aquila
University Preparatory Academy’s
Volume V, Issue II
www.upaaquila.com
February 10, 2016
Winter Showcase Exhibits UPA Talent
Photo by Natalie Guggemos Anoushka Dave and Aghalya Narayanan take the stage.
Photo by Natalie Guggemos Freshman Olivia Butler stands below her art masterpiece. Photo by Natalie Guggemos Catlain Tran paints a wonderful picture of the crisp night sky, illustrating the details with wonderful colors. By Ashley Phuong On a chilly winter night, students, parents, and teachers alike came together to appreciate the talent and hard work of UPA’s students at the Winter Arts Showcase on Jan. 14th in the Horton Auditorium. The showcase displayed the various works of art created by students involved in visual arts, multimedia, and dance. Outside of the auditorium, different styles of art including masks, charcoal drawings, and watercolor paintings produced by students were on display. After having time to view the artwork, attendees moved into the theater and waited for the show to begin. Among the performances were several student-produced music videos, a song set, and dance per-
Photo by Natalie Guggemos Sitara Bellam illustrates a beautiful flower for the showcase. formances of numerous genres. “It was truly amazing to see [students’] hard work come to fruition,” said Karen Crump, the organizer of the event and UPA’s visual arts teacher. The participants in the show-
case also felt astounded by the experience. “Although I made some mistakes in my performance, I still very much enjoyed dancing in front of my audience, and I felt proud of not only myself but also
The classes that will be taught in these new classrooms are AP World History, 9th grade World Geography, AP Government, as well as Advisory classes. “I haven’t heard a lot about the new classrooms but the additions are exciting and I can’t wait to use them,” freshman Lawrence Nguyen said. Teachers Michelle Maa and Kimberly Gavin will be moving their classes to the new location near the gym and office. Maa thinks it is wonderful that
the school will have more classrooms to accommodate teacher and student movement. “I’m excited to have a classroom all to myself, even if it is only for a few months,” history teacher Maa said. These new classrooms will reduce with constant switching of teachers between buildings as they currently share the already existing classrooms among themselves. The other new classrooms will be located next to the Hor-
other students who participated in the showcase,” said freshman hip-hop dancer Anoushka Dave. The showcase began with the presentation of music videos created by students in Angelica Murillo’s multimedia classes for their first semester finals. Among these were a video to “La La Land” by Demi Lovato, which depicted a young student learning to accept herself in a society that shames those who deviate too far from the standard, as well as another video to “What Is Love” by Haddaway, which showed the mourning of a boy whose ex-girlfriend died. Afterward, Carissa Borrego, Virginia Cater, and Mayura Panjalingam performed a song set consisting of “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith, “Pompeii” by Bastille, “I’m A Mess” by Ed Sheeran, and “You And I” by Lady
Gaga. The main singer, Borrego, also sang an original composition, “18,” which told the story of a military soldier returning home. Following the beautiful tunes were a series of dance performances. Freshmen Annie Tong, Alina Torres, Amaya Clement, Anna Trinh, and Amy Chattaway started off the dance segment by performing a dramatic interpretation of “Sometime Around Midnight” by The Airborne Toxic Event. Next, freshmen Dave and Aghalya Narayanan performed an energetic hip-hop dance to the song “Trap Queen” by Fetty Wap. Their performance closed the show perfectly and with a final touch. The Winter Arts Showcase displayed the greatest talents and creative minds of UPA and “was an extremely enjoyable experience,” said sophomore Hephzibah Dadala.
Expanding Horizons by Expanding Our Campus By Angelique Garcia UPA has experienced little cosmetic change to the campus since it was opened 8 years ago. However, for the first time in years, four new classrooms are opening that will be utilized by the students on campus by March. The entire office building will be integrated as part of the UPA campus, meaning that the PE classes will be able to use the bathrooms that are located in the same building.
ton Youth Center and underneath Cornell, the computer lab The big difference will be in the technology. “We expect to have projectors attached to the ceiling including speakers. Also, the media center will be state-of-the-art with charging stations and a wall comprised of 6 HDTV’s,” Executive Director Dan Ordaz said. Students will have access to different forms of technology, which could be incorporated into their curriculum.
There are high expectations for these new classrooms. “About three years back when we started to increase enrollment the need for more classroom space became very apparent,” said Ordaz. UPA’s new classrooms should be finished by February and populated with students from all grade levels. With the addition of these new classrooms, there will be other resources that will further supplement students’ education at UPA.
