Issue 1, 2015-2016

The NEXUS Westview • 13500 Camino Del Sur • San Diego, CA 92129

September 18, 2015 • Volume XIV • Issue 1

Students urge district to install unisex bathrooms Jacob Tao

STAFF WRITER

West Coasting Alex Smyth

Jake Grove (11) photographs skater Zen Sapinoso (11) at the Ranchos Penasquitos Skate Park. This past summer, Grove, an avid photographer and skater, took a roadtrip up the West Coast to shoot the Maryhill Festival of Speed in Goldendale, Washington.

Grove travels up coast, photographs skaters THE ROUTE:

Julia Erickson EDITOR IN CHIEF

When he was younger, Jake Grove (11) just “picked up” a board from a skate shop—because he was curious, and because it looked “pretty cool.”

When he was a bit older, Grove just “picked up” an old DSLR camera he found lying around his house—that GOLDENDALE, WA too looked cool.

When his brother’s friend encouraged him to try downhill OREGON CITY, OR skating, he found himself in love with the sport and the close community surrounding it.

And when a schedule change at Westview landed him in Photography 1-2, he found himself in love with the art medium.

So it was really no surprise that HUMBOLDT, CA Grove got heavily involved in skate photography. And this past summer, he ended up shooing at the biggest downhill skating competition in America.

From his early days (when he was shooting what he calls “fully automatic, pretty lousy” photos) to now, the photographers at local skate parks and hills have been a close community.

“They’ve always been really welcoming, sharLOS OSOS, CA ing rides or whatever else,” Grove said.

That’s how he met Don Sheffler, and snagged a ride SUMMERLAND, BC

SAN DIEGO, CA

to the Maryhill Festival of Speed. “[Sheffler] shoots at a lot of local skate events and I met him years ago,” Grove said. “I saw that he normally goes on road trips and had open spots, so I got to talking to him a couple months before and asked if he had any open spots.”

Sheffler’s son, Noah, a freshman in college, was the third member on their three-week road trip.

The trip began in late June. The three of them, plus clothing, plus photo equipment, plus a metallic blue van, would make the trip up the West Coast into Canada.

Day one: June 20. The trio was wheels up by the early afternoon, and after five hours of desert highways, coastal views, and LA traffic, they settled into their first night in the beach town of Los Osos, located just outside San Louis Obispo. “[During the trip] we stayed at a lot of houses as a way to save money from hotel fees,” Grove said. “That first night we stayed overnight at the house of this old professional skater.”

Johnny Miller more-or-less runs the skating scene on the central California coast. At age 51, he still competes in occasional downhill competitions in addition to organizing skate events. He also owns the part-board shop, part-art gallery “Toyland.”

“He’s sort of a legendary guy,” Grove said.

“He’s been skating since the ’70s.”

Grove set up camp in the garage, laying his sleeping bag down on the floor. The space had been converted into an art studio, and surrounding him lay trinkets and half-finished projects. “[Miller] would chop stuff up and glue it together to make sculptures and different art pieces,” Grove said. During the grand tour of Mill-

er’s house, he showed Grove and the others a side room, just off the garage.

In it sat a booth, ripped straight out of a 1950’s diner, that Miller said was a hangout area.

Around it, every tangible surface in the room was covered with counter-culture memorabilia; the walls were lined with racks carrying 30 or more vintage decks, the ceiling was tiled with old surfboards, and every other open surface was plastered with stickers and posters and old advertisements.

“I just thought it was really cool how he had all this skate history to show us,” Grove said.

“There were boards dating back to the ’50s” The adventure didn’t end with the overnight stay. In the morning on their way out of Los Osos, Miller, Grove, Don and Noah found their way to an old drainage ditch right off the highway.

The ditch was skateable—and people had skated there before—but it was in rough condition.

The cement had been poorly laid; now it was cracked and filled with dirt.

So, the four decided they would fix it--for the skaters, of course.

First, they swept through to remove as much of the dirt and rocks as they could. Then, the four mixed their own cement to resurface some of the rougher areas and fill in cracks.

“Afterwards, it looked sort of like a do-ityourself skate park,” Grove said. “It had a lot of features, and was a lot nicer to skate on than before.”

Still far from their ultimate destination, the

NEWS EDITOR

Among the audience, nostalgia filled the air, nostalgia of China in the 1960s, the revolutionary fervor, the spirit of the nation—it was nothing like before. It was nothing like their weekly rehearsals at Balboa Park. Or their performances in downtown San Diego at Copley Hall.

To finish their concert in San Diego’s sister city of Yantai, China, the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory (SDYS) played the Chinese revolutionary song “Da Hai” as an encore, as a gift to the

4.15

million tons of waste

The city of San Diego discarded 4.15 million tons of waste in 2013, 1.04 million tons of which could have been recycled.

See Zero Waste, page 2

130k

people at Comic-Con

This year, Comic Con partnered with the San Diego Police Department to keep its 130,000 attendees safe.

See Security, page 10

On June 23, musicians and alumni from the top SDYS ensemble, the Ovation Program, traveled to China in a celebration of the conservatory’s 70th anniversary.

“We were there to inspire children to pursue a music career,” said David Zeng (10), who plays cello and is one of the five Westview students who went on the tour.

The symphony, conducted by Music Director Jeff Edmons, showcased four concerts in Beijing, Yantai, and Shanghai.

Among five of the pieces SDYS performed, two of them held strong cultural roots: “Da Hai,” an iconic Chinese piece (in English, titled “Sailing the Seas Depends on the

From the Twittersphere 6:35 PM • 30 Aug 15 Angelica Santos (12) @angelica5antos “Senior year supply list: floatie, water gun, black pen (optional).”

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10:42 PM • 28 Aug 15 Nathan Xia (10) @nathanxia “Three things to bring in the Black Hole next game: 1. baby powder, 2. a spray bottle with fan, 3. Febreeze spray.”

Tweet us at @wvnexus to share your thoughts.

Bokhary manages school supply drive for refugee children Allyson Xie

FINAL FOCUS EDITOR

Helmsman”), and Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” an iconic American piece.

“It was cool to bring a little bit of the American culture into China and to celebrate my own culture in a foreign country,” said Emily Lin (12), who has played cello with SDYS for six years.

“I felt like [the Chinese] really appreciated our music and our culture we brought with music because we played ‘Rhapsody in Blue,’ and they really liked it,” said Savanna Dunaway (12), who plays violin and joined SDYS when she was a freshman.

See SDYS, page 7

See Bokhary, page 7

See Skaters, page 8 Design by Andrew Kim and Julia Erickson

city for hosting them. And almost immediately, the audience burst into song, swaying back and forth, smiling together, laughing together, as grandparents and parents wiped away tears and children danced along.

“I was completely surprised,” said Cindy Qiao (10), who plays violin in SDYS. “I thought that they would just clap.”

But both the mayor of Yantai and the composer of “Da Hai” were in the audience.

And not only was the audience brought to tears, but so was the symphony.

“It was such a short piece, [but] it had a huge effect, and it had the same effect on the orchestra too,” Qiao said.

See Bathrooms, page 2

Luqmaan Bokhary (11) knew he was fundraising for underprivileged children. But he didn’t expect one child to be so impoverished that his parents begged on the streets. He didn’t expect another child to collapse in her own air conditioner-less home from heat. He didn’t expect how they’d stare at his donations, as if he were handing out gold, not school supplies, to them.

In mid-July, Muslim Community Services (MCS) contacted Bokhary and asked him if he wanted to start a school supplies drive. He readily agreed, and received a list of 80 children in the El Cajon area who needed school supplies. The families of these children were all underprivileged, and had asked the MCS for donations.

The sheer size of the list intimidated Bokhary at first.

“When I saw the list of 80 kids I thought, ‘Oh, my God. How am I going to do this?’” he said. “We were actually planning [for] 50 kids, but then they sent more.”

Still, he was determined to complete the drive.

He first thought about what each child needed. The budget cuts in the children’s schools meant Bokhary needed to purchase a year’s worth of supplies for each student.

“We had to make sure they had everything,” he said.

Ideally, each kid would receive one backpack filled with notebooks, pens, glue, and other school necessities. Each set cost about $25, so Bokhary aimed to raise around $2,000.

Bokhary’s fundraising was limited to asking for donations at a couple of mosques and an online GoFundMe website. As an introvert, Bokhary said he found it difficult to ask people for donations.

He began by walking up to people entering and exiting the mosque, rattling a cardboard donation box. But barely anybody noticed him.

Five students tour, perform in China with youth symphony Meilynn Shi

As part of their ongoing campaign to promote the rights of transgender and intersex students at Westview and other schools in PUSD, Siobhan Garry (12) and Rebecca Liu (12) met several times with Principal Todd Cassen and PUSD Associate Superintendent Dr. Mel Robertson last year to discuss the possibility of creating gender neutral bathrooms on campus. Hoping reduce gender inequality, Garry and Liu have proposed that the school re-label new gender-inclusive bathroom facilities on all campuses.

Garry was inspired to put the plan into action through their own experiences using the current bathrooms.

“I spent every single day last year nervous about going to the bathroom” Garry said. “I’m a transgender, non-binary gender person. I don’t have a safe facility to use the restroom in, and other students also struggle with their identity every day, and then get to school only to be excluded further.”

The concept isn’t new: gender-inclusive bathrooms can be found in some colleges, airports, and other public places, and a study by the University of Massachusetts found that more than 150 colleges are working on constructing gender-inclusive bathrooms. However, very few high schools are equipped with or are building gender-inclusive bathrooms, despite how those who do not feel comfortable using the current bathrooms are affected.

Westview’s unisex bathrooms currently require keys to use and students cannot easily access them. “[Gender-inclusive bathrooms] are exactly the same as girls and boys bathrooms, except that any gender can use the bathroom,” Garry said, “Many people have trouble understanding why gender-inclusive bathrooms are necessary or important when

Design39Campus reinvents education

Design39Campus, PUSD’s new K-8 school, opened for their second year in 4S Ranch. The school replaces instructional learning with a creative inquiry process.

See Design39Campus, page 3

Alex Smyth

2 News

The NEXUS

Sept. 18, 2015

City aims to achieve zero waste by 2040 $54 million

The value of the 76 percent of citywide disposed waste that can be recycled

777k The amount of metric tons of carbon dioxide that recycling 771,500 tons of material can save

56.8% The percentage of single-family waste that is composed of organics, such as food, grass, leaves and trimmings

3,000 The number of landfills in North America; in comparison, only 300 composting facilities exist in the U.S.

Meilynn Shi NEWS EDITOR

In 2013, the City of San Diego discarded 4.15 million tons of waste. Of that waste, 67 percent was diverted from the landfill through recycling, reusing or composting. Yet, of the waste that was not diverted, 0.37 million tons could have been recycled.

If current disposal rates continue, the Miramar Landfill, the only city-run landfill, will most likely be filled to capacity and be forced to close by 2022, and if the Miramar Landfill closes, the city will lose revenue, funds for city programs will be slashed, and taxes will increase to pay for waste to be transported to another landfill.

In an attempt to prevent this, on July 13, the San Diego City Council unanimously approved San Diego’s first Zero Waste Plan (ZWP). The plan provides a framework of sustainable diversion strategies that aims to help the city achieve a 75-percent diversion rate by 2020, 90 percent by 2035 and ideally “zero” by 2040.

“We’re always going to have at least a little bit of waste, but the whole Zero Waste Plan is conceptually to try to get us as close to zero as we possibly can,” City Public Information Officer Jose Ysea said.

Zero waste treats discarded materials as resources rather than waste. It focuses on conservation of a product through its entire life cycle, from design to marketing—as the San Diego Environmental Services Department puts it, “cradle to grave”—and emphasizes recycling, composting and waste prevention.

“It’s not really ‘trash;’ everything has value,” said Susanne Harm, Public Information Officer Senior at the City of Austin, Texas Resource Recovery Department. In 2011, the City of Austin adopted a master plan similar in concept to San Diego’s ZWP. “It’s not just about recycling your water bottle. It’s don’t buy water in a bottle. It’s a culture change in a lot of ways because our society has gotten so wasteful.”

San Diego’s current overall diversion rate of 67 percent has increased from 52 percent since 2008 when the city passed the City Recycling Ordinance (CRO), which makes it mandatory for residents, businesses and facilities to recycle, and the Construction and Demolition (C&D) Debris Deposit Ordinance, which requires building and demolition projects to pay a deposit only refundable with proof that 50 percent of waste was diverted. However, since 2012, the rate has plateaued at 67 percent.

When that 67 percent is broken down into its generating sectors, construction and demolition have the highest diversion rate at 85 percent.

Diversion rates for single-family households, commercial and multi-family facilities and city

facilities, however, are less than 30 percent.

“If we were to separate all the C&D debris— if we were to take that out of the equation and only count [single-family household] curbside recycling—we’re at a dismal 23 percent that’s being diverted,” Ysea said.

In addition, because diversion is measured by tonnages and construction involves heavy materials, the 67 percent diverted consists mostly of construction debris.

“That makes it seem like we’re diverting a lot of waste, and we are when it comes to tonnages, but when it comes to residential—our regular cardboard, paper, glass, metals—at the household level we really are doing a horrible job,” Ysea said. “C&D recycling is what’s making us look good for now.”

What has stifled curbside recycling rates traces back almost 100 years to the People’s Ordinance of 1919, a law that requires the city to provide collection, transportation and disposal of residential refuse at no cost. Residents pay a small amount through their property tax and other small fees, but as City Environmental Specialist Rebecca Hays said, “It’s not something that’s obvious to residents. People don’t pay for their curbside trash pickup, so they’re not incentivized to recycle.”

In contrast, many cities and towns across the United States charge for residential refuse collection—the more trash, the higher the cost— and offer “pay as you throw” financial incentives for recycling and waste reduction.

“Here in the City of San Diego, whether residents throw it in the black bin or the blue bin, it’s going to get taken away anyway, and it’s still free for them so they don’t care,” Ysea said.

Unfortunately, the city does not have the authority to rescind the ordinance. Since the public voted for it in 1919, the public must also vote against it to overturn it.

“People would have to vote to pay out of pocket for trash, [and] they’re not going to vote to pay,” Hays said. “It’s this ironclad ordinance that was set up nearly a hundred years ago, and trust me, if there was a way to overturn it, we would have done it already.”

To reduce waste, the city currently provides curbside yard trimmings and recycling collection, a compost bin voucher program and a commercial food scrap composting program, among other programs. The city also offers zero-waste workshops and Miramar Landfill tours for fourth- through 12th-grade students.

Through direct outreach programs, the city has reached more than 20,000 peop-le.

“The main mechanism is getting that message out to the young students because they’re the ones who have loud voices that can take this message home and tell their family and friends,” Ysea said.

In past years, funding and infrastructure have precluded the city from pursuing more intensive tactics.

“Since we don’t charge for trash, we don’t have a big budget,” Ysea said.

“Private industry would probably need to step up and build some of that infrastructure because there’s not the funding for the city to do it,” Hays said.

The ZWP includes strategies to not only implement more outreach programs and recycling initiatives, but also to develop better infrastructure for diverting organic materials.

These strategies include developing more composting facilities, constructing a resource recovery park for the public to bring all waste, recover and compost materials, expanding the CRO to include organics and reusable items, and piloting a weekly food scraps collection.

“We’re looking at broadening our reach with our organics recycling program to help boost our recycling rate,” Hays said.

However, collecting food scraps at the residential level can be challenging.

“One of the things about food waste is that you really have to keep an eye on what’s coming in,” Ysea said. “We make compost and mulch and then we add food waste to the compost to make it more nutrient rich. We don’t want to turn it into a bad product by having it contaminated with other material.”

San Diego is working with San Francisco, which has the highest diversion rate, the most recycling and reuse programs and the most advanced urban compost collection program in North America.

“Composting can help begin to meet the challenge of climate change,” said Robert Reed, Public Relations Manager for Recology, a local resource recovery company that is working with San Francisco on its zero waste program. “But most of the country doesn’t do it [because] the infrastructure is set up to landfill and incinerate.”

San Diego is also working with other cities, private industries, community organizations and stakeholders to achieve zero waste, as well as with state legislatures and lobbyists to push manufactures to use less packaging and generate less waste and with some school districts to help advisors minimize waste—though, for the most part, the city can only do so much because the state, not the city, has jurisdiction over schools. Achieving zero waste and creating a zero waste ethic won’t be easy.

“Knowing that you’re helping the city, that you’re helping to save taxes, that you’re doing the right thing for the environment, for the community, for the future of the landfill— that’s really the incentive,” Ysea said. “It’s just doing the right thing.”

Design by Meilynn Shi Information from Robert Reed and the City of San Diego’s Zero Waste Plan and Vision for Zero Waste Leadership

WINNING our

VOTE Catie Fan

Predictably, in an effort to appeal to young voters, presidential candidates have greatly increased their social media presence. The candidates not only have active Facebook pages, but also Twitter and even Snapchat accounts.

Still, it seems most candidates are missing the mark in their social media campaigns. Social media is a tool to bring people closer together, yet some politicians seem to want to keep their distance.

On Twitter, over a nine-hour period, one of Donald Trump’s tweets can rack up 5,000 favorites and 2,000 retweets, but in the same amount of time, Hillary Clinton garners a relatively measly 600 favorites and 300 retweets, even though the two share a similar number of followers.

A comparison of content reveals why: Clinton’s Twitter profile is packed with videos of her speeches and links to support pages and flattering articles. She tells people to watch, to read, and to “click here to learn more.” The few tweets signed “-H,” indicating that they were written personally by Hillary, are holiday wishes or commemorative statements. Her image is sterilized, calculated, and frankly, uninteresting to the typical 18- or 19-year-old.

In contrast, Trump’s Twitter is full of biting remarks and brash comments. He takes to social media to share his opinions—not the sanitized soundbites his campaign staff wrote for him, but what offers a glimpse into the kind of person he is and how he thinks. He roasts Jeb Bush. He tells the public to “get smart.” He retweets his followers, and not just the ones with politically correct things to say.

Undoubtedly, Trump crosses the line many times with inappropriate and offensive comments. But his social media accounts make people feel like they are getting to know him, rather than a campaign aide. Whether this is actually true—whether Trump is actually the one writing his tweets—is irrelevant because people believe that he is the one behind the account. Trump seems to be willing to let his guard down, and it’s paid off.

However, candidates don’t have to be rude to be noticed.

To understand what works and what doesn’t, one can look to Bernie Sanders’s Twitter account.

On Aug. 30, he tweeted, “It is absurd that college graduates today are carrying debts of $50,000, $100,000 or more. We must deal with the issue of student debt.” There was no picture or link attached to the tweet. It received a whopping 8,500 retweets and 10,000 favorites.

Later, on Sept. 4, he tweeted, “We must fundamentally restructure our student loan program.” The tweet was accompanied by a photograph that repeated a lengthier version of the tweet in large, bold letters next to a picture of a student. It gained about 1,000 retweets and 1,500 favorites.

Both tweets come from the same candidate and address student loan debt. Perhaps the reason one is received more favorably than the other is because it sounds more casual, like it came straight from Sanders, while the other clues the reader in to the existence of a media team and the production behind the account.

Social media is one of the most powerful tools one can use to spread ideas among America’s youth—exactly what candidates are aiming to do. But if they really want to get young people to pay attention, they would do well to take off the latex gloves and get personal with potential voters.

