Check out the video above for the fourth installment of The Oracle‘s “Inside Practice” series, in which Gunn athletes give behind-the-scenes tours of their daily training. Click here to see the first installment.

Check out the video above for the second installment of The Oracle‘s “Inside Practice” series, in which Gunn athletes give behind-the-scenes tours of their daily training. Click here to see the first installment.

Check out the first installment of The Oracle‘s “Inside Practice” series, in which Gunn athletes give behind-the-scenes tours of their daily training.

The Gunn boys basketball team is divided into three groups — freshman, junior varsity and varsity — each with their own coaches and athletes of all skill levels. The freshman team, as its name suggests, is a team for freshmen. The JV team’s roster mainly consists of sophomores, and the varsity team comprises predominantly upperclassmen. However, depending on skill level, students can be moved by coaches: For instance, there are freshmen on the JV team and sophomores on the varsity team.

Although I am a junior, and as such should have joined the varsity team, I decided to join the freshman team first and make my debut bullying the ninth graders. Luckily for them, a friend recommended I would have more to write about by focusing on the JV team instead, before moving on to varsity. My original plan was to go from the bottom up, so this revised plan actually sped up my schedule.

Still contemplating a suitable headline for my story, I forgot to send an email in advance asking the coaches if I could show up to exert dominance over the sophomores. Fortunately, they welcomed me with open arms, and I happily skipped onto Titan Gym’s basketball court.

The first thing that greeted me was the color orange.Let me clarify: A basketball was hurtling straight toward my face at supersonic speed, and I saw my days of basketball glamor end before I even took my first dribble. I instinctively used my reflexes from my days of fighting crime in Gotham and narrowly avoided a career-ending injury. Unfazed, I walked toward what I assumed were my teammates for the day with a confident smile. My smile widened into a full grin as the basketball I narrowly avoided tripped a freshman behind me. As you can probably tell, I’m a very virtuous person.

I joined the JV team in their stretches and made small talk as the coaches prepared for practice to start. After some dynamic stretching and casual dribbling, I was already exhausted and ready to head home. A shrill whistle marked the start of practice, and everyone started warming up as I struggled to catch my breath. The warmups consisted of five ball-dribbling drills followed by “Suicides,” an exercise in which one runs back and forth across the court. Then came shooting drills, in which I proceeded to prove Newton’s first law of motion — objects in motion tend to stay in motion unless acted upon by a net force — with none of my shots coming remotely close to the hoop.

The team’s contagiously energetic mood, however, encouraged me to keep going. Even with my limited time on the team, I could tell that all of the players respected one another and would not hesitate to lend a hand if anyone were struggling. The competitive yet supportive atmosphere truly showed me the athletes’ team spirit and what it meant to be a member of the basketball team. It felt like a family — only, I was that creepy uncle who fails miserably trying to fit in.

Blinded by nausea and on the verge of collapsing, I finally found a moment of respite when the coach yelled, “fast break!” in the middle of a play. I hurried off the court to find a water fountain that could quench my sorrows, only to look around and see my teammates’ dumbfounded stares. Apparently “fast break” is a basketball term for when a player quickly takes the ball and drives to score a point, not a signal for time-out. Recovering briskly, I resumed my position and explained myself to an opponent.

“Stay on your toes,” I said. “I bet you guys won’t know where I’ll pop up next — it’s my secret play.”

I proceeded to almost get sent to the hospital by a nasty misdirection crossover, but hey, at least it looked natural (I think).

Halfway through the practice, I found an opening to escape and hurriedly whipped out a notebook — specially stored in an easily accessible location for times like these — and got to writing. I made up my mind to slam the article instead of a basketball, and walked over to the coaches to catch my breath.

I was assaulted with a battalion of sores and bruises when I woke up the next morning. I pleasantly spent the first 30 minutes of the day contemplating my life choices and making pitiful attempts at coming up with headlines. Right on cue, a message from my planner reminded me of the varsity practice I still had to attend. With the deadline for my article coming up, I begrudgingly limped my way to Titan Gym. After all, never giving up is my strong suit.

I gave up halfway through varsity practice. Although I should’ve expected it, varsity was every bit as strenuous as JV practice. I sat out the warm-ups but joined in on the shooting drills, which I deemed would provide the least strain on my aching body. Everything was going as expected. My partner nailed three-point shot after three-point shot. I missed it again and again. I blinked the sweat out of my eyes. My vision blurred. Next thing I knew, I was on the ground with a ball-shaped bruise on my face. As my partner knelt down next to me and asked if I was all right, one thought was on my mind: “Kelvin beats the buzzer in boys basketball.” What a perfect headline.

