17 February 2015

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Sacramento Country Day School

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VOL. XXXVIII, NO. 5

February 17, 2015

Blast from the Past In celebration of Country Day’s 50th anniversary, a past editor-in-chief of The Octagon will be featured in each issue.

Sophomores Zane Jakobs, Ryan Canepa, David Boley and Fred Xu all prefer lunches brought from home. Only six of 112 high-school students have ordered lunch from GoodFellas in the past month, according to an Octagon poll. Over the past five years, the lunch program has changed three times. (Photo by Elena Lipman)

Students say no to GoodFellas

Only 5 percent of high schoolers ever order lunch By Maxwell Shukuya Social Media Editor

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chool lunch used to be an event—the sound of running students excitedly lining up, waiting eagerly for sizable helpings of orange chicken. But that was nearly five years ago, when the lunch program was managed in-house by former employee Jennifer Porteous. Junior Serajh Esmail said that the food back then was “delicious” and “off-the-chain.” “The cooks were incredible, and it was like a five-course meal,” he said. “Almost three-fourths of the class would get lunch from (school).” Sophomore Aidan Cunningham remembers those days with just as much enthusiasm. “There would be a whole table of cartons full of orange chicken, and they’d all be gone,” he said. But orange chicken wasn’t the only attraction. “(The pizza) was the greatest thing ever, and if we had it in the high school, I’d definitely order it again,” Cunningham said. Nowadays it’s completely different. Only six of 112 high-school students have ordered a school

lunch in the past month, according to a recent only 10 percent of the entire student body. Octagon poll. In the high school, some students even reThe reason, Esmail said, is that with the old in- sponded to the poll questions with, “I didn’t house lunch program, there was a greater variety know (the lunch program) existed,” or “School lunch exists?” of choices, with different fruits and entrees. Senior Michael Wong, who tried buying from “(After the in-house program stopped), the GoodFellas last year, described the pizza as “wet food quality went downhill,” Esmail said. cardboard.” According to school busi“The crust was really soft, ness manager Bill Petchau- “(Once), the chicken nuggets and it tasted bland,” Wong said. er, the in-house lunch prowere in a soggy bag, which And Wong isn’t alone - 44 gram wasn’t “financially percent of students who hadn’t sustainable,” so the school kind of disgusted me.” outsourced to Lunchmas—David Liu, junior ordered lunch in the past month cited the food’s low ters, a school-lunch providquality as a reason. er, in 2010-11. “(GoodFellas would) show a nice picture of However, the Lunchmasters program was food online, but when you got it, it was very unshort-lived, lasting less than two years. Esmail, who ordered Lunchmasters for a year, derwhelming,” junior David Liu said. “(Once), the chicken nuggets were in a soggy said that while that program offered a good selection of entrees, the food quality didn’t compare bag, which kind of disgusted me.” Liu admitted that some lunches were better. to Porteous’s program. “The pasta was okay, and the one time they had In its place, GoodFellas4Kids was contracted ravioli was all right. But 75 to 80 percent of the in 2012 to “improve the service and quality” of dishes were bad,” Liu said. the lunch program, Petchauer said. Including the lower school, Petchauer says that students order 40-50 meals a day, which is See Lunch, page 10

New Mock Trial coach adds more scrimmages to schedule By Elena Lipman Page Editor The Mock Trial team has scrimmaged schools such as Redwood High School in Tulare in preparation for the season with new coach Wayne Strumpfer, who replaced former coach Jeanine Boyers this year. When not coaching Mock Trial, Strumpfer is the chief counsel and legislative director of the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board. Strumpfer has taken a new approach to coaching the team by having more scrimmages against schools in other counties. “By scrimmaging the top teams, such as Mt. Tamalpais in Marin, the students are able to improve their strategies in competition,” he said. Not all team members are sure about the new approach. Senior Grant Miner, who has been on the team for four years, said that they don’t get enough practice together due to the increased number of scrimmages. “We’re not doing as well as we did at this point last year,” he said. “We haven’t been able to get together as much to work together as a team.” Junior Emma Belliveau, who has been a member of Mock Trial for three years, agrees. “We don’t have class as much as we usually do because (Strumpfer) doesn’t think we should meet the week we have a scrimmage,” she said. However, senior Aishwarya Nadgauda, who has been on the team for four years, said she likes the scrimmages since they give the team a chance to see

how other schools approach the case. Despite the seven scrimmages, Nadgauda said that the most important work will come in the weeks between the final scrimmage and the first round of competition. “We still have to apply all the new strategies we learned in the scrimmages,” she said. See Mock Trial, page 10

Jennifer Schurer Coldiron, ’96, went to Wellesley College, in Massachusetts. She earned a master’s degree at Columbia University in New York City and a Ph.D. in social work at Washington University in St. Louis. Coldiron is now a research scientist at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she helps research and implement children’s mental health programs. Q: What was your favorite thing about SCDS? A: I think just all the people and how small it was and how everyone knew each other. And the teachers were awesome. Q: Favorite memory of high school? A: The thing that jumps out to me is the Halloween party during my senior year. I dressed up as a rabbit coming out of a hat and (science teacher Robin) Gordon dressed up as Colin Hanks ‘96 (son of actor Tom Hanks) and Colin Hanks dressed up as Ms. Gordon. Q: What was your favorite class? A: I think art history with Kay Schweizer. All my friends were taking the class, and the art room was this awesome place where we got to hang out. We listened to music from Tuvan throat singing and drank chai. Every time we went to class it was like traveling somewhere. (My next favorite class) would be English with (teacher Patricia) Fels. I remember studying about religion and mythology and thought it was such an interesting take on the Bible and other texts. Q: What were some issues on campus? A : Th e r e wa s a l o t o f push-back from (the neighborhood) because we were getting bigger and there were more cars. (The idea of) moving campuses began gaining momentum. We had a big parking issue, and we had to park at the Unitarian church. —Annya Dahmani

Junior Emma Brown practices her defense opening statement for competition. “Evan was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” is one of her main arguments. (Photo by Adam Ketchum)

For more of the interview, visit scdsoctagon.com.

2 Feature

A Dancing Duo The Octagon

February 17, 2015

Exuberant self-expression or stoic perfection, classes demonstrate modern, traditional styles By Aishwarya Nadgauda

As they follow Haller’s instructions, the dancers stare stoically ahead. The beads of sweat covering their faces are the only indication of the strenuous nature of their movements. Soft piano, violin and flute Christmas music fills the room. fter threading her needle, sophomore Camille The squeak the chair makes when I shift in my seat cuts Locke picks up the pink satin slipper. She pulls an elastic strap across the slipper, stitching it to the through the graceful atmosphere like a knife. Haller gently touches Locke’s back, encouraging her to side to hold it in place. “I started when I was 3,” Locke said. “I’m 16 now, so that’s stand even straighter. Then comes stretching. 13 years.” The dancers hasten to the back of the room and sip a bit of Like most ballet dancers, Locke started dancing long bewater before beginning. fore she can remember. Now spread out around the room, they work their way into Right now she’s sewing the ribbons on her pointe shoes in preparation for her role in the corps of the Sacramento Bal- the splits. Like human taffy, they maintain their splits, bend their ramlet’s production of The Nutcracker. Each pair costs $200. The longest a pair lasts is two months. rod-straight backs and touch their foreheads to the ground. Despite their rigorous routine, the dancers’ hair is still On the other hand, junior Dakota Cosgrove doesn’t do anyneatly pulled back into buns. (They thing to prepare for her dance class. She stores clothes in her locker at the dance studio, so “‘And push. And demi. And comb hairspray through their hair before practice to prevent any flyaways.) once she gets there, she is ready to go. The dancers exude an aura of meCosgrove also began her dancing journey at keep your weight on the chanical perfection, giving the impresSacramento Ballet. But in early 2013, she left right foot. Heel,’ instructor sion that they are separated from their the “strict rules of ballet” for the Contempo- Melanie Haller calls out.” clockwork music-box counterparts by rary Dance Conservatory. only a few degrees. Cosgrove said she found the atmosphere at And they finish with center. Sacramento Ballet competitive and unwelcoming. First, Haller demonstrates. “The only thing I was getting out of it was a good technical “Ladies, you enter from the corner,” she instructs. Locke background,” Cosgrove said. does a series of leaps and twirls, working her way to the center Now her new studio in downtown Sacramento, where she of the room. Once she arrives, the male dancer lifts her by dances for 20 hours a week, has become her second home. the waist. Locke spends 12 hours a week dancing. He pushes her into the air, and then drops her back to the “Sometimes I feel like it’s a lot,” her mother Stacy Locke ground where she lands on her toes, hands far above her head. said. “It’s often six days a week, so it impacts weekends and But at Cosgrove’s studio, mechanical perfection isn’t the family activities.” goal. Once Locke’s class begins, there’s no stopping. “Boom, boom, ba, ba,” teacher Lena Logan shouts over the First there’s barre. techno music blasting from the speakers. “And push. And demi. And keep your weight on the right For the opening beats of the music, the dancers improvise foot. Heel,” instructor Melanie Haller calls out, as she claps steps. her hand to signal each new moveThen they gather at the front of the room, ‘‘‘Boom, boom, ba, ba,’ teach- swirling ment. their hands. With the next beat they Haller received her training with er Lena Logan shouts over tighten their muscles. the Central Pennsylvania Youth BalLogan cuts off the music and calls the girls to the techno music.” let under the direction of Marcia the corner. Dale Weary. As soon as she graduat“You need to make it believable! I want to see ed from high school, Haller started teaching at Sacramento tension. What do I mean by tension?” Ballet. “Energy.” The dancers stand rigidly in straight lines. “Holding yourself tight.” And then Locke moves in unison with the eight other danc“The inner struggle between yourself,” Cosgrove answers. ers - seven girls and one boy. “Exactly!” Logan says. “Hold and hold,” Haller continues. Then she has each group of girls try it again. Locke points her foot to the front, clenching her thighs. Logan was trained primarily in ballet with Berkeley and Her right hand shoots into the air while her left hand rests Oakland Ballet. She spent some time performing in Broadway gracefully on the barre. shows in Las Vegas. Locke’s strength, according to Haller, is her ability to susUnlike the black leotards and tights with no holes required tain positions for a long period of time. by Locke’s instructor, Cosgrove wears black spandex shorts “And she displays grace in her port de bras (carriage of the with a loose-fitting tank top. Most of her hair has fallen out of arms),” Heller said. her ponytail and is sticking to the sweat on her face. But the softness in her dancing results in her being weaker And as opposed to the pointe shoes Locke painstakingly when it comes to attack and boldness in her movements. sews, Cosgrove dances in bare feet. Many of the girls, drenched in sweat, eventually strip down to sports bras. Once each group has shown their mastery of the steps, they move onto stretching. Logan turns up the music, the ground trembling from the bass, as the girls partner up. Cosgrove lies on the ground, her feet pointing up at a 90-degree angle to her body. In rhythm with the music, her partner knocks her feet to the ground, while Cosgrove tightens her abs to keep her feet from touching the ground. Despite the exercise’s resemblance to some form of torture, the girls are smiling. Fists clenched to maintain her form, Cosgrove chats with her partner, filling her Sophomore Camille Locke dances en pointe. Locke’s dancing academy, Sacramento in on what she did over the Ballet, prioritizes grace, poise and precision. (Photo used by permission of Locke) weekend.

