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NEWS ASB officers take action this semester Newly elected student leaders discuss their plans for the 2016 spring semester. Pages 2 & 3
OPINION Editorial: Apple and government debate over privacy The Wildcat staff addresses the issue of privacy versus security Pages 4 & 5
FEATURES Feeling unified at Uni Gras 2016 Uni’s clubs and sports come together to sell and host games at this year’s Uni Gras. Page 6
XC Issue 5 wildcatpaper.com Friday, March 11, 2016ay,@uniwildcatnews
ENTERTAINMENT Decoding emojis
SPORTS See Ciro run, see Ciro win Freshman Ciro Benitez discusses his LA marathon victory.
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Photos by Sarah Bailey Short, Krystal Gonzalez and Jorge Manzo
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March 11, 2016
UNIVERSITY HIGH WILDCAT
NEWS
ASB officers take action this semester By Sarah Short Co-Editor-in-Chief
As second semester kicks into gear, newly elected ASB Board officers are introducing new initiatives that significantly improve the cleanliness and atmosphere of the campus as well as unify the students of University High. “My most important goal as president is to unite the student body and let all of us experience THE U!” says ASB President Matthew Horwitz, a junior. First, Uni Gras, an event previously known for clubs gathering on the upper field to sell food, was made into more of a carnival with live performers and activities. The changes won’t stop there; Horwitz has plans to create new events and means of communication between leadership and the student body. An effort is being made to establish a whole new event at Uni, known as U Olympics. Each grade level will compete with each other in various athletic challenges in the Grove and the lower-field basketball courts. In addition to sports competitions, ASB Board Members from Left to Right: Matthew Horwitz, Arielle Huitron, there will also be trivia and carnival Andy Santiago, Steven Pineda and Stacey Claros events like tug of war. The event will conclude with awards being given out to the class teams that score the highest. The schedule will be the same as Uni Gras with periods 1 through 6 and having the last hour of school dedicated to the event. This new event will be voted on March 17, and will hope to take place for the first time in fall of 2016. In the meantime, leadership has created their own Snapchat for the school to connect to students on a more modern and trendy level. Their goal is to provide a peek behind the curtain to see what leadership does. Important events like Uni Gras, leadership meetings, school plays, sports events and event reminders are all being posted to the Snapchat. In addition, Uni students can message leadership through this platform to inform them of any issues. Signs have been posted in all of the classrooms with a picture of the Snapcode, as shown in the picture at the top right, to make it easier for students to add leadership to their friends list.
Horwitz then noticed that there was separation among the sports teams on campus. Each individual sports team doesn’t know each other’s game schedules and are responsible for fundraising on their own. From the swim team selling chocolate bars to the baseball and girls basketball team selling chips, teams are fending for themselves to raise the necessary money for equipment. In order to create more communication between sports teams, a Uni Athletics Council is being formed. Team captains would get together once a month to create inter-sport competition, as well as raise money together and address any problems that teams are having. If this council is successful, another one might be created as a platform for clubs and the student body to communicate. ASB also has more ambitious plans that they cannot enact because of restrictions by LAUSD. Andy Santiago, senior and ASB Secretary, would like to bring back clubs selling food on the Wildcat Walk every day during lunch. Nearly 10 years ago, clubs sold food such as pizza or ice cream during lunch, earning around $50 profit per occasion. Students would support each other’s clubs and actively socialize with kids from all corners of the school. Due to district policy, this was put to an end because it was considered unhealthy as well as competition for school lunches according to an LAUSD policy bulletin. Senior Arielle Huitrón, the ASB Vice President, wanted to get food trucks to come to campus for lunch, but this was shot down by the district for the same reasons. The student body also faces issues with time constraints. Many of the plans that 2016 spring semester officers have started will not take place until next semester. Principal Davidson has restricted leadership from holding events during the first two weeks of May, when students take AP Exams, and the last two weeks of school, when seniors are graduating. Despite these challenges, the 2016 Spring semester ASB board officers are determined to make improvements upon the school and unify the student body for many more years to come.
Congratulations Kate Im!
By Sarah Short Co-Editor-in-Chief
Junior Kate Im was selected to participate in the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State program where girls are taught about how their state and local governments function. Im was interviewed, along with three other Uni students, and selected to represent the school in this prestigious program. As a part of being selected, she gets to stay in the dorms of Claremont University for five days with 500 juniors from high schools around California for free. Girls Nation “senators” then meet for a week in Washington D.C., where they run for political office, campaign for the passage of legislation and possibly meet with state representatives and senators. Girls Nation is also frequently given the opportunity to meet the President of the United States in the White House.