The Spangenberg Theater bathroom embodies the word “perfect.” Perfectly pristine. Perfectly peaceful. Perfectly empty. It’s a restroom you would be lucky to find in a fine-dining establishment. With large sinks that provide ample room to wash your hands without hitting the back of the basin
every time, and clean mirrors devoid of any traces of vandalism, the bathroom is fully equipped with all necessities to ensure a calm, hygienic experience. There are more soap dispensers in this lavatory alone than in both of the N-building’s boys bathrooms.

The bathroom’s charm lies in its tranquility: No need to beware of prying knocks or freshmen’s boisterous yells when using the toilet. However, only lucky students who have classes in or adjacent to Spangenberg or who slip in when the doors are unlocked can take advantage of this bathroom.

Honorable Mention: Library

Fully equipped with three bathroom stalls and plenty of soap, the library bathroom is one of the best on campus. With backpack hangers in each stall, it offers a brief respite for those carrying heavy loads. The stalls are always stocked with more than enough toilet paper and seat covers — perfect for students who place particular emphasis on hygiene. Even if you opt out of the seat covers, there’s no reason to worry: The toilet seats are spotless and kept in tip-top condition. Standing out from other bathrooms on campus, the faucets run for a long time with just one press, eliminating the need to alternate from one hand to the other while washing them. With more commonly used restrooms dirty and the top-notch bathrooms impossible to access, this bathroom gives students a happy medium.

Worst Bathroom: J-building

If the library bathroom is a leisurely stroll through the park, the J-building bathroom is the same, but with chlorine gas for air and nuclear waste instead of soil. Only desperate souls with no other choice go to this bathroom: They sprint out of their science classroom to find refuge inside the nearest lavatory, only to realize that, in their haste, they have stepped into the stalls of doom. With cramped quarters, the J-building bathroom breeds awkwardness. Moreover, the faucets pour out cloudy lukewarm water, leaving hands dirtier than before. The scratched mirrors have grubby fingerprints and traces of spray paint. Stains remain on the toilet stalls despite attempts to remove them, standing the test of time. The J-building bathroom is the worst of the worst: one that everyone should avoid if they can.

Although Kuartei didn’t start out enjoying basketball, the sport grew on him over the years. “(Even though) my dad picked (basketball) for me, I did learn to like it,” he said. “I just put more energy and time into basketball and ended up being better at it.”

Committed to honing his craft to the best of his ability, Kuartei has spent countless hours practicing, shooting baskets and working on ball handling. Along with playing on the Gunn basketball team, Kuartei spends time outside of practice to work by himself. Commitment and consistency remain core values in his mindset as a player, as does team spirit. “Whenever I want to stop, (my) obligation to (my) teammates keeps me going,” he says.

Still, staying committed can be difficult at times, especially when physical injuries pose risks. Kuartei injured his knee while practicing and has not been able to play for over a month. Maintaining a healthy mindset around his relationship with basketball has been a struggle during this time. “(It’s hard) being forced at one time or another to take a break (from basketball), whether wanting to or not, and then just feeling like I’m never going to come back,” he said.

Trying to balance academic responsibilities with basketball practice is also a challenge. At times, Kuartei has considered dropping basketball to devote more of his attention to school in the coming years. “I’m taking a lot of APs next year, and focusing (more) on my instrument,” he says. “Balancing a ton of (responsibilities) will be pretty hard.”

Still, love for the sport is unquestionable. “I’m just a person who enjoys doing physical activities, and I’ve always had a lot of friends in the sport,” he said. “Playing the sport itself is (also) really fulfilling for me.”

There’s a certain code when it comes to keeping Gunn’s sacred library clean—a code that some people still manage to ignore by eating under its roof. Not only is it a health hazard, with crumbs and spills inviting ants or termites, but it’s also a disruption to the peaceful study environment. No one wants to hear loud chewing or slurping while trying to focus on their DeltaMath. But let’s not forget about the potential damage to school property. Food stains, crumbs in keyboards and sticky chairs are just some of the horrors that our heroic librarians have to contend with on a daily basis. Please, please think twice before bringing your chips and boba into the library. It’s not only disrespectful to your peers and school property, but it’s also an unforgivable crime that can have lasting consequences. Save the snacks for the quad, and let’s keep our library clean and pest-free—because eating in the library? It might be a novel idea to some, but pesky mess-makers ought to turn a new page.

