March 2, 2010 Washington High School 38442 Fremont Blvd. Fremont, CA 94536 Vol. 91 Issue 5

The Hatchet

Photo by Jimmy young

(Front) Juniors Paige Castren, Sarah Kowalski, seniors Kim Chatterjee, Zach Dawson, juniors Josh Del Mundo and Julien Malard. (Back) Juniors Maryanne Wainaina, Kimberly Valdovinos, sophomore Kelsi Ocon, junior Riva Madan and freshman Aileen Liang. The performers thank the light and sound technicians for helping out during the show. The 18 acts ran Feb. 25 and Feb. 26. Read more about the Talent show, page 8.

TalentShow

Students perform for audience with a range of talents

ASB raises money for Haiti with shirt salesSarah deLanda

Staff Reporter

ASB is selling T-shirts to aid Haiti after the Jan. 12 earthquake. The fundraiser began Feb. 8 and all profits will go to the “Hope for Haiti” organization. More information can be found at hopeforhaiti.com.

“We’re trying to target funds towards kids in Haiti,” ASB secretary Cindy Chen said.

The idea for selling shirts came

PROMPreparing for

Features, pages 6-7

from seniors Breana Meagher and Jocelyn Yamaguchi as well as sophomore Caitlyn Yamaguchi. The concept was one of many emerging ideas for how to raise funds; among them a “Quarters for Quake” fundraiser and issuing a challenge to other school leaderships to see who could raise the most money within the first week. Due to the fact that many of the other schools already committed to fundraisers of their own, in the end, the idea fell through. But even without the

Barbecue honors basketball teamsPaige CaStren

ChriSteLLe Xu

News Editors

motivation of competition, over 100 shirts have already been sold.

With large disasters, every cent counts. ASB is promoting T-shirts with posters, announcements and by word of mouth.

With all the planning necessary to ensure an effective fundraiser and to finish prior commitments, it took nearly a month to begin T-shirt sales. ASB had to focus on first semester finals and the Sadie Hawkins dance when the earthquake struck. With students

concentrating on them, the success of the Haiti relief plans might have been compromised. Complicating matters, during finals week, ASB wasn’t meeting every day. It also took a bit of time to brainstorm for the best way to earn money for Haiti. And even after it was settled to sell T-shirts, there was the matter of finding a shirt design and a vendor to create the shirts.

“The shirts look cool,” senior Mehak Dharmani said of buying them. “And I’m going to feel like a

good person.”ASB hopes sales will continue

and they will be able to order a second shipment of shirts.

“I think it’s going to be a while until we can say it’s ‘enough,’ but the shirts brought attention to us trying to raise funds and a lot of people started donating money,” sophomore Jennifer Chang said.

ASB will continue to offer the Haiti relief T-shirts for $15 dollars in the student center until an undecided date.

ASB held a lunchtime barbecue Feb. 23 to celebrate the advancement of both the boys and girls basketball teams to NCS.

“It’s been roughly 10 to 15 years since we’ve sent both boys and girls basketball to NCS together,” activities director Helen Paris said.

The funding came from ASB, athletics and the money initially meant for the “Up Yours” lunch. Leadership decorated eaves with paper replicas of team jerseys, each personalized with players’ last names and numbers.

“It was great for ASB to put on the barbecue for basketball and to show support for the team,” senior John Songponnopachon said.

ASB made the decision Feb. 22 to put on the barbecue; they set up posters and announcements around school by first period Feb. 23. Despite the unexpected rain, ASB fed over 300 students.

“The price and food was good but there was a really long wait to get the food. It took like 20 minutes,” junior Andrea Bonilla said.

ASB members began turning students away so they would have enough time to clean up, not because there was a lack of food.

“One lesson I learned was that I should do every barbecue in the rain; everybody stays on campus,” Paris said.

A&E, page 9

Registering for classes:Making Oscar predictions:

Which movie will win the best picture award?

theright

choicesOpinions, page 5

NEWSThe HatchetMARCH 2, 20102

The Hatchet is a forum for stu-dent expression and discussion of ideas uncensored by school officials. The Hatchet staff seeks to ethically produce an accurate record of the news, sports, issues and people of the Washington High School community.

2009/2010 Staff

Washington High School 38442 Fremont Blvd.Fremont, CA 94536

http://whshatchet.com editor@whshatchet.com

Tel (510) 505-7300 Fax (510) 794-8437

Editor-in-ChiefNicole Doan

Online Editor-in-ChiefNicole Pham

News EditorsPaige CastrenChristelle Xu

Opinion EditorsJoshua DasAlex Tyler

Features EditorMichaela Go A&E EditorsNoelle FujiiMarcy Shieh

Sports EditorsEdin CristofiKaylee Miu

Photo Editor Raphael Ghieuw Sien Advertising Director

Jimmy Young Distribution Manager

Htoo Htoo Lu Staff Reporters

Alejandro MontalvoAmanda Nava

Anterpreet KaurBach PhanBrian Jeon

Briana TerryChase GlenisterChristine Harms

Harris AfridiJenae Lee

Jordan BrahaneyJudy Wu

Keerthika RamakrishnanMatt Moore

Rico Jones DonelsonSarah deLandaShelmi Liang

Simoneel CzarSimrundeep Kaur

Yama Hazheer

Mission

Letters to the Editor Policy

The Hatchet encourages public opinion through Letters to the Edi-tor, which represent the opinion of the writer only. An editor must con-firm submission of all letters with the writer. Writers may request that their letter be printed anonymously, but The Hatchet will not print letters submitted anonymously. Letters will not be edited. If a letter is not pub-lishable due to legal liability, poor taste or length, the letter will be re-turned to the writer for revision.

Letters should be addressed to “the editor,” and given to a Hatchet staff member, hand-delivered to Room E221, sent via email to <edi-tor@whshatchet.com>, or mailed to WHS-The Hatchet / 38442 Fremont Blvd. / Fremont, CA 94536.

The Hatchet

MOWRY & PASEO PADRE PKWY

FUEL UP WITH PREMIUM.

WHS students represent in Honor Band

Sophomore Daniel Brown and juniors Allen Liu and Kevin Luo were selected to be part of Fremont Unified School District’s honor band.

The honor band consists of around 40 students total from around the district. The rehearsals started during January at Mission San Jose High School, and the concert was held at the Ohlone concert hall on Feb. 6. They played music from the eighteenth century.

“If I had to describe it in a word…calm,” Brown said.

Scott Pierson, the marching band director for San Jose State and the director for the Santa Clara Vanguards, directed teh honor band. He taught the honor band new things, such as breathing techniques.

The auditions consisted of recorded tapes, with the

applicants playing folk song suites and scales, which are different ways of playing notes.

The directors from each high school, including marching band director Duane Mitchell, came together and listened to the audition tapes anonymously. Then they picked a certain number of students for each instrument depending on what they needed. They also made sure that every school was represented.

“This is the best [honor] band we’ve had in eight or nine years,” Mitchell said.

Brown, Liu and Luo give credit to Mitchell for organizing the classes, setting everything up and directing everybody. Mitchell directs more than just marching band. He is the choir director, and he teaches the guitar class.

Bach Phan Staff Reporter

The WHS honor band students started playing their instrument when they were growing up. In fourth grade, both Brown and Liu acquired their instruments. Brown picked the trumpet and Liu began playing the French horn. Luo picked up his clarinet in the third grade after he was done with his after school music classes, where he

played the r e c o r d e r . Brown was inspired by his older sister, who plays the p i a n o . His first instrument

was the piano, which he continues to play today.

