March 2010: Marin Academy Voice by Marin Academy

c Volume XVIV, No. 6

POW!

e Friday, March 26, 2010

San Rafael, CA

WHoosh!

ZING!

BAM!

Conquering the College Crisis - Page 6 Analysis of An Indie/Hipster - Page 9

Spending A Semester away - Page 5

News

March 26, 2010

Uncensored Conference explores previously taboo topics Jamie Muresanu and Jacob Salant Staff Writers Uncensored, an event that has been hosted by Marin Academy’s peer resources and other student volunteers for the past three years, has once again come to MA. In keeping with its mission statement, this year’s Uncensored Conference strove to “increase awareness, have diverse conversations and promote individual action about real social justice issues that affect us at MA.” The event covered a diverse range of topics over its three day span from March 17-19. Senior Emmett Choy, Junior Katie Eiseman, Junior Chloé Ouyang, and Senior Michael Perlstein comprised the committee that coordinated the event. Backed by Sanjai Moses, Dean of Multicultural Life, and Joani Lacey, School Counselor, the students addressed issues of race, sexism, and media

portrayals. “There will be people talking about sports, race in sports, what it is to be a woman in our society, what it is to be a man in our society, and how Disney portrays princesses.” said Perlstein. In years past, Uncensored was set up as a weekend conference that held workshops for students from all over the Bay Area. This year, for the second time, Uncensored nine workshops were held during lunch for MA students, faculty, and staff alone. In addition, there was an Uncensored assembly with a keynote speech. Ariel Luckey, a hip-hop theater artist who is an educator and ac-

tivist, was selected by the leaders of Uncensored to be the keynote speaker at the Uncensored assembly on March 17. Luckey is an outspoken and passionate performer

who uses lyrical performances and storytelling to “transform audiences.” As part of the assembly, Luckey

presented a segment of his 90minunte hip-hop theater performance, “Free Land”. “His presentation style was an interesting way to convey his message,” said sophomore Berk Norman. The performance focused on Luckey’s own family history and the history that occurred on the land that MA is built on. “He covered a topic that not many of us think about, but that is very important to Maya Hallstein the history of the MA community,” said senior Shivani Desai. “At the same time, to me as a first-generation American, it didn’t seem to apply.”

Beyond Luckey’s role, however, this fourth annual event depended wholly on student organizers to arrange it. “What’s cool about it is that it’s completely student run, student led, student created and organized,” said Ouyang. Junior Becca Rich emphasized the importance of having a wide breadth of workshop focuses. “I think it’s more crucial to talk about injustices and problems like race and economics rather than partying,” said Rich. While the student committee behind Uncensored put hours of their time into making Uncensored a success, they relied on the student body to attend and apply itself. “The more people that get excited about it, and the more people that go, the better the event will be. I think everyone should bring their friends,” said Choy.

Students roll out the red carpet for high school film makers Ruby James and Andrew Miller Staff Writer March 11 was not your typical Thursday evening. Rather than staying in and doing homework, high school students from all over the bay area filed into the MA theater to attend the first ever Bay Area High School Film Festival. Amanda Levensohn, with help from Dex Carvey, created and organized the event. The film festival was advertised through posters, word of mouth, and Facebook. “Amanda wanted to do something that brought an element of film to MA before she graduated,” Carvey said. “There is not really anything [at MA] that is related to film.” However, the Film Festival was a community effort. “I contacted everyone I knew to help me with this endeavor,” said Levensohn. “I am thankful to all my friends who helped me to plan it.” The film festival was completely student run aside from the

adult panel of judges, consisting of experimental film class this past festival presented. Film makers MA faculty and one professional summer at the San Francisco Art from seven schools around the Bay filmmaker, Elias Koch. Institute,” Spitz said. “I had been Area participated in the festival. “We wanted it to be student given a rare opportunity in getting “There was a great diversity of run where students can share film to use physical film to create my films shown in that some were a bit related media.” Carvey said. piece, as almost everything now is creepy, some tragic, and some had There moments were over 15 where the films submitw h o l e ted of genres crowd was varying from laughing,” documentasenior Emries to commett Choy edies.The said. films preThere sented also were awards came in an given out assortment for each of mediums. of the four Senior Lily categories; Spitz, who Best Fessubmitted tival, Best a short film Production titled “MakValue, Best Sarah Strand ing Sense,” Cinematogused a tra- Students celebrate the success of the film makers and the festival raphy, Best ditional film Screenplay. shot digitally on a videocamera.” camera to shoot the video. Zoe Blank, a senior at UniverThe lack of a major film culture sity High School and the winner “I shot it on black and white at MA inspired filmmakers to take of the Best Screenplay award, 16mm film (not digitally) using advantage of the opportunity the submitted the film Popcorn Lady a Bolex camera when I took an

in response to “a wave of disappearances of many San Francisco art-theaters—as well as the communities that flourished alongside them.” This is the 10th film Blank has made. ZZ Satriani submitted the film From Gatorade to Haterade. “I decided to submit a film because I recognized that I wasn’t accomplishing much as a filmmaker,” Satriani said. “If can film something that makes me happy or seems to thoroughly capture one of my ideas, then I know I have succeeded in my work.” Although the initial response looked promising, “there is always the fear: is this actually going to work?” Carvey said. According to attendees, the event was a success. “It was cool to see all the kids from different schools be brought together to appreciate student films,” said senior Cora Went. Complete with a red carpet, popcorn, and paparzzi, the event succeeded in raising $1689.71 to be put towards Haiti relief.

