Issue 2

The Student Voice

“We are doing everything cheese – more cheese than should be allowed in a single building” p. 7 • “He reads every set of instructions for every device we get--or don’t get” p. 19

NOVEMBER ,  | ISSUE , VOLUME  | THE BUCKLEY SCHOOL |  STANSBURY AVENUE | SHERMAN OAKS, CA 

SPECIAL COVERAGE

ELECTION DAY

STATES

50.0%

48.7%

Ohio

Iowa

Va.

47.1%

46.3%

47.7%

of the

RACE Poll data from RealClearPolitics.com TuckerHiggins ‘13 design and production editor Over $13 million have been spent in one of the most costly congressional elections in history. Yet for all the hype surrounding the newly redistricted 30th district, when it comes to “the issues,” differences are scant. That is, if there are differences at all.

In an article titled “Clone Wars” published in the June issue of The Atlantic, Molly Ball summed

Percentages updated November 5, 3:44 p.m.

up the similarities between the two candidates with the following: “Both are balding, bespectacled lawyers and liberal Jewish Democrats.

Both went to UCLA….

They’ve worked side by side on everything from Iran sanctions (they’re both on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs) to the noise problem at Bob Hope Airport, in Burbank,” she writes.

This hasn’t stopped—

has maybe led to—a harshly divisive, at time corrosive, campaign season.

At one debate, held at Pierce College on October 11, the candidates engaged in a short physical altercation.

Though ended prematurely by a security guard, the confrontation grew from competing accusations from the candidates and ended in Sherman grabbing Berman around his mid-section.

Pierce College may have

48.0%

49.7% Fl. 48.2%

30th District Race for Congress

been a microcosm of the tenor of the greater campaign thus far. While Berman has declared Sherman “unfit” to serve in government, Sherman has accused Berman of taking personal airplane trips at the public expense. Though no polls have been released since the Pierce college incident, every poll released to date has put Sherman ahead. (Sherman claims internal polls indicate a further, post-Pierce surge.)

Courtesy of Brad Sherman

Brad Sherman

Courtesy of house.gov

Howard Berman

2

news

tuesday, november 6, 2012 |

FreshLunches brings breakfast to Commons Café JoyceChamoun ‘16 staff reporter ShilpaMantri ‘13 news editor FreshLunches launched their breakfast service on October 29 in the Commons Café, feeding students and staff from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. every day except for Wednesdays, when NHS holds breakfast sales.

“When I do not have time in the morning, it is really helpful to know that I can eat a delicious and nutritious breakfast at school,” said freshman Annie Manella.

Deborah Monroe, Upper School principal, said the school decided to open breakfast in the Commons Café to provide healthy options for students in the morning.

Items for sale Bagels $4.00 Cereal $1.75 Muffins $2.50 Seasonal fruit $0.75 Pastries/Croissants $3.00 Scrambled eggs $3.00 Bacon/Sausage $1.50 French toast $4.00 Pancakes/Waffles $4.00

Shilpa Mantri The Student Voice

DECISION TIME: Senior Robert Farb considers buying a muffin.

“I remember half my advisory last year was starved because they didn’t have breakfast. A lot of kids don’t have time for breakfast, and it’s something we’re concerned about because we feel like it’s important to have a healthy start,” said Monroe.

According to FreshLunches

coordinator, Cheryl Johnson, the breakfast service will especially help students who arrive to school early.

“There are lots of kids here even an hour before school starts. Serving breakfast would be an additional way to make money,” said Johnson.

Students can purchase

breakfast items with their G Cards.

“FreshLunches breakfast changed my life because I used to go to school with an empty stomach, but now I have a delicious breakfast to fuel my busy day,” said junior Anthony Romm.

Masquerade senior dance raises $4,370 NatalyaSands ‘14 staff reporter The Class of 2013 held “The Last Masquerade” at the Roy E. Disney Family Pavilion on October 20.

After debate and discussion during their outdoor education trip, the seniors chose the masquerade theme over other options such as a frat party and an apocalypse.

The expectation for the dance was “that everyone would have an amazing experience, eat delicious food, and remember this night for the rest of their lives,” said senior and class representative Paris Baillie.

According to most seniors, the night’s “dramatic” color scheme, comprised of decorations in dark reds and blacks, reflected the mysterious nature of the masquerade ball. The seniors served chicken bites, pigs in a blanket, chips, guacamole, and caesar salad from Sweet Butter.

Students who attended wore masks and outfits, which made it easy for everyone attending to get into the spirit of the masquerade theme, according to junior Nikki Nahai.

“This year’s senior dance was really fun.

Usually people don’t think school dances are all that great, but the Class of 2013 did a fantastic job of keeping it exciting and entertaining,” said Nahai.

Madeline Baldi Images

Shilpa Mantri The Student Voice

7-10

16

6:30 PM, Disney Pavilion

Harvestfest 10:20 PM, Disney Pavilion

21-23

Thanksgiving Break 12:30 PM dismissal on Wednesday

brief

Monroe, Nury to host trip to Peru For the first time, students will get a chance to travel to Peru over the summer with Deborah Monroe, Upper School principal, and Spanish teacher Afsaneh Nury from July 28 through August 7.

The 11-day trip in the Sacred Valley area of Peru includes rafting on the Urubamba River, a train trip and hike to Machu Picchu, visits to local artisans, schools, museums, and cathedrals, shopping in the colonial city of Cuzco, and community service projects.

The trip is offered to all Upper School students. Monroe is willing to consider a case-to-case basis if there is an eighth grader interesting in going.

“I hope to get enough core people speaking Spanish that we can communicate easily,” said Monroe.

Monroe said that now is the perfect time to go because of stability in the region and the number of students interested in visiting.

“Speaking and practicing is obviously a plus, but the cultural experience of seeing real ruins of an ancient civilization is fantastic,” said Monroe.

JoyceChamoun ‘16

Students spread school awareness at street fairs

Madeline Baldi Images

(TOP LEFT): Seniors Alex Penhasian and Ashton Nahai make a playlist as DJs for the senior dance. (TOP RIGHT): Seniors Alex Fatykhov and Sammy Breen make fist pumps while senior Nausher Walia dances alongside them. (ABOVE): Freshmen Sarah Cookson, Meredith Wells, Maria Lark and Rio Thorogood dance to Gangnam Style.

UPCOMING IN NOVEMBER Fall Musical

newsin

12

No School Veterans Day Winter sports begin

17-18

23

JSA Fall State Marriott Los Angeles Airport Hotel.

No School Alumni sports

14

Blood Drive

19

Fall Sports Banquet

26

Foyer, Disney Pavilion

6:30 PM, Disney Pavilion

Brown Bag Lunch 11:31 AM, seniors and freshmen

Answering any and all questions thrown their way, students spoke to raise awareness for the school at the Sherman Oaks and Larchmont Street fairs on October 21 and 28 respectively.

“I have encountered a lot of situations where prospective parents ask me why I go to Buckley.

I feel like it is really important to let people in the community know why you should send your kids to Buckley,” said senior Elle Wisnicki, who participated at the Larchmont Street Fair.

According to Kim Kerscher, communications director, having students present at these fair booths painted an accurate picture of our community. Students in eighth grade and above were invited to speak on informal panels.

“At Sherman Oaks, we not only want to raise awareness, but we also think it is really important to be active in the Sherman Oaks community. At Larchmont, we are mostly just gaining support,” said Kerscher.

Sophomore Leah Purvis was drawn to the Larchmont Fair because she enjoyed sharing her personal knowledge about the community.

“I enjoyed being able to express my love for Buckley because I want people to be informed on the community they’re considering to join.”

MichaelLen ’14

3 tuesday, november 6, 2012

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

DMI THE

Afro-Brazilian group mixes dance, music

I N I T I A T I V E

Phillipos Haile, right, concludes a Brazilian martial arts dance with a backflip at the Latino-Hispanic culture assembly on October 12 in the Roy E. Disney Family Pavilion.

JoyceChamoun ‘16 staff reporter Yocelin Gonzalez and Ralinda Watts, directors of Multiculturalism and Inclusion, organized an assembly on October 12 celebrating Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month, leaving students with knowledge about Hispanic-Latino culture and identity.

The assembly raised awareness among students that HispanicLatino culture is not limited to Spanish and Mexican, but extends as far as Brazilian Portuguese, and African roots.

According to Watts, students learned that some people recognize themselves as

Hispanic, Latino, or of their country of origin.

“It was interesting to see how diverse the HispanicLatino culture really is and how different cultures can interact, such as how the Portuguese dance and music has a mix of Latino and African roots,” said junior Carissa Brones.

Lower, Middle and Upper School students participated in the assembly, which was originally intended to be a speaker, but then changed by Watts and Gonzalez to a musical and arts performance.

Initially planned for a guest speaker, the assembly instead showcased a musical and dance performance by an Afro-Brazilian Dance Company, Ballet Folclorico Do Brasil.

“Dancing and martial arts helps as a way to express ourselves creatively and feel

Former Marine speaks to student body At the first Diversity Day on October 18, the Upper School gathered in the gym for a keynote speaker, subsequent speakers by grade level, and an alumni panel.

AndrewFriedman ‘16 staff reporter “Take care of each other, be who you are, never be afraid, live your life, and do good,” said Eric Alva on October 18, at the school’s first Diversity Day. After a morning of PSATs, the Upper School student body convened in the Roy E. Disney Pavilion for Alva’s keynote address, which focused on respect, dignity, and human life.

Alva, a Hispanic and gay man, joined the Marines at age 19. On the first day of Iraq war, he stepped on a roadside bomb and lost his right leg, broke his left leg, and suffered wounds all over his body.

Alva said he was excited to speak because of the need to help students understand the real world. Alva believes the world should be a place where respect is the norm.

“Always remember where you came from, those who came before you, and those after you,” said Alva.

Later, Alva’s speech took on a lighter tone. He made a series of jokes about his high tech prosthetic leg (which has BlueTooth) and his mother asking him if she could call it.

Only one hand shot up during the question and answer session.

Freshman Francisco Monocada asked if Alva regretted his decision to join the Marines.

“I don’t have any regrets.

I laid in my bed crying, but I realized my leg wasn’t coming back. Don’t ask yourself ‘what if?’ Don’t struggle in life going over the what ifs. Focus on the future and the good that you can do,” said Alva.

Following his address, students, teachers, and faculty members gave Alva a standing ovation.

“I enjoyed his speech because he told us to seize the day and live every day like it was our last. In addition, he is an American hero who I have great respect for,” said sophomore Richard

Angad Singh recently began law school at UCLA after graduating from USC with dual degrees in communication and international relations. He served as president of USC’s Sikh Student Association.

Candice Lapin is a serial entrepreneur.

She holds a dual degree from Cornell University in history and government and got her start as a managing attorney at LegalZoom.com.

Andrew Friedman The Student Voice

SHARING A LAUGH: After the conclusion of the Diversity Day assembly, Dr. Larry Dougherty, head of school, greets and congratulates Alva on his keynote speech.

Winterstern.

Later, Upper School students split into breakout sessions by grade level. The subsequent talks, “Embracing Our Differences,” “The Power of Words,” “Leadership and Conversations on Building Allies,” and “Living in a Global Community,” were led by David Watts, David Watts Consulting; Lee Jackson, Baylor University; Eric Alva; and Amanda Baduria, senior at LMU. “Mr. Watts’ presentation

“Buckley wasn’t that diverse when I was here; I was the only Latina in my class. You can be in a bubble here, and you have to remember it's really important to be open to other people.”

Grant Chang was an active member in band and baseball in high school. After graduating, he attended Pitzer College. He is currently the general manager of The Korea Times.

DMI Mission Statement “Our commitment is to have every member of our community embraced and empowered to have a fulfilling and inclusive experience at Buckley regardless of their ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status.”

was great because he was really enthusiastic and he had a contagious passion,” said freshman Daniel Fuhrer.

Finally, the school came back together for an alumni panel on diversity. The panel included Grant Chang ’89, Candice Lapin ’94, John Lehman 93’, Mina NazemiPacheco ’94, Rod Sailes ’90, and Angad Singh ‘08. The panel was moderated by Ralinda Watts and Yocelin Gonzalez, directors of Multiculturalism and Inclusion.

Why did you feel that it was important to come back to Buckley to speak about diversity?

“If you can change your perspective as a young person the world is filled with incredible opportunities, but if you are limited in your perspective you are limited in your entire path.”

connected to some people with a higher power or different culture, and it is a stress relief and exercise.

Really it just simply feels good,” said dancer Phillipos Haile.

With instruments such as the bahia and the agogo, the dance company educated students about native music.

“Our director who couldn’t be here today started this group. He moved to the U.S., and he wanted to start something to keep him in touch with his Latino culture, and also to spread his beautiful culture to the world,” said Haile.

Diversity Club created a video highlighting students who are of Latino descent and Hispanic-Latinos living all over the world. Everyone in the video said the same thing: “yo soy Latino.”

Mina Nazemi has a BA in Economics and Political Science from Stanford and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is now a director at Credit Suisse's Customized Fund Investment Group.

“Diversity is important to me. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t have a diverse lens. I mean, I’m black. Seeing what you guys are doing now, it’s important for me to be a part of that.”

John McDavid Lehman Rod Sailes attended the received his BA in com- University of Maryland, parative literature from College Park, where USC. He is now the crehe was a member of ative director and owner the Maryland men's of The Royal Bank of McD, basketball team. He is a boutique branding and currently an athletics marketing house. trainer and coach.

Latinos Unidos Starting this month, a new affinity group, Latinos Unidos, will meet once a month to discuss topics that are relevant to Hispanic and Latino experiences in the United States.

“As a Latino student, I know the feeling of cultural isolation. We can prevent that for future students by providing them with a space to call their own, which will make them feel like they’re a part of something,” said senior Danny Dominguez.

According to the department of Multiculturalism and Inclusion, affinity groups enhance cross-cultural communication and provide a space for reflection, dialogue, and support.

“I believe that embracing the differences that make up our diverse student body will give the campus a more harmonious feeling,” said Dominguez.

The group plans to attend events in the Los Angeles area that reflect Latino culture, participate in community service events, and interact with other Latino affinity groups at schools in the area.

Dominguez is working alongside senior Marlen Grussi, and Yocelin González, co-director of Multiculturalism and Inclusion, in an effort to have a successful affinity group.

“Our commitment is to have every member of our community embraced and empowered to have a fulfilling and inclusive experience at Buckley regardless of their ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status,” said Gonzalez.

“This is the mission and commitment that we are striving for every student on campus.”

ElleWisnicki’13

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“Getting the actual experience of being at a competition was great. It was the first thing that I’ve ever done like that.”

tuesday, november 6, 2012 4

BUCKLEYBYTES FreshLunches water bottles

Everest Shapiro Freshman

Jack Breen The Student Voice

SMELLS LIKE TEAM SPIRIT: Senior Jack Breen holds the Team Spirit Award, given to the team whose members best understand their robot’s functions, as Team 1661 convenes with “Dog” after placing ninth out of 25 teams in the preseason competition at John Burroughs High School on October 27.

Robotics earns spirit award at Fall Classic Team competes in pre-season competition, where they made it to the team qualifying round, in order to gain experience for incoming members.

SalimChamoun ‘14 assistant news editor The robotics team, the Griffitrons, competed in their first preseason event, reaching the quarterfinals as the fifth seed in 2012 SCRRF Fall Classic at John Burroughs High School in Burbank on October 27.

The event consisted of 25 teams, and after qualification rounds, the Griffitrons placed ninth. The team was able to form an alliance with community team Code Orange and the Milken knights.

During the elimination rounds, the Griffitron robot took a hit, which may have caused the jammed communications. The Griffitrons lost in the quarterfinals.

Advisor Dr. Brandon Hogan, science department chair, and senior captains Kevin DeCorso and Jack Breen led the team.

“The event was much better than I expected. Because it was only a scrimmage and not the actual competition, I was expecting that there would be less energy and spirit; however,

it felt like an actual competition,” said Breen.

The squad received the Team Spirit Award, in recognition of a strong understanding of the structure of the robot and how it functions.

“I wish it wasn’t called the spirit award because it makes people think we’re super cheerful, which we were, but I think the award is given to the team with a deep understanding of the spirit of robotics. It was amazing to see how excited each member was to share their knowledge with the judges,” said Hogan.

Hogan said that for the freshmen that are also members of the Robotics class, and for potential members of the team, the competition gave them experience before the season starts.

Freshmen Vik Singh and Everest Shapiro attended the event.

“Getting the actual experience of being at a competition was great. It was the first thing that I’ve ever done like that,” said Shapiro.

The competition was Rebound Rumble, which involves robots scoring basketballs and moving across the field by crossing bridges, the same as that during the season.

related

See page 13 for more coverage of the new robotics/physics classroom in the Hillside Building.

• Lunch serving program provided students who buy hot lunch with green, stainless steel water bottles.

• Refillable bottles replaced previously used non-biodegradable plastic water bottles.

• “We really wanted to do our part to become more green,” said FreshLunches coordinator Sheryl Johnson.

Blood drive next Wednesday • First of two school-wide blood drives to take place November 14 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the foyer.

• Students must be 16 years old to donate blood, which takes about an hour.

• “Because of storm Sandy, that region will return less blood, so the blood drive is even more important this time,” said Christine Braunschweiger, community service director.

Temporary locker awnings

Mock Trial tweaks strategies for new season With 41 members, the club comes out of its inaugural season with new experience and veteran participants. The squad competed yesterday and will compete again next Monday.