“My director chose my instrument for me,” Liu said.

They both practice many times throughout the week.

Brown practices every day for

about an hour, while Liu practices around five hours a week. They attribute their success from this constant practice.

“It’s really about practice, there is no talent, it’s just practice,” Brown said.

However being in band has not affected their academic life. They are still commited to a high standard of education.

Liu is looking at UC Berkeley as a prospect for his future. He has not thought of doing anything else with his life besides classical music.

Brown has not looked into many schools, but knows of many of the prominent music schools. He has other hopes as well. If he had to do something besides music, he would become and inventor or an engineer.

Luo does not plan on pursuing music as a major, but rather a minor in college.

“I feel proud to be in honor band,” said Luo.

“

“

This is the best [honor] band we’ve had in eight or nine years.

Duane Mitchell

NEWS The HatchetMARCH 2, 2010 3

AC Transit is in the process of transitioning all its paper passes to the TransLink Card. Senior Marketing Representative Cristina Ebojo said she is preparing outreach events for schools and other public places to get students registered for the TransLink cards. There is one planned at the Fremont Main Library March 23. Ebojo said these outreach events are important because many AC Transit riders do not know about the cards or know how to get one.

"There is a little advertisement on the bus, but it doesn't give directions on how to get one," junior Amber Yao said.

The TransLink Card is a plastic card personalized with students' pictures and name. It can be loaded with e-cash or a 31-

day youth pass. To aquire a Youth TransLink Card the rider must be 5 to 17 years old and show proof of name and age.

TransLink Cards cannot get demagnetized, there are multiple ways of loading them, and can be easily replaced.

"If you bend[the paper passes] or place it near a magnet then when you go to swipe it, the machine can't register it. The cards will help a lot," sophomore Katie Majumdar said.

Ebojo says that the cards should be more efficient and reliable.

"In our test runs we have found that tagging a TransLink Card can result in faster boarding times compared to paying with cash or paper magnetic strip passes," Ebojo said.

TransLink cards are normally $5, but AC Transit will be waiving the fee until June of this year.

AC Transit asks, ‘paper or plastic?’Paige Castren News Editor

During the PTSA meeting held on Feb. 4, library media technician Leslie DiFranco, library information specialist Kristen Marie, PTSA treasurer Francine Loudon and parents Katy and Paul Yamaguchi received honorary service awards.

“Receiving the award made my day. I was surprised and proud,” DiFranco said.

Cheerleading coach Jovana Mozzetti was also honored on Feb. 16 during the boys varsity basketball game.

The award ceremonies was held to celebrate Founders Day. Founders Day is the celebration of 3 women who found the organization that evolved into PTA/PTSA.

WHS PTSA uses events like faculty meetings, Crab Feed, or PTSA and Grad Nite meetings to give out the honorary service awards.

“PTSA likes to honor the recipients when they are surrounded by their peers,” Kufeld said.

The WHS community submits nominations with a statement of why nominees should be honored. A community then reviews the nominations and decides who will be honored.

DiFranco has received the award multiple times. This is the third Founder’s Day Award DiFranco received. She has received the other awards from Brookvale Elementary School and Thornton Junior High.

“It was a huge honor and really nice of the PTSA to give me the award,” DiFranco said.

Coach, library staff honoredJudy Wu

Staff Reporter

The Scrivener, WHS’s literary magazine, won the Superior award in National Council of Teachers of English’s Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines.

Of the 425 schools across the United States who submitted entries, 26 received the highest award, 81 Superior, 207 Excellent, and 48 Above Average.

This program is open to all high school and junior high schools throughout the United States, Canada, Virgin Islands, and to American schools aboard.

Once submitted for judging by experienced reviewers in Washington DC, the magazine is judged on four criteria: content, content variation, graphics, and organization.

“We hope younger students will maintain [such accomplishments] in the future,” Scrivener editor Cindy Wang said.

Htoo Htoo Lu

Staff Reporter

Scrivener receives superior rating

NUMMI closure affects student and family

The closure of the Fremont NUMMI Plant affects WHS students. Sophomore Billy Bergendahl’s father has been working in this plant for 24 years. Bergendahl blames the recession for the decline of NUMMI and the demand of automobiles.

“I’m stressed out. It’s the first time that I’ve had to look for a job in over 24 years. A lot of changes

BaCH PHan Staff Reporter

are going to happen,” Bergendahl said.

His next move is uncertain. The family expects to adjust spending habits. He is worried about finding a job because of the recent downturn of the economy, which has caused demand for his job trade to decrease.

The closing of the plant will greatly affect the 4,700 employees that are currently employed by NUMMI. There are also around five to seven employees part of

various other companies that are connected to the NUMMI plant, working for supplier firms for parts and other goods. According to Bergendahl, this could result in the overall loss of 21,000 jobs after March 31.

“My dad pays some of the bills, so my mom has to take more clients at her job,” Billy Bergendahl said.

The massive amount of employment lost will be hurtful to the state’s budget as well. California provides unemployment insurance

for every person that has been laid off. According to the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) will have to pay up to $450 per unemployed person per week.

For the predicted lost 21,000 jobs, that is upwards of $9.45 million for unemployment insurance every week. Many have seen the NUMMI sign while driving on the freeway, but people missed see the importance it had cemented in this community as a key provider of employment.

Students place in speech tournamentCHristine Harms

Staff Reporter

Photo from Maryin Gold Seniors John Rasure, Kokei Otosi, Emily Khuc and Seth Neumann pose for a group picture. They placed fourth, first, third and second respectively.

The Speech and Debate team was invited to the Richard D. King Annual Youth Speech Contest put on by the Niles Rotary on Thursday, Feb. 4 at Washington Hospital.

Seniors Seth Neumann, Emily Khuc, and John Rasure took second, third and fourth places, respectively. Senior Kokei Otosi of Fremont Christian School took first place. She was the only other competitor present. Although Washington could have sent more speakers, they did not want to overload Fremont Christian, who was planning on bringing two students, one of which was unable to attend the event.

Both Neumann and Khuc have participated in the speech contest in the past.

“I really wanted to win this year. I haven’t been able to place first in this contest in previous years and it was my last chance before I

graduated,” Neumann said. Traditionally, only WHS and

Fremont Christian School are invited to this event. Both schools

are in the Niles Rotary Club. The competitors were to present a speech corresponding to the idea of, “the future of Rotary in your hands.” The event was judged by three Rotary members. Otosi, the event winner, will move on to the area level of the competition.

The speech contest is named after Fremont resident Richard D. King. He was the president of Rotary International from 2001 to 2002. He has been involved in the Niles Rotary Club since 1968.

The Rotary is an international community service organization. Every year, the group takes on an international project to aid a third-world country. They also work with students to help gain leadership experience in their communities through the organization’s off-shoot, Interact, and events such as the speech contest.

OPINIONSThe HatchetMARCH 2, 20104

Be aware of what you are saying: ‘retard’ is not ‘stupid’Joshua Das

Opinions Editor

The Merriam-Webster diction-ary defines mental retardation as a “sub average intellectual ability equivalent to or less than an IQ of 70 that is accompanied by significant deficits in abilities (as in communication or self-care) necessary for independent daily functioning, is present from birth or infancy, and is manifested especially by delayed or abnormal

development, by learning difficulties, and by problems in social adjustment.”

You hear it at school, and on the streets. It’s seen on TV, it’s seen in the movies. It’s heard on the radio, and it’s read in books.

The word “retarded” was meant to describe people with the conditions Webster lists; however, it seems to have lost its meaning. Now for anything that can be described as ridiculous or unpleasant, we label it as “retarded.”

