aquila
University Preparatory Academy’s
Volume VI, Issue IV
www.upaaquila.org
May 30, 2017
GTT Challenges Young Minds with Robot Designs By Megan Wescoat
Photo by Angelo Bautista Drama students collaborate on their one-act creations in Eastman, the drama classroom, on May 22. Left to right: Tiernan McMahon, Greg Haessner, Anoushka Dave, Fiona Escoto, Natalia Alvarez.
One (of a Kind) Act Plays By Angelo Bautista
The UPA theater department showcased its one-act plays on Friday, May 26, alongside displays of original student artwork at the New Works Festival of Art and Theater. Held in the Horton, the plays, entirely student produced, included “Snow White and the Seven Midgets,” a comedic parody of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves”; “The Four of Us, Times Three,” in which three diverse teams of undercover agents are sent on a mission; and “Murder on Manhattan,” a melodrama murder mystery involving audience participation. With the format of a one-act play, which has no intermission or multiple acts like most contemporary plays, the audience was able to encounter the elements of
these short stories uninterrupted. Blain Michael, who played Kaley in “The Four of Us Times Three,” recalled several details of the 10- to 15-minute shows, which function as her class’s final exams. “Everybody has to participate, everyone has to go to the cast party, and you’re graded for it,” Michael said, “each person in the class writes a script and Ms. Catherine chooses from them. [The students] also get to choose what they want to apply for, [such as] a stage crew or director position.” One-act plays began appearing on campus five years ago, when drama teacher Catherine Dietrich arrived to teach acting and theater technology courses. “I thought it was important for the actors to have a chance in class to have the experience of
a live performance for an audience,” Dietrich said. Since then, one-act plays have undergone immense change in terms of improvements in available materials, set design, fundraising efforts, and student instruction. “Last year, we tried performing in arena staging instead of proscenium arch staging, something usually only found in acting programs at the college level,” Dietrich said, “[arena staging] allowed the audience to be up close and personal with the story, witnessing it in the round.” Looking forward to opening night, Dietrich called out for people to attend. “Come out and support your actors, technicians, and artists,” said Dietrich. “Let them know to break a leg!”
Some of UPA’s most creative minds gathered to show their skills in the second annual Celebration of Learning on April 27. One particular aspect of the event was the Gateway to Technology class, taught by Thomas Clark and Mark Kent. One of the projects, constructing a robot that could chop wood, pump water, and grind grain for Kent’s class, was done by eighth grade student Amanda Flores at the end of the fall semester. Flores said the challenge to the assignment was the limited amount of time to complete it. “Mr. Kent usually gives us three periods,” she said. Students must figure out what tools they are going to use, but the types of tools are usually similar. “For some of our robots we use a lot of gears, nuts and bolts; sometimes we use a chain,” Flores said. “It depends on what we’re trying to achieve and how big our project or robot is.” Eighth grade student Srikar Chintala worked on a rover that his group called the Dune Buggy. They named it such because of the fact that, as Chintala said, “it can do crazy flips and stunts.” Being in Clark’s class, their task was a bit different. “It had to be able to travel
over rough terrain, go from four-wheel drive to two-wheel drive, and have a universal joint or differential gear shaft,” Chintala said. “We used four axles, four wheels, 12 nuts and bolts, four pulleys, and two rubber bands.” It took them four days to complete the project, longer than Kent usually allows. Eighth grade student Pallavi Rajani also did a project for Clark’s class. “Our group took three weeks because we started in April,” Rajani said. Although they had a lot of time, Rajani said her group experienced some difficulties along the way. “We had trouble trying to connect [everything],” she said. Eighth grade student Daniella Weber worked on one of four tasks in Clark’s room with her classmates Nicholas Le and Eric Xia. “We built an elevator type of thing and it delivers supplies from the second floor to the first floor,” Weber said. “I created the chains to carry things up and down, and [Le] is the brains behind the operation.” Though there were many projects to do, the young engineers brainstormed solutions to all of the tasks that stood before them. “We’re able to get more creative when singing Disney songs as we work,” Rajani said.
Adios to Teachers Who Added to the Equation By Bailey Lewis Next year, UPA will lose two long-time teachers who have become a part of the school. For six years, Nada Bennett has taught math for both middle school and high school, but has decided to make a change by moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, and will be teaching at another charter school there. “It’s going to be middle school, but they don’t have middle school yet, so I’m going to be the lead to bring in the math for the seventh and eighth graders,” Bennett said. “They’re asking me to start the program.” Grateful to have Bennett as a mentor to help settle in this year, new math teacher Liz Pettit feels
Photos by Bailey Lewis Both Monica Garcia (left) and Nada Bennett will be leaving this year after being on staff and teaching at UPA for eight and six years, respectively. thankful for Bennett’s support. “One of the nice things about Mrs. Bennett is that she’s taught all of the grades,” Pettit said. “She knows what students need to know and what’s necessary.”