Westview updates technology, Garry, Liu push for unisex bathrooms several roadblocks. their options and discussing how they will the bill does not specifical- implement the plan to install the bathrooms. replaces lights to conserve energy talking about public facilities. The import- byly Because mention bathrooms, when the two first In addition, Cassen says that because the Bathrooms, from page 1

Daniel Fan

STAFF WRITER

Seven-year-old computers and lights that are twice as old were replaced over the summer. All staff computers, plus desktops in the library and science buildings were upgraded this summer too.

“What we didn’t do [for our staff] was a onesize-fits-all [set up],” Area Administrator Scott Wild said. “The art teachers and science department had some special requests and Mr. Cassen and Mr. Little worked with them.”

In January, the district set up an “exhibit” showcasing three different computers for all staff members to demo. After the demoes, each staff member submitted a request to purchase that package through the district.

Westview was allocated $620,000 to spend on the new tech upgrades. All of which went towards the computers for staff, as well as the smaller requests put forward in the art and science departments.

All three options provided by PUSD were meant to be an upgrade from the previous batch of computers, and they are expected to remain relevant for at least five years. As for the art department, which preferred Macs over PCs, they were subsidized by Westview Foundation.

Meanwhile, the science department looked to acquire Thinkpads as well as Chrome books.

Intended to integrate mobile technology into the classroom, they were also paid for by the Foundation.

“The nice thing was that our Foundation was supporting us all along,” Principal Todd Cassen

said. “When we see things out there that we want to try, where we don’t have [the resources] to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on, our Foundation was there to support us.”

Since many elementary and middle school students now use iPads and other mobile devices in the classroom, the purchase of mobile devices would match the shift already seen in earlier schooling.

“We’re two years away from those students who have started using [mobile tech] in middle school before they come to Westview,” Cassen said. “We’re continuing to purchase Chrome books, continuing our addition of mobile technology that teachers can bring straight into their classrooms.”

In addition to the tech upgrades, the school also received new indoor LED lights throughout campus. This was not only meant to change out defective light bulbs, but as part of energy conservation happening district-wide.

As part of a grant from the state of California, PUSD installed these lights at Westview and other schools as well. According to Mike Tarantino, Director of Facilities, Maintenance and Operations, the switch will save Westview around 375,000 kwh, or around $51,000 this year alone.

The purchases together not only create a technology friendly environment, but also environmentally friendly classrooms as well.

“We went way past the five years on the last set [of computers] since 2007 or 2008,” Cassen said. “Hopefully, we won’t have to go as long as the last set. But in five years, the technology scene will have shifted, and I’m hoping we can shift with it.”

ant thing to remember is that gender and sex are different. [Our bathrooms] are labeled ‘Girls’ and ‘Boys,’ and those labels actively exclude the non-binary transgender students at our school who don’t identify as boys or girls.”

Garry and Liu’s original proposal for the project was to simply switch the signs on the current bathrooms to create a friendlier non-gender exclusive environment.

Transgender or non-binary students would be able to go throughout their day without worrying about being judged for using a gendered bathroom.

“The only thing that needs to be altered would be the signage of the bathrooms, by buying a sign that is labeled as gender inclusive,” Garry said. “I would love for one of the multi-stall restroom buildings at our school to be altered to be gender inclusive, and to keep at least one building on campus gendered just to keep the girls at our school safe and comfortable. As much as I want to give our non-binary students a safe facility, I don’t want to take one from the girls at our school.”

Using California Bill Assembly Bill Number 1266 as support for their plan, Garry and Liu sent the district emails requesting a mandatory change in bathroom policy for schools in the Poway district. The bill, approved in 2013, prohibits schools from discriminating against students who do not identify with being male or female.

However, Garry and Liu were unable to continue with their plan as they were stalled

emailed the district, they were rejected and told that gender-inclusive bathrooms were not necessary and only a suggestion for each campus.

Surprised by the difficulty in implementing what should have been a quick fix, the two chose to ask for administrative support from the principal.

“Our first plan was just to switch the signs on the bathroom with more gender-inclusive ones,” Liu said. “We tried talking to the district but we weren’t too successful.

We talked with Mr. Cassen and he brought us to Dr. Robertson. They mentioned that the school board was also looking into this issue.”

Additionally, Gary and Liu both did not want to sacrifice the current bathrooms to create gender-inclusive ones.

“I would love for one of the multi-stall restroom buildings at our school to be altered to be gender-inclusive, and keep at least one building on campus gendered just to keep the girls at our school safe and comfortable,” Garry said, “However, as much as I want to give our non-binary students a safe facility, I don’t want to take one from the girls at our school.”

Although installing single-person bathroom facilities would be optimal because it would avoid repurposing current bathroom facilities, Cassen, Garry, and Liu agreed that finding a place to install them would be difficult; construction would be costly and time-consuming.

Cassen and the school board are assessing

change would affect one of the schools in the PUSD district, it would have to be applied to all of them, greatly increasing the amount of planning for costs and other resources.

“I think there’s a good possibility this will happen,” Cassen said. “Westview is not the only school with transgender students.

It’s something that’s become a part of society, and I think we need to make a place where people feel safe and are not regarded by the standards of others.”

Cassen, Garry, and Liu say they hope that the project will be finished within a year so that those everyone can feel accepted on campus.

“I don’t want this project to drag out for several years,” Cassen said. “I believe this project needs urgency.”

Although Dr. Robertson has approved the proposal, the finalization of the plan and the management of technical details still require time.

Robertson has not given out any details on the specifics of the plan, but is confident in the plan’s ability to succeed.

“This is a process that will include many departments and people in our district,” Robertson said. “Our meeting [with Garry and Liu] showed me that Westview is ready to include a gender-inclusive restroom. I will continue to work with Mr. Cassen and others on this process, for our students.”

“I want Westview to be a place for everyone where they can feel appropriate and safe on this campus,” Cassen said.

N E W S S TA N D What’s happening around campus...

$18

Students can register for the Oct. 14 PSAT for $18 in the finance office.

The last day to register for the test is Oct. 2.

G116

Sept. 25 is the last day to turn in CSF applications.

Application forms can be picked up in Diana Loo’s room, G116.

29th

ASB is holding a Beatles-era art contest for a gallery at Homecoming. Submissions must be turned in to a fine arts teacher by Sept. 29.

6:30

The PTSA is hosting free budgeting seminars, Oct. 5 and Oct. 12 from 6:30-8 p.m.

Contact sarahmhussion@ gmail.com to register.

... and around the world.

“Especially for the children, it is becoming a living hell.”

“You’re wrong, but we can work together.”

“Not every moment is a good moment.”

“It’s not about me. It’s about ideas. New ideas.”

PETER SALAMA, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, referring to the dangerous conditions people face in the Syrian refugee crisis resulting from its civil war.

AYMAN AL-ZAWAHIRI, Al-Qaeda leader, extending an offer of cooperation toward the terrorist group ISIS despite animosity in the past over whether the Islamic State’s Caliphate is legitmate.

MARK ZUCKERBERG, CEO and creator of Facebook, explaining the possibility of creating a dislike button to convery empathy on Facebook for times when pressing the like button feels inappropriate.

KANYE WEST, Celebrity rapper, announcing his bid for the 2020 presidential campaign at the VMAs, which was later redacted when he told reporters that he was on drugs at the time.

Compiled by Evan Charfauros, Meilynn Shi and Jacob Tao

News 3

The NEXUS

Sept. 18, 2015

Design39Campus promotes creativity Opened in 2014, the construction of Design39Campus was prompted when overflow from PUSD primary schools demanded the need for a new campus. Design39Campus is a K-8 school that strives to take advantage of the ability to collaborate using technologies such as Google Drive and of the broader standards set by Common Core to ultimately create an immersive experience for students. Their Design Thinking process, which dictates their teaching style, is taken from the Stanford Design Thinking Graduate School.

~Schedule~

Rather than focusing on direct instruction such as lectures, Design39Campus stresses the Inquiry Process. Teachers, known as Learning Experience Designers, begin by asking the students a question in the learning space. Students then research this topic online before entering into the collaborative space.

Homeroom

INTEGRATED

500

In 2014, Design39Campus received roughly 2,000 applications for its 500 spots, resulting in the need for a lottery enrollment process that has been used since.

1) LEARNING SPACE

L EARNING

40%

Though Design39Campus is heavily invested in technology such as iPads and laptops, students only use it 40 percent of the time. The majority of time is spent building, crafting and creating.

Alex Smyth

I NTEGRATED DEEP DIVE

MINDS IN MOTION

EXPLORATION

The final stage of their learning is to prototype a product with their groups. The school has eight “makeries” in total, which serve as workshops. Each “makery” is outfitted with the tools, machines and resources needed for students to turn the concepts they’re learning about into something tangible.

pending on their performance in the course. Students who struggle in math, for example, may be placed in a smaller math-focused class so they can receive the individualized help they need.

MATH

Alex Smyth

Lunch

Besides core classes, students also have access to Explorations and Deep Dives. These classes, which include topics such as fashion, cooking, programming and gardening, are separated into introductory-level explorations before students decide whether they want to pursue it as a Deep Dive. These courses are then used as a vehicle in other classes, where the students’ deep dive is incorporated into the collaborative phase of their projects. For example, a fashion student learning about the history of California may discuss the progression of commerce that inAlex Smyth fluenced clothing.

Students are constantly moving between teachers de-

LEARNING

After leaving the learning space, students enter the larger, more open collaborative area. Here, students work with one another to bounce ideas off one another, be creative and loud, and gain a better understanding of their topic.

EXPLORATIONS & DEEP DIVES

3) MAKERY

Recess

2) COLLABORATORY

Design by Jason Kang and Meilynn Shi

Mendoza designs banners to showcase school departments Daniel Fan

STAFF WRITER

Six black banners hung on the side of the lampposts as students walked in through the gates on the first day of school. Running down the side of each banner was the name of one of the school’s five departments: Performing Arts, Academics, Visual Arts, Electives, and Athletics as well as what an “effective citizen” was.

“It would be cool if we could highlight all the different awesome programs we have on campus,” ASB Advisor Shannon Parker said. “The question became, ‘How can we condense them into six?’”

Talks for hanging banners on campus began the summer before the 2014-2015 year. The banners were issued primarily to make the campus seem less bare, a goal Parker and Studio Art teacher Keith Opstad are constantly working towards. When Westview first opened, the campus ground was made of stained concrete, but instead of embedding the pigment into the concrete, a slurry coat was

used to color the ground.

“It was a really nice focal element,” Opstad said. “It became slippery when it was wet, so people slipped and hurt themselves. So the district solution was to sandblast everything. So we suddenly had no color on campus whatsoever.”

Therefore, according to both Parker and Opstad, the banners can serve as the first step in bringing the campus back to life. The banners were installed with a bracketing system so that the banner can be switched out with another one.

“The idea is to have different banners during different times of the year,” Parker said. “So for example, when graduation comes, we can have banners saying, ‘Congratulations Graduates!’ And that’s the plan, but we have to go step by step.”

After discussing and agreeing upon the banners, Parker asked Opstad if he was interested in helping to design the first set of banners.

“The ASB advisors had always wanted to brighten up our campus,” Opstad said. “So I brainstormed with Ms.

Parker. We tried to come up with a fairly inexpensive first step to do so. When Ms. Parker was able to find a banner company, she asked if I would be interested in helping. I said absolutely.”

Opstad took the job and asked his students then if any of them were interested in designing the banners. One of his AP Studio Art students, Joanne Mendoza (’14) stepped up.

“I really wanted to make something for my school that would last long after I graduated,” Mendoza said. “In years past I’ve made things from class t-shirts to academic planner covers, but in doing this I felt that I would be making a lasting impact.”

Opstad said he wanted a student to take the lead role in this project. Rather than taking on the role of teacher, he would be more of a consultant on the side.

“I worked with Opstad all throughout this process,” Mendoza said. “It was fun working side by side with him to make a project together after being in his class for so long and completing projects for him. It was a weird but cool.”

Mendoza first created a base design that would be the

same across all the banners. That design would be changed as the silhouettes would be in different poses, superimposed with semi-transparent text. After the designs were finished, they were given to Opstad, Parker and Area Administrator Scott Wild.

“After they agreed on a design I just kept going with the theme but added different words in the backgrounds and the silhouettes,” Mendoza said. “A lot of them are of school students so I had to take pictures of them and crop them in Photoshop to go with the different banners.”

After each banner’s design was finished, they were submitted again to the same people, as well as Principal Todd Cassen and the head of departments. After everything was approved, it was only a matter of securing funds from the PTSA and printing the banners.

“It’s a great first step,” Opstad said. “It’s still tough on a lot of people to [decide whether or not we should] be spending money on library books, or spending it on campus beautification. I think we should be able to do all of it, but it’ll take time.”

Goodman acts in student web series “Last Period” Emily Clarkson STAFF WRITER

The third episode of “Last Period,” a mockumentary web series, will be released today. The show follows a group of high school students who all enroll in an office aid class for their last period. During this week’s episode, “Pop Quiz,” the characters react to a pop quiz on their Shakespeare reading assignment.

The first episode “Pilot: The Beginning” premiered on Aug. 28 and was quickly followed by “The Golden Apple,” the second episode, the next day. The two episodes featured the five main characters’ first day at school. So far, the first two episodes have received positive feedback said the directors, Ivy Gong and Michelle Zhao, who are both seniors at Torrey Pines. Over the next few months, Gong and Zhao will alternate between releasing episodes and bloopers until all 18 episodes have been released.

Lucas Goodman (12) had never met either Zhao or Gong before, but in July he received a Facebook message from them inviting him to audition for a role in “Last Period.” They were looking for actors and knew that he had been involved in Westview theatre plays such as “The Wiz” and “Twelfth Night.” After reading the script, he was intrigued by the relatable high school setting and amusing characters, and decided to audition that day.

When Goodman stepped into the director’s house for his audition July 15, he couldn’t help but feel nervous. It was a feeling that had become familiar to him throughout his years of theatre acting, yet this time was different. He had never had an audition quite like this before.

Only a few hours earlier, Goodman had learned about the show and looked at the script for the first time. Now the directors were asking him to read sides, which are portions of scripts provided to actors for auditions, for four of the main characters.

He tried to act naturally and get into the part of each character as he was reading their lines.

In addition to the sides, the directors also asked him to read a monologue from “How I Met Your Mother” of Barney Stinson, who was the inspiration for the character of Liam P. Carlson. Although the directors offered him the part of Jason Linster, the main character, Goodman opted to play Carlson instead. He said that he was drawn to Carlson, because of his “unique character traits.”

“He stood out to me the most, because he probably had the most different kind of personality in comparison to mine,” Goodman said.

Courtesy of Lucas Goodman

The cast films a scene from their Halloween episode of “Last Period.” This web series features five high school students who all share an office aid class.

Carlson is a self-absorbed and materialistic character, who nonetheless cares about his friends.

“I really admire that about the character, that he’s so supportive of his friends,” Goodman said.

Goodman didn’t meet the rest of the cast until the first two weeks of August, when the episodes were filmed. While there were no official rehearsals, the scripts were sent to the actors two days before the scenes were filmed and the actors practiced individually. In addition, Gong and Zhao called a meeting the day before, during which they explained their idea behind “Last Period” and the process.

“The idea behind ‘Last Period’ was to portray high school in a lighthearted but realistic and relatable way,” Zhao said.

This idea and their desire to challenge themselves in film inspired them to create “Last Period.” Gong and Zhao said that the web series did prove to be a difficult task for them. They wrote the script overnight and filmed during the day. In addition, they secured equipment and locations with a minimal budget, handled publicity, and found a cast and crew.

Although they did already know several of the people they chose to include in the project, they found most through social media or references. The directors knew Karen Ni (12) through their counseling jobs. Ni filmed the episodes along with Meg Farinsky, a student at the University of Southern California. Filming occurred from Monday to Friday for nine hours a day over a two-week period.

“I learned a lot about patience in filming,” she said. “Just staying motivated was the hard part, but we were really proud of the end result so we were really glad that we had spent that much time on [it].”

The episodes were filmed at UCSD and Torrey Pines in a non-sequential order. Before filming, Ni would discuss with the directors what angles to use, as well as the desired length of the scene.

Despite most of them being strangers, the cast and crew were able to connect during the process.

“It was easy to get to know them and, especially when you’re working on a project such as that where it’s every day and you’re acting, you really get close to them in a short period of time,” Goodman said.

For Ni and Goodman, the web series was a new experience for them.

“It was my first time working with film and I really enjoyed it,” Goodman said. “It’s a different atmosphere and template than theatre acting because you have multiple takes and you can perfect it more.”

Through “Last Period” both Ni and Goodman were able to gain valuable experience in film. The web series allowed Goodman to further his passion for pursuing acting in films in the future.

“It made me more comfortable acting in front of a camera and with other people that I barely know, because there were a bunch of extras that came in,” Goodman said. “Working with them was very fun.”

Included among the extras were David Linn (12) and Rusty Dimagiba (’15).

4 Features

The NEXUS

STUNT TECHNIQUE: Prep

Sept. 18, 2015

A cheerleading stunt group demonstrates the preparation and technique necessary to keep the �lyer safe in a heel stretch stunt.

Giovanna Zavala

Execution

STAFF WRITER

2 4

3

1

2 1

1. The back spot has one hand around the flyer’s ankle, the other on the flyer’s upper back thigh. 2. The main base holds the flyer’s foot in both hands, facing upwards. 3. The side base’s right hand is holding the center of the flyer’s foot while the left hand is holding the main base’s right hand to stabilize the stunt. 4. The front spot holds the front wrists of each of the bases.

3

1. After pushing up on the flyer’s leg, the back spot puts both hands just above the flyer’s ankles. 2. On the way up from prep, the main base turns her hands out while still holding the flyer’s foot, so that her fingers are facing towards her. 3. The front spot holds the front wrists of each of the bases and is there to catch the flyer if she falls forward.

In addition to the athletic demands required of flyers—balance, flexibility—they need total trust in their bases and spots.

“Feeling secure in the air comes with time and with a lot of practice with their [stunt] group,” coach Janine Tompkins said. “Bases and back spots work together to keep their flyer safe and to feel secure.”

Each member of a stunting group has specific techniques they practice, but there are two basic guidelines that each party must adhere to.

For bases and spots its simple: “Throw yourself under the flyer [if she is falling], no matter what just dive under your flyer,” flyer Brighid Johnson (10) said. “That rule is very basic and thoroughly embedded into their memory,” she said.

“The number one rule for flyers is to always stay tight, clean and sharp, not only in the air but when you fall because if you flail all around you’re going to break someone’s nose.”

No matter the level of a team, these elementary rules ensure safety in the event that a flyer falls from a stunt—which is what happened to Johnson on the first performance of the school year.

When Westview’s cheer team walked onto the field to perform at the first day of school pep rally, they had only run their routine all the way through with music once. Despite this, the practice had gone smoothly. In fact, the stunt sequence that caused Johnson to fall during the performance was executed perfectly during practice.

However, the natural nerves and adrenaline of performance got the better of Johnson and her stunt group, and her fall resulted in a concussion that would keep her from cheering for two weeks.

Considering the height she fell from, Johnson believes her fall could have been worse.

