The Campanile
PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL 50 EMBARCADERO RD. PALO ALTO, CA 94301
Palo Alto Senior High School
NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE
PAI D PALO ALTO PERMIT #44
Since 1918
Vol. XCIII, No. 2
50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301 • http://voice.paly.net/campanile
CALIFORNIA AVENUE REVAMP
Monday, October 25, 2010
Students support finals before winter break
$1.5 million grant to transform street
Board of Education to decide whether to move date of exams By Nadav Gavrielov Editor in Chief
Marc Havlik/Campanile
“We need a more pleasant place to visit. ” PAGE A3
YOUTH FORUM
Youth Council sets goals for the new school year
yesprep
“We want to hold people accountable for what was said last year.”
ART CENTER Much anticipated renovations to begin in April
Marc Havlik/Campanile
“It looks really claustrophobic in here. We want a more expansive environment.” PAGE A2
http://voice.paly.net/campanile View this edition’s photo collage in vivid color.
Teachers and administrators are also supportive of the proposed changes because it will help ease student stress. “I support [the proposed changes] and I think they are good for many reasons, physically, mentally and emotionally,” Principal Phil Winston said. “There will be some room for adjustment and refinement.”
45 out of 61 high schools in Santa Clara County, San Mateo County and Marin County have finals before winter break. “The change has been academically beneficial,” Assistant Principal of Los Altos High School Ralph Cave said. “Having finals prior to the winter break allows students and staff to actually enjoy the vacation.When they return in
January they are a lot more relaxed and ready to begin the second semester.” The main reason that students support the proposed calendar is that they will not have to worry about studying over winter break. “I think we should have finals before the break so that we don’t have to worry about studying for them during the break and we can just enjoy
[winter break],” freshman Mehr Sikri said. Although winter break, under the current schedule, is meant to be homeworkfree, many students have found themselves preparing for finals in the past during the break. “In previous years I was always stressing out over winter break trying to study and wondering whether I
See FINALS, Page A3
Brown,Whitman compete for California governorship By Maddie Berger
PAGE A2
LOOK ONLINE
The Palo Alto Board of Education will vote on Nov. 9 on whether or not to shift high school final examinations to the week before winter break beginning in 2011. Making the change would require the beginning of the school year to be shifted to an earlier date. The proposed calendar lists Aug. 16 as the first school day of the 2011-2012 school year with May 31 as the last. Finals would take place on Dec. 19-21. If the calendar is accepted, a similar calendar would be used for upcoming years. A Campanile survey of over four hundred Palo Alto High School students found that the majority of students support the switch and 78 percent of students would prefer having finals before winter break. “We had finals before break at Castilleja [School] and the nice thing about it, although it was a little bit of a push at the end of the December, [was that] break was break,” senior Margot Gerould said. “You could take your break off to do what you wanted. It was a really nice relaxation time after a lot of stress.”
should be studying or not studying,” senior Arielle Fishman said. Many teachers support the proposed change and do not think it would pose any significant problems. “I think it’s a great idea,” social studies teacher Grant Blackburn said. “For me personally, I can’t see a great reason why we wouldn’t have finals before winter break. Coming back from winter break and then going to take finals after we’ve all been off for two weeks, nobody performs well under those circumstances. We want [students] to perform to the best of [their] abilities.” The school year, under the proposed schedule, would end no more than two weeks after Advanced Placement testing. “You don’t have that month of ‘what do we do now’. Plus you get more time to prepare for the AP test,” Blackburn said. The school year would have to begin earlier so that first and second semester would be more or less equal in length. “In principle, I am for it as long as we are starting the year earlier so that we have enough material to test at that point,” math depart-
36 percent, according to SF Gate. Both Candidates have simiCalifornia will hold the 2010 lar priorities for California’s General Elections on Nov. 2 be- government, including productween gubernatorial candidates ing a new budget for California’s Republican Meg Whitman and spending and fixing California’s education system. Democrat Jerry Brown. Both Brown and Whitman While many positions includhave attacked each other’s backing Lieutenant Governor and U.S. senators will also be decided, the grounds in various television and race that has gained the most atten- radio advertisements, with Whittion statewide is the open spot for man pointing out any blunders Brown may have made as a polithe Governor tician, and of California, Both Brown and Whitman Brown critiaccording to cizing WhitSF Gate. have attacked each other’s man’s lack There are of political six candidates backgrounds. experience. on the ballot Brown running for governor, including Carlos Alva- has accused Whitman of having rez for the Peace and Freedom “a loose relationship with the party, Chelene Nightengale for the truth.” While Whitman has accused American Independent party, Dale Brown of a “35-year record of F. Ogden for the Libertarian party and Laura Wells for the Green party. higher spending and taxes”. From everyone else, both However, the two most promithe Democrat and the Republinent and popular candidates are can have been criticized for not Brown and Whitman. The race between the Demo- having detailed, solid plans to fix cratic and Republican candidates California’s looming problems. In the beginning, each canhas been fierce, with negative atdidate only gave general and tack ads and a great deal of money spent on both sides. As of Oct. 15, vague statements about their the polls show Jerry Brown ahead objectives if elected to office. One of the biggest issues with 44 percent of the vote while
Staff Writer
Whitman trails close behind with
See ELECT,Page A3
Annual Spirit Week to occur this week By Camille Ezran Advertising Manager
Palo Alto High School students eagerly discuss their class theme and apparel as the Associated Student Body and administration prepare for the annual Spirit Week, which will take place on Oct. 25-30. “I am looking forward to the spirit rallies and the awesome outfits people have put together,” sophomore Charlotte Barry said. On Monday, students will dress up according to their class theme.
Freshmen will dress as Tony the Tiger‚ sophomores as America, juniors as pirates and seniors as 90s. Tuesday’s theme will be salad dressing. Freshmen will wear athletic clothing for their Fresh Choice dressing. Sophomores will dress up as cowboys and cowgirls for the Ranch dressing. Juniors will wear Hawaiian attire to represent Thousand Island dressing and seniors will wear the traditional togas to represent Caesar dressing.
The lunch time rally will feature a new activity of sumo wrestling, where students will wrestle each other in a specially purchased suit. Along with the lunch rally, there will also be a morning rally in the small gym. On Wednesday, students will wear their class color. Freshmen will dress in orange, sophomores in red, juniors in yellow and seniors in green. The lunch time rally will
See SPIRIT, Page A3
FEATURES
CULTURES-IN-EXCHANGE
http://voice.paly.net/view_story/ php?id=photocollage
INSIDE
News...................................A1-A3 Opinion..........................A4-A5,A8 Spotlight.............................A6-A7 Sports................................A9-A12 Lifestyles...................................B1 Features...............................B2-B7 A&E...................................B8-B12 Lauren Wong/Campanile
As the school year begins, new foreign exchange students arrive at Paly. They bring their native cultures and traditions to Palo Alto.
PAGE B2
OPINION
paracademia
WORDS LYK BULLETS Cyberbullying is a growing problem, affecting students at Paly.
PAGE A8
A&E
yoginitherapist
SUN SALUTATION
Various yoga studios offer many choices in Palo Alto.
PAGE B8
SPORTS
priceinspector.co.uk
TRAINERS N TRAININ Sports Medicine students assist in training athletes at Paly.
PAGE A11
NEWS
A2 • October 25, 2010
The Campanile
Palo Alto Art Center to begin renovations in 2011
NewsBriefs
Custom senior portraits discontinued for future classes Palo Alto High School yearbook advisor Margo Wixsom has announced that the yearbook will no longer use custom senior portraits starting next year. Wixsom sent out an e-mail detailing her reasons for making this decision. “I know that this will be very upsetting for students,” Wixsom said. “After three years I see the pattern of how seniors simply do not get this done — and it takes up way too much of our production time with the staff working on this one small section.” Wixsom made the decision based upon the last three years. “I made the decision as the advisor,” Wixsom said in a later interview. “It’s based on the last three years. It’s been a huge amount of work and a tremendous amount of stress and pressure, and we revise things each year to communicate better with seniors, thinking maybe it was us, we weren’t communicating to seniors what we needed and when we needed it.” According to Wixsom, the yearbook staff worked tirelessly to notify current seniors about the deadline for senior portraits to be submitted at the end of the last school year. “We created a website, we gave everyone a slip of paper that said we need your portraits first thing in September, we gave people a 75 percent off coupon,” Wixsom said. “What I’ve discovered in the last three years is that it doesn’t matter how we communicate to seniors, they’re all going to wait til the last minute to do it.” Effective next year the yearbook will set up senior portraits with the same company that takes student identification card pictures. —Meghan Byrd Staff Writer
Dalai Lama visits Stanford, promotes compassion, peace Six thousand people gathered in Stanford University’s Maples Pavilion on Oct. 14 to listen to the fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, plead for compassion and world peace. This was just one of the Dalai Lama’s recent appearances in the Bay Area; he spoke at three Stanford events and to middle and high school students in East Palo Alto. “I am very happy to come here again,” the Dalai Lama said. “I always feel it’s important to meet and share some of my views based on my experiences.” This is the Buddhist leader’s third visit to Stanford as a founding benefactor for The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. The exiled Tibetan first spoke on “The Centrality of Compassion in Human Life and Society,” at his first public talk in Maples Pavilion. Speaking independently from his translator in broken English, he urged a secular approach to peace through discussion and an open mind. He then spoke to about 1000 students in Stanford’s Memorial Church at “Harry’s Last Lecture on a Meaningful Life.” While sharing personal stories and his infectious laugh, the Dalai Lama advocated the same message of resolving conflict through open dialogue and encouraged students to make a change. The Dalai Lama also visited Costano Elementary in East Palo Alto to share wisdom and advice with 400 middle and high school students. He answered questions from 11 student winners of an essay contest as he stressed self-discipline and compassion. “Desire leads our action,” the Dalai Lama said. “Action must come from motivation. Motivation comes from desire.”
Classrooms and children’s wing to be added to aging building on Newell Annabel Snow Staff Writer
The long anticipated renovations of the Palo Alto Art Center, consisting of the addition of a new children’s wing and new classrooms, will begin in April of 2011. Another addition will be the improved electricity throughout the building. The center will receive air conditioning, enhanced lighting and a modernized electrical system. The upgrades will fix the dull lighting throughout the building. “We want to finally have modern museum lighting,” Chief Operating Officer Louise Carroll said. The dim, older lights currently dangle from the low ceiling, and the staff wants a more lit up, spacious area for the art shows to take place in. Although the center’s art exhibits have caught the eyes of many visitors, the compact set-up has been a growing problem for the center. “It looks really claustrophobic in here,” Karen Kienzle, Palo Alto Art Center Director, said. “We want a more expansive environment.” The electrical outlets in the walls are in need of rewiring, which will require the walls, as well as the ceiling, to be ripped out. The number of classrooms will almost be doubled for children, and kids’ classes will be extended to the outdoor lawn, which is scarcely used otherwise. The Newell Road side of the center will be used as a parking lot for parents to drop off their children. According to Kienzle, the new plan for the art center will be “environmentally friendly and safe.” As a result of the immense youth presence in the center, a brand new childrens’ wing will be constructed. Without
Marc Havlik/Campanile
The renovations for the Art Center are scheduled to begin in April 2011. It was built in 1951 to house City Hall but became a center for education after City Hall was moved. expanding the actual building certification from Leadership itself, many less crucial rooms in Energy and Environmental will soon be dedicated to chil- Design (known as LEED). dren, with an extensive variety “LEED is a certification of classes offered. system of how environmentally As well as the outdoor advanced a building project classrooms and safety with will be; so we will be LEED kids, the new environmental certified,” Beecham said. plan also involves the electric According to Kienzle, portion of this $7 milthe renova- “We have a dream team lion project tion. would not “We will working on this projhave been have high ef- ect.” possible ficiency air ithout Louise Carrol whelp conditionfrom Chief Operating Officer o u t s i d e ing and very environsources. For mentally example, tuned lighting, and things of the Art Center Foundation that nature,” Former Palo Alto continuously donates money Mayor and current Chair of the to the center. Other sources Art Center Building Committee have donated money as well. Bern Beecham said. “The role of the foundaDue to the modern and tion is mainly to supply the cenenvironmentally safe plan, ter with funds that we can’t get the art center will be receiving on our own,” Kienzle said. “We
Youth Forum hopes to create strong student community
—Rachel Stober Editor in Chief
Palo Alto school district is ranked fifth in California Palo Alto Unified School District is currently ranked fifth making it one of the top highest achieving districts in the state of California. Two high schools, Palo Alto High School and Henry M. Gunn High School, three middle schools and 12 elementary schools are included in the district. Current members of the PAUSD have said on their website that they have goals and values such as “teamwork and collaboration, respectful and caring relationships, honesty and intergrity, continuous improvements and achievements on school and staff and the overall community.” PAUSD has been ranked fifth because of its accommodating set of caring staff, classes and its ability to improve students’ learning. California has recognized the improvements that PAUSD has made on their weak spots. Being able to improve on those areas have allowed PAUSD to take 5th place. However, Superintendent of PAUSD, Kevin Skelly, PhD, has different thoughts on how PAUSD should be ranked. “I think we are ranked No. 1,” Skelly said. “Other districts are different than us in important ways and they have marginally higher API scores. However, that doesn’t make them ranked higher than us.” PAUSD members have made it clear that they want to lower the achievement gap. The changes stress instructional strategies in classrooms, pursing more parental educational classes for parents and guardians and finally, making sure that the student has the best likelihood to do well in school. “I am pleased that we continue to execute on the goals of the strategic plan.” Skelly said. “We are putting talented successful people in positions where they can have a positive impact on the success of students, and we are doing this in a way that spends taxpayer money in a responsible fiscally sound way.” —Alex Lin Staff Writer
UpcomingEvents October 25-29: Spirit Week Rallies will be held on the Quad everyday at lunch except Tuesday’s rally at the Paly pool
October 30: Homecoming Dance The dance will take place at Palo Alto High School, beginning at 7:30 in the Big Gym.
November 11: Veterans’ Day Students will not have to attend school the second Thursday in November.
November 11-13: Camp Everytown The relationship building seminar about equality will take place in mid-November.
have a dream team working on this project,” Kienzle said, referring to Sasaki Walker and Associates landscape architecture (SWA group), architect Mark Cavagnero and all others contributing to the project. Kienzle made clear that the older parts, such as the brick walls which are in some parts of the building, will remain to symbolize the old beauty of the center. “[Cavagnero] intends to keep the old style while adding modern aspects,” Kienzle said. Local residents contributed extensively to the center’s finances, along with volunteers who donated the majority of the money raised. Co-presidents of the Palo Alto Art Center Foundation Teri Vershel and Pat Bashaw are responsible for the large amount of finances raised annually. According to Vershel,
approximately $500,000 are raised each year for operating expenses, and other funds are needed for the upcoming renovations. Money is usually raised through members, who are recruited by events and mail campaigns. “We raise a lot of our money from individuals who live here in Palo Alto and surrounding areas, but we also get money from corporations and foundations,” Vershel said. The art center was built in 1951, and was originally the City Hall of Palo Alto. According to Carroll, workers realized they had a considerably limited space,and decided to move to a different location. “In 1970, after City Hall was moved to another location, a group of citizens decided they wanted a place for education and art projects, so they created the center,” Carroll said. The center opened in 1971, and has caught the attention of art lovers throughout the country ever since. Approximately 2,000 people in the area take some of the many classes offered at the art center every year, and the center is famous for its unique classes, events and art shows. However, according to Kienzle, many Palo Alto locals have never stepped foot in the art center. “It drives me crazy when people say that the Art Center is a hidden gem in Palo Alto,” Kienzle said. Beecham conveyed a very confident review of next year’s renovations taking place next year. “It will upgrade the gallery space so that we can much better show the exhibits we have, and we will be able to have a higher quality level of exhibitions in addition,” Beecham said.
projectcornerstone
Bailey Cassidy Staff Writer
The Palo Alto Youth Council held their first youth forum of the 2010-2011 school year on Tuesday, Oct. 5 at Palo Alto’s Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA.) The group consists of 20 students from Palo Alto High School, Henry M. Gunn High School, Castilleja, Carlmont and Sacred Heart Preparatory High School. The council’s goal is to create open communication between teenagers and adults to create a more supportive, friendly community for teens. The Youth Council’s meeting schedule varies, but this year they hope to meet approximately once a month to allow time to accomplish tasks between meetings. Prior to the first forum of this year, the adults involved in Youth Council presented a follow-up of what
the group discussed last year to Palo Alto’s secondary school principals. The purpose of this meeting was to ensure that school officials were prepared to work towards what was agreed upon last year. The group held three meetings last year, during which teens and community leaders brainstormed goals that they hope to turn into reality this year. “We want to hold people accountable for what was said last year,” YMCA Youth Sports and Outreach Fitness Director Danny Koba said. The three main areas that the Youth Council will focus on are planning more opportunities for teens to participate in fun, safe events, helping teens gain a greater connection to their school communities and getting commitments from the business community. The Youth Council hopes to plan fun social events, such as dances or movie
ASB
nights at Lytton Plaza. Additionally, they plan to organize a youth summit to talk about issues in Palo Alto. “The youth summit will help prepare middle schoolers for high school,” Gunn junior Jane Li said. The group hopes to create a more supportive school climate through making counselors more accessible and encouraging teachers to be more connected with students outside of the classroom. They also wish to give students a greater voice on campus by allowing them to influence campus decisionmaking, particularly regarding issues such as grading and testing policies. “We are trying to figure out the best practices for testing and grades,” Koba said. “We also want to improve student-staff relationships to create a better overall environment.” It is imperative that the dialogue between adults and teens remains open, so that teens can ensure that the adults do not stray from their goals. “If school principals say they’re doing things like getting tests back to students in a timely fashion, but teens don’t feel that happening, they can let us know,” Youth Community Service’s Youth Programs Director Alicia Gregory said. The group will discuss and try to determine the most effective methods to reduce student stress. Because Paly is piloting a new bell schedule this year, the group will evaluate its effectiveness as the school year progresses. The intent of the “youth friendly business plan” is to help teens feel more welcome and comfortable at local businesses. “We should figure out what stores [teens] go to and what stores we don’t
Updates
Associated Student Body continues to buzz with excitement as spirit week approaches. All elected representatives have been working hard to make the 2010-2011 school year full of Palo Alto High School spirit. “All of the ASB class presidents have been working very hard to try and make spirit week happen,” ASB President Chirag Krishna said. Junior Class President Maddie Kuppe agrees with Krishna’s statement. “Right now we are super busy with spirit week, planning all the rallies, designing shirts and floats, writing cheers, etc. We’ve been very productive as spirit week approaches,” Kuppie said. However, spirit week is not the only thing that ASB has been working on. ASB is trying to learn what students want through the addition of a legislative body composed of one representative from every fourth period class. They will attend meetings twice a month at lunch in the library and report back to their fourth period class about new policies. ASB has also passed their budget earlier than expected. “I am very excited that we got our budget passed. This year we got it passed much earlier then usual and I can’t wait to see what we will do with it,” ASB president Chirag Krishna said. —Sam Blake Staff Writer
go to and why,” Carlmont junior Gabe Ortiz said. From there, the group hopes to recognize the businesses that are able to create a welcoming environment for teens. “It’s not about becoming the coolest place that teens always go,” Koba said. “It’s about helping teens feel welcome when they do go.” The challenge of the “youth friendly business plan” is to reach and uphold agreements with businesses. “If a business agrees to provide discounted movies or coffee for teens, we need to promise that it will bring in ‘x’ amount of teens,” Koba said. “Then we have to hold true, or else the business will just lose money.” The Youth Council hopes teens will take ownership for their ideas and be the driving force behind their goals. For example, they may talk to city officials about ways to effectively use the empty spaces on University and California Ave. The group hopes to create a better community through the Project Cornerstone survey explored. “Project Cornerstone is different from other surveys you may have taken in school in that it evaluates how well [adults] are helping you succeed, rather than focusing on what [teens] are doing wrong,” Koba said. “It’s about finding deficiencies in the community.” Youth Council hopes that the Project Cornerstone Survey results will give them new for objective and project ideas for this coming year. “Asking is the only way to find out what teens need,” City of Palo Alto’s Recreation Supervisor Adam Howard said. “Hopefully, these assets are the umbrella that will drive us this year and for years to come.”
School Board
The Palo Alto Unified School District board met on Oct. 12. to handle a wide variety of issues relating to the school district. One of the first orders of business was a hearing about the availability of textbooks in the school system. Concerns had been raised about how textbooks are outdated and decaying. They have called a meeting to talk about the problem and discuss the possible solutions. The board also recently progressed toward the 2010-2011 district focus goals. Also on the agenda was the idea of adding fire sprinklers systems at Jane Lanethrop Stanford Middle School and other schools close by. In addition, the board reviewed the contract with TestMarc for commissioning agent services at Ohlone Elementary School. TestMarc is a company that works with computers and ensures that they are functioning at their highest capacity. The School Board continues to be very active at Palo Alto High School. They were present on Paly’s club day and talked to a few students about their clubs. PAUSD has also been visiting local schools for their Back to School Nights. The school board nominated Dana Tom for the California School Boards Association Director at Large to be the Asian/Pacific Islander delegate. —Sam Blake Staff Writer
NEWS
The Campanile
October 25, 2010 • A3
City to consider reconstruction of California Avenue
Redesign plan includes a two-lane street to increase safety for pedestrians, cyclists By Laura Cui Staff Writer
The City of Palo Alto has submitted a $1.5 million grant application to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in order to transform California Avenue into a Europeanstyle 2-lane street configuration. T h e C a l i f o r n i a Av e n u e Streetscape Project will also construct a park and plaza near the Caltrain station, information kiosks and expanded seating areas near Ash Street. The purpose of this proposal is not only to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety, but also to revitalize our emerging environmental-friendly community. New trash and recycle receptacles will be placed along the street to accommodate the idea of going green. Parking spaces would also be redesigned at a 60-degree angle from the current 45-degree angle to make it more convenient for drivers to pull out on the street. New benches, bike racks, newsracks, trash receptacles and community kiosks are all part of the upcoming streetscape furniture. A mini plaza of 20 tables would also be set up near Ash street. To ensure pedestrian safety, high visibility flashing beacons would be present to encourage vehicles to reduce their speeds and to provide awareness at key pedestrian crossing locations. Although the grant is for $1.5 million, Chief Transportation Official Jaime Rodriguez estimates that the
Marc Havlik/Campanile
The city of Palo Alto will consider converting California Avenue to a two-lane street configuration to promote pedestrians, bicycle use and safety. The new design will also improve California Avenue’s aesthetics, resulting in a fresher atmosphere. cost would come out to be $1.7 million, according to Palo Alto Online. The new vision for California Avenue also provides an aesthetic feel to benefit the look of the restaurant and commercial district. According to Palo Alto Online, Palo Alto resident James Cook, said that, “he liked the idea of beautifying the area.” “It has a tired look,” Cook said. “The four lanes must be a remnant of another time. It’s like a freeway look.”
However, other residents prefer to keep the original feeling of California Avenue to avoid the business of University Avenue. “California Avenue is the last local downtown of Palo Alto,” William said to Palo Alto Online, a resident who asked not to be identified with his last name. “It would be nice to have something smaller scale and more personal.” Residents and business owners showed up at a community meeting
on Sept. 23 to convince the city to slow down on its plans. They expressed their fears of traffic back-ups from the 2-lane configuration and the diagonal parking spaces. However, the city claimed that the slowing down of traffic would provide more safety for bicyclists. The first phase of the Streetscape Project started last year with the removal of 50 trees that lined California Avenue. The removal of the trees was met with a great deal of discontent
from both residents and store owners because the public felt the treeremoval operation was kept secret from them. “The street looks dead. It’s going to take a long time until the trees will grow,” Jit Lakngam of Lotus Thai Bistro said to Palo Alto Online. “We didn’t expect them to cut everything down.” This time around, the city has made sure to include both the residents and store owners in revising phase two of the project.
Paly students to participate in annual Spirit Week SPIRIT, Continued from A1 be by the pool. Thursday will be age day so freshmen will dress up as toddlers, sophomores as teeny-boppers, juniors as sophisticates and seniors as senior citizens. Finally, on Friday the school will come together as freshmen, sophomores and juniors all wear green and white attire. The seniors will wear camouflage clothing. After school, there will be a rally on the football field where students will compete for more points and perform their class dances in front of their floats. On Friday night, the Paly football team will compete against Homestead for the Homecoming game. There, Homecoming King and Queen of each class will be announced. This will be followed by the Homecoming dance on Saturday, where the grade that won the most points during the week will be revealed. For this Spirit Week, each class will have one weekend to build their float, as opposed to previous years in which classes had three weeks. On Oct. 28, students will finish their final touches on floats for the Friday after school rally. “This year we want to help everyone be more efficient,” Spirit commissioner,George Brown said. “In past years, a lot of time and energy had been spent on building these floats. I am confident that we can make them just as good if not better in one weekend.” “We recognize that it is more intense but we want to promote a more focused effort,” Student Activities
Corwin Garber/Campanile
Students cheer for their classes during Spirit Week which is from Oct. 25-29 this year. A homecoming dance and football game will bring the event-packed week to a close. Director Kindel Launer said. This year, the administration will also be able to participate in the lunch time rallies. They will take part in the traditional musical chairs with the students. During Spirit Week, students will wear attire appropriate to the day’s theme and compete against
each other for class points. In a battle against the other grades, a selected number of students will play games and participate in various contests during the lunch time rallies. “Spirit Week 2010 will be awesome and everyone is going to have a lot of fun,” Brown said.
A survey of local cities that have been through similar transformations has been taken under consideration. Locals were asked if the reduction from four to two lanes had a positive impact on their business community. “Two lanes work well. Parking is an issue and they are exploring a parking structure or smart meters,” John Celedon, a resident of Menlo Park said. Residents agree that the new amenities contribute to the aesthetic of downtown Menlo Park. They believe that the attractiveness of the district encourages people to walk along the street, which is needed in order for stores to be successful. “The change to the current configuration transformed this ‘thoroughfare’ designed to move traffic into one of the nicest village character’ downtowns on the peninsula,” David Johnson, a resident of Menlo Park said. California Avenue is to model its 2-lane street configuration after the successful transformation of downtown Menlo Park, Mountain View, and Los Altos’ shopping districts. A correlated spike in retail sales and successful traffic flows were a result from the conversion. “We need a more pleasant place to visit,” an anonymous resident on Palo Alto Online said. “Beautifying the street has got to be a goal. We should be careful–we don’t want to kill this thing.” Palo Alto will revise the Project this fall and may modify its designs.
