Issue 7 09-10

WV breakdancers compete in order to improve skills

Caton, Farnes climb trees, take tag to new heights

The Nexus Page 7

Westview 13500 Camino del Sur San Diego, CA 92129 www.wvnexus.com

Page 5

Volume 8 Issue 7 • Friday, February 12, 2010

PUSD forced to cut extra $7 million Daniel Edwards Editor in Chief

Andrew Fan

Daniella Wheelock (10) oversees the production of her self-written One Act, “No People Like Show People,” while Chelsea Boelter (9), Annie Buell (11) and Darien Stupack (11) rehearse the scene. For the first time in Westview’s history, sophomores wrote a majority of One Acts, writing three out of the four.

Sophomores dominate One Acts Yoojin Kim News Editor Earlier this year, Daniella Wheelock (10) imagined herself directing one of the One Acts, not writing one.

Maybelle Covington (10) didn’t think that she’d have enough motivation to write a One Act, but she did. Connor Bush (10) changed his plans when he found out that soccer would interfere with his acting in One Acts, so instead, he wrote one.

For the first time at Westview, three of the four scenes featured in the annual One Acts Festival, Caught in the Acts, Feb. 11-12, were written by sophomores. The One Acts are completely student-directed, student-produced and student-written.

Stephanie Garcia (12), the only upperclassman whose One Act is being performed this year, said that because a majority of Westview theatre and its veteran writers graduated last year, there was a lack of students who submitted One Acts this year.

“Those who graduated last year had amazing talent,

they had very distinct personalities and they were wonderful people who had such an energy for theatre,” she said. “This year, we’re almost getting restarted, so it’s really hard to get people involved in everything.”

Although Bush had originally intended on writing for One Acts before he knew about the lack of student interest, Wheelock submitted her One Act when she learned that there weren’t very many others who wanted to write one. And even though at the beginning of the year, Covington had hoped to write a One Act, she was driven to actually submit one because of the shortage of scripts.

“I thought that I should take it upon myself to write one this year in order to make sure that there would be a One Acts Festival, since it would have been very unfortunate if we couldn’t do it just because there weren’t any plays to perform,” Covington said.

Because these sophomores already have experience in theatre, Garcia said she expects great plays from them.

“Yes, they’re sophomores and younger than a lot of

Meet the Writers Connor Bush’s “Just Make Her Laugh” Ross and Jason are two guys living together dealing with girl troubles

Stephanie Garcia’s “The Placebo Effect” Carter, a schizophrenic patient of Dr. Fisk, has come to realize that his doctor and girlfriend are imaginary

Daniella Wheelock’s “No People Like

Show People” An annoying director and his idiot girlfriend try to create a low-budget cleaning commercial

Maybelle Covington’s “Being There” Hazel, Rose and Manny are helped by their friend Jason, who ends up being somebody more

See ONE ACTS, Page 2

Buzzer-beater 3-pointer breaks deadlock, nails Westview victory Jon Olivero Staff Writer The Westview-Mt. Carmel rivalry heightened Feb. 3 at the Sundevil gym. They say lightning never strikes twice in the same place, but for the Wolverines it did, and for the second time in as many years the boys basketball team was able to knock off Mt. Carmel 39-36 in the game’s final seconds.

Boys basketball, who had fallen to the Sundevils at home Jan. 8, was looking for revenge against the bitter rivals, and Mt. Carmel was doing seemingly everything in their power to prevent a Westview win.

“Obviously we wanted a victory,” forward Peter Rubis said (12).

“But they wanted a win just as bad,

and we anticipated a fight to the finish.”

The Sundevils pulled everything out of the bag for the teams’ last meeting of the year. They double-teamed leading scorer Rubis, and they pressed Westview the majority of the night. Defensively, the Sundevils got physical with Westview down low often to a brutal point. Forward Sam Okhotin (10) was given four stitches to his bleeding chin courtesy of the Sundevil defense.

Even the Mt. Carmel fans did their best to heckle Wolverine players, only to the anger of all the Westview faithful that filled the seats.

Sundevil fans hoisted umbrellas every time one of their players “made it rain” and sunk a shot, which only

triggered Westview fans to holler back, with some clever heckling of their own.

The first half belonged to the Sundevils; they had control for most of the first two quarters outscoring the Wolverines 21-14. At the break Westview went to the locker room down, but far from out.

When the Wolverines came out in the game’s third period, everything turned around.

“We really stepped up on the defensive side of the ball when we came out to start the third quarter,” Rubis said.

The team held Mt. Carmel to a single third quarter point, and the Wolverines caught momentum.

See MC, Page 13

Joanne Cayabyab

Westview’s DECA chapter continues to improve, taking home medals and trophies at regional competition

Page 2

See BUDGET, Page 2

Haiti fundraiser established in student vs. staff basketball game Helen Bavin Editor in Chief The annual student vs. staff basketball game, held Jan. 28, took on a different approach this year.

Just weeks after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, ASB adviser Scott Wild walked into the ASB room a few days before the game with an idea. He proposed that ASB supplement the student vs. staff basketball game with a fundraiser for the victims of the earthquake.

After watching the “Hope for Haiti Now” musical event televised that weekend, Wild said the anecdotes shown and statistics given really hit home.

“When they said [the earthquake] happened in the late afternoon and all the kids were in school, it hurt to think that those kids had no chance,” he said.

“So I talked to Mrs. Kastner and our ASB president, Abbey [Cavendish (12)], and I brought in the idea, and the ASB class jumped on it. The platform was already there, the game was there, so just turning it into a fundraiser was pretty simple.”

ASB students brought in shoe boxes and decorated them to use for collecting donations. On the day of the game, students and teachers who volunteered to help were scattered outside the gym, inside the foyer and throughout the gym. They held the boxes, read to gather donations.

Along with a private donation given on the Monday morning following the game, a total of $1,134.16

Forward Peter Rubis (12) prepares for the tip-off.

Westview ended up winning the thriller, 39-36.

Girls soccer player Nicole Wittak (12) substitutes a conventional throw-in for the front-handspring alteration of it. The Nexus breaks down each step

Page 11

See HAITI RELIEF, Page 3

S ports

O pinions

S ports

N ews

Before Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released his initial budget proposal for the next fiscal year, Poway Unified was faced with $17 million in cuts. However, the proposal called for $1.2 billion in additional cuts to education and a refusal to fully fund the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). These changes upped the shortfall for the district to $24 million.

The cuts this year come on the heels of $48 million already cut by the district in the last five years.

However, Superintendent Don Phillips said that more cuts could be forthcoming.

“The governor’s [budget] proposal has $6-7 billion he is counting on from the federal government,” he said. “He is counting on something that everyone has suggested since the beginning was fairly unlikely to happen, and if he doesn’t get that, we’re going to have another problem.”

Given that education accounts for roughly 40 percent of the state’s budget, Phillips said that schools would likely feel the impact should such cuts be added.

As was the case last year, class sizes will increase, however this year more significantly. Some estimates by the teacher’s union, Poway Federation of Teachers (PFT), approximate that next year’s average high school class sizes could reach 45, but Phillips said that the final student-to-teacher ratios will be finalized after the governor’s May Revise.

Due to an increase in “golden handshakes,” or early retirement packages, taken by teachers this year, fewer layoff notices will be sent to teachers.

“The golden handshake will save many pink slips for the district,” Phillips said. “Normally for PUSD, we have 40-45 people walk out the door on an annual basis, but this year we have about 135. That’s

Spain limits advertising for cosmetic products

Page 8

F eatures

Claire Cordua (‘09) recovers from stroke, returns to volleyball

PPage age94

Westview and archrival Mt. Carmel faced off Feb. 3 in an epic night of big crowds and unforgettable, game-winning plays

Page 13

2 News

Feb. 12, 2010

The Nexus

January 23 - February 12

Instant Replay

Dominic Lucisano

32

The number of teams that competed in the first round of the badminton tournament Monday. They will compete every Monday for the next three weeks.

This event was organized by Erica Hang (12) and ENS teacher Steve McLaughlin. Prizes are gift cards to the winners of each bracket.

26

The number of points the students scored against the staff in the annual basketball game. The students were took the lead, 23-21 with less than a minute to play after being shut out 9-0 in the first few minutes of the game. Coach McLaughlin hit a 3-pointer with less than 30 seconds of play putting the staff members in the lead. However, Denise White (11) sunk in the game-winning 3-pointer to end the game at 26-24.

Sophomore Sensation

4

ONE ACTS, from page 1

The number of categories Dance Troupe won at the West Coast Elite Dance competition, Jan. 30, against 12 other schools.

They won all the categories except for one, where they lost by one point to Mt. Carmel.

The prize was $1,000. The categories included Large Lyrical, Small Dance, Large Hip Hop, Small Lyrical, and the Officer Dance. The title of best Officer Dance was lost to MC.

15

The number of Varsity Science Olympiad competitors on this year’s team. The Science Olympiad competition will be held at Del Norte High School, Feb. 20. The students will compete in various science-related events ranging from academic knowledge to physical building events. The top 10 competitors in each category will receive a medal.

Compiled by Andrew Fan and George Jeng

Left: Lauren Zinn (12) reads her lines for set builder John Wuehermann. Right: Samantha Kerstner (11) William Wuehrmann (12) practice for the performances. The last one will be tonight.

Photos by Andrew Fan

Sophomores compose three out of four One Acts [the] writers usually are, but the writers this year can produce just as awesome scripts as other people can and they have great potential,” she said.

With the bar set high, Wheelock is both proud of her work and anxious for the audience’s responses.

“It’s a really humbling experience, especially because [Garcia] is an amazing author,” Wheelock said. “It’s pretty cool, but it’s such a weird feeling. You’re really proud that you can be compared up to that level, but then you’re scared that it won’t be as good as all the previous ones.”

Despite their theatre experience, none of the sophomores have written anything that has been performed on stage before One Acts.

“It’s such a different process,” Covington said. “Every time I listen to my play, I find more things to improve on. I rewrote

my play several times, and I’m constantly sending new scripts to my cast.”

After starring in, directing and helping out backstage during productions, this new task of writing has given the three a completely new perspective on script writers.

Bush learned that the same scene can be interpreted in completely different ways by the actor and the writer.

“In the future, when I’m acting, I’ll think more about what writers have in mind and want to see,” Bush said. “I’ll try out a variety of ways to act out a scene and not just always do it my way. It’s also really weird that I’m not the one acting it out because that’s usually what I do.”

For Covington, who hasn’t been on stage for a major production yet, this experience helped her realize the rewarding feeling a writer gets when they see their script performed.

“I know that as a writer, the greatest experience is seeing what you’ve always

had up in your brain out for the world to see and that’s just fantastic,” she said. “Writing is completely different from either acting or working backstage because it really allows you to see your hard work pay off.”

The sophomores are already planning ahead for their future in theatre, especially now that they have a written production added to their list of accomplishments.

“You never expect yourself to get to this position when you’re an underclassman because you expect all the upperclassmen to be able to write better or want this position more than you do,” Wheelock said. “The fact that you did get the position makes you feel like you can accomplish almost anything and I’m pretty sure Connor and Maybelle are feeling the same way.”

Although Bush said he enjoyed the writing process, he prefers being on stage and hopes to return there in the future. On the other hand, Wheelock is considering writing again because being a writer gave

her a certain freedom that she doesn’t get as an actor. Covington said she gained more confidence in her writing, but she, like Bush, is also hoping to get more time in the spotlight next year.

“I enjoy being on stage and performing,” she said. “Working on the crew and backstage and writing have all been tremendously amazing experiences, but I like to think of myself as an actor because that’s really what I want to do in life. If not, my second career choice would be to write, because I really like to write as well.”

Garcia said that she has a lot of confidence in all three writers’ talents and hopes to see them continue writing.

“I think it shows that we have a newer generation of talent,” Garcia said. “They do have potential and they’re doing great things. I think it’s good that we’re getting a fresh start with younger people and I hope that they will continue to produce in the future.”

DECA to proceed to State competitions Nicole Kush

Features Editor

Photo courtesy of Corinna Lee

Corinna Lee (12) displays her trophy alongside the other members of DECA. At the District competition, Jan. 22-24, Westview’s members won eight gold medals.

Roshan Sharma (12) stood in front of the judge, clad in a suit and tie, and began his presentation. As he started, he was no longer Sharma, a high school student; he was Sharma, a representative for a major corporation.

He continued his proposal, giving the judge all the information he needed to know, like his company’s target market, cost-cutting strategies and employee organization.

“I pretended like I was that actual representative and that helped me get into the zone,” Sharma said. “And once I did that, the points I wanted to make just came to me.”

Only 15 minutes earlier, he had been sitting in a small room with two other people where they were each given a prompt relating to marketing management services. Their goal: take that prompt and analyze the situation as if they were representatives or marketing analysts for a certain company.

“You only have 10 minutes to prepare your whole presentation,” Sharma said. “In that short time you have to consider all the elements to the prompt given.”

Sharma, with 13 other members of DECA, a competitive business club, participated in Southern California’s District DECA Competition, Jan. 22-24, against seven other schools.

The club excelled in all events, such as written tests, group events and individual roleplays, placing in the top eight for each category and collecting eight first places overall.

“All the events were extremely diverse so we were excited when we did so well,” copresident Corinna Lee (12) said. “Everyone had to take two tests, and then one written test which was then culminated into the overall score of the event each person competed in.

For some events, people had time to prepare beforehand, but for others, you have to think on the spot.”

Although compared to the previous competitions this one proved to be more challeng-

ing, Lee said the club still did extremely well.

“This competition was more intense and more professional,” she said. “If you wore sneakers, you could get points docked off. It was like a real business convention.”

Due to the increasing difficulty and professionalism of the competition, members had to find innovative ways to prepare. They used various search engines to find and practice sample prompts. Regardless, certain events required creative, on-the-spot thinking.

“I would relate the roleplays to taking a math test because you can prepare for the general concepts but you don’t know the exact questions,” Sharma said. “You have to use common sense and think as fast as you can.”

After succeeding in each of the events at Districts, Lee hopes that the club can do just as well at State that takes place in March.

“Now we are getting ready for an even bigger challenge,” Lee said. “I know we can do just as well and from here on our main goal is to get to Nationals.”

District to cut $24 million after governor proposes billions in reductions BUDGET, from page 1 90 positions more, so as we reduce the number of staff members, we just won’t fill those positions. Ultimately, what it will mean is that we will have fewer layoff notices than last year, but the ranks are getting thinner.”

As opposed to last year, when PUSD issued 260 pink slips, Phillips projects that around 60 will be passed out this year. In addition, fewer general staffing positions will be cut.

“We don’t think we’ll see much cuts in custodians and security because we don’t know how to keep the schools clean and our students safe [if we cut any deeper],” Phillips said. “At some point, when you’re down to the bare minimum, you just have to look at compensation.”

Last year, teachers agreed to a 2.7 percent pay cut, as the school year was cut by five days. This year, the district is proposing an additional 4.8 percent reduction,

including another five-day cut in order to balance the district’s budget.

“We’re proposing that everyone, including the district office, take the same salary rollbacks,” Phillips said.

“We just don’t see how we can make any of this work without salary concessions.”

Currently, PFT is in negotiations with the district in regards to salary cuts and the like. A faculty-wide vote on the issue will take place later this school year. According to Phillips, the relationship between PFT and the district is strong, but he added that this round of cuts “will test it.”

Meanwhile, Phillips said that he is seeking alternative measures on the legislative front in order to reduce cuts. Along with a class-size reduction measure being proposed in the state assembly and greater overall categorical funding flexibility, Phillips is hoping to get reimbursed for H1N1 absences, something that the district received last year.

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In the midst of all these cuts, PUSD is looking to maintain its core educational efforts, along with its position as a top-performing district. However, with the budget the way it is, Phillips said that is becoming increasingly difficult.

“The only way to stick to our core efforts, unfortunately, is by increasing class sizes and having a salary rollback,” he said. “The other way is for me to go in and take away all sports and extra-curriculars, and we think that these are core programs. For us to think about ending those programs, we would really have to be up against the wall before we recommend that to happen. We could get there, but we’re hoping we don’t.”

As far as Westview is concerned, Principal Dawn Kastner said that she would know more after the layoff notices are handed out in March.

In terms of further cuts in future years, Phillips is still unclear as to when funding will get back to pre-cut numbers.

“The cuts are pushing the edge of the envelope right now, whether it’s in dollars or people’s spirits and morale, but we are amazingly resilient,” he said. “I’m hopeful that next year is our last really bad year, and then the following year, things should stabilize, or if we do have cuts, they would be minimal in comparison [to the last five years’]. We just can’t sustain another round after this; the class sizes will be pushing well into the 40s, and you can’t sustain an education like that.”

