“Get a life.”

“You’re such a poser.”

Cyberbullying poses challenges for students and administrators

Bullying no longer just accounts for name-calling in the hallways, or pinning a freshman up against his locker.

The cruelty has taken on a new face in an era where a large percentage of communication and interaction takes place on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Formspring.

Few teens are strangers to being either victims or perpetrators of such harmful comments. Whether on the giving or receiving end of such insults, the hurtful effects of demeaning words have either been experienced or witnessed by most adolescents.

When students were picked at random and asked to define bullying by MavLife, most recognized it as an act of aggression by people who were insecure themselves.

“Bullying is when people think they have a higher status over someone else and they take out aggressive feelings towards [them] because they think they can make themselves feel better by putting someone else down,” senior Bronson Young said.

Freshman Pierce Harrington believes that bullying is “wrong and mean” and there is simply “no need.” Similarly, Senior Luke Ashworth defined bullying as “degrading one’s self worth.”

However in this day, Cyberbullies have emerged. They maintain the advantage of being anonymous, a quality that can give some the power to hide and be reassured that they will not be punished for their actions.

“When it’s not to your face, I think people can be more mean to you because they are not as intimidated,” freshman Samantha Archinal said.

“Being anonymous gives the bully power,” junior Allison Zimmerman said.

The effects of bullying have made headlines nationally with stories of depression and even suicides. Some students, like senior Julian Todd-Borden, believe that the act of bullying breeds new bullies.

“People lose friends or end up drinking or doing drugs to cope with the loss of self-esteem or they become bullies themselves,” Todd-Borden said.

Principal Kyle Ruggles recognizes cyberbullying as a serious issue but explains that he has limited control over students’ online activity.

“There are millions of things going on in cyberspace that I can’t have full authority over,” Dr. Ruggles said. “If the conflict that begins in cyberspace comes onto school grounds, I have full control and can deal with the disciplinary actions for those students.”

Dr. Ruggles has been faced with a district that does not have formal guidelines dealing with bullying via the Internet. The district has, however, put in place new policies that address how teachers use social media for instructional purposes and there is some language that addresses cyberbullying within that limited context. For example, in the policy for social media for both teachers and students it states, “District staff does not regularly monitor postings made by students” and that “parents and students are responsible for all content shared.”

However, Dr. Ruggles is trying to put in place new policies that do address the problem.

“There is no reason that any student should ever be bullied for any reason, either in cyberspace or in person,” Dr. Ruggles said.

Parents and schools as well as the media are drawing attention to incidents of bullying in cyberspace. With cyberbullying out in the open and now recognized as a form of cowardise, its impact can be lessened.

As Young states, “bullying is cowardly in the first place, but cyberbullying is just ridiculous.”

For those starved by Lady Gaga, tired of Taylor Swift, and waiting desperately for more Bon Iver, here it is.

When Nick Roberts and Josh Morris, now best friends, met at a college orientation in Florida, they never expected to be in a band together. However, Roberts recalls that when he and Morris began playing together, “it just all kind of fell into place.”

As Blue Eyed Night Owl reported, And The Giraffe came up with the idea for their name when they were “just throwing out ideas. Nick suggested Giraffe as their band name. I then thought we could name ourselves ‘The Pelican and the Giraffe’ after the Roald Dahl book,” Morris said. After deciding that that was too long for a band name, they decided to shorten the name and as a result, And The Giraffe was created.

“Some people think that our name is Giraffe when we get put at the end of a bill, but we love it all the same,” Morris said.

The main musical conception happened through Dropbox, a company founded in 2007 that allows files to appear on any computer. Changes are saved automatically, allowing for Roberts and Morris to collaborate in real time even though they weren’t together in the same room. This program is similar to GoogleDocs and allows for edits to be made in the same file from different locations.

The band was able to write a strong album, although most songs were written while Roberts and Morris were 519 miles apart from each other. They explain it was like, “a handful of surprises,” every time something had been updated.

Their EP, “Something for Someone,” is a beautiful blend of folk and indie music, creating what the duo aptly refers to as “dream-folk.” And The Giraffe has managed to find a place in music that belongs solely to them.

Each song on the album was created by its own unique process; some were pieced together over the course of months (such as “Still”), while others can be created in an hour (as in “Masquerade”).

With gentle drifts of piano and soft sounds of the acoustic guitar, it is all too easy to get lost in the dreamy fog of melody that engrosses this album.

When the song “Still” closes out the album, listeners hear the line: “We are gonna be big stars some day.” If And The Giraffe keeps producing music like this, it is hard to doubt them.