Finals date to be determined FINALS, Continued from A1 ment instructional supervisor Radu Toma said. The proposed change may be problematic for seniors who will be working on college applications for regular decision. “I think it is definitely better for seniors to have finals after winter break because a lot of our college applications are due right when break ends and also right before when winter break stars,” Fishman said. “I think it’s definitely good for us this year to be able to focus on college applications, then once those are submitted, to then focus on our finals.” Another problem with the proposed change may arise in scheduling summer plans and vacations because of the early start date. “If people are doing summer programs that go into late August, they [would not be able to do them,” Gerould said. “Otherwise, I think it is
pretty easy to work around. I don’t think it would be the most horrible thing in the world.” Many teachers are curious as to whether grades will still be due immediately after the semester ends as they have been in the past. If so, this date will conflict with the holidays. “All the [things] that I do for holidays are going to be impacted because I am going to have to do a lot of work,” Blackburn said. “I think we all need to see that as a positive sacrifice.” Although the school year would start earlier, many see this as a necessary change if finals are before break. “Rumor is that it’s the lower grades that don’t want it. They don’t want to start school earlier because the elementary kids are younger,” math teacher Kathy Himmelberger said. “But in high school it would be a wonderful thing. Even if we had to do it ourselves, I think it would be a good idea to put them before winter break.”
Palo Alto works towards more bike-frendly infrastructure Brown, Whitman battle for governor’s office In order to increase bike usage, Palo Alto looks to reconstruct bike routes By Andrea More Staff Writer
To create a more bikefriendly town, Palo Alto is stepping towards changing the bike infrastructure due to a $55,000 grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to update the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. The plan establishes some goals and policies that the city hopes will increase bike ridership and improve routes. The main objective is to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and traffic congestion. Intending to tackle issues such as bike boulevards, bike storage and the laws and policies that accompany erecting more signs and stoplights, Palo Alto City Council is working towards reclaiming Palo Alto’s bike-friendly reputation. “A lot of cities in the last decade have been looking at how to focus on alternative modes of transport and how to increase bike infrastructure,” Vice Mayor of Palo Alto Sidney Espinosa said. Palo Alto became notable for its friendliness towards bikes in the 1970s when the city’s first bicycle master plan was born. In 1978, Palo Alto’s reputation grew when the bike-parking ordinance was created. The Safe Route to School program in 1994 created a system of bike boulevards and promoted bike-friendly routes near schools. However, other cities have surpassed Palo Alto in the last decade by producing more bike amenities. Streets
Alex Lin/Campanile
To make Palo Alto more accessible to cyclists, the city plans to add more bike racks and traffic signs. in Copenhagen have dedicated biking lanes, paths and routes that are separated from vehicular traffic. In Berlin, less than half of residents own a car and traffic signs include traffic direction for cyclists. City officials are looking to other cities that have taken the initiative to increase ridership, with Portland, Amsterdam, Coppenagen and Austin as paragons. “A good example is Portland who has gone in and taken out some parking lanes,” Espinosa said. While city officials are learning from other cities’ infrastructures, some residents have expressed concerns over the transition, arguing that Palo Alto is suburban and not as dense a city as Amsterdam. In Amsterdam, 40 percent of all
traffic movements is made up of bicycles, but most Palo Alto citizens are occupied driving their kids or have to commute and are unable to cycle to work. Along with encouraging ridership comes the construction of lights and signage at intersections in order to prioritize bikes over cars and provide enough bike parking in order to make sure safety and convenience are accessible for all cyclists. “I think what’s most exciting in Palo Alto is that the school community has really led the shift to getting the majority of students thinking about biking to school,” Espinosa said. With thousands of students biking to school each day, safety concerns are ubiquitous. One way the city is looking to address safety concerns is by
transforming some of the creeks into bike boulevards. Creeks such as the Matadero Creek and Adobe Creek are fenced off but have potential into becoming bike routes. “If we could transform a lot of these creeks into bike paths, you could find that you’d be able to get all around town without having to use the streets,” Espinosa said. Palo Alto has expressed an interest in bicycle sharing programs. This would be useful near Caltrain stops where people could get off the train, swipe their credit card, and borrow a bike for the day. Thus, regional planning has taken place regarding implementing such a program along the train corridor. Besides reducing air and noise pollution, encouraging residents to hop on their bike instead of starting an engine would be a gift to the environment. “There is an environmental ethos people are thinking about that we should really get out of our cars more and bike,” Espinosa said. The endeavor has been met mostly with support from residents who view the change as a positive impact on Palo Alto. “It will make Palo Alto more bike friendly and encourage residents to ride their bike more often rather than driving their cars.” Palo Alto resident Barbara Scharf said. “Hopefully getting into your car and driving will become an exception rather than the norm.”
ELECT, Continued from A1
college preparation. This change in testing programs would California faces is the crumbling education sys- mean less standardized testing days for Palo tem. Both K-12 and higher education funding Alto High School students. As for charter schools, Brown agrees that has been cut dramatically in the last few years they are an essential part of the education and the schools are suffering. California ranks second to last in pupil to system, but does not think increasing their teacher ratio, ahead of only Arizona and Utah, number or funding is an efficient way to solve and it ranks last in the number of guidance the problem. Instead, Brown wants to focus counselors and librarians, according to Educa- more on higher education. The three problems Brown recognizes tion Data Partnership. Right now, California only spends 3.3 most in the California University system is percent of taxable revenues on the education raised tuition, decreased numbers of new system. This means that for low income districts students and community college transfers, like Oakland, money and support from the and not enough classes. To solve these costly government is crucial to keeping their schools issues, Brown wants to redirect state spending from funding prisons to supporting higher up and running. Due to the heavy cuts, Oakland had to education. Whitman was born in New York, and close various school campuses and the district was taken over by the state before it collapsed moved to California with her family in 1962. She attended Princcompletely. eton University and According to Whitthen Harvard Business man’s campaign, her so- Right now, California only School, graduating in lution for K-12 schools spends 3.3 percent of taxable 1979 with an MBA. is to “send more money revenues on the education After marrying to the classroom.” Griff Harsh, she moved She plans on ac- system. This means that for out to California and complishing this by do- low income districts governworked for a variety of ing away with Califorment is crucial to keeping their well known corporania’s categorical grants, tions, including Disney and instead simplifying schools up and running. and Hasbro. them into grants given It was in 1997 that to special education she discovered the then and rewards for outstanding teachers and programs. In addition, tiny-upstart eBay. She was the Chief Executive Whitman is a strong supporter of charter Officer of eBay for 10 years, during which the schools and wants to remove the current cap company went from making $4.7 million in revenues to $8 billion in revenues. She retired California has on charter school spending. For non-charter schools, she wants to in 2008. Although Whitman has had an extensive implement a grading system for the public schools, grading each school on an A-F scale. amount of business experience, she has had If a school receives a low grade, Whitman no experience working in any sort of elected proposes the option for parents to petition to position. In contrast, Jerry Brown has had a have the school converted into a charter school long political career. Born in 1938, he attended University of California Berkeley and Yale Law by the state. Brown also wants to simplify California’s School. At age 36 he was elected Governor of Caligrant system, reducing the amount of categorical grants to only 20. He also wants to overhaul fornia in 1974 and again in 1978. After that, he the state testing system, shortening standard- went on to serve as a lawyer and eventually ized tests and linking their focus more towards Mayor of Oakland.
OPINION
A4 • Monday, October 25, 2010
Editorials
Vote Attorney General Jerry Brown for governor Brown plans to create green technology jobs, Whitman to carry on Schwarzenegger’s failed plans On Nov. 2, California will elect a new governor to take over the office of Arnold Schwarzenegger. While most Palo Alto High School students are not yet 18 years old and therefore will not be voting in this crucial election, many have the ability to influence the various adults in their lives and can all get involved. California is in desperate need of a change. Over a million jobs were lost due to the economic crisis and many of California’s esteemed public universities are being forced to make drastic budget cuts. The Campanile endorses Attorney General Jerry Brown for the governor’s office. Brown has the experience and the ideology to fix many of the problems Californians are currently facing. When Brown was governor in the 1970s, he created almost two million new jobs, many of which were in The California Conservation Corps, the country’s leading environmental jobs program. Much of Brown’s plan to help California’s economy rebound centers around creating more clean energy and green technology jobs. This would both stimulate the economy and improve the state’s environment. Brown also promises to make serious changes to California’s education system. He proposes a complete overhaul of the state’s testing program, acknowledging that public schools spend far too much time and money to administer tests that tell parents and teachers very little about how the status of students’ learning. Even if Brown does not follow through on all of his campaign promises and plans, he is still a far better
candidate for governor than his opponent, Meg Whitman. Whitman has no experience in politics or public policy, whereas Brown has decades of service to California through his governorship and position as Attorney General. As former CEO of Ebay, Whitman is personally funding her campaign. She has already spent over $120 million and vows to spend as much as $150 million. California should not set the precedent that individuals can merely buy there way into public office. Whitman’s plan is continue the failing policies of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Instead of raising taxes on those who can afford to pay them, Whitman will cut social benefits such as welfare from the budget. This only increases the gap between the wealthy and the impoverished. Her campaign is based on the fact that she ran Ebay and therefore can run California just as successfully. Whitman promises to streamline bureaucracy but she wants to do so by cutting 40,000 state workers. While she claims that she is “in the business of creating jobs”, she does not give an actual plan to do so. She overlooks the fact that California is not a corporation and treating it like one will not help Californians. Adults in the Paly community should vote for Jerry Brown for governor of California. He has the experience and plans to fix many of California’s pressing issues. The Campanile encourages all Paly students to get involved and make sure that we don’t have to live through four more years of failed policies and skewed values in Sacramento.
Teachers should allow students to use restroom freely Allowing bathroom pass exchange for extra credit, preventing students from leaving class is unfair Although the new block schedule at Palo Alto High School provides numerous benefits, many students struggle with extended class periods without taking a short break. Many teachers forbid students from leaving class to use the restroom during a class period or offer a limited number of passes per semester. This may seem like a trivial matter, but if students have up to four block periods each day, teachers should allow bathroom breaks. Teachers often ban or restrict trips to the restroom because of the fear that their pupils will abuse the privilege. However, it is unfair to deny the entire class the freedom to choose when to use the bathroom just because of a few students who make bad decisions. It is understandable that a teacher may get frustrated when students come to class immediately after brunch or lunch and has to go to the restroom, but Paly is a high school, not an elementary school, and the majority of students can make the appropriate choice about when to use the restroom. Teachers should be more understanding that students cannot always go to the bathroom during lunch because many students contribute to clubs, tutoring or Associative Student Body. If going to the restroom right after a long break becomes a habit or a teacher feels that a student is wrongly
taking advantage of breaks to miss class, teachers can deal with those students individually, rather than restricting the whole class. In some classes, unused bathroom passes can be turned in at the end of each semester for extra credit. In addition to being an unfair way to determine grades, students should not be forced to feel guilty for giving up possible extra points because of a natural bodily function. The Campanile feels that bladder control should not be a contributing factor to a student’s success in a class. Paly students are still adjusting to the new schedule, and The Campanile believes that teachers also need to be flexible. Sitting still for 90 minutes can be difficult enough without restricted bathroom trips. Paly takes pride in treating its students like respectable adults; the administration continually encourages students to contribute to the school’s decision making process and Paly has an open campus. Students are allowed to leave school during brunch, lunch and preparatory periods, but some teachers do not even allow students to leave class for five minutes to walk to the nearest bathroom. Teachers encourage their classes to take initiative and be responsible, yet many teachers regulate when their students can use the restroom.
Second annual College Awareness Day a success Seniors attend helpful application advice seminars, would benefit further from an earlier date The Campanile believes that Palo Alto High School’s second annual College Awareness Day was a success. The workshops helped further prepare students for the rigorous application process that can be stressful for many. Fred Ludskin provided seniors with beneficial tips to help with relaxation and contentment during the next few months. The Paly English teachers’ shared workshop on how to write college essays was very helpful. Their examples and handouts on how to construct an effective personal statement clarified the confusing college essay writing process. Since students receive a limited amount of instruction regarding their essays, the workshop was an effective element of College Awareness Day. The college interview workshop was both useful and entertaining for students. Seniors were able to collect important tips on how to present themselves during interviews, beginning with when they first walk into the coffee shop or admissions office, all the way until the interview ends. Students heard funny yet important stories about college interviews. This workshop helped seniors gain valuable information regarding how to make an impres-
sion and how to conduct themselves throughout the interview process. Dr. Fred Luskin’s presentation during the second half of College Awareness Day was interesting and unique. He allowed students to take away many key points that sometimes fall through the cracks, such as how useful it can be to simply sit back and take a couple of deep breaths. Dr. Luskin kept students engaged and amused and gave opportunities for students to talk with their friends about happiness. Dr. Luskin emphasized the importance of positive reenforcement and not letting oneself become too stressed. The Campanile believes that College Awareness Day went well but could take place at the end of junior year or at the very beginning of senior year so that students who are applying to colleges early will still have over a month to benefit from College Awareness Day. This is preferable to having just two weeks to put the new information to use. If College Awareness Day were to be moved to an earlier date, students would not already be halfway through college applications, and would have the chance to utilize the tools that the workshops and speaker could provide them with.
The Campanile
Letters to the Editors New administration more open, present on campus
Paly urged to take action against portables
As most of the students at Paly have noticed, the school’s administration has changed. The replacement of Dr. McEvoy with Mr. Winston is a positive change towards the handling of school policies and day-to-day activities. For example, I had no idea what the former principal looked like until I saw a picture of her during her resignation. Principal Winston on the other hand, is often seen walking around campus and greeting students. As I was walking to class, I saw him collecting trash such as wrappers and old Jamba Juice cups from the ground. Actions such as those are clear demonstrations of how humble of a man he is. Overall, I am glad we have a new head in charge and am anxious to seeing more changes ahead.
Seriously. The once beautiful open space surrounded by the library, the gym, and the tower building is now occupied with ugly brown portables or rusty fences surrounding blotches of grass and dirt. What is up with that? I am aware that there are many complaints from the Paly students regarding the portables, and I am obviously one of them. I agree unanimously that the portables not only spoil the beautiful atmosphere Paly used to have, but they also make it harder for us to get to class and find our friends during brunch and lunch. Though this is only temporary while the new media buildings are being constructed, I think that Paly could have established a better way of moving the portables—perhaps by the outdoor basketball courts behind the gym? I mean, no one even goes there. Why place them in the smack middle of the school and creating obstacles for the students and staff? The center of communication, socialization, and the school atmosphere is now diffused around the hideous blocks of brown. Furthermore, it is harder for us to find our classes. Teachers aren’t happy when we are late for class, and we as students have to deal with that. It just creates even more unnecessary burden for us. Therefore, for Paly’s best interest, I think that the administration should do something about this issue.
—Azad Balabanian, sophomore
Bristol Palin should not be considered a star I think that it is horrendous that Bristol Palin is on “Dancing with the Stars.” The fact that word “star” has been distorted and warped to include daughters of political figures is disgusting. You don’t see Sasha and Malia Obama using their fame to get on the Disney channel. Now, some people would argue that she is a “star” because she was on the cover of several well-read magazines like People. To them, I am quick to say that the only reason she was on those magazines is because her mother’s political prominence vaulted her pregnancy to the front of the newsrooms. From there, drama with her boyfriend Levi played out her 15 minutes of fame until normal citizens were more likely to know her relationship status than her mother’s political views. If her mother weren’t so famous, nothing about Bristol would be newsworthy. So, by acknowledging her “stardom” (even though without her mother, she would be less known than the fourth Jonas brother,) “Dancing with the Stars” is rewarding the repulsively skewed “news” media system that resulted in the “stardom” of Lauren Conrad and “the Situation”. So “Dancing with the Stars” and, for that matter, ABC, you should be deeply ashamed of what you’ve done, because until we break the current cycle, the world will be forced to endure political statements from Snooki, never ending news about Spencer & Heidi drama and a reality show about the Kardashians. For the sake of world sanity, please hear this plea.
—Grace Fang, sophomore
Paly spirit to improve under new administration I have been a Paly parent since 2004 and witnessed the past administration and its influence on the spirit of the student body. After having some contact with the new leaders, I must say that I am very impressed and cautiously optimistic. Principal Winston seems genuinely interested in restoring trust between parents, students and the administration. He is very approachable and can be spotted all over the campus and at Paly sporting events. I find this a refreshing change and hope that the students will respond positively to this by increasing their school spirit and once again begin attending school dances. The student body needs to come to the realization that breathalyzers are probably here to stay for better or worse. I understand that Gunn also breathalyzes students, and they have excellent attendance at their dances. Once this becomes more routine, students can overcome their apprehension and enjoy themselves.
—Charlie Dulik, sophomore
—Rachel Brooks, Paly parent
The Campanile Editors in Chief Nadav Gavrielov • Grace Harris • Rachel Mewes Madison Sevilla • Rachel Stober • Lillian Xie
News Editor
Opinion Editor
Lifestyles Editor
William Lee
Noa Dagan
Helen Chen
Sports Editors
Spotlight Editor
Advertising Managers
John Brunett Brandon Nguyen
Justin Choi
Camille Ezran Maya Krasnow
Business Development
Copy Editor
Photo Editor
Elliott Beckstrom
Mikey Abrams
Marc Havlik
Staff Writers Michael Augustine 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 Hannah Park Riki Ratner Rebecca Ruff Jack Scarpino Ashley Shin Austin Smith Annabel Snow
Hannah Totte Ashley Swendseid Tanvi Verma Nikki Whitson Lauren Wong Jordan Zenger
Photographers Star Strul • Susan Heinselman • Alex Lin • Riki Ratner • Lauren Wong Advisor Esther Wojcicki 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.
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 Business Managers by email at campanile.ads@gmail.com.
OPINION
The Campanile
October 25, 2010 • A5
Final examinations should take place before winter break Both students and faculty would benefit from earlier testing dates and a stress-free vacation Each year in mid-December, Palo Alto High School students rejoice at the promise of a twoweek long winter holiday. Unfortunately, for most, finals and long-term homework assignments distract from what could be a stress free break. Palo Alto Unified School District should rearrange the school year’s schedule to ensure that graceharris first semester ends before winter in my opinion break. This would guarantee that no student would feel the pressure to study for final exams or work on assignments during his or her much needed hiatus. A new schedule would greatly decrease student stress, remove the flawed no homework policy and allow students to enjoy their winter break more thoroughly. In a recent poll administered by The Campanile, an overwhelming percentage of Paly students supported moving first semester finals to before winter break. PAUSD must recognize student opinions when making these important decisions as students are affected most by the school year’s schedule. Winter break is the only holiday during the school year in which students are supposed to leave schoolwork aside, yet final exams occur a mere two weeks after students return to classes. This forces many students to begin studying during their two weeks off. Exams carry a significant amount of stress for students, especially those who are on the border of two grades. A successful final can easily move a grade from a C+ to a B- and a failed test will do the opposite. There may be no way to completely eradicate the stress that goes along with final exams, but there is no reason that students should have to spend their entire holiday breaks worrying about their final grades. If finals occurred before break, students would have a better idea of their semester grades and the added stress of finals would already be forgotten. “I think it’s a great idea,” social studies teacher Grant Blackburn said. “For me personally, I can’t see a great reason why we wouldn’t have finals before winter break. Coming back from winter break and then going to take finals after we’ve all been off for two weeks, nobody performs well under those circumstances you have to review. It’s a lot of wasted time.” Paly’s current policy to create a relaxing winter break is rarely effective. While teachers are not allowed to give assignments that are due the first week after the holiday, there have been many incidents where this has not worked. Some teachers give students the option of turning in a large project or essay either before break or after. Giving students the choice serves as a loophole in the rule, but does not eliminate the possibility of work during the break.
Riki Rattner/Campanile
Palo Alto High School students have expressed a desire to take first semester final exams before winter break. Currently, the finals are scheduled for two weeks after break. This tight schedule creates stress for students and reduces the relaxation time that is needed as a break from academics. Other teachers assign a substantial project before winter break and make it due the first possible day they can, ensuring that some students will get started early so they do not have to return to school and immediately rush through a large assignment. Many teachers ignore the policy entirely. Having finals before the holidays would make certain that students are not forced to spend their precious two weeks struggling through schoolwork. “If we can find some way where nobody has work to do over break and nothing is hanging over their heads, not for teachers and not for students, that would be awesome,” English teacher Julia Taylor said. “As long as we can work out the kinks and the details, it would be fine for students because then they can go home over winter break and say ‘I am now completely done.’ For students, I think it will be great.” Removing any chance of schoolwork over winter break would allow students to focus on other important
aspects of their education such as standardized test preparation and college applications. Most Paly juniors take their Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) in late winter or early spring. A winter break free from class work would allow students to set aside that time to study for these important exams. Regular decision college applications are mostly due in early January, making winter break a crucial time for many seniors. Without having to focus on studying for finals, seniors could finish their applications without any added stress. There are several changes that the administration must make to the schedule over the course of the year in order to move finals from January to December, the benefits greatly outweigh the few minor inconveniences. The school year would have to start a week or two earlier, meaning that students would return to school closer to mid-August.
This would also mean that the school year would end a couple weeks early. Summer would begin at the end of May rather than half way through June. Moving finals before winter break would by no means add time to the school year. It would merely shift the entire year two weeks earlier. While this may take some time to get used to, adjusting two weeks at the beginning and end of the year is a minimal inconvenience. The majority of high schools in the bay area have finals before winter break, making it a plausible option for Paly and Henry M. Gunn High School as well. There is no reason that PAUSD should not shift the school year’s schedule and make it possible for high school finals to occur before the holiday break. This would have numerous benefits for Paly students, decreasing stress and allowing more time for other pursuits. PAUSD should listen to Paly students, almost 80 percent of whom voted to make the change and shift finals before winter break.
College Awareness Day aids students in college preparation
Seniors attended educational seminars while juniors, underclassmen took preparatory exams Growing up in the “Palo Alto bubble,” Palo Alto High School students often delude themselves into believing that everyone in the community is presented with the same opportunities. It is this blatant ignorance that noadagan makes it even more in my opinion difficult for those who need assistance to ask for it. College Awareness Day, a day dedicated to exploring, planning and applying for college, provides all students with a chance to learn more and gain the tools to better prepare themselves for life after high school. Many Paly seniors and even juniors have private college counselors to help them write essays and aid them along the application process. These counselors can cost thousands of dollars, money that a great deal of the Paly population does not have or is not willing to spend. For a majority of people, the Paly College and Career Center(CCC) is the only means of gaining knowledge regarding college and other post-high school plans. While the CCC is ideal for obtaining information about college, the application process requires a hands-on approach, which is simply not possible to provide for all of the roughly 400 students in each grade. College Awareness Day allows students to get this hands on effect to prepare to apply to college. Last year marked the first official College Awareness Day and it has expanded greatly since then. Seniors were able to choose from a number of different seminars to attend.
Alex Lin/Campanile
College Awareness Day provided seniors with useful information and seminar workshops. Some of the stations included essay writing tips, non traditional routes to success, finding your passion and advice for college interviews. Among these were non-traditional routes to success and advice for college interviews. The nine seminars started at 9 a.m. and included topics ranging from college essay advice to finding one’s passion. For those interested in California State Universities(CSU), California Community Colleges or Universities of California(UC), there was a seminar for help with the CSU
VERBATIM
application, one for community college registration help, and a UC application case study to help with the two required essays. Lastly, there was a more open-ended seminar called Project Happiness, which involved a “series of fun introspective activities,” according to the CCC. Allowing seniors to choose which class to attend provided for a more personalized experience, but students could have further
benefited from multiple shorter classes. Directly following the seminars, seniors were treated to a talk by Dr. Fred Luskin who discussed stress, happiness and the social aspect of post-high school planning. Although some seniors had their parents call in their absence for the day, most of the seminars, especially those about college essay help, were full. However, this was not the case with Dr.
Luskin’s lecture. Because no roll was taken, very few students attended the speech and the theatre was barely half-filled although the number of attendees does not speak to the quality of the presentation. His address effectively aided students in understanding the source of their stress and gave tips regarding the achievement of happiness. “[Dr. Luskin] was actually inspiring,” senior Cory Valenti said. “He made me want to go out and pinpoint the causes of my stress and eliminate them immediately, and he told us exactly how.” He was not only helpful, but he also allowed for some much-needed humor throughout the speech. Overall his presence created a positive closing tone to College Awareness Day. While seniors were listening to seminars and Dr. Luskin’s speech, juniors and underclassmen were taking college preparatory exams. The juniors took the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT) while the freshmen and sophomores took the Explore and Plan tests, respectively. The Explore and Plan are both tests comparable to the PSAT, but they are taken as indicators of future scores on the American College Testing (ACT) rather than the SAT. As the ACT becomes increasingly popular in schools all over the country, it becomes more imperative that Paly prepares students equally for both tests. Although some underclassmen complained about having to take another standardized test, this step in familiarizing students with the ACT as well will increase the number of people who are aware of their options. As a whole, College Awareness Day was a success and should continue to expand in the years to come.
What was your most embarrassing Halloween costume?
Compiled by Grace Harris, Rachel Mewes and Marc Havlik
“I was a dog bone in first grade.”
“I was a three headed monster ... by myself.”
“A marshmallow.”
“I was a salad bar.”
“I was a field mouse.”
