Octagon 2017-18 Issue 6

THE

OCTAGON

Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Sacramento, CA Permit No. 1668

VOL. 41 NO. 6 • Sacramento Country Day School • 2636 Latham Drive, Sacramento • May 8, 2018

MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A CAT

STINKY OPERATION During Open House on May 3, third graders Ava Winberry and Siraj Sekhon and former student Sean Zipser observe a cat that the Anatomy and Physiology

students started dissecting on May 1. “Look at this fresh-baked cat!” Sekhon said. PHOTO

BY JACQUELINE CHAO

School policies surprise ‘absent-minded’ seniors

BY MOHINI RYE

S

enior Yasmin Gupta is not allowed to miss another AP Literature and Composition class for the rest of the year.

If she does, English teacher Jason Hinojosa said he will automatically count any work done in a class she misses as late - even if she completes it when she’s back the next day.

Gupta, who has 117 class-period absences for the year so far, said she’s never experienced this before.

However, she’s not alone. Hinojosa said that several other students in his senior classes are under the same rules if they miss another class.

This situation may seem strange to some students, but - as Gupta soon found out - it’s what’s in the high school handbook that every student signs: “Should a student exceed ten ab-

sences per class in a semester, the parents may been out of school sporadically throughout the be officially notified, and the student’s semester year because of volleyball events, a knee surgery grade may be negatively affected.” and multiple bouts of illness.

According to the handbook, this applies to all For the last few months, though, she’s been absences, regardless of whether they’re excused almost constantly at home due to a brain injuor unexcused. ry that keeps her However, the from doing more Should a student exceed ten absences “may” included than one hour of multiple times work at a time. per class in a semester, the parents in the policy “What’s hapand its inher- may be officially notified, and the student’s pening now is ent vagueness semester grade may be negatively affected.” that I’m not alwhen it comes lowed to exceed a to a “negatively certain amount of affected semester grade” allows for there to be brain activity in a day,” she said. “I can work for a certain degree of leniency depending on the (only) two one-hour increments: I can work for reason for absences, such as the most recent rea- an hour, take a break, work for another hour and son given by sophomore Bri Davies. then be done.”

Davies, who has missed over 225 classes, has If she overworks herself, she risks causing se-

rious brain damage, she said.

Davies said that the school has been very helpful in making sure that she can keep up with schoolwork.

“Stress is really bad for my brain, so they’re trying to be as accommodating as possible,” she said.

When asked, Davies said that she didn’t know what the school policy for attendance was - a stark contrast to Gupta’s experiences.

Gupta has had a variety of reasons for missing class in the past, she said, from her grandfather’s death to a knee injury to making official visits to schools recruiting her for basketball.

However, Gupta now has new rules to keep her from missing more classes.

“From now until the end of the year, they

ABSENCES page 4 >>

Rat problem still plagues campus In mid-August, dean of student life Patricia Jacobsen was planning to clean out the closet she uses for Student Council’s materials, as she does every year.

dried corn in the bean bags of a toss game that was given to Student Council by the Parents’ Association for the school’s 50th birthday, she said.

Jacobsen said she knew the bean bags had atBY HÉLOÏSE SCHEP tracted the rats because the bags had been torn open and had rat urine and feces around and inside them.

But when she opened the door, located in the The closet contained decorations for dances, senior quad, she was unpleasantly surprised. school events, spirit wear and more games.

Rats had broken into the closet, and all of the “I had to throw out a whole bunch of stuff supplies were covered in rat because I didn’t want to take a feces and urine. chance,” Jacobsen said.

“I was so disgusted!” she And the problem hasn’t I had to throw out said. gone away. a whole bunch of For as long as both JaIn an April 24 poll of 97 stuff because I didn’t want cobsen and director of the students, 32 said they have physical plant Jay Holman to take a chance.” seen at least one rat on campus can remember, rats have past month.

—Patricia Jacobsen in the been a problem at CounAnd 11 percent said they try Day, mainly because of saw rats more than once. the large amounts of food Jacobsen’s room, particularon campus, particularly in the middle and high ly, remains a hotspot for rat activity. school quads and the MP room.

As early as October, she said, rustling could In Jacobsen’s case, the rats were attracted by be heard in the bushes near Rm. 1, her class-

GET ‘EM A rat trap is hidden underneath dean of student life Patricia Jacobsen’s ramp to her classroom. Rats have been spotted within this location over the years. PHOTO BY JACK CHRISTIAN

room, and she would occasionally see a rat in the bushes, too.

She’s also seen rats scurrying between sets of bushes or to the parking lot, Jacobsen said.

The rat activity near Jacobsen’s room, Holman said, has been caused by a single rat (nicknamed Harry by Jacobsen) who has not yet been caught, although there have been several attempts by the maintenance department.