In her early years of cheer, Johnson’s falls led to the hyper-extension of each of her elbows because she put her hand out while falling out of a stunt. She has also endured shreds of blue mat stuck in her braces when she fell face-first out of a stunt, neglecting to adjust her fall even though she knew she had no front spot.

This time at the pep rally she followed her own advice—freezing in the air and trying to land softly—allowing her front spot to break her fall.

Johnson’s minor mishap during the performance left her unfazed—falling is, though less glamorous, a part of cheerleading. It reaffirmed, however, the effectiveness of the stunt group’s heavily-embedded mentality to protect the flyer at all costs and highlighted the importance of each position in the success of a stunt.

Photos by Alex Smyth Design by Shereen Nikzad and Giovanna Zavala

The NEXUS

Sept. 18, 2015

In

Features 5

REVIEW

“Narcos”

TV Series

Edward Qiao

Tonia Jaroszewska

Courtesy of Kathryn Chan

Left: from left: Laurissa Chan (9), Junna Chen (9), Marina Mikami (11), and Mila Stojkoski (11) collaborate over chalk details and color in letters for the show.

Top: From an angle, students could see the art as a three-dimensional image.

Chan chalks 3D art to welcome students Evan Charfauros STAFF WRITER

Kathryn Chan (11) was only one of thousands of students who observed an unusual sight upon entering Westview the first day of school: the distorted image of a book encased in block letters stretched across the ground in the quad. It drew attention from new and returning students alike, because everyone was unfamiliar with its presence.

That is to say, most people were unfamiliar with its presence.

Chan, on the other hand, was very familiar with this image. She remembered when it was nothing more than a digital design on her computer, remembered when it was just a chalk outline on the concrete, remembered watching her small creation progress into the huge piece of art lying before her.

“At the beginning I was thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, how is this ever going to work?’ because I’d never done anything on this scale before,” Chan said. “But I’d say it worked pretty well.”

Chan has had considerable experience with using sidewalk chalk as an art medium.

“Everybody [used chalk] as a little kid, but most people as they grow up don’t want to [continue using it],” she said. “It helps a lot with calming stress. You can

do a chalk drawing and it’s just something ing of a book stacked between stylized to do while you’re thinking; it just calms block letters. your thoughts.”

The message read “Back to Thinking Sometimes, Chan goes out during the about the Future,” which was related to sunset to create art in her driveway. Un- both the students’ return to school and the like in her younger hopscotch days, she Back-to-the-Future theme of the first-day uses artistic techniques—such as shading, pep rally. smudging, and the use of sharp and dull She inputted the design into a program chalk utensils—to make complex designs, that elongated it to specific proportions in like leaves or butterflies. order to make it appear three-dimensional She’s done this for two or three years from her desired angle. now, using the Enlisting the help chalk as a soothing of a few family You can do a chalk draw- members, escape from boreChan set dom or the stress of ing and it’s just something to to work transferring school. the image from her She first thought do while you’re thinking; it computer onto the of the idea to wel- just calms your thoughts.” ground. Over the come students with course of two days, -Kathryn Chan (11) they drew a large a chalk drawing in May. Chan liked grid with chalk that the uniqueness chalk offered to West- allowed them to then draw the outline of view as an art form. She also believed Chan’s image. its placement in the quad would give it Her group spent the next two days fillmore visibility than some of the school’s ing the outline in with colored chalk to other art—such as the pep rally speed produce what students eventually saw on paintings—which hides in places like the the first day. The image seemed to gradoffice or the art building, where many stu- ually rise from the ground as they shaded dents never go. in the bare outline with vibrant colors. By However, it wasn’t until a few weeks this time, Chan had more than just her before school started that she was able to family by her side. Nine other students gain permission from ASB to implement joined her to work on the project. her idea. Using Microsoft Paint and Mic“I sent out an email a week before,” she rosoft Word, she created a visual consist- said. “And I got some people who wanted

“

to help who didn’t procrastinate on their summer homework.”

Working on the chalk art was not without its hardships. For one thing, the heat made progress difficult—the sun beat down on their area, forcing Chan and her companions to take cover beneath shade canopies. Additionally, the chalk was prone to smearing. Anything from clothing to hands had the potential to ruin the image, which explains why the art remained behind caution tape while it still existed.

“Sometimes the chalk would get picked up by someone’s shoe or hand,” said Vivian Lee (11), one of the students who helped Chan with the project. “It would mix and we’d have this big clump of ugly colors.”

The finished three-dimensional image stayed on display for a week before the time came for the custodians to remove it with power washers.

“It was a long and tiring process,” Lee said. “But, thanks to people helping out, the outcome was so beautiful that it was worth it.”

In the future, Chan hopes to form a chalk art club with those students who helped her on the project. If established, the club would continue to create chalk art around campus, albeit on a smaller scale than this project. But for now, Chan is proud of the work they’ve accomplished.

The key to creating a riveting historical drama is to maintain historical accuracy while at the same time presenting an interesting story.

“Narcos,” created by Chris Brancato and directed by José Padilha, manages to strike this perfect balance, constructing a captivating narrative while keeping factual integrity.

The show follows the rise and fall of the most notorious Colombian drug lord, the “King of Cocaine” and the wealthiest criminal in history, Pablo Escobar, played by Brazilian actor Wagner Moura. Narrated from the point of view of DEA agent Steve Murphy (Boyd Holbrook), “Narcos” is at once a history lesson and a strong standalone story.

The show’s greatest strength is perhaps in its ability to portray everyone accurately without fully condemning anyone.

While Murphy and his partner, Javier Peña (Pedro Pascal) are the “good guys,” DEA agents in a land ruled by drugs, Escobar isn’t painted as a complete monster.

At the same time that he is the head of an international drug cartel, he is also a devoted husband with one child and another on the way. At the same time that he is the man responsible for over 3,000 deaths in Miami, he is the “Robin Hood” of Colombia, giving away his wealth to the poor.

Overall, “Narcos” is as informative as it is compelling, and is time well spent, no matter what you may be searching for.

“Rodeo”

Album

Dane Persky

With his debut studio album, “Rodeo,” Texas rapper Travis Scott has sold me on street rap. As a self-proclaimed modern rap connoisseur, enjoying my fair share of the lyrically-gifted Kendrick Lamar and sweet-talking Chance the Rapper like fine wine, I was caught off guard when I found myself humming along to the likes of Scott’s “Piss on Your Grave.”

Released Sept. 4, fresh off the heels of Scott’s 2014 mixtape, “Days Before Rodeo,” “Rodeo” is the product of Scott’s production skill partnered with several of today’s most prominent rappers. The project features the likes of 2 Chainz, Juicy J and Kanye West, all of whom provide a hard-hitting, egotistical delivery on par with the style of Scott himself.

Typically, an album solely containing this style of music would grow repetitive and dull. However, by crafting professional instrumentals and collaborating with smoother-sounding musicians like The Weeknd and Toro y Moi, Scott has managed to develop one of the most cohesive albums in this style to date.

Admittedly, “Rodeo” contains a couple tracks that don’t necessarily push the bar as far as street rap goes, namely those that go a bit overboard on the autotune, such as “Antidote” and “90210.”

That being said, “Rodeo” still retains a profound cohesiveness found in the vocal and production talent of both Scott and his slew of featured artists.

Wilcox competes across nation in SoCal marching band Yuchen Zhang STAFF WRITER

Brett Wilcox (12) was exhausted when the drum major called all the members of the marching band to go outside. The group had just finished their final marching band competition in Indianapolis, it was late at night, and they were staying the night at a local elementary school. Despite this, Wilcox followed his fellow members as they streamed outside, and as soon as he stepped out, he noticed the lightup stage props their marching band used spelling out the word “star.” As the props glowed, the drum major gave a short speech and began singing the group’s anthem song to wrap up the end of their summer marching season.

Slowly, a chorus of voices joined in as all the drum corps members began singing, flooding the night with their voices.

“That night was really emotional for me because it finally hit me that the season was very quickly coming to an end,” Wilcox said. “The friendships I made over the summer had been established, but it was eye-opening because we only had five days left with each other.”

This summer, Wilcox joined Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, the most prestigious marching band in the Southern Californian division, and competed across the country. Although

Wilcox has come to love music, he admits he didn’t always enjoy playing an instrument. In middle school, Wilcox’s parents forced him to pick up an instrument and join the school band as an alto saxophone, and at first, he despised it. Practice was required, discipline was essential, and Wilcox thought he was being tied down. However, during middle school, Wilcox began to appreciate the quality of the music and the friendships he made.

“It’s funny as I got into high school, my parents were the ones trying to make me drop, and I was the one who wanted to stick with it,” Wilcox said.

Wilcox joined marching band his freshman year, and as he gradually improved, he switched from the alto saxophone to the tuba and wanted to be able to march and compete not only during the school year, but over the summer as well. After talking with Skyler MacKinnon (’14), a Westview Alumn and former marching band member, who recommended Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, Wilcox decided he would follow the Gold Drum and Bugle Corps’ website closely for updates, and as soon as the group announced their tryout dates, he signed up. These were structured like a normal rehearsal day, and Wilcox was assessed by how well he could play music and how well he got along with other members.

After he finished auditions, Wilcox was contacted later by the group and asked to join.

Because the group competed nationally, they had to practice very often. During January and February, the practices were every Sunday for 10 hours, and during March, they extended the practices to the entire weekends, 10 hours every Saturday and every Sunday.

Since the practices were in Los Angeles, every weekend, Wilcox had to drive up on Saturdays to attend the practices, stay the night at a friend’s house, attend the practices the following day, drive back Sunday night, and get ready for school the next day.

These practices continued until the end of school, but they became even more grueling during the early summer.

“The weekend practices continued up until the week after school ended, and after that, the everyday 10-hour rehearsals started,” Wilcox said. “The practices lasted until our final performance and the only times they were shortened were on performance days, where the practices were five hours.”

The practice areas changed weekly, ranging from Los Angeles to Pasadena, and Wilcox lived in other drum corp members’ houses during the far away practices. During those summer practices, a typical day consisted of marching in the morning, an hour break, two

to three more hours of practicing in separate instrument groups, another hour break, and finally, practicing with the whole group.

Before the group traveled across the nation to compete, they also participated in many local competitions. Competitions were judged like high school marching band ones, where teams were awarded points and ranked by how many points they received. Also, the points were cumulative throughout the season, so every competition mattered. Wilcox’s team settled into fourth place until the very end of the season, when their group dipped to eighth place out of fourteen teams.

In late July, the band spent two weeks traveling across the Midwest by bus, passing through states like Utah, Wyoming, and Nebraska and finally ending up in Indiana.

“The whole experience was hectic but incredible,” Wilcox said. “It was going to sleep in one state, waking up in another, and then [attending] another 10-hour rehearsal in that state unless it was a show day.”

The band’s season culminated in the Open Class Championships, which was the highest competition in their division. The corps placed eighth, and was eligible to compete in the World Class Preliminaries at Lucas Oil Stadium, the qualifying round for another prestigious marching band tournament. Although

they performed their best at the World Class Preliminaries, they didn’t qualify to go forward in the competition.

Wilcox said that the whole experience was physically and mentally taxing, but completely worth it. Although the 10-hour practices were draining, his teammates encouraged one another, and, together, they were able to compete in the highest level of marching band competitions. Wilcox said that at first, all the corps members just acknowledged each other, but as the season progressed, they discovered all their similarities and differences.

“There was a certain respect that every member had for each other just because of the activity itself,” Wilcox said.

In the end, the group became a tight-knit family, which drove them to give it their all at their final performance in Indianapolis.

“We left it all out on the field [during the final performance],” Wilcox said. “We couldn’t have had a better performance.”

As Wilcox moves forward from this experience, he hopes to apply what he learned to marching band and music in general.

“Marching band isn’t going to be as prevalent for me in college but I am going to incorporate music into my life in college,” Wilcox said. “And as for Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, I know I’m going back for another year.”

Montesi sells bracelets to raise money for clean water

The Path to Clean Water

STAFF WRITER

1. Montesi receives a shipment of beads from Beadforlife.

Angelica Ilagan

Marisa Montesi (11) showered. She washed her hands.

She drank when she was thirsty. These were actions that seemed simple, actions that required no thought.

And that was the mindset Montesi had—at least until the seventh grade, when her church showed a video that brought attention to the issue of unsanitary water in sub-Saharan Africa. Water, something that Montesi had never even considered the significance of, was cherished in these areas.

“I took a look at everything [around me] and how fortunate I was,” she said. “And then there, people are walking five miles every day to get just a bucket of water.”

Intrigued by what she discovered, a 12-year-old Montesi started researching ways to help the families of those communities. She stumbled upon The Water Project, a global organization that works to provide clean, filtered water in African towns and villages.

After researching the organization, she learned that she could fund the project with a task that anyone could do: collecting water bottles.

Alongside fellow church members, Montesi raised money to fund the construction of a filtered water pump in a Kenyan town, Kakamega. She put up flyers around her neighborhood requesting donations for reusable water bottles, which would be dropped off on Montesi’s porch every first Sunday of the month.

With $550 earned from selling those water bottles, Montesi sent the money off to The Water Project.

“It was one of the first times I’d actually felt like I helped someone in a genuine way,” she said.

This summer, Montesi felt called to work for a larger cause.

“I felt God really bring it back [to me],” she said. “Lately I’d feel like I needed to do something to help and serve others, so I took this summer as guidance to do that.”

Montesi was ready to support families in need in any way she could. This time though, instead of selling water bottles at vendors, she was kick-starting her own campaign.

Bringing together a group of well-trusted friends, Montesi named her campaign, “The Wishing Well.” With The Wishing Well acting as a local branch of The Water Project, she and other members of the campaign have set out to raise $1000 that will fund the construction of a well in another African town, as well as bring awareness to the issues unsanitary water poses for the people—the illnesses borne out of contamination, the burden of walking miles upon miles to get clean water, the constant disruption of day-to-day lives.

However, unlike before, Montesi wanted to tie The Wishing Well’s funding method more personally to the individuals that she was helping. She arrived at a simple answer: the organization, Beadforlife.

Run by a large community of Ugandan women, Beadforlife produces and sells handmade beads in order to

create what the organization’s mission statement says are “sustainable opportunities for [their workers] to lift their families out of extreme poverty.”

By using the beads from Beadforlife in the bracelets sold to fund The Wishing Well, Montesi said that she believes those committed to the campaign understand a bit more about what they’re contributing towards.

“These women work day after day to support their families,” Montesi said. “[With the bracelets], you’re showing that you’re helping them, and you’re helping everyone they care about, too.”

Montesi said that handmaking the bracelets with the beads from the organization brought herself closer to the cause as well, even more so than before. “[Making the bracelet] is a constant reaffirmation for what you’re doing and why it matters,” she said.

Montesi plans to reach the campaign’s current goal of $1000 by the end of her senior year. By then, she hopes that she and her fellow campaign members will have created some sort of impact on the families they’re helping.

“It’s not just giving money to another organization,” Montesi said. “It’s working to reach out to other families that need help and giving them the opportunities you have.”

For Montesi, The Wishing Well has become something bigger than anything she could have dreamed of in seventh grade. It’s no longer a simple project on the side, but a cause she has wholeheartedly committed herself to, a way to impart the good fortune in her life to others.

2. Montesi handmakes the bracelets using the beads.

3. She receives funds from selling the bracelets for $6 each.

4. Once the goal is reached, money is given to an organization to start construction of a well.

5. The money is stored in a separate banking account until enough is raised to build a well.

Design by Shereen Nikzad Illustrations by Allyson Xie

6 Features

The NEXUS

Sept. 18, 2015

A Summer Overseas

SDYS celebrates 70th year with tour of China SDYS, from page 1

“I felt like they really appreciated our music and our culture we brought with music because we played ‘Rhapsody in Blue,’ and they really liked it.”

In the weeks leading up to the tour, SDYS alumni joined the ensemble, and together they met two evenings each week for three-hour rehearsals. They learned “Da Hai” for the first time and refined four other pieces, Glazunov’s “Overture Solennelle,” Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 2,” Tchaikovsky’s “1812,” and Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”—repertoire they had been learning since the beginning of the season last fall. For “Rhapsody in Blue,” they also rehearsed with the piano soloists they would be performing with in Yantai and Shanghai and with a soundtrack of the soloist they would be performing with in Beijing.

“We had to adapt to the styles of each piano soloist in every city,” said Lucas Liu (11), who plays violin in SDYS. Once in China, they held a few rehearsals before their concerts, and got to know each other better. Most of the musicians in SDYS hardly knew each other beforehand.

“I’d been playing in SDYS for so long, but there were a lot of people I never talked to until the trip,” Lin said. “[In the years prior to the trip] it felt like I was in my own bubble of people who are just string players.”

During the trip, however, they roomed with musicians from different sections, with different personalities, with different backgrounds—musicians they hadn’t really talked to before.

While on the tour bus driving from place to place, the alumni and seniors who had recently graduated talked about their future plans in music, a discussion that helped Qiao “realize what I wanted to do with my music.”

“I plan to try out for an orchestra at my college or join a chamber music with a small group, and continue it as something that I’d do for the rest of my life,” Qiao said.

“I feel like now, it’s one of the most important things that I do.”

During the bus rides, they would also sing their own orchestral parts, attempting high-pitched notes and laughing at the intonation.

Backstage, instead of the usual awkward silence occasionally broken by a few practicing their parts, they laughed and joked together. In Yantai, a small group began to play the beginning of the Tchaikovsky “1812,” and then more and more musicians joined in, until they were all

Courtesy of Wade Sherman

The San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory performs in the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, China. The group traveled to Beijing, Yantai and Shanghai from June 23 to July 5, to strengthen cultural ties and encourage children to pursue a career in music.

crowded into one small place, all playing it together.

“Because we bonded as an orchestra, as a group together, that changed how we were playing the music,” Qiao said. “We put more heart into it, and it showed through the reaction of the crowd. We supported each other, and that went directly into how we performed.”

Even their rehearsals were better as a result.

“Rehearsals were more productive [in China] because we were closer and we knew each other better,” Lin said.

When they weren’t rehearsing or performing, they explored the cities together. In Beijing, they toured the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square. They learned Tai Chi with a master at the Temple of Heaven Park. They haggled over prices in stalls along the Silk Alley. In hot, humid weather, they climbed one of the steepest sections of the Great Wall, an experience Dunaway recalls as, “probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done because it was like climbing an endless, endless staircase.”

And it started raining half-way through.

While in Beijing, they also visited the Central Conservatory and ate lunch with the high school musicians

studying there. They watched them perform a recital with traditional Chinese instruments. Many were struck by their skill and dedication.

“The kids there are absolutely insane,” Liu said.

“They’re our age. They’ve been playing for 80 percent of their lives. They’re really, really good.”

The students at the Beijing Conservatory had spent most of their lives practicing to get into the school. They’ve lived and breathed music ever since they were children.

“It inspired us all individually,” Dunaway said. “It made me practice a lot. They were all really together and that really made us listen to each other so we could be more in tune with each other.”

After five days in Beijing, they traveled to Yantai, and after three days and two performances, they flew to Shanghai, where they watched an acrobatic show, visited the Yu Garden and Bazaar, explored Old and New Shanghai, and went on a cruise down the Huangpu River.

But more important than the sightseeing was the cultural exchange, the reconciling of two very different cultures.

