INSIDE

Volume 86, Issue Twelve · April 11, 2013

highlightsBeverly Hills High SchoolBeverly Hills, Calif.

page 7

Building A may face demolition

Jessica SaadianStaff Writer

The Beverly Hills Board of Education is currently discussing the possibility of demolishing Beverly Hills High School’s Building A, which consists of the planetar-ium, Theatre 40, classrooms and staff and student parking, in order to create a build-ing with “a much smaller footprint allowing for a Norman Walk concept,” according to Board Member Brian Goldberg said.

Replacing Building A is not affected by the general budget. This project would be funded by Measure E, which provides safety repairs and reconstruction of school facilities.

“What does impact this decision is wheth-er the board is going to accelerate the bond by raising the taxes and what we decide to build if we tear down [the building], or whether we decide to renovate,” Goldberg said.

According to the Beverly Hills Weekly, the cost to remove the planetarium is be-tween $80,000 and $100,000. Beverly is one of only 245 schools in the country that has a planetarium.

Due to issues regarding cost and replace-ment of the Theatre 40 space and the plan-etarium for this particular proposal, Gold-berg is against destroying Building A.

“I think this is a valuable resource for our students and [the planetarium is] some-thing unique about Beverly Hills High School,” Goldberg said. “I would like to see it fully restored and for the high school to offer courses again, for both high school and middle school students and the larger community.”

Physics teacher Kevin Bowers believes that although the planetarium is one of the aspects that makes Beverly stand out from other schools, the planetarium is outdated and it is best to let it go.

Since the UCs did not approve astronomy as a lab science due to the decline in stu-dent enrollment, astronomy courses were no longer available at Beverly as of the fall of 2009.

“Unless there is some alternative plan to bring back astronomy as a course, I don’t think we really have a need for the plane-tarium,” senior Matthew Hankin said.

Although Hankin appreciates the unique features of the planetarium, its disuse, he believes, provides for a waste of money.

“Either bring back the astronomy class or teach all the current science and math teachers instructions how to use it. I think [they] would love to have access to the planetarium,” Hankin said.

According to Goldberg, the funds that would have to be maintained and the po-tential courses that may be taught in the planetarium will determine whether or not this project will pass.

The final decision as to whether or not this project will be put into effect will be re-leased before April 30.

Robotics team 1515 earns Chairman’s Award at Los Angeles Regionals

Candice HannaniFeature Editor

“And the winner of the Chairman’s Award is …the 1515 Robotics team!”

At the mention of their group’s name, the students erupt into screams of joy. They run around the room, ultimately running for the stairs, in a blur of orange and black. Tears stream out from the students’ eyes as they grapple with the prospect of being able to compete in the championship Robotics competition in April. Still shaking, a few members run to the stage to receive their golden award. Although only a simple object, the trophy represents weeks---to most members, years—of relentless determination and commitment to Robotics.

“The announcers of the award gave hints in their speeches of the winning essay. [Robotics member Eva Zheng] and I were sitting next to each other and we started to recognize the hints and as soon as they announced our team name, we screamed. I mean,

screamed,” business team member Natasha Natarajan said.

Members of the Robotics team attended the Los Angeles Regionals Robotics Competition from Thursday, March 21 to Saturday, March 23. The team was divided between the build and business team. The former focused mainly on perfecting the robot “Daedalus” and the latter focused on the details of the Chairman’s Award, which required an essay and presentation and focused on spreading interest in science and technology to the school and community.

The first day was spent adjusting the robot Daedalus for the competitions. Since the robot and the presentation had to be flawless by the end of the day, both parts of the team spent the day in intense concentration and reflection.

“It was the hardest day. Instead of using the day for practice, we immediately got to work and made changes on the robot. The pressure of judges isn’t around, but the pressure of time is,” Build Captain Manas Malik said.

Similarly, members of the business

team practiced their presentation for the Chairman’s Award to such an extent that they “lost their voices,” according to Natarajan. The presentation had to show the team’s dedication to Robotics and their recent accomplishments.

When competitions came around, it was time to put Daedalus to the test. On Friday, the build team participated in eight matches in which their robot played against robots of other schools in randomly-picked alliances of three teams. In each match, the team was paired with and competed against a different alliance.

“It was a great feeling [to finally compete]. As we went through the day, we were able to fix our nagging issues little by little. Every time we progressed, I truly felt accomplished,” Malik said.

During the competition, each robot was required to shoot a frisbee into a “relatively high” goal post and hang from a rung on a pyramid-like structure.

While Daedalus tried to impress, the business team finally gave the judges its

[continued on page 3]

Nitrogenized cold treat reviewed

Robotics members receive a banner, medals and trophies for their achieve-ments at the regional competition. Photo courtesy of TAMMY LEON

Interact Club cleans community page 2

ASB aids in San DiegoThe Associated Student Body (ASB) went to

San Diego for its seventh annual trip to help communities from April 8 to April 10.

Members of ASB under 16 visited Great Oaks School in San Diego as part of their work with the Ronald McDonald House, an organi-zation that provides stability and resources to families. Those who worked with this organi-zation visited the school in San Diego where they spoke and had lunch with students of the school.

