Thursday, September 24, 2009
Volume XVIV, No. 1
San Rafael, CA
The Status of Health Care pages 6-7
New faces on campus pages 4-5
Music festival culture page 8
Student athletes face the pros page 12
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News
September 24, 2009
Teens turning green opens new store in The Village Avery Hale Staff Writer Teens Turning Green is a teen based campaign that was established as a result of a Marin County breast cancer scare in 2002. When it was revealed to the community that the breast cancer rates in Marin County had risen a startling 22% within the last eight years, it was clear that something had to be done. Judi Shils, Bay Area resident and mother of Erin Schrode ‘09, launched the Teens Turning Green campaign in an attempt to explore potential causes of the disease and team together with the community to help eliminate them. Environmental toxins are the leading cause of cancer, birth defects, disease, asthma, and reproductive harm, and Shils works to help educate the community on how to eliminate these problems from their everyday lives.
At The Village at Corte Mad- they’re amazed.” miscellaneous “green” options for era, there is a new store entitled Eclectic designs and spring a teen’s living space. Project Green Dorm, a fall initia- colors plaster the eco friendly Every aspect of the store is tive by Teens Turning Green that products that are available for sale, teen based, including the interior is meant to help launch teens to a including bed comforters, pillows, design. Madelyn Berg ‘08, was new level of a driving force eco-awarein designing ness. the interior of “The purthe store along pose of the with a team of store is to three or four help people other teens. She understand and her brother what ‘green’ Carlo ‘10, used means - that wood from every single their backyard aspect of a to build furt e e n ’s l i f e niture for the can be viewed store, demonthrough a strating the green lens,” principles of said Shils. the campaign’s “When someUsed with permission from website sustainability ! o n e w a l k s Display at Project Green Dorm in The Village at Corte Madre. mission. through the Senior Cora door and you begin to educate shoes, clothing, jewelry, cosmet- Went began working with the orthem, their eyes open wide and ics, school supplies, and other ganization at the start of her junior
year. She is on the National Teen Advisory Board for the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of Teens Turning Green, and practices the principles of green-living in her everyday life. “The amount of toxic chemicals we are exposed to every day is shocking,” said Went, “I think the best way to eliminate these toxic exposures is to find greener alternatives.” As a leader of Eco Council, Went encourages all students to come to their lunchtime action meetings on Thursdays to get more information on how to get involved in the campaign. Teens Turning Green has inspired teens across the country, to join in the efforts in educating their peers and the community on how to choose healthy lifestyles. Not only does the campaign demonstrate how much one person can change in the world, but like their slogan says, they show that going
Digging up the dirt on new garden stewardship elective Riley Champine Staff Writer Marin Academy science teachers Mark Stefanski and Liz Gottlieb have teamed up to bring a garden elective, a class that focuses on supplying students with a more down-to-earth knowledge of gardening that contrasts the rigorous academics familiar to most students. “We were just brainstorming because we were worried about the garden,” said Gottlieb, “so we thought, wouldn’t it be great if there was a class where we get all sorts of people involved?” “We worked together with people on the Academic Affairs Council, consulted with some students, and finally were able to talk to Lynne Hansen and Travis to get them to have faculty members help teach the class as part of their service to the school,” said Stefanski. The class aims to transform the garden into a more integrated part of the school. “The official title of the class
is Garden Stewardship, so the overall goal is to be a steward of the garden, to maintain it, to nourish it, to decide how its going to fit in the life of the school,” said Stefanski. While Stefanski acknowledged the importance of the Garden Club, and some science classes already using the garden, he emphasized the value of “interdisciplinary thinking”. “We want English classes to use the garden. History classes, you know, what is the history of agriculture here. Language classes, you can use it for conversational world language but also cultural history of the plants,” said Stefanski. The elective is not taught in a traditional classroom style but is instead hands on in all aspects. “There’s not a lot of extra homework or things like that,” said Gottleib. “It’s just a very active, action-oriented community service. A dive-into-the-garden type of program.” But before getting into the physical work of the garden, stu-
dents begin the class in a reflective state. “We take five minutes of silence and walk around the garden, to eat and smell whatever we want,” said Maddy Scheer, a junior enrolled in the class. The students do a lot of work to maintain the garden, which includes mainly weeding and watering. The class is also building a tool shed and will plant new flowers and herbs. However, the work greatly benefits the students as well as well as the garden. “We feel more connected to nature which is a really nice break from the crazy academics at MA,” said Scheer. “Besides when the world ends, who needs calculus? If all else fails, we’ll have gardening,” said junior Christie Capper. Yet students also realize that the skills gained in the class could be well utilized in the future. Senior Nachi Conde-Farley joined the class with his prospects in mind. “How could I start my own garden in college?” Conde-Farley asked himself when he thought
about taking the class. going back and checking up on it,” However, the course strives to said Gottlieb. “You know you’re include the larger Marin commu- just addicted to it. It doesn’t even nity as well. have to be in the structure of the “We have other local schools classroom.” that are interested in visiting us or having us visit them to help them with their gardens,” said Stefanski. “So to extend the metaphor of the garden, cross fertilize and cross pollinate.” U l t i m a t e l y, the founders of the class hope that the garden becomes a part of the school in a way that does not need to be facilitated by teachers. “The goal Amanda Levensohn is once you get your hands in, Olivia Davis and Lila Frisher attending class in the you want to keep garden.
