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The Campanile

PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL 50 EMBARCADERO RD. PALO ALTO, CA 94301

Palo Alto Senior High School

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PAI D PALO ALTO PERMIT #44

Since 1918

Vol. 93, No. 4

50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301 • http://voice.paly.net/campanile

Friday, December 17, 2010

Custodian retires after 29 years Community thanks Hok Ky for service

By Rachel Mewes Editor in Chief

Marc Havlik/campanile

Marc Havlik/Campanile

HISTORIC VICTORIES

For the first time in Palo Alto High School’s history, two varsity sports teams are competing at the state level in the same season. On Friday, Dec. 3, Viking football clenched the CCS Championship, extending their undefeated season to 13-0. The next day, the varsity volleyball team accepted their state championship title, beating the Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits in an intense five-game finale to end a historic 41-1 season.

The football team will compete in Carson, California tonight in the State Championships as the Vikings hope to finish out a perfect season.

For the full stories, turn to page A12.

Debate qualifies for prestigious tournament

Staff, parents and students are finding ways to thank Hok Ky, who is retiring from his position of head custodian at Palo Alto High School today after 29 years of contributions to the school.

Since Ky enjoys traveling to Hawaii, Secretary to the Principal Caroline Benfield and Department Secretary Mary Ellen Bena collected money from the Palo Alto community to send him to Hawaii’s Big Island for a retirement gift.

“This community has so much generosity,” Benfield said. “The minute people found out he was retiring, [they] started asking what we were doing for him.”

Special Education teacher Jennie Chin offered her parents’ home on the Big Island for Ky and his family to stay in. The house is located in Mauna Kea and has an ocean view for Ky to enjoy. There is no specific limit for how long the trip will last, but it is estimated to be around a week long.

Students also have a way to thank Ky for his hard work and dedication to the school. The Associated Student Body sent out a letter to the Paly community thanking him for his help during Spirit Week, cleaning up campus, unlocking rooms, assisting students and much more. The letter also urged its readers to show their appreciation by writing thank you notes for Ky and dropping them in the yellow box in the library.

“We decided it would be a nice little thing to do,” ASB sophomore Josh Madej said. “Students would be able to thank the janitors for [what they do behind the scenes].”

Senior Alina Tompert was among the students who wrote letters to Ky. “I feel like the janitors are the unappreciated, silent heroes at Paly because without them this place would be disgusting,” Tompert said.

According to Madej, the “Thank You Hok” box has been successful so far.

“I think it’s working because people are realizing they have to thank the people who help around the

Paly team gains entry to Kentucky’s Tournament of Champions in May

By Grace Harris Editor in Chief

The Palo Alto High School Debate Team excelled at the Dec. 2-4 Alta Silver & Black Invitational held at Alta High School in Sandy, Utah, obtaining three bids to the prestigious Tournament of Champions at the University of Kentucky in May. Freshman Alex Carter and junior Travis Chen placed in the quarterfinals, each gaining a bid for the TOC. Senior Lucas Chan reached the final round before losing to a contestant from The College Preparatory School. Chan also received a bid for the TOC and became the first Paly debater in five years to place in the final round in a tournament of Alta’s caliber.

“It was great seeing the hard work of our three debaters pay off,” Assistant Coach and Paly alumnus Nikhil Bhargava

said. “[Chan] and [Carter] had been gunning for a bid for quite some time now, so it was a well-deserved reward for all of the effort that they put in. As a freshman, [Chen] had a phenomenal breakthrough, and we are all proud of his accomplishment. It’s been a few years since a freshman last earned a bid.”

To enter the elimination round of the top 32 contestants, Carter, Chen and Chan each had to win five or more of the seven preliminary rounds. The nationally recognized tournament consisted of two divisions: the Lincoln-Douglas debate and the policy debate. Each of the eight debaters in the quarterfinals of the LD debate and the four policy teams who compete in the semifinals of the policy debate earned a bid for the TOC. “The bigger the round, meaning the more debaters participate, the more competitive the tournament thus is,”

Chan said. “So the Alta tournament was pretty competitive given that the bid level was at quarters.”

In order to qualify for the TOC, competitors must have at least two bids, earned at various qualifying tournaments throughout the year.

“A lot of the work that we do through the year is aimed at helping debaters be ready to engage in the types of debate that go on at the TOC level,” Bhargava said. “We’re going to put in a lot more effort to help these three secure a second bid and guarantee an invitation to the TOC.” Because Alta is so competitive, it is highly difficult for one team to gain three bids. Paly’s team had not bid-

Marc havlik/campanile

Head Custodian Hok Ky leaves Paly after almost three decades of school service.

See DEBATE, Page A3

See CUSTODIAN, Page A3

Paly alumnus James Franco will host 83rd Academy Awards

By Michael Abrams Copy Editor

nydailynews

Though it may affect his chance of being nominated, Franco will co-host the 2010 Oscars with Anne Hathaway this February at the Kodak Theater.

SEE THIS ISSUE OF THE CAMPANILE ONLINE

James Franco will be the co-host of the 83rd Academy of Arts and Motion Picture Sciences’ Academy Awards, marking the first time that a native Palo Altan and a Palo Alto High School alumnus will appear on the Oscar stage.

While past years’ shows, including the 2010 Oscars with Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, or comedic entertainment from Ellen Degeneres in 2006 and Chris Rock in 2004, have focused on Old-Hollywood, the 83rd Academy Awards is no doubt a celebration of New-Hollywood talent.

Franco expressed that this years’ ceremony under his influence will stray from the traditional improvisational comedy that has defined many previous performances.

“It’s not like they’re asking me to be a stand up comedian,” Franco said. “When they asked me they knew that they’re [not] looking to me to provide improvisational jokes or anything like that.”

Regardless of what style Franco chooses as a host, he feels confident that his performance will be successful.

“I feel like I’m capable of [being the host],” Franco said. “It’s exciting, very unexpected and an adventure.”

Producing the Oscars with co-producer Bruce Cohen is one of the most convenient aspects of hosting this year’s ceremony, as the pair had already worked together on previous projects. Their collaboration is now being transferred from the screen to the Oscar stage. “[Cohen] produced ‘Milk’ and I acted in ‘Milk’,” Franco said, “He was talking to me

for months about doing something for the show. Then about two weeks ago he called and asked if I wanted to host.”

One of the factors in deciding whether or not to host this year’s Oscars was the possibility that Franco may be nominated for an award for his work in this year’s film, 127 Hours. Many critics have reviewed his performance as Oscar-worthy, including Richard Roeper, who called his performance “thrilling, gripping, inspirational [and] unforgettable.”

According to Franco, hosting the Oscars has the possibility of hurting his chance of receiving an award, but it is a risk worth taking for the actor.

“In the end, I decided not to care and go ahead and host the show even if it ruins my

See FRANCO, Page A3

NEWS

PANDA EXPRESS OPENING

http://voice.paly.net/campanile

INSIDE

News...................................A1-A3 Opinion..........................A4-A5,A8 Spotlight.............................A6-A7 Sports................................A9-A12 Lifestyles...................................B1 Features...............................B2-B7 A&E...................................B8-B12 bookbloggyblogg.wordpress

A Panda Express is opening on El Camino next door to Jack in the Box. This tasty American Chinese fast food restaurant may be a new student favorite.

PAGE A2

Susan Heinselman/Campanile

FEATURES

HYPED UP

Students’ reliance on energy drinks may lead to health risks.

PAGE B6

A&E

MARC HAVLIK/Campanile

BLADES OF GLORY

Campanile rates local ice skating rinks for quality and atmosphere.

PAGE B9

SPORTS

MARC HAVLIK/Campanile

MAKING THE CUT Varsity boys’ soccer gathers for their annual team haircut.

PAGE A11

NEWS

A2 • December 17, 2010

The Campanile

Redwood City grocer buys JJ&F Market

NewsBriefs Paly Madrigals choir performs for annual winter fundraiser Palo Alto High School’s choir hosted its annual Madrigals’ performance and banquet on Dec. 10 and 11. Paly choir students of all grades came together to be a part of the holiday-themed event. Students layered themselves in colorful patterned costumes of the sixteenth century. A variety of songs were performed for the audience.

Junior Gabe Wolf, one of the Madrigal performers, had a personal favorite of the songs.

“My favorite Madrigal piece to perform is called ‘It was a Lover and His Lass,’ which was arranged by John Rutter,” Wolf said. “It’s a really jazzy, old-timey sounding song, and, for me, the most challenging piece we have, even though it sounds very simple when it’s done right. I enjoy [choir] because I love to sing, and it exposes me to a lot of music that I would normally never find or hear if I weren’t a Madrigal.”

Students that starred in this year’s Madrigals performance included Wolf, Julia Edholm, Margot Gerould, Lara Cutkosky, Lindsay Black, Mikey Abrams, Elias Berezin and many more.

“I love the music that the Madrigals sing,” Berezin said. “Our music choices are more experimental and varied than the concert choir, with all genres from jazz to renaissance and 20th century composers.”

The choir hosted a dinner and tea for all who paid to see the show. The money will go to Paly’s choir fund.

“The money we make basically funds everything we do for the year,” Wolf said. “The school gives some ridiculously low amount of money to the choir to use for the year, so we have to make the money for buses and scholarships and things like that for ourselves.”

—Alex Lin Staff Writer

Former Palo Alto district superintendent passes away Don Phillips, former Palo Alto Unified School District superintendent from 1997 to 2001, died on Dec. 3 of a heart attack at age 62, leaving behind a wife and two children.

Phillips later became superintendent for the Poway Unified School District in the San Diego area after his career at PAUSD, and retired from Poway in June 2010.

Current superintendent Dr. Kevin Skelly worked under Phillips as assistant superintendent before becoming superintendent in 2007. Phillips helped Skelly move up to superintendent.

“I appreciate the way you took a chance on me, back when I was just a principal,” Skelly said in a Youtube video made after Phillips’ retirement which thanked Phillips for all he had done.

“Way up in Saratoga you brought me in and gave me that chance.”

As superintendent in Palo Alto, Phillips re-opened Terman Middle School, created Advanced Via Individual Determination (AVID) and helped launch the Spanish Immersion Program. He also helped bring Building for Excellence, a building program which aids bond measures.

Bob Golton worked with Phillips in the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District before working with him at PAUSD. “He is a person that is full of vision [and] somebody that is just a pleasure to work with,” Golton said in the YouTube video.

Phillips earned his doctorate from Harvard Graduate School, and taught in Massachusetts, Washington and California before becoming associate superintendent of the Vista Unified School District in California.

—Jillian Chacon Staff Writer

Panda Express to open new venue on El Camino Real Panda Express, an Asian fast food chain, will soon come to Palo Alto on El Camino near North California Avenue.

The chain is famous for being one of the only fast food chains that serves Asian cuisine such as egg rolls and chow mein. With venues already open in Redwood City, San Jose and Cupertino, the Palo Alto venue will be added to the list of Peninsula locations.

It will also be one of the many fast food restaurants located on El Camino. The location will provide a convenient lunch destination for Paly students and people working or living near California Avenue and the surrounding neighborhoods, but it may not be the addition community members want.

“I think it’s yummy but really bad for you,” junior Madeline Dahm said.

While some may be excited about the addition to Palo Alto, others are more apprehensive.

“We have too many [fast food restaurants], it’s too tempting,” junior Shannon Scheel said.

Panda Express boasts that they do not add any monosodium glutamate (MSG), a food additive, to their meals. They have started a charity work program through the company called Panda Cares.

According to the Panda Express website, Panda Cares is a program that services the health and education needs of underprivileged children by providing them with food.

—Grace Keller Staff Writer

UpcomingEvents Dec. 18-Jan. 2: Winter Break The Paly community will enjoy two weeks without school and homework.

Jan. 17: M.L.K. Jr. Day

A day off in commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.

Jan. 18-20: First Semester Finals The first semester will end with three days of final exams.

Jan. 21: Local Holiday Students will have a three-day weekend after completing final exams.

Jan. 24: 2nd Semester Starts The second half of the school year commences, as do second semester classes.

Store forced to change ownership after drop in business causes bankruptcy

By Rachel Stober

begun the transition into the new ownership.

“My father and my two uncles built a really neat grocery store and built a community and I assume and hope that Emerald Market does the same because this neighborhood is great,” John said.

John attributes the store’s difficulties to the high cost of goods and employees.

“We were a size of store that makes it difficult to buy in quantities where you get the best prices for things,” John said. “Also, we are a union store so our help was paid much higher than what non-union stores pay, and their benefits are much higher than what non-union workers get.”

However, John believes that JJ&F’s veteran employees helped create the store’s friendly atmosphere that makes it so unique.

“All of our employees have worked for us for a long time so they were all on the top notch of pay scale, but our customers liked them,” John said. “The friendships they made with the customers were more valuable than their high wage to us. We all felt that people knowing our employees and knowing us was very important and that’s what kept people coming back to us.”

Editor in Chief

The owners of Palo Alto’s sandwich staple, JJ&F Market, sold the store this November after 62 years of business.

Located at the corner of El Camino and College Ave., the small family-owned market provided locals with a hot deli, a meat and fish counter, fresh produce and other grocery items before closing this fall.

“Business really dropped down the last year and we were losing money,” owner and Palo Alto High School parent John Garcia said. “It was either sell or go bankrupt.”

John and co-owners Dennis and Lloyd Garcia announced that the store would be going out of business in an E-mail to “JJ&F Customers, Friends and Family.”

“Between this terrible economy, and the new consumer shopping habits, we can no longer compete,” the owners said in the e-mail. “We don’t have the buying power of our competition, so things cost more. We have tried, but we can’t do this any longer.”

According to John, Emerald Market, a grocer in Redwood City’s Emerald Hills neighborhood, bought JJ&F’s inventory and has already

Susan Heinselman/Campanile

Palo Alto sandwich shop JJ&F Market sold its store to Emerald Market after 62 years of business. The family-owned franchise closed this past November.

Colleen King Ney, a Palo Alto resident and Paly parent, has been a daily customer at JJ&F for over 12 years.

“They really knew who everyone was and they loved to see you there,” King Ney said.

“There was a strong sense of community if you were a shopper there. You felt like you were a part of something . There was very minimal change in staff because there was a strong loyalty in the store. You had that continuity and a sense of community.”

John’s son, Paly senior Cory Garcia, has been working summers and holidays at the family’s store since he was ten.

“Some of the customers you see over and over again and you get to know a few of them,” Cory said.

However, a few loyal customers were not enough to fuel the market in today’s economy.

“Remember this: in order to have a neighborhood market in your neighborhood, you must shop there,” the owners said in the e-mail.

King Ney agrees that residents’ consumer support is necessary for the success of smaller local businesses like grocers, bookstores and boutiques.

“The small local grocery store that we cherish needs to be nurtured by the community,” King Ney said. “I think we need to realize that we have to have a reciprocal relationship with the neighborhood stores that we cherish. If we don’t support them they will not continue to exist by themselves.”

Palo Alto implements new LED streetlights

Marc Havlik/Campanile

The city plans to install 600 energy-efficient LED streetlights

by January, and will replace all of the remaining lights by 2016.

By Michael Augustine Staff Writer

The Palo Alto City Council approved the purchase of 600 lightemitting diode streetlights on Nov. 22, 2010, to be installed on El Camino Real and Alma Street by Jan. 2011.These 600 LED streetlights will account for

10 percent of the city’s luminaries. The city will possibly replace the remaining 5,400 streetlights with energy efficient LED technology in the next five years, according to the City Manager Report.

“I think it is a great step,” Palo Alto Mayor Pat Burt said, “LED lighting is the future of lighting. This is part of that

master plan to increase our efficiency.

Palo Alto has been recognized as one of the greenest small cities in America.”

The City of Palo Alto’s website dedicated to this ongoing project says that replacing the city’s current High Pressure Sodium streetlights will save up to 600 metric tons of greenhouse gasses per year, which is the same as having 120 less drivers a year.

According to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s report on roadway lighting, Palo Alto is trying to reduce their 2005 greenhouse gasses emissions by 15 percent, which is equivalent to 119,140 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Palo Alto’s projected payback is 11 years.

“We have a whole series of measures to be both greener and more efficient,” Burt said.

Leotek Electronics USA Corporation will be supplying the streetlights at a total price of $355,281. Leotek Green Cobra head 250-watt LED lights are advertised as being mercury and lead free and allow an energy savings of 4050 percent. Leotek’s website claims that the streetlights decrease maintenance as their life span lasts at least 74,000 hours, which translates to almost eight and a half years.

El Camino Real and Alma Street will be affected first by these new streetlights.

These two roads will have the streetlights installed between San Antonio Road & University Avenue. LED streetlights will be attached to current street poles, according to the City Manager Report.

LED lights last longer than incendiary lights or typical l street lights because they do not burn out. The electrons moving in a semi-conductor power LED lights.

“The LED streetlights are being used, as I understand it, as a demonstration project to determine if they are appropriate for a wider adoption,” Palo Alto City Council Member Gail Price said.

Palo Alto has budgeted funds for purchasing and installing these streetlights. Money will be set aside for this purchase through the Energy Efficiency and Community Block Grants.

“When I walk around town, I am shocked sometimes at how poorly lit our city is,” Councilman Greg Sharff said to Palo Alto Patch. “I hear complaints all the time about dark spots. If we are going to spend $3.5 million [on the total project], we should fix our light situation.”

East Palo Alto remembers fallen police officer

By Layla Memar Staff Writer

On Monday, Nov. 22 the East Palo Alto Planning Commission approved a plan to build a sports complex honoring fallen police officer Richard May, who was shot and killed by an EPA gang member on Jan. 6, 2006. As a result of the incident, May’s father-in-law, Frank Merrill, along with support from May’s sister Tami McMillan, came up with the idea of building an all-weather sports field dedicated to the officer. “[May’s] family wanted to establish the field as a way to help keep youth in the city engaged and out of gangs,” Sue Dremman wrote on Palo Alto Online.

EPA Community Services Director Meda O. Okelo believes that EPA is in desperate need of soccer fields, as the city currently only has three.

“Soccer is becoming a very popular sport, given both the large number of international and particularly Latin American immigrants that have moved in

ASB

the area as well as the increasing popularity of the game, particularly amongst girls and young women,” Okelo said.

In 2006, AICP Senior Planner Brad Tarr began discussing the plan for the athletic field with Rich May Foundation members Sam Sinnott, Les Dewitt and members of May’s family.

“I would hear sporadically over the next two years regarding the approval process and the status of their fundraising,” Tarr said. “Both gentlemen increased the frequency of these contacts with the city beginning in early 2008 and they filed their application that year.”

Three weeks ago, the commission approved the plan with a four to one vote and granted a use permit.

However, those opposed to the plan have appealed it. The City Council will make their final decision in one to two weeks. If authorized, the all-weather athletic field, equipped with lights, will be located on the St. Francis of Asissi Church property at a location

Updates

currently used as a dirt soccer field. The field, which will be situated off Bayshore Road, will be able to be used for sports ranging from soccer to rugby, and be available to all of EPA. Dewitt is not only involved in the Rich May Foundation, but is also the Chair of the Advisory Board for the St. Francis of Assisi Youth Club Board.

“I sit on both boards, so that kind of puts me in the middle of things,” Dewitt said.

Providing resources for East Palo Alto youth was May’s goal, and community members such as Dewitt and Goode addressed those wishes. “[May’s] father, Richard May is also involved in several youth related initiatives in the city,” Okelo said.

“Both [May’s father and step-father] have acknowledged, in their efforts to honor the memory of Officer May the passion he had for youth and activities that would help them grow into the good citizens that the community needed.”

School Board

The Palo Alto High School Associated Student Body is currently planning upcoming events for 2011 as it teams up with the administration to figure out how to make upcoming school sponsored events as enjoyable as possible.

A pancake breakfast fundraiser will be held for underclassmen on April 2.

This fundraiser is being organized along with other fundraisers taking place this school year. Additionally, the Winter Formal will likely take place Jan. 29.

“ASB will be in contact with our entertainment company (Alan Waltz Entertainment) to see if he can provide something bigger and better for this dance as it is one of the more important ones of the year,” ASB President Chirag Krishna said.

The dance may also be moved from the small gym to the big gym.

“I’m working with social commissioners Talia Moyal and Jared Swezey to make this dance really great, and hopefully we can deliver an awesome product,” Krishna said.

At this point ASB has been planning Winter Formal for about two months, and is hoping for a good result.

“Right now ASB is just trying to make this the best dance we’ve had this year so far, so a lot of the little details are still in the works at the moment,” Smale said.

Several members of ASB went on a field trip on Dec. 7 to scope out different venues for Prom in 2011.

“Prom is one of the biggest projects in ASB right now,” Smale said, “I’ve held a student meeting consisting of about 20 seniors to get their input as to what they’re looking for in prom by developing criteria which will help the Prom committee decide on its final venue.”

The Palo Alto Unified School District board held a meeting open to the public on Dec. 7 to discuss crucial topics regarding the possibility of changing the placement of first semester finals, board elections and to congratulate Henry M. Gunn High School and Palo Alto High School for recent achievements.

As a result of the meeting, the board decided to roll over the 2010-11 school year calendar for the 2011-2012 school year. However, there is a possibility that the 2012-2013 or 2013-2014 calendar may include moving first semester finals to before winter break.

This proposal may be considered if the board is presented with evidence that teachers would not suffer with a shorter first semester.

Teachers, parents and even students were welcome to give their opinions about the topic during the meeting, allowing a large number of voices to be heard.

After hearing their opinions, the board made their final decision concerning the numerous issues that rose out of the suggested calendar.

Melissa Baten-Caswell, former PTA Council President, was nominated by other board members to be president of the Palo Alto Board of Education this year. Caswell was a board member of the Youth Community Service, and was first elected to the board in 2007.

Camille Townsend was chosen to be the board’s vice-president by her colleagues as well after first being elected to the board in 2003. Townsend has a graduate degree in public policy, as well as law.

In other news, the members of the board praised Paly for their recent successes in varsity volleyball and varsity football, winning the State Championship, and the Central Coast Section Open Division championship, respectively.

—Annabel Snow

—Annabel Snow

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

NEWS

The Campanile

December 17, 2010 • A3

UC tuition to increase by eight percent

Students attending universities will pay additional $900 per year

By Tanvi Varma Staff Writer

The president of the University of California (UC) system announced that tuition will be increasing by eight percent, roughly 900 dollars for each student, starting at the beginning of the 2011-12 school year.

The UC Board of Regents approved the new tuition increase on Nov. 19 by a 15-5 vote.

“The majority of regents said they were reluctant to approve the fee increases but supported the plan as necessary to maintain the university’s high quality,” UC Media Relations Representative Leslie Sepuka said.

The topic of tuition increase was brought up in November 2009 and the Board of Regents objected strongly to it. At that point, the budget gap was around $535 million, which was predicted to rise to $600 million later that year. Currently, the budget gap is at $1 billion, according to the UC Newsroom website.

“I don’t increase fees lightly,” President Mark Yudof said on a news briefing in Oakland on Nov. 12, according to UCSD’s newspaper, The Guardian. “But we need to do what we need to do so the greatest public university in the world continues along its historic trajectory in serving the people of California.”

State funding has decreased immensely since the 2007-08 school year.

“The fee increases are part of a 2011-12 operating budget regents approved to stabilize the University’s finances after three years of declining state support,” Sepuka said. “While the Legislature and governor increased UC’s budget for the current year, state support remains 10 percent below what it was in 2007-08. Even as state funds have declined, UC enrollment and operating costs have continued to climb.”

The increase will bring about $115.8 million into the system’s budget to make up for declining state support, according to the UC

Newsroom. The primary sources of funding for the universities come from state and student fees. In-state resident students will be able to pay $3000 less than students coming from outside of California, which still gives in-state students a significant advantage in tuition, according to the UC Fact Sheet. If a family is eligible for aid, the university gives $120,000 in grants to families with annual income below $80,000. Because financial aid is increasing, 55 percent of students will not pay the fee increase.

“In addition, the university will provide financial aid-eligible California resident students with family incomes below $120,000 grants to cover the 2011 fee increase,” Sepuka said.

Along with voting for an increase in tuition, the Board of Regents also voted to split the total tuition into a student services fee (mental health, career counseling, along with various student life programs), which is about $1000 and additional school campus fees, according to the UC Newsroom.

“This added revenue puts the university on a footing that allows the campuses to reinvest in faculty, expand course offerings, improve academic support and generally begin to recover ground lost last year to cuts,” Sepuka said.

Alongside increases in tuition, professors faced with retirement must compromise as well. A new pension tier was also introduced, which states that any teacher hired after Jul. 1, 2013, must teach until the age of fiftyfive in order to retire, instead of the previous age of fifty, according to the UC Newsroom. Current employees will be unaffected by this new bill.

Palo Alto High School junior Neena Pai, thinks that state funding should focus more on the education in California.

“The education system should be [California’s] top priority, and by raising tuition, it puts financial strain on incoming students,” Pai said.

English teacher Julia Taylor agrees with Pai.

Community forum addresses students’ emotional problems

By Tobey Nelson-Gal

down your child’s schedule on our ‘Time Management Checklist’ to In order to address the emo- analyze each activity the child has by tional troubles of students in Palo asking yourself ‘why is my child doAlto, the Parent Teacher’s Asso- ing something? How does my child ciation held a second community deal with the number of transition forum at the school district head- he or she has daily? Is the child obliging me? Why does my child want do quarters Wednesday Dec. 9.

The forum consisted of lectures a certain activity?’ It is not about presented by Ph.D psychologists, the number of hours your child is Stephen Murphy-Shigematsu and active, but the reasons associated with doing the Helen Y. Sung, activity.” and middle Narula school coun- “Parents feel as though also spoke of selor, Bhavna they need to over-scheduthe importance Narula, who all shared case letheir kids to fit Palo Alto’s of a child relaxing each day. histories and high standards.”

“Prioritizpersonal examBhavna Narula ing is key,” Naples on what they called Middle School Counselor rula said. “You [the parents] “Emotional need to recogIntelligence.”

According to Sung Emotional Intel- nize how your child feels about a ligence has to do with “neurological certain activity and not cover it up functions and how people reason with your personal preference of what you feel is right. You may be and perceive emotion.”