“It was a great feeling volunteering at an or-ganization that does a lot for families trauma-tized by their child’s medical condition,” fresh-man commissioner Debbie Lee said.

ASB members over 16 worked with Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit Christian ministry that strives to build safe and affordable homes for all. Those who worked with this organiza-tion helped to build houses and work in the ReStore, a warehouse Habitat for Humanity uses to store supplies.

“Being able to work with Habitat for Hu-

manity was an enriching experience which helped me learn to appreciate everything that I have in my life,” junior secretary Daniel Kahn said.

ASB Advisor Loren Newman hoped that students on the trip appreciated their lasting experiences with their classmates.

The ASB tradition to participate in outreach programs started in 2005 when the class was sent to New Orleans to help rebuild houses for Hurricane Katrina victims. However, due to the high cost of traveling out of state, every other year ASB performs an in-state outreach project instead, according to Newman. ASB students each paid 250 dollars for this trip.

According to senior Megan Yee, students completed similar tasks to last year’s trip.

“Each trip is relatively the same in terms of what we do but at the same time, each trip is different because we are able to bond with the new members of ASB and create new memo-ries,” Yee said.

According to Yee, the students of ASB were able to gain a broader experience and reach out to help other communities.

Brenda MehdianStaff Writer

Left to Right: Junior Maya Steinberg and sophomore Alanna Schenk aid in painting houses for Habitat for Humanity; ASB members load utilities from nearby warehouse to aid in improving housing conditions. Photos courtesy of LOREN NEWMAN

Service Learning prepares for hair donation eventCeline Hakimianpour

Staff Writer

Service Learning is pairing up with Pantene Beautiful Lengths organization and preparing for an event scheduled toward the end of May at lunch on the front lawn. The event gives students the opportunity to not only donate eight inches of their hair, but to also help can-cer patients feel beautiful in their own skin.

Beautiful Lengths is a partnership between Pantene and the American Cancer Society, the largest non-profit health organization. The

Pantene Beautiful Lengths charity aspires to help women grow long, strong, beautiful hair and provide the funds needed to turn donated hair into wigs for women afflicted with cancer.

“I feel that it is a good idea to make this opportunity available to the students at our school because if we didn’t, not as many people would think of doing it on their own time, but they feel great after doing it with the support of their peers,” senior Chanel Taghdis said. “Even the students benefit because if they do not have the time to participate in community services... [the students] have the opportunity

to help someone simply by donating hair.”Donation requirements include a criterion

of at least eight inches of non-dyed and non-bleached hair. The hair must also be under 5 percent naturally gray.

According to the Pantene Beautiful lengths program, Pantene has donated 24,000 free real-hair wigs to the American Cancer Society, which distribute wigs to cancer patients.

“Our hope is to have students observe the selfless act. We know how attached people can be to their hair, but there are people with cancer who don’t have any,” Service Learning

Advisor Michelle Halimi said. Junior Claudia Dayani donated her hair last

year and feels the charity is a great opportu-nity to help patients in need.

“I was so happy with my decision of donat-ing my hair, and I am strongly considering donating it again this time around...if I can make someone’s life better just by donating my hair, I would do it again in a heartbeat,” Dayani said.

The date is not yet confirmed, but is said to

take place toward to end of May on the lawn.

Members of Beverly Hills Rotary Club, along with their counterpart, Beverly’s Inter-act Club, worked with the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks in an effort to beautify South Park Recreation Center in Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, April 6 as a part of the 2013 Rotary Day of Service.

“Any time we can wear our rotary shirts and operate as a unified club, it is a reward for the entire rotary organization worldwide,” Rotary Advisor to the Interact Club Les Bronte said.

During the event, members worked to reno-

vate daycares and teen lounges, as well as re-juvenate football and baseball fields.

“The entire time I was working, I got this refreshing feeling knowing that I’m helping children who are less fortunate,” junior Shay-na Sharim said. “I couldn’t help but imagine the smiles on their faces when they see the renovated park.”

However, the student volunteers were not the only ones to have a powerful experience while volunteering at the Rotary Day of Ser-vice. President of Beverly Hills Rotary AJ Willmer had a similar experience.

“I had what Rotarians call a ‘Rotary mo-ment,’” Willmer said. “It was incredibly won-

Michelle BanayanSocial Media Director

derful to see the impact that we had upon this park. Though there was some debate as to whether Interact students should be invited to work at the event, they were some of the hardest-working volunteers.”

Both the Interact and Rotary Clubs follow Rotary International’s motto “service above self.” Taking part in this event is an oppor-tunity for both clubs to reflect upon the way members stand by the motto every day, ac-cording to Interact Club President Nicole Sayegh.

“This event truly reflects the fantastic mis-sion of Beverly Hills Rotary and BHHS In-teract club to promote goodwill both inter-

nationally and domestically through various civic-orientated projects,” Sayegh said.

This was the Interact Club’s first time par-ticipating at this event and working with the South Park Recreation Center.

