October MArk

the MArk Menlo-Atherton High School Volume II Issue I

On Paper

Are we becoming a Paperless Society?

page 10

Loss of a Life

Cate Fisher in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time, a Victim of Gang Violence

page 16

Culture Shock Diverse Student Body with Segregated Classrooms

page 32

College Admissions Legacy and Athletic Advantage to College Admissions: Fact or Fiction?

page 40

Unheatlhy Relationships How to Escape Before It’s Too Late

page 42

O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1

ART “Profile,” Sharpie, Anna de Benedictis

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October // The MArk

Dear Readers, I have been sitting here for an hour trying to find the words to explain my excitement about this issue to you. I stumbled from cliché to cliché, trying my best to sound sincere when I say, “This is our best issue yet!” But sometimes, clichés just do the job.

In complete honesty, this issue of The MArk puts the past issues to shame. Our new staff and leadership have collaborated to create a magazine that, in some ways, no longer resembles The MArks of the past. The writing is stronger and the submissions are better— so much better that for the first time in MArk history we have been forced to reject and hold submissions that we loved because we just had so many.

This issue contains some of the best articles that The MArk staff has ever written—articles spanning across every topic and hopefully including something for every person to enjoy. But we are still looking to expand our horizons, so if you have something to contribute, please, submit.

I hope that you all embark on this issue with an open mind and a willingness to learn. To learn not only about the superior artistic abilities of the M-A students, but also the unfortunate death of Cate Fisher, the educational inequalities present in our own school district, and more.

So, please—open, read, and enjoy.

-Haley McCabe, Editor-In-Chief.

PS. I want to take this opportunity to thank The Foundation for making The MArk possible. Without your support, our publication never would have succeeded, and for that, I thank you.

MA

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PHOTOGRAPHY “Animals and Sand” Suzie McMurtry

PHOTOGRAPHY [clockwise from upper left] “Up” Suzie McMurtry, “Sap” Charlotte McMillan, “Golfball” Travis Anderson, “Perspective” Charlotte McMillan, and “Boating” Sasha Bobrowicz

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Michael Michael and and 1 Maria Maria make make cartoons. cartoons.

Michael thinks. Maria draws. Sometimes offensive.

Nobody likes Wednesdays, so to help you get over the weekly hump, Michael and Maria make cartoons.

We hope to lighten your mood and make getting through the week just a little bit easier.

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michaelandmaria.tumblr.com

October // The MArk

GIRLS’ COSTUME IDEAS: Halloween is only an STD away!

by Max Goldenstein

SEXY BUNNY

UNPROFESSIONAL NURSE

This is a real Costume!

DIRTY NUN

HORNY TRAFFIC CONE

SLUTTY SNAIL

PROMISCUOUS GRANDMA

EX T PL OO IC IT

KINKY POLITICIAN

SKANKY KITTY

SEXY ABRAHAM LINCOLN 9

ON The bitter tangy twist of dust and musty paper tingle your nose as you turn the pages of your old favorite book. The pages fall open easily from excessive use. A small rusty stain remains near the seam of one page and you instantly remember the mosquito that you victoriously caught while it buzzed around your light as you read late into the night.

The dulled corners on the book are soft in your hands as you begin again to read the book you already know page by page.

Paper is a miraculous material.

It has existed for centuries and has played an immense role in the development of civilization. It is the reason we can have recorded history and has always been the primary resource for documentation and indirect communication. Education has existed since the earliest civilizations and paper has been the primary material on which this learning occurred. Paper is also associated with the immense pleasure of reading, writing, painting, and drawingall methods in which humans can lose themselves in imagination. There is no arguing the importance and immense value humans instill in this material.

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PAPER Now, however, a new age of technology exists, and for the first time paper faces a competitor. Technology possesses the capabilities to potentially overwhelm this classic and traditional manner of learning and expression. This timeless material could end up only a temporary tool and an object of the past.

Technology has programs that serve as incredibly useful substitutes for most jobs of paper. The creation of iPads, Kindles, emails and word document files that can be sent and posted anywhere eliminate the need for letters, newspapers; even books. The recent closing of the bookstore chain Borders, in part, arose because of new electronic substitutes. Additionally, in school, where paper always served as the primary material, alternate electronic based devices now replace physical documents.

While this subtle decline in paper use could continue until paper grows obsolete far in the future, the universality and convenience of paper make this possibility unlikely. Regardless of the direction paper heads, it’s undeniable though that some of its many uses are being replaced.

Some members of the community at Menlo-Atherton High School embrace this technological switch while others still appreciate the traditionalism of using paper instead. When asked in what direction she thought the future of paper was headed senior Hannah Schneider claimed she thought “that paper will always exist and we will always use it,” but that it would probably “become a lot more scarce and more people will start using computers instead, as we can already tell from the smart boards.”

Schneider is someone who truly appreciates paper and does not want to see it disappear.

“Paper is used for so many wonderful things. I think it’s fascinating that you can just take a piece of lead and transform it into something so beautiful on a piece of paper, and you can paint on paper, and do calligraphy on paper and origami . . . I think that it would just be such a shame if paper became so scarce that it was hard to find.”

Junior Vanessa Wijaya also expressed her opinion on the future of paper, predicting that many years from now she still thinks paper will exist except “the composition will change…and will no longer be made of trees because of the whole ecofriendly movement.” “It will evolve” and be made of a different material instead.

In the movement to lower human’s negative impact on the planet technology serves as a greener replacement to paper.

This will be a definite part of the appeal to reduce paper consumption in the near future. For example Mr. DeCurtins, physics teacher at M-A, says that he probably “saves the school about 15000 to 20000 sheets of paper each year” because of his use of WebAssign, an online website for students to complete homework problems and assignments.

“WebAssign means I don’t have to print 140+ paper copies of each homework.” Not only is his use of WebAssign more environmentally friendly, it is also financially beneficial for the school.

Paper, although costing less than computers, when used in large quantities adds up to a lot of money. M-A spends about 50,000 dollars alone on paper, toner, and paperrelated machinery per year. Electronic devices, though cost more to initially purchase, ultimately are free once it comes

down to the individual posting of work to the Internet or typing of word documents.

However despite the potential benefits of technology use in place of paper, English teacher Ms. Kranzler noted that it’s not possible to get every student a laptop to allow for electronic note-taking to occur in class. Paper will always still hold a place in the academic world for certain assignments and methods of learning. Perhaps a century from now every student will posses an electronic device allowing them to write notes as if on paper and carry it around in a single compact device; however, for now there is not. Kranzler recognized that physical writing is a different process than doing assignments virtually. Junior

Aliya Hasoon felt the same sharing that, “physically writing and taking notes is better for retaining information.” Additionally paper standardizes communication of words, meaning it requires no special compatibility cable or flash drive that could potentially fail. Most every student has experienced a version of arriving to class to give a speech and finding their PowerPoint will not open or the attached images refuse to display themselves. With paper these situations do not occur. Anyone can view a piece of paper directly and, assuming they know the language, read what it says or obtain the information it aims to express.