March 11, 2016
UNIVERSITY HIGH WILDCAT
NEWS
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Uni celebrates Black History Month By Kierra Wiggins Sports Editor
Uni celebrated Black History Month during February with many performances, assemblies, and contests. A committee has been working since November planning and scheduling activities that provided all students with opportunities to explore and learn about black history with a focus on science, math and technology.
Photo Illustration By: Josselin Garibay Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) was born into slavery but escaped to become a prominent abolitionist, women’s suffragist and author.
Part 1: Assembly Legrand H Clegg II, a guest speaker and lawyer, was invited to speak on the effect black people have on society. The audience was transported back in time as they were introduced to the medical, technological, and social achievements of ancient African peoples. Clegg started by talking about King Tutankhamun, the 14th ruler of Egypt’s dynasty who began his reign at 9 years old and ruled until his death at the the age of 18. Clegg II then advanced to architectural structures built in Africa -- such as the sphinx and The Great Pyramids of Giza, which still marvel the world as a mystery for its construction and design. Clegg then introduced Nefertiabet who was the Egyptian princess of mathematics and science, Imhotep the true father of medicine, and Maat who created the first justice system. A collective of black inventors and innovators were brought to attention such as Dr. Daniel Hale Williams who was the first black surgeon to perform an open heart surgery, Dr. Valerie L. Thomas who invented the illusion transmitter and her contributions to NASA, Dr. Patricia Bath who invented the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment, and George Crum who invented potato chips, among many others. However, the realities of African Americans were truly expressed without filters when students were given the opportunity to ask Clegg questions. Clegg openly answered questions that dealt with racism, degression, police brutality and western civilization’s failure to recognize Africans contributions to the establishment of the United States, contrary to our school curriculum. Part 2: Selma BSU also hosted a viewing of the movie Selma on Feb. 19 after school. The film depicts the true story of the 1965 voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery led by Civil Rights Activists James Bevel, Hosea Williams, Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis. Students acquired and indepth understanding of pivotal moments in the history of black people in a way that was both educational and entertaining. Some teachers even offered extra credit to students who went to see the film.
Photo Illustration By: Mayrene Morales Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) was a key figure in the civil right’s movement during the 1960’s. He is best known for his “i have a dream” speech.
Part 3: Performing Arts Assembly BSU hosted a second assembly on Feb. 25 that focused on cultural art forms ranging from West Africa to the United States. The dances were performed by Uni students and choreographed by Pamela Doman, dance and P.E teacher. Two additional dances were choreographed and performed by Uni’s own after school dance club. The Uni Jazz Cats proceded afterwards with various jazz songs, led by music teacher Kahlil Sabbagh. The UCLA jazz band concluded with jazz melodies composed with trumpets, a saxophone, a piano and a viola. Part 4: Black History Month Challenge Tascha Folsoi, the school librarian, held a weekly Black History Month challenge. The challenge was composed of reading based question on black innovators and pioneers in fields of science, gaming, technology and animation. Each week, questions were sent out to students through Jupiter Grades. Students would then answer these questions and turn them into the main office for a chance to win a Samsung TV. The four winners were Andy Santiago (12th grade), Mae Wang (10th grade), Andrew Ramirez (10th grade) and Vladimir Onofre (12th grade). Part 5: The Brilliant Conclusion This Black History Month, Uni students were confronted with the undeniable truth of the importance of black people in all fields including justice, innovation, activism, medicine, technology, food and culture; all brought to Uni by a committee of teachers and administrators as well as representatives from the Black Student Union.
Photo Illustration By: Nelson Gibson Angela Davis (1944-present) is a political activist known for her ties to the communist party and the black panther movement in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
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March 11, 2016
UNIVERSITY HIGH WILDCAT
OPINION Apple and government debate over privacy In the largest terror attack on
and Malik truly acted alone or have
US soil since 9/11, Syed Farook
other terrorist ties in the country.
and Tashfeen Malik attacked the
Helping the FBI gather this
San Bernardino County Depart-
data on Farook would appease the
and injuring 22 on Dec. 2, 2015. In
leave Apple stuck with the issue of
ment of Public Health, killing 14
federal government, but would still
pursuit of more information about
having the government coming to
the couple, a federal judge has or-
them on an ad hoc basis for new
dered Apple on behalf of the FBI
code-breaking
to unlock Farook’s iPhone. Apple
bill in Congress that would out-
a program that would allow access
line what rights Apple and other
into any locked iPhone. Cook is
tech companies have in the face of
right to be concerned: the govern-
demands from law enforcement.
ment is asking Apple to jeopardize
As of now, the laws and Supreme
not only their freedom against the
Court cases regarding the rights of
demands of law enforcement but
tech companies when faced with
also the privacy and safety of their
demands by law enforcement are
customers.
dated and do not take into consid-
Critics of Apple are quick
eration today’s world of booming
to say that Cook only cares about
technological advancement: the
the backlash from his customers if
Communications Assistance for
he were to do as the FBI says. All
Law Enforcement Act was passed
he needs to do is unlock one single
in 1994 and United States v. New
iPhone belonging to a mass mur-
York Telephone Co. was ruled in
derer, an act that he and the tech ge-
1977.
niuses at Apple can surely accom-
plish without putting the software
vide a warrant or proof of guilt
But Apple is rightfully
worried about the future implica-
tions should they comply with the FBI’s demands.