Molly McComas
Michael Cullen
Fionn Ruder
Marina Foley
Helen Butler
sophomore
senior
freshman
junior
senior
A6 • October 25, 2010
S P O T L I G H T
The Campanile
the door in pure joy Whe spot on Student to Chipo Trader J Paly stu after a m Acc most stu 36% of s lunch, 4 across t lunch fr Kno over 15 So whet a wrap f ning the as Paly s “[Ko tastes b try,” jun a good p Tuc ages to c is deceiv looked p “Th of there Kore though t “My Barbequ How Barbequ “I lo “Me and meal wh a lot of f Acco ordered
E l
C a m i n o
The Campanile
*results from a voluntary online survey conducted by The Campanile
By Clara Chang and Electra Colveaz Staff Writers
There’s only one time during the school day when the sound of a bell brings the majority of Palo Alto High students to push back their chairs, toss eir binders back in their bags and rush out the classroom n an animated frenzy that could only be described as y – it’s lunch time. ether this excitement is to run out to find a nice sunny n the quad to enjoy a home-packed lunch, to go to the t Activity Center for a hot lunch, to hop in the car to drive otle or maybe just to run across the street for a salad from Joe’s, it is time to find out what really is in the average udent’s lunch box and what goes into their stomachs’ mere 45 minutes of lunch time. cording to a survey taken by Paly students from all grades, udents rush to Town and Country Village for lunch. While students prefer to stay on campus with a home brought 41% of students’ preferable destination for lunch is right the street; 13% prefer to go off campus and only 3% buy rom the Student Activity Center regularly. own as “T and C” by most Paly students, the square offers restaurants, a full-stocked Trader Joe’s as well as a CVS. ther one is running over to grab a panini from Mayfield or from Calafia, there are plenty of options available. Wine majority of the votes, Korean Barbeque was declared students’ favorite place to go to at Town and Country. orean Barbeque is] the most bang for your buck, and better than basically anywhere else in Town and Counnior Ben Sneider said. “The best part [is] a lot of food for price.” cked away in a small 15 x 15 room that somehow mancontain 20 hungry teenagers at a time, Korean Barbeque ving in its appearances. But clearly, Paly students have past the little room for a lot of fast, delicious food. hey work fast,” Sneider said. “Once you order, you’re out e in less than two seconds.” ean Barbeque offers a variety of Korean treasures, althere is some controversy on just how “Korean” the food is. y least favorite restaurant at Town and Country is Korean ue because it just tastes so fake,” senior Jeremy James said. wever, the majority of students have praised Korean ue’s dishes and prices. ove going to Korean Barbeque,” junior Tory Prati said. d the bros hit it up and just chill. I go with the money hich is fried rice, spicy chicken and pot stickers. You get food for only five or six dollars.” ording to the owner of the restaurant, the most frequently d dishes are the barbeque chicken, fried rice and chow
S P O T L I G H T
October 25, 2010 • A7
“Usually I get a half pre-made sandwich,” senior Nabeel Sami said. “I like [the Cheese House] because it’s fast, convenient and tastes good.” However, full custom sandwiches cost $8, which to many students, is far from a bargain. “The sandwiches are definitely good,” Sami said. “But eight bucks isn’t worth paying for a sandwich. Other places at T and C have sandwiches and they don’t charge eight bucks.” While some students think that Cheese House’s “special sauce” is worth the $8, the survey showed that most just go for the $1 loaves. Finally, also in third place, is the newest addition to Town and Country village – Trader Joe’s. So far very successful in the Palo Alto community, Trader Joe’s now provides a variety of lunch choices and snacks for the Paly student at reasonable cost. “Trader Joe’s is the only place at Town and Country that literally offers anything you could want for lunch,” sophomore Caroline Vericat said. “The salads are really good.” Salads, chips, power bars, juices, candy and crazily cheap water are all available for students to create a delicious lunch. “I always find something there when I go,” Frozenfar said. “There are so many options and for cheap, too. I absolutely love that place.” During lunchtime, the students of Palo Alto High School overwhelm Town & Country locations in their quest for food. The rest of the student body brings a home-made meal, drives elsewhere for lunch or mooches off of what they can from hesitant peers. According to a poll, students favor going to Town & Country for lunch over all other options, but that doesn’t mean they always eat there. The small population of Paly who do not cross the street, bring food or drive off-campus, find nourishment in the Student Activities Center. The Student Center provides small snacks, sandwiches, pizza and beverages to those unwilling to pay for the exorbitantly priced food at Town & Country. mein and all cost from two to ten dolNot surprisingly, the preferred item at the Student Center are the cookies. lars depending on the portions. “The Student Center is Paly’s cafeteria you can get anything from “When lunch comes around, Korean Barbeque pop-tarts, to lunch and ping pong! At least that’s what all the cool kids do,” is a great place to eat at a reasonable price,” junior Nasophomore Katherine Maniscalco said, “I get cookies at brunch all the time.” than Bills said. “Their choices are all tasty, and I especially like In a poll of 109 Paly students, 25 stated they purchase cookies when the spicy chicken.” they go to the Student Center. The most popular main courses are pizza, Tied for second place, Lulu’s and Village Cheese House have and chicken sandwiches accompanied by a Hansen’s soda. caught the attention of Paly students as well. Those who are lucky enough to have cars tend to go off campus for Lulu’s, a Mexican restaurant, offers a $5 deal for one decently lunch. According to the student poll, the top four places to eat lunch off sized “Pronto” burrito with a choice of meat (steak, chicken campus are; Chipotle, In N’ Out Burger, Spot Pizza and Pinkberry. At or pork), cheese, beans and rice. Add a drink and some chips Chipotle, custom made burritos are most popular, allowing students to and salsa for $7. change it up. “Their burritos are filling and delicious!” junior Sapir Fro“I probably go to Chipotle once a week at least. Its just so delicious. I zenfar said. “The steak is undoubtedly my favorite.” get a chicken burrito with everything in there, including the corn, which Besides the most popular deals there, which according to is the secret to a good burrito,” junior Tory Prati said. Lulu’s staff is the steak Pronto burrito, Lulu’s offers the typical At In N’ Out, burgers, cheeseburgers and fries are typical, and at Mexican taqueria’s dishes of tacos, burritos and quesadillas for Spot, pizza is the only way to go. Pinkberry and Spot tied for third in a pricier number. the off campus portion of the poll. All being relatively close to campus Back closer to Korean Barbeque is Douce France, which also allows students to get food and return to class on time in the forty got second place. A French café, Douce France offers anywhere minute lunch period. from cakes and little French delicacies to baguette sandwiches Some students have there own obscure spots, for example, and foccacias to soup and coffee. Schaubs Meat, Fish & Poultry in Stanford Mall. Schaubs is a fine “[The most frequently ordered things are] the chocolate foods deli which is generally not popular with students because of its croissants, the sandwich Parisian with ham, turkey or salami, high prices and raw meats. However, on occasion, certain students and the cinnamon twist,” a cashier at Douce France said. “The like to order steak sandwiches for around $7 to treat themselves. next big thing is the Chai [tea].” “It’s not an every week thing, only when you have money to Quaint and adorable, Douce France is quite endearing to blow,” senior Graham Marchant said. many students, whether it’s their pastries or the classy, French Another Stanford Mall destination is Sprinkles cupcakes. While decor. Town & Country has Kara’s Cupcakes, some prefer Sprinkles. “I love the atmosphere,” sophomore Bria Vicenti said. “The “When Sprinkles arrived my family bought every single variety pastries are really good so when I’m craving something sweet, and dissected them so we could try a morsel of each,” senior Emma I normally end up going there. The cinnamon twists are really Lenke said. ” Now, I get my fix on an almost daily basis, generally good and so are the crepes. Oh, and the sandwiches! I get those during my prep, and it’s embarrassing how well the employees all the time.” know me. I hope to get a job there later this year.” Douce France’s variety makes it a good spot for all meals, Sprinkles sends out several text messages every week containwhether one is just stopping in for a sweet treat or looking for ing a code or phrase for a free cupcake. Also included in the text a sturdier meal. According to the survey, Paly students most is the maximum number of people who can use the code before frequently order the Parisian sandwiches and the ham and the cupcakes run out, for example, it might be the first 25 people. cheese focaccias, which both cost about $3 to $4. Upon repeating the phrase to an employee at Sprinkles, the student “I think it can be kind of expensive, but as long as you know gets a free cupcake. what you’re buying it’s fine,” Vicenti said. “Their pastries and “I’ve broken a law or two trying to get to sprinkles in time. sandwiches are fine priced, but their cookies and crepes are There is always a time crunch, whether it be to make it there in the pricey.” first 25 people or to get there and back from Paly during brunch,” Third place was also tied between Village Cheese House senior Brandon Dukovic said. and Trader Joe’s. The least popular lunch scenario is students bringing there Tucked in a cozy corner of Town and Country is the Village own lunches. Most would prefer to buy food off campus or at Cheese House. Town & Country, but high prices keep them from buying everyday. Although the place specializes in its gourmet cheeses, “I bring lunch because Town & Country is really expensive, I most Paly students go to the Cheese House for a custom-made make a cinnamon raisin bagel with light spread cream cheese,” sandwich or just a loaf of Dutch Crunch bread with some dip- junior Gabe Wolf said. ping sauce.
A8 • October 25, 2010
OPINION
The Campanile
Gubernatorial candidates both bring distinct qualities to election While Brown has ample experience in politics, Whitman presents a strong business background California faces a $20 billion dollar deficit and a failing school system, two problems that make the elections this November crucial in deciding the direction California will take for the next four years. Voters will need to choose between Republican candidate Meg Whitman and Democratic candidate Jerry benkrasnow Brown. Jerry Brown should be the in my opinion next governor of California because he will most effectively solve California’s problems. Brown has experience as an elected official in California; his plan for solving the budget crisis will create jobs and stimulate California’s economy. Brown has served in government for most of his career, and therefore has the experience needed to solve California’s many problems. He served as Secretary of State of California from 1971 to 1975 and prosecuted companies, specifically Gulf Oil, Mobile Oil (known as Exxon Mobile today) and Standard Oil for violations of campaign finance law, according to the Attorney General’s Website jerrybrown.org. Winning these high profile cases allowed Brown to win the governorship in the next state election, which he held from 1975 to 1983. While governor, 1.9 million new jobs were created in California and a law was passed requiring school districts in California to write out graduation requirements. Under Brown, the kindergarten through 12th grade budget increased from $2.1 billion in 1975 to about $8.1 billion in 1983, according to Brown’s campaign website. This successful experience is one reason why voters should choose Brown this November. His experience will be valuable in solving the problems like the failing school system, because he understands the necessity of investing in schools, as seen by the budget increase when he was governor. In 1999, Brown was elected the mayor of the city of Oakland. During his term, Oakland attracted over 200 new businesses to downtown according to Brown’s campaign website. He also founded two charter schools, the Oakland School for the Arts and the Oakland Military Institute. Brown is the current Attorney General of California, which has given him even more experience in government— something that Meg Whitman cannot claim to have. Due to his experience in government, Brown be able to start solving problems immediately, whereas Whitman will have to receive “on the job training,” according to Brown. Another reason why Brown should be the next governor is his plan to restore California’s budget. Brown has a reputation for being frugal in managing government spending. As governor, he twice vetoed proposed pay raises for state employees, even refusing a pay raise of his own. Under Brown, California built up a surplus of $5 billion in eight years. As Attorney General, he cut the operating budget of the Attorney General’s office by 10 percent and cut down on unnecessary expenses that returned $296 million to the state budget. The two most crucial parts of Brown’s plan are to grow California’s economy and reduce government spending. To grow the economy, Brown plans to create jobs by investing in clean energy, for example, installing solar panels on government and commercial buildings. Brown also wants to create new infrastructure like roads, bridges, buildings and public transportation, which will create construction jobs and wants to invest in education
by overhauling the state testing program to reduce its costs, which are currently over $100 million. To reduce government spending, Brown plans to reduce prison costs by releasing elderly and terminally ill inmates as well as reform Medi-Cal programs by intensifying antifraud efforts and encouraging competition between Medi-Cal and private insurers. This is a vital part of this election because California faces a $20 billion deficit, and needs to focus on stimulating the economy as well as cutting government spending. These ideas, once put into practice, will help to stimulate the economy and help California get rid of its massive debt. Futhermore, Brown should be governor because his leading opponent Meg Whitman will not solve the problems that California has. Whitman might have been the chief executive officer of eBay, but that does not necessarily qualify her to run a state that has more problems than even the biggest failing company. Whitman’s proposed solutions will create more problems than they will solve. For example, she talks about creating jobs by eliminating taxes, but this will only further the budget
Television stations in California have seen much crude advertising these past few weeks, due to the approaching gubernatorial election on Nov. 2 between Republican Meg Whitman and Democrat Jerry Brown. While the majority of Palo Altans are Brown supporters, looking at the election with a more conservative point of tanvivarma view can help voters get a better idea of whom they want to vote for. in my opinion Both Whitman and Brown began campaigning early in the year, and both have clear visions for how to fix the countless problems California faces. Whitman would make the best candidate because her campaign has several important key points: it creates jobs, cuts government spending and aims to fix the Californian education system. Whitman plans on creating jobs by cutting the “factory tax,” promoting investments in the agricultural
VERSUS
swcomment
crisis. Another example is that she plans to cut spending by turning the legislature into a part-time legislature instead of a full-time one; however, this will only lengthen the time necessary to accomplish goals, like balancing the budget, which is a crisis that needs to be solved as soon as possible. Whitman’s solutions to California’s primary problems will only cause more problems. Jerry Brown should be governor because he is the best choice for California to solve its problems. He has the experience necessary to deal with these problems and has the political will power to do it. His opponent is under-qualified and will only cause more drawbacks for California which is in desperate need for change. Jerry Brown undoubtedly deserves your vote for governor of California.
blogs.sacbee
industry and eliminating the state tax on capital gain. The factory tax forces manufacturing companies to cut jobs and spending. “By eliminating the factory tax, high paying manufacturing jobs in California will be kept instead of cut,” according to Whitman’s website. Whitman plans to stop unnecessary spending in Sacramento by turning the political system into a parttime legislation and defending the two-thirds budget requirement for approving state budgets and taxes. “Through categorical grants, education will be improved by directing more money to classrooms,” according to megwhitman.com. California’s educational system has dropped to 47th place, as of 2009, while being at 46th place in 2005, accord-
ing to the Morgan Quitno Press, a publishing company that compiles books of statistics of state crime, health rates and education. The Palo Alto Unified School District is one of the best in the country, but other cities in California do not have the same luxury and privileges that Paly provides for its students. Whitman will distribute funds left over from state funding to school districts to spend or save as they please, therefore boosting the quality of teachers and administration and increasing parent involvement, which is important in a child’s educational development. Furthermore, Whitman’s view on gay marriage is liberal conservative. She supported Propostition 8, saying that marriage should remain between a man and a woman, but believes that gay and lesbian couples should not only be recognized, but also should be allowed to adopt children, she said at the Oct. 13 gubernatorial debate. Whitman’s ability to uphold her core values while being able to adjust to public opinion is especially impressive in a candidate. Although this aspect of Whitman’s campaign is morally at fault, it’s more support than what Republicans usually give to gay and lesbian couples. California is home to some of the most dangerous cities in the country with Stockton in fifth place and Oakland in third place, according to Forbes’ Magazine. Oakland is infamous for its rampant and violent crime, with good reason. The city itself has about two and a half times more crime than San Francisco and New York City individually. Making cities safe in the hub of California is essential for economical development, and Whitman plans to focus considerable energy into doing so. Whitman also supports keeping the hallucinogenic drug marijuana illegal. “This is a gateway drug whose use would expand greatly among our children were it to be legalized,” according to megwhitman.com. The environment is also a key focus of Whitman’s campaign. She opposes any new drilling on the California coast, and instead wants to wait until technology is advanced enough for only minimal drilling to be required. Enhancing air quality is one of the key goals for the environment. By introducing new policies on clean air around ports and business centers, she hopes to decrease smog and congestion, which are some of the leading causes of childhood asthma and other smog-related illnesses, according to healthcentral.com. Brown’s campaign only shows what he has already done as governor to reduce pollution, and little is said about what he will actually do to reduce the carbon dioxide impact on the planet. Whitman is a business woman. She introduced the auction site, eBay, to the world and had it expanded from 15 employees to almost 30,000. It is now worth billions of dollars in stock. Having a business perspective in Sacramento could likely improve the state’s chances of getting out of the $20 billion deficit. Whitman is a controversial politician because of what has happened to her personally and financially. However, all politicians must be controversial to make an impact. Having a new business view on California instead of an old recycled one can increase chances of success, and having California back to its former glory. Whitman’s three step plan on recreating California is much stronger than Brown’s. Throughout the campaign, Brown has only talked about his past achievements and failures, while Whitman looks ahead. It is time we thought about our future and stopped comparing it to the past?
Cyberbullying creates unseen, detrimental effects on Paly students In light of the re“Honesty Box and Bathroom Wall have cent cyberbullying- caused students to feel victimized,” Totte said. related suicide at RutThese applications allow anonymous gers University, many comments, which cyberbullies use to tarteens across the coun- get others, even though students who feel try have been greatly personally persecuted may simply delete an affected, including application to avoid being bullied, the issue students at Palo Alto still exists. High School. “Even if you take down a website, the On Sept. 22, 2010, problem is still going to be there,” Ackroyd 18-year-old freshman said. annabelsnow at Rutgers, Tyler ClemHowever, the question still remains of enti, a victim of cyber- how to prevent cyberbullying at Paly. Cyberin my opinion bullying, took his own bullying will most likely always exist in some life. After having a sexual encounter with his form, but it is important that the Paly compartner in his dorm room, Clementi’s room- munity takes action to help students who feel mate, who had planted a video camera in helpless in situations like these. their dorm room earlier that day, posted the “It would be more effective if teachers or live footage on the Internet. Clementi, who authority figures went into classrooms and was not yet comfortable with telling others talked to students about it,” junior Charlie that he was gay, could not handle the stress Hebert said. from this incident. A crucial aspect of preventing cyberbulStress from cyberbullying can often lying is spreading awareness to all students lead to depression and suicide as seen in at Paly, preferably by authority figures such this recent case, and therefore should not be as teachers. If students were aware of the tolerated at Paly. drastic impact on others from bullying, and However, it seems that people who resort the consequences that could result from to cyberbullying may not realize the actual participating in harassing others, bullying affects it will have on the victims. would most likely be treated as a more seri“They want to make themselves feel bet- ous issue at Paly. ter, or they just think it’s funny,” sophomore As well as informing students, it is imGenevieve Lucas-Conwell said. portant that those who have participated Whether people bully for joy or due to in cyberbullying evaluate the situation and insecurities, it is absolutely unacceptable. figure out what lead them to act in such a It is crucial to look at the perspective of a way that hurts others. victim. It is doubtful that anyone would be “People should try to confront the reahappy to receive a hurtful message through sons why they cyberbully, instead of taking it the Internet. out on other people,” Totte said. “It’s definitely different when you hear If those associated with bullying ap[about cyberbullying] from someone’s per- proached the situation in a different spective who is fashion, and asked suffering,” junior themselves why they “Even if you take down a website, Suzanna Ackroyd resorted to hurting the problem is still going to be said. others in the first Pe o p l e d o there.” place, they would not often think of hopefully choose to Suzanna Ackroyd turn over a new leaf the consequences that come with Junior and resolve their own sending a “simple problems as opposed message” over the to harming their Internet and the peers. impact it could have on someone. “Sometimes it comes from a deep-rooted Popular websites such as Facebook and issue that a person has, and other times I Formspring are known to be easily accessible don’t even think it’s intentionally meant to for bullying. Applications on Facebook such be that dramatic or hurtful, but people are as “Bathroom Wall” and “Honesty Box” have really sensitive to it,” Ackroyd said. caused many students at Paly to feel harassed, The Internet is a popular place for people according to freshman Josh Totte. to release anger. However, even though they
formspring
Popular social networking sites such as Formspring and Facebook are primary examples of often brutal online bullying and hatred. This vicious harassment can frequently lead to student depression, stress and even suicide. may be oppressing others as a result of their own issues, this problem needs to be resolved or at least reduced. Doctor Harold Koplewicz, a national leading psychiatrist for children and adolescents, wrote an article “The Psychiatric Issues Behind Cyberbullying,” discussing peer aggression and the effects of cyberbullying on young adults. “A study forthcoming in the Archives of Suicide Research found that youth who have been victims of cyberbullying are almost twice as likely as victims of traditional bullying to have attempted suicide,” Koplewicz’s article stated. Unfortunately, cyberbullies often do not seem to realize the negative impacts of their actions. Especially because they usually do not have the opportunity to witness the reaction of those who have been hurt first hand. “Since cyberbullying occurs in virtual space (and without physical contact), victims can experience the double anguish of being powerless to stop their harassment
and unable to prove who’s harassing them,” Koplewicz said. “As for cyberbullies, they can be more vicious, their feelings of empathy minimized, since they don’t see the impact of their meanness.” Another possibility to think about is that many who participate in “bullying” may not realize they are partaking in such an act, and are not aware that they are hurting another in any way. This is important to comprehend because if students are informed about issues like these, they may change the way some talk to each other on the Internet. Conversing online is different than talking face-to-face, because one can never be certain who one is actually talking to, and when the inflection is lost, it can be hard to tell the meaning of what someone says. Many times people interpret things differently based on tone and language, which can be difficult to decipher online. Koplewicz stressed, in his article, the importance of child-parent communication, in order to help kids resist aggression and
have respect for themselves and others. An anonymous survey taken by Paly students shows that 56 percent of students have not been taught about how to prevent cyberbullying from affecting them from their parents at home, and that about 52 percent of students feel that they were taught well at school how to protect themselves from it. A large amount of students also stated that they believe cyberbullying is unpreventable, or only stoppable by deleting accounts on Facebook or Formspring, which were voted the most common sources for bullying online. This certain form of harassment is unquestionably difficult to prevent. However, spreading awareness of cyberbullying would benefit the students at Paly. Also, punishing those involved in provocation and harassment toward other students could better the issue. “People need to realize that it is really stupid and makes them look like an insecure idiot when they cyber bully. If you have something to say, say it to someone’s face,” an anonymous source from a Paly survey said.
SPORTS
The Campanile
Monday, October 25, 2010
Budget cuts cripple UC Berkeley sports
SportsBriefs
Girls’ cross country focuses on CCS after strong performance The girls’ cross country team finished third overall at the Monterey Bay Invite at Toro Park on Oct. 15. “I thought everyone did really well,” sophomore Nora Rosati said.“[The race] had a bad rap because all the seniors said it was super scary, but I think we all decided in the end that it wasn’t so bad.” Now the team is focusing on the upcoming races to qualify for Central Coast Section (CCS) and Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL.) “We’re definitely in CCS,” Rosati said. “We’re all really excited for that and we’re definitely hoping to get to states.” The road to CCS will not be easy though. “We know it’s tough competition right now, but it’s definitely a goal of ours as a team,” Rosati said. At this point, each runner will focus on specific aspects of their running to improve for CCS and states qualifications. “Personally I need to work on my hill technique because that’s a big part of a lot of cross country courses we encounter,” junior Lydia Guo said. The team will be training hard for the rest of the practices in preporation for CCS. “We’re going to try and get in some good, tough runs, work on our hills and train hard before the next meet at Gunn,” senior co-captain Gracie Cain said. According to Coach Paul Jones, the team’s biggest competition is crosstown rival Henry M. Gunn High School and Carlmont High School. “The way it works in cross country is that we have the one meet up at Crystal Springs and if we finish in the top four teams at that meet, then we qualify for CCS,” Jones said. Jones is quite confident with the team’s ability to qualify for CCS. “We better qualify,” Jones said. “I don’t see a problem with that goal.” Looking further into the future, the top two teams from CCS will go on to the state meet, along with five individuals.
—Meghan Byrd Staff Writer
Boys’ cross country progresses as CCS, state competition near The boys’ cross country team finished 12 out of 24 teams at the Monterey Bay Invitational on Friday, Oct. 15 at Torro Park. “I felt that [the race] went really well because our practice was finally paying off,” junior Andre Guyet said. “I think we all improved just a bit, but we still have a lot of room for improvement, which is where the next two weeks come in to play.” Runners are displaying the feeling of improvement. “Comparing this race to our race at Crystal Springs a couple weeks ago it’s evident that the boys’ fitness level is increasing which is nice and a couple of guys are a little more healthy than they were,” Coach Joe Ginanni said. Runners are gaining experience with every race. “The purpose for going down there was that it’s one of the two courses where CCS championships take place, and that’s where they are this year,” Ginnani said. “A lot of the kids on this team haven’t raced there before so, as with all the races, it’s an opportunity for people to get racing experience and see where their own fitness level is at, but in particular at this meet it’s also good because it’s like a course we don’t usually run at.” For the team to advance to states, they must be in the top three teams at league championships or hit the automatic team time of 86:41. “As of right now, our focus is trying to make the team time because there’s a chance of us qualifying in the top three, but we don’t want to just be depending on that, we want everyone to be fit enough to run the team time,” Ginanni said.
—Meghan Byrd Staff Writer
Girls’ tennis looks to advance to CCS, despite tough losses After struggling with recent losses to Saratoga High School and Monta Vista High School, the Palo Alto High School girls’ tennis team hopes to rebound and finish the season strong. They are currently 8-7 overall as of Oct. 20.Their goal is to make the Central Coast Sectionals (CCS) finals. Coach Andy Harader believes that the team has a strong chance to compete in CCS, but does not think the team can overtake either Monta Vista or Saratoga in the future. “It’s good and bad for us; getting to play the best in the league, but automatically having four losses on record,” Harader said. “They’re just too good.” October yielded more success for the Vikings, beating cross town rival Henry M. Gunn High School 6-1. The match was played at Gunn under less than desirable conditions. Paly athletes prefer to play on their home court due to the superior upkeep. “Home matches are great because our courts are much nicer than everyone elses,” junior Amy Ke said. “Travelling to compete on worn out courts is such a pain.” On Tuesday Oct. 18, Paly lost to Sacred Heart Prep 3-4, a close match. According to Harader, the best play came from freshman Ashely Budhiraja. Budhiraja is a small 80-pound player with a powerful swing, proven by her varsity status in her freshman year. Ke is an important member of the Paly team. She received honorable mention in the Palo Alto Weekly as player of the week. New uniforms and sweats for team members have encouraged school spirit, but some team members are not enthusiastic. “The tank tops are just plain white and the bottoms are similar to green lacrosse skirts,” Ke said. The whole thing is pretty ugly.” Despite disliking the uniforms, the team likes the new grey sweatshirts, and several have been seen around campus. According to Ke, “swaggy” apparel encourages team spirit. “The team has improved since the beginning of the season, and we’re hoping to get to CCS and do well,” senior Sabrina Yeung said. The team has realistic goals for themselves, recognizing they are very unlikely to beat Saratoga or Monta Vista. The team does not expect to win CCS, but they hope to place well amongst the competition. The Vikings’ next match is Thursday Oct. 21 against Lost Alto High School and Paly aspires to win 5-2.
—Electra Colevas Staff Writer
University looks to reduce sports’ budget to $5 million by 2014 By Jillian Chacon Staff Writer
Summer brings rigorous training schedules for 803 student athletes at University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley.) One hundred and sixty-three of the 803 student athletes will not be participating in a sport beginning in the 2011-12 school year. In September, UC Berkeley announced the elimination of five intercollegiate sports teams including baseball, women’s lacrosse and men’s and women’s gymnastics. Men’s rugby was demoted to a varsity club sport. Rugby players were devastated when told the news . The men’s rugby team has participated in 25 National Collegiate Rugby Championships since 1980 and is by far the most successful intercollegiate sports team at UC Berkeley. Also, the men’s rugby team has produced six Olympians. According to a letter sent to the UC Berkeley News Center by Chancellor Robert Birgeneau, the men’s rugby team’s cut from the University will not affect its competitive opportunities. The rugby team will still have access to Cal’s sports and medicine facilities and for the next three years will be financially supported by the university until it is able to sustain itself. The athletic program is expected to take an estimated four million budget cut. The goal of the cuts are to reduce the campus budget support to the athletic department down to $5 million by 2014. Thirty-eight baseball players, 19 men’s gymnasts, 15 women’s gymnasts, 30 women’s lacrosse players and 61 men’s rugby players will be directly affected by the cuts, as well as 13 full-time coaches. “This plan preserves what sets Cal apart from the crowd — a rare combination of competitive excellence, academic achievement and community engagement,” Birgeneau told the UC Berkeley News Center. After a year of careful analysis and thought, Sandy Barbour, the Athletic Director at Cal, made the decision to cut the five teams. “I congratulate Sandy for having the courage to bite the bullet and endorse a level of [campus] support that is sustainable,” Birgeneau said during a UC Berkeley Press conference. Currently there are 150 more male athletes than female athletes at the university. However, the elimination of
berkeley
Rugby is one of the sports that has been hit by UC Berkeley’s budget cuts. Even with its status as Berkeley’s most successful intercollegiate sport, it has been moved from a Division 1 to club status. the rugby team, 61 male athletes, helped even out the gender proportions. The university will continue to honor the scholarships of the athletes whose teams were cut and who wish to stay at UC Berkeley. The athletes who wish to continue competing in their sport are allowed to under National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules. Those athletes do not have to sit out a year because their sports were cut. Baseball and women’s lacrosse seem to be the only sports that will have large transfer numbers.The men’s gymnastics program at the university is one of two West Coast Programs leaving few options for gymnasts. “I think it’s awful,” Toronto Blue Jays pitcher, Brandon Morrow and a former UC Berkeley baseball player told the Associated Press, “I think it’s embarrassing that a Pac-10 [Pacific-10 Conference] school is going to cancel their baseball program.” Berkeley graduate and Olympic swimmer, Natalie Coughlin wrote on her Twitter account that she was “extremely disappointed to hear about UC Berkeley having to cut five sports teams due to budget problems. If it wasn’t for my time as a student-athlete at UC Berkeley, I wouldn’t have earned my 11 Olympic medals.”
