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The Campanile
Palo Alto High School
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Vol. XC, No. 10 http://voice.paly.net Monday, June 2, 2008

NEWS IN-DEPTH REPORT

Staffers bid
Paly goodbye
Teachers and staff will be
leaving Paly at the end of
McEvoy still finding her place at Paly
the year. PAGE A2

OPINION

Execute the
death penalty
Death sentences should be
abolished due to inhumane,
fiscal reasons. PAGE A5

SPORTS

Climbing to
new heights
A look at Dr. Jacqueline
McEvoy’s first year as
Courtesy of Galen Jones

principal of Palo Alto Senior

Rock climbing provides Paly
students with an adrenaline
rush. PAGE A11
High School
LIFESTYLES

Catching ollies
on film
Paly students create a film
showcasing teenage skate-
boarders PAGE B1

FEATURES
The dangers of
cell phones
Persistent exposure to cell
phones can cause health
problems. PAGE B9 From top left, clockwise: McEvoy during Spirit Week; Students put up posters in support of re-enactments; A janitor cleans up vandalism; Boys’ Varsity basketball
team, which forfeited games due to a CCS bylaw violation; Boys’ Varsity football team, one team discussed in The Viking’s hazing article; Bell schedules proposals voted
A&E on by staff; San Francisco City Hall, during which prom attendees were suspended for drinking; Vice Principal Jerry Berkson demonstrates the use of a breathalyzer.

Find fresh froyo Throughout year, McEvoy has worked to strengthen communication
at Red Mango By Rebecca Allen and Danielle Kim — is very rusty,” McEvoy said. “I used what I school, and then after a few years start making Miscommunication in the community
Senior Staff Writers thought was the process [with the bell schedule], big changes.” After McEvoy met with history teacher
It’s been a busy year for Principal Jacque- but it didn’t work. We need a representative In response to student complaints, McEvoy Mike McGovern and History Department I.S.
line McEvoy. system on both the staff and student levels.” said, “Our goal is not to offend anybody; we don’t Eric Bloom to discuss McGovern’s student-led
Elizabeth Petit/The Campanile

Over the past nine months, Palo Alto High
School has revisited or revised the dance, atten-
dance and standardized testing policies, and the
bell schedule. Controversy over re-enactments,
the basketball team’s forfeits before the Central
Frozen yogurt parlor Red Coast Section Championships, athlete hazing,
Mango offers fresh, healthy and vandalism have rocked the campus.
dessert. PAGE B12 Some of this would have occurred regard-
less of McEvoy, and transitions are always a
ONLINE little rough. But according to some staff and
students, the constant waves of conflict and
change suggest larger problems.
View senior Certainly, McEvoy’s distinct leadership
map online style has had an impact on the school. As far
back as August, when McEvoy implemented a
Check out the map format- new dance policy, and as recently as April, when
ted on Google Maps: she made an “executive decision” regarding the
http://voice.paly.net/view_story. bell schedule, even McEvoy has suggested that
php?id=6594
she is willing to act on her own judgments if
she feels as though it would be hard to make a
Dedicated to
the class of ‘08
decision otherwise.
McEvoy said these decisions are always
based upon community input and with the inten-
tion to do “what is in the interest of students.”
But McEvoy herself has suggested that Paly
was not prepared for her more authoritative
Julia Benton/The Campanile
Through this article, The Campanile hopes want to embarrass students, so we will work on re-enactments, many suggested a lack of mu-
to illuminate how the McEvoy, students and training chaperones how to tell students that their tual respect. While McEvoy said she addressed
staff miscommunication has may have caused dancing is too sexually suggestive. Our goal is safety concerns, McGovern alleged that McEvoy
problems at Paly. to enforce the rules.” threatened to cut the program because she felt
True to her words, McEvoy began more he was using it to “promote my own religious
McEvoy-student relationship stressed stringent enforcement of attendance policies, or personal biases.”
On Aug. 28, McEvoy began her first year and held students to an adjusted dance policy The controversy was met with massive sup-
as principal of Paly, replacing four-year prin- and new STAR testing policies within the first port for McGovern. Students hung up flyers in
cipal Scott Laurence. McEvoy’s leadership three months. A number of students and staff protest, created chants during Spirit Week and
style was made immediately apparent during said they did not understand the reason behind joined a Facebook group that grew to more than
and after the annual Welcome Back Dance, all these changes. 400 members. After, McEvoy continued to claim
which took place the first Friday of the school “Paly is one of the best schools in the na- that the controversy was manufactured.
year. tion,” Abid said. “We don’t need drastic reform “This is an example of how something
The week following the dance, McEvoy measures. Granted, there are things to fix, but can be blown way out of proportion,” McEvoy
banned back-to-front dancing and required that changes should occur over time, be evaluated
students bend no lower than 45 degrees. Students at many levels, and made with students’ input.” See MCEVOY, Page A3
then complained of
rude treatment at the
dance by volunteers NEWS ANALYSIS
and administrator,
including McEvoy,
due to students’ style
of dance. Soon af-
McEvoy’s previous experience
ter, Student Council
requested a meeting
with McEvoy to dis-
explains current circumstance

leadership. cuss the policy and By Rebecca Allen and Danielle Kim According to its Web site, Peninsula “is a continuing
“I don’t think that this school was ready for treatment of dance Senior Staff Writers high school … [that] assists those who are behind in credits
or used to one person collecting all the informa- attendees. Principal Jacqueline McEvoy’s difficult first year toward graduation and are at risk of not completing high
tion and making a decision,” McEvoy said in “It shocked me at Palo Alto High could have been predicted based on school.” Thus, McEvoy’s very first administrative job was
April regarding the bell schedule decision. that within a week, her behavior and actions as principal at San Mateo High at a school that probably required a more authoritative
View this edition’s photo McEvoy added that Paly “does not have a there was such a dra- School according to interviews with students and staff at principal.
collage in vivid color: formal decision-making process” among staff matic ev-ent caused San Mateo. McEvoy then served as principal of San Mateo High
http://voice.paly.net/view_story. or students. Both the Ed Council, which is made by Principal McE- McEvoy’s past may offer additional explanation to her School from fall 2001 through spring 2007.
php?id=6857 up of Instructional Supervisors (I.S.) and other voy,” ASB President While this certainly qualifies as experience, the dif-
leadership style. The principal was involved in alternate
staff representatives, and the Associated Student Mohammed Abid ferences between San Mateo and Palo Alto High Schools
INDEX Body’s Student Council, are inefficient when said. “A new prin-
education for six years between 1994 and 2001. She was
cannot be ignored.
first principal at Peninsula High School in the San Mateo
News: A1-A3 Opinion: A4-A6 making make big decisions, she said. cipal should really In demographics, San Mateo has a much larger minority
Union High School District, and then appointed director
Sports: A9-A12 Lifestyles: B1
“The system — the process of continually just
scope out the of alternate education.
Features: B2-B4 Spotlight: B5-B8 See ANALYSIS, Page A3
A&E: B9-B12 sending information out and bringing it back in environment and the
A2 • June 2, 2008 News The Campanile

NEWSBRIEFS Several staff members to leave Paly

Santa Clara County reports Teachers will depart due to maternity, retirement, new job opportunities
dangerous pollution levels Jeff Billing
Math teacher and Cross
Santa Clara County ranked as one of the 25 most polluted Country coach Jeff Billing, who
counties, receiving a “D” grade for high ozone levels, an “F” for has taught at Paly for four years,
short-term particle pollution and a “passing grade” for year-round will leave for Connecticut in
particle pollution levels, according to an American Lung Associa- the first week of July with his
tion report. girlfriend next year.
“We see improvements in some areas of the state, but the levels “I’m definitely going to
of ozone and particle pollution in California remain dangerously continue my teaching career,”
high,” board chair of the American Lung Association of California Billing said. “But, if things do
Gwendolyn W. Young said in a Palo Alto Online interview. “Im- not go as well as planned, there
provements do not mean that the problem is solved.” is a slight chance of coming
For short-term pollution, which measures the pollution in a 24 back.”
hour period, Santa Clara ranked 19 out of 25 counties. Billing decided to leave
High ozone levels and pollution cause severe issues for children Paly this year because his
and seniors, according to the American Lung Association. girlfriend is attending medical
To promote a healthier environment, the City of Palo Alto is school in Connecticut and a
encouraging “green building,” which would require environmen- majority of his extended family
tally friendly products and designs. lives there.
—Auster Chen “It will be a lot nicer to
Senior Staff Writer have my family close around,”
Billing said. “It’s hard to leave
Math Department adds new but it feels good to know the
time was well spent.”
lane for incoming freshmen —Alan Chen
News Editor
The Palo Alto High School Math Department will add another
lane to the current curriculum next year, Instructional Supervisor Judy Hasselbach
Radu Toma said. English teacher Judy Has-
In addition to the current math lanes for freshmen, the depart- selbach is retiring at the end
ment will offer a lane with Algebra 1A/ Geometry. The class was of this month. She has taught
added to help students who completed Algebra requirements in for more than 30 years at Paly,
eighth grade but were not fully ready for the Geometry/ Algebra teaching freshmen and sopho-
2A class. more English classes.
“We were receiving complaints from parents who were won- “Ms. Hasselbach’s teach-
dering why their kids were going to take Algebra again,” Toma ing style really helped me learn
said. “Now, we give them one quarter for Algebra review and then more,” freshman Janet Liu said.
three quarters for Geometry.” “She was also able to make
The lane change would cut down on the number of students poetry interesting.”
who filed for lane changes at the beginning of the school year, —Alan Chen
Toma said. News Editor
—Henry Becker
Senior Staff Writer Colin Hawkins
Math teacher Colin Hawk-
Virginia A. Davis appointed ins is leaving at the end of this
year to spend a year in Hawaii
as Assistant Superintendent with his three children because
the year after next, his oldest
The new Palo Alto Unified School District Assistant Super- child will go to kindergarten,
intendent for educational services will be Virginia “Ginni” A. he recently announced to his
Davis. She will begin work on July 1, replacing former Principal classes.
and Assistant Superintendent Marilyn Cook, who is retiring after
working with the district for 18 years.
“She [Davis] will have overall responsibility for and super-
vise the directors of elementary education and special education/
Students uninterested in Last Chance Dance
student services,” Scott Bowers, one of the PAUSD Assistant By Michael Hamada
Superintendents, said. “In addition, she has responsibility for Editor in Chief
elementary level complaints.” After multiple instances of
Previously, Davis was the associate superintendent of Davis intoxicated students at Palo Alto
Joint Unified School District and the assistant superintendent of High School events, Principal
the Dixon Unified School District. Davis’ primary role as an as- Jaqueline McEvoy’s executive
sistant superintendent for PAUSD will be to focus on curriculum decision to begin a mandatory
by working closely with principals of the district’s 17 schools. breathalyzing policy at school
Davis began her career as a social studies teacher and became dances finally went into effect
a department chair before moving into administration as a vice at the Last Chance Dance.
principal and principal in elementary and middle schools. The Last Chance Dance,
—Pauline Slakey hosted by the Associated Stu-
Senior Staff Writer dent Body, is the final school
dance of the 2007-08 school
Diepenbrock leaves Paly year.
As of press time on Thurs-
basketball team next year day, May 29, the day before the
dance, the ASB had sold a mere
Peter Diepenbrock, who has taught P.E. and coached basketball ten tickets. According to ASB
at Palo Alto High School for 11 years, will coach basketball at Ca-
“Mr. Hawkins will leave
a lasting impression on every-
one he has ever taught,” junior
Vrinda Khanna said. “He was
always eager to help students
individually and took interest
in them.”
—Alan Chen
News Editor
Darin Ishimatsu
Music Department conduc-
tor Darin Ishimatsu, who has
taught at Paly for three years,
will leave in June to pursue other
conducting opportunities.
“It was time for Mr. Ishi-
matsu to get a full-time gig, but
we are going to miss all the extra
work and enthusiasm he put into
Paly Band,” Music Director Jeff
Willner said.
David Starr Jordan Middle
School Band Director David
Brigham will replace Ishi-
matsu.
Brigham currently teaches
beginning, concert, advanced,
symphonic and jazz bands at
Jordan Middle School.
Brigham will assist Willner
next year by teaching first period
Concert Band and helping out
with Jazz Band and Jazz Ensem-
ble before and after school.
—Becky Byler
Sports Editor
Emily Lassen
English teacher Emily Las-
sen will be leaving Paly at the
end of this year on maternity
leave.
Even though she plans to
be back in one year, her students
will still miss her on campus.
“Ms. Lassen was a really
fun teacher to have,” sophomore
Trevor Loveless said. “Her class
was always really laid back,
and she was even able to make
President Mohammed Abid, an
average Paly dance usually has
around 500 attendees.
“This has turned into a huge
mess,” Abid said. “Not only is
ASB likely to lose up to $1,000
from this dance, the administra-
tion has failed to communicate
with the student body. It’s as if
McEvoy wants students to get
in trouble.”
According to McEvoy, the
decision to breathalyze all stu-
dents at dances has been made
at multiple schools up and down
the Peninsula.
“While the initial number of
dance attendees may decrease,
I am hoping that students who
the most boring topics, such as
vocabulary, interesting.”
—Alan Chen
News Editor
Jeanne Loh
English teacher Jeanne
Loh, will be leaving Paly with
her fiance, Robby Ratan, and
will be moving to Los Angels
next year.
“I am getting married in
July and joining my husband
[Robby Ratan] in Los Angeles,
where he has several years left
at a doctorate program at [Uni-
versity of Southern California],”
Loh said. “I am looking for a
teaching job, and I’m pretty
sure that I won’t be able to find
a school as great as Paly.
Loh said she would love
to return to Paly as soon as her
husband finishes his degree.
—Josh Lo
Senior Staff Writer
Mike McGovern
World History teacher Mike
McGovern, who has taught at
Paly for 23 years, will be taking
a leave of absence next year.
McGovern, who founded
and runs the re-enactments, said
the re-enactment conflict with
Principal Jacqueline McEvoy
was the “straw that broke the
camel’s back.”
“It was a big part of my rea-
son to leave,” McGovern said.
“It was demoralizing.”
McEvoy said that she was
unaware that McGovern was
leaving Paly and she was “not in
a position to speak publicly.”
McGovern also said he
wants to relocate his family to
a healthier environment. How-
ever, McGovern leaves with a
strong love for the students and
re-enactments.
were hesitant to go to dances
before, will now feel safe to
attend these school events,”
McEvoy said.
However, an investigation
by The Campanile revealed
that there is not a single other
public high school in the Santa
Clara County cities of Palo Alto,
Mountain View, Sunnyvale,
Santa Clara or Cupertino that
breathalyzes all of the students
who attend school dances.
In fact, school administra-
tors from other high schools
were surprised to hear that
Paly had taken such drastic
measures to curb drinking at
school dances.
“This is my teaching home,”
McGovern said. “Of all the
things I’m going to miss, I’m
going to miss the kids.”
—Kelly Zhou
Editor in Chief
Chuck Merritt
After 15 years at Paly, As-
sistant Principal Chuck Merritt
will leave to become principal of
El Carmelo Elementary School
next year.
Merritt looks forward to
working with young children
because he sees them as his in-
spiration to become principal.
“Learning is more powerful
at a young age,” Merritt said.
Although he is excited for
his new position, Merritt is sad
to leave the Paly community.
However, he looks forward to
working at El Carmelo.
“El Carmelo is a fantastic
school,” Merritt said. “I’m not so
much worried about changing as
I am supporting the great work
going on there.”
—Josh Lo
Senior Staff Writer
Miriam Motoyama
Miriam Motoyama, who
has taught various biology and
chemistry courses at Paly for
about 17 years, is retiring at the
end of the school year.
“We’re really going to miss
her,” freshman Mira Khanna
said. “She makes her classes re-
ally interesting and entertaining.
We, along with the rest of Paly,
will sincerely miss her.”
—Alan Chen
News Editor
Arnold Posada
In hopes of becoming a
nurse practitioner, physics and
geology teacher Arnold Posada
One of the main reasons for
implementing the breathalyzing
policy was because chaperones
had felt threatened at previous
dances where students had been
intoxicated, McEvoy said.
However, as of Thursday,
the ASB had only been able to
enlist two chaperones willing to
monitor the Last Chance Dance
even though it was going to be
fully breathalyzed.
“Some parents have even
expressed their anger about the
breathalyzing because it shows
a lack of respect and trust by
the administration and the small
number of students violating the
rules should not have been able
will be leaving at the end of
this year.
“Posada had a really unique
teaching style,” junior Karin
Zander said. “Nobody could
ever replace him.”
Posada, who started in
2006, said that he loves teaching
at Paly, but he wanted to try a
new profession.
—Josh Lo
Senior Staff Writer
Michelle Steingart
Biology teacher Michelle
Steingart will be leaving Paly
on maternity leave.
“I am having my second
child in October,” Steingart said.
“During my leave, I will miss
interacting with students in the
classroom the most.”
—Josh Lo
Senior Staff Writer
Isabel Tagle-Aviles
After teaching Spanish 2
and 3 at Paly for three years
Isabel Tagle-Aviles has decided
to retire from teaching. Tagle-
Aviles has taught Spanish for
about 40 years overall.
“I love teaching,” Tagle-
Aviles said. “But now it is time
for me to play and be a grand-
mother. I would like to thank the
World Language Department for
the friendship they gave me.”
—Josh Lo
Senior Staff Writer
Disclaimer: This article is
in no way a comprehensive
list of names of Paly teach-
ers who are leaving this year.
All teachers’ decisions are
current as of press time and
some teachers have not final-
ized their future plans with the
Board of Education and the
district as of May 29.
to influence the entire school,”
Abid said.
At some Santa Clara Coun-
ty schools, students who are
believed to be under the influ-
ence are given the right to either
take a breathalyzer test to prove
that they are sober or they are
allowed to immediately leave
the event and not return for the
rest of the night.
The Paly Last Chance
Dance has had the lowest ticket
sales of any dance this year.
“McEvoy recently told the
ASB that dances were a privi-
lege,” Abid said. “And she has
the right to take that privilege
away whenever she wants.”

ASB plans end of school year activities, finishes projects

ñada College next year. He will still teach at Paly in the mornings
as the instructional supervisor for the Physical Education Depart-
ment, but he will no longer coach basketball at Paly.
“One of the best things about coaching at Paly is the type of in-
dividuals that I’ve had the chance to coach,” Diepenbrock said. Students work to plan baccalaureate, graduation, various semester projects
Diepenbrock is proud of the accomplishments that the Paly
boys’ basketball team has achieved, particularly winning the 2006 By Nolan Wong David Kennedy, an editor of the Ad-
State Championship. Opinion Editor vanced Placement U.S. History textbook,
The decision to coach at Cañada was not something he had Palo Alto High School students The American Pageant, is this year’s
planned on doing, but the opportunity presented itself to him, voted for the 2008-09 Associated Student baccalaureate speaker.
Diepenbock said. Diepenbrock looks forward to his new job and Body officers during May 12-15. “When he spoke at the AP U.S. His-
is excited to experience the new opportunities and challenges that Junior Erik Klingbeil was elected tory classes last year, we thought he did
will come with it. for ASB President, beating opposing a great job,” Abid said. “We decided to
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to coach older and candidate Lynn Chang. invite Kennedy to speak at baccalaure-
more mature kids,” Diepenbrock said. “I’ll also have a little more “My personal plans include get- ate because we figured that he’ll give
control over the program than I do at the high school level, and ting more on-campus activities such as an awesome speech at baccalaureate
I’ll get to try some new things, like recruiting.” rallys, more participation and involve- as well.”
—Allison Coleman ment in spirit events and improvements The baccalaureate service will be
Senior Staff Writer in the class representative system and held Jun. 8 at 1 p.m. at the Stanford Me-
outreach through the ASB Web site and morial Auditorium. Seniors are required

Upcoming Events
Facebook,” Klingbeil said.
Vice President Helene Zahoudanis,
Treasurer Juliet Carnoy and Sports Com-
missioner Paul Brown all ran unopposed.
JUNE 6: Seniors’ Last Day Sophomore Gracie Dulik was elected for
ASB Secretary.
Seniors have their last day of school on the “The elections went well,” current
Friday before finals week. ASB President Mohammed Abid said.
JUNE 8: Baccalaureate “This election had the highest voter
turnout yet, and fortunately, voter turnout
This year’s guest speaker, Dr. David Kennedy, has been increasing every year.”
will speak at the seniors’ baccalaureate. According to the ASB Web site, 570
students voted, a 60 percent increase from
JUNE 9-11: Finals last year’s 350 students.
The ASB appointed the positions
Students in grades 9 -11 will take finals on
of ASB School Board Representative
Monday through Wednesday. Chirag Krishna, Spirit Commissioners
JUNE 11: Graduation Olivia Diamond and Lucy McComas
and Tech Communications Officer Scott
The Seniors’ graduation ceremony will be held Zhuge.
at 5:45 p.m. on the Paly quad. ASB has also been planning end-
of-school year activities, including Field
JUNE 12: Last Day of School Day, baccalaureate and graduation.
Field Day was held on May 30 and
All students finish school on a minimum day featured an extended lunch hour with in-
and start a relaxing summer. flatable obstacle courses and free food.
to line up in their caps and gowns half
an hour before the event.
Seniors auditioned to give speeches
at graduation on May 29. Graduation
will be held at 5:45 on Jun. 11 on the
Paly quad.
As the year draws to a close, ASB
officers have also been completing
their mandatory semester projects that
focus improving the school. Products
of these semester projects include a
new microwave in the Student Center
and the whiffle ball tournament, which
were student suggestions. Other products
were the new cushioned leather chairs in Julia Benton/ The Campanile
the Academic Resource Center, foosball Students vote for ASB officers for the next school year. This year has had
tournaments on the quad and the “Kiss a the highest voter turnout with a 60 percent increase from last year.
Senior Goodbye” event.
Klingbeil, Senior Class President Paly administration and District Office to do everything that we can do for the
Sahar Raz and Sophomore Class Presi- will cover the costs. school,” Abid said.
dent Alex Freeman have been working A Facebook group called “What “ASB will have a lot of new faces
on plans to rebuild and re-outfit the Can ASB Do For You?” was also next year,” Klinbeil said.
senior deck. started in early May to facilitate student Klingbeil added, “Nearly everyone
According to Klingbeil, the renova- requests. in ASB will be essentially new, so we’re
tion will cost approximately $38,000. “We started ‘What Can ASB Do expecting a lot of new semester projects
The ASB special projects budget, PTSA, For You?’ because we wanted to be able and a lot of new changes.”
The Campanile News June 2, 2008 • A3

Soccer player scores record sum in scholarships

Athlete Teresa Noyola honored in school ceremony after winning unprecedented number of college scholarships
By Cassie Wedemeyer
Business Manager
Palo Alto High School senior
Teresa Noyola, who currently plays
for the 20-and-under U.S. Soccer
Federation Youth National Team,
was named the 2007-08 Gatorade
National Girls’ Soccer Player of the
Year Thursday.
Noyola’s coach and representa-
tives from The Gatorade Company
and ESPN RISE magazine gathered
in the gym at Paly to present the
prestigious award.
Gatorade chooses 51 out of
337,000 state winners and only one
of them is awarded the Girls’ Soccer
Player of the Year award. From these
state winners, a national advisory
board of sports writers and sports ex-
perts from around the country selected
Noyola as the winner, according to a
Gatorade press release.
She is the fourth girls’ soccer
player in California to be honored
and is now a finalist for the Gatorade
Female High School Athlete of the
Year award, which will be presented at
a ceremony before the ESPY Awards
in July.
Past Players of the Year include
professional basketball players Lisa
Leslie and LeBron James and profes-
sional football players Emmitt Smith
and Peyton Manning.
Noyola is likely to earn a spot on
the United States roster for the upcom-
ing 2008 FIFA Under-20 Woman’s
World Cup that will be held in Chile
this November.
Liz Prassas from The Gatorade
Company helped in the selection
process for the Girls’ soccer Player
of the Year.
“Teresa’s special ball-handling
skill created opportunities on and off
the field,” said Prassas. “Unlike most
American players, she has the ability
to play the more Brazilian, South-
American style.”
“We looked at players all over
the country,” said Bruce Weber, am-
bassador and historian of Gatorade.
“Usually it’s hard, but this time it was
really easy. Not only is she the best
player, but also if academics didn’t
play a role, she’d still be the player. Not
only because of her grades, but also
because of her volunteering [activi-
ties], character and leadership in the
community. She’s an amazing young
woman. In 10 years, everyone in the
country will know her name.”
This year, Noyola scored 18 goals
and passed for seven assists in 16
games, ultimately leading the Varsity
soccer team to round two of the CIF
Division II Central Coast Section
postseason.
Noyola began playing soccer
when she was seven years old and
continued to play in the local recre-
ational league American Youth Soccer
Organization (AYSO). She later joined
a competitive team in the California
Youth Soccer Association (CYSA)
and then moved to a club team on the
Mountain View-Los Altos (MVLA)
Mercury, on which she played for
six years.
“I was invited to my first youth
national team camp when I was 14,”
Noyola said. “I have progressed
through the youth system since then,
playing for the under-15s, 16s, 17s,
and now the U-20 team.”
Noyola was the youngest per-
son ever to play for the U.S. Soccer
Federation Under-20 Women’s Youth
National team. She joined less then a
month after her 17th birthday in 2007.
Her teammates from the Paly Varsity
team were on hand to support Noyola
during the award ceremony.
“She’s a well-rounded player,”
Paly team member sophomore Hana
Kajimura said. “She’s such a good
leader and friendly person. She’s
always willing to help out.”
Her teammates from the MVLA
team, though not Paly students, were
present to cheer on Noyola.
“I think she’s deserving of ev-
ery award she’s ever gotten,” Mer-
cury team member Julia Cashen said.
“Aside from being naturally talented,
she works hard at every practice and
at every game. She’s generally a really
nice person and even after all of the
awards she’s won, she’s still really
humble and a superstar.”
As a skilled soccer player, Noyola
was recruited by a variety of colleges
both last year and this year. Stanford
University, University of California
at Los Angeles, University of North
Hannah McGovern/The Campanile
Carolina, University of Virginia and
Duke University were the five schools Paly athlete Teresa Noyola accepted the Gatorade National Girls’
Noyola seriously considered. Eventu- Soccer Player of the Year award in a ceremony on Thursday.
ally, Noyola chose Stanford, which While growing up in Palo Alto, Albertin Montoya, Noyola’s
she plans to attend this fall. Noyola had always wanted to attend current coach on the MVLA Mercury
Noyola hopes to be a starter when Stanford. team, will also be coaching her at
she begins playing for Stanford this “From talking to current players Stanford next year.
fall but knows it will be hard work to and watching the team play, I expect “She inspires me to be a better
earn her spot. to be challenged in all aspects of the coach and makes everyone around her
“I am very impressed with how game,” Noyola said. “I know that better,” Montoya said. “Most athletes
the Stanford team is playing and how I will become part of a team that dream of being the best but don’t fully
they’ve improved from just three works tirelessly for each other and is commit to that while Teresa has done
years ago,” Noyola said. “Coach Paul extremely motivated. I believe that my that. She has this amazing passion for
Ratcliffe has taken the team to a dif- experience with college players on the life. [She] deserves all the recognition
ferent level, and I am very excited to U-20 national team will help as I step [she] has gotten. You will be blown
be joining the team this fall.” onto the college stage.” away.”

