February 2010 - Notre Dame High School

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Hearty History?
crown and shield
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596 South Second Street San Jose, CA 95112
February 2010
Female Veterans Legalization of Marijuana Generates Opinions
Face Disregard By Pankti Doshi
help with cancer related pains, but taking fiscal crisis, instead of spending money to
By Sophie Khan
When soldiers from the U.S. Army come
home from a war, people expect that they
will be treated with respect, but this is not the
case for many veterans, particularly female
veterans. As stated in the Huffington Post,
many times they are not even recognized
as part of the Army. They are subjected to
rude comments by other people who say
they never really did anything in the Army.
Some students feel that it is unfair for
women veterans to not be held in the same
respect as male veterans.
Kathryn Gilbreth, ’11, said, “Women
are just as powerful as men and accomplish
just as many victories as men do. Therefore,
female veterans deserve just as much respect
as male veterans.”
Taylor Culberson,’ 12, said, “I think
people’s idea of the Army is buff men who
shoot guns. They don’t realize that women
also play an important role.”
Sometimes even the women feel like they
are not important because of the way others
“
Women are just as
powerful as men and
accomplish just as
many victories as men
do. Therefore, female
veterans deserve just
as much respect as
male veterans.
”
- Kathryn Gilbreth,’11
see them. This leads to them feeling like they
are not entitled to sufficient care, so many injuries and even sexual assaults go unreported.
As stated in the Huffington Post, some
female veterans have said that it is a challenge
for them to ask for changes, such as receiving
better injury treatment on base. They are not
used to complaining because it is considered
weak. They feel that nobody wants to hear
a girl cry.
Allie Wrappe, ’13, said, “Female soldiers
want to be treated the same as men, so they
try not to show emotion, so it seems like
they fit in.”
GiGi Leal, ’10, said, “I think everyone is
beating down on the women, and eventually
they become intimidated or they are afraid to
stand up for themselves.”
Some feel that to solve this problem, social
norms need to change.
Gina Vittori, Associate Director of Community Service Learning, said, “The word
hero is associated with being male and this
needs to change. Change starts with the U.S.
military having greater value and respect for
women who serve our country.”
Many people feel that the treatment of
women veterans is not just or fair. They also
feel that there are solutions to this issue that
can be reached if people’s minds are kept
open to this injustice.
Sources Used:
www.huffingtonpost.com
www.nlm.nih.gov
The U.S. contains about five percent it illegally and uncontrollably without a enforce marijuana laws, this crop should be
of the world population and 25 percent prescription can be a great detriment to a used as a revenue and job creation source.
of the prisoners, where approximately 220 student’s well-being and school life. I think However, the government proceeds to
billion dollars are spent per year to maintain marijuana should not be legalized because warn individuals, especially youth, of
the dangers that taking marijuana can
the courts, crimes, and policing of
lead to, which include depression, rash
various drug-related crimes. Since 1990,
behavior, and poor judgment.
approximately 5.9 million Americans have
Catherine Sharer, Modern Language
been arrested on marijuana charges, and
Department, said, “I believe that the ills
since 1980, according to the FBI, there
of the legalization of marijuana are not
has been an increase in these marijuana
as great as the benefits, like a decrease
violations by 800 percent. As a result, the
in the overcrowding of prisons. Also
topic of the legalization of marijuana in
if marijuana is legalized, it should be
order to decrease the number of charges
strictly controlled and youth should
has become a controversial debate that
be educated against using it, like with
has entered into the political process.
alcohol and cigarettes.”
On one side of this debate, the effects
Hanna Karraby, ’13, said, “Through
of marijuana do not cause excessive
these types of drugs, researchers can
health problems like those caused by
learn more about [their] relation to the
tobacco such as damage of brain cells
brain and basically how it’s beneficial to
and respiratory issues. An overdose
from marijuana, in all of history, has Twelve states are already identified with pending legislation science. I believe marijuana should be
legalized, but only to a certain extent,
not directly caused a single individual’s or ballots to legalize marijuana.
death. However, marijuana does have there shouldn’t be more ways that make it not including recreational use”.
The debate has raised many eyebrows
impacts such as an increased heart rate and easier for people to take it.”
a slight impairment of short-term memory.
Sara Evans, ’12, said, “Marijuana does among the citizens in the U.S. Fourteen
Additionally, effects due to the overdose of help in the calming process, but it should states have enacted laws towards the
marijuana include a greater risk of developing not be legalized because it is definitely legalization of marijuana starting in 1996.
Favorably leaning towards the legalization
psychotic disorders and lung cancer.
dangerous, and an addictive drug.”
In terms of medical benefits, marijuana
Vivian Luong, ’11, said, “Drugs should of marijuana, two states have passed laws
assists individuals in periods of vomiting ideally be illegal because they do make you not officially legalizing it, and 12 states
or nausea, has pain relieving effects, treats less immune to various diseases and put are identified with pending legislation or
glaucoma by decreasing eye pressure, and you at a greater risk for sicknesses. Even ballots to legalize marijuana. Proponents
has been beneficial in treating cases of though drugs could be used for health of this initiative have required more than
depression or sclerosis. The prescription relief, overall they are addictive and only the sufficient number of signatures to
put it onto the California 2010 ballot.
drug, called Marinol, is observed as a legal makes you vulnerable.”
and safe version of medical marijuana, which
If legalized, an initiation of a ten percent By understanding the advantages and
this legalization,
has been studied and approved by the Food taxation on this drug can yield 1.4 billion disadvantages of
& Drug Administration as safe medicine. dollars in California alone, thus creating a individuals can make further informative
decisions in the political process.
Students provide their input on the benefits larger economic impact in the creation of
of marijuana, but lean towards ultimately not new jobs in the agricultural department, Sources Used:
legalizing the drug on a national level.
marketing, and advertising. Politicians www.cnn.com
Seher Vora, ’10, said, “Marijuana can believe that with the state facing a current www.politicsdaily.com
Students Take Out the Trash!
By Chelsea Barajas
Sunflower plaza, Pardini Park, the garden
area by the chapel, oh, and nacho cheese
smeared along the concrete. Recently, there
has been a lot of attention focused on the
garbage left throughout the school. This has
caught the interest of the staff and the Associated Student Body, ASB.
ASB President, Jennifer Padilla,’10, said,
“It’s important to keep our school clean because doing so shows that as a community we
have taken the steps to act as good stewards
to ourselves and the environment.”
John Stahl, Maintenance Department,
expressed, “We are supposed to teach you
what you need to know for life here at ND, as
St. Julie put it. I definitely think cleaning up
after yourself is something you need to know.”
As a result of this problem, members of
ASB have begun to talk to students and put
up photos around the school commending
students for keeping the school clean.
Hana Blatter,’10, Commissioner of Athletics said, “I feel that we are slowly bringing
awareness to people about how we need to
keep our school clean, but our efforts haven’t
been all that effective. It really is up to the
entire ND student population to step up
and keep our campus clean.
Although the efforts of ASB have increased awareness, others feel there is still
It is the responsibily of ND students to do the
task of picking up after themselves.
more work to be done.
Amanda Balidio,’13, said, “The posters
are really humorous and capture people’s
attention but I don’t think it’s enough for
students to take seriously.” Some suggest students’ active schedules
make it hard to clean up, while others say it is
just plain laziness.
Padilla said, “Students generally don’t clean
up because they’re out of time, or they think
somebody else will do it for them.”
Stahl said, “I understand that students are
in a hurry sometimes, but if they spill or drop
something they should come to us right away,
that way it doesn’t make more of a mess.”
Brittany Trinh,’12, said, “People are just
lazy sometimes and don’t have the energy to
pick up their trash.”
Some students have creative solutions to
solve this problem.
Katy Moezizi,’11, said, “In our group we
have a designated garbage woman!”
Padilla said, “An ideal solution would be
setting up a rewards system based on who
consistently throws out their trash.”
Students can use these tips to be more
conscious of picking up their trash.
Stahl said, “The whole message is about
how people conduct and present themselves
and represent the school as a whole. You will
be a more respected person if your front yard
doesn’t look like the ND campus.”
2
Editorial
February 2010
Crown & Shield
Military Offers New Aid to Discharged Veterans
The scars of war run deep. For many
who have served the United States on the
battlefield, these scars are physical. Yet for
just as many, the pain of war tears through the
psyche, in scars hidden beneath the skin. The
servicemen and women who have returned
to civilian life have had to fight once more,
this time for adequate benefits to help alleviate these hidden scars. Recently, on January
25, 2010 the United States military decided
to review thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan
veterans who were discharged with posttraumatic stress disorder to see if they were
denied benefits that would aid them in living
with the disorder. It is predicted by attorneys
that millions of dollars more can be allocated
to such veterans.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to
begin, is a neurological dysfunction acquired
when one is exposed to a severely traumatizing event in his/her life. Once acquired, the
person normally is haunted by memories or
flashbacks of the trauma they experienced.
Much like some other neurological dysfunctions, there are a set of positive and negative
symptoms that define how a person reacts to
the flashbacks or triggers. Positive symptoms
are not necessarily “positive” so to speak,
but they show an active emotion. People
experiencing this side of the spectrum are
mostly easily startled, feel on edge, suffer
trouble sleeping, and have frequent outbursts
of anger. They are often known as “hyperarousal symptoms.” On the other side of
the spectrum are the negative symptoms,
also known as “avoidance symptoms.” They
involve memory loss, avoidance of places or
things that might possibly trigger memories
of the trauma, and parallel depression symptoms in that they make the sufferer feel numb
and lifeless.
Before, PTSD was known simply as
“shell-shock,” and the symptoms exhibited
by returning veterans were viewed as average and not given much research. However,
as contemporary neurology explores this
disorder more, it has come to discover that
PTSD is not just merely defined by behavioral
changes. In fact, physiological changes in the
brain take place when one experiences severe
trauma, as found in war. In other words, the
brain’s structure itself changes. The amygdala
of the brain, which presides over emotional
development and associating memories with
emotions, actually shrinks when exposed to
severe trauma. This shrinkage is believed to
cause the turbulent symptoms of PTSD, as
well as make it much more difficult to handle
future stressful situations and manage daily
life as a non-PTSD person would. With that
in mind, it is hard to imagine how debilitating
PTSD can be. It is easy for the government,
employers, or peers to look at the disorder
from the outside and downplay it. Yet, for
those who suffer from it, PTSD conquers
nearly every aspect of life. It affects the very
nature of how they view the world and relate
to others, which is vital to having a fulfilling
life. Arguably, it is just as bad as physical injuries. Arguably, it may be worse.
It is truly about time that the military and
the government start acknowledging how
deep these war scars run. Many veterans, who
have risked their lives in war for the well-being
of the country, have been ignored and denied
that which they need to survive and thrive
back at home. Thankfully, the federal budget
has been allotting more and more money
toward the well-beings of veterans. Within
the past decade the money granted to the
Veteran’s Association (who handles veteran
affairs and integration back into society) has
increased 104 percent, 24 billion dollars in
2001 to 47 billion dollars in 2009. Ever since
the United States’ birth, the nation has had a
positive trend toward taking more and more
care of those who fight in its wars. From
early colonies offering financial and medical services, to the G.I. Bill of 1944 (which
provided funding for discharged veterans to
go to school or purchase a house), to now, it
appears the U.S. is beginning to understand its
servicemen better, and subsequently, legislation is starting to finance what the veterans
really need.
After all, veterans’ integration and wellbeing really are the government’s responsibility. People may feel that since there is no draft
or requirements for men and women to enlist
in the Army, Navy, or Air Force, that those
who do enlist are, in essence, packing their
own chute. However, that is not the case.
The government actively advertises for its
military, venerating the bravery of the men
and women involved with it and preaching the
countless benefits, like education and other
financial support, that being involved in the
military would bring in time. And that is what
needs to happen. The decision to enroll in the
military is essentially a deal. The government
says, “you serve and risk your life for the
country, and we will reward you greatly for
your involvement,” and the men and women
say, “I will offer my services and risk my life
as long as you take care of me and look after
my well-being.” No party can fall short in
that deal without there being repercussions.