Though Holman said he has not seen the rat since March, some students said they have seen it recently.

Sophomore Rebecca Waterson, for example, saw a rat go under Jacobsen’s room in midApril. So did sophomore John Snyder.

“I’m pretty sure there’s a little colony under

RATS page 3 >>

2

News • May 8, 2018

The Octagon

English department undergoes big faculty shake-up

T

he high school English department is undergoing some major changes next year due to the loss of teachers in both the middle and high school.

preparation of both classes will differ slightly,” Bauman said.

Bauman also plans on dropping the textbook that Fels uses, “Reading Critically, Writing Well.”

“Long ago I adopted the ‘Life StoBY MEHDI LACOMBE ries: Profiles from the New Yorker’ instead of a writing textbook,” Bauman said. “I think the book is completely With English teacher Patricia Fels appropriate for an AP class.” retiring after 41 years of teaching at “Life Stories” is a collection of proCountry Day, teacher Jane Bauman files ranging from the ’20s and ’30s to will teach both regular English 11 the present. and AP English Language and ComBauman also said she plans on alposition (AP Lang). tering the memoir essay, focusing on Bauman, who has never taught any a remembered event rather than a AP classes before, said she is very ex- remembered place or person, as Fels’s cited. class did.

“I’m both terrified to teach AP In addition to the remembered next year and also relishing every mo- event, Bauman said students will ment,” Bauman said. write a profile at the end of the first She said she will attend a four- semester. day conference on AP Lang at Sac“I want to have one short essay ramento State University over the and one long essay per semester,” summer.

Bauman said. “In the first semester, Bauman has also been working the remembered event essay prepares closely with Fels to develop next you for the profile, and in the second year’s curriculum. semester the argument essay prepares “As an English department we al- you for the proposal.” ways put our heads together to come Bauman said she will also have up with a book list,” Bauman said. essays and assignments based on “Our books the literature, though are always she wanted to wait until I’m both terrified similar. They her AP Lang seminar to hit the same learn more about how to to teach AP next notes, but prepare for the exam.

Fels has cer- year and also relishing But Fels isn’t the only tain books every moment.” teacher that won’t be she prefers, —Jane Bauman returning to the high and I have school. certain ones With middle school I prefer.”

English teacher AnthoThis year, Bauman taught Charles ny Hagmann not returning next year, W. Chesnutt’s “The Marrow of Tra- sophomore English teacher Kathryn dition,” a historical novel published in LaComb will go back to teaching 1901, whereas Fels taught Nathaniel middle school full time.

Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter,” In fact, LaComb already had to fill published in 1850. in teaching eighth grade this year due Although AP Lang and English to Hagmann’s early departure. To fit 11 had different book lists this year, in the extra class, LaComb gave up Bauman said she plans on having her middle school knitting elective mainly the same books for both class- (Latin teacher Jane Batarseh took es next year. over for the rest of the year).

“But I will have different expecNext year, LaComb will teach only tations from both classes, and the seventh and eighth grade English,

A HELPING HAND Sophomore English teacher Brooke Wells discusses Yumi Moon’s sophomore project essay on food insecurity in Sacramento with her while Larkin Barnard-Bahn proofreads classmate Alyssa Valverde’s essay, which focused on street art in Sacramento. PHOTO

BY SHIMIN ZHANG

along with middle school teacher Emily Eustace.

Although LaComb enjoys teaching middle schoolers, she said she wishes she could have continued teaching seventh and 10th grade.

“I developed a 10th grade curriculum that I can’t use anymore,” LaComb said. “Now I need to develop a new eighth grade curriculum, which will likely take all summer.”

However, LaComb also said that teaching in both the middle and high school led to complications when it came to her schedule.

“The middle school is trying out a new form of testing: MAP (Measure of Academic Program) testing,” LaComb said. “We have a different schedule on some days because of it, which interferes with my sophomore class.”

MAP testing is a standardized test

Two AP classes not offered next year; Garage Band elective added

“Not teaching the class puts me down about $10,000 next year,” Batarseh said. “But I’m going to be 70 next year, so it will be a little like Due to Country Day’s small size, some AP a vacation.”

Batarseh has taught both Italian and Arabic classes can’t be offered every year. Both AP Latin and AP Music Theory will be joining those electives before, but she said she would probably stick to Latin for the next couple of years. classes in 2018-19.

On the other hand, music teacher Bob RatLatin teacher Jane Batarseh said AP Latin will not be offered because her four students in cliff will teach a new elective in place of AP Latin IV are either graduating or prioritizing Music Theory.

He said he plans on alternating every other AP classes. year between AP