QUICKREADS

SPARTAN SCROLLVolume XLIV, Issue 2Oct. 31, 2014 Schurr High School Montebello, CA

Taco Mambo: Spartan Legion will host the 12th annual Taco Mambo Fun Run/Walk Nov. 29. Participants can sign up in Room M-3. More information is available at schurrscroll.com.

CAHSEE Make-ups: There will be make-ups for the CAHSEE for juniors and seniors Nov. 4 at 7:45 a.m. and Nov. 5 at 8:45 a.m. in the library.

School Holidays: Classes will not be held Nov. 10-11 for Local Board Holiday and Veterans Day, repectively, as well as Nov. 24-28 for Thanksgiving Break. Classes will resume Dec. 1.

OPINIONS 12 SPORTS8 ENTERTAINMENTDiscover the hidden sugars in everyday food.

Catch up with the harriers as they prepare for Almont League Finals.

3

CINDY VUONG

BY ALEXANDRIA VALENZUELAReporter

In order to encourage school pride and involvement in activities, Homecoming will begin Nov. 3 and conclude with the football game against Mark Keppel Nov. 7.

The football game will be held at 7 p.m. on Ken Davis Field and the Homecoming Queen will be crowned during halftime.

Dress-up days for the week include ‘Merica Monday, Tired Tuesday, Wild West Wednesday, Twin Day Thursday and Spirit Friday.

A night rally will be held Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in the amphitheater, led by Pep Commissioner Michelle Ibarra.

“I really want it to be extra hyped-up and just find ways to get all of the students to participate in the different games we will be having,” said Ibarra.

Nominations for king and queen were held Oct. 20-24. Voting for the top five candidates held Oct. 29. The final round of voting for the top five nominees will take place Nov. 5.

Homecoming King will be announced at the night rally Nov. 6, and the queen

will be announced at half-time during the game Nov. 7.

The schedule for Homecoming Day will follow reverse collaboration. After school, clubs will set up booths in the teacher’s parking lot that will offer food, beverages or games as fundraisers.

“It’s such a great feeling to see all of us come together because we all have the same goal and want to reach this great accomplishment. This is the chance we get to support our football team and, most importantly, make everlasting memories,” said USB President Cecilia Campos.

The Homecoming Dance, hosted by the Class of 2016, will be held after the game in the amphitheater beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5, with sales starting Nov. 3 in the Student Store, and $7 at the door.

Members of USB will collaborate to decorate the school with the freshmen and seniors working together on A-Building, while the sophomores and juniors will work on B-Building.

“Our plan is to get more students involved, see the excitement and take pride in the atmosphere we create,” said Activities Director Peter Murashige.

Fall Homecoming promotes Spartan pride, participation

BY ERIC GUZMANNews Co-Editor

Renaissance will host the fall rally and Winter Formal Nov. 21 and Dec. 13, respectively.

The theme of the first rally this year is based on popular television shows, with students following a sleeping child in his dreams as he takes part in parodies of popular shows.

“The theme provides us with many different options and ideas,” said Kristi Kayoda, senior Renaissance member. “By making many allusions to popular TV shows, we hope to connect with students in ways we’ve never done before.”

Students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 by the first quarter grade report to qualify to attend the rally, which will feature live performances by drill, cheer and dance, as well as videos created by Renaissance members.

Two rallies will be held to accommodate the large number of students attending. The rally for freshmen and sophomores will take place during second period, while the rally for juniors and seniors will be held during all of third and part of

fourth period. As a result, all juniors and seniors will have second lunch.

“We want to recognize as many students as possible, from those that perform well in school to those that perform well in sports, and everyone in between,” said Raelene McDermott, senior Renaissance member.

Formal will have the theme, “An Enchanted Evening.” Ticket sales will start Nov. 14-21 at $55 for singles with USB and $60 for singles without USB. Prices increase by $10 starting Dec. 1.

Guest passes for students from another school will be available at the student store and are due Nov. 21.

Formal will be held at the Santa Anita Race Track in the Paddock Gardens and Sirona’s Sports Bar, which offer unobstructed views of the San Gabriel Mountains. Depending on the weather, Formal will be held outside with students entering in horse-drawn carriages.

Nominations for Formal King and Queen will be held Nov. 13 and 14, and voting will take place Nov.19. The top five candidates will be announced Nov. 21 during the Renaissance rally.

Renaissance hosts rally, Winter Formal

COURTESY OF JOHN CHAIDES

UC/CSU Workshop: Assistance with completing UC and CSU applications is available today, Nov. 14 and 21 in the library. Students can sign up for the workshop in the College Office.

INSIDE

Brawl with Nintendo characters in latest Super Smash Bros game.

HISTORIC VENUE: Formal will be hed at the Paddock Gardens located at the Santa Anita Race Track Dec 13. Ticket sales will begin Nov. 14.

DEFINING THE LINES: Senior Michelle Ibarra, USB pep commissioner, uses a projector to sketch illustrations depicting the themes for the upcoming Spirit Week Nov. 3-7.

OPINIONS

October 31, 2014schurrscroll.com2

Many of us can reminisce about Halloween memories, when we would boldly step out into dark streets in costume, running around neighborhoods asking for candy. As we have grown older, this passion and confidence has often diminished, hype over trick-or-treating replaced with passivity, leaving us afraid to show our true selves, and get excited and have fun.

This gradual decay of spirit has become so common that we often question our academic abilities and compare ourselves to peers instead of valuing our own strengths. What many of us need to realize is that the passion we once had is still there, hidden under the apathy that may have developed as years passed. By finding and making use of this passion, we learn more about ourselves and grow as individuals.

As the end of the quarter and college application deadlines come closer, it is easy for seniors to become

vulnerable to self-consciousness and for underclassmen to become fearful of quarter grades. Instead, we should show passion in our pursuit of academics. We must practice intellectual honesty by taking pride in our schoolwork and placing value on hard work and moral integrity, resisting the urge to cheat on assignments and being honest about mistakes we make.

We must remember to take pride in our school as well. By participating in school-related events such as Homecoming and pep rallies, cheering our sports teams on and keeping the school clean by picking up after ourselves, we experience pride in representing our school, and take on our roles as students working together as a team.

Stepping out of our Halloween costumes and into the month of November, we must rediscover passion for our interests and take pride in both our actions and our school.

BY ELMER GUARDADOExecutive Editor

I was only four, but I have vivid memories of what happened on August 19, 2001.

My favorite activities included drawing, coloring, and building puzzles. It was the middle of the day and my dad interrupted the construction of my “Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers” puzzle to suggest that I make my mother a drawing because we were going to pick her up (from a location I was too young to understand) and she was going to be really tired (for a reason I was too young to understand).

I remember arriving and walking down cold, white halls with my new masterpiece in hand. The hallway dragged on, but eventually we walked into a room where I saw my mother and a few relatives. My mother was lying in a bed with a bundle of blankets in her arms and she motioned me to come closer as soon as we made eye contact.

The bundle of blankets was called Alan Gabriel Guardado. At the time I didn’t know it, but I had just met someone who’d become my most genuine source of joy.

The first couple of years with Alan were a blur. I vaguely remember piggy-back rides and cheek pinching here and there, but no substantial memories were made until we both started going to a babysitter when he was 4 and I was 8. She was our neighbor and she was a quiet and kind-hearted older woman whom my parents had known for years. She mostly kept to herself in the dining room while Alan and I looked for new and creative ways to entertain ourselves, because watching TV quickly got boring.

We resorted to building Lego spaceships, doing arts and crafts, and role playing scenes where we would pretend to be some of our favorite fictional characters. This was the apex of our connection. We were both so young and had such blossoming imaginations that it felt impossible to try to keep ourselves busy with tasks that didn’t involve active interaction with each other.

As the years went on (and the schoolwork got more and more rigorous) my brother and I slowly drifted apart, and in retrospect allowing this drift to become so drastic is my biggest regret. We still connect through short conversations about shared interests (TV shows, movies, video games), but lately we’ve both been so caught up in our own worlds that we rarely find time to truly connect like we once did.

The longing for the bond my brother and I used to share has only been amplified as I’ve started to map out my future and send out college applications.

Acknowledging that I haven’t been the best older brother that I could’ve been during some of the most seminal years in Alan’s life has been one of the hardest pills for me to swallow, and I’ve found myself drowning in my in my own brotherly guilt.

These realizations have made me want to pull out the Legos and turn back the clock to enjoy the unique bond my brother and I shared once more.

BrotherlyBond

Executive Editor..............................................................Elmer GuardadoSpartan Scroll Editor in Chief...................................................Justin LeeSpartan Scroll Managing Editor.............................................Raquel DiazSchurr Scroll Editor in Chief....................................................Mariah LinSchurr Scroll Managing Editor.............................................Nathan PhanSpectrum Editor in Chief......................................................Cindy VuongSpectrum Managing Editor........................................Stephanie TorosianNews Editors................................................Eric Guzman & Edmund Liu Editorial Editor................................................................ Robert MirandaFeatures Editor......................................................Gabriel Brossy de DiosAssistant Features Editor.........................................................Celine PhuEntertainment Editors............................... Matthew Bahk & Kayla SisonPeople/Student Life Editor......................................................Judy LiangClubs/Academics Editor.................................................. Olivia GonzalezSports Editors.................................................... Kerry Mulia & Erica SuhCopy Editors................................. Ben Gee, Justin Kang & Evelyn WongVisuals Editor................................................................. Sarah HanashiroPhoto Editors........................................... Brandon Chang & Kerry MuliaPhotographers...Jaimie Hsu, Dana Navarrete, Tiffany Ngo & Cecilia WuBusiness Manager................................................................Victor CuevasAdvisors................................Carrie Cunningham and Lorraine LangevinReporters.....Cory Chen, Dennis Dinh, Erick Herrera, Stephanie Munoz, Keith Oshima, Sharon Phu, Saskia Sani, Noheli Sigala, Stephanie Tang, Charles Vuong, Alexandria Valenzuela, William Wong, Melody Yu

There will be no censorship of the Spartan Scroll. Decisions as to what will be printed will be left to the authority of the adviser, editors and staff members. Editorials without bylines are the opinion of the Editorial Board. Opinions, commentaries and features with bylines are the opinions of the writers and do not necessarily express the opinions of the Journalism staff, the school faculty or other students.

Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters must be signed and verifiable in order to be published, but names will be withheld upon request. Pseudonyms or initials will not be accepted. All letters are subject to condensation. Letters that demand a reply will be answered by Spartan Scroll representatives or by the proper authorities. However, the Spartan Scroll cannot publish any materials which violate laws governing student publications. Letters should be sent to Room A-8 or placed in the adviser’s mailbox no later than one week after the previous issue.

The Spartan Scroll is published monthly, except during holidays, by the Journalism 3-8 students of Schurr High School, 820 N. Wilcox Ave., Montebello, California 90640. The telephone number is (323) 887-3090 ext. 6631. It is printed by the News Publisher’s Press.

JOURNALISM STAFF 820 N. Wilcox Ave., Montebello, California, 90640

STAFF EDITORIAL

NATHAN PHAN

OPINIONS

October 3, 2014schurrscroll.com2

As we approach the midpoint of the first grading period, we need to become more focused in everything we do.

Whether it has been easy or difficult to adjust to the routine of school, we cannot stop working hard. Without continued perseverance, there will be no progress; in both school and life, what we put in is what we get out.

In order to make progress towards our goals, it is essential that we prioritize our obligations by effectively managing our time. By setting a weekly schedule for our academic and extracurricular obligations, we can allocate time for all of them. We must remember that it is not about the number of extracurricular and academic activities that we join, but the commitment and time we put into each.

While remaining dedicated to our various activities, we also need time for ourselves. Although interacting with our peers may help us learn more about ourselves and about others, it is equally important to be introspective once in a while. By “hanging

out” with ourselves, we are utilizing an important resource for personal growth that allows for self-reflection, which will aid us in overcoming adversities. Because it will help us identify our strengths and weaknesses, self-reflection is useful in helping us attain our goals by the end of the first quarter.

In the midst of the unrest and turmoil in the Middle East and other parts of the world, we should take the time to reflect upon and appreciate the value of our education, because it is a privilege to be able to receive one. Empowering us to achieve our aspirations, we must be more proactive by participating in class discussions and showing school spirit around campus.

It is crucial to have an optimistic outlook on our endeavors.

Even through struggles, we must not be hindered by negativity, which limits our perspectives of life; we must strive to see the good in all things to gain the confidence that we need to make the most favorable changes in ourselves.

BY ELMER GUARDADOExecutive Editor

Ever since I stopped being an antisocial toddler, my parents have stressed the importance of surrounding myself with good people.

Both of my parents, my mother in particular, never hesitated to assess the company I kept. She went from being curious about knowing who I was playing hide-and-seek with to wanting to know who I was getting lunch with before Friday night football games.

My mother, a very vocal woman, was always very blunt

when telling me I had brought home someone of whom she didn’t approve. Of course, I was always quick to defend these “bad influences,” as she often called them, by saying things like “just because they’re like that doesn’t mean I am too” or “you just don’t understand him/her.”

In the moment of defending them, it always felt like I was fighting for their lives, I mean, who cared that [name withheld] wore saggy pants and swore like a sailor when he had all the video games a sixth grader could ask for? In retrospect, I see the obvious flaws in my early friend recruitment policy.

These disputes about who was an appropriate friend and who wasn’t going to make the cut often led to heated arguments between my mother and me. The ironic part is that all these “best friends” that I defended and fought for aren’t even around now, a mere four or five years later.

With some, there was a natural drifting apart, while with others there was a definite falling out, but overall as the years (and friends) came and went, I knew I needed to redefine the qualifications for who would qualify as a friend.

When the search for new friends began in my first years

of high school, there were some bumps in the road, until I eventually landed where I am today. Whether it was sitting in comfortable silence while doing homework or talking each other off metaphorical ledges, the new friends with whom I found myself surrounded not only made me feel better about myself, but they also gave my mother newfound peace of mind.

For the first time in my life, I feel at home with my circle of friends, and I’ve recently realized that I owe these friends a whole lot more than the occasional food I contribute to the group. I am who I am because of these people. The countless number of pep talks they’ve given me and memories we’ve made are all priceless contributions that they have made to my character and well-being.

Being around a positive group of people who can support and advise a person to the make the right choices can make all the difference. For me a cynical, pancake-adoring blond girl, a floral-print-loving rapper, a baseball-playing Casanova, a Batman-loving ex-wrestler, and a soup enthusiast who finds sad music a little too comforting have all walked into my life and helped me redefine the word “friendship.” While that may sounds like the set up for a really trite joke, instead it became the set-up for the best group of friends I’ve ever had. Maybe mother really does know best...

Executive Editor...............................................................Elmer GuardadoSpartan Scroll Editor in Chief....................................................Justin LeeSpartan Scroll Managing Editot..............................................Raquel DiazSchurr Scroll Editor in Chief.....................................................Mariah LinSchurr Scroll Managing Editor..............................................Nathan PhanSpectrum Editor in Chief.......................................................Cindy VuongSpectrum Managing Editor.........................................Stephanie TorosianNews Editors.................................................Eric Guzman & Edmund Liu Editorial Editor................................................................ Robert MirandaFeatures Editor.......................................................Gabriel Brossy de DiosAssistant Features Editor..........................................................Celine PhuEntertainment Editors................................ Matthew Bahk & Kayla SisonPeople/Student Life Editor.......................................................Judy LiangClubs/Academics Editor................................................... Olivia GonzalezSports Editors..................................................... Kerry Mulia & Erica SuhCopy Editors.................................. Ben Gee, Justin Kang & Evelyn WongVisuals Editor.................................................................. Sarah HanashiroPhoto Editors............................................ Brandon Chang & Kerry MuliaPhotographers....Jaimie Hsu, Dana Navarrete, Tiffany Ngo & Cecilia WuBusiness Manager.................................................................Victor CuevasAdvisers.................................Carrie Cunningham and Lorraine Langevin

Reporters......Cory Chen, Dennis Dinh, Erick Herrera, Stephanie Munoz, Sharon Phu, Saskia Sani, Noheli Sigala, Stephanie Tang, Charles Vuong, Alexandria Valenzuela, William Wong, Melody Yu

There will be no censorship of the Spartan Scroll. Decisions as to what will be printed will be left to the authority of the adviser, editors and staff members. Editorials without bylines are the opinion of the Editorial Board. Opinions, commentaries and features with bylines are the opinions of the writers and do not necessarily express the opinions of the Journalism staff, the school faculty or other students.

Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters must be signed and verifiable in order to be published, but names will be withheld upon request. Pseudonyms or initials will not be accepted. All letters are subject to condensation. Letters that demand a reply will be answered by Spartan Scroll representatives or by the proper authorities. However, the Spartan Scroll cannot publish any materials which violate laws governing student publications. Letters should be sent to Room A-8 or placed in the adviser’s mailbox no later than one week after the previous issue.

The Spartan Scroll is published monthly, except during holidays, by the Journalism 3-8 students of Schurr High School, 820 N. Wilcox Ave., Montebello, California 90640. The telephone number is (323) 887-3090 ext. 6631. It is printed by the News Publisher’s Press.

JOURNALISM STAFF 820 N. Wilcox Ave., Montebello, California, 90640

STAFF EDITORIAL Appreciating Friendships

+ FOLLOW ALL THINGS SCHURR ATSchurrScroll.com

@SchurrNews

4Schurr

BENJAMIN GEE

OPINIONS

October 31, 2014 3

BY ROBERT MIRANDAEditorial Editor

A spoonful of sugar may help the medicine go down, Mary Poppins, but the doctor’s bills will definitely go up over time.

Sugar, one of the most common ingredients in many of the food sources eaten today, has many dangerous health effects caused by its overconsumption in our diets. Many do not understand the exact dangers of sugar and how the food industry adds much more than necessary to our foods. According to new estimates set by the UN World Health Organization in April, Americans are taking in between 94 and 110 grams of sugar a day, while the recommended daily intake is only 25 grams.

Of course, a major source of all this sugar comes from many processed foods we eat. According to mayoclinic.org, added sugars are extra sugars and syrups put into foods during processing, making the product seem more palatable, enticing and, most significantly, addicting.

All sugars are not created equal. The naturally occurring sugars in milk and fruit are not as dangerous to the body’s health as are added sugars, whose true danger is that they contribute “empty calories” to the diet, which do not make one feel full and leave one craving for more. Added sugars can lead to raised blood sugar, insulin and triglyceride levels later in life, leading to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, these added sugars are the ones most people enjoy and take in regularly with their diet.

