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The Campanile
Palo Alto Senior High School Palo Alto High School
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SCRATCH OUT
SCANTRONS
Scratcher tests at Paly help
students learn from their
Two acts of vandalism occur over holiday weekend
errors. PAGE A2 Students graffiti school premises, place Seven students break into school library;
syrup-covered condoms on door handles rearrange furniture, hang photos of Mao
Elizabeth Petit/The Campanile
By Danielle Kim However, McEvoy emphasized that if vandals hurt By Danielle Kim Alto High School library via a hatch
Editor in Chief the school, they hurt everyone. Editor in Chief on the roof.
“There’s the actual monetary damage, but it also has The students, six of whom are
Various Palo Alto High School an affect on the school,” McEvoy said. “We’re all under Sometime before the afternoon of Jan. 20, seven Paly students, committed a felony by
buildings were tagged with red graffiti the same umbrella.” unidentified male high school seniors broke into the Palo breaking and entering into the build-
and maple syrup-covered condoms ing. The seventh does not attend a
were placed over classroom door Palo Alto high school.
OPINION handles sometime after 4 p.m. on The seven seniors went on to
Jan. 21. rearrange all the furniture, take out
CRUNCHING THE Paly World Languages Instruc-
tional Supervisor Norman Masuda
all the spacebars from the library
computers, spell out “Paly stoners 08”
COLLEGE COSTS was the first to discover the second act
of vandalism upon arriving at school
with pictures of the Chinese politi-
cal leader Mao Zedong and replace
Rising prices discourage 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 22. posters on the walls with those same
students from attending “Molasses or some dark sticky photos. They also tied up a string of
college. PAGE A8 liquid was dripping off the door letters spelling out, “This is who we
handles,” Masuda said. “[Head cus- really are.”
todian Ky] Hok and I had to clean According to an anonymous
LIFESTYLES everything up. A lot of our time was senior who says he did not commit
sated. It’s not funny and it was just the felony, the students are neither
VIKINGS HIGH ON inconvenient.”
Currently, it appears that the same
stoners nor Communists. In fact, their
minds resemble those of stereotypi-
VICODIN individual(s) left graffiti in red ink on
the Math Department building, in front
cal teenage males: A “READ” poster
featuring Keira Knightley was taken
of the library, on the deck and on the off the library wall and placed in the
Paly students seek relax-
bulletin boards of the Student Center “0” of “Paly stoners 08.”
ation in prescription painkill-
and 900s building. The vandals also left a message
ers. PAGE B1 The messages ranged from a encrypted with the Vigenere cipher,
personal attack on a Paly teacher complaining about new policies ban-
SPORTS (supporting the belief that the vandal ning the use of bikes on campus as well
was a Paly student) to “08 seniors are as the reenactments issue. The students
SERVES TO WIN
consequences of such vandalism. you thought you could just push over
“If [the vandal] was a Paly student Paly students, think again.”
that dislikes Paly so much, I’ll make The vandalism was discovered
The simplicity of fixed-gear sure that they don’t go to Paly any- by Paly librarian Rachel Kellerman
bikes attracts extreme Paly more,” McEvoy said. “But anything at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Jan.
cyclists. PAGE A10 is possible: it’s possible it was done 20 when she stopped by to drop off
by Gunn students, it’s possible it was a coffee table for the reading area.
done by non-students.” She immediately notified Assistant
The janitorial staff had cleaned Principal Jerry Berkson and the Palo
Morgan Pichinson/The Campanile
up all the pranks associated with the Alto Police Department. The librarian
second vandalism act by 9:00 a.m. on Top: Courtesy of an anonymous source, Bottom (left to right): Michela Fossati Bellani/The Campanile, also gave the police photos that she
Jan. 21. The damages incurred mostly Tyler Blake/The Campanile, Tomer Schwartz/The Campanile took of the vandalism.
include time and money spent on the Students and staff ended their semester break to find library computer keyboards tampered with,
cleanup. doorknobs disturbed and the walls of the Student Center and Auto Building tagged with red paint. See VANDALISM, Page A2
FEATURES
Administration enacts History department paves road for new AP
policy requiring STAR Economics class to study macroeconomics
FIND YOUR PERFECT
testing for AP students
By Kelly Zhou
BAY AREA
is offering a semester class because
Paly Administration’s New Policy a year-long class would require lan-
ing the economics classes, according
Animal-free restaurants of- • STAR tests will be required for to Bloom.
fer places for vegetarians Having a heterogeneous mix of Allie Bollella/The Campanile
and vegans to dine. PAGE B7 all AP students students makes the economics course History teacher David Rappaport writes a lesson. The History
• Students must score proficiently better, said Bloom. Department makes way for a macroeconomics semester course.
INDEX on the STAR test to qualify for Currently, Paly only offers one ““Kids interested in taking AP signing up for AP Economics next
economics course, which is required Econ would take it second semester year) receive registration materials at
AP classes in order to graduate. The course only after they’ve finished the regular econ the beginning of February, according
News...........................A1-A3
• STAR tests will be moved to the provides students an introduction to course,” Bloom said. “The AP Econ to Bloom.
Opinion.................A4-A5, A8
end of the year out of the AP micro- and macroeconomics. The course will build on top of the regular “I don’t know if we’re going to
Spotlight.....................A6-A7 regular economics class may change econ course.” be able to get all the pieces together,”
Sports.......................A9-A12 testing window a little to accommodate the AP class, Earlier, Bloom was unsure as to Bloom said earlier. “We have to get in
Lifestyles...........................B1 Bloom said. The proposed AP Eco- whether the course would be organized the registration, design the course, get
Julia Benton/The Campanile
,
Features.......................B2-B6 nomics course would give students a in time to allow current juniors to sign textbooks and materials, all of that.”
A&E...........................B7-B14 Principal Jacqueline McEvoy and the Paly administration have more in-depth look at macroeconom- up for AP Economics. Current juniors
instated a new policy for AP students in regards to STAR testing. ics, according to Bloom. (who would be the students potentially See ECONOMICS, Page A3
A2 • January 28, 2008 News The Campanile
Risky teen sleeping habits discussed History department to offer semester long
Research finds sleep deprivation impairs decision making and judgement AP Economics elective over the fall of 2008
By Allison Coleman “Most teenagers need nine to ten hours of sleep every ECONOMICS, Continued from A1 and it could go into more detail than of classes, believes that U.S. Govern-
Staff Writer night, but very few teenagers actually sleep for that long,” regular econ.” ment would be a much better class for
Rosekind said. There are also a few potential Some current seniors agree that senior year because most students turn
Mark Rosekind, president and chief scientist of Alert- This was new information for many parents. problems that may surface with AP Economics would be a good class 18 years old and can register to vote,
ness Solutions, spoke to students and parents from Palo “I was surprised when I heard him say that teenag- introducing an new AP Economics to have at Paly. so the class is more relevant and less
Alto schools about the importance of sleep at Palo Alto ers need nine to ten hours of sleep,” Walsh said. “I didn’t course. “I would have personally loved theoretical.
High School on Jan. 9. realize it was that much.” “One of the questions you always to have AP economics as a course If the sequence change were to
During his presentation, Rosekind covered everything The times when people are most tired are determined have is ‘Are the kids going to come choice,” senior Jenny Ji said. “I think occur, ninth grade World History
from the risks associated with not getting enough sleep by an internal timer, called the circadian clock, which out of another [elective] class?’” it would be a wonderful idea to add would be moved to tenth grade and
and the biological factors that create these risks, to what regulates when a person feels sleepy or more alert. Most Paly principal Jacqueline McEvoy an AP economics course at Paly. It U.S. government and Economics
people need to do to avoid sleep deprivation. adults feel sleepiest from three to five in the morning. said. “[We have to] take into consid- would give students who wish to take would be senior year social studies
Rosekind began his talk by mentioning the societal In teenagers, this clock can shift depending on bedtime eration the impact on other course the course a depth of information that classes, according to Likins. Ninth
pressures to stay awake for longer than is considered and especially on when they wake up. A teen could feel offerings.” regular economics cannot provide.” grade would no longer require a social
healthy. He showed a picture of a bulletin board at Mountain sleepiest from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. - when he or she would According to McEvoy, another In addition to adding an AP Eco- studies course.