Since And The Giraffe is a new band, their music may not yet be labelled. However, some comparisons may be easily drawn. If you are a fan of Iron & Wine or Bon Iver, you will instantly fall in love with And The Giraffe. However, for people less schooled in the “indie arts,” the sounds of And The Giraffe connect to the feel of the “Juno” soundtrack or any of the “Twilight” movies.

You won’t find And The Giraffe’s music on iTunes, but if you feel like getting lost in the fog of “Something of Someone,” you can download it from their website at www.andthegiraffe.com or www.andthegiraffe.bandcamp.com for the “low, low price of free.”

Despite And The Giraffe’s many powerful influences, they have managed to create a sound that is completely their own.

“We are just two guys who love making music,” Roberts said.

by Anthony Fregroso, Staff Writer

We all recognize the “funny guys” that we see on the stage once a month, but is there more to them hidden behind their jokes?

There is much more to what seems to be a simple group of hilarious guys who are great at improvisation. ComedySportz is a well-oiled machine consisting of a president, a vice president, an advertising agent, a treasurer, and a supporting cast.

Senior Danny Birmingham is the man in charge of it all– el presidente, the head honcho– he watches over the entire operation and mentors others in improv. But do we really know Danny Birmingham? An interesting factoid about Birmingham is that he sleeps in a sleeping mask and wears ear plugs. He is a talented filmmaker and yodeler. When asked what he thinks makes him funny, he said that he “would leave that to the audience to answer.”

Senior Brandon Nourse, Vice President, is equally as talented as his partner Birmingham. They run the program side by side and teach other students to venture into the world of improv. Nourse said that the strangest thing about him is “his good looks” and that his special talent is “rigging.” He enjoys ComedySportz most for the surge of energy that he gets while on stage. Nourse believes what makes him funny is his confidence.

Senior Peter Norton, the program’s advertiser, has made ComedySportz a big hit. Norton claims that having the same haircut since fourth grade is the strangest thing about him. Norton taught himself how to play the banjo and has the ability to keep his eyes open for a few minutes without blinking. Norton also told MavLife that he does ComedySportz for the “babes.”

Finally, senior Cameron Gurley is responsible for managing the program’s money. Gurley’s right eye is two different colors, which he believes to be the strangest thing about him. He also mentioned that he still gets Legos every Christmas. Gurley is especially proud of his ability to maintain a 1.47 Kill:Death Ratio in “Call of Duty:Modern Warfare 3.” His favorite part about ComedySportz is the friendships he has made. Gurley says he does ComedySportz because his mom makes him. He thinks that his funniest attribute is his feminine side.

Cameron Gurley is the entertainment editor of MavLife and is also an officer of Comedy Sportz. He was not involved in the development of this story. 

There is one commonly asked question that have left millions clueless: Which has the better burger, Five Guys or In-N-Out?

Both of the famous burgers have put their respected restaurants onto a path to glory. Each of these restaurants have specialties that are uniquely their own and flavors that make your taste buds scream for more.

This question is more serious than life itself and should be answered with intense precision. Both restaurants have completely different backgrounds, yet both have landed in the hall of fame of fast food burgers.

Five Guys started out in 2002 as a small take-out shop in Arlington, Virginia. Founded by a young Jerry Murrell just outside the nation’s capital, Five Guys turned from a small take-out shop to a nationwide chain consisting of over 500 restaurants.

The “Five Guys” in the name include Murrell, the owner, and his four sons. Five Guys has managed to obtain elite status in a relatively short amount of time.

In fact, according to Politics Daily, after President Obama came in for a quick hamburger run, the sales more than doubled in the weeks to follow.

The west coast counterpart to Five Guys, In-N-Out Burger, was founded in 1948 by Harry and Esther Snyder at Baldwin Park, California.

Harry had an idea of a restaurant which provided “drive-thru” services for its customers. As a result, In-N-Out became the world’s first “drive-thru” restaurant. Harry’s idea of a “drive-thru” caught on rapidly and is seen in many fast food restaurants today.

In-N-Out opened a second restaurant in 1951 and has since spread throughout California, Nevada and Arizona. It has become a common favorite for many local burger lovers. In-N-Out has, without a doubt, reserved itself a spot in the burger hall of fame.

MavLife conducted a survey of students to crack open this impossible question: Which has the better burger, In-N-Out or Five Guys?

In-N-Out earned 35 more votes than Five Guys, which earned just 11 votes.

In-N-Out was said by students as “100 times better than Five Guys” said Freshman Kaci Romley.