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News
september 24, 2009
Students spend summer traveling around the globe Jackson Wolf Staff Writer This summer many Marin Academy students left the Bay Area to travel around the world. Students ventured to six of the seven continents and all corners of our country. Some performed charity work in foreign towns and cities while others pursued academic or athletic interests. This year, summer was not only a time to have fun, but also an opportunity for students to broaden their horizons as members of a global community.
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Eleven MA students traveled to Japan for two weeks with the Japanese program. They visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Miyajima, and Hiroshima to explore the Japanese culture and further their knowledge of the language.
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Jesse Rosenberg
1. 1.
Win Pomerantz’s summer consisted of a three-week safari in which he traveled with his family across the savannas of southern Africa.
Sarah Strand
Sarah Strand
2.
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Mira Lowenstein spent two and a half weeks on a community service trip in Bolivia to fix up an internado, a hostel which allows teens to spend the night nearer to their school.
Win Pomerantz
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In an effort to further her passion for film, Emily Bell spent a month at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University learning about film and working on various projects around the city.
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Meera Garriga spent part of her summer traveling through Peru, sightseeing, and familiarizing herself with the local life and culture.
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Jesse Rosenberg
Mira Lowenstein
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Nico Saarman spent three weeks of his summer in Ethiopia with four of his friends working on service projects and getting to know the people and culture of the area.
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Mayu Desai
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Nicco Saarman
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Features
September 24, 2009 Anna Kelly Staff Writer
Naby Bangoura Used with permission from Bangoura
Olivia Lloyd Staff Writer Veteran Marin Academy English teacher, Eugenie Chan, will return to MA this year to teach Personal Expository Writing during the spring semester, after a year off to focus on her playwriting. During Chan’s time away, she worked on several different plays, and was able to collaborate with both professionals from Broadway as well as less mainstream playwrights. “One huge commonality I’ve found,” said Chan, “whether working with New York City actors, first generation immigrants, Bay Area theatre artists or MA students, is that, across the board, people bring a huge passion to whatever they do.” Chan also accepted the challenge to write a more documentary type play, where she was asked to interview a diverse group of Chinese Americans about their hopes for the performing arts. Most of her own plays and characters come from ideas or images from day to day life as well as friends and family that inspire her. Chan has gained experience Olivia Lloyd by working on many different types of plays and with many different communities. She strives to combine her passion for play writing with teaching students how to hone their own writing skills. “I love the intensity and revelations of the solo journey that is writing, and I love the hyperactive collaboration that is teaching,” said Chan. “I hope to be able to help my writing students at MA continually make new discoveries about themselves, their worlds, and the craft of writing - to see the element of surprise that exists in the writing process itself.” Two of Chan’s plays are being produced by former MA Theater teacher, Rob Melrose, and his company, Cutting Ball Theater. The play will premiere this May.
Eugenie Chan
Naby Bangoura, the new African dance teacher, will begin teaching classes in the spring semester. His lifelong study of the traditions of African dance will bring something completely new to the dance department. Born in Guinea, West Africa, his exposure to dance began at a young age. “I started dancing when I was very little,” said Bangoura. “My uncle is a dancer, and I was named after him. I was inspired by him to start dancing.” Bangoura’s professional career began when he joined the nationally acclaimed dance group Les Marveilles de Guinea. He first came to America with this dance company. He soon became one of the most sought after African Dance teachers and choreographers on the West Coast where he is known for his graceful, lively style and his incorporation of traditional African customs and celebrations into his dance routines. Even though his career has developed in the United States, he returns to Africa every December where he reconnects with the source of his artistic inspiration.
Welcome New Alec White Staff Writer Whether designing greeting cards or in the Marin County Fair Art Show, Roberta Jones is always pursuing art. Jones will be teaching Visual Arts I this year. A well-known artist throughout Marin, Jones has artwork featured in the Art Works Downtown, the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, and has taught at Marin Ventures, Freedom School, and U.C Berkeley, where she received her B.A. Jones specializes in oil painting and ceramics. “My ceramic art are all individual pieces of art.” said Jones on her website. “They start life as a round or flat piece of clay and are carefully hand-built into shapes of vases, teapots, bowls and containers, which ultimately end up as highly decorative pieces of ceramic art.” Inspiration for her art comes from the world around her as she believes in using nature’s tiniest details in her paintings and hopes to bring these techniques to the classroom. “The goal is to give the viewer something that is esthetically pleasing to look at and hopefully create a response within that viewer that says ‘boy, would I love to be there,’” Jones said.
Due to illness, Roberta Jones was unavailable for comment.
Roberta Jones
photo used with permission from Jones
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Features
September 24, 2009
Marshall Levensohn Staff Writer
Susie Aaron Amanda Levensohn
Susie Aaron has joined the community to replace Nancy Hoffman while she is on sabbatical. Aaron’s college education started at Princeton University where she was in the fifth class of women to graduate. Next, she moved to the West Coast and attended Stanford University. These days, Aaron enjoys travelling around the world as it allows her to pursue all of her interests including her obsession with outdoor activities, food, and learning about different cultures. Aaron’s favorite places to travel to are Indonesia and Turkey. “Places where there are crossroads of cultures and religion and so much is happening
is where you’ll find me,” said Aaron. Aaron immediately loved MA when she saw the dedication and passion of the students who study here. “I was not only impressed by the school’s community, but when I saw they were serving artichokes in the café the day I visited, I could not have imagined a better first impression from the school.”
