Tideline Newspaper - Issue 13

Volume XLIX, Issue 13

Board Takes Action on Service Program

Tideline MARCH 30 - APRIL 17, 2009

PALISADES CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA

The Board votes to create a Community Service Appeals Committee to review service decisions.

Tideline Staff Writer

and R ACHEL LEVITAN Tideline Staff Writer

Tideline Editor-in-Chief

and S TEPHANIE TAFT Tideline Staff Writer

‘Honk!’ Draws Many Oohs and Aahs

GRAHAM MACGILLIVRAY/TIDELINE

AN EPIC S PECTACLE: Kimberly Cronin stretches and twists her body, just one of the many amazing scenes in the Pali High production. By M ELINA C HARIS Tideline Campus Editor

The annual spring musical Honk! debuted two weeks ago to a full house. The opening night, Friday March 20, drew the larger crowd of the opening weekend but both nights had substantial turnouts. Director Lisa Kraus and Vocal

Music Director Josh Elson have worked long hours preparing for the show, along with the cast and crew, since rehearsals began in January. “From the time I first perused a copy of the musical, I was excited by its visual potential, its humor, its music, and the heart of the story,” said Kraus. “We have worked hard to balance all of these elements.”

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of The Ugly Duckling, Honk! tells the story of a swan named Ugly who is born into a family of ducks and soon loses his way. On his subsequent journey in search of his mother Ida, he meets many colorful characters that guide him home and convince him that being “different” is not necessari-

College Center Urges Seniors to Seek Scholarships Many different scholarships are available for eligible seniors. By D ANIEL HARTONO Tideline Editor-in-Chief

As seniors await college acceptances in the approaching weeks, there are still several scholarship opportunities available for those students who plan to attend a university upon graduating from high school. Recently, the College Center distributed a scholarship newsletter through the Family Connections account, listing many available scholarship opportunities for senior students with deadlines in the next few weeks and months. Additionally, eligible African American students were informed of other opportunities such as the Latimer scholarship. Many more options, however, are also present

C AMPUS | PAGE 3

Summer Opportunities

VILLAGE NATION AND BSU WORK TOGETHER FOR BLACK STUDENTS By WILL A NDERS ON

By JAMES BOURNE

In a unanimous vote, the Board of Directors mandated that Principal Martin Griffin and Director of Academic Planning and Guidance Services Ann Davenport create an Appeals Committee for the community service program and to research and report the legality of the current program by April 21, 2009. The motion was put to vote by Darcy Stamler and seconded by John Callas. The motion, which passed at the March 17 Board meeting, said, “I move that Mr. Griffin and Mrs. Davenport finalize an Appeals Committee for the Community Service Program, research the legality of the Community Service Program as a Pali High graduation requirement, and report those findings back to the Board no later than the next regular Board meeting of April 21.” All 11 Board members approved the motion. There were no nay votes, no abstentions and no one absent. The issue went to the Board after students raised concerns about the fairness and legality of the current community service program. A petition with over 250 student signatures and an opinion article in the last issue of the Tideline reflected student frustration with the program. Senior Dexter O’Connell and Junior Ryan Steinberg both made public Continued on Page 2

TIDELINENEWSPAPER.COM

for those seniors who are still seeking scholarship money and aid both at the local and national level. In honor of former Palisades student Dillon Henry, a memorial scholarship is available in his name for seniors who are graduating from Pali and have attended the school for at least two years. Four of these scholarships of $2,500 will be awarded to students who

Find out how to get the absolute most out of just a few short weeks of summer vacation.

O P I N I O N | PA G E 4 - 5

GRAHAM MACGILLIVRAY/TIDELINE

have good moral character and plan to attend a two or four-year college or university. Interested students are also required to write one of two essays and submit a letter of recommendation by April 13. Another local opportunity for seniors is the PTSA scholarship that will award $500 to those planning to attend a two or four year

Don’t Waste My Education

Talking in class can be detrimental not only to one’s own education, but also to others in the classroom.

college. Those who would like to apply for this scholarship must submit an application answering three short answer questions, be a member of the PTSA, have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA and have fulfilled the 40 hour community service requirement. The PTSA scholarship application deadline is April 24. The American Legion Scholarship is also a local award that will give $2,000 to ten eligible seniors. Eligibility for this scholarship requires applicants to be a citizen of the United States, have a GPA of at least 3.0, be recommended by two teachers and have a verifiable blood relative that is either alive or dead that was or is currently serving in the United States military. Those who are interested are also required to write an essay describing their blood relative and their intentions for going to college and pursuing Continued on Page 2

ly a bad thing. Along with Kraus and Elson, Senior Alex Caan, an active member of the Drama Department, took on the position of Student Director for the production. “I’d never done a musical before in my life, so that was exciting,” said Caan. “Having a hand in what has been called Pali’s best musical was an experience worth having.” Though the cast and crew initially expected the show to draw in much younger audiences, many older students attended opening weekend and were pleasantly surprised. “I loved the set, and the cast was fantastic,” said Junior Katy Pool. “Even though the story was aimed at younger kids, I was able to enjoy the meaning behind it.” The musical was also many of the cast members’ first experience on stage. Senior Mountain Glover, who had never previously participated in a Pali production, said, “[Opening night] was good. I was very nervous, but with the help of my peers, I got right back on track.” Though Honk! is a relatively unknown musical, Kraus and Elson believe that its message and story deserve to be told. “The orchestra, cast, and crew have come together to make something profound,” said Kraus. “Don’t miss it.”

During the first weeks of March, The Village Nation, along with the Black Student Union (BSU), held two assemblies for African-American students. On March 3, students met for the second Village Nation assembly, with founders Fluke Fluker and Bill Padden speaking to students. The following week, BSU held a panel discussion with Pali graduates and college representatives. The assemblies focused on fulfilling academic potential, addressing stereotypes, and discussing college. The Village Nation meeting was titled “Keeping It Real,” and picked up where the previous meeting had ended. “Keeping It Real was an opportunity for these students to analyze the myths, stereotypes, and rumors about their academic abilities and shortcomings,” said co-founder Fluke Fluker. “[This meeting] provided African-American students a safe place to discuss what it means to be accused of ‘acting white.” The importance of African Americans’ improvement on standardized test scores was also discussed, with test taking tips and strategies offered to help students reach their full potential. The first Village Nation assembly was held on Nov. 17 with the intent to “arm the students with knowledge,” said Ms. Christopher. One of the primary topics was the usage of the nword, and the effect it has on the African-American community. “It informed everybody about a lot of things and brought us all together,” said Senior Tajavae Quarker. “Some of it was hard to hear, but it was important.” The Village Nation was established almost five years ago by three teachers from Cleveland High. In response to falling tests scores and increased dropout rates among African-Americans, Fluke Fluker, Andre Chevalier and William Paden wanted to set up an assembly that could “establish a level of trust and rapport with the students, relate to their cultural traditions, and convey expectations of high academic achievement.” After the Village Nation was introduced, the school’s API score went up almost 65 points. Pali’s BSU has been working alongside The Village Nation to help mirror these results in Pali’s African-American community. In the week following the second assembly, the Black Student Union organized a meeting featuring a panel primarily consisting of Pali graduates who described their accomplishments after high school and gave tips on taking advantage of the opportunities the Continued on Page 2

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SPORTS | PAGE 8

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Apri l 4 1st Annual Mens Volleyball Alumni Game 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. in the Large Gym

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Tideline

NEWS

March 30 - April 17, 2009

Apri l 6-10 Spring Break

Apri l 17-19 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Apri l 21 No 7th Period

Apri l 23 Showcase Night Apri l 24 Minimum Day

College Center Urges Seniors Toward Scholarships Continued from Page 1 their intended major and must postmark their applications by April 24. Additionally, the Masonic Scholarship will be awarded to five students and give up to $2,000. Eligible seniors will receive an application in the mail and must have a 3.0 GPA. Three students who have family members in the Masons will be awarded along with two others who will be selected based on need. This scholarship is also due on April 24. For those seniors who need aid based on need and have been involved in community service programs, the Allan Katz Scholarship plans to give $500 to three eligible students. An application must be filled out by April 1, and students are required to attend a scholarship luncheon on May 17. At a more regional level is the West Hollywood Youth Scholarship for residents of West Hollywood. Information regarding this opportunity has already

been sent to eligible students. The program will award $1,500 to those who complete the 150hour community service requirement set by the organization and p r o g r a m . Those who are interested have until April 30 to participate. Seniors who are looking for additional aid are also encouraged to visit sites such as www.fastweb.com and search for more opportunities. The College Center also plans to distribute another newsletter before spring break begins, providing information on more scholarships. Students interested in the aforementioned scholarships are encouraged to go to the College Center and pick up applications. About scholarship opportunities, College Counselor Ms. Kunkel said, “Most of the money that you will get for college will come from the college that you attend, but there are plenty of small and local scholarships that are out there for students who are looking for them.”