Administration approves Internet-based attendance system

Julia Benton/The Campanile
The new attendance system is expected to increase
communication between teachers and the office.
By Alan Chen
News Editor
The Palo Alto High School administration recently
decided to use paperless attendance beginning next year,
allowing teachers to take roll electronically.
Rather than using traditional paper roll sheets,
teachers will mark absences and tardies directly on their
laptops, allowing for faster and more accurate attendance
reporting.
The administration had discussed switching to paper-
less attendance for some time, but only recently did Paly
acquire the necessary technology to implement something
of this caliber, Assistant Principal Chuck Merritt said.
“We had been working on a Teacher-Laptop program
that would raise money to allow every teacher to have a
computer,” Merritt said. “However, we could only afford
one fourth of the number of computers needed. So instead,
we planned a four-year cycle that would eventually supply
computers for all of the teachers. Coincidentally, this year
is the fourth year, so now we can have all of the teachers
use the online attendance program next year.”
The new program, SASI-XP, works similarly to the
current roll-taking method but eliminates the need for stu-
dent volunteers. With the new program, volunteers would
no longer need to pick up roll sheets from classroom to
classroom and walk them back to the office, where the
sheets would be scanned and then uploaded onto comput-
ers. Instead, teachers would simply use their computers
to mark someone tardy or absent on SASI-XP, allowing
for more precise and efficient attendance.
“With the old roll sheets, it would take almost an hour
and a half to contact the teachers about an emergency
regarding one of their students,” Merritt said. “With the
new program, we can alert teachers much quicker about
family emergencies or notices.”
A major factor in the decision to switch to paperless
attendance is the better communication between the office
and teachers that such a system would facilitate.
The school is legally responsible for the students’
whereabouts, and if the roll is inaccurate or a student’s
location is unknown, the school would have to deal with
the repercussions, Merritt said.
“Regardless of the method of attendance, the atten-
dance sheets are legal documents that bind the school to
the well-being of the students,” Merritt said. “The new
method will allow for better data and allow the office to
know exactly where the students are.”
Merritt predicted that by summer, Paly will have
secure wireless Internet for the teachers and students, as
SASI-XP requires Internet access to connect to teachers’
computers,
“We realized that this would be a very good opportunity
to allow the students to have access to wireless Internet,”
Merritt said. “The wireless for the students would be
parallel to the secure line that is dedicated to the staff for
the attendance.”
Merritt said the new program will not be a large
change, so teachers and staff should be able to adjust
accordingly.
“The program allows you to somewhat personalize
your attendance,” Merritt said. “You can even create an
online seating chart and mark who’s tardy that way. I look
forward to seeing the effects of the program next year.”

McEvoy experiences difficult first year

Decisions at San Mateo High
MCEVOY,
Continued from A1
said. “I had no intention of canceling the re-
McEvoy and Bloom agreed that a big
problem was that two issues (late start and
“ A principal who doesn’t even care about
students’ opinions and feelings could work on
foreshadow McEvoy’s future

enactments.” blocking) were addressed at once. However, some things,” Abid added. ANALYSIS,
Continued from A1 year at San Mateo when a member fell, accord-
Bloom added that staff members were quick McEvoy said she expects student council population. In addition, San Mateo’s biggest ing to that year’s student body president.
Communication Problems to realize this problem once the situation students to be passionate and excited about challenge in recent years has been to better Dyckman said that McEvoy “didn’t regu-
After retracting her executive decision developed. what is going on in the school. academic performance. larly meet with student government. She may
on the bell schedules, McEvoy agreed com- “The History Department and staff were “I would have been surprised if I had One San Mateo student who interacted have come in once at the start of the year and
munication had been an issue. asking, ‘Why don’t we just focus on the received no reaction from the community,” with McEvoy during her first years there said once or twice later.”
“I don’t think it was clear to many students late start? We need to slow down,’” Bloom McEvoy said. the transition period was rocky. Instead, McEvoy would communicate
what we were going to do with the [survey said. “But it was like a train that couldn’t be Student Council agreed with McEvoy Many protested after San Mateo senior to student government through the Student
results],” McEvoy said. slowed. So we decided to stop the process — that a representative system would improve Salvatore Colhour was expelled in March 2001 Activities Director. When McEvoy did the
While many students believed that the we felt we had no choice — and that’s what communication. Instead of conventional face- for acting in a threatening manner toward a same at Paly, a frustrated Student Council
results would greatly impact the final decision, happened.” to-face dialogue, e-mail and Facebook are substitute teacher, though his classmates said asked for more meetings.
McEvoy said the survey was not a large fac- With the dilemma caused by the lack being considered as more effective means of they witnessed otherwise. When San Mateo moved from a six-period
tor because she did not view it as an accurate of a decision-making process, McEvoy is discussion. “Ever since we’ve had a new principal, to a seven-period bell schedule, Dyckman said
way to collect what all students thought. In considering creating one. things have gone downhill,” Colhour’s class- McEvoy “insisted we take a student vote. She
fact, McEvoy suggested that the main purpose “I have a set of criteria I think we need McEvoy’s problem resolution mate April Leonhardt told the San Mateo Daily wanted to get a vibe of students’ feelings.”
of the survey was to inform staff of student to think about [when deciding on a decision- McEvoy’s style of leadership did allow Journal that March. “They’re expelling kids “The student vote didn’t determine the
opinions before the staff vote. making process],” McEvoy said. “I plan to the school to quickly pass through a number of all the time. They’re trying to make a lot more final decision, but all students were very ap-
“You can argue with this a lot if you want talk to faculty members and to Ed Council.” controversial issues. She was the first to real- rules now that she’s here.” preciative of the fact that [the administration]
to, but in the end, the adults are going to make ize that the boys’ Varsity basketball team was McEvoy caused a stir again in May, when she did take into consideration what we were
the decision,” McEvoy said. ASB-McEvoy frustrations ineligible to compete in CCS due to a violation kept Burlingame High School thinking,” Dyckman said.
McEvoy did not give any guarantee that All year, McEvoy has emphasized that of a bylaw. The move was seen by most as an senior Robert Stephens from McEvoy acted in a simi-
student input would be taken into consider- she values student input. attempt to legitimize Paly sports. attending the San Mateo prom lar fashion when Paly was
ation. Instead, she asked, “Do I hope that the McEvoy has also implied that she doesn’t After The Viking published an article with his girlfriend, who at- deciding on a new bell sched-
people making the decisions would listen to consider Student Council, made up of elected in (Dec. 3), McEvoy immediately met with tended San Mateo. ule for the upcoming school
and weigh heavily the student vote? I would student officials, to be an effective way to Palo Alto Unified School District Superin- According to the San year. But students at Paly
hope that would be communicate with tendent Kevin Skelly, administrators and Mateo Journal, Stephen’s sus- protested as soon as McEvoy
the case.” “Still, if the ship runs aground, it students. sports coaches to discuss an appropriate plan pensions at Burlingame kept announced her decision.
McEvoy said doesn’t matter who was driving it. The “My goal is of action. McEvoy advocated combatting him from attending. Stephen, During the 2006-07
she does not view a captain’s still responsible.” that there will be hazing through “education, prevention and who had already rented a tux school year, McEvoy imple-
late start as an effec- a mechanism in consequences.” and skipped the Burlingame mented, without consulting
tive way to relieve place next fall,” Many athletes said there has been no prom to attend his girlfriend’s, students, a new dance policy
student stress. Eric Bloom, McEvoy said. “We evidence of McEvoy’s solution so far. even offered to take a school that required dance attendees
“When it comes Social Studies Instructional Supervisor need to have a rep- “No one ever talked to us about hazing official or police officer as a to have a 2.0 GPA. Her goal
to student sleep pat- and Ed Council Member resentative system this year,” senior swim team captain Lizzie chaperone. Both high schools was to motivate students aca-
terns, the majority for students.” Abbott said. “The last time we had a discus- are in the San Mateo Union Principal Jacqueline McEvoy demically. This can be paral-
of the responsibility Both ASB sion on hazing was two years ago.” High School District. leled to the fashion in which
lies with family,” McEvoy said. “Even if we President Mohammad Abid and Student Ac- McEvoy and Librarian Rachel Keller- Within a few years, reactions to these she created a new dance policy at Paly.
change [the start time] to 8:15 a.m., you’re tivities Officer Allye Mullins disagreed that man’s decision about the library vandalism was policies died down. However, San Mateo McEvoy removed the policy when stu-
not going to convince me that there’s not a McEvoy has made an effort to communicate similar to that on hazing. Instead of putting in student views still range from negative to dents approached her with a detailed, revised
large number of students who are just going with students. cameras, librarians will focus on education. indifferent to positive. version of the policy that focused on dances “as
to go to bed later.” “The students and I would appreciate “We’re sort of at a standstill with [re- “She was pretty easy-going,” San Mateo a reward for social behavior, not a punishment
being brought into the loop, especially when vamping security],” Kellerman said. “Putting Student Body President Jennifer Dyckman for academic behavior,” Dyckman said.
The Decision-Making Process issues directly affect students,” Mullins said. in cameras just doesn’t sit right. Education said. “She always had students in mind and But while Dyckman paints a favorable
While extensive, the discussions and sur- “It’s a courtesy that she come in and let kids outreach is really most important.” was supportive of student leadership.” portrait of McEvoy, senior Rachel Morowitz
veys about the bell schedule did not result in know what’s going on.” Dyckman has been involved in student described the principal as “terrible.”
change. McEvoy said this was due to the lack Mullins invited McEvoy to speak with The Future government for the past four years. “It wasn’t a pleasant experience,”
of a set school decision-making process. ASB a few weeks ago but has not received McEvoy is confident that her relationship “She never did anything that made us re- Morowitz said. “She was extremely conde-
“When the Stressed Out Students com- a response. Abid agreed that communication with the school community will only get better ally take notice,” senior Alana Lucas added. scending.”
mittee brought up the bell schedule, I relied with McEvoy has been difficult. as the years go on. “I don’t think anyone really felt particularly Staff members contacted by The Campa-
on Ed Council, but they developed the process “We were extremely disappointed that she “I have a lot of faith in teenagers and that strongly about any of her policies.” nile declined to comment on McEvoy’s tenure
while doing it,” McEvoy said. didn’t seek our opinions on anything,” Abid they’ll care about how they’re treated and will Student accounts suggest that McEvoy has at San Mateo High School.
Ed Council member Bloom looks at the said. “The fact that [ASB Secretary Kristen want to weigh in,” McEvoy said. “Some great not changed during the move; instead, student Perhaps if the hiring committee had been
situation differently. Witte] had to hunt her down frustrated a lot things are going on here. We like to celebrate reactions have been the only difference. better informed about McEvoy’s background
“Still, if the ship runs aground, it doesn’t ASB members.” good news and [for the future] I would like to Just as McEvoy held reservations about and reputation at her previous school, the
matter who was driving it,” Bloom said. “The Abid said McEvoy “even acknowledges figure out how we could carry that out to the re-enactments due to “safety concerns,” she school might have been better prepared for
captain’s still responsible.” that [she] doesn’t care what students think.” rest of the community.” also disbanded the cheerleading team her first the transition.
 A4 June 2, 2008
Opinion
Editorials
The opinion of The Campanile
Administration should
consider ASB input
Consideration of all stakeholders’ input necessary
before moving SAO from current location
The administration is currently considering mov-
ing the Student Activities Office (SAO) from its current
home adjacent to the main office to another location on
campus in order to move the health office to a different
area to provide more space for the Academic Resource
Center. The staff of The Campanile believes this action is
a symptom of the overall lack of communication with and
consideration of stakeholders by the administration in the
decision making process at Palo Alto High School.
A decision such as moving the location of the SAO
affects and involves many people around campus. Specifi-
cally in this instance, it involves the Associated Student
Body (ASB), student activities director, auditor, nurse and
all students who use the resources found in the SAO and
health office. Clearly, this matter has a huge impact on the
majority of the Paly community and must be considered
carefully from all viewpoints to find the optimum solution
to better serve all those involved. Unfortunately, the ad-
ministration has failed to seek input from any of the many
stakeholders involved in the decision and does not plan to
do so, according to Assistant Principal Jerry Berkson.
ASB should reconstitute
representative system
Representative system during advisory would
provide a broader coverage of student views
Two years ago, the Associated Student Body aban-
doned the classroom representative system due to the lack
of students who showed up to representative meetings.
Since then, ASB has not had a formal student representation
system in which to gather direct student input.
In the past two years, The Campanile has observed
that ASB’s primary means of gathering student’s opinions
is through random Facebook groups. For example, only
approximately 237 members are in ASB’s Facebook group
“The Paly ASB Activities Update” and 144 members are
in another of Paly ASB’s Facebook groups called “What
can ASB do for you?”. If an estimated minority of Paly
students have a Facebook account, this is not an accurate
representation of the student body.
While this is not ASB’s only outlet in gathering student
input, still no standard method of communication exists
between ASB and the rest of the student body. Since the
student body does not have a formal representation of
the direct student voice, The Campanile believes that
ASB should resurrect a new representative system so that
students’ voices can officially be heard.
First, The Campanile wants to address the previous
attendance problem by proposing that the reconstruction
of the new representative system have a convenient loca-
tion. For this, The Campanile suggests advisory. We hope
Newsweek high school
ranking system inaccurate
Rankings based on number of Advanced
Placement test-takers instead of performance
In the May 26 edition of Newsweek, a list was pub-
lished ranking the top 1,300 public high schools in the
United States. The study ranked the schools based on
the ratio of the number of students at the schools who
took Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate
or Cambridge tests divided by the number of graduating
seniors in 2007. The higher the ratio, the higher the school
ranks on the list.
Palo Alto High School is ranked number 335 on the
list, lower than our ranking in previous years, such as 2005
when Paly was ranked 330. It is the opinion of The Cam-
panile that this ranking system is severely flawed and does
not represent the authenticity of a school’s performance.
Thus, participation in such a survey is nonsensical.
The survey ranks the school solely on the ratio of
students who take an AP, IB or Cambridge test to total
eligible students. It does not take the students’performances
on those tests into consideration.
The average score of the students’ performances for
each school was listed on the survey in the form of an
equity and excellence percentage. However, those averages
do not affect the school’s place on Newsweek’s list. Paly
The administration should reform its decision making
process to include the opinions of stakeholders, especially
concerning decisions that have a large-scale impact. The
current lack of communication and unwillingness to in-
volve outside input is disrespectful and unhelpful towards
finding and making the best decision. The current format
is not conducive to an effective learning environment. In
fact, the administration should not only seek the input of
stakeholders, but allow the thoughts of stakeholders some
weight or percentage of a vote in the final decision. The
stakeholders, often students and staff, far outweigh the
administration and generally feel effects of many deci-
sions more strongly than the administration. Of course
the administration is a necessary function of any school
and must be responsible for many decisions that happen
on a daily basis; however, there is no reason to prevent
stakeholders from having a say or a vote in the process.
The staff of The Campanile ask that the administra-
tion carefully consider the issue and begin to involve the
important opinions and views of stakeholders in such
campus decisions.
that the implementation of this convenient location will
promote higher student turnout as advisory is a mandatory
class. As well as being a place for teachers to aid students
in the post-high school process, advisory should serve as a
class where students can be informed of school-wide an-
nouncements as well as voice their comments or concerns
regarding school policies.
The Campanile advises that every student and teacher
in an advisory class elect two representatives for their
class. The two representatives would attend any and all
classroom representative meetings held by ASB and report
back to their respective advisory class. In order to sustain
the efficiency of the system, ASB should decide on an
appropriate incentive to ensure a proficient attendance
from the classroom representatives. Incentives might
include food incentives, graduation or class credits or
any other incentive ASB finds suitable. Similarly, elected
representatives will collect the comments of students in
the past and report any observed pattern in opinions or
any other relevant information during ASB representa-
tive meetings.
By offering this option for a classroom representa-
tion system, The Campanile intends that the final product
gain a wider coverage of student views for administrators
to assess.
has an equity and excellence percentage of 60.4 percent,
which is a higher value than a number of schools that
ranked in the top 50.
Students’ scores on the test do not affect the school’s
rank, which only demonstrates that students can take the
test — not necessarily that they can do well.
This form of qualitative quantification discriminates
against schools who cannot afford to offer a wide variety
of AP classes and students who cannot afford to take the
test.
The highest-ranked school on the list, BASIS Charter
in Tucson, Arizona, requires each student to take an AP
test each year, and pays for him or her as well. However,
BASIS Charter’s equity and excellence percentage was
only 92 percent, which is significantly lower than schools
further down the list, such as 13th place school, Pacific
Collegiate School in Santa Cruz, California, which had an
equity and excellence percentage of 100 percent.
The Campanile feels that, because of the survey’s
obvious inaccuracy in measuring the academic ability
of a school, Paly should boycott the Newsweek survey
in future years.
The Campanile
Letters to the Editors
good policy. The administration should only punish
Philosophy article drew
incorrect conclusion
those students who do not abide by the rules – not the
entire student body by breathalyzing each student who
enters a dance.
In regards to the 12 students caught drinking at
The following letter was written in response to
Gloria Yu’s article, published May 5, “Paly thinkers
express passion for philosophy.”
prom, it is not clear to me why they were not sent home
in a taxi and the bill sent to the parents, if the parents
were unwilling to pick them up. I don’t believe that the
entire student body should be distrusted and shamed by
In your May edition of the paper, in your philoso- having to pass a breathalyzer before entering a dance,
phy article, the picture caption and parts of the story
inadvertently drew a conclusion about me that is both
simply because 12 students misbehaved.
School dances are a very important part of a high
unfavorable and incorrect. school student’s experience. There should be more of
By saying that I “strongly identify with conservative them. It gives the students a safe environment to social-
political views,” you are lumping me into a category ize with their peers. I, as a parent, would rather know
that I do not fit — that of a dyed-in-the-wool religious- that my child is attending a school dance rather than
right Republican. I can guarantee that I am far more attending a private party because there are no school
to the left than anyone at Paly on many issues and do dances available. I would like to see Palo Alto High
not define myself as “conservative” or “liberal,” as I School increase the number of school dances they have
borrow from all areas of the political spectrum. and drop the proposed policy of breathalyzing students
True, I have conservative social views in general, entering a dance.
but social views and political views are two vastly dif- —Rakefet Bitton, Paly parent
ferent things. Sticking to what I said in the interview,
some of it shows a conservative perspective but strong
governments and commitment to life are also very
leftist causes and do not indicate ‘strong identifica- Soccer athlete feature
tion with the conservative political agenda’ (in itself a
generalization) at all.
requires greater depth
Also, my religious affiliation is with the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America, which is a liberal Prot- The following letter was written in response to
estant denomination that does not agree with me in all Kairen Wong’s article, published May 5, “Sophomore
things, so its relevance to the story is debatable. exceeds in soccer after battle with cancer.”
I did like the story otherwise, however.
–– Alex Gaya, senior I was dismayed after reading this story. The way
The Campanile covered this story was appalling. The
story was not thoroughly researched and inadequate.
Breathalyzing policy is First, to allot less than 500 words to a story as
heartwarming and compelling as this is a travesty. This
disrespectful to students should be a feature story, not a quick news piece.
The following letter was written in response to Alan
Chen’s article, published May 5, “McEvoy, Berkson
consider breathalyzing dance attendees and increasing
Second, the level of in-depth research and insight
was underwhelming, at best. There is only one inter-
viewed subject — John Anderton. What about how
his parents felt about their son having cancer? Or his
punishment for students caught under the influence.”
I was appalled and dismayed to read about one
of the two new policies that Palo Alto High School
teammates, dealing with one of their own facing a life-
threatening situation? I also had a real problem with the
way the article was structured — it essentially went:
“NEWSFLASH: Kid had cancer, beat it, loves soccer.
administration is considering implementing for school The end.” John is an outstanding individual and soccer
dances. player who had to overcome a ton in dealing with his
Breathalyzing each and every student that enters cancer. That was not really conveyed at all. In addition,
a dance is extremely disrespectful to the students. This I do not think I have seen an individual with the same
policy exhibits the complete lack of trust in the students passion and fervor for soccer, ever. There was one time
by the school administration. It is equivalent to requir- I dropped him off in the rain, and he sprinted, still in
ing students to prove that they are “innocent” of being his cleats, to his house in order to watch a Chelsea
intoxicated before entering a dance. This requirement FC (his favorite team) game. The kid lives for soccer.
is opposite to that of the justice system the U.S. be- Again, not really conveyed in the article. My initial
lieves in, that being that an individual is innocent until reaction was that The Campanile needed something
proven guilty. I am also concerned with the logistics to fill space and so at the last second added this story
of this policy. What will the administration do if there during production week. And, the headline “Sophomore
is a student attempting to enter the dance that is in fact exceeds in soccer…” did not make any sense. Exceeds?
intoxicated? Will they simply refuse that student entry Don’t you mean excels?
and require the student to leave the school grounds? If Frankly, I think it’s disgraceful. If you want to do a
so, isn’t the school responsible for that student getting story, do it right — don’t make a half-a**ed job out of
home safely and not attempting to drive themself? it. I can only hope that another publication will be able
In regards to the second policy of punishing students to provide a quality, well-written and well-researched
who are caught intoxicated at a dance with a 90-day article about John and his truly astonishing story.
suspension from all student activities, I think this is a —Ian Kelly, senior
The Campanile
Editors in Chief
Ayelet Bitton • Michael Hamada • Kevin Harvey
Lindsay Yang • Gloria Yu • Kelly Zhou
News Editor Opinion Editor Spotlight Editor Lifestyles Editor
Alan Chen Nolan Wong Christian Gallagher Yvonne Lin
Features Editors A&E Editors Sports Editors Photography Managers
Annie Vought
Crystal Wang
Graphics Editors
Catherine Benson
Zach Harris
Advertising Manager
Becky Byler
Mira Parekh
Julia Benton
Elizabeth Petit
Business Managers
Julia Benton • Elizabeth Petit Anna Waldron DJ Hsueh • Cassie Wedemeyer
Staff Writers
Rebecca Allen Zal Dordi Peter Lee Austin Smith
Nanor Balabanian Rye Druzin Jillian Liu Amy Stringer
Henry Becker Alex Greene Josh Lo Sarah Stringer
Tyler Blake Chris Gonnerman Ryan McLeod Ryan Pfleiderer
Hannah Bystritsky Gabrielle Hadley Sara Reihani Mia Pond
Auster Chen Sam Jones Tomer Schwartz Geng Wang
Alan Chu Mikaela Kenrick Jonathan Shan Allison Whitson
Chris Clayton Danielle Kim Julia Shapiro Eliot Wilson
Allison Coleman Erik Krasner-Karpen Kelley Shin Kairen Wong
Alexi Dagan Laura Kurtz Pauline Slakey Deborah Zhang
Photographers
Allie Bollella • Michela Fossati-Bellani
Hannah McGovern • Stacy Levichev
Adviser
Esther Wojcicki
Corrections: The May 5 article, “Student’s family The Campanile reserves the right to edit submis-
fosters pet for nonprofit organization” was attributed to sions for length. Please note that The Campanile only
the wrong staff writer. Allison Coleman was the correct publishes signed letters.
author. Advertisements: Ads with The Campanile are
Letters to the Editors: E-mail all letters to edi- printed with signed contracts. For more information,
tors to theeds09@googlegroups.com. The Campanile contact the Campanile Business Manager by e-mail at
welcomes and prints letters to the editors on a space- campanile.ads@gmail.com.
available basis.
The Campanile Opinion June 2, 2008 • A5

Death penalty ineffective, expensive Bush seeks

four more years

Failure to deter crime, execution of innocent warrant abolishment of death penalty