Apple would need to create an entirely new program to get past the password protections on Farook’s iPhone. This new program could jeopardize
the protection of Apple’s latest operating system and leave any newer model iPhone model at risk of hackers. In the age of groups like Anonymous,
underground “blackhats” and mass government surveillance, it is entirely possible for Apple’s soft-
ware to end up in the wrong hands. Imagine if any person off the street could break into your iPhone
by punching in random numbers until they guessed
correctly, without any lockdowns. Such a thought is enough to terrify any Millennial.
Apple’s refusal to comply with the FBI’s de-
mands has brought to question once again the longstanding debate over how to balance privacy and
Such a bill would require
law enforcement agencies to pro-
in the hands of hackers.
Apple
should work on lobbying for a new
CEO Tim Cook refused to create
software.
Cartoon By Clara Vamvulescu
safety. After the 9/11 attacks, the Bush administration passed the Patriot Act, which allowed the NSA
to mass collect data from phone companies and track the activity of all Americans over the Internet. Only one person has ever been convicted for terror
ist activities under the Patriot Act according to the American Civil Liberties Union, but all Americans must suffer from a lack of privacy.
Here is what Apple must do in order to sat-
isfy the conflict between their customers’ privacy
and the demands of the federal government. First, Apple should break into Farook’s phone. The FBI
was able to retrieve a great deal of information from Farook’s iCloud, but they lack information from the month before Farook and his wife stormed the
Department of Public Health building. This infor-
mation could be vital in showing whether Farook
if they ask Apple or other tech
companies to break into suspects’
phones. This would prevent the FBI or the police
from prying into the private information of innocent Americans and give tech companies more au-
thority. Tech companies would also have authority
in deciding how to gather the information needed by law enforcement. The FBI would not be al-
lowed, for example, to demand that Apple disguise automatic software updates as malware in order to hack into a suspect’s phone.
Apple and the FBI are to meet in federal
court on March 22 to resolve this conflict. The judge’s decision is sure to set a precedent for future cases pitting tech companies against law enforcement. Apple’s sales are not the only things at stake
if the FBI prevails; the security and privacy of the American public will also be at risk.
Wildcat
University High School
11800 Texas Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90025 The Wildcat student newspaper is published by the Journalism 2 class at University High School. Letters should be directed to room 127, Wildcatpaper@gmail.com or the Journalism mailbox in the main office. Please include full name and grade. Letters are subject to editorial discretion. Call (310) 914-3551, ext. 504 or email Wildcatpaper@gmail.com to place an advertisement.
Editors-in-Chief ......................................Sarah Short and Mia Villaseñor News Editor...................................................................Sarah Short Opinion Editor............................................................Emmett Krantz Feature Editor................................................................Mia Villasenõr Entertainment Editor.................................... Sha’terra Miles Sports Editor........................................................Kierra Wiggins Business Manager........................................................Emmett Krantz Photo Editor.................................................................Krystal Gonzalez Cartoonist ........................................................Clara Vamvulescu Writing Coach...................................................................James Ward Journalism Adviser......................................................Alexandria Lau
Wildcat Staff: Maribel Curiel, Miyara Franklin Beck, Christian Mendoza, Amir Yonis. ************************************************
The Wildcat is a student-run, student-operated student-produced newspaper, which does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the administration or the school at large. Staff editorials represent the collectively agreed upon opinions of the Wildcat editors. All writers published in the Wildcat are protected under Calfiornia Education Code 48907.
March 11, 2016
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UNIVERSITY HIGH WILDCAT
OPINION
Women’s History Month: How far have women really come?
Photoillustration by Mia Villaseñor
Photoillustration by Mia Villaseñor
By Mia Villaseñor Features Editor
In 1963, Betty Friedan published her now iconic book, “The Feminine Mystique.” She spoke of the “problem that has no name” -- the dissatisfaction felt by housewives around the country as a result of societal pressures to find happiness as a loving wife and doting mother. Friedan’s book set off a movement spearheaded by feminists such as Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman-Hughes to finally give women the same opportunities white men had always had: the freedom to work in any field they desired, the right to equal pay for equal work and the ability to make decisions about their own reproductive health without any unwanted male involvement. And now, in 2016, it is clear just how much these so-called “second-wave feminists” accomplished.