In the meantime, Phillips said that the district and union will both remain committed to lessening the impact of the cuts, but admits that there is a rough road ahead.

“These are not good educational decisions; these are just how you financially make the best decisions you can in a bad situation,” he said. “We have tried to keep the cuts as far away from the classroom as possible and tried to minimize the impact, but this new set of cuts is just pushing us so deep, there is nothing left to cut.”

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Feb. 12, 2010

News

The Nexus

Will Ellis

Six Degrees

Support for new job bill will beget possible rewards In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama stated that he wished to double our nation’s exports within five years.

This bold statement should put fire under feet of Americans everywhere, especially Westview students, to support the president in his efforts with the new job bill he is trying to push through Congress to help Americans.

By increasing the amount of exports coming from our country, the United States will reap many benefits. For one, our country will become more internationally relevant as a positive economic force.

Also, an increase in exports would mean that the United States would encounter an increased cash flow than what we’re seeing right now. When exports are increased, that means more money is being funneled into our country by others buying our products.

Finally, it will mean more jobs for Americans, since to increase the amount of exports we are sending out, we will need more workers to create those exports.

That final step is why it is so important that we support the president’s efforts with his jobs bill in Congress.

Not only will it create jobs for us just as we are exiting college, it will also create a better economic environment for our entry into the real world.

And the positive economic impact will help Westview students even more than students in, say, Bakersfield, since San Diego is one of California’s most affected metropolitan areas, feeling crippling damage dealt by the recession. With an improved economic climate, we San Diegans and Westview students can breathe more easily than the unfortunate Westview alumni of today, who were forced to bear brunt of the Great Recession.

In order to make sure these coming days will be more pleasant for us, we must be vocal citizens, going to the streets if necessary to make our voices heard.

Only then will we garner the attention we need from our Representatives.

Only with their support can this legislation go through and save us from this difficult future. And as we will soon join the ranks of American voters, our voices to those in Congress will be strong, and will be heard.

So it is imperative that we as Westview students support the president’s new jobs bill. It could easily mean the difference between a doomed future, and a bright one.

Carey organizes diversity show Andra Kovacs

Final Focus Editor For almost a year now, Shreya Carey (11) has been single-handedly planning a one-night theater event. To earn her Girl Scout Gold Award she is coordinating a performing arts show called “Diversity,” tonight at the Neuro Sciences Institute in La Jolla. The performers will include high school students from across San Diego County.

To earn her Gold Award, she must have an 80-hour community service project where she shares something she loves doing with her community. She said she came up with the idea when Girl Scouts asked her in what areas she was talented and passionate in, and she had immediately thought of singing and dancing.

“I think the performing arts are one of the best ways people can learn about different cultures and exercise styles and random expression,” Carey said.

She said that Diversity will be a collaboration of various stylistic acts and a way for people to see their peers doing things they haven’t seen before.

The night will consist of a band, two orchestra pieces, two singing acts and seven different dance performances, including many cultural acts such as Cultic, South Indian, Irish Step and many other unique styles.

Although Carey says it’s stressful to

take on so much, she cares about it for more reasons than just getting her award.

“I find [the diversity in styles] fascinating, and hopefully it will be interesting for other people to see too,” she said.

“Especially high school [students] because we’re so young and we haven’t been exposed to much. But if kids see other high school kids doing it, they might want to know more about it.”

There are many relatively unknown styles of dance to high school students, and Carey says she believes they are worth experiencing and learning about.

“When you get a taste of what other people can do, it can either inspire you to do something on your own or learn more about it,” she said.

Carey said that one of the things she’s most excited about is the evaluation form that will be on the back of everyone’s ticket.

“People will get to fill out what they did and didn’t like, and what they learned, or just any comments and feedback,” she said. “I can picture myself coming home, dumping the box on my bed and just reading all of them.”

As Diversity approached, Carey has been under a lot of pressure, yet she said she knows that in the end it will be worthwhile.

“This is something I want,” she said.

“And, it’s something I know other people can get something out of, too.”

3

Dominic Lucisano

Sumeeta (11) and Bani Ghai (9) rehearse for “Diversity.” The event tonight, planned by Shreya Carey (11), will showcase various cultural performances.

Wuehrmann honored at CETA theatre festival Amanda Floco Staff Writer

William “Danger” Wuehrmann (12) waited anxiously at CETA (California Educational Theatre Association), the annual theatre festival, Jan. 16. He was anxious for two reasons: the awards were about to be announced, and he really had to go to the bathroom.

Suddenly, the judges called Wuehrmann’s name.

He stood in shock, the moment not clicking in his brain.

Slowly, he made his way to the stage to accept his award for Best Supporting Actor in CETA’s Festival of Scenes.

Each year at CETA, eight to ten schools are invited to compete in the Festival of Scenes, showcasing each of their respective fall plays in a 10 minute scene.

Westview performed a scene from their fall play “Fools.” Wuehrmann won for his role as Dr. Zubritsky.

“It was amazing to win something,” he said. “Not just personally, but I’m glad Westview got to bring something home, too.”

Competing at CETA is one of the most pressurefilled experiences for an aspiring actor.

“There’s a lot of deadline crunching, a lot of lastminute changes,” Wuehrmann said. “But everything is still fun in the end.”

Wuehrmann started out as an actor in middle school when he was pushed towards the stage by his drama teacher and he hasn’t left it since. For him, acting was invigorating and liberating.

“I felt like there was finally some kind of natural talent that I could embellish,” he said. “It was nice to have something that I wanted to work at, instead of something I was supposed to work at.”

Since coming to Westview, he has continued to

pursue his passion, reveling in the constantly stimulating atmosphere of high school theatre.

“Westview theatre is exciting all the time,” he said.

“No matter what.”

But as his high school career comes to a close, Wuehrmann intends to remain on the stage, acting in the One Act, “The Placebo Effect,” as well as in the spring musical “Grease.” But that isn’t the end of his ambition, as he’s decided to pursue acting in college.

“I’m going to do the regular thing: go to college, get my degree, work at fast food restaurants trying to find acting jobs,” he said. “I’ll go anywhere I can get work.

The life of an actor is the life of a gypsy.”

For Wuehrmann, acting is a part of who he is and what he’s about, and this is only fueled by his belief in one thing.

“Do what you love,” he said.

Basketball game benefits Haitians Quinto crowned first in

Mr. Bayanihan pageant

HAITI RELIEF, from page 1 was donated by Westview students and the community.

Having a personal connection with the destruction in Haiti, Soleil Wallen-Balmir (9) was excited to hear that Westview was collecting money to help her native country.

A few days after the earthquake, WallenBalmir received calls from her family telling her that her mother’s godmother, as well as multiple cousins, had passed away.

“I wasn’t expecting Westview to do a fundraiser for Haiti, but I’m so glad we did,” Wallen-Balmir said. “It makes me feel really happy that Haiti is getting help. We need help. It’s different than other disasters because Haiti is already so poor and having an earthquake is devastating to the people out there.”

With the planning of the fundraiser so last minute, Wild wasn’t sure what to expect.

“Part of me thought that if every kid brings in a dollar, that’s $2,500, but there’s also the reality that some of our families are suffering as well and might not be able to donate,” he said. “So I didn’t really expect anything, but for me, something was better than nothing. I don’t know what $1,100 will do or who it’ll help, but better something than nothing.”

Cavendish said she was also a little worried about the planning of the fundraiser prior to the game, but is thrilled with the fundraiser’s outcome.

“At first I wasn’t sure if it was going to work out since it was such late notice, but we ended up raising over $1,100 so it was a really good way for our school to help,” Cavendish said. “People who couldn’t make it to the game still came into [the finance office]

Katelyn Hennes Staff Writer

Linnea Whitney

Albert Gehami (9) collects donations in front of the gym at the basketball game on Jan. 28. ASB organized this fundraiser to assist the victims of the Haitian earthquake. and donated money. With everything, we were able to pull together a lot of money and help out.”

After putting on this fundraiser during the game, Wild said that students can look forward to something similar next year. As he’s always wanted to have a school-wide fundraiser, he used this as an opportunity to start a tradition, and thinks the student vs. staff basketball game is a good event to serve as a platform.

“We can pick a different charity every year,” Wild said. “Maybe it’s domestic, maybe it’s international, maybe it helps battered women or the homeless.

But for me, I took on this job not just to put on fun activities and help kids plan it,

but true leadership is about influencing culture.” Besides the fundraiser, Cavendish said the actual game was successful as well. Both sides of the stands were filled and Cavendish felt that everyone had a good time.

“It was a good thing to get the students and staff connected and it was a good thing for the boys and girls seniors to play together for their last time,” she said.

The students ended up taking the lead and beat the staff 26-24, but Wild said that after such a positive experience with the fundraiser this year, the annual game won’t return to being just a basketball game.

“I don’t think we’ll go back,” he said.

“We’re onto something here and it’s important for kids to get the idea that there’s more to life than just what they see here.”

As he stood in line with the three other boys remaining out of the original 16, Brandon Quinto (11) shifted from one foot to another, staring at the judges’ mouths, waiting to hear the name of the winner. Although the venue, his act, his clothes and his responses changed over the three years he participated in the pageant, he was waiting for the same thing.

Quinto was waiting to see if he would be crowned the pageant winner and gain the title of Mr. Bayanihan. But most of all, he was waiting to see if he would be the first junior to ever win the pageant and beat his title of runner-up.

Since he was a freshman, Quinto has competed in the Mr. Bayanihan pageant, which has been hosted by the Westview Bayanihan club for the past five years.

However, like most guys, Quinto doesn’t compete in the event just for a love of pageants. He participates to help the Bayanihan club raise money to give to charities that the club chooses.

This year, proceeds from the $5 tickets went to victims of the earthquake in Haiti and the typhoon in the Philippines.

The event was open to the public and took place at the Westview Theater.

With the help of advertising for the event on Facebook, the club ended up raising a total of $1,000 from ticket sales alone.

Quinto and the other pageant contestants competed in different pageant activities during the four-hour event.

“There are three different times to show what you wear: sportswear, casual

and formal,” Quinto said. “There is also a talent portion, and throughout the whole event, you can be funny or serious.”

There is also a part of the pageant where the judges, who are a mixture of Westview teachers, club members and former winners of the pageant, ask the contestants questions.

Quinto said that he practices for weeks in order to perfect what he plans on doing for the pageant.

“The hardest part is [trying to think] of what the judges would ask you and what you would answer,” Quinto said.

The talent portion of the competition is also something Quinto says is hard to prepare for. In years past, Quinto has danced and read poetry. However, this year he chose to do something most people don’t know that he does: play piano.

While the contestants were competing, the rest of the club members who weren’t competing in the pageant helped out everywhere they could. They served free lumpia and drinks to 200 audience members and got the pageant contestants ready for their different activities. However, for Quinto, the four hours were all worth it when his wait was over and he was crowned Mr. Bayanihan.

“I kind of felt like, did they really choose me?” Quinto said. “I was confused but happy.”

Although Quinto has won the title of Mr. Bayanihan, he can’t wait to take part in the event next year.

“I definitely will participate next year, Quinto said. “They may not let me compete again but I want to be there any way I can.”

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4 Features

Feb. 12, 2010

The Nexus

Students celebrate Chinese New Year through Lion Dance Melissa Truong

other players in the festival. She and Tye are putting a lot of time into their preparations Managing Editor for their respective performances.

By itself, it looks like an ornately decoDuring practice last Saturday, Tye and rated red, green and gold-colored sheet with his partner draped a sheet over themselves, a huge, vaguely animalistic head. with Tye in the front and his partner in the George Tye (10) and his partner had a back. He poked his head inside the head of job: to make the sheet come to life. the lion and began to walk forward with his For about a year, Tye and his partner partner, coordinating their footsteps as if have been practicing Lion Dancing, which they were one four-legged animal, moving is a traditional dance where two performin-synch to make the lion seem alive. ers mimic the movements of a lion while “It just takes a lot of practice because in a lion costume. Lion dances are usually you and your partner have to move at the performed during Chinese New Year for ensame speed, so it takes a lot of practice to tertainment or symbolic purposes, and Lion get that timing,” Tye said. “The tail is supDancing is exactly what Tye plans to do for posed to follow the head, so the person in the Chinese New Year Festival at his Chithe back looks at the feet of the person in nese school. Tye and his partner have been the front for timing and rhythm.” practicing every Saturday for their perforLions usually have two people inside, mance, which is tomorrow. whiles dragons can have upwards of 10. Tye Many students like Tye celebrate Chipractices Lion Dancing to entertain for the nese New Year, which starts at the beginNew Year Festival at his Chinese School, ning of the Lunar Calendar and lasts for but Zhou said that Lion Dances also have a 15 days, with families carrying out various purpose during Chinese New Year. customs, the most important of the tradi“The dragons are supposed to scare tional Chinese holidays. Lucy Zhou (11) also away demons and bring in luck and forcelebrates Chinese New Year, both at her tune,” Zhou said. “It’s usually guys who do Chinese School and at home with her famit because you have to be really strong.” ily. Like Tye, Zhou plans to perform for the Learning to Lion Dance is a requireChinese New Year Festival at her Chinese ment for Tye’s Chinese school because it school, Hua Xia, playing the yao gu, which teaches students more about Chinese culliterally translates to “hip drum” in English. ture. Tye said that Lion Dancing came natuEvery year, Zhou performs her drum with rally to him.

“My first experience was pretty cool because I like dancing in general, he ear of the iger so the dance steps came naturally,” Tye said.

Traditions of the new year Aside from performances at Chinese school, Zhou also celebrates Chi•2010, the year of the tiger, nese New Year at home. There, Zhou’s begins this sunday family has various customs for welcoming in the New Year. All their customs • No sweeping or dusting have an underlying theme of new beginshould be done on new year’s nings and starting the year on a positive day or good fortune will be note. swept away “We clean the whole house to • If someone washes their hair on new year’s symbolize a new beginning with a clean day, they will wash away the luck from the house and we hang up red paper symbols to bring good luck and fortune,” new year Zhou said.

• The first person someone meets and the first The theme of fresh starts remains thing someone hears on new year’s day are the same at Zhou’s Chinese school, this significant to what their fortunes will be for year to celebrate the year of the Tiger. the rest of the year “In my class [at Chinese school], Sidebar by Katelyn Hennes we have riddles every year,” Zhou said.

T

Y

T

“If you solve one, it’s kind of like an accomplishment, an accomplishment of the New Year.

For the Japanese, climbing a mountain at the beginning of the New Year is a good thing because it symbolizes that your year will be good because you accomplished something. Solving the riddle is like that.”

Similar to the American New Year, much of Chinese New Year revolves around being together with loved ones because according to Chinese custom, New Year activities set the tone for the entire year.

“It’s a time of family and togetherness,” Zhou said. “Chinese people like to be near other people from the same place during New Year, so we go to this annual celebration my parents have with their friends from Hunan.”

At the Chinese New Year Festival at Tye’s Chinese school, Lion Dancing is only part of the festivities.

“There’s the performance, but they also have stands where they sell food and games to play,” Tye said.

According to Zhou, Chinese New Year is almost like Christmas and Thanksgiving combined because everybody comes together to celebrate. They eat and pass out red envelopes with money inside to bring luck and prosperity in the next year.

“A lot of it is just eating a bunch of great food, kind of like Thanksgiving,” Zhou said. “We make spring rolls and bing, which is a type of Chinese flat bread, and a bunch of other food.”

Many Chinese celebrate Chinese New Year to honor ancestors, but since most of Zhou’s family is in China, Chinese New Year is for spending time with loved ones.

“For me, it’s a time when I can be together with my family to celebrate the New Year,” Zhou said. “It’s a celebration of who we are and there’s this feeling of togetherness that the other holidays don’t have because there is this sense of the past.”

For Zhou, Chinese New Year isn’t about staying up to cheer the passing of another year, like the American New Year.

“I know that in America, everyone stays up to watch the ball drop and make resolutions, but it’s not really like that,” Zhou said.

“It’s more like having a new beginning.”

Photo by Anna Buckley Illustration by George Jeng

George Tye (10) and his partner practice their Lion Dance routine to prepare for Chinese New Year. He and other students are getting ready for the year of the Tiger.

Musical group Tri-M does not play the blues, raises spirit in community Anna Buckley Staff Writer

Linnea Whitney

Performing at Applebee’s with the Tri-M music club, Jessica Lontayo (12) and Jessica Westberg (12) play their flutes. The Tri-M club plays at retirement homes, schools and libraries for community service.

Before beginning her solo for the Modern Music Masters (Tri-M) club, co-president Rose Hill (12) scanned her audience and saw the faces of the elderly residents of The Arbors Senior Care Center. With the rest of the Tri-M club standing behind her, Hill began to play an old Disney song on her flute.