Paper, while seemingly threatened, does not in fact appear in danger of total elimination. Kranzler expressed that she actually has not noticed any decrease in the consumption of paper at M-A. Although people are perhaps attempting

to minimize the amount of paper used, it is still being widely consumed and does not face replacement. DeCurtins noted that he too has seen more and more paper used because “it is too easy to print it.”

The presence of paper will continue to minimize slightly in the future in response to environmental awareness, new efficient means, and new technological alternatives however it is not destined to vanish.

Returning to a primary use of paper, books; there is no denying by the end of a long day in a digitized world filled with beeping machines and screens splayed in every direction, settling down to a classic paper book comforts the mind. The familiarity of holding something physical compared to all the abstractions of virtual text and communication is relaxing and even nostalgic. The straightforward text on paper, unchanging, transports you into a timeless division of life. Whether the book released thirty years ago or only five the same medium exists on which all the ideas are recorded, paper.

MA

written and illustrated

by Fiona Gutierrez-Dewar

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Las Las Vegas Vegas Boulevard Boulevard

, better , betterknown known

AsAs I walk I walk through through

asas“The “TheStrip,” Strip,”I cannot I cannothelp helpbut butstare stareatatthe theinfiinfi nite niteattractions attractionsthat thatstand standbefore beforeme. me.The Thehotels hotelsand andcasicasi-

burnt burnt

nos nosline linethe thewide widesetsetsidewalks. sidewalks.Exuberant Exuberanttourists touriststravel travelthrough throughthe thefifteen-foot fifteen-footdoorways; doorways;the the

clutters my my lungs lungs and and aa cough cough surprises surprises my my throat throat . .Neon Neon lights lights climb climb cigarette cigarettearoma aromaclutters the the freshly freshly built built clubs clubs and and shops, shops, displaying displaying shows shows worth worth viewing; viewing; each each one one more more exotic exotic than than the the next. next.

The The bright bright

black blackceilceil-

lights lights distract distract me me from from realizing realizing that that it is it 11 is 11 o’o’ clock. clock.

Looking Looking towards towards the the sky, sky, allall I can I can see see is a is a

ing ing . The . Thestars stars have have disappeared disappeared forfor the the night. night.

It It is is possible possible they they even even went went clubbing. clubbing.

ToTo my my left left I notice I notice rows rows ofof water water spouting spouting from from the the small small lake lake in in front front ofof the the newly newly renovated renovated Bellagio.

Bellagio.

Modern Modern style style opera opera plays plays in in the the

city city serenity. serenity.

background background and and I am I am enchanted enchanted into into this this form form ofof

From From where where I am, I am, the the

spewing spewing fountain fountain seems seems toto reach reach the the tops tops ofof the the intricate intricate skyscrapers. skyscrapers.

The The water water moves moves toto the the tone tone and and feel feel ofof

miniscule minisculeballet balletdancer dancer , moving , moving toto the the pace pace and and emoemo-

the the music. music.

Each Each drop drop ofof water water is like is like aa

33million millionpeople people, ,

tion tion ofof the the singer. singer.

Even Even in in the the middle middle ofof this this commotion, commotion, surrounded surrounded byby over over

I can I can bebe calm, calm, watching watching the the water. water.AsAs the the water water display display comes comes toto aa halt, halt, I turn I turn toto see see women, women, young young ladies, ladies,

bras, bras,panties, panties,platform platformheels, heels,and and angel angelwings wings

wearing wearing

smiling smiling and and throwing throwing glitter glitteratat the the astounded astounded tourists, tourists, offering offering toto pose pose in in

pictures pictures with with them. them.

One One stands stands out out from from the the rest: rest: I have I have never never seen seen aa woman woman asas small small asas this this pink pink “angel.” “angel.”

Her Her stomach stomach is is almost almost asas flat flat asas the the buildings, buildings, almost almost asas if she if she were were designed designed asas precisely precisely asas these these buildings. buildings.

SudSud-

I Iretreat retreattotothe the

denly, denly,I fiInd findmyself myselfin ina awhirlwind whirlwindofofglitter glitter . Looking . Lookingupupis isthe theonly onlyescape. escape.

dark darksky sky , as , as it is it is the the only only real real thing thing I know I know in in this this big big town town with with even even bigger bigger attractions attractions and and temptations. temptations.

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by byCaitlyn CaitlynLanigan Lanigan

n

October // The MArk

ART Monika Fowler “Sphinx” Colored Pencils 13

ART “Untitled” Stefany Maldonado

What it Feels Like to kiss a

B a d K i sse r

by Ty Chehak

At first you think it’s going to be awesome. Hands down the BEST kiss you’ve ever had, and probably will ever have. When you’re lying on your deathbed, saying goodbye to your loved ones, you will take a moment and remember that kiss. It’s going to be earth shattering, jaw dropping, and time stopping. You’ll go to school that next Monday and your teacher will ask you what you did that weekend, and you’ll remember the kiss. You won’t share your memory with the class because you want to keep it to yourself, like it belongs specifically to you. The people you do tell will be envious, their faces will turn red with anger, and they will be able to taste the jealousy.

It’s the most beautiful day at the lake. The sun burns your shoulders, scabbing the sunburn that you already have. You swim in the lake, you lie on a warm blanket and you feel whole when he looks at you. He finally leans in for the kiss; you cannot wait for this to happen. You can smell his Old Spice body wash. The blanket feels like its going to burn your body, but you forget the burn and wait for this kiss to begin.

After what seems like hours, he finally kisses you. Your lips brush his, and then you’re finally kissing. You’re actually relieved this is happening. But it’s not what you expect. Its not earth shattering, jaw dropping or time stopping, in fact it sucks. It feels like you’re drowning in his spit. It feels like he’s eating your lips the way he’d eat a hamburger. Every time you try to come up for air, he sucks you back into the vortex of spit. The kiss tastes sloppy; his spit is sloshing around your mouth. It feels like a dog is licking your face, his tongue is like a snake attacking its prey. Now you’re just bored, you wish this misery would end.