The overall lesson that can taking away necessary unstructured be learned from the forum is that downtime when your children are parents should build stronger rela- able rest their minds. This does not mean forcing music practice.” tionships with their children.

The underlying message “Parents today are focusing only on their kids’ education and throughout the forum was for parnot enough on their emotional ents and their kids to gain some mutual understanding for one anwell-being,” Sung said.

To help parents reflect on their other to improve the kids’ emotional interactions with their kids, the well-being. As Dr. Murphy Shigespeakers provided pages such as matsu states parents can improve the “Ten Things You Can Do with their relationships with their kids by making more of a connection.

Your School.” “‘Respicere; which is the Latin Some of the guidelines the sheet provides for the parents in- root of ‘respect,’ means to look at,” clude focusing on the value of learn- Dr. Murphy-Shigematsu said. “Recing and creating a positive learning ognizing this shows that ‘respect’ environment at home, setting up a could simply mean to see and accept school bulletin board at home, and someone for who they are.”

The first event which was held listening to one’s child talk about school. With such ideas to pay at- last March of 2010, titled “Growing tention to, Narula also referred to up Asian in Palo Alto, was focused a time management checklist that around some of the challenges Asian corresponded to her presentation. families faced integrating their cul“Parents feel as though they tures with Palo Alto’s community.

Following this event there are need to over-schedule their kids to fit Palo Alto’s high standards,” plans for a third forum in the spring Narula said. “It’s beneficial to write according to the Palo Alto Online.

Senior Staff Writer

“I feel very sad that the UC system was forced into that situation. I think that the UC system was available to a lot of students,” Taylor said. “You can’t run a state without money. If we want to have access to all the little perks, like the UC’s, then we should pay for it.”

The benefit to the tuition increase however, is that private universities’ financial aid will go up by 6.8 percent, allowing private institutions to fund more low income families.

Current UC students have reacted strongly to the bill by holding protests near various UC campuses.

Thirteen students locked themselves to the doors of the UCSF Mission Bay Community Center to prevent the Board of Regents from

meeting, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. UC Berkeley students gathered at Sproul Plaza and began marching toward campus while writing about tuition increases with chalk on the pillars. Because private colleges have private funding, they are not faced with decisions over state funding, and only raised tuition 4.5 percent because of the economic crisis. According to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) website.

“The university is not out of the woods,” Regent Chairman Russell Gould said. “We face the threat of midyear state cuts and certainly cuts next year. The faculty, staff and students all have to work together for solutions.”

Palo Alto libraries finalize decision to add new online E-Books

By Ashley Shin

Henry M. Gunn junior Alana Titzler is also optimistic about the project. As a student Titzler is interested in the The Palo Alto public library system has made the fact that she does not have to go to a library only to find decision to add books online in the format of E-Books out that the book may be checked out, or may not even to their growing collection in order to make it easier for be owned by the library in the first place.

While online catalogues have solved some of these residents to access.

An E-Book is a digitalized form of a paperback book issues, E-books could completely eliminate the trip to that is available online. There are two different kinds of the library.

“I’d be more interested in E-Books because I don’t E-Books: digital books and digital audiobooks.

“Digital books [are] books with text that one would have time to go to the library and it is easier to search for read on off their computer or portable E-Book readers specific topics within the book easily,” Titzler said. “Also, such as the Kindle or Nook,” Palo Alto Library Specialist I like the free aspect of it.”

E-Book access from home makes research and perAnh Nguyen said. “[Digital audiobooks] are audio files of books that are read [out loud] to you...similar to au- sonal enjoyment just one click away.

“The advantages are fairly apparent when looking at diobooks that are available on CDs now, but in a digital format that allows you to copy to any handheld digital people who are disabled in one form or another which prevents them from holding and reading a conventional music player.”

The resources are primarily for Palo Alto residents, book,” Nguyen said. “We have e-audio books in which as one must have a Palo Alto Library account to access one listens to like playing a song on your computer similar to audiobooks that are available on CD, but in a digital any of the E-Books.

Library accounts and cards can be made in just a few format. And digital books which are digital text versions of the actual book titles, [similar to google books].” minutes at any of the Palo Alto public libraries.

Despite the simple accessibility The E-Books are available from home, the Palo Alto libraries online through three different “I’d be more interested in have not seen a decrease in the nummajor vendors: Ingram’s MyiLiE-books because I don’t have ber of books that are checked out. brary, NetLibrary, and the Northtime to go to the library and it Palo Alto libraries will still reern California Digital Library. main just as busy as before as they Palo Alto residents can ac- is easier to search for specific offer other services beyond the book cess E-Books online from home. system.

If a large collection of books are topics.”

Numerous patrons flock to the available online, residents will be Alana Titzler Palo Alto libraries daily to use the able to use the same resources Gunn Junior computers, reference materials and available in the library itself at read their large collection of newshome. papers and magazines.

“I would be interested in “Generally, from a personal querying of customers some sort of online book system,” Palo Alto High School graduate Colleen Carey said. “It would help if I was ever about whether they prefer E-Books or a good old fashioned to research a topic. I would able to do research in the paper book, a majority still prefer the latter,” Nguyen said.

Many Palo Alto residents go to the library to make comfort of my own home.”

Staff Writer

Marc Havlik/Campanile

The addition of E-Books will allow Palo Alto residents to access library material from their home computers. The E-Books can be downloaded online directly from the library website. copies, use public Internet and take advantage of the free printing system.

Carey supports the upgrade to online E-Books, as there are numerous shortcuts and tricks that one can use on the computer, such as highlighting, adding comments, and saving pages, that are not available through traditional paperback copies.

“Searching things on the computer is much easier,”

Carey said. “I am considering purchasing an iPad. If people with iPads, Kindles or any other kind of E-Reader could check out books on their E-Reader device, it would make carrying around large books a thing of the past.”

Palo Alto residents can access all of the E-Books through the databases and through the E-Books tab at the top of the Palo Alto library’s website at webcat. cityofpaloalto.org.

Franco to host Oscar Awards Debate team to compete Students, staff thank custodian at illustrious tournament Ky for 29 years of work at Paly FRANCO, Continued from A1

chances [to win],” Franco said.

While fans across the country are delighted that Franco made this decision, nowhere does the happiness and pride shine brighter than Franco’s own hometown, Palo Alto.

As Franco becomes an even bigger entertainment sensation, however, he still hopes to maintain a connection with home.

“I love Palo Alto and I have some projects I’d love to do at Paly,” Franco said.

This year, Franco’s first collection of short stories focused on adolescence in Palo Alto was published.

Franco made a few appearances around campus in the past few years to research this book, much to the excitement of Paly students.

However, Franco was frustrated when his efforts to involve Paly students in a writing project were less successful than he planned.

“I tried to get Paly students involved,” Franco said. “I asked anyone who’s interested to give me some [writing] submissions and then work on col-

laborative projects and I got minimal response. It kind of bummed me out.”

Outside of the Paly campus, Franco has more plans both this year and next for future films, including another movie by the makers of Pineapple Express called “Your High-ness.”

In addition, Franco is also involved in another upcoming drama.

“I’m shooting a movie and directing my feature project for [New York University] about the poet Hart Crane who wrote in the [1920’s] and committed suicide,” Franco said.

Franco’s role as Hart Crane will be the second time he has played a groundbreaking poet, the first time being his critically acclaimed performance as Allen Ginsberg in Howl, another movie featuring Franco that was in theaters this fall. With Howl, his part in 127 Hours and hosting the Oscars, Franco is quickly emerging as one of the trendiest stars in Hollywood.

The Awards Ceremony will clearly mark just the beginning of Franco’s soaring career, and as much as Paly loves to admit, Palo Alto’s swelling pride.

DEBATE, Continued from A1

ded three members in one tournament in recent history, until this year.

“The hardest part was the intense competition,” Carter said. “There were people from all over the country who were vying for eight bids. As far as national circuit competition goes, it’s not incredibly hard, but still a challenge.”

Paly sent seven students, freshmen Parker Devine and Chen, sophomores Ana Carano, Esha Datta and Raymond Li, Carter and Chan, to compete in the LD debate and two, juniors Gregory Dunn and Alex Lenail, for the policy debate.

“LD is concerned with arguing about the ethics and morals of both sides a two-month topic, which you have to either affirm or negate in every debate round,” Chan said.

“This month’s topic was: ‘Resolved: The abuse of illegal drugs ought to be treated as a matter of public health, not of criminal justice.’ Policy debate is more about debating competing policy actions, and they have a one year long topic. This year’s topic is: ‘Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its military and/ or police presence in one or more of the following: South Korea, Japan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey.’”

Last year, Paly sent two debaters to the TOC, current Yale University freshman Avi Arfin and Stanford Unviersity freshman Bhargava, who earned three bids during the year.

According to Savage, Bhargava was the first Paly debater in six years to earn three bids to the TOC.

CUSTODIAN, Continued from A1

children. Although Ky deserves a rest after school,” Madej said.

29 years of service, Paly will need to make Paly staff gathered in the library on some adjustments without his help around Friday, Dec. 10 for a luncheon celebrating campus, according to Reese.

Hok where they could show their support.

“Somebody has some big shoes to Ky chose not to fill with him leaving,” be interviewed but “He really is an incredReese said. “I feel sorry according to Caroline for the secretaries who Benfield he plans on ible person and worker.” depend on him so much. helping his wife take I’m sure they’ll be a little Jerry Berkson care of four of their overwhelmed.”

Assistant Principal ten grandchildren Assistant Principal after he has retired.

Jerry Berkson, who has “He seems pretty worked with Ky for many happy about [his retirement] whenever years, attested to his good qualities.

I talk to him,” Campus Supervisor Scott “The guy’s amazing,” Berkson said.

Reese said.

“He really is an incredible person and Although Ky is ready to leave the worker.” school, he enjoyed his time at Paly.

Berkson respects Ky’s decision to leave “I like [working at Paly] very much,” and feels that he has prepared his fellow he said in a 2006 Verde article. “We have a custodians to do well in his absence. great crew here. We all help each other out “Good for him [for deciding to retire] and respect each other.” after putting in [29] years,” Berkson said.

Ky began working at Paly in 1981, “We’ll definitely miss him but his strong after emigrating to the United States from work ethic definitely comes through with Cambodia in 1979 with his wife and five his crew.”

OPINION

A4 • Friday, December 17, 2010

Editorials

Madrono should reconsider yearbook policies

Senior portrait change is unwarranted, unfair, senior poll results should be released earlier The Palo Alto High School yearbook, Madrono, has decided to eliminate custom senior portraits beginning next school year. Instead, students will be required to take their senior portraits with the company that is responsible for regular yearbook photos.

The submission of custom senior portraits has been a long-standing tradition at Paly that many seniors look forward to during their four years at Paly. The Campanile understands the yearbook staff’s frustration in dealing with students who do not submit their senior portraits and write-ups on time.

However, penalizing the entire class because some students do not turn their senior portraits and writeups in on time is not a reasonable decision. Being able to reflect on a yearbook full of senior portraits that are suited to classmates’ personalities is a very powerful opportunity that students at Paly cherish.

Instead, The Campanile believes that the yearbook staff should consider a different policy change. This policy could include mailing reminders to families of seniors about senior portrait, write-up and baby advertisement deadlines in the packet that is sent home to Paly families in early August.

The Campanile understands that the Madrono staff has deadlines set by the yearbook’s publishing company, so if the packets are sent home the deadlines could be moved to the end of October since seniors would have more time to complete the requirements. If a student

fails to meet these deadlines, then and only then the yearbook should use their regular picture.

Also, the Madrono has chosen to keep the winners of seniors polls confidential until the yearbook comes out in June. Madrono has notified those who have either won or gotten an honorable mention for each category, but has chosen to keep which they got a secret. This means that both have to take a picture for the yearbook, but only one of the photos will actually appear in the yearbook.

The Campanile feels that this change in policy is both unreasonable and has no truly positive results and that the yearbook staff’s motives for making this change are unclear. Although the suspense of only discovering the poll winners in June will make the yearbook more highly anticipated, it will not increase yearbook sales.

Students who would not usually buy a yearbook are not going to purchase one simply to see the senior polls when they can just view a friend’s copy. In addition, it seems rather odd and unnecessary to make the students who did not win their poll take the photo and wait six months to find out that they are only an “Honorable Mention.” The only result that will come from keeping the winners of senior polls a secret until June is annoyance among the student body and bitter runner-ups.

The Campanile believes that the yearbook should reconsider these policy changes so that coming generations of Paly students can reap the benefits that students have had for so many years.

Paly extends its thanks to retiring Hok Ky

The Campanile

Letters to the Editors Café de la Presse worth the long trip up

Student to make documentary on the homeless

As young people, food always makes its way to the top of our priorities. Yet, as the weeks roll on and semesters begin to come to an end, this once top priority is neglected. While at Paly students have Cheese House and Trader Joe’s or even Tapioca Express to keep hunger at bay, neither satisfies the need to relax and spend hours on end in one comfortable spot.

Living in Palo Alto, it is easy to forget the large city our town constantly lives in the shadow of. San Francisco is just a forty-five minute Caltrain ride away, and still it seems so far. But, looking closer, the benefits of the city are open ended, especially when it comes to food. Located on the corner of Grant and Bush near the entrance to China Town, Café de la Presse provides a home-away-from-home feel with its Parisian inspired interior and extensive magazine and newspaper collection.

The almost rustic feel of the building, coupled with the mahogany panelled walls and brick accents, makes for a perfect haven from the winter rain as well as from the summer heat. The comfortable chairs and quaint tables make the place intimate at night, and roomy for brunch. While the atmosphere is picturesque, the food and reading material are what makes Café de la Presse brilliantly unique.

The restaurant carries over two hundred different local and foreign magazines and newspapers, keeping customers up to date on everything and anything that happens anywhere. Food for thought aside, the classic Parisian cuisine mixed with Hamburgers and Steak Fries is makes the restaurant diverse but still fairly simple. With a full bar, Café de la Presse will also satisfy the coffee craves that come with late night studying and the after finals hunger for sleep.

Whether on a rainy day or a sunshine filled day, Café de la Presse hosts a bustling crowd. And with its vast library of foreign news and simple meals, the restaurant seems to satisfy all of the requirements of high school life, something that cannot necessarily be said for CVS.

I know I am going to be homeless. Well, not really. Funny thing is, I’ve been a privileged Palo Alto kid my whole life and I have always wanted to try something different. Where most Palo Alto kids will go out of their comfort zone on an organized hiking trip through the wilderness or maybe go to build houses for the underprivileged, I’ve always found the road less traveled to be a little more enjoyable.

Coming into Paly, I became very interested in video production and have found making movies to be a strong passion of mine. I’ve also been interested in studying the life of a homeless person.

So to combine my desire for a different sort of life-changing journey and my movie making passion, I have decided to live as a homeless person for three weeks this coming summer and make a documentary as I walk from Palo Alto to Santa Cruz. I am aware that even after I am done, I won’t have a truly accurate view of their lives but I will try and do them justice.

I want to encourage fellow Paly students to not just take the path that is laid out for them but rather to try and follow whatever passion, no matter how crazy, tickles their fancy. I believe that if this choice is made, they will ultimately have the most unforgettable experiences of their lives.

—Josh Stabinsky, sophomore

Tutorial ineffective, should not be mandatory Like most kids at Paly, I really don’t want to go tutorial. The library wont let you in unless you have a pass, classrooms are usually noisy, and I never get much work done. If I have an only one important question for a teacher, I have to stay in class for a minimum of thirty minutes. Is there any way we can work on fixing the system to allow kids to leave, even though its now a requirement?

—Dar Shavit, junior

—Victoria Tse, junior

Head Custodian retires after 29 years of service at Paly, will be greatly missed For the past 29 years, Head Custodian Hok Ky has served the Palo Alto High School community with humbleness and diligent faith. Now that he is retiring, The Campanile staff would like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank him for his long years of service at Paly.

Born in Cambodia, Ky, his wife and his six children had escaped the killing fields of his country during the Khmer Rouge regime.

The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, was a communist party backed by the North Vietnamese government and was in power from 1975 to 1979. While trying to escape, Ky and his family had lived on the border of Thailand and Cambodia for a few months before the Red Cross came and rescued them and assisted their escape to the United States.

Once he arrived in the United States, Ky began his service at Paly in 1981, after his friends in the United States had introduced him to the position, and has since worked with and created the current, reliable custodial team at Paly.

Ky participated in interviewing and ultimately choosing new janitors to be part of the custodial crew at Paly.

Because of this, the Paly community should thank Ky for the efficiency and diligence of the current custodians.

Adored by many at Paly, Ky is known for never complaining about the daily mess students would leave out in the quad after brunch or lunch, and has always assisted in putting Paly back together after spirit week and cleaning the annual senior pranks.

Ky is especially important to The Campanile and advisor Esther Wojcicki because when he first began working as a janitor at Paly, Ky was still unfamiliar with English and would go to The Campanile room to listen to the class and learn English. Wojcicki still remembers these moments and believes that Ky is a sweet and humble man for wanting to learn and help.

Ky will be missed by both students and staff at Paly, not only for his hard work and dedication towards keeping Paly looking like the beautiful campus that it is, but also for the funny anecdotes he tells about his everyday work.

Paly students must utilize compost bins on campus Compost, recycling, trash cans should be labeled, placed together to aid in proper disposal of waste Palo Alto residents are well aware of the necessity to be energy efficient and green in their daily lives. The city has an organized recycling program, new LED streetlights and an abundance of Priuses, however Palo Alto High School students show a noticeable lack of effort when it comes to recycling and composting.

The Campanile feels that it is time for Paly to catch up to the rest of the community and become more environmentally conscious. Attaining this goal will require a combined effort on the part of both the students and the administration.

The Paly Green Team provided bins for both recycling and composting as soon as composting was available for schools in 2009, but students are still not using them correctly.

We are lucky to have such an easy to use system and Paly students should take advantage of it. If each student took a minute out of their day to learn which bin served which function, then Paly would become exponentially greener.

While most Paly students will say that recycling and composting are important,few will actually go through the simple process of disposing of their garbage responsibly.

The waste system at Paly is surprisingly simple to use as there are few products that cannot be composted. Composting takes very little effort as students only have to take a moment to put food matter and other biodegradable products into the green bins on campus.

The specific products, such as juice boxes or Styrofoam, are listed both on posters around campus and on

the actual bins as well as in this issue’s Lifestyles article, written by Lifestyle Editor Helen Chen. Compost bins must replace trash cans as students’ primary waste disposal receptacle.

Although students are responsible for using the recycling and composting resources offered on campus, the school also must make the system clear and easy for everyone to follow.

Right now many bins are missing proper signage and instructions, and blue and green receptacles end up separated from each other. When the bins are not all put together with a compost bin, recycling bin, and trash can, it is difficult to determine which piece of waste goes where.

The Green Team should also work to educate the student body on both what goes in which bin and also why it is important to compost and recycle. Students should not be expected to figure out the system on their own because realistically, they simply will not want to go out of their way.

If the administration and the Green Team worked together to help the student body adjust to the new system, more Paly students would use the bins.

For being located in one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the nation, Paly is significantly lacking in its attempts to be green.

Paly has the resources available to become a recycling and composting campus, but without a small amount of effort it will not succeed. Students and the administration need to collaborate to make the school a more environmentally conscious community.

ACROSS 2. Controversial event last year 3. Last name of a math teacher that is also a profession 8. What team is Paly playing today in football?

11. First name of campus security member who drives around in a golf cart 13. Last year’s senior class had roughly 56 _____ during the last two weeks of school.

14. Location on campus traditionally reserved for seniors 15. We feel _____, oh we feel so _____!

16. New science class offered at Paly this year 17. The School Board is currently reconsidering the placement of _____ in the school year.

18. On what day of the year is it difficult to find any seniors at Paly?

DOWN 1. Which Paly graduate is hosting the Academy Awards?

2. Paly Girls’ Varsity Soccer Coach’s first name 4. Who was featured in the Campanile’s 1 in 1900 last issue?

5. Shared last name of a Social Studies and Physics teacher 6. Mr. Winston’s first name 7. Who did the Volleyball team play in States?

9. New online system at Paly this year 10. Paly sports team that won double SCVAL championships last year 12. What is the name of Paly’s Literary Magazine?

For answers see Page B12

The Campanile Editors in Chief

Nadav Gavrielov • Grace Harris • Rachel Mewes Madison Sevilla • Rachel Stober • Lillian Xie

Advisor

Esther Wojcicki

Sports Editors

Brunett John Brandon Nguyen

News Editor William Lee

Spotlight Editor

Opinion Editor

Justin Choi

Noa Dagan

Lifestyles Editor Copy Editor Helen Chen

Mikey Abrams

Staff Writers Michael Augustine Elliott Beckstrom Brian Benton Maddie Berger Sam Blake Meghan Byrd Bailey Cassidy

Jillian Chacon Clara Chang Electra Colevas Laura Cui Chayla Cummings Kirah Ingram Grace Keller

Ben Krasnow Sasha Kuvyrdin Mayssen Labidi Alex Lin Layla Memar Andrea More Tobey Nelson-Gal

Letters to the Editors: Email all letters to editors to campanile.opinion@gmail.com.

The Campanile welcomes and prints letters to the editors on a space-available basis. The Campanile reserves the right to edit submissions for length and content. The Campanile only publishes signed letters.

Advertising Managers Camille Ezran Maya Krasnow

Photo Editor Hannah Park Riki Rattner Rebecca Ruff Jack Scarpino Ashley Shin Austin Smith Annabel Snow

Hannah Totte Ashley Swendseid Tanvi Varma Nikki Whitson Lauren Wong Jordan Zenger

Marc Havlik

Photographers Susan Heinselman Alex Lin Riki Rattner Star Strul Lauren Wong

Advertisements: Advertisements with The Campanile are printed with signed contracts.

For more information regarding advertisements in The Campanile and their size options and prices, please contact The Campanile Advertising Managers by email at campanile.ads@gmail.com.

OPINION

The Campanile

December 17, 2010 • A5

Balancing ASB budget can eliminate need for parking permits Permits would cost less, ASB would still have large surplus with an abundant rainy day fund According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the reserve or “rainy day fund” for the State of California is capped at five percent of the previous year’s revenue. Flor ida, Texas and Michigan nadav hold this amount at 10 percent. gavrielov Assistant Prinin my opinion cipal Jerry Berkson reports that the Associated Student Body at Palo Alto High School had $44,990 left over at the end of the 20092010 school year and $37,838 at the end of the year before.

Although the numbers for the years before this are not yet available, Berkson estimates that ASB currently has about $100,000 in a reserve fund.

ASB had a net revenue of $141,426 for the 2009-2010 school year and $133,072 for the 2008-2009 school year. Total expenses for these years were $96,435 and $95,234 respectively.

According to the official ASB Accounting Manual, “large or excessive carryover balances are discouraged.”ASB should develop a financial plan that includes exact percentages for how much of each year’s net revenue should be put away in a reserve fund.

“In terms of the goals I want to accomplish for this year, having a plan in place to implement the ASB policy that students created last year is one of my two goals,” Student Activities Director Kindel Launer said.

Once this plan is developed, ASB can restructure specific aspects, such as how much money is directed to where and how high or low prices for items such as parking permits need to be.

If ASB were to keep a reserve fund of 15 percent, it would only need about $21,213 saved at the end of each school year, given that revenue stays at about the same level as past years.

If ASB were to lower the price of parking permits to $25, the rainy day fund would be lowered to $26,526 — still a very safe number.

Reducing the price of parking permits fourfold would still leave $5,000 more than the recommended rainy day amount.

Parking permits brought in $24,619 last year and $21,610 during the year before.

The price of parking permits, which currently cost $100 for Paly students, should be reduced to match the price of parking permits at nearby schools.

Pinewood High School, Los Altos High School, Mountain View High School, Redwood High School, Los Gatos High School and Sir Francis Drake High School all charge students a much lower amount than Paly does.

The prices for parking permits at each of these schools are not over $25, a very reasonable amount to pay.

“According to the ASB Financial Guidelines, we are not supposed to carry over more than 20 percent from the previous year,” Gunn High School Student Activities Director Lisa Hall said. “Funds collected in any given year are to be used to benefit the students who paid the fees that year. That 20 percent that is carried over provides us with the cushion we need in case we overspend in the new year.”

If ASB were to have a reserve fund of 20 percent, it could still lower the price of parking permits to $25. The reserve fund would need to include about 28,285 dollars.

Reducing the price of parking permits to $25 would leave a reserve fund of $27,757, just under the required amount.

However, this shortage could be made up for with a fraction of the money currently put away in the reserve fund. Not only would this number keep ASB financially secure, it would also make Paly families’ lives easier because of the eliminated extra cost.

As the manual states, “any excess of expenditures over revenues, both budget and

actual, at both the individual club and ASB levels [should be reviewed].”

If ASB were to consider a lower percentage for a reserve fund rather than simply all money left over at the end of the year, excess money could be devoted towards other important causes, such as lowering the price for the Paly prom. “[There is] a plan to address essentially returning to the student body the benefit of the funds that were collected on their behalf,” Launer said. “That’s what this [ASB financial policy] is speaking to.”

ASB was gracious in lowering the price of prom tickets last year to $110. This year, ASB

should consider lowering the cost of prom further, depending on what percentage it chooses to have for a reserve fund.

Establishing an effective budget-monitoring system will allow ASB to keep an eye on revenue and expenses while making sure that reserve funds do not go too high or too low.

“There should be a number for a rainy day fund or reserve fund moving forward,” Launer said. “To the extent that [ASB doesn’t] meet that savings number, we need to address how much money we’re spending. And to the extent that [ASB has] more than that number in this account, then we need to address [this policy].”

Media advances cause addictive traits in younger generation Technology can have detrimental effects on students, causes procrastination While teenagers have always faced distractions that prevent them from performing to the best of their abilities, the increasing technology gap between their generation and those before them has made it more difficult to determine where we cross the bridge between convenience and addiction.

In an age full of social netmadison working sites, blogs, texting and sevilla video sharing, teenagers are able in my opinion to more efficiently access information for school as opposed to going to the library and looking it up in a book. While searching the Internet is a more efficient way of getting answers, teenagers are losing their patience because they have become accustomed to getting results immediately without any lag time between the question and answer.