“It’s really nice to know that music is a universal lan-

guage,” Dunaway said. “No matter where you are or no matter which language you speak, everyone can always understand music.”

On their last day, during the final performance at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, the audience and the symphony were especially jittery with excitement and emotion.

The concert hall, a world-class platform for international art and cultural exchange, was comprised of five halls reminiscent of the petals of a butterfly orchid in full bloom.

“The acoustics were specifically designed to aid the movement of music going up and outwards,” Zeng said.

“It helped the music symbolically blossom out into the five petals.”

It perfectly embodied the symphony’s mission to spread a love for music.

“It’s really nice to know that there’s a purpose to my playing, that I don’t play just for myself, but I can touch others with my music, even if it’s just for one moment,” Dunaway said. “Even if I can’t even speak their language.”

And, while playing “Rhapsody in Blue,” the symphony remembered it was the Fourth of July.

Shanes travels to Israel, strengthens bonds between cultures

Tonia Jaroszewska Staff Writer

Lying on her back in silence, Jessica Shanes (12) was contemplating the past few days. She was surrounded by her new friends, most of which she hadn’t known for any longer than a week. At the moment, her head lay on a friend’s stomach that in turn was lying on another’s stomach.

Shanes and nine other Jewish students from San Diego had flown in July to Israel, with a program called Jacobs International Teen Leadership Institute, or JITLI. In one of today’s most divided countries, they met with 10 Jewish and 20 Muslim youths who lived in Israel. JITLI’s mission was to have the San Diegans there was to help bring down prejudice between these two groups.

Shanes turned over the thought of how much the program, JILTI had achieved already for only working with the Israelis for a week.

Seven months earlier, Shanes applied for the program knowing that only 10 of the many applicants, all of whom were ongoing rising seniors, would be accepted by JITLI for the trip in July.

Shanes had heard of the program from a friend in her synagogue and immediately knew she wanted to go. She had long dreamed of going to Israel, so when she was offered the chance, she knew she couldn’t pass it up..

“When I got the call, it was the greatest feeling in the world,” she said. “My heart was pounding and it hit me that I was about to em-

bark on the greatest adventure of my life.”

Throughout the months leading up, Shanes and the others who were accepted into the program met once or twice monthly to get to know each other and prepare.

On July 21, Shanes left San Diego for Israel along with the nine others. For the next two and a half weeks they would stay in seven different places, including youth hostels, and visit 17 cities.

The reason for her trip was to make peace but there was a problem standing in the way: only 10 of them spoke English.

“The language barrier was present the whole time, but the thing was, as time went on you learned how to speak with your hands and you learned a few words in Hebrew and a few words in Arabic and you knew more or less how to get the point across,” Shanes said.

A lot of the time it was like the game “telephone”, trying to get information to one individual through someone else but having it pass through many translations at the same time.

Simple interactions led to complicated hand signals, even to communicate whose turn it was to shower.

“I had a girl in my room from Laqya who spoke no English, and she only spoke a little Hebrew, so my Jewish-Israeli roommate could communicate with her a little bit, and so whenever we were trying to figure out who was going into the shower, it was really awkward,” Shanes said.

The tensions between Jewish and Muslim Israelis are caused by the fight over the land.

These pressures were evident in between the

Jewish and Muslim teens in the program with Shanes, and were the focus of the trip.

“It’s weird to see two cultures that live together, completely unassociated,” Shanes said.

Arabs aren’t allowed to settle wherever they want to because the Israeli government is weary of the state possibly return to Palestine.

Because of this, there are unrecognized Bedouin villages where Arabs make do with what they have, but prices are higher in stores in these villages because they are not recognized by the state of Israel.

“The 10 of us from San Diego, there was no conflict between us because we were not involved, we were not on either side, but the Jews and the Arab kids had a lot of trouble in the beginning, mainly because their communities are fighting each other over land,” Shanes said. “It was hard in the beginning to see past the differences in the way they [Arabs] associate with each other, like how boys and girls can’t touch each other, or how they don’t really go outside at home, they all live with family and that they have arranged marriages” Shanes said. “To us it’s weird, but to them it’s not.”

Most days included a bonding activity that helped them overcome these cultural differences. In one, Shanes and her peers all laid on each other’s stomachs as pillows creating a knot where everyone was putting trust in someone they hadn’t met before the trip.

For this activity, the group ventured to a dome-shaped building that was sound proof in the middle of a forest and each person laid

their head on a stomach of another who didn’t share the same culture or language as them.

“We lay like a giant puzzle, and we sat there for 20 minutes completely silently just thinking about everything and letting the spirits take us away,” Shanes said. “I was very emotional because I knew everybody was thinking and we weren’t worrying about religion, and we weren’t worrying about society, and we were just together, comforting each other, and it helped us accept our pasts.”

These bonding activities, a lot of times, were not only about acceptance of each other but also about self-acceptance.

Even though Shanes couldn’t easily communicate with everyone surrounding her, she could see their feelings and connect with them through emotions.

“When we left the dome, I was crying, everyone was crying,” Shanes said. “It was amazing. Just walking outside and everyone wanted to give a hug to each person no matter the culture and everyone wanted to comfort each other because smiling and crying and laughing is universal.”

Besides connecting with one another Shanes and her friends visited mosques and talked to Rabbis. In order to gain respect for one of the Muslim’s most sacred mosques, the Temple Mount, and to observe traditions, all the girls wore hijabs when they toured the mosque.

Even though they were invited to the mosque by Muslims, there were others who didn’t share the same hopes of peace.

“The fact that we were all there and the Arabs were willing to show us around was in-

credible, but we got chanted at and yelled at,” Shanes said. “It was scary.”

Working with the JILTI program, Shanes and the nine other Jewish San Diegans tried create more peaceful relationships for the new generation of citizens of Israel. And by the end of the trip, it was clear that the project was a success. Most of the teens were no longer shy around each other and had an easier time communitcating with someone who didn’t speak the same language as them.

There were also clear improvements in the quality of the time spent doing activities where special connections were made. Shanes knew that these moments were meant to be cherished, that she would always remember this rewarding experience.

“It’s incredible that this program, where we spent three weeks together, lived together, and ate together, read together, and we practiced the Torah and the Qur’an, worked,” Shanes said.

On the last day of the trip, everybody gathered for a last get-together. JITLI parents invited parents from the Israeli families. They sang songs and presented a slideshow from the trip. At the end, they gathered in a grassy area eating watermelon, drinking soda, and Shanes saw how everyone had overcome the cultural barriers, trying to make some last memories before everyone went home.

“I think the part when [the Israeli Jews and Muslims] saw that we were willing to accept another culture and religion, that’s when they opened up to [the Americans],” Shanes said.

“That was a really big part of what we did.”

Barrall, Smith visit Paris, connect with locals Giovanna Zavala Staff Writer

Courtesy of Erika Barrall

From right, Itzel Salgado (11), Erika Barrall (12) and Autumn Smith (12) eat crêpes. They visited London and Paris in June.

Erika Barrall (12) and Autumn Smith (12) were going to try their hardest not to be American.

“When you go out, you do not want to be American, you do not want to sound American, you do not want to look American,” Smith said. “You are not American.”

From the moment they entered Paris from the underground train they had taken from London, and entered what Smith describes as the “ghetto” of the city, both girls wanted distance from the label “tourist” in order to experience the real Paris.

Barrall and Smith, along with seven other Westview students, spent the beginning of their summer traveling to two of Europe’s most famous cities. After spending several days in London, the group’s home for the rest of the trip was Paris.

Barrall and Smith had several years of French under their belts and were ready for an authentic Parisian traveling experience, one where they hoped to connect with the locals by putting their bilingualism to practical use.

Barrall had taken all the French classes that Westview offers, but at the time of the trip she had been outside of a French classroom for a year, and wasn’t sure how much she actually remembered until a conversation started.

Initially, Barrall said, the prospect of entering into a conversation with a stranger in their native language was “horrifying.” But it was also surprisingly easy.

“I didn’t start speaking French until I was in a shop and I was going to buy something,” Barrall said. “And then you get into a conversation at the

cash register and you remember, ‘Oh yeah, I can make everyday conversation with people.’”

“I was very surprised [that] I could just pop back into French. It was exhilarating. Every time you would open your mouth you were like, ‘Oh my god, I’m going to make a mistake, the grammar’s not going to be correct, I’m not going to use the right tenses.’ But once you get into the conversation, you stop caring about it and just care more about the content.”

By conversing on a more personal level and portraying herself differently than the typical American tourist, she was also exposed to the lesser known sights of the city, like Paris’ many small farmer’s markets that featured authentic food and homemade crafts.

Smith was fresher out of the classroom, but nonetheless shared the nerves that Barrall described when speaking a new language, especially one as difficult as French.

“It’s very intimidating to walk up to a French person and then start to speak in French,” Smith said. “If your French is really that bad, they’ll actually speak back to you in English, so you are trying to avoid them speaking to you in English.”

While purchasing something on a day visit to the Paris Opera House, a young cashier kept trying to speak to Smith in English but Smith was insistent on answering only in French.

“I just came all this way to speak French, you will speak to me in French,” she remembered thinking.

Barrall and Smith recognized the pride the Parisians had in their language, but found that general American impressions of the French—as snooty or unfriendly—were not accurate. Although the

girls tried to separate themselves from the typical guise of an American tourist by speaking French in public and dressing more European (“modest but very sophisticated,” Barrall says of the fashion), they found that even when it became apparent that they were tourists, the locals still appreciated the interest they had for the country’s culture.

“When we [started] speaking French, even if it was slightly butchered they wanted to help you out,” Barrall said. “They spoke very slowly and very simply. Even if you just tried to speak French, if you didn’t even know a lot, they opened up and they wanted you to speak more and to really understand their culture rather than just come here and see a few sights and take a few pictures.”

Even if a conversation was limited to a few comments in a café and didn’t involve complex vocabulary, there was substance in each interaction.

“It was super cool because you’re able to connect with people a lot more when you were able to speak their language because it’s a certain sense of understanding,” Smith said.

Their last day in Paris was Barrall and Smith’s favorite—the city’s culture and people they found so fascinating were highlighted during the celebratory Fete de la Musique, or music festival, which takes place on the summer solstice.

On every single block of the city, a different story was taking place; a young girl playing violin on one street was followed by a setup of loud speakers blasting dubstep.

No matter personal background, nationality, age, “anyone and everyone could sing and dance and play music,” Smith said.

Even American tourists.

Features 7

The NEXUS

Sept. 18, 2015

Simon explores Polynesian culture through dance Julia Erickson EDITOR IN CHIEF

Five drummers in red began the beat; the deepest bass drum, the pahu, led the other four.

Two wooden log-shaped drums, the to’ere and the to’ere piti, followed with a hollow midtone. The tall congas, or pahu tupai, echoed the rhythm, and the fa’atete bongos beat the highest. Together, their sounds melded into a Polynesian rhythm, a backdrop to the triton conch that one of the drummers brought to his lips. With the ring of the horn, 10 girls in long skirts streamed out.

“Chee-hooo!” yelled the drummers. The audience echoed the cry, which signified excitement and pride.

The dancers wore red costumes decorated with small shells that ran in a smooth curve along the neckline. Their long red grassy skirts swayed along with the short tufts of grass protruding from a beaded belt on their hips. Along their neck, the girls wore a thick choker of small white shells, which streamed down in delicate lines to create a V. Finally, to complete the ensemble, feathered headpieces, standing tall in a half-oval, rose from the girls’ dark hair.

With the fast-based rhythm of the drums, they began their first dance, the Tahitian Ote’a.

Among them, MacKenzie Simon (11) swayed her hips, kept tight footwork, and waved two red grass palms, another aspect of the intricate costume.

“Alohaaa!” Simon’s teacher said.

“Alohaaa!” the audience, attendees of a quinceañera, repeated back to her.

“We are Te Rahiti Nui, a Polynesian group from Rancho Bernardo,” she said, introducing the group, or halau, of dancers.

In the short break she was given, Simon had made a costume change to a white skirt, a green leafy headband, and a lei.

“Our costumes consist of a variety of shells,

Tahitian Drums Fa’atete

MacKenzie Simon (11) dances at a quinceañera as part of Te Rahiti Nui. She practices hula and Tahitian dances with the dance group.

Pahu

in shows around San Diego.

“My first formal show was when I was in seventh grade,” she said. “We got to rent out the Carmel Mountain Country Club and invite our families and close friends.”

Simon remembers walking out on stage for the first time; she wore a long purple dress and a white flower in her hair. She remembers how pretty she felt in the costume. She danced a slow hula solo, which she said was a tribute to her family. Her teacher came on stage and danced with her too.

“My parents were really touched [by the performance],” she said. “The song was about family and dedication to your family.”

In Simon’s group, not only is the halua expected to learn dances, but they are also expected to study Polynesian culture. And in Hawaiian culture especially, family plays a large part.

“Most haluas in Hawaii are family involved,” Simon said. “My dancing does relate to my family because they’re something I value a lot.”

Even when her commitments become stressful, Simon tries to honor her family values. During last school year, Simon and the girls on her team were each given a chance to compete in a solo competition—a chance that would have required countless extra hours practicing. Simon, with a mounting pile of schoolwork and finals approaching, chose to sit it out.

“All the others girls were doing it and I felt really left out,” she said. “But I also knew that school was important and in my family, school always comes first.”

But even though juggling her schedule may sometimes be problematic, Simon loves dancing. Ultimately, for Simon, dancing is a passion and a way to take a break from life.

“It’s an expression of myself,” she said.

“Dancing shows your true soul and passion.”

To’ere

The Pahu is the

The To’ere is a drum

made from stretched

largest bass drum.

made from a hollowed

sharkskin and produce

It provides the basic

log. It is played with

The Fa’atete bongos are Alex Smyth

feathers, and grass we import from Hawaii,” she said. “We try to make it as natural looking as possible. Stage appearance is really important.”

The next dance was a hula set to a slow lyrical song. There were only four dancers on stage this time—two of the girls, each paired with a male dancer.

“Tahitian is faster paced, and hula is on the slow side,” Simon said. “Hula is harder. Tahitian is more beats, and you’ve got to know your technique, but hula, you have to feel it.

You really have to dance out your feelings and connect with the song.”

In both hula and Tahitian, the dancers usually keep their arms extended, knees bent, and feet pointed. Meaningful arm movements, graceful footwork, and well-timed hip movements are the three main components of the dance. In a group ensemble, the entire halau is expected to be in sync.

Simon began Tahitian and hula dancing when she was about 7 years old. She had done ballet since she was really young, but had gotten bored of the style.

While Simon first started out with a small hula group in Rancho Penasquitos, she quickly found her home with Te Rahiti Nui. In addition to practice multiple times a week, there are shows and competitions Multiple times a year, the dancers have a chance to compete. There are two types of events, a group competition, called an ote’a or ahuroa, and a solo competition. “[At a solo competition,] you go there with about four or five other girls and you do a solo depending on the beats that the drummers give you,” she said. “You have to know your beats and choreography because solos are totally based on your technique and how you present yourself on stage. If you really want to be good at solos, it takes a lot of dedication and time during the week.”

More often, however, the dancers perform

the highest sound.

beat for the rhythm.

a cone-shaped stick.

Design by Julia Erickson Photos courtesy of Kent Shin

Kadiyala researches regenerative medicine at UC San Diego Catie Fan

EDITOR IN CHIEF

The first time Abhinav Kadiyala (12) felt the sting of death was when he was 12 years old, outside a dingy hospital in India. In the evening hours of the sixth of May, his maternal grandfather, who had been diagnosed three years prior with pancreatic cancer, breathed his last and went peacefully to death. Children were not allowed in the room, but Kadiyala caught sight of his grandfather’s body as it was carried out of the hospital building. The death had been expected by everyone except him, the news delivered by his mother with a nonchalance that knocked the wind out of him.

The second time Kadiyala felt the sting of death was merely months later through a phone call, after he and his family had just moved back to California. After a long battle with Alzheimer’s and stroke, his paternal grandfather, whom he had lived with in India for five years, succumbed to a heart attack. His paternal grandfather’s death, or at least his manner of death, was expected by no one. Kadiyala vividly remembers hearing his grandmother’s anguished screams through the phone.

This time, however, he had borne witness to the doctor visits, the medication, to the gradual deterioration of the mind and body that came with Alzheimer’s and stroke. He had been there when his grandfather had woken up with no memory of where he was and who his children and grandchildren were. It made the blow all the more crushing.

“I thought his condition would improve from all the doctors’ guidance and medication, but it only just seemed to be deteriorating,” Kadiyala said. “I physically saw his brain gradually shrink in the MRI scans. It really shocked me and made me realize our limited human knowledge of all these diseases.”

So, when Kadiyala applied to the Life Sciences Summer failure. When the hydrogel is injected, it spurs regrowth of Institute (LSSI) for an internship this past summer, it was heart cells in the damaged area to improve heart function. fitting that he was one of the 25 students accepted to the “It’s essentially a medium for growing cells,” Kadiyala UC San Diego Researcher Scholars program focused on said. “It has some growth factors that we’re still trying to regenerative medicine research. understand. It’s been proven through animal trials and now “The research I did dealt with regenerating tissue and it’s going on to clinical trials. It’s cutting-edge research.” all parts of your body through stem cells,” Kadiyala said.

For three weeks, Kadiyala donned a lab coat and goggles “We studied how to create different bodily environments and learned his way around the lab equipment. He used a to regenerate certain parts of the body once you suffer from cryostat to obtain tissue samples. He assisted with haemaheart attacks or diseases like cancer or Alzheimer’s.” toxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, which uses dyes to stain Before he could begin lab work, particular cell components within however, Kadiyala attended a weektissues so they can be distinguished As a whole, we’re still under a microscope. He performed long pre-internship boot camp that covered safety training, a legal re- very far away from actually gel electrophoresis, a process of quirement, and taught the interns understanding many diseas- separating proteins with an electric basic lab skills and techniques. Havfield, in order to check the condiing taken AP Biology, for Kadiyala, es...So that’s a huge hole and, tions of the protein in the tissue. much of it was familiar.

While Kadiyala focused on the “We dealt with a lot of the stuff in order to bridge it, we need heart, other graduate and PhD stuyou see in high school bio labs,” he to have more people thinking dents in the lab conducted similar said. “The methodology we follow about this issue.” research on the pancreas. Ideally, if in labs in AP Bio was really similar the appropriate growth factors are -Abhinav Kadiyala (12) identified and extracted from anito what we did in the lab. We used the scientific process all the time.” mals, hydrogels could be used to reOnce he completed basic training, Kadiyala, under the generate any other type of tissue in the body. mentorship of a PhD student, worked on developing myoIt’s the kind of breakthrough that could save millions of cardial hydrogels, a biomaterial made using the extracel- people each year. It’s the kind of breakthrough that could lular matrix—the external molecules left once all the cells have saved both of Kadiyala’s grandfathers. are extracted—of a pig heart. After it is mixed with other “That’s one of the reasons why I was really interested in substances, the hydrogel can be injected into the heart to what I was doing,” Kadiyala said. “As a whole, we’re still induce cell growth. very far away from actually understanding many diseasAfter a myocardial infarction, or heart attack, cell death es. For example, with Alzheimer’s, we understand what it further deteriorates the heart, forming a thick scar and does to you and we have many hypotheses and theories as making parts of the heart inactive. This makes it more dif- to what its roots and causes are, but at the end of the day, ficult for the heart to pump blood, which can cause heart we still don’t have a cure for it. So that’s a huge hole and,

“

Bokhary raises funds, supports kids in need Bokhary, from page 1

They continued milling around Bokhary, unresponsive to his attempts.