Thanks to Roe v. Wade and Griswold v. Connecticut, all women are legally able to have an abortion and use birth control. According to the Washington Post, women not only outnumber men in colleges but also earn nearly 60 percent of all bachelor’s degrees. A female former first lady, senator and secretary of state is now seen as the Democratic frontrunner in the upcoming presidential election -a huge development from 1920, when most women across the country could not even vote. However, gender equality is nowhere close to being a reality. The right to abortion has become more and more restricted due to the conservative backlash that began with Ronald Reagan’s election in the 1980s. Republican candidates such as Ted Cruz have sworn to defund Planned Parenthood, a major provider of health services to poor women, if they are to be elected; fellow candidate John Kasich has already passed a law severely cutting Planned Parenthood funds in his state of Ohio. On the economic front, American women continue to lag behind men despite their greater educational experience and the fact that women make up 57 percent of the college-educated labor force according to the US Department of Labor. The White House notes women continue to make between only 76 and 78 cents to the male’s dollar. The truth is that girls of today face a lack of female leadership: women hold only 18.5% of congressional seats and only 16.9 percent of Fortune 500 board memberships. Why must women have to wait until 2085, as Judith Warner of the Center for American Progress predicts, to finally achieve equality with men in regards to leadership and income? Why are women, especially women of color, so underrepresented in all major fields despite the centuries of efforts by feminists to narrow the gender gap? Why has there still never been a female United States president or vice president? The answer lies in the current lack of opportunities for women. Men continue to dominate the film, government and law industries while women dominate in fields like teaching and social work that traditionally pay less that are just as important. Male congressmen pass laws restricting a woman’s access to contraception and abortions. Male directors and male-dominated entertainment studios like Disney continue to believe girls do not enjoy superheroes or typically masculine media, and these studios continue to produce films where only 12 percent of protagonists are female. Growing up, boys are treated to a wide array of male heroes to admire and one day attempt to emu-
late: from George Washington to Barack Obama, Superman to Captain America, Albert Einstein to Stephen Hawking, Babe Ruth to Peyton Manning. Young girls at Uni and across the country lack this large bank of female superheroes because many men throughout history have put great effort into suppressing and taking credit for the hard work of women. Scientist Rosalind Franklin’s work was instrumental to helping uncover the secrets of DNA, but the names seen on the Nobel Prize for their findings only read “James Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins.” And even when a woman does something to earn a spot in the history books, the focus is suddenly on her physical appearance (as with Sarah Palin), or on her shrill voice (as with Hillary Clinton), or her ability to juggle a career along with her family obligations (as with many female scientists like Marie Curie). In March, as Americans celebrate Women’s History Month, Americans should not just celebrate the female figures who were able to overcome the obstacles constantly in their way. Americans should honor the legacies of Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman and Madeleine Albright by encouraging young girls to become the most capable leaders they can be. The road towards gender equality can begin with a law that is common sense in almost every other industrialized nations except for the United States: paid family leave for all. According to TechRepublic, the US is only one of only three countries that does not guarantee paid maternity leave. Women should be allowed the freedom to start a family and work at the same time without fear of being paid less. Men might catcall, or dissuade their daughters from athletics and the sciences on the basis of outdated gender roles, or claim to speak for females on the issue of reproductive health. But women, as history has shown time and time again with the anti-slavery and progressive movements, will continue to be the trailblazers needed for American society as a whole to achieve progress.
Why we should be wary of military recuritment in schools
By Emmett Krantz Opinion Editor
Uni Gras had booths from all sorts of clubs and campus organizations, such as Red Cross Club, Outdoor Adventure Club, Sports Teams and… The Marines? Yes, military recruitment seems to be a fact of life on school campuses, ours included. What seems to go unnoticed is that military recruitment on high school campuses, especially the way it is being done now, is unfair, unethical, and manipulative. Military recruitment was in full swing at Uni-Gras, where both the Army and the Navy had attractive looking booths which advertised the military as an honorable course of action that offers numerous benefits. The military’s presence at Uni Gras along with Student-run booths made enlisting seem incidental, as if joining the Military has the same weight as
deciding to buy a taco. Also, as would be expected, they desire to make an impact on impressionable teenage minds by advertising the potential benefits of service. These include but are certainly not limited to acquiring money for college and appearing brave and patriotic. It is no secret that advertisements for the military prey on one’s sense of patriotism and the desire to serve one’s country. Recruiters, too, will use these as a reason for why one should join. What is not fair about this arrangement is that there are plenty of other ways to serve the country that are not as conspicuously advertised. The American Friends Service Committee published It’s My Life: A Guide to Alternatives After High School, which is a comprehensive document that lists career paths for high school graduates that allow them to work to the benefit of our country that do not involve military service.
