On August 24 and 25, the class of 2013 was introduced to Foun-tain Valley High School—Baron

style. Greeted with cheers by members of the “gauntlet” (a human hallway of cheering, red-shirted Link Leaders)

near the entrance, the incoming fresh-men didn’t know what to expect of Link Crew. But after an inspiring speech from Mr. Nelson and the administrative staff, a couple of games to get them pumped up, and teamwork challenges, the fresh-

men began to feel comfortable with the process.

Organized by Mr. Nelson, Mrs. Hen-

PHOTOS BY CAMILLE LINARES-REED, JOANNE VO, AND MR. ZIEBARTH; COLLAGE BY SAMI YERUNKARFUN TIMES: Freshmen get acquainted with FVHS while enjoying themselves

On July 14, a group of 24 Baron students and three English teachers prepared themselves

for a twelve-day trip to England, France, and Spain.

After a ten-hour flight, the group of jet-lagged students made their way to

London, England. For the next three days, they explored many of London’s renowned sites including Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, the Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abby.

The group also visited Oxford Univer-

>> Red Cross Hosts Annual Leadership Development CenterStudents experience tremendous personal growth at camp

NEWS: PAGE 3

>> Larry King Interview

ENTERTAINMENT: PAGE 8

Staff writer Mukta Mohan meets distinguished TV host

By SIANNA AUVAASOPHIE CHEEMILY CHU

staff writers

By BRIE ROCHE-LILLIOTTstaff writer

BaronBanner17816 Bushard St.

Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Wednesday, September 2, 2009Volume XXVII, Issue I

Fountain Valley High School www.baronbanner.com

Link Crew Introduces FVHS to FreshmenFreshmen anticipate the next four years of their lives

Little Success at Walk the Walk Barons Invade EuropeStudents enjoy cultural trip to three countriesBarons show strong school spirit

Teeming with surf fans, BMX spec-tators, and fashion enthusiasts, the Huntington Beach pier was

f l o o d e d with specta-tors cheer-ing on their high schools in the Walk the Walk Hurley fash-ion show on Friday, July 24th.

S u p -p o r t e r s with foam fingers, t-shirts, and pom-poms strove to win the $10,000 grand prize for the most creative, energetic, and fashion-able high school on the runway.

Senior Amanda Hsu says, “I helped out with last minute preparations the

day before the actual competition. It was amazing to see the amount of work that goes into just five or ten minutes on the runway. Just being part of the behind the scenes crew for one day was exhausting.”

A n d though the show went s m o o t h l y at the com-p e t i t i o n , there were still some d i f f i c u l -ties in the preparation.

“I was re-ally stressed out with the b a c k d r o p b e c a u s e the original idea didn’t

work very well,” says senior Josephine Tran. “The day before the show, I was

newsfeaturesportsopinionsentertainment

inside24678

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>> BARONS INVADE EUROPE: PAGE 2

WWW.FVHS.COMROYAL PALACE: FVHS students explore the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles

>> WALK THE WALK: PAGE 3

By CAMILLE REEDstaff writer

WWW.BARONBANNER.COMIMPORTANT SUPPORT: FVHS ASB attends Walk the Walk to cheer on the school

>> LINK CREW: PAGE 3

LYVON TRAN

MUKTA MOHAN

sity and the well-known market town, Stratford-upon-Avon. They were able to roam the prestigious campus as well as visit the home of William Shakespeare.

The Barons’ next stop was Paris, France. They left London through the Chunnel, the underground train run-ning between the two countries. Once in Paris, the students were lucky enough to take the trip to the top of the Eiffel Tour and a special boat tour of Parisian sights by night.

“The [boat] tour was very fun. Though, it was very cold, we didn’t no-tice much because the sights were so distracting – in a good way. The worst part about Paris was that we actually had to pay to use the bathroom, it was ridiculous!” says senior Jessica Herman.

Among many other favored tour-ist sites, the tourists saw the Cathedral of Notre Dame, theArc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and the Champs-Élysées. Another day was spent at the palace of Versailles, and a smaller area outside of Paris known as Monte-Martre.

Perhaps the most exciting form of transportation was the overnight train from Paris to Madrid, Spain, a first ex-perience for the entire group. The train made its stop in Madrid, where the students immediately began a tour of the Royal Palace and the Plaza Mayor, through the hot and crowded streets.

After visiting the hilltop city of To-ledo, many students also participated in an optional evening of flamenco dancing, tapas, and enjoyed a live Mariachi band.

Other possible activities during the stu-dents’ free time were touring museums including the Sofia Reina, shopping, and dining at endless restaurants and cafes.

The group arrived at their final stop in Barcelona, Spain, after a quick plane flight. Gaudi Park, the Royal Family (“Un-finished Cathedral”), and a bus tour were among some of the activities the teach-ers and students alike saw firsthand.

“Spain was the most spirited, free country we visited. The best part was going to the beach and relaxing in the Mediterranean,” comments senior An-drew Neal.