“I just kept silent and shoved the box in people’s faces,” he said. “I saw people reading it and I thought, ‘Okay, maybe they’ll come back and donate.’ I was wrong.”

Managing to scrape together a little money, Bokhary drove to an office supply store, and purchased school supplies. However, his low funds meant he could only afford cheap supplies.

The donation boxes weren’t as effective as Bokhary had hoped; in fact, he once found trash in a donation box, despite the box clearly stating, “School Supplies Drive Donations.” At this point, about a week into the project, it had been extremely difficult to even raise $200.

He needed another plan of action.

First, he needed to act more confident. Approaching people still intimidated Bokhary, but when he thought about the children he was fundraising for, his anxiety lessened.

“I had to keep in mind that it was for the kids,” he said. “[I had to think,] ‘This is not about you. This is about the kids. So I just had to suck it up and get out of my shell and talk to that person.’”

Then, he devised a fast-paced speech

to use on potential donors. This time, Bokhary began initiating conversations with people flowing into or out of the mosque.

“I’m coming from Westview MSA and San Diego MCS and we’re doing this school supplies drive for other kids,” he’d typically say. “So it would really mean a lot to me if you could support us by donating online or making a small contribution here.” At that point, he’d hand them a flyer.

This time, people paid attention. The donations started pouring in. In one day, he raised more than $1,000.

“I had to find the limit between what is pushy and getting what I need,” Bokhary said. “I’d say it’s a 180-degree turn from when I first started to when I was ending.”

By the end of his fundraiser, Bokhary raised about $3000, surpassing more than his original goal of $2000. Now able to purchase high-quality school supplies, Bokhary returned the cheaper supplies he had bought earlier. In addition, some of the left-over money went towards purchasing Target gift cards for all 80 kids, in case they needed to buy extra supplies.

“It was a bit overwhelming that this many people were actually there, having my back,” he said. “It felt amazing that I was able to surpass what I’d even

expected from myself.”

After raising the necessary amount of money, Bokhary became consumed with finding the best deals between stores and rushing out to buy the supplies. As he attempted to juggle tracking purchases with his SAT prep, Bokhary found himself working well into the night. Finally, in early August, with his house looking more like a storage warehouse than anything else, Bokhary finished purchasing all 80 backpacks and their respective supplies.

“My mom and I were together and we were just like, ‘Wow, we actually did this.’” Bokhary said.

On Aug. 13, Bokhary stacked the backpacks—now filled with school supplies—in his car and drove to El Cajon, where he and other MCS helpers delivered the backpacks personally to the homes of each child. Many of these children, he learnt, were recent Palestinian refugees.

As Bokhary introduced himself in fragmented Arabic, he realized many of the children’s faces lacked an emotion otherwise so ubiquitous on people’s faces: happiness.

Not that they felt dissatisfaction towards their new supplies, of course. He noted their faces registered more shock than anything—shock at receiving something so wonderful, when much of

in order to bridge it, we need to have more people thinking about this issue. Not only my grandparents, but so many people die because of major diseases. It’s definitely very relevant research.”

For the entire month of July, Kadiyala lived on campus at UCSD, working in the Christman Lab from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. In the evenings, the Resident Assistants conducted a variety of activities, from sports to music. At the end of each day, the 25 students, who came from countries all over the world, would hold a suite meeting where the RAs conducted seminars on intelligent leadership.

“They had us express our feelings, what our problems were, what we care about, and who we are,” Kadiyala said.

“The greatest thing was that all of us opened up.”

At the end of the month, the internship program held a conference where the interns presented their work. Kadiyala, who hopes to pursue a career in medicine, said that one of the most valuable parts of his internship was getting a taste of what his future job could be.

“Practicing for [the presentation], with my mentor guiding me through each step, really opened my eyes to what the daily life of a researcher is like,” he said. “For all of these PhD students, it’s actually a job to do cutting-edge research and spending eight hours a day with them taught me how a scientist or researcher spends his day.”

What continues to drive Kadiyala down this path is the fact that he will never forget the way his maternal grandfather, in the late stages of pancreatic cancer, bore his constant pain in silence.

He will never forget the way his paternal grandfather’s jovial presence gradually diminished, until he seemed like a mere silhouette.

“There so many cases like these in the world,” Kadiyala said. “I want to contribute to this field and help people with these illnesses.”

their life had been miserable. Many of these children were Palestinian refugees who had recently immigrated to escape Israel’s occupation of Palestine.

“They didn’t smile at all,” Bokhary said. “They’re in the stage where they don’t even know what happiness is. Every single day, they were just trying to survive, trying to avoid the bombs [in Palestine].”

Seeing the lives of less privileged children opened up Bokhary’s perspectives on seemingly trivial items.

“I was definitely more thankful for everything I had in life. I mean, everything,” he said. “My parents can go out and buy me nice school supplies. After delivering the backpacks, that’s when I really saw how [some] people are living.”

He hopes to lead his own school supplies drive in the future. However, Bokhary remains unsure whether or not he will see the children he first fundraised for again. The MCS asked people to give the immigrated families space so they could adjust to their new lives.

Despite this uncertainty, Bokhary said he knows he contributed to these children’s lives.

Courtesy of Luqmaan Bokhary “It was a personal goal that I helped these kids get educated,” he said. “I’m Luqmaan Bokhary (11) packs school supplies for giving them the materials they need, that they grow up to be successful.” children in need. Many were Palestinian refugees.

8 Features

The NEXUS

Cummings tests out of high school, attends Miramar

Aiming

Jacob Tao

STAFF WRITER

Adam Cummings (’15) knew what he wanted to do with his life. Despite the fact that he was only sophomore at the time, 2015 would be the year he would graduate and go to college. Though he felt nervous at first, Cummings was ready to face the brand new environment of college.

Cummings graduated early through the California High School Proficiency Examination, or CHSPE for short. The test grants any student who passes the test a legal equivalent of a high school diploma called the certificate of proficiency.

“I heard about the CHSPE from my cousin and a few other family members,” Cummings said. “I took the test so that it could open up the chance for me to pursue [college] if I became sure it was right for me, which I ultimately did.”

Although Cummings was granted a high school diploma after passing the test, he could choose to finish his four years at high school.

“I didn’t plan to test out [and graduate] until after I had taken the test,” Cummings said. “You’re able to take the test and remain in high school, and there is no commitment tied to it. Making the decision wasn’t particularly difficult but I had some difficulties with my mother because she wanted me to experience the rest of high school, which was understandable.”

Despite being the youngest student in his classes and being placed into a new environment, Cummings still finds enjoyment and fun in his classes. His fellow students have paid little attention to his age and focused more on his ability to contribute in class.

“Being a different age hasn’t really affected me in that no one really knows who you are or how old you are,” Cummings said. “The people in my classes are more mature and the interactions are a lot more interesting and engaging. Everyone I’ve spoken to has been friendly and I’ve gotten to meet a lot of different types of people at different stages in their life while being treated equally.”

Right now, Cummings is taking Calculus II, Archeology, and Human Sexuality at Miramar. Adams currently has his major declared as physics, and hopes to transfer to MIT when he can.

“Personally, the opportunity for individual growth in a more adult environment intrigued me, but other factors were equally influential,” he said. “For example, the classes available at Miramar are essentially guaranteed to count towards college credit, while colleges like MIT don’t accept AP Calculus as grounds for entering higher level math. I’m able to take classes without having to worry about retaking them later.”

Although he finds the program beneficial for him, he doesn’t recommend it for everyone to try, as it requires a large amount of commitment and a major change in one’s schedule.

“I think someone who already has an idea of what field they want to go into and is eager to begin interesting course content might want to consider this path,” Cummings said. “It shows that you’re confident with your capabilities and can set and achieve a goal you set for yourself.”

Sept. 18, 2015

for

victory Courtesy of Alex Vivar

Alexander Vivar (10) competes in a game for the under-14 national competition in Canada during 2014. Vivar plays futsal, a sport similar to indoor soccer, on the US under-16 team, which traveled to Costa Rica over the summer.

Vivar plays on national futsal team Shereen Nikzad FEATURES EDITOR

The whole thing happened in less than ten seconds. Alex Vivar (10) had just subbed into the game. His team, the United States under-16 national futsal team, was down 1-0 and the end of the first half was near.

One kick.

The ball was in play, cleats squeaking against the smooth, hard surface of the futsal field as Vivar’s teammate looked for an open player to move the ball down the field.

One pass.

Vivar gained possession of the ball, fighting his way down the side against the defender from the opposing Costa Rican team.

One shot.

The ball smashed into the corner of his opponent’s goal. Vivar gave a small fist pump as he ran to high-five his teammates, cheers echoing in the background. He had just tied the game with another half still to play. His team would go on to win this game and the next two the team played at the national competition for youth futsal, a modified form of soccer typically played indoors, held in San Jose, Costa Rica from July 27 to Aug. 2.

But Vivar’s journey to this competition began before he even knew what futsal was.

Encouraged by his dad, Vivar began play-

ing on his first soccer team at age 3.

And for a while, Vivar just played standard, outdoor soccer. Until one day when he was 9 and his coach suggested he come try out this “new thing” called futsal.

It was a lot like regular soccer, except it was played indoors on a smaller field similar in structure to a basketball court, pitted five against five instead of the traditional 11 versus 11, had shorter, 24-minute halves, and utilized a smaller, heavier ball and smaller goals.

“There are a lot of one-on-one situations [in futsal], whereas in outdoor soccer it’s more passing and moving and stuff like that,” Vivar said. “[Futsal is] a lot quicker and more fast-paced, I would say.”

Initially, Vivar just played futsal on Friday nights, but the more he played, the more interested in the sport he became. In 2014 he received an invitation to attend a regional tryout for the under-14 national team. From there he advanced to a national tryout and eventually earned a spot on his first national futsal team, which brings together the top 14 futsal players from around the country. There are eight different U.S. youth national futsal teams in total for the different age divisions and genders.

However, on the last day of tryouts for the national team, Vivar fractured his back in two places, jeopardizing both his soccer and futsal careers.

“I had to wear a back brace for three

months and I couldn’t play [soccer or futsal] for about four,” Vivar said. “When I got out of it I was really out of shape and rusty. It took me a while to get back in shape. It was tough to not play for that long, but it turned out alright in the end.”

“Alright” meaning Vivar was able to play soccer again, and also travel to Canada with the national futsal team to compete in the 2014 national competition in December.

And so, one futsal season came to an end and Vivar continued to playe on his club soccer team.

When the time came, Vivar once again tried out for the national team, this time for an older age division, and although he wasn’t expecting it, he once again earned a spot on the national team.

“My continued hard work and improving and stuff, it gets you places,” Vivar said.

“If you just stay disciplined and dedicated and you work really hard you’ll start seeing results. I wasn’t expecting to get called up again for playing with the older age group up, but I did.”

Because all the players are busy with club soccer, the national teams only meet a few times a year for practice. In the end of July, Vivar and his team jetted to Costa Rica to compete against various Costa Rican all-star teams.

Vivar’s team played three games against two different Costa Rican teams, winning all three. Because the ultimate purpose of

the competition is to develop skills, the teams are not ranked.

Vivar said that playing against the Costa Rican teams exposed him to different styles of playing that are quite different from what he’s used to.

“I learned that in Central American countries, they play a lot more physical and it’s a lot more man-to-man than in the U.S.,” Vivar said. “I learned that sometimes, in order to win a game, you have to be more aggressive.”

Vivar said that playing with the national team for the past two years is an experience he takes great pride in.

“It’s an honor, to be honest, to represent your country,” Vivar said. “It’s a thing that a lot of kids want to do at some point in their life, but they don’t have the opportunity to.”

Although Vivar has enjoyed his experience with the national futsal team, as of right now, he said he’s only planning on playing one more year with the national team, because Vivar hopes for even greater things in the future. “[My goal is to] either to play for a Division I school or hopefully to go professional [in soccer],” Vivar said. “Through the futsal thing, a lot of kids who have played there before have gotten called up to the outdoor national team, because usually we’re really skilled, so hopefully I get called out to the outdoor national team.”

Grove photographs skateboarding competitions, meets local skaters Skaters, from page 1

group said goodbye to Miller, and by early afternoon, hit the road again. A long coastal drive dropped them off at a town in northern California, where they spent the night at a motel. Eager to keep moving, they left early the next morning. Night three meant a pit-stop at Don’s friend’s house in Oregon City, and day four meant their arrival at the Maryhill festival in Goldendale, Washington.

The Maryhill Festival of Speed is a downhill skating competition and “North America’s largest gravity sports festival,” according to their tagline. For the next five days, Grove, Don, and Noah would be shooting on the 2.2-mile, 22-corner course from dawn to dusk.

They would wake up around 6 every morning, grab a quick bite to eat, and sign into Maryhill to get their media credentials. After that, it was up to them to traverse the course—even in 100- degree weather.

“The riders are at least getting shuttled up and down and getting a ton of water,” Grove said. “Out there as a photographer, once you go out on the hill, you have to walk up and down the two-mile course by yourself. It was 105 degrees and the only water we’d have is what we would carry on our backs.”

He would take photos of passing skaters until dark, and stole some of the stuff left out. when he would pack up his equipment and head back to “For the rest of the week, rumors spread of people slashthe campsite. ing open tents; there was uproar between the locals and all “I learned a lot more about photography because I had the skaters,” Grove said. “There were stories that apparentso much time in Washington to play with different lighting ly people left out bait stuff for people to steal. It ended up techniques and compositions,” in a lot of fights.” he said.

Nevertheless, Grove describes Home for the week was a tent the community park campsite as When you’re out of your local “pretty cool.” pitched on a grassy field behind a community park. As many as skate park and local hills, you meet As the last day of Maryhill was 300 other skaters, photograwrapping up, the trio darted off to phers, event coordinators, and all these people who live in different Canada for another skate festival. “people from around the world” areas and you really get to see how Giant’s Head Free Ride, in shared the field.

Summerland, British Columbia, “At first everyone just did diverse the skating scenes are.” was a three day event, but since it their own thing down at the -Jake Grove (11) overlapped with Maryhill, Grove campsite,” Grove said. “[But] only got to shoot the last day of it. as the week went on, it got a lot Giant’s Head was a different rowdier.” style skating event than Maryhill—less focused on compeDuring downhill skating competitions, the skaters wear tition, more focused on having fun and trying new things. full-body leather racing suits. Naturally, in the summer “Instead of people in full gear racing down the hill, they heat, they could get pretty smelly. put wooden ramps all along the corners of [a hill],” Grove So, after the first day, a lot of the skaters left their suits said. “It was friendlier skating, and everyone going down out to air. Overnight, a group of people came to the camp was launching off ramps and doing cool stuff.”

“

Grove shot for only about four hours at Giant’s Head, just half of the last day.

“It was just really neat, since when you’re out of your local skate park and local hills, you meet all these people who live in different areas and you really get to see how diverse the skating scenes are,” Grove said.

The metallic blue van pulled back into San Diego July 4. Upon returning home, Grove dumped his photos and began to work his way through them, editing some, deleting others.

“I generally take a while to edit the majority of them, and then I just post them for people to individually use,” he said.

Grove also shoots for Wheelbase Magazine, a California-based skateboarding magazine.

His photos were published in an online recap of the events, and he recently released an interview and photo series of Westview skater Jasper Ohlson (10), who was also present at Giant’s Head.

“Over the summer, I tried to make myself do a little bit of everything, and go to events that would help me a lot as a photographer,” Grove said. “I want to pursue photography, and I’m working right now to become more than just a basic skate photographer.”

Opinions 9

The NEXUS

Sept. 18, 2015

FACE supplies sorrow, not recognition Giovanna Zavala Staff Writer

We’re all familiar with this scene: It’s still the beginning of the school year, so you find yourself in the finance office to pay for your public school yearbook, sports, senior activities, pencils, air, etc. You get your receipt, reminding you how tight your Golden Bagel budget is going to be this year, and as you turn around, certain that life could strike no more blows, you see it: the framed photographs of this year’s Fraternity of Academic and Civic Excellence students, or as it is more commonly known, The FACE Wall.

At this moment, you have to give life credit; it is truly remarkable that in just an instant you are filled with such a crippling sense of self-deprecation that you forget the quiz in Physics you have to make up and just stand in that lonely hall staring at the beautiful, shining portraits of the students both academically and civically superior to you.

Or at least I assume they’re beautiful. Tears blur my vision.

My personal feelings about the FACE wall coincide, not surprisingly, with the five stages of grief.

These are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance, for those of you who didn’t make FACE and therefore are not smart enough to be familiar with psychological processes.

Just seconds after seeing the wall of portraits, I enter the stage of denial. Initially, yes, I’m stunned at the sight of a wall that has 31 of my inarguably better classmates looking down at me, but it’s easy to brush off. After all, it’s just a silly wall.

I pull out my hankie to dry my tears (checking that nobody saw my emotional breakdown) and head to class.

Once I’m in class I recognize several people from the FACE wall I’d been sobbing over just minutes ago. Seeing them in the flesh makes me realize they’re not that different from me; maybe we’re even equals.

I see one of the girls from the FACE wall (the one on the bottom right posing with a violin) raise her hand to answer a question—she gets it wrong.

Ha! She’s definitely not any better than me!

FACE can’t possibly be that important, I tell myself.

I get another rush of comfort when I remember that FACE only applies to North County schools and therefore cannot be that meaningful in the grand scheme of things.

All of this is the denial. FACE is the most im-

portant thing in the world.

I mean, who cares if only North County knows what FACE is? Have you ever seen a kid from FACE enter the North County mall? They are literally treated like kings.

I can no longer pretend that I don’t care about being worshipped at the local shopping center. I definitely do.

Now I’m angry. What makes the girl with the violin better than me? Or the guy with the letterman jacket and badminton racket, what makes him so special?

Guess what, I ran JV cross country for two years!

I’ve taken an AP test before—and passed! And my theatrical resume includes famous roles such as Dead Woman #2, Woodland Creature (trust me, it has much more emotional depth than your average tree) and Featured Ensemble Understudy.

This is just the prelude, a mere title in fact, to a long report on my accomplishments, but as you can tell, I’m fantastic. And fantastic people belong on FACE. Now I’m ready to bargain with the gods—but if they’re too busy with world hunger and war, I’ll settle for administration, counselors, really anyone who agrees that I deserve to be placed in a frame on that wall of subtle contempt and is willing to help me get there.

I’m a senior, though, and I soon find out that it is too late for me to make the FACE wall. Only the top 30 (or in this year’s case, 31 due to a tie) juniors get put on the wall for the duration of their senior year.

I suffer another blow when I find out that Westview picks FACE members based solely on GPA. Before, at least, I could be consoled by telling myself that the process of picking FACE students was arbitrary. But you can’t argue with numbers.

And you certainly can’t argue that a person’s value could be determined by any other factor besides those numbers.

Let’s be real, we know that self-worth certainly doesn’t come from “civic excellence.” That part is just there to make the acronym flow better.

Now, I’ve had my share of hardships; I got a B in history last year, and on multiple occasions I’ve driven to Golden Bagel only to find it closed.

