March 9, 2011: Marin Academy Voice

Tuesday, March 9, 2011

Volume XX, No. 7

San Rafael, CA

THE FUTURE IS REVEALED TABOOS EXPOSED

Beverage Analysis

too dope for doping

page 7

page 12

page 14

How the Pieces of the strategic plan Fit Together pages 8-9

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Features

March 9, 2011

Time-wasting websites comsume student lives Charlotte Lobdell Staff Writer

Time-wasting websites like Facebook, Hulu, 4-Chan, Twitter, TVTropes, and Stumbleupon are commonly visited by students, and most agree that they are highly addictive. But what makes these sites so compelling?

“When I’m trying to do homework, I check Facebook and see what people are up to,” said junior Alec White. “While I like it a lot, it gives me an excuse to procrastinate.”

White is not the only student under Facebook’s spell. According to Facebook, there are over 500 million active users, and 50 percent of those users log into their account every day. In addition, more than 30 billion pieces of content are shared each week, and people spend over 700 billion min-

utes on the Web “I’m addicted site per month. to Twitter,” said But Facebook sophomore Ayanna is by no means Harrison. “When I the only site that follow celebrities, consumes a lot of I feel like they’re time. sharing part of their TVtropes.org world with me.” is defined as “a Harrison points catalog of the to her phone, showtricks of the trade ing a long list of for writing ficpeople she follows. tion.” On the site, Among these are writers share tips posts from the Jofor writing ficnas Brothers, Selena tion, debate pop Gomez, Katy Perry, culture, and re- Hours fly by as an entranced student scrolls down an arbitrary Twitter page.

Snooki from “Jersey view pieces users Shore,” and a couple submit. of her actual friends.

“I’ve discovered a ton of good the same answer when it’s 11:00 Stumbleupon.com is another music, movies and books through at night and I’ve been stuck there site gaining popularity. it, and it’s helped my writing a lot,” instead of doing my homework.”

“I use Stumbleupon every said sophomore Henry Begler, While TV-Tropes has educa- night,” said senior Lucy Mca self-proclaimed addict of the tional value, other sites are based Cullough. “I started in early Dewebsite. “But I wouldn’t give you purely on entertainment. cember, and I’ve been hooked ever

since. It’s better than Facebook, because I’m actually learning.”

Stumbleupon is a Web site, where, much like a television, a user can rapidly change the channel, or webpage, with the click of a button. Founded in 2001, Stumbleupon currently has 14 million members.

“You can pick categories of interest to you, and then surf through those particular pages,” said sophomore A.J. Johanson.

“I like browsing through nature photos, and use the site one or two hours per week.”

When asked if they wish the site never existed due to its distraction factor, McCullough and Johanson both hastily declined.

“I’m immersing myself in the vast knowledge of the Internet,” said McCullough. “I am so happy to have discovered it!”

The Class of 2011 bucket list Isabelle Kitze & Matthew Jackett Staff Writers The seniors have only a few months left of the 2010-2011 school year, and after spending a majority of their four years focused on academics and sports, many opt for branching out to new clubs and other campus activities during their last semester.

“I want to join the beekeeping club,” said senior Zia GrossmanVendrillo. “I’ve always wanted to do that and I’ve never gotten the chance to.”

This is also the last semester the senior class has to make its final mark on the school. Many members of the class of 11 expressed interest in saying final goodbyes to the community.

“I really want to pull an epic senior prank,” said senior Desiree Wattis.

In addition to new clubs and practical jokes, seniors want to get to know the school and community better. Senior Cara Neal hopes to get to know more underclassmen.

Many other seniors want to ex-

plore the MA campus.

“I want to find all the hidden spots at MA,” said senior Chloe Ouyang, “and slide down the roof of the New Gym.” Some also discussed climbing the roofs of Foster and Thatcher, while others suggested a school-wide game of hide-and-seek, a “rogue” pool party, and painting a mural.

Apart from doing things at school, seniors who are traveling out of the Bay Area next fall feel regretful about not appreciating the beautiful scenery.

“I definitely want to take more hikes around Marin,” said senior Eloise LaHorgue.

While the beautiful natural scenery is enticing for those leaving next year, many also wish to enjoy the landmarks that Bay Area residents often take for granted.

“You know, I’ve never even walked across the Golden Gate Bridge!” said Ouyang. “I’ve always wanted to do that and I’m definitely going to before I leave.”

In order take advantage of their last few months before college, trying never-before-done activities is high on many senior bucket lists.

“I plan on going skydiving,” said senior Carson Twiss. “It’s something that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time.”

Julia Chanin, long-time poetry slammer and saxophonist, even expressed interest in exploring new art mediums.

“I think it would be fun to try Taiko drumming, and I really want to go to a salsa dance club,” said Chanin. “I think it’s important to do new things before we leave.”

Other common items on senior bucket lists:

- Have a concert in the circle - Spend a night on campus - Visit House of Air - Go camping - See a baseball game - Visit the Japanese Tea Garden - Take Segway tour in San Francisco - Have a picnic at Fort Mason

Neha Budhraja

3

Features

March 9, 2011

Wisdom teeth woes: the infamous surgery revealed Julia Irwin Staff Writer Some say that with age comes wisdom. What they neglect to mention is that with wisdom comes an oral surgery commonly described as “the worst experience of their life,” and “second only to childbirth.”

Though removal can be painful, wisdom teeth left in jaws too small to accommodate them can cause issues down the road.

“Wisdom teeth that aren’t removed could lead to chronic infection because sometimes they trap food,” said Dr. Alex Kashef, who practices oral surgery at Marin Oral Surgery in Corte Madera. Delaying the procedure only increases the chance of complications.

“It’s best to do it between the ages of 14 and 18 because the roots aren’t fully developed, so the teeth

are much easier to remove.” said Kashef.

On discomfort during the recovery period, Kashef said that pain can be minimized by “placing ice on the cheeks and taking Iboprofin around the clock, and stronger medication as needed. With the medications I use, most patients are comfortable afterwards.”

Despite any doctor’s words of encouragement, gruesome stories prevail. Sophmore Rene Babior looked in his mouth after surgery and found a hole to the bottom left, which he decided to poke with the plastic syringe given for postsurgery cleaning.

“Pus exploded everywhere!” said Babior of the results of his probing.

Other than the emergence of strange fluids, wisdom teeth surgury is also known for the sedativeinduced haze patients often find

themselves in after waking up. This brief period of disorientation has been the subject of many YouTube videos, such as the wildly popular “David After the Dentist.”

Junior Miranda Barry went through a similar experience.

“The first thing I said when they took the gauze out was, ‘Mom, I’m a cowhorse!,’ said Barry.

“It just made a lot of sense at the time.”

H o w e v e r, f o r many, the recovery period is quiet and uneventful and a chance to catch up on reading books and watching movies.

“I didn’t do anything for four

Annie Warner

days,” said junior Kate Kingsley. “ I sat on the couch and watched all the Harry Potter movies.”

An overwhelming majority of students found that the surgery was not the traumatic ordeal they thought it would be.

“It’s like honors geometry,” said sophomore Julian Smith.

“It sucks, but not nearly as hard as they say it will.”

S e n i o r Tr e v o r Cheitlin volunteered additional reassurance.

“You’ll be over it in five days,” said Cheitlin. “It’s not that bad. Just know that you’ll look like a chipmunk for a while.”

Uncensored promises debate, controversy, education Avery Hale Staff Writer The fifth annual Uncensored Conference, which will be held from March 9 until March 11, is offering a variety of workshops in the hopes of provoking diverse conversations to increase awareness and promote individual action about social justice issues that pertain to the community. Each year the workshop topics are selected by the members of Peer Resources as well as those who are leaders of the identity and equity clubs.

“Certainly some issues such as diversity and stereotyping always seem to find their way into workshops, and justifiably so, since many of these issues lie at the core of a lot of conflicts,” said senior and Peer Resources member Sonya Egoian. “Having said that, we also like to incorporate more original workshop ideas that have not been explored before, particularly if it’s an issue that has showed it’s face throughout the school year.”

For this year’s conference the Uncensored committee has developed several new workshop topics

Ernesto Garcia

including the financial implications of attending prom, and the relationship of male and female body image to socioeconomics.

“Our workshop is going to be called, “What’s on everyBODY’s Mind?!” said senior and G.R.O.W. leader Olivia Howard. “We hope to look at the causes and effects of body image issues of both males and females within the MA context, and what role one’s privilege

and socioeconomic standing plays in this problem.”

This idea of discussion rather than lecture based workshops is a main objective of Uncensored.

Rather than having teachers talk to the students in order to educate them, Uncensored seeks to allow students the chance to converse with each other about many of the issues that continue to arise within the community.