In reviewing the cases of PTSD veterans,
the military and government are making a
strong statement. They are saying that they
do care about the veterans. They are showing
that they truly do appreciate the service that
veterans have provided and honor lives of
those who have enrolled in the military. Most
importantly, they are demonstrating how they
are willing to rectify their mistakes. It is vital
the crown&shield staff
Editor-in-Chief
Katie McGowan
Section Editors
Managing Editors
Ashley Peterson
Francesca Ramirez
Pankti Doshi
Deena Khattab
Sandra Acosta
Photographers
Assistant Editors Jennifer Castillo
Alyssa Remulla
Chelsea Barajas
Layout Editor
Mia Orantia
Catherine Ballesteros
Freelance Writers
Angelica Patlan
Jessica Zeta
that in a free democracy such as the United
States the government is able to acknowledge
its shortcomings and make the changes based
on the needs of the people. All in all, it is an
incredibly mature action.
Post-traumatic stress disorder does in
fact teach a strong lesson. It shows how
scars need not be visible to be detrimental, and how sometimes the struggles that
are hidden are the most challenging of all.
Fortunately, the government is starting to
learn that lesson. Nonetheless, there are still
steps the government needs to take before
veterans can feel like they are truly honored
and respected by the own government they
are serving. If the government is to offer reexamination of PTSD benefits, it has to be
more on top of checking the medical records
of the discharged veterans. Additionally, the
government must extend the re-examination
to veterans before the Middle Eastern wars,
such as Vietnam or Korean War veterans because they too are still suffering. Also, periodic
check-ins to those discharged veterans even
after benefits have been given would illustrate
a great dedication and concern towards those
who have served our nation.
Yet, should the military or the government
fall short in their actions, it is up to the people
to speak up for those who have served the
country. And it is up to the veterans to brave
the battlegrounds of judicial courts and to
show how deep those war scars run.
Sources Used:
www.pbs.org
www.chron.com
www.cbsnews.com
www.businessweek.com
www.gpoaccess.gov
www.ptsd.va.gov
www.nimh.nih.gov
www.psycheducation.org
Printed by:
Staff Writers
Sophie Khan
Sandra Acosta
Catherine Ballesteros Mia Orantia
Ashley Peterson
Chelsea Barajas
Camila Barrientos Francesa Ramirez
Alyssa Remulla
Catherine Chen
Stephanie Sedayao
Pankti Doshi
Melanie Tang
Deena Khattab
Jennifer Castillo
Advisor
Folger
Graphics, Inc.
2339 Davis Avenue
Hayward, CA 94545
(510) 877 - 5656
www.folgergraphics.com
Tracy Payne
Mission Statement Contributions
The Crown and Shield intends to be a public forum for student expression and
encourages all sides to voice their opinions. Journalists will honor the Notre
Dame community and their journalistic profession by placing truth, accuracy,
and objectivity first. To best serve their readers, staff members will strive for
work of the highest quality. They will explore new avenues of reporting and
presentation, and will search for new approaches to articles. In seeking to do
their best, journalists will not be afraid to take risks (consistent with our editorial policy and code of ethics). Freedom of the press is to be guarded as an
inalienable right of the people in a free society. It carries with it the freedom
and the responsibility to discuss, question, and challenge actions and utterances
of our government and our public and private institutions. The Crown and Shield
is not subject to involuntary review prior to publication except by its own staff
and advisor, and is therefore responsible for the newspaper’s contents.
to the Crown
The Crown and Shield encourages students who are not in the journalism class
to submit their writings, such as poems,
interviews, short stories, essays and articles, for publication. All submissions will
be subject to editing for length. If interested, please contact our Editor-in-Chief,
Katie McGowan at kmcgowan@ndsj.org,
or our advisor, Tracy Payne at TPayne@
ndsj.org.
Crown & Shield
Op-Ed
February 2010
3
The Media Establishes a
Negative Image of Losing Weight
By Ashley Rebecca Peterson
I n t o d a y ’s
media centered society,
the topic of
we i g h t l o s s
has become
so wildly focused on, it
seems like it
has become a
religion. Every
year, millions of people make the conversion
over to the new religion of losing weight.
From celebrities’ photos to television
shows, to written articles and blogs, the new
religion has become inescapable. All these
media forms convey how people can jump
start into the new religion by providing a new
set of Commandments including how to pray
and who to worship to help them dedicate
their lives to the religion.
We have a condescending social fixation
with weight loss goaded in deeper drastic and
extreme expectations of physical perfection
found on prime time television.
Today’s celebrity bodies and overall looks
have transformed them into figures of saints
or martyrs to emulate; and if one does not
have a body like theirs, one might as well be
a sinner.
The various teen and fashion magazine
articles, reality television shows, and online
posts have reached Bible-like status as thousands flock towards them for guidance and
wisdom on how to redeem themselves and
not to be a sinner ostracized to the “fat” part
of society.
Shows such as The Biggest Loser on NBC,
Dance You’re A** Off on Oxygen, ABC’s Extreme Make Over, and Dr. 90210 are concerned
with issues of obesity and looking physically
more beautiful to boost self-esteem.
The Biggest Loser involves selected contestants, weighing at least 270 pounds, competing
to lose the most weight in order to win over
viewers and stay voted on the show. Similarly,
Dance You’re A** Off involves contestants
competing to lose the most amount of weight
through dancing each week and the contestant with the lowest weight loss and dance
scores is kicked off.
Like Dr. 90210, Extreme Make Over uses
plastic surgeons, eye surgeons and cosmetic
dentists, along with a team of hair and makeup artists, stylists and personal trainers to
transform people to meet the ideal beauty and
become true followers of the new religion.
These reality television shows encourage
large scale, short term weight loss that will
inevitably result in contestants metabolism
slowing down, causing rapid weight gain in
the following years. In addition, the environment the contestants are placed in does not
resemble that of the average viewer because
they are isolated from social and working
responsibilities and under 24-hour supervision from doctors, dieticians, and fitness
instructors, allowing them to spend large
amounts of time exercising daily. This type
of environment does not readily exist in our
everyday life, thus, the results displayed by the
contestants gives the viewers false hope and
incorrect expectations.
In contest to these weight loss and beauty
improvement shows are certain celebrities
with talk shows, such as Oprah Winfrey,
humanizing their weight problems and ennobling it into a parable of redemption and
self-discovery. Though this attitude differs
from that of weight loss shows, it fails to recognize the health implications of obesity by
comforting those who struggle with weight.
These various reality T.V. shows have
viewer turnouts reaching millions upon millions, validating the point that society is too
inclined to convert to the new religion.
It has reached the point where people
not only pray for redemption and a chance
to enter into heaven with the perfect body,
but they are literally killing themselves over
it, sacrificing themselves for their God, The
Holy Skinny One. According to the National
Eating Disorders Association, NEDA, 10
million women and one million men suffer
from eating disorders ranging from anorexia
to bulimia, to even binge eating. Unlike other
historical religious wars fought between op-
posing views, this bloodshed is caused from
the inner struggle to accept oneself and fit
into a small jean size.
If one really thinks about it, the motivation behind working out and enacting real
lifestyle changes is something not many can
do. So in order to lose the amount of weight
that these contestants do, one would need not
only hours upon hours of free time devoted
to a workout regime, but an around the clock
support system providing the extra motivation to inspire that consistency that is needed
to shed those pounds.
This devotion to the new religion of
weight loss is not entirely negative, for it does
bring up important health issues affecting our
society today. Obesity is a major issue for it
can lead to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and
diabetes. According to the CDC, Center for
Disease Control and Prevention, more than
one third of U.S. adults, more than 72 million
people, and 16 percent of all U.S. children
are obese.
Though these shows and other media
campaigns advocate for healthy physical
transformations, they also promote the new
religion to such a degree of strict adherence
they expunge all self-worth, leaving only an
empty skinny churchgoer.
Sources Used:
www.cnn.com
www.nytimes.com
www.yahoo.com
People Change Thoughts
Declining Donations Dramatically About
Marijuana
Affect Lives of Less Fortunate
By Mia Orantia
While most
of America is
trying to support themselves in this
economic crisis, donations
and assistance
towards the
less fortunate
have declined.
This is a growing problem in our country today and has affected many aspects of our community. More
and more people are losing their jobs and have
looked towards public assistance, resulting in
the overflow of people crowding local food
“
a decrease of food and supplies. I have firsthandedly experienced this concerning trend
from volunteering at a local soup kitchen. I
have seen several families and new faces come
in every week, waiting in line for the meager
amount of food we can provide. The growing
amount of the needy will eventually exceed
the quantity of what can be provided if donations and helping hands continue to decrease.
I understand that we are dealing with the
cutting down of expenses, but we are still
obligated to extend a helping hand or to donate to the community. If money cannot be
donated, we should donate some of our time
in creating a better lifestyle for those who do
not have a pleasant one.
Luckily with our Community Service
Learning, we are given the opportunity to sign
If money cannot be donated, we
should donate some of our time in
creating a better lifestyle for those
who do not have a pleasant one.
banks and shelters. These are difficult times
for people to set money aside for the poor,
but we should still help out, even for just a
moment of our time.
California is dealing with a 12.2 percent
unemployment rate and many social agencies
have been hit hard trying to support needy
families and individuals. In November of
2009, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa
Clara and San Mateo counties fed 272,000
people. That is a 16 percent increase since
the previous year. Other local agencies have
also faced an increase of hungry people but
”
up with agencies and do our part in society.
However, I have noticed that most students
do the volunteering until their required hours
are fulfilled and do not return just for the sake
of volunteering. I believe we need to include
service to the community in our everyday lives
whether it is a few dollars or our time. Many
people are struggling at this time and it is our
responsibility to help out to ease their troubles
by providing whatever we can.
Sources used:
www.mercurynews.com
www.cnn.com
By Chelsea Barajas
Scientist: you
have been smoking
item nine for seven
minutes and thirteen seconds. We're
going to ask you
several questions.
How do you feel?
Private Miller:
Ah, well, sir, I feel
like a, like a slice
of butter... melting
on top of a big-ol' pile of flapjacks... yeah.
Quotes like this one from the acclaimed
film Pinapple Express epitomize the perception of what most people think of marijuana, that it is something that makes one feel
good, high, and experimental, meaning that
at some point most people will try it at least
once in their lives. Researchers found that 46
percent of people surveyed in the U.S. had
tried marijuana at least once in their lives.
But why has marijuana become such a
popular topic in the Bay Area more so than
anywhere else? Marijuana might be legalized
in California, and it just so happens that the
Bay Area is one of the highest distributors
of medical marijuana on the west coast.
This issue has not really been as much
about political views as it has been about
money. Many Californians are saying the
only reason marijuana legalization is being seriously considered is because of all
the money California could get out of it;
it would be a huge aid in getting out of
California’s current economic situation. So
how much money could it possibly contribute? California’s biggest cash crop brings in
about 14 billion dollars a year in sales, which
is about 1.3 billion dollars in revenue.
This issue is obviously not solely one of
money, but one of morals as well. The topic
of marijuana legalization has caused many
conservatives to proclaim their feelings of
defeat on the war on drugs. I do not believe
legalizing this drug will be a defeat, but rather a victory over its misconceptions, and it
can come to the forefront of being a leading
substance in natural medicine.
What is on most people’s minds is the
dilemma over the possible health problems
that can result from using marijuana and
how legalization of hemp might be contributing to an unhealthy lifestyle Despite the
myths about hemp, it seems that its health
benefits might actually outweigh its negative
perceptions. Studies have found that THC,
the active ingredient in marijuana, can definitely be a benefit in many ways, however
long-term use can have negative outcomes.
Lester Grinspoon, MD, Professor of
Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, has
been quoted as proclaiming, “Cannabis is
remarkably safe. Although not harmless, it
is surely less toxic than most of the conventional medicines it could replace if it were
legally available. Despite its use by millions
of people over thousands of years, cannabis
has never caused an overdose death.”
I see the situation as so: some prescription drugs have a greater amount of side effects and some even more severe than those
of hemp, so why not legalize something
that has greater potential healing benefits as
some of those drugs and perhaps less negative side effects? In addition this drug has
not been responsible for any reported death.
If we compare this to alcohol which is legal
and has caused an innumerable amount of
deaths, it makes one question why not? In
addition, I do believe there should be strict
regulations should this become legalized.
Maybe California will experiment with this
herb and it will be a hit, or perhaps it will
just be a dud.