One of them is AmeriCorps, a large volunteer organization which helps to improve communities across the country. The phrases “serving the nation” and “military service” need not be synonymous. Many are encouraged to join the military because it can help them pay for college. There are plenty of ways besides military service, however, for getting money for higher education. One could try going through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which anyone can apply for. There are many other scholarships that one can apply for that can pay for a college education without the risks or hardships that go with being in the military. Just as a fast food commercial is likely to stay as far away from the topic of diabetes as possible, military recruiters are going to shy away from the many downsides of joining the military. For instance, the New York
Civil Liberties Union reported that about 1 in 5 veterans have a “servicerelated disability”. They also report that 40 percent of veterans have PTSD, depression, or some other mental health issue. That being said, nobody should be discouraged from joining the military if they have properly assessed the risks and benefits and feel that it is their best path in life. The problem with military recruiting is that it holds students as a captive audience within schools. Students may be pressured to pursue the life threatening endeavour that is military service without properly considering their options. Joining the military is a big decision for anyone to make and requires a great deal of thought. Advertising it to impressionable teenagers is not the right way to go, especially if it can cost them their health, their sanity, or their life.
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March 11, 2016
UNIVERSITY HIGH WILDCAT
FEATURES
Feeling unified at Uni Gras 2016
By Christian Mendoza Staff Writer Uni Gras, the annual school festival, came early this year since it was moved from late May to early March to avoid conflicting with AP exams. In earlier years, clubs had all year long to think of ideas for their final shot at generating funds for themselves and the school. The Uni Gras Participation Contract stated that clubs/organizations must donate 50 percent of all profits to the University High School Student Body Account and host a functioning “carnival game”. In short, booths had to be profitable, attractive and fun to raise money for the Student Body Account and the clubs themselves. Despite the time limitations, clubs came up with new and interesting ideas to offer something unique, but they also brought back treats that students have enjoyed in previous years. Activities and foods varied to reflect the atmosphere and theme clubs and organizations create through their image.
Filipino Club The Filipino Club is one of the many ethnic clubs at Uni and is famed for it’s wide variety of food each Uni Gras. “We chose to sell pancit, adobo, rice and lumpia,” Filipino Club president and senior Arielle Huitrón said. As for their carnival game, Filipino Club planned to have limbo this year to continue their tradition of fun, physical games. “We had a twerking thing last year. It raised a lot of money and we had lots of fun,” Huitrón said. “This year we thought of limbo, and we went with it because it was cheap and easy to set up.” By the end of Uni Gras, Filipino Club was completely sold out of every item. “[Filipino Club] had a magnificent time at Uni Gras, and it was a huge success for the club as a whole,” Huitrón said. Book Club This year the Book Club chose to do something unexpected, yet strangely natural in teaming up with Comic Book Club. “We partnered with Comic Book Club because we didn’t have a carnival game,” Book Club president and senior Ayanna Jimenez said. “Leadership said we were allowed to partner with clubs and Comic Book Club agreed to work with us.” “Last year we set up a table and had a workshop where you could make your own cupcake inspired by works of literature. So if you liked Bram Stok-
Book Club and Comic Book Club celebrate Uni Gras with cupcakes and pizza.
er’s Dracula you could put little bat sprinkles on your cupcake,” senior Kaomi Booker, secretary of Book Club, said. In addition to selling churros and homemade cupcakes, Book Club hosted a game where students tried hitting golf balls at targets in a net. “We sold out on everything by the end, and we gave away a lot of little Batman keychains to game winners,” Jimenez said. Cheerleading Cheerleading, one of Uni’s oldest and most iconic organizations, continued their tradition this year and sold their renowned Jolly Rancher slushies to accompany their hamburgers. “We were going to sell hot dogs wrapped in bacon, but Class of 2017 was doing hot dogs already,” cheerleading captain and junior Sheila Alejandro said. “We resorted to burgers which is the next best thing.” Although they planned on selling hot dogs, Cheerleading did sell out on their hamburgers and booth operators went home with bags full of leftover bacon and juice. “Jolly Rancher slushies are a tradition every year for Uni Gras,” Antonio declared. “We sold them last year and we plan on selling them again next year as well.”