Another major concern is the consumption of fructose. Sucrose, or table sugar, contains a molecule called fructose, which is metabolised differently by the body,

and accumulates in and scars the liver. One of the most dangerous ingredients in our food is high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is 90% fructose and can be found in most foods, from ketchup to crackers, used to make products more appetizing. HFCS is just as addictive as sugar. However, the real danger lies in consuming too much, which has been linked to heart disease, gout and even aging, according to npr.org. The FDA does not consider HFCS to be a sugar, which means that sugar amounts on labels are deceptive as very high amounts of fructose are usually present in the product although sugar content may seem low.

There have been proposed “sugar taxes” and movements to reduce added sugars from many different settings, including vending machines selling snacks in schools. Many doctors and specialists would have us eliminate virtually all sugar in our diets in order to truly be well. Humans evolved over millions of years, adapting while consuming minimal amounts of sugar, taking in what they could find. While this lifestyle and diet may be best, there are many who cannot bear to live without the treacly snacks we have grown used to consuming. However, by slowly weaning oneself off of certain drinks and snacks, people can learn to live without sugary foods.

Education is likely to be the most

important way to fight the sugar war. By being better informed about the dangers of sugar addiction and overconsumption, we will begin to understand how sugar is contributing to an overall decline in our health, and have a better chance of stopping it by cutting sugar out of our diet and choosing healthier foods.

BENJAMIN GEE

SOURCES: cancer.gov, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, mayoclinic.org, scientificamerican.com. Compiled by ROBERT MIRANDA

SUGARY SCARESWhich of the following do you think has the most sugar?

6%

How much sugar do you consume on a daily basis?

Which of the following do you consume on a regular basis?

Scroll Poll

SOURCE: 323 students in grades 9-12 were polled Oct. 22. Some numbers may not add up to 100% due to incorrectly completed polls.

0-25 g10%

None1%

26-50 g33%

51-99 g35%

100+ g21%

(the average sugar consumed per day is about 100 grams)

4%11%79%

Coke NutellaStrawberry

Yogurt

Soda40%

Candy33%

(1 cup) (1 tbsp.) (6 oz.)

None14%

Cookies41%

Vitamin Water*(1 bottle)

*Has most sugar

Pie8%

1. Sugar has been linked to cancer. When you eat sugar, your body triggers production of insulin, a hormone that regulates sugar levels. According to cancer.gov, raised insulin levels and obesity can cause certain types of cancer, such as esophageal cancer.

2. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) contains mercury. A 2012 study by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy discovered that nearly one in three foods that contained HFCS contained mercury, which is known to cause brain damage.

3. Sugar suppresses the immune system. According to the Mayo Clinic, some types of virus and bacteria-fighting antibodies are suppressed for several hours after consuming snacks and drinks with a high sugar content.

4. Consuming regular amounts of sugar daily may contribute to acne. A study conducted by Australian researchers in 2009 revealed just drinking two cans of soda a day raised the chances of the production of the acne-causing oil called sebum by 105%.

FAST FACTSSUGAR CAN MAKE YOU SCREAM

BY SASKIA SANIReporter

Speech and Debate team members will compete at the Bargain Belt Invitational at Claremont High School tomorrow.

The team hosted their annual Spartan Fall Classic tournament Oct. 25-26, the first of two tournaments the school will host, along with the Spartan Aloha Classic later in the year. The tournament is one of the team’s largest fundraisers and helps members pay for other competitions.

Although team members ran the tournament, several students competed. In Original Oratory, senior Amanda Armendariz and junior Destinee Moya received fourth and sixth, respectively.

Senior Cassandra Dinh and sophomore William Kunkle placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in National Extemporaneous Speaking. Dinh also received first in Original Advocacy, while senior Edward Kunkle placed first in Dramatic Interpretation. Senior Chad Ikemura placed fourth in Humorous Interpretation.

The team also competed at the Titan Invitational at California State University Fullerton Oct. 18-19. Several members

were semifinalists, but only 12 advanced to finals. Senior Cecilia Campos received second in Novice Persuasive Speaking, and senior Saskia Sani placed second in Open Persuasive Speaking, while senior Christopher Hernandez was a finalist.

Senior Brian Salvanera placed second in Open Informative Speaking and was a finalist in Open Humorous Interpretation. Ikemura and freshman Kassady Garrison and were also Open Humorous Interpretation finalists.

Seniors E. Kunkle and Javion Sun were awarded first in Open Dramatic Interpretation and Open Impromptu Speaking, respectively.

In Open Extemporaneous Speaking, Dinh placed third, while Sun was a finalist. Due to her top three finish, Dinh will receive a bid to the Tournament of Champions in Extemporaneous Speaking at Northwestern University May 1-3. She will need one more bid to qualify.

Freshman Brandon Hairston was also a finalist in Novice Extemporaneous Speaking. Senior Kane Tenorio placed third in Novice Congressional Speaking.

“Our team has done exceptionally well,” said Hernandez. “However, there are still things to be worked on.”

CINDY VUONG

NEWS

October 31, 2014schurrscroll.com4

Speech, debate team prepares for invitational at Claremont

PREPARATION: Team members Brandon Hairston, Alexander Xia, Solon Tan, William Kunkle and Lesley Perez discuss strategies with their coach, Lexi Tippings.

BY EDMUND LIUNews Co-Editor

In lieu of a canned food drive, the senior class will have the 5th annual “Dollars from Scholars” drive Dec. 3-12.

“Dollars from Scholars” is a donation drive dedicated to providing meals for families of students in need. All students and staff are encouraged to donate at least a dollar to envelopes located in each classroom.

Nearly one in five children in America live in food-insecure households that cannot provide enough food for the families. This equates to approximately 680 students that might experience the holidays without a meal.

All proceeds will be used to purchase meals for students and families that are in need during the holiday season.

“Dollars from Scholars” first began by collecting donations from a single classroom, and it has since expanded to include the entire school.

Last year, the senior class raised

around $4,000, which was used to provide meals for approximately 100 families of students from Schurr, Macy Intermediate and ATC. This year, Eastmont Intermediate will be receiving support from the donations.

“Hopefully this year we will reach our goal of getting

everyone on campus to donate at least one dollar,” said USB President Cecilia Campos. “I truly believe we will have more participation this year after last year’s amazing result. I don’t know how we will be able to top last year’s numbers, but I predict that this year will go above our expectations.”

A staff luncheon will be held Dec. 17 during which food will be offered for $1 to thank participating teachers and staff. Teachers whose classes raised the most money will also be recognized for their contributions.

The teacher whose classes raise the most money will receive this year’s “Dollars from Scholars” banner, and the teacher with the greatest percentage of student participation will receive a plaque.

“The staff has done a great job of trying to help reach our goal of 100 percent participation, and we hope that they encourage it again this year,” said Kevin Akiyama, class of 2015 advisor. “We met our goal last year, and the number of meals we were able to provide exceeded our expectations.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: “Dollars from Scholars” raises donations to provide students and families with holiday meals. Students and staff are encouraged to give $1 each to the drive.

$4.99 LG PEPPERONI PIZZA

Plus Tax2325 W. BEVERLY BLVD MONTEBELLO, CA 90640

$4.99 LARGE

PEPPERONI PIZZAPlus Tax

2325 W. BEVERLY BLVD MONTEBELLO, CA 90640

Dollars from Scholars gather donations to support students, families

COURTESY OF KEVIN AKIYAMA

FEATURES

October 3, 2014 5

BY NATHAN PHANSchurr Scroll Managing Editor

Using creativity to channel their emotions and communicate their ideas, students across campus showcase their talents in writing, song and art.

As members of the Spartans of the Plume, for example, junior Diana Parra and senior Jennifer Del Bosque both draw inspiration from their personal lives to express thoughts in writing.

“I get inspiration from everything around me,” said Del Bosque. “It’s [writing that] made me change because it makes me really notice the kind of perspective I have on life, and it makes me realize how important it is to have your own opinions. With writing, I can actually have a voice that my characters can be however I want them to be, and that’s really amazing to me.”

Blending melodies with poetry, seniors Cristian Perez and Branden Raygoza reach another level of creativity by adding music to their words.

“If you were to write a story, the only way to add feeling is by reading it in your own voice,” said Raygoza. “But by writing a song, you can incorporate your own melodies.”

Both Perez and Raygoza began writing music together at the end of their sophomore year, having developed two songs. Finding inspiration in experiences with love and relationships, they add lyrics to their music to express their problems and emotions.

“I grew up with [music], and I remember looking up the lyrics [to songs] and seeing how they were written,” said Perez. “I write music with a guitar in hand; I’ve grown accustomed to it. Every time I write, I’m in a better place than where I was in the beginning.”

Senior Adrian Lozano has worked with both Perez and Raygoza with their music and song writing. He plays a wide range of instruments, including the fiddle, drums, accordion and six-stringed guitar.

“I take my emotions out on a piece of paper,” said Lozano. “Writing songs has impacted my life in a way that is gratifying to not only me, but to the audience I am playing for.”

“To know that people work hard throughout the week, spending a little bit of their hard-earned money to hear me perform a song that I’ve composed is overwhelmingly enchanting,” he said.

Expressing themselves in a more abstract sense, seniors Yvette Hernandez and Lauren Leong use art as a way of presenting their ideas for others to interpret.

“I choose to express myself through art because there is no ‘right or wrong’ way of doing it,” said Leong. “In art there are no rules or processes to follow; everyone can do his or her thing and be proud of it.”

