Issue of May 9, 1997: Volume 80, Number Seven
Click on a story title to see the text of the story
News
Cinco de Mayo week
Prom a big hit
Prom fashion show delights
VICA wins big at convention
"Dead" students symbolize loss
Opinion
Competency tests are good!!
Do away with affirmative action
Down with Proposition 209!!
High schools don't prepare Us!!
Prom is overrrated!!
Child molesters stay away!!
Features
Are U Competent???
High schools don't prepare Us!!
Let's get Physical!!
Mystery Dinner theater
Phen-fen--is it safe?
Eating disorders plague teens
The Cinch List
UP IN SMOKE
Diversions
Grapeleaves restaurant review
Grosse Pointe blank CD review
Grosse Pointe Blank moviereview
High schools don't prepare Us!!
Voodoo Glow Skulls CD review
En Español (Los Detalles)
Punto de Vista (en español)
Cinco de Mayo (en Español)
Sports
Badminton undefeated!!
Baseball
Golf
Swimming
Tennis heads into playoffs
Track team is awesome
‘DEAD’ STUDENTS SYMBOLIZE LOSS OF FRIENDS DUE TO DRUNK DRIVING
by Pear Utrapiromsuk
May 9, 1997
Their faces painted ghastly white to symbolize death, 75 students floated around campus last Tuesday like ghostly spectres--all to symbolize the average number of teenagers who die each year as a result of drunk driving during prom and graduation festivals.
The program, called “Lasting Impressions,” was brought to campus by Colton police officer Cpl. Ernie Mireles. It was adapted from similar such programs he learned from school resource courses. Programs like this are done at various other high schools, especially in the east coast.
“I thought this was an especially good idea,” Mireles said, “because this time, with prom and everything, is especially dangerous for kids.”
The setting was equipped with 75 tombstones on the grassy quad, and a real smashed vehicle brought by L&L Towing company.
“It was very effective,” Mireles said. “The white faces turned many heads.”The 75 students were picked from nominations by teachers. Mireles wanted the “loudest students” because the idea was to pick those that would be missed and whose absence would be felt most keenly. Juniors and seniors were especially targeted since they are the main participants in the up-coming festivities.
For junior Celia Calderilla, the ghostly message was well taken. “I though it was very good and got the message across,” she said. “It just wasn’t the same with some of my friends ‘gone.’ I couldn’t talk to them like usual. They were really good about being ‘dead,’ so all day I missed them a lot.”
Not only were students across campus affected but the program also had a profound effect on the 75 participants who were “dead” for a day.
“Hopefully this helped raise awareness that drinking can hurt a lot of people,” said senior Christine Weber, who was one of the 75 “dead” participants. “I felt weird being silent all day, I realized how hard it was.”
Joey Mercado, drama teacher, helped mobilize the students. From face painting to decorating tombstones, she also agreed that the hard work really paid off.
“The kids really got into it,” she said. “Although it was hard to stay quiet all day, some did. It gave a very good message and hopefully kids will now have safe fun.”
Alcohol related accidents are still the number one cause of death among 16-24 year olds.
As graduation rapidly approaches, seniors are asking themselves more and more . . .by Ana Gonzalez
May 9, 1997
We take them at least once in our high school career, usually in the month of April or May. They test our ability to comprehend reading, compute math, and write a basic five-paragraph essay. They are the Competencies—and they are frightening the seniors who have not passed all of them.
These tests have three essential parts. The reading section tests vocabulary and comprehension. The math section tests math computation, concepts, and application skills. Finally, there is Direct Writing, which is embedded in the curriculum portfolio process. These tests are taken during school in specified classes.
“Colleges do not really look at this test, they look at the SAT’s and ACT’s,” said counselor Helena Tarbaux. “But you need them to graduate.”
This fact has scared a lot of seniors. According to statistics provided by the counseling department, 10% of all seniors have not passed the reading portion, 27% have not yet passed Direct Writing, and 14% have failed to pass the mathematics section. Due to the large number of seniors who have not yet passed all of the sections, some teachers have provided students with special classes targeted at having the student pass the exam.
For example, there are several mathematics and English courses available to students who have not passed the tests. The purpose of these classes are to teach the students the basic skills of taking and passing the tests. For math, the teachers obviously teach formulas and techniques to computing problems. For the direct writing section, teachers go over the eight different styles of writing to their class. This way the student will be able to write an essay in any of the styles. Once the student passes the exam, he/she will no longer take this preparatory class.
“I was stressed out because I didn’t know if I was able to graduate,” said senior Rosa Ramirez. “I passed my comps at my old school, but I haven’t in this school. At first, my counselor told me I had to take them in this school to graduate. Then, another counselor told me I didn’t have to. I was very mad and scared for a while.”
However, Tarbaux assures that in all her time working at this school, she has not encountered one case that a senior could not graduated based on the competencies. There are always other factors involved, such as grades, if a senior does not graduate.
Competency testing began with the graduating class of 1981. Basically, the purpose of these exams is to not let anyone graduate high school without the basic skills of reading, writing and math. Too many students were graduating from high school without knowing how to read or write. Thus, the school believed that if competency tests were administered, the number of ill-prepared seniors would reduce greatly.
Special education students and students enrolled in the ESL program also take the competencies. Although those in the special education program are sometimes administered the same tests taken by the rest of the school, most of the time the teachers set the standards for individual tests. On the contrary, ESL students always take the normal competencies.
Now that it is the last time in the year to take the test, many seniors are disturbed. They are jittery over the prospect of not “walking down that aisle.”
However, if you are a senior who has not passed one test, you can take solace in the fact that it is very rare that a senior not graduate due to these tests. Good luck!
BADMINTON COMPLETES SEASON UNDEFEATEDby Karen Brown
May 9, 1997The Colton High badminton team has taken prisoners and it doesn’t look like there will be any survivors. They ended the season with an undefeated record in league and went on to compete in league finals. Kim Akins, Holli Fasenmeyer, Kaycee Ram, Michelle Garcia, Enedina Garcia, and Karen Brown competed in doubles. Adeline Ramirez, Taide Tobias, and Cathy Villanueva competed in the singles category. The event took place on Wednesday at Etiwanda High School. Scores were not available at press time, so we’ll update them for the next issue.
As the season started to come to a close, Colton came up with some astonishing victories. Colton faced Etiwanda on April 15 and won 11-8. Akins and Fasenmyer competed in singles and gave off impressive scores.
Ramirez, Tobias, Brown, and Garcia competed in doubles, while Ramirez and Tobias prevailed with needed victories. With every “smash” and every “block” Colton inched their way to playoffs. They went on to face Redlands and came out with a 13-6 victory.
The next match was against Alta Loma. Temperatures started to rise and hearts started to race as the team was looking at a 9-9 score and somebody had to break the tie. Everybody stared on as coach Sandra Guidi sent out her final doubles team to break the tie. All the pressure was on Ram and Garcia to win. Each point was a grueling rally. They pushed their match to three games and finally won. The final score was 10-9.
A less stressful game ensued against Riverside Poly High School. The team steamrolled over Poly, obliterating the Bears by a score of 18-1.
“We would like to remain undefeated,” said Guidi. “It’s always nice to go undefeated and that is our goal.” Guidi gave another view to being undefeated. “I think, however, that sometimes an undefeated season is more of a detriment to the team than having a few losses along the way. Some players tend to become complacent which hurts the team for CIF competition. Experience and depth has contributed because we are able to draw successfully from the J.V. team when varsity players are missing,” said Guidi.
The players appreciate all the hard work that Guidi puts on them. They know that all they have to do is do their best.
“Ms. Guidi’s persistence for success has been shown at practices,” said senior Robert Trevino. “We always leave with a feeling that we’re going to win.”
BASEBALL TEAM LOOKS FOR CONSISTANCY IN TOUGH LEAGUEby Justin Derrick
May 9, 1997Despite a thrilling no-hitter thrown by senior pitcher Pilo Saldana, Colton YellowJacket baseball has been anything but stable this season. In fact, it has been more of a roller coaster of goods and bads, ups and downs. The season has been a jumble of amazing victories, tough one point losses, and the on-again, off-again inconsistant playing of the team. The Jackets host Redlands this afternoon at 3:15.
The YellowJackets, who are 3-8 in league and 5-15 overall, are in the thick of competition in the very competitive Citrus Belt League, and are trying to get it going and play at he level they are used to.
A lot of these misfortunes are due to inexperience. The team is a young team and shows a lack of what coach Chad Bishop describes as “playing catch, throwing strikes, and hitting the ball well.” The team has failed to do these three things consistantly enough to really play well.
