Glee Club: Think You Have What It Takes? - Verdugo Hills High School

Verdugo Hills High School • Tujunga, CA

Volume LXXIV, Issue 3

November 22, 2011

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APPLE INC. PROPRIETOR DEAD AT 56: La Yuca’s tribute to Steve Jobs, the great founder of Apple Inc. (See page 2)

TIME FOR APPRECIATION AND PIE: An inside look into what students at Verdugo are thankful for. (See pages 4-5)

TRAVELING ONCE AGAIN: The performers, The Road Show Players, make a comeback from their retirement. (See page 7)

Glee Club: Think You Have What It Takes? Corrina Calanoc Assistant News Editor

Glee Club is a new and recent addition to the lengthy list of extra curricular activities offered here at Verdugo. The flyers around school and papers given out dub the group Verdugo Voices. It was formed by our new principal, Dr. Trimis, who “wanted to add vocal music back at Verdugo,” and thinks that it’s important for kids to have a place to sing and be heard. Glee Club provides students with a creative outlet for any pent up musical potential within. They meet every Thursday in the auditorium, with nothing but a piano and plenty of possibilities for songs to sing. Students are provided with sheet music in order to stay in tune and familiarize themselves with the lyrics. Dr. Trimis, who’s been skilled with the piano since he was six, first plays the vocal keys for students who are unfamiliar with the selection, then the entire score while the whole club sings together, save for a few solos every now and then. The success of the hit television show, Glee, has probably contributed to the popularity of the club, which had over 30 students show up to their first meeting in the beginning of November. Both glee clubs and jazz choirs were around long before the show’s premiere in 2009, but many high schools are seeing additions of these kinds of groups.

Corrina Calanoc/La Yuca HOLIDAY SPIRIT IN GLEE CLUB: Dr. Trimis directs students in a sing along to “The Christmas Song.”

Dr. Trimis admits to being slightly influenced by the show when he created Glee Club, saying the show was, “very much like teaching jazz choir, with a bunch of diverse, talented kids.” In addition to the teaching

styles of the choir teacher, he said the drama between students that occurs in the show was also present in real life. But the real life and television parallels end there. Students who are expecting

already in the process of entering their vehicle to make their getaway. While attempting to evade the police their driver collided with another vehicle that was parked on Plainview Avenue. Officer Wall of the L.A.P.D. told La Yuca that of the four suspects apprehended in the pursuit, each one was an enrolled student at Mt. Lukens High. Punishment for these numerous burglaries has not be confirmed. In addition, due to the age of the vandals (all 17) and nature of the crimes commited it is also unclear as to whether or not they will be tried as adults in court. Many local residents are concerned that these burglaries could escalate into something much more sinister than just petty theft and vandalism. Speculation that these recent break-ins could be gang-related has been diminished due to the recent arrests made by the combined efforts of several L.A.P.D. officers. However, despite the lack of true organization our sources confirm that there are at least two more groups of burglars running rampant throughout the area. In response to these series of events the L.A.P.D. has increased patrols in the area. Local law enforcement strongly suggests remaining alert and vigilant and to report any peculiar or suspicious behavior. Law enforcement also suggested that if a burglar is to enter your home to flee the area rather than resort to physical contact. For more information on the recent break-ins or to report a possible break-in call the non-emergency line for the L.A.P.D. at 818-734-2223.

Araceli Meza Staff Writer

to walk into an auditorium filled with a professional band and perform choreographed numbers on the spot will be disappointed. The show often creates farfetched expectations for a supposed

low budget club with their luxurious performances and numerous flashy costumes, but in reality, Dr. Trimis solely funds the club, what with the budget cuts made towards music programs in the recent years. Dr. Trimis has big plans for the future of Glee Club, and Verdugo’s music program in general. This addition to the program raises his hopes for attention to be further directed towards the arts, so that new music teachers can also have a place here at Verdugo. Having been a music teacher for a good fourteen years, he regards the arts are an important part of the high school curriculum. Glee Club has a bright and busy road ahead. After only three meetings, they’re already preparing for performances ranging from local elementary schools to classy dining halls. The month of December brings with it opportunities to sing traditional Christmas carols all over Tujunga. Glee plans to sing at the Tree Lighting at Bolton Hall, the Verdugo annual Winter Concert, a staff breakfast, and go caroling anywhere they can reach by foot. With hopes for many concerts and numbers choreographed by our own medical terminology teacher Ms. Brittain, Glee Club is proving to have true potential to be a hit within our school. Even though Glee hasn’t been around for long, it seems like they’re going to be a noticeable attraction for this school year. And that’s what you missed on Glee.

Home Invasions Sweep Invisible Children: The Harrowing Through Tujunga Truth of The War in Uganda Josh Esquivel Editor-in-Chief

In recent weeks home invasions and burglaries here in Sunland, Tujunga have been occurring at an alarming rate with no pause in sight. All of the burglaries, thus far, have taken place during broad daylight. Several eyewitnesses and residents have stated that the burglaries occur in a very nonchalant or casual fashion. The suspects apparently approach the home they’ve chosen to rob, hastily walk to the front door, ring the doorbell a few times, and then act as if they are looking for someone. Once they have determined that the home is unoccupied they make their way into the backyard. It is at this point that the burglars proceed to force their way into another person’s home and take whatever valuables they can find and carry. Eventually, watchful residents who had heard of the break-ins in their community began to pay closer attention to any suspicious behavior that caught their eye. The members of this community, having now been informed, were quick to alert the authorities of such behavior when they noticed it. In the following days residents began calling the police department concerning the break-ins. One of these calls eventually led to a pursuit down Plainview Avenue and four major arrests. When the police arrived at the location of the home supposedly being broken into the vandals were