2 News Winter Formal Celebrated in Style La, La, page
By Olivia Foreman Despite frigid temperatures outside, UPA high school and middle school students heated up the dance floor at the Winter Formal, held January 30 from 7-10 P.M. at the Willow Glen Community Center. Students may have recognized the venue, as it was used for the Halloween dance as well as previous dances. Every class was represented at the event, with well-dressed youth crowding the dance floor. A live DJ hosted the party, accompanied by pizza, sodas, and sweets. Students “watched their step” as they Hit the Quan and performed their best Drake impersonations during Hotline Bling. “What made this dance unique was the formal wear, it was fun to see everyone dressed up,” said ASB Spirit President Hailey Allen, adding that the student government chose to make the event formal, bringing back a theme from years past. 2013 was the last year that
UPA hosted a formal dance open to all students. “ASB has not done a formal for several years and we decided to host one this year,” said the ASB Spirit President. The vast majority of attending girls asked were excited to dress up, even planning their outfits, makeup and hairstyles months in advance. “I spent hours before trying different makeup and hairstyles and trying on all kinds of dresses to prepare,” said junior Joy Montes de Oca. There were, however, a few holdouts from the male students, although with most of the attendees did dress up. The Winter Formal was the final dance open to all students this year, leaving only the Junior and Senior Prom left in May. “I love going to all UPA dances, no matter what, and can’t wait for the dances to come!”, said Montes de Oca. Whether it was the Homecoming Dance, Halloween Dance, or Winter Formal, UPA students celebrated in style, thanks to a strong
La Lia By Jami Lomeli
Photo by Diana Freslassie Sophomores Jorge Perez and Nayeli Nieblas had fun at the dance, rocking stylish outfits and enjoying the music. ASB team planning with creative a huge success, offering opportupassion. nities for fun, fellowship and fesMost students agree that the tivities. dances this school year have been
Photo by Diana Freslassie Friends Ruth Bizuneh (11), Akeiylah DeWitt (12), and Jessica Kapi (12) enjoy time together at the dance.
Photo by Diana Freslassie Christian Tucker-Allen and Lynneah Douthit take a break from dancing and smile for a quick photo.
By Emily Hung
which is energy possessed by a body, students in groups of four or five were asked to efficiently maintain the motion of a marble for the longest amount of time. The roller coasters were presented on Jan. 13 and 14 during periods one, six and seven in Georgia Tech. Senior Adam Sprintz informed that the slowest marble took 39.9 seconds to travel through the roller coaster. Coincidentally, limits were set so it could not be higher than eighteen inches, and exceed a width and length of six inches. Although it might sound hard to make one out of paper and tape, senior Jessica Kapi thought it was a memorable experience. “Fun and education [were] intertwined unknowingly,” she acknowledged. “I think the fact that my students don’t stop working when class is over really says it. They even come after school to work
Rollercoasters Thrill in Physics In physics teacher Thomas Clark’s classes, students have created roller coasters to thoroughly understand what they are currently learning about. “In Physics, we are [studying]
motion and gravity and having something to create will better grasp the topic. The teacher can teach from his experiences, but if we don’t aesthetically do it, we won’t really understand it,” Kapi said. Given some potential energy,
Photo by Adam Sprintz Seniors Neha James (left) and Sitara Bellam construct a paper rollercoaster in Thomas Clark’s Physics class.
on it,” Clark added. He stated that these roller coasters need to be given constraints on time and space, for people can really get carried away. Even though they may be exciting to make, they are still relevant to the current topic the students are learning. Building these complex contractions could prove difficult, but with the right kind of group, the limits are endless. “A lot of people are more hands on and they can explain best after doing it,” Clark informed. For future physics students, it is not necessary to have skills in building, though having an imagination could be helpful. “I don’t necessarily believe you would need a vivid imagination, but it would still require [some] imagination because anything with building needs it,” said junior Braden Dalit.
Lia Bizuneh. Determined, affable and perhaps even an open-book. From volunteering at the library, to being her eighth grade class valedictorian, to sacrificing her summer to tend to special needs children, Bizuneh demonstrates her love to be consistently active through these activities. At 17 years old, she may seem like an ordinary high school student attending a prep school, but her family and adventures have lead her to the prominent place in which she is today. In 2010, Bizuneh went to visit where her ancestors are from. “We went on vacation to Ethiopia and my family and I were eating cornflakes and all of a sudden a monkey, from the tree on top, swooped down and took all of our corn flakes,” Bizuneh said, laughing. Her trip to Ethiopia, or her “motherland” as she puts it, was an unforgettable trip, considering she got to meet her family and visit a foreign country. As a prideful person, both Bizuneh and her friend for the past years, Saron Tedla, share their love for their country as something in common. “We have plenty of memories together but I’d say one of the greatest ones would be the things we did during the junior trip like sneaking out of our room after curfew or having a dance party at two in the morning,” Tedla. Tedla and Bizuneh have been friends for about 5 years, and their friendship thrives on their hilarious memories. “People will remember Lia by her laugh, every moment is a happy moment with this one, she is just so positive and encouraging,” Bizuneh’s sister, Lisa Bizuneh, said. According to her sister, Bizuneh once had a unique experience on a plane to Ethiopia. Her entire family was on their way to vacation when the flight was experiencing some turbulence. While her family and all of the passengers were praying for their lives, Bizuneh held her positivity by finding the entire situation funny. The people in Bizuneh’s life believe that she will pass through life with flying colors. “My greatest hope for Lia is that she will turn up in college, fulfill all of her dreams, and be able to do everything she has ever wanted to do in her future,” Tedla says. The support of her friends and family has led Bizuneh’s dedication to her studies and hope for making a difference in Ethiopia and in the medical field.
Editorial UPA’s AQUILA
The Aquila is a studentproduced and student-edited high school newspaper. It serves as a designated public forum for student expression.