Not all of this season has gone south. Actually the Jackets have won some very big games--the biggest being Saldana’s no-hit, no-run masterpiece, which he turned in April 24 at A.B. Miller. In the thrilling 3-0 victory over the Running Rebels, Saldana pitched to 22 batters (only one over the minimum) a lone walk blemishing a possible perfect game.
Another thriller came against Rialto where they went 12 long innings to pull out a 8-7 win over the Knights. Junior Bracken Neeley scored the winning run in the 12th inning on a Mike Ayala single.
The big no-hitter game was followed by a tough, one-run loss to Fontana, 10-9. This was another killer which Colton has had there share of this year. This was a good game for them, though, and saw them hitt two 2-run homers, in a game described as a confidence booster by coach Bishop.
To turn around their season the YellowJackets need to stick to the fundamentals.
“We need to consistantly do all three things and play more as a team,” stressed Bishop. The team has had good seasons out of Junior Mark Ayala and seniors Brandon Mezzanatto, and Saldana.
After today’s game, the Jackets close out the season with a home-and-away pair of games against the always tough Eisenhower Eagles. Ike visits Colton Tuesday, while Colton wraps up the year at Eisenhower on Thursday, May 15.
CHILD MOLESTERS, SICKOS, CREEPS: STAY AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN!!by Lorin Burleson and Elaina Greenberg
You’ve seen their young victims on T.V. You’ve read about them in the newspaper. You’ve heard about the horrible effects they have on children and their families. Who are they? These inhuman, disgusting beings are child molesters and they violate the most innocent of all people: our kids.
The question has arisen in the past and comes up in the media when particularly disturbing cases make their way into the homes of millions of Americans. Recently, with the kidnapping and brutal murder of Beaumont’s little Anthony Martinez, many of us have asked, what exactly do we do with these child molesters?
In the first place, this case in itself is an unusual one. Statistics show that the majority of children that are molested are done so by people that they already know. And gruesomely enough, it most often occurs by a family member or close friend. Many times, punishment does not occur for offenders because children do not speak up either out of fear or shame.
You may not believe in capital punishment, but these particular offenders seem to appall everyone to the greatest degree of intensity. As a society, we are constantly questioning how and why anyone would do such things to anyone, especially a child. If there is an answer to that question, whatever it may be, the act of child molestation is unexcusable. People that are molested as small children are impacted tremendously for the rest of their lives. With this in mind, what should be done to these monstrous creatures? What punishment fits their vicious crime?
But, before you decide, think about this: imagine you have a five year old child. Your neighbor, whom you trust, offers to take your little one to the park. Later, you are giving your baby a bath when you notice your child reacting strangely to your touch. You notice red marks and bleeding in the genital area.
What would your reaction then be when your child confirms your suspicions by waking up every night screaming, “Don’t touch me!” What would you think then? What would you want to happen to your neighbor?
Perhaps the answer is castration. And sure, we would all like to torture them with some medieval device. Or maybe they should be branded FOREVER as child molesters; never allowed to be integrated into society as acceptable members in any community. What about the idea of putting all of these hideous criminals on a secluded island where they could live the lives of the savages they really are? Many of these punishments may seem too extreme and some might argue that two wrongs do not make a right. Yet child molesters, even if they have only commited the act one time, no longer have the right to walk around our streets, not being recognized for the disgusting beasts that they are.
Today pedophiles are not punished this severely. In this democratic society, punishments include jailtime and counseling, both of which are not nearly as harsh as some would like. So what has been learned through counseling?
Society and the experts have come to find that this behavior usually appears as early as puberty and sometimes even earlier. When most children in puberty fantasize about non-harmful sexual activities, these offenders are drawn to the hurtful tendencies that they later act out on weaker victims, usually children.
Often times these pedophiles were themselves molested as children. Taking this fact into consideration, we can attribute molestation to being a learned trait. But, this is not necessarily always the case. Yet we find that by determining the characteristics of a child molester at a young age, counseling can break this nasty cycle.
So, there is hope. We all need to recognize that many of the problems that people face as adults stem from their childhood. We make our children who and what they will become and all we can do is love them and teach them to respect others’ bodies and feelings.
In an answer to the never ending question of what should be done to child molesters, we find that there is no simple solution. People that commit such acts obviously have been hurt and are seeking out retribution for their pain. These people need help, but for many children it is too late. So, do they deserve to be punished for these heinous crimes?
YES. We should also try to resolve the problem that comes from within the person instead of hoping that these criminals will figure out their psychological defect in jail.
No matter what we say or do, the problem is not going to solve itself.
CINCO DE MAYOby Diana Sosa
El Cinco de Mayo es una fecha muy importante que se celebra en México, pero no solo en México si también aquí en Los Estados Unidos. Es una fecha en la cual la celebramos con fiestas, y mucha alegría. ¿Pero en sí sábes por qué? ¿A caso sabemos el significado importante que se esconde detrás de la tradición? ¿O solo nos basta saber que hay que celebrarlo, porque es una costumbre? Pero bueno ya que algunos de nosotros se nos a olvidado por que lo celebramos y solo nos concentramos en la celebración y no en la importancia, aquí les va un pequeño resumen que les refrescará la memoria.
El Cinco de Mayo es el aniversario de la Batalla de Puebla, en donde el 5 de Mayo de 1862 fuerzas mexicanas derrotaron a invores franceses. Esta batalla es conciderada una de las más importantes pués fue la única en donde México ganó contra Francia.
Todo empezo´ cuando México no pudo pagar unas deudas que le debîa a España, Francia, e Inglaterra. En una conferencia que tomo lugar en Londres, Inglaterra el 30 de Octubre de 1861 los tres paises acordaron presionar a México y asî pudiera pagar. Decidieron mandar escuadrillas marinas hacia el puerto de Veracruz, las cuales llegaron a su destino a fín de año. Fue anunciado que no se quería conquistar a México, que solo se quería reclamar la causa la cual México no había pagado. Entonces una conferencia tomo lugar, en donde representantes de los tres paises y de México llegaron a un acuerdo. Las escuadrillas marinas de España e Inglaterra regresaron a su país en Abril de 1862. Pero el Emperador frances Napoleon III no estubo de acuerdo pués el estaba ansioso de establecer una monarquía en México bajo el control frances como un logro de igualdad entre España y America. Y decidió empezar una batalla de conquísta, la cual según él ya anticipaba su triunfo. Cuando fuerzas francesas decidieron atacar los fuertes de Loreto y Guadalupe el 5 de Mayo de 1862, 2,000 soldados mexicanos bajo las ordenes del General Ignacio Zaragoza, estaban listos y aunque Zaragoza sufrió serias perdidas de hombres; finalmente ganó la batalla.
Con este pequeño resumen espero que de ahora en adelante cuando escuchemos que ya se acerca el Cinco de Mayo no solo pensemos en la celebración si no también en la importancia que como mexicanos no se nos debe olvidar. Nunca hay que olvidarnos de nuestras fechas importantes pués gracias a ellas ahora somos quien somos. Aunque estemos viviendo en otro país, siempre hay que mantener nuestras costumbres bien vivas y lo más importante es, recordar el significado de lo que celebramos. Porque si nosotros siendo mexicanos no lo recordamos, ¿Quien lo recordará? ¡VIVA MEXICO!
CINCO DE MAYO WEEK SHOWCASES PRIDE, DIVERSITY, HOST OF ACTIVITIESby Emily Lemay
May 9, 1997As most people know, Cinco De Mayo, the celebration of the battle of Puebla victory against the French forces of Napoleon III, is on May 5. This year, however, M.E.Ch.A. and A.S.B. took the initiative of celebrating the holiday a week early, during the week of April 28.
The festivities began Monday, with the opening courtyard ceremony in which the Cinco De Mayo court was announced. The Court included seniors Valerie Arrieta, Paula Delgado, Marissa Gomez, Marissa Gomeztrejo, Marcy Rivas, David Aguirre, Daniel Flores, David Flores, Rey Trevino, and David Walbourne. The ceremonies were attended by both District members and people prominent in the Inland Empire.
Tuesday during 3rd period, there was an assembly in the auditorium featuring Ballet Folklorico dancing. Esmeralda Pulido spoke to the audience about the origin of Cinco De Mayo and about M.E.Ch.A. Pulido also encouraged people to join the campus club. Wednesday was Carnival Day in which various sports and campus organizations sold food and beverages.
On Thursday, which was also called Career Day, prominent professionals visited our campus and were available should a teacher be interested in having them visit their classroom.
