Issue #5SEPT 29, 2015 issuu.com/tothepointsfv

tothepointsfv@gmail.comTO THE POINTThe Student Newspaper of OFL - San Fernando Valley

Rocky Mountain Pathways Ranch

Washington D.C. TripOur students journey to our nation’s capitolBy Sevon Abdalian

(LEFT) ENJOYING THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS

(TOP RIGHT) ALEX VASQUEZ FACES OFF AGAINST A HORSE IN A STARING CONTEST

(BOTTOM RIGHT) MARIA GONZALEZ IS SUCCESSFUL AT THE RANCH

Netflix PicksFind out what to watch! Reviews by the students of OFL

» entertainment, PG. 6

DURING MY summer vacation this year, I took the most amazing trip to Washington D.C. This historical city was like nothing I had seen before. The weather was absolutely beauti-ful while I was there. The atmosphere in D.C was very misty and chilly, which I enjoyed very much. The food that was provided was unques-tionably the best. There was an endless array of selection to choose from in these cafeterias that we visited in-between the tours. The chaperons who were facilitating the trip were very respect-able and nice individuals who always attended to the needs of students, and made sure that we all got the most out of the trip. Everything during the trip was absolutely perfect.

I learned so many new facts about my country and how certain things came to be. I visited the Newseum which had a special section dedicated to the coverage of the 9/11 attack. In that special section was exclusive audio recordings, salvaged items from the crash, and rare caught on camera videos which were then made into a movie. The movie truly was heartbreaking to watch because over 2 thousand innocent people lost their lives that day.

I also visited the Arlington cemetery which is a military cemetery located in Virginia. While I visited Arlington, it was very surreal because there were over 400,000 headstones. The fact that all those people died in some way for this country was really touching to me. This experience truly did open my eyes, and educated me in a very close perspective with the U.S.

I would have to say that one of my favorite sites that I had seen during my visit was the capitol building. The inside of the building was just breathtaking. Everything inside of the building was crafted intricately. In the middle of the capitol building was a dome shaped ceiling and on the ceiling was one of the most astonishing murals I had ever seen. It was a fresco painting with George Washington sitting in heaven coming down as a god. The painting was based on classical mythology with gods and goddesses also surrounding George Washington while holding a banner that says “E Pluribus Unum” which in English means “out of many, one”. Gazing up onto the artwork took my mind into a euphoric journey. That’s how captivating the artwork truly was.

While visiting the capitol building I also had the honor of being in the senate with John McCain as they voted on warrants for phone data, which in fact got passed, and President Obama agreed to sign. The senators all took a vote using the terms “Yea or Nay.” What that bill actually meant was that the National Security Agency could not collect any phone records without reasonable authority. That new bill is very important because it ensures American’s safety with mobile devices and perhaps any sensitive information. It was a very big deal in Washington D.C that day because all of the public television’s had breaking news coverage on the bill that had just been passed.

My visit to Washington D.C is something that I take as a treasure. As a result, I want to give a big thank you to Pathways for making the trip even possible. It’s not every day that you get an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C. That’s something that I do recognize, and I am very thankful for that. I learned so much valuable information about the history of my country while being there. This experience is truly one for the books, because I will always carry it on with me throughout my life.

» article inside, PG. 2

» article inside, PG. 4

2016 ElectionAre you ready to vote?By Nickolas Sanchez

(LEFT) SERGIO RODRIGUEZ IN FRONT OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. MEMORIAL STATUE

(TOP LEFT) STUDENTS GATHERED IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE

(TOP RIGHT) INSIDE THE CAPITOL BUILDING

(BOTTOM) KATHERINE DE HARO BY THE FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT MEMORIAL

Meet the PrincipalAn interview with Principal CarlaBy Anar Samedovi

» interview inside, PG. 3

Issue #5 TO THE POINT 2

OFL NEWSA Trip to the Colorado RanchLiving and learning on the ranch (and loving it)By Ethan MartinezPhotos by Jessica Flores

THE ROCKY Mountain Pathways Ranch (RMPR). What can I say about the ranch other than it became like a second home to me? Every single person who worked there and who went on the trip treated you with respect and made you feel like you were family. A group of 26 students went to the ranch not knowing if they were going to like it or if it was going to be a waste of time, but when they left the ranch they all became family. The activities brought us all closer than we ever thought could happen.

During the trip there was nothing better than waking up and smelling breakfast being made. The cook, Brian, knew that I was allergic to cinnamon so he specifically made food I could eat.

The facilitator of the entire ranch, Julie (interviewed in the article below), was one of the nicest people you would meet in the entire world. She was loud and competitive, but she was very caring. She wanted us to get out of our comfort zone and break out of our shell; she wanted us to be all we can be. Julie believed that we were the reason that she gets out of bed

which made us feel a lot better about ourselves. Julie set up activities to make us have fun and meet people.

For the first couple days not a single person was excited to be there and all of a sudden the excitement and enthusiasm skyrocketed. Everyone was giving all that they had in every activity and was having so much fun! One of the days we were there Julie and the RAs (resident advisors) set up a series of games they called the Ranch Olympics. We were broken down in teams by our home bases. Kelsey and Troy’s home base was the orange team, also known as the Super Saiyan Squad! Bridget, Caroline, and Frank’s home base was the yellow team, also known as The Yellow Yeezeys. We competed in a series of games that brought a lot of us close due to the competition. The most fun activity we did was called Ultimate Funky Chicken Frisbee, which was simply Ultimate Frisbee with a rubber chicken.