“We do not wish to change attendees opinion or even convince them that this is a problem,” said Howard. “We merely wish to open up dialogue on [a] usually very subversive yet prevalent topic.”

The organizers of Uncensored have created a specific goal for all of the workshops. The hope is that each issue will allow for discussions that are more relatable to the school community.

“I think the overarching goal is to make each issue real to everyday life at MA,” said dean of Multicultural Life, and co-organizer of 20ll Uncensored, Sanjai Moses. “So if your topic is body image, we have to think about how this issue really impacts MA students as opposed to it being a lofty political issue that is just kind of out there.”

Each workshop will be led by a different set of students, and each topic will allow for diverse and provocative conversation. Although it may be difficult to find solutions to each of the discussed “problems”, the conference will allow time to address and discuss each topic and determine how these issues influence and affect

the community.

Another major aspect of Uncensored has always been the assembly keynote speaker.

“I think it’s important for someone from the outside to come in and inspire us, or agitate us, or just help us to be thinking about issues in a different way,” said Moses.

This year, Eddie Moore Jr., the Director of Diversity at the Bush School in Seattle, has been invited to address the community.

“He’s a provocative speaker and so I would be surprised if everyone walked away loving him,” said Moses. “I think he will get underneath some people’s skin and it’s good to disagree.”

This anticipated controversy and mixed reactions is what Uncensored strives to bring to those who wish to participate in it. The conference allows for all opinions to be heard, and for everyone to participate in debate-style discussions.

“I think sometimes that in the MA bubble we forget about the outside world,” said Moses. “It is important for us to at least expose ourselves.”

4

Features

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Located just off Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in San Geronimo, this three to five mile hike is perfect for going on an adventure or just a quick walk. “I love Roy’s Redwoods!” said junior Alison Korman. “It has a great variety of short and long trails and you can even hike out to Spirit Rock from there. Roy’s is simply gorgeous.” Though many recognize San Geronimo for its golf course, the rolling hills and preserved open space provide a great locale for a Sunday afternoon hike.

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Fantastic views, and frequent sightings of Bay Area flora and fauna make this trail a first-rate local option for hikers of the San Rafael and Terra Linda area. “There’s a lot of good wildlife, like owls, up there,” said senior Gabe Beadouin. “In some spots you can see both the North and East bay to either side of you.”

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Opinion

March 9, 2011

In support of Vision 2030­—with a few addendums A member of our community need not listen long to be subjected to complaint regarding Marin Academy’s changing culture. In fact, whether in the context of a lunch-line conversation or a longwinded Open Forum complaint, it seems that every day there is a senior reminding his community of the way the school used to operate: two weeks of Minicourse, school dances without breathalyzers, and a seemingly perpetual “circle party.” While these memories make for amusing fantasies, MA’s evolution cannot be boiled down to this nostalgic—though most likely embellished—reminiscence of a past decade.

Rather, our school’s transformation should be measured by the increased number of athletic championships we have won, the thriving performing and visual arts programs that have been established and—while we may like

sion 2030” proves that accepting this evolution is the clear path of least resistance.

The architectural changes that have been proposed support the Maya Hallstein A tire swing and a hammock are just a few innovations that should be notion that added to Vision 2030. the once laid-back, to degrade its importance—the hippie school is on a path to live incredible college matriculation up to its label as a college preparaover the past decade. tory school.

While naysayers and those who Although it is easy to dwell on fear change will likely object to the destruction of the beautiful this optimistic view of the school’s student-created garden or the gobs shift, the school’s recent publica- of money that will be put into this tion of the Master Plan or “Vi- project rather than used to supple-

ment the financial aid fund, it is understood by the administration that in order to remain competitive as a top-tier high school, MA must provide the latest technology in classrooms and athletic facilities.

As long as we are discussing the Vision, there are a few additional ideas that The Voice staff hopes will be considered in the future plans for the school. Given the current stress-level of the student body, hammocks and a tire swing in the circle ought to be considered a necessity.

Furthermore, a fire pole enabling students to slide down to the cafeteria will not only create equity between the sore calves of student-athletes and the fresh legs of non-athletes, but also provide an energy-efficient alternative to the elevator.

Finally, on behalf of the upperclassmen that so kindly provide carpools to the younger members

of the community (and therefore fill our trunks with what appears to be an infinite pile of heavy backpacks), we implore the masters of the Plan to consider leveling the entry into both the VAC and Cake Art parking lots.

Although these requests may appear to be somewhat selfish, in reality, neither our proposed additions nor the current Vision 2030 will be implemented until long after we have graduated.

We are aware that the beautiful accommodations we have been so lucky to receive over our high school careers would not have been possible without previous visions along with the feedback of past graduating classes. Given all that Marin Academy has provided for us, we see it as no less than our duty to both support and attempt to enhance the blueprints for what will come next.

Declawing the Tiger Mom: why children need freedom Neha Budhraja Features Editor Amy Chua, professor at Yale Law School and self-proclaimed “Tiger Mom,” has got the nation on edge. Her strict parenting style involves making her children study and practice violin or piano whenever they are not at school, and forcing them to be the best at whatever they do no matter the cost. She has even unapologetically confessed to having called her daughters “garbage” and prohibited them from taking bathroom breaks before perfecting a piano piece. Activities like attending sleepovers or playdates, watching television, participating in school plays or sports teams, and getting anything below straight As in academic classes are not allowed in Chua’s household.

Indeed, her two daughters possess the qualities that many envy in the stereotypical “smart Asian kid,” with perfect grades and refined musical talent, but how will being raised so strictly impact their

ability to reach theirfull potential? This is certainly something Chua, and many other parents with similar practices, fail to pay attention to.

There is a very subtle yet significant difference between intelligence and intellect, and the “ideal” person balances both. Intelligent people can be categorized as “book-smart” and factually precise and organized. They can master new skills easily and are prepared for any examination of those skills.

Their approach is methodical; if it works once, it will work again.

On the other hand, intellectual people tend to think critically while acquiring or practicing skills. They can assess a social situation and be able to remain respectful yet assertive. They are able to create multiple methods for solving a problem. Their approach is analytical; every situation is unique, so what’s going to work this time?

Thus, while the Tiger Mom philosophy is effective in fostering intelligence, it lacks emphasis on

teamwork, leadership, creativity, companionship, and other qualities of the intellectual that drive people to become successful beyond just knowing the facts. There is something so enriching that a child can gain from attending a sleepover or participating in a school play or sports team that no book can offer them. Interacting with other children their age, overcoming dilemmas with their friends, and expressing themselves imaginatively is what prepares children for the future in so many ways.

This carries on to teenage years where these skills become all the more important for us as young adults. Marin Academy is the perfect example of an institution that caters to this, our own mission being to “Think, Question, and Create.” I see students applying this motto whole-heartedly every day, in whatever activity they wish to pursue. Thus we don’t all have 4.0s and can’t all perfectly execute Beethoven’s “Sumphony No. 9,” but we have the courage to try and the knowledge to admit that we

Navika Budhraja

Only four more hours until practice is over and Neha can study for her Advanced Calculus test, practice again, and then study some more.

just might not be able to.

Success here isn’t defined by good grades and perfect SAT scores, but rather determined based on if you are genuinely motivated enough to disregard what others think of you. At the same time, you must not feel the need to rebel against authority. This is

the true pursuit of perfection and mastering this ideal has proved even more trying and mentally engaging than any of Tiger Mom’s ridiculous requirements.

6

Opinion

March 9, 2011

Want to hear a secret? Actually, I don’t Max Weiss Op-Ed Editor I’m sorry, Mr. Assange. I’m pretty sure you have the best of intentions. But there are just some things that I do not want or need to know. For example, the names of informants to U.S. troops within the Taliban. Or maybe a list of potentially vulnerable sites within countries with U.S. interests that looks suspiciously like a checklist for terrorists.

I’m going to need to know a lot of things to succeed in this world, but those government secrets are not some of them.

So why, I wonder, does Wikileaks insist on publishing them? For the uninformed, Wikileaks—spearheaded by Australian Julian Assange—is a Web site that releases classified government documents given to them through unnamed sources. The goal of Wikileaks, according to its Web site, “is to bring impor-

tant news and information to the public.” It believes that a “classified” stamp on a document should not prevent it from reaching the publics eyes.

I strongly agree with the principles upon which. Assange chooses to base his organization—free speech, liberalism, and all of the other values which Americans say they hold dear. However, I believe that Assange needs to realize which documents are truly “important news and information.”

It is because of this that I have absolutely zero sympathy for Assange at the moment, as authorities are frantically trying to extradite him to Sweden under—some say false—charges of sexual assault.

