features

Discover why Vine is always short, but not always sweet.

the Aragon Outlook

volume 53 | issue 1 the newspaper of aragon high school 900 alameda de las pulgas, san mateo, ca 94402

Needs teaser
p. 6

NonProfit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 782 San Mateo, CA

Thursday, september 12, 2013

Alex Furuya

Alex Furuya

courtesy of jocelyn Lam

Left: Seniors Claire Tatlow and Chelsea Victor prepare drinks during Senior Sunrise. Top right: Leadership excites the crowd in preparation for a rally. Bottom right: Spectators look on as the Welcome Back Rally proceeds.

Year commences with new student-led spirit initiatives

Brandon Yan Hundreds of Aragon students descended upon the football field on Aug. 27 for this years Welcome Back Rally. It began with performances by cheerleaders and the dance team and culminated with an activity in which teachers stuffed balloons into their clothing. Senior and leadership commissioner Jenise Williams says, I think it was a pretty successful rally, although our sound system was lacking. Overall, we had great attendance. Leadership hopes to eliminate a perceived lack of enthusiasm among the student body through an increased number of rallies and class competitions. Rallies are scheduled every other week for this school year with a greater inclusion of teachers. Williams says, We really want to incorporate the spirit point system [and] give every class a chance to win spirit points. Associated Student Body (ASB) President Richard Shu says, We want to do smaller rallies and games interspersed between those [big rallies]. I hope that the student body
news editor

Administration seeks to adjust class sizes to required numbers

Jordan Kranzler This year marks the first academic year in which students received lockers, schedules and ID cards on Jump Start Day, a preparation day before the beginning of the school year. The Aragon Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) organized two such days: one for underclassmen on Aug. 7 and another for upperclassmen on Aug. 8. Students assumed that, by seeing a course displayed on their locater card, they could expect to have a spot the class. However, many soon learned that this was not the case. Before the start of the school year, teachers experienced large changes in the master schedule. The administration was forced to cut six classes because the district issued six less classes than expected. We were hoping to get some additional sections, but we didnt, so we had to kind of pair down and raise some numbers in some sections, Assistant Principal Jim Coe says. As a result, classes such as AP Calculus AB and health were impacted with 37 and 40 students per class, respectively, while others such as AP U.S. Government were undernews editor

will be excited to know that there are events that they can participate in and that school is not just about the academics or sports but also about the community. Classes have a variety of opportunities to earn spirit points. At this past rally, the class that cheered the loudest, which was the senior class, received 10 spirit points, while the teacher who stuffed the most balloons into their clothing, in this case teacher William Colglazier, won the junior class 100 points. Another Leadership effort is a push for participation in spirit week dress-up days through its spirit point system. During the Back to the Basics spirit week held from Aug. 26 to Aug. 30, some students noticed a recognizable difference from last year. Sophomore Magali de Sauvage says, Ive seen more [participation this year] than last year. A lot more than last year. People are more aware of the spirit days and theyre a lot easier to dress up for. Explaining the purpose of spirit weeks, Williams says, thats our main Raise spirit goal. We want to [promote] pride around campus. Outside of Leadership, oth-

er student leaders are bringing students together in an effort to instill a sense of unity. At 7 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, seniors convened in center court to celebrate the commencement of their last year at Aragon with the first ever Senior Sunrise. Seniors took part in numerous activities such as making hand-print murals and creating Make-it-Great lists. The senior class student council and their advisor, teacher Katherine Ward, organized the event with support from the Aragon Senior Parent Group. Senior class president Patrick Lin says, The purpose of the event was to unite the senior class at the beginning of the year on a positive note and get people excited about upcoming senior events. Although this event was organized exclusively for the Class of 2014, Lin hopes it will continue for years to come. In his speech to attendees, Lin said, We have a chance to set a new precedent for classes to come and to leave a legacy for classes to come and it started today [with the] first ever Senior Sunrise. On the same day, the seniors also participated in what they
continued on page 7

enrolled, with under 27 students in each class. The administration has since brought all class sizes down in order to meet the San Mateo Union High School District Teachers Associations (SMUHSDTA) requirement, which says all classes other than physical education and music may enroll no more than 35 students. Counselors advised some CP U.S. Government students to switch to AP in order to fill the under-enrolled classes. In addition, the administration added health sections in order to alleviate impacted classes in that subject. At beginning of the year, there was discussion in AP Calculus AB to remove the students who received the lowest scores on the first quiz, which would be based on review material. However, plans for this have since been cancelled, as students dropped the course voluntarily. Calculus teacher Cheri Dartnell says, I havent had to bump anybody out against their wishestheyve done it on their own. Dartnell is worried that her larger class sizes may prove problematic for the learning experience. It definitely is harder. I cant tell yet. Last year I had really small
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