Spaghetti Night, Done Right

OH, BOYS : (From left) Tucker Best, Alex Caan, Daniel Rasch, Sean Pinto, Arya Davachi, and Ryan Steinberg put on a show like no other.

LAUREN HANSEN/PALI HIGH

The cast and crew of the spring musical Honk! put on a show to raise funds for the production. BY KATY POOL

The cast of the school’s spring musical opened the doors of Mercer Hall to friends and family, on Friday, March 6, in order to promote the show and garner support. “Spaghetti Night,” as it has come to be known, is a fundraiser night hosted by Drama students three times a year. They hold one fundraiser night for every show throughout the year. The event started off with an eight dollar suggested donation at the door. Guests then proceeded into Mercer Hall, where tables

were set up, each decorated with a specific theme such as “the 50’s” or “rainbow colors.” Everyone was free to sit at the table they chose and mingle with other parents, the cast members and classmates of the cast members who showed up to support the Drama Department. They then served free spaghetti, which Pinocchio’s Italian Restaurant supplied at a low price, along with soda and various kinds of treats, such as goldfish and brownies. Soon, the entertainment began. Honk!’s Spaghetti Night

kicked off with the song “Big Spender,” sung and performed by all the female cast members in the show. Following that was a rendition of Chicago’s “Cellblock Tango,” performed by cast members Junior Tucker Best, Senior Alex Caan, Junior Daniel Rasch, Junior Sean Pinto, Senior Arya Davachi, Junior Ryan Steinberg and Senior Mountain Glover, who also cohosted the event. A variety of songs sung by one or more people followed, from pop songs by Adele and Jason Mraz, to songs

Boards Votes on Community Service Reform for School

Village Nation and BSU Work Together

GRAHAM MACGILLIVRAY/TIDELINE

Continued on Page 2 school offers its students. Dominic Quiller, class of 2003, went to Loyola Marymount University (LMU) and is currently attending UCLA Law School. Keyvon Pierre, class of 2001, went from Pali to New York University (NYU). After finishing his first semester at NYU, Pierre transferred to LMU, where he graduated in 2006. Crystal Adams was the president of BSU when she graduated Pali in 2006. She is in her last year at CSU Dominguez Hills, and hopes to be at Pepperdine next year. Three of the panelists work with programs aimed for collegebound students. Johnel Barron, the LA Southwest College Recruitment Coordinator, encouraged students to overcome whatever obstacles they might have to finish out their education. Brittany Lewis attended CSU Northridge, and now works for UCLA Early Academic Outreach. Jonli Tunstall graduated from Pali in 2001, and went to UCLA, where she now works for the educational program VIP Scholars, a program designed to “increase the number of underrepresented students, students of color, at UCLA and at universities in general.” All three offered their support and help to anyone who

may need it. The speakers emphasized the importance of responsibility and self-motivation. Quiller advised the audience, saying that his determination led him to his success and, “when people tell me I’m not going to be able to do something, I’m going to go ahead and try harder.” Lewis also suggested such responsibility when she said, “I want to urge you guys to stand up and learn the information that’s pertinent to you.” Adams spoke from her own experience of the significance of perseverance and said, “Don’t think that if you’re in twelfth grade you can’t do it. You can go to a community college for two years and transfer. It is not too late. I am a living testimony of that.” Adams also warned students of the necessity of a college education. She joked that, “In a minute, Burger King and McDonalds are going to be requiring bachelor degrees. But really, whoever feels they don’t need college, you will need it. It is so hard to get a job without a degree.” Barrons also stressed the importance of education when he said, “It makes no sense if you can lean with it and rock with it, but you can’t read with it and write with it.” Financial challenges were a

key point in the discussion. Pierre had to transfer from NYU to LMU due to financial troubles. With financial difficulties facing many students in their college plans, he advised the assembly from his own experience. Pierre said, “I am now $60,000 in debt. Even with all of that, I have a diploma, college education, a nice resume because of it, and I wouldn’t trade any of that for anything in the world. Go to college keep your money in order.” Pierre also reminded students to fill out loan applications, make payments on time, and get as much financial aid as possible. Another topic of discussion was the importance of involvement in the community. Lewis recalled that although she was not an academic overachiever in high school, she participated in softball, cheerleading, soccer and volleyball. Adams also deemed herself as “not a 4.0 student,” but got involved as BSU President in 2005-2006. Tunstall encouraged students to get active with their passions and their community. She said, “Get involved with something. That was my experience here. I did what I had to do in the classroom, but I also got involved in BSU and Gospel Choir.”

GRAHAM MACGILLIVRAY/TIDELINE

Community Service Program Coordinator Gretchen Miller.

Continued from Page 1 comment appeals to the Board. Steinberg called for reform and change in the program to ensure fairness and standardization, stating that the goal is to change, not merely remove the Community Service Program. “I do not wish to get rid of community service or Gretchen Miller. I love community service,” said Steinberg to the Board. Gretchen Miller was not present at the meeting for comment. With prom in early May and graduation soon following, the community service for participation requirement is a point of contention in the community service debate. In discussion, Executive Director Amy Held acknowledged the immediacy of the situation. “What would make sense to me is that the administration have a clear policy, and that we get this appeals committee set up – like,

within a week.” Teacher Representative Dave Suarez moved to suspend the Community Service Program for the Senior Class of 2009 and to review the legality and possibly discriminatory practices of the program. The motion was seconded by Steve Klima, but failed in a 3-8 vote. Suarez, Klima and Stamler voted for the motion, but were outvoted by Callas, Francis, Held, Riley, Rodman, Johnson, Fisher, and Paleno. “The program is arbitrary, unfair, and possibly illegal,” Saurez told the Board. “We could be at risk of serious litigation or a class action lawsuit.” Other Board members also voiced concerns with the program. “I have problems with the arbitrary nature of the assignment of hours,” said James Paleno. Steve Klima, who has raised concerns with the Community

from musicals such as Wicked, A Chorus Line and Title of Show, to original compositions by cast members, like Junior Julian Schwartzman’s “Facebook Song.” In addition, several people performed skits, such as “Save Broadway” from Saturday Night Live and a lip-synch rendition of “How We Go Out.” The goal of Spaghetti Night is to raise money for the production of the show, as well as give the future audience a taste of the talent involved in Honk! “As silly as they are, the skits are a good representation of the talent we have in the cast,” said Thespian President Senior Lizzy Rich, who helped host the night. “It’s fun to see what people do when they’re up on stage, just being themselves.” The fundraiser raised almost $1,000, which is being used to cover the cost of sets, costumes, props and publicity for the show. “It was one of the best turn-outs for a fundraiser night I’ve ever seen,” Rich said. “A lot of people came and we were able to raise a lot of money.”

Service Program in the past, said that review of the program is “necessary,” but stressed that he doesn’t intend to get rid of the program and supports the concept of community service. The Board decision was the latest development in the ongoing community service discussion. Dissatisfaction with the system was initially brought to the Board’s attention by Klima and then-Student Representative James Bourne in 2008, and was revived by last month’s 250-signature petition, which aimed to spark development and reform the current Community Service Program. The petition gained rapid momentum and received over 250 signatures in one 40 minute lunch period. “The petition did not need much advertisement to get off the ground because the issue has been in the back of students’ minds for years now,” Junior Wyn Delano said. “All it took was a single announcement on the P.A system to energize the students.” “Students are being denied community service hours for volunteer work that has actually helped the community, and I think that members of the Board see that a committee will be a good way to define what community service is. I strongly believe that all the support we are getting, mainly from the student body as a whole, will help to push these new service ideas forward,” said Matthew Pakizegee, author of the petition. “The current Community Service Program is in need of a great deal of reform and this petition will make a difference and truly help students.”