During his crusade to reveal the truth to all, he has endangered the lives of who-knows-how-many innocent civilians and informants around the world. He has revealed government secrets with larger ramifications than just corruption.

I would like Wikileaks to expose

Annie Warner

criminal and inhumane actions committed by the U.S. military and others. But I have no interest in learning secrets that serve no apparent purpose except to threaten the welfare of humans.

Indeed, this issue of what is appropriate for the general public to

view applies to our school. Often I hear students complaining that they are not privy to the reasons behind certain decisions. Yet the school shouldn’t divulge all of its information. I don’t believe, for example, that all students should be aware of who exactly is enrolled

on Financial Aid. Although, if Assange were the Headmaster, we would have a list pinned up on the bulletin board.

The entire Wikileaks situation has forced me to come to terms with a frightening idea: there are some things more important than the truth. This is an idea that is all the more shaking to me because of my interest in journalism. As journalists, we are supposed to find and protect the truth, from all of the evil forces that affront it.

Yet what if withholding the truth might save lives? Would I forgo my journalistic duty in order to prevent the chance of someone coming to harm? I know that I would—and therein lies the real difference between me and Mr. Assange. Maybe it is simply that Assange has more guts than I do— but it also may be that his drive to divulge the truth has blinded him to his conscience.

Tales from a slackened second-semester senior Isaac Pollan Guest Writer Disclaimer: To all non-seniors, this is not about you... but it will be, so read.

Oh, to slack. To all of you who don’t already know, second semester of senior year is a lot of things, but above all else ... it is—quite bluntly—freakin’ awesome. As seniors receive news as to which college our parents will be excommunicating us to, we are also left with this “grace period” on the home front, a sitzkrieg if you will. A time obscured by mystery, in which we transition from “juvenile views of how we thought our lives would turn out” to “brilliant realizations that could only be made by men and women who have surely seen all there is to life after four years of high school life at Marin Academy.”

Here we are; we still have work to do, but we know that anything

Liz Grossman

above a B- is probably good enough to avoid un-acceptance from college. We still have sports, but we know that the team will no longer be a part of our lives in just a few months. So the real question is, what are we left with? A bucket list? A few remaining goals? A to-do list? An urge to complete the uncompleted? A handful of unachieved things still to be taken

care of before graduation? A feeling that everything I write is redundant, frankly because I am a senior and am just trying to stretch this op-ed to more than 500 words.

NO! We are instead left with opportunities.

Some people seem to think that a lack of stress can be supplemented with doing absolutely nothing, i.e., Call of Duty and illegal sub-

stances. I have often heard fellow seniors utter the words, what am I supposed to do with myself now?

We seem to have this general understanding that not having to carry homework around with us anymore is indeed a good thing, but too often I find that I do not know what to do with this freedom. I had been fettered for so long, domesticated to a life based around gettin’ that damn paper done, that I am still in a state of awe that I haven’t seen my planner for a couple of months. While COD and the aforementioned substances are nice, they are not the answer.

But I propose to all of you that if we fail to take advantage of the free time we are given, then we might as well still be in shackles, we will become likened to criminals who get themselves thrown back into jail because they cannot make it in the real world. We do not appreciate nor deserve these

sorts of “likenings”. Instead, this is the time in which we should try something new. Get outside if you like TV, get inside if you like trees or something. Socialize if you normally do not, go to Alaska if you do. Eat if you normally cook, cook if you normally eat. Fly if you normally jump, jump if you happen to be Superman.

The point is, now is the time to branch out. People say that at this point in our high school career it is not worth indulging new interests … well I have news for those people: for many, now is the first opportunity they’ve had at MA (blessed as she may be) to expand.

Now is always the best time.

Want to share your perspective?

Approach a member of The Voice staff or email the Op-Ed editor at mweiss@ma.org in order to contribute your very own My MA piece.

7

Opinion

March 9, 2011

Not-so-hidden taboos stifle discussion, diversity Jenelle Mathews Staff Writer

Welcome to Marin Academy, where we discuss racial inequalities and the origins of war in classrooms, yet avoid the really controversial subjects once we leave our seats. We try, it’s true, but the school tends to appeal to certain types of students with similar beliefs. This fosters a strong sense of community, but at the same time makes achieving true diversity difficult.

Our halls are filled with students searching for their nondescript black backpacks and Kleen Kanteens. We collectively cringe when cell phones go off in class, and PCs hide in their computer cases for fear of being mocked by mobs of Macs.

There must be some unspoken code or subtle brainwashing that takes place over time to makes

us avoid these unspoken taboos. These faux-paus lurk behind the obvious “unthinkables” such as voting Republican, watching Fox News or arguing that the press was too hard on Sarah Palin. Politics can have its taboos, but they are only the surface layer of conformity that exists here.

It is interesting that in a country stereotyped by white, powerful, Christian males, it is seen as “best” to be Jewish at MA. During lunch students wait eagerly for latkes over Hanukkah or gather in the garden to braid challah in the spring.

Pennants of Jewish stars are worn with pride while crosses are tucked into shirts or left at home with Ugg boots and fur coats. The community is accepting, it’s

Katie Eiseman

Jenelle Mathews risks social status by rocking the most taboo clothing on campus.

just that the idea of quoting the Bible or spending the summer at church camp can make many people a little uncomfortable.

Some incidents like driving the wrong way on Cottage or slipping in wet rain boots down the library stairs are avoided because it is taboo to be embarrassing. Students like to seem cool and collected at all times—like they woke up perfectly without any effort. Caked on makeup or thickly gelled hair is avoided because it suggests that too much time was spent trying way too hard. It is much better to dress in an outfit that looks as if it were pulled helter-skelter out of the closet—bonus points if one of the items could be from Goodwill.

It always seems like a good idea to buy used clothes—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle all in one! However, a classmate once said it was unfair to buy up all the good clothes at a second-hand store if you can afford to shop at the mall. It does seem that there is plenty of used clothing to go around, but as the whole issue of wealth is taboo, money is rarely talked about. Financial aid, full rides, and percentages are all topics that are shied away from.

They bring up uncomfortable questions between friends, when one can barely afford tuition and the other drives an Audi to school.

Diversity is praised here, but differences are sometimes too taboo to discuss.

Keeping an eye on our most “trusted” news sources Andrew Miller Copy Editor Most weeknights, Jon Stewart shows up on television and recaps the gaffes, missteps, and untruths of various news sources. Despite the fact that Stewart’s program airs in the US on Comedy Central, a 2009 Time Magazine poll revealed him to be “America’s Most Trusted Newscaster.”

“The Daily Show” is billed as a comedic take on the news but has come to be a watchdog for biased journalism from mainstream news sources. Stewart often targets Fox News for favoring conservative politics, but they are in no way alone in their bias. MNSBC news personality Keith Olbermann was reprimanded for violating network ethics policy by donating to the campaigns of three Democratic congressional candidates in 2010.

Such examples of journalistic bias should serve as a reminder of the fact that slant exists even in “trusted” sources, and must be remembered when taking in or disseminating information.

In a news organization where the most controversial topic is the impact of the leftover plastic shreds from Snow Day, it can be easy to forget the importance of presenting an unbiased point of view. The Voice strives to present the relevant information without drawing its own conclusions for the reader. To me, this is the responsibility of a news source.

Outside of this opinion section, we intend to leave you the opportunity to read the facts and quotes provided and react in any way you wish. You might decide the Strategic Plan is the greatest thing since the invention of no-homework weekends, or you might want to go back to the days of circle parties and trips to the bagel store.

Either way, we want you to know the facts and then see how you feel.

News can quickly shift from informative to biased to polarizing when opinion is presented as fact.

More and more, US news media is recognized for catering to specific political opinions. There is nothing technically wrong with this, as each major news organization

is privately owned and can therefore speak to any audience they wish. The issue stems from the fact that these organizations define themselves as unbiased sources of information. If the accusations of bad reporting are true, then these organizations must be viewed as what they really are—opinion sources masquerading as distributors of facts.

No news can be presented completely without a particular perspective. Every journalist has a set of experiences and beliefs that will inevitably inform his reports.

What can be avoided and must be recognized is the deliberate or unconscious misreporting, creating, or ignoring of news that does not represent the views of an organization or individual.