VOLUME 53 | ISSUE 1

Classroom overcrowding
The ability for students to take whichever classes they meet the prerequisite forand thus take multiple science or math classesis part of a policy called open enrollment. Counselor Steve Allekotte says, [Open enrollment] means pretty much anybody can take any class...We try to counsel them to the classes that are appropriate. Many attribute these scheduling issues to this districtwide policy. There werent any restrictions, so its partly our fault, says Coe while explaining the issues with double science and math courses. Open enrollment has allowed for more students to take on a seventh period class, resulting in a larger amount of students taking seven classes than originally accounted foranother explanation for overfilled classes. The assistant principals of the San Mateo Union High School District will hold a meeting to discuss different solutions. What Im in the process of doing in addressing that at our Assistant Principal Council [meeting] is to bring up the topic of what we call the seventh period day allotment, explained Coe. Six or seven years ago, [it] was expected that 25 or 30 percent of students would take seventh periodsnow were way over that. Probably 50 to 60 percent of our students take seventh periods. So that allotment needs to be adjusted upwards at each school, not just here. Adjusting for the increase in students taking a seventh period could occur in two different ways: either the district could add more classes to account for increased demand or restrict students from taking certain electives. Coe says, If the district doesnt want to [add more sections], then [they would] tell us that you can have no more than 40 percent of your student body in seventh periods. There is no double science, no double math, and freshmen and sophomores probably will be the ones who wont have as many elective choices. The meeting is scheduled for Sept. 10; however, a decision is not expected until later in the year.
Read more at aragonoutlook.org

continued from page 1

New teachers join Aragon staff

Samantha Soon and Maria Menshikova
centerspread editor and arts & graphics editor

NEWS

the aragon outlook

classes, and I ended up with a really high pass rate, so it will be interesting to see if I can maintain that pass rate with this many students, says Dartnell. [During] work time in the classroom, its hard to keep everybody on task. CP U.S. Government and Economics teacher Frederick Chancellor, whose classes are mostly filled to maximum capacity, agrees that a larger amount of students restricts the classroom experience, but he doesnt think the changes have been large enough to make a noticeable difference. Chancellor says, It stretches you thinner in terms of working with the individual student, but to really make a big difference, theyd have to reduce the contract down to, say, we are going to teach five classes and have 120 students. As of Aug. 3, Aragon met SMUHSDTAs class size requirements of 35 students per class, except for music and P.E. However, some teachers, like Dartnell, signed a waiver with the union allowing them to take a 36th student. While class sizes are currently under control, many are looking to the roots of the scheduling problems to figure out what changes can be made. According to Coe, interdistrict transfers and students moving in are some of the factors that contribute to impacted classes. Each year, the district allots us [a certain] amount of sections, says Coe. What we dont know is the number of people who are moving into the district, into our area, and will be coming to us Sometimes, we find out that there is more of a creep in student increase than we had originally thought, so that leads us to some classes that are impacted. In addition to inter-district transfers and new students, courses are impacted due to more students doubling in science and matha decision that, while may be beneficial to the student, takes up extra class spots. We had a number of students who wanted to take a double science and a double math, says Coe. What happened was, the district held very tight on any extra sections, so some of those upper division math and science courses tend to be impacted.

Maria Cheever

Spanish

Why did you want to become a teacher? I wanted to go into either journalism or work as an interpreter or go on to graduate school, so I wasnt sure what I wanted to do. One of my sisters, who is a teacher, said, Why dont you try substitute teaching until you figure out what your next step is? So I did and started substitute teaching at New Haven Unified in Union City, and I really enjoyed it, so I decided to get my teaching credential, and Ive been teaching ever since. This is my ninth year. What is your favorite TV show/movie? Mad Men. I just love time pieces and Downtown Abbey.

David Rink

Spanish

Why did you want to become a teacher? I wanted to become a teacher because my parents are teachers, and I saw how much they enjoyed the profession. And the other reason I decided to become a teacher was because I like the social interaction of teaching and working with the students on a daily basis. If you could choose any mythical creature as a pet, what would it be? Id say an Aztecan Jaguar. Its a jaguar from the Aztec mythical perspective.

Evan Lurie

Social Studies

Why did you want to become a teacher? Because its exciting. Its fun to sit in front of, or rather, stand in front of kids and help them turn on the lights and watch them get excited about it. I cant think of a better way to create a legacy and touch so many different peoples lives and, hopefully, improve them... inspire them for a life of curiosity. What is your favorite part of teaching the subject that you do? I think its probably helping kids become more aware and seeing how no one has a neutral perspective and everyone, because of how they were raised or their socioeconomic status or religion or experiences, has a unique perspective on the world that colors everything that they see and learn.

Amanda Clothier

English

Why did you want to become a teacher? I was inspired by many of my own high school teachers and coaches. I have always loved reading and looking beyond the surface meanings of things. It made sense to become an English teacher, so that I would have the opportunity to pass that passion on, hopefully, to others. If you could choose any mythical creature as a pet, what would it be? I would own the Phoenix because I have always appreciated the concept of being able to make a change at any time in your life and to re-invent yourself into who you would like to be.