View High School that read, “Sleep is for Slackers.” have to be waking up to go to school. course may have to close if AP Eco- nomics class at Paly, the social stud- Nevertheless, Paly stands by the
“We’re expected to operate around the clock, but our Symptoms of this delayed sleep phase are a late nomics becomes available. If AP ies department considered switching current PAUSD sequence of social
bodies are just not designed for this,” Rosekind said. “fall asleep” time and trouble waking up in the morning, Economics is offered, the U.S. Foreign around the sequence of social studies studies classes.
Some people, such as Joan Jacobus, the mother of Rosekind said. Policy class would be the first to face classes. Paly, Gunn and Superinten- “What we do works well for
two Gunn students, were surprised by how much sleep a A phenomenon related to sleep deprivation is called elimination since, according to Bloom, dent Kevin Skelly discussed the pos- us,” Bloom said. “U.S. Government
person really needs. Sunday Night Insomnia, according to Rosekind. This oc- most students would not sign up for sible change. prepares kids for understanding the
“I learned that most of us need to be getting a lot more curs when people stay up late on the weekends and sleep Foreign Policy anymore, due to the Currently, the typical breakdown challenges of the developing world
sleep than we are,” Jacobus said. in on Saturday and Sunday mornings. On Sunday night, lure of the advanced placement status of social studies classes in the Palo as well as understanding the [United
According to Rosekind, one result of too little sleep people have trouble readjusting to falling asleep and waking of the new class. Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) States] Constitution. When students
is that a person’s reaction time slows by 25 percent, a up earlier,so they have trouble sleeping Sunday night. One problem for both potential is that freshmen take World History, go to U.S. History, [it helps them]
dangerous amount of time for a sleepy driver. Judgment The way to avoid sleep deprivation is to have good students and teachers is the shortened sophomores take U.S. Government understand how the U.S. government
and decision-making are also negatively affected by loss “sleep hygiene,” which means having regular wake-up amount of time allowed to prepare for and Contemporary World History, works.
of sleep, which might prompt a person to decide to drive times and using a regular pre-sleep routine. the AP exam. juniors take U.S. History and seniors Bloom and Skelly have already
knowing that it might not be safe. Rosekind also recommended naps if people are not “[The class] is in a compressed take Economics and a Social Studies discussed the change and decided not
“Sleep deprivation makes people make riskier able to achieve the right amount of sleep at night. A nap time frame so you have to do a full elective. to change the order of social studies
choices,” Rosekind said. should be 40 to 45 minutes long, according to Rosekind, semester’s worth of work in three However, most of the state of courses at Paly.
According to Rosekind, over one million car crashes and people should allow 15 minutes of “wake-up” time weeks less than a full semester,” California does U.S. Government While the sequence of classes
each year are caused by a sleep-deprived driver, more after napping. Bloom said. “Its pace would be really senior year, Bloom said. will not be changed for the follow-
crashes than those related to drugs or alcohol. “He was a phenomenal speaker,” Diana Walsh, a par- rigorous.” This creates a problem for stu- ing school year, the AP Economics
Losing four hours affects a person as negatively as ent of students at Paly, Jordan Middle School and Addison However, students seem to show dents who move from other parts of the course will be ready for the 2008-2009
consuming five to six beers, which equates to a blood Elementary School, said. “ He obviously had a good deal an interest in taking a more challeng- state, as they may be behind in fulfill- school year.
alcohol level of about .095 percent, a definite DUI. of knowledge on the subject, and he was very engaging ing economics class. ing social studies courses because of “AP Econ is a definite for next
“It doesn’t matter who you are,” Rosekind said. “You when talking about a subject that could have made us all “I would probably want to take Palo Alto’s unique sequence. year. It’s going to be in the course
lose sleep, there is a cost.” a little sleepy.” AP Econ,” junior Garrett Morton said. Gunn principal Noreen Likins, catalog and it’s all set to go,” McE-
Besides causing people to make poor decisions, lack Suzie Lincoln, the mother of students attending Gunn “It seems like an interesting class who supports changing the sequence voy said.
of sleep negatively affects mood and causes lapses in High School, Terman Middle School and Nixon Elementary
Editors in Chief
Tyler Blake • Danielle Kim • Peter Lee
Ryan Pfleiderer • Mia Pond • Tomer Schwartz Paly must take steps to
News Editor
Rebecca Allen
Lifestyles Editor
Kairen Wong
Opinion Editor
ChrisClayton reduce sleep deprivation
Features Editors A & E Editors Sports Editors
Henry Becker Sara Reihani Alexi Dagan Administration should make simple changes to
Amy Stringer Austin Smith Sam Jones prevent detrimental sleep deprivation among students
Photo Manager Spotlight Editor Mark Rosekind, who spoke at One simple but effective change attendance and punctuality. In fact,
Hannah McGovern Sarah Stringer Palo Alto High School on Jan. 9, is would be to keep late-start Thursdays the school benefits from students who
only the most recent of many to tell throughout the entire year. During get enough hours of sleep each night:
Business Managers Advertising Manager students and parents that children and
teens are not getting enough sleep.
first semester, many students benefit
from block Thursdays, which begin
studies show students consistently
do better in school and have higher
Geng Wang Debbie Zhang Erik Krasner-Karpen During his presentation, Rosekind said at 8:45 a.m. test scores.
teens need, but often do not get, nine The Campanile understands Perhaps it may be more difficult
Staff Writers to 10 hours of sleep per night. that the administration would like to to push back school start times in
Schoolwork clearly contributes minimize the amount of class missed general. The Campanile believes,
Nanor Balabanian Rye Druzin Laura Kurtz Annie Vought to the sleep deprivation from which by student-athletes due to afternoon though, that giving students even
Catherine Benson Christian Gallagher Yvonne Lin Anna Waldron students suffer, especially at a high- meets and matches, however, there just ten more minutes each morning
achieving school like Paly. are ways these students can make up by changing the start time to 8 a.m.
Yelly Bitton Alex Greene Jillian Liu Crystal Wang Thus, The Campanile believes work; Paly clearly provides policies would be helpful.
Becky Byler Chris Gonnerman Josh Lo Cassie Wedemeyer that Paly must be held accountable regarding excused absences. Regardless, The Campanile feels
Hannah Bystritsky Gabrielle Hadley Ryan McLeod Allison Whitson and partially responsible for prevent- It is not as easy to make up lost that it is impossible not to make any
Alan Chen Michael Hamada Mira Parekh Eliot Wilson ing sleep loss among its students. The sleep and the effects of sleep depriva- changes when Paly students clearly
Paly administration does not need to tion are much worse: less efficiency suffer from sleep deprivation and the
Auster Chen Zach Harris Jonathan Shan Nolan Wong make drastic changes in order to lessen in completing schoolwork, lower Paly administration can clearly do
Alan Chu Kevin Harvey Julia Shapiro Lindsay Yang sleep deprivation. quality of performance and decreased something about it.
Allison Coleman DJ Hsueh Kelley Shin Gloria Yu
Zal Dordi Mikaela Kenrick Pauline Slakey Kelly Zhou
Photographers
Mika Ben-Shaul • Julia Benton • Allie Bollella • Nora Brannen-Burt
Program would facilitate
language proficiency
Michela Fossati-Bellani • Stacy Levichev • Elizabeth Petit
Graphics Editor
Erik Krasner-Karpen
PRO CON
choice — hence its name. The old-style tests provide minimal feed- be abandoned. know what material to discuss. we love and whom we brand criminals.