A trustworthy news organization is exactly that, an organization that reports the news and events relevant to its readership or viewership. I urge you to consider where you get your information, and to consider what your sources may really be trying to tell you. I want you to keep your eyes open.

marin academy voice 1600 Mission Ave., San Rafael, CA 94901 http://issuu.com/mavoice 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 Katie Eiseman Lauren Thomas Managing Editor Riley Champine News Editor Ruby James Features Editor Neha Budhraja Op-Ed Editor Max Weiss Sports Editor Marshall Levensohn A&E Editor Sam Pritzker Copy Editors Olivia Lloyd Andrew Miller Faculty Advisor Mary Collie

Staff

Everett Barger Ted Billings Ben Bogin Alex Claman Lena Felton Vanessa Gerber Avery Hale Julia Irwin Matthew Jackett Joseph Kind Isabelle Kitze Charlotte Lobdell Henry Lyons Jenelle Mathews Miles McCreary Kyle Newell Kevin O’Hehir Ilana Salant Maddy Scheer Claire Schurz Hannah Shank Greig Stein Ella Storey David Sutter Annie Warner Tess Winston

8

Features

March

The strategy behind the mas Over the last few years, The Board of Trustees has been working hard to create a vision for Marin Academy 20 years from now, called Vision 2030. This vision has its roots in the Strategic Plan, which came out in 2009. The board adopts a Strategic Plan every five years, and the main ideas of this iteration are a 21st century education, citizenship, community, environmental stewardship, and financial stewardship.

“This plan was in some respects a little more visionary than ‘we are going to build a new building,’” said Board of Trustees Chair Barry Neal. “It was not quite as concrete as that, in part because we had a new head of school and it was intended to provide some opportunity for [Head of School] Travis [Brownley] to build her vision of the school.”

Michael Parish, Trustee and Chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, provided insight as to how the board got from the Strategic Plan to Vision 2030.

“Our goal was to take the Strategic Plan and apply it to the campus and see how the facilities can further the mission of the school,” said Parish. “The school has never had a master plan. As we look into the future and we decide what needs to be done, this plan will help us to do it in an orderly fashion.”

The process will be implemented in phases, though the faculty was reluctant to comment on any exact time scale.

“We’re in the process now of testing our assumptions and testing what’s possible,” said Brownley.

Part of the uncertainty surrounding Vision 2030 is due to questions about finances.

“We didn’t want to constrain people’s visions, or their thinking, or their creativity about that,” said Neal, “but the reality is that everything costs money.”

The community has been engaged in the process of envisioning its future for quite some time now. Faculty Trustee Nicole Stanton wanted to draw attention to one aspect in particular of the

Vision -- the planning.

“I am so proud of the school community for the process [it] engaged around,” she said. “Architects came and met with the board a million times; they came and spoke to the faculty. There were some 27 different focus groups that went into this planning, so it really was a group effort as I see it.”

The architects led additional focus groups with the students. Stanton identified a few goals common to the forums.

“We heard loud and clear the need for a student center,” said Stanton. “The library, I think, would be a lot quieter and as a teacher I would feel more comfortable about students getting work done there if I knew that [others] also had a place to go and hang.”

Students were dissatisfied with the new vision. They were particularly opposed to the removal of the garden, but Brownley dispelled any confusion.

“It may involve moving the garden, but we’re going to have a garden for sure,” she said.

Stanton has some words for the community to remember.

“I think it’s important to emphasize is that this is a plan and plans can be changed. The likelihood that in 20 years the school will look exactly like the 2010 master plan [is] pretty small I think, because a lot of different things, new ideas, new technologies, new desires, will come along,” she said, “but I think it’s a good start.”

“We didn’t want to constrain people’s visions, thinking, or creativity.”

Writing and Reporting by Ben Bogin, Lena Felton, Joseph Kind, Olivia Lloyd, and Ilana Salant.

Layout and design

by Katie Eiseman and Lauren Thomas

9

Features

9, 2011

ster plan

Marin Academy has come a long way in 20 years.

The BBLC is the most recently constructed building on campus, and just a few years later, it has become the center of life for students and faculty. Which begs the question: what will MA look like 20 years from now?

The Master Plan and Vision 2030, the infrastructure of the campus, including a new pool, a student center, and relocating the Thatcher buildings. Until the public unveiling of the plans sometime in late March or April, students’ perception of the school’s future relies primarily on the information discussed in lunchtime meetings, which were hosted by Head of School Travis Brownley.

Nonetheless, many are willing to discuss Vision 2030 and its greater impact on the school’s identity.

“We tried to create goals for the foreseeable future looking at our strengths, weaknesses, and challenges,” said Brownley of the plans. “The goals go back to the mission statement of the school.”

While the Strategic Plan, another recently completed proposal, highlights goals for the community and curriculum-based future, the Master Plan is more tangible. It focuses on the physical changes for the campus.

In the 2008-2009 school year, the Strategic Plan Task Force and an architectural firm sought feedback from the community members about what their ideal improved campus would look like. One of the proposed additions, a student center, has been positively received.

“I like that the Master Plan has the library and cafeteria together and the student center up by Foster Hall,” said sophomore Zane Morrissey. “This way the school campus will be utilized more.”

Some students reminisce about how the circle used to be a hub of activity and culture and predict that the addition of a student center near Foster Hall would change the ways in which students interact.

“In the past, the circle was more of a community gathering spot,” said senior Julia Chanin, “but now that has shifted down to the courtyard next to the cafeteria.

I think it is a cool idea to reinvent the circle.”

Students have also been very receptive to Vision 2030’s plans to renovate the pool.

“It is a usable pool, but being able to have a new pool would be such a great addition [to the MA community],” said senior and water polo captain Allie Smith. Swimmers and water polo players alike are well aware of the pool’s current reputation as a forgotten facet of MA. “I think that a new pool would motivate people to join and support sports teams,” said freshman and swimmer Sydney Block. “More people would want to go to swim meets because it would make swimming more fun.”

Though many are optimistic towards the Master Plan’s revisions of Foster Hall and the Pool, some are opposed to the decisions regarding the relocation of the garden.

“The garden is a quiet place and part of its appeal is that it’s not public,” said senior Grace Lukach. “I don’t want that to change.”

Though the garden’s secluded location is a draw, it isn’t the only thing that makes it special for students.

“Although the garden can be physically transplanted,” said Chanin, “they can’t just move and replace the history, dedication, and passion behind it.”

Student input has formed a vision for Marin Academy’s campus for 2030, but the plan is still considered only hypothetical.

“The plan is not set in stone, though it is based on lots of careful thinking,” said Academic Dean and member of the Strategic Plan Task Force, Joe Harvey. “Instead, it is meant to provide a guide for MA as we continue to look for ways that the campus can support even stronger MA curricular and co-curricular programs.”

Though the model is fluid, concrete issues, such as the plan’s financial impact have come about. Brownley values continued financial stewardship on behalf of students, regardless of the Master Plan.

“We are dealing with a $9 million endowment, and a main goal of ours is to build our endowment so that Marin Academy is not limited by socioeconomic values,” said Brownley. “In creating Vision 2030, we worked really hard to maintain the same level of financial aid to make sure that students currently enrolled could continue to go here. It’s all about the proper use of our time and resources.”

It is hard for most students to imagine how the Master Plan will change the community as Vision 2030 implements these structural changes over the course of 20 years. To put it in perspective, Vision 2030 will conclude one year after Brownley’s twin boys graduate from high school in 2029. While some changes seem distant, a few have already been implemented.

“Sophomores and juniors have already benefitted from the plan with the collaboration between English and history,” said Brownley.

The goals for education in the Strategic Plan highlight the importance of collaborative inquiry. Students have responded to this partnership of classes positively.

“The links between Modern World History and literature make our classes more cohesive,” said sophomore Lauren Hansen. Generally though, most students struggle to connect the plan’s relevance to their current high school careers.

“By the time this actually happens,” said junior Thea Atwater, “we are going to be old and have kids of our own.”

“By the time this actually happens, we are going to be old and have kids of our own.”

Photo courtesy of David Brin

10

News

March 9, 2011

Post-It Project brings students together Lauren Thomas Editor-in-Chief

Junior Leigh Kinney has a wall at home covered in Post-Its she’s written to different students and teachers. They’re small scraps of paper containing just a few sentences of thank-yous or appreciations directed to the people whose words or actions have impacted her. In an effort to expand this idea, Kinney introduced the Post-It Project to the community this January. “[The Post-It Project] was something that had been on my mind for a while, but I’d never acted on,” said Kinney. “I always wanted to go up and recognize people who had done those little things that just made my day, especially people I didn’t know very well.”

Kinney jump-started the project by reading some of her own PostIts aloud during assembly, and the reaction was overwhelmingly

positive.

“The whole community has been really receptive [to the project],” said Kinney. “It makes me happy to see people getting involved.”

Now, a cardboard mailbox and stack of Post-It notes reside on the front table in the BBLC. Every few days, Kinney delivers the student-written messages accumulated to individual mailboxes.

“It makes me so happy when I see a little yellow square in my box,” said senior Allie Smith, “and I hope that the people I send them to feel the same way.”