News

March 26, 2010

Second annual Dance Festival showcases student talent Lena Felton Staff Writer

The second annual Dance Festival, held on March 6, showcased student work from 7 different Bay Area high schools. The Dance Festival took place on the Marin Academy campus. The one-day festival included a class led by renown dancer Janice Garrett, a student-based performance, and a discussion and critique session at the end of the day. MA dance teacher Stephanie Ballas co-coordinated the event with Laura Ellis of the Athenian School in Danville. “This is only the second year that this festival has taken place,” Ballas explained. “Last year it was organized by Laura Ellis and MA’s dance teacher at that time, Randee Paufve.” This year, the festival expanded from hosting 4 schools to 7: Marin Academy, the Athenian School, College Preparatory Academy, Moreau Catholic, St. Mary’s Col-

lege High School, the Branson and dancer until settling down and piecesperformed by the Dance School, and the Shawl-Anderson creating her own dance company, Company, but other dance students stayed to watch the performances. Dance Center Teen Performance Janice Garrett and Dancers. Group. The student performance took Though it was mandatory that they attended, many were excited In addition to the diverse com- place later in the afternoon. to watch other munity that the schools perDance Festival form. hosted, live acSophomore companiment Maranda Barry, was featured durwho performed ing the master a dance choclass session, a reographed by component that senior Cecilia Stephanie BalWinfield, said, las described as “It was a resomething “[the quired thing, but students] aren’t I was still lookused to, at least in ing forward to their dance classhanging out with es at MA.” new people and The master Lena Felton taking classes class for students from a different was led by dancer Dance Festival performers strike a fierce pose to close their routine teacher.” and choreogra“The dancers from MA shared All 7 schools participated in pher Janice Garrett. their own student-choreographed the informal “studio form” dance “Janice gave directions and evwork, which was based on modperformances. The dances were eryone tried to keep up with her,” ern and contemporary dance techvaried in style; the Shawl-Anderfreshman Gabi Adafre said. nique,” Ballas said. son group’s piece featured yellow Garrett traveled for 20 years, The MA performances included rubber gloves, one of MA’s perforfreelancing as a choreographer

mances included prop boxes, and other schools’ dances were highlighted with an array of solos. “These performances are about the process of creating,” Laura Ellis, co-coordinator, said before the presentations began. After the student performances, a unique discussion session, called “critical feedback,” took place. The students, through this process, were able to take away beneficial critique from the day. “It was an opportunity to share with one another what we were working on, and to get valuable feedback on the work we do in class everyday,” said Balas. With the senior arts dance assembly recently behind us, the Dance Festival complemented the undeniable buzz around the art form. “I enjoyed seeing the different dance styles other schools had to offer,” sophomore Yeabsera Assefa said after the festival. “They were diverse and had highlights that left the crowd in awe.”

Paul Zietz among speakers at ninth annual Math Night Elizabeth Ezell Staff Writer

Each year, there are several student presenters from the MA community. Each presenter talks about some application of mathematical principles or presents a math or logic puzzle for the

topics included the applications of origami for solving real-word problems and how motion inside engines can be represented by sine waves. Besides the five student pre-

wider variety of outside speakers. This year, the adult presenter was Paul Zietz, who like last year’s presenter, Svezda Stankova, is a coach of the U.S. Math Olympiad Team.

On Tuesday, March 16 Marin Academy hosted its 9 th annual Math Night. Math Night, an event that the math department hosts annually, was started at MA seven Katie Eiseman years ago by former math teacher Rich Klier. Klier created Math Night when he taught at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, with the intention of having “a celebration of the joy, wonder and beauty of mathematics through our students and guest”. The event was very successful, and he brought it with him to MA because he felt that Math Night would also work well here. Math Night t-shirt design uses calculus principles to capture a classic Marin landscape According to the Chair of the Math Department, Kevin Rees, audience to solve. This year, the senters, there is also one adult Besides presenting math in the Math Night is primarily “a student presenters were Jennifer presenter that the Math Depart- real-world applications, part of chance for five students to share Katz, Jonah Nakagawa, Elliot ment brings infrom outside of MA. the goal of Math Night, according their work and love of mathematPlant, Dhruv Maheshwari, and Since 2007, the Math Department to math teacher David LeCount, is ics with a wider audience – often Sebastian Sangervasi. has been able to fund the adult “to create a unique experience for mathematics not covered in a ‘traThis year, student presentation presenter, which has allowed for a the MA community and to allow ditional’ curriculum.”

students a chance to present their work outside of a math classroom, and allow parents a chance to see what their children have been doing.” According to the student presenters, the process of preparing for Math Night is not easy. “There is a lot of research that goes into the preparation, and getting technology to tie into the presentation is a big part as well,” said junior Elliot Plant . “It also includes meetings with teachers to layout the presentation, and practice,” said senior Jonah Nakagawa. However, presenters and teachers alike feel that the amount of work that goes into the preaparation is worth it. “The best part of Math Night every year is hearing students talk passionately about mathematics and sharing what they have learned in such an amazing and vibrant way,” said Kevin Rees.

Features

March 26, 2010

Changes in scenery: a photographic tour of campus

Foster Hall

The most iconic building on campus - Foster Hall - has barely changed at all. the biggest difference from today’s Circle and yesteryear’s are the growth of the MA Tree and the removal of the cannon from the center of the Circle.

The Pool

Any swimmer can tell you the pool has not been changed for decades. However, the once vacant land surrounding campus is now built up.

Photos and Captions by Editor-In-Chief Sarah Strand

Founder’s Hall

Founder’s Hall looks virtually the same today as it did upon construction. What has changed are its surroundings: so much open space and students in military garb can no longer be found today.

The Annex

Though it is probably the most overlooked building on campus, The Annex once provided students with something not found at MA today: an infirmary.