March 30 - April 17, 2009

Tideline

Destination

EUROPE:

CAMPUS LIFE

Page 3

Summer Experience Abroad

BY PAULINA FIROZI

Summer Provides a Window of Opportunities

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Tideline Staff Writer

very summer, teacher Tylene DeVine takes a group of students across Europe to take advantage of the foreign environment and to instill valuable knowledge that cannot be taught inside the classroom. For the past five years, she has been planning this trip, mainly for seniors, as part of a last learning experience before they move on to the college world. DeVine will be taking 17 seniors and three sophomores to different European cities including Paris, Nice, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Berlin and finally Amsterdam. “The seniors that I have taken with me in past trips have told me that their college experience is much more fulfilling, as [the trips] bring meaning to their education,” said ‘American’ DeVine. Over the course of 14 days, from June 21 to July 4, these selected students will travel to seven major cities of six European countries, spending about two days at each location. To achieve the full European experience and escape the “norm” of polluted and crowded city streets, they will be taking motorboats, trains, bikes and gondola rides to travel the countryside. These high school graduates and sophomores will see famous sights such as the Monet Gardens, Versailles, Schonbrunn Palace, Anne Frank’s home, castles and cathedrals in the Czech Republic and the Berlin Wall. “At first the students sign up to go to the stereotypical ‘Europe’ that teens hope to experience,” said DeVine, “but I hope that once they see the cathedrals and all the cool sights that they just feel that they’ve really seen the world.” Students seem to agree that the foreign atmosphere adds greatly to the experience. “It is the best and safest way to explore Europe,” said Senior Leah Cohenzadeh. Some of the students first heard of the trip from their teacher Ms. DeVine, the teacher-coordinator of the trips. “I had Ms. DeVine, who was probably my favorite teacher in ninth grade, and she talked about these trips,” said Senior Nick Morshed. Now, three years since his freshman year, he and many others will finally be given this rare opportunity. “There are benefits to reading and learning, but actually getting on the bike and riding it is the best way to experience life,” said DeVine. She had initially hoped to bring much more experience and creativity to these otherwise common trips. “I believe traveling is a much better way to become educated than in the classroom,” she said. Originally, the Palibury Tales Travel Club was established by a group of students who hoped to combine creative writing and traveling. The idea was to imitate Geoffrey Chaucer’s famous and witty Canterbury Tales. Students in the club would create a novel of short stories based on real life experiences while visiting Europe, and later the books would be sold to finance further trips. “When traveling, we are so busy and tired that it is hard to write,” said DeVine, so unfortunately, the plan has never been further developed. “It is more powerful to teach, as you are experiencing the lesson plan first-hand,” she said. “It is such a more meaningful experience being with kids, [rather] than having them behind a desk, when I feel they are guarded from their personalities.”

BY MELINA CHARIS Tideline Campus Editor

Most students have extracurricular activities and volunteer work lined up during the school year, but many more opportunities are also available during summer vacation. Though colleges look highly upon a productive and enriching summer, many activities offer rewarding experiences that are otherwise unavailable during the school year. With almost three months of limited schoolwork and plenty of time to rest and relax, summer can be the perfect time to get involved. Here are a few ways to do so:

SIGN UP FOR A SUMMER PROGRAM OR INTERNSHIP

Though colleges and universities look highly upon any kind of summer program, academic summer programs can enhance performance and offer invaluable experiences. Many colleges such as Stanford, UC Berkeley and Brown offer residential summer programs that give participants the feel of living on a college campus. Because these programs can get expensive, there are many low-cost and free summer programs and internships that offer all of the same benefits. “[Programs] that students have liked include the Academy of Business Leadership Summer Business Institute (ABL), Inner City Filmmakers at USC Film School, and the City of Los Angeles Public Works Internship Program,” said Career Advisor Simon Santana. “Different descriptions are available in the Career Center.”

GET A JOB

Many students find it difficult to juggle schoolwork, sports, extracurriculars as well as a job during the school year. Because of the much lighter load of work and increased free time, the summer can be the perfect time to get a job and start saving extra money. “Colleges like to see work experience, and some students have to work. Be a good employee,” said College Counselor Helene Kunkel. Getting a job shows responsibility, determination, and maturity and is a valuable option during the summer months.

FOCUS ON INTERESTS

The summer is very possibly the best time to focus, more intensely, on interests outside of school and to develop hobbies. For many students, this option can be extremely exciting and beneficial. “I'm attending the Pre-College Musical Theatre Training Program at CAP21 for five weeks this summer,” said Junior Mia Canter. “Not only is it fun to do something you love during the summer, it's educational. Colleges like it. It's extra practice for the real world. How could that be a bad thing?” Though focusing on interests is a good way to spend your summer, make sure it’s something you actually enjoy. “If you have an independent interest, do a project of your own,” said Kunkel. “[But] don’t do things just because they look good on a college application.”

Choir to Host Fundraiser; Go on Tour BY DANIEL NIKNAM Tideline News Editor

Choir hosts Coffee House Concert Night in Mercer Hall on March 31 at 7 p.m. in order to raise money for a tour the team will be performing in the San Francisco Bay Area in May 2009.

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here will be a range of style including musical theatre, contemporary pop hits, jazz standards, and world music. The choir, soloists and small groups

will perform many pieces from artists such as U2, Ella Fitzgerald, Adele, and Jon McLaughlin, as well as music from The Lion King, Man of La Mancha, and Spring Awakening. The class has already raised enough money for bus transportation, but hopes to raise more for hotels. Visual and Performing Arts teacher and instructor of the choir class Mr. Elson said, “This concert is not only to showcase our many talented singers, but also

Final Red Shirt Opportunities for this Semester

Gretchen Miller addresses the final Red Shirt community service activities for this semester.

BY TATIANA C OLE

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Tideline Staff Writer

s the end of the school year draws near, students are anxious to complete their final community service hours for this semester. During the holidays, there were various opportunities to volunteer for food drives, toy drives and other events for the needy. However, students still have chances to make up for a lapse in volunteering hours during the first semester. Students may complete additional hours towards their service requirements by signing up for Red Shirt activities. Many Red Shirt activi-

ties are already set, but students may visit Community Service Director Gretchen Miller in order to get another project approved. Some popular activities are those pertaining to promoting environmental health and interacting with the needy. "I would say students enjoy the environmental projects the most. There is also a lot of interest in the Little Sister (Feeder) schools’ fundraising," said Miller. Community service opportunities range from donating jeans to the homeless, toys to the less fortunate or time to raise money for a cause. "Students enjoy walks and runs with thousands of other students and the City Year Organization is a great example of that," said Ms. Miller. "City Year unites young people of all backgrounds for service projects throughout LA giving them the skills and opportunities to change the world.” Exercising while

Upcoming Red Shirt Events

RELAX!

While it’s important to have a productive summer, it’s also important to remember to have fun. 10 months of school can be draining, and summer is the time to recuperate as well as relax. “Make sure to balance the summer well,” said Santana. “Do something fun, but have something constructive to do. Rest and recuperate from school!” However, remember that summer is an important component in remaining competitive to colleges. “Colleges look at what you’re doing during the summer,” said Kunkel. “Just don’t spend 10 weeks staring at the ceiling.”.”

VOLUNTEER

Volunteer opportunities do not end with the last bell of the second semester. There are plenty of charities and organizations that operate during the summer, and volunteering can fill in hours that would normally be spent watching TV or sitting around. Summer is a great time to catch up on community service hours if you’re behind, and it’s also easier to greatly increase your current amount of hours. “The ‘underserved’ don't have breaks. Need continues,” said Director of Community Service Gretchen Miller. ”On the Community Service Information Table in the main building hallway is a list of ‘Summer '09 Suggestions.’”

a means to raise funds for our upcoming choir tour to the San Fransisco Bay Area in May.” This year’s choir class will be the first to receive uniforms in the three-year history of Choir. Males will sing in suites, while the ladies will dress in concert gowns. Senior Shane Liliedahl, a choir member since the class first began in 2006 and Choir Co-President, said, “We’re hoping for a lot of support from friends, family, and the student body for when we go on tour.” The suggested donation for the concert is $5 to $10 and snacks and coffee will be on sale during the concert. Furthermore, there will be a free performance on April 1 during 7th period that all students are invited to attend.

Pali Track Meet Topanga Stream Cleaning Pali Village Green Gardening Pali Hunger Walk Pali Track Meet Pali Track Meet Warner Avenue (E Waste Program) Pali Showcase Pali Track Meet Auction Fundraiser at Pali Elementary and 4/26 Canyon Elementary Fiesta

simultaneously helping those who cannot help themselves is one of many ways to achieve service requirements. Although the completion of community service hours remains vital to each student, it is especially pertinent to seniors. "This time of year, the majority of the students attempting to clear their service hour requirements are seniors," said Ms. Miller. "There are approximately 350 seniors that have not completed their service hours." Monday, May 4 marks the final date for seniors to turn in completed hours, with a minimum total of 40 required graduation.

