April 2014 Issue

SPORTS FEATURE Can you keep a secret?

Studies reveal it’s harder than you think —Page 5

OPINION ENTERTAINMENT

FEATURE SPORTS Diving returns to the pool after budget cuts —Page 7

Fans react to the shocking season finale of HIMYM —Page 6

The Bruin Voice

Volume 23, Issue 6

Bear Creek High School, Stockton, California

April 25, 2014

Teacher assaulted in classroom Classmates alerted to fight via social media; student arrested

A night to remember

By JESSICA NGUYEN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

On April 5, senior Cecilia Berna, along with many other Bear Creek students and staff members, spent her Saturday night at the Clarion Inn and Suites while having the time of her life.

Berna hosted a free prom for students with special needs from Bear Creek, Lincoln, Tokay and Plaza Robles high schools. For her senior project, she wanted to throw a prom after taking a Regional Occupational Program class where she worked with Bear Creek’s special needs students.

“Working with them last year really touched my heart and I got really attached to them,” Berna said. “I would read to them, go over worksheets, answer questions, do math problems or play bingo with them.

“I think society really overlooks them, and they don’t get what we get and experience the things we do,” Berna added.

“They’re really smart.”

The prom featured everything a typical prom would have: decorations, food, beverages, a photograph booth, dance floor, DJ and even a prom court.

Raffle tickets were also randomly drawn for prizes.

“I felt that if the kids were seeing that the [prom court] was receiving crowns and roses, they would think they’re not getting anything,” Berna said. “So I thought about doing raffle prizes so that no one would feel left out.”

In order to fund the prom event, Berna had a car wash fundraiser in December and raised about $600 dollars. An

anonymous donor also donated $1,500 toward Berna’s senior project.

Berna had to meticulously plan and search for a proper dance hall for the prom to take place.

“My mom really helped me,” Berna said. “[She] helped me get all my prom decorations and fundraise.”

Overall, about 80 people attended. Senior Kionna Gray attended the prom along with 20 other Bear Creek students.

“I [felt] very happy,” Gray said. “I [was] in a good mood. I enjoyed dancing with my sister.

I [also] got three gift cards.”

Senior classmate Edward Paez also enjoyed the experience.

“I danced to the music,” Paez said. “I was having a good time. I danced with my date. It was good.”

Berna hopes to pass the tradition on of hosting a prom for kids with special needs each year. Her brother has already agreed to take on the challenge for his senior project.

“The kids who attended had a blast,” special needs teacher Jeff Pepper said. “They enjoyed hanging out and dancing with the other students who came.

It was really impressive to see them all dressed up and enjoying themselves.”

Although planning the prom was stressful for Berna, she says it was “the highlight” of her high school years.

“The person [Tyler] who asked me to be his prom date is usually in a wheelchair,” Berna said. “His mom told me ‘I’ve never seen Tyler get up from his wheelchair to dance before.

I love it.’”

By JACOB WILLIAMS OPINION EDITOR

PHOTOS BY JESSICA NGUYEN

A special night: The students pose for the camera to commemorate the joyous occassion. Bear Creek senior Kionna Gray (above) is crowned Prom Princess.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo: The ‘Fairy Prommother’

By JASMINE SANTOS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Fairy Godmothers may not exist, but Stockton has its very own Fairy Prommother.

Jacqueline Faylor, a hair stylist at Southern Exposure, started a grassroots program to help students who may not have sufficient funds to pay for the expenses of prom.

Faylor began the program because she wanted more opportunities to help beautify girls and boost their confidence. She and a few of her friends came together to create the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo program that offers free prom dresses, formal hair styling, make up and manicures to selected qualifying students.

Faylor prides the program in not only aiding girls, but boys as well. The Stockton based program is the first program of its sort in the nation that offers aid to boys. Faylor has made arrangements with Formal Connections as well as other private sponsors to help fund the program.

“It’s a lot of work,” Faylor said, “but it’s really rewarding.”

Students who are unable to go to prom because of financial reasons are the program’s target recipients. High school counselors at Chavez, Stagg, St. Mary’s, Lincoln and Bear

Creek high schools choose the students to be awarded the aid from the program.

Avid teacher Lisa Deeter was contacted by Faylor to be the advocate of the program for the Bear Creek counselors.

“She (Faylor) called me, and I forwarded an email to all counselors in Bear Creek, and the counselors refer students back to me and then I contact her,” Deeter said. “I really like the program because prom is like a rite of passage and some students who truly want to go to prom decide not to go because it’s too expensive.”

The program offers trial runs of hair and makeup as well as a dress adoption day.

The boys are given free tuxedo rentals.

Deeter estimates that five girls and two boys from BC were chosen to receive the award. A few of the chosen recipients are seniors Saemoni Butler, Alyda Reyes, and Rochele Powell.

“I’m really excited and really grateful for it,” Butler said.

“My mom and I were stressing about how to get my hair and make up done, but with this, I didn’t need to worry about it.”

The program is in its third year and Faylor would like to have big fundraising event to be able to branch out to more schools and help more students.

Students surprised by arrest of Senator Leland Yee

By ZACHARY DENNEY

The California State Senate has been experiencing a corruption and bribery crisis since the beginning of 2014, with the arrest of Senator Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood) for voter fraud and lying Students expressed shock and dismay at learning that Senator about his residence and Senator Ron Calderon (D-Montebello) for Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) was arrested on corruption and gun bribery and corruption charges. On March 26, the Federal Bureau trafficking charges on March 26. The dismissed senator’s arrest of Investigation searched the Sacramento and San Francisco offices brought surprise to some Bear of Yee and arrested the senator on Creek students who protested a six counts of depriving the public district social media policy back of honest services and one count ee was a champion for student press in August. of conspiracy to traffic guns withrights, authoring SB 1370, a bill that protects “We actually received backout a license. Yee was arrested advisers from retaliation when they support ing from Senator Yee during the alongside reputed San Francisco their students’ rights to free speech. He also protest,” junior Hannah Jobrack gangster Raymond “Shrimp Boy” authored bills on gun control and criminalsaid. Jobrack was referring to Chow and charges were brought comments Yee made to “The Reupon 29 people in total. ization of violent video game sales to micord” on August 6, 2013.

Each corruption count is nors.

In his comments to “The punishable by up to 20 years in Record” Yee said, “While the federal prison and a fine of up to problem of cyber-bullying must $250,000, while the gun-traffickbe addressed, we must do so in a focused manner. The policy of pun- ing count is punishable by up to five years and $250,000. ishing students for saying anything deemed to be ‘inappropriate’ goes Yee began his political life as a member and president of the too far in restricting student speech. Policies regarding cyberbullying San Francisco Unified School District board. He joined the Board of must be carefully and specifically written, and I encourage the Lodi Supervisors of the City of San Francisco in 1997, where he remained Unified School District to take a more judicious approach.” until 2002, when he was elected to the California State Assembly. Yee The district ultimately rescinded the contract. has represented the 8th State Senate district, which encompasses the “It certainly took us all by surprise,” Jobrack said, referring to the arrest charges.

— See SENATOR YEE ARREST Page 3 ONLINE EDITOR

Y

Biology teacher Jerry Myers was assaulted by a student in his classroom on April 4, according to an e-mail sent to staff by Principal Bill Atterberry on April 7.

The assault allegedly stemmed from an earlier incident when Myers called the student “a bitch,” which was confirmed by students in the class. Myers declined to comment on this accusation.

Sophomore Rekyra Brown, a student of Myers’, said that tension between the student and Myers had been steadily building for weeks preceding the incident. Brown said that on the day prior to the attack, Myers warned his student not to attend class the next day but that she arrived anyway.

“When she got there he was waiting with a referral,” Brown said. “She could have just taken it.”

Brown expressed disappointment in the actions and reactions of both Myers and the student.

“I was disappointed in both of them,” Brown said. “I honestly think that you shouldn’t argue with a teacher if he or she tells you to do something, and you shouldn’t call a student a b-word.”

Like Brown, sophomore Dajhane Daniels says she was dumbfounded.

“I was just shocked, I didn’t have anything to say,” Daniels said.

“I never would have thought Mr. Myers would say anything like that because he seems so nice. I knew she was going to get mad or go off like that, but I didn’t know Mr. Myers was going to say anything. I was just really shocked.”

Both students confirmed that Myers and his attacker frequently argued in class.

While she was leaving campus, senior Thuy Ngo witnessed the student being arrested on the corner of Whistler and Thornton.

“I saw the girl when she was fighting Mr. Myers at his classroom and I went to the parking lot to drop off a friend,” Ngo said.

“When I was pulling out from the parking lot on Whistler, I saw the girl again and took a picture of her just to post it on Twitter. Right after I took the photo, a cop car pulled up and the police officer went around the car and escorted her into the backseat.”

Myers declined to comment on the incident, citing legal concerns.

“Maybe I can talk more about this next year,” Myers said. “But anything I say can and will be used against me in court. That’s one of the quirks of our legal system. I can’t say any more.”

Witnesses to the attack claim that several students accompanied the student as she entered Myers’ room after school hours, where students proceeded to use their phones to film the incident.

Atterberry’s e-mail to staff confirmed that those who chose to

T he administration acted swiftly, identify-

ing as many students from the video as possible and disciplining them ‘as harsh[ly] as ed code permits.’

- EMAIL FROM PRINCIPAL BILL ATTERBERRY

be spectators would also be subject to disciplinary action.

The administration acted swiftly, identifying as many students from the video as possible and disciplining them “as harsh[ly] as ed code permits,” Atterberry said in the e-mail. Atterberry also told staff that “safety is our primary concern” and urged teachers to keep their doors locked at all times.

Campus supervisor Don Tirapelli said that rumors of a fight had been circulating on social media, resulting in the quick response by administrators.

“Mr. Dosty was already in the area, near the cardio room,” Tirapelli said. “When we saw a group of students moving en masse toward the area, we thought it was a regular student fight.”

The students who participated as fighters and spectators received notifications about the incident via social media websites.

Social media continues to be an issue for Bear Creek’s administration attempting to control violence on campus.

Several months ago, a fight between two female students in the attendance office that occurred during the morning announcements was videotaped and posted on Facebook and Twitter, and was even carried by Best Vines.

Within seconds of the fight’s end in which students could hear yelling and commotion on the school intercom before the announcements were shut off, students all over campus were rapidly exchanging texts and Twitter updates, and infuriating their teachers because whole classes began to gather around one student’s phone to watch the fight.

“Students are to report fights or stay out of the way and let the staff handle it, not record it or put it on YouTube or Facebook, where it can be broadcast over the page, because there is a confidentiality issue that we have to face,” Assistant Principal Dennis To said.

“We investigate it, and then we try and alleviate that problem as best we can,” To said. “We find out who it is, and we would need to confiscate the cell phone or camera and ask them to erase the video, and if they’ve already posted it, ask them to delete it.”

To further stated that teachers are discouraged from ever engaging in physical confrontations with students.

