The Nexus Issue 5, 18-19

Nexus

the

Westview High School

January 25, 2019 Vol. XVII | Issue 5 wvnexus.org | @wvnexus 13500 Camino del Sur San Diego, CA 92129

Students rally at Women’s March

Griffith aids March for our Lives SD Zara Irshad Staff Writer

Rhea Jogadhenu Staff Writer

Emily Olds (12) and Ava Nebel (12) marched proudly alongside an estimated 37,000 women at the San Diego Women’s March, Jan. 19. They were part of a movement consisting of more than 100 marches nationwide, where activists gathered to rally for equal rights.

Marchers rallied for issues including abortion access, gender-based violence, discrimination in education, birth control access, nuisance ordinances, and many more causes.

The day before the march, Nebel and Olds teamed up to create posters. Olds made a sign that read “BElieve THEre is GOOD in the world.”

“I love the impact of including the phrase ‘be the good’ within ‘believe there is good in the world’ because it’s grounded in matching action to intent.” Olds said.

Nebel made a sign that read “Our rights are not up for grabs— neither are we.”

When they gathered in Waterfront Park last Saturday, they proudly held their posters up alongside others. They came across posters that displayed empowering messages including “There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise,” and “Empathy is the language of the universe.”

“My favorite poster was a quote that said ‘When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will finally know peace,’” Nebel said. “I felt as though that quote was very applicable, not just in today’s politics but also in our

See Women's March, page 2

Rhea Jogadhenu

Ava Nebel (12) and Emily Olds (12) hold their homemade signs as they walked through downtown San Diego, Jan. 19. It was estimated that 37,000 people participated in this third annual Women’s March.

Every Sunday night, Shira Griffith (12) waits eagerly by her phone. As soon as she hears the soft chiming of her ringtone, she grabs the phone, hits the accept button, and opens up her laptop, ready for the March for Our Lives San Diego teen council meeting to begin. Griffith said that she is usually on the phone for anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on what the group of 15 teens has to discuss. This varies from proposed bills to upcoming events, and then each meeting is concluded by delegating work.

Griffith initially got involved with March for Our Lives San Diego after the March for Our Lives national protest last spring. After signing up for the San Diego chapter of the gun reform organization, Griffith and the other teens who signed up made a group chat and got to work planning how they can best impact the community.

While the March for Our Lives organization focuses on large-scale reform, the San Diego chapter specializes in making change in the local community. They hold monthly general meetings, where the group of student leaders invites members of the community to meet and discuss current gun-related issues. The group also holds an open forum, and occasionally hosts special events, such as town hall meetings and letter writing events, to get others actively engaged and ready to make a change.

“Knowing that I’m actually able to be part of the conversation even though it’s at a much smaller level is just really reassuring because I know that everything big started out small,”

See Griffith, page 5

Anand overcomes physical, social barriers from hearing loss Alyssa Van Waas Staff Writer

Deepali Yedulapuram Staff Writer

Aditi Anand (9) lives in a constant fear of completely losing her hearing. She worries about not being able to hear her family laughing together and making jokes. She worries about not being able to hear the people who love her the most.

When Anand was 4 years old, her mother noticed she had difficulty

hearing some of the things she was saying. After taking her to the doctor, they concluded that she had mild hearing loss, the cause unknown.

As time went on, Anand noticed her hearing deteriorate. She was diagnosed originally with moderate hearing loss but due to its decrease over time, it became severe. So when she started kindergarten, Anand got her first pair of hearing aids.

“When I got my hearing aids, it was pretty nerve-wracking,” she said. “I didn’t feel like wearing them at first because I didn’t want some-

thing in my ears. But, after a while I talking behind my back,” Anand said. got used to them because I was able “It’s funny how they think I don’t to hear things hear them, even that I had never when I do. Peoheard before.” have said, I began to feel like I was ple Her hearing ‘If she can hear loss contin- wanted at school and in my us talk behind ued to worsen life. I started to feel like I was [her] back, why throughout eledoes she need mentary school finally being understood.” hearing aids,’ and into middle —Aditi Anand (9) ‘deaf head,’ ‘she school, and she doesn’t belong began experihere; where is encing bullying from her classmates. her special ed class?’ It’s very hurt“I had to deal with a lot of people ful.”

“

Bullying has been something that Anand has had to deal with throughout elementary school and something that she has had to overcome.

“When getting bullied, I felt alone,” she said. “That’s my worst fear. When I feel alone, it's like a dark place. It's like sitting in a room at night by yourself and feeling like this is eternity. It’s like being in a place with a thousand people but feeling invisible to every one of them. It's like walking on a path without any directions, without any idea to when it will end. It felt like

Cho, Ma bake pastries for Kind Heart Cafe, donate proceeds to Compassion International organization Alice Chen Staff Writer

Jessica Lin

Clair Ma (12) and Ellie Cho (12) sift cocoa powder into a vanilla butter cream mixture. This served as the filling for their matcha macaroons.

To Ellie Cho (12) and Clair Ma (12), donating to charity feels as warm as homemade cookies straight out of the oven. Baking is something many people love, but for Cho and Ma, it’s also a creative way to give back to the community.

Since they were young, the pair regularly spent their weekends baking for fun on their own. Starting their sophomore year, they realized that their extra pastries could be put to good use. So, they started Kind Heart Cafe: an Instagram-based business that takes commissions and donates all proceeds to Compassion International, a charity organization.

“We both [brought] baked goods to school, but then we had a lot of extra,” Ma said. “We liked baking and it was fun, so [we] thought it would be a good idea to do something good with it.”

Despite school being extremely

News in Numbers

Campus Counted...

2nd

Do you feel pressure to have a date at school dances?*

37k 812

Place out of 15 teams—NJROTC’s final standing at the end of Ramona High School’s field meet, Jan 12.

See NJROTC, page 2 Is the average amount of student-loan debt a student accumulates during undergraduate education.

See College, page 9 Retweets of a resurfaced video showing Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dancing in college.

See Ocasio-Cortez, page 9

Yes No Why?

busy, Ma and Cho still continue to find time to bake by setting aside time on weekends and breaks. And though baking can take up to five hours, Cho said it’s still her favorite way to express herself. According to her, running Kind Heart Cafe helps her parents understand that baking is more than just a hobby.

“My mom got mad at me when I baked because she thought I ate it all myself,” Cho said. “[Kind Heart Cafe] is kind of a good excuse for me to bake. It’s nice because it’s also how I de-stress, kind of like meditating once a week.”

Kind Heart Cafe started out and remained just between their friends and a few other familiar faces.

With no strict menu, the pair usually spends a lot of time exploring recipes. Many of Kind Heart Cafe’s pastries were the product of Cho and Ma experimenting with ingredients they have at home.

“I spend a lot of my free time on

See Baking, page 8

I was meaningless and my existence was insignificant.”

In addition to her experiences being bullied, Anand had to deal with other health issues. In June 2015, the week before Anand’s fifth-grade promotion, she was diagnosed with type-one diabetes and was hospitalized for three days.

“When I was in the hospital I felt like such a failure and thought I wouldn’t be able to graduate,” Anand said.

See Hearing, page 6

Marin, Verhoye produce, perform for Improv show Grace Kim Staff Writer

“And then he does a cartwheel!” Molleigh Verhoye (11) exclaimed to Esteban Marin (10) during their first improv show. They were in the middle of Typewriter, a game where two people create a story and wait for another three people to act it out.

In that moment, Marin, who didn’t know how to do a cartwheel, swung his legs up and landed with jazz hands on one knee.

To his surprise, the audience erupted in laughter and applause.

“It’s easily one of the best moments of my life,” Marin said. “It was amazing to hear [the audience] all clapping for me.”

Despite it being their first improv show, Marin and Verhoye gave it all their best.

“The show went on for almost three hours but we didn’t lose energy once because of the strong energy and vibes we were getting from the audience, ” Marin said.

Marin and Verhoye began their journey as part of the improv team with one audition.

See Improv, page 5

43% 57% *Poll sample of 300 students

“It depends on the dance,” Kailin Storms (11) said. “Like this year, since it is a formal, I feel more inclined to have a date. But for Homecoming, which is at school and more relaxed, it’s more fun to go with friends.”

See Dances, page 8

Wolverines vs. Sundevils

Mikela Bresenden (11), Anthony Reyes (12) and Daniel Pruschki (11) play against Mt. Carmel, Jan. 18.

Westview won, 53-35.

See Basketball, page 11 Jocelyn Mi

Nexus

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2 News

Jan. 25, 2019

PUSD joint choir performs Ola Gjeilo, explores new styles

“Who Run the World?”

Julie Zhu

Kevin Lu

News Editor

Zara Irshad

Left: Emily Olds (12) and Ava Nebel (12) hold up posters displaying empowering slogans at the Women’s March in downtown San Diego.

Right: Yarah Feteih (12) displays the sign she made at Waterfront Park, the starting point of the third-annual Women’s March, Jan. 19.

Students attend Women's March, push for change From Women’s March, page 1

society.”

Before the march began, they also had a chance to listen to women in the community present speeches.

Olds was deeply influenced by a speech from Wendy Wheatcroft, a leader of the Moms Demand Action and San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention organizations.

“She was speaking about the impact not regulating guns around school zones has,” Olds said. “She spoke with passion that brought tears to my eyes; I could feel her immense pain when she spoke about the number of school children who have lost their lives to gun violence and how that could easily be our children, our friends, or our siblings.”

As they began to march, each walked through the streets with a unique goal in their mind: for Nebel, it was the hope of providing equal ac-

cess to education.

“Millions of girls worldwide are denied the right to education [based on] discrimination, poverty, and gender-based violence,” she said. “The education of women is an essential key to solving world poverty: when girls are educated, their country’s GDP will increase, and they will become healthier and live longer.”

Olds, meanwhile, marched in support of workplace and institutional equality.

“Institutions and resources generally exist for education, positions of power in politics, in the workplace, and in healthcare,” she said.“The main issue is that women don’t necessarily have access to those resources in the same way men do.”

Throughout the march, Olds and Nebel had a chance to connect with many individuals who shared a common interest in activism and expanding women’s rights. One of these

members was Yarah Feteih (12), who was also marching for workplace equality.

“I have experienced [discrimination] several times where my peers see me as the face of diversity instead of a valuable contributing member in our group,” Feteih said. “I can say it does demean my value as an individual and affects how I see myself.”

For Feteih, being surrounded by people who supported similar causes made her feel empowered and confident.

“I feel encouraged to stand up to any injustices I face in the future because the march taught me that I am entitled to exercise my own rights,” Feteih said.

Similarly, Olds found that the march was a valuable opportunity for her to learn about new issues and stand for her own.

“The Women’s March is different than something like the March For

Our Lives because there is not one specific piece of legislation or one specific issue that everyone is marching for,” Olds said. “I really appreciated the variety of perspectives on the issues that helped me realize just how far-reaching and important a lot of these issues are.”

The San Diego March took a step forward by separating from the official national Women’s March organization to promote wider social change and acceptance.

People across the nation continue to unite for these causes, in hopes that the future ensures equality for all people.

“The Women's March is a step in the right direction because it does provide a platform for such conversations to occur,” Olds said. "The idea that women's lives inherently matter less than others is so deeply rooted within our society, and will only change once the values of respecting and caring about others become commonplace.”

Designed by Julie Zhu and Rhea Jogadhenu

The opening chords rang out and progressed into different harmonies as five different high school choirs from all across Poway Unified School District (PUSD) harmonized during their performance, Jan 19-20. This year, the joint choir performed two of Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo’s major works, “Sunrise Mass” and “Dreamweaver.”

“We wanted to do something different and see what it was like to branch out and do a different style of music,” Choir Director Daniel Moyer said. “The songs really invoked a dreamy quality, qualities that you might hear in a movie soundtrack.”

While Moyer and the other choir directors were initially a little daunted when first rehearsing with guest conductor, Juan Carlos Acosta, and Rancho Bernardo’s Chamber Orchestra.

“We were all a little bit worried because there were some spots where we were like, ‘Are we going to be able to get this together with the orchestra?’” Moyer said. “But once it came to the dress rehearsal everything just gelled together.”

According to tenor section leader Brandon Phu (12), Acosta compared sections of the music to superhero movies.

“For example, he told us to make some of the movements feel intense, as if the hero was in a battle, or make the song feel dark, as if we were in a Batman movie,” Phu said.

The choir faced many challenges when practicing. Alto section leader Shakiba Mahmoudi (11), who also participated in the joint choir last year, found the Gjeilo’s works harder than Mozart’s “Requiem”.

“The pieces that we performed this year were a little more challenging than last year’s piece,” Mahmoudi said.

“I feel like for me the hardest part was staying together and some of the rhythms were trickier than last year.”

As for Moyer, some of his challenges stemmed from the lack of a reference to listen to.

“With Mozart, which we performed last year, there are so many examples that we can see throughout time, people do things differently and there are accepted performance practice standards,” Moyer said. “There really aren’t [examples or practice standards] with this piece.”

For Phu, this opportunity to sing in front of a large audience with so many like-minded musicians is something he will cherish.

“Collaborations like these are definitely a once-in-alifetime opportunity,” Phu said. “Being surrounded by so many people who have the same goal of creating a sound that we would be proud of calling our own is a very rare opportunity.”

NJROTC competes at Ramona High School Field Meet, places second among 15 teams, looks toward state competition with confidence Alyssa Van Waas Staff Writer

NJROTC competed at the Ramona High School Field Meet, Jan. 12. After qualifying at their first state-qualifying competition this year held at Orange Glen High School, NJROTC continued their strong start and placed second overall at Ramona. Up against 15 teams, thirty-nine cadets competed in five different categories: drill, personal inspection, color guard, athletics and academics.

According to Cadet Commander Curtis Cheng (12), personal inspection has been their strong suit this season, earning them a first-place title in their last two competitions. Personal inspection is when all cadets are asked questions based on the NJROTC program and inspected on the state of their uniform. The questions include knowledge on general orders, rates and ranks, national chain of command, uniform knowledge and drill questions.

Their uniforms are checked to make sure they are free of stains, pressed and ironed, and free of loose threads. There shoes and belt buckel, also known as brass, are also checked for shininess.

For drill, one platoon, a unit made up of 12 cadets and one team commander, performs four different types of marching routines: unarmed basic, armed basic, unarmed exhibition and armed exhibition.

They are judged on sharpness, synchronization, correct movements and creativity of their routines.

“You’re trying to look as sharp as possible and in uniform [in unarmed basic],” Cheng said. “Everyone wants to look the same at the same exact moment. Armed basic is more just marching around with a rifle on your right shoulder or your left shoulder. They look at how sharp you look, and how in sync you are with the other people when you do the rifle movements.”