Although it might not seem like much, since it is used constantly, this is merely a gateway for the evolution of hateful speech, not to mention the insensitivity towards those who are mentally impaired.

The word “retard” has even spawned many spinoffs such as “celebutard” (famous stupid person), “debutard” (famous rich person who can’t handle money) and “e-tard” (someone not familiar with computers or technology).

Most people know individuals

who are challenged, one way or another. They may have a mental or physical illness. They may be injured, or they suffer from the many different problems of today. We should do our best to help them and not mock them.

“I think the word ‘retard’ should be used to emphasize a point, but people use it too leisurely,” senior Alfonso Bonilla said.

The word “retard” completely undermines the efforts made to prevent discrimination against

those who suffer from mental illnesses. This word has such a strong negative connotation, that it gives a poor impression to those mentally disabled, who have little to no control over the situation.

Very few would actually use the word “retard” to label someone with a handicap. It’s unfitting as a noun, and seems to be more of a term used betwixt friends. Try to remove this expression from your daily use, and be conscious of who you might offend.

This isWhat’s Choppin’

By Nicole Doan

High school relationships lack longevityKeerthiKa ramaKrishnan

Staff Reporter

High school relationships may be fun and exciting, but are they going to end in marriage? Not many people end up marrying their high school sweethearts. Not everyone sticks with the same people all through the four years. Coming in as freshmen, students feel excited and nervous about having a girlfriend or boyfriend. By senior year, some students are just ready to leave the immature world of high school dating.

High school relationships start off as crushes. You talk to the girl or guy that looks cute to you, and at one point, if you like them, you ask them out. After you start going out, you find more things in common b e t w e e n you. The school dance is around the corner, and you go dance like you have never before. Everything is nice and smooth until you f i n d

something out about the other person, or you start to have arguments. You don’t talk to each other for a day or two. After that you apologize and start talking again. Soon enough this roller coaster of ups and downs will lead to longer fights and shorter make-up times. At one point, you call it quits and become ex-girlfriend and boyfriend. Then you move on to another person.

On entering ninth grade you think you are all grown up, but looking back as a senior you will wonder what you saw in your ex-boyfriends and girlfriends. High school love can be immature. The girl will try to rectify her guy’s

habits, and boys get filled with anger. Boys tend to

be egotistical and want the girl to call and

say sorry first. Both of them start becoming jealous and possessive. The couples start disliking their partner’s possessiveness while they themselves are being possessive. Hypocrisy and big egos are the main reasons for breakups.

There is also the physical versus the mental liking. At one point, some relationships begin with the person’s outer appearance and not with their heart. Many girls and boys get into relationships with the wrong person without knowing the other person’s true incentives. Love has to be between two hearts, not bodies, to be everlasting.

Only a few high school couples have gotten married. Most high school love and especially one’s first love is never forgotten but rather kept as a experience for the future life.

Mainstream music fails to deliver significant meaningJimmy young

Columnist

The quality of music has diminished in American society. Teenagers’ standards for music have decreased, and the music industry has responded to that. They give us generic beats and synthesized voices layered with meaningless lyrics. The problem is that we are actually accepting this trash.

The quantity of money listeners paying isn’t propor-tional to the quality of the music. Adolescents just blindly accept this trash as good music simply because it is played on the radio.

So why have we not noticed this earlier? A lot of teenagers entered started listening to music during Phase 2. So what are these phases?

I’ll divide the time periods into 3 phases.

Phase 1: Around late 90’s and before. This was the time when a lot hip-hop albums was sugar. You could lick the album all the way around and there wouldn’t be track that was left uncoated; ranging from the jazzy cool A Tribe Called Quest to politically controversial Public Enemy.

Phase 2: This time period is best put as middle school. We were too young to think about what was really going on. The well-marketed iPod increased listeners for it’s portability and simplicity—it became easier

to listen to massively streamed music. Technology had slowly seeped in and before you know it everyone was poisoned by the pollution of mass produced “music.” Artists rely too much on technological advantages like auto tune; a voice correction tool now abused by music producers to produce an artificial voice. Individual artists seeking for their musical philosophy but producers shut them out-they believed that this generation did not need them anymore.

Phase 3: Now and beyond. Are we going to keep accepting this poor music? Is the “sex” ever going to get old? Who’s going to stand up to it?

Mainstream music over-flows with repetitive, catchy and manufactured sounds and un-derground is the dense, qualita-tive and powerful music.

In the ’90s, the majority of hip-hop music was held to a higher standard. From the beats to the lyrics, everything was original and meaningful. But today’s rap music is just compiled plastic. Music industries treat money as a higher priority than the songs. There’s no real talent under all that futuristic make-up.

What we listen to is not music anymore, its just sounds. It’s just vibrations that strike the eardrums. Producers simply need to let the creativity of the artists flow. So who’s going to listen to music?

nicole Doan

Illustration by

OPINIONS The HatchetMARCH 2, 2010 5

“Budget cuts are affecting our sports, and I think we’re wasting money on things we don’t need like the marquee.”

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“Budget cuts are important because if teachers are get-ting laid off, we have less class choices.”

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“I am very disappointed with the budget cuts because they are detracting my learning abilities.”

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“Budget cuts are really affecting the motivation of my teachers.”

How do budget cuts affect you and the people around you?Huskies in the Halls

Staff Editorial Budget cuts affect school climateAs FUSD schools continue to

issue budget cuts, a heavy cloud of irritation thickens among students, teachers and other school workers alike. The district plans to cut teacher salaries and a councilor, in addition to increasing class sizes, causing the school climate to turn sour.

Beginning this school year, the hike in number of students per class robbed us of the luxury of smaller classes, sometimes with less than 20 students, particularly English classes. Previously, teachers had a larger focus on each student, and in the case of English classes, students generally had more meaningful discussions about the books they read. Now everybody can’t contribute to discussions or ask their questions because there isn’t enough time in a class period to fit that all in. In addition, some classes are so large that there aren’t enough desks for students. As a result, students may not be as content or comfortable as when class sizes were smaller.

In addition, with the possibility that the district may cut salaries or have layoffs, teachers and other school staff members may feel less determined to carry out their jobs. They may not completely stop putting in the effort, but there may be times in which they feel like giving up. This may not be true for all staff members.

We must not point fingers at anyone or any entity, for the state is making an effort to preserve our education. According to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s website,

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Choose wisely during upcoming class registration periodSimrundeep Kaur

Staff Reporter

As class registration time approaches, students start to think about what classes they should sign up for. Oftentimes, what a student puts down on his or her paper is influenced by those who have previously taken the class. There are aspects that students should take into consideration when they sign up for a class, especially electives-the subject, the teacher, the difficulty level, the requirements and, most importantly, your interest in the class.

To get a balanced and well-rounded schedule, make your requirements a priority. The difficulty of your required classes, whether it is a college prep, honors or AP course, should be chosen while taking into consideration how much you can handle. Picking several hard classes and doing poorly in them will not be beneficial to you.

A common misconception with some of the perceived to be easy classes is that students feel as though they do not need to try as hard as they should. They may not be as willing to do the work,

and they may assume they will do well anyway. It can’t be said that people only choose the easy classes because they don’t want to do anything; easy classes can be relaxing after your more stressful ones. So taking an easy class or two isn’t bad.

By choosing a class that you actually find interesting, whether it’s the subject matter or something you’ve always wanted to try, you will be more inclined to try to do well. This doesn’t mean that you won’t do as well in a class that you don’t like as much, but with your interest sparked, you will find

the class more enjoyable. When it comes to selecting a foreign language class, choose one that appeals to you most. For your fine art, choose whatever sparks your interest most, but choose one that you find fits your best. Try to not be influenced by your friends, because what they might like and want to take could be different from your choice.