Although during the trip there were a lot of laughs and excitement, it came down to a point where we all became close on

Ethan Martinez and Alex Vasquez producing pizza

an emotional level. Frank, one of the head RAs of the ranch, thought it would be good to have a poetry slam where we each read and wrote our own poems. He told us we could write about anything that we wanted and nobody would judge you or make fun of you. We all wrote our poems and were going to recite them later that night. When the poetry slam began, many emotions were already in the air; sadness and nervousness were the two main emotions you can feel. During the poetry slam, many people began to get emotional, including myself and I am usually not like that. Instead of laughing or making fun, everyone had each other’s backs and were there for emotional support.

If you have not yet been to the Rocky Mountain Pathways Ranch yet and the opportunity presents itself, DO NOT be skeptical about going. You will have the best time of your life! I personally recommend this trip to everyone. It is well worth it and by the end of the trip you won’t want to leave. I am extremely grateful that I was able to go and wish to return if possible.

Alex Vasquez, Chris Carrillo, and a bear welcome you to the ranch

Emily McBride, Alex Vasquez, and Abby Laur hang out on the patio preparing for their next adventure

Llamas (beware the llama that lurks in the shadows)

WHEN I arrived at Rocky Mountain Path-ways Ranch (RMPR), I was thinking that we would just be doing basic work around the place, but the longer I stayed, the more I felt that what I was doing was helping both others and myself. There was more to the trip than just living on a ranch. The activities that they have hosted, such as hiking, poetry, and skit making, have gotten me to understand more about myself in addition to how to be a leader. I would recommend this camp for students who have trouble learning how to be responsible, students who need to become more open to others, and students who want to help others, as there are activities that require teamwork, friendship, and your own thoughts. If that wasn’t enough to convince you to apply, I should mention that you get five elective school credits for attending.

During my time there, I had the opportunity to interview the facilitator there, Julie, who was kind enough to not keep anything from me.

How long have you been working here?I have been with Pathways, the

organization, since 2011. I have been an RA [resident advisor] in 2012 for 10 months and I’ve been the facilitator here since December of 2014, so now 10 months total.

What made you decide to take on a career like this?

When I was 23, I started going to undergrad at Cal State LA and I needed to get a better job that worked with my student schedule and to help pay for undergraduate school. So I started a work study program, in conjunction

with Americorp, and they paired me at an elementary school to be a reading tutor for 1st and 2nd graders. Ever since then I fell in love with teaching, with education, and with working with marginalized youth.

You have been both an RA and a facilitator. What are the similarities between them?

The similarities are in the programming. Well the similarities are really with the students; working with the students is the same. You work with them the same whether or not you’re the facilitator or the RA. We engage the students, we talk to them, we figure out the best way to run a particular activity, and it’s the same type of passion at work.

What is it like to live here on the ranch?Fun. Hard. The pluses are that it takes me 30

seconds to commute to work; I go upstairs and I’m at work. The minuses are that I’m always at work. It’s nice because whenever I’m needed

I’m right there for the students or for my staff and I don’t have to walk very far to get to work. When I was an RA, I lived across the street, across the highway, and sometimes it would

take you half an hour to get to work because you do the walking in thigh-high snow on the driveway. So those things I prefer, but also it was nice as an RA because I burned a lot of calories. I like it, it’s just difficult at times, but it’s really nice at times. When the students leave and this place is empty, I think some people would get lonely; I find it as a nice respite from all the chaos and it’s really quiet, there’s nobody here, and I’ve got the place to myself.

What is your favorite activity to do here with the students?

I would say contracts [author’s note:

contracts require students to make promises to themselves to be stronger people] is one of them. I would say stargazing is another, at night giving out s’mores and having them sit outside. When I’m able to go hiking with the students, that’s what I like to do with them.

Of all the students that have stayed here, how many do you think have fully enjoyed it to the maximum limit?

I would say probably 90%. I would say there’s a very small percentage who don’t enjoy their time here or who don’t get everything out of it as they could. Even though we keep a lot of things hidden from our students as far as the activities that we’re doing, they’re really taken by surprise; like if they really weren’t properly prepared, they didn’t quite realize everything that it would take to be at the ranch, so maybe, on some level, there was some miscommunication, whether it’s their parents or their legal guardians pushing them to go and they’re not really ready to be here. I’d say every student is impacted when they come here, and the degree to which they are impacted relies on two factors: the experience level and the passion that the RAs have and the training that we do, and the willingness and the openness that the students have, and that has a lot to do with how the RAs are. So if the RAs aren’t prepared or aren’t willing or they’re too tired or we just haven’t prepared them enough as an organization, then that can be reflected in our students who might otherwise be willing and open. So really it’s a chemistry; it’s like a nice mixture between the both, we have to have students who want to be here and who are open, and we have to have really well-staffed RAs who also want to be here and who want to be open and who are prepared to take on the endeavor of working with students to try and get them to reach their highest potential here and greatest impact. So everybody’s impacted; the level to which they’re impacted is a variety of things.

If a student has been on one of your trips already, would you allow them to return to the same trip in a different year?

That has been possible. I personally feel two ways about it. It can be difficult for a student to come back in the same year with a different group for a different theme because they’ve already been here and a lot of the students haven’t been here so they are a returner and everybody else is not a returner so that could be difficult for them. Also, I’ve had many camps where I’ve had many first timers and many returners in the camp and they really help get the other students on board for positive participation, and it really helps when they don’t give any secrets away or anything like that. It’s a mixture, and then sometimes you have returners who come with a whole group of returners, and that’s going to be more difficult because they have a certain expectation as to what they want camp to be like, so we’ve had a really good camp. So if we had some students come back for the next camp, and let’s just say the dynamics that everything is different, but they have that expectation and attachment to the first time they were here, so it really depends on the student. But absolutely, the returners are welcome back at any time.

In the upcoming years, do you plan on staying here?

