Gunn High School's Student Newspaper
Search results: articles in "Volume 45, Issue 7"
[News] The annual Advanced Placement (AP) test cost complaints have risen once again, with exams beginning May 4. —
[News] In an effort to eliminate cheating during Student Executive Council (SEC) elections, new rules will be implemented for future elections. —
[News] Foods teacher Cindy Peters and the Organic Garden Club are currently trying to resolve a disagreement over the garden.—
[News] Local residents voice multiple concerns over division, noise from train system voted in with Proposition 1A —Jocelyn Ma
[News] Fourteen new digital cameras and two desktop computers were stolen from the photo room and A-5 sometime between April 9 and 12. When Photo teachers Mark Gleason and Jennifer Hogan walked in the room Monday morning, they knew something was missing. “Mrs. Hogan asked me if all my students had checked out cameras, and only two had,” Gleason said. —Jon Proctor
[News] Palo Alto notices increase in insects as throngs invade Bay Area on way up North—Tenny Zhang
[News] Every year, Gunn hosts a series of anti-discrimination programs aimed at identifying and solving prejudice issues. Not In Our Schools (NIOS) Week focuses on all kinds of discrimination.—May Wu
[News] On April 1, the Parent Teacher Student Association held the Health Fair in the gym in an effort to raise awareness regarding health issues and to allow students to explore various medical fields. —Linda Yu
[News] It’s a legal high, yet it leaves students ashamed. It’s safe and students and teachers alike are doing it in liquid form every day. It’s called caffeine.—Shaya Christensen
[News] Members of the Gunn community have not ignored the three percent increase in the number of teen pregnancies over the years. According to Gunn health technician Heather Kavanagh, in addition to mere irresponsibility, one of the triggering factors in the rise in teenage pregnancies is the media. “The media has likely influenced the rise in the number of teen pregnancies,” Kavanagh said. “Young people look at pop stars who are having babies, like Ashley Simpson, Britney Spears and her sister, and because they idolize them, they may be influenced.”—Stephanie Kennel
[Forum] Public schools side with private interests to reduce Asian attendance—
[Forum] Beginning with the class of 2013, four years of physical education will be required to graduate. Two extra years of P.E. will lower student morale and soak up funds. Pretending to play a sport four times a week won’t help anyone stay in shape, especially the students who really need it. —Melissa Chan
[Forum] In an effort to promote transparency and open government, President Barack Obama has lifted an 18-year ban that prohibited media coverage of the War Dead ceremony in Dover, DE. Although it may sound like a complete violation of privacy, the lift is essentially beneficial because it will not only enable family members to make a choice regarding the matter, but will also unveil the cost of war to the public.—Veronica Polivanaya
[Forum] After decreasing steadily for 14 years, the United States birth rate rose by three percent among 15 to 19 year old girls between 2005 and 2006. These rising numbers have caused skepticism as to whether enough precautionary actions are being taken. We must spread awareness in the form of three-year sex education programs and availability of contraception. —Hannah Plank-Schwartz
[Forum] I’m not really the kind of girl you’d expect to have a pregnancy scare. Not so much because I don’t get, um, carnal, but more because I am paranoid, and would thus be perfectly willing to break the mood in order to have a professional discussion about condoms, birth control and STDs. This paranoia has served many purposes in my life: it has allowed me to have clean, safe sex, it has only ever further sparked the sexual tension (“Oh, baby! Talk to me about synthetic progestogens!” Try it sometime). However, I never gave the possibility of teen pregnancy much thought. It seemed like something that only happens to inner-city kids. —
[Forum] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), recommend and approve the administering of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Gardisil. Discovered in 2006, the vaccine guards young women against two types of HPV (16 and 18) that account for over 70 percent of cervical cancer diagnoses. HPV is a common and deadly sexually transmitted disease (STD) affecting many women; in the U.S. alone, over 80 percent of women will have contracted at least one strain of the virus by age 50. —Beth Holtzman
[Forum] Newly-proposed train threatens city despite few positive effects—Joyce Liu
[Forum] It sounds like the worst of an outdated sci-fi horror film: the day when modern medication is rendered useless. Shockingly enough, that day is completely possible. Since being dubbed the “wonder drugs” of the 20th century, antibiotics have come closer and closer to becoming obsolete.—Eugenah Chou
[Forum] Every year, millions of seniors are notified of their college acceptances on or around the dreaded date of April 1. As soon as a student is accepted, it is only a matter of minutes before the majority of seniors are aware. Naturally, every student pretends to be an admissions officer and judges whether or not the college’s decision to accept that specific student was justified. The student who was accepted, however, must choose between openly celebrating his or her acceptance and attempting to conceal his or her excitement for fear of disrespecting classmates. It is a difficult choice to make, but consider the fact that, at Gunn, we openly share in each other’s failures on our annual “Rejection Wall.” Why should acceptances be any different? After four years of grueling work in high school and another six months spent on college applications, students have the right to revel in their acceptances appropriately.—Noah Johnson