Spanish teacher Monica Garcia will be leaving next year after eight years on staff, and believes she has made a significant impact on her students. “I think [I’ve helped] build
self-confidence and resilience more than anything else,” Garcia said. “No matter how hard it becomes, your choice is never to give up.” Sophomores Crystal Ly and Eric Nguyen, who currently have classes with both Garcia and Bennett, will miss them and their teaching styles next year. “Mrs. Bennett is constantly encouraging me to do better in math,” Ly said. As a result, Ly’s grades have improved. “I used to get really bad grades like Cs, but now that she’s encouraging me I have A’s.” For Nguyen, Spanish is something to look forward to in Garcia’s class, as she tries her best to make class fun and interesting for
the students. “Ms. Garcia is a great teacher because she changes a boring class that I don’t want to be in to a somewhat-appealing class that I’m OK with going to everyday,” Nguyen said. “The most important thing I’ve learned from Ms. Garcia is to have fun and take things seriously when you need to.” Both teachers have helped students develop academically, and tried their best to ensure all students feel confident in themselves and their ability to learn. “I love how they make us feel welcome and they have a passion to teach us,” Ly said. ¨And when they teach us, it’s really fun and understandable.”
NEWS
2 EDITORIAL
May 30, 2017
The Aquila
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Michael Prasad College: West Valley College in Saratoga, Calif. Major: Strategic Marketing “I was very quiet and didn’t talk much.
My senior year self was very different. I developed myself a lot more and I had a lot of things in my life that shaped the person I am today.” Photos courtesy of Michael Prasad
Sen
Sen
Freshman Year
Sakshi Hegde College: Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. Major: Sustainability “I feel like in ninth grade I cared a lot
more about school and I was a lot more motivated. Especially now in second semester senior year, I’m not as motivated as I was freshman through sophomore year.” Photos courtesy of Sakshi Hedge
Then and Now:
Editor-In-Chief Juli Rendler Managing Editor Tyler Jacobsen Production Manager Diana Rendler News Editor Anton Loeb In-Depth Editor Amrita Sivia Editorial Editor Zoe Sprintz Features Editor Nicole Rendler
Class of 2017
A&E Editor Emily Hung Trending Editor Sitara Marathay
By Abel Allen Bunyi Illustrations by Angelo Bautista
Sports Editor Diana Rendler Copy Editors Paj Thao, Angelo Bautista Broadcast Editors Joshua Cheah, Carlo Barrera Social Media Editor Jacob Cayabyab
Christina Lau College: Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, Calif. Major: Engineering “I’m a bit more of a realist now.” “I’m gonna die. Especially on the special relativity for physics. From valedictorian to the bottom of the class right there.”
“My ninth grade self was very arrogant. This particular person was like, ‘I can do whatever I want and I don’t have to try that hard.’ Now if you want results, the result is equal to the effort.” Photos courtesy of Christina Lau
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Freshman Year
Freshman Year
Sen io
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Photo Editor Jarnail Sanghera
Alexander Malinowski College: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Ariz. Major: Mechanical Engineering “Back then I was bright-eyed and excitable. Now I’m cynical and sad. As years go on, you kind of look for ways to weasel out of things. Instead of like, ‘I’m going
to write the best paper ever,’ I’m now like, ‘What do I have to do to pass this paper.’ Once you get accepted to college, no matter how excited you are, you have that ‘oh I’m done’ mentality.” Left: Photo courtesy of Flavio Quintero Right: Photo by Abel Allen Bunyi
Inside the Head of the New ASB President Villarin sat down with the Aquila to share about his campaign and presidential plans for the year to come.
Photo by Emily Calderon By Katie Foreman On May 13, ASB election results revealed current junior Joshua Villarin will be the next ASB president. Before he takes office for the 2017-2018 school year,
What are your plans for next year, as the president? “My plan next year as president is to integrate the students’ opinions and ideas before all the ASB events are created and also to create better events and relay races for the rallies. I want to raise more money for ASB activities and incorporate all of the student body, like all the cliques. There would be lunch activities during the spirit weeks so grades
can earn more spirit points for the spirit rally. I think that is important because at the spirit rally there are only limited games and numbers of people who can participate.” Why did you want to run for president? “I wanted to run all of my years at UPA. Since seventh grade, I would always speak up about my own ideas, but my voice was never really heard.” For those who don’t know you, what are you like? “I want people to know that
I’m passionate about UPA and I’m not here for college applications and that I’m here to give them an amazing year. People would describe me as determined and very optimistic. I never view anything as a mistake, but as a setback.” Why do you think you will be a good president? “I will be a good president because I’m on top of things, I respond quickly, and I get all of my things done. I’m really approachable because I put myself out there and get input about ASB.”
When you were running, were you nervous or were you surprised that you won? “I was pretty shocked that I won because I wasn’t expecting myself to be president. People had mixed mindsets about me and some of them didn’t like me running for president and other people did like me running for president. When I won I was really surprised. People see me as a person who jokes around and doesn’t take school seriously, but I will take [the role] seriously because when it comes to school and school pride, I really try my best.”
Staff Writers Abel Allen Bunyi, Emily Calderon, Isabella Cayabyab, Adanna Abraham- Igwe, Amaya Clement, Katherine Foreman, Caleb Frahm, Maria Hernandez, Bianca Lang, Bailey Lewis, Farrah Moreno, Cheyenne Mungaray, Henry Nguyen, Jessica Ponce, Taelynn Roberson, Jacalyn Trujillo, Bhargav Venkatraghavan, Megan Wescoat Page Designers Amy Chattaway Emily Hung Tyler Jacobsen Sitara Marathay Jessica Ponce Amrita Sivia Graphic Artists Amy Chattaway Angelo Bautista Adviser Laura Gordon Reska The Aquila is a studentproduced, student-edited high school newspaper. It serves as a designated public forum for student expression.
