CORYDON
FEBRUARY 2005
VOL.
50 ISSUE 4
By Kim Stern
Staff
Reporter
The 2006 International Auto Show was anything but MINI. Located in the heart of Los Angeles at the Convention Center, MINI Coopers weren’t the only cars to show off their new 2006 line.
Over
40 models of cars were showcased. The LA Adventure was a two-week event, which
ran January 6 through 15.
These
cars had everything from speed to style, to elegance and record-setting prices.
Of
course, you had your typical cars, such as Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Honda, and
Lexus. But how often do you see the new line of Porsches and Lamborghinis?
Stationed
in a separate hall, the walk over was well-worth it to see these exotic cars.
Concourse Hall featured the “mother of all luxury rides,” from Ferraris to
Maseratis, Lamborghinis to Lotuses, Saleens, and more.
However,
there was one car sure to catch the eye: the Bugatti Veyron, which featured a
16-cylinder engine and has 1,001 horsepower, was priced at $1.21 million.
Definitely leaving its competitors in the dust, this car couldn’t be touched.
Ferrari
featured their new F430 Challenge with 490 horsepower. Maserati displayed the
Quattraporte Sport GT and the GranSport Spyder convertible. Another unique car
was the Dutch-made Spyder C12 LaTurbie convertible, which has the ability to go
from zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, and is equipped with scissor-doors.
Despite
the enormous crowds, the LA Convention Center was filled with the hottest and
newest cars for 2006. The Los Angeles Auto Show had a car for every person.
Alfatoxin Chemical Kills 23 Dogs
By Marina Gurrola
Staff
Reporter
Contaminated dog food killed nearly two dozen dogs and
sickened 18 more in the past two months on the East Coast.
After
a Food and Drug Administration investigation, the Diamond Pet Food Company has
been identified as the source.
The
Diamond Pet Food Company has since recalled all their food products. They sold
food in 23 states under the brand names Diamond, Country Value, and
Professional.
All
pet owners who buy these products are asked to immediately stop using the dog
food.
The
chemical that is found in the toxic pet food is aflatoxin, that comes from a
fungus and can cause severe liver damage.
The
symptoms of a dog that has consumed the pet food are: loss of appetite,
persistent vomiting, discolored urine, fever, and yellow coloring in the whites
of the eyes, gums, and in the belly or areas where hair is very thin.
Currently,
the Diamond Pet Food Company is analyzing all food samples to test for any
additional dangerous chemicals. They will soon provide specific numbers and
information to all distributors, retailers, and consumers.
“I
hope that they recall all the lethal dog food before it makes its way to the
West Coast,” says Jamie Miller, senior PEACE Academy student. “I wouldn’t want
my dog to get sick and die.”
The
Food and Drug Administration will notify the public with further details as
they come.
Marquee Currently in the Making
By Robert Comito
Staff
Reporter
Rumors have been swirling around campus for some time now
about what happened to the new marquee and all the money raised for it.
The
good news is that the money raised, $55,000 in all, is still there, in what is
called a trust. That means that
the money can only go to the new marquee and its maintenance.
Principal
Jeffrey Cornejo was quick to commend the student body for its magnificent job
raising the money. No additional
fundraising is necessary. When the
marquee is ready, the money in trust will be paid out.
Millikan
has been without a marquee ever since the old one was taken down. The fact that the rundown marquee was
filled with pigeon carcasses reinforced the need for its demolition. A HAZMAT team, which handles hazardous
materials, had to be called in before it could be taken down.
But
why, then, is there still no marquee? Senior Michael Zimmerman says, “You’d
think after all these years they would have it up by now. But no, we’re still
waiting.”
Dr.
Cornejo agrees, “Four years is ridiculous.”
Part
of the wait has been the extensive bureaucratic process which entailed
obtaining a myriad of city, state, and county permits, as well as negotiations
between the school district and California Department of Architecture.
Several
logistical hurdles also needed to be overcome. A new conduit was necessary and the football field has to be
dug up for it. Many other upgrades needed to be implemented. All these different technical
difficulties raised the price of the marquee significantly.
Another
part of the wait has been the company itself. Bari Stevens, activities director of ASB said, “They told us
it would be ready in six weeks.
That was four months ago.”