Managing Editor: Juli Rendler
In-Depth Editor: Ashley Phuong Editorial Editor: Diana Rendler Features Editor: Olivia Foreman A&E Editor: Jade Chavez Lifestyles Editor: Emily Hung
By Prajesh Sharma Despite what people say, there is virtually no point in playing or watching sports. In fact, sports have contributed to lawlessness which includes the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids, blood doping and, in some cases, assault. According to research done by The Foundation for Global Sports Development, “athletes
Broadcast Editor: Isabella Wilkinson Production Editor: Meklit Moges
Photo Editor: Diana Freslassie Staff Photographers: Natalie Guggemos, Adam Sprintz, Diana Freslassie Staff Writers: Carlo Barrera, Nebiu Bizuneh, Alec Blackwell, Jacob Cayabyab, Joshua Cheah, Katherine Donnellan, Angelique Garcia, Natalie Guggemos, Jami Lomeli, Sitara Marathay, Rithwik Nichenametla, Nicole Rendler, Prajesh Sharma, Megan Wescoat Advisor: Laura Gordon Reska CONTACT US (408) 723-1839 2315 Canoas Garden Ave. San Jose, CA 95125 aquila@upatoday.com www.upaaquila.com www.youtube.com/aquilabroadcast
Check out the online edition at www.upaaquila.com, where you can find photo galleries of UPA events, new videos produced by the student broadcast team, and webexclusive articles.
will sometimes turn to steroids to quickly gain an edge in their sport. But the effects can be farreaching and detrimental to a young athlete.” Not only is the use of steroids cheating, but it has harmful and irreversible effects on the user’s body. Steroids cause aggressive behavior, and an excess of testosterone and other hormones which cause breast development in males, masculine features in females, and other side effects. Because of these reasons, the possession of steroids without a prescription is a federal crime in the United States and has been so since 1990. Despite this, athletes, including high schoolers illegally take steroids to increase testosterone.
Something else athletes do which some consider cheating is blood doping. Blood doping is when someone increases the amount red blood cells in their body to enhance athletic performance. Since blood doping is not a drug, it cannot be traced, but is still illegal. Sports also cause violence, which sometimes leads to the death of both athletes and fans. In 2011, two Giants, fans Louie Sanchez and Marvin Norwood, assaulted a Dodgers fan Bryan Stow over a baseball game, resulting in permanent brain damage. Judge George Lomeli told the two “One day you will be released, and Mr. Stow will forever be trapped in the condition you
left him in.” It is extremely silly that people would brutally assault someone over a simple game. Despite the lawlessness created by sports, there are still some good qualities of sports. Junior Jared Almogela said “Sports are at least in my eyes a reminder that life can break my bones, brain, or heart. It’ll never break my spirit” Even though Almogela feels sports can never alter his character, it does not excuse athletes who insist on believing they are above the law. Sports have increased the use of blood doping, steroids and violence over the years.
A Way to Avoid Punishment: Be White, Wealthy and Privileged
Copy Editors: Angelo Bautista, Nicole Darvin
Web Editors: Sven Kuhne, Flavio Quintero
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Sports Contribute to Lawlessness, Drug Use
Editor-in-Chief: Sydney Harder
News Editors: Anton Loeb, Tyler Jacobsen
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Feb. 10, 2016
By Sydney Harder On the seemingly normal night of June 15, 2013 on a narrow, two-lane country road, the fates of four Texan families intertwined in a tragic car accident. Fueled by a blood alcohol content of .24― three times the legal limit for adults― and the high spirits from a raging party at his home, then-16-year-old Ethan Couch recklessly plowed into a disabled Mercury Mountaineer and killed four bystanders. The victims were good samaritans; each had been offering assistance to 24-year-old Breanna
Mitchell, the owner of the crashed Mountaineer, when Couch’s pickup truck abruptly ended their benevolent deeds. In a world ruled by justice rather than privilege, Couch would have been tried in an adult court and received a jail term commensurate with the weight of his heedless actions. In disturbing reality, however, Couch was only sentenced to 10 years of probation and initially referred to Newport Academy Rehabilitation Center, a luxurious environment in sunny Southern California that offers horseback riding and unlimited massages, among other preferential treatments. Since when did the Constitution grant five-star vacations to thoughtless killers? According to his defense attorney, Couch, the product of entitlement and a spoiled upbringing, was not deserving of the typical criminal punishment given
to those who commit vehicular manslaughter. Cushioned by wealth and coddled by irresponsibility, Couch suffered from a severe case of “affluenza”, his defense claimed. In other words, his gargantuan wealth excused him from the consequences. Originally coined by critics of consumerism, “affluenza” is a metaphorical illness used to describe the supposed inability of wealthy, young individuals to ascertain right from wrong. This fake illness not only reinforces the idea that privileged youth can glide through life without learning from their mistakes and deepening their character, but has also set a precedent for a double standard for the rich and poor in the courtroom. If the catalyst in this fatal chain-reaction accident had been a teenager from a lower socioeconomic stratum, perhaps an African-American or the child of
a broken home, it is unlikely that the court would have excused them with a mere tap on the wrist. The implication that wealth can supercede the justice system unfairly elevates affluenza “sufferers” to a throne exempt from the universal rules of moral conduct. Couch’s light sentence has undermined and made a mockery of equality under the law, a fundamental pillar of American democracy. Money cannot buy happiness, but above all else, it should not buy an escape from due punishment. Update: Ethan Couch violated his probation in December 2015 and was found in the resort city of Puerto Vallarta with his mother on Dec. 28. He arrived back in Texas on Jan. 28 and a hearing will be held on Feb. 19 to determine whether his case will be transferred to the adult system.