EDWIN POULDAR/TIDELINE

Page 4

Tideline

OPINION

March 30 - April 17, 2009

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today

The Tideline

Publishing Manager: Diva Joshi

Editors in Chief:

James Bourne, Daniel Hartono, Elana Joffe, Dexter O’Connell

Junior Editors:

Jackie Rosen, Kene Izuchukwu

Layout Editors:

Henry Conklin, Rex Kirshner

News Editors:

Fiona Hannigan, Daniel Niknam

Sports Editors:

Justin Nam, Alison White

Opinion Editors:

Alex Caan, Jackie Rosen

Entertainment Editors:

Caroline Coster, Arya Davachi, Katy Pool

Campus Life Editors: Melina Charis, Rachel Levitan

Photography Editor: Mary Hobbs

IT Manager:

Graham MacGillivray

Business Manager:

Edwin Amirianfar, Milana Kalimullova, Rex Kirshner

Faculty Advisor: Ms. Cappelli

TIDELINE POLICY S TATEMENT

Published twenty times a year, the student newspaper of Palisades High School (the Tideline) is a public forum, with its student editorial board making all decisions concerning its contents. Unsigned editorials express the views of the majority of the editorial board. Letters to the editor are welcomed and will be published as space allows. Letters must be signed, although the staff may withhold the name on request. The paper reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to laws governing obscenity, libel, privacy and disruption of the school process, as are all contents of the paper. Opinions in letters are not necessarily those of the staff, nor should any opinion expressed in a public forum be construed as the opinion or policy of the administration, unless so attributed.

Student Poll

P o l l t aken o n 3 / 2 5 / 0 9 2 3 2 s t udent s po l l ed

How often are your classes interrupted by talking students?

6% said Never 46% said Sometimes 48% said Frequently Do teachers enforce some form of discipline to prevent talking? 69% said Yes 31% said No

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E D I T O R I A L Check It Twice

etectives, while usually reserved for adulterous spouses and the investigation of double agents or gruesome murderers, now have an entirely new market requesting their presence. It takes no stretch of the imagination to think of the UC system as a rather large business, and like any respectable business it takes certain measures to verify the authenticity of applications. To battle the relatively moderate amount of fibbing about extracurricular activities by students, the UC system has hired fact checkers. Though the amount of students caught lying seems small (less than one percent), it looms larger when one imagines one percent of 98,000 applicants. Whether it comes down to boosting your importance on the soccer field, or expanding your role in a school drama production, forging an extra curricular activity is an incredible act of disrespect towards the students who dedicated the time to actually accomplish the actions to which they claim. Let’s look at the current odds of discovering student lying about his or her extracurricular activities. Only 1000 or so applicants are checked annually, and of those 1000 a mere ten to fifteen were found to have been economical with the truth. So out of the 98,000 applications, the odds of yours being checked is miniscule and even if it is chosen randomly, the chance that a simple ticket stub or article clipping will not clear it up is only one and a half percent. How can one be scared out of lying when the odds continue to fall in their favor? In the end more students must be checked to broaden the search for liars. Do these minimally reassuring statistics call for a more efficient system? Without a doubt they do.

Tideline Staff Writer

ou’re sitting through a lecture, awaiting the arrival of lunch: the minute hand creeps across the clock. Suddenly, the lights go off. The teacher is as surprised as you are but attempts to keep the class under control. You’ll most likely have to remain at school- the power will probably be back on within the next hour. However, just as the teacher resumes the lesson, you hear a rumbling as the room vibrates, its contents shaking and shifting about. Both doors have become wedged shut from the pressure of the floor above and the walls have cracked. You may be stuck in your classroom for the night. You are experiencing an earthquake. Sure, they’re normal enough at home, but at school, a girl screams, the teacher yells for compliance, and everyone starts talking while ignoring safety precautions. A fire has erupted in the chemistry rooms at the F building, and is quickly spreading. All I’m thinking about is why the fire exit is located at a window over seven feet from the ground.

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Frequent checks are a strong alternative to nit picking individuals. The UC system should designate a certain percentage, much larger than one and a half percent, and require those people to show evidence. This attempt would widen the search and instill a heightened sense of fear of getting caught as a thief and a liar. Not only would most of the investigations be quick and simple, but more honorable students would be accepted as a result. Instead of lying about tutoring underprivileged children in an attempt to impress the admissions officers, be proud about placing a part time job on your list. Standing at McDonalds flipping burgers may not have seemed productive at the time, but an officer may look at it as a means to an end, which is essentially what college is. Other extracurriculars to be proud of are any prestigious camps you may have attended over the summer, or travel experiences in which you learned something valuable about the world. Anything that separates you from the crowd and catches the attention of a decisive person admiring the fruits of your labor is worth noting. When one isn’t proud of what they have achieved in these four final years of childhood, they cannot be optimistic about what they will achieve in the turmoil of the real world. If a person is unprepared and unwilling to be truthful to those with more power then them, how can they function in the hierarchy of a worker/boss relationship? They can’t, and because most businesses function that way it is just another useless carcass left to marinate in its own educated thoughts instead of contributing to society. When extracurriculars are faked, educations are stolen. Now isn’t that dangerous?

Letters to the Editor

Dear Tideline,

The Fall of A Comrade Everyday, tired and unmotivated students walk through the doors of their classrooms, filing into their desks like thousands of cattle unhappily preparing for another day of mundane banality. But then, a rescuer, an angel within incredibly annoying voice fills their ears and their hearts. Immediately the school is abuzz and the students and teachers come to life. Whether your teacher begins to shout to quiet the class, complains about the length of the announcement, or asks, “Is that kid stoned?” The morning announcements won’t be the same without Dexter O’Connell. Sure the announcements were rather annoying, but they served their purpose by getting the attention of the students and providing all of with the information we need. Therefore, a question “why?” arises. Why was our commissioner of communications, whom we elected, removed from his position? While it may be the argument of the administration that Dexter didn’t fulfill all of his duties, we all know that it just isn’t true. Never before had I seen a student take his position so seriously, so committed to doing everyone of his assignments to the best of his ability. When there is a conflict between a student and an administrator, what gives the administrator the right to strip the student of his power? This truly shows the administration’s view of the students and how their own agenda comes before the views of the student body. -Kevin Simms, Sophomore

D E X T E R ’ S L A B

Where’s Waldo: Fire Escape Edition

BY ALEX HELMINTOLLER

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-Abraham Lincoln

For a person of my stature, this situation poses somewhat of a threat. Students shorter than myself might not even make it out of the exit with a chair as a boost. I do not mention tall students helping out all the others before exiting themselves because that’s not realistic given the situation- especially in the various rooms that have now caught fire in our figurative situation. High school students in a room on fire will be afraid. High school students in a room on fire with no exit but one small window seven feet overhead will turn into savages. Compress William Golding’s The Lord of The Flies into about three minutes and shift the setting to a flaming classroom. Hopefully, in the event of a fire, earthquake, or other natural disaster, both doors of every classroom will open flawlessly. However, to have fire escapes that impede escape and prove to be a fire hazard themselves is just counterproductive. I first noticed the window fire escape in Ms. Cappelli’s room when I bent down to pick up a pencil I had dropped. There,

on the wall underneath my desk, was a sign (hidden from view) that read: “Emergency Exit.” Two arrows on both sides of the phrase pointed upwards. I followed these arrows up the wall and noticed for the first time that whoever engineered the classrooms at Palisades Charter High School honestly expected a classroom of forty students to exit through a tiny window at an impossible height in case of a disaster. Unless the Earthquake is somewhere around 8.0 on the Richter scale or a new fault line miraculously forms directly under Palisades High, both doors of every classroom should open and close just fine. I do, however, believe that emergency exits should be available to all students- short or tall, handicapped or otherwise. I understand the school buildings are not new, and that regulations are different now than they were way back when, but that does not excuse the fact that it might be easier to just bash through a flaming door than to climb up and through the fire escape.