Online Editor-in-Chief

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Junior Dakota Cosgrove works through freshly learned contemporary dance steps. (Photo by Erin Reddy)

As they move on to squats, they line up against the back wall. In contrast to Locke’s silent stretching section, Cosgrove and her friends yell over the music to discuss the latest gossip. Logan points out that Cosgrove’s strength is “her passion for getting the movement and style and portraying the character.” Despite the stark differences in the style of their classes, Locke and Cosgrove share both a camaraderie with their fellow dancers and a commitment to dance. “My teacher is kind of like my mom,” Cosgrove said. “They all care a lot about us.” As Christmas approaches, the students at Sacramento Ballet have a Secret Santa gift exchange. If it’s anyone’s birthday, they bring cookies. “We also have a group chat going where everyone talks to each other and sends videos of dances we are in,” Locke said. “So we can go over choreography before our rehearsals or if someone misses practice, they can catch up.” Despite the large amount of time Locke and Cosgrove devote to dance, they both say they’ve never considered quitting. “Well there was one time I considered it,” Locke said. “When I was 7, I didn’t do The Nutcracker. I was really sad when my sister (Cori, ‘11) got a lot of attention, and I didn’t. And then I went back to it.” Cosgrove has never taken any time away from dance. For her, dance is a way to “get away from life and everything else for a little bit.” Both say they hope to take a gap year after getting accepted into college to pursue dance. During this year, Cosgrove would either do a training program, such as Alonzo King Lines in San Francisco, or switch to a studio in Los Angeles, where she can audition for shows. Locke would use the year off to join the Sacramento Ballet dance company. Even if the gap years don’t work out, both say they want to stay connected with dance in college. Cosgrove would like to study dance at a school like Juilliard. But Locke doesn’t want to major in dance. “A dance major doesn’t help you with anything,” Locke said. Instead she would try to find a school near the college she attends where she could take ballet classes. Once Haller dismisses Locke’s class, the dancers demurely file out of the room, whispering amongst themselves. They quietly gather their belongings from the cubbies and leave. The clamor of Cosgrove and her friends leaving echoes against the walls of the studio. Laughing loudly, they walk towards the cars.

February 17, 2015

The Octagon

Feature

3

Junior studies in D.C., meets important figures

Previsic interviews heads of state, dignitaries, enjoys freedom from driving

By Manson Tung Page Editor

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t’s Saturday morning, and junior Vanessa Previsic can finally take a break from studying. She can visit a museum, take a walk in the park or patronize one of the many coffee shops just a block from her residence. Previsic will have a tough choice, though, between the Natural History and National Air Museum. If she goes on a walk, it’ll be to the National Mall, and if she grabs coffee, she might just rub shoulders with a Supreme Court justice. For the first semester of her junior year, Previsic studied at the School for Ethics and Global Leadership (SEGL) in Washington, D.C. SEGL is a selective semester-long program exclusively for high-school juniors. Previsic discovered SEGL through Sacramento Breakthrough director Adolfo Mercado. While studying in D.C., Previsic lived at the SEGL residences on Capitol Hill, commuting to the campus, a restored townhouse adjacent to the Supreme Court. The location was one of Previsic’s favorite aspects of the program. Junior Vanessa Previsic (far left) and her fellow SEGL classmates interview Pulitzer Prize winning journalist “We were so close to all of D.C.’s most famous attractions, Eric Schmitt. Previsic asked Schmitt questions about the Syrian crisis. (Photo used by permission of Previsic) just a block from the Capitol and right next to the Supreme Court,” Previsic said. al events adds so much to the curriculum,” Previsic said. of the program, students had chores (maintenance of the aca“My friends ran into Speaker of the House John Boehner at Previsic said that at the beginning of the program, most demic facilities) and a mandated exercise block. the Peet’s down the block, and I saw Supreme Court justice of the students were too starstruck to ask hard-hitting quesSEGL students also volunteered once a week at Thompson Clarence Thomas walking to school one day. It really doesn’t tions, but they became more comfortable Elementary School, helping underprivileged children with get any better than that!” with challenging their guests. reading and sports. “We would grill them with questions,” During their free time, students were given a large amount In addition to the central location, “We would grill them with SEGL brought in political and journalistic questions. We got rough Previsic said. “We got rough with them, of freedom to explore the city on their own terms. “The public transportation is really on point,” Previsic said. figures for students to interview. During with them, and most stepped and most stepped up to the challenge. Carl Wilkins was really honest with his “You don’t need a car like Sacramento, and because we were her time at SEGL, Previsic talked with answers.” so close to the action, we could walk or take the metro just the following: Meghan Rooney (President up to the challenge.” “A few people, like George Moose, were about anywhere.” Obama’s primary speech writer); Carl —Vanessa Previsic, junior really good at skirting around the issue. While students were asked to stay in groups of three when Wilkins (the only American who stayed Moose kept ignoring our question of exploring the city, they were otherwise given free rein to exin Rwanda during the genocide); Eric Schmitt (a Pulitzer Prize winning political journalist from the ‘Why didn’t we put troops in Rwanda?’ which was the main plore close locations. As most students came from the West Coast or were interNew York Times); Bud Krogh (leader of the Nixon admin- reason he was there.” While Previsic established connections national (South Africa, Japan, Canada), istration’s cover-up of Watergate); Lissa Muscatine (Hillary Clinton’s speech writer); George Moose (the assistant Secre- with world leaders, she also tackled a heavy “You’re on the ball every they tended to stay in the city during breaks. tary of State for African Affairs during the Rwanda crisis) and school workload. According to Previsic, SEGL tries to offer a connection from nor- moment because you have Upon her return, Previsic has found Salam Fayyad (former prime minister of Palestine). to be.” Country Day academics to be unde“Talking to people who have made real differences at pivot- mal high-school curriculum to their own. To ac—Previsic manding. commo“(SEGL) kept me so on track in terms date this, of academics,” Previsic said. “I have so several of Previsic’s classes much free time now. were extremely small. In fact, “What used to take me four hours I can do in one hour she was the only one in her now.” Latin class. According to Previsic, SEGL work is extremely efficient. “It’s honestly a lot more with less homework but higher output than Country Day. like private tutoring sessions “There is no busy work,” Previsic said. “Everything we covthan classes because the ered was meaningful.” student-to-teacher ratio is “You are on the ball every moment because you have to somewhere around 4:1 in an be.” Previsic said. “With extra classes in ethics and leadership average class,” Previsic said. along with the Arabic and Chinese classes, you don’t have anIn addition to their con- other option.” tinued academic courses, all Previsic said the experience also made her more open to atstudents were required to tending a college on the East Coast. While in D.C., she visited take Arabic and Chinese cul- Georgetown University and George Washington University. tural and language classes. “I really enjoyed Georgetown - the people, the atmoBeyond the academic rigor sphere,” Previsic said. “It all felt perfect.”

Junior Vanessa Previsic (second from right) teaches basketball to underprivileged children from Thompson Elementary School, a nearby D.C. public school. Other SEGL students read to children. (Photo used by permission of Previsic)

4 Sports

The Octagon

February 17, 2014

Changing seasons means changing leadership By Sonja Hansen

Tennis Jacobsen doesn’t play tennis but will organize rides to practices and matches, and handle uniforms. Instead of Jacobsen, hanges have taken place in the coaching staff of the golf, tennis tennis pros at Rio del Oro, where the team practices in the and lacrosse teams. Former tennis coach Haitham Batarseh is morning, will give tips to players. Jacobsen coached the team in 2006, when the team was just the new golf coach. Math teacher Patricia Jacobsen has become the tennis coach. And Brooke Wells, head of high school, beginning. Before that year, only a few kids played on and off, has quit coaching the lacrosse team, but no replacement has been found she said. Vargo asked Jacobsen if she would restart and build up the yet. team, which she then coached for four years. The only time that the team ever went to playoffs was when Jacobsen coached. She Golf Batarseh, who coached the tennis team for four years, has decided to quit the team after her second child was born. Jacobsen said that she has had some qualms about coaching switched to golf because former coach Greg Kaighn decided to again because she realized that it would be difficult to coach the step away from coaching after his son, Garrett, graduated last team while moving into her new house and taking care of her year. “Coach Kaighn was a great coach because he was both com- children. Vargo convinced Jacobsen to coach after agreeing to let her petitive and laid-back,” junior Jake Sands said. “He taught me bring her children to practices and to make sure another parent how to handle a bad shot during a match.” Before Kaighn’s tenure, Batarseh assisted athletics director will watch them at matches. In previous years, there have been problems with players atMatt Vargo in coaching the team tending few practices. Batarseh said that at some pracfor three seasons, one in which “At my house either tennis or tices last season, only one or two players would show the team went undefeated. “That was a great year,” golf is on 24/7. Most nights, up. Jacobsen said that, in the past, she would pick Batarseh said. “I still have the I’ll fall asleep in front of the players who gave their best efforts in practice to play balls that those players gave me TV while watching golf.” matches. with my name printed on them.” “If I have two students of the same ability,” Jacobsen —Haitham Batarseh, coach “(Batarseh) has always had a said, “I’ll pick the one with more practice time. I gengreat love for golf and tennis,” erally look for enthusiastic, positive players.” Vargo said. “So when (Kaighn) According to Jacobsen, the team can also improve if players stepped down, it was natural for him to come back over to golf.” work on maintaining their stamina for long matches by eating Because golf and tennis weren’t popular in Bethlehem, where Batarseh grew up, after moving to the U.S., Batarseh began play- well and staying hydrated.