The most obvious benefit of scratcher back and student engagement simply because The most crucial and inherent plausible However, the fact that students receive It’s the War on Drugs.
tests is the instant feedback students receive. of the black-and-white nature of the test. problems deriving from the use of scratcher the correct response immediately will make Reefer Madness, the 1936 film, heralded
By knowing the correct answer to a problem There is no room for argument or interpreta- tests are neglect of responsibilities by both them disinclined to discussion, both because a time when the United State’s government
immediately after answering, students can tion — every answer is either right or wrong. teachers and students. The teachers must they will be less interested in the answer now began a crackdown on the usage of illegal
perhaps better understand the solution to a The scratcher tests, on the other hand, allow be responsible for not only educating their that they have already discussed it at great substances. This crackdown continues today,
problem and stay more in touch with their students to think through answers and process students, but also ensuring that every student length, especially as these scratcher tests despite the hippie movements of the 1960s and
grades in the class. the information more effectively, which in understands the material presented prior to, are often taken with partners, regardless of the resistance by some states to the federal
This alone is reason enough to spread turn leads to a better learning experience for during and after examinations. Although these whether or not these discussions accurately illegalization of drugs.
the use of scratcher tests into more depart- the student. scratcher tests facilitate students’ recollection explained the answers. Such reduced interest The “War on Drugs” declared by President
ments at Paly, but there are other compelling The Social Studies Department should be of information, particularly when the scratch- will also derive, in part, from fear that they Richard Nixon in 1971 has sought to put those
reasons as well. commended for its innovative use of scratcher ers are used for quizzes, which generally will be considered less intelligent by their who are found to be in possession of what the
The tests also allow students to take mul- peers (with whom they presumably already government deems “illegal substances” behind
tiple guesses at one question for partial credit, discussed the answers). bars. Much similar to the era of Prohibition
which has the benefit of both allowing students Furthermore, the utilizations of scratcher before the Great Depression, the government
to learn more and giving them a better chance tests inevitably effects grade inflation by allow- has decided to try and stymie the proliferation
to earn a good grade in the class. ing students more ways to obtain higher scores. of such substances. Despite the governments
Tests are typically the only part of a class Consider the expected values of standard test efforts, it has failed.
that is not a learning experience — as an assess- questions versus those of scratcher tests, given The illegalization of these substances has
ment, tests are incapable of teaching students that the questions have four possible answers. created a black market for such substances.
any new material. But because scratcher tests A student attempting to guess the answers to The illegal drug market is worth $400 billion
allow for multiple guesses at a single problem, four questions on a standard test receives an and is growing rapidly. This is a profit that is
students can work through a question in more expected value of .25 points per question, as over 10 times that of California’s agricultural
depth and better understand the answer with that student will guess correctly, on average, business.
a greater level of detail. on one of the four questions. However, the The government justified the illegality
Additionally, scratcher tests benefit expected value for the student taking the of these substances by stating that if the sub-
teachers. Since the tests are essentially “self scratcher test is more complex. Given the stances are legalized, there would be mass
grading,” the teacher is left with less “kill- and- four questions, the student will receive, on chaos. Instead, because drugs, such as mari-
drill” work of grading exams and therefore has average, one point for guessing one question juana or cocaine are illegal, street gangs and
more time to develop new lesson plans and correctly at first. However, that student can rival drug dealers fight each other all across the
to do other things that are more important. receive a half-point, on his or her second try, world in an attempt to receive more revenue
Scratcher tests make life easier for Paly for for correctly guessing the answer to one of through more business. This, in effect, creates
everyone — students and teachers alike. the remaining three questions. street wars in the poorest neighborhoods over
One of the main arguments against In addition, students have a quarter-point the world.
scratcher tests is the increased potential for for correctly guessing the answer to one of the In Afghanistan, a country that has no
cheating. Since students know their answers two remaining questions, one of which has the infrastructure and even less of a base for an
immediately, some argue that students will be Michela Fossati-Bellani/The Campanile answer. Thus, the score for the scratcher test economy, opium accounts for nearly 60 per-
more likely to spread useful information to Scantron tests, the norm in most Paly classrooms today, may soon be replaced will, on average, be 1.75/4, which results in an cent of Afghanistan’s GDP, while the country
students in later classes. However, this is eas- expected value of 0.4375 points per question. itself produces 87 percent of the world’s sup-
with scratcher tests, which closely resemble the look and feel of lottery tickets.
ily avoided since teachers can make multiple Essentially this results in a 75 percent increase ply of opium and heroin. The Taliban, which
versions of the same test. In addition, a fairly tests as a method to make assessments more requires very little analysis or reasoning, these in the expected value of any question to which the U.S. has attempted to suppress since its
standard curve would discourage students from of a learning experience and an educational tests fail to explain answers for questions that the student must guess the answer, increasing 2001 invasion, has reaped the rewards in the
assisting their peers as their grades would suf- tool. require analysis or reasoning. the score of the student on such questions by estimated hundreds of millions of dollars in
fer from giving some an advantage. The success of the scratcher test is appar- Specifically, students do not receive 75 percent. “taxes” from opium farmers.
Although the potential for cheating ex- ent; scratcher tests have spread from the Social explanations to an answer from the teacher, Although these numbers may seem insig- In Colombia, where the U.S. has been
ists with scratcher tests, the same possibility Studies Department to the Math Department but rather only the correct answer, should the nificant on the surface, they coalesce over the assisting the Colombian government in the
exists with all tests and the simple solutions and may soon be used other disciplines as teacher neglect to consult with the students to course of the semester and can easily bring a implementation of “Plan Colombia,” the U.S.
that prevent cheating with other tests can be well. The tests are a vast improvement over clarify any ambiguities. Teachers could easily student up a whole letter grade. This blatant appropriated over $7.5 billion into a program
easily extended to scratcher tests. the traditional “Scantron” tests and they should neglect this step, concluding that students can grade inflation is inexcusable as it competi- that is supposed to supply the Colombian
The other primary argument against continue to increase in use across Paly. simply ascertain the correct answer and that tively disadvantages students whose teachers government with funds to fight cocaine pro-
scratcher tests is that they lead to grade infla- If the administration were to expand the such will suffice. This is not to assert that all do not administer scratcher tests. duction.
tion, since questions where a student would use of scratcher tests at Paly, the effects would teachers will neglect this responsibility, yet As they unfairly inflate grades and offer Instead, this program proves itself to be
normally get zero points for an incorrect only be positive for students, teachers and some will, which undermines the aforemen- opportunities for detrimental neglect, scratcher corrupt and flawed, while the U.S. still con-
answer now have the potential of adding a administrators alike. tioned intentions behind implementing these tests should not be used by Paly teachers. tinues to use Colombia in a proxy war against
cocaine producers and rebel factions. Plan
By Yvonne Lin
Have a
beliefs. According to Raspberry, there The Mission of Palo Alto also
Staff Writer is a concept of a superior being, known sponsors weekly lectures on aspects
as Infinity in Scientology. of Scientology in its classroom, which
On the corner of El Camino Real Raspberry said that people can hosts about 20 people per session.
and Margarita Avenue in Palo Alto retain their religious beliefs and still Moving up the stairs, one en-
along a row of small businesses stands believe in Scientology, as the two may counters a similar environment; the
an ordinary two-story office building not actually contradict. hallway leads to several small rooms
with a light blue roof. Near the entrance “Scientology is not a dogmatic where auditing takes place.
is a sign that reads “Free Personality religion — it’s not faith-based,” Rasp- A small sauna room is lo-
Test.” These are the surroundings of berry said. “Nobody tells you what cated on the upper floor. Due to
Palo Alto’s Church of Scientology God is. It’s up to the individual to their belief that medications
Mission, one of five dozen Churches believe whatever they want to believe. remain in human bodies
of Scientology in California. The basic purpose of Scientology is as toxins, Scientologists
The Church of Scientology Mis- that when a person reaches a high employ a method known
sion of Palo Alto welcomes followers enough level of spiritual awareness as Purification Rundown,
and those who are curious about the then they would be able to discover which involves sweating
religion, which has given the church what God is for themselves.” in the sauna to dislodge
much press attention recently. Scientologists strive to increase residues that impair one’s
L. Ron Hubbard, a writer and spiritual awareness through practic- abilities.
founder of Scientology, started his ing, studying and taking courses. To The Church of Scientology also
philosophy with a simple assertion that become more spiritually aware, Scien- holds an array of religious services
man is a spiritual being – a “thetan” tologists engage in a practice known on Sundays.
