December 2014 Issue

FEATURE

SPORTS

ENTERTAINMENT

Yellow Ribbon program helps those struggling with suicidal thoughts —Page 3

See which teams earned league championships —Page 7

Dear Santa: What’s on every student’s wish list —Page 4

The Bruin Voice

Volume 24, Issue 3

Bear Creek High School, Stockton, California

December 12, 2014

Cross-curricular ‘marking the text’ emphasized

By AIDAN BACKUS ONLINE EDITOR

If you feel the need to underline, highlight, or circle this sentence as you read it, you’ve had experience with close reading.

Close reading is a technique in which the reader takes note of small details in a text and then extrapolates from those notes to understand the bigger ideas. Some students do this by highlighting, writing in the margins, and making other annotations. Although the district has forbidden writing in textbooks and many teachers do not allow students to write on tests, close reading can be applied to just about any assignment that requires reading.

Marking the text and other close reading strategies have long been staples of English classes, but this year they are being introduced into classes across the board. This dictate emerges from Common Core curriculum, encouraging students to develop valuable problem-solving skills for both the workforce and college.

“We want to graduate students who can think, not regurgitate,” Principal Bill Atterberry said.

Aside from the mandatory close reading and text-marking done in several classes, annotation can also be useful while studying, allowing students to decipher meaning from academic jargon.

“Understanding what the author is trying to say is a big study skill,” senior Anthony Nguyen said. “If an object is ‘at rest,’ you need to know that means its acceleration and velocity are zero.”

As with any coursework, many students procrastinate, copy, or otherwise avoid completing close reading assignments and find all types of ways to justify their laziness.

“I feel the reason people don’t always mark the text is work ethic,” Nguyen said. “If you want to motivate students, you need to

address work ethic -- how much time they put into studying.”

Some students argue that because they cannot write on long, reusable multiple-choice tests, annotation is counterproductive.

AP U.S. History teacher Heather Blount recommended bringing “a piece of scratch paper with you on a test … if you can’t do close reading without it.”

Similarly, online SBAC examinations feature virtual calculators, highlighters, and notebooks, allowing students to annotate during testing.

Because Common Core reform is a cross-disciplinary effort, close reading has been adapted to every discipline.

In the social sciences, close reading can be used to facilitate understanding of primary-source documents and quotations. This is especially important for AP European History and AP U.S. History exams, which include a “Document-Based Question” that requires test-takers to analyze passages written in a certain historical era.

“If I hand you an article about the antebellum or pre-antebellum South and ask you, ‘What’s this article about?’ … you should be able to read it all by yourself, understand what it’s saying, and answer questions about it, without me having to hold your hand step-bystep,” Blount said.

Music teacher Joe Sandoval applies text-marking in multiple ways: in jazz, musicians are required to highlight marks of articulation, dynamics and key so they won’t ignore them when practicing music; in piano, students annotate biographies of composers to learn the historical context of the music they are studying.

“Bach and Beethoven had abusive childhoods, and yet they were successful,” Sandoval said. “I hope students can relate to that.”

Even math and science assignments can benefit from a good close read. In science, for example, students highlight lab reports;

in math, students annotate word problems to help them understand what the problem is asking.

“Before, when [students] would see a word problem, they would just want to give up because they didn’t want to try,” math teacher Lou Vang said. Vang assigns daily “warm-ups,” complex word problems that allow students time to practice their critical thinking skills.

Adapting to changes in curriculum has been a struggle for some students — and teachers. As teachers work together to implement effective strategies to help students develop a deeper understanding, students must be willing to accept that school is no longer about rote memorization. It’s about learning to think.

Cafeteria dishes up farm-to-table lunch menu

By PATRICIA YADAO STAFF WRITER

California Thursdays has launched an innovative way to bring locally-grown California food to California kids, and Lodi is one of the 15 school districts to take the first bite.

Thursdays mark the calendar for a statewide “farm-to-table” movement that features one goal: to serve food that is fresher, healthier and more delicious.

The Center of Ecoliteracy, a Berkeley-based nonprofit dedicated to education for sustainable living and a pioneer in school lunch reform, is heading the initiative. To promote the idea, Bear Creek cafeteria staff will be decked out every Thursday wearing “California Thursdays” merchandise.

“I think it’s fun; they send us shirts and buttons to promote California Thursdays,” Cafeteria Supervisor Becky Octave said. “It is nice to know that we are supporting our local farmers.”

In an effort to improve the quality of food that goes into lunch menus, the program emphasizes the value of providing both healthy and appealing choices while students learn

PHOTO BY JESSICA RODRIGUES

Carrots all around!: Rosa Sotelo, Roy (last name withheld upon request), and Kristine Tran (left to right) show off their California Thursdays shirts.

Senior Manuel Barrientos (left) takes a big bite of a hotdog from locally sourced Miller Hot Dogs.

PHOTO BY PATRICIA YADAO

about where their food comes from. Not only does using locally sourced ingredients stimulate the local economy, fruits and vegetables transported from closer distances require less packaging and are ProGreen.

The initiative has been highly praised because the program keeps taxpayer dollars

within the local economy of the state of California rather than spending the money elsewhere.

On Thursdays, schools receive California-grown products from suppliers Sysco, Don Lee Farms Beef, Teasdale Beans, In-Harvest Rice and Miller Hot Dogs.

“It will give students from

our district a chance of creating healthier lifestyles for themselves ... hopefully changing the stereotype of high school lunches,” junior Grace Maina said.

In October, Thursdays were known as California Thursdays Taco Bar, featuring “build your own” LoCal Fiesta Bowl. The bowl consisted of a layering of

rice, beef, black beans, olives and cheese.

“It’s no Chipotle, but I liked it!” senior Deon Tran said. “I’m no health expert, but if it tastes healthy and it looks good, I’m satisfied.”

The winter menu features “Build Your Own Hot Dog Bar” featuring Miller Hot Dogs from Lodi on a whole grain rich bread. According to its website, Miller offers products that are gluten-free with no trace of

MSG. “The hot chili cheese dogs were really juicy and sweet,” junior Matthew Ricafrente said, chewing happily.

“That is what this program is about: it’s incorporating fresh local fruits and vegetables beyond the salad bar,” cafeteria worker Laura Dodge said. “We encourage a healthy diet including at least three out of five of your grains, fruits, vegetables, protein and milk.”

High school: useless information or preparation for life?

By KRISTIN LAM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Not every student aspires to study engineering, world history or biochemistry at a university.

For many, solving for the focal point of a hyperbola, memorizing the date of a battle fought by people who died a century ago and grasping the concept of electronegativity doesn’t seem very relevant to life beyond high school.

Senior Destiny Lopez says she just wants to be done with high school because the daily routine is meaningless. She says the endless words, numbers and figures don’t appear to line up with her real world aspirations.

“The majority of what we learn is useless information,” Lopez said. “High school doesn’t teach us how to get a job.”

Being able to apply what they’ve learned in high school to the working world is a concern of students interested in entering the workforce sooner rather than later. Vocational school training or community college are their next steps, not theoretical-based study.

Students do learn life skills they will utilize in the workplace from high school, however. Parent Julie Wallis says that students develop work ethic, time management skills and proper etiquette through the experience.

“There are a lot of skills that students are getting indirectly, especially if they’re involved in different high school activities,” Wallis said.

Science teacher Tiffany Trexler says that through high school, students learn how to work together, communicate with each other, talk in front of others, work with deadlines and deal with the consequences of tardiness.

“Industries need people that can work with others and work hard,” Trexler said. “Everyone has to have those skills to be successful. Knowledge specific to the field can be gained through training later.”

Hamish Chand, a 2013 alumnus, entered the workforce as a premises technician for AT&T a year after graduating. He studied for and took a series of vocational tests before undergoing nine weeks of training provided by the company. Although some of the information he learned in high school is irrelevant to his life today, he says that high school lessons prepared him for his job.

“If you’re just going to work at Walmart when you get out of high school I don’t think advanced information is very useful on a regular day basis,” Chand said. “Elective classes like cooking are more helpful because kids sign up for them and will actually use those skills.”

Chand says that Auto prepared him to use tools as a technician. Doing the senior project, an assignment most students claim they dread, taught him how to present himself professionally.

Matrices and other Algebra II lessons may not be relevant to life beyond high school, but this information does offer choice for the future.

“By taking advanced courses like Algebra II,

students are opening doors to choice,” Math teacher Dianne Spearhooton said. “Those who say no slam the door shut on the rest of half the world.

Students have to find their passion, then find out how they’re going to go about pursuing what they’re going to be living and breathing.”

Science teacher Suzanne Perrin also says that high school sets students up for success by allowing them to explore.

“Students are always going to remember the class on how it makes them feel, not the technical stuff they remember,” Perrin said. If they become interested in biology or agriculture, awesome; love it. As teachers we want students to feel com-

Nonetheless, there are undeniably practical subjects that high school doesn’t touch on. From home economics to ethics, these skills can be taught at home, but not every student has the opportunity.

Wallis says that high school could better equip and inform students by covering mental health more thoroughly. Freshmen health classes only give a precursory glance at the subject, and even then the district is dropping health as a graduation requirement.

In addition to economics, Wallis says students should learn basic personal finances. Whether it involves how to balance an account online or man-

“I

ndustries need people that can work with others and work hard.

Everyone has to have those skills to be successful. Knowledge specific to the field can be gained through training later.

”

- SCIENCE TEACHER TIFFANY TREXLER

fortable enough to ask questions, explore and expand.”

History teacher Touyia Her says that history classes teach students how to evaluate sources, make good judgment and connect the past to the future.

“The dates aren’t going to matter, but the bigger picture of what happened will,” Her said.

“Even though the past is dead, it’s living with us because the ideas and concepts are still here.”

age checks, young adults will need to keep track of what they’re spending.

Senior Ngozi Elobuike says that high school lessons are overall anything but meaningless. “[High school] allows you to see diversity and experience different ways and modes of thinking,” Elobuike said. “To a certain extent, it prepares you for the real world in that it gives you a lot of different tasks to manage at once and develops skills that you can use universally.”

2

NEWS

The Bruin Voice

DecemBer 12, 2014

‘Yes Means Yes’ law defines sexual consent

By JULIANA RETH OPINION EDITOR

More than just revising the outdated “No Means No” slogan, California has become the first state in the country to alter how colleges define sexual consent on their campuses.

According to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network, teenage girls aged 16-19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault. About 60 percent of these sexual assaults are not reported to the police.

“That’s a scary statistic, but I think the social stigma surrounding sexual assault and the possible lack of punishment makes it hard for victims to report to authorities,” senior Alexie Infante said.

In September, Gov. Jerry Brown signed the “Yes Means Yes” law in an effort to end the silence that surrounds sexual assault cases.

The law officially defines consent as an “affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity.” Both participants must continuously and verbally agree upon, ask, and confirm with a simple “yes” to continuing the pursuit of sexual activity rather than the explicit “no.”

Senate Bill 967 specifically states that all UCs and CSUs must implement “comprehensive prevention outreach programs,” in order to receive state funds for student financial assistance. The program must address sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.”

Under the bill, someone who is drunk, drugged, unconscious or asleep cannot grant consent. There is no consent if the student initiating the sexual encounter does not receive a verbal or physical explicit “yes.”

Critics of the bill say it throws everyday sexual practice into doubt and creates a haze of fear and confusion over what counts as consent.