Non-athlete students are shocked because athletics are such an intergral part of the UC Berkely experience. The sport cuts have caused a decrease in the level of school spirit. Protesters have created Facebook groups in response to the cuts in the sports programs. One of the newly created groups is “Save Cal Lacrosse.” “Thank you for creating [the page],” an anonymous poster wrote on the “Save Cal Lacrosse” Upset protesters have made Facebook pages. It’s important Cal keeps lacrosse as a sport, for women, and for west coast lacrosse.” Birgeneau told New York Times that although the program has been reduced in size, the university’s commitment to athletics has not been reduced. “We went two years without hiring faculty, where we went a year with furloughs, where we laid off 500 paid workers, which we hated to do,”Birgeneau said. “We can’t justify university support of athletics at the level of $10 million, $15 million or $20 million. It’s just not possible.” UC Berkeley officials are optimistic towards the athletic program but players whose teams got cut are still in a state of shock. UC Berkeley is
ranked last in the Pac-10 in total number of staff per student athlete and seventh in sports medicine staff, according to the university’s athletic department. Birgeneau noted that Stanford is the only Pac-10 school which will house more intercollegiate sports teams than UC Berkeley, including after the changes are put in place in the 2011-12 school year. “I am not happy for anything to get cut, but I believe we should look at this in the context of far more serious losses we’ve had over the past year,” Computer Science Professor Brian Barsky said at a UC Berkeley Press Conference. “We’ve had hundreds upon hundreds of staff fired, libraries closed and roof leaks. All we’ve asked for is for the university to keep its academic priorities.” Pepperdine University removed their men’s varsity track program this year and next year are removing their women’s swimming and diving teams. In addition, University of California at Davis will be cutting four sports programs; women’s rowing, men’s swimming and diving, men’s wrestling and men’s indoor track and field. “Everyone deeply regrets the human toll theses decisions take,” Birgeneau said at a UC Berkeley press conference. “The cutting of the teams is over. This is it. It will result in a sustainable, financially responsible department.”
Waterpolo teams face strong competition Boys’, girls’ waterpolo continue to battle against strong opponents By Sam Blake Staff Writer
The Palo Alto High School boys’ water polo team continues a season full of ups and downs. On Tuesday Oct. 5, the boys edged out rival Henry M. Gunn High School for a narrow victory, giving the Vikings a 1514 win. Their overall record is 6-9 (5-5 league) as of Oct. 20. Two-meter defender, junior Aaron Zelinger was the leader in points with five goals and four steals. Junior goalkeeper Daniel Armitano saved nine shots for the Vikings and undoubtedly aided in Paly’s close victory. Later in the week, Paly took on Los Gatos High School at Paly. Recently, the Vikings took home yet another victory,
crushing Los Gatos by a score of 15-8. Sophomore Bret Pinsker was the leading scorer with an impressive seven goals and Aaron Zelinger was close behind with four goals for the Vikings. So far this season, the team has scored a total of 104 goals against opposing teams, as of Oct. 9. Zelinger leads the team with 23 season goals, and driver Ken Wattana is not far behind with 22 goals for the team after 12 games. After an unrewarding rigorous 7-9 loss against Monta Vista High School on Oct. 14, the team plans to regroup for the rest of the season. “We need to work on our game offensively, we also need to be more aggressive with the
ball,” Zelinger said. “However, the most important thing is that we adjust more accordingly to the circumstances of the game.” The team hopes to win the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) championship. Paly will have to rally and beat top-ranked Los Altos and Monta Vista High School in their upcoming match-ups.The Paly boys are in for some difficult match-ups in the future. The team also needs to improve on their unity. “We need to improve on our communication,” freshman Will Conner said. “On the water, I feel like some other teams have better communication. We need to start trying harder, our work ethic needs to improve. The team is still
MArc Havlik/Campanile
Senior Marcos Matta (bottom) and junior Aaron Zelinger (top) work together on an offensive play during practice in preparation for their upcoming games.
getting to know each other, however communication is always tough in an action-packed game.” The Paly boys are excited for the rest of the season and the possibilities are endless. The Paly girls’ water polo team continues through a challenging season. The girls battled against Menlo Atherton (MA), Gunn and Los Altos High School with varying amounts of struggle. They faced another defeat at the hands of their rival Gunn with a score of 6-9 on Oct. 6. However, the team was able to bounce back and crush Los Gatos with a score of 12-5. “It’s been a pretty good start to the season,” senior co-captain Haley Conner said. “We have a great group of girls with tons of talent, we just need to convert our talent into the games. The team was hit hard again after a brutal loss to Los Altos.” Junior Shannon Scheel expressed her confidence that the team would rebound after a disappointing loss to Los Altos . “We knew Los Altos would have a good team and we were prepared for a tough game,” Scheel said. “They executed their plays really well. We knew what plays were coming but we could not stop them. A lot of little mistakes just added up.” After the loss, the team beautifully recovered to crush Monta Vista High School with a score of 15-5. The team is excited to get another crack at arch rival Gunn on Oct. 28. “We are planning to win the league tournament,” Scheel said. “We are determined to play our hardest.” The team is full of ambition and is aiming high this year. With hard practices behind them, the team feels ready for
the upcoming schedule. The team is also trying some new strategies in the upcoming games. “We need to start coming out strong,” junior Skylar Dorosin said. “In previous games, we have come out flat and it has definitely hurt our performance during the game. Starting games down has really hurt the moral of the rest of the game. The team plans to work new areas of play during practice. “We need to work on movement in the front court. We also have to finish our plays stronger and be more decisive. We need to attack more on offense.” After tirelessly practicing, the girls continue to improve. With a great coach and very talented players, the team has a long road ahead, but with hard work and determination, they can pull through.
WATERPOLO BOYS
@ Monta Vista Oct. 14, L 9-7 @ Homestead Oct. 19, L 12-11
Upcoming games vs. Mountain View Oct. 26, 6:45 p.m. vs. Gunn Oct. 28, 5:30 p.m.
GIRLS
Scores
@ Monta Vista Oct. 14, L 12-5 @ Homestead Oct. 19, W 18-1
Upcoming games vs. Saratoga Oct. 26, 3:30 p.m. vs. Gunn Oct. 28, 6:45 p.m.
Flex College Prep
SPORTS Upperclassmen gain experience in medical field October 25, 2010 • A11
The Campanile
Paly senior, junior aid sports program by assisting athletics trainers Brandon Nguyen Sports Editor
As the musty smell of old shoes and sweat stains permeate from the boys’ locker room into the athletic training room, fall sport athletes begin their daily routine by changing into practice gear. Instead of going home and starting on their homework, senior Austin Wang and junior Keyenna Campbell begin to tape athlete’s injuries and observe the injury evaluations of sports trainers Stacey Kofman and Josh Goldstein in the athletic training room at Palo Alto High School. As athletes walk in, some are surprised to seeWang and Campbell taping ankles and preparing the water for the upcoming practice. While some students may feel awkward with the responsibility of helping athletes, Wang and Campbell have no problem with it. They both began helping out in the training room after taking Kofman’s Intro to Sports Medicine class, which made them knowledgeable and comfortable with the position. Wang’s interest in sports medicine as a hobby came as a result of spending time in the training room. “Part of the class requires us to get a certain amount of game time and training room time and just from that, I started really loving it,” Wang said. Both Wang and Campbell hope to pursue a career in medicine after they graduate Paly. Campbell wants to work in the field of athletic training in the future and Wang wants to go to medical school so he can become an orthopedic surgeon. “[Athletic training] is the closest thing I can get to hands-on exposure to medicine,” Wang said. “You can’t know if you want to be a doctor unless you know you can interact with people in the medical setting.” Wang and Campbell try to attend as many practices and games as they can. Campbell is at all the football games trying to help out in any way possible. She did not know what to expect with athletic training, but enjoys observing Kofman and Goldstein tape and evaluate athletes. “I thought it would be interesting,” Campbell said. “I look at Ms. Kofman and Josh tape people up or I tape people’s wrists or forearms.” Unlike a fan watching the game, Wang looks for injuries and opportunities to implement his training on the field. “At football games, I’m on the sidelines, somewhere among the mass of football players who tower over me,” Wang said. “I watch the game for injuries, so it’s a different perspective than watching for pleasure.” Wang uses each practice and game to try to learn about sports injuries. He enjoys learning about how players get injured and how to aid their recovery. “I’m rarely at any sport events other than football because football is such an intense contact sport that the possibility of injuries is
Alex lin/campanile
Senior Austin Wang (left) tends to varsity football player Colin Palmquist in the Paly training room. Junior Keyanna Campbell (right) wraps senior Maurice William’s arm before varsity football practice to support his wrist. Though just students, Wang and Campbell prove to be useful assistants. greater and therefore the chance of learning always be there in case he needs someone is too,” Wang said. to turn to.” Student athletic trainers do not only get The responsibilities for Wang and Campto learn more about sport injuries and how bell change depending on the day and what to recover from them, they also are important needs to be done. assistants to the athletic trainers. On practice days, the student athletic “It’s nice to have an extra set of hand trainers tape players under the supervision and eyes when you need to be in two plac- of either Kofman or Goldstein. On game es at once,” Goldstein days, they will prepare said. “Somebody can be “It’s nice to have an extra set the materials needed watching the field while for the team to be as safe I am doing the injury of hands and eyes when you as possible on the field. evaluation and treat- need to be in two places at Wang and Campment of the athletes.” bell are assigned to once.” As the more expewatch either the ofrienced student athletic Josh Goldstein fensive, defensive or trainer, Wang has more teams according Athletics Trainer special leeway with taping up to Kofman. and evaluating the play“[Wang and Campers. bell] look for players “Austin is very serious,” Kofman said. who might be dazed. We [the training staff] “The days that Austin is here [in the training want to make sure everyone is safe,” Kofman room] he is very diligent and helpful. said. Wang generally tapes players’ ankles, Along with watching players for injuries, thumbs and wrists. He organizes the train- the student athletic trainers are responsible ing room so that all of the materials are easy for water, and keeping athletes hydrated. to find. “Kiki [Campbell] is there to help with “Austin does a little more with wrapping hydration, she makes sure the waters are for injuries and a little more with the evalua- filled,” Goldstein said. “She goes out during tion process,” Goldstein said. “I oversee them timeouts to give players water. She stands on on how they do it. I’ll let Austin go first and the sideline holding water bottles so that we
can focus on the players that get injured or if there is blood.” Kofman and Goldstein have nothing but positive complements to say about their student athletic trainers. They appreciate all the time and effort the students put in to learn about sports medicine. “It’s nice to always have an extra set of hands to help out filling up water, and getting practices ready when all the athletes are in here [training room] trying to get taped,” Goldstein said. Senior football player Jackson Moses believes that Wang is extremely beneficial to the training staff. “He’s always in the training room with a giant grin on his face,” Moses said. “He’s fun to be around and always helps me.” Moses appreciates Wang’s desire to learn more and work with the athletes. “[Wang is] extremely dedicated to his job and the team,” Moses said. Wang’s favorite part about helping out in the training room is the medical experience. “[Time in the training room] gives an insight as to what I might be doing in the future if I pursue the medical field,” Wang said. Along with taping the players, he evaluates injuries and makes sure all athletes get the best treatment possible. Wang also prepares the water for the athletes before practice.
“We do the water so the athletes don’t get dehydrated and hurt,” Wang said. “It’s a preventative measure we take so they don’t get hurt and we don’t have to spend time helping them. The ‘cool’ perk is that I get to drive the green cart.” Campbell’s favorite part is that she receives experience on a career that she is interested in. She hopes to one day become an athletic trainer for a professional sports team. “You get to learn a lot of new things,” Campbell said. “You learn to stay in shape and how to prevent injuries.” Campbell’s desire to help out in the athletic training room has helped her gain knowledge on how to improve her skills and become a better athlete. Kofman and Goldstein are extremely grateful that students are willing to help out in the training room. In the future, Kofman welcomes any students who are interested in sports medicine to help out and see sports from another perspective. Although Wang and Campbell are not Kofman’s first students to help out, they are two of the three students that have been student athletic trainers. “[Wang and Campbell] are integral parts of our team,”Kofman said. “Without them, we cannot function.”
Despite difficulties, students find joy in taking on three sports Athletes playing multiple sports can feel overwhelmed with numerous priorities Mayssen Labidi Staff Writer
At Palo Alto High School, there are three sports seasons, which to some students translates to three opportunities to pursue athletic excellence. However, playing a sport every season can have significant effects on students’ lives, both academically and socially. Paly junior Tory Prati is involved in three after school sports including football, basketball and track. Prati focuses much more on Paly sports rather than club teams, and maintains a high level of play in each. “I’ve been playing basketball for a long time now, and when I came to Paly I really wanted to play football too,” Prati said. “Then I did track just to get a prep but it turned out I was good at throwing so I started working on that too.” Out of his three sports, Prati prefers football and he believes he will pursue it at the next level. He recognizes the added stress of being a multiple sport athlete, but maintains a social life as well as an academic life. “I think sports have helped my social life because it’s a good way to make friends and have connections with people,” Prati said. “Plus people recognize you more if they see you out on the field. I don’t think [playing three sports] really has had any effect on my academic life.” Prati has also been able to maintain a high standard in academics. Prati believes staying ahead is the key to keeping up with his schoolwork. “I think the biggest thing for me is to make sure I don’t fall behind,” Prati said. “If I get behind on something, then I struggle because I don’t really have a lot of free time. I also do a fair amount of work on weekends since I don’t get home until 6:30 [p.m.] on school days.” Luckily, Prati does not have any conflicts with practice or game times because he only plays sports at school. He plays one sport until the season ends, then moves to the next. Senior Gracie Cain, another three-sport athlete, also believes that the various sports she plays have helped her social life and have also served as escapes from the stress of school. Cain does believe the stress has been hard to handle but she has tried her best to maintain all three sports. “Its hard but I’ve always been busy and I do my best to do all three [sports] so some times I’m short on sleep,” Cain said. “I have also met most of my closest friends through sports, and academically it probably has helped because its hard for me to go through a full school day and sit down and do homework without getting a run in. However, I do end up missing a lot of 6th and 7th period classes because of away games and meets.”
Marc Havlik/campanile
Palo Alto High School junior Tory Prati has to maintain a packed schedule due to his sports commitments. Over the years, he had to learn how to manage all his sports with academics. Despite these overwhelming difficulties, Cain finds a balance by prioritizing her social, academic and athletic responsibilities. Cain plays for Paly cross country, soccer and lacrosse and is also involved in both club soccer and lacrosse. Although juggling three sports can at times be overwhelming for certain athletes, she believes she handles her situation quite well. “Club sports often practice at night and have games on weekends and Paly sports usually have practice right after school and games on week days so conflicts are pretty minimal,” Cain said. “It just means I’m busy.” Cain chose to run cross country and play lacrosse as a freshman to get out of Physical Education but learned to love the sport. Cain considers soccer her favorite sport and because she has been playing it for the longest and feels the most experienced in it.
Cain has maintained a good performance in both sports and academics and although it has been hard to balance, she has gotten through the challenges. Junior Torie Nielsen also took part in three sports last year. She participated in cross country, soccer and track. This year, she has decided to only run cross country and track, however. “I will not be continuing soccer this year. I was never very good at soccer and it was the most time consuming of the three, so I put two and two together and decided to drop,” Nielsen said. “I plan on continuing with cross country and track, though because they keep me in shape and I enjoy doing them.” Although Nielsen will no longer be involved in three sports, she believes that being involved in those sports helped her create new friendships. “I feel like sports have helped my social life, because they make you a part of a team and they help you relate
to other athletes,” Nielsen said. “Even if they don’t play the same sports as you do. All of my friends are athletes, even though they do not play the same sports as I do.” Nielsen played three sports because she liked to stay active and be part of a team. She never had problems balancing school, sports and friends in the past, so she knew she could handle it. Through the experience, Nielsen learned that two sports was the right amount for her. Out of the sports Nielsen plays she considers track her favorite. She loves the atmosphere and the track team community and looks forward to practice. Although many athletes stress over their responsibilities, most seem to balance out academics with friendships and sports. Sophomore Jordan Smith enrolled in cross country, soccer and lacrosse. To maintain her academics with her sport life, Smith keeps a schedule to plan ahead and use her time wisely. “I have a schedule at home with my after school activities like my sports and my homework,” Smith said. “This helps me stay organized during the week and it really has been helping me because this year’s homework load is much larger than last years.” Smith has just begun this process but she has already seen a large improvement in staying organized. Smith has been playing sports since a young age and as years have gone by she has noticed the added stress and responsibilities. “Ever since high school has started, I have realized managing my time is key and that is what my schedule helps me with,” Smith said. “I know that every year will get harder and I will be more stressed and I really need to stay organized to obtain good grades and high athletic skills.” Many athletes may question their abilities to balance three sports with academics and the pressure of keeping great skills, but time management allows them to achieve their goals without feeling too overwhelmed. Although some three-sport athletes stress over their academic and social lives most find a way to maintain both. As the number of sports being played grows, so do the responsibilities. Through all of the stress and schedule complications, it is important for students to recognize their priorities and maintain a manageable schedule that will not drain their energy needed to function throughout the day. “I think its important for any athlete especially a threesport athlete to maintain a good balance with everything,” Paly athletics trainer Josh Goldstein said, “You don’t want to focus too much on your sports because then you let your studies fall behind but you also dont want to disappoint your sports so you have to find that equal balance.”
A12 • October 25, 2010
Who’s got spirit!?
SPORTS Volleyball win streak ends after 26 games
The Campanile
Despite loss to Los Gatos, team keep goals of advancing to CCS, Norcals and States By Hannah Totte Staff Writer
johnbrunett in my opinion
Man, this is pathetic. It’s the home opener for football, the king sport to get pumped up for, and the atmosphere sure seems the same. The sports boosters have come out with a new line of overpriced Paly gear, featuring green Viking cowbells. Hod Ray field slowly comes alive as the artificial light illuminates the bright green turf where the junior varsity team is wrapping up a victory. Even the parent section booms with pre-kick off energy, waiting to see their kids battle for a shot at some high school football glory. As I walk down the bottom of the stands, my eyes betray what my mind anticipated when I look below the announcer’s box. There are no students standing up in the student section. Really, Paly? Be ashamed. Let’s not get this wrong: we’re a very spirited campus. We have kids spelling out “VIKES” on their stomaches because they don’t have enough spirited friends for “VIKINGS.” Last year, seniors graced the quad by running in their birthday suits amidst hundreds of howling kids. Our publications hash out disses faster than Viking sends game update tweets. During Spirit Week, everyone stood together when Paly needed it most. So we have the spirit other times of the year, but for some reason that has not translated into our cheering section, especially when we could really use it. Even when the game is a done deal, school spirit can lead to some of the best memories because it’s awesome to win, but it’s ten times better to win with fans in the crowd behind your back. Being the sports editor for this fine publication, I traveled with the football team to watch their game against long time rival Los Gatos High School. It was their homecoming game, granted, but their student section made our Paly section look like nap time at the local preschool. Their students were sardined into a sanctioned section and did not stop cheering until the last minute. Even down 21-0 at halftime, the Los Gatos cheer section found it in themselves to get loud for their team in whatever small victory they could find. And it’s not the football team’s fault. Read the beat — they’re undefeated. They have a chance to become the first Paly football team in over 40 years to go 10-0. Yet, somehow, our student section was not filled with pumped students until halfway through the first quarter. Could it be that our cheerleaders have failed you? Cue sarcasm: How in the world could that be possible? Don’t you know the easy cheer of crossing your arms in front of you and repeating clap-up-down-upupupdown-side-up-downdown-up-youlost-me-like-fifteen-claps-ago? (End sarcasm.) Let’s be real: cheerleaders, you have gotten exponentially cooler because of all the flip stuff you can do, but keep the cheers simple. The cheers that everyone has done a thousand times are usually the best ones. That and our color shout, ‘cause no one can touch the color shout. The worst is when the cheerleaders try out a new cheer one week and expect the entire cheer section to have learned it and then look disappointed when no one yells along the following week. But maybe the issue is simpler than that. Maybe students want to show their spirit, but can’t seem to find the right facets to express it. As a senior, I can state that the best way to show off your spirit is to combine forces with other spirited people just like yourself. The easiest way to find these people? Go to the spirit section! Go to ASB! If all else fails, I’m fairly confident Mrs. Hori has Viking spirit apparel dating back to the 1970s. It’s possible that the problem is that people simply do not know where to go. Despite its long standing traditional spot, right below the announcer box on the left side looking out to the field, no organization (ASB, spirit club, the wondrously revamped Paly administration) has made the effort to privatize the section for students. What better way to start a spirit movement than giving students their own space, so that parents don’t get helplessly trapped behind the horde of socializing teens? I believe students are generally welcoming and friendly at Paly. Let’s use that to set the foundations of Paly spirit for years to come. By the way, volleyball is a ridiculously fun sport to watch, with all the energy and girls flying everywhere. Oh yeah, they’re undefeated as well. Go Vikes.
The Palo Alto High School varsity girls’ volleyball team suffered a disappointing loss to rival Los Gatos High School Thursday, Oct. 21. This loss ended their impressive winning streak at 26 games. “Our communication broke down a little too much, and when things started to go poorly we sort of internalized it instead of grasping on what the people around us were saying,” assistant coach Greg Lara said. “The great thing about that is that it’s something that’s totally controllable and easy to fix.” Even with exceptional blocking and points won after long rallies, Los Gatos used their digging and serving talent to combat Paly’s technical ability. The first loss of the season was emotional, but they are not discouraged, as they hope to use the experience to improve their performance in the future. “Hopefully this makes us a lot more hungry,” Lara said. “ We’ve been working efficiently but now we can really strive to get better every time we touch the ball.” Los Gatos proved to be the first fierce competition for the league, though the Lady Vikes also faced rivals Mountain View High School on Tuesday, Oct. 19 and came out with a win. Despite a 20-25 loss in the third set, the players were able to keep their composure in the fourth set during long, difficult rallies. “They did really well not thinking about the past, just thinking about the next point,” head coach Dave Winn said. “All the way up to when it’s game point 24-23, nobody was frazzled. We got the final kill, which was just what we needed to do.” Key kills from junior Melanie Wade and senior captain Trina Ohms, point saving digs from senior captain Megan Coleman and sophomore Shelby Knowles, and consistent passing from junior Kimberley Whitson helped the team keep it together under pressure, keeping in mind the focus and mentality they’ve had throughout the entire season. “We didn’t get down on ourselves during the entire match,” Coleman said. “We try not to focus on the game as a whole, we focus on the next point and try to win the next point.” Even during some moments of confusion, the Lady Vikes used their advantage in both size and skill to gain control of the game. “When you go up and down in this league, when you’re playing different teams and different quality levels, you’re trying to establish a certain way to play,” Winn said. “Sometimes we do that well, sometimes we don’t. Tonight we didn’t do a great job of that but when it got close, the girls worried about the things they were supposed to worry about and got their focus back.” Although having lost just one game, the Lady Vikes are exceeding expectations set for this year.
“I think we’ve obviously changed a lot every year with the new players that come on and the seniors that graduate, but I think every year we’ve been consistent as far as having really good chemistry and having success in our seasons,” junior Maddie Kuppe said. “We’ve always been really close. We’re getting better and better.” With the majority of the team returning from last season, this year’s team has been working exceptionally as a group. “We are all on the same level this year regarding what we want to achieve as a team, and what’s great this year is that we all have a great understanding that team goals come before individual goals,” Ohms said. “We have the height, we have the physicality, but I really think it’s the mental game that’s pushing us forward.” Familiarity with the coaches and the nature of the team also provides positive results. “We’ve developed a good amount of credit together since we’ve been working together for a while,” Winn said. “They’ve been together and they know me, they don’t have to figure out what I say or what my tone is.” It is clear that the team recognizes the importance of working together, but the skill level of the players this year is so high that it has been rivaled by only a few of their opponents, so their team chemistry has only been tested a few times this season. “We win a lot of battles at the net,” Winn said. “We have a lot of balance in our attack, which will definitely be an advantage for us when we face a team that has only one or two good hitters.” However, like any team, the Vikings have areas of improvement that need to be addressed. “Although we’re experienced and although we’re winning, we still have things we need to improve on, like serve consistency and serve receive,” Winn said. “If we’re consistent in that, we can beat a lot of teams. But if our passing’s bad, if we’re missing free points and losing momentum, it doesn’t matter how tall our girls are or how well they hit.” Fortunately, the team’s physical game is bound to improve when coupled with its intense practice schedule. The team’s camaraderie is not a distraction but an addition when on the court, since both games and practices provide a competitive atmosphere. “A lot of it is team chemistry, but it’s also how hard we work in practice,” Kuppe said. “I think more than anything we come out everyday to practice and give it everything.” The team’s powerful offense needs to be matched by its defense, an aspect Winn wants to focus on in practice. “We continually get lots of kills and blocks,” Winn said. “Our defense will eventually be the thing that carries us forward. If our defense improves, we can go as far as we can. If it stays
Marc HAVLIK/ Campanile
Megan Coleman bumps a pass as Paly easily cruises past Mountain View High School. Paly won 26 games before their loss to Los Gatos High School. where it is, we’re only gonna beat teams that have less offense. That’s the thing we want to focus on: getting our defense and passing a lot better.” The focus in practice is not, centered around the continuation of the team’s winning streak or the pressure to remain on top. Concentrating on smaller goals helps the players by calming their mental state and making their success seem attainable. “We always try and focus on the next point,” Coleman said. “When you focus on little things like that, it makes it easy to just get to the next point, which all add up to get the wins.” Aside from the obvious strength, height and technical talent of the team members, their consistent mentality is what carries them through each week. “There are the goals you always want to put on the wall, like we want to win leagues, make it to CCS [Central Coast Section], go to NorCals
and hopefully this year, we go to states,” Ohms said. “We are always just going in wanting more. [There is] always that competitive drive, every game, every practice.”