By Chris Clayton One can thus readily and accu-
Senior Staff Writer rately infer that the death penalty does
The state of California constantly not deter individuals from committing
verifies its identity as progressive, capital offenses. This invalidates the
forward-thinking and liberal. Califor- argument that the death penalty deters
nia implements numerous progressive crime, thus invalidating the effective-
programs and policies, including ness of the death penalty. Chris Clayton
environmentally friendly programs Furthermore, death-penalty pro-
and a recent California Supreme Court ponents employ the argument that
and Jon Shan
decision, which declared previous leg- a state should not spend its money
islation defining marriage as the union imprisoning criminals who have WASHINGTON (TC) –– Presi-
between a man and a woman to be committed capital offenses. This dent George W. Bush announced his
unconstitutional. However, California argument, however, is founded upon decision to run as a third-party can-
still utilizes the death penalty as a form the incorrect assumption that the didate for a third term as president of
of punishment for capital crimes, thus process of execution generally costs the United States yesterday afternoon
failing to fulfill the aforementioned less than life imprisonment does. On at a Rose Garden press conference.
identity. the contrary the opposite is actually The announcement came shortly after
The death penalty is unhelpful true –– executions, on average, cost Senator Hillary Clinton’s interview
and logically impractical. The death more per person than does life im- with Fox News commentator Bill
penalty can lead to the execution prisonment. According to The costs O’Reilly, during which Sen. Clinton
of innocent persons, causes greater of processing murder cases in North told him she will continue running
state per person expenses than life Carolina, a 1993 study conducted by for the 2008 Democratic nomination,
imprisonment does (notwithstanding Philip J. Cook and Donna B. Slawson “even if it takes 100 years.”
the claims, to the contrary, of death- at Duke University, “The death penalty “Teddy Roosevelt was an hon-
penalty advocates) and proves to be costs North Carolina $2.16 million per orable Republican like myself,” Mr.
seemingly ineffective in deterring execution over the costs of a non-death Bush said in his announcement. “He
criminals from committing capital penalty murder case with a sentence also ran as a third-party candidate in
offenses. For these reasons, California of imprisonment for life.” Punishment 1912, and he did a heckuva job. He
should eliminate the death penalty. and the Death Penalty, by Robert even beat the incumbent president,
Moreover, morally, the death penalty M. Baird and Stuart E. Rosenbaum, and heck, they even named a toy bear
is unsound. confirmed these statistics, stating, after him...gee, I want a toy named
Death penalty advocates often “A 1991 study of the Texas criminal after me, as long as it’s not made
argue that the possibility of execution justice system estimated the cost of ap- from China.”
deters numerous potential criminals pealing capital murder at $2,316,655.” However, when asked by report-
from committing crimes. According Furthermore, it elaborated, stating www.amnestyusa.org ers why he compared his conserva-
to www.deathpenaltyinfo.org, of the that, “the cost of housing a prisoner Moreover, there exists the po- upon newfound evidence, as in the “An eye for an eye makes the tive positions to former President
21 states with murder rates larger than in a Texas maximum security prison tential danger of executing innocent case of Ruben Cantu. According to whole world blind,” asserted Mahatma Roosevelt’s progressive policies and
the national average of 5.7 persons per single cell for 40 years is estimated persons for crimes which they did not the Houston Chronicle article “Did Gandhi, referring to the notion of seek- failed campaign for a third term, Mr.
100,000 in 2006, only one, Michigan, at $750,000.” commit. Although the United States’ Texas execute an innocent man?” ing revenge upon one’s enemies. In Bush quickly withdrew his comments.
did not utilize the death penalty as a These statistics prove to be ap- justice system is founded upon such published in 2005, Cantu, who was reality, the death penalty is little more His desire to discuss other matters
form of punishment (these statistics proximately equivalent for the rest principles as reasonable doubt and fair executed in 1993, was innocent, ac- than a means of exacting retribution was further spurred by several hip-
are therefore not affected by a state’s of the country as well. According to trials, it is not infallible, and is subject cording to co-defendant David Garza, upon criminals for their offenses. The pie protesters, who had infiltrated
population). This statistic is down The Geography of Execution: The to occasional errors. According to the who “signed a sworn affidavit saying criminal justice system of the United the conference, jeering that Mr. Bush
from two death-penalty-prohibiting Capital Punishment Quagmire in New York Times article “Signs Grow he allowed his friend to be falsely ac- States should be founded upon rehabil- would be the first candidate in history
states in 1998, whereas, compared to America, “Florida calculated that each of Innocent People Being Executed, cused” in 2005. itation and, when necessary, isolation to “beat himself in the election.” They
the 20 death-penalty-permitting states execution...costs some $3.18 million. Judge Says,” published Aug. 12, 2003, Moreover, one of the chief wit- from society, in order to prevent crimi- were quickly escorted out by Secret
with murder rates above the national If incarceration is estimated to cost Judge Mark L. Wolf of the Federal nesses for the prosecution, eyewitness nals from further harming society. In Service agents.
average in 2006, only 18 death-penalty $17,000/year...life in prison [for] 40 District Court in Boston said, “In the Juan Moreno, revoked his earlier ac- the case of first-degree murderers, Following the interruption, Mr.
states had murder rates above the na- years would [cost] $680,000.” These past decade, substantial evidence has cusations that Cantu was responsible whom the state might execute, the Bush announced his abbreviated
tional average in 1998, notwithstand- statistics verify that incarceration, emerged to demonstrate that innocent for the shooting, claiming that he latter would obviously be the option, campaign slogan to be “Yes We Can,”
ing a nation-wide decrease in murder even for 60 years, would cost about individuals are sentenced to death, had originally made the statements and would be implemented with a a rip-off on an Obama video he found
rate by 0.5 persons per 100,000. $1 million for the state, whereas and...executed.” This statement is out of “fear of authorities and po- different motive than execution. The while “surfing the tubes of the inter-
Further- the process further corroborated by statistics. lice interest in idea behind nets.” At the conference, Alaska Sena-
more, the of execution According to “How Many Innocent Cantu.” These Although the United States’ justice execution, tor Ted Stevens loudly proclaimed,
murder rate These statistics verify that incar- costs approx- Inmates Are Executed?” published combined cir- is to permit “Finally, someone who understands
in death-pen- ceration, even for 60 years, would imately twice in 1997 in Human Rights Magazine, c u m s t a n c e s system is founded upon such princi- the victims’ my interweb lingo!” Bush’s actual
alty-permit- cost about $1 million for the state, as much. between 1993 and 1997,“17Death Row almost cer- ples as reasonable doubt and fair tri- families and slogan, according to a former aide,
ting states is whereas the process of execution Richard inmates in the nation [were] found tainly verify als, it is not infallible, and is subject the general was, “Yes we can –– use fear tactics
5.9 persons C. Dieter, Ex- innocent and freed.” Cantu’s inno- to occasional errors. populace to and Dick’s shotgun.”
per 100,000, costs approximately twice as much. ecutive Di- However, these individuals repre- cence. Thus, feel a sense Following Mr. Bush’s comments,
as opposed rector of the sent only some of the cases in which innocent indi- of justice in Republican nominee John McCain
to 4.22 for Death Penal- people have been wrongly sentenced to viduals can be, and are, unnecessarily the exacting of revenge, which is announced from his “Straight Talk
death-penalty-prohibiting states. This ty Information Center, testified before execution. In other cases, several men, executed. precisely the incorrect attitude with Express” campaign bus that he was
constitutes an approximate difference the Colorado House of Representa- who are now affirmatively believed If an individual who was sen- which one should approach exacting pleased to see “another Democrat
of 40 percent between the murder rates tives Judiciary Committee that “All of to be innocent, were executed, while tenced to life in prison is later found justice. Justice needs to be founded in in the race.” However, Connecticut
in death-penalty-permitting and death- [the studies of death penalty costs]... other executions are still questioned. to be innocent, that individual can the protection of the general populace, Senator Joe Lieberman quickly
penalty-prohibiting states across the concluded that the cost of the death According to www.deathpenaltyinfo. simply be released. However, for which execution furthers no more than leaned over to him and attempted to
nation. Thus, what one observes is a penalty amounts to a net expense.” org, eight individuals, convicted of someone who has been executed, this life imprisonment does. Executions correct him.
statistically significant discrepancy Thus, another principal argument of different crimes, who were executed is not an option. Therefore, to avoid have no place in the modern, civilized Many senior politicians expressed
between the murder rates in states death-penalty proponents is nullified after 1976 are now strongly believed the unjust killing of innocent people, world, and should be abandoned. concern that Mr. Bush’s re-election
allowing and states prohibiting the and the benefits of the death penalty to have been innocent, and there may the death penalty in California should Due to these reasons, California would violate the 22nd Amendment.
death penalty. seemingly diminish further. be more. These beliefs are based be abolished. should abolish the death penalty. In response to these concerns, Vice
President Richard Cheney simply

Proposed library bond imprudent, unnecessary

$80 million bond measure will waste money on extravagant additions to city libraries
This is one of the proposed designs for a new Palo Alto main library, which might
be implemented if the City Council approves $80 million for library renovations.
By Ryan McLeod
Senior Staff Writer
Rebuilding the Palo Alto library system
is an exercise as futile as rearranging furniture
on the deck of the Titanic after it has sunk.
Yes, it seems like a good idea at the time. Yes,
it will result in a product that is beneficial to
the community.
And yet the matter will soon be a moot point,
for as cramped, outdated and inefficient as the
Palo Alto libraries are, the world is swiftly ap-
proaching a time when such august institutions
are no longer needed.
Instead of expanding, the City Council
should consider consolidating the inefficient
branch system, reducing the infrastructure
needed in the libraries and placing a greater
emphasis on access to digital information.
www.city.palo-alto.ca.us
The Library Advisory Commission (LAC)
has been advocating the opposite; the $80 million
bond proposed for the November ballot reflects
the LAC’s ideas. This extravagant bond measure
would upgrade and remodel the downtown and
main libraries as well as fund construction for
a new 50,000 square foot Mitchell Park com-
munity center and library.
These renovations would improve the
energy efficiency and compliance with build-
ing codes instituted since the facilities were
constructed over 50 years ago. The plans also
call for expansion to create meeting and study
rooms in the libraries.
Safety and efficiency are both valid reasons
for remodeling the library branches but the
lion’s share of the bond appears destined for
unnecessary, so-called improvements such as
stared menacingly at the reporters
and said, “So?” He later clarified his
statement, saying, “I think you cannot
be blown off course by the fluctuations
in the public opinion polls or by that
outdated piece of paper.”
meeting and study rooms. Does a public library If the branch system were maintained, the Senior political analysts at-
truly require meeting rooms? Does the future library would be able to scan its collection to tempted to discern who would have
Mitchell Park library and community center make all books available digitally. the most negative effect on whom for
need a café, even if it does stand a slim chance In this way, the book collection would be this election: Reverend Wright on Mr.
of bringing in revenue? maintained for those who prefer the comfort of Obama; Mr. Bush on Mr. McCain; or
Libraries are repositories of information, physical tomes, people interested in research Mr. Bush on himself. Analysts tend to
not lounges for business transactions and food could find texts more easily and the library agree that Mr. Bush could contribute
service. The limited budget libraries receive would save the cost of building and maintaining the most to his campaign by not cam-
should go towards expanding content rather massive, useless branches. paigning for himself.
than catering to new If the Palo Alto Sen. Clinton took the opportunity
clientele. community truly has to release an updated version of her
Ironically, new Instead of expanding, the City Coun- an interest in keep- 3a.m. television ad, this time success-
clientele are precisely cil ought to consider consolidating the ing their libraries fully airing it at 3a.m. in the morning,
what libraries need inefficient branch system, reducing the useful and relevant, to the confusion of young teenagers
now that the Internet infrastructure needed in the libraries and indiscriminately and miserable bar drunks who were
has thrown the gaunt- throwing money still awake. The advertisement was
let to start the war of placing a greater emphasis on access to at the problem is narrated by Chelsea Clinton because
information sources. digital information. precisely the wrong Sen. Clinton’s campaign ran out of
However, libraries way to do it. funds for the deep throated voice.
still have much to S a d l y, t h a t “It is 3a.m., and the phone in the
offer: print media, resources not in the public seems to be all the community is able to advo- White House is ringing. Who would
domain and free Internet access. cate in this matter. you rather have answer the phone: a
Free internet is essential to keeping physi- Despite the community’s history of offering closet Muslim, an old timer who’s life
cal libraries viable. By focusing on providing strong debate over any issue of public concern, insurance went bankrupt, or the same
access to digital content through the internet and recent informational meetings to discuss the ape-man we’ve had for the past eight
online databases, libraries can remain useful to bond have suffered low attendance and a general years? Vote Clinton for President, and
the public during the technologically oriented ambivalence towards the measure. have a real man in office.”
21st century. If Palo Altans truly care about the fate of Adding to Sen. Clinton’s list of
Furthermore, as information becomes their libraries, they must demand that the fu- supporters was actor Tim Allen. He
increasingly accessible through computer ture of libraries be taken into account, not just informed reporters that Sen. Clinton’s
terminals, massive library complexes spread temporary concerns over safety and space. This refusal to drop out mirrored his own
between multiple branches will become useless extravagant, overweighted measure should be phrase “never give up; never surren-
and costly to maintain. altered if possible, and if not, it must be voted der.” When asked why he was applying
Rather than upgrading branches to full down this fall If Palo Alto is going to spend $80 phrases from a science fiction movie
service, communities would be best served if million to change the libraries, it should first to real life, Allen glanced mysteriously
branches were downsized and focused primar- ensure that the money is allocated to appropri- from side to side, whispered, “yes...
ily on providing access to digital content. The ate locations, so to ensure that libraries have a movie,” and fled the scene with his
money saved by closing or reducing branches future in the community. arms flapping.
would help maintain a central book collection, Otherwise, Palo Alto libraries may soon Disclaimer: None of the events
finally eliminating the irksome need to distribute be trading books for baristas and ceding shelf described or quotes given herein are
books between branches. space to socialites. valid. They are all fabrications.
A6 • June 2, 2008 Opinion The Campanile

Budget cuts negatively affect local community

Santa Clara County’s education and mental health care budget cuts interfere with students’ lives
Other patients who will still see their
regular therapists will have to share
those therapists with more patients as
the county is reducing its staff.
This means fewer visits and less
personal attention for all patients.
For patients who suffer from
major mental illnesses, these changes
are not just a minor inconvenience —
they sincerely scare them.
These patients have come to rely
on their counselors for support, and if
their personal counselor does not have
time for them, it could significantly
impact their mental state.
With the new budget cuts, all
that these patients will be guaranteed
is the ability to drop by and pick up
their medicines and the opportunity to
participate in optional group therapy
sessions.
The patients are not required to
go to these sessions, and without the
incentive of a personal, familiar doc-
tor, many patients may stop going as
frequently as is needed for their health
condition.
The budget cuts will also affect
on-site crisis-intervention at local
low-income schools. This is another
Hannah McGovern/The Campanile negative impact of the budget cuts
(Staged photo) A student consults a counselor in the office. Mental health care budget cuts will have because of the value of these services
a negative impact on the community, including the removal of mental health centers in schools. to students who need mental health
help. It is especially important for
By Laura Kurtz Santa Clara County Executive will no longer be privy to personalized students to have access to help with
Senior Staff Writer Peter Kutras initiated budget cuts of health care funding. today’s academics stress.
Mental health care and a decent $23 million as part of regular budget Patients not living in the hospi- It is even more unfortunate
education are possibly two of the most cuts. tal, also known as outpatients, will that the funding for these crisis in-
valuable services Santa Clara County However, it is troubling that $8 lose the counselors who knew their tervention programs is taken from
provides for its residents. million, more than a third of all bud- personal histories and needs and will low-income schools, where students
Recently, Santa Clara County has get cuts, are expected to come out of be expected to use impersonal drop-in would need as much, if not more,
taken actions that may have serious mental health care changes. mental health services instead. mental health treatment than students
hurtful effects on its residents. By cut- Mental health care funds help Although the county finds this in high-income schools.
ting funding for mental health care and those who would otherwise not be solution to be sufficient, it means that In order to follow budget cuts,
taking away from education funding, able to afford regular mental health doctors who know their patients’ per- the county almost eliminated the
the budget cuts will end up hurting treatment. This loss of funds means sonal histories, illnesses and person- Providing Assistance with Linkage to
poor and underachieving schools. that the 1,600 most stable outpatients alities will no longer be treating them. Services (PALS) program, as well.
This valuable program helps unnecessary reductions in funds, yet
mentally ill convicts get housing, both are losing money.
medicine and other services that are According to the agenda for the
meant to help them stay on track and Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara
out of jail. The program was kept after County, it was proposed that Williams
fierce public pressure. However, the Settlement funds be used instead to
close calls show what kind of valuable fund fuel cell construction.
services could be next to go. Williams settlement funds origi-
Most of these former inmates nally came from the settlement of the
were in jail due, at least in part, to Williams Case, in which nearly 100
their mental ill- students in San
nesses. Helping Mental health and educa- Francisco sued the
them recover, re- tion are two programs state of California
ceive medicine for proper educa-
and obtain other
which cannot face any tion tools, such as
health-related ser- unnecessary reductions in books and expe-
vices from PALS funds, yet both are losing rienced teachers.
are in everyone’s money. After the case, the
best interest. California govern-
Nancy Pena, ment notes Wil-
the director of the Mental Health liams schools, or under-performing
Department of Santa Clara County, schools, which number in the thou-
agreed that cutting funds is always sands.
difficult, but still believes that it does Those schools receive special
not answer the question: why is money funding until the state believes that
being cut from mental health care? they have reached a proficient level.
What many people do not seem to However, in the recent budget
understand is that mental health is just report, Santa Clara County proposed
as vital as physical health. Although using Williams settlement money
budget cuts are always difficult, the in order to fund the construction of
question, “why is so much money be- fuel cells. Once again, this example
ing cut from something so important?” demonstrates a prioritizing problem
still must be asked. by the Santa Clara County.
While Kutras and others believe While fuel cells and other
that it is necessary to cut funds from environmentally friendly forms of
mental health because of the budget energy are important, education is a
cuts across the board, in housing, land top priority.
use, environment and transportation Depriving poor students and
committees, there are new positions schools of the one thing that is keep-
opening for agricultural biologists. ing them afloat is not the answer to
Because funds are so stretched, ser- environmental problems.
vices across the board should receive Santa Clara County should seri-
less funding, but different amounts ously rethink its priorities. By cutting
of funds should be cut based on the funds from mental health care and
program’s importance. education, the county is depriving its
Mental health and education are citizens of the two most important
two programs which cannot face any services it provides.

Student Center should be open during all class periods

By Chris Gonnerman
Senior Staff Writer
As we approach the end of the year, it is
clear that the student center at Palo Alto High
School needs change.
The student center has offered activities
such as air hockey, ping-pong and foosball, as
well as couches and a television for students
since May of last year.
It was a great move on the school’s part
to bring in the games and activities, but the
amount of time that students are able to access
the games should be extended.
Currently, students only have the op-
portunity to play these games during brunch
and lunch.
During this time, the Student Center is
overcrowded, and it is difficult for all of the
students to enjoy the center’s accommoda-
tions.
The breaks are also too short to fulfill the
maximum potential of the center.
Even though the school has tried to give
students the opportunity to relax during the
day, more time should be allotted for students
to use the student center.
With more time for student use, the
games and couches can effectively serve their
original purpose.
The student center should be open during
third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh periods for
students that have preparatory periods during
those times, and it should also be open for an
hour after school.
Considering how much our school talks
about the stress that students are under and
the number of the school’s attempts to combat
it, the least the school could do is let students
enjoy the games and couches in the student
center throughout the day.
Students at Paly desperately need more
time during the school year to relax, slow
down, enjoy the moment and socialize with If it were inevitable for administrators
each other. or volunteers to watch over the students, it
Associated Student Body President Mo- would be much appreciated by the student
hammed Abid says that the student center is body to have the student center space open
not open through out the day because of a for relaxation and recreation.
very simple reason. This would make the work that the school
“If the student center was open during had to do to get the games in the Student Center
other periods, a staff member would have worth all of the effort.
to monitor what the students are doing at all The only game that has caused students
times,” Abid said. “However, there is discus- to misbehave since the administration put
sion right now amongst the staff whether or the table games in the student center is air
not to open the student hockey and this only
center more often dur- It was a great move on the occurred because cer-
ing the day.”
school’s part to bring in the games tain students would
The fact that the steal parts of the air
administration does and activities, but the usage and hockey table.
not think that students maintenance of the games can be According to
would be able to act enhanced. Abid, this will not be
appropriately without a problem anymore
adult supervision is because the adminis-
sending the student body the message that the tration is planning to take out the air hockey
students are immature and problematic. table, since it is simply not self-sustainable
The question is: what could students in the way that ping-pong tables, couches,
potentially be doing in the student center that foosball and televisions are.
need adults to tell students to stop? An additional reason to keep the student
Anything that occurs in the student center center open during preparatory periods is to
that might be frowned upon by society would lessen the crowd in the Academic Resource
be done outside of school purposely without Center and library with people who only want
supervision anyway. an indoor area to socialize.
On the contrary, if the administration Those people would be able to go to the
opened the student center during preparatory student center while the ARC and library
periods, they would be sending the student would be less noisy for students who want
body the message that they trust the students to study during their preparatory periods.
to act like thoughtful, intelligent and respon- The ARC staff and the librarians would also
sible adults. greatly appreciate this because the noise level
The vast majority of the school would would decrease.
meet the expectation of behaving thought- Administrators may have to keep a close
fully, making good decisions and using good eye on the students if they attempted to take
judgment without the watchful eye of an part in unacceptable activities but this only
Julia Benton/The Campanile
adult supervisor. It is true that the school is asks for more work on the staff’s part but
responsible for the well-being and safety of would ultimately be beneficial for the student Students should have access to the student center during all class periods to
all students. body. fully be able to take advantage of the center’s games, activities and couches.

“Mr. Hawkins. We’re go- “Mr. Toma because I

ing to stalk him.” want to see what he does

Verbatim
over summer.”

—Kushal Tantry and —Nadav Shiffman

Amanda Wong junior
seniors

What teacher do you want “Mr. McNulty because “Ms. Mueller because
it’s Mac. He’s the coolest she’s a cool a** teacher.”
to run into over the summer? guy in the world.”
—Courtney Loud
senior
—Erin McGovern
freshman
The Campanile Advertisements June 2, 2008 • A7

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To Mrs. Paugh’s
2008 Graduating
Senior Advisees:
CONGRATULATIONS!
What a joy it has been
to have each of you as
an advisee.
“Sticky” envelopes
forever and subtle hint
#56:
You are great!

— Best wishes, KP
A8 • June 2, 2008 Advertisements The Campanile

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A9 June 2, 2008

Sports The Campanile

Varsity softball suffers loss in CCS quarterfinals

After tying for division title, squad becomes first Paly softball team to qualify for CCS in 10 years
By DJ Hsueh
Business Manager
After making it to the Central Coast Sec-
tion quarterfinals for the first time in more than
a decade, the Varsity softball team ended its
highly successful season with a 1-10 loss to
number three seed Burlingame High School
on May 17.
However, the team shares the El Camino
Division crown with Wilcox High School and
ended their regular season with an 11- 1 league
record and a 19-8-1 overall record.
The loss against Wilcox on May 1 ended
the Vikings’ 10-game winning streak against
league opponents.
The team rebounded well, defeating
Saratoga High School to share the league
championship with Wilcox.
The last time the Vikings faced off against
Saratoga, they scraped out a 1-0 victory in extra
innings. However, in the more recent game,
the Vikings won 4-2, even with the absence
of junior captain Allie Coleman.
The Vikings then continued on to the CCS
Division II playoffs. In the opening game, the
sixth-seeded Vikings traveled to Salinas to
play against eleventh-seeded Branham High
School on May 15.
In the top of the first, the Branham Bruins
were able to score one run before the Vikings
managed to end the inning.
Paly responded with a triple from Cole-
man in bottom of the first inning to drive in
the first Viking runner.
The team continued the rally, putting one
more run across the plate before the Bruins
were able to make the third out, holding the
Viking batters to only two runs in the first
inning.
The Vikings then scored three more
runs in the third inning. Great hitting helped
the Viking offense, including a triple each
by freshman Mariah Philips and sophomore
Lauren Bucolo.
The team suffered a setback when short-
stop Bucolo had to sit out after she became
sick.
Right fielder Philips moved in to play
second base, and freshman second baseman
Gracie Marshall moved into the shortstop
position.
The Vikings were not slowed by the
change in the lineup and continued to lead the
game, entering the top of the seventh with a
5-3 advantage. Branham fought hard to score
two runs and tied the score 5-5.
“It was pretty disappointing for them to tie
up the game because we had led for the entire
game,” sophomore Kirsten Dauler said.
However, the Vikings were far from ready
to give up.
Freshman Anna Gale hit a single to the
outfield in the second half of the seventh inning.
Dauler put down a bunt after fouling two off
and moved Gale into scoring position. Gale
made it to third on a passed ball.
Sophomore Ryan Flanagan stepped up to
the plate with two outs. After falling behind in
the count, she delivered the game winning hit
up the middle, ending the game 6-5.
The team poured out of the dugout to
cheer and congratulate Flanagan after she Elizabeth Petit/The Campanile
rounded first base. The girls’ Varsity softball team prepares to take the field before their game against Burlingame High School. The team has
“Our game against Branham was one of
the most exciting we’ve played all season,”
been one of the best in Paly’s recent history, earning a co-league championship and advancing to the CCS quarterfinals.
Coleman said. “Games like these are what and successfully keeping the Vikings from The team made it to CCS with an impres-
make softball so exciting. We fought hard and
we showed so much heart to win the game.”
scoring for the majority of the game.
The Vikings got their first run of the game
sive 11-1 league record and now share the
SCVAL El Camino Division Championship
Softball
The team then played number three during the fifth inning, but were unable to catch with Wilcox High School.
seeded powerhouse Burlingame High School up to the Burlingame Panthers, ending the This year’s team was very young and has
Scores
(18-10-1) in the CCS Division II quarterfinals game and their postseason in a 1-10 loss. no graduating seniors this year, so the Vikings v. Branham
on May 17. Although their season ended in a loss, can look forward to an even better season May 15, W 6-5
Burlingame played a solid game, scoring Paly made it to the CCS quarterfinals, after next year where they have to potential to be v. Burlingame
once every inning for the first three innings having greatly improved this year. legitimate CCS title contenders. May 17, L 1-10

Badminton team remains positive despite poor finish

By Chris Gallagher
Spotlight Editor
Palo Alto High School’s badmin-
ton team started the year with the hope
of improving team unity, friendship,
individual performance and the win-
loss record.
The youth of the team and spirit
of the players were enough to carry
them through the lengthy season.
The team members finished the
season united in friendship and im-
proved their individual games.
Junior Young Hsu in particular
performed spectacularly in the Santa
Clara Valley Athletic League Playoffs
(SCVAL) and Badminton Central
Coast Section (CCS) Tournament,
placing fourth in finals for girls’
singles.
Unfortunately, the team overall
wasn’t up to par in its league perfor-
mance this year, winning only one
game overall to end the season with
a record of 1-10.
The team faced Homestead High
School on May 1, an expected victory
due to their previous win against the
Mustangs earlier in the season.
In the end, however, a few match-
es decided Paly’s loss to Homestead.
The teams’ scores were unbelievably
close, totalling 12-18.
This loss was difficult for the
Vikings after playing one of their best
matches of the season.
One of the most surprising and
unfortunate losses was Hsu’s match
against Homestead’s No.1 girls’
singles player.
“At first I definitely let my guard
down because I had beaten her be-
fore,” Hsu said. “We started playing
a marathon match and I got tired and
dizzy.”
After this dismally disappointing
loss to Homestead, the team went on
to strive for a Paly victory at Wilcox
High School on May 6.
Although they were not victori-
ous, the team played their best across
the board, finishing with another close
loss. The final score was 10-20.
“I could have done better,” No. 1
Varsity mixed doubles junior Hansen
Moon said. “They were pretty strong,
well-rounded players, but I think that
we could have won.”
Moon and his partner sophomore
Helen Zhu played a very close match,
but missed some key shots in the last
game of the match.
Many of the other matches were
well-fought and close as well.
“We definitely improved, but
they [Wilcox] switched their line up
and that seemed to hurt us,” Head
Coach Kara Prentice said. “Many of
the matches went into third games and
we kind of gave up.”
Paly played Saratoga on May 8,
and lost to the formidable team with
a final score of 1-29.
Although this score was worse
than the first time the teams played,
Paly fought out some very tough
matches against their opponent. Hsu
and senior Joanna Wu took on No. 1
girls’ doubles against Saratoga and
lost their match.
“We lost the first game although
it was really close,” Hsu said. “We
were having a lot of fun, and it was
kind of distracting.”
The rest of the players felt
similarly about their matches, citing
playing conditions, physical ailments
and a lack of concentration as reasons
for their losses.
“My opponent got tired and lazy
and started slowing down the game,”
Yao said. “He let me win the second
game so that he could recover and
then beat me in the third.”
Although the season ended with
disappointment, SCVALs and CCS
were just around the corner and many
team members had high hopes for the
postseason.
Both Yao and Hsu managed to
stay alive in SCVALs up until the
last day. Yao placed fifth in boys’
singles and Hsu placed fourth in girls’
singles.
The first day of SCVALs took
place in the blistering heat of Paly’s
gym, which had a great effect on the
pace of play.
Although Yao was only one posi-
tion away from making it to CCS, Hsu
made it into the championship after
two defaulted matches.
Hsu, who made it to CCS, had an
easy first day, soundly beating her op-
ponent from Oak Grove High School
15-3 in her first match.
Hsu maintained her momentum
from the first match with a 17-5 romp
over opponent Tiffany Jianto from
Archbishop Mitty.
Unfortunately, despite her suc-
cessful first day, her second day at
CCS was not as fruitful as Hsu lost
her first match to Phoebe Lin from
Henry M. Gunn High School.
Hsu struggled at the outset of
her second match of the day against
an opponent from Silvercreek High
School.
However, Hsu was able to escape
with a win from the match, avoiding
elimination from the tournament.
Day three of CCS, however, was
unsuccessful. Hsu faced Jianto of
Archbishop Mitty for a second time
in the tournament.
Although Hsu beat Jianto ear-
lier during CCS, Hsu was unable to
come away victorious and advance
further.
Hsu believes stamina and energy
were key factors that prevented her
success.
“Overall, I believe it was my
stamina that really prevented me from
performing my best,” Hsu said. “For
every single match I played, I ran out
of breath before my opponent did.
Endurance is one of the key assets a
player needs in badminton.”
Although Hsu performed well
throughout the season, the team
will look to improve in upcoming
seasons.
“We are going to be better next
season,” Hsu said. “The team is
definitely going to improve over the
offseason.”
Despite a long season and sev-
eral difficult losses, the Varsity team
nevertheless remains resilient and
optimistic for next year’s season to
continue to strengthen its play.
Badminton
Scores
v. Homestead
May 1, L 12-18
v. Wilcox
May 6, L 10-20