“The access to information is awesome,” Palo Alto High School American Classics Honors teacher Sarah Bartlett said. “When I would have to do research papers I would have to look through the card catalogue and get in my car and drive to four different libraries to get the book I wanted. I think that the level of distraction that kids have today has hugely affected their academic performance, [and] their organization. [Teens] can’t sit still and struggle with something and they get frustrated more quickly if they cant figure it out.”

As opposed to socializing with friends face-to-face, teenagers are constantly using their computers and phones as a means of communication, which causes many to have relationships that extend only to the screen of their media device. With the addition of smart phones it is much easier for teenagers to escape from a boring class or from homework by simply taking out their phones and texting friends or surfing the Internet.

“I don’t really open a book besides school,” sophomore Caroline Martignetti said. “Timewise school gets in the way of reading. Why would I [pay attention] if I could do mindless activities like watch TV. I think that the cons outweigh the pros when it comes to media and technology.”

According to the New York Times, scientists at the University of California at San Francisco found that when rats learn something for the first time their brains show new patterns of activity. However, while the rats are using new areas of their brain to learn, it is not until the rat takes a break that it registers what it has just learned and turns that into a lasting memory.

“I spend about two hours off and on in between homework,” sophomore Chrissie Chang said. “In my free time I watch videos and listen to things [to escape from homework].”

While it is important to take breaks between studying and doing homework, teenagers need to learn to moderate

Marc Havlik/Campanile

Distractions from studying, like social networking sites and texting are constantly in students’ lives.

A study found that teens who send 120 texts a day were at twice the risk to engage in bad behavior. their time spent online, in order to limit the amount of time spent on the phone or in front of a TV so that their grades do not suffer.

“My computer is on my desk where I do my homework so I would say that I look at it about every five minutes,” sophomore Charlotte Barry said. “[Technology] is more efficient and interactive, but it’s a distraction. It’s kind of like an excuse to not do homework.”

The original purpose of technology was to make it convenient for people to access information in an efficient way. While the media frenzy is beginning to overshadow this intention, the constant advancements in modern technology have created a way for students to become more independent and self-sufficient. “[Technology] is more convenient because instead of having to meet up and do things you can communicate over the Internet,” Chang said. “We practice debate over Skype so it helps.”

Although technology does offer students more advantageous means of communication and access to information, this constant link to media can result in far worse habits than a poor grade or short attention span.

According to the New York Times, researchers at Case Western Reserve University conducted a study showing that out of 4000 students from 20 different high schools,

VERBATIM

20 percent sent at least 120 text messages a day, 10 percent were on social networking sites for three hours or more and four percent participated in both activities. That four percent who participated in both activities were found to be at twice the risk of fighting, smoking, having suicidal thoughts, missing school and sleeping during class as compared to those who chose one form of media over the other.

“I think that [teenagers] are impatient, I think they are not as organized, I think they are not paying attention in class and it’s a huge problem,” Bartlett said. “You can’t get away from [the social aspects of high school] because you are sitting in class and even though the teachers always say turn off your phone, most of them don’t.”

While most teenagers know that texting during school takes away from their learning experience and distracts others, it has become so routine for some students to text during class that they can do it without even glancing at their phone, making it more difficult for teachers to limit the amount of media that students are exposed to.

“I did have a student who could have an entire conversation in the pocket of his sweatshirt without even taking his phone out,” Bartlett said. “So that was a bit of a problem and there wasn’t a whole lot that I could do about it.”

Senior Emma Ruder decided to disable her Facebook account early this school year because she did not like the effect that media had on her social life.

“I think that people have gotten more impatient and less social, I think that everything has to be fast paced so you don’t have time to bond with people,” Ruder said. “[Facebook] was taking up a lot of time cause I was always on it. It just feels like without [Facebook] I feel more close to people.”

Teenagers’ overuse of and overexposure to technology makes it difficult for them to separate their lives from media after years of relying on it for school and a means of communication with friends.

“It was hard when I first deactivated [my account] and I would go to Facebook and it wouldn’t automatically log in, I would think ‘oh yeah I deactivated it,’” Ruder said. “Everyone thinks that they are more social because they can talk to all of their friends [online] at once and I don’t like that. I’ll go back on in the spring, it’s just a really healthy thing to just deactivate [your account] instead of just saying, ‘I’m only going to go on Facebook for an hour today.’”

Even when teenagers attempt to escape from media such as Facebook, YouTube and texting, peer pressure still pulls them into the media frenzy. “[My friends pressured me], but I only reactivated it three times, two [times were] just so that someone could show me something,” Ruder said. “I think that [Facebook] overshadows your school work and your social life because everyone just wants to go home and use Facebook, no one really wants to just hang out.”

Some schools, such as Saint Francis High School, deal with this problem by enforcing a strict no phone policy between 8a.m. and 3p.m. Any phone seen being used on campus can be taken away.

“There is not a defined cellphone policy, each teacher has their own rule and tolerance level,” Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson said. “I get a few phones every week dropped off to me to give back to the student, and hopefully it is a one time offense.”

Although Paly has a “loose” cellphone policy, teachers and administrators constantly have to penalize students for using phones during class whether to text a friend, surf the Internet or play a game. “[For] some kids it is the most traumatic experience in the world when they can’t have their phone from fourth period to the end of the day,” Berkson said.

While Paly should not have to completely eliminate cell phones from the campus, students should realize that it is not the use of technology or the various ways to access media, but the amount of time and overexposure to media that teens endure on a daily basis that turns technology into a necessity for teens.

“There are ways to avoid technology and media, you can use it [to your advantage], but it’s kind of hard because you get sucked into [media] really easily,” sophomore Tesha Shalon said.

What’s on the top of your holiday wishlist?

Compiled by Grace Harris, Rachel Stober and Marc Havlik

“Gas money.”

“I need new boxers. I’m lacking in boxers.”

“Skis.”

“Girls.”

“A tempur-pedic pillow.”

Ashley Barry junior

Paolo Cu Unjieng senior

Brandon Douty sophomore

Eric Molina senior

Camille Zellinger freshman

S P O T L I G H T

A6 • December 17, 2010

The Campanile

o l i d ay L i g hts

A Wal

The Tale of Christmas Tree Lane

A

s many Palo Altans prepare for this special holiday season, the residents of Fulton Street prepare for the annual Christmas Tree Lane. The following is the Campanile’s modified rendition of the history of Christmas Tree Lane.The places, events and people are all part of the history provided by the Christmas Tree Lane website.

Once upon a time in a land close, close by, Judge and Mrs. Edward Hardy and the George Englishes, residents of Fulton Street, were playing bridge at a card table when an idea struck them. They decided to create a Christmas Fairyland Lane.

After hearing of the idea, the Howard Hansens and the Leland Webers, also residents of Fulton Street joined in the festivities. The idea for the lane became a neighborhood affair. A committee was formed to contact other families.

Everyone readily agreed to the idea and it became a neighborhood affair.

As the years went on, the old decorations were switched out with newer, more modern decorations. The Fairyland Committee made decorations including a Santa Clause cut out that appeared to descend down the chimney a Christmas Tree Lane home.

Visitors came from far and wide to share the holiday cheer of Christmas Tree Lane during December. Unfortunately, a prized decoration of the lane, the Seven Dwarfs cardboard cutouts from Snow White that had only been on display for a year, disappeared from the lane. According to officials, the dwarfs were just “hiding” because they were in need of a new paint job and were set to make a reappearance the following year.

High school kids began making decorations for the lane. Former Palo Alto High School student Matt Schneiderin created the handsome, life size, nutcracker and the Christmas Smurf replicas which can still be seen today. The inspiration for the nutcracker was from an artwork on a holiday cocktail napkin. He also created a miniature version of Mr. T who disappeared after only one year on the lane. The Lane had become a ritual.

Year after year Christmas Tree Lane was awarded special commemorations such as “Special Citation of Merit for Outstanding Illumination” by the San Francisco Examiner and Outdoor Christmas Tree Association of California and “Honorable Mention” in Residential Outdoors Lighting Display by the Palo Alto Junior Chamber of Commerce.

As time passed, the original members of the Christmas Tree Lane Council were replaced by new residents of Fulton Street. New and old residents of Fulton Street in the Christmas Tree Lane neighborhood took on the council to continue the tradition. As new ideas were brought to the table, the same foundation remained.

Now in 2010, buried deep below the ground of Palo Alto, are highlights from the past years of Christmas Tree Lane. They were printed on acid-free paper and placed in individual centennial time capsules, for twenty-five, fifty, and one hundred years.

To this day the residents of Christmas Tree Lane live happily ever after.

- Chayla Cummins Staff Writer

1962 — “Despite the fact that many of the original supporters have since moved from Fulton Street, the project has never been marred by an unadorned tree.” — Palo Alto Times

1970 – The 15-year old son 1810 Fulton built the stable a from plywood. The Mary, Jose gather around the cradle hold

1959 — Awarded “Special Citation of Merit for Outstanding Illumination” by the San Francisco Examiner and Outdoor ChristmasTree 1961—Two 18-year-old youths, arrested for stealing Christmas decorations. They were caught with their pockets bulging with Christmas tree lights. Police retrieved all 139 bulbs.

1942 — “Dimmed, but not silenced.”The one year the “Lane” was dark – due to a blackout

1964 — Palo Alto City utilities crew changed all streetlights from white to red for the holidays.

Thousands of visitors’ cars that drive down the street each season can appreciate the full impact of the decorative lights.

1942 — Idea for Christmas Fairy Lane

1984 — The han Fulton and the S created by Palo Alt former resident, M

VER BAT I M “ ”

What are your

Vivian Bullard junior

“ ”

Iwanttobebestfriendswith Jack Anderson.

Shiri Arnon freshman

“

”

[To] stay out of trouble [or] go to middle college.

I’m going to make the world a worser place.

Kevin Valencia sophomore

“ ”

Tosucceedinschoolandget good grades.

BJ Boyd junior

“ ”

My New Years Res be more active.

Lili Koohestani junior

S P O T L I G H T

The Campanile

December 17, 2010 • A7

lk DownChristmas Tree Lane

Life on the Lane Palo Alto High School senior Stephanie Spector has lived on what is known as “Christmas Tree Lane” for as long as she can remember. Christmas Tree Lane includes parts of Fulton Street, Seale Avenue and Tennyson Avenue. With her last high school Christmas fast approaching, Spector reflects on her memories an experiences living on Fulton Street during the holiday season. At the lane setting up all takes place in one day, according to Spector.

“Earlier in the week someone delivers the trees that go in front of your house and then everyone sort of sets up their trees in the morning,” Spector said, “I and then we have a brunch at someone’s house and after that everyone sort of sets up the rest of their decorations. Like, we have a Santa on our roof and a sleigh out front, so we set that up, and then we hook up the lights.”

For a while Christmas Tree Lane only included Fulton Street, but that has changed over the years.

“Recently people who live on Seale or Tennyson started joining in, so its sort of spreading onto the side streets,” Spector said.

According to Spector, the majority of the Christmas Tree Lane neighborhood decorates; however, it is not necessary for all residents to decorate.

“You are kind of peer pressured into it,” Spector said.

In the past, the lane used to consist of just Christmas-themed homes but as the years have gone by, people are more aware of the other holidays that take place in the winter season. The ideas of peace and joy is widespread as it does not single out a certain group. Also, houses on Fulton, Seale and Tennyson include wintry characters such as snowmen, Santa Clauses and elves. Now, houses also include classic Hannukah decorations.

“Its definitely more multi-cultural because a lot of people are starting to put up neutral decorations. There’s one that has just a train that says ‘Happy Holidays’ on it,” Spector said.

For Spector there are certain memories of the lane that she is very fond of.

“One house used to be like a Candyland,” Spector said, “There was like candy everywhere. They had like candy canes and candy in the windows and they had fake snow on the ground. Every year I usually have some friends over and we like have like cider and we walk the streets together. It’s a nice little tradition and my family does it every Christmas Eve.” -Chayla Cummins Staff Writer *Timeline based off the Highlight Section on Christmastreelane.org*

n of the owner at and manger scene eph and Wise men ding the Baby Jesus.

1998 — “The Night Before Christmas” featuring Santa, from the window – Pa in his cap, Santa’s children-sized Sleigh and reindeer appears at 1746 Fulton.

2000 — Santa and Mrs. Claus meet at the North Pole (1861 Fulton) for a Christmas kiss.

Lollipops and candy canes align the sidewalk.

ndsome Nutcracker at 1705 Smurfs at 1715 Fulton, were to HS student and 1715 Fulton Matt Schneider.

r New Years Resolutions?

”

solution is to

“

“

”

To write consistently in my journal for all of 2011.

Bella Hernandez junior

”

To stay healthy, work real hard and play even harder.

Aaron Zelinger junior

“ ”

To be 6 foot 10 by the end of the year.

Chris Bisbee junior

“

”

To go to state in basketball.

Bill Gray senior

OPINION

A8 • December 17, 2010

The Campanile

Students weigh in on the educational merits of school field trips Some find activities outside the classrooms enlightening, others feel missing class causes stress Field trips have an incredibly positive influence on a student’s academic career. They are a creative tool that teachers should use to their advantage.

Field trips allow students to see things as they really are — complicated and imperfect — and not as they might be idealized in a textbook. Field trips are one of nikkiwhitson the most effective ways to engage students and connect material in my opinion they learned in class to the real world. They give the students a chance to experience and see the relevance of a subject in the real world. They also provide first-hand experiences, stimulate interest and give new meaning to learning.

“I think field trips are a very hands-on way of learning because you go and actually see everything and experience what you’re learning,” sophomore Simone Buteau said.

When a student is surrounded by what they are learning, the subject becomes less abstract and easier to understand. Students should be able to see the real life application of what they learn in the classroom.

Walking through a museum and viewing displays promotes a student’s observation and perception skills. “[Field trips] give students a new perspective that there’s a world beyond high school textbooks and it’s important for students to explore that before they go to college,” junior Alana Schwartz said.

Students are more likely to pay attention to material that captures their interest. Field trips are the perfect opportunity for kids to have an experience that they will most likely retain information and details about. They allow students to engage in a subject while still enjoying their experience.

“It’s more fun to be on a field trip and be learning while you’re somewhere else other than a classroom,” Buteau said.

Field trips offer plenty of stimulation that immerse students in an entirely new surrounding to help them better understand the subject that they are studying.

Participation is a key factor that can significantly improve a child’s learning ability by allowing them to personally become involved in their studies.

“Field trips give students context for the stuff they’re learning in school and give them a fun and educational excuse to visit museums and parks,” Schwartz said.

Field trips do have disadvantages in areas of finance, safety and lack of volunteers. The build up of these factors prevent many schools from visiting exciting places.

However, careful planning in advance is an easy solution to overcome these obstacles. As long as teachers stay organized when coordinating an event, these problems should no longer be an issue.

“Field trips are much more effective for students than reading out of a book ,” Buteau said. “It incorporates students and makes them more interested.”

Field trips allow participants to learn through observation and build understanding, friendship and cooperation skills.

They offer many positive aspects that outweigh the inconveniences.

Many argue that field trips are geared more towards younger students, such as elementary schools, and that they are not as beneficial to high school students.

“They’re effective for kids older than elementary school students because high schoolers need the time off to let their minds wonder and be creative; not focus so much on strenuous schoolwork,” Schwartz said.

Each student deserves an equal opportunity to improve their learning ability, and for many students taking field trips would promote their education.

“I think that [field trips] are more common for elementary schools because it’s easier to get a class out to a field trip,” Buteau said. “But it’s just as effective for high school students because we also get bored and need a break every now and then. Field trips are an important element to keep within the curriculum because they bring curriculum to life and challenge student with handson exhibits and programs that are stepping stones to inquiry-based learning. Children can learn more about the world and how to interact with others when they leave the sheltered environment of a classroom.

Data compiled in Mesa, Arizona schools demonstrated that 96 percent of those students entering from a hands-on science program in elementary grades opted to continue their science studies in high school, while only four percent of the students in the textbook study program continued in high school science programs.

Students enrich their social skills when they interact with adults or kids from other schools. Field trips allow students the opportunity to venture into the public and be exposed to different situations. They encounter different people and various situations that improve personal and social development.

Field trips give teachers an excellent opportunity to show students that they can study different academic subjects simultaneously and that learning does not have to be an isolated experience. Field trips are overall a positive influence on a student’s education.

PRO

When students play multiple sports, participate in a variety of activities and have college admissions to worry about, field trips add stress to an already strained schedule.

While teachers use field trips to expose students to the importance of the material, the negative consequences of field trips are far more significant than mayssen the possibility of learning outside labidi the classroom. in my opinion Some students complain that field trips even fail to enrich their learning experience, making the trips unnecessary events, only changing the classroom environment.

Junior Shannon Scheel recently went on a field trip for Humanities, which involved both classes from teachers Lucy Filppu and Erin Angell.

To some students, this field trip was organized excessively and was unneeded to understand the curriculum. Furthermore, students felt that the decision to use “the buddy system” hampered their experience at the museum.

“Assigned groups or buddies are very unnecessary in field trips,” junior Shannon Scheel said. “These groups take away from the exhibit itself and teachers need to learn to trust their students and let them be independent.

Students function more when independent because they feel more relaxed.”

After returning from the Humanities field trip, most students could be found in the library catching up on piles of classwork and homework missed during the day or haggling with teachers to rearrange deadlines.

“It was like doing two days of homework instead of one,” junior Xavier Mignot said.

Field trips, even when well organized and exciting for students, can still have many other negative consequences to students’ academic success.

After being away from school for a day and missing classwork and tests, it is easy for students to let assignments fall through the cracks.

Some students in both Humanities and AP US History had presentations due in APUSH the same day as the field trip.

While field trips add stress to student life, they can also add stress to the Palo Alto Unified School District’s budget.

Between purchasing gas, renting a bus, paying a bus driver and purchasing tickets for museums or other special events, the cost of a field trip can quickly add up.

Currently, our school faces an infrastructure problem. Due to outdated and damaged physical features, such as slanted sidewalks, our campus is annually flooded during the rainy season.

Furthermore, many teachers complain that vital resources are not readily available. Our school should appropriate the money for field trips towards these causes that will show more direct improvement on campus for all students.

Teachers must weigh the benefits of helping out the campus as a whole or providing minimal opportunities to just a few students.

A way to solve some of the problems surrounding field trips is to make them standardized and required for all students.

“To improve these problems, field trips should be regulated and all students should be required to take one field trip per quarter,” junior Kuran Freyermuth said.

“Teachers should notify the students a couple months in advance to students are prepared to make up the missing work.”

While limiting field trips to a minimum can help alleviate student stress and add more money to the district’s budget, teachers can easily find a variety of alternatives to a field trip that would also possibly enrich the student’s learning experience.

Some teachers provide students with educational “simulation activities.” English teacher Julia Taylor, for example, uses a “southern picnic” activity in which students learn about the southern culture in To Kill a Mockingbird by cooking food and presenting it to the class.

Teachers can also encourage students to expand the knowledge gained in class by adding more creative projects to their curriculum, such as art and making homemade movies.

Creative projects encourage students to reflect and investigate further on topics learned in class by allowing them to gain more exposure to a specific topic.

Similar to field trips, projects offer students more interesting, hands on opportunities to learn, without the added stress and costly price tag.

Simulations and projects provide many alternatives to field trips, making trips obsolete.

Teachers need to realize that there are many different ways to give students a meaningful learning experience and field trips are not the effective one.

Field trips are much better suited for younger grades, when students have less homework and extracurricular activities. Most high school students just do not have enough time to leave school for a day.

CON

Marc havlik/campanile

Although some students enjoy getting out of the classroom for field trips, many others do not appreciate the extra stress which also comes from missing both class and homework.

Paly students’ lack of knowledge evident from low scores on news quiz Palo Alto High should be aware of North Korea’s recent atSchool has earned tack on a South Korean island, which put its place among the their military all over the news and raised top high schools in a threat of a new war in Korea. Adults may America, with stu- more easily remember the strength of dents who do well North Korea’s military from its involvement above average on in the Cold War, however our generation their Scholastic Apti- should be equally aware of North Korea’s tude Test (SAT), apply volatility particularly since it is one of the to all the best colleges handful of countries with nuclear weapons. and still excel at extraFifty-Four percent of Paly incorrectly brianbenton curricular activities answered the United States, which is a rearanging from volley- sonable answer considering the fact that in my opinion ball and football to we do have the largest military budget of debate and choir. But how do we stack up all nations, and that a very large amount of when asked a series of political and general attention is given to our military spending knowledge questions? Unfortunately, not as and recent additions of troops. well as one might expect.

Who is the current Chief Justice of the Two hundred ninety two Paly students, Supreme Court? equally distributed between grades and Compared to the 15 percent of adults class levels, were quizzed on six questions who correctly named John Roberts, Paly’s 14 covering a broad range of subjects. The percent seems decent. However, when we number of correct answers by Paly students look at the numbers and see it is so low for was an average of 15 percent lower than everyone, it is equally as disappointing. Chief a Newsweek magazine poll that asked the Justice Roberts’ name comes up repeatedly in same questions to 1010 US citizens in 2008. the news for things like his recent garble while administering the oath of office for President What is the holiest city in Islam?

Barack Obama to the fact that the Supreme When Newsweek asked this question, Court is often simply referred to as the “Robmore than half of the Americans surveyed erts’ Court.”Among the incorrect answers, 56 percent to be exact - correctly answered Justice Sandra Sotomayor was named most Mecca. Only a disappointing 38 percent commonly, possibly because of her recent of Paly students were able to come up admittance to the Supreme Court. However, with the name of the Saudi Arabian city Justice Elena Kagan, where the prophet who was even more Mohammed was “Anything that happens in our recently admitted, was born and where millions of Muslims society, whether its politics or only mentioned once.

What is the tallest make pilgrimages, social issues effects our lives building in the United including the Hajj, the States? everyday.” fifth pillar of Islam, Compared to annually. Over a Ben Bolaños the general public, quarter of those asked Paly history teacher Paly did worst on this at Paly answered question. Only 22 Jerusalem, which is a percent of students holy city in Judaism, named the Sears Tower, while 53 percent of Christianity and Islam. While Jerusalem Newsweek respondents did so. On a more is Judaism’s holiest city, it is only the third positive note, a handful of Paly students acmost holy city in Islam.

China and India have the largest armies knowledged the fact that the tower’s name was recently changed to the Willis Tower in in the world. Which country has the third 2009. Interestingly, the nation’s second talllargest? est building, the Trump International Hotel Paly’s lowest number of correct anin Chicago was not even named once, while swers came with this question. Only seven the third tallest, the Empire State Building, percent of Paly gave the correct answer, was incorrectly given as the answer by 49 North Korea, while 29 percent of the Americans polled in Newsweek were able to percent of Paly students.

What is the minimum age required for the provide this answer. The lack of knowledge office of U.S. president? on this topic is surprising, especially conPaly scored higher than the general sidering the fact that North Korea has been public on this question, by a score of 52 perin the news recently. Most Paly students

cent correct for Paly to 44 percent correct in Newsweek’s survey. The minimum age, 35, is taught in both eighth grade and sophomore history classes, which might explain why our score was so high for this question.

If the presidential election ends in a tie in the Electoral College, who decides the winner?

18 percent of Paly correctly said the House of Representatives, compared to 25 percent of America.

This question was by far one of the hardest asked, because this has only happened twice – once in 1801 and once in 1825 – so the number of Paly students, and American citizens for that matter, who were able to provide the correct answer is impressive and praiseworthy.

Also, many of the incorrect answers, notably Congress and the Senate, while incorrect, were closer.

But what does this really show?

“Anything that happens in our society, whether it’s politics or social issues affects our lives everyday,” Paly history teacher Ben Bolaños said. “[These issues] affect almost every segment of our lives.”

Knowledge of politics and awareness of the world around us shapes us as human

beings, and increases our ability to have a positive role in society.

Perhaps Paly students could not be expected to know the answers to all the questions asked, but the fact that fewer than 10 students were able to answer four or more of the questions is disappointing.

What can we do to get better?

Students, especially in Palo Alto, have all the resources they need to become as politically and globally aware.

Whether or not we are able to use these resources to our advantage is the real question.

The issue of whether or not new technology is benefiting or harming our awareness of the world is one that is continuously being debated. It is no question that news is drastically more accessible today than it was 20, or even 10 years ago.

We now have the latest news at our fingertips thanks to the Internet and more recent innovations like Podcasts, and Twitter.

This new technology is also clearly hindering us in some ways.

In our “Age of Information,” we hear and read so much, and after a while it can get overwhelming. It is becoming seemingly impossible to find all the details of a story

in our fast-paced world and equally hard to know what news is the truth and what is just an opinion.

“It’s a little bit overwhelming to know what’s accurate and what isn’t accurate just because there’s so much out there,” Bolaños said. “We don’t always have the tools to analyze all the information very well.”

Some teachers, including Bolaños, make the news-finding process easier for their students by including news stories into class curriculums.

In Beginning Journalism classes, students are quizzed on news stories with hopes that it will encourage them to be more aware of the news and the world around them.

These quizzes seem to pay off. One of the classes surveyed was Ellen Austin’s Beginning Journalism class.

Students in this class were 9 percent more likely to provide the correct answers than students in the 11 other classes surveyed.

Paly students are constantly encouraged to glance at the headlines of both local and international newspapers by their teachers.

Knowledge is often not hard to obtain, and having it pays off. All you need to do is look at a few news headlines.

SPORTS

The Campanile

Friday, December 17, 2010

Boys’ varsity basketball team wins season’s first game 72-35

By Maddie Berger Staff Writer

The Palo Alto boys’ varsity basketball team crushed San Mateo High School 72-35 in the first game of the season on Wednesday Dec. 1.

“They just played really well as a team,” Head Coach Adam Sax said. “They made the extra pass, moved the ball well and really played great in the second half. They’re having fun and they’re showing a lot of energy. Throughout practice they’ve really been excited, so I think that just carried over to the game.”

The Vikings held the Knights to five points in the second half. “[The game] started off slow, but then the offense started picking up and the defense started picking up too and we finished with a win,” junior forward Isreal Hakim said.