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Credit to Whoever Drew This (lol)
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Freshman Year
May 30, 2017
By Paj Thao
Illustration by Paj Thao
Artists never want to see their work reposted with that type of credit. Ever. It’s common sense: nobody wants to be discredited for their work because it requires time and effort. Still, this problem is characteristic of today’s creative world. The internet has revolutionized the way society works, including the speed and distance over which information can travel.
Creators’ work is now easily shared with a worldwide audience, but is much more susceptible to theft. From an artist’s perspective, there are three general types of art theft: using someone else’s work without permission, without giving credit, or to gain profit. Some reposters even gain more prominence than the original artist. For example, take the recent controversy over the mural of Michelle Obama painted in South Side Chicago in April. Gelila Mesfin uploaded her original piece to Instagram, but uncredited reposting on Pinterest led to escalating complications when urban designer Chris Devins saw and plagiarized her art, taking credit for it and raising about $12,000. Devins claims the mural is only a “remix” of Mesfin’s piece, along with a number of other justifications, but Mesfin now demands compensation equal to what he raised with encouragement from supporters nationwide. This incident, widely publicized in the news due to its monetary nature, stands apart from the majority of art theft cases, which go largely unnoticed. The most concerning point is that in these common cases, art theft damages artists’ repu-
tations, investments, identities and pride, but as nonprofit creators, they lack legal protection, making the issues difficult to resolve. Stealing a creator’s work hurts and is never acceptable. This is real. Reposters actually use the phrases written in the illustration above to justify themselves. If a person wants to share or support an artist’s work online, they should share the artist’s original post or webpage instead of reuploading it. Different creators have different policies, and people should always check with artists before using their work. Those looking for art to use in school or personal projects can avoid art theft when looking online by using a search filter for images specifically labeled or licensed for reuse. Instead of pulling from sites like Pinterest or Facebook, look to open source image sites such as Creative Commons. Artists also appreciate it when people tell them if they have seen their work anywhere other than on their own accounts. So before you post that cute motivational drawing on your social media account, no matter how harmless your intentions, consider first if it makes you a criminal without a mask.
Hands Off My HAIRitage By Taelynn Roberson
You walk down the hall as a teacher stops you and comments while combing her fingers through your brand new curls, “That isn’t your real hair, is it?” You open Instagram and stumble upon the hottest new trend “invented” by Kylie Jenner—box braids—which frame her face of collagen-injected lips. You show up to work with a new look, different from your usual afro, and your boss stops to compliment you on your “professional” hairstyle. Welcome to the life of a person of color. Cultural appropriation is “the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect this culture.” But this is only the surface definition, for cultural appropriation also includes a “power dynamic in which members of a dominant culture take elements from a culture of people who have been systematically oppressed by that dominant group,” as defined by writer Maisha Z. Johnson. Trends in fashion and beauty are directly responsible for issues within cultural appropriation, encouraging people to wear an item because it is in style. Minority groups therefore struggle, for these
“trends” are not new at all. Black women typically have naturally larger lips and darker skin that have landed them racist phrases such as “soup-coolers.” However, the same lips on Kylie Jenner are called a “pout” and tanning beds can give one the desired melanin of a black person without the burdens of being one. We cannot shame black girls for their unique hair and striking features while glorifying these same characteristics on a girl of a lighter skin tone. By admiring a white woman for wearing “daring” dreads yet claiming these same dreads as inappropriate on a black woman (for example, in the workplace), society subliminally, well blatantly, tells young black girls that our black is not beautiful. It is not OK for you to touch my hair, an essential piece of my black pride. It is not OK for you to miscredit trends and styles the black community invented. It is not OK for you to use a backhanded compliment as a sugarcoated microaggression. Cultural appropriations are not only emotionally hurtful, but they perpetuate stereotypes that contribute to issues on a larger social scale. So, although a small act such as wearing cornrows is not a big deal to you, that small act can contribute to a large problem for minorities.
Common Cultural Appropriations Blackface Native American Headdresses Cornrows/Box Braids/ Dreads/Bantu Knots Tribal Tattoos Kimonos Henna/Bindis “Nama-slay”/“Slay-vana” “Drinko de Mayo” Dia de Los Muertos Skeleton Face Cleveland Indians (NFL team)
Latinas Deserve Wage Equality
By Maria Hernandez
More than 50 years have passed since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, yet Latina women still face discrimination as they continue to earn the least amount of money for standard jobs. Because I am a native Spanish-speaking Latina, I am especially frustrated with the way Latinos are underpaid in their jobs. Being the least paid creates a number of disadvantages for Latinas and stop women and families from getting all their necessities. According to a 2017 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families entitled “Latinas and the Wage Gap,” a nonwhite women earns an average of $31,100 per year compared to a white woman who makes $57,200 per year.
That is a $26,100 difference. That difference can damage how a family can progress, when that money can pay for mortgages and allow the person to not have to work extra hours. The report also stated that if the wage gap is eliminated, it would provide better opportunities for Latino children, including additional money for childcare and tuition for college. Allowing a Latina her most basic rights means allowing her to receive equal pay that could benefit her in the long run and establish respect for every ethnicity. The wage gap clearly discriminates against Latina women, as 40 percent or more work as the sole income providers for the family, and nearly three million Latinas in the United States are heads of the house and below the poverty line.