JoshuaMiller ‘16 staff reporter On April 19 around 10:30 p.m., cyclist Cameron Douglas was severely injured after being hit by driver Adrian Vega, who was texting when he hit Douglas, fled the scene, and is now being charged with Failure to Perform Duty Following Accident: Death or Injury, a felony more commonly known as a “hit-and-run.”

This case wasn’t from earlier this year, but, in fact is this year’s Mock Trial case.

The team hit the Stanley Mosk Court House yesterday acting as the Prosecution, and will return tomorrow acting as the Defense.

Last year’s inaugural team, composed of 25 members, concluded its season after being knocked out in the first round of competition.

Returning with 41 students this year and led by senior and club president Tucker Higgins, the team meets every Sunday in preparation for their competitions.

Jessica Sliskovich, a law-

yer who specializes in estate planning, and Valeria Balfour, a lawyer who works with the Brunswick Group as a legal recruiter, have continued to mentor the team this season. These practicing lawyers help the club members with their objections and interrogations, and coach the witnesses to be on the stand.

“By the time I graduate I think [our new members] will be ready to take over the club, and I think the club is in really good hands for the next few years.”

Michael Sliskovich Junior

Karen Drohan, social science department chair and Mock Trial club advisor, said the team learned a lot from last year, including how the point scoring system works, and are planning to use their newfound knowl-

• 142 lockers have been covered with red awnings.

• Goal: protect students’ valuables and materials from rain damage.

• “We hope this will be temporary. We hope we won’t have heavy rain. If we do, the protection will be minimal,” said Neal Roden, Middle School principal.

Joyce Chamoun The Student Voice

DEBATE: Freshman Andrew Friedman studies a map with junior Tucker Higgins at a Mock Trial club meeting on Sunday, November 4. edge of the competition to their advantage. Increased preparation time, she added, will benefit the team.

“We understood in theory how points were given out, but until you’ve done it the first time, you don’t understand where you’re losing points,” said Drohan. “We’re more organized this year.

We understand better what to do.”

For the first time, Mock Trial has veteran members to mentor new members.

“We’ve only been to two meetings so far, you already feel like you just kind’ve belong,” said freshman Margret Pasqua.

Veteran members are also optimistic about the future of the club.

“By the time I graduate I think [our new members] will be ready to take over the club, and I think the club is in really good hands for the next few years,” said junior Michael Sliskovich, a veteran member of the club.

correction The Student Voice failed to include the following new faculty members in Issue 1.

Whitney DuBose Dance Teacher

Kristy Peterson Alumni Relations

5 tuesday, november 6, 2012

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

with...

javyMartinez director of educational technology computer science teacher girls volleyball coach

Voice: What does your technological background consist of? And where did it start?

Martinez: It started in college; I was just picking up books to read during [tennis] matches, when stuck in hotel rooms, and stuff like that. I was also fixing friends’ computers, throwing together spare parts and experimenting, and reading books on software and Windows, and finally got a job as a systems administrator.

Voice: How did you become director of educational technology? And is it your first time in such a role?

Martinez: This is my third time. I was a systems administrator at a business in El Monte, and my hours were from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. My second time was at a school where the principal brought me into the office, just to do a review of the coaches and he later asked me if I was interested in taking over the computer administrator’s position, and I said, ‘sure.’ There was a huge pay cut, which was tough, I also enjoyed eating three times a day and I had to get used to not doing that, but it was worth it in the end. At my old job in El Monte, I would count the minutes until I could go home, whereas all of a sudden I am a teacher and get to school at 6:30 a.m. and leaving at 8p.m., and it feels like I have not worked a day. I love every second of it.

Voice: What does your daily routine at school consist of?

Martinez: One of my goals as a teacher is to make sure I don’t bring my work home with me too much, and what I mean by that is I like to get my grading, homework grading, and class prep done here [at school]. Most of the time I am here from 6:45 a.m. to 7 a.m. and I immediately make sure all my lesson plans are good. That is the teaching aspect. On educational technology, I go to classrooms and observe, especially with the new building. How is everything working; what are the problems; how can I troubleshoot; what software is new out there?

talked to more students than all of last year combined. I think more people know who I am now than they did last year. I didn’t really feel like I had a connection with the high school students because I only knew the ninth graders and a couple of sophomores.

I think the e-book program, not necessarily made students come to me for support, but everyone almost seemed like: ‘Oh, he seems like an open guy. He’ll help me.’

everybody iPads; how can I find a way to get faculty iPads; how can I do this in a way that makes sense; what is this iPad mini; what is the Kindle Fire HD; how can we possibly use these things?

not working based off of one thing? No. Do I believe in this program? Yes. Is there evidence to prove that it will be successful?

Yes. It is not all or nothing, and that is why we have the hybrid classes.

Voice: Are there any technological issues with the Academic and Performing Arts Building?

Voice: You are the girls head volleyball coach. Do you have any experience playing or coaching the sport?

Voice: Why do we have video games in the technology center? Do they serve any educational purpose?

Martinez: We have heard super positives on the new building, but there was some criticism on the wall talkers, interactive projectors. The majority says they would rather have it [the technology] than not have it. There were some issues such as: are these [wall talkers] the right projectors?

We have seen models where rather than a pen you can use your finger. Do we go with that model in that building [Science and Mathematics Building]? Our classrooms are more state of the art than most. When you have Harvard-Westlake coming over to visit and saying ‘wow, we wish we had this’, you know you are ahead of the curve.

Martinez: Yes, I played volleyball in high school, and that was my escape from tennis, because it was a true team sport. In tennis, I was notorious for breaking rackets. I was all city my junior and senior years as a setter. When I was up in Monterey Bay, this was also the reason I quit tennis. I had a girlfriend who played volleyball, and I would come to her practices and hit balls with her. The coach then approached me and asked if I would like to be a volunteer; I said ‘yes.’ And a week after the game he asked if I would like to be a paid staff member, to be in charge of defensive scouting. I then, my sophomore year [of college], became a paid assistant coach who traveled with the team.

After college, I jumped into club coaching, and I have been doing that for about eight years.

Martinez: This decision was [made] in conjunction with a lot of people. Mr. Tagle and I had a lot of input. There was a debate over PS3s and XBOXs and we looked at stuff, such as what Dr. Buchan is doing with the Kinect, and that was a huge impact in our decision. We were able to see what the Kinect was able to do educationally down the road. Dr. Buchan showed me some cool programs where he used the camera to create a 3-D infrared image, and just based on pixel analysis it would rotate it and just assume the space, like between you and a wall. Based off this work we saw the XBOXs as: ‘Yeah, kids will play videogames, but when we need to we are prepared for it [education purposes].’

Voice: What is the purpose of the technology center?

Martinez: We brought in a few students last year to ask them what they would want in a tech center; everyone said they needed computers to study; everything was to study.

They did not get the message that this place was focused on being a lounge not really a place to study. It is a lounge; it is for you [students] to relax and have fun. We will have technology that no other school has available. We have iPads for rent. We are going to try and get Android devices to mix it up so we are not one platform based. That was the misconception that the lounge was built for studying. I get parents asking how do students study in here. It is meant to be not the anti-library but the alternative to the library.

Voice: How do you feel your connection to the student body has developed?

Voice: What do you see as the short-term future for the school from a technological standpoint?

Martinez: It’s actually funny. I was talking to either Mr. Wright or Dr. Forman about how in the first three days this year due to the e-book program, I have probably

Martinez: What I am focused on doing is I am looking at things like next year. How can I find a way to work with Apple to get

Voice: How do you hope to improve the integration of iPads?

Martinez: It’s weird at this school. There was a lot of push-back from students. Every other school I have been to it’s ‘please bring us iPads’, and the teachers have been the unsure ones. Here, it’s been the teachers who want to have them and the students have been hesitant. That’s been a real culture shock for me. I think it is great that we started small; I am hearing the positives and negatives.

What’s working, what’s not working? Right now the positives have far outweighed the negatives. One of the things I am working on is: is it necessary to have an iPad? Can we go to another device? The answer right now is ‘yes, we need an iPad.’ For teachers, they are using the iPads as e-readers; now how do we use them as educational tools? Let’s get the kids using the cameras, making projects, and making digital portfolios.

Voice: Do you have a response to the student criticism?

Martinez: Yes, my response is: it’s been a month, give it time. I hear the annotation problems, I see that. Some people are used to writing notes. I have heard the responses, and some modifications need to be made, whether it is with applications or USB keyboards. Is this going to break the program? No. Am going to say it is

Voice: Do you see yourself at Buckley in the years to come?

Martinez: I would not have any problem staying here. I genuinely love it here. I liked the first Catholic school I was at, and I liked the last school I was at, but it’s just something about this place. One, it is close to home, that helps; but two, not saying anything bad about my other schools, but here I feel supported. Obviously, there are kinks and stuff [with the technology], it’s next generation, and we are cutting edge before the edge has been cut. I feel like my opinion is valued. I feel respected even though I have this baby face. I, most importantly, feel like I am a part of the community.

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

tuesday, november 6, 2012 6

JAMESBERNSTEIN ‘14

“It’s 11:31, it must be lunch” “Our schedule changed? What? No. That didn’t happen.” Yes, it did. 7:50 a.m. start. 2:50 p.m. finish. Four minute passing periods. Fourty-nine minute classes. An athletic block after school. It’s your schedule. Whether or not it’s here to stay, nobody knows. But for now, here it is:

Passing Periods and Campus Traffic

C

onstruction-induced, limited walking space on campus is causing many students to wonder why the new schedule has cut down the amount of time they have to pass between classes from five to four minutes.

On Mondays and Fridays between A

and B periods, senior Indu Merritt departs AP Environmental Science class in the Quinn Martin Hall of Science, passes “cramped” freshman locker hallways, “crowded” Middle and Upper School locker hallways, works her way through two flights of “narrow” makeshift staircases prone to “stopped traffic,” and across the “disastrous” corridor of the sophomore lockers adjacent to the administration building to get to Economics class.

“It’s just too crowded.

By the time I get to the new building, I’m bolting up the stairs to get to my Economics class like 10 minutes after the bell rings. My teachers don’t understand that even if I’m a minute or two late, it’s because of construction. So they give me a tardy anyway and they won’t listen to me,” said Merritt.

Despite an overall increase in student tardiness, many teachers say that they will

Rotating Classes and Starting Times

T

he fully rotational (or “block”) schedule that has been met with confusion by some students was originally designed to alleviate the burden that student athletes faced in previous years having to miss the same class multiple times a week for athletic games.

Although many teachers and coaches, including Fraser Allan, Middle School athletic director, believe that the rotation of classes has been working well for student athletes, some teachers haven’t observed a marked change.

“When I notice [one of my English I Honors students leaving my class four times already for golf matches], I find myself saying ‘how is this still happening? I thought this was the point of the whole new schedule, to alleviate this problem,’” said English teacher Andrew Nelson. “I fear that as other sports come up with more players than golf that the problem is still going to be there, and maybe it is just an impossible problem to solve.

Maybe there is no solution.”

Excluding Sunrise classes, most of the class periods in the schedule rotate positions except for E and F periods, which must stay at constant times because they are lunch periods for Middle (F) and Upper (E) School students.

One of students’ biggest peeves with the rotating schedule classes is that they have difficulty memorizing them and figuring out where they have to go.

Upon being tested, Merritt took nine seconds to think of the first class on a Wednesday (H), and she gave up trying to figure out the second class on a Thursday (also H) after 18 seconds.

“For the last few years, I had the schedule all memorized but now they changed it all up and it gets pretty confusing,” she said.

Dr. Brandon Hogan,

not give their students tardy notices because of the traffic in the walkways or because the teacher is tardy him or herself. Some will.

Dr. James Busby, assistant head of school, played a role in researching how other independent schools handle the passing period situation and found that many schools have three or four minute passing periods, and some have no passing periods at all.

“We considered the possibility of having no passing periods…but teachers thought that idea was too radical. So I said ‘let’s see how far we can go’ and I tested it myself.

Three minutes gave us plenty of time, but that seemed ridiculous so we got to four minutes and what we didn’t know, obviously, were the effects that construction have on it, and it’s huge,” said Busby.

The role of the administration, according to Busby, is now to mitigate the different philosophies that teachers have when it comes to giving students tardies and make every faculty member feel comfortable with their position. He added that thus far he has not received any complaints from students that they have received more tardies due to the change than in previous years. science department chair, said that the rotating schedule benefits students because some classes are no longer only in the afternoon, when students might not be able to perform as well in class.

“I can see the benefits of this rotating schedule because if you are a morning person, and you don’t have a class in the morning, you might not do so well. I think that after sitting back and looking at it that it’s beneficial to the students,” he said.

Adding to the turmoil, another schedule change shortening classes by one minute, from 50 to 49, was introduced this year.

“Every teacher should be able to be a minute more efficient. Were not asking them to be 100 percent faster,” said Busby.

Busby said that the administration “felt the benefits of the schedule overall” and figured that it was “worth a try.”

Athletic Block and Earlier Start

T

he 40-minute athletic block for preseason sports after school has attracted 150 student athletes (about half of the Upper School) for the first trimester alone, a “dramatic” increase according to Allan.

“The athletic block is very good in terms of putting [students] in a clearer situation.

When we had preseason during H period, there was the confusion of whether students

should go to their preseason practice and matches or to classes during H. [Students] were basically being asked to be in two places at once,” he said.

According to Byrd Newman-Milic, Upper School athletic director, preseason coaches have noticed an increased level of motivation and commitment from athletes as well as a wider variety of participants during the athletic block.

Among the changes associated with the athletic block between 2:50 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. are an earlier start (7:50 a.m.), and an earlier finish (2:50 p.m.).

Some student athletes who participate in preseason sports have said that the earlier start has forced them to arrive at school or catch the Fashion Square shuttle bus much earlier than in years past, and coupled with the later finish due to the athletic block, have made the school day seem noticeably longer.

“I have to be here at 7:20 a.m. for my carpool, and then I feel like by the time I get to preseason soccer I want to fall asleep but I can’t,” said junior Christine Hovanessian.

Because student athletes are now participating in preseason sports until 3:30 p.m., many of them are not able to catch the 3:30 p.m. early bus, and some of the bus departure times have been changed on a case-by-case basis.

“There were some glitches with the busses,” said Busby. “We could have everyone stay until 3:30, but that also raises a problem, what would you do with [Middle School students] during that time, maybe study hall?”

The athletic block also frees up an extra class period in the schedule for many students because they are no longer required to use a class period for P.E. or preseason practice, thus giving them more flexibility in their schedules to take certain classes and electives that only meet during one or two class periods.

Paris Baillie The Student Voice

STUDENTPOLLS What do you think the status of the new schedule is?

12% “It’s a temporary experiment and will go back to the way it was.”

52% “It’s the first attempt, and will continue to evolve in future years.”

10% “It’s here to stay as far as we know.”

26% “I honestly have no clue.”

What is the biggest weakness of the new schedule?

53% “Passing periods are too short for a campus under construction.”

25% “Rotating schedule and odd start times cause confusion.”

12% “School starts too early and it’s difficult to make it one time.”

3% “Lunch period, athletic block, and/ or 49 minute classes are too short.”

What is the greatest strength of the new shedule?

“Rotating classes, because it’s easier for athletes with games.”

“Rotating classes, because it keeps things fresh during the school day.”

“Athletic block, because it effects more participation in sports/adds a class period.”

“Earlier finish (2:50), because it allows me to do more in the afternoon after school.”

140 responses collected from October 29 to October 31 with a margin of error of 6.2%

7 tuesday, november 6, 2012

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

Seniors choose “Cheese” theme The Class of 2013 anounced“Cheesefest” for the annual, senior Harvestfest event. Grilled cheese, mac n’ cheese, cheese cubes are among the cheese products that will be served.

ShilpaMantri ‘13 news editor For their annual Harvestfest, seniors will host “Cheesefest” on November 16 in the Roy E. Disney Family Pavilion.

“We are doing everything cheese – more cheese than should be allowed in a single building.

I honestly can’t wait. I’ve been really excited ever since we came up with the idea. I can’t wait to see the gallons of cheese and just

have cheese everywhere,” said senior class representative Kevin DeCorso.

“Cheesefest” will include more entertainment and contests than did previous Harvestfests, according to DeCorso. The grade that wins in a cheeseburger eating competition will have the privilege of wearing free dress the day before Thanksgiving break.

The general admission cost is $15. For those who want a senior

server for their table, each student in a group of 10 students must pay $20.

During their outdoor education trip, the seniors came up with the idea when senior Madeline Baldi shouted “mac n’ cheese,” followed by another senior who exclaimed “Cheesefest.”

“I think that the theme is really funny. Since I was in the room when [the seniors came up with the idea], I love it because our grade was so into it and so unified in the process of planning it,” said Baldi.

Sophomore Miguel Otano thinks the Harvestfest theme is unfair to those who are lactose intolerant.

“Some people aren’t able to eat dairy. Although I don’t know if I’d go [to Harvestfest] but might go just to be with my friends, I wouldn’t be able to eat anything,” said Otano.

Some students are looking forward to having a senior server.

“Having great food that’s

better than the normal lunch and being served by seniors is nice.

I’m considering getting a senior server, and it would be so much fun to get a table with lots of friends,” said sophomore Adam David.