“Our growing membership has not only al-lowed us to participate in more events in our city, but to expand to other communities that are more in need than we are,” Interact Club Vice President Adam Slavick said.

The Interact Club will continue to stand by their motto while promoting emergency pre-paredness items for the American Heart As-sociation at the Farmer’s Market Earth Day event on April 14.

Rotary clubs partner to beautify recreation center

Left to Right: Rotary board members help to clean classrooms at a local preschool near the South Park Recreation Center; Junior Shayna Sharim paints benches next to a baseball field in the park shortly after helping the club clean gyms and rooms in the Recreation Center. Photo courtesy of: SHAYNA SHARIM and ADAM SLAVIK

April 11, 2013newsHighlights2

Left to right: The robot, Daedalus, shoots discs and frisbees and climbs a pyramid during the competition; the robotics team mechanically feeds discs through a slot for the robot to hurl. Photos courtesy of: TAMMY LEON

New summer requirements for AP Gov/Econ HMax Stahl

Staff Writer

Advanced Placement Government and Honors Economics (AP Gov./Econ. H.) teachers Roel Hinojosa, Dan Moroaica and Catherine Pincu are now assigning a chapter of summer reading from the textbook and are requiring that certain students take entrance exams for the 2013-2014 school year.

Students who received lower than a B in AP United States History (APUSH) or an A in regular United States history were required to pass the entrance exam in order to enroll in AP Gov./Econ. The tests were administered on March 25, March 27, April 8 and April 9 during lunch in room 201. Moroaica stated that there might be another test in the future.

Lasting about a half hour, the tests includ-ed 20 to 25 multiple-choice questions and a short essay. They covered material from U.S. history classes that pertain specifically to U.S.

government.“There are questions that might be con-

sidered definitional questions – recognition questions – and some questions that ask stu-dents to think a little bit more critically about what the answer might be,” Hinojosa said.

Hinojosa and Moroaica agreed that beyond reviewing U.S. history notes there was little students can do to prepare for the test.

According to Moroaica, the institution of the entrance exam will improve the class-room experience.

“We want to make sure that AP Govern-ment classes have a strong curriculum that isn’t watered down. We want open access, but we want students to realize that this class is not for everyone,” Moroaica said. “By provid-ing an entrance exam, it gives a hint of what the students can expect, as well as giving us [Hinojosa, Pincu and me] an insight into their critical thinking ability. Our goal is to match the appropriate students to the appropriate

Robert Katz

Co-Web Editor-in-Chief

The Symphonic Band and Chamber Or-chestra performed for judges at a competition sponsored by the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) at Hutchinson Middle School in La Mirada on Thursday, March 28.

The groups played a set of two songs before a set of three judges, or adjudicators, trained by the SCSBOA. After the rehearsed perfor-mance, each group was given a ranking of Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent or Superior by

each judge. The performance was followed by a sight-reading, which required each group to play a completely fresh piece.

Music Dept. Chair Bill Bradbury was con-fident in the band and orchestra’s presenta-tion.

“For the most part,” Bradbury said, “I think both the Chamber Orchestra and the Sym-phonic Band had their best performances on this repertoire to date.”

The band performed movements one and four of Suit Française by Darius Milhaud and Pas Redouble by Camille Saint-Saens, and received three Excellents for its performance.

Music Department performs at annual festival

April 11, 2013Highlights 3news

Continued from page 1...presentation for the Chairman’s Award.On Saturday, the team wrapped up quali-

fications and became part of what was re-ferred to as the seventh seed alliance, with each seed representing a ranking. By this time, the team had been working 12 hours a day for three days, but despite the weari-

ness, members were happier than ever.“As time progresses, you find yourself

facing new challenges which you weren’t prepared for. Stress runs high and tensions flare as more and more mistakes pop up. But when you find yourself succeeding through all the adversity, there is no greater feeling. In fact, there’s no better way to describe our

cheering after winning our last qualification match than thunderous,” Malik said.

The most emotional moment, however, was reserved for winning the Chairman’s Award later that evening. Seniors entered the regional competition believing that it would be their last, but the achievement gave them a spot for the championship.

“As a senior who thought regionals was going to be my last robotics competition, winning Chairman’s made my last year the best because I still have something to look forward to,” Natarajan said.

The team will be moving on to compete in championships in St. Louis, Missouri, from

April 22-28.

levels.”Hinojosa and Moroaica were also moti-

vated to align their classes with the standards of other advanced placement history classes, such as APUSH and AP European History.

“We always used to have an entrance exam, so it’s only been a few years since we decided to suspend it,” Hinojosa said. “I wanted to keep the AP U.S. Government course in line with what other AP courses do. So, for instance, other classes do have entrance exams…Many of the other classes also have summer read-ing, and so I wanted to align myself with the expectations of any other AP teachers.”

Summer reading will cover one chapter on American political culture. Students planning on taking AP Gov./Econ. H. will be required to outline the reading and take an assessment. Hinojosa, Moroaica and Pincu have been un-able to cover the whole chapter during previ-ous years due to the time constraints and the chapter’s lack of importance to the AP exam.