Athletes of the Year

Julius Teresa
Berezin Noyola
Cross Country Soccer
Track & Field
Julia Benton/The Campanile Stacy Levichev/The Campanile

Berezin, a UCLA-bound senior, has been a dominant presence on
this year’s Varsity cross country and track teams. In the fall, he con-
sistently placed among the top five runners on Paly’s cross country
squad. Berezin proved to be a valuable asset for the team in its Santa
Clara Valley Athletic League championship. After training through the
winter, he became a mainstay for the SCVAL champion track team in
the 400- and 800-meter races. Berezin was the league champion in the
800m and qualified for the State Championship Meet with his 1:55.9
performance in the 800m Central Coast Section finals race.
Noyola, heading to Stanford University next year, has ruled over
competitive girl’s soccer for several years. Noyola has been showered
with prestigious media awards, recently being named PARADE’s All-
American High School Girls Soccer Player of the Year for the second
straight year and the Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the
Year. Last season the senior scored goals for both the Under-17 and
Under-20 National Teams. This year with the Vikings, Noyola scored
18 goals and added seven assists while leading the team to the second
round of the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs.
A10 • June 2, 2008
Strong season leads to state qualifications
By Mira Parekh
Sports Editor
Though the results for the Palo Alto Track
and Field season were mixed, with the boys
ending the season undefeated and the girls
ending the season with a 2-4 record, the team
succeeded for most of the postseason, with
some strong performances in league finals and
in the Central Coast Section playoffs.
The boys’ team did well in league finals,
placing amongst the top runners in many
events. the boys sprint team did not perform
too well, except in the 4x100 where they placed
second and junior Paul Brown’s second place
finish in the 200-meter dash. Fortunately, the
team found more success in the mid-distance
and long-distance events.
Sophomore Phillip MacQuitty ran the
mile in 4:24 to come in second, while junior
Charlie Avis also had a strong performance in
the meet, coming in second in the two-mile
with a time of 9:38.
Junior Ariel Arsac-Ellison had a strong
performance as well, coming in fourth place
in a tough 400-meter race.
The team also did well in field events, as
senior Mike Scott came in first and second in
the triple jump and the long jump respectively,
and senior Dom Powell finished first in the
high jump with a height of 6’3”.
Although the girls struggled to place
among the top in many events, senior standout
Mia Lattanzi easily placed first in the 800
meter with a time of 2:15.
Both girls’ and boys’ teams went into the
CCS trials ready for a strong showing after key
performances in the league finals. In order to
advance to CCS, the individual or team had
to place in the top five in the race.
The meet got off to a shaky start as the
boys 4x100 team fell behind to Los Gatos and
Henry M. Gunn High Schools but were able
to advance, placing third overall.
However, sprinters Brown and freshman
Maurice Williams both had strong individual
performances as each placed third in the 200
meter and 100 meter, respectively. Sprint
Coach Nick Van Der Berg was disappointed
with overall performances at the trial.
“The team did not do what they were
supposed to,” Van Der Berg said.
According to Van Der Berg, the team made
costly mistakes, which cannot be repeated.
“We need to refocus,” Van Der Berg said.
“How far they will go depends on how well
they focus.”
Van Der Berg however, did commend
Brown and Williams for doing extremely well
in their indidvidual meets.
Although the team lacked qualifying times
in the 400 and 1600-meter races, the runners
proved to be more successful in the 800 me-
Vikings eliminated from CCS after disappointing first-round loss
Senior Michael Martin prepares to deliver a pitch. Martin helped the Vikings
claim victory over cross-town rival Henry M. Gunn High School on Apr. 4.
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Sophomore runner Phillip MacQuitty leads the competition in the boys’ two-mile at the CCS semifinals at Gilroy High
School. MacQuitty made it to the CCS finals, but was unable to place among the top four to advance to the state meet.
ter, with senior Julius Berezin placing fourth
overall and receiving a CCS berth.
MacQuitty similarly placed fourth in
the 3200 meter. MacQuitty had a stellar race,
passing a opponent in the last 200 meters in a
fight for fourth. Coach Jeff Billing was pleased
with MacQuitty’s race but acknowledges that
there are areas to improve on.
“I think it was clear from the race that
Phil is starting to round into form at the right
time, and I also think it showed a little bit of
what we have to work on,” Billing said.
Billing feels confident about MacQuitty’s
potential for success.
“I’m really looking forward to watching
him burn up the track during the next five to
six weeks,” Billing said.
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Sports
Aside from the mixed feelings about the
track events, Paly saw most of its success
in the field events, primarily due to Scott’s
exceptional performances in the high jump,
long jump and triple jump and senior Dennis
Muaka’s third place finish in discus.
Scott had a successful meet, coming first
in the high jump and triple jump and second
in the long jump.
Powell also had a notable performance in
the high jump as he placed third overall.
The girls’ team on the other hand struggled
in the field events and was not able to place
in neither jumps nor throws.
Despite this, junior Daniella Florant
had a notable performance, barely missing
league qualification in the high jump by com-
By Zal Dordi
Senior Staff Writer
The Palo Alto boy’s Varsity baseball team
ended their season May 15 with a demoral-
izing 18-4 loss to the Leigh High School
Mustangs.
It was the first round of the Central Coast
Section Division II playoffs for the Vikings as
they passed through the league tournament,
beating both Henry M. Gunn High School and
Milpitas High School in a best of three series.
After finishing the regular season with a four-
game losing streak, the Vikings entered the
Santa Clara Valley Athletic League playoffs
before the commencement of CCS.
The first round began with the Vikings
facing cross-town rival Gunn with a three game
series. The Vikings led early in the ball game,
leading 3-0 before the Titans battled back to
win the game in the seventh inning on a bases
loaded walk with a final score of 4-5.
Games two and three of the series were
all Vikings. In game two, the Vikings trailed
in the fifth 0-1 before tying and subsequently
taking the lead in the bottom half of the sixth
inning, securing the second of the three games
by a final score of 7-1.
Senior Tyger Pederson led the offense
with three hits including a double and a triple.
The rubber match was held the following day
(650)323-0409
Julia Benton/The Campanile
ing in sixth place but achieving a personal
record,with a height of 4’ 10.5”.
The girls’ team proved to have better luck
on the track with sophomore Emily Yeates,
who barely missed qualification in the 100-
meter, and junior Silvia Price who achieved a
personal record in 300 meter hurdles.
The strongest individual performances
came from Lattanzi and senior Leah Gaeta.
Lattanzi dominated the 800-meter race,
coming in first with 2:14:68. Gaeta qualified
for CCS as well, placing fifth with 2:19:34.
Gaeta, happy to qualify was satifisfied with
her race overall.
“I felt really good running this race,”
Gaeta said. “I’ve only ran four 800s before,
so to qualify is great.”
to determine who was safe from relegation.
The losing team would face Cupertino High
School to see which team would remain in the
De Anza division.
After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first
inning, the Vikings fell behind 5-6 after five
innings. Paly battled back with nine runs in
the sixth inning to put the game out of reach
for the Titans. Senior Michael Martin got the
win in relief for the boys, who made up for
their five errors on defense with fourteen hits
off of the Gunn pitching staff. With the win
over Gunn, the Vikings would advance to
play Milpitas High School for fifth place in
the league standings.
In the first game of the series, junior
Matthew Tracy pitched a gem for the Vikings,
throwing a complete game two-hitter against
the Milpitas Trojans. While the Vikings
managed only three hits of their own, they
were able to plate three runs giving them a
3-0 victory.
Game two of the series belonged to the
Trojans, who got to starting pitcher junior Colin
Byrne early. Milpitas led 5-1 after three innings
and that was all they would need against the
Vikings as they took game two of the best of
three series by a final score of 9-4.
In game three, the winner would finish
fifth place in the league standings and be eli-
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Gaeta is also happy with her time, since
she felt that this race was different from her
previous ones because she felt more moti-
vated.
“It really clicked with me that this race
could be my last race in high school,” Gaeta
said. “I’m really happy with [my] time; it’s a
personal record.”
Some of Paly’s best runners competed
at Gilroy High School on May 17, aiming to
qualify for the CCS finals and gain a berth in
the state meet. Unfortunately, the boys were
unable to qualify for finals, as both Williams
and Brown fell short of the qualifying mark.
MacQuitty and Berezin however, were able to
advance, qualifying for CCS in the two-mile
and the 800-meter, respectively. Scott and
Powell continued to be a presence on the field
as Powell advanced in the high jump with an
impressive 6’ 6” jump and Scott qualified in
both the long jump and triple jump.
The boys 4 x 100 team, led by Williams,
Powell, Scott and Brown however was able
to qualify and make it to states.
The girls’ team, whose 4x400 relay team
fell short of qualifying, found success with
Lattanzi in the 800-meter race, who easily
qualified for CCS finals.
The CCS finals, which determine which
athletes go to the state meet, took place at
Gilroy High School on May 23. The finals
went well for Paly, with almost everyone
qualifying for state. Berezin was able to place
fourth in the 800, giving him the opportunity
to advance. Both Scott and Powell were able
to advance in both the long jump and the high
jump, with Scott falling shy of qualifying for
the triple jump.
Lattanzi once again dominated the track
placing first in the 800 after a tough, close run
with opponent Justine Fredronic from Carl-
mont High School, giving Lattanzi a definite
spot in the state meet. After a long season,
Billing thinks that the season has been very
successful and is excited about this year’s
sophomores.
“This group could be a few off-seasons
of training away from being a force to be
reckoned with at the state level,” Billing said.
“It’s going to be a fun two years.”
Track & Field
State Qualifiers
Boys 4 x 100 relay
Mike Scott—long jump
Dom Powell—high jump
Julius Berezin—800-meter
Mia Lattanzi—800-meter
gible for a CCS berth. Senior Will Goodspeed
got the win for the Vikings with a solid pitching
effort and a bases-loaded single in the eighth
inning to bring in the winning run for Paly.
The Vikings qualified for CCS and were
seeded 14th in a field of 16. Their first game was
against third-seeded Leigh High School.
The Vikings fell behind early and had
no chance to recover, as Leigh brought 14
batters to the plate in the first inning, scor-
ing nine runs on ten hits. The Vikings were
able to muster four runs of their own, but the
Mustangs doubled their first inning score to
beat the Vikings 18-4.The loss eliminated
the Vikings from CCS contention, ending the
2008 season.
With several key players graduating this
year, the 2009 squad will have some big shoes
to fill, but should still be able to compete in
what will be a tough De Anza division.
Baseball
Scores
@ Milpitas High School
April 11, 9-4 L
@ Leigh High School
April 15, 18-4 L
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The Campanile
Paly climbers rock local indoor, outdoor venues
Rock climbing gains popularity among students, offering a challenging, satisfying experience
By Catherine Benson
A&E Editor
On the soccer field, basketball court and
baseball diamond, players learn to rely on
their teammates –– but on the rock wall, rock
climbers must rely solely on themselves.
“Rock climbing is different than other
sports in the way that you only have to compete
with other people if you want to,” freshman
Galen Jones said. “The only person you’re
competing against is yourself, to see if you
can get better and do the harder climbs.”
Jones, who was attracted to rock climb-
ing because of the sport’s emphasis on self-
reliance, has been climbing for the past seven
months.
“Climbing is challenging, but fun in that
it always leaves you feeling pretty good and
accomplished,” freshman Tobey Nelson-Gal
said. “If you like a rush, then climbing defi-
nitely builds up your adrenaline to the point
where after you finish, you will want to return
to the wall in seconds.”
Like Jones, Nelson-Gal was also intro-
duced to rock climbing when a friend invited
him on a climb in Santa Cruz. He started rock
climbing regularly the next month.
Although it is hard for both Nelson-Gal
and Jones to make time for rock climbing, their
passion for the sport keeps them trying to find
time for climbing in their busy schedules.
Furthermore, rock climbing has taught
Jones about determination and persever-
ance.
“I’m motivated by the satisfaction I gain
from finishing a particularly hard climb and the
embarrassment if I give up,” Jones said.
Nelson-Gal is also motivated to push
himself to finish harder climbs.
“What motivates me to the top is trying
to get better,” Nelson-Gal said. “If you don’t
complete something then you might get a little
disappointed in yourself, but most of the time
it gets you to keep on trying until you finally
complete it. So usually you’re motivated by
self-achievement.”
Even though Nelson-Gal and Jones
mainly rock climb as exercise, Jones finds
that there are several other benefits from the
sport.
“I think that climbing has been one of
my best stress relievers this year,” Jones said.
“Whenever I’m too stressed out, I can just go
and climb where I can forget about everything
that’s going on.”
Despite the fact that both Nelson-Gal and
Jones climb both indoors and outdoors, they
PALY SPORTS COVERAGE WILL
NEVER BE THE SAME
Freshman Tobey Nelson-Gal scales a bouldering wall at the indoor climbing gym Planet Granite in Sunnyvale. Several
Paly students first started rock climbing in order to reduce stress, get a work out and gain a sense of accomplishment.
both tend to spend more time rock climbing
indoors due to the convenience.
“Outdoor climbing is much more difficult,
mainly because nothing is clearly mapped out
for you,” Nelson-Gal said. “You have to be
smart on how you climb up, but indoor places
like Planet Granite are much easier to get to,
so it’s also fun to train there.”
Outdoor climbing, however, has proved to
be memorable. Jones describes one of his most
intense outdoor climbs as his most significant
climbing memory.
“My favorite climb would have to be when
I went to Lover’s Leap in Yosemite,” Jones
said. “A couple of friends and I did a three
pitch climb up a 400 foot wall. My favorite
moment was when I was waiting for the other
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guys to finish the last pitch and I had to wait
most of the way up the wall hanging off an
inch wide ledge.”
While climbing can be practiced as a
one-person sport, Nelson-Gal and Jones both
agree that involving friends in climbs makes
the sport more interesting and worthwhile.
“Climbing alone is usually less fun,”
Nelson-Gal said. “When you have friends
with you, you can make the best time out of
your experience.”
Nelson-Gal never took formal climbing
classes, but he cites the importance of having
other climbers watch him when he attempts
a climb.
“When you climb, there’s usually a group
of people around you climbing on walls next to
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Courtesy of Tobey Nelson-Gal
you,” Nelson-Gal said. “If you do something
wrong, people will give you helpful tips.”
Climbing is sometimes seen as a some-
what less competitive sport than team sports;
however, climbers say that they compete with
themselves to try to take their performance to
the next level.
“I’m just trying to take it one step at a
time,” Jones said. “Once I finish a harder
climb than I’ve ever done before, I try to be
consistently able to finish that level and then
I’ll move on to a harder one.”
Despite the feeling of achievement
Nelson-Gal and Jones gain from climbing, it is
often perceived as a fairly dangerous sport.
However, neither Jones, Nelson-Gal nor
junior Ceanne Shine, who started rock climb-
June 2, 2008 • A11
ing when she was ten years old, have ever been
seriously injured while rock climbing.
“Of course there’s always an element of
fear when you’re climbing, but generally it’s
pretty safe,” Shine said. “The only accident I
ever experienced was when I did something
I shouldn’t have.”
Although each climber acknowledges the
risks they are taking while rock climbing, all
three find an adrenaline rush that comes with
the feeling of danger involved in climbing.
“I would say that rock climbing is actu-
ally pretty safe,” Nelson-Gal said. “It really
depends how careful you are. You really have
to pay attention to all your equipment, but
otherwise it’s definitely worth the risk.”
Rock climbing can appear very intimidat-
ing to newcomers. However, Shine believes
that someone of any skill level can easily
adapt to the sport.
“Anyone can climb,” Shine said. “You
don’t have to have tons of muscle to be a good
climber. It’s all in the technique.”
Similarly, Nelson-Gal agrees that virtually
anybody can try rock climbing, regardless of
physical size or body type.
“You go there and you see little five-
year-old kids climbing on really easy walls,”
Nelson-Gal said. “If something seems too dif-
ficult, there are always easier routes to try.”
Both Nelson-Gal and Jones took up rock
climbing fairly recently but look to make the
sport a permanent part of their lives.
Rock climbing is a sport that can be tai-
lored to an individual’s skill level, allowing
climbers to continue the sport for many years
because they can always find harder climbs and
continue to improve on on their technique.
“Of course I plan on continuing to rock
climb,” Nelson-Gal said. “It’s amazing. The
fun thing is that there is always something
more to work towards. I’m at the point where
I can still improve myself greatly.”
Climbing has showed Shine how to push
herself to the next level.
“Rock climbing has definitely changed
my life,” Shine said. “In climbing there are
often dynamic moves in which you have to
lunge for the next hold. Usually those moves
look scary or hard, but if you go for it, those
moves turn out to be a lot easier than you
thought.”
Shine, like other rock climbers, has found
the sport very rewarding.
“I guess rock climbing has really taught
me to just go for things, even if they seem to
be impossible,” Shine said.
A12 • June 2, 2008 Sports The Campanile

Varsity swimming teams race to victory at leagues

After a long season of training, Palo Alto swimming and diving teams succeed at SCVAL finals
By Alexi Dagan
Senior Staff Writer
The pressure was on for the Palo
Alto High School Varsity swimming
and diving teams as they went into the
Santa Clara Valley Athletic League
finals on May 9. Both teams were
defending league champions, and the
boys, having just lost to Monta Vista
High School in a duel meet, needed to
win the finals to uphold their record.
Fortunately, after a season filled
with determination and intensive
training, both teams came away with
victories. The girls won by 81.5 points,
and the boys won by a margin of 36
points.
“[Winning] leagues was exactly
what we wanted,” senior co-captain
Lizzie Abbott said. “We came out, we
swam hard, we swam fast and no one
came close.”
Senior co-captain Liv Jensen won
the 50-yard freestyle with a league
record of 23.10 seconds and the
100-yard breaststroke with a time of
1:06.41. The girls had another double
win from senior co-captain Colleen
Fotsch, who won the 100-yard but-
terfly with a time of 57.0 seconds and
the 100-yard backstroke with a time
of 57.95 seconds.
Both Jensen and Fotsch were on
the winning 400-yard freestyle relay,
which included freshmen Sabrina Lee
and Kristina Xiang. Lee and Xiang
also pushed the Vikings to victory with
a fourth place finish in the 100-yard
freestyle and a fifth place finish in the
200-yard individual medley.
“We worked really hard this
season, and it paid off,” Abbott said.
“We won leagues for the sixth year
in a row, which is really cool because
not only is that the most consecutive
league titles for any Paly team, but it
also means that the graduating seniors
have never lost a league meet.”
The diving team also contributed
to the girls’ success at SCVALS.
Senior Michela Fossati-Bellani, fresh-
man Grace Greenwood, junior Noa
Palmon and sophomore Daron Wil-
lison placed first, third, sixth and tenth,
respectively, which gave the swim
team a 56-point lead to build on.
“We knew that thanks to the div-
ers, we had a big lead going into the
meet,” Abbott said. “But even so, we
didn’t take any chances and left it all
in the pool.”
Swimmers on the girls’ Varsity team dive off of the starting blocks during Central Coast Section finals at Stanford University.
The boys and girls teams’ hard work and determination paid off when they proved victorious in this season’s last tournament.
Although the boys’ team was
not as dominant throughout the meet,
they still managed to win their fourth
consecutive league title. Junior Tim
Wenzlau, senior co-captain Geng
Wang, junior Mark Higgins and senior
Michael Fortune kicked off the meet
with a win in the 200-yard medley
relay with a time of 1:38.44. Without
any other first place finishes, the boys’
team relied heavily on second and
third place finishes to garner enough
points and win the meet.
“Everyone really stepped up at
leagues,” Wang said. “Lots of people
moved up places from trials the day
before, which allowed us to win the
meet.”
Wang finished second in the 200-
yard freestyle and third in the 100
Fotsch, Xiang, Lee and Jensen, also
placed second.
Similar to the league finals, the
diving team contributed significantly
to the team’s success. Although she
was unable to break her record from
the previous year, Fossati-Bellani
took first in the diving competition
with a score of 475.15. Greenwood
placed eighth with a score of 375.2
and Palmon placed eleventh with a
score of 341.25.
The boys’ team also saw many
fast swims throughout the meet, and
began with a fourth place finish by
the 200 medley relay team, which
included Wenzlau, Wang, Higgins
and Fortune.
Higgins placed third in the 200
freestyle with an All-American Con-
sideration time of 1:41.99 and ninth
in the 100 backstroke with another
All-American Consideration time of
52.25 seconds. Wenzlau also swam
the 100 backstroke, placing fifth
with an All-American time of 52.24
seconds, as well as the 200 individual
medley, in which he placed ninth.
Fortune was successful in the freestyle
sprint events, taking tenth in the 50
freestyle and tying for seventh in the
100 freestyle.
“CCS was the fastest it has ever
been this year,” Wang said.
Both the boys’ and girls’ team
captains are optimistic about the future
of their respective teams.
Michela Fossati-Bellani/The Campanile “I’m sure that Tim [Wenzlau] and
Mark [Higgins] will get even faster
and will be able to carry the team next
year,” Wang said.
breaststroke while Fortune finished behind Monta Vista High School and 22.39 seconds, as well as the 100 Abbott agrees with Wang and
second in both the 100 breaststroke Archbishop Mitty High School, and freestyle, in which she again set a thinks the season was successful.
and 50 freestyle with a new school the boys’ team placed fourth behind CCS record time of 49.03 seconds “We are graduating lots of people
record time of 21.61 seconds. Wenzlau Bellarmine College Preparatory, Sara- in the preliminary meet on the previ- and many really talented swimmers,”
finished third in the 200 individual toga High School and Valley Christian ous day. Fotsch also won both of her Abbott said. “But all the effort we put
medley and second in 100 backstroke High School. events and set two CCS records in in really paid off in the end.”
while Higgins finished second in the “We wanted to win, and we had the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke,
200 individual some amazing with times of 54.13 seconds and 53.96
medley and
“We came out, we swam hard, swims,” Ab- seconds, respectively. Swimming
third in the 100 bott said. “Liv Lee was the only other girl to
backstroke. we swam fast and no one came and Colleen move on to finals, placing 12th in Scores
The com- close.” were unbe- the 100 freestyle with a time of 54.38 SCVAL finals @ Lynbrook H.S.
petition contin- lievable, and seconds. The girls also found success May 9
ued for both VB 1st place
Lizzie Abbott everyone who in their relays. The 200 medley relay,
teams at the swam and dove which included senior Nicole Westly, VG 1st place
Central Coast senior co-captain really contrib- Xiang, Fotsch and Lee, placed sev- CCS finals @ Stanford
Section finals uted to our suc- enth. The 200 freestyle relay, which May 17
on May 17 at cess.” included Jensen, Abbott, junior Allie VB 4th place
the Avery Aquatic Center at Stanford Jensen won the 50 freestyle, in Bollella and Lee placed second, and VG 3rd place
University. The girls’team placed third which she set a new CCS record of the 400 freestyle relay, which included