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ing tennis in college and started golf in his mid-thirties. Batarseh said that he has taken a few golf lessons, but is primarily self-taught and receives tips from watching lots of pro golf on TV. “At my house either tennis or golf is on 24/7,” Batarseh said. “Most nights, I’ll fall asleep in front of the TV while watching golf.” Batarseh said he will begin the season by learning every player’s strengths and weaknesses. He wants to focus on putting and chipping this season because those skills can save players’ strokes. According to Batarseh, at this level, driving the ball isn’t as important a skill as putting and chipping. And playing in matches is more valuable than hitting at the driving range because the player can get a better feel for games and get used to them. Sands said the team will benefit from receiving this new input. “He’ll be a great addition,” Sands said.

Lacrosse Wells decided to quit after accepting his new role as head of high school. “I worry that if a situation were to happen on campus while I’m away at a game or at practice, I wouldn’t be able to handle it,” Wells said. “This is my first year as head of high school, so I want to give it my full attention.” Wells started playing lacrosse as a fifth grader in Philadelphia, where lacrosse was very popular at the time. He continued playing while in college at Haverford and coached along the East Coast and in Sonoma. Wells began coaching the SCDS lacrosse team four years ago, when it was first founded. He said that he will miss coaching and playing, but he’ll try to come to practice as much as possible and hopes that he will be able to coach the team in the future. Art teacher Andy Cunningham, who used to assist Wells, will also attend practices and help players.

Leaving behind and looking ahead... Brooke Wells Former lacrosse coach

Q: What will you miss most about coaching lacrosse? A: Running around and playing with the kids. For the last 30 years of my life I’ve played lacrosse, so it’s hard to give up. Haitham Batarseh Former tennis coach Returning golf coach

Q: What will you miss most about coaching tennis? A: I will miss playing tennis with the kids and watching them improve throughout the season. I might watch them play at the local matches when I get a chance.

Patricia Jacobsen Returning tennis coach

Q: What did you miss most when you stopped coaching tennis? A: Not getting to spend time outside of the class with the kids. It was nice to be able to get to know new students who I didn’t teach. I’m looking forward to catching up with the students again.

Adding club athletes allows swim team to compete in relays

team ranked 30th out of 40 boys’ and girls’ combined teams and 17th out of 21 girls’ teams. Last year, because of the team’s small size, they weren’t able to have a relay team. But this year, according to Vargo, they will finally have one. Fackenthal, who swims for Arden By Katia Dahmani Hills’ USA Team, will be on that reReporter lay team. “I’ve been swimming for five The swimming and diving team has more than tripled, years, and I swim outside of school, adding freshmen Yasmin Gupta, Amalie Fackenthal and Lily so I might as well swim for the school,” Fackenthal said. Brown and juniors Sydney Michel and Emma Brown. However, Fackenthal will not The team started practice on Feb. 9 at Rio Americano High School, whose coaches act as supervisors and coaches be practicing with SCDS since her coach wants her to focus on their Freshman Lily Brown competes in a relay race between the Sutter Lawn Tsufor SCDS. Last year the team included only two members: seniors club team, and neither will Larrabee namis and the Arden Arcade Piranhas at El Camino High School last summer. (Photo by Angie Tasker-Smith) and Pinson. Claire Pinson and Lauren LarMichel joined the team rabee. “I decided that this year was swimming because of illnesses she got from pool water. because of her recently disThey both swam for club the right time for me to get “I decided that this year was the right time for me to get located knee. teams and used their club pracShe had to stop playing club volleyball and turned back in the water,” Gupta said. “It’s been awhile since I’ve tices as a way to train for the back in the water.” school team. —Yasmin Gupta, freshman to swimming since she’s familiar with it. Michel has swum, and I am nervous to start again.” Gupta’s mother is encouraging her to get back in the pool. been swimming competitively with the Browns at Larrabee and Pinson swam “Swim team is a good way for me to stay fit,” Gupta said. Sutter Lawn Tennis Club for seven years. together only when they had Because of conflicts with club volleyball, Gupta will miss “I’m excited to be swimming with them,” Michel said. to qualify for sectionals at Rio. Gupta has swum outside of school too. Before coming to two swim practices a week. Teams get points by individuals qualifying and ranking in “Last year we placed really well considering the small team SCDS, Gupta swam for an Australian club swimming team for their races, athletic director Matt Vargo explained. size,” Pinson said. “Now with the added members and experiLast year Pinson qualified and placed fourth in the 200 IM three years. But when Gupta arrived at SCDS two years ago, she stopped ence, I think we can do really well.” (individual medley). Because of her ranking, the two-member

Sports Boosters’ Athletes of the Month Junior Julia Owaidat has given a tremendous effort in every basketball game. She averages 8.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals.

Freshmen B.J. Askew, Rick Barros III, Cole Johnson and Jayce McCain start for the varsity. The “Fab Four” are leading the team to the most wins in school history.

Athletes of the Month are chosen by the athletic department on behalf of the Sports Boosters.

February 17, 2014

Sports

The Octagon

We’re playing the feud

5

What if you love the Giants and Mom hates ’em?

during the 2009 World Series when the child. teams went up against each other. While the fans didn’t kill Whitney, Nellis Page Editor “It was pretty intense,” Felix said. He and couldn’t make her a Dodgers fan. his family stayed up every night watching When both Whitney and Nellis’s son hat happens when your the games, past Felix’s bedtime. Jared were school-aged, their friends were son plays for a team that’s Felix said it was hard to go to sleep after- Giants fans, so it was a lost cause for Nellis. not the one your husband wards, because he was pumped up. Nellis said she will root for the Giants if coaches? He would knock on his brother’s door, they’re in the playoffs, although only if it’s Jan Elway faced this dilemma when her yelling insults like, “Ha ha, Phillies suck.” not against the Dodgers, she said. husband, Jack, was coaching football at The Yankees ended up winning. She’s also sat in the owners’ seats at a San Jose State and her son, John, was the “So I bragged for months and months,” Giants game. starting quarterback for Stanford in 1982. Felix said. “I’m sure (my aunt and uncle) were rollTalk about a family sports rivalry. Junior Max Schmitz is another Yankees ing in their graves,” Nellis said. At SCDS, there are in-family sports fan, but his dad isn’t. Nellis once wrote a letter in response to a rivalries, too. “I can’t remember liking any other Sacramento Bee article criticizing Dodgers Sophomore David Boley was a New York team,” he said. fans for drinking chardonnay wine and Yankees fan as a kindergartner. A childhood friend who was a Yankees arriving late and leaving early for games. But when his father, who was born in fan may have influThe 1965 altercation between Grant Long Island, was out enced him, he said. Pitcher Juan Marichal and Dodger catcher of town on a business “(The Cardinals) are a subpar Schmitz is emphatic Johnny Roseboro wherein the former hit trip in 2004, Boley had when he says he doesn’t the latter with a bat, just served to seal organization that does not a change of heart. like the St. Louis Car- the deal. The Boston Red Sox have winning ways.” dinals, the team his Football rivalries can work against a were winning in the —Max Schmitz, junior father roots for. happy home as well. playoffs and eventually “They are a subpar Freshman Jacob Burghgraef ’s parents won the World Series organization that does root for the Oakland Raiders. that year. not have winning ways like the New York Burghgraef ’s father tried to make him So Boley became a Red Sox fan like Yankees,” he said. a Raiders fan when he was 6. He told him his mother and like his younger brothers He and his dad watch baseball all the the Raiders were the best and had won a would become. time. number of championships. But they really Boley’s father doesn’t follow baseball as “We get very aggressive and worked up hadn’t won those titles, Burghgraef said. intensely as Boley, so the difference doesn’t over this,” Schmitz said. But Burghgraef wanted to root for the cause too much family discord. Both hurl insults at the other’s team, Pittsburgh Steelers, the team that hapBut his family mostly watches the Red most of which are unfit for print. pened to win the Super Bowl that year. Sox on TV, he said. And after a win for their respective One time, Burghgraef lost $5 on a game. Boley isn’t the only student who comes teams, bragging is a given. How long it lasts That was the end of sports gambling for from a broken family, sportswise. depends on how big the win is. him but not the end of father-son ribbing. Junior Ben Felix has rooted for the Yan“It could go on for days,” Schmitz said. His dad will say “So how are the Steelers kees since he was little. But his father and History teacher Sue Nellis is also no doing? Oh, I didn’t hear about it.” brother root for the Philadelphia Phillies. stranger to family rivalries. Her husband Or he’ll say, “Did you hear that the SteelThe Yankees’ color is blue (Felix has and children are avid Giants fans, while she ers got their clocks cleaned?” always liked the pinstripe jerseys, he said), roots for the Dodgers. If the Steelers lose to which is his favorite color. Loyalty to the Dodga bad team, the teasing He never liked red, he said, and that’s ers goes back to her “I figured the Giants fans is even worse. the Phillies’ color. grandmother, “Nana,” wouldn’t kill her.” Burghgraef gives The split in the Felix family was hardest who thought the best his dad a hard time —Sue Nellis, teacher night was one spent too if the Raiders lose, in bed listening to the “which is all the time,” Dodgers game on the radio with a piece of he said. chocolate, Nellis said. Sophomore Maryjane Garcia and her Nellis had some relatives who knew Ca- dad don’t agree on football teams, either. sey Stengel, a Dodgers player and manager. She roots for the New England Patriots And her distant aunt and uncle had seats because her dad doesn’t like the team. nine rows over the dugout. “I’m that kind of person,” she said. “I got to see some really great baseball Garcia’s mother is a Seattle Seahawks when I was a child,” Nellis said. fan, so this year’s Super Bowl was a big deal However, she’s married to a man who for the Garcia family. grew up in northern California. “Between all the fighting and yelling at At first, Nellis tried to persuade her all the players, who clearly can’t hear you, children to root for the Dodgers. it was actually quite pleasant,” she said, For her daughter Whitney’s first baseball because she enjoyed having her family game (Giants against Dodgers at Candle- together. stick Park) when she was 18 months old, Garcia doesn’t trash talk because it’s her Nellis dressed her in a Dodgers T-shirt. mother she would be insulting. “(I) figured the Giants fans wouldn’t But she and her mother do take bets. kill her,” Nellis said, since she was a young “But we usually end up giving it back since we don’t really feel right keeping it,” Garcia said. If they don’t bet money, they bet each other lunch or dinner. Garcia said she watches only games featuring the Patriots, so unless the Seahawks are playing the Patriots, the rivalries aren’t a problem. Football brings out fighting words in sophomore Elizabeth Brownridge’s family, though. Brownridge roots for any football team except the San Francisco 49ers. For one thing, quarterback Colin Kaepernick annoys her. For another, she likes to make her parents, who are 49ers fans, mad. Her mother will get upset and yell at Brownridge and the television. “She’ll just be like, ‘Ha, ha, (Top) Freshman Jacob Burghgraef and his father show off merchandise from their different favorite teams. (Above) Junior Ben Felix attends a 49ers game on Nov. 14, 2014. in your face!’ or ‘That’s a bad While Felix roots for the 49ers, his brother is a Patriots fan, a rivalry that, according to call!’” Brownridge said. “I just sit there and laugh.” Felix, gets heated during the playoffs (Photos courtesy of the Burghgraef and Felix families)