As Hill played, a few of the Arbors’ residents began to sing along. More joined in, and soon the previously quiet room was filled with the voices of people singing and reminiscing together through an old Disney classic. Hill sensed that they were enjoying her song, when an elderly man with a walker jumped suddenly from his seat, located directly in front of Hill. He began to dance along to the song, continuing to sing while enjoying the music.

Hill continued to play the song, trying hard not to smile. The elderly man continued to dance as a nurse attendant asked him to sit back down, worried about his heart condition, but the man continued to dance. When she had finished the song, Hill let out the smile she was holding in as the audience stood and applauded.

The club Tri-M consists of band, orchestra and choir

members, who perform for community service hours at libraries, elementary schools and retirement communities such as The Arbors, which is Hill’s favorite place.

“The people there don’t really get to see young people a lot and so they like having kids come and take the time to perform for them,” Hill said.

Moments when residents love the songs so much that they feel compelled to dance are what make performing with Tri-M so special for Hill.

“I felt happy that my music had made him care so much that he [wanted] to get up and dance,” Hill said.

For co-president Denise Doan (12), who plays the french horn, and other Tri-M members, getting to perform for the residents at The Arbors has allowed them to brighten the days of the elderly. While performing in front of an audience who is eager to listen, members have improved their performance skills and developed a deeper gratitude towards being able to play music for others.

“You’re close to the [audience] and you can see how your music inspires them,” Doan said. “For me, it changed my playing because I appreciate music and performing more. You [also] have to think about what you’re playing so [the audience] enjoys it too. Then everything becomes closer and more personal.

Alumna returns to volleyball court seven months after suffering debilitating stroke Andra Kovacs

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When she arrived a semester late at Rhodes College in Tennessee last January, Claire Cordua (’09) hadn’t been able to fully use her muscles for almost seven months. Joining Rhodes’ volleyball team on a scholarship, she had to push her still-recovering body to its limit in order to get to the same level as her already inshape teammates.

But Cordua said she doesn’t mind; she prefers intense workouts over the bed-rest she had grown all-too accustomed to. Her motivation to push herself comes from the day that her life almost came to an end.

She was driving to the beach last summer with her boyfriend, Chris Price (12), in the passenger’s seat. All of a sudden she got a terrible migraine and her speech began to slur. Cordua didn’t understand what was happening until she blacked out. While driving, she was having a stroke.

Price saved both of their lives by reaching over and steering the car out of oncoming traffic to safety.

After being taken to the hospital, the doctors learned that she had a clot in her brain, so they began a highly advanced surgery to break up the clot.

The surgery was a huge success despite an aneurism in her brain caused by the procedure. Due to the aneurism, she was on bed rest, meaning that she could do little more than eat and sleep. It took

Cordua almost a week to be able to actually sit up in bed.

“I’m a really active person, so staying in bed for that long was really hard,” she said.

But after two-and-a-half weeks in the hospital, Cordua was finally allowed to go back home. Yet she soon found that she wasn’t physically able to do the things that she previously could do.

“I was just tired all the time,” she said. “My body was just worn out. I would take a shower and have to take like an hour nap. I’d get weak and tired and dizzy so I couldn’t run, I couldn’t work out, I couldn’t do anything.”

For three weeks following the surgery, Cordua attended physical therapy, where she had to work on getting her body back to normal.

“My brain was still healing,” she said. “When I [shifted my eyes] really fast, I would get a huge headache, which of course wasn’t good for volleyball because you’re doing that constantly.”

Because of the recovery time, she wasn’t able to leave for college during the fall, and instead waited for the second semester, which meant missing the volleyball season. But now, she focuses on preparing for the next season. Cordua said that she’s working harder than ever before in order to get to the level that the rest of the volleyball team is.

“They’ve been playing the season while I haven’t worked out in seven months, so I have to push myself 10 times harder,” she said.

While it has been a challenge to come into the school and onto the team so late and in the recovering state she’s in, Cordua said her teammates have been a huge help in finding her place.

“The hardest thing for me was coming in late because everyone already had their group of friends and was already settled in, and I was the only freshman who was still going through the homesick process,” she said. “But [my team] was really open and welcoming, they were here to support me. It was like having an immediate group of friends.”

Cordua said that the transition to college and back into volleyball has been a tough one, but gets easier by the day. She said everything that happened has only improved her life.

“Sure, it was a horrible thing to happen but in the same case, it has given me so much more drive with volleyball and school, and I got closer with my friends and family,” she said. “It gave me a new outlook on life that I don’t think I would have if that didn’t happen.”

She said that her appreciation for everything has grown exponentially and she feels blessed to be able to still live the life she has today.

“I know now I’m here for a reason,” she said. “Not only was I able to walk again, but I’m able to play again; I’m able to go to school again. I was given that second chance and not many people who have strokes are given that chance, so I definitely want to use that and make the best I can out of it.”

February 12, 2010

Getting

Features

The Nexus

into the swing of things

5

Students create own game of tag using obstacles built amongst the branches of their backyard trees

Joanne Cayabyab

When Caton and Vasko explained tree tag to Cree Farnes (12), he was skeptical at first.

“It was the scariest thing I have ever done,” Farnes said. “I thought to myself, if I fall, I will snap “If in the end you don’t have a single scratch on you, then my neck. And there is no way these branches can you didn’t try hard enough.” support my weight.”

It started when they were in kindergarten. AnThe game of tree tag is simple, one player is “it,” drew Caton (12) had the luxury of having his father and the rest (up to six people can play at a time) run, build him a treehouse in one of the three massive swing, jump and strategically climb away to avoid backyard trees. getting tagged. In order to keep the game fair, whoCaton and his best friend from Mt. Carmel, ever is “it” must tag everybody. The last person to get David Vasko, have been climbing up and down the tagged is “it”, giving everybody a chance to run. enormous branches sprouting from the sturdy trunk The most important rule of tree tag is that you of the trees since they were in kindergarten. As the can’t touch the ground. boys grew older and their bodies stronger, the simple “Think of the movie ‘Avatar’,” Caton said. “We’re task of climbing a tree transformed into a game. swinging and running through trees for about an With the help of Caton’s father, the boys added hour or so. We’re like monkeys.” a series of hanging pieces of ropes and bridges shootSuspending themselves that high in the air on ing up about 15 feet into the air. This was the beginunstable branches is not only a strategy for Caton ning of Caton and Vasko’s unique hobby: Tree Tag. and Vasko, but also a risk that they have trained for Once the boys created and perfected the game’s their entire lives. rules, they immediately introduced it Both boys bare deep scars across their chests, to their cross-country shoulders and backs. Their tough hands serve as teammates. the prize after a good game among the sharp-edged branches that provide their playground.

These healed wounds exhibit the extent of the game and what can happen when a seemingly simple task such as brushing by a branch goes wrong.

Vasko said that it isn’t necessary to have phenomenal upper body strength.

“It’s weird to think how quick [we move] up there in the trees,” Caton said. “Afterwards we’re sweating and heaving and all of that and the workout was just fun for us.”

Caton said it was his father who encouraged t h e m Cree Farnes (12), above, steadies himself and prepares to evade capture. David Vasko, to play top right, swings from tree to tree in order to tag another unsuspecting player beolow. in their

Staff Writer

trees in the f i r s t place and is the reason why the game has evolved to what it is today. It is one of the reasons why Caton and Vasko have stayed such good friends.

“We’ve been friends since kindergarten and it’s just been one of those things that no one else has,” Caton said. “No one else has this unique sport that we made and play, so being able to do it often and get better at it with all our friends makes tree tag that much better.”

Vasko said that although they have fallen from breaking branches, they are experienced enough now that he and Caton can catch themselves easily.

“You have four points of contact with your hands and feet,” Caton said. “If you miss a branch with your feet, you still have your hands holding you up. You learn to catch yourself by using what you have available.”

Flying through the air and relying on trees to help you break a fall is their way of staying fit and entertaining themselves.

After cautiously playing a few games, Farnes finally realized that it was his fear that would hold him back.

“I thought it was the coolest thing ever,” Farnes said. “Where else do you get to feel like Tarzan? And I got comfortable standing on really weak branches so I could move faster. It is a lot of fun, even if I can barely ever tag Caton or David.”

Creating the boundaries and the rules came easy for Vasko and Caton because of their desire to try to spend their time in an unusual way.

“I like Tree Tag because of the adrenaline and thrill and the upper body strength you get,” Caton said. “Yeah, you get bruises every once in a while; but that just means you’re playing hardest at a game [you] helped create.”

Song adopts religion of own accord Michelle Song Staff Writer

Taking a walk with her mom, Jessica Song (12) couldn’t comprehend what her mom was telling her.

Her mom had noticed Song reading the Bible a lot and explained to her that she shouldn’t get too involved in church.

But to Song, God was the only constant thing in her life after the move, and she didn’t want to end that. It was a silent walk home after that.

After her family moved from Santa Rosa in eighth grade, they were all invited to go to church with her dad’s former college friend. Song’s first time in a church would change her life from that day on. She went to church without knowing who God was. However, as she listened to the worship, she was filled with an unfamiliar, yet content feeling and knew in that moment that God was real.

“I think that it was the Holy Spirit that really got to me that night and for some reason I never got that feeling before,” Song said. “But after that night, I was just really hooked and I started to seek God after that.”

Because of that night, Song started attending CBC, Chinese Bible Church. Along the way in building her relationship with God, Song met her best friend, Lauren Darrow (12), that year. Darrow is also a Christian, and at the end of 8th grade, she invited Song to go to her

church, Maranatha, with her and her family. Song now says Darrow is her heaven-sent best friend.

“I think one of the greatest things that I’ve learned from my best friend is to look at life through the eyes of Jesus; things seem to fall together for the glory of God and for His ultimate purpose,” she said. “She’s also one of the few who can see the tears in my fake smile before they even come, and is always there willing to cheer me up, pray with me and pray for me.”

The summer before her sophomore year, Darrow invited Song to church camp, which was another way for her to grow closer to God. This is where she studies the Bible, prays and has fellowship with others.

Song first attended church camp with Darrow in Estes Park, Colorado.

“I loved the camp because the getaway from home helped me to see that God is everywhere, that His beauty is everywhere and in everything,” she said. “Apart from just that, I loved becoming closer to God in a more intimate kind of relationship. It was like I got on a plane to meet God, being able to surrender to Him, feel his presence, meet other people from across the U.S. who also love Him, rejoice in Him, praise Him, worship Him, and [are] filled with the Holy Spirit.”

For Song, creating good relationships with fellow Christians has strengthened her friendships.

“I have sets of friends who are non-Christian and Christian, and when it’s with Christian people, I think

there’s more of a feeling of unity,” she said. “I think it’s filled with a lot more pure happiness and when we’re going through daily problems, we know that we’re there for each other and we know it’s part of God’s plan and so we’re not as worried about so many things. It helps to pray with each other.”

Being a Christian has affected Song’s life at home because she’s the only one who has accepted God. Sometimes at the dinner table, when a Bible reference or God comes up, Song’s parents and sister glare at her, asking that she not mention God around them.

Because she doesn’t drive yet and her parents are unable to take her to church, on the days that she doesn’t go to church, Song finds other ways to worship God. “If I don’t get to go to church, then I just read my Bible and then go on the Internet because there are sermons there or on T.V,” she said. “There are live ones that air.”

Although Song is the only believer in her family, she puts her faith in God and continues to build her relationship with him in her daily life.

“After meeting God, my life has really changed,” she said. “I don’t think that happiness is always constant, but I think it’s definitely something we can define our life around and that’s how it is for me because I know I can see the work that God has done in my life and the work that he continues to do. Without Him, it’d be so empty, like it was before.”

Koch fishes for thrills in the deep sea Melissa Truong

Managing Editor Kevin Koch (10) studied the calm, shifting waters 80 miles up the coast from Mission Bay, savoring that deep calm that only fishing brings him.

His hands were loose on the rod as he listened to the waves lap against the side of the boat.

But suddenly, he snapped into focus as he felt a tug on the end of his line.

No, it was more than a tug. To Koch it felt more like a trashcan, not a fish that was on the other end of the line.

Immediately, he started reeling in what promised to be a big fish, but he didn’t get very far before his linejerked down again.

Forget the trashcan. This felt more like a dumpster was on the other end of the line.

As he braced himself on the railing along the boat, Koch hollered “Gaffe” over his shoulder.

Blindly, he grasped the 20 foot long bamboo pole with the hook at the end. He knew he needed the gaffe to bring his catch on board or else his pole would snap from the weight of the fish. Struggling with the weight, with one final effort, Koch hauled his catch out of the water.

As he lifted it into the boat, he almost dropped his rod. That wasn’t a fish on the end of the line, it was a shark.

A Mako shark, to be exact, five-and-a-half feet long. It took a Joanne Cayabyab

few seconds for Koch to get over his initial shock, but once he did he noticed the thrashing shark had tore into the fish that had first grabbed hold of his line.

“It was a heck of a fight,” Koch said. “I wasn’t really fishing for the shark. It turned out that there was actually a good-sized fish on my line, but the shark tried to eat the fish as I reeled it up.”

Catching the shark was one of Koch’s most exciting fishing experiences. But, truth be told, he would have felt a thrill even if he had only gotten a small fish. That’s because ever since Koch went fishing for the first time with his grandfather, he’s been hooked. He was five years old, sitting on the dock which overlooked one of the many lakes in Minnesota.

“I felt a tug on my pole and I freaked out,” Koch said. “It was a one-pound bass, and I thought that it was the coolest thing in the world.”

And ever since he caught that first bass, Koch has never stopped fishing. During the summer, Koch is out on the water almost every other day.

But these days, Koch is not just restricted to lake fishing.

Though he still goes fishing at Lake Cuyamaca or in Minnesota, he has moved on to deepsea fishing. Koch mostly goes fishing with his friends and groups leaving from Mission Bay. “We’ll go three or four times a month,” Koch said. “We’ll leave Mission Bay and go up the coast for the bass in the kelp. Sometimes we go up to this place, Nine Mile Point, for squid, or go for Rockfish in the water off the Catalina Islands.”

Alhough his grandfather taught him lake fishing, there’s a whole new skill-set involved with deep-sea fishing. Koch said that he mostly learned by watching the deckhands and other fishers around him.

“We use a jig, which is a hook that glows in

the dark and weighs about four to five pounds,” Koch said. “We’ll fish at around 900 feet. You drop the hook down and reel it up slowly. When it feels like you’ve caught a trashcan, you’ve got one.”

Sometimes before school, Koch will load his fishing gear into his truck so that he can hurry to Mission Bay before the boat leaves at 4 p.m.

In these instances he’s still deep-sea fishing, but there’s one major difference—it’s at night.

During his first night trip, even though he couldn’t see much beyond the boat, Koch still stared in wonder.

It was pitch black out on the ocean and he was astounded by how different it was from the daytime waters he was used to. Looking out, he saw fish that looked like snakes, writhing on top of the water.

“It’s really interesting being out there at night,” Koch said. “You can’t see anything so you don’t know where you are out there. We have to rely on the GPS and radar. You see all kinds of fish that you can’t see in the day.”

However, Koch’s fishing is not just restricted to the waters off the coast of California and Minnesota. His fishing has also taken him to excursions off the warm waters of Mexico during the summer. Since the climate is different than in San Diego, Koch said that you see completely different fish.

“I went on a two-day trip this summer, pretty much non-stop fishing,” Koch said. “It was awesome because I caught a 50-pound Bluefin Tuna.”

Although he fished almost non-stop in Mexico, Koch never got bored. He said it never gets boring out on the ocean because there is always something to do, from fishing to de-scaling to helping others get their catch on-board.

“It’s just great being out there and away from everything,” Koch said. “Just out there on the boat, having a good time fishing on the ocean with some good friends.”

Photos by Dominic Lucisano

Reviews in short Tom Caruana

‘Enter the Magical Mystery Chambers’

Music: Tom Caruana, the somewhat obscure British hiphop producer, set out to create a mash-up mixtape of Beatles songs and various Wu-Tang tracks after watching an interview with WTC member Ol’ Dirty Bastard, in which the rapper said the Beatles had a big influence on his music. Caruana proceeded to take acapella versions of tracks from Wu-Tang albums and various WTC member solo projects and backed them with Beatles-influenced beats.

Whereas Danger Mouse, in his Beatles/hip-hop mash-up success, “The Grey Album,” was a little less subtle in his Beatles sampling, most of Caruana’s beats only vaguely resemble actual Beatles’ songs. Caruana’s beats are original, and for the most part, pretty solid.

Songs like “Daytona 500” and “Run” are good examples of Caruana’s ability to effectively complement the WuTang tracks.