Viking tennis team struggles with postseason losses

By Sam Jones “We did not want to go out like that,
Senior Staff Writer losing big in the quarterfinals,” senior co-
The Palo Alto High School Varsity boys’ captain David Plotkin said. “But that should
tennis team’s season came to an end in the Cen- not discredit what we’ve done this season.
tral Coast Section quarterfinals, concluding a It has been a great year, and this team has a
mixed season for the young Viking squad. whole lot of heart.”
The team finished its season with a 15-8 For two Vikings, the season was not
overall record (10-3 league). Heading into yet over. Plotkin and junior Dan Schwartz
the CCS team tournament, the Vikings were qualified for the CCS doubles tournament
optimistic about their fifth seeding and their after placing second in the Santa Clara Valley
chance to make a significant impact on the Athletic League individual playoffs.
postseason playoffs. The pair was able to secure an unseeded
“We had a good deal of confidence enter- bid in the CCS tournament through the merit
ing the tournament this year,” senior co-captain of their performances in the regular season and
Kushal Tantry said. “The entire team knew the SCVAL postseason. Plotkin and Schwartz
exactly what we were capable of doing, and we faced off against the No. 1 doubles team of
were pumped to face Archbishop Mitty
off against some of the High School in the
best teams in North-
“Placing second [in SCVALs] and opening round.
ern California.” developing into one of the best The Paly duo had
The postseason teams in CCS is nothing to feel a strong start, captur-
opener went exactly sorry about. This team has really ing the first set, 6-4.
as planned for the However, from that
Vikings, who played
grown and improved this season and point on, Mitty domi-
against Yerba Bue- it has been an awesome year.” nated the game.
na High School on Paly’s opponents
May 2. The Vikings Kushal Tantry controlled the pace
thrashed their oppo- of the next two sets,
nents, decimating the
senior co-captain defeating Plotkin and
opposing squad 7-0 Schwartz by scores of
and showcasing the 2-6 and 3-6. The loss
Paly team at its very best. The Vikings appeared was a disappointment for the pair, who had
strong coming off of their first tournament and high expectations for their performance in the
looked to use the performance as a confidence CCS individual tournament.
booster for later rounds. “Losing early was tough because Dan and
“We were hoping that the match against I knew that we could have taken that match,” Elizabeth Petit/The Campanile
Yerba Buena would be a momentum builder Plotkin said. “We had the upper hand after Junior Dan Schwartz warms up his serve while preparing for a league match. The Varsity boys’ team finished its
for the team,” Tantry said. “Especially consid- the first set, but we just couldn’t capitalize
season with mixed results but has gained invaluable knowledge to improve their game for the upcoming season.
ering that we were facing off against Menlo on that advantage. We simply did not bring
[School] the next round, one of the strongest our A-game.” This season has provided the young Viking Although the Vikings’ postseason appear- “This team has really grown and improved this
teams in CCS.” With the season now over for the Vi- squad with invaluable experience, improving ances were disappointing, the team has shown season, and it has been an awesome year.”
However, the defending CCS champion, kings, the team is already looking towards the team’s prospects for next season. significant improvement over the course of
Menlo School, stopped the Vikings dead in the future. “If there’s one thing the team can defi- the season.
their tracks in the quarterfinals on May 5. The squad will return with almost all of nitely take from this season, it’s experience,” “The whole team is playing at a much Tennis
The top three seeded singles players of Menlo its players, losing only senior captains Tantry Plotkin said. “The team has gotten much higher level than we were at the beginning
crushed their Palo Alto opponents, losing only and Plotkin. Although the loss of the senior stronger and deeper across the board through of this year,” Plotkin said. “It is definitely a
eight games collectively. leadership will hurt the team, the squad looks countless practices and all-important match testament to the hard work and dedication of Scores
“It was devastating, having our strongest to contend for next year’s SCVAL and CCS time.” all the guys.” CCS @Aptos
players just getting beaten handily,” Tantry titles. The only flaw the captains can find with Even though the season ended earlier than v. Yerba Buena
said. “The team is absolutely loaded with young next year’s team is that they will not be around they would have wished, the squad is proud of May 2, W 7-0
The doubles teams did not fare much talent,” Tantry said. “For the fifth seeded to see it. what it has accomplished this season. v. Menlo
better as they lost two of three matches, result- team in CCS to lose only two guys is pretty “The only regret that I have is that I won’t “Placing second [in SCVALs] and de- May 5, L 2-5
ing in a 2-5 loss for Palo Alto and effectively ridiculous, so the guys should be a dominant be part of the team next season, when the team veloping into one of the best teams in CCS
ending the team’s season. force in the section next season.” will just dominate,” Plotkin said. is nothing to feel sorry about,” Tantry said.
The Campanile
Life styles Features • A&E Monday, June 2, 2008

The Last Ponder

Mia Pond
Very simply, let me summarize
the majority of my high school experi-
ence: I struggled through the majority
of my science classes, consumed the
college application process like free
collegiate pencils and got second
place for the “Stress case” senior poll.
This isn’t to suggest that I didn’t enjoy
high school or never had a period of
accomplishment or an enjoyable ride

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

in the “relaxi taxi.” I’m just trying
to be honest — just trying to be real
here. And for me, in particular, I was
not one of those students who made
Paly seem like something to breeze
or coast through (although I highly
doubt anyone has an incredibly easy
time during high school).
But I learned from this. In retro-
spect, I see that I have an better un-
derstanding of myself and this school
from my own mistakes, choices and
growth. Call me clueless (yes, Mrs.
Van Der Burg, I still remember that
comment), but I do feel like I have
gained some clarity about the changes
I went through and those that I con-
tinue to experience.
And so, I will confess my latest
lesson learned: I had — I’m having
— an existential crisis. Insert snicker,
laugh, or head nod here. We have all
been here, my friends. I can attribute
my understanding of existentialism
to my AP English class’s discussions
and, whether Mrs. Van Der Burg is
right or not, I see that existentialism is
defined as one’s pursuit to craft their
own definition of meaning and con-
sciously live out such pursuits. Like
the plays we read, I, like Vladimir,
Mersault and Inez, began to ques-
tion if there was “meaning” in my
college plans and what I had found
to be personally defining during high
school. Looking back on my time
at Paly, I now see that much of my
anxiety and stress were the result of
such existential quandary — much
of my stress was rooted in the worry
that I wouldn’t get into the “right”
college, a hidden concern of what
people in this community would think
of my intellect and future. I defined
my identity through the external-
based, shallow nature of Palo Alto,
the proximity of Stanford University,
the fear that I wouldn’t be “good
enough” and feelings of insecurity
that this town induced. What I found
meaning in was not what I personally
wanted for myself — it was in Palo
Alto’s expectation of what I should
do during my present years of high
school and with my future.
And so, here is my advice: con-
sciously decide what is important to
you, question what you are passion-
ate about and find your meaning.
Construct your future based on your
wants, needs and ambitions. Don’t
let someone or something tell you
what you should expect from your-
self, what you should do with your
time in high school and the time after
that. Ask yourself during the hectic
bustle of Paly if this — your schedule,
classes, work load and stress — is
what you want, what Paly wants for
you, or what you think you want for
yourself. Whatever this may be, if
you find meaning and consciously
recognize it as being fulfilling, then
who is to judge you. Be more than
your peers and deviate from the norm;
be courageous enough to live pres-
By Zach Harris tions gave them an opportunity to meet other While filming Girbauds, either Will or and sent out to friends. By the night of the
A&E Editor skaters from around the Bay Area. Ellmann would usually ride alongside the skat- premiere, a crowd of local skaters, family and
John Hicks falls off of his board, noticeably “The video gave me the opportunity to meet ers, tilting the camera up to try and obtain the friends gathered to watch the video for the first
upset after missing a 50-50 grind on a cement a lot of new people,” John said. “I met skaters best possible shot of the trick being attempted. time at the local skateboard store. John and
bench moved halfway from the sidewalk onto from around the area and people who I didn’t However, Will insists that even though the film Ellmann had approached the management of
the street. As he walks back to try the same trick know skated. It was really fun and we would is a skateboarding video where skating does Core Board Shop about showing the video and
again, a biker speeds by, nearly hitting Hicks and still be skating and traveling to different spots, play a large role in the dynamic of the film, it the store was happy to oblige.
leaving only expletives in his wake. John and his whether we were filming or not.” is also about the aesthetics and the making of “We went around looking for somewhere
twin brother Will, who has been behind a cam- Most of the cinematography was done by an overall enjoyable product. Between shots to show it for the first time,” John said. “The
era filming the entire sequence, both exchange Ellmann and Will, who was injured during the of varials and krooked grinds there are scenes people at Core have always been really cool and
their own mix of surprise and laughter before filming process and was therefore unable to that have nothing to do with skating that give they made it really easy for us. It was something
John runs back to try and get the perfect shot. skate in the video. Will has taken film classes at the movie its own identity and humor. One of we really appreciated.”
Girbauds 650 (pronounced jer-bohs 6-5-0), a Paly and hopes to pursue film further after high the skaters’ introductions involves an ice cream Filming has already started for a se-
skateboarding video made by the Hicks broth- school. Ellmann, a middle schooler, also hopes cone exchange for another skater kissing the quel to Gir-
ers, who are Palo Alto to continue with film work in tops of his shoes. bauds. The
High School juniors, high school and beyond. “The video is not just about the tricks,” Will sequel will
Jane Lathrop Stanford “It was really fun filming said. “It’s about the way they look and how the contain full
Middle School eighth the video,” Will said. “It is scenes come together as a whole.” parts from
grader Connor Ellman fun finding the best angle and The film is backed by a soundtrack of the major-
and a host of other lo- making the trick look really mostly rock music put together by Ellmann ity of skaters
cal skateboarders, is the good. Once you know how and other skaters. Ellmann also did a majority featured in
first in what they hope to use a camera there is a lot of the editing work, making sure that the video
to be a long series of of cool stuff you can do. The was one cohesive product.
similar videos. video is not just about the “My favorite part about
“It was a really tricks — its about the way making Girbauds was
light-hearted project,” they look too.” taking all of the stuff
John said. “No one we filmed and putting
took themselves too it together with music,”
seriously and we just Ellmann said. “It’s crazy
went out and skated, how much better watching
it’s just what we enjoy skateboarding can be if the Girbauds, along with
doing.” music is good and the ed- scenes about 2007 Paly graduate Jun Yin
Named for the ur- iting works well. I also and current Paly sophomore Alex Taser.
ban- style jean company enjoyed finding songs for Two film students from University of
and the local area code, the parts that I felt matched California at Santa Cruz will also
Girbauds was filmed with a Sony VX-2100 Both of the the skater’s style.” help with filming this summer.
camera with a Raynox Hicks brothers began skate- Due to the proximity “We’re really excited about the
MX3000 fish eye boarding before high school between the skater being guys from Santa Cruz coming
lens. The Hicks and both plan to continue filmed and the person with the up to shoot with us,” Ellmann
brothers and after they graduate. John video camera, safety was al- said. “The next video will be much more
Ellman filmed was especially con- ways a concern while shooting professional than the last one.”
the video in cerned with localizing Girbauds. Copies of Girbauds 650 can be ob-
San Jose, Cu- skateboarding and “Filming can be a little scary some- tained from the Hicks brothers
pertino, Santa discouraging pop- times,” Will said. “I’m always scared that or Ellmann.
Clara, Sunny- ular beliefs about a board will fly out and break the fish eye
vale, Palo Alto, the sub-culture made [lens] but so far we have been lucky.”
Mountain View, popular by MTV and the Girbauds premiered at Core
Redwood City, X-Games. Board Shop in San Carlos
San Francisco, Los “‘Life of Ryan’ is in early May. An
Gatos and Menlo bulls--t!” John said. event was
Park. And while most “The majority of skate- made on Fa-
of the skaters featured boarders worldwide are just out at cebook
in Girbauds are close local skate spots having fun. That’s the aspect
friends, the vari- we wanted to bring out with Girbauds — just
ous loca- a bunch of friends having fun and
skateboarding.
FEATURES FEATURES A&E
Dress To Pa m p a s - t i c ?

Impress
ently and independently.
And yet, this is just my experi-
ence, my existential crisis. Yes, this
seems a bit cliché and I know that
this seems similar to past published
B3
guidance of graduating seniors — it
On That Note...
is easier to write than actually put into
practice. I apologize if this comes off
as another piece of unrealistic, disen-
B2
chanted, frustrating counsel; I know
that my insights can only attest to By Jillian Liu
my experiences and the person I am.
Hell, it’s your decision whether there
is any meaning in finding meaning. By Kelley Shin
B11
But, I do say, without any question or
debate, that this is just high school.
This is just four years. And this is just
my pondering. By Hannah Bystritsky
B2 June 2, 2008
Features
Separate and
Unequal
Chris Gallagher
On the surface, the laning system
at Paly seems like the ideal way for
competitive, bright students to receive
a challenging learning experience.
Most people see Advanced Placement
Physics, BC Calculus and AP English
and marvel at the intellect of students
who take these classes and appreci-
ate the grandeur of Palo Alto High
School’s AP and honors courses. But
what about those “underachievers”
who decide to take the lower lanes?
Don’t worry, it is all right to call them
that. They are used to being treated
like lesser human beings.
The process of dividing students
based on ability, achievement or needs
is called “tracking” by definition, or
in a more general sense, “grouping.”
Tracking has become somewhat of
a taboo method among educators,
criticized by many teachers for its
inherent educational inequities.
Although laning is not the same
as tracking because it allows greater
room for mobility between various
levels, its negative byproducts bear
a striking resemblance to those of its
predecessor. This system, that almost
every department at Paly has come to
embrace, has serious flaws in theory
and in its practical applications.
Some believe that laning allows
for an equally stimulating education
for students of different learning
abilities, but this is simply not true.
The achievement gap propagated by
segregated education is so drastic as to
outweigh the difference between high
school graduates and dropouts, ac-
cording to studies performed by High
School and Beyond and the National
Education Longitudinal Study. It has
been proven time and time again that
“separate but equal” can never work
in society.
Although it is rarely spoken of
in a politically correct conversation,
the truth is that a majority of lower
lane classes are composed of ethnic
minorities. In Jeannie Oakes’s Keep-
ing Track (1985/2005), Oake states
that race and cultural background
are huge determining factors when it
comes to tracking and laning. Paly’s
faculty are aware of the problems with
the laning system, but opponents of
the system are faced with resistance
from the community and effects of
larger class sizes. Paly is no excep-
tion to the increase in students taking
honors classes nationwide. Student
enrollment in these classes has in-
creased drastically, almost removing
all meaning from the name.
Another serious flaw in the laning
system is that students in less intensive
classes receive low expectations from
teachers, peers, college counselors and
family, “demotivating” any students
to achieve their true potential.
A major issue regarding de-laning
is that the process requires more work
for teachers; it requires them to tailor
their lessons to students of varying
abilities and learning techniques.
High school teachers may just have
to take a few lessons from elementary
school teachers.
Finally, laning is simply obso-
lete. Hundreds of schools across the
nation have made the change to het-
erogeneous classrooms, realizing the
implications of the laning system on
the educational environment and by
extension, society. Numerous educa-
tors cite the United States as one of
the countries that relies most heavily
on tracking and laning systems.
One major argument in favor of
laning is that it prepares students for
the “real world,” where competition
is rampant and no one can afford to be
slowed down by the “weakest link.”
Although this may be true in the pro-
fessional world, it is the responsibility
of educators and other molders of the
future to change this. Heterogeneous
classes would give students oppor-
tunities and skills to interact with all
types of people, a necessity in the
real world. Why must the few be so
unfairly disadvantaged when, as one
of the best high schools in the nation,
Paly should set an example to promote
equal knowledge for all?
The Campanile
Paly students create, wear unique fashions
Young designers make artistic, original clothing for personal enjoyment and use
By Hannah Bystritsky morning and looking good throughout “I don’t want to say I don’t like to
Senior Staff Writer the day — it’s a form of expression. apply labels to my clothes because I
Creating and assembling clothes “The reason I love fashion is do that anyways, but I honestly have
is a popular trend among many Palo because it’s a whole new medium of no idea what I would say about the
Alto High School students. expression,” Guerrero said. “I think things I wear.”
These young designers create the clothes I wear really do reflect Kanai wears clothing ranging
clothing lines to make a unique look my personality and are pretty much from secondhand stores to Jeremy
for themselves. an extension of who I am. I guess I Scott, so budget is not the determining
Through their own fashion, really love it [fashion] because it’s factor of her style, Kanai said.
students are able to express their so easy to convey a certain feeling or Unlike Kanai and Bhide, Guer-
individuality and creativity to their emotion through what I wear.” rero chooses not to affiliate his style
peers. Some young designers do not with any specific genre.
Paly junior Yuko Kanai enjoys use fashion as a way to reflect their Creating clothing to fall under a
designing dresses and skirts from personality, but rather as a way to certain category can limit the freedom
scratch, using just fabric pieces and experiment with their identities. a designer has when creating a new
a sewing machine. Instead of sticking to one specific and different style.
“I’m in the process of sewing a kind of style, junior Ashley Lamb “I try not to think about my style
dress,” Kanai experiments as if it can be classified into a certain
said. “It was “I think the clothes I wear re- with differ- category,” Guerrero said. “While I
originally go- ally do reflect my personality. It’s ent genres of want to think that my style is unique,
ing to be my fashion to find I try not to categorize myself because
pretty much an extension of who I find it limits my creativity.”
prom dress but a unique way
that proved I am.” to represent Guerrero feels that if he tries to
to be much her individu- conform to a specific look, he would
harder of a Christian Guerrero ality. become hesitant to try new styles and
task than I had “With fashions.
junior “I find it better just to stay away
expected [for fashion, I
the amount of give myself from categorizing and just do what
time I had]. Instead, I’m going to show an identity,” Lamb said. “Sometimes feels right,” Guerrero said.
it at the Model Citizen show when I I dress in a lot of darker colors. In Style and fashion give students
finish it. I’ll also be making a lot of that sense, my clothes represent my confidence and creativity, allowing
skirts not just for the show but for my personality. Other times, I also might them to create a different image.
own self-enjoyment.” wear something conservative, which “The main thing that drew me into
While some students create their I’m totally not.” the world of fashion was my desire
own style by making clothing from Lamb has struggled with her to look better,” Guerrero said. “It’s
scratch, others alter clothes they identity for a long time, and uses undeniable that people judge each
already own to give their clothes a her clothing as a way to understand other based on their appearances. I
personal twist. herself, Lamb said. just want to look good for myself,
Junior Christian Guerrero uses In addition, there are many young and then I also I find that the better
clothing he already owns to put in designers who label themselves as or dressed I am, the more energy I have
his own flavor. categorize their style into a certain and the happier I am. It feels good to
“I know how to sew but what I particular genre of fashion. look good.”
mainly do is alter my clothing,” Guer- “There must be some label out Instead of buying clothes from a
rero said. “For example, if I wanted there with my name on it,” junior store, Kanai’s created look is her own
to taper a button-down, I would just Monica Bhide said. “I suppose it could desired and original look, setting her
do it myself.” be indie/prep, although indie is more apart from everyone else.
Guerrero also performs smaller media, so I guess hipster/prep.” Her flamboyance, pride and
projects. He is currently working on Categorizing designers’ clothing originality is clearly depicted by the
a scarf from an old button down shirt to fit a specific style can be a challenge way she dresses and how she presents
simply using the fabric and pieces. for some students. Narrowing the way herself.
“I usually check out thrift stores they dress down to a certain style “Designing is a fun and creative
to see if there are any good pieces I proves to be a difficult task. activity that’s more satisfying than
can alter and mess around with just “I don’t know what I would call shopping,” Kanai said. “I’m extremely
for fun, ” Guerrero said. my ‘style’ because the things that I picky with clothing, so I create and Julia Benton/The Campanile
For Guerrero, fashion is about find to be beautiful don’t usually fall design clothes the way I want them Junior Yuko Kanai, an independent designer, shows off her scarf
more than just getting dressed in the under just one category,” Kanai said. to look.” and dress that she hand-made for a Humanities creative project.
Student volunteers prepare peers for emergency situations
Despite these initial qualms, Matze feels There are many opportunities in the local
confident about his experiences. community to get involved in this training, ac-
“It feels empowering to teach my peers and cording to Matze.
show them these important skills,” Matze said. “You’re not just involved with something
“The warm-hearted feeling that training gives you’re interested in,” Matze said. “You’re help-
me is indescribable. I am helping other students ing your community and changing lives in the
become empowered.” process.”
Matze finds that teaching classes outside Varda said he became interested in becom-
school is also rewarding. ing certified as an EMT once he had participated
“I feel like I’m helping so many [people],” in the Fire Explorers program.
Matze said. “[Teaching] is not the most direct “I might be interested in getting certified as
method such as being there when someone needs an EMT because it would give me options for
CPR or First Aid, but I help others to do so [by jobs in college,” Varda said. “If you have training
teaching them]. Every person who takes a class like that, you can work with sports teams and
is one more person who will know what to do do EMT shifts in ambulances.”
when an emergency comes along. The more Varda enjoys the Fire Explorers program’s
people that are trained, the more lives that will “winter academy,” which allows students to
be changed.” test their skills for four days in the Santa Cruz
Paly senior Laurence Varda participates Mountains.
in a Palo Alto Fire Department program, also “It was mainly just practicing things we
called Palo Alto Fire Explorers, and agrees that had already learned and doing various simula-
the training is extremely helpful. tions like having people pretend they were ill
“If you’re in a situation where someone’s or injured,” Varda said. “There are a few United
hurt, you can help,” Varda said. “Just the fact that States Marines there who take turns yelling at
we’ve constantly practiced dealing with injuries you and making you do pushups. They run into
means that people who are trained are less likely our cabins in the middle of the night and yell at
to freeze up in a real-life situation.” us to go for a run through the hills. It’s fun.”
Palo Alto Fire Explorers provides par- Matze has not only practiced EMT tech-
ticipants with an niques, but also
introduction to “This is possibly life-changing training that has been in two
emergency medi- situations that in-
cine and fire sci-
will have the ability to affect someone’s life, volved real-life
Michela Fossati-Bellani/The Campanile ence. although it may not be your own. If [young medical emergen-
Junior Lucas Matze is a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with “ A f r i e n d adults] don’t step up and take the lead, who cies.
the Red Cross. Matze trains student on the use of proper emergency procedures. told me about the will?” “In the first
program, and I situation, the stu-
By Miki Kenrick Matze enjoys being involved with emer- thought it would be dent fainted, and
Senior Staff Writer gency medical training and feels that he is helpful to know,” Lucas Matze in the second, a
As a Palo Alto High School graduation helping the community. Varda said. “It junior student had a sei-
requirement, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation “I began EMT training in the fall of 2006,” is basically like zure,” Matze said.
(CPR) and First Aid training are required for Matze said. “Due to health concerns, I had to an American Red “In both cases,
students to be prepared for emergency situa- leave the program, so instead of becoming an Cross course. There are meetings every other there was a combination of multiple responders
tions. EMT, I stepped up my involvement with the Palo week for a few hours, and we are taught by including myself, the teachers of both classes,
Paly junior Lucas Matze, along with a few Alto Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. experienced program members, paramedics the school nurse, administrators and firefighters
other Paly students, said that students who go In the fall of 2007, I officially became a Lay and firefighters.” from the Palo Alto Fire Department, which led
through the Emergency Medical Technicians Responder and First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor Matze believes this information is important to a successful rescue.”
(EMT) training eventually become prepared for Red Cross.” for people to know. Matze said that although he was prepared,
for almost any emergency situation that they Matze co-taught First Aid and CPR classes “I think young adults should be informed he was nervous during the two incidences.
are faced with. at Paly during first semester of his junior year. about this type of training because we are the “I had never used my training for anything
“I teach First Aid, CPR and the use of an “I was very nervous the first time I co-taught future,” Matze said. “This is possibly life- that serious before,” Matze said. “But I had done
Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the the class at Paly,” Matze said. “I hadn’t much changing training that will have the ability to the training so thoroughly that I knew what to
public so that they can become trained in how teaching prior to this. Being enrolled in Living affect someone’s life, although it may not be do by heart. For twenty minutes, I was unable
to save someone else’s life or even their own,” Skills this semester made me nervous because of your own. If [young adults] don’t step up and to get my legs to stop shaking because of the
Matze said. the social pressures it might have caused.” take the lead, who will?” adrenaline rush.”
The Campanile Features June 2, 2008• B3

Bay to Breakers run draws eclectic crowd

Thousands of runners, walkers parade through San Francisco in the annual 7.46 mile marathon
By Crystal Wang
Features Editor
Teletubbies danced down the
street, pirates partied around their
hand-pulled ship float and unicorns
threw glitter on people who passed
by.
No, it’s not a Halloween parade.
It’s the annual Bay to Breakers foot-
race.
The 7.46 mile race was initially
created as one of many events to help
unify and uplift the morale of San
Franciscans during reconstruction
after the 1906 earthquake.
Held on the third Sunday of every
May, the race has become a tradi-
tion over the past 90 years. Runners,
families and costumed participants
jog, walk or dance through San
Francisco.
There are three different zones:
the elite and seeded zone for runners,
the blue zone for walkers and finally
the yellow zone, usually for over-sized
costumes and floats.
The course begins on the Embar-
cadero, passes through the Panhandle
and Golden Gate Park and finishes at
the Great Highway.
“I felt like everyone was there
to have a good time,” senior Kate
Wheeler, who participated in the event
for the first time this year, said. “It was
pretty chaotic.”
The race has grown from only 200
participants the first year to more than
65,000 participants and over 100,000
spectators, according to the Bay to
Breakers Web site. In 1986, the race
even set a Guiness Book World record
with 110,000 participants.
“I heard on the news that 60,000
people were there and only 33,000 had
registered for the race ahead of time,”
Wheeler said. “About half were there
just to party.”
The race is a celebration of hu-
man spirit and of San Francisco’s
audacity.
“It was really fun seeing all
of the crazy costumes and people
dancing around and tripping all over
themselves,” Wheeler said. “The most
random thing I saw there were these
guys wearing water bottle boxes as
skirts.”
Some of the same costumes reap-
pear every year. Every year, a group
called the “spawning salmon” start
from the finish and run “upstream”
through the participants to the start
line.
People dressed up as various dif-
ferent items and characters including
ketchup and mustard bottles, superhe-
roes and Marge and Lisa Simpson.
“There were about 15 men
dressed as sperm and one big egg,”
sophomore Marissa Florant said.
“Every 30 seconds, they would swarm
around the egg.”
Sometimes, specific costumes
are organized and the word is spread
around so that many people dress up
the same way.
“We missed the memo, but there
were about 1,000 Paulie Bleakers this
year from Juno,” Florant said.
Florant has walked the course
for the past two years, which usually
takes nine hours due to the number
of participants, but she said she has
really enjoyed the atmosphere.
“Last year we didn’t really know
what to expect,” Florant said. “We got
on the train, smelled beer and saw a
hairy man dressed in a bear costume
with chaps that were not covering his
butt. That’s when we knew this walk
would be interesting.”
With a group of 12 other people,
junior Zachary Ganschow, his father
and his older brother, senior Jordan
Ganschow, walked through San
Francisco as Star Wars characters.
Ganschow dressed up as a Biker
Scout.
“It was very fun sharing our
costumes with other people,” Gan-
schow said.
Scattered along the course route,
16 bands provided music for the
participants.
“Every band we passed along the
way mentioned us,” Ganschow said.
“Half of them tried to play the Star
Wars theme song.”
In the very beginning of the
race, Ganschow saw many demon-
strations.
“There were people holding signs
saying ‘Jesus loves you’or ‘Jesus saves
you,’” Ganschow said. “Some people
were complaining about the Olympic
torch relay and had a mock set-up with
people guarding a torch.”
Another tradition that the race
holds is the tortilla toss, in which
people fling tortillas into the air or at
each other.
“You get hit by a tortilla, pick it
up and throw it back,” Ganschow said.
“It’s pretty crazy in the beginning of
the race.”
Though the Bay to Breakers Web
site clearly specifies that the event will
not tolerate alcohol or nudity, there
are participants who do not follow
these rules.
“There were a lot of people with
shopping carts filled with beer,”
Wheeler said. “There were a few naked
men as well.”
The alcohol at the event did not
bode well for Florant since many
brought alcohol with them during
the race.
“This year, beer and lube spilled
on my friends and me,” Florant said.
“It was quite disgusting.”
Overall, the race is a light-heart-
ed, “fun-thing-to-do” on a Sunday
morning.
“It was something that was defi-
nitely worth it,” Ganschow said. “It Courtesy of Zachary Ganschow
has a very positive impact on a lot Junior Zachary Ganschow, senior Jordan Ganschow and their
of people.” father paraded through San Francisco as Star Wars characters.