“Five Guys and In-N-Out are good but Five guys does not compare to In-N-Out,” freshman Kaci Romley said.

So what makes In-N-Out better than Five Guys?

“The sauce, the price, the dank,” senior Collin Myers said.

In-N-Out is also said to have better fries then Five Guys along with the option to buy shakes.

What makes Five Guys a contender to In-N-Out?

“They have size and you can stack them with bacon,” freshman Andre Chan said.

Five Guys also has more locations nationwide than In-N-Out and offers huge sizes, as well as Cajun fries.

It was clear that Five guys, a seemingly worthy contender, was blown out of the soda and got fried by its local competitor. It seems that MavLife discovered where the loyalties of La Costa Canyon’s students lie.

I have come to the conclusion that there are two forms of favoritism: beneficial and social. While I feel neither is an extensive problem on campus, I do see that the latter is a defining symbol of the teacher-student relationship at our school.

In my mind, when a student is given advantages in terms of grading or class privileges, it is beneficial favoritism. It involves putting a student on a pedestal that is raised higher than his or her classmates.

From the teacher’s perspective, that person can do no wrong, and is thus deserving of the benefits that accompany that flawlessness. However, this is often simply the result of a teacher being so blinded by a student’s performance in some aspect of the class or by some attractive trait that the student possesses, that the teacher is unable to see past the perfect exterior.

The student then knows that he or she can manipulate the teacher to get that 86% in Aeries to show up as an A, and that the power has shifted into their hands. This form of complete idolizing a student is not common at LCC, and I will be the first to say that in my four years here, my encounters with beneficial favoritism have been far and few.

However, I see extensive examples of social favoritism taking place all over campus. While harmless and often disregarded, this form of favoritism takes place mainly in the development of the teacher-student relationship. Social favoritism includes the student who has personal conversations with the teacher in the middle of class or is the subject of any other display of fondness from the teacher.

But I have noticed that it’s a certain type of student that is often the subject of this favoritism, and generally it’s either the jocks, the intellectually superior, or the person with that profusely bubbly personality. While few students who are the subject of this favoritism will say that they dislike the attention they receive, it is undeniable that it takes place.

I must stress that social favoritism is not something to be angry about, for it often is just the result of a teacher having a particular interest in a student as a result of a similarity or unique trait. It is not any sort of preferential treatment, but more a teacher’s enjoyment in one student over another because that student goes in before school or does those recommended readings that only a few students actually do.

So comes the question, does favoritism of students by teachers take place at LCC? My first reaction would be to say yes, and immediately thoughts of teachers conspiring against me come to mind.

But when I really think about it, the answer is truly no. Many students feel victimized by a bias that isn’t there, blaming favoritism for their own mistakes. A teacher connecting with one student possibly more than another does not constitute favoritism. I see no problem with this kind of student-teacher bonding, but once the relationship leads to the teacher allowing the student to have more benefits than their classmates, it becomes unethical.

Thankfully, my experience at LCC has not shown any evidence of favoritism raging through campus, and for that I thank the teachers’ morality and desire for fair treatment of students.

The Varsity boys basketball team gained more than the juniors who moved up from JV this year. They also gained a new assistant coach, Garrett Happ.

Students may know Happ as an Honors Pre-Calculus or Algebra I teacher, but his skills on the court may be just as valuable as his ability to find derivatives and limits in the classroom.

Happ brings his own basketball experience to the court.

“I played basketball in high school and I wanted to be a part of the team here at LCC,” Happ said. “I was introduced to Coach Cassaw and told him I was interested in being an assistant coach. He said he would love to have me help out so I became an assistant.”

Though it has only been a short period of time that the team has been practicing with the addition of Happ, they seem to have a great deal of respect for his knowledge of the game.

“He has already proved to us that he understands the game and that he can be a significant piece in our title hopes,” senior David Travers said.

With over 20 boys on the team and only three coaches to keep them focused, the addition of Happ has the possibility of improving their game and increasing the chances of reaching a CIF title again this year.

“He has brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to our practices and he has corrected a lot of little things to improve our performance,” junior Jeff VanDyke said.

Assistant coach Tom Meeks couldn’t agree more.

“It is always good to have another set of eyes during practice to help evaluate our progress,” Meeks said. “We have such a large team. We need Coach Happ to give all players the attention they deserve.”

Happ already feels part of the team.

“I feel the team has responded well to my presence,” Happ said. “They have been very welcoming. They are a hard-working and fun group of boys to coach.”

Happ hopes to contribute to the team by bringing a positive attitude to the table.

“I’m just trying to help out in any way possible,” said Happ.