Cheng added that the exhibition routines give the cadets more freedom to display their skills. For example, armed exhibition features spinning rifles, and the ability to march into different formations that they get to create.

Going up against 15 other teams from the Southern California area, Westview placed third overall in the drill category.

They also placed third in the academic event, where the cadets were tested on general knowledge learned in the NJROTC

program such as history, flags, ships, space, and current events. Fourty-five of the questions are based on naval knowledge, flags, ships, and space. Five are current events.

But for Cheng, one of the most memorable moments of the competition was when they secured first place in the athletics event.

“I think the one thing everyone looks forward to are sprints, because our 100 sprint team is actually really fast,” Cheng said. “We’re two seconds off the fastest national time from last year. Everyone cheers and it’s just fun whether you’re running or cheering. We all enjoy it.”

Looking forward, the NJROTC competitive team will compete at their state championship competition held at Santa Ana High School, Feb. 2.

According to Cheng, these competitions give everyone the ability to become stronger as a unit and a team. The NJROTC program uses these competitions as a way to bond.

“It’s a team competition, so we all bond over time as we compete together,” Cheng said. “We practice together and get to know each other, which brings us closer as a family.”

Courtesy of Anthony Elhardt

During an armed basic routine, cadets carry rifles and perform movements in unison. They were judged on their sharpness and syncronization as a unit.

News Stand What's happening around campus...

Feb.

9

... and around the world.

This year’s Winter Formal “A Tale as Old as Time” will be held, Feb. 9 from 7-10 p.m. at the Del Mar Hilton. Tickets are sold for $40.

“It’s frustrating when you’re suffering and it’s not even your fault. It’s tough. It’s really tough."

KEITH POLITE, a federal employee for the National Mu-

Free heart screenings are being offered at Westview, Feb. 10, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. by the Eric Paredes Save A Life Foundation.

Feb.

25

Feb.

10

A Career Connections forum featuring Allied Health will be held in the staff lounge, Feb. 25, from 7-8:30 p.m.

seum of the American Indian, addressing the problems of the government shutdown. Almost 800,000 workers are affected by the shutdown and will work without pay.

“Huawei is only a sesame seed in the trade conflict between China and the US. ” REN ZHENGFEI, founder of Huawei, a Chinese phone-

maker, denying allegations that Huawei aids the Chinese in espionage. The White House has convinced allies in Europe to blacklist Huawei’s networking equipment.

“If it turns out to be correct, it’s one of the greatest discoveries in human history.”

AVI LOEB, head of Harvard’s astronomy department, defending his argument that the mysterious interstellar object Oumuomuo could potentially be a sign of an alien civilization.

"Coffee is one of the most important commodies after oil."

MONIQUE SIMMONDS, deputy director at Kew

Science, an organization that published a report on the extinction of coffee due to climate change. Coffee is an important product for world markets.

Compiled by Kevin Lu, Sydney Alper and Julie Zhu

Nexus

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Jan. 25, 2019

Exit Profile: ASB Executives

At the end of their senior term, former ASB president Adrianne McWilliams (12) and former ASB vice president Carter Kane (12) reflect on their time as the leaders of the student body and their accomplishments during the 2017-2018 school year

Carter Kane (12) Former ASB Vice President

Adrianne McWilliams (12) Former ASB President

What did you want to accomplish going into your term?

I wanted to open it up to lower risk events that were still interesting. I wanted to spread empathy and spread the idea of Westview being a place that you can feel safe and you can build your own family and have your own safe space on campus, whether that be through an exciting event that we do that’s fun or something that tends to be on the lower side, like Unity Day.

What I wanted from the school as a whole, and what I think we did, was incorporate clubs and groups into the event planning part and execute it. Every single thing that we did, we wanted to make sure that we’re hitting that one goal that we had. For me that was my No. 1 goal, and I think we actually did that.

What were you were most proud of this year?

I think Homecoming was definitely a big one for me because there were so many obstacles, like when the lightning cancelled our Homecoming game. I think that we really came together as an exec team to support our class and I just remember feeling really, really unified during that week.

We did a school community service drive during registration and the first two school weeks of school. That brought in 2836 school supply items like backpacks and colored pencils.

What would you like to see continued after you leave your position?

I know that we’ve tried through a few different ways to show our staff that we appreciate them more than I feel like we did when we started here. Same thing with other groups, even if it’s just publicizing their events or talking about them at a board report or in a video. I think that’s something where there’s always going to be room for improvement, but I've seen it come really far. I know that they have a lot of great ideas, especially about including those other groups. That’s something that I know can go really, really far.

84

events, spirit days, service opportunies, and more hosted by ASB.

1650

hours ASB members spent outside of school volunteering.

We expanded our Lunar New Year celebrations and our Black History Month celebrations to having actual performances and demonstrations and poetry.

In the amphitheater we had people who really identified with those events, come amd show [their] talents to our school. [Those students] had their own platform and could teach their peers about what their culture is. I just want to make sure that ASB continues giving that platform to students, so they can share their lives with everybody else.

1273 Homecoming tickets sold, the most in history.

135

students registered during Voter Registration week.

Design by Kevin Lu and Michelle Wang

Alawani, Wu navigate Harvard batch interviews, find conversation instead of formal questioning

Andrea Chen Editor in Chief

Only a few universities offer interviews to every applicant due to the amount of time and resources required, but Harvard is one such school.

Harvard hosted its first round of regular decision batch interviews in San Diego this year, Jan. 12.

Both Andy Alawani (12) and David Wu (12) attended the interviews, albeit at different locations.

Unlike other college interviews, Harvard’s batch interviews gather a large number of applicants in one location to be interviewed by alumni during hour-long slots.

“In my batch, there were approximately 30 students,” Alawani said. “In total, I think there were four different locations with 3-4 batches each, and so when the head of the event said that around 500 students from San Diego had applied to Harvard, it made sense.”

Each location had enough alumni to pair up with each applicant, allowing for one-on-one discussions that lasted anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour. Dress code was set as business casual, but the outfits varied greatly.

“The assignment of interviewers was random, not based on major, as the focus was more on the personality and character of the individual rather

than on their academic interests,” Alawani said. “I wore a dress shirt and slacks, but people wore everything from a blazer to a sweatshirt and jeans.”

Wu said that he ended up wearing his normal clothes—dark-wash jeans and a collared shirt—because there were no recommended dress clothes.

“It was interesting to see what others wore to their interview,” he said. “Most of the people were wearing semi-formal or formal clothes though. I was a little bit intimidated but when I realized my chances aren’t very good anyways, I thought that I might as well as go in as myself.”

The interviews varied in their questions based on the interviewer, but were mostly informal in nature. Alawani said his interviewer started by asking more general questions about his family and history before moving on to more specific questions like what his hobbies were.

“The interview was extremely relaxed, as they asked questions about what I liked to do for fun, what majors I was interested in, and why Harvard seemed like a good fit,” Alawani said. “We cracked jokes, talked about shared movie interests and even about how much we loved living in San Diego.”

Wu’s interview was also conversational. Surprisingly, his interviewer didn’t ask that many questions, he said.

“She just started with, ‘Was there anything not

on your college app that you would like to talk about?’” Wu said. “She didn’t even ask, ‘Why Harvard?’ or anything. She just wanted to know more about the things that I did [in terms of extracurriculars].”

Wu and Alawani were also allowed to ask their own questions to gain a better sense of the school and student life on campus.

Overall, they said, the experience was positive.

“I think the scariest thing about batch interviews, at least for me, is knowing that there are so many amazing students around you,” Alawani said. “I was definitely nervous about how hard it would be to stand out, but upon meeting my interviewer, I was able to breathe and just be myself.”

Meanwhile, Wu stressed the fact that interviews like Harvard’s are conversational.

“Don’t be afraid to direct the conversation to something that you want to talk about instead of waiting for them to ask you a question regarding it,” he said.

Alawani agreed, pointing out that the interview was a way for both parties to get to know each other better.

“Don’t try to impress whoever sits across the table from you,” he said. “but rather try to show them that you are attentive and really appreciate the opportunity to talk to them.”

Quirky Q&A Brown University: “What animal are you like?”

“I said that I was like a koala because they like to sleep,” Kevin Sun Chen (12) said.

Harvard University: “You

seem entrepreneurial. Where do you think that drive comes from?”

“After thinking about this question for a little, I replied that I’m someone who likes to be independent in my work,” Emily Olds (12) said. “I crave the intellectual challenge and possibility that being an entrepreneur presents.”

Duke University: “Talk about your worldviews.”

“I spoke about how too much ambition can be seen as bad or a negative thing,” Geo Fratian (12) said. “But I think it’s better than no ambition at all.”

Design by Andrea Chen

Speech and Debate hosts tournament under new executive board, promotes community participation Devanshi Tomar Final Focus Editor

The debate team hosted its first tournament of the year, Jan. 12. Nearly 200 competitors attended the high school tournament, with the parliamentary and public forum styles of debate being the most popular amongst debate teams.

Westview had one parliamentary debate team and two public forum debate teams, mostly composed of freshmen and sophomores new to the club.

“They’re new to these events, so they’re still learning the ropes,” club president Julie Zhu (11) said. “We encourage them to compete, and one of the teams is trying out public forum debate for the first time.”

While Westview did not claim any prizes for themselves, the exposure that the new members received on the team was invaluable.

“It’s a simple format, but it is hard to compete in

and do well in,” Zhu said.

On the day of the tournament, the debate team had a tight schedule, with four rounds in one day.

With a new adviser, a new coach, and a new executive board, the team faced new challenges in organizing and facilitating the tournament.

“We ran a tournament last year, but all the people [who organized] left the club, so we didn’t have their experience,” Zhu said. “It was a lot of trying to figure stuff out and when problems arose, we just tried our best to fix them.”

According to Zhu, when difficulties with coordination of the event and concessions arose, the executive board referred to past advisers and current head parents for advice and guidance.

Although unexperienced, debate team’s executive board had time and money on their side, two variables that were an issue in organization of tournaments last year. This can be accredited to a summer camp the team hosted for middle-school students interested in debate, which gave back to the

community and raised money for the debate team.

“We have enough money,” Mingda He (12), who was in charge of concessions, said. “In this case, we were really trying to give back to the community, especially since fewer schools have been [taking] on the work of hosting a tournament.”

Numerous establishments and restaurants sponsored the event, from O’s Kitchen to Starbucks and ICMonster.

From cancelled vendors to crowded rooms, many problems did arise, but through perseverance, they worked through the issues as a team.

“There were hitches but we got them all solved out,” Zhu said. “After we cleaned up everything, there was this big sigh of relief.”

At the conclusion of the tournament, the team celebrated their success with dinner at Denny’s.

“We were very hesitant to do this in the beginning, but I’m very proud of everything that we’ve accomplished,” He said. “We’re able to do something of this magnitude through teamwork.”

Nexus

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4 Features

Jan. 25, 2019 In My Feelings Dye-ing for a Change

Tiffany Le Tiffany Le

Omar Krichati (12), Daniel Dzhumian (11) and Dayen Joyce (11) take part in a ruck during a home game, Jan. 8. A ruck is a type of play that determines which team gains possession of the rugby ball after a tackle occurs.

Rugby increases in popularity, offers safer games, fewer injuries compared to football Mark Troftgruben Sports Editor

Although rugby isn’t the most wellknown sport in the U.S., it has experienced tremendous growth at the youth level in recent years. In 2016 alone, according to USA Rugby, 35,000 high school students played rugby—ten times the number of participants a decade ago. Currently, more than 50,000 people between the ages of 5 and 13 in the U.S. play rugby.

So why are we seeing this sudden boom in participation from youths and adolescents in rugby in contrast to the decline of participation in youth football? With recent concerns over the growing evidence of brain trauma caused by football, parents have turned to rugby, according to Chris Nowinski, co-founder and executive of the Concussion Legacy Foundation. The sport’s main selling point is that it allows players to participate in a physical sport similar to football that is safer.

According to Chris Bodenner of The Atlantic, at least three factors contribute to the safety of players in rugby in comparison to football—the absence of

forward passing and blocking, the continuous flow of the game, the lack of a system of downs and the seemingly paradoxical fact that players have no pads, and the absence of forward passing limits the number and intensity of high-speed collisions with defenseless players.

“The explosiveness of routes run by wide receivers has led to some of the most dangerous collisions in sports,” Omar Krichati (12) said.

In addition, receivers generally have to look backward or turn their vision away from tacklers to catch a ball. But because rugby players must always make lateral passes, receivers of the ball are much more aware of their tacklers and prepared for contact, according to Bodenner.The absence of blocking in rugby has also reduced the amount of head injuries in the sport. When football players block while running, high-speed collisions often occur with defenseless players. Even the blocking from linemen in has led to the gradual development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to Dr. Ann Mckee and researchers at Boston University, as the blocks happen on ev-

ery play.

Bodenner also discussed how the continuous back-and-forth flow of rugby games limits head injuries as well.

“Unlike football, rugby is more of a game of endurance rather than explosiveness,” flanker Adam Bodwell (12) said. “In football, you have breaks in between plays and guys exploding off the line every play. Rugby is different because you have to conserve your energy and people just don’t move as fast.”

The lack of downs in rugby also makes the game safer. In 2015, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll implemented a rugby-style tackle into his program called the hawk roll. That year, football programs everywhere, from college down to high school, adopted Carroll’s tackle.

One of those high schools was Westview. But after the 2015-2016 season, the hawk roll technique was gone as soon as it had come.

“I think the reason why rugby-style tackles can never completely be integrated into the game is that football is a game of yards,” Krichati said. “It can work in certain situation, but with rug-

by tackles, tacklers tend to ride along with the ball carrier for a few yards before bringing them down. And in the end, those few extra yards could cost your team another set of downs.”

The tackling in rugby itself is influenced by the lack of pads the players wear.

“With pads, football players feel like they can bash through everything with full force and not get hurt,” Krichati said. “The fact that we don’t have helmets in rugby forces us to be smarter about where we place our heads during tackles and the way we use technique more than strength to take down ball carriers.”

Professional rugby organizations are currently dealing with similar problems to the NFL in regards to addressing CTE in players as little studies on players’ brains have been conducted.

“I believe rugby is still far safer than football,” Krichati said. “I haven’t dealt with any concussions or major injuries and there’s just a lot better sportsmanship in the game. But at the end of the day, rugby is still a very physical sport, and you can’t play without recognizing the possible consquences.”

Lina Lew

I’ve never been one to make rash decisions, but somehow over winter break I found myself standing in the middle of the RiteAid, two boxes of hair dye in hand, contemplating my fate between “Lusty Lavender” or “Smoky Steel.”