But this—the feeling that tells me I should’ve taken more AP classes instead of stupid newspaper, the recognition that my money for bagels and singing lessons and trips to Europe would have been better spent on an SAT prep course, the knowledge that I will always be a second class citizen because

I failed to make The Wall of Glory—this is depression.

I lied.

I haven’t gone through all five stages of grief because I haven’t reached “acceptance” yet. But I’ll get there eventually.

Don’t you worry about me. It’s you I’m worried about; I’ve been through the worst of it already, but soon everyone (except those 31 people whose portraits hang in that holy hall) will have to accept the fact that the FACE wall tells us what we already, deep down in our hearts, know: we are not enough and never will be for anyone in this world.

If you need me I’ll be in front of the finance office, staring at the wall, waiting to help you get through this sad, sad journey.

I have extra hankies.

Black Lives Matter Ashley Madison hack deserves criticism right to privacy. The list of released in- was released during the hack, their per- dent@whitehouse.gov, but that doesn’t formation has gotten millions of down- sonal well-being was put at risk. mean Barack Obama is a user. And loads.

Of the released emails, 1,200 con- unless someone was willing to pay for achieves progress Ashley Madison is a dating website But the right to privacy and security tained a Saudi Arabian suffex. In Saudi the deletion, the email would stay in the that touts itself as the “world’s leading does not only apply when we want it Arabia, homosexuality carries a pun- database. dating service for discreet en- to. Adultery is a moral issue, not a legal ishment of death.

Only after the hack occurred did counters.” Discreet until, in late July, one.

In addition, the information released Ashley Madison allow for a free delete despite controversy married hackers illegally accessed and released This hack, and its widespread accep- may not even correctly identify real option, but by then, the damage was Julia Erickson Editor in Chief

Rebecca Liu Staff Writer

At a political rally, activist Marissa Johnson took a microphone from presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, who backed away after Johnson and her friend Mara Jacqueline Willaford took the stage.

“We’re shutting down this event—now,” Johnson said, addressing the crowd. The crowd then began to boo Johnson, causing her to say, “I was going to tell Bernie how racist this city is, even with all of these progressives, but you’ve already done that for me. Thank you.”

Because of this event, many people think that Black Lives Matter has gone too far. In actuality, the activists were not affiliated with Black Live Matter, but with an outside agitator group, Outside Agitators 206. But regardless of how their message was voiced or who it was voiced through, their message that institutionalized racism needs to be addressed is important.

Despite protests, little is being done racial police brutality. In August alone, a group of teenage girls was pepper-sprayed while another was slammed against a police car; peaceful protesters in Ferguson, Missouri were pepper sprayed; Radazz Hearns, an unarmed 14-yearold, was shot seven times; teenagers Andre Green, Christian Taylor, and Mansur Balbey were all murdered.

The government has time and money to invest in the Department of Homeland Security monitoring the Black Lives Matter movement, yet it apparently doesn’t have the time or money to invest in holding police officers accountable. Since the Ferguson protests, the Department of Homeland Security has been monitoring black cultural events, tracking the hashtag “#BlackLivesMatter” and monitoring the whereabouts of activists from a Freddie Gray protest.

Some say that activists’ concerns are valid, but are voiced in a way that is too “rude” and do more harm than good. Although there hasn’t been much reform of police procedures on the national level, the outspokenness of grassroots racial activism has been able to spark some change on the local level. Missouri’s Senate Bill 5 limits the amount of money municipalities are allowed to take from citizens. These citizens were disproportionately black, and were targeted the tickets that led to the fines. In California, it is now illegal to use secret grand juries to try officers who have used excessive or deadly force. New York has appointed a special prosecutor to investigate police killings. Whether these changes were directly affected by Black Lives Matter activists or by the social and political atmosphere activists have fostered, it’s hard not to credit Black Lives Matter, whatever their tactics may be, with improving the lives of black people.

Even when activists do protest peacefully, they don’t get much attention. The Freddie Gray protests started April 22, yet didn’t receive much media coverage until April 26 when the protests started to turn violent. This isn’t to say that all forms of protest should be violent, but simply that non-black people could listen more closely to what black people are saying and not criticize them when their actions of protest are justified; being apathetic and not listening often drive peaceful protest to violent means.

Specifically in the case of the political rally in Seattle, supporters of Sanders have pointed out his noteworthy civil rights record, but this doesn’t mean that Sanders should be impervious to criticism. Previously, Sanders had no concrete plan for criminal justice reform. Now, Sanders has hired racial activist Symone Sanders (who is unrelated to Bernie Sanders) as his new press secretary and has released a comprehensive criminal justice plan. This plan includes changing the way police officers are trained, emphasizing community policing, and replacing police military equipment with body cameras.

It is commendable that Bernie Sanders responded with an extensive plan for the political, social, and economic problems black people face, but what’s even more commendable is the tenacity of Black Lives Matter and other racial activists to change what needs to be changed.

30 gigabytes of customer and company data including the names of registered users, their email addresses, website code, personal files, and partial credit card numbers.

The hackers claim to have an additional 300 GB of unreleased data, including explicit photos sent and received on the website.

An anonymous group named “The Impact Team” claimed responsibility for the hack, stating in an online manifesto that the “cheating dirt bags deserved no discretion.”

Many are cheering on the vigilante justice of the hacking group, claiming that the adulterers do not deserve the

tance in media, sets cheaters. an ugly precedent In order to make for moral policing This hack, and its wide- an account on Ashonline. ley Madison, an Infidelity is de- spread acceptance in media, email address is plorable, but the sets an ugly precedent for required. The email hackers have no moral policing online. entered did not reright to play God quire verification in over millions of order for the user to relationships. There have already been access the basic functions of the webtwo suicides reported as a direct result site. of the released information, but far In addition, there was a deletion fee more lives have been ruined. for accounts. It cost users $19 to take Ashley Madison, due to it’s supposed information off the website. descreet nature, was commonly used in Because of this, any email could be Middle Eastern countries for closeted entered; I could have gone online and gay men. And when their information created an account with the email presi-

done.

Fifteen thousand of the emails released had a URL domain containing .gov or .mil, but it is impossible to say how many of those are real, and how many are fake accounts. The last thing we need in political discussion is more hearsay gossip about politicians’ personal lives.

If a privacy breach on this scale had happened to another social website, such as Facebook or Twitter, the widespread response would have been that of fear.

Cheering on hackers who compromise the security of a legal website just eggs on future attacks.

Beijing air pollution theatens residents’ health, jeopardizes upcoming Winter Olympic Games Dane Persky

Opinions Editor

Beijing, China is slated to become the first city to have hosted both the Summer and the Winter Olympics, after beating out rival city Almaty, Kazakhstan in the vote for the 2022 Winter Olympics host. International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach unveiled the news July 31, and the Chinese capital’s leaders could not be more thrilled.

On paper, Beijing seems like a perfectly good candidate to host another Olympic Games. They had the money to support the Summer Olympics in 2008, and they have the money now. Sure, it doesn’t snow in the city, but outdoor events located in the suburbs of Zhangjiakou and Yanqing will make use of perfectly good artificial snow. And judging by both the celebration of the Beijing delegation and the parade outside Beijing National Stadium after the news on the 2022 Games broke, the Chinese seem to have their fair share of national pride.

That being said, Beijing currently has dangerously high air pollution levels that will threaten the lives of athletes if left unaddressed.

Beijing knows this too—after vowing to clean its polluted air before the 2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing was unable to keep its word, only managing to temporarily subdue what’s referred to by locals as the “nuclear winter” plaguing the city.

The environmental reforms the capital put in place during this temporary window, however, were both inventive and effective.

Beijing introduced a traffic ban system to reduce car emissions; license plates ending in even numbers could only drive on even-numbered dates, and plates ending in odd numbers could only drive on odd-numbered dates. In addition, the government required all construction sites, chemical plants and cement factories to either shut down for the duration of the sporting event, or cut their emissions by 30 percent.

During this month-long period, the people of Beijing would witness the clear bliss of spotless blue skies. Unfortunately, the city regressed back into its polluted state soon after.

With another Olympic Games on the horizon, it seems Beijing has once again found an excuse to seriously address its excessive air pollution. According to Wang Hui, the media director of Beijing’s Olympic task force, the city will be conducting a two-part clean-up program, setting target dates for 2017 and 2022.

“We’ll make sure by 2022 the air quality in Beijing is the best for athletes to compete,” Wang said.

This sentiment might have been reassuring had it been backed by any specific plans whatsoever. The one Olympic reform we can look forward to, however, is the advent of multi-purpose trains.

“During the games, the trains will not only be transportation vehicles, but also offices for journalists,” Wang said. “You will find the mobile offices for journalists [in which] you can write your stories, watch all the games and have interviews.”

I like to think of the creation of this essential component of the Winter Olympic Games as a sign that Beijing isn’t simply unwilling to address its rampant air pollution, but rather is looking for a fun way to clean the air, like with its eccentric car-numbering fix.

But for Beijing, a fun fix is simply a scapegoat for avoiding the real benefactors to the city’s oppressive pollution.

As of Sept. 15, Beijing’s Air Quality Index (AQI) is

186, falling into the red category for “Unhealthy.” In comparison, San Diego has an AQI of 32, labeled by air quality organization AirNow as “Good.”

Beijing needs to address the source of the polluted air, and quickly. An increase in Beijing’s air quality requires a shift in focus from the trivial to the impactful. Areas such as coal reduction and vehicle emissions are most detrimental to the city’s air, and thus should be addressed first.

It wouldn’t be difficult for Beijing to reduce its pollution in these areas, as the Beijing Olympic committee’s efforts have already shown to make a significant difference in 2008. A focus on factories and vehicles would lower the city’s AQI to a level that could benefit from all the eccentric ideas Beijing could provide.

With the intention of permanent reform, Beijing would be on the right track to improving its citizens’ lives, and perhaps hosting even more Olympic Games in the future.

10 Opinions T he

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Editors in Chief Julia Erickson* Catie Fan* Managing Editor Edward Qiao* News Editor Meilynn Shi* Opinions Editor Dane Persky* Features Editor Shereen Nikzad Sports Editor Jason Kang* Final Focus Editor Allyson Xie* Photo Editor Alex Smyth Staff Writers Neek Azar Evan Charfauros Emily Clarkson Olivia Dealy Daniel Fan Amber Hauw Angelica Ilagan Tonia Jaroszewska Andrew Kim* Ashley Kim Alice Markman Nicole Musano Rehana Nasser Kristina Nguyen Dane Persky* Kyle Petrie Jacob Tao Brandon Victor Giovanna Zavala* Yuchen Zhang Adviser Jeff Wenger Assistant Adviser Stephanie Tanaka

*Member of the Editorial Board

Staff Editorial

Voter registration needs school endorsement for sufficient voter turnout Come next November, most current seniors will be 18 and eligible to vote in the presidential election.

Historically, young voters have been notoriously unreliable.

According to a report by nonprofit organization Project Vote, in November 2008, 18-year-olds registered and voted at rates over 20 percentage points lower than the general voting-eligible population.

Furthermore, Project Vote reported that if registered at the same rate as the general U.S. population, there would be more than 800,000 additional 18-year-old registered voters.

A survey conducted by The Nexus found that out of 37 students in a random AP Government class, only one senior was registered to vote, despite 36 out of the 37 students expressing that they intended to vote.

The results show that while students may want to vote, they often don’t take the necessary steps to do so. In order to fix this problem, voter registration must be encouraged and made easily accessible to young people.

Westview has never hosted a voter registration drive. While voter registration forms are available in the Wolverine Center, few students are aware of this, just as many students are unaware that they can register online.

Public schools should aim to produce students who are civically engaged, a sentiment that is reflected in The Wolverine Way, which states that Westview graduates will be “responsible citizens” who “understand and appreciate their roles and responsibilities in a global society.”

There are many ways voting can be encouraged on campus.

For example, the Westview website’s front page could include a link to the online voter registration application. Civics teachers could offer voter registration during class time. ASB could host a voter registration drive. The administration could reach out to community organizations that already run voter registration programs.

Just as blood drives and canned food drives are held on campus to encourage students to give back to the community, voter registration drives serve a similar purpose. Encouraging students to give blood or donate food are not necessarily requirements for public schools, but they foster a sense of awareness among students for those less fortunate. Similarly, voter registration drives push students to be politically active and civically aware while streamlining the voter registration process.

Many schools around the country have already implemented successful voter registration activities, some as intensive as student poll-worker recruitment, voting machine demonstrations, and mock elections. Some schools also mail materials to students and host special events such as “Civics Day.” When the youth electorate is not civically engaged, a crucial voice is lost in politics. Congress is not likely to properly prioritize solving student loan debt or the lack of educational funding if the young adults who are affected are not represented in elections. When schools participate in encouraging students to vote, students can start to take advantage of their political voices and the privilege to vote.

T he

Nexus Mission Statement

The Nexus is an open forum for student expression that aims to provide information to the public, following standards of accuracy, truthfulness, ethics and professionalism. The Nexus aspires to be a source of news, opinions and entertainment for its readers while showing enthusiasm in depth and coverage. In reporting information, writers strive for impartiality by presenting multiple viewpoints on issues. When opinions of an individual are expressed, they are labeled accordingly. Members of the editorial board write and select the staff editorial.

The Nexus is published by Journalism 2 students, and as the official student newspaper of Westview High School, it strives to maintain the open flow of communication fostered at school. All editorial decisions are made by members of staff, with the guidance of adviser Jeff Wenger. The opinions published in The Nexus do not necessarily represent those of Westview administration, Westview staff or PUSD school board. Letters to the editor must be signed, as they represent the opinion of the individual. The editors select submissions for print based on relevancy to readers, and may be edited for space or content reasons.

Sept. 18, 2015

Conventions lack proper security Edward Qiao

Managing Editor

Growing up in the 21st century, it was only natural that I played and came to love the Nintendo game series, Pokémon.

Being as socially-stunted as I was, it was only natural that instead of making extensive circles of friends like most kids my age, I spent most of my time indoors, fostering an obsession with elemental animals that, I see now in retrospect, is a little more than unhealthy.

Despite eventually abandoning the game once I entered high school in an ultimately fruitless gambit to become popular, the series still carries with it memories of a time when enjoyment was worth more than public dignity.

Which is why no one was more shocked than I was when two men in possession of firearms were arrested outside of the Pokémon World Championships, held in Boston from August 22 to 23, for attempting to shoot people attending the convention.

What is even more alarming is that perhaps the only reason why this shooting did not occur is because the shooters themselves chose to post about it on social media.

Conventions began gaining steam in the 1960s and ’70s, when comic book fans wanted a way to meet their favorite writers and illustrators. At the first San Diego Comic-Con in 1970, 145 people gathered in the US Grant Hotel for no reason other than to attract more famous people to the second Comic-Con. This year the San Diego Comic-Con attracted more than 130,000 people, who attended the convention

over the course of four days, from July 9 to 12.

Other conventions follow a similar pattern, with Anime Expo (AX) in Los Angeles growing from a little under 2,000 in 1992 to more than 90,000 people in 2015 and Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) Prime from under 5,000 people in 2004 to well over 70,000 in 2012. As a result of the spike in mass shootings in recent years, the San Diego Comic-Con took measures to ensure safety, measures that all major conventions ought to follow.

In response to concerns about the recent mass shootings, Comic-Con’s event security worked with the San Diego Police Department for additional attendee safety.

Not only does this lend the event

security more credence than a bunch of private companies with dead-end contact information, but it also serves to help prevent any mass shootings.

In the case of the Boston Pokémon World Championships, the private security staff at the event was alerted to a possible threat because the shooters had decided to post a picture of their firearms on social media. Only afterward were security members able to contact Boston Police to arrest the attempted shooters.

While it doesn’t seem like much, the system that the Comic-Con uses eliminates the need for this extra step; with the police actually staffing the event; they do not need to be called to the event to assist in emergency situations because they’re already there.

And it makes sense, too. Even gatherings smaller in scale, like the Mira Mesa 4th of July Parade, are staffed by police officers in case of such an incident.

Currently, for whatever reason, conventions seem to be relatively safe, with this shooting threat being one of the first and only ones to happen in all of convention history.

But with attendance numbers continuing to skyrocket and the constant threat of mass shootings more present than ever, it is no longer excusable at these events, especially for the larger ones, to have security treated so arbitrarily.

This most recent attempted shooting has illustrated a very real need for greater security at such events.

Planned obsolescence generates electronic waste, harms environment, public health

Yuchen Zhang Staff Writer

Technology moves fast, and people around the world follow every new release almost religiously, from the newest software update to the newest phone release. On Sept. 9, Apple announced the new iPhone 6s and iPad Pro, both with new features and faster processing power.

Yet in another year or so, another upgrade will be announced, and in a couple of years, this year’s “new” iPhone and iPad will not only be too slow, but won’t be compatible with many apps and features.

This effect is called planned obsolescence, where manufacturers intentionally produce consumer goods that become obsolete in a short amount of time, requiring consumers to buy a newer version of whatever they use. Planned obsolescence not only makes consumers pay more, but also taxes the environment heavily as well.

Modern light bulbs nowadays can last for almost 20 years. This may seem impressive, but the Centennial Light, an incandescent light bulb from Livermore, California, has had this life span for a century.

In the 1920s, light bulb manufacturers formed a cartel to set the maximum lifespan of light bulbs.

The industry standard of 2,500 hours in 1924 dropped to 1,000 hours by 1940. Because the light bulbs lasted for a shorter amount of time, there was a higher demand, leading to higher profits.

More and more companies have realized the economic benefits of doing this, and thus, many products reflect planned obsolescence.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 phone lacks the removable battery that its previous iterations had so when its batteries die, the phone is usually replaced. The operating system Windows stopped supporting its 2003 server, no longer issuing security updates, making it unreliable. Printer ink cartridges are expensive and almost impossible to refill.

The list goes on. However, most companies either don’t care or don’t realize the detrimental effect their actions are having on the environment and other people.

When products become useless, people usually throw them out. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, electronic waste is the fastest growing source of waste in the world.

Yet, since planned obsolescence is mostly practiced by technology companies, it seems logical that circuit boards, screens, and other parts could be salvaged and reused. Because of this, most of our recycled electronics are shipped to places that salvage the parts.

Most of the countries, however, that recycle e-waste don’t have regulations in place to protect workers from their crude process of recycling, so extracting the precious metals or parts from electronics to reuse is dangerous.

Workers burn the useless plastics away, releasing toxins into the air, and to make matters worse, they almost never have protective equipment. A study done in Guiyi, a city in China famous for “recycling” electronics, showed that 81 percent of children had drastically higher levels of lead in their bodies.

This form of “recycling” isn’t just bad for the workers, as the toxins released also poison the local

environment. In Guiyi, once-clean areas have transformed into burning wastelands. Wildlife, such as fish and buffalo, has absorbed the toxins, further harming locals when these animals are eaten.

Yet, because of planned obsolescence, companies are constantly making more products. Most electronics require rare earth metals, and because more and more electronics are being introduced, mining has increased. Rare earth metal mining damages and depletes the Earth’s limited resources; rare earth refineries dispose large amounts of radioactive waste, which can be a hazard, especially in countries without stringent regulations. For example, in Kuantan, a city that refines rare earth metals, many cases of cancers have been linked to their processing plants.