The addition of Happ not only helps fix technical mistakes, but his presence on the court mends the age difference between the players and coaches.

“The greatest benefit coach Happ brings is his age, allowing him to relate to high school players,” Meeks said. “I think it’s a great asset to the team to have another young coach,” Travers added.

There are endless possibilities for what the the team can accomplish this upcoming basketball season.

“We need to play team defense and move the ball on offense but I definitely believe we have a strong chance of repeating as CIF champs with the talent level we have,” VanDyke said.

For his part, Happ is optimistic about the upcoming season.

“I think we will have a solid year,” Happ said. “We have started off 4-0 and I hope that continues. The boys are working very hard and it’s paying off,” Happ said.

As current seniors may recall, a unique event called Challenge Day took place during the 2008-2009 school year. Since then, the event has not happened again; however, the administration is working hard to bring it back.

“It will include all student groups,” Principal Kyle Ruggles said. “We want to break down barriers.”

Seniors who participated three years ago have nothing but good things to say about the program.

“It was amazing and something that should be done again,” senior Jill Margiotta said. “It would definitely make the school a better place.”

In addition to improving the school, senior Ashley Daniel insists it helped her personally as well.

“I realized a lot about myself,” Daniel said. “It was a really good experience, especially as a freshman. I think it would be really helpful to the underclassmen of the school.”

Challenge day will happen over a period of three days, serving 300 students school-wide. However, participants will be chosen selectively and cannot simply sign-up.

“The Challenge Day people facilitate who is chosen, though teachers will be asked to participate in selection too,” Dr. Ruggles said.

Designed to help improve intellectual flexibility, task leadership, emotional control, self confidence, and emotional competence, the program has been held in junior high and high schools since 1987. It has reached one million youth in four hundred cities, forty-five U.S. states, and five provinces of Canada.

During the three days, the students will take part in games and activities presented by the program, which will include the “Notice, Choose & Act” workshop and the trademark “If You Really Knew Me” activity. These, along with other activities, bring the participants closer together.

“We want to help people cut through the exterior things to get to the core and come to the realization that we’re not all that different,” Dr. Ruggles said.

Additionally, there is a campus-wide separation that  the administration hopes the implementation of Challenge Day will address.

“I’ve spoken to some new students this year, and they feel that there are a lot of cliques. I don’t see it as a problem, but we can always do something to bring those people together,” Dr. Ruggles said.

Challenge Day is expected to affect its many participants, but it is obvious that just three days cannot keep a feeling of unity for the rest of the year.

“Be the Change will be a big part,” Dr. Ruggles said of the club on campus dedicated to reaching the Challenge Day outcome. “They’ll sustain the effects.”

This club, run by senior Karlee Fuller, meets on Mondays in room 300. It is, however, open to all students, regardless of whether they participate in Challenge Day.

In the end, Dr. Ruggles believes that bringing Challenge Day back will improve the school.

“We’re all striving for the same goal,” Dr. Ruggles said. “We want our student and school communities to be the best that they can be.”

“The main problem area is the parking lot,” head custodian Ambrose Quuebedeaux said. “Students throw their trash on the deck in the rush to get back to class.”

Students eat and then leave to get to class. Due to budget cuts, the number of custodians has been significantly reduced. This means that the garbage piles up and the custodians are soon overwhelmed.

“It takes us about two hours with three custodians to clean up the mess,” Quebedeaux.

Cleaning up behind students takes away time that could be devoted elsewhere on campus such general maintenance and classroom improvements.

Students likley don’t realize just how much trash is left.

“[The amount of trash left] equals about 3 cubic yards of trash or one whole dumpster,” Quebedeaux said.

Yet, not every student eats in or even near the parking lot and consequently that’s not the only problem area.

“Another area is the student center, since so many kids hang out there,” Quebedeaux said.

Some students on campus are seeking to become part of the solution. The club O2 For Life has set up a composting program behind the 600 quad, for example, but not all students know about it.

“I didn’t know [that the school has a composting area],” senior Amber Williams said. “I’d like to help our school be more green, though.”

While well hidden from the view of most students, the large composting area behind the 600 quad boasts eight large composting bins, and is well maintained by students like senior and club president Ashley Daniel.

“Our main goal is to set up the program and to also get local elementary schools’ composting programs set up,” Daniel said. “Hopefully we will solve the issue soon.”

Composting is a helpful way to reduce trash, since it enables students to dispose of their food items in an alternative way. Though composting is a more involved process than simply throwing trash away, the potential benefits might encourage students to do more.

“I’d naturally be more inclined to make sure that my trash gets where it needs to be if I was more involved in composting,” sophomore Victor Perez said.

