Gunn High School's Student Newspaper
Search results: articles in "Volume 45, Issue 2"
[News] Principal Noreen Likins and focus groups consisting of staff members, parents and students have nearly completed a self-study report on Gunn for the committee from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). —
[News] After obtaining appropriate funding from the Palo Alto Unified School District, the art department ordered a brass-melting furnace for sculpture students to create brass-based figures in. However, the kiln has been not been touched for the past three years because the district has not yet installed the necessary gas lines. “The district has stopped funding on-site installation of equipment,” art teacher Erik Bowman said. “It is up to the school to fund our projects now.” Presently, sculpture students must visit Palo Alto High school to use a furnace.—
[News] This year’s Club Day was held two days earlier than the original date because of the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah. “I received calls from Jewish students and their parents thanking us for moving Club Day back,” Students Activities Director Lisa Hall said.—
[News] The administration has implemented a new breathalyzing system to curb the consumption of alcohol at school dances. At Homecoming this year, each student will be tested before entering.—Jon Proctor & Melissa Chan
[News] Anne Jensen recognized by French Consulate—Sarah-Jean Zubair
[News] TBN airs monthly online entertainment video—Veronica Polivanaya
[News] Anonymous survey assesses students’ consumption—Danielle Aspitz
[News] New courses may be added to school catalogue that benefit students, school —Carissa Ratanaphanyarat
[News] The Nynasty symbol is back. Last year, current seniors Nathan Ma and Mark Reid created the concept of the “Nynasty symbol” to unify their class of 2009. The sign, formed by the index fingers and thumbs of both hands adjoining as a diamond, was displayed during a variety of events ranging from Homecoming Week to sports events as a way of both showing class and school pride. “It had a huge effect because we [had] a symbol to represent ourselves,” Ma said.—Jocelyn Ma
[Forum] Suppose a student—we’ll call him Paul—has a fondness for Starburst wrappers. Paul needs to boost the leadership section of his college application ever so slightly. With these two facts in mind, he creates a club devoted to his favorite sweet; he becomes president, and his friends get to take over a classroom and throw candy at each other once a week. Everyone wins, right? —
[Forum] On a scale of legitimacy, many would place SparkNotes at the lower end of the spectrum, maybe next to Urban Dictionary. The word “SparkNotes” itself is considered taboo by many students and teachers alike, as if it were a crime against humanity rather than a mere study tool designed to help those with good intentions. The bad reputation SparkNotes has accumulated over the years stems from popular dissent and falsely-made accusations by those who simply have not given it a chance. SparkNotes is actually a clear, legitimate tool—if used the right way.—Veronica Polivanaya
[Forum] Yearbook is a valuable class, more than just an “accessory”—
[Forum] Sarah Palin does support sexual education, green policies—
[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
[Forum] Breathalyzers unnecessarily search entire student body, may cause long lines and low attendance—Noah Johnson
[News] A few months ago, when a barrel of crude oil peaked at over $145, the United States went into pandemonium. As a possible solution, Republicans urged Congress to lift the drilling moratorium placed in 1969, which prohibited drilling off the United States’ west coast. This proposal, however, would fail to solve the energy crisis and would prove dangerous to the environment. —Anne Hsiao
[Forum] It is an accepted fact that there will be grade-year restrictions on some classes. If a freshman tried to enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology, he would be rejected because he is an underclassman. But what if a non-senior student has proven himself to be capable of handling a higher class? What if the student has taken the prerequisite courses and has a recommendation from a previous teacher? He would still be rejected because he is not a senior.—Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Forum] Last Tuesday, the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) considered a petition from families living in the complex located at 670 San Antonio Rd. to allow their children to attend Palo Alto schools instead of the Mountain View schools that they are currently assigned to. If these residents live in and pay their taxes to the city of Palo Alto, their children should be attending public schools in Palo Alto. —Sophie Cheng
[News] The current mortgage and stock market crises take Americans on a walk down the nation’s economic memory lane. The reminders of the past—Black Thursday, the Great Depression and the dot-com crash—are not encouraging, and have many people wondering whether history is being repeated. While this bleak prediction is a real possibility, the present policy-makers have a golden opportunity to learn from the past. The government has been behind nearly every successful economic recovery. Now, as before, it has a duty to step in to relieve the economy. The history and structure of the American economy indicate that government intervention, when enacted in a timely and responsible manner, is the best course of action in economic crises.—Danielle Edelman
[Forum] It is important to realize that if the housing market had not burst, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would have made billions. They took a gamble, they lost, and now the U.S. government plans to bail them out of debt by simply handing over $700 billion—more than the entire cost of the Iraq war so far. It is unfair and ineffective to reward the greed and recklessness of the banks with a blank check coming straight out of taxpayer’s pockets. The government should treat banks like every other institution and make them pay for the consequences of their actions.—Jon Proctor