Grilled cheese sandwiches, mac n’ cheese, cheese cubes and chips, and other cheese products will be the featured choices on the menu.

“We are doing everything cheese – more cheese than should be allowed in a single building. I honestly can’t wait. I’ve been really excited ever since we came up with the idea.”

Kevin DeCorso

Senior Representative

Music groups, ambassadors attend street fair SammyWeiser ‘16 staff reporter Members of the community from clubs to musicians participated in the 30th annual Sherman Oaks Street Fair on October 21, including the Monotones, Jazz Band, Advanced Strings, and cast members from the upcoming musical Bye Bye Birdie.

“Performing is always helpful. We learn from each performance. It’s especially good to show that we’re part of the Sherman Oaks community too,” said Vincent Houser, performing arts department chair.

Friends, families, and faculty members, including social science teacher Rob Wright and Melanie Holland, athletic trainer, came to watch the performers who used the opportunity to show off their talents.

“I’m glad that we are here because we can promote our school and show people that

we take performing arts and music seriously at Buckley,” said senior and Monotone Alexa Benudiz.

Freshman Rose Zatikian and sophomores Cecile Lee and Maurice Robertson volunteered to answer questions about the school at the main booth. Neal Roden, Middle School principal, said the fair was a chance for people of the surrounding area to learn about the school.

The SOS Go Green Club, represented by sophomore Paloma Baillie and junior Rana Kheradmandan, set up a booth to raise money and awareness for a charity that provides livestock and food to underprivileged communities across the world.

George Russo, director of student activities, wearing the Griffin costume, and was on hand to promote school spirit and lend support.

JSA gears for Fall State Forty-two members of Junior Statesmen of America (JSA) will attend the annual Fall State Convention on November 17-18 at the Marriott Los Angeles Airport Hotel.

With the theme: “Crafting a More Perfect Union in Transition,” the convention will feature topics ranging from the national debt to medical marijuana.

The attending members of JSA will engage in mock trials, thought talks, simulations, problem solving, and open forum discussions at the event.

Social science teacher and JSA advisor, Robert Wright said the most important aspect of the convention for students is the public speaking experience.

“The second part is the opportunity to participate in discussions about all these different issues,” said Wright.

“How often do you get an opportunity to talk about the crisis in Syria or whether or not it should be the United States’ job to spread democracy around the world?”

JSA co-presidents, seniors Nika Shahery and Alex Fatykhov, hope to get the season going in the right direction with a strong performance at Fall State.

An estimated 1,200 students from over 60 schools in southern California will attend the convention and will participate in workshops regarding domestic politics, foreign policy, social issues, economics, legal issues, and other political topics.

Philip Singh ‘16

8

opinion

tuesday, november 6, 2012 |

Traffic jams in locker halls, expect delays

the student newspaper of The Buckley School Contact The Voice at: 3900 Stansbury Avenue, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 818.783.1610 ext. 461

College Counseling Try taking a walk in another student’s shoes.

Imagine figuring out how Naviance works, what the CommonApp even is, and where you can meet college representatives.

Sure the resources are available, buried deeply within Google, but as Buckley students we have it all laid out for us.

Our college counseling department holds our hands, walking us through high school, encouraging us to build our resumes, take standardized tests, and stay on track starting sophomore year.

This semester alone, we will have 87 colleges visiting our campus, not to mention the senior college workshop we had during outdoor education week and the Brentwood college essay workshop we were invited to over the summer.

The majority of students don’t come into high school with a clear conception of the college process, and students at some other schools other than Buckley typically never come out of that haze.

“Our counselors don’t even meet us until senior year,” said one senior from Notre Dame.

My friends at public and private schools alike lack the support and encouragement to reach their full college potential.

It’s not that some other schools have inadequate counselors; it’s the entire system that is lacking. The students have less motivation to complete assignments because their counselors are unable to know them on a personal level.

It’s clear that we have the edge against our competitors; especially if we soak up the knowledge our counselors offer.

I enjoy being able to just walk into either counselor’s office to catch up, ask how their day is going and get some feedback the supplement I am " It’s clear struggling with.

O u r that we have the counselors take edge against our the time to answer c o m p e t i t o r s ; every single one especially if of our annoying, we soak up the u n n e c e s s a r y , and sometimes knowledge unrelated our counselors questions. They offer." calm down our overbearing parents, and reassure us that everything is going to be okay. Even when they force us to apply to a college we aren’t so keen on, we will thank them later on.

Being in a small community, we have college counselors who know each of us on an extremely personal level, they care about us and strive to find colleges with the “perfect fit” for us. Writing our recommendation letters will be a breeze, and colleges will truly know us on an intangible level.

Additionally, our classes are small enough that each of our teachers has some sort of relationship with us, and will be able to write apt recommendations and our college counselor’s aid teachers, streamlining the process.

So the next time you have the urge to gripe about the college process, just remember how fortunate you truly are.

For other students, the process might be much worse.

studentvoice@buckley.org voice.buckley.org editors-in-chief Jack Rose ‘13 Elle Wisnicki ‘13 assistant editor-in-chief James Bernstein ‘14 faculty advisor Ellen Samsell Salas, Ph.D. news editors James Bernstein ‘14 Shilpa Mantri ‘13 assistant news editor Salim Chamoun ‘14

Paris Baillie The Student Voice

The Student Voice

NikaShahery’13 a&e editor We were able to ignore it for over a year. But now it’s impossible. Face it ladies and gentlemen: the epicenter of our beloved campus is now a hole.

Although the construction for the Academics and Performing Arts Building seemed virtually nonexistent— besides the presence of giant taupe tarps that encased corridors—the construction for the Math and Science Building is right here, in our faces and changing the campus as we know it.

There is a price for everything. We are taking the “leap into the 21st century,” but at the same time we are leaping into swarms of ravaging students stampeding through the halls, and enduring the clatter of metal infrastructure being welded.

It’s not abnormal to hear ringing while sitting

inside of an English class.

Rest assured, it’s not all in your head.

Past the not-so sound proof tarps are construction crew working from 7 a.m. till 3 p.m.

While the sound in general is basically a “learn-todeal-with-it” situation, the largest problem we face, quite clearly, is getting through the herd to class on time.

In years past, navigating the school’s pathways was already a battle when there were students running around like packs of hyenas cackling and trampling unsuspecting victims.

If that was not hard enough, now the walkways are half the size and there are no detours offering escape from the madness – a recipe for a disaster.

I have seen you, pushing through the hordes of chatty students, desperate to get to class on time but the congestion in the hall makes it virtually impossible; you are not alone.

I’m extremely grateful for those teachers who are lenient with tardy students as they understand the situation. However, we all are also the culprits.

While the sound

control of the construction is out of our hands— literally as we are not the ones carrying the tools thanks to child labor laws— to fix hallway traffic jams we must all make the effort to take our conversations out of the halls, walk with purposeful motivation, and never rough-house through students to catch up to friends.

Another helpful solution to the issue is for the school to allow students to carry small book bags; that way students who have classes cross buildings but do not have the time to stop at their lockers can carry their materials with ease and without the risk of dropping small articles.

Oh the horror of dropping a Ti-Nspire in the stampeding hall between the construction site and the administration building!

That poor calculator would face the same fate as Mufasa from The Lion King.

We can all do small things to help this effort.

At the end of the day, the construction is there to benefit our school. We have the opportunity to “leap into the 21st century,” so let’s take the leap and fix the details along the (hall) way.

submit your letter The Student Voice invites all readers to submit letters to the editor.

Letters are typically in response to an article in a previous issue of The Voice or to an event on campus If you have an opinion, let your voice be heard.

Please e-mail all letters to: studentvoice@buckley.org

opinion editor Elle Wisnicki ‘13 features editors Claire Selvin ’13 Meher Singh ‘14 focus editors Tucker Higgins ‘13 Michael Len ‘14 arts and entertainment editors Tara Bitran ‘14 Nika Shahery ‘13 assistant to the arts and entertainment editors Natalya Sands ‘14 sports editor Jack Rose ‘13 design and production manager Tucker Higgins ‘13 staff cartoonist Paris Baillie ‘13 copy editor Alex Fatykhov ‘13 business manager Andrew Friedman ‘16 staff reporters Joyce Chamoun, Mara Huberman, Georgia Leva, Joshua Miller, Jeremy Popowitz, Philip Singh, Jared Stone, Samantha Weiser, Meredith Wells, Liam Winston, Billy Wilson

EDITORIALS Unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Board of Editors of The Student Voice and not necessarily the student body’s.

Signed editorials and columns reflect only the writer’s opinion.

GRAPHICS Illustrations,and artistic renderings may or may not represent the opinions of the artist.

ADVERTISING Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or by the school. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.

MISSION STATEMENT The Voice strives to inform and educate the students of the school as well as provide leadership on significant issues impacting the school community.

EDITORIAL POLICY Writers and editors adhere to the highest principles of excellence in journalism including accuracy, honesty, respect, integrity, and precision.

DISTRIBUTION 1200 copies are distributed free of charge on campus and mailed to subscribers.

Printed on recycled paper.

9 tuesday, november 6, 2012

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

STAFF EDITORIAL

Respect each other and our campus With busy schedules and places to go, coasting along without speaking out against bad behavior and misconduct can be very easy.

However, as members of an intimate community, we are obligated to speak up.

All across campus we see examples of disrespectful behavior.

In the tiny remnant of the Middle School locker hall, backpacks and students crowd what should be ample walking space. Yet students continue to barge through the hallway, contributing to the problem rather than trying to fix it.

And, in our brand new building, middle schoolers trash and stampede through the upper level, making it difficult to navigate for older students and teachers alike. Once again, rarely will an Upper School student take a moment to pick up some trash or attempt to keep the younger students in line. The problem begins with the lack of trashcans in the building,

yet continues due to our seeming disregard for showing any care for our campus.

The Voice urges students to speak out against disrespectful behavior and conduct. But this is a process that starts with respect.

Respect is earned over time by good deeds and by simple experience.

By default, seniors are the leaders on campus due to their age and level of experience at the school. Younger students physically and literally look up to their elder classmates for guidance and leadership. But when the seniors do not exhibit leadership, the whole system goes awry.

So it begins at the top. Seniors must treat underclassmen with the same level of respect that they believe they deserve. When seniors step up and act like the adults they are soon to be, underclassmen see this leadership and respond to it with leadership of their own, and respect for seniors.

When we have mutual respect for each other, not only can we get along better but we can also enact change among ourselves to create a better environment. No one wants to see the path to their next class blocked by a sea of Middle School students, but at the same time no one wants to be trampled by students seemingly twice as large literally and figuratively. Those black shirts can be pretty intimidating.

Respect those around you, both older and younger. Use that respect to inform schoolmates when they are acting out of line. Every student would rather listen to an older student telling them to slow down in the hallways than to an administrator.

We can clean up our campus to make it more livable. We need to act like the adults we want to be. Start by treating each other with respect, and controlling a situation you see becoming out of control.

The editorial board voted 8-2 in favor of this editorial.

ONTHEspot...

Do you think it’s important to speak up when you see issues on campus?

“I think most people will just let something pass because they don’t want the spotlight to be on them when they speak up. Mostly because others will be hesitant to back the person who is speaking up.”

Kevin DeCorso Senior

“Yes I talk to the administration, or a counselor. I think it is important to speak up especially now, when we have such a new schedule system, and a faculty trying its best to accommodate the wishes of the students. ” Michaela Murphy Senior

“I think it is important to speak up about campus issues because we are paying for our education so we should have a say in it.”

Ben Miller Junior

“It is important to make Buckley a better place for the students to make the community tighter and so students feel happy and comfortable.”

Jaqueline Cheban Senior Photos courtesy of Nick Boswell

with Jack Rose

Stay Informed

For the last eight months, we’ve heard it over and over again: today marks a monumental election. But, to me, it truly shows how an uninformed electorate will gladly make a decision based on emotion.

Rather than giving facts to garner our votes, both sides have changed policies in an attempt to win an election not on principle, but for the sake of winning an election.

But how does this matter to a high school where at least 85 percent of the students cannot yet vote?

Today’s election is monumental, yet the voters are uninformed. Those two just don’t add up.

But there is no other way to account for an electorate that remains as partisan as ever, and whose polls do not fluctuate despite untruths from both sides. True and worthy information should be striven for at all times.

The same holds true on our campus. We should not and cannot argue administrative decisions without being informed.

Last year, when there was an uproar over the new schedule proposal, how many students knew that the administration was responding to " When a complaints about academic-athletic candidate errs, conflicts when they take note of it. made the proposal? Factor it into Not many, I presume, and we your decision as all jumped to the a voter because conclusion that we truth should were being plotted be valued at all against as students costs." because Buckley hates us. Also, not many people stopped to actually think about the effect the schedule change would have, instead just recognizing the change and disliking that concept. Now, we have a new schedule in place, and frankly, I find it to be greatly improved. I know of few complaints across campus about the schedule now.

During the first weeks of school when practically everyone was tardy to classes, how many of us bothered to read the NetClassroom notice that no tardy would be enforced for the month of September?

I heard complaints about being late from shorter passing periods well into October.

I’m not pleading for positivity or asking anyone to see the “Positive Spin;” that’s for my cohort on the opposing page, I’m merely hoping for a greater emphasis on knowledge and information. Everyone quickly jumps to conclusions without first informing him or herself about the situation.

No one hides this information. The NetClassroom notice popped up on the left sidebar of the home screen, and news organizations from CNN to Fox News to Comedy Central report on candidates’ blunders on a daily if not hourly basis. We simply need to do a better job of actively looking for this information.

When a candidate errs, take note of it. Factor it into your decision as a voter because truth should be valued at all costs.

Americans run America as its citizens, and our school operates the same. However it would be laughable to believe that change will be made through uninformed opinion that seeks to make change based on conjecture.

Fighting words ridden with anger and lacking evidence do not make change.

Informed words, with a clear goal in mind that offer a legitimate solution, very often do.

tuesday, november 6, 2012 10

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

iPads: technology for the sake of technology For this school year, all seniors and some juniors were required to purchase iPads for some classes. But shouldn’t students decide for themselves?

The Student Voice

ClaireSelvin ‘13 Features Editor Class time has become a free period – thanks to the iPad. Now students can check their email, browse the web, iMessage, and access any application imaginable during lectures. It looks as though we’re taking notes, and that’s all that counts, right?

Teachers are powerless in the face of these distractions. They can’t confiscate an iPad because it is now a legitimate learning tool, and students can quickly tap out of their game or message if a teacher comes near, and then tap right back in.

The administration and technology department are aware of the problem and are researching options to halt the distractions next year when even more classes may require the iPad. “There’s software that can stop kids from doing anything that we don’t want them to do on the iPad on this campus, and if they try to bypass it we will know,” said Javy Martinez, director of educational technology and

computer science department chair.

So much effort has gone into picking applications for textbooks on the iPad, hooking up air servers, and now finding the right way to block its distracting elements, but for what? Isn’t learning the loser here, as we continue to promote and extensively debug the iPad program?

Some students have found the Kno application for reading textbooks to be frustrating and inefficient.

Senior Andrew Bernstein simply prefers the physical book.

“I like the feeling of actually holding the book and turning the pages better than using the digital copies. A book is always more reliable,” said Bernstein.

I understand that the iPad has made the school use less paper, but I’ve learned from books, real books, for my entire life. From the alphabet to algebra to 1984, I’ve read without the help of a screen since childhood.

Now, in my senior year of high school, I’m being asked to change the way I’ve worked in order to “test” a program for the other grades that is irrelevant and unrelated to the way I’ll be learning in college: by means of a chalkboard, notepad, textbook, and, of course, human interaction.

Students did not ask for this change, and I find it insulting that our choice in whether we want to continue to learn how we always have is being taken from us. If

Gadgets included, tech center struggles to fulfill its purpose The goal of the center, to provide students with a place to kick back and use technology, sounded good in theory...

The Student Voice

MichaelLen ‘14 focus editor School is a stressful place, where students deserve a place to relax and unwind. Students also need a place to work, outside of the busy library. Unfortunately,

the student tech center is not that place.

In theory, a room full of gizmos and gadgets sounds great.

It is easy to be excited by the prospect of new toys; however, when the room is put in practice, it lacks anything beyond novelty.

“It’s an indoor place for people to hang out around campus. The room is soundproofed, so people can be as loud as they want. The library is a place for quiet studying,” said director of educational technology, Javier Martinez.

I agree that we should have

STUDENTPOLL

For next year, would you like to have a choice to use an iPad or not?

46%

Yes, and I would choose the iPad

Yes, and I would choose to use books

27%

No, because then everyone would be on a different page

144 responses collected from October 29 to November 2 with a margin of error of 6%

No, because I think everyone should use the iPad

No, because I think everyone should use books

Buckley is going to become a book-less campus, its students will miss out on the unerstanding that comes with underlining in a textbook and writing in the margins of a paperback. It may seem silly, but these actions have given me the discipline to keep reading and learning, rather than clicking out and playing Whale Trail instead.

The University of Stravanger in Norway reported that handwriting is much more effective in the learning process than technological methods. “When writing by hand, our brain receives feedback from our

both quiet and noisy places on campus, but I don’t think the student technology center brings a fun space that allows other places around campus to be quiet.

I have recently spent time observing the library and the technology center and realized that almost all of the students, who stayed in the library last year, did not migrate to the tech center. A room full of new shiny toys doesn’t actually benefit the students. It is centered on novelty, which never justifies an entire room.