I don’t know if I plan on staying at the ranch. The life of a facilitator, the way that the role is structured now is not sustainable. It’s good for a year, maybe a little more, maybe a little less, depending on the individual, but it is taxing to do this job with this many hours. Do I want to be part of the ranch in future years? Yes. Do I want to be part of pathways as an organization? 100%. But can I do this very same job for another year? Nope.

Damian Contreras and RMPR facilitator Julie

A conversation with a Rocky Mountain Pathways Ranch leaderBy Damian Contreras

“It takes me 30 seconds to commute to work; I go upstairs and I’m at work.”

Issue #5 TO THE POINT 3

OFL NEWS

OFL HAS been a big family to me, and my classmates. We’re offered trips around the U.S., and to other nations. Our school spoils us with different sport teams, different clubs, and at the same time it helps us to reach our academic goals. Naturally, if we have any changes in our school staff, we want someone amazing to take over, especially if the role is principal of the San Fernando Valley region. Carla Mueller became principal of the San Fernando Valley region of OFL in May, 2015. You can get to know her, and her plans for the school, in our interview:

What did you do before you became principal? I started at OFL as a teacher in 2001, and then I was a Lead Teacher through 2003-2006, which is like an Assistant Principal. Then I became a Student Advisor, and I did that for 8 years, with a year off in the middle for graduate school. I was away for a year, and then I came back in 2011. And I began as Principal in May, 2015.

What is your educational background? I heard you studied in Ireland.

I did study in Northern Ireland during my year off from OFL, where I earned my Master’s Degree in Conflict Resolution & Reconciliation. That area of study focused on looking at a political conflicts, wars all over the world, and how to bring people to peace by helping them figure out a Peace Agreement, to make changes in everyday life and to sustain

peace and build a solid community for the future. Prior to that, I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities from Pepperdine University. I got to learn about history, literature, fine arts, religion and philosophy. It was really amazing and it included a summer of studying in Florence, Italy.

Why did you choose school, when you could have had career in politics because of your educational background?

That is a great question, and I thought I might transition from education to working more politically, but that is not what happened [laughing]. I’ve continued to work with outside organizations a lot, while working at OFL full-time, which has allowed me to travel all over the world. I volunteered with organizations like Habitat For Humanity, and I got to speak in the Congo and guest lecture at a university, which has been pretty fantastic. So, I get to do both. I love kids, and I think I just want to continue bringing these two passions that I have together. I would really love to integrate peace education within our regular educational system so our students are more well-equipped and more well-educated to deal with hard things that come up in life, whether it’s personal or it is political.

Did you ever see yourself as becoming a principal?

I didn’t expect to be a principal, but I’m

so glad that I am! I knew that I wanted to work at a higher level within education, but I wasn’t certain in what capacity. I loved…loved, loved, loved being a Student Advisor, getting to work with students directly, helping them achieve their dreams, and helping them get into college, but I wanted to be able to influence and help more students by continuing to move up and train and empower teachers so they can better empower their students. When the opportunity became available to become the principal of the SFV, I was both surprised and excited, and at every step of the process I realized more and more that I would love this job. There are many things I hope to do in this life and they are all about making the most positive impact possible on the world around me, so right now I’m thrilled to see what we can do for the students of OFL! What’s a typical day like for you as principal?

There is no typical day. I never know what the day is going to bring. I have a list of things that I know I have to do. I might have meetings already set that I know that I’ll be a part of, but there [are surprises] every day. Sometimes it’s a great surprise and sometimes it’s a different challenge, so I just have to be ready for it. What is your general philosophy as principal?

Well, as principal, I have two main focuses. My first, and the most important to me beyond anything else, is the students, and making sure that you all have what you need to be successful, that we are giving you the very best of what we have and also improving what we have. My general philosophy is if it is good for the students, then we are going to do it. And then my other focus is staff, and making sure in the same way that they have what they need to give their best to you.

Does our school offer opportunities for scholarships?

We don’t. There are no specific OFL scholarships for college.

Part of what we do instead of that is invest in you while you’re here is send you on OFL trips. A group [of students] left to Rocky Mountain Pathways this morning. Going to

Blackbird Farm, to Cuba, and Italy, the college tours, Washington D.C., are all opportunities that most students don’t have.

The other part of what we do is have you work with student advisors, but a lot of teachers will help as well. There are so many scholarships from other places, so making sure that you all know where to look for them, and [what makes] you eligible for them, and how you fill out the applications for them.

What are your plans for the school year? Any new policies moving forward?That is a good question. There are already so many changes that we have to implement this year with the coming of Common Core. We started with Common Core last year, but this is the first year that it’s officially required by the State of California, and the curriculum as you know requires a lot more; it’s much more rigorous. What we are really focusing on is helping the teachers to be prepared to help their students with that curriculum. That is probably our biggest focus, and then helping students to stay on track with credits even with more difficult classes. And as always, I want to see more and more students going to college after graduation!

Are there plans for expanding OFL sports? New sports?

There are no official plans; however, our sports programs are very young. This is only our second year having full teams all year long, so we are definitely open to new sports. Students have shown an interest in having a girl’s basketball team and a boy’s baseball team. Students are welcome to ask about potential sports teams.

Can girls join the football team? Not currently, but that doesn’t mean never.

There are rumors swirling that our mascot is not even a Bobcat. Can you clarify these accusations?

At Blackbird Farm, there is a white deer named Blanka. She doesn’t show up for everyone though. She only comes out for San Fernando Valley students, so I think she is kind of our unofficial mascot; she loves us, but we are the Bobcats, and we are proud, mighty Bobcats...but we also have Blanka.