Everyone enjoyed the days of free time they were given in Barcelona to relax and immerse themselves in Span-ish culture. While many female students preferred shopping on the main boule-vard, Las Ramblas and in the small bou-tiques and alleys surrounding it, others headed straight for the sunny beaches of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea. A couple students also explored the Picas-so Museum, or tasted various foods from the local street vendors.

As their trip concluded, the exhaust-ed group of 28 reflected over the high-lights of the trip, the sights they had

witnessed, and the cultures they had experienced. Many students completed their first overseas trip, while others found themselves among people speak-ing a completely foreign language. They rode the Underground, ate exotic foods, and most importantly, broke out of their shells in order to take advantage of ob-taining the full experience of twelve sur-real days and nights in Europe.

“It was the most amazing experience of my life. I had so much fun and it’s a trip I’ll never forget,” exclaims senior Sydnee Wickstrom

2 sectionThe Baron BannerWEEDAY, MONTH DAY, YEAR newsThe Baron BannerWednesday, September 2, 2009

Red Cross Hosts Annual Leadership Development CenterStudents experience tremendous personal growth at camp

For five days in August, 98 high school students, including eight from FVHS, attended the Ameri-

can Red Cross’ Leadership Development Center (LDC) in Big Bear Lake.

Themed “Dare to Dream”, the annual program teaches teenagers the impor-tance of confidence, cooperation, and a positive attitude in leadership.

LDC delegates experienced five days of closely packed activities, which were designed to foster the pupils’ personal growth. Outdoor team challenges taught attendees teamwork, trust, and perse-verance, while simulations provided attendees insight on global and societal problems. Finally, meaningful discus-sions educated students on understand-ing others.

“It [LDC] was a very rewarding expe-rience,” says senior Jay Chittoor. “I made a lot of new friends, and I learned a lot about myself.”

Senior Peter Pham agrees, “LDC has been a great experience for me. I got to come into an environment that truly helped me realize my true potential.”

Many students particularly enjoyed the close friendships formed at LDC.

Senior James Le says, “Cheers and skits [at LDC] were all the more mem-orable to me because of friends, new

and old.”Junior Brittany Chau concurs, “Along with a life-changing experience, I not only got to know some of the most incredible people I have ever met, but I also found a family.” Even though camp is over, many delegates attend gather-ings to see their LDC buddies again and try to relive the camp experience.

The unique characteristic of LDC is

that high school students direct, orga-nize, and serve as counselors. As such, the camp atmosphere and events are much more relatable to the attendees. In fact, some delegates who were initially reluctant to go to LDC enjoyed the camp so much they become part of the staff.

Senior David Nguyen, who was a del-egate in 2007, elaborates on how his

camp experience motivated him to be part of the LDC staff in 2008 and 2009.

“I went into LDC ‘07 as a very shy, qui-et, reserved individual. When I left LDC ‘07, I realized that it was something tru-ly life-changing, and I wanted to be able to come back and give that experience to other delegates in the future.”

By DONALD CHANnews editor

>> BARONS INVADE EUROPE: Students enjoy cultural trip to three countriesfrom FRONT

CARRIE LYHANGING OUT: Juniors Brittany Chau and Carrie Ly have fun at LDC

LYVON TRANTIE-DYE: Senior Peter Pham dresses up in a tie-dye shirt for one of the daily themed dinners

WWW.FVHS.COMTOMB OF NAPOLEON: Barons pose in front of the dead emperor’s resting place

3news The Baron BannerWednesday, September 2, 2009

This summer, the University of Cali-fornia, Santa Barbara hosted the Orange County Leadership Camp

(OCLC) from August 11 to 14. Among its attendees were the ASBs of Edison, La Quinta, Beckman, and Fountain Valley high schools.

ASB Camp is more than just an aver-age summer camp. It is a multi-faceted event that combines work and play, whether the camp activity is an inspira-tional leadership workshop or a jungle-themed dance.

“Right when you arrive, you’re greet-ed with so much enthusiasm and spirit. It’s contagious,” exclaims junior Aimee Pham.

This county-wide camp kicked off with an opening ceremony that be-gan with the march of flags, a tradition in which schools demonstrate their school spirit by parading their flags on the main stage. The opening ceremony continued with guest speaker and artist David Garibaldi. He showed the camp-ers his passion and purpose by paint-ing portraits of inspiring figures such as President Obama and Albert Einstein on stage.

ASB President Dorothy Dang says, “In my opinion, I enjoyed the opening ceremony more than last year’s OCLC opening because the speaker captured my emotions and energy much more successfully.”

OCLC offered a wide variety of work-shops that ranged from cultural aware-ness to school law. However, not every-one participated in the same workshops, since they were designed to accommo-date different leadership positions. For example, school presidents took part in

more leadership-based programs.Senior Brandon Nguyen of Athletics

describes, “They [the workshops] were very inspiring, and they taught me to live life with no regrets and put purpose be-hind passion.”

Aside from learning about leader-ship, FVHS ASB members also met new people and networked with other ASBs. Attendees exchanged ideas in an open forum about planning school events and making the school a better place.

“The friendships we made at ASB

camp will survive the test of time,” says ASB Vice President Michael Ackel.

