Chatsworth High School The Clarion March 2007 New Tardy Policy Appears To Work Acadeca Improves By Clarion Staff students were late to one class be better, but every time there’s Other students say keeping enough to land themselves in a new rule it [depends] on how track of tardies takes up too Though some students may detention. you enforce it.” much class time. “It all seems Ranking not like the new tardy policy, it “That’s a pretty low per- The CHS tardy policy mir- like a waste of time,” said nonetheless seems to have them centage out of thirty-four hun- rors those at many other area sophomore Vanessa Ostovich. By Candy Wong scurrying to get to class on time. dred kids,” said Principal Davis. high schools, Davis said. It was The revised policy has Staff Writer According to the new pol- Mr. Jarvis, the dean of at- created with chronically late made a difference for junior “Coffee, coffee, coffee …” icy, any student who racks up tendance, said he has observed students in mind—those who Hannah Ju, who said she was cites Decathlete senior Allison six tardies in one class must at- fewer students being tardy to are late to a class seven to 15 frequently late to first period in Bellon jokingly as her so-called tend a mandatory, two-hour Sat- class. However, he said numbers times. the fall. “Since the new tardy study aid to prep for Academic urday detention. The new policy weren’t available to prove there However, some students policy was made, I’ve made a Decathlon meets. was designed to address con- was a difference. voiced disapproval with the new bigger effort to get to that class On February 3 rd at UCLA, cerns that students were missing “I don’t see as many stu- policy. Freshman Denise Reyes and I haven’t been late so far,” Allison Bellon steered CHS’ class since they were held in K- dents out of class [in the 10-30 said it’s wrong to have detention said Ju. “I’d rather not waste Academic Decathlon Team to a 78 for being tardy. seconds] right after the bell on Saturdays. “It’s way too ex- two hours of my Saturday.” team total of 3,535 points and a After 13 school days, 14 rings,” Jarvis said. “It appears to aggerated for tardies,” she said. Continued on Page 3 rank of 27 th out of 45 teams at Super Quiz as our school’s “Top Scoring Student.” This was a significant jump from last year’s 2,350 points. Homework: Is Less Actually More? “I started studying after the banquet last year. I basically lived at Starbucks for three By Raeanna Walker Dominique Ortiz said, “The weeks,” said Bellon, who also Staff Writer most I spend is about five received a Most Inspirational hours.” award, given to four students in Homework—the much Homework can be the competition. dreaded end to every student’s beneficial as well as Coached by Ms. Richard day. But do we loathe counterproductive, according to and Ms. Weisner, the CHS homework due to laziness or do studies done by researchers such Acadeca Team typically meets we despise it because we’re as Cooper. For example, during zero period and after getting too much of it? homework can better your study school for three times a week, as The amount of homework habits, increase your self- well for as a few hours every given has always been a sore discipline and time-management other Saturday throughout the subject among students, parents, skills, and reinforce what you school year. The class contains 30 stu- and teachers. learned in school. dents, while the team holds nine In 1983, the public began to On the other hand, too members, whose memberships worry about youth education. much homework can lead to are determined by how well This was spurred by the report sleep deprivation if a student each student performs during a “A Nation at Risk,” which spends more time doing scrimmage meet in November. stated that American students homework than getting shuteye, “This year, the topic was were given less homework and and cheating since a student China’s influence on the world,” falling behind students of other may not have enough time to said Bellon. Chinese art, music, countries. After “A Nation at Photo illustration by Jasmine Liu and Stephanny Landaverde. finish everything assigned. social science, economics, as Risk” was published, schools Many students also have well as language and literature started to increase the amount of “The Battle Over Homework, ” believe that children on average jobs and don’t have the rest of were designated categories De- work given to students. which stated no improvement in should receive 10 minutes of the day to complete their cathletes studied for, regarding The amount of homework standardized tests when elemen- homework per night per grade, homework. Childhood years are the subjective test-taking second needed to help students under- tary school students were given so that first graders would get also ripped from the students portion of their meet. The first stand the material has also been more homework. Also, the 10 minutes, second-graders