Although supporters boast the idea of “Yes Means

Yes” as a step to tackling sexual violence on campuses, critics remain skeptical of the efficacy of the bill others. Others laud the bill, claiming it will make a difference.

“This is amazing,” said Savannah Badalich, a student at UCLA, on “Business Insider.” “It’s going to educate an entire new generation of students on what consent is and what consent is not ... that the absence of a no is not a yes.”

Opponents of the “Yes Means Yes” law argue that rape cases are always a “he said” or “she said” blame game and that the two people involved in the incident may have different stories. The perception can be ambiguous and there is no way to definitively prove that the act wasn’t consensual.

Revising the standard doesn’t prevent lying or make it any easier to detect.

BC alumna Jessica Nguyen, a freshman at Cal Poly, says that educating people about what rape is is key to stopping it from happening.

“You would be surprised at how many people think that having sex with someone intoxicated is acceptable,” Nguyen said. “We need to educate others and teach them not to rape.”

“As a college student, I think it’ll affect students in a positive way,” said BC alumnus Anthony Tran, a freshman at Cal State East Bay. “Being able to state whether or not they give consent clearly prevents any misunderstandings and reduces the amount of gray areas; however, I don’t think this law will work to prevent or help cases regarding rape because it does not fully provide a solution and still leaves room for arguments.”

Other people have also addressed that the bill shifts the burden of proof to (usually male) students accused of sexual offenses, turning the controversy into a gendered issue.

“Laws might be gender neutral and inclusive, but their applications are not—it truly is a war on men,” said Harry Crouch, President of the National Coalition for Men (NCFM), on “The Observer.”

By GRASCHELLE HIPOLITO SPORTS EDITOR

Critics fear the overflow of cases in which campus boards convict young men (and, occasionally, young women) of sexual assault for ambiguous situations.

Although the efficacy of the bill is being questioned and debated, nearly everyone agrees about the importance of educating people about rape itself.

“With or without the law, I would be mindful about consent and I would hope that others would too,” senior Thomas Villalpando said. “I believe that it is morally right to have respect for that person and not let hormones takes over your actions that could maybe lead to you being put in prison.”

Environmental science class focuses on awareness

By JESSICA LEE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

‘Tis the season to be green!

Through her environmental science class and L.I.F.E. club, Honors Environmental Science teacher Isabel Cuerpo is on a mission to spread environmental awareness and to involve more students in the Earth’s environmental health.

Students may have seen different colored flags on the flag pole. The flags are a part of the San Joaquin County sponsored air quality flag program the Honors Environmental Science students are a part of.

Every day, a group of students look up the quality of the air on the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District website and hang a certain color of flag depending on the observed data. A green flag means the air quality is good, yellow means moderate, orange means unhealthy for sensitive groups and red means unhealthy.

Cuerpo decided to be a part of this program because she said monitoring air quality is important, given that many students at Bear Creek and even some faculty, herself included, have respiratory problems. The program allows P.E. teachers to make wiser decisions about whether or not to take the students outside.

“What [P.E. teachers] can do is monitor [the air quality] by looking at the flag and then they can say, ‘Ok, is this a good day to go and take the kids out and play or should we go in doors and do something else?’” Cuerpo said.

Students, with or without asthma, appreciate the air quality flags.

“I think it’s pretty cool because I never really thought about how our air quality was,” junior Antwan Bradford said. “I never thought it was really important because I feel fine.”

“Air quality isn’t on everyone’s top priority to think about so [the program] is good because it lets us know how we’re doing and when we shouldn’t be outside,” senior Taylor Misa said.

Cuerpo has added this air quality program to the other environment-friendly activities her students participate in. Other activities include California Coastal Cleanup and the Earth Day Festival, both of which she coordinates with CP

Chemistry teacher Steve Meredith.

At California Coastal Cleanup, students clean up the area around Sandman Park, picking up trash and painting over graffiti. This year, approximately 125 students volunteered.

At the Earth Day Festival, students participate in various educational programs and spread awareness about the environment to children as they learn more about it themselves.

Cuerpo’s goal is not only to expose students to information but to instill a sense of responsibility to take care of the environment.

“What we’re trying to do is instill the value of stewardship and, in order for [students] to start caring about the environment and their impact, [as well as for them to think about] what they can change in their lifestyle, they need to be exposed so that they are aware,” Cuerpo said.

As advisor for L.I.F.E. club, Cuerpo hopes to spread more environmental awareness and touch more lives.

“We are hoping that we will be able to promote more about being green,” L.I.F.E. club president Golden Nguyen said. “We are trying to get more participation in the club for our clean-up days and our daily recycling.”

One way Nguyen hopes to get more people involved in caring for the environment is by starting DIY (Do It Yourself) projects each month.

Participation requirement in class raises some students’ anxiety levels Many students can relate to the anxious feeling of being called on in class — however, there is more at stake for students in classrooms that require participation as a part of their grade.

The requirement of participation for a grade, in severe cases, has led some students to experience high levels of anxiety and emotional trauma.

“I consider myself more on the shy side when it comes to class discussions,” junior Analisa Rillamas said. “I usually know exactly what’s going on in the class and I understand what is being taught, but I just get really nervous when I don’t know if I will be called on.”

Those who support the requirement claim that participation can help students develop vital social skills that will benefit them in their adulthood.

Verbal interaction can also help students improve in a certain subject, especially in foreign language classes where knowing how the language is spoken is a vital part of comprehension and fluidity.

“By making students participate, I can assess how good they are and I can encourage their motivation to produce language,” Spanish teacher Andres Gil said. “Some are shy but they have to break that barrier and speak up.

Gil puts his participation policy into effect by requiring students to accumulate at least five points per week by raising their hand and answering questions to warm-up exercises, homework or class worksheets. It is the responsibility of the student to be active for their grade.

For bold students eager to speak up in a classroom discussion, participation points are acquired with more ease as opposed to their shy counterparts.

Although some students who have a stronger sense of confidence develop anxiety as well, most are comfortable with speaking up in class.

“I

usually know exactly what’s going on in the class and I understand what is being taught, but I just get really nervous when I don’t know if I will be called on.

”

-JUNIOR ANALISA RILLAMAS

PHOTO BY JESSICA RODRIGUES

Green is good!: The green-colored air quality flag tells students that the air is healthy.

Adopt-a-Green-Space program.

Program Director senior Jennifer Farias hopes to build on what previous students have already done; last year’s focus was on cleaning up the campus and this year she wants to focus on

“W

hat we’re trying to do is instill the value of stewardship and, in order for [students] to start caring about their environment and their impact, they need to be exposed so that they are aware.

”

-HONORS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE TEACHER ISABEL CUERPO

One project was paper machete cups: the club members took used water bottles, cut them in half, and used recycled paper to cover the bottles.

“We’re using recycled products to create something new and something everyone can use,” Nguyen said. “The mission of L.I.F.E. club is to spread awareness of living green so that the environment benefits. By living green, you can save money and also be creative.”

L.I.F.E. club has also recently restarted their

planting.

“We just want to continue [beautifying the campus] and make it better,” Farias said. “With Red Cross’ spot, we took out the rose bushes. We want to put stuff over there. We want to put more flowers so it’s more colorful, and we also want to plant trees.”

By the end of the year, Cuerpo hopes students will be educated about the environment and more will take action to ensure it continues to thrive.

take. Usually you would see people only carrying around Spanish textbooks. Italian would have been my second choice if I knew more people who were taking it.”

However, some former French students argued that despite taking the course, it was not as beneficial as they thought it would be. Prior to the discontinuance of Bear Creek’s French course, students enrolled in the class were already struggling as their lessons were replaced

teacher Andres Gil said. “But, like French, there wasn’t enough signups. Spanish is a very popular language spoken in California, but I also believe Asian languages such as Mandarin or [Khmer] should be taught as well.”

Italian I, II, and III are still available for students besides Spanish. Students enrolling in Italian agreed that while it was not a popular language to learn, it was beneficial.

“I chose Italian because I thought it would

“Participating orally helps you learn better, especially when you’re learning a foreign language,” senior Michael Macedo said. “In classes like math or English, though, I find it a lot harder to want to participate.”

Teachers who advocate for more class participation also gain the benefit of a better insight into their students’ thought processes and ideas, especially those who are not as open as others.

“I think sharing out ideas and thought processes that you go through with others broadens perspective and opens new ways of thinking,” English teacher Laura LaRue said. “I have found that by randomly choosing students to participate [in class discussions or Socratic seminars], students who normally wouldn’t have participated have become more comfortable because it allows them to come out of their shell.”

With students who are openly interactive in a classroom setting, teachers find it easier to determine their levels of understanding and how to help them improve in their areas of weakness.

Many students who are less comfortable with participating defend the claim that silence does not correlate with incompetence or inability to comprehend material.

“I don’t mind speaking up in class, but I think if some students lack confidence in themselves, they also lack confidence in their work, which will be a disadvantage in the future,” junior Victor Lu said.

Students bemoan lack of diversity of foreign language options

By ASHLEY HOANG STAFF WRITER

Japanese, Mandarin, Khmer, Hindi, and Latin — these are some of the many foreign language courses available to students from local high schools in the Stockton area. With a variety of foreign language courses to choose from, students are able to gain exposure to a variety of different cultures.

However, Bear Creek High School offers fewer foreign classes than any of the other high schools in the Stockton and Lodi District with a mere two: Spanish and Italian.

Because fewer foreign language course are available at Bear Creek, students are left with the choice of either taking Spanish, Italian, or nothing at all.

“Students who are fluent in Spanish should have other options,” junior Allison Watkins said. “And our school should be open to diverse languages beside keeping the ones that are most spoken.”

Due to budget cuts and an insufficient number of teachers, Bear Creek’s French course was dropped last year. With the former French course, students were able to learn a language and culture that was not common in California.

“French was different,” junior Victor Lu says.

“It wasn’t a language that most people would

A

ccording to the Center for Applied Linguistics, more schools are cutting down the less popular courses such as Mandarin or Latin, and keeping the more well-known courses such as Spanish. with Rosetta Stone, an online language-learning software.

“It wasn’t really much help taking French courses online because it wasn’t the same experience as learning it first hand or verbally,” junior Jacqueline Gaspar said. “I wished I could have learned more.”

According to the Center for Applied Linguistics, more schools are cutting down the less popular courses such as Mandarin or Latin, and keeping the more well-known courses such as Spanish.

“Before I came to Bear Creek, I believed that German was offered as well,” Spanish II and III

look more interesting on my college apps and make me look unique,” senior Golden Nguyen said. “[Italian] was also beneficial because I learned many Latin roots which helped improved my vocabulary.”

Because UCs and CSUs require a minimum of three years of the same foreign language, students are restricted to foreign language courses solely for the credit they’ll receive.

“I would have loved to learn any new or different language,” junior Bernadette Baguyo said. “Just learning a different language other than the one people know would have been a really educational and fun experience.”

INFOGRAPHIC BY ASHLEY HOANG

FEATURE

THE BRUIN VOICE THE BRUIN VOICE

DECEMBER 12, 2014 DECEMBER 12, 2014

3

Untreated depression a serious risk factor for suicide

By CAMERON MORELLI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Although the holiday season is often associated with cheeriness and joy, some believe that the stress of preparing for holiday events contributes to higher suicide and depression rates.

