed.

“We had zero punts.” Reed said, “but we only converted two of the five or six fourth downs.”

“We had some miscommunication issues,” Senior Linebacker Vita Vea said. “The miscommunication between the players prevented us from

converting that fourth down.”

Last week, the team worked on more fundamentals, Vea said. They also changed their defensive front to better defend the run, Vea said.

The team also worked on converting fourth downs on offense, Reed said. “We practiced situations of fourth and 15, fourth and 10 to get used to these situations,” Reed said.

In this match, Milpitas was able to drive down the field and get first downs. This was in large part due to a steady running game, according to Varsity Coach Kelly King.

“We were able to nail the key block,” King said. “The running backs hit those holes really hard.”

Milpitas was leading 10-0 at halftime. The defense was able to stop the Wildcats’ running game, said King.

“The defense tackled,” King said.

“They rallied to the football.”

Junior Bryant “Squally” Canada took off running in the second half,

according to Offensive Lineman Vita Musika. Coach King gave a motivational speech at halftime.

“At halftime, Coach said, ‘Don’t be afraid of greatness,’” Musika said.

“This motivated us to come out charging in the second half.”

The offensive line worked well as a team, according to Musika. The line created holes for the running backs, Musika said.

“We came as a unit,” Musika said.

“We practiced harder throughout the weekend to prepare for this game.”

Reed has stepped up this year on offense, according to Senior Center Trea Ferguson. He has been the leader on offense, Ferguson said.

Vea has also provided leadership, according to Defensive Tackle Jason Scrempos. “Vita Vea is the leader of our defense,” Scrempos said.

Milpitas and Los Gatos were playing for the league title, Reed said.

“This was the game of the year. ”

The Varsity Girls Tennis team advanced to the De Anza Division this year, according to Tennis Coach Dong Pham. Girls’ tennis automatically moved up to the higher division after placing first in the Santa Clara Valley’s El Camino Division last year, Pham said.

The new level of difficulty is evident this year, since it is much harder to win games compared to last year, according to Pham. De Anza is a competitive league, but the girls are doing well in response to the challenge, Pham added. Seniors Christi Tain and Shuyang Ye qualified as doubles players for the individual CCS championship, which will be held on Nov. 19, Pham said.

“Varsity Girls’ Tennis holds a winloss record of 7-12, and is ranked last in the De Anza Division,” Pham said. “[Girls’ Tennis] will move back down to the El Camino Division next year,” Pham added. “The team is losing badly in De Anza, and many experienced seniors are leaving.”

Pham said that he has not changed his practice schedules, but has

worked on the same strategies with the girls. He wants the girls to play better and stay strong, he said.

“I try to prepare the girls well, motivate them to work harder, and have more confidence,” Pham said. “We have been using the same strategies, watching the baselines, volleys, and footwork.”

Tain feels the advancement to the De Anza Division has made her matches tougher since her opponents are more skilled. Tain practiced her ground strokes and worked on her fitness levels in order to play better over a longer duration of time, according to Tain.

“I like moving up a division because to win every match, I know that I have to play my best,” Tain said. “The matches are more challenging, but it’s good because they really test my skills.”

Ye said that although the team is not ranked as high as it was last year, it is still satisfactory since the team is playing at a higher quality.

“It’s not that we are playing worse,” Ye said. “Actually, we are playing better now because our opponents give us more of a challenge.”

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Shuyang Ye (12) prepares to hit the ball back to her opponents. She and Christi Tain (12) took home �rst place for doubles in De Anza league �nals.

Homecoming dodgeball held, Team Skid wins championship

BY CINDY WU

The second annual MHS homecoming dodgeball competition was held on Oct. 16 after school in the large gym, according to Homecoming Dodgeball Committee Head Germain Louie. Twelve teams of seven players participated in the event, with Team Skid ultimately taking the championship.

The event consisted of three parts.

First, all teams competed in 3-minute pool-play games. Then, the top eight teams advanced to play 5-minute tournament-styled games, and finally the top two teams competed in a bestout-of-three championship game.

"It was a competition and we tried to get as many teams as possible to participate," Louie said. "We got lots of people who usually don’t participate in school events to sign up."

Team Skid consisted of Seniors Edijay Bilog, Manny Carpio, Jeffrey Dacasin, Ben Leung, Anthony Nguyen, Sho Suzuki, and Tenny Tran.

The team placed second in last year’s tournament, and this year, according to Suzuki, "we’re hungry, we wanted first."

After interviewing Dacasin, Suzuki, and Tran, the three expressed much pride in their victory, saying they were "just giftly talented" and "just so good." They unanimously agreed that they did not encounter tough competition and joked that the greatest challenge was the boundary lines of the court.

The team was announced as the winner at the Homecoming rally on Oct. 19 and awarded with medals. In addition, the team will also celebrate

by taking a trip to Disneyland together, Suzuki said.