Kinney believes part of her project’s popularity is due to the reciprocal nature of sending Post-Its. “When people get Post-Its they’re more likely to send their own,” said Kinney. “It’s been growing and really spreading like wildfire.”

Others think the project’s appeal lies in the connections it

er,” said senior Dhruv Maheshwari. “A lot of times you’re afraid to go up to people, but a Post-It can start the conversation.”

Post-Its can be either signed or sent anonymously, and a select few are chosen by Kinney to be read at assembly each week.

“I was really inspired by the Thanksgiving Lauren Thomas assembly,” said Kinney believes the Post-It Project allows students to Kinney, citing reach out to others they do not know as well. the student tradition of puballows them to make with other licly recognizing certain teachers students. with thank-yous every November.

“It makes the community smallAbove all, students see the

sophomore year, and saw [people’s presentations], said senior Dhruv Maheshwari. “This year, I’m thinking of modeling traffic, because it’s something that everybody hates, but if you understand it with math then you won’t hate it as much.”

Some students apply while other are asked to participate.

“I think it’s a great opportunity, not just for people who are really into math, said senior Elliot Plant. “But for anyone who likes to present and who likes to share their ideas.”

The outside speakers have come from a variety of places.

Several were from Stanford, one was from Google and one was our own David LeCount. Their presentations have had titles such as “The Origins of non-Euclidean Geometry,” “Mathematics for Cheaters and Scoundrels,” and “Mathematical Metaphors: The Quadratic Equation and Gossip.”

This year’s outside speaker is Ravi Vakil, a Stanford professor.

The topic of his presentation is not known at this time.

The preparation for math night begins several months prior. Some students do not need encouragement to audition while others need the encouragement. “[The math teachers] want everyone to find a project on their own [that] they’re passionate about,” said Math teacher and head of Math Night Kevin Rees. “The students audition [for] a panel of three judges and give an outline [of their project]. Once the five [presenters] have been chosen, the committee will think about whom in the math department would be best as a coach [for each student].”

Coaches work closely with each participating student to ensure that their presentation reaches its potential.

“Math Night is the [most fun] night at MA,” said Maheshwari.

“Basically, you get a bunch of nerds in one room and they bring their A-game.”

Post-It Project as a way to spread good cheer.

“Getting a Post-It makes me feel so good!” said freshman Sammy Barish. “If you’re having a bad day it always makes you feel better to know someone cares.”

Although Kinney predicts the project may slow down as the hype wears off, she has no plans to end it.

“It might slow down a little because people might exhaust their compliments,” said Kinney, “but I will still keep it going even if there are only a couple of Post-Its a week. Whenever someone gets a Post-It it makes their day, and even making a few people’s days is worth it to me.”

Math lovers eagerly anticipate Math Night presentations Alex Claman Staff Writer Math Night is the annual event where students who share a passion for all things math come together to share their projects.

Former math teacher Rich Klier brought the night with him from Acalanes High School, where he had started it.

That work includes contacting potential outside speakers and encouraging students to participate.

“The whole point of Math Night is so students can share their passion and joy for math,” said Rees. “Students can present projects that they’ve worked on in class that they’ve taken to a deeper level, [or] take a question and explore it.”

Students have made presentation on topics as varied as sine curves in relation to car engines, cryptography, the power of the slide rule, and the best Connect Four strategy.

“I went [for the first time] my

2011 Lineup A Rumor Spreads Gabe Joseph & Johnny Winston

The Fourth Dimension Stephen Hannan

Modeling Traffic Dhruv Maheshwari Music Scales

Allie Mages

Game Theory

&Harry Potter Houses Megan Kallstrom & Julie Ramseier

11

NEWS

MARCH 9, 2011

Students respond to change in reading Ella Storey Staff Writer Last year, the English department chose to change the freshmen curriculum from Homer’s “The Odyssey”, to Mary Shelley;s “Frankenstein.”This decision affected the class of 2014, yet many older students are unable to imagine why the curriculum would change.

“Mary Collie, Jim Baldwin, and myself have been teaching “The Odyssey” for over five years and we love it, and I definitely hope to teach it again,” said English teacher Nicole Stanton. “But [we made the change] partly because we wanted to be able to reach out and make more connections to the modern world history curriculum and also partly because “The Odyssey” took a really long time to get through.”

Logistics aside, some students were upset by the change, including freshmen whot had looked forward to reading “The Odyssey.”

“When I was visiting high schools last year there was a lot of talk about “The Odyssey,” so I was kind of excited to read that. When I learned I wasn’t going to be reading it I was a little disappointed,” said freshman Charles Hurtt.

Baldwin has also had students come up to him completely shocked that they cut “The Odyssey” from the curriculum. However, Hurtt, along with other freshmen, enjoyed Frankenstein and all of the connections they were able to make from reading it.

“Frankenstein tied pretty well with a lot of the curriculum freshman year because it really explored the idea of being an outsider. It was an interesting thing to expand on and connect to our other classes,” said freshman Lena Redford.

Sophomore Zane Morrissey believes “The Odyssey” was helpful in preparing him for the sophomore curriculum.

“The reading of an epic poem helps with any biblical text and historic text like the Vedas, which

Ella Storey

The Odyssey had been taught in English classes since 2003.

we are doing now in sophomore year. I just think that sometime in your MA carrier you should be able to cover classic works and literature like “The Odyssey”,” said Morrissey.

English teachers aimed to make connections from Frankenstein to Modern World History I and the

outside world.

“I have a class blog and I’ve invited the students to draw connections. I read one this morning in class where someone wrote: This is crazy; Steinbeck’s talking about Lennon and Marxs and Bolshevism and everything and it’s just what we’re doing in Modern World

History 1! And then he went on for four paragraphs talking about how cool and crazy it was,” said Baldwin.

Freshman have also been able to see parallels to their social lives.

“The class meeting for the freshman about anti-bullying is something we talked a lot about with Frankenstein because he’s so mean to the creature,” said Stanton.

Redford and Hurtt admit that they probably wouldn’t read “The Odyssey” outside of school and Baldwin concurs that it was an important part of the curriculum that may be integrated back in.

“Now the English department will talk about what parts of world history and literature can we put into our elective program that might make up for the new lack of “The Odyssey” in Ninth grade,” said Balwin. “The theme of the hero’s journey could come up as an elective,”

Outdoor Leadership Emphasis: new “outings captains” Ruby James News Editor

During activity period every Day One, a group of students quietly meet in Peter Poutiatine’s office to discuss the principles of outdoor leadership. Who are they? Well, this oft-overlooked group is part of a new program called Outdoor Leadership Emphasis (OLE). OLE offers leadership opportunities to students who are already involved in the outings program, like senior Kate Kimball.

“OLE was started because a few students, Peter, and I felt there wasn’t really an opportunity for students to get involved in outings in a leadership capacity,” said Kimball. “To be involved you have to have been on at least four different outings and must write a short response about a leadership experience you have had.”

This student leadership pro-

gram arose in the spring of last year and has since picked up seven participants. The students involved are Kate Kimball, Gabe Joseph, Alec White, Courtney Jacobson, Anwen Baumeister, Adam Sterry, and Livia Chesley.

All members agree that they have learned valuable lessons about what it means to be a leader.

“I led one outing which was a hike that you could only do during low tide. It was challenging to keep people going and help certain people along the way,” said junior Adam Sterry. “This experience helped shape me to be a leader in very specific situations.”

The goal of OLE is to develop the skills and awareness of ethical leadership in participating students by creating an emphasis of study within the current outings program. Director of Outings and English teacher Peter Poutiatine is the head and primary founder of the program.

“MA outings bring leadership into focus through OLE,” said Poutiatine. “It gives kids a coherent storyline and a way to talk about their outings involvement.”

Students who have participated in many outings now have an oulet to get more involved.

“I have been on a bunch of outings, but I had never lead a trip,” said Kimball. “Having the opportunity to be able to lead a trip opened my eyes to a different side to outings that I’ve never experienced before.”

Those involved in the program have had to think fast, make decisions, and experience a mode of operating different from that at school.

“Last fall I was able to lead the backpacking trip,” said Kimball.

“It was a good opportunity for me to learn new leadership skills and was a lot a fun.”

Albert Kakkis

Director of Outings, Peter Poutiatine with Kate Kimball, Anwen Baumeister, Courtney Jacobson, Livia Chelsey (front from left), Alec Neal, Adam Sterry, and Gabe Joseph (back from left) all went through a three-step process in the OLE curriculumn. Beginning sophmore year, OLE members focus on intrapersonal leadership, a study of the self who leads. Students study stage two, interpersonal leadership, an examination of a leader’s relationship to others in a group, during Junior year. In stage three, organizational leadership, the study of how a group relates to an organization is put into focus.