Violinist receives international award for excellence

By Jillian Liu
Senior Staff Writer
The violin strings resonate clearly through
the air as 15-year old Palo Alto High School
sophomore Stella Chen slides her bow across
the strings. Fifteen-year-old Chen has been
playing the violin since she was six and a
half years old, and she has grown rapidly to
become a passionate, talented and competi-
tive violinist.
Recently, Chen competed in the Yehudi
Menuhin International Competition for Young
Violinists In Cardiff, Wales. Playing in the
16-22 age group, Chen finished fourth; the
youngest prize winner in the competition’s
25 year history.
“I was also the only girl and the only
American in the finals, so that was really
exciting as well,” Chen said.
Not only has Chen excelled in this com-
petition, but she has also succeeded in other
areas of her violin career.
Chen placed first at the Bronislaw Kaper
Awards for Young Artists, held annually by the
Los Angeles Philharmonic to encourage the
development of young and gifted musicians.
Courtesy of Stella Chen
Chen was awarded the opportunity to play at
Sophomore Stella Chen received various awards for her musical excellence. She the John F. Kennedy Center for the Perform-
recently placed 4th in the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition in May. ing Arts in Washington, D.C. She was also
asked by the San Francisco Conservatory of
Music, where she takes her violin lessons, to
play at the ground-breaking ceremony, which
officially celebrated the Conservatory’s move
to new facilities.
“Competitions were much more frequent
when I was younger because they were of a
smaller scale,” Chen said. “Now, however, I
enter about one competition a year because
of the massive repertoire required and also
because of schoolwork. For the last compe-
tition, I had to prepare about an hour and 45
minutes of music.”
Chen performed a song called “Tambou-
rin Chinois,” composed by Fritz Kreisler, on
“From the Top,” a program that features young
virtuosos, which aired on National Public
Radio (NPR), KDFC 102.1 FM and KAZU
90.3 FM. Her program consisted of not only
music but also an interview.
“The audience was great and very sup-
portive,” Chen said.
She believes that her most memorable ex-
periences of playing the violin are on stage.
“When I am on the stage, I forget ev-
erything else, even my nervousness,” Chen
said. “I really enjoy playing my music. One
highlight was playing the entire Tchaikovsky
concerto with the Welsh National Orchestra
in the finals of the Menuhin Competition. The
adrenaline was rushing because of the competi-
tion and also that was the second time I had
ever played with an orchestra. Having fifty
people behind you for support is an amazing
experience.”
Chen’s music career began with the piano,
which she stopped when she was 11 years old.
Before she quit, she won first place in the
Music Teachers’ Association of California’s
Northern California Chapter.
Chen believes the knowledge she gained
from playing piano influenced her violin
career.
“Playing the piano is really helpful, actu-
ally, because I can play the accompaniment
part for the concertos and sonatas that I learn
on the violin,” Chen said.
Chen practices violin every day for two
to three hours and takes lessons at the San
Francisco Conservatory. On top of play-
ing the violin, Chen has had to juggle her
academics along with Chinese dancing and
excels in both.
But even though violin has consumed so
much of her time, she enjoys every minute.
“I love how expressive the sounds are,”
Chen said. “I can really explore many different
aspects of the colors and tones [of music].”

Pakistani exchange student excels despite cultural divide

By Nanor Balabanian
Senior Staff Writer
In her room, Palo Alto High
School junior Aqsa Siddiqui sits
on her bed with her light yellow
embodied hijab covering her
head. The iPod earphones in her
ears stream music of a Pakistani
singer as she finishes her English
homework.
Siddiqui was sitting in her
classroom in Pakistan one day
when the principal approached
her and said she had been cho-
sen to apply to the Yes! Foreign
Exchange program to go to a
school in the U.S.
The selection process was
not easy at all, Siddiqui said.
Siddiqui had to first pass an
exam and then have an interview
from which only 57 students
were chosen from the whole
country.
Siddiqui, the highest scor-
ing student in her school, easily
passed the exam but had dif-
ficulty convincing her parents,
who were worried about her
departure.
“My mom said, ‘No, I won’t
allow you to go to America,’”
Siddiqui said. “She did not want
me to go alone somewhere, but
my principal really wanted me
to apply, so my parents finally
agreed.”
The exchange program
coordinator placed Siddiqui in
a house in Palo Alto with people
of Pakistani background so she
could adapt more easily.
However, Siddiqui was
still scared to be alone for the
first time.
“The hardest part was
coming here and leaving all my
friends and family,” Siddiqui
said. “I stayed in the New York
airport for eight hours by myself.
That was very hard for me.”
Siddiqui’s first week of
school was not easy either, since
she had to face a completely
new culture with many differ-
ent religions and ethnicities,
she said.
However, Siddiqui was able
her best friend through the New
Students Club at Paly.
“I was scared of coming to
Paly,” Siddiqui said. “No one
here wears a hijab. At first I felt
alone. In my photo class, no one
talked to me. I was scared to talk
to anybody else.”
Siddiqui received mixed
reactions from students when
they find out where she comes
from.
“There are some people
who would never talk to me if
I said I’m from Pakistan, but
others are concerned and ask
about me,” Siddiqui said.
Siddiqui’s favorite parts of
coming to Paly are the breadth
of courses offered and the help
she always receives from her
teachers.
On the other hand, Siddiqui
was surprised at how students
treat their teachers, which is
different from how teachers are
treated in Pakistan. In Pakistan,
Siddiqui feels that teachers are
more respected.
“The students here speak
frankly to their teacher while in
Pakistan, students have more
respect towards their teachers,”
Siddiqui said.
With the media portraying
Islam as a potential threat to the
United States, Siddiqui hopes
that her presence at Paly this
year has taught students new
perspectives about her country
and religion.
She wishes that people in
the United States will under-
stand true Islam.
“True Islam is not what you
see on TV,” Siddiqui said. “Islam
is all about freedom. We don’t
force anyone to convert. Who-
ever forcefully tries to convert
others is not a true Muslim.”
Siddiqui will return to Paki-
stan in June with a remarkable
transcript and a Rachel Austen
Award. Her experiences have
been life changing, and she can-
not wait to return home.
“I will miss Paly a lot,”
Siddiqui said. “All the teachers
were helpful. Whenever I go
see them, they are always happy
to help.”

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B4 • June 2, 2008 Features The Campanile

E-mail-based network helps users exchange free goods

Nonprofit organization Freecycle organizes no-cost exchanges of recycled items in local communities
By Annie Vought
Features Editor
A Pillsbury Doughboy cookie
jar, two Nokia cell phone chargers,
an HP Printer, a book case, an archaic
sewing machine, a freezer, a stove, a
collection of 1940s postage stamps,
a Curious George lunch box and a
children’s fireman costume were put
up for grabs last night. They were
all taken. And tomorrow, a similarly
eclectic and similarly free variety of
products will be exchanged as well,
through the innovative Web site
Freecycle.org. Freecycle is where
social networking, environmentalism
and bargain hunting collide, where
users offer to give away all sorts of
items to willing recipients in their
community and where other users
offer to take them.
When Deron Beal founded The
Freecycle Network in 2003, it was a
small nonprofit organization that of-
fered free recycling services to local
businesses and job opportunities to
the unemployed in his hometown,
Tucson, Arizona. Beal, who was tired
of throwing away the many still-
useful materials that he and his team
collected, instead looked for other
nonprofit organizations that might
benefit from the items.
He established a Yahoo! Groups
account to more efficiently manage
the growing number of Tucsonian
Freecyclers. He then affirmed a credo
for the network; Freecycle’s mission
statement, according to its Web site,
is “to build a worldwide gifting move-
ment that reduces waste, saves pre-
cious resources and eases the burden
on our landfills while enabling our
Freecycle is like Craig’s List, the popular online trading network, in that it allows for users to sell
and trade over the Internet, but also organizes environmentalists to preserve renewable materials.
members to benefit from the strength
of a larger community.”
Eventually, thousands of similar
online groups arose to organize the 5.1
million Freecyclers in cities across the
globe, according to the Freecycle Web
site. Despite Freecycle’s exponential
increase in size over the past five years,
the organization remains nonprofit and
true to the values of its roots.
Freecycle exchanges have been
responsible for keeping over 300 tons
of garbage out of landfills per day, ac-
cording to its Web site, and inspiring
users to “change the world, one gift
at a time,” by giving their possessions
to others rather than to the dump. The
organization also hopes to foster “a
sense of generosity of spirit” in its
users as they strengthen community
ties and promote reuse. As all items
are free, Freecyclers generally refer
to the items as “gifts” to perpetuate a
generous and light-spirited mood.
The main Freecycle site acts as
a sort of umbrella over thousands
www.freecycle.org
of regionally-based Freecycle com-
munities wherein users can trade
objects with other willing locals in
their areas.
Each community — Palo Alto
has its own community, although
many Palo Altans also choose to join
other groups from cities around the
Bay Area — operates under its own
Yahoo! Group, a platform much like
a forum but more e-mail-based.
The Palo Alto community’s
rules dictate that users may create
posts with headlines including only easily upload pictures of what they
“WANTED:” or “OFFERED:” fol- want to sell for potential buyers to
lowed by the item desired or offered. observe. Hahn believes that the lack
The title of the post must be changed of photo hosting on Freecycle should
appropriately to either “RECEIVED:” be addressed.
or “TAKEN:” once a transaction has “I am often curious about what
been agreed upon between a pair of something [being offered on the site]
Freecyclers. Most other rules are looks like,” Hahn said. “I don’t want
rather basic; for example, the Palo to have to go pick it up just to see it.
Alto page insists that all posted items I want a preview.”
be kept “free, legal and appropriate Hahn also says he feels that
for all ages.” Freecycle should establish a system
Although for people who
sometimes users want to ensure
choose to meet “People are often looking to their gifts are re-
in a public area to donate things they don’t want, ceived by people
pass off the gift, but don’t want to just give or groups who
they occasionally truly need them.
arrange for the
them over to random people.” “People are
recipient to pick it often looking to
up, usually from Evan Hahn donate things
the giver’s front sophomore they don’t want,
porch. but don’t want
According to to just give them
Paly sophomore over to random
Evan Hahn, who used Freecycle to people,” Hahn said. “It’d be nice for
obtain several three-ring binders those people to [be able to] say ‘for
from another user in Palo Alto, the schools only,’ or something of that
exchange involved absolutely no nature, and then for [Freecycle] to have
face-to-face contact between giver some kind of honor system.”
and recipient. Despite its Spartan structure,
“I e-mailed them and we had like Freecycle is well-organized and ef-
three or four e-mails back,” Hahn ficient. Interested people are invited
said. “And then they said, ‘Here’s my to join their community’s Freecycle
address — come pick it up.’ I biked group — even just to look around —
over there and the binders were on and those who live in areas outside the
the porch. I took them and I left. It realms of all 4,386 existing communi-
was shady.” ties are encouraged to start their own
In its current state, Freecycle’s local groups if they choose.
Web site is simple. Users do not post For every new piece of trash
pictures of the items being offered posted in a Freecycle community, one
as they would on eBay.com, an auc- person will be able to make that item
tioning Web site that allows users to their treasure–for free.

Students connect to nature, develop friendships through hiking

By Julia Shapiro
Senior Staff Writer
Connecting with nature is a wonderful
way to clear one’s mind of daily stress, relax
and take in the beauty of the outdoors. Hikers
have the opportunity to experience all of these
sensations, as well as the endless adventure
and enduring challenge of gallivanting across
wilderness trails.
Freshman Connor Fitzgerald enjoys hik-
ing because it allows him to better nurture his
appreciation for nature.
Fitzgerald’s interest in the outdoors was
sparked by his first visit to Yosemite National
Park as a Boy Scout in fifth grade. Since
then, conquering the trails has been one of
his favorite hobbies.
“I hike because it is my way of getting
connected with the world I live in,” Fitzger-
ald said. “It helps me become attached to the
environment and gives me encouragement to
be more conscientious about my expulsion of
greenhouse gases.”
Fitzgerald’s interest in the outdoors has hiking. Chernikoff hikes because she enjoys “Nature always connects my thoughts bach said. “Climbing Half Dome was the
encouraged him to visit a wide range of hiking the physical challenges of trekking through directly back to God,” Chernikoff said. biggest challenge for me. I did it with one of
areas, from nearby Santa Cruz Mountains all the outdoors. She has also found that hiking is “Especially on my favorite hikes among the my friends and when we reached the very top
the way to Monte Verde in Costa Rica. a productive way for her to release stress and redwoods, which seem to reach for Heaven. we took a nap.”
“I really enjoyed hiking in Costa Rica,” restlessness that build up during the day. I love to revel in the scenery around me and Junior Lucy McComas and her father
Fitzgerald said. “[Hiking] gave me such a good “When I hike I go back and forth between talk to the God who I believe painted it and often join Hohbach’s family on hikes, bringing
feel for the wild- feeling very Zen and be- glories in it.” their families closer together as a result.
life. Hiking kind ing really excited about Chernikoff hopes to continue exploring “When you’re hiking you always get a lot
of connects you
“When I hike I go back and forth the glorious nature her love for nature through future hikes in closer with the people you are doing it with,”
with the Earth in between feeling very Zen and being re- around me,” Chernikoff Washington, Yosemite and possibly Iceland. Hohbach said.
a way that can’t be ally excited about the glorious nature said. “I like to be super Junior Amanda Hohbach is also an avid Hohbach and McComas are still deciding
felt by just driving around me.” quiet so the lizards and hiker. In her many hiking experiences, she has where they should plan their next steep moun-
along and taking small mammals nearby bonded with friends and family members and tain climb together, but they both agree that
pictures.” continue their interac- challenges herself to overcome obstacles. it will have to be more intense and a greater
Throughout Alice Chernikoff tions and activities until Hohbach’s father encouraged her to start challenge than the last one.
his time hiking, junior I am close by.” experiencing the outdoors at a very young Fitzgerald also plans to continue pursuing
Fitzgerald has Through the time age. Throughout high school Hohbach has his interest in hiking. He hopes to someday
built a stronger she has spent hiking the continued to go on hikes with her family and trek across the Rocky Mountains in Colorado
connection to nature and, as a result, become various trails in Foothill Park, the Santa Cruz friends. Hohbach has already mastered every and eventually scale the magnificent volcanoes
more actively concerned about environmental Mountains and Oregon, she has gained an trail in Foothill Park and has also visited trails of Chile.
issues. enormous appreciation for the environment, around Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. “Exploring new places is such an amazing
Junior Alice Chernikoff has also devel- as well as a spiritual connection to nature’s “Two of my favorite hikes were Half experience that everyone should be part of,”
oped a deep appreciation for nature through beauty. Dome and Falling Angel in Yosemite,” Hoh- Fitzgerald said.
 One journey’s end
is another’s
beginning.

Paly’s
seniors meet their
graduation with varied reac-
tions. Yet as the things we have enjoyed
at Paly lose their luster, we begin to see a new
world of vibrant possibilities opening before our
eyes. Whether or not you are one of the 11 students

“Go confidently in the

planning to study across the street, the 42 percent
who have chosen to leave beautiful California or the

direction of your dreams.

seven who will continue their educations abroad next
year, it is certain that exciting futures await you. Thirty-
six percent of seniors are attempting to find a higher
Live the life you have education in private schools while 57 percent have
decided to stick with public education.
imagined.” We can learn from the good and the bad mo-
ments to come, and as Paly graduates, we
-Henry David Thoreau will make it through whatever happens.

‘08
Get ready to live your lives.
Shine on, wild ones. •

Senior Map Inside!

Congratulations, to Andrew Chen-Wagenthals:

to Peter Abrams: Vika!!

Congratulations Andrew! We are so proud!
Hooray Peter! Congratulations “It’s a beautiful day
from Mom, Dad, Mike, Teddy We are so very proud of you. Don’t let it get away”
and Tigger! -U2
All our love,
Love,
Mom, Dad and Alex
Mom, Dad, Grace, Ellie and Jem Hank

Little Kev,
We always tried to instill in you that
Congratulations Hillary Ford! Congratulations
You are on your way!
education was important. We would
like to tell you that anything you want ADAM!
in life you can have. Remember: “You
can’t get to the top without getting You make us very proud.
off your bottom”. Love,
Mom and Dad
All of our love, Love, Jessie and Sam
Mom, Dad & Armani Mom, Dad, Miranda & Nate Jake and Isabelle
 University of Washington (1)
University of Puget Sound (2)
B6 • June 2, 2008
Whitman College (1)
Lewis and Clark College (4)
Oregon State University (1)
Linfield College (1)
Willamette University (3)
University of Oregon (11)
CSU-Chico (3)
CSU-Sacramento (2)
UC-Davis (19)
University of the Pacific (3)
CSU-Sonoma (4)
Dominican University of San Rafael (1)
City College of San Francisco (1)
University of San Francisco (1)
Academy of Arts in
San Francisco (1)
CSU-San Francisco (1)
UC-Berkeley (10)
College of San Mateo (2)
Cañada College (2)
Notre Dame de Namur (1)
Chabot Community College (1)
Stanford University (11)
Foothill College (39)
West Valley College (1)
De Anza College (1)
CSU-San Jose (6)
Santa Clara University (4)
UC-Merced (1)
UC-Santa Cruz (19)
Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo (4)
Santa Barbara City College (9)
UC-Santa Barbara (9)
University of La Verne (1)
University of Redlands (3)
California Institute of Technology (1)
Occidental College (2)
UC-Los Angeles (9)
Whittier College (1)
UC-Riverside (1)
Orange Coast College (1)
Chapman University (2)
CSU-Northridge (1)
UC-Irvine (4)
University of Southern California (15)
Pomona College (1)
Scripps College (1)
Harvey Mudd College (3)
Concordia University (1)
Elizabeth Abbott Harvard University
Mohammed Abid Stanford University
Naomi Abraham Foothill College
Peter Abrams Stanford University
Alexandra Ackroyd University of California, Santa Barbara
Ashley Acuff University of Hawaii
Benjamin Afshar Santa Barbara City College
Herim Ahn University of California, Merced
Rebecca Alfaro Foothill College
Rebecca Allen Linfield College
Michael Anderson Yale University
Thomas Angelopoulos University of Oregon
Alison Arams Chapman University
Christopher Arcara University of the Pacific
Allen Au University of California, Davis
Nanor Balabanian University of California, Santa Barbara
Ramin Barghi University of California, San Diego
Connor Baskauskas University of the Pacific
Ashley Beal San Diego State University
Henry Becker University of California, San Diego
Nicole Behr San Diego State University
Marco Behtash University of Illinois
Aditi Bellary California Institute of Technology
Mika Ben-Shaul Israeli Defense Force
Julius Berezin University of California, Los Angeles
Lisa Bergstrom University of Washington
Andrew Berry Santa Barbara City College
John Berry Academy of Arts in San Francisco
Keith Billington University of Puget Sound
Alison Bisset Lewis and Clark College
Tyler Blake Vassar College
Samantha Blonstein Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Julia Blum Bucknell University
Antonia Blumberg University of Southern California
Philip Bouley University of Redlands
Brandon Boyd San Diego City College
James Boyett Foothill College
Nora Brannen-Burt Hampshire College
Jacob Briskin St. John’s College
Emily Brody Bucknell University
Samantha Bromberg Ursinus College
Samantha Brown University of Oregon
Kelsey Brown University of Michigan
Roxanne Busch Principia College
Rafael Cahill University of California, Berkeley
Christine Campbell Foothill College
Elizabeth Ceja Chabot Community College
Anabell Cervantes Santa Clara University
Sonia Chapiro University of California, Davis
Alfred Chen Johnson and Wales University
Andrew Chen Gap Year, New York University
Tolisa Chen Foothill College
Jacqueline Chesson University of Northern Colorado
Petrina Chie University of California, Santa Cruz
Gilbert Choi Columbia University
Joseph Choi South Korean Army
Sarah Chowdhry Foothill College
Taylor Christy Lewis and Clark College
Alan Chu University of California, Davis
Stanley Chun Philadelphia University
Christopher Clayton University of Chicago
Travis Conley Willamette University
Mark Connolly University of California, Santa Cruz
Alexis Coria Undecided
Molly Cornfield University of California, Los Angeles
University of Seattle (1)
University of Colorado-Boulder (2)
Utah Valley State College (1)
Northern Arizona
University (1)
Arizona State University (2)
University of Arizona (1)
San Diego City College (1)
UC-San Diego (17)
University of San Diego (1)
CSU-San Diego (2)
Timothy Crown Concordia University
Alexi Dagan George Washington University
Katherine Dahm University of California, Santa Cruz
Thomas Dalton Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Giovanna Daniels University of Michigan
Guy Davidson Israeli Defense Force
Nitsan Degani Israeli Defense Force
Neal deGhetaldi University of Oregon
Winnie Ding Harvey Mudd College
Melissa Dixon Foothill College
Ladislov Dombovic California State University, Chico
Zal Dordi University of California, Davis
Ryan Drebin Brown University
Yotam Dror Temple University
Rye Druzin Lewis and Clark College
Wesley Duplantier University of Missouri, Columbia
Andrew Dwan College of Santa Fe
Amanda Ellis Huston-Tillotson University
Hannah Epstein University of St. Andrews
Daniel Esquival Santa Barbara City College
Katherine Fang Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Allison Feeney University of Redlands
Thomas Ferrarri Foothill College
Nicola Fiddes Haverford College
Alex Firestone Foothill College
Jason Fisher Orange Coast College
Michael Fittoria University of Rochester
Keely Flanagan University of Southern California
Brooke Flohr Cornell University
Marco Flores Foothill College
Hillary Ford Princeton University
Michael Fortune Santa Clara University
Michela Fossati-Bellani University of Southern California
Matthew Foster Santa Barbara City College
Colleen Fotsch University of Notre Dame
Patricia Franco University of La Verne
Mark Frankfurt University of Oregon
Katherine Fruchterman University of Southern California
Daniel Fukuba Foothill College
Adam Furlong University of Michigan
Daniel Furlong Harvey Mudd College
Leah Gaeta University of Southern California
Andrew Gans Santa Barbara City College
Jordon Ganschow Undecided
Shaun Gao Santa Clara University
Cyril Gary University of California, San Diego
Alexis Gauthier University of Arizona
Alexander Gaya St. Olaf College
Nina Gertsvolf University of Southern California
Sarah Giakoumis Foothill College
Alex Glaves Landmark College
Nicholas Godin University of California, Davis
Joanna Goldin Trinity College
Christopher Gonnerman Gap Year
William Goodspeed University of Oregon
Elizabeth Grayson-Slater Sonoma State University
Melissa Guerrero Foothill College
Oleg Gusakov University of California, Davis
Gabrielle Hadley Northwestern University
Kelly Hafner University of California, Santa Cruz
Edward Hall University of Western Australia
Kevin Hall Johnson and Wales University
Kristen Hallsted Whittier College
Peter Harlan Foothill College
Mollie Hart University of Florida
Johnson & Wales University (1)
Colorado School of Mines (1)
University of Northern Colorado (1)
College of
Santa Fe (2)
St. John’s College (2)
Huston-Tillotson University (1)
Corey Hassell Northern Arizona University
Eric Hassine Syracuse University
Abigail Havern University of California, Santa Barbara
Nigel Hawkins College of San Mateo
Susan Haynes University of California, Davis
Sally He University of California, Santa Cruz
Timothy Hedge University of Puget Sound
Robert Heeger University of Southern California
Hilary Heiman University of California, Santa Cruz
Karen Heinselman Harvey Mudd College
Caitlin Heising Brown University
Marco Hernandez San Francisco State University
Adam Herzog University of California, Santa Barbara
Anthony Hillman Foothill College
Michael Hipsley Undecided
Charles Holland Australian National University
Andrew Hood University of California, Santa Barbara
Theda Howard Foothill College
Ariana Hoyt Stanford University
Angela Hsieh Rhode Island School of Design
Maye Hsu Brigham Young University Hawaii
Brian Hsueh Princeton University
Scottie Huggins United States Navy
Peter Hughes Willamette University
Stephanie Hung University of California, Irvine
Melissa Ibarra Mount Holyoke College
Igor Issakov Foothill College
Jeremy Jacob Brown University
Christopher James West Valley College
Gina Jaqua University of Southern California
Jordan Jefferson Mercersburg Academy
Kate Jensen Cañada Community College
Liv Jensen University of California, Berkeley
Davis Jeon University of Southern California
Jenny Ji University of California, Berkeley
Kevin Johnson Louisiana State University
Alexandra Jones Stanford University
Samuel Jones Vanderbilt University
Jessica Juarez University of Michigan
Hannah Kaiser Lewis and Clark College
Gugene Kang Harvard University
Brian Karvelas University of California, Santa Barbara
Andre Keiser Middlebury College
Ian Kelly University of California, Los Angeles
Emily Kennan University of Southern California
Hallie Kennan Bucknell University
Cecilie Kern Occidental College
Neal Ketchum University of California, Los Angeles
Danielle Kim Harvard University
Sung Kim Foothill College
Alexander Knittel University of California, Santa Barbara
Jeanna Ko University of California, San Diego
Mohit Kohli Santa Clara University
Talia Kori Barnard College
Alexei Koseff Stanford University
Caitlyn Kozelka Sonoma State University
Erik Krasner-Karpen University of California, Berkeley
Victoria Kreitz Declined to state
Kevin Kumar Foothill College
Samuel Kung University of California, San Diego
George Kuria Foothill College
Laura Kurtz University of California, Davis
John Kutay Work
 Landmark College (1)
University of Chicago (1) Middlebury College (2)
Grinnell College (1) Williams College (1)
Northwestern University (2) Purdue University (1) June 2, 2008 • B7
Notre Dame University (1) Smith College (1)
St. Olaf College (2)
Indiana University (2)
UM Columbia (1) Hampshire College (1)
Cornell University (1)
University of Mount Holyoke College (2)
Illinois—Urbana- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (4)
Champagne (1) Amherst College (1)
Pennsylvania State University (1)
Ohio State University (1)
Boston University (3)
Syracuse University (1)
Harvard College (3)
Bucknell University (4) Simmons College (1)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1)
University of
Rochester (1) Emerson College (3)
Wellseley College (1)
Kenyon College (1)
Oberlin Rhode Island School of Design (1)
College (1) Brown University (4)
Johnson & Wales University (1)
Trinity College (1)
Yale University (3)
Vassar College (2)

Barnard College (1)

Columbia University (3)

Princeton University (3)

Ursinus College (1)
Philadelphia University (1)
Haverford College (2)
Temple University (1)
Goucher College (1)
Mercersburg Academy (1)

American University (1)

Georgetown University (1)
George Washington University (1)

Duke University (1)

Wake Forest University (2)

Clemson University (1)