John Chen

Orchestra & Choir

Why did you want to become a teacher? I had many inspirational teachers. Of course, the first one was the one I just replaced, [David Martin]. I was in one of the first classes he taught here, so he was definitely a huge inspiration in my life to become a teacher. Assuming your family and pets are safe, what would you take with you in a house fire? I would just throw on my shoes and leave. I would try to take my piano, but thats a little too large, so I would just throw on shoes and leave.

Rafael Montelongo

Mathematics

Why did you want to become a teacher? Since I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher. I had the fortune to have great teachers that inspired me. What is your favorite part of teaching the subject that you do? All of it. It is math. What is better than math? Next question. What is your favorite TV show/movie? My favorite show right now is Game of Thrones. Im currently finishing reading book five in the series.

The Aragon Outlook welcomes these new staff members to the Aragon community.
Maria menshikova

september 12, 2013

Aragon students receive new, clean lockers

OPINION

VOLUME 53 | ISSUE 1

Upperclassmen with study hall should be allowed to leave campus on block days
On block days, students with a free period in the middle of the day are required to stay at school. Like all study hall students, they are expected to spend the time in the library. On block day periods, such a requirement largely resembles a detention. During the school day, the Aragon administration is responsible for the safety of all students. In order to fulfill this responsibility, the administration feels it necessary to monitor students from the time they arrive at school to the time they get home. This sentiment manifests itself in Aragons official closed-campus policy, wherein students are required to stay on campus all day. While the Aragon administration is right to prioritize students safety, the new schedule renders the closedcampus policy out of date. An hour and a half is too long to ask a student to stay in the library. Mature studentsupperclassmen, that isshould be given the privilege to leave campus during study hall block periods. In other words, Aragon should become a partially open campus on Wednesday and Thursday block days. Students are currently expected to stay in study hall on block days because the administration believes study hall encourages productivity, and ensures students safety. Unfortunately, the library is not an environment that fosters productivity. Despite the librarians best intentions, the library can be a loud and difficult place to study, and oftentimes study hall students are left without computer access, such as when a visiting class is working on a research project or online presentation. Allowing responsible students to go home during study hall would allow them to use their block periods in a more efficient manner. Students who need to write essays or work on projects would be able to do so in solitary space, with familiar computers and materials. Students who participate in after-school activities can get a head-start on their homework and save valuable time. Obviously, there is no way to guarantee that students will be productive if they are allowed to leave campus. But there is similarly no way to guarantee that they will be productive if they stay in the library. Upperclassmen can be trusted to ration their time as they please. If an overworked junior or senior wants to spend their block period relaxing at home, it should be his or her prerogative. While student safety is perhaps a more valid concern than student productivity, responsible upperclassmen can be expected to accept liability for themselves while off-campus. And in terms of legal responsibility, a system can easily be put in place to release the school of accountability for a students safety while he or she is off campus. In fact, such a system already exists: students who have study hall sixth period have the opportunity to leave school early on Thursdays, as sixth period is the last period of the day on Thursday block. Before being allowed to leave sixth period, students must obtain an off-campus pass from the attendance office and have it signed by Vice Principal Jim Coe. To attain such a pass, students must procure a note with their parent or guardians signature, wherein the parent or guardian indicates that the student is free to leave campus during the said time, and that the parent or guardian accepts responsibility for anything that happens to their student while he or she is off-campus. Such a system could easily be put in place for students wishing to leave school during study hall periods that are not their last period. Parents or guardians would sign a form releasing the school of all liability if anything should happen to their student during the period they are off campus. Once off campus, parents and the student would be responsible for the students safety. It is important to remember that an off-campus privilege would be exactly that: a privilege. Abuse of the freedom, including transporting other students who do not have off campus passes, or habitually returning to school late would result in the confiscation of ones off-campus pass, and, in more severe cases, disciplinary action. However, the majority of upperclassmen can be trusted with an hour and half of free time outside of school. Juniors and seniors can find better things to do with the time block periods other than sit in the library; they should be have the freedom to do so.
Thoughts? Email us at letters@aragonoutlook.org

Editorial

The Aragon Outlook

www.aragonoutlook.org
Scott Silton Faculty Adviser Brandon Liu, Annika Ulrich Editors in Chief
Maria Menshikova

News
Jordan Kranzler, Editor Brandon Yan, Editor Tate Hanna Virginia Hsiao Carolyn Ku Raayan Mohtashemi Emily Shen Cleo Wienbar Victoria Yan Shu Yang Monica Mai

Features
Kira Brenner, Editor Jack Herrera, Editor Angela Solis, Editor Isabel Chao Maya Hsu Rebecca Jain Winston Lee