Besides participating in the work-shops and networking, campers were able to squeeze in some fun, which con-sisted of bonding games, dances, and skits. This year, OCLC even had a live performance from electro/hip-hop duo LMFAO.

Overall, the camp was a success. FVHS ASB members formed better rela-tionships with the chaperone, Mr. Yarn-ton, the new ASB advisor, Mrs. Krimker,

left with new friends and ideas about leading and bettering the school, and de-veloped a better understanding of them-selves and their goals.

“Camp is not just learning how to organize events, but about learning to pursue your goals, to find your passions, and to never give up on them,” says se-nior Katie Edwards of Activities. “It helps you connect with other people and build relationships. You spend three days with total strangers, and the best part is get-ting to know them.”

ASB Attends its Summer Leadership CampMembers learn many leadership and life skills

By CONNIE NGUYENstaff writer

derson, Ms. Brooks and Ms. Troyer, Link Crew was a time for freshmen to not only get to know their high school, but their future peers as well. After the intro-duction, the freshmen split into groups of around ten and followed their two Link Leaders into separate classrooms. There, they played teamwork-building games and introduced themselves—all while discovering the strategies of navi-gating FVHS successfully.

The Link Leaders, juniors and se-niors specifically chosen for this orien-tation, themselves had to learn much about building connections before they could teach the freshmen. During two training days, the Link Leaders went through the same Link Crew process and effectively learned how to relate ev-erything to high school.

And though many freshmen nervous-ly questioned the point of Link Crew, the Link Leaders were prepared to clar-ify any doubts. By the end of the day, af-ter a school tour courtesy of their Link Leaders, many freshmen could voice their enthusiasm and expectations for the next four years of their lives.

“High school seems like fun. I’m ready to learn new things,” says fresh-man Hunter Forrester.

While it is true high school will be difficult for some, it all depends on each person’s mentality and the way he or she interprets it and spends free time.

Link Crew was designed to assist and give advice to incoming freshmen from any topic ranging from homework to friends to teachers. While every fresh-man’s high school experience will vary, the juniors and seniors who acted as Link Crew Leaders were determined to make the upcoming high school experi-ence as memorable and worthwhile for each freshman as they could.

at school from morning until night, al-tering the backdrop, trying to come up with a concept that would work. The ac-tual show was the first time we worked the backdrops. I was really proud of it at the end of the day.”

Celebrities on the judging pan-el included Bob Hurley, Rosemary Brantley of Otis Col-lege, actors Wilmer Valderrama, Scott Eastwood, Adam Gregory, UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz, and SVP of Hurley Design John Cherpas.

Lincoln High School of San Diego won the judges over and took home the check. Senior Hans Dose of FVHS, how-ever, won “best original male outfit de-sign” for the entirely original outfit he designed.

The judges were impressed after FVHS’s performance. Bob Hurley ex-claimed, “Great energy and awesome props!”

“Although our school didn’t leave as the champions, we certainly put up a

good fight. It was great to see how many people came to the event to cheer on our fellow Barons,” says Hsu.

Performances during and after the show perfected the day for Orange County fashion and surf celebrants. Skater/rapper Jayne Deaux jump-start-ed the show with a lively performance,

while hip-hop art-ist Murs kept the crowd going in between compet-ing schools, and Shwayze and Cisco ended the night with 5 original songs including “Rich Girls”, “Co-rona and Lime”, and “Buzzin’.” The pair was the highlight of the day for many of the spectators.

Senior Adam Renth says, “It [Walk the Walk] was definitely a cool experi-ence but a lot of hard work.”

All who attended had a memorable time, even though FVHS did not bring home the check.

Senior Jamie Namkung says, “Walk the Walk was amazing. The fact that our school was able to participate in it not only once but twice was really a privilege. Sure, we didn’t win the Grand Champ one, but I feel that our school still takes much pride in winning the first one.”

>> WALK THE WALK: Barons show strong school spiritfrom FRONT

WWW.BARONBANNER.COMBEACH VENUE: Many attend Walk the Walk to support their schools

RUTH KIMALL SMILES: ASB poses for its formal picture at camp

>> LINK CREW: Freshmen an-ticipate the next four years of their livesfrom FRONT

WWW.BARONBANNER.COMHELPING HAND: Senior Zack Bernar-din assists a freshman at registration

High SchoolAdvice from seniors who have seen it all...

Thank you to the Lim and Tengan families for their time!

4 back to schoolThe Baron BannerWednesday, September 2, 2009

1 Get your books and outfit ready beforehand. Don’t leave everything for the next morning—except for some unfinished homework. There’s always time to do it the period before without getting caught.

2 Try to get at least seven hours of sleep. Realistically, with sports, band, and homework, that’s not possible. You’re probably going to get about five hours of sleep - just enough to get

through the next day.

3 Now for the logistics of homework and the internet. Make sure to check your Facebook when you get home. Then check your e-mail accounts. Once your social networking is out

of the way, it’s time to start your homework without distractions. You don’t need to update your status every hour.