No, it wasn’t a post-breakup makeover, or a last-minute act of teen rebellion. Frankly, I was deciding between “Bright and Bubbly” and “Cool and Mysterious” because I was bored—of myself.

Statistically speaking, I’m one in seven billion. At Westview, I am one of thousands, a seven-digit identification number, among the masses. In a single classroom, I’m indistinguishable among other students who all act, think, study, and procrastinate like me.

Biologically speaking, my ethnicity is a common storyline. Not even my attempts at indie-fying my closet can cover up the numerous times I’ve been mistaken for the four other Chu’s or Lee’s sitting next to me, our black hair and brown eyes practically making us one and the same—bonus points if we’re all wearing glasses.

Academically speaking, I've never been at the far end of the bell curve. I, along with many others, stand somewhere in the middle.

Maybe one day I’ll get an A, and another day a B, but all in all, I never falter from my secured spot in the average.

Going on 18 years, I’ve woken up to the same hair, the same habits, the same routine. There’s nothing wrong with a little consistency, but I was bored of the same Lina, day in and day out. I’m a senior, facing my last semester of my last year of my high school career, and I wanted to throw a little spice into my life. I wanted a dramatic change, a jaw-dropping reinvention. I wanted to, for once in my life, stand out.

Could a box of hair dye change all that? Probably not, but I was willing to try. So it was down to “Lusty Lavender” or “Smoky Steel” to give me the desired effect of effortlessly unique.

In my head, the plan seemed attainable, clever even. A new head of hair: that’ll show ’em! But standing in Rite-Aid, hundreds of other tempting colors before me, not even the “Lusty Lavender” or the “Smoky Steel” felt special anymore. The bright, neon, pastel, cool colors all screamed for my attention, all temporary and all artificial, each one symbolizing the opposite of the God-given “wow” factor I was trying to achieve. They stood out, not for their promise of a rich, natural color, but for the inherent consequences of dyed hair—the forced change, the fleeting satisfaction. The looks, the stares, the inevitable cycle of boredom once again.

If I was looking for a unique take on my average suburban lifestyle, I wouldn’t find it in a $7.99 box of hair dye. Regardless of the color of my hair, I’d still be the same Lina who, no matter what I’m doing, subconsciously twirls the same lock of brown hair because it supposedly helps her think. The Lina who, in an attempt to reconnect with her Korean background, makes kimbap with her mom on the weekends to bring for lunch every day. The Lina who’s pulled a couple all-nighters just to get a B-minus on a midterm and celebrated anyways for giving it her all.

No, I wasn’t special—not by a long shot.

I’d be the same Lina I see in the mirror every morning and the Lina whose ordinary hair and ordinary experiences were special, in a small definition of the word. These tiny snapshots of my life, visible through a microscope or the first-person point-of-view that only I possess, were moments that I’ve come to appreciate as my own. Like chocolate chips in an oatmeal cookie, the small victories of my otherwise average life make my existence special.

I left Rite-Aid, and will later leave high school, the same way I entered it—an average student sans hair dye. But it didn’t matter. I didn’t care whether my hair was bright lavender or dark brown, because nothing, not even bleach and toner, could replace the things that make me so specially unspecial.

Philosophy club fosters debate, discussion of divisive ideas among students

Jessica Lin Photo Editor

As soon as Mingda He (12), secretary of Philosophy Club, announced the question, 23 different voices filled the room as the club members debated. The words ‘love’ and ‘relationships’ were said repeatedly as members tried to answer the question: is true love limited to the romantic aspect of relationships or can it be tangible in every day relationships?

He opened up the discussion about love with the question, “Does true love exist?” He and Jasmine Qiang (12), co-president of Philosophy Club, allowed the club members to think about their responses for a minute. He broke the silence and asked the following question: “Okay, so what do you guys think?”

Immediately, the club members began to voice their opinions, agreeing and disagreeing with their fellow

peers. Qiang quickly interjected in order to make sure that the discussion wouldn’t steer off.

While He is in charge for coming up with the prompts before each meeting, Qiang is more responsible for how the actual discussion is directed. Overall, the members have felt that the club was a safe place to explore and voice their own ideas.

“It’s a good thing that our club encourages debates because people should have the ability to entertain other perspectives, or defend their own argument, or poke holes in what may be a bad argument,” club member Amy Wang (12) said.

While it was clear that the members were divided on their opinion, Qiang and He wanted to develop a good foundation of information before the debate intensified.

“We got into the definitions of true love, how the concept came to be and evolved throughout history, and, finally, whether or not it exists in our world and whether

one should pursue it,” He said.

The conversation went even further as they discussed how true love could be evident in different relationships.

By the end of the meeting, Wang exited the classroom with what she thought true love meant.

“The main thing I took away, in regards to the topic, was [knowing it’s] a condition of a health sentiment since I’d gone into the discussion with the idea that true love didn’t necessarily mean romantic [love],” Wang said.

Wang identified herself as an introvert, but she said the club had encouraged her to to express her ideas. “[The club is] meant to encourage the sharing of ideas, promote the idea of speaking up, even if you are afraid, because that’s the only way people will listen,” Wang said. “It’s a reminder that some people will listen, even if you think no one will.”

Every Monday, these meetings are used to discuss intricacies and logic behind popular philosophical beliefs.

Some of the prompts discussed are more common questions, such as and ‘how should we define morality?’ According to He, the most multi-layered discussions come from their debates about commonly long-held beliefs.

“We often find ourselves questioning long-held beliefs and ideas, and I think that’s the most important part of Philosophy Club and philosophy in general,” He said.

Qiang and her co-president, Rhea Jogadhenu (12), were first influenced to start a Philosophy Club after seeing how the club would spark different discussions at different schools.

“We wanted to start the club last year after we met a friend from a different school who was part of the Philos-

ophy Club there,” Qiang said.

When Jogadhenu and Qiang began talking to these students about their clubs and participated in a philosophical debate with them, Qiang realized that she wanted to share these discussions with Westview.

He and Qiang have found themselves continually pushing their members’ perceptions and challenging them to explore new ideas. For He, he does this by playing a ‘devil’s advocate’ role in each discussion.

“I always try to be a devil’s advocate [because] if everyone agrees, there’s no discussion,” He said.

Qiang has focused on regulating each meeting, making sure that the discussion is both insightful and fruitful. But there is one thing that Qiang has promoted since the club began.

“Above anything else, we try to promote open-mindedness in our discussions,” Qiang said.

He echoed the same idea as Qiang; he also mentioned that club members should be encouraged to share their ideas, even when they think others won’t agree with them.

“My goals for this club are to allow people to explore their beliefs and hopefully question their way of life,” He said. “Philosophy is something that teaches people how to live, and I hope that our members get that.”

When the club had discussed the validity behind true love, Qiang recalls that there was still some disagreements within the club. No matter how the discussion went or what topic was discussed, all Qiang hopes for is that each member is be able to take away another perspective on an idea.

Nexus

Features 5

the

Jan. 25, 2019

the

Review

Assume Form Album

8.5

Kevin Pert

Jessica Lin

Jessica Lin

Top: James Cambion (11) prepares to block the netball from Helen Patterson (11), who is trying to pass to another teammate since netball is a no‑dribble sport.

Left: Patterson plays as a goal attacker in a scrimmage at Sage Canyon Elementary, Jan. 13. A goal attacker passes the netball closer to the net to help score.

Cambion, Patterson compete on SD’s first netball team, find comfort in family dynamic Grace Kim Staff Writer

When Patterson’s mom moved from Australia 20 years ago, she wanted to get her daughter Helen Patterson (11) involved in a new, family—like community: netball.

So when Patterson mentioned netball to James Cambion (11) after playing for a few months, Cambion decided to try it out and found it interesting and decided to keep playing.

They currently play on the Jets, San Diego’s only netball team as a fun hobby.

Although their team does not attract many new members, Patterson and Cambion said they keep playing because of the team’s dynamic.

“Netball is a very family sport,” Patterson said. “We have college students, people in their 40s, but everyone still manages to get along with each other.”

With its origins in England, netball is a popular in Australia and New Zealand and is just beginning to rise in popularity in America.

Originally created in 1891 in Austra-

lia, netball was created in order to modify basketball but for women. Netball is similar to basketball in the fact that the sport’s goal is to shoot a netball into a hoop to earn points.

However, it differs from basketball in that there is no dribbling, no physical contact, and no backboard by the net.

Furthermore, the players are restricted to score in certain areas into a 10-feethigh post. The ball itself resembles a combination of a basketball and volleyball.

In two teams of seven players, there are three main positions players are assigned to: the goal shooter, goal attacker, and wing attacker.

Just like its name, the goal shooter is the player who tries to score goals within the semicircle on the court.

The goal attacker tries to help the goal shooter by passing the ball closer to the net. The wing attacker is the player who makes sure all their passes help score a goal. Patterson and Cambion are usually the goal attackers in games.

The Jets is not the typical sports team one would envision because it lacks a

Griffith rallies support, speaks up for gun control reform From Griffith, page 1 Griffith said.

Currently, she has been busy helping to plan the group’s upcoming letter writing event, which will provide San Diegans the chance to write letters to their elected representatives asking for support on gun reform laws. The event is set to take place immediately after the general meeting from 4-5:50 p.m. at the Allied Gardens Library, Jan. 25; Griffith has even stepped up to compile lists of San Diego’s elected representatives for the event.

Additionally, she is a member of the group’s political affairs committee, which, according to Griffith, “keeps tabs on what laws are being introduced that have to do with gun violence [and is] in charge of planning events such as the town halls, which allow people to have face-to-face conversations with their representatives.”

Although her involvement with March for Our Lives San Diego has been time-consuming, Griffith said that it’s worth it in the end because of her passion for gun reform.

“Gun safety is important to me because I never want to say goodbye to a family member because someone dangerous got access to a gun because of law loopholes or by grabbing one from an unlocked safe,” Griffith said.

While she has had strong opinions about gun reform for a while, it wasn’t until she began to advocate for the American-Israeli relationship at her religious school last March that she realized she could apply her advocacy skills to other important issues. She learned how to use her voice to impact others, and even attended a public affairs conference last March, where she learned even more advocacy tips and tricks. Since then, she has used her skills to help educate her friends, classmates, and, through her role in the March for Our Lives San Diego group, community.

Griffith said that since she began advocating for gun reform many people have approached her, both online and in person, seeking out ways to get involved.

“The best way that anyone can be an activist is to be informed and speak out,” she said. “If you know that what someone is saying is incorrect, educate them. Teach them the truth. One of the biggest issues people are facing is the misunderstanding of what is really going on.”

Although Griffith was unable to vote in the midterm elections, that didn’t stop her from getting involved with the process. Along with her March for Our Lives San Diego peers, Griffith participated in the Get Out The Vote campaign organized by the national March for Our Lives organization to educate others about the importance of voting if eligible. Most recently, the group helped at the San Diego Women’s March on Jan. 19; they ran a booth that educated protesters about the lack of current gun reform.

Griffith said she hopes to continue her activism in the future and plans to major in political science in college.

“It’s been nice working with a group of teens who share the same passions as I do,” Griffith said. “I’m just excited to continue using my voice to inspire my peers.”

fundamental part of every sports team: a coach.

“It’s difficult sometimes because you don’t know who to take authority from,” Patterson said. “There are some disputes when no one wants to listen to anyone else.”

Despite not having a coach, Patterson and Cambion have adapted by cooperating with their other older team members.

Patterson and Cambion enjoy playing netball year round with their teammates and find themselves getting closer to one another.

Every Wednesday and Sunday, Patterson and Cambion attend netball practice with their six teammates, including their parents.

During a typical practice, Patterson and Cambion start by doing various drills.

“We do passing drills mostly like the weave from basketball,” Cambion said.

They also work on passes such as the one handed shoulder pass and the chest pass. After practicing several drills, the members divide into teams and begin their scrimmage.

Being the only netball team in San Diego, Patterson and Cambion said they also hope to compete in more tournaments. The team usually competes in one or two competitions a year. As of now, they find it difficult to find more competitions, due to the fact that there are very few netball teams in California.

However, they are looking forward to their one big tournament called International Day held in Los Angeles, April 21.

On this day, players represent the countries they are from rather than playing for their own team.

“We have people from England and Australia, so some people play on the Australian team and some on the British team,” Patterson said. “That gives us a chance to play with new people, which is nice.”

When playing in International Day, Patterson said she enjoys the quickpaced games and the chance to improve.

But the tournament also gives her a chance to appreciate different cultures, where netball is a major sport, as well.

10

For some time, James Blake hasn’t quite been able to shake the “sad boy” label. He expressed his disdain for the term on Twitter earlier this year, writing that “it is only ever a good thing to talk about what’s on your mind,” and that “the road to mental health and happiness, is paved with honesty.” While few would disagree with this, the reality is that Blake has mostly made “sad” music. The majority of his work has been defined by lyrics about lost love and sorrow, characterized by slow, dreary melodies potent enough to leave Mr. Rogers in a deep state of unhappiness.

Blake touches on other themes as well, but his focal point is clear. His 2016 release “The Colour In Anything” felt like the musical manifestation of a cloudy day, brimming with bleak, heartbreaking melodies that left listeners feeling as though years had passed upon each listen. So sure, Blake’s sound isn’t just “sad,” but he isn’t doing much to suggest otherwise.

On his January 2019 release “Assume Form,” however, it’s clear that Blake won’t have to worry about this label.

This album isn’t without its gloomy moments, but for the most part, Blake seems happy. On “Can’t Believe The Way We Flow,” he makes a song simply about being in love. It’s not complicated sonically, it’s not complicated in its delivery, it’s just, as Blake puts it, “a pure love song, really.” Initially, this optimism is almost off-putting. Hearing Blake so happy and in love just doesn’t feel right, even if it’s for the best.

His cheerfulness is far from the only surprise on the album. On “Mile High,” Blake somehow manages to feature rapper Travis Scott and producer Metro Boomin, a collaboration about as likely as Kanye releasing his album when promised. Unfortunately, these two parties find themselves working together about as well as Congress—not at all. This song is essentially one big build-up into something greater, only it doesn’t ever turn into something greater. This lack of change in tempo makes “Mile High” a very sleepy three-minute listen, if you make it that far at all.

Although Blake succeeds in taking risks, he doesn’t stray too far from his critically acclaimed formula, which he’s only improved on. This is perfectly illustrated on the songs “Assume Form” and “Into The Red,” both of which stand out among a collection of hard-to-beat tracks. “Assume Form” is a gentle introduction into the album. Blake sings vulnerably over soft piano keys, but the song progresses into a gripping outro as he questions himself. On “Into The Red,” his voice is as compelling as ever, but the production truly shines through. Blake switches between melodies, instruments, and themes as the song progresses, leaving the direction of the song unclear. Eventually though, each aspect meshes, breaking into a symphony. This song is all about transition and growth. It starts without direction, but all of the sonic elements are seamlessly woven together into one powerful finale.