“If a student comes at a teacher, a teacher’s response is just to get them out [of the classroom],” To said. “We’ll bring over campus security and administrators to help with the situation. They’re definitely not advised to get into a scuffle with kids.”

2

NEWS

THE BRUIN VOICE

APRIL 25, 2014

Fee waivers often leave out middle class families

By JASMINE SANTOS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

College applications, SATs, ACTs, and AP tests are all requirements, more or less, to get into a good college. All of them have one thing in common: payment. With all the expenses high school students face, especially seniors, it’s a wonder how students are able to afford even getting accepted into college, much less paying for college.

For free or reduced lunch at Bear Creek, qualifying households must have yearly incomes lower than $21,257 for a household size of one (for each additional household member, add $7,437). Students who receive free or reduced lunch are also eligible for fee waivers for the AP test, the SATs, the ACTs, as well as some college applications.

This fee waiver system is beneficial for students who qualify, but middle class income students who make “just enough” money above the cut off get the short end of the stick.

Some students say that the system

the school uses to determine whether a student is eligible for free or reduced lunch needs to scrutinize applications more thoroughly.

“Some people who can actually afford it (paying for fees) get free or reduced lunch,” senior Carina Hagele said. “They don’t have the right to lie about their family’s income to do that.”

Sharing the same sentiment, senior Cameron Alcoriza says that the school does not properly check if the applicants are being truthful and that it is unfair for students who do not lie about their family’s income.

“Everyone pretty much has to take and pay for those tests to get into college, not to mention the college applications average about $60 each, so there’s really no way out for middle class income students who want to go to college,” Alcoriza said. “Either you pay in full, or you lie to pay less.”

Counseling secretary Chris Morotti is in charge of AP testing at Bear Creek.

She handles the payments and the registration for the students’ tests.

“I don’t think it’s fair when I see a

student pay $25 for five AP tests, and then another student, who couldn’t afford multiple tests either, pays close to $500,” Morotti said. “There is a reduced fee for middle class income students at the federal level, but since the school uses the state’s guidelines, I’ve never seen a student get the middle reduced fee.”

EL Resource teacher Nancy Figueroa feels strongly about having

“I think the event was successful because it informed people how they could take part in conserving the natural resources and improving the environment,” L.I.F.E. Club member Golden Nguyen, a junior, said. “I had a good experience, and I learned a lot about how to take care of Earth.”

At the beginning of the school year AP U.S. History teacher and L.I.F.E. club advisor Beth Oesterman was received grant of $250. A requirement of the grant was to present how the club used the money in the adopt-a-green space project at Earth Day. The members of L.I.F.E. Club displayed a photo book showing the growth of the adopt-a-green space project from the start of the campus renovation, to its present state “We presented what we did with the adopt-a-green space project and

what we were able to achieve with the money we received from the grant,” L.I.F.E. Club coordinator Sophaline Chuong, a senior, said.

A total of 255 students, 17 teachers and staff, the Lodi Garden Society President, and a UC master gardener were involved with the adopt-a-green space event on March 18 and 19.

“I was overwhelmed by the high turnout and support we received during the two days of the campus clean-up and beautification,” Oesterman said. “I think the numbers speak for themselves.”

The L.I.F.E. Club earned a congressional recognition certificate from Congressman Jerry McNerney.

After months of hard work pulling weeds and planting bushes, the Red Cross club earned the first place $100 prize; the Art club earned $75 for second place.

priority in receiving financial aid from the government, but members of other income levels struggle with finances as well and need just as much help.

“It’s just really not fair,” Figueroa said, “my family may be making more than low income families but that doesn’t mean that we can afford it.”

Recently, there have been measures to give aid to middle class income students. The 2013-2014 California

“I don’t think it’s fair when I see a student pay $25 for five AP tests, and then another student, who couldn’t afford multiple tests either, pays close to $500.

”

- COUNSELING SECRETARY CHRIS MOROTTI aid for students with different levels of income. Her daughter, a senior at Lodi High, went through the same difficulties that other middle class students had with paying for all the expenses of senior year.

Figueroa understands that low income students should have the first

Budget Act passed the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) as a law to provide financial aid to UC or CSU students for the 2014-2015 school year.

The eligibility requirements for MCS include household incomes not exceeding $150,000, U.S. citizenship, compliance with all Selective Service

registration requirements, not being incarcerated, not being in default on any student loan, exempt from paying nonresident tuition, completing the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application, and maintaining satisfactory academic progress while in college.

On July 1, the UC and CSU campuses are required to submit an Enrollment File to the California Student Aid Commission with student information that will be used to determine a potential MCS award and to verify the eligibility of applicants.

The Commission will calculate the award amount for each student, and any changes to the financial situation of the student that may alter the award would have to be reported to the Commission.

The calculations will then be used by the UC or CSU campuses to request funds for students.

“There should be more things like this (the MCS) for students,” Figueroa said. “Everyone needs help to pay for these things because college is really so expensive.”

Red Cross Club wins Adopt-a-Green Space contest

By BRIANNA AZNAR STAFF WRITER

Bear Creek’s L.I.F.E. club was recognized for its efforts in beautifying the campus with the adopt-a-green space project at the 26th annual Earth Day held on April 6.

At the Earth Day event multiple schools and clubs participated in promoting the importance of caring for the Earth and its natural resources. The purpose of it is to achieve its mission of education, recycling, and conserving.

Student volunteers helped with educational activities that informed participants of the value of Earth.

“Most activities revolved around children,” Red Cross president Anthony Tran, a senior, said. “It was a successful event with the number of volunteers and people that showed up.”

PHOTOS BY SEE VANG AND JASMINE SANTOS

Celebrating Earth Day: The Bear Creek Taiko group performs for Earth Day (top). Sophomore Maxim Chiao (bottom) explains the differences in plastic waste material and ways to recycle.

PHOTOS BY ESTHER CHO

Fruits of Labor: (left to right) The Red Cross Club and the Art Club are first and second place winners respectively of the school wide competition among clubs in keeping the best Green Space throughout the duration of the year. The Red Cross Club will receive $100 and the Art Club will receive $75 for a job well done.

PHOTO BY ESTHER CHO

Hard at work: Seniors Changsen Sim and Lisa Nguyen give up their free time after a minimum day to volunteer for their club and beautify their space.

Daylight Saving Time benefits questioned

By JOHN WEI

GRAPHICS EDITOR

On March 9, millions of people in the U.S. participated in an event known as “spring forward,” setting their clocks an hour ahead due to the one-hour shift from standard time to daylight saving time (DST).

For many, the loss of an hour of sleep results in waking up the next day tired and struggling to adjust for the next one to two weeks, as well as having to reset clocks around the house. “[DST] is the evillest thing invented,” sophomore Robbie Sollie said. “It’s a pain to get up that morning.”

Daylight saving time was originally conceived to conserve energy by reducing the need for lighting at night during World War I by saving fuel. DST was then abolished until the need for it arose again in World War II, where the U.S. government allowed individual states and counties to decide whether or not they would use DST, as well as when it would be implemented in their respective territories.

Needless to say, this policy wrought havoc on interstate transportation and other time-sensitive businesses, prompting Congress to pass the Uniform Time Act in 1966, which made all states,

except ones that passed state legislation regarding use of DST, follow a uniform time shift. The date for implementing the time shift has changed several times to the current date of the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November.

The implementation of DST, meant to conserve energy, actually works against this goal. Matthew Kotchen, a professor of economics at Yale, collected data from over 200,000 residences in Indiana and published the results in his paper “Does Daylight Saving Time Save Energy?” He found that DST actually resulted in a onepercent increase in residential energy consumption, with greater consumption in the autumn months due to possible increases in activity of high-energy consuming appliances in homes, such as air conditioning and television.

Several states in the U.S. have attempted to end the enfocement of DST, but legislators tended to vote against such proposals, citing time discrepancy issues with neighboring states and disruption of time zones.

To date, only Arizona and Hawaii are exempt from DST. In addition to the loss in energy efficiency, many also argue that the loss of an hour of sleep during the time shift in spring poses potential health risks for

one to two weeks following the shift.

Lost sleep is known to directly affect areas of cognitive function, decreasing motor function, memory, and contributing to poor mood. These factors can increase the chances of having a traffic accident, being unable to recall particular details, and decreases overall productivity. An estimated loss of $434 million in productivity for 2010 was measured by research firm Chmura Economics and Analysis.

At Bear Creek, the number of tardies rose from 261 on the week of March 3, to 411 on the week of March 10, following the shift from standard time to DST, a 57 percent increase attributable to the disruption of many students’ sleep schedules by the shift.

However, DST does have its benefits. By pushing forward the clock an hour, drivers and others on the road can enjoy an extra hour of sunlight, resulting in fewer accidents during the duration of DST. “I think I favor [DST],” senior Khiet Truong said. “It lets me see the road ahead when it’s dark later in the day.”

Other students simply do not care for DST too much.

“I don’t really care either way, unless I forget to set my clocks,” sophomore Aleksandr La Forge said.

NEWS

THE BRUIN VOICE

APRIL 25, 2014

3

Audrie’s Law would make sexting a felony Senate bill also allows juveniles to be tried as adults

By AMBER BUHAGIAR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

For teens, parties are a chance to meet new people, catch up with friends, and dance to upbeat music. Innocent, right? Not when drugs and alcohol parade the scene.

Senator Jim Beal recently introduced Senate Bill 838, also known as Audrie’s law. The bill reads that juveniles who sexually assault unconscious individuals will be charged as adults. In addition, the legislation would make it a felony to send and share sexual photos of minors on social media or text messaging in order to harass them.

“How disgusting!” counselor Eddie Jackson said. “I don’t think it’s [Audrie’s law] unfair because the victim did not give their consent. It’s their just desert.”

The law was created in reference to Audrie Pott, a Saratoga High School sophomore who was sexually assaulted in September 2012. Passed out at a friend’s house after consuming alcohol, she woke up unclothed and found her body marked with cruel comments scribbled in Sharpie. After discovering that pictures and videos of the assault had been shared via text messaging, Pott committed suicide.

“I think if alcohol is involved, the individuals do bear some responsibility for their choices,” senior Samantha Gritz said. “But that doesn’t mean they deserve to be sexually assaulted. They were irresponsible, but that doesn’t mean they should have something terrible happen to them.”

According to a study conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, researchers found that approximately one-half of all sexual assault victims report that they were

drinking alcohol at the time of the assault. Similarly, approximately one-half of all sexual assaults have been committed by men who were under the influence of alcohol.

“I believe girls should understand that the risks of getting sexually assaulted are present when

getting drunk at a party, especially if a friend isn’t there to supervise,” senior John Nguyen said.

Because minors will be charged as adults, judges have the option to publicly disclose names of perpetrators and list them as sexual offenders.

“I believe that in serious crimes such as sexu-

al assault, minors being tried as an adult is justifiable,” Nguyen said. “Minors are tried as adults for murder. It’s not the same crime but the victim’s family will still be greatly emotionally affected.”