By Zoë Bowlus

W

Senior Ethan Ham and sophomore Aidan Cunningham pose before the race at Boreal, where Ham placed third, setting a school record. (Photo by Jason Kreps)

Senior Ethan Ham sets school record, while hip injury sidelines promising sophomore By Adam Dean Reporter

Senior Ethan Ham flew down the mountain on his way to clinching Country Day’s highest ever finish. Ham placed third of 19 snowboarders at Boreal Mountain Resort on Jan. 30. “I was ecstatic when I found out where I finished,” Ham said. Ham used the icy conditions to his advantage. “The usual top racers were trying to go too

“The upperclassmen would blow by me down the mountain. (I had to) improve so I could keep up with them.” —Ethan Ham, senior fast and slipped,” Ham said. He was able to keep his footing, and avoided his competitors’ fate. Ham took up snowboarding with his father when he was 8. He never took any lessons, but improved through practice. His biggest improvements, though, came in his freshman year, when he joined the ski and snowboard team. “The upperclassmen would blow by me down the mountain,” Ham said. “(I had to) improve so I could keep up with them.” Coach Jason Kreps has watched Ham grow throughout his high-school career. “He’s shown constant improvement for all four years,” Kreps said. Sophomore Aidan Cunningham has also been showing promise in recent races, placing 16th, 12th and 13th. “(Cunningham) is always trying to improve and takes the sport seriously,” Kreps said. Sophomore Daniel Hernried finished sixth in the first two races but had his season cut short due to a hip injury. “It sucks for him,” Kreps said. “He’s the most excited skier I’ve ever seen.” Other members of the team include junior Amelia Fineberg, senior Jaspreet Gill and sophomore Emil Erickson. Members of the team will need to show up for the majority of the remaining races if they hope to secure a spot at state championships, which will be at Mammoth Mountain, March 1-5.

N O S T I T R I U S PE S 68%

6

Centerpoint

The  Octagon Â

Last week, Feb. 13 landed on a Friday. Next month, it happens again, leading us to examine Country Day’s...

A

s an eighth grader, junior Manson Tung was sure he would be attending Mira Loma High School. He’d GRQH KLV UHVHDUFK DQG WKH SDSHUZRUN ZDV ¿QLVKHG So how did he end up at Country Day? Simple: magic sticks. %HIRUH PDNLQJ WKH ¿QDO GHFLVLRQ 7XQJ EHQW WR WKH JURXQG asked whether he should go to Mira Loma and shook a jar of 100 numbered wooden sticks until one fell out. The number RQ WKH VWLFN WKDW IHOO FRUUHVSRQGHG WR D VSHFL¿F SRHP WKDW would answer his question.

family are from India, must also sleep in a certain direction, though the orientation of her bed never changes and the pracÄĽ tice is not considered feng shui. Âł, ZDQWHG WR PRYH WKLQJV DURXQG ÄŞP\ URRPÄŤ DQG WXUQ WKH EHG GHJUHHV ´ 1DGJDXGD VDLG Âł%XW , ZDVQÂśW DOORZHG WR GR that because you have to sleep with your head and toes a cerÄĽ tain way.â€? Though Tung said he generally doesn’t believe in feng shui, he said he’s starting to believe in the power of his bed arÄĽ rangement. ³Ī'XULQJÄŤ ÂżQDOV , VOHSW LQ D GLÉąHUHQW GLUHFWLRQ WKDQ , XVXDOO\ do, and I didn’t do as well,â€? he said. “So maybe there’s someÄĽ thing to it!â€? The energies of the area also played a role when Tung’s IDPLO\ ERXJKW D QHZ KRXVH $Q\WKLQJ DW D 7ÄĽLQWHUVHFWLRQ ZDV “You have to interpret the poem, but it’s pretty obvious,â€? automatically nixed, since all the bad energies from the road Tung said. “The answer to my question was like, ‘This bridge would slam right through the front door, Tung said. And a should not be crossed.’â€? house on a hill had to have limited windows since the wealth So Tung decided to go to SCDS instead. energies associated with a rounded hill wouldn’t stay in the For Tung, this ritual wasn’t out of the ordinary. house. “My mom asks the magic sticks everything!â€? he said. “We Additionally, the number four is considered unlucky in HYHQ ERXJKW RXU RZQ VHW IURP &KLQD ÄŞVR ZH GRQÂśW KDYH WR &KLQHVH FXOWXUH PDLQO\ GXH WR LWV SURQXQFLDWLRQ ÄŞ7KH ZRUG NHHS JRLQJ WR WKH WHPSOHÄŤ DQG ZH KDYH DOO WKH SRHPV FRGLÂżHG ÂłIRXU´ LV MXVW RQH WRQH DZD\ IURP WKH SKUDVH ÂłWR GLH ´č 6R EX\ÄĽ by number.â€? ing a house with a “4â€? in the address wasn’t an option. Most Americans don’t have such distinct traditions, but the Likewise, the number eight is considered lucky because the magic sticks are just one of many cultural superstitions pracÄĽ word for “eightâ€? sounds similar to the word for “success.â€? ticed by Tung’s family. In fact, Tung has relatives who have In fact, when Tung’s late father was refused to buy a house unless the 4’s in “My  mom  asks  the  magic  sticks  the address were changed to 8’s. diagnosed with cancer, the family brought in a feng shui master to “read everything!â€? “We are looking for a new house the energiesâ€? of their home. —Manson  Tung,  junior now,â€? Tung said. “When we pulled up According to the master, the angle WR RQH RI WKH KRXVHV ZH ZHUH ÄŞLQWHUHVWÄĽ of one neighbor’s house was channeling HG LQÄŤ WKH DGGUHVV KDG D LQ LW VR ZH “fat energiesâ€? into the Tung house while another neighbor’s didn’t look at it.â€? red front door was emitting “bad health energies.â€? 1DGJDXGD UHPHPEHUV JRLQJ WKURXJK D VLPLODU SURFHVV “The exact angle apparently made cosmic energies bounce when her family bought their home. bad health energies into our house,â€? Tung said. “You have to have your house facing a certain direction,â€? “My mom was going to completely seal up the front of our she said. “You have to have the good energy coming in.â€? home with plywood boards. But then our feng shui master %RWK 1DGJDXGD DQG 7XQJ DOVR KDYH D FDOHQGDU RI SHUVRQDOÄĽ said that wouldn’t be powerful enough.â€? ized auspicious days. The problem was temporarily solved when the family “Based on your horoscope and the way things line up at speÄĽ moved to one of their rental properties in Elk Grove for a FLÂżF SHULRGV WKH\ FDQ WHOO \RX VSHFLÂżFDOO\ ZKHQ \RX VKRXOG GR year to avoid the negative energies. LPSRUWDQW WKLQJV ´ VDLG 1DGJDXGD ZKRVH XQFOH LV WKH DVWURORÄĽ Inside the Tungs’ house, the furniture must also be arÄĽ gist who compiles her horoscope. ranged in a certain way. Even Tung’s bed is set up in a way to Âł:KHQ \RXÂśUH PDNLQJ D ELJ GHFLVLRQ \RX WU\ WR ÂżQG DQ DXVÄĽ make it “auspiciousâ€? or lucky. picious day to do it on.â€? Âł,ÂśP QRW DOORZHG WR PRYH P\ EHG XQWLO WKH ÄŞ&KLQHVHÄŤ 1HZ Tung also has set auspicious days when he plans to do imÄĽ Year calls for a new type of pivot,â€? Tung said. “We’re down SRUWDQW RU SRVVLEO\ OLIHÄĽFKDQJLQJ WKLQJV Âł,ÂśOO SUREDEO\ HQG XS WR WKH SRLQW ZKHUH WKH 1HZ <HDU PHDQV P\ EHG KDV WR EH submitting college applications on an auspicious day,â€? he said. moved about two degrees. So I have to take out a protractor Even though these cultural ties are obvious at home, both and measure it.â€? 1DGJDXGD DQG 7XQJ VD\ WKH\ XVXDOO\ VHSDUDWH WKDW ZRUOG IURP Tung’s family is not alone, though. Feng shui has its origins their school one. in ancient China, where the placement of a building or temple Âł(VSHFLDOO\ LQ ORZHU VFKRRO , GLGQÂśW WDON DERXW ÄŞWKHVH ULWXDOV was decided based on the natural surroundings. Today, it is DQG VXSHUVWLWLRQVÄŤ DW DOO EHFDXVH , GLGQÂśW ZDQW WR EH WKH ZHLUG practiced by many modern Chinese families. NLG ZKR GLGQÂśW ÂżW LQ ´ 7XQJ VDLG Âł%XW KRQHVWO\ D ORW RI LW LV In fact, the feng shui master that Tung’s family used no lonÄĽ P\ FXOWXUH VR \RX VKRXOG GHÂżQLWHO\ UHVSHFW WKDW ´ ger travels to America because he’s so popular now in China. 1DGJDXGD IHHOV VLPLODUO\ Âł,WÂśV ZKDW P\ SDUHQWV GR DQG ZKDW 6HQLRU $LVKZDU\D 1DGJDXGD ZKRVH SDUHQWV DQG LPPHGLDWH my grandparents do,â€? she said. “And for that reason I respect