Shots Fired: The Colorfully Positive Pastime Called Paintball
By Alec Blackwell Paintball is the third most played extreme sport in the world, and it is played around the world by millions of men and women. This sport was first developed in the early 1960s, was created by the Nelson Paint Company, and has since evolved into a global phenomenon. It is a game in which two teams battle against each other using guns that shoot projectiles called “paintballs”. The goal of the game is to eliminate all of the opposing team’s players. When players enter the paintball field, they can feel the rush
of adrenaline building up inside of them. Once the game starts, all players on both teams are unleashed, duking it out in an intense battle. Personally, I believe that paintball is not a solo game; what makes it interesting is the fact that everybody on the field has to work together to beat the opposing team. Whenever I need to find a relief from the stress of school and society, I play paintball to relieve me from that stress. It allows me to meet new people, make new friends, and acquire new opportunities. For those of us who do not like to exercise, paintball is a great way to burn calories and have fun while doing it. On average, a player can burn about 420 in just one hour of playtime. So, in only 7 hours of playtime, you could burn approximately 3,000 which is equivalent
to 1 pound of fat. During paintball, the player is forced to keep moving and running in order to avoid being bunkered (maneuver in which the player is cornered in their position). Additionally, Paintball is considered one of the safest sports in the world, even more than volleyball. The sport is safer because of the gear provided to the players, and during the game referees keep their eyes peeled for any dangerous events by stopping or halting the game in progress. The players are outfitted with a paintball gun, protective gear, and a certain amount of paintballs (number depends on the paintball company the player chooses to play at). However, the sport can be extremely dangerous. If a player removes their protective mask inside of the field, exposing their eyes and mouth, it
could be extremely dangerous for that player which is why the facemask which is essential no matter the occasion. This is the reason why the referees are there to help any player if there is any trouble. Unlike the mask, chest, leg, and arm protective gear are completely optional. A great place to play paintball is Santa Clara Paintball, the referees and cashier workers are very kind and friendly to everybody, the referees are very wary of their players and their well beings. The average price of 1 person to play is about $55. You can take it from me and all of the other people who play or have played paintball that Santa Clara Paintball is the best place to play paintball in the Bay Area. Paintball is a sport meant to be played by everyone; it is an amazing way to meet new people, relieve stress, and exercise without even realizing it.
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Spirited Away
UPA’s winter Spirit Week transports students back in time, from the jazzy ‘20s to the rockin’ ‘80s, with a dash of color
UPA eighth graders display their class pride by wearing green and indulging in the festivities during the energetic spirit week. By Natalie Guggemos UPA flashed back to the iconic years with Decades Spirit Week, including the 20’s, 50’s, 60’s, and 80’s. Students were spotted all over campus showing school pride with wacky and fun outfits. Freshman Amaya Clement dressed up on Wednesday, showing her proud school spirit. Dressed up as a greaser from the 50’s, she used clothes that she already owned to complete her look. The ASB representative for 10th grade, Lisa Bizuneh walks us through her thoughts.
“Spirit week was inspired by iconic fashion trends throughout the decades,” Bizuneh explained. Her favorite spirit day was the 60’s because of the various bold trends throughout the decade. Also, she gave us a hint about future spirit days, including cultural day. While creating this spirit week the team hadn’t “come across any problems, but the main question that we had to address was which decades to include,¨ expressed Bizuneh. Two exciting events that she had been excited for were, “[The] lip sync dance battle of the classes and the Winter Masquerade Ball,
because they were so much fun!” said Bizuneh. Over the course of the spirit weeks she witnessed, “I see that a lot of people tend to feel more comfortable in what they are wearing, even if there is a theme they get to follow,¨ stated Bizuneh. Dancers were at the top of their game, battling it out to see who was the best. Dance groups from all grades danced along to genres such as Rock, EDM, R&B, and Country. Songs ranged from Hannah Montana, Skrillex, Beyonce, to Fetty Wap. Freshman dancer Kyle Lopez
Photo by Diana Freslassie The seniors, led by Erin Wilson, showcase their dancing capabilities in the Battle of the Classes.
showed moves at the rally and helped lead his grade to victory. He started dancing five years ago and helped organize the dance for 9th grade. “Hard work pays off,” Lopez said, thanking all who participated. The ninth graders were in a tie with the 12th graders for the dance-off. Both teams showed enthusiasm and effort in their dances, so the choice was hard. The freshmen couldn’t choose who should freestyle to All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor. In the end, Alyssa Roman was chosen to freestyle dance; out of Kyle Lopez, Krizel Tomines, and
Photo by Diana Freslassie Russo Hernandez; and showed off her breakdancing talents to the music. She has been dancing since she was 10 and loves breakdancing. When she had been chosen, she recalled that she just “went along” and showed off her moves. When she found out her grade had won, Alyssa was surprised and thanked everyone for the encouragement. Regardless of who won, so we can all agree that our school certainly has strong spirit, and cool dance moves.