“It’s about philosophy and society, so it’s a nice chapter to read, but we never seem to have time. It’s an important chapter, and students should be able to read it, so I think given all the calendar changes, the only time left for students to do it is during summer,” Hinojosa said. “Also, I think it’s a good idea for students to get a taste of what they’re in for. A lot of students come into the class a little surprised at how difficult the reading is, and I want them to have a sense of what the expectations are.”

Junior Daniel Alvarado agrees with the test-in policy, but he wishes there were no sum-mer reading.

“The test-policy helps show who should be in the class,” Alvarado said, “ but I’m not re-ally a fan of the summer reading. It’s just an-noying to take care of.”

AP Comparative Government, an elective, has no entrance exam and no summer read-ing.

The orchestra offered Capriol by Peter War-lock and A Gaelic Overture by David O’Fallon and earned two Excellents and a Superior. In sight-reading, the band won a Superior rank-ing and orchestra took an Excellent.

Bradbury noted the Suite as “very challeng-ing as an expressive work,” and Capriol as “very technically demanding.”

Band Drum Major Matthew Yamodim was pleased with band’s performance, but he no-ticed room for improvement.

“I think the symphonic band performed very well on Thursday,” Yamodim said. “It was one of the better performances we’ve had

but still not as great as we could have done.”Chamber orchestra violinist Laurie Wang

viewed the performance positively, reflecting on what orchestra was forced to overcome.

“I think we played pretty well,” Wang said. “Though the orchestra was already so con-sumed with work for the musical, we still pulled through and got pieces for the festival done too.”

The band and chamber orchestra will re-ceive further feedback and information from the adjudicators, allowing the Music Dept. to build upon its performance for the future festivals.

Photo by: ISAAC SINGER

sign users support gay marriage, the pictures accomplish nothing more. Involvement in this issue must be on a more public and larger scale to affect more people across the United States.

There is no way to measure the effect of each support method, but some examples of support have been shown on bigger scales than others. For one, the extremely popular rapper Macklemore’s 2012 song “Same

Love” allowed him to show his support of a successful Washington state gay marriage bill and confront his issues with the negative views of gay marriage in the rap and hip-hop industry. This song took the country by storm simply because a majority of rappers would not touch the subject of gay rights in their songs. As Macklemore became more mainstream, more and more people, rap lovers and

not, became more informed about the issue.With social networking, I have not seen a

single status, picture or tweet supporting the traditional view of marriage and Proposition 8 and condemning the idea of same-sex marriage. Social media does not therefore does not show the entire picture of marriage equality. This gives a very one-sided view on the issue, even though the Supreme Court justices usually split their decisions on issues.

April 11, 2013opinion Highlights4

STAFFJulia Waldow

Editor-in-Chief

Danny LichtSous-Chief

Mabel KabaniNews Editor

Candice HannaniFeature Editor

Dami KimCulture Editor

Arman ZadehSports Editor

Oliver GallopGraphics Editor

Marguerite AlbertsAssistant Graphics Editor

Pasha Farmanara and Robert KatzChief Web Editors

Michelle BanayanSocial Media Director

Audrey Park, Sasha Park and AJ ParryCartoonists

Ryan Feinberg, Celine Hakimianpour,Benjamin Hannani, Zoe Kenealy,

Jessica Lu, Brenda Mehdian,Alex Menache, Kevin Park,

Jessica Saadian and Max Stahl Staff Writers

Gaby Herbst and Katie MurrayAdvisers

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The mission of Highlights is to informand entertain the community of

Beverly Hills in an accurate, objective,timely and well-designed manner.

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This newspaper is produced by the Advanced Journalism class of Beverly Hills High School, 241 Moreno Drive, Beverly

Hills, CA 90212.-

Send letters to the editor tobeverlyhighlights@gmail.com.

Feedback is appreciated.-

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Ads are not endorsed by BHUSD. -

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beverlyhighlights.com

Social media ineffective in supporting gay rightsOliver Gallop

Graphics Editor

SASHA PARK

EDITORIAL

The History Dept.’s decision to ad-minister placement tests and assign summer reading for incoming Advanced Placement Government and Economics Honors (AP Gov./Econ. H.) students for the 2013-2014 school year will further allow Beverly Hills High School and its students to achieve academic excellence on multiple levels.

The testing requirements, which were suspended for a few years, according to one AP Gov./Econ. H. teacher, will ensure that students in the AP Gov./Econ. H. classes are able to handle the rigorous coursework and provide for the most advantageous classroom ex-

AP Gov./Econ. H. requirements praised

Decision to graduate early requires correct motives

Challenging the boundaries and norms of society is what teens have strived to accomplish since the dawn of time. However, our rebellious behavior does not only stem from a hatred for conformity and restrictions, but also from a yearning to throw behind our adolescent years and blossom into adults. We strive to drive earlier, party later and, now, end our traditional four years of high school in three.

Though leaving behind the fourth and final year of high school sounds tempting, this opportunity has been specifically constructed for those who, according to Head Counselor Diane Hale, “need to work or are unable to attend school for medical reasons.”