On Friday, October 14, 2011, the non-profit organization Invisible Children returned to Verdugo Hills High School for a second visit this year. During 2nd and 3rd period, students that attended the special assembly viewed a film about children in Africa and then listened to a guest speaker share details about her life in Uganda. The documentary, The Rescue: The Story of Joseph Kony’s Child Soldiers, tells the story of the 30,000 children who were kidnapped from their homes while they were sleeping and forced to be a part of an army in a never-ending war. The documentary started with three normal college students, Bobby Bailey, Laren Poole, and Jason Russell who saw these awful things happening in Uganda and decided to do something about it. They founded the organization Invisible Children and traveled around the country to bring attention to this issue. The response was enormous and hundreds of thousands of Americans were soon joining rallies and writing letters to the American Government to do something about this and bring the children of Uganda home. After years of working on this situation, they finally received word from Kony that he would sign a peace treaty, as he had announced many times before. However, the day he was supposed to come out of hiding and end the war, he did not show. To this day, millions of people live in fear and thousands of children are being forced to do horrible things as soldiers just to stay alive. Just this year, there have been 137 civilian deaths and 510 abductions.The film was very moving and changed perspective for those that saw it. After the film, a public speaker from

Photo courtesy of www.corbisimages.com

Uganda, Harriet, told her story of the awful life she had to live because of the LRA. Though, thanks to Invisible Children, she was able to get a college scholarship and now goes to school in Uganda when she is not on tour speaking. At the end of the 3rd period assembly, she and the rest of the students were told great news at the end of the assembly. The audience was informed that President Obama had just announced that he would be sending ten troops to Africa in order to capture Joseph Kony.

Thanks to the Human Rights Club, Verdugo was able to raise hundreds of dollars for Invisible Children. The Invisible Children foundation also sold merchandise with 100% of the proceeds going towards the people in Uganda. It is not enough, though. Verdugo Hills High School has set a goal of $5,000 which will be achieved through fundraising. Verdugo certainly looks forward to the next annual visit from Invisible Children to see the progress they’ve made in bringing the children home.

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Feature

La Yuca

The Life and Death of Steven Paul Jobs: Where is the Apple Going to Fall Now?

David Williams Staff Writer

Steven Paul Jobs was born February 24, 1955 and died on October 5, 2011. Steve Jobs was an inventor, entrepreneur, and one of the greatest innovators of our time. Many of the technological luxuries we all enjoy are because of the hard work and ingenuity of this man. Steve Jobs is most famous for being the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc. and co-founder and chief executive of Pixar Animation Studios; he became a member of the board of directors of the Walt Disney Company in 2006 after Disney’s acquisition of Pixar. In the late 1970s, Jobs, along with some business partners, released one of the first commercially successful lines of personal computers called the Apple II series. This soon led to the Macintosh or its more common name “Mac,” the computer famous around the world, in our schools, in our homes, and in our everyday lives. He also had a hand in the animation of Lucasfilm Ltd, the company behind the famous Star Wars series. He was also credited in the 1995 film Toy Story as an executive producer. In addition to his already major notoriety, he served as the primary shareholder of companies like NeXT (which he founded) and Disney making him technically and monetarily speaking the head of both companies when you take the big nature of the man you have to take into account the big nature of the money. If you have a Mac computer, iPhone, iPad, or iPod, then you have Steve Jobs to thank for those great technological gadgets that allow web browsing, high quality music and movie playing all in a portable, compact, and handheld package. Inventions such as these have revolutionized modern life. Today in this decade of the 21st century almost never are we excluded from the world of pioneered by this visionary and many say genius. At school and in our homes there are Mac computers at our disposal, and almost every individual from all age ranges have an iPod in everyday usage; all of these have become so popular in today’s society that it is almost second nature grab the iPod or iPhone on the way out the door. Not only the devices but also the many of its abilities such as the app system available for most of the Apple handhelds and many others that offer many entertainment opportunities in addition to the factory features. Steve Jobs created not just new things to grab and bring to school and enjoy during class when chronic boredom sets in but more like a technological phenom that influenced the world as a whole changing the way we interconnect with technology and how it interconnects with itself. Steve Jobs was one of the most influential members of our

time and his life was sadly cut short by respiratory arrest due to a metastatic pancreas neuroendocrine tumor. In mid 2004, Steve announced to his employees that he was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his pancreas. It is said that the diagnosis pancreatic cancer is very poor, Jobs stated that had he a rare far less aggressive type known as islet cell neuroendoctrine tumor (later it was released that he had been diagnosed in 2003 but chose not to reveal it to anyone). Soon after the announcement, Jobs underwent a surgery to remove the tumor and things went quite well. In August of 2006 at a presentation, it was noted that he appeared very thin and gaunt; there was much controversy over the cause of such a frail figure, Jobs noted that it was the common bug being actively treated with antibiotics. On April 2009, Steve had a liver transplant at Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute in Memphis, Tennessee and his condition was described as excellent after the fact. On January 17, 2011 a year and a half after the liver transplant Jobs was granted a leave of absence with Tim Cook in charge of the day-to-day running of the company. On August 24, 2011 Jobs resigned from his position as CEO of Apple, was elected chairman of the bored and named Tim Cook as his successor. Six weeks later on October 5, 2011 around 3 pm, Steve Jobs passed away from sudden respiratory arrest due to an unfortunate relapse the islet neuroendoctrine tumor; his wife Lauren of 20 years and 4 children survives him. Many news stations such as NBC, ABC, and CBS stopped scheduled programming to broadcast the tragic news and the following day many newspapers put the news on their front pages; in addition notable people such as George Lucas, Bill Gates, and even President Obama released statements offering their condolences. 2 days after death a small private funeral was held but details were withheld in respect to the privacy of family members; he was buried at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto. Steven Paul Jobs was a man of visions and epic proportions and he contributed greatly to make his, as well as many others’ visions of the world of tomorrow become a reality. The hyper-interconnectedness and wide spread accessibility, anywhere, of unlimited amounts of information and entertainment was one of the areas Steve Jobs changed forever, and his latest creations, the iPhone 4 and iPads 1 and 2 will only serve to lead the world into the future of technology, in which he saw as where this world was headed. This day and age electronic devices outnumber human beings and a large chunk of that is due to the pioneering spirit of Steve Jobs. So remember the next time you use that Mac Photo booth, when you grab that iPhone, when you download that app, and when you activate that music to keep from falling asleep during a lecture remember that Steven Paul Jobs made it possible.