VOLLEYBALL Scores
@ Monta Vista Oct. 14, W 3-0 vs. Mountain View Oct. 19, W 3-1 vs. Los Gatos Oct. 21, L 3-2
Upcoming games
@ Saratoga Oct. 28, 6:45 p.m. Spikefest Tourney @ Independence Oct. 30, 8 a.m.
Football continues strong season after consecutive blowouts
Varsity remains undefeated after back-to-back dominating wins over rivals Gunn and Los Gatos By John Brunett Sports Editor
The Palo Alto High School varsity football team has found its groove in all facets of the game, as it posted 49-10 and 42-0 consecutive victories over rivals Henry M. Gunn High School and Los Gatos High School, respectively. Paly rolls to a 6-0 record and improves to 3-0 in league with sole ownership of the top spot in the De Anza Division. The Vikings have new energy heading into the rest of the season after shutting down Los Gatos, a feat that had not been accomplished by any other Viking team. “It was an amazing feeling,” senior linebacker Michael Cullen said. “They’re easily our biggest rivals and to go into their house and beat them like that was great.” Cullen leads a stout Viking defense that has only let up 8.5 points per game. The defense is paced by Cullen with an impressive 9.3 tackles per game. Defensive Coordinator Jake Halas is proud of his squad and Cullen’s efforts as a leader on the team. “[Cullen] is a great player,” Halas said. “Real nasty, especially when he keeps his head clear, he can be nasty in a good way.” Halas game planned with Cullen to contain Los Gatos running back Gerrit Zeiter, who put up big numbers against division opponents Milpitas High School and Wilcox High School. Zeiter sparked the Wildcats early with a huge kick return to start the game. “The kickoff return kind of woke us up,” Cullen said. “We just had to get into our rhythm.” Zeiter encored with a 14 yard run, but after that it was all Vikings as the Los Gatos offensive line fell like dominos to defensive line stalwarts senior Kevin Anderson and junior Tory Prati. “Our interior [defensive] line is really getting the hang of it all,” Halas said. “They’re really smart guys too, really coachable. Since they’re so young, (the only senior is Kevin Anderson), they
Marc HAVLIK/ Campanile
Running back Bijon Boyd evades a tackle in Paly’s 28-15 win over the Wilcox Chargers. Boyd scored for the Vikings on a 63-yard kickoff return with four minutes remaining in the game. improve and get better every game In a position that was very ques- ning backs’ touchdowns in the Los and practice.” tionable after senior Miles Anderson Gatos game followed big runs by Paly’s biggest improvement has broke his arm, Boyd and Hill have cre- the opposite player. Most likely the to be its line play. Junior running ated a fearsome duo. The two juniors biggest benefactor of the improved backs Bijon Boyd and Dre Hill, both combined for 217 yards on 22 carries run game is quarterback Christoph immensely talented, can control against Los Gatos. Bono, who exceeded 1,000 yards for the game when the line the season with a 193 yard meshes. effort against Los Gatos. “It was an amazing feeling. [Los Gatos is] “We have a great line,” easily our biggest rival and to go into their Bono has thrown 12 Boyd said. “Everyone is touchdowns while constepping up and giving house and beat them like that was great.” ceding three intercepme great blocks so I can for the season. His Michael Cullen tions hit the hole hard. They’re favorite target, senior senior wide receiver Davante getting better and better every practice.” Adams, has amassed 31 After struggling to put receptions for 441 yards. together a drive early on in the Los “Dre is like another brother to With its super powered offense and Gatos game, Paly switched its right me,” Boyd said. “He has my back and brick wall defense, the Vikings can tackle, putting in junior Michael I got his, so we look out for each other now look to the future of their season. Lyzwa. Paly saw quick returns as Boyd on the field.” As sophomores, this squad posted a and Hill broke for 22 and 10 yard runs, The duo complements each 10-0 record on junior varsity. As the respectively, in the ensuing drive. other perfectly, as each of the run- rest of the schedule is mostly ranked
lower in the division, it is not a stretch to predict a perfect season. “If we keep playing the way we are now we have a great chance of keeping the season complete,” Boyd said. If the football team were to post an undefeated record, it would be the first time since 1963 and the first of Coach Earl Hansen’s lengthy career. This Viking team draws parallels to the 2006 team that made it through the Open Division playoffs to win the Central Coast Section and make it to the state championship game. The ‘06 team featured two backs, senior Will Frazier and junior Sione Mataele, that dominated the ground while star quarterback Nick Goodspeed paced the Vikings through the air. The only difference now is the current team is unbeaten through six games while the ‘06 team had to succomb to a 35-14 loss to Oak Grove High School. The ‘06 Vikings would go on to redeem themselves against the Eagles in the CCS championship game. This year’s team might not have to do that, if they can manage the elusive undefeated season. Nonetheless, the team is looking forward to continuing their dominance on the gridiron and continuing on to the playoffs. “We expect to be there,” Halas said. “If we want to be an elite team we have a long way to go, but we’re up there. The worst thing that can happen is when a team is content with where it is. Our guys are not content.”
Football Scores
vs. Gunn Oct. 8, W 49-14 @ Los Gatos Oct. 15, W 42-0 @ Milpitas Oct. 22, not reported
Upcoming games vs. Homestead Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m. vs. Mountain View Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Life styles Features • A&E • People
The Campanile
Monday, October 25, 2010
From the President’s Desk
chiragkrishna Hello again, and welcome to another edition of From The President’s Desk. You’ll have to excuse my boring introduction, because as of today (and the rest of the week), my mind will be occupied with something else. And it’s not just me, you see. It’s a keen sense of excitement and anticipation that every sophomore, junior and senior on campus is currently feeling, leaving our beloved freshman class slightly confused. Spirit Week is here at last. It goes without saying that Spirit Week is the ultimate Paly tradition, and a vast majority of students participate in the festivities in one way or another. As our freshmen have never experienced a week quite as amazing as this, I think I owe a small explanation to all of you ninth graders out there who may be doubting if that participation is worth your time. In the last issue of The Campanile, seniors Rachel Stober and Grace Harris discussed how uncool it would be to not dress up during Spirit Week, and they basically hit the nail on the head. But allow me to drive that point in a little deeper for you all. Believe it or not, I was a freshman once, so I understand. I can sympathize with the apathy during middle school Spirit Weeks and the desperate need to appear older, wiser and hip by not participating. As a freshman, it’s not too uncommon to think that dressing up is so eighth grade, and as a ninth grader, you are above that. Trust me, I know. Spirit Week is at the core, a friendly competition between all of the classes. We do this by yelling cleverly crafted cheers at our fellow Vikes during the lunch-time rallies. This is how the classes accumulate points, and if the seniors have their way (which they do, every year without fail), your class will lose. Badly. And you will only accentuate your loss by not dressing up, not participating in the events, and not cheering on your class. Now if I were a freshman reading that, I wouldn’t be too pumped for Spirit Week. But fear not — as every freshman class learns during its first spirit week, it’s possible to lose badly, but still have a lot of fun. Sometimes, I hear about the misconception that only the “popular” kids actually participate in Spirit Week, while the rest eat their lunch as they would during any other week. That couldn’t be more inaccurate. During Spirit Week, all sorts of students make their way to the illustrious bleachers out on the quad, to participate in all the rally activities. And if that’s not enough, you may be surprised to know that even our teachers find a way to have fun and participate. Despite the academic work they do in and out of class, don’t be alarmed when you see your teacher dressed from head to toe in some ridiculous costume — it’s the Paly way! Finally, for all the classes — make sure you know what to dress up as on each particular day. There are several ways you can do this. One is to approach me or any other ASB officer. Another, less hazardous way (I kid) is to ask your fourth period representative, who has probably already attended two ASB meetings. They will have all the necessary information straight from ASB officers, so they’ll know exactly what to do and when to do it. Now that I’ve dispensed with the niceties, I’ll issue a word of caution to students from other classes. You may think that you’re putting in the hard yards for Spirit Week, and that your efforts won’t go unnoticed. You may believe that this is the year that you’ll be able to legitimately challenge the Big Cheese, a.k.a. the class of 2011. Poor you. I can’t even begin to tell you how wrong you are. After three years, the seniors are ready to assume their place at the top of the heap. Our float will be better. Our spirit dance will be better. We will win all the rallies. In short, there is nothing you can do. Be prepared. And now, excuse me while I go plan my outfits for the week. See you at the rally!
By Hannah Totte Staff Writer Scattered autumn leaves crunch under scurrying feet as kids hurry towards the garage, seemingly a shelter from the howling wind and ominous darkness that characterize the last night of October. On this Halloween, though, senior Jake Stern’s garage will be far from a safe haven for Palo Alto’s trick or treaters. Amidst objects falling from nowhere and people jumping out from behind black curtains, children shriek with fear and delight as they make their way through the decorated scene. The more screams, and the more visitors, the better. For many, Halloween is a night to party, load up on a year’s stock of candy and assume a different persona on a fun-filled, carefree night. But for ADR, the last day of October is an opportunity to raise awareness and money for a cause, both of which will outlast the Halloween decorations of the season. “This is an event in the community, designed to affect the community,” club co-president Stern said. “It definitely raises a lot of awareness.” Starting last year, the ADR Haunted House has become an annual event. The club was inspired to host functions based on holidays after an incredibly successful fundraiser near Christmas time, during which club members sold hot chocolate on Christmas Tree Lane. “Designing a Halloween-themed event was the next logical step,” secretary Hannah Ohlson said. For two days straight, club members worked to transform Stern’s garage into a “very scary” haunted house. They spent one day completely clearing it out, and the next redecorating it with Halloween paraphernalia to create a legitimate haunted house, according to Stern. With people jumping from behind walls, objects falling from the ceiling and other ominous sounds and sights, many middle-schoolers who ventured inside the haunted house came out slightly shaken. This weekend, they hope to recreate the haunted world similar to that of last Halloween. “Last year was the first year, but we got a lot of turnout,” Ohlson said. “One kid dropped all of his candy because he was so frightened.” However, the primary cause of the house is not merely to scare innocent kids. The club hopes to raise awareness for victims of natural disasters and collect donations which will benefit a non-profit organization. According to Stern, the group raised a total of about $350 last year. “We’re hoping to make more of a profit this year,” Ohlson said. “Last year was a trial year, but we didn’t make much money because of the cost of supplies.” As the kids go through the haunted house, club members talk to parents, hoping to teach about the cause and elicit a few donations. A lot of people came back more than once, according to Ohlson. “Asking for donations is a lot better than just having a poster,” Ohlson said. “People are more willing to donate.” Although the majority of the screams from the haunted house came from middle school or elementary school kids last year, ADR is hoping to get more of the Paly community involved in the event this year; even if high school students are not as interested in the trick-or-treating aspect of the holiday, able hands and a positive attitude are welcome, Stern said. “We want as many people to work on the haunted house as possible,” treasurer George Brown said. “Anyone at Paly is invited.” ADR has been working with the Associated Student Body to get the Paly community more involved and motivated to contribute more. The club donated about $1000 to this organization last year, and is thinking about focusing their efforts towards helping Haiti or Pakistan and other world disasters this year, according to Ohlson. The upcoming haunted house and the Rock for Relief Concert held earlier this month, which provided free
FEATURES
ice cream and a concert with school bands to raise awareness of relief efforts in Pakistan, are two examples of refreshing events that make helping out more enticing to the student body, as student creativity is directly reflected in the planning of the events. Stern and the rest of the club hope that Paly student involvement will raise the moral standards of the school. Participation is key to any club’s success, and the ADR leaders hope to spur interest in their causes by creating unique events such as haunted house. As seniors take more time to focus on college and eventually leave Paly, the club’s success can only continue with spurred involvement from other members of the Paly community. “One of our focuses this year is to continue doing the work that we’ve been doing,” Brown said. “We want to get more underclassmen involved and juniors involved. We started [the club] and we’ve worked on it for the past three years, but we’re graduating soon and we need to leave a legacy.” Opportunities to help out at the haunted house, or any other ADR hosted event, are abundant. The club is willing to sign a completion of 12 to 15 hours of community service for helping to build the haunted house as well. Halloween has always been a great way to spend time with friends, but donating some time to a greater cause could make an anticipated holiday even more worthwhile. Witnessing the egos of middle-schoolers dwindle as they drop their candy from fright is also an added bonus. “Anybody can just donate two dollars,” Stern said. “We are trying to promote a greater personal responsibility so students will want to be active on their own.” With a focus on events that will appeal to people both inside and out of the club, ADR maintains a unique perspective on community service by intertwining entertainment with a good cause. “What we do is really fun,” Ohlson said. “You’re with a bunch of people doing a good thing.” Email americandisasterrelief@gmail. com if you are interested.
A&E
A&E
The Campanile
FEATURES
Monday, October 25, 2010 • B2
Principal Phil Winston shares his personal “Phil”osophy Winston discusses first impressions, future expectations, his summer trip spent in a treehouse By Grace Harris and Rachel Stober Editors in Chief
The Campanile: How do you think the year is going? Phil Winston: From my perspective, we opened really strong. The year is off to a fantastic start. I feel like Paly is a great place to be and it feels like home to me. I’ve had the chance to connect with teachers and parents and students which is really important to me. TC: What’s the strangest student encounter you’ve had? PW: Zipper undone. TC: Yours or theirs? PW: theirs. TC: Did you have to tell them? PW: Yes. TC: Was it really awkward? PW: It’s always awkward. TC: What’s your favorite thing about Paly? PW: That’s actually a tough question because I’m finding everything to just be really comfortable and the students are connected in a way that’s unique. I don’t see a lot of division amongst the students, maybe I’m just naive and I don’t even see it. I’m sure it’s there, but I get the sense when I look out at brunch and lunch that people can talk to anybody and so the sense of community is really nice. TC: What are some differences between Paly and Gunn? PW: That’s a tough question because I was at Gunn and that’s a special place to me. There are some things that happened while I was there that really touched me and have changed me as a person. Trauma changes you in some interesting ways. The students are both equally intelligent and there’s a tremendous desire and passion to learn at both schools. Paly seems to be a little calmer in terms of the academic pressure, but I can’t quite put my finger on that. It’s hard to explain. TC: How did it feel to be on the winning side of a Paly Gunn football game? PW: It’s quite easy to get used to winning, I’ll say that. TC: Where’d you grow up? PW: I grew up in Milpitas and I went to Milpitas High. I played sports in high school. TC: Which sports? PW: Baseball and football. I’m the first person in my family to go to college on both sides. I worked and payed my way all the way through graduate school. I’m a firm believer in that “with ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable.” TC: How did you find that quote? PW: I don’t know, I don’t remember. It’s just stuck with me and I’ve always had it in my office and when things seem a bit stressful I just turn around and read that. I’m an average guy. I work really hard and I’ve learned a lot of things at a young age which I think was really important to me and I think it’s important that we look out for each other, so you’ll find that some of my core concepts and beliefs are about taking care of each other. TC: Did you teach before you were an administrator? PW: I was a special education teacher, so I’m actually really proud to say this; I’ve been able to teach kindergarten all the way to 12th grade. As a special education teacher you get that whole breadth of experience, because you have to. I think we’re some of the smartest people around because you have to know all kinds of different subjects, You don’t have to be an expert but you sure as heck are a good problem solver. TC: Tell us a little more about yourself? PW: I’ve got two fantastic kids, a seven year old and a
because if I didn’t I would never exercise and I’m a long term person. I look down the road and I believe that if you put the energy and effort in now and then, it’ll help down the road. TC: What’s the coolest trip you’ve ever been on? PW: This past summer was actually a really cool trip for my family. The first week school gets out, we go to Tahoe for four days and then we usually take what is a big trip for us, because we have to pay for four air tickets and everything. You know, Hawaii, Mexico, Cape Cod, that kind of thing. But what we did this summer was we took a driving trip! We went from Milpitas to Grant’s Pass, Oregon, and stayed in some treehouses. And we zip lined. My three-year-old zip lined! zzzzzzz, 70 feet in the air, alone! They were legit treehouses, like with just a little light, no bathroom or anything. TC: And you guys slept up there? PW: Heck yes! It was cool. That’s what I’m saying, it was great. Then we went to Seattle and wasted money and saw the Space Needle. Then we drove all the way up to Whistler, and just had a chance to hang out for seven days. So that was a great trip. My kids are just old enough to have a good time. TC: So are you excited for the upcoming spirit week? PW: Yeah, I am actually! I haven’t experienced it here; I’m excited to see what it’s like and what the traditions are. TC: Which class are you supporting? PW: I support everybody! This is a community. So that’s Marc Havlik/Campanile my plan, I’m trying to get these youngsters to hook me New principal Phil Winston gives insight into his personal life, past experiences at Gunn, up with a shirt. We’ll see what happens. being a “gleek” and how he feels Paly is responding to the newly implemented bell schedule. TC: Seniors get to put nicknames on the back of their shirts. If you could put something on the back of your three year old. Conner is seven and Meghan is three. My my son hadn’t seen one commercial because we tevo’d shirt, what would you put? wife, Anna, is a teacher as well. She teaches third grade it all. Then one day he’s like “dad dad the tv’s broken”, PW: Hmm. Someone asked me that the other day since and I have a dog named Debbie and two cats named and I run in there and he’s like “what is this?” and I was they’re ordering me a senior shirt. They said, “The WinBruce and Goose. like “Connor, that’s a commercial.” So we had a little talk stinator” because of the basketball game at the beginning TC: So are you a dog person or a cat person? about marketing. of the year where I dominated. PW: Dog. TC: If you had to describe your life in three words what TC: How is the administration responding to the new TC: What is your favorite TV show? would those be? bell schedule? PW: “Modern Family.” We watch “Glee” too I have to say, PW: Curvy, exciting and PW: I don’t know how to anbut I’m not quite sure about this season’s second episode, learning. swer that question because “I’m the first person in my family to it was kind of corny I gotta say. TC: If you had a custom it’s a school thing, it’s not a TC: Which one? license plate what would go to college on both sides. I worked what-do-I-think. I mean I PW: The one about the grilled cheesus. it say? and payed my way all the way through have a certain level of influTC: Would you consider yourself a “gleek”? PW: Pdog. ence, but from what I can see PW: Oooo, I haven’t thought about that. Yeah, I guess I am. TC: How would you spell dog, graduate school. I’m a firm believer in and the feedback I’ve gotten that ‘with ordinary talent and extraorTC: Who’s your favorite glee character? with a w or no w? from folks, it seems to be PW: I find the most humor out of the football coach. PW: Ummm, I don’t know. I dinary perseverance, all things are going pretty well. There are TC: Have you even met Kevin Anderson? Has he ever don’t have an answer for you, some refinements that need attainable.’” reminded you of Finn? you choose. to be made, but that’s with PW: laughs too hard to answer. TC: Hmm I think we like it Phil Winston anything new. TC: If you had one day to live, what would you do? with a w, dawg. TC: What are your major Principal goals for this year? PW: Am I the only person still alive? PW: And then I’d have some TC: No, but being with your friends and family is a given sparkle around it, that would PW: Western Association of PW: I would go around and thank all the people who have be cool. That would throw Schools and Colleges (WASC) done things for me, who’ve helped me out or given me people off. Maybe I should do that actually, I should is a big deal, the assessment of the pilot bell schedule is a good advice in my life. customize the license plate for my beamer, that’d be fun. big deal, because we have to figure out what we’re going TC: What is your perfect meal? TC: What kind of hobbies do you have outside of work? to do next year and for our future. PW: Pizza and an adult beverage. It’s really that simple for PW: I used to play a lot of golf, but I don’t anymore because It’s a vision piece for me, improving communication me, I’m a simple guy. Girls, there’s nothing complicated all of my free time is devoted to family. I exercise at five between everybody, I stay within and around Paly, and about me. o’ clock in the morning. I think also taking a good look at how we’re connecting TC: Do you watch football? TC: Is it still dark out? with students. PW: No, see now you’re judging me based on my gender. PW: Yeah, it’s still dark, but it’s beautiful, the stars are out, TC: What’s your catchphrase? We don’t have cable at home. We just recently got rid of it smells great, it’s crisp. PW: Be honest. it and we use Hulu and Netflix, so currently my kids are TC: That sounds nice ... If you have that motivation. TC: Any last words for The Campanile? burning through Rugrats; it’s hysterical. So for two years PW: I don’t have the motivation, but I make myself do it PW: Tell Nadav to stop saying bad words.
Foreign, exchange students accept cultural differences at Paly Newcomers are adapting well to the changes in customs, laws of the United States By Lillian Xie
Scarafía, currently staying with senior Julia Howard, will be a part of the Paly comAt 1p.m. on Friday, Oct. 15, junior Mati munity until early Jan. 2011 when he will Scarafía checked his digital watch in exas- leave for Rafaela. There, he will have two peration. more months of vacation before school starts “Right now, it is 5 p.m. in Argentina,” in early March. Monti, who is staying with Scarafía said. “My friends are getting ready junior Annalise Wedemeyer, will be at Paly to go to the disco.” for the whole school year and will leave for Scarafía, along with senior Riccardo Italy in June. Monti, are, yes, new faces at Palo Alto High For both Monti and Scarafía, the shift School, but they are only transient. from their respective hometowns has not been The two are not only foreign students too difficult and took a few weeks to get used such as sophomore Karolina Ballieu Kjær- to, according to Monti. They dealt well with gaard and junior Claudia Schafer-Tabraue, slight homesickness, but the biggest challenge but are, more specifically, exchange students. for the two to face is the lack of freedom that They bring the immediacy of their youth of their cultures are allowed to have countries’ cultures, Scarafía from the city back at home. of Rafaela, Argentina within the province of “Obviously I miss my family, the people, Santa Fe and Monti heralding from the small but we also miss the freedom of being within paese of Paderno d’Adda, Italy forty minutes our country,” Scarafía said. “Everything is so drive from the rich, cultural hub of Milan. restricted [here], but you can do whatever you However, they are only staying with the Paly want back home. We can go out anytime we community for a short time. want, have parties, go to discos.” Monti and Scarafía have decided to join Monti further elaborates this point. the Paly community through the American “[In Italy] we can drink at sixteen — that Field Service (AFS) for exchange students to kind of freedom,” Monti said. “We can go out better understand English while in America, at night, go to discos and party. Here [in the as well as expand their cultural lens of both United States], you cannot. There are a lot of countries. rules to being in “I heard this country. You about AFS in my “[In Italy] we can drink at sixteen – cannot do much school in Italy that kind of freedom. We can go out at at night.” and so I decided Besides livnight, go to discos and party.” to come here,” ing in a more Monti said. “I Riccardo Monti restricted counguess [I wanted] Senior try, another sigto try to change nificant cultural a little bit — like change the two my life.” had to face was AFS does not have direct links with Paly the treatment of what Americans tend to think and places foreign students into its exchange is an almost commonplace event — mealtime. programs by various methods. Scarafía, for ex“[In Italy,] you must stop whatever you ample, had won a citywide English Olympics are doing to eat,” Monti said. “If you cannot competition in Rafaela, earning a scholarship show up to dinner you have to legit text your abroad for six months with the program. mom and say you cannot come because you “[The competition] was a written exam of are with friends. She might have spent the grammar and reading and writing,” Scarafía last few hours preparing food.” said. “It’s all in English [and] is organized by Scarafía emphasizes the seriousness and teachers at a university.” significance of mealtime by not only the day-
Editor in Chief
to-day meals everyone eats together, but also when relatives congregate to share food and conversation. “[In Argentina] on Sundays my whole family comes to eat dinner,” Scarafía said. “When I say whole family, I mean grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters. We share the same food. Here, people eat whenever and whatever.” These, though, were the sharpest contrasts from their cultures to the American culture. According to Monti, American mannerisms and vernacular at first seemed strange, but were easily understood after initial bewilderment. “The first time someone asked me ‘what’s up,’ I did this,” Monti said, as he tilted his head back and gazed upwards. However, the casualness of greetings is still hard to adjust to for both Monti and Scarafía. “When we greet each other [in Argentina], we kiss the person on each cheek or hug them,” Scarafía said. “You do not do this here. It creates a distance.” Furthering this distance is the seemingly fast-paced rate at which daily activities of Paly students go at. This, according to Monti, impedes peers from having a simple conversation between classes. “[When] a person says to me ‘Hey, how are you’ [or] ‘how’s it going’ and walk by, I can’t answer,” Monti said. “It seems like they don’t care, but now [Scarafía and I] are used to it.” Scarafía believes this seeming inability to slow down reflects in the academic life of the average Paly student as well. “Everyone just studies, studies, studies,” Scarafía said. Scarafía himself is currently enrolled in Home Economics, French 2, Choir, Spanish 4 (AP), American Literature 11 and Algebra 2. Out of all his classes, Scarafía enjoys his math class the most, mostly because he especially likes the instructional style of math teacher Lisa Kim. “She’s very funny and keeps a good environment in the class,” Scarafía said. “It’s not, like, very boring. She has humor.”
Lauren Wong/Campanile
Junior Mati Scarafía(left) and senior Riccardo Monti(right) all about their experiences with leaving their countries and going to school in the U.S.A. However, the class is not without its rigor. “In Algebra, Ms. Kim gives a lot, like, parts of the chapter in the same day, so it’s like three classes in one,” Scarafía said. Monti, on the other hand, is taking Photo, Video Production, Band, Chemistry I, World Literature and Pre-Calculus. Monti often finds that he is placed with many students younger than he is. “Chemistry is a sophomore class,” Monti said. “[Photography and Video Production] are freshman and sophomore classes.” Furthermore, the teaching style and overall atmosphere at Paly is very different from both Monti and Scarafía’s respective countries. “It’s strange [and] not easy to explain because everything is strange and everything
is new for us,” Monti said. “Like this campus –we don’t have campuses [in Italy.] You don’t have to walk outside.” Scarafía further explains this point with the very structure of the teaching in Argentina. “You sit in your classroom and your teacher moves,” Scarafía said. “You’re not supposed to switch.” Beyond the strangeness of their new environment, both Monti and Scarafía have found the exchange experience eye-opening and culturally enlightening thus far. As parting words of advice for students who wish to participate in exchange programs, Monti offers them some reassuring advice. “It’s not that scary,” Monti said. “Don’t worry about it too much [and] have fun.”