Newer regulations must be set in place to combat all the damage inflicted on the environment and to protect people from their crude recycling practices.

The recycling of electronic products must be closely monitored and practiced safely in all countries in order to preserve the lives of workers. Rare earth mining will still continue, but the refineries must also be regulated carefully as hazardous waste can pose a threat if not treated properly. Also Although the new iPhone still looks tempting, there are a myriad of adverse consequences because Apple and other companies constantly release new and upgraded products.

Planned obsolescence is too closely integrated into our culture and would be almost impossible to remove, but by passing regulations and amending recycling laws, this practice won’t have such a negative effect on the environment and other peoples’ lives.

Tianjin corruption hinders China’s growth Allyson Xie

Final Focus Editor

On Aug. 12, a giant column of flame ripped into Tianjin, China’s night sky, the result of two chemical explosions in a hazardous chemical warehouse owned by Ruihai Logistics.

The larger of the two explosions were more than 300 feet tall, according to multiple witnesses. The orange plumes of fire demolished the surrounding houses, leaving hundreds dead or injured and thousands homeless.

Later, the two founders of the company admitted to using their political ties in order to bypass many of the government’s regulations on storing dangerous chemicals. Tianjin’s tragedy is a testimony to the pervasive corruption of the country’s corporate officials.

The accident exposes problems in President Xi Jinping’s attempt to eradicate corruption. While Xi has been successful in jailing prominent, corrupt political figures, he overlooks lower ranked officials whose fraudulent actions can devastate lives.

Corporations’ habits of cutting corners when it comes to regulations and worker safety only further emphasize the need to crack down on corruption on all political levels and to put the citizens’ lives, not cash, first.

One flaw in Xi’s anti-corruption campaign is that it appears to be more of a personal political tactic,

rather than a serious commitment to paign]. Is it necessary for us to conChinese citizens. Politicians Bo Xilai ceal a safety accident?” The statement and Zhou Yongkang, both sentenced was a response to speculations that to life in prison on charges of bribery the government was hiding informaand corruption, were political ene- tion from its citizens, such as the real mies of Xi. death toll.

In fact, Bo was Xi’s main presiden- Such announcements only further tial rival, and the former’s dismissal underline how the CPC is using its from the Communist Party of China anti-corruption campaign to make the (CPC) may have occurred to ensure government itself seem more trustXi’s ascension to power. Bo’s arrest worthy, instead of cracking down on highlights the personal gain Xi re- corruption for the benefit of the peoceives from his campaign, and ulti- ple. mately how Xi may not pursue cor- But the CPC is ignoring the elerupt officials who do not pose a threat phant in the room: to win the citito his political zens’ support, it image. must give them Another reathe rights and son for Xi’s Tianjin’s tragedy is a tes- the safety they failure to stop timony to the pervasive seek. l o w e r - l e v e l corruption of the country’s China’s rapcorruption is id economic that the cam- corporate officials. development paign only means that it serves to better must also dethe image of the CPC. velop ethically if it wants to truly In such a case, the CPC would only flourish as a nation. convict well-known officials in or- Stricter regulations and a corrupder to gain support from its citizens, tion crack-down on all levels of sociinstead of focusing on lesser-known ety will contribute to the well-being individuals. of Chinese citizens, and could prevent Just days after the Tianjin explo- another deadly mishap. sions, The People’s Daily, a gov- A more progressive, yet ultimately erment-run newspaper, stated in necessary, course of action is to grant an editorial, “We have thoroughly citizens freedom of speech. The conand publicly investigated big cas- tinued limitation of speech is most es on Zhou Yongkang, Xu Caihou, recently illustrated by the CPC’s deGuo Boxiong, and Ling Jihua [four letion of social media comments that high-ranking officials examined criticized the government’s role in during Xi’s anti-corruption cam- Tianjin.

By giving the power of speech to its citizens, the CPC can reform the country. If the government continues censorship, its actions will ultimately hinder the growth of China. For Xi, granting freedom of speech to Chinese citizens may pose a danger to his own image as president. However, as an elected president, he is not China’s dictator, and must serve the needs of the people.

Given a voice, independent media could raise concerns about potential corruption in officials. Free speech gives a news outlet’s listeners and viewers the ability to develop their own opinions and start potential investigations.

If the people are more aware of their country’s problems, officials will be more inclined to stay out of trouble. Freedom of speech might reduce the CPC’s power, but it brings the promise of less corruption and more citizen satisfaction.

Until then, corporate interests will continue to trump citizen needs. Xi’s anti-corruption campaign will continue to overlook lesser officials, endangering even more people’s lives.

Citizens will continue to distrust their government; after Tianjin, a Weibo (China’s version of Twitter) member posted, “Which disaster that has happened in China was NOT caused by collusion of officials and businesses?”

Until then, Tianjin and other calamities stemming from corruption can never really be seen as “accidents.”

Opinions 11

The NEXUS

Sept. 18, 2015

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Beatles, but this Homecoming theme has got me a little down. I don’t need a Beatles tribute band singing “aaaahh look at all the lonely people” to remind me how dateless I am.

-Shereen Nikzad Apple recently announced the creation of the Apple pencil. Looks like they’ve resorted to stealing ideas from Ticonderoga and selling them for $100 a piece.

-Alice Markman Breaking News: mass floaty disappearance. Researchers are struggling to find an explanation for this phenomenon. Children all over the county are drowning.

-Tonia Jaroszewska The only purpose the dimmed lights appear to serve is to set the mood for me to romanticize my on-demand.

-Rehana Nasser It has just been announced that Kanye West is running for president in 2020. Google also now fills in the search “what is the biggest planet–” with “on Earth.” Just a casual prediction of where our society is headed…

-Kyle Petrie To submit a Praise or Folly drop your submission off in room L-104. Include your name, grade level, or job title and phone number. The Nexus will decide which submissions to print based on quality of writing and value to readers. They may be edited for space or content reasons.

Military bases violate rights

Rebecca Liu Staff Writer

Although the exact number of foreign U.S. military bases is not known, the number ranges from 600 to 1,000. It’s hard to find an exact number of bases because of the Pentagon’s practice of omitting secret or “temporary” bases from its accounts. Many of these countries do not want U.S. military personnel on their land, given the long history of U.S. military human rights violations on foreign soil.

Often, U.S. military bases ware built on land that is unethically taken. In the 1970s, The U.S. and U.K. governments conspired to relocate the entire native population (called the Chagossians) of Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean. The Chagossians were rounded up and forcibly shipped to another island a thousand miles away, where they now live in abject poverty.

More recently, rice farmers in Pyeongtaek, South Korea and surrounding villages were forcibly displaced in 2005 when the U.S. tripled the size of its military base Camp Humphreys to include a water park and a golf course. Tinian and Pagan, islands in the Pacific Ocean and home to the Chamorro people, are slated to be turned into simulated theaters of war as part of U.S. naval exercises by 2017. This means that the Chamorro people will be relocated while their homeland is subject to live-ammunition

military exercises and bombings as part of the U.S. military’s pivot towards Asia and its expansion of military bases.

Many countries oppose U.S. military bases on their soil because of environmental reasons. Tinian and Pagan, for example, are home to rare coral ecosystems and endangered wildlife. If the U.S. is allowed to hold military exercises and bomb the island, it’s almost certain that the diversity of Tinian and Pagan’s wildlife will cease to exist.

Meanwhile, in hot zone countries, the burning of military base garbage releases a dangerous amount of pollutants.

During the occupation of Iraq, hundreds of tons of waste were produced daily and subsequently burned in open burn pits, often releasing toxic amounts of mercury and lead. Even though the military spent $20.1 million on building eight incinerators on four military bases to dispose of garbage more safely, they were never used. The military vehicles on these bases are also problematic: In Iraq, oil from military vehicles and depleted uranium from bombings contaminated the water supply in war zones. This has not only damaged the environment, but the people as well; increases in birth defects and cancer have been associated with military activity in Iraq. Before the first Gulf War in 1991, 40 out of 100,000 people had cancer. By 2005, 1,600 out of 100,000 people had cancer, according to the Iraqi government. The dugong, an endangered sea mammal native to Oki-

nawa, Japan, depends on seagrass beds to live, and plans to build another base by dredging the seabed and filling it with sand have angered Okinawans.

Even in times of peace, there are many cases of civilian violence or civilian deaths on or around military bases.

Worse still, military personnel are often given lenient sentences or aren’t tried at all because of immunity clauses between governments.

A military tank ran over two Korean girls on their way to a birthday party in 2002; the soldiers involved were acquitted. In Columbia, 54 children were sexually abused by a number of U.S. soldiers and military contractors; both the soldiers and the contractors were never tried.

Military bases are also the main reason behind the burgeoning sex trade in East and Southeast Asia. Although servicemen are banned from patronizing prostitutes, this prohibition is loosely enforced.

The end of WWII in Korea marked the beginning of trafficking problems present today, with formerly Imperial Japanese brothels being transferred to American control. According to Katharine Moon, a professor of Political Science at Wellesley College, one million Korean women have been trafficked

by U.S. military bases since 1945. Although there have been crackdowns on military prostitution in Korea, this has resulted in 200,000 women and children

being imported from the Philippines to keep up with supply and demand, as disclosed by the U.S. Department of State in their report on human trafficking.

Although the U.S. military is often a first responder when it comes to natural disasters in foreign countries, this humanitarian aid often seems to serve only as a pretext for bolstering military presence in a country and building more bases. For example, Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 allowed for more military personnel to be deployed to the Philippines, as a part of the U.S. military’s recent decision to pivot towards the Asia-Pacific region.

This is the case in various African nations as well: AFRICOM (United States Africa Command) often carries out humanitarian missions with the intent of fostering positive feelings about U.S. influence, helping local farmers or donating things like prenatal vitamins and mosquito nets. Keeping up a positive PR allows the U.S. to strengthen its military presence on the side, protecting U.S. oil interests and countering Chinese influence. Keeping good relations with African countries often comes at the expense of civilians, such as in the case of Ethiopia, whom the U.S. supplies with equipment to fight terrorist groups despite Ethiopia’s negligent human rights record.

Although the U.S. military has done some good in the past, it’s time that it decrease the number of its bases.

Water-saving efforts prove ineffective Personalized Meilynn Shi News Editor

Here in sunny San Diego—utopia for the surfer, the foodie, the techie, the firefighter—there’s nothing we like more than our beaches, our weather, our Qualcomms and our fish tacos.

But it all comes with a price. Intricate plumbing networks, swimming pools, carwashes, golf courses, sprinklers, verdant lawns, food—water feeds the utopia we live in, and when we forget to consider the sustainability of it all, that’s when we begin to pay the price.

The city has taken immense strides to cut water consumption. According to the City’s Annual Water Conservation Report for the fiscal year of 2014, programs initiated by the City’s Water Conservation Section now account for water savings of more than 32.2 million gallons per day.

But savings mean little if there is no constant improvement, if such improvement is only temporary. And so far, there isn’t much reason to believe that it isn’t.

In 2011, the City of San Diego implemented permanent mandatory restrictions on water use—restrictions that apply year-round whether or not San Diego is in a drought— that prohibit residents from overfilling swimming pools, neglecting to repair all water leaks within 72 hours of notification by the city, using a running hose to wash down hardscapes as opposed to a power washer or a hose with a shutoff nozzle, allowing that wash water to enter the storm drain, and committing other atrocities that are blatant examples of water waste.

On April 1, Gov. Jerry Brown mandated a statewide 25-percent reduction in potable urban usage by Feb. 13, 2016, and issued an executive order directing the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to impose emergency regulations.

On May 5, the SWRCB set individualized reduction targets for local water suppliers, mandating that San Diego reduce its water use by 16 percent by Feb. 13, 2016.

On June 1, the mandates took effect. Outdoor irrigation, which accounts for more than 50 percent of residential water use, has been limited to two days a week, five minutes per station, only before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

But the city has placed these mandatory restrictions

on water use before, only to lift them a few months later when San Diego was legally no longer in a severe drought.

It’s a lot like this past spring when gas prices plummeted and SUV sales subsequently spiked. Our commitment to conservation is, to say the least, temporary.

Sure, there have been long-term developments. Plants along highways, on school campuses and on golf courses all over San Diego are now irrigated with reclaimed water.

But for many long-term city and state projects, bureaucracy tends to get in the way.

San Diego is implementing the Pure Water Program to purify recycled water for drinking and provide 83 million gallons of water per day, a third of San Diego’s water supply needs. But this won’t happen until 2035. And that’s if all goes well. The city has also partnered with Sweetwater Authority on the Carlsbad Desalination Project to build the largest, most technologically advanced and energy-efficient seawater desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere. It’s a $1 billion project that’s slated to begin producing drinking water for the San Diego region this fall, but it still must undergo inspections before the water can be actively used.

Of course, these projects are necessary for future conservation efforts, but the city also needs to be combatting water conservation right now because within those years the projects take to complete, billions of gallons of water can be saved.

The city does offer incentives for reducing water consumption. Schools, companies and firms that participate in the city’s daily water conservation programs, including the use of recycled water, ultra low-flow toilets and water-conserving showerheads, are exempted from mandatory water restrictions in times of drought.The city offers rebates for installing rain barrels, replacing grass lawns and installing an individual water meter. The SoCal WaterSmart program offers even more rebates for high-efficiency clothes washers, high-efficiency toilets, rotating sprinkler nozzles, weather based irrigation controllers and soil moisture sensor systems.

But funding for rebate programs isn’t inexhaustible. In fact, the city’s grass-replacement and micro-irrigation rebate programs have already run out of funding. And when funding runs dry, incentives disappear.

Allyson Wonderland

Sure, water rates have risen, and are now based on a four-tier rate system: the more hundred cubic feet (HCF) of water you consume, the higher the rate you’re charged.

But water isn’t expensive. And even if it was more expensive, for those who have the money (who are also those who use the most water), raising prices won’t convince them to cut back. Even though gas prices have increased drastically and even though prices have driven many to purchase hybrid and electric cars and explore greener ways of transportation, many still haven’t taken steps to reduce gasoline consumption. They just lament the high rates and go to the nearest Costco to fill up on the cheapest gas in town.

They city writes in its Annual Water Conservation Report that its savings were achieved and will be achieved by “adopting programs, policies and ordinances designed to promote water conservation practices” and (sort of) “implementing an ongoing public information and education program.” But what it attempts to do but hasn’t done is “creating a water conservation ethic,” something that is, of course, not temporary.

What we need instead are not reactive measures, but proactive measures.

The city should offer tax breaks, rather than rebates, for residents, schools and businesses who replace their turf with native, drought-resistant plants and install more water-efficient prototypes (such as waterless urinals, each of which can save 22,000 flushes per year and 1.6 gallons per flush).

The city should target behemoth industries and implement policies to cut back on industrial output because almost all consumer products, though not made of water, are made from manufacturing and processing techniques that require water to bring the product from the industry to the consumer.

The city should encourage more to compost because humus—the dark, organic material that forms when plant matter decays—is a natural sponge that attracts and retains water.

There are so many big and small things the city can do.

And if the city doesn’t do so soon, our utopia will soon become a place where graywater is sold in bottles as purified air was in The Lorax.

by Allyson Xie

parking spaces would be cool Jason Kang

Sports Editor

Among the timeline of final summer photos and registration information that permeated social media in the weeks of August, a few photos stood out beyond the rest. Seniors from Rancho Bernardo and Del Norte proudly stood atop several small painted murals – just one part of a long-standing program at these schools that offer seniors the opportunity to reserve and decorate their own, personalized parking space.

This program isn’t exclusive to just Del Norte and Rancho Bernardo either. In fact, hundreds of schools around the nation have implemented it as a senior class tradition for years.

And it’s easy to see why. The program not only gives students a creative outlet, but it also adds character and identity to an otherwise barren part of the school. Seeing these programs implemented in other schools begs the question: how come Westview doesn’t offer this to its students? The primary concern is that the school doesn’t want to favor the wealthy and auction off the “best” parking spaces to people who can afford it. Designated parking spaces can denote privilege, and that’s half the reason why the school doesn’t even offer them for each staff member. After all, if Principal Todd Cassen has to find a spot by himself, so should we.

But in a way, privilege is a key part of senior year and those privileges are inevitably tied to cost. Events like Grad Nite, harbor cruise, and the Disneyland trip range up to $310 in total but are still cherished as traditional core experiences senior year.

I’m not saying we should partition out the front row for a line of Mercedes and BMW’s with chalked on inscriptions of bank account statements, and then cry, “We’re seniors!

This is our right!” I’d like to think that we’re better than La Jolla Country Day. In fact, the designated parking spaces don’t even need to be remotely near the front. The focus of this opportunity isn’t which spot the students get, it’s the fact that they get a spot and are able to choose what to do with it.

As for the cost, prices should be held constant for each space. Students shouldn’t be given the opportunity to bid for preferred spaces—that would only reinforce the notion of giving the wealthy a hand up.

Del Norte offers a reasonable solution. By utilizing a first-come, first-served system, friends that sign up together can park next to each other without the hassle of “bidding” for a spot. The money would not only cover the price of cleaning the spots each year but can also offset some of the heavy prices associated with school dances and other activities.

In the end, this is an opportunity, not a forced event in the name of class bonding—though I don’t see why the school would ever choose the latter. Not all students have to sign up for a spot, and not all students have to decorate it even if they get one. But there is no reason to hold back students who want the chance to personalize one piece of the school—even if it is confined to a parking space.

After all, seniors want to leave their four years at Westview with some sense of legacy. Some may make it to the Hall of Fame for academics, others may be named Valedictorian. The rest of us will simply have to settle with the satisfaction of coloring the little bit of ground we walked (or drove) on. That would be cool.

12 Sports

The NEXUS

Breaking Down the Serve:

Sept. 18, 2015 Lexi Gehrke (12) demonstrates two types of serves utilized to gain an edge at the start of each point.

The Jumping Float The jumping float is utilized when players need to serve accurately towards specific opponents without giving them enough time to react. The intial run gives the jumping float the power for deeper serves, though holding back on the hit can also make a shorter serve less expected.

The server takes a step forward with their non-dominant foot, throws the ball with their non-dominant hand, and takes quick right-left steps before hitting the ball. Players hit the ball with their palm, aiming for the middle to top-middle part of the ball to give it its signature “float” movement.

The Topspin The topspin serve is valued for its ability to drop both quickly and unpredictably rather than “floating” like other serves. This makes the serve difficult to pass, often making opponents have to lunge forward to catch the ball. However, the serve’s unpredictability also makes it a difficult shot to aim.

Servers step with their dominant foot, throw the ball with their dominant hand, then take three short steps before hitting. To put spin on the ball, servers aim slightly below the center and curve their hand in a downwards motion as they make contact.

Photos by Alex Smyth Design by Andrew Kim and Jason Kang

Alumni Coaches

The

SCOREBOARD

FOOTBALL 9/4: Win vs. Rancho Bueno Vista, 35-0 9/11: Win vs. Del Norte, 21-3

W 3

Trujillo emphasizes positive running philosophy

L 0

Shereen Nikzad FEATURES EDITOR

For Amanda Trujillo (’06), running is nothing short of a way of life. As a freshman in high school, she ran on Westview’s very first cross-country team. In her junior year she helped the girls cross-country team win CIFs and qualify for the state meet. No matter what she’s doing, running is always with her. And now, 13 years since she ran at Westview, she’s returned to Westview as cross country’s new head coach. “[Running] was something that always stuck with me,” Trujillo said. “I just always enjoyed running and it was a nice outlet. It was something that took my mind off whatever was going on, and that runner’s high, nothing can beat it.

