Gunn High School's Student Newspaper
Search results: articles by "Joyce Liu"
[News] The start of November marks the end of the early application period. Out of 481 students in the senior class, around 154 seniors applied early to private universities this year—a 35 percent increase from 114 early applications last year. As a result, guidance counselors and teachers had to write more recommendations in a two-month period.—Joyce Liu
[Features] As I drive home each day, I notice that the tree tunnels are turning orange once again. What is a tree tunnel, you ask? It forms when the trees on both sides of the road are so large and intertwined that they create a canopy above the road. The wind tickles the leaves, and they gently fall to the ground. No more Indian summers. Fall has finally set up camp.—Joyce Liu
[Forum] The new Obama administration is finally bringing the U.S. health care system under scrutiny. The broken system is inefficient, has wrong intentions and is too costly. The price Americans pay for this hole-ridden system is more than just money—it’s American lives. The newly proposed bill is a step in the right direction to combat the ills in the health care system and ensure that Americans receive the treatment they need. —Joyce Liu
[Centerfold] Many people say “ignorance is bliss.” I beg to differ. Sure, you may feel “happy” when you are not faced with the woes of the world, but that is certainly not bliss, which means “complete happiness” according to trusty old Webster’s. “Ignorance is bliss” simply connotes that by staying ignorant, one is only escaping the truths in life, and as daunting they may seem, one can coexist with these realities and still keep one’s happiness.—Joyce Liu
[News] Before you read any further thinking this will be highly inappropriate, I just wanted to let you know that there won’t be anything obscene. Sorry folks, it’s about exactly what it says—garden hoes and stereos.—Joyce Liu
[News] Due to a senior gaining unauthorized access to SASI, the permanent grade database, and changing his own grade and that of another student, the administration once again reminded the staff of the appropriate boundaries for Teaching Assistants (TAs) during the staff meeting on May 21.—Wen Yi Chin & Joyce Liu
[News] The harsh reality is that time never stops. No matter how much we yearn to press rewind or hit the pause button, it cannot be done. What’s done is done, and we can only make the best out of the situation. —Joyce Liu
[Entertainment] Sock tan, farmer’s tan, shorts tan, goggle tan—you name it, and I’ve probably had it at some point in my life. —Joyce Liu
[Entertainment] The Oracle staff interviews French teacher Marcel Losier and English teacher Julie Munger about their surfing experiences. —Joyce Liu
[Forum] Newly-proposed train threatens city despite few positive effects—Joyce Liu
[Sports] On April 9, dissension transpired between varsity baseball head coach Brian Kelly and a player which ultimately led to Kelly’s suspension and a change in the coaching staff.—Joyce Liu & Niki Mata
[News] Gunn community gets closer through preparation for four-day evaluation—Joyce Liu
[News] During the January staff meeting, Principal Noreen Likins informed teachers about a more formal and updated teacher’s assistant (TA) policy. —Wen Yi Chin & Joyce Liu
[News] Construction changes classes’ workspaces and procedures—Joyce Liu
[Centerfold] The Oracle explores different ways to prevent sickness.—Joyce Liu
[Forum] Tasty turkey at the Turkey Feast, gratifying gelato during International Week, scrumptious sausages at Oktoberfest and those oh-so-coveted crêpes at Crêpe Fest—are you salivating yet? One generalization that can be made about the Gunn population is that we are a bunch of foodies. Remember spring 2007? A student yelled, “Ice cream truck!” and pointed to the gym. A mob followed and ran—yes, ran—towards the area in search of the truck. Considering this enormous demand, students should be able to sell more food on their own.—Joyce Liu
[Features] The Oracle offers tips on protecting yourself and your home—Joseph Lin & Joyce Liu
[Forum] Organization must curb irresponsible wasting—Joyce Liu
[Features] It’s the fourth class of the day—chemistry. The lesson for today is the periodic table. The teacher plays an interesting song about Mendeleev, but boy, I cannot concentrate. I find myself drifting. I am tired. No, these are not the thoughts of a student, but rather, the thoughts of a teacher.—Joyce Liu
[Forum] A closer look into three of the California general election’s most compelling propositions —Eugenah Chou, Beth Holtzman, Joseph Lin, Joyce Liu, Carissa Ratanaphanyarat & Tenny Zhang
[Sports] For those who believe that ballet is not a sport, junior Ali Lake agrees.—Joyce Liu
[Forum] Freshmen orientation is supposed to smooth freshmen’s transition from middle school to high school, help them get excited about Gunn, introduce them to our diverse clubs and activities and make them feel like they are a part of the Gunn community. In reality, however, many of the freshmen did not have a grand ol’ time this year. If we really want to make freshmen orientation a beneficial experience, there are two facets that need to be improved—the length and the activities.—Joyce Liu
[Features] Sixteen days, 10,500 athletes, 302 events and an average relative humidity of 74 percent. We saw the Games of the XXIX Olympiad on television, and we heard the statistics, but some students from Gunn were able to go to Beijing this summer and actually “feel the heat.”—Joyce Liu
[Sports] Cross Country, football, girls' volleyball, water polo, and girls' tennis—Ann Abraham, Aviel Chang & Joyce Liu
[Forum] Parents across the nation are rushing their children to language immersion schools, hoping that their child will someday become fluent in another language. For those of us not in language immersion, however, a foreign language Advanced Placement (AP) course is the next best thing. Therefore, it is strange that the College Board is deciding to eliminate three AP language courses after the 2008-2009 academic year. Latin Literature, French Literature and Italian Language and Culture will all be discontinued. The elimination of French Literature, the only aforementioned course that Gunn has, will affect almost 200 students who would be eligible to take the class. The College Board should not discontinue AP Language or Literature courses because doing so undermines the purpose of learning a new language: gaining a deeper understanding of a particular language and culture.—Joyce Liu
[News] Prom season is here, and accompanying it is the annual Drug and Alcohol Assembly that will take place April 22. —Joyce Liu
[News] This year, enrollment in Advanced Placement (AP) Biology and AP Economics increased, while enrollment in AP U.S. History (APUSH) dropped considerably.—Joyce Liu
[News] While most students went to their six classes at Gunn, those who participated in Service Day went to six different cities and helped out 11 organizations on Mar. 6. Service Day was started more than ten years ago by Yiaway Yeh, (‘96), who is currently a city council member.—Joyce Liu
[Centerfold] Junior Joe Smith, whose name has been changed to protect his privacy, would be living a very different life today if he didn’t have his Individualized Education Plan (IEP). “If I didn’t have my IEP, I probably would have dropped out and joined a gang,” Smith said. —Joyce Liu