However, many students are considering leaving school early in order to attend a community college and, in turn, be admitted into a four-year college more quickly. Many students at Beverly, according to Hale, have seriously considered this. Junior Abbiegayle Levi is planning on being admitted into Santa Monica Community College during the 2013-2014 year.

“I have really good grades, but I don’t think they’re good enough to go straight to UCLA…I decided on going to SMC next year because I realized all the advantages it gives me,” Levi said. “It gives me less stress. I don’t need to study for the SAT, worry about admissions, but also be exposed to something new.”

According to College Counselor Jill Lewis, a majority of all her students who choose to leave high school in three years

do so upon feeling that their high-school performance will not allow them to be admitted into their first choice college, though she personally believes this course of action is not ideal.

“Students who leave early not only miss out on this developmental process, but they also miss a part of their adolescence that they will never get back. Enjoy being a teenager,” Lewis said.

Students who intend on attending a community college their fourth year of high school have to pass the California High School Proficiency Exam, turn in their current high school transcript, fill out paperwork, obtain their missing high school credits and live a life in which they don’t have their high school diplomas, so students considering this road as an easy way out are mistaken.

These students who miss out on their

senior year also miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Adults yearn to go back to high school when life was simple and easy, so there is no reason for us to want to give that up for fear of future rejection.

Though families, like that of Levi’s, have talked and thought about this path clearly and logically, many end up regretting their decision, according to Hale.

Whatever the decision, make sure to look at the pros and cons and not make hasty decisions, especially to avoid the possibility of regret. Though the prospect of leaving high school looks like the easier path, taking college classes is not a simple replacement.

Before making this life altering decision, each individual must realize what he or she wants before potentially missing his or her last year of high school, and regretting this decision for the rest of his or her life.

Mabel KabaniNews Editor

After a long day at the office, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Anthony Kennedy probably does not arrive home and log onto Facebook. He probably has not seen the countless new profile pictures of equal signs and rainbows. And even if he were to see the pictures, there is little chance that they would help him pick a side on the issue of gay marriage.

I am a supporter of marriage equality and gay rights, but I feel like social media is not an optimal way to support gay marriage equality and the two cases that were presented in the Supreme Court on March 26 and March 27. On March 26, the court heard the case Hollingsworth v. Perry, which discussed the constitutionality of Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California. On March 27, the court heard arguments regarding the case United States v. Windsor, which dealt with the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 federal law that restricts same-sex marriage and leaves much discretion to the states.

Showing support for the controversial topics of marriage equality and gay rights is important, but changing Facebook profile

perience possible. In the past, students who were not qualified to take AP Gov./Econ. H. were able to take advantage of the open access system and enroll in the class with a counselor’s permission. Placement tests, which ensure that all pupils in a course are qualified, make sure that a course is not watered down. If everyone in a class is fit to handle the material, then discussions will be stimu-lating enough to both broaden students’ minds and teach them everything they will need for the AP test in May.

In addition, the summer reading re-quirement for the class will benefit stu-dents in the course. The AP Gov./Econ.

H. summer reading will expose students to material they can potentially use as examples or proof when discussing a matter in class or writing AP essays. Furthermore, the chapter students will need to read over the summer can ex-pand the way they think about history.

While we wish that changes were ad-opted earlier, we are glad that the de-partment is taking a stand in order to ensure that students in the AP classes have the most enriching experiences possible. By maintaining the academic intensity of its AP classes, the school can continue to be a successful and well-celebrated institution.

pictures to equal signs is not as effective as, say, going to a gay rights rally. West Hollywood holds a gay pride parade on Halloween every year and will celebrate gay pride this year from June 7 through June 9. Although the West Hollywood Halloween parade crowd does not always consist of avid gay rights advocates, the more people who show up, the more attention gay rights gains. A clever sign supporting gay rights at

one of these rallies can attract attention, and a simple snap of a camera (preferably by a professional journalist) can bring the sign and sign holder’s support to a national level, as CNN did in Washington, D.C., on the days of the two cases. The uniqueness of these signs sets them apart from the boring red and white equal signs usurping Facebook that only show individual support of the issue. Although others can see that these equal

Either every single one of my Facebook friends is socially liberal or those against same-sex marriage are afraid to let others know that they are on the wrong side of history.

April 11, 2013Highlights5

April 11, 2013featureHighlights6

Benjamin HannaniStaff Writer

Alumna Shekarchian starts own fashion line

Watch out Alexander McQueen, ‘12 alumna Sherry Shekarchian’s Sage Rev-olution fashion line is making a splash. After long hours of back-and-forth com-munication with distributors, pattern makers and a website designer, Shekar-chian launched Sage Revolution on March 18. She has funded the line through her own savings and a loan agreement made with her parents to cover start-up fees. Inspired by her passion for style and de-sign, Shekarchian wants girls her age to have pieces of clothing that are both af-fordable and stylish.

“Sage means wise, and I wanted my clothing line to be a revolution, or a turn-ing point, in fashion. So combining them together was a no-brainer,” Shekarchian said.

The name of each piece is also signifi-cant. Each item of clothing is named after close female friends and relatives whom Shekarchian can envision modeling the piece. She even named a dress Aniston, a reference to the former “Friends” star.