Taking advanced art and painting, both Hernandez and Leong have been drawing since childhood. Hernandez draws inspiration from cartoons she watches, while Leong strives to spark a unique style through her art.

With the spark of their individuality and emotion in their creations, these students are able to draw inspirations from their lives and nurture visions of their imagination into reality.

FEATURESHaro pens poems to spread hope

Artistic students flex their creativity

BY ROBERT MIRANDAEditorial Editor

Utilizing his lifetime penchant and passion for poetry and desiring to inspire hope in others, English teacher Ignacio Haro has written and published a volume of poems.

My Strength and My Defense, published this summer, is Haro’s first book. Written over many years, it is a compilation of poems, largely of a religious and faith-based nature.

Haro has combined a lifetime’s appreciation of literature and its authors in creating his poems.

“I tend to lean towards the classics such as Shakespearean style, sonnets, free verse; I draw a lot from [John] Milton and Paradise Lost, and reference a lot of classical works,” said Haro.

“I was also inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s use of vivid imagery to describe environment, Thoreau, Keats, Shelley and other authors in American and British Romantic literature. The book is a combination of these.”

Originally, Haro did not plan to publish his works, but he got the idea after talking to friends.

“I’ve always written, but I never had dreams of becoming a writer. I did it to release emotions and stress. I have written many poems over the years,” he said.

Haro decided to create a book and incorporate a

sense of hope and faith to readers. “It wasn’t about money or fame. It was not to

show off. I wanted to spread a sense of hope to others: that no matter what they’ve done or gone through, they can still make things right in life,” said Haro.

“Hopefully this book creates that sense of hope. It’s not necessarily about help—anyone can help—but to bring a sense of hope to those who read it.”

For Haro, writing is a way to express his true emotions, having written and composed poetry since his teenage years.

“Writing poetry is a release, or a catharsis, as Aristotle would say, of feeling,” he said. “Whatever you can’t say, write it, if you’re caught by the mood, even if you don’t have the right words.

“As a teenager, I had a yearning to express myself and found it through poetry.”

Haro also has advice for writers in the same situation that he was in as a teenager.

“Keep writing. Never stop expressing yourself through writing, and take steps to make your dreams a reality, whether it’s publishing or writing a book for yourself. It is one thing to dream something, to envision it, but it’s a very different thing to take the steps to make it happen,” he mentions, smiling.

My Strength and My Defense is published by Westbow Press. It can be purchased online at amazon.com or from Barnes and Noble.

BY JUSTIN LEESpartan Scroll Editor in Chief

After hearing screaming children and being asked countless questions about the location of the nearest restroom, I took a much-needed break from my volunteer shift at the California Science Center.

Trying to maximize my time, I rushed down from the second story to the food court and walked around. I scanned each of the small shops to find the one with the shortest line.

I quickly made my way to the ice cream shop and stood

in line. Soon, an elderly lady took the spot behind me.She looked exhausted; she had tired eyes, stains on her

shirt and $2 in her hand. Seeing that a small act of kindness might make her day, I decided to pay for her.

After ordering my scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream, I asked the cashier if I could leave her $5 to pay for the lady next in line. The cashier gave me a confused look followed by the question, “Why?”

I told her that I just wanted to do something nice.The lady ordered a small coffee and, when she tried to

pay for it, the cashier explained that she already had $5. The lady was utterly confused and kept shoving her own money to the cashier.

After a blur of Spanish phrases clarified the situation, the lady had tears in her eyes and a big smile on her face. In that moment, she looked as if her worries were gone. She thanked me a countless number of times.

It turns out that the lady was a regular at the museum. She talked about how she would get kicked out for collecting recyclables and would have to resort to going around Downtown Los Angeles, picking up bottles and plastic from the ground and trashcans to make some money everyday. The $2 that she tried to pay with was her earnings for the

entire day.After hearing her story translated for me, the cashier

looked surprised; she had been acquainted with the lady but knew nothing about her and never asked. The cashier even thanked me for helping a complete stranger without asking for anything in return.

I didn’t expect the reactions I got or what I experienced. It made me realize that one act of kindness has a ripple effect; we all were affected positively, as one small coffee connected us.

Helping the lady raised my awareness of the everyday struggles some people face. Despite volunteering at countless events and services, I found listening to her story of how I helped her changed my view about what it means to volunteer; it isn’t a social event or a chore—it’s a way to provide resources others may need.

To me, the $5 didn’t seem like much, but spending it opened my eyes. The small event and encounter encouraged me to do more to spread kindness and learn about others who do not always have a voice.

It’s easy to forget that everybody has struggles and be so caught up in one’s self that we ignore others, but when kindness opens doors, we can all gain a better perspective.

PERSONIFYING POETRY: Junior Diana Parra recites poetry to her fellow Spartans of the Plume members.

BRANDON CHANG

DANA NAVARRETE

SOWING SEEDS OF FAITH: English teacher Ignacio Haro’s first published work, My Strength and My Defense, consists of a variety of poems and is available for purchase in print and electronic formats.

ART AS EXPRESSION: Senior Yvette Hernandez touches up her drawing in Advanced Art.

KERRY MULIA

Connecting through acts of kindness

FOCUS

October 31, 2014schurrscroll.com6

De-sensationalizing Ebola• Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a fatal illness carried by bats that

can infect humans.

• Symptoms appear between two to 21 days from time infected.

• Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function.

• Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with blood, secretions, or bodily fluids of infected people.

• Although there is no cure, medics rehydrate those infected with fluids and treat specific symptoms.

• Worldwide, one has a greater chance of getting chicken pox than Ebola.

FAST FACTS

While this is the largest Ebola outbreak, the first one occurred in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

For an infected person to pass the disease to another individual, the infected person’s bodily fluids must come in contact with another individual.

Symptoms of bleeding from the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth are only found in 20 percent of cases.

Of the 54 African countries, cases of Ebola were found in five: Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

This is the world’s first Ebola outbreak.

Ebola spreads through water, air or body contact.

Ebola causes all victims to bleed from their eyes and ears.

This Ebola outbreak has infected all areas of Africa.

MYTH V FACT

Q & A with Manuel BojorquezThe CBS Network Correspondent based in Dallas, TX, is a Class of 1997 alumnus, was Spartan Scroll Managing Editor and graduated magna cum laude from USC.

Q. How long has the media been reporting the Ebola Outbreak?A. In general, stories about the Ebola outbreak in west Africa started appearing early in the summer of 2014. It wasn’t until the death toll rose sharply that more attention was given. In the United States, domestic coverage of Ebola reached a fever pitch in early October, when the first diagnosis was confirmed. The patient was Thomas Eric Duncan who was visiting family in Dallas, TX, from Liberia. It was the first test of treating Ebola in community hospitals in the United States.

Q. From your experience reporting, what are the reactions received about Ebola?A. The reactions range from fear and skepticism to confidence that Ebola will not become an epidemic in the United States. Since there were several missteps in the diagnosis and treatment of Duncan, there was a general sense that the government and hospitals were not fully prepared to deal with the virus. That led to parents temporarily pulling children from schools in the Dallas area when they found out Duncan’s relatives had attended. The infection of two nurses who treated Duncan also did not help to quell fears. As more time passes without additional cases from the first patient, it affirms what health officials have been saying – that the virus is not airborne and is only transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms. I think that will help calm the public’s fears.

Q. What are the main differences between having Ebola in a first-world country and a third-world country?A. The main difference is the quality and availability of healthcare. The African nations affected do not have highly sophisticated hospitals and medical networks. The lack of these resources have allowed the virus to quickly spread. The United States has the ability to quickly treat individuals who are infected, so that they are isolated and do not infect others. This was put to the test in Dallas, and though initially mistakes were made, officials are learning from those errors and changing guidelines for more effective control.

Q. Do you think there should be a greater stress on Ebola in areas not affected?A. Information should be shared across the globe and people should be vigilant. That’s not to say people should be alarmed. But the more people understand the virus, the greater the chance of stopping it from spreading. Q. Do you think the media should be focusing on Ebola as much as it currently is?A. I think responsible reporting is the key. The media must inform the public in a way that makes people more knowledgeable about the situation. I don’t think each and every Ebola “scare” needs to be given the same attention as an actual confirmed case. Attention must also be devoted to the situation in West Africa and the need for help there to combat the virus, because Ebola will remain a threat until it is stopped there.

SOURCE: World Health Organization

SOURCE: Huffington Post

BENJAMIN GEE & SARAH HANASHIRO

FOCUS

October 31, 2014 7

De-sensationalizing Ebola

BY MARIAH LINSchurr Scroll Editor in Chief

With technology currently advancing at a significantly higher pace, the time it takes to find information has been reduced by more than half; however, this does not necessarily mean that the sources have become more accurate.

Although information is now more accessible and easier to locate, there is a risk in believing everything that is published on the internet. Many people fail to realize that anyone can post things without attribution, misleading readers and creating dangerous misconceptions.

As the Ebola outbreak has been in national and global headlines for the past few months, it is evident how heavily the current generation relies on digital media sources.

From satirical news sites such as The Daily Currant to the “funny” jokes shared on social media sites, the real epidemic that is affecting the nation is not Ebola, as some of these news sources claims, but the hysteria and sensationalism of Ebola that news outlets are fueling.

“EBOLA IS IN AMERICA,” the headlines scream. They are correct, but there is more to the story. With the death of Thomas Duncan, the first person to die from the hemorrhagic virus in the U.S., it is natural for Americans to be scared.