After what seems like a lifetime, he pulls away. You have to wipe the spit off your mouth, and your cheek, and your chin. He smiles at you and whispers, “That was the best kiss I’ve ever had.” You see the joy in his eyes; it looks like he’s just been reborn. You don’t want to hurt his feelings, so you throw on a fake smile and rest your head against his chest. At least he has a sixpack.

Loss of a

Pictures courtesy of the Fisher Family.

On

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011 at 2:12 AM, 19 year-old former M-A student Catherine (Cate) Fisher was murdered in East Palo Alto. Cate’s death impacted many people, both at M-A, and in the surrounding community. Cate desired to help the youth by working as a gymnastics instructor, and aspired to be a math teacher.

The MArk sat down with Cate’s family and friends to try to process this unthinkable act.

Life

by Riley Lico & Leland Callahan The loss of Cate Fisher, pictured upper left, shocked our M-A Community. Her senseless murder shattered our sense of security and forced us to consider the delicacy and impermanence of life and the fact that, despite our precautions, none of us are promised tomorrow.

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Christina Hidalgo Best Friend

The MArk: How did you and Cate meet?

Christina Hidalgo: I knew Cate because we grew up on the same street together. We lived just a few houses away from one another. She had moved onto the street that I had been living on when I was 4 years old; she was 5.

M: How was your friendship over the years?

C: The best word to describe our relationship that Cate and I had is incomparable. When she moved onto the block, she was treated as the new kid but soon enough we became close friends. We would play together all the time when we were younger whether it was at each others’ houses, other places in the neighborhood, or even school…Over my 14 years of knowing Cate, I spent tons of time with her, and [due to] that, mixed with our strong personalities, we fought a lot. We had pretty much developed a love/ hate friendship. Despite our fighting and arguing, we always seemed to put it aside and remained good friends. Because this was how our friendship was since we were younger, we had an extremely strong relationship and grew closer to each other as we got older and more mature. Cate became my everything and vice versa. At the time of her death, she was…my best friend of 14 years. We spent almost everyday together and did everything with one another. She knew all my secrets, dreams, etc. and I hers. We had the type of relationship where we would be brutally honest with one another and not get offended, or be yelling at and arguing with each other one second and be laughing and hugging the next. I love Cate more than I thought I could ever love anyone and always will, and I know she loved me just as much.

M: Tell us a little about Cate and her personality.

C: Cate was someone I couldn’t live with but couldn’t live without; she had that type of personality. She was such an intelligent, outgoing, fun-loving, and energetic person with an infectious, bubbly laugh that would wring out with the slightest of ease. She was very passionate about her beliefs and viewpoints, but also opened minded and non-judgmental. Because of this, politics and debates were things she was known to be interested in and phenomenal with. She was definitely a force to be reckoned with when it came to things she had a strong opinion about. She aspired to be a math teacher because she was passionate about mathematics…She also had a love of working with children which was apparent in her day to day life. She worked with kids at Burgess Gymnastics for the city of Menlo Park and loved her job. She also did years of babysitting and some tutoring for families in the area and came highly recommended. She would talk to and play with kids every opportunity she got and loved being able to make a difference in their lives. Cate also had a deep connection with music. She liked hip-hop and rap but also had a love for techno; her favorites were house music and dubstep. She not only loved the music popular to the rave scene, but also the kandi, bright colors, neon lights, and the concept of p.l.u.r. (peace, love, unity, respect). She also loved being around people especially in an environment where she could be herself and have fun.

M: Were your families close? Describe the relationship between your families before/after the incident.

C: I was closer to Cate’s mom’s side because they are the ones who lived on our street. Our families weren’t as close as you would think considering my relationship with Cate. Cate had a really close relationship with my mom. And as we got older I also developed a closer relationship with her mom. While we were growing up, our moms talked every once in a while and our younger siblings would play with us. Other than that, they didn’t interact much. I have kept in contact with her mom and dad but we have done so through email to give us time and space to grieve individually. I think as time goes on, it will be easier for us to adapt to our new relationship.

o

M: How have you been doing since the shooting? How did you deal with the tragedy?

C: This tragedy changed my life. Since the shooting I have moved away because being on our street, and in our neighborhood brings back too many memories. It’s been hard dealing with the loss of such an important person in my life, but I have been backed by a very strong support system. My mom and I have really been helping one another get through this. It has really illustrated how fragile life is and has taught me not to take the time that I have with the people I care about for granted. It has motivated me to make the most of the time we have here.

M: How do you want people to remember Cate?

C: I want people to remember Cate as [the] fun-loving, determined girl that she was. She lived life how she wanted, set goals for herself, and never gave up on her dreams. She definitely made an imprint on everyone that she came in contact with because of her bright personality. She was genuinely accepting and caring when it came to those around her. She was loved by many and will be missed dearly by those who knew her.

“She was genuinely accepting and caring when it came to those around her. She was loved by many and will be missed dearly by those who knew her.”

-Christina Hidalgo

Nick Hidalg o Family Friend The MArk: Throughout your life how was your relationship with Cate?

Nick: She was really close [to our family], I mean, she knew me the day I was born. My sister was friends with her for as long as I could remember, she’s known me throughout my whole life and vice-versa so we were really close, it was like losing a sister, it was hard.

M: Your families were neighbors, correct?

N: Cate and my sister, went to school…they were a grade apart…she was a year older than my sister. I’d always see them together at my house. You know our families would always be talking.

M: Were your families close?

N: Very close.

M: Always?

N: Always.

“Pick something that matters in your life…take something that matters to you and run with it. Don’t just talk about it don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk. Get involved, be active…be active. You have to be the change that you want to see.”

-Michelle Sutton

Cate’s Brother

Freshman at M-A The MArk: How has your family been impacted by the incident?

Brother: Well we’ve gotten a lot of support from a bunch of people everywhere. It’s been really nice.

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Michelle Sutton

Cate’s Mother

The MArk: What was Cate like throughout her life, personality-wise?

Michelle Sutton: Cate’s dad referred to her as a force to be reckoned with. She had so much enthusiasm and energy and drive for life in general…A lot of high energy growing up, and again just a very strong personality but in a very enthusiastic, eager way.

M: What is your fondest memory of Cate?

MS: There are many, but what I think struck me about Cate after she died…she had the most radiant smile. It put people at ease, it made them feel comfortable, it made them feel important…She loved life, I have to say, for only nineteen years. She was just such a happy person…It was amazing. My fondest memory of Cate is just how she made everybody feel good.

M: How did Cate remember and like M-A? MS: For the most part yes [she liked M-A]…she did spend her senior year at Cañada and she really liked feeling more independent, more mature, more grown up. [She went to M-A because] it offered everything that she thought real life should be like. I remember telling Cate…this is going to be a slice of life, this is what life’s really like, the diversity is going to be like a slap in the face for you. But you can ignore it or you can embrace it, and she loved it. Her goal was to come back here to M-A and teach mathematics.