Photo by Diana Freslassie Seniors Akeiylah DeWitt, Sydney Harder, and Arianna Kotlier surprise teacher Sandra Trotch with posters full of kind words.
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Feb. 10, 2016
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Photo by Diana Freslassie Carissa Borrego and Brenna Bennett display their elegant style.
Photo by Diana Freslassie Juniors Joy Montes de Oca, Tiernan McMahon, and Illahay Jalali recreate the ‘20s with their stylish fashion on Monday of Spirit Week.
Photo by Diana Freslassie Teachers Loren Schwinge, Richard Prizznick, Ariana Rodriguez, and Nicole Sebek judged dance performances during the rally.
Photo by Diana Freslassie Seniors Lia Bizuneh, Saron Tedla, Ambriana Grider, and Julia Regalado slay in their ‘80s outfits. On Thursday of Spirit Week, bright colors and leg warmers were prominent across campus.
Photo by Diana Freslassie Alex Ruiz and teacher Nicole Sebek show off their ‘80s gear.
Photo by Diana Freslassie Seniors Sydney Harder and Arianna Kotlier stretch their legs in their neon ‘80s outfits.
Photo by Diana Freslassie Russo Hernandez, Tushar Lakshminarayanan, and Kyle Lopez rocked the freshmen routine.
Features
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El Niño: What You Need to Know Before the Storm Hits By Angelo Bautista
Love is in the air, along with heart-shaped balloons, and, well, the dreaded El Niño. But what is El Niño? The Little Boy, in English, is the cold phase of what is known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Ocean Service, “The ENSO cycle is a scientific term that describes the fluctuations in temperature between the ocean and atmosphere in the east-central Equatorial Pacific.” Essentially, El Niño is when ocean surface and atmosphere temperatures deviate from normal ones; it is neither a storm nor a storm spawner, nor a harbinger of doom. El Niño additionally affects worldwide weather and climate.
“April Showers” by Angelo Bautista
Black Excellence: The History Behind the Month By Diana Freslassie It’s finally February! Everyone’s favorite time of year: Black History Month. Originally established by an African-American historian by the name of Carter G. Woodson, Negro History Week quickly expanded into a whole month in honor of the black culture. This week was in honor of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas, with birthdays within this week. Given the discrimination and inequality that African Americans have suffered from throughout history, this month is greatly appreciated by a countless amount of people. We use the month to remember the important contributions and achievements of African Americans throughout our nation’s history. It is crucial that everyone, especially African-Americans are educated about this history, to reassure the older generation that children are completely aware of what happened, and what may happen again. However, there are a range of different opinions upon the existence of this month. “Critics of Black History Month argue that the celebration is shallow, racist and ‘ghettoizes’ black contributions to America in one 28-day period,” states Nadra Kareem Nittle, race relations expert of about.com Given the fact that the intentions of those who celebrate this month are purely appreciative,
anyone who objects this idea does not have a valid reason. UPA Black Student Union president, Ruth Bizuneh argues that the debate of the existence of this month is irrelevant and lacks importance. “This is all the government’s idea. We have never been equal, despite all the ‘rights’ they’ve given us. We can’t even celebrate our history now? This is ridiculous.” said Bizuneh. Bizuneh began to elaborate about her position on whether Black History Month is relevant or not, explaining that as a culture, every African American should feel obligated to stand up for their history and keep it around for our kids and their kids. This month was set aside for African Americans to take time to appreciate their roots, as well as educate others about them. As emphasized by famous activist Marcus Garvey, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” Throughout our history, African Americans have been isolated and segregated, but together they were able to conquer the hatred and continue to excel. Black History Month is a month reserved for African Americans to commemorate and acknowledge their history without disrespect from others. Black History Month is a month dedicated to the beautiful black culture.
Although plenty of people believe that high temperatures are linked to it, El Niño was not responsible for high temperature trends in 2015. Climate Central, an independent organization of scientists and journalists, believes that greenhouse gas emissions were accountable for most of the high temperatures. There are still other significant weather occurrences recently linked to El Niño, such as flooding in South America brought upon by heavy rains. More than 100,000 people fled their inundated homes in Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina, with thousands homeless, and some dead. In the East Coast, the globally recognized blizzard of 2016 necessitated the shutdown of more than 10,000 flights, along with the closing of various highways and major roadways, and caused
power outages for a near 250,000 customers in the frigid weather. However, in regards to these events, El Niño did not travel to and devastate communities; it is not a visible storm that is seen on satellites, but a naturally occurring phenomenon that “causes a pattern change that sometimes leads to more precipitation events through the course of the year,” wrote certified consulting meteorologist Jan Null on his website. Notwithstanding the many malevolent meteorological conditions going about, California has a shot out of its drought if the rain rate continues as it is, and El Niño-driven storms were even a blessing for ski resorts - like Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows and Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe - causing a boom in snow and in California’s skiing economy. So do not fear El Niño. After all, it is just the little boy.