This season can also serve as a reminder of the loved ones lost by many since their absence is emphasized when families and friends unite for the holidays.

Despite the additional anxiety experienced during the holiday season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that suicide rates are actually the lowest in December and climax in the fall and spring. Nonetheless, suicide remains a serious problem, particularly among teens.

In fact, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), suicide is the third-leading cause of death among young people between the ages of 15 and 24 in the United States. The stresses of high school, finding oneself, and fitting in can be particularly difficult for many teens.

“Personally, [my] suicidal thoughts occur when people judge and make me feel unworthy or unaccepted — like I’m not good enough,” senior Erin Gust, who suffers from depression, said. “Eventually, it comes to the point where you just can’t deal with it anymore and want to end it all.”

Reasons why teens commit suicide range

widely, but according to NAMI, some of the causes include major disappointment, failure, rejection and experiencing family turmoil. These risk factors, however, are usually not the direct causes of suicide in teens.

According to a report in 2004 by the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 90 percent of those who die by committing suicide suffer from depression, a mental disorder, or a substance-abuse

“P

eople say ‘just be happy,’ but that makes it worse. It’s like telling someone who has cancer to ‘just get better.’ It doesn’t work that way.

”

-SENIOR ERIN GUST

disorder. Those who suffer from these and other disorders have difficulty managing stresses such as failure and rejection and are unable to realize that these stresses are not permanent. Therefore, disappointment, failure, rejection, and loss are often not the direct causes of suicide in teens but stimuli for suicide in those that suffer from mental or substance-abuse disorders. “[Negative thoughts] usually come gradually,” Gust said. “I’ll be having a good couple of days, and then all of a sudden I can have a bad moment. I learned from my therapist Nick Palun that at those moments I’m not in my rational mind

and, therefore, I over-think situations with a negative twist.”

Several studies also suggest that those who attempt suicide have low levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that helps control impulsive thoughts and actions. This is why antidepressant drugs, which affect serotonin levels, are used to treat depression and suicidal thoughts.

“I’m already on my third different type of medicine because it takes awhile to find the right one,” Gust said. “I just think most people don’t take depression seriously and sometimes joke around about it.”

Triggers of depression and suicidal thoughts vary widely among individuals, and in some cases, they can even arise seemingly out of nowhere.

“The school psychologist, Jennifer [Shirron], told me that with depression, there doesn’t always have to be a reason why I feel the way I do; it just happens,” Gust said. “That’s what frustrates a lot of people when I’m in that state because they look for an answer to fix it, but there’s usually never an answer.”

Often, those contemplating suicide feel lonely and alienated, so it is important to remind loved ones who suffer from these feelings that they are not alone. It is also important to listen intently and take the conversation seriously.

“People say ‘just be happy,’ but that makes it worse,” Gust said. “It’s like telling someone who has cancer to ‘just get better.’ It doesn’t work that way. I have clinical depression and it’s a real ill-

ness that can only be helped with treatment and medicine just like any other illness.”

Depression and suicidal thoughts can take a large toll on one’s life, affecting virtually all aspects including relationships with others, work, and school.

“Last year I had three AP classes and now I only have one, but I’m still struggling more than I did last year,” Gust said. “Believe me, if being happy was a choice, I wouldn’t be feeling this way.”

Listening and empathy key to helping others

By ANISSA YPON STAFF WRITER

Earlier this year, a Bear Creek student posted a tweet saying that he was going to commit suicide that night.

The student received replies that said he was foolish, seeking attention and was too weak to commit suicide.

Instead of helping the cause, several students added to his despair. Fortunately, a few friends quickly went to the student’s house with hopes of saving him.

“We went to his house and listened to what he needed to get off his chest,” senior Andre Albino said. “All he needed was someone to be there for him instead of attacking him.

Now look at him; he’s built confidence and it’s because we reminded him of his worth.”

This student wasn’t the only one with suicidal thoughts. In the beginning of September, Lodi teen Hudson Kuehne was found hanged at DeBenedetti park. After the suicide, the

incident went viral on social media apps such as Twitter and Instagram, where his family and friends shared their condolences and feelings toward the tragic loss of someone special. Lodi students posted pictures with thoughtful messages about how much he meant to them, the best memories they shared and how hard life would be to continue on without him there.

“I didn’t know him personally, but everyone talked great about him like he was a legend,” a Lodi junior, who asked to remain anonymous, said. “I know he’ll always be remembered by others as someone with a brilliant personality and amazing humor.”

Like most tragedies, it takes an incident to hit home on a personal level before people take notice. Suicide is no different.

Sadly, most people claim they never saw the signs.

People attempt suicide as a method to escape a life that they feel has diminished.

The fault in others is that they

assume suicide to be irrational without understanding the difference in the thought process of someone who is suffering suicidal disorders and someone who is just struggling with their emotions.

“I was skeptical coming into junior year especially after all I was going through with my parents splitting, sisters moving out and Joseph passing away,”

“W

deemed as selfish. Experts say suicide isn’t taken as seriously as it should due to a lack of understanding why someone may be contemplating suicide.

“The biggest misunderstanding people have about suicide is thinking it’s for attention,” sophomore Chelsea Leon said.

Being suicidal is portrayed as selfish because others do not understand that people

e went to his house and listened to what he needed to get off his chest. All he needed was someone to be there for him instead of attacking him.

”

-SENIOR ANDRE ALBINO

senior Sarah Salinas said when sharing her story that led her to suicidal thoughts. “I stopped going to school, drank, smoked, I did anything that I thought would ease the pain until my friends made me realize I needed to change.”

Most don’t understand how to help those who are suicidal because not only is not understood but is oftentimes

contemplating suicide are in need of help. Some believe that it’s a ridiculous concept because sadness is only temporary, but people who suffer suicidal disorders don’t see hope for their future. Talking about suicide is not a cry for attention, it’s a sign that the person struggling needs help and counseling.

The first step to help those in need is realizing when the matter

First person: Loneliness and isolation led me to attempt suicide

By ANONYMOUS

My story is hard to tell because it is not like the ones you were told. I did not grow up with abusive parents.

I was never bullied severely in school.

My home was never unstable. Instead, I was a high-achieving, well-rounded AP student. My parents loved me and my friends supported me. Life was, if not great, okay. Growing up, I was told I’d have a happy, easy, and healthy life, and as much as I wanted to believe that, I knew that there was always a little gray cloud hovering over me as I grew up. As I entered high school I began noticing subtle changes in my home as well as myself. In my home, my mother rarely spoke or looked at me, my dad was never home for a whole day, and my sister stopped eating dinner with us.

I became more introverted around my family and rarely came in contact with them. It was later when I discovered that home was not where the heart is, but rather where I became closed in and anxious. The heart was instead where I had least expected it to be: at school.

There, with my friends, I was able to join many clubs and extracurricular activities. Before I knew it, my week was filled with club meetings, sport practices, and volunteering events. But instead of feeling overwhelmed, I felt happy for a while.

The beginning of junior year was much tougher than the previous years.

I was warned by many upperclassmen that this was the year when it mattered,

where grades and test scores ultimately determine my future. I accepted the challenge, and the number of AP classes I enrolled in grew. However, junior year also marked the year my sister was diagnosed with anorexia. My parents, stressed over their youngest daughter’s eating disease, had completely cut me out of the picture. At the moment, I

and my father cutting off the only thing that kept me sane, I sank to my lowest level. Locked in the bathroom for more than three hours, I decided to end my life. I did not know what time, or how my parents discovered me, but I remembered gaining consciousness as I saw the rope around my neck as my father tried cutting it away with a knife. It was then when a complete numbness washed eeing that my mother’s main over me as I saw my mother’s cold eyes. concern was the money, and “Nobody did anything to you my father cutting off the only to make you do that, you know,” thing that kept me sane, I sank she told me. “You brought this on to my lowest level. Locked in yourself.” the bathroom for more than After being in the ICU, three hours, I decided to end I was transferred to a mental hospital. While there, I was my life. forced to reflect upon my actions.

Looking back to that day, I saw that suicide was not my only believed that it was okay. They could option. At the hospital, I met teenagers focus on her treatment while I focused there with lives much worse than mine, on school. However, the neglect I felt yet they are able to push through and at home evolved into daily arguments continue living. and emotional breakdowns.

Midway through my time there, I One day, during one of the cold began to realize all that I would have periods my parents gave me every missed out on if my suicide attempt once in a while to silence me, I was had actually been successful. I didn’t told by my father that I was no longer realize what an impact I would have had allowed to do any clubs or after school on my family, friends, and schoolmates activities. If I tried to, he told me, had I not been here alive. I learned new he would call the cops. My anxiety coping skills to deal with my stress, levels shot up and I suddenly felt more anxiety, and depression. Looking back, closed-in than ever before. A couple I now realize all the other options I had minutes later my mom came in, only to when I felt like I was alone. Suicide threaten to file a lawsuit against one of is a permanent solution for a temporary my clubs because she hadn’t received problem or feeling. Life has so much her payment back. Seeing that my more to offer and I hope that now I will mother’s main concern was the money, be able to experience every day of it.

S

is serious. Although depression is not the only factor leading to suicide, it has been proven from research by psychologists that after a prolonged amount of time, depression may cause suicidal thoughts. The unfortunate fact is that instead of aiding those in serious need, most people tear them down rather than lift them up.

“I don’t believe people always intend to be malicious in their words, but I believe social media serves as an outlet where people can say whatever they want and they abuse that power,” said senior Mustafa Khan, whose Senior Project topic is on Yellow Ribbon awareness.

“Nowadays, people will tweet or post anything for a few likes, favorites and retweets even if it means attacking someone who is in serious trouble.”

Instead of giving more reason to end a life, it’s important to remind those who feel things will never be bright again that in due time, something out there is worth living for. Showing compassion may not always

save lives, but being there for those in need has the potential to change the course of someone’s actions.

“I was so close to attempting [suicide] until one day a few friends of mine decided to hang out,” a freshman, who asked to remain anonymous, said. “I opened up and they convinced me that I still have so much to live for, and I’m so thankful for that to this day.”

There are many organizations with goals to prevent the contemplation of suicide and the act itself.

Yellow Ribbon is an organization that was created by parents and friends of Mike Emme, a high school student in Colorado who committed suicide in 1994. The yellow ribbon became the symbol because Emme was commonly remembered by his yellow 1968 Ford Mustang that he bought and worked hard to rebuild.

This organization is meant to serve as a bright reminder that there are people willing to help and give hope to those in need.

Seeking help from Trevor Life Line Project saved me

By ROBERT WROTEN

As a teenager who has struggled with my own sexuality, I know it can be really hard, especially when you feel like nobody understands you. For me, realizing I like guys wasn’t as hard as letting the world know. Growing up with some religious background and grandparents who weren’t so “gay friendly” made me feel wrong and really

what I could do with that, I realized things weren’t okay. Thinking about the reaction my family would have when they found my dead body the next morning and what they would say at my funeral was clearly not normal. A lot of times I dismissed these thoughts. Things did get better the end of my sophomore year because of my friends. I hadn’t told them about my situation, but I’d seen the things they’ve

w

hen I started picking up scissors, or looking at pill bottles and bathtubs and thinking what I could do with that, I realized things weren’t okay.

messed up. It can be so demeaning when all people do is make homophobic jokes and put you down without even directly talking to you. Honestly, all of the things I heard and society’s stereotypes made me feel like I would’ve rather died than be “flimsy” or a “flaming faggot.”