In a way, “Into The Red” is representative of his entire career.

Blake has gone from a budding dubstep producer to a chilling, piano-heavy artist, a content lover into a mourner, and from a dark, brooding artist into a happy one. He’s gone through love, heartbreak, and uncertainty many times over, but he always seems to grow after each transition. “Assume Form” is no different, because although this isn’t the James Blake you’re used to hearing, it might be even better.

Improv team prepares for show, “Cops & Robbers” From Improv, page 1

“I was in the dressing room for One Acts 2017 when I first heard about Improv auditions,” Marin said. “I impulsively said I would [audition] too because I’d wanted to study Improv ever since I saw it for the first time.”

After his audition, Marin recalls feeling doubtful about making the team.

“I talked to my now captain Rachel Schlusselburg (12) and we both thought we weren’t going to make it because [the seniors] were ahead of me in experience,” Marin said.

However, at 11 p.m. one fall night, he found his name under the list of people who had made the team.

“I couldn’t believe I had even made the practice team,” Marin said. “It was unbelievable.”

But the journey had just begun. Marin was placed on the practice team, and needed to work his way up to the performing team, where he would be able to perform at every show instead of only the year-end show.

At last, it was at the end of his freshman year when he was given the opportunity to be a co-producer for Improv.

Together, Jack Setran (’18) and Marin planned the show by taking care of graphics, videos and publicity.

In the end, their show had only two seats unsold.

This year, Marin is on the performance team and is co-producing with Mya Marshall (11) for the first Improv show, based on the theme “cops and robbers.”

Just like any other Improv show, the Improv team plays games that usually involve crowd interaction or impersonations of certain characters. Games include finishing each other’s sentences, guessing words sole-

ly from actions, acting in various scenarios, and roleplaying.

For this particular show, the team’s coach Adam Rudder will act as a referee that gives points to the teams and helps members switch off throughout the show.

Similar to Marin, Verhoye began her Improv journey on the practice team but despite not performing in shows, Verhoye said she practiced to the best of her abilities.

“I felt motivated simply because I knew that I had great people supporting me and something to strive towards,” Verhoye said.

Verhoye said that although she was on the practice team, everyone was treated equally and had the opportunity participate in activities such as “Zip Zap Zop,” where the members go around, tossing one of the three z’s to one another in forms of words in scenarios they create.

When Verhoye found out she was on the performing team this year, she was delighted.

“It was really rewarding because I remember rehearsing with the team and it was a lot of learning and growing by observing,” Verhoye said. “Now, we finally get to perform with everyone, and it’s more rewarding.”

Verhoye is part of the cops team for the Improv show and is looking forward to being under the spotlight again.

“It’s very nerve-wracking at first because you’re like, ‘What if I’m not funny, what if I can’t think in the moment,’” Verhoye said. “But then we go out there and everyone’s applauding, and the nerves go away and you forget they’re there. It’s a euphoric feeling.”

Zara Irshad

Nika Shlopov (11) participates in a warm-up.

These warm-ups help with communication.

A-MEER ANALYSIS

Wireless Connections A week ago, I let my sister borrow my AirPods; she left them in a pair of jeans, washed that pair of jeans, and returned my wireless bluetooth headphones, my most valued possessions, washed, waterlogged, and indisputably inoperative.

I’ve had AirPods for more than a year now, before they were accepted by general society, before the memes were even conceived. The sheer ugliness of the tampon-esque ear insertions stopped me from wearing them for the first few weeks, but they won me over eventually.

It started small. First, I wore them in the halls, exclusively during passing periods. Then, it was in class, at lunch, at work. I took them everywhere. My ears didn’t feel complete without them.

I didn’t feel complete without them.

Because for the first time, I didn’t

have to listen to anxiety-fueled teens talking about PSAT scores and sophomore theses, didn’t have to concern myself with biology lectures, didn’t have to involve myself when friends started arguing about the latest incident in a long line of drama. When anyone would chew too loud, laugh too much, I would increase the volume of my music until the sound in my ears was mind-numbingly loud, always.

It was like I had an excuse for not engaging with people, for not listening when they spoke. I was willingly blocking everything I didn’t want to listen to.

Things that used to bother me, make me uncomfortable and upset—were gone. I shut them out, only opening my ears to a select few.

But it couldn’t last. The second my AirPods died, the second I was forced to listen to the world in its raw, unadul-

Ameera Kumar terated, unaugmented, form again, I realized I couldn’t handle it. I had become so accustomed to choosing my own soundtrack, to being able to handpick everything I heard, that real life— where you can’t control everything you’re exposed to—was jarring.

I had allowed myself to grow more and more disconnected from the people right in front of me. Because if we only listen to the things we know we like, we miss out on hearing all the potentially super cool things around us.

I spent the first half of my first AirPod-less day miserable. But then I realized that I hadn’t spoken at lunch for weeks. That I didn’t know the names of two people at my lab table. That I had spent all of first term, surrounded by seniors I had never spoken to in my four years here, and with AirPods in, I had no reason to start.

Now, with nothing blocking my ears from the rest of the world, I was forced to talk to people, forced to connect with them. I learned that the girl that had been sitting next to me for months was currently struggling through depression. I realized that this guy was actually complimenting my shoes, not just pointing at me. I remembered what it’s like to not drown your brain in trap music, what it’s like when the only voices in your head are your own.

Yes, the world is extremely loud, incredibly close, and all too uncomfortable. But closing myself off to the bad just closed me off to a lot of good too.

I can’t say I let an incompetent sister or a washing machine get in between me and my music. I got new AirPods. And I still take them everywhere. But I’m trying to remember to listen to the world as it is, not as I think it should be.

Nexus

the

6 Features

Jan. 25, 2019

Color Guard: Tossing and Twirling

As their winter season approaches, Color Guard works to perfect each spin and catch

1.

2.

Devanshi Tomar Final Focus Editor

Keep track of the count, breathe, perform with emotion, make every second matter. Most importantly, don’t drop anything.

For Color Guard members like Captain Ashley Harris (12), these are just some of the many thoughts that go into each toss and spin.

“There’s definitely a lot going through my head during a performance,” Rachel Carr (10) said. “But, I know that I just have to breathe and do exactly what I know how to do.”

3.

As Color Guard’s winter season quickly approaches, the guard has been upping the ante, practicing every day during class and twice a week after school.

“This year, we’ve increased the amount of practice time from previous years in order to match our growing skill level and difficulty of our work,” Carr said. “It takes more time to really get [the choreography] down and make sure we look spotless.”

Each weekday, the guard works to improve on technique and synchronization.

“We work on making sure we all have our hands in the same spot on the equipment, as well as executing precise release

4. and catch times,” Carr said. “Everyone needs to be exactly the same in order for our show to look perfect.”

Along with perfecting skills that the guard has been developing throughout the years, Carr said that the guard has been taking more risks in their choreography.

“We have been challenging ourselves more and more every year, but this year especially,” Harris said. “[We’ve been] getting trick tosses down that will set us apart from all the other schools and add another dimension and challenge to our show.”

As they prepare for winter guard, Har-

ris said that the guard hopes to provide underclassmen with more opportunity in weapon lines, where the guard perform with rifles and sabres.

“Through doing this, we can ensure that even after the seniors leave, we’ll still have strong and successful weapon lines,” Harris said.

With frequent practices, the guard has grown closer with each other, forging relationships on and off the vinyl floor.

“Our team is [really] close,” Carr said.

“The friendships we share together are incredibly tight and unique, and we share so many memories.”

Many members of the guard have

1.

Rachel Carr (10) preps for the toss, ensuring that her hands are in the correct positions, squeezing the flag to gain power.

2.

Ashley Harris (12) pushes and lifts with the right amount of power to ensure that she’ll toss 2 rotations for a “single and a half.”

3.

Rediet Angassa (12) moves into the catch position, rotating her arms on a plane parallel to the front of the audience.

4.

Harris watches the toss and adjusts for any unexpected movements in the flag, then catches the flag at the choreographed points.

joined just this year, but Harris says that the team dynamic has only improved further.

“It’s more team members to help count during a show and keep us all on track and spinning in sync,” Harris said. “It’s a ton of fun when we get new people.”

Because of how close-knit the entire guard is, Carr and Harris agree that as stressful as the preparation for the season can get, it is worth it in the end to see the improvement that each member, old and new, has made so far.

“It’s truly rewarding to see those we teach develop into talented and precise performers,” Harris said.

Design and photos by Blake Parker

Cho, Ma turn love of Anand quiets bullies, finds baking into charitable acceptance despite hearing loss Instagram-run business From Hearing, page 1

From Baking, page 1

completely.

Customers can also request certain pasYouTube looking at baking videos, and tries they want by direct messaging the when it looks really cool and I have the business through Kind Heart Cafe’s Insingredients, I’ll just make it,” Cho said. tagram account.

“Usually, I look at the recipes for inspi“We bake whatever we feel like baking, ration, [but] I don’t really follow them. but as long as people message us, we’ll I’ve made cookies a lot of times before, take [the commissions],” Cho said, “Anyso [for] the matcha white-chocolate chip thing that’s not super fancy, we can probcookies, I was like, ‘Maybe if I add a dif- ably do.” ferent powder or extract, it will turn out When they get close to $500 in progood.’ And it worked.” ceeds, Cho and Ma gather up the money Cho said she almost always throws in and donate to a non-profit organization her own touches whenever she bakes. called Compassion International, which In the case of her matcha white-choc- is focused on helping impoverished chilolate chip cookies, it became one of the dren. best-selling and Kind Heart Cafe’s cus“My mom had been donating to [Comtomers’ favorite and pastries. passion International] since a long time The cookies are made with a standard ago, and I chose it because of her,” Cho chocolate chip cookie said. “It’s a Chrisrecipe, but with one tian charity, but we and a half cups of donate to just help It’s kinda cool because meet the needs of white chocolate chips and two teaspoons of we get to give people some- children in thirdmatcha powder for a countries, like thing we made, they get a tasty world special twist. [providing] food and Cho’s advice is treat, and then charity benefits clean water.” to scoop two table- from it. Everyone benefits all According to spoon-sized balls of Compassion Interdough for each cook- around.” national’s website, —Clair Ma (12) the organization deie and make sure they are placed at least two pends on the teaminches apart. She said work and collabthat when the cookies are golden-brown oration of regular people to help those and the tops are no longer glossy, they are suffering from poverty all over the world. ready to come out of the oven.

Ma said that Kind Heart Cafe has a lot For Ma, baking pastries from video of consistent customers who motivate the games, like butterscotch cinnamon pie two of them even more to bake consistentfrom “Undertale,” is how she likes to ex- ly, and contribute to their positive impact periment. on the charity.

But it can be difficult, because she of“It varies when we work, because it’s ten has to couple multiple recipes to make just us two,” Cho said, “But we try to something that looks similar. Ma said the bake something every week and sell that pastries she makes aren’t as elaborate for charity.” when she’s not experimenting, but many Both Cho and Ma are excited and deterare still extremely popular among her cus- mined to keep Kind Heart Cafe’s business tomers. alive throughout the rest of their time at “[Pumpkin bread] is something that’s Westview. really simple and tasty,” Ma said. “When “It’s probably going to be hard to do I couldn’t find actual recipes for my fa- this in college because there aren’t kitchvorite games, I thought about what I have ens in [most] dorm rooms,” Ma said. “So in the house and what I could do with that. we just want to do as much as we can.”

I found pumpkin bread online.”

Cho and Ma agree that by baking, they Ma’s pumpkin bread is made with a can encourage people to contribute to a standard recipe, but she uses cloves, cin- good cause. namon, and nutmeg to add more flavor.

Ma said she hopes their business exAccording to Ma, the bread comes out pands, giving more people the opportunibest when the eggs are added one at a time ty to contribute. and the pumpkin is added after several “So far we raised about $1,500 in total,” minutes of steady beating. In her experi- she said. “It’s kinda cool because we get ence, the loaf should be left in the pan for to give people something we made, they 10 minutes after coming out of the oven, get a tasty treat, and then charity benefits before being moved to a wire rack to cool from it. Everyone benefits all around.”

“

But after three days of tests and getting used to her medications for two days, Anand was able to get discharged the night before the ceremony and walk alongside her class at promotion.

In middle school, Anand had to not only deal with her health problems, but also learn how to adjust to a new campus and new people.

“Sixth grade was hard because you are going to a campus where there are a lot of new students,” she said. “For many, it’s an opportunity to make new friends and meet new people. I was very excited, but the other health issues I had, like diabetes, put me in a different circumstance. Sometimes I needed to take medications and stay in during P.E. There were just some things I had to deal with.”

But later on in middle school, her daily experiences started to improve.

“I started to make more friends in seventh and eighth grade,” Anand said. “I began to feel like I was wanted at school and in my life. I started to feel like I was finally being understood.”

For Anand, this was also the time when she learned to embrace some of the accommodations that came with her Individualized Education Program [IEP]. She was able to leave class when she needed to go to the health office and she was able to borrow someone’s notes when she missed out on information that she needed.

“In 8th grade, it got even better because I was able to have my 7th grade teachers there and my 8th grade teachers were also very understanding at that time,” she said. “It was helpful to have the support from my IEP since they were able to make accommodations for me.”

In addition to the help she receives in school, Anand credits lip reading as a big contributor to her ability to understand and communicate with those around her.

“Lip reading is the biggest part of hearing aids and I’ve grown up my whole life lip reading what others are saying,” Anand said. “If someone is looking the other way and they are trying to tell me something, I have no idea what they are saying. I need to have a face-toface conversation with people for me to understand what they are saying.”

Despite the support provided for her, Anand still has trouble keeping up with the fast-paced work at school. The ability to listen, write and watch all at the same time does not come easily for her.

“It takes me longer than other kids to be able to process the information that’s being said,” she said. “Other kids, they can just hear it and they’ll start writing it down. When teachers are giving presentations, it’s very hard for me because there’s something on the screen and the teacher is elaborating what’s on the screen.

So I either have to write down the notes that are on the screen or look at the teacher and lip read them.”

Deepali Yedulapuram

Aditi Anand (9) puts in a hearing aid as part of her daily morning routine.

She started wearing them after being diagnosed with severe hearing loss.

Her teachers, however, have been very supportive in high school. She says she feels comfortable and at home.

“I’ve learned from my teachers that sometimes it’s okay to put yourself first,” she said.