who do not have the time to do portion consisted of Interview, debated. According to studies book “ National Differences, would get 20 minute” and so on. things they enjoy. Essay, and Speech. by Dr. Carol Huntsinger, from Global Similarities: World Cul- According to this theory, a Is giving more homework When asked what part of the College of Lake County, ture and the Future of School- high school senior should be to our students the answer to the Academic Decathlon she enjoyed best, Decathlete junior kids who get more homework in ing ” found that students with getting approximately two hours increasing academic success? Jessica Salamanca said, preschool and kindergarten do less but enough homework got a night. However, senior Janna Alfie Kohn, an author who spe- better scores than those with a Bernstein does more homework “Definitely the Interview. One, better academically in later cializes in education, said, “The that’s how I got my gold medal. grades and attend more prestig- massive load. on an average day than that. “I trouble is that kids can’t be So how much homework is wake up at 4 a.m. and I do about Two, you actually get to interact ious colleges. On the other made to acquire skills. They with the judges. You give them enough? Patty Yoxall, from the two hours in the morning and hand, Dr. Harris Copper at the aren’t vending machines such a resume of school activities and National Parent-Teacher’s Or- then maybe about two and a half University of Missouri wrote that we put in more homework hobbies and they ask you ques- ganization, tells WebMD, “We or three hours a night.” Junior tions based on it.” Senior Andrew Escano, who received a bronze medal in Interview, agreed, “I did well in An Out-of-this-World Vacation Interview. To prepare, I went around asking teachers, parents, earnings from an en- right outside Moscow, Russia, mately fulfilled her dream of and people to interview me.” tire year? Try $20 learning to speak the Russian traveling to space, and the future “My routine for studying is million. That’s what language and familiarizing her- of space travel. to lock all doors, disconnect TV Anousheh Ansari, the self with the Soyuz module that Ansari said she always be- and radio, and try to focus as much as possible,” said Escano, fourth person and transported her to and from the lieved, “deep down inside,” that a two-year Acadeca veteran. first female private International Space Station. she would go into space some- When queried about quirky citizen to travel into According to an article by day and that “becoming an engi- Acadeca traditions, Salamanca space, spent to fulfill CNN’s Ryan Chilcote, “The neer was my ticket to fulfilling said, “Getting lost on the way to her childhood dream. Iranian-born American will go my dream.” She also said, “I Bravo [Medical Magnet School] On September down in record books in a cou- look at this [experience] as one for the first meet is kinda like a 18, 2006, Ansari’s ple of ways. She’s the first of the steps in a long journey.” tradition. You have to get off Source: Google images goal of someday vis- woman to pay her way into She said, “Some people ask the wrong freeway or some- By Maggie iting space finally became a re- space and the first person of Ira- me why I talk so much about thing.” Ghahri-Saremi ality. She journeyed into space nian descent to get there.” space, why I feel space is so im- The Decathlon team in- Staff Writer for eleven days as part of the On March 1, Ansari spoke portant, [it’s because] the re cluded Allison Bellon, Jessica Expedition 14 crew of the Rus- at an event held by the UCLA sources in space will solve a lot Salamanca, Cristina Chilin, What would you give for a sian Soyuz TMA-9. Their trip Iranian Student Group. At the of existing issues on Earth.” Matt Weekly, Morgan Gray, Mary Vilgera, Andrew Escano, trip into outer space? Your right into space took two days. event she discussed her experi- person audience a video she and Kamran Ghiassi, Jason Umana. foot? Your kid sister? Your She trained in Star City, ence in space, how she ulti- continued on page 3 The ClarioClarionnnn Features March 2007 Page 2 Dine Like An Islander at L&L Some Doubt Enviga’s

By Huong Nguyen the name to “L&L Hawaiian Keep in mind that if you Staff Writer BBQ” because they say the aren’t that hungry, you can order Negative-Calorie Claim word “Hawaiian” creates an the meal as a On the corner of Devonshire island fantasy, drawing Cali- “mini” served with only one por- By Candy Wong scientific research shows the and Reseda, there is a small fast fornians to the Hawaii closer tion of rice, less macaroni salad, Staff Writer ability of green tea’s powerful food/dine-in restaurant next to to home. The business has and not as much chicken. antioxidant ECGC to speed up Imagine downing a drink Subway called L&L Hawaiian been so successful that today, One new thing that I tried on metabolism and increase energy with negative calories. Not zero, BBQ that