On the other hand, Caruana takes away a big part of what made WTC so great: RZAs production. I found it hard to tolerate many of the classic Wu-Tang tracks being thrown over Caruana’s flashy beats, completely obliterating RZAs haunting effect on the music that made it some of the best hip-hop of all time.

The album is very creative. Further, Tom Caruana flashes his prowess as a producer and makes some pretty good tracks. But alas, as is the case with many mash-up albums, the tracks fail to live up to the originals, and are therefore disappointing. I applaud Caruana for his creativity and guts, but it takes a little more than what he offers in Magical Mystery Chambers to make a truly great mash-up project.

‘Dear John’

-Jacob Nitti

Movie:

Two weeks together was all it took for them to fall for each other, and those two weeks would alter their lives forever.

“Dear John,” directed by Lasse Hallström and adapted from the Nicholas Sparks’ novel, follows the story of John Tyree (Channing Tatum) and Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried), a couple who tries to hold on to their relationship through the letters they write as Tyree is deployed in the army.

The chemistry between Tatum and Seyfried is perfectly believable, but not enough of the movie is spent showing the development of their relationship. This leaves a lack of depth or real connection between the two, making their time apart seem less heartbreaking.

The twist in the plot comes with a lack of explanation of the background of Curtis’ relationship with her close friend, Tom. This makes her life-altering decision which involves Curtis, Tom and Tyree seem unnecessary, though it is the pivotal point in the movie. Because Curtis and Tom’s relationship is unclear, the ending has less of an impact and provokes far less emotion than the book.

But one relationship that is extremely powerful in the movie is between John and his father (Richard Jenkins). Jenkins’ performance is a highlight of the film as he portrays a single father trying to overcome slight autism to show his son he loves him. The element of a father and son’s ability to overcome the past, before it’s too late, becomes one of the most powerful messages of the movie.

In the end, the powerful acting is able to overcome the broken plot and provides for a good movie with a moving message of the power of unconditional love and the unpredictability of our lives. *All reviews rated out of four stars

-Anna Buckley

6

Features

Amanda Floco Staff Writer

Feb. 12, 2010

The Nexus

ration from a wide range of hip-hop music; including Lil’ Wayne’s notorious lyrical wordplay, Kanye West’s beats, Drake, Kid Cudi and Notorious B.I.G. One of their more unlikely influences is Coldplay.

“We also get a lot of inspiration from producers in general like Pharrell Williams,” Olivero said.

“We just use whatever inspires us in everyday life, music we listen to, experiences we may have or hardships we may be going through,” Luiken said.

This variety of influences results from their intense creative desire to do something different with their music, to create an impact that most teenagers don’t dream of.

“I hate it when I hear songs that don’t have any meaning,” Luiken said. “If we wanted to we could just go out and make stuff like that, but we want to make music that is going to affect people, something witty, something with substance.”

“We’re just about the music, and we love working with different people,” McNeal said.

Though the band may still appear to be in its infancy, they’re already drawing some notice.

They performed live for the first time ever at Coronado High School’s winter pep rally, playing their song “Overwhelming” to its entire student body.

“It was really exciting,” Olivero said. “I hope this sets us up for more stuff in the future.”

As Neveruary turns to face this future, there is no doubt that they will continue to pursue their passion and push their music above and beyond.

Jon Olivero (12) heads down to Coronado on a Saturday afternoon, but he isn’t going there for a day at the beach.

Olivero and two of his closest friends, Dan Luiken and Josh McNeal, who attend Coronado High School, comprise the three person hip-hop group “Neveruary, the month that never ends.”

Luiken and McNeal share the duties of singing, making the beats and rapping while Olivero works almost exclusively in management, sometimes making beats on the side.

They’ll all get together, with McNeal writing his verse, Luiken writing his and Olivero coming up with a beat. Slowly it all comes together in a song that is distinctly Neveruary’s.

“We made this song “Troubles” and they played it at Corondo [High School] in January,” Olivero said. “That was when people started to know what we were about.”

They’ve only been together for five months but they’ve already managed to produce several songs and achieve a high degree of creative cohesion. This is due in part to their close bond. Olivero and Luiken have attended the same church since they were kids.

Luiken and McNeal met in their sophomore year at Coronado High School and quickly discovered their mutual passion for music, a passion that Olivero shared as well.

They all carry a unique drive to create something entirely their own and explore the limits of their creative ingenuity. It’s this enthusiasm that brought them together.

“When Josh and I met and started to make music together Jon got really excited and wanted be our manager,” Luiken said.

Olivero was quickly accepted into the group and thus Neveruary was born.

“I’ve always liked hip-hop,” Olivero said.

“And once Danny showed me how to do this, we just saw that we could actually make beats and do it pretty well.”

There may be quite a few hip-hop groups springing up in the San Diego area, but that only inspires Neveruary more.

“We just saw what they can do and we respect them but we just thought we could do better,” Olivero said.

It’s not just from local groups that Neveruary draws inspiration, it comes from other mainstream artists and even from each other.

“Inspiration in itself sometimes comes from Dan, because he’s been my friend for so long,” Olivero said. “Whenever we’re making music I don’t want to let him down. We also try to outdo each other when we’re making music and push each other.”

Jon Olivero (12) and his band members, Dan Luiken and Josh McNeal, edit Musically, Neveruary draws its inspi- the song they previously recorded. The trio calls themselves “Neveruary.”

Photos by Linnea Whitney

Turk’s previous home used as film set for “Paranormal Activity” self still hanging out in that room.”

I could certainly tell from Turk that Staff Writer watching the characters making meals Adam Turk (10) sat down on the or playing guitars had helped to precouch, pressed “play” on the remote, and serve the realistic nature of the movie. soon a low-budget horror flick began to During a scene where the main move on the TV. I gave my full attention characters hear a loud slam from downto the screen, because “Paranormal Ac- stairs accompanied by a haunting roar, tivity” was about to begin.

I thought it seemed like a good time to Described as “the new Blair Witch tell him the story of Peli’s inspiration Project” by many movie critics, it was for the movie. In an interview, the dione of the most successful budget-to- rector had said that there had been odd box-office earning films ever. Sporting activities he experienced when living in a budget of about $10,000, writer/di- that house. I wondered if Turk ever saw rector Oren Peli made one of the most anything like that, so I asked him. talked-about movies of 2009 by creating “When the movie came out, I a realistic, gritty feel to the movie. To started to think back on my time in achieve this mood, he filmed the movie that house, and there is some stuff like in his own home. Doing this caused the knocking and footsteps or stuff where I audience’s reactions of “What would just passed it off as the house creaking,” happen if that Turk said. “Not was my house?” to say that it There is stuff where Turk knows was something those reactions else, but it defI just passed it off as all too well, coninitely makes sidering he lived you think: the house creaking... in the exact same what if it house where wasn’t? I mean, the movie was sometimes I But it definitely makes filmed. heard things Which is like that in my you think: what if it why I decided own house. to sit down with It’s just kind wasn’t? him and see his of creepy to -Adam Turk (10) reactions to think about.” watching a horTurk’s ror movie unfolding inside his former response surprised me because the home. Although he moved from the concept of having a house haunted by house in 2004, he can remember a num- a spirit is such a ridiculed opinion. But ber of details about it and how it was re- in an extremely calm and conversationmodeled for the movie. But many things al manner, he had told me that it was a are exactly how he left them, like the possibility (albeit a slim one). I couldn’t pool and the kitchen counters. So what see that happening with a lot of people. does it feel like? What runs through his But I found out later that Turk had head when the camera first pans into met Peli before selling the house. The the living room? director apparently was a nice guy and “It’s definitely interesting,” he said. didn’t seem like a raving, haunted luna“I don’t really know what to feel like. tic. His girlfriend even made cookies for It’s definitely strange when I see it; it Turk’s family. The family sold the house brings back memories.” without any complaints of disembodied To him, he still views the house as voices or blood on the walls. a place that holds memories of hanging So maybe it was just the house out with his friends. While certainly creaking, after all. But that didn’t sway seeing your old hang-out room in a some people, he said. Entertainment Weekmovie involving a demonic spirit would ly contacted the Turks a couple of weeks be jarring, I wanted more. What exactly after the movie’s release. It was the first makes seeing this house so weird to re- time they learned that the polite young man they had sold the house to was a member?

In a scene where the main char- movie director.

“It was pretty cool,” Turk said. acters are interviewed by a doctor, he points out some walls painted black “They contacted my neighbor from for the movie. I thought it was kind of across the street too. He wasn’t too an odd change, but Turk thought oth- happy about that.”

The entertainment magazine was erwise.

“It still looks like an ordinary asking about the house, but the small house,” he said. “I used to watch movies amount Turk’s family contributed didn’t in there. I could definitely picture my- make it into the next feature.

Marc Finn

Anna Buckley

Mohammed Bourshaid (11) discusses his junior paper with his U.S. history teacher, Andrea Champoux, in order to understand the task at hand. Bourshaid moved from Qatar six months ago to get a better education and plans to pursue a future business career.

Bourshaid adapts to life at Westview Devon Bohart Staff Writer

Sitting in his U.S. history class, Mohammed Bourshaid (11) stared at the four-page story in front of him.

He began to read it before getting stuck on a particular word, icicle.

Bourshaid searched his brain for the meaning of this obscure word and wasn’t able to recall its definition. He skipped it and continued to read, keeping this unknown word in the back of his mind.

After stumbling over a couple more words, proving to be vital to the understanding of the passage, Bourshaid raised his hand and waited for the teacher’s aide to help him to understand this foreign vocabulary.

After speaking English for only three years, going to a new school in a country halfway across the world from home was a challenge, especially because of speech barriers.

“When I first came here, I didn’t have that good of English and I used to make a lot of mistakes,” Bourshaid said. “People would laugh at me for the way I spoke. I still make mistakes, but I’ve never been afraid of saying the words or making mistakes. Even if I can’t pronounce a word or I don’t know the word, I just describe it and people will help me.”

Bourshaid lives in San Diego with his two brothers and two sisters, for they share the same hopes and dreams that he has; to bring their education back home and have well-paying jobs in the fields in which they study.

“My parents just wanted to bring us here because people need to speak English,” Bourshaid said. “We decided to come here since the

education is much better. It wasn’t my choice, but I’m glad it happened, of course.”

Bourshaid came to Westview from the small country of Qatar six months ago to follow his dream of an American education.

He said that what may seem to be a simple education to the average American is considered golden in Qatar.

“The education in California is much better than any other place in the [United States],” he said. “Most of the people that come here for their education get better jobs when they go back [to Qatar].”

Along with receiving a solid education, Bourshaid wants to be fluent in English.

“The world is changing to an English world these days so you have to speak English in order to go anywhere,” he said.

Once Bourshaid fully learns English, finishes high school and attends a four-year college, he plans to return to Qatar. His goal is to double-major in finance and business management and to get a job based on his studies.

“Back home there are huge companies that need real leaders and people with a good education,” he said. “That’s something I’m really hoping to do.”

In Qatar, Bourshaid busied himself with soccer, playing on a professional team. Despite having such a seemingly strong occupation, he knew the dangers of a career as an athlete and seeked a sturdier back-up.

“I’ve seen a lot of difficult things,” he said.

“I have some friends that have left their education and just played soccer but then they regretted it because when they got injured they couldn’t do much about it and they [had to] begin their education again. I wanted to have

both, so if anything happens to my career or I don’t make it, I still have my degrees.”

Along with receiving a good education, Bourshaid enjoys the freedom of living in such a large country.

“It’s a big place; I get to go to a lot of places,” he said. “I get to go wherever I want. Qatar is a small place, a too-small place. In two hours you can see [everything]. There’s nowhere you can go. You don’t see a lot of people walking [in Qatar]. When I walk down the street [here], I see people smiling and saying ‘hi’ and it makes me happy every day and makes me thank God that I came here.”

Bourshaid has learned a lot from his experiences in such a different country, both in academics and about himself.

“I’ve been more social and talking a lot and that’s something I really like,” he said.

“I’ve studied a lot and learned new things and I’ve [been a] T.A. with the special education class because I like to deal with people.”

Although he is still excited to be in a new country with more opportunities, Bourshaid still misses his home with his many friends and family members.

“I wish my friends and family could come to the U.S.,” he said. “I miss all of the fun times and stuff. We know how to have fun.”

But Bourshaid knows the importance of his opportunity in the United States and how lucky he is to have been given this chance.

“I like it here; the only thing that’s frustrating is that I don’t have my family and friends but that’s pretty much it,” Bourshaid said. “People are looking for this chance, but I got [it] without even asking for it, so I’m not going to let it go.”

“

”

Feb. 12, 2010

Features

The Nexus

7

Andra Kovacs

11 Reasons Reason seven: My seventh reason came when Morgan Hurst (12) stepped out onto the gym floor as one of 11 solo finalists in the West Coast Elite (WCE) Dance Competition. At stake: a hefty scholarship and the title of WCE Regional Dancer of the Year. She danced beautifully and entrancingly, and as she did I cowered in my seat, knowing that I could never put myself on such a pedestal, allowing others to judge my passion.

It was during those two minutes that I realized when it comes to doing things I love, I’m afraid of losing.

This is probably one of my main countermotivations in never participating in write-offs, a competition held at newspaper conventions where you’re given information, a pen, a piece of paper and one hour to write an article. Then your article is read and evaluated by judges and there is an award ceremony to honor the top articles.

But watching Morgan, I realized that I’ve never signed up for write-offs because when it comes to writing, I am afraid of losing.

It’s a ridiculous anxiety I hold, but when I write, I feel embarrassed and uncomfortable. Obviously, this sounds completely unreasonable since I’m saying this in my column, which will be printed 2500 times. But for some reason, writing articles is a completely different forum than other writing.

Writing articles isn’t about winning or losing there is no grade and no rating. I think because once it’s out, it’s out there for good and I don’t think about it. Only three times have I ever gone back and read my writing in the paper. I don’t look back because I’m too afraid that I won’t like my writing, which will cause me unnecessary distress. But once my words are printed, I can’t win or lose.

With any other writing, I get nervous. With every on-demand I wrote in APEL, I was scared to turn it in, afraid it would be embarrassingly bad.

And anyone who knows me knows I’m not really the type of person to care too much about grades, but when it comes to a grade for writing, I’m a mess.

I care so much about a writing grade because for me it’s more than an assignment, it’s my passion.

Although my heart is not devoted to writing essays, it’s still writing, and I care to present it well.

This is why I’ve always seen write-offs as something I would never do. I didn’t know why I would put myself under that pressure, albeit self-induced, to put myself in that type of competition.

But when I sat in the stands watching Morgan completely pour her heart out into her dance, I knew I had to take her lead. She was literally putting herself center-stage to be judged, knowing full well that there was only a one-in-eleven chance of her winning. Then I realized that you can never win without accepting the chance of losing.

Morgan in fact won and is now honored as WCE’s dancer of the year, but she couldn’t have won without risking losing. There were ten other incredible girls who were brave enough to put their passion to the test, and that’s what’s most important. So it was not the fact that she won, but more that she, and all the others, tried.

I knew then that not only did I want to do write-offs, but some part of me needed to do them. I needed to push myself just to see where I stood, if not on a national level then on a personal level. Not necessarily to win or lose, but to take that chance and accept the evaluation. I needed to at least try.

Watching her win something that she loved made me want to do something I love. Either way, she founded my seventh reason and will be the motivation behind my name on the next write-off list.

Defy Gravity

Justin Adams (12), Anthony Mata (12) and Brandon Fang (11) demonstrate their breakdancing skills by supporting themselves on the gate.

Photos by Andrew Fan Illustration by George Jeng

B-boys stretch laws of physics by breakdancing Yoojin Kim

News Editor Crammed into the gym of the Chula Vista YMCA, the Westview breakdancers squeezed in between the crowd of 100 people to watch the final battle of the day. The crowd had formed a circle, leaving room in the middle for the two teams of four to show off their final moves in order to prove themselves as champions of the monthly event, “Battle of the Schools.”

The five judges, who were professional breakdancers, watched on as they tried to determine which group had the better footwork, the better style and the better execution. The competitors, or ‘bboys,’ used their heads, hands and backs to spin around the gymnasium floor.

Because the Westview bboys had already been eliminated from the round robin-style battle, in which they breakdance against every team once, they paid close attention to the two final teams, hoping to improve their own skills.

“A lot of the learning process is just watching what somebody else is doing and trying it out and maybe changing it a little bit to something you’re more comfortable with or something that you think is cooler,” Justin Adams (12) said.

After observing four minutes of breakdancing, the judges announced the final winner of the event. While the winning team celebrated its victory, the Westview breakdancers scattered to meet up with friends from other schools.

“The best part is getting closer to the people that you breakdance with and meeting new people through it,” Anthony Mata (12) said. “It’s our hobby. It’s something that we all love to do together.”