[Features] It is lunchtime on Wednesday. Students mill about the amphitheater, but none stand in the middle. Senior Trevor Gearin arrives at 12:39 p.m. wearing a pirate hat with a large red exclamation point made of duct tape on it. He is carrying a large speaker, which he proceeds to plug into a nearby outlet. Junior Matt Mallory stands above the amphitheatre, adjusting a video camera tripod. Gearin presses ‘‘play” on his iPod. The music starts and a group of red and black-clad students run onto the amphitheater and begins to dance. The crowd watches and by the second song, bystanders start joining in. What is this unprecedented performance group? It is the Wednesday Entertainment Factor (WEF).—Shaya Christensen
[Features] Senior Lincoln Scott has been paying close attention to Barack Obama and John McCain’s specific policies—but he claims this election is all about attitude.—Maya Itah
[News] Have you ever been hassled by others because you had opinions that stray from the norm? Senior Kyle Russ-Navarro is a dedicated Republican in a left-leaning environment, and his differing views have landed him in more than one sticky situation. —Tenny Zhang
[Features] The Oracle staff interviews teachers about their favorite books. —Ann Abraham, Joseph Lin & Alvin Man
[Features] The art of feng shui, created over 3000 years ago in China, deals with the placement of objects in an environment to optimize living space, bringing a person balance and fortune. —Amy Yu
[Features] This year a new position was created on the Student Executive Council (SEC). Senior Monica Datta is the first Visual Arts Commissioner, and she is approaching her position with ambition and a clear vision.—Bauer Wann
[Features] Work Experience delves into business world, prepares students for jobs and interviews—Ann Abraham
[Features] In his leisure time, senior Aaron Jaffey interns at Lockheed Martin, which is located a few miles north of Gunn. He works an average of 12 hours a week, and often times more. Jaffey’s main job is to create programming tools to help scientists analyze data from the Development of the Heliophysics Knowledge Base and Events Registry (HPKB).—Ryan Tan
[Features] Senior Maya Talbott’s job at a Stanford University developmental biology lab complemented her interests perfectly when she first signed on during the summer of her sophomore year. —Wen Yi Chin
[Features] Senior Piyum Moghadam works at the Mitchell Park Library as a part-time librarian. He currently works an average of 10 hours a week on weekends. —Ryan Tan
[Centerfold] For many seniors, the upcoming election presents a right of passage into adulthood and responsibility. For others, it may simply provide frustration. One such student is senior Charles Chisom, who will not be going to the polls. It is not disenchantment with the electoral system or frustration with smear politics that will be holding Chisom back, however. “I am days too young to vote,” he said. “I turn 18 [on] Nov. 1.” Chisom is one of many Gunn seniors who will fall a bit short of the minimum voting age, despite having strong political views. —Emily Glider
[Centerfold] Barack Obama, John McCain, gay marriage and abortion: the 2008 elections are so full of excitement that no eligible voter wants to miss out.—Beth Holtzman
[Centerfold] Everyone seems to have a piece to say when it comes to politics. Well I say, if you are eligible to vote, you really have no right to complain and talk as if you have all the solutions to the nation’s problems unless you have at least voted in the federal and presidential elections.—Bauer Wann
[Centerfold] The Oracle staff explains the upcoming California propositions. —Ann Abraham
[Entertainment] Memorable movie interpretation follows one night of teen love—Eugenah Chou
[Entertainment] You’re in a dark movie theater. The screen is pitch black, save for a waif-like cheerleader trembling in fear. Each little noise prompts you to clutch your popcorn for dear life. Your breath hitches in anticipation of The Moment: that fateful split second where the cheerleader will turn around, only to find—oh no! He’s stabbing her with a rake! There’s blood everywhere! And more blood. And… more blood… —Maya Itah
[Entertainment] With the upcoming presidential election, Hollywood has renewed interest in releasing political movies.—Melissa Chan
[Entertainment] The Oracle staff offers the scoop on the newly reopened Academy of Sciences in San Francisco—Danielle Edelman & Veronica Polivanaya
[Entertainment] The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University is a repository of cultural knowledge. It was founded by Jane Lathrop Stanford and initially named the Leland Stanford Junior Museum in memory of her late son. A visit to the museum is free of charge, thanks to donations from the Cantors and other generous patrons of the arts. The Cantor Center also provides several docent-led tours that cover various highlights of the museum, including the sculptures that embellish the Stanford campus.—Ann Abraham
[Entertainment] Two competing cupcake stores open in Palo Alto —Amarelle Hanyecz
[Entertainment] The Oracle staff takes a look at local fall festivals in the Bay Area. —Melissa Chan
[Entertainment] The Oracle staff offers a recipe for homemade chocolate cupcakes. —Mari Ju
[Entertainment] From the company that created The Sims comes the next installation of the open-ended game: Spore. The premise of the game is simple: one guides an organism from its humble beginning as a single cell to universal domination.—Bauer Wann
[Entertainment] Everyone wants one, but which one is right for you? With so many choices, consumers have a hard time finding their music player match. —Alvin Man
[Sports] For those who believe that ballet is not a sport, junior Ali Lake agrees.—Joyce Liu
[Sports] It is always a tragedy when a local community member passes away, but in the case of Palo Alto High (Paly) sophomore Travis Brewer, the loss is felt particularly acutely by those whom he touched personally on the sports field. —Dana Li
[Sports] Whether it’s game time or you just need to get motivated, everyone tunes in to their favorite song to be pumped up and ready to go. I don’t know about you, but the songs that energize me most typically have words—and I’m guessing that yours do, too.—Mari Ju
[Sports] Girls’ tennis team struggling through season, still hopes to gain more experience —Sophie Cheng
[Sports] Adidas Classic chance for more practice and team bonding—Niki Mata
[Sports] The Oracle staff interviews Ryan Griffiths and Steven Sagat, the Titan Broadcast Network Sports Broadcasters. —Jeffrey Wang
[Sports] The Oracle staff takes a look at sports diets. —Shaya Christensen, Mari Ju & Sarah-Jean Zubair