Nonetheless,
the marquee is nearly ready, except for the electronic message board.
No
one is positive on the arrival date, but it should be a considerable upgrade
from the hollowed out pigeon deathtrap and eyesore that met us every morning as
we entered school.
By Miguel
Felix
Staff
Reporter
One would think that with decades of attempting to achieve
gender equality, women would finally feel safe while in the presence of a
man. Unfortunately, this is not
the case.
Many women today are constantly harassed or abused in such
an ambiguous manner that, for the most part, the harassment goes
unchallenged.
Society’s
false perceptions of what love or beauty is reinforces these sexist attitudes
and feeds it to the youth today.
A
group of women ranging in age and experience is choosing to challenge
this. Mujeres Libres, located in
the Los Angeles area, is a group of women dedicated to the empowerment and
safety of women solving conflicts through discussion, and to help women release
their frustrations in a positive manner.
Raised
in a home by a single immigrant mother who experienced rape and racism in this
country, co-founders Alejandra Sanchez and Sandra Torres saw the necessity of
such an organization. They saw the
importance of creating these safe spaces for women to turn to when their
oppression becomes unbearable.
The
collective offers activities that foster the development of women. They conduct cultural events, graffiti
art, reading groups, and events that deal with issues that concern women.
Another
important principle of the collective is autonomy. For this purpose the safety of autonomous space is
important. One such
space is the South Central Farm, which provides healthy food to the South
Central Los Angeles community, feeding over 350 poor and hard-working families.
Mujeres
Libres has exerted much effort to protect these spaces that help to build
connections between individuals of a community.
Being
able to express themselves more, building unity, and having a support base when
life has them at their breaking point has been what women have needed.
If
this nation is ever to truly call itself a free and equal society, it must
apply to women as well. Years of
hard work towards gaining recognition in society cannot go in vain. It is our
everyday interactions that portray whethe0r women are truly free.
Masquerading
the sexism of our society will accomplish nothing, but groups like Mujeres
Libres will free women from their chains.
Anyone
can take part in the collective, male or female, and they can be contacted at mujereslibres@riseup.net.
By Kim
Stern
Staff
Reporter
One minute gas prices start to come down, the next they soar
straight back up. It’s almost like a roller coaster, where you start climbing
up to the very top, wondering if the ride will ever stop.
Last
time I looked, gas prices were currently around $2.58 for premium. However,
prices can raise a couple of cents in the blink of an eye. With America’s high
demand for larger, less fuel-efficient vehicles, it’s no wonder people are
forced to spend more.
The
average person drives about 29 miles a day, spends about 55 minutes in a
vehicle every day, and accumulates about 12,000 miles per year.
Gas
consumption for each vehicle is around 550 gallons annually, which amounts to
$1,419 for each one.
Fuel
conservation is one way to save money. It also benefits the environment along
with improving safety.
Another
way that impacts the amount of fuel used is a person’s driving style. Going
from zero to 50 just to be the first to the next stoplight actually burns more
gas. Every time a car accelerates it uses more gas, so maintaining steady
speeds is better overall. Going faster on the road means going faster through
the money in your wallet.
We
can all save fuel by slowing down, avoiding quick starts and sudden stops,
keeping track of gas mileage, and driving cars with smaller engines because
they have better gas mileage.
With
gas prices still rising, I can only imagine that soon they’ll be selling gift
cards for the gas station!
Letters
to the Editor:
It was
great that the article “Ana Mejia Named Champion of Character” by Jodi
Nakawatase was published in the December 2005 issue of the Corydon. Ana Mejia
seems to be a very admirable role model to Millikan students, as she
demonstrates the qualities possessed
by good leaders: being active and giving back to her community, being
active in school, and maintaining a high GPA. She proves that any Millikan student
can do what she has done and make a difference for both others and herself. I
believe more articles of this nature should be published more frequently.
Natalie
Sarreal Grade 12
The article
“Gun Control Makes a Bang” misses the point that, although guns are harmful to
society, the right to own one is guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. This right
is protected by the American Constitution; if it is taken away, then any of our
most basic rights could be taken away. Although I don’t approve of gun ownership
I believe that protecting the Bill of Rights is more important for the safety
of American citizens. This is not an issue of gun control, but of preserving
our civil rights.