Just hearing over and over and over that being gay is apparently a sin and it’s not normal can make you actually believe it. I fell to becoming a victim to that kind of thinking ― I felt isolated and depressed. I remember the summer before high school I spent a lot of time just sleeping and randomly crying. I was hostile towards my family. I didn’t want to play the straight guy act anymore ― he wasn’t me, he never was me.

But people actually get beaten and killed for who they love. When I started picking up scissors, or looking at pill bottles and bathtubs and thinking

overcome and as individuals they make me feel very special and needed.

This summer I slowly came out to a few friends but that wasn’t enough to help me. I needed to talk to a counselor, someone I could share personal information with. That’s why I called the Trevor Lifeline Project, an organization that helps lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender youth, or anyone who is in crisis. I explained to the trained counselors my coming out issue. They weighed the pros and cons of going through with it and made me feel like the normal person I am. Calling them and talking about my feelings is something I will never regret doing because they inspired me to be honest with my loved ones about who I really am, and that is the reason why I’m in such a good place now and really look forward to what life has to offer.

4

THE BRUIN VOICE

HOLIDAY

DECEMBER 12, 2014

DEAR SANTA...

Good Ol’ Saint Nick, For the past few years, the gifts that you’ve stuffed in my stocking have been interesting (to say the least). I appreciate that you and the elves take the time to make all of these goodies but there are a few things that I don’t want for Christmas this year.

I would really appreciate it if you stopped giving me deodorant. I have been receiving about three sticks of antiperspirant from you every year since middle school and, honestly, your gifts make me feel a little self-conscious. Why do you think that I need so much deodorant? Do I really sweat that much? Can you smell my sweat all the way from the North Pole?

Also, I politely request that you stop leaving packs of Haynes underwear in my stocking. First of all, it’s uncomfortable to open the undies in front of my dad, especially when they are hot pink with little hearts and cupcakes on them. Also, the wrapped underwear packs look very similar to a rolled up sweater. It’s quite the let down every year; I grab the gift expecting a cute cardigan but tear the wrapping paper off only to find some granny panties.

Now I don’t mean to sound ungrateful or greedy, but it is important that you know I have a sufficient supply of deodorant and underwear. Because of my “selfless” personality, I request that you give my share of deodorant and underwear to some lucky girls and boys; these goodies have brought countless smiles to my face and I hope that I can share the happiness with others.

With much love, Brooke Shimasaki

Dear Mr. Claus: I haven’t asked much of you in the past, and I don’t intend to change that any time soon. So this year, I have but one request for you: a policy reaffirming essential, standardized, eternal & necessary truths (PRESENT).

By wrapping up all school policies into a simple, 10,000 page document, the PRESENT would anticipate all possible changes in regulations over the next millenium, and is estimated to save over $1 billion, adjusted for inflation, in paychecks for superintendents. Vague, inconsistently enforced, or unpopular policies such as the social media contract (unrelated to The Social Contract, a political science tract that’s actually worth the paper it’s written on), the tardy policy (which can be flouted by barrel-rolling over the fence from Julia Morgan to sneak into school late), the dress code (sexist against men with big abs, like the ones on the Abercrombie bags), and the football-gets-firstpriority policy would be clarified for all present and future students. A PRESENT would have so much power that we could override federal or even international decision making, so we could finally live out my dream of building a nuclear arsenal in the science lab. Moreover, annoyingly illiterate underclassmen would be forced to read through the policy: WASC projects a 300% increase in reading scores if PRESENT is implemented.

Some whiny fools, including those pesky protesters from “The Bruin Voice,” might argue that a PRESENT is oppressive, taking away basic civil liberties by forcing students to do what an administration arbitrated in the year 2015, which people from the future will say is far too reactionary, and rednecks in the present say is far too lib’rul. However, Santa, you know how to travel through time (how else do you distribute gifts throughout an entire time zone all at once?) so travelling to the future to check up on what kind of morals society has (they probably worship Steve Jobs and Taylor Swift and are ruled by social justice Nazis from Tumblr) should be easy for you. Past leadership might’ve rejected a PRESENT, and few other schools have been so ambitious, but our glorious czar — I mean, administration — has been sufficiently prolific in approving previous changes to the school’s rules and regulations, so how could they possibly say no?

A PRESENT is a solution to all of Bear Creek’s problems. In lieu of selfish demands for myself, I beseech you! Give the school a present!

Aidan Backus

Dear SantaBro, Greetings, bro! This is Easter Bunny here. Yeah, it’s been like, what, a couple years since we last got together at your joint at the North Pole? I remember we drank some god awful hot cocoa that your elf maid made for us. Well, at least she was pretty hot.

Anyways, I have a favor to ask again. You see, my henchmen bunnies are suffering quite a bit from these Ebola outbreaks and the deforestation that these ungrateful humans are bringing upon our environment. I don’t get why we still have to do all these time-consuming jobs for them. Back to the point: I need to borrow your elves to hide the Easter eggs all over the world.

I get that the elves need to work 25/7 to build all the toys you send to those “good” children around the world, but if I don’t get some helping hands, I would have to do all the work, and I ain’t about that life. Besides, we all know that these children are all naughty and spoiled, always demanding this and that.

Also, I might even lose my job. You see, my popularity has been going down lately and not a lot of kids seem to believe that I exist. Ungrateful brats. Yeah, I really need your help, broski.

P.S.: Toothie Fairy wishes you greetings also.

Thanks, Easter “Sam Park” Bunny

Dear Santa, The only wishes I have this year are for world peace and everyone to unconditionally love one another.

I’m just kidding with you, old man. I’m going to keep it real because that was a load of bull****. As you well know by now, I’m quite cynical and frankly selfish. Perhaps, that’s why each year I never found a single present under a nonexistent Christmas tree in my house.

If I were to ask for one thing and one thing only, it would have to be a lump of coal that is often commercialized as unworthy and connotes a negative reaction from kids. But, hey! Considering the gas prices these days and me possibly getting my driver’s license in a year or two, I’d be more than willing to take one for the team of all these “innocent” and “well-behaved” children.

And if all things fail with your slave army of elves or you’ve overdosed yourself with milk and cookies, technology has developed miraculously for seven year-olds to pretend that they’re seventeen year-olds on Facebook, so just drop a couple of million dollars into my college bank account because it can’t be too hard for a thousand-year-old man.

Sincerely, Girl realistically preparing for her future, but you can call me Jessica Dang.

Dear Santa, Christmas just doesn’t feel the same anymore. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older. Or maybe it’s because the spirit of Christmas has disappeared — which was bound to happen in this technological age. It’s pretty sad. It seems like the whole essence of love and appreciation that comes with Thanksgiving is gone by the strike of six with the beginning of Black Friday. Christmas, in short, has become primarily materialistic. I say primarily because I will admit that some of the joy from Christmas has always come from seeing what Santa put under the tree but at least before there was still the whole “warm” feeling that came with being around your family and the happiness from the gifts was more from the surprise. Now? Children expect to receive iPhones, iPads, and other expensive, fancy items. And the worst part? They no longer believe in you, Santa. They know their parents are the ones buying these items. And when they don’t receive what they wanted? They cry and whine and scream, yelling about how they hate their parents. Now, spoiled children like the aforementioned have always existed but there seems to be more and more of them every year. It just makes me sad.

Sincerely, Jessica Lee

Dearest Santa, It’s that time of the year again and being the indecisive person that I am, I always struggle with what I want every year. As much I would love to start off this letter by singing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” to a special boy, I unfortunately don’t have the highnote vocals for it. I have decided that (maybe) I don’t want just one thing: Even though it may be geographically impossible, could you pull off a Christmas miracle and let it snow in Stockton. Speaking as a former resident of the Winter Wonderlands of the East Coast I would like it very much if you can shimmy some of those snowflakes on our rooftops even if it has to be ice shavings from a snow cone machine. I mean some of those Northern states get like five feet of snow. C’mon Santa share some love.

I don’t want the D on my report card. I would even go as far as saying I’d be happy if I even got a C, as long as that dreadful letter that stands for “Death [of Beloved Patricia Yadao]” goes poof. I’m not a slacker I just bit off more than I could chew. Hopefully, you have the Calculus gods in your contacts. Much appreciated.

I want my driver’s license already. I know I’ve been putting it off a lot lately and it has been pushed until later by quite a lot of bad luck.

Let’s face it, I am an oldie who can’t drive...yet. Compared to all these 16-year-old babies getting their licenses already, the clock is ticking. I promise I’ll drive better than I do in Mario Kart.

Going back to my statement earlier about my uncertainty on things —I would also want to know what I want to do for the rest of my life.

College is just around the corner and I’m absolutely clueless. Being the overachieving perfectionist I grew up to be, I am pressured to succumb to the sacred pillars of job expectations. I’m not even sure what I’m good at, how am I supposed to find what I love to do when I second guess everything? I just wish to find my calling sooner rather than later. If you could only drop a hint in my stocking, that would be nice.

Sincerely, Patricia Yadao

Dear Santa, It’s been a great year. I’ve made some new friends and had some of the best memories in my life. The most embarrassing moments have also happened to me this year.

I’m tired of embarrassing myself. I’ve asked for a laptop or an iPhone, but I guess not. I’ve been receiving moments in my life that would embarrass me forever. For example, I embarrassed myself at a speech and debate tournament here at Bear Creek. I was in my third round doing duo interpretation and, while performing, I ripped my pants. My pants ripped from the top of my knee to the top of my thigh. Of course people were going to hysterically laugh, but the worst part was that they saw what color underwear I was wearing. I guess that was your late Christmas present for me to share for all the competitors I was against that day.

As a few months passed by, I realized that it was a funny story. I also realized that embarrassing moments are great stories to share. Thank you for the present! But please stop giving me these moments that will make a fool out of me. I hope you enjoyed watching yourself embarrass me in front of those people.

Sincerely, Casey Faamausili

Dear Santa, I heard you give coal to all the “naughty” children. Good, I just ran out and need some for my fireplace. It’s awfully chilly this year. All jokes aside, there is one thing I don’t understand: what makes you think that you can define a naughty child? What are the qualifications for being a nice child? Should a child be declared naughty for telling a harmless lie here and there? This concept is very abstract. Do you have an expert authority to support your claims? Any coherent evidence? No? I’m afraid you can’t impose these standards on children without an argumentative essay. A 10-page essay. MLA format. Arial 12, typed. And don’t forget a Works Cited, or your essay means nothing. Also, it’s due tomorrow with an 8-10 minute PowerPoint presentation. If you have time to give all the children in the world presents in one night, then surely you could do this for me. AP English has taught me well, Santa. It better be one of the best thesis statements of your life.

The 16-year-old girl who never got a present, Jasmine Irada Dear Santa, I know some little poops out there are going to send you a letter like this, except they will ask you for a “bae.” My job here is to make things somewhat easier for you and ask for the condition of our school restrooms to be improved. I came to the conclusion that this was what I wanted for Christmas when I walked in, literally covering my nose, trying to block out a mysterious, sour smell.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that everyone smells horrible. I understand it’s a bathroom — a place to eliminate and excrete all of the foul wastes stored in your body. I also understand and don’t expect our waste products to smell like cinnamon apples or potpourri. All I’m saying is that the insertion of an air freshener would be lovely. Please, I really don’t want to have to wear a gas mask every time I walk into the bathroom.