Say ‘Hey’ to Illahay
Photo courtesy of Illahay Jalali Illahay Jalali (left) sits with family during a traditional wedding in India during December 2014. Jalali and her aunt (far right) spend time with the bride and groom, who generally sit during the entire ceremony and have people feed them with Indian desserts, like ladoo or gulab jamun. By Katherine Donnellan
After spending two years in Kashmir, India, lllahay Jalali has come back to America and joined us on the University Preparatory Academy campus for her junior and senior year of high school. Over the course of her life Jalali has been lucky enough to live in India for two years and experience new cultural aspects. While in India, she loved the culture that surrounded her everyday no matter where she went; from the amazing food, paneer being her favorite dish, to the architecture, to the traditional arts and crafts. “India has a lot of culture, so I would like to go back, but just to visit,” said Jalali. She loved being in India, but
in the end she is glad to be back home in California where she grew up. Having the opportunity to live in India exposed Illahay to plenty of new and different cultures that she was not used to and also gave her time to visit and reconnect with family that she has not been able to see in a while. Not only that, but going to school in India was also a new experience for her. Attending school in India also really helped her appreciate and understand the culture more because she got to interact with the youth. “A lot of my family lives in India, so it was great that I got to see them again after such a long time. Being able to spend so much time with my family was one of my fa-
vorite things about being in India, next to the food and all the architecture I saw while I was there,” said Jalali. Almost everyone who has met Jalali can tell you that she is very connected with her family and her culture. “She has told me tons of stories about India and what it was like there,” said Destiny Guerrero, a junior who is a close friend of Jalali’s. Living in India brought Jalali a new understanding of her culture and she now knows more about it than she did prior to her visit. “I can tell that living in India taught my daughter a lot about our culture and that she now has a better understanding of it,” said Jalali’s mom.
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Never Say Never By Adam Sprintz One of the hottest artists on the radio today, Justin Bieber, made a comeback in 2015 following his Driving Under the Influence (DUI) sentence in 2014. Since Bieber’s arrest, people have started enjoying his music more than prior to the arrest.. “His music has improved,” said senior Arianna Kotlier. Bieber started out as a younger, less mature individual who wooed girls at that time. Soon after Justin’s report of jail time, his popularity immediately sunk. Before Nov. 13, the release date of his new album, Purpose, people forgot about Bieber and his music entirely. Immediately, two of his songs, What Do You Mean and Sorry,
could be heard all over the radio and climbed to the top of the charts. Initially, Kotlier thought the new album would be bad, however, after listening through it, Kotlier realized that “his sound was more developed and more mature” than his prior albums. Kotlier thinks his transformation as an individual and celebrity have shifted him to a more selfcentered state. “His tattoos are heinous” and “he’s very full of himself” since he has become popular again, says Kotlier. On the other hand, junior Bonny Huynh says, “I never doubted him and knew this was just a ‘bad boy phase’” to his past 2 years of large media attention. Overall, Bieber’s comeback from deep hatred from the news
How Music Has Shaped Our Lives By Nebiu Bizuneh
Popular music preference has alternated greatly throughout the generations and is still changing today, whether it be in the form of rising genres such as R&B, rap, rock or EDM. While these genres are distinct, they all have one aspect in common: their voices demand to be heard. Music can be interpreted in numerous ways; however, a genre’s ability to be different from others and not a replica of what history has already provided is what creates real impact toward its audience. Music’s greatest attribute is its originality and power to create a voice through sounds. One of those sounds that grew popular was rock ‘n’ roll. Bruce Luttrell, a math teacher at UPA, grew up listening to rock n roll because that is what his generation loved to listen to. Rock ‘n’ Roll had a large impact on his life leading him to join a band during his teenage years. Mr. Luttrell is very comfortable listening to genres that are somewhat related to his generation’s taste and explained “It is difficult for people of my generation to actually like today’s popu-
lar genres of music”. As Luttrell grew older, he began to acknowledge a variety of different genres that stayed close to his generation, such as classical and Motown. Edgar Mendoza, a senior at UPA, said his preferable genres of music are rap and hip-hop. “I don’t like radio played music because it’s too repetitive,” Mendoza said. Mendoza also said his favorite genre was rock in the eighth grade; however, as years went by and he grew older, his genre preference swayed towards rap and hip-hop. Advay Basavaraja, a seventh grader at UPA said he prefers to listen to classical music and has been a fan of it for as long as he can remember. Basavaraja strongly dislikes modern day music and does not believe anyone influenced his liking to classical music. It seems as if even the younger generation has developed a diverse taste in music. Music has made a significant mark on this world that will not be forgotten throughout time. “Music is a sound that has the power to create different emotions through different beats,” Mendoza said.
Illustration by Sven Kuhne Every generation prefers a certain style of music, whether it be jazz, pop, hip-hop, rap, country or even EDM.
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and media has been quite astonishing. Many celebrities never come back from the depths of hatred under the media. For example, Lindsay Lohan, Brian Williams, and Jared Fogel, just to name a few. However, Justin Bieber’s comeback has been extraordinary and it shows in his music.. “I would recommend it [his music] if anyone’s feeling down because his music is really upbeat and brings positive vibes” says Huynh, which are especially prevalent in his new album Purpose. Overall, Bieber has had a turbulent career as an artist and has ended up on a highlight in his journey through the music industry.