Faculty and Staff! Claire Fox Staff Writer
Stephanie Ballus, an experienced dancer and teacher, came to the school because of the its emphasis on the performing arts program. She had heard about the extensive dance classes and thought the school would be a great match. “My first impression of the school is how talented and focused the students are,” Ballus said. “ The dancers in my class are great students and are so committed to their work and dance.” Before coming to Marin Academy, she taught a contemporary dance class and worked at Mills College in Oakland. Here she teaches two classes: the Dance Company and the choreography class. Ballus has been dancing since she was three years old and does not associate with one particular style and is involved in modern, contemporary, jazz, tap, and African styles Neha Budraja of dance.
Stephanie Ballus
Neha Budhraja Staff Writer Trevor Calvert, the new assistant librarian, hopes to bring his expertise in resource organization and passion for all things in the library to the entire community. After earning a Masters in Library and Information Science, interning at the California Digital Library, and the Oakland Public Library, Calvert found his first specialized job here at Marin Academy. He has already begun working on designing a webpage collecting resources for various student projects that will be organized by class, subject, and various other tags. Being a keen reader, he will be able to answer reference questions and hopes to incorporate modern technology such as blogs and Facebook into an educational setting. Aside from his professional life, Calvert is an instructor of Bujinkan, a Japanese marital art, at the East Bay Bujinkan Buyu. He is also a published poet and his poetry book Where Rarer and More Wonderful Neha Budhraja can be found in the school’s library.
Trevor Calvert
Eric Slamovich Staff Writer Kadeidra Honey, the new Crossroads Assistant, grew up in Oakland, attended the Urban School, Trinity College in Connecticut, and got her master’s degree in Education (with an emphasis on organization and leadership) from the University of San Francisco. Over the past summer, Honey contributed her knowledge to a community abroad by volunteering with a program called the D.R.E.A.M [Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring Program] which teaches job skills to 13-18 year olds. “I am constantly seeking new opportunities to learn more and helping others that don’t have access to quality education,” said Honey. Outside of work, she is passionate about singing in a chorus in Oakland and Sarah Strand taking hikes with her dog.
Kadeidra Honey
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Features
The S.F. Angle
Sarah Strand
Long before the recent debate over health care began in the U.S., San Francisco recognized that there were major flaws in the current health care system, and decided to address them directly. In 2005, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom announced a plan to provide access to health care for all of the city’s residents. The plan, the San Francisco Health Access Plan, would insure the estimated 82,000 uninsured San Franciscans. In 2007, the city began to phase in the plan, which should would be complete in three years. The city aims to be the first in the nation to enact a universal health care initiative. According to healthysanfrancisco.org, the plan’s website, the program is not insurance, but rather a means by which to “enable and encourage residents to access primary and preventative care.” Enrollees may only receive care in the city of San Francisco. “If [the plan] aims to help those who need insurance and don’t have it, then I support it,” said senior and San Francisco resident Isabel Leonard, “Hopefully it will succeed and give insurance to [the uninsured]. Health care is an essential part of life.” The Kaiser Family Foundation surveyed over 1,000 participants of the program, and reports that 94% are “satisfied with the program overall.” If residents have insurance, they are not encouraged to drop it in order to enroll. The program is intended to provide basic care such as prescription medicines, emergency care, and other types of rudimentary health needs. The program does not provide dental or optical care, and excludes many other types of care. To be eligible for the program, an individual must make less than $54,150, or 500% of the federal poverty line. Premiums are based on a sliding income scale. Although the program has generated much praise and approval, one aspect of the program has resulted in skepticism and criticism: undocumented immigrants are not excluded from participating in the program. “Health care is a basic right,” said San Franciscan Chelsea Parish. “I think everyone deserves the opportunity to lead a life where they do not have to sacrifice their health.” President Obama has used San Francisco’s program as an example of a successful plan to insure the uninsured. “Instead of just talking about health care, mayors like Gavin Newsom in San Francisco have been ensuring that those in need receive it,” President Obama said in a meeting with over 60 mayors from across the nation in Feb. 2009. “I think that [San Francisco] has always been rather radical, and someone needs to try a different system,” said Parish, “because the current U.S health care system is obviously not working for many Americans.”
September 24, 2009
The Status Of Health Care Why Reform? -The price of necessary medication and procedures has climbed to the point that even families with insurance struggle to pay the portion of the cost that their insurance does not cover. - Insurance companies frequently deny claims for costly treatments, using any strategies necessary to avoid covering their clients (i.e. pre-existing conditions etc.). -In recent year premiums have skyrocketed, with employers spending an estimated $13,000 per employee every year, on premiums alone, according to the National Coalition on Health Care. As a result, employers often do whatever they can to avoid providing benefits for their employees (i.e. making employees work 39 hours instead of 40). -Malpractice laws increase the cost of health care by forcing doctors to practice defensive medicine, which in turn increases premiums. - Currently 16% (46.3 million, 9 million children) of Americans lacking health insurance, according to the U.S Census Bureau. And, according to the Commonwealth Fund, another 25 million Americans are underinsured. -According to a survey published by the journal Healthy Affairs, over 50% of bankruptcies are due to medical expenses, and 88% of Americans agree that the health care system is in need of minor, fundamental, or drastic changes.