Sports

Jacqueline Tang, Editor

Sasha Menshikova Annika Olives

Murray Sandmeyer Catherine Stoehr Nick Tolfa Regina Wen Richard Yu Anders Zhou

Photography
Alex Furuya, Editor Cristina Ashbaugh Vienna Auerweck Kelly Chang Scott Liu Natalie Rutgers Megan Sinclair Griffin Tietz Nicole Wallace

Centerspread

Samantha Soon, Editor

Opinion

Jack Herrera, Editor

A
Matt McHugh, Editor Ryan Cheong Max Herrera Jeffrey Kishiyama Spencer Walling Isaac Wang

Illustration

Maria Menshikova, Editor Franchesca Carracedo Shinhyun Park Amelia Solis Jazelle Jajeh Adeline Yu

Elizabeth Zhou

Web

Jonathan Staryuk, Editor

Arts & Entertainment

Kira Brenner, Editor

in the

news
WikiLeaks

Launched in 2007, WikiLeaks cites its mission: Bring important news and information to the public. In the news frequently for its publishing of highly classified documents from sources such as the U.S. military, WikiLeaks and its editor-in-chief and founder Julian Assange are currently held in controversial standing with respect to and international law. WikiLeaks continues to publish through a highsecurity anonymous dropbox.

Snowden

In June 2013, The Guardian published

DESIGN BY

W T W W
TANGLED
IN THE

WEB

Cyber security has been in the news all summer following revelations about the extent of government surveillance on the internet. The Outlook investigates.

Bitcoin

ferent Bitcoin addresses that exchange money. The transactions are secured using crypFirst described in a paper re- tography (techniques for secure leased by a Japanese developer communication in the presence under the pseudonym Satoshi of third parties), and anyone can Nakamoto, Bitcoin is a method of contribute processing power to secure, electronic, decentralized help verify the accuracy of this financial transactions. public record book. The incenBitcoin is often described as tive to do this is a reward of a a currency, but in reality, it is certain amount of Bitcoins. This more like a public record of dif- is how new Bitcoins are creat-

the first of numerous classified in- to news media. His most recent leak, formation leaks provided by Edward a 178-page document that The WashSnowden, a former NSA contractor. ington Post is calling US intelligences The initial leak revealed a classified or- black budget of $52.6 billion, revealed der from the Foreign Intelligence Ser- massive growth in US intelligence provice Court (FISC) requesting Verizon to grams since 9/11 to costs comparative hand over phone records for millions to those of US intelligence operations of customers. Also in early June, docu- during the Cold War. Snowden has curments provided by Snowden revealed rently been granted asylum in Russia, the existence of the NSAs clandestine but faces espionage charges in the PRISM program, a system used by the United States. NSA to collect data from users of major internet services. Snowden fled to Hong Kong prior to the publication of the information but continued to provide What is it? Whos involved? documents In a rapidly evolving and grow- According to a 2011 survey by ing world fueled by the spread the United Nations Office on of technology, cybercrime has Drugs and Crime (UNODC), over become increasingly more 2.3 billion people have access complicated for the interna- to the Internet worldwide. Of tional community to define. that global figure, 60 percent One definition by Norton, a live in developing countries security software company, is and 45 percent are under the any kind of crime involving a age of 25, indicating that our computer or network. It addi- generation is becoming an intionally cites the definition pro- creasing risk for the future of vided in the Cybercrime Treaty cyber security. issued by the Council of Europe The UNODC also reports that, in 2005, which states that cy- unlike many other illicit activibercrime refers to offenses ties, cybercrime is not excluranging from criminal activity sively linked with a particular against data to content and socio-economic level or geocopyright infringement (Krone, graphic location. Rather, the 2005). Thus, according to this UNODC claims that cybercrime definition, the scope of cyber- is one of the most diverse and crime can further vary in scale, widespread crimes because from that perpetrated by the of four main factors. First, gloindividual to actions of nation- balization has contributed to a states. widening gap between the few

by the numbers

Cybercrime

90%
10%
of recorded cybercrime suspects are known to the victim as neighbors, friends, or relatives

23%
over

of malicious computer activity occurs in the U.S.

edthey are generated and given to those who put the most effort into helping the network process transactions. Bitcoin is known as a peer-to-peer network, meaning its powered by participants, not by a single company or government servers. Thus, it is almost impossible for any central authority to gain control over the network. The nature of Bitcoin allows substantial anonymity. Because a Bitcoin address is a long string of letters and numbers, it is extremely difficult to trace transactions to the real identities of participants, especially since one can easily use a new Bitcoin address for each transaction. Because of its anonymity and immunity to central control, the buying and selling of illegal goods has become one of Bitcoins most common uses. Launched in 2011, the online black market Silk Road provides a secure place to buy and sell illegal items, such as drugs and fake IDs, drawing

infamy and criticism to both Silk Road and Bitcoin. Though the marketplace does not release sales figures, it is estimated that $15 million in transactions are completed annually. (The entire Bitcoin network has facilitated 288,000 Bitcoins in transactions, or $41.8 million in transactions at current exchange rates.) Although Bitcoin itself is not illegal, its widespread illegal use has resulted in government resistance and its relatively low costs have made it a competitor to financial institutions. The top Bitcoin currency exchanges are now required by law to collect personal information from customers, meaning that purchasing an initial amount of Bitcoins using a normal currency such as U.S. Dollars is less private. In addition, major payment processors like PayPal have banned the use of their products to buy or sell Bitcoins, further increasing the difficulty of acquiring them.