Photo by Christian Mendoza
Anime Club For at least the past three years, the Anime Club has always had the same attractions that bring in the same huge crowd, and even though things didn’t go as planned they still considered this year a success “We decided to sell Pocky and Ramune again this year,” junior Keita Goto, president of Anime Club, said. “Club members got a discount on those items.” Anime Club also had plans to host a video game tournament, though it was cancelled due to technical difficulties. They also had free giveaways of large wall scrolls. “I thought the Uni Gras rules were fair. I volunteered for Anime Club’s booth last year and it would be nice if we could have used more power,” Goto said. “I understand the limits though.” “We had a Rubik’s cube challenge even though only a few people completed it,” Goto said. “ We did sell out last minute which was great. Things went pretty well this year.” In all, this year’s Uni Gras was just as enjoyable as the last with multi-cultural foods and exciting activities for all students to enjoy. There was an air of excitement and everywhere you looked, students were enjoying themselves as they lined up for games and food.
How to make the most out of your spring break
1. Scholarship Applications: Think about all the fun you’ll be have saving all that money! Though the act can be mundane, the future will be a whole lot brighter when you’re a college freshman. 2. Beach Day: The sun should begin burning bright by the end of March so bask away in the sand of any number of beaches in the Los Angeles area. Once at the beach, tanning, surfing, swimming and beach sports all become options for an active or relaxing day. 3. Skiing: It might not be the first thing that comes to anyone’s mind when thinking about spring but it is still a very valid option. If you are not a fan of crowds, the chances of finding one at a ski resort in spring are low. 4. Family/Friend Road Trip: You don’t have to fly out to see some beautiful sights. California Photoillustration by Amir Yonis is home and neighbor for some gorgeous tourist By Amir Yonis spots like Yosemite National Park, Death Valley Staff Writer National Park and Mammoth Mountain. 5. Pick Up a Hobby: The time off is a perfect Spring is rapidly approaching and with it a wellwindow to find something productive to fall in love needed break. Instead of letting the week go by in a with. Join a spring sport, learn how to ride a bike haze of Netflix and potato chips, get involved with or how to play an instrument. The options are vast. some of these productive and engaging activities. 6. Theme Parks: Although these places are Here are some tips to having a productive, yet also automatically associated with expense, it could be fun spring break: made cheaper if coordinated correctly. Splitting the cost between a couple of friends and planning
the day out could make the experience a whole lot lighter. MouseSavers.com is host to a variation of ticket prices and bundles that will certainly help with your search. Places like Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, Universal Studios, Legoland and Seaworld are all conveniently located in Southern California. 7. Volunteer Work: There are many places and programs that offer chances for students to get involved in their communities. Nearby Uni, there are a variety of organizations you can volunteer for, including Heal the Bay, the LA Zoo, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the Santa Monica Mountains. Volunteermatch.org also has a lengthy list of programs and opportunities that may suit you. 8. Staycation: You may have lived in Los Angeles for a very long time, but how much of it have you actually seen? There are many hidden gems in our big city and now is the perfect time to go find them. From the Japanese Garden in Van Nuys to the Channel Islands, there are a variety of overlooked places that could use a visit. 9. Visit a Campus: On your road trip, it may be very useful to stop by a college campus you are interested in. Seeing the campus and meeting people at the college can be the deciding factor in your choice for the next step in your life.
March 11, 2016
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UNIVERSITY HIGH WILDCAT
ENTERTAINMENT
Current culture saturated with emojis
Currently there are 1,620 emojis. If you pass by the mall, you can be certain that you will see emojis on clothing, pillows and accessories. Slowly but surely, emojis have conquered the world. Emojis have even garnered the attention of Hollywood. Sony, Warner Bros., and Paramount Pictures bidded against each other over an emoji film deal and Sony came out victorious. Emojis have become so popular that even famous people have gotten in on it. Last year, Kim Kardashian launched her own set of emojis called the “Kimojis”. It was a big success and went on to take the top spot on the App store. Emojis have been around since the 1990s when a man named Shigetaka Kurita invented an extended character set while working for a Japanese telecom company. However, it was not until Apple introduced an emoji keyboard in iOS 5 that emojis really started to be used frequently. Previously, there were emoticons which used symbols and punctuation marks to generate emotions. Nowadays, emojis can be found everywhere and almost everyone uses them.
“Every emoji has a different meaning just like words do,” said freshman Cesar Gomez. Not everyone likes to use emojis, so it is not surprising that a language barrier exists. After coming up with a few emoji messages, Uni students were asked to decode the messages. It seemed like an easy task decoding emojis; it was something the students have used every day. Surprisingly, it was a harder task than it seemed. “It made me feel really stupid because some people understand the meaning, but I was confused,” said senior Denisse Perez Tecocoatzi. Sophomore Carolina Moreno Vega was asked if she was confident she would be able to decipher the messages that can be found on this page. “Yes, and I would not text them back,” she joked. In the end, however, she was unable to decipher the message. Whether we like emojis or not, one thing is for sure; there will be more to come.