The Lady’s Lady presents:

Animal Prints Kliena Cruz Assistant Copy Editor Animal prints are everywhere nowadays. They can range from cheetah print to zebra print and even giraffe print. Just like every other fashion item, it can be a fashion do or a fashion don’t. Not following the rules of wearing animal prints can result in tackiness and a rushed look. If you wear it correctly, it can create positive attention anywhere you go. First off, pick the type of print you want to wear, and stick with it. For instance, leopard does not go with leopard, nor does it go with zebra. It’s crucial to not overdo it. Going over the top won’t make you more fashionable. Let’s take a look at Snooki from the popular television show “Jersey Shore”. She wears all kinds of animal prints, but she can wear too much of it in one outfit. A very simple, yet chic ensemble would be a little black dress and pumps with any type of an animal print clutch. The safest way to go about with animal prints is mild and straightforward. When choosing any animal print to wear, keep in mind to make the look “you.” Keep it true to yourself and who you are. If you’re the type of person who is “classic,” try putting together a red or black dress with a leopard print coat. The rest of your accessories should be simple as to not exaggerate the look. If you want to go a little punkish, pair any animal print with bright colors. For tops or pants with an animal print design, make sure either the top or bottom is a solid color. If you’re not wild, try animal prints on small items of your outfit, such as handbags or shoes. When you do wear animal print shoes, the rest of the outfit should be simple. Cheetah and zebra prints go great with either classic colors or pastels. These soft colors make the look less attention grabbing. Here are a few tips in which one can use this trend without going overboard. If you want to wear the animal print under jackets, wear the animal print top with a jacket that fits you well, but keep other items of the outfit in solid colors. If you want to wear the animal print to work, stick to colors that are appropriate in the work place, which should have minimal print. Try finding a blouse that has trimming or details in this print. If you want to wear prints on belts, try plain dresses with a thick belt. This will emphasize the smallest part of your body and give you an hourglass shape. If you want very little animal print, try a handbag with the lining in print. If you want to be bolder and give the print a daring flare, pair it with colors that stand out. This is subtle, and you won’t have to worry as much on the entire outfit. Accessorize! Handbags, belts, bracelets, earings, and more accessories are wonderful ways to accentuate an outfit without having to go over the top. Accessories make the ensemble lucid and manageable. Buy the outfit when it is actually in style. That is, fashion editors in those big magazine companies will say that the animal print is the “next big thing.” When designers make the animal print item, go buy it right away because it may be in fashion for years to come. The lady’s lady thinks that Betsey Johnson is one of the best animal print designers. One can buy animal print clothing, accessories, shoes, and anything else anywhere, but discount stores are, in my opinion, the cheapest way. It’s affordable and can have great quality items. Just remember to not go too far with animal prints, even if the animal print is in a tiny amount.


La Yuca Staff Box Verdugo Hills High School 10625 Plainview Avenue, Tujunga, CA 91042

Editors in Chief Lucy Vay Joshua Esquivel News Editor Lina Hwang

Feature Editor La Yuca is a student-run newspa- Shannon Cox

per published by the journalism class at Verdugo Hills High School. Letters to the editor should be submitted to room 10 or to Mr. Riemer’s mailbox. Include your full name and your period 2 room number. Letters are subject to editorial discretion. Call the direct line at (818) 951-5458 to place an advertisement.

Centerfold Editor Christy Kim Managing Editor Fernando Cierra

Entertainment Editor Shirley Tran

Assistant Advisor Ashavir Steven Saryan

Sports Editor Alex Archiga

Advisor Mr. David W. Riemer

Copy Editor Justine Riethoffer Assistant Feature Editor Irene Penn Assistant News Editor Corrina Calanoc Assistant Sports Kliena Cruz

Staff Writers Yadet Ayala Emily Gordonw Priscilla Nikoghossian Maria Peredo Nicole Blankenbiller Sandra Cardona Lucine Chammas Kliena Cruz Lindsey Dorazio Nayeli Guzman-Soto Catharine Hernandez Evelyn Leyva Alan Lima Noushig Manoukian Araceli Meza April Montes Ethan Norvell

Jeremy Shacket Alejandro Nuno Catharine Hernandez Zachary Ogle George Ordonez-Sanchez Jessica Turpin Abigail Roberts Amber Olmedo Xavier Moreno

La Yuca

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Kardashian

Photo courtesy www.corbisimages.com KIM KARDASHIAN: poses for photos in one of her three dresses Priscilla Nikoghossian Staff Writer