Nguyen also noted that a felony conviction for those who post or send graphic images is a fair punishment.

On the other hand, freshman Carlos Rebolledo says that a felony is too harsh. Instead, he says that a large fine issued to the perpetrator is a better compromise.

Studies conducted by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy found that 20 percent of teens have sent or posted semi-nude videos and or pictures of themselves. In fact, about 39 percent of teen boys and 38 percent of teen girls say they have had sexually suggestive text messages or emails shared with them. Similarly, 25 percent of teen girls and 33 percent of teen boys say that they have had nude or semi-nude photos—originally meant for someone else—shared with them.

Opponents of the bill also point at the the repercussions for juveniles who are convicted and publicly defamed when they did not commit the crime. In the same way the victim will be emotionally and mentally damaged, a juvenile who is let off will be harmed in the same way.

“I think if the person is innocent it could be harmful,” Gritz said. “But hopefully the justice system will be competent enough to not accuse and try innocent people.”

“I think we need to be realistic,” Jackson said.

“Kids are silly at this age. I think as adults, we need to do a better job of explaining to students the ramifications of their actions.”

Whether the bill will be passed into law will be determined by legislators in the next year.

Oesterman trades Bruin hat for Lodi flame Students say they will miss her engaging APUSH lectures

By TOM VO

STAFF WRITER

With the 2013-2014 school year coming to a close, next school year will hold many changes for Bear Creek students. One of these changes will include the departure of Beth Oesterman, Bear Creek’s AP United States History (APUSH) and CP World History teacher as well as the advisor of L.I.F.E club.

“This was my first teaching job and I have worked at Bear Creek for 15 years,” Oesterman said. “I have been teaching APUSH for 10 years and have been the L.I.F.E. club adviser for seven years...assistant coach for cross country and track for 5 years...and adviser for the Kababayan Club for three years when I first started teaching.”

Oesterman says she is leaving for personal reasons and convenience.

“I live about four minutes from Lo-

di High and my husband works at Lodi High as well,” Oesterman said. “But the main reason I have made the decision to transfer is because of my two young daughters, Cami and Chloe, who are ages nine and four respectively. As they grow older I would like to be more involved in their after school activities, and I think that it will be an asset to teach in the same community I live in.”

Students were both saddened and surprised by this news because they have grown accustomed to Oesterman’s friendly and caring presence on campus. However they also respect her decision.

“I was absolutely shocked when I found out about it,” junior May Simpson said. “I couldn’t believe it at first

because everyone knew how much she loved BC and its students, but it’s understandable and great that her daughters come first.”

As Bear Creek’s sole Advanced

career,” Simpson said. “Her lectures are informative, interesting, and easy to understand. It’s obvious that she puts her best efforts in them...she’s really funny and I love her perceptiveness and attitude — honest, considerate, and righteous.”

Oesterman dedicated her have made the detime after school by organizcision to transfer... being tutorials for students to atcause of my two young tend. There, students had the daughters Cami and opportunity to ask questions Chloe. or catch up on assignments if they were behind.

- AP U.S. HISTORY TEACHER “When I had Mrs. OesterBETH OESTERMAN man last year, she would always go over her lectures so Placement United States history teach- that every student would understand er, Oesterman stressed the importance the material before moving on,” senior of success in the class in order to do Benito Ornelas-Paleaz said. “Her afterwell on the AP exam. school tutorial sessions were also very “Mrs. Oesterman is one of the best helpful before exams and extra help if it teachers I’ve ever had in my academic was necessary.”

“I

”

With Oesterman’s departure established, there is only one question left behind: who will replace Oesterman as Bear Creek’s AP United States History teacher?

“I am not sure who will be hired as the new APUSH teacher for next year,” Oesterman said. “My only advice is to encourage them to set high standards for their students and to follow those same standards themselves.”

Along with some advice for the next APUSH teacher, Oesterman shares some words of wisdom for students to take to heart.

“To students, I advise them to take on those opportunities, to challenge themselves and to involve themselves in a positive activity on campus,” Oesterman said. “We never know what our students are capable of until they are given an opportunity to showcase their talents and interests.”

Teens enticed by e-cigarettes; FDA slow to regulate product

By AMBER BUHAGIAR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Teenagers’ shopping lists often consist of the raved about smartphone, brand new running shoes… and cigarettes?

The small price tag may be to blame.

A recent article in “The Record” states that San Joaquin County has the lowest cigarette price at $3.77 per pack in California. At more than 50¢ lower than the average cost of one pack, many are wondering if the low cost makes cigarettes more accessible, especially to teens.

“Kids that want cigarettes will buy them at any price if they have the opportunity,” counselor Ivan Tunnell said. “No matter the price on cigarettes, I think enforcing the minimum age requirement is where the focus should be.”

Although the low price may

make it easier for individuals to purchase cigarettes, a new trend toward tobacco-free e-cigarettes has become popular among teenagers.

E-cigarettes are battery operated devices bearing the resemblance of conventional cigarettes, but they do not burn tobacco. Rather, they deliver a vapor containing nicotine, flavor, and other chemicals. A starter kit usually includes two e-cigarettes, extra batteries, and various nicotine cartridges.

Originally, the e-cigarettes were marketed to the public as a way for individuals to wean off conventional cigarettes. But more often than not, individuals smoke them recreationally.

“It sounds like a less harmful substitute for cigarettes,” Ivan Tunnell said, “but I’m concerned there may be less of a stigma attached to smoking.”

According to an article in

“The Los Angeles Times,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “estimates that 10 percent of American high school students and nearly 3 percent of middle school students used e-cigarettes in 2012.”

In fact, a recent survey conducted by the CDC found that about four in five middle school students who reported using e-cigarettes said they tried conventional cigarettes.

Opponents are concerned because the e-liquids are not yet regulated by federal authorities, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The debate over the FDA regulations have led many to question the efficacy of selling these cigarettes to minors and many are saying they should be banned.

Some teens disagree.

“I think e-cigarettes should not be banned,” junior Brianna Hollenbeck said. “It [e-ciga-

SENATOR YEE ARREST: from page 1 western part of San Francisco and a portion of San Mateo County, since 2006.

During his years in the state legislature, Yee was a champion for student press rights, authoring SB1370, a bill that protects advisers from retaliation when they support their students’ rights to free speech. He also authored bills on gun control and criminalization of violent video game sales to minors. In his 12 years in Sacramento, Yee authored 82 bills, which were signed into law. For his views on gun control, Yee received death threats from a pro-gun rights activist in 2013.

Perhaps one of the more surprising aspects of the senator’s arrest is that as a strong supporter of gun control legislation, Yee was arrested on charges of trafficking firearms from an Islamist militant group in the southern Philippines through a port in New Jersey.

In a 137 page criminal complaint that totaled a combined 50 charges, filed by the United States District Court, Northern District of California on March 24, it is alleged that Yee met with arms dealers in San Francisco restaurants, and that he was afraid of being caught with “dirty money” in his campaign for the California Secretary of State in November.

On March 28, the leadership and members of the California State Senate voted to suspend Yee, Calderon and Wright. Yee has pleaded not guilty to the charges and along with the other suspended senators, continues to collect his annual $90,526 salary while awaiting trial.

rettes] will help people get over their addiction. All the people I know have used e-cigarettes to stop smoking.”

The CDC claims that the liquid nicotine may cause damage to body parts, specifically eyes and skin. In February 2014, the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality report found that common side effects reported to poison control centers included “nausea, vomiting, and eye irritation.”

Though e-cigarettes are less toxic than tobacco-containing cigarettes, the vapor inhaled still contains nicotine—a drug that acts as a stimulant to the central nervous system. A study conducted at UCLA found that teens addicted to nicotine had less ac-

tivity in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain related to decision making. Because the prefrontal cortex continues to develop during adolescence, nicotine use in the form of smoking may affect brain development.

Larger cities have already implemented bans on e-cigarettes. Los Angeles, for ex-

ample, probits e-cigarette use in restaurants and outdoor areas like parks.

Whether state wide legislation will be passed on e-cigarette use has not yet been discussed.

“We just need to continue informing society about the dangers of tobacco and nicotine,” Tunnell said.

PHOTO FROM GOOGLE IMAGES

Food for Thought b y Danielle Steward

4

FEATURE

THE HE B BRUIN RUIN V VOICE OICE T

APRIL 25, APRIL 2014 25, 2014

Students adjust to new testing format and using Chromebooks

By AMBER BUHAGIAR and ANMOL MAHAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, STAFF WRITER

Bear Creek’s sophomores and juniors are scheduled to take the new Common Core test next week on the Chromebooks that have been distributed to English and history classrooms.

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) is a state-led group developing assessments aligned to the Common Core State Standards in English language arts and math. In order to prepare, the students have taken practice tests on the Chromebooks and have spent class time learning how to use the machines.

“I thought it was harder mostly because I am so used to taking paper and pencil tests,” junior Cameron Morelli said. “I found it harder to read the passages and questions since I usually annotate things.”

English teacher Xianh Xiong explained that students have the option to flag a question after answering in order to return to it later.

This way, students can check their answers before submitting.

“It’s similar to paper pencil test in that aspect,” Xiong said. “I like that students can flag their questions because it prompts students on screen.”

Xiong noted that there were no technical issues with the test, although she notices that students are taking longer to complete the sections— mainly free response questions.

“The questions aren’t straightforward and make you think in a different way,” Morelli said.

“They don’t just have to write A, B, C or D,” Xiong said. “It makes the test more intimidating for them. Once they get the format, we can focus on content.”

Although the practice test have allowed students to get a feel for the actual test, others are also concerned that there is not enough time provided to answer all the questions. With the new format, many of the answers take longer to answer because responses must

be typed out. pencil practice exercises that are being administered to students “I would rather bubble it in because it takes too much during class. This year, history teachers were prompted to work on time on the Chromebooks,” junior Annie Nguyen said. “We have to an English related exercise about poetry. highlight and mark as we go which takes away time from actually “If it’s common core, any teacher should be able to administer trying to answer SBAC,” United States questions.” history teacher Beth Junior Vincent Oesterman said. “I can Grimaldi says the test definitely read the paper, is actually easier. but I can’t answer any “The test had questions since it is not questions like ‘rewrite my subject.” this paragraph,’ Much of the time ‘give examples,’ and during preparation for ‘paraphrase the above the test was spent on passage,’” junior learning how to use Vincent Grimaldi the Chromebooks with said. “There was teacher guidance. more multiple choice “The practice test than free response was really challenging questions.” because they take simple Grimaldi says problems and make them that the only problem complex,” sophomore he has observed thus Jessica Dang said. “They far with Common are just trying to get you Core are the to do simple problems a scheduling conflicts. certain way to evaluate Students will be on your thought process.” an altered schedule While the test is from April 29 - May new and unfamiliar, PHOTO BY JUSTINE DO-HUYNH 1. most students agree that Some teachers High-tech testing: (left to right) Juniors Lyna Le and Hannah the new testing system are concerned with the Jobrack try out the new Chromebooks in preparation for Com- will be beneficial in the content of the paper- mon Core testing next week. long run.