Sources Used:
www.procon.org
www.askmen.com
www.marijuana-info.org
www.justthinktwice.com
www.time.com
4
News
February 2010
Crown & Shield
Iran
Expands
Human Trafficking Produces Billions
By Alyssa Remulla
In today’s economy, many business associates have found it difficult to increase
their income in trade because of the global
financial crisis. Since trade has always been a
major factor in the business world, human
trafficking has been named one of the most
successful illegal businesses of today’s global
trade. Human trafficking was ranked third
on the global trade business. As a result, the
quantity of trafficked persons has increased,
resulting in people earning a massive amount
of cash. Trafficking is where people are
sexually exploited, forced into labor, and are
abused. According to News Blaze, a daily news
website, the owners of trafficking businesses
illegally make over 27.8 billion dollars globally.
Nhada Ahmed,’13, said, “People who want
money, and sometimes even drug dealers run
the trafficking industry.”
Jessica Zeta,’10, said, “Trafficking has been
a big part of the global trade because it is part
of the consumerism to get cheap resources,
even if it is immoral.”
The global trade of human trafficking obtains a great deal of money at the expense of
many innocent lives. Congress reported that
approximately 175 countries are involved in
the trafficking trade. The International Labor
organization stated that 12.3 million adults
and children are victims of trafficking each
year. Usually by force, most of the victims are
sold by their families or are kidnapped. Everyone is vulnerable to trafficking, especially
in third world countries. Because poverty is a
root cause to trafficking, some families have
no choice but to sell their children in order
to survive. CNN explains that trafficking has
increased because of a high demand in cheap
goods and services. In other words, trafficking
is the modern form of slavery.
The United States has made a watch list
consisting of the countries that are deeply
affected by trafficking. A few of the countries
are Africa, Cambodia, Pakistan, Philippines,
and Bangladesh. The watch list was made in
hopes of fighting trafficking and possibly
ending the trafficking trade.
Katrina Ramos,’12, said, “Major areas
where trafficking occurs are in poorer countries in Asia and Africa. Tourist areas within
these countries are common place for women
and children to be sold because it draws more
customers to the global trade.”
Human trafficking is an issue that is rarely
addressed in today’s media. Students explain
why trafficking should be dealt with.
Katherine Nasol,’11, said, “Child trafficking is a major violation of human and children’s rights. This issue should be addressed
because children are the future. If a child is
sexually exploited or trafficked, then his or
her choice of becoming a doctor, or a lawyer, or achieving any of his or her dreams is
greatly diminished. The possibility of having
a better life is gone because of the experience
of abuse.”
Zeta said, “If this global trade of trafficking continues, then people will get used to the
action and not do anything to stop the issue.
In addition, if people are not aware, then we
might be the next source of cheap labor.”
The law enforcement is one of the groups
of people that run the trafficking, especially
in third world countries, where the government is corrupt. The Human Trafficking
Organization, a resource center that provides
information about the major trafficking areas
in the world, states that other groups that run
the trafficking business are clans of criminal
organizations. Many people that are forced
into the trafficking world are drugged, raped,
and eventually killed.
Nasol said, “Other governments are not
taking a stand because either the sex trade is
controlled by the government or because it is
not a prime issue in the community. Most sex
rings in Southeast Asian communities are run
by local police officers. Human trafficking is
so prudent because the law, which is supposed
to protect people, is in control. Also, in places
like the Philippines, women and children are
not valued. So, why should the government
help people it does not even care about?”
The community can take action in bringing
this issue to justice. It is as simple as writing
a letter to the government, following an antitrafficking movement, or donating necessary
items to help organizations build resource
centers near the major trafficking businesses.
Lauren Fahey, ’13, said, “Some ways that
our community can create awareness about
this issue are by creating fund raisers, posters,
rallies, and protests.”
Gina Vittori, Associate Director of Community Service Learning and Internships,
said, “Here are 6 things students can do:
Educate yourself about trafficking. Start by
researching the issue on www.dosomething.
org, sign Amnesty International’s pledge to
be a part of a global community that protects
basic human rights, write an opinion editorial
piece about trafficking and submit it to your
local newspaper for publication, partner with
a local cultural arts organization to host a poetry slam that centers on the theme of human
trafficking, invite your friends and family to
attend, buy goods from companies that adhere to fair trade practices, and participate in
TASC’s International Women’s Day Celebration on March 1st and raise your awareness
about how human trafficking affects many
girls and women around the globe.”
Trafficking is a major issue economically
and globally. Each year, millions of people are
victims of this illegal act and human safety
continues to be a serious problem. People can
address this issue by spreading awareness and
understanding the concept of what human
trafficking actually is. Today, the government
is doing as much as possible to bring this
business down by setting stricter rules, passing numerous acts, and having an extremely
firm watch list.
Sources Used:
www.cnn.com
www.newsblaze.com
www.humantrafficking.org
By Pankti Doshi
Six multicolored, interconnected rings
remind individuals around the world of the
Olympics. Originating only with 16 nations
and 258 athletes competing in 16 events,
the first Winter Olympics took place in
Chamonix, France in 1924. With the creation
of the National Olympic Committees
(NOC), various countries in the world were
united in promoting and developing the
Olympic Movement in their own countries.
Today there are 205 NOCS all serving
to motivate athletes and strengthen the
reputation of their respective country. This
year, from February 12 to February 28, the
Olympics Winter Games will be held in
Vancouver, Canada bringing 2,500 athletes
together in 15 sports and 86 medal events.
Christina Reguindin, ’10, said, “I think
the Olympics is very interesting because
just thinking about how all these people
have trained immensely, representing their
own country, and just seeing the unity is
remarkable. When I watch the Olympics,
I really start taking it in when I see those
amazing people, learning about their
passions, and how they are able to push pass
their limits.”
Vancouver was elected for this year’s
Olympic location by International Olympic
Committee in Prague on July 2, 2003. It
competed with other cities: Andorra la
Vella, Andorra, Bern, Switzerland, Harbin,
China, Jaca, Spain, Pyeong Chang, Republic
of Korea, Salzburg, Austria, and Sarajevo,
Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The fifteen winter Olympic sports that
will be involved in the 2010 Winter Olympics
of Vancouver are alpine skiing, Biathlon,
bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, curling,
figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey,
luge, Nordic combined, short track speed
skating, skeleton
ski
jumping,
s n ow b o a r d i n g ,
and speed skating.
Compiling all the
medals
earned
from all the
Olympic Games,
Norway sets the
bar with 280
medals, followed
by the United
States with 216,
and the Soviet
Union with 194.
Deanna Liou,
’11, said, “I love watching speed skating
because of the tricks and I am always drawn
to the games just to see what new tricks the
athletes will bring.”
Yong Chan Kim, Science Department,
said, “I like to watch short track speed
The Olympics Attract Attention Worldwide
“
With 3 billion viewers
worldwide and 75 million
visitors, the Olympics
serve as one of the most
widely viewed sporting
events.
”
The Olympics are one of the most widely viewed sporting events.
skating because I did it when I was a kid in
Korea, and I still think it’s the most intense
race in all Olympic sports.”
Yvette Chua, ’12, said, “My favorite winter
sporting event is speed skating because just
looking at how much the countries and
athletes work to come together and compete
really amazes me.”
Julia Johnson, ’13, said, “All the sports in
the Olympics are interesting especially where
all the athletes show off their special talents.”
With 3 billion viewers worldwide and 75
million visitors, the Olympics serve as one
of the most widely viewed sporting events.
With every country rooting and promoting
their own athletes and teams in Vancouver,
the 2010 Winter Olympics will surely make
sports history.
Source Used:
www.olympic.org
Missile Program
By Jessica Zeta
While most Americans were hustling and
bustling to get ready for Christmas last year,
the Irani government was also getting ready
for an important event – just not one that
anyone expected.
In mid-December 2009, Iran reported that
it had successfully tested its newly upgraded
Sajjil-2 missile. This powerful nuclear device
The program’s development continues to worry the
West.
has a range reaching about 1,200 miles, which
is significant considering Iran’s international
rival Israel is well within that range. Iran’s
Atomic Energy Organization reports that a
nuclear attack is beyond Iran’s reach for the
moment. In response to the news of Iran’s
missile test, Israel tested its own missile defense system, Missile Dome. Ultimately, the
Middle East’s tensions are running high.
“
I think that any threat to
our national and international security should be
investigated and taken seriously.
”
- Mary Prescott,’12
The United States and other countries in
the West have been worried for quite some
time about the growing missile development
in Iran. In light of the missile testing, the
U.S. has been planning economic sanctions
against Iran.
Jennifer Padilla, ’10, said, “The United
States shouldn’t be persecuting Iran because
there are other countries in the Middle East
doing the same thing.”
In contrast, Allie Wrappe, ’13, said, “I
think we should just leave it be. Otherwise,
they would be more inclined to attack us.”
Additionally, Mary Prescott,’12, said,
“I think that any threat to our national and international security should be
i nve s t i g a t e d a n d t a ke n s e r i o u s l y.”
While there have been questions about
the United States’ involvement in this ordeal,
there are also questions about Iran’s freedoms
as a country.
Catherine Sharer, Modern Language
Department, said, “On the pragmatic side, I
think that the Iranian government wishes ill
of us, so I would be worried about the threat
to national security. But on the philosophical
side, it is their sovereignty’s freedom to do
what they want.”
Jessica England, ’11, said, “We should be
worried about Iran and other countries with
nuclear missile programs, because we have
waged a war on terrorism. But not to the
point where we as a nation become aggressive
before we need to be.”
Regardless of the West’s dislike of Iran’s
nuclear program, Iran has continued to develop weaponry.
Sources Used:
www.google.com
www.articles.latimes.com
www.upi.com
Crown & Shield
News
February 2010
5
Tuition Increase Enrages Students
By Sandra Acosta
The tuition increases in private, UC, and
State colleges have led to great controversy
as well as obvious disagreement from student
protestors recently. The raise in college tuition
has been a frustrating issue for parents and
students and there seems to be no end to this
trend. The rising cost of college threatens to
put higher education out of reach for most
American families.
Dominique Tarrant, ’13, said, “This huge
problem is putting more stress on families
and their financial standing may be offset.”
There are numerous causes for this increase
in tuition. At public colleges, tuition has generally been driven up by the rising spending
on administrators, student support services,
and the need to make up for reductions in
government subsidies, according to a report
issued by the Delta Cost Project, a nonprofit
based in Washington, D.C. At public colleges,
especially the current economic difficulty,
may speed up the trend of rising prices and
classroom cutbacks.
Catherine Sharer, Modern Language
Department, said, “The increase in tuition
is a symptom of a greater problem in the
country which is that a lot of money is spent
in education but it is also the first thing the
government cuts. We cannot afford to have
professionals that haven’t benefited from a
good education. The community has to put the Graduate Student Commons for a week.
on their big girl pants and just pay more taxes. On October 15, 2009 there was a brief takeWe have to invest in education with a long over of an administrative building and then
term vision.”
Students have
negatively responded to these increases
and have decided
to have their voice
heard in the form
of protests and sitins. The day after
the University of
California Board of
Regents approved a
32 percent increase
in fees or tuition
there were protests
on many campuses.
On the Berkeley
campus, about 40
students took over a
classroom building,
Wheeler Hall, barricading themselves
on the second floor. Rising costs of colleges threaten to put higher education out of reach.
Santa Cruz has had
sit-ins over the last two months. On Septem- 50 students held a study-in at a library. On
ber 24, 2009 there were demonstrations at all the Davis campus, 52 people were charged
University of California campuses over state with trespassing when they refused to leave
cuts and protesters in Santa Cruz took over the main administration building.
Kelly Rafey, ’12, said, “I think that as long
as there is no violence, students should have
the right to protest and should not be arrested
for it. This is denying people the right
to speak up and this way the students
are raising awareness about such big
problems today.”
Natalia Nguyen, ’10, said, “ Protesting may be a little extreme when
it comes to getting one’s voice heard,
another option may be signing a petition to send to the governor.”
State colleges are experiencing tuition increases and cuts as well. This
leads to crowded classrooms and less
classes available for the students.
Asha DuMonthier, ’11, said, “
Students will be forced to seek larger
student loans and this will impact life
even after they graduate college because they may spend their life trying
to pay back the loans.”
There seems to be no end to the
rise in tuition, so this could cause
problems for prospective college students, eventually leading them to look
for other methods to pay for tuition
like grants or scholarships.