Teachers’ Corner

Editor’s Note: Teachers’ Corner is a new Tideline feature, which will run opinions submitted by Palisades faculty members about school issues. This first installment features a letter from Mr. Shuhgalter.

was surprised to learn that Dexter O’Connell was no longer Commissioner of Communication. I was even more surprised to find out that he was removed from the position to which the student body had elected him in a democratic election. Despite the agreement between Dexter and the Counseling Office, the school administration ruled that he no longer qualified. What was the pretext? Dexter did not get enrolled in the Leadership class in the spring semester. Then why did the students need to vote for him in the first place? Do their voices ever count in this democracy? The story with Dexter reminds me of the latest election in which the faculty and staff participated a few months ago. Then the administration decided to remove a member of the board who had been elected for two years, and make him run (after his first year) against the candidate chosen by the administration. Eventually, the Executive Director and the board had to put up with the status quo not because they violated the rights of the staff, but because they spun the rules of the game. The story with Dexter is another illustration of the administration attitude to the stakeholders of this public corporation. First of all, why should an elected Commissioner be a student from a particular class of 20 students chosen out of 2,700? Doesn’t it violate basic rights of other students who might run for office? Secondly, why is he removed without the consent of his constituents? Thirdly, had it ever occurred to the administrators who made that decision that they needed to discuss the issue at least with the student Senate? Dexter is a bright young man who, like other young people in this school, learns important things, sometimes makes inevitable mistakes, and experiments with his ideas. Now he has learned a real life lesson: he can be ousted by a few even if he has been elected by many as long as the few decide that he does not satisfy their criterion. In my opinion, this attitude has become habitual. Students, parents, and teachers’ opinions are easily brushed off, the board blesses absurd decisions of the Executive Director, and to justify the “caring” violations, the administration and the obedient board members cover themselves with a lovely fig leaf from their vast herbarium of demagoguery. Congratulations, Dexter! You may consider yourself baptized by firing. Your independent voice has been treated no better than that of your teachers. A. Shuhgalter 3-17-09

Dexter’s Lab is a column featuring the world according to the thoughts and ideas of Tideline Editor-in-Chief Dexter O’Connell.

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sat down to write this column about the failure of Pali’s community service system to adequately instill a service-oriented mindset in students. But as I write, St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching, and the situation in the six counties of Ireland currently not in the Republic of their sisters to the south appears to be rapidly deteriorating. This is a shame, especially as those members of the Northern Ireland assembly not of overtly unionist leanings no longer constitute a majority, and therefore the opportunity for real change in Ireland is finally upon us. The despicable actions of these terrorists do not serve to further the political objectives of Irish Republicanism, and only drive us further from the dream of a thirty-two county nation across the whole of the island of Ireland. Since the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, there has been a tenuous peace in the six counties. The Provisional Irish Republican Army militia disarmed, and some of the loyalist militias on the other side of the conflict did the same. Sinn Féin, formerly the political arm of the IRA, became a legitimate political entity, and is currently the only party with representation in both the Dail of the Republic of Ireland and the Assembly of the North of Ireland. This peace is the opportunity that Irish nationalists have wished for for hundreds of years. It heralds an era of freedom and safety in which Republicans have the opportunity to show that a united Ireland is the course to follow. British influences have shifted this from an Irish battle to a religious battle (Note that early Irish patriots like Wolfe Tone, Napper Tandy, and C.S. Parnell were protestants) and this time of peace, when people are somewhat

less afraid of crossing into a neighborhood waving a different flag, was a perfect opportunity to show that Ireland is the right place for the six counties to make their permanent home. With Sinn Féin and other non-Unionist parties making gains, and polls showing an ever decreasing majority in favor of remaining in Britain, combined with the current economic crisis, and its effect on the economy of Northern Ireland, which is heavily dependent on the government, a reintegration into the Republic of Ireland looks more and more promising for the North every day. The terrorists who killed the soldiers and the policeman do not understand today’s realities. This action was considered a legitimate rebellion only twelve years ago but this is no longer so. Danny Morrison, a leader of Sinn Féin, once said, “Who here really believes we can win the war through the ballot box? But will anyone here object if, with a ballot paper in this hand and an Armalite [rifle] in the other, we take power in Ireland?” This strategy, of armed struggle coupled with political struggle, was a change in mentality in and of itself. Republican parties have claimed a solid share of the political ground. They are a force to be reckoned with and the days of labeling Sinn Féin “terrorists” and dismissing them out of hand are over. The legacy of the IRA is indisputable. The Armalite brought the British to the table, and the ballot paper is showing, gradually, that the people of Northern Ireland want a new direction. The terrorists do not understand this. For every shot they fire, a shot is fired across the bow of the ship of Republicanism. For every man they kill, countless hours of work are turned back. Fortunately, most people in the North see this. Over the last couple of days, marches have seen a diverse swath of the population out marching in opposition to the terrorism. Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, of Sinn Féin, said “I was a member of the IRA, but that war is over now. The people responsible for last night's incident are clearly signaling that they want to resume or restart that war. Well, I deny their right to do that… [they are] traitors to the island of Ireland.” It is finally possible for a United Ireland. A confluence of circumstances has put that goal in sight. No right-minded person should be in support of terroristic activities that move it further from the outstretched, grasping hands of the Irish people.

March 30 - April 17, 2009

Keepin’ It Real

Tideline

BY KENE IZUCHUKWU

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Tideline Staff Writer

fter a hearty nutrition, we blacks, or African-Americans, go to class and attempt to learn something new. As soon as we settle down and greet our teacher, the Black Student Union asks for our attendance at a Village Nation assembly that just happens to be during the same period as an advanced placement class. Many of us usually skip these so-called “motivational” assemblies, but if we decide to take a period off from our English or math classes, we find ourselves strolling down the path of the quad into a rowdy Mercer Hall. I use the word “rowdy” because at the last meeting it took about 15 to 20 minutes to actually silence the crowd, and even after that everyone couldn’t keep quiet for Bill Paden and Fluke Fluker to convey their messages effectively. The theme for this assembly was “Keepin’ it real,” and as soon as we walked into the auditorium we knew what was going on – yet another speech was going to be given about blacks not living up to their potential, and this time we blamed the white man. Apparently we don’t succeed in the classroom because we are afraid of being picked on for “acting white.” This epidemic seems to have psychologically hindered our performances, and has resulted in subpar test scores and unruly behavior. This may be a problem for some, but for those of us who actually know that having good grades are not equivalent to being white, this assembly proved to be somewhat of a shock. AP World History teacher Steven Burr went up to share his past experience with the “acting white” problem and he shared that, predictably, his intellectual stability prevented him from falling into this destructive state of mind during high school. While Mr. Burr was speaking, some listened as others, such as the tiny freshman sitting to my right, continued talking about and denouncing everything that Mr. Burr was trying to communicate. At first this act of defiance humored me, but then I had an epiphany that made this assembly seem somewhat worthwhile. The small freshman had already been claimed by this horrid paradigm, and as I may have seen this message as futile, he actually needed it. This by no means excuses us from performing poorly in school, but it does prove problematic towards the way that we should think. Our society has associated “acting white” with countless mannerisms, attitudes, and scenarios; however, we should never adhere to these stereotypes - especially when it comes to education. Black leaders such as W.E.B Du Bois fought so that whites and blacks could one day have the opportunity to learn without racial prejudice. Although some prejudice still exists, one cannot say that we don’t have a fair opportunity to pass or excel in school, unlike our relatives who lived under the Jim Crow laws. Therefore I applaud Village Nation and frown upon those of our kind who refuse to hear the message due to ignorance. Yes, I still think that the assembly was a waste of time due to the fact that the crowd was rowdy and that I missed my AP English class, but for the few of us who put our racial pride aside and actually paid attention, the assembly also had the potential to inspire a change of heart, and more importantly, a change in mentality. You can disagree, but I’m just keepin’ it real.

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Tideline Staff Writer

Cleanliness is Next to What?

IZABELLE NEW Cartoonist

BY IGOR SHVARTSER

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Tideline Staff Writer

alk into one of our bathrooms before school begins. Then have another visit after the 7th period bell rings. You see quite a difference, right? Whether it is the boys’ or the girls’ bathrooms, I cannot help but overhear the similar rants of how messy and repulsive our bathrooms are. What is even worse is that these rants speak the truth. You cannot help but feel the slimy, wet floors through the soles of your shoes. The smell hits your nose and creeps up into your nostrils until you reach the point when you just don’t think you can take any more of it. But when you’ve gotta’ go, you’ve gotta’ go. What we must realize is that we do this to ourselves. Whether you are the litter-free activist, or the litter-bug conformist, we all abhor to the unwelcoming feel of the bathroom and its signature piles of drenching paper towels on the wet floor. Yet we continue making it this way. Attempting to reenact a memorable three-point shot made by the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, you miss the trashcan and let the scrunched paper towel hit the floor. Realize that you are not Kobe, so you should probably pick up the paper towel and put it where it belongs - in the trashcan. Unfortunately, very few find the urge to embrace the responsibility we students have of cleanliness. Apart from littering in the bathrooms, many con-