Standout players included senior guard Max Schmarzo, scoring 36 of Paly’s 72 points, with eight 3-pointers.

“Schmarzo was on fire,” sophomore guard Aldis Petriceks said. “Coming into the second half, we were more in shape than them, and [San Mateo] got tired and we didn’t.”

Overall, the team worked well together, and support from other players helped Schmarzo rack up the points.

“I wasn’t really expecting it,” Schmarzo said. “I’ve got to thank my teammates, they got me open and I just made the shots. First game of the season, I didn’t know what to expect, just [had to] come out and play hard, and that’s what we did and we won from that.”

Hakim also played well on offense, with 12 points and nine offensive rebounds and Petriceks had the third highest with a total of six points.

“Israel was very good, as far as rebounding,” Sax said. “He had a lot of energy, and was eight for nine on the free throw line.”

Marc Havlik / Campanile

Junior Alec Wong dribbles the ball down the court in the game against San Mateo High School, leading the Paly Vikes to a victory in their first game of the season with a crushing win.

While Paly’s shooting helped the team defeat San Mateo, junior point guard Alec Wong stood out, securing passes to his teammates that ended in successful shots.

“Alec ran the point guard really well, got everybody involved, distributed the ball,” Sax said. “He was very good at that.”

Overall, the team’s high energy and talent carried them to victory. However, after the football team’s astounding win over Valley Christian on Dec. 3, the football season is now extended, causing key players such as seniors Davante Adams, Bill Gray and T.J. Braff to be absent from the first games of the season.

In addition, senior Charlie Jones’ recent injury decreases the number of players on the team further. “[Jones] hurt his shoulder, and he’s going to be out for a few weeks,” Sax said. “[Missing some of the players] affects the depth. Now we’re down to seven guys, we usually play ten or 11.”

Following the San Mateo game, the team played in the 34th Annual Burlingame Lions Invitational Tournament School. Their first game was on Dec. 8 against Sacred Heart Prep.

After a tough game the Vikings lost to Sacred Heart Gators 48-66. However, Paly went on to win the next

two games, crushing Aragon High School 55-29 on Dec. 11 and then barely defeating Jefferson High School from Daly City 56-55. “[The team] played with seven guys, so there was a lot of fatigue,” Sax said. “But they played right through it.”

To finish out the week the Vikings faced off against Milpitas at home on Saturday, Dec. 12.

From the start the Vikings pulled five points ahead of the Trojans, finishing the first quarter with a score of 1712. During the second quarter, multiple steals by Hakim and sophomore EJ Floreal, along with two 3-pointers by Schmarzo and one 3-pointer by Petriceks, boosted the Vikings to a 10 point lead.

Both Hakim and Floreal used their height to their advantage to execute countless layups in the third. Hakim was 5 for 6 on the free throw line and had strong offensive and defensive rebounds.

During the fourth quarter, Paly had another string of interceptions and their quick movement propelled them to a win, with a final score of 73-55 .

“They had a lot more energy then we did [on Friday],” Sax said. “Wednesday to today was a huge improvement.”

boys’ basketball Scores

vs. Milpitas Dec. 11, W 73-55 vs. Woodside Dec. 16, not reported

Upcoming games vs. Willow Glen Dec. 18, 7 p.m. vs. Monta Vista Dec. 22, 6 p.m.

Palo Alto girls’ varsity basketball declare two wins, two losses

Lady Vikes open upcoming season with impressive victories over Woodside, San Mateo High School

By Brandon Nguyen Sports Editor

The Palo Alto girls’ basketball team continues its non-conference play with two last minute losses combined with two impressive victories over Woodside and San Mateo High School.

The Lady Vikes opened up the season on Dec. 3 against Woodside, where they defeated the Wildcats 60-17. This was the first official game of the season after the strenuous preseason workouts and practices.

In the past week and a half, the Lady Vikes have participated in the Pinewood Classic Tournament located at Pinewood High School.

They fell to Evergreen High School 6663 in the tournament opener, with the game winning three pointer scored within the final minute of play. Two days later, the Lady Vikes defeated San Mateo by a score of 54-40.

On Dec. 11, the Lady Vikes matched up against Mills High School. Mills defeated Paly in the Central Coast Section (CCS) Quarterfinals last year.

For Head Coach Scott Peters, the game was more about improvement as a team than revenge from the prior year’s loss.

“It’s more about us than anything, us getting better and these games help.” Peters said.

After taking the lead early in the first With the game tied 47-47 and 14 secquarter, Paly failed to find a rhythm in the first onds left, Paly stole the ball from Mills and half and Mills’ led 24-23 at the break. transitioned to the net. They turned the ball Mills started the third quarter on a 11- 0 over and senior Katerina Peterson was forced run, extending the lead to 12 points. Mills to foul with 1.4 seconds on the clock. Mills slowed down the explosive Paly attack to a made one of two free-throws and Paly could half court set. He swarmed the court and not connect on a last second pass and shot. took away passing and shooting lanes for the The team’s efforts encouraged Peter, Lady Vikes. At the end but he believes that the of the 3rd quarter, Mills team’s execution could “A lot of things weren’t going led 38-28. be improved.

The fourth quarter our way, we were struggling “A lot of things was a different story for we re n’t g o i n g o u r Paly. The Vikes started and we fought through.” way,” Peters said. “We the fourth quarter with Scott Peters were struggling and a 13-3 run and tied the we fought through.

Head Coach The whole team came game at 41-41 with 3:35 left in the fourth. together. We put ourSophomore Stephanie selves in a position to Allen sparked the rally by adding seven points win the game. We made a couple mistakes off the bench. Her hustle on the fast break at the end, and that cost us, so we need to ignited the Paly bench and the Lady Vikes work on execution.” made a comeback. Freshman standout DaniAccording to Clay, the Lady Vikes elle Palmer, who played in place of injured struggled in the first three quarters because sophomore Josie Butler, had two blocks in the team was not completely mentally in the game. the game. However, in the fourth quarter, Palmer and junior Shamelia Clay led the Clay believes that the team came together Lady Vikes in scoring with 12 points each. Even and made a comeback. Peters notes that though Paly came back to score 19 points in the team struggled to score in the first three the fourth quarter, it was not enough. quarters because they were not transitioning

quickly down the court. He also felt that the team needed to play with more composure in the game.

“We are not calm when we are on offense,” Peters said.

Palmer notes that there was not enough trust on the court for the Lady Vikes.

“We played really hard, but we didn’t exactly execute our plays and we didn’t trust our teammates as much as we should have,” Palmer said.

Although Peters was happy with the comeback in the end, he saw room for improvement.

“We got to work on some of the things that got us into the situation, which is that we are fouling too much especially in the first half, we are not trusting our teammates on defense to help us and we feel we have to block shots or do everything when our teammates are there to help us,” Peters said.

Palmer believes that the reason that the Lady Vikes played well in the fourth quarter was because each player was on the same page.

Peters is hopeful that with a strong week of practice, the Lady Vikes can clean up the mistakes and address the problems. Clay believes that as the season progresses, the team chemistry will improve.

“We don’t play as a team,” Clay said. “We need to start playing as a team.”

Although Paly lost two games by a combined score of 4 points, Peters thinks that learning from losses early in the season can be beneficial for the team.

“There’s a bright future for this team because we play hard and we’re going to get better,” Peters said. “Sometimes when you are learning those lessons then you will lose a couple games.”

Paly continues its season with the Saratoga Shootout Tournament against Lynbrook.

girls’ basketball Scores

vs. San Mateo Dec. 10, W 54-40 vs. Mills Dec. 11, L 47-48

Upcoming games vs. Leigh Dec. 18, 11:30 a.m. vs. Lynbrook Jan. 5, 7 p.m.

Girls’ varsity soccer starts off strong Boys’ soccer off to promising start Vikes begin season with three preseason non-league wins

By Kirah Ingram Staff Writer

The girls’ season is off to a good start with a non-league tie, three losses and three wins for the Palo Alto High School girls’ varsity soccer team.

This season, the team looks strong with a lot of power coming from both the upper and underclassmen.

On Dec. 9, the girls’ varsity soccer team played rivals Woodside Priory High School during the Winter Classic Tournament. The game ended with the score of 0-2, resulting in the team’s second preseason loss. The tone of the game sets early in the game when Woodside Priory scored their first goal within the first two minutes of the game.

“Overall, I thought [the game] was difficult, because we had the goal in the very beginning of the game,” senior defender Helen Butler said.“But we pulled it together within the first half, and we started playing harder. I thought we played hard to the end and we did not really give up.”

Although the first few minutes of the game showed that the Vikings were not entirely focused, junior Mira Ahmad believes that the team performed well.

“As a team we definitely had possession [of the ball] for the majority of the game,” Ahmad said. “We outplayed them just between their two goals in the beginning and end of the game. We were doing a good job of getting the ball wide, we just need to work on getting our crosses in and having people crash the goal to finish those shots.”

Senior Alex Kershner thought the overall game went smoothly, but the game only showed part of what the team as a whole is capable of.

“It’s a good measure of our preseason talent and we are going to keep building off of this,” Kershner said. “I thought it was a good fight.

We never gave up. And that’s exactly [what] you can’t teach, you can’t teach [players to go] hard for every ball and [to play up until] the last minute.”

In their first game on Nov. 21, the team tied 0-0 with Menlo High School, and as junior Emily Brown said that the game was not played well.

Palo Alto continued on for their second game against St. Ignatius High School on Nov. 29.

The game, however, did not turn out in Palo Alto’s favor. The team

lost to St. Ignatius 2-0, but Brown indicated that the score in no way represented how the team played. “[St. Ignatius High School] has some really good players,” Brown said. “We lost 2-0, but we looked better as a team out there because we [played] well.”

Throughout the first half of the game the score was 0-0, but going into the second half, St. Ignatius scored their first goal with only 16 minutes left in the game.

“Even though there were 16 minutes left in the game, I think that [the team momentum] suddenly dropped [after the first goal],” Brown said.

With two additional wins against Castilleja High School and Willow Glen High School, the team is looking forward to the competition the coming season brings. Brown understands why the first couple games did not go as well as the team hoped, but knows that this season brings big potential.

“We still need to figure out how each other [plays], but I’d say it’s a good start to the season,” Brown said. “[We] need to know what [our] strengths and weaknesses are.”

Girls’ soccer Scores

vs. Saratoga Dec. 13, W 1-0 vs. Gilroy Dec. 16 not reported

Upcoming games

Marc Havlik/ Campanile

Sophomore Nina Kelty runs liners during practice. Viking girls began their season with a win against Saratoga High.

vs. Homestead Jan. 1, 3:30pm vs. Monta Vista Jan. 11, 3:30pm

Despite losses, team is confident they will stay competitive

By Brian Benton Staff Writer

Despite back-to-back losses, the Palo Alto High School boys’ varsity soccer team is off to a promising start, finishing their first month of play with a 3-2-1 record.

This season’s start is still on improvement compared to last year, when the Vikings opened the season by winning only one of their first five games.

Paly began the season playing in the Winter Soccer Classic Tournament from Nov. 29 to Dec. 4. In their first game of the tournament, Paly defeated the Richmond Oilers 4-2, in Richmond.

Freshman Josh Totte, playing in the first game of his high school soccer career, scored one goal and had an assist. Senior Brandon Nguyen, junior Federico Clerici-Hermandinger and sophomore Mathew Waymouth also scored in as Paly easily won.

“Our younger players have been really impressive,” Paly Head Coach Don Briggs said. “They’ve stepped up and done a good job.”

The win may be an indication of a successful season to come for the Vikings, as the Oilers finished last year’s season with an impressive 15-2-9 record.

The next night Paly traveled to Foothill High School in Pleasanton to play its second game of the tournament. The varsity squad was once again victorious, this time by a score of 3-2. Senior John Richardson led the way for the Vikings, scoring two goals early in the game.

The score remained tied until sophomore Skyler Felt won the game for the Vikings, scoring a goal with just 40 seconds left.

On Dec. 1, the Vikings continued their winning streak, this time shutting out the Granada High School

Matadors by a score of 1-0. Junior Kris Hoglund scored Paly’s lone goal.

Another strong Paly player in the game was senior goalkeeper Austin Shiau, who got the shutout.

Paly’s three tournament wins qualified them for the tournament championships, where they played the California High School Grizzlies in San Ramon.

The Grizzlies scored early in the game, but thanks to strong defense the Vikings keep the game close until Mark Raftrey scored late in the second half to tie the game.

After two 10-minute overtime periods, the Vikings and the Grizzlies squared off in a penalty kick shootout, where Paly lost by a score of 2-1. However, the game rules as a tie, as shootouts only are taken into effect during playoff games.

After receiving their famous team-bonding haircuts on the night of Dec. 6, the Vikings were prepared to take on powerhouse St. Ignatius College Preparatory the next day.

Despite their intimidating haircuts, the Vikings shut out, losing 0-4.

The Vikings shut out again on Dec. 9, by a score of 0-2, when they played at Menlo-Atherton High School.

“Year in, year out we’ve played [Menlo Atherton] and [St. Ignatius]… and usually we play them a lot more competitively,” Briggs said. “All of a sudden it’s putting a big question mark on our [season].”

As the first game league gamesquickly approach, the Vikings are becoming apprehensive because of the two shutouts but are ready to begin the regular season.

“It’s a little bit subdoing [because] we’re not as strong as we thought at first,” Briggs said. “We have a lot of work to do.”

The team and the rest of the league will take a two-week long

Marc Havlik / Campanile

Senior Mark Raftrey advances to goal during recent game. break from games and return in January to play their first home game against Carlmont High School.

Paly’s league games will begin in mid-January with away games against Saratoga on Jan 5.

Boys’ soccer Scores

vs. Menlo Dec. 9, L 0-2 vs. Milpitas Dec. 16, not reported

Upcoming games vs. Carlmont Jan. 3, 3:30 p.m. @ Saratoga Jan. 5, 3:30 p.m.

SPORTS

The Campanile

December 17, 2010 • A11

Boys’ varsity team begins season with startling new looks

Traditional soccer haircuts bring team together while providing laughs

By Hannah Totte Staff Writer

If you see a guy with a weird mohawk or with no hair on half his head, he is most likely a varsity boys’ soccer player.

Every year, when the air gets chilly and the clouds roll in, students at Palo Alto High School begin to shiver as they try to adjust to the cold.

The boys’ varsity soccer team, however, walks around slightly flushed before the holidays.

A combination of embarrassment and pride may make them targets of humiliation, but the teammates’ new styles are an annual tradition that both the team and the student body look forward to.

On Dec. 6, the boys soccer team gathered at senior captain John Richardson’s house to continue the unique team-bonding experience from years past.

Early in December, seniors began brainstorming ideas for the haircuts, sharing pictures and websites on Facebook.

Underclassmen walked into Richardson’s house apprehensively, since only upperclassmen get to contribute their opinions to their own haircut and younger team members are at the mercy of their older teammates.

After a few hours, the boys returned home amidst laughter from their families and then from their peers at school the next day. “[The best part is] the next day when the whole school sees how ridiculous everyone

looks,” senior defender Mark Raftrey said.

“It’s hilarious.”

Even amidst all the embarrassment, the school and team eagerly anticipate the tradition.

“Everyone knows about it and everyone is really excited for it,” Richardson said. “It’s probably the best part of every soccer season.”

Every year, upperclassmen search the internet for new inspiration.

Although the seniors try to incorporate new designs, some styles have become staples.

“My sophomore year, I got earmuffs,” Richardson said. “I had long hair, so I had hair going over my ears and a bar going across my head. That’s a tradition now. We do that

Marc havlik/campanile

Junior Geraldo Neto prepares himself during the annual varsity boys’ soccer haircuts. Not only does it provide entertainment, as well as creativity, the haircuts also help strengthen the team as they prepare for the season.

Tournaments yield mixed results Wrestling team excels in first meet

By Michael Augustine

Peninsula Invitational, they only had three of the eight place.

Gans placed first in the 160 lbs.

The Palo Alto High School varsity wrestling team has faced mixed bracket, earning 25 points.

Gans started off with winning results by finishing 5th and 15th through its first two events, the Pen- by a majority decision in the first insula Invitational and the Webber round (15-4).

In the quarterfinals, Gans Lawson Memorial respectively.

In its first tournament of the year, scored a pin at 3:10, and in the the Viking wrestling team finished semifinals he won by a decision fifth out of 34 schools, with only six (11-4) and finally, in the finals Gans wrestlers participating, as they had beat Jovan Villallobos of Alisal High strong showings from the whole team School with a 9-4 decision.

Christopherson earned 11 as all six wrestlers scored.

Junior Nick Ortiz placed second points out of the 130 bracket. He started off with a victorious deciin the 125 lbs. bracket by going 4-1.

He advanced via a bye in the first sion (7-5) in the first round, a win round, a pin at 5:38 in the second, by by majority decision (17-3) in the a major decision (9-0) in the quarter- quarterfinals, and a loss in the finals, 6-5 decision in the semifinals, semifinals by a pin at 4:11.

In the third place match, Chrisbefore losing to Travis Roberts of Junipera Serra High School in the finals. topherson lost to Justin Belnap of Fremont High School due to an Ortiz was awarded 25 team points.

Junior Joey Christopherson injury.

“During my semifinal match I was the consolation champion and was trying to block [Belnap’s] shot earned 10 points.

After a pin in the first round at and we hit heads and I fell down 2:53, Christopherson lost to future with a concussion,” Christopherchampion Brian Ha from El Camino son said.

In the 125 lbs. bracket, Ortiz High School, by a pin at 4:16.

Christopherson would go on to took sixth place earning 8 points. win by decisions 8-0 and 9-2 in the In the first round Ortiz won by deconsolation rounds three and four, cision (10-3) and lost by a decision (6-0) in the quarterfinals. respectively.

Ortiz Other nobounced table wrestlers “Everybody was supposed back quickly from the Peninfrom the loss sula Invitational to place, and they did.” earn a pin include junior David Duran to in the consoKalen Gans who Varsity Coach lation round placed third in two at 3:14. the 171 brackHe went et and earned 18.50 points, sophomore Trenton on to win by major decision (16-4) Marshall who, out of the 135 bracket in the next round, before losing placed fourth and earned 12.00 to Jonathan Lewis of Leigh High points, junior Jared Swezey-Gleason School by a decision (5-4) taking who earned 6.00 points out of the 160 sixth place.

Sophomore Jordan Smith bracket as the consolation champion and junior Tanner Marshall who earned 5 points in the 112 lbs. earned 5.00 points with a sixth place bracket and junior Matthew Slipper earned 2 points in the 171lbs. finish out of the 189 bracket.

Overall, varsity coach David bracket.

“This weekend we brought Duran was pleased with the team’s performance at the Peninsula Invi- a few guys who were competing at varsity level for the first time,” tational.

“Everybody was supposed to Gans said, “[They] did well, and had a good experience I think, but place, and they did,” Duran said.

While the undermanned Vikings they need a little more experience.”

The Vikings are preparing for set the bar high in their first tournament, the opposite can be said about their next competition which inthe Vikings in the Webber Lawson cludes a Dual Meet at Monta Vista High School on Dec. 16 at 5:30 pm. memorial tournament.

The team will participate in In the second tournament, Paly placed 15th out of 23 schools with the Coast Classic tournament at a score of 51 points. While Paly had Scotts Valley High School on Dec. all six of their wrestlers place at the 17 and Dec. 18.

Staff writer

one every year because it’s so bad, and I was the first one.”

This year, however, some well-known haircuts, including the earmuffs and the friar monk had some innovative alterations.

Creative cuts are also common; sophomore Grant Shorin’s hair resembled cornrows, and Peter Laminette’s head had the outline of hand prints.

Laughter may follow the initial sight of their heads at school; teachers and students alike gave the team attention for their unique looks. At school however, at least everyone knows the cause for these new styles, whereas in public, curious and confused stares typically follow the teammates.

“For the seniors, it won’t be too bad because we just get mohawks usually, or you can get whatever you want,” Richardson said. “For the underclassmen [it’s] super embarrassing.

It’s not the same going to school because everyone knows it’s for soccer, but then going out in public it’s bad because no one knows.”

However, most of the players accept social embarrassment since the haircuts prove they are strong and talented enough to compete with varsity athletes.

The haircuts are a mark of athleticism and success, since they show the rest of the school who made the varsity soccer team.

“I think it’s worth it, because if anyone makes fun of [the underclassmen] they can say they’re on varsity,” junior Gerrit Van Zyll said.

Overall, the team uses this experience to build stronger relationships.

“It’s a fun way to get everyone to be part of the team and start off the season and build chemistry,” Raftrey said. “It’s to bring everyone together. It’s something we can all have in common: having strange hair.”

Having the chance to get to know one’s teammates in a different setting enhances the team’s cohesiveness and performance, a result that lasts longer than the week-long haircut humiliation.

“I think it’s more just the get together, the pasta feed and all that,” varsity head coach Donald Briggs said. “It’s away from school; they get the chance to get to know each other. That’s the big part of it. The haircuts are something that just kind of goes along with it.”

Players do not know exactly when the tradition started, but they accept that it’s all part of being part of the varsity team, and it’s also a fun experience.

Current seniors remember their haircuts from freshman year and hope the tradition will continue after they graduate.

“They should [continue the tradition],” Raftery said. “I think it’s fun, so I don’t see why they wouldn’t.”

However, soccer haircuts have been an annual occurrence for much longer than this year’s seniors’ high school careers, according to Briggs.

“When I used to coach up in Chico, we used to have little [team] get togethers, like a pasta feed or something like that,” Briggs said. “When I first started coaching [at Paly], they’d never done anything like that before, so I said let’s have a pasta feed. I’m not sure if [the haircuts] happened the first year, but that would have been about eight years ago.”

Although neither Briggs nor the players know who to attribute the original idea of the crazy haircuts to, Briggs accepted the idea and has continued it throughout the years.

“The rule was, if you guys want to do this, it has to be everyone,” Briggs said. “It can’t just be freshmen or sophomores. No one would be singled out.”

Players can also opt out, if they are willing to sustain ridicule and lose respect from their teammates.

In all of his years coaching, Briggs said only one person has ever opted out.

As he has watched the different teams perform their own haircuts, Briggs can see both the re-occuring styles and the new innovative creations every year.

“I think they get more creative as the years go by,” Briggs said. “This year there are some real doozies. I wish I had taken pictures.

There have been some really interesting ones over the years.”

These soccer haircuts are unique to Paly; as far as the players can tell, their heads are the only team-made works of art in the Bay Area.

“It’s a pretty cool tradition because we’re the only school that does it,” Van Zyll said.

Another traditional aspect of the haircuts relates to their timing.

Every year, this special pasta feed falls on the day prior to a scrimmage against St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco.

“It’s funny because it always happens the night before we play St. Ignatius,” Briggs said. “The [St. Ignatius] coach quit coaching last year, and he came out just this year to see what we were up to.”

Small Bay Area teams offer closer fan experience Nearby sport organizations provide easier availability to games

By Sasha Kuvyrdin Senior Staff Writer

Everyone has heard of the Giants, the Warriors and the Sharks.

These teams play in large expensive stadiums in front of thousands of passionate fans paying top dollar for their tickets.

However, they are not the only professional sports teams that play in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Several of smaller teams participating in sports ranging from lacrosse to arena football also represent the Bay Area.

San Jose Sabercats The San Jose Sabercats of the Arena Football League have provided fans with excitement since 1995.

Though the league temporarily folded in 2008, the team is back and ready to resume play in 2011.

Arena football is a variation of American football and is meant to increase scoring and excitement. The teams play on 50 yard fields, as opposed to 100 yard fields, and punting is not allowed.

Also, since there are no real sidelines on the field, fans sit much closer to the players, giving them a better sense of the action.

The league prides itself on being an action based alternative to the much larger National Football League (NFL). The league rarely fines for illegal hits and penalty flags are seldom thrown.

With the NFL increasing safety regulations and sending players fines weekly for illegal tackles, the American Football League (AFL) hopes to provide fans with a more traditional sense of the game, even if their playing field and rules are considerably different.

Most players play on both sides of the ball, a stark contrast to the NFL where virtually all players are specialists in either offense or defense.

The Sabercats will play in the Hewlett-Packard Pavilion with a season stretching from April to August.

Sabercats games offer fans an opportunity to see exciting football action at a fraction of the cost of an NFL game.

San Jose Giants The San Jose Giants, the Class-A Minor League affiliate of the Major League Baseball World Series defending champions the San Francisco Giants, also call San Jose home.

The team is currently the defending California League champions.

Located closer to home and offering much cheaper admission than the San Francisco team, the San Jose Giants offer a very homey atmosphere at their ballgames.

The team is deeply rooted in the classic traditions of baseball. Fans sit very close to the field, giving them an intimate view of the game.

Team members sign autographs for fans before every game, adding to the stadium’s friendly feel. The stadium’s outfield walls are lined with advertisements, much like the old baseball stadiums of the 1920s and 30s were.

Previously, the team used an old-school scoreboard with cards used for numbers much like the scoreboard at the infamous Fenway Park in Boston. However, in 2006, a 21-by-15 foot video screen costing half a million dollars that was added to the stadium, giving the stadium a slightly more modern and sleek look to keep with the times.

Between innings, fans have a multitude of options for entertainment. Games such as tire toss, children footraces around the bases, and throwing baseballs at a truck are available and come with exciting prizes.

The San Jose Giants also added a mascot in 2006, Gigante, to excite the fans and add even more to the flavor of the park.

Since the team is in the minor league, the squad consists of mostly young players making little money and hungry to showcase their skills.

This is a welcomed contrast to the multi-million dollar-earning players in the big leagues who often care more about their contracts than the success of their team.

The San Jose Giants provide a smaller and more intimate venue for those wanting to enjoy the great game of baseball.

Palo Alto Ducks The Palo Alto Ducks started in 1965 by younger members of the Stanford Lacrosse Club who saw that most of the playing time in games was being given to graduate students.

Hungry to play competitive lacrosse and upset about a lack of playing time, the young undergraduates decided to start their own club.

The team plays in the Northern California Lacrosse Association which was formed in 1964, just a year

before the Ducks were established as a Bay Area team.