When a women walks into an office to get a job, the interviewer already judges her not just by her ethnicity, but by her gender as well, putting her at a disadvantage. For the most part, the report revealed that about 25 percent of Latina women stated that their gender made it harder to find a job. About 16 percent of Latinas have felt they have been treated unfairly, according to the National Women’s Law Center. This problem will not disappear in one day, but that does mean society should not put in the effort to resolve against the discriminatory wage gap that damages Latina reputations. By gaining more support and attempting to combat this nationwide dilemma, Latina women will have the opportunity to be just as equal as every other American citizen.
A&E Building a Life ‘From Nowhere’ By Jacalyn Trujillo
The whirlwind movie about undocumented students struggling to break the barrier of deportation, “From Nowhere,” written and directed by Matthew Newton, tells the story of how citizenship holds three teens from having a normal high school experience in the Bronx. Newton effective ly uses each teen’s situation to illustrate the struggle of reaching the American Dream and the support they can receive. The movie conveys a powerful message of the future the teens will have if they receive citizenship. Moussa from New Guin e a , Sophie from the Dominican Republic and Alissa from Peru have to find stories from their past to gain citizenship while fighting for their future. Their English teacher, Jackie, wants to help as much as she can because she sees so much potential in them, so she arranges for a lawyer, Isaac, to meet with them and help them on their paths to gain citizenship through seeking asylum. Moussa’s family has relied on him to be responsible for them ever since his stepfather returned to New Guinea to remarry, leaving the family without financial
stability. Sophie has trouble at home dealing with her uncle’s verbal abuse and lack of love and care. She also has to face domestic violence and sexual abuse from her cousin’s husband, which she does not reveal to anybody. Alissa is valedictorian of her class and has high hopes of pursuing a higher education; her parents had immigrated from Peru in search of a better life. The teenagers’ fears of being discovered by the authorities serves as an example of what undocumented immigrants face in society everyday. Despite all the pressure and fear in their lives, Moussa, Sophia a n d
Alissa’s spirits remain lighthearted and loving towards one another. The rawness of the obstacles that the teens face opens the audience’s eyes to the reality of an immigrant's life and compels the audience to understand that these teens are restricted from living their lives to their fullest potential. Illustration by Angelo Bautista The movie “From Nowhere” features three high school students from different countries trying to gain US citizenship and improve their futures.
Diversity of Sounds: Music to Their Ears
By Amaya Clement Illustrations by Amy Chattaway
There’s rock. And pop. And R&B. And soul. And so much more. There are countless numbers of music genres that everyone can connect to personally and love. Sophomore Sean Freitas loves listening to rock music because of its instrumental sound and the overall meanings of the songs to him. He was introduced to his favorite rock band, Beartooth, at a young age from listening to the radio. “With rock metal, the things they sing about are more relatable to me,” Freitas said.
Seventh grade student Desiree Pekar listens to pop music such as “Stay” by Zedd featuring Alessia Cara and “It Ain’t Me” by Selena Gomez featuring Kygo. Pekar listens to pop because she can easily relate the song lyrics to her life a n d they make her feel connected to others. “I know that I live in a world where everybody has [worries] so when I hear the music it makes me feel like I’m not alone,” she said. Meanwhile, sophomore Keziah Godson prefers soul music. Her favorite soul artist is Adele because the artist’s songs calm her down and take Godson to a whole new world when listening to it. “I love listening to [Adele] because it makes me feel like I’m walking down a street in London while it’s raining,” she said. “It’s super relaxing.”
May 30, 2017
4 IN-DEPTH
May 30, 2017
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Warning of Warming By Henry Nguyen
Photo courtesy of Bloomsbury USA
Trilogy Ends with Fun Tale
By Bianca Lang
“A Court of Wings and Ruin” by Sarah J. Maas is the finale to the trilogy “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” The series follows a human girl, Feyre, as she gets ensnarled in the world of the faeries: lethal, immortal warriors with supernatural powers that live north of her continent, Prythian. Maas did not write this book as a closure of the world of Prythian, but rather as the finale of Feyre’s journey. While some plotlines from the first two books are resolved, more are created and left dangling so that Maas can keep writing in this universe. As Maas has revealed plans to write three more books and two novellas in the world of “A Court of Thorns and Roses,” we can assume those plotlines will be resolved there. Feyre underwent extensive character development in the first two books and has now matured into a confident woman with serious grudges. She has a stable, loving relationship, a large sup-
port group and is working to mend her relationship with her sisters. Because of this, Feyre does not need a character arc during the novel because there is so much conflict with the surrounding characters—conflict that will hopefully be resolved in the other novels. The story takes place in the backdrop of a war. Readers get to experience buildup to the war and then—nothing. Feyre is stuck on a hill during the climax and only comes down when the war is won. This book is a perfect example of why Maas became mainstream as an author: “A Court of Wings and Ruin” is an explosive, fun read with characters you just absolutely adore. We get to see things that were only casually mentioned in the first two books, such as rulers of the other courts and kingdoms. In this book, we see characters that will undoubtedly be brought back for the future novels and novellas. Most satisfying of all, we get to see Feyre’s journey end on a high note.