By Emma Williams

it.â€? And, according WR 1DGJDXGD KHU family’s practices aren’t unusual in Indian culture. “Most of the Indian families I know have suÄĽ perstitions emÄĽ bedded in their culture,â€? she said. Even though these practices come from years of tradition, Tung is unÄĽ sure of whether he will continue with many of his family’s traditions when he has children of his own. “I probably won’t have a feng shui master,â€? said Tung. “For the price that the master ÄŞFRVWVÄŤ \RX FRXOG MXVW EX\ \RXUVHOI something nice.â€? Tung said the family’s feng shui master cost more than IJ DV WKH IDPLO\ KDG WR Ă€\ KLP WR $PHULFD LQ DGGLÄĽ tion to housing and feeding him. But for Tung’s famiÄĽ ly, the price didn’t matÄĽ ter. “My dad was just diÄĽ agnosed with cancer,â€? Tung said. “So we were willing to do anything to ÂżQG WKH WUXWK ´

ley Wi nna ams yA i cs b a Will phi Gra d Emm an

From horoscopes to feng shui: some families still follow ancient traditions

have knocked on wood to avoid bad luck

70%

37%

have closed an umbrella before going indoors

have crossed their fingers or said “Fingers crossed!�

11%

have avoided a black cat crossing their path

22%

have thrown salt over their shoulder for good luck

28%

have avoided walking under a ladder

Results based on poll of 117 high schoolers

February  17,  2015

7

When a ‘cursed day’ is also your birthday By  Emma  Williams Editor-in-Chief

%DFN LQ ORZHU VFKRRO WKH ÂżUVW GD\ RI FODVV DOZD\V LQFOXGHG DQ DZNZDUG LFHEUHDNHU 7KHUH ZHUH PDQ\ GLÉąHUHQW JDPHV DOO YDULDÄĽ tions on the theme of “Tell us something interesting about yourÄĽ self.â€? Even though most kids dreaded the forced socialization, I liked UHYHDOLQJ P\ MDZÄĽGURSSLQJ IDFW , ZDV ERUQ RQ )ULGD\ WKH WK Whenever I shared that tidbit, I would get some gasps, folÄĽ lowed by a deluge of questions concerning black cats and ghosts. But as I got older, that sense of wonderment slowly faded. Once ZH EHJDQ WR XQGHUVWDQG WKH SRZHU RI ÂżOP VSHFLDO HÉąHFWV DQG SK\VÄĽ ics, the idea of a haunted birthday became laughable. In fact, when my birthday fell on a Friday during junior year, no one even menÄĽ tioned my “curse.â€? <HW LQ D ZD\ P\ GD\ RI ELUWK ZDV XQOXFN\ $V D &DHVDUHDQÄĽVHFÄĽ tion baby, my delivery was planned from the beginning. And when the doctors at Sinai Jewish Community Hospital in %DOWLPRUH VDZ WKDW P\ GXH GDWH ZDV RQ )ULGD\ 6HSW WKH\ LPPHÄĽ diately asked my mother if she wanted to reschedule her surgery. Âł, MXVW VDLG Âľ1R ,ÂśP QRW VXSHUVWLWLRXV ϫ P\ PRP VDLG Âł,W GLGQÂśW matter to me, so I chose to stick with my due date.â€? And so I was born on a day so feared that it has its own phobia. ÄŞ3DUDVNHYLGHNDWULDSKRELD LQ FDVH \RXÂśUH FXULRXV ÄŤ %XW SHUKDSV WKDW IHDU LV MXVWLÂżHG $V P\ PRWKHUÂśV GRFWRUV IRUJRW WR PHQWLRQ 6HSW DOVR KDSSHQHG WR EH 5RVK +DVKDQDK WKH -HZLVK 1HZ <HDU As a result, her group of doctors, who were all Jewish, left us in the hands of nurses and interns as soon as I was born. “If the doctors had told me that the hospital would EDVLFDOO\ VKXW GRZQ EHFDXVH RI 5RVK +DVKDQDK , ZRXOG KDYH FKDQJHG WKH ÄŞVXUJHU\ GDWHÄŤ ´ P\ mom said. “There were minimal pharmacy services, but there were rams’ horns blowÄĽ ing in the halls. My husband had to go to DQRWKHU KRVSLWDO WR ÂżOO D SUHVFULSWLRQ , needed.â€? Like me, sophomore Isabelle Leavy, who was also born on a Friday the WK VRPHWLPHV XVHV KHU ELUWKGD\ to impress others. “I’m not particularly superstitious,â€? said /HDY\ ZKR ZDV ERUQ RQ $XJXVW Âł%XW , GR XVH WKH IDFW that I was actually born on an unlucky day to make myself sound interesting in social situations.â€? And like mine, Leavy’s parents were also aware of the superstiÄĽ tions surrounding their daughter’s birth date. Âł, ZDV ERUQ DW S P VR P\ SDUHQWV MRNHG D ORW DERXW WU\LQJ to keep me from being born a little longer to keep me from being unlucky,â€? Leavy said. But, according to “As  far  as  I  can  see,  (my  birthday)  Leavy, no one seems to only  makes  me  lucky  because  I  consider her unlucky. Âł7KH QXPEHUÄĽRQH can  have  my  birthday  party  in  a  thing people say when cemetery.â€? I tell them is, ‘Oh, well —Isabelle  Leavy,  sophomore WKDW H[SODLQV ÄŞ\RXU SHUVRQDOLW\ÄŤ ϫ VKH said. “It gets a bit old, honestly.â€? 6RSKRPRUH 0DU\MDQH *DUFLD ZKR ZDV ERUQ RQ 'HF has had similar experiences. ³Ī3HRSOHÄŤ HLWKHU WHOO PH WR EH FDUHIXO RU WKH\ WHOO PH WR GR DOO WKHVH JRRGÄĽOXFN VXSHUVWLWLRQV ´ VKH VDLG Âł,W JHWV UDWKHU DQQR\LQJ ´ -XQLRU $PHOLD )LQHEHUJ ZDV DOVR ERUQ RQ 'HF D \HDU HDUOLHU than Garcia. Though she says she’s not superstitious, Fineberg said she does like having her birthday fall on a Friday every seven years or so. “It’s kind of cool!â€? Fineberg said. “It’s just fun to play with someÄĽ WKLQJ WKDWÂśV VR DQDWKHPD WR VRPH SHRSOH DQG ÄŞSUHWHQG ,ÂśP KDXQWÄĽ HGÄŤ ´ Sophomore Anny Schmidt, who was born on the same day as Garcia, already knows that her 21st birthday will be the next time she can celebrate on a Friday. Âł,W IHHOV UHDOO\ VSHFLDO ÄŞZKHQ P\ ELUWKGD\ LV RQ D )ULGD\ÄŤ ´ VDLG 6FKPLGW ZKRVH ODVW )ULGD\ ELUWKGD\ ZDV LQ ³Ī2QH WLPHÄŤ when I was little, my birthday was on a Thursday, and I was UHDOO\ ORRNLQJ IRUZDUG WR WKH QH[W \HDU ÄŞZKHQ LW ZRXOG EH RQ D )ULGD\ÄŤ “Except for it was a leap year so it skipped my birthday, and I was really disappointed.â€? On the other hand, freshman Molly Gherini, born on -XO\ VD\V KHU ELUWKGD\ LV XVXDOO\ SUHWW\ QRUPDO even when it does fall on a Friday. Âł1RWKLQJ UHDOO\ VLJQLÂżFDQW HYHU KDSSHQV ´ VKH VDLG ,Q IDFW QRW RQH RI WKH KLJK VFKRROHUV ZLWK WK ELUWKÄĽ days considers herself unlucky. Âł, SUHIHU WR EHOLHYH LQ JRRGÄĽOXFN FKDUPV EXW QRW LQ D ORW RI EDGÄĽOXFN RQHV LQFOXGLQJ WKH GDWH RI P\ ELUWK ´ Leavy said. “As far as I can see, it only makes me lucky because I can have my birthday party in a cemetery.â€? $QG )LQHEHUJ VDLG EHLQJ ERUQ RQ WKH WK JLYHV her something interesting to share with others. Âł$ VXUSULVLQJ QXPEHU RI SHRSOH DUH ERUQ RQ WKH WK VR SHRSOH actually bond over it,â€? Fineberg said. “I guess it wouldn’t be the same if you were born on the 17th because who cares?â€?

8 Editorial

The Octagon

February 17, 2015

“Guide to a GoodFellas Lunch” by Jake Sands

My Angle By Grant Miner

Why paid professionals are wrong and I am right

EDITORIAL: Bland chicken, bland pizza, bland salads - isn’t it time for a change?

D

o you remember the old lunch program? God, their food was good. Orange Chicken Wednesday, Pizza Friday. Sure, they weren’t the healthiest meals to serve to growing children, but they definitely made us happy. That’s why it was a sad day when the school had to shut down the program for no longer being “financially viable.” Oh, well. You gotta do what you gotta do. We didn’t know what was coming, but we never imagined it would be as bad as it is now. Well, “bad” is probably not the best word to describe the food we have now, even though it’s probably the adjective that most people would use. In a way, it would be better if the food were actually bad. That way, people would object. Rather, it’s just…underwhelming. The chicken is bland, the pizza is bland, the salads are bland. Just about the only thing that isn’t bland is the packaged fruit snacks, and we know that GoodFellas isn’t responsible for them. That’s all you can really say about GoodFellas. It gets the job done. The food is safe. But is “getting the job done” really what we want? Thanks to our lunch program story, we know that we have at least two viable options. The first is the Epicurean Group, which, according to legend, is the proverbial bomb. Paninis, eggs Ben-

the Editor-in-Chief Emma Williams Online Editor-in-Chief Aishwarya Nadgauda Business Manager Zoë Bowlus Feature Editor Aishwarya Nadgauda Opinion Editor Grant Miner Sports Editor Zoë Bowlus Copy Editor Amelia Fineberg Social Media Editor Maxwell Shukuya Page Editors Grant Miner Aishwarya Nadgauda Maxwell Shukuya Emma Williams Madison Judd Manson Tung Elena Lipman

edict, steak - we would kill to get that stuff over the plastic-wrapped plastic we’re served now. The problem is, we don’t know much about what they will do for us, a frustration that some of us vented at a recent editorial board meeting. We can’t really blame them. They are, after all, a for-profit company, which requires them to approve the school for profitability before agreeing to open up shop. Not only that, but they might even require us to do some remodeling of our kitchen, which would probably cost quite a bit. Option two is takeout. Country Day is within easy driving distance of many good food chains. We’ve got Noodles & Company and Chipotle just a few minutes away, and a Subway down the street. Many of these places even offered to give us bulk discounts for our patronage. But even with these discounts, the lunch may be a bit more expensive than what we have now. And we’ve got to get it here, too. So what do we advise? Call the Epicurean Group and scope out what they can do. We want those paninis in our stomachs, preferably soon. If the cost is too high, maybe it’s time to ditch GoodFellas in favor of a rotating menu of various local eateries. Really, it could be anything as long as it changes.