Obama’s
-Mandate individuals to p Think car insurance. Those w surance will be fined a steep p -Require large businesses to they fail to do so, they too mu -Provide a public, option ,w purchase their insurance from -Prevent insurance compa coverage (i.e. denying covera conditions). -Prohibit insurance compan -Provide an insurance excha searching for insurance to cho including the government-run insurers. -Reexamine mal-practice la have to practice defensive med -Limit costs to a total of $9 be paid for by finding saving care system.
s Ideas
purchase health insurance. who do not obtain health inpenalty. o insure their employees. If ust pay a penalty. which will enable citizens to the government. anies from denying citizens age because of pre-existing
nies from capping benefits ange, which will allow those oose from a list of providers, n option, and other private
aws so that doctors will not dicine. 900 billion over ten years, to gs within our current health
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Features
The MA Angle
Sarah Strand
Health Insurance for faculty and staff at Marin Academy has seen some changes over the past couple of years, and according to Chief Financial and Information Officer Mike Joyce, they are for the better.
The Old Plan:
Prior to modifying the faculty and staff’s insurance policy, MA used a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) as their form of insurance. HMOs require participants to have a primary care physician, whom they use for a majority of their medical needs, and who refers them to other doctors for special needs (i.e. dental, vision, mental, etc.) “The problem with this plan is that many doctors refuse to use HMOs,” said Joyce. “It is too restrictive.” HMOs require that a faculty member must first gain a referral from his/her primary care physician before visiting another doctor.
The New Plan:
Opposition and Response Opponents claim that the plan will: - Provide insurance for illegal immigrants. - Be too expensive for the nation to afford. - Contain a panel of people who would look to find ways to end care for the terminally ill or elders. On Sept. 9, 2009, President Obama addressed U.S Congress in a speech outlining his health care initiative. - “[Some claim that] we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill of senior citizens. It is a lie, plain and simple.” - “I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits either now or in the future. Period.” -“The reforms I’m proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally.”
Writing and Reporting By: Hossain Albgal, Katie Eiseman, and Ruby James
Recently, MA eliminated the HMO system and switched to a Preferred Provider Organization, or PPO. In a PPO, a member of MA’s faculty and staff may have a primary physician, but is not obligated to do so. Members can visit any doctor within the PPO’s network of doctors or “preferred provider list” without having to be referred by a primary physician. Though they would have to pay more, members can also go outside the PPO’s network of doctors. The plan includes medical, dental, and optical care. “The change to a PPO is a good change because it gives employees more options and is much simpler,” says Joyce. According to Joyce, MA spends an estimated $750,000 annually on health care for staff, or 5% of MA’s annual operating budget ($15 million).
MA’s Junior Project Perspective:
In May, the Class of 2010 participated in the State of the Bay Junior Project; the class was divided into groups to examine different issues affecting the Bay Area. One of those issues was health care reform. “We talked about the possibility of universal health care,” said senior and member of the health care reform group, Ari Wilks, “and it’s a good idea, but I’m just scared that people would abuse the privilege, and go to the hospital for things like paper cuts.” “As for Obama’s plan,” said senior and member of the health care reform group Tennessee Mowrey, “It’s pretty good. The public option would force private insurance companies to lower costs, which is one of the big issues with health care now. I think [Obama’s] approach has some flaws, but he’s definitely on the right track,” said Mowrey.
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A&E
September 24, 2009
Music festivals: not just a concert but an experience Julia Herbst Features Editor
Every year, the thousands of people flock to local music festivals such as Outside Lands and Treasure Island, include a high concentration of Marin Academy students, eager to hear a diverse sampling of bands and performers in concert. Part all out music extravaganza, part food and art fest, part reason to dress up, these sorts of music festivals are terrifically appealing to many MA students. “I love the scene,” said senior Tennessee Mowrey. “It’s nice to see a band live, but the experience of being in a crowd, milling around between sets… If you’re at a music festival, you’re there to see the music, which means you probably like the other people who are also there to see the music.” Other students appreciate the exposure to many different groups that these festivals provide.