The Campanile
FEATURES
October 25, 2010 • B3
Freshman participates in uncommon silk, rope acrobatics Paly student practices acrobatic drops, twists in unusual circus-like sport By Lauren Wong
a series of twists and spirals as the material quickly unravels. A 50 foot long piece of silk dangles from “It’s kind of like tumbling down the rope, the ceiling of the HP Pavilion. A girl shimmies only gracefully,” Rao said. “The wrap is where up the rope, then wraps it around her body I straddle upside down over the rope and wrap as she makes slight, indiscernible movements it around my leg, and then over my stomach with her feet. With a quick twist of her body, she and back. Another [trick] is where I wrap my falls into the splits 30 feet above ground, sup- legs so I can just hang down, then create a ported only by a piece of silk wrapped around loop in the rope and slide down the rope until each of her feet. Thousands of people watch the slack in my waist tightens.” her from the edge of their seats, spellbound. Such elaborate feats are just as difficult Palo Alto High School freshman Sama to perform as they are to imagine, and they Rao aspires to be that girl. require an immense amount of physical At 12 years old, some kids learn how to strength. dance at the Cotillion, sweating through stiff “I had a friend who was ten and could collared shirts and taffeta dresses under the do it just fine, but even now for me, if I don’t bright lights of David Starr Jordan Middle do it for a long time, then my muscles are School’s Cafetorium. Others learn, after their sore and I have to build up strength again by latest growth spurts, how to slam-dunk a conditioning,” Rao said. basketball. Rao, however, learned the art of Rao believes her experience in other aerial rope and silk. sports gave her a physical advantage — she Rao was introduced to this special form has been playing soccer for eight years and of acrobatics at Camp Winnarainbow, a cir- lacrosse for three with the Palo Alto Soccer cus camp in Mendocino where her aunt was Club and the Tomahawks Youth Lacrosse previously employed. Club, respectively. “I tried [aerial rope “I tried [aerial rope and silk] and and “[Aerial rope and silk] and silk] take arm, I really liked it, and I really liked it, and we needed ab and leg strength,” we needed this proj- this project for school.” Rao said. “Lacrosse ect for school where helped build musSama Rao cles in my arms, and we had to work on something for an enfreshman soccer in my legs and tire year and present abs, which meant I what we had learned was pretty strong to and done,” Rao said. “I used it because I had begin with and didn’t have as much trouble really liked doing it, and also because I wanted as others might have.” to do it during the school year.” However, one of the hardest transitions Rao learned how to do wraps and double for Rao from conventional sports to aerial falls from both Winnarainbow and her cur- rope and silk was not learning how it worked, rent training center, Athletic Playground in but learning how to move. Emeryville. “Soccer and lacrosse aren’t the most In most of her falls, Rao drops vertically. graceful of sports, and every trick looks pretSometimes she starts with a vertical fall, then tier with grace,” Rao said. “I had to work on unfolds into a horizontal fall and ends upside that a lot.” down. Even though Rao has two years of practice “At camp last year Sama did a great routine under her belt, she feels the same sweat on her on the rope,” Sama’s mother Sonam Soni said. palms and the quickening of her heart beat “The first time she went on a silk was memo- every time she climbs up the rope. rable also. She did all of her rope tricks on a “Especially if I’m doing something that silk and the routine went from being athletic I’ve never done before, I’m afraid that I’ve to being dance-like, just by doing the same wrapped the rope wrong and I’m going to fall routine on a beautiful piece of cloth.” and mess it up somehow,” Rao said. “I make Rao can also do double horizontal falls. sure that I have it right, and the instructors A double fall consists of an acrobat wrapping that worked with me always made sure I could himself or herself in the rope, then performing do it on the ground first before I went up and
Staff Writer
did the falls. During the fall, I normally am holding the tail end of the rope away from my body, or in such a way where I won’t get tangled up in it.” To ease her nerves, she finds solace in having someone else perform the trick for her first - and in the end, it all pays off. Aerial silk is just as breathtaking as it is intimidating, to both the acrobat and the audience. “It’s really pretty to watch, and when you do the drops and the falls you get an adrenaline rush,” Rao said. “It’s just really fun to learn the new tricks and then be able to actually do them high off the ground. I was thinking about switching to Trapeze Arts [in Oakland] because it has a rope that’s higher up to do longer falls.” Rao’s favorite experience with aerial silk was a performance for parents at Winnarainbow. “I started at the top of the rope and I did falls all the way down,” Rao said. “That was pretty fun and cool.” Previously, Rao practiced every other weekend, attending hour-long classes and practice afterwards for an hour or two. However, she has not found time to train since she started at Paly because of soccer, lacrosse and the nagging presence of homework. “With all the things that are going on, it’s kind of hard to have time to go out there,” Rao said. Rao plans to try and attend over breaks and long weekends in the future, as well as over the summer. These time constraints have prohibited her from seriously pursuing her passion - for now, that is. “I don’t perform because I haven’t had time to join a troupe, and they’re all in the city, which is too far away to go to every week,” Rao said. “It’s just a hobby right now, but I want to perform sometime in the future, maybe next year or over the summer. I’ve been looking, they have some amateur troops in San Francisco and then a couple of professional ones.” But the 13-year-old is not afraid to dream big, and the silk holds possibilities within its folds that only time will reveal. One day Rao may find herself at the HP Pavilion, but instead of being in the seats, she will be in the spotlight. “I’ve always wanted to be in Cirque du Soleil,” Rao said with a grin.
Courtesy of Sama Rao
Rao performs a skillful split at the training arena designed for aerial silk and rope acrobatics requiring an extraordinary amount of core strength.
New clubs offer opportunities for community involvement
Clubs attract students from all grades with events and activities led by group admins By Ashley Shin Staff Writer As the end of third period approaches, junior Aaron Bajor quickly gathers his belongings into his jet black backpack and makes his way to room 1701. Room 1701 is where Club America meets once or twice a month during lunch on Fridays. Club America is one of the new clubs at Palo Alto High School this year, founded originally by Kevin Wang, president, Al Brooks, financial officer and Lucas Brooks, vice president. The club is intended to support American troops through various fundraisers, in addition to creating a more patriotic atmosphere at Palo Alto High School. Club America hopes to organize various events in the future to support the troops. “Club America will be hosting barbecues, football games, hopefully a dance or paintballing event and a lot more,” Wang said. “We are very open to suggestions.” The club already has over 200 members including both male and female students of all grades. “Paly students should join Club America because [they will] meet a lot of great people, have a lot of fun and be able to help the troops that have been serving overseas protecting our freedom,” Wang said. One of the club’s main objectives is to bring different kinds of students together under a common cause. “The best part of the club is being able to interact with people you may or may not know, and then being able to work together to support a great cause,” Wang said. Bajor decided to join Club America for several reasons. “I thought it was a unique idea started by my best friends, so there is no better way to support my school, friends and the country all at the same time,” Bajor said. Another new Paly club this year is the Dodgeball Club. The Dodgeball Club is run by two juniors, Xavier Mignot and Corso Rosati. Both Rosati and Mignot enjoyed playing dodgeball during lunch in their middle school years at David Starr Jordan Middle School and they created the club to continue their love for the game. Mignot believes that the game can help relieve stress for not only himself, but other Paly students as well. Yet the overall purpose of the club is to simply have fun while playing dodgeball. The Dodgeball Club is one of the more casual clubs at Paly. The club only meets during lunch on Thursdays in the gym. Paly Physical Education teachers and staff supply the club with equipment as well as the venue. They support the club in their initiative to get some exercise. The club is composed of approximately 40 Paly students, ranging from freshmen to seniors.
marc havlik/campanile
(Clockwise from top left): Club America officers, L. Brooks, Vice President; Wang, President; A. Brooks, Chief Financial Officer; Zelinger, Administrative Officer and Kelsey, Secretary. Paly juniors Lily Koohestani and Radhia Jamil are the founders of the Stand Up to Cancer Club. The club is centered around support and recognition of the major health issue. “We decided to start the club because we noticed that there wasn’t a club about cancer and there needed to be one, so we decided to start a club to raise awareness.” Koohestani said. “There were no fundraisers for cancer
and everyone has known someone who has had cancer. The rate of kids who would appreciate this club was so high, that we decided to start the club.” Koohestani and Jami were inspired by the Stand Up to Cancer organization. The main focus of the Stand Up to Cancer Club is to raise awareness and fundraise money to donate to cancer research.
The founders do their best to make the club accommodating for its members. “Our club is unique because it is a lot more flexible than other clubs,” Koohestani said. “Were not so strict on our members and don’t overwhelm their inboxes with tons of emails. We ask our members what day they [would] like to meet, instead of telling them to meet at a certain day or time. Our club has a good environment, so we’re not intimidating. We try to be as friendly and inviting as possible.” The Stand Up to Cancer club meets on various days every couple of weeks in Ms. Thomas’ room, 216, allowing the members to participate in other clubs as well. The Projects Club is a new club this year along with Club America, Stand up to Cancer and Dodgeball club. It will be led by founders James Maa and Spencer Schoeben. The primary purpose of the Projects Club is to present opportunities for teenagers to achieve their goals. “We wish to create an environment where students can think creatively without limits,” Maa said. “We provide students with resources, connections and skills to help them achieve what they want. In essence, we want to guide students to becoming self-sufficient entrepreneurs by giving them some experience.” The club will work together through out the year on various projects that the members choose to do. “[We want the] members [to] voice out their ideas they want to do,” Maa explained. “If the club likes it enough, we will have the club gather together our resources, connections and skills to make that project happen.” In addition to the club projects, Maa and Schoeben plan on inviting entrepreneur speakers and others to give talks and lectures. The Projects Club meets on Thursdays during lunch in Ms. Whitson’s room, room 310 or Mr. Kandell’s room, room 213. “To help each member, we try to gather and recruit as much variety of skills as we can,” Maa said. “Currently we have around 50 members with skills ranging from programming, robotics, public relations, art and leadership.” The club is unique in that few other high school students have these opportunities. “I believe that every kid out there has a dream, has something that they want to do,” Maa said. “However, they don’t feel like they can accomplish or do it because they’re kids. Instantly they label these ideas as fruitless ideas even though they are entirely viable. I want students to be able to express their inhibited creativity and wild thoughts to make a better world. Students should join if they believe that they can change the world for the better and are willing to spend some time doing the things they love.”
Check out the archives at...
http://voice.paly.net
The Campanile
FEATURES
October 25, 201o • B5
Farmers’ Market makes locally grown foods more accessible
Palo Alto residents take advantage of organic products offered from vendors By Layla Memar
Bakery and Cafe located in Town and Country Village. Located on a concealed street between They even sold their peppers to Chef Forest St. and Hamilton St., the Palo Alto Maricel Presilla who won the James Beard Farmers’ Market remains somewhat hidden Award for best Latin Chef and went on to from the city. However, the bustling, lively serve Winsberg family peppers at the White marketplace has managed to gather over House last November. The practice of farming 1000 attendees. In this pleasant environment, has been in Andreas’ family for generations. Palo Altans gather, converse and do a little “My dad’s dad was also a farmer in Florgrocery shopping on the side. ida, and he had about 200 acres.” Winsberg After multiple grocery stores in Palo Alto said, “My dad didn’t see himself becoming a closed in 1981, the Farmers’ Market was born. farmer.” “I don’t see myself [farming], but I This year will mark its thirtieth anniguess only time will tell.” versary. Beginning the week after the May Not all of the “farmers” at the market Fete Parade and ending in the middle of work on farms, they may work in stores or December, the Farmers’ Market runs for over markets as well. Two women from Berkeley half the year, leaving Bay Area residents with run a sorbet stand called Scream Sorbet at little excuse not to attend. the Farmer’s Market. With just under 50 farmers’ stands, the This is their first year at the Palo Alto Farmers’ Market offers a diverse selection of Market. Some of their flavors of sorbet products. Items sold at the market range from include Concord Grape, Galia Melon and standard apples and oranges to dry-farmed Peanut Brittle. To make the sorbet they use a tomatoes and premium meat. technique called high speed blending, which The people working at the Farmers’ makes the sorbet extremely cold. Market are the farmers themselves, making Scream Sorbet was recently featured in them extremely knowledgeable about their the New York Times’ food section in a story tiproducts. tled, “We Made It Ourselves—Scream Sorbet.” A lively spirit at the market is Eric SchWhile most of the farmers are indeed letewitz, a farmer from Sanger, California. local, some must make lengthy trips in order Schletewitz sells various fruits, including to attend the market. peaches and white nectarines. The “Meat Guy,” Hugo, must drive seven “Remember, always eat your fruits and hours from Ferndale, California. He begins vegetables,” Schletewitz remarked at the on Thursday, stops at three markets over the passersby. course of two days, then arrives at the Palo Eric Schlanger is the uncle of Palo Alto Alto Market on Saturday. High School junior Andreas Winsberg. Sch“It is his first year at the Palo Alto Farmers’ langer and Andreas’ father, David Winsberg, Market and the market is happy to have him,” work together on David’s farm in East Palo said Phil Carter, the volunteer coordinator Alto, “Happy Quail Farm.” for the Farmers’ Market. Aside from paying When they started out, they grew a varia small stand fee to the market, farmers are ety of vegetables, but now they focus on Spanentitled to all of their profits. ish peppers. With Though peothe occasional crop ple may think the of cucumbers and market’s items are “There’s a certain joy in knowing rhubarb. overpriced, that is D a v i d h a s your farmer and seeing them face not always true, owned the farm to face.” according to Carter. for 20 years and “These are Phil Carter some of the cheapSchlanger has been working on Volunteer Coordinator est fruit I’ve ever it the whole time. seen,” Carter said, Andreas generally pointing to a stand chooses not to help of lemons and heirout on the farm, but he often visits the loom tomatoes selling for $0.25 a piece and markets. under $2.00 a pound, respectively. “I wake up at 5 a.m. on Saturdays [to Despite how little it charges the stands, go to the market],” Andreas said. “We go to the Palo Alto Farmers’ Market has raised a total markets in Marin, San Francisco, Menlo Park of $400,000 over the course of its existence. and Palo Alto.” All of the money made from the stands Andreas and his family also sell their has been donated to Avenidas, a non-profit products to restaurants. They have sold to agency in Palo Alto devoted to assisting local popular Palo Alto eateries, such as Mayfield senior citizens in the community. The market
Staff Writer
Marc Havlik/Campanile
A local Palo Alto family shops for fresh produce and other goods at a stand run by local farmers that sells a variety of organically grown fruits and vegetables, the Farmer’s Market takes place on Saturdays and Sundays. does not need to charge the farmers very much because it is entirely volunteer based. Volunteers range from teenagers to adults and roughly 12 volunteers show up every weekend, including eight Paly students: Alex Carter, Andrea More, Xavier Mignot, Annabel Snow, Martin Solari, Kimberly Starnes, Ashley Swendseid and Nikki Whitson. “It’s lots of fun, because you get to meet lots of interesting people and you get to know a lot of the different growers and stuff, and of course the food is really good and fresh,” junior Mignot said. Many Paly students have taken to working at the Farmers’ Market for community service hours. Many also enjoy to gain experience helping the community in an environmentally friendly way. “It was a really rewarding experience helping the elderly with their shopping and picking out items for them because you felt
like you were needed—it was pretty fun too,” junior Starnes said. Many students volunteer at the market to fulfill the community service requirements for Paly’s Living Skills Course. Carter regards the Farmers’ Market as a “seasonal grower’s market,” and he takes pride in that. “There’s a certain joy in knowing your farmer and seeing them face-to-face,” Carter said. Some benefits of purchasing goods from the Farmers’ Market, as opposed to the grocery store, are that the market has fresher food, (which is often picked earlier that day), a better selection and the feeling of supporting local farmers. “I love the Farmers’ Market because it’s a nice place where you can buy fresh fruit and you know where its coming from,” junior and copresident of the Paly Environmental Initiative Club at Paly Madeline Dahm said. “I really
like the idea of buying things from local places because it’s more environmentally friendly, since it requires less transportation.” Helping people as well as the environment, the Palo Alto Farmer’s market receives nothing but positive reviews. “At the close of every market, a charity pantry comes by and collects crates and crates of donated produce from the growers to distribute to the needy,” Carter said. On top of the fresh produce and pleasant atmosphere, the Farmers’ Market offers live entertainment to the public that create an inviting place to spend Saturday and Sunday mornings. Local acoustic bands perform at the market every Saturday, which helps them to promote their music in a friendly environment that gets a lot of exposure. The Farmers’ Market is not only a produce market, but also a social event that in beneficial to the community.
Thrift stores provide alternative to traditional costume shops Local vintage stores give shoppers a cheaper, unique alternative for creative costumes By Helen Chen Lifestyles Editor
Halloween gives recognition to all things dark and frightful, whether it is through the scary folklore of the occasion or the alarmingly large chunk out of one’s bank account that is required to fund the holiday. The costs of celebrating Halloween stem from the bulk amount of candy, the spooky decorations for the house and finally the clincher: that perfectly detailed costume. Palo Alto High School students often face the conflict of wanting to create an elaborate costume, but not having the money to do it; this is a popular issue during Spirit Week as well. Thankfully, there are cheap solutions to the costume dilemma. On Oct. 14, the LiveGreene store in downtown Palo Alto hosted a Halloween Fete, aimed to show Palo Altans how to have a green and affordable Halloween. The festival included a fusion of both. The healthoriented message was represented by the waiters that walked around with samples of innovative vegetableinspired meals, carrot and other juice tasting booths and large barrels filled with several types of granola bars decorated the entrance. As for the affordable Halloween costume component, there was a booth from the Costume Bank and a vintage costume fashion show. The Costume Bank is a foundation incorporated with the Assistance League, meaning that it is a nonprofit organization and all proceeds go towards medical patients, senior citizens, the homeless and other groups in need. The foundation itself allows for people to exchange previously worn costumes or to pick up a new costume for themselves. At the LiveGreene Halloween Fete, the booth held a $10 costume rack for party-goers. While the Costume Bank receives the most attention around Halloween, it operates year round. “We have about 3000 costumes,” member of the Costume Bank Nancy Kaszubinski said. “People want costumes for all occasions, such as if someone is having a party, a renaissance fair, a school play, colonial days or just if somebody wants some extra credit for a school presentation.” The Costume Bank offers a flexible time limit for those interested in renting a costume from their broad collection. Renting costumes can be extremely benefi-
Helen Chen/Campanile
The interior of the LiveGreene store shows racks of vintage clothing available for purchase. Thrift stores can be the perfect place to find original clothing for costumes and everyday wear. cial to those who want to save money for Halloween or with it. In an authentic 1970s white jumpsuit, a roller girl other special occasions. If a costume is rented during the strutted down the runway. A man wearing a patterned month of October, the renter has until Nov. 3 to return green shirt, tinted red glasses and a green bucket hat paid it. Additionally, the costumes available are uncommon homage to the author of the famous movie and novel and cost less. ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’, “[The costumes] are not packHunter. S. Thompson. Other aged ones,” Kaszubinski said. “Our “All of the clothing items that we vintage costumes included ‘Foxy vintage stuff is really vintage, most sell are at least 20 years old.” Cleopatra,’ ‘dead prom queen’ of our stuff is made by members and a full gorilla suit. and they’re of a higher quality and “[Empire] is a true vintage unique. There is only one of each store,” Tiffany Gush, owner of EmTiffany Gush costume.” pire and Paly Alumni from class Owner of Empire Vintage of 1992 said. “All of the clothing The Costume Bank store is located in Los Altos. Fortunately Clothing items that we sell are at least 20 for busy students, there is a closer years old.” alternative. Hidden in a nook of How Gush deter mines downtown Palo Alto is Empire Vintage Clothing, the whether an article of clothing is authentic vintage, that same clothing store that provided the wardrobe for the is true to the era, is based on her experience and skill vintage fashion show during the LiveGreene party. The after years of being a vintage clothing buyer. Vintage festival showcased Empire’s selection of vintage apparel clothing buyers give older attire a new life by creating and the creative costumes that can be pieced together the recycled clothing into something that they enjoy.
Bruce Whitson Real Estate Broker Whitson Properties Property Management & Sales 650-269-7193 www.whitson.biz California DRE #01726700
“I started selling vintage clothing because I got fired from my interior design job,” Gush said. “There was this little website called eBay, and I had my honey take a picture of me in a 1950s dress and I sold it for thousands of dollars. Then I knew I had a job. I’ve been selling vintage clothing for 30 years, so I have a pretty good idea of fashion styles through the eras. I can determine 1970s polyester from 80s polyester—there is a difference.” Residents all over the Bay Area come to Empire for their secondhand clothing needs. “Our clients range from middle school kids at Jordan all the way to a guy who’s 72 and comes in and buys vintage band shirts,” Gush said. “Even senior citizens from Lytton Gardens come in here and shops.” Empire differs from a thrift store as the clothing sold in thrift stores are donated by local people, whereas Gush herself purchases the vintage clothing from people all around the Bay Area. She refers to Monday as her ‘buying day.’ Gush’s bubbly personality and her own personalized playlist playing over the speakers create a friendly and inviting atmosphere that lures in customers. On the walls, there is a rainbow of assorted vintage belts. A rack in the corner holds a rainbow of simple colorful T-shirts and there is currently a costume rack on display, where each piece of clothing is given a label with a costume suggestion on it. Each garment of recycled clothing comes with a quirky handwritten tag, such as a mint green striped shirt with the tag that reads, ‘Minty Mama!’ The store includes clothing from each generation, going as far back as the 1940s, providing many options for Paly students for generation day during Spirit Week. Vintage stores are a great and often overlooked place to find specialized and unique costumes for a reduced price. If the diverse collection of garments at Empire Vintage Clothing does not appeal to a Paly student, perhaps the ten percent discount with student identification will. Buyers can find themselves unique vintage clothing and discover new and exciting ways to wear them without spending a lot of money. Thrift stores can be a fun place to shop when you want something a little different. “Every garment absolutely has it’s own story,” Gush said. “It has a previous life. People find inspiration from the old and make it new. We encourage people to bring their imagination here, have a little bit of fun and loosen up. It’s just about being yourself.”
IN
European designs Imported
Clothing Boutique
444 University Ave Palo Alto, CA 94301 10% (650)388-8557
discount for Paly students with this coupon
B6 • October 25, 2010
FEATURES
The Campanile
Gunn students compete in dance routines for night rally Annual Spirit Week at Gunn brings students together despite rivalry By Tobey Nelson-Gal
of the seniors were muttering to themselves in anticipation for what they had to face - here Entering the gym I found my seat among came the real competition. As the lights dimmed, silhouetted figures a dense crowd of Henry M. Gunn High School seniors all of whom were dressed in their of the junior class carrying candles walked class color, red. Looking out over the gym from the four corners of the room in single I saw fists pumping in the air, as waves of file lines, congregating on opposite sides of different classes in their designated colors, the gym. Once the lines had walked off center green, yellow, black and red, motivated each stage, music from a child’s lullaby eerily inother to chant louder. Immediately as I settled truded in on the silence and the lights began in I found myself joining in with the noisy to slowly illuminate the room revealing 11 crowd, laughing and cheering for a class that juniors whose faces reflected that of the jokI was not even officially a part of. Within ten ers with dark circles around their eyes and minutes, I lost my voice - 20 minutes later, widely stitched smiles that stretched far up their cheeks. Rocking back and forth as if pupthe rally began. Every year during Gunn’s Spirit Week, pets attached to strings, the juniors fell into the separate classes come together on the a strange dance as if it were choreographed Thursday before the homecoming game to for a Tim Burton movie. After a series of weird and intricate compete in what is arguably their favorite convulsion-like moves, the juniors finished off school night of the year - the night rally. During this rally, each class splits up into with a fright as they crawled up to the bleachfour sections of the gym where they chant ers like hungry undead corpses. Leaving the and ridicule opposing classes to build up crowd stunned and the junior class ecstatic, their own grade’s spirit in preparation for the the seniors sat with wide eyes, nervous and doubtful about their chances, since just the events to come. Performances from the Gunn dance, year before, the 2012 sophomore class beat cheerleading and stomp teams provided the 2011 junior class. Once Zhang and Perez called up the seenjoyable transitions between the airbands dance routines, which was the main hype of nior class, a massive crowd of seniors dressed the night rally. Airbands are choreographed in red elf hats, face paint and white button dance routines that are organized and per- up shirts broke off and ran to the center of the gym. formed by students in As the seniors the same class. They lined up in rows, involve melding a “I would love to see [as much the lights dimmed theme with mashed spirit and number of students revealing that each up music to piece involved at Paly]; it is incredibly senior was holding a together an intricate candle, oddly similar dance including over unifying.” 100 students per perPhil Winston to that of the juniors. However, as formance. Principal the speakers began As the rally beto shout out B.O.B’s gan Gunn senior s o n g “A i r p l a n e,” Kevin Zhang and jumembers of the senior Catherine Perez walked to the center of the gym to present nior airband began dancing energetically. With perfectly timed lines, the senior each airband as well as the judges, Palo Alto High School Principal Phil Winston and Paly class was looking good. It was not that many physics and astronomy teacher Josh Bloom of the dance moves were particularly difficult; it was that the sheer size of the senior class were guest judges on the panel. First up was the freshman class whose performing these moves in unison was both routine, though it lacked interesting choreog- amazing and overwhelming. The highlight of the dance came as two raphy and timing, showed great enthusiasm throughout its dance. Following them were the lines of 50 seniors laid down on the floor of sophomores who, again, did not leave anyone the gym with feet locked around the head of dazzled, but still showed great organization the person behind them, each doing the worm in one massive line across the gym. and effort. As the performance progressed the Then came the juniors. As they all scattered around the gym to prepare for their energy of the dance built up immensely as routine, I looked beside me to see that many seniors brought trash cans to the center of the
Senior Staff Writer
Courtesy of ANNA VON CLEMM
Gunn seniors dressed in elaborate costumes participate in a night rally to raise overall school spirit. The school dance team, stomp team, cheerleaders and various airband groups perform choreographed dances. gym and began banging away, wildly throwing their arms in the air after each compelling hit. With the seniors now circled in a big ring around the center drummers, the music met with the beat of the drummers in a crescendo that got hearts pumping. With all the main performances of the night finished, the panel of judges took several minutes to deliberate which class should be the winner. Once finished, the judges passed on the verdict to Zhang and Perez who came out once more to announce the winner. After quieting the crowd down, they read off the fourth and third place classes, which were awarded to the freshman and
sophomores respectively. Then in a long and nerve-racking pause for second place, Zhang shouted out “the juniors” signifying that the seniors had won. The senior class jumped from their seats in a mass cheer while throwing up their class hand sign for their graduation year, 2011. Some remained in the bleachers while others rushed onto the court in a frenzy. It was pure chaos. As students began to pile to the exits, the hostile competition of spirit week died down as class colors in the crowd began to meld together. Freshman and sophomores smiled and laughed together and even the juniors who
were upset at their loss to the seniors kindheartedly congratulated them, patting each other on the shoulders and joking as they walked outside. Paly Principal Phil Winston looks forward to the possibilities for Paly’s spirit week in the future after experiencing all of Gunn’s night rally excitement. “The overall spirit and number of students involved [in Gunn’s Spirit Week,] especially the night rally, is really awesome,” Winston said. “I would love to see that here [at Paly]; it is incredibly unifying. One thing at a time though.” This year, Paly’s spirit week is the week Oct. 25-29.