I jumped at the chance [to coach cross country at Westview] because if I can share my passion for running with others and get them to be passionate about it, it’s a success because running is definitely a lifestyle.”

After graduating from high school, despite having a few offers from small schools, Trujillo decided not to run competitively in college and instead attend her top choice school, UCLA. When she eventually made her way back to San Diego after finishing college, Trujillo received an opportunity to work with Nike and help spearhead their San Diego run clubs.

“I got to coach a lot of adults and they sent me to all of these trainings in Portland and New York,” Trujillo said. “It was a really cool experience, just learning about different techniques and different ways of coaching certain individuals and how to motivate people.”

And those experiences she gained while working with Nike have been some of the most pivotal in developing her own personal style of coaching. In particular, Trujillo said the techniques she learned from working with the Bill Bowerman track team, a Nike-sponsored track team in Oregon, have been especially influential.

“I learned from the coaches from [the Bill Bowerman track team] and their thoughts on how to coach individuals,” Trujillo said. “I like

Liam O’Keefe’s (11) second quarter interception helped the Wolverines achieve their 14-0 halftime lead against Del Norte.

Next Game Today: vs. Torrey Pines, 7:00 p.m.

FIELD HOCKEY

W 2

9/9: Loss vs. La Jolla, 1-0 9/11: Loss vs. Serra, 8-0

L 2

Alana Palomino (10) cleared the ball off of the goal line with her head, saving her team from conceding.

Next Game Today: vs. Patrick Henry, 3:30 p.m.

BOYS WATER POLO

W 4

9/10: Win vs. Granite Hills, 11-7 9/15: Win vs. San Pasqual, 9-7

L 1

Jack Charles (10) scored four goals against San Pasqual, turning the game around in the second quarter.

Next Game Today: Conquer Classic Tournament

GIRLS TENNIS 9/8: Win vs. Cathedral, 14-4 9/10: Loss vs. Del Norte, 9-9, tiebreaker

W 3

L 1

Britney Pellouchoud (10), Westview’s No. 1, has not dropped one match in four games.

Next Game 9/22: vs. Rancho Bernardo, 3:15 p.m.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL 8/28: Showcase vs. Scripps Ranch, tie 9/15: Loss vs. Great Oaks, 3-0

W 0

L 1

Lizzie Wilson (11) made a shot down the line vs. Great Oaks, bringing the game to a 21-21 tie during the second game.

Next Game 9/23: vs. Francis Parker, 5:00 p.m.

GIRLS GOLF

W 0

9/9: Loss vs. Ramona 9/10: Loss vs. Ramona

Brandon Victor STAFF WRITER

Next Game 9/22: vs. Rancho Bernardo, 3 p.m.

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY 8/29: Vaquero Stampede 9/12: Bronco Round Up Michael Olivier (10) was the first Westview runner to finish in the boys varsity race at the Bronco Round Up, running a 10:48 two-mile.

Next Meet Tomorrow: Mt. Carmel Invitational, Morley Field

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY 8/29: Vaquero Stampede 9/12: Bronco Round Up Erica Barrett (11) placed second individually and with her team at the Bronco girls varsity race with a two-mile time of 11:42.

Next Meet Tomorrow: Mt. Carmel Invitational, Morley Field Scores as of Tuesday Compiled by Jason Kang

Tonia Jaroszewska

WATER POLO

Cody Williams (’13) glared intensely at the football players practicing on the field that had been his second home for so long.

Just two years earlier, Williams had been the one who was running tirelessly around the track, working to hone his craft as the starting wide receiver for the Wolverines.

Now, JV and varsity wide receivers surrounded him, all eager to take in every word the former Wolverine standout had to offer.

Following his graduation, Williams attended the University of San Diego, where he played Division I football for the Toreros for two seasons. However, at the end of his second season, Williams said he knew it was time to move on in his life.

“At that point, I had played football for essentially 15 years in my life, and I was a little burnt out,” he said. “Additionally, playing college football is like a job [in terms of] time commitment. I felt like I had a good career and was ready to take the next step in my life.”

Williams came back to visit Westview last spring, when he and Coach Mike Woodward discussed the possibility of

HOLDEMAN

coaching for the Wolverines. Once Woodward responded enthusiastically, Williams considered the possibility of coaching over the summer.

Williams said his experience in the program affected his decision to come back to coach. “[As] they say, once a Wolverine, always a Wolverine,” Williams said. “I had definitely loved the program and Coach Woody, and once I ironed out my schedule and was sure I could commit, I accepted the offer.”

Because of Williams’ familiarity with the program, Woodward said that he has been able to jump in and have an immediate impact on the team.

“Being a former player in Westview’s program has helped him in so many ways,” Woodward said. “He’s already comfortable with the staff members who were here back when he played, [and] he understands our program system and offensive schemes.

Cody is the most competitive kid I’ve ever coached here at Westview and he’s bringing that attitude on the practice field every day.”

Williams serves as the wide receiver coach for both the JV and varsity teams, and works with both the slot and outside

receivers in order to maximize their performance on Friday nights. Williams said he believes that the combination of his youth and prior experience allows him to relate to the players and help them as much as possible.

“I think being so young helps me a lot because I just recently finished my career as a football player,” he said. “I was just in their shoes a couple years ago, so I know the position that they’re in and what they’re looking to get out of a coach. It gives me a good view and perspective on where they’re at and how I can help them to get better.”

One player with whom Williams has worked is Ben Ratzlaff, who has the most receiving yards of any current returning Westview wide receiver.

Ratzlaff said that Williams’ presence has allowed him to elevate his game to the next level.

“It helps that he’s an alumni because he knows the players’ mindsets and is a player who everyone can relate to,” he said. “He’s helped me with my route running, blocking, and just overall being a better receiver.”

Despite his young age, Woodward said Williams has been an integral part of the

BLACK & GOLD

Tonia Jaroszewska

FIELD HOCKEY

Driver, Wing

on-the-spot coaching, so I like to run with the students and that way I can see what they’re doing well what they’re doing wrong and coach as I’m running alongside with them.”

Trujillo said she aims to strike a balance between positivity and toughness in coaching.

This year, for the boys team, Trujillo said that her goal is to help the relatively young team grow as runners so they can be a dominant force in years to come.

For the girls, Trujillo said she has high expectations and is hoping for an outcome similar to that of her own junior year.

“My goals are to keep [the girls] injury free and keep them progressing [and staying] healthy, because if they live up to their potential they can accomplish awesome things,” Trujillo said.

The health of her runners is not something she takes lightly.

Trujillo said she stresses communication between her and the athletes so she’s made aware of any pain her runners are experiencing in order to prevent long-term injury.

And outside of the realm of injuries, members of the team said Trujillo brings an overall distinct—and positive—style to the team. Boys captain Nick Lawford (12) said that Trujillo understands what it feels like to run cross country.

“I feel like our other coach was more technical as far as all the workouts, how you do them, the pace you do them at,” he said. “Whereas she does it more based off feel and how you’re feeling that day and how you’ve been running recently and that’s how you’ve got to perform.”

Inked on Trujillo’s arm is a quote by the running great Steve Prefontaine that reads “to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift”—a quote that summarizes her running philosophy. And in this cross-country season and more to come, Trujillo strives to ensure that her runners don’t sacrifice their gifts.

“I’d like to think most of my athletes have the Alex Smyth gift of running, so anything less than their best would be to sacrifice it,” Trujillo said. “I ask for Amanda Trujillo (’06) talks to Blake Siniscalchi (10) them their best, and in return I’ll give them my during practice. This is Trujillo’s first season coaching. best as a coach.”

Williams makes transition from player to coach

L 5

Sammie Escobedo (12) and Madison Soracco (12) both medaled against Ramona with scores of 44.

KITTS

Sports 13

The NEXUS

Sept. 18, 2015

BUSHOUER

Alex Smyth

Forward

Alex Smyth

LI

SINISCALCHI

VOLLEYBALL

FOOTBALL

staff; a rarity for someone as young as he is.

“Cody has stepped right in as if he’d been coaching for years,” he said. “Rarely can a kid come in so young and provide such knowledge. The younger guys typically have the passion but it’s hard for them to help with the game insight piece.

Cody doesn’t lack that an ounce. His USD experience and natural football IQ was an immediate boost for our program. He’s assertive too. He won’t hesitate to hold kids accountable to his expectations.”

However, while Williams’ shift from player to coach has constituted a drastic change in his responsibility, he said that being a coach has enlightened him to aspects of coaching he was blind to as a player.

“It’s so interesting to be in this different role just because I’ve been a player for so many years, and you always have a certain perspective of coaches, especially when they’re getting on you or correcting you like that,” he said. “It’s awesome to understand fully how coaches really care about their players. I just want my guys to succeed and get better, and seeing their growth just in the month I’ve been coaching is awesome. It’s so rewarding, especially making those connections with kids.”

Alex Smyth

CROSS COUNTRY

Tight End, Nose Tackle

Opposite Hitter

N/A

Liam Kitts (10) has been playing water polo since he was 9 years old.

This is Kitts’ first season on the varsity team where he plays as left and right driver and sprints at the start of the quarter.

Kaylin Holdeman (11) has been a varsity forward since her freshman year and has played starter since her sophomore year. This year, she also serves as one of the team’s two captains.

Tyler Bushouer (12) has played tight end on varsity since freshman year. This year, Bushouer plays both tight end and nose tackle as he covers Ryan Luong (12), who is recovering from an injury.

Maia Li (12) first joined the varsity team her junior year, and returns this year as a starter. While her main position is opposite hitter, she is versatile, playing outside hitter, setter and middle blocker.

Blake Siniscalchi (10) is quickly improving during his first year on varsity. His two-mile race time this past Saturday at Kit Carson Park was 11:03, compared to the 12:01 he ran last year at the same race.

STEALS SPRINTS WON 25 M SPRINT TIME

GOALS ASSISTS TEAM CAPTAIN

RECEPTIONS* YARDS* TACKLES

VERTICAL REACH KILLS* DIGS*

TWO MILE* LATEST 1.65 MILE LATEST TWO MILE

2 2 12S

3 2

3 108 10

*Stats are from the 2014 season

9’7” 104 48

*Stats are from the 2014 season

10:35 8:50 11.03

*Stats are from the 2015 Track Season

14 Final Focus

The NEXUS

Sept. 18, 2015

Staying Afloat The pressure on students to achieve academic success while maintaining an effortless facade has given rise to a new epidemic: Duck Syndrome.

Catie Fan

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Being a Duck: Meeting Expectations and Getting Ahead A duck glides smoothly, effortlessly across the lake.

Beneath the surface, however, it frantically, desperately paddles to stay afloat.

At Westview, school is the lake that hides the paddling of so many students. “Duck Syndrome,” a term coined at Stanford University, describes the battle to appear effortless and at ease in spite of packed schedules and overwhelming stress.

“On the outside, I feel like we put on this façade that everything’s okay,” Hunter Anderson (12) said. “But in reality, we’re dying inside.”

Angelica Santos (12) joined Science Olympiad in fifth grade. In middle school, her team qualified for State in both seventh and eighth grade.

Over the course of six years, she has earned countless awards. Now, she serves as the president of Westview’s Science Olympiad team.

In freshman year, she was signed up to take Biology 1-2. Upon seeing that her friends were already taking one, even two AP classes, she transferred into AP Physics B. She struggled.

“It was definitely something that I thought I could handle, having a lot of science background and doing well in previous science classes,” she said. “But it was hard.”

But she had a reputation. Fellow freshmen knew her as a science buff.

Older students categorized her as a prodigy based solely on the fact that she had signed up to take the class as a freshman, and they expected her to do well.

In class, in front of her peers, she treated her confusion as a joke, laughing it off when she didn’t understand a concept. At home, she sat painstakingly with her father, an engineer, as they inched through her homework assignments.

“If someone were to ask, I wouldn’t tell them that I spent 10 hours on homework,” Santos said.

Anderson said that he experienced Duck Syndrome in junior year when he juggled three AP classes, marching band, Boy Scouts, and Peer Counseling, all while keeping the fact that he was feeling overwhelmed under wraps.

Despite his heavy workload, when he looked around, it seemed that everyone was balancing a similar load of commitments, sometimes more, with perfect ease.

So he didn’t say a thing about going to bed at 2 a.m. every night, about constantly caffeinating himself to stay awake, or about toeing the line between a B and a C in AP Calculus AB when math had always come easy to him.

“You’re just trying to keep yourself in the game,” he said.

Keeping Quiet Counselor Vanessa Crawford regularly encounters students with Duck Syndrome at Westview.

“It’s very prevalent,” she said. “I think it happens at a lot of schools, but especially at a school like Westview where academics are almost like a status symbol. It’s cool to be smart here, which is awesome. It’s not a bad thing, but it can be bad because the impact that Duck Syndrome has makes everyone else feel inadequate if they are showing that they’re stressed out. That’s a problem.”

But despite how widespread Duck Syndrome is, those who suffer from it feel a pervasive sense of loneliness.

“I thought I was alone because I was a junior taking Calc AB and struggling when there were freshmen and sophomores in that class,” Anderson said. “A lot of people go around saying ‘Calc is so easy.’ So in a way I felt I was alone because people were saying it was so easy but it wasn’t easy for me.”

Anderson said that feeling like he was the only one struggling made it more difficult to reach out for help.

“I felt like it wasn’t easy to talk to other people [about struggling],” he said. “We all have our different standards and when some people think that something’s easy and you fail at it, you feel kind of intimidated to go up to them and talk to them about it because you don’t want to seem like a failure to them.”

In Santos’s case, in junior year, she often did not feel comfortable asking her AP Chemistry teacher for help after she missed classes due to sports.

“I would feel embarrassed to ask the teacher to go over something that he already went over four times the previous day just because I missed it,” she said.

“I felt like if you have a sport, then that’s what you sign up for and you have to learn how to balance it, but I didn’t know how to balance it so I felt guilty about not being able to when other people were.”

Crawford said she notices often that students refuse help in order to keep up the façade that they are doing fine.

“When it comes to a teacher, a counselor, or a parent confronting them and trying to offer solutions to maybe lighten their load, I don’t think that they’re really willing to admit that there’s a problem,” she said.

Fooling Others, Fooling Yourself While Duck Syndrome is based on the mentality that students must appear effortless to each other, sometimes, it can become harmful to students’ study habits.

Anderson said that in the process of making it seem like he wasn’t struggling, he began actually putting in less effort into his classes and homework, settling with doing the bare minimum while still expecting excellent results.

“I began to think I could just do all the basics and not really push myself to achieve while getting all A’s while doing all of my activities,” he said. “But in reality we have to [put in effort] or we are going to fail. In AP Calc, I already had so much on my plate that I had given up and I thought that if I just kept [doing the minimum], I would be able to get to rely on the grade change to save me.”

In AP Chemistry, Santos had a tendency to hide her tests or lab quizzes when she didn’t like her scores. Because she didn’t want others to see her score, she herself ended up not looking at the quizzes and thus could not learn from her mistakes.

Crawford said that students often are not only unwilling to admit that they are struggling to others, but they are also unwilling to admit it to themselves.

“If you can’t even recognize [your problems] for yourself, you can’t find solutions,” Crawford said. “If you just keep going by like ‘Everything’s great, everything’s wonderful,’ then no one can help you if you don’t ask for help or help you find ways to make it manageable.”

For Santos and Anderson, these behaviors only increased their stress levels as they struggled to maintain their façade of effortless success while watching their grades slip.

For Anderson, nearly ending up with a C in AP Calculus AB served as a wake-up call. He began a trial-and-error process to identify how he could best study and retain information. Each week, he would try a different method until he found what worked for him.

“I was able to start to really study and find my study habits,” he said.

“After that, I was able to pull a 93 percent on a test.”

Santos, too, changed her perspective.

“I caught onto the fact that if you actually look at your lab quizzes as opposed to shoving them in your backpack, it will help for future tests,” she said. “So I would ask my table mates how they completed a certain problem so that I would know how to do it. I learned to value my grades and what’s permanent as opposed to people’s temporary opinions of me that don’t matter.”

Drowning While it is quite common for students to experience symptoms of Duck Syndrome, sometimes there can be serious consequences.

“When you try to suppress [your struggles] and if you are trying to convince yourself that you’re not stressed out, and you can manage everything, eventually you can’t,” Crawford said. “Eventually the lack of sleep, the stress, everything just starts bubbling up. It builds to having anxiety and panic attacks and depression and all these different things that I can’t say are all because of Duck Syndrome, but the more you keep brushing it off and thinking it’s normal to feel like your world’s crumbling around you and you can’t do anything, it just makes people feel like they can’t talk about their problems.”

Crawford said that she has witnessed students experience hallucina-

tions and psychotic breaks from exhaustion when things go too far.

The recent spike in college campus suicides has been closely associated with Duck Syndrome—known at the University of Pennsylvania as the “Penn Face.” For example, Madison Holleran was one of six Penn students to commit suicide within a 13-month period. Holleran, a star athlete, was regarded by her peers as popular and talented. They had no idea that she was struggling inside. Shortly after her widely publicized death, a Penn task force examined mental health on campus and recognized Penn Face’s potential to be life-threatening.

The Duck Stops Here Because of how severe the consequences of Duck Syndrome may get, counselors, teachers, and students are looking for solutions.

According to Crawford, the counseling department, along with Link Crew and Peer Counseling, are working to promote student and staff wellness through Wellness Wednesdays and activities aimed at fostering discussion of mental health.

“Hopefully, just having discussions shows those people who do suffer from Duck Syndrome that they’re not alone and that it’s common,” Crawford said. “At any point, anyone on this campus has done exactly that, where they act like everything’s great, but there’s something that they’re paddling super hard underneath trying to stay afloat with.”

Anderson said he believes it is important for teachers to proactively reach out to students who they perceive to be struggling.

“I’ve had teachers who reach out to the kids when they’re struggling, but I’ve also had teachers who have just let it slide and said, ‘You should come to me,’” he said. “Some students are just not social people and they are too afraid to go to the teacher because they don’t want to show signs of helplessness.”

Anderson also says that students and counselors should take opportunities to get to know each other so that students will feel comfortable turning to their counselors for help.

“Some people don’t even know their counselors, and [for them], it’s like, ‘I’m going to go to a random stranger and tell them that I’m failing two of my classes and I’m only getting two hours of sleep every night?’” he said. “That’s some people’s scenarios but they’re too afraid to go because they aren’t comfortable talking to the counselor.”

However, the responsibility to end Duck Syndrome rests with the students themselves, who must make a conscious effort to put competition aside and be more supportive of one another and aware of how their actions and words affect others.

“One thing I realized I hated last year was when people asked, ‘What did you get on that test?’” Anderson said. “It’s a personal test score. If they’re willing to share it then that’s great for them, but don’t ask. It creates a lot of stress for some people because they’re trying to be the best they can be and then they find out that someone who studied for five minutes got 100 percent and you studied for two hours and you got a C. That’s really depressing and really hurts someone’s self-esteem.”

So while many students may perceive high school as a race to the top, it is up to them to decide if the duck stops here.

Art by Allyson Xie