serves exotic and deli- there are about 194 L&L’s my most recent visit to L&L was use, especially when combined negative . Sounds farfetched, cious dishes with Spam, all across the U.S. the “Spam Musubi.” Going for a with caffeine,” said Nestlé re- kinds of barbeque, and eggs. The main dish I sampled little less than $2.00, the exotic right? Well, canned green tea searcher Dr. Hilary Green. These are among the most popu- was the Hawaiian BBQ roll consists of a rectangular block Enviga—the brainchild of the However, critics such as lar foods in Hawaii and it is just Chicken dish. For about of rice topped with teriyaki sauce Coca Cola and Nestlé Compa- the Center for Science in the within reasonable driving dis- seven bucks, you are served a and a slice of Spam, all wrapped nies—claims to boost metabo- Public Interest (CSPI) doubt this tance from Chatsworth. scoop of rice, chicken, and a in seaweed like sushi. The Spam lism and energy use, as well as weight loss antidote will live up According to www. side of macaroni salad. The Musubi, by far, is one of the most burn calories. to its lofty claims. hawaiianbbq.com, L&L was chicken consisted mainly of unique things I’ve ever eaten al- Enviga, which contains “It's ironic that Coke, a started by Johnson Kam and leg meat marinated in a unique though I have to admit that the caffeine, calcium, and green tea company that has been a major Eddie Flores, Jr. in 1976 when sauce, making it taste almost seaweed taste was a bit too much extract, comes in three different promoter of weight gain, is now they bought a small drive-in in like teriyaki, but better. I did- when combined with the Spam flavors: green tea, berry, and pretending that it is coming to Hawaii. In 1988, the business n’t like the macaroni salad and rice. Regardless, it’s an ex- peach. At $1.29-1.49 per 12-oz the rescue of overweight peo- turned into a franchise and has much because I thought it cellent choice if you’re looking to can, Enviga hit northeastern U. ple,” said CSPI executive direc- been growing ever since, bland, but the rice and chicken try something new with a striking S. states in November and were tor Michael F. Jacobson. “They spreading their delicious dishes together were to die for. taste that seems to come straight sold nationwide by the end of should have called this drink served fresh and at a fair price, My usual order at L&L is from the islands of Hawaii. January. ‘Fleece,’ since that’s what throughout the nation. the “Chicken Katsu,” which L&L is just about the only Enviga has 90 mg of they’re trying to do to consum- Their combos root back to features breaded place you can order an all- ECGC(epigallocatechin gallate) ers. Plain old tap water has zero the traditional Hawaiian plate chicken optionally topped American hamburger with Japa- per serving and provides 20 per- calories, five calories fewer than which features two servings of with a special sauce, as well as nese inspired Spam-Musubi, cent of the recommended daily Enviga, but unlike Enviga, tap rice, one serving of macaroni 2 scoops of rice and macaroni along with Hawaiian BBQ. This value for calcium. water doesn’t cost 15 bucks a salad, along with a hot entrée salad. The chicken is just ten- type of variety makes it the per- “The accumulated body of gallon.” such as BBQ chicken or beef. der enough and not soggy at fect place to go with a group of First named “L&L Drive-In,” all. You can get all of this for friends who do not all have the the founders decided to change about $6.50. same preference in food. Making Plans For Break By Sharon Tang “Since it’s going to be my birth- Staff Writer day during spring break, I’m going to party hardy,” she said. Spring Break is just The recent weather changes around the corner and many stu- have convinced junior dents are gearing up for their Mackenzie Prather to head to fun-filled week. Hurricane Harbor and cool off. Many of us are simply go- Another sophomore, Tiana ing to be taking it easy at home Moore, will be spending her while others will be enjoying spring break on a cruise to the their week to the fullest. From Caribbean Islands. She will also the several students asked about be celebrating her birthday their spring break plans, many while on the cruise. When asked said that they were going to Six about what activities she would Flags Magic Mountain and be taking part in on the cruise, spending the day with their she said, “I’ll be going snorkel- friends or family. ing and playing tennis, of Sophomore Kelly Medina is course.” She is planning on get- packing her bathing suit and ting “pleasantly plump” from all jumping on a plane to the beau- the food she will be eating. tiful beaches of Guatemala. Clarion Staff Adviser: Mr. Lehr Editor-in-Chief: Candy Wong News Editor: Jasmine Liu Features Editor: Jannet Torres Assistant : Huong Ngyuen Sports Editor: Desiree Ramirez Copy Editors: Raeanna Walker, Huong Nguyen, Candy Wong, Jannet Torres. Maggie Ghahri-Saremi Design and Layout Editor: Maggie Ghahri-Saremi Editorials: Faith Lim Assistant: Belen Espinoza Staff Writers: Rhett Brandt, Lauren DeGaine, Arun Dillon, Chris- tine Kim, Stephanny Landaverde, Jorrel Quirong, Katrina Ramos, Sally Rivas, Randi Seidel, Kishi Smith, Sharon Tang