Sources Used:
www.usnews.com
www.nytimes.com
Proposition 8 Stands Drugs Create
on Shaky Ground Dangerous Lure
By Ashley Rebecca Peterson
not impose them on others to determine who
In recent years, the debate over legalizing can marry. People should be able to marry
same sex marriages has been full of potent whoever they want.”
energy. In the past months, all the talking
Illustrating the depth of the controversy
has turned into action. As of January 1, New over equalizing the right to marry is the voting
Hampshire joined the four other U.S. states, decision in Maine. November 3, 2009 proved
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and to be a defining moment on this debate as
Iowa, who have legalized same sex marriage. voters rejected the law to legalize same sex
Therese Inkmann, Counseling Depart- marriages that only six months earlier was
ment, said, “It’s important to recognize same passed by the state’s legislature and Demosex marriages in legislation because to me, it’s cratic Governor John Baldacci.
only fair that we give people the same equalJennifer Kirkland, ’10, said, “It’s not right
ity and legal ramifications that come with to judge based on sexual orientation and not
marriage. It is horrifying that I have friends ethnicity. We allow whites and blacks to marry,
and family who can’t enjoy what my husband yet not homosexuals? It has to do with basic
and I have.”
equal human rights, not sexual preferences.”
On December 18, 2009, the District of
Starting in January, a case against CaliforColumbia Mayor, Adrian Fenty, signed a mea- nia’s ruling on Proposition 8 has been brought
sure recognizing same sex marriages as legal, to the U.S. District Court in San Francisco
becoming the district’s first action towards where same sex marriages await the ruling
legalizing this type of marriage. Following from Judge Vaughn R. Walker on whether
that date, the measure went to Congress who or not banning homosexual marriages is a
passed the bill 11 to 2.
violation of the U.S. Constitution regarding
Tiffany Lee, ’11, said,
the right of equal
“The United States is
protection and
a country of freedom
due process.
and not allowing cerWhile over
tain couples to marry
seven million
contradicts that. BeCalifornians
sides, the government
voted in favor
does not have a perof Proposition
sonal role in a couple’s
8, same sex courelationship, so they
ples are fighting
should make it legal and
for what they
allow people to have
believe are their
the freedom to create
civil rights.
their own happiness;
Isabella Sigafter all, we don’t have Same sex couples are fighting for what they believe are their mund, ’13, said,
a choice of who we fall civil rights.
“ I t ’s p e o p l e ’s
in love with.”
choice and we shouldn’t stop them from doWhile many of the states show their sup- ing what they want; besides it’s not hurting
port for legalizing same sex marriage, there anyone. People who are against same sex marare still groups that do not support it, includ- riage make such a big deal about something
ing the Church.
that isn’t hurting anyone.”
Megan Crane, ’12, said, “I don’t think
So far, the marriage debate still rages on
the Church should have a say in who can or as states and voters take sides in the battle
cannot marry. You can have your beliefs, but defining equality in marriage.
By Catherine Ballesteros
Daniela Gallego, ’13, said, “Teens see
In the news, there have been reports of their idols and famous stars drinking and
teenagers obtaining alcohol or illegal drugs, want to be just like them so they copy what
overdosing, and ultimately dying as the con- the stars do.”
sequence. At school and sometimes at home,
In the media, there are many beer comteens are often exposed to drugs and alco- mercials and stories in the news about stars
hol, both seeming to offer an escape from getting drunk at Hollywood parties or bars
the pressures of reality.
and doing something outrageous. These
Glencijoy David, ’10, said, “I think teens kinds of stories have a great influence on
turn to drugs and alcohol because some- teens who adore their idols, especially seeing
times they are weak and can’t deal with the the star going off and getting drunk or high.
pressures of home and peer life.”
It appeals to them and makes it seem like
With people from the age of 12-17, about drinking or doing drugs is not that big of a
1 million are treated for alcohol dependency deal so they go out and try it for themselves.
in schools each year. In 2008, 10.4 percent
Rachel Hendricks-Key, ’11, said, “Don’t
of teenagers between the age of 15-19 were look at substance abuse as a problem, look at
reported to have been admitted into sub- it as a symptom of further emotional probstance abuse treatment programs.
lems instead.”
Maria Breaux, ’12, said, “I think that some
Symptoms of substance abuse among
people obtain these substances from their teens may vary based on the type of subolder friends and peers, wanting to just try it stances used. Mostly, the symptoms can inbecause of peer pressure.”
clude sudden temper tantrums, secretiveness,
Substance abuse with teenagers has al- loss of interest in activities that are usually
ways been an issue and is
becoming more acknowledged since the death of
15-year-old Sarah Botill in
Gilroy, California. Botill
was at a friend’s house for
a sleepover with another
friend. At about 1 AM, the
three girls snuck out of the
house, obtained alcohol, In 2008, 10.4 percent of teenagers between the age of 15-19 were
returned an hour later at 2 reported to have been admitted into substance abuse treatment programs.
AM, and began drinking. After a while of drinking, Botill began to feel participated in, borrowing large amounts of
sick and began vomiting violently. The next money from friends and family, and more.
morning after being rushed to the hospital, But in all cases of abuse, teens often develop
Botill passed away.
a change in their behavior.
Another report of abuse was with Daniel
Jim Floyd, Social Studies Department,
Buruca in Arlington, Virginia, when he tried said, “The best thing parents can do is make
LSD, a hallucinogenic drug, at the age of 10. their children comfortable around them.
After trying it, Buruca experienced halluci- If the children feel they can talk with their
nations, shivers, and heard things that were parents, they will be less likely to do dumb
louder than they seemed. As a result, Buruca things.”
became an addict all his life and is now in a Source Used:
rehabilitation center.
www.natioinalyouth.com
6
ND
Crown & Shield
Culture Clubs Broaden Diversity
By Camila Barrientos
The United States is known as the “Melting
Pot,” and Notre Dame is trying its best to live
up to that name. One of the ways ND is trying
to show its multiculturalism is by holding the
Family Mass Multicultural Event on February 21.
There will be a family mass, a pancake breakfast,
and the day will end with all the cultural clubs of
ND demonstrating what their culture is about.
Each club will have a table with information
about their culture, and each table will have food
of the culture it represents. After the family mass,
the clubs will have activities for everyone to enjoy.
All clubs are also required to have two performances of either a song, dance, or fashion show.
Rachna Kumar,’10, said, “South Asian Student Association is having a fashion show and a
Bollywood dance that I will be choreographing.”
Notre Dame is putting a lot of effort into
making the Family Mass Multicultural Event
a good learning experience for the families of
students. Yet the students still have a lot to say
about the multicultural environment here at ND.
Julia Johnson,’13, said, “I think that Notre
Dame is very ethnically diverse. Most of my
friends are from different parts of the world,
and I love learning about their different cultures.”
Kumar said, “We have lots of cultural
clubs and I feel like culture doesn’t seem to be
a boundary for making friends here at ND.”
Although it is clear that Notre Dame
celebrates multiculturalism, not all students believe that Notre Dame incorporates
multiculturalism in its lessons and classes.
Rachel Hendricks-Key, ’11, said, “So far, I
haven’t seen much incorporation of different religions or cultures except in History and Language
classes. It saddens me that our school is so focused
on Catholicism, and that the students miss out
on the opportunities to learn about the different
cultures and religions around them. If the religion
classes would broaden their class schedules to incorporate different religions or cultures, then I believe that students would enjoy their classes much
more and would learn more about the world
around them from different points of view.”
The majority of students believe that
Notre Dame has a culturally diverse environment, and all of these students each
have their own culture. But in some cases,
people can feel ashamed of where they
came from, and try to hide who they are
from their friends. Notre Dame provides
an excellent example of students that have
not lost sight of who they are their culture.
Ismara Ramirez,’12, said, “I am so
proud of my culture. Even though there
are some friends or family members that
have lost our traditions or just believe that
they no longer belong in our culture, I
still am attached to mine and always will.”
But what many people do not realize
is that there are many others who enjoy
learning about different cultures. For these
people, it is an adventure and an opportunity to experience something completely new.
Jennifer Hanson, English Department,
said, “Well, my family is very diverse in
terms of ethnic background. We have some
traditions like attending the Our Lady of
Guadalupe mass that are things that we try
to do every year. But my parents have also
placed a strong emphasis on learning about
other cultures that are not our own. So for
example, my dad has encouraged us to go
to the Obon festival in Japantown for the
past couple of years to learn more about
other customs that we are less familiar with.”
In an ethnically diverse environment, everyone is different in their own way. A fantastic
way of experiencing these differences is to
attend the Family Mass Multicultural Event,
where many different cultures will gather
together to pray as one. This event will give
families an opportunity to spend some quality
time together, and also to celebrate the diversity that is always a present characteristic at
Notre Dame.
By Catherine Ballesteros
Love is in the air as couples go out for a day
in the town, see a movie, or just stay at home to
spend quality time together. Both friends and
lovers exchange chocolates, jewelry, and love
on the day of February 14, otherwise known as
Valentine’s Day. At Notre Dame, girls occupy
themselves by making plans to spend time with
their favorite person, or just being surrounded
by their friends.
Allison Troini, ’11, said, “One Valentine’s Day,
I got a teddy bear and a drawing of a guy and
myself. It was really sweet.”
On Valentine’s Day, most people will do
anything for their loved ones, such as going for a
walk in the park, playing in the waves at the beach,
or sitting by the fireside enjoying hot chocolate.
This day is a time to be spent with the people
most cared for and spreading the love with others. Although every day is special, Valentine’s Day
is a day people truly get to express their love for
someone, either with exuberance or in sentimental
ways through small gifts with large meanings.
Christine Sharp, ’13, said, “In middle school, I
went to an ice rink with a guy that I liked. When
we were skating, he pulled me aside and gave me
a red rose and asked me out.”
Each couple has their own way of celebrating this occasion, old and new alike, it can even
be something special for everyone. One way to
celebrate this special day is to take someone to
a place that has some memories to it, such as
where the couple first met. This is a sweet way
to celebrate a relationship, but one can also
choose to sit in the silence and enjoy each
other’s company.
Jessica Zeta, ’10, said, “The Calaveras Hills
in Milpitas is a good place to visit because you
can see the skyline.”
Valentine’s Day is not only a time for
couples, but for single people also. Even if
someone is single on Valentine’s Day, it does
not mean that they have nothing to do. Being
single can be an advantage; on Valentine’s Day,
they are free to go out and about with their
friends or family to just have a good time at
the mall or movies.
Patrizia Rin, ’12, said, “If you’re single on
Valentine’s Day, you should invite all your
other single friends over and just watch funny
romance movies.”
In all, Valentine’s Day is just a special day
dedicated to being with the ones truly loved.
Whether it is doing something big, or doing
something small, every action is taken to heart.
Ishrat Khatoon, Science Department, said,
“My kids used to make special gifts at home
when they were in elementary school. But I
think that personal things are better because
it is more sentimental.”
All year, some people dream of this day, a
day where people are free to go all-out for their
boyfriend or girlfriend or finally come out and
tell someone how they really feel. Then finally,
the day dedicated to love comes around, with
windows of opportunity being opened.
Hearts Skip a Beat
Steal the Show for Valentine’s Day
By Sandra Acosta
The established definition of a diva is a distinguished female singer, but today the definition
has evolved and holds a new meaning for women.
The new definition of a diva includes women with
style and charisma and they are everywhere, even
at Notre Dame High School.
The definition of a diva has been based on
the media’s influence, especially in the music and
fashion industry. Beyonce defines what it is to be
a diva in her single “Diva” where she states that a
diva is a “female version of a Hustler”. In addition,
Beyonce is seen as a diva herself.
Students all have different perceptions of what
a diva is today.
Melinda Barajas, ’10, said, “A diva is a female
who has confidence and may be cocky about it
without being annoying. Most importantly, a diva
just drags people in.”
Julia Ramos, ’11, said, “When I think of a
diva I think of a flamboyant homosexual male
who reminds me of my older sister who I am not
particularly fond of, and Kanye West is a little diva
too. Divas are more into extravagant clothing and
students try to look like them.”
Natalia Brashear, Modern Language Department, said, “A diva is a successful singer or actress
usually very picky or demanding. I don’t think
girls look up to them because of this but actually
because they are such great singers or actresses.”