M: From your perspective, what happened that night?

MS: I think it was around nine or nine-thirty, she gave me a hug and a kiss and I told her to be careful, like I always do. A friend of hers had purchased a vehicle…[she picked her up] and off they went to the movies. They were coming back [from the movies] and they saw someone walking late at night that they had met…and offered him a ride home because it was so late and dangerous and dark. On the way to this person’s house in East Palo Alto, he was calling some people from the back seat asking them to meet him at this address, apparently not knowing that the people he was calling wanted him dead. [The shooters] pulled up in a stolen car and fired into the vehicle, hoping to get him in the backseat—not knowing he was in the backseat, they thought he was in the passenger seat—and they shot Cate twice in the head, three times in her right leg, and once in the shoulder. [The paramedics] said she in a sense died instantly, when [they] arrived her heart had already stopped. They were able to restart her heart and took her to Stanford Hospital, and at three in the morning there was a knock on my door to get to Stanford…the worst thing I was imagining was that Cate was in a car accident…The police said that Cate’s only mistake was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The only good thing that came out of Cate’s shooting death is that…[the bullets] completely missed her torso. And because of that Cate donated her heart, her lung, her kidneys, her pancreas, her liver, [and] skin grafts to the organ donor network. It was published that her parentsdid this on her behalf, but when Cate got her driver’s license at seventeen…she checked the box right away [for the organ donor program] so she donated her organs. This is the kind of stuff she did when she was alive. She was just a very generous kid.

M: Did the police ever speak to you, if so what did they say?

MS: They met us at the hospital the day she was killed, and the hospital staff declared her legally brain dead at about 10. They knew much earlier that it was pretty much a certainty but they wait for several hours to watch it and so the police met us later in the afternoon at Stanford hospital and had interrogated the man in the backseat as well as Cate’s friend who was driving the car and they didn’t know these people, this was apparently a gang related incident…my understanding at this point is that [the police said], “One of the three suspects is in custody, he was caught in New Mexico trying to flee the country and he’s in custody… he’s in Colorado to face charges there… the other two suspects are believed to be in Mexico, the FBI is involved because they left the state of California.” I try really hard not to focus on that because that’s criminal activity, it’s negative energy, it makes me feel bad, it makes me feel angry, I’m trying to focus on things that honor Cate and things she’d want me to do. In the next few years I hope to establish a math scholarship here at M-A, for future math students.

M: If Cate was here today, what advice would she give to M-A students?

MS: Pick something that matters in your life…take something that matters to you and run with it. Don’t just talk about it don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk. Get involved, be active…be active. You have to be the change that you want to see.

This issue is set to be distributed on Wednesday, October 26th, 2011. Happy 20th Birthday Cate.

ART Samantha Bloom - “Untitled” - Oil and Collage 21

Is an IEP for me?

An IEP is under the umbrella of the special education department

IEP= Individual Education Program

10% of M-A students have an IEP or about 221 students

accomodations

An IEP consists of that help the student learn in the same environment as other students (and other services)

Study Skills class a

is a class that allows students to Work on homework, Check in with their case manager, Develop good ►Organization skills ►Note taking skills ►Test preparation skills ►Self advocacy

Examples: ►Extra time on tests ►Modified work assignments ►Not graded on spelling because of Dyslexia ►Allowed to take tests and quizes in a smaller setting ►Allowed to use a calculator on tests and quizzes ►Allowed to leave the classroom to regroup if over stressed

Reasons for having an IEP Health reasons Dyslexia Bad memory Autism Diabetes Visual impairment Speech impairment Physical handicaps Aspergers Intellectually disabled Specific learning disabled (reading, writing, math)

that specifies a plan to help a certain student with a problem that could impose on their learning.

Students who have a disability but don’t qualify for an IEP my find a a better fit

504

Students who have a disability that affects a major function is eligible for a 504 such as memory loss from concussion, a unable to carry a mainly certain amount consists of of weight or accomodations deficient and has little motor other services helpskills ing with the root of

504

Case Managers

Mr. Stuart Mr. Molieri Mr. Young Mr. Kirk Ms. Tovar Ms. Charles Mrs. Stuart Ms. Price Ms. Rubin Ms. Smilgys Mr. Cristerna Mr. Patner

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An IEP is a

legal document

the disability

Ca ncer Sucks

October // The MArk

Anna de Benedictis is a 16 year old junior and a survivor of a rare bone cancer. If you don’t already believe cancer sucks, and you don’t know what an IEP is, you soon will.

Being sick and out of school for nine months, only to come back with less hair and more limp was really frightening, but luckily I had an IEP to help me. At the end of my freshman year, only two or three months until summer, I was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer. It is a type of cancer that is usually found in teenagers’ leg bones.

It’s so rare; one in a million adolescents get diagnosed every year.

I started chemotherapy that kills fast growing cells, usually cancer cells but sometimes, healthy cells. It made me very sick and also caused my hair loss. Hair grows really fast, and the chemo’s purpose is to kill fast growing cells, therefore, bye bye hair. There are many different kinds of chemo ranging from harsh to mild, kind of like salsa.

After ten weeks of chemo, I had limb salvage surgery. Lots of big terms right? Limb salvage surgery is just a surgery to save a limb, in my case my left leg. Almost my entire Tibia (shin bone) was replaced with an identically shaped titanium rod. The alternative to limb salvage was amputation, which would have been my only option if I still had some growing to do. After the surgery, the doctors tested to see how much of the tumor was killed. My tumor, which my friends and I had named Marla Singer, was 100% killed, which is apparently a record.

Even though Marla was 100% dead, I was still required to undergo seventeen more weeks of chemo. This meant feeling so sick I didn’t want to eat, having mouth sores that made it hurt to talk and eat, killing off a layer of my skin on my hands and feet making my skin feel as though it was burning and, of course, throwing up- a lot. I guess you could say the only good thing about cancer is the pain meds. Despite all the negatives, I finished my treatment on December 7th, my birthday, 100% cancer free. I came back to school in my second semester of sophomore year. Nine months had passed going from home to the hospital on a weekly basis, struggling to walk and eat, but I was happy and full of hope.

Now after all that you might think coming back to school would be easy. Unfortunately it wasn’t. I did have support, however, through my newly acquired IEP. Not only did I come back with very short hair because of chemo, a pale complexion from being sick, a limp from muscle degradation, and two huge scars from surgery, I was tired and unable to have six, let alone, seven classes. This is where the IEP came in. My IEP allowed me to be a few minutes late to classes because I could not possibly get there any faster, and I only had to have three classes, one of which was art. This allowed me to regain my strength, while staying on track to graduate and eventually go to college.