of organized crime groups participating in cybercrime have less than 20 members

elites and the massive proletariat working class, leading to increased financial competition, and thus, a larger demand for shortcuts to obtain money as quickly and cleanly as possible. Second, the Internet provides many cybercriminals with anonymity. By hiding behind the mask of anonymity, some criminals can become untraceable, helping them to escape conviction for their crimes. Third, the Internet has allowed knowledge to become infinitely accessible. Cybercriminals can easily share methods and connect with other like-minded people beyond their personal spheres, thus making the spread of cybercrime unlimited. Lastly, the Internet has created international access to victims in other countries, broadening the options and sources for cybercriminals.

CONSEQUENCES
Aaron Swartz

Chelsea Manning

This past January, the suicide of 26-year-old software developer, Reddit co-founder and Internet activist Aaron Swartz sparked a national debate. Two years earlier, Swartz had been arrested by MIT police after downloading copyright protected files from the subscription-only database JSTOR and uploading them online. At the federal level, Swartz was charged with two counts of wire fraud and 11 violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The cumulative punishments had a charge of

up to $1 million in fines, 35 years in prison, asset forfeiture, restitution and supervised release. Swartzs supporters were outraged, arguing that the potential punishment resembled that of a murderer or rapist. Yet, despite these protests, Swartzs charges were upheld by federal prosecutors. Some have speculated that Swartzs punishment was an attempt by the justice system to make him a martyr, proving that the wave of thought calling for free access to information was illegal and would remain intolerable by American standards.

Manning was found guitly of espionage but acquitted of charges of aiding the enemy, and was sentenced in August to 35 years in prison for providing WikiLeaks with over 700,000 government files. The documents included video footage of an American helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed civilians and journalists, and also revealed that civilian deaths in the war in the Middle East were likely higher than previously believed. Manning has since requested a presidential pardon but is currently beginning her sentence in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Samantha Soon & Jonathan Staryuk

COPY & RESEARCH BY

Angela Solis, Annika Ulrich, Brandon Liu, Jacqueline Tang, Jonathan Staryuk, and Samantha Soon

SOURCES

http://www.unodc.org/documents/organized-crime/UNODC_CCPCJ_EG.4_2013/CYBERCRIME_STUDY_210213.pdf http://www.enigmasoftware.com/top-20-countries-the-most-cybercrime/

VOLUME 53 | ISSUE 1

FEATURES

the aragon outlook

Questionable humor fuels Vines popularity

Kira Brenner
features editor

The selfie: well known by many, augmented by Instagram. Now, Instagram has the capacity to post 15-second videos. This feature came out shortly after the competing app, Vine, was released. Vine, an app that has exploded in recent months, is owned by Twitter. It became the most-downloaded free app in the App Store in April 2013 after debuting in January 2013. Though primarily used on iPhones, a similar version was introduced to Android devices in June. The app caps videos at about seven seconds and allows users a quick alternative way to upload short content. When sites like Vimeo and YouTube already allow users to upload short videos although there is no seven second maximum limitVines quick rise in popularity brings to mind the question of why it is so widely liked. Senior Monica Yip says, I think it got popular so quick-

million

40

users and growing

Vine

ly because it made uploading videos so much faster than sites like YouTube and Vimeo. People started using the snippet feature to cleverly make short films that told funny and unique stories. Also, [the videos] are short clips that make it easier to watch a lot in a short amount of time. Senior Shannon Chen agrees, saying, It was cool how people made seven second videos. My attention span is so short nowadays. Vine can seriously keep me entertained for so long. Its actually really bad how addicted I was during [the] summer. Many people post videos from moments in their day to share with friends and family. Yip says, [One of my videos] is of my friends and me locking our friend in a storage closet during camp[It] was just a funny memory record my friends and I could look back on. The entertainment factor is an important part of Vines success. Much of the apps popularity is credited to its humorous content. However, some students notice a trend

of racial and other potentially offensive humor in popular or famous videos. For example, senior Ria Patel says, [Theres] one [Vine video] where the guy in it freaks out and says, This is the most beautiful thing Ive ever seen in my life! Its watermelon inside a watermelon! There are cut up watermelon [pieces] in a watermelon bowl. The mans out-of-control, silly demeanor has made the video extremely popular. The subject of the video is black and it appears that he may even be mocking the stereotype that black people love watermelon. However, the comment section of the video suggests that the video perpetuates the stereotype. Sophomore Olivia Di Santo says, A lot of [the humor] is racism and stupidity. Sophomore Aileen Calter says, I dont really mind [that type of humor] because Im not really sensitive to that. Senior Troy Young asserts, Racism, sexism, and something involving someone doing stupid things and hurting themselvesthats what makes up the most popular videos on Vine, and I still think its funny because its staged. Its not real. Ive never been offended by a video on Vine so far, adds