One of her favorite songs is “Stay” by Rihanna because it related to her when she went through a difficult situation in the past. “I had to leave relationships and friendships when I moved schools and in life there are times when we all have to move physically and emotionally from people and places,” Godson said. “These songs capture how we want people to ‘stay’ in our lives but also cherishing the moments they left in our lives even after they leave.” Seventh grade stu- dent Alyssa Garcia believes that different music genres exist because everyone is different and unique in their own way. “There are so many diverse tastes in music and it’s great because then there is a more diverse community,” Garcia said.
In approximately 50 years, all of the ice in the North Pole will have melted. Imagine the icy poles that have so long been part of our stories and folklore, as well as interests of scientific discovery, undergoing such radical change. Why is this happening? The answer is climate change. From cutting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) funding to assigning government positions to anti-environmental politicians, the current WH administration is neglecting their duty to act on this pressing issue. With Trump’s new proposed budget intending to shutdown the EPA, people are realizing that they need to act before it is too late. March for Science: Fact, not Fiction On April 22, the March for Science promoted the principles of science for the good of the community. Recognized across the nation, the Science March consisted of individual marches across 600 cities including Boston, Washington D.C. and Miami. In San Jose, 10,000 people marched to voice their concern about the declining recognition of science highlighted by the government’s refusal to act on climate change. According to The New York Times, Trump said, “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.” In spite of what the president claims, climate change has existed for decades and it is a scary prospect to know that major politicians are not doing anything to prevent it. Although climate change is a naturally occurring process, The Huffington Post states it has been accelerated by up to 20 times due to the excessive release of fossil fuels, such as car exhaust, in recent decades. Scientists worry U.S. coasts might soon face flooding, with sea levels rising at a rate of about one-tenth of an inch per year, according to National Geographic. As such, it is no surprise California has taken one of the strongest stances against the current administration; global warming is becoming a legitimate danger. The temperature change also harms delicate ecosystems, such as coral reefs, that provide habitats for animals which require a specific temperature to survive. While this does not affect domesticated animals, this may lead to a greater number of endangered wildlife and the destruction of natural habitats, ruining existing parks. Despite the impact of climate change, The Huffington Post states the government has cut the EPA’s budget by 25 percent with the excuse that other domestic issues, such as increased surveillance of Muslim commu-
nities, take priority. However well-intentioned these marches were, The Washington Times states that the week in which they occurred saw some of the highest amounts of trash left in the roads in a long time, equal to that of a large parade. While the march did advocate the importance of recognizing climate change, citizens only add to the problem if they neglect their own contributions, however small they may be. “All the little me’s” How well is UPA doing compared to the nation? The truth is, not much better. With the dissolution of Eco-Squad and the inactivity of Green Team, two of the school’s environmental clubs, things have taken a turn for the worse in regards to our contribution to combat climate change. While much of the recycling was once managed by students, now trash is thrown into the recycling bins in many classrooms and little care is given to distinguishing between trash, paper and recyclables. According to Sascha Scheidegger, whose senior project focused on recycling electronic parts to protect the environment, “Most students are aware depending on how much they look at the news, but they lack incentives to do anything about it.” Scheidegger said one step is to “bring back the AP Environmental Science course. It generally increases student attitudes towards climate change.” The problem of climate change is a daunting one and few students recognize that they are able to act on it. “To empower students to know that they can make a difference is a difficult thing, because we think, ‘Oh little me, I cannot make a huge impact’, but it is all the little me’s together that are going to make a big difference,” Jill Buensuceso, the Life Science teacher, said. UPA once invited the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) to hold a schoolwide assembly about climate change in 2011 that provided motivation to start the Green Team. Buensuceso intends to get into contact with ACE and other organizations to reinvigorate that same spark in new students. “I think that I would not be a teacher if I did not really believe that the youth or students are our future. Student involvement and activity sets the precedent and foundation for their involvement in adulthood,” she said. Let us work together to solve this issue before it becomes too much to handle and we lose our planet for good. Seniors in Green Team are leaving and need to pass on the torch. Anyone passionate about protecting the environment can contact Ms. Buensuceso for more information.
Bring reusable water bottles to school instead of plastic bottles that will collect in landfills.
Pick up all trash after eating lunch and throw it in a nearby trash can.
After washing your hands, only take one to two pieces of paper to save trees.
Illustrations by Angelo Bautista
FEATURES 6 Love Behind the Badge Pacific May 30, 2017
Coast Party, Right?
By Caleb Frahm Children often swarm first responders like police officers on career days, impressed by their uniforms and flashy gear. But for junior Ian Francis, the son of a police officer, law enforcement loses part of its glamour when the job forces his father to be away from home and his family. “I used to stay with my grandma a lot just because my parents worked late nights,” Francis said. “When my dad didn’t come home, I knew he was doing something important. There was a reason he wasn’t home.” Lieutenant Shawn Francis, Ian’s father, has worked for the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office for 20 years and his family deals with anxieties about the job’s dangerous nature and unpredictable hours. “Even from a young age, it’s something you accept because cops get killed and they get injured,” Francis said. “My dad has gotten injured before on the job. I worry about it sometimes, but I understand that it is what it is.” All the time on the job leads police officers to develop unique habits, something eighth grade student Spencer Francis, Ian’s sister, notices about her dad. “When we are at a restaurant,” she said, “he will face the door instead of having his back to it. He doesn’t like not knowing who is behind him.” A long-time friend of Ian, sophomore Nate Weber sees
By Emily Calderon
The stereotypical image that comes to mind when thinking about California is of the long coast that extends for miles with golden sand, bright blue water, and tall palm trees rustling in the wind. For the most part, this image is accurate, and so are three stereotypes about Californians that are represented in the UPA student body.