Now in my junior year, my IEP still gives me support. I have a study skills class where I can do homework, check in with my case manager, Mr. Stuart, and occasionally meet with my counselor. I still get a little help on getting to class on time, and I am able to eat in class, but I am just like every other student. I am not any less intelligent than the rest of the student body, but I need help in order to get the same education as the rest of the school. This applies for other students who have IEPs also.

Besides, 10% of M-A students have an IEP, I am certainly not alone, and certainly will always have support.

MA

PHOTOGRAPHY Suzie McMurtry

23

PHOTOGRAPHY “Mirage” Mao Mei Sonkin PHOTOGRAPHY “Wood” Berenyce Alonso

ALWAYS

NEW

SHOES PHOTOGRAPHY Michael Hohl

by Gavin Rea

HURT 26

T

Youwill willwant wanta afriend— friend— You

breaking entering is not of thing breaking and and entering is not the the kindkind of thing you you do do alone.alone.

Someone else will back you up and stop you from running away; from turning tail even in the face of reasonable fear.

You will want a brick. Just for irony, use the one that came crashing through your kitchen window last Sunday, sprinkling the table, dusting the dishes with shards of crystalline transparent glass. The meal was ruined. A note attached: “Get the hell out of here, go back to where you belong.”

You will take sick pleasure in heaving that dull, heavy object into your own reflection cast by the streetlamp, seeing the pieces sliding down to crash and tinkle upon the stained gray pavement.

You will want earplugs to silence the alarm bells. You will wish you had brought them as the noise prys into your head like a crowbar ripping apart nailed 2x4’s. You will be haunted by that metallic ring of cold hard metal on metal for weeks afterwards; you will hear it every time you close your eyes wishing for a dreamless sleep. Eventually you will feel like that self-same piece of glass—shattered and crashing down to earth, torn in rents and scarred, nothing but the hard white sheen of light upon your flat surface. Broken, empty and see-though; a reflection of the world. You are a reflection.

Bring a flashlight. You will curse yourself for forgetting it, fumbling around in the dark gloomy shop, tearing through cardboard boxes, hands trembling, heart pounding its way out of your chest. Alarm bells trilling both outside and inside your head. All you will have is that stupid penlight attached to your keychain. A pinprick of light sweeping around in your shadowy surroundings, illuminating bits of dust swirling in the dank, stale air.

You will wish you had thought this through and reconciled yourself to the possibilities; erased those flashing blue and red lights that will blaze through your head illuminating every dark crevice and secret; erased the screeching tires that you will hear every minute but look up to a parking lot deserted but for the yellow incandescent lights falling away in the darknes.

Wear a jacket so you can cover your head; a hoodie is best. Pull the cords tight to throw a shadow over your face and give you the comfort of anonymity, of a statistic, a data point on a graph. Your quick breaths will come in cold white clouds on this starry night in late October. Shivers will wrack your body, sheathed only in your paper thin white cotton tee.

Don’t be scared. You will be so scared: scared of taking steps against fate, of ruining the best-laid plans. Your friend will tap you on the shoulder and you will turn, your face a mask of fear, the whites of your eyes wide with surprise and horror in the dark night.

“We need to go”; an order.

The hoodie will help here. You will be embarrassed for showing weakness, for proving just how deathly afraid you are. Hide in the black shadow cast over your face, show no emotion; speak in a voice that does not tremble.

“Okay” Fuming at yourself you will follow him, sprinting hard, feet pounding on unforgiving pavement, watching his shadow dance and weave along the cracked sidewalks, past chain link fences and the burnt, raggedy lawns of the neighborhood—flying through the night, losing yourselves in its folds.

A safe distance away, gasping for breath, braced against the night, you will open the smooth, feather light cardboard box and rip out the crinkly brown newspaper. You will tug on the Nikes, smelling of plastic, paint and fresh leather mixed with that of the damp, loamy leaves veined with frost scattering the sidewalk.

Bring thick socks, the scratchy gray ones at the bottom of the drawer. The shoes’ sharp backs will bite into your ankles like faithful hounds who know you are not their owner. But this is a fact of life and you know it: new shoes always hurt.

Legs shaking, you will stagger home, pausing to retch into the neighbor’s garbage can as the evening’s events catch up to you. Your friend will have left long ago. You are glad of this right now, glad he cannot see you weak, consumed by knee shaking, petrifying dread.

You will wince at the creaking of the back screen door strewn with shadows cast by the peeling turquoise paint. Slipping off the shoes you will stalk in with bare feet and practiced silent tread through the hall, keeping to the sides where the boards creak less.

You will put your eye to the crack of your mom’s door, and, finding her asleep, glide to the bathroom, groping in the darkness for her sleeping pills that she takes each night. You will pop three, right then you will feel like you need them. Stumbling for the stairs you will crack your shin on the coffee table and wait to see if you have roused her.

You will limp upstairs, feet padding unevenly, tossing the shoes into your closet: shove them to the very back, beyond the reach of memory, you will discover them again only upon packing your belongings to leave, years later. You will burn them then, in the early hours of the morning, to forget. That will be your last memory of the house you grew up in, looking out over the white tips of the curling flames licking their soles, bending and distorting the oak front door and the hooded window of your room above with waves of heat.

Shove the night’s events out of your mind in the same fashion. Sitting on the lip of your bed, you will massage the red-raw blisters on your heels. You will remind yourself: new shoes always hurt. As you close your eyes and drift into a troubled, drug induced sleep you will hear the clanging of alarm bells, shrill and piercing in the clear, black night.

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SKI L

ldoelndsetneisntein ax aGxoG by bMy M

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Skills fo’ yo Life, son!

But seriously, they’re important Horse Leg - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stipe-leg-pattern-on-domestic-horse-IMG_0214.jpg Crab Claw - http://www.dailyperricone.com/2010/09/forever-young-recipe-sneak-peek-6/crab-claw/ Horse Leg - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stipe-leg-pattern-on-domestic-horse-IMG_0214.jpg King Henry VIII - http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/henry8face3.htm Crab Claw - http://www.dailyperricone.com/2010/09/forever-young-recipe-sneak-peek-6/crab-claw/ King Henry VIII - http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/henry8face3.htm

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October // The MArk

For those who have spent years on Menlo-Atherton’s campus, one would not expect to walk into history class greeting a lesson on cyber bullying and stress management.