Features

March 26, 2010

Semester-long schools offer new experiences to juniors Lauren Thomas Staff Writer Every semester, a few juniors disappear from campus, opting to spend half a school year away from their family, friends, and Marin Academy in one of three semesterlong, experience-based programs. Although each of these programs is vastly different, all offer unique teaching styles and one-of-a-kind opportunities. Semester after semester, students return from their programs with new friends and new stories, having learned about both the world and themselves.

CITYTerm CITYterm allows a group of thirty juniors and seniors from across the country to go to school in New York City, relying heavily on the city to provide learning experiences. “Every other day we went into the city for our classes,”said junior Chloé Ouyang, who attended CITYTerm last semester. “It was very hands-on-- definitely not your average school experience.” In CITYterm, students are taught by the city itself. For example, a student studying the Brooklyn Bridge will generate mathematical equations based on the bridge’s arcs, learn its history, and read literature in which the bridge is a central theme. Beyond teaching traditional classroom subjects in an untraditional way, CITYterm gives students freedom and teaches them independence and self-guided learning. “One of the biggest things I learned was how I learned, how I interpret everything that happens at school socially and academically, and how I work in a group,” said senior Tory Mathieson, who attended CITYterm the second semester of her junior year. While in the city, students live in dorms with roommates and quickly become part of a closely-knit community. “It was sometimes hard for me to focus [on schoolwork],” Ouyang said, “but I never felt lonely.” Both Ouyang and Mathieson felt that the transition from Cityterm back to MA was easier than they had expected. Facebook, cell-

phones, and mail helped students keep up with their friends while away for the semester, and the each also remained in contact with their Marin Academy teachers. “Lynne [Hansen] and all my teachers were really helpful. I think they made the whole process a lot easier.” said Ouyang. Although Ouyang and Mathieson considered leaving MA as one of the most difficult things in their decision attend Cityterm, both were ultimately happy with their choice to go. “Going to Cityterm was the best decision I ever made,” said Mathieson.

The Mountain School

The Mountain School of Milton Academy, located on a 3-acre farm in Vermont, is a semester-long program attended by 1 or 2 MA students each year. Its campus allows juniors to focus on environmental science and sustainability. Currently, juniors Maddy Scheer and Megan Kallstrom are at the Mountain School. “The classes are challenging, and the farm work is hard, but it is incredibly rewarding. And the fact that you are doing all of this work while living with some of your closest friends is something special,” said Maddy Scheer. There are many similarities between the MA and the Mountain School. “Classes, work load, and how classes are structured are pretty similar [to MA], being typically small and discussion based,” said senior Cora Went who attended the Mountain School last year. The Mountain School caps its number of students at forty-five per semester, allowing for in-depth and hands-on learning. Because the school is so small, all the students are part of a close-knit community. “The social life was amazing,” said Went. “In fact, it was so good, I had trouble doing my work because I had all my friends around and it was hard to focus when [I] just wanted to do more fun stuff.” With picturesque scenery surrounding the school, students are able to study curriculum based in real life experiences.

“What was cool was that you could study something in class, and then actually go out and learn more about it,” said Went.

The Island School On the southern tip of the island Eleuthera in the Bahamas is The Island School. With academics focused on environmental and marine studies, the Island School’s scenic, ocean-side campus provides a unique learning environment for the fortyeight students admitted each semester. “The styles of learning [are different from MA],” said Adriana Banta, the first MA student to ever attend the Island School. “In class we learned the Harkness Method [a conference style of learning in which students and teachers sit at an oval table] and we also did a lot of experiential hands-on learning.” Banta, who attended The Island School last semester was moved by the school’s effect on her life. “I was happy at home but I did want to experience something new,” said Banta. “My life was becoming a routine between sports, schoolwork, and weekends.” After adjusting to Island School life, Banta found it challenging to re-adjust upon returning to Marin. “When you are living in a place where you are so disconnected from modern society you can begin to forget what it feels like to have cell phones, the Internet, smooth concrete sidewalks and tall buildings,” said Banta. “When I got off of the plane from the Eleuthera to Florida, I was very overwhelmed by all of the modern technology and the disconnection people had from one another. This was so opposite of everything I had been experiencing, so it was a big culture shock for me to re-enter American society.”

Graphics by Lauren Thomas

Additional Reporting by Staff Writer Marshall Levensohn

Features

Friday, Marc

Justice League of Marin Academy Mission: Acquiring Information It is generally acknowledged that high school students will inevitably be plagued by college stress throughout their junior and senior years. This year, however, Marin Academy sophomores have begun to feel the pressure as well. MA has included an informational college portion to the annual sophomore night, introducing the college application process one year sooner for the class of 2012. “The decision to add this information came from conversations between the college counselors, Joe, Travis and myself about input we had gotten over the past few years that it would be helpful for families to have this information at this point in their high school experience,”said Dean of Students Lynne Hansen. The college counseling department hopes that this event will shed some light on the process of applying to college. However, the purpose of the event was not to encourage the students to start the process sooner, but rather to give them a preview of what is to come in the future. “[We gave] a brief overview of why we start the process in the junior year and what happens then,” said College Counselor Bill Henley. “Basically we were trying to relieve some of the anxiety about the college process and reassure the parents that they didn’t need to be focused on it yet.” Despite the fact that the college application process is typically associated with stress, some veterans of the college process believe that the addition of sophomore college night will actually relieve stress in the long run. “I think that being forewarned about what was expected of us would have been helpful. It would have been nice to know about the importance of PSATs and the National Merit Scholarship in advance,” said senior Shivani Desai. However, at this early stage of the game, many sophomores feel that this extra event is an unnecessary burden. “It was really stupid,” said sophomore Olivia Davis. “It was supposed to make us less stressed out, but really it did the opposite. I didn’t learn anything.”