A teacher can also make a lot of difference in how much you enjoy a class. No one wants to be in the same room with someone who doesn’t want to be there. I’m not saying that the teachers here

are like that, but from personal experience, classes are always more enjoyable when the teacher is enthusiastic about what they are teaching. In addition your enjoyment in a class also increases when you make an obvious effort. If you don’t even want to try, then complaining about the class is not going to get you anywhere.

You are going to have the same schedule for the entire school year, so choosing wisely is key. It’s not easy for students to all the classes they want, so thinking thoroughly about what you want to take now will limit your difficulty later.

teac

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http://gov.ca.gov, our governor’s 2010-11 budget includes keeping educational funding at the same level year over year. Therefore, it seems as though lower levels of government, such as our school district, are at fault for causing

distress among students and school staff members.

However, budget cuts are necessary to saving money during these tough economic times. We can do little to improve our conditions, with the exception of

convincing our parents to opt for paying additional taxes. However, adults do not feel eager to pay more taxes, even if that means better education for their children.

Aside from that, all we can do is ride it out together and have

understanding about the situation.Without understanding that cuts must be made to reduce monetary spending, people may feel inclined to complain without taking things into consideration. Have patience; we can get through it.

Illustration by Brian Jeon

FEATURESThe HatchetMARCH 2, 20106 7The Hatchet

MARCH 2, 2010

Asking a date to prom can be intimidating, but it is not as scary as it seems. All it takes is careful planning and guts. This may sounds a little confusing, but most girls like to be asked in a surprising, but not embarrassing way.

Senior Jason Liu asked senior Htoo Htoo Lu to junior prom last year. Liu placed flowers in Lu’s locker, and asked her to prom at lunch.

“It’s the tradition [which guys ask girls to prom],” Liu said.Liu also said being nice is the key to ask a girl to prom.Senior Angela Chu didn’t initially plan to go to junior prom last year, but her best friend

senior Alex Gilham planned a surprise for her in math teacher Mark Clevenger’s room. Gilham initially asked Chu on the phone and after receiving a “green light” from Chu, Gilham proceeded to surprise Chu with red roses in Clevenger’s room. Chu was surprised when she went into the classroom and saw Gilham in the front of the classroom asking her to prom.

“I thought it was cute at the time. I pulled him out and hugged him,” Chu said.A “green light” from your prospective date will be different from person to person.

It may range from a “yes” to a small hint like “maybe,” or even a smile from her or his face. Once you get a “green light” you should plan something big to ask her or him. It is important to make your date feel special and surprised.

According to Chu, too many suspicious actions; such as walking in a really slow phase or having your friends leading your prospective date to a different route around school can blow the surprise.

If you haven’t received a “green light” from your prospective date, you might want to ask her or him privately. Asking a girl privately gives the girl a chance to reject you privately. It might be embarrassing to be rejected in private, but it’s not as bad as getting rejected in public or going to prom with a girl who doesn’t want to go with you.

“If I don’t really know the guy, I’d probably want him to ask me privately,” Chu said. It might be a tradition for a guy to ask a girl to prom, but it is certainly fine for a girl to

ask a guy. Guys like to be asked by a girl to prom because it is special; not many girls have the guts to do that.

“Not many girls would [ask a guy to prom],” senior Alexander Kerelsky said.Even though it is customary for a guy to ask the girl, it would definitely makes his job

easier if a girl asked.

Not everyone wants to go to prom. Prom can be very stressful. It can be awkward and expensive, and planning is time consuming. Even those who want to go may not be able to. There are a lot of other activities you can do instead of going to prom.

“Instead of prom, you can go see a movie with your family or friends. Even better, you can have a party at your house,” senior Kevin Nganga said.

Seeing a movie is cheaper and less socially awkward. Yet, seeing a movie is not the best alternative. You don’t get the chance to socialize with others while watching the movie, which is one of the reasons why people go to prom.

You could instead hold a party at your house. There would be more activities to do at your house, like watching movies, playing games and, obviously, socializing. It wouldn’t be as cheap as a movie, but if you are looking for a packed house, look no further. Also, you have the choice to go formal or not. If you really wanted to go to prom, then you could have a formal party at your house.

If the only reason you are going is because you really like a particular girl or boy, then just ask your potential date out. By going on a private date, you won’t feel awkward around the person’s giggling friends, and you won’t have to feel self-conscious about your dancing. In addition, a simple date would give you the privacy focus on each other and to talk about whatever you want.

These are all alternatives to going to prom. Keep in mind

that these are just the basics. They will get you started on crafting the ultimate alternative to prom.

With prom around the corner, everyone is worrying so much about getting a

date that they forget dresses and boutonnieres don’t fall from the sky. The prices

of required items are easily overlooked until the last moment. Some students go

all out in the event, while others are thriftier.

Going all out means buying a new dress, new shoes, and getting hair and nails

primped by a proffesional. This is what junior Dylan Francisco did for the past

two years she attended prom.

“Last year, I spent $100 on my hair, $50 on nails, about $70 to $80 on my dress,

$40 on shoes, $25 on my boyfriend’s boutonnieres, $70 for the limo I shared with

my friends and $20 for flowers that were weaved into my hair,” Francisco said.

Francisco’s corsage cost around $25 to $30 dollars because it was decorated

with jeweled designs and made with orchids. Choosing a different flower, like a

rose and excluding the jewels on the corsage can cut the price down $10.

This brings the total amount of money Francisco spent to $350, not including

the ticket that her date purchased.

People who want to go all out on prom should expect to pay around $300 to

$400. Hair can range from $30 to over $100 depending on the hair style chosen

and the place you go to. Manicures range from $20, if you get a simple French

manicure, to $70, if you want intricate designs. Dresses and shoes vary depending

on the style and the store. The prices on both items can be as drastic as $10 to

$100. Suits can be $500 at specialty stores. Limos charge by the hour so if a limo

company charges $80 an hour and you’re gone for four hours, then you have to

pay $320 for a limo that you’re not even using the entire time.

There’s no need to get intimidated by the numbers. There are cheaper

ways to obtain prom necessities. Some stores offer specials right

before prom allowing students to buy everything they

need without spending a large amount of money on attire

alone. If you’re unsure if the store offers any prom specials

or sales, just ask!

“I got [my tux and tie] from Sears,” senior Robert Schafhirt

said. “There’s a deal at Sears that you get the whole thing for

$35.”Other ways to save money on prom is to do your own hair and

makeup. If you know a beautician or one that is in training, they

can practice makeup and hair techniques on you. Make sure that

they practice before prom so you can see whether or not you like it.

The real trick to saving money on prom is to look at several places

before purchasing something. Even if you like a corsage at one shop,

you may find that you love a different corsage at a different shop for $10

cheaper. This requires you to look for prom items early on so you don’t feel

pressured to buy the first thing that you see in order to have the essentials

on time for prom.

Some purchase more than one item and pick the one that feels right to wear

the day of prom. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if you do buy duplicate

items, a simple way to get your money back is to return them. Otherwise, they

will most likely reside in your closet forgotten and unworn. Keep your receipts

so that you are able to return the things that you didn’t use. It may make you feel

frugal, but when you get back hundreds of dollars saving receipts won’t seem like

a waste of time anymore.