4 Never expect to finish all your homework in one sitting, either. Take a couple of breaks every now and then. But if it’s past two in the morning, you know it’s time to call

it a day and finish your homework when you wake up 5 hours later.

5 Use your weekends wisely. While it’s important to relax, remember that weekends are also the time to catch up with sports, band prac-tice, and any extra homework. Try not to leave everything for Sun-

day night. Josh might not learn this at once, but a couple sleepless Sunday nights will do the trick.

Conclusion If Josh follows these steps, he too will be as calm, cool and collected as his sister.

Problem: Unlike his older sister, Josh is completely unpre-pared and has to leave for school in ten minutes.

Solution: Josh must prioritize and learn the art of careful procrastination. Luckily, his older sister has gone through three years of high school and knows exactly what to do.

Leslie Lim: Senior. 3rd year varsity bas-

ketball player and highly ranked AP stu-

dent. Calm, cool, and collected.

Josh Lim: Freshman. Upcoming tennis player, member of the marching band, honors student. Definitely not calm, cool, and collected.

1

2

3

5

4

Disclaimer: Results not typical. It may be nearly impossible to achieve such per-

fected procrastina-tion by the first few

months of school. Remember, it took

Leslie three years to get it right.

Here’s how to be prepared for whatever high school

will throw at you.

How to Survive

back to school The Baron BannerWednesday, September 2, 2009 5

1 2

3

54

Problem: Like her brother, Katherine wants perfect grades. But how will she accomplish this feat while

juggling sports and a busy social life?

Solution: Katherine must learn how to take advantage of school rules and concentrate on academics.

Multitasking will be her best friend.

Loren Tengan: Senior. Varsity water polo

player and golf captain, highly ranked AP

student. Smart, athletic, and admired.

Katherine Tengan: Freshman. Upcoming golf and soccer player, honors student. Talk-ative, outgoing, and funny.

Here’s how to beat school rules around the bush and balance academics with a

budding social life.

High SchoolAdvice from seniors who have seen it all...

Photo Credit: Tiffany Pham

Thank you to the Lim and Tengan families for their time!

1 The biggest rule on campus is not to stop texting altogether; just don’t get caught. The easiest way to do this is by only texting your BFFL during emergencies. Keep that girl’s sense of fashion to yourself and discuss it with your friends later. The less you text, the less chance you have of get-ting caught! And ladies, please don’t text in your purse. Honestly, how many times can you lose your chapstick?

2 Actually pay attention to your teachers. While all teaching styles are different, you’ll be surprised to find how much information about upcoming tests your teachers will talk about. Save the doodling for art class

3 Value SSR. If your teacher will let you take that 12 minute nap, seize the chance. And if your teacher forbids anything but reading, lay your book flat on your desk and put your head down to the side. Take a cat nap.

4 Treat sports like homework. Go to practice. If you miss out on it because you would rather see your friends, your coach’s respect for you will plummet. Grades will most likely follow the southern route as well.

5 And don’t forget to relax once in a while. The secret to handling many things at once is to let go every now and then—and make sure those breaks are taken at the proper time. Don’t pass up every invitation to the mall and try to fit in a couple of trips to the beach whenever you can.

Conclusion If Katherine follows these rules, she just may be one step ahead of her brother in high school.

Disclaimer: Follow rules at your own risk. We are not

responsible for any conse-quences that may follow.

How to Survive

6 sportsThe Baron BannerWednesday, September 2, 2009

TheBaron BannerEditors’ Note

W e would be lying if we said this issue was pub-lished with no difficul-

ties whatsoever. But we would also be lying if we said we didn’t have any fun while creating it either. It was only a couple days ago that we were editing articles at 2 a.m, laughing hysterically over Gmail chat about twisted things that only seem hilarious in the wee hours of the morning.

Sure, being editors comes with a lot of responsiblity (sometimes too much, we’d like to think), but when we finally get to hold a hard copy of the issue at 7 in the morning, we’ll know it was worth it—all thanks to our amazing team of writers, edi-tors, and designers.

We’ll be seniors this year. We plan to release an issue each month, along with our special editions, such as Homecoming, Every Fifteen Minutes and Prom. While it is completely unrealis-tic to wish that every student on this campus reads our newspa-per, we admit there will be those who don’t even realize FVHS has its own student-run paper.

But we’re hoping to change that. We’re hoping to reach out to each and every one of you be-cause the Baron Banner staff is creating this for you. For the stu-dent who wants to catch up on the latest football game, for the student who wants to keep up with school events, for the stu-dent who wants to geek out after seeing a familiar name, or face, on the front page, for the student who doesn’t have a book to read during SSR, this is for you.

Cheers to a new year,

to our last year,

Kim Ngaiand Sabrina Syed

Cross country summer training, which lasts from June 1 to Sep-tember 1 gives Baron distance

runners three months to prepare for a highly anticipated cross-country season. Baron runners wake up every morning at eight for an early practice.

The runners start off with 5 miles a day and end with about 13 miles a day as summer progresses. These miles include

hills, speed repeats, and overly encour-aging coaches. It is a requirement to run a minimum of 250 miles during the sum-mer training, averaging about 3 miles per day. Most runners, however, reach the 500 mark by the end of summer.