The CHEAPEST hot lunch in Town & Country! Get a slice of pizza and a drink for $5! Town & Country Village 855 El Camino Real Palo Alto, CA 94301
A&E
The Campanile
October 25, 2010 • B7
Bay Area venues host exciting, popular artists this season This year’s hottest artists set to perform at various local clubs, arenas in coming months By Rachel Stober Editor in Chief
Even though the weather is cooling down, the local music scene is just heating up. Loads of hot acts and sensational performers are coming to the Bay Area this fall, promising an exciting night out for all musical tastes.
Upcoming Concerts Spookfest LIVE 105’s subsonic Halloween party drew crowds of over 10,000 ravers last year and is hyping up to be one of the hottest electronic music festivals of 2010. The event returns to the Cow Palace in Daly City on Oct. 29 with a jam-packed line-up including Steve Aoki, MSTRKRFT, Blaqk Audio, LA Riots, Underworld and many other performers. Featured artist Steve Aoki is one of the most highly anticipated acts of the evening. Aoki has been producing since 1996, but it was not until 2008 when he came out from behind the scenes and took the electronic music scene by storm with his debut album, Pillowface and His Airplane Chronicles. Along with his most popular creation, “I’m In The House,” Aoki is featured in countless hits (such a Warp 1.9 by the Bloody Beetroots) and continues to rock the rave world with his remixes. Former front man of AFI will also be found on the Spookfest stage with Blaqk Audio. In addition to a fantastic array of talented DJs, the epic light shows and crazy costumes make Spookfest a unique concert experience. So grab some ghouls and get ready for seven hours of dance floor insanity! Movin’ 99.7 Triple Ho Show Movin’ 99.7 will be hosting their holiday party on Dec. 1 at San Jose State University Event Center. Enrique Iglesias (“I Like It”), Nelly (“Hot
(from left, clockwise) BET, thissongissick, sfweekly
(Clockwise from left) Usher will be performing his biggest hits at the Oakland Arena on Nov. 12. Local group, The Cataracs, will be at The Catalyst in Santa Cruz on Nov. 27. Slim’s in San Francisco will host artists including K. Flay and Bruno Mars. In Here”), Jay Sean (“Down” featuring Lil Wayne), Taio Cruz (“Dynomite”), Far East Movement (“Like a G6”) and former “Drake and Josh” star, Miranda Cosgrove (“Sparks Fly”) will be performing. With a stacked line-up and holiday cheer in the air, the Triple Ho Show is sure to leave audience members calling, “Ho, ho, ho!”
Hot Venues The Catalyst Nestled in downtown Santa Cruz, The Catalyst is a nightclub with a relaxed atmosphere and a great
winter schedule. Sublime with Rome will rock the Catalyst twice on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 with hits including “The Wrong Way” and “Summertime.” On Nov. 12, the Catalyst will feature Zion I, a hip-hip duo with local origins in Oakland. Known for their provocative lyrics and smooth rhymes, Zion I’s top songs include “Coastin’” featuring K. Flay, “The Bay” and “Don’t Loose Your Head.” Electro fans unite for the third week in November when Steve Aoki will bring his subsonic sound to the Catalyst on Nov. 17, along with Mustard Pimp. L.A. Riots’ fresh electronic mixes will rock the club on Nov. 19. For those who missed Andre
Nickatina’s October performance, he will return on Nov. 27 with his dirty rhymes and ferocious vocals on such hits as “Conversation With The Devil,” “Yeah” and “Saw A Gangsta Cry.” The Cataracs, a group from Berkeley will be at the Catalyst on Nov. 27. The Bay Area natives are famous for their unique fusion of hip hop and electro. Their most popular songs include “Club Love,” “On Top Of The World” and “Bass Down Low.” For a slightly more laid back vibe, venture to the Catalyst on Dec. 10 and 11 for the musical stylings of The Expendables. The ska group is sure to impress with their stoner anthems “Bowl For Two”
and “Sacrifice.” It may be a bit of a nuisance to make the journey over the hill to Santa Cruz, but with such incredible upcoming acts, The Catalyst is sure to be a hot spot this winter. Oakland Arena The Gorillaz will be bringing their unique sound to the Oakland Arena on Oct. 30 with a variety of other performers, including N*E*R*D. (“Hot N’ Fun”) and 1990s hit rap trio, De La Soul (“Me Myself and I”) The Gorillaz consider themselves a project, composed of their music and an extensive fictional world depicting a “virtual band” of comic book charac-
ters, which can be seen in their music videos. With this creative concept in mind, and such hits as “Feel Good Inc.,” “Clint Eastwood “and “Dare,” The Gorillaz performances rarely disappoint. Grammy-winner Pharrel teams up with Chad Hugo and Shay Haley to create hip hop sensation N*E*R*D (short for No-one Ever Really Dies.) So grab tickets and get ready to “feel good.” Usher and Trey Songz will also be coming to Oakland Arena on Nov. 12 to rock the risers and woo the ladies. Usher’s new hits, “DJ Got Us Falling In Love” and “OMG,” along with his earlier music, such as “Yeah” and “My Boo,” are sure to keep audiences on their feet. In addition, Trey Songz is guaranteed to excite crowds with his fresh flow and enticing voice on “Say Aah” and “Bottoms Up” (featuring Nicki Minaj.) Slim’s Slim’s is one of the last live music night clubs in San Francisco that is still open to all ages. The club’s lively vibes and stellar upcoming acts leave no excuse to miss out this winter. On Nov. 11, Ghostface Killa will grace the club with his suave beats and emotionally piercing lyrics. Hawaiin native Bruno Mars will be at Slim’s on Nov. 16 and his light falsetto voice in “Just The Way You Are,” “Nothin’ On You” and new hit single, “Grenade,” are sure to leave audiences wanting more. For those feeling more of a pop-punk sound, 3OH!3 (“Don’t Trust Me”), Hellogoodbye (“Here In Your Arms”) and K. Flay (featured in “Coastin’” by Zion I) will be performing at Slim’s on Nov. 18. The Kottonmouth Kings will bring their laid back reggae-rock rhymes to the club on Dec. 10. The variety and talent of these artists as well as the exciting environment at the club makes Slim’s one of the Bay Area’s “it” spots this season.
Waiting for Superman exposes problems of public school system Documentary emphasizes importance of charter schools for underprivileged students By Madison Sevilla Editor in Chief The powerful documentary, Waiting for Superman directed by Academy Award winner, Davis Guggenheim, is said to do for education what his other film, An Inconvenient Truth, did for global warming. Waiting for Superman, which premiered worldwide on Oct. 8, chronicles five children and their families’ fight against the public school system in the United States. Guggenheim, who also directed the film Teach, which follows four young public school teachers and their mission to educate children in America, decided to direct and co-write Waiting for Superman after he betrayed his own beliefs in the public school system and decided to send his own children to a private school. The movie opens with scenes from classic Superman movies and a voice-over of educational reformer Geoffrey Canada stating that, “one of the saddest days of my life was when my mother told me Superman did not exist. She thought I was crying because it’s like Santa Claus is not real. I was crying because no one was coming with enough power to save us.” The five children in the film: Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy and Emily, each between the grade of kindergarten and eighth grade, live in diverse settings that include Los Angeles, Harlem, the Bronx, D.C. and Redwood City. While these students comes from different environments, they have one thing in common - a poor education. These students’ hardworking parents are all trying to make sure that their children do not make the same mistakes that they did. Nakia, the mother of six-year-old Bianca, stated, “I don’t care what I have to do. I don’t care how many jobs I have to obtain. But she will go to college.” Guggenheim interviews these c h i l d re n , a s k i n g t h e m w h a t t h e i r dreams and ambitions are for the future. All answered with, “go to college.” Waiting for Superman, which won the Audience Award for documentaries at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, argues that every child should have the opportunity to go to a well-established public school, something that many children around America are missing out on because of “drop out factories.” “Drop out factories,” a term coined by Davis Guggenheim, refers to some of the worst schools failing children across the nation. The film argues that one of the first steps that needs to be taken in the public school system is to reform the steadfast political power of the teacher unions that have become too good at what they do, protecting good teachers and unfortunately giving the same rights to those who are inept. Guggenheim presents statistics through animated
seattlepi
In Guggenheim’s newest film, the director conveys the importance of quality primary schooling for underprivileged youth. Winner of the Audience Award at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, the film portrays the dreams and ambitions of children who lack satisfactory educational opportunities. cartoons showing the high dropout rate in In Waiting for Superman, Guggenheim urban areas, the tenure system and the flat exposes the problem with unions and how lining math and reading scores with America even when a teacher takes advantage of having one of the lowest scores ,in comparison tenure by refusing to teach a class or is being to other countries. Guggenheim mocks the charged with a crime, teachers are sent to esway principals rotate lousy teachers within a tablishments called Temporary Reassignment given district, popuCenter, or more larly known as the loosely referred to “Dance of the Lem- “I don’t care what I have to do. I as “Rubber Rooms,” ons,” the “Turkey don’t care how many jobs I have during the trial. A Trot” and “Pass the “Rubber Room” is Trash”, due to union to obtain. But she will go to colan institution where laws, which state that lege.” teachers who have teachers with tenbeen charged with Nakia misconduct go usuure cannot be fired. Tenure guarantees Bianca’s mother ally during school teachers with more hours, while their than three years setrial is conducted niority a job for life, and are still getting unless they are charged with an offense and paid their salaries for just “waiting it out.” go through an extended period of arduous The film never loses its serious tone arbitration hearings. through the one-on-one interviews, animated
cartoons and archival footage that give viewers the feeling of something right out of the Michael Moore school of filmmaking. While Waiting for Superman provides no clear solution to the public school system issue, Guggenheim at the very least exposes the disease that causes this problem. The film’s most effective and tear jerking scene is when the group of five students and their families attend a lottery to see if they win a chance to get into a charter school, which is for many, their last hope for a good education. Charter schools are independent public schools that are tuition free and have a limited amount of space available for students. Charter schools are usually set up by teachers, community leaders and parents, and are approved by the State Department of Education. Because of their limited amount of space available, charter schools hold lotteries to decide which students can get into the school with near impossible odds.
In this final scene when Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy and Emily have to beat their odds for a better education (which range between 5 and 40 percent,) the audience holds its breath, hoping that five other students do not get into the charter school so that they can. The film leaves viewers feeling helpless and wondering whether only determined students can overcome obstacles and get a quality education. Guggenheim sends the message that charter schools are the only hope for children in run down areas and that there is no chance for those who do not get in. With only three percent of students in the public school system attending charter schools, our nation is in jeopardy. The movie states that the education of children is vital to the future of America, exemplified by the movies tagline, “The fate of our country will not be decided on a battlefield, it will be determined in a classroom.”
A&E
B8 • October 25 2010
The Campanile
Palo Alto yoga studios help practicers relieve stress while improving health Yoga studios offer alternatives to conventional exercise through breathing with stretching By Maya Krasnow Advertising Manager
Yoga has definitely made its mark in Western society. Now everyone, from Madonna to my grandmother, seems to be bonding with a yoga mat. This is no surprise considering the diversity of yoga styles and their different purposes and appeal. Some participants want to get in shape, while others seek to relieve stress or solve back problems. Palo Alto’s yoga studios provide fun, healthy workouts for people of all ages. Keep in mind that the particular studio does not matter as much as finding a teacher and style of yoga that suits the participant best.
Avalon Art and Yoga Center 370 S. California Ave Palo Alto, CA 94306
Located on South California Avenue, Avalon Art and Yoga Center is an all-around solid yoga studio. Avalon offers a variety of different classes for people of all abilities. Classes include restorative yoga, power yoga and Vinyasa yoga, which focuses on synchronizing breathing with movement. Shastri, an experienced and intense yoga instructor, teaches a dynamic Hatha class at 7:15 on Monday night and 6:30 on Friday night. This challenging class moves at a rapid pace and combines advanced poses with a variety of breathing techniques. The Flow class, which is taught many times throughout the week, is great for beginners. The class focuses on different types of balancing poses that do not require participants to be very flexible, and all improve your ability to do more complicated poses.
All in all, the knowledgeable instructors, welcoming atmosphere and array of levels and styles offered makes Avalon an excellent Yoga studio. The one drawback is that classes tend to be large so there is limited individual attention from the instructors. Drop in classes are $18, but students and seniors can get in for $15. They also offer a variety of passes. Check their website, avalonyoga.com for more details about pricing.
Darshana Yoga 654 High Street Palo Alto, CA 94301
Darshana Yoga, located on High Street, offers levels of classes ranging from beginner to advanced. One can choose from Vinyasa flow, Gentle Yoga and Lyengar, which combines alignment with flow. Gentle Yoga is devoted to healing and can help relieve stress. Darshana boasts small class sizes and the instructors try to tailor each class to fit the needs of the participants. The beginner/intermediate Vinyasa flow class, which is taught most days of the week, moves at a steady pace and places an emphasis on stretching and strengthening. The studio is clean and bright. Soft music plays in the background, which adds to the peaceful ambiance. Mirrors span one wall of the studio which allows participants to make sure their form is correct. Darshana instructors are welcoming and encouraging to beginners. They make sure everyone does the poses correctly and try to improve peoples’ technique. Single classes are $18. However, there are a variety of passes available
Downtoearthwellness
Quickly becoming a popular recreational activity, yoga allows participants to improve their flexibility, relieve tension and stress and increase fitness. Palo Alto yoga studios offer a range of classes that help maintain mental and physical health. for those who wish to come on a regular basis. Visit darshanayoga.com for class schedules and times.
Yoga Source 158 Hamilton Ave Palo Alto, CA 94301 Located on Hamilton Avenue, Yoga Source offers a variety of classes
at convenient times. Yoga Source is known for teaching classes in a heated environment. Although the studio does offer regular classes, they also can be uncomfortably warm, so it is similar to being in a heated class. The Bikram class with Johnny is physically challenging and focuses on balance. For those who can stand to work out in a 100 degree room for an hour and a half, the poses are restor-
ative and leave participants feeling refreshed. Johnny is a motivating, hands-on instructor. He is attentive and makes sure that everyone does the poses correctly. Yoga Source also offers Ashtanga yoga, an advanced class that combines breathing with graceful movements. Other yoga classes are Vinyasa yoga, Power yoga and Yin yoga. The studio also offers classes targeted
to beginners. The Foundations of the Flow class is a slow-paced class that focuses on the fundamentals of Vinyasa yoga. There is also a student discount which is $30 for 40 consecutive days. Only purchase this pass if you actively practice yoga. Visit yogasource.com for more information. Be sure to get to class about 15 minutes early to get a good spot and do not forget to bring water.
A&E Sandwich spots provide tasty lunchtime options
The Campanile
October 25, 2010 • B9
Palo Alto’s wide selection of sandwich shops offer variability, affordability to students By Michael Augustine Staff Writer
While breakfast might be knows as the most important meal of the day, it can easily be debated that lunch is the tastiest. One popular choice for lunch is to buy a sandwich. However, determining exactly where to buy that perfect sandwich can be difficult. Palo Alto and surrounding cities offer several exemplary sandwich shops, which makes the decision of where exactly to buy lunch tough. The factors that determine a superior sandwich shop consist of price, variety, location and finally, taste. A sandwich shop must include inexpensive sandwiches to be in contention. Furthermore, the menu must also consist of a wide variety of sandwiches, allowing the costumer to have lots of choices. The shop must also be relatively close to Palo Alto High School so that it is easily accessible by car or bike. Finally, a crucial aspect in judging sandwiches, is that the sandwich needs to have that ‘wow’ aspect about it that separates it from the rest of the pack.
Mr. Pickles Sandwich Shop 1432 El Camino Real San Mateo, CA 94402
With three locations in San Mateo, Belmont and Los Gatos, Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop has a relaxing environment with some terrific sandwiches. Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop has a list of 25 specialty sandwiches that cost between $6.99 to $7.99. These specialty sandwiches are given unique names such as The Abbot, the Tony Soprano and the shop’s most popular sandwich, Mr. Pickle. Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop also offers eight salads from $2.49 to $6.49. In general, employees are college guys who seem very laid back, who have either music or the television playing in stores. “The environment, kind of like the music or the TV, [makes it] friendlier,” Belmont employee Kevin Roux said. With that said this sandwich shop offers a solid selection of specialty sandwiches and an average price. The sandwiches are very large and stuffed with meat, lettuce, tomatoes and sauce. Another special feature is the addition of avocado on many of their sandwiches for no additional cost.
Ace of Sandwiches 3864 El Camino Real Palo Alto, CA 94306
Just minutes away by car on El Camino Real near Happy Donuts, Ace of Sandwiches offers high quality meat to go along with a large selection of sandwiches. Ace of Sandwiches’ meat, cheese and condiments are all certified Boar’s Head products, meaning they offer higher quality than offered at most fast food and many other sandwich shops.
SUsan Heinselman/Campanile
Left to right: JJ&F Market is a popular spot for student and community members alike to go for a tasty sandwich while supporting the local small business. Quiznos on California Ave. is one of a nation-wide chain. The accessibility makes it a regular place for Paly students to go. Boar’s Head foods use no filters, by-products, artificial flavors, trans fat or gluten. Deciphering the complicated and overly extensive menu is one of the few drawbacks about this shop. Ace of Sandwiches has 108 listed sandwiches, according to their online Facebook page. With specialty sandwiches costing $6.99 to $8.50 Ace of Sandwiches offers average prices. However, they have a PB & J for $2 and an Ace-a dilla for $3.99. These cheaper options are unique when compared to other stores. “I do not think we are unique at all,” store owner Mario Navat said. “We are not trying to reinvent the wheel. We just really try to make an honest sandwich.” With a close location, plenty of tasty sandwiches and very high quality meat, cheese and condiments, Ace of Sandwiches is a strong sandwich shop in Palo Alto.
JJ&F Market 520 College Avenue Palo Alto, CA
A third generation store, JJ & F Market is a diverse small-scale gem in Palo Alto. It was founded by brothers Joe, John and Frank and has stayed in the family ever since. While sandwiches are a small part of their deli, let alone their store, JJ & F some moderately priced sandwiches that are full of taste. For $6.99 there is the option of building a sandwich. One can choose from many types of meat, including: pastrami, corned beef, honey maple turkey, roast pork and black forest ham. JJ&F Market offers several specialty sandwiches for $7.50, including the meatball, BBQ Brisket, Meat Lover and the B.L.T. Besides a lineup of stellar sandwiches, JJ&F has a deli of high quality Boar’s head meats. “Our emphasis is on freshness,” owner of the store Dennis Garcia said, “We are a family owned grocery
store. We have served the community going back three generations.”
Quiznos
Village Cheese House
490 S.California Ave Palo Alto, CA 94306.
855 El Camino Real # 157 Palo Alto, CA . Out of all its competition, Village Cheese House is the easiest option for students at Paly as it is across the street in Town & Country Village. With sandwiches starting at $7.99 with swiss cheese and $8.74, with other cheeses, Village Cheese House allows customers to build their own sandwich with many options. “We have a register dedicated to Paly students,” coowner Noah Hiken said. Village Cheese House is very convenient for Paly students who do not want to be held up in lines waiting for food all lunch. Village cheese house is a very fast and tasty option for Paly students at lunch. As for depth, Village Cheese House offers 23 meats and 13 cheeses. They have a wide variety of breads, including ciabatta, Sweet French roll and rye. For vegetarians, there are six salads and a small vegetarian menu including an Italian veggie tofu ball sandwich. Village Cheese House has been a staple for Paly students for 50 years. “We have been here since 1959,” Hiken said. Village Cheese House’s tasty sandwiches come with premium toppings at an elevated price, with many additional prices on items such as bacon and avocado that are often included free of charge in other shops. Due to its location and convenience, however, Village Cheese House has proved by existing for 50 years that it remains one of the better options for Paly students as they boast delicious sandwiches for students to enjoy.
For being a large chain competing against smaller sandwich shops, Quiznos delivers primarily on two fronts: value and variety. Quiznos offers great value in many of their sandwiches, such as their $5.99 large daily value sandwich. Quiznos is unique among other sandwich shops because they offer toasty Torpedoes and Bullets, which are served on skinnier ciabatta baguettes. Quiznos is unique amongst other sandwich shops because they offer seven flat bread Sammies and four different soups. Also available are the toasty Torpedoes and Bullets, which are served on skinnier ciabatta baguette. Maurice Johnson, the manager of the Quiznos located on California Avenue, expands on the reasoning behind Quiznos relevance in the sandwich industry. “From a franchise [its special] because, in taste, its second to none,” Johnson said. “Value added taste you do not get at Togo’s and Subway.” Quiznos also offers Classic Subs, six large sandwiches for $7.99 and eight Signature Subs, for $8.49. Overall, Quiznos is an average sandwich shop that benefits from prime location on California Ave. It has reasonable value and a wide variety of foods to get besides the sandwich. Now that these shops have been broken down and scrutinized the importance of the listed criteria should be evident. Without a wide selection of tasty sandwiches at affordable prices nearby Paly, a sandwich shop cannot be relevant in the conversation of who is best. Use these criteria as a guide to locate and consume the ultimate sandwich.
James Franco writes fictional stories about teenagers in Palo Alto By Brian Benton Staff Writer
We know him as the actor from Freaks and Geeks, Spider-Man, Pineapple Express and Milk, as the ambitious college student with degrees from UCLA and Columbia University, who now attends Yale University and the Rhode Island School of Design, and some Palo Altans even know him as a former classmate or student. But with the release of his first collection of short stories, James Franco will also be known as an author. And a talented one at that. Palo Alto: Stories, Franco’s first book, was released on Oct. 19. It is a collection of 11 short stories, focusing on the sometimes daunting but always thought-provoking lives of teenagers growing up in and around Palo Alto. Many of the ideas in Palo Alto were formed in classes when Franco returned to UCLA to earn his undergraduate degree almost ten years after he dropped out freshman year to pursue a career in acting. More ideas emerged during classes at Columbia University, New York University and Brooklyn College and eventually he wrote enough pieces to make up a full collection. Although not an autobiography, much of Palo Alto draws on Franco’s years as a teenager in the Bay Area. There are many recognizable references to locations around town, and many readers, especially students, will also be able to relate to the timeless themes of teenage life and excesses. The first story in Palo Alto is “Halloween.” The story begins with a group of eight friends drinking at one of their houses. As it continues, a twisted and dark plot develops, revolving around a high school-aged boy named Ryan who is on probation for being under the influence as a minor. The story is brutally honest, making it hard to read at times but also impossible to put down. “Halloween” does have its flaws, primarily the somewhat forced ending, but there are also a lot of positive attributes to the story. “Halloween” is horrifyingly realistic, as is most of Palo Alto. The setting, which includes places like David Starr Jordan Middle School and the intersection of Embarcadero and Newell, will force Palo Alto residents to think twice about what really goes on in the community, as well as make them grateful that the stories are just fiction. Franco’s ability to realistically capture teenage life comes through in “Halloween.” The problems that Ryan is going through with his parents, his cheating girlfriend and the immaturity of his friends are all real. Even
Marc Havlik/Campanile
Former Palo Alto resident and Paly High School graduate James Franco released his first book, Palo Alto: Stories, in which he reminisces on his experiences growing up in the town, on Oct. 19. though most people won’t be able to relate to everything in Ryan’s life, almost everyone will be able to connect to some of the issues he goes through. Another story in Palo Alto is “Lockheed,” the tale of Marissa, a high school student who spends a listless summer interning at Lockheed Martin, an aerospace company where many Paly students, including Franco, have worked. Marissa narrates her melancholy times at Lockheed, most of which are spent in a dark, windowless basement doodling and drawing when she gets tired of finding scratches on old film reels of the moon as she is assigned to do. “Lockheed” begins sweetly, but the mood quickly changes as the story refocuses to a Menlo Park party Marissa is attending with her cousin. As Franco takes us inside her mind, we begin to see the harshness and repulsiveness of some parties, making the story just as haunting as the rest. A pleasingly direct style is used in “Lockheed.” It is crisp and tight. Simple sentences, many of which are just four or five words, are frequent.When Franco could have been using convoluted words and unnecessarily detailed
descriptions, he instead keeps his writing sparse, leaving the reader’s imagination free to fill in what Franco chose to leave out. The choice of details mentioned in “Lockheed” is intriguing and quirky. We never learn what Marissa looks like, but the fact that her gay cousin Jamie, her only real friend, prefers menthol cigarettes is included. The story takes the reader on a dark and obsessive voyage through Franco’s frenetic mind, making stops wherever it pleases. In one paragraph Franco writes of Marissa’s Swedish boss Jan, “pronounced Yan,” and in the next of her drawings of My Little Ponys killing G.I. Joes. “Tar Baby,” one of the six stories included in part two of Palo Alto, is focused on a boy named Teddy’s late night escapade to find something to do to pass the time. Along with A.J. Sims, his classmate who has “seven brothers, older and younger,” but “really had no friends,” Teddy, tries to choose if it is worth going to a party full of people he dislikes, or if he should just hang out. As Teddy grows more and more anxious to do something and more and more drunk, he begins fighting with A.J. and eventually
decides to go alone on a bizarre yet therapeutic walk through Palo Alto. As these events occur, Teddy begins comparing his life to that of the Tar Baby and Br’er Bear from the folk story Uncle Remus, a book that Teddy’s mom read to him when he was younger. In Tar Baby, these literary references and others to writers Jack Kerouac and Henrick Ibsen, provide a second layer of context to think about while reading Teddy’s story. They also illustrate Franco’s love and knowledge of literature of all types and add to the unceasing strangeness of the story. Teddy’s problems in “Tar Baby” are far more relatable than some of the struggles that characters go through in other stories, but even these might be a little farfetched for some. Despite the fact that Teddy is essentially just going for a comforting walk, the coarse, often crude, encounters and dialogue make “Tar Baby” a good fit with the rest of Franco’s stories while the interesting literary tie-ins set it apart as a highlight of the book. Franco’s writing style is very distinct and recognizable in Palo Alto, but even when the appeal of his edgy and in your face writing
begins to fade, the unnerving, powerful issues remain and the book still holds the readers interest for the most part. Although the plots of the 11 short stories included in Palo Alto are all unique, some of them are a little too similar to others, making reading some of the stories seem like a waste of time. “Halloween” and “April, Part 1” both involve characters that are involved in car accidents while drunk. “American History,” “Killing Animals” and “Camp” (and nearly all of the stories in Palo Alto) focus on teenage boys behaving badly, thoughtlessly harassing their classmates and getting into harebrained situations often with unexpectedly terrifying consequences. Still, even the less successful and more derivative stories have their positives, particularly Franco’s pithy use of language, and for those of us in Palo Alto, numerous references to local landmarks. In the melancholy “Killing Animals,” after discussing the odd choice of a jaguar as Jordan’s mascot because there are no “jaguars or jungles” in Palo Alto, he writes, “But one time there was a mountain lion that wandered through Palo Alto. It had come down from the hills above Stanford…They shot it so it wouldn’t eat the kids.”Franco ends the story with the boys reflecting on their own times shooting with their BB guns, thinking to themselves, “we shot animals, and people. But they were all small animals, and we didn’t kill anyone.” It is these creepy rationalizations and eccentric wordings that make Palo Alto truly unique. Palo Alto has received fairly mixed reviews thus far, but that in no way defines it as a failure. The book definitely has its targeted audience, mainly consisting of teenagers, young adults and in some ways their parents. Franco took a risk by writing with an experimental minimalist style and attempting to tackle arduous topics. Palo Alto isn’t perfect, but for a debut, it is pretty darn good. After readers are able to accept the dark themes, explicit language and haunting descriptions, a lot can be learned from Palo Alto. It is entertaining to say the least, and is almost addicting at points. It is also spot on regarding teenage life, as hard as that may be for some to accept at times. With the release of Palo Alto, Franco has officially lived up to the title of modern-day Renaissance man that has so often been ascribed to him. Franco is conquering the worlds of television, movies, art, academics and now the world of writing. And he does it all while keeping up that killer smile.