Illustration by Sven Kuhne Pop star Justin Bieber continues to work on his reputation and revamping his image after several encounters with the law.
‘The Forest’ Stirs Up Controversy By Nicole Rendler New year, new movies. January opened with the anticipated release of “The Forest” on the eighth day of the new year. Starring Natalie Dormer and Taylor Kinney, this supernatural horror film is based on the “Suicide Forest”, also known as Aokigahara Forest, in Japan. Dormer and Kinney portray characters Sara and Aiden, who venture into the forest with little knowledge of what they are walking into. Throughout the film, they are faced with terrifying hallucinations that exploit their worst fears. After a semi-successful opening weekend, viewers have voiced their disappointment with the casting, plot and use of the
backstory of the forest. Disappointed viewers claim “whitewashing” is present and affects the viewer’s reaction to the movie. Online critic, Joanna Sing (Of gal-dem.com) voiced her opinion on casting. “If [Director, Jason] Zada had gone ahead with this movie as he has, but cast east Asian actors and actresses in the lead roles, I would have been substantially less bothered by the existence of this film” said Sing. Critics seem to share similar opinions, as the film received a 12% rating from Rotten Tomatoes, the movie rating website. While some express discomfort with the casting, they also disagreed with taking a depressing, mournful place, Aokigahara Forest, and warping it into a the setting of a horror film.
Director Jason Zada and writers Ben Ketai, Nick Antosca and Sarah Cornwell, took Aokigahara Forest, and turned it into a psychological thriller. Viewers feel as though this is disrespectful and insensitive to those who have lost anyone because of suicide, in Aokigahara, or anywhere else. It spreads the message that suicide is thrilling, entertaining, and suspenseful. The ratings show that viewers and critics alike disagree with Hollywood’s misuse of the message. “The Forest” may not have been what viewers expected, but it provides an example of a weak point Hollywood can improve on.
Adventure.” Currently, along with the camera, the headset tracks your head movements while simultaneously projecting two 3D images directly to your eyes to provide an immersive environment in which the player experiences the game firsthand. The Oculus Touch controller uses touch sensors to detect individual finger and hand movements to enhance the experience (mapping your movements to the game itself), but will not be released until late 2016 or late 2017. Confusion regarding the price came from the Oculus founder Palmer Luckey’s announcement at an Oculus Connect conference that the Rift would be priced around $350. He later spoke on the contrast
between his initial statements and the announcement itself on a Reddit AMA (where members of Reddit can ask important people various questions on a range of different topics). “During that time, many outlets were repeating the ‘Rift is $1,500!’ line, and I was frustrated by how many people thought that was the price of the headset itself.” “My answer was ill-prepared,” Luckey said on the Reddit AMA. Fortunately, every individual who backed the Rift on Kickstarter, a site established to fund creative projects, will receive a Rift free of charge. With virtual reality’s arrival, the potential for new and exciting experiences in gaming will be limitless.
Virtual Reality Now A Reality By Flavio Quintero
Virtual reality, once a dream of science fiction and video game fans everywhere, is finally right around the corner. Announced by Oculus VR on Kickstarter back in 2012, the Oculus Rift is underway to provide virtual reality on a wider scale than ever before. According to the Oculus website, the Rift is now available for preorder at a price of $600; shipments are set to arrive ideally in March, but due to the extraordinarily large demand for the device, shipments may arrive as late as June or beyond. The Oculus headset itself will come bundled with the Oculus camera, the Xbox One and Oculus controllers, and two games: “EVE: Valkyrie” and “Lucky’s
Lifestyles
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10 Ways to Save Money By Rithwik Nichenametla
You can find Arianna Kotlier’s food on Instagram with the username @theafterschoolchef. You can also find Stephen Tu’s photography at flickr.com. His username is tucan_photography.
Though students do not seem to care much about it, money is the force that controls our daily lives. The moment someone turns fourteen, they become eligible to apply for a work permit. However, practically no one jumps at that opportunity. “I’d rather start working after college,” said junior Gaurav Kumar. If you don’t want to take up a job, but still want cash, then here are ten simple ways to earn money. Keep in mind that any information you submit online is subject to risk, and careful consideration should be used when creating digital accounts. Freelancing: If you have a particular talent or hobby that you want to use to make money, try to freelance. People can post odd jobs that need to be finished online. A freelancers then perform and fulfill these jobs for a generous amount of money. Freelancers can perform random jobs anywhere from translating text, to software development, to graphic design. Some reliable websites are: freelancer.com, guru.com, and elance.com. Web Browsing: There are browsers that offer points (which can be converted into money), just for performing searches. One of the most famous programs that does this is “Bing Rewards”. Bing rewards you with one point for every two searches performed on their browser. Craigslist: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!” Almost everyone has random items that they have absolutely no use for. Why not sell them? Craigslist is a website on which you can post your items for other people to buy. It is the best website to sell on. Post your “trash” online for free on craigslist.com. InboxDollars: InboxDollars is an interactive program that awards you for watching videos, playing games, and shop-
She believes “slang is a way to speak comfortably” and that it is a form of casual language. With the same idea in mind, Noelle Perinet, a freshman, often uses slang with friends. “[Slang words] help informal conversations flow easily,” Perinet said. However, she said she would never consider using it in a formal setting with possible employers or teachers. Slang can include words such as “squad,” “jk,” or even words that may seem outdated to modern teens including “humongous” and “phat,” examples from the 1970s and early 2000s, noted by Sandra Trotch, UPA’s AP English
teacher. Trotch said, “[Slang] can flavor the conversation… making it more intimate,” but if it is used with the wrong group of people “it can detract from a relationship,” implying that word choice has the power to destroy or prevent friendships. On the other hand, this type of informal language can make our lives easier. “I don’t have to type out long words and can shorten them when talking to friends,” explained Perinet. This is necessary in the fast paced society of modern America where those who are not up to
Photo Courtesy of Arianna Kotlier Purple yam, sweet potato, and regular potatoes cut and situated inside of a bowl, ready to be photographed.