Vandalizing Bathrooms

The ultimate crime to be committed at Gunn is not just a problem for the school administration: It’s a problem for the students, too. Sure, carving initials with a heart sign on a bathroom stall might seem like a harmless prank, but imagine just how much seeing it would pain a heartbroken young freshman. Every toilet that gets clogged with paper towels and each saddeningly empty soap dispenser takes up valuable time from our custodial staff, who we all know are already overworked with all of the plastic bags that litter the quad—playing the vandal just doesn’t help anyone. Messing up the bathroom also creates an uncomfortable and unsanitary environment for everyone. No one wants to enter a suspicious- smelling stall or parkour across broken tiles on the floor. It’s not fair to the students who are simply trying to finish up their business. Each student has small ways to show appreciation for the school and make everyone’s life a little bit easier. Plus, who knows—you might be able to apply your graffiti skills in the art building and become a modern Basquiat.

Denying the Pool

There’s a saying at Gunn that goes, “If you deny the existence of the pool on top of Spangenberg Theatre, you’ll be jailed in the Spangenberg dungeon.” Source: unknown. But what’s so special about this pool that denying its existence is such a heinous act? Legend has it that the pool was built back in the 1960s as a secret training facility for the school’s Olympic-level swim team. It’s said to be accessible only by a concealed backstage entrance, and the only way to get in is by swiping a secret keycard that only Gunn administration have access to. Now, some skeptics might try to tell you that the pool doesn’t exist. They’ll say it’s just a myth passed down from one generation of Gunn students to the next. But those of us who know the truth acknowledge that denying the existence of the pool is simply unacceptable. So, the next time someone tries to tell you that there’s no pool on top of Spangenberg Theatre, just smile and nod. They might not be ready to face the painful truth. But for the rest of us, we’ll keep practicing our dives and dreaming of the day we’ll make it onto the Olympic swim team.

Jumping the Lunch Line

Everybody has seen the suspects in action, hopping the fence to take their share of the trove hidden away behind the P-building walls. Once the post-lunch bell stampede concludes, about four-fifths of the school seems to be stuck behind the steel grates and concrete pillars of the dreaded line. Those who violate the sanctity of the queue are committing truly heinous deeds. Luckily, our beloved campus monitors are there as security to lay down the law on those trying to practice their hurdles. They’re known for no-nonsense attitudes and passionate protection of the lunch line. If you think you’ll get past them, you might want to think again. Let’s be real for a second. At one point or another, we all face the infinite stretch of students ahead of us and the human river that balloons out from the end of the metal grates. It’s a struggle, but one we share. To bypass this test of Gunn spirit is not only shameful in and of itself, but everyone behind you sees exactly what you’re doing—regardless of how subtle you think you’re being.

Using a pick-up line or puns with your crush is one way to make a daunting task more humorous. Jokes are a fun way to demonstrate to your crush that you’re witty and observant. If your crush enjoys coffee, for instance, you could ask them out by asking, “Are you a coffee bean? Because you’ve got my heart brewing.” Or if they’re into music, you could ask, “Are you a guitar? Because you’re making my heart strum.” The trick is to show your crush you know them and their interests by personalizing fun lines and jokes.

Another way to lighten the interaction is to create a parody or mockumentary of a popular movie or television show. For instance, recreating a scene from a romantic comedy where the lead character asks their crush out is an easy way to ensure your success using a tried-and-true method.  

If you’re really willing to go the extra mile, you could also create a scavenger hunt with the location of your proposed date as the final destination, with clues along the way. This approach won’t just be amusing and novel, but it’s also extremely creative, showing your crush that you care about them.

It’s critical to keep in mind that humor is a personal experience. What one person finds humorous, another person may not. So, before you playfully ask your crush out, make sure that you share their sense of humor and the gesture does not come off as offensive or insensitive. Always take the other person’s feelings into account and refrain from using humor to mask or mock another person.

Additionally, it’s important to be confident in yourself and your approach when asking your crush out. No matter how creative or funny your approach may be, if you lack the necessary confidence, it will always be difficult for the other person to take you seriously. So, take a deep breath, and be confident in yourself and your intentions. This will also make the entire process more enjoyable and comfortable for you and your crush.

Even if you get rejected, remember that rejection is a normal part of life and asking someone out is a risk. But by adding humor to the mix, you can make it a more positive and memorable experience, regardless of the outcome. And who knows, you might even find that your crush appreciates your sense of humor and is open to the idea of going on a date with you.