A&E
The Campanile
October 25, 2010 • B10
New alternative hip-hop album mixes new and old sounds
The Chiddy Bang duo blends hip-hop, rock, electronic music in new album By Austin Smith
song, has mediocre verses coupled with Deez’s chorus, which do not flow particularly well together. On a positive note, the synths and beat are as creative as ever. Alternative hip-hop duo Chiddy Bang emerged onto “Neighborhood,” featuring Killer Mike, holds an unthe music scene roughly a year ago. With their unique characteristically flat beat, with uninspired lyrics. These style, they have been at the forefront of their reformutwo mediocre songs represent the lowest point of the EP. lated genre, which integrates hip-hop with samples from Songs from The Swelly Express mixtape (“Truth,” rock music. “Opposite of Adults” and “All Things Go”) comprise some Member Noah Berensin (aka producer Xaphoon of the best tracks on the EP. “Truth,” which samples the Jones) typically remixes such samples with heavily Passion Pit’s “Better Things,” is quick-paced, with decent synthesized beats. The result, combined with Chidera verses and a catchy beat. “All Things Go,” sampling Sufjan Anamege’s vocals, is an unparalleled blend of hip-hop, Stevens’ “Chicago,” is similar to “Truth” in its fast-paced rock and electronic music. tempo. However, Xaphoon’s use of synths is much more Chiddy Bang’s second extended play (EP), The dramatic and effective. Preview, was released on Oct. 12. The album is available One weakness apparent in virtually all of Chiddy through iTunes. Chiddy Bang’s creativity and unique style Bang’s songs is the lack of depth and meaning in lyrics. is clearly evident in each of the nine tracks. Although the rhyme schemes themselves are fluid and Instead of entirely new and original songs, however, catchy, the majority of them have no real significance: one third of them are straight from their first mixtape The “But we goin’ have a little bit of fun/’Cause when it’s all Swelly Express. Although a financially justified decision, it done/You throw your sneaks up and call it a good run” would have been nice to hear more than just six new tracks. – “All Things Go.” Interestingly, they chose to omit every track from Lyrics that are more relevant to the duo’s lives and their second mixtape Air Swell, which boasted some of experiences could make their music more meaningful. Chiddy’s best material, as well as samples from artists Chiddy Bang could take their music to the next level by such as Tinie Tempah and Ellie Goulding. incorporating more purposeful The addition of some of those lyrics into their amazing, unique songs would have boosted the beats. quality of The Preview. Of the new Although most of Chiddy tracks (“The Good Life,” “Nothing on Artist: Chiddy Bang Bang’s songs are samples and not We,” “Here we Go,” “Bad Days,” “Old Producer: Xaphoon Jones entirely original, it takes a huge Ways” and “Neighborhood”) “Nothamount of talent and ingenuity ing on We,” “Old Ways” and “The to reach this level of creativity. Good Life” are the most interesting Xaphoon and Chiddy have always and well-executed. been somewhat of a perfect match “The Good Life,” The Preview’s for each other. opening track, is a fast paced, vibrant song. With nonXaphoon’s consistently ingenious combinations of chalant lyrics and a smooth electronic beat, it serves as electronic synths and generic samples provides infinite a decent opening to the rest of the EP. opportunity for Chiddy’s vocals to capitalize on. For“Old Ways” is a very unconventional Chiddy song. An tunately, Chiddy utilizes Xaphoon’s tracks to their full offbeat piano from Dr. Dog’s “My Old Ways” comprises potential, despite their lack of significant meaning. the beat at first, but then the addition of several synths Ultimately, Chiddy Bang’s integration of rock melt right in, creating an offbeat yet polished song. samples, synths and hip-hop lyrics is what they do better “Nothing on We” begins with a refreshing electronic than anyone else. beat, accompanied by a piano portion later in the song. If you are new to Chiddy Bang, definitely pick up the Due to its relatively slow tempo and tone, “Nothing on new EP along with Air Swell and The Swelly Express. If We” is more of a song to relax to than anything else. not, check out the new songs on the EP along with their While by no means bad, “Neighborhood” and “Bad latest remix “Young Blood;” they’ll keep you listening Day” fall short of the huge standards set by the EP’s other for months. songs. “Bad Day,” a sample of Darwin Deez’s original
Senior Staff Writer
The Preview
nahright
The Chiddy Bang duo offers new styles of remixes including popular songs mixed with hiphop and rock music on their new album, The Preview, released on Oct. 12 through iTunes.
David Fichtenholz Private Academic Tutoring
PSAT-SAT-SAT II-ACT
Cell: 310.995.3283 davesemail212@yahoo.com
Tutoring College Counseling SAT / ACT / AP / SSAT / ISEE
COMPLETE MAINTENANCE & REPAIR
Independent Extended Warranties Also Honored
HEINICHEN’S GARAGE We Provide The Required Scheduled Maintenance To Keep Your New Car Warranty Effective One-to-One Instruction and Small Group Classes Experienced, Professional Educators
SAT I & SUBJECT TESTS: 12/4 and 1/22 Improve 200-450 points!
“If you’re not referring your friends to your mechanic, you’re using the wrong mechanic.” 15% OFF LABOR FOREVER
STUDENTS, FALCULTY, ALUMS SEE OUR COUPON (max $50 per visit) LOCAL SHUTTLE AVAILABLE
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.
Call or stop in today!
960 High St., Palo Alto (1 Block East of Alma Near Addison)
650-328-4488
Would you like to be a sponsor for the
The Campanile?
Send in checks payable to Palo Alto High School to:
Palo Alto High School c/o Esther Wojcicki 50 Embarcadero Rd Palo Alto, California
Thanks for your help!
A&E
The Campanile
October 25, 2010 • B11
Tumblr continues to sweep the nation as a new way to blog
Innovative site allows users to revolutionize, personalize blogging experience By Sasha Kuvyrdin
Almost nine million different people now have accounts. Tumblr also prides itself on its 85 percent site reFacebook, Myspace, Flickr, Youtube and now Twitter? It seems like everyday there is a hot new website gaining tention rate compared to Twitter’s 40 percent, meaning the attention of the world. But the new website that is that people who sign up for accounts generally enjoy rapidly gaining popularity at Palo Alto High School and the service. A wide variety of people from the Paly community around the world is in fact a blogging website. Tumblr is a revolutionary new website that allows ranging from students to teachers have started using users to post text, images, videos, links, quotes and audio Tumblr. Kim began using Tumblr during his sophomore year and has been a frequent user of the site ever since. onto their personal tumblelog, a short-form blog. “It’s very addicting because you can see really cool Tumblr already has established their own unique lingo things like funny comics or pictures,” Kim said. for how to describe certain actions on the site. Kim originally decided to get a Tumblr solely for enTo tumble something is to post text, audio, video or any of the other possibilities onto one’s page, known tertainment purposes, but later found it to be the perfect as a tumblelog and users write “columns” to share their place to speak his mind. “I like to ramble about my life sometimes when I thoughts and experiences in life. Founded in 2007 by David Karp and lead developer get pissed off or when I have to shout something out to Marco Arment, Tumblr has exploded onto the online people,” Kim said. Kim and millions of other Tumblr users use the site scene and has received various prestigious awards and recognitions from the world’s most respected sources like not just as a platform for quick quotes or photos, but also to share their views of the world. Businessweek and President Barack Obama. “I feel like a preacher sometimes when I use Tumblr Karp was named the “Best Young Tech Entrepreneur 2009” by Businessweek, and the website itself placed on because I write about the greater cause,” Kim said. “I like to write about moral stuff because sometimes people Obama’s “Top 5 Tech Tools” list. don’t realize stuff that they need Various celebrities, such as to hear or imagine.” Katy Perry and John Mayer, frePaly graduate and current quent the site in order to better “It’s a more creative style of student at the California Institute blogging that, as an artist, I was connect with their fans. of the Arts, Katie Rockhold, also Tumblr owes its success to attracted to.” uses Tumblr as a way to express its simple layout and easy-to-use Katie Rockhold her artistic views by posting and design. Anyone can sign up for an Paly Graduate sharing photos and other pieces of art that she enjoys. account and immediately begin “I started using Tumblr as a to share their experiences with way to share things that I liked, whether it was photos, the world. Tumblr’s extreme simplicity is what separates it from music or quotes,” Rockhold said. “It’s a more creative style other blogging websites like LiveJournal and Blogger, of blogging that as an artist I was attracted to.” Using Tumblr, Rockhold posts a variety of art pieces which focus more on lengthy and detailed text blogs. Tumblr’s praised distinctiveness comes from its abil- that she likes in order to share them with friends and ity to allow its users to post almost anything, anytime, others around the world. “On Tumblr I’ll usually post photos by artists I like, anywhere. If a user sees anything they find interesting on the or I’ll post my own photos to share,” Rockhold said. “I’ll Internet they can click a quick “Share on Tumblr” book- post songs that I like that I want others to listen to, but marker that then tumbles the snippet directly to their must of the time I [just] post photos.” Rockhold likes Tumblr for what it allows her to do as tumblelog. This mix of text, videos and photos results in a unique an artist, especially one that’s not fond of writing. “It’s a creative way of blogging,” Rockhold said. “I don’t tumbelog for all Tumblr users. “Tumbler is like my journal,” Paly senior Philip Kim really like writing, so it’s a cool way to share my thoughts without having to write them down.” said.
Staff Writer
tumblr
Tumblr, founded in 2007, brings multiple types of media together into one place. Tumblr users enjoy posting text, photos, video, audio, links and “retumbling” fellow bloggers’ posts. Paly photography teacher and yearbook director Margo Wixom is also a huge fan of Tumblr, mostly for its educational purposes. “I love Tumblr because it can showcase student projects on the internet immediately and easily,” Wixom said. Wixom has found that Tumblr can be extremely helpful in educational contests or competitions because of its simplicity and professionalism. “The Advanced Photo class did a national project last year called Mapping Identity,” Wixom said. “I was frustrated with the blog sites I had been using before like Blogspot because it is very difficult to graphically design text and images. [Paly graduate] Sahar Tai-Seale suggested that we use Tumblr and she set up a class account. Soon all the students were uploading images, essays and videos onto the blog. It was so easy and professional-looking.” This class wide use of Tumblr came with great success for Wixom’s students. “The project won first place at the California Student Media Festival in the Collaborative Project category,” Wixsom said. “I think we won largely due to the way that Tumblr allows us to showcase student work.” Wixsom has been amazed by both Tumblr’s professionalism and educational quality.
“I was so pleased with Tumblr for the awesome educational applications and how easy it makes blogging for students and teachers,” Wixsom said. “As an art teacher, I am very impressed with the graphic interface. The sites look very professional and there are hundreds of templates to choose from.” However, Wixsom is most impressed with Tumblr’s video capabilities. “What I love about Tumblr is the connection to Vimeo (online video player),” Wixsom said. “Anyone can upload anything at anytime, anywhere.” Wixsom and countless others around the world hail Vimeo for its simplicity in uploading videos. “Vimeo is the savior of online video because you don’t have to have any specific program to play it,” Wixsom said. “This was a stumbling block for me for a year in trying to figure out how to get student projects on the Internet.” With its appeal to both students and adults, Tumblr is surely here to stay as one of the Internet’s most visited websites. As a site based on simplicity and individuality, Tumblr will surely continue growing into an Internet icon. “I’ve found the sweet spot and it’s with Tumblr,” Wixsom said.
Paly theatre hopes adding new elements to Our Town will inspire viewers The production presents relatable issues, promises to evoke deep emotions from the audience By Rachel Mewes Editor in Chief
The Palo Alto High School’s Theatre Department will perform Thorton Wilder’s classic piece, Our Town, on Nov. 4-14 at the Haymarket Theatre. The play is a stark and organic examination of humanity during the early twentieth century. Director Kathleen Woods is excited to have the chance to put on such a timeless production. “I’ve been directing for a long time and I’ve always wanted to direct Our Town,” Woods said. “This year seemed like the right time.” Going into rehearsal, many of the cast members already knew about the production and felt a connection to it. “I love the show,” junior cast member Emma Levine-Sporer said. “Thorton Wilder is a genius and I love the rawness of the show. It’s very fun to have the experience of being able to say I was in the show.” Our Town is set in a small town in New Hampshire. It follows the day-to-day lives of its residents as they confront the inevitable change that the new century is bringing to their community. The play, separated into three acts, is narrated by the Stage Manager, played by junior Annie Rosenberg, who provides an interactive commentary on the events of the town. The play focuses on the quaint and touching love story of George Gib and Emily Webb, played by junior Zachary FreierHarrison and senior Stephanie Spector. The Stage Manager breaks the invisible fourth wall of theatre by speaking directly to the audience, instead of the more traditional method of pretending that the audience does not exist. The play is set in the 1930s, and the Stage Manager reflects on the happenings of town between the years of 1901 and 1913. The show was first performed in Princeton, New Jersey on Jan. 22, 1938 and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for drama that same year. It made its debut on Broadway in February of 1938 at Henry Miller’s Theatre and then the Morosco Theatre. Its Broadway revivals in 1988 and 2003 both received the Tony Award for Best Revival. Wilder created Our Town with the expectation that it would be performed with minimal set pieces and props, and Woods made the decision to stay true to the script. “I want [the Paly production] to honor the piece; to be real,” Woods said. “It’s thought
Alex Lin/Campanile
Cast members rehearse tirelessly in preparation for the premiere of Our Town. The production, already known to numerous cast members, draws a connection to everyday life in a small town in New Hampshire. Kathleen Woods hopes Paly’s performance will capture the genius of Wilder’s play. provoking, serious and a little bit mysterious. “Most of what I do in the show is mimI want the audience to laugh and cry and stop ing making breakfast, which is a challenge and think about what it’s like to be alive.” because it requires very specific detailed Although Our Town is a period piece, movements,” Barry said. the cast will not be Along with wearing time period Levine-Sporer, Barry costumes or using a “I want the audience to laugh also enjoys having realistic set. and cry and stop and think about the opportunity to “The play was be a part of Paly’s what it’s like to be alive.” written with no sets, production of Our no props and we Town. are also doing it “It’s a lot of fun,” Kathleen Woods Barry said. “It’s my with essentially no costumes,” junior Director favorite play actually. cast member Grace It’s a really cool piece Barry said. “We are and we’re doing a lot performing in the of interesting things round so it’s really a raw and intimate per- with it.” formance.” The production will introduce an experiBarry plays Mrs. Gibs, a role that requires mental ending to the play by using tableaus a significant amount of mime work. and music.
The hopes are to create an adequate mood for the more dramatic second half through the use of motion. “We’ve added a new movement element,” Woods said. “The intent is to add a compelling visual part to the end of the play. It’s a different kind of work for the students.” Doing such a classic and character-driven piece creates challenges for the actors. Many of the members of the cast are playing people who are significantly older than their actual age. Our Town is demanding in that it asks its actors to commit fully to their characters in order to sell it to the audience. “There is a wide age range in the characters and the students have to play realistic characters who are older than them,” Woods said. Despite the difficulties that come with such a demanding and well-known produc-
Stanford Driving School
The Bay Area’s Finest Driving School
ARE YOU READY TO GET YOUR PERMIT? STEP 1: Complete the online driver ed course. ($29.99) STEP 2: Take the written test at the DMV and get your permit STEP 3: Sign up for six hour of driving lessons (you can do this before step 2 and plan ahead) STEP 4: Complete six hours of driving lessons with SDS/fifty hours with your parents STEP 5: Take the drive test at the DMV. CHECK OUT OUR NEW LOW PRICES www.StanfordDrivingSchool.com
tion, Barry feels that the audience will find the end result to be impressive. “We have a lot of work to do but I have confidence in our cast,” Barry said. Woods has found directing Our Town to be rewarding and enjoys the opportunity to explore theatrical techniques. “One of the things I really enjoy is using the space in a different way and also having so many different students involved,” Woods said. Her hopes for the show are that it will capture the genius of Wilder’s play. “[Our Town] is just such a fantastic piece of theatre,” Woods said. “It is thought provoking and serious and a little bit mysterious.” When the show opens, the audience is sure to feel some amount of connection to the play. “It’s really just all about being human,” Woods said.
Carol Li Realtor, Alain Pinel
“Experienced and Successful Negotiator”
(650) 281-8368 578 University Ave Palo Alto, 94301 cli@apr.com www.carolli.com
A&E
B12 • October 25, 2010
Shaved ice craze spreads to Northern California
SnowIce in Santa Clara provides new, refreshing dessert By Michael Abrams Copy Editor
When the snow comes down, everyone has his or her own favorite way to enjoy it. Some people ski on it, others sled and some even fight with it. Until now the one thing we have not been able to do with snow is eat it. However, at SnowIce, a shaved ice cafe in Santa Clara, the main goal is to turn snow, a common product of weather, into an edible work of art. Shaved ice recently started gaining attention after it became the newest dessert trend in Southern California. Although shaved ice at its core is a Hawaiian treat, generally made with ice shavings and flavored syrup, SnowIce sells a different take on the traditional desert. Similar to how South Korea reinvented the cream puff with Beard Papa, SnowIce attempts to take the traditional Hawaiian dessert and transform it into a modern masterpiece, with contrasting elements both sweet and savory. Common flavor blends include white chocolate and kiwi, and grape and mochi. The overall effect of SnowIce, however, is bizarre and cold, starting with its decor. SnowIce, tucked away in a shopping center in Santa Clara’s Koreatown, takes a modernist approach to shaved ice. A colorful patio-style seating area combines minimalist couches with retro rugs and tables. The effect is out of place, especially in its grey surroundings - a lackluster makeup store and a golf supply shop. Despite a small language barrier between patrons who do not speak Korean and the waiters, ordering at SnowIce is a very pleasurable experience. The waiters are pleasant and helpful, particularly towards customers who are not familiar with the dessert. Their numerous suggestions of which creation to order, all costing a rather steep $8.50, guide most customers towards the Eat Your Greens shaved ice. This creation is a medley of white chocolate sauce, Hershey’s chocolate syrup, kiwi, mochi and tangy grape balls topped with a scoop of green tea ice cream, all on a heaping pile of fluffy snow. Alex Lin/Campanile Although the ingredients of Eat Your Greens may sound like a strange combination, the plate at first is Eat Your Greens, one of the favorites at SnowIce, is a bowl of shaved ice filled with mochi, very refreshing and delicious. The fluffiness of the ice grape balls, green tea ice cream, bits of kiwi and topped with a variety of chocolate syrups. makes a nice textural contrast with the soft chewy mochi Unfortunately, Rosy Berry’s visual aesthetic does not and crunchy grape and the green tea ice cream has a making the plate creamy and rich, yet texturally defined. very nice, blending effect that neutralizes the different The condensed milk is also a smart enhancement, as transfer to its taste. The strawberry ice overpowers the flavors. The kiwi also provides a sweetness that makes it nicely combines the flavors together yet still lets the other ingredients, and washes out the taste of both the contrasting tastes shine. mochi and the shortcake. After a few minutes, the mixthe dessert delightful. The only part that is not delicious is the cantaloupe ture also becomes a bit too soupy as the strawberry ice After a few initial bites, the plate becomes tedious. balls. They have a very odd taste that seems to melt faster than the regular ice. The Rosy Berry, The flavors do not offer anything new does not mesh well with the rest of the however, is an anomaly. The Falling Fruits and Eat Your and eating the dessert quickly creates a ingredients. Otherwise, Falling Fruits is Greens both show that shaved ice has nicely transitioned bloated feeling. The size of the dessert is so large that almost all customers do not 3561 El Camino an effective modern take on a classic. from Hawaiian specialty to modern delicacy. The Rosy Berry is another menu However, the biggest problem that prevents Snofinish, leaving a large heap of ice with the Real, #99 item that seems to be popular among the wIce and its counterparts from becoming mainstream, occasional grape ball. Santa Clara, CA customers at SnowIce. Unlike Eat Your as frozen yogurt and cupcakes have done, is its lack of Next on the menu is Falling Fruits, Greens, Rosy Berry features strawberry publicity. The customer base is extremely limited to the apparently the most popular item at 95051 flavored shaved ice similar to that of Korean community of the South Bay, which makes it SnowIce. The Falling Fruits, unlike Eat Falling Fruits, as opposed to the regular difficult for customers outside this base to not only find Your Greens, is delicious from start to ice in Eat Your Greens. out about the restaurant but also feel comfortable in it. finish. Resembling a yogurt parfait yet The plate is a visual delight, as the vibrant pink color The shaved ice trend, however, remains alive and evoking the traditional roots of shaved ice, the Falling of the ice tops the deep red of the strawberry, contrasting well if only in specific pockets and if it continues to be Fruits includes the customary fruit syrup over the ice. The watermelon, kiwi and banana toppings com- with the creamy white of the mochi and the shortcake this delicious, it will be the next big trend. Better think fast, Pinkberry! bined with the fresh shaved lychee are amazing additions, ice cream.
SnowIce
Eateries
Photos by Marc Havlik What are you in the mood for? Hamburgers? Pizza? How about some refreshing frozen yogurt? Around Palo Alto are a variety of different eateries for you to choose from. If you’re in the mood for something spicy, head over to Como Esta in Midtown or Chipotle across the street from Mayfield. There are also plenty of frozen Yogurt venues, from Pinkberry in Stanford Shopping Center to Red Mango, L’Amour, and Fraiche in downtown.
2
The Campanile
in
1900
This edition featuring
Lucas & Al Brooks with The Campanile’s
Rachel Stober, Sam Blake and Michael Augustine TC: So tell me what is it like being twins at Paly? AB: It’s a struggle. People are always coming up to you asking if you are twins. People always say, ‘you guys should go switch classes with each other.’ It’s just not funny anymore. I have heard it a thousand times. LB: People always ask, ‘why is your brother so much uglier than you if you are twins?’ I say, ‘we are not identical twins’ and it’s an awkward situation. AB: I would like to use this situation to point out that Lucas always has the negative attitudes. He has always been the negative twin. Lucas just envies my beauty and I have to say, if you ever have a twin, be the good twin. LB: I would like to say Al is actually the negative twin. I didn’t want to bring this up but two weeks ago he took my bike without asking and left it at Duveneck. I went back and everything but the frame was gone, only the bare essentials were left. I had to walk back carrying my bike in the rain. TC: Can you guys tell us about Club America? LB: The goal of Club America is together we stand or divided we fall. We want to unite all Americans because we are all American. We don’t want to focus on the differences. We do things that all Americans can agree on, like playing football, having BBQ’s and supporting the troops. AB: Here is another example of how being a twin can be difficult. Last year Kevin Wang and I had the idea of starting a club. But you can’t start a club till the beginning of the year, so Lucas tried to swindle his way in to becoming one of the founding fathers of Club America by going to sign the club up without telling me. Being a twin, you do a lot of activities together and this is an example of where Lucas tried to take one of those activities away from me so he could enjoy it. But Club America is great despite that. LB: I have to say I did not make any actions to keep Al out of Club America. I was the one who made Al an admin on the Facebook group. TC: Describe to me the lady situation? LB: I gotta say Al has had some problems in that department and in the recent past. He has had some problems with people of larger girth. I myself keep things a little more structured. I know what I want and I don’t deviate from that path in the way Al has repeatedly. AB: I would say I have given no reason to insinuate that I like people of larger girth. I have nothing against them. Just ... earlier Lucas said he knows exactly what he wants and what I have to say that what he wants is not women. Alright, umm specifically there is one “not-woman.” His name is Wes Rapaport. I don’t know. LB: There is a difference between doing work and not doing work. I do work. I do work for some things. I help out Wes with some things. TC: Do you have a man crush on Wes? There is nothing wrong with that. LB: So what happened was one situation, I decided that I would help Wes out with a project he was doing. Then when everybody else ducked out, he had nobody else to go to so I said, ‘Ok Wes I’ll help you out.’ It has been like two or three times that’s happened and every single time I’ve been like, ‘Al will you do this for me?’ and he’s like, ‘no I’m not going to do anything for you, I am a horrible brother.’ So instead of helping me out like I asked he has told me degrading words. TC: Can you guys tell us about Jamaica? LB: The truth is we are only half Jamaican meaning both of my mother’s parents were born in Jamaica. My dad is from Guyana. Technically we are more Guyanese than Jamaican but my dad never talks about Guyana. We consider ourselves Jamaican, we eat Jamaican food, we identify more with Jamaica. TC: Lucas tell us about your dreads? LB: From my early childhood I hated getting haircuts. They would cut my hair in weird ways so I would always try to avoid getting my hair cut. My hair kept getting longer than Al’s to the point where I had somewhat of a fro. I haven’t gotten my haircut since 5th grade. Plus dreads are a part of the Jamaican culture and I always thought they were pretty sick. I finally convinced my parents to let me get dreads. Summer after freshmen year we were in Jamaica and my mom let me get them. It was an eight hour process and the room smelled weird. It was all worth it. I didn’t intend for it to differentiate us but it definitely does. ‘Al has short hair, Lucas has long hair.’ AB: I just wanna say that I was a man and never was scared of haircuts. That way people are not always touching my hair and I get to wash it. LB: I just wanna say this is another point where Al is wrong. I’m a giving person so I let people touch my hair. Truth is I wear a shower cap. AB: And a sleeping cap. If you look at him right he looks like the alien from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Either that or the black guy from Hey Arnold. LB: I get my hair cleaned every two weeks. The people in Jamaica wash their hair in the sea and I keep my roots close together so nothing can get in. Sam can comment on how my hair smells later on. TC: What is Jabroni? LB: A Jabroni is someone who is not doing it, they don’t have it. Doesn’t do anything like a man does, definitely not like me.