Redesigned SAT set to debut in 2016

By MONICA DANG STAFF WRITER

The SAT: for some it is a grueling four-hour exam that elicits sweat, frustration, panic — and, inevitably — a score that will either lead to a college of choice or to a door being slammed in a student’s face.

However, changes are underway for this most revered, and feared, exam.

The SAT and the ACT have “become disconnected from the work of our high schools,” College Board president David Coleman declared in “The New York Times’” article “A New SAT Aims to Realign With Schoolwork.” Coleman’s criticism of the SAT test was followed by an announcement of the unveiling of a redesigned SAT set to debut in the spring of 2016.

Changes include a 1600-point scale based on a top score of 800 in math and reading, an optional essay, more commonly used college course words, no penalty for incorrect answers, justification of answers, and the integration of social studies, sciences, and founding documents.

These changes have been both praised and criticized by students and instructors.

Some believe that the reason behind the change is that more students are starting to choose to take the ACT over the SAT. According to the “Times’” article, last year 1.7 million students took the SAT compared to the ACT’s 1.8 million students. The ACT has become increasingly more popular.

“My opinion is this test will be easier than the current SAT and the College Board is betting on more students taking the SAT because of that,” said Shan Patel in “Behind the SAT: The Good and Bad of the 2016 Redesign.” Patel is the director of SAT programs and only person to obtain a perfect score of 2400.

The changes to the SAT are seen by some as an effort to make the exam more similar to the ACT. “David Coleman is not a spokesman for the ACT, and I acknowledge his political gamesmanship but I don’t appreciate it,” said Jon Erickson, president of ACT’s education division, in the same “Times’” article. “It seems like they’re mostly following what we’ve always done.”

In Princetonreview.com students can find the listed differences and similarities between the ACT and SAT. The ACT has questions that are more straightforward, and more centered on math and sciences. According to Princetonreview. com, it is “more of a big picture exam,” meaning that the ACT has a total score that makes a bigger impression on colleges whereas the SAT divides its score into three subjects (writing, reading, and math), making students’ weaknesses in a particular area noticeable. The current SAT has a required essay and no science portion. The SAT also focuses more on vocabulary and grammar.

Some warn that the potential degradation of the standards might prompt the ACT to make its test easier in response.

“It’s a good move that it’s becoming easier in

a way, but it’s also a very bad move in that I think it’s sort of a race to the bottom now,” Patel said in “Behind the SAT: The Good and Bad of the 2016 Redesign.” “When and if the ACT makes its next change, it might lower its standards to remain competitive against the SAT.” Some students are also critics of the seemingly easier and redesigned SAT. “I don’t think it will prepare them for college if the SAT is, in my opinion, easier,” senior Michelle Phounpraseut said.

Other changes, however, are promising.

The new SAT will test students’ critical thinking, and the material will be more aligned with lessons learned in the classroom. The new SAT will feature more narrow and class-instruction oriented questions. In “New SAT Aims to Realign with Schoolwork,” the author notes that “Instead of arcane ‘SAT words’ (‘depreciatory,’ membranous’), the vocabulary definitions on the new exam will be those of words commonly used in college courses, such as ‘synthesis’ and ‘empirical.’”

The math portion will be centered on three areas: linear equations; complex equations or functions; and ratios, percentages, and proportional reasoning.

The reading and writing portions will contain passages of science and social studies, and one of

the nation’s “founding documents,” requiring testtakers to select a quotation from the text to provide reasoning for their response.

Some students say there is potential in this more compact and relevant version.

“I do think it’s a good idea because it focuses more on the things you learn from the classroom instead of the seemingly random questions,” sophomore Patricia Yadao said.

Companies use SAT scores to weed out weak applicants

By SOPHALINE CHUONG STAFF WRITER

Imagine walking into an interview with a recruiter from the most elite businesses in the world and being asked your SAT score. Everything you worked hard for in college is just as high stakes as is the exam taken back in high school.

Students at Bear Creek are shocked to hear that not only colleges, but companies — especially highly competitive global marketing and finance firms — use the SATs. “I did not know that,” senior Beatriz Mesa said. “I feel like it is unnecessary.”

The aptitude test by the College Board is designed to see the raw brain power of students to allow universities a glimpse at the skills students

have. However, some employers use the score as “It can be reasonable and useful proxy one of the criteria points for hiring. for some of the things that we’re looking for,” Corporations such as the prestigious consulting Comparoni said. firm McKinsey & Company, who get applicants Sophomore Mariah Macato says that knowing numbering the thousands, say that the SATs can be an applicant score can be useful for the companies valuable data points that have a large applicant when a candidate pool. is competing with “I need to study ompanies — especially highly others with the same harder for the SATs amount of work competitive global marketing and now,” Macato said. finance firms — use the SATs. experience.

Students understand Head of why businesses ask for recruiting at the SATs scores. Businesses Boston Consulting Group, Jennifer Comparoni, believe it can reflect many potential aspects of a said in an interview with “The New York Times” person. However, some question whether the score that the score helps get a complete picture of the is still relevant years after the test is taken. applicant.

“It isn’t wrong, but it is pointless,” senior

C

Efren Rodriguez said. “The score could not reflect the intelligence of yourself compared to in high school.”

“Some businesses require more educational levels than others,” junior Hieu Huynh said.

“But I believe that the scores do not reflect your personality. They are just numbers in a sense.”

The job market is becoming more competitive with academic expectations reaching new standards. Some applicants willingly divulge test scores to have an edge against others.

Meza questions the validity of basing her future on a four-hour exam.

“I am worried because my scores were just average,” Meza said. “I would be mad if my SATs scores affected [my ability to] get a job in the future.”

Test prep guides, cramming can lead to better scores

By MOLINA SOUN STAFF WRITER

Students spend weeks and months in advance anxiously preparing for their SAT, ACT, or AP tests. Students who receive high scores will get many benefits, but is it really possible to improve scores by cramming for these tests?

High scores are an important factor in determining whether a college will accept or reject a student; impressive test scores also help students gain scholarships and financial aid.

Studying for these important tests can be difficult for some students, especially if they have bad study habits, have an overwhelming amount of homework, or are busy with extracurricular activities. Finding free time to sit down without any distractions and study for hours can be challenging.

Students can prepare for these standardized tests by buying test prep books such as “The

Official SAT Study Guide” by College Board, AP tests are based on a specific subject, so or various AP test study guides by Kaplan and students may find it easier to study for them. The Princeton Review. Tutors and test prep classes SAT contains more critical thinking and abstract are also available, as well as online courses. questions, whereas the ACT contains subjectPrevious AP exams, which may include similar based questions that may be easier for some test questions, are also available online for free. students to understand. The SAT contains three Despite the availability of test prep services, the components: critical reasoning, math, and writing.

National Association The ACT contains five for College Admission components: English, wo million students spend Counseling (NACAC) math, reading, science, $2.5 billion a year on test preparasays they have minimal and an optional writing positive effects on test. tion and tutoring. scores for tests such as A good score has -EDUVENTURES INC. the SAT and the ACT. its advantages, but The NACAC says that few students have the some of the increases discipline to devote hours to test prep. are exaggerated by these services as most scores “I feel like you have to be taught it [the increase by only a small margin. information],” senior Jessica de la Cruz said. “You “I feel that the [SAT] book didn’t really help can’t learn everything in a few days. You have to that much,” senior Kirsten Kite said. “The words be taught over a course of time to be able to retain they give you weren’t really in the test.” information.”

T

SAT and ACT test prep services may help increase scores from as little as 30 points to as much as 200 points. Depending on the college and the original score, a NACAC study found that “more than one third of colleges said that an increase of 20 points on the math SAT or 10 points on critical reading would ‘significantly improve a student’s likelihood of admission.’”

According to Eduventures Inc., approximately two million students spend $2.5 billion a year on test preparation and tutoring. Some students pay up to $1,000 for test prep services. Those who lack financial resources may want to search for other inexpensive alternatives.

“You have people in your class and teachers to help you,” de la Cruz said. “There are free apps.”

Students agree that it’s possible to study for the SAT, ACT, and AP tests, especially if someone has good study habits and testing techniques.

“You could definitely get a better score,” Kite said. “It’s beneficial.”

THE BRUIN VOICE

FEATURE

APRIL 25, 2014

5

Toxic Friendships

By JUSTINE DO-HUYNH STAFF WRITER

Susan and Alex have been friends since they were in diapers. Their friendship has grown closer over the years, but once high school hit, their friendship went downhill. Alex began cruelly insulting Susan in front of others and embarrassing her. This was the start of their toxic friendship.

A toxic friendship is defined as a friendship that is unsupportive, draining, unequal and unrewarding. Often, this type of friendship becomes very stressful and overly demanding, causing more negative feelings than positive ones.

In the article “Toxic Friendships: Less Friend, More Foe,” psychologist Jenn Berman defines a toxic friend as “someone who makes you feel bad about yourself instead of good; someone who tends to be critical of you sometimes in a subtle way and sometimes not so subtle; a friend who drains you emotionally, financially, or mentally, and they’re not very good for you.”

There are often many signs to tell whether or

not a person is in a toxic friendship.

“Toxic friendships are where people start isolating and demeaning a person, gets angry when that person is with other people, and uses their personal power to control a person,” AP psychology teacher Lana Gentry said.

Toxic friendships can bring about nasty behavior on a consistent basis. A person may begin to feel hurt, confused or even angered. Some may begin to feel bad about themselves.

“I started to feel uncomfortable because she started making fun of me and my insecurities,” senior Amariah Tadena said of a prior toxic friend.

“I felt really bad and self conscious because this was a good friend that made me feel bad about myself.”

There are people who begin to realize that they are in a toxic friendship and start to change the way they act.

“Sometimes I have to be cautious about what I say because they might get mad,” junior Hillary Nguyen-Pham said of a toxic friendship she has. “I can’t be mad because I know that the person will find excuses to be mad back.”

In any case, dealing with a toxic friendship may prove difficult. People in a toxic friendship often feel trapped. Friendships will continue because the individuals have known each other for a long time or they are attempting to be the bigger person.

“I tried to ignore it and laugh at myself and gradually started talking to her less and less and stopped altogether,” Tadena said.

Others decide to end the friendship immediately.

“When I saw how my so-called friend was treating me, I felt mad and betrayed and left my friendship right away,” senior Mayra Espinosa said.

Gentry offers some words of advice on what to do take if individuals are in a toxic friendship.

“A person can begin with talking to their friend because they may not be aware of their treatment,” Gentry said. “Start with I statements, such as I will, and a person can also write down how they feel.

They should set boundaries and if the friendship gets out of hand, then they ultimately should end the friendship.”

Is there such a thing as secrets?

By LISA NGUYEN STAFF WRITER

In a time period where social media leaves very little to the imagination and people feel free to expose all kinds of levels of their personal life, many people wonder — is there such thing as a secret?