The class of 2015 will be experiencing an addition to their entry World Studies class called “Life Skills,” a class that not only deals with the physical stresses of high school, but the mental stresses as well. The major topics covered by this class revolve around building healthy relationships and warning of eating disorders, stress, depression, mental illness and other mental disorders that may occur throughout life. This class transitions freshmen out of their 100-student middle school into the metropolis that is the Menlo-Atherton campus.

Smokin’

While sitting in class, freshmen discover how to treat one another in the halls and classrooms. Through posters and periodic tests and quizzes, these students will learn to treat each other like human beings and not bash them for their personal quirks. It is a way to protect students and warn them early on that there are difficulties that come with being a young adult.

“This is really nothing new,” Mr. Wellington, a World Studies teacher explains. He recalls the mandatory sleep study presentation that is geared towards freshmen in order to keep them from destroying their bodies by falling asleep at 12am and waking up at 5am.

So what exactly does this course cover?

Try answering for yourself:

1. You wake up 5 minutes late, forget to eat breakfast, and arrive to school a few minutes late, only to realize you left your homework at home. These events should be classified as: a. A cataclysm b. A severe problem c. Worthy of a melt down d. Everyday problems

Despite how obvious this question may sound, the program is still “in its infancy ,” Wellington admits. “I’d imagine most history teachers are most comfortable teaching history, but we do not mind teaching this class.”

So, a quarter of World Studies is evaporated in order to deliver this life skills class, forcing a year of curriculum to fit into three quarters of schooling.

But really it does all make sense, what other subject fits in with the study of stress, comfort, and sexual acceptance better than World Studies? I mean I am sure King Henry VIII knows a thing or two about what goes into a healthy relationship. Caesar was definitley conscious of his sexual orientation in his orgy rooms. And imagine living in the colonies, fighting disease, the winter, and Native Americans; that is freakin’ stressful!

However, no other course could properly support this newborn semester class. Biology is out of the question because stress has nothing to do with the study of cells, and integrated sciences seems pointless because the study of land forms has nothing to do with eating The Hypotenuse says, “Don’t Drink!” disorders. In fact, Life Skills could actually easily relate to geometry!

Despite their simplicity, lectures like “Don’t bully” and “it’s just school” are extremely important lessons. Perhaps these students will move on to treat one another with respect rather than calling them a “faggot” or “retard.” Or maybe they will be better prepared for their junior year instead of breaking down into tears because they got a “B+” in AP US instead of an “A-.“ These are not just skills for High School, they are skills for life.

MA

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Who you gonna call?

by Quinn Sweetnam

Y

ou are at a party with your friends, maybe you’ve had a few drinks, or maybe you’ve had a lot of drinks. Home is only a few miles away and you don’t want to take a cab or call your parents because you don’t want to get in trouble. So you take the risk that many teenagers take: You drive home drunk or buzzed. You risk your life, and the lives of innocent people every second you’re behind that wheel. There is a way to avoid that risk. It’s called Safe Rides.

Safe Rides, a program based out of Palo Alto, consists of high school students from M-A who run the program, Sacred Heart, Menlo, and other local schools. SafeRides staff provides safe and confidential rides home for teenagers in the Menlo Park and Palo Alto area who are unable to safely get themselves home. Teenagers who are looking to get home safely would phone in to the toll-free number prompting a two person team of volunteers to come and pick up the teenagers home safely. SafeRides also requires one of the volunteers to be CPR certified so that should anything go wrong during the ride, a volunteer can administer aid.

Here at Menlo-Atherton, seniors Matt Giordano and Connor Sweetnam run the program. When asked about drunk driving and the problems it causes, Matt said, “I have heard horror stories of people getting in car accidents and seriously hurting themselves. Also DUIs can seriously hurt students chances of getting into colleges.” These

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PHOTOGRAPHY JP Nash horror stories prompted Giordano to revitalize the M-A SafeRides program in his junior year. Since then, Matt and other M-A students have spent a few Saturdays every month driving teenagers in dangerous situations home. These unsung heroes walk amongst the M-A student body everyday, giving their time to make sure the roads around M-A community are safe.

When asked, many M-A students said that they hadn’t heard of Safe Rides, but upon hearing what was, students said that they would call Safe Rides. M-A juniors Campbell Roelling and Kian Modjtehedi said, “Yes, we would use Safe Rides,” and when Kian was asked if it would be awkward calling, he said, “No, it wouldn’t. I would love it.” Another M-A student responded, “That’s sweet. I would (call) because it would be a safe way home and you can’t alway rely on your friends to be designated drivers.”

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, every 50 minutes this year someone will die due to drunk driving. That’s 10,839 lives lost.

Car crashes are the leading cause of death of teenagers, with a third of those involving a drunk driver. Teenagers like to think that they are invincible. They aren’t. What happens to you affects more than just you.

It affects your family, your friends, and the people in the car with you. Is it worth the risk? The next time you are drunk and get behind the wheel, stop and call, it may just save your life.

MA

(1-887-753-7433)

October // The MArk

Public Transportation: What’s the Catch?

T

by Jimmy Hoffman aking the bus impedes one’s academic performance.

Students who take the bus often get less sleep than those who drive because drivers have the freedom of waking up when they feel it is necessary, in order to get to school on time. While those with the bus as their only method of transportation have to get up early and wait for it at its assigned time.

Sometimes, without warning, the bus will make you late to school, and many teachers have a policy that when you are late, points are deducted from your grade. Not only can the bus directly impact your grade if it is late, but by getting up early to take it, students are often tired during class, which makes it difficult to concentrate on work.

Students that drive have an academic advantage over those who take the bus. Sophomore Neil Schott expresses his annoyance in the bus schedule, “Taking the bus is annoying because I’m always tired because of how early I have to get up, and sometimes even late to class”. Students are not in control of when the bus gets to school and when it picks you up, therefore should not be held accountable for tardiness. “Last year I had a lot of students late to my zero period and a

lot of kids seem tired this year.” Mrs. Caryotakis explained. If students are tired during school it can throw off their whole day, and they might not learn some of the material they need. Many tardies can be avoided if the bus schedule was more coordinated with the M-A bell schedule.

Some teachers have strict tardy policies, “Each day you are late to my class you lose 25% of your homework grade and after three days of tardiness it goes to the school’s policy” says math teacher Mr. Kryger.

Brian Keare explains his mornings at M-A, “I have never been late to school and I am usually not that tired because I don’t have to get up so early.” By not having such a time crunch in the morning, those who drive, have an apparent academic advantage over those who take the bus.

In order to give the students that take the bus the same academic opportunities, the bus needs to coordinate their schedule with the Menlo-Atherton bell schedule. Those who take the bus should not be penalized for tardiness due to the bus being late. Students who take the bus should be able to get to school awake and on time, a method of transportation should not affect academic performance level.