These bboy battles, or jams, are hosted by professional bboy groups and bring breakdancers from all across San Diego together. They take place at parks, professional studios or gymnasiums in Mira Mesa, National City and Rancho Bernardo.

“We enter jams because when you’re at a jam, it really brings out your full potential,” Adams said. “When you’re in an actual battle, you have to go all out and bust everything you have.”

Although the jams provide a competitive environment, they’re not always about who the best dancer is.

“Breakdancing is a way of expressing yourself and the type of guy you are,” Mata said. “With the battles, we can see who the other people really are. We breakdance to express, not to impress.”

Because everybody has different opin-

ions on what makes a good breakdancer, Adams said the main objective is to show personality and creativity and hope it appeals to the judges.

“People have their own taste,” he said. “[The judges] at events judge on personal references because it’s based on their own taste of what’s good, and ‘good’ is subjective.”

Because most of the bboys at Westview are relatively new to breakdancing compared to those at other schools who have been doing it for six or seven years, they practice with students from nearby schools such as Mt. Carmel, Rancho Bernardo and Mira Mesa in order to get new ideas and a variety of input.

“Everybody’s friendly and it’s a really open environment where you can just ask people for help with anything,” Adams said. “It’s really about kicking it with the homies and just dancing with them.”

All across San Diego County, the Westview bboys represent themselves as a group and get closer in the process.

However, a lot of their breakdancing takes place at school as well.

They organize weekly “lottery battles” in the lunch area, which are more casual than the professional ones and are judged by the students. Before the battle begins,

two names are drawn out of a hat, and those two compete against each other, each person getting two chances to show their moves. Then the winner is determined by three judges.

The battles give the bboys a chance to express their personalities and to provide suggestions on how to get better.

“The more you dance, the more you battle, the more you improve,” Mata said. “You see how well other people express themselves and how smooth they are with the music and it helps you become more attached to the beats of the music.”

Breakdancing may seem to be only a competitive activity, but for the bboys, winning comes second to other factors.

“It gives me a way to connect with people who are bboys and, at first, it gave me an instant group of friends,” Adams said. “In everyday life, there’s a lot going on, and breakdancing gives me kind of a calm, relaxing time to myself where I can just get away from it all.”

The Nexus investigates fast food philosophy Staff Writer

Our parents and teachers have told us many times of their college hardships; the months that they survived on little more than pounds upon pounds of ramen and hot dogs.

We are a new generation, and with college just around the corner, other culinary paths can be taken that might be better than the ramen and hot dogs of old. For teenagers, fast food has always been a go-to, but now with the advent of dollar menus, fast food may appear to be cheaper for high-schoolers than home-cooked meals. Some teens seem to believe that fast food saves time and money, but when it comes down to strict finance, people save money and eat healthier when they prepare their meals at home.

I discovered this by going a day on a strictly fast food diet, and a day on meals made at home.

Home-Cooked Meal

Dollar Menu Diet

Jon Olivero

Breakfast

Sausage McMuffin $1.07 Hashbrowns $1.07 Coffee $1.07

Dinner

Breakfast

2 eggs 66 c Toast 40 c Glass of juice 20 c

Lunch

McDouble $1.07 Fries $1.07 Small drink $1.07

Lunch

PB&J 55 c Chips 40 c Drink 35 c

Dinner

McChicken Sandwich $1.07 Fries $1.07 Small Drink $1.07 2 Apple Pies$1.07

9 0z Steak $2.97 Mashed potatoes 80 c Carrots 40 c Energy 17 c for 25 minutes of gas/ Drink 35 c

Transportation

Transportation

(distance = 2 miles) c Car 25 miles per gallon gas $3.14 per gallon.

Takes 12 c per mile.

12 x 2 miles x 3 times a day = 72 c

electricity

(store distance = 2 miles) Car 25 miles per gallon gas $3.14 per gallon.

Takes 12 per mile.

12 x 2 miles = 24 c

Total $11.42 Calories- 2050

Total $7.49 Calories- 1875

Sidebar by Amanda Shewry and Devon Bohart

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Feb. 12, 2010

The Nexus

Editors in Chief Helen Bavin* Daniel Edwards* Managing Editor Melissa Truong* Business Manager Tim Kung News Editor Yoojin Kim Opinions Editor Eileen Shi* Features Editor Nicole Kush Sports Editor Jacob Nitti Final Focus Editor Andra Kovacs* Photo Editor Linnea Whitney Staff Writers Halie Albertson Devon Bohart Anna Buckley Paige Cavendish Joanne Cayabyab Dan Chambers Justin Cordua Derek Dyer* Will Ellis* Andrew Fan Marc Finn Amanda Floco Katelyn Hennes Joanna Jaroszewska George Jeng Jessica Kim Dominic Lucisano Anna Mills* Jon Olivero Brett Rothberger Amanda Shewry Michelle Song Madi Woodward Adviser Jeff Wenger Assistant Adviser Stephanie Tanaka

Democracy suffers from S.C. ruling Eileen Shi

Opinions Editor With midterm elections nearing, the Supreme Court dropped a judicial bombshell that very well may change the field of modern politics for the worse.

On Jan. 21, the justices ruled 5-4, along party lines, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that previously established prohibitions on corpo-

rate campaign contributions were unconstitutional.

As a result of the new ruling, corporations and labor unions are now allowed to independently fund, produce and air campaign ads for congressional and presidential races.

Despite the justices’ appeal to First Amendment rights of corporations, their decision will have negative repercussions throughout American politics.

They have taken the security gate that has narrowed the influence of corporate money from government halls, and flung it wide open.

Without these limits, the democracy is left vulnerable to a flood of self-serving big businesses and other special interests.

The Supreme Court has denounced judicial precedent and effectively returned us to a political scene similar to the early 1900’s, when the big business trusts of the “Gilded Age” were

*Member of Editorial Board

Staff Editorial

CAHSEE consumes state funds while providing few academic benefits The California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE), a requirement for California students to graduate, has aggravated sophomores across the state since it was first put into effect in 2006.

The state-run test features multiple sections that assess students’ knowledge in reading, math and writing.

In fact, it’s similar to a plethora of other tests students take: the SAT, PSAT and STAR, to name a few. Only it’s entirely separate, consequently costing the state millions of additional dollars each year to administer.

So much for trying to rescue the drowning state budget.

If California really wants to work towards ending the budget crisis, then the time has come to eliminate the CAHSEE. This useless and extraneous waste of time is practically a cut-and-paste copy of the dozens of other tests students are forced to take, and it brings nothing new to the table when it comes to academic assessment.

The state’s desire to hold students to a certain standard is understandable, but using multiple tests to do so simply doesn’t make sense. It was a mistake to create the CAHSEE and it would be a mistake to allow it to continue to chew up our resources. Especially given the economic situation we now find ourselves in.

For years now, legislators in Sacramento have been scrambling to determine what the state can and cannot afford for education as we push through a devastating economic crisis. Class sizes are going through the roof and teachers are losing their jobs, all while the CAHSEE continues doing what it does best: wasting California’s precious time and money.

If students are already being tested on the same subjects during the STAR test, why not combine the two tests to create a single, all-inclusive standardized test for assessing student progress?

Such a test could essentially be the same as today’s STAR test; after all, the CAHSEE rarely treads into territory not already covered by the STAR. Age-old questioning techniques can be found on each: the old readthe-paragraph-and-answer, correcting simple grammar mistakes, and of course, the fundamentals of algebra and geometry. For both tests to exist simultaneously while assessing the same skill set is a waste of everyone’s time.

Not only would a measure to combine the tests save a fortune for the state each year; it would also save students from the inane tradition of participating in a test that seems eerily similar to all the others they take.

Most Westview students would agree that we’re pretty well covered in the testing department. If it takes the state a completely separate exam to determine our eligibility to graduate, then there is something terribly wrong with California’s testing system.

Ultimately, the CAHSEE costs too much and offers too little to be allowed to continue in California. It’s time for the state to start cutting programs we truly do not need, starting with this one, rather than tossing out teachers and small class sizes as if they are of no value.

And despite what some students may say, that extra hour of sleep that upperclassmen get just isn’t worth it.

The Nexus

Mission Statement

The Nexus is an open forum for Westview students that aims to provide the public with information that follows standards of accuracy, ethics and professionalism. As a source of news, opinions and entertainment for its readers, The Nexus commits itself to impartiality and depth of coverage.

The Nexus is published by Journalism 2 students. All editorial decisions are made by the students with the guidance of adviser Jeff Wenger. The editorial board comprises of selected staff members, who write and select the staff editorial.

The opinions published in The Nexus do not necessarily represent those of the Westview administration or PUSD school board. When opinions of an individual are expressed, they are labeled as such. Letters to the editor must be signed as the opinion of the individual. The editors select submissions for print based on relevancy to readers, and they may be edited for space or content reasons.

wealthy, power-hungry corporations looking to coerce the government into pro-business legislation.

Standard Oil was infamously known as “The Octopus,” reaching its tentacles into places of power.

Although trusts are prohibited nowadays, the coming fallout from the ruling is bound to get ugly.

With financial free-reign, corporations are given two major advantages in the democratic system: money and media. Money means political bargaining power. Media means influence over the voting populace.

Together, money and media can hold an effective threat over any legislator. Together, they can endlessly broadcast corporate agendas to uninformed and impressionable voters.

The picture isn’t a very encouraging step forward for democracy.

However, the five justices who voted in favor of the move ask for Americans to believe otherwise.

Those justices defend their ruling by citing the First Amendment right to free speech, saying that limiting a corporation’s campaign spending is analogous to limiting their political voice. They claim that it is unconstitutional to extend freedom of speech to persons while limiting that of corporations.

However, this reasoning shows a lot of constitutional dishonesty.

The limits did not violate First Amendment rights. Under previous limitations, corporations were allowed to voice their opinions but denied the vast treasuries with which to do so. They were allowed to use funds raised by political action committees, which hardly qualifies as censorship.

Furthermore, the Constitution has treated corporations as people, as guaranteed in the Fourteenth Amendment. But this has never before conflicted with campaign finance limitations.

Because likening a corporation to a person does not mandate absolute equivalence in rights.

Corporations cannot be allowed to dominate and influence the government. Money and media may be strong incentives, but the honest voice of an average American voter should be strongest of all.

Uganda bill: menace to natural rights Derek Dyer

Staff Writer And you thought Proposition 8 was controversial.

Several months ago, the Ugandan government announced the creation of a bill that would bring about the death penalty for HIV-positive homosexuals.

The hotly debated legislation, which would also lead to life-sentencing for homosexual conduct of any kind, is receiving substantial support from both the government and the citizens of a country that has always been predominantly anti-gay.

And as if all that isn’t troubling enough, this legislative nonsense may have all begun with the words of three Americans.

When Scott Lively, Caleb Brundidge and Don Schmierer visited Uganda last year, they came preaching a sermon that encouraged Uganda to work to eliminate the homosexual presence in the east African country.

Unfortunately, the Ugandan gov- Integrity James Nsaba Buturo said that ernment took the Americans’ message “homosexuals can forget about human much further than intended. And just rights.” like that, the “Kill the Gays Bill,” as it is That phrase essentially defies the colloquially referred to, was born. definition of ethics.

The United Nations has waited far Similarly, the bill’s author, David too long to Bahati, has It no longer matters how respond to shown little this growremorse for Americans feel personally the harsh ing crisis.

An organipenalties he zation that about homosexuality. This wishes to inclaims to flict on Uganfight breachdan homois the decision between es in husexuals. man rights This is life and death. should be especially embarrassed shocking by how long this bill has been rearing considering his close ties with the U.S. its ugly head in front of the Ugandan Until a few weeks ago, he was on the Parliament. invite list to attend the National Prayer Months have passed and the situ- Breakfast along with President Obama ation has yet to be resolved; many gov- Feb. 4. Thankfully, his invitation was ernment officials are perfectly content rescinded. with the idea of adopting the bill as Seeing as a group of Americans law. Ugandan Minister of Ethics and are the likely catalysts for this measure

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being drafted, it is up to America to take the lead in urging the U.N. to take drastic action to stop this bill.

It doesn’t matter whether or not the evangelicals feel their words have been twisted; this is still a U.S. problem and it is time that the U.S. begins working toward a solution. Representatives from the U.N. have widely criticized this barbaric bill, but this is not enough. Criticism has thus far failed; it’s time for action.

The U.N. has more than enough power to force the Ugandan government into submission. There isn’t much time though; the bill is slated to go before Parliament in late February or early March.

For this issue, it no longer matters how Americans feel personally about homosexuality. This is the decision between life and death for thousands, and I sincerely hope that the U.S. can overcome bipartisanship regarding marriage to stand up for Ugandan homosexuals’ simple right to live.

Harmful messages in beauty Law necessary in advertisements warrant ban lessening student Will Ellis

Staff Writer Right now, politicians in Spain are crafting a law to banish the plague of low self-esteem.

The law will ban certain advertisements from showing on television before 10 p.m. The law takes a strong stance against the exploitation of young girls’ insecurities about their appearance, and is clear about its intention to prevent further damage on its consumer group.

It states: “Broadcasters cannot carry advertisements for things that encourage the cult of the body and have a negative impact on self-image such as slimming products, surgical procedures and beauty treatments which are based on ideas of social rejection as a result of one’s physical image or that success is dependent on factors such as weight or looks.”

And it is about time that the U.S. government follows in Spain’s footsteps. America is being affected just as much as any country by the terror of being ugly, fat or undesirable.

Young girls everywhere are thinking they are not good enough. And the government can implement this law to help protect them from an onslaught of advertisements that reinforce these thoughts.

While some see this as the government stepping beyond its bounds, it is the duty of the government to protect its citizens. When little girls are watching television every day and are bombarded with ads suggesting that they are not pretty enough and that they need to change themselves to be liked by others, inevitably harm will be done to them.

And for many, no amount of supportive parenting could reverse or prevent all of the damage done. Who are these girls going to believe? Their parents who are always supposed to support and nurture them, or the voice of glamour and sex appeal?

There is already a move to emphasize natural beauty amongst cosmetic advertisers.

Dove has launched a campaign designed to show women their beauty, and to show the deceit that goes into beauty advertising.

The Proposal in Short Spanish televison networks cannot broadcast advertisements with any of the following characteristics after 10 p.m.: - Market dieting products - Promote surgical procedures solely for cosmetic purposes - Sell any kind of beauty product (i.e. makeup) - Advocate the idea that physical image and weight can lead to social rejection or correlates with life success Sidebar by Justin Cordua and Brett Rothberger Source: adage.com

New rules have been instituted on some of the major fashion runways around the world to disallow models under a certain BMI to walk in shows.

And yet bulimia, anorexia and other eating disorders are on the rise, especially in the young female demographic.

Given this, imposing a law similar to Spain’s is not without due cause. In fact, it closely parallels to laws currently in place in the United States. For example, currently, cigarette ads are not allowed to be shown on air at all, not even late at night. Why? Because it is the position of the United States government to protect its citizens from preventable harm.

And it is clear that advertisements containing negative messages about body image fall into that category.

Around the world, an epidemic of withering weight and self esteem has called for greater attention to how these issues are affecting girls and women. Thankfully, Spain has taken note. And hopefully, soon the U.S. will as well.

access to tobacco Andra Kovacs

Final Focus Editor Councilman Steve Castaneda recently pitched an idea to the Chula Vista City Council to ban or at least restrict tobacco sales near schools. He proposed to ban tobacco sales in stores within 600 to 1,000 feet of schools.

The law would restrict the ability for students to buy and sell tobacco products within the proposed range and would make it less convenient for people to access tobacco products within the parameters of plan, which would help in the continuous effort to prevent students from using drugs. However, the vision of outlawing tobacco sales within range of schools became less promising when the majority of the Council refused to support the plan.

Although the ban wouldn’t force stores already operating near schools to close or change too drastically, people opposing the ban say that now is not the time to restrict business growth. This disregards the fact that most already existing stores would be “grandfathered” into the ordinance, meaning that they have an exception allowing old rules to continue to apply to some existing situations.

Furthermore, the health of students should always come before industry growth. The plan would be implemented to protect children and would promote good health policies.

Even if it keeps just a handful of students from trying tobacco and getting hooked, the ban would be worth any potential business loss.

This is something our city should keep fighting for. According to a public health advocacy organization, merchants in Chula Vista especially do not have a very good track record of verifying the age of young smokers.

In September, the organization conducted a purchase survey in Chula Vista. A member of the organization entered 136 stores with a minor, and 66 percent of the stores irresponsibly sold tobacco to the youth.

Although cliché, it’s true that even an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That’s what is trying to be accomplished with the ordinance.

It’s bad enough to make it easier for students of appropriate age to purchase tobacco, but for minors to have such convenient access is a major problem.