(Outdoor Leadership Emphasis program description)

12

A&E

March 9, 2011

The down low on your grab-and-go CHOCOLATE MILK

I STAYED UP UNTIL 3 A.M. FINISHING MY ESSAY

I TRUST THE TRIED-AND-TRUE

If you drink this popular pickme-up, odds are you thrive on the buzz that it provides. Students are known to lead very busy lives with schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and little sleep, and can find the energy that they need in a bottle of Guayaki Yerba Mate. However, while many students use the caffeine to stay alert throughout the day, some argue that students can become dependent on it.

“I think that people get addicted to Guayaki because of the absurdly high caffeine levels,” said junior Maranda Barry. “It’s really destructive.”

For those of you who favor this frothy drink, you ‘moo-ve’ steadily from day-to-day knowing that this classic will never let you down.

Chocolate milk will not only help tame your hunger, but it will also satisfy your sweet tooth.

“If you work out, you drink chocolate milk. If you’re fun, you drink chocolate milk. If you’re youthful, you drink chocolate milk. If you’re smart, you drink chocolate milk,” said senior Christie Capper. “So that makes you a smart, youthful, athletic, and allaround good person for drinking chocolate milk.”

Maddy Scheer Staff Writer

ard is known as illusive, pensive, and fashionable.

“He is always dressed sharply and is a nice guy to talk with,” said senior Bo Titus, “and his personality makes him easy to talk to.”

When asked about his talents, Lockard responded, “while I dedicate a lot of my time to art, mostly through DJing and photography, I’ve never really considered myself an ‘artsy kid,’ as these parts of my life don’t seem to really affect my identity.”

Some of Lockard’s goals before graduation include DJing live at an event and possibly displaying his photography outside of school.

His talent with photography has inspired many open-jaws and impressed gasps, especially at the most recent art show.

However, his investment in the

IZZE

VITA COCO

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ZERO CALORIES, ZERO GUILT

I LIKE A LITTLE MID-DAY PIZZAZZ

I’M HIP AND HEALTHY

The name hides nothing about Skinny Water’s intentions to keep you slim, but many people still wonder why you pay nearly $4 for something that isn’t much different than water itself.

“Even for those who like it and believe that it is a healthy and beneficial drink, it still shouldn’t cost as much as it does,” said senior Jacob Salant.

Other students, however, have testified to its wonders.

“It keeps me fit and in shape.

If you want to have a hot bod, you need Skinny Water,” said senior Alex Muresanu.

While the carbonation of Izzes might not be suitable for a morning beverage, you love that fun, fresh, and sparkling taste at lunch that keeps you on your toes for the rest of the day.

“I drink Izze at lunch,” said senior Emily Lewis, “because I love how my Izze puts the fizzy in me!”

The carbonation is definitely a common characteristic enjoyed by many Izze drinkers, but some appreciate even more than just the fizz.

“I find [Izzes] fruity and bubbly without being too sweet,” said freshman Madeleine Ginsburg.

If you are a ‘coco-nut’ then it is clear that you want to make a health-conscious decision when it comes to what you feed your body.

“It’s more about being healthy,” said senior Desiree Wattis. “I just drink it because it’s the healthiest decision...it hydrates you and it’s awesome!”

This processed sugar and caffeine-free refresher just might be the newest fad around campus.

“It’s getting to be pretty popular,” said Epicurean staff member Dae’Janique Harris. “You see, one kid drinks it and then everybody else wants to try it.”

SKINNY WATER

Writing and reporting by Vanessa Gerber

GUAYAKÍ

Rockin’ hard with the avant-garde Brodie Lockard Have you ever been taken by surprise by some of the styles walking around campus? Maybe you see an impressively artsy student fashioning multiple patterns or catchy thrift-shop attire and wonder whether you could pull it off too. Well, here is your chance to learn more about one underground-music loving, flannel-rocking, “you’ve-probablynever-heard-of-it” peer.

Senior Brodie Lockard is an art student who adds his own personality to every outfit, every conversation, and every photo assignment without the air of pretension. Don’t be afraid to approach him because he welcomes all to learn from his individuality. Lock-

Olivia Lloyd

Lockard contemplates his next project while simultaneously exploring nature.

arts is not limited to photography, as he is a musical connoisseur. In college, Lockard plans to study music and hopefully continue

DJing as much as possible. He has become familiar with a host of obscure bands throughout the years.

“Some of my favorite musi-

cal artists are Gimp, Squirrel Nut Zippers, and Lightning Bolt,” said Lockard. Don’t be disappointed if these artists aren’t immediately recognizable, for their illusive nature is what makes the listener an artsy savant. Lockard can’t help but view the fashion of some of his peers through a skeptical lens: “I’m most likely to scoff [at] tasteless, bright Wayfarers.”

If artsiness is a goal you aspire to, don’t be afraid to approach Lockard for advice on your next style. Remember, you don’t have to be born artsy, but rather, it takes an effort to pursue the style of an artsy student.

13

A&E

March 9, 2011

Apple Inc. left without its core: Jobs departs Sam Pritzker A&E Editor On Jan. 17, 2011, Steve Jobs, Founder and CEO of Apple Inc., left a foreboding letter to his 50,000 employees: “At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health … I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can.”

Each year I sit hunched in front of my computer screen, eagerly awaiting Jobs’ next pronouncement at various annual Apple events. In the last few years, as I have watched Jobs make his presentation, I have become increasingly concerned about his appearance. His features are drawn, he is quite clearly having difficulty gaining weight, and as stoic as

he appears, Jobs is undoubtedly unwell.

In 2003, Jobs discovered that he had a malignant pancreatic tumor, and it is common knowledge that he has struggled with his health ever since. All rational people would agree: health comes first.

Given his physical ailments, Jobs has made the right decision.

Few in our generation, however, are aware of the chaos that occurred just nine years after Apple’s founding. During the 1980s, Jobs recruited a brilliant marketing executive from Pepsi named John Sculley. Jobs and Sculley served as co-CEOs at Apple. Multiple-CEO situations are always fraught with conflict, and eventually Sculley prevailed in his attempt to have Jobs removed from the company.

It is hard to imagine now, but the Apple board members in the

1980s agreed with Sculley, and in Sept.

16, 1985, Jobs resigned from the company that he founded.

From what we know of Jobs now, it wasn’t long before Apple began to lose its way. Products failed to live up to their previous innovative standards, and eventually the board invited Jobs to return.

We all know the outcome of that invitation: The MacBook, iPod,

iPad, iTunes, iPhone, Apple TV, and so on and so forth. Through these products, it is clear that Steve Jobs has revolutionized how we

these songs is not their popularity, within the last four years and are it’s that they seem to be crafted the product of that unfortunate by some sort of auditory cookie cookie cutter. The top three artcutter that churns out hundreds of ists who created this music were hits each year. These cookie cutter Rihanna, Ke$ha, and Usher. Then songs are easily identified by their there are four songs that I like to heavy emphasis on a (usually) call “middle school throwbacks”. auto tuned vocalist, repetitive and This list included “Get Low,” “Hot four beat synthetic rhythms, and a in Herre,” “Gold Digger,” and “My catchy chorus lyric that Humps.” That leaves is generally centered “The fact that not a just five (a measly 13 around alcohol and/or single song from the percent) that I judged to sex. I realize that these be outside of the maintunes are easy fallbacks ‘60s, ‘70s, or ‘80s was stream. The fact that not for an affordable DJ to played is just sad.” a single song from the get a decent portion of ‘60s, ‘70s, or ‘80s was students freshmen dancing and played is just sad. singing along because they are the It would be easy to blame the staple of the popular radio stations. DJ; he’s the one who were paying That’s fine, but we seriously need $10 for (right?). But I witnessed some variation. a sad episode that revealed he You probably spotted me at was only a pawn in this problem. the recent winter formal. I was After the DJ played “Sandstorm” the only guy sporting a tee shirt a popular trance dance song that under my toga and an unruly black unleashes primal tendencies in beard. I was also equipped with dancers, he began playing an a pen and paper to document the obscure techno song that flowed evening’s playlist. I counted 38 nicely with the previous tune. As full songs played that were not a many dancers failed to recognize part of formal court. Of these 38, the song they began to turn away I classified 29 as current main- from the dance floor and towards stream songs that were released the couches and water fountains.

In dismay, the DJ quickly faded out that techno song to which I had just started moving my feet to and switched to a track he knew would regain his audience; “Like a G6.”

And with an uncanny resemblance to zombies, the previously exiting mass turned back to the stage with Dev’s incessant chanting of “Like a G6” ringing in their ears.