Mission: Vanquishing Standardized Tests

Many students in their junior and senior years at MA spend countless hours and weekends laboring over ACT or SAT study books or going to tutors to eek out every possible point on these standardized tests. The SAT, formally known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, is a test based on a student’s ability to critically think and analyze a problem, whereas the ACT, or the American College Test, is more based on knowledge obtained throughout high school. These different philosophies translate to each test’s layout as well: the SAT offers sections in Reading, Writing (with an essay), and Math while the ACT adds a science component and an optional writing supplement. Although the SAT and the ACT are comparable in difficulty, they present slightly differing challenges that may suit one student better than another. “The main reason I took the SAT over the ACT was because I didn’t want to deal with the science section of the ACT. I felt much more comfortable with the English and math,” said senior Joey Mehling. Regardless of the test, however, certain standardized testing attributes remain constants. Filling in bubbles, multiple-hour lengths, and limited breaks are a staple of the testing experience, for better or for worse. “I’m not a huge fan of the length [of standardized tests] or fact that it doesn’t take into account my personality,” said junior Ben Bogin.

Mission: Finding Allies A lesser known aspect of the college application process is its technological advancement used to help students select colleges. On the ‘College Counseling’ webpage under the tab ‘Academics’ on MA’s Website, there exists a small link titled ‘Family Connection/Naviance’. Though the link is somewhat buried, it takes the user to a powerful tool called the Family Connection. The website has a variety of features that not only help students browse a list of almost every college out there, but even have the ability to give students a graphical estimation of their chances of getting into a certain college based on their cumulative GPA and any testing scores available. These graphs, students agree, are one of the most useful parts of the website. “The Scattergrams are really helpful, with the fact that you can compare different colleges,” said Nic Titus, a junior. This gives students not only an idea of what schools they have a mathematically reasonable chance they getting into, but can also help them set goals for grades and test scores for themselves. “(The website) lets us compare ourselves to colleges, lets us know what we need to improve,” said Nico Saarman, another junior. In addition to a numerical analysis, the website also asks students a series of questions that allow the college counselors to get a better sense of the individual. These questions cover all kinds of topics from how far a distance a student is willing to travel to attend college, what career interests they have, all the way to what type of “social environment” a student prefers in a college. Here lies the most useful part of the website; it provides a stronger connection between the college counselor and his or her student. Because, for the greater part of the school year, 200 students may be seeking help from their counselor and the Family Connection Website works to assist this busy department.

College counselors by day and superheroes b Bill Henley and Jennifer Blake are beloved by M

Features

ch 26, 2010

y: Conquering the College Crisis From Agent Sarah Strand: My dad and I visited Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT on a sunny spring day. Due to the weather, we had a sizable tour group and numerous “Wes” students were milling about. While being shown one part of campus, two male students driving by rolled down their windows and shouted to the tour group “Everybody here smokes blunts!” Most parents looked horrified while their children turned bright red in embarrassment. But, my dad and I were not fazed and couldn’t stop laughing for the remainder of the tour.

by night, MA students.

From Agent Connor Van Gessel: “ I w a s v i s i t i n g M i d d l e b u r y o n A p r i l F o o l ’s Day last year. I had a normal information session and got assigned to a tour group afterwards. About half way through our tour. on the college’s main quad, two people--a boy and a girl-- walk out of their dorm about 50 feet away totally naked except for shoes, socks and backpacks. They walked right up to our tour group and I overheard them calmly talking to each other about a test happening in their next period, as if they didn’t even notice they were not wearing clothes. Then once they walked past us, a guy hopped out of the window of a dorm on the other side of the quad, naked but with duck tape over his mouth and binding his wrists and ankles. He started hopping awkwardly towards us but then two of his friends came sprinting out of the dorm. They pushed him down and one yelled something into a walkie-takie. Then they carried him inside, laughing the whole way. Combined these two experiences were my favorite part of the tour, and most definitely made me all the more interested in the college.”

From Agent Sara Morgan: The first school I visited on my east-coast college tour was Bryn Mawr, an all girls, liberal arts college outside Philadelphia. When my mom and I got off the train at Bryn Mawr station we saw what appeared to be a college campus and as we approached we saw a building labeled “Admissions Office.” Assuming that this was the place we were supposed to be, my mom and I entered the building. We stood there schmoozing with the woman behind the desk of the admissions office for several minutes before my mom realized something was wrong. We were not standing in the Bryn Mawr College Admissions Office; we were standing in the Admissions Office of some other random college in the town of Bryn Mawr. Needless to say it was supremely awkward with the college admissions lady after that.

Writing By Jackson Wolf, Riley Champine, and Olivia Powers

A&E

March 26, 2010

Wonderland wows with visuals, falls flat with plotline Julia Herbst Features Editor Sadly, despite a year of hype and publicity, Tim Burton’s highly anticipated Alice in Wonderland was spectacularly mediocre. Burton’s Wonderland lacks the whimsy of the book, the nostalgia of the original Disney movie and the dark sensibility of other Burton films. The largest redeeming quality of this movie is its strong visual appeal. From the hats the Mad Hatter constructs, to the White Queen’s black nail polish, to the various dresses Alice wears, each costume and prop seems carefully thought about and stylized. The characters and personalities of the various animals in this movie are also carefully constructed – especially the hookahsmoking caterpillar and the faithful bloodhound. The visual feast of ‘Wonderland’ is further enhanced by its 3-D nature, although it is also available

in traditional 2-D. The plot of the movie has significant discrepancies with the book and original cartoon version.