In contrast to last year’s glow-inthe-dark dodgeball tournament, this year’s tournament was held with regular lights on instead of blacklights.

Louie believes the different lighting this year had a significant effect on the event’s attraction.

"Last year’s glow-in-the-dark theme was more interesting to come watch," Louie commented. "This year the attendance of people watching was pretty bad."

However, the cost of renting blacklights is exorbitant, according to Activities Director Joanna Butcher.

The renewal of the glow-in-the-dark tournament in the future is fairly unlikely, Butcher said. "[The students] hoped for it to be a blacklight again, but it costs 600 dollars to rent those lights because we don’t own them," Butcher said. "Trying to explain that to people—‘Well, do you want to pay for the lights?’

They’re like, ‘No.’ Then, well, we’re just not going to have them."

With brighter lights this year, the Homecoming Dodgeball Committee sought to improve the fairness of the games. The committee used fencing to enclose the court and made many changes to the rules to reduce cheating.

"They actually used fencing so there was more of a fence so there was more of a court, so people knew where they were in the court so they couldn’t hide," Butcher said. "We also had more referees and used less balls, so that it was easier to be able to follow the action and what was happening."

16

THE UNION

NOVEMBER 2012

NEWS

Core standards to change

BY RACHEL ALVELAIS

Common Core Standards are set to replace the current California Content Standards, according to Principal Kenneth Schlaff. The new standards are designed to ensure that students will graduate with skills necessary for success in college as well as in the workforce, Schlaff said.

Changes in standards will lead to changes in standardized testing, Schlaff stated. Juniors will be required to take computerized exams instead of the current school-wide written Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) tests by 2015. New tests will focus on how well students can apply the information they learn in class, rather than how well they can memorize facts and fill in the blanks, Schlaff continued. “[New tests] might have descriptive paragraphs, where there’s a prompt and a lead-in, and from that you have to take that information,” Schlaff described the new essay requirement.

“Then there’s a series of questions down in the back which are higher order: compare and contrast.”

New standards will emphasize critical-thinking skills and the ap-

plication of knowledge learned in the classroom, Schlaff noted. Students often accomplish tasks on a lower level than that of critical thinking under the current standards, Schlaff said.

“You go and you write things down and you spit it back on a test,” Schlaff said on the current standardized tests. “You aren’t learning [criticalthinking] skills.”

Exact details of the new standardized tests have not been finalized, English Department Co-Lead Kathleen Conradson said. Juniors will be tested across the curriculum, Conradson said, most likely in the form of prompts that they must research and respond to.

“We believe it will involve reading and writing on a topic,” Conradson said. “We’re [English teachers] serving as kind of a support.”

The Trojan Access Card system will have to change to accommodate the new standardized tests, according to Schlaff. He continued to say that he still wants to reward students for doing well on state exams.

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EVERGREEN: More classes offered FROM THE FRONT

a possible new elementary school, Matsuoka concluded.

“My hope is that it will be built in the next 3.5 years, making MHS a bigger school in the short term,” Matsuoka said. “That will solve some of our enrollment challenges in the next five years, and we may need to add some more portables in different spots at MHS.” Community college bond money will provide the $10 million needed to build the facility, according to Matsuoka. MUSD or MHS will not have to pay for the construction, as no plans were made in the overall Measure E bond program to address the enrollment growth, Matsuoka said.

Students will be able to take college classes on campus after construction, Matsuoka said. Evergreen courses will be weighted and approved under college accreditation and, according to Matsuoka, guaranteed to transfer to the University of California and California State University.

“The [Evergreen] building will be

shared between Evergreen and MHS, so the students will actually use some of those classrooms for regular MHS classrooms during the school day,” Matsuoka said. “For the MHS courses, the principal and staff will oversee those, and the community college will oversee their community college courses.”

Procedures and policies are to be the same as those of summer college courses, so all external courses are weighted and grades on college transcripts will be transferred over, according to Schlaff. The students concurrently enrolled in both Evergreen and MHS will actually be considered Evergreen students, Schlaff said. “[The new Evergreen facility] will affect MHS because as we continue to grow, this will provide us with 10 to 12 additional classrooms with interior spaces for computers and learning labs,” Schlaff said. “Therefore, 350 to 400 students during the day will be able to take college classes on campus [and] getting an enhancement in the curriculum that wouldn’t necessarily be available at MHS.”

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A new 30-meter competition pool and 25-yard warm-up pool are to be constructed in the back of MHS by Arizona Avenue. A small parking lot will also be built next to the pool to allow greater accessibility and convenience.

Swimming pools to be built next spring; old renovation proposal takes deep dive

BY MARISA LOUIE

Construction on a new swimming complex built on the MHS campus next to Arizona Avenue is scheduled to begin spring of 2013 and be completed by December 2014, according to Superintendent Cary Matsuoka.