Do I condemn these people for being excited about a song that they like? Of course not. But am I disappointed that there was not an openness to follow one’s feet and feel the groove just because the song was unknown? Yes indeed. I believe that the likes of Usher, Ke$ha, Pitbull, Far East Movement and many more have a rightful place at dances because they are really popular. But I do not believe in attending dances just for the sake of hearing music we are familiar with, because that’s why we have radio, iPods, and the Internet. So the next time you’re at a dance and a song comes through speakers that you have never heard before, give it a chance and let that beat move you before you remove yourself from the dance floor.

Anna Kelly

communicate and how we think about technology and design.

Because of my admiration for the man and for the products he develops, you can see why I am apprehensive as he goes on medical leave. Based on past experience, Jobs’ departure doesn’t portend well for the company, nor for those of us who covet Apple products. It is apparent that Apple without Jobs lacks innovation and diretion, and I fear that if Jobs’ illness worsens, so too will the quality of Apple products.

Try to imagine life on campus or your lives in general if Apple’s innovation dries up. From the music you listen to, to the phone calls you make, to the computer you use, Apple has become an integral part of many of our lives. Let’s wish Mr. Jobs a speedy recovery – for everyone’s sake.

Attitude towards music at dances in need of adjustment Riley Champine Managing Editor

The transition from middle school to high school is a vaunted stepping stone in American culture. It is an opportunity for many students to gain a new identity in the midst of a more mature group of peers. Most argue that it is a time to begin to accept the responsibilities of an individual in a democratic society. But in this rigorous environment of transition I must ask why I hear only overplayed, formulaic, and exceptionally mainstream songs at every dance.

Now calling myself musically biased would be an understatement. I have always held the opinion that few artists that have broken into Billboard Top 100 in the last 20 years are worth listening to. If you were to steal my MP3 player (and it’s a Zune by the way, so now you have proof I am a freak) you wouldn’t find the likes of Pitbull and Ke$ha but rather Steely Dan and Funkadelic.

So call me old school, because I am. But the problem I have with

THROWBACKS Nelly

REELING IN THE YEARS

“Hot in Herre”

2002

Lil John (et al.) “Get Low”

2003

Kanye West

“Gold Digger”

2004

Black Eyed Peas

“My Humps”

2005

DIVERSE

OUT OF THE BOX

Isley Brothers “Shout”

1959

Darude

“Sandstorm”

1999

Daft Punk

“One More Time”

2000

Benny Benassi “Satisfaction”

2003

Deadmau5

2008

4

“Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff”

5

2011 Winter Formal Playlist Analysis

29 MAINSTREAM

ARTIST DOUBLE PLAYS

Far East Movement “Like a G6”, ”Rocketeer” Katy Perry

“California Gurls”, ”Fireworks”

Ke$ha

“Your Love is my Drug” “We R Who We R”

Rihanna

“Rude Boy”, “Only Girl in the World”

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Sports

Marin Academy: too dope for doping Olivia Lloyd Copy Editor

Marion Jones, Barry Bonds, Lance Armstrong. These athletes are just a few among the many who have been linked to the use of performance enhancing drugs in the last decade. Athletes have used these types of drugs illicitly since their creation to get an edge over opponents.

“Athletes have been trying to dope for a long time,” said Athletic Trainer Aaron Gill, “but there are some people who are always trying to find the newest substance that will enhance performance that can go undetected and that’s the big issue in elite sports right now.”

Since cases like Marion Jones’, which drew international attention to the issue of drugs in sports, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has placed many athletes under scrutiny.

“There are people within the world anti-doping agency who are on a witch hunt so to speak; who are just out to get [people],” said Gill. Despite any allegations or charges against high-level athletes, many of them remain role models for adolescent student-athletes.

Many young athletes, seeing the successes of their professional counterparts, have turned to per-

formance enhancing drugs for an efficient way to gain popularity.

“One of the reasons adolescents will turn to steroids is because it provides a quick fix: a quick to build muscle mass, to build muscle strength, to become a member of the team,” said Dr. Kirk Brower of the University of Michigan in an interview for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

While taking performance enhancers, both legal and illegal ones, is a personal choice, many athletes don’t know the consequences of using them. Since drug testing doesn’t usually exist in a high school context, coaches can’t always know if their athletes are using drugs, and therefore don’t always provide that much education around the ramifications of long-term usage. For example, anabolic steroids have been linked to aggressive mood swings and acne breakouts. More serious potential repercussions of long-term use include: heart attack, liver cancer, raised cholesterol and stunted growth.

“There will always be a curiosity about drugs because they are taboo,” said Head Baseball Coach Justin Hawkins. “The problem with all of this is that when you are a teenager it is hard to see the long

term effects so to make a decision without weighing [the consequences], is not to make an informed decision.”

Although many high school students have access to steroids and major drugs, in the Marin Academy community, performance enhancers are not considered an issue.

“I don’t know of any people who take steroids or anything,” said sophomore Amanda Aguilera. “I think in high school it’s pretty clean and people just work out and go to practice. I don’t think anyone finds the need to take drugs. I think maybe they start doing it more in college.”

More trainers and coaches within the community agree with this sentiment. However, they do believe that more easily obtainable supplements cause problems at the high school level.

“Some of those supplements are in common products that you could buy at a convenience store,”

March 9, 2011

Olivia Lloyd

said Gill. “Like energy drinks, Red Bull and even some sports drinks and that’s what concerns me because sometimes individuals can have an abnormal response to a little bit of that substance that’s declared a supplement, but is still dangerous.”

Students don’t see those types of common stamina boosters as much of a problem.

“I don’t think it’s bad if [athletes] are not doing it excessively,” said Aguilera. “Too much of anything is bad; if it becomes a habit, it’s obviously not a very good habit, but if it’s just once in

a while, I think it’s fine.”

While these supplements can’t sustain the body long term, some coaches even believe certain legal substances can be beneficial every once in a while.

“Supplements that are within the healthy doses and are not illegal,” said Hawkins, “can provide a much needed boost in energy, focus, and motion that can help you be a better you.”

NFL Lockout threatens sports fans across the nation Greig Stein Staff Writer The NFL has recently been full of talks about a possible player lockout during the next season as team owners continue to seek a greater percent of the league’s revenue. A player lockout would mean that all players would refuse to take to the field next season.

“The chances of a lockout are really high,” said junior Hassan Gali. “The league owners are being really selfish.”

The NFL is considering lengthening the number of games in a regular season from 16 to 18. This would bring in countless dollars

from ticket sales, but has more of a negative effect on the players.

Senior Brett Cutler said he thinks two more weeks of football could be a good thing, but also sees where the players are coming from.

“It’s unfair to have to play more games for the same salary,” said Cutler. “They would put in a lot of extra work and get no benefits.”

The concerns of the Player’s Union are many. The Union has threatened to holdout, meaning the players are willing to go without pay for the entire season if a compromise is not made.

“They really don’t want to

Annie Warner

expand to 18 games,” said junior Bobby Lehmann. “Safety is definitely a concern. A longer season means more injuries.”

This leaves America threatened with the possibility of not being able to watch what is, according to ESPN.com, its most watched sport. What would American culture be without Superbowl Sunday and Monday Night Football?

“Every Sunday and Monday night I would turn on the T.V. ready to watch football. It’s part of my routine,” said Cutler. “It’d be a big loss for America.”

The possibility of not having an NFL season next year sheds light on what the industry has become.

“Its really not about the sports anymore,” said Gali. “It’s more

of a business these days. They’re focusing on the money not the game.”

History teacher Tom Woodward also understands the business-like nature of the NFL, but he thinks a lockout would hurt.

“I would cry every Sunday,” Woodward said. He doesn’t see the Marin Academy community being too deeply affected.

“I think it might affect the community in the sense that the ‘niners have a new coach that everybody’s excited about. For those who are 49er fans, it’ll be kind of a bummer.”

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March 9, 2011

Basketball incident sparks controversy about coaching Marshall Levensohn Sports Editor Marin Academy has subscribed to the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) for 11 years, and while coaches are trained in its principles and practices, a recent incident between boys varsity basketball Head Coach Michael Coffino and University Red Devils Head Coach Randal Bessolo has raised the question, “Do we really honor the game here?”

On Jan. 28, the Wildcats took on their BCL-West rivals, the Red Devils, in their second meeting of the season. The Wildcats had beaten University by a narrow margin in their previous meeting, laying the foundation for a high-stakes rematch. However, the action continued after the final buzzer declared University winners by a score of 77-50.

“There was a lot of bad blood after we beat them on our court,” said junior basketball player Andrew Schleeter. “There was a lot for us to prove going into the game.”