Octagon Reporters Adam Dean Marigot Fackenthal Zane Jakobs Elena Lipman Ulises Barajas Lily Brown Annya Dahmani Katia Dahmani Sonja Hansen Evann Rudek Graphic Artists Anna Wiley Jake Sands Photographers Erin Reddy Adam Ketchum Jake Sands Kevin Huang Elena Lipman Adviser Patricia Fels

The Octagon is published eight times a year by high-school journalism students of Sacramento Country Day School, 2636 Latham Drive, Sacramento, California 95864. Phone: (916) 4818811, ext. 347. The online Octagon (www.scdsoctagon.com) is updated daily.

Orchids

&

Onions

Nobody likes a movie buff around Oscar season. After all, hell hath no fury like a fanboy scorned. As a person who tends to get too close to the movies I really like, I often have to check my righteous fury and remind myself that my teenage-boy opinions might not hold as much water as I think they do. But lately it seems like the Oscars, to use the new slang, have gotten sketchier and sketchier. And this year, things seem even more off than usual. My concern has progressed from a “questioning the opinions of the voters” level to a “concern for the mental health of the Academy.” Yes, ladies and gentleman, we are now elevated to DEFCON3. I could go on about how Jake Gyllenhaal had one of the most convincing and disturbing portrayals of a sociopath to date in “Nightcrawler,” or how David Oyelowo managed to humanize a monumental figure in American culture in “Selma,” but I won’t. The depths to which the Academy has fallen can be seen by looking at the accolades for two movies—one snubbed and one celebrated. As you may have guessed, I speak of “American Sniper” and “The Lego Movie.” “American Sniper” has received six nominations. Six! I went into it hoping that my doubts would be assuaged and all that positive testimony was true. I came out confused. I just couldn’t wrap my head around the notion that that film deserved to be in the running for best of the year or that Bradley Cooper deserved accolades over Oyelowo. I am no liberal. Anyone can attest to that. I hold no pretensions about “propaganda” and the suspicions that Eastwood is making me a puppet of the man. No, my reasons are much simpler. “American Sniper” is just…not a good movie. It’s not bad, but it definitely ain’t good. The story is bland, and we never get to see what makes Chris Kyle really tick. Ultimately, I feel like it’s just another one of Eastwood’s Westerns masquerading as “The Hurt Locker.” Conversely, “The Lego Movie” was something I did think would speak to the Academy. It is at its core a tribute to the imagination, not just in children but in all of us. The concept is original, the story is madcap but well-paced, the characters are likable and it’s amazing technically. I could go on for hours. But instead…nothing. Don’t get me wrong. I loved all the competitors for Best Animated Feature. They’re great and it’s anyone’s game. But to not even give “The Lego Movie” a nomination—the meagerest of bone-throws? It’s a crime. The Academy had a chance this year to honor something different and special. Instead, they just stuck to their guns, afraid that their voting for a movie with a corporation’s name in it would void their “culture arbitrator” badges. I’m disappointed in you guys.

O

rchids to. . . Student Council for the zany photo booth at Winter Ball. We had fun putting on mustaches, top hats and big fake lips for our pictures.

O

nions to. . . students who skip class, especially on test days. Those of us who actually show up to take those tests would love to get them back some time.

O

rchids to. . . Gustavo Galindo for performing with his wife Stephy for the whole school. We enjoyed not only the shortened classes, but also the Latin pop.

nions to. . . sophomores who complain about their chemistry grades but don’t bother to show up for Math and Science Tutoring Club. It’s every Tuesday, right?

O

February 17, 2015

Opinion

The Octagon

9

Sophomores Isabelle Leavy and Austin Talamantes devour bite-sized cupcakes from SusieCakes, a new bakery in Pavilions Shopping Center. (Photo by Elena Lipman)

How sweet it is!

Moist, warm delivery cookies impress while dry cupcakes disappoint

Talamantes agreed. I also tried a slice of Luscious Lemon, which was the only cake I sampled that wasn’t dry. However, it had the same problem: too sweet. The cake was covered in frosting and sprinkles, which made it hard to eat. Additionally, it wasn’t lemon-flavored. A toosweet lemon curd layered inside the cake provided the citrus. My suspicions proved true when I talked to Roa: SusieCakes uses the same base batters for several of their cupcakes, which is the store’s fatal flaw. Additionally, their high prices are a turn-off. There is no way I’d pay $2 for a bite-size cupcake. Ever. —Elena Lipman

I mean, it was a nice-looking cookie. And the crackle cookie was also beautiful. The outside, dusted with powdered sugar, was nicely cracked with small fault lines running throughout. And, yes, it was delicious as well. The inside was soft and lacked the artificial taste that often characterizes storebought cookies. The only disappointment was the unusual orange creamsicle cookie, and even that wasn’t bad. The cookie’s texture and moisture level were a bit off. Inside, it was too bready and airy, while the edges were a tad too crispy. But even then, I’m not complaining. I ate the entire thing with its flavorful orange zest and white chocolate chips.

SusieCakes When I go to a bakery, there is one thing on my mind: dessert. SusieCakes, however, makes my sweet tooth fall out. SusieCakes, a bakery chain from Southern California, opened its first Sacramento-area location (564 Pavilions Ln.) Milk & Cookies on Jan. 24. Convenience is an industry - the easier a business makes The chain began in Brentwood, California, in 2006. Today, buying something, the more likely you are to buy it. founder Susan Sarich has 13 locations (and two more coming The Kindle store prospers off of its nearly instant book soon) all across the state. delivery, and fast casual food chains like “(Sarich) was really drawn to the comChipotle are flourishing. munity spirit (in Sacramento),” said Lisa I was disappointed. The cake It says something about humankind’s Roa, the general manager. was extremely dry, and the inherent desire for instant gratification I attended the Sacramento location’s and laziness, but I’m not here to judge. opening festivities, where I was greeted frosting was overpoweringly I understand. by smiling ladies handing out samples. sweet. You’re sitting on the couch exhausted With a free miniature chocolate cup—Elena Lipman after a long day of work or school, and cake in one hand and a menu in the other, the last thing you want to do is cook for I pushed my way through a crowd of cusyourself. tomers to get a good look at the cakes. So the idea of a nice meal that’s only minutes away is more A large display case featured Super Bowl and Valentine’s than enticing. Day cakes, which were covered generously with rolled fonBut after you finish that lovely Chipotle burrito, what dant (a thick, dough-like icing) as well as a Barbie cake - a about dessert? ballgown-shaped cake with a Barbie sticking out of the top. Have no fear. Cookies & Milk is here. Evidently, most of the time was spent decorating these speCookies & Milk is convenience in its purest form - a cookie cialty cakes, since the $3.25 red velvet cupcakes were frosted delivery service. and decorated with...crumbs (they also sell miniature versions There’s no brick-and-mortar store. They make the cookies for $2). I bought one to see if it tasted better than it looked. in their midtown bakery and deliver right to your door. I was disappointed. The cake was extremely dry and the No, I’m not pulling your leg. They really do deliver as late frosting overpoweringly sweet. as 1:30 a.m. (There is a God!) I also tried the flourless chocolate cupcake, the peanut All you have to do is pull the phone out of your pocket and Senior Micaela Bennett-Smith enjoys a chocolate chip butter cupcake and the mocha cupcake (all $3.25). The flour- dial. cookie from Milk & Cookies. (Photo by Erin Reddy) less cupcake was dense and had an aftertaste of raw coffee And within 30 minutes, a wide variety of cookies is delivgrounds. ered to your door. Speaking of coffee grounds, all the cupcakes I tried were Cookies & Milk offers six types: chocolate chip, snickerSo what’ll these too-good-to-be-true cookies cost you? crumbly. I spent more time picking morsels off my plate than doodle, chocolate crinkle, peanut butter, sugar and a rotating Each cookie is $1.50, and a dozen costs $15. That’s a steal eating cupcakes. special. considering Cookie Connection sells a dozen for $25, without All of these cupcakes were also advertised as “frostAs I’m writing this, the special is orange creamsicle, but a delivery. ing-filled,” but no cupcake I tried had frosting piped in the quick look at their Facebook page reveals other tantalizing However, single-order cookies are obviously not an option, center. variations. and Cookies & Milk requires you to order Both the peanut butter and mocha cupcakes were subpar. In the past they’ve offered many other The outside, dusted with at least $15 worth of sugary goodness. They were simply chocolate cupcakes with flavored frosting exotic flavors, including Froot Loops, baAnother logistical concern is Cookies on top. con, Oreo cream and, for shameless Star- powdered sugar, was nicely & Milk’s delivery radius. The peanut butter frosting was decent, but the mocha was bucks fanatics, pumpkin spice. cracked with small fault lines Basically, if you live in Midtown, downperfect only if I had wanted to pull an all-nighter. Of course, I ordered the week’s special running throughout. town, Curtis Park, Land Park or East SacI also tried the Sweetheart Sandwich ($3.25), which was two along with all of the regulars, and I had ramento, then you’re good to go because —Maxwell Shukuya delivery is free! butter cookies with frosting in the middle. a hot box of freshly baked cookies in my The cookies were delicious, but they were hard to enjoy hands in 30 minutes. But to see the exact delivery map, you because of the rocky nonpareils covering the top cookie. The chocolate chip cookies were dineed to check their website. Wanting to give SusieCakes a second chance, I returned vine; each bite of the still warm, chocolate-packed dessert However, those of you who live in Carmichael or Folsom two weeks later with sophomores Isabelle Leavy and Austin was blissful. shouldn’t despair. Talamantes to try some more desserts. The extremely moist, chewy cookies didn’t just taste good Cookies & Milk does do “cookie deals,” where they’ll meet Talamantes ordered the mint-chocolate cupcake, which they looked like they had been pulled out of Martha Stewart’s you at a location within their delivery radius. No matter how, what or where you order, you really should again, was just a chocolate cupcake with flavored frosting on oven. That might be a slight exaggeration, but the thin cookie give Cookies & Milk a call. top. They’ll give Granny a run for her money. The cake was really dry, and as Leavy put it, everything else was speckled with lots of chocolate chips and had an impressive radius of about 2 inches. —Maxwell Shukuya was too sweet.