“I prefer the library because I can sit with my friends on sofas.

It is way less cramped,” said junior Avigdor Nosorati.

So who is in the technology center?

Underclassmen and middle school students. What are they doing? Playing Xbox.

Upperclassmen are too involved and busy to spend time playing the console, so the underclassmen do.

The younger students are almost encouraged to be less involved around campus so they can spend

6% 11% 9%

motor actions, together with the sensation of touching a pencil and paper. These kinds of feedback are significantly different from those we receive when touching and typing on a keyboard.”

So, here is my solution: give students the choice. Allow them to elect for themselves whether they’d like the iPad or a physical textbook. They must retain their autonomy in deciding how they personally learn best. Otherwise, our community will be one based on technology for the sake of technology.

precious free-time playing what most of them have at home.

Martinez emphasizes that rooms like our technology center are popping up around our country’s universities, which are places where students both live and learn. Though our school may be a second home to most of us, we still live in our own abodes. Many of our homes contain Xboxes and TV’s, things that many college students do not have in their dorms. In other words, universities have tech centers, because students cannot readily access them.

The room brings up another question: where is the line between home and work drawn? Personally, I like to keep the two very separate.

While at school, I’d rather focus on the task at hand, so when I go home, I can relax without worrying about a math quiz next period.

When I heard that the school was going to have a room dedicated to technology, I imagined rows of computers for students to use. This room would have allowed students

to explore technology and it would let them get some work done. A sofa or two would provide comfort, and friends would provide the company.

My first mental image of the technology center was a room with rows of computers, ready for student use. I still think that is what to room should look like. The lounge should balance recreation with education, providing computers for anybody who wants to either study, or just play a game with a friend.

The technology center isn’t completely negative, and it definitely has is plusses. The wireless headphones keep students from fighting over sound levels. I have yet to see them used, but it is still early in the year. The huge couch is also very comfy as well. I see more people using it just to lie down, than to actually watch the touch screen TV, which remains neglected. Time will tell whether or not our new toys turn out to be useful.

Anonymous Student Responses to a Poll Conducted by the Assistant Head of School

What do you envision the Technology Center to be?

“I think the Tech Center should be something actually helpful to students, not filled with video games and mindlessness. there should be computers and technology that improves students’ learning. It should provide a second place for students to spend their free time, the first being the library.

Giving students a place to hang out other than the library would allow for the library to be quieter and more productive. Right now, the Tech Center is filled with underclassmen wasting their time. ”

“A place for kids to relax and use computers. I find the movies and games distracting so stay clear.

I don’t know anybody who has time for video games. As a gamer, I don’t really see a place for XBOXs on campus. Who knows, it could be beneficial for students to relax and de-stress.”

“A place where students can be with their friends and enjoy modern day technology while still being able to study and just enjoy the modern and fun atmosphere of the center.”

“I envision it to be a place where you could study and use technology at the same time. I think that the video games should be in a different room perhaps, where people could go and have fun. For example, a room could have video ames, chargers for Apple devices, a vending machine perhaps, and a movie area. I think that the main purpose for the Technology Center would be to learn more about a device that you have (e.g., an iPad), to study, or just to hand out without being too loud and distracting.”

features 11 tuesday, november 6, 2012 |

CLAIRESELVIN ‘13

Juicing things up

Courtesy of Pressed Juicery

Pressed Juicery has cornered the market for teens looking to “detoxify” their bodies, but how effective is the product?

T

he cleanse. It’s become a fad to try juice programs that offer only liquids as sustenance for days at a time. Whether you’re a beginner, expert, or independent cleanser, companies offer juice regimens that provide varied levels of intensity and lead to debatable results.

Pressed Juicery offers three different cleanses based on one’s exercise and eating habits, with cleanse one being the most universal. Cleanses last either three or five days with specified amounts of vegetable, fruit, or milk juices in each bottle to supplement nutrients from food.

School nurse Connie Tanquary said that a short-term juice cleanse is most likely harmless.

“The juice diet probably isn’t going to harm you if it is done in moderation for a short period of time and fruits, vegetables, and protein are included in the diet,” said Tanquary.

She added that nutritional supplement programs seem to come and go without showing any real effects in participants.

Detoxification and cleanses seem to be the new ‘fad’ out there just like the Atkins Diet was once, too. These marketing companies prey on people advertising that they have the cure to a healthy body. Most of them are gimmicks,” said Tanquary.

Pressed Juicery’s slogan, “get back to your roots,” advises customers to cleanse their bodies of processed foods and “detoxify cluttered thoughts,” according to the company’s website.

What is it about this philosophy and variously flavored vegetable and fruit extract drinks that appeals to teens?

Reasons for the appeal seem to range from advice from friends, to allergies, to sheer curiosity.

Senior Emily Matson tried the juice cleanse as an experiment to see if it would actually make her feel good, as the company’s program professes it will.

“I actually felt like I had a lot more energy. Through eliminating a lot of toxins from my diet, I found that I felt much healthier and I slept better,” she said.

Matson has only done one full cleanse but still drinks the juices occasionally because she enjoys their tastes. She said that staying away from food throughout the day was difficult at first but became easier after the first day.

“I did mine for a week and had three juices a day and dinner at night, but I sort of designed my own cleanse,” said Matson.

Senior Alexandra Borghi has done several one or two-day juice cleanses but still drinks the juice at least once a week for pure enjoyment of the taste.

“I do the cleanse when I feel like I’ve been eating unhealthy foods, and sometimes I do it just because I like the tastes of the different juice options,” said Borghi.

She said that she gets “a bit cranky” during the cleanse but feels that the gains outweigh the negatives.

“After I cleanse I feel healthier and not as heavy,” she said.

Senior Isabella Astor did a three day cleanse during which she drank eight juices per day after learning about it from a friend.

She does not plan on cleansing again.

“The process was extremely difficult.

Being separated from my lover, food, was horrible. The only thing the juice cleanse cleansed me of was my will to live,” said Astor.

Similarly, senior Maddie Meltzer does not plan on revisiting her three-day juice cleanse.

“I hated it. The drinks were so gross, especially the green ones. I felt worse because I had no food, and therefore no energy. I was so mean to everyone when I was on it,” said Meltzer.

Senior Samara Roman-Holba, however, tried the cleanse due to her lactose intolerance and food allergies which were causing her stomachaches during the summer. She cleansed for five days, drinking six juices a day.

“It was definitely really hard; I didn’t like it at all. It made me realize how much I love food. It was horrible watching people around me eat and just sitting there with my juice,” said Roman-Holba.

She said that her energy level perked up after a hard first few days with little energy source and that her stomach sickness related to food allergies diminished slightly after completing the cleanse.

“I still have some sensitivity to foods, but it actually got a bit better after the cleanse. I honestly don’t think it’s necessary if you eat. Dr. Oz, a doctor with a television show, did a blood test on people before and after cleansing and there was no difference in their health. I think it’s more of a mental thing. Some people do it for weight loss, but the minute you start eating normal food I’m pretty sure it all comes back, so it’s really not necessary,” said Roman-Holba.

Tanquary recommends a healthy, balanced diet, exercise, and sleep for a healthy lifestyle. She does not believe than any advertised diet or cleanse can create serious change in anyone’s body.

“Most diets are band aid approaches to losing weight. The only diet I know that really works is using the food pyramid and portion control. Moderation is also a key to living happy. A piece of birthday cake once in a while isn’t going to kill you,” she said.

realitycheck

How healthy are the juices?

PressedJuicery

BluePrintJuice

average per 1 serving

average per 1 serving

calories fat sugar cholesterol

90.5 1g 12.6 g 0g

Cost for a 3 day cleanse

$210

$225

Cost for a 5 day cleanse

$350

$375

calories fat sugar cholesterol

187.5 g 4.75 g 7.2 g 0g

tuesday, november 6, 2012 12

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

MEHERSINGH ‘14

The faces behind the vision Courtesy of Kalban & Associates

A NEW ERA: Next year, the Science and Mathematics Building will be open to the school, marking the completion of the second phase of the CEP. Administrators in charge of the innerworkings of permits, construction timetables, fundraising, and more are thrilled to see the plans become a reality for students and teachers. “It’s hard to ask people for money, but [I am] raising money for something that I really believe in and matters, and I think education is the most important thing; it’s a very rewarding job,” said Holly Bauer, campaign director.

A

s chief financial officer, Lisa Turchan played a major role behind the scenes of the newly built Academics and Performing Arts building by serving as the “owner’s representative.”

“I get overwhelmed when I see the faculty and students say that they love the new building,” said Turchan.

Her responsibilities included helping to get the revision of the CUP from the LA City Council, and since then she has been a driving force in the management process.

Turchan hired the contractors and managed the entire construction process.

“One of the most important skillsets in managing a construction process is tracking a lot of different details,” said Turchan.

In addition, she managed the design committee and sourced furniture retailers.

“We didn’t accept anything that was not of high standard,” said Turchan.

With that drive for excellence, the whole team along with Turchan’s goal was to enhance and excite the education of the students.

“The most important thing was what would inspire the students, that would drive them to feel their learning has been elevated because a lot of that has to do with your environment,” said Turchan.

The long hours, countless meetings, and four years of persistence were not just a job for Turchan.

“For me it gave a chance to be inspired by the place that I work at, the institution that I work with, and knowing that I am doing this for the students of the next generation. I was inspired to do my best and work hard,” said Turchan.

Turchan continues her role as owner’s representative in the construction of the new Science and Mathematics Building.

“I feel like this is inter-generational moment where we can now hand this off to the next generation and hope that they feel a sense of ownership and take care of it and do their best.”

But with all of the hard work and effort having to be put in once again, Turchan enjoys working with “all the great people.”

I

“

t took tons of extra hoursand I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Middle School principal Neal Roden.

Out of his 24 years at the school, Roden has been working persistently to make a new building a reality for 21 of those years.

“Being in the senior position, and having gone through other design processes, I felt, and other people felt, I could represent the overarching needs as we went into the design process,” said Roden.

Roden represented the needs of the teachers and the students throughout the construction process of the newly built Academics and Performing Arts Building, including bringing forth opinions and needs from the faculty and staff in order to enhance their respective programs.

“When you work with a committee and deal with design it can be a very long process. Picking the carpet, the right shade of grey, and dealing with everybody’s vision and everybody’s taste. As frustrating as it can be, having all of that input and viewpoints really helps narrow things down. And even with all of that, you still sometimes still second guess yourself,” said Roden. “It’s one of those things where it takes a huge amount of time, but it’s worth it. At points I was really passionate about the building, seeing that it was going to happen, that we were going to get more space and great classrooms. And you have to do everything in your power to do it,” said Roden.

And after more than two decades of waiting, Roden was more than excited to see it come to life.

“I hate to give this analogy, but it was like giving birth, but it was an idea. Then a hole in the ground, then it was a steel structure and then it had sides, then it had an inside and finally students in it. It’s so satisfying to see the general excitement of everyone who is using it,” said Roden.

Roden’s happiness with the new building comes from the students who use it every day.

“The biggest reward is seeing students enjoy it and being proud of it, the students

who think it’s so cool, and the faculty say they love teaching in their new spaces. That’s the best feedback in the world,” said Roden.

Roden’s role all ties back to his zeal for the school he has dedicated so much work to throughout his years on campus.

“I love Buckley, it’s such an important part of my life. Doing things for the school and for the kids and for the faculty, that’s the best feeling of the world,” said Roden.

C

urtis Covington, director of plant operations, served on the design committee during the construction of the newly built Performing Arts and Academics Building. His job included managing the construction company, picking the finishes with the committee, but most importantly examining the safety expectations.

“My main thing was making sure everyone was safe,” said Covington. “The main challenge was planning and making sure we got it right, or as close to right as possible.”

Being the director of plant operations, Covington also had to balance his important role on campus with the time-consuming planning for the new building, as well has maintaining the existing buildings.

Covington’s job requires that he and his staff are meticulous; if there are spills, leaks, air conditioning issues, events on campus, safety issues, it’s a call to Covington’s office.

In addition, he is head of security.

“The newer building will be less work for the facilities. You don’t have to put so much energy and time in a two or threeyear-old building as you do in a 30-year-old plant,” said Covington.

Despite the time-consuming effort of constructing the new building as well as its future math and science counterpart, the meetings and hours of extra time are all worth the effort in the end for Covington.

“My extra passion [in order to get the building finished] is that we haven’t had a building in 30 years,” said Covington. “It feels really good when people talk about how excited they are about it.”

C

ampaign director Holly Bauer has been working for nine years fundraising for the new buildings.

Bauer and her committee had to overcome hurdles such as city approvals and an economic downturn, but managed to do so with hard work and help from the community.

“It’s been a long process for us. It’s always a challenge to raise money. The thing that has made our campaign a success so far is that we have a tremendously generous community at Buckley. We have a great Board of Trustees who had their own financial support behind the project early on.

And there is a tremendous need for additional space for continued academic excellence,” said Bauer.

The campaign committee’s job is to identify alumni families, grandparents, and community members who are interested in supporting Buckley and have the financial capacity to do so, and then meet with them to ask for donations.

“A lot of people say to me, ‘I could never do what you do.’ It’s hard to ask people for money, but [I am helping in] raising money for something that I really believe in and matters, and I think education is the most important thing, it’s a very rewarding job. I love knowing I have been somebody behind the scenes that makes things better for students,” said Bauer.

But as with every project, without a team effort nothing can be accomplished.

“My job is to bring people together and facilitate the process. This is not my victory, it’s an achievement for the whole community. I’m just a part that helps complete the effort. It’s our volunteers and campaign chairs that are the heroes in all of this,” said Bauer.

And as Bauer and the committee continue to work hard to fund the Science and Mathematics addition, Bauer said she still enjoys her role in making construction a reality.

“It’s very enjoyable, I love it. I have been at Buckley for nine years now and I am still very excited to do my job every day” said Bauer.

13 tuesday, november 6, 2012

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

SHILPAMANTRI ‘13

Gadgets of the Room What makes the robotics room a state-of-the-art workspace for students?

The reality following the vision

Courtesy of Elaine Lee

The Robotics Room 3-D printers, CAD technology, and TVs. With the state-of-the-art robotics room up and running and the steel foundation framing the 14,000-square foot Science and Mathematics Building, the campus is already offering some of the most up-to-date, cutting-edge technology.

“We can make almost everything we need. That’s crazy. These are industry standard machines, too. In high school, how cool is it that students can touch something that engineers who are 20, 30, 40 years older than them use every day,” said science department chair Dr. Brandon Hogan.

Robotics co-captain, senior Kevin DeCorso thinks the new robotics room and its technology can help the team in winning the championship for their robot.

“I really want to go to the finals in St. Louis. I think we can do it because we will have amazing machines and our team has been practicing extensively at designing winning robots,” said DeCorso.

Inspired by current developments in science such as the successful touchdown of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity, the mission of SpaceX’s Dragon to the ISS, the opening of the Dark Energy Camera, and the detection of a single proton from the Higgs Boson discovery, the robotics team is trying to make their own advancements while building their robot, according to robotics co-captain, senior Jack Breen.

“Just as research in science and developments in technology will always become more sophisticated and competitive, FIRST Robotics get tougher and tougher each year.

Ten years ago, the most complicated robots were simpler than our robot this year. To stay ahead of the game, the team has made many changes,” Breen added.

Some of the newest advancements for the use of the robotics team include the addition of a CNC mill and lathe, which can fabricate parts from plastic, wood, aluminum, and steel, a band saw, a tool that can cut metal up to .01 precision, an updated version of CAD technology, which will allow students to build their robot more efficiently, and a 3-D printer, a machine that prints 3-D robot models to test their designs.

Hogan said the robotics team no longer has to outsource tools.

“The fact that I now have an open ceiling in the physics room, I can do tons of more demos and more experiments. There’s more learning going on, and from a physics point of view, I plan to use all the new space for larger-scale experiments,” said Hogan.

Hogan also said this facility better prepares students for college.

Scientific Innovation

CNC Mill

The new building, which will help integrate math and science, will house Upper School science classrooms for biology, chemistry, physics, life science, and physical “We can design a part of the robot science, all with inteon the computer, and then connect it, grated lab space; five math and general classand the lathe and mill will cut it and rooms, a digital arts and produce it. Those can cut anything technology classroom, we want out of metal.” and a general seminar Jack Breen room.

Senior and Robotics Captain Mathematics department chair Joanne Ryan is looking forward to having all the math teachers in the same working space.

“There’s just going to be a lot more interaction and collaboration and ideas that will flow between us, and that’s something I’ve wanted for a really long time. And, what we have coming for us which is something I’ve thought for many years is a math department office,” said Ryan.

Because the mathematics department has always lead the technol“The 3D printer can input plastic. ogy change on campus, Last year, if students wanted a part, especially with latest TI they needed a company to build it for Nspire CX-CAS calcuthem. The new machines can build lator, Ryan said that she them right here.” would not be teaching Dr. Brandon Hogan any differently in the Science Department Chair new building.

“We are already using the latest and greatest, up-to-date, most recent stuff anyways.

We were using the TI-89 for years, and people never used them. And now, we’re using the Nspire CX-CAS, and it’s just very rare that you hear of schools that are using them,” said Ryan.

The science classrooms will provide more room for students to perform experiments, according to Hogan.