[Forum] You know, Anonymous Individual, when I was deferred from my dream school, the last thing I needed was to see you, strutting in front of L-3 (yes I remember all this vividly), high-fiving passing classmates in your red sweatshirt. Your obvious celebration made my deferral—and, eventually, rejection—feel even worse. In the case of Anonymous Individual, and so many others like him, perhaps I should have felt happier for the accepted and less depressed for myself. But alas, his complete lack of consideration and modesty rendered my sympathies nearly impossible.—Tenny Zhang
[Forum] Legislatures should examine the role of a guilty plea in cases—Emily Glider
[Forum] The teaching profession is often characterized as being more for the love of the job than for the money. Although it seems evil to deprive teachers of their benefits, the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) has made the right decision to do so.—Henry Gens
[Forum] Morning traffic has officially spilled onto the campus itself. I am, however, not speaking of cars, but rather of students themselves. Traffic during passing periods is bad enough without people standing around and blocking the way. Space at Gunn is clearly limited, yet crowds of students continue to block the flow of traffic. The human wall problem is most evident during brunch around the math and RC buildings, and the obstruction is becoming a serious and frustrating predicament.—Amy Yu
[Features] As we await the arrival of summer vacation, being a coach potato isn’t the best option. You can use these next few months to find a summer job, whether for money, experience or just for fun.—Jazreel Cheung
[Features] For the month of April, the English department and Gunn’s literary magazine Pandora’s Box have celebrated National Poetry Month. English Instructional Supervisor Paul Dunlap says the main idea is to spark an interest in poetry in students.—Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Features] The Oracle staff interviews junior artist Britt Jensen, winner of the art piece of the month. —Bauer Wann
[Features] “Based on polymers and fibers found at the scene, we conclude that man number two murdered the woman.” No, this is not from a recent episode of Law and Order. Rather, this is a snippet of what students who are a part of Gunn’s Science Olympiad Club (SciOly) do at their main competition, the Science Olympiad. Recently, Gunn placed third in the regional-level competition and competed in the state-level competition on April 18 in Stockton. They competed against Mission San Jose High School and Palo Alto High School, who placed first and second in the regional competition, respectively.—Amy Yu
[Features] Every year, the Mathematical Association of America holds the annual American Mathematics Competitions (AMC). The AMC offers five different tests, which are AMC-8, AMC-10, AMC-12, American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME) and United States of America Mathematics Olympiad (USAMO). Only the AMC-10 through the USAMO are given at Gunn. The AMC-10 is given to students in tenth grade and under, and the AMC-12 is usually given to juniors or seniors.—Alvin Man
[Features] The Oracle staff interviews junior mathlete Kevin Yang. —Wen Yi Chin
[Features] Calculus Camp and the Santa Clara Math Field Day offer mathletes chance to hone skills—Anne Hsiao
[Features] During spring break, I flew halfway around the world to Bhutan, a country that strives to be the happiest place on earth. Little-known Bhutan is an isolated Himalayan kingdom nestled between India and Tibet. I traveled to Bhutan as part of a research trip with my mother and her journalist husband, who writes for the New York Times. As I traveled the country and listened to people, I thought to myself, “How can this tiny nation of 700,000, with minimal technology and few consumer goods, be happier than the so-called developed world?” On this journey, I learned about happiness and Bhutanese culture. —Dylan Paddock
[Features] Rejection—three short syllables and a world of pain. As Gunn seniors are discovering, rejection may just possibly be the coldest noun in the entirety of the English language. For many of us, this college admission season is the first major taste of denial, and our relative naivete coupled with our teenage propensity for angst (see: angry kid burns rejection letters, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLYj5D0g2TY) can make the composition of the rejection letter delicate business. Below are some of colleges’ most commonly committed rejection letter faux-pas.—Dana Li
[Features] Although most students associate the green movement with organic gardens and Al Gore, a number of Gunn kids have taken a different approach—think lights, camera, action. —Maya Itah
[Features] “You have not been selected for admission to Cal Poly.”—Dana Li
[Centerfold] The Oracle uncovers scenarios where accidents have led to positive outcomes. While failing in their original research goals, inventors wound up with unplanned yet successful creations which are now a part of daily life. —Rupali Raju
[Centerfold] Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin in 1928, one of the most revolutionary scientific developments of the 20th century, was an act of remarkable fortune. The event was built upon several arbitrary scientific decisions, a freak floating mold spore and an auspicious turn of the weather. —Dana Li