Ignoring the push to ban tobacco sales near schools would send the message that the city doesn’t condone easy access to drugs and health-hazardous resources for the youth.

It would be at least a stepping stone towards a less promoted tobacco industry and a healthier generation.

Feb. 12, 2010

Praying for secularism in Senate Katelyn Hennes

Although this practice has been around ever since the time of the Founding Fathers, it is one that needs to be changed.

Since 2003, Barry Black has been the Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, making him the 62nd Chaplain that the Senate has employed. His job is to say a prayer of his choosing before each Senate meeting, a prayer that, in an interview with NPR, Black said he chooses to fit the topic that the Senate is discussing during that particular meeting.

Though at first glance Black’s position does not seem like a problem, he holds a position of power that could potentially infiltrate the minds of senators, with his own personal thoughts and opinions.

Although Black claims that when giving a prayer he doesn’t offer his personal opinion, he did say that he tailors his Biblical themes to represent what is being talked about on Capitol Hill.

For instance, when the health care bill was being debated in the chamber, Black researched what the Bible says about the end of life.

He used this information to address the ‘death panels’ discussion when it was being considered by opponents of the health care legislation.

Black personally chooses and selects each day’s prayer from the Bible and says a new prayer everyday; while this isn’t a straightforward assertion of his political ideology, his choice of prayer, his inflection of voice and his religious references can have an influence on the proceedings of the Senate.

This then becomes a very high position of power, much more power than an average citizen should be entitled to without consent of the people. Black is tied to his clients in the Senate in a relationship with latent repercussions.

Furthermore, Black is a preacher outside of the Senate, leading five Bible study groups a week, one which consists solely of senators.

His Bible Study group consists only of 10 senators, but he also hosts a prayer breakfast which is usually attended by 30 senators.

In total, Black said in an interview with The Washington Times that he sees and talks to at least 45 senators a week.

This creates a fundamental problem. When senators regularly attend a Bible group led by Black, he becomes someone they can trust and rely on. Senators in that Bible group will look up to Black for religious

Staff Writer

Since the United States was founded, there has been a theoretical separation between church and state. And as time passes, the boundaries of this separation are constantly being challenged.

However, one fundamental question has slipped by almost entirely without notice. It’s surprising, especially since this particular situation goes right into the heart of the state itself.

In a country so devoted to the separation of church and state that we are considering omitting “God” from the Pledge of Allegiance, it seems a contradiction, not to mention a reflection of poor political judgment, to have a chaplain say a prayer to God before each U.S. Senate meeting.

Eileen Shi

Opinions Editor We will be there until the healing is complete. Or so says the Salvation Army.

But that’s what we, and others throughout the world, have been saying ever since Haiti’s problems first received international attention decades ago.

The recent earthquake only serves as a reminder: despite the continued work of major charitable organizations, generous nations and private donors, it is not enough. Their work, while commendable, is only on the surface, failing to target the real crisis afflicting Haiti.

The U.S. alone has spent nearly $2 billion in the last 20 years to aid Haiti. More than 10,000 organizations perform missions in Haiti, the most non-government organizations per capita of any nation. Yet, Haiti remains the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, with 80 percent of the population living in poverty and nearly 50 percent being illiterate.

Systemic problems such as lack of food, water and shelter, as well as government impotency and corruption are at the core of Haiti’s problems.

And that is where change must begin.

In the past, organizations have set up schools, water systems and hospitals parallel to the government.

Daniel Edwards Editor in Chief

It was perhaps one of the most important and most anticipated State of the Union addresses in the last century. Trillions of dollars in debt, two wars still being waged in the Middle East and a disintegrating health care system, President Obama had to come out strong.

Nearly 50 million Americans tuned in to see the president deliver his Constitutionally mandated address to Congress Jan. 27.

However, the usually superficial, confident assessment of the condition of the nation turned into the same rhetoric that so feverishly led to the low poll numbers Obama has received of late.

If not for the hallowed chamber and distinguished attendants, the address could have been seen as a glorified campaign speech. Despite breaking the canon for such addresses, Obama was able to get the necessary message he wanted out; that although America is in a rough patch, the future is looking better, so long as partisanship in Congress and selfishness on Wall Street don’t get in the way.

For the majority of the speech, Obama focused on the economy, especially jobs. He harassed the Senate for a bipartisan jobs bill to complement one already floating around in the House. But throughout this segment, he routinely blasted the Republican leadership for perpetuating its insistence on opposing Democrat-sponsored bills just because they could. However true or untrue this may be, Obama effectively exploited the populist anger in the country to work in his and his party’s favor.

Although he did point some blame at his own party, adding an ambiguous if not disingenuous assessment of his communication skills, most of his energy was spent chastising Congress for its actions and demanding more accountability to the people.

It was somewhat surprising to see him thump so much policy. He proposed legislation, threatened veto power and even showed interest in issuing executive orders to get things accomplished. His strong tone made him look presidential, which put the spotlight back on him and away from a currently ineffective Congress.

Surprisingly, he devoted little time to healthcare— just enough to keep it fresh in everybody’s mind—and muzzled in some time for national security issues in order to address the repealing of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”

Although Obama was able to channel the nation’s anger into a sense of unity with the populace, his emphasis on policy makes him more accountable to those very people. Let’s hope that this year he can actually deliver on his promises.

- Will Ellis

Duties of the Chaplain • Leading a prayer in the Senate every day • Counseling and spiritual care for the senators, their families and their staffs • Meeting with senators about spiritual and moral issues • Assisting with research and questions on theological and biblical issues • Teaching Bible study groups for senators • Facilitating discussion and reflection in small groups among senators and staff Sidebar by Anna Mills and Katelyn Hennes Source: senate.gov

counsel and comfort, as well as listen to his opinions.

Black himself stated that if a senator comes and asks him for his opinion behind closed doors, Black will honestly express to the senator what he is thinking.

Although senators have a right to listen to whoever they want to and believe whatever they want, it is the fact that Black has influential access to multiple senators that makes this a problem.

Whereas senators may go to other people when they want to discuss a problem, they all don’t talk only to one person, the senators don’t have one common friend who they all confide in.

However, Black is in the position to become this friend to all the senators and probably is a friend or at least a counsel to a good amount of the Senate.

Because Black has virtually unrestricted and unchecked access to the senators’ heads, access that constituencies don’t even have, he holds greater sway in public policy than one man should have.

To further add to the questionable nature of Black’s position, many Americans aren’t even aware of the fact that the Senate has a regular chaplain.

And although this is somewhat understandable given the touchy nature of the subject of religion, the American populace is entitled to know about these prayers and their subtle influences on senators. Without that knowledge, there can never be change.

Allen Iverson:

Dominic Lucisano Staff Writer

All-Star Starting Guard 1,269,568 votes from fans 4.2 assists per game .448 field goal percentage .64 steals per game

Rajon Rondo: All-Star Reserve Guard 425,590 votes from fans 9.8 assists per game .532 field goal percentage 2.46 steals per game Sidebar by Dominic Lucisano and Jessica Kim Source: nba.com

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While benefiting local areas of Haiti, these projects undermine the role of the state and create a system of dependency when what is needed is empowerment. This time around, the effort must be channeled through the government itself, allowing the Haitians themselves to make decisions and begin rebuilding.

Close inspections would be performed to ensure that the funding is not frittered away into the pockets of corrupt officials. When Americans and other nations foot the bill, we can be in a position that simultaneously allows the Haitians to direct the rebuild and allows us to demand transparency, accountability and high standards from the Haitians.

However, critics believe that Haiti is too inherently troubled and too far gone to benefit from a simple redirection of funding.

And to some degree, they are right. Involvement in the Haiti crisis must go to an even deeper level, influencing the social landscape of Haiti and its people.

Theirs is a culture shaped by the state’s mismanagement, the poverty-stricken village life and low life expectancy. All this adds to a culture of mistrust towards other Haitians and indifference towards making their lives meaningful.

Theirs is a culture that must change in order for there to be growth. In this sense, changing Haitian cul-

Haiti: Poorest Country in the Western Hemisphere

Around 80 percent of the population lives in poverty One in every 100 children won’t make it to adulthood The average life expectancy is 47 years Sidebar by Anna Mills and Eileen Shi Source: salvationarmy.org

ture is not imperialistic. We do not seek to overwhelm their culture, but to infuse it with new ideals of cooperation, progress, achievement and initiative.

The earthquake may have been a tragedy of epic proportions, but it may also be an opportunity, the beginning to a new era of optimism and development.

The world as a whole cannot continue the same cycle it has relied upon in previous years: respond to the latest crisis, pledge help and then lose interest. Haiti’s needs are long-term, just as our commitment must be.

Throwing money at Haiti is not going to cut it, because what we are really after is helping Haiti stand on its own.

All-Star voting denies NBA talent

Comparing the Stars

Code of Conduct : Respect for America’s senators has grown to unparalleled levels; Scott Brown’s new nude action figure, based off of his old Cosmo shoot, clearly exemplifies this. Never before have we held politicians to the same superficial standards as Barbie.

After a turbulent start to the season, Allen Iverson is a starting Eastern Conference All-Star, just like in the good ol’ days.

This raises the question about what exactly defines an All-Star.

The eventful start to his season included a period of retirement, playing in far fewer games than other All-Stars, and most importantly, putting up mediocre statistics.

His season average for points per game is a full 12 points lower than the average for his career. His steals are also at a level of 1.5 steals fewer per game than his career average.

Iverson has clearly not shown up, despite the usual high expectations by fans. This year, he’s an average player.

So why is he starting for the All-Star team? Why is he even on the team?

He’s starting because 1,269,568 fans wanted him to start, via the online voting system where basketball fans

choose which player they want to see play, similar to sports like football and baseball. And the players who get the most votes in each position get to start.

There’s no second guessing the system.

But those fans need to re-examine how they vote, as they are ruining a long-time NBA tradition of stardom, a tradition that serves to recognize the hard work and stellar play of the game’s greatest athletes. The whole reason the NBA exists is to show America, and essentially the world, the best basketball players alive. This year, Iverson simply isn’t one of the best in the world.

He gets to start over players such as Rajon Rondo, who is averaging twice as many steals and assists per game than Iverson is. Rondo is a true All-Star.

Iverson is not.

But Rondo simply didn’t get enough votes, so his hard work will not be paying off for him in the All-Star Game.

In an interview, Iverson stated that he wants to concentrate on the fans who voted him in rather than those who question his legitimacy. He thinks the

fans have the right to decide who they want to see in the game, end of story.

This is true, the All-Star Game is merely an exhibition; if the fans really want to see Iverson play, then they have a right to vote him onto the court.

But if fans completely disregard performance when voting for players, it defeats the purpose of holding the game.

It disintegrates into nothing more than a popularity contest.

It’s called the All-Star Game for a very obvious reason: to recognize the best of the best in the NBA. That’s why the game isn’t called the “Fans’ Choice Game.”

Of course, letting the fans vote is the fairest way to decide on the AllStars, and it is their choice to vote for the player of their choice, but the sport, league and exhibition game all exist to showcase talent in the NBA, hard work needs to bring rewards. It brings the best teams their championships and the best players contract bonuses. And these are the same players who should get the All-Star spots they deserve.

A light-hearted trial of our social graces... or lack thereof

Today, I spent the entire Biology class drawing a diagram and all my Spanish class coloring pictures. It’s good to know that my high school education will pay off in college.

- Jessica Kim

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This is a lockdown, this is a drill. Just in case you forgot the first 12 times I said it.

- Derek Dyer

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The next phase of America’s crisis is upon us: Avatar was not nominated for best screenplay or best actor. Looks like the blue aliens will surely take over the world now.

- Anna Mills

Carnations: $2. Sweet Hearts $.50. Showing the people you care about that you love them without having to spend money on cheesy gifts to prove it: (truly) priceless.

- Anna Buckley

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So Beyoncé was finally awarded with six Grammys (a record). Looks like the judges listened to Kanye.

- Daniel Edwards

Major infraction

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Aid efforts undercut Haiti self-sufficiency

Obama delivers strong, optimistic State of the Union

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Opinions

The Nexus

Hung jury

Spotless Record

To submit a Code of Conduct, drop your submission off in room L-104. Include your name, grade level or job title and phone number.

10 Opinions

Growth clinics give the short a leg up

Head to Head Rohini Rajgopal (11)

Feb. 12, 2010

The Nexus

Justin Cordua Staff Writer

Lisa Du (11)

Should the US follow Spain and regulate advertising for cosmetics on television?

“The U.S. should place restrictions on those commercials. It’s devastating to see the way women are portrayed in these ads: needy, submissive women whose only redeeming quality is their beauty.”

- Rajgopal “A restriction would limit the accessibility of beauty products. A lot of products are good for people to use: skin creams and mineral foundations, for example, all have benefits for healthier skin.”

- Du “The products themselves aren’t the problem. It’s that the product is shown on a model who has been cut out, altered, and distorted, leaving a negative psychological affect on young women.”

- Rajgopal “But the truth is, the skinny model is so prevalent that she doesn’t trigger much of a response anymore. Because of this, we should trust in viewers to decide for themselves.”

- Du

Around the globe, short people struggle to deal with their innate impediment. In some cultures, short people are considered less attractive, less competitive and generally less successful. In South Korea, numerous growth clinics have appeared in several places around the country in response to the desire of parents to have tall, and therefore successful, children. These clinics take short children and put them on machines such as modified treadmills, designed to help make the children taller... like the taffy puller machine at Willy Wonka’s marvelous factory.

In some cases, the children are given hormone shots to stimulate growth. Others receive acupuncture, aromatherapy or tonics containing deer antler, ginseng and other medicinal herbs. Admittedly, these treatments may not be perfectly suited for children.

But let’s face it, short people are a nuisance. From the kid who can’t reach the cookie jar to the adult who has to balance on the tips of his toes just to hug someone, they’re all just not quite normal.

They can’t fox trot successfully with taller people, they’re easily dwarfed when playing ball against the likes of Michael Oher and many short people can’t even change a light bulb without a step ladder.

It’s pathetic.

Maybe it’s time to credit the South Koreans in their belief that shortness is a sin, a prejudice fed by high school students like Lee Do-kyong, who went on live television and announced to all of South Korea that she believed all short guys to be losers.

By making short kids taller, these South Koreans aren’t being cruel; they’re helping to abolish a hurtful prejudice.

Think of the child’s battered confidence, of a childhood gone wrong. He is taunted by his peers at school, unable to play school sports because of his small stature, rejected by girls who cringe at the thought of crouching down to kiss him. And where does that leave him?

It leaves him jobless and lonely, because he lacks the confidence to give a good first impression in a job interview or to ask a woman on a date.

“Restrictions could end up backfiring and making no net progress. Just like our immune system: if you aren’t exposed to the problem, you won’t know how to fight back when it hits you. “ - Du

cause for alarm. We must embrace them. There comes a point when we must ask ourselves which is worse: using machines and growth hormones to make a child taller, or forcing them to live a life throughout which they will always be considered inadequate.

Paige Cavendish

French proposal unjust towards Muslims Halie Albertson

“Yet, there are still those who go to extreme measures to achieve a look that was unattainable to begin with. Those people need to be protected from the onslaught of ‘beauty.’”

- Rajgopal

This short man, along with millions more, could be helped if our society had the sense to accept a wider range of treatments, despite their unorthodoxy. We laugh at the absurdity of the ancient Egyptians’ belief that bat’s blood could cure blindness. But we are just as blind as those patients of the Egyptian doctors in respect to the problems of short people. We cannot ignore or shun an idea simply because it is unusual.

A good parent is one who makes his ridiculously short child taller. A parent who wants their kid to fit in at school. A parent who wants their child to have a successful future. They know that a tall world is a happy world.

Shortness is an issue that is much larger than the small people it concerns. And it’s not just in South Korea.

Shortness is a global disease. Why there aren’t any growth clinics in America yet is beyond me.

Perhaps the fact that there is no clinical proof or other kind of evidence that these treatments work is a deterrent to many people in America explains this.

But that shouldn’t matter. Such concerns about effectiveness should never stop the pioneering American spirit.

We will do anything to give our offspring an edge, whether or not there is official evidence to support it. Just look at all the antacids and ginkgo widely used in society today.

South Koreans are merely taking a page out of America’s book.

Their growth clinics shouldn’t be

Staff Writer

France’s motto might translate as “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity,” but recent events have proven to stand for anything but.

According to the proposals of a French parliamentary panel, Muslim women wearing face-covering veils could be banned from utilizing public services, such as hospitals, as well as be denied political asylum and French citizenship.

This wrongfully degrades women who choose to wear veils, and is demeaning to the sacred traditions held dear by the five million Muslims who make their homes in France, the largest Muslim community in Western Europe.