Young. However, sophomore Mary Fitzgerald disagrees, saying, [People] always make jokes of it, but its not a joke. They make it seem like its not a big deal, but its still not okay. It seems many are not concerned about the apps social implications. Oftentimes people are less sensitive to racial humor when the race being stereotyped or made fun of is being portrayed by someone of the targeted race. Di Santo says, Chinese people make videos about Chinese people. They consider it okay if they make the video. But other Chinese people might be offended. Other nationalities find it hilarious. Matt Schrage, a sixteenyear-old from San Francisco, wrote on his eponymous blog, I have noticed that a disproportionate number of Vines focus on racial stereotypes. Several Vines create comic situations around interactions with homeless people (at their expense). Even more show

Instagram
users

million active monthly

130

crude, mean-spirited pranks... Frankly, the things we find funny are appalling. Only time will reveal if Vine stays popular or fades away like other social media fads. Is Vine going to continue to grow as Facebook has, or will it take the route of the once popular Myspace and change its purpose? Myspace is now often used by musicians to find other musicians and promote independent projects; its purpose has changed since its earliest days. Vine may become increasingly dark with its humor or it may become a bigger platform for artistic short-story films. Chen says, Vine will stay relevant until people cant come up with anymore things to post. Then, [with] nothing really interesting to watch, people [will] lose interest.
Visit aragonoutlook.org for links to Vine videos referenced in the article, and send us your favorite Vine videos at letters@ aragonoutlook.org!

september 12, 2013

FEATURES & SPORTS

Matt McHugh The varsity football team started their 2013 campaign on the right foot with a 50 0 victory over the Jefferson High School Indians on Friday, Sept. 6, marking Head Coach Steve Sells 100th victory coaching the Dons. This marks the third consecutive season that the Dons have won their first game, following up on last years 4021 victory over San Mateo. Despite finishing the 2012 season with an 84 record, the Dons will accompany Burlingame and Half Moon Bay back down to the Ocean Division for the 2013 season. In the eightteam Bay Division, the Dons tied for seventh after going 23. The goal for this season is to win the Ocean Division, which means that next years team will compete in the Bay Division. Last year, the Dons were barely able to dip their feet in the Bay; this marks their second trip down to the Ocean Division in three years. Despite the division change, the team
sports editor

VOLUME 53 | ISSUE 1

Dons look to take Ocean Division crown

does not anticipate adopting a significantly different strategy. Sell says, We have a core belief in what we do, but that always gets tweaked depending on what type of kids we have. Although the team said goodbye to some of last years stars, like wide receiver Aldo Severson and defensive lineman David Manoa, Sell feels confident about the teams talent. He says, We have a lot of wide receiver types. We dont have the super-fast halfbacks like we did last year, when we had Marcel Jackson and J.D. [Elzie]. Were thinking Kono [Filimoehala-Egan] is going to be everything Aldo was last year. Junior safety Billy Mason thinks Manoas departure might hurt the most. He says, David Manoa was a great leader last year, and we dont have someone like that yet. That person has to go 100 percent on every play, and he has to tell others what to do. Hopefully by the first game, someone will step up. Senior and center Tyler Neeley says, We need to find

Maria Menshikova

Plastic bag ban welcomed

Alex Furuya Would you like a paper bag for ten cents? is now a common phrase at checkouts in San Mateo County retail stores. On Nov. 6, 2012, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors passed the Reusable Bag Ordinance, which went into effect on April 22, 2013. The Board of Supervisors found that retail plastic bags are harmful to the environment and a public nuisance, and consequently declared that stores cannot distribute plastic bags to customers and may only distribute paper bags at a cost of 10 cents. Failure to comply to these regulations results in fines ranging from $100 to $500. The ordinance extends to 25 cities within San Mateo County, including Burlingame, Half Moon Bay and Redwood City. Some stores are exempt from the ordinance. According to the San Mateo County website, Exemptions apply for restaurants and nonprofit charitable organizations, as well as businesses that use produce and meat bags, garment cleaning bags and pharmaceutical bags. The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors created the Reusable Bag Ordinance in order to reduce plastic litter and waste. According to the San Mateo County Health System, 20 billion single-use plastic grocery bags are used every year in California, and most end up in landfills, or as litter on land and in our waterways. Aragons AP Environmental Science teacher Amy Schwartz says, Plastics dont break down, so technically they dont ever go away, so you might get smaller and smaller pieces of plastic. The Aragon community has noticed change. Living in San Francisco, I definitely noticed [changes]. I bring my own bags to grocery stores, says Schwartz. Since [San Franciscos] ban, so many other stores sell their own reusable bags, and it does seem like more people are bringing their own
photography editor

