1. THE
URRENTC
MALIBU HIGH SCHOOL
June 2014
Volume XXVI, Issue VI • www.mhscurrent.com • Published Since 1995
World Cup
2014
page 2
Gewant’s
Final NBA
Predictions
page 15
Tragedy at
UC Santa Barbara
Mr. Block
Resigns
By Nikita Weber
OPINION EDITOR
O
n May 23rd UC Santa
Barbara student, El-
liot Rodger, killed
six and wounded 13
people on furious rampage. The
22-year-old killed numerous stu-
dents and strangers in the Santa
Barbara area due to his rejection
from women and constant feeling
of loneliness. After his murder
spree, Rodger ended his night of
“retribution” by shooting himself
dead.
Rodger had posted several vid-
eos on Youtube where he dis-
cussed and described his hatred
towards humanity for his loneli-
ness and constant rejection. He
also printed a complete manifesto
where he describes his anger and
alienation.
Roger wrote, “On the day before
the Day of Retribution, I will start
the First Phase of my vengeance:
Silently killing as many people as
I can around Isla Vista by luring
them into my apartment through
some form of trickery.”
A month prior to the shooting,
Rodger’s parents called a law
enforcement agency after seeing
his horrific videos posted online.
After a call to the sheriff’s depart-
ment from Rodger’s family, the
deputies visited Rodger and said
he seemed normal and did not
take any action against him.
The night before the mass shoot-
ing, Rodger emailed to his par-
ents and therapist a link to his
latest Youtube video he posted.
In the video Rodger said, “You
girls have never been attracted to
me. I don’t know why you girls
aren’t attracted to me but I will
punish you all for it… you throw
yourselves at all these obnoxious
men instead of me, the supreme
gentleman. I will punish all of
you for it.”
The video continues with Rod-
ger continuously repeating phras-
es like the “supreme alpha-male”,
“rejection”, “day of retribution”,
and “slaughter”. In the video he
also states his plan to enter UC-
SB’s “hottest sorority house” and
kill every girl in there, he then
would go through Santa Barbara
killing anyone he saw. After see-
ing this video, Rodger’s parents
immediately called police and be-
gan to drive up to Santa Barbara,
but it was too late.
UCSB has opened counseling
services made available to stu-
dents overnight, and emergency
housing was set up for any stu-
dents displaced as a result of the
shooting. SBCC [Santa Barbara
Community College] is also co-
ordinating with UCSB to pro-
vide counseling for students and
or employees. On Tuesday May
27th, all classes were canceled
and there was a memorial service
for the numerous students killed.
While the horrifying incident
has caused a question of Santa
Barbara’s safety, numerous Mali-
bu High students will be studying
in Santa Barbara next fall.
Malibu High Senior Emma
London, whom will be attending
UC Santa Barbara next Fall, said,
“There are no words to describe
the tragedy, nor do I believe can
the event be rationalized. It is a
horrible reminder to be careful no
matter where you are.”
London continued and said,
“The bottom line is though, trag-
edy knows no bounds and can oc-
cur anywhere.”
Senior, Dyer Pettijohn, also at-
tending UC Santa Barbara said,
“It’s an incredibly sad event for
the campus and community as a
whole. Despite this I still feel safe
venturing to UCSB next year,
I mean there are grassy people
wherever you go.”
While it is truly devastating
what occurred in Santa Barbara,
the point is made that this could
truly happened anywhere. Elliot
Rodger could have been admitted
to a completely different college
and the horror would of occurred
some where else. With this recent
event occurring, the heated de-
bate over gun control has arisen
and the question of what to do
to prevent a horror like this from
happening in the future once
again.
MOURNING STUDENTS: UCSB students and residents gather in mourning of those who passed at
Elliot Rodger’s hands. (Image from Google)
PRINCIPAL RESIGNS: Jerry Block leaves MHS after two years
at the school.
By Maya Eliahou
OPINION EDITOR
A
fter two years as the
principal of Malibu
High School, Jerry
Block is leaving to
pursue a new position as the prin-
cipal of Hillside Middle School in
Simi Valley.
Hillside Middle School is being
converted into a science, technol-
ogy, and arts magnet next year.
“My role will be to help the school
get converted and get ready and
to develop
the program,”
said Block.
During
Block’s time
as principal,
Malibu High
was nomi-
nated as a
“Gold Med-
al” school by
the US News
and World
Report, and
the school
also increased it’s Academic Per-
formance Index by 12 points.
Although he was only at Malibu
High School for two years, Block
has facilitated many improve-
ments to the school’s science
programs. Block said, “I am re-
ally excited with the increased
technology here at the school.
We have two new computer labs
and about 70 new chromebooks
and smartboards…we also have
an AP Biology Class this year…
a Chinese class…a lot of good
things have happened.”
Regarding the Chinese program,
Block stated that, “[The school] is
committing to students who have
chosen to start Chinese…those
students wont be stuck.” Chinese
1 students will therefore have the
opportunity to continue taking
Chinese to fulfill their graduation
and college requirements.
Block also stayed involved in
student life around campus. In his
farewell address he wrote, “I was
privileged to attend the choir’s
trip to Carnegie Hall and the tenth
grade biology
trip whale
watching as
our students
c o l l e c t e d
s c i e n t i f i c
data. I have
also loved
watching our
students in
theater pro-
d u c t i o n s ,
athletic com-
petitions and
musical con-
certs.”
Block has also recently suffered
from a minor health issue regard-
ing his gall bladder, but is happy
to report that he is well enough to
attend graduation. Lastly, Block
wished to offer the students of
Malibu High School one piece of
advice: “Always be the best you
can be and always be farsighted
in your goals and dreams,” said
Block, “Malibu is a school with
so much potential…I will miss
the very special place that Malibu
High School is.”
“Malibu is a school with
so much potential…I
will miss the very special
place that Malibu High
School is.”
~ Mr. Block