– and that man is born good but later as auditing, or “processing,” which, While the United States officially
tainted by circumstances in life. according to Hubbard, is to make an recognized Scientology as a religion
With the debut of his book Dianet- individual look at his existence, im- in 1993, many countries, including
ics: The Modern Science of Mental prove his abilities and confirm what he France and Germany, refuse to grant
Health in 1950, Hubbard introduced is. Auditing is a one-on-one practice it legal status as a non-profit religious
his beliefs about the relationship be- during which a Scientologist answers organization.
tween body and soul. questions posed by the Auditor, a Sci- “A country can reject you for any
Hubbard later refined the con- entology practitioner with intensive reason they want,” said Raspberry.
cepts in Dianetics and Scientology experience in the practice. “They have no credible reason to reject
began to evolve as a religion. De- Auditors direct Scientologists to the petition, but they have.”
spite Hubbard’s death in 1996, the confront their problems. Scientolo- Spain recognized Scientology in
printing and circulation of Dianetics gists claim that the benefits of auditing 2006. According to Raspberry, since
continues. include IQ improvement, memory en- Germany and France have the same
According to the church’s official hancement and alleviation of dyslexia type of petition process as Spain, those
Web site, the Church of Scientology at- and attention deficit disorder. countries may follow suit.
tracts ten million members worldwide, “Researchers prove the fact that “Germany and France will be
with a majority in the United States. auditing improves intelligence,” said exposed as being discriminatory,”
In Silicon Valley, Scientology has one Shayna Alessandrini, Public Relations Raspberry said.
established church in Mountain View, Director at the Church of Scientology While scandals and several ac-
two smaller missions in Redwood City Mission of Palo Alto. cusations surround Scientology, Ales-
and Palo Alto and a Dianetics and Established in 1996, the Church sandrini said that the negative press
Scientology Life Improvement Center of Scientology Mission of Palo Alto Scientology receives lacks factual
SCIENTOLOGY
in downtown basis.
Mountain “Peo-
View. ple don’t
Accord- have the
ing to Sid Raspberry, Director of the was converted from an office suite. true information,” Alessandrini said.
Center in Mountain View, the church Inside lie several small rooms, includ- “Most [talk about Scientology] are just
and its affiliate missions attract about ing a media room where visitors may opinions that spread into the media and
500 to 1000 members. learn about Scientology by watching thus become ‘facts.’To know the truth,
Scientology beliefs do not diverge a 50-minute recording of an interview [one] needs to visit the church, and not
far from other conventional western with Hubbard. just listen to others and the press.”
By Nolan Wong the meaning and purpose of life, a very satis- Yoga also poses a major difference be- Kriyananda was a former disciple of
Staff Writer fying way of helping other people and it has tween Christianity and Ananda. While both Yogananda from 1948 to 1952 in India before
brought me a community of lifelong friends,” follow the teachings of God, members of Kriyananda moved to America and founded
Three vocalists chant to a guitar and a Praver said. Ananda use yoga to find enlightenment. the first Ananda community in Nevada City,
harmonium as regular followers and a few The Ananda Temple of Self-Realization “Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is California in 1968.
tentative newcomers trickle into the Ananda in Palo Alto is located in a former Roman within you, but he didn’t teach you how to Over the past 39 years, Kriyananda has ex-
Temple of Self-Realization on Sunday morn- Catholic Church on El Camino Real. get there,” Clark said. “Yogananda said that panded Ananda Sangha to 25 countries around
ing. A trace of incense lingers in the sun-filled Swami Kriyananda, also known as James he did teach esoteric teachings like yoga, but the world, including Gurgaon, India and parts
Mandir, the building in which Sunday Service Donald Walters, founded Ananda in 1968. those were the missing years of Jesus’s life. of Italy. Ananda also has eight communities,
is held and instead of rows of pews, lines of Ananda, which means joy in Sanskrit, seeks With yoga you know that at the end of it, which are small housing communities where
wooden chairs upholstered with blue cloth to help its members gain personal spiritual you’re going to free yourself from any sense of followers of Ananda can live together.
fill the room. As the Sangha, or fellowship of growth through inspiration and yoga. limitation and that the result is known because “The communities make it possible for
truthseekers, settles down in the seats, some “The fundamental essence of Ananda, it has been passed down from millennia of Ananda to be a more all-encompassing expe-
turn their heads towards the computer projec- our spiritual striving, is to find the well-spring ancient teaching. It’s really all the same, except rience because you can live together and are
tion of lyrics and airily join the chant. of peace and joy and bliss,” Lightbearer and Ananda has a system of ways to practice what able to help, support and befriend one another,”
The members face an altar with candles main singer Tyagini Clark said. the great masters teach.” Clark said. “You also have the comfort of just
and a cross with a picture of Jesus, surrounded There are seven major tenets of Ananda, Many of Ananda’s followers say they getting together and having fun.”
by four portraits of Indian gurus, or spiritual including humans’ need to realize themselves prefer this system. One Ananda community is located at a
masters. A picture of Paramhansa Yogananda, and the world through meditation and yoga. “I’ve always wanted to know about 72-unit apartment complex on the Palo Alto-
author of the spiritual classic Autobiography The religion does not seek to convert others, answers to life that I wasn’t finding through Mountain View border. Community members,
of a Yogi and whose ideas form the foundation and Ananda Sangha stresses that the way of traditional sources,” Ananda follower Jay Pe- which include families, children and adults,
of Ananda, is underneath Jesus’ portrait. Ananda is “primarily inward, not outward.” tersen said. “When I read the Autobiography of meditate together at a 24-hour temple and eat
The music and chants end at 10 a.m.; five Ananda reads from both the Bible and the a Yogi back in 1980 and the Eastern approach to a vegetarian dinner five nights a week.
ministers in white robes with golden yellow Bhagavad Gita and seeks to reduce the dogmas how life fits together, everything made so much “In our community, you can see your
coverings quietly proceed to the altar as church of other religious institutions. sense. Since I joined Ananda, I’ve learned how friends every day, you can interact with them
bells toll in the distance. The congregation of “Christianity may have become an institu- to look at life with a calm inner center rather at all times and we can meditate and have fun
one hundred rises as the ministers enter. tion, but the spirit of it has never changed,” than being out on the edge.” together,” Praver said.
“How is everyone?” lead minister Asha Clark said. “The spirit that Christ taught is the Fellow Anandan Urmila Suryawanshi, Ananda of Palo Alto also offers a plethora
Praver asks. universal spirit of all religions.” who was also drawn in by Autobiography of of yoga classes and seminars for its members
“Awake and ready!” the audience re- Ananda Sangha uses yoga as a tool and a Yogi, felt such a change as well. and a Kindergarten through eighth grade
sponds enthusiastically. a philosophy to gain deeper insight. How- “When I came to Ananda, I saw this com- school. The school, called Living Wisdom
ANANDA
The Sangha then follows the ministers ever, Ananda uses munity of ener- School, educates about 50 students in typical
in a prayer and proceeds with a five minute a variety of yoga getic people who academic subjects with influence from ele-
period of meditation. For the next 90 minutes, forms, including are just happy to ments of Ananda’s teachings, such as yoga.
passages from the Bhagavad Gita and the Kriya and Raja be there,” Sury- However, Ananda Sangha of Palo Alto is
Bible are read aloud, the eloquent Praver gives Yoga, which stress meditation, service to others awanshi said. “The teachings have helped me warm and receptive to all newcomers.
an inspirational sermon and more songs and and introspection. become that way too. I have been following “I enjoy Ananda’s openness and forth-
chants are sung throughout the service. “Yoga leads to inner stillness,” Clark said. Ananda for around three years now, and al- rightness,” Lightbearer and Ananda Com-
“What I like about Ananda is that it has “And in the inner stillness, you can perceive ready my friends see a difference in the way munity manager Rick Bonin said. “It’s just
given me a very deep and profound sense of a clearer and broader perspective.” I react.” up to you to change.”