However, there is a lot the mainstream media is not telling its audience. The reason for this is that news sites and other media sources know that humans are inherently drawn to things that scare

them, and fear sells. While it is good to get the most accurate and up-

to-date facts on the virus and to remain vigilant in fighting against a potential outbreak in the U.S., the chances of that actually happening are small, according to the Association of Health Journalists.

A complex number called R0 (pronounced “R-nought”), or reproduction number, is used by health organizations to gauge how contagious a disease is. The Ebola virus has a R0 value of approximately 1.5 to 2, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Compared to the measles and mumps, which have R0’s of 10 and 18, respectively, it is very small—about as contagious as Hepatitis C. An R0 of around two is nothing to scoff at, but in a country with a strong public health system like the U.S., epidemics are less likely to happen because individuals do not become contagious until after showing symptoms.

The sensationalism of the Ebola virus in America is overshadowing the real effects of the disease on the citizens of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the hardest-hit countries in West Africa. According to WHO, there are 9,911 confirmed or possible cases and 4,868 deaths from Ebola. In these third-world countries, lack of access to information and resources and weak health care systems are contributing to the rising death tolls.

In the globalized world of today, all countries’ issues are connected. The only true way to ensure that the virus does not become endemic here is to stop the outbreak at its source. These West African countries cannot do it alone; they need the help of countries like the U.S.

Disease outbreak provokes global misunderstandings

• Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a fatal illness carried by bats that can infect humans.

• Symptoms appear between two to 21 days from time infected.

• Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function.

• Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with blood, secretions, or bodily fluids of infected people.

• Although there is no cure, medics rehydrate those infected with fluids and treat specific symptoms.

• Worldwide, one has a greater chance of getting chicken pox than Ebola.

“ }PHOTOS BYTIFFANY NGO

SPARTAN SPEAK How has the media changed your views on Ebola?

IZEA QUINONEZFRESHMAN

“I think we’ve all been over-dramatic; Ebola is not even in California. It should be the government’s problem and responsibility, not the citizens’ problem. }GABRIELA GOMEZ

SOPHOMORE

“ }NICHOLAS AKHRAS

JUNIOR

“ }SAMANTHA DIAGO

SENIOR

It [media] makes people scared because Ebola’s a deadly disease, as my mother told me. I think people should take the issue more seriously. I don’t think the news gives much information on it.

The media is trying to scare people to cause them to take extreme measures to protect themselves. I don’t think Ebola should be broadcast on live TV since it is just causing panic worldwide.

People are making fun of Ebola by creating hoaxes. I heard a guy in an airplane just yelled out he had Ebola. Though it’s a big issue, people aren’t taking it seriously.

Q & A with Manuel BojorquezThe CBS Network Correspondent based in Dallas, TX, is a Class of 1997 alumnus, was Spartan Scroll Managing Editor and graduated magna cum laude from USC.

Q. How long has the media been reporting the Ebola Outbreak?A. In general, stories about the Ebola outbreak in west Africa started appearing early in the summer of 2014. It wasn’t until the death toll rose sharply that more attention was given. In the United States, domestic coverage of Ebola reached a fever pitch in early October, when the first diagnosis was confirmed. The patient was Thomas Eric Duncan who was visiting family in Dallas, TX, from Liberia. It was the first test of treating Ebola in community hospitals in the United States.

Q. From your experience reporting, what are the reactions received about Ebola?A. The reactions range from fear and skepticism to confidence that Ebola will not become an epidemic in the United States. Since there were several missteps in the diagnosis and treatment of Duncan, there was a general sense that the government and hospitals were not fully prepared to deal with the virus. That led to parents temporarily pulling children from schools in the Dallas area when they found out Duncan’s relatives had attended. The infection of two nurses who treated Duncan also did not help to quell fears. As more time passes without additional cases from the first patient, it affirms what health officials have been saying – that the virus is not airborne and is only transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms. I think that will help calm the public’s fears.

Q. What are the main differences between having Ebola in a first-world country and a third-world country?A. The main difference is the quality and availability of healthcare. The African nations affected do not have highly sophisticated hospitals and medical networks. The lack of these resources have allowed the virus to quickly spread. The United States has the ability to quickly treat individuals who are infected, so that they are isolated and do not infect others. This was put to the test in Dallas, and though initially mistakes were made, officials are learning from those errors and changing guidelines for more effective control.

Q. Do you think there should be a greater stress on Ebola in areas not affected?A. Information should be shared across the globe and people should be vigilant. That’s not to say people should be alarmed. But the more people understand the virus, the greater the chance of stopping it from spreading. Q. Do you think the media should be focusing on Ebola as much as it currently is?A. I think responsible reporting is the key. The media must inform the public in a way that makes people more knowledgeable about the situation. I don’t think each and every Ebola “scare” needs to be given the same attention as an actual confirmed case. Attention must also be devoted to the situation in West Africa and the need for help there to combat the virus, because Ebola will remain a threat until it is stopped there.

SOURCE: World Health Organization

FEATURES

October 3, 2014schurrscroll.com8

Haunting rumor behind curtains

Daunting DataSCROLL POLL:

Do you enjoyhorror movies?

No:28%Yes: 72%

Do you enjoy being scared? Yes56%

No44%

How often do you attendHalloween-themed amusement parks?

Never 43%Once a year32%

Once every fewyears: 25%

SOURCE: 291 students in grades 9-12 were polled Oct. 20-24.

NODo you go to supposedly

haunted placeson purpose?

YES

50% 50%

BY GABRIEL BROSSY DE DIOSFeatures Editor

With Halloween comes the rollout of new horror movies, Knott’s Scary Farm and haunted houses galore, as well as customers eager for fear.

According to several websites, this desire to be scared can be explained using psychology.

The greatest reason why people watch horror movies or do other frightening activities is simply to be scared, according to livescience.com.

Yet the website also notes that the scare that people crave might not be real fright but rather the thrill that accompanies it. For example, when a person goes to a theater to see a horror film, that person knows that the movie is not real, but is still excited by it.

However, some people, especially children, take such imaginary threats seriously and become genuinely frightened.

According to psychcentral.com, these people might also be more scared by horror movies because their brains are wired to be more sensitive to suspenseful situations than others’ are.

Additionally, according to thedailybeast.com, people’s desire for excitement wanes with age, explaining the often young audiences of horror films.

Young people may also be attracted to horror movies for another reason. According to thedailybeast.com, the genre is popular among young couples.

Because they provide males with an opportunity to show off their bravery in the face of terror to their female companions, horror movies have become staple date night destinations among teenage boys, according to thedailybeast.com.

Psychcentral.com also explains that the excitement caused by horror movies intensifies positive and negative experiences that occur soon after the film. For example, a person who just watched a horror movie would enjoy time with his or her friends more after the spine-tingling event.

Yet sciencedaily.com cites a 2007 study by Eduardo Andrade of UC Berkeley and Joel B. Cohen of the University of Florida that proposes a different reason for people’s attraction to horror.

It states that people enjoy being scared not because the fear is actually a form of excitement or because they enjoy the feeling of relief after their frightening ordeal, but because they experience positive and negative emotions at the same time.

By gauging the positive and negative emotions of their subjects simultaneously, the researchers concluded that “the most pleasant moments of a particular event may also be the most fearful.”

Through psychological disengagement from the frightening situations they were in, the study’s subjects were able to maintain this balance of opposite emotions.

No matter what the reasons may be, people continue to eagerly seek out scares in many forms. MATTHEW BAHK

BY MARIAH LINSchurr Scroll Editor in Chief

Peering nervously into the small rectangular container, I could see two pairs of eyes staring curiously back at me.

In an instant, I decided that I was going to name one of these turtles Bubba, after my favorite character from the movie “Forrest Gump,” and the other, Zoe. It was a defining moment because I finally had a pet, but it was also scary because of the responsibility of caring for two living creatures.

It was the summer I turned 7 years old; I can still remember this day vividly because this was also the day I

met Leon. It had started off like any other summer day, swelteringly

hot and humid.As a rather adventurous child, I saw each day as a new

quest for excitement. My brother was at summer camp that day, which meant I was feeling particularly lonesome. I decided to be a bit rebellious and go on a journey—which really meant walking from my house to the other end of the cul-de-sac.

I felt so proud of myself as I reached the other side. On my way back home, I saw the familiar elderly man with his black bloodhound sitting outside on his porch.

My parents had instructed me never to speak to strangers, but I could not resist, so I skipped over to make a new friend. We sat on his front porch steps that day pondering the meaning of life.

Leon shared with me war stories from his time as an aviation engineer in the U.S. Army during World War II. He told me stories of D-day, how he flew with his unit over Normandy and the terror and pride he felt in serving his country.

It turns out that Leon had just purchased two turtles that day. When he found out I wanted a pet, he insisted that I take the turtles home—which is how I got Bubba and Zoe.

When I met Leon, he was 83 years old. From that day on, we continued our talks on the porch. On Veteran’s Day, I would help him move his two large, framed pictures of his airplanes out onto his lawn so everyone could see them. That is, until Leon became sick.

It started with a bad cough and occasional wheezing; later, he got so weak that he could not come outside anymore. Three years ago, an ambulance took Leon away.

A few weeks ago, I came home to find that Bubba had died; he had drowned while I was at school. It was a terribly sad moment, but it reminded me not to take things for granted.

Between school and extracurricular activities, I had neglected to pay attention to my turtles, and now one of them was dead. It was a lesson, a reminder that life is constantly changing.