In the fashion industry, women who are willing
to take risks and try new ideas that maybe would
never have been acceptable before could be con-
sidered fashion divas. For example, Lady Gaga
is seen as a fashion diva by many because she
takes risks when it comes to what she wears
and is willing to stand out and be herself. At
Notre Dame, there are many girls who are also
taking new risks and they are acknowledged by
students around them as fashion divas. These
girls dress differently and start trends.
Hanna Stephens, ’13, said, “ I think Christine
Sharp is a fashion diva because she always tries
new things especially when she consistently
wears a different bow in her hair everyday. She
never wears the same bow twice and now I
also see other girls trying out this trend. I have
also heard a lot of girls say Lyndsie Soriano is
a fashion Diva because she takes risks when
it comes to fashion and her looks are alwayss
so put together.”
Alyssa Tarrant, ’10, said, “ In the senior
class we have many fashion divas, all who take
risks and try new things. Eunice Almaden is a
fashion diva because she always dresses nice
and she has good style. I also think, Vanessa
Posadas is a fahion diva because she looks really good on free dress days.”
This has motivated girls today to take risks
and be themselves. Girls can express their creativity through fashion and the way they dress.
Veronika Cohen, ’12, said, “Girls want to
be like a diva or dress like a diva because they
have what everybody wants.”
Anyone can be a diva with the right amount
of confidence and originality.
Life
February 2010
7
Princess Project Makes Dreams Come True
dBy Alyssa Remulla
” During the month of February, Notre Dame
twas granted an opportunity to give underprivi-leged girls a chance to wear beautiful dresses
hand accessories for prom. This event is called
,the Princess Project, which is coordinated by
ythe Community Service Learning Department
eand the TASC Force. The Princess Project is not
sonly an annual event, but an organization that
ewas founded by Laney Whitcanack and Kristi
.Smith Knutson, the founders who collected
odresses from their friends and family when a girl
ee-mailed them about wanting to have a dress.
tThe project itself provides free prom dresses
tand accessories to young teenage girls who canInot afford them.
Gina Vittori, Associate Director of Com”
emunity Service Learning and Internships, said,
y“The Princess Project is an amazing organizaetion that provides prom dresses to girls who
.
,
n
e
cannot afford them. They hold drives at various
schools to collect dresses and they have boutique
days in March and April at various locations in
Silicon Valley where girls can make an appointment to try on dresses and take one home. The
organization is wonderful in that it’s not just
about collecting and giving away dresses; the
organization is 100 percent dedicated to making
girls feel special, promoting self-confidence and
positive body image in girls. Every girl deserves
to feel beautiful on her prom day!”
Nicole Pal, ’10, said, “The princess project
is an amazing organization serving high school
girls. The goal is to allow girls who may not
otherwise be able to afford a dress, purse and
accessories feel like a princess for her high
school prom. All the donations are brought to
warehouses where these girls are able to ‘shop’
for what they would want to wear. This is an
amazing way for ND to serve as we are an all-
girls school and so many of us adore getting all
dressed up for these special nights. I think this is
a service opportunity which is relatively simple
but we can feel connected to as a school and
know we helped another girl’s dream. Taking a
look through the pile of dresses that have found
a home in your own closet may encourage you to
be thankful for what you have and knowing that
there are so many who do not have the luxuries.”
As the TASC Force worked to create a funfilled event for the Notre Dame community,
students express how they feel about the influence of this project.
Hannah Nguyen, ‘12, said, “I think the Princess Project is a great way to inspire others to
help less fortunate girls. Prom is a big event in a
girl’s life, and every girl should have the chance
to feel beautiful on her night to remember.
Sacrificing an expensive, beautiful dress is very
difficult, but I believe that it’s important to set
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By Melanie Tang
Grace Lee, ’10, knows it all, if it all has to
do with art at least. Whether it is photography,
hand sketching, water coloring, oil pastels, or
even Chinese calligraphy brush painting, Lee
has had tried her hand in all types of artistic
media amd expression.
Lee’s passion for art started when she was
only eight years old.
Lee said, “In the second grade I started to
take real art classes at my art teacher’s house.
He would teach us how to do Chinese brush
painting and sketching. I started competing in
competitions ever since I started drawing and
painting, but I did not win my first contest until
I was in 3rd grade. I drew a bunch of little children playing soccer with oil pastels.”
As time passed, she has not let her gift for
art go to waste, which is partly due to the continued support by her parents.
Lee said, “They allowed me to attend my art
classes every Saturday and try new things even
though they cost money. They encouraged me
to do what I wanted to do and even when I said
that I would like to be an art major [in college],
they did not discourage me.”
In addition, with the support of her parents,
Lee got to stray away from her normal brush
paintings and sketches, and test out new artistic
medias like photography and ceramics.
Kim Chen, ’12, said, “Grace’s photographs
are very unique and she is able to take just a
simple subject and create something totally of
her own. There was one picture [of a girl] that
was jumping in midair and I actually thought,
‘Hey, I would actually frame that!’”
With plans to major in art for college, she
spent most of first semester and her winter
break working on her much labored over artistic portfolio.
Lee said, “I started working on my portfolio
for college late, so I was in a rush to finish it,
to send to colleges on time. The process was
hard work and I combined some old work with
new stuff I had drawn. Halfway through creating my portfolio, I showed what I had to my
art teacher and he said that it was not what [the
colleges] were looking for in a portfolio. So I
had to get rid of some of my work and start
on completely new pieces. He told me to do
some watercolors on the social justice issues, so
I chose to paint on the subject that I knew best,
global warming.”
Lee’s portfolio is an example display of the
array of artwork that she has been experimenting and excelling in over her past years.
Andrea Pham, ’10, “Her artwork is truly amazing! I am so inspired when I look at
the variety of media she uses- photography,
sketches, paintings- she’s good at all of them.”
Catherine Chen, ’11, said, “Her portfolio
displays a lot of skill, creativity and different
techniques like brush painting, oil painting, water color, ceramics and photography! It is very
well put together and really pretty.”
Glencijoy David, ’10, said, “Her work is
incredible, you can see all the details and you
can tell she put a lot of time and effort into it.”
With portfolios sent to colleges out of the
way, Lee only has hopes of being accepted to
her first college of choice, University of Southern California. So watch out world, Grace Lee’s
artwork might be gracing movie theater screens
sometime in the future!
an example for others to follow. This is such a
creative and generous way to help out, and it is
really making such a big impact on girls’ lives.”
Brittney Chung, ’13, said, “This project will
open people’s eyes that giving money or canned
food is not the only way one can give back to
the community.”
Donating a dress is a great way to help others who are not fortunate to own one. Giving a
dress gives students an opportunity for young
girls to feel incredible and even more beautiful
on their prom night.
Alyssa Jepsky, ’11, said, “I would donate a
dress because every girl deserves to feel like
a princess.”
The Princess Project sends out a message to
everyone that one simple opportunity of giving
can make a difference to many people’s lives and
an act like donating a dress, can make a girl’s
dream night come true.
Student
Spotlight:Grace Lee Epitomizes Artistry
t
y
Feature
California’s Economy Goes Green Students
8
Crown & Shield
February 2010
By Deena Khattab
As the green revolution impacts the entire
world, California has made increasing progress towards improving both the economic
slump and the environment by increasing the
amount of green jobs. On Monday, December
21, 2009, Professor David Rolan-Host of UC
Berkeley published a report of California’s
green efforts. He predicted
that in the next 12 years,
California’s fight against
global warming and steps
towards energy-efficiency
will create approximately
403,000 jobs and increase
household incomes by 48
billion dollars.
Jennifer Padilla, ’10, said,
“It’s important to create as many job opportunities as possible because of this economy.
The environmental field should also grow
because of the more evident effects of global
warming. I like that the field is increasing
because I may want to pursue a green job
after college.”
California’s Air Resources Board published
a similar report in August 2009. It predicted
the creation of 100,000 jobs, a 27 billion dollar rise in the state’s economy, and 400 dollars
in yearly savings for the average household
due to energy efficiency improvements. The
purification process of the environment is
also predicted to improve public health. The
report stated that approximately 9,000 cases
of asthma and 53,000 missed workdays could
“
be prevented.
California’s energy-efficiency endeavor
began in the 1970s. Since then, California
has saved 56 billion dollars in energy costs
between 1972 and 2006. One and a half million jobs were also created because of the
adaption of new building codes and energyreducing appliance standards. In September
have more nutrients than meat and poultries.
Eating green is better for your body and for
the environment.”
Kayla Punicikawa, ’11, said, “More effort
is being put into the environment. Every day,
I see more people with eco-friendly clothes
and Priuses. Green is in style and it makes a
good statement.”
Katie Vyvijal, ’13, said,
“I carry an eco-friendly
lunch bag to school. I
think the little things matter because if everyone
does them, it will greatly
help the environment.”
Most recent laws and
reports suggest that California will be significantly
“greener” ten years from now. Many Californians are hopeful of reaching and surpassing
the environment goals by 2020.
Gagan Sandhu, ’12, said, “I believe that
going green can make a big difference. It all
comes down to environmental science. Our
world was not meant to endure massive environmental problems so we need to do our
best to stop problems for future generations.”
As California’s green economy grows, the
state of the economy and the environment are
being improved. Because of the rising green
economic advances, the new green efforts will
alleviate the economic slump and combat the
growing threat of global warming.
Source Used:
www.treehugger.com
The environmental field should also
grow because of the more evident effects of global warming.
”
- Jennifer Padilla, ‘10
2006, the Global Warming Solutions Act was
passed which restricted companies’ emissions
and expanded green collar jobs. This recent
law ordered a 25 percent reduction of greenhouse gasses by 2020. The bill specifies that
greenhouse gasses include: carbon dioxide,
methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons,
perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.
Ishrat Khatoon, Science Department, said,
“Greener is better. Going green helps the
biodiversity which is better for the creatures.
It also helps the growing population, because
people need more oxygen and less carbon
dioxide. We need to use reusable materials
that create less waste. Solar energy can power
cars instead of fuels. Going green is good for
everyone in the community. Also, vegetables
Tumblr Tantilizes Teens
By Mia Orantia
“Reblog if you did not finish homework,
hours of sleep have lesssened, and you could
be doing something more productive but
you got addicted to Tumblr.” One who has
a Tumblr may find these words typed in 24
point, Helvetica font on his or her dashboard.
Automatically, he or she would have agreed
with this statement and either “reblogged”
it or “liked” it. Today, Tumblr has become a
likely topic of discussion among teens and
is almost as popular as Facebook.
With the Internet at almost any reach,
social networks have boomed on the world
wide web attracting millions of all ages to
log in to the rising trend. More recently,
Tumblr, a blogging platform that allows users
to post text, images, video, links, quotes, and
audio to their short-form blog, has become
popular among young bloggers. Anyone who
has jumped on the bandwagon of Twitter or
Facebook most likely has a Tumblr, or is aware
of its existence.
Tumblr has attracted so many users to its
site and is used daily. Not only is it simple
blogging, but it is a web that connects all
sorts of people. Tumblr opens many doors
and allows people to be creative. It supports
blogs, or also known as Tumbleblogs that
are dedicated to fashion, art, and music, the
traditional blogging of one’s day or daily in-
spiration. One could follow any Tumbleblog
and be updated with their daily posts on their
dashboard feed.
Samantha Nepacena,’11, said, “It’s a way
for us to express ourselves through different
outlets: pictures, quotes, text, videos, links,
and music. We are able to find and follow
other tumblrs that share the same interests.”
Another perk that comes with having a
Tumblr is that one can “like” or “reblog”
content onto his or her own Tumbleblog.
On Tumblr, there is a dashboard that works
similar to a Facebook news feed. One is able
to see all the posts of the other bloggers he
or she is following. When scrolling through
the dashboard, he or she is given the option to
“like” or “reblog” the post. All “liked” posts
are saved into an area where one can refer to
them again. Liking other’s posts is another
form of showing appreciation or interest.
When reblogging, the post is also published
onto one’s own Tumbleblog.
Catheleen Ferrer,’10, said, “People can
like your posts or you can like people’s posts.
It’s just nice knowing people take interest in
your stuff.”
Sierra Larson,’13, said, “I find [Tumblr]
as a way to post my photography. I’m a photographer and I post some of my pictures
and people can reblog them. Even one of
those “famous” Tumblrs have reblogged one
of my photos.”