The Campanile Spotlight January 28, 2008 • A7
l ttle By Sarah Stringer perform other holy rituals on their own. Esther
Spotlight Section Editor says that, as a solitary, she mainly practices
her religion by following basic Wiccan ideals
While her family was wrapping Christmas in daily life.
presents for their celebration during winter “Right now, I’m applying its principles
break, Esther celebrated her winter holiday, to living my life,” Esther said. “For example,
the Winter Solstice, on Dec. 22. With a Yule there are a lot of Wiccans who are vegetarians,
cake and a spell, she commemorated the date but I choose not to live as a vegetarian because
as Wiccans have done for centuries. the Mother Goddess presides over all of nature
“Esther,” a Paly sophomore who wishes and plant life while the Lord God is the lord
to remain anonymous, said she first became of all animals. So I see it as a tribute to both
interested in Wicca after her middle school deities to eat both plants and animals.”
friend talked to her about it. Wiccan rituals and morals are subject
“A few years ago, when I was in eighth to change because of the different sects and
grade, I had a friend who was a practicing flexibility of the religion. There is generally no
Wiccan, and she told me about it,” Esther said. subject on which all Wiccans will agree, which
“I had researched it a few years before and I adds to the diversity of the religion.
found the idea really interesting. I didn’t know “We all have our own different prefer-
that there was an actual reality surrounding it ences,” Esther said. “Instead of having a rigid
until I met her, though.” set of rules, Wiccans base their religion on
Wicca is a predominately nature-based, nature itself. Nature is based on adaptation,
duotheistic religion honoring a god and and Wicca is built to change based on what
goddess. It began to gain popularity around is required for it to survive.”
1954, when Gerald Gardner started ad- Still, there are a few symbols and rituals
vertising it as a religion that predated in which most Wiccans believe. The most
Christianity. Many believe that Wic- important symbol is the pentacle, a pentagram
cans practiced in secret until Gardner within a circle. Believed to represent the
revealed the religion because they were union of body and spirit as well as the four
often condemned for their religious elements of nature — earth, wind, water and
views. However, there is also the belief fire — it is used in many ceremonies. Other
that Wicca’s earliest origins date back objects involved in practices include athames,
only to the early twentieth century. or black-handled knives, wands, crystals and
There are many different ways Wic- incense. These objects are involved in religious
cans choose to practice their religion; first, one ceremonies and spells, or rhyming prayers.
may either join a coven or decide to practice One ritual anyone can perform for spiritual
individually, as Esther does. cleansing is a visual exercise: a person imag-
“According to tradition, people can only ines standing in the middle of a circle that is
enter a coven when they’re 18 because of the nine feet in diameter with a central pentacle.
various rights and all the secretiveness,” Esther “Wiccans traditionally visualize being
said. “I could not be in a coven unless I recruited surrounded by a world of energy,” Esther
at least a few other underage Wiccans and form said. “It may seem kind of weird to the nor-
my own underage coven, but I haven’t met any mal person, but it is actually very spiritually
other teenage Wiccans at Paly.” rewarding and helps calm me down.”
Covens are groups of Wiccans, usually Wicca is based on respect for all nature.
with 13 members, led by a High Priest and Despite these ideas of appreciation, there is
Priestess. Those two leaders have thoroughly a stigma associated with Wiccans. Many feel
studied Wiccan myth and tradition and are that movies and cultural icons have portrayed
capable of teaching the religion to others. witches, or practicing Wiccans, as evil, and as-
Sometimes, Covens grow and break off sociate and Wiccan objects such as cauldrons,
to form subsections. As such, many sects of spellbooks and knives as dangerous. While
WICCA
Wicca have formed over these objects are used
the years. Well-known harmlessly in rituals,
sects include Gardnerian society still views
Wicca, which is tradi- them negatively.
tional; Dianic Wicca, which is women-centered “Wiccans are very open and accepting
and focuses only on the feminine aspects of and unlike the other main religions, we are
life, and Christian Wicca, which aims to unite accepting of homosexuality,” Esther said.
the two religions. “But unfortunately, people don’t accept Wicca
Wiccans who practice on their own are because there is lots of fear that we are as-
known as Eclectic Wiccans or “solitaries,” sociated with witches. All we really are are
who join local community celebrations but healers, teachers and guiders.”
By Lindsay Yang “With children, you have to meet them on their level,” Both Hanna and Jonathan have attended Camp Quest
Staff Writer Berry said. “You have to provide a certain amount of for the past two years, a California summer camp for
structure so that things are consistent. This way, they know freethinkers ages seven to 17 years old. Bishop, who first
In a classroom at the Mitchell Park Community Center, what they can count on, but at the same time, you have to met Hanna and Jonathan at the camp, helped them find
a group of about ten children and a teacher surround a mul- keep it new and interesting because they get bored pretty the family program in Palo Alto so they could pursue their
ticolored parachute and energetically shake it, propelling easily due to their short attention spans.” beliefs in their local community.
the attached balloons in every direction. While most of the In a rotating system, each parent plans the curriculum “We had been searching for something like this for
kids jump up and down and grab tightly to the edges of for a particular class, with a goal to instill an important “real Jonathan and Hanna and could not find anything,” Kitty,
the parachute, two others chase after the escaping balloons world” value. For the New Year, children drew pictures Jonathan and Hanna’s mother, said. “This is perfect.”
and a few simply observe the flurry of action. reflecting on 2007 and wishing for 2008, celebrating their For many members, the Humanist Sunday program
Somehow amid the chaos, the teacher, Jennifer Can- accomplishments while setting goals for themselves. is the first religious group they have attended.
nell, quiets the children and challenges them to create a “This is 2007 and my soccer team got a goal,” seven- “It has just been good to have [my children] come
dome with the parachute. On the count of three, all of the year-old Isabel Cannell said. “What I want to happen this here and have a group of friends who share similar values,”
participants fling the parachute upwards and attempt to year is my birthday.” said Jennifer Cannell, whose children have been attending
crawl inside the tent. Once inside, Cannell continues to However, the younger class’ Sunday sessions tradi- the Humanist Sunday school for about two years.
ask the children questions, an implicit way of teaching tionally begin with sharing toys and experiences, through Cannell said she believes many kids feel anxious to
the scientific method. which children can develop communication skills. “belong” and say what they feel. Other parents in the pro-
Launched two years ago, the Humanist community “Paying close attention to what they say is important gram feel the Sunday school allows participating children
Sunday School family program teaches children about not only because it is a reasonable way to communicate, but to be comfortable trusting science instead of God.
Humanism, which discusses ethical decision-making based also because kids have not tended to do that yet,” Berry said. “It gives them a sort of permission to explore different
on scientific reasoning and human compassion rather than “They are not used to that kind of social interaction.” ideas and see different perspectives instead of feeling that
supernatural beliefs. Atheism, often considered as part of Likewise, the older students, located in a different there is only one way,” Cannell said.
Humanism, educates children how to be at ease with not classroom, are taught to feel comfortable with their indi- Bishop also incorporates decision-making skills into
believing in God. vidual beliefs and to better express their ideas to others. the older group’s curricula through poems and discussions.
Lois Kellerman heads the program. The Humanist “When [people] question what I believe in, I know what He is also writing a textbook, Primer of Humanist Philoso-
Community in Palo Alto serves the Silicon Valley Chapter to say and how to explain it because of going to Sunday phy, as material for future Humanist Sunday schools.
of the American Humanist Association and has connections school,” said Cupertino Middle School sixth grader Hanna, The younger group is led with more general, experi-
with other national Humanist groups, such as Atheists of who wishes that her last name be withheld. mental and improvisational techniques.
Silicon Valley, Bay Area Communities of Reason and the According to Bishop, the curricula teach kids to “The group here is determined to create something
Pro-Choice Coalition. separate myth from reality. The older kids engage in more even if they don’t know how,” Berry said. “There is a
The Sunday family program, which is split into two explicit, intellectual discussions about naturalistic assump- value to inventing things. People around here are not re-
Humanism
sections, offers different ways of conveying ethical ally concerned with making mistakes. Mistakes
values. The younger session of the program, with are what we learn from.”
ages ranging from less than one year to nine years Nevertheless, another part of the program’s
old, is led by parents. The older group is taught by goal is to minimize the common mistakes made
Humanist activist Peter Bishop. tion and they are motivated to become freethinkers. by many and to help the children develop into responsible,
Although the method of teaching depends on the “I enjoy discussions about science,” said Jonathan, respectful, and passionate individuals.
student, it is generally recognized that children will be Hanna’s brother and an eighth grader also at Cupertino “We are trying to imbue the children with is a sort of
able to discern logical arguments beginning at seven or Middle School. “We discussed biology, genetics, technol- intentionality,” Berry said. “You don’t have to let the world
eight years old, parent Tom Berry said. ogy and the future of technology.” happen to you; you can happen to the world.”