“Don’t be afraid to take chances,” Leon once told me. “There’s no time in life to be scared.”

I try to keep that in mind as I am writing this and as I work on my college applications.

Several days ago, I found out that Leon has been living at a Veteran’s hospital, unable to come home because his condition is so severe. As Veteran’s Day approaches, I hope maybe this will be the year Leon comes home.

BY CELINE PHUAssistant Features Editor

Legends of mysterious ghosts and auras haunting theaters or stages are common tales in the performing arts world; the school’s auditorium is no exception.

Created by former drama students, rumors of a ghost named Nick roaming the auditorium stage have been kept alive through gossip amongst the student body. Although no one has actually seen Nick, many students claim to have heard peculiar noises or seen strange scenes, such as thumping sounds or objects falling off tables.

“We perform skits all the time, so I am on stage a lot,” said Alexiss Fierro, senior drama student, “I have never seen him physically; I have just seen things move and heard about how one girl from another period supposedly had her hair pulled.”

Most teachers, on the other hand, do not take these stories quite as seriously. Daniel Gonzalez, drama teacher believes this legend originated from the active imaginations of students.

“I personally do not believe in the rumor, but I think the students just interpret the funny noises they hear as a spirit or ghost,” said Gonzalez.

Although the age of this myth is unknown, the majority

of teachers have been aware of its presence for quite a few years. Choir teacher Angela Chong had been informed of this rumor when she started teaching at the school.

“When I first started working here at Schurr High School in 2012, I probably heard about the rumor within a few weeks,” said Chong. “I have heard that it [auditorium] is haunted, and people have told me their experiences. There are different versions, but most involve a male student who supposedly haunts the auditorium.”

Although he spends most of his time in neighboring Room M-3, Band Director Antonio Castro has also observed some peculiar events. However, Castro disregards these occurences, as he takes into account some personal experiences on the campus.

“During the 12 years I have been working here, small, various things I can’t explain happened, especially when the chairs in the auditorium were being replaced in 2011, like instruments getting knocked over; but it’s not a rumor, it’s just my experiences,” said Castro. “The story is just a fun legend in Spartan lore.”

Whether Nick really exists or is just a prank conjured up by students, the auditorium is part of the spirit of the season, as students share spine-tingling stories in Halloween tradition.

Annual Halloween horrors feed teenagers’ appetite for excitement

Remembering a Friend

ENTERTAINMENT

October 31, 2014 9

BY RAQUEL DIAZSpartan Scroll Managing Editor

As the bus passed our expected stop, I turned and met my sister’s gaze.

We were nervous, and the smile I mustered was not affirming but revealed my apprehension. Knowing my sister has an uncanny ability to remember all my errors, I refused to acknowledge that I didn’t know where the bus is going. The sky was darkening and the streets were becoming unfamiliar, but I didn’t ask for help.

This situation was avoidable. The bus stop we waited in

served three buses, but I decided to board the first one that had the Metro logo on it.

It was the first time I took my sister to ride a bus with me, so I felt I needed to assert my authority as one experienced with public transportation. I didn’t inquire of the bus driver where the bus was going, or even whether the trip was one-way.

As the bus was driving through San Gabriel, my mom called me and insisted on knowing why we weren’t home yet. I admitted I took the wrong bus, and she demanded that I ask the bus driver where the bus was headed.

It turned out that the bus, being of the Metro Rapid brand, was on 24-hour loop that only drove in one direction, and this particular bus’s route concluded at a stop in Compton. However, the bus driver felt empathetic and gave my sister and me transfer tickets to not only board a bus going back to our initial stop, but also for taking the correct bus home.

Because we didn’t have any money, we would have been stuck in Compton at night had my mom not pressed me to ask the driver for information.

I have never taken any math, English or history course, advanced placement or not, that would have taught me to avoid this situation. Nor is it the responsibility of these courses to have street sensibilities in their curriculum.

Knowing these limitations in our schooling, it is deplorable that some students may believe exceling in high school courses indicates one will be prepared for any situation life may impose.

While some students may deny believing this, as I would like to, one’s actions convey otherwise. I refused to ask for help in several stages of the bus ordeal, because asking questions could imply my stupidity or dependence.

Pride is the condemning attribute; my desire was to preserve a dignity so insignificant when put in perspective. Humbling myself would not be admitting to ignorance, but to having an open mind and the willingness to learn.

While it’s crucial to study and be involved in school, students need to devote the same effort to learning from observations of the street and discard any scholarly pretensions when learning— for I have learned firsthand that danger does not discriminate.

Cornerstone Nintendo gamecontinues ‘Smash’ing quality

Nolan dares to aim higher with Interstellar BY ERIC GUZMANNews Editor

Christopher Nolan explores new worlds and far-away galaxies in his new science fiction adventure film, “Interstellar,” yet focuses on human nature while questioning modern man’s drive to push boundaries in space exploration.

Nolan, director of “The Dark Knight” trilogy and “Inception,” sets his latest film on an apocalyptic Earth afflicted with severe food shortages.

Cooper, played by Matthew McConaughey, is a skilled pilot and engineer who is chosen to lead a four-man crew, played by Anne Hathaway, Wes Bentley and David Gyasi. They travel into outer-space to traverse a wormhole in search of a new home for humanity.

While Nolan’s films are often grandiose in scale in terms of setting and plot, the heart of a true “Nolan film” lays in the

scrupulous attention to emotions that serve as the basis for the entire film: guilt in “Inception,” vengeance in “Memento” and fear in “The Dark Knight Rises.”

“Interstellar” appears to be no exception to this pattern. While the plot involves the characters traversing across galaxies to distant planets, Nolan has expressed that the conflict of the film is based on human nature, man’s place in the universe and the responsibility of being a parent.

Nolan uses Interstellar to question humanity’s drive to explore the unknown. Raised during a time of space exploration, Nolan feels that that he has witnessed the once widespread dream of becoming an astronaut greatly diminished. Nolan believes that there has been a shift in technological advancements from exploring the universe to creating computational mobile devices.

Cooper’s feelings of helplessness mirror Nolan’s feelings that the humanity has

stopped pushing the boundaries of space exploration. The first trailer of Interstellar features several clips of NASA’s greatest achievements-breaking the sound barrier, flying into outer space and landing on the moon-coupled with a narration by Cooper in which he describes humanity as having forgotten the pioneering spirit.

“Interstellar” is rated PG-13 and will have a limited release in 35mm, 70 mm and IMAX 70 mm formats Nov. 5, followed by a wider release in all formats Nov. 7.

A NEW GALAXY : “Interstellar” resparks the spirit of universal travel, while inspiring new ways to idealize foreign galaxies.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF IMDB.COM

BENJAMIN GEE

BY MATTHEW BAHKEntertainment Editor

In the glorious age of action-fighting-

platforming games, the Super Smash Bros. series presents endless entertainment for players with either a strong competitive playing style or a more casual view.

The original Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64 was released in 1999; with the release of Super Smash Bros. 4 for Nintendo 3DS Oct. 3 and Nintendo Wii U Nov. 21, the company commemorates the beloved series’ 15th anniversary.

Super Smash Bros. consists of a game style similar to a beat-‘em-up game, where flagship characters—such as Nintendo’s Mario, Kirby, Pikachu, or with newcomers, Namco’s Pac-Man or Capcom’s Mega Man—fight against friends and computers alike. By featuring a wide variety of playable characters, as well as various stages, Smash’s replay factor is undeniably high.

The original Smash was released with 12 characters and nine stages, which is absolutely miniscule compared to even Super Smash Bros. Brawl, released in 2008. The first three Smash games ( Super Smash Bros., Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl) had an increase in both the number of characters and stages, including the addition of customizable stages in Brawl. Super Smash Bros. 4 for 3DS and Wii U hold the largest cast; introducing customizable characters, allowing special attack effects to be changed.

The second installment of Smash, Super Smash Bros. Melee, brought an evolution in comparison to the original through its advanced graphics and competitive gameplay. Melee utilized faster and more calculated movement, causing players to become more skilled through secret combo attacks and kill strategies such as drops. For this reason, Melee was extremely favored in the gaming community, resulting in strong popularity to this day.

Despite having better graphics and being extremely well-praised for its soundtrack, Super Smash Bros. Brawl was not designed for competitive gameplay. Characters moved slower and, as a result, the game was less enjoyable to the competitive community. Its story mode, The Subspace Emissary, made up for this loss through a compelling plot and fun gameplay format; however, the main battle function of Brawl was ruined.

Super Smash Bros. 4 for 3DS and Wii U fixed the speed issue found in Brawl by adding more risks in gameplay, making

the game even more exciting and competitive than ever before. Not only was the Melee game style returned, but the speed for falling off the stages into abyss was significantly increased, making the risk of “death” by falling even more dangerous. Also included were two new ways to play online: “For Fun,” which is for more relaxed players, and “For Glory,” which is for the more competitive audience. Downloadable content which includes gameplay updates and new playable characters will be available in the spring. In addition, 8-player multiplayer has been announced for the Wii U.

It seems Super Smash Bros. will always be around; due to its immense fan base, its popularity may never die.

Finding my way out of pride

ENTERTAINMENT

October 31, 2014schurrscroll.com10

Sandwiches ‘torta-lly’ out of this worldBY OLIVIA GONZALEZ& KAYLA SISONClub & Academics Editor& Entertainment Editor

Concocted with tasty meats and fresh, handmade bread in appetizing combinations, Cook’s Tortas offers a variety of sandwiches.