Finally, Cinco De Mayo week drew to a conclusion with “Fiesta Fantastica” which was held in the Auditorium Friday at 7:30. Rey Trevino and Marissa Gomez were crowned Cinco De Mayo King and Queen as well.
“Overall,”said Joe Trevino, M.E.Ch.A. adviser, “I thought the week went very successfully. We were able to showcase a positive aspect of the Mexican culture.”
OPINION: YES, COMPETENCY TESTS ARE NECESSARYby Emily Lemay
May 9, 1997Competencies. For most students, they’re just another insignificant part of the school year. But for others, they are a key factor in determining whether or not they will graduate.
Competencies. They seem to be a popular subject these days. We’ve even got a feature about it on page 9 of this week’s Pepper Bough. It seems that almost 2 out of every 5 seniors still have to pass one or more of their competency tests in order to walk down that aisle on June 12. Given those statistics, it’s no wonder that competency tests are on a lot of people’s minds right now.
But are competencies really necessary? After taking a whole slew of classes for four years, and passing them, is it really necessary to prove once again that we should be allowed out of this institution?
Definitely.
High school is supposed to prepare you to take on the world. However, if you are barely passing your classes by the skin on your teeth, and pass your competencies with flying colors, how ready are you?
Or, take the converse: if you pass all your classes with straight A’s, but can’t pass a simple competency test, maybe you don’t belong walking down that aisle.
It has been called to my attention that the competency tests are just basic knowledge. It’s not like we weren’t given comps in junior high school. Are you kidding? My junior high teachers drilled us with competency preparations until we were blue in the face! Plus, now we are in high school and we are given FOUR whole years to do it, for crying out loud!
Our world is becoming more advanced by the second. I am of the opinion that if you want to be able to make it in the world, you’re going to have to try a little harder. All that competencies tell us is whether or not we have the basic Math and English skills that might be necessary for employment at a greasy burger joint. (Although from what I am told, even those places are raising their standards!)
Unfortunately, I don’t necessarily agree with the way in which they are administered. How well equipped (with this so called basic knowledge) is a student who passed his competencies only because he got to take them over and over until he finally did pass? That’s not very fair for those of us who passed the first time with flying colors. Why don’t they do that with the SAT’s? A heck of a lot more of us would pass if that were the case.
Perhaps the competencies would be of more value if there were a limit to how many times you could take them Sure, there is the possibility of Colton High’s pass rate being tarnished, but at least it puts the pressure on slacking students to learn the material! If graduating is really important to them, they can certainly make an effort to do themselves a favor.
SHE SAID; EDITORIAL; WE NEED TO DO AWAY WITH AFFIRMATIVE ACTION!!by Karen Brown
May 9, 1997Proposition 209 prohibits the state, local government, universities, colleges, and schools from discriminating against or giving special treatment to any individual based on race or sex.
I will say straight out that Prop. 209 should be in the system. Not having Prop 209 makes it possible to discriminate against certain races and it lowers the pride and values of those who strive so hard to succeed.
Some people would argue that this is the big chance for minorities to get even for all the injustices that have been done to them, but it can’t go without saying that “two wrongs don’t make a right.” Reverse discrimination based on race or gender is plainly wrong. Quite frankly, Matt, I don’t understand why you see the need for high officials to have the right to show favortism. We are individuals, and we should be treated as such!
Imagine this scenario: You, Matt, are trying to get into a prestigious college. You carry a stellar 5.0 grade point average and your resumé is bursting with community service, awards, and letters of recommendation. But you find to your dismay that someone else has beaten you to that spot on the college rolls. Why? Is is because of better grades? No, the student who took your place only carries a 3.4 GPA. But this student is given special privleges because she is a female minority. You wouldn’t like that very much, would you? You’d no doubt throw away your liberal social experiementing ideas and look out for good Number One. It’s easy to be a liberal when it doesn’t affect you.
Under these circumstances I don’t think you’d eagerly give up your scholorship just for a female minority. You wouldn’t think it right. And I don’t either. And I’m a female minority!
Not every minority is “disadvantaged” and the only honest and effective way to address inequality of opportunity is by providing ourselves with the proper tools to compete in society. Besides the emotional damage that discrimination does, government agencies throughout California spend millions of our tax dollars for “costly bureaucracies” to dish out race and gender discriminations. This money could be used for police and fire protection or better education rather than wasting the money on playing “favorites.”
All of the unfairness with racial, age, and gender problems has to stop somewhere and Proposition 209 will give society a chance to do so. Only when we live in a true “colorless” society, where everyone is judged on their merits alone, will we know the true meaning of the word “equal.”
HE SAID: EDITORIAL: DON’T END AFFIRMATIVE ACTION!by Matt Gomez
May 9, 1997Recently the California superior court upheld the constitutionality of Proposition 209.This is an act that directly affects whether many of you will be able to get a job or enroll in a college free of discrimination based on the fact that you are a minority. And if you don’t think that’s an important issue to a school that is over 60% Hispanic and also includes many other minorities, think again.
Just what exactly is Proposition 209? In a nutshell, it was passed by voters in the last election, and it does away with any form of affirmative action. Affirmative action means that minorities are, by law, given special preferences in job hiring, college admissions, contracts, etc., to make up for the hundreds of years of discrimination that they suffered. Affirmative action was instituted in those radical days of the ‘60s when we started toying with these crazy ideas like freedom, justice, and equality for all. The government recognized that some folks (mostly minorities) had been kept out of the best jobs and the best colleges simply because they had darker skin, or spoke with an accent. So Affirmative Action was invented to try to “right the wrongs” of previous years, to “give a level playing field,” so to speak, and let some of society’s former have-nots share in the American dream. Was that so horrible? Some evidently thought so. Now, with the passage of 209, they want to take that all away, and go back to the days when people were hired according to who they know instead of what they know or can do.
Now some may think affirmative action may hurt the society and give unqualified people an unfair advantage. But we have to think about the hope it gave some of these minorities. Affirmative action gave many minorities hope that they would now get an equal chance in a workplace that oftentimes is clouded by racism.
Now I’m not trying to say that the reason minorities don’t get hired is because of racist employers, but we have to admit that society isn’t perfect, and there are racist employers. Maybe not all employers may be, but that’s why we had affirmative action, to balance and keep it fair. Why take a chance that you’re being unfairly chosen against?
The real reason that Prop. 209 was invented was because of some insecure person (who probably didn’t have the right qualifications for his job anyway) decided that we needed to do away with affirmative action so his hillbilly self could get a job. Many agreed, and now, according to the courts, 209 is the law of the land. So now the racist employers don’t need to hide anymore, and they can start hiring the people they like because of their color and not their qualifications. We need to abolish 209!
EATING DISORDER PLAGUE TEENAGERSby Kimberly Sanders
May 9, 1997“Suzy” (a composite based on real persons) started her diet just like any other teenage girl, but hers did not stop when she lost the average 5-10 pounds. She still felt fat. She was constantly hungry, but still wouldn’t eat. She began hating her body and eventually started to waste away.
Life was agonizing for Suzy. She would soon become hostile towards herself and then towards her family. Everyone would try to get her to eat, but she refused, no matter how painfully hungry she was. Suzy would cook food, but not for herself. She would cook for everyone else and force them to eat it. On her own plate, she would only move the food around.
Eventually Suzy would lose all the hair on her head and grow a blanket of soft downy hair elsewhere on her body to keep warm. It wouldn’t be that much longer until her body started to feed off itself, and Suzy would be dead.
The problem that Suzy had was called anorexia nervosa. People with this disease starve themselves to get to the “ideal” weight, but never seem to get there. They force others to eat, but never eat themselves. They go from a state of depression to being very hyperactive. They exercise constantly, and cannot sleep. Their blood pressure lowers and their pulse slows. And, since the majority of anorexia sufferers are young women, their bodies stop menstruating. They get dry skin, become constipated, have heart and muscle spasms, and then the body begins to feed off itself.
Some of these people also have bulimia. They eat foods with massive amounts of calories for hours on end. Then to avoid gaining weight they throw it up until their stomachs are empty.
Anorexia Nervosa and bulimia have been traced back to the eleventh century and both deseases have increased incredibly over the past three or four years. 90-95% of the people afflicted by these diseases are women and the male percentile is gradually increasing. 20% of these people will die and most, if not all, will have lifelong health and emotional problems.
There is help out here for those who seek it. They are placed in the hospital and gradually gain privileges as they gain weight. After they are finally back to an average weight they enter into therapy. It takes years, but in the end it pays off.