The complex will serve as a replacement for the two current poolwws and will be open to both the students and the community, Matsuoka said.

The superintendent and school board decided to construct the pool complex in the back of the school instead of the in current pool area due to the added benefits that the new location would provide, Matsuoka said. The new pool configuration will create space for a second gymnasium where the current pools are, Matsuoka continued.

“This actually goes back to an original design that the school district had ... to build on Arizona, because then when you have community access, it’s closer to a street,” Matsuoka said. “We will have a small parking lot, so that will help when you have tournaments and outside community use .”

Besides a 30-meter competition pool and a 25-yard warming pool, the complex will feature diving platforms, bleachers, a new set of locker rooms, a mechanical building, shade

structures, and a pool house, according to a pool relocation study released by the school board. The entire complex will cost approximately $4.8 million, all of which will come from the general obligation (GO) bond.

With the implementation of the new pool will come the re-instatement of the mandatory swimming unit for the physical education (P.E..) classes, according to Principal Kenneth Schlaff. This unit will be integrated into the P.E. curriculum, Schlaff stated.

“An instruction component will definitely be included in the use of the new pool,” Schlaff said. “Swimming would be a part of P.E. once again.”

Making the decision to move the location of the new pool complex was made solely by Matsuoka and the school board, not by the MHS administration, according to Schlaff.

Matsuoka did not discuss the pool site change with the MHS administration, Schlaff said.

“I didn’t have any discussions on this re-siting or anything along those lines,” Schlaff said. “That was something that was decided at the District.

I didn’t have any real input for that.”

Contrary to this claim, Matsuoka insists that Schlaff, Athletics Director Jeff Lamb, and P.E. Department Lead Corinne Osborne were involved in weekly discussions with the school district regarding the new pool com-

plex location, according to Matsuoka.

Schlaff, Lamb, and Osborne all approved of and were “very happy” with the pool complex location change, Matsuoka said.

“I certainly consulted with Mr. Schlaff along the way,” Matsuoka said. “It wasn’t his decision; it’s my decision with the school board. I started to bring him into the conversation as we were considering making the change. And he seemed okay with it in part because the need of a second gym is very important.”

The field where the new pool complex is scheduled to be built is currently used by the Marching Band as a practice field, according to Music Director Christopher Kaldy. On the original plans of the 1996 GO bond measure, the field was designated as the Marching Band/ Football practice field, Kaldy affirmed.

“There was never a conversation between the people making the plans and the people who use the facilities,” Kaldy said. The construction of the pool complex will leave the Marching Band with only the softball field to practice on, which does not have the yard lines for guiding the different formations that the marching band uses, according to Kaldy.

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API score increases by 15 points to 827, expected to benefit local economy

BY BRENDA SU

Y��� L�� | THE UNION

Administration tightened Trojan Access Cards requirements: Students now need scores of 575 or higher in two subjects to earn Ultra Cards and maintain pro�cient or advanced scores in 3 or more tests for Platinum Cards.

MHS’s Academic Performance Index (API) score increased from a score of 812 in 2011 to a score of 827 in 2012, Principal Kenneth Schlaff said.

Scores are based off of performance in the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program and the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE). Schlaff attributed the API growth to teachers prioritizing curriculum as to what is on the tests and students being serious about the curriculum.

MHS had the highest API increase for any school over a score of 800 in Santa Clara County and the third highest increase out of all 40 comprehensive high schools in the county, according to Schlaff. MHS also had the sixth highest API growth in subgroups out of all high schools in the county, Schlaff said. The subgroups of English learners (EL), socioeconomically disadvantaged students, African-American students, Latino students, and students with disabilities in particular saw significant growth, Schlaff stated.

“Even though we were three [points] shy [of our goal of an API score of 830], we surpassed; we did a very good job,” Schlaff said. “Special ed went up 44 points, EL went up 20

points, socioeconomic went up 24, African-American went up 25, and Latino went up 18.”

Special Education Department Head Suzanne Moffett credited the API score increase to the department as a whole pushing for test-taking strategies and motivating students.

Special education students can take the normal California Standardized Test (CST) or the California Modified Assessment (CAM), which covers the same standards but includes shorter reading passages and fewer answer choices.

Milpitas Real Estate Agent Debbie Giordano, who has been working in real estate for 34 years, said the increase in MHS’s API is “good” and “positive” because it will raise home prices by 10 percent.

“Eighty to ninety percent of home buyers look at school performance,” Giordano replied when asked how API scores affect real estate. “When Curtner [Elementary School] went over 900, a dramatic spike increased in housing prices in that general area.”

The increase in MHS’s API score will benefit the local economy, Schlaff affirmed. Not only will house prices increase, but more businesses will be drawn into Milpitas as a result, according to Schlaff.