“I would definitely recommend Cook’s [Tortas] to other people because everything is fresh, it is not that expensive, you know you’re getting your money’s worth and it tastes great. My favorite food from there would have to be the Ranchito, every bite you take out of it has flavor,” said Adrian Lazano, senior.

Reasonably priced at about $9, their tortas are packed with lots of flavor without being too overwhelming.

Their Mojito torta consists of a generous amount of savory pork shreds, along with onions and garlic that add a kick of extra flavor.

The Chicken Basil torta is another option, comprised of a big piece of juicy chicken, complemented by basil pesto sauce. Cucumber, lettuce and tomato are also added, giving it a refreshing crunch.

The bread used in their tortas is different from authentic torta bread; it is more of a roll. Thick, fluffy and semi-crunchy, the bread is similar to, but less

dense than, ciabatta. Besides tortas, Cook’s also offers salad

options, such as the chicken, Mexican, Santa Fe and taco taco, priced at $11.99.

The restaurant is also known for refreshing housemade aguas frescas. Notable choices include their jamaica, which has a tart cranberry-like flavor, and their strawberry guava, which has the perfect amount of sweetness and a subtle texture from the strawberry seeds.

Along with every torta comes a small side, such as the chunky potato salad, ham and cheese macaroni or a Caprese salad made with Mexican queso blanco instead of mozzarella cheese.

“Their [Cook’s Torta’s] sides, especially their sweet potato fries, are delicious. I love going there with my friends,” said junior Kimberly Soto.

To finish off the meal, delectable desserts such as sweet corn cakes, Mexican chocolate chip cookies and simple almond cookies are baked fresh.

The restaurant itself has a laid-back, casual vibe. Their playlist is a variety of feel-good pop rock ‘80s and ‘90s songs. Adding to the culture-rich atmosphere, Mexican movie posters decorate the pastel green walls.

Their complete menu is written on chalkboards that cover entire sections of the walls, making the selections easy to read. Because their menu changes

on a daily basis, the chalkboard is a convenient, fun feature.

Located in Monterey Park at 1944 South Atlantic Blvd., Cook’s Tortas is open Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Weezer album ends up ‘alright’

BY ELMER GUARDADOExecutive Editor

“Sorry guys, I didn’t realize that I needed you so much/I thought I’d get a new audience, I forgot that disco sucks/I ended up with nobody and I started feeling dumb/Maybe I should play the lead guitar and Pat should play the drums…”

Although it is unorthodox for a band to start the campaign for their new album release with an apology, the first verse (above) in Weezer’s first released single, “Back to the Shack,” from their new album, Everything will be Alright in the End, does just that.

After spending much of the last decade appealing to the masses with albums like Raditude and Make Believe, collaborations with B.O.B. and Lil Wayne and events like their self-titled cruise tour, Weezer reaches back into their ‘90s and early 2000 roots to create a masterful album that showcases their metal, punk, grunge, pop and alternative influences.

Front-man, singer, songwriter and lead guitarist Rivers Cuomo, known for his nerdy and down-to-earth charm, creates a 13-track set list. He tells a self-aware tale, starting with “Ain’t Got Nobody” and the aforementioned “Back to the Shack,” which directly reflect the bands regret with drifting away from the core audience that first put them in

the spotlight. As the album progresses into songs like “Eulogy for a Rock Band” and “I’ve had it up to Here,” Cuomo and company touch on topics such as dealing with closure and realizing that nothing lasts forever. The album concludes and climaxes with a largely instrumental three-part suite composed of flamboyant solos, a children’s choir and sugary pop-punk harmonies titled “The Futurescope Trilogy.”

The album is solid as a whole and, like their first couple of records, lends its self to a sequential and full listen through. Everything will be Alright in the End does not transcend the perfection created in The Blue Album, The Green Album or Pinkerton, but it has definitely become a Weezer staple, easily described as “something only Weezer could make,” because it produces the iconic and unique “Weezer” vibe.

For diehard fans, it will be easy to fall in love with this album, but to newcomers, the occasional moments that fans describe as just “Weezer being Weezer” can come off as confusing.

Everything will be Alright in the End is a return to Weezer’s core values both lyrically and musically, creating a sense of deep nostalgia for a pivotal, nerdy voice in music that only Weezer could create. The album is available via physical purchase or digital download as of Sept. 30.

Día de los Muertos offers cultural celebrations ‘to die for’BY DANA NAVARRETEPhotographer

Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a Latin American holiday celebrated on both Nov. 1 and 2.

The celebration originated in Mexico and commemorates life through remembrance of the deceased. In most regions of Mexico, the celebration for spirits of children and infants is held Nov. 1, while Nov. 2 is the celebration of adult souls.

“Día de los Muertos means a lot to me because it makes us remember our friends and family that passed away, especially my grandpa,” said junior Owen Escamilla.

According to Discovery Fantastic Festivals of the World Mexico, the holiday’s most important tradition is the setting-up of an altar with various memorabilia, such as pictures and offerings, to the spirits of the loved ones they have lost.

Día de los Muertos celebrates the deceased’s past lives with food, drinks, parties and activities that they enjoyed during their lifetime. The holiday also “recognizes death as a natural part of the human experience, a continuum with birth, adolescence and adulthood,” according to nationalgeographic.com.

Students participate in the holiday’s festivities creatively.

“Every year on Nov. 2, I paint half of my face as a skull and I try to make it as colorful as possible to add life to the dead,” said senior Veronica Castro. “I put flowers in my hair and wear traditional blouses and dresses.”

The celebration of this holiday is not limited to a person’s household and immediate family. Other events, such as festivals and social gatherings,

are held where people from around the community come together to participate.

For example, the 15th annual Día de los Muertos Festival at Hollywood Forever Cemetery will be held Saturday, Nov. 1 in Los Angeles on Santa Monica Blvd.

“I have been to a festival that took place at Forever Cemetery, Hollywood. It was pretty cool because you got to see all these different kinds of altars and the meanings they had behind them,” said Escamilla.

Rose Hills will host its 5th Annual Free Día de los Muertos Cultural Festival on Sunday, Nov. 2.

“I have been to multiple Day of the Dead festivals and they are very fun,” said Castro. “I recommend that people go if they can; there are a lot of booths with ethnic foods, a lot of homemade crafts and paintings and Folklorico and Aztec dancers.”

DANA NAVARRETE

PARTY-READY: Veronica Castro, senior, does her own traditional skull makeup before going to a Día de los Muertos festival in Uptown Whittier.

TASTY TIDBITS: Cook’s Tortas restaurant (TOP) offers complete meals, such as the chicken basil torta served with a fruit salad side and a jamaica agua fresca.

KAYLA SISON

Photo courtesy of Weezer.com

SPORTS

October 31, 201411

BY DANA NAVARRETEPhotographer

Boys water polo will compete against the Whittier Cardinals Nov. 5 at home.

The Spartans played against California High yesterday away, but scores were unavailable at press time.

Both JV and varsity boys lost 11-1 and 10-7, respectively, against the Montebello Oilers Oct. 29 at a home game.

In the first quarter of the varsity game, the Spartans were down 1-0 within the first two minutes. Junior Isaac Norsian was fouled; he shot the ball into the net, but the score was counted as an illegal shot.

The Spartans trailed 8-0 by the end of the first quarter and were down 11-0 by the end of the first half. In the second half,

the Spartans played more defensively; they were able to keep the Oilers from scoring, but they continued to trail, 11-0, by the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Norsian scored the first goal. The Spartans lost with a final score of 14-1.

“I think if we had our full squad, the game would have been more challenging for the other team,” said Norsian.

The varsity team beat the Mark Keppel Aztecs, 18-6, Oct. 23 away. They also defeated the Bell Gardens Lancers, 10-4, in an away game Oct. 15.

In their first season game Oct. 8 at home, the Spartans won against the Alhambra Moors, 13-6.

The JV water polo team defeated the Aztecs, 13-8, in an away game Oct. 23.

They also beat the Lancers, 13-4, Oct. 15 away. In their first league game Oct. 8 at home, they defeated the Moors with a score of 16-3.

“I think that our team has been doing great, but I believe we can do better if we work harder and communicate more guring our games and practices,” said junior Fransisco Perez. “I have total confidence that we can win league again this year.”

H2O polo team aims for strong league finish, works toward CIF

DANA NAVARRETEBLOCKING THE OPPONENT: Senior Michael Melkonian defends the goal from the opposing Montebello Oilers, Oct. 29.

BY NOHELI SIGALAReporter

As the end of the season draws near, the harriers train for league finals Nov. 7, at which the league champions will be determined.

In their second league meet Oct. 22, the Spartans came in first in all divisions, putting them in the lead among the league teams. The harriers look to take league titles in all divisions for a third consecutive year.

“Even though we have swept the last two league meets as a whole, I feel there is room for improvement,” said Head Coach Manuel Quintero. “We are assured of no worse than a tie on all levels, due to our winning the first two league meets in all levels.”

After the end of their season, the top nine varsity boys and girls from the race will advance to CIF at Mt. SAC Nov. 15.

Although the season ends next week

for most of the harriers, some continue to practice. As in previous years, only seven of the top nine runners will compete in CIF; the remaining two will be kept as alternates.

“My goal is to break my personal record, but going to CIF should be a great experience for me,” said senior Genesis Medina. “I would like to make the best of it, because it will be my last race.”