January

Early March

March 27

Mid-March

Save money! If you are unsure of whether you will go, save anyway! You never know if you might change your mind as the prom date approaches or if your friends will persuade you to go. Remember, you don’t have to buy a $300 dress. If you’re having financial difficulties, you can ask an older friend who is a senior or even one in college to borrow his or her outfit. Dress prices can range from $15 to well into the hundreds. The more expensive dress or tuxedo isn’t necessarily the better looking or more attractive one. As far as the limousine costs, you and your friends can always split the costs.

Ask out a date or decide which friends you will go with. Once you have this decided, you and your friends can start thinking about splitting the limousine costs. If you’re going with a date, then you two can decide the color scheme of the tie and dress.

“Go with all the people you want to share that night with. Be safe, stay hydrated, have fun, enjoy the food and dance your face off!” senior Nikita Gurnani said.

If you are planning to ride a limousine to and from prom, have the limousine arranged by early March. Limousines get booked really quickly, and you want to make sure you get a limo that is in good condition. Also you may be get better rates if you reserve early.

At least two weeks before event you should buy your dress or tuxedo. Earlier is better. You definitely do not want to go through the hassle of trying to figure out what to wear one or two days before prom. The later you wait, the harder it will be to find a style you like in your size. Also look for matching accessories such as shoes, a purse and jewelry.

Arrange who will do hair and make-up. Look online for pictures of what you want, or get an idea of what your beautician has in mind. You don’t want to be stuck with bad make-up and bad hair one hour before prom. If you decide that you want to do your hair by yourself or have a friend do it, start practicing now. Look on YouTube or ask friends for hairstyles that will suit you.

“There are some salons that cost only $25 to get your hair done really nicely. Or, you can just straighten or curl your hair at home and still look nice,” senior Margina Anwari said.

About two weeks before, call or visit a florist to order boutonnieres and corsages. Especially during prom season, florists need time to make all the orders.

Save Money

Ask a Date

What to Wear

Enjoy and make the best out of this memorable day! Don’t forget to bring a personal camera to take pictures. Enjoy

Planning for a perfect prom

How to ask someone to prom

No prom, no problemChase Glenister

Staff Reporter

raphael Ghieuw sien

Photo Editor

Illustration by niCole Doan

Illustration by niCole Doan

Prom costs more than

its ticket value

Timeline by anterpreet Kaur

Pre-prom Prep

amanDa nava

Staff Reporter

Illustration by niCole pham

Illustrations by miChaela Go

A&EThe HatchetMARCH 2, 20108

Chutney spices it up

Artist Spotlight Lerch shines on the stageShelmi liang

Staff Reporter

Talent show ‘one of the best’noelle Fujii

A&E Editor

‘Catcher’ belongs on the pagemarcy Shieh

A&E Editor

Simoneel czar

Staff Reporter

Chutney, a delicious new Pakistani and Indian restaurant, is located on 3352 Mowry Avenue.

It has a sleek atmosphere with Indian artwork around the restaurant. After ordering, I was able to freely choose my own table. The waiters and waitresses are friendly. The service is fast, and there is a take-out option if you’re in a hurry. The restaurant is also very clean.

Their samosas and mint chutney are delicious, and the masala tea is even better. The mouth-watering food with their garlic naan, garlic flavored roasted flat bread and barbecued chicken is one of the best in Fremont. The tandoori fish, barbecued fish with spices was freshly cooked. Their butter chicken has cream that tastes excellent with freshly made tandoori naan.

I ordered the jalebi and gulab jamun for desert and they both tasted nicely homemade. Their mango lassi was also very refreshing and came in a large serving.

Chutney costs approximately $20 to $25 for two hungry people. The portions are well-sized and the naan is much larger, compared to the other Indian restaurants in Fremont. Chutney presents a great cultural experience. Verdict: B+

Great American Novels don’t necessarily make Great American Movies. These are words to ponder for long-time advocates of a Catcher in the Rye movie.

Since J.D. Salinger’s death on Jan. 27, questions of a Catcher movie adaptation resurfaced. In a 1957 letter now being sold on the Moments in Time website, Salinger contemplates to a Mr. Herbert the possibility that he would leave the unsold movie rights of Catcher to his then-wife and daughter as insurance. In the letter, he called his work “can’t legitimately be separated from [Catcher’s protagonist, Holden Caulfield’s] own first-person technique.”

ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) News reports that, according to Salinger’s agent Phyllis Westberg at Harold Ober Associates in New York, he did not change anything in terms of licensing rights, but the future remains unclear.

According to The New York Times, Salinger was disappointed with the Hollywood version of his short story, “Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut” and refused to ever again sell movie rights for any of his other works. Yet Salinger was fond of movies. According to his ex-lover Joyce Maynard’s memoir Looking Back, Salinger collected 16 mm prints of classic movies. Salinger may have been stubborn, but he probably knew what made great movies tick: Catcher doesn’t possess that quality.

A Catcher film adaptation is destined to join the ranks of forgettable films, such as The Great Gatsby and Lord of the Flies. Literature allows symbolism and stream-of-consciousness to thrive on paper, but on film, most details get lost in translation.

Holden’s narration in Catcher is sometimes relevant, sometimes random. For a movie to grasp attention, what is said must directly relate to the actions on-screen. Catcher’s episodic plot is too sporadic for a film narrative.

Imagine Holden’s fractured relationship with Mr. Antolini with a filmmaker’s bias; that would simply destroy Salinger’s intentional ambivalence. The touching scene where Holden watches his sister, Phoebe, ride the carousel, may feel silly.

As Salinger rejected offers from directors Billy Wilder to Steven Spielberg, he continued to inspire filmmakers through his literary works. The Royal Tenenbaums and Igby Goes Down have Salinger touches without being a blatant adaptation of a Salinger work. Loneliness, angst, heartbreak, comedy, vulnerability. And of course, New York. The movies paint classic Salinger strokes in the glow of cinematic acuity.

Perhaps someone can make a brilliant Catcher film, with the right script, director and actors, but Catcher, like many other novels, truly belongs on the page.

Photo by jimmy young

Junior Riva Maden peforms a ballet to Polovtsian Dances at the talent show. She is one of the numerous students that showed off their talent.

Sophomore Max Lerch has been acting for four years. In the sixth grade, a friend suggested that he should audition for a show and so he pursued it. His first show was Peter Pan, in which he played a Lost Boy. Since then, Max has starred in plays and musicals.

“I enjoy the camaraderie, and being able to get the chance to get to know people from other schools around Fremont who have the same appreciation for theatre like I do,” Lerch said.

He has always been inspired by the work of Ted Kaczynski.

He does about three shows a year and each show is over a three month time period. Last year, Lerch played the role of Linus in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Knave for Alice in Wonderland for WHS.

“I had to learn how to talk with a convincing lisp [in Alice], so I would practice talking with a lisp so much, that I would sometimes accidentally slip into a lisp mid-sentence.”

Lerch’s favorite plays include the The Laramie Project and Next to Normal.

He will be in Les Miserables from July 23 to Aug. 14 at the Smith Center Amphitheatre at Ohlone College and plans to audition for WHS’s spring musical, Cabaret. Lerch was also the sound technician for the talent show.

Sometimes Lerch has to stay up late at night doing school work. The rehearsals are long but he feels that they are important in preparing for the show.

Lerch is unsure if he will pursue acting further after high school.

“For now, it’s just a high school hobby,” Lerch said.

Photo by matthew Ballin Sophomore Max Lerch and senior Kimberly Chatterjee in Charlie Brown. Lerch played Linus.

The 18 different talent show acts brought an array of different performances in the cafeteria, Feb. 25 and 26. Both nights sold approximately 100 tickets.