“Having time for myself makes me a stronger person because I have time to reflect and do what I want to do.”

Similarly, they have provided Anand with a strong and encouraging support system for her and have kept her overall health in mind.

“All my teachers tell me put my health first, which is a big aspect [of my life] because health comes first before anything. If you’re healthy then you’re able to do anything.”

Throughout her entire journey so far, Anand has learned to look at her hearing in a positive light. She’s learned through her experiences of being bullied that when there are times where there is nothing someone can do but accept what is happening, it's best to simply move on with positive thoughts.

“In a way, I look at hearing aids like God has granted me [with a gift],” she said. “God gives unique things to people and I believe the reason why God has given me hearing loss is to put the negative things out; in one ear, and out the other. I’ve learned to not hear those things and to not be motivated by things that are meant to bring hate and negativity to the world.”

By overcoming her experiences with bullying, Anand says she has grown stronger as a person by going through the events that have made her who she is today.

“I sometimes underestimate myself,” she said. “I thought I’d never be good for a leadership role or that I’m never going to be able

to socialize because of my hearing. But, I got into ASB, and I am an AVID class representative.”

Anand credits the people who surround her with love and encouragement to be the biggest supporters in her life.

“At the end of the day, we need someone to talk to,” she said. “My parents have been with me through my hardest times. Especially my mother, I can go to her and tell her anything and she will be really understanding.”

Her friends that she has made throughout middle school have shown her and helped her see what friendship is like and how a special bond like friendship is so important in life.

“My friends are always there to talk to me when I need it, while also caring about my well-being,” she said. “They are very understanding and are some of the funniest and awesomest people I’ve ever met.”

The one thing Anand has learned the most though her journey coping with her hearing impairment is herself. She has learned that forgiving others is the first step to progressing and moving forward with her life. Dealing with bullying, diabetes, and the struggles that came along with school, she has realized that her love for herself and her imperfections will always be far more important than anyone else’s words.

“Forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself, to be at peace, to be happy and to be able to sleep at night,” Anand said. “You don’t forgive because you are weak, but because you are strong enough to realize that only by giving up on resentment will you be happy. I have learned to love my flaws and that’s what makes me stronger.”

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Jan. 25, 2019

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Westview • 13500 Camino del Sur San Diego, CA 92129 Tel: (858) 780-2000, ext. 3180 Email: thewvnexus@gmail.com Website: www.wvnexus.org Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association Spring National Convention 2017, Fourth Place Spring National Convention 2016, Seventh Place Spring National Convention 2015, Second Place Spring National Convention 2014, First Place Fall National Convention 2013, First Place Spring National Convention 2013, First Place Spring National Convention 2012, First Place Fall National Convention 2011, First Place Spring National Convention 2011, Fourth Place Spring National Convention 2010, First Place Fall National Convention 2009, Fourth Place Spring National Convention 2009, Fourth Place Spring National Convention 2008, Third Place Fall National Convention 2007, First Place Spring National Convention 2007, First Place San Diego County Journalism Education Association Grand Sweepstakes 2005-2008 First Place Newspaper Sweepstakes 2006, 2007, First Place San Diego Union Tribune Best High School Newspaper 2007, 2008 National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker Finalist 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2014 Pacemaker Winner 2003, 2008 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver Crown Winner Spring 2012 Silver Crown Winner Spring 2011 Gold Crown Winner Spring 2010 Gold Crown Winner Spring 2009 Gold Medalist 2010

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Editors in Chief Andrea Chen* Tiffany Le* News Editor Kevin Lu* Features Editor Lydia Zhang* Opinions Editor Lina Lew* Sports Editor Mark Troftgruben Final Focus Editor Devanshi Tomar* Photo Editor Jessica Lin Managing Editor Evan Buckland Staff Writers Sydney Alper Rohin Awasthi Alice Chen Alec Felderman Zara Irshad Rhea Jogadhenu Grace Kim* Ameera Kumar* Jocelyn Mi Brynne Paiva Blake Parker Kevin Pert* Isabelle Ritter Alyssa Van Waas Michelle Wang* Deepali Yedulapuram Julie Zhu Adviser Jeff Wenger Assistant Adviser Stephanie Tanaka

To advertise in The Nexus, please call (858)-7802000, ext.3180 or email us at thewvnexus@gmail. com *Member of the Editorial Board

Staff Editorial Current course selection system lacks sufficient information on electives, needs more resources Come March, the dropbox to enroll in courses will open on Synergy, and students will begin signing up for the courses they plan to take next year. Among other factors, selecting the right courses is integral to a successful year.

To aid in choosing classes, a course catalog that gives short, one paragraph, general descriptions of classes is available online. However, this general overview doesn’t suffice in regard to detailed descriptions of a class’s weekly/overall workload and day-to-day assignments, which can be a principal factor when selecting a course. The information is vague, and therefore inadequate in painting a comprehensive portrait of what the bulk of a class really will be. Aside from the vague course descriptions in the course catalog, the elective fair also seems lacking. These fairs present poster boards that often simply show the finished products of these classes instead of the actual process; however the student and teacher testimonies historically are a reliable source for proper insight into classes.

Perceiving class content and difficulty for classes is hard enough. Gauging elective classes, particularly fine arts classes, seems to pose another challenge entirely.

In order to graduate, every student at Westview is required to complete 10 fine art credits. In recent years, the Westview’s counselors have implemented a policy that makes it challenging to switch out of electives like these fine art classes.

Often, students are unaware of a class’s difficulty until after the 10-day drop period. The first few weeks of a quarter typically aren’t an accurate representation of a class’s actual rigor.

Especially for intro classes, where most students are experimenting in a new field, classes tend to be largely theoretical until later into the quarter.

For students without previous experience in a field, even beginning 1-2 classes can be tough to perform well in. Drawing, painting, or reading music can require years of outside training to have proficient skill. Some students may be unaware of this, as it may take weeks before students even touch a camera or a pottery wheel, and by then, the deadline to drop has passed.

Additionally, class priority is given to seniors who still need to finish credits, which can prevent underclassmen who show interest in a specific art form from pursuing a passion early on or force seniors with little interest in an elective to stay in a specific fine arts course.

In recent years, informational videos have been created that include student and teacher testimonies for English classes, and for some electives. Though this may be a meticulous undertaking, the student body would benefit from additional videos created on classes that have not been covered, for fine arts electives especially, but also for newly introduced elective classes such as Film Studies 1-2 or Principles of Engineering.

Open houses for students to witness the artistic process— for example, developing film in photography—could also be offered, or documented in the videos. Additionally, teachers could host open panels or discussion forums for students during the class selection window or continue to encourage students to visit current teachers during Wolverine Time for any questions they have on a course they potentially may take.

Resources should exist to benefit students, and in this particular case, help students select a fine arts course, or any course in general, a reasonable workload, and when possible, a schedule with classes students are honestly interested in.

The Nexus Mission Statement The Nexus is an open forum for student expression that aims to provide information to the public, following ethical standards of accuracy, truthfulness, and professionalism. The Nexus aspires to be a source of news, opinions and entertainment for its readers while showing enthusiasm through in depth coverage. In reporting information, writers strive for impartiality by presenting multiple viewpoints on issues.

When opinions of an individual are expressed, they are labeled accordingly. Members of the editorial board write and select the staff editorial.

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

Jan. 25, 2019

Overzealous NFL precautions weaken spirit, integrity of football's physicality Rohin Awasthi Staff Writer

The NFL faces a controversial issue—one that is a cause of concern for many fans and players alike. Since the official 2017 study that found Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in deceased NFL players, the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) has been tasked with implementing more effective player safety rules. These rules served to limit the possibility of NFL retirees suffering through the remainder of their lives handicapped with memory loss, impaired judgement, suicidal thoughts, Parkinson’s Disease, progressive dementia, and other debilitations. Though these safety rules are well-intentioned, they have had an adverse effect on the game: diminishing the sport’s fundamentally physical nature by adding limitations to how the players play.

CTE is a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated trauma or injury to the head. Although CTE is unequivocally crippling, the fact of the matter is that these preventive rules are not compatible with the integrity of an NFL game, and may not even be beneficial. According to the Concussion Legacy Foundation, CTE is the result of repeated head injuries over a 10-15-year span.

With the average NFL career lasting 3.3 years, only about 7.6 percent of players (those who play until their mid-to-late 30s) are really at a risk.

As for how NFLPA’s rules impact the game, in 2010, players were prohibited from and fined for hitting a defenseless player. This meant that a player unprepared for contact or unable to brace for an incoming hit could not be contacted. This was the first of many seemingly outrageous rules the football world would have to tolerate.

Since then, the NFL has added more safety rules with each passing year, the start of this year’s NFL season being the straw that broke the camel’s back. Now, players have essentially been completely prohibited from making contact to the head or neck area, and cannot put their body weight on top of a quarterback when tackling. Failing to fol-

low these rules brings upon a 15-yard penalty, a possible ejection from the game, and can also result in fines costing thousands of dollars.

Asking players to apply these highly restrictive rules to the raw, fast-paced, and hard-nosed game has been the cause of an outcry from both fans and players. Rodney McLeod and Richard Sherman, two highly regarded NFL defensive backs, have both reiterated that the form of tackling cannot be modified to the new rules, as they prevent players from leading with the head when tackling, which is unnatural and “idiotic.”

These new rules have a caused injuries and costed teams wins. In September of 2018, William Hayes, edge rusher for the Miami Dolphins, attempted to sack Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr.

Hayes made an awkward twist mid-tackle to avoid landing his body weight on top of Carr. This resulted in a torn ACL for Hayes, ending his season, and starting a year of rehab.

But worst of all, these rules have removed the basis on which football is built: the all-or-nothing, highly aggressive mentality each player shares.

The all-time great NFL players will tell you that they were willing to give their life on the field. Jamal Adams, a phenom safety for the New York Jets, was quoted saying that the football field is “the perfect place to die” when asked about CTE. Many players share this mentality as it gives them the upper hand in game; making them more ruthless and dangerous on the field. This plays into part of the honor of playing the game. The idea that for 60 minutes, a true battle like no other found in sports takes place between two teams. Injuries and violent hits simply make up the nature of the game. Without

them, it’s just not football. The entire mood, momentum, and outcome of any football game is primarily determined by the tone of physicality set by either team. To remove such a crucial necessity from the sport is unfair to the players. They signed up to play football, not a two-hand touch league.

CTE is incredibly crippling, which is why these rules are so precautionary. With the knowledge of CTE developments in football players, parents are becoming more apprehensive to put their kids in youth tackle football leagues. Football may need a safer image—these rules very well could be necessary, but it has to be recognized that there is a cost that comes with these rules.

At the rate which the NFL is releasing these increasingly prohibitive rules, the sport is bound decline both in quality and viewership. NFL football has cultivated a softer image as the years have gone on and more safety rules have been set in place. The NFLPA is taking the foundation of the sport, the reason it became such a beloved American tradition, and pulling it right out from beneath us, the fans.

LGBTQ+ artists inspire queer youth, breathe new life into historically homophobic hip-hop genre Isabelle Ritter Staff Writer

In 2006, Kanye West told MTV, “Everyone in hip-hop discriminates against gay people.” Taking a look at the history of hip-hip, West’s words ring true. In 1979, the rap group Sugarhill Gang released “Rapper’s Delight,” the first hip-hop record to become a top-40 hit. “Rapper’s Delight” is no exception to its genre’s transparent homophobia. The song refers to Superman by the homophobic slur “fairy” for wearing a tight suit. In 1986, the hip-hop trio Beastie Boys originally wanted to name their debut album “Don’t Be A F-ggot.” In 2000, Eminem rapped extremely homophobic lyrics on his song “Criminal,” one of the tracks on his widely acclaimed, Grammy-award-winning album, “The Marshall Mathers LP.” He raps, “My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge/That’ll stab you in the head whether you’re a f-g or lez… Hate f-gs?/The answer’s yes.”

And as recent as 2013, Macklemore rapped on his song “Same Love,” “If I was gay, I’d think hip-hop hates me.” It’s only been five years since “Same Love” was released, but the face of hip-hop has changed drastically, and many LGBT+ teens can find inspiration and role models, rather than hate and slurs, in hip-hop. Artists like Frank Ocean, Tyler the Creator, and Syd have pushed the boundaries of hiphop, bravely integrating their openly queer identities into their music.

Frank Ocean was one of the first major artists to come out as queer

and incorporate that identity through genre bogged down by homophobia his music. His Grammy-award-win- and misogyny. ning album, “Channel Orange” But even more revolutionary is a includes several songs about ho- gay, female rapper doing the same mosexual love and relationships. thing. And yet that's exactly what Ocean’s album helped to normalize rapper and R&B singer Syd did. homosexuality as something much Syd gained popularity as a memmore than just some punch line in ber of rap collective Odd Future.

2000’s rap song. His raw lyricism She’s been openly gay since her days and intricate stylings revealed the in Odd Future, but also has found real life of a gay man, lending insight success as a solo artist, and more into the struggles and complexities recently as the frontwoman of her the LGBT+ community faces. But group, The Internet. As a member more than that, he of The Internet revealed that the she has earned struggles he faced a Grammy weren’t so different The strides the hip-hop n o m i n a t i o n than those straight genre have made in the past for their album people faced.

“Ego Death.”

His song “Bad five years have been mon- Syd’s success Religion” tackles umental for queer artists. as a queer fethe issue of unremale rapper quited love, with sends the mesthe bridge repreatsage that queer ing the line “I could never make women can achieve anything they him love me.” Ocean later stated set their mind to, even in the most this song was about his first love, a adverse of circumstances. Not only straight man. Yet, the song gained does Syd’s success reveal a brave and popularity across all sexualities for unapologetic artist being a role modits emotional lyrics and its soul-stir- el for young queer girls, but it also ring instrumentals. reveals a changing, more accepting Tyler, the Creator followed in community and hip-hop demographOcean's footsteps, revealing him- ic that accepts and loves rather than self as queer in his music. His 2017 degrades and hates.In a 2018 interalbum “Scum F*ck Flower Boy” is view with Billboard magazine, Syd made up of songs that express his said she wants to be “a pioneer” for queer identity as either bisexual or queer women. “In the beginning of gay. On his song “I Ain’t Got Time” my career, I made it a point to avoid he raps, “I've been kissing white boys those topics of conversation and just since 2004,” and on “Okra” he raps, normalize [being gay],” she said.