A8 • January 28, 2007 Opinion The Campanile
A Campaign
College tuition prices out of control Sojourn
Increasing college tuition places more stress on college bound students
By Kevin Harvey
Staff Writer Stanford University Tuition Cost
As most Palo Alto High School
students know by now, the competition
involved with college admissions is
enormous and steadily increasing. Of
the 2008 national graduating class of
3.2 million students, about 30 percent Jon Shan
will attend a college or university, It was a balmy summer evening
the largest number in United States and the 2004 Democratic National
history. Convention was live on TV. A man at
Many students resort to the help the podium was speaking to a cheer-
of private college counselors for guid- ing crowd, saying, “There is not a
ance, reassurance and such prepara- liberal America and a conservative
tion as aid in essay and application America –– there is the United States
writing. of America.”
Last year, over 120,000 high Fast forward to early January of
school seniors applied to colleges and 2008. The weather outside is cold, the
universities with the help of a private moon is piercing bright. The location
counselor. This increasing competi- is 250 miles away from the aforemen-
tion allows colleges and universities tioned scene. I am standing in front of
to raise their tuition and application a poster with the same words written
prices. in blue and red colored markers, jux-
As the competition and tuition taposed against a map of Nevada.
prices continue to increase, the number The campaign headquarters was a
of students who are able to attend col- mess, but that was the last thing anyone
leges and universities will decrease. was thinking about. It was the eve
$31,200
$44,268
$14,280
$24,441
$17,775
However, according to The College of the Nevada caucus and there was
Board, there is more than $130 bil- only one thing on everyone’s minds:
lion available for financial aid this helping Senator Barack Obama win
coming year. the Nevada caucus. After traveling
Despite this, financial aid will for eight grueling hours from Palo
continue to be increasingly difficult Alto, I and three others from Students
to receive because of the increasing for Barack Obama arrived at the Reno
number of eligible applicants. campaign headquarters.
Private colleges and universi-
ties are being run like corporations, 1990 1994 2000 2005 2008 At the beginning our sojourn, we
faced heavy traffic on 101 North and
striving to gain profit and forgetting I-80. Soon, traffic started to smooth
about providing their services for a According to The College Board, These assumptions are incor- Arbor, are trying to prevent under- is most common among middle class
out and the road yielded to the flat
reasonable fee. Universities are raising students should expect to pay between rect. Almost all universities in the graduate tuition prices from increas- families because their income is not
agricultural land. There were four of
their tuition prices because they can, $95 and $1,404 more for tuition this United States pay their expenses, in- ing. But graduate school tuition prices low enough to make them completely
have heavily us in the car: our driver, Amanda, a
due to demand. year than last year, depending on the cluding their dependent on financial aid, but not
increased to freshman at Stanford, as well as Sam
The price of tuition among private type of college or university. staff mem- high enough to prevent them from
Of the 2008 national graduating compensate and Ian, who are both involved with
universities increased by 6.3 percent In 1990, the tuition price for an bers’ salaries, struggling with payments and tuition
Junior State of America, a student-run
this year, while public colleges in- undergraduate student living on the with the fees class of 3.2 million students, about for the profit costs.
organization promoting political activ-
creased tuition by a drastic 6.6 percent, campus of Stanford University was they charge 30 percent will attend a college or lost through If colleges and universities low-
keeping the ity. We discussed the states the primary
according to The College Board. $14,280 per year. The tuition price for applica- university, the largest number in ered their tuition costs, they would
undergradu- candidates needed to win in order to
Moreover, The College Board increased about 300 percent to an tion papers. allow more students that were previ-
United States history. ate tuition rel- receive their party nominations, who
recently announced that it will no astonishing $44,267 for the 2008 The fee that ously dependent on financial aid to
atively low. would make a good vice-presidential
longer support the Federal Family academic year. they charge attend.
As tuition prices increase rapidly, nominee, reasons we each didn’t
Education Loan Program, one of the Many people assume that this is attending students for tuition is almost This would raise profit margins
many students apply for financial aid, want Hillary to win and our favorite
largest student loan providers in the because Stanford is expanding their entirely for profit. because universities would have more
episodes of the West Wing.
nation. After Oct. 15, the College facilities and needs to increase tuition However, many universities, such but most students who apply for aid do students attending who pay lower
Sam’s encyclopedic memory of
Board refused applications. prices to compensate. as the University of Michigan at Ann not end up receiving it. This problem tuition costs.
poll numbers and U.S. Senators proved
Verbatim
“Become a better “Record hella “Get the freak out “Not get kicked out
What is your second arm wrestler.” music” of here.” of school.”
—Antonio —Kelvin —Khalin —Courtney
semester resolution? Cantanza Wang Sandifer Forgatsch
sophomore senior senior freshman
The Campanile
With a first place finish from 119-pound sophomore Chris Tang and
second place finishes from junior Kasey Fields and senior Kevin Hall, 135
and 215 pounds respectively, Palo Alto High School wrestling finished fifth
out of 28 schools at the Lynn Dyche Classic held at James Lick High School
on Dec. 22.
Varsity Head Coach David Duran has high hopes for the team as the
Photo courtesy of Ian Dunbar
season comes to a close.
“Our main goals for the season are to finish in the top three in the Santa
Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) finals and top five in the Central Coast
Section (CCS) finals,” Duran said.
Paly had a disappointing showing at the Reno Sierra Nevada Classic on
Dec. 27-28. This tournament was attended by more than 90 schools. Most
Paly wrestlers finished with a 2-2 record excluding standout captain Cooper
Newby who finished seventh in the 140 pound weight class.
With the new year came new found success for the Vikings. Paly took
fifth place at the Cupertino Memorial Tournament on Jan. 1 due in large part
to first place finishes from Newby at 135 pounds with a close 7-5 decision in
the championship and Hall at 189 pounds. Hall was voted outstanding wrestler
for the upper weight classes.
Paly also enjoyed success in Cupertino from captains Patrick Sheehan and
Ryan Drebin who finished third and fourth in the 152 and 171 pound weight
classes, respectively. Sheehan, who is coming off of a knee injury that kept
Stacy Levichev/The Campanile
him out of the first part of the season, was not content with a third place finish
at his first tournament of the year. Entangled on the mat, freshmen wrestlers Michael Cullen and Jackson Moses work on new techniques and forms. The wrestling team has
“I should have done better,” Sheehan said. “I should be at the stage I high hopes for the rest of the season as four of their wrestlers are expected to advance to CCS and then hopefully on to compete in states.
want to be at by the time CCS comes, but I don’t want to settle for something but I have been working hard and I hope to beat the first and second place Despite strong performances from veteran team members, Paly lost their
like third place.” wrestlers in the upcoming weeks.” most recent dual meet at Fremont High School. Fields, who beat his opponent
Sheehan, along with seniors Drebin, Newby and Hall, all have high hopes Duran also has high expectations for his wrestlers as league (Feb. 8-9), by a decision of 14-0 in the 140-pound weight class, was not content with
for the rest of the season. After placing high in many recent tournaments, CCS (Feb. 22-23) and state (Feb. 9 and Mar. 1) matches rapidly approach. the teams effort.
Newby has his sights set on the CCS and state matches. “We’re aiming high for the end of the season,” Duran said. “Kevin, Coo- “[Fremont] was a meet we should have won.” Fields said. “Some people
“I am really aiming to place high in states this year,” Newby said. “I also per, Patrick and Ryan all expect to be wrestling that last weekend of February didn’t try as hard as they should have and as a team we just didn’t follow
hope to get to the finals and win CCS. I’m ranked third in CCS right now, and competing at state.” through.”