Overall, it can be intimidating to ask your crush out, but adding humor to your approach can make it less scary and more memorable. It’s crucial to be original and unique in your approach while also honoring the other person’s feelings and boundaries. Being sincere and respectful will improve your chances of receiving a positive response and will demonstrate to your crush that you aren’t just looking for a date but also an exciting journey.

Being a staple meat dish for Turkish people, köfte is widely cherished by Turkish communities. However, köfte actually does not originate from Turkey, but instead in Persia, or present-day Iran. “Köfte’ comes from the Iranian word “kufta,” which means “to grind,” and is closely related with the way köfte is made. Tierney stresses the importance of knowing the cultural background of the foods one eats. “In order to truly enjoy a dish, you need to know that [history] first,”he said.

Köfte is ground meat mixed with bread crumbs, minced onion and a variety of spices, shaped into little spheres and cooked. “Köfte is not like spaghetti and meatballs,” Tierney said. “The ingredients are not the same, and [köfte] is a main dish.” Contrary to how meatballs are side dishes served along with spaghetti, köfte is meant to be enjoyed alone.

The Tierneys add their own modifications to the recipe to better suit their tastes and wholeheartedly agree that their additions set it apart from other traditional recipes. Köfte is typically made with fatty meat, such as pork, but the Tierneys substitute it with 96% lean beef. “It is more protein rich and healthy,” Tierney said. “It’s much more delicious.” A handful of parsley is added into the beef, giving it color and texture—and a tang of acidity. “Some people add in lemons, but we prefer parsley,” Tierney said. After the beef, egg is added into the mix, helping the parsley and beef blend together. Then, chopped onion is added, further contributing to the dish’s flavor. “Remember to chop the onion up before [mixing it],” Tierney said. “We forgot to do that once, and the köfte didn’t turn out pretty.”

After that, two tablespoons of salt are sprinkled into the mixture. “Now, [many] people do this, but we add a teaspoon of pepper, red pepper and peppercorns,” Tierney said. The last ingredient to finish the köfte is bread crumbs. “We add enough so there is a [crisp] outside,” he said.

These ingredients are mixed by hand, and the köfte is cooked in an unorthodox way: by grill. The grill is turned on to high heat, and the köfte is placed onto the grill for 10 minutes on each side. “We also grill the edges of the köfte, to make it crispier,” Tierney said. Finally, the balls are removed from the grill and sprinkled with lemon juice or lime zest.

Tierney always looks forward to when he gets home from school and is able to enjoy a plate of fresh köfte with the company of his family. He treasures moments like these because they won’t last forever. “It sounds cliché, but the reason köfte tastes so good is because my family eats it with me,” he said.

Holistic college admissions utilize a more equitable procedure when evaluating potential students. The holistic approach is popular among American colleges today largely because it allows admissions officers to assemble a more diverse student body. In this context, diversity doesn’t only include race or ethnicity, but also socioeconomic status and life experiences. A common misconception about the holistic process is that colleges use soft factors—extracurricular activities, unique experiences and teacher recommendations—as the deciding factors for potential students. In reality, they are taken account of by the admissions officers, but are not the deciding factors.

In a nutshell, the holistic process was designed so institutions can assess an applicant based on a broad range of elements. The International Graduate Admissions report outlines the holistic system as a way to “look beyond just the objectives like test scores and GPA to really try to get to know the applicant as a student and as a person.” The U.S. Supreme Court describes the review process as a “highly individualized review of each applicant’s file, giving serious consideration to all the ways an applicant might contribute to a diverse educational environment.” All things considered, the holistic approach allows colleges to not only evaluate an applicant as a student but also as a human being. A holistic approach also balances opportunities for students who possess fewer educational privileges and those with learning disabilities. Aside from having to work through more costs and cultural differences than their more privileged peers, many of these students don’t even have the option of considering further education as a viable choice. For many students, a holistic review system is the difference between whether they can even attend college or not. Holistic college admissions are the way to bridge the gap between these students and their more privileged classmates.

A common concern with the holistic system is that the admissions officers may possess biases toward certain applicants based on factors such as ethnicity, age, religious beliefs and more. To combat this, multiple admissions officers are required to go over the same application to make better selections and minimize bias. They are also discouraged from letting personal bias affect their decisions, as severe legal action may be taken against them if biased decisions are discovered.

The holistic system creates a more equal procedure when assessing candidates, judging applicants as both students and human beings. On top of this, it balances opportunities for students that possess few educational privileges. Holistic admissions officers are able to evaluate students by their unique life experiences to see if they’d be a good fit for their school. Although there are drawbacks to this system, the pros far outweigh the cons, and, thus, U.S. colleges should continue using the holistic admissions process.