Opinion

High school students are constantly faced with the challenge of balancing work, school, friends and family in their schedules. This is especially true for seniors at the start of the school year, when they become inundated with college applications. This fall, however, the seniors are not the only stressed group on campus.

Many teachers at Saratoga High are also juggling a more difficult balancing act this year, due to a change in the California Teachers of English Learners (CTEL) requirements.

On Sept. 10, while most Saratogans were just getting into bed, the world’s largest particle accelerator roared to life underneath Geneva, Switzerland. Skeptics thought it might doom the planet, but most scientists saw it for the advance it was.

Some bankers are generous to a vault.

We can’t help but see a grain of truth under the humor. A year ago, banks across the nation were trading deposits and dishing out cash to anyone stepping into their air-conditioned offices. Although many of these lucky beneficiaries dragged behind them a history of irresponsible spending and laundry lists of unpaid loans, the banks told them that as long as they used the loaned money to buy or invest in a house, everything would be fine.

War between nations takes a toll on all civilians, but it most directly affects the families of soldiers who are fighting in the war. These soldiers are voluntarily—when there is no draft—risking their lives for their countries, every day without hesitation. With the current shortage of troops, it is important for the military to use every man or woman they have to fight, and that includes the children of politicians.

“Join to find out how to get the old Facebook back,” advertises just one of the numerous anti-new-Facebook groups popping up. With the new Facebook now permanent and mandatory to use, countless people have been vocal about how much they absolutely hate it. But, what’s really wrong with this new layout?

For months, people debated whether allowing Beijing to host the 2008 Olympics was a smart move. Many regretted the choice, and harsh criticism still bombards the Chinese government for the way it handled the event. But these naysayers miss the point: The Olympics allowed the Chinese to showcase themselves to the world and instilled a thirst for more cultural and social freedom.

Homecoming is the one bright week during the beginning of the school year when students and staff alike look forward to lunchtime performances and a decorated campus. This year, however, what should have been a fun-filled week consumed with decorating and Quad Day performances was filled with exams and projects to round out the first grading period, which ended Oct. 3.

Once a peaceful country with economic stability, Zimbabwe has become a country ruled ruthlessly by vicious dictator Robert Mugabe, who will stop at nothing to achieve his own selfish goals.

Students have been in many situations where their cars have been vandalized, and with all the complaints the school is fed up. After dealing with years of vandalism incidents in the parking lots, the school has finally taken measures to bring vandals to justice by installing security cameras that will monitor parking lot behavior.

The Olympics have rarely before been so riddled with controversies as the recent Beijing games were. Before it had even started, protests erupted over China’s human rights record. These rallies did not coincide with China’s view of the Olympics as a chance to show itself as the country of the 21st century. It is completely illogical for China to be able gain international prestige when its government is so clearly a tyrant.