Photo courtesy of Ian Francis Young Ian and Spencer Francis accompany their father, Shawn Francis, and their mother, Nan Choi, to an event honoring their father’s promotion to sergeant. how Ian’s father and his career has affected Ian as a person. “Ian has a strong sense of right and wrong,” Weber said. “He is more defensive of police in the media and he doesn’t like all cops being generalized [in a bad light].” Media controversy surrounding police brutality affects children of cops strongly,
and Ian gets frustrated because he feels the media does not understand the cops’ perspective. “There are a lot of small details that people don’t really understand because they aren’t cops,” Francis said. Despite controversy in the news, Ian feels proud to be the son of a police officer, something that has not changed since
he was young. When Ian was in elementary school, Francis Sr. would drop off Ian at school in a patrol car and in uniform after coming off work, which excited Ian. “When Ian was a little kid,” Francis Sr. said, “he was very proud. He would say ‘drop me off at the front’ and be very happy about it.”
Secrets Too Tasty to Keep
By Cheyenne Mungaray Illustration by Amy Chattaway
Jamba Juice A fruity mixture of strawberries, soymilk, peach juice, lime, raspberry, pineapple, and orange sherbert leaves a sweet yet tangy flavor on your tongue after drinking the deceivingly colorless white gummy bear drink. Cortney Bowen, an employee at Jamba Juice, has never made a white gummy bear drink, but is aware of how frequently her coworkers have been asked to make the drink. “I don’t think that the Jamba Juice secret menu is that well-known,” Bowen said, “but I think with the increasing popularity of secret menus, more people will start to order drinks like the white gummy bear.” The first sip of this drink was a major and slightly painful shock to the taste buds because I was not prepared for the multitude of sorbets and juices. But what I was most surprised about was that the name of the drink was fitting because it tastes like a liquid gummy bear. I would recommend trying this drink to the fans of gummy candy and sugary sweets. Chipotle A gooey bite of cheese with your favorite type of meat and all of the toppings of a burrito. That’s a quesarito from Chipotle, for only $12.
According to The New Yorker, more consumers want control over what they order and are eating. The quesarito is completely customizable like a regular burrito, but instead of your typically tortilla-wrapped burrito, customers can order a quesadilla in the place of the tortilla. Upon ordering, I received exactly what I had anticipated—a crunchy, cheesy quesadilla with steak and beans inside it. The burrito was filling and impossible to finish, even with a big appetite. I would definitely recommend purchasing this item as an alternative to the typical burrito. Starbucks Starbucks’ Grasshopper Frappuccino is an Instagram-worthy secret menu drink that is guaranteed to make others green with envy. The drink is a twist on mint chocolate chip ice cream and is a treat in comparison to other Starbucks drinks. Made from a mocha frappuccino and topped with java chips and a couple of peppermint extract pumps, this makes it a fresh take on a cold drink. The Grasshopper Frappuccino was a recommendation from freshman Faith Villarin, who said, “I would recommend this to others because the drink is just really good and it’s much more interesting and tasty than just a mocha frappuccino.”
Californians have long and complicated drink orders. With drink orders longer than five words, most Californians require full attention from the barista while ordering their drink. Junior and coffee shop fanatic Kenneth Madrigal admits to having to say his order slowly to the barista to ensure that it is written down correctly. “I used to order a triple grande three pump mocha frappuccino with mocha drizzle,” Madrigal said. “The people behind you judge you because of the weird and long order you made.” Californians have strict diets. Good news for any vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free Californians out there: finding food to fit your diet is easier in California compared to other states. Senior Isabella Clark attributes the difference to the variety of cultures throughout the golden state. “Finding vegan food in California is so easy,” Clark said. “I go Whole Foods all the way. It’s pretty expensive, but I’ve dealt with the high prices for a while, so it doesn’t really faze me anymore.” Clark became vegan because she does not agree with meat industry practices and does not want to support animal cruelty. “I’m so vegan that I don’t even use bug repellant,” Clark said. “I’d rather have mosquitoes eat me to death because they’re just trying to survive.” Californians embrace the laid-back surfer look. Search for “California surfer guy” on Google and a multitude of blond, long-haired men with tans and sixpack abs will show up. Junior Tyler Jacobsen has come to adopt this distinct style, and attributes it to living in California. “I wear flip flops because they’re comfortable and it’s warm most of the year,” Jacobsen said. “I don’t really style my hair; I just let it do what it wants.” Even though he has embraced the surfer look, Jacobsen does not know how to surf, but those who have him on Snapchat know he does enjoy a variety of other outdoor activities. “I usually like to go mountain biking, hiking, or camping because of the diversity of the terrain here in California and the mountains are so close,” Jacobsen said.