Junior Mady Ward describes the sum-mer training as “difficult because the mileage and workouts are challenging, yet fun because of all the games and bonding experiences within the chaos of the training.”

The team recently took a trip to Mam-moth to train at a 9,000 ft. elevation.

Joined by the Cerritos College team, the Lady Barons ran numerous trails, moun-tains, and lake loops.

With talented and determined run-ners on the team, this season is shaping up to be another competitive year. Look for seniors Rachel Sunico, Erika Recu-pero, Christian Olive, and Brian Rock to lead the whole cross country program to an explosive start. Juniors Carmille Gar-cia, Catherine Martinez, Luis Morales, as well as sophomores Jay Bonthius and Marissa Nickles are a few more antici-pated stars of the season.

An Inclining Run to SuccessCross country trains hard for another competitive year

CAMILLE REED ELEVATED TRAINING: Baron runners take a break at Lake Mary as they train hard at Mammoth.

By CAMILLE LINARES-REEDsports editor

Last time we saw the Barons Foot-ball team, it had lost 28-0 to Or-ange Lutheran. Alas, many spec-

tators and fans might not remember such a remarkable season. The Barons smashed Marina, upset Los Alamitos, and beat Newport Harbor in the final 45 seconds of the game. Not too bad given their reputation.

This put them into an unheard of five-way tie for first place in the Sunset League. Because of their good fortune, a

coin flip pushed them into the playoffs. This season, the Barons are highly

motivated and ready to prove that last year was no fluke. With countless sum-mer hours spent pumping iron and per-fecting techniques, it seems as though the Barons can achieve anything into which they put their hearts.

The Barons return with senior Kyle Middlebrooks, arguably the best player in the county, as their running back, therefore forming a strong offense. Ac-cording to OCVarsity.com’s Steve Fryer, both Middlebrooks and all-league quar-terback Dominic Ragland, also a senior, are “two highly talented players to keep

an eye on this season.” The Baron’s offensive lineup is enor-

mous to say the least, so Middlebrooks should have plenty of room to run free, and Ragland will have plenty of time to find teammates senior Ryan Steadman and sophomore Andrew Mosley (’12) downfield.

The Barons also return with defen-sive lineman, senior Chad Smith. In re-cent years the defense has been a strong point for the Barons, thanks to the long hours of both the players and defensive coach Mike Walcott, an FV alumnus.

Their efforts in practice and attention to detail in meetings have shown, and

everyone expects greatness this year.

Three must see games:-F.V. vs. #6 Tesoro @OCC 9/11 7pm-F.V. vs. #8 Esperanza @ HBHS10/23 7pm-F.V. vs. #4 Edison @OCC 11/6 7pm

By CAMILLE LINARES-REEDSCOTT POSTON

sports editor and staff writer

Baron Football is Ready to Flaunt its TalentTeam is dedicated to making the Sunset League playoffs again

GET READY FOR THIS: The Barons are pre-pare to show their opponents what they got.

The Lady Barons Field Hockey team looks forward to a successful fall season.

The team recently finished a week-long training camp in July, which intro-duced freshmen to and helped them master the sport. This camp also built a strong bond between upper- and under-classmen.

Besides the training camp, the girls were responsible for working out by themselves all summer.

According to given past records and team opinions, Newport Harbor and Huntington Beach High School have al-ways been the Barons’ biggest competi-tion.

The girls are well prepared to face competition with many returning Var-sity members and talented underclass-men. Some superstars include seniors Ashley Woodey, Jackie Matthews, Nancy Mendez, and Emma Parker, along with juniors Taylor Merickel, Allison Luman, and Andrea Flores.

“We’ve been working really hard all summer, and we’ve got a lot of returning varsity and new raw talent,” says junior

Mikayla Mager. Last season was the most successful

field hockey season in Baron history. The Lady Barons made it to CIF for the first time and played the infamous Har-vard-Westlake School.

According to the team, some big matches to look forward to this year are the Edison and Newport Harbor games. The Lady Barons’ biggest goal, however, is to make it to CIF again.

It may be hard for the girls to size up to last year’s greatness, but it’s definitely possible, and with spirits this high, any-thing can be achieved.

Upcoming Field Hockey Season Looks BrightLady Barons hope to make CIF again

By CAMILLE LINARES-REEDsports editor

opinions The Baron BannerWednesday, September 2, 2009 7

Many chastise the Advanced Placement (AP) Program for measuring one’s test-taking

skills or for giving too much weight to a single three-hour exam, but its assess-ments are very similar to those of colleg-es and therefore have the same flaws. To solely criticize the AP Exams is to ignore the system of college evaluations from which the tests stem.

AP Exams are similar to college finals in measuring mastery of curriculum. Un-like high school classes, college courses only have a few tests throughout the year, and the final exam possesses a con-siderable amount of weight in determin-

ing one’s grade for the semester. I concede that someone’s test scores

do not adequately indicate how much he or she has learned. For example, many students cram the night before a big exam and forget everything after it. Oth-ers have test-taking anxiety and cannot demonstrate their knowledge on evalu-ations.