However, Shekarchian’s family and friends are not her only influences. She

also looks up to Ryan Seacrest and Lau-ren Conrad as role models. She cites their driven work ethics and pursuit of mul-tiple projects as qualities she strives to emulate.

“I’m a big advocate of strong work eth-ic and I think these two are just fantas-tic,” Shekarchian said. “They have their hands in a bunch of different endeavors but they’re also having fun with it. I look at them and feel like they’re having a great time working.”

Although Shekarchian doesn’t sketch, she sits alongside patternmakers, whom she found by calling other companies, to go through fabrics and tell them designs that she imagines. She then edits the patternmakers’ sample sketches before the pieces are produced. Ideally, Shek-archian hopes to have Sage Revolution sold at major department stores around the world. She is presently using the line’s Twitter and Facebook accounts to refer potential customers to SageRevolu-tion.com, the line’s website. Shekarchian identifies Sage Revolution’s target au-dience as girls like herself in their late-teens and early-twenties.

“I was in awe when I saw Sherry mod-eling such amazing clothes that she had

designed, all on her own website. I’m so proud of her and lucky to have such a successful and talented best friend,” fel-low ‘12 alumna Shannon Toobi said.

Currently, Shekarchian is responsi-ble for overseeing all the line’s designs. That’s not to say she would mind collab-oration. In fact, she eventually hopes to work with Alexander Wang.

“[Wang] started at a young age and worked his way up. He is now the head designer for one of my favorite brands, Balenciaga. It would be a dream to work with him,” Shekarchian said.

She encourages fellow aspiring design-ers to follow their hearts. Despite any frustrations or hardships that may arise from starting a business, Shekarchian said that the satisfaction of pursuing her dreams is well worth the struggle.

“The only advice I would have is if you really have a passion and idea, then re-ally go for it!” Shekarchian said.

Ultimately, Shekarchian, who is cur-rently a freshman at Santa Monica Col-lege, aspires to transfer and graduate from New York University. After college, she hopes to run Sage Revolution from New York City and manage her own pub-lic relations firm.

Photos courtesy of SHERRY SHEKAR-CHIAN. To see more from Shekarchian’s fashion line, scan this QR code:

Zoe KenealyStaff Writer

Gordon nominated for short “Second Fiddle”

As she looks back on all the hard work that went into her short film “Second Fiddle,” KBEV student senior Natalie Gordon is appreciative and proud of its astounding reception. Having submitted the film to the Los Angeles Student Media Festival, Gordon was ecstatic to hear that “Second Fiddle” qualified as a finalist. The festival was held on March 30, and although Gordon did not win, she is hon-ored to have been nominated.

“The feeling of hearing that my film was nominated was absolutely terrific,” Gor-don said. “I almost couldn’t believe it, and the news was enough to make my month.”

There were nearly 200 submissions to the festival, and only 36 were chosen as finalists. Gordon’s “Second Fiddle” com-peted in the comedy category.

“Second Fiddle” was screened at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood as a part of being a finalist in the festival. Gor-don both edited and directed the short.

The short comedy, which runs just over five minutes, is about a freshman boy in high school who joins the orchestra. This unnamed character picks up the bass, which essentially “takes over his life.”

In the midst of her accomplishments, senior Natalie Gordon participates in KBEV, where she works with film. ZOE KENEALY

Toward the middle of the film, a burglar breaks into the boy’s house and hits his foot against the bass, knocking the bur-glar out and giving the boy a chance to run away. Because of this miracle, every-one including the boy’s friends and even family begins to care about the bass more than they do the actual boy. At the film’s end, the boy despises the bass.

“The bass is a representation of high school and how the boy comes to despise it as time continues,” Gordon said. “The bass at times brings the boy great joy, but at other times the boy absolutely hates everything about the bass. This up and down relationship is symbolic of the way many students feel about the high school experience.”

Gordon plays the harp, so the idea for “Second Fiddle” was inspired by her ex-periences with the instrument.

This is not the first kind of recognition that Gordon has received for one of her films. Her 2011 documentary of Barry Brucker, who was mayor at the time, won the 2012 Telly Award.

The Telly Award is not an award that is merely given to one person a year. Rath-er, it is given to every contender who is able to earn a certain number of required points.

Gordon won the bronze Telly. The high-est Telly Award is silver.

Gordon’s peers who have heard of her successes are both proud and in awe of her hard work, commitment and talent in the film industry.

“I know about her Telly award. Every-one in KBEV does,” KBEV student Dorian

Elgrichi said. “It brings our studio a lot of pride to have such a talented teen and I am extremely proud of her for have com-ing such a long way.”

In the fall, Gordon will be attending the University of Southern California, where she hopes to continue her accomplish-ments as a film student.

April 11, 2013 cultureHighlights 7

Ice Cream Lab experiment results tasty, pricey

Spring into colorsSplash of colors brightens spring wardrobe

Alex MenacheStaff Writer

Marguerite AlbertsAssistant Graphics Editor

Fashion changes with the seasons. With the arrival of spring comes an arrival of new color choices. This season, men’s fashion has be-come filled with a mixture of both faded warm and cool colors that resemble the retro look of the ‘80s.