MA

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ART “Man,” Pencil, Vivian Qui

Accept Me or I Will End You

by Madeline Drace

Word Count: 500 motherf***ing words.

I would like to spend the next 485 words talking about how wonderful I am. First of all, I can assure you that no other applicant will come close to my level of awesome wonderfulness. However, my wonderful awesomenessocity makes me sympathize with those students who are less spectacular and, in my heart of overly competitive, diploma-thirsty hearts, I wish them the (second) best.

My first example of my stupendousness is my long list of scholastic achievements. In pouring over my transcript, I know that you, you lucky admissions officer you, will have been blown away by the sheer perfection that has been my high school career. Take note of the multitude of A’s. Aren’t they glorious? The B’s are just shy A’s. And the D’s will be severely punished for their refusal to fit in with the other children’s grades.

But believe me, they’re A’s.

Over the course of high school, middle school, elementary school, preschool, and gestation, I have participated in countless activities. I played every sport ever for a decade. Each sport got its own decade. How can that be, if I’m only seventeen? I’m also a time-traveler. It’s number 34 on my list of extracurricular activities. I’ll give you a few minutes to crosscheck that.

Done? Let’s continue.

In addition to playing (see: dominating) sports and time traveling, I have also participated in community service and philanthropy. I worked at a shelter for abandoned spaniels during the summer between my freshman and sophomore years. The following summer, I fed the constantly complaining (and rightfully so, don’t get me wrong) homeless. And, during the summer between my junior and sophomore years, I helped honey badgers learn how to run backwards and led support groups for koalas who had lost their eucalyptus tree homes and their self-esteem.

But those were just activities I did during high school. Believe me, I’ve done much more. From third grade to eighth grade, I read fairytales to blind, perpetually hiccupping orphans in Nepal. They loved me and I’m sure I left an indelible mark on their lightless, scrawny lives.

My orphan story probably sounds familiar to you. I would imagine that you have read myriad other essays that have talked about helping orphans. But I’m telling you now, don’t fall for the philanthropic wiles of those other applicants. They made up their orphans in the empty, selfish hope that you– O brilliant, sage, compassionate, worldly admissions officer– would be so dull, dare I say it, naïve to believe their claims. You need fear no such falsehood from me. My orphans are totally and completely legitimate. Well, as legitimate as one can be after one’s father abandons his family to pursue a life of drink and loose women, leaving an absentminded mother to tend to 15– or was it 17? 23? – hopeless, dreamless children who will know nothing but poverty. Yeah. Think about that for a while.

Also, I sprint marathons and chase my shots with Muscle Milk.

See you in September.

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College Admissions

by Samantha Bloom

We’ve all heard it: if you are an excellent athlete or a legacy at the college you are interested in, you have a much better chance of getting in. This fills some people with insecurity and others with self-satisfaction, but both of these reactions lack nuance. A closer examination reveals that college admissions decisions are really not that simple.

Students take the disappointments so personally, but often they are nothing more than a reflection of what colleges think they need in a particular class.

M-A’s knowledgeable college counselor Ms. Kleeman offers characteristic insight. As she puts it, athletes and legacies are part of the bigger picture of “institutional priorities,” meaning “the needs of the college itself, and sometimes even the needs of the college at that particular point in time.” As predominantly nonprofit organizations, colleges attempt to make choices that will give them a diverse student population that can sustain the school’s programs. In this context, Kleeman continues that in order to fulfill these needs “they will sometimes admit legacy applicants, athletes, talented visual and performing artists.” That being said, Kleeman explains that colleges rarely admit students who are unqualified.

Another commonly held assumption is that athletes

and legacies are placed in separate applicant pools from other students and granted preferential treatment. Kleeman notes that this is not entirely accurate. She explains that some applicants are acknowledged to have a “hook” that can definitely help them in the admission process. In College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step, former Stanford Dean of Admission Robin Mamlet and journalist Christine Vandevelde explain that “a ‘hook’ is some special talent, quality, interest, achievement, or background characteristic that is so distinctive it sets a student apart.” Kleeman points out that a “hook” can benefit not only athletes and legacies but also “students who are the first in their families to go to college, students from underrepresented minority groups, or students who have been seriously disadvantaged by low socioeconomic status.” She acknowledges that “there are definitely pressures on admission departments from many directions,” but ultimately the process is not as predetermined as some profess. Mamlet and Vadevelde stress that “for nearly every college in the country, students with hooks represent a minority of any incoming freshman class.”

M-A students are surrounded by college hype, but they seem to have largely realistic views on the subject. Junior Ross Dairiki says that he will apply to a specific school because of

a legacy, but notes that it is “more to keep [his] options open” because he may have a better chance of getting in. Sophomore Emma Heath notes that she is “planning on applying to the schools” where she has a legacy status “but only because they have qualities that [she] look[s] for in a school, the legacy part is just a bonus.” Seniors Mary Kenney and Elizabeth Sherwin will not be applying to schools where legacy status will help them. On the subject of fairness, Dairiki wonders whether a student’s family background should be considered because “all students don’t have the same opportunity for these advantages.” Kenney echoes the sentiment, noting that students’ fates should not rest on “who [their] parents are and where they went to school,” which is something “nobody has any control over.” Like Kenney, classmate Sherwin “thinks that applying to college should be about the student’s qualifications regardless of his or her family background.”

Though neither considers herself to be a serious athlete, both of these seniors distinguish between legacies and athletes.

As Sherwin puts it, “Athletes work hard to improve at their sport,” and “dedication should be considered when applying to college, especially since athletics is a big part of college life at some schools.” Heath is a serious softball player and has

been approached by a few college coaches. She confirms that a dedicated athlete pours significant time into sports, and it is “only fair that athletic and academic successes are rewarded equally.” Dairiki concludes that it is fitting for colleges to “create a diverse student population with students who are all academically equipped, but with other talents as well.” These M-A students take an appropriately measured and pragmatic approach.

College admissions are complicated, and there is no formula to predict what will happen to a student, even if that person is an athlete or a legacy. Even if such a person has a statistically better chance because of that status, every year is different and there are too many variables that cannot be predicted or measured. Ideally, colleges would select students based on individual merit. This is probably what they are trying to do, but they have to balance practical demands. The answer for students is the same as ever—stop stressing about what you are not and cultivate what you are.