Drama teacher Matthew Ballin was pleased with this year’s show.

“It was great,” Ballin said. “One of our best.”

Talents ranged from music to poetry to dancing. Each performance ended with loud applause from the audience.

Junior Kimberly Valdovinos dropped her fan as she danced to Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi,” but she didn’t let it affect her performance. The audience stood and applauded for her as

she ended her dance. Junior Mario Rappa was

the emcee. He introduced each person and his or her talent and added some comedy in between. He rehearsed some of his jokes, but he improvised most of them. Friday’s show had a few technical difficulties, so Rappa had to take the stage until they were fixed.

“It was scary [during the technical difficulties] at first,” Rappa said. “But in the end it was fun.”

The performers enjoyed being on stage.

“I think [the talent show] was good. Everyone performed well,” senior Lorenzo Dominquez said.

Freshman Aileen Liang played the piano and sang “Gravity” by Sarah Bareilles.

“I was nervous at first, but it was

good later,” Liang said.Sophomore Kelsi Ocon

performed solo on Friday when the night before she performed a duet with sophomore Kenzi Rushton because Rushton was out of town. Her performance was still followed by applause.

Sophomore Taylor Loosli favored the second act over the first act.

“I really liked the singers,” Loosli said. “They really blew me away!”

Freshman Alice Pham thought the show was fun to watch. Her favorite performances by the Magical Unicorn Rainbow Cruise-Ship and the performers who played guitar solos.

The entire show can be found on whshatchet.com

Bandapalooza’s back!marcy Shieh

A&E Editor

Get ready to rock ‘n roll. Bandapalooza will return with student performers ready to strum those guitars and hit the high notes.

This will be the first Bandapalooza to hit the WHS stage since 2007. The line-up will include #@&$ (Stagflation), Quick Question, She Waves the Flag, Sincerely, Your Superior and Spaceman Spiff.

“In previous years, interest from students to audition has been low, and the cost of renting sound equipment and facilities has made [Bandapalooza] not worth holding,” senior Emily Khuc said.

This year, the interest was high and ASB agreed to donate sound equipment.

Each band audition was scored out of 50 points. Music and sound of the band was worth 25 points, performance was worth 15 points, song was worth 5 points and professionalism and appearance was worth 5 points. Judges, which included five band class students, English teacher Daniel McCarthy and economics teacher James MacLeod, used the final point values to pick their top five bands. Students and teachers were asked to be impartial and keep their decisions confidential.

In previous years, only students judged the performances. This is the first year the school has allowed teachers to judge the performances.

Bands needed to include at least one WHS student. There will not be much publicity outside school.

“The purpose of Bandapalooza has always been to have a rock concert for the students of WHS in particular,” Khuc said.

Since auditions took place Feb. 25 and 26, it was inconvenient for band members who were also performing in the talent show.

Junior Erin Riegelsberger participated in two bands and one solo singing performance in the talent show and her band, Quick Question, also auditioned for Bandapalooza.

“[It was] a little stressful,” Riegelsberger said.

The talent show rehearsals were Feb. 23 and 24, so in order to avoid a sound battle between the band room and the cafeteria, Bandapalooza auditions took place on the actual dates of the talent show because the cafeteria would be empty until evening.

Tickets will be on sale in the band room from March 15 to 19 for $5 with ASB and $7 without. Tickets can be bought the door March 19 for $6 with ASB and $8 without.

The money will go to WHS music department, which funds the choir, guitar and band classes. It will also be used to pay for equipment, repairs and band performance transportation.

“Money from fundraising is especially needed now after budget cuts,” Khuc said.

A&E The HatchetMARCH 2, 2010 9

Photo by Paramount Pictures

Teddy (DiCaprio) looks back in Scorsese’s new psychological thriller. The Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, would have been proud.

alejandro montalvo

Staff Reporter

‘Shutter’ thrills as events unfold

Martin Scorsese makes two types of films: great films and classic films. Shutter Island is a great film, meaning that it isn’t a Scorsese classic, but is still far superior to the trash that fills the screens in the theater.

Scorsese is at a point in his career where his successes outweigh his failures. Since 2000, he has not made an unsuccessful film, further proving his astonishing mastership of the cinematic craft. At the 2007 Academy Awards ceremony, Scorsese finally received a long overdue Best Director Oscar for The Departed. That being said, the anticipation for his latest film, Shutter Island, has been intense.

Shutter Island is not a scary film. The trailers and TV spots market it like a typical horror film, but it is far superior than the average horror flick. The film is about two Federal Marshalls who are investigating

the disappearance of a violent patient at a psychiatric hospital on an island. However, like the trailers suggest, there is something else at work, morphing the story as it progresses.

Shutter Island plays more like a 1950s Hitchcock thriller, with storytelling conventions from that style. The symbolism is not hard to understand, nor is it shy and masked. Flashbacks and walking hallucinations compliment the inner turmoil brewing inside the main character, Teddy.

Leonardo DiCaprio, further proving he is more than just a pretty face, plays Teddy with the kind of madness that garners Oscar nominations. Had this film been released on its original release date, back in October, DiCaprio would have gotten an Oscar nomination. Sir Ben Kingsley, Mark Ruffalo, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson and Max Von Sydow all give outstanding performances that mold the atmosphere of Shutter Island.

Those who pay attention will know the twist before it comes,

but this does not necessarily ruin the film. The thrill comes in watching how the events unfold. The twist isn’t that far-fetched, but is still satisfying and provides closure. Hitchcock would have been proud.

Critics of the film have already lambasted it for being too simple and sub-par by Scorsese standards. But even a foul-up of a film by Scorsese can still entertain most audiences. It will be interesting to see if anti-smoking advocates will attack this film, for there is a ton of smoking. Gore and violence are also prominent, as this is a Scorsese film after all. The war scene flashbacks and hallucinations are fairly graphic, leaving little to the imagination. But the blatant presence of violence only compliments the themes of the film.

Shutter Island is a synergetic meet between old-school filmmaking and modern-day storytelling as seen through the eyes of an auteur with cinema in his blood. Verdict: B+

jenae lee Columnist

Have you searched all over the department stores for that perfect prom dress and still have not found anything that you like? In order to save you a frustratingly lengthy experience, here are some new suggestions that might help sweep you off your feet.

Nordstrom Rack at the San Leandro Outlet Mall has luxury pieces at lower prices. They have great brand and designer pieces for lower prices than the original Nordstrom. They have a great selection of shoes as well. The famous Jessica McClintock Outlet in San Francisco has everything you need. You can also look at high-end thrift stores such as Buffalo Exchange out in Berkeley or San Francisco.

Is the sky the limit on how much you want to pay? Hit the local boutiques such as Armadillo Bay in the Irvington Area. Owner Alberta Dodge hand picks some of the dresses specifically for prom. Some of the labels she picks include Betsey Johnson and Nicole Miller, which have been marked down for the occasion.

Another boutique in the area is the Envy.Me Boutique in Niles. They understand how costly prom can be, so they have a wonderful selection of beautiful, long, donated prom dresses that range from $20 to $50.

There is this amazing website, http://www.unique-vintage.com, that has plenty of dresses for you to choose from. Short, long, solid, print, ruffles, this site has it all, and it’s all well-priced. They also have a great deal of shoes and accessories to go along with your dress.

With that, happy shopping!

Students lack readingnoelle Fujii

marcy shieh

A&E Editors

Symbolism, tone, style. Some students can’t even comprehend the meaning of the work, which makes enjoying, much less analyzing, the work impossible.