Comparable to the ocean, key colors this season include various shades of blues and greens such as emerald, dusk blue, electric blue and grayed jade, all of which have a calm-ing effect.

More vivacious colors like sunflower, poppy r e d and vibrant orange resemble the

shining spring sun and warmer days. Vivid colors can brighten up the dark outfits from

the winter closet in preparation for the

spring.“I have been see-

ing a lot of bright colors in stores, probably be-cause it’s going to get warmer

soon,” junior De-ven Martin said. “Personally, I in-tend to wear fewer

With the fresh and bright aura of spring comes a fashionista’s urge to re-energize her wardrobe. As mimicked by what was seen on the runway this spring, the color direction builds upon a palette that combines dynamic, vibrant colors with soft neutrals in order to create a harmonious balance. The combina-tion of bright and dull garments demands at-tention while simultaneously offering versatil-ity and practicality.

“I mostly wear neutral clothes, although I love to throw in a bright color or pattern once in a while,” senior Sheyna Messiqua said. “To me those pieces are a method of self ex-

pression, a way to show my in-

dividuality.”S i m i l a r

to colors p r e v a l e n t in nature, green is mak-ing a come-back when it comes to neu-trals. Deep

shades of green,

RYAN FEINBERG

Guys return to pastel, preppy Girls pair neutrals with brights black clothes and jackets during the day and more shorts and T-shirts.”

However, in contrast to previous years when the strictly preppy look was popular, this preppy look has a more vintage feel. Pas-tels are making a comeback, and mixing and matching different tones is key. A balance be-tween the brighter colors and the more retro ones can be achieved by complementing faded colors with darker pieces. For example, wear bright but faded colored jeans and a light pat-terned shirt on top.

According to GQ, preppy is here once again, shown by the fact that more and more stu-dents are wearing Sperry Top-Siders and light brown shorts with vibrant colored shirts. The

semi-casual look is com-fortable for a long day at school and appears sharp yet informal. If looking for something a

little dressier, one op-tion is to wear oxfords with a colored sole and an earth-toned suede or leather upper part of the shoe. Additionally, cardigans or nautical sweaters make the pal-ette more exciting.

With this wide range of hues, there aren’t any reasons to not be bold and take

a few fashion risks.

as well as subtler and sophisticated shades of green, are an intriguing choice and mirror the shades of Mother Nature. Other neutrals in-clude pale dusk blue, linen and dark Monaco blue.

Contrastingly, the more dynamic colors for this season include pale violet, traditional bright red, nectarine, vibrant green and lem-on, all statement colors that bring a touch of intrigue to an ensemble of neutrals.

There are many ways to achieve this bal-ance, both through the use of accessories or basic pieces. The vibrant colors of the season could be implemented through bold statement necklaces, bright shoes or purses. A more risky

approach to implementing these dynamic colors is through printed pants paired with

a simple white T-shirt, bright jackets or blouses with solid color jeans.

With this season’s color trends in mind there is no excuse to shy away from taking fashion risks. The balance between neutrals and bright colors allows every

fashionista to make a statement while stay-ing put to-gether.

AJ PARRY

Any and all notorious ice-cream advocates and covert chemists in the West Los Angeles area may be eager to try South Santa Moni-ca’s newest ice cream parlor, Ice Cream Lab.

The air-conditioned shop welcomes the customer to the menu board on the far wall. Drawn with chalk, the list of flavors appears intricate upon first glance, but is rather lack-ing upon a closer look. The board offers a mere six flavors.

The Angeles Apple Pie combines vanilla ice cream with fresh apples and graham crackers. All fruits are bought from the local farmers’ market.

Quite shortly after the transaction, the customer discovers the tenor of the title. The process of delivering the ice cream to the customer is far from ordinary. In fact, the ice cream is prepared fresh without preserva-tives, after the order is placed.

With sky blue machinery, the ice creamists (for lack of a better term) concoct the creamy treat. The initial feeling of seeing dry ice on a first-grade field trip reemerges upon ex-amining the production of the ice cream. A nitrogen-fueled machine and an operator

Ryan FeinbergStaff Writer

team up to make the order.The real wonder is how cold the ice cream

is. At Ice Cream Lab, previous notions of ice cream’s coldness deriving from arduous hours in the freezer are brutally tested. In any case, the ice cream is cold and sweet. While this is not the best ice cream ever, it is surely not the worst; finishing the snack and its waffle cone is no challenge. The fresh apples are refreshing yet the question of whether or not ice cream eaters really worry about fruit intake remains. Perhaps the apple addition is a facade for a bowl of fruit.

As for the future of the establishment, no one can tell what will ensue. After all, how can a desserterie on South Santa Monica Boulevard selling five dollar desserts maintain survival? That would almost be as ridiculous as opening an ATM that sells baked goods and expecting customers to wait up to an hour in line to make their purchases. Baffling.

The rent must be whopping considering that the location is precisely one block from North Rodeo Drive, a stretch of land coveted by tour-ists with cameras, fanny packs and visors.