“I probably prefer music festivals [to single-artist shows] because you get to hear a variety of people,” said sophomore Tom Wilson. “Music festivals are more like a gathering for musicians to meet each other and play together and a single-artist performance is definitely more focused on [the artist’s] own benefit.” The line-up at local music festivals is especially strong this year, with artists like M.I.A. and Tenacious D. headlining at Outside Lands Aug. 29 and 30 and the highly anticipated performances of Girl Talk, MGMT and the Decemberists scheduled for this Oct. 17 and 18. However, many students attend festivals for reasons other than just the music. “The atmosphere at music festivals is wonderful,” said senior Emily Bell. “The ones in San Francisco are particularly great because of the location and if the weather is nice, it’s just a really fun way to
spend the day with friends.” Students estimate that each year about 30 classmates attend Outside Lands and Treasure Island, respectively. And, some students say that the number of MA music festival attendees seems to be increasing, with many students returning year after year. “I think even more kids are going to Treasure Island this year than they were last year,” said Mowrey. “And I’m sure there are a lot of people I have no idea are going.” The cost of music festivals is often a cause for complaint, as a single day at the Treasure Island Music Festival costs $65 Aesop Rock at Treasure Island Music Festival and single day Outside Lands $115 to go to Treasure Island both tickets cost $89.50. days this year and I’m going to see Despite this, many students 20 bands, so that’s a good price.” feel that purchasing a ticket is a For others, the festival experigood deal. ence itself is worth the expense. “On a dollar per band ratio, “Music festivals are definitely you’re not spending that much worth the money because you get money,” said Mowrey. “I spent to see a ton of bands that you’d
Sarah Strand
never heard before. And it’s a social thing; you can meet a lot of people,” said Wilson, “You kind of have to be there to live it, and it’s a totally awesome experience.” Additional reporting and writing done by Jennifer Katz, Staff Writer
Reality check: the state of the summer reading program Sara Morgan A&E Editor At the end of last school year, every Marin Academy student received an email that included titles for the summer reading requirement. The books assigned, in order of grade ascension were: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehreneich, and Blood Done Sign My Name: A True Story by Timothy Tyson. So, did you do the summer reading? If you can truthfully answer yes you are definitely in the minority. According to a lunch line survey of 40 students, 69% of the freshmen class, 47% of the sophomore class, 33% of the junior class, and 16% of the senior class fulfilled the reading “requirement.” That means, of the students surveyed, only 48% of MA sat down and read the required titles this summer. How did it come to this? Well, in order to fully understand the state of the summer reading requirement today, it is important
to understand the evolution of the tendency to burn out by the end of program over the years. the school year. It used to be that each depart“A lot of students want to do ment could assign summer reading, that meant some students had up to seven required books to read. Then, former Head of School Bodie Brizendine abolished this program in favor of the book in common system so that the whole school read the same book. “The challenge with that process was finding a book that would be both appropriate and interesting to both incoming freshmen and seniors,” said Head Librarian Derek Anderson. A few years ago, the program took the shape it has now where every grade is assigned a book that is age appropriate and relevant to their experiences thus The covers of the required summer reading books in order by grade. far at MA. Despite this tailored system other things with their time durit seems there are several factors ing the summer having spent a that contribute to the general lack lot of their year reading required of participation in the current books,” said English Teacher Chris summer reading program. One Alexander. of these is MA students’ apparent Another issue is the lack of
follow up to the books during the school year. For students it becomes more and more evident every year that teachers will never ask let alone test students on the summer reading. This is a likely explanation for why the percent of students who do the reading decreases through the grade progression. “A requirement that doesn’t have any consequences if you don’t do it is silly,” said Head of the English department and English teacher Jim Baldwin In addition, there is some debate about the appeal of the book choices, which were made at the end of last year by a committee consisting of Head Librarian Anderson, Head of School Travis Brownley, and Academic Dean Joe Harvey. “I think the summer reading program could be improved if the books were more exciting,” said senior Gwen Muren. “Not that it has to be fantasy but just something that’s more relatable for people our age.” While it is obvious that there
are some issues with the summer reading program, that also means there is room for improvement. According to Harvey, the Academic Affairs Committee has already selected the summer reading program as a topic for discussion and restructuring during this school year. What is also worth noting is that even though the student body is not enthused by the prospect of assigned reading, many students choose to read for entertainment when free from other school responsibilities. “I continue to be surprised by how much MA students do actually seem to read over the summer,” said Alexander. However, despite students’ enthusiasm for reading over breaks, many find that there simply isn’t time to pursue reading during the school year. “At MA with so much academic stuff going on and extracurriculars, it’s just hard for people to make the time for reading even if they love it,” said Muren.
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Opinion
September 24, 2009
Junior project brings health care debate to the classroom Amanda Levensohn Op-Ed Editor On a daily basis, Marin Academy students’ lives are taken over by their monotonous and overbooked after-school schedules. From soccer to piano to band practice and then homework, there is hardly any time left to learn about the aspects of life that are not carefully thought out and taught in school. This all changed towards the end of my junior year when I participated in Junior Project. For the first time in my MA career, I was not hand-fed guidelines, criteria, or expectations. The only direction given was to research health care and find something that interested me. At the time, health care was something I knew very little about; all I knew was that I was lucky to have it, but that many people
didn’t. I had heard that the system was notoriously unfair and corrupt, yet for the first time I was given time to find things out for myself. Naturally inclined to political activism, the first thing that caught my attention was the debate on health care reform. Over the course of Junior Project, I had the opportunity to dive into a topic so deep and complicated that it made my heart pound with curiosity and excitement. Having previously been ignorant to the intricacies of the health care system, I fig-
Julia Herbst
ured that after a few good days of research, I would have the health care crisis solved, as if there was some sort of easy fix no one had figured out yet. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Instead of ending the school year with answers, I felt more confused and undecided on what should be done with the American health care system than when I had started. More than anything, I had learned how there is no easy fix and potentially no fix at all. I can say that our exploration left me with three things: questions, hopelessness, and a great education. If someone had told me that Obama would soon be trying to convince America to pass a health care reform bill, I probably would have
laughed. The idea of trying to change the American healthcare system seemed farfetched, maybe even impossible. After completeing Junior Project, I was convinced that universal health care could never work with the United States socio-economic structure and found the idea of trying to change our system daunting. In the midst of one of the most heated debates of my lifetime, I could not be luckier to have investigated health care reform, as I learned about a political issue that would affect my life forever. I was able to find my own voice and speak my own opinion to the community. Junior Project has enabled Marin Academy to bring the health care reform debate into the classroom.