“Every day, it’s a teacher’s job to get students interested,” English teacher Sharon Jones said.

Yet sophomore Melanie Miller is often bored by the assigned reading. She had difficulty understanding Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. She read Maus because it was a captivating, easy to understand, graphic novel.

“I was motivated by Maus because it was in the form of a comic book, which set it aside from all of the other books,” Miller said.

Freshman Maureen Madrid believes students can be motivated to read by a good story and climax. Madrid is unimpressed with a majority of the current academic literary selections, but she continues to read in order to do well on the tests.

“I don’t know what English teachers would really let us read but I guess [I would] like [to read] stories that can relate to a typical teenager’s life,” Madrid said.

Freshman Natalie McCluskey would like to read books containing adventure and life lessons.

“[The books I’m reading in English class] are about the older times, which is harder to relate to and [they also] use older language, which I don’t see the point of learning,” McCluskey said.

On the other hand, senior Michael Jones enjoys the assigned dramatic works. Although he did not enjoy every classic, he liked Lord of the Flies and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

“Often in everyday life you see references or quotes from classic books. Like the ones assigned in class,” Jones said.

If pop culture is not enough to encourage students to read classics, they will be pleased to learn that more contemporary books are approved annually.

In addition to Maus, The Kite Runner, submitted by English teacher Stewart Perlman, was also approved by the district. However, purchasing the novels and developing new curriculum will be an issue.

English teacher Teri Hu submitted eight contemporary books to the district for her AP class and six were passed.

“We teach enough literature by dead people, it’s time to read books by people who still have a pulse,” Hu said in an e-mail.

She submitted more dramas, such as Six Degrees of Separation and Wit, because she can make more copies to distribute to her students.

“I don’t know if every student who doesn’t read would be more inclined to read if the books were more relevant, but for SOME, that would make a difference,” Hu said.

Meanwhile, teachers continue to motivate student readers through interactive projects, group work and class discussions.

Academy Award nominees reach for the gold

From the rack to the boutique

The Academy Awards ceremony is March 7. Many of the nominations between the Golden Globes and the Oscars are similar, so there might not be many surprises. But upsets do happen.

After last year’s musical fiasco, hosted by Hugh Jackman, the Academy has cleverly decided to return to traditional ways and appointed comedians Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin as hosts. Both actors worked together on the film It’s Complicated, showing their comedic abilities.

The Academy has taken both flack and praise for upping the total number of Best Picture nominees to 10. The Academy reacted to the audience’s complaints about the exclusion of The Dark Knight from last year’s Best Picture category. But what does this say about the nature of the award? Do the financially successful movies carry more weight than the critically praised films just because they were popular? Since when do general audiences get a vote in

the Academy? The Best Picture Oscar has often been awarded to critically praised art films which weren’t widely seen, such as The Last Emperor and Chariots of Fire, which does not garner high ratings for the telecast. By upping the number of nominees to 10, the Academy has sadly surrendered to the will of the idiot masses.

That being said, the odds for the critically praised, but limited released, film The Hurt Locker, are strong. Avatar may have made billions but The Hurt Locker has been honored at many esteemed award shows. The other eight nominees are great films, but the real contest is between David (The Hurt Locker) and Goliath (Avatar).

The acting awards are fairly secured, especially for the Supporting Actor category. Christoph Waltz has won every best supporting actor award at previous shows this season for Inglourious Basterds.

Like Waltz, Best Supporting Actress nominee, Mo’Nique in Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire is a lock.

Jeff Bridges is the strongest

contender for the Best Actor award for his performance in Crazy Heart. Bridges has been ignored by the Academy, even when he has repeatedly given Oscar-worthy performances. This is his year.

For Best Actress, Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia and Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side are in a deadlock. If the Academy has brains, they’ll go for Bullock because like Bridges, she has been ignored for too long; Streep already has two Oscars.

For Best Director, the showdown is between Bigelow and her ex-husband James Cameron, who has previously won for Titanic. If Bigelow wins, she would be the first female Best Director winner.

The list of nomination snubs could go on, but it’s better not to dwell on that. Whether it be for the hosts or the awards, make sure not to miss the most glorious night in Hollywood.

alejandro montalvo

Staff Reporter

Illustrated byBrian jeon

SPORTSThe HatchetMARCH 2, 201010

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Senior Sabrina Swayzer, unlike most high school players, excels in all aspects of basketball, from shooting and dribbling to passing and steals. Starting point guard, Swayzer has played varsity basketball for three years and has maintained a 3.0+ GPA throughout high school. Swayzer has played basketball since she was five years old, and her hard work has paid off as she led the Huskies to take the 2009-2010 MVAL league title with 9.2 points and 1.2 steals per game. Swayzer has also been named First team all-league this season.

Jersey numbers are typically based on a first come first serve basis, but to Swayzer, her number means more.

“I wear the number five because it was the number my dad wore in high school for both basketball and football,” Swayzer said.

Swayzer looks up to Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks because of her agressive attitude on the court and passion for the game. She plans on playing basketball in college.

- Rico Donelson Jones

“Technical, tactical, mental and physical excellence are the four cornerstones of a house that all great soccer players must have,” varsity coach Ron Chell said. “And like a house, without one [cornerstone], it is incomplete.”

After great consideration, one player rose to meet the challenge.Co-captain senior Lauren Floro has played soccer over 13 years

and three years for Washington. Leading the Huskies to a 7-3-2 league record, MVAL league title and round one of sectional (NCS).

“Without my teammates, I wouldn’t even be close to where I am today,” Floro said.

Although Floro started the season as a forward, she tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Later in the season, she suffered a shin contusion and was moved to play defense.

“Even though Lauren was injured at our Mission game, her ability to step up to the plate and play in was inspirational,” Chell said.

Floro has committed to the UC Riverside. She dedicates her success to her grandmother, who was her number one fan.

“If Lauren pursues a coaching career, who knows where she may go,” Chell said. -Kaylee Miu

Martinez and Johnson pin down their wrestling seasonsCoach Kyle Wright chose seniors Joseph Johnson and Doran Martinez as the most valuable players (MVP) of the wrestling season. “They both led the team well and encouraged the other players,” said Wright.

Johnson, Martinez and junior Cole Brower were co-captains of the team. Johnson feels that he has gained valuable experience with five months of conditioning and six tournaments even though a knee injury prevented him from participating last year. He faced opponents in the 171-pound weight division. “I learned that I could lose a lot of weight,” said Johnson. Coaches encouraged team members to monitor their diet to stay within weight class restrictions. Weight classes range from pounds to 285 pounds. “We learned how to better take care of ourselves,” said Martinez. Martinez has pumped up to the 215-pound weight division since wrestling in his freshman year. He and Johnson helped motivate the team during afterschool practices. “I was glad to see a lot of the younger kids on the team this year,” Martinez said. -nicole PhaM

Brower Finishes with MVP Floro scores big on the field

Swayzers got ‘swagger’Senior Jack Veronin has been playing varsity basketball since freshman

year. Towering at 6’6”, this is his third MVP basketball award. Veronin started playing basketball at a young age; playing in the Fremont recreational league at Irvington. He has led the Huskies to a 19-9 overall record. The highlight of Jack’s season was hitting the game winning shot against San Lorenzo with 3.4 seconds left. The toughest obstacle Veronin has overcome this season were the back to back losses to Newark and Kennedy.