It is impossible to measure everyone’s knowledge of the material fairly using a single evaluation or assignment, includ-ing projects, written tests, and practical exams. Any type of assessment plays to a particular set of strengths, such as the process of elimination required on multiple-choice tests, critical thinking, and essay-writing, skills that some pos-sess and others lack. One cannot solely

blame the AP Exams for favoring those with superior test-taking skills, but in-stead must realize that all types of as-sessments and assignments are advan-tageous to those with a specific trait.

While AP Exams are deemed unfair, they validly determine the colleges’ defi-nition of knowledge of material as a stu-dent’s performance on a single, cumula-tive test.

What AP Tests MeasureAnnual exams indicate mastery of curriculum by college standards Baron Banner

Staff Credit

Advisor

Mr. Ziebarth

STAFF

Sianna Auvaa

Donald Chan

Sophia Che

Alex Chiang

Emily Chu

Michelle Doan

Misael Galdamez

Annette Latora

Brie Roche-Lilliot

Mukta Mohan

Jamie Namkung

Kim Ngai

Connie Nguyen

Thomas Panaccione

Tiffany Pham

Scott Poston

Hassan Rassmy

Camille Linares-Reed

Natasha Solouki

Sabrina Syed

Jazmin Temores

Sami Yerunkar

Imagine a world in which a single company controls everything- food, clothing, shelter. Whole nations and

governments bend to the system of this company. Competition is nonexistent, and man knows not to revolt because man knows no better. A fictional dysto-pia in a far off future? No, it’s the sys-tem that virtually controls our education system-the dreaded College Board.

Let me qualify myself. Yes, I am an AP kid. Yes, I am currently disgruntled at the College Board. After all, I have just crawled out of Junior Year barely alive. But there are more reasons to despise College Board besides an increased re-sponsibility to study.

The College Board was formed to standardize college acceptance. With each college requiring its own accep-

tance test, applying for multiple univer-sities bordered on absurd. In 1900, a few colleges got together and said, “Hey, let’s make this easier for everyone,” and cre-ated the now dreaded SAT tests. Real-izing how powerful they had just made themselves, they went on to make the also presently feared Advanced Place-ment Program.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not dis-pleased with the College Board’s at-tempts to make each student’s life easier. In fact, I’m absolutely delighted someone stepped in to help us out. What I find disconcerting is the system they ef-fortlessly called into being. It’s a self-af-firming system with little or no account-ability and competition. (Don’t try to tell me that ACT Inc. is a plausible form of competition. Every densely populated state favors the SAT over the ACT.) Only a few people in the College Board staff have power to decide what goes in the

SAT and the AP tests. Only they can con-trol what is deemed “important” in AP and extracurricular education.

The problem with their so-called standardized tests is their favoritism to-wards specific demographics. For exam-ple, the SAT Reasoning favors students whose parents have deep enough pock-ets to afford SAT classes while the SAT World Language tests favor students who speak English as a second language. To the SAT, it is far more beneficial to be an excellent guesser than a knowledge-able, but nervous scholar.

I don’t mean to say the College Board is irredeemable. If anything, the College Board is a notable step towards equal and fair college acceptance. But for now, its tactics in confining intelligence to a test are not only unreasonable but also unjust.

The College Board is Taking OverIts unfair exams favor specific demographics of students

By DONALD CHANnews editor

By ALEX CHIANGfreelance writer

Yes, healthcare reform needs to hap-pen. Yes, we need cheaper, easier, and better care for everyone, but it is neither the government’s role nor its obligation to provide charity. Allowing the govern-ment to impose a policy of universal healthcare that carries a potential price tag of 1 trillion dollars or more would be both counterproductive and detrimen-tal, economically and medically.

Now, I use the word counterproduc-tive because in places such as Canada and France where policies of universal healthcare are in effect, wait times for an MRI screening for cancer are general-ly upwards of a month, unless one fore-goes the government option and opts for a private clinic. Needless to say, the wait for radiation treatment is just as long. In fact, in an effort to improve these wait times, Canada is beginning to send pa-tients across the border for treatment because wait times for an MRI in the U.S. are only a few days, and radiation treatment usually begins with a couple

of weeks. Of course, we have not taken into

consideration how much the costs could damage the economy. Take our current debt of 11.4 trillion dollars, add an ad-ditional 1 trillion dollars, and we have a mess on our hands. Allowing a govern-ment that cannot properly fund a car ex-change program (Cash for Clunkers) to monopolize a multi-billion dollar indus-try is akin to piloting an X-wing without an R2 mech droid. Failure is inevitable.

This is not to say that we should give up on reforming healthcare. No, we should drive even harder. Reform is not difficult, and it begins on the lowest levels. First and foremost, hospitals and medical offices need to modernize re-cords and prescriptions. By using elec-tronic prescription programs, doctors can both avoid dangerous drug combi-nations and avoid the cost of paper, save a potential 4 billion dollars, and cut drug related injuries by up to a third. If 90% of hospitals agreed to modernize their records, we could save up to an esti-mated $80 billion, according to Richard Hillestad, Ph.D.