In addition to more room, the biology “I love the red cabinets. They’re just classroom will include beautiful. And now the shiny red two or three television seats compliment them very nicely. screens, so when stuIt will be so much easier to build and dents study material test our robot with more space.” under the microscope, they will be able to see Kevin DeCorso it regardless of where Senior and Robotics Captain they are sitting in the classroom.

“One of the things I want us to do more of in the future is have students engaged in research, a strong robotics team, and more young women in science. We have great kids, and they’re doing great work,” said Dr. Larry Dougherty, head of school.

Claire Selvin The Student Voice

3D Printer

Claire Selvin The Student Voice

New Furniture

Claire Selvin The Student Voice

14 Since a video of a fruit salesman in Tunis setting himself on fire blazed across the internet at the outset of the Arab Spring, the power of social media — for enterprises as grand as revolution and as banal as debate quips — has taken the world by storm. The spectacle of American electoral politics has engaged millions online, on Facebook and Twitter, on blogs spanning the spectrum from vitriolic to academic, and on nearly every web site that carries advertising.

However, if the sheer mass of the conversation can’t be disputed (the most recent debate between the two candidates for President launched more than 100,000 tweets per second), its import is up for a debate as heated as the politics.

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but politics are like religion,” said senior Jordan Neely. “Believe whatever you want, but don’t say it to me online,” she said. For those like Neely, the sudden influx in election-related traffic online is simply an annoyance. “I don’t need you telling me who you are voting for every two seconds,” she said.

Some students have suggested that the occasional banality of election tweets, Facebook posts, and advertisements, stems not just from their numbers but also from their tendency to be highly partisan and negative.

“It used to be that politics online were more positive than negative,” senior Carly Ackerman-Canning said.

“But now—like, for example, all this stuff about Brad Sherman and Howard

Berman — it’s not about who you are for but who you are against,” she said, referring to the current congressional candidates for the district representing Sherman Oaks.

“I feel like [posts] online are really polar,” said junior Eric Fett. There is no middle ground, and the people who post are really passionate. But they are passionate about what they believe, which isn’t what everyone believes or should believe. I wish it was more about the policies.”

The proclivity of heavy posters to write about small squabbles as opposed to “the policies” is a staple of online communication. “Republicans, we’re sorry that we were mean to your golden boy. We know it’s rough,” wrote one poster online, garnering dozens of “likes” within minutes.

“I’m sorry, but Paul Ryan is extremely creepy looking!” wrote another, appending, “#sorrynotsorry.” “[E]very time biden smiles he just looks like an even bigger joke,” said a third.

The willingness to talk about serious issues in a cavalier manner characterizes of social media every bit as ingrained as abbreviations and forgotten punctuation. “biden voted top go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan… lol #justsaying,” wrote a poster who identifies as Republican.

The above comment is true, factually speaking, which distinguishes it somewhat from the crowd of more questionable evidence presented as true online.

“ T he s e days, everybody has a printing press and the ink is free,” wrote Michael Arrington, a tech blogger.

Yet with more ink spilled more freely, deciding which printing press to believe is harder than ever.

“It’s like, everyone is a political genius all of a sudden as soon as a debate starts,” said Neely. “Riddle me this batman: what happened to the secret ballot?”

On October 22, the New York Times, a symbol of both the waning import of printed news media, and a mainstay of American print media took up the issue of factual accuracy in the age of online. Though their experts were divided—some said people are more informed, some said less, some said no difference—that the issue was brought up reinforces the issue as one which pervades our time.

In The Audacity to Win, Barack Obama’s then-campaign manager, David Plouffe, suggests that the President’s advantage in social media played an integral role in granting him the election, but, this year, both candidates are on a level playing field as far as social media goes.

The Obama campaign has claimed to spend $32 million thus far on social media, and, while the same data are not available for the Romney campaign, estimates suggest the number is approximately equivalent.

So while jobs, healthcare, and a wartorn Middle East rage the headlines, in today’s world, candidates must also keep their attention on their Twitter feeds.

27 4.1 19.3 MILLION

The amount of “likes” Obama has on Facebook.

The First Lady, Michelle Obama, has 8.1 million.

MILLION

The amount of “likes” Romney The combined number of Twitter followers the two canihas on Facebook. His wife, dates have. 18.5 million of Ann Romney, has 293,000. those people follow Obama.

on the BALLOT

By Andrew Friedman

MILLION

Proposition 30 would raise taxes for seven years on income over $250,000 and increase sales tax by 25 percent for four years. Governor Jerry Brown and other proponents of the law say the tax hike would increase state tax revenue through 2019 and generate approximately $6 billion annually to fund the state budget and reduce spending cuts to education programs.

Opponents of Proposition 30 say that it would increase California taxes which are already among the highest in the nation and would not guarantee money for schools nor cut pensions or waste ful spending.

Proposition 32 would forbid unions, corporations, and government contractors from using payroll-funds for political contributions; additionally, Proposition 32 would bar these groups from giving contributions to candidates and their committees. The law would cost the state government approximately $1 million annually to implement. Proponents of the proposition include George Shultz, former U.S. Secretary of State, and Marian Bergeson, Former CA Secretary of Education.

Opponents include the California Democratic Party and the Academic Professionals of California.

15

31 PERCENT

69 PERCENT

Among 490 Middle and High School students on November 2.

Proposition 33 would allow insurance companies to give new customers price cuts on car insurance, based on whether the individual was insured in the past five years.

Californians who have car insurance receive a discount.

The California Republican Party and other proponents state that the law if passed would encourage rate reduction, competition between automobile insurance companies, and insure more drivers.

Opponents of the new law believe that 33 will permit insurers to raise premiums on responsible drivers.

Proposition 34 would repeal the death penalty in California, revoking death sentences, and substitute them with life imprisonment without parole.

The proposition purports to send $100 million to law enforcement for investigation of rape and homicide. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said if put into effect, Proposition 34 would save criminal justice departments $130 million annually.

Former Governor of California Pete Wilson and other opponents state that taxpayers would be required to pay approximately $50,000 per inmate annually to give criminals housing and healthcare.

The Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates have debated on live national television, in front of millions of viewers. On November 2, our students debated for the aforementioned candidates in an assembly, in front of the Middle and Upper Schools.

Students who participated in the JSA sponsored assembly represented both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. JSA advisor Robert Wright moderated the event.

Seniors Ben Beatty and Nika Shahery, and junior Ali Iker spoke for Obama. Freshman Andrew Friedman, and juniors Chloe Boasburg, James Bernstein, and Natalie Oniszk-De Vincenzi debated for Romney.

The assembly covered economic policies, healthcare, and foreign policy. Economics primarily dealt with unemployment; Romneycare and Obamacare were covered by healthcare, and foreign policy focused on the Middle East. Social issues were not discussed due to time constraints.

“Hopefully they will both reflect the candidates in the clearest and most truthful way possible. I hope that students will have a better understanding, especially those who will be old enough to vote,” said JSA president Nika Shahery.

Students said they form their views in a variety of ways. Some turn to news outlets or their parents. Others, like Friedman, turn to our history courses.

“A lot of my opinions come from what I’ve learned in history class. I don’t think we should make the same mistake twice. Learning about the Soviet Union, and Communist China with Mr. Camargo are probably the best examples,” said Friedman.

Shahery pointed out that California tends to lean left politically, yet it was still much harder to find speakers for Obama, than for Romney, his Republican counterpart.

“In all honesty, I was expecting it to be harder to find students to speak for Romney. I think a lot of Obama fans support him for social issues, which will not be covered in the assembly. A lot of Obama supporters have also told me that they do not like to speak publicly,” said Shahery.

Others, such as Beatty see the lack of people willing to speak for Obama as a direct result of the recent trend towards the conservative.

“It seems like the school has gotten more conservative over the past couple of years. People have calmed down from the Obama hysteria of last election and now the school is more split,” said Beatty.

From 7-10 p.m tonight., JSA will also hold an election day event in rooms A201-A204. Food will be served and admission is free.

Proposition 37 forces manufactures and farmers to label food that comes from plants or animals with genetic mutations.

In addition, the law bans the promotion of these foods as “natural.”

Proposition 37 would cost the state about $1 million annually to regulate labeling.

The proposition would give label foods so that consoumers know what is in the food they are eating Opponents say the new law is full of exemptions, and loopholes, and will raise the price of many different foods by adding to the costs of distributors.

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

Same face, new place: international students join community Juniors Raul Arechiga and Remi Alfallah adjust to life at Buckley after growing up abroad.

James Bernstein ‘14 assistant editor-in-chief For most of us students, we know the drill. We know the rules. We know the teachers. We know each other. But how many of us pause to consider what it’s like for new students?

For the significant percentage of our community who immigrate from other nations? And those who have to fit in, join a social group, and find their niche all over again?

Now imagine having to do all that in a new country.

Junior Raul Arechiga was born in the “small town” of La Paz, Mexico. Of his beginnings in the regional commercial center located toward the southern edge of the Baja peninsula, he still holds not much except for old friends and two of his favorite foods: homemade tacos and enchiladas.

When he was 5 years old, Arechiga began Englishspeaking lessons with a tutor who came to his house three times a week and spoke with him. His father spoke some English (more than his mother) but both of Arechiga’s parents had a fixed goal for him and his sister.

“My parents knew that education here in America is better, and there are more opportunities for, well, everything. The U.S. is definitely more advanced academically,” said Arechiga.

Junior Remi Alfallah is also no stranger to moving around the world, though her journey through Kuwait and Dubai with her sisters, Noor and Sophia, and brother, Nassar, ultimately brought her right back to Los Angeles, where she was born.

“When I was younger, it didn’t feel very stable, but after I had lived in Dubai for about a year and a half, Dubai kind of felt like my home,” said Alfallah. “The reason we moved back to LA was so that Noor [freshman at USC] could spend her last two years of high school here to prepare to enter the entertainment industry.”

Arechiga and Alfallah both said that they came to Buckley for college preparatory purposes; however, both were a little surprised by what they saw.

“I thought that most of the kids at Buckley would be really into studying, but then I got to Buckley and it seemed like mostly everyone was normal. They were more easy-going than I expected,” said Arechiga.

Despite joining the community as a junior, a year where students are in the thick of their activities and social groups

are almost fully developed, Alfallah is grateful to have found her niche right away.

“Buckley is going great so far. I’m really enjoying it in all aspects. I’m on the varsity tennis team and we’ve been having a really great season so far. I like all of the students here and the campus is very welcoming. It’s also a very diverse campus. I’m glad to be a part of it,” said Alfallah.

Although American schools offer a slightly different social dynamic than his school in La Paz, Arechiga said that it has been easy to fit in because most of his new peers have personalities similar to his.

Alfallah said she does feel nostalgia for her earlier childhood in the desert oasis.

“Dubai is Dubai. It’s very different from all of the other cities that I’ve lived in. You can go indoor skiing in the morning and go swimming in the afternoon. So you never really got bored,” said Alfallah.

Alfallah added that moving from Dubai, where almost everyone has a housemaid and drives at least two cars, to Los Angeles has been a bit of a culture shock.

Now in the eleventh grade, Arechiga has had more than four years to adapt to the American way of life. His experiences at Berkeley Hall and Pacifica Christian High School before coming to Buckley were not as easy however.

“Berkeley Hall was a big school and I hadn’t been to one before. The English barrier was tough. But from Berkeley Hall to Pacifica was also tough because it was a small school and everyone already knew each other. When I got to Buckley I had already done both,” he said.

Arechiga and Alfallah still have connections to their former homelands, using social media communication platforms such as Facebook and BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) to connect with old friends. And both have had reservations about transitioning to America, but they are also hopeful for their future high school experiences and beyond.

“There are disadvantages to coming in to a school at such a late time and such an awkward year, just because in junior year things are starting to wrap up in a way. You’re getting towards the end of high school, so friend groups are already made and it’s obviously harder to get into clubs than it is if you join in ninth grade. But as long as you put your best foot forward, you get the most out of it. And everyone here has been very welcoming,” said Alfallah.

tuesday, november 6, 2012 16

Speak Spanish at home

Don’t consider English their first language

Speak Farsi at home

Have dual citizenship 107 responses collected on November 2

Raul Arechiga La Paz, Mexico

“I thought that most of the kids at Buckley would be really into studying, but then I got to Buckley and it seemed like mostly everyone was normal. They were more easy-going than I expected.”

Remi Alfallah Dubai, UAE

“Buckley is going great so far. I’m enjoying it in all aspects. I like all of the students here and the campus is very welcoming. It’s also a very diverse campus. I’m glad to be a part of it.”

17 arts & entertainment tuesday, november 6, 2012 |

insidearts&entertainment

FUN SIZE

Courtesy of flickr creative commons

ON THE SET

IN THE SCENE

Joyce Chamoun The Student Voice

Joyce Chamoun The Student Voice

SYCAMORE KITCHEN

Courtesy of sycamore kitchen

SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA Courtesy of flickr creative commons

IN THE SCENE | page 20 As the“the offensive line,” returning and first-time ensemble members in “Bye Bye Birdie” share their experiences on performing in the musical.

UNDERWATER | page 18 Senior Rachael Breen takes her passion for photography to new levels; under sea level to be precise.

FUN SIZE | page 21 Copy editor Alex Fatykhov reviews “Fun Size,” a comedy following Victoria Justice as Wren in search of her brother on Halloween.

ON THE SET | page 19 Senior Zachary Heffner takes on the role of set and light designer as well as his usual stage manager position for the musical.

SYCAMORE KITCHEN | page 19 Editor-in-chief Jack Rose reviews The Sycamore Kitchen, a bakery and cafe that draws a crowd of hipsters, families, and dogs.

UNDERWATER Courtesy of rachael breen

SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA| page 22 Arts & Entertainment editor Nika Shahery reviews Swedish House Mafia’s final album: “Until Now.”

Coming this November...

ON CAMPUS

8 17 30

OFF CAMPUS

“Bye Bye Birdie” Opening Night

After weeks of work, “Bye Bye Birdie” will begin its four-show run starting with a 6:30 p.m. performance on November 8.

PA Concert The Parents’ Association annual concert will be held at the Disney Pavillion at 7:00 p.m. to 10:30p.m.

Midsummer Night’s Dream Audition Meeting The Performing Arts Department will convene to discuss logistics for the Spring Drama.

16 27 9

SCVA Honor Choir Performance Juniors Ryan O’Donnell and Sam Bierman perform at the honor choir weekend at Santa Monica High School.

Pure Broadway Lachsa presents Pure Broadway, a caberet for a cause, on tuesday november 27 at 8:00 p.m. at the El Portal Theatre.

And in December...

Monotones Performance at Reagan Library At 6:30 PM, the Monotones will perform as part of the Holiday on the Hill event, which goes from 5:30-8:30. Tickets are $60.

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

tuesday, november 6, 2012 18

RACHAEL BREEN

UNDER THE SEA Senior Rachael Breen dives deep to capture sea-life stills and to explore the caverns of the unknown.

ElleWisnicki’13 editor-in-chief “I feel like I’m in a whole different world,” said senior Rachael Breen.

Combining her love of photography, water and animals, Breen has developed a passion for underwater photography, where she captures the seldom-seen moments of the underwater world.

“At first I did more point and shoot photography, but now I focus more on composition and finding the perfectly unique image – my adventurous side shows through my photos,” said Breen.

Loving water was natural for her because every member of her immediate family is scuba-diving certified. Since she was young, Breen spent time in Catalina on her family’s boat and developed a comfort for being in the water early. She refers to Catalina as her “homeland.”

After taking an introduction to photog-

raphy class freshman year, Breen realized her true goal: becoming the next member of her family to be scuba diving certified.

“Initially I was scared to dive, but I wanted to combine my love of water with my love of photography, and I love underwater animals,” said Breen. “Besides, everyone else in my family was already certified.”

Upon her completion of an eight-hour online course, Breen traveled 3103 miles with her father to Cozumel, Mexico where she was certified in open water underwater photography.

“When Rachael told me, I was impressed,” said Ellen Mahoney, art department chair. “It takes a lot of work to get to these places and I am amazed that our students are doing advanced water photography.”

Breen photographs all types of animals from sharks to eels and everything in between with her Nikon D5000 camera protected by aluminum Nauticam housing.

Initially, Breen protected her camera with underwater Ikelite housing, but after that flooded twice, ruining her camera, she had to upgrade.

“Now she has pretty awesome housing, plus lights; she is taking classes outside of school. It’s tricky; with underwater photography, you’re down there floating around and the animals are floating around, but Rachael is incredibly hardworking and determined to get things done,” said Mahoney.

Breen admits that underwater photography poses dangers aside from harming her camera and she must remain focused at all times.

Photos Courtesy of Rachael Breen

images2012

“You can become so passionate about getting the perfect photo that you forget about your oxygen levels,” said Breen.

She received her certification for enriched air (nitrox) diving, which allowed her to stay underwater for over an hour. At last, Breen was able to photograph in her dream place this past summer: The Galapagos Islands.

“I had wanted to go to the Galapagos Islands before I could even scuba dive,” said Breen. “I decided to go on this trip to photograph whale sharks and hammer heads.

I loved photographing them and just being near them.”

She stayed on a “live-a-board” boat with a professional diving company instead of diving with her family as she usually does.

“I wanted the experience of travelling alone and feeling grown up,” said Breen.

Her goal is to become a professional photographer, with a focus on underwater photography. Breen has interned with Hollywood divers and consistently immerses herself in the world of diving and photography in an effort to soak up every piece of information she can.