SPORTS
May 30, 2017
7
Raiders Fans Grumble Over Oakland’s Fumble By Bhargav Venkatraghavan Anger erupted within the Bay Area community along with disappointment among some UPA students when the Oakland Raiders decided to move to the $2.3 billion Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas at the start of the 2019 NFL season. Fans like junior Noah Flores are disappointed with the decision because they have supported the Raiders for years. “[I have been a Raiders fan] all my life,” Flores said. “My dad was a Raiders fan so I couldn’t follow another team.” Freshman Kevin Benjume, a Raiders fan since first grade, did not like the news when he first heard it. “I got mad, but you can’t really do anything about it except blame the owner [Mark Davis],” Benjume said. Raiders fans are angry at the move since they are not willing to let go of their emotional connection with the team. “When you watch the Raider’s games, they fall behind in the first half, but when you watch the second half, they keep attacking to come back and win the game,”Flores said.
“I feel that I have been Although fans have perable to incorporate this sonal reasons for their disap[perseverance] into the pointment, Raider fans such work I do at school because as freshman Samuel Hagos I work hard to achieve anysee the benefits of moving a thing I put my mind to.” franchise for the NFL. The competitive spirit Hagos realizes that the of the Raiders will no lonRaiders moved cities in an ger be present in the Bay effort to increase the viewerArea, which has disapship of football. pointed fans. “More viewers would in“In the first or second crease the popularity for the quarter, you would generNFL along with the money Photo courtesty of Noah Flores ally think that the game is as well. I mean they are movNoah Flores (left) and his father attend a Raidover, because the Raiders ing to [Las] Vegas, after all,” ers game in Oakland in November to watch will be down by a touchHagos said. their favorite team play. down, but during the third Even though Oakland will quarter, they will increase lose a famous football team, their offensive intensity and increase the tension in the fans still have optimism for the future of the Raiders. game,” Benjume said. “I personally feel that this tension “Regardless of what happens, at my heart, Oakland is what makes the game more interesting and to hear that Raiders will always be Oakland Raiders, so I will continue there will no longer be that competition in Oakland; it’s to root for them,” Flores said. very sad.”
Defeat Female Athlete Review & Preview Stereotypes #LikeAGirl By Isabella Cayabyab
Photo courtesy of Amrita Sivia Amrita Sivia (11, center) blocks her opponent during a Regionals tournament in May at the San Mateo Convention Center while playing for City Beach Volleyball Club. Sivia also plays volleyball for UPA. By Jessica Ponce Most girls stop playing sports by the time they hit puberty due to a variety of factors, one being pressure from the stereotype that their bodies are meant to build families, not be tackled down or shoved around. Well-known feminine products brand Always launched its #LikeAGirl campaign in June 2014, and has gained popularity ever since, as it advises girls to not take the phrase “like a girl” as an insult and encourages them to continue to play sports af-
ter they hit puberty. “On top of feeling they need to stop something they often love, girls are then robbed of the benefits of playing sports, which is one of the strongest confidence-building activities at a time when they need it most,” according to Always’ #LikeAGirl campaign website. There are two common stereotypes female athletes face: women’s sports are inferior to men’s sports, and women are weaker than men. “Athletics, competition, strength, and team sportsmanship have been deemed appropriate traits within the ‘manly domain,’” researcher Kristin Wilde wrote in a 2007 paper. “As a result, many girls and women avoided taking part in sports.” Amrita Sivia, a junior and long-time volleyball player, both in and out of school, agrees with Wilde’s ideas. “I think both stereotypes are completely false and unfair, as well as they completely underestimate the power of women and girls and undermine our capabilities and strength to do whatever we put our mind to,” Sivia said. Female-dominated sports, like dance and cheerleading, require a combination of precision, fluidity and strength. These abilities are also necessary for male-dominated sports, like basketball and football. Today, an increasing number of women play sports and continue to break stereotypes for the benefit of future generations. For example, junior Kaylyn Robertson participates in boxing, a sport that people consider to be just for males. “Who cares about what people call you or tell you?” Robertson said. “If you love something, you should always strive to it no matter what.”
ATTENTION GOLDEN EAGLES
Here are some important dates and times for the upcoming fall sports:
Aug. 1 @ 1 p.m. Girls varsity volleyball conditioning begins Aug. 14 @ 6 p.m. Mandatory athlete/parent meeting in the Horton Aug. 21-23 @ 3 p.m. Middle school girls volleyball tryouts Aug. 21-23 @ 4 p.m. Girls varsity volleyball tryouts Aug 21-23 @ 4 p.m. Girls and boys varsity cross-country tryouts
Boys Varsity Volleyball The young and inexperienced boys varsity volleyball team ended the season with an overall 4-4 record. The new team had no seniors, and coach Tom Guevara thanked the returning juniors for the team’s success. “We had some solid junior returners that were the backbone of the team,” he said. Because most of the players were underclassmen, Guevara had to teach basic skills during practices instead of working solely on technique. “I figured that in the beginning of the year it was going to be a building year,” Guevara said. However, Guevara is excited for the next season now that he is familiar with his team and their capabilities. “We’re going to have a different year next year,” Guevara said. “We’re really looking forward to hitting the ground running.” Middle School Volleyball Middle school sports play short seasons due to teams not being registered in a league affiliation. However, this short season did not faze the middle school girls Volleyball team as they ended their season with an overall 3-0 record. Player Emani Byrd believes the teammates’ relationships with each other off the court helped fuel their success on it. “We were able to have chemistry on the court and work well together,” the eighth grader said. After becoming familiar with each other’s playing styles, the girls dominated their season. “We had gotten over the nervousness of our first game, and we played very strongly with each other,” Byrd said. The middle school boys vol-
leyball team played a short and tough season, ending with a 0-4 record. Player Eric Xia said the team underwent challenges that affected the season’s outcome. “We originally had nine players,” the eighth grader said, “but they all didn’t join, which left us with five players.” Along with the fact that the team was significantly small, some of those players were inexperienced. “Most of our players didn’t know how to play volleyball,” Xia said. Although the team did not do so well in the season, Xia was proud of how the team developed. “Even though we lost most games, our team improved significantly throughout the season,” he said. Fall Sports Preview Athletic Director Bill Fowler said all middle school sports will now be registered into a league with regularly scheduled games. “This new league affiliation will change the time of year when each sport is offered,” Fowler said. This means middle school girls volleyball will become a fall sport, middle school boys and girls basketball will become winter sports, and middle school boys volleyball will become a spring sport. Fowler also said UPA’s Athletics Program will implement changes in order to give longer seasons. “Varsity girls and boys crosscountry will now have five meets total as opposed to four in previous years,” Fowler said. These changes have been done to help improve the sports programs at UPA. “Our focus as an Athletics Program is to ensure that quality sports programs are offered to the students,” Fowler said.