According to Bulimia by Janice M. Cauwels, these are the five ways to help spot a person with this potentially fatal disease:
1) Intense fear of becoming obese, which does not diminish as weight loss progresses.
2) Disturbance of body image-e.g., claiming to “feel fat” even when emaciated [abnormally thin].
3) Weight loss of at least 25 percent of original body weight or, if under 18 years of age, weight loss from original body weight plus projected weight gain expected from growth charts may be combined to make 25 percent.
4) Refusal to maintain body weight over a minimal normal weight for age and height.
5) No known physical illness that would account for the weight loss.
At this point in time scientists are not certain was causes a person to believe that they are too fat when they are really wasting away to nothing. Studies have shown that self esteem issues seem to be involved, and the incidence of eating disorders among yound adolescent girls, who are as a group extremely self concious about body image, would seem to bear this out.
Anorexia often strikes models and athletes, but anyone can fall victim to it. The fact that many do not make it back from their starvation is a sad comment on the disease’s destructive power.
GOLF TEAM EYES THE TIN CUP; DUNN HEADS FOR CIFby Brian Espinoza
Junior Daniel Dunn has emerged as Golf’s top player, and is headed for the CIF playoffs. Despite being the only team in the higly competetive Citrus Belt League playing without a senior, the Golf team has played some fabulous matches on the some of the top courses in the county. Dunn has kept them in contention and has led them to a 4-5-1 record in league. “This yea’rs squad consisted of only underclassmen. Despite not having any seniors the team played very well,” said Dunn.
Tyler Huisken, Joel Young, Kenny Reid, and Jesse Boiling round out the top five. “ These guys were giving us strong showings every match. Especially at Waterman, which is our home course,” said Dunn.
This year’s squad was unable to make the play offs as a team but individual honors were given. Golf is one of the few sports that you can have both team as well as individual representatives at the C.I.F. Play-offs.
GRAPELEAVES RESTAURANT NOT MY CUP OF TEAA restaurant review by Karen Brown
May 9, 1997As I walked through the doors of the new restaurant Grape Leaves, in Riverside, I was introduced to a very friendly environment and I was even greeted with a rose just to welcome me. I only wish that the meal I ordered was as good as the attitudes.
I ordered the basic chicken dinner: lemon-herb chicken breast, rice pilaf, and vegetables. Call me crazy but I could have sworn that the chicken was made out of a tire. A wonderful lemon taste, but a bit too tough. “OK,” I said to myself: “that’s just one part of the meal. I’ll try the rice now.” A little skeptical; especially when the rice didn’t look too appealing. It looked like . . . well, never mind what it looked like, but I psyched myself up and gave it a try.
“Whoa mama!” As my eyes filled with tears, I longed for my glass of water. The rice was very spicy! After getting use to the spiciness, the texture, and creaminess, I took my mind off of how hot it was. Overall, the rice wasn’t that bad. It was actually pretty tasty.
The vegetables were really great. I had corn with broccoli in a creamy butter sauce. After I was done, I still wanted more.
The meal was priced at $7.95 including hot honey rolls and unlimited sodas. Other entrees consist of steak, fish, and garden salads; all in the same price range. Let me say that Grapes Leaves wasn’t a bad restaurant, they just need to work the preparation of their meals. On a final note: I’d go back again.
GROSSE POINTE BLANK MOVIE SOUNDTRACK CD AN ECLECTIC MIX OF OLDIES, HITSby Matt Gomez
May 9, 1997Hello kiddies! It’s your dear old friend “the man” telling you what CD to buy. Many of you have probably seen the movie where the hitman goes back to his hometown for his ten year reunion. You haven’t seen the movie? Well, neither have I. But I do have the soundtrack, and it’s awesome.
The soundtarck brings back some old eighties favorites such as “Blister in the Sun” by Violent Femmes and “Live and Let Die” by Guns n’ Roses. It also has the musical stylings of pre-eighties groups such as the English Beat and Johnny Nash with “I Can See Clearly Now,” along with duos between Queen and David Bowie with their hit “Under Pressure.”
Many of you haven’t heard of a great punk rock group such as the Clash or the great traditional Ska and 2-tone Ska groups such as The English Beat and The Specials. The English Beat gets constant radio airplay with their song “Mirror in the Bathroom,” even though it came out in 1980. The Specials lend a great ska song with “Pressure Drop,” a catchy song that everyone can skank to. Violent Femmes also includes a remake of their hit “Blister in the Sun” with “Blister 2000,” a slower version of the original. We also hear the special rock style of Faith No More with their hit, “We Care Alot.”
I really can’t say enough about this album. This is a great album for fans of ska, rock and even oldies.
GROSSE POINTE BLANK QUIRKY HIT MAN COMEDY IN PULP FICTION MOLD
by Vicky Wray
May 9, 1997High school reunions are events where adults try to catch up with old acquaintances. Some graduates go into real estate, some become teachers, and others become professional killers. As is the profession of Martin Q. Blank (John Cusack) in the quirky offbeat comedy Grosse Pointe Blank.
Armed with his wit and his classy sense of darkness, Martin makes the ultimate hitman. Of course, every good hitman needs an assistant.
Along with Martin is his determined, opinionated office manager Marcella, played by Cusack’s real life sister Joan Cusack. She has a terrible air of urgency while he keeps his head. He’s calm, relaxed and efficient while she screams into her headset. Together they make the perfect hitman team.
Although Martin is the peaceful and skillful killer that he is, he has an odd sense of the blues.
His chosen career doesn’t fulfill him. He relies on his therapist Dr. Oatman, played by Alan Arkin, to cure his depression and give him the proverbial good advice. Dr. Oatman is afraid of his hitman patient and dodges his calls. A rival killer, played by Dan Aykroyd, wants to get Martin into his killers union and when denied tries to rub him out instead. There is also some unfinished business with Martin’s ex-girlfriend, Debi (Minnie Driver), whom he still has feelings for. These are reasons enough for Martin to return to his hometown and attend his ten year reunion, only to find out that his next kill lives in his hometown.
Go see this flick, it’s a movie to die for.
EDITORIAL OPINION: HIGH SCHOOLS NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE REAL WORLDby Renee Dominguez
May 9, 1997Does high school really prepare students for college or the work force?
This is a question that many high school seniors will be answering as they enter into the high-stress, high-demand world of college or the work force.
High school has certainly been the perfect dwelling for the exploration of one’s interests, yet with new research making waves in education, some very valuable educational tools have been cast aside, leaving students with huge gaps in their education. Skills such as note taking, speed reading, typing, and interviewing are skills that are not taught sufficiently or simply not taught at all.
These educational tools could feasibly be taught during the first years of high school. If these skills are emphasized during these first years then perhaps students would not be so pressed to cram these skills within the already difficult first year of college or the work force.
High schools should expect more from students! Community member Lilly Rivera spoke at the April 3 Colton School Board meeting. She spoke of how low expectations for high school students have detrimental effects upon the output of students. She also spoke of how allowing students to pass with D’s is, in effect, telling students that D’s are acceptable. How can we expect more from students or even be surprised when less is achieved, when this what the school considers passing?
Recently I called a local temporary employment agency inquiring about the type of work which is available to high school grads. When I posed the question of what specific skills high school grads were lacking, I received a surprising answer. I was told that high school graduates lack basic skills in common sense things such as appropriately dressing for interviews, how to properly fill out an application, how to take messages, and typing.
These are basic skills that could be taught and need to be focused on, not only during senior year, but throughout a student’s high school career. These types of clerical jobs are often what await high school grads, even those who complete some college.
Therefore high schools should take initiatives to ensure that students are better prepared.Back to top
LET’S GET PHYSICAL!!by Kristal Greenlea
May 9, 1997Is America obsessed with working out in order to be fit, or in order to fit society’s idea of the perfect being?
It’s a legitimate question. How many people do you actually know of that work out and eat right just to be healthy? Not many. Especially since being “healthy” doesn’t always mean being skinny.
Going to a local gym is a much different experience than what is advertised on television. As you walk into your local Bally’s don’t expect the lighting to be dimmed with a spotlight on a center stage in which you will be anticipating the arrival of a group of dancers with perfect bodies and each with the dancing ability of Paula Abdul. Oh and don’t forget the big screen behind them playing music videos and advertisements for their facilities. I also wouldn’t worry about all of those tanned and toned bodies you’re afraid of ruuning into. They’re too busy saving people from drowning on some Santa Monica beach somewhere. Nope, that’s not how it’s like at all.