Dylan
Russell Grade 12
Regarding
the article, “Christmas Crosses Out Other Religions,” I think you make
important points. America is very diverse, and people should recognize the
other religious holidays. But, I think since the most celebrated holiday is
Christmas that others shouldn’t get offended when others say, “Merry Christmas.”
For most, saying Merry Christmas is just a habit. Besides, the holidays are a
time of love and joy, so people shouldn’t get so hostile. I say, “Happy
Holidays,” but I don’t think people should be so jumpy when others say “Merry
Christmas.”
Ashton
Clark Grade 12
I think
it’s a really good thing that teachers on this campus are recognized for their
teaching capabilities. It makes Millikan students and staff proud to know that
we have such accomplished teachers on our campus. Also, the article on Kwanzaa
is great in teaching us about holidays that aren’t widely known about. I think
people of all ethnicities should learn about each others’ cultures. Keep up the
good work.
Diana Ruiz
Grade 12
By Laura
Dahms
Senior
Staff Writer
A new law instated by the Department of Motor Vehicles
states that drivers under the age of 18 must be off the road by 11 p.m. and may
not carry any passengers under 20 for an entire year.
Teenagers
are notorious for being reckless and apathetic to those around them in driving
situations; now a law has been instated to protect other motorists on the road.
California’s
Highway Patrol calculated that 17,356 accidents in 2005 alone involved drivers
who were 16 or 17 years of age. Also, teenagers were found to be 66%
responsible for accidents and 70% responsible for fatalities!
Nationwide,
teenagers have the highest accident rates, and most of their accidents are
caused within the first year of
them receiving their licenses. This is probably due to them paying more
attention to their friends and passengers
than to the road.
As
a teenage driver unaffected by the new rule, I must agree with this new law. In
fact, I received my driver’s license at 16, but didn’t start driving until I
was 17 years old. There are many exceptions to every situation, but it has been
my experience that 16- year-olds do not have enough confidence or the attention
span to drive carefully even without their friends. Adding passengers only increases their chance of having
an accident.
California
joins 48 other states and the District of Columbia in approving some form of
teenage driving restriction. This law is not discrimination on the young and
ignorant. It is a respected law being established for the care of its citizens.
By Jennifer
Pletcher
Senior
Staff Writer
It was proposed that teenagers wait another six months in
addition to the normal six-month provisional license period because teens are
irresponsible and don’t have enough driving experience. But an 18-year-old does
not have to worry about the new law, nor do they have to wait six months or
obtain a permit.
Why
is it that a 16- or 17-year-old cannot drive passengers for year while an
inexperienced 18-year-old doesn’t? It is just as likely for an older driver to
get into a car accident as much as an 18-year-old.
I
know from experience that it is handy to have passengers. The other night, my
car over-heated as I was driving a friend home and I became hysterical.
My
friend had to talk to AAA as I was in no condition to talk. If it wasn’t for
her, I would still be stuck on the side of the freeway.
“I
don’t see why they’re going to put this law in,” junior Brianna Perez states.
“People are going to break it. They already break the six-month rule. This
isn’t any different.”
Being
someone who had just received her license six months ago, I see the new law as
a ridiculous discrimination against teenagers. Any new driver is capable of getting into an
accident, not just someone under the age of 18. Adults see teens as being wild
and crazy, but not every teen acts that way.
“Not
having people in the car isn’t going to give you driving experience,” says
Perez. Having passengers can actually be life saving. They can help you look out for near-accidents and
if you need to get somewhere and don’t know where it is, they can help read a
map.
By Marina
Gurrola
Staff
Reporter
February has been named Black History Month to honor those
African Americans who have helped to shape our history.
Americans
honor inspirational African Americans from the past, present, and future.
Carter G. Woodson, the son of former slaves, dedicated his life to African
Americans and civil rights. Woodson organized the first annual Negro History
Week, which is the second week of February.
Born
in 1929, Martin Luther King Jr. was a strong civil rights worker and a member
of the NAACP, (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).
King led the bus boycott in Alabama and emerged as a leader around the
world.
A
peace march was directed by King in Washington, D.C. that included 250,000
people who listened to his "I Have a Dream" speech.
