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November 29, 2011
Anirudh Pamula
Link Crew and ASB collaborated to create Washington’s first Activities Fair to have clubs recruit freshmen. The fair was held on Nov. 17.
“We wanted to show freshmen that school shouldn’t be just a chore and there is a lot of stuff to get involved in around school. This also helps out student’s grades because we find that students who are involved in clubs also get higher grades because they are more involved with the school” said Link Crew commissioner senior Eric Chu.
The fair consisted of several clubs that advertised their clubs to underclassmen. Since the fair took place during Husky period, time was short. Clubs recruited freshmen in various ways. Most clubs had their presidents utilize posters and signs for recruitment. Other clubs such as Guitar club had a live demonstration from senior Matt Nowzari and junior Joshua Laquian. And other clubs such as Interact club attracted freshmen with the chance to gain community service hours. This was the most effective method as all students require 40 community service hours to graduate and most of the freshmen class had little to none. The Activities Fair resembled the annual MAZE day recruitment that many clubs participate in.
Although this is the first year Link Crew and the IOC commission have organized an Activities Fair, the idea of clubs getting together to recruit is not a new idea. The annual MAZE day activities also employs the same tactics in order to involve and recruit students.
During the fair, Link Crew members took groups of freshmen from club to club. Since the event took place in the cafeteria and the whole freshman class was moving around it was very difficult for Link Crew leaders.
“It was impossible to keep everyone together and take them club to club, but we managed somehow.” Link Crew leader senior Edwin Lao said.
Despite the slight overcrowding in the cafeteria, the Activities Fair might be continued for years to come. Assistant Principal Lance Miller, who helped organize the event, was pleased with the results and plans on organizing it again next year. Government teacher and Link Crew Adviser Elizabeth Dewitt also thought it was a success.
“I think the Activities Fair was very successful, at the very least we got a lot of freshmen to sign up. I’m glad it was a success and I plan on organizing again it in the future.” Dewitt said.
This article originally appeared in the print edition on November 29, 2011.
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February 4, 2010
Anterpreet Kaur
Interact Club is preparing for its annual Elegant Affairs Community Event to be hosted Feb. 12. Unlike other community service events, this event offers the volunteers double hours. The volunteers will be completing only six and a half hours from 5:00 to 11:30 p.m., but they will be awarded 13 hours.
“We will be helping out with various tasks during the dinner. This event is a little dressier than some of other events: black pants for males and black dresses for females are required,” senior Interact president Angela Chu said.
However, she knows many female volunteers will instead wear dress pants, so there is not much stress over attire.
Furthermore, the volunteers at Elegant Affairs will get free food.
“Usually, the event coordinators are extremely generous, and we get pizza and desserts, which the cooks prepare at the place. So, it’s bound to be good,” Chu said.
Freshmen are especially looking forward to volunteering at Elegant Affairs for their first time.
“My friends and I are already planning on carpooling to the event, and what we are going to wear,” freshman Homaira Anwari said. “I have volunteered in a few places before, but we never got double hours. I think [the double hours] is the greatest motivation to attend.”
Previous volunteers said that the challenge definitely comes with being able to stay up that late at the event.
“By the end of the event, I was extremely tired and felt really lazy,” previous Interact Club treasurer Avtar Josen said. “But, at the end of the day, it was totally worth it for the thirteen hours of community service.”
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January 27, 2010
Alejandro Montalvo
Not many know that an entire sub-culture exists around the writing and reading of fan fiction. Fan fiction is the writing of stories based on characters and situations from popular fiction. This opens up possibilities for scenarios involving fictional characters doing whatever the fan envisions. Publication isn’t the motivation to write fan fiction. Fan fiction is written by fans, for fans and for entertainment purposes.
“I think the reason people write fan fiction is because they want to explore the fictional worlds they enjoy on a deeper, more personal level,” senior Celina Cesena said.
But not everyone shares the same enthusiasm.
“I had a period of time when I read some InuYasha fan fiction, but they were pretty bad. The characters’ personalities were not really like the ones in the show. The writers make their own characters, but use the characters’ names and the story’s original settings,” senior Angela Chu said.
The stories written by fans range from Anime to Jane Austen spin-offs. “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” is an adapted version of the original Austen novel with the addition of zombies.
Fan fiction writers can get into legal trouble. According to The New York Times, in 2009, a ruling by United States District Court Judge Deborah A. Batts permanently banned a fan fiction work, which featured a 76-year-old version of Holden Caulfield from the novel The Catcher in the Rye.
Certain authors, however, have given their blessing to fan fiction spin-offs of their books. J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter) and Stephanie Meyer (Twilight) have no problem with fans writing their own stories with their characters.
Fan fiction will continue to grow as more fans post their work on the Internet. If legalities do not interfere, fan fiction could be a start for emerging writers to showcase their talent.