This year America had the privilege of watching two famous weddings. Two couples, Prince William and Kate Middleton and Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian said their “I do’s”. It is upon debate in the entertainment world, as to which wedding topped the century. The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was an international affair. Everyone world wide watched as Princess Diana’s son, the future King of England, wed Kate Middleton. News stations broadcasted a live media broadcast of the wedding. Spectators from around the world raced to England, and crowded the streets to witness the royal couple. Kim Kardashian may not be a future Queen of England, but she sure is the queen of the entertainment industry. Her family’s reality show, “Keeping Up With the Kardashians”, as well her many entrepreneurships to account for her rise to stardom. Both weddings were extremely published. Both weddings captured international attention from spectators across the world. Both weddings had high costs. Both weddings captivated the hearts of millions. The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place April 29th, 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London. Prince William is the eldest son of Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales. He is second in the line of succession behind his father, to the thrones of the Commonwealth

VS.

realms. William first met Middleton in 2001, when both were studying at the University of Saint Andrews. Their engagement was announced on November 16th, 2010. The buildup to their wedding attracted much media attention, with the service of their wedding being broadcasted live around the world. A large amount of attention was focused on Kate Middleton’s status as a commoner marrying into royalty. Kim Kardashian wedded New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries on August 20th, 2011, in Montecito, California. The couple met through one of Humphries’ fellow teammates, who played matchmaker. Jordan Farmar introduced Kardashian and Humphries while they were in New York. The couple dated, and became engaged in May after dating for six months. Kardashian’s engagement stirred up much attention as television’s most popular socialite bachelorette received a 2 million dollar ring from Humphries. The wedding aired television screens October 9th and 10th, as a two part special on E! channel. Engagement rings for the two were of tremendous spotlight for the two brides. Kim Kardashian’s ring was as fabulous as she is sporting a 20.1 carat ring. Kim’s ring is estimated to be worth more than 2 million dollars. However, the Duchess of Cambridge sported an 18.5-carat “commoner’s saphire”-and-diamond-ring. Middleton’s ring once belonged to Princess Diana. Although Kim’s ring has a million dollar price tag, Kate’s ring is priceless, as it once belonged to the one and only Diana. However, to recreate the royal ring it is said to be cost about $500,000. Yes to the dress? ..or to that one..or that one too? Kate Middleton’s wedding dress was of great speculation. Everyone world wide was waiting to see what the future one-day Queen would wear. Middelton wore an elegant and stunning long-sleeve lace, ivory and satin Sarah Burton gown. Her dress had a flattering V neckline and 8-foot-long train with a simple lace edged veil and tiara, borrowed from the Queen herself, over her half up half down hairdo. Kardashian on the other end, wore 3 gorgeous Vera Wang dresses. She walked down the aisle in an ivory Vera Wang strapless dress, with a fitted bodice, a full, rather traditionally cut tulle skirt, and an epic train with Guiseppe Zanotti shoes. Kardashian’s hair was up and her veil remained off her face as she walked down the aisle, the veil topped by a jeweled headpiece with diamonds that dripped onto her forehead. Dress two that she wore for her first dance was a georgette mermaid gown, where she wore her hair to the side, which remained this way the remainder of the night. Her final dress was Old Hollywood inspired, a bias cut crepe satin gown with a V-neck and circle skirt worn to the reception. Both dresses and the designers were of great interest to the public. The estimate cost of the royal wedding were estimated to be around $50 million to $70 million, from flowers to militarygrade security. Kim Kardashian’s wedding was estimated to cost

Royal Wedding

Photo courtesy www.corbisimages.com KATE MIDDLETON: Greets subjects on her wedding day

around $20 million, where it is speculated that neither Kardashian nor Humphries paid for any of it, much was given to them as gifts for being chosen to provide and be their choice in design for their wedding. Approximately 1,900 invitations were sent to watch the Westminster Abbey ceremony, as approximately 500 for America’s favorite socialite. 22.8 million people caught the Royal Wedding on television, with another 400 million on Youtube alone. Kardashian on the other hand, had 4.4 million view part one of her wedding, and 4.1 million view part two of the wedding. As many photos were released to the public of Kate and Charles’s special day and taken by photographers, the release of Kardashian’s wedding photos will have an international selling price. Photos of Kate and Charles were released to the public, however Kardashian is said to have sold the rights to some of her private reception and wedding photos for about $2 million and $1 million internationally. Both weddings were of grand popularity and public attention. Whichever wedding that captured your attention, had it’s own beauty. As many believe the royal wedding to be of greatest interest of the century, some may choose the reality television wedding instead. The wedding of the century is completely up to you, the spectator to decide on, if it be of a beautiful reality star who only gained fame after a pornographic video, or of a future King and Queen of England, it is solemnly up to you. However, to much of the world the Royal Wedding is the winner, proving to last longer than 72 days. Sorry Kim K!

JROTC Doesn’t Feel the Pressure, they Apply it:

A Look into the World of Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Nicole Blankenbiller Staff Writer

The JROTC program is designed to teach high school students the importance of citizenship, leadership, service to the community, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment while giving them self-esteem, team work and self-discipline. The JROTC motto is to motivate young people to become better citizens. Some people ask “Why should I join JROTC?” Well, you develop mental management abilities, the ability to think logically and to communicate effectively with others, and to develop the skills necessary to work well as a member of a team. Many people think that JROTC’s goal is to train high school students to get ready to join the military, but that isn’t the case. A high school student that joins JROTC is not required to serve in the military. However, if a cadet like any student joins the senior ROTC Program in college, then they will inure a military obligation since their tuition is fully paid. In JROTC they treat you like family. They are not concerned about what you’ve done in the past; they care about what you do now and in the future. The goal of JROTC is to help participants’ graduate high school. They want you to succeed in life and they want you to go to college and get a job. In JROTC you get to help out in the community. For example, the Watermelon Festival, Football games, the Homecoming Parade, and back-to-school night are all events JROTC has a been a part of in the past. In the JROTC program, you get to do a lot of cool things like the All-City JROTC Picnic it’s an annual picnic at Griffith Park for all cadets plus their friends and family. The JROTC “fun day” is for JROTC

cadets only, in which they spend the day at Six Flags Magic Mountain. The Annual JROTC Ball is a formal ball held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles for both cadets and guests. The Clear Creek Encampment is a mini-leadership encampment, held twice a year for first year cadets. The Camp San Luis Obispo