Also crucial to cheaper healthcare is tort reform. In 2006, Harvard School of Public Health found that four out of ev-ery ten malpractice lawsuits were filed “without merit.” Doctors are forced to perform additional tests, referrals, and consultations in order to avoid malprac-tice lawsuits. Consequently, prices on these tests and consultations go sky-ward. Tort and liability reform would purge the system of frivolous lawsuits and allow doctors to lower prices. It is also crucial to ensure that medical er-rors happen less frequently by creating a system to log and report errors and ensure that proper investigations take place.

But perhaps the biggest way to save money and cut costs on healthcare is to allow Wal-Mart to expand its generics and walk-in programs. Wal-Mart’s goal has always been lower prices and higher customer satisfaction, and the company has already helped to fix the healthcare system by providing cheaper generic drugs. A 90-day supply of any generic drug is only ten dollars. In addition, Wal-Mart has also opened walk-in clinics in

stores located in Arkansas and Dallas. Realize that a parent would be able to have a child vaccinated without insur-ance and at an affordable price, all while getting the week’s groceries. An attrac-tive idea, isn’t it? Wal-Mart aims to have 400 walk-in clinics by 2010.

It is true the Land of the Free is the only industrialized nation that doesn’t offer universal healthcare. But the Unit-ed States has never been a follower. No, we have been the trailblazers, the lead-ers, the City upon a Hill. We must contin-ue doing so, providing our own answers. To give up would be to change the very nature of the nation.

By MISAEL GALDAMEZentertainment editor

The ObamanationHealthcare not a constitutional right, Obamacare dangerous

8 entertainmentThe Baron BannerWednesday, September 2, 2009

There are plenty of ways to conserve energy and help the Earth: turn off the faucet, replace your light bulbs,

and use your car less often. However, it doesn’t have to end there. You can take your Earth friendliness to the next level with some eco-chic fashion.

Eco-chic fashion embraces more than green t-shirts labeled, “Save-the-Earth” or other clever puns. It’s a collection of clothes that reduce your carbon foot-print or help the environment. With plenty of options available, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t try a little eco-

chic fashion.One of the easiest ways to incorpo-

rate eco-chic fashion into your wardrobe is with organic cotton. Unlike its heavily processed counterpart, organic cotton is grown and processed using less pes-ticides and chemicals. When you buy and wear organic clothing, you’re put-ting less waste into the atmosphere to keep the Earth a little greener for a little longer.

An additional plus is that organic cot-ton comes in a variety of forms, from shirts to sweaters to jeans. The only downside is that it isn’t in demand as much as regular cotton is, so it can be a little pricier. However, if you’re truly de-voted to the cause, it will be worth every

penny.Another form of eco-chic resides in

recycled fashion. Not only does recycled clothing benefit the Earth, but it also comes with other perks as well. Used clothing offers a variety of unique pieces that are no longer in production, so you are less likely to run into someone with the exact same thrift, oversized sweater. Another benefit to shopping at thrift stores and vintage consignment shops is that the clothes will be cheaper since the recycled clothes have already been worn before.

If you’re doubtful of the garments available at thrift stores and consign-ment shops you can try clothing recy-cling centers. Luckily, Southern Cali-

fornia is home to a range of clothing recycling centers heavily concentrated in Costa Mesa, such as Buffalo Exchange at the Lab. These stores don’t just sell whatever comes along like a donation-based store such as Goodwill. Stores like Buffalo Exchange exclusively carry both high name brands and popular street wear, ensuring that your latest purchase from their store will be in this season.

Not only can you buy used clothing at these centers, but you can also sell your own. Selling clothes you no longer wear will make more used clothing available; and what’s to lose when you make mon-ey for recycling your clothes and help the environment at the same time?

He’s back! Mika is returning to the music world this month with his sophomore album, The Boy Who

Knew Too Much.For those who haven’t heard of him,

Mika is a Beirut-born British pop singer. He made his debut in 2007 with the al-bum, Life In Cartoon Motion. His debut album consisted of hit singles such as “Grace Kelly,” “Big Girl (You Are Beau-tiful),” “Relax, Take It Easy,” and many more.

The album went platinum in the U.K. after selling 1.5 million copies, topped

the U.K. charts for over seven weeks, and has sold over 5 million albums worldwide. With childlike, joyful melo-dies and soaring falsettos, these singles have defined Mika’s unique style.

The Boy Who Knew Too Much still contains Mika’s flamboyant and up-beat style but unlike his debut album, it transitions from childhood themes to adolescent tunes. “We Are Golden,” is the first single off the album and it has a playful melody consisting of Mika’s quirky falsettos, a children’s choir, and a peppy tempo.

If you’re looking for something dif-ferent or just plain fun, mark your cal-endars, because on September 22, Mika is making his comeback.