What you can expect to see is a bit different, and perhaps a little shocking: working mothers, on their treadmills, trying to recover their figures that they used to have before the children arrived; paunchy balding pony-tailed fourty year-olds, trying to make up for those twenty years of abusing their bodies in the name of rock and roll; and precious few teens and twentysomethings.
Why is the gym filled with these types? Is it because all of us in our teens are extremely fit already, and don’t have to work out? Fat chance, to coin a pun. Statistics have shown that our current generation is one of the most inactive and unfit in American history, gorging itself with junk food at an alarming rate and just waiting for that heart attack.
Many Colton High students work out, and some even have joined health clubs. Senior Lorin Burleson is a current member of the Colton Bally’s and she works out onthe average of twice a week. “That’s about as much as I can fit in.”
MYSTERY DINNER THEATER: WHEN MURDER IS ON THE MENUby Daniel Flores
May 9, 1997Picture this: a nice elegant dinner at an exquisite restaurant. People laughing and enjoying themselves. Suddenly, the man next to you drops to the floor gasping for air. In a flash the man lies dead as everyone in the room looks on with fright and astonishment. The next thing you know a police detective barges into the room and all of a sudden you’re a suspect in a murder mystery.
If this situation is something you only think happens in the movies, think again. This actually happened to yours truly one night as I participated in “Keith and Margo’s Murder Mystery Dinner,” at Yamashiro’s Japanese restaurant in Hollywood. For those of you who have never heard of a mystery dinner, the plot is quite simple.
As you and your guests arrive at the designated restaurant, you greet the other participants and mingle with the other guests. Then just as dinner begins so does the mystery. In this case a young man was shot and no one knew why. As the dinner progresses, your job is to search for clues and try to solve the mystery. The best part about this adventure is that everyone is a suspect--the person next to you, the waiter serving your drink, possibly the very person that invited you. If everything goes well the night ends with a few more murders and if you’re lucky you remain unharmed. It is here that you get your chance to solve the mystery, and if your hunch is right, you win the prize.
I admit that I myself am not a mystery buff. I’ve never even read “Shirlock Holmes.” I’ve never solved a mystery with “Nancy Drew,” and I thought that the “Hardy Boys” were a couple of weirdos. However, I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed a “real life” mystery. The dinner itself was worth the price (don’t ask how much).But when you add in the fact that we all got to play amateur sleuths, it was a full evening’s entertainmant that I won’t soon forget. Located in the beautiful Hollywood hills, Yamashiro is an elegant Japanese restaurant that is known for having a spectacular view as well as being a favorite among celebrities. The presentation of the “murder mystery” was equally as exciting. I felt like I was in an Alfred Hitchcock film.
All of the actors and participants were fun to watch as well as fun to interact with. Receiving rave reviews from the Los Angeles Times and In Hollywood magazine, “Keith and Margo’s Murder Mystery Dinner” was fun, exciting, mysterious, and above all a night to remember. So if you love a good mystery, enjoy fine dining, or just want to have a good time with friends, check out “Keith and Margo’s Murder Mystery Dinner.”
THE PEPPER SHAKER COLUMN: BY VICKY WRAY
THE DISEASE OF HIGH SCHOOL; AND ITS PARTICIPANTS
Have you ever walked through the quad and pondered as to why it is you are walking through two thousand people who you have never met before in your life?
If you have, you are coming down with an illness unlike any other. Worse than the flu, worse than chicken pox and worse than senioritus. I call this ailment “school.”
School is the forum for our education, our place of learning and the place in which we participate in extracurricular activities. That’s not the kind of school I’m talking about.
I’m talking about the school in which students socialize and dress up for. I’m speaking of the heartland of peer pressure and low self-esteem. A great place for an eating disorder and a wasteland with no heart. Yes kids, this is high school.
High school, in the proper order of Americanism, should be a place of good times and really macho memories. That’s how it should be.
Have you ever noticed that you feel more comfortable at home, when you look like Night of the Living Dead, than you do at school when you think you look your best? Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to stay home because of a certain person you just didn’t want to see? Has there ever been a time when you thought your weight was all wrong and then you thought of every person you see each day in the quad who you think looks better than you?
If your answer is yes to any of the above, you have the disease. Do those symptoms sound like normal, healthy, and constructive feelings? Of course not, but so many of us have them at least once a week, if not every Monday through Friday.
Once in a while there comes a day when these feelings are almost gone and it’s a great day. You feel fabulous, the world is new and everything is going to be O.K. Then you show up at school and someone asks “What’s wrong with you!?” and your high-on-life-with-no-worries attitude is ripped to shreds.
Then, one morning you wake up and the sun is shining directly into your face, you have had plenty of sleep the night before and the day is right. You go to school again and there aren’t any smart, rude remarks and you feel that you can take on this group of popular clones.
This ailment has got to stop. The disease must not continue. But then again, who can stop it? Isn’t it just the natural order of the world of high school? Isn’t the disease the oldest in the world? It is, but who are we to do anything about it?
PHEN-FEN POPULAR DIET AID, BUT IS IT SAFE?by Pear Utrapiromsuk
May 9, 1997In the wake of this fast-paced society used to quick result, it seems more and more people are becoming disenchanted with the traditional diets. For many who want to lose weight, all the blood, sweat, toil, fasting, starving, etc. just does not pay off, or at least the results does not come fast enough.
There have always been a host of quick-fix weight loss programs. In the 70s it was “The Beverly Hills Diet,” a regimen that involved eating little else but exotic fruit. The 80s saw the advent of “The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet,” and the emergence of Richard Simmons.
And now, as we approach the millenium, we are similarly besieged with new fad diets--Susan Powter and her “Stop the Insanity!” tapes, Jenny Craig, the cabbage soup diet, etc, etc, etc. It seems that American’s obsession to shed pounds knows no end. Many overweight Americans feel like Eddie Murphy’s character Sherman Klump in The Nutty Professor--awaiting that magic potion to turn them overnight into a skinny version of their former plump selves. What if such a magic cure existed? The elusive “fat pill” we’ve heard so much about?
Imagine then, pills that could be taken to shed off those dreaded pounds. Drugs which are much stronger and effective than traditional diet pill.
One such treatment, which has recently soared in popularity, is known as phen-fen. It works as an appetite suppressor. Phen-fen is actually not just one drug, but a combination of two--phentermine (“phen”) and fenfluramine (“fen”). Phen is taken first in the morning because of the stimulating effect it has on the nervous system, similar to that of other drugs such as “speed.” It is the main appetite suppressor ingredient. Fen, its distributors claim, regulates craving for carbohydrates, increases fat mobilization, and decreases absorption for dietary fat. Fen is taken in the evening because it has a depression effect on the central nervous system.
The combination of these two drugs is only available through prescription. Those eligible should be at least 20% over the medical guidelines for ideal body weight.
Whatever the medical claims, phen-fen is far from a magic pill. There are side-effects, usually only temporary, which include dry mouth, feeling “high,” insomnia, dizziness, headaches, mild diarrhea, or constipation.
“A lot of people complained that they felt ‘high,’” said junior Sarah Tootill. She was on phen-fen for four months last year. “But for me I didn’t feel like that at first. I felt weak, had dizzy spells, and it felt like my heart was pounding hard. I couldn’t handle it. The worse thing was that it made me repulsed to eat or drink anything, even water. It was gross and definitely not healthy.”
Fighting her weight has been a constant battle for Tootill. She said she has always been overweight. According to her, despite preferring a healthy diet and routine exercise, she still was not able to lose weight. While on diets with friends, others would lose weight, while seeming to eat more. Her doctor concluded that it had to do with her metabolism and recommended phen-fen.
The first weekend Tootill was on it, she lost 11 pounds. However, off the drug she gained it all back, and despite her experience with phen-fen she would still recommend it to others to a limited extent. “Sometimes it’s important to lose weight, I mean health wise, but I would say be careful--listen to what your body says, not just be obsessed with shedding the pounds.”
Not everyone who takes phen-fen experiences negative effects. Bill Webb, math teacher, went on phen-fen in mid October last year. He has lost 60 pounds and gone down ten pant sizes.
Webb attributed his weight problem to eating habits cultivated during his younger years. “I played football, so all I had to worry about was keeping my weight up. Young people have to realize that the way they are now is not necessarily the way they are going to be ten years from now.”
“I like to eat, there are few foods that I don’t get along with,” said Webb. “Phen-fen force me to change my eating habits, so that now even off the drug I think twice before I eat. I’ve really changed.”
Tootill also added that society puts a lot of pressure on people about the “ideal” weight. “I’ve tried many things and this is the way my body is; it’s not like I eat with grotesque gluttony. Why do I have to go on some freako drugs?”