Meet OFL in the SFV’s Fearless LeaderAn interview with our new school principal, Carla MuellerBy Anar Samedovi

The Special Olympics 2015“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”By A.V. Aguilera

THE SPECIAL Olympics is a grand event that is held every four years, and this year Los Angeles was host of the games. This year, there were 500,000 spectators, 30,000 volunteers, 2,000 coaches, 6,500 athletes, 165 countries, and “one world of inclusion.” The world games were one of the best in history, as athletes from all over the world competed in events such as swimming, soccer, tennis, and much more. I was fortunate enough to be a “fan in the stand” and cheered on all the teams that competed in soccer. The men and women played a hard

game of goals, saves, and excellent strategies to win and try their very hardest.

All over the world men and women cheered the Special Olympics World Games and honored their beginnings and the wonderful woman, Eunice Shriver who founded the games. The very first Special Olympic Game was held on July 20, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois. Eunice Shriver is famously known for being one of the Kennedys, a family of power in politics. It all began in the ’50s and ’60s when she saw how unfairly people and children with mental disabilities were treated, stating, “The children didn’t even have a place to play.” Mental disabilities was a soft spot for Eunice, whose sister suffered from mental illness and was put in a mental institution for the rest of her life after she received numerous treatments for her mental illness including a lobotomy. Eunice was inspired to change the lives of people with mental illnesses, and the Special Olympics would not be what it is today without the hard work of Eunice Shriver, the hard work of dedicated athletes, and the hard work of volunteers.

Cecil the LionAn obituaryBy A.V. Aguilera

LIONS ARE one of the most endangered species in the world, yet they are a species that is highly praised if hunted successfully. Those two factors are the reason they are a much protected species, and in some parts of the world they no longer roam the Savannah as king. They are seen as game and depreciated as a species when they are hunted by many in competition with fellow man.

You probably have heard about Cecil the Lion who was no exception from the unorthodox hunting practices. This lion

had a name; his name was Cecil and he was loved and admired in captivity where he was put for protection purposes. His Zimbabwe captivity lost not just any lion, they lost Cecil the lion. The man who shot Cecil was American dentist Walter Palmer. On July 1st, he was lured out of captivity and shot. When the media got word of Cecil’s death, it spread all over the world.

When Walter Palmer was asked about his illegal act, he stated, “I had no idea the lion I took was a known, local favorite, collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt.”

Yes, Cecil was also a special lion used for a scientific study and the study was greatly affected after his death. There is no doubt Cecil was a special lion, but he was still like any other lion, and like any other creature which we should care for and respect.

Issue #5 TO THE POINT 4

OPINIONS-EDITORIALSA 2016 Election GuideMaking the choice to voteBy Nickolas Sanchez

ELECTION DAY is coming up, and for many people in the United States, as well as several OFL students, it might be the first time they are given the option to cast their own vote. This can be a scary thought for some. The moment you hit 18 years old, you have the power in your hands to shape the country you live in. Some might dread this though, as they see it as too big of a responsibility, or that not a lot of these changes matter. I can assure you however that with the right mindset, elections can be something that isn’t complete-ly awful. Who would have thought?

The first thing I think everyone should keep in mind: Every vote is equally as important. You shouldn’t skip out, as your vote is always counted in the end, so if you feel strongly for a certain candidate, don’t think that your vote makes no difference, because it surely does. When it comes to who you are voting for, always keep true to your own opinion. Don’t do what your friends tell you, or your family tells you, if you don’t 100% agree with them, because in the end, voting is an incredibly important decision for you to make on your own.

While this slowly turns into a guide of how to go about voting, I’d like to bring up

another thing that without a doubt would be no surprise to anyone: No candidate is perfect for the job. When it comes down to it, the most viable candidates are usually the ones you wouldn’t want in office, as they all make questionable decisions when it comes to what they have done in the past, and what they have planned for America.

It’s not a problem for the voters, but more of a problem for the people r u n n i n g f o r presidency. For us, picking our next president comes down to picking the lesser of evils, usually.

Lastly, as I’ve said before, try not to let people influence your vote. The decisions you make absolutely decide how the vote turns out. Take what people say about your vote with a grain of salt, even me if you’d like, because forming your own opinions about how to shape your own future will be some of the most important decisions you can make in your life. Don’t let yourself be swayed by other people and don’t sell your vote, but allow yourself to be part of something as big as your own country.

If you’d like to find out more about voter registration, please visit the following link: www.usa.gov/register-to-vote

United We Stand, Divided we FallDonald Trump versus the worldBy Rosa Padilla

RECENTLY, WOMEN and undocumented immigrants have been verbally attacked by U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump. Despite being politically incorrect, Trump continues to lead national polls.

However, Trump’s sexist and racist com-ments led to reactions that were obviously not positive, and this led to Univision and NBC Universal cutting ties with Trump. According to Entertainment Weekly, he has been replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger on The Appren-tice television show due to his inappropriate remarks. Televisa also announced that Miss Mexico will not be attending the next Miss Universe pageant which is owned by Donald Trump, and actress Roselyn Sanchez cancelled her appearance as co-host of Miss USA and and singer J Balvin pulled out as a performer.

On various occasions Trump has made sexist comments which vary from Rosie O’Donnell to his very own daughter Ivanka Trump. He commented on O’Donnell by saying “Rosie O’Donnell is disgusting—both inside and out. If you take a look at her she is

a slob. How does she even get on television? If I were running The View I’d fire Rosie. I’d look at her right in that fat, ugly face of hers and say, ‘Rosie, you’re fired.’ We’re all a little chubby but Rosie’s just worst than most of us.” More than just being politically incorrect Trump is your usual bully. Donald Trump also spoke with CNN’s Don Lemon about Megyn Kelly, the moderator of the Republican debate who questioned his inappropriate remarks about women. Trump said of Kelly, “You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her—wherever.” These are only two reasons why Trump should not be running for president. As a feminist I believe women should be treated with respect, but of course not everyone shares this belief.