The French government must recognize that alienating people based on religious custom and taking away their rights isn’t the answer. Implementing such a law is only asking for trouble.

Faiza Silmi, a Muslim woman living in France, was recently denied French citizenship on the grounds that by wearing a veil, she is an extremist. Contrary to France’s rationale, she only does this to comply with the modesty called for by her religion. The French government denied Silmi’s request for citizenship with claims that she had not properly assimilated into French society, despite the fact that her husband and children are French citizens and that she is fluent in French.

The French claim that they can take such drastic measures because of

the state’s policy of secularism, or the separation of church and state. But using the government to enforce a doctrine of secularism when it comes to what people choose to wear only ostracizes the public.

Another popular claim is that fullbody veils make women subservient and limit their personal freedoms. But, for women like Silmi, wearing a veil is a personal choice. No one in France is forcing women to wear veils, unlike in areas such as Afghanistan under Taliban rule until 2001, where a woman could be beaten or killed for not complying with strict dress codes. While drastically different, these two situations bear one extraordinarily unfortunate similarity: women must conform to standards of dressing or face the consequences. For

women like Silmi, this could be as harsh as being denied French citizenship.

It’s a woman’s choice whether or not to wear a veil. In France, the state is making that choice for her. Even more, France’s proposal forces women to choose between religious devotion and access to basic services.

France’s stance towards Muslim women could cause political backlash from countries with Muslim majorities, such as Pakistan, Iran and Egypt. It also sets a precedent that controlling ways of expression, religious or otherwise, is acceptable.

The situation is a thinly disguised, state-sanctioned prejudice towards Muslims. And the proposed law needs to be struck down before Muslims are persecuted even further.

T.V. dramas diminish severity of pregnancy Spending freeze Joanna Jaroszewska Staff Writer

Reality TV has become a huge part of entertainment in America, but a new aspect of modern life has been greatly altered by TV’s inaccuracies; teen pregnancy. According to USA Today, the teen pregnancy rate in 26 US states has gone up 3 percent; rising for the first time in more than a decade. In 2006, about 40 out of every 1,000 women gave birth before the age of 19.

But all things considered, this is not surprising, especially with newly popular T.V. shows, such as 16 and Pregnant, The Secret Life of the American Teenager and Teen Mom, on the rise. Research by the RAND Corporation shows that the amount of sexually centered TV programs directly correlates with teen pregnancy rates.

And with the average American teenager watching more than three hours of TV daily, the newest episode of Teen Mom has great potential to affect the attitudes of teenage viewers towards the ethical side of teen pregnancy. These reality TV shows and dramas have made viewers comfortable with the idea of teen pregnancy as something that is easily managed.

These new shows, however entertaining, have become the leaders in mis-

leading reality TV. They present young viewers with teenage girls who sob over trivial things while their real problems are buried under a vast array of squabbles with boyfriends, best friends and parents. These shows portray the teen moms living casual lifestyles, some even remaining in school. Amy Juergens, from The Secret Life of the American Teenager finds the time to go on dates after having a baby; Catelyyn in Teen Mom has a supporting boyfriend right by her side every step of the way. Whether through adoption or parental assistance, the girls on reality TV have the support many teenagers lack in real life.

In the first episode of 16 and Pregnant Maci, one of the main characters, enjoys fancy restaurant dinners with her friends, receives an abundance of presents at her baby shower, and even owns an apartment with her fiancé. This case presented by MTV, once again, doesn’t depict the true reality of being a teen mom.

According to Planned Parenthood, about 80 percent of teen mothers require public assistance in various forms, such as food stamps, housing assistance and many forms of financial aid. Presenting so-called “reality” TV shows with teens living comfortably either in their own homes or with parents is just one way

My Little Rintrah

MTV has created a false image of what teen parenting is really like. Girls like Farrah on Teen Mom often have patient, well-to-do parents willing to allow them to stay at home and continue going to school.

However, teenage pregnancy doesn’t cause short-term effects on just the mother. The Annie E. Casey Foundation reports that 78 percent of children born to teen moms who never graduated from high school will go on to live in poverty. So whether their parents are there to hold their hands or not, the girls on TV will eventually have to deal with the future of their children.

Ignoring these crucial dilemmas of teen parenting and casting aside all aspects of responsibility, reality TV skews our perception of how difficult the task really is. The glamorization and distortion in these shows practically promotes teen pregnancy.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what we want to see. We love to hear the heart-warming music at the end of each episode. We want to see the bad boyfriend leave as the new boyfriend comes in and helps take care of the baby. With this insatiable desire for happy endings, our “reality” TV shows will continue serving us what is straying farther and farther from reality.

by Eileen Shi

By the Numbers •US teen pregnancy rates have gone up 3% for the first time in more than a decade •New Mexico is ranked highest among the 50 states with 93 out every 1,000 girls aged 15-19 becoming pregnant •California comes in 15th place in the U.S., with 75 teen pregnancies in every 1,000 girls aged 15-19 •Teen pregnancies cost the U.S. a total of 9.1 billion dollars in 2004 Sidebar by Joanna Jaroszewska Source: thenationalcampaign.org

forces U.S. to own up to piles of debt Halie Albertson Staff Writer

The recession has put more Americans in debt than ever, Uncle Sam included.

The national public debt is at $12 trillion, and is growing by the second. Not only is this irresponsible, but it sets a bad example for Americans and corporations. If the U.S. government, made up of economists and financial analysts, can’t even dig itself out of piles of debt, how can the average American?

Fortunately, President Obama is trying to do something to turn this trend around.

During his State of the Union address, Obama proposed a spending freeze for three years, starting in 2011.

Budgets related to national security, such as the Pentagon budget, will not be affected. In addition, programs that citizens count on, such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, will also be exempted from the freeze.

As it is, the bureaucracy is inefficient and wastes money. While some large programs will continue to need government funding, many programs can be completely cut or at least scaled back.

In a time of economic uncertainty, Obama should be applauded for his efforts to take control of our nation’s budget crisis.

In comparison to the entire national debt, the savings would be minimal at $250 billion over the next 10 years. Still, it’s a step in the right direction. It sends the message that the U.S. is willing to make a change and take responsibility for its finances. At the same time, better credit will give the U.S. an advantage in that our interest rates will eventually go down, and we’ll lessen our dependence on loans from other countries. According to the U.S. Treasury, in 2006, 44 percent of federal debt was held by citizens and institutions in other countries.

Opponents argue that the spending freeze is not effective enough. One way to do this, critics claim, is to start the freeze immediately and not wait for another year. But that isn’t the right way to go about it.

Although our economy is in a much better state now than it was a few years ago, it’s still fragile and economists predict it would be wiser to start cutting costs a year from now.

On the other hand, some say that the cuts wouldn’t make a big enough impact. But many programs, such as education, depend on federal funding. And cutting funding during wartime isn’t the answer, either.

Meanwhile, while there are still problems and challenges associated with cutting back—invariably some inefficient programs will need to downsize or disappear completely—Obama is taking the first step towards bouncing back. And that is what will truly benefit our country.

Feb. 12, 2010

Sports 11

The Nexus

Wittak flips for kicks Soccer player upgrades game through mastering front handspring throw-in Linnea Whitney Photo Editor

The transformation of a simple 15-yard throw-in during a match

to a 40-yard chuck straight into the box is something soccer players all over the world attempt to master. The flip-throw requires extreme flexibility, balance and abdominal strength in order to achieve a throw that imitates a corner kick. Nicole Wittak (12) has been executing this technique for nine years on her club and high school soccer teams. She swears by this trick, which has been applied by several professional soccer players, including Wittak’s inspiration, Kim Pickup of the old San Diego Spirit team.

Linnea Whitney

Behind the Throw

As Wittak prepares to launch the ball, she backs up for enough room to allow a legal throw-in outside the out-of-bounds line on the field. Her feet must land before the line or else it is a foul against her and results in a throw for the other team.

The purpose of this throw is to provide a throw as far as a corner kick cross, which results in an opportunity for her teammates to score. This throw is as useful as a corner kick in this way because it provides a perfect chance for a header or volley goal.

Core and abdominal strength help to launch the throw the farthest, with a final crunch-like action thrusting the ball into the air and across the field. The ball is released at an approximately 30 degree angle for optimum air.

The throw must reach the striker’s heads or feet for this particular play to work with shooting range to spare. In order for the flip-throw to result in an accurate cross, the thrower must not hesitate in the process.

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12 Sports

Feb. 12, 2010

The Nexus

Soccer players utilize optional Sunday practices Joanne Cayabyab Staff Writer

They practiced that combination all Sunday morning. And it paid off.

On Feb. 1, when the boy’s soccer team defeated San Marcos 6–1, one of the goals was scored by Adis Islamovic (12) with the help of teammate Ryan Hoshino (12) on a play they had practiced countless times before. Hoshino ran downfield coming close to the goal, only to meet Islamovic.

With fluidity and ease, Islamovic received the ball from Hoshino with no such struggle or any difficulty.

Islamovic then worked off of Hoshino’s momentum to score a goal.

Every Sunday morning Islamovic, Hoshino, Nick Cuellar (12) and any other teammates who are up for an extra practice are just taking their first steps in the Westview stadium to work on the things they couldn’t achieve during the week.

“The coaches can’t really set up a real session for practice [on Sundays], so we just took the suggestion and made it into something we wanted it to be,” Islamovic said.

What makes these practices more intimate and personal is that these three seniors have been playing with each other off the field since seventh grade. Hoshino and Cuellar have played soccer for the San Diego Surf club team since middle school, whereas Islamovic has played for the Nomads team, SD Surf’s rivalry.

Being a part of one of the biggest rivals in California, the three boys have found a way to turn their competition into a strong relationship as teammates. All three play for the San Diego Surf UA team and Nomads Academy team.

This is how they participate in the U.S. development soccer academy which is a feeder program for the U.S. National Mens Soccer League. Cuellar, Hoshino and Islamovic are the only Academy players on the soccer team,

Joanne Cayabyab

Westview midfielder Ryan Hoshino (12) alongside fellow teammates Nick Cuellar (12) and Adis Islamovic (12) , practice every Sunday at Westview.

The three seniors, who have played with and against each other on their respective club teams in the past, make up the front lines for the Wolverines. giving them that extra bonding time and competitive relationship they have with each other. Hoshino is the starting attacking mid, along with Islamovic at forward and Cuellar at right mid.

“It’s easy for [us three] to practice things on our own because we all play attacking positions,” Islamovic said.

“The more time you train with people of your position, the better the relationship is and the better you play.”

The team doesn’t just come out for an extra run or to do some sprints, they step on that field with a purpose.

“We’re dedicated to this high school team and it’s

our passion,” Hoshino said. “We really want to improve on certain things and we can give each other constructive criticism on the things we see each other doing.”

Cuellar said that it’s important to show the younger players on the team that they are serious about this season and to give the impression that they want to be playing in the CIF championship game. During that same game against San Marcos, Cuellar scored a goal from a corner kick. The Sunday before, Cuellar practiced continually, putting all the energy he could into that single kick.

“[Playing on Sundays] really carries into the game with us,” Cuellar said. “It’s more effort, more training; the more time you put into training, it’ll show in the games.”

The team says that coming out on Sunday mornings is anything but a waste of time and energy. Instead of playing video games, eating or just hanging out, they take the extra dedication to exercise and do what they love. Islamovic, Hoshino and Cuellar can be found together on any given Sunday morning, helping each other and their teammates get better.

Girls water polo treads into IN THE Spotlight: JJ Woodward (11) sixth place at San Diego Open Yoojin Kim

News Editor After defeating three teams in a row, girls water polo fell to Fallbrook and El Dorado to place sixth out of 36 schools at the San Diego Open, Feb. 4-6.

For the team, sixth place was a remarkable feat.

“It’s the best that Westview’s water polo team has ever done in a tournament,” Lacey Hamrick (12) said. “We were able to go from defense to offense pretty quickly and come out really strong, and once we won three games in a row, we were just really happy that we were working well together and we were able to win. ” In addition to their confidence, the Wolverines boasted a powerful defense, pressing the strongest players on the opposing teams in order to prevent constant scoring.

“Our defense was great because we were countering early instead of just watching the ball go by us all the time,” Julie Lupfer (12) said. “Our defense got a lot tighter. We recognized the other team’s strengths early and tried to adapt to that quickly. We were aware of all the other players and we knew what to do in any type of situation.”

Although Westview was able to beat its first two opponents, Eastlake and Monte Vista, easily with 11-4 and 14-3 wins, respectively, the third game, against Valhalla wasn’t as easy.

After trailing for a majority of the first half, the Wolverines later fought back to a 7-6 win.

“Mostly, towards the beginning of the year, we were just a ‘first-half team,’ where we just faded towards the second half of the

game,” coach Amy Jennings said. “One of our team goals was to maintain strength and finish the game strong and on a high note instead of playing really hard in the first quarters and getting tired to lose in the second half.”

The win against Valhalla marked a crucial point that ensured the Wolverines a spot in the championship pool.

However, in the championships, Fallbrook, a top team in its league, proved to be too dominant for Westview, defeating the Wolverines 19-6.

“Fallbrook’s just a really tough team to begin with and they don’t slack off in any respect,” Lupfer said. “They’re really aggressive, and it was just really tough for us to catch up to them.”

By the time Westview played the final game against El Dorado, the team’s energy had declined.

“As the days went on, the teams not only got harder, but we also got more tired,” Lupfer said. “It was harder to keep up with everybody.

But even though we lost games towards the end, we knew that we had improved since the beginning of the tournament and that we all played our best. ” Because the Wolverines had been preparing especially hard for this, their last tournament of the season, they played extremely well compared to how they had performed in earlier tournaments.

“This tournament went really well,” Hamrick said. “We always like to make our coach proud, so we just did our best for her. Our team’s not always concerned with winning, but we felt really accomplished, especially after the close Valhalla game, being able to get sixth place. It was great.”

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Nexus: Last Wednesday, when Westview took on local rival Mt. Carmel, your buzzerbeating half-court shot won the game for the Wolverines. Walk us through that situation, and tell us what you were thinking when you threw up that game-winner.

Woodward: Well Sven [Sellers (12)] inbounded the ball, and originally I was supposed to get it and pass to Lance [Vigilia (12)] but MC’s defense forced the inbound to Lance who passed it to me.

So it got switched around a little bit and I ended up with it as the clock ticked down so I just put it up.

Nexus: Have you taken shots like this before, obviously half-courters are a rarity, is this a shot that you have practiced?

Woodward: Yeah for sure, we take shots like that all the time at practice. That was the first time in a game though. When I shot it, it looked good and I knew it was going in.

Nexus: Would you say that that is your game, the outside shots?

Woodward: Oh no, definitely not, I cannot shoot. I mean that shot against MC was rare, but

I’ve only taken two threes this year. Even though I made them both, I’d say I play an inside game, down-low and in the paint. I like it all though.

Nexus: What do you like best about basketball?

Woodward: Basketball is just a place I can turn where I don’t have to really think about school and stuff. I’ve always played.

Nexus: So what’s next? Obviously that shot capped a big win against MC, what are your’s and the teams’ hopes for the remainder of the season?

Woodward: There are four games left, games that we are going to have to find a way to win.

We plan to win league and then make it far in the CIF playoffs. It’s all good though, last year we didn’t even make it to CIFs and this year we just want to get in, and make it as far as we can.

Nexus: What does Westview need to win these last few games and walk away with their first ever Valley League Championship banner?

Woodward: To win league its going to take a lot of hard work and dedication. We’re going to have to do well in practice and when we’re lifting in the weight room.

ACCOLADES

KEY MOMENT

Season average: 7 ppg

2/03/10- JJ Woodward’s key game-winning half-court shot against archrival Mt. Carmel pushed the Wolverines’ to a 6-2 valley league record, putting the Wolverines in second place behind the 7-1 San Marcos Knights.

Game high: 20 points in game vs Orange Glenn

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Feb. 12, 2010

Sports 13

The Nexus

Jacob Nitti

The Battle for Peñasquitos

Top Plays MC games include several incredible moments, plays Year after year, Westview faces its cross-town rival, Mt. Carmel. Year after year, athletes and fans mark their calendars and anticipate “The MC game.” And, year after year, fans see Westview athletics at its finest against its bitter nemesis. This edition of Top Plays highlights the unforgettable moments from an exciting rivalry night.

Westview versus Mt. Carmel is a storied rivalry that lives up to it’s hype for all sports. The rivalry had numerous epic moments, from a last second goal to a half-court prayer that was the game winner. In these games, record means nothing, and the excitement of the battle brings the best out of each team.

Last week, the teams played each other for the second time this season, and some of the games that resulted will go down as classic rivalry games.

One from this night may go down as the greatest Mt. Carmel game in the history of the rivalry.