10 Remainder

Mock Trial: Wealthy man accuses docent of replacing favorite abstract painting (Continued from page 1) “We got good ideas for cross-examinations from other schools.” The case for the state competition concerns a possible art theft. Evan Shem, an unpaid docent (junior Akilan Murugesan, when the team is the defense), works as an intern for a rich man (junior Max Schmitz), who has an art gallery in his home. After a Fourth of July party, the rich man notices that something is off about his favorite painting (an abstract piece titled “Treason”). When the man gets a call from an auction house inquiring about the painting’s value, he calls the police to report that it has been replaced. Shem is arrested when a policeman (Murugesan, when the team is the prosecution) finds what appears to be the painting in his apartment. Sophomores Zane Jakobs and Arvind Krishnan are art authentication experts who help identify the painting. Working with the case has been hard, Belliveau said, because she thinks that Strumpfer is still learning how to coach a Mock Trial team. “Even though he’s judged and scored teams before, he still needs to find his stride as a coach,” she said. “He thinks more about the real world of trial rather than the Mock Trial world.” Nonetheless, Strumpfer says he’s happy with the team’s progress. “They seem to be adjusting fine (to the change in coaching),” he said. However, he said that he doesn’t know how the team will fare if they go to semifinals.

The Octagon

February 17, 2015

Lunch: Former St. Francis students miss food Country Day’s Menu GoodFellas

Turkey and cheese on whole wheat Veggie and cheese on whole wheat Bagel and cream cheese Garden salad with grilled chicken

St. Francis’s Menu Epicurean Group

English muffin sandwich with smoked bacon, jack cheese and cage-free eggs Buttermilk pancakes with berry compote and whipped cream with applewood bacon Grilled Diestel turkey burger with Tabasco aioli and jojo potatoes Organic couscous salad with baby arugula, sundried tomatoes, feta cheese and fresh basil Roasted butternut squash Roasted beef, caramelized onion, spinach and pepper jack cheese with kettle chips

He noted that the teams from Elk Grove and Rio Americano High Schools practice every day, whereas the SCDS team practices for only two hours on Sundays.

New England clam chowder

“We certainly have the talent and skill to compete with the best teams,” Strumpfer said. The team won its first round of competition on Feb. 12 against St. Francis High School. To read about the trial, visit scdsoctagon.com.

New Mexico taco salad

Custom-made burrito

Selections from both schools’ menus on Friday, Feb. 13

(Continued from page 1)

Liu, who transferred from Mira Loma High School, said the school lunches were better there. But apart from the poor food quality, 25 percent of students say they don’t order from Goodfellas because the portions are too small. “(One meal) was just two pieces of bread with one piece of ham and a side of fruit,” junior America Lopez said. And like Liu and Wong, Lopez complained about the quality, describing other lunches as “gross,” “cold” and “disgusting.” But those weren’t the only complaints. Additionally, 33 percent of high schoolers polled said that the GoodFellas program was inconvenient. The company requires students to order a day before, while Porteous’s program didn’t require advance ordering. Despite the many complaints, GoodFellas owner George Baratta said he hasn’t received any negative feedback from the school. “We would love to hear complaints and suggestions, because if we don’t know, we won’t grow,” Baratta said. Baratta suggested that students call him directly (his number can be found on the GoodFellas website), or send the company an email. And although Baratta said that he has seen a small decline in GoodFellas orders, he said that it’s typical for only 10-12 percent of a student body to buy lunch. But, at St. Francis High School, this isn’t true. Both former St. Francis students sophomore Elizabeth Brownridge and freshman Evann Rudek said that they miss their old school’s Epicurean Group lunch program. And at least half of St. Francis’s student body (about 500 students) ordered, Brownridge said. “They had grilled cheese and breakfast burritos in the morning, and they had their own ice cream freezer with Big Spoon Yogurt,” Brownridge said. The St. Francis menu includes a large variety of items from free-range tarragon chicken breast over brown rice ($5) to grilled organic tofu ($3.50). And for dessert, the Epicurean Group offers cookies, parfaits and smoothies (all $1-4). This menu at St. Francis rotates daily with nine options, while GoodFellas offers only four. “I remember on the last day (at St. Francis), I loaded up on everything,” Rudek said. “(That day), I ordered french toast, bacon,

muffins, a taco bowl, a smoothie, a brownie and a cookie. “When it was taco day, everyone would order because it was so good.” On top of the good food, Epicurean Group doesn’t require students to pre-order, and they can use cash or charge their personal lunch accounts. But now, after coming to Country Day, Rudek said she makes her lunch at home. Unlike GoodFellas, the Epicurean Group cooks nearly all of its food at St. Francis in the school’s new professional-grade kitchen and cafe. Jim Julian, Epicurean Group’s Sacramento district manager, says that Epicurean prefers to have its own on-site kitchen. “It’s just very hard to keep food fresh if it’s been sitting in a box for one or two hours,” Julian said. “(At St. Francis) we have an executive chef and cafe manager on site.” Julian explained that to use their service, Country Day would most likely need a kitchen upgrade. However, Petchauer said it’s unlikely that SCDS could afford to upgrade or modify the kitchen. But if a makeover is too expensive, there’s another option. Local businesses, such as Chipotle and Noodles & Company, say they could also provide school lunches. And in the Octagon poll, 93 percent of high-school students say that they would order lunch from Chipotle. Chipotle, which offers a “burritos by the box” option, could provide burritos for the entire high school at $8.75 per person. However, the restaurant doesn’t deliver, and burritos would have to be ordered one to two days in advance. Similarly, 85 percent of students polled said they would purchase school lunch if it were provided by Noodles & Company. Jonathan Snyder, Noodles & Company’s general manager, proposed an $8 per lunch catering option, including two entrees, two sides and one dessert. And since Noodles & Company is nearby, they would deliver for free, he said. Petchauer says that the school is open to these new ideas, and he will be contacting both Noodles & Company and Epicurean Group. And after meeting with the administrative team, Petchauer said he will also look into hiring a mobile food truck. But for now, Country Day is left with a lunch program that feeds only 10 percent of its student body. And sack lunches remain in style.

February 17, 2015

The Octagon

Community

Living Caged

Chest deformity requires sophomore John Hansen to wear brace 24/7 By Madison Judd

he was a child,” he said. tested using very high-tech equip“However, since it wasn’t even dangerous back then, ment. Visually, however, we can all we never really talked about it. When I was growing up, see improvement. This, I believe, iddle school is a time it was kind of like, ‘Yeah, we both have it, but let’s not makes (Hansen) feel good and adds to his level of confidence.” when you experi- discuss it because it’s not a big deal.’” Hansen’s doctor told him he had two options to treat ment with shaving Although people with PC can occa(legs, arms, face), get the deformity: have surgery or wear a custom brace. sionally experience shortness of breath But Hansen said he and his parents never considered during activities, decreased endurance the talk, learn how to guide your newly grown, extremely awkward limbs and surgery. and chest pain, these have never been “The surgery is really invasive, so the brace was just a problems for Hansen. maybe even get braces to fix a slight overbite noticed only by your ortho- better option,” he said. In fact, he has been on the Even though Hansen still wears his brace almost every cross-country team since his freshman dontist. day, he stands by his decision to year. However, instead of visiting the orthodontist, soph- “(The condition) was very not have the surgery. Porter-Hansen said that PC has affected her The custom-fitted brace son in only some minor ways. omore John Hansen went to obvious when his shirt was is easily concealed under his an orthotist, who told him he For instance, Hansen must wear the brace needed a chest brace. Hansen off or when he wore a tight clothes. almost all the time. He removes it only for Two light aluminum bars are showers, for cross-country running and if he had been diagnosed with Pec- shirt.” positioned on the front and needs to concentrate. For example, he didn’t tus Carinatum (PC) after he —Margy Porter-Hansen back of his chest. An adjustable turned 14 years old. wear his brace to school at all during finals buckle and strap ratchet kit is week, his mother said. PC, also known as “pigeon chest,” is a common chest deformity that is four attached on each end of each bar, and two straps are conIn addition to the physical symptoms, there times more likely to occur in boys than girls, ac- nected to the buckles for fastening. can also be psychological There is also a pad made of a plastic plate covered by a cording to the website for the Rocky Mountain problems, said the RMHC soft cushion to decrease the effect of the friction on the Hospital for Children (RMHC). website. The UC San Francisco Pediatric Surgery skin. The anterior pad is used to compress the cartilage. However, Hansen said he After the compression brace is fitted, two ink marks website describes PC as a protrusion of the sterhas never felt embarrassed num (breastbone) that occurs because of abnormal are made on the two straps to identify the point of fasabout wearing his brace or and unequal growth of the costal cartilage that con- tening. This means that when Hansen removes the brace having PC. for a shower or to change his clothes, it can easily be nects the ribs to the sternum. “Usually when people noInstead of growing flat along the chest wall, the refastened using the ink marks. tice (the brace), they ask “There is nothing really difficult (about wearing the costal cartilages grow outward, pushing the sterif it is a serious thing bebrace), except for when I sleep with it on,” Hansen said. num forward. cause people wear back When Hansen first started wearing the brace, he had Although PC looks like it should be uncomfortbraces if they have a broken able, patients usually don’t feel any pain or have any trouble adjusting to sleeping with it on. back or have really bad scolio“But after a while you get used to it, so I don’t even side effects. sis,” he said. In fact, Hansen didn’t know that he had PC until he notice it anymore,” he said. “Essentially, I calm them down In order for the brace to work, Hansen has to went to his doctor for a general check-up. by saying that I haven’t “Before I officially knew that I had (PC), I could see tighten the bands snugly against his chest every “The surgery is really invasive, been in a car accident that my chest was changing and was shaped different- day to move the protruding sternum and conso the brace was a better op- and that PC isn’t really, but I didn’t really pay attention to it,” Hansen said. nected ribs back into their correct positions. ly serious.” Luckily for Hansen, his doctors discovered tion.” According to Hansen’s mother, Margy Porter-HanHansen has comsen, Hansen’s doctor watched his development for six that he had PC early on, according to Por—John Hansen, sophomore pleted six of the 18-24 ter-Hansen. months, and then referred him to a specialist. Hansen’s months he is supposed “The ideal window for treatment is between official diagnosis came shortly after that. to wear the brace. “(The condition) was very obvious when his shirt 15 and 18 years old,” she said. His doctor predicts that he will be braceless about This is because the bones are more flexible then. The was off or when he wore a tight shirt,” Porter-Hanolder a person with PC is, the harder their bones will be, six months after his 16th birthday. sen said. After he finishes his brace phase, Hansen will PC can be either a genetic or a random deformity. thus preventing an easy cure, Hansen said. not have to wear anything like a retainer. When Hansen started the fitting process for his brace, In Hansen’s case, it is genetic. “That’s why I was okay with getting the back his family was extremely supportive, he said. Hansen’s paternal uncle had PC when he was grow“We actually enjoy going to his appointments, which brace,” Hansen said. ing up in the ‘70s, Hansen said. “It was kind of like getting braces; I’m going to “My uncle’s experience was completely different are about every other month,” Porter-Hansen said. “It’s fun and interesting to see his progress as it is like the end result, so it’s worth it.” from mine because they didn’t have the brace when