“Her internship exposed her to another side of scuba diving: she learned the business side that goes along with the recreational side. It was an important experience, especially since this is the career she wants to go into,” said her mother, Betsy Breen.

During her high school career, Breen has won seven Scholastic Art and Writing Awards – Certificate of Merit – Photography for her compositions above and below water.

“She enters more Scholastic Award

competitions than anyone else. She has done it ahead of time and has done it all by herself. She is a powerhouse in terms of getting things done,” said Mahoney.

According to Mahoney, Breen has an impressive college portfolio and has worked with a breadth of materials and camera models.

“I think that her photos have gotten clearer and more crisp, but increasingly more difficult to get because of the locations, conditions and exactly what she is trying to shoot,” said Betsy Breen.

Over the years Breen has built an eye for where the animals are and can now find the hidden creatures of the sea with ease.

“When Rachael dives, she really is in another world because she’s focusing on the photography, which takes diving to another intensity. She is focused, totally at ease, happy and completely in control,” said Betsy Breen.

Complete the form and send it with your check payable to The Buckley School to Dr. Ellen Salas.

Questions? Email esalas@buckleyla.org.

Due to high demand, we’ve added a few more advertiseName: ment pages to celebrate events & accomplishments.

Reserve yours today.

Email Address: $1300 $700 $400

two pages full page half page

Phone Number: Templates and instructions will be emailed to you as soon as the yearbook staff receives your reservation.

19 tuesday, november 6, 2012

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TUCKERHIGGINS ‘13

The art of “Enlightenology” How one passionate student pushes the boundaries of what a student can achieve in technical theater...

I

Joyce Chamoun The Student Voice

n theater, the “proscenium” is the hole behind the curtain where the audience is allowed to look.

The 200 flying lights above it, the hustling actors in the wings—all that you can’t see unless you t r y — t h a t ’s the domain of lig ht-desig ner, stage manager, and set-designer senior Zachary Heffner, and like theater, to fully understand him you must first look beyond the obvious.

Heffner has been involved in technical theater since middle school, and in the time since has held more roles in the program than any other student since Stephen Rollman, director of technical theater, came to campus two decades ago.

In the hundreds of hours Heffner has spent back stage, he has developed the skills of a technical wizard, a budget maven, a mind reader, and an artist.

“Zach is the most enthusiastic student I’ve ever had,” Rollman said. “He reads every set of instructions for every device we get-or don’t get,” he said. Heffner, who keeps in his room a chest of hundreds of manuals he has compiled, read, and reread (“they probably cut down a forest for the amount of paper I have”), strives to know intricate details about all the products that are on the market. This mastery allows him to, as he says, “change things constantly and on the

fly,” but it also makes him the go-to person when new products need to be purchased.

“He is currently the driving force for what we are going to get,” said Rollman. “No one has had the kind of control that he has been given.”

Heffner’s technical know-how has led to substantial growth in the plays, musicals, and concerts that he has overseen. Before Heffner, for example, the typical production would require about 70 different lights.

Now, the number used more than doubled, to around 150. “We don’t have any more power, any more circuits to put lights up. We are using everything,” said Heffner.

But his expertise transcends technical prowess: as a lighting designer and a setdesigner, Heffner is also practicing artistic judgment.

“Colors make people feel a certain way,” Heffner said, and his job is to channel those feelings in synergy with the emotions being evoked by the actors.

For one number in this fall’s musical, Bye Bye Birdie, for example, Heffner is putting aside new lighting equipment in order to use the old, more difficult lights.

“It’s in period, so I’m using older lights. They get much hotter, but they give a warmer, saturated feel.”

Or take something much simpler, the sky. “At first, someone might think, ‘well, the sky is blue.’ But the sky is not just blue.

It’s white, and purple, and yellow, too,” he said. “And if it’s supposed to look humid the lights are more saturated in the foreground.

There’s so much you can do with just colors.”

Since Heffner’s first production in the end of his eighth grade year, it is apparent

that the theater program has shaped Heffner as much as Heffner has shaped the theater program. In Middle School, “you don’t know who you are or what you want to do” he said. “If you have as rough of a middle school as I did it’s nice to find a place where you belong.”

“It’s like family. It didn’t take time. As soon as I did [the 2009 spring dance concert] I knew technical theater was what I wanted to do, and I signed up for the whole ninth grade year.”

From there, Heffner slowly climbed theater tech hierarchy, stopping at each job along the way.

“I wanted to make sure that if anyone was complaining about their job, I could tell them ‘I did that job before’” he said.

From grip, the job primarily responsible for moving around props, to manning the curtain, Heffner has assumed every role involved in technical theater--including being the actor.

“Having been an actor before [in middle school], I have a deeper sense of what’s going on on stage,” said Heffner.

Heffner is gearing up for an internship at Electronic Theater Controls, the school’s chief supplier of technical theater ware, where he will have a chance to use technology far beyond even the newest equipment found on campus.

Whether, entering this next step, Heffner already has his own particular artistic style, both Heffner and Rollman couldn’t fully answer.

“If going beyond the limits is a style, then that’s his,” said Rollman.

“Sounds about right,” said Heffner.

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

tuesday, november 6, 2012

cLaIReseLVIN ‘13

T

All in the ensemble

hough they perform as a group, though they don’t recite the bulk of the lines, though they share a spotlight, the members of the ensemble of Bye Bye Birdie provide a backbone for the entire production. “[The ensemble] is like the offensive line in football. The principals who are really smart and in tune get that.

The quarterbacks always get the headlines, but without the offensive line they’re not going to be successful,” said theater teacher and director of Bye Bye Birdie Neil Nash.

Members of the ensemble dance, sing, and act together. The ensemble is the foundation of all of the large singing and dancing numbers, and therefore provides much of the action of the show during after-school rehearsals. Members work to coordinate their movements and voices and, in doing so, bond with their cast mates.

Last year, when senior Anthony Garcia worked in the booth on lighting for the musical production South Pacific, he witnessed the enjoyment of the actors in the performance, and he decided to join as a cast member the following year. He is now part of the ensemble.

“I’m really looking forward to singing and dancing with my friends and even the other actors who I hope to get to know better,” said Garcia.

He said that the ensemble must act as a unified piece of the musical in order to complement the other actors in the show.

“I think the role of the ensemble is to help support some of the main characters and add a bit of extra entertainment for the audience,” said Garcia.

Sophomore Kathrine HerzerHansel joined the musical for the first time this year in order to be part of the team. She does not underestimate the importance of the ensemble’s performance in relation to the quality of the production as a whole.

“Every member of the ensemble is working really hard; and the dynamic of the ensemble could make or break the production. If [the ensemble] is focused, the show will turn out more fluid and less hectic,” said Herzer-Hansel.

Junior Eden Lynch, a member of the ensemble, said that the group relates directly to the audience more than the larger roles.

“The audience looks to the ensemble to see how to react, and the ensemble relates more to the audience because it represents the average people,” said Lynch.

Senior member of the ensemble, Jordan Neely enjoys performing in a group and collaborating with her costars.

“Everyone really needs to work together in the ensemble and try not to outshine the others. You have to trust the people around you and know their parts,” she said.

Neely’s spirit was seconded by senior Jess Walia, who joined the musical cast for the first time, said being in the ensemble is about working together.

“It’s more about the sense of togetherness and controlled chaos than it is about hitting the perfect pitch or doing the next steps perfect. The ensemble is based off of everyone’s work adding up together,” he said.

Nash spends time working with the ensemble alone to refine their technical skills and group chemistry.

“Instead of spending all the time on the principals, I try to direct the ensemble so that the members know that they are an important piece of the show,” he said.

Nash views the ensemble like the glue that holds the whole production together.

“I always judge the quality of the directing of a production by what the ensemble is doing. If the ensemble is invested and clean, that’s a real accomplishment. The members of the ensemble make the show and take it to a level

that it can only go if they are excellent,” he said.

Senior Gabriella Selover, who plays Mrs. MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie, was a member of the ensemble for seven school productions.

“For the ensemble you are constantly at rehearsals and in a ton of numbers, whereas I have found that for a leading or supporting role I have less rehearsals but they are more focused on building a specific character,” said Selover.

She said that the ensemble provides “the life and background” for a show.

Senior Michaela Murphy said she has always enjoyed the ensemble experience and is now a female lead, Kim MacAfee.

“I really enjoyed being a member of the ensemble. It’s fun because you get to play the quirky, small characters and be in all of the big group numbers.

I remember the silly things, like waving around fake bread, or getting the costumes that were the most ridiculous,” said Murphy.

Senior Alexa Benudiz, who plays Rosie, emphasized the importance of the ensemble in every scene of the musical.

“If the ensemble is weak, then the show is weak. They are the real foundation of every musical. Even facial expressions and how they react to every scene is important, because the audience is always watching them,” she said.

She said that during her time in the ensemble casts of musicals, she looked up to the principal roles for feedback and advice, and now she sees the current members of the ensemble looking to her for help sometimes.

“I loved being in the ensemble because I got to meet new people: students both younger and older than me.

I always thought it was awesome to look at what [the lead roles] have accomplished and aspire to be like them,” said Benudiz.

Joyce Chamoun The Student Voice

Joyce Chamoun The Student Voice

Joyce Chamoun The Student Voice

oH, GIVe Me oNe LasT kIss: The cast of Bye Bye Birdie rehearses ensemble numbers in the new Drama Lab and Choir Room in preparation for their upcoming performances Noevember 8 through 10.

a&e briefs ‘Tones’ adds new voices

Courtesy of john hendricks

Natalyasands‘14 assistant a&e editor Freshman Cameron DeFaria, sophomores Duane Ervin and Calum Campbell-Watson, and junior Camilla Revah have been selected to join the Monotones.

After a competitive audition process, they will now join veterans, juniors Sam Bierman, Tara Bitran, and Ryan O’Donnell and seniors Michaela Murphy, Gabriella Selover, and Alexa Benudiz.

The audition process took several weeks this year, and required each participant to sing a cappella and navigate their way around pitches.

Singers were also tested on their tonal recall, and their ability to sight read. The final component of the audition was a personal essay in which singers outlined their goals for the group.

“I’m particularly excited by the enthusiasm of all our vocalists and the variety of extensive singing experience that our new members have had prior to joining the group. Every year the group has a slightly different sound, and I think that you’ll hear a lot of creative singing from this year’s Tones,” said director John Hendricks.

The new members bring with them a variety of skills and achievements. As an eighth grader, DeFaria performed on the children’s show Majors and Minors and Ervin sang in the Las Vegas production of The Lion King.

Bierman, O’Donnell selected for SCVA MaraHuberman ‘16 staff reporter On October 10, juniors Ryan O’Donnell and Sam Bierman were accepted into the Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA), and choral director, John Hendricks, is now serving a twoyear term as president of the SCVA. Buckley hosted the first SVCA board meeting, on September 29 and the auditions for the high school Honor Choir were held on campus.

“To prepare for the audition, I reviewed the music theory components of the audition: tonal recall, scales, triads, sight singing, and learned a piece in Italian with my voice teacher,” said Bierman.

“I am really happy for Ryan and Sam that they are doing the honor choir this year. I think it will be a really powerful experience for them,” said Hendricks.

Hendricks said he has embraced his new role as president of SCVA. “Being president of the Southern California Vocal Association is definitely a time commitment, but the other thing that it has done is that now other schools are more aware of Buckley, than perhaps they were in the past. As a result of this I have met so many people who are really knowledgeable in the profession and I have learned a great deal.”

The first of the high school performances takes place on November 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Santa Monica High School. General admission tickets may be purchased online at www.scvachoral.org or at the venue on November 16 and 17.

21 tuesday, november 6, 2012

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reviews

tastetest jackRose'13

The Sycamore Kitchen

Courtesy of the sycamore kitchen

Courtesy of the sycamore kitchen

estled between West Hollywood and Hancock Park, The Sycamore Kitchen bakery and café draws an interesting crowd. The small, unassuming brick building draws a crowd of hipsters, families, and dogs.

A colorful gate hides a courtyard where patrons are seated in front of the restaurant.

Inside, a slightly smaller L-shaped seating area surrounds the register, and a long line waits to order.

As I enter and get in line, the overwhelming aroma and sight of dozens of breads, pastries, and desserts creates a first impression. That first impression, while correct, would later prove to be true.

The line moves quickly, and my acquaintance and I order soup, breakfast, and of course, bakery items. We chose the lone remaining table outside, and our food is served quickly. First, the soup of the month, corn chowder.

Although an interesting choice for brunch, the soup sounded too good to pass up, and we did not regret it. Creamy and filled with potatoes, cherry tomatoes, corn kernels, and green onions, the chowder is great for a cold day. It was a good combination of creaminess and sweetness, although a little bland. Bites devoid of a kernel or two proved to be unexciting and mundane.

Before we could finish the soup, our main courses were served.

My father ordered the pork belly hash, served in a large bowl that at first look reminds of a salad. Although he thoroughly enjoyed it, I found it well spiced yet tastefully underwhelming. The two fried eggs atop the hodgepodge of pork and potatoes were well cooked and tasty, yet the hash itself only diminished the flavor.

I opted for the scrambled egg and chorizo sandwich, served on delicious pan de mie bread. Inside sandwich were the eggs,

N

chorizo, melted cheese, and onion. On bites with a fair amount of cheese, the sandwich combined its flavors very well, successfully satisfying my taste buds. However, the majority of the sandwich lacked enough cheese and was good, but not great. After eating the majority of the cheesy parts, I quickly tired of the simple taste of egg and chorizo, wishing for more in taste.

Last came the desserts, which were served early in the meal and we nibbled them throughout. Not being able to resist, we ordered a trifecta of coconut cake, a chocolate chip rye cookie, and a roasted peanut-coconut butterscotch bar. The latter was both the best and most tasteful, and disappeared quickly despite our wavering appetites. I enjoyed the cookie as well, as it was packed full of chocolate chips, making every bite full of chocolaty goodness. The cake was remained the most intact after our feast, yet that was more a factor of fullness than the cake itself, which was fluffy and had a creamy frosting.

Overall, my visit to The Sycamore Kitchen was a good one, yet I am not screaming to go back. If I do, it will certainly be for the fantastic bakery items, which I am dying to try more of. The menu of baked goods is long and intriguing, and from my limited knowledge of the bakery, it is delicious. My experience may have been a product of average ordering, as the soup and bakery were very good. The cinnamon brioche French toast did and does sound fantastic, though my urge to be healthy kept it off my plate.

The café is a great place for brunch, where breakfast is served till 12:30 on weekends, an hour later than weekdays. I cannot speak for the lunch, which is served from 11 to 5.

The lunch menu, however, consists mainly of sandwiches, which bodes well for the afternoon guests due to the tasty bread.

With moderate prices, excellent service, and a good atmosphere, The Sycamore Kitchen has the experience and the bread down, but the food is lagging a few paces behind.

The Sycamore Kitchen 144 South La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036

atmosphere: Calm, friendly, and warm recommended dishes: Corn chowder, any of the bakery items service: Very quick price range: Breakfast between $7 and $11, sandwiches and salads around $11 hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Breakfast is served 8-11:30 a.m. on weekdays and till 12:30 on weekends. (none) just plain bad edible good quite good excellent Ratings reflect the reviewer’s reaction to food, ambiance and service, with price taken into consideration. Menu listings and prices are subject to change.

Comedy, cliché, and candy bars: Fun Size Wren Desantis, played by Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice, searches for missing brother in Halloween ruse AlexanderFatykhov ‘13 copy editor What is so great about Fun Size? Well it’s just large enough to satisfy your craving, but not so huge as to be pointlessly boring. It’s like one of those candy bars, a cute little pun that the movie uses to identify itself as a nice comedy with some real life twists and a bit of a cliché ending, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

The plot of the movie is that a girl loses her brother on Halloween, so instead of going to an amazing party, she is stuck looking for her brother. This takes her on a journey with two of the nerdiest guys ever and crazy things happen. All the things that happen to these teenagers are seemingly random yet they still seem to connect with the story.

After seeing the trailer, I had no idea how the movie would lead to the scenario of a car being sexually violated by a giant, mechanical, pirate chicken, but strangely that occurence made sense.

“This movie is also able to touch upon teenage angst about being socially popular and make a nice parody of it.”

Alex Fatykhov Copy Editor Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

This movie is also able to touch upon teenage angst about being socially popular and make a nice parody of it.

The middle class suburban setting of the movie adds a level of familiarity, and the hilarious obsession with the need to dress in sexy costumes is definitely parodied in this movie. There are definitely some jokes aimed at the 80’s generation, but most of them were lost on me.

Fun Size seems to be like several stories are being forcefully lumped into one, so there are several themes that are touched upon. Of course, the usual nerd vs. jock conflict occurs as does the nice guy vs. the hot guy debate. Even Johnny Knoxville from Jackass shows up to play the evil character with a strange Pepto-Bismol obsession. That joke was also lost on me, so whoever wants to explain it to me, feel free.

Yes, this movie is very random, especially the ending, but it’s not only a comedy. This movie also talks about some serious issues like the problems of being a single mother, applying to colleges that are far away from home, or the loss of a father, but these are just briefly mentioned.

The movie tries to hit on some serious issues, but mainly the movie is like an inept Hangover for kids. Its jokes are seen from a mile away and the characters mostly have no depth, but I came into the movie expecting to laugh and it definitely delivered.

