Issuu

News The Prospector

S TA F F 2016-2017

The Prospector

NASA ends Mars simulation in Hawaii MELISSA SILVA editor-in-chief

Cupertino High School Established 1958 Vol LVIII, No. 1 | 2016 editors-in-chief shalmali patil melissa silva meilinda sun news editor ethan qi opinions editor peter martin features editor aishwarya laddha lifestyles editor allison lo sports editor erin song flip side editor shalmali patil copy editors caroline gee sudarshan kannan saagar sanghavi amy zeng photo editors catherine seok jenn zaratan

On Aug. 28, 2016, NASA’s Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation project, or HI-SEAS, ended, exactly one year from its inception. Funded by the University of Hawaii, NASA conducted the experiment in a dome constructed on Mauna-Loa volcano to study what it would be like for a group of strangers to live together on Mars for a year. The experiment took place in a dome built on the side of the volcano to simulate the living quarters scientists would have to reside in on Mars. The 1,000 square foot area included a kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and exercise, shower, lab, and work spaces. The site was chosen due to the soil’s resemblance to Mars soil and also due to the high elevation, which would prevent the growth of plants at the location. Six scientists shared the two-story location during the simulation. The six scientists were selected to participate in this experiment because each of them had an undergraduate degree in science or engineering, had at least three years of research in graduate study and were mentally and physically healthy. All participants began the simulation as strangers to each other, which contributed to NASA’s investigation of how people who have never met might interact with each other in closed quarters. In an interview conducted by NPR, one of the participants, chief scientific officer and crew physicist Christiane Heinicke, described the importance of emergencies in getting the members to work together effectively. Otherwise, Heinicke explained, it was harder for the six to get along. NASA has been reviewing the data collected from the experiment, including the participants’ accounts and experiences of the study, which they

20-minute

business manager amy zeng gene kim anshul rajwanshi

opinions assistants

esha radhakrishnan leo rassieur

features assistants

edward hsu santosh mularidaran

lifestyles assistants

nico chilla henry zhang

sports assistants

neerali shah christina shao

flip side assistant

recorded through blogs. The crew had to follow regulations during the project, all of which were set to accurately mimic a trip to Mars. For example, if they wanted to venture outside of their dome, they were required to wear space suits. While the scientists were allowed Internet access and communication through e-mail, all messages were sent and received with a 20-minute delay; this impediment was implemented to reflect the amount of time it would actually take to send a message from Mars. Their food, always freeze-dried, was re-stocked every four months, with water being sent every two months. This investigation was crucial in NASA’s study, having been the longest of its kind conducted on U.S. soil. All data — cognitive, emotional, social, and physical, to name a few categories — is being used by NASA to investigate the successes and failures of the experiment. NASA hopes to send people to Mars, for real this time, in the 2030’s. Other simulations, this time eight months long, will be conducted in 2017 and 2018.

DELAY IN INTERNET

michelle ma utkarsh tandon

photo crew

justine qiu matthew webb

MAUNA LOA 365 DAYS

NEWS BRIEFS The state of Louisiana experienced severe flooding beginning Aug. 12, 2016. Water levels reached 31 inches in some areas, forcing 40,000 families to evacuate their homes. The flooding has caused millions of dollars worth of damages and is considered the worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy four years ago.

The sudden price hike of the EpiPen, an injection that reverses life-threatening allergic reactions, has sparked outrage among consumers. In 11 years, Mylan, owner of the Epipen, hiked the price of a set of pens from $57 to $600. CEO Heather Bresch has justified the increase by saying it was a necessary action for the company.

In response to the sexual assault case a few months prior, Stanford University banned hard liquor from all on-campus parties. The policy restricts the size of alcohol allowed in dorm rooms to under 750 mL. Though Stanford believes this change is “a sensible, creative solution,” many are skeptical of the effectiveness. COMPILED BY CATHERINE SEOK

The effectiveness of foreign language combo classes GENE KIM news assistant

adviser ann peck Editorial Policy “The Prospector” is an open forum of expression for student editors to inform and educate their readers. It will not be reviewed by or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisors may and should coach and discuss content during the writing process. The staff of “The Prospector” seeks to recognize individuals, events and ideas and bring news to the Cupertino community in an accurate, professional and unbiased manner. “The Prospector” will not avoid publishing a story solely on the basis of possible dissent or controversy. If you believe an error has been made or wish to have your opinion expressed in “The Prospector,” please contact us via mail or email. Letters sent become the sole property of “The Prospector” and can be edited for length, clarity or accuracy. “The Prospector” editorial board reserves the right to accept or reject any ad in accordance with its advertising policy.

1 ISland

1200 Square Feet

elena chang

online assistants

COMPILED BY ANSHUL RAJWANSHI

OPEN CONCEPT - SHARED BETWEEN 6 PEOPLE

online editors lily rosen marvin josephine robinson

news assistants

September 21, 2016

JENN ZARATAN

FRENCH COMBO CLASSES | French students Ashish Rao (left) and Siddharth Baxi (right) listen to the instruction of French teacher Melissa Rochoux

Due to a decline in enrollment, the World Language Department has combined different leveled language students into one class. The creation of a Japanese 3/4H class and two French 4H/5AP classes is intended to address the learning needs of both levels of students in one classroom, but may prove to be more of a complication than a benefit for those involved. However, if these difficulties are resolved, there is much potential in these language combo classes. In any class, it is a given that the level of students’ understanding will differ depending on the individual. The difference creates an opportunity for a

more experienced student to help a less experienced student. Through this interaction, both individuals are able to learn the content more thoroughly, as one receives extra support from a peer, and the other becomes more comfortable explaining the material. The same benefit can apply when students with a year’s difference in learning are placed into one class. Students are given more opportunities to practice language confidently, knowing that their mistakes can be corrected by so many peers. “Because the class is combined, I can learn from my peers to tackle difficult tasks. In speaking, I often make mistakes, but [the upper-level students] are happy to correct me and teach me what is right and what is wrong,” junior Taha Alam, a Japanese 3 student in the Japanese 3/4H class, said. Despite this benefit, combo classes present a complication for teachers. Because the gap between students’ knowledge is so large, the teacher must find new concepts appropriate for both levels of learners in the same class. Students of both levels need to be challenged, supported, and engaged. Additionally, the lower-level students must learn material that they will not repeat in their next year of language. “That right balance for making sure that the 4 Honors students don’t do something that they will repeat the next year, while still preparing the 5AP students for the AP exam is a complication with combo classes,” Melissa Rochoux, the French 4H/5AP teacher, said. Complications like these increase the teacher’s workload extensively. “Even though I only have one class, I feel as though I am prepping for two separate classes,” Ruiko Nagai, the Japanese 3/4H teacher, said. As the teachers put in more effort to find the right balance for students, the pace of the class is affected. Students of the lower level may feel more stressed if

Language Combo Classes, continued on page 3