For students looking to maintain a beautiful campus, compositing is a viable alternative to littering.

Consisting of over 70 members, the Maverick Brigade can be seen on the field at halftime of every home football game, as well as at select away games and marching band competitions all over the country.

For the successful, award-winning band that they are, many students claim to have never even heard of the Maverick Brigade.

“I think people appreciate us but nobody really understands how much we practice,” junior Lalia Al-Shamma said. Their full rehearsal schedule earns them more and more recognition each day.

“This year, we won a Unanimous Superior for concert band. We marched in [the 2011 New Years Day] parade in London, and the Queen was there,” Al-Shamma said.  Both the Marching Band and Color Guard participated.

A “Unanimous Superior” is the highest award that bands can receive at tournaments. It is the title that they strive for at each tournament they attended.

“Also, we recently had 3 tournaments with 7 to 8 schools and placed 4 out of 20 in the very final,” Al-Shamma said.

The Maverick Brigade spends an average of 6 hours a week rehearsing, although it can get up to 10 hours or more when they have practices for competitions or games.

“We spend so much time together in rehearsal and at tournaments that everyone gets to be really close,” junior Kamalia Freyling said.

“We’re like a family,” junior Brianna Johnson said. “We encourage each other. Some people also work together for duets, which always end up really pretty.”

The band members interviewed agree that the Brigade is not largely recognized by the school. Principal Kyle Ruggles agrees.

“I think a few people, though not nearly enough, are finally starting to understand that we do in fact have a top-notch band here on our campus,” Dr. Ruggles said. “I am extremely proud of how all of their hard work and practice pays off. There is definitely another side to LCC besides sports.”

The bulk of activities and rehearsals for marching band take place during the first semester, with students meeting for band camp in August and ending the competition season in late November.

Students in marching band can receive PE credit for their time, which is especially important if one is looking to free up a spot in his or her schedule to take other classes required for graduation.

According to Band Director Carissa Mattison, in order to earn two years of PE credit, band members must show up to rehearsals after school, attend all home football games, and participate in four competitions during first semester.

In addition, students need to do four years of marching band to get two years of PE credit. Students who choose this path would have to fulfill the Health requirement on their own time.

Anyone who is looking to catch a glimpse of the Maverick Brigade’s performances can visit their YouTube channel under “TheMaverickBrigade” or “like” their page on Facebook.

You’re favorite time of year is finally here. Your bold attitude attracts an unexpected admirer. Now is not the time to chicken-out. Change is coming your way. Be ready and be brave! You can do it!

Capricorn

You are not your usual self lately. Your quiet side seems to throw people off. Just be yourself and let go of whatever is holding you back. Your confidence is itching to get out. Go shine! Be a star!

Aquarius

You will no longer be torn between pulling desires. Your confusion will disappear and you will feel relieved after making the right decision. Choose wisely and you won’t regret it.

Pisces

Patience is a virtue. Don’t get too caught up with what lies ahead. Take a deep breath and find a good, new distraction. Relax and wait. Things can change in the blink of an eye.

Aries

Don’t get too down on yourself. Not everything lasts forever. A brighter future waits ahead. Keep your head up. A new talent is being recognized that will keep your mind off whatever is bothering you. Be careful to not let it define who you truly are though.

Taurus

Try not to stay invisible this season. You don’t always have to be bulletproof. A close friend sees your pain. Don’t be afraid to open up. Trust your instincts. Good luck, Taurus!

Gemini

Calm down, Gem. Things are looking up from here. A slight rough patch helps you learn an important lesson. You are on the right path now. Keep looking ahead. Better things are heading your way.

Cancer

Rep red this season. You will notice all eyes on you. Soak in the good attention, but don’t let it go to your head. This new confidence will rekindle an old flame. Don’t be afraid to follow your heart.

Leo

Your leader-of-the-pack personality can be scary to some people. You are definitely dependable, but tone down your loud confidence. Some may find you a little egotistical right now. Take a step back and let things simmer down for a while.

Virgo

It is a stressful time for you right now. You are faced with a difficult decision. Don’t just take the easy way out. Carefully study what is best for everyone. The pressure is on. Good luck!

Libra

Stop avoiding your problems. Expressing your true feelings will be difficult, but it is time to move on and face your fears. Being cowardly will get you nowhere. You’ve taken 10 steps forward, don’t take 20 steps back. You can do it!

Scorpio

Way to go Scorpio! You just got your life back on track. You are so close to reaching your goals and friends and family are supporting you 100%. Congrats on a bright future.