MA

PHOTOGRAPHY Samantha Bloom

UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS When Push Comes to Shove

by Julie Caldas

PHOTOGRAPHY JP Nash, Charlotte McMillan

POOR COMMUNICATION

PHOTOGRAPHY JP Nash, Charlotte McMillan

This is very common problem, and can definitely create an unhealthy relationship. You need communication so you can build and maintain your relationship with one another.

The only way to overcome this is to face it head on and learn how to communicate better.

Sure, there might be some resistance, but keep making attempts.It will help you communicate better no matter what the partner is doing.

TAKING ONE ANOTHER FOR GRANTED

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When someone feels like they’ve been taken for granted, the relationship can crumble quickly. It’s one of the major signs in unhealthy relationships, and you just have to face it head on like everything else. Don’t be afraid to discuss your feelings because taking the time to show your partner you care is extremely important. Just tell them what they can do to make you feel more valued,because it can make a big difference.

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LACK OF INTIMACY Everyone knows this is a major part of being in a healthy, loving relationship with your partner. (We’re not talking about sex as much as understanding how crucial those intimate moments are to your relationship.) Sometimes, you have to work hard to keep that flame lit, so take the time to do something creative. Your efforts will help you overcome romance and passion issues in the relationship,remember that even the smallest gestures can go a long way.

NO SUPPORT IN PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Unhealthy relationships can be provoked by partners that are not supporting each other in every way possible. Feeling like you’re being prevented from pursuing your hobbies, skills, or talents can create problems in the relationship.The only way to rectify the situation is to learn how to support each other as a couple as well as individually. If she loves to sing and you love to paint, then allow time for each other to do what they love.

There are students at Menlo-Atherton that could be going through an unhealthy relationship. I know I have experienced an unhealthy relationship school and it was terrifying. I was abused at M-A during school hours, and left alone when others didn’t want to. Now when I see people in an unhealthy relationship, I tend to step in. I don’t want someone to go through the pain and the panic attacks that I went through. When partners don’t have a supportive, loving, caring, and respectful atmosphere the consequences are difficult.

Eventually, unhealthy relationships take their toll and many are left feeling unwanted, rejected, unworthy, and maybe even depressed. This can easily spill over into other parts of your life, especially work or interaction with other loved ones. The end result is a severely damaged psyche.

The good news is there are ways to fix unhealthy relationships. In order to do this, however, one must figure out the issues at hand. If this advice helps even one person then it is worth discussing.

If you are in an unhealthy relationship and would like to talk to someone about it, please feel free to go to B-21, or the Sequoia Teen Health and Welness Center.

MA

Where Do You Get Your Rhythm?

The mellifluous rhythm of the melodic beats and heavy voices stimulate the listener’s emotions and lead them on a roller coaster through a set of fancy speakers or headphones.

Today, M-A students have adopted a wide variety of ways to listen to music. Certain students prefer listening online or on their computer with iTunes, and some prefer to go mobile on their iPods and iPhones with a pair of headphones so they are free to walk around and dance to their favorite songs.

During the past five to seven years, various web and desktop based legal music services have emerged, including iTunes, Spotify, Amazon MP3, Napster, Rhapsody, Pandora, and FilthySlaps.com. In addition to these legal services, many illegal services and ways to download music have appeared, by “torrenting” music, by pulling the audio off of YouTube videos, and by sharing MP3s through file sharing websites, all which pirate music and contain copyright infringement.

Fifteen year old Menlo student Ben Taft, is far more accomplished than his fellow classmates.

He and his friend Kian McHugh launched their very own music site called FilthySlaps.com on April 24, 2011, which is used for downloading a variety of free underground music, with a hint of Pop. The site is here “to provide you with the newest, filthiest music around” says Taft. Being as young as Taft and McHugh are, their site is still mostly local, and the visitors of the website are mostly from the Bay area, but they are aiming for a bigger picture. Ben claims “we get hundreds of visits a day. We hope to increase the network and reach all the way across the nation!”

Although some people are skeptical about the concept of downloading music from the Internet, Taft believes there are no cons: ”The clean posts, rating system, easy downloads, the good music, the awesome images, and the daily updates. The site is one big pro....The only con for Kian and I is the amount of time we put into the site. It takes away from homework and study time.”

Downloading/purchasing music legally seems like it’s the right road to take, especially with the vast number of choices available. The RIAA states on their website, “Federal law provides severe civil and criminal penalties for the unauthorized reproduction, distribution, rental or digital transmission of copyrighted sound recordings.” In 2008,

the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry published an astonishing report that 95% of music downloads were illegal. Why would so many M-A students, and millions of people all over the world engage in such activity that could have serious consequences?

What seems to be the motive for so many people to download music off of the Internet these days seems to mostly be the price. In a poll conducted about today’s music downloading choices, Lauren Smith, a junior at M-A said, “I normally use iTunes or Xtorrent to download/buy music, but i just recently discovered Spotify. It is an easy way to find and listen to music instantly without having to pay a dollar per song.” Lauren is one of the many individuals who believe paying a dollar or more for a song is “ridiculous.” Tom Liggett, also a junior at M-A, shares that he uses “Vuze [a torrent program], because it’s free and downloads faster than iTunes”. He also expressed his enjoyment of the ease of use when “download[ing] whole albums or discographies.”

However, as exemplified in our poll conducted among M-A students, 78% of the 75 students who responded use iTunes (in addition to other services), while 30% use torrent sites, or other methods of illegal downloading. Although a majority use iTunes for their music enjoyment, there is still a large percentage that are doing activity that the Recording Industry Association of America would consider “illegal”.

John Giambruno, a multimedia teacher at M-A, tells us he “avoid[s] all illegal downloading as much as possible, but [is sure] that some of the songs on his server are illegally downloaded, [and that he] has used an illegally downloaded song once or twice”.

He recollects that when he was younger he “downloaded [illegally] like crazy, but now working in this media field [he] respect[s] the issues and rights more”.

Despite the many ways to enjoy music, there seems to be a consensus among M-A students that music is an enjoyable way for people to relax, which some cannot live without, and when that can happen for free, it is even better. Whether you’re a legal buyer, a downloading fiend or even the owner of your very own music sharing site we can all agree that everyone loves music, no matter which of the plethora of ways you can get it.

MA

by Simone King &

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Peter Freschi

October // The MArk

ART Maria Ikonomou “Untitled” Pen and Colored Pencil

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The MArk, a feature magazine published by the students in Menlo-Atherton High School’s Journalism class, is an open forum for student expression and the discussion of issues of concern to its readership. The MArk is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost. The staff welcomes letters to the editor but reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity. Send all letters to themamark@gmail.com

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October // The MArk

ART Stefany Maldonado “Day of the Dead” 47 Digital Art

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recycle MAKE YOUR MARK.