As University held a commanding lead through the fourth quarter, its style of play in the waning moments of the game sparked controversy.

“I didn’t mind them pressing for the majority of the fourth quarter, but it’s common knowledge that you don’t press with one minute left when you’re up by 15

[points],” said senior Team Captain Brett Cutler. “I wouldn’t call it unethical. If anything, it was just unnecessary work on their part.”

However, this “unnecessary work” at such a late point in the game stirred emotions in many.

“I think there was just a lot of frustration with the way University handled themselves,” said spectator Austin Reid.

This frustration came to a head when the two teams shook hands after the game.

“Yes, definitely between the coaches,” said team member Eric Johanson, when asked if there were any altercations after the game. “Understandably, [Coach Coffino] was pissed off. He saw [their play] as unethical and he had something to say back.”

Rumors concerning what was said between coaches have surfaced. In addition, Coffino commented after the game to Jeremy Balan, a San Fran Preps reporter, “I don’t have a lot of respect for their coach, and you can quote me on that,” said Coffino. “Nobody really likes him, because he presses teams and tries to run up the score, and I don’t see the point.”

While Coffino has reportedly apologized to the University coach, the game’s effect on the team still looms.

“We’ve definitely been in a funk ever since the University game, losing to teams we beat easily before,” said Cutler. “I feel

Johnny Winston

Junior Luke Winfield scored nine points with two rebounds against University.

we’ve lost some of our confidence and also are playing timid and scared [sic].”

After the game, questions concerning sportsmanship and the PCA slogan, “We Honor the Game Here” emerged. The dispute was caused by a difference in opinion of how a team and its coaches should honor the game, exposing the wide range of interpretation of the PCA’s mission.

“Sports have the capacity to bring out the best in us, yet they can also bring out the worst in us,” said girls cross-country Head Coach Liz Gottlieb.

However, no matter the situation, MA seeks to uphold the school’s morals, honor the game, and positively represent the school.

“We need to remain true to our ideals, even when others may not subscribe to a similar approach,” said Athletic Director Josh Frechette. “Every time our teams compete and our fans go out to support our teams, they are representing MA and our community.

As one of my high school coaches used to say, ‘It’s not about the name on the back of your jersey; it’s about the name on the front your jersey.’”

Always giving the opponent one’s best game is a core belief in MA athletics.

“Every athlete gets trained to play their hardest, so if you get put in when you’re up big, you’re not just going to sit around and do nothing. You’re going to do what you have been trained to do, and that is to play basketball,” said Johanson. “This relates to all sports.”

According to athletes and coaches, competing at a high level throughout the game results in a positive effect for both teams.

“The most respectful way to honor the opposing team is to keep your level of play constant,” said sophomore Lauren Hansen. “By playing worse, you are only creating a habit for your team to not be as aggressive as you could be.”

Assistant Athletic Director and varsity soccer Head Coach Josh Kalkstein also believes that constantly giving one’s best is the only

Johnny Winston

Eric Johanson scored 16 points in addition to his three assists on Jan. 28.

way to truly honor an opponent.

“I think it’s just as embarrassing for a team to stop scoring and just retain possession...or set up stipulations in order to score,” said Kalkstein. “The most respect for an opponent that one can show is to prepare for the opponent and take the game seriously and give them your best game. I’d rather have [opponents] continue to give us their best game for the full 80 minutes than cheat us and only give us 40 minutes of their best game.”

With its dedication to honor the opponent and the game, MA has had a long, successful partnership with the PCA. Coaches and administrators alike are grateful for the guidelines and the lessons the PCA helps them teach.

“I believe [Marin Academy’s] relationship with the PCA began in fall of 2000,” said Frechette. “With the PCA beginning in 1998…

[MA] has been a part of the PCA almost from the beginning. In fact, in 2003, MA was the only high school nationally recognized by the Positive Coaching Alliance as an outstanding Youth Sports Organization Award winner.”

The school has endeavored to uphold the PCA’s “Double Goal Coach” ideal.

“As a requirement for employment, all MA coaches must be certified as a Double-Goal Coach by the PCA,” said Frechette. “MA is not an ‘end result’ program. At the high school level, it is important to not solely base success on whether a team wins or loses a competition.”

The “Double Goal Coaches” urge players to strive to win, but have a second, more important, goal of using sports to teach life lessons. Consequently, their teachings have rubbed off on athletes.

“Honoring the game, to me, means to find a balance of sportsmanship and competition,” said senior athlete Brett Suddendorf. “It means to do what you can to win, but at the end of the game, you can still walk by each other and shake their hands, and leave everything on the field.”

Sports provoke physical and mental toughness, complementing the life of a student-athlete.

“I love the opportunities both physically and mentally for kids, and I think the PCA helps us keep our focus on good sportsmanship and education,” said Head of School Travis Brownley.

Many believe that sports are an integral part in the high school learning process of a student-athlete. In the face of adversity and after the thrill of victory, Kalkstein focuses on the greater idea of growing as a person and honoring the game.

“Less than one percent of our kids are going to make money from sport so what we are really talking about here is learning all the life lessons sport has to teach,” said Kalkstein. “If we [coaches] miss the teachable moments then what are we really doing?”

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Sports

March 9, 2011

Aikido class gives students sense of peace Kevin O’Hehir & Henry Lyons Staff Writers Students in Aikido agree that it the martial art is a tranquil way to begin school. Taught by James Shipman in the New Gym during D block, students take the class not only for the PE credit, but also for the sense of serenity that Aikido provides.

The goal of Aikido is to prepare yourself not only for the sport, but also for real life. “Aikido has made me more confident,” said senior Megan Kallstrom, who has taken the class at least one semester each year since she was a freshman.

“It’s all about finding balances, learning to deal with problems before they get too big or powerful to handle, and obviously those are skills are useful beyond the mat.”

Shipman believes that Aikido is all about thinking for all sides of conflict.

“Society today is all about putting things in a winning or losing battle,” said Shipman.“Aikido concerns interactions with people- not

Bill Reitzel

Aikido teacher James Shipman leads the class through exercises.

making somebody out to be that bad guy, and not being the bad guy.”

New students to the art are enjoying the class so far this semester.

“It’s nice to have some exer-

cise in the mornings that’s not too strenuous,” said freshman Hannah Unkrich. “It’s very relaxing.”

Freshman Maddy Suennen appreciated the early timing of the period.

“I really enjoyed the class,”

said Suennen, “It was nice to have a martial arts class first thing in the morning.”

The Teachers Assistants have taken the course several times and highly recommend it to anyone who has the chance to take

part in it.

“Aikido has had a really positive effect on my school life,” said senior Cara Neal. She also loves the social aspects of Aikido.

“I’ve met a lot of people, specifically underclassmen, that I wouldn’t have otherwise.”

“Aikido is great,” said Kallstrom. She feels that she has really been rewarded for participating in it. “It opens up your mind to new perspectives, and we really do form a community.”

The class isn’t all fun and games, though.

“If we haven’t done a stretch or an exercise for a long time and then we do it in class, I’m often sore afterwards,” said Unkrich.

“But being a little sore is a small price to pay for how relaxing it is.”

Overall, the class is valuable, and not only for the PE credit. “Everybody has an ah-ha! moment,” said Shipman, “Everybody goes ‘Ah! Now I get it!’ at some point, and then everything changes,” said Shipman.

Double trouble, freshmen Neal twins tear up the turf Alec Neal

Marshall Levensohn

Everett Barger Staff Writer

EB: Is it harder to tell you and your brother apart while wearing lacrosse gear or not?

AN: It is a lot harder with lacrosse gear on unless you pay attention to the numbers. People still get messed up though.

EB: What are your expectations for the upcoming season?

AN: I expect that we will have a great season. We have a lot of good players and the coaching

staff is amazing.

EB: How do the upperclassmen treat freshman on the lacrosse team?

AN: They’re nice. They don’t act superior or anything like that; Josh very clearly told the team that the only hierarchy was the coaches are above everyone else.

EB: What goals have you set for yourself for the upcoming season?

AN: I really want to get stronger, I’m not exactly a large person. Also, I wasn’t a goal scorer in middle school and I want that to change this year.

Evan Neal

EB: Do you and your brother mix well while playing together?

EN: We play well together, but when we go against each Marshall Levensohn other in drills we are very competitive.

EB: Who do you look forward to playing the most this year and who do you fear the most and why?

EN: Branson, for obvious reasons. Unfortunately, we can only play them in nonleague games.

EB: Who is your biggest fan?

EN: My dad, he is the one that got us started on lacrosse and has been to every single game as long as I can remember.

EB: What goals have you set for yourself for the upcoming season?

EN: I want to improve my game so I can get a starting position in the years to come.