“It was a very tough stretch to go through and to get out of,” Veronin said. The Huskies came out of losing streak with a 61-56 victory over the

American Eagles. All athletes have some type of good luck charm or superstition. For

Veronin, every time he’s called for the starting lineup, he hits the floor 3times before getting up. While his quirks seem odd, it has worked for him this season, with a staggering 17.2 points and 16.7 rebounds per game. The motivation and adrenaline behind Veronin’s success comes from his pre-game dances in the locker room. Jack intends plans on continuing his basketball career in college, possibly with San Francisco State.

- eDin cRistofi

‘Jack Star’ goes three for four

Senior Chase Brower has been playing soccer for almost his whole life.“I got into soccer at two years old when my dad was playing. I always kick the ball in the

backyard with my brother,” Brower said. “I’ve always loved it because my dad played in high school and then went on to play in the police Olympics.”

This past season, Brower played defense for the boys varsity team. Despite an injury sustained to his kicking foot earlier in the season, he still played the majority of the games. Playing with the injury Brower still motivated his teammates to give their best effort on the field. “When Chase came to practice with the injury, it encouraged us to play harder,” senior Antonio Garcia said. “It was nice to see him play even though he was injured. It showed that he was dedicated.” The team did not did not win as often as Brower would have liked, but he still enjoyed going out on the field and playing hard. He gave it his all on the field on defense and the opposing team would usually get frustrated because of the tactics he used on the field to prevent them from passing him. Brower intends to play soccer for Ohlone College next year. -yaMa hazheeR

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Seniors Lauren Floro and Cedric Lousi were both honored for their athletic achievements in being actively recruited by Division 1 colleges. Floro has been recruited by University of California, Riverside and is guaranteed a spot on the soccer team, while Lousi has been given a full ride scholarship to attend San Jose State University for football. Activities director Helen Paris arranged a “signing party” for both athletes to finalize their scholarships with family and friends. The leadership class spent the beginning of fourth period, Feb. 2, decorating the MPR, plastering the walls with posters and balloons.

“Today, we are honoring Huskies who have taken sports to the highest level Washington has ever seen,” Paris said.

The last time a WHS student had been recruited by a university was 2008 alum Morgan Woodrow, who now plays basketball for Michigan State.

Floro has been named all-league selection forward, top offensive player and co-captain of the 2009-2010 season. Outside of school, Floro plays for the Pleasanton Rage and Premiere, a nationally recognized traveling soccer team.

Floro will play a forward for the University of California, Riverside and major in global studies, aspiring to be an elementary school teacher.

“I’m speechless,” Floro said, “It’s official now! But it still feels kind of surreal.”

Lousi, a 6-1 defensive and tight end player for the Huskies has led Washington further than it has ever gone in 30 years.

Girls soccer loses NCS

“[Cedric] never hesitated to let the team go first,” football head coach Ken Whittmer said. “He’s not only a great player, but also a great leader.”

Lousi had been recruited by several schools, such as Brigham Young University, Sacramento State and University of Northern Colorado, but San Jose presented him with the best offer, fully covering all his expenses. According to Whittmer, the last Husky to have received a full scholarship to a Division 1 school was in 1982.

Lousi has played varsity football for three years and was co-captain of the 2009 season. He was one of two players from Washington chosen to play in the all-star game in Sacramento and honored as third team All-East Bay Selection.

The signing party, filled with flashing picture, emotion and hugs concluded with a loud chant: “Once a Husky, always a Husky.”

The girls’ soccer team lost in their first round of NCS losing 2-0 to California High, Feb. 17, after claiming the MVAL league title. The team this season has been plagued by various injuries during the season including torn ACLs, knee injuries, and various other small injuries the week prior. Junior Natalie Sanchez was injured in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Cal High team consisted of only 10 players, but the girls seemed almost physically larger than the Washington’s. Washington was also at a disadvantage before the game started, getting only a two day break between playoffs and NCS, while Cal High had a four day break.

“Cal High was good even with only10 players on the team. We just didn’t bring our A game,” senior

Megan Leibowitz said.The first goal scored was a

cross and finish by the Grizzlies midfielder Kayla Santacruz, giving Cal High a 1-0 lead. The second goal was a deflection off of the sweeper, the last player on defense. It was scored by Cal Highs’s Rachel Feldman, giving the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead. The Grizzlies were easily able to pass around Washington’s defense and they found their rhythm after constantly attacking the Huskies goal. Washington played a more defensive game due to the injuries to their offensive players during the week of playoffs. The Washington team played better late in the game, but they were unable to dig themselves out of the hole.

“I felt sad that our season was over, but happy that we at least won MVAL [playoffs] and we recovered from numerous injuries,” Junior Andrea Bonilla said.

All-star athletes commit to colleges

1. This teacher has a black belt in taekwondo, was athlete of the year in high school (playing hockey, basketball and softball), and has coached DI full scholarship athletes in soccer.2. This teacher was an all-league basketball player at Whitworth University.

Last issue’s answers:1. English teacher, Mrs. Jones, was a California State Cheerleading champion in her junior year of high school at Arroyo. 2. Psychology teacher, Mrs. Nelson, had a professional trainer in boxing for over a year.

1. 2.

The boys basketball team, ranked seventh in North Coast Sectionals (NCS), played against San Leandro High School, Feb. 23. San Leandro, ranked tenth in NCS, competes in a league against schools like Bishop O’ Dowd and Castro Valley, two of the most talented teams in the NCS boy’s basketball. San Leandro looked to pull an upset against Washington but came up short. San Leandro was behind the Huskies by one or two baskets throughout the game. In the fourth quarter, San Leandro and Washington alternated the lead position. When San Leandro tied the game with a two-pointer, senior Mark Wik raced down the

court with 6.7 seconds and dished a no-look pass to senior Jack Veronin. He went for the game-winning layup, giving the Huskies the ultimate lead.

“I had to keep track of the clock, so I would know how much time was left,” Wik said. “I saw the big man open, and I fed him the ball.”

After the shot, San Leandro called a time-out to prepare for a chance to tie the game. They went for the win but they failed. The Husky fans rushed onto the court at the sound of the buzzard, cheering on their team after a hard-fought victory.

Feb. 26, the Huskies lost 47-66 in round two of NCS against De La Salle, the number two seeded team of the North Coast Sectional playoffs.

Huskies upset San Leandro in NCSEdin Cristofi

Sports Editor

KaylEE Miu

Sports Editor

Photo by VanEssa lousi Seniors Lauren Floro and Cedric Lousi pose after finalizing their college scholarships. Floro will attend UC Riverside, while Lousi will attend San Jose State University.

Photo by JiMMy young Junior Zuri Chu-Hall attempts to sink his second free throw. The Huskies won the game 62-60.

BaCh Phan

Staff Reporter

‘Who’s Who’ Trivia

PHOTOSThe HatchetMARCH 2, 201012

Photo by Jordan Brahaney

Goal Keeper senior Michelle Gent blocks an attempted shot in a game versus Mission San Jose High School, Feb 12th. Playing in Tak Stadium, Washington won the game 5-1.

Senior Zach Dawson

performs an unplugged

cover of “Shine On You Crazy

Diamond” by Pink Floyd. He was the second act

of the talent show.

Photo by Jimmy young

Junior Dylan Pegueros puts condiments on his burger. ASB launched the barbecue, Feb. 23, to celebrate the boys and girls basketball teams’ success in qualifying for NCS.

Photo by Jimmy young

Junior Lara Mrgic

performs a cover of

“Where I Stood”

by Missy Higgins.

She was the second to

last act of the Talent Show.

Photo byJordan

Brahaney

Junior Kimberly Valdovinos performs a fan dance to “Papparazzi” by Lady Gaga in Act One. Kimberely was one of the three dancing acts of the night.

Photo by Jimmy young