Even more compelling, what happens when someone entrusts you to keep a secret?

Some secrets, such as birthday surprises, Christmas presents or even one’s guilty pleasures, are acceptable to keep private. However, other secrets are not, such as those that may be more serious — especially if they have the power to endanger someone else.

Regardless of what type of secret it is, many have the tendency to share their secrets with their family, best friends or even anybody else that is interested and willing to listen.

“I shared a secret to someone else because I felt too much pressure when I dealt with it

didn’t consider my feelings. She just did what she wanted to do and took it into her own hands.”

Aside from relief, Stevenson offers other possible motives for telling secrets.

“Some people just like to tell everybody everything,” Stevenson said. “I think the main reason why people tell secrets is to start drama.”

The reasons for telling secrets widely differs.

“Maybe their secrets are so surprising that they want to tell other people about it,” freshman Tyler Scott said.

Regardless of what the reason is, studies show that a secret is eventually leaked just after approximately 32 minutes.

alone,” a student who wanted to remain anonymous said. “I felt a sense of comfort because I had someone to talk to and I knew I wasn’t the only one who had to keep the secret.”

Sharing secrets may offer relief to those who choose to share them, but at the same time, it makes others wonder if their secrets are really safe.

“After I found out she told my secret, I felt like I couldn’t trust anybody,” another anonymous student said. “She’s the reason I have trust issues.”

The disloyalty and unfaithfulness from a friend leaves students feeling deceived.

“I felt betrayed,” sophomore Tawajane’ Stevenson said. “She

One study by Simple, a facial skincare brand, questioned 3,000 women and revealed that one in 10 of the women were unable to keep a secret.

“Spilling the beans in just 32 minutes is very fast work, but with modern technology someone’s juicy secret can be spread to a huge amount of people all over the world in a very short space of time,” a spokesperson for Simple said to Daily Mail.

Although the study focuses on women in particular, men are not excluded from sharing secrets.

“I’ve shared a secret before,” senior Anthony Vega said. “I feel guilty about telling someone something that I wasn’t supposed to.”

One may never know if his or her secret is really safe or not; it all depends on what the secret is about and who one chooses to tell. Letting out secrets can be beneficial if it truly helps someone, but it may end badly, leading to feelings of betrayal and a development of trust issues.

The trick behind a perfect nap

By JESSICA LEE FEATURE EDITOR

People often take naps for a boost of energy. What most people don’t know is that there are different benefits and detriments depending on when the nap is taken and for how long.

According to WebMD, there are two basic categories of sleep: non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM). NREM sleep is further broken down into four primary stages, with the first being light sleep, the second characterized by decreased awareness, and the third and fourth being slow-wave sleep. Waking up from slow-wave sleep, the deepest kind, will result in “sleep inertia,” which is a temporary groggy feeling. REM sleep, the final stage of sleeping, is associated with dreaming.

With school work and extracurricular activities, many students don’t get enough sleep and often take naps.

“Napping benefits you if you’re sleep deprived,” AP Psychology teacher Lana Gentry said. “Teenagers need nine hours and 15 minutes of sleep every night and that’s why they’re always so tired.”

Sara Mednick, an assistant psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside,

in an interview with “Wall Street Journal” columnist Sumathi Reddy, states that how long one should nap depends on what the person needs. A 10-to-20-minute power nap is sufficient for a quick boost of alertness. A 60-minute nap is adequate for cognitive memory processing – helping with remembering facts, places, and faces – but may result in some grogginess. A 90-minute nap helps creativity and emotional and procedural memory, as in learning how to ride a bike, but might also cause slight grogginess.

“I usually nap [for] around 30 minutes and when I wake up, I feel energized,” senior Linda Chang said.

Chang most likely wakes up in stage two.

“I usually nap for two to four hours, and I always wake up feeling groggy,” junior Phong Do said.

REM sleep, according to WebMD, usually occurs after 90 minutes and Do most likely wakes up in this phase.

In a 2006 study in the journal Sleep, Flinders University psychology professor Leon Lack compared naps from 30 seconds to 30 minutes. Lack tested 24 individuals after each nap on a range of mental-processing tasks. He found that the sharpness of the individuals who napped for ten minutes was apparent almost immediately

and remained so for two to two and a half hours.

The individuals who took 20- to 30-minute naps tended to feel groggy afterwards for about 30 minutes. However, those individuals began to exhibit mental sharpness that lasted a bit longer compared to those who had napped for 10 minutes.

In addition to the duration of a nap, the time of day that someone naps can also have different effects. In an interview with Reddy, Rafael Pelayo, a clinical professor at Stanford University School of Medicine’s Sleep Medicine Center, said the circadian rhythms of the human body make people expect to be awake in the morning to the early night and therefore, napping later on in the day may interfere with nighttime sleep. The best time to nap is between 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“If you take naps when your brain doesn’t expect to be sleeping, you feel kind of thrown off,” Pelayo said, in the interview with Reddy.

“I nap after track practice, usually around six,” sophomore Martina Gapasin said. “When I wake up, one hour or two hours later, I’m no longer tired and I end up [going to] sleep a lot later than I should, usually past midnight.”

Napping at the right time and for the right amount of time can, in fact, make a significant impact.

Bisexuals face biphobia from LGBT community

By JACOB WILLIAMS OPINION EDITOR

Within the ranks of the LGBT community, ostracized bisexuals have their orientation denied and censured by their fellows, to say nothing of immense conservative admonishment.

The “biphobic” harangues often begin with some incarnation of the following statement: “Bisexuality is just a phase; they’re confused and sooner or later will figure out if they’re gay or not.”

Bisexual organizations, like the American Institute of Bisexuality, are affronted by such criticism. Activists work to spread understanding that not only does bisexuality definitively exist but that there currently exists within the LGBT community a greater number of bisexuals than either gays or lesbians.

Activist efforts are stymied by a pervasive “misunderstanding” by fellow LGBT community members, who accuse bisexuals of dishonesty and self-deception.

A.I.B. President John Sylla opines that it is rare for bisexuals to be open about their orientation.

“Most bisexuals are in convenient oppositesex relationships and aren’t open about their sexual orientation,” Sylla said in “The New York Times.”

“Why would you be open when there is so much biphobia?”

In fact, a 2013 Pew Research Survey reported that only 28 percent of polled bisexuals were openly identified.

Bisexuals are not the only LGBT community members combating discrimination and ignorance from their fellows; pansexuals and transgendered people also struggle for acceptance.

Pansexuality refers to a person who is attracted to anybody but not everybody; this is a common misconception. A pansexual could fall in love with a man, a woman, or someone in between (like a person who is “male” from the waist down and “female” from the waist up).

Within the folds of the transgendered community, new terms are springing up to describe gender orientations.

Sex and gender are not interchangeable terms, and nor are the terms transgender and transsexual.

Biological sex refers to the assignment a person is prescribed as birth, either male or female.

Gender refers to societal and cultural connotations a person accepts regarding the biological sexes.

Someone who is transgendered could be of the male sex but the female gender, and self-identify as a woman (or vice-versa). Transsexuals are people who have partially or completely transitioned to the opposite gender, by way of hormone therapy and/or sex reassignment surgery.

Genderqueer refers to people who identify outside the gender binary (males and females).

Intersexed people are those born with reproductive anatomy that is neither entirely male nor female.

Bigender refers to a person identifying as both male and female, third gender refers to a person identifying as a ternary gender, pangender refers to a person identifying as all genders, and agender

“M

ost bisexuals are in convenient opposite-sex relationships and aren’t open about their sexual orientation. Why would you be open when there is so much biphobia?

”

-A.I.B. PRESIDENT JOHN SYLLA

refers to a person identifying as having no gender.

Bisexuals are often accused of being transphobic because it’s believed that bisexuality only permits two genders and bisexuals therefore promote trans erasure. This is due, bisexuals said in response to a Live Science article titled “Pansexual: A ‘New’ Sexual Orientation?” to a misunderstanding of what bisexuality means.

On the Bisexual Resource Center webpage, the author explains bisexuality to the misinformed.

“It’s critical to note that ‘bisexuality’ is a word reclaimed by the bisexual movement from the medical institution,” BRC said. “The

bi community had little to no influence over the formation of the word.”

“The bi in bisexual refers not to male plus female, but to attraction to genders like our own, plus attraction to genders different from our own. In other words, it’s the ability to move in two directions along a continuum of multiple genders.”

Consequently, it is argued by some bisexuals that bisexuality and pansexuality share an immense overlapping, and that one’s identity choice ought to be respected by others, particularly within the beleaguered bi and trans communities.

Junior Tamara Johnston, an open pansexual, agrees.

“When gays and lesbians say,‘it’s just a phase,’ they are attacking another person’s being,” Johnston said. “Did they not also go through ‘the phase’? If we want to win this battle for our rights to love whomever we wish, we need to stand together. Society demands too much of people; it’s foolish. People shouldn’t need to label themselves.”

Worth noting is that the preceding definitions of sexual and gender orientations are by no means entirely correct or complete. Sexual and gender orientations continue to be intensely debated by members of the LGBT community, with the result being many definitions of each label. Every LGBT citizen defines the identities slightly differently.

6

ENTERTAINMENT

THE BRUIN VOICE

APRIL 25, 2014

Mystery of how Ted meets Robin solved

By LAURA ANGLE

How my parents met...

STAFF WRITER

The long anticipated meeting of Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) and the unnamed mother (Cristin Milioti) in the widely popular series “How I Met Your Mother” also brings the end to the show many have grown to love so much.

The reviews for the show, now into the ninth and final season, were good in 2005, but it was the guest appearance of Britney Spears in 2008 that shot the ratings up to 9.8 million views and rated “HIMYM” second among CBS shows aimed at young adults.

The show is told from Ted Mosby’s perspective, who is explaining to his two children how he met their mother.

The episodes are all flashbacks to New York, 2013, about him and his five friends Robin (Cobie Smulders), Barney (Neil Patrick Harris), Lily (Alyson Hannigan), and Marshall (Jason Segel), narrated by future Ted (voiced by Bob Saget) in 2030.

The surface message of the show is about love and romance, but looking deeper, “it’s [about] growing up with friends,” Harris said in a “USA Today” review. “Barney said it best. . . this season: ‘Whatever you do in this life, it’s not legendary unless your friends are there to see it.’”

The final season featured guest stars from past years and longrunning gags, such as the notorious slap bet.

“The last two episodes are less about running jokes of the show,” co-creator Carter Bays says in review. “[The episodes are] more just about these characters and the reality of their lives.”

The show and the characters have found a spot in many people’s hearts.

“I’ve watched the show since season one,” junior Kehaulani Prodigalidad said. “It was really heartbreaking to watch it come closer to the end.”

Even the actors are sad to see the show come to an end. “Emotionally, I love these people so much and it’s hard to say goodbye,” Hannigan said in the “USA Today” review.