The Search goes on.And we all hunt for the miracle cure.
PROM A BIG HIT; ANAHEIM SHERATON FILLED TO CAPACITYby Kristal Greenlea
May 9, 1997Glamour, glitz, and memories--all were elements of this year’s junior/senior prom,held last Saturday at the Anaheim Sheraton. This year’s prom was put on by Junior class officers Emily LeMay, Candice Lehman, Eva Devalos, and April Miller along with their advisor Ellen Green. The evening was filled with beautiful dresses, a packed dance floor, and delicious food.
As promgoers arrived, they had a choice of either taking the traditional “prom pictures” for which the lines were surprisingly short, or just going straight into the prom where the music was diverse, the decorations detailed, and the desserts plentiful. About halfway through the prom, the ‘96-’97 prom court was asked to approach the dance floor where they would await the announcement of this year’s prom king and queen. Last year’s prom queen, Rachel Bowler, crowned Veronica Zamora queen and announced Andrew Muñoz, better known as “Buddha”, this year’s king. The royalty then had their private slow dance while cameras flashed away in their faces.
PROM FASHION SHOW DAZZLES, DELIGHTSby Jenny Harris
May 9, 1997Take eleven guys, and eleven girls, slip them into some gorgeous gowns and tuxes, add some great music, stir well and you’ve got yourself one extraordinary fashion show.
The Junior Class Officers, who are in charge of all matters dealing with Prom, wanted this year’s show to be different from those of the past, and it definitely was. First of all they chose their models a little differently. This year’s models were some of the nominees for the 96-97 Prom Court. This gave the voters a chance to see who that were voting for in action. All of the nominees were asked to participate, but many of them had schedule conflicts with the practices.
Another of the changes was how the audience was admitted. Instead of just letting people in, they had tickets to get in, which were in fact ballots to vote for the prom court. This brilliant idea, by the junior officers, certainly increased the voter turnout for this election.
Turning these 22 normal high school kids into super-models in four days time was a task the 96-97 junior class officers felt they would need some help with. They decided to call on English teacher Lucy Khairullah, assisted by senior Jenny Harris, Special Ed teacher Lejon Stewart, and Theater Arts teacher Joey Mercado. The students generously devoted their time and effort into the show, staying after school as late as 6:00 pm to get the show down to perfection. Together with the juniors these coordinators took charge and whipped-up one Prom Fashion Show complete with all the fixin’s.
All of the dresses, accessories, and shoes for the girls were donated by Windsor Fashions Outlet, in the Ontario Mills Mall. The tuxes, for the guys, were once again donated by Gary’s Tuxes, in the Carosel Mall.
A big thank you should go out to these two companies along with Something Special, who did all of the floristry, who were extremely corporative in all aspects of the show, fittings, delivering the goods, and providing the models with discounts on the clothes and flowers the models wore in the show.Back to top
PROM: TOO EXPENSIVE, OVERHYPED, OVERRATEDOpinion by Tariq Warsi
May 9, 1997You save your money for weeks trying to get the funds for “The Day.” When it finally comes, you think, “Wow, wait a minute, is this what it really cost me?” The reality is that this “sacred” day of the prom isn’t what most people expect it to be.
The financial drain on a normal teen ranges from lunch money to gas money, not to mention trying to save up for that latest CD that you’ve just got to have. And soon enough the prom will sneak up on you. Well, maybe you’ve been saving for years planning your junior-senior prom, but get real--a large majority of the people make it their goal to wait as long as possible to find a date, earn the money, and make the reservations.
Now what can we actually say about the prom? It is a night that for many people give an insight to their lives; but for most, we see it as a day that put our savings plan back about two months.
About two weeks before the prom, people start to realize that they need to start preparing for something that they may know nothing about. It is finally time to get your dress/tux, search for the perfect flowers, buy the tickets, make reservations at the perfect restaurant, maybe reserve a limousine for those guests who said they would go with you, save some money for the pictures, get the right pair of shoes, do your hair/get a haircut, and prepare to look as smooth as one can be while trying not to sweat up a storm.
I’m sure I know what you are thinking: I’m too fat in this dress. Most guys will probably think they are the best looking ones there even though their flys are open and their shirts are poking through. Your hair was perfect until you stepped in the ballroom. Your flowers are wilting. It took you twenty minutes to find the tickets that your date had anyway. Your reservations got lost until you forced Jaques Escargot, the waiter, to go get the manager. The chauffeur seemed too hammered to the point where one of the couples had to take turns driving. And the group photo shot where you sneezed.
Most people think that this one night in their life is going to be some sort of turning point in their lives but get very disappointed when they find out that this prom thing isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be. Many find themselves spending an average of about $800 on a night that might have sucked to the point where you don’t want to go to another formal for the rest of your life. Most people haven’t realized the true fact behind the prom: it’s going to be expensive, and no matter how hard you may try, it is not going to get any easier.
Next year, I say it should be different. Let’s all come to prom in jeans and T-shirts, drive your granny’s ‘76 Gremlin (make sure you fill up before you go), no flowers, and for all you people who think that you are going to score, get real! Let’s all try to keep the spending down to about $50 and maybe you won’t worry so much.
Well, now that you know how I stand on these subjects, it’s not like people are actually going to do this. But take my advice, get everything as early as possible. Yeah, I know money tends to be a little tight at this time of the year, what with senior dues, SAT/ACT/AP tests, and deciding what time to start saving, but after all that is done, make sure to put on your deodorant and have fun. Then when you get home you can open your wallet and watch the moths fly out.Back to top
PUNTO DE VISTApor Graciela Gomez
Muchos de ustedes no se han dado cuenta de los problemas que ha tenido el periódico Pepper Bough. Primeramente, un padre de la escuela Bloomington High llegó a quejarse sobre el libro, Of Mice and Men que su hijo estaba leyendo. El libro contenía varias vulgaridades y mencionaba el nombre de Dios en vano. Esto causó mucha controversia y el Pepper Bough escribió su opinión acerca de esta situación. El periódico defendía la literatura como una “clasica” y de mucho valor por el contenido por la amistad de dos hombres. Luego resulta en la muerte de uno de ellos a la mano de su mejor amigo por el amor que le tiene para que la sociedad no lo condene por su acciones como un retrazado mental. El padre de Bloomington High, pidió que quitaran este libro que estaba como parte del plan de estudio.
Los reporteros estudiantiles asistieron a una junta de la Mesa Directiva el 3 de Abril. El padre de Bloomington High también se apareció porque esa noche se iba ha decidir si el libro quedaba en el plan de estudio. Los reporteros expresaron que defendían su posición en defensa de mantener el libro como parte de su plan de estudio. La Mesa Directiva votó a favor de mantener el libro con la excepción de que no se fuera a leer las vulgaridades en voz alta dentro de la clase.
Varios padres de los reporteros también fueron a esta junta en apoyo de sus hijos. Algunos expresaron que no había suficiente dinero para producir el periódico. Asistieron los reporteros de los periódicos de la comunidad y ellos sacaron los artículos respecto a la falta del apoyo de la comunidad puesto que al poner sus anuncios dentro del periódico, sacabamos nuestros fondos para producirlo, pero no tuvimos la suerte de que nos correspondieran. El pasado 4 de Abril salió el último periódico de este año por falta de dinero. Los reporteros estudiantiles del Pepper Bough y el maestro de nosotros, Sr. Dave Rainey, no nos dimos por vencidos.
Muchos de nostros pensabamos que ya no ibamos a poder escribir más durante este año y era triste porque algunos somos del grado 12 y pues queríamos escribir hasta el último momento. Al dejar de escribir era como dejar de ver lo que es realmante esta clase. También es un año más que pasamos aquí y para algunos es el último. Seria muy triste dejar de escribir en el mejor y último año para los alumnos del grado 12.
La verdad no era justo dejar de escribir después de haber ganado el primer lugar en el concurso que hubo con el periódico , The Sun, eran demasiadas escuelas y la nuestra ganó el primer lugar. Este honor nos permitió trabajar en conjunto con , The Sun porque publicaron el problema que tenía el periódico y así fuímos más escuchados y apoyados por la gente. Creo que era la mejor manera de ayudarnos.
La verdad, no hubieramos podido salir adelante sín el apoyo y la ayuda de las personas que se interesaron en ayudarnos que fue, nuestra comunidad. Necesitabamos mucho apoyo y la gente no nos dió la espalda sín embargo nos apoyaron. En ese momento era difícil pero ahora es todo diferente pues ya no tenemos que preocuparnos por ahora.