work with. As the Mad Hatter, Johnny Depp is a predictable mash-up of every character he’s played in other Burton films (think 50% Edward

more significant problems that this film possesses. For example, Mia Wasikowska’s beauty cannot make up for

An Alice and Wonderland Poster shows the magic and mystery of Wonderland

These differences, while distracting would not be so detrimental to the overall quality of the movie if not in conjunction with the other

her bland acting as 19 year-old Alice Kingsley. Although to her credit, the writing and plot of this movie did not give her much to

Scissorhand + 30% Willy Wonka + 20% Sweeny Todd). While his interactions and loyalty to Alice add depth to his character, his

decision to switch back and forth between his normal voice and a Scottish accent is distracting and unfortunate. Anne Hathaway provides a solid performance as the eccentric White Queen who lives in a white palace while waiting for a hero to defeat her elder sister, the tyrannical and extremely largeheaded Red Queen, played by the marvelously talented Helena Bonham Carter. Even thought the feminist message of this film is heavy-handed and Disney-infused, it is refreshing to see a strong female character in a mainstream movie such as this. All in all, this film is an interesting enough diversion for its 109-minute length, due to its strong visual style and strong cameo acting. However for die-hard Alice in Wonderland fans used to the traditional story and characters, it will likely disappoint.

The music program: a look at the bands’ favorite tunes Chamber Music

: “Jealousy” by Anton

io Salieri

Mo Fiyah: “Visco” by Dejaca

eeed

pee” by S m u p r e t a W ggae: “

MA Elektra Quartet: Who’s Gotta Match? By Biffy Clyro is Presley

uch” by Elv Soulution: “Too m

American

Rock: “Roxanne” by The Police

Jazz Band: “May Da Jazz Be With You” Roots: “Sum

mer Breeze

” by Seals &

Crofts

bib Koite & Keletigui

e” by Ha World Music (Acoustic): “Wassiy

Zany Glades: “Yeah” by Usher

A&E

Out of the box? The indie/hipster debate Sara Morgan A&E Editor

There is no denying the pervasive indie/ hipster culture on campus, whether we own up to it or not. It should come as no surprise that students are drawn to these countercultures because, in general, students at MA strive to be individuals and to stand Hipster Boy out from the crowd. “I think there are a lot of people here that would be classified as indie or hipster,” said senior Emily Bell. The word “indie” is derived from “independent” and is generally defined as artistic and cultural expression free from the influence of corporate control. Indie culture is believed have begun in the 1980s, with the advent of alternative rock bands such as the Pixies, the Cure, and REM. “Indie music started out as just a word for producing music without a major label.” says sophomore Tyler Sylla. “But it eventually turned into a spirit in music.” Today, “indie” usually applies to more experimental bands and artists than it did originally with bands like Neutral Milk Hotel, Animal Collective, and Deerhoof falling under the “indie” label. Independent film has its own history as well with film festivals such as Sundance and South by Southwest helping to make filmmakers such as Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarantino household names. Over time however, the line between indie and mainstream culture has become increasingly blurred. Today, indie bands like Death Cab for Cutie and Modest Mouse, are both on major labels, while films like Juno and 500 Days of Summer have brought indie sensibilities to big studios. “With indie bands topping charts, and clothing stores such as American Apparel and Urban Outfitters becoming some of the most popular, indie has lost all relation to independence,” said junior Brodie Lockard. On the other end of the spectrum (or maybe closer than some like to admit) is hipster

culture. Like indie culture, hipster culture was born through a musical movement, in this case the 1940s jazz scene. “Original hipsters were defined as the American youth interested in the African American culture, particularly jazz,” said Lockard. In the 1950s, the word was appropriated by the Beats, with writers like Jack Kerouac and Beanie Alan Ginsberg identifying their American Apparel Jacket generation as hipsters. Later in the 1990’s, Skinny Jeans “hipster” was used to label urban youth in places l i k e Wi l Vans liamsburg, Brooklyn and San Francisco’s Mission District. Modern hipsters have blended 60s cool, hip-hop swagger, postmodernism, and an appreciation for art and music in order to create a mashup of cultural themes and styles. Having read their histories, it may seem like it would be easy to distinguish an indie person from a hispster. However, these two styles often blend making it Indie Girl sometimes challenging to see the difference Thrifted Dress between them. At MA, the easiest disFilm Camera tinction between indie and hipster sensibilities Tights can be seen in students’ clothing choices. Leather Boots Indie students are more likely to channel retro styles and wear thrifted clothing, faded denim, tarnished jewelry, and beat-up converses or vintage looking leather shoes. “An indie girl would probably dress in

probably a floral print vintage dress or thrifted dress, strange colored tights or black tights, vintage boots, and vests.” said Emily Bell. “And guys would mostly wear skinny jeans and a plain t-shirt or band t-shirt for some indie band they listen to.” In contrast, hipsters are more likely to sport neon colors (think American Apparel), lensless wayfarers, tight pants, bright sneakers, and unique hairstyles. This style has a more urban feel than indie, which can sometimes look more vintage and folksy. For some students, their loyalty to these two countercultures goes only as deep as the clothes they wear. “I identify as a hipster soley by dress,” said Lockard. “While I do sport the traditional skinny jeans, American Apparel jackets, obscure t-shirts, and messy hair, my hipster-ness only goes that deep.” So it seems strange that even though most students are only engaged with these two cultures on a superficial level, there is enormous tension around being labeled as indie or hipster. “People get really on edge when you talk about being indie or hipster which just seems so bizarre,” said Bell. This is likely due to a desire to avoid labels. “To be indie is not to conform to any stereotypes, labels, etc.,” said Lockard. “However, the inherent flaw in this is that by being indie, you are being defined. Bell further explained this conflict. “Technically if you are an indie and hipster person you’re not allowed to like to be defined by that label, but inside you want to be defined by it,” said Bell. “It’s all about irony. Saying that you’re indie is not allowed. But if you say you’re indie that’s indie in itself bec a u s e i t ’s ironic.” Illustrations by Julia Herbst