In July of 2009, Tumblr received incredible
statistics. The simple blogging site recieved
over 255 million page views, 50 million visitors in the last 30 days, 650,000 posts per day
(which equals six new posts per second), 5,000
new users every day, and 1.5 reblogged posts
per second.
ND students use Tumblr as an outlet for
their thoughts or just to share what their
daily muse is with their friends or followers
of their blog.
Gagan Sandhu,’12, said, “It is easy to use
and it helps you stay connected with people.
It’s addicting and fun to see other people’s
thoughts through their posts.”
Whether Tumblr is used as a way to blog
about one’s daily life or to express one’s self
in various forms, it allows users to share a bit
of themselves with the Tumblr community.
Ellen Donlin, Religious Studies Department, said, “All people have a story to share.
Teenagers desire a listener and Tumblr is a
way to put out one’s story and can connect to
other people’s stories. There’s a connectivity
that people long for and if used appropriately,
Tumblr meets those needs in a way. It is a
form of longer self expression. “
Sources Used:
www.mashable.com
www.tumblr.com
Struggle
to Sleep
By Stephanie Sedayao
Students tend to hold a hectic work load. In
addition to all the homework that is assigned,
students have after school activities and commitments. With so much homework and a
sometimes overwhelming schedule, it can be
hard for students to get the recommended
eight hours of sleep every night.
The amount of sleep one gets can depend
on a person’s schedule and workload. In some
situations, it can be hard to get enough rest if
a person has a busy schedule. Some people
might be good at time management, some
might not. Students may have a schedule that
does not leave much time for homework. For
those who procrastinate and do not manage
their time wisely, sleep deprivation may come
from the lack of focus. Even if the student
is persistent with homework, the amount of
work adds up and may cause them to stay up
later into the night.
Ravina Saini, ’11, said, “There is so much
homework now and sometimes it is hard to
manage time with all the different after school
and extracurricular activities everyone has.”
Hilary Orr, English Department, said,
“I’m a night owl. If I’m lucky, I get about
six hours of sleep so I drink tea to stay alert
during the day.”
The length of time a person has to sleep
can affect their sleeping periods. According
to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), teens
need about nine hours and fifteen minutes
of sleep every night, which according to
surveys, only about 15 percent of teenagers
get. Students’ sleeping habits vary person to
person, but statisitics have been proven to be
true and accurate.
Rukhsar Palla, ’13, said, “I still get a lot of
sleep. It is not too much and not to little and
I do my homework early so I can get sleep.”
Jilaine Abad, ’12, said, “Ten hours of sleep
is what I need and is enough for me. But I
do not get enough sleep because I am used
to sleeping at eleven or twelve [at night] from
all the work I have to do.”
Giulianna Fumo, ’10, said, “I sleep at
least eight hours. But sometimes I don’t do
homework so I can get sleep.”
Statistics show that most students are more
likely to lose a good night’s rest. But there
are ways to hopefully gain some more sleep
and rest the brain. Some tips are to try to
establish a consistent time to go to bed and
to wake up or simply make sleep a priority.
Whatever helps, getting enough sleep is vital
for one’s well being.
Source Used:
www.leepfoundation.org
Crown & Shield
Feature
February 2010
9
Snow Bunnies Scurry to Ski Resorts
By Stephanie Sedayao
and I finally learned how to turn and they
Every winter, thousands of people had really good slopes and I really liked it.”
head to the snow to do everything from 4. Kirkwood in Lake Tahoe is a fantastic
snowboarding, to skiing, to tubing. People place for great runs and has been voted one
want the best snow experience while they of the best resorts for snow and challenging
are on vacation, so listed below are the top courses. Kirkwood contains two ski lifts that
10 snow resorts in Northern California. transport its riders to over seven hundred
1. Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe has been rat- acres of courses suited for everyone from
ed the number one ski lift in
America by Ski Magazine. The
ski lift, called KT 22, brings its
riders to great trails such as
Rock Garden and 75 Chute.
Riders can also be filmed doing their craziest moves and
stunts and take it home on
a DVD for additional thrills.
2. Heavenly in Lake Tahoe
experiences ever changing
weather in the winter, so this
resort is well-known and liked
by skiers and snowboarders. It has been ranked in
the top 10 for best snow
terrain, packed with tons of Notre Dame girls hit the snow on the school’s snow trip.
trails and runs for all people.
Recently, Heavenly just opened up their experts to beginners. After a long and tir“Adventure Sessions” with nature guides ing day, head over to Body Slopes Massage
to show the mountain’s “hidden gems.” at Kirkland’s Mountain Club Fitness Center.
3. Mount Rose in Lake Tahoe is a very nice,
Michelle Khouri, ’10, said, “Kirkwood
calm place to be in the snow. At Mount Rose, was so much fun. The slopes were great
visitors will find the cheapest prices, the clean- and there was a lot of great snow, which
est runs, and a friendly staff. Even novice made going down the slopes even better.”
skiers or snowboarders enjoy easygoing runs. 5. Diamond Peak in Incline Village, Lake
Danielle Tran, ’12, said, “We just skied Tahoe has a full facility base lodge and has
a repair and rental shop for every rider.
It also contains a ski and snowboarding
school for beginners. Diamond Peak has
over thirty runs on its sparse mountains
and has plenty of money-saving packages
for families. This resort is an ideal place
to go for skiers and for those who do
not want to be in a crowd full of people.
Audrey Steinbach, ’11, said, “I really
liked going there because the town is
small and I can really enjoy the nature.”
6. Sugar Bowl in North Lake Tahoe
has recently mimicked their slopes and
rides from the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Experts can ride the best of the best
slopes which will be open to them
starting on February 18. A New Backcountry Center allows riders to go with
a tour guide along the backside terrain.
7. Sierra-At-Tahoe has been well
known to the locals as a great place for
having great jumps, cornices, big bowls,
and plenty of glades to satisfy every
person’s adventurous side. With the
new addition of Huckleberry Canyon,
containing the most challenging slopes,
advanced and expert skiers can ski down
some amazing runs. In addition, there are
free tours of Huckleberry Canyon on Fridays.
8. North Star-At-Tahoe has been known
for its tree skiing and has invested millions
into making sure this resort is great for all
who visit. This resort attracts hundreds of
people for their classy, family-style ski resort.
With resorts surrounding the area, this snow
place is a great place to be. Whether a person
just wants to relax or just ski and snowboard all day long, this is the perfect place.
Alexa Nazarian, ’13, said, “North
Star was a lot of fun. I didn’t go skiing
but the lodge and skating rink was nice.”
9. Badger Pass in Yosemite is a smaller,
family resort designed for people who want
fewer crowds. Despite its small size, families
especially will enjoy being able to go up
and down the slopes with ease. The package deals are great for families on a budget.
With the small resort, it is easier to enjoy the
natural beauty of Yosemite National Park.
Ruth Burson, Social Studies Department, said, “I went in the spring time and it
was absolutely beautiful and breathtaking.”
10. Boreal Mountain Resort in Truckee,
California is a resort that attracts many
people for its fun slopes and runs. With
many inns around the area, getting to the
slopes is easy and convenient. Although
Boreal is a little crowded and smaller than
the usual resort, it is only a few hours’
drive from the Bay Area. The resort is a
great place to go for good package deals.
Anyone who is looking for a lot of
fun this winter can head down to these
resorts and be guaranteed a fun time. They
will definitely want to keep going back.
Sources Used:
www.trails.com
www.mercurynews.com
www.diamondpeak.com
www.tripadvisor.com
By Melanie Tang
Ever since there has been media, there
has been gossip. However, the way that these
juicy secrets get around has changed, it is
no longer just through whatever news one’s
best friends can get their ears on through the
crack in the door. Major media savvy gossipers have expanded their talents to collect
Hollywood secrets internationally by creating gossip blogs.
These infamous blogs fuel Notre Dame’s
curiosity for celebrity gossip.
Sister Carol Shoup, SND de N, Homework Center Supervisor and Involved in
Community Service Program, said, “Americans like idols and they like to live out their
own fantasies through the lives of celebrities. People like epic stories and drama and
when a celebrity comes along, we like to
learn about them from the media.”
Jessica England, ’11, said, “[We like gossip]
because our lives are boring and celebrity
lives are so much more intriguing and more
scandalous than our own.”
Rachel Inderhees, ’13, said, “Celebrity gossip makes for good conversations and it’s
funny to laugh at them when they fail.”
Danielle Tran, ’12, said, “I read about
celebrity gossip on Tumblr and usually on
the front page of Yahoo! I like to read about
what goes on in [celebrity’s] lives and we get
to see that their lives are similar to our own.”
The head honcho of the gossip blogs is
PerezHilton.com. This bright pink website is
hosted by a self- proclaimed, “Gossip Gangster,” Mario Lavandeira Jr., who deemed the
By Jay Castillo
Valentine’s Day is considered a day for
couples, where they shower each other
with gifts, affection, and chocolate. It is the
perfect day for a date, or even a marriage
proposal. But over time, people have been
noticing that Valentine’s Day has become
more of a franchise. It only takes a glance
at the aisles of Valentine products to see
the excess, even if the intentions are good.
Although many people love the mushy
atmosphere, there are few that actually know the reasons it is celebrated.
Kelsey Gummow, ’10, said, “I don’t understand why we celebrate it like this, but
there are a lot of holidays that don’t make
sense with their history. People change the
meaning of the holiday as time goes on.”
Those that do know might be subjected to propaganda and marketing, clouding the actual history of Valentine’s Day.
Danielle Brown, ’11, said, “I know Valentine’s Day has cupid, and that you’re supposed to spend it with the people you love.”
The real history behind Valentine’s Day
may or may not be considered romantic
by some. A brief description of the history of this day would be based on several St. Valentine stories. Two of the most
well known, if known at all, stories are
about two men who were both martyred
under the Roman Emperor Claudius II.
The first Valentine conducted illegal marriages for soldiers, who were not allowed
to get married, and were executed for it.
Another Valentine was jailed for being a
Christian, when the same Emperor had declared it treasonous. He continued to spread
the word in jail, even preaching it to his jailors. Stories say he befriended one of the jailors, who he converted. The jailor asked Valentine to heal his blind daughter. When the
Emperor found out he was converting people
in jail, he was beheaded. Before this, it is said
that Valentine sent a message to the healed
girl, ending it with, “from your Valentine.”
Time has changed these stories, and soon
they have gotten trapped under advertisement after advertisement. Although most
of the traditions people have may not really
have anything to do with the history of Valentine’s Day, most are done in good cheer.
Domenica Domeray, ’13, said, “Every year I
give out little cards and candies to my friends.”
Cindy Arce, ’12, said, “I think it evolved
through different interpretations and
people trying to modernize the holiday.”
Over the years, Valentine’s Day may have
changed a lot, and its history may have been
smudged slightly in the process, but some
small part of it still lives on in each rose,
chocolate, and card people send. Even if Cupid, who is actually only an iconic figure and
not relevant to the actual history, is not there
to shoot arrows of love through our hearts,
people can enjoy Valentine’s Day all the same.
Jessica Barganski, Associate Director of
Admissions said, “Because if you just tell
someone you love them, it makes it worth it.
And it makes everyone happier for the day.”
Gossip Blogs Spill Valentine’s Day History
Celebrity Secrets Remains Unknown
name Perez Hilton when attending a party
where a party-goer proclaimed that he had
spotted Paris Hilton, to which Lavandeira
scoffed, “Yeah right, maybe Perez Hilton!”
PerezHilton.com is notorious for “making”
or “breaking” a celebrity’s career. He heavily
supports Taylor Swift and his “wifey” Lady
Gaga and disses Miley Cyrus and Kristen
Stewart. Lavandeira has the infatuations of a
teenaged girl, swooning over Taylor Lautner
and Zac “Zefron” Efron.
JustJaredJr.com is another popular gossip
website. Unlike PerezHilton.com, JustJaredJr.com is unbiased and shines a good light on
every celebrity they focus on. As a “junior”
site to the original JustJared website, they
blog mostly about teenage celebrities like the
Jonas Brothers and Taylor Swift, and is directed towards a younger audience.