Quisieramos agradecerles de todo corazón a los siguientes por sus donaciones para que continue el Pepper Bough:El Departamento de Bomberos de Colton
Sr. Donald Hines (en memoria de Patricia Parmer )
Radio KFRG 95.1 FM
Compañía de Cemento Portland
Back to top
ROMY AND MICHELLES HIGH SCHOOL REUNION MOVIE REVIEWby Sarah Gama
May 9, 1997Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion proves that Dumb and Dumber and Beavis and Butthead are equal opportunity concepts. It’s not just the guys who try to generate movie laughs with stupidity.
With unbridled enthusiasm, Oscar winner Mira Sorvino and Friends star Lisa Kudrow dive head-long into this shaggy saga about two dim-wit blonde friends who go back to their high school for a reunion.
Romy and Michele have made very little progress since graduating from high school in Arizona in 1987. They’ve made little progress in the job market or in their love lives. They live together in a Los Angeles apartment and are reluctant to go to the reunion, but finally do.
Of course, their dim minds can’t handle the tangled web created by lies, and everything backfires. The reality of the reunion has nothing to do with their dream version.
The same snobby clique that bashed them in high school is back to give them a hard time, and their romantic ideas about male classmates fizzle.
This is a film in a league with the aforementioned concepts, except that Kudrow and Sorvino don’t have quite the rubber-faced charm of a Jim Carrey or the authority bashing angst of Beavis and Butthead. So if you go see it, don’t say I didn’t warn you.Back to top
SPAMORAMA COLUMN BY DANIEL FLORES
MAY 9, 1997
Whoa! We’re back. After one long month of begging and pleading for money we finally have enough to put out two more issues. Of coarse, we had to sell some staff members into slavery and stand on the corner holding a sign that said “Will write sarcastic, pointless columns for money,” but we made it. If you haven’t heard by now, you either don’t come to school very much or when you do you spend all of your time totally unaware of what’s going on . . .oh wait, that’s the administration. It turns out that your very own Pepper Bough was flat broke. We barely had enough money to buy a stick of gum much less produce a quality-award winning-bestest-in the-whole-wide-world newspaper. So to get enough money for the next paper I had an ingenious idea. I walked down the street to the bank and asked for a loan: “Yea, I would like one million dollars please, in tens and twenties, and can I get one of those cool pens that have that chain connected to them?” But for some reason they didn’t give me the money. Instead, the security guard chased me out waving around his little can of pepper spray.
Fortunately for us, a few caring individuals donated enough money for us to finish the year. For all of your help and support, I would like to thank you and we at the Pepper Bough staff are very grateful. Oh, by the way, in case you weren’t aware, I’ll be headed off to college soon and just in case you’re in the mood to donate more money to a worthy cause, I hope that you will consider the “I are dumb and I need an edumacation fund.” With your help I could gain the education needed to be what I’ve always dreamed of, a pro wrestler.
Speaking of college, it appears that our twisted society has implanted some idea in our kids’ head that if they ever want to get anywhere in life they have to attend college. Not true; many people have gained riches and glory without even graduating from college: Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, and of course, Bill Gates. So don’t worry about your future if you didn’t get into college. You still have a chance to reach greatness. All you have to do is win the Masters, be a basketball prodigy, or be a computer genius. For those of you who don’t fit into this category of people, such as myself, there really is not much hope for us. Ya see, the only way to make easy money in this country is to have some extraordinary athletic talent, be a great actor or musician, or just be willing to get naked for a whole bunch of people (Hey, it worked for Sharon Stone). Unfortunately for myself, the only sport I can play is couch sleeping, I’m about as great an actor as Keanu Reeves, and last time I got naked for a whole bunch of people I ended up in a holding cell next to a guy that kept calling me “cupcake.” So for us “normal” people the only way out is to get an education. That’s where college comes in. It provides us with an education that extends beyond conventional thought. It opens our minds to the world around us and provides us with a neverending curiosity. Not to mention it’s a great place to meet chicks and get wasted. Yea, I think I could really get into this college thing.Back to top
SWIMMING TEAM HAS DISAPPOINTING SEASONby Liz Nicks
May 9, 1997As the 1997 swim season comes to an end, the swim team has gone through many internal struggles as well as trying to cope with the changing of leagues and keeping up with the top teams. With Coach Eileen Potterton out due to injury, the team was taken on full time by James Vickers who took the responsibility in stride.
While the swimmers tried hard to prevail in the tough ranks of the Citrus Belt League, teams like Redlands and Fontana proved to have more depth than the Yellowjackets did. The season ended with an overall record of 1-11 for both the boys and the girls teams. The girls lone win was their first in three years against Eisenhower, yet when they faced Ike the second time the results were the opposite. The boys team’s six swimmers were very strong in winning their individual races but their size was too small to help them win the overall meet. Therefore, out of the four teams in the league, they were unfortunately ranked at the bottom.
“Considering the strength of the Citrus Belt League, we did all right,” said Potterton.
This year there has been question on whether Potterton will return as coach next year or not.
“Right now it looks like I’ll be forced to retire after this season,” said Potterton. “I really don’t want to because I love the team. You never know what’s apt to happen though.”
It is a problem with her feet that are keeping her out and she told the Pepper Bough that her doctors are looking for something to help solve the problem and keep her up and on the deck.
Yesterday marked Citrus Belt League finals, but at press time results were not available. But the coaches gave a preview of how well they thought the team would do.
“Overall the team should come in third with numerous first, second, and third places in individual events,” said Potterton.With the teams both coming in last, it remains for individuals to bring home further honors for the swim program.Back to top
TENNIS HEADS INTO PLAYOFFSby Matt Penna
May 9, 1997The tennis team this year has taken third behind Eisenhower and Redlands, with their 11-7 and 13-5 victories over A.B. Miller and a 12-6 win over Fontana.
“I could not have hoped for a better season this year since it was my first year coaching,” said coach James Verhoeven. “ I’m proud of the team no matter what happens in the playoffs.”
The CIF finals start May 12 and 13 at the University of Redlands. With the singles team of Mike Hughes, David Evans, and Mark Avant, and a doubles squad consisting of Seth Anapolski and Anthony Cornado, Andy Hunt and Ryan Urban, Chris Collins and Tom Allen, Brian Kim and Joe Manlolo, Joe Ramos and Matt Penna, the team is looking for a fast finish.
“This has been a great season for me this year,” said sophomore Brian Kim. “We’ve taken third again and I look forward to doing this well again next season.”
The team looks to have a good playoff run to finish off this season strong. “This season has been good for the team. We’ve done well and look forward to next season. Meanwhile we’ll do our best at the playoffs,” said Penna.Back to top
THE LIST (AND WHY, IF YOU’RE A SENIOR, YOU DON’T WANT TO BE ON IT)by Victor Lopez
May 9, 1997In the mystic world that exists inside the mind of the average Colton High School senior, there lives a fear that slowly starts to consume its victim. It creeps up seeking shelter in the often confused young mind of its host. This fear brings forth many sleepless nights, and leaves many uneaten meals on the table. Its objective is to terminate the hope of someday reaching the goals set before the individual. Once this fear has been impregnated and continues to develop, the tasks at hand become unattainable.
There is no way to stop this malign embryo. The only thing left to do is to wait and hope for a brighter future. This phenomenon is only common to those that at one time or another have found their name among those featured in the yearly school publication known as “THE CINCH LIST.”
What exactly is this horrible demon that strikes so much fear into so many seniors?
Soon, all teachers who have seniors in their classes will be asked to provide the administration with names of those students who are in danger of failing. These names are placed on a list called the “Cinch List.” (Perhaps it should be really called the Non-Cinch List, since you haven’t cinched anything by being on it.)
Seniors who fail a class at this late point in their high school careers can end up not walking down that aisle on June 12 with the rest of their friends, and joining the dubious ranks of the “Super Seniors,” that unenviable crowd who love Colton High so much they come back for a fifth year of instruction.
The Cinch List can determine whether a senior will have the privilege of attending the graduation ceremony as a graduating student, or as an spectator who is there to support the fellow classmates. And being on this list may be the difference between cheering from the stands and celebrating on the field. In a way, the cinch list can determine when or how it is that you get out of high school, but only if you let it keep your name under its subjection.