Australian National University (1)
Vanderbilt University (3) BYU-Hawaii (1)
Gap Year (6)
Israeli Defense Force (3)
South Korean Army (1)
University of Florida (1) University of St. Andrews (1)
University of Hawaii (1)
Louisiana State University (1) US Marine Corps (2)
US Navy (1)
Western Australia University (1)
Southern Methodist University (1) Work (4)
University of North Texas (1)

Yoali Lamarque University of California, Santa Cruz

Ashleigh Lane Foothill College
Maria Lattanzi Stanford University
Mary Latu Dominican University, San Rafael
Jessica Lau University of California, San Diego
Brandon Lee University of California, San Diego
Colleen Lee Stanford University
Heather Lee Foothill College
Jee Yun Lee De Anza College
Joshua Lee Purdue University
Melinda Lee Georgetown University
Peter Lee Columbia University
Zachary Lenox Ohio State University
Claire Lesikar University of California, Santa Cruz
Stacy Levichev Foothill College
Andrew Levin University of Southern California
Suzanne Levin Oberlin College
Eric Li University of California, Davis
Julia Lipianskaya University of California, San Diego
Jillian Liu Yale University
Kelsey Liu University of California, Berkeley
Max Lloyd Amherst College
Patrick Long Santa Barbara City College
Adrienne Losch Middlebury College
Courtnay Loud Foothill College
Allen MacMorris University of North Texas
Eric Madison Foothill College
Roger Madriz San Jose State University
Joshua Marcum Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Michael Martin University of Colorado Boulder
Sione Mataele Foothill College
James McCollough College of San Mateo
Hannah McGovern University of California, Santa Barbara
Patrick McGrady-Powers University of California, Los Angeles
Kelly McPharlin Kenyon College
Stephen Medearis Clemson University
Alexis Medina University of Southern California
Emily Merritt Mount Holyoke College
Scott Mielke University of California, Santa Cruz
Alec Mill Grinnell College
Amanda Miller San Francisco City College
Jordan Miller California State University, Sacramento
Robert Miller California State University, Chico
Aleksandr Milovidov University of California, Santa Cruz
Lauren Mitchell San Jose State University
Gricelda Morales Foothill College
Dennis Muaka San Jose State University
Keerthi Naidu Boston University
Rajan Narang University of California, Berkeley
Maxwell Nelson-Gal University of California, Santa Cruz
Cooper Newby Colorado School of Mines
Rachel Ng University of California, Davis
Matthew Nguyen University of California, San Diego
Anastasia Nicolaou Simmons College
Elizabeth Nitzan Pomona College
Andrew Nizamian Brown University
Laurie Nordlund Vanderbilt University
Teresa Noyola Stanford University
Andrew O’Connor Willamette University
Euna Oh University of California, Irvine
Justin Oliver Foothill College
Gaelyn Ong University of California, Santa Cruz
Julia Onitsuka University of California, Irvine
Scott Ostrau University of California, Davis
Manuel Paguirigan Notre Dame de Namur University
Andrea Panayides University of California, Los Angeles
David Park Pennsylvania State University
Melanie Paulson Oregon State University
Tyger Pederson University of Redlands
Jessica Peng University of California, Irvine
Elizabeth Penick Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Zachary Peters University of San Diego
Ryan Pfleiderer Emerson College
Matthew Pharisien California State University, Chico
Morgan Pichinson Indiana University
Jonathan Pilovsky University of Southern California
Xiomara Pinto Williams College
Joshua Pitre Work
David Plotkin Columbia University
Kelly Pomeroy St. Olaf College
Mia Pond St. John’s College
Dominic Powell University of California, Berkeley
John Powell California State University, Sacramento
Margaret Powell Emerson College
Esmeralda Prado University of California, Santa Cruz
Amanda Price Boston University
Thomas Price Santa Barbara City College
Lydia Qin Northwestern University
Hana Raftery Work
Alexander Ralston Foothill College
Rahul Ramakrishnan University of California, Davis
Andrea Raymond California State University, Northridge
Sahar Raz University of California, Los Angeles
Sacha Reihani University of Oregon
Sara Reihani University of California, Santa Cruz
Darren Reis Vassar College
Gaston Rivetta Foothill College
Erik Roberts University of California, San Diego
Torin Robertson Foothill College
Hilary Rollins University of California, Davis
Alexander Rose Henig American University
Rosalind Ross Emerson College
Nicholas Rotow Southern Methodist University
Robert Rudy Gap Year, University of Vermont
Ruth Ryan College of Santa Fe
Nino Rytokoski Foothill College
Jonathan Sakuma San Jose State University
Donald Salas United States Marine Corps
Khalin Sandifer San Jose State University
Michael Schall Santa Barbara City College
Philip Schroder University of California, Davis
Tomer Schwartz University of California, Los Angeles
Michael Scott Foothill College
Brook Seaman Arizona State University
Daniel Shaffer Stanford University
Jonathan Shan University of California, San Diego
Julia Shapiro Whitman College
Aimee Shelton Foothill College
Daniel Shelton Goucher College
Adam Shore University of Oregon
Samantha Siegel Occidental College
Nicole Silva Foothill College
William Simon University of Southern California
Pauline Slakey Chapman University
Austin Smith Wake Forest University
Fedor Snarskiy University of California, Berkeley
Sonya Soro University of California, Los Angeles
Melanie Spector Vanderbilt University
Izabella Stacey Undecided
Abigail Stanley Sonoma State University
Tyler Stonestrom Sonoma State University
Amy Stringer Gap Year, Barnard College
Sarah Stringer Scripps College
Alok Subbarao University of California, Davis
Sahar Sultani University of Oregon
Aiden Sundstrom University of California, Santa Cruz
Roland Synnestvedt University of California, Davis
Antoine Syverain Work
Hilary Taber Seattle University
Nathan Tall Utah Valley University
Vivian Tang University of Southern California
Kushal Tantry University of California, San Diego
Jonathan Tay Boston University
Lance Taylor United States Marine Corps
Anton Tkachenko Foothill College
Shireen Tofig University of California, Santa Cruz
Mike Tramiel University of California, Santa Cruz
Steven Tran University of Indiana
Nicole Traube Cañada Community College
Luis Valdez San Jose State University
Grace Varda Santa Barbara City College
Laurence Varda University of California, San Diego
Eric Varney Wake Forest University
Malini Veerappan Undecided
Ariel Wagner University of Oregon
Bowen Wang University of California, Riverside
Geng Wang University of California, Santa Barbara
Kelvin Wang Foothill College
Raven Warren Foothill College
Norman Wei University of California, San Diego
Carly Weinstein University of California, Santa Cruz
Bryan Wells Arizona State University
Nicole Westly University of Oregon
Katherine Wheeler Gap Year
Jennifer Whyte University of Colorado, Boulder
Eliot Wilson University of Oregon
Maxim Wilson Yale University
Felipe Winsberg Princeton University
Kristen Witte Bucknell University
Amanda Wong University of California, San Diego
Kairen Wong Stanford University
Hee Sang Woo Stanford University
Alexandra Wozniak Foothill College
Joanna Wu Wellesley College
Travis Wu University of the Pacific
Allison Wyndham University of California, Davis
William Xiang Haverford College
Amy Xu Duke University
Isaac Yao University of California, San Diego
Brittany Yee University of California, Santa Cruz
Christine Yu University of California, Berkeley
Jessica Yu Smith College
Jacob Zebker University of Southern California
Deborah Zhang University of California, San Diego
Robert Zhang University of California, Davis
Siming Zhang University of California, Berkeley
Sida Zou Mission College
B8 • June 2, 2008 Senior Advertisements The Campanile
Lexi Gauthier
Congratulations Rob, Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
and good luck on the You’re off and away!
You can steer yourself
boardercross race any direction you choose.
circuit next year. And YOU are the gal who’ll
decide where to go.
You’re on your own. And you
know YOU can move mountains
and remember that Life’s
a Great Balancing Act.
Dear Jeremy:
Lexi, you’re off to Great Places! We are so proud of you and all that you have accomplished.
Today is your day! Just remember to always follow your passions, and that “no
Your mountain is waiting. mountain is too tall if your first step is belief.”
So...get on your way!
Love,
– Love, Mom Mom and Dad
Edited from Dr. Seuss’ “Oh the
Mom, Dad and Sam. Places You’ll Go” P.S. Thanks for leading the way. ~Tim

The Search

I went to find the pot

of gold Congratulations
That's waiting where
the rainbow ends
I searched and
Jackie!
searched and searched
And searched and
searched, and then-
There it was, deep in
the grass,
Under and old and
twisty bough.
It's mine, it's mine,
it's mine at last..... With love from Don’t tell anyone. I can’t bear to look.
What do I search for
now?
La, la, la...I don’t want to hear it. Karen
Mom and Dad is graduating! Congratulations, dear;
We will always be there for you        -Shel Silverstein we’re very proud of you.
Mom, Dad & Michael
Love you!
Mom and Dad.

The best thing about the future is

Shaun Gao that it comes one day at a time . . .
Congratulations
Congratulations! We’re
so proud of you! The
last 18 years have Abraham Lincoln Eric Varney!
been a wonderful
adventure. Thanks for We are so proud of all your accomplishments.
the great joy you’ve Good luck at Wake Forest!
given us. Live your
dream, the best is yet
to come. We’ll always We will miss you and your sense of humor.
be with you.
Love,
Love Always, Mom, Dad, Alison and Trevor.
Mom, Dad, Aunty, Uncle, Lucy & Andy for Nathan Tall

To Jenny:
Congratulations Congratulations! You did it! We are so proud of you and
we know you will continue to astound us in whatever you

Mia Pond! choose to do. Good luck in college.

With love and admiration,

Campanile Editor 2008 Mom, Dad, and Elizabeth.

To a year of
hard work,
dedication,
creative
story ideas,
and
journalism Congratulations to From the first day of school
excellence Claire Marie Lesikar to the last...
on your Graduation!
Congratulations
Best Wishes at St. John’s
and
College and/or your Gap year.
With Much Love,
Love From
With Love, Mom,
Mom, Dad, Jon, Ian,
Mom & Dad Laddie, Tsotsi and Dad,
Perri and Grandma Spotsi Maddie,
Nan and Granddad
Roxy and Yogi
B9 • June 2, 2008 Features The Campanile
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT

Studies indicate cell phones pose cancer risk

By Alex Greene
FCC guidelines
Senior Staff Writer
While many teens have heard rumors of
a link between cell phones and brain cancer,
3.3 billion ignored, teens unaware
The number of cell phone users
few accept scientific studies or warnings about
worldwide, according to Informa Cell phone use may of increased risk
potential dangers as signals of a true threat.
Most teens are inadvertently misusing
Although scientific opinion is varied on increase risks of
the subject and cellular phone companies insist
that their phones are completely safe for use,
63% developing:
their phones in potentially harmful ways. The
FCC mandates guidelines for cell phone use in
Percentage of teens aged 12-17 the United States, which are published in all
many researchers believe that further studies who own a cell phone • Salivary gland tumors
cell phone manuals and on the FCC Web site.
are needed to fully assess this potential risk. • Brain cancer All cell phones are tested for their SAR levels
Research studies have found that mobile • Low sperm count
phones increase the risks of brain cancers,
salivary gland tumors and behavioral disor-
370% • Poor sperm quality
with the back of the phone at a distance of ap-
proximately ¾ inches (sometimes slightly more
ders, decrease sperm counts and cause other
Increase in the risk of developing • Behavioral dis- or less depending on the model of phone) from
adverse health effects.
a brain tumor after 2000 hours orders
the body. According to the FCC, “to comply
In the United States, approximately 256 of cell phone use according to a with FCC RF exposure requirements, [the
study by the Swedish Institute of phone’s] minimum separation distance … must
million people, or 84 percent of the popula-
Working Life be maintained between the user’s body and the
tion, use cell phones, according to the Cellular
back of the phone, including the antenna.”
Telephones and Internet Association (CTIA).
However, the vast majority of teen cell
Although the CTIA and FCC (Federal Com-
munications Commission) have upheld the 10 years phone users carries their phones in their pockets
within millimeters of the skin.
safety of the devices, a number of studies have Minimum amount of time a Each teenager interviewed was unaware
suggested an elevated risk of adverse health cancer takes to develop after that these guidelines even existed.
effects in relation to cell phone use.
exposure to a carcinogen Cell phones with “I didn’t hear about them,” junior Grace
“We are moving to the direction that
there is a problem,” said Henry Lai, a research the least potentially Park said. “I just threw the manual in the
trash.”
professor at the University of Washington harmful SAR ratings: If the phone is pressed against the head
who specializes in the biological effects of 1. LG KG800 or thigh (closer than ¾ of an inch) the risks
electromagnetic fields.
2. Motorola Razr V3x may increase.
Cellular phones emit non-ionizing
3. Nokia 9300 “[If the phone was held closer to one’s
radiation (also called radio frequency (RF)
body] more energy would be absorbed by
or electromagnetic radiation) measured in 4. Nokia N90 the tissue, e.g., the brain,” said Henry Lai, a
specific absorption rates (SAR). The only 5. Samsung Sync SGH-G800 University of Washington research professor.
proven harmful effect of non-ionizing radia-
“The energy absorbed is inversely related to
tion is the heating of bodily tissue, which is
the distance from the phone.”
only significantly at SAR levels greater than
When asked if ignoring the guidelines
in cell phones. to remember that population of teen cell phone how] people use wireless phones, so we don’t
could result in any kind of increased risk, an
Researchers in Israel found that those cell phone use is in- users. Sixty-three percent of teens know with certainty what the results of such
FCC employee, who asked not to be identi-
who use a phone on one side of the head for creasing and we do not between the ages of 12-17 own a cell studies mean for human health.”
fied, responded by saying that it is not known
several hours a day or cell phone subscrib- have enough information phone according to the Pew Internet & The allegations that deem most studies
what would happen as the phones are tested
ers living in rural areas are 50 percent more on the risk among long-term American Life Project. of RF to be fallacious are “not true,” Lai said.
how they are meant to be used: with a certain
likely to develop a salivary gland tumor on heavy users.” Additionally, a 2005 study in Madrid “A large number of studies involved ‘acute’
separation distance from the body. If more RF is
the phone-use side of the head. Leading the In 2006, the Swedish Institute for Work- found that 38 percent of teens show some exposure, i.e., one-time exposure at short
absorbed by the tissue, as a result of the phone’s
research was Dr. Siegal Sadetzki, a physician ing Life published a report in the International degree of addiction to their phones. A 2007 duration, i.e., less than two to three hours.
close proximity to the skin, the risks could be
and epidemiologist at the Chaim Sheba Medi- Archives of Occupational and Environmental Disney “Cell and Tell” survey found that one For example, most of my studies involved 45
increased. The FCC refused to be quoted.
cal Center and lecturer at the Tel Aviv Univer- Health that found risks of developing malig- third of cell phone users aged 10-17 would minutes to two hours of exposure.”
—Alex Greene
sity who published the study’s findings in the nant brain tumors to be 370 percent higher rather give up radio, video games or a trip to While Verizon attempts to discredit
Senior Staff Writer
American Journal of Epidemiology. While in users with more than 2000 hours of total the mall than their phones. Almost 25 percent studies that found risks, they fail to provide
a 50 percent increase talk time. said they would give up their MP3 player and credible studies to support the safety of cell
in the instance of sali- “The research depends on who is Although some about 20 percent would give up television. phones. According to the VX3200 manual, University of
vary gland cancer is funding it. If you look at studies studies have found a Many teens, after being informed of the the “three large epidemiological studies”
nominal considering funded by cell phone companies, they link between cancer possible risks, said that they would not take mentioned “investigated any possible associa- Washington researcher
that the cancer is very find no effect. Studies that are pub- and cell phone use, precautionary steps to limit RF exposure. tion between the use of wireless phones and
rare (salivary gland
licly funded tend to find effects.”
many have not found “I don’t really care about cell phones primary brain cancer, glioma, meningioma, challenged by cellular
cancer represents 0.24 such a connection. A emitting radiation to my brain,” Palo Alto or acoustic neuroma, tumors of the brain or
percent of all can- study by Christoffer High School junior Amin Ronaghi said. “I salivary gland, leukemia or other cancers.” industry
cers diagnosed in the Professor Henry Lai Johansen of the Dan- won’t stop using my phone because we have to While all of the studies found no increase In 1995 professor Henry Lai and Uni-
United Kingdom), an University of Washington ish Cancer Society either keep going with technology or become in risks, according to the manual, “none ... can versity of Washington colleague Narendra
increased risk of one found no increase social outcasts.” answer questions about long term exposures, Singh published a study they had conducted
type of cancer indicates in salivary cancer, Others are willing to take steps to mini- since the average period of phone use in these that found increased brain damage in rats after
that increased risks of other cancers might brain cancers, or leukemia after ten years mize their risk. studies was around three years.” exposing them to two hours of RF at levels
also be possible. of use. While the study monitored 400,095 “I will take precautions,” junior Sarah As cancers can take ten years to develop deemed safe by government regulations.
“Salivary gland tumors are indeed rare,” cell phone users, the study ended in 1995 Nordman said. “I don’t understand why some- and are therefore long-term effects, none of Their findings show a 30 percent increase
Sadetzki said. “However, the important ques- and without a rate of cancer incidence being one wouldn’t take precautions? When you these studies could have accurately accessed in single-strand breaks of the DNA in brain
tion is whether non-ionizing [RF] radiation evaluated since. cross the street, you look both ways.” the risks associated with RF. cells. According to Lai, the funding that he re-
[from cellular phones] is associated with an Joe Farren, director of public affairs at Many teens dismiss warnings about mo- “There is always a risk [with RF],” said ceived from the Wireless Technology Research
increased risk of tumors. If so, the clinical CTIA, was contacted but did not return calls bile phones, believing the phones would not Frank Barness, a professor of electrical engi- (WTR), a group endowed with $25 million
implications should be taken into consider- or e-mails. be as popular if they were truly unsafe. neering at the University of Colorado at Boul- dollars from the CTIA to study the possible
ation when deciding about the use of this Many past studies have only examined “I don’t worry about the radiation be- der. “You’ve got a ten year or so latency. You effects of RF, came with added conditions.
widespread technology.” short-term cell phone use, which can only be cause I think [phones] could do a study for “One difference [between the industry
Studies have also shown other effects. used to evaluate short-term effects. wouldn’t be allowed “I can give you people who say 20 years and it could funded research and] government grant agree-
“There are five studies that show DNA “We need more information regarding into the market [if there is no risk and others who think be the 21st year where ments is that we couldn’t publish or present
damage and sperm damage,” Lai said. “There chronic long-term exposure,” Lai said. “For phones were unsafe],”
we should ban cell phones.” the results show up. the data without agreement from WTR [with
are also some studies that have indicated example, people who live close to a cell phone Ronaghi said. We do not know the the WTR’s funding],” Lai said.
learning deficits.” tower are subjected to long-term exposure, While this would effects of long-term Lai and Singh wrote a letter to Microwave
A recent study published on www.micro- i.e., several hours a day for months and years. presumably be true, Professor Frank Barnes exposures on the bi- News, detailing their treatment by the WTR.
wavenews.com, a news Web site that follows If effects are cumulative, as suggested by my the industry has tried to University of Colorado ology. I can give you The head of the WTR, Dr. George Carlo, sent
developments on the effects of RF, found that studies, there is certainly a cause for concern. influence many of the people who say there a letter to the then president of the university,
mothers who use their phones two to three The cumulative concept is, for example, three studies to their favor. is no risk and others calling Lai and Singh’s letter libelous, threat-
times per day during pregnancy have children minutes at a time for ten times is equivalent “The research depends on who is funding who think we should ban cell phones.” ening legal action and suggesting that the two
who are 80 percent more likely to develop to a continuous 30 minute exposure.” it,” Lai said. “If you look at studies funded Barnes, Sadetzki and Lai agree that while researchers be fired from the project. Carlo
behavioral disorders such as hyperactivity. If RF effects are cumulative, those who by cell phone companies, they find no effect. cellular technology is here to stay, one should stopped working for the CTIA in the late 1990s
In addition to these health effects, studies only use their phones for short periods of time Studies that are publicly funded tend to find take certain, simple precautionary steps. and now advocates safe cell phone use through
have also suggested increased risks of brain may face repercussions years from now. Hav- effects. About 50 percent of studies find effects “There are some very simple and non- his Web site www.safewirelessinitiative.org.
cancers. ing used cell phones from a younger age, teens and 50 percent do not find effects.” expensive measures [to reduce one’s expo- Carlo could not be reached for comment. When
“Risk of certain brain cancers tends to may face a greater risk than adults. The cell phone industry still dismisses sure],” Sadetzki said. “The idea is simple: put asked if he uses a cell phone, Lai responded,
increase after ten years of cell phone use,” “There has been no study on health effect studies that show adverse effects as flawed. the cell phone away from your body and use “No, I have no need for it.”
Lai said. of cell phone use on teenage users,” Lai said. According the Verizon Wireless user guide hands-free devices, headsets and microphones. —Alex Greene
Studies relating to the development of “We don’t know whether cell phone radiation for the VX3200 phone, “The research done Special attention should be paid to children Senior Staff Writer
cancers should be done over ten years, as has more detrimental effects on younger than thus far has produced conflicting results, and who are generally known to be a sensitive
cancers can take ten years or more to develop older users. Some effects of microwaves [RF] many studies have suffered from flaws in their population for cancer development. ” For more information and to determine a
after exposure to a carcinogen. are cumulative. Thus, when one starts using research methods. Many of the studies that While the risks are still relatively un- phone’s SAR rating, find the unabridged ver-
“It takes years to assess and quantify an cell phone at younger age, health effects, if showed increased tumor development used known, one of the largest studies to date, the sion of this article online as well as informative
association between a risk factor and disease,” they occur, will appear at younger age.” animals that [were] genetically engineered Interphone study, being conducted in eleven links on the subject at:
Sadetzki said. “This period is specifically long Much of the increase in cell phone ... [or] exposed the animals to RF for up to countries, will be released in July and should
regarding carcinogenic effects. You also have subscribers comes from the burgeoning 22 hours per day. [Conditions different from provide a better picture of the true risks. http://voice.paly.net/view_story.php?id=6855