Encampment is an annual five day encampment held in San Luis Obispo during summer break for selected cadets. Some students join JROTC to get out of P.E or to get elective credits. In many cases, a cadet who joins for P.E. credits usually likes it and keeps going to their senior year. It can be a

DRILL TEAM: members hard at work during competition

good experience for all grades. In JROTC you start off as a private and work your way up. You can promote by filling out a promotion sheet. All you have to do is have your teachers submit your grades, write a small essay, have at least a C average, no U’s and no unexcused absences. The higher the rank you are, the more respect and responsibility you receive. You can participate in fancy drill teams and color guard, academic achievement competitions, and other after school activities. It is also an optional fifth If you go to the annual competition it’s an automatic promotion only if you win first place, two promotions have been earned. If you’re in the program you can earn positions like: a Company Commander, a Battalion Commander, and lots of others. If you’re a SPO you organize curtsey patrol like Football games. All the staff members are important in their own ways. The weekly schedule for JROTC is planed out effectively. Monday and Wednesdays, we do group activities and in the classroom. Such as: leadership skill, communication skills and service learning. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we do physical activates like running or going to the weight room. On Fridays we go outside and participate in leadership lab (practice facing movements, marching, and basic commands). On the last Friday of the month we dress in uniforms. The sergeants that lead the program are First Sergeant Hardy Murray and Sergeant First class Rodney Scott. There is no one else that is better suited to teach the JROTC program than First Sergeant and Sergeant Scott. They have had previous experiences that will help them lead the program. If you are interested in the JROTC program or want more information then go to room 4 and talk to First Sergeant or Sergeant Scott.

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What are you La Yuca

thankful for? La Yuca

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La Yuca

Opinion

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The Truth About “Never Growing Up” Emily Gordon Staff Writer

With Halloween having come and gone, so comes the second installment of your favorite Disney characters’ personalities being picked apart to the point of mental illness. Ah, how fun it is to ruin childhoods… let us get to dissection, shall we? The first on the operating table would be my personal favorite, Peter Pan. ‘Peter Pan’ is the enchanting story of a boy from a faraway place called Neverland, where children need never submit to the cruel and horrible forces of adulthood and growing up. This is an undeniably powerful story- so powerful, in fact, that a psychological pseudo-syndrome was named after it. Peter Pan Syndrome, of course. A psychological pseudo-syndrome is a state of mind that is not medically recognized as a disorder, but is so severe or bizarre that it may as well be. Peter Pan Syndrome is when a man either refuses to grow out of boyhood and/or has an unusual attraction to young boys or just children in general. The character Peter Pan likely suffers from the former, obvious evidence lying within his many declarations of refusal to grow up. The latter, of course, is not unheard of; surrounding molestation accusations, Michael Jackson may have suffered from it as well, but that is a story for another day. Next is Geppetto, the lonely old puppet maker from ‘Pinocchio‘. He seems like a normal old man, his desperation for a child understandably leading him to fill the void with making humanlike puppets. It’s all perfectly acceptable… until the wooden figurine call Pinocchio starts to talk. Oh, and did I mention that the doll’s nose will grow if he tells a lie? Oh, oh, and there’s even a blue fairy and a whale involved! There’s something wrong with this picture, and it sound to me like schizophrenia. Schizo-


phrenia is defined as a complex mental disorder that makes it difficult to differentiate between fantasy and reality, think logically, and behave normally in social and/or emotional situations. Geppetto has become utterly convinced that his beloved marionette Pinocchio can talk and interact with him like the real boy he so wants to become. Not only that, but he goes through intense hallucinations of fairies and being swallowed by a whale. This man is clearly ill. The last up for character dissection is Judge Claude Frollo, the main antagonist in the beloved tale ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’. He is the ruler of Paris at the time, who makes a lasting impression on the audience by killing a woman

and attempting to drown her baby. However, he fears repercussions from God if he kills a child, and considering he killed the infant’s mother, raises him as his own. The boy is from then on called Quasimodo, which literally translates to ‘half-formed’ considering his appearance. Clearly he is biased and generally a cruel person, but there’s a deeper level to his behavior later on in the movie. Through Quasimodo, he meets the beautiful and enchanting Esmeralda, whom he begins to lust for. This defies all that he stands for, and rather than admitting to his sin, he blames the devil and is driven near insanity as Esmeralda just keeps showing up, feeling as though she is teasing him by associating

with a hideous creature like Quasimodo. His lust haunts him as he is merely trying to be good in the eyes of his lord, but it eventually gets to the point where he succumbs and gives Esmeralda the choice of becoming his mistress rather than being executed. Her defiance coupled with the same of his adopted son makes him snap into murderous rage. In short, the events leading to Frollo‘s death were pretty much Esmeralda‘s fault. That’s right, I just defended the bad guy. To conclude my humble piece, Disney tends to incorporate the sick details of original stories, but glosses over them to make the protagonist seem perfectly capable. Don’t be fooled, ladies and gentlemen; there’s two sides to every story.