“OhNoTheyDidn’t” is a gossip website
where only members who have blogs on
LiveJournal.com can post celebrity news at
any time and place. The news is unfiltered
so it might not be the most reliable source,
but it is definitely updated the most and is
the fastest way to get celebrity news since
so many people can contribute to the blog.
“OhNoTheyDidn’t” is not as biased as PerezHilton, but not as neutral as JustJared. Usually fans of “OhNoTheyDidn’t” are huge
fans of Glee and Zachary Quinto.
With the array of gossip bloggers, whether
they are known worldwide or just by a select
group of friends, people will always be able
to learn about the latest juicy celebrity news,
real or false.
Donald M. Kelly
Attorney and Counselor at law
Juvenile Defense and dependency
79 Devine St., Ste. 201
San Jose, CA 95110
(408) 298-2800
FAX (408) 298-1466
411 Ceder Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831)429-1009
FAX (831)429-1315
10
Sports
February 2010
Crown & Shield
Athletes Perform Miracles
By Sophie Khan
One of the main mantras in sports is to
never give up. No matter what is working
against a team, be it the clock or the scoreboard, the mentality always has to be that
getting a win is possible. And if somehow the
game is won, the game itself will go down in
history and people will talk about it forever.
With that in mind, here are two of the best
miracle wins in sports history:
Football: It was the Super Bowl XXIII
on January 22, 1989: San Francisco 49ers vs.
Cincinnati Bengals
For a game with one of the lowest halftime
scores in Super Bowl history (3-3) and one
that seemed destined to be boring, the second
half was anything but that.
After the teams traded field goals to start
off the half, the Bengals ran back the ensuing
kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, making the
score 13-6. The 49ers responded quickly when
Joe Montana threw a 14-yard touchdown pass
to Jerry Rice, capping off a 4-play, 89 yard
drive. After a missed field goal by the 49ers,
the Bengals scored a field goal of their own,
now making the score 16-13 with 3 minutes
and 10 seconds left on the clock.
Backed up at his own 8-yard line, Montana
proved his “Joe Cool” reputation by leading
the 49ers on an 11-play, 92 yard drive that
ended with his 10-yard touchdown pass to
John Taylor. The defense held their lead and
the 49ers won their third Super Bowl.
Devin Engebretsen, Director of Athletics,
said, “As a 49ers fan, I remember watching
them win on their last drive of the game. I was watching with my parents and their
friends, and I will never forget the eruption
of cheers that occurred when Joe Montana
hit Taylor in the end zone for a touchdown.”
Melina Goldman, ’13, said, “It’s really exciting to watch your team make a comeback. It’s
awesome when someone makes a good play.”
Baseball: It was the 2001 World Series on
October 27- November 4: New York Yankees
vs. Arizona Diamondbacks.
After the World Trade Center attacks on
September 11, 2001, the country was shocked
and devastated, but sports fans everywhere
found something to rally around: the World
Series. After games one and two were dominated by Arizona starting pitchers Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson, the Yankees broke
through in game three behind the pitching
of their starter, Roger Clemens, making the
series record 2 to 1.
In game four, the score was tied as the
teams headed into the 10th inning after the
Yankees rallied with 2 runs in the 9th inning.
In the bottom of the 10th, after Yankee closer
Mariano Rivera preserved the lead, shortstop
Derek Jeter hit a walk-off home run right after
the clock hit midnight to win the game and
even the series at two games apiece. Because
of 9/11, the World Series was delayed, and for
the first time, was played in November. This
earned Jeter the nickname “Mr. November.”
In game five, the Yankees rallied in the
9th inning again to tie the game at 2-2. This
time in the bottom of the 12th inning, Yankee,
Alfonso Soriano, drove in the winning run
to send the Yankees back to Arizona with a
3-2 series lead.
“
score, Rivera hit the next batter to load the
bases. Then, Luis Gonzalez hit a single over
the head of Derek Jeter to win the game and
the series for Arizona.
Hana Blatter, ’10, said, “When my team
is down, and they start to make a comeback,
it’s an adrenaline rush. If my team gains the
lead, I can’t help but jump
up and down and yell!”
Easy wins can be good
for the team, but miracle
wins can be even better, because they can be a
measuring stick for how
much effort a team puts
into a game.
Alexis Estioko, ’12,
said, “Easy wins are okay,
but I’d rather have games
where it comes down to
the last second, where it all depends on how
much you’ve put into the game.”
Molly Zamora, ’11, said, “Easy wins aren’t
as fun because you aren’t challenged. Games
that are uneven tend to cause a loss of interest, but if it’s an intense game when my team
is competing, everyone’s into it.”
One game can make or break a season,
and being on the winning side of a miracle
win, could make a season.
Sources Used:
www.superbowl.com
www.mlb.com
No matter what is working
against a team, be it the clock
or the scoreboard, the mentality always has to be that
getting a win is possible.
Randy Johnson was back on the mound
for the Diamondbacks in game six and he
pitched another gem as Arizona scored 15
runs in route to an easy win to tie the series at
three apiece and send it to a final game seven.
Game seven was a pitcher’s duel for the
first 7 innings after both Roger Clemens and
Curt Schilling pitched superbly. The Yankees
took a 2-1 lead into the 9th inning and sent
Rivera to the mound to close out the game.
After the first batter hit a single, Rivera committed a throwing error that put runners on
first and second bases. After a double tied the
”
ND Cheerleaders Bring It On Snowboarders Shred Slopes
By Canilla Barrientos
to represent her class, no more, and no less.
Notre Dame is known for its uncon- There will always be cases when some stuventional cheerleaders. Upon attending an dents do not believe that one of the cheerND cheerleading performance, one should leaders deserved to get a place on the team,
not expect the trabut for the most
ditional, prepped
part, every class
out cheers and
is appreciative of
routines. Instead,
their cheerleaders.
ND offers qualLauren Rogity, more hip hop
ers, ’10, said, “The
based
routines.
people that I voted
So, whether it is
for did make the
the
freshmen,
team and I think
sophomore,
juthat the Bandit
nior, or senior
cheerleaders have
class cheerleaders
done a wonderful
performing, one
job over the last
can always expect
four years. The
to be entertained. The Freshman cheerleaders pose after an exhilerating routine.
cheerleaders have
However, there
worked very hard
has been some controversy over whether and deserved to win cheerleading last year
or not the choreography of the cheerlead- at spirit week because their routine was exing performances should be more censored. tremely creative.”
In some cases, such as the recent Christmas
Overall, it is easy to tell that the cheerthemed performances, there have been peo- leaders put a lot of time and effort into their
ple who thought the routines inappropriate, performances. They want to make sure that
including teachers. Other students disagree, an enjoyable routine is always presented.
and think that it does not matter.
Lyndsie Soriano, Notre Dame cheerleadTiffany Lau,’11, said, “I don’t think that er, ’13, said, “When we really focus and get
people care that much because we are an all down to business we spend about 2-3 weeks
girls’ school.”
worth tryA few teaching to think
ers also feel
of
music,
that it is not
what we’re
their place to
going to do
judge whether
and how we
the cheerleadshould
be
ers’ routines
in a formaare approprition, we then
ate or not.
spend hours
Lisa Yi, Science Department, said, “I think memorizing the routine.”
that the cheer routines should be checked
So, although ND cheerleaders focus more
over by their class moderators because they on dance than cheers, this still makes for an
make the best judgment.”
amazing team and provides a very entertainBut looking at the big picture, the students ing performance. When one watches the
are the ones who choose the cheerleaders mezmerizing cheer performances, one will
in the first place. The process of electing never be bored.
the cheerleaders is an absolute democracy.
Rachelle Raudes, ’12, said, “I think that
Each candidate presents a dance to her class, the cheerleaders bring a lot of school spirit
while each student is given a ballot. One only and overall, they give the class something to
checks the candidates that they think deserve be proud of.”
“
The cheerleaders put a lot of
time and effort into their performances. They want to make
sure that an enjoyable routine is
always presented.
”
By Angelica Patlan
is no need to worry. Yet others believe that
With the Winter Olympics in full swing if professionals can be injured, who is to say
and pro-snowboarders coming into stardom, that beginners will not?
there is a great amount of hype about the
ND puts on an annual Snow Trip that
sport. This hype makes snowboarding attrac- creates excitement throughout the time of
tive, but there are also some facts that keep finals. With this trip, students were able to
people from trying it.
travel to Kirkwood and experience two days
While training for this year’s Winter full of snow-filled activities. Not only were
Olympics, snowboarder Kevin Pearce was Notre Dame girls invited, but also friends
seriously injured while training in the half from other schools.
pipe. The Los Angeles Times reported on
One student, Rosemary Hua, ’10, said about
Saturday, January 2, 2010, that Pearce “hit a previous Snow Trip, “It is a lot of fun but
his head above one of his eyes on an icy half you get really sore because it requires you to
pipe wall and was knocked unconscious by the use muscles you are not normally used to usblow.” Pearce “was airlifted to the University ing no matter if you are athletic.”
of Utah Hospital, where he had surgery to
When deciding whether or not to snowrelieve fluid buildup on his brain. He remains board, people tend to decide based off of
in critical but stable condition.”
what is heard. Know that every sport has its
When asked her opinion on the sport, Ana- pitfalls but that does not mean there are not
sazi Chavez, ’10, said, “I have heard so many certain aspects about them that are good.
stories about
snowboarding
Visit D
that make me
rivers
Ed.com
and e
afraid of trynter d
during
iscoun
ing it.”
the on
t* cod
line p
e CAH
a
ymen
Likewise,
S3
t proc
e
s
s.
Catherine
Sharer, Modern Language
Depar tment,
said, “I have
heard of a lot
of accidents
and injuries
[that occur] as
a result of this
sport but since
I am not too
familiar with it,
I can only go
by what I hear.”
Some people
might say that
those injured
are professionals and that
beginners will
definitely not
try the stunts
the professionals do, so there
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Entertainment
Crown & Shield
February 2010
11
Celebrities Incite Songwriting A Day in
By Sophie Khan
Many popular songs have one thing in common: they were written about someone else,
namely a celebrity. Some of these songs are
positive, while others are negative. Negative
songs seem to be the trend now, as numerous
artists are using their music as a device to get
back at each other.
An example is “Cry me a River” by Justin
Timberlake. It is about Justin’s relationship
with his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears, which
supposedly ended because she cheated on
him. In the music video, Justin gets even
with Britney by cheating on her. This causes
Britney to “cry a river”, thus leading to the
title of the song.
Another example is “You Oughta Know”
by Alanis Morissette. It features Jane’s Addiction’s Dave Navarro on guitar and the
Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea on bass as background music for Morissette as she lashes
out with a vengeance at her ex-boyfriend, Full
House star Dave Coulier. She dated him when
she was 16, and he was 31.
Sarah McGuinn, Social Studies Department, said, “I remember singing ‘You Oughta
Know’ at the top of my lungs while driving
down by the beach with my girlfriends in
high school. We were all thinking of different interesting to talk about people in songs and
boys, but it sure was fun. In fact, Jagged Little although the audience does not know the
Pill (Morissette’s first
situation being sung about,
internationally released
a lot of people relate to it
album) was one of my
because it is used as a way
first few CDs.”
of communication.”
Finally, “Obsessed”
Some people think that
by Mariah Carey is
celebrities choose to write
an example of how a
songs about other celebrifeud between just two
ties because it is something
people can become a
they know a lot about and
source of good music
can write about passionately.
Students sing their favorite “celebrity for the entire public.
Maheen Jeddy,’13, said, “I
After Eminem inspired” songs.
think celebrities choose to
rapped about supposwrite about Hollywood and
edly having a relationship with her in his song other celebrities because it’s something they
“Bagpipes from Baghdad,” Mariah Carey know a lot about personally.”
came back with “Obsessed,” claiming the
Rebecca Inderhees, ’11, said “Although
rapper was “delusional” and that she never some (celebrity-inspired) songs seem rude and
had an intimate relationship with him. In the mean, those are the emotions of the artist.
video, she dressed up as a man who had an Break-ups are hard, so I can see where the
uncanny resemblance to Eminem and who singers are coming from.
proceeded to stalk the real Mariah.