bags. On the other hand, sophomore Yulan Chen says, I have not noticed any direct impact, except for seeing more people scramble to their car from the checkout line to grab reusable bags. During the summer, mixed reactions arose in response to the bag ban. Many students agree that the bag ban is a good measure to help the environment. I think they should continue the bag tax just because it is important to reuse the bag, says freshman Lauren Campbell. Its such a waste throwing them away, and it helps people realize that it does make a difference. Not a lot of people carry around their own reusable bagsI know I dont. Its sometimes inconvenient, but I get it because plastic is not biodegradable, says junior Valerie Chen. San Mateo County is not the first location to implement a bag ban. In May 2012, Los Angeles implemented a similar bag ban. Other cities outside of California, such as Seattle, Denver and Portland, also have a similar regulation. The bag ban in Seattle, which went into effect in July 2012, resulted in significant change. According to the Seattle Public Utilities Plastic Carryout Bag Ban Survey, 49 percent of retailers saw a decrease in the total plastic bags distributed due to the ordinance. The findings stated that more grocery store shoppers are bringing reuseable bags and that roughly one-third of stores report cost increases. The Reusable Bag Ordinance is a strong step forward in environmental progress. The Aragon community sees both the benefits and the obstacles the ban poses. Schwartz says, The bag tax is a good start in terms of dealing with a series of environmental issues...I think its okay to wait and see how this one is working out. For more articles visit our website at aragonoutlook.org

leadership in the team, and find strengths in ourselves to get back to the Bay Division. One strength of the Dons this upcoming season will be their passing attack. Senior quarterback Nat Blood put together one of the best seasons by an Aragon quarterback in recent seasons, and when paired with this years speedy wide receiver oriented group, could pose a dangerous threat. Moving to the Ocean Division means the Dons will share a division with San Mateo High School for the first time since 2006, when they both played in the Bay Division. Sell says, Our games have been competitive in the last couple years. Whats unique is were used to having that game week one, since 2007. Now thats going to be week six or seven. Once were playing, the rivalry will take over. Im hoping when we play them its for more than just pride. The Dons will play their home opener on Friday, Sept. 13 against the El Camino Colts in the third annual Academic Bowl.

Junior wide receiver Tyee Stokman executes a drill during practice.

Alex Furuya

Senior class leaders introduce new activities

continued from page 1

have come to call Secret Senior Spirit Days, in which students donned pajamas to showcase senior pride. The Class of 2014s student leaders touted the event as a success and plan to host more such events in the future. I think its very fun. [Theres going to be] lots of fun people, friendship, unity...and Im excited for the Senior Sunrise, says senior Julia Murray. Meanwhile, the new ASB officers are driving their initiatives forward. A large part of their plan involves greater collaboration with the student body whether it be through social media or school meetings. Shu says, My big goal right now is to [start having] lunchtime student council [meetings] that will allow all students to have a [say] in student government so that its not just Leadership making all the decisions as it has largely been in previous years.

Student leaders across campus have ambitious plans for the school year that aim to make this year a spirited and

exciting one, but the success of these plans still remains to be seen.v

Math, Science, Test Prep Experts

1-1 In Home/Online Coaching info@starfireed.com | 650-649-9575
www.StarfireEd.com facebook.com/StarfireEducation | twitter.com/StarfireED

VOLUME 53 | ISSUE 1

Young volleyball team hopes for season of improvement, unity

Matt McHugh
sports editor

SPORTS

the aragon outlook

The Aragon varsity volleyball team will look very different this season. Under new head coach Kelsey Stiles, they will try to build upon last years 15-15 overall record, (6-8 Bay Division). Although this is her first year coaching varsity, Stiles has worked as an assistant in the Aragon volleyball program for the past three years. This years team is also very young, with two freshmen and four sophomores on the varsity team. Stiles adds, I dont look at this year as a rebuilding year just because were young. We have enough older girls with more experience. We can use the younger girls as a weapon that nobody has seen before. There is a key advantage to having a younger team. Bad habits arent ingrained in younger players like they can be in older players, says senior Christina Garcia-Rovetta. The team will also be with-

out Chanel Joyce, an outside hitter who received a full scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi last year. We have young outside hitters to fill her spot, adds Stiles, so Im not too worried about it. One key strength for this years team is their chemistry. Garcia-Rovetta says, Last years team was more cliquey. It will be tough to fill their skill positions, but our chemistry this year is better. Stiles agrees, saying, Volleyball is a very mental game, and if the girls dont like each other, you can see it on the floor. In the past, Ive seen groups of girls all with different goals and if they cant come together as one team, they wont be successful. The Dons also have some weaknesses for the upcoming season. Our main weakness is height, says sophomore Anna Joshi. Many of the seniors we lost were tall. To compensate for that weakness,Garcia-Rovetta says, We have a strong back