Respect and attitude are an important part of the team’s foundations. Though skill is definitely important, athletes who attend and work hard at practice will likely receive more playing time.

The team’s goal is to put the best group of players onto the field, but to always allow younger and lessexperienced players a shot to show their skills.

The team is also very active in the lacrosse community all over the Bay Area. Many of the teams members coach lacrosse to players of all ages in their spare time. The team has no main field or stadium that they use, so they have to rotate around.

Lacrosse fans can find the Ducks playing at local sports fields like Palo Alto High School’s turf fields or Greer Park.

The Palo Alto Ducks commitment to the exciting game of lacrosse truly shows through their help in the community and their resolution to always uphold dignity and respect on the playing field.

Strikeforce With such a diverse population, it is no surprise that the Bay Area also hosts the second largest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) company in the United States.

Strikeforce originally started in 1985 as a kickboxing promotion,

however they began holding MMA events in 2006 after the fast rise of the sport due to the success of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC.) The organization is based out of San Jose and has a close bond with the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), a training facility also located in San Jose that is used by many fighters in the company.

Karate practitioner Cung Le and former Heisman Trophy winner turned MMA-fighter Herschel Walker both call the AKA home.

The company now holds around eight majors shows with top fighters a year and also holds occasional smaller shows focusing on younger and lessexperienced fighters. Strikeforce has now had forty one shows in different states of the country and has signed a roster with some of the most accomplished fighters in sports history.

Former Pride Heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko, former UFC Heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski, and former Pride Middleweight and Welterweight champion Dan Henderson all represent Strikeforce.

The company is now returning to its Bay Area roots after visiting St. Louis, and are planning a new event on Jan. 29 at the HP Pavilion.

With a talented crop of fighters and a sizable amount of fans, Strikeforce plans to continue putting on great events for their fans and local fighters.

dave nelson/FLICKr

Home to various professional sports teams, the Bay Area is also the center for small, local teams that people overlook.

SPORTS

A12 • December 17, 2010

The Gauntlet

The Campanile

Varsity volleyball claims state championship Lady Vikes defeat Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits in their first-ever state title

By Hannah Totte

Even against Long Beach Poly’s intimidating hitting talent and noisy fans, Paly was able After the referee at the San Jose State Event to maintain their focus and faith throughout Center declared junior Maddie Kuppe’s serve an the ups and downs of the match. ace, the Palo Alto High School’s varsity volley“The cool thing is you don’t have to put it ball team won its first ever state championship into words, all you have to do is look at the girls’ 17-15 in the fifth game of the match on Dec. 4. faces,” Winn said. “When we were down 12-9 “I’m pretty sure I threw myself on the floor,” and you were looking at the faces of the girls Kuppe said. “I couldn’t scream loud enough. It on the bench, not a one of them doubted that was unbelievable. It was just an indescribable we were going to come back. Not a one. I just feeling.” looked at them and said, ‘Listen to the crowd.

The Lady Vikes matched Long Beach Poly’s Look at your teammates. Can you believe that height and strength in hitting and blocking you’re about to come back and win a state in an intense, nerve-racking and exciting five championship?’ And it wasn’t like I was just game match. Paly set the tone early, winning pulling smoke, they believed. That undying the first game 25-17, but the Vikes were caught belief they have with each other carried us a off guard in the second game, losing 20-25 to long way. It may not have helped us win, but the Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits. it was a huge part of why they love this game.”

Though Paly came out on top in the third The team faced some of their toughest game, winning 25-21 after scoring alternating competition, but were still able to rally and points for the majority of the game, the Vikings keep it together, even when the Jackrabbits fell behind 11-25 in the fourth game as Long seemed to be on fire. Coming into the game Beach forced the match to a fifth game. prepared helped the Lady Vikes, and they used In the fifth game, the Vikings made a come- the experience and power they built throughback, catching up from Poly’s three point lead, out the season to overcome Long Beach Poly’s eliminating two match point opportunities strengths. for the Jackrabbits to ultimately win the game “We watched some video on them, we 17-15 off of two aces from Kuppe. knew what they did, and the focus was being “I was so happy that finally everything able to just side out quickly and efficiently we’ve dreamed of since day one has come because we knew they had a lot of offensive true,” senior Captain Trina Ohms said. “Before, weapons,” Assistant Coach Greg Lara said. this used to be just a ballpark dream, like ‘hey, “We’ve grown a lot. We lost our focus a little bit maybe we’ll make it to states this year,’ and in the second game and the fourth game, but the now it’s Dec. 4, and we just did that, and it’s fact that we were able to sit down and flush out just unreal.” the mistakes and focus on staying determined The stands erupted as the team came in the present really, really helped us.” together on the court to celebrate their record All things considered, the weekend season and history-making success. contained Viking sports success of historical As the first team to ever win a state cham- proportions. The girls were assisted by the fact pionship for Paly volleyball, the team and that the Paly football team had won their CCS coaches were ecstatic. championships the night before the recent “I think that being able to do this for the Paly victory added to the positive attitude of first time in history is definitely an honor to us the team and their fans. and an honor to all our hard work in practice,” “Honestly, we came in so pumped,” Ohms junior Melanie Wade, named said. “[I thought] look, we as the tournament’s Most gotta get two wins; our boys “I was so happy that Valuable Player, said. pulled through and now it’s The fans, players, and finally everything we ‘ve time for us. There’s always coaches demonstrated their ups and downs with every support through cheers and dreamed of since day player during the game, positivity throughout Saturand I feel like we just gave one has come true.” day’s game. all effort all the time. In “The energy was aweTrina Ohms the locker room we talked some,” junior Kimberley senior about [leaving] no regrets, Whitson, winner of the [putting] everything out Pursuing Victory with Honor there, and I think we really award, said. “Everyone in did that tonight.” the stands was so loud and it was so helpful.

In order to get to the state level, the team During time outs when we were down, it was defeated opponent St. Mary’s High School in the still positive and we knew we could get back.” NorCal Finals 25-21, 26-24 and 25-22 on Nov. Head coach Dave Winn struggled to char- 30, advancing farther than many expectations acterize the feeling shared between the team proposed. Players on the Paly volleyball team after their momentous win, acknowledging have been exceeding expectations throughout all the hard work and growth the players have the entire season, improving as a team and experienced this season. as individuals. The team’s development this

Staff Writer

johnbrunett in my opinion

Dear Jack Smale, You have crossed the line. The constant bashing about lacrosse and bickering over every mistake The Campanile makes has gotten to the point where words cannot suffice in a response to your fruitless comments.

And I’m not talking about revenge. Revenge is tasteless. I want satisfaction.

One of your main disses against me is how much more athletic you are than me. Thus, I formally propose a sports gauntlet for you and I to go head to head in.

The terms of the gauntlet are as follows: 1. There will be six sports that we will participate in, those being football, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, water polo and soccer.

2. The challenge for each athletic event will be set by a selected representative of that sport.

3. Every challenge must have a witness present, preferably InFocus to tape my domination over you as an unbiased third party.

4. The winner will be determined by the number of sports they win. If a 7th activity is necessary, we will play a one-on-one game of school yard dodgeball.

5. For the prize, besides bragging rights, the loser will publish in his respective publication an ode to the winner and admit athletic inferiority to the champion.

I feel these parameters are fair. In reality, I should give you a handicap in most of these activities as I am obviously the better athlete.

I spend my time receiving accolades from the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (First team All-league last year), while you spend your time riding that pine. In fact, according to Maxpreps.com, I had five goals in the championship game last year while you had five hits... for the entire year.

This is even true in our publications. While you work for a highly esteemed sports magazine, your title as “Ad Manager” obviously points to your inability to actually report on sporting events. Do you realize how easy managing ads is? It’s equivalent to getting an A in Living Skills. This is a testament to your intelligence, which is a huge component in any athletic venture.

In contrast, my title as “Sports Editor” has prestige. Big names like Ethan Plant and Becky Byler have held this position. It points to my knowledge and athletic mastery, far superior than any sporting ‘accomplishment’ you have achieved.

My backgrounds in football and lacrosse will give me the competitive advantage in both sports, as you are with baseball and water polo.

However, my acute vision and lower body power will prove to be the predominant factor in beating you in baseball. In water polo I will have to be more crafty, so I will employ an effective splashing water in your face technique to counter how comfortable you are in a speedo.

I was always a goalie in soccer, yet another testament to my fast reactions and athletic prowess. If you debate that soccer goalies are not athletes, I will be glad to bring senior soccer goalie Ali Kershner into the conversation.

So that gives me the edge in five of the six sports. The remaining competition, basketball, is easily predictable based off our nicknames. ‘Simple Jack’ points to your derth of ability in any complex activity.

One of my nicknames is “Player 2,” as denoted by the hard working people in ASB. This signifies a champion and great basketball player.

In fact, this is what people say about you: “Jack Smale is such a bad athlete, my grandma could beat him in a race,” sophomore Jacob Zenger said.

In contrast, check this out: According to ESPN Rise Magizine, “With the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League championship at stake, Brunett was the hero for Palo Alto. In sudden death overtime, Brunett scored his fifth and most important goal for Palo Alto in their 10-9 victory over Mountain View. The relentless midfielder was all over the field for the Vikings, controlling faceoffs and helping the Vikings claim the championship.”

Thus, my prediction is as follows: a 6-0 victory for myself. I will dominate you in all facets of this competition. This will be more painful for you than Trina’s Party was for juniors. But in all seriousness, this will be worse for you than marijuana was for Snoop Dogg’s high school grades.

Brandon Dukovic/Viking

Junior Maddie Kuppe reaches high into the air for a spike. Kuppe finished off the fifth game with two consecutive aces, leading the vikes to victory. year has contributed to its strength, according to Lara.

“To me, that’s what makes it all worth it, to see them set goals and then work hard and accomplish them,” Lara said.

Even amidst injuries and slight inconsistencies within matches, the team has continued to prove itself throughout the entire season, with players pushing themselves and the program more than ever to be the best it has been in years.

“We have a lot of people who are more experienced than [they were] last year,”Winn said.

“Everyone’s come back with more experience and more depth. People who have stepped up into new roles have done it with a lot of class and put team first. When you put team first, good things happen.”

After their incredible win, the Lady Vikes took home their state championship trophy with pride as they marveled at their 41-1 season.

“It’s pretty much been the perfect season,” Senior Captain Megan Coleman said. “I don’t even know what else I could ask for.”

Volleyball Scores

vs. Lincoln (SF) Nov. 23, W 3-0 vs. St Francis (Sacramento) Nov. 27, W 3-1 @ St. Mary’s (Stockton) Nov. 30, W 3-0 vs. Long Beach Poly @ San Jose Event Center Dec. 4, W 3-2 Congratulations to the Lady Vikes! #2 Nationally ranked

Paly football advances to states after CCS win Triumphant Vikings make school history with their undefeated 13-0 season, prepare for States

By John Brunett Sports Editor

The historic 2010 Paly football team can add yet another accolade to its impressive resume with their Central Coast Section win.

The 13-0 V ikings have stumped three West Catholic Athletic League teams on their way to their first ever undefeated season, triumphing over Valley Christian High School 21-14 to win CCS. Senior wide receiver Davante Adams summed up how much the victory meant after the final second ticked off the clock. “[This is] sweeter than cookie dough,” Adams said. “It’s amazing, I mean it hasn’t even hit me yet.”

The team now looks ahead toward the state championship game against the Centennial High School Huskies, the first berth since the 2006 Viking squad lost to Orange Lutheran High School. However, those Vikings conceded a loss to Oak Grove High School earlier in the season; the current Vikings are ready to win every game according to Head Coach Earl Hansen.

“They have no fear,” Hansen said. “They don’t ever believe they can lose. We were down 14-0 against Saratoga [High School] and there was no pointing fingers, there was no crying or nothing. They just went out and scored fourteen points to tie it up at half, came out [of the half ] and won. I don’t ever remember a 13-0 team.”

One of the largest tests of a championship team is the ability to overcome adversity. While many media outlets predicted Valley Christian’s offense, featuring star junior running back Byron Marshall, would trounce over the Viking defense, Paly responded by holding the Warriors to 54 total yards in the first half.

Senior quarterback Christoph Bono credited Paly’s defense and preparation as key in winning each playoff game.

“The defense was outstanding,” Bono said. “They were outstanding against [Archbishop] Mitty [High School]. These are high powered offenses, they’re

Marc HAVLIK/ Campanile

Junior running back B.J. Boyd slips past a Valley Christian defender en route to a 66-yard touchown. The dynamic athlete paced the Vikes on the ground, gaining 109 yards rushing. very well executed and they have some good players. Byron Marshall is an outstanding player. [Defensive] Coach [Jake] Halas had a good game plan all week, and the defense played outstanding again.”

Over the three playoff games, Paly outscored its opponents 69-24.

Granted, the game against Bellarmine High School skewed that number, but the Vikings’ play far outshined the statistic line.

At least two Viking scores were called back in that time span, and Valley Christian scored their last touchdown with 20 seconds left with the game all but wrapped up, giving Paly a slim chance at an onside recovery on the ensuing kickoff.

“The first one was a little closer than I thought,” Bono said. “The Valley Christian coaches after our game last week said it was going to be tough.

Mitty let the cat out of the bag and its true after that game we were fired up we were not going to stop.”

Senior safety T.J. Braff not only ended Valley Christian’s season once by recovering the onside kick, but when the Warriors were given a second chance off a penalty Braff came through again. After the game, the safety was already looking forward to the Vikings’ potential state championship game berth.

“Hopefully we get chosen for state,” Braff said. “We’re a good team and we came out ready to play. It feels amazing. The coaches do a great job, everyone comes to play every week and this was just a huge win for us.”

Braff shined in the championship game for the Vikings; however, the Vikings were able to get explosive performances from many of their athletes.

The offense scored from 78, 66 and 33-yard plays, highlighting the athletic imbalance between Paly and its opponents throughout the season.

Junior running back B.J. Boyd made one of the largest statements with his 66-yard score, and not because of the score alone.

Valley Christian’s heralded running back Marshall, who plays both ways for the Warriors, is a cornerback on defense and was tracking Boyd for the last 40 yards of Boyd’s run. The juniors kept up for about 30 yards, but then Boyd pulled away, prompting Marshall to let up in his chase. For such a hyped up Valley Christian star, Boyd was able to show up Marshall on the big stage. After the game, Hansen was complimentary of the young running back.

“What a huge run,” Hansen said.

“He really came through for us.”

The Vikings now have to prepare for the Huskies from Carona, Calif.

The Huskies are nationally ranked 5th

by Maxpreps.com and have shown why throughout the season.

On offense, Centennial never posted below 42 points and scored above 60 points four times. Their main two weapons are quarterback Michael Eubanks and running back Barrinton Collins. Eubanks is a hybrid running quarterback, much like a Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans.

The senior passed for 2720 yards and 22 touchdowns with just 3 interceptions, along with rushing for 1165 yards and 18 touchdowns. That totals up to 40 touchdowns, which is impressive, but not the team lead.

That distinction goes to Collins, who in addition to posting 2325 yards on the ground, scored 42 times on the ground.

But the better runners theVikings face, the more they shut them down.

The stout Paly defense, nicknamed “The Swarm,” only allowed over 14 points once this season, the one time being against Mountain View where Paly built up a 28-point lead before letting up.

Paly plays Centennial in the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Football Scores vs. Archbishop Mitty Nov. 19, W 13-10 vs. Bellarmine @ San Jose City College Nov. 26, W 35-0 vs. Valley Christian @ San Jose City College Dec. 3, W 21-14

Upcoming games California Interscholastic Federation Division I State Finals vs. Centennial @ Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m.

L fe styles Features • A&E • People

The Campanile

Friday, December 17, 2010

From the President’s Desk

chiragkrishna Have you missed me? Of course you have, but you can stop crying now because I’m back. I went away for one issue and now I’ve returned to send Campy’s approval ratings skyrocketing.

Editors, you can take me out to lunch when you’re free — surely I deserve it, no?

As you all know, a lot has happened at Paly over the past few weeks. Paly football won CCS, our volleyball team won a state championship, Science Olympiad won Wondercup, etcetera. All of this and more contributed to my brilliant (as usual) Facebook status the other day: why is Paly so good at....everything?

ASB has tons of work to do these days; even in the aftermath of Spirit Week, our tried and tested work ethic still holds true. The next big event on the calendar is Winter Formal. There’s been a lot of Paly press coverage about dances, so I thought I’d throw in my two cents.

First of all, let’s take a look at the facts. There are some misconceptions about dances floating around campus that simply aren’t true — the “strict rules” that I keep hearing about simply do not exist. There is no video playing at the door that tells you how to dance; we haven’t shown it once. Chaperones certainly do not walk through the crowds with flashlights and protractors — those of you who went to Homecoming understand that Mr. Winston and his Spongebob suit only added to the fun. They’re hardly noticeable (or recognizable, if you saw Mr. Duffy) at the dance, and won’t bother you unless you give them reason to. Moreover, nobody has had to wait more than 15 minutes in line, and now that tickets are sold at the door, you don’t have to worry about buying them during lunch. Hassle-free? I think so.

As many of you know, ASB had worked with a new entertainment company this year to enhance the quality of our dances. The company has been very open to feedback and new ideas and is always taking song suggestions at the dances, so you’ve got room for input there as well. We’ll be working with Alan Waltz to look into a new setup for Winter Formal, as we realize that this is one of the bigger dances of the year and thus merits something special.

And yes, there are breathalyzers at our dances, but it doesn’t take more than two seconds to be breathalyzed. Are we a group of students who can’t have fun sober? I’d like to think not, and hope that we can keep it that way. Moreover, the “nobody goes” argument is null and void, as ASB noted an increase in attendance at the Homecoming dance. There was positive feedback from students and chaperones alike, as confirmed by The Campanile in its last issue.

Contrary to popular opinion, upperclassmen do attend the dances — there have been several juniors and seniors at the past few dances and if I can manage to have fun, then anybody can have a good time.

With all this in mind, isn’t it time we turn these events around? Gunn has the same rules and their students have a great time- why would we be any different? High school dances are great venues to hang out with friends, have lots of fun, and best of all, to support your school. As a member of ASB, I can confidently state that we’re working as hard as we can to try and make these dances a success, and to address the concerns that we hear around campus.

That said, come to Winter Formal. It’ll be a great event, and the more people go, the better it will be.

As far as other ASB updates are concerned, Senior Class President Jack Smale and the rest of the Prom committee are hard at work planning this year’s event. They’ve already got some venues lined up and based on the work I’ve seen them do, Prom is sure to be just as good (if not better) than last year. If you have any input about Prom, feel free to let myself or anyone else in ASB know and we’ll bring your thoughts to the table as we hash out a decision.

So that’s my two cents. I’m off to finish applying to college. Seniors, we’re almost there! In one month I’ll watch with glee as the rest of you toil away at school, while I enjoy my status as a second semester senior. While tanning on the quad, playing wiffleball, and not doing homework are all myths, I’ll have only one more semester to go, while the rest of you have at least three. Aren’t you excited? I would be. Have a great break Paly. I’ll see you in 2011!

By Helen Chen Lifestyles Editor

trash cans, the integration with the drama club to produce informational segments on composting High school students have always surpassed and the presentations given in classes regarding the middle and elementary school students — their importance of composting. However, these efforts age and experience give them the edge in academic are meriting less than satisfactory results. and athletics. However, surprisingly enough, Palo “We want to educate the people that want to Alto High School students are actually significantly know about composting,” Green Team member lagging in one area that Palo Alto middle and eland Paly parent Danielle Mewes said. “We want to ementary school students are excelling in: the simple push it into everyone’s face. Composting is so easy task of composting. so let’s just do it.”

The U.S. Environment Protection Agency deAccording to Greenways, the quarterly comfines compost as the organic material that can be mercial newsletter from Greenwaste Palo Alto, the used as a soil or as a medium to grow plants. amount of carbon saved from reducing garbage is Composting is a practice that has been used equivalent to amount of carbon saved if all of the to further perpetuate the use of resources, such as houses on Waverley Street were powered by 100 food and yard trimmings. percent renewable energy.

When the conventional uses of the resources “The idea is to divert as much as possible from are done, the waste is composted to create new, going to the landfill,” Luce said. “Recyclables are beneficial and organic matter. Other perks of comresources that would just sit there, buried forever posting include the suppression of plant diseases in the ground. We want to capture those and turn and pests and higher yields of agricultural crops. them into new products. Compostables, anything Composting for non-resorganic that will break down, idential members of the Palo decompose, produce methane Alto community was first avail- “Recyclables are resources when they break down anaeroable in July 2009. bically (without oxygen) in a that would just sit there, Palo Alto schools have landfill. Methane is a potent participated in the district-wide buried forever in the greenhouse gas that has to be composting program since win- ground. We want to capture dealt with. When compostables ter and spring of 2009. are actually composted, an those resources and turn There has been little paraerobic process, the compost ticipation from Paly students them into new ducts.” piles emit water vapor, carbon due to the popularity of offdioxide, and heat. The matecampus dining, where there is a rial comes in, is shredded, put Zea Luce in long rows, turned, watered, minimal amount of composting bins, and the lack of awareness Environmental gets up to at least 140 degrees, and confusion over how to after three to four months Outreach Coordina- and correctly utilize the composting we have rich compost used to tor for Greenwaste grow more plants. This is a cycle, bins at Paly.

Consequently, there has whereby we keep nutrients for not been any participation in continued use, rather than the the program. linear model of the landfill: we “There is nothing in the composting bins at buy something, use it, throw it out.”

Palo Alto High School,” Zea Luce, Environmental Composting would also benefit Paly students Outreach Coordinator for Greenwaste said. financially.

Greenwaste is a local company that is dedicated “With the new programs in place, Paly has to the development of innovative and cost-effective the potential to avoid paying $3,500 to $4,000 per solutions for environmental issues regarding waste. month in garbage costs, provided the composting During their first year helping Palo Alto, Greenwaste and recycling continue,” Luce said. “Help reduce the greatly reduced the amount of garbage that was cost even more by placing your coffee cups, banana sent to the landfill and increased recycling and peels, napkins, etc in the green can.” composting.

This setback to the Paly’s composting status is particularly distressing to the Palo Alto High School Green Team.

“Paly is not very environmentally friendly right now,”senior member of the Green Team Emma Tucher said. “[It is] better than before we started the Green Team and before Paly began recycling.

However, awareness has not increased much and students do not seem to use the bins we have provided for their appropriate uses. Constantly I see recycling and composting bins full of garbage which is really disheartening. Green Team is in the process of working with ASB to obtain a new and better recycling and composting program.”

At the latest Green Team meeting, the group members, ranging from parents to freshmen, met and discussed tactics on how to further the composting campaign The team also addressed the issue of which underclassmen would carry on this composting issue next year, as the seniors who have been working on it diligently will be graduating in June.

Paly students may have noticed the Green Team’s efforts — such as the addition of the labelled composting bin next to the recycling and

A&E

A&E

Paly Waste Audit 2010 Results The Cascadia Consulting Group for the Palo Alto Zero Waste Program examined Paly’s trash and garbage and found: • Garbage: 25% • Recyclables: 10% • Compostables: 65%

rubber bands

FEATURES

The Campanile

FEATURES

Friday, December 17, 2010 • B2

Aspiring student pastry chef manages culinary business

Palo Alto High School junior produces original edible masterpieces in free time

By Bailey Cassidy Staff Writer World-renowned chef Julia Child built her successful career from a dream. When she and her husband Paul were living in Paris in 1948, she developed an appreciation for French culture, particularly its food.

She was determined to become skilled in the art of French cuisine and enrolled in the famous cooking school, Cordon Bleu, where she gained experience that helped her evolve into the talented chef that she was.

Similarly, Palo Alto High School junior AnaCena Zander has undergone the process of identifying a goal and is taking the necessary steps to achieve it.

Zander completed as much culinary training as was possible on her path to getting an internship. She now has her own baking business and aspires to become a pastry chef as a career.

“I took all the cooking classes offered in middle school and at Paly and some classes offered at adult school,” Zander said. “[Then] I interned at Gerry’s Cakes. I started my own business, Suga’ and Spice, after Gerry’s Cakes was sold because I decided I wanted to conCourtesy of AnaCena Zander tinue on a professional level.”

(Left) Junior AnaCena Zander mixes white cake batter in her home kitchen for her business, Suga’ and Spice.

Zander has been interested in cooking for a good portion of her life. She especially (Right) One of Zander’s favorite creations is owl cupcakes made out of oreos, frosting and chocolate batter. enjoys preparing baked goods.

Running a baking business can be tough “I have been interested in the culinary tired — thus began the Thursday afternoon ness and culinary ambitions with many other arts since I was seven,” Zander said. “The baking projects of Ann and AnaCena. I like things in her life, which can prove extremely and comes with its own set of challenges to overcome. interest in baking was sparked by my realiza- baking and learned what I know about bak- challenging.

“I stopped working [at Gerry’s] because “The most challenging thing about oping from my mom, tion that I couldn’t but AnaCena is the the schedule for working there and my sports erating a business are clients,” Zander said. cook. Also, the ap- “I will do everything in my powone that seems to be practices and games were colliding,” Zander “Some people don’t really know what they preciation for cookies taking it to new levels said. “I either had to choose my one great are talking about in terms of baking, and ask and cakes tends to er to make [my dream] come from within the clan. passion, or my sports teams and [I wanted] to for ridiculous numbers of little [things like] be universally higher true.”

She’s really into the stay in shape, so instead of choosing one and petit fours.” than scallops.”

AnaCena Zander froufrou of it all, forgetting about the other, I decided to start Zander feels she learned a lot about Her mother, Ann Lemmenes, made junior whereas I just want my own small business and continue sports.” managing a business from her experience When she began her business, Zander interning at Gerry’s Cakes and owes a large it to taste good.” baking a staple in Z a n d e r g e t s had to slowly learn how to effectively manage part of her success to them. their household while “The experience I gained from working Zander was growing up, but Zander is the some help and support from her family with all the areas of her busy life.

“There is a fine balance between every- at Gerry’s taught me the customer managefirst one in the family to take the hobby to a her business, but handles it largely on her own.

“The only assistance that I really give to thing in my life,” Zander said. “I attempt to ment, basic baking techniques and the joy professional level.