“The Witch” frightens audiences
Photoillustration by Maribel Curiel Answer Key 1. Stop, i am dying of laughter. 2. There is a ghost in my house. 3. My phone is dying, do you have a charger? 4. I was walking and found some money. I bought burgers and fries and later went to the bathroom. 5. Please order burgers and fries. 6. Stop playing games. call the ghostbusters, i’ll give you money.
By Maribel Curiel Staff Writer
Manoly’s in review By Miyara Franklin Staff Writer
Photo Credit: Sundance Film Festival
By Sha’Terra Myles Entertainment Editor
Not only did “The Witch” win the Directing Award in the U.S. Dramatic category at the Sundance Film Festival in 2015, but it may just be one of the scariest horror film made in years. Robert Eggers’ new horror film is, by far, a fantastic, and chilling new thriller. The film was released in theatres on Feb. 17, 2016. The film takes place in 17th century New England. William (Ralph Ineson), who is deeply religious, leaves his New England plantation with his wife Katherine (Kate Dickie), daughter Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy), son Caleb (Harvey Scrimshaw), and fraternal twins Mercy and Jonas (Ellie Grainger and Lucas Dawson) after being excommunicated for speaking out against the community’s religious principles. After building a new life
for themselves on a remote piece of land on the edge of the forest and Katherine giving birth to her fifth child, Samuel faces unusual, deadly events that all point to one thing: witchcraft. One great scene was the peeka-boo scene with Thomasin and her newborn baby brother Samuel. During innocent playtime with her baby brother, Thomasin covered her eyes and when she removed her hands from her face her brother was gone. The family proclaims the child’s death, saying that the baby was dragged out into the woods by wolves. It is later revealed that a witch kidnapped Samuel, kills him, and covers her body in his blood. This terrifying scene will have you cowering in your seat as if it were actually happening in that moment. Terror filled screams – along with
a few chuckles – could be heard throughout the entire audience. Casting two British, under-theradar actors as the parents was an excellent decision. Kate Dickie, still known for 2007’s Red Road, shows rare moments of her vulnerability to show when her pale face is not twisted in a look of resentment towards her eldest daughter. Harvey Scrimshaw easily holds his own whether he is helping his father take care of the land or speaking in tongues. Taylor-Joy, however, takes complete hold of the film. She is able to go from the charming, innocent young girl to the film’s spokesperson of reason and conscience. Based on the reaction from the audience, one can conclude that Robert Eggers succeeded in creating an enticing, yet terrifying motion picture.
When I first heard about this friendly hangout, everyone told me to try the Manoly’s fries. I only waited a couple of minutes before the staff brought the blanketed fries to the table. There were a lot of different components to the whole thing. The cube shaped box was filled to the brim. The fries were at the bottom and smothered with sour cream, guacamole, and a truck load of cheese. The fork couldn’t reach the bottom of the fries. To get started with the actual eating, One would have to stab their fork into the fries. They were good, but not amazing. The fries were a bit too moist and there was too much sour cream and guacamole, but other than that the entire presentation of the fries was a 2 out of 5. The second thing I heard the most about were their burritos. A few of my friends got it and offered me a piece. Once I had tried it, I wanted one of my own. The burrito was big; it was about the size of my hand. I tried to bite the entire thing, but wound up needing to use a knife. It was stuffed with beans, rice, and chicken with a bit of onion. I did not like the onion and the chicken lacked taste. The rice and beans were the best part of the whole burrito. The final grade on this burrito is a 3 out of 5.
Page 8
March 11, 2016
UNIVERSITY HIGH WILDCAT
SPORTS
See Ciro run, see Ciro win
By: Krystal Gonzalez Photo Editor
Freshman Ciro Benitez, 15, won the best time in his age division in the LA marathon on Feb. 14 and gave an informative interview with the Wildcat about his victory. Q:Is this your first marathon? A: Yes. Q: How did you enter the marathon? A: My dad actually signed both of us up. Q: How did you feel after you completed the marathon? A: I felt like, slightly accomplished because after it was over, I just wanted to keep running. Q: Did you feel like stopping at any point? If not what was your motivation? A: I felt like stopping but I didn’t because seeing people from the sidelines cheering me on motivated me to keep going. Q: Are you pleased with your time? A: Yes.
Q: What was your finish time? A: My finish time was 3:13:56 Q: How long have you been training? A: 5 months. Q: What was your training like? A: My training was difficult. I was bored at certain times because I felt I was working hard and not actually running the marathon, but when I would finish any distance, I would feel really good for taking on the challenge. Q: What made it difficult? A: I mainly had to run under warm weather and when you run in hot weather for a long time, you can get a headache. This has happened to me twice. Q: What was your goal and why? A: My goal was to get between 3 hours and 3 ½ hours. I knew I would be able to get a good time because I was determined. Q: Why do you love running? Because it tests your mentality. You have to be really focused on your running and nothing else.