Donʼt Waste My Education GRAHAM MACGILLIVRAY Photographer

BY AHLYSHA GOPAUL

OPINION

t’s a horrible, almost incurable, disease. It happens in at least one of your classes, like clockwork. You sit in class trying to figure out the math problem that is plastered on the dimly lit overhead projector and as you try to focus on finding the solution, all you can hear is that one kid yelling across the room to his friend about how he beat the last level of a video game last night. While the rest of the class has to suffer through the worst story in the world and the time allotted to solve the math riddle is approaching an unproductive end, the whiney kid transitions to how he’s been eager to see his ex-girlfriend because he misses her so much. The time set to do the problem is gone and all you can remember is vivid detail of Final Fantasy and how some kid’s girlfriend broke up with him. Now you’re unprepared for the lesson and you realize why the guy’s girlfriend broke up with him: he talks too much. It doesn’t just happen in one class - there are at least two or three classes where you want to turn around, look the kid square in the eyes and tell him to shut up because nobody cares to hear about his issues. It’s almost apparent that someone’s not giving him enough attention at home. It may come as a shock to those pupils who flap their lips all class period, but some students come to school to actually learn. All your side comments and failed humorous remarks are not a delight, but a hindrance to the learning environment. It is an annoyance to those who seek to further their education, in addition to gaining acceptance into a notable college. Don’t get me wrong, even I’ve been guilty of talking in class, but when it’s habitual, loud, and over exaggerated, there needs to be measures taken to ensure proper disciplinary

action is given to those students who can not get a hold on their mouths. It’s strenuous enough having to deal with my own personal issues, so I certainly don’t want to hear about yours. There is a school therapist and if you have the urge to talk, she is a very nice lady and is always willing to discuss anything that may be troubling you. Please don’t tell us your sob stories during the middle of instructional time. I’m sure that there is someone who is content with hearing your antecedents on their own free time. You are probably a great person and have a lot of insight on things I have yet to ponder on. Maybe if you didn’t talk so much I would have probably wanted to know about you. But since you have already taken away the mystery, seeing as I already know every miniscule detail about your life, I care to know nothing. This is my last plea, because the next time you open that voice box of yours during the middle of class, I’m going to turn around and tell you exactly how I feel. So before we get to that point of no return, just

stantly overuse the paper towels for drying their hands. What many do not understand is that one clean, dry sheet from the dispenser is just large enough to dry both of one’s hands completely. Without this knowledge, some actually seize four, five, or even six paper towels for drying. With the poor-functioning air-dryers in the bathrooms, students have no choice but to resort to walking out with soaked hands. Hopefully it’s not terribly brisk outside; otherwise that is a recipe for unforgiving frostbite. Once those paper towels do run out, unlucky latecomers are forced to absurdly utilize the toilet seat covers in order to dry their hands. It’s time for Pali High to make the switch into the “Green Age” and adapt to the new, conserving methods of living. That means using less to gain more. Following this trend will ensure that wet hands will no longer have to suffer from the icy winds that the nearby shore has to bring. Cleanliness is a valuable skill we all must obtain. It seems as though we might have forgotten what it is. A small change will inevitably spark a domino effect of advancing into keeping Pali High clean. The simple task of throwing our paper towels away and being considerate is imperative to Pali’s future condition. It is up to all of us to choose when to accept this change. Do not rely on others to perform the miracle of cleaning up after you forever. Instead, adapt for the greater good.

be mindful of those around you. If you absolutely must say something to one of your friends and it cannot wait until nutrition, lunch or after school, remember there is no shame in whispering. We all will appreciate you a little bit more.

Do you think the evacuation routes that the school has in place would be efficient in an emergency?

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I'll think they'll be okay. It's a pretty open campus. I don't think it will be that hard to get out of here.

Colton Callahan

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JUNIOR

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No. It takes too long. I'd go to a friend's house instead.

Andrew Hacker F RESHMAN

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We have evacuation routes? Blake Jensen S ENIOR

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I don't even know where they are.

Marie LaZebnik JUNIOR

No! From observation.

Mr. King TEACHER

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Do you think texting is an appropriate behavior in class?

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Yeah, if it’s an emergency, you have to do it, like for a family matter.

Gabriel Acede S ENIOR

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Eli Shavalian

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JUNIOR

F RESHMAN

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Yes, because sometimes students need an escape during class.

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No way. You're here at school to get an education, not to text your friends. You can text them at nutrition.

LaChapelle Swain

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Yeah, I think it's appropriate to do. It's up to the students.

KEVIN BARRIOS Cartoonist

Page 5

David Arzumanov S ENIOR

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Depends on whether the class is pointless or not. Shaina Ganjian JUNIOR

Page 6

Today, FML became my life. FML BY DANIEL HARTONO Editor-in-Chief

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★★★★

mylife.com is a forum where people from around the globe are able to submit short statements about incidents from their daily lives that they deem unfortunate or unpleasant. From simply uncomfortable accidents to more lewd and vulgar acts, fmylife.com allows people to share the unlucky and, most times, comical experiences people face throughout the day. All submissions to the online forum begin with the word “Today” and end in FML, an acronym for F—

my life to express that person’s misfortune during that particular moment. Submissions are then broken down into seven different categories: love, money, kids, work, health, sex and miscellaneous. Each of these categories help to describe the particular setting and instance in which the FML moment took place. New content is published on a daily basis and updated multiple times throughout the day. Both members and non-members alike are able to submit and contribute their FML stories to the website, however, each story that is submitted is reviewed by the website editors before being posted on the website. By screening each individual post, the website team hopes to sort through the false from the valid stories. However they caution viewers to “Remember that we can't underestimate each visitor's bad luck potential. You probably know what we

Tideline

CALENDAR

mean by that (try and remember). A story which can appear to you as unbearable just because it didn’t happen to you is not necessarily fake, even the most absurd ones.” Once stories are posted, visitors to the website have the option of voting for each FML in two different categories. If they agree with the author of the post, visitors can choose to vote “I agree, your life is f—ed,” or if they disagree they have the option of voting “you deserve that one.” Votes are then accumulated so that the stories can be published in the “top” or “flop” section of the website. Although not all submissions are necessarily true, the website provides hysterically funny stories that can relate to almost anyone. From activities such as school and work to life in general, fmylife.com allows readers to witness the humor in life and enjoy the unpleas-

No Line on the Horizon

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BY ALEX TRAYLOR Tideline Staff Writer

ith the release of their 12th studio album it appears that there is clearly No Line on the Horizon for U2, or any other sense of direction, for that matLine on The Horizon It’s been five years ter. U2 since their last album, Interscope How to Dismantle An ★★ Atomic Bomb, and it appears that the band has decided to take a detour from their path to immense success and musical genius. Sadly, they created an album reminiscent of their 1991 album Achtung Baby, better known as the album that almost took U2 off the map. U2 formed more than 30 years ago and in those three decades they have created massive hits such as “With or Without You,” “Even Better than the Real Thing” and “Desire and Vertigo.” Instead of giving their fans another classic single for their play lists, they gave us “Put on Your Boots.” The first song off their new album, which they performed at the 2009 Grammys, is a catchy tune somewhat reminiscent of Barney’s “I love you, you love me,” set to a bad repetitive wannabe indie beat. You’ll find yourself humming it all day and contemplating suicide just to get out of the “sound,” that Bono keeps on screaming about wanting to be let into. With this single, it appears that U2 has begun to dig its grave, and after going through the painful experience of listening to the rest of the album, it’s now safe to say

March 30 - April 17, 2009

ant situations that everyone faces from time to time. Though it is an entertaining website overall, those who may be offended by vulgar language and descriptions are cautioned from reading the many posts published online, as some submitters take no time to censor the truly unpleasant situations which they face and release their troubles in all of their full-blown glory for the world to read. However, despite the sometimes vulgar nature of certain posts, fmylife.com is sure to provide hours of entertainment and insight into the lives of others around the globe. Special formats of the website are even available for mobile phones and for the iPhone, so the hilarity of the site can be enjoyed on-the-go. Reading fmylife.com has allowed readers to realize that their lives may not be as irksome or terrible as they imagine it to be.