Bays and co-creator Craig Thomas knew how the show was going to end for years, shooting the future Ted for the last scene before the actors playing the kids grew up.

“This is the ending we’ve been heading toward,” Bays said in “USA Today’s” review. “It says everything that we’ve wanted to say about showing the complete picture of what it means to love somebody.”

Now that Ted Mosby’s side of the story is finished, co-creators Bays and Thomas are working on a CBS pilot for a new show called “How I Met Your Dad,” told from a woman’s perspective starring

By JESSICA NGUYEN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

How I really met your mother: Ted reveals his true love story of how “Aunt” Robin Scherbatsky became his wife.

Greta Gerwig.

Not everyone is as thrilled about the idea as they are.

“It wouldn’t be right,” Prodigalidad said. “The whole show, except the last season, showed [Ted] talking about everything else, not the mom.”

After nine seasons of heartbreak and life lessons, Ted Mosby and the viewers finally met “the one,” after being teased with a few glimpses of her yellow umbrella and one peek at her ankle.

The true message of the show is not to spend forever searching for one person who may or may not be out there, but to love friends and family.

Regardless of what is to come next, or what has happened in the past, it certainly would not be “legendary” without close friends.

Every couple has their own love story. Bruins share how their parents met—at work, college or even Bear Creek High School.

“They went to Bear Creek together,” senior Tommy Le said. “At first my mom didn’t like him, but they had a class together.”

Not all high school couples have a typical, sappy love story.

Some involve family history.

“My parents met in high school because my dad went out with my aunt,” senior Jeri Ripoyla said. “Then he dated my mom.”

Sophomore Xolani Harrison’s grandparents met in college.

“He spilled his drink on her textbook just so he could talk to her, but he bought her a new one after,” Harrison said.

Although school is one source for couples to get together, some find their soulmates at work.

“They worked together,” junior Zachary Victorio said of his parents. “They were co-workers.

He was a janitor, and she worked at the front desk. They just fell in love.”

Sophomore Destiny Stone’s parents fell in love at first glance.

“She was getting the groceries out of the car,” Stone said. “[My] dad was parked across the street. The moment she saw him, she knew he was the one.”

Junior Caitlyn Wilson’s parents fell in love on the first date—but it was not just any date.

“My dad had three girlfriends at the time,” Wilson said.

“My dad took the initiative to start to court my mom when he was on a date with one of his girlfriends. [He] ditched the girl for my mother, and they…fell in love.”

Although couples meet at school, work, or even while on another date, some parents did not marry with the intention of love.

“My parents had an arranged marriage,” an anonymous senior said. “Cambodians usually arrange you with someone else.”

Keeping the cultural tradition is key for some individuals.

Junior Omar Attie’s father married for the opportunity to immigrate to America from Afghanistan.

“My mom lived in America,” Attie said. “They met over a photo. He sent my uncle to ask for my mom’s hand in marriage.”

Whether it be for love or a life opportunity, every couple has their own unique “first meeting” story.

Popular young adult novel hits the big screen

By NATALIA GEVARA STAFF WRITER

With metaphors of infinities, constellations, and its ability to move readers with a simple “okay,” “The Fault in Our Stars,” a young adult novel written by John Green, has touched readers with every word embedded in its pages.

To the excitement of its fans, the film adaptation of the book is set to be released in June.

The story follows Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old girl diagnosed with thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs. Hazel Grace is forced to go to a cancer support group by her parents, where she meets the charming and philosophical Augustus Waters, an exbasketball player and amputee.

The book highlights their journey of falling in love, and Hazel Grace’s

discovery that “some infinities are bigger than other infinities.”

“The Fault in Our Stars” has become extremely popular among teenagers, debuting at number one on “The New York Times” Best Seller list at the time of its 2012 release, being called “damn near genius.”

The book touches on a subject not commonly mentioned in young adult fiction books: cancer.

According to The American Cancer Society, cancer remains the second leading cause of death in children; about 1,350 children younger than 15 years old are expected to die from cancer in 2014.

With such a sensitive topic, it makes one wonder if people whose lives have not been affected by cancer can truly relate to the book.

“The plot of the book reminded

me of what I went through with my father who was diagnosed with cancer,” sophomore Breanna Moseley said. “It’s really dead on about the subject.”

Hazel Grace’s ability to relate with teenage cancer patients is what makes her different from other characters in young adult literature; she struggles to remain strong when facing her illness, and she is often concerned with how her loved ones feel.

Tokay High School cancer survivor Andrae Sanchez says he can relate to Hazel Grace’s character.

“Some people cried and some people were angry,” he said about his friends who learned he had cancer, “but no matter what I was feeling, I knew I was not going to lose this battle.”

Regardless of her cancer, Hazel Grace remains an ordinary teenage girl. The book also explores the topics of young love, self discovery, and her feelings of depression and loneliness which many young readers can relate to as well.

“Hazel Grace is a really strong character,” freshman Andrea Castro said. “She feels like she’s never good enough, until she meets Augustus, who thinks she’s amazing. I think a lot of girls would want that.”

The announcement of the film adaptation has fans anticipating its release.

“I’m excited, but I’m scared; I’m afraid it won’t live up to me expectations,” Castro said.

“I have high expectations for the film, because I loved the book so

much,” sophomore Graschelle Hipolito said.

However, according to the author, the fans do not need to worry about the movies faithfulness to the book.

“I love it,” John Green said in “USA Today.” “It’s a wonderfully faithful adaption.”

The book’s inspirational metaphors, relatable characters, and heartbreaking plot twist are what ultimately makes its readers feel moved after reading it.

“I believe that the movie will remain faithful to the story,” freshman Sarah Dyman said. “It’s such a great story with such a great lesson.”

With its summer movie release, many more people will be touched by Hazel Grace’s and Augustus Water’s story of what the book refers to as their “little infinity.”

Fans of dystopian worlds CHVRCHES’ unique b l e n d b r i n g s s u c c e s s revel in adversity

By LAURA ANGLE STAFF WRITER

Bumping their way onto the charts in early 2013 with their ’80s synth pop beats, Scottish band CHVRCHES has risen from a faceless Internet band to an international sensation.

Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty posted their first song “Lies” on the Internet in May of 2013. Since then, “Lies” has been in the top five of BBC Sound of 2013. Following “Lies” was “The Mother We Share,” which can be heard on their debut album “The Bones of What You Believe,” released last September.

Although the band has found success, their first shaky steps were taken back in October of 2011 when the trio met and started to write.

“I was late, I didn’t know the way, it was Sunday buses, it wasn’t a good start!” Mayberry said in the flyer about the band’s first demo. Though it was a bumpy start, Doherty recalls that “within thirty seconds of hearing her singing with us I knew this was something special. There’s a power to the vocal we never heard at first.”

Cook originally composed for television and film, but also played with the Scottish alternativerock group Aerogramme, and later made up half of The Unwinding Hours. Doherty played the keyboards for The Twilight Sad. The two had Mayberry, who was at that time working as a music journalist and singing with post-rock band Blue Sky Archives, meet with them one Sunday afternoon for their demo.

“The range, the tone, the way [her] voice worked over the synths — it was immediate,” Doherty said in the band’s flyer about Mayberry’s voice.

CHVRCHES sold out its headline tours in not

By THUY NGO

only the UK but US, appeared at SXSW (South

by Southwest Conferences and Festivals) with an award-winning performance and made plans for a slew of stadium dates with one of its ’80s heroes Depeche Mode.

The band’s sudden popularity could be due to its unique style unheard of in today’s music. CHVRCHES’ individuality not only stems from infectious, upbeat melodies dating back to the beginnings of techno, but the “juxtaposition of joy and doubt — these are robust, colourful pop songs whose lyrics reveal doubt and humanity, enhanced by the purity of Mayberry’s voice,” Doherty said in the band’s promotional flyer.

In the song “By the Throat,” the juxtaposition of violence and hope is the central theme as Mayberry sings: “with teeth we’ve come this far/I’ll take this thing by the throat and walk away.” Despite the images of blood and violence, Mayberry is expressing her determination and hope, a contrast to Doherty’s and Cook’s aggressive synthesized beats.

“That sweet and sour contrast is the key,” Mayberry said in the band’s flyer; Cook adds, “We pushed aggression in the production whenever there was sweetness in the vocal.”

Mayberry’s soprano voice is new and exciting; her haunting, cut-glass tones are warmed by her charming Glaswegian accent.

In their songs “You Caught the Light” and “Under the Tide,” Mayberry takes a step back and allows Doherty to take lead vocals. “Under the Tide” is relentlessly optimistic, repeating in the chorus “Head up, head up/keep holding, holding/ your head up, head up/keep holding, keep holding,” and brings back the original sound of Simple Minds or The Cure.

CHVRCHES, once a faceless Internet enigma, has redefined the meaning of synthpop and created a brand new fusion of hope and doubt, love and heart-break, sweetness and aggresion.

FEATURE EDITOR

Imagine a world filled with misery, oppression and fear. Imagine being in a place where everything is against the law, a fearful world that controls the people with force. Although this terrifying world is made up, it is the world that many people today enjoy reading about and viewing on film.

A frequent sub-genre of popular books and films, dystopian communities appeal to audiences everywhere. According to Dictionary.com, dystopia is defined as “a society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease, and overcrowding.”

Although misery is a sensitive topic, many people enjoy the idea of a dystopian world where the hero or heroine, the main protagonist, eventually rises up to fight the government.

Most people who are fans of this genre have not experienced it themselves, but the fact that it could happen — politicians and/ or the government taking over the world and abusing their power — interests the audience.

“I find it very interesting how every faction/ district is known for their own thing,” junior Analisa Rillamas said about “Hunger Games” and “Divergent,” novels revolving around dystopic world. “Another thing that draws my attention is the ‘rules’ everyone is set to live by.”

One current dystopian novel/film that has attained a great deal of attention is “The Hunger Games,” a novel about a world in which a boy

and girl from each district is randomly selected in a lottery to participate in a “game” that requires fighting to the death in an outdoor arena until only one individual remains. Another popular title, “Divergent,” features a world where once the people reach age 16, they must divide into five different factions based on their disposition.

“It’s crazy how they can make up a whole new world,” sophomore Tran Ngo said of the authors.

Classic novels that include a dystopian sub-genre are “Fahrenheit 451,” “Brave New World,” and “Lord of the Flies.”

These books are often read in high school English classes.

“It’s interesting how it [“Lord of the Flies”] showed the realism of human society and how it showed that in an extreme situation, people are bound to make difficult decisions normal people wouldn’t even have to think about in everyday life,” junior James Luyun said.

Dystopian novels suck readers in easily because of the suspense caused by the vicious officials’ treatment of the citizens. Readers can place themselves into that world and feel great empathy for the characters. They become outraged when something unfair happens and sad when something heart wrenching occurs.

Readers and viewers of this genre enjoy seeing what the protagonist will do in the midst of great adversity, destruction and misery. The protagonists’ bravery and actions appeal to the audience because they do what most people only wish they could.