“Tell Tim Chalamet to come get at “These days I’m not shying away me.” Ocean and Tyler, the Creator's from these kinds of topics. I do want queer identity is revolutionary in a to inspire people, young girls who

may like to wear boys’ clothes and who romanticize women and feel nothing wrong with it.” But despite the big strides in the openness of the community, homophobia in hip-hop is far from gone. In his 2018 song “Fall,” Eminem, now 45, raps, “Tyler create nothing/I can see why you call yourself a f-ggot.” Additionally, the late rapper XXXTentacion once bragged about nearly beating a gay man to death in prison. Still, fans and fellow rappers canonized him after his shooting death in 2018, overlooking his history of homophobia and violence against women.

But, change doesn’t happen overnight, and the strides the hip-hop genre has made in the past five years alone have been monumental for queer artists, and just as importantly, for the queer youth who look up to them. Up and coming artists like Kevin Abstract with his rap collective BROCKHAMPTON, and R&B/ Pop crooners like King Princess and Hayley Kiyoko have found success as queer artists thanks to the groundbreaking bravery and artistry of trailblazers like Ocean and Syd. Hip-hop has transformed immensely over the past decade, from being called a genre in which “everyone discriminates against gay people” to being called “today’s civil rights movement” (NPR).

The changing landscape of hip-hop instills faith and hope in an ever-diversifying generation of young Americans, and shows that LGBT+ shouldn’t be the punch line of the rap, but rather, should be in the booth rapping lines themselves.

Dances create unecessary obstacle course of obligations Ameera Kumar Staff Writer

I would like to preface this by stating that come Feb. 9, when our school will congregate at the Hilton Del Mar for the annual Winter Formal, I will have a corsage on my wrist and a man on my arm, so that the arguments that follow in this article cannot be misconstrued as the callous grumblings of a grudgingly lonely, bitter woman.

But while I too am complicit in the affair, it’s apparent that school dances have evolved from a night to dress up and let loose with friends, into a monster of burden, of responsibility and obligation, for all parties involved.

It starts with the search for a date, or maybe even earlier than that, with the need for a date. We’ve gotten to the point where it seems like people are just looking for anyone with the right genitalia to fill an empty spot in an obligatory group photo.

Some people are terrified of being the only one in the group without a date, forced to stand alone at the end or sandwiched in between all the couples in an attempt to conceal what shouldn’t have to be concealed in the first place.

And this fear of being alone is valid, especially when the prevailing mentality is that people who go alone wanted, but couldn’t get, dates. The people who would normally be fine with going alone, now feel like they have to, because somehow, for some reason along the way, we started to tie our self-worth to who we choose to spend a single evening with.

There’s an overwhelming amount of pressure that detracts from any appeal the dance originally had.

Then, assuming that dates have already been established, comes the proposal, when guys—and girls!—are under pressure to ask each other out in the most extravagant ways, to outdo each other and themselves. Posters are made, flowers bought, reactions recorded and posted for the world to see.

It’s a spectacle.

But it’s only a spectacle because we want it to be one.

Dances only come around twice or three times a year, and they are some the few times where it’s acceptable, even encouraged to show your appreciation for someone in a very public, very tangible way. It feels good to be acknowledged, to feel spe-

cial, if just for a night. And I get that.

So I don’t think it’s the traditions that need to change, but mindset we approach them with. Because they are, at the end of the day, choices, not obligations.

If you want roses and romance, posters and productions, do it. If a bottle of kombucha or a simple, “Will you go to Formal with me?” will suffice in gaining your date’s affection, go for it. But make sure that whatever it is, however you choose to do Formal this year, you’re doing it because you want to, not because you feel like you should.

I just want to stop putting so much weight on school dances, on all the formalities that are now an accepted part of formals, because when we do add that pressure, it’s easy to forget that a dance is just an opportunity to do just that—dance.

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Jan. 25, 2019

Ocasio-Cortez dances beyond criticism Blake Parker Staff Writer

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez danced her way into the 116th United States Congress.

Ocasio-Cortez has become a Democratic icon on the stage of politics by crafting her powerful campaign, advocating for universal Medicare, less immigration restrictions, and stricter gun control. The Democratic audience applauded and rooted Ocasio-Cortez on with each leap she took in her routine.

Ocasio-Cortez considers herself to be a “democratic socialist,” and makes her stance on issues like economic equality known and concrete.

She claims that everyone in America should have access to healthcare and the wealthy should face higher tax rates. She stresses an acceptance of diverse ideas and backgrounds.

And ultimately, Ocasio-Cortez empowers Democrats, especially those of lower-class and colored heritage.

Ocasio-Cortez’s unwavering stance on issues has been missing in politics.

For instance, Trump believes marriage to be “between a man and woman,” yet states he wants to do everything in his power to “protect LGBT citizens in America.”

It’s become harder and harder to tell where the majority of politicians really stand on serious issues, but Ocasio-Cortez undoubtedly breaks the trend. .

Amidst her socialist political views, Ocasio-Cortez has emphasized her humble roots in the Bronx, New York, making her appealing to many lower-middle class citizens.

But despite the exciting diversity and fresh perspective the 29-year-old brings to the spectrum of American politics, Ocasio-Cortez was attacked on Twitter just days preceding her inauguration on January 3rd, 2019.

An anonymous Twitter account resurfaced a 2010 video of then-college student Ocasio-Cortez dancing in a reenactment of a famous scene from the movie, The Breakfast Club. The anonymous user labeled her a “commie know-it-all” and “clueless nitwit” in its caption.

That’s right. Ocasio-Cortez was made fun of for dancing in college.

Those who dislike her could be focusing on political factors, like her policies, her presence, or her campaign, but instead they dug up a relic of the past in an attempt to ruin her reputation.

While this incident was brought about by an anonymous Twitter account, receiving a mere 812 retweets compared to the multitude of opposing comments, this certainly isn’t the first time that Ocasio-Cortez has stood faceto-face with personal criticism instead of political substance. Republicans have gone after her personal qualities repeatedly.

Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s White House Counselor and former campaign manager, deemed her a “29-year-old who doesn’t seem to know much about anything.”

The Washington Examiner, a rightwing website and magazine, commented on her clothing, claiming it doesn’t look like the outfit of a “girl who struggles.”

The host of “America Talks,” John Cardillo, posted a photo of Ocasio-Cortez’s old house in Yorktown, claiming it to be a “far cry from the Bronx hood upbringing she’s selling.”

On top of that, many Republicans and Democrats alike have questioned the validity of Ocasio-Cortez’s support for the lower-middle class in America.

The reality is that not every voice for the lower and middle class is going to be dirt-poor, nor are they going to sit in that poverty and let it define them.

Ocasio-Cortez’s story is based on her working from the bottom up, so the clothing she wears now is irrelevant to what she stands for. Ocasio-Cortez is simply dressing professionally, as any Congresswoman should.

And the fact that Ocasio-Cortez’ family moved to Yorktown from the Bronx when she was 5 for a better education doesn’t invalidate her Bronx upbringing, which many politicians have challenged. Her point is that an impoverished family should never have to move an hour away to find better quality education.

A lack of extreme poverty shouldn’t disqualify Ocasio-Cortez from advo-

American Dream, college education now attainable with Income Share Agreements Lina Lew

Opinions Editor Since our days of reading about Lennie and George to the large, looming college tuition bill awaiting us in the near future, the American Dream has always seemed practically unattainable. Unless you’re next in line to inherit your family’s billion-dollar company, you’re probably going to spend the next decade of your life paying for college—on TOP of trying to make a living and afford basic human necessities.

It’s easy to be discouraged by the national student debt—an average of $37,000 per student—which is only getting higher.

But as bleak as the future looks for prospective college students, don’t worry: help may be on the way, in the form of the Income Share Agreement.

Several colleges, including Purdue University, are now revolutionizing the harrows of student loans with the ISA—in fact, it’s not a loan at all. Instead of charging tens of thousands of dollars in tuition, colleges offer free education, funded by private investors.

Once the student graduates, finds a job, and makes a steady income above a certain threshold, the college will take anywhere from two to 17 percent of the student’s salary in compensation for their education.

Essentially, the college doesn’t demand students’ payment up front, but instead prioritizes students’ success in the work field post-graduation.

The technicalities of ISAs are considered case-by-case, but depending on the job you land, the agreed upon percentage of the ISA, and the amount of years you will spend repaying the college, you could end up paying more or less than the college’s original tuition.

With an increase in salary, you could potentially pay up to 2.5 more than you originally owe.

However, the ISA bypasses the interest rates on student loans, making higher education a far cheaper option than ever before.

In fact, colleges that have implemented ISAs into their payment plan have come up with technicalities that ensure student success and financial security after graduation.

Colleges will only start charging percentages of salaries above $50,000. If a student loses a job, the payments pause until they can find another. The primary goal is not to charge students, but to guide students to a post-graduate life that is financially viable.

More than anything, this takes the financial pressure off of students and their families when deciding which college is the best financial fit. Relieving this fiscal pressure would create opportunities for those who previously couldn’t afford higher education.

As they progress through higher education, they aren’t met with the obligation of continuously paying off student loan debt for decades after they graduate. Rather, it’s up to the colleges to invest in the potential success and motivation of the student to earn a high income after college.

This switch in mentality—from leaving students drowning in debt to ensuring their security and success in the economy—could mean the world of a difference for low-income students.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, low-income families have had historically lower enrollment rates than any other class, unable to afford the hefty tuition of higher education.

Those who do decide to go to college graduate buried under tens of thousands in student loans to pay off. And the chances of achieving the pinnacle of the American Dream—starting a business, buying a home, attaining a decent standard of living—is significantly lower for those who have student debt.

But imagine a life without debt—landing on your feet after graduating, finding a job with a decent salary, living comfortably on your own, being able to afford the luxuries of eating out once in a while, sleeping peacefully without the nagging anxiety of student loan bills still waiting to be paid.

This American Dream has been, and might always be, a far-off fantasy, especially for those who don't have the means to pay for college.

Too often, the dream is quickly snatched away by the snowball of student loan debt that only continues to grow.

But at the very least, everyone deserves to graduate college with a decent standard of living and a chance to success in today’s economy. With the ISA, this dream becomes a little closer to reality.

Made in Ameerica by Ameera Kumar

cating for the lower-middle classes.

She made her way from the Parkchester Section of the Bronx to the 14th Congressional District of New York, yet conservatives are only fixated on the details and technicalities of her background.

It makes sense that the GOP is attempting to undermine Ocasio-Cortez’s potential. Her big ideas and deep desire to bring change to our tax systems by enacting more taxes on the rich have demanded the attention of many. The attention she directs to the underrepresented in America is empowering to many, as she focuses on advocating for universal rights in Medicare, affordable housing, and education—all challenging deep-rooted Republican ideals.

Ocasio-Cortez may have a head full of dreams. Her hopes of equal access to healthcare and education for all citizens may be too romantic, but she hasn’t even been given the chance to build her case. It’s bold ideas like this that add to the many possibilities our country holds. But the GOP has done nothing but try to discredit her with personal attacks.

Republicans and Democrats alike should be considering, even commending her view of an equitable country.

But Republicans have chosen to attack the way she dresses.

Her refreshing, idealistic perspective as well as her unique background should be valued in the midst of cynical and opportunistic politicians.

A melting pot of different ideas is what can bring our country to its greatest version, the constant criticism of many viewpoints directing us to the best actions to take.

Ocasio-Cortez will likely face more obstacles in office, political and personal. She’ll face more who underestimate her life experience due to her youth, more who deny the validity of her upbringing and identity, and more who find personal flaws to undermine her political agenda.

But with her on bringing economic equality to America, Ocasio-Cortez will continue to dance in office as she attempts to make her mark on politics.

At the very least, her performance is one worth watching.

I wish I could procrastinate as much as the government does.

-Sydney Alper I don’t get how an egg can get 44 million likes, I look like an egg every day and I’m still not Instagram famous.

-Isabelle Ritter If I had a dime for every time I saw someone walking around with AirPods, I could buy my own AirPods.

-Jessica Lin The only love letter I want to receive on Valentine’s day is a college acceptance letter.

-Andrea Chen To submit a Praise or Folly, message us through Twitter, log onto our website at www.wvnexus.org, or drop your submission off in room L-104. Include your name, grade level, and phone number. The Nexus will decide which submissions to print based on quality of writing and value to readers. They may be edited for space or content reasons.

Trump’s proposed border wall fails to recognize U.S. complicity in crisis Isabelle Ritter Staff Writer

When we hear the word “wall,” the Berlin Wall and the Great Wall of China are a couple things that come to mind.

One is the result of fascism during the Cold War, the other a relic of the fearful and violent Middle Ages.

Interesting company for President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall to keep.

As of Jan. 12, the government shutdown went into its 22nd day and surpassed the shutdown of 1995–1996 as the longest in U.S. history.

The ’95-’96 shutdown was a result of a melange of fiscal issues, the primary bone of contention being the proposed budgets of Medicaid and Medicare.

Republicans wanted to tighten the budget, but former President Bill Clinton and the Democrats countered that it would undermine the success of the healthcare programs.

If these people are Such conflict was to be expected, as Clinton was locking horns ing money and with a Republican majority in the are they risking House. only to die at With all this in mind, it’s interesting that the shutdown to surpass an issue as complex as universal healthcare is, well, over a wall.

Trump’s promise to build a wall on the border between the United States and Mexico was the cornerstone of his 2016 election bid.

He justified his proposed wall with fervent anti-immigrant rhetoric.

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,” Trump said during his campaign announcement, Jun. 16, 2015. “They’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems with them.

They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. ” Another campaign promise regarding the wall was that Mexico would pay for it.

However, more than a year into his presidency, his rallying cry that “Mexico will pay” has transformed into a demand for $25 billion to build the wall.

His administration later stated it would compromise to

$5.7 billion at least, which Congress still rejected, leading to the aforementioned shutdown.

Theatrical, isn’t it?

A key distinction to make in all this theatricality is the difference between a minority of criminals and a majority of innocent families seeking refuge from dangerous conditions in their home country.

Between 1994 and 2007, there were around 5,000 migrant deaths along the Mexico–United States border, according to the Human Rights National Commission of Mexico and the American Civil Liberties Union. And since 2004, the bodies of 1,086 more migrants have been recovered in the southern Arizona desert.

If these people are all just seeking money and crime, why are they risking their lives, only to die at the border?

The truth is that they’re risking their lives because they have nowhere else to turn.

They’re not “criminals” and “rapists”—they’re refugees, wanting a betall just seek- ter life, or a life at all, for their children.

Take the recent Central American crime, why migrant caravan for example. Migrants their lives, from Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Salvador gathered. the border? andOnElOct. 12, and began trekking north to the U.S., hoping to flee violence, poverty, and political repression.

The irony of the demonization of Latin American immigrants is that the U.S. has played a large role in their home countries’ instability.