Dan Graham: Beyond

BY AUSTIN WILLIAMS

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Tideline Staff Writer

that the band is sitting six feet under. It seems as if U2 tries to redeem themselves while The Edge (David Howell Evans) replays every guitar rift he’s ever written for the group. It’s true that The Edge does have a certain chimney sounding style, which, over the years, he has become renowned for. However, there is no mistaking the fact that the song “Stand Up Comedy” has the exact same guitar rift as about a dozen other U2 hits. Other songs include “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight,” which includes poetic lines like, “Everyone needs to cry or needs to spit.” The album continues to travel in a downward spiral, but luckily there is one good song, “Breathe,” and it was truly a breath of fresh air. This song is able to combine the beloved U2 sounds with something new, exciting and different. Though a good song, it did little to save the album from the cliff off which the band has thrown themselves. The disappointments that this long-awaited album contains are somewhat overwhelming. It’s baffling that a band that can create a song like “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” one of the most lyrically ingenious songs of our time, can then turn around and produce not only a song, but a complete album devoid of content. The album could have been put together by Animal, the Muppet. The discontinuities and overall A.D.D. of the album leaves the listener overwhelmed and unsatisfied. Unlike their previous records, Line on the Horizon doesn’t try to tell a story or give a beautiful insight on some world issue. Instead, this record was created just to make money off of their massive fan base, who they’ve tricked into thinking that U2 is almighty, powerful and can do no wrong.

an Graham: Beyond is organized by The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles with the help from the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. Open to the public from Feb. 15 – May 25, 2009, the exhibition focuses on the American perspective through the art of Dan Graham. The exhibit includes a selection of photographs, films, architectural models, indoor and outdoor pavilions, conceptual projects for magazine pages, drawings and prints, as well as writings. From the rise of minimalistic, conceptual art to the mixture of rock and roll and culture, Graham has been a key figure in the contemporary art world

since the 1960’s. The exhibition focuses on various themes, most notably the change between the relationship of the individual and society as shown through mass media and twentieth century architecture. Graham exploits the obvious. What is defined as obvious, Graham defines as art and repetition. There is a difference between people who interpret cultures, have personal opinions and outspoken criticism for certain events, and minimalists such as Dan Graham, who have no original thoughts. The works that he has presented in his exhibition causes the past to come to mind and there is no effect that it could have on any person’s life. It is simply valueless art. This could be said a million times. There is nothing that

Graham is saying that people haven’t already noticed. It’s as if people were observing a chair. Everyone knows that it is a chair. Say someone comes along to preach about the color of the chair. That person has taken something so bland, with no value and exploited the idea that it is a green chair or an orange chair. Regardless of the color, it is still a chair. Nonetheless, Graham’s views of art, his works are still representations of obvious and plain ideas. It is difficult to find the art in the exhibition. All viewers see is the artist presenting his observation of repetitive things. Graham’s art is all based on a matter of opinion. This exhibit is filled with boring, repetitive art that exploits the obvious.

Dancing with the Stars Begins with Unexpected Change D

BY ARIANNA FISHER Tideline Staff Writer

ancing With the Stars kicked off a brand new search for a brand new champion on March 9. The highly anticipated two-hour season premiere introduced us to 13 new stars including the youngest competitor to face the competition, an NFL legend, a computer icon, a female rapper, three music artists, and many more. Many new additions and changes were made to this season as two contestants had to be replaced a week before. Hosted by Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris, the show consists of celebrities performing choreographed dance routines, which are then judged by renowned ballroom judge Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba. To add to the competition, two newly engaged professional dancers go head to head, and the first real-life couple is partnered together. This season’s contestants include: singer Belinda Carlisle partnered with Jonathan Roberts, actor

David Alan Grier partnered with Kim Johnson, gymnast Shawn Johnson with Mark Ballas, rapper Lil’ Kim with Derek Hough, reality star Holly Madison with Dmitry Chaplin, actor Giles Marini with Cheryl Burke, cowboy Ty Murray with Chelsie Hightower, reality star Steve-o with Lacey Schwimmer, actress Denise Richards with Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Bachelor star Melissa Rycroft with Tony Dovolani, football player Lawrence Taylor with Edyta Silwinska, country singer Chuck Wicks with Julianne Hough, and MAC mogul Steve Wozniak with Karina Smirnoff. Dancing with the Stars returns with new surprises and all the elements viewers have come to know and love. Macy's Stars of Dance, which features some of the most renowned dancers and choreographers of our time will also be back on Dancing with the Stars the Results Show, along with its hugely popular Design a Dance competition. Design a Dance is sponsored by Macy's and made its debut last season. In addition, couples

will once again take part in a team dance, group dance and face off as well as perform the Argentine Tango and East Coast Swing; both of which have never been performed on the series. And in an exciting new twist, the bottom two couples facing elimination will "Dance Off" to determine who is dismissed in the first weeks of competition. As of March 5, Jewel was diagnosed with a fractured tibia in both legs while training and had to withdraw from the competition, leaving Holly Madison to replace her. Jewel still remains a part of Dancing with the Stars as her husband and cowboy Ty Murray continues to compete. Another tragic incident occurred as of March 5, when Nancy O'Dell was diagnosed with a torn meniscus while training, and also had to withdraw from the competition. Replacing her is none other than Bachelor contestant Melissa. These two new contestants had only one week to practice, compared to the others’ four, and had to step up their game and prove that they deserved to be there. During Monday night’s perform-

ance, contestants either danced the chacha-cha or the waltz. Dancing the chacha-cha and starting off the night, Lil' Kim added a hip hop flavor and sex appeal, evoking chemistry with her partner, yet sometimes looking offbeat. Her hip-hop flavor might be an advantage or a disadvantage, but she evidently needed more refining. Another woman to take the stage was Belinda Carlisle, who had to master a difficult spin in the waltz and unfortunately lacked fluidity. One of the first men to grace the stage was Lawrence Taylor who evoked a sense of naturalness while performing the cha-cha-cha, yet needed to master his rhythm. On the other hand, Steve-O’s waltz, although showing effort, was no more than a comedic act that seemed awkward and uncomfortable. The rest of the contestants had similar feedback, as some had great chemistry with their partners but truly needed greater control and mastery of their technique. There is great potential amongst the cast of Season Eight, and the public will ultimately control who continues.

March 30 - April 17, 2009

Tideline

CLASSIFIEDS

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SPORTS

Track and Field Sprints Into Form

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Tideline

BY ERIC LOPEZ Tideline Staff Writer

As the spring semester picks up speed, the Track and Field team begins its road to the Los Angeles City Championships.

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he Track and Field team has started out the season strong with an intact squad from last year, and had an excellent showing at the Millikan Distance Carnival, as well as at their first home meet on March 13 versus Taft and Carson. Head Coach Ron Brumel sent only a few runners to the Millikan meet because of the need for both experience and talent level. “Most of the kids out here today are some of our best, and that’s what we want to do, compete,” said Brumel. The Distance Medley Relay, which consists of a mile, a three-fourths mile, an 800-meter run, and a 400-meter run, was run by seniors Moore, Garrick Rashaad “S mokey” Bernard, and Michael Fujimoto, along with Junior Carlos Bustamante. The team ran the relay in a blistering 11:11, with Junior Carlos Bustamante running a 4:39 mile to cap off the first-place F reshman Grant finish. Stromberg ran his first mile of the season in a personal record of 5:07, and Sophomore Eric Lopez ran a personal record as

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Senior Michael Fujimoto gets ready to start the 800-meter race. well in the 800-meter with a was forced to have more away 2:06. On the Girls side, Junior meets last year because of the Michelle Colato ran a 6:12 for track construction, is looking the mile running for the forward to having home-field Varsity team. Senior Ava Sun advantage this season. Junior (6:42.59) and Junior Jamillet Carlos Bustamante ran a thunderMaldonado (6:42.98) also ran. ing 4:39 for the mile. Junior hurS ophomores Wendy Gomez, dler Erika Martin put up a Amy Moulthrop and Karli tremendous early season time in Feder also ran the mile, in the hurdles, completing the 1106:18, 6:25, and 6:36 respec- meter race in 14.43 seconds, tively. “We all came out and ran ranking her first in California our races, now we look to get according to Dyestatcal.com better this next week,” said Senior Michael Fujimoto ran a Junior Carlos Bustamante. solid time in the 800-meter run On March 13, the Dolphins with a 2:04, along with Senior held their first home meet at the Rashaad Moore, who ran a 2:06. Stadium by the Sea versus Taft Senior sprinter Garrick and Carson. The team, which “Smokey” Bernard ran a 10.84 in

the 100-meter dash for the Dolphins, a personal record. The Dolphins went into the meet with a stocked up freshman/sophomore lineup as well. Sophomore Eric Lopez ran a 2:07 in the 800-meter run, Freshman Grant Stromberg ran a 5:07 for the mile run, and Freshman Deborah Abber ran a 5:54 for the mile run, the first race of her career. Most of the returning members look to create another successful season. Junior Hurdler Erika Martin is ranked second overall in the Los Angeles City Section, Senior Michael Fujimoto is ranked fourth overall for the 800-meter run in the City, and Junior Carlos Bustamante is ranked fifth in the City in the mile. The team is made up of a high amount of first-year runners, but time trial runs on March 6 showed a vast amount of talent on the team. Last year, five Varsity runners made it to the Los Angeles City Championship, and Junior Carlos Bustamante went to the California State Meet, becoming the first male athlete in 17 years to represent Palisades. Junior Hurdler Erika Martin looks to become another track and field star for the Dolphins, as she won the 110-Hurdles and 300-Hurdles titles for the Western League and dominated at City, getting fourth place in the two events. The future is bright for this team, which is overflowing with talent, but only time will tell if this team will surpass teams of old.