SPORTS

THETBHE RUIN VOICE BRUIN VOICE

NOVEMBER 9, 2014 2012 APRIL 25,

7

Diving team rebounds after budget cuts

By JESSICA LEE FEATURE EDITOR

Seniors Jarviel Rayford and Jared Rivera prepare for their inward one somersault off the diving board. The dive takes skill, concentration, and nerves of steel. Despite it being their first year and a new sport to the school, their determination to improve is not deterred.

“My best dive is the front somersault full twist free,” Rayford said. “Jared’s is the reverse dive.”

Though the reverse dive sounds simple, it is actually complicated, requiring proper form, strength and concentration.

The new divers will work hard this season to perfect many different types of dives: forward, backward, inward, reverse and twister. As they improve, they will add somersaults to earn more points for their dives.

Diving has always been a part of the sport swimming, but because of budget cuts and lack

of funds, it was cut years ago.

“There were no resources to add diving to the swim team,” swim coach Michael Heberle said. “We had to fundraise for diving equipment and for people to teach diving.”

According to Heberle, Lodi Unified School District has $30 million in reserves not being used for anything. Because of lack of funding, Heberle could not find a dive coach beforehand to teach the students.

The dive team became a reality for Bear Creek as the state passed a budget to provide more funding to schools in California.

Currently, there are only five divers for BC. Due to a small budget, the school can only support six divers and as luck would have it, only five people wanted to join this year.

“I want people to participate in sports,” Heberle said. “I wish more money was spent on the kids, but sadly it’s not.”

The five divers at Bear Creek commute to Delta Community College to practice with

PHOTO BY ESTHER CHO

Cowabunga!: Senior Emily Gahn gracefully dives into the pool with proper form to ensure a smooth dive.

Robert Wimberle’s diving club.

The students are not a part of Wimberle’s club but are allowed to practice with them for free and learn correct techniques to perform well in competition.

Since Wimberle’s diving club only practices three times a week in the evening, swimmers can dual sport with ease.

“It’s not that big of a commitment which allows me to dual sport,” senior Jarviel Rayford said. “Practices are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday in the late evening so I can attend track practice beforehand.”

When the students are not at Wimberle’s clinics, they are at Bear Creek with assistant coach Tom Downer, a former diving judge. Since an official is required for every team, Heberle noted that it was great to have Downer since he can coach and be the required official.

Because diving is a component of swimming, the scores divers earn contribute to the team’s total points.

As diving has only been

implemented this year at Bear Creek, it speaks for itself that diving is not a strong program in LUSD. “There are strong diving programs in places where the district supports diving but in LUSD, diving is not common anymore,” Heberle said.

“In 1998-2002 at Tokay High School, we had 15-20 divers.”

Compared to the abundant number of divers before the budget crisis for Californian schools, the number of divers has dramatically dwindled at LUSD. “We have five divers but Lodi only has one diver,” senior Emily Gahn said.

The divers’ first tournament was on April 11 at St. Mary’s High School. Only three of the five divers competed. Senior Emily Gahn’s earned 172.6 placing 13th out of 36 divers. Seniors Jarviel Rayford’s and Jared Rivera’s scores were 109.90 and 111.12, respectively.

Jarviel placed 12th and Jared placed 11th out of 15 divers.

Teachers re-live their glory days and the resulting pain

By JESSICA LEE FEATURE EDITOR

Many teachers at Bear Creek are former high school athletes. While all of these teachers share a commonality in having played a sport, each person has a different story and journey: some made it to playoffs, some played abroad, and some went on to play in college.

PE and weight training teacher Bob Rose was a linebacker and running back in high school and a linebacker in college.

Sophomore to senior year at Lake Oswego High School, Rose was on the varsity football team. He looks back at his high school years fondly.

“The thing about high school football then and, [being] from Oregon, was that it was a big deal,” Rose said. “There were about 5,000 people at a game. Everybody from town was there. It was old school football and, afterwards, everybody would go to the same little places to eat.”

For his athletic performance, he received a football scholarship to the University of the Pacific. Rose played for UOP’s football team for four years, and then went on to coach the team the following year.

“Back in the days, we played University of Miami, Arizona State, West Virginia, and [other] bigger schools,” Rose said. “I didn’t get knocked down any harder there than [going against] Fresno State. They had bigger guys that were stronger and faster but it was a good experience.”

Throughout the years, Rose has had numerous knee operations, both shoulders operated on, and other surgeries.

“I’m beat up and banged up but I can still talk,” Rose joked.

In 1980, he began to coach for Lodi Unified School District, serving as Defensive Coordinator at Tokay High School for two years. Rose was then hired as the first Head Coach at Bear Creek in 1991.

History teacher Beth Oesterman participated in cross country her sophomore to senior years

and track and field her junior and senior years at Lodi High School. She was on junior varsity her sophomore year for cross country and varsity her junior and senior years for both sports.

For track, Oesterman competed in two middle-distance events: the mile and two mile run.

Oesterman says she participated in both sports just to be a part of a team, not because she was very competitive.

“My best memory would be the practices because it was something fun to do after school,” Oesterman said. “I met a lot of new people that I probably wouldn’t have become friends with. Going to the meets was okay but you actually had to compete. I liked the practices more because it was a little more laid-back.”

English teacher Laura La Rue was a setter for volleyball throughout high school and college.

La Rue played for Tokay High School’s girls varsity volleyball team all four years, while being a part of the the Stockton Volleyball Club, an offseason club.

Her sophomore year in high school, the team made it to the Northern California Championships.

“No other team had done that before in our area,” La Rue said.

For college, La Rue attended Memphis State University and played volleyball there for two years until she transferred to Fresno State. She played until she was injured in 1991.

“What I enjoyed most was the group environment and being a part of a team in a successful program,” La Rue said. “Personally, it’s nice to be good at something and to be appreciated at what you’re good at, so that was a perk as a teenager. I’ve also built relationships with not only my teammates but my volleyball coach that go on to this day.”

Today, La Rue coaches for the Spark Volleyball Club, an off-season team. She has previously coached for Bear Creek and Linden high schools.

English teacher Lynda Farrar was a cheerleader at Holland Christian High School her junior and senior years.

The team only cheered for basketball, as her

high school didn’t have a football team.

The basketball team was successful, making it to the state finals her junior year and the state quarterfinals her senior year.

“It was a long season that had some drawbacks because that meant we had to be cheering for more of the school year, which took more time away from school,” Farrar said. “Nevertheless, I think being a part of something that involved attempting to be the best in the state was useful for me because it helped me to see that there’s a bigger world out there.”

Chemistry teacher Steve Meredith started playing basketball competitively in the fifth grade at Colonial Heights Elementary School.

Meredith played as both a center and forward at Lincoln High School. He was on the junior varsity team his freshman and sophomore years and moved onto the varsity team his junior and senior years.

“I was a late bloomer,” Meredith said. “I got a lot taller my freshman year and caught up to my coordination my sophomore year.”

Meredith’s senior year, the boys basketball team ended the season with a 20-12 record. The boys defeated the Stagg Delta Kings in a playoff, 69-48, and moved on to the second round of the San-Joaquin Section 3-A playoffs before losing to Foothill of Sacramento.

Meredith was the leading scorer in the area, netting 682 points in 32 games for a 22.0 average. He had 52 percent scoring accuracy from the floor and 72 from the free-throw line.

“I had a game where I scored 43 points against Franklin and, at the time, that was a league record,” Meredith said. “I had three games at the Stagg Invitational Tournament, where I scored 90 points and that tied for the scoring record at a Stagg Invitational Tournament.”

Meredith attended UC Davis and was on the junior varsity team but was moved to varsity later in the season. He transferred to UC Santa Barbara sophomore year and practiced with the basketball team. He then transferred to Humboldt State his junior year and played for three years, as an all-

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE MEREDITH

Shoot and score: Former basketball player Steve Meredith jumps and shoots the hoop in a game against Edison. conference player. During his time at Humboldt, the team won the league championships.

Meredith also played professionally in Europe after college for two years.

In his second season, he developed acute nerve pain and had to undergo therapy to be able to play basketball again. In addition, he’s had his knees drained of fluid several times, has weak ankles, and extreme back pain. Eventually, Meredith had to stop playing.

“I got healthier in my back but never to the point where I felt I could be my former self,” Meredith said.

Senior hosts BB ball game to aid NKFC Three track and field athletes

By JUSTINE DO-HUYNH

qualify for Stanford Invitational

STAFF WRITER

Senior Stefanie Toro hosted a Seniors vs. Staff basketball game as part of her senior project to help raise money for the North Korea Freedom Coalition. The game, held on April 4, ended with a win for the seniors, 83-77.

According to the North Korea Freedom Coalition website, “The North Korea Freedom Coalition is a nonpartisan coalition... [that] works for the freedom, human rights, and dignity of the North Korea people. The Coalition also has private members that provide humanitarian relief inside North Korea and members in China and other nations that feed, shelter, and rescue North Korean refugees.”

The goals of the North Korea Freedom Coalition are to get food aid to the North Korean people, close down political prison camps in North Korea down, and save the lives of the North Koreans by rescuing refugees.

“I first heard of the organization on ‘60 Minutes’ during a North Korean refugee program,” Toro said. “The show was talking about concentration camps in Korea and I was shocked that there were still concentration

By BRANDON MIRAMONTES STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY JUSTINE DO-HUYNH

Get’cha head in the game: Senior Jadon Henry focuses on making a free throw. camps.”

The basketball game was a success and raised over $800 with profits of $636. Students and teachers alike enjoyed participating in the event.

“It was fun getting to go out there and run around like a kid again,” student-teacher Chris Ramirez said. “I love being able to be a part of something at Bear Creek that is meaningful and where we can come together as a community.”

The game also allowed for the seniors to experience coaching their own team. Senior Cameron Alcoriza coached the seniors.

“As a coach, you have con-

trol,” Alcoriza said. “You’re not physically in the game, but you control it mentally to keep the team in gear and moving forward.”

The crowd was also pumped to see the game.

“It was exciting because the staff could really play basketball and they were amazing,” junior Deziree Whitfield said.

The game was also intended to try to shift students’ focus to events happening around the world. Toro says there are many global conflicts that students do not know about, especially how little those living in other countries have compared to those living in America.

Three track and field athletes qualified for the Stanford Invitational held on April 5, by running faster than the required qualifying times. For the varsity boys division, Steven Hill qualified for the open 400 meter dash, and for the varsity girls division, Clarissa Menil and Jelia BriceMontgomery qualified for the 100 meter hurdles and the 100 meter dash respectively.

The Stanford meet is important because it is a college and high school invitational which gives the high school athletes an opportunity to be scouted by collegiate coaches.

“The Stanford Invitational is always a very important meet,” head coach Janetta Jordan said.

“It provides an opportunity for the athletes to further advance in their track career.”

All of the qualifying athletes placed within the top 20 in each of their individual events.