My MA: Local theater company perfect for the hard working student Megan Kalstrom Guest Writer What do you get when you combine community outreach with theater? Marin Shakespeare Company’s Teen Touring Company (TTC), a troupe of teenage actors who bring the gift of Shakespeare to young and old alike through complimentary performances at schools and senior centers. Its mission? According to Lesley Courier, Managing Director of MSC, TTC strives to “use students as ambassadors” of theater to brighten and enlighten the lives of children and senior citizens. Each winter, since 1996, the TTC produces a play and goes on tour around the Bay Area, performing a dozen shows at a dozen different community venues--all for free. In winter 2009, I was lucky enough to have a role in TTC’s most recent production, a mafia-themed Comedy of Errors, complete with NYC accents and Godfather take-offs. It was hard but rewarding work. In the brief five week rehearsal period, practices were long and
intense. When it was time to perform, we stepped on to a stage that we had never seen before, something we experienced with every subsequent performance as we constantly moved from location to location. Sometimes our “stage” consisted of nothing more than a small area of floor space in a communal dining room of senior housing. Sets had to be thrown together quickly and taken down just as fast after each performance. As an MA student, continually encouraged by the motto “Think, Question, Create,” this experience was enlightening. Could we just automatically spit out our lines and move in our assigned spaces? Not at all. Unlike most theatrical performances, there was no advance blocking of the actors, no runthroughs in the physical space in which we performed. We had to truly think during shows about how far to go on a given stage, question ourselves whether this blocking was right or wrong, and still manage to create a believable, comedic world for our audience.
I’ve never done such a production so steeped in MA values. For someone like me, who’s used to doing shows on the fabulous MA stage, this theatrical experience was different--challenging, exhausting, and exhilarating. Was it worth it? Definitely. One of the best things about TTC is that you have the chance to actually see the difference you are making. With many community service programs, the idea that you are making a difference has to be taken with a grain of salt, since you may not actually see the results first-hand. The TTC is the exact opposite: instant gratification. You see the audience smile, hear them laugh, and feel their emotions as they’re drawn into the magic of theater. To help these children and senior citizens escape everyday life, to give them something to laugh about, is the highest service someone can offer. What’s your MA? The Voice is looking to publish your stories on MA. If you would like to submit, please contact either of the Editors-in-Chief, Nishant Budhraja and Sarah Strand or Op-Ed Editor Amanda Levensohn.
marin academy voice 1600 Mission Ave., San Rafael, CA 94901 http://voice.ma.org 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 Neha Budhraja Riley Champine Katie Eisemen Claire Fox Avery Hale Ruby James Jennifer Katz Anna Kelly Marshall Levensohn Olivia Lloyd Andrew Miller Jamie Muresanu Berk Norman Sam Pritzker Isaac Scott Eric Slamovich Lauren Thomas Sarah Tillman Alec White Jackson Wolf
10
Opinion
September 24. 2009
Discussing the Y generation, technology, our future Sarah Strand Editor-in-Chief Technology is here, and it’s here big. Whether you like it or not, print media is dying – and our future rests in cyberspace. Though it certainly has its benefits, the manifestation of digital technology is taking a toll on the way individuals learn to navigate the world. My generation, often referred to as ‘Generation Y,’ was born into a world of developing technological and non-personal communication. We text and Twitter; Facebook and use MySpace; as well as blog and upload our photos to Flickr. Today, even email is considered archaic in the eyes of some teens. This isn’t to say that adults have not adopted new technology. In fact, Marin Academy teachers are going paperless with blogs, the administration is posting documents to the
school’s website, and students are now required to purchase books online. These instant and widespread communication mediums undoubtedly save us time and resources, but also deprive us of the personal interactions of yesteryear. As the use of new technology snowballs, it becomes even more difficult for those who remain exempt by choice to stay that way. My peers talk about how long they have lived without
Facebook in terms akin to regulars at an Alcoholics Anonymous meet-
ing. Recently, a close friend of mine realized how much she wanted Facebook out of her life. The abundance of information made her feel like a stalker and the stalked all at once. The true problem lied in how much of her own life and everyone else’s was already on Facebook. By deletSarah Strand ing her profile she would lose access to thousands of photos, threads of text
between friends, and the ever important feeling of ‘being in the loop’. I too have found that there are things even my best friends won’t tell me in person because it’s easier or quicker conveyed on a social networking site or in a text. I openly admit to having and enjoying a Facebook profile, a texting plan, and various online accounts. I do not, however, relish the way much of my generation (including myself) has come to use these devices. In effect, we have become shackled to our computers, cell phones, and the internet; we have become so dependent on these things that many people would not even begin to know how to function without them. In today’s world, technology should enhance personal contact, but can never and should never replace it.