Q: Are you in track? Why or why not? A: No, because I was training for the marathon and I have a lot of other after school activities like soccer and tutoring, so it was going to be too overwhelming. Q: If so, is track something you will pursue in college? A:I don’t know my actual future plans. Q: Is your dream to be a professional track or marathon runner? A:No, I run because I love it. I don’t do it to be a professional. It’s just something I love to do. Q: What advice would you give other students or people? A:The advice I would give to other students and other people is that running isn’t about how fast you are. It is about proving your determination because running has a lot to do with mentality. Don’t worry about the finish line. Just run!
Photo courtesy of Ciro Benitez
Athletes spring into spring sports
By Kierra Wiggins
as star players this season. Coach Alvarado names Palisades,(last season Overall:22-8-1 League:10-0) , as their biggest competitors this season.
Sports Editor
The Wildcat decided to sit down with baseball, softball, boys volleyball, and track & field to see just how prepared they are for their new season. Uni is dependent and hopeful that these teams will bring home a championship this season. Track & Field Coach Kelly Aguda returns to track & field and openly welcomes the new season. Last season was difficult for the team as the track & field was not available due to construction and renovation, however, the team did very well. They had so many students qualify for City Finals that they required a bigger means for transportation. “Lot of students went to semifinals and finals. It’s always good to get bused instead of my car,”Aguda laughed. Coach has many causes to be excited for this season, “ I’m excited for our first home meet in 11 years and we have an adequate track and field.” Aguda does not name any names on who she believes will emerge as star athletes but instead says “the clock doesn’t lie,” and “we’ll see after the first meet, it is what it is.” Likely standouts are seniors Jada Jenkins and Robert Gonzales who both made it to City Playoffs last year. Aguda names Palisades as their biggest competition, who are our infamous league rivals. The first home meet in 11 years took place yesterday on March 10. Boys tennis
Current season: Overall:0-1 League:0-1 Last season: League:8-9 Overall:6-6
Boys tennis comes back from their loss in quarter final last year. Coach Benson says “I feel good as the season nears. We lost two seniors [Brandon Ma and Ryan Kim] from last year, but we have some good freshmen.” Benson’s pick for star athletes this season are junior Brandon Paloma, senior Robert
Softball
Overall: 0-2 League: 0-0 Last season League: 2-14 Overall: 1-11
Coach Jason Kenneth Tillbit returns this season to coach softball, which ended last season with an overall 1-11. Most teams would be discouraged by their sheer number of losses, but Tillbit has a different point of view. “We did fairly well last year. We’ve had the best season since I’ve been here,” he said. Given that softball had 0 wins for the 2013 and 2014 seasons, their performance was certainly an improvement. Tillbit views his team as a collective and sees no star players but a unit “We’re a whole team , collective group, one for all, all for one.” He also doesn’t feel any competition from any school, but rather from within. “We will be our biggest competition. I feel extremely positive and optimistic Uni will have the best year in softball.” Baseball
Overall: 2-2 Last season League: 9-18
Boys volleyball beats Fairfax at home with a score of 3-0 Photo by Krystal Gonzalez
Gonzalez, junior Gabe Oakmin, and senior Adam Chaarawi, all previously on varsity. Boys tennis has some great freshmen players on the team as well, relying on their new teammates and top four athletes to beat our fellow league members. Their biggest competition is predicted to be either Palisades or Venice. “ If we beat Venice (last season League:8-3 Overall:8-4) we’ll make it to playoffs,” Benson said confidently.
at home
March 9
Boys volleyball
Overall:3-0 League:1-0 Last season Overall:18-9-1 League:10-2
The boys concluded last year’s with an an Overall record of 19-8, losing in the quarterfinals to Sylmar. Alvarado is optimistic about this season “It should go well. We just beat San Pedro, we’re off to a good start.” Senior Ju’Wan Seaberry, senior Josh Kim, junior Kevin Javier, and senior Otis Glasbill are suggested to emerge
Overall:5-7
Coach Anthony Yoshinaga will return for his second year and feels confident as the season starts. Last season boys were ranked fifth in our league.“I feel good we have a very good experienced team. We have a good chance and opportunity to win league,” Yoshinaga said. He predicts Senior Nick Tuancham, junior Evan Feldman, junior Shawn Ferrel, senior Elma Hernandez, senior Cordias Colzada will be this seasons star athletes. According to Yoshinaga, Palisades and Venice, our league rivals, will be our biggest competitors. He confirms the team did alright, not bad, but not as good as expected. The season starts off with two tournament wins against Hueneme and Verdugo Hills, and two tournament losses against Cleveland and Santa Monica.