TRENDING
May 30, 2017
8
Which Rollercoaster Are You? Do it for the ‘Gram By Adanna Abraham-Igwe
Find the perfect rollercoaster for you at Great America by starting at the red box and answering the questions.
People Watching
Santana Row: Often bus- because of the shade.” Genio tling with people, the outdoor loves to shop and eat at Santana shopping mall has more than 70 Row, but even when she is not shops, different spending monrestaurants, spas, ey, the mall’s and Hotel Valenatmosphere cia, all designed and appearbeautifully and ance draw her serve as chic there to take places for picpictures. “It’s tures. an area where “It’s really you don’t have classy,” senior to buy anyKayla Genio Photo by Bailey Lewis thing but you said. “The best pictures can still feel would be that wall by Anthropol- pretty,” she said. ogy or in that plaza by Pinkberry
Pacific Coast
Pebble Beach: Three miles west of Carmel-by-the-Sea City, Pebble Beach is well known for golf courses, the popular picture spot of the Lone Cypress tree, and stunning scenery. “There’s nice plant life and really pretty flowers,” 8th grader Nazhah Mir said, “The beach is really nice too so I like to take
Photo courtesy of Kiana Saqui pictures there.” Mir specifically loves taking pictures on the 17 mile drive through Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach. Throughout the drive, visitors can stop at different locations to take photos of the the scenic coastline and the Del Monte Forest.
Cityscape
A Colorful Adventure
By Farrah Moreno Illustration by Amy Chattway
Color fills the air as runners get closer to the finish line and excitement bubbles within. Unity has formed between friends and family throughout the color-
filled landscape. Sophomore Annelise Kamm plans to participate in her first color run with her friends this summer. “I want to do the color run because it is a way of exercising without it feeling like you are,” she said. “It is also a really good reason to get you out of the house and still feel like you are being productive.” The popular color run stems from an ancient Hindu tradition, Holi, which is celebrated by sophomore Tushar Lakshminarayanan and his family, among other students. “[Holi] is based off of a legend where the god Vishnu kills two evil demons, and frees a demon’s son,” Lakshminarayanan said. “It celebrates triumph over evil. The abundance of colors is because Holi is the celebration of colors, and it relates back to the Indian legend where people would celebrate with colors.” The color run itself celebrates
healthiness, happiness and individuality, and a large percentage of the proceeds are donated to charities. The abundance of colors used by the Color Run organization illustrates their desire for unification and happiness for all of their participants. Junior Fernando Amador attended a color run with his friends and family last July at the Santa Clara Fairground to experience the run for himself. “I truly recommend you go out and experience it for yourself,” Amador said. “My very first run was a success. You really don’t have to be a runner to enjoy the run, just grab a friend or two and enjoy the music.” If you are interested in attending any of the runs in The Bay Area, some upcoming ones are the Bubble Run on June 10, the Color Run Festival on July 10, and the Mud Run in July. Although these runs can be expensive, do not let that stop you from participating, the cost is definitely worth the fun. Groupons, as well as early bird specials, are available for the runs and can lower the cost.
Clarion Alley: “One thing I by a very diverse group of artists, love most about San Francisco is and make great backgrounds in how art oriented it is,” freshman pictures. Around the city, more Meghana Bellam said, who dis- picture worthy locations can be covered found at Clarion places like Alley. Crissy The Field and a l l e y ’s Lombard art piecStreet. es com“I think municate people unique love visitmessaging San es proFrancisco moting because socioPhoto courtesy of Meghana Bellam there are economso many ic and environmental justice. things going on in one city,” The pieces each hold their Bellam said. “You’ll never run own style, have been produced out of things to do there.”
Seascape
Carmel-by-the-Sea: Whenever she visits the small beach city 75 miles south of San Jose, freshman Kiana Saqui feels as though she is in Hawaii. “I love going to Carmel because the weather is so nice and the ocean is one of my favorite places to take pictures,” she said. Beautiful picture spots are lo-
Photo by Farrah Moreno cated all over the beach and the European-style village. There are scenic trails and parks where visitors can run, walk, hike, and relax while capturing the moment in breathtaking photos. “It’s really chill there,” Saqui said. “Everyone is so nice.”