Additional writing and reporting by Henry Begler

What’s your style? 1.What’s on your iPod? a. Grizzly Bear, Arcade Fire, Neutral Milk Hotel b. Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Taylor Swift c. Bands that nobody has ever heard of

2. What’s in your closet? a. Flannel, skinny jeans, vintage tees b. You know, pants and shirts… c. an American Apparel hoodie, and lots and lots of Urban Outfitters

3. Have you heard of Jack Kerouac? a. Yeah, he’s cool. b. Heard of him, don’t really know anything about him though. c. Obviously. I have a shrine to him in my closet.

4. What is your favorite movie? a. Once b. Avatar c. Donnie Darko

5. What do you do in your free time? a. I’m involved in some sort of art form, whether it be music, painting, photography, or another medium. I also like to go out in nature and go thrifting with my friends. b. I hang out, maybe play a sport, or do something active. c. I go to concerts and museums, read and write poetry, and adjust my hair. Mostly a’s: indie, mostly b’s: neither, mostly c’s: hipster

March 26, 2010

Opinion

March 26, 2010

Athletic culture takes over campus Here’s to the athletically challenged

The art of being just serious enough

In a country where childhood obesity is common, Marin Academy is not your average high school. Many MA students’ physical appearance could be characterized as buff, healthy, fit, muscular, strong, energetic, and any other athletic or intense word in the English language. Water polo champions, statewide cross-country stars, Mt. Shasta climbing hikers, beastly lacrosse players, and gigantic basketball players wreak athletic mayhem on campus. The healthy, organic, must–be-in-shapeat-all-costs vibe is so present that it is an anomaly to come across the rare, the frail, and the hunted, non-athletic and supremely out of shape MA student. However I assure you, there is at least one. Me. When I was in the sixth grade, I was a cross-country running, soccer playing, debate geek. Since then everything about me has changed, minus the debate geek aspect. Shortly into my cross-country career I had two foot surgeries. Over a period of two years I circulated through 9 casts and two wheel chairs, thanks to a high metabolism I did not become morbidly obese. However, I was utterly inactive throughout my recovery and shortly after finishing physical therapy realized that I was unable to run or stand for prolonged periods of time. Many of my middle school memories involve me in a bright neon leg cast sitting out of an activity. I never got to backpacking through Joshua Tree with my 8th grade class, or play beloved dodgeball games with my friends. Entering high school, I thought I would have a second chance to revel in my athletic fantasies, yet I still feel like I am the same girl in the cast, just a few years older. The realm of athletic excellence and experience that MA students have is utterly terrifying for the out of shape non-athlete. Ever since freshman year I have been too intimidated to join a sports team or sign up for a backpacking outing because I have been convinced that I would have to be medivacked from the top of Half Dome or pass out during cross country practice because something would suddenly go wrong with my foot. Nearly six years after my first surgery, I have decided that I must stop this madness. I am going to become my own “MTV MADE” coach, set a goal, and accomplish it. Signing up for a backpacking outing is probably like spreading peanut butter on bread for most MA students, but I already have butterflies for my first one and I do not leave until April. I cannot graduate from MA having not overcome my fear or reinjuring myself or my body physically failing me. What I have learned from the incredible athletes at MA, both teachers and students, is that anything is possible when you work hard, train, and put your mind to it. At MA, Amanda Levensohn going backpacking, which sounds like a joke to anyone who knows her well, can become a reality.

I have this completely unfounded distaste for The Branson School. I say unfounded because the school itself is quite pleasant and the community it harbors is quite similar to the one we like to call home. Regardless, I simply get worked up whenever the school is brought into any situation, particularly in any sort of competitive environment. Don’t ask me to explain it, I’m just crazy. Needless to say, I was pumped for our boys’ basketball playoff game against Branson. Though our school dominates Branson at most facets of the collective athletic endeavor, we simply can’t figure them out on the polished hardwood. They’re like the Canadians at a curling competition (I neglected to use a hockey analogy because it still stings too much). That said, this was the year we were supposed to take them down; though still underdogs, our team certainly had the uptempo offense and three-point shooting prowess to knock out a tough Bulls squad. I went to the game decked in red and black, high-fiving friends as I walked into the gym. I shook MA coach Michael Coffino’s hand for good luck, and then assumed my seat in the front row of Marin Catholic’s grand venue. One-and-a-half hours and three-and-a-half quarters later and I was staring down at the bit of lacquered wood in front of me, hands slowly encroaching on my vision as I attempted to hide my face. We were getting crushed and I was not taking it well. The excited aura of the arena, built up by Patrick Ebke’s beautiful slamma-jamma, had been deflated by Branson’s three-point daggers. The seniors on our team, now sitting on the bench, looked on teary-eyed as their final season, their final chance to take down the juggernaut, disappeared in front of their eyes. Branson’s Greg Sarah Strand Mroz, who was announcing the game, was stoking my hostile fires with his jubilant shouts of glee. I felt dejected and depressed, and gave half a thought to leaving the gym early. But then, as the clock clicked down to triple zeroes, I heard something glorious, something incredible. It came like a rolling swell of audio waves, starting at the back of the MA student section and pushing its way forward. Despite the fact that we had lost to Branson, despite the fact that we had failed, our community would not stay silent. The entire student section rose as one and chanted, “MA, MA, MA, MA! MA! MA!” It was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. It nearly brought tears to my eyes. It came completely from nowhere and was absolutely unexpected, but it single-handedly pulled an entire half of the gym to its feet in unison. We didn’t care about the game anymore. Hell, we didn’t even care that our boys’ season was over. We turned our attention to the joyfulness of the occasion, to the celebration of an incredible season and job well done. And there I sat, a grouchy old senior still pining for a victory against our nemesis, utterly humbled by our crowd’s disposition. I could do nothing but rise slowly from my seat and join the crowd’s jubilant celebration. I had taken the game far too seriously, and for the wrong reasons to boot. My competitiveness got in the way of what really mattered, and my heavy-handed approach to the game and the season robbed me of my sense of perspective. Beating Branson no longer mattered to me. Congratulating my classmates and friends certainly did. I walked away from this experience with but a nugget of philosophical insight, so please bare with me as I impart it unto you. Life, as you may have heard in any variety of clichéd statements, is just a game. High school life is even more so. Don’t take it too seriously. Do what you need to: study, learn things, make friends, have fun. But don’t do things that will harm yourself or your friends or your family. Don’t do things that insult your own autonomy or eliminate your ability to make sound judgments. Don’t fall so