Trump has lately appeared on many hispanic news shows due to his incredibly rude comments towards Mexicans. His first public comment towards Mexico was, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending the best. They’re not sending you, they’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems,” Trump said in a speech at Trump Tower in New York. “They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime. They’re rapists and some, I assume, are good people, but I speak to border guards and they’re telling us what we’re getting.”

While Trump may never be the president of the United States, it is still upsetting that a presidential candidate can be racist, sexist, and still receive fame from it. We as humans should stand together to create a peaceful world rather than to feed off vanity, money, and fame. As a Mexican and a feminist I leave you with this quote from Emma Lazarus that is engraved on the statue of liberty, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free.” What would Trump say to Emma Lazarus?

Illustration by A.V. Aguilera

Sharks are Friends, Not FoodSharks and our oceans are in dangerBy Layla Kamae

WE KNOW very little of our Earth’s oceans. About 5% of our oceans have been explored. The vast mysteries that it holds and our indul-gences drive us to learn and understand more about it, but it also holds a dire problem. The most elusive and misunderstood creature of the sea is the shark. In the past 20 years the demand in the shark fin trade has drasti-cally increased. With the world’s population of shark rapidly declining the ocean’s ecosys-tem is in great peril. The solution to the decrease in sharks is staying informed and involved in the fight against the shark finning practice.

So, why is the image of sharks as killers so hard to shake? In the movie Jaws by Steven Spielberg, sharks are given a bad reputation. The movie preys on people’s fear of sharks and give a greater misconception of these majestic creatures. It has been 40 years since

the debut of Jaws, but is still so horrific that people are skeptical about going out into open water. On average, sharks attack 50-72 people annually, and 8-12 of those attacks are actually fatal which means, though very tragic, the human population is minimally affected. However, on average 100 million (yes million)

sharks are killed and slaughtered every year, but this is a conservative estimate. Humans are endangering the balance of the ecosystem of marine life.

In the popular Discovery Channel

event Shark Week, we see a different view of sharks. Dr. Christopher Lowe, a current scientist on Shark Week and the head of California State University’s (CSULB) Shark Lab, gives the reality of sharks and strays always from the “Hollywood” shark. In an article for CSULB’s Union Weekly newspaper, Lowe addresses says, “Sharks are important

to the marine environment. They keep our oceans healthy and the animal populations healthy. We need them for our oceans.”

In the last 20 years, shark finning has had a huge increase in demand. Shark populations are extremely vulnerable to man’s fishing practices and illegal poaching. Sharks are being hunted for their dorsal fins and tails. Shark’s dorsal fins are cut off while the shark is still alive, and then the body is discarded back into the ocean. Unable to swim, their body’s sink to the bottom of the ocean where they are left to die and agonizing death. Today the shark population has decreased by 60-70%, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The solution to this horrific practice is to not consume shark soup or purchasing shark leather products. In

California, shark leather products are illegal. Staying involved in the preservation of these amazing, intelligent and majestic creatures is vital to stop shark finning.

A twist on words from Bruce the shark in Finding Nemo, “Sharks are friends, not food” should be the headline across the world. Many shark species are going extinct because of this horrible fascination in consuming shark products and the negative media image that sharks have carried for decades. These sharks aren’t mindless eating machines. Scientist learned that they are extremely intelligent and curious animals. Staying involved and active in stopping the shark fin trade and preserving sharks can prevent future damage to our ocean’s ecosystem. Without sharks the ocean cannot survive.

“The moment you hit 18 years old, you have the power

in your hands to shape the country you live in.”

“Sharks are important to the marine environment. They keep our oceans healthy...”

-Dr. Chris Lowe

Donald Trump quotes gathered by A.V. Aguilera

I would be so different from what you have right now. Like, the polar opposite. We have a president who doesn't have a clue. I would say he's incompetent, but I don't want to do that because that's not nice.

Our country is in serious trouble. We don’t win anymore… We can’t beat Mexico, at the border or in trade. We can’t do anything right.”

Issue #5 TO THE POINT 5

CREATIVE ARTS Bifurcations of ManA short storyBy A.V. Aguilera

The Policeman, Mr. Johnson.They told me if Mr. Lopez dies, then I

face the possibility of being charged with manslaughter. I can’t afford to go to jail. I have a wife, a little girl who looks just like her, and a son who was on the way. I would have named him James after my father. My wife doesn’t like the fact that I’m never home, and she cries a lot because of that and other things. I tell her someday we will have a beautiful house and that’s why I work so hard. I don’t tell her that her expensive anti-depression pills and her therapy are the reasons I am working overtime. You know, my friends wonder why I’m a policeman and why I didn’t go to college, and I tell them I will someday, but life has gotten in the way of that because sometimes life gets in the way of things. I’m sure you know this. Other things get in the way, too. Your thoughts get in the way of your actions, and they cloud the waters of your brain. All the information and things you have learned and all these bad possibilities get in the way of the good thoughts, the original intent. No one can help that, I can’t help that, and I am just as much of a person as anyone else. God, I can’t go to jail. My wife almost killed herself twice and she needs me. I can’t go to jail and leave her behind. I love her and my daughter, and I loved my son. I hope Mr. Lopez doesn’t die, and it’s not only because of the possibility that I could leave my wife and what could happen to her then. Mr. Lopez is a man just like myself, and I don’t want him to die. Not another one. My wife called me before I went on duty the night I shot Mr. Lopez, and she told me she miscarried our son. I couldn’t leave my duty then and there because just then we saw a man speeding, and my partner would have reported me if I had left. I’m sorry I shot him, and I don’t want him to die because he is someone’s son.

