Mabel Hsu

My first, more personal notice of the cutbacks in the print world of newspapers was from the San Jose Mercury News' reduction from six Sunday comic pages to four. As a devoted SJMN comic follower, I was devastated. If a newspaper as prominent as the Mercury News was willing to cut back on the comics, it meant nothing was safe. In recent months, newspapers like the Rocky Mountain News in Colorado and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer have closed. Others like the San Francisco Chronicle may close soon because they’re losing millions as a result of ad revenue lost to the Internet. I guess you could say I’m biased, being on the newspaper staff and all, but I truly believe that being able to wake up every morning and having the newspaper nicely bundled and wrapped on my driveway is a gift. The world news, community on-goings, and comics, printed and inked on newspaper-paper, is a great way to start the morning. Unfortunately, now there's news of the decline, the disappearance, the apocalypse-of newspapers.

There have been a lot of outbreaks recently. The peanut butter salmonella crisis. SARS, Mad Cow Disease, and something about spinach and tomatoes. OK, so those weren’t recent, but we were too lazy to think of actual recent ones because signs of an annual outbreak have reappeared at Saratoga. There are some who call this outbreak “Senioritis,” but we prefer to call it the “much-deserved-brain-vacation-itis.”

The school welcomed 1995 alumni Kyle Barisich, who plays the lead role of Raul in the national tour of the Broadway musical “Phantom of the Opera.”

On Monday, Dec. 15, the school welcomed a guest speaker, 1995 alumni Kyle Barisich, who plays the lead role of Raul in the national tour of the Broadway musical “Phantom of the Opera.” He spoke to the fine arts program about his experience as a musician and actor.

Close proximity to Russia is not foreign policy experience. Being a self-proclaimed hockey mom in constant touch with Joe Plumber does not make one suitable to assist any presidential candidate in leading the United States of America. And insulting your opponent over and over again doesn’t make you look any better in the eyes of the American public.

Close proximity to Russia is not foreign policy experience. Being a self-proclaimed hockey mom in constant touch with Joe Plumber does not make one suitable to assist any presidential candidate in leading the United States of America. And insulting your opponent over and over again doesn’t make you look any better in the eyes of the American public.

Students at Saratoga High: There are more of you than you think. This year, many teachers at SHS are students once again. As of January 2008, the state of California required teachers to hold the California Teachers of English Learners (CTEL) certification. Teachers have the option of passing either three tests or completing four graduate level courses—either online or in a weekly class that last until mid April. English teacher Cathy Head became aware of the certification three years ago but did not know that it would be required of all teachers at the time.

Students at Saratoga High: There are more of you than you think. This year, many teachers at SHS are students once again. As of January 2008, the state of California required teachers to hold the California Teachers of English Learners (CTEL) certification. Teachers have the option of passing either three tests or completing four graduate level courses—either online or in a weekly class that last until mid April.

Teaching has traditionally been viewed as a noble profession; however, in light of recent events it may soon be considered a dangerous one as well. A string of educators, including history teachers Kim Anzalone and Jerry Sheehy, science teacher Lisa Cochrum, math teacher Julie Scola and French teacher Kim Bergkamp have suffered various accidents over the past month.

Results are in for the new Associated Student Body members and class officers, despite problems with the voting process this year. New ASB members include president Ketaki Shiram, a junior, vice president Felix Tuan, a junior, secretary Maggie Lin, a sophomore, and treasurer T.T. Tu, a junior. Senior class officers will be Lewis Chen, Rishi Taggarsi, Mabel Hsu and Heraa Hyder, respectively. Junior class officers will be Tiffany Mo, Jennifer Li, Allison Chen and Rebecca Amato respectively. Sophomore class representatives will be Aditya Dev, David Mandell, Michelle Wang and Nina Mohanty, respectively.