Page Editor

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Thank you to our sponsors for keeping us in the black The Barajas Family The Bowlus Family The Williams Family The Judd Family The Tung Family The Dahmani Family Docendo Discimus The Nadgauda Family The Fineberg-Chiu Family

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12 Feature

The Octagon

WASTE

DEPRESSION

HARDSHIP

BRAT

OVERBEARING

DANGER

A

s high schoolers, we see our teachers (whether we like them or not) as very secure people - as one has to be to command a room of teenagers. Surely, they would be the last people to get bullied. Surprisingly, a lot of them were. But child psychiatrist Sufen Chiu says that information shouldn’t be surprising.

PIG

SADNESS

PAIN TIMID

LOSER

INTIMIDATED EMO HIT

TROUBLE

PAWNIGNORED

REJECTION TARGETUGLY

MORON

MENTAL

SHAMEFUL

SORENESS

AFFLICTION

LACERATION

DUMB

CRUELTY

KID

ILLNESS

VICTIM

NERD

POPULAR

OBSOLETE

TORMENT

MISERY

AWKWARD

INNOCENT

HARM

HURT WOE

ANNOYANCE

STRONG FAKE

VIOLENT

PRESSURE

HEARTLESS

PITLYLESS DISGRACE

REMORSELESS

Teachers remember their past tormentors

SHYNESS

RUDE

BULLYING MEDIA

PAIN

CYBER

HARASS

PAIN

EVIL

THREAT KID PICK ON DANGER LYING

PICKED-ON

INTENTIONS

PITLYLESS

IGNORANT

DETENTION HIT

Bullying: then and now

STUPID

TRUSTLESSNESS

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DOMINANT

KILL

DISGRACE

ATTENTION

SEEKER

WEAK

SELF

AGGRESSION

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February 17, 2015

tually just social conflict. ter where she was on campus,” Fels said. “It really freaked her “Social conflict often results from a student being stuck in out, and she stopped.” a school that isn’t right for them,” she said. But Chiu refutes the claim that things are so polarized. “For example, a non-white kid who feels discriminated “It’s a gender role that boys tend to use more force and girls against at a school in, say, Folsom, may not be able to move to tend to use their words,” Chiu said. “However, many people Elk Grove, where things are more diverse.” observe that boys can be quite mean, and many girls hurt each Like Whited, Jacobsen also found a silver lining in her sit- other. Typically, boys don’t react the same to verbal abuse. If uation, saying that her experience as a minority in a predom- you ask them about it, they ‘won’t remember.’” inantly Hawaiian/Japanese area helped her better understand Jacobsen’s experience in particular, supports this. how minorities elsewhere might feel. Prior to moving to Hawaii, Jacobsen had been bullied by a A commonly held belief is that physical and emotional group of juniors when she was in eighth grade. According to bullying is divided along gender lines, the former belonging her, all the freshmen in her town went through particularly to boys and the latter practiced by girls. Many faculty stories harsh hazing rituals put on by the seniors. “Unfortunately, bullying is a part of our biology,” Chiu said. seem to corroborate this. “It was totally accepted,” Jacobsen “Way back when we were hunter-gatherers, we decided that History teachers Daniel Neukom said. “The seniors would drop a penny different equaled bad. It’s all about being in the tribe.” and Bruce Baird were both victims “I was one of the very few Caucaon the ground, and the freshmen would Take, for example, biology teacher Kellie Whited. of physical bullying. have to lie down and push the penny sians at my school, so they teased In her junior year, Whited transferred from a public school Neukom said that his worst exwith their noses.” me and called me ‘haole.’” to a very small private school. perience was when a group of older The girls took it upon themselves to —Patricia Jacobsen, teacher put Jacobsen through her hazing early. To make matters worse, Whited was the first transfer since boys followed him home from his the seventh grade and had a different financial situation from elementary school in the Bay Area “I was scared to death,” Jacobsen her peers, most of whom were from affluent families. And so and forced him to smoke a cigarette. said. “They said that if they ever found Whited had her own experience of being “tribe-less.” “They took me to a traffic island in the middle of the street me alone, they would force me to do the penny thing on a toi“I was never part of the popular crowd at my old school, so outside of the view of cars and told me if I didn’t smoke it, let and force me to get it out with my mouth if it ever went in. on the first day I saw this group of girls and (introduced) my- they would beat me up,” he said. One of the girls even followed me home one day and shoved self,” said Whited. “I sat down next to them, and then realized Baird’s bullying experience happened in high school. me up against a wall.” they had smeared mustard where I was sitting. They all start“All of my friends were kind of nerdy, so I wanted to take After this incident, Jacobsen told her mother about her ed laughing, and one girl said that I ‘didn’t belong with them.’” shop to branch out,” Baird said. “Unfortunately, you had a lot problems with the girl. And her mother put a stop to it. Consequently, there was a stretch of time in which Whited of Neanderthals in that class. Once a freshman got on my case “She found her and threatened to do something to her if had no friends at her new school. Although her parents of- because I wouldn’t let him cheat off of me. she touched me again,” Jacobsen said. “I don’t know what she fered to let her switch schools, she persevered because of her “Eventually, he just got up and punched me in the face. did, but it must have been scary.” new school’s superior academics. My solution was to just stare him But perhaps the most surprising story comes from Baird, Whited said she eventually “found down.” well before his shop-class mishap. “I sat down next to (the girls), and her crowd.” Whited also stressed that Conversely, female teachers were Apparently, Baird had a penchant for being an anti-bully.. there was a silver lining to the ostracism: then realized they had smeared more often verbally abused. “I was a scrappy kid. One time, there was a boy who would meeting her best friend and former mustard where I was sitting.” Latin teacher Jane Batarseh said push younger children on our block,” Baird said. “I actualSCDS faculty member Kristy Johnson. —Kellie Whited, teacher she was verbally bullied by a class- ly walked through his door, found him in the kitchen and “She was actually one of the instigamate in the fifth grade. punched him to the ground.” tors that first day,” Whited said. “She sat “Her name was Patty Sawyer, Chiu, however, supports a more rational way to combat buldown next to me one day and found she actually liked me, and and she was really mean to me any chance she would get,” lying than Baird’s sandbox vigilantism. now she’s the godmother of my children.” Batarseh said. “My mom couldn’t help me, but my dad gave Instead she advocates going through the usual channels of Whited continues to use this story as an example of the me some advice. authority - such as parents and principals - to stop abuse. pointlessness of bullying, stressing the importance of actually “He said, ‘You have to act nicely towards her but underHowever, she admits that using peers for support can somegetting to know someone before judging them. stand she’s a snake in the grass.’ And from then on I would use times be just as effective. Math teacher Patricia Jacobsen, who moved to Hawaii in that to solve my problems.” “The support should be standing with them as they explain seventh grade, was in a situation similar to Whited’s. English teacher Patricia Fels was in a similar situation in to the bully that what they are doing hurts their feelings,” Jacobsen said she felt targeted by her classmates because seventh grade, when she was bullied by an eighth grader. Fels Chiu said. “Many bullies are surprised that a person or a group she was from the mainland. said her bullying was subtle, consisting of the girl just saying, of people are confident enough to stand up to them and to “I was one of the very few Caucasians at my school, so they “Hi, Fels!” sarcastically every time she walked by. admit their feelings.” teased me and called me ‘haole,’” Jacobsen said. “Looking back on it, it was just the stupidest thing, but it’s Chiu also says there isn’t always a clear “bad guy” in these “In music class, I was a pretty fast learner on the ukulele easy to get upset when you’re a seventh-grade girl,” Fels said. situations. because I already knew music from the flute, and they really “Eventually, she moved on to high school, but when I moved “Bullies are generally bullied themselves - by parents or othdidn’t like me for that. They hated the fact I could play it just up, I found out she was doing the exact same name thing to er older kids,” she said. “They want to make someone else feel because I was white.” another girl, who was a good friend of mine.” as bad as they do. Jacobsen said this situation persisted for the remainder of Fels’s solution was to organize all their friends into saying “When they are confronted by these feelings, it then rethe semester she spent in Hawaii. the same thing to the bully. minds them how bad they felt before, and they generally do According to Chiu, a lot of what people call bullying is ac“We had it worked out so she would hear ‘Hi, Jan!” no mat- not want to repeat this process.”

By Grant Miner

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