From involvement in the Mexican Revolution, to meddling in Honduran and Chilean government, to severely damaging Mexican farming economics through NAFTA, United States policies have directly led to the endangerment of many of these migrants due to political instability and poverty.

Instead of vilifying these immigrants, America should accept them with open arms. America is a country of immigrants, and that tradition is built into the very foundation of our country.

This “border crisis” should be treated as what it is: a humanitarian crisis that our nation is complicit in. Taking responsibility and helping to save these people’s lives is what Congress should be focusing on, not falling back into archaic modes of military and political theatricality.

Big Wang Theory by Michelle Wang

Nexus

the

10 Sports SCOREBOARD

Attacking Corner Kicks

THE

Boys Basketball

17 - 5

Jan. 25, 2019

The corner kick has always been one of the most exciting aspects of soccer games. When executed correctly, it can allow teams to score in a more strategic manner

1/18: Win vs. Mt. Carmel, 53-35 1/22: Win vs. Poway, 53-35 Next Game: Today: vs. Del Norte, 7 p.m. (Home)

13 - 11

Girls Basketball

1/19: Loss vs. Mater Dei Catholic, 62-41 1/22: Loss vs. Poway, 33-30

4. Marking the Goalkeeper

Next Game: Today: vs. Del Norte, 5:30 p.m. (Home)

Roller Hockey

2a. Front Post

1-3

1/7: Win vs. Patrick Henry, 12-2 1/16: Loss vs. Scripps Ranch, 6-3 Next Game: 1/30: vs. Patrick Henry, 7 p.m. (Away)

1. Edge of the Box 9-4-5

Boys Soccer 1/17: Win vs. Mt. Carmel, 2-0 1/22: Win vs. Poway, 3-0 Next Game: Today: vs. Del Norte, 5:15 p.m. (Home)

2b. Back Post

Photo Courtesy of Ben Charlebois Design by Evan Buckland

6-5-3

Girls Soccer

Connor Bondoc (12) volleys the ball into the net from a corner kick during practice, Jan. 21. The Wolverines ran white, a main play in which the kicker gives a driven cross low in the air so that a teammate can run onto the ball and either volley or head it into the net.

1/17: Win vs. Mt. Carmel, 2-1 1/21: Loss vs. Scripps Ranch, 1-0

Evan Buckland

Next Game: 1/29: vs. Rancho Bernardo, 5:15 p.m. (Away)

1/19: Loss vs. Clairemont, 3-2 1/22: Loss vs. Rancho Bernardo, 17-8 Next Game: 1/28: vs. Poway, 4:15 p.m. (Home)

1-7

Boys Wrestling

headed out there,” winger D.J. Hernandez (12) said.

According to Hernandez, each of these players has a unique role during the corner that allows for the play to work perfectly.

Managing Editor

4 - 12

Girls Water Polo

1/17: Loss vs. Mt. Carmel, 72-0 1/22: Loss vs. Rancho Bernardo, 63-9 Next Meet: Today: Holtville Invitational, 9 a.m. (Away)

Girls Wrestling

3. Center of the Box

2 -2

12/13: Win vs. San Pasqual, 42-28 12/15: Loss vs. Clairemont 42-32 Next Meet: 2/2: CIF Individuals, 9 a.m. (Away) Records as of Tuesday Compiled by the Sports Staff

The game was tied 0-0 with 15 minutes left to go in the first half, Tuesday. Westview was playing a crucial game against Poway—whoever won the game would go first in the league. The Wolverines won a corner and made use of it by scoring a goal in order to gain the momentum they needed to go on and win 3-0.

Since the creation of the game, corner kicks have been one of the most exciting aspects of soccer. Teams spend hours practicing them as they can be a useful opportunity to score a goal if a team utilizes a well-planned tactic.

The boys soccer team has a set plan for corner kicks, with each player performing a different “run” into the box so that the players are perfectly positioned to attack the corner.

Westview utilizes three plays, black, white, and gold.

In black, the ball is lobbed through the air over the heads of the defending players. The ball takes more time to reach the box as a result, so players delay their runs and try to win the ball out of the air.

With white, the ball is driven low across the face of the goal and the players run quickly in order to head or volley the ball into the net.

The final play, gold, is a trick play. Instead of kicking the ball long into the box, the kicker passes the ball short to a different player. The player who receives the pass has the option of crossing the ball into the box or running at the defense, and dribbling past them.

“We have somebody go right on the goalie, two people run towards the middle of the box at the penalty kick spot, one person going to each of the posts, and one person staying on the edge of the box in case any balls are

1

While most players make a run into the penalty area, one player stays on the edge of the box.

His role is important because he is there to score goals after the ball rebounds back to them.

“If nobody is able to get to the ball inside the box, and it’s headed out by a defender, then the person waiting on the edge of the box is there to take a shot from range,” center back Ryan Murphy (12) said.

This player has to be good at shooting as there are many instances where the ball bounces out to him, and he have to take a long-range shot to score a goal. Teams usually will put their main striker in this role as they

2

The players who make the run towards the post are not expected to head the ball into the box.

Rather, their main role is to clean up any mistakes that their teammates or the opposing team

makes.

“If the ball gets crossed into the middle, and either our players or their team miss it, then the player at the back post is there to tap it in and get the easy goal,” Murphy said. “The player at the front post is there in case the kicker miskicks the ball and it ends up going short. The front-post player can either flick the ball on to someone in the middle, or if the angle is there, they can shoot the ball themselves.”

The two players running towards the penalty 3 spot are generally the tallest and strongest players on the team. The majority of corner kicks that result in a goal are achieved due to these two players heading the ball into the net.

They need to be able to jump high into the air and generate a lot of power with their head so that they can score a goal without allowing the defenders to head the ball away. These two players are the targets for the player taking the corner kick.

With zonal marking, these players try to run into the zones that are covered by smaller players so that they can have an easier matchup. With man marking, the players try to run at an angle so that they can lose their defender and get open for a header.

“These guys are there to make runs into the penalty area and try to get in an open position,” Hernandez said.

“Typically, if the defense is man-marking, then they will put their tallest players to mark our target guys, but if they can run into an open space and go up against a shorter defender then they have a good chance of heading the ball.”

One player is in charge of marking the opposing team’s goalkeeper.

4 When the ball is floated, it’s very easy for goalkeepers to come out of their box and punch the ball out of the air. Goalkeepers can use their hands, so it’s harder for a player who has to use their head to win the ball than a player who can use their hands.

In order to stop the goalkeeper from winning the ball every time, most teams have one player stand in front of the opposing team’s goalkeeper.

“This player’s main job is to just be annoying,” Hernandez said. “They’re supposed to block the goalkeeper’s view and make it harder for them to get off their line. However, they can’t hold the goalkeeper back or obstruct them from moving; otherwise, the ref will call a foul on the keeper and the corner will be wasted.”

Roller hockey players take to ice to broaden skillset, condition Kevin Pert Staff Writer

Often times, athletes play multiple sports to improve or maintain their skills in their primary sport; some football players run track to work on their speed, water polo players might swim to condition themselves, and cross country runners often take part in long distance track to improve their stride.

The case is the same for roller hockey players who take to the ice rink in the offseason, but they experience a much smoother transition between seasons.

Despite the striking similarities between roller and ice hockey, there are a few differences that create distinctive skill sets within each sport.

First and foremost, roller hockey is played on a smooth, hard, plastic surface and ice hockey is played on the ice.

Due to this, the skates used in ice hockey vary from those in roller in that the same boots are worn, but with rubber wheels and metal bearings.

According to forward Tyler Wilson (11), this presents an advantage for those who play ice hockey.

“Being able to stop and make cuts is really difficult in roller [hockey],” Wilson said.

“It’s really helpful if you know how to do it in on wheels. Even at the high school level, many people aren’t very good at stopping, so I think playing ice [hockey] presents a huge advantage in that way.”

Making quick cuts is standard in ice hock-

ey, as digging the blades into the ice allows for abrupt stops.

“In Ice, all you have to do is put your foot in the direction you’re going and you’re pretty much gonna stop,” Wilson said. “But in roller [hockey], there will even be times where I’ll outplay someone just because I can stop better than them.”

Being able to stop means being able to make quicker cuts, which allows for athletes to play faster, providing a competitive advantage.

Although Wilson said that the largest advantage of playing ice hockey is stopping, fellow teammate, defenseman Andrew Chua (11) sees speed as the most significant benefit.

“In ice hockey, you’re moving a lot fast-

er—the game is a lot faster, and just the idea of having more contact and more people around you, makes you think faster, make quicker plays, and be more aware of what’s around you,” he said.

Because body checking isn’t allowed in roller hockey, defenders are put at a disadvantage, creating opportunities for the offense, which Chua sees as valuable to ice hockey players.

“I think roller [hockey] really adds to the hand-eye coordination of your game because you have so much more time,” he said. “You have more room to do things when you have the puck, which definitely makes you a better stick handler, definitely a little more refined with your movements.”

Although playing both sports is nearly al-

ways a good thing, it's not logistically possible for everyone.

"Playing roller hockey is a lot easier on my schedule," said Wilson. "I used to play ice, but driving back and forth turned into too much of a hassle."

Because ice hockey is played year round, many people struggle with the intense level of commitment that it can require.

Still, playing on the ice isn't an end-all beall when it comes to being a great player.

“There is a benefit to playing both, but it all comes down to how you're able to learn not only as a player, but as a person.” Chua said. “Playing both sports will broaden your skill set, and at the end of the day, it’s all about staying in rhythm and staying conditioned.”

Despite ‘disappointing’ draw, Wolverines remain number one in leagues Sydney Alper Staff Writer

Rancho Bernardo: 1 Westview: 1

Jessica Lin

Ryan Murphy (12) attempts to steal the ball from a Bronco striker, Jan. 10. The game ended, 1-1.

Westview led 1-0 against the Broncos at Rancho Bernardo, Jan. 10. With only three minutes left, the Broncos’ aggressive offensive broke through the Wolverines’ defense. They were able to take two close, but missed, shots, one of them bouncing off the right post.

In the last two minutes, with all of their building momentum, Rancho Bernardo took advantage of a breakdown in Westview’s defense and shot the ball off of the top crossbar and into the goal. Neither team had chance to score another goal and the game ended in a 1-1 tie.

The Wolverines started the game strong by connecting passes and keeping the ball on the Bronco’s side of the field, but eventually the game settled down and neither team could gain an advantage.

The first half ended 0-0, but Westview was not deterred. At half time, coaches Martin Coughlin and Kevin Ashwell discussed the intensity they wanted to see in the second half.

“At halftime, what we talked about was, ‘Look, let’s try and come out again really hard in the second half,”

Coughlin said. “Let’s high press them a little bit because when we were doing that we were more successful.”

The team followed their coaches’ strategy and, within the first two minutes of the second half, midfielder Adrian Varon (12) capitalized on a mistake by the Rancho Bernardo defense. Striker Izel Smith (12), moved away from the defenders and received a quick pass from Varon.

With no one defending him, Smith took the ball and shot it. The ball landed beyond the goalie’s reach in the upper right corner of the goal for Westview’s only score of the game.

Westview was then able to hold off the Broncos for the majority of the second half.

A key element of their strategy was defender Matthew Besgen’s (12) long throw-in. Besgen’s throw-in cleared half the field, forcing the Rancho Bernardo defense to defend the throws as if they were corner kicks.

This cross-like throw provided many shot opportunities for Westview throughout the game, but no one was able to convert on any of them.

“My long throw has gone a long way to help my team because it allows us to have offensive chances from positions on field that you normally can’t attack the goal,” Besgen said. “It also changes the mentality of the game, giving us momentum to turn the game around.”

The final two minutes saw a drastic increase in intensity, with both teams moving faster and playing harder. The Broncos fouled Westview twice, but each time, the Wolverines were unable to get a shot off.

After one last good cross put up by the Wolverines, time ran out.

When the ref blew the whistle, signaling the end of the game. Westview players trudged off the field, knowing how close they were to the win.

“The result was very upsetting, but we played pretty good considering how small the field was,” Smith said. “They also talked a lot of trash, so to let them get away from the game with any points was also very upsetting.”

Although upset, the players and the coaches accepted that a tie was a good result. Both goalkeeper Partick McLellan (10) and Smith said the tie could have been prevented if their team had been more aggressive.

“I’m definitely not the happiest with the result, but with all things considered it’s always good to get points playing them, so a tie wasn’t the worst possibility,” McLellan said. “I think we just lost our focus in the last five to eight minutes of the game, and we made some mistakes and they were able to capitalize it.”

Despite the tie, the Wolverines are still in first place in their league with six points, continuing their winning streak by beating Mt. Carmel on Jan. 17 and Poway on Jan. 22.

Nexus

Sports 11

the

Jan. 25, 2019

Bands and balance: sports therapy

SIG NIFICANT FIG URES

Kim: 1 pin

3. Knee Injury

2. Shoulder Injury

1. Ankle Injury Ankle rehabilitation primarily focuses on balance by strengthening their ankles. Players do this by exercising with a resistance band, making sure that their ankle is exerting force against the resistance band.

Alec Felderman Staff Writer

Headed by Christina Scherr, the Athletic Aid Program provides players with individualized physical therapy. Although Scherr leads the program, it’s supported by student athletic aids. One of these aids is Sarah Krager (11), who joined the program as a freshman and has continued ever since.

“When an athlete gets hurt, Christina creates a recovery program for them and I help her execute it,” Krager said.

The recovery program is broken down into three phases: evaluation, rehabilitation and recovery.

Before Scherr creates a specialized rehabilitation program for an athlete,” she identifies through a variety of tests, called “special tests, what kind of injury he or she has. These tests target specific

There’s many parallels between rehabilitation for the knees and ankles. Restrengthening muscles, gaining balance, and creating mental confidence are the keys for knee rehabilitation. Players will generally do two sets of twenty squats.

Shoulder rehabilitation’s main objective is to improve the range of motion that was lost during the injury. This increase in motion can be acheived via use of resistance bands. Just like squatting, patients complete two sets of twenty pulls.

ligaments and muscle groups for any sensations of pain, signifying injury. After her evaluation, Scherr sends them to a doctor for a more accurate evaluation if necessary. Scherr then creates a personalized regimine of exercises geared towards rehabilitating the athlete. When Scherr assigns exercises for an athlete, she takes in account their injury, sport, and type of rehab they need. For example, aquatic athletes or athletes whose bodies are not ready to take the strain of carrying their weight, sometimes go to the pool as a part of their rehab.

“Some swimmers can’t run very well,” Krager said. They train differently so their bodies may have issues with running on a treadmill. If someone gets an injury and they aren’t advanced enough to start running, we will use the pool to get their body used to the range of motions again without too much stress.”