Clarion’s Editorial Policy The goal of The Clarion is to provide relevant and reliable news to the students and staff at Chatsworth High School. All sto- ries are produced by students in the journalism and school newspa- per classes unless otherwise stated. The paper is subject to review by school administrators before publication. The newspaper is funded by the school and private advertisers. The opinions expressed in the editorials are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff as a whole. We hold ourselves accountable for the accuracy and fair- ness of our work. If factual errors are brought to our attention we will correct them in the next edition. Sports The ClarioClarionnnn March 2007 Page 3 For Wrestlers, Going Winter Teams Reach Playoffs By Desiree Ramirez season next year.” sectional title. Blond Is A Way To Bond Staff Writer Chevalier expects next Varsity midfielder Christina year’s team to be competitive. Chopin said, “We had a rough By Desiree Ramirez one’s self or a form of rebellion, Winter sports have finally Two of the three captains, Eryka start as a team, but in the end we Staff Writer eight out of the 16 wrestlers come to an end, but all on good Menzies and Kim Smith, will gave other teams a run for their walked on campus with their terms. Basketball, soccer, and return next year, making for a money.” What do blond hair and blonde haired heads held high. wrestling each had successful solid foundations. When asked about next sea- wrestling have in common? seasons and made it to playoffs. The wrestling team’s season son, Coach Altshule said, Team unity. What began as a Wrestlers of every skin The boys’ Varsity basket- ended with placing 3 rd in city. “Every year we have one of the simple dye job became a trend tone, of every hair type, dyed ball team made it to the second “They exceeded expectations,” top programs and I’m expecting among the Chatsworth wrestling their hair blond to show they are round of playoffs, finishing with said Coach Landau. “Next year it to be the same (next year).” team. a part of our successful wres- a 20-8 record. we will do even better with a We saw them in between tling team. That included junior “It was a successful season. strong group of wrestlers, and Boys Varsity soccer went all Only a few teams in Chatsworth we will have a lot of talent.” the way to the semi-finals, end- passing periods, during lunch, captain and city finalist Thomas make it to 2 nd round in play- Captain Thomas Cottrell, a ing their season with a 16-6-1 after school, in class, and only Cottrell dying his dark curly offs,” said team captain Jeff Os- junior, placed first in city and record. Although their season one glance at their bright blond hair to a bright blond, and Sen- borne, a senior. competed for state, as well as ended, partially because of a hair and wrestling comes to nin Smith dying his blond hair “Our season was so-so Juan Tec, the other captain and controversial call by the referee, mind. even brighter. and could have been better,” senior. The third captain and their season still has brought The wrestling team had a said Coach Switalla. “Next year, senior, Jaxael Rizzo, placed sec- them success. successful season, individually Sophomore Kane Mizuno we are expecting a strong team ond in city. They earned the title of and as a whole. Overall they said, “It was Thomas Cottrell’s with young talent.” West Valley League champions, placed third in city, which was idea and quickly we followed Girls’ Varsity basketball Chatsworth soccer girls also which they haven’t been since “exceeding expectations,” said along. It is great to see most of suffered a difficult lost to Dor- worked hard this season, but 1991. That was after not making Coach Landau. the wrestling team walk into a sey in the 3 rd round of playoffs, weren’t able to get through it to playoffs last season. match, with all the same hair finishing with a record of 16-12. quarterfinals and get the title The boys varsity soccer Some may say it was the color and walk around campus “We had a good season they yearned for. The quarterfi- coach, Mr. Minassin said, “We blond hair, others might say the knowing that the rest of the overall,” said Coach Chevalier. nal game against El Camino did outstanding this season and blond hair is just a form of teen- school knows who we are, the “This season was like a transi- Real, a 1-0 loss, ended Chats- next year we will step up ... like age boys being teenage boys. Chatsworth wrestling team.” tion year, assuring a promising worth’s chance to get a city- we did (this season).” Whether a form of expressing Entertainment It’s No Ordinary Day At The Audiences Love Those Spartans Office For Bauer in “24” By Katrina