Hill placed 17th in the open 400 meter dash with a time of 50.49 seconds, beating his previous personal best by nearly twotenths of a second. Brice-Mont-

PHOTO BY ESTHER CHO

The running man: Junior Steven Hill overlaps his Lincoln High opponent in the 1600 meter race and snags the lead. gomery placed 11th in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.53 seconds. Menil placed 11th in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 15.75 seconds.

“I was happy with my performance and it was a great experience running at this meet,” Menil said. “Knowing that there

are people better than me makes me want to work harder.”

Jordan praises the efforts of each athlete.

“I am very proud of these athletes,” Jordan said. “They are the top of the line athletes and really represent the best qualities of the Bear Creek track team.”

8

OPINION

THE BRUIN VOICE

Voices

Audrie’s law: don’t become the next victim

If you didn’t read the story on page three about Audrie’s law, Senate Bill 838, we suggest you do so now. Students should take notice at Audrie’s law and its potential legal effects on students who sext – a common phenomena among today’s adolescents. According to a study published by the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine in 2012, one in four teens sext. According to RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, 44 percent of victims who have been sexually assaulted are below the age of 18.

We don’t intend to just throw statistics at you; instead, these statistics should encourage you to make better choices. Teenagers make many mistakes, all of which they can learn from, but the mistake of sexually assaulting someone and then posting photos on social media is a grave mistake. It is wrong to manipulate another human being, regardless if they are under the influence of alcohol and or drugs, for your sexual desires. It is wrong to humiliate that person by spreading pictures of the assault across the Internet.

Those scenarios have happened far too many times this country, and we’ve lost victims to suicide, because they couldn’t handle the humiliation. You should be prosecuted as an adult, because if you were mature enough to sexually assault another, you’re mature enough to be charged. You could even be charged with manslaughter.

Many of these teenage sexual assaults happen to teens who’ve been under the influence at parties. Understand that when you do partake in drinking or getting high, you’re only making yourself more vulnerable to these assaults.

If this bill passes, it would make it a felony to send and share sexual photographs of minors on social media or through text messaging in order to harass the victim, and it would make juveniles who sexually assault unconscious individuals an adult in the court’s eyes. We applaud this bill and urge the Senate to pass it quickly, before one more teen becomes a victim.

APRIL 25, 2014

First rule for girls: thou shalt not change thyself for a guy

By NATALIA GEVARA STAFF WRITER

I remember one day when I was at home and feeling rather content and talkative. I had been happily chatting away that day, which didn’t sit well with one of my older brothers. “You know, you shouldn’t talk too much, boys don’t like that,” he snapped.

Of course, I was taken aback, so I didn’t say anything, but this comment made me wonder if what he said was true.

Do boys dislike girls who talk a lot?

I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with having preferences; I would be lying if I said I don’t have them myself.

However, one’s preferences shouldn’t become a standard that others feel obligated to meet.

I remember one night, when I logged on to my computer to go on “The Huffington Post.”

The first thing that popped up on my screen was this story: “23 Trends that Guys Hate (But Women Love).”

The article listed all the trends that women love, but are evidently despised by males: peplum tops, bright lipstick, fake nails, high-waisted shorts — the list seemed rather endless. Of course, I was completely baffled as to why all these things were considered so dreadful that there needed to be an entire article on it.

Maybe boys do dislike all these things, or maybe they don’t mind it at all. However, should a boy’s personal preference be a reason for a girl to change herself?

Of course not. The article was very strange; are girls expected to all of sudden give up on those trends simply because guys find them distasteful? For

me, the article didn’t make me want to give up on the wearing sneakers, pointy-toe shoes, over-sized sweaters, leggings and beanies — it just made me want to figure out how I could possibly wear all those things at the same time.

However, it’s not only that one article that is ridiculous, it’s the bounty of other articles, columns, interviews, and videos that attempt to dictate how women should act and what they should wear in order to come across as more appealing to males.

Whenever someone tells a girl “don’t do that, boys won’t like it,” it’s as if the person who says it truly believes that the worst thing that can ever happen to a girl is that a boy might not like the way she talks or dresses.

However, I genuinely believe that a majority of males are not as shallow as the media makes them out to be. In fact, I’m pretty sure most boys don’t actually care enough to nitpick at everything a girl says and

does. I also believe girls can be superficial as well; there have been countless times where I have seen girls pick on boys for the silliest reasons.

The issue here is that media and society has more of a tendency to make girls believe that everything they should aspire to has to do with male approval. As a society, we’re so accustomed to girls being critiqued for everything, that it doesn’t seem wrong.

Regardless of gender, people shouldn’t feel obligated to change themselves to please others. In a society where there is a mold everyone is expected to fit into, people often find themselves being told that they need to change the way they think, talk, and dress. Don’t change — instead just accept yourself and dress and talk how you please.

I know that sooner or later, my brother is going to tell me once again that talking a lot is what boys don’t like — but I’ll just use that as motivation to talk even more.

Should all students be required to participate in sports?

By MONICA DANG STAFF WRITER

All students should be required to participate in a sport each semester.

Participation in school sports has long been proven beneficial to students — both in physical and mental health.

According to Dr. Joseph Mercola in his article “Proven: Kids Get Smarter Just from Exercising,” exercise improves cognition by resulting in increased blood and oxygen flow to the brain, increased levels of norepinephrine and endorphins resulting in a reduction of stress and an improvement of mood, and increased growth factors that help to create new nerve cells and support synaptic plasticity.

Students should be required to participate in two sports a year

because sports activity can also provide necessary exercise for a nation that has a fast growing obesity rate. Some students believe that the two required years of P.E. is not enough to curtail the threat of obesity.

“I was only active for two years in P.E. and I wish I did a sport so I could be healthy,” senior Chong Thao said.

As well as being beneficial to both the mental and physical health of students, participating in a sport a semester will keep them from failing. The grade checks and minimum requirement of a 2.0 G.P.A. will provide students reinforcement and motivation to do well in school.

Students who learn the morals and values of hard work, perseverance and teamwork will be better prepared for the professional world.

Senior Jaspreet Nijjar agrees, noting the positive benefits of sports participation.

“They’ll also be with a good crowd because instead of smoking, going out causing trouble, or partying, they’ll be at practice learning how to work together which really helps them be prepared for a job that stresses teamwork,” Nijjar said.

Some may argue that sports

are simply not suitable for the general student population, but only for a smaller, more dedicated population.

“High school sports aren’t for everybody because they’re very time consuming and demanding,” Athletic Director Anthony Sahyoun said.”The ones who can manage their time can benefit from a being required to participate in sports, but not the general student population.”

But isn’t that one of the critical roles education should play in a student’s life? Teaching students time management on top of increasing their physical skills and agility, will lead to students to develop healthier lifestyle habits.

“I learned how to manage my time between athletics and academics back when I played basketball my freshman and sophomore year,” Nijjar said.

“It was difficult at first, but you gradually learn to juggle time.”

Although sport participation betters one’s health, others do have physical limitations that could prevent their participation.

“I have poor health — heart problems that make me run out of breath faster and it’s not safe for me to do strenuous physical

“The Voice shall not be silenced!”

NSPA 1st Place Best of Show, Boston 2013 NSPA Pacemaker winner, 2013

Entertainment Editor............................................................Amber Buhagiar Opinion Editors......................................................................Jacob Williams Sports Editor..........................................................................Jessica Nguyen Artistic Editor...............................................................................Esther Cho Graphics Editor..................................................................................John Wei Online Editor..........................................................................Zachary Denney Adviser........................................................................................Kathi Duffel Layout Adviser..........................................................................Joyce Dedini

The Bruin Voice is a public forum for student expression. Content is decided by student editors. Views expressed in opinion material do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper, its editors, adviser, Bear Creek High School, or Lodi Unified School District. All letters to the editor must have a valid signature, but names may be withheld upon request. We reserve the right to edit material for publication.

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and in response to that, are more likely to drop out. If schools require students to participate in sports, then Bear Creek High could invest together as a team, boosting moral, health benefits and creating a dedicated and unified environment that decreases the drop out rate – which is what the BC family stands for.

Indictment of three California senators feeds student distrust of politics

Bear Creek High School, 10555 Thornton Road Stockton, CA 95209 (209) 953-8369

News Editor.............................................................................Jasmine Santos Feature Editor.................................................................................Thuy Ngo Jessica Lee

of working out with a team, the feeling of inclusion and of doing something positive for a school can only result in students feeling more connected to their school environment.

Students who do not participate in any sort of extracurricular activities often feel disengaged from their learning environment

The World and H o w I S e e I t:

The Bruin Voice

Editors-in-Chief Amber Buhagiar, Jessica Nguyen, and Jasmine Santos

activity,” senior Faye DeLaCruz said.

If students are not able to take part in rigorous physical activity, there should be waivers offered or modified exercise classes that cater to students’ health limitations.

True, not all students will be star players – but the benefits

By ZACHARY DENNEY ONLINE EDITOR

President Woodrow Wilson once said, “the government, which was designed for the people, has got into the hands of the bosses and their employers, the special interests. An invisible empire has been set up above the forms of democracy.” Today it’s the tobacco and oil companies, the farmers, the foreign lobbying groups, and trial lawyers who reign over this “invisible empire.”

This bitter reality is no more apparent than in the chamber of the California State Senate. Three walnut desks sit empty, as they have for weeks.

Sessions have been opened and adjourned. Countless committee hearings have taken place, yet Senators Ron Calderon of Montebello, Roderick Wright of Inglewood and just recently Leland Yee of San Francisco have

been missing from the halls of The 1960s was an era in which just who exactly has contributed the California State Capitol. people saw government and pol- to a campaign, so that we can Wright is charged with itics as the advocates of the peo- make the decision of voting for voter fraud and lying about his ple, and that politics would fight a congressman being “bottle residence, Calderon has been for social change and justice, fed” by big oil, or the congressindicted for takman trying to ing bribes and run an open, fair Yee is charged any students our age look at politics campaign. When with gun trafmoney is inas this evil, dirty game that people with ficking and volved, which it power-hungry personalities play, become is so prevalently depriving the public of honest in politics, big corrupted and, sometimes, are even services.

The money would caught. fact that this has win. happened three One thing times this year to keep in mind: — so far — is outrageous. It perhaps leading us to a “great both parties have their faults and would be foolish to think these society.” In the 1970s, during neither has been completely inevents have not had an effect on the Watergate scandal and The nocent when it comes to politistudents’ perception on politics. New York Times’ release of the cal corruption.

Many students our age look at Pentagon Papers, the people beWe can have something politics as this evil, dirty game gan to see the “rotten” core of close to an honest government, that people with power-hungry their government. They began it just requires YOU to make the personalities play, become cor- to really distrust their govern- right decisions; after all, it isn’t rupted and, sometimes, are even ment and give up on the “advo- the President, the Congress or caught. cate of the people” idea. the Supreme Court who has the This distrust of politics goes In a democracy, everything power, it is the people who have back further than our generation. should be open. We should know the power.

M