It is said that life imitates art, but in these
Ureka Ajawara, ’12, “I think the song is artists’ case, art seems to imitate real events
good and catchy. But as far as it supposedly in their life.
being about her ex, I personally think it is a Sources used:
funny way to poke around with her past.”
www.songfacts.com
Emily Kitzerow,’10, said, “I do think it is www.courant.com
Females Fawn Over Flicks
By Deena Khattab
drey Hepburn movie ever released. Sabrina is
Throughout the years, chick flicks the daughter of a chauffeur who falls for the
have been enchanting viewers everywhere affluent, young son of the family her father
with their romantic stories
works for. When she transand heartbreaking drama.
forms from an ugly duckThe connection of love –
ling to a beautiful swan,
whether romantic or friendly
both the younger and older
– between two characters
sons of the wealthy family
often reminds audiences of
fall for her. She must make
their own lives, thus making
the decision to stay faithful
the films easy to relate to.
to her childhood crush or
Though many chick flicks
move on.
have been released, these are
7. Casablanca (1942) is
the top ten:
a classic film about unat10. The Proposal (2009)
tainable love. Rick Blaine,
starts out as a wonderfully
a prominent club owner in
ironic fake engagement beCasablanca, Morrocco, is
tween a book editor and her
constantly bitter because
The Notebook is an all time
assistant, but soon develops
of his broken heart. When
favorite flick.
into a romantic and amusing
the source of his bitterness
adventure in Alaska.
comes back into his life, a difficult choice
9. Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amelie Poulain (2001) must be made.
is a French movie about a quirky, naïve girl in
6. Mean Girls (2004) is possibly the most
Paris who intervenes in the lives of others to hilarious and accurate movie made about high
help them. She helps numerous people before school, Mean Girls mixes typical high school
embarking on her own quest for love.
drama with a complicated love story.
8. Sabrina (1954) is arguably the best Au5. (500) Days of Summer (2009) rewinds and
fast forwards randomly through 500 days in
the life of Tom, a firm believer of true love
and happy endings, and his relationship with
Summer, a girl who believes the complete and
total opposite.
4. Love Actually (2003) follows the lives of
eight different couples. The best thing about
Love Actually is the way the many love stories
are intertwined. The setting of London during Christmas also adds to the appeal.
3. Titanic (1997) is the perfect combination
of romance and tragedy. Jack and Rose are
from two completely different backgrounds,
but they are connected by love.
2. A Walk to Remember (2002) tells the
average story of a bad boy falling for a good
girl. The story becomes not so average when
the viewer finds out that the girl is diagnosed
with leukemia.
1. The Notebook (2004) is the ultimate
chick flick in every way possible, The Notebook
tells the romantic past of an elderly couple
struggling with the hardships of old age and
Alzheimer’s disease.
Although these movies differ in many
ways, they share a common theme of love
and are favorites to many.
the Life of
A Teacher
By Francesca Ramirez
Saturday 10:30 AM
I wake up, ecstatic that I do not have
to wake up early to teach. I lounge for an
extra 30 minutes before I go and make my
daily cup of Joe. I smile to myself thinking
of all the exciting plans I have for the day.
1:00 PM
I just finished grading papers. Wow, what
a rush. There is nothing like grading a truckload of math tests to start off the morning.
I have no other pleasure in life than to grade
the papers of my students, especially when I
know how much hard work and preparation
my ND girls put into their studying. I mean,
it is not like other schools where the students
finish off their homework the morning of.
3:00 PM
After grading the papers, I decided to put
together the final. While looking through my
teacher edition book, I was contemplating
which vocabulary to put on the test. I opted
for the harder vocabulary. I know I have smart
students, what better way to test them than
by putting difficult questions? Oh, but I do
feel guilty, my students have been complaining about how stressed they are. I know, I
will just subtly say that vocabulary will be
on the final, and then they cannot get mad.
5:00 PM
I start to get ready for my night out on the
town. I am reflecting over what to do. Should I
go out with my girlfriends to the hip and happening new club? Oh I have the perfect idea.
6:30 PM
Wow, what a crazy night! Going to Barnes
and Noble was the best decision I ever
made. There is nothing more riveting than
the fresh scent of unused books. I feel like
a child in a candy store, the opportunities
to buy new books are endless. I am so glad
that I picked going to the bookstore instead
of hanging out with my friends. Oh joy!
8:00 PM
It is almost my bedtime and I still have to
feed my eight cats. At least I can rest knowing that I was able to accomplish everything
on my task list. The job of a teacher is ever
so fulfilling.
Overheard in the Halls
Compiled by Katie McGowan
Student 1: W
hy a
formal for tod re we wearing
ay?
Student 2: It
’s for that de
ad nun
walking thing
…
ld would
I think the wor
sting if we
be more intere
r tentacles
all sprouted fou
l cords.
from our spina
Student 1: I'm really excited
about this next semester of
us sitting next to each other
in Gov...I think we're going to become really close
friends.
Student 2: I'm transferring
out of this block next semester.
Teacher: What's the drug that you're
most scared to try? And why?
Student: Love.
Student
1: I’m col
d…
Student
2: Here, t
ake my sw
Student
eater.
1: Thanks
!
Student
2: Do you
want my p
ants too?
Student: I LOVE GAY
PEOPLE!!!!!!
Teacher: YOU GO GIRL!!
t and
as a depressan
s
ct
a
l
o
h
o
lc
a
sysTeacher: So
n and nervous
io
ct
n
fu
in
ra
b
r
slows you
*
tem...
at giggle giggle
ch
it
ch
le
g
ig
g
gle
g back
Students: *gig
ou guys drinkin
y
re
A
t!
ie
u
Q
r:
Teache
ing?
there or someth
12
Feburary 2010
Reviews
Crown & Shield
The Lovely Bones Moves Audiences
By Francesca Ramirez
“My name is Susie Salmon…and I was murdered on December 6, 1973.” This is the opening
line of the book The Lovely Bones by Alice
Sebold. The main character of the novel is
Susie Salmon, and her blunt description of
her murder sets the foundation for the novel.
Sebold’s daring introduction indicates that the
novel will not be like other novels, it is in fact
darker and more philosophical than the usual
guilty indulgence book.
Let me first say that the book Lovely Bones
is not a mystery in any way, and I advise those
who are going to read it to understand that
the novel is not about figuring out who Susie’s
killer is. It instead focuses on one girl’s interpretation of heaven, as well as how a family
deals with a murder of a loved one. This is
a novel where the narrator is someone who
has died and who is now elaborating on her
family’s life on earth.
Within the first few pages Susie, the narrator, describes vividly how she was lured
into her rapist’s (also her murderer’s) den.
The account confirms the concept that the
victim usually knows the rapist, which was a
disturbing revelation in the novel. The narrative voice continues on, and the reader eventually finds out that Susie was murdered and
dismembered. When I read Susie’s account of
her rape, I felt uneasy, almost as if I should
not be reading it because I was violating her
trust. Her rapist captured her innocence and
Sebold did a fantastic job of conveying that.
The novel continues with Susie describing
her family’s life on earth. Her whole family is
distressed by the murder of their loved one,
and they all cope in different ways. Sebold is
also able to portray the strain that a family
faces during times of loss, whether it is how
spouses cope with the guilt of not being able
to protect their child, or a sister’s ability to
disguise her inner turmoil and sorrow.
Overall I would also say that my experience with the novel was interesting because
of how it appealed to my emotions. At times
I felt eerie when Susie described her rape, and
at other times I wanted to see retribution of
Susie’s killer. I felt pain when Susie’s father
came so close to finding her murderer, but I
also felt heartache at the family’s struggle to
overcome Susie’s death. I was so engrossed
in the novel that I even looked up the author
to find out more information. In turns out
that the author of the novel, Alice Sebold,
was actually raped. Upon learning this I was
then able to see the accuracy in Sebold’s depiction of rape.
Just recently Lovely Bones was made into
a major motion picture and was released
on January 15, 2010. The film consists of
major actor such as Mark Walberg, as Susie
Salmon’s dad, Rachel Weisz, as Susie’s mom,
and Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon ( remember the little sister from Atonement?). In my
opinion the all-star cast fit the descriptions in
the novel, and I enjoyed their acting. Other
positives about the movie include the beyond
stellar effects of the “heaven” that Susie is
in. Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings director)
once again amazes and surprises the audience
with his effects. In the whole movie, I would
have to say that my praise goes to one actor’s
performance. Stanley Tucci (think Devil Wears
Prada and Julie and Julia husband) amazed me
with his performance as Susie’s rapist and
murderer. Despite all this, the movie did not
capture the same sort of angst and emotion I
felt when reading the book. It lacked in comparison and I was left a tad bit disappointed.
In sum, Lovely Bones is an interesting book
and I encourage all to read it, the movie is not
as enjoyable, but it has its moments.
Movie:
By Alyssa Remulla
In the city of Fremont lays the best Japanese restaurant anyone can get in the East
Bay. The place that redefines the meaning of
Japanese cuisine is called Semo Sushi. I was
told by my brother that once I take a bite into
the freshly made sushi, I would come begging
for more. This is one of the reasons why I
decided to eat at this restaurant.
While getting settled at my table, I glanced
over the many choices of Japanese meals and the variety of
sushi and sashimi. Every item
on the menu was fairly priced
and ranged from 10 to 25
dollars for a meal. From California rolls to Lion King rolls,
Tuna sashimi to fried oysters,
the hamachi don caught my
eye, which is raw hamachi fish
over a bed of sticky rice and
costs 15 dollars. My brother
and his girlfriend ordered the
sake don, which is raw salmon
over a bed of rice and also costs 15 dollars. My
brother’s friends ordered spider rolls where
ten sushi rolls are elegantly placed on a long
decorated plate. When the waitress came to
take my order, she immediately gave each of
the people seated at the table freshly made
miso soup, hot tea, and a cold glass of water.
In just minutes my meal was served. Looking at the hamachi don, I noticed the intricate
presentation and beauty of the meal. As I
sank my teeth into the fish, I never thought I
would love it so much. The cold fish dipped
in a little soy sauce, lemon juice, and a hint
of wasabi made all the difference. While my
family and I were enjoying our meal, Chef
Sam, the sushi chef, sent over a plate of sushi
rolls on the house.
The employees at the restaurant were so
welcoming and filled the room with their
hospitality. From the outside,
the restaurant does not signify a high ranking restaurant.
However, the chefs of Semo
Sushi proved that the food was
worth coming back for. Soon
after my first bite into the
delicious sushi, my family and
I returned to the very restaurant to try new and interesting
meals the following week.
Even though my family
and I were too stuffed from
the rest of the meal, we decided to try a dessert. We had fried green tea
ice cream drizzled in caramel. The sweet ice
cream stuffed in a pound cake shell was a
good ending to a perfect meal.
Overall, the experience of eating at Semo
Sushi was an incredible one and I give the
restaurant 4 out of 5 stars.
Book:
Monopoly Inspires Semo Sushi Rolls
Competitive Fun Up Elegant Creations
By Jay Castillo
When bringing up the game Monopoly in
conversations, people have different reactions.
Monopoly has been around for approximately
75 years, and is known by much of America.
However, some wonder if the game really
deserves its infamy. I will have to admit, if
not grudgingly, that
Monopoly is an amazing game. There is
just something about
sitting around with
good friends or close
family for some good
old corporate domination. Although, there
are some people that
think the genuine enjoyment tends to fade
into mild irritation
when people end up
playing for extremely
long periods of time,
and I agree with that.
Monopoly was named for the economic
term of the same name, “monopoly”. The
definition of monopoly is when one company
or business is in ownership of one or many
other businesses. The actual rules of Monopoly, the game, are like that of the process of a
monopoly in real life. The object of the game
is to completely bankrupt competitors using
clever strategies of real estate and make them
pay money. I find this to be rather awesome,
considering it is a game of strategy and trapping one’s opponent in a building’s contract.
Although the first and foremost aim of
the game is to win as fast as one possibly can,
most people actually never play Monopoly
with that kind of serious business mindset. The games can
drag on for hours
on end, causing
most people to get
annoyed and overly
frustrated. I feel
that I can sympathize with these
people, as I also
find it exceedingly
hard to complete
a game, only because of the fact
that they really tend
to last for an hour
or so. Even with
that, I have to admit, I really love the game. Monopoly is one
of the games that always seemed like a part
of my life, shoved somewhere deep within
the confines of my closet. And even with
its long-game-play times, I still think it is an
excellent game to play with friends and family.
I give Monopoly 4 out of 5 stars.