The Human Body; a Work of Art, or a Walk of Shame? Alex Arechiga Sports-Editor

Nearly the entire American population will be left unscathed no matter what atrocity, no matter how gory or sick it may be, is presented to them. A man gets decapitated by a chainsaw? Boring. A zombie nation rips innocent bystanders to pieces? Yawn. And yet, today’s jaded society still manages to find one image disturbing; the human body. Blood and gore is viewed as mere entertainment while a glimpse of a naked person will send a wave of discomfort over an audience. It all seems paradoxical. The most natural and innocent form of being is what makes people cringe and blush the most. The funny thing is, when people are alone, the thing they fiend for most is a naked person to make sweet love to ! Taking a glance at the history of nudity, once can most certainly find a reason for the confused outlooks of today. Take Adam and Eve of the Bible, for example. For a while, they were both nude and as joyful as could be. All was swell in the garden until they attained the “knowledge of good and evil.” All of a sudden being naked was mortifyingly embarrassing and they felt the immediate urge to be covered. Ever since then, a majority of people have seen nudity as something strictly private; something that never should be spoken of or manifested in public. It’s almost shameful to even think of such a thing. When I refer to nudity, I’m using it as a general term for everything having to do with the subject; being naked, having revealing clothes, even the slightest showing of skin; dare I even mention sex? Take this as an example. Just last week I was watching Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho in my English class. The film features a scene in which a nude woman is murdered while she is showering. Great, right? Here’s the curious part. While she was repeatedly being stabbed by a large kitchen knife, the class erupted in laughter. But then we saw glimpses of skin (not of actual “private” areas, mind you) everyone stayed silent except for a few sighs that escaped a few mouths in order to break the awkward silence. Even if there is a nonchalant conversation and the word “sex” arises, you can’t help but feel awkward tension rise. Another view. Whenever one goes swimming with a group of friends, it is almost certain that a majority of the people will hesitate to step out in bathing suits; the showing of this excess of skin is nearly unbearable. But what causes this fear of the body? Is it simply that people are self conscious? Do they feel so insecure about their body that con-

versation or the mere thought of showing skin drives them mad? Perhaps it’s just society today. It hasn’t always been like this; several of the worlds most famous and breathtaking art pieces are of nude figures. But nowadays, it seems as though the media has trained the masses to fear their own bodies; being shapely or curvaceous in any form is considered fat, and you aren’t beautiful unless you’re a hairless size 0 person with a six-pack of abs. Sure, that’s great too, but not everyone is a cookie-cutter model of this preprocessed ideal. And it doesn’t stop there. The public is constantly being force-fed stereotypes and labels; guidelines on how we should perceive ourselves and how we should judge those who don’t follow said rules. Whether you like it or not, it’s very true. If we see a girl sporting a pair of short shorts, instead of thinking, “Wow, good for her, she’s confident and takes pride in her body,” we jump to “Wow, what a slut, she just wants to let everything hang out.” We then proceed to observe how much cellulite lines her legs and try to find other attributes to bash on. Everyone finds ways to hate on people for the way they choose to display their body, which makes it no wonder that everyone finds it difficult to deal with the simple idea of nudity. It’s all a great circle, really. Do you need another scenario? Try to follow this one. My name is Alex and I’m a girl. I play for Verdugo’s basketball team. Because my name is unisex and I play a predominantly male sport, I MUST be a lesbian! I also play for Verdugo’s volleyball team and wear the spandex short-shorts that are the most practical to wear while playing. Oh hey, that must make me a slut because I wear short shorts! I’m also not a size 0, so I am fat. So, according to society and the many stereotypes that it has kindly provided, I am a fat lesbian slut. Do you see where I’m going with this? I am none of those things; I fit none of those labels. But with all these judgments placed on me, how could I NOT be self conscious? How could I NOT question myself and my appearance? When looked at from this angle, it is clear why nudity is often frowned upon. Everyone is too busy being judgmental with their own self esteems in the gutter to realize how beautiful they are. To realize how perfect they are even with their faults and imperfections. I’m not asking you to frolic around naked and have sexual relations with hoards of random people. But please open your eyes. The next time you see a girl in shorts or a low-cut shirt, don’t immediately address your habit of labeling her a slut. Feel empowered by her confidence and consider doing something different for you. Reevaluate your morals. Is blood and gore really


less disgusting than a naked figure? Build up your self esteem and those of others. Everyone is beautiful in their own way. Love people for

their imperfections as opposed to hating people for their “flaws.” The body is a work of art, so treat it like one.

La Yuca

Entertainment

Miko Malabute pres-

Monthly Mixtape

SHES’S GOT POTENTIAL: The Ghost Lady makes a name for herself Miko Malabute Staff Writer

Uncertain here-again, there-again electro samples, crying guitar cords, and mournful bass lines dissolve into thoughtful strings and tear-jerking complements of the piano keys, and Cocaine 80s new project, Ghost Lady—which dropped October 22, 2011—opens with a definite message: Cocaine 80’s is here now and is here to stay. There’s something so much more serious this time around in this effort than in comparison to their debut project, The Pursuit EP—where the debut effort hit on so many catchy and upbeat numbers, Ghost Lady seems so much more solemn, probably moving the emotional section of the group’s listeners to tears. The project is beautiful, defined once again by the talents of lead singer, James Fauntleroy. His voice is flawless over the beats and melodies he and cofounder and producer, No I.D., selected, ranging from the dark crooning in the opening track, “The Fall,” to the slightly more traditional-sounding rendition of “Not No More,” laced with strings reminiscent of a Spanish guitarra, which shines along with the steady booms of confident drums and claps. Also, just like the debut EP, the lone rapper in the group, Common, makes one single appearance in the entire project, this time on the track “Six Ft. Over,” which has a settled urban vibe, painting the pictures of a setting sun in a busy mid-Western city. Common certainly comes full-circle in his career, holding no bars as he says how “I remember H.E.R., she remember me/ I liked H.E.R. like a simile.” There is something certainly poetic about this entire project. First of all, the project is titled The Ghost Lady, and appropriately, the songs all seem to speak of heartbreak, along with lost and unrequited love. It’s all beautiful really. With songs titled “Six Ft. Over” (as opposed to the phrase “six feet under”), “Loved to Death,” and “The Legend of the Heart,” the project seems to largely be about love that, for lack of a better-fitting word, simply died. With death comes pain and agony, and this project absolutely oozes with all the comfort and familiarity of love loss.