Comfortably
An international
numb
issue
Ryan Pfleiderer
During the current post-civil war
transitional period in the Democratic By Peter Lee drug user, it can reside there for a long time,
Republic of the Congo, the role of Editor in Chief causing long-term or permanent damage.
women is becoming an international “Snorting it is sketch because it’s really easy
issue. After a recent “60 Minutes” Shane and several of his friends are at one to OD [overdose],” Shane said. “I’ve definitely
segment that publicized the horrible of their houses. The boys have been drinking thought about it, but I’m not too worried. You
treatment of women and the ongoing all night long and are looking to get high. They just have to be smart about it.”
problem of widespread sexual abuse, smoke marijuana almost daily and snorted The amount of Vicodin that should be
it seems as if the topic faded out of the cocaine just the other weekend. Looking to taken within a 24-hour-period varies based
spotlight. But the reality of this issue throw some variety into their drug use, one of on the severity of the patient’s pain. However,
will not go away, and it is up to the Shane’s friends takes out a plastic bag filled doctors rarely prescribe patients more than a when they conveniently acquire some pills that
international community to help bring with Vicodin tablets. Instead of popping them couple pills a day. they abuse the drug.
change to the war-torn country. like they have in the past, Shane and his friends While Vicodin users can receive toxic doses “We started snorting it this summer when
There have been countless ac- go to the bathroom, crush up the tiny pills and of the active ingredient acetaminophen when that kid gave us a bunch of pills,” said Shane,
counts of rape and female-genital mu- snort the lines of grainy powder. as few as four tablets are swallowed within who has snorted Vicodin about ten times. “It’s
tilation, so many that these events are Almost immediately after the drug enters 24 hours, snorting the drug magnifies its sort of random. Like the last time we did it was
commonplace in the DRC. Although his body, “Shane,” who like all the other sources effect, making the chance of overdosing about a month ago.”
there is a United Nations Peace- in this article is a Palo Alto High School student much greater. Jake, who has snorted Vicodin three times,
Keeping Force in the DRC attempting who wishes to remain anonymous, feels his According to the packaging that said that it was only a big thing among their group
to protect civilians from combatant body go numb and his mind relax. comes with Vicodin pills provided of friends while their free supply lasted.
soldiers, thousands of women are still Vicodin is a commonly prescribed pain- by Abbot Laboratories, the com- “Snorting “There was that one or two-month period
abused every day, and it will take more killer that is used to alleviate moderate post- pany that manufactures Vicodin, where a lot of the guys did it a bunch,” Jake
action in order to protect this helpless surgical pain. Like Advil is a brand name ibu- overdosing on hydrocodone typi- gets it said. “We don’t go out of our way to get it
population. profen, Vicodin is a brand name hydrocodone cally puts the drug abuser into a in your though.”
Over the past ten years, the DRC and is perhaps the most well-known abused coma and death can come with the When high on Vicodin, Shane and his
Civil War created larger death counts painkiller. consumption of between 20 and 30 bloodstream friends report feeling calm and relaxed.
than in Iraq, Afghanistan and Darfur Because Vicodin and other hydrocodones tablets within a 24-hour-period. faster. It “Your body gets really numb and you get
combined. Over four million people are commonly prescribed medication, they But Tommy said the benefits of hella lazy,” Shane said.
died during the DRC Civil War. How are vulnerable to widespread abuse and ad- snorting Vicodin outweigh the risks. goes to your Although they have each tried snorting
can the United States turn a blind eye diction. “Snorting gets it in your bloodstream head and hits you Vicodin on three separate occasions, neither Jake
to this horrific situation? Painkillers are easy to procure by means of faster,” Tommy said. “It goes straight to your nor Tommy really enjoyed their experiences.
The problem lies in part with the forged prescriptions, over-prescription or “doc- head and hits you quicker.” quicker.” “It’s alright, but it’s not worth how bad it
media, and only now are some jour- tor shopping.” “Jake,” one of Shane’s friends, Shane said that snorting Vicodin also makes my stomach feel,” said Tommy, who
obtained a large supply of leftover Vicodin pills has other unexpected, “beneficial” side has since stopped abusing Vicodin. “I think it’s
nalists attempting to piece together
for free from one of his co-workers who had effects.
-”Tommy” kind of pointless.”
information regarding the terrible
conditions that the people of the DRC received a prescription for a broken leg. “After you snort Vicodin, you However, both Shane and another one of
have lived through over the past ten In previous years, Jake, Shane and some get drunk a lot faster,” Shane said. his friends “Chris” said that they liked the drug
years. But the violence continues and of their other friends tried Vicodin by taking When used in large amounts or and would use it again.
women are still the main targets of leftover pills from prescriptions for common over a considerable length of time “It hasn’t really come around recently,”
militia groups as soldiers use rape as operations, like the removal of wisdom teeth. (far more than the usual prescription), Shane said. “But I would do it again.”
a weapon of war. The situation in the Shane said that finding Vicodin pills is the narcotic ingredients in Vicodin can According to Shane and Tommy, they
DRC is tragic, and it is time for us to never hard to do. become both physically and psychologi- both first tried the drug because their friends
make a change. “Once you turn 18, it’s really easy to get cally habit-forming. were doing it.
Volunteer doctors are attempting a prescription,” Shane said. “All you have to According to Shahnaz Peyman, a phar- “I just did it because a friend had a
to help victims of rape and sexual do is go to the doctor and pretend you broke macist at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation bunch and was doing it and I wanted to try
abuse, trying to reverse the damage left something or have chronic back pain.” Pharmacy, hydrocodones are a frequently it,” Tommy said.
by militant soldiers. One doctor said in While most people who abuse painkillers abused drug. Shane said that while his situation may
a Human Rights Watch Report: “pop” or swallow the pills, Shane and his friends “It’s very addictive and heavily abused,” sound like peer pressure, no one was ever forced
“In this war, the most insane are part of a growing number of prescription drug Peyman said. “There are some very serious to do anything.
fantasies have found their expression. users who have taken to snorting the crushed side effects, like liver dysfunction, when it’s “I started doing it because some of my
When seven soldiers rape a women tablet’s powder. taken over a long period of time or used with friends would do it, but we never make any-
or little girl, and thrust a knife or fire “I first learned about snorting it from a alcohol.” one try anything,” Shane said. “Some of them
shots into her vagina, for them the friend who heard about it in rehab,” Shane said. Peyman also said that it’s usually a generic just choose not to touch it. And I’m cool with
woman is no longer a human being, “I also knew some people who had done it, so hydrocodone, not Vicodin, that is abused. that. Half of the guys have never tried snorting
she is an object ... combatants pour I knew it was possible.” “The name brand Vicodin is very expen- Vicodin.”
out their anger and their madness on “Tommy,” another one of Shane’s friends, sive, so people who abuse the drug normally Chris had taken Vicodin pills orally before,
to women and little girls.” said that he hadn’t heard of snorting painkillers get a generic form of it,” Peyman said. but tried snorting the powdered tablets for a
Although there are doctors in before, but figured it out on his own. However, since Shane, Jake and Tommy more intense feeling.
the DRC treating rape victims, there “I kind of assumed that snorting the Vicodin don’t use Vicodin regularly, they are not con- “I had eaten it before, but wanted to snort
are not nearly enough available to would work,” Tommy said. “It’s sort of common cerned with potentially developing a habit. it so I could actually feel it and feel it faster,”
treat the numerous victims of these sense. I mean, people snort pills all the time.” “It would take forever to get addicted,” Chris said.
sexual war crimes. How do we let Since Vicodin is meant to be taken orally, Shane said. “You would have to be doing it every Jake’s reasons for snorting Vicodin were
these combatants continue to commit snorting the pill is dangerous. day. But when you do it a lot, you have to start much more practical.
these vicious crimes? And why does The ingredients in the drug are designed doing more and more to feel a difference.” “It was something to do,” Jake said.
the media cover insignificant stories to be dissolved by stomach acids, so when the According to Shane, he and his friends
like those pertaining to the recent powder enters the nasal passages or lungs of a don’t use Vicodin very often. Rather, it’s only See VICODIN, Page B4
escapades of Britney Spears? Are we
are too afraid to accept the idea that
these events are actually happening
in the world? Perhaps some Ameri-
cans do not care about what happens
beyond our borders. But the truth is
that we live in a global community.