The reality and impact of the health care debate Americans have debated the issue of health care as costs have skyrocketed and coverage has dwindled. However, the buzz surrounding health care has recently reached a fever pitch. This summer we saw calls for health care discussion and reform from citizens and politicians alike. The media continues to provide the issue with consistent, if not constant, coverage throughout the lengthy process as President Obama takes on one of the biggest challenges of his Presidential career: getting Congress to work with him to pass a health care reform bill. Details surrounding the proposed reform, however, continue to remain sparse. Despite the lack of information surrounding the anticipated reform, lawmakers and the Obama Cabinet certainly have the right idea. Reforming health care will provide cheap, effective coverage for the majority, if not all Americans. This change is one that everyone can agree on in principle, regardless of his or her political belief. The heated debate that en-
sues is concerned primarily with the method of reform, to which there may not be one concrete answer. The idea that there might not be a solution to this issue is something that all Americans, including lawmakers, will simply have to accept. There are certain changes, however, that can be made to improve the quality and effectiveness of our health care system, regardless of the type of health care reform pursued. 1. Preventative plans, these that introduce incentives to those who can commit to a healthy lifestyle and reduce the risk of large-scale health catastrophes, can be an ef-
Amanda Levensohn
fective way to curb overall health care spending. 2. Reforming the FDA to more adequately regulate food and drugs, would ensure that consumers are more aware of the good and bad attributes of what they consume. It would also address the “pill-popping” response that many have to medical issues, which can often have detrimental effects to health.
3. Forcing health care companies to streamline their health care options and make “fineprint” issues clearer would a l l o w people to avoid confusion and grey areas with regards to their insurance
coverage. These reforms would increase the overall effectiveness of any health care program proposed, be it a Republican or a Democratic one. The reality of the situation, whether we as students are affected or not, is that the outcome of the health care debate will change
all of our lives. It may be the wait that we experience when going to the emergency room or the paperwork we must fill out to get an MRI taken, but each member of our MA community should have an inherent interest in the result of health care reform. The issue is even more pertinent to the teachers and employees in the community who have been subject to recent changes in the school-provided health care plan. These community-specific issues, along with the overall importance that health care plays in our nation’s framework, make it extremely important for students to educate themselves about the furor that has been raised over this subject. Health issues should be blind to class, race, occupation, or ideology; they are a universal concern in more ways than one. If our generation cannot speak intelligently to health care concerns and issues, this lack of education could very well compromise the future well-being of our nation and ourselves.
11
Sports
September 24, 2009
New trainer looks to make impact, prevent injuries
Sam Pritzker Staff Writer
Aaron Gill, a professional athletic trainer, has come to Marin Academy in the hopes of treating and educating athletes about preventing injuries. Having previously worked at the University of California Santa Barbara, Gill is interested in taking part in a new level of training: “I’m used to training college athletes, which can be very demanding – they are expected to participate seven days a week. High school athletes are different in that they are still exceptional, but the hours are not quite as challenging. It seemed like a good balance for me.” Gill, MA class of 1994, re-
turned to campus because he was, “enthusiastic about the ambience of the school.” After just a few weeks of being back at school, the typical day of training has become fairly systematic for Gill: after an evaluation, he helps the athlete oversee and control his or her pain through a series of exercises. This presents athletes with a greater chance of recovery and prevention for their injuries. “I think it’s great we have this program,” said freshman Ella Storey. “It provides a good and safe place for athletes, especially when protecting your body is so critical in athletics.” Gill is able to diagnose issues quickly and recommend stretches that relieve pain and ultimately aid
Sam Pritzker
the athlete in the recovery process. Junior Emily Lewis, a varsity
cross-country runner, has already noticed an instant change in her injured teammates. “I’ve seen Aaron help others on my team, and it’s remarkable how resilient they are to injuries after his treatments,” said Lewis. He is already an important member of MA’s athletic department.” As a new faculty member, Gill has made it a goal to help all of the families and sports players understand who he is and what he is doing to improve athletics. “Once that is established,” Gill said, “I want to help Marin Academy’s athletes understand that injuries can be prevented, treated, and identified early by being cautious.”
Aaron Gill’s Five Tips for Staying Healthy: 1.) Always do a proper warmup before, and a cool-down after activity. 2) Stay hydrated! Drink at least eight 8oz glasses of water every day. 3) Eat right to fuel your body for activity. 4) Get at least 8 hours of sleep per night. 5) Take care of aches, pains, and injuries before they become debilitating and affect participation.
Wildcats of the issue spike the ball, roam the field Mia Dalton
Jamie Muresanu & Berk Norman Staff Writers
JM: As captain of the team, what are your goals for the season? A: We lost six starting players last year, so I think basically to work hard and be successful. Hopefully we’ll win BCL and do well in NorCal. JM: Who do you think your main competition is going to be? A: In league, probably Lick, and in NCS probably Branson. JM: What is your team’s pre-game ritual? A: Before every game we go outside the gym and talk, do a pulse [the team passes a hand squeeze around the circle], and our coach has a piece of tape that says a word on it that we all put on our pinky. JM: Are there any previous MA volleyball Jamie Muresanu players that you’ve looked up to? A: I looked up to all the girls who won state. They weren’t here when I was a freshman, but I knew all of them. JM: Do you think the team can go all the way this year? A: I think it’s going to be really hard. I think we’re going to have to work a lot harder than I ever have on an MA team, but yeah I do.