Another problem is the fact that some girls clearly have no idea where the toilet bowl is. I don’t understand what’s so hard; they’re just sitting there. I literally find puddles around the toilet. Now either that’s urine, or someone was having too much fun with the toilet water. Either way, they’re both unsanitary and someone could possibly slip and fall. I won’t dare go into detail about how I found feces on the floor; however, I will congratulate whoever managed to completely miss the toilet bowl. Go you.

You must think that I’m over-exaggerating. Trust me, walk in there once and you’ll see what I mean. Some other girls also fail to properly throw away their sanitary pads/ tampons. Again, I don’t wanna go into too much detail on that aspect but I’ll say that I’ve seen about enough blood that could probably be used in a satanic ritual. I’m not saying that the girl’s bathrooms are always like this; they have their clean moments, but every time I decide to make a trip to the bathroom, I’m welcomed with all these wonderful surprises.

Although this became more of a rant than a cute “Dear Santa” letter, I hope you do put my wish into consideration and AT LEAST install an air freshener. That’s all this needy girl asks for. Thanks!

You’re the real MVP, Santa, Julianna Reth

FEATURE

THE BRUIN VOICE

DECEMBER 12, 2014

5

The ghost of Christmas past, present and future

By EMMA GARCIA STAFF WRITER

I couldn’t sleep one night, and suddenly the grandfather clock in my room decided to make sure I knew exactly what time it was, which was unusual. Why? I could’ve sworn I didn’t have a grandfather clock in my room when I went to bed.

I convinced myself I was dreaming, even though I hadn’t actually been sleeping, and pulled the covers up over my head. Then I screamed because the blanket was pulled off me. I was half convinced I was somehow in “The Conjuring” — you know, that part where the spirit thing is grabbing the little girl’s feet? That part was creepy.

So, as you would expect, I screamed like I was dying, and I was convinced I was. I looked around my room to see three men, which didn’t exactly make me feel better. I wasn’t in the mood to become a character in “American

Horror Story.” But they were different, at least in appearance.

They were ghosts, for lack of any other word. They were the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future and they told me a few things about how

Christmas was, is and will become. The longer it’s been since they appeared, the more I think I was on ecstasy or something.

In the days of Christmas past, not too long ago actually, the idea and theme

of Christmas was entirely different.

Christmas meant family. It meant toys and candy and not having to worry about anything else. In the Christmas past that was even longer ago, that was true as well. The only difference was that there was the addition of one thing: murders committed by fruitcake.

If you’ve ever eaten fruitcake, you know what it’s like. For those of you who don’t, let me explain.

A fruitcake is a cake made with chopped candied fruit and/or dried fruit and nuts. Unlike the “cake” in the name, it is very dense and not very appetizing. Some people in Christmases past agreed. You see, if your neighbor gave you a fruitcake on Christmas, it was sort of like someone biting their thumb at you.

Basically, it was a horrible insult.

So when this was done, it was socially accepted that you could take the fruitcake and beat them over the head with it until you felt better. This would result in many things but usually death. Weren’t the old days just so

wholesome?

In the present day, as in right now, Christmas has changed quite a bit. Not only has the wonderful tradition of killing people with fruitcakes ceased, so has the theme of being with family.

No longer is it about toys and food and pretty songs about snow. No longer is Christmas about Santa and his labor force of tiny people. It is no longer the North Pole, it’s a capitalist hole.

Not to mention the spoiled children. Think of the world filled with Veruca Salts. That is a very terrifying thing, and I would not like to continue it.

The last little tid-bit of information the three ghosts left me with was their predictions for what Christmas will soon turn into. We all know what we think Christmas will turn into, but I have the real information. Of course this interpretation is subject to change but this was how it was supposed to be at that time.

In the future, the world will be a wasteland with the oceans filled with plastic containers and used wrapping

paper and holiday shopping will be a killer. Literally. In the future every Christmas Eve there is a little competition that is held in every major chain store in the world. Unsurprisingly, it was created in Walmart.

This competition is very similar to the “Hunger Games.” Twenty-four lucky parents are chosen, they stand in line for hours to enter their names, and they compete in a sort of arena until only one is left alive. The last parent standing is able to choose whatever presents they like for their children, and they do not have to pay. It will all be very exciting.

Also in the future, Santa will implement a new program to figure out which children will get more presents.

What is this system? He will proofread the letters he receives and the better writers will receive more presents.

Keep that in mind, children, as you write your letters to Santa.

Now that I have left you all in a delightfully depressing mood, I must take my leave. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Natural or artificial—both trees evoke spirit of the season

By JACK STENSLAND SPORTS EDITOR

Real or fake? Some families hotly debate between choosing a real live blue spruce that will fill the house with the scent of pine or choosing one that will eliminate the possibility of stepping on pine needles on the 4th of July.

Artificial Christmas trees are synthetic trees fabricated in order to cut down the cost, the mess and the time owning a real tree requires.

Manufactures of artificial trees incorporate extra qualities not present in real trees, such as convenient electrical connections and on/off switches to make them easier to decorate. With an estimated national sale of around 40 million trees, the effects of higher quality artificial trees are very apparent.

Over the years companies have strived to create a product as close in resemblance to the real

tree as possible.

“It is nice having a real tree during the holiday “Owning a fake tree takes away all the hassle season,” junior Brittani Eppler said. “It gives off of taking care of and cleaning up after a real tree,” an authentic Christmas vibe that puts a big smile junior Amber Couch said. “One year my family’s on my face.” tree died before Christmas because we forgot to Natural trees, depending on the type, are more take care of it. With an artificial tree, we don’t have sturdy than artificial trees and can often hold the to worry about that.” weight of more Artificial trees ornaments. They ne year my family’s tree died before may be more fiscally bring a fresh Christmas because we forgot to take responsible and more smell and are care of it. With an artificial tree, we time efficient than the traditional don’t have to worry about that. natural trees; however, centerpiece of some will argue that the house.

- JUNIOR AMBER COUCH artificial trees lack the Natural authentic Christmas trees, however, spirit only found in natural trees. pose the hassle of a cleanup and can sometimes To the families obsessed with the idea of a bring unwanted critters, such as spiders and other traditional Christmas, the smell and feel of a real bugs, into the house through the dense bundle of tree is more important than saving money and pine needles. time.

As Couch and her family experienced, natural

“O

”

trees can die — leaving a mess of pine needles that are hard to clean up.

Families often enjoy the whole experience of owning a real Christmas tree — from chopping it down to decorating it. These family activities and gatherings are lost when an artificial tree that only requires decorating one time is introduced.

“Gathering around a lively, green tree with my family putting up ornaments is one of my favorite things about the holidays,” sophomore John Franklin said. “Everyone always enjoys being a part of festivities like that, who couldn’t.”

“Having a family gathering over decorating the Christmas tree is nice and all, but it is not for everyone,” Couch said. “My family doesn’t need a tree in order to get together and have a good time.”

Whether going for a tree that reduces mess and saves time or for one that creates a traditional Christmas feel, one thing will remain the same: the family will enjoy the tree no matter what.

Clubs give back to the community this holiday season

By GRASCHELLE HIPOLITO SPORTS EDITOR

Bear Creek clubs have gotten into the holiday spirit by preparing for events and activities to give back to the community.

Key Club volunteered in Bread of Life and Stuff the Bus 2014 in Lodi. Both events are focused around providing food for the needy.

“As a community service club, our focus is serving the community and those in need,” junior Key Club vice president Daniel Barajas said.

Another charitable Bear Creek club, Red Cross, recently participated in the Sharing & Caring Coat, Blanket and Sock

Drive to provide for people in the community.

“People in need came in and we gave out a lot of coats, clothes, and blankets,” junior Red Cross vice president Hillary Nguyen-Pham said.

Bear Creek’s Glee club will hold Christmas caroling at The Commons Senior Living Center to spread their talent and holiday spirit to others.

LIFE club also held a canned food drive to collect nonperishable items for donation over the holidays. Boxes were placed in many classrooms across campus.

Make-A-Wish club plans to organize a non-profitable event in which people can bring unwrapped gifts and members will work together to wrap them.

“I think it’s important to remember that the holidays are more about giving and not receiving, and that’s what we want to encourage our members to do,” junior Make-A-Wish president Ashley Pana said.

The holidays allow many clubs on campus to get involved in giving back to the community.

It’s a time that fosters charity and for people to open their hearts in holiday spirit. Clubs offer a wide array of holiday events to get students active.

“The holidays are a time when everyone should be happy so we do our best to help those in need,” Barajas said. “We will continue volunteering at holiday-focused events to help as many people enjoy the holiday season as possible.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF BEAR CREEK KEY CLUB

Collecting food for the needy: Two volunteers, along with (from left to right) juniors Rylan Landion, Jasmine Irada, and Daniel Barajas from BCHS Key Club, participate in Lodi’s Stuff the Bus 2014. The food collected will contribute to feeding thousands of people in the county this season.

Starbucks holiday drinks don’t have to be fat and sugar laden

By ARLENE OCANA STAFF WRITER

The holiday season is here and with it comes seasonal favorites. For coffee lovers the holidays are special for one important reason: the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte.

All companies work hard around the holidays to bring in shoppers during the holiday season. Starbucks has almost a cult following when it come to special coffee drinks.

Pumpkin Spice Latte, Peppermint Mocha, Gingerbread Latte and Caramel Brulee Latte are Starbucks’ specialties during the holiday season. These “sureto-love” drinks are quite a hit with Starbucks’ buyers.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the latte and the company said it has sold over 200 million so far.

Setting an average of $4 per

the medium size, Starbucks has made at least $80 million this fall.

“I like them because they remind me of the holidays and taste amazing!” senior Madison Miller said.

Although these Starbucks drinks are often high in calories, there are ways to reduce the calorie intake.

For example, taking out the whipped cream decreases the number of calories and amount of sugar in a drink. Taking both out of a grande Caramel Brulee Latte can decrease the drink from 440 calories to 360 calories according to the nutritional facts on the Starbucks website.

“I usually just ask for the drinks they have on display” senior Yasmeen Lazkani said.

“It’s easier that way to not make my order complicated.”

People can also reduce the amount of calorie intake by

choosing the right kind of milk.

A grande Peppermint Mocha goes from 410 calories to 290 calories without whipped cream and a substitute of nonfat milk.

While Starbucks posts

how many calories are in each drink by the coffee name on the ordering board, it does not list the ingredients in the drinks.

As a result, many Starbucks consumers do not know what they are consuming and most

will not ask themselves what is in a drink.

Daily News released an article on blogger Vani Hari, better known as “Food Babe,” who went into Starbucks herself to find out what the

Pumpkin spice latte contains.

Starbucks headquarters allowed Hari to go in and look.

“I started to write down the ingredients of the Frappuccino syrup,” Hari said. “I got a sense of, ‘woah, these flavored drinks are full of processed food chemicals — I can’t believe they’re adding all this and charging a premium.’”

Hari wrote that the most concerning chemical in the Pumpkin Spice Latte is the caramel color level IV, a possible carcinogen.

With all the artificial flavors, consumers still think they are tasting real pumpkin, although the drink contains no real pumpkin in its ingredients.

Regardless of the ingredients, consumers love the flavored drinks.

“It gets me in the mood for the holidays,” senior Sarah Salinas said.

W H A T ’ S Y O U R F AV O R I T E P A R T O F T H E H O L I D AY S ?