[Centerfold] Every snapshot has a history, but we’re not talking about the story where a three-year-old decides to face-plant into his birthday cake at grandma’s house. Instead, this history involves the process of the flash and the chemicals that imprinted that memory onto photographic paper. —Ann Abraham
[Centerfold] Amidst the chaos of World War II, naval engineer Richard James was given a fateful assignment. In 1943, a torsion spring ripped loose from the internal workings of a ship he was assigned to repair. The torsion spring, a series of tight metal coils used commonly in mechanics, bounced back and forth on the floor in a whimsical pattern. The playful fashion in which it sprung along the floor suggested to him a possible business opportunity. In 1945, James designed a machine to mass-produce torsion springs as children’s toys called “the slinky.” —Emily Glider
[Centerfold] Perhaps two of the most commonly used inventions among all office supplies are Liquid Paper correction fluid and Post-Its. However, both of these inventions were not planned products and were in fact created by accident.—Elaine Liu
[Entertainment] One member of The Oracle staff explores two local farmers’ markets for fresh and tasty ingredients—Shaya Christensen
[Entertainment] The Oracle staff shares some recipes using ingredients from the farmers' market. —Shaya Christensen
[Entertainment] The new Loving Hut restaurant in downtown Palo Alto, however, seeks to dispel this common misconception of bland food with a wealth of delicious vegan dishes. —Henry Gens
[Entertainment] Hit the ground hiking this spring and check out these fun outdoor locations around Palo Alto—Ann Abraham
[Entertainment] If you’re bored on the weekends, try these fun places for food and fancy footwork—Tiffany Hu & Mati Pluska-Renaud
[Entertainment] The relationship between teenagers and technology is a funny one. Baby boomers, who were fortunate enough to watch the Internet emerge, fully appreciate its worth as an exciting new frontier. As for me? I could be on Mount Kilimanjaro, and I’d probably still whine about the lack of instant messaging. In most aspects of my life, I embody the sociologist’s conception of a typical Generation Y kid. I read blogs. I stream music on YouTube. I know the distinct difference between a “lol” and a “LOLZ!11.” Outwardly, I am totally comfortable in a world of flashing buttons and whirring machines.—Maya Itah
[Entertainment] As the annual One Acts approaches, the cast is preparing for the last performance of the 2008-2009 school year. The show is a series of short, entirely student-directed plays led by seniors Ella Cooley, Franzi Mayer, Sabrina Riddle, Rivka Kelly and Amalia Bob-Waksberg, junior Michelle Lalonde and sophomore Catherine Volpe. The performances range from light-hearted comedies to acts of suspense, and contrast from other school productions in various ways. “[It] is really special because it’s students picking what play speaks to them,” Cooley said. “I have a lot of free reign except for, well, nudity,” Cooley said. —Nicola Park
[Sports] No Gunn wrestler has managed to claim the Central Coast Section (CCS) wrestling title in 30 years. Until February that is, when senior Zack Blumenfeld managed this feat. Fifth-seeded Blumenfeld upset third-seed Jason Lucchetti of Terra Nova High School 7-4 to win the title. —Tiffany Hu & Annie Shuey
[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
[Sports] The Oracle staff takes a look at some sports teams at Gunn. —Sophie Cheng, Rupali Raju & Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Sports] Sophomore Noelle Jung’s journey in fencing began in sixth grade with a simple advertisement in the mail and a flicker of curiosity sparked by a childhood movie. “I always wanted to try fencing because I loved the scene in the movie The Parent Trap Lindsay Lohan fences against her character’s twin,” Jung said. “I wanted to be just like the girls, and fencing looked like the coolest thing ever.”—Emily Zheng
[Sports] Due to the uncertain economic climate, the Stanford University Athletic Department is considering cutting multiple sports this year including fencing. Cardinal Fencing Club (CFC) coaches offered to continue running the program without Stanford funding and without personal salaries, but the fencing team still faces the possibility of being cut. “We offered to self fund our budget (through the club and camps),” Stanford fencing head coach Lisa Posthumus wrote in an e-mail. “We cannot believe they would cut a sport that would self fund.” CFC is the only Division I fencing program in the entire western half of the U.S. —Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Sports] Gunn High School is in the middle of a massive facility upgrade. Football, soccer and lacrosse players play on new artificial turf, softball and baseball players have new fields and aquatic athletes will soon have a brand new pool. Titan hardwood athletes may be wondering why the basketball, volleyball and badminton programs and the ten teams between them that practice in the gym have to share court space and gym time. On March 21, the Palo Alto Unified School Board approved the plan to build a second gym. According to Athletic Director Chris Horpel, an additional gym will be hugely crucial to the success of our athletic programs.—Annie Shuey
[Sports] Following his decision to resign from the position as head coach of the Gunn varsity football team, Matt McGinn accepted a football coaching position at Palo Alto High School (Paly). —Anne Hsiao
[Sports] The Oracle staff interviews Kevin Hwang, the new volleyball coach. —Emily Zheng
[Sports] The Oracle staff interviews Gunn alumni with successful sports careers after high school. —Niki Mata