The Criminal/Victim, Mr. Lopez.*Translated to English from Spanish.* I grabbed the nearest pad of paper and the

nearest pen to write this so they are clear of what happened and do not make the situation larger or smaller in proportion. Why did Officer Johnson want me to die? I am a man. Why couldn’t he understand that? I have a dark skin tone and dark straight hair, and I am from Mexico. Maybe that combination makes them assume me a criminal. Yes, I was speeding away from the police, and I thought I could lose them. I thought I could escape the cops like in the movies. I couldn’t afford to get in any legal

trouble. I had to work and send my family the money I made here to Mexico for them to have a better life out there. My wife my daughter and my unborn son are back there. My daughter is my little princess, and I want to name my son Benicio after my father, but if I die from the wound, he will be named Gael after me. I was on my way to a job interview for my potential second job when my wife called me and told me that my daughter’s cancer was getting worse and I needed to send more money for her treatments. I had to get the job, and although it was a fast food restaurant, it was the only place that called me back for an interview. My daughter depended on it and me. I began to drive and I looked at the time in my old Toyota and I was going to be late if I didn’t hurry up. I couldn’t be late. I started driving faster and it wasn’t long before I heard the sirens and the flashing lights of the police car. My mind was filled with anger and my clear river of thoughts became polluted with mud, and I pushed on the gas and I went even faster. I stopped when I heard the helicopter and I got out and I could feel the hot tears burn my eyes and fall to my cheeks where they would run down to fall again. I stood in front of the officers. They must have thought I was some madman because my hair was messy from the violent grieving of moments before, and my eyes were red and my clothes were old and craggy. The two men pointed their guns at me instantly and in the mix of it all, my thoughts became filled again and even more assorted and I continued to cry and even began shouting which was returned. I reached for my wallet in my pants and they looked scared. I wanted to tell them in my best English that my daughter was dying and beg them for legal mercy from the land of dreams. To show them my beautiful family, a few weeks back they sent me a picture of them together posing all in smiles. As I reached into my pants, one white officer, who I found out was Officer Johnson, looked frightened, and he had red instead of white in his eyes. He shot me. I can feel myself dying now, and as I die I can feel my daughter dying too because my wife will not be able to afford the treatments, and she will die because of that and the fact that the doctors are cold and only warmed by money. My lawyer told me that if I die they will press manslaughter charges against him. I don’t want to press any charges as long as I’m alive, because I’m sure he has a family to support, but I can’t help it if I die or if I don’t. I really can’t..

FasterA short storyBy Taylor Handy

FASTER. THIS was the only word that came to my mind as I dodged trees and rocks through the forest. Another word that closely followed was death. Death used to be a word that didn’t hold much significance to my mind or being. Although it was always near, it never lingered in the air like it did now. Now was different than before. Death had never been this much of a reality.

Who would have ever thought that the apocalypse would actually take place, especially in this lifetime? While society was keeping up with the Kardashians, little did they know that even reality stars wouldn’t survive the outbreak. The virus spread like wildfire. It was only weeks before our government shut down and left everyone and their mother to defend themselves. Humanity quickly deteriorated, physically and mentally.

It seemed like it happened all at once, leaving no time for preparation or evacuation. The food and water supply went dry almost immediately. People beat and murdered each other for that last box of crackers.

About two months ago, my mother and boyfriend met a horrible fate. We were sleeping in tents at our camp one night when the dead flooded us. While there were nineteen of us, there were at least forty of them. I managed take down a few, but when I turned around to check on my last two loved ones, they had been bitten.

They had to be put down before they turned into flesh eaters. Once bitten or scratched, you were incurably infected. It normally took two or three days to turn. During that time you were in a coma. You wouldn’t move or make a sound. Once you awoke from your sleep, you were no longer you.

And now, being alone, was the scariest period of my life thus far. But it gave me the chance to reflect. Would I find another group? Would I be close to anyone again? Would I end up like my mom and boyfriend? Was the world doomed to be infested with the dead forever?

While I was deep in my thoughts, I failed to see the ditch in front of me. My foot came out from underneath me and I hit the ground. I lay still for a moment. Too much noise would only give them more of an indication of where to look for their next meal. All seemed quiet, so I rose to my feet to take in my surroundings. To my left was a house. If I hadn’t tripped, I wouldn’t even have stopped to notice the residence, and possible resting spot.

The house was two stories of white, peeling paint on old wood. There was no fence or wall around the yard. I crept up to one of the windows on the first floor to peek inside. I waited and watched for a bit until I decided to venture inside.

The front door, oddly enough, was open. I guess when you’re fleeing for your life you’re

not too worried about locking up the house. Inside had an old feel to it. It was a typical country home—wood floors and old furniture. The kitchen had already been raided.

I began my journey up the stairs to see what I could uncover. It had been quiet so far. The first bedroom I searched had nothing. There was a dresser and a stripped bed. Obviously whoever lived here was packed up and ready to go. They probably had an early start when all of this hit. They were the lucky ones.

The bathroom was the same. Not even toilet paper was left behind.

There were two rooms left to search. I walked into the first one expecting it too to be empty, but it had some belongings untouched. The bed had been left made. And in the corner of the room, there was a fallen picture.

Curiosity took over, and I walked over over to the photo frame laying on the floor. It was face down. I picked it up and flipped it over to see that it was a picture of a couple sitting on a rock in the woods. I recognized the rock from outside the house. The couple in the photo were smiling at the camera.

The photo had a much different feel than the house did. It illuminated light and happiness. The couple had obviously been together for a while. The way they embraced each other screamed comfortability and hopefulness for the future. Sadly, I doubt that was the case for them.