If you are informed that you are on the infamous list, don’t despair completely. Don’t set aside the money for next year’s ASB card and senior dues. All is not lost. Some teachers, to make sure they have covered all the bases, place anyone with a C or D grade on the list. It’s supposed to be sort of a wake up call. Like, “Wake up, you fool! Don’t you want to graduate?” If your name is on the list, just tell yourself that it’s time to get to work. And if you’re diligent, you may just be making that walk and that trip to Disneyland after all.Back to top
TRACK HEADS INTO CIF FINALSby Andy Hunt
May 9, 1997Eight members of the boys track squad as well as seven members of the girls team have made it to the final plateau, competing in the Citrus Belt League Finals, held on Wednesday at the University of Redlands. Results were not available at press time and will be updated in the final issue of the Pepper Bough.
Individuals that qualified for the boy’s team included seniors Cory Butner in the high jump, Kiliboy Kiliona in the discus, Ray Trevino in the 3200m, and Adrian Hamilton in the 800m. The men’s 400m relay team also ran on Wednesday. The team consists of juniors Brian Appiah-Kubi, Adam Edwards, Shawn Delaney, and Tariq Warsi.
Competing for the girl’s track team were seniors Maryanna Vasquez in both the 1600 and 3200m, Antoinette Duke in the 800 and 3200m, and Jessica Romo in the shot put and discus. The 400m relay team also qualified with Luaranda Ornelas, Crystal Guerrero, Amanda Gomez and Julia Schulte running in the heat.
Those athletes who qualify for the Division I C.I.F. preliminaries will be competing on Saturday May 17 at Long Beach City College, facing athletes from all over Southern California.
UP IN SMOKE
by Ana Gonzalez
May 9, 1997“Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette--
Puff, puff, puff, until you smoke yourself to death.
Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate
You’re sorry but he’s gotta wait
You gotta have another cigarette.”
---old American Folk songWe see it in the parking lots, we smell it in the bathrooms, we even hear it happens in the hallways--smoking.
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, every day 3,000 kids become addicted to tobacco products. There are many aspects to this topic that are controversial, including laws being implemented to stop this high statistic, advertising, availability, and education.
Recently, President Clinton along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have decided to start a war against teen smoking. They have suggested laws that would ban tobacco billboards within 1000 feet of schools and playgrounds, restrict outdoor advertisements to a simple black and white ad with no pictures or images, eliminate vending machines (which are the easiest source to obtain cigarettes), and require that tobacco companies spend at least $150 million on education.
In spite of these promising laws, some people still believe that although government regulations have good intentions, they will not bring much change.
“I personally do not believe these new laws will work,” said junior Linnette Lee. “A lot of the youngsters who smoke do it out of peer pressure or out of their own choice. Ads don’t have a lot to do with it as people make it seem.”
One interesting fact provided by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids states that “85% of underage smokers purchase the three most heavily advertised brands: Marlboro, Newport, or Camel.” The link between underage smoking and advertisements is undeniable. The use of cool and hip characters such as the rough “Marlboro Man” or the popular “Joe Camel” have attracted the attention of many youngsters and are said to be the most persuasive influences that cause a youngster to begin smoking. Ask any kid you know to identify the colorful Joe Camel, and he/she will surely be correct. This is the reason behind Clinton’s and the FDA’s propositions.
Another law that will definitely affect teens is Senate Bill 1849, which went into effect January 1, 1997. This bill makes it illegal to possess any tobacco product if one is under the age of 18. If a minor is caught buying or possessing a tobacco product, there is a penalty of up to $75 and 30 hours of community service.
It seems all laws are making it harder to obtain the product. Some disagree.
“I can get cigarettes in the local liquor store anytime, they never check me for an ID,” said a Colton High student who preferred to go unnamed. “It’s probably because I look older than I really am.”
A survey conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services concluded that young people have a 73% success rate of purchasing tobacco over the counter and 96% success rate in buying cigarettes through vending machines. Also, 90% of the sophomores surveyed said that it is easy to get cigarettes.
Though, an AM/PM employee negated this statement by saying, “I always check people who look young if they want to buy cigarettes, especially with the new law. We [the store] can get fined or have our license revoked for selling that stuff to a minor.”
Whether or not small convenient store employees are doing their job, some believe that this process should start at an early age. One of the FDA’s main concern is educating young children about smoking and its consequences.
Aside from lung cancer, smoking also raises the chances of catching a severe cold, pneumonia, and asthma. Also, as reported by the Chicago Tribune, a study of more than 50,000 women found that those who smoked more than one pack of cigarettes a day were 50% more likely to have excessive facial hair than nonsmokers. Similarly, cigarettes were found to cause an eye disease that causes blindness.
There is also something for those who already smoke--like how to quit. Some suggestions on how to quit smoking include throwing out all cigarettes, drinking lots of water and juices and avoiding spicy food or caffeinated drinks which may trigger a desire for cigarettes, as well as avoiding places where you usually smoke.
Some programs in the Inland Empire that are determined to prevent the further use of tobacco are the local chapter of the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, the Loma Linda Veterans Hospital, the New House, and the San Bernardino Tobacco Use Reduction Now (T.U.R.N.) Program. These programs target the community and schools by going to specific schools and conducting presentations
“Our purpose is to reduce smoking, especially in the younger community,” said Health Education Specialist Beverly Jones-Wright from the T.U.R.N. Program. “We are glad that the FDA has now called it a drug, because it is addictive. Although the reduction of advertisements will be effective, eventually you are the only one who can stop yourself from smoking.”
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VICA RETURNS FROM STATE CONVENTION WITH ARMFUL OF AWARDSby Karen Brown
May 9, 1997After a furious round of competitions at the annual state convention in Fresno, sixteen Colton High VICA members took top honors and are heading for the national competition in Kansas City this June.
The state convention was held April 25-27. Participants spent three days competing against other VICA chapters from around the state. For the third year running, Colton’s chapter emerged as the best VICA group in California.
Six Yellowjackets won gold medals, signifying that they are the best in the state at their particular vocational skills. In addition, two graduates who take ROP classes won gold medals as well.
The gold medal winners will be joined in Kansas City by eight members VICA’s Chapter Business Procedure team, which grabbed a silver medal at the convention. Team members include seniors Rosa Flores, Corina Hernandez, Maria Macedo, Veronica Flores, Nancy Fernandez, and Ryan Urban, as well as juniors Michelle Garcia and Jeremy Marks.
“It’s basically ROP classes but with a greater feeling of accomplishment,” said Garcia, a member of the Chapter Business Procedure team. “I feel it teaches me how to be a leader,” said Garcia, “and basically prepares me for the future and gives me a better insight on what’s important.” VICA’s purpose is to prepare students for leadership and management skills. VICA advisor, Bob Reedy, expressed his pride in the outcomes of the competition.
“Overall, the Colton High Chapter performed extremely well,” said Reedy.VICA State Champions
The following students won gold medals at the annual state convention in Fresno and therefore will represent Colton at the annual VICA convention held in Kansas City, Missouri on June 23.Holly Pettit, senior, Desktop Publishing
Daniel Flores, senior, Extemporaneous Speaking
Scott Vahovick, senior, Technical Related Math
David Williams, sophomore, Action Skills
David Samreth, sophomore, Action Skills
Kenny Solano, junior, Sheet Metal
Miguel Chaure, graduate (ROP), Sheet Metal
Mary Yzaguirre, graduate (ROP), Job InterviewBack to top
VOODOO GLOW SKULLS FLEX MUSCLES ON NEW CDby Matt Penna
May 9, 1997Local Riverside band Voodoo Glow Skulls have shown they’ve still got it, with their new release Baile De Los Locos.
Baile De Los Locos (translated: “the dance of the crazy people”) is full of fast-paced music, with fierce horns and a loud energetic sound. This album is full of intense songs. “Nowhere Left to Go”, “Here We Are Again”, and “Los Hombres No Llorah” are just a few of the 12 songs that all out pour a firm dose of high impact energy.
This punk-ska band has been playing locally for nearly ten years. In 1988 Eddy Casillas, along with his two brothers Jorge and Frank and their neighborhood pal Jerry O’Neill formed the nucleus of what was to become Voodoo Glow Skulls. They began originally as a four piece hard core punk band. Three years later they were getting bored with their same old sound and added on the fastest and most outrageous horn players they could find. Joe McNally, Joey Hernandez, and Brodie Johnson, found themselves playing the brass fiercer then they could have imagined. There is also one hidden track on the CD, one that doesn’t show up in the liner notes, the band’s version of “Feliz Navidad.” The traditional Christmas song is given the classic high-energy Voodoo Glow Skulls treatment, and emerges as a punk-ska latino anthem.This is an overall good album to buy if you like fast, hard core music that will keep your adrenalin pumping. Don’t buy it if you can’t stand high energetic music.