“AnaCena was a very hyper kid,” Suga’ and Spice these days is to pick up her in- put school before my baking by asking clients of decorating [baked goods] with extremely Lemmenes said. “On the afternoons of days gredients for her, and take orders from people to tell me a week ahead what they want so loud rock and roll playing in the background,” when she didn’t have preschool and her sister that I know who want her to bake for them,” I’m not trying to cram everything in at the Zander said. “But more then that, it taught me last minute. Everything suffers when that that operating a bakery is far from just piping was off at school I was left on my own to try Lemmenes said. “And I do a lot of dishes.”

Zander is also an athlete, running cross happens, plus then I don’t get enough sleep, decorations on cupcakes. and survive her energy levels. We would do “It involves running out to Whole Foods a variety of energy depleting activities first, country for Paly and playing soccer outside of then I’m falling asleep the next day at school, to buy 20 pounds of powdered sugar and but I was the only one who seemed to get school. She has learned to balance her busi- and it’s just a very negative domino effect.”

calming down angered people who come an hour early and expect their order to be ready.”

Zander’s customers can count on her to prepare delicious treats for any occasion they might have. They appreciate her creativity and ingenuity.

“She created delightful ‘baby’ cupcakes for a baby shower,” customer Natalie Varney said. “She’s also made cakes in the shape of presents for other events. She once even made a cake in the shape of a schnauzer’s head for a friend who is crazy about her dog.

Her frostings and decorations are particularly creative.”

Varney also admires Zander’s work ethic and willingness to try new things.

“AnaCena has a passion for her craft,” Varney said. “She is inventive, as well as open to try anything new. She is conscientious about reviewing what worked and what might be improved upon with each project. Finally, she is meticulous in her workmanship.”

In addition to her business, Zander spends time baking for fun. “[My] favorite thing [to bake is] a tie between raspberry chocolate chess cheesecake, brownie bites and mint bars,” Zander said. “They are all relatively easy to make and very tasty.”

She also bakes delicious treats for her family.

“We never have any shortage of sweets around the house,” Lemmenes said. “There was one period of time last summer when she kept experimenting with different recipes for cupcakes and frosting. I think I gained 10 pounds in a three week period, but I was supremely happy.”

Her family supports her hopes to pursue baking as a career and believes she will be successful in that pursuit.

“I do think that if AnaCena wants a career in baking and pastry arts she will be successful with it,” Lemmenes said. “She is a very determined person, loves the work and seems to have quite a knack for it as well — isn’t that what we all hope for our children?

We do support her in this and wish her great success with it, because she’s going to have to pay to get the doorways widened in our house pretty soon!”

With her experience, time, commitment and effort, Zander is confident in her ability to make her dream a reality.

FEATURES Downtown street team works to end joblessness The Campanile

December 17, 2010 • B3

Homeless people participate to promote cleanliness, create new job opportunity

By Lauren Wong

“We have found over 150 jobs [and] housing units for DST members, but we have helped plenty more,” Richardson said.

He estimates that DST has helped over 1000 homeless people get on the right track.

Judy Smith is an example of the program’s ability to reverse even the most seemingly hopeless situations. “[She] was homeless for 20 years,” Richardson said. “She lost all 10 of her children to the state and was addicted to drugs when she first encountered the program. Since then, she is four years sober and working a volunteer shift at a local hospital. In addition to working hard with DST, she has gone to night school and is on her way to a paid position. After working hard for four years, Judy is poised to get a paid position as a medical billing assistant in 2011.”

In February, DST won the 2010 Tall Tree Award, which recognizes outstanding services to the Palo Alto community. The team is made possible by the combined efforts of government officials, law enforcement officers, local business owners and volunteers.

“DST holds janitorial, maintenance, kitchen [and] street cleaning contracts with [the] local government, partnered non-profits and private businesses, which accounts for about half our budget,” Richardson said. “The rest is made up from foundations, donors and government initiatives.”

According to DST’s website, it costs $8,600 to get a homeless person off the streets for good—from a Paly student’s perspective, eight SAT courses, 30 iPhones, 90 pairs of Lucky Brand Jeans, 200 pairs of Vans or a used car. Any contribution to the organization will help—look on www.streetsteam.com to find out how to donate, whether in the form of money or a movie ticket.

“More so than just finding housing and getting jobs, the program inspires a long lost sense of dignity in its participants,” Richardson said. “In addition, it changes the way people perceive the unhoused population in Palo Alto. Conversely, the participants start taking pride in their community as they work to achieve self-sufficiency. There is a sense of hope that homelessness is not incurable in our community.”

Staff Writer

They called him “Mr. $38.50.” When the police told him to stop begging, he told them he needed $38.50 so he and his wife could stay at the Palo Alto Hotel for the night.

After Michael Davis joined the Palo Alto Downtown Streets Team (DST), he realized life could be worth more than $38.50.

“I have an apartment in Santa Clara and I have my own car,” Davis said. “I am able to provide for me and my wife and now I have a sense of purpose.”

Davis joined DST with what he says were “ulterior motives” after suffering from years of drug abuse and homelessness. However, as he watched those around him leave behind drug-filled pasts for housing, jobs and cars, he began to take the program seriously.

Now, Davis is the operational supervisor of the program, helping the next Mr. $38.50 get back on is feet.

In 2004, the Palo Alto Business Improvement District conducted a survey that identified the two greatest concerns of local business owners as panhandling and cleanliness, according to program manager Chris Richardson. DST was formed in 2005 to fight these concerns head-on. Richardson has been volunteering for DST since its creation.

“After completing college, I decided to take on the new role of Program Manager because the mission is so positive and the model is so unique,” Richardson said.

DST’s mission is to reduce panhandling while at the same time beautifying the downtown area and creating work opportunities for the homeless. Participants in DST help clean up the streets of Palo Alto every week in exchange for food, shelter and services that aid them along the way in their search for permanent employment.

“Downtown Streets Team brings businesses, communities and homeless people together to create and maintain a clean, safe downtown district,” the program’s mission statement states. “Homeless people who participate in the program earn the resources they need to get off the streets.”

The first step of DST’s three-step program is the application process, labelled on their

Lauren wong/Campanile

Michael Davis, a member of the Downtown Streets Team, cleans up garbage in a park. The DST offers various employment opportunities to homeless people to help clean up the streets of Palo Alto and beautify the town. website as the “Join the Team” stage. Candidates who want to join the team attend weekly meetings at the community center and are put on a waitlist until a position opens. In order to be eligible, candidates must attend these meetings regularly.

When a spot opens up, these candidates are interviewed and then begin their service.

This is the second step of the program: “Get Off [the] Streets.”

For a one month probationary period, they complete 20 hours of cleaning and sweeping the streets every week. In exchange, they receive food vouchers, housing arrangements and phone cards.

“Most work four hours a day, Monday through Friday,” Richardson said. “The other four hours are used to seek out regular employment, find housing and utilize casework.

Caseworkers provide a variety of services and are general ‘helpers’ for the unhoused population.”

As participants demonstrate their commitment to the program, they are allowed to do other DST-facilitated jobs they find suitable for their own personal skills.

Through the third step of the program, “Become Self-Reliant,” participants develop their work experience in hopes of achieving a once-impossible dream—a permanent

roof over their heads as well as a full-time profession. “[After the probationary period] they get more responsibility and begin job search skills classes,” Richardson said. “They are then considered for permanent housing placement and casework. One day a caseworker might get their client a bus pass. The next, they might try to find them housing.”

As part of their new responsibilities, participants receive job-seeking packets and attend workshops to complete resumes, job applications and mock interviews, all in preparation for the final hurdle—obtaining permanent employment.

Paly students who skip crucial meal experience worse performance Breakfast on-the-go provides solution for many who worry about tardiness

By Meghan Byrd Staff Writer

Although high school students’ lives vary drastically, there is one thing that remains constant throughout their youth.

Whatever their age, all people need some basic necessities in their lives such as an ample amount of sleep and three healthy meals a day.

It seems, however, that many current students at Palo Alto High School are forgetting this crucial morning munch. In a survey conducted by The Campanile, it was found that about half of Paly students eat breakfast everyday.

The students who eat breakfast at least three times a week. They said that they saw a vast improvement in their performance when they ate the meal.

“I eat breakfast because that’s my source of energy for the whole day,” freshman James Hindery-Nelson said.

“When I don’t eat it, I can barely do anything because I feel so low on energy.”

Hindery-Nelson also chooses to eat breakfast because he enjoys the meal.

“Everyday I have two glasses of grapefruit juice and two homemade Belgian waffles,” Hindery-Nelson said. “Sometimes I add in a bagel or a hard boiled egg as well. It just tastes really good.”

Although the previously described meal may sound too timeconsuming for a busy student, Hindrey-Nelson understands that

eating something in the morning is crucial.

A lot of students who eat breakfast on a daily basis, do so purely out of habit.

“I eat breakfast everyday,” junior A.J. Schonenberg said. “In the morning it’s like shower, clothes, breakfast. It’s just my beginning of the day routine.”

One excuse some students may have when skipping breakfast is that is an effective way too lose weight.

However, studies have shown that eating breakfast can actually help a person reach and maintain their ideal weight.

This is because one’s appetite will be satisfied for longer, and one will be eating calories when one’s body is most able to burn them off.

In the survey, the students who indicated that they skip breakfast stated their top two reasons were to sleep for longer or to avoid being late to school.

However, a quick fix to both of these problems would be to have breakfast on-the-go.

Some healthy before-school starters could be as simple as a yogurt and some berries, or two pieces of toast and a banana.

Many students feel that breakfast is either unnecessary or simply a hassle.

“I don’t eat breakfast because I never really have the time and I’m usually not hungry,” sophomore Olivia Maggi said. “I think I would eat breakfast if I did [have the time]

Alex lin/Campanile

Examples of quick and nutritious breakfast meals are shown above. Although some students may feel that morning meals are time consuming, yogurt, apples, cereal, fruit and microwaveable waffles can be prepared and eaten in a few minutes. though, because I’ve felt better when I have eaten it in the past.”

For those who do eat breakfast, making the choice to eat fruit, whether it be in juiced, dried, or fresh is important.

Cereal can also be a good breakfast when it has at least three to five grams of fiber per serving.

However, it is best to avoid cereals with more than six grams of sugar per serving. Four grams of sugar in cereal

is equivalent to a teaspoon and a half of pure sugar.

Toast or waffles, high in dietary fiber, are somewhat healthy carbohydrates. A good ratio is two grams of dietary fiber for every slice of bread.

Although some students feel that eating a meal in the morning may be too time consuming, in the end it is more beneficial to eat a healthy, delicious breakfast rather than to not eat a morning meal.

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B4 • December 17, 2010

FEATURES

The Campanile

Popularity of triathlons spreads throughout Paly community

Swimming, bicycling, running incorporated in multi-sport endurance event

By Maddie Berger Staff Writer

An athlete’s success in most sports is determined by his or her strength and skill. How fast an athlete can take off a wet suit or tie their shoes does not usually play a key factor in their performance. For one sport, however, how fast one can change between outfits is essential to success.

The triathlon is a race that combines three sports — swimming, biking and running into one event.

Although the event requires athletes to be in top physical condition, transitioning from one leg of the race to the next is included in the overall time, making an athlete’s ability to quickly change their gear an important skill that can determine whether they make the cut. “[The transitions are] really hard because when you are tired [and wet] it’s hard to put your socks on,” Palo Alto High School junior Emy Kelty said. “It’s difficult to go quickly when you’re tired and just want to sit down.”

Kelty participated in the Bear Valley Triathlon in Bear Valley, Calif. on Sept. 17, and has previously participated in other Californian triathlons.

“The first one I did was probably in sixth grade, and it’s just fun to go back and see my times and how I improved,” Kelty said. “If I had more time I’d do more but it’s hard.”

Courtesy of Fabio Rosati According to Livestrong.com, the first documented triathlon took place Junior Corso Rosati finds running cross country and swimming for Paly helps him in triathlons. While some find the in 1920 in France and involved swim- swimming to be the hardest, Rosati’s participation in Paly sports makes him feel equipped to take on the bicycling part. ming, biking and running.

These races continued in France are one of the fastest growing sports could be just another world trend and 112-mile bike ride with a 26-mile I would do,” Rosati said. catching on in the United States.

Although Rosati decided to marathon. in an unofficial manner, until 1974 in the United States.

According to USA Triathlon’s “It’s a way bigger sport outside The most popular type of triathlon participate in the race just for fun, when the first modern triathlon, with official rules and requirements, took website, between the years 1993 and of America than it is in America,” is the sprint, with 78 percent of the USA his impressive finish as 25th overall 2000 the USA Triathlon Club mem- junior triathlete Corso Rosati said. “In Triathlon Club’s members participat- encouraged him to compete in anplace in San Diego, California. bership numbered most other countries, triathlons are ing in them. other in East Hampton, New York.

Later in 1978, between 15,000 one of the most preeminent sports, “I love [triathlons],” Rosati said.

Next is the Olympic with 58 the first Ironman “It’s interesting to put and 21,000. By and I think people are realizing that percent participation, and last is the “It’s interesting to put three sports Tr iathlon took three sports together that June 2010, it had in America.” exceedingly difficult Ironman, with together that people usually train place in Hawaii, skyrocketed to There are three options for any- only a daring 17 percent of the club for individually.” and is now world people usually train for 135,000 members. one considering participating in a attempting it in 2010.

Rosati, who also runs cross renowned for its individually.”

The club at- triathlon, a sprint, an Olympic or an Rosati participated in the Mon- country and swims for Paly. He feels extreme difficulty.

Corso Rosati tributes the grow- Ironman triathlon. tauk Lighthouse Olympic Triathlon that both running and swimming Tr i a t h l o n s ing popularity of The sprint is the shortest, with a in New York the summer of 2008, and helped him prepare for the triathlon. have become a junior triathlons to a na- 500-meter swim, a 12-mile bike ride then since has competed in two others.

Corso believes without cross professional sport, tionwide focus on and a five-kilometer run, while the “We had some friends [in Mon- country and swimming he could not requiring a wide health and fitness, as well as more Olympic triathlon consists of a one- tauk] who did triathlons and I used do nearly as well. range of skill from athletes. mile swim, a 40-kilometer bike ride, to run with one of their daughters for After eight years of swimming, While much more popular in triathlon media attention.

Due to their popularity in for- and a 10-kilometer run. The Ironman cross country, and I wanted to do [a Rosati felt his experience gave him Europe, based on numbers recorded by the USA Triathlon Club, triathlons eign countries, however, triathlons triathlon combines a 2.4-mile swim triathlon] recreationally and see how an advantage in the race.

“Swimming is probably the hardest part for people who have never done the sport,” Rosati said. “Cross country gets me in good shape for the running leg [of the triathlon], and I feel like if I’m in good shape for both [the swimming and the running] then the biking is not too bad.”

Kelty, who also plays soccer, believes other competitive sports helped her prepare for the triathlon.

“If I didn’t play sports, I don’t think I would be able to do [triathlons],” Kelty said. “[Sports] just keep you in shape.”

However, training without additional sports is also an important routine for many triathletes.

Junior Christian Lonsky, who also participated in the Bear Valley Triathlon, has been training for upcoming triathlons by focusing on each part of the race.

He hopes to participate in the Shark Attack Alcatraz triathlon in June 2010 in San Fransisco.

“I get up in the morning and go running and on the weekends [I] go swimming,” Lonsky said. “Before the race I’ll go out and do a whole [triathlon] to see what its like and get the distances right.”

While Rosati, Kelty and Lonsky competed alongside other youth triathletes, an older demographic dominates the sport.

The average age for a USA Triathlon member is 38 years old, and only seven percent of its members are under 25 years of age.

However, the growing triathlon community has begun to reach out more to youth, with USA Triathlon offering national development programs designed to prepare young athletes for professional triathlons or even the Olympics.

Even though there may not be as much youth competition, Rosati plans to do more triathlons in the future.

“I’ll definitely do more because I’ve been talking to a couple of college coaches, and we will see what happens,” Rosati said. “It’s not a varsity sport in college yet, but there is a Junior National Program in our country, and if I get more serious about them there are a lot of things I could do, like traveling [to race in triathlons].”

Last chance to purchase yearbooks!

You must order and pay for a yearbook

by January 10th

if you want a copy of the 2011 Madrono.

The 2011 theme is a secret but it is AWESOME! To get your order in today go online to the Paly webstore at www.paly.net or bring a check ($75 payable to Palo Alto High School) or credit card to the auditor’s office ASAP to order a yearbook.

Don’t miss out!

This year we will not order extra books for purchase in June - so this is really your last chance.

Do it today!

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FEATURES

The Campanile

December 17, 2010 • B5

Tree chopping during holiday season brings joy to families

Tree ranches provide unique, festive experience for the adventuresome

By Meghan Byrd Staff Writer

As many students prepare for the holiday season by baking sugar cookies or making gingerbread houses, some venture deep into the woods, saw in hand, to chop down a Christmas tree the old-fashioned way. To many families, the holiday season is not complete without the aroma of a freshly cut evergreen tree wafting through their home.

“We drove to Half Moon Bay and me and my brother ran around for 30 minutes trying to find the perfect tree,” senior Bryan Keohane said. “Then my dad gave my brother and me the saw and we both hacked away until the tree fell and my dad caught it. It was a bonding moment for my dad, my brother and I. We all felt like we pitched in.”

For some, the tradition of cutting down a tree stems beyond the current Palo Alto High School generation. Junior Kimmie Flather started cutting down her own tree when her parents, both Paly graduates, wanted to continue the tradition established during their childhood.

“My parents both [cut down their own trees] when they were younger, so they took our family to do it one year,” Flather said.

Senior Greta Sohn, also gets her Christmas tree from a tree farm. The Sohn family had the unique experience of cutting down their own Christmas tree while staying in Minnesota. The family owns a lake house on Lake Watab in Saint Joseph where they often spend the holidays. “[The experience] was superb,” senior Greta Sohn said. “The sign on the country road inspired my parents to cut down our own tree. No one really told us to do it. I think that’s just the way it’s done in Minnesota.”

At most tree farms, the customer pays a flat fee and he or she may then hack down whichever tree they choose. However, other farms charge by the size of the tree.

“We went to a [tree] farm where there were a bunch of trees for sale and they let us pick whichever one we wanted,” Sohn said. “I was about five, so I couldn’t really help with the cutting, but I do remember how nice it was to be outside in the snow picking our very own tree.”

A little closer to home, Skyline Ranch Tree Farm, located on Skyline Boulevard, is a popular tree-cutting venue that attracts adventure-seeking families from across the Bay Area. This tree farm boasts an astounding 14 acres of Douglas Firs, Sequoias and Scotch Pines, according toWeston Furia, an employee

Blooms said. “It is lots of fun and the kids have grown up doing it and look forward to the trek.”

Lauren McFarland, a Berkeley resident, has been taking her family to Skyline Ranch for over six years.

“When we went to buy a typical six foot tree it was so expensive,” McFarland said.

“We decided, let’s go cut down our own trees which would be more ‘Christmasy’ with kids anyhow.”

McFarland, her husband and two kids embellished the family tradition by adding some personal touches to the experience. This year, they packed a picnic, complete with hot cocoa, and brought along another family that they are close friends with.

“It’s such a fun tradition,” McFarland said. “The kids love it so much, and so do [my husband and I]. When we find the tree that we like, we stand around it and we sing either ‘Oh Christmas Tree’ or the song from the ‘Grinch Who Stole Christmas.’ We all hold hands and we chop down the tree and the kids yell, ‘timber’ when it falls.”

Carrie Motamedi, Albany resident and mother of two, whose family goes to a tree farm every December, decided to join the McFarland family this year. They had never been to the Skyline Ranch Tree farm, and they enjoyed the experience of coming with another family and said the drive from Albany (in the East Bay) was well-worth it “My husband grew up cutting down his own tree,” Motamedi said. “It’s a family tradition that he wants to pass down to our boys.”

Although the mother of two enjoys having a fresh tree in her house, it is the adventure and experience that she enjoys most. SomeMarc Havlik/Campanile times the experience in the outdoors is more cutting down a Christmas tree is a Cutting down trees for Christmas adds a degree of difficulty to the holiday tradition. The process takes families valuable, pleasant way to do so. out into nature for an authentic experience; the old fashioned way of getting Christmas tree is a unique activity.

“For us, getting out in nature is really important, especially being in California,” Motawho has worked at the farm for the past four at Skyline Ranch, including a scrumptious hill. Anyway now we just keep looking until medi said. “We never want to take it for granted that we have all this seasons. Furia said that the busiest time for picnic with his family. we find ‘Shirley’ and amazing scenery the ranch is the first two weeks in December, “When we get there I usually set up a then cut it down and around us. If you when people are excited to be back in the table and put out some snacks and people put it on top of the “If you look around, there’s no look around, there’s holiday spirit. add stuff to the table as they arrive,” Bloom car.” better place to spend some time better place to “[Cutting down our own trees is] a new said. “We have everything from brie cheese, Bloom thinks and it’s so much better than going no spend some time tradition that we started long before we had salami and crackers to soup, to quiche, to hot that although it is a and it’s so much betkids — about 15 years ago, 5 years before my tamales. The food and catching up is the best bit of a hassle driv- into the grocery store and grabter than going into oldest kid was born,” Eric Bloom said. “A friend part. After eating and juicing up on hot choco- ing up to Skyline, bing one off the sidewalk.” the grocery store from high school that I had stayed close with late the family goes on a hunt for a tree. We the journey is well Kimmie Flather and grabbing one came up with the idea to go cut a tree on the have a style of tree we usually look for. When worth it. first weekend in December and we have just my daughter was about three years old, she “It is an all junior off the sidewalk. The family gets out in kept it up.” named our tree Shirley and I sent her into a fit day event for a few nature and the boys Along with cutting down the tree, Bloom when I put it out on the curb in January so we close families and a and his family enjoy a whole day of festivities decided that “Shirley” just goes back up the bunch of friends who happen to show up,” run around and have a great time.”

Theater 4 Honors gives students room for creativity in year-long project Project allows for youth leadership opportunities while working on theatrical productions

By Ben Krasnow Staff Writer

of the show. It’s a different way to look at [theater productions]. I think it will broaden the horizon on what it means to be in a theater production.”

Students are doing the projects individually.

Students proposed their projects in the spring when signing up for the Theater 4H class.

According to Woods, the students in Theater 4H this year are doing projects in playwriting, scenic design, costume design, producing, directing and writing theater critiques. “[Theater 4H students] have a really strong foundation in theater,” Woods said. “This is an individual project because it is designed to flush out the students interests [in theater].”

Oberst agrees that the stu-

Theater 4 Honors is a new piloted at Palo Alto High School this year.

It is also the first time that there has been a Theater 4H class in the Palo Alto Unified School District [PAUSD].

A large part of the curriculum for the course is doing an honors project in a specific field of theater.

Students in the class have been working on these projects since the beginning of the year, learning more about an element of theater of their choice.

Kathleen Woods, the current Paly theater teacher, previously taught the Theater 4H class when she was teaching in Saratoga. The curriculum is new to PAUSD, but not to Woods.

“The main intention is for the students to be involved in some- “A lot of people never realize that thing in-depth that there are other parts involved in a they are interested in theater,” Woods said. production besides acting.”

“It’s designed to raise Michileen Oberst awareness about the senior theater program, do community service and give students experience in a particular dents should work on the projects field.”

Theater 4H, Theater 4 and separately.

“I like the idea that they are Theater 3 are all taught together.

Theater 4H has the same cur- individual,” Oberst said. “You get riculum as Theater 4 along with to focus on the part of theater you an honors project, which is what are interested in.”

Oberst is focusing on cosdistinguishes the two courses from one another. Theater 4H students tumes, specifically those for the also get more leadership opportu- upcoming production of My Fair Lady, as she is organizing costumes nities in class.

Stephanie Spector, a senior in for the performance.

According to the theater proTheater 4H, said that there have been times when the 4H students gram’s website, My Fair Lady will have directed the Theater 3 and premiere at Paly in March. The Theater 4 students while in the website also said that auditions for the play occurred earlier in classroom.

Michileen Oberst is a Theater December.

Some of the projects that the 4H student who is working on a Theatre 4H students are doing will honors project for the class.

Oberst hopes that the projects be part of a future theater producwill raise awareness for the theater tions at Paly.

For Spector’s project, she will program at Paly.

“A lot of people never realize be taking on a much larger role in there are other parts involved in an future production.

Spector is producing the Onea production [besides] acting,” Oberst said. “A big purpose of [the Acts show in the spring. Spector project] is to look at different parts will be taking on the role that

Woods normally does for the theater productions at Paly.

“Once everything is put together, my job is to make the show run smoothly in terms of organizing communication between the techs and directors and the actors and directors,” Spector said.

“Techs” is the term for the people behind the scenes at theater productions, like the stage manager as well as the people doing lights and sound.

Spector is also running auditions in order to find actors and directors for One Acts.

According to the Paly Theater website, auditions for One Acts will be from April 4-6. The One-Acts showcase will take place from May 12-15 in the Haymarket Theatre.

According to the Paly Theater website, One-Acts is a series of one act plays that are completely student produced—from casting and costumes to lights and sound, students do everything. Sometimes, students write the script for the play they want to put on in the showcase.

This is the case for one student from the Theatre 4H class. Sam Bellows is a senior who is writing his own one act play that is going to be performed at the Paly One Acts show for his honors project.

“Having a student-written one act in One-Acts will raise awareness for [student playwrights]” Bellows said.

Bellows is submitting his completed script to three different one act competitions. This is in addition to having his one act performed in the One Acts showcase.

Bellows said he got his inspiration from a playwriting activity in class. The activity built a foundation for his project.

Bellows was one of six students who were chosen to perfect their scripts, which inspired him to continue writing plays and other scripts.

Other students are reaching out to the community with their projects.

Senior Amelia Bell is leading improvisation classes with members of the David Starr Jordan Middle School Drama Club.

“Hopefully it will interest [the middle school students] in doing theater at Paly,” Bell said.