The Return of MikaSinger adopts a maturer style

By JAZMIN TEMORESstaff writer

I f you have ever seen a Quentin Tar-antino movie, then you know he’s a movie buff at heart, that each of his

projects tend to focus on cheesy movie genres from the 70’s and 80’s, and that he complements plots with modern vi-suals and strong characters. Inglorious Basterds follows these guidelines to the letter, so if you’re familiar with Taranti-no’s work, then chances are you already know whether or not you want to see his new movie.

If all you have seen of Inglorious are the trailers, then you may have the wrong impression of the movie. The trailers sell the movie as an action film starring a band of tough, revenge-seeking Jewish-American Nazi hunters known as “the Basterds,” who are led by Lieutenant Aldo (Brad Pitt).

After an hour into the movie, I real-ized Inglorious Basterds is definitely not an action movie, nor is it really about the Basterds themselves. Instead, Tarantino decides to focus on the in-dividual characters intertwining their stories into the overall plot to topple the Third Reich and end the Second World War.

Most of the struggle is done through dialogue, and as such the movie feels far more subdued than Kill Bill, for ex-ample. The few shootouts in this film are “blink-and-they’re-gone” affairs, and the gore is somewhat toned down,

though more than a few Nazis do get scalped. The real emphasis here is on the characters themselves, as they in-teract with each other only to get what they need. A Jewish escapee who is obsessed with revenge, a German war hero helplessly in love, and Lieutenant Aldo, who wants as many Nazi scalps as he can get his hands on, serve as the main characters

In true Tarantino style, the movie is divided into chapters including: the Nazis’ search for Jews in hiding, the Basterds’ introduction, a meeting be-tween the owner of a movie theater and a German war hero, an Allies spy under-cover as a famous actress, and the film’s finale at the movie theater.

The chapter devoted to the Basterds is easily the best, but there is still a sense that the Basterds don’t have enough screen time. However, the mov-ie makes up for the lack of the Basterds with another, equally enjoyable charac-ter, the German detective Hans Landa, nicknamed “The Jew Hunter.” Played by Christopher Waltz, The Jew Hunt-er serves as the central villain of the story, yet he defies most of the usual Nazi leader tropes by acting witty and unpredictable.

Inglorious Basterds is worth watch-ing if you’re a fan of dialogue. It’s not a bad choice if you’re looking to add your first Tarantino film to your repertoire either. But if it’s action you’re craving, it would be better to turn to summer’s earlier blockbusters.

Larry King Interview

Staff writer Mukta Mohan had a chance to interview the distin-guished TV host during his book signing at Barnes and Nobles earlier this summer, where he talked about his career and new book, A Remark-able Journey.

Mukta: What is your most memo-rable Larry King Live moment? Larry King: The Al Gore vs. Perot Debate in 1992. They were debat-ing NAFTA. It was the first time a sitting vice president ever debated an ordinary citizen. It was also the highest viewership ever. That would be easily the highlight.

Mukta: What compelled you to write your book? Larry King: I got to be 75 years old. And a lot of friends said, “You had a remarkable life. You ought to write about it.” So I did it.

Mukta: What kind of advice do you have for high school students? Larry King: Stay with it. I never went to college. I had to help my mother because my father had died. But whatever you want to do, stay with it. What do you want to do?

Mukta: I’m looking into going into journalism or broadcast journal-ism. Larry King: Nothing beats it. A lot of people want to go into it. But if you really want it, you got to stay with it. You’ll do it.

Mukta: Thank you. Larry King: Good luck!

MUKTA MOHANMEMORABLE MEETING: Mo-han interviews and receives an autograph from Larry King

By MUKTA MOHANstaff writer

Back to School Fashion

Whether it’s with a new pair of Ray Ban sunglasses, the latest H&M handbag, or that

Urban Outfitters belt, everyone feels the need to dress their very best. Once school starts, however, the days of suntans, trips to the mall, and week-ly manicures are replaced with the race to get the perfect back-to-school wardrobe.

But is it really necessary to look stunning at school?

Sure, school is a place for meeting up with friends, but it’s also a place for learning. It’s important to be com-fortable and relaxed in your outfit.And being comfortable doesn’t mean you can’t be fashionable. Don’t be afraid to wear those new Addidas shoes, sling on that Nike backpack, and don your Puma sweater.

With styles constantly changing, it’s hard to stay up to date with the latest trends. However, it’s possible to stay true to yourself while keeping it current.

Volume will definitely be big as designers experiment with different prints and embroideries on lamp-shade skirts. Pants styles will also shift from clean-cut to a more baggy and natural look.

Bold geometric prints will replace accustomed shades of color, and urban and natural shades will be blended for a more subtle, yet powerful look. WAS ME While the eighties will still play a part in this fall’s fashion, expect to find clothing inspired by the forties and fifties.

Make your decision, travel in style, but most importantly, be comfort-able with who you are and with what you’re wearing.

By NATASHA SOLOUKIstaff writer

Stick with your own comfortable style

Eco-ChicSaving the Earth one outfit at a time

By CONNIE NGUYENstaff writer

Inglorious Basterds ReviewTarantino makes dialogue-heavy movie

By THOMAS PANACCIONEstaff writer

To read the blogs of the Baron Banner’s writers,

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