Alex Reckas
BN: How did you get into playing soccer? AR: I got into it as a result of my dad playing college ball for USF [University of San Francisco] and living near a predominantly Latino community where there are pick-up games being played constantly. BN: You lost 11 valuable players this past year. How do you think this will affect the outcome of your season? Nish Budhraja AR: The league itself got weaker too, so it’s not going to be as bad as we previously thought. We simply need to gain a little more experience in a few positions or else we will get scored on a lot. BN: What is your mindset when you are losing the game? AR: When you’re losing it’s very easy to panic and start “trying too hard.” At that point it’s almost impossible for you to score. What you have to do is calm down, and just focus on playing your game and executing well.The score should become the last thing on your mind even if you’re winning, because then you might ease up. BN: How often do you practice, and for how long each time? AR: I generally practice everyday, whether it be technically on my own or pick-up games with friends. They usually go about 1-2 hours each time. BN: What motivates you to keep playing? AR: I love the game. I don’t need another drive than that.
Do you have any suggestions for the Wildcat of the Issue? Email the sports editor at mweiss@ma.org.
12
Sports
September 24, 2009
How our athletes match up with the professionals In the pool
Player: Charlotte Kamai Class: Sophomore Sport: Girls’ Swimming Upcoming Season: Charlotte Kamai looks to lead the girls’ swimming team after coming off of a promising season. However, the loss of senior swimmers like Stephanie Christofferson puts into question the ability of the suddenly younger and less experienced team to repeat last season’s success, which included a 4-1 record and a BAC championship. Kamai, Max Weiss however, does not seem phased by this loss. “[When I am on the starting block, I am] really determined and concentrated,” said Kamai. “I try to ignore everything else besides the lane in front of me—the second I take off I forget everything and let instincts take over.” Events: Kamai claims the 50-meter freestyle is her best event, but also says that she competes in “any sprint events.” Notable Meets: Marin Catholic handed the MA Girls’ team their only loss of the season last season, so this year’s match up is sure to come with some extra motivation. Professional Comparison: Olympic medalist Dara Torres. Both Torres and Kamai excel at the 50-meter freestyle, along with the other sprint events.
On the track
On the court
Players: Jamie Grossman and Chet Kristy Class: Junior Sport: Boys’ Tennis Upcoming Season: After winning the BCL Championships last year and reaching the finals of the North Coast Sectionals as well, there are high expectations for the boys’ tennis team. Last June, the top two players from the championship team both graduated, and the team now faces a season in which juniors Jamie Grossman, Chet Kristy, and Eric SlamovMax Weiss ich are the new leaders of the young team. While Grossman and Kristy played number one doubles last year, the duo will now separate to most likely occupy the number one and two singles spots recently vacated by graduating seniors. Last year, Grossman and Kristy went undefeated in both season and playoff matches, beating high-powered opponents from schools such as Piedmont High and Tamalpais High. Notable Matches: After narrowly losing to Redwood High School last year, the team looks to finally defeat their tennis rival this year after a string of recent losses. Professional Comparison: The Bryan Brothers. Mike and Bob Bryan are twins whose doubles team has rocked the ATP tour since the 2001 season, amassing seven Grand Slam titles and reaching a Men’s Doubles ATP record seven consecutive Grand Slam finals. This dominance is comparable to the dominance that the Grossman-Kristy pair has enjoyed throughout their run as a doubles team.
On the field
Player: Tommy Barger Name: Jose Orozco Class: Senior Class: Freshman Sport: Track and Field Sport: Boys’ Soccer Upcoming Season: Tommy Upcoming Season: Jose Orozco is one Barger takes over as one of the of four freshmen that hope to be catalysts more seasoned veterans on the for this years boys’ varsity soccer team. Track and Field team this year. In need of some desperate replenishment As the only remaining member after the loss of four-year stalwarts such of the dominant 4x100-meter as Aki Gormanzano and Chris Hamano, relay team of a year ago, Barger the team looks to win their 5th consecuwill assume more of a leadership tive NCS title. However, they will not be role this season. Barger curable to accomplish this impressive feat rently holds the school record without significant contributions from Max Weiss for the 200-meter dash at 23.32 their youngest teammates. seconds; however, he has his Max Weiss While the other freshmen—who insights set high in terms of his clude Andreas Freund, Matt Fields, and personal goals for this season. Peter Crebbs—have yet to make their mark, Orozco has been impressive from the start, “[My goal is] to go sub 23 seconds in the 200-meter dash, sub 11 [seconds] in the 100 scoring two goals in MA’s preseason games. Orozco has superb technique and very good meter dash, and sub 50 seconds in the 400 meter dash. My goals are to get to state but to first-touch skills. This talent has helped him earn a berth on the state team. However, one always try my best and go all out all the time; if that is what it takes to be good.” of Orozco’s largest goals has more to do with MA: His desire to help MA to another NCS Events: 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash, and 4x100-meter relay. title. Notable Meets: 2010 BCL Championships. Position: Left Wing Professional Comparison: Sprinter Usain Bolt. Like Bolt, Barger is extremely dediNotable Games: Marin Academy plays rival University in the last game of the regular cated to the sport and is particularly successful in the 200-meter dash, boasting the school season. The game could have a large impact on playoff seeding for the BCL West Playrecord. Barger and Bolt also show similar determination at the starting block. “All you can offs. focus on is the line,” said Barger. “It’s almost like an out of body experience—your mind Professional Comparison: Jozy Altidore. Altidore is the striker for the United States is your body…your body does all the work.” national team. Altidore and Orozco share the mantle of being one of the youngest play-
Writing by Max Weiss; additional reporting by Jacob Salant ers on their respective teams. Both show tremendous promise and talent on the field that