Other projects include a children’s theater outreach project and

Susan heinselman/campanile

Theatre 4H students choose from several different year-long projects ranging from costume design to a multi-club project called the Apple Tree Library Foundation that helps children. a multi-club project involving the Thespian Club, sponsored by Woods and the Global Literacy Club, which is led by Paly librarian Rachel Kellerman. The multi-club project is called the Apple Tree Library Foundation.

According to Kellerman, students from both the thespian club and the global literacy club are working together to put together a database of videos for underprivileged children

in China. These videos will consist of students reading books on camera to help the students learn the pronunciation of English.

The project is currently in development, but they hope to have 25 books available for the Chinese students soon.

None of the students are doing an honors project that involve acting.

This is despite the fact that some

of the students in the Theater 4H class have previously been actors in the Paly theater program. However, some students chose a different focus.

“This year, none of the projects involved acting because the Theater 4 Honors students had other interests that they wanted to focus on for their projects,” Woods said. “An Honors project could involve acting, it just didn’t happen that way this year.”

B6 • December 17, 2010

FEATURES

The Campanile

Students develop unhealthy reliance on caffeinated drinks Energy drinks pose potential health problems for late night students

By Laura Cui Staff Writer

The clock reads 1a.m. as Nicky Hu hastily allows himself to glance up from the keyboard. Time is ticking away as he rushes to finish the essay due that very same day.

Yet he cannot help but find himself nodding off, his head drooping lower and lower.

But thanks to the last grocery run, Hu can quickly grab a Red Bull from the fridge and take a nice long sip from it.

Fifteen minutes later, a continuous stream of keyboard clicks can be heard as Hu is wide awake typing away on the computer.

As the homework load piles up, Palo Alto High School students are relying more heavily on caffeine-filled energy drinks in order to get themselves through the weeknight.

Students have a strong dependence on the beverages in order to stay awake during those late homework-crammed nights.

The sole reliance on a drink to keep one motivated through the night can turn into a dangerous habit.

With few ways to keep them awake, students are turning to energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and 5-Hour Energy shots. “[5-Hour Energy shots] help me stay awake,” junior Anjali Ahuja said. “Once I stayed awake till 4 a.m. I would say it was a pretty good night.”

Although it seems that energy drinks are getting students through the night, if used too frequently, the caffeine in these beverages can cause several health issues.

“That high consumption of energy drinks is associated with ‘toxic jock’ behavior [a risky behavior present in teens that may be caused by caffeine]” Kathleen Miller, an addiction researcher at the University of Buffalo, said to the New York Times, warning parents to take caution with the energy drinks their children consume in order to prevent health risks.

The health risks mainly affect the heart rate and blood pressure. Those with heart conditions are more susceptible.

Issues concerning the well-being of students are centered on the effects of ingredients put in energy drinks.

Consuming large doses of caffeine can lead to an irregular heart beat that can accelerate dangerously.

Susan Heinselman/Campanile

Local drug stores conveniently sell energy drinks, enabling Paly students to purchase beverages regularly. However, the negative effects that caffeine and other harmful ingredients has on teens is a serious concern among parents.

Especially for people with heart conditions, overconsumption of energy drinks can even be fatal.

However, another common health condition from consuming caffeine is dehydration, because energy drinks contain large amounts of harmful sweeteners.

The over boost of sugar present in the drinks can cause one to become unknowingly dehydrated.

Students mostly claim that energy drinks have a noticeable influence on them.

“They sure do work,” senior Arseniy Kotov said. “It’s like caffeine times 100.”

Coffee, another stimulant beverage, is a common alternative for Paly students.

The “cup o’ joe” actually contains more caffeine than energy drinks which results in a greater effect.

According to Coffee and Caffeine FAQ and Energy Fiend, an average 8 ounce cup of coffee contains 107.5 miligrams of caffeine, whereas a 8.3 ounce can of Red Bull contains 80 miligrams of caffeine.

Many Paly students claim that coffee has a stronger effect on them than energy drinks do.

“Coffee works better for me,” junior Keani Dame said. “I don’t know why but energy drinks work better for some people, just not for me.”

Ahuja relies more on energy drinks, but saids their effect is sometimes nauseating after consuming too much.

“The time I stayed up until 4 a.m., the energy drink I had kind of made me sick but it made me stay up a lot longer,” Ahuja said.

Junior Nicky Hu alternates consuming both coffee and energy drinks.

“I have a lot of coffee in the morning before tennis matches to wake me up,” Hu said. “I take energy drinks at night when I need to stay awake past two or so.”

Within the category of energy drinks, there are plenty of brands to choose from. The most well-known products are Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar and 5-Hour Energy shots.

“Rockstar definitely gets the job done at night and in the morning it’s all about Peet’s,” Hu said.

Senior Michael Morton prefers Monster and consumes the energy drink regularly.

“I average about one a day on weekdays but I don’t drink them on weekends,” Morton said.

Drinking energy drinks on a daily basis may seem like a large intake. However, many Paly students say one can is enough to keep them awake for a night.

“One can of Monster usually lasts for a couple of hours for me,” Morton said.

The caffeine present in energy drinks can prevent one from falling asleep.

Kotov, however, points out that he tries not to substitute energy drinks for sleep.

“I try not to use energy drinks to keep me up at night mostly because I tend not to stay up that late anyways but also because they do not replace sleep,” Kotov said.

The most common ingredients that appear in energy drinks are caffeine, taurine, guarana, ginseng, B vitamins and L-carnitine.

Caffeine is mainly present to improve physical and mental performance and is also credited for its recognizable taste.

Taurine acts as an amino acid that the body naturally produces and is meant to improve athletic performances.

Gurana is denser than caffeine and is therefore present in drinks to increase feelings of energy.

Ginseng, an herb, works to augment stamina and well-being. B vitamins help maintain mental function.

Lastly, L-carnitine is also an amino acid that increases metabolism and energy levels.

Students using energy drinks show how manufacturing companies are targeting an older audience.

“The intended audience is adults,” Craig Stevens, a spokesman for the American Beverage Association said to the New York Times. “People who can actually afford the two or three bucks to buy the products.”

Stevens claims that the marketing is targeted towards those consumers, who are the most common buyers.

Teenagers are not the target audience of energy drinks because of the increase in potential health risks many can obtain. However, students have a justifiable reason for consuming the drinks: there has to be a way to stay awake.

A&E

The Campanile

December 17, 2010 • B7

Local establishments prepare tasty, seasonal comfort food Options for delicious, warm meals in Palo Alto provide homey holiday cheer

By Hannah Park

the appearance does not reflect the delectable treats that the Prolific Oven has to offer. The bakery also provides a variety of sandwiches and salads in their lunch menu but their pastries are the most noteworthy.

The delicious cakes and pastries are a well-worth result of the bakery’s long-lasting effort.

The Prolific Oven has deservedly been voted Palo Alto’s Best for several consecutive years and continues to make a lasting impression on its customers.

Staff Writer

Popular during the cold winter months, comfort food is known for being delicious while bringing a taste reminiscent of home-cooked meals.

Those in need of a warm meal that is not available at their home, have the option of ordering comforting dishes in local restaurants and delis.

Palo Alto Creamery Located downtown, the Palo Alto Creamery holds a long history of classic diner dishes including a variety of sandwiches along with soups and side dishes. Their wide selection of meals are promptly served and pleasingly displayed.

The sandwiches have several options for meats and condiments, which is a good choice for picky eaters or people looking for a variety of ingredients. The prices of sandwiches range from $6.75 to $13.50.

Their Hot Pastrami sandwich, consisting of grilled pastrami and Swiss cheese on light rye, is a tasty dish that tastes like a homemade sandwich.

The sandwiches are served with a side of potato salad, coleslaw, pickle chips, or french fries.

The pastrami is well-cooked and tasty along with the melted Swiss cheese. The sandwich combines simple ingredients to create a delicious, warm meal great for a cold, winter day.

Priced at $10.50, the sandwich is somewhat pricey for its portion but the taste definitely makes up for the cost.

The Hot Pastrami is just one of the many options the Peninsula Creamery has to offer.

Whole Foods Market Although a simple fix at home, pre-made macaroni and cheese can be purchased at the Whole Foods Market self-serve deli along with several other warm foods.

Marc Havlik/Campanile

This Hot Pastrami sandwich is one of Palo Alto Creamery’s many delicious, comforting meals. Many Bay Area restaurants offer comfort food, which provides a taste reminiscent of a rustic and home-cooked holiday meal on a chilly winter’s day.

Seating is available in the corner of the store for customers to eat precooked meals. The area is secluded and provides a convenient area for those in need of a quick bite to eat.

The pre-cooked meals, made from all natural ingredients, are convenient options for to-go lunches and dinners.

The macaroni simply combines macaroni pasta with cheese, milk and butter to create an appetizing dish.

The dish is very satisfying, and has a delicious, creamy taste that is a perfect fix for a chilly day.

The well-cooked pasta mixed with melted cheese completes the flavorful dish, unlike packaged versions of macaroni, which are also

available for purchase at the store.

The self-serve option enables buyers to decide the amount and price of their meal based on its weight. This classic comfort food will satisfy any longings for mother’s homemade macaroni.

Pluto’s Pluto’s, also located in downtown Palo Alto, offers a variety of reasonably priced salads, soups and sandwiches.

The compact restaurant, always crowded with hungry customers, delivers their well-prepared dishes quickly.

Their mashed potatoes named Smashed Spuds of the Day are served

as a side dish or in a to-go twelve ounce container, which allows customers to even to go.

The dish provides customers with a cozy, alleviating feeling and fulfills hunger.

It blends potatoes with different herbs forming a savory side to accompany a warm sandwich.

The potato skins mixed in the dish also add a chewy touch to the smooth texture.

Although mashed potatoes are known as a side dish, this comforting food will melt in one’s mouth and produce a warm feeling of home in the winter time. The potatoes are creamy and smooth, with perfect seasoning

Prolific Oven Chocolate cake is desired in any situation but as a comfort food, no other dessert can compare.

The Chocolate on Chocolate cake at the Prolific Oven satisfies any chocolate lover’s cravings.

Its thick dark chocolate frosting and soft chocolate cake melts away in every bite.

A slice is a reasonably sized portion and the thick cake is very filling.

The smooth frosting completely covers the cake and a thin layer of the frosting is also spread in between the layers.

The bakery and coffeehouse itself is a simple, timeworn building, but

The Counter Known for its delicious burgers, the Counter offers custom built burgers as well as its signature burgers, and milkshakes.

Located on California Avenue, the Counter sits across from another local favorite, Culture Frozen Yogurt.

The relaxed atmosphere provides a casual environment for hanging out with friends and enjoying a great burger.

The custom built burgers have several options available for the burger meat, cheese, toppings, sauce and bun.

The counter uses all natural beef and locally grown ingredients.

The beef custom burger combined with soft ripened brie, coleslaw, organic mixed greens, sliced cucumbers, tomatoes and apricot sauce on a multigrain bun may not sound like a typical burger, but its sweet ingredients along with the fresh vegetables create a palatable meal.

The ability to create a personalized burger enables customers to include the ingredients they like and enjoy a customized burger filled with their favorite toppings.

Customers can stick to classic favorites or can experiment with contemporary takes on the burger by adding avocado or other toppings.

The Counter’s many options for unique and satisfying burgers are the perfect treat for any appetite.

Secret menus provide diners with delicious, unusual options Paly students discover unknown, delectable menu items hidden from the public

By Annabel Snow

sugary option than the regular fruit based smoothies.

“White Gummy” smoothies contain less Many students at Palo Alto High School may not know that their favorite restaurants zest and less flavor than the pink Starburst offer “secret” menu options that are not listed drink, though they are still a sweet alternative to other drinks offered at Jamba Juice. on the actual printed menu.

Based on white Gummy Bears, a popular Just because a restaurant does not have an item on the printed menu does not mean candy, this smoothie is also a delicious alternative and among the secret menu items, it is that customers cannot order it.

With an insider’s knowledge on where to quite common among Paly students.

Various websites contain long lists of go and what to order, it is easy to find hidden, recommended drinks which were once on delicious items.

Popular smoothie stop Jamba Juice’s the actual menu.

Similar to Jamba Juice, In-N-Out burger special menu is actually quite extensive and contains several delicious candy-based has a few savory secrets which are known by smoothies that remain unknown to most some students at Paly.

However, this menu exists on the In-Ncustomers.

Jamba Juice’s drinks are a delightful op- Out website, unlike many other companys tion for hot days, and their delicious smooth- who do not advertise their alternative menu ies can be quite refreshing, with options of options.

The printed menu may seem limited with both nutritious and sugary smoothies and only cheeseburgers, hamburgers, doublebeverages.

Some of these drinks even include gum- meat burgers and french fries; however, my bears, skittles and butterfingers, deviating delectable options such as “animal style” for from Jamba Juice’s typical health-based fruit a burger or french fries are available upon request. and energy drinks.

On a hamburger or cheeseburger, one These special creations cost slightly more than regular smoothies, depending on which can add sweet carmelized onions and pickdrink one chooses. For example, an original, les. Furthermore, the patty can be fried with medium-size pink Starburst smoothie costs delicious mustard.

The “animal-style” fries, which are quite $5, as opposed to most original smoothies similar to the animal-style burger, contain which cost between $4 and $5.

Some other examples of drinks on the melted cheese, the same grilled onions and a large scoop of their special savory sauce. secret menu are “Sour There is no extra patch Kid,” “Strawbercharge for an aniries Dreamin’,” “Lem- Finding the items on the seonade Lightnin’” and cret menu can be very reward- mal-style hamburger ($1.85) or cheese“Green Gummy Bear.” ing as these can be some of burger ($2.15), howBecause Jamba ever the fries cost extra Juice is known for sell- the best items offered by the with this additional ing many nutritious restaurants. feature.Regular fries options for customers, cost $1.35, and cost it does not reveal these $3.25 if they are made delicious treats on the menu available for the general public or the animal-style.

This delicacy is well known, despite the binder containining nutrition information fact that it is not featured anywhere on the at every store.

According to Jamba Juice’s website, the printed menu.

Animal-styled dishes are commonly drinks do not contain high-fructose corn syrup, have no artificial preservatives and do ordered, and add an extra spark of flavor to both the french fries and burgers, which often not have trans fat.

Jamba Juice, however, is also well known times lack a unique flavor, due to minimal for creating many delicious items while still condiments on the burgers and french fries.

The flavor provided by the animal-style being very health-conscious.

Therefore, releasing a menu which con- is incredibly savory, with a delicious blend of tains ingredients that do not promote the a cheesy zest, delectable sweet sauce, and the company’s values would be quite contradic- unique taste of the rich carmelized onions tory. However, a nice creamy dessert can be which creates a mouth-watering sensation.

The french fries, which tend to be slightly a delicious alternative.

The most common secret menu items bland, can be ordered as extra crispy, or well that Paly students order are “Pink Star” and done, which can add flavor and give custom“White Gummy,” which seem to be the most ers an option to have more cooked, crunchy common. A “Pink Star” smoothie contains fries with their meal.

Other secret items are a “Neopolitan flavoring from pink flavored Starburst, and Milkshake” which is a combination of vanilla, has a tangy, sweet flavor, and is a much more

Staff Writer

Marc Havlik/Campanile

The “protein-style” burger, with lettuce instead of a bun from In-N-Out Burger is one of the many options in the restaurant’s secret menu. Many localrestaurants have “secret menus” available online or through word of mouth. chocolate and strawberry milkshakes. Though this shake is special, it does not cost more than a regular milkshake ($1.99).

Also available is a grilled cheese sandwich ($2.00), made with two buns and only melted cheese instead of a patty.

A healthier option for a burger is a “protein-style” that is the same as a hamburger, except with a bun made of lettuce.

This option does not cost more than the price of a regular burger.

Another item for the health-conscious or vegetarians is a Veggie Burger, which costs only $1.40, less than a regular burger or cheeseburger. A more daring choice is the “three by three” ($4.15) or “four by four” burger ($5.15) which has three or four pattys on the hamburger or cheeseburger.

For all coffee fanatics, Starbuck’s Coffee contains tasty hot beverages for a chilly day during the holiday season, as well as delectable cold drinks for the spring and summer seasons.

They have a smaller size cup called a“short” cup, which is not widely known, and which can be useful to know about if one does not have enough money, or only wants a small amount of coffee. A short cup of coffee costs $1.40 as opposed to a tall coffee which costs $1.50. It is approximately three-quarters the size of a tall cup.

Also, Taco Bell sometimes has ingredients which are discontinued or not displayed in the back of the restaurant.

For example,they have a green chili sauce at some locations, which costs about $0.10.

Although several students at Paly may be aware of the secret menus, it is questionable to why many restaurants, such as Jamba Juice and In-N-Out Burger keep their secret items away from the public.

Either based on health, or to provide various options for customers, some restaurants contain some version of a secret menu, either multiple items, or subtle additions.

Finding the items on the secret menu, however, can be very rewarding, as these can be some of the best items offered by the restaurants.

Customers who order the “Strawberries Dreaming” at Jamba Juice or “Animal Fries” at In-N-Out can benefit from these secret choices, as they are satisfying and provide a unique flavor.

A&E

B8 • December 17, 2010

The Campanile

Kisses’ debut album features unique sound Indie album shines with melodic melodies, yet bores with monotonous songs

By William Lee News Editor

As the infamous “hipster” trend explodes, countless independent artists continue to pour out into the musical industry. While many of these bands produce stale and frustratingly repetitive records, Los Angeles duo Jesse Kival and Zinzi Edmundson gives a refreshing and unique take on the experimental genre of music, reminding listeners that there is potential for talent in the independent music scene.

Coming from the new wave of male-female duos, Kival and Edmundson, recording under the name Kisses, released their debut album, The Heart of the Nightlife on Nov. 16. Their album accompanies a vast list of new independent co-ed artist releases.

Many of these bands including the recently popular Phantogram, Matt and Kim and Sleigh Bells have found great successes through the exploration of experimental electronic genres.

Though they continue the new tradition of the electronic trend, Kisses adds a retrospective twist to a very new-age generation of music by drawing from past influences while also adding creative contemporary elements.

With the excess of synthesized upbeat melodies and lo-fidelity quality, it is apparent that Kisses’ style is reminiscent of the “synthpop” genre of the 1980s.

However, Kival’s melancholic vocals and somber guitar is comparable to that of Steven Patrick Morrissey of The Smiths, contrasting the “chillwave” 80s dance pop melodies produced by Edmundson. The unique style that Kisses plays with strays far from the conventional hip-hop and alternative standards of mainstream music.

When the first track, self-titled “Kisses,” begins, the arrival of Kival’s vocals is almost jarring as it blends harmoniously into the electronic psychedelic-sounding backdrop.

The combination of electronic beats, funky bass lines, guitars and playful but meaningful lyrics makes the song notably charming. Immediately the

listener is immersed in the ambient feel-good vibe Kisses aims for, making it one of the most memorable songs of the album.

The first track also lets the audience in on the age-old premise of love and heartbreak that appears in nearly every song of the album. Lyrics like “And I love you, Does this change a thing?” and “So keep your heart strong and love long” characterizes the naïve and care-free nature of young love that Kival and Edmundson seem to portray.

The second track, “Bermuda,” though easy on the ears, immediately heeds warning of the album’s greatest weakness: the stark similarities between each song.

Like “Kisses,” “Bermuda” begins with the synthesized instrumental introduction followed by the melancholy vocals of Kival.

Like many other independent artists, Kisses falls into the notorious pattern of sounding like background music as the tracks seem to blend into each other. Though their musical techniques are interesting, they are unfortunately stale and repetitive.

Nevertheless, “Bermuda” retains the charm of the album, though the lyrics and melodies begin to take a more somber direction. This darker, more solemn feel is especially present in the next two tracks, “People Can Do the Most Amazing Things” and “On the Move.”

The more limited use of synthesizers and the greater presence of lo-fi quality guitar and bass lines combined with somber lyrics pertaining to themes like jealousy and loss makes these tracks nostalgic of the 1980s band New Order.

As the album continues, the duo goes towards the instrumental dancebeat track, album-titled “The Heart of the Nightlife.” True to its name, the track begins with the subtle sound of heartbeats that sets the tempo for the rest of the song.

The electronic dance melodies and synthesized beats gives way for a Daft Punk style that strongly characterizes a sort of “nightlife” vibe.

The group uses their own nightlife experiences as inspiration for much of their musical content.

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stereogum

Jesse Kival (left) and Zinzi Edmundson (right) of the band Kisses create dreamy and relaxing sounds in their debut album “Heart of the Nightlife.” However the band fails to produce enough distinct sounds to prevent the album from being repetitive.

Progressing from the instrumental intermission, the album begins to stray farther from the heavy electronic backdrops present in the beginning of the album and head toward a more disco-groove fusion.

The varied use of funk-style guitar and bass along with subtle hints of synthesized beats provides for smooth and relaxing rhythms, giving a romantic, dreamy feel.

The next two tracks “Lovers” and “A weekend In Brooklyn” particularly draw from the influences of 80s and early 90s pop music, utilizing retro synthesizers that turn away from the style of many of the new independent

M

artists. Drawing upon past references is a common aspect of Kisses’ music.

“Midnight Lover” and “Women of the Club,” the last two tracks, also follow the groove pattern of the second half of the album, but bring much more attention on to Kival’s vocals and guitar, putting more restrain on the electronic elements of the first few songs.

While “Midnight Lovers” uses fast pace dance rhythms, “Women of the Club” is Kisses’ slowest tempo track, relying on guitar chords and vocals to carry the song. The band prides itself on being able to adhere to a variance of different musical

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styles and techniques, even those not often heard in the mainstream music of today.

As a part of the massive independent artist generation, Kisses has successfully found a distinct niche in the new-age music scene.

While taking advantage of the new electronica hype, Kival and Edmundson respects the influences of the past to create a unique blend of genres.

Though they attempt to add subtle variations to each of their tracks, “Heart of the Nightlife” unfortunately falls into a category of many indie artists befallen by the curse of

monotony. Still, Kisses shows talent and vigor in charming songs like their curiously self-titled track “Kisses,” showing the viability of contemporary styles of music.

With their debut album, Kival and Edmundson jumpstart a hopeful career in the independent music scene, finding their own unique place in a seemingly monotonous and indistinguishable ocean of potential rising talents.

Kisses’ debut album Heart of the Nightlife is available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon and various record stores and online music streaming sites.

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A&E Bay Area ice skating rinks open for winter season

The Campanile

December 17, 2010 • B9

Ice skating facilities near Palo Alto bring festive holiday atmosphere to community

By Clara Chang Staff Writer

Winter has finally arrived. Although going to Lake Tahoe to hit the slopes may be especially appealing to some during these frosty months, another seasonal alternative is available locally — ice skating.

Nazareth Ice Oasis 3140 Bay Road Redwood City, CA .

About a 15 minute drive from Palo Alto High School to Redwood City, Ice Oasis is a professional looking rink, both inside and out. Surrounded by bleachers and viewing areas, the large rink is kept in excellent condition.

Aside from its inviting atmosphere and impressive environment, Ice Oasis offers high quality skates that are much more up to par than Winter Lodge’s old school ones.

This makes the skater feel fully equipped to hit the ice. Skate rental is $3. Admission is $8 for ages five and up. Children four and under get in for free, and seniors get in for $7.

Ice Oasis also features a sports grill and viewing lounge on the second floor, where people can get a fantastic view of the rink below through a giant, floor length window.

A long bar and some tables are set in front of this window, making it the prime location to watch the hockey game or figure skaters down below.

The grill’s menu offers plenty of appetizing choices, from mozzarella sticks to cob salads to bacon cheese burgers, all for under $10. On the walls are several platform televisions and framed hockey jerseys, which, along with the black leather couches and outside patio, complete the lounge.

Ice Oasis is the perfect place to bring friends out for a game of broomball or to skate before enjoying a casual dinner upstairs.

Marc Havlik/Campanile

Ice Center’s (left) facility lacks luxuries but is a functional rink and the cheap price makes it worth a visit. The Winter Lodge (right) is newly remodeled and boasts a comfortable atmosphere and smooth, well-kept ice rink. Skaters can enjoy broom ball, hockey or free-skating in one of its two ice rinks.

Ice Center 10123 N. Wolfe Road #1020 Cupertino, CA

Ice Center, which has a sister rink in San Mateo, is a part of Ice Center Enterprises.

Unfortunately, the Cupertino rink does not do the haughty name justice.

Although Ice Center in Cupertino proves to be a functional rink, it is a bit drab and run-down. Forget the sports lounge or cozy fireplaces — this large but old rink caters mostly to hockey and is in need of a remodel.

The ice skating rink is conveniently located right by Vallco Mall’s food court but there is no actual food at the rink itself aside from numerous vending machines with athletic beverages and snacks .This occupies the one dingy, off-ice area, where skaters can

sit and lace up their skates, which are in fair condition. This section, however, is the only area where viewers can watch and hang out and proves to be one of the lowest points of the rink. The highlight of the center may be its equipment store, which sells an abundance of figure skating and hockey gear.

Admission and skate rental together is a fairly cheap price of $10 and alone, the rates are respectively $7 and $4. Seniors get in for $6.

One gets what they pay for at the Ice Center.

Winter Lodge 3009 Middlefield Road Palo Alto, CA

Located just down the street from Midtown is the first and only permanent outdoor ice rink west of the Sierra, the family friendly

Winter Lodge, which has been a popular location among Palo Alto residents since 1956.

The Winter Lodge, ranked one of the top ten outdoor ice skating experiences in the United States by Outside Magazine, has a welcoming staff and a delightful atmosphere.

The cleanly kept lodge features two rinks: one indoor for private parties, lessons and broom ball and one outdoor, which is slightly smaller than standard hockey rinks, for the public during session hours. Newly remodelled, the cozy foyer consists of a big fire place for skaters to warm up their toes while they lace up their slightly worn rental skates before heading out to the ice.

As skaters enter the outdoor rink, the crisp, cold air is unavoidable, but a warm feeling of holiday cheer accompanies this refreshing feeling.

The rink is embellished with gold holiday lights and giant snowflakes, hung craftily above one’s head. These decorations are pleasant and very comforting. Above these lights

one can sometimes see real stars because the rink is outdoors.

This makes the skate truly worthwhile and the ultimate winter ice skating experience. Do not be shocked if all of a sudden some icy substance drifts down — it is just Winter Lodge’s snow machine, adding some true “winter” to the skate.