ALEXIE INFANTE Senior

JAXX BRYAN POWELL Sophomore

BILL ATTERBERRY Principal

“The atmosphere of the season is so cheerful and family based.”

“I love everything: the music, presents, and food.”

“Getting time off and playing with my guitars, and I have a lot!”

POLL AND PHOTOS BY JESSICA DANG

6

The Bruin Voice

Pop-culture in perspective

NATALIA GEVARA

Music industry guilty of double standards for females With her outstanding new album titled “1989” it might be difficult to remember the not-so-brief period of time when basically everyone hated Taylor Swift.

The reasoning behind their disdain usually went along the lines of this: “Taylor Swift is an insane ex-girlfriend who needlessly whines about relationships in every one of her songs” — or some variation of that.

Taylor Swift, however, has her own response to this perspective.

“Frankly, I think that’s a very sexist angle to take,” Swift said in an interview on the radio show Jules, Merrick and Sophie. “No one says that about Ed Sheeran. No one says that about Bruno Mars. They’re all writing songs about their exes, their current girlfriends, their love life and no one raises a red flag there.”

Honestly, she has a point. Does the girl write about her love life often? Yes, but not anymore than your average musician.

Think of some of your favorite Ed Sheeran songs. “Thinking Out Loud” — love song.

“Lego House” — love song. “Give Me Love” — obviously, another love song. The list goes on.

So Ed Sheeran has his own hefty share of discography regarding relationships; where’s the resentment toward him?

There isn’t any, and there shouldn’t be, because he’s doing what musicians do — writing about his life as genuinely as he can.

Swift does the same in her music. She writes to reflect an honest account of her own life — and like most people this often includes romantic relationships.

Yet Swift has fallen victim to vicious comments via magazines, television, and the Internet concerning her reputation as a psychopath who can’t live without being in a relationship.

The way that I see it, the very unjustified perception of Taylor Swift is thanks in part to the jealousy from fangirls who surfaced after she dated heartthrobs, such as Taylor Lautner and Harry Styles, and a sexist music industry that will find every reason to tear down a successful female entertainer.

Fortunately, Swift hasn’t allowed the criticism to bother her too much, and she even mocks her man-hating image in her new song “Blank Space.”

After critics have raised the point that Swift shouldn’t serve as a role model to the younger generation of females, because she puts too much emphasis on having a significant other.

Nevertheless, Swift stands by the belief that her music is only an account of her personal life — and she’s willing to share that with others.

“They’re [her fans] discovering the music that tells them how they are going to live their lives and how they should feel and how it’s acceptable to feel,” Swift said in an interview with TIME Magazine. “I think that that’s kind of exciting.”

Swift is a very talented individual who has won seven Grammy Awards, has been named the first woman on Billboard’s Woman of the Year, and has supported charities for ill children, arts education, natural disaster relief and children’s literacy.

Hopefully with the rising popularity of her new album, the Taylor Swift hate will begin to deteriorate. Say what you want about T-Swift, at one point or another, we have all found ourselves humming the tune to “Shake It Off” subconsciously.

ENTERTAINMENT

DecemBer 12, 2014

Budding authors take on 50,000 word challenge

By AIDAN BACKUS ONLINE EDITOR

A novelist was once quoted as saying “I love the whooshing sound [deadlines] make as they go by.” Likewise, every student knows the pain of having to get an essay done in a strict time limit.

So why would a writer self-impose any deadline, let alone one that forces him to write over a thousand words a day?

The Creative Writing class did just that: students participated in the National Novel Writing Month, an event in which writers have the month of November to reach a certain word count.

While the most common goal is a novel of 50,000 words (1,667 per day), students can decide for themselves how much they wish to write, and what type of story to write.

According to the Office of Letters and Light, the organization that runs NaNoWriMo had over 300,000 writers around the world participated in 2013.

“I think I can finish in time,” senior Deziree Whitfield said. “I don’t have a word count set for myself, but I know how [my novel] is going to end.”

While anyone can participate in NaNoWriMo, Creative Writing teacher Grace Morledge decided to assign it to her class after learning about a similar program at Christa McAuliffe Middle School.

“NaNoWriMo seemed like the natural thing for Creative Writing to participate in, since we had the time, the purpose and the Chromebooks, which give us a good opportunity to write in class,” Morledge said.

Though her students’ stories are school assignments, Morledge gave the young writers a great deal of freedom; from love to murder and the apocalypse “I tried to write in a way that incites controversy, but not to the point that people will call [my novel] obscenity,” senior Jacob Williams said.

“There are certain things that you can’t do and make school-appropriate.”

As an example, Williams’s novel follows “odd” people — criminals, fanatics and the like

PHOTO BY JESSICA RODRIGUES

50,000 words in 30 days: Creative Writing student Leighton Savage, a junior, works on his novel entitled “Lost and Found” — a story about the kidnapping of the main character’s family.

— who are forced to band together to defend themselves from a zombie outbreak. He compared his work to “The Catcher in the Rye,” — deemed vulgar by some while others applaud J.D. Salinger’s willingness to sacrifice traditional morals for realism.

Even among authors who met their word goal, only junior Julie Vasquez considered her rough draft complete.

Her 40,000-word novel “Lush” is about a pop-star alcoholic who goes into rehabilitation and ends up helping others recover.

“It was a lot of work deciding how to end [“Lush”], but it was best to end it the way I did,” Vasquez said.

Students who did not finish their novels struggled with suppressing the urge to stop and edit their work rather than continue to write.

Morledge had her students sign a contract in which they pledged to not spend time editing.

“By invoking an absurd month-long deadline on such an enormous undertaking, I understand that notions of craft, brilliance, and competency are to be chucked right out the window, where they will remain, ignored, until they are retrieved for the editing process,” read the contract.

To read excerpts from students’ novels and to vote for your favorite, go to www.bruinvoice.net

Swift’s newest album reveals more intimate view of popstar

By JESSICA MACHADO STAFF WRITER

What’s Taylor Swift’s advice to those who have been criticized and ridiculed their whole lives? Just shake it off.

In Swift’s new album “T.S. 1989,” she brings more than just country and pop music; she blends many different styles of music to convey her life stories in just 13 songs.

“For the last few years, I’ve woken up every day not wanting, but needing to write a new style of music,” Swift said in promotional materials.

Fulfilling her long-desired music diversity, she has written music about every aspect of her life, including failed relationships, wanting to fall in love, criticism of her love life, and what the future may hold for her. Swift tells the story that no one else hears; she sings her true feelings and the truth.

Before listening to this album, I was quite skeptical. Every time I heard a new song from Taylor Swift, I thought, looks like she just broke up with another guy. This album was so much more.

It was her way of expressing all the bottled up feelings she had had in her many relationships, her response to the things people say about her, and the Taylor she was when she was just another pretty face with red lips: pre-stardom Taylor.

Swift writes about when she first came to New York, how she felt and how she knew that she belonged there in “Welcome to New York.”

In “Blank Space,” she writes about the nasty rumors that make her seem like a horrible person, when, in actuality, they are all fake and happen to ruin her love life.

Swift writes about a love that will never go out of “Style,” one she will never forget.

In “Out of the Woods,” she explains how she

A new pop image: The usually country singer Taylor Swift takes on a new genre in her pop-style album titled “1989.” could never get out of the woods in the relationship she was in because she will “always be fighting for something.”

An ex-lover wants her back after pushing her aside and leaving her when all “You Had to Do Was Stay” to be with her.

Swift never lets the haters, the players, or the media get to her. In her hit single, she says that all she does is“Shake It Off” and move on with her life.

In “I Wish I Would,” she wishes she would have told her ex how she really felt so he would’ve stayed with her.

A relationship took a turn for the worse and went from love to hate in “Bad Blood.”

She never wants him to forget about her—she wants him to remember her as the beautiful girl he once loved, even if it’s only in his “Wildest Dreams.”

An ex-lover left her for six months only to come back, say all the right things, and learn “How To Get the Girl.”

She looks back on a past love in “This Love.”

Swift said, “nothing good comes without loss and hardship and constant struggle.”

She feels like the prey being hunted by the predator when with her significant other, the hunter looking for any flaws to exploit. She says in “I Know Places” that she wishes they could just be alone with one another and that she knows places where they can do so.

In a relaxing ending to the album, she writes about about how he was her drug. Getting rid of him made her feel “Clean” once more.

With the style of music ranging from country and pop to dubstep and electronic, there is bound to be a song that will appeal to each and every type of audience out there.

Swift knows how to blend different styles and tones to accent her songs perfectly. Each song sounds different than anything she’s ever written before.

Albeit still mostly about her love life, the album’s songs explain that all she’s ever wanted in life is to fall in love and find true happiness.

On the downside, Swift is still writing about her love life. People are getting tired of hearing love songs, especially from Taylor Swift.

If she really wants to appeal to all audiences, she needs to start writing about other aspects of her life more often. I really enjoyed songs like “Welcome to New York” and “Shake It Off” because they simply were not lovesongs; they showed me a side of Taylor that I had never experienced before: her personality.

It made me feel as if I had somehow became closer with Taylor after listening to those songs.

That intimacy is hard to explain and can only be understood when listening to her music.

“T.S. 1989” is Taylor Swift’s greatest work of art yet and I would highly recommend this album to any lovers of Taylor Swift and music in general.

I cannot wait to see what songs Swift has for her next album.

Review

Part I of ‘Hunger Games’ final trilogy film simmers to a slow boil

By KRISTIN LAM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A revolution that will overthrow the oppressive order of Panem is brewing. “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” thoroughly brings the conflict to a slow boil in preparation for the devastating conclusion, but the film falls short in delivering a thrilling experience.

All the political ramifications of the first and second installments have built up to “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.”

The Capitol has controlled the Districts for the past 75 years through the Hunger Games, but it is time for change.

The symbol of rebellion: The MockWith the dissent Katniss Everdeen sparked ingjay represents hope and defiance in in the Quarter Quell, District 13 is ready to emerge from underground and unite the Districts the oppressive state of Panem. in rebellion.

The rebels just need a symbol to embody their Mockingjay. the cause. Katniss, afflicted with post-traumatic As always, Jennifer Lawrence fleshes out the stress disorder, is their answer. She becomes bold, stubborn protagonist.

Although Katniss is at its beating heart, the story revolves around the building revolution.

Whereas the book could only mention worldly occurrences, seamless movie magic shows the rippling effect she and District 13 have on both the Districts and the Capitol.

Watching the propaganda videos develop is especially satisfying for moviegoers. The movie expertly follows their creation, starting with the headquarter’s embarrassingly pitiful scripted attempt in an artificial environment.

Experiencing the adrenaline-pumping buildup of Katniss and Gale rushing through the battle-stricken ruins of a district only to shoot dow bombing planes in vain and watch the hospital burst into flames, however, gives a devastating gravity to the rebellion. Alongside the ground film crew, the audience is awed by Katniss’s message to villain President Snow: “If we burn, you burn with us.”

“Join the fight” flashes across District 13’s screens at the end of the propaganda video almost

comically in comparison to the Mockingjay’s speech. President Snow, portrayed wickedly by Donald Sutherland, counters these actions through interviews with a victor taken hostage.

Seeing Peeta’s progressive deterioration due to torture in the Capitol’s propaganda videos is almost as heartbreaking as Katniss’s reaction to them.