In addition to league finals, the sophomore boys are invited to the Footlocker West Regional Cross Country Championships Invitational at Mt. SAC Dec. 6. They will compete against top teams from Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

“I am looking forward to this invitational,” said sophomore Jakob Macedo. “It is a great opportunity to see better competition and a great honor to have been invited.”

BRANDON CHANGSPEEDING UP: Sophomore Connie Xuncax moves in front of her San Gabriel opponent in the second Almont League meet, Oct. 22 at Legg Lake.

NATHAN PHAN

Netters struggle to better record

BY CORY CHENReporter

Ending with a league record of 2-6, the varsity netters played league preliminaries yesterday at Whittier Narrows and will play league finals at home today.

Scores for preliminary matches were not available at press time.

The varsity netters lost their league match against the Alhambra Moors, 12-6, in an away game Oct. 23. Singles No. 1 Demitria Mo won two of her sets, 6-4 and 6-1. Singles No. 2 Irene Chen and No. 3 Sarah Hanashiro won one set each, 6-3 and 6-2, respectively. Doubles No. 1 Jane Quach and Diana Diaz won two sets, 6-3 and 6-2.

“I think everyone on the team did very well this season and I hope they continue to strive to win and do well next year,” said Varsity Coach Timothy Dang.

The varsity team lost their league match against the San Gabriel Matadors, 11-7, in a home game Oct. 21. Mo won

all her sets, 6-4, 6-3 and 6-0. Chen also defeated all her opponents, with scores of 6-3, 6-3 and 6-0. Hanashiro won one set, 6-3. The JV team lost, 12-6; their league record is 0-7.

“The season did not go too well for the JV team, but I know that I have grown to be a better tennis player,” said junior varsity netter Nathalie Real. “I will do better next season.”

The varsity netters won, 11-7, in their away game against the Montebello Oilers Oct. 16. Mo, Chen and Hanashiro swept all opponents. Doubles No. 1 Quach and Diaz won two sets; JV lost to the Oilers 12-6.

In their away game against the Keppel Aztecs, the Spartans lost,13-5, Oct.14. Mo won two sets, 6-4. Chen won two sets, 6-1 and 6-2. Doubles Quach and Diaz won one set 6-3. The Jv netters also lost, 14-4.

“This tennis season was the best I have ever played as a tennis player,” said Karen Lu, varsity sophomore. “I might have not gotten results, but I know I did my best and I will continue to do so.”

CECILIA WUPOISED TO RESPOND: Junior varsity singles player Jordan Leong, sophomore, dashes to hit a forehand against her Alhambra Moor opponent, Oct. 28.

Harrier teams move toward third consecutive league title

SPORTS

October 31, 2014

schurrscroll.com12

Freshmen stay undefeatedBY MARIAH LIN Schurr Scroll Editor in Chief

Seeking to maintain their undefeated record of 8-0, the freshman gridders will compete against the Aztecs Nov. 6 at home. The team also competed against the Moors Oct. 30, but scores were unavailable at press time.

“We’ve had a glorious season so far, and we want to end it on a high-note,” said quarterback Bryan Barajas.

Facing the Lancers Oct. 23, the freshman gridders dominated with a score of 48-8. The Spartans started off strong, with Lance Babb scoring a touchdown at the 7:56 mark of the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead, after gaining the P.A.T. The Lancers took an 8-7 lead after scoring a quick touchdown with five minutes left in the quarter. After an incomplete touchdown pass with less than a minute left on the clock, the Lancers were called for a holding, giving the Spartans possession of the ball.

Starting off the second quarter with a strong offense, Kris Rodriguez scored a 40-yard touchdown to increase the Spartans’ lead to 14-

8. Continuing the offensive streak, Babb rushed 35 yards for another successful touchdown. The team opened up their biggest lead of the game, 27-8, with three minutes left in the half. They ended the second half 34-8 after Babb scored again off a hook-and-ladder pass.

The gridders extended their lead in the fourth quarter to 41-8, while maintaining consistent defense, to end the game 48-8, after scoring another touchdown.

The freshman gridders beat San Gabriel in a blowout 55-0 win, Oct. 16. With a league record of 1-5, the JV gridders look to improve before the end of their season as they take on the Mark Keppel Aztecs Nov. 6.

The team played against the Alhambra Moors Oct. 30, but scores were unavailable at press time.

In a game against the Bell Gardens Lancers Oct. 23, the Spartans suffered a 26-18 loss.They attained their first win of the season, 42-24, against the Bassett High School Olympians Oct. 16.

However, the gridders lost, 12-6, to the Montebello Oilers Oct. 9 after a late turnover.

BRANDON CHANG

LEAVING ‘EM IN THE DUST: Freshman running back Lance Babb sprints past his Lancer opponent to gain additional yards for the Spartans at home Oct. 23.

BY KERRY MULIASports Co- Editor & Photo Co- Editor

Varsity spikers will seek improvement as they approach the end of the season; the team faces the Montebello Oilers Nov. 4.

The Spartans played the Mark Keppel Aztecs yesterday, but scores were unavailable at press time.

The varsity spikers currently hold a league record of 3-6, hoping to gain the last win of the season.

On Oct. 28, they lost to the Bell Gardens Lancers, 3-1, with set scores of 25-18, 13-25, 20-25 and 22-25.

The spikers faced the Alhambra Moors Oct.23 and were victorious, with set scores of 21-25, 25-11, 25-20 and 25-23, winning 3-1.

However, the team was defeated by the San Gabriel Matadors Oct. 21, 0-3.

The Spartans played an intense game against the Aztecs on Oct.14, winning 3-1, with set scores of 25-18, 25-23, 24-26 and 25-16.

The JV spikers beat the Lancers Oct.28 with a score of 2-0, improving their league record to 3-6. The JV team lost, 2-0, to the Moors Oct. 21, with set scores of 25-15 and 25-19.

“The season has been an up and down rollercoaster,” said JV spiker Natalia Perez. “We’ve won and lost some games, but overall, we are united and have a passion for volleyball.”

At an away game Oct. 21, the JV spikers faced the Alhmabra Matadors, losing 0-2 with set scores of 12-25 and 17-25.

The Spartans played against the Oilers Oct. 16 and suffered a 2-0 loss. The JV spikers won Oct. 14 against Keppel, 2-0.

The frosh/soph team holds a current league record of 4-5.

“I think we all improved by trying to work together as a team during the practices and learning to be there for one other on the court,” said sophomore Brittany Phan.

Spikers seek to better standing

KERRY MULIAUP AND OVER: Junior Blanca Ramos sets the ball for her varsity teammate, senior Andrea Validus, against the Lancers Oct. 28.

BY ERICA SUHSports Co-Editor

Looking to improve their 1-2 league record, the varsity gridders will play the Moors at Alhambra tonight at 7.

“Bell Gardens proved to be a competitive rival,” said senior Andrew Rosales. “But I know we tried our best and we’ll definitely be bringing 110% to the next game.”

The Spartans suffered a tough loss against the Bell Gardens Lancers, 26-18, Oct. 24.

During the first half, both teams played tough defense. In the first quarter, junior Efren Velez scored a touchdown; however, the Spartans trailed 16-6 by the end of the quarter.

Throughout the second quarter, both teams remained competitive. With 5:40 left in the quarter, junior Noah Quintero scored a touchdown, but the two-point conversion failed, making the score 16-12. The Lancers scored a field goal within the remaining minutes of the quarter, concluding the first half with a score of 19-12.

With 8:47 left in the second half, the Lancers scored a

touchdown and made a one-point conversion, leading the Spartans, 26-18. With 5:29 left, the freshman Adam Polanco scored a touchdown, but the extra point was missed. The game ended in a Spartan loss, 26-18.

“We have to win the next two games to make [CIF] playoffs,” said Assistant Coach Victor Salazar. “The kids have been working hard, getting better in the areas that they have been struggling with. In the past games, we haven’t been winning, not because the teams are better than us, but that we’ve been making mistakes and have put the opponents in better positions to win.”

During A.V.I.D. Senior Night, Oct. 17, the gridders defeated the San Gabriel Matadors, 55-0 at home.

The Spartans played a high scoring game against the Matadors. Quintero scored a 35-yard touchdown early in the first quarter. The gridders kept the Matadors from scoring, ending the quarter with a touchdown by Velez and a 13-point lead.

PHOTOS BY BRANDON CHANG

DEFENSIVE DRIVE: Freshman Angel Rodriguez (No. 56) and junior David Zulayan (No. 78) end the Matador’s run Oct. 17.

BREAKING FREE: Junior Noah Quintero (No. 25) fights to carry out the offensive play, despite being tackled by a group of Bell Gardens defensive players Oct. 24.

Sophomore Nick Losoya started off the second quarter with a touchdown, increasing the lead. With five minutes left in the quarter, Quintero scored again. Senior Tristin Rojas concluded the quarter with another touchdown, bringing the score to 34-0.

The gridders dominated in the second half, with senior Matthew Perez scoring a touchdown in the first minute of the third quarter. With 3:12 left, junior Anthony Varela scored a touchdown. Upholding their strong defense, the Spartans prevented the Matadors from scoring. Junior Eddie Delgado scored the final touchdown, resulting in a 55-0 victory.

“The strongest aspect of this team is the sense of family- the way we come together,” said Perez “We work hard [and] go to practice. We go over plays to refresh our memories. The team chemistry this year is really good. We’ve come a long way since the start of season.”

Varsity gridders attempt to improve league record