King’s
dream came to reality and soon everyone was granted equal rights. He was the
voice for many African Americans in promoting civil rights and wanted to prove
that violence accomplishes nothing. He was assassinated in 1968 but will remain
an inspiration to all Americans.
Another
hero from African history is the mother of the civil rights revolution, Rosa
Parks. She refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white person, which
waswhat provoked the bus boycott. Rosa Parks passed away last year and was certainly a strong role model
that others will continue to looked up.
Thurgood
Marshall was a civil rights activist and counsel member of the NAACP.
Marshall’s biggest highlight of his life was Brown v. Board of Education, which helped put an end to
segregation in education. Thurgood
Marshall was also appointed U.S.
Solicitor General, Johnson and then to the U.S. Supreme Court by President
Lyndon B. He would be the first
African American to hold an office position.
Marshall
was a leader in gaining civil
rights for African Americans. He will always be praised for his contributions.
Black
History Month is the time to learn about how different inspirational African
Americans did everything in their power to receive civil rights.
Martin
Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall, and many more civil rights
activists made it possible to end discrimination in our society today.
By Jerome
Calimquim
Editor-in-Chief
How well do you know your politics?
Samuel
Alito, a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, has
just been appointed to the position of Associate Chief Justice of the United
States Supreme Court. President
Bush put forward Alito’s name on October 31 to replace Justice Sandra Day
O’Connor after she announced her retirement.
So
what does that mean, exactly?
In
Supreme Court cases, associate justices have a vote in determining the verdict.
That means Alito can vote on issues that deal with abortion and same-sex
marriage--issues that also affect teenagers.
Alito’s
past includes a Pennsylvania law that requires women to notify their husbands
before having an abortion. However, the Supreme Court overruled his decision
and claimed it violated a woman’s rights.
Additionally,
Alito was involved in a case where he believed government-sponsored holiday
displays may not contain religious symbols; however, a display of both
religious and secular symbols would be permissible.
The
American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary unanimously
rated Alito as “well qualified” for the position.
By Megan
Boles
Staff
Reporter
A holiday party for the special education students was held
on December 21. It was sponsored by several local businesses and was a huge
success.
Millikan
was selected by the Banana Republic store at The Grove in Los Angeles to
participate in their adopt-a-classroom program.
The United Way put Millikan in touch
with this program.
Dr.
James, Ms. Messinger, Mr. Gonzalez, and Mr. Munson’s classes were all chosen.
Since the party was specifically for the holidays, Banana Republic purchased
gifts for each student based on thier interests, and all of them were extremely
pleased with what they had received.
Papa
John’s (on South Street and Bellflower) and Ecco’s (on Stearns and Bellflower)
donated pizza for guests. El Torito (on Atlantic) helped out as well, with
donations of chips and salsa.
As
if that wasn’t enough, students
also received a visit from Santa, which was a great way to start the holiday
season.
By Bianca
Palos
Staff
Reporter
Many teens find themselves under stress. And either they
deal with it or let it get to them. But do they know how it affects them
physically?
Even
though stress helps to keep us alert, it can be incredibly dangerous. Constant
stress can cause headaches, upset stomachs, high blood pressure, problems
sleeping, and chest pain. Stress is also a big part of heart disease, suicide,
accidents, and cancer.
Frequent
stress weakens the body’s natural defenses and causes dizziness, aches, pains,
indigestion, grinding of teeth, clenched jaw, muscle tension in neck,
shoulders, and/or face, tiredness, cold and sweating palms, and weight gain.
In
some people stress can also cause high cholesterol and addictions. Chronic
stress allows the body to add dangerous forms of cholesterol resulting in some
heart diseases.
Stress
lowers the body’s ability to use fat as the body’s energy source, increasing
the amount of stored fat in the body.
Stress
can weaken the immune system and change the body’s biochemical state, which
results in anger and aggression. Skin diseases and even strep throat can occur.
Over exercising can be harmful because it increases the demands on the heart
muscle through a reduced amount of blood flow.
Students
and stress often go hand-in-hand because of too much homework, over-scheduled
classes, and personal problems. But when students are under stress they lose
interest and attention, they also became negative, and anxious.