His last video has a pleasingly tangible impact by ending with a frantic warning that the Capitol is on its way to destroy District 13.

Those bunker scenes are laced with fear and suspense, but the movie weaves the rescue sequence together particularly well from Finnick’s whispered secrets of the Capitol to the reunion of Katniss and Peeta. Its ending scene is tactfully and disturbingly chosen.

For those who have read the book, worry not about the adaptation’s faithfulness. Although slow due to its point in the plot of the final installment, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” thoroughly sets the scene for the grand finale.

SPORTS

THE BRUIN VOICE

DECEMBER 12, 2014

7

FALL SPORTS WRAP UP

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUSAN STENSLAND

DARIUS LIVINGSTON

M o re t h a n p i g s k i n with Livingston

Being a wide receiver, there is nothing I hate more than having to run a slant towards a meat-eating linebacker knowing that he can literally knock me out in exchange for a simple 15-yard penalty.

Over a million high school athletes play football and enjoy the adrenaline rush of colliding into another human being. But when a player does not get up from delivering or receiving a hit, the game of football suddenly becomes a game of survival.

Between college and high school football players, an average of 12 players die annually from physical contact during regulation according to the NY Daily News. In consideration of this horrendous number, many parents restrict their children from participating in the sport.

World icon basketball player Lebron James said, “I don’t want my seven and ten-year-old kids playing football until they fully understand how physically demanding the sport is.”

Even President Barack Obama expressed his hesitation about participating in football.

“I’m a big football fan, but I have to tell you, if I had a son, I’d have to think long and hard before I let him play football,” Obama said.

Players who unfortunately experience these career or lifeending injuries want to blame someone: the coach, the officials, the owners, the other players who hit too hard with impunity.

However, the truth is that accidents are just that: accidents.

Players who participate in football should be aware of the risk of playing a contact sport.

To help with safety concerns, football safety has evolved and reformed over the past decade.

New safety rules and equipment have allowed football to be more safe and enjoyable throughout the years. Advanced technologies in helmets and shoulder pads have been scientifically proven to help reduce the risk of spinal and brain trauma.

Revisions in the safety rules regarding “hitting a defenseless receiver,” in which a defensive player hits the offensive receiver when he is going for the ball, and hitting with the crown of the helmet, which involves engaging contact with your head down, have been banned both in practices and games. These rule changes have helped prevent unnecessary injuries.

Although all of safety changes are for the better, hard-hitting fans of the game say that all of the rules are demasculinizing the sport.

Fans argue that football is supposed to be physical. That people are supposed to get knocked down and get right back up, but fans should not crave serious injuries.

Football is a physical sport that torments the body day in and day out, but it should not take away a player’s ability to walk or live.

Compared to the early stages of football when players wore leather hats as helmets, I would agree that the system has changed dramatically for the better.

At the end of the day, football participants and their parents should know that football is a collision sport, and death is a possible outcome of playing the sport. Although a highly unlikely outcome, it is still a possibility.

PHOTO BY ALBERT DONATO

PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL PASTON

Game Time: Senior Lindsay Merseth sets the volleyball as senior Raven Chanelle prepares for a kill (left). Junior Jack Stensland elevates while shooting in the team’s warm-ups for the section game (top right). Varsity girls cross country start their section race (bottom right).

By DARIUS LIVINGSTON AND JACK STENSLAND SPORTS EDITORS

With the switch of former SJAA powerhouses Lincoln and Lodi highs to the TCAL league, the Bear Creek sports program has quickly become the new sheriff in town, winning league in all fall sports except football, boys soccer and boys cross country.

Water Polo

The boys team finished as league champions, going 23-6 on the season. Captains Jay Halva received Most Valuable Player of the SJAA honors, Jack Stensland was named Defensive Player of the Year and Connor Revay was the Goalie of the Year. Players Quinn Ryan, Mason Aguila and Dalin Nelson were selected for first team all league.

“Our season ended early and we lost some winnable games, but overall we had a good season,” senior Zach Chitwood said. “I understand that it was the best season ever for us and I am glad to be a part of it.”

The girls team experienced the same success as the boys — winning league and having one of the best seasons in school history. Captains Jenna Collins was the league MVP, Carolyn Reiber was Defensive Player of the Year and Kelsi Reed received Goalie of the Year.

Both teams lost in the first round of playoffs to Granite Bay.

Football

Bear Creek’s varsity football team was one vote away from playoffs. In a disappointing 23-14 loss to McNair, Bear Creek fell into a three-way tie for second in the SJAA

with McNair and Stagg with a 3-2 record. Unfortunately, SJAA officials voted against Bear Creek and McNair and sent Stagg to the playoffs. Stagg later was obliterated by Folsom, losing 70-14.

But the future of Bruin football is bright. With a talented junior varsity team who concluded its season with a record of 8-2, the road to success appears closer.

Boys Soccer

The boys soccer team suffered another disappointing season, coming in 6th in the SJAA and finishing with a record of 0-15.

The team had a tough loss at Franklin High. After leading 1-0 for most of the game, the Bruins allowed three consecutive goals in the last minutes of the game and lost 1-4.

“We are going to learn from this season and hopefully make some changes,” junior Ryan Cordova said.

“Next year I think we will do better and win more games.”

“I was disappointed with the outcome of the season; however, I am still looking forward to my senior year playing soccer,” junior Abner Lozano said. “I want to be a part of the BC soccer team that brings home the first league championship.”

Cross Country

Cross country experienced major success this year and almost swept the league meet. Varsity girls finished 5-0 in the regular season; however, at their league event, the Varsity boys came in third with a 3-2 regular season record. Runners Regan Fry, Erica Ramos, Justin Alexander and Carter Bryant advanced to the section meet.

“Overall it was a wonderful

season,” senior Regan Fry said.

“The program has really grown in the past couple of years with new additions to the cross country family.

I fully expect our team to continue to win in the years to come.”

“Everyone on the team worked really hard all year,” junior Rydell Donato said. “It’s a shame that Varsity Boys couldn’t pull off the win at league and finish the sweep. The team deserved it.”

Girls Golf

The team edged out Franklin in the league meet after splitting matches in the regular season.

They finished with a record of 141. Sophomore Shelby Bartlett won the league tournament, bumping captain Brooke Shimasaki off her team number one pedestal.

“The season went well,” Shimasaki said. “All of our practice in the summer and during season helped us play at higher levels and enabled us to win more tournaments.”

The team is not losing any seniors next year, meaning they will remain a force in the SJAA.

for sectionals and placed second for upper finals, respectively.

Volleyball

Bear Creek’s volleyball team has experienced a similar season compared to last year’s team. Both teams went to the second round playoffs, but lost to one of the top three ranked teams in the section.

Seniors Lindsay Merseth and Chasity Davis helped the girls breeze through the regular season and went undefeated.

“We did pretty good this season, not just because of a league change, but because we pushed hard to be on top,” junior Delcie Coulter said.

With phenomenal junior and sophomore talent, the girls plan to go even further in the playoffs next year.

Girls Tennis

The girls tennis team showed an impressive improvement this season compared to last year, even though they did not win league.

Senior phenomenon May Simpson had another terrific season, winning all matches except for two. Simpson continued to play into postseason for singles and made it into the consolation bracket.

Juniors Juhee Park and Fyanna Mayo also had notable seasons, making it to consolation and placing second and qualifying

Motivational cross country Gambling on fantasy runner dominates asthma sports is a reality and the course Fantasy sports participants add the incentive of

By JESSICA LEE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

“Yes, I can. Yes, I can!” These are the words going through senior Erica Ramos’ mind as she is running three miles on rocky terrain, and her legs are about to give out.

Ramos has been on the cross country team, in addition to track, for four years, and she has been captain for three of those four years. This cross country season, she is the first Bear Creek distance runner to achieve a sub-20 minute in the 5,000 meter event in over six years.

Teammates say she is a fundamental reason why the varsity girls were undefeated this season with a 5-0 record and why the girls’ team went to their first SJAA league meet and placed first.

Ramos initially joined cross country because she had a passion for running and because she believed joining a sport would allow her to better assimilate into high school.

“One of the main reasons why I joined is because I came from Elkhorn, a small school, and I felt like I needed to get into something that would help me get into the high school flow better,” Ramos said. “I joined cross country to make friends.”

Ramos had also recently developed asthma and wanted to conquer the disease. “[My passion for running] started at Elkhorn with my P.E. teacher Mr. [David] Cline,” Ramos said. “My experience changed when I got asthma and that’s another main reason why I joined cross country. I wanted to master my breathing so it wouldn’t dictate my life.”

Like almost all great athletes, Ramos started at the bottom and worked her way up. She ran a 16:01 in the two-mile event for her first competition.

“Freshman year, honestly, I didn’t think I was going to go that far,” Ramos said.

Over the years, with dedication and determination, Ramos continuously shaved time off her events.

She never realized her potential, however, until last year at sub-sections at Frogtown when she finished her 5,000 meter event.

“It was the first time I didn’t have to worry about my breathing issues,” Ramos said. “I came in first for our team, and the fact that I felt strong that day made me realize that I can go a long way in cross country.”

Coach Jason Johnson said he always knew Ramos had potential but saw it more in some areas than others.

“Erica has always been a gifted runner, but seemingly more talented at sprinting and middle distance than pure distance early on,” Johnson said. “Last year that began to change; and this year, she powered through to become one of the top 10 Division PHOTO BY ALBERT DONATO II runners in our Taking the lead: Section.”

Ramos surpasses an This year, Atwater opponent. she ran a personal best record of 19:36 in her 5,000 meter event at the SJAA league meet.

It was during her sophomore year when she emerged as a prominent leader and became one of the captains of the frosh-soph girls’ team. Junior and senior year, she was captain for the girls’ varsity team. As captain, she makes an effort to assist other teammates.

“I think she’s an inspiration and a very good role model to her peers,” junior teammate Mylene Ibus said. “She’s a really helping, supportive, and caring teammate.”

While running, Ramos keeps in mind that she’s a role model to her teammates and uses it as motivation.

“I tell people, especially our new runners, that it’s all mental,” Ramos said.

money to intensify enjoyment

By PETER HA STAFF WRITER

Many teens engage in fantasy sports as a way of enjoyment — others, however, use it as a way to make money.

“I chose to do fantasy sports because my friends were always talking about it,” senior Andre Green said. “I figured it would be a fun thing to do.”

Fantasy sports is a game where professional players are chosen in drafts based on the way they statistically perform.

Many different adjustments for point values can be made so that in some leagues, certain players are more valuable than others.

In a standard league, the drafting order is completely randomized in an order of one through 10, one hour before the designated drafting time.

Depending on the sport that is being played, the rounds will vary. In the first round, all players pick in the order they are assigned; in the second round, the picks are reversed, where tenth pick chooses first.

Throughout the draft, every round falls into that sequence.

“Being that it is my first year of fantasy sports, drafting was very difficult,” senior Marcus Bonzo said. “I am in a league full of experienced players so they have a glimpse of who was worth picking in the higher

rounds and who to wait on.”

Picking players requires a lot of critical thinking, especially the ability to synthesize data.

Players must consider the odds that team will give the player enough opportunities to be a reliable fantasy option.Choosing top players also requires analysis of a player’s data. For example, in Fantasy Football, a fantasy player need to needs to consider a player’s statistics of touchdowns scored, passes caught and yards rushed.