row, so if we dont block as much as we did last year, we can defend it well. The Dons will once again face some very tough competition in the Bay Division. Menlo-Atherton, Burlingame and Carlmont all finished with better records last year. Stiles adds, Weve played Carlmont in the past, and we won the first two games and lost the next three because the girls chemistry fell apart. This years cohesiveness and good team chemistry could be enough to capture the Bay division title. Sophomore Madison Lee says, Our better team chemistry will definitely help us this year. The Dons started their season off very strong, finishing first in a tournament on Sept. 7. Their victory was comprised of wins against the Kennedy Titans and the College Park Falcons. They will take their 2-0 record into the Highlands tournament in Bakersfield on Friday, Sept. 13 and Saturday, Sept. 14.
Junior Sarah Moore spikes an oncoming ball during practice.

Alex Furuya

games
Matt McHugh The Aragon cross country team, coming off an excellent season last year, is preparing for a new season. Last years boys cross country team went to the state championship. The Lady Dons also finished strong, with a solid sixth in the Central Coast Section (CCS) finals. Coach Bill Daskarolis says, We graduated a lot of seniors, and were starting from a younger level this year. We have several freshmen who we think will contribute, but we wont be as strong as we were last year. Sophomore Ryan McAuliffe ran with five seniors at state championships last year. He was the only non-senior to compete. He says, We got a couple freshmen and some other younger kids working hard that will definitely make a difference. Junior Oma Skyrus thinks this years team has potential. She adds, We have lost a few seniors, but we have some people that can step it up, and we could be really good this year. Senior Matt Lanthier thinks that there will still be strong leadership with the team this year. He says, We definitely have some seniors that will step up and take charge of the team. McAuliffe agrees, saying, Not only seniors need to take charge, but juniors and underclassmen need to step it up, too.
sports editor

upcoming

Sept. 13 Girls water polo Lincoln Tournament (San Jose) Sept. 13 Boys water polo Newark Tournament Sept. 13 Volleyball Highlands Tournament (Bakersfield)

Sept. 12 Girls tennis vs. Burlingame Sept. 13 Football vs. El Camino Sept. 16 Girls golf at St. Ignatius

Cross country prepares for upcoming season

The returning runners will try to set good examples for the freshmen. We put in 100 percent every day, adds Lanthier. It shows the freshmen to give all their effort for the good of the team. I try to be a good example for the younger runners, says Skyrus. I take care of my body while still being athletic. The Dons will have to match up against the traditional powerhouses of the 17team league, the second largest in the entire Central Coast Section. Menlo-Atherton and Carlmont are the strongest teams in the very competitve league. The team does different variations of practice, depending on the day. Skyrus says, Twice a week we do track workouts, and twice a week we do off campus runs to build endurance. Once a week we do hill sets to work on strength, and we have one run day on the weekend to keep up because we dont want to lose what weve built up over the week. Daskarolis adds, We run a weight training program throughout the season for upper body and leg training. We lift lighter weights to build strength and not heavier weights to build bulk like football. The Dons also have very good team chemistry. Although the runners run individually, they work hard to keep the team close. Lanthier says, We do team bonding events, and on our long runs well sing and have random conversations and have a great time. McAuliffe adds, The workouts are not fun, but we have to get it done, and we suffer together. Their next meet is on Saturday, Sept. 14. They will be participating in the Lowell Invitational at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

Senior Nathan Perisic prepares to pass the ball to a teammate in practice.

Alex Furuya

New coaches join water polo

Brandon Liu and Annika Ulrich
editors in chief

Cross country team members condition on the track during an afternoon practice.

Alex Furuya

As the sun rises over center court, the Aragon boys and girls water polo teams can be seen fiercely treading and practicing passes in the chilly pool. If the return of frequent 6 a.m. morning practices is any indication, Aragon water polo aims to take all four teams to new heights this year. Its pretty brutal, says senior Rick Miyagi. Four morning practices a week, three afternoons, and then we usually have Saturday tournaments. Miyagi speaks for a small, 10-man boys varsity squad of mostly juniors that have transitioned this season to the leadership of new coach Randy Kalbus, who previously coached at Burlingame High School. Miyagi believes that the younger squad is better structured and that their new coach is the best yet. The boys season opener

against Burlingame High School was a 16-6 loss. He says, Burlingame, they have a yearround water polo program, so theyre usually better than us, but actually, I think we have the confidence to maybe beat them for our next game. Girls water polo, coached last year by Ross Bridges,is now coached by Roxanne Tursi. Team captains for varsity are seniors Alison Clark and Paige Kotowitz. The Lady Dons opened their season with an away match against Burlingame High School on Sept. 5. While Aragon was defeated by the Panthers last year, the Dons managed a closer game this year, but lost 12-11 in a sudden death shoot-out in overtime. Kotowitz says, Its great to have a lot of new players on the team and to practice with them. We have a good new coach this year, so I see a bright future.