Bearing a unique production process and presentation, Ice Cream Lab may be promis-ing, but as for all Beverly Hills shops, its future is uncertain.

April 11, 2013sportsHighlights8

Nick Heller directs career to St. John’sArman Zadeh

Sports Editor

Baseball begins league play with loss to Culver CityPasha Farmanara

Staff Writer

Boys baseball is 0-1 after their first league game, and 6-10 for the entire sea-son.

Beverly took on Fillmore on March 28 and was able to pick up one last win before league. Led by pitcher Maxwell Martin, the team shut down Fillmore and went on to win 2-0.

“I think we were successful because we made them execute and we played defense well,” pitcher Grant Thompson said. “The defensive plays were key plays in keeping the other team off the base paths so they couldn’t score.”

The win gave Beverly a 6-9 record over-all for the preseason.

Beverly played its first league game against Culver City on Tuesday, April 9 at Culver City High School. Beverly lost the game 5-0 due to a lack of an offensive spark.

“As a team, we got off to a rough start and our hitting was not great. We had opportunities to score some runs but we were unable to take advantage of the situ-ation,” pitcher Jared Forman said.

Despite the loss, the team believes that starting pitcher Nick Reskin and reliev-er Maxwell Martin, the latter of whom pitched a scoreless inning, performed well.

“Nick pitched really well after the first inning, and Maxwell later came into the game and did not allow a run,” first base-man Ricardo Santos said.

This season the players feel the team needs to improve on its batting.

“So far we haven’t been hitting the ball as well as we want to and that needs to

pick up. No matter how well we pitch we cannot win without getting runs on the scoreboard. I’m sure it will be a point of emphasis in our upcoming practices,” Santos said.

Although the team started off league with a loss, it has high ambitions going into the rest of the season.

“As a team we want to win league. Al-though we lost our first game, we believe that this goal is still possible,” Forman said. “In my mind, there isn’t any team that can beat us as long as we play to our maximum potential. Once we start execut-ing our goals, we will surely win games.”

Beverly’s second game in the two game series against Culver is today at La Cienega park at 3:15. The team’s next game will be at home on April 16 against Morningside.

Senior Nick Heller is at the peak of his la-crosse career. The team’s star player, Heller has set the team’s offensive pace this sea-son with 32 goals as of April 26, leading the team’s scoring.

Heller has built on his success with lacrosse, his number one priority since middle school, since picking up the sport in seventh grade at Brentwood. Since then, Heller has worked on improving his game through club teams and commitment to his high school squad.

Heller’s dedication to the sport has most recently paid off with his recruitment to St. John’s University to play D-1 lacrosse after high school. Heller is eager to play for one of the most elite college lacrosse teams in the country.

“They are currently ranked 19 in the nation but just beat Notre Dame who was ranked number one,” Heller said. “I am very excited for the opportunity to play for St. Johns. I hope to go in as a freshman and contribute to their team.”

Heller was first discovered by St. John’s on a trip with his regional lacrosse team, the West Coast Starz, which is composed of 20 players from six states. The Starz program, “the high-est level and most exclusive program Starz Lacrosse offers for players… prides itself on maintaining rosters with the absolute top players in the West who aspire to play at the collegiate level,” as regarded by their website.

Along with playing for his regional team, Heller is also a member of a local team, the LA Lazers, as well as, one of his top priorities, the Normans.

Baseball Preseason ResultsDate Opponent Result2/23/ 2013 @ San Gorgonio Loss2/23/2013 @ San Gorgonio Loss3/1/2013 @ Temple City Loss3/2/2013 vs. Bellarmine-Jefferson Win3/5/2013 vs. Pasadena Win3/12/2013 vs. Westchester Loss3/12/2013 vs. Palos Verdes Peninsula Loss3/13/2013 @ La Salle Loss3/16/2013 vs. Cajon Loss3/18/2013 vs. Rialto Win3/19/2013 @ Birmingham Loss3/19/2013 @ Montclair Prep N/A3/25/2013 vs. St. Bonaventure Win3/27/2013 @ El Segundo Win

Heller began playing for the Normans as soon as he entered high school as a fresh-man. By his sophomore year, Heller was a vital member of the varsity team, at one point leading the team in scoring and assists.

In his final season at Beverly, despite strug-gles by the squad to win games early, Heller remains optimistic of his and the team’s sea-son.

“My hopes for this season at Beverly is to lead our team to the playoffs and to become a

high school All American,” Heller said.As Heller prepares to move on from his

high school career of playing lacrosse, he reflects on some of his favorite memories playing with Beverly, from playing varsity prematurely as a sophomore to most recently defeating rival Oaks Christian for the first time in four years.

“I have loved every second of playing for Beverly,” Heller concluded.

Heller is interviewed by Highlights’ staff writer Ryan Feinberg. RYAN FEINBERG

Jessica Lu Staff Writer

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Maxwell Martin swings at St. Bonaventure’s pitch in the third inning. ARMAN ZADEH Jack Ross runs past home plate, scoring a single for Beverly. ARMAN ZADEH

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