Ramos the best warriors and have them “300,” by Frank Miller. Staff Writer completely dedicated to the As the film unfolds, the By Arun Dillon thought of no surrender. Most of Spartan king rejects a message Staff Writer The movie “300” has both the lives of young boys revolved from a Persian messenger while boys and girls racing to buy around the tradition of being throwing the messenger and his It’s been 12 twelve hours tickets for this action-packed, trained for war and to protect men off a cliff, starting an obvi- since the sixth day of Fox’s real- hunk of a movie, with its over- their country. ously bad vibe between the Per- time series 24 began, but just the-top war and gore for the Spartan boys were taken sians and the Spartans. how intense has this day been so guys, and the buff, six-pack away from their mothers at The Persian king, who far for counter-terrorism agent equipped Spartans drawing in young ages and taught never to thinks of himself as a god, sent Jack Bauer? the girls. show weakness or mercy. There 1 million of his men to take over The movie is based on the was no better place to die than Sparta, while the king of Sparta Since day (season) one, epic battle of Thermopylae in in a war; retreat was never an had only 300 of his men to ac- Jack’s wife has been killed, 480 B.C., in which 300 Spartans option. company him on a suicide mis- along with some of his closest and a few thousand allies held sion to hold off the Persians as friends, including President off an invading Persian army “300” has been a hit in long as they could. While at David Palmer. He has cut off his Photo from Tv.msn.com numbering 1 million. theaters, reeling in $129 million home the queen tries her best to partner’s hand and killed more There’s no rest for a weary The Spartans are portrayed in its first 10 days. It’s rated R, convince the council to send than 130 terrorists. Jack Bauer agent Jack Bauer, played by as a highly disciplined, war- which may not be surprising more warriors in a drama-filled, has also saved over a million Kiefer Sutherland, in “24” on based society, so bent on mili- considering its action, sex and shocking story line. lives by preventing at least six Fox. tary performance that sickly gore. “300” is an epic and brutal terrorist attacks in Los Angeles. newborn babies were tossed off The movie used digitally battle story between two socie- He was forced to fake his own even killed one of his best field a cliff because they were created backgrounds, which ties, making this movie defi- death and was later captured and agents and was forced to torture thought of as bad warriors. gives it an animated feel. It was nitely one worth your money taken to a Chinese prison. his brother. There’s even been Sparta’s main goal was to create based on the graphic novel and time. Day six has been anything an assassination attempt on President Palmer. but painless and easy for Jack. Space Continued from page 1 Tardy The new president, Wayne This new season of 24 has her colleagues made before, $200,000 and in 10 years she continued from page 1 Palmer, brother of David been full of twists and surprises, but lacks that edge-of- your-seat during, and after the journey. hopes that number will decrease Palmer, made a deal with China On the video she said, “One to around $30,000. Some teachers say the pol- suspense that the first five sea- to have him come back to cool thing [about space] is you icy is helping. “I think it’s an America. After a series of ter- sons all had. The previous sea- have no concept of floor, ceil- In her closing remarks, An- improvement from our previous rorist bombings all over the sons had a story that was easy to ing, or wall. You push your fin- sari left the audience with a consequences for being tardy,” country, President Palmer asked follow, but in day six the story ger and you fly from one place quote by Albert Einstein: said Mrs. Zapata, who teaches Jack to sacrifice himself so all is too complex. The expansion to another.” “Imagination is more important sign language. the bombings could stop. That of the main cast has caused it. than knowledge.” She went on “However, I think the was at 6 a.m., and now half the There are just too many charac- During the question and an- to explain that “one of our great- people that are usually tardy day has gone by. Jack has dis- ters to follow. This season has swer period, Ansari revealed est assets is to imagine…don’t will continue to come to class some details about future space lose sight of that; a lot of new armed one bomb, but a few still been exciting from the very tardy, regardless. If they really travel. She claimed that by discoveries happened because wanted to come to class on time, hours before that another bomb first minute, and will keep fans 2009, commercial flights to students challenged what they hooked until the last second. they’d be there before the bell went off. He shot and maybe space will potentially cost learned.” rang.”