7

PLL: ‘The First Secret’

Photo Courtesy of buzzsugar.com Pretty Little Liars: The liars are back with more conspiracies as they discover secrets surrounding their former best friend Ali’s death. Sandra Cardona Staff Writer

Pretty Little Liars fans rejoiced at the Halloween Special: “The First Secret,” which aired on October 19. It was definitely a tasty treat as we went back to Halloween 2008, when Alison was still alive, Jenna was not blind, Emily hasn’t admitted to liking women, and Hanna was still on the heavier side. Many clues were handed, such as videotapes, dolls, and of course, texts. The episode demonstrated how evil Alison truly was and the enemies she made, such as Mona and Lucas, by tormenting them. It all started out with Ali telling a story about a girl who murders her twin sister and is sent to live at a home for the criminally insane – until she escapes. Then, it turns to the Liars walking to school and trying to decide if Hanna should dress up as “Baby One More Time” Britney or bald Britney. Noel Kahn then pulls up, inviting the girls to his Halloween bash, and tells them “Prepare to be scared.” While walking, the Liars pass by a scary abandoned house. As the girls are leaving, you see someone open the door, and we see a car marked “Radley Sanitarium.” In another scene Emily talks to Toby while he unloads his new stepsister’s snow globes. (Remember: Ali gave Emily a snow globe with a key to a storage unit hidden inside it.) Toby is sad that his dad has remarried, and his, wife and new stepdaughter which we all know is Jenna, are moving in. Later on, Ali meets Jenna at the Halloween store and basically tells her to pick another Halloween costume for Noel’s party since she is going as Lady G. After that someone in a scary mask stalks Alison she moves to the side and receives a message that says “I’m watching you.” Meanwhile, Aria is on her way to her dad’s office at Hollis and bumps into Ezra Fitz in the hallway without even giving a second look to her future boyfriend. That’s also the first time she meets Meredith, the student she and Ali catch her dad making out with after school. Which Ali uses to blackmail Aria into going to Noel’s Halloween bash. Across town, the detective (who later on tries to blame Alison’s murder on the girls) escorts Hanna’s mother home since she had one too many martinis with her friends. Later, at

Noel’s Halloween party, the detective is seen talking to Jenna. Back at home, Jason, Alison’s brother, gives her a mysterious package that was supposedly delivered to her front door. Inside, Ali found a burlap voodoo doll with a note reading, “It’s my turn to torture you,” attached. She took the note and hid it inside a doll she kept stashed in a vent in which she removed a necklace from the secret compartment, which was the box Jason said he found in her room last season; even though he said he found it under her floorboards. All five girls get ready at Ali’s house for the big party, where they see a masked figure watching them from the lawn. They finally arrive at the party where Noel was dressed as a gynecologist and Jenna was dressed as...Lady Gaga! Jenna got all the attention from the guys, even from Emily, who accidentally outed herself to Ali. Sensing that Jenna might have dethroned her, Ali approached her and invited her into their group, but was turned down. Then, we see Mona pre- makeover trying to be Jenna’s friend. Ali quickly disappears from the party, worrying the others. Later on at Noel’s party, the girls get a text from Ali asking them to come to the scary abandoned house and rescue her. There, the girls watch from afar as Ali fights with a masked person before getting away. On their way out, they see Ali sitting in a rocking chair with a large knife in her hand, and she says that the whole thing was a hoax. She also tells them that Noel was in on it. Ali tells them that she is now sure that she can count on her friends if she really needs their help. When they return to the party, Noel denies being part of Ali’s prank, yet he is no longer wearing his gynecologist costume. The episode ends with the official debut of A, texting Alison with, “Dying to know who I am? You’ll find out.” The girls ask who it is and Ali replies “It’s a secret.” There seems to be more than one person at the party with the scary mask seen at the Halloween store outside Spencer’s window and at the abandoned house. Just as one of them takes off the mask, the credits roll. Other creepy things that were also seen in the episode include, Ian testing out his video camera on Alison for the first time, and after being bullied by Ali, Lucas tells Mona that the bitch will get what she deserves, and he also turns up at the party wearing the creepy costume. Hopefully, we will find more when the series returns in January.

joining, also said, “If I may say so, they were far more popular than the high school drama class and this new generation of Roadshow players will begin production of the greatest show this town has ever seen.” Their impressive props, director, and actors is what has made this traveling theatre troupe amazing. Irene Penn is still on the hunt for hopeful performers. If you are interested in taking a step towards improving your acting skills, having fun, and letting Sunland-Tujunga see you shine, you can reach Irene through visiting her during 3rd period in Room 10. The Roadshow players did not go undetected which is proven by the many sites available with information about the traveling actors. If you would like to contact the director, visit Roadshow Players Revival at Facebook, it will give you access to information and the ability to talk to the director along with other participants. Another site is RoadShowplayers.com to help understand the start of this non-profit organization. If you join, you can expect lots of fun, you are able to share that with audiences at Children’s Hospitals Los Angeles, Hathaway Home for Children, and Los Angeles Blind Children’s Center. These places were the original prime spots, but their most famous spot was the Los Angeles Zoo, along with many libraries. One Christmas in 1982 by a request of fans, required three complete casts and crews to fulfill them. With this new set of actors, we can expect just the same.