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

tuesday, november 6, 2012

soundoff Concerts

NIkasHaHeRY '13

09 November

Swedish House Mafia releases its farewell album

Barbra Streisand HOLLYWOOD BOWL

Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

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November Mumford & Sons HOLLYWOOD BOWL

Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

13

November

Courtesy of Flickr creative commons

SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA UNTIL NOW

Wiz Khalifa

GIBSON AMPITHEATER

16

Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

November Walk The Moon MUSIC BOX AT THE FONDA THEATER

Courtesy of flickr creative commons

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November

Grouplove

WILTERN THEATER Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

21

“Don’t you worry child”: Swedish House Mafia is back with its last album, Until Now. Released on October 22, Until Now caps off the whirlwind ride of these composers’ journey through the mastery of dance music.

With 23 tracks adding up to one hour, 23 minutes, and 17 seconds of pure excitement music that reverberates off the walls, and is sure to get any electronic junkie off their feet. The tracks also feature an array of duets including; Usher, Coldplay, The Temper Trap, Miike Snow, and many more.

The album includes hits “Greyhound,” “Save the World,” “Don’t You Worry Child,” and “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall” by Coldplay but remixed by SHM. The tracks as a compilation are what quintessential DJ music must have: repeated lines, a steady beat that combines seamlessly with the lyrics, and the juxtaposition of edgy beats and slowed down drops.

“Don’t You Worry Child” is the essence of the album, besides the über popular “Greyhound” and “Save the World.” Not only do the tempo, beat, vocals, and instru-

ments work together in harmony, but also the lyrics are simple, sweet, and yet beautiful.

“Every Teardrop is a Waterfall” is a perfect depiction of the group’s mixing skills.

The intro begins with a synthesizer-heavy version of the melody, and then transitions to Chris Martin on vocals singing at a fast pace throughout the song. The track has over four changes in beats, all leading to the next without shaking the listener, creating a modern, electrifying music experience.

The Mafia knew very well they could not go wrong with Usher whose insane vocal octave, the quick pop, dance beat, and the electric xylophone sounding tones, created a song that will bring herds to the dance floor in “Euphoria.” The song itself stays true to the title; it brings a sense of euphoric excitement.

“In My Mind, In My Head (Axwell Mix)” featuring Georgi Kay by Ivan Gough and Feenixpawl, brings a versatility to the album, adding classical piano to the mix.

Probably one of the most exciting lyric less songs on the album is “Reload” by Sebastian Ingrosso and Tommy Trash. Following its slow and unexpected start, the song transitions from a simple rhythm of electricsqueaking, to picking up the tempo, slowing down, and then picking it back up all over again. Even in its simplicity, the song shows the album’s s range and experimentation with bleeps and beats.

Although the songs have the tendency to become jumbled due to their pick-me-up, dance music nature, each song can be individually appreciated for its creativity in mixing. I recommend listening to the tracks in doses to avoid getting overwhelmed by the songs’ structures.

Swedish House Mafia’s split is bitter sweet: while they will cease to exist as a group, they are departing the music world with a bang between their One Last Tour and this album. I know I’ll miss them, but as the song says, “they are all such great artists, they will be fine on their own.”

November

Until Now Track List

Steve Aoki

SHRINE EXPO CENTER Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

24 November

No Doubt

GIBSON AMPITHEATRE AT UNIVERSAL CITY WALK

Courtesy of paige k. parsons hotography

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November

1.Don’t You Worry Child 2. Greyhound 3. Here We Go 4. In My Mind 5. Calling 6. Atom/Leave the World Behind 7. Antidote 8. Walking Alone 9. Resurrection 10. The Wave 11. Ladi Dadi 12. The Island 13. Lights 14. Raise Your Head/ Epic 15. Three Triangles

16. Reload 17. Euphoria 18. Don’t You Worry Child 19. Beating of My Heart 20. Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall 21. You Got the Love 22. Heart Is King 23. Save the World

Alice Cooper ORPHEUM THEATERLOS ANGELES

Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

sports 23

tuesday, november 6, 2012 |

Volleyball finishes season with three consecutive wins, plays CAMS today in first round of playoffs Girls advance to playoffs with a third place finish; will not play at home due to scheduling conflicts in the gym. Today’s match is away at Cal State Dominguez Hills college.

ElleWisnicki ‘13 editor-in-chief After finishing third in league with a record of 7-4 in league (11-10 overall), the girls varsity volleyball plays California Academy of Math and Science today in first round of CIF playoffs.

“I think we have a great chance of moving on to second round playoffs because we have a lot of good chemistry. If we keep up the same attitude, we will go very far,” said middle, freshman Clementine Calloway, the only freshman on varsity.

Calloway attributes her improvement this season to the support and encouragement she received from her teammates.

The players agree they have improved their technical skills, attitudes on the court, and team chemistry.

“My technique has gotten a lot better since the beginning of the season and I have learned to keep a positive attitude, which will be helpful during playoffs.” said sophomore Paula Grussi. “Making playoffs sets the tone for the next few years.

After losing their first two league games against Holy Martyrs and Providence the team went on to win their next two games against Oakwood, Yeshiva and Glendale Adventist, and lost only to Holy Martyrs and Pacifica Christian for the remainder of the season.

“The first two league games were pretty tough on us. I think we were all nervous and anxious and ultimately it got the best of us.

We all recognized that neither teams were as good as us, but they were scrappy and unpredictable which led them to a win,” said junior Nikki Nahai. “We were sick of losing so we stepped everything up. We needed to get on the winning streak; we boosted our confidence, it was great,” The team lost several seniors last year, and has filled the gaps they left behind.

“I think that our captains, [seniors] Marlen Grussi and Maddie Meltzer, have really stepped up this year. They are great leaders on the court and they have played extremely well in all of our games,” said junior Sammy Siciliano.

Siciliano believes the team showed its

youth in the first two games, but can grow and mature for the upcoming games.

“We have been practicing hard and trying to reduce the errors,” said Siciliano. “Our goal is to make playoffs. This can be accomplished if we work hard and play together as a team; however, it will be harder due to our first two losses.”

After playing middle for the past two years for the school and her club team, outsider hitter, junior Adiya King has been an asset for the team.

making playoffs.

“We made playoffs because we fight really hard as a team and we have a good dynamic,” said King. “We are working more on our attitudes on the court and maintaining a positive outlook if we get down.”

Three junior varsity players will be included in the varsity match: freshmen Tessa Candiotti, Julia Borghi, and Nico Stahl.

“I feel honored to be moved up to varsity for playoffs,” said Stahl.

The team is looking forward to next

“The first two league games were pretty tough on us. I think we were all nervous and anxious and ultimately it got the best of us.... We were sick of losing so we stepped everything up.”

NiKKi Nahai Right Outside Hitter “If I were in her shoes I’m not sure I could do half as good a job,” said Nahai.

The team has worked on communication on the court between every player, especially the new sophomores, which have been vital to the team in taking pressure off the upperclassmen.

“Last year our team was friendly, but not nearly friendly enough. This year our team is so tight knit and bonded that wins are just so much easier,” said Nahai. “We’re naturally and effortlessly friends and the support and love we have for each other is so strong and so comforting.”

With new sophomores creating depth on the court, the team feels strongly about

year where they can build upon the strides they made this year.

“I’m looking forward to next year. We are going to get a lot of really strong freshman who will be great additions to the team,” said Paula Grussi.

Calloway will be moved from middle to opposite (right outside hitter) to add depth to the team positions. Calloway will be able to dominate as an opposite, and give other players a chance to excel as middles.

“I think there are high expectations for the players moving up next year,” said sophomore Leah Purvis. “I am excited to have the responsibility of leading the underclassmen next year.”

Elle Wisnicki The Student Voice

SETTER: Captain, senior Marlen Grussi waits to set a ball for a teammate against Yeshiva October 29. The girls won 25-12, 2515, and 25-12 on their Senior Night.

Elle Wisnicki The Student Voice

DIVE FOR THE DIG: Junior Nikki Nahai falls to the ground to save a point for her team against Yeshiva October 29. Grussi slides in from the left to aid her teammate in their quest for the ball. The Griffins won in straight sets.

CROSS COUNTRY

GIRLS TENNIS

boys: third place in league girls: fourth place in league

10 CIF southern section prelims @ mt. sac

9 wins 2 losses

5

CIF southern section quarter finals vs. Laguna Hills The Griffins trailed 5-7 at the time of print

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL 11 wins 10 losses

6 CIF southern section first round

@ california academy of math and science

NOVEMBER

17 CIF southern section finals* @ mt. sac

24 CIF state finals* @ fresno

* Involvement pending results of previous CIF race. Runners can advance in teams or as individuals.

7

9

CIF southern section semifinals vs. TBA* CIF southern section finals vs. TBA*

* Involvement pending results of previous CIF match. Opponent also pending results of previous match.

8 CIF southern section second round vs. TBA*

10 CIF southern section quarter finals vs. TBA*

* Involvement pending results of previous CIF match. Opponent also pending results of previous match.

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

tuesday, november 6, 2012 24

Tennis trailing Laguna Hills 5-7 midway through Monday’s match BillyWilson ‘14 staff reporter The girls tennis team once again dominated their competition.

Following two consecutive CIF league titles, the team finished the regular season with a 6-0 Liberty League record (14-1 overall).

In the first round of CIF playoffs, the girls won their match against San Luis Obispo High School, winning 11-7 and also played on November 2 against Glendora wining 117. Their only loss came to Valencia on October 12, where they came up short 11-7.

“Valencia is a Division II team, and even though the match result was not what we wanted it to be, it is definitely better for us to play better competition like Valencia in order to prepare us for the grind of CIF playoffs,” said captain, junior Lindsay Wilson.

While the team sat in first place as of October, one match on October 17 against Oakwood would decide if the team will be undefeated Liberty League champions for the third straight season or if the team will be tied with Oakwood for first place.

Ultimately, the girls came out victorious against Oakwood, dominating the match from start to finish,

“The mindset of our team is to try to figure out how to play to everyone’s strength and organize our lineup to be as competitive as possible.”

Lindsay Wilson Co-Captain Courtesy of Sue Sherman

SERVICE: Sophomore Naomi Rosenberg serves in a CIF playoff match last season. Yesterday, she and the rest of her team played Laguna Hills High School in a quarter finals match. The match was in progress at the time of print.

winning 13-5.

Throughout the season, the team has leaned on their top two singles players, sophomore Naomie Rosenberg and junior Remi Afallah and top two doubles teams, juniors Sheridan March and Wilson, and captain, senior Rita Farb and freshman Emma Marciano for victory.

Girls send three golfers to Prelim League Finals, one to Finals At the conclusion of their second season, the girls boast their first win, first season in a league, and a golfer, Eicher, in League Individual Finals.

BillyWilson ‘14 staff reporter With the season over, the girls golf team will look to build off the team’s first victory and three of its players’ individual success.

Junior captain Ali Eicher, sophomore Cecile Lee, and sophomore Sara Jayne Johnson, all qualified for the Montview League Individual Preliminaries on October

the team was striving for when the season started, a victory. Although the team experienced a tough season in 2011 when they did not win a match, the experience helped them record their first win against Asuza High School September 27.

“It was great to get that first win. The girls have been working hard and it’s nice to see them get some positive results. The keys for any future success we are to have is commitment and consistency,” said Lotts.

Despite finishing with a 1-9 overall record and not qualifying for playoffs, the team will look to build off of the momentum from their individual success this season.

With more time to practice and opportunities to fine tune their game, the

“I was honored to get to represent my school at Individual Finals. It was such a learning experience; all the girls were supportive of one another, and I cannot wait to play again next year.”

Ali Eicher Captain 15, and Eicher made the cut in order to qualify for individual league finals on October 18. Eicher placed 16th out of 45 golfers in the Montview League.

“I was honored to get to represent my school at individual finals. It was such a learning experience, all the girls were suportive of one another and I cannot wait to play again next year,” said Eicher.

The girls golf team experienced what

team is also expecting help from some currently talented eighth graders who will join the team as freshmen next season.

“We look forward to utilizing the new activity period and schedule and playing golf consistently throughout the year. We also look forward to adding some talented current eighth graders to or roster next season and adding some depth to our team,” said Lotts.

Head coach Sue Sherman said that in order for the success of a team, the captains must create a safe environment be in, which she believes is already present.

“The team is now one unit under the leadership of our captains who have brought the group together,” said Sherman.

The girls are focused on reaching the goal that they set out in the beginning of the season, winning the CIF title.

“We want to win CIF and we have worked extremely hard over the next few weeks in order to make our team as strong as possible,” said Wilson.

As usual, a Liberty League title will not be good enough for the girls; they are looking to achieve one of the most illustrious feats in sports, a three peat CIF league title.

“The mindset of our team is to try to figure out how to play to everyone’s strength and organize our lineup to be as competitive as possible,” said Wilson.

matchresults At time of print

6-1

7-6

Rosenberg v Angeli

Rosenberg v Valenstein

6-7

2-6

Alfallah v Angeli

Alfallah v Barthlmass

0-6

0-6

Mehri v Barthlmass

6-7

Wilson/March v Jaffee/Traylor

7-5

Farb/Ahmar v Jaffee/Traylor

0-6

Abrishamchian/Arias de Liban v Bennett/Lam

Mehri v Valenstein

6-3

Wilson/March v Verzosa/Garcia

6-2

Farb/Ahmar v Bennett/Lam

4-6

Abrishamchian/Arias de Liban v Verzosa/Garcia

25 tuesday, november 6, 2012

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

CROSS COUNTRY

Disappointing League Finals showing drops boys to third place in league JackRose ‘13 editor-in-chief Entering the race within striking distance of a league title, the boys cross country team finished third in the League Finals race at Rancho Park November 2.

Senior, captain Nick Martin won his second consecutive league MVP with a first place finish at Finals.

“It was the first time I had run hard in a few weeks,” said Martin after the race, who was recovering from a knee injury.

The team started the day in second place in Liberty League, four points behind Oakwood.

With a win, they would have guaranteed at least a tie for the league title. However, sickness and under performance ruled the day for the Griffins.

“It was a bummer that [junior Sam Bierman] was sick,” said senior, captain Tucker Higgins.

“But I’m excited for [CIF Prelims} next Saturday.”

Rounding out the top five were freshman Adam Semprevivo and senior Jack Rose, who ran his

first race in over a year.

“It was great to get out and run again, but I know that if league finals wasn’t my first race, I would have paced myself a lot better and finished higher,” he said.

Unexpected results atop the individual leaderboard headlined the North Hollywood Park league meet October 24, with Bierman finishing first overall, handing second-place Martin his first league loss since his sophomore year. Higgins finished third, marking the first time the boys finished 1-2-3 this season. Martin ran the race injured.

“That was a fantastic race because we finished 1-2-3,” said Higgins. “Running together not only makes us faster; it makes us more intimidating.”

Nonetheless, the top 3, who finished with three seconds between Bierman and Higgins, propelled the squad to their second consecutive first place league finish. Semprevivo finished 11th, one second away from a top 10 finish. Freshman Adam David improved his place by one,

finishing 29th, from the last league meet.

The final regular season league meet pushed the Griffins into second place in Liberty League standings, and within striking distance of first place Oakwood.

Martin did not run the Mt. Sac Invitational on October 19 due to a knee injury, nor did he travel with the team to the race. Higgins finished 27th out of 146, just two places and three seconds ahead of Bierman.

“Mt. Sac is my favorite race. I was sick for this particular one, but I’m never going to bow out of the Sac,” said Higgins.

No other boys ran for the Griffins, leaving them without the necessary five runners to qualify as a team.

At Woodley Park, the second league meet of the year, the squad rebounded from a zero-point finish at their first league race, finishing first with three runners in the top 4. Martin won his second consecutive league race. Higgins finishes second, and Bierman fourth.

Courtesy of Leonie de Picciotto

SPRINT TO THE FINISH: Junior Sam Bierman charges down the finishing shoot ahead of seniors Nick Martin and Tucker Higgins at North Hollywood Park October 24. The trio were the first to complete the race, with Bierman winning the first Liberty League race of his career. “I’ve never run in front before, it’s a pretty cool feeling. I was happy to win in the end, but it was really about the team. Nick, Tucker and I led the race together the entire time,” he said.

Courtesy of Leonie de Picciotto

MOVING UP: Junior Chloe Boasberg passes Providence junior Drew Tacchino less than 100 yards from the finish to secure 4th place in League Finals at Rancho Park November 2.

Fourth place finish not enough for CIF

JackRose ‘13 editor-in-chief

Needing to finish at least three places ahead of Providence to secure a spot in CIF Southern Section Prelims, the girls cross country team fell short, finishing fourth at League Finals to Providence’s third.

“We got fourth almost every race,” said senior, captain Elle Wisnicki.

Senior, captain Samara Roman-Holba, historically the team’s number two runner, did not run at Rancho Park due to illness.

“The loss of Samara only hurt our

chances of making it to CIF,” said Wisnicki.

At the third and final league meet before league finals, North Hollywood on October 24, Boasberg led the Griffins in 5th place with Roman-Holba close behind in 7th. Wisnicki and Murphy also finished in the top 20, at 13th and 16th.

“Samara, Chloe and I stayed close in the beginning, and then Samara began to gain speed,” said Wisnicki.

Wisnicki, who has a fractured ankle, knew she would not be able to keep up with Boasberg the rest of the race, yet pushed her as far as she could. On the final lap, RomanHolba suffered an asthma attack.

“I stopped breathing,” she said. “It was frustrating because I usually don’t get

asthma attacks and I could’ve done better.”