Amanda Levensohn Op/Ed Editor

Nishant Budhraja Editor-in-chief

Opinion

March 26, 2010

Students’ take on the college application process Marin Academy, without a doubt, is a college preparatory school. The high-achieving and “Type A” personalities of the student body are often shrouded by a fun-loving, laid-back attitude, but the vast majority of students are concerned with one major goal: getting into college. The college application process has always been daunting, but lately students have noticed a growing anxiety over the inconsistency in expectations between peers, parents, and themselves. Every student takes a slightly different path when it comes to applying to college, but most follow a similar course of action: Occasionally consider college as an underclassman; decide it’s too early to worry. Have a wake up-call at junior college night. It’s go time. Regret the application padding opportunities that have been passed up, and attempt to study for standardized tests. Freak out when senior college

night rolls around. The thick of the application process is upon everyone, and there is no turning back. Luckily, the school is looking for ways to make the process smoother, a n d f r a n k l y, much less scary. The first ever sophomore night was held earlier this winter in hopes of introducing students and parents to the college application process earlier on. The information presented was eagerly awaited by parents, yet students left the event feeling far more uncomfortable about the college application process than when they had walked in. Students are presented with conflicting messages: they shouldn’t stress over the process, yet need

to do everything they can to be the best applicant possible. MA consistently promotes the message that students’ education

is about the material you cover and the learning process, not the grade. But frankly, students need the grades to get into the selective schools preferred by students. Applying to college and awaiting decisions is anxiety-inducing for all students, but extra anxiety should not come from the con-

Graphic by Lauren Thomas

Patrick Ebke Guest writer It might have happened out of necessity, or just bad luck. Maybe one day a man decided to take his girlfriend out for a picnic, but it was windy and cold, and so the woman decided to wrap herself up in the checkered tablecloth. Or it’s possible that it began at the jacket factory. The different colored fabrics got mixed up in the sewing machine, producing a flannel pattern. It definitely couldn’t have been the fact that everyone else has a flannel jacket and thus made you feel as though you needed one too. The flannel fad has taken over Marin Academy for over two years now. Do people really not notice that everyone around them is wearing flannel and that it is quite possibly the most UN-original

clothing item in stores ? No matter the reason, I can’t seem to figure out why so many students wear the multi-colored jackets. I realize it goes with the hipster/homeless look that people seem to go for but why is flannel sticking around? Shouldn’t it have gone out of style, just like those lens-less Ray Ban frame glasses? Popularized by celebrity rappers Kid Cudi, Kanye West, and even Lil’ Wayne, flannel has now branched to skaters, grunge rockers, and hipsters. But the origin of flannel goes way beyond celebrities of today. Lumberjacks have worn flannel for centuries so unless you cut down trees for a living (which we know no one at this school would ever do), then flannel is not an original idea of yours. All it takes is one look at the crowd during assembly and you will see what I mean. I have

nothing against flannel jackets or anything of the like. What I have a problem with is the fact that our school has followed the lead of a few people who wore flannel because they were doing their own thing. The celebrities who wore flannel did so because it was their style, their swagger. The flannel takeover at Marin Academy, aside from causing a few cases of mistaken identity due to different people wearing the same colored flannel, has made me lose faith in our community’s own style. Since when did we become bandwagon jumpers? Do what you do because it’s your own style and you like it, and don’t change your style just because you see other people do it. Although there might a slight monetary benefit if people mistake you for a homeless person and put change in the cup you stole from the cafeteria.

fusing and divisive nature of the process. The easiest way to relieve stress surrounding the college application process is to individualize every student’s “game plan.” Competition is inevitable in a small school environment, but this pressure can be lessened if everyone is not doing the same thing at the same time. Each student and parAmanda Levensohn ent will have different goals, and a vast amount of stress is relieved simply by realizing this fact. Everyone can and should aspire to go to the specific college that suits their interests and needs, regardless of prestige. MA students are equally prepared to succeed in prestigious big-name universities

and lesser known schools alike. Similarly, students should work through applications at their own pace. Information should be available to students and their parents as early, or as late, as they want it. College related events, like sophomore night, should be optional; not everyone is ready to start the process at the same time. Considering the vast array of applicants and colleges, there is no definite formula or time-line for applications. There is no easy way out, no fool proof method – the only way to get in to college is to apply. Regardless of how MA handles the process now and in the future, students must be willing to start somewhere. Working through applications and giving 100% to what you care about is important, but students can’t lose sight of enjoying MA for what it really is: a fun-filled four years of exploration – not a college preparatory machine.