“B

with fantasy sports and constantly checks for player updates and conditions every day.

Though many teens play fantasy sports for fun, some raise the stakes and play for money. In the state of California, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to participate in any form of gambling.

Junior Jacob Stewart admits that he does play fantasy sports for money but he did not know it was illegal. With 10 players

eing that it is my first year of fantasy sports, drafting was very difficult.

-SENIOR MARCUS BONZO “While drafting, I try to target the most attractive player on the market,” Green said.

“Then after the draft I try to trade away that player for two players who are good and can produce fantasy value efficiently.”

If a player is injured, it’s a big risk to draft them into a higher round, because no one knows if the player may come back and be effective. Mid-season injuries can hurt a player’s chance of success as well.

“When choosing an injured player, I consider how bad the injury is,” junior Patrick Bonzo said. “Also I would see how productive they were before the injury and their injury history.”

Green says he is very involved

”

in his league, each player must contribute $20 dollars to play, which is awarded at the end of the season. Players in his league say they are unaware of the gambling laws.

For teens wanting to participate in NCAA sports, the NCAA Bylaw 10.3 prohibits any form of gambling by athletes or by anyone involved with the NCAA. If players are caught, they could be banned from any NCAA sport, and they would be considered ineligible for NCAA participation.

“After knowing that I could not participate in NCAA sports for gambling, I definitely would not take my chances,” senior Stephen Hill said.

8

The Bruin Voice

Voices

OPINION

DecemBer 12, 2014

Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old who was suffering from a malignant brain tumor, chose to end her life through Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act

Annual naughty Should Assisted Suicide be legalized in all 50 states? or nice list Naughty ●

The McNair students who vandalized our school — again.

●

BC students who throw kiwis and other food items when they’re in a crowd.

●

The shooting threat that led to the majority of the students not showing up and costing the district thousands of dollars in ADA money.

●

Kim K’s provocative “Break the Internet” cover.

●

Stores opening as early as 6 p.m. on Black “Friday.”

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The Uggs and Crocs hybrid boots.

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Twitter for over glorifying “Alex from Target” for no reason at all.

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People of California wasting water in the drought for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

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People making jokes out of Ebola.

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Mr. V’s fan club.

Nice ●

“The Fault in Our Stars” and “Mockingjay” coming to the big screen and blowing fangirls’ minds.

●

All of the Bear Creek sports teams who won league titles in the fall season.

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McNair for actually apologizing for vandalizing our school.

●

The campus supervisors for decorating their golf carts.

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No fatalities reported during this year’s Black Friday.

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ALS Ice Bucket Challenge raising millions of dollars and awareness for the disease.

●

BC’s play “Rumors” being very successful and hilarious.

●

The Homecoming rally’s Halloween theme and new, fun entourage treatment.

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The amazing book “Unbroken” being adapted into a film and released on Christmas day.

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Anatomy students reaching Mr. Heberle’s 15K retweets deal on Twitter.

●

Class of 2016 following the footsteps of last year’s juniors by defeating the seniors in the powderpuff game.

●

Mr. Atterberry for helping out English students by paying for Turnitin.com.

The Bruin Voice “The Voice shall not be silenced!”

NSPA 1st Place Best of Show, Boston 2013 NSPA Pacemaker winner, 2013 Bear Creek High School, 10555 Thornton Road Stockton, CA 95209 (209)953-8369 Editors-in-Chief Kristin Lam, Jessica Lee, and Cameron Morelli News Editor...........................................................Jessica Lee Feature Editor.......................................................Kristin Lam Cameron Morelli Aidan Backus Entertainment Editor...........................................Natalia Gevara Opinion Editor......................................................Julianna Reth Sports Editor..........................................................Jack Stensland Graschelle Hipolito Darius Livingston Artistic Editor........................................................Patricia Yadao Online Editor.........................................................Zachary Denney Aidan Backus Adviser....................................................................Kathi Duffel 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.

Visit us on the web at www.bruinvoice.net Contact us at bruinvoice1@gmail.com Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TheBruinVoice Like us on www.facebook.com/TheBruinVoice We’d love to hear your feedback!

I never wish to be faced with the choice of ending my own life before a terminal illness chooses for me, but if I did I would want to have the option available. Assisted suicide provides a terminally-ill patient with the choice of dying with help from another person, often a physician, before the illness forces them to die an

By ZACHARY DENNEY often painful, undignified death.

ONLINE EDITOR Five states and five countries have legalized assisted suicide, and I believe it should be further introduced worldwide.

Assisted suicide provides a safe route for those who wish to die without succumbing to the later stages of their terminal illness. A physician is often, although not required, at the patient’s side, providing the medication and other necessary equipment. However, assisted suicide requires the patient to administer the medication themselves.

To be eligible, patients must be at least 18 years of age, be diagnosed with a terminal illness that will take their life within at least six months, receive a recommendation from two physicians, provide written and oral consent, and enter a waiting period. Following these steps precisely doesn’t always end with the request granted.

Laws regarding suicide have largely evolved from religious beliefs against the practice.

While it is a tragedy when people take their lives as a result of things such as depression, bullying, or anxiety, I simply refuse to place assisted suicide on the same level as traditional suicide.

If the concern is preventing true suicide, humiliating the ones through the justice system who commit it isn’t the solution.

The prevention of resorting to suicide in the end is the solution.

In the case of 29-yearold Brittany Maynard, who suffered from a malignant brain tumor and moved from her native California to Oregon in order to have access to assisted suicide, the first group to ridicule her choice of death was the Catholic Church, which said her choice to end her own life was “an absurdity.”

I’m a Catholic, but I tend to disagree with many of the beliefs of my church on life issues. Not only are they medieval, but their beliefs and the beliefs of any faith simply don’t belong in a the policy-making of a secular society.

There also lies the issue of disability rights organizations coming out against assisted suicide. The American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today or ADAPT, is vehemently opposed to assisted suicide, claiming the procedure is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and that the legalization of it would only lead to public-policy makers and insurers deciding on early death as a solution to rising medical and entitlement costs of senior citizens and even the disabled, according to ADAPT leader Bob Kafka.

To say that assisted suicide would lead to our government or health insurers deciding when people’s lives should end for the sake of the medical costs and entitlement programs is dangerously false.

Professionals like Dr. Robert Brody, UCSF medical professor and ethics committee chief at San Francisco General Hospital told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2002 that he believes there is a great difference.

There is a difference between a fixed disability and those disabled by terminal illness, in which for the terminally-ill, it is a progressing disability. One huge mistake the opposition makes is the confusion between assisted suicide and euthanasia. What they say assisted suicide legislation would create is euthanasia, non-voluntary death, which clearly is different from assisted suicide.

The opposition’s use of fear is simply a sign of their weakness in providing facts and reasons against assisted suicide.

I think before we make our decision on what side of this issue we are on, we need to ask ourselves this question: who are we to deny another person the right to make her own decisions?

PRO

On November 1, Brittany Maynard decided to end her life.

Involved with the Death with Dignity program, she decided to end her life instead of dying much more slowly from brain cancer. Although it was Brittany Maynard’s choice to end her life, this kind of doctor-assisted suicide could be a very slippery slope when it comes to things like

By EMMA GARCIA insurance companies and health STAFF WRITER care.

Whenever insurance companies are brought up, they are usually made the bad guys. I’d hate to add to that stereotype, but unfortunately it works in the present situation.

For example, 27 percent of Medicare’s annual budget, which is about $327 billion, goes to caring for patients in the last year of their life. That price contrasts heavily to the price of lethal drugs like the one Brittany Maynard used, which range from $50 to $100 dollars.

There is also the emotional side.

Even if insurance companies are not putting pressure on doctors to save them precious money, the patient and their families may feel their own pressure.

Doctors’ bills can pile up, forcing the families to make tough decisions, especially when the patient has a very short period of time left.

Care Not Killing, which is an organization promoting options other than assistedsuicide, such as palliative (end of life) care, posted on their website their 2009 “Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide - Q and A” that said the following: “If the law is ever changed to allow so called ‘assisted dying’ it is inevitable that economic pressure will be brought to bear on people, openly or more likely very subtly, to request early death in order to save money for the use of relatives, society or a health service short of the resources it needs. That is why we need to hold onto laws which protect vulnerable people.”

A pediatrician from Wisconsin, Paul B. Young, M.D., also weighed in on the debate. In his testimony for the Wisconsin Right to Life in 2008 he described why the legality of assisted-suicide would lead to pressure on doctors from insurance companies.

“The single greatest pressure on healthcare today is financial,” Young said. “Unfortunately, it is cheaper to help a patient to die than to provide good end of life care. Physician assisted suicide could encourage a patient to die as a ‘duty’ to his or her family, in the face of financial pressure. Likewise doctors could find their end of life care options curtailed by third party payers, or offered economic incentive to allow a suicide.”

The Disability Rights and Education and Defense Fund has also stated their reasons for doctor assisted suicide to not be legalized.

“Fear, bias, and prejudice against disability play a significant role in assisted suicide,” the organization said. “Supporters advocate its legalization by suggesting that it is needed for unrelievable pain and discomfort at the end of life. But the overwhelming majority of the people in Oregon [since it was legalized in 1994] who have reportedly used that state’s assisted suicide law wanted to die not because of pain, but for reasons associated with disability.”

According to a report by the Public Health Division of Oregon, the three most cited reasons for applying for doctor assisted suicide are these: loss of autonomy (93.0%), decreasing ability to participate in activities that made life enjoyable (88.7%), and loss of dignity (73.2%).

Although it is impossible to predict whether or not doctors will be pressured by insurance companies, it is not a chance we should be willing to take.

Even though people like Brittany Maynard should be able to make her own choice, there is no way to protect them from the costs of medical bills and pressure to make a certain decision.

In the end, assisted-suicide is not worth the risk.

CON

Letter Home

The good — and the bad — of being on your own After being at Cal Poly for the past two and a half months, I have grown to appreciate my hometown Stockton a bit more.

I occasionally miss the soothing blaring sirens—they reminded me that the police were hard at work fighting crime and rescuing innocent lives. However, I also do enjoy roaming the 3 a.m. streets of San Luis Obispo without

By JESSICA NGUYEN having to worry about being abCLASS OF 2014 ducted.

I know most of you are probably dying to get out of Stockton the moment graduation comes around. It’s understandable.

Attending college far from home has its perks: no curfews, no parents, no sneaking in and out of the house. However, it also means doing your own laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, and killing spiders by yourself.

When my bike broke down on the first week of school, I felt

a bit helpless and pathetic. I was so used to having my dad there to help me fix things when they were broken. It wasn’t until I was scrambling to find someone to repair my bike that I realized how much I depended on my family and friends.

Living on your own forces you to grow up a little bit in unexpected ways.

Coming to Cal Poly was truly a culture shock at first. I had grown accustomed to the culturally diverse environment at Bear Creek. I won’t bore you with student demographic statistics, but let me just say it was tough adjusting at first. I never once thought that people would look at me differently because of my race.

Aside from the few ignorant people I have encountered, I have met many amazing people, particularly in the college of engineering. Although almost 95 percent of my classmates are male nerds, I have grown to embrace them. It is truly comforting to be around people with similar goals and mindsets.

I encourage everyone to use high school as a tool to discover your interests. It is definitely in your favor to start early. Find out your strengths and try new things. You will be surprised at what you are capable of.

Anyway, that’s all for now. Enjoy high school while you still can!