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B10 June 2, 2008
A&E Chu On This:
Comfort Foods
Alan Chu
I’ll stop beating around the bush. I love
comfort foods. There, I said it. I mean, just
look at all my other columns — I’ve written
about cookies, pies, cakes, desserts and other
goodies. If you didn’t see a pattern by now,
then you’re hopeless.
What is comfort food? It is a food that
meets a number of specific requirements. The
first and highly important condition is acces-
sibility. Comfort good must be easy for me to
make and easier for me to shove in my mouth.
Take brownies: tiny, easy to hold, no utensils
needed and more importantly, delicious.
Even if a food clears the accessibility
hurdle, it must pass another crucial obstacle:
nostalgia. If the smell doesn’t bring back
memories of a simpler time, it cannot be con-
sidered comfort food. That would be similar
to calling the Sahara Desert a wet tropical
forest: it is just a big, fat lie. The taste must
also bring back those inaccurate memories
of a perfect time. For example, the aroma
of freshly baked chocolate cookies: it brings
back memories of my innocent childhood of
8-bit heroes and bulky little blocks of plastic
called Legos. I would like to say those were
my childhood memories, but in reality I never
actually played with the original Legos or
old-school 8-bit game consoles.
Comfort food must also be delicious and
addictive. This seems obvious, but consider
the brussel sprout: one whiff of that pungent
vegetable brings back childhood memories
of dumping them into the garbage behind my
parents’ backs. Brussel sprouts were also easily
accessible; they were everywhere during din-
ner time, but that did not make them comfort
food. If no one wants to eat the food, then it
cannot really be comforting on any level.
Leading the short list of best comfort foods
is ice cream. There are possibly hundreds, if
not thousands, of flavors out there but only
about ten good ones (which ten flavors is
entirely up to you). It is accessible because
only a face and passable accuracy skills are
needed to launch yourself face-first into a
cold, soothing ice cream carton. Ice cream is
nostalgic, at least in my case. Nothing says
innocence like the brain freeze of a first grader.
Ice cream is always there where you need it,
in the freezer, waiting for someone to come
and eat the memories it contains.
Then there are brownies. I never knew
geometry tasted so good; just eating rectangles
of chocolate goodness has converted me.
Brownies are delicious enough to transcend
the nostalgia requirement; I don’t have a
specific memory with them because they
were everpresent, almost like brussel sprouts,
but not quite. However, if the food can be
described as decadent, then it is automatically
a comfort food.
Of course what is a list if it didn’t have a
few misnomers? I’m talking about pasta. Yes
this breaks the mold of desserts equal comfort,
but that doesn’t change the fact that this is a
comfort food.
I mean, you cannot be sad when eating
pasta, it’s just not right. That tangy tomato
sauce combined with a mountain of herbs and
spices, not to mention the meat and cheese and
the actual pasta. It’s just like a hoe-down in
your mouth. Combined with bread and then
life turns peachy keen. Who cares about bad
grades when your mouth is having the time
of its life line-dancing with tomato sauce and
meatballs?
Coincidentally, pasta’s counterpart,
lasagna is a comfort food too. I don’t know
what it is about Italian food, but a lot of their
stereotypical foods are comforting. If only
the word delicious was enough to describe
it. I practically have to make up a new word
for this rich and succulent dish.
But I don’t, all I need is a simile. It is like
a soft warm bed of tastiness. Meat wrapped
around by blankets of pasta and cheese. If
your taste buds ever get tired of this delicious
meal, then find yourself a new tongue, yours
is defective.
Then there is pudding. It is neither a liquid
nor a solid. It is a lot like oobleck, but tastier
and more filling. It comes in a selection of
flavors, from delicious to even more delicious.
You can’t go wrong with pudding. I mean, if
it is endorsed by Bill Cosby, then it’s alright
by me. Just look at one of those old advertise-
ments. How can you be sad with a spoonful
of sweet deliciousness? You can’t, unless you
lost your taste buds in a freak accident, but
then you have bigger problems.
Well, that’s it, the best of the best. Sure
there are more, but that’s like trying to count
how many times Superman saves Lois Lane.
It is a nigh impossible task.
The Campanile
Who shakes it best: milkshakes that pass the test
By Ryan Pfleiderer goes for $5.29 and the large is a hefty $6.79.
Senior Staff Writer Although Baskin Robbins may be “your neigh-
It’s a well-known fact: milkshakes are borhood ice cream store,” do not let it become
delicious. So who offers the best milkshakes? your neighborhood milkshake spot.
For many Palo Alto residents, Palo Alto
Creamery is the place to go for frozen desserts. Jeffrey’s Hamburgers
However, other places around Palo Alto, such The ultimate diner experience is at Jef-
as Foster’s Freeze, Jeffrey’s Hamburgers, Cold frey’s Hamburgers, and the best part of the
Stone Creamery and Baskin Robbins offer experience is the milkshakes. While it only
affordable milkshakes that are almost on par offers three flavors (chocolate, vanilla and
with those of the Palo Alto Creamery. strawberry), all of the shakes are thick, creamy
and delicious. Just like Palo Alto Creamery,
Palo Alto Creamery Jeffrey’s serves its shakes in classic diner
The smell of freshly prepared French glasses along with the metal cup the shakes
fries combined with the sound of a classic are blended in. For only $3.59, Jeffrey’s serves
milkshake mixer hard at work blending up the some of the best milkshakes in the Palo Alto
perfect combination of fresh ice cream and rich area. The chocolate shake is thick and full of
milk is part of the essence of the Creamery. flavor, and surpasses Palo Alto Creamery’s
A Palo Alto Creamery milkshake ($5.95) can chocolate shake.
be enjoyed while seated at the counter or in Although somewhat far down on El
a booth and the friendly staff is immediately Camino Real for some Palo Alto residents,
ready to take an order. Jeffrey’s Hamburgers is a great place to en-
The Creamery offers dozens of milk- joy a milkshake, and the best way to enjoy
shake choices, with flavors like Peppermint a milkshake at Jeffrey’s is with one of their
Elizabeth Petit/The Campanile
and Mint Oreo Cookie being two of the best. juicy burgers ($4.89), or perhaps an order of
Thick, creamy milkshakes from the Palo Alto Creamery (above) are available in a
The Palo Alto Creamery is unique because garlic fries ($1.99).
multitude of flavors, and garnered the highest rating of restaurants reviewed.
it offers only one size for its milkshakes,
but one milkshake is more than enough for as many milkshake options as the Palo Alto making it not as thick as a milkshake should Palo Alto Creamery
two people. The milkshakes at the Creamery Creamery does, the shakes at Foster’s Freeze be. Also, the addition of mix-ins can have an 566 Emerson St., Palo Alto
require a spoon, as they are extra thick and are thick and smooth and the consistency of affect on the texture of the milkshake, as bits Milkshakes $5.95
creamy. In other words, they are the perfect their milkshakes is even better than that of and pieces of mix-ins are sucked through the (650) 323-3131
consistency for a milkshake. The best part of Palo Alto Creamery’s. straw, interrupting a generally smooth milk-
a milkshake at the Creamery is the first sip, The best milkshakes at Foster’s Freeze shake. Nevertheless, Cold Stone Creamery is
when the rich flavor of the ice cream hits the are chocolate and strawberry. The addition in a great location and is not too busy around
taste buds and immediately fills the mouth of malt makes their milkshakes even tastier. lunchtime, and the prices of the milkshakes Foster’s Freeze
with pure ecstasy. Even with long lines, the service is speedy are reasonable. 580 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park
The Creamery offers the best flavor com- and the milkshakes are well worth the wait. Milkshakes $3.00-5.00
binations with over a dozen different flavors For better portions and more affordable milk- Baskin Robbins (650) 322-0054
of locally-made ice cream to choose from as shakes, Foster’s Freeze is the perfect place. The home of “31 flavors” is also the home
well as add-ins ranging from fresh banana to Although Foster’s Freeze is a little out of the of overpriced milkshakes. With the choice of
malt. The Creamery still reigns supreme as the way for most Palo Alto residents, the quality eight different milkshake flavors, including the
best place to enjoy a milkshake in Palo Alto; of the milkshakes it offers is definitely worth infamous Heath Shake (with 200 percent of Cold Stone Creamery
with the unbeatable combination of bold fla- the drive. the daily value of saturated fat), the consensus 9 Town & Country Village, Palo Alto
vors, perfect consistency and texture and high is that Baskin Robbins should just stick to Milkshakes $4.59-5.39
quality ingredients, a Creamery milkshake Cold Stone Creamery serving scoops of ice cream. (650) 323-2102
should not be passed up. Try one with a grilled Located in Town and Country Village, The Mint Chocolate Chip Shake looks
hamburger ($8.75) or a grilled cheese ($6.75) Cold Stone Creamery offers friendly service promising, but after a single sip, all hopes
on sourdough bread for the ultimate Palo Alto and convenience, but their milkshakes are of the perfect milkshake quickly fade. The
Creamery dining experience. unable to match its extremely convenient milkshake is not really a milkshake; it is too Baskin Robbins
location. liquidy to be labeled as such. The worst part 2615 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
Foster’s Freeze Whether it is a featured milkshake combi- is the imbalance of ice cream and milk, as the Milkshakes $4.29-6.79
Foster’s Freeze in Menlo Park is known nation or an original creation, Cold Stone uses milk overpowers the flavor of the mint and (650) 327-1636
for their fresh soft-serve ice cream, but in ad- fresh ingredients and offers dozens of mix-ins chocolate. The chocolate chips are closer to
dition to their popular chocolate-dipped cones to add flavor and texture to any milkshake. But being pieces of ice than chocolate, which is
and sundaes, their milkshakes are some of sometimes the addition of mix-ins can detract a major disappointment.
the best in the area. Foster’s Freeze is not the from the original flavor of the ice cream and Not all of the milkshakes at Baskin Jeffrey’s Hamburgers
typical restaurant. Virtually unchanged since can negatively affect the overall taste. Robbins are horrible; the Strawberry Shake 888 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
1950, California’s first fast food chain offers Some of the most popular milkshake is creamy and flavorful, but there is still an Milkshakes $3.59
only outside seating, and orders are placed at combinations at Cold Stone include the Crème overpowering taste of milk. If a milkshake is a
(650) 322-1959
one of the walk-up windows. It offers three de Menthe and the Cookies N’ Cream. Each must-have, avoid Baskin Robbins. The prices
different sizes for their milkshakes, ranging in milkshake is quickly prepared in a blender, of the milkshakes do not correspond with the
price from $3-$5. Although it does not offer which affects the consistency of the drink, quality, as the small is $4.29, the medium
Prince Caspian lacks magic of first film in Narnia Series
The most disappointing part of Prince Caspian is how
dull and uninspiring the heroes are. They never stop behaving
like actors and start behaving like characters. Barnes plays
the Prince absolutely tone-deaf, with only the most shallow
insight into his motivations. His plucky, soulful performance
in Stardust shows that he’s capable of much better.
The Pevensies perform even worse. In many scenes, the
camera twists awkwardly to fit all four of them on screen, but
they never have anything interesting to say or do. William
Moseley as Peter and Anna Popplewell as Susan seem more
concerned with looking pretty and advancing their careers
than with playing their roles. Skandar Keynes as Edmund
and Georgie Henley as Lucy give a watered-down repeat of
their performances in the last film.
The villains, for their part, while not pleasant people,
have nothing particularly scary about them. The Telmarines
brandish crossbows and march in step, but they seem too
inept to be a credible threat. Because Adamson gave them
a conquistador theme, the Telmarines all talk in fake Latin
accents, which was a terrible decision. The accents are so
hilarious that they puncture any dramatic tension the film
manages to build up.
Castellitto, often the only person on screen who even
seems to enjoy his role, gives a snarling performance worthy
of the evil dean in a frat-house comedy, but not of a cold-
Pictures courtesy of latimes.com, movies.nytimes.com, ve3d.ign.com hearted dictator.
Prince Caspian is the second installment in The Chronicles of Narnia series. Exaggerated action sequences and Moments of comic relief pepper Prince Caspian, but
lack of character development make Prince Caspian a failed attempt to recreate the magic of the first film. they induce wincing as often as laughter. The humor relies on
a destructive form of self-parody, on the film failing to take
By Erik Krasner-Karpen Director Andrew Adamson, in a style that feels exactly its message and its characters seriously. Peter Dinklage (The
Senior Staff Writer like a second-rate Peter Jackson, shoots scene after scene of Station Agent) is reliably funny as the surly dwarf Trumpkin,
In its new installment, Prince Caspian, Narnia has elaborate action without Lewis’s sense of the importance of that bringing genuine wit to otherwise cloying scenes. Eddie Iz-
grown darker, more action-packed and much more boring. action. Most of the fighting in Prince Caspian feels completely zard (“The Riches”), whose work is normally hilarious, fails
The first Narnia film was a hokey pile of special effects, gratuitous. For example, whenever two good characters meet to click as the talking mouse Reepicheep. The filmmakers
but the occasional glimmer of C.S. Lewis’s magic shone for the first time, they get into a sword fight before introducing seem to think talking animals are intrinsically funny and do
through the children’s-movie cliches. Prince Caspian themselves. Presumably, this is to show how dark and action- not need any funny lines to support them.
kept the hokeyness and the special effects, but did away packed the world of Narnia has become, but most people have Overall, Prince Caspian is a failed attempt to inflate a
with almost everything that worked well in the first film, at least heard of talking. If there were some sense of style in straightforward parable into a summer action blockbuster.
including character development and sentences longer than the action, of course all could be forgiven, but Prince Caspian The more professional and expensive a scene looks, the less
three words. offers little other than fantasy hack and slash. it belongs in a story whose cheesiness is its essence. There
The action takes place in Narnia, centuries after the Prince Caspian retains Lewis’s simplistic characterizations are many worse movies in theatres this summer, but perhaps
events of the first film. The Telmarines, a race of dour, bearded of good and evil, but ignores Lewis’s sense of the courage it none that feel quite as hollow.
men, have taken over Narnia and driven its magical residents takes to do good and the temptations of being evil. Aslan and
into hiding. Miraz (Sergio Castellitto), who has usurped the the White Witch appear briefly, making a bigger impression Prince Caspian
throne, wants to exterminate the Narnians once and for all. with their cool visual effects than with the ham-handed morality
His only hitch is Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes), a brooding, behind them. The CGI department outdid itself on both, render- Cast: Ben Barnes, William Moseley, Anna
long-haired hero (this is the extent of his characterization) ing every hair on Aslan’s body and elaborate patterns of icicles Popplewell, Skander Keynes, Georgie
who is the rightful king of the Telmarines. On the run from around the Witch. Liam Neeson as the lion and Tilda Swinton Henley
Miraz, Caspian accidentally summons the Pevensie children, as the witch give the best performances of the film. But they Runtime: 2 hrs. 24 mins.
back to Narnia. Together, Caspian and the Pevensies lead do not pose much of a moral dilemma — who wouldn’t choose Ratings: PG
an insurrection against Miraz. the noble lion over the creepy witch?
The Campanile A&E June 2, 2008 • B11

Chic, artistic Brazilian barbeque at Pampas

By Kelley Shin
Senior Staff Writer
For a unique and exotic dining
experience, try Pampas Brazilian
Steakhouse, an upscale churrascaria
that serves truly authentic Brazilian
barbecue. Churrascarias are Brazil-
ian steakhouses that specially cook
meats on skewers on a churrasco grill,
emphasizing the authentic Brazilian
flavor.
Located on Alma Street between
University Avenue and Hamilton
Avenue, the outside of the restaurant
is bare except for a simple sign, and
can be easily overlooked. Although
the steakhouse’s brick walls, brown
pillars and green-and brown-colored
furniture give the restaurant an earthy
vibe, the restaurant’s design is very
modern.
The waiters patiently explain the
menu’s selections as the exotic dishes
may be unfamiliar and new to many.
After ordering, a dish of three sample
starters is promptly served in place of
the traditional bread basket.
The three samples consist of pan
con queso, fried banana and fried
yucca. The pan con queso are lightly
browned balls of bread filled with
cheese in the middle. These bread
balls are scrumptiously light, fluffy,
and the addition of gooey, melted
cheese in the center makes it a deli-
cious appetizer.
Being a churrascaria, Pampas
offers the traditional Rodizio style
of service ($40.00), which allows
customers to sample an array of meats
Pampas serves a wide range of Brazilian foods, focusing on the traditional churrasco style of barbeque, in a convenient downtown
location between University Avenue and Hamilton Avenue. The chefs prepare elaborate dishes with definite artistic flair and spice.
cooked in the traditional churrasco
barbeque style.
The price may seem intimidating
at first. However, customers are given
the opportunity to sample selections
from the side bar and an unlimited
quantity of 11 different meats, includ-
ing sirloin, pork tenderloin, chicken,
sausage, ham and many other op-
tions.
One of the meat selections is
Fraldinha, a skirt steak that is mari-
nated with an onion-herb sauce. The
skirt steak is deliciously juicy and
has a surprisingly sweet taste from
the onions in the sauce.
The Rodizio offers chicken as
well as steak. The Frango, chicken
marinated in a white wine and herb
sauce, is a simple yet tasty choice.
The thick outer layer of the chicken
contains most of the spicy flavors.
Other Rodizio options include
the Linguica (Brazilian pork sausage),
Peru (turkey breast), Cordeiro (leg
of lamb) and many more. The Peru
consists of turkey breast wrapped with
smoked bacon and the turkey, neither
too tough nor too soft, is cooked well.
The bacon is an interesting addition,
Elizabeth Petit/The Campanile
but the flavor of the bacon overpowers
the taste of the turkey.
The 40 dollars not only includes
an unlimited quantity of meats, but a
buffet-style side bar as well.
At the self-serve side bar, custom-
ers can help themselves to unlimited
servings of salad, cheeses and more.
For a different taste, the Alaskan
Halibut ($28.00) is the perfect alterna-
tive. The fish, pan-roasted with potato
gratin, passion fruit and crispy beet, is
cooked to perfection. It is flaky, tender
and bursting with flavor. The passion
fruit provides the sauce with a taste
comparable to mango and drenches
the bottom of the halibut, giving
the dish an extra punch of flavor. A
vibrant purple color, the crispy beets
compliment the light orange of the
sauce, making the dish an eye-catching
creation.
Even on an overly full stomach,
dessert is a necessity and impossible to
resist. The blueberry-acai crisp ($9.00)
is an exceptional choice, served fresh
from the oven with a hearty scoop of
vanilla bean ice cream. It is served in
a generous portion and is big enough
to share between two people.
For those in search of an authentic
Brazilian churrascaria, Pampas is the
ideal restaurant, with its wide variety
of high-quality meats prepared with
endless flavor.
Pampas is a meat lover’s dream.
Despite the pricey menu, this Brazilian
steakhouse offers customers a truly
exotic dining experience.
Pampas
Location: 529 Alma St.,
Palo Alto
Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 5 p.m.-11
p.m., Sun: 5 p.m.-10
p.m.
Prices: $10-$44

The Visitor delivers heartfelt message with solid plot

By Amy Stringer
Senior Staff Writer
Upon exiting a showing of The Visitor, one might
ask who, in fact, the title refers to. Could it be the two
interlopers, Tarek from Syria and Zainab from Senegal,
crashing in Professor Walter Vale’s rarely used New York
apartment? Or is it Walter himself, visiting from Con-
necticut? Or could it instead refer to the millions of people
living in America today who were and still are visitors in
some form or another?
The Visitor could refer to any of these characters or all of
them at the same time, which is what contributes to the film’s
heart-warming and simultaneously heart-breaking story.
Richard Jenkins plays Walter Vale, an economics profes-
sor at Connecticut College who simply goes through the
motions of his lackluster existence. He teaches only one
class — the same class he has taught for 20 years — in
order to supposedly leave time to work on his newest book.
As a fan of classical music, but not musically inclined
himself, Walter attempts piano lessons, which is possibly
an attempt to remain connected to his wife, who is a clas-
sical pianist. However, he does poorly, going through five
different teachers.  forms, bringing in the characters of friends and relatives
Walter’s monotonous routine is disturbed when
he is forced to go to New York City for a confer-
ence. He plans on staying at his small apartment,
which he once shared with his now-deceased wife.
Upon his arrival, he discovers two “visitors,” Tarek (Haaz
Sleiman), and Zainab (Danai Gurira). However, after see-
ing the two wait on the street surrounded by all of their
belongings, Walter has a change of heart and allows them
to stay in his two-bedroom apartment.
While Zainab remains suspicious of Walter, Tarek
begins to bond with his new roommate. He introduces
Walter to an unexplored, foreign world by teaching him
how to play the djembe, a traditional African drum.
The pain and suffering in this story come in many
who otherwise might seem unaffected. What makes this
movie so moving is the idea that perfect strangers, meeting
by mere chance, can produce life-changing, life-lasting
relationships.
Perhaps the most intriguing idea in the movie is Wal-
ter’s surprising character transformation. Previously living
as a recluse and going through the perfunctory motions
of his job and his life, Walter begins to open himself up
to the strangers who fall into his life, while the post-9/11
world is closing itself off from immigrants. In other
words, he begins listening to the beat of a different drum.
The message of this incredibly well done movie, illustrates
that in a world full of unpredictable, volatile occurrences,
the incessant comfort of a beating drum plays on.
The Visitor
Cast: Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman
Runtime: 108 min.
Directors: Thomas McCarthy
Rating: PG-13

B12 • June 2, 2008
Red Mango soft-serves pleasure
South Korean chain makes its way into Palo Alto, provides healthy delicacies
With over a dozen toppings to choose from, Red Mango’s fresh frozen yogurt can be easily transformed into an
innovative dessert. An original yogurt with mangoes and strawberries ($4.20) is creamy and distinctly flavorful.
By Anna Waldron
Senior Staff Writer
Watch out Fraiche, there is a new
frozen yogurt shop in town. The South
Korean Red Mango chain has made its
way up the California coast to the heart of
downtown Palo Alto after debuting in the
in Los Angeles last July. Although Fraiche
and Red Mango both serve healthy frozen
treats with pro-biotics, which are live and
active cultures which facilitate digestion,
the two companies cannot be compared.
Red Mango outshines Fraiche with its airy
atmosphere, superior yogurt flavor and
friendly customer service.
According to Red Mango’s Web site,
one of its goals is to provide customers
with “healthy and delicious delicacies
in a comfortable, stylish and progressive
atmosphere.” The Palo Alto store success-
fully satisfies this goal.
Walking through the glass doors, cus-
tomers are greeted with loud and upbeat
techno music which contains a slightly
jazzy feel.
The place has a fast-paced vibe and is
completely modern from its futuristic tables
and chairs to the flat-screen TV above the
serving station, which informs customers of
A&E
Elizabeth Petit/The Campanile
the news and weather and entertains them is much more organized and efficient than
with a variety of trivia questions. the ordering process at Fraiche.
Although the wait for yogurt is short, Red Mango offers two flavors of frozen
customers won’t mind a delay in this fun yogurt; original and green tea. The green
and exuberant ambiance. The interesting tea flavor costs one dollar more than the
artwork on the walls always provides original. Both yogurts meet the National
something to look at. Instead of having Yogurt Association Criteria for Live and
Red Mango insignia posters, the prints are Active Yogurt, which is United States
on canvases. Nutrition facts, Red Mango Department of Agriculture-certified. The
background information and a tantalizing only difference between the flavors is that
snapshot of the company’s swirly yogurt all the green tea yogurt has Matcha (green tea)
appear on brightly colored canvases. powder in it — otherwise, their ingredients
The eatery creates a pleasing and airy and nutrition facts are identical.
environment for customers to indulge in The big difference that truly separates
their sweet treat with its high ceilings and Red Mango from Fraiche is the flavor of
numerous fans to keep the temperature cool the yogurt. Red Mango’s original flavor is
from the yogurt machines, which tend to very pure and less tart than Fraiche’s plain
overheat. flavor. The texture is much more velvety and
Inside, customers can choose to eat at smooth and has a very creamy taste, which
one of the square white tables with ultra- is unexpected for nonfat frozen yogurt.
modern red chairs or they can sit on chic Red Mango uses sucrose, a non-calorie
mini bar stools at the bar and enjoy the sweetener like Splenda, instead of sugar,
view of University Avenue. so the sweetness from the milk truly shines
Ordering a cup of frozen yogurt is through. The flavor is delicate, natural and
similar to ordering a cup of coffee at Star- pleasing. Even if a customer is not a fan of
bucks. Customers wait in line, give their green tea or is hesitant because of its pale,
order and purchase other goods located near sage green color, they must at least order
the register, and then wait for their name to a sample. The Matcha powder does not
be called to pick up their treat. This system add any pungency or produce a caffeine
Class of 2008
Julia Benton
What was your favorite Paly moment?
Anne Frank reenactments. Watching
Mr. Kandell sing and dance every day
during class. Taking the last APUSH
quiz. Meeting my best friend. Kushal
spontaneously combusting during AP
English. Freshman year when I saw
the streakers in the quad for the first
time. Woj. Hanging out with Becca
during first period APES. Riding in
the cart with Mary. Pearl tea runs. My
first Cheese House sandwich. Spirit
week. Going to States for basketball.
Rahul Ramakrishnan. Mr. Blackburn
being brutally honest about his trip to
Italy. Paly winning CCS in football.
Walking onto campus for the first
time.
1
jolt as some might expect. It surprisingly
gives a tinge of sweetness and all customers
should be encouraged to order the swirl —
original and green tea swirled into one cup
of creamy goodness. Yogurt is available
in three sizes ranging from small (4 oz.
at $2.95 for original) to medium (8 oz. at
$3.95 for original) to large (12 oz. at $6.45
for original).
Red Mango offers a large variety of
healthy and specialty toppings to satisfy
any customer’s craving. First, there are
the numerous fruit toppings, which include
blueberries, blackberries, raspberries,
strawberries, mango, apple, honeydew,
watermelon, mandarin oranges and pine-
apple. Of course, the fruit is chilled, juicy,
plump and delectably fresh.
Then, there are the dry and specialty
toppings. These include cereals such as
Captain Crunch, Cocoa Pebbles, Fruity
Pebbles and Bear Naked Granola, as well
as coconut flakes, graham crackers, sliced
almonds, Ghirardelli dark chocolate mini
chips and mini mochi balls, which are
gummy Japanese rice cakes. Customers
can choose to have one topping for a dollar
extra, two toppings for $1.25 extra, three
toppings for $1.50 extra or additional top-
pings each at a dollar extra.
Besides frozen yogurt, Red Mango also
offers other items that relate to its healthy
theme. Such items include Izze sparkling
fruit juice drinks, which are fortified with
vitamins, Penta oxygenated water and
Atune granola bars, which also contain
pro-biotics.
Customers can also choose to have
their yogurt and toppings blended into
a smoothie. Red Mango has a ‘Blender’
menu, but customers can also create their
own concoction out of their choice of yogurt
and three toppings. Blenders come in two
sizes, regular (16 oz. at $4.95) or large (24
oz. at $5.95).
At Red Mango, customers are guar-
anteed an enjoyable and delicious experi-
ence. The pleasant, clean and spacious
environment could not be more perfect for
indulging in a healthy and ‘chic’ dessert.
The only trouble customers will have is
deciding which toppings to choose to adorn
their sweet and milky treat.
+ you’ll see the same set of two stores repeating over and
Red Mango
Location: 429 University Ave.
Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-12 getting shot.
a.m., Fri.-Sat., 11 TC: Why did you choose the University of Missouri?
a.m.-12:30 a.m, Sun., 11 WD: I thought it was the best journalism school... and it
a.m.-11 p.m.
Prices: $3.00-$6.00
The Campanile
in
1700
This edition featuring
Wes Duplantier
with The Campanile’s own
Sara Reihani
The Campanile: Tell us about Lynnie Bee.
WD: Lynnie Bee is everything you could want in a girl-
friend. Really, I’m serious. Anybody who allows you
to call them “Lynnie Bee” implicitly trusts you. That’s
uber important. Plus, she’s hot.
TC: What’s Lynnie’s real name and why do you call
her Lynnie Bee?
WD: It’s really Lynette. I just chose it because I found
an animal that rhymes with Lynnie.
TC: What does she call you?
WD: She calls me Wessy Pooh Bear.
TC: That doesn’t rhyme at all.
WD: I know. I don’t know where it came from.
TC: What are your summer plans?
WD: I’m going to see if I can get another job, but that’s
probably not going to happen. NPR says that there are
going to be less jobs available this summer than any
other summer in the history of mankind.
TC: Where are you going to college next year?
WD: I’m going to college in the middle of Missouri.
Get over it, people, it’s not as bad as you think. All you
people who think you’re going to Washington Univer-
sity in St. Louis, you’re going to the same state I am.
Let me tell you: they call it “Mizzourah,” and they eat
lots of red meat. And when you go down the interstate,
over and over again. One’s a Steak’n’Shake, and one’s
a duck-hunting place. We saw a billboard of a duck
has a 78 percent acceptance rate.
TC: What kind of journalism are you interested in?
WD: Breaking news. That’s all anybody really cares
about. People read investigative stories, but they don’t
care beyond the first paragraph.
TC: Do you want to do a humor column like Dave
Barry?
WD: How’d you know? He’s my favorite fricking
person of all time! I just didn’t think I could say so
because... well, he makes booger and squirrel jokes.
TC: You started at Paly during junior year?
WD: My first experience in Palo Alto was Mr. Bungar-
den telling me all about the A.P.U.S. History summer
reading. He actually bought the books for me and came
to my house to tell me what to read. It was awesome.
Mr. Bungarden is therefore the god of all teachers. He
could have easily let me fail. Thank you, Mr. Bungar-
den.
TC: Shout-outs to any other teachers?
WD: I’m gonna give a shout-out to P-Kandy, because
anyone willing to go by that name in class deserves a
shout-out.
TC: Was it hard for you to move from Tracy to Palo
Alto?
WD: Yeah. People in Tracy are a lot chiller. Mainly
because they’re about 40 miles from the nearest univer-
sity, and Paly is about 40 feet.
TC: Junior year is a hard time to start somewhere
new.
WD: Yeah, but it was pretty alright. The first few
months here, I was wondering if this was the right place
to be because it just seemed like I should be anywhere
else in the world. Anywhere but here. Preferably Ha-
waii. But I got over it and started the National Honors
Society at Paly. I actually started it on Facebook.
TC: What does the NHS do?
WD: It’s like the California Scholarship Federation, but
we do stuff. I’m actually a CSF life member, so I guess
I’m kind of a traitor. I got my tassel the other day. It’s
kind of mangled.
TC: Why did it get mangled?
WD: My backpack is like... there’s a scene in Star
Wars, where Princess Leia and Chewbacca and all them
are caught in like, a trash compactor. And that’s what
my backpack is like. It’s the world’s trash compactor.
Everything I put in there gets destroyed. Anything ad-
vertised as kid-proof or durability-tested should spend
ten days in my backpack.
TC: Did Lynnie Bee set a date for your wedding?
WD: Yeah, the date’s 11/12/13. It’s either going to be
on a giant cliff overlooking a beach sunset or at a court-
house in Missouri. We have a song, too, although that’s
none of my doing.
TC: What song?
WD: “You and Me” by Lifehouse. I’ll admit it. I’m
deep. I’m whipped. I’m in a relationship. I’m married...
on Facebook.
TC: Last words for Paly?
WD: Calliope rocks.