Foodtography By Jacob Cayabyab
Click! You shift the plate a little to the side. Click! Now there is sauce on the plate.You wipe it with a napkin. Click! Another angle. Click! Different background. Click! Or that is what it seems like. Food photography has made its way to social media, with people sharing their creations all over the internet. In fact, according to wired. com, the tag #food on Instagram has a staggering 178 million photos. Food photography has become a hobby and for some people, a profession. Several magazines and TV networks, such as the Food Network, have staff for the sole purpose of taking professional pictures of the food. But the amount of work needed to create a visually stunning dish is huge. “Obviously, it’s very time consuming,” Arianna Kotlier, a senior at UPA said. Kotlier runs an Instagram account that posts pictures of food that she makes. Since she was a child, Kotlier has been passionate about her cooking and a healthy lifestyle, and enjoys sharing her creations with her friends online. Senior Tyler Wallace also re-
lates to Kotlier in that they pride themselves in food. While Wallace does not put their culinary creations online, they (disclaimer: this is their preferred gender pronoun) do bake. “A lot of decorating comes into taste,” Wallace said. This means that the decorations and looks of a food can make people believe the food tastes better. Even if the baker does not put in fresh ingredients, decorations can make a dish go from a B to an A in terms of enjoyment. “If something is a boxed mix, people will still think it tastes really good,” Wallace said. Photographer Stephen Tu, a junior, takes a different approach to photography. “A lot of people worry about what’s in it and the position, but I think it’s more about the emotions and what they feel,” Tu said. Tu expanded and said that sometimes simplicity is better. But no matter what you feel about food photography, one thing is for sure: watching the Food Network when hungry is not a good idea.
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ping online. Online Surveys: If you are looking to voice your opinions and make some money while doing it, you should participate in online surveys. These surveys are a great way to earn money quickly. You can do these on mysurvey.com, pineconeresearch.com, and surveyspot. com. Be aware, not all websites are reliable. If you are interested, stick to the websites listed above. Investing: Investing is a way to use your own money to make more money. The Stock Market is unpredictable, but if you get lucky, you can make a lot of money. Look at www.nasdaq. com/investing/how-to-invest. aspx for more information. Be advised that if you invest in the wrong stocks, you could lose a lot of money too. Researching stocks before investing is essential. Sell Your Hair: There are organizations that buy your hair for various purposes. If you are interested, one reliable website to visit is hairsellon.com. Babysit: If you are looking for a way to pass time, babysitting is definitely the way to go. Parents and/or pet-owners are willing to pay if you watch their baby/pet for a few hours. It is an easy way to make money for relatively little work. Recycle: Local stores may pay you if you bring in recyclables or scrap metal. While they may not pay much, if you persevere, a little adds up to a lot. Sell Your Crafts: If you are a creative individual with a lot of free time on your hands, then invest in some art supplies. People buy handmade objects for a lot of money. “Sometimes, I sell homemade baked goods to friends or family,” said Kumar, who can skillfully bake varieties of baked goods. A good place to sell your products, is etsy.com. This is a great way to convert your imagination into cash. There are a lot of different ways to make money without taking up a job. Get a full wallet today!
Squawk Talk: Your Unique Personality in One Song Photos by Diana Freslassie
Ismar Bautista (7) “Purpose” Justin Bieber
Emily Bautista (8) “Crystallize” Lindsey Sterling
Jack Fleig (9) “Doing Time” Sublime
Kidus Michael (10) “Animals” Martin Garrix
OMG Slang Is Affectin’ Yo Lyfe By Nicole Darvin
In modern society, the word “slang” has a variety of meanings. It can be curse words, teen adapted language, or even dialects developed by living in certain environments. It is a deeply entrenched part of our language that continuously evolves over time. But, the real question is: does slang negatively impact our literacy and the quality of our conversations? Molly Buck is a senior who tends to avoid speaking with slang words as she does not find them necessary.
date are left behind in old trends and outdated news. Others believe that slang is not malignant, but the way it is exaggerated in our society causes people to believe there is a direct correlation between slang and illiteracy. “Being shocked about [slang] words gives them power… they’re just words,” Buck stated, discussing society’s obsession with inflating the issues surrounding the use of slang words. The media exploits slang language, making it a larger issue than it has to be. After all, as Buck said, “They’re just words.”
Vilma Garcia (11) “Often” The Weeknd
Exiquio DeLamora (12) “Lay Up” Future