However
hope is not lost. There are helpful ways to relieve stress. Keep a positive
attitude, knowing it’s okay to fail sometimes. Be assertive with your feelings,
but not aggressive or passive. Learn and practice relaxation techniques. You
must also exercise regularly, eat healthy food, and get 8 or 9 hours of sleep a night.
Never
rely on drugs and alcohol for stress relief. Manage your time. Also try new skills and activites for a
change.
So
chin up, take a deep breath, and let go of the stress.
By
Kim Stern
Staff Reporter
Athletes play a major role in
society on and off the field. In the competitive world, pushing yourself to the
limit can be a strain on the mind and body.
Steroids are considered a feasible
option for some athletes who are desperate to enhance their game and to achieve
an unfair advantage over others. So will steroids magically get them results?
The answer is simple: Steroids don’t make great athletes, they destroy them.
Young athletes who wish to pursue
any kind of sport will look up to professional athletes as role models. What
kind of messages are athletes sending to young kids when they use steroids?
In fact, through this influence
young athletes might become addicted and dependent on the drug. As a result of
the addiction, this will not only be a physical risk, but also a psychological
one. Withdrawal symptoms will occur, and the most dangerous one is depression,
which can lead to suicide. Also small doses of anabolic steroids have been
shown to stunt growth.
In every kind of sport today there’s
a tremendous amount of pressure to be number one. There’s hardly any room for
error, which is why some athletes resort to steroids.
There are two ways to take steroids.
One is through pills and the other is to inject them with a needle. Needles are
the most dangerous way because athletes who share needles are at a high risk
for serious infections including Hepatitis B and HIV.
Although many athletes are looking
for a fast and effective way to have that competitive edge, they fail to
realize the serious health problems. Some side effects for both male and female
athletes are headaches, aching joints, muscle cramps, and increased risk of
ligament and tendon injuries.
Emotionally, steroids result in
aggressive behavior, severe mood swings, hallucinations, paranoia, and
depression.
Steroids will damage a life both
physically and emotionally, leaving the athletes worse off than their
opponents. Not only will serious consequences occur (considering the drug is
illegal), but an athlete taking steroids is promoting a bad image to society
and children.
Athletes must remember that eating
right and exercise is the best way to enhance your athletic ability.
By Zachary Sullivan
Ass’t Editor-in-Chief
The Steelers foresaw the Super Bowl in the near
future. From the nail biter in Indianapolis to the blow-out in Denver, they
proved to be Super Bowl worthy.
All-Pro running back Jerome Bettis, who will someday be in the Hall of Fame,
gets a chance to do something most NFL veterans don’t: win a Super Bowl. Led by
sophomore quarter back Ben Rothlesberger, the Steelers are the team to win. The
factor that makes them so dominant is that their offense is equally as strong
as their defense.
During the regular season the Steelers were seventh in the league in takeaways (the amount of times you take the ball from the opposing team). Throughout the year the Steelers stayed tough on defense and finished with the fourth best defense in the league. Pittsburgh’s offense was also very productive in their season and playoffs. Their motto-- score early, then run the clock out--has worked all year.
Coach Bill Cowher has shown he knows
what it takes to win. They don’t have that one great player who makes all the
plays, they do it as a team.
The Seattle Seahawks’ Sunday,
January 22, win over the Carolina Panthers was more than just a win. They
proved they are worthy of a chance to play in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks have
never played in the big game and the franchise is eager to compete and win.
Throughout the season the team was led by the NFL’s rushing champion and MVP
Shaun Alexander. All season long the Seahawks have had an explosive offense,
stunning their opponents with big plays. Unlike the Steelers, the Seahawks
survive off of big plays and don’t use the ball control method as much. They
finished with the second best offense in the league. Defensively, the Seahawks
were impressive.
Head coach Mike Holgrem has won and
lost in the Super Bowl before so he has the experience to take the team all the
way to the top. With teams so well matched, this Sunday’s game should be
exciting.
For the Record:
Regarding the tennis article published in the December issue
of the Corydon: Walk-on coaches are paid for their work during the regular
season, but they are not financially compensated for their time during
off-season.
The girls’ tennis team does receive the same amount of monetary support as
other teams. However, tennis players have to buy their own equipment, such as
rackets and uniforms.›