Woodward’s 3-pointer lifts WV over MC

3

Just looking at Melissa Peng (11), you wouldn’t assume she’s a star basketball player. Listed at 5’4”, Peng is a bit undersized, even in girls basketball. So when Peng puts up 25 against a strong opponent in what is always viewed as one of the most important regular season games, it would surprise someone unfamiliar with the 64-inch point guard. But to Westview fans, it’s just another impressive performance for someone who puts on a show time after time.

Amidst a 17-5 run in the third quarter of the girls basketball game against Mt. Carmel, Feb. 3, Peng had two crucial consecutive lay-ups to tie the game. In the following quarter, Peng buried the chance of a Sundevil comeback, adding 11 points to her already impressive 14.

With Peng in full stride, the Wolverines look to finish league play with a string of victories and leap deep into the CIF playoffs. With a 20-3 overall record, 8-1 in the Valley League, the Lady Ballers will be the team to watch come CIFs.

2

With 23 seconds remaining in girls soccer’s scoreless rematch against crosstown rival Mt. Carmel, Feb. 3, defender Meggie Gulczynski (10) sprinted across the field searching for an open teammate with an opportunity to shoot the ball. She found just that in Miranda Canales (10) and kicked the ball in her direction. With limited time on the clock, Canales immediately spun around and rocketed a shot from 20 yards out. Canales nestled the ball perfectly in the upper-right corner of the goal, and the Wolverines completed the season sweep over the Sundevils.

The win secured Westview’s spot atop the Valley League, where they hope to hold off league opponents San Marcos, Ramona and Valley Center to bring home the league championship. As of press, girls soccer holds a 5-0-1 record in-league, 7-1-2 overall.

Madi Woodward

The Westview crowd storms the Mt. Carmel court and dogpiles forward JJ Woodward (11) after he sunk a game-winning 3-pointer from half-court to win the game. The Wolverines won 39-36, improving their league record to 6-2, putting them in second place; with wins in coming games they could win a league title.

MC, from page 1 They rode into the fourth quarter with this continued energy and this is when everything started to heat up. In the fourth, with every basket the Wolverines sunk, Mt. Carmel countered with a bucket of their own. With eight seconds left Rubis had a chance to all but end the game from the free throw line. He made the first; making it 3633 Wolverines.

But the second rimmed out, the clock ticked down and the Sundevils still had a chance. Mt. Carmel guard Max Schulman, who had been hot in the teams’ previous meeting, silenced the Wolverine fans with a deafening 3-pointer that tied the game and awakened the Sundevil crowd. Only 4.2 seconds remained.

Although one might have expected the Wolverines to

1

There was a brief moment, as JJ Woodward’s (11) half-court shot drifted in mid-air, when Mt. Carmel and Westview fans were entirely united. After an hour of bickering, shouting, insulting, and sheer nastiness, both sides of Mt. Carmel’s gym fell into mutual silence.

Only for a moment. The treaty and silence were broken by shrieks of excitement, yelps of joy and groans of disappointment and bitter remembrance. For the second time in as many years, boys basketball pulled off a miracle.

As time expired, Woodward’s desperation shot sunk right through the net, right through the heart of Mt. Carmel, breaking the 36-36 deadlock and soundless entente. It would take something special to top last year’s last second victory-clincher against the Sundevils. This was something special.

While Westview now looks ahead to some crucial league games this next week, the victory over Mt. Carmel put Westview on the inside track to the league title. As of press, Westview is in second place in the Valley League, one game behind San Marcos, who they face tonight in the Igloo at 7:30.

be nervous, they had been in a similar situation only a year ago, which allowed them to stay motivated. The whistle blew and guard Sven Sellers (12) searched frantically for an open man.

Coach Kyle Smith had drawn up the play during timeout only seconds before.

Sellers was to inbound the ball to forward JJ Woodward (11) who would get the ball to guard Lance Vigilia (12).Vigilia would look to put the game away with a lastsecond shot. But everything did not go according to plan.

Mt. Carmel defended up, guarding Woodward from receiving the initial inbound. Their collapse on Woodward coincidently left Vigilia open.

So Sellers dished it to Vigilia and when the Sundevils surrounded him, Vigilia found none other than Woodward open at center court.

Last-second goal secures girls soccer win against MC Joanne Cayabyab Staff Writer

In the last 23 seconds, the girls soccer game against Mt. Carmel, Feb. 3, a scoreless stalemate would be broken.

Defender Meggie Gulczynski (10) got the ball with about 20 seconds left in the game. She knew she had to move quick down the field.

Thinking fast, Gulczynski passed it to Miranda Canales (10) at the top of the box.

Canales had only been playing in the game for about six minutes.

After receiving the ball, Canales made a crisp turn and ripped a strong shot into the upper V of the goal.

* If you have a play that you think should make the list, send it to room L-104. Plays will be accepted from any sport at any level as long as it’s from Westview teams.

The refs blew their whistles, signaling the Wolverines to crowd the field for the win second win against Mt. Carmel this year.

Last time the girls soccer team faced the much-anticipated Sundevils, the Wolverines won easily, 2-0. In last week’s game, it seemed like Mt. Carmel decided to put up a fight the second time around.

The first half consisted of a tough defense put up by the Wolverines.

Despite the many open shots the girls had, the Westview offense proved to be a bit weak during the starting of the game.

Team captain, Nicole Rendler (12)said that although she was on defense, even she was able to take about three kicks toward the goal.

“We must’ve taken about 25 or 30 shots during the first half,” Jordan Bruce (12) said. “But we just couldn’t get that ball inside the goal.”

During halftime, coaches Peter Stogsdill and Nic Spiess kept their speech on a positive note, telling the girls that they were doing an amazing job out there, regardless of the scoreboard.

“We told them that they were playing very well and that one moment of greatness and focus could end up winning this game,” Spiess said.

From then on, the girls knew what they needed to do in order to finish the game.

“After halftime, we knew that we needed to put the game away,” Bruce said.

Mt. Carmel winsProgress in tough battle vs. Westview, scores Report quick goal whileConcerns? defense quiets dominant offense

Helen Bavin

Editor in Chief Twenty minutes into the second half of the boys soccer game against Mt. Carmel, Feb. 3, Adis Islamovic (12) dribbled into the box looking for a shot at the goal.

When a defender aggressively stole the ball away, Islamovic purposely fell in the box hoping to get a foul against his opponent. Instead, the referee pulled out a yellow card. Islamovic was taken out of the game for the next four minutes, just another event added on to the long string of mishaps during the night, all leading to a 1-0 loss.

When forward Ryan Hoshino (12) took quick possession of the ball at the start of the second half and dribbled it up to take a shot, a sense of hope for a strong second half filled the visitor’s side of Sundevil Stadium. But when the Mt. Carmel goalie pulled off a remarkable save, the stadium was once cheering on the home side.

Coach Martin Coughlin said the team came out sluggish in the first half and though they approached the second half with more passion, it still wasn’t enough to get the ball to touch net.

“Usually in games with Mt. Carmel there’s almost too much emotion, but this game we played with, what I think, was no emotion or no passion,” he said.

The Sundevils dominated the beginning of the game, scoring a goal within the first 15 minutes. With a big throw-in from Sundevil defender Quintin Brillantes, the ball was received by forward, Nick Ibanez, wide open at the back post. Ibanez headed the ball, scoring the only goal of the night.

Former coach Dave Delaney said that Woodward always had a knack for hitting long shots. This was his chance. The crowd was a deafeningly silent when he threw up the half-courter as the buzzer sounded.

Everyone was on their feet, the ball was in the air for seemingly hours, and when it finally fell through the net, the silence held for a brief second before an eruption of cheers from the Wolverine fans.

Westview fans stormed the court and the Sundevils fell down in grief.

Once again Westview walked away with the last laugh, courtesy of the game’s hero, Woodward.

With the win, the team improved its record to 14-9 and raised its league record to 6-2. Only four games remain in league play for the Wolverines. With a win tonight against San Marcos, they would all but seal the deal.

Hoshino said that during halftime, the coaches’ talk was brief.

Along with coming up with a new approach for the rest of the game, their talk consisted of the thought that the team was the only one who could make something Tutoring Programs in: happen. “[Coughlin and coach Josh Cottrell] Math Reading Writing basically said they were going to keep Science Study Skills quiet and it was up to us,” Hoshino said. “It’s up to us toAlgebra play, they’reGeometry just the coaches. We needed All to doAP something about it Classes and we acand Honors tually came out and dominated during the Spanish SAT Prep & more... beginning of the second half, but we didn’t put our chances away.”

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Offer valid until 12/31/09 for new clients only, with coupon The boys’ second match-up with Mt. Carmel was their first loss at Mt. Carmel.

“Mt. Carmel went crazy at the final whistle because to them, beating us is their season,” Coughlin said. “They knew they Linnea Whitney beat a team that’s better than them. No disrespect to Mt. Carmel, but we’re a better Adis Islamovic (12) avoids an MC defender during the second half of the game against Mt. Carmel, Feb. 3. The Sundevils won the game 1-0. team, at least on paper.”

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“We had all the opportunities open for us; we just needed to focus on them.”

At the beginning of the second half, the game seemed as though it was a replay of the first.

The Wolverines made sure they had many opportunities for the open shot, but this time they were careful with the way they played their own field.

Cassie Collins (10) in the middle kept up with the Sundevils, taking a strong control of her midfield.

“We definitely learned from this game,” Rendler said, “because we had all the opportunities but we just couldn’t get it done. The season’s almost over and now we know what we need to do to go as far as CIFs and more.”

Girls basketball makes comeback in second quarter to seal victory Dominic Lucisano Staff Writer

With a 51-42 victory over Mt. Carmel, Feb. 3, Westview now has a twogame lead in the Valley League standings for first place.

The rematch with the Sundevils was nothing short of another heated rivalry game, with back-and-forth momentum shifts, but the Wolverines grabbed a lead in the second half and never looked back.

However, such was not the case at halftime, when the Sundevils went on a 13-8 run to close out the second quarter, putting them on top 25-20.

Shooting guard Denise White (12) said that the team had to snap into focus at halftime in order to get back on track.

“We were frustrated because we could play like a better team,” White said.

“We had to think about ways to get the momentum back because in the rivalry games, momentum is essential to winning.”

And the Wolverines must have found a way to

come back during their halftime talks of getting momentum on their side.

With the help of two 3-pointers by White and two back-to-back layups by point guard Melissa Peng (11), the Wolverines outscored the Sundevils 17-7 in the third quarter, taking a lead of 37-32.

They remained in the lead for the remainder of the game.

Peng said that White’s shots, as well as her own layups, provided the moments that the Wolverines needed to turn the game around against the Sundevils.

“We came out determined to come back,” Peng said. “Being such an important game, we wanted it really badly. Those points made us want it more.”

To close out the victory, Peng scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, totaling 25 for the night.

With only three more league games to go, look for the Lady Wolverines to close out their fantastic season as likely candidates for the Valley League Championship title.

14 Final Focus

Feb. 12, 2010

The Nexus

Two of a Kind

dniK a fo ow T

They share the same looks, parents, clothes and friends. Twins are rooted into each others’ lives, partly due to the fact that they grow up with each other, but often times due to the deep, permanent relationship they build. However, the question is raised on whether or not twins actually have more than a surface-level connection. Are their personalities and emotions intertwined? We explain what really goes on in their minds.

Nicole Kush

Features Editor For as long as they can remember, twins Kara and Kourtney Allen (12) have been fully aware of their almost other-worldly connection.

When Kara was only 7 years old, her and her mom heard her twin sister Kourtney cry out from the upstairs bedroom.

Their mom turned to Kara and asked, “What do you think is wrong?”

Without hesitation, Kara replied “She bit her tongue.”

She can’t explain how she knew, she just did. And sure enough, when their mom hurried upstairs, she found Kourtney crying on the floor complaining about a bitten tongue.

Was it simply coincidence, or was there somehow an underlying, unexplainable connection that lead her to the answer?

It’s times like these that lead twins like Kara and Kourtney to believe that they truly have a “twin connection.”

“I think we can definitely tell what the other one is thinking or going to say because we know each other so well,” Kara said. “My mom likes to tell that story because she finds it really strange, but I guess that just really shows you there’s some hidden connection.”

But is there really a psychological link between twins? And if so, how far does it go? Do they share the same thoughts, feelings and emotions?

Kevin Haroian, Administrative Director at the Minnesota’s Center for Twin and Family Research, said that although twins do not have supernatural abilities, they do have a unique tie that regular siblings cannot experience.

“There’s always a connection,” Haroian said. “It’s always there because they’ve grown up very close to this other person. Their relationship is so different from siblings because they often times have the same personalities and in turn, have the same thought process.”

Haroian has compiled numerous amounts of research and headed numerous studies on twin behavior. Over time, he has broken down exactly what twins like Austin and Mitchell Brown (11) like to call their “twin vibe.”

They said that this “vibe” occurs close to every day when they finish each others’ sentences or say something that the other one is thinking.

“It happens when you don’t expect it or when you’re not even thinking about it,” Austin said. “We will be thinking things at exactly the same time.”

Haroian said that although genetics isn’t the only factor in twins’ intertwined thought process, it does play a major role. Twins either have extremely similar or identical genetic makeup, which tends to result in them sharing the same opinions, hobbies, skill levels and many other similarities, which twins Amanda and Shannon Hardy (11) say are apparent everyday.

“We have everything in common,” Amanda said. “All of the activities we do, we do together. We both like drawing and painting, the same music, the same sports, and we have the same wardrobe. We also get the same grades, have the same interests, and have the same personalities.”

Haroian said that these genetic similarities often cause twins to think alike. Amanda and Shannon said that their minds are often running on the same track.

Once, when Shannon was listening to her iPod, she noticed that Amanda, who was listening to her own iPod, seemed to be mouthing the words to the exact same song Shannon was listening to at that moment. The girls then discovered that they were not only listening to the exact same song at

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the exact same moment, but they were also listening to the same exact part of the song.

“It was like some subconscious thing that we couldn’t control,” Shannon said. “We just both wanted to listen to that song.”

Haroian said that this subconscious connection is not only caused by twins’ genes, but also by the environment in which they grow up.

Both the Hardy and Brown twins said that ever since they were younger, they’ve spent most of their time together.

“Because we have grown up with each other, our personalities have been molded together,” Amanda said. “We have become familiar with certain mannerisms and what the other one will say next because we have always been around each other. Our mom has also been a huge component in why we are so similar because she always treated us the same.”

Austin and Mitchell can relate to this connection, and said that they understand one another so well that often times their emotions cross over.

Freshman year, when Mitchell was working in his ENS class, he suddenly got a feeling that something was wrong.

Minutes later, ENS teacher Beau Champoux walked into the classroom.

Despite the fact that he often came to visit Mitchell’s class, Mitchell could tell that this was no casual visit; for some reason he knew Champoux had come with bad news. And as he had predicted, he came over to Mitchell and told him that Austin had just seriously injured his knee.

“I could tell that something was wrong, but I didn’t know what,” Mitchell said. “I could just feel negative vibes when he busted his knee.”

Although there is no scientific evidence that proves that twins are affected by each others’ emotions, Haroian said that through his multiple studies of twins, he has been fully convinced that it’s a real concept.

“I believe they can be affected by their emotional and physical feelings,” Haroian said.

“Because they are together so often they begin to get on the same ‘emotional schedule,’ like when one is happy, the other one usually is too.

There are millions of genes involved in the human body and understanding how those genes configure is extremely important. I believe that this ability to know the cotwin’s emotions is apart of what we have yet to understand.”

But Haroian said that this unique bond is ever-changing and usually the strongest when twins are younger because once they reach 17 or 18, twins usually assert their independence from their co-twin.

Kourtney and Kara experienced this change in their relationship firsthand when Kara left Kourtney, moving to Nevada her sophomore year.

“At first moving away didn’t seem like that big of a deal because I wanted my independence,” Kara said. “But within a few weeks it hit me that she wasn’t there. We had our own time to be independent, but I needed her again.”

Although Kara and Kourtney’s experience is unique in that it happened in the span of one year, Haroian said that once twins are apart, they begin to rekindle an even stronger connection.

“Over time it does get closer, once you’ve gotten through the stage where you are comfortable with your own independence and you can grasp the concept that your co-twin is a part of you,” Haroian said.

The Hardy twins embrace the fact that they are pieces of themselves and can’t imagine life without the other by their side.

“We have a unique bond that regular siblings can never have,” Shannon said. “We are always there for each other and we will always know what the other one is going through. She supports me and together we help each other through life.”

It happens when you don’t expect it or when you’re not even thinking about it. We will be thinking things at exactly the same time.

-Austin Brown (11)

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Art by Eileen Shi