GIRLS LACROSSE BOLDLY BEATS BIRMINGHAM

field. Junior M i dfi el der Christine Frapech took the draw and, after a small blunder with her defender, emerged confidently with the ball in her stick. After a quick give-and-go with Junior Attacker Molly Meek, Frapech effortlessly ran past her defender and shot low and hard to score the first goal. She then proceeded to score three more goals NAKOTA SIVAK-BENETT/ PHOTOGRAPHER over the span of the The Varsity Girls Lacrosse team rallies around their coach during halftime. game. With espite the fact that this Birmingham’s sloppy play and BY EMMA C ARTER was only the Dolphins’ the Dolphins’ early lead, the Tideline Staff Writer second league game, they Dolphins were able to relax for seemed to have a great feel for the most of the game. Pali tried to The Varsity Girls Lacrosse team flow of the game and team on slow the game down and settle the demolished the inexperienced both offense and defense. attack. Many times, the Pali girls Birmingham High School It was clear who would domi- would play keep-away until they Patriots team in a convincing nate from the first face-off on found the perfect path to the goal, 12-0 win. March 10 at the Birmingham exhibiting their patience and team

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play. Among those who scored was new Freshman Sarah Thorson, who scored in the first half. Thorson played strong defense throughout the game and assisted on four more goals. Junior Molly Meek scored three goals, firing the ball with accuracy, and Senior Shanna Shipin contributed with two more goals and an assist. The defense did a commendable job as well, basically keeping their opposition out of their half completely. “The defense was good. Everyone stayed on their girl, and it was hard because they were speedy, but we did it!” said Sophomore Defender Marlee Galper. “Since it was a brand new team, it was easier to intercept their passes and get the ball.” The Pali team continued their winning streak later in the week against Manual Arts High School and Oak Park High School, which are higher-level teams. They hope to strengthen their shots-to-goals ratio in their upcoming games and continue to play as a team.

March 30 - April 17, 2009

Boys Volleyball Spikes Into Action

BY JUSTIN NAM and DENNIS P ESIKOV Tideline S ports Editor and Writer Coming off of a championship season, the Palisades Dolphins are once again demonstrating success.

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Boys Varsity he Volleyball program has continuously proven to be successful over the past few seasons. Hard work, dedication and a strong work ethic highlighted their road to a CIF Championship last season. As the 2009 season begins, the Dolphins aspire to play off of their championship momentum and end with another winning season. The season spiked into action on March 4, 2009 as the Dolphins started with a nonleague challenge against the Carson Colts. The visiting Dolphins showed their dominance in winning every set. “All three sets were close. Carson led or was tied in the first half of all three sets until the score reached about 15, then Pali either caught up or pulled ahead,” said Christy North, Carson Head Coach. Defeating Carson was a great start to a promising season for the Dolphins, but the real challenge lay days away against the Sylmar Spartans. The Dolphins next hosted the Spartans on March 6 in the match many considered to be the precursor to the Los Angeles City Championship. The Dolphins were playing off of their opening win, and appeared to be cruising to a 2-0 record. After winning the first set 31-29 and leading the second 16-13, the game was closing in the favor of Dolphins. Co-Captain the Outside Hitter Matt Hanley, who promised a show to the Junior Varsity team after their earlier victory, followed through with 22 kills. Co-Captain Kene Izuchukwu demonstrated why he was elected a captain as a junior, firing off 15 kills on offense and getting a team-high 30 digs on defense. The Spartans rallied back, however and took the second set, as well as the third and fourth. The Spartans ended the game with a dominating 25-13 victory in the final set. Despite the high-octane explosiveness of Head Coach Chris Forrest’s outside hitters, the Spartans were able to counter

with 6’8’’ Senior Outside Hitter Tyler Honeycutt, who was able to cannon 25 kills and nullify the Dolphins’ defense. “I would say the biggest problem in the loss to Sylmar was our defense and passing. Sylmar is a great team but they really only have one player and that’s [Senior Outside Tyler Honeycutt. Hitter] Secondly, our team played terribly that game with a 1.8 passing average. We [committed] tons of careless mistakes. Sylmar played really well and we played terribly, and we were still able to stay with them. I think that there will be a very different outcome when we play them again,” said Hanley. Assistant Coach Collin Williamson also attributed the collapse of the team in the final three games to a poorly working offense. “Our offense is our strength, and when it’s working as in the first game we’re unstoppable. Without good passing we can’t use that offense. Also, to nullify players like Bellinger we’ll have to have harder serving so they can’t get into their set plays,” said Williamson. Losing is a concept rarely experienced by the strong volleyball program, but it is a reality that takes strength to get through. After a disappointing loss to Sylmar, the Dolphins took to their home court once again to regain a winning record. On March 9, the only force standing between the Dolphins and a 2-1 record were the winless Venice Gondoliers. Co-captains Kene Izuchukwu and Matt Hanley left no room for errors, combining for 37 kills, as the Dolphins defeated the helpless Gondoliers 3-1, cruising to a position the team is used to: a winning record at 2-1. The losses thus far in the season will prove beneficial in the end for the Dolphins, as they plan to capitalize on their mistakes. “I would say that the loss to Sylmar is just as important as a win would have been. To tell you the truth, our team was very cocky coming into this season and the losses humbled us. I think that the losses will not only turn out to be more helpful than hurtful in terms of the rest of the season, but also because with the loss we will now be forced to return to the fundamentals. This will make us a better team,” said Hanley. The Dolphins hope to prove successful in returning to the intangibles and have a good chance at succeeding once again.

Mens Volleyball Holds First Alumni Game

BY KENE IZUCHUKWU Tideline Junior Editor

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Pali plans to recognize and celebrate its winning volleyball tradition by holding an alumni reunion and game in the gym.

ome of the top names in Palisades Men’s volleyball history will have the opportunity to suit up once again for the Dolphins on Saturday, April 4, in the first annual Alumni Game. It will be held in conjunction with a fundraiser for the Palisades High School Boys Volleyball Program. During the event, Pali will honor its five Olympic gold medal recipients, Ricci Luyties, Chris Marlowe, Steve Salmons, Dave Saunders and Kent Steffes, as well as Hall of Fame inductee Randy Stoklos, for their remarkable achievements. Former Palisades Coach

Howard Enstedt will also be honored for his successful career. In his 30 years of coaching, Enstedt won eight championships for the Dolphins, and is credited with starting the volleyball program when it began as a club. However, Enstedt remains humble about his roots. “I can’t take all the credit, because if you have the talent, then you win,” said Enstedt. Pali has always bred talented players, such as recent 2008 alumni Scott Vegas. Vegas, currently playing for UCLA, feels privileged to play with the alumni. “It’s going to be great playing with these legendary players, who have totally different styles,” said Vegas. “It is an honor and a great fundraiser for the present program.”

Senior Matt Hanley prepares to hit the ball.

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Olympian Kent Steffes is looking forward to the event, but is uncertain if he will play due to a knee injury. Regardless of his status for the game, the Alumni event has rekindled previous relationships, and he commends those who have worked hard to make this event possible. “I’ve been able to get into contact with a bunch of people who have gone to Pali and played at Pali,” said Steffes. “I’ve gotten a few calls and heard from some people that I haven’t heard from in a decade or so. This was such a great job for all the people who put this together; it’s going to be fun.” Volleyball Hall of Famer Randy Stoklos will also attend this

historic ceremony and has agreed to play. Stoklos played with Olympic gold medal recipients Dave Saunders, Ricci Luyties and Steve Salmons during his high school career at Pali, and looks forward to reuniting with them again. “It is a fabulous opportunity that we have been given- not only to play for Pali, but also to have the opportunity to bring old friends together, have this reunion and have it benefit the game itself,” said Stoklos. “It’s such a unique thing that Palisades has that many gold medalists just in one sport. It’s going to be a great time and a great opportunity to rejoice in Palisades Volleyball.” The doors to the Palisades Gym open to the public at 7:00 p.m. Tickets will be $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under, and all proceeds earned will go to support the Men’s Volleyball Program. There will be a serving contest for prizes, raffles, and a silent auction. Everyone in the community is invited to attend.