marin academy voice 1600 Mission Ave., San Rafael, CA 94901 http://courses.ma.org/voice/voice.html The Marin Academy Voice is a student-run newspaper published free from faculty or administrative censorship or prior review. Unsigned editorials represent the views of the entire staff. Columns represent the views of the writer, not necessarily those of this paper. If you have any questions or would like to receive The Voice, please send a request to voice@ma.org. Editors-in-Chief Sarah Strand Nishant Budhraja News Editor Olivia Powers Features Editor Julia Herbst Op-Ed Editor Amanda Levensohn Sports Editor Max Weiss A&E Editor Sara Morgan Faculty Advisor Mary Collie

Staff Hossain Albgal Henry Belger Neha Budhraja Riley Champine Katie Eisemen Elizabeth Ezell Lena Felton Avery Hale Ruby James Marshall Levensohn Charlotte Lobdell Andrew Miller Jamie Muresanu Sam Pritzker Ilana Salant Jacob Salant Eric Slamovich Lauren Thomas Alec White Jackson Wolf

Sports

March 26, 2010

Looking for a Cinderella story? Well, don’t bother Max Weiss Sports Editor If you are a huge sports fan like I am, then you will undoubtedly have filled out an NCAA Tournament bracket for what is known as March Madness. However, this year, as I went through the bracket, I noticed a trend appearing in my picks: I had chosen few low-seeded teams that I considered likely to make the second round. Looking further into my selections, I noticed that I had chosen no team that was seeded worse than five to reach the third round, or the “Sweet Sixteen.” In the last couple of years, the underdogs have hardly ever won—in all high-profile sports. This lack of inspiring “Cinderella stories” can be traced back to the 2008 NCAA Tournament, where all four number one seeds reached the Final Four—only the second time in history that this phenomena had occurred. Since

then, the championship circles in the MLB, NBA, and NFL have been crowded with big-market, high-powered teams. The New York Yankees won their league-leading 27th World Series last year with the highest payroll, but only after beating the Philadelphia Phillies (who were the previous year’s champions and had the league’s second highest payroll). Before the season had even started one could have predicted which team would reach the World Series based on salaries alone. Meanwhile, over the past two years in the NBA, the Celtics and Lakers have each won a title. These two teams combine for 32 NBA rings and were also among

the unanimous favorites to win before the season started. Finally, in the NFL, the 2008 champion Pittsburg

Steelers defeated a potential Cinderella team in the Arizona Cardinals to earn their sixth and NFL-leading Lombardi Trophy. And, in this year’s Super Bowl, I was thoroughly unsurprised to see the two number one-seeded teams reach the championship game. It

seems as if Cinderella is dying a slow but sure death. The regress of the underdog is not just in sports. Who were the benefactors of the recent bailout? AIG and Goldman Sachs, not family owned businesses. Local companies have seen the worst of the economic recession while executives of multinational companies recieve milliondollar bonuses. This is not supposed to be a commentary on the Obama administration’s decisions (as far as I know the bailout may prove to be effective), but this, at least, does not seem fair. Having played and loved sports my entire life, I have come to realize that the cliché term “sports is a metaphor for life” is, in fact, true.

If you want to know how someone really acts under pressure, put a ball in his or her hands. What is going on with the “death of Cinderella” in sports now is no different, for it also pertains to the world at large. As our society progresses further and further, the divide between the haves and the have-nots, the big businesses and the small businesses, the powerhouse franchises and the small-market teams has widened. Personally, I love rooting for the underdog. It’s just that they don’t win anymore.

The Sports Editor’s March Madness Picks Final Four: Kansas, Kentucky, Baylor, Syracuse National Championship: Kansas, Kentucky National Champion: Kansas

Wildcats of the Issue prowl the infield, tear up the track Isaac Pollan

Eric Slamovich and Charlotte Lobdell Staff Writers

ES: When did you start playing baseball and what attracted you to this sport? IP: At MA, a lot of seniors and juniors reached out to me as a freshman and it seemed [like] a good way to get to know a nice group of kids. It was another bonding circle that I could become a part of. ES: What is your favorite position and why? IP: My favorite position is third base, not because I am a good third baseman, but because it requires the quickest reacKatie Eisman tion times. When a ball is hit at you, you don’t think you just react. In third base Isaac Pollan demonstrates his game face. all of the training and repetitive drills you have done just kick in. ES: What are you called out on the diamond? IP: They call me “Cornstar”, on account of the Michael Pollan factor in my family. ES: What are your personal and team goals that you hope to accomplish this year? IP: My goal this year is to be a team player and hopefully a leader for some of the younger guys. It is not just about my own stats, but it is about the team. I want the team to learn, to play in a lot of different situations and I really want to see these younger guys perform in situations that they have never played in, say, Little Leagues. Clutch situations in the bottom of the 7th--I want them to experience that.

Shivani Desai

CL: What events do you compete in? SD: I run the 100-meter, 4 by 100 relay and do the long jump. CL: What is your favorite part of track? SD: I really love the meets and competing in all the events. I also love the camaraderie of the team. CL: Have you had to overShivani Desai come any obstacles while playShivani Desai readies herself for a sprint. ing? SD: Sophomore year I had severe shin splints, so I had to limit myself to doing only the relay. CL: Do you have any words of advice about the sport? SD: Don’t be afraid to try all the events track has to offer. CL: What player do you look up to? SD: Usain Bolt in the Olympics was so inspirational and amazing. CL: What are your goals for the season? SD: We’ve been trying to get a Girl’s BCL banner since it’s been 20 years since MA has [had one]. If we could get a banner, that would be amazing.