A noise came from outside the bedroom. I froze for a second trying to listen, but all was quiet again. I slowly made my way towards the doorway. I could hear my breath in my ears. Right as I made it to the hallway, I was knocked over. I hit my head on the hard floor. My eyesight went blurry.

As my eyesight became clear, so did my attacker. A walking corpse was trying to bite at my neck. I pushed up on the body, but I wasn’t strong enough to lift it off. The corpse’s teeth were getting closer to my flesh, the liquid from its mouth was dripping on my face. I screamed out in fear hoping that someone would help me. But who could help me? I was alone. And this was death. It was finally upon me.

My arms were starting to cave. The corpse’s teeth were an only inches from my neck now. As I began to give in from weakness, the corpse went stiff. His eyes rolled into the back of his head. His body ceased movement. I made one last effort to throw him off, and this time it worked. When I got a second to breathe, I noticed an arrow in the back of his head.

In the doorway was an older man. He had neck-length brunette hair that covered part of his face. He was dressed in jeans, a black shirt, and a vest. In his hand was a crossbow.

From behind his dirty hair, he spoke, “I suggest you get up. You never know if those things will come back.” And with that, he left.

Student Art

Art by Desiree Moya (Sun-Moon Puzzle and Bob Marley portrait) Art by Mario Berrios (left), A.V. Aguilera (top right, “The Syrian Refugee”), and John Cooper (bottom right)

Issue #5 TO THE POINT 6

NEWS EDITOR - SEVON ABDALIAN - NORTHRIDGEOP-ED EDITOR - GAVIN AULD - ENCINOART EDITOR - ANAR SAMEDOVI - RESEDACREATIVE WRITING EDITOR - AYDIN AGUILERA - CHATSWORTHSTAFF WRITER - CHRIS CARRILLO - STUDIO CITYSTAFF WRITER - DAMIAN CONTRERAS - RESEDASTAFF WRITER - NICKOLAS SANCHEZ - RESEDA

TO THE POINT STAFFThis is the official newspaper of Opportunities for

Learning charter schools in the San Fernando Valley.

All words are written by OFL students.

Contact us: tothepointsfv@gmail.com

Find us online, in full color: issuu.com/tothepointsfv

ABOUT US

OFL SUPERVISORSLEO PORTUGALJESSICA YANEZ

CONTRIBUTORSMARIO BERRIOS - ARLETANATHAN DU - RESEDAWALTER GUZMAN - NORTHRIDGE TAYLOR HANDY - CHATSWORTH LAYLA KAMAE - CHATSWORTH

AUSTIN MARQUIS - CHATSWORTHRUBY MONDRAGON - CHATSWORTHDESIREE MOYA - NORTHRIDGEROSA PADILLA - CHATSWORTHBERENICE TELLEZ - CHATSWORTH

ENTERTAINMENTSuper Smash Bros.New challengers approaching soon!By Chris Carrillo

SUPER SMASH Bros. is a game where char-acters from different game series fight. A game where these characters meet in one game is called a crossover, because they cross over from their worlds to fight for their rightful victory. This fighting game is different from your Soul Calibur and Mortal Kombat fighting games. Instead of a health bar, you are given a percent-age bar where the higher your percent is, the easier it is for you or your opponent to get KO’d (knocked out).

People have been expecting new fighters for some time, but the most recent updates only brought new Mii fighter skins for the mighty King K. Rool from the Donkey Kong series, Chrom from Fire Emblem (even though his character model is in the game as a non-playable character), and many more. There have also been some adjustments to the game in the 1.1.0 version where some characters have received buffs and nerfs to make matchmaking more fair. Buffs make characters stronger and nerfs are the exact opposite; they make characters weaker. Even if the characters are slightly buffed or nerfed, it can change the game, but no one should be discouraged from picking their favorite character.

Some people from the Xbox 360 community would like to see Marcus Fenix from the Gears Of War series to beat down the competition. Marco, a classmate of mine, would like to see Master Chief from the Halo series don his armors through the battle. Nevada, a friend of mine, would like to see Cloud and Sephiroth from the Final Fantasy series to finish their final fight. Liana, a friend of mine who just can’t stay away from fighting games, also wanted to see Sora from the Kingdom Hearts series to unlock his way to battle.

As a Metal Gear Solid fan, I would like to see The Joy/Naked Snake as an alternate costume with the same move set, but yet different character models since one is a male (Snake) and female (The Joy). The Joy is Snake’s mentor, and to see them both in Super Smash Bros. would be amazing to see who takes the title of “The Boss.”

If there are more characters you would like to see in Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 3DS and WiiU, you should visit cp.nintedo.co.jp/us/ by October 3rd or go on Google search “Smash Bros. fighter ballots,” which will lead you to a screen where you will be able to vote for your character. Who knows who will make it to be the top-voted character. Maybe Scorpion from the Mortal Kombat series will get over here and bring the competition.

PICKS

Gilmore Girls (TV Series)Review by Berenice Tellez

WHILE STAYING the night at an inn in Washington, Connecticut, Amy Sherman-Palladino was in awe about how the locals of the town were so close and so friendly to each other. She found the town to have a warm, storybook touch to it and after one night

there, she had already written the Gilmore Girls pilot’s dialogue. She set the plot in Stars Hollow, Connecticut, a small tight-knit town, just as the one she’d visited. And although many of the townspeople act as main characters throughout the whole show, it’s mainly circled around a mother-daughter duo, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, who have a humorous and almost sister-like bond, which possibly stems from the fact that Lorelai had Rory when she was sixteen.

Despite the setting having a witty atmosphere, the problems and situations that are presented on the show are actually quite realistic. Rory is shown as a shy, bookworm who is heavily invested

Apollo Creed gives an unknown boxer the opportunity of a lifetime, and this acts as a spark for Rocky to achieve and fight so he can prove to the people, and most importantly himself, that he is an outstanding boxer and performer.