Joseph, along with Kevin Center and Patricia Brandow, wrote the original’s play script that consisted of adapted fairy tales called “Tails.” Mr. Sheppard and Mr. Center wrote additional shows named “Tails Too”, “Tails of Tails”, “Tails of more Tails”, “Tails Gold” and “Christmas Tails,” continuing the first play. These were just a few of the many plays that brought fame to their name in Los Angeles. The many charity events at hospitals and other children homes brought smile to the kids and even the adults as well. This just shows that the Roadshow player’s sense of humor and skilled acting is for all ages. You dont need to be part of an charities to enjoy their skits. Soon, we all will be able to see themw at the Elk’s Lodge and nearby libraries. Since the original players are now gone, this doesn’t mean that we can’t watch some of their plays. You can see their talent on youtube.com. Whats to expect in the new players and their events? You can expect a 30 minute play consisting of several skits that will get you laughing, crying, and seating on the edge of your seat in anticipation. Expect a wonderful group of actors excited to perform and share their love for theater. Once you are at their location you can just relax and enjoy a nice show because it is also FREE! Sadly, the original Roadshow players have moved on, but be on the watch for the next generation of great entertainers!

The Road Show Players: On the Road Again Abigail Roberts Staff Writer

Coming soon to Verdugo Hills High School’s area of Sunland-Tujunga, is a traveling group of performers known as the Roadshow Players. This acting group is not new to Sunland-Tujunga. In fact, they were a traveling troupe around the time our parents were teenagers. This traveling team performed all around our city. Their skits and plays included the audience of elementary students at the Sunland-Tujunga Library. Joseph Sheppard, who was the director in the former group, continues to direct the new assemblage of actors. He retired from the group in 1982 in search for new opportunities. The Players retired in 1984, but Mr. Sheppard has hope for a new group, therefore starting a Roadshow Players Revival. Joseph came to Irene Penn, the newspaper’s assistant feature editor, and challenged her to find the best and most aspiring actors and actresses. The Players include Emily Gordon, Jessica Turpin, Dominick Dela Rosa, Pearl Koven, Joshua Archer, Josette Robertson, and Kloey Carstens. Irene Penn who will also be

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Sports

La Yuca

Undefeated Girls Volleyball Claims 2011 League Championship

PHOTO BY : TRACI EVANS UNDEFEATED: The Verdugo Hills girls volleyball team maintains a perfect record after defeating Eagle Rock October 31st.

Athlete Spotlight

Alex Arechiga Sports Editor

For the first time in Verdugo Hills High School sports history, a team managed to go 14-0 undefeated during the entire season; the 2011 Girls Volleyball team. To achieve this feat, the girls managed to shut down league rivals Polytechnic and clinch a close victory over Eagle Rock for the league finisher. The hard work and determination of these girls is apparent. Since they were earlier stripped of the opportunity to particpate in the playoffs, they planned another goal; be undefeated. At first, it seemed a scary undertaking; they would have to defeat long-time rival Poly and pull out a flawless victory over the challenging Eagle Rock. Needless to say, all worked out in Verdugo’s favor, and they now hold the 2011 East Valley league title along with the unpresented privilege of claiming the undefeated title. Although the team is losing several extremely talented seniors, the future looks bright for the program. Here are some thoughts on the season from a few of this year’s players.

Ricky Gonzalez Varsity Football Captain

Ricky Gonzalez has been playing for the Verdugo Hills High School football for 4 years and has been a part of the varsity team for 3. He has helped the football team to improve over the years and has contributed physically and mentally, proving to be a key player and teammate on and off the field.

Hannah Evans

I liked blocking Poly. It was my most memorable moment. It feels amazing to be undefeated !

Caylie Denham

Being undefeated felt nice because I’ve never played in high school before, so it was a good experience. It was awesome. My most memorable moment was when me and Jadi ran a 1 for the first time and got the point. I’m pretty excited for next year.

Q: The football team has improved so much from last year. What did you do to get here, and how do you feel? Ricky: We’ve been practicing since the end of last season. The whole off-season we’ve been putting in hard work, and it all paid off. It feels good. I’m ready to win my first playoff game. Q: Who are some players you feel have really contributed to the team’s success this year? Ricky: Definitely, Jason Groves and Austin Logan. Mark (Powell) has really stepped up as a sophomore. Q:What does the team do to get going before a game? Ricky: They all pretty much do their own thing. Q: What about you? Any specific songs that help get you pumped up? Ricky: I get in my zone when I listen to Drake and some slow jams!

Sarah Rodriguez

“I am so proud of my team for what we accomplished this season. We set out for a goal, to be league champs and push to be undefeated, and we did exactly that. It feels so great, and I can’t wait to see all of our names on our league champs banner. I have high hopes for the varsity team next year. Although they will be losing great players, the team will also gain incredible girls that I know will want to push to be just as good, if not better, than this season’s team.”

Jadi Espindola

“There were too many memorable moments for me because it was a great season. It feels great to go undefeated. It feels good to be the only undefeated 14-0 team in the school’s history. I’m looking forward to all of us being together next year because the bond will be stronger, and we’ll have another strong season.

Rozelle Lising

“It feels good to be undefeated because we get recognized. I think my most memorable moment was when we played Eagle Rock. We were down 6 points in the 4th set and it was their matchpoint (24-18, Eagle Rock) and we came back and won.

Q: What did you learn from football that you’re going to take with you after high school? Ricky: I got a lot more disciplined. I learned that in life, you always have to work hard. Q: How do you feel you’re going to do in you first playoff game Friday? (11/18) Ricky: I think we’re going to win. The Dons played their first playoff game on Friday (11/18) against Fremont High School. Despite their efforts, they lost, 20-7. However, the Dons had an impressive 7-4 season and look forward to making it happen again next year.

all photos by Alex Arechiga unless otherwise noted