If a snack or warm beverage is needed, stop by the vending machines for a Hershey’s bar or Colombian decaf. Then bring the snacks over to the numerous benches and tables placed all around the rink, or to the outdoor fire place where lit-up Christmas wreaths and trees are set up, where anyone can simply sit by and enjoy the atmosphere and music playing.

Admission is $8 and skate rental is $4.

Although sometimes it seems like the Winter Lodge could be mistaken for a children’s day care center due to the many kids skating, it is a charming, well-kept rink that guarantees a great time with family and friends.

Websites stimulate learning through interactive experiences fascinating videos and cool pictures.

To do so, one signs up on the website for free, chooses particular topics one would like to learn more about and then drags the StumbleUpon button to the bookmark tab.

The website offers pages relating to sports, science, college, health and more. When one has time and feels like “stumbling” one simply clicks on the tab, which will open a random website. One can decide to explore the website or to move on to the next random website. Furthermore, one can click the “like” or “dislike” button to narrow the search engine.

StumbleUpon provides a great way to discover new information and websites. With this tool, users learn about absolutely random and yet fascinating pages relating to their search topics. StumbleUpon can almost develop into an addictive distraction as users become absorbed by amusing facts and stories.

By Camille Ezran Business and Ad Manager Children of this generation have a hard time imagining how life was a few decades ago without the Internet. The Internet has revolutionized the way we communicate with people from around the world, the type of entertainment we seek and how jobs are created.

Most importantly, it has dramatically changed the way we learn by providing users with easy access to free information. In recent years, there has been a remarkable surge in the number of websites designed to help make information more available, understandable and interesting for all.

Khan Academy

In a search for new ways to provide high quality education to anyone who has access to the Internet, Salman Khan created Khan Academy, a website that teaches various topics through YouTube videos.

The videos are 12-minute lectures, designed to explain the material in a clear and helpful way. Each video has a simple black screen on which the narrator draws and writes information related to the topic, including equations and examples. This informal tutoring provides a visual and auditory method of learning to help students comprehend the material.

Although the 1800 videos are accessible on YouTube, they are nicely organized into categories on Khan Academy.

Topics are mostly related to math, science and economics, although there is an increasing variety of other subjects, such as history and brain teasers. There are also many videos created to help students practice for standardized tests such

HowStuffWorks

Clockwise from top left: dailygalaxy, howstuffworks, khanacademy, lab.arc90

Clockwise from top left: Stumbleupon lets users discover interesting websites. Howstuffworks explains concepts and how certain objects function. Khan Academy tutors through educational videos. Readability makes web pages easier to view. as the CAHSEE. The videos can be a little long and slow paced, however, they provide an excellent way to better understand concepts and practice specific problems.

Readability

Many websites depend on advertising for revenue and as a result, tend to be cluttered with advertisements in the margins and throughout the text.

Although this method provides access to free information, it can also make websites difficult to navigate and distracting for the reader. Readability is

a program designed to hide, with the click of a button, all the unnecessary information on a page, such as side bars and ads.

To begin using Readability, one simply has to go to the website and select the style, font size and margin one would like for the page. Then one drags the button on the side of the page to the bookmark tab at the top of the browser.

When on any other website, one simply clicks the bookmark tab and the text on the page will appear in the selected format without advertising

intrusions. This tool gives the page a clean and simple look, which facilitates the reading of the text.

Sparknotes.com, commonly used by students, has recently implemented pop-up ads that appear on each page. This new addition has been extremely frustrating for many who want to navigate the website quickly. With a simple click on the Readability bookmark tab, not only does the pop-up ad disappear, but so do all the other cluttering and unimportant information on the page.

Readability has provided users with

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StumbleUpon

Most Internet users have probably visited only a very limited number of pages out of the billions that exist. A countless number of pages, that could provide valuable information, remain unvisited by many. StumbleUpon provides an easy way to randomly visit websites that relate to one’s interests. Users could “stumble upon” anything from interesting articles, to

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HowStuffWorks is a website designed to explain how things work to all of those who are curious enough to research the topic. This website provides countless articles and videos on just about anything from history, to cars, to health. It also includes podcasts, blogs, games and quizzes to create different types of interactions with the users. One can learn about the inner workings of a computer, the lifestyle of a salamander and the preparation necessary for a job interview. One particular podcast, “Stuff You Should Know,” provides hundreds of free iTunes audio clips on diverse subjects.

HowStuffWorks is a well-formatted website that provides a nice overview of many subjects, although too brief to have a detailed understanding of the topic.

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A&E

December 17, 2010 • B10

E-commerce site provides deals for internet shoppers “Rue La La” directs members, online customers to eclectic local hotspots

By Lillian Xie

cutting down the price of a pair of $385 FENDI sunglasses to $129, but shoppers beware: there are a few days to shop before In French, “rue” means road. According these items — and boutiques that provide to The New American Webster Dictionary, them — disappear altogether. “rue” means to “regret” or “feel sorrow or With that said, one might assume that all suffering on account of” something. With the items on Rue La La are last year’s designs these definition in mind, a well-worked or this year’s rejects; however, shoppers will shopper may wonder why anyone would be surprised to find the Rue La La managers call an e-commerce website that gives great actually hand-pick the items that go into each deals “Rue La La.” sale “boutique,” which is designated its own Such a site features prices and brands time frame and web page. that could never be found in stores around These choice picks are categorized the nation — or even on the Internet in its accordingly by designer or by items sold entirety. It might be because the online bou(“Nanette Leopore,” “Dressing for the party,” tiques featured on the site are only open to etc.) and, according to Rue La La managers exclusive members. Superficially, it might on www.ruelala.com, are designed “to focus be because the name rhymes with the once [on] a well-edited collection of sought-after sultry, age-old phrase “ooh la la.” Though offerings from the best brand names in the perhaps because this walk down “Sale Street” world combined with helpful service.” only last for 72 hours from the moment the Rue La La is essentially like any boutique clock strikes 8 a.m. in Boston, Mass. with opening as well as closing times for its As one signs in to Rue La La’s boutique outrageous half-off sales. account, everything seems in place as far as To further add to the surprise, Rue La cliché online shopping goes.

La boasts at least six or seven sales a day.

There are categories for clothes, shoes, The site teases such sales, dishing out brand accessories and designers listed at the top bar, names and links, on the right sidebar of the and teaser pictures of dainty cocktail dresses home page and site managers update these and dazzling jewels on the home page. All the offers daily. bells and whistles adorning the photos and Though all the sales listed only last for a titles are a bright magenta or graphite gray, mere 72 hours, shoppers can find great deals with sale prices punched out in a streamlined at any given moment of the day. sans serif font.

Furthermore, Rue La La is an “invitationHowever, this is not a leisurely Skymall only online destination.” session as one might think Due to its supposed popuit to be. In the lower corner larity, Rue La La states of each little sale box, a Such a site features it has a waiting list for silent but persistent ticker prices and brands that pending members, much counts down the number could never be found in like popular designer sites of hours, minutes and such as Rent the Runway, seconds shoppers have stores around the nation where some Palo Alto High left to purchase their items – or even on the Internet School girls rent freshwhich include anything off-the-catwalk dresses from Michael by Michael in its entirety. during prom season.

Kors cashmere sweaters However new users and classic Sony CDs to are free to sign up anytime and get right to SLVR Men’s Adidas shoes and ready-to-eat shopping then and there, dismissing Rue La holiday cookie packages.

La’s invitations and bypassing the wait list True, the pricing may make Rue La La altogether. The popularity hype is somewhat appear to hold Black Friday sales everyday,

Editor in Chief

Ruelala

Ruelala.com provides a collection of stores for men and women, with a somewhat limited amount of time to shop. This commerce website ultimately leads buyers to the “very best fashion, food, entertainment and more.” true when it comes to the actual purchasing of items.

If one chooses to put an item in a “shopping cart” during such sales, it might be gone in the next 20 minutes if one does not make a quick purchase.

Usually all sale boutiques open at 11a.m.

Eastern Standard Time and last for about two or three days, depending on each sale. If there is an exciting sale, shops open as early as 8 a.m.

Because Rue La La is a fairly new ecommerce site, only customers living near Boston get a little special treatment when it

comes to “local picks” for items across the board, such as clothes and wines.

Rue La La directs customers to “handselected local hotspots” for the “very best fashion, food, entertainment and more,” according to its website.

However, Rue La La is a fast-expanding company, and states, “While we’re only in Boston for now, we’re heading your way. Tell us where you live, and we’ll tell you when we arrive.”

Though its concept of a ticker seems relatively new, many sites including Editor’s

Closet, Gilt Groupe and Beyond the Rack also feature this new concept of small “sample sales.”

One needs a pass code for all of these sites, however there is an added bonus that when shoppers pass along pass codes, they receive a few dollars in their own shopping accounts. On these sites, it seems to be Black Friday everyday.

If well-weathered shoppers can handle the countdown, or if netizens wish to do some Internet window shopping, Rue La La is a handy little destination.

A&E

The Campanile

December 17, 2010 • B11

Nearby ski resorts feature varied terrain for all skill levels Northstar, Kirkwood provide smooth slopes and wide range of land to explore

By Elliott Beckstrom Senior Staff Writer

Two of the best ski resorts, Kirkwood and Northstar at Tahoe, are already operating at nearly full capacity. The early snowfall this season has allowed for large amounts of terrain and lifts to open.

Northstar has opened nine chair lifts and 77 trails, with 48 groomed. The multitude of runs open offer everything from expert terrain to bunny slopes.

The Vista Express lift based at the top of the gondola provides access to Northstar’s internationally acclaimed terrain parks and half pipes. It is also in close proximity to some decent tree runs with some fresh snow.

Northstar’s top ranked park technicians have kept the mountain’s parks steadily growing at a safe pace. Pinball terrain park, offering one of the largest arrays of features on the mountain, has an assortment of rails, boxes and jumps. The lips and landings are checked and touched up regularly which makes the hits cleaner and safer.

One of the parks sponsors, DC, has placed a street style kink box, a wave box and a lift tower jib into the line up to offer ticket holders some unique features. In addition to Pinball, Moonshine terrain park is also open.

The park crew has incorporated more beginner-friendly hits to provide a place to practice and warm up before moving on to more difficult freestyle obstacles.

The high quality parks have been meticulously maintained at Northstar this year, much more so than last season when there were lots of rutted and icy landings.

For those looking for more free ride terrain, the Backside Express lift is open. The backside has lots of long tree runs and steeper, more advanced terrain. Unfortunately, Lookout Mountain remains closed. However, with the recent snowfall and predicted storms, it should be open during winter break.

The main ticketing office is located at the Village at Northstar. It also has rental stores, board shops, eating establishments and a skating rink to satisfy every ice princess’s needs.

The food on the mountain is delicious but also fairly pricey, roughly $20 just for lunch.

Parking, just like the food, is also costly, costing $15 for the day.

However, the lift ticket takes the cake for bank busting, a one day adult ticket costs $88 and a young adult ticket (ages 13-22) costs $76. Northstar has some incredible parks and some decent tree runs to offer but it comes at a steep expense.

Kirkwood on the other hand is substantially more affordable, and it offers a larger variety of off trail terrain.

The mountain boasts a season total of 220 inches of snow so far. This copious amount of snow has allowed for much of the frontside’s terrain to be opened which has overwhelmed the backside.

When it does open in the near future there will be tons of powder in the trees and clean, cold snow for the snowcats on the fresh groomers. Kirkwood has three of its bowls open to the public including Palisades, Sentinel, and Wagon Wheel. The bowls are loaded with snow and there is some steep and deep powder to be found off the beaten path.

“The Wall” is also in operation serving access to some of the best free ride terrain Kirkwood has to offer. There are plenty of untouched paths through the trees near the top of the mountain with some deep snow.

Use caution when riding or skiing in the forest because tree wells are all over the place waiting to swallow inexperienced skiiers.

There are a few fairly clean rock drops to be found off “The Wall” and Cornice Express Lifts. Heights range from about five to 20 feet.

Some of the landings are flat, icy, cut up or a mixture of the three so it is advisable to scope out landings prior to hucking off a cliff.

There are also a few cliffs with second drops right after the landings which can cause some pain and suffering, so again, be careful.

Kirkwood does not quite muster the same quality in its terrain parks as Northstar does, but still has some impressive jibs to offer.

Two of the mountain’s parks are open, the Stomping Grounds located off of Chair Five and the Playground located off chair Seven.

photos.somd

renotravel

Skiiers (left) wait in line for the lift at a Kirkwood run, and a snowboarder (right) at Northstar-at-Tahoe tries a bold jump. Both parks offer exciting routes to improve one’s abilities in either groomed runs or terrain parks.

The Stomping Grounds located below some awesome tree runs off “The Wall,” offer a small table top as well as a sky box and a mixture of rails. The take-offs and landings are fairly maintained, even though they are cut up and a bit icy in places. The Playground is also located below some exciting tree runs.

There are more freestyle hits in this line up to encourage more individualized frolicking.

A few smaller boxes and rails mark the beginning of the park which progress into ever growing jumps at the end. The location of the Playground, near the second base operation, keeps away heavy crowds and provides a nice

get away. Kirkwood is a more cost effective option than Northstar. Basically, everything is cheaper. A solid meal is about $15 at the main base of the mountain. There is also a small shop located below the parking lot which sells hearty breakfast sandwiches and coffee for $7.

The parking is free and close to the lifts.

The parking is limited so it pays to arrive early in order to get a good spot. The full day lift tickets go $65 for adults and $51 for juniors.

These are two of the best resorts in Tahoe and they both have terrain that caters to an array of skiing and riding styles.

Lunch

Northstar

Kirkwood

$20

$15

Day Pass $76-$88 Parking

$15

$51-$65 Free

Crepevine contributes new breakfast trend to Palo Alto community Delicious sandwiches, salads, crepes offered at Crepevine on University Avenue

By Noa Dagan Opinion Editor

Quickly becoming one of the trendiest foods around, crepes are no longer simply a breakfast delight or dessert indulgence, but rather a full meal in their own right.

As creperies and cafes pop up all across Palo Alto with their new takes on the treat, one place stands apart from the rest.

Located on University Avenue in the heart of downtown, Crepevine offers more than just the crepes that its name suggests. Opening at 7:30 a.m. every day, it serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert with vastly different options for each meal.

The breakfast menu includes choices from categories including pancakes, scrambles, omelettes, benedictions and french toast. The wide variety provides for a unique experience with each visit, as each meal choice is as delicious as the next.

One house favorite is the Greek Omelette made with feta cheese, spinach, kalamata olives, sautéed onions and roasted almonds.

For $9.25, this is the perfect way to start one’s morning off. Ranging from $6.50 - $9.95, the price range for breakfast items is fairly reasonable as well.

The lunch and dinner menus are split into four main sections-sandwiches, salads, pasta and savory crepes, with a separate kids’ menu for ages 12 and under.

While some options from each category are considered to be classics that can be found at almost any

Noa DagAn/Campanile

Noa DagAn/Campanile

riki rattner/Campanile

Crepevine (left) serves a wide variety of dishes including the Capri spaghetti(top right) and the Tri-berry crepe (bottom right). These two dishes are reasonable in price and delicious. restaurant, there are a few that clearly set Crepevine apart from generic eateries.

The Capri ($9.50) might seem to be the typical pasta with marinara, but the flavor of the sauce and the freshness of the rock shrimp add something extra to make the dish stand out.

One notable sandwich selection is the Crepevine Club ($9.95), which provides a unique twist on the classic California Club.

It is made with chicken breast, crispy bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise and served on fresh sourdough bread.

Bring this coupon in Monday - Thursday from 2-6pm and get a 10% discount*!

*Offer expires June 1, 2011. Limit one coupon per person per visit.

Served with a choice of house potatoes or french fries and mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette, this sandwich is one of the highlights of the menu.

While many would not think to consider a savory crepe filling enough for an entire dinner, The Philly ($9.95) is here to prove them wrong. Comprised of sliced and grilled beef filet with caramelized onions, mushrooms, white cheddar and optional hot peppers, this crepe is not only filling, but mouth watering and delicious.

However, the portions are large and could most likely feed two, especially if one wants to save room for one of Crepevine’s Sweet Crepe options.

Most notable is the Tri-berry crepe ($6.25), complete with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and nutella, served with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream. The three berries complement each other well and are only accented by the nutella drizzled over the crepe.

Whether it serves as the perfect finish to a meal or a meal on its own, each one of Crepevine’s crepes is unique and delicious as well.

Perhaps most notable is the comfortable ambiance and friendly service that Crepevine boasts. Upon walking in, each guest is greeted and directed toward the cashier in the center of the restaurant to order and pay for their food. Additionally, waiters stop by frequently to check in or just provide a welcoming smile.

From the extensive options to the reasonable prices, Crepevine is a much-appreciated addition to downtown Palo Alto.

A&E

B12 • November 17, 2010

Holiday season brings festive beverages

Local restaurants offer delicious hot drinks during the winter

By Maya Krasnow Senior Staff Writer

When the weather outside is frightful, there is nothing more delightful than sipping a hot drink with a few friends in one of Palo Alto’s establishments.

Everyone knows the holiday season has arrived when cafés and restaurants start to spice up their beverage menu with holiday twists such as eggnog lattes and peppermint hot chocolate.

Try one of these festive steaming treats or stick with the classics — either way, students, parents and teachers will leave satisfied.

1

The Campanile

in

1900

Douce France

Douce France is a staple for many Palo Alto High School students.

During advisory, a line of Paly students spills out the door, but their quick service makes the line move along fairly fast.

Conveniently situated in Town and Country Village, this Parisian style cafe offers many delicious pastries, sandwiches, crepes, quiche and of course, hot drinks.

For $2.50 the hot chocolate is a disappointment. It is a little too bitter and not very rich. On the other hand, the cafe mocha is an excellent choice. It has the perfect blend of coffee and chocolate and foamy milk top completes this treat.

The atmosphere at Douce France is pleasant and authentically French. The owners are very friendly and are usually present taking orders and serving customers.

Round tables with matching wicker chairs dot the indoor seating area and outdoor plaza. A case displaying croissants, bear claws, pastries and ham sandwiches is located next to the register.

Overall, hot beverages are not Douce France’s strong point, however, the prices, atmosphere and location make it a worthwhile choice for anyone in the mood for a warm treat.

Douce France

855 El Camino Real Palo Alto hot chocolate: $2.50 (650) 323-7332 Peet’s Coffee and Tea

Also located in Town and Country Village, Peet’s Coffee and Tea offers a wide variety of hot beverages that are perfect for the holiday season. Its Holiday Blend coffees include Peppermint Mocha, Gingerbread Latte and

This edition featuring

Emma Beckstrom with The Campanile’s own

Rachel Stober and Meghan Byrd

Alex lin/campanile

Palo Alto restaurants offer satisfying hot drinks to help customers stay warm on chilly winter days. Some seasonal favorites include Peet’s delicious Peppermint Mocha and Coupa Café’s Elephant Vanilla chai tea.

Eggnog Latte. All of these drinks can also be found at Starbucks.

The Peppermint Mocha for $4.25 combines espresso, steamed milk, chocolate and peppermint syrup to create a drink that tastes like a liquid candy cane. Coffee and peppermint flavoring dominate this drink, so those in the mood for a chocolaty beverage should choose something else.

The Eggnog Latte for $3.95 is mediocre. The eggnog tastes artificial and leaves an unpleasant aftertaste and the consistency is much too thick.

Peet’s hot chocolate is not as sweet as it could be, but is still better than the hot chocolate at Douce France.

The lack of indoor seating creates an unpleasant experience when the weather is poor.

Overall, Peet’s Coffee and Tea does not live up to its expectations. However, the variety of hot

drinks is impressive and exceeds any of the other places at Town and Country.

Peet’s Coffee and Tea

77 Town and Country Village mocha: $4.25 (650) 328-4771 Coupa Café

Coupa Cafe is a cozy, crowded Venezuelan restaurant situated in the heart of downtown Palo Alto.

It is a popular spot for Stanford University students to congregate, groups of friends to meet up and business meetings to take place.

This trendy restaurant tends to get crowded, which sometimes makes it difficult to find an empty table, but the tasty hot drinks make it well worth the wait.

Coupa also offers a variety of chai teas including Tiger Spice and Elephant Vanilla. The Elephant Vanilla chai for $3.10 has an overwhelming vanilla flavor that is too sweet.

Coupa offers a wide array of authentic Venezuelan specialty coffee blends such as a nutty raspberry drink for $4.50 and a cafe milano which is a cappuccino with hazelnut and caramel syrup, for $4.50.

Other coffee beverages include a caramel macciato for $4, a marron, which is an aromatic, Venezuelan latte, for $3.10, and a guayoyo, which is a Venezuelan style Americano, for $2.50.

For the non-coffee drinkers, Coupa offers two types of hot chocolate: Abuela hot chocolate and Spicy Maya hot chocolate.

The Spicy Maya ($3.90 for a medium) combines cayenne peppers, passilla and cinnamon to create a hot drink with a kick.

Buzzin’

Photos by Marc Havlik Boys’ varsity soccer performs their annual Barber Shop event featuring funky buzzcuts to kick off the season. Haircuts ranging from the infamous face on the back of the head, friar and the traditional mohawk help bring the team together to build camaraderie.

Both of these “Chuao” mixes can be purchased at the register. The Abuela hot chocolate ($3.90 for a medium) is both creamy and chocolaty, made from high-quality Venezuelan bittersweet chocolate.

Besides drinks, Coupa also offers crepes, salads, sandwiches and many other sweet and savory options.

Despite the moderately steep prices, the pleasant atmosphere, good service, delicious drinks and free Wi-Fi during the week make this an appealing place to come and enjoy a piping beverage.

Coupa Café

538 Ramona St. Palo Alto latte: $3.10 (650) 322-6872

The Campanile: We’ve heard you’re famous for your nicknames. Want to tell us about them?

Emma Beckstrom: Well there is Porker and Jaws. They started out with my brother’s friends. This is awkward to say. They think I’m “obese” so that’s where Porker came from. It started out in sixth grade when I was chubby but it was so rude. It’s turned into an endearing term. So, now I just take it with love.

TC: What about Jaws?

EB: Well, I think you all know that story. Sometimes people hum the theme song when I walk by.

TC: So what’s it like having a stud senior brother?

EB: Oh he’s a cool one. He’s the definition of a c***block.

How do you say that more appropriately? Yeah, it’s interesting. I love that he cares about me, but he’s really protective.

Overprotective. Doesn’t like me talking to boys. At all.

TC: What about his friends?

EB: Oh, off limits. But somehow my friends aren’t off limits to him. Double standard here.

TC: I heard you hit a tree this weekend while driving with your permit?

EB: It came out of nowhere.

TC: The tree came out of nowhere?

EB: No, yeah, it wasn’t there. I looked in my mirror, saw nothing there. Then suddenly, heard a bam. I guess there was little jolting and shaking of the car. Some friends [in the car] have reported minor injuries. But everyone’s safe, it’s all good. The car is undamaged. It’s flawless.

TC: So you stay in Santa Cruz over the summer?

EB: Yup, all summer and almost every weekend.

TC: And what do you guys do there?

EB: Beach, bonfires, have fun with the cool laid-back people.

Not stuck up like Palo Alto. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.

TC: How is it when Elliott’s friends come down to Santa Cruz?

EB: It gets interesting. Very, interesting. It’s fun, but there’s a little rivalry going on.

TC: Who’s your inspiration on the lacrosse team?

EB: On our lacrosse team or just lacrosse in general?

TC: Let’s say Paly lacrosse.

EB: Well K-Flath [junior Kimmie Flather]. She’s my good friend. I look up to her. She’s a really good player and influence and a good teammate and role model. She’s my girl.

TC: If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead who would it be and why?

EB: Vinny [from] Jersey Shore. He’s the smartest one and the sickest one of the crew. I think we’d get along. GTL a little bit.

TC: How do you think you would mesh with the Jersey Shore cast?

EB: Well I can be a little wild and reckless, so I think it would be fun.

TC: If you were on Jersey Shore what would your name be?

EB: Any ideas?

TC: Becky EB: Embecky? I’d let them decide.

TC: Becksex?

EB: Oh, scandalous. I don’t know if I’d live up to that. Patrice [Beckstrom] definitely would not approve.

TC: Tell us about your mom.

EB: Patsy? Well she makes bomba** breakfast burritos. And she’s pretty well known for them. I’m pretty sure more people come over to my house to see her than me and Elliott combined. She’s pretty popular.

TC: Is this with the male population at Paly?

EB: It would be with mostly males. Many of the graduated seniors and some sophomores. Some seniors too I guess.

TC: It’s kind of interesting that all of your friends have older brothers that are seniors. How does that affect you guys?

EB: When one [of my friends] hooks up with another one’s brother it gets a little heated, a little intense.

TC: Oh, awkward.

EB: I have never been involved with that, thank you very much.

But yeah, it’s fun. But the moms seem to know a lot more because of the gossiping that goes on among the brothers.

They usually gang up and are really protective over all of us.

TC: How is the mommy network?

EB: Oh boy. My mom, she really doesn’t start rumors. But she has a lot of friends so she hears them and they get back to me and they’re a little crazy. Sometimes she finds out about something before I do.

TC: And they’re mostly true?

EB: They have some truth behind them, but they’ll be a little off, and sometimes a little crazy. Moms know more than we think they do. At least more than we give them credit for, which is unfortunate in our case.

TC: What would be the three words you would use to describe yourself?

EB: Reckless, not too proud of that one. Not honest, but I don’t hold back, which can be good and bad. You’d agree with that one wouldn’t you? A little crazy, not too crazy.

TC: Any last word for the Campanile?

EB: Lose the drama and have a good winter break.

A4 Crossword Puzzle Answers Across: 2. Egg Wars 3. Baker 8. Centennial High School 11. Mary 13. Streakers 14. Deck 15. Good 16. Astronomy 17. Finals 18. Senior Cut Day

Down: 1. James Franco 2. Ernesto 4. Kristina Guzman 5. Bloom 6. Phil 7. Long Beach Poly 9. InfiniteCampus 10. Lacrosse 12. Calliope