This is where Krager and her fellow students aids play a role in an athletes’ recovery process.

Krager acts as a guide for injured athletes, helping them after school through the movements of different exercises and assisting with treatments such as icing and taping ankles. The type of injury also affects the longevity of the rehabilitation process.

Injuries like sprained ankles only take a week while concussions can take up to two weeks.

“For concussions the athlete has to fill out a symptoms scale every day for a week until you score zeros on everything,” Krager said, “The rehab part takes up to a week.”

An athlete completes the program when they are cleared and reintroduced to practice.

“I really enjoy meeting people and helping them through the recovery process,” Krager said. “That’s my passion.”

Photos by Rohin Awasthi Design by Alec Felderman and Kevin Pert

Wolverines splash on the Red Sea, win against Mt. Carmel Jocelyn Mi Staff Writer

Jocelyn Mi

Mikela Bresenden (11) guards a Mt. Carmel player, Jan. 18. The Wolverines won, 53-35.

Sydney Alper

BARKER

After a sloppy first half against Mt. Carmel, Friday, Westview made adjustments for the second half and pulled away from the Sundevils by limiting their number of fouls and sharpening the accuracy in their three-pointers en route to a 53-35 win.

With thirty seconds left in the game, Anthony Reyes (12) made a foul shot for their final point, sealing their victory over Mt. Carmel, 53-35.

Despite missing some shots and committing fouls early, the Wolverines already led by four points after just two minutes of play.

With 1:33 left in the first quarter, Daniel Pruschki (12) made the final point of the quarter, to increase the Westview lead to 10-5.

In the second quarter, Mt. Carmel took advantage of Westview fouls to make some free throws and gradually chip away at the Wolverines’ lead.

However, Mt. Carmel’s efforts were in vain as the Wolverines closed the half strong with successive

three-point shots.

Persevering through the entire game, with team efforts and steady coaching from coach Kyle Smith, Westview continuously managed to steal the ball before the end of each quarter, then strategically stalling the team until the very last seconds, eventually attempting to end each game with a three-pointer.

Continuously leading Mt. Carmel throughout the third quarter, Elijah Johnson (11) impressively zipped through the court time and time again. Johnson helped his team by stealing the ball and by 3:49 made a successful three pointer.

After the foul-ridden first half with the score being 10-16, the Wolverines changed their game plans by changing from an offense play to a defensive play.

Once in play, the audience was seeing Mt. Carmel catching up with their foul score.

“We won because I believe that we are better in terms of skill and endurance,” Grendahl said. “We out played them in their own gym.”

Minjun Kim (11) contributed one of Westview’s two match victories against Rancho Bernardo, Jan. 17. During the match, Kim gained the upper hand by scoring the first point with a quick, single-leg shot and pressing his opponent aggressively with more shots. Kim’s relentless attacks were eventually rewarded when he pinned his opponent with an Anderson bar in the second round, earning six points for his team.

However, it was not enough to prevent Westview from dropping to 1-7 for the season.

Deepali Yedulapuram

Hsu: 19 points

Girls basketball faced Del Norte in a close match, Jan. 8. Shooting guard Samdrea Hsu (9) scored 19 points with two key layups at the end of the third quarter and two big three-pointers in the first half, giving the Wolverines more momentum and energy.

“That was Sammy’s best game so far. She was our leading scorer,” coach Bob McHeffey said.

Despite Hsu’s skilled play, Westview suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Nighthawks, 5550.

Jessica Lin

Written by Alec Felderman and Deepali Yedulapuram

BLACK & GOLD

Isabelle Ritter

GRENDAHL

Evan Buckland

BONDOC

WRESTLING

BASKETBALL, Forward

SOCCER, Defender

Inspired by his older brother, Brent Barker (12) decided to join the wrestling team freshman year. Barker learned many advanced moves, his favorite being the high crotch, a leg shot where a wrestler wraps up below the groin on the opponent’s leg closest to him or her.

“I have many advantages for hitting moves like cradles and high crotch because my body type is longer,” he said. “I love this sport because it’s an evenly matched playing field. The only thing that separates each wrestler is their skill and how much work they put in.”

Making varsity two years ago as a sophomore, Michael Grendahl (12) realized he was spending more time on the bench than on the court. So, he started to work harder in order to get more playing time.

“Sitting on the bench kind of set me back a little bit,” he said.

“I was down on myself but then I just kept working. I worked on my defense and ball handling.”

Now, as a starter for the team, he has found his forte in basketball with shooting, scoring 50 percent of the shots he makes.

He also has the most rebounds, averaging at 6.4 per game.

Connor Bondoc (12) lives for soccer. The sport runs in his family and he started playing the sport at age 5. When he turned 10, he started to become more serious and started watching professional and college-level games. This season, he has helped the team keep five clean sheets. As a defender, Bondoc is very tall and strong, but he is also very skilled technically.

“I feel like I’m quite a well-rounded player,” Bondoc said. “Even though I play defender, I still feel like I have good ball control and speed so that allows me to help in the attack.”

Grace Kim

Rhea Jogadhenu Kevin Pert

MCCULLOCH

WATSON

WATER POLO, Goalie

SOCCER, Midfielder

Goalie Piper McCulloch (12) averages 14 blocks per game.

With her strong playing abilities, McCulloch enjoys being in the water and protecting the net.

She feels adrenaline running through her veins whenever a player from the opposing team approaches with a ball.

“I start getting really excited and ready to block any shot that comes at me,” McCulloch said.

McCulloch has been playing water polo since eighth grade.

Mcculloch is now committed to California State Northridge University, a NCAA Division I school, and is ready to continue her passion for water polo.

Although Jill Watson (12) is one of the smaller players on the pitch at 5’1”, she makes up for it with her knowledge of the game.

“I understand the game a lot,” she said. “I see plays ahead of time. Some people just go with the flow, but I try to see the play before it develops.”

On top of being a clever player, Watson uses her agility in order to make up for her size.

“If there’s a fifty-fifty ball, I have to use my quickness to make sure that I don’t lose possession,” she said. “A lot of people look for physicality, but I usually look to avoid it.”

Jocelyn Mi

POLONICHKO ROLLER HOCKEY, Defense

With 10 assists made this season and an average of two assists per game, Oliver Polonichko (9) always tries to look for ways to promote his teammates and offer help.

“I’ve always helped my team by supporting from the bench, playing my hardest, and making all the passes I can,” Polonichko said.

Polonichko said he believes roller hockey should be a teambased sport resulting in a more efficient and successful game.

“I focus more on the team than myself,” he said. “Instead of looking for scoring opportunities first, I’ll look for the assist.”

Nexus

the

12 Final Focus

Jan. 25, 2019

Augmenting Beauty Teenagers seek plastic surgery, grapple with change and stigma post-operation Tiffany Le

Editor in Chief For nearly 17 years, whenever Alexis Chen (’18) looked in a mirror, all she could see were her “Asian eyes.” Eyes that would squint a little too much when she smiled, eyes that were not prominently creased.

Not even Chen’s contoured cheekbones, intense “Instagram eyebrows,” sharp winged eyeliner and wispy fake eyelashes, could hide this insecurity.

“Most of my life, unfortunately, I was ashamed of being Asian,” she said. “If I didn’t have enough mascara and eyeliner to create the illusion of bigger eyes, I would be afraid to interact with others.

It didn’t help that I thought people didn’t consider Asians to be attractive.”

Chen explained that much of this discontent was rooted in an overwhelming need to fit into Euro-centric American beauty standards. These ideals were demonstrated in the results of a 2016 survey of New York Fashion Week, where 77.6 percent of models were Caucasian, and 7.70 percent were Asian. Furthermore, according to a survey done by USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, one percent of lead roles in Hollywood goes to Asians, whereas 78.2 percent are landed by Caucasians.

“I watched Asians get ridiculed in movies,” Chen said. “Asian men were portrayed as submissive and rarely the love interest. Apparently, Asians weren’t worthy of being the stars.”

In addition to large eyes with double eyelids, another widely sought-after feature in American society is a strong, defined jawline. For Emily la Rue (12), lacking the latter became a detail she felt self-conscious about.

On social media, la Rue made conscious efforts to pose a certain way: a slight turn away from the camera with a head tilt to the right.

“It was horrible,” la Rue said. “I used to get made fun of [for] my chin and my jaw for so long. It was so bad that I would just come home crying to my mom and yell at her, ‘I need this surgery, I need to to get it done now.’”

Making The Decision For la Rue, the decision to have a jaw reconstruction procedure was half to fix her incorrect bite and half for cosmetic reasons to have a better profile.

“I had to get another round of braces, but there would’ve been no point in having them unless I got the surgery too,” la Rue said. “I

just wanted a perfect bite and I wanted to finally feel normal. I wanted to look normal.”

And so, during the summer of 2018, la Rue went under the knife for a sliding genioplasty and Chen traveled to Taiwan for a double eyelid surgery.

During her surgery, Chen was fully conscious. After an IV was inserted into Chen’s arm, the surgeon pulled down her lower lash line and injected a medication to numb her face.

“My skin being cut open with a knife felt like small pinches on my eyes,” Chen said. “About three-fourths in, the numbing in my right eye subsided. It was pain like no other. I felt the needle weave in and out of my eyes.”

Tears began trickling down her face, and her legs began to shake profusely.

But even when the procedure ended, the pain did not.

After the Operation “The post-op pain was unbearable,” Chen said. “Everytime I tried talking, the movement of my lips [felt] like someone was trying to slowly tear apart my stitches. I was unrecognizable even to myself.”

But as the months progressed, the swelling of her eyes decreased and the purplish-yellow bruises on her eyelids slowly faded away. And what was left were the double creases Chen once dreamed about.

La Rue recalls her post-op experience as being just as painful. After the surgery, la Rue’s entire face swelled up, and she had no feeling in the bottom half of her face. There was a cast in her mouth and over 50 bands around her jaw.

“When I woke up, I couldn’t even feel my face, and there was a nurse with a tube down my throat suctioning all the blood,” she said. “I had bandages all over my face. When I got home I just mainly slept, but I’d wake up choking on my blood and I couldn’t open my mouth because it was bandaged shut.”

Because la Rue had to eat through a feeding tube, she said her weight dropped down to a low of 89 pounds at one point.

However, even after recovering from her post-op period, l a

Rue still faces repercussions. “[My] surgery had a very high chance of me losing all feeling in my lips,” la Rue said. “It’s been seven months and I have a tingly feeling in them. [My surgeon] said that [in the] long term I should be fine.

The Media's Influence According to Dr. Steve Laverson of Feel Beautiful Plastic Surgery, about five percent of his patient population include people between the ages of 13 and 19, and nearly all of these teens who come in for a consultation end up getting plastic surgery. The 2017 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) found that 228,997 cosmetic procedures were performed on this age group in the U.S. alone. In conjunction with this, total cosmetic procedures have increased by 137 percent since 2000.

As made evident by Chen and la Rue’s differing reasons to go through with plastic surgery, Dr. Laverson explained that the reasons behind increasing numbers of procedures are manifold.

Dr. Laverson said that whereas 20 years ago the area of non-invasive procedures such as laser skin care and fillers were nascent, there are more procedures now, both surgical and non-surgical. With this, plastic surgery is more widely seen as a safe and reasonable option as surgical techniques have advanced, allowing results that look more natural with realistic proportions.

“The web and social sites have increased availability of information and improved communication between people considering procedures and people who have had the procedures,” Dr. Laverson said. “The ubiquity of cameras and widespread photography may also be contributing. Universal distribution of images of ‘beautiful people,’ celebrities and popular personalities, nearly all of whom have had procedures, probably has driven the increase as well.”

Apps such as FaceTune, Photoshop, and Snapchat filters that allow for subtle tweaks in appearance with a simple tap—a straighter nose, a fuller lip, a slimmed-down face—only add to a person’s awareness about their

potential ‘imperfections.’

The Stigma But even with a total of 1,790,832 cosmetic surgical procedures and 17,504,950 minimally-invasive procedures done in 2017, according to the ASPS, there is no doubt that people like Chen and la Rue still face the negative stigma around plastic surgery.

“Afterwards people said things like, ‘Of course she did it’ or ‘Wow, she’s so superficial,’” la Rue said.

Chen experienced similar backlash for going through with her surgery, saying that she inadvertently became a topic of conversation for people she didn’t even know.

“She’s so botched.”

“She looked better before.”

“She took the easy way out.”

For some time, Chen said, these comments got to her. Her shame of being Asian soon turned into the shame of being the girl who got plastic surgery at 17.

“My self-esteem got worse before it got better,” Chen said. “People found my plastic surgery as a reason to attack me even though my decision had no impact on them. I had to realize that people aren’t always going to understand where I’m coming from, especially if they’ve never experienced something that I did.”

La Rue echoed this sentiment, stating that though it was difficult to overcome the negativity from her peers, she is now more confident in herself. No matter how much hate they received from external forces, Chen and la Rue concur that their decisions to undergo plastic surgery were ultimately for no one except themselves.

“People hate on you beforehand, people find out you’re going to get a procedure done to fix that thing they hate, people push you to get it done, and then people hate on you afterwards for getting it done,” la Rue said. “It’s like, what do you want from me? Why should I even listen to you because you’re just going to hate whatever I do? Because despite all of it, I’m glad I made the decision that I did.”

Dr. Laverson said that this self-motivated basis for wanting the plastic surgery in the first place is the mentality his company advocates.

“Like the rest of medicine, we serve the patient, not family or peers,” he said.

“Procedures we perform are works of art created to benefit the bearer.”

According to Chen and la Rue, while their experiences may have been arduous, they were equally, if not more, rewarding.

“I had moments where I felt like I took the easier way out through plastic surgery instead of just accepting myself, but everyone has a different way of

getting over their negative thoughts about themselves,” Chen said. “I definitely don’t regret it because I feel a lot happier with my life now. I feel more confident because I finally look the way I want to look.”

So no matter how many people call her a cheater because her eyes are not the result of “natural beauty,” Chen stands by her decision to get plastic surgery. It helped her gain a sense of self-worth, she said.

“Our identity is intimately related to our appearance,” Dr. Laverson said. “Every individual is unique and in my opinion, precious. Being secure in your identity, loving who and what you are, growing to enjoy your life and your position in the world are important for everyone. If a little change in your face, breasts, or body can help in that process, it’s well worth it.”

For Chen, it was well worth it because she said she finally feels comfortable enough to go outside without heavy eye-makeup. For la Rue, it was well worth it because she finally feels just as confident in person as she does online. And it was well worth it because both Chen and la Rue can finally look in the mirror and feel love for themselves.

Art by Alice Chen