The United States attempts to present
itself as a country that supports peace
and freedom, but if this were true,
then our country would try to make a
difference in other places around the
world that lack these values.
Despite our nation’s foreign apa-
thy, Palo Alto is a community that can FEATURES A&E FEATURES
Shutdown:
the lives of rape victims in the DRC.
Most local residents have disposable
B12
Africa, especially the DRC. If more
people understand the gravity of the
current situation, then it is more likely
that actions will be taken to fix this
tragic problem.
B2
B2 January 28, 2008
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B6 • January 28, 2008 Features The Campanile
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Vegetarians find plenty of unique restaurant options than friendship at that moment. Grab-
bing my keys I walked over to my car
and shoved the key into the ignition.
With a rumble, I was off to Coupa
Café. With speeds deemed unsafe
for several school zones, I arrived in
front of the famous café.
Compared to several well-known
cafés, it did not look like it was the best
café in Palo Alto. It did not even look
like a café, with shrubs and bushes
blocking the front window. I tried
to hide the frown that now plastered
my face. Shrugging, I approached the
door and pulled it open, only to see a
long line of worn and haggard people.
Strangely enough, the people already
sipping their cups of lattes and other
coffee drinks had a look of refresh-
ment and serenity. I eventually lost
interest and melded into the line.
After forever and a half, I walked
Courtesy of Madras Café, Hannah McGovern/The Campanile
up to the counter. Unfortunately, luck
would have it that the man did not
The vegetarian food offered at Garden Fresh, Madras Cafe and Merit Vegetarian bring high class and affordability to local vegetarians. People can order from a variety speak my language — he only spoke
of ethnic dishes, including the Spinach and Wanton Soup on the left, from Garden Fresh, and the crispy crepes stuffed with vegetables on the right, from Madras Café. in his tongue of “café-ese.” What
was Tall happened to be small and
By Cat Benson extremely filling. Sadly, the Singapore-Style Rice Noodle is Merit Vegetarian Grande now medium. Thankfully, the
Staff Writer disappointing. The dish is made from stir-fried curry rice noodles Merit Vegetarian in Sunnyvale serves up delicious Vietnam- man understood my inept attempt to
with shredded soybean gluten and mixed vegetables. While the ese food, many vegan options and has a romantic atmosphere, decipher the language. I got my plain
Vegetarians yearn for the perfect restaurant to ease their hun- consistency of the dish is fine, it lacks the strong curry flavor although the prices are over the average-student’s budget. The old cup of coffee and started to walk
ger. However, ideal vegetarian food can be hard to find. Garden of traditional Singapore-Style Noodles and so the end result is atmosphere of Merit Vegetarian is soothing and relaxing, with away. The steam wafted up from the
Fresh, Madras Café and Merit Vegetarian each offer remarkable only lackluster. low table lighting, leather booths and richly colored walls. The lid, but I chose to ignore the omen.
vegetarian food and vegan options for impressive prices. Although the restaurant is entirely vegetarian, also avail- service is prompt and inviting and the atmosphere encourages The first sip went down like some-
able on the menu are many vegan options including soy-based customers to make themselves comfortable. thing along the lines of lava and a red
Garden Fresh chocolate ice cream. Although some dishes disappoint, Garden The menu has a huge array of options, including appetizers, hot branding iron; burning everything
Garden Fresh, Mountain View’s own hole-in-the wall all- Fresh’s helpful service, low prices and huge portions demand salads, soups, noodles, rice plates and traditional Vietnamese it touched. After desperately trying to
vegetarian restaurant, offers large portions of authentic Chinese an encore performance. entrees. After ordering, the food arrived quickly, starting with the cool it, I took another tentative sip. It
and Asian food without sky-high prices. Vietnamese Sweet and Sour Soup ($9.50), served in a kerosene was now along the lines between fire
The restaurant is a tiny well-lit room with many tables Madras Café burning hot pot. Although the soup is designed to be a meal for and an oven. The taste finally started
clustered together with a somewhat funky, but welcoming atmo- Madras Café, a vegetarian South Indian restaurant located one person, it is easily enough to share for two. The soup is served to come through after another sip. It
sphere. The hostess is very enthusiastic and welcoming and the in Sunnyvale, offers an array of traditional Indian food for low topped with celery, tomato, pineapple, bean sprouts, cabbage, was good. It would have been better
atmosphere of the restaurant is upbeat and pleasant. The waiter prices in a comfortable setting, if able to navigate through the bamboo shoots and tamarind. The dish is deliciously sweet and if my tongue was not burnt to a crisp.
is quick to answer any request and fills water glasses promptly. menu. As customers arrive in Madras Café, they are impressed spicy at times and the base are complemented perfectly with the Adding cold cream lessened the heat
The restaurant is sometimes a bit crowded but customers are by the large, clean dining area and the welcoming brightly textures of the vegetables. to less than scalding.
usually served immediately. The menu is well-organized and colored walls. The Spicy Mongolian Delight ($8.00), a soy “chicken” The taste of the coffee is difficult
offers the customer an extensive choice of vegetarian vegetable, The food is ordered at the counter and can either be eaten served with onion, bell pepper and other vegetables are perfectly to describe. This coffee was not ac-
tofu and wheat-gluten dishes. The menu also offers appetizers, in the restaurant in to-go packaging or taken to go. After order- drenched in a sweet and spicy sauce. companied by the usual bitterness.
soups and vegan desserts, along with brown rice which is served ing customers sit down to wait for their food to be brought to a The Curry Vegetable ($8.00) dish is a combination of fresh The flavor, however, made up more
with nearly every entree. table. The restaurant offers an array of vada snacks, made with vegetables stir-fried in a coconut curry sauce. The coconut curry than enough. It was like a strong man
Before appetizers arrive, customers are given complimentary fried lentil flour, dosas, crispy crepes stuffed with vegetables, sauce is undoubtedly the main appeal of the dish, rich, creamy doing push-ups on my tongue. Now I
corn chowder soup. Although it is not very flavorful, the soup lentils, rice and uthappans, pancakes made with rice, lentils and and spicy with a strong curry taste. The entrees are better enjoyed understood the Zen-like looks around
warms the stomach for the meal to come. The Spinach and Wonton vegetables. The Vegetable Dosa ($5.00) consists of a crispy crepe with brown rice ($1.50) ordered on the side, which should be me. Suddenly the sun broke through
Soup ($2.25) is a hardy portion of traditional miso soup with soft made with rice and lentils and stuffed with tomatoes, peas, onions, included with the meals. The menu also offers a choice of vegan into the window and shone at my
wontons and spinach. The Taro Spring Rolls ($2.25) came with carrots and potatoes and garnished with cashnut raisins. desserts including Vegan German Chocolate Cake ($3.50) that feet. When I got out of the building,
four, crispy rolls and a traditional spicy dipping sauce. The dosa is spicy at times and evokes many different taste is so rich and creamy, it is hard to believe that it’s vegan. flowers bloomed at my every step.
The Sweet and Sour Vegetarian Pork ($7.50) is enough for combinations. The Mango Lassi ($2.50), which is a traditional Overall, Merit Vegetarian does an excellent job of cater- Maybe it was my imagination fueled
two people. The dish consists of crispy vegetarian pork made Indian mango-flavored yogurt drink is perfectly sweetened and ing to the vegetarian and vegan customer to making dining out by caffeine and fatigue. Who knows
from soybean-gluten sautéed with sweet and sour sauce and calms the spiciness of the doma. If a vegetarian is in the neigh- hassle-free. Although the prices are too high to dine at Merit what? But when I drank the Coupa
served with broccoli and other vegetables. The faux-pork had borhood, Madras Café is sure to be a very interesting location, frequently, the service, food and atmosphere make the restaurant coffee, the whole world just seemed
a very meat like consistency and is the perfect spiciness and but otherwise the confusing service makes it a cafe to ignore. a purely pleasant experience. a bit brighter.
B8 • January 28, 2008 A&E The Campanile
The Outlet
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B10 • January 28, 2008 A&E The Campanile
Bocca’s
Hair Specialists
—Elizabeth Barragan—
1
B12 • January 28, 2008 The Campanile