Oniszk-de Vincenzi finished 5th for the team and 21st overall, securing the Griffins’ third-place finish. The team was in 4th place overall after the race.

At the Mt. Sac Invitational October 19, only Wisnicki and Oniszk-de Vincenzi ran, finishing 58th and 110th out of 136 total runners in the second Division 5 heat.

“Only Natalie and I went to the Mt. SAC meet, which was quite disappointing,” said Wisnicki. “But since it was only an invitational, it didn’t hurt us in any way but morale.”

The Mt. Sac course also serves as the location for CIF Prelims and Finals, and missing the race puts the girls at a

disadvantage since they will not have practiced the course this season before CIF. At Woodley Park, their second league meet, the team finished third without junior Chloe Boasberg, their top runner to that point, due to a sinuous infection.

“Her absence was a significant blow to our team’s placing,” said Wisnicki. “Without her, our spread (from first runner to fifth) was considerably larger than it should be.”

Individually, Roman-Holba turned in the best league performance of her career, finishing fifth.

“It was my first top five finish and it felt really great because it makes the hours of practice and all the soreness worth it,” said Roman-Holba.

crosscountryresults

th

19

th

11 14 32 TH

th

ND

ROSE

BIERMAN

18

34

SANDS

TH

th

SEMPREVIVO

4

5

DE VINCENZI

Race: 4th place Season: 4th place

st

MURPHY

Girls

1

WISNICKI HIGGINS

Race: 3rd place Season: 3rd place

MARTIN

Boys

BOASBERG

League Finals

th

35

th

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports

tuesday, november 6, 2012 26

winter sports previews

Boys soccer

Jack Rose The Student Voice

SAVING IT: Senior, captain Ian Bernstein dribbles the ball during a break during a team scrimmage in practice during preseason soccer. Bernstein is the team’s returning starting goalie from last season.

JaredStone ‘16 staff reporter After moving down from Division 6 to Division 7, the boys soccer team looks for another league title this season.

While the boys lost several players, the team has a full roster thanks to a group of sixteen freshman. They lost six seniors, including Shawn Mcnitt-Grey, the Griffins leading scorer and captain last season, and second leading scorer, junior Bongo Ondimba.

Freshmen and other new additions

have brought the roster up to size. Freshman Ben Cohen, a utility player, and the other freshman have stepped in for the team during the preseason. They also have some unlikely additions in junior Sebastian Kim and senior Evan Drapeau. Their captains are seniors Ian Bernstein and Eli Given.

“I feel that we should do really well in league and we’re looking forward to an even better playoff run this year,” said coach Andrew Pearce.

The Tahquitz Titans knocked the boys out of playoffs last year. The team went all the way to golden goal overtime before losing, ending their season.

The boys were moved down a division and are now facing schools closer to their size.

“The only change will be that we will be playing against teams we don’t know. There are still three or four teams that will know we will be the favorites again as champions and so all teams will tend to step up,” said Pearce.

However, Bernstein feels differently. “I feel the move down will benefit us because last year we were overwhelmed with bigger schools and more competitive programs, and [division] 7 is the right place for us especially since our team is so young this year,” he said.

The team opens with a scrimmage against Windward on November 19, followed by a home game against Pasadena Poly. Their first league game is January 10 against Santa Clarita. There are seven other teams in their league. All in all, look for the team to continue their strong play and contend for another league title.

Girls soccer ElleWisnicki ‘13 editor-in-chief Ending the 2011 season second in league to rival Viewpoint, the girls varsity soccer team aims to win league and make it past first round playoffs this season.

“I am so excited for the start of a new season, we have 14 returning players who were exceptional last year in securing second place in league and with the addition of new blood we hope to keep challenging for league honors and make our school proud of our team,” said head coach, George Russo.

Pacifica Christian has replaced Viewpoint in the Liberty league. Strong competitors include Oakwood and New Community Jewish, which will be contenders for the league title this season.

“Since we don’t have Vewpoint in our league, without them we should be great; we have a lot of club players coming in this year. We were second in league last year to viewpoint so there is nothing stopping us this year,” said captain, junior Boasberg with strength and conditioning coach Rob Wright, and improved their technical skills through drills and game play.

“The girls are really working well together. We have a lot of new talent, adding to our strong team from last year,” said forward, junior Ibi Lagundoye.

Club players, freshmen Annie Manella, Julia Borghi, and Clementine Calloway add experienced technical play to enhance the teams competitiveness in league.

Not only are there eleven incoming freshmen, but also the addition of two goalies freshman Sammy Weiser and senior Maddie Meltzer to veteran goalie, senior Julia Arias

De Liban, creates competitiveness within the team.

“It was great to see 30 girls trying out.

Having so many numbers involved brings up the potential to field a JV team,” said Russo.

We hope to add some JV games throughout the season, which will create competition for position and help all the players improve and battle to be in the starting 11.”

Russo is looking for another player to step up as co-captain with returning captain Boasberg.

Experienced players such as seniors Elle Wisnicki, Ally Borghi, Andrea Mackey, Emily Irani, juniors Lagundoye and Boasberg, and sophomore Alexis Eka will be key to the team’s future and to building team spirit.

Players will be expected to fill the gaps from the seniors who graduated last year.

“We are one cohesive unit with the ability to dominate league play this season,” said Lagundoye.

playerstowatch Projected Top Scorers

Chloe Boasberg Annie Manella Ibi Lagundoye Ally Borghi Alexis Eka

BoYS basketball JeremyPopowitz ‘16 staff reporter After a 15-9 2012 season and a quick exit in the CIF playoffs, the boys basketball team looked to summer as a time to improve their game.

“We are in a fall league at Beverly High, it has all the big schools like St. John’s Bosco, just big schools that we wouldn’t normally play,” said co-captain, junior Chase Holliday.

The team worked throughout the summer and fall and believes they are ready to play. “I think top to bottom, this is the best basketball team that we have here, and I have high hopes for this group,” said Coach Hamilton.

“Just two years ago, we won and advanced to state for the very first time and we also went to the CIF finals,” said Hamilton, “and to be that high and then lose in the first round of the playoffs, which is also a rarity, I’m confident that this group which has been together for so long and been to the CIF finals, they want to taste that again.”

One thing that binds this squad is their chemistry, which to Hamilton, is a huge factor. “I think they’re unbelievably close, we have a lot of leaders, I don’t think we just have one or two or three or four,” includes Hamilton.

“Our defense needs some work, offensively, we’re finding every way to score, but defensively, we need to step it up and obviously, you can’t win without defense,” said senior and captain Tyler Coppin-Carter.

The team faces a list of tough schools, which includes Taft High School, Price, which is a perennial state contender, Dominguez, St. Barnard’s, and high-level

opponents at the Las Vegas tournament in December.

“I hope that we have done enough in the preseason to start strong and end up finishing strong,” said Hamilton.

When asked about conditioning and how they were preparing for the regular season, Hamilton had one thing to say, “I believe there are three parts to this, the first is the coaching part, which is what I do, second, is the preparation, which is what [strength and conditioning coach Rob Wright] does, and third, third is what they do out on the court.

startinglineup ProJECTED Point Guard

Austin Butler Shooting Guard

Astin Beal Small Forward

Tyler Coppin-Carter Power Forward

Chase Holliday Center

Reid Womack

girls basketball MeherSingh ‘14 features editor Stronger. Faster. Older. Wiser. The girls basketball team is fired up and ready to go for the start of the season on November 29 after training in fall league basketball.

Expectations have been raised due to last year’s winning season with a league record of 6-4 and an overall record of 11-9, but the team is determined to make a deeper playoff run after being ousted by Templeton n the first round of the 2012 playoffs.

“I think we should be a top contender and be first place in league. I like to set the standards high because I think the girls are capable of playing at that level,” said head coach Marie Philman.

Philman said the maturation of the returning members has been exemplified during fall league and will be key in their success.

“People just look a little bit wiser on the court. That’s the goal, training one of your players so by the time they get to their junior year they understand what is coming out of your mouth, so it’s not foreign when I am speaking to them and coaching them,” said Philman.

Last season’s top scorer, sophomore Leah Purvis (19.3 ppg) has continued to progress due to elite camps and on traveling teams over the summer, Purvis worked on expanding her range beyond the three-point line as well as becoming a more vocal leader for the team.

“Since everyone except the freshman are returning, I think we’re all improving individually in specific areas, but that we are all coming together as a team, which is very important,” said Purvis. “I’m really excited

“I think we should be a top contender and be first place in league. I like to set the standards high because I think the girls are capable of playing at that level.”

Marie Philman

Coach

for this season and with all our new pieces and returning veterans, I can see us doing really well this season.”

With five freshman on board, Philman believes there will be more flexibility in positioning and an extra spark to the team.

“I’ve coached these girls in Middle School and they are very aggressive,” said Philman.

In addition, the team is excited to regain the leadership of senior captain Marlen Grussi, who was out last season due to a knee injury.

According to Philman, he team hopes to entertain audiences with a vibe of even more ferociousness and vigor.

“For the students that were able to see that Viewpoint game last year with the buzzer beater by Leah I think we are going to have a lot more exciting games because we are going to have a lot more players with confidence,” said Philman. “It’s going to be a whole new level of intensity and they are going to see a lot of girls passionate and wanting to win.”

27 tuesday, november 6, 2012

news opinion features focus arts & entertainment sports ALEXFATYKHOV ‘13

Getting fit with Fatykhov

B

ody image. Body image is a large source of confidence for many people, but how hard is it to achieve that desired body image? I can’t really understand the female mindset, but after much research and interviewing, I was able to find out the preferred male body image.

Then I thought, “Why don’t most guys look like this?” So I decided to go on a quest to gain muscle mass.

With the professional guidance of Mr.Wright, I got started by working out each day after school for two hours. The workout was geared to a rep count of four sets of 8-10 reps to get the muscles working and in pain.

Mr. Wright explained that this is the most effective way to work your muscles if you’re striving for muscle growth.”

After a week of working out, I am very sleepy and sore. Also famished, so kind of like a zombie.

I got Adrian to work out with me each day because it would have been just too boring alone plus its really funny to see a golfer work out. But that didn’t help the initial excitement from wearing off and I just think that working out sucks.

Mr. Wright keeps saying that real workouts suck, but eventually I will get used to it. That eventually seems very far away.

Two weeks in, I am tired of smelling like sweat after each school day. Starting to have thoughts about quitting this silly idea, but Adrian is forcing me to come up with him because he likes getting all those compliments about his arms; even though, I haven’t seen a change. Also sleeping much more than I used to, so not much free

time on the weekends. Its a hard choice between staying all warm and cuddled up under a blanket vs getting up for any other activity.

Almost decided not to go take the ACT because of this.

Three weeks in, I’m getting used to this workout and it’s not so bad. I like the soreness that comes with working out and I’m finally able to make the protein shakes taste good. Seriously the banana, peanut butter shake is delicious.

Plus eating whatever I want and however much I want is pretty nice. The downer in this situation are the random muscle cramps I get. It has been a large distraction because whenever I’m taking a test and my leg just randomly tenses up in pain. Plus I make this really weird face.

Four weeks in, I’m able to work out and keep up with Coach Pierce, but only with much lighter weights.

Well I started off with a lean, sexy 158 pounds. I was underweight for my BMI, but that has been the trend throughout my high school life. I ended with 168.

Not exactly the amount I wanted to gain, but still pretty nice. Would I do this again? I’m not sure. Im not complaining about the weight I gained. I feel and perform much stronger and better than I have

before, but the time and effort spent was astronomical.

The workouts made me tired for class and took away from homework time.

Body image is hard to both get and maintain; however, I think it pays off in the end. I was simply able to do much more with my fitter self.

Carrying the groceries from the car to the fridge took less trips, carrying heavy things did not leave me breathless, and I was able to eat almost anything I wanted.

bythenumbers STRENGTH IN STATISTICS

Before

After

Body Weight

158 pounds

168 pounds

Body Fat Percentage

14%

15.8%

sports 28

tuesday, november 6, 2012 |

GO O just

ver the summer, senior Nick Martin might have trained with an Olympic running coach.

“I’m actually not allowed to tell you. He didn’t tell me his name,” said the two-time Liberty League cross country MVP. What can he say about last summer?

“In the beginning, I built a base. That got me in good shape for cross country. Then I started these [secret] workouts at the UCLA track for speed.”

Over his four-year career, Martin won two league MVPs, four first team All-Liberty League awards, a team-wide MVP award, and also broke the school record at the Mt. Sac course. As a sophomore. By 30 seconds.

“In previous years, I really just didn’t train at all over the summer,” he said. “I trained maybe once or twice a week. Even during the season I would miss weekend workouts and just go through the motions.

“That’s where there’s been a big change, I’ve been motivated,” he continued. “This is my last year.

I need to perform.”

At the beginning of the summer, the Griffin captain ran four to five times a week and went to the gym to build that “base.” Then, he worked on 400and 800-meter sprints at UCLA; with or without Olympic athletes, it cannot be said. That program morphed into two-a-days and 60-plus mile weeks with zero days off as the season drew nearer.

“Now it’s time to actually make something. It’s time to make the most out of [my potential],” he realized before summer.

As the starting line hurries towards him on race day, his focus intensifies.

“On the bus ride there, I’m usually relaxing and being calm, visualizing the race.”

At the course, Martin runs a two-mile warmup, stretches, and runs a few sprints at the starting line.

“Right before the race, I tell myself to stay calm, stay relaxed.”

A single gunshot, and he’s off. As other runners’ minds stray away from the race, Martin remains perpetually focused.

“In the first mile, I like to control my breathing and get into a solid tempo, a rhythm. I know if I establish a good rhythm at first, I’ll be solid.”

That’s the easy part.

“The second mile, I’ll start breathing harder and it’ll start getting a little harder than the start.

I’ll start wanting to finish, and that’s when the pain starts kicking in a little more,” he said.

Spectators crowd the second half of courses, shouting words of encouragement to help the runners work through the pain.

“When someone says ‘half way done,’ I tell myself ‘you just have to do the same thing you just did, and that wasn’t that hard. Just do it again,’” said Martin of the encouragement.

What does halfway done mean for Martin?

Going all out up and down hills for a mile and a half, finishing half his race before the rest of the top

bythenumbers Best Races

15:36

2011 CIF Prelims at Mt. Sac

16:19

School recordbreaking race at the Mt. Sac Invitational in 2009

JackRose ‘13

10 Liberty League runners. Then, the pain.

“Your breathing heightens, your legs get a little sore, then towards the end of the race, its really just about mental strength and being really relaxed,” said Martin.

As captain, Martin is responsible for his team. He tells them to stay composed through the end of the race, to keep a good breathing pattern, and to make sure not to tighten up.

“Once you tighten up, your breathing goes and then you’ll start cramping,” he said. “[Staying relaxed] allows for a good kick and a good finish.”

If it’s a league meet, he’s coming in first. A healthy Martin has not lost a league race since his sophomore year.

Invitational meets are a little different, and this season’s Bell-Jeff Invitational brings to mind a famous Steve Prefontaine quote: “Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it,” proclaimed the former Oregon cross country star.

At the September 22nd invitational, Martin finished second behind Maranatha runner Kyle Bueckert, who was in need of medical attention after pushing so hard to win the race over Martin.

Other than hospitalizing his opponents, Martin’s focus heightens for invitational races, due to the tougher competition and greater visibility for college coaches.

“Those races are always the most fun,” explains Martin. “Running with all those really fast kids, picking kids and sticking with them, it’s just a great atmosphere at invitationals.”

Martin hopes his high school success will lead to college running.

“I’ve been recruited by the University of San Diego (USD), where my brother [Neil Martin ’11] is running,” he said. “That’s probably one of my top choices and the coach would like me to commit as early as possible, as in right now.”

Despite letters of interest from UCLA and Vanderbilt and other interest from Division III schools, USD is the only Division I school to offer him a spot on the team.

Martin wants to run in college not only for the application boost and the fitness but also to continue the familiar lifestyle running has built for him.

“Long runs, I’ve noticed, are time for myself, time when I can think and reflect on things in my life. It’s really relaxing to me,” he explained.

Aside from the calming and relaxing nature of the sport, running has allowed Martin to build a close friendship with senior Tucker Higgins, a teammate since 2007.

“Nick and I put ourselves through hell together, almost every day,” said Higgins. “And when you put yourself through hell with another person, you know that they’ll stick with you in good or bad. Nick and I have been doing that since seventh grade.”

Since middle school, Martin and Higgins have been the only constants in their respective careers.

With three different coaches in six years, the friends have always been right there next to each other, running harder and harder.

“The seriousness and the commitment that you see when he’s running really brings out the honesty both that he has to himself and that he has to his training,” said Higgins.

Martin agrees.

“Running is something I don’t joke around during. When I see people running in races and smiling for pictures I don’t think that’s funny at all.

I think it’s the time to be serious and really give it your all.”

How else do you end up training with Olympians?

Jack Rose The Student Voice

What really motivates Nick Martin?

“I watch a lot of motivational videos on YouTube.”

One video, which he shared with his team via Facebook, says “There is a difference between pain and uncomfortable.”

“Uncomfortable is when your mind quits before your body, and pain is when your body quits,” said Martin. “You have to get to that point where you’re mentally strong enough to go through it but your body can’t go any further.”

“Make pain your friend, Nick, and you’ll never be alone,” jokes senior Tucker Higgins, a friend and teammate of Martin.