Rocky is more than just a movie, Rocky is an icon and an inspiration in many people’s hearts. When watching the film, no matter who you are, you feel motivated, filled with a drive to be the very best version of yourself. He represents the American dream as well as being a fine example as an underdog. Throughout the Rocky films, Sylvester Stallone is able to maintain the loveable and memorable character of Rocky Balboa. The first film sets the pace of Rocky and makes you become attracted to the characters from Adrian and Paulie, to the antagonist of the first film, Apollo Creed. No matter how late you are, you can always watch the Rocky films and become an automatic fan and join millions of other dedicated Rocky lovers in the upcoming return of Sylvester Stallone in Creed.

Rocky (Film)Review by Austin Marquis and Nathan Du

ROCKY IS a movie on Netflix that shows the story of a broke boxer (Sylvester Stallone) living in north Philadelphia, and he’s just trying to make a living. But everything changes when he gets the opportunity of a lifetime to fight the undefeated champ of the world.

From the very first part of the iconic film, it shows Rocky being a low-level boxer being

booed off by the crowd from the ring as he is defeated. The movie really portrays the amount of humility and hope within the man soon to be known as the “Italian Stallion.” People recognize this character for his relatability and humanity. He set the tone for being, unlike other movies, the hero from the very start and more of a great example of an “underdog.” We root for Rocky as he tries to court Adrian, his love, because we are impressed that a person as strong as Rocky and as brave as he is can also have a good and wholesome heart filled with passion for his sport and love for Adrian.

in school, while Lorelai is the manager of an inn and plans to eventually open one of her own someday. Despite the fact that the two experience different stages of their lives and different struggles, the one struggle they both continuously go through in the show is their love lives (which can often resemble a roller coaster). And with so much always going on with both of them, they often turn to Luke’s Diner for unhealthy comfort food, reluctantly served by their longtime friend, and the diner owner himself, Luke.

Often, the show will make you reflect on your own choices and relationships. Gilmore Girls acts as a fantasy replacement for how many people’s lives actually are; similar problems are shown on the show, but they’re just handled in a much more enter-taining manner. You’ll get love, hate, anxiety, disappointment, excitement, and problem solving situations in each episode, which is a lot more action than I get in one week.

scenes memorable is how close these shots are on Ripley; you can see the terror in her eyes, the distress and agony in her facial expres-sions, you just know and believe the character’s and actor’s mind is moving a mile a minute.

The film’s score really added that extra oomph to the tension of the film and we have Jerry Goldsmith to thank for that, but it wasn’t until Mozart’s own “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major)” broadcasted on the actual stage set that established the rest of the film’s melancholic strained pace. Years later, the film Pro-metheus would do a very similar scene in nod to its sister film Alien.

Aesthetically, the movie is a work of art—everything from set design to H.R. Giger’s brainchild, the Xenomorph (Necronom IV). Giger may as well have been the life and soul of the entire film; his dreamscapes, his macabre artistry, are all found in the film’s atmosphere. Without him, Alien would have been discarded into the B-list with all the other corny movies of its time.

All and all, I enjoyed watching the film once again and this is coming from a guy who has seen the movie a dozen times by now. Every viewing draws from the film a new appreciation. I can tell you right now, this won’t be the last time I watch it either.

In regards to my fellow contemporaries of the night, the crowd was full of only the most charismatic and cheerful bunch. I must not forget to credit some of the big names that were present that make small events such as Film Lovers Society possible. Making an appearance even though they lead extremely busy lives were, in no particular order: the wise Mr. Ben, the bada** Mrs. Kira, and the lovely Misses Bless. These three run around the Encino center keeping it together for our sake. A double thanks to Brian and Bless for being the Atlases of the student body, carrying us on through the school year.

The Film Lovers Society doesn’t disappoint with an entertaining evening no matter the film selection. They supply dinner along with the show and our courteous student council president, Sarah, comes on through with the good ol’ popcorn cart. I guarantee anyone that enjoys a good film will also enjoy a sit-in with the Lovers of film.

THE LIGHTS flicker and dim, the walls close in all around, an unsettling feeling creeps up as my hairs stand on end… No, this is not the commercial vessel Nostromo, much rather this is the setting of OFL Encino’s Film Lovers Soci-ety Horror/Sci-Fi night. And that unsettling feeling? Well, that was the result of the Domino’s Pizza present for my eating pleasure.

The flick of the night was Ridley Scott’s always classic, but

never any less frightening, Alien (1979). Hosted by the sharply attired Sir Mr. Brian, whom I must say has an excellent taste in film.

Alien is like fine wine; it only gets better as it gets older. 36 years since Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) first fled in terror from, if I may quote the Android Ash, “the perfect organism”, and to this day it reanimates within the suspense and anxiety just as it did the day it was released.

Alien follows the crew of the vessel Nostromo as they are hunted by a creature resembling your worst nightmares within the confines of space. If I haven’t sold you yet, the movie stars a cat named Jones, and I know the human race at this moment in history is enslaved by the nature and appearance of the feline. Whether your poison is cats or intergalactic night terrors, the film hits two birds with one stone, offering both.

The director Ridley Scott, also known for directing The Duelists, Black Hawk Down, and The Gladiator, brought forth to the masses a claustrophobic experience that was unknown to all before the film’s debut. His skill in cinematography paid off extremely well in capturing an environment deprived of spatial existence. Scott, in his attempt to make the audience retreat and collect themselves from an inevitable collapsing airless world, also created the iconic heroine Ellen Ripley.

Multiple scenes depict a fearful but courageous Ripley in fright and/or flight mode during the film. What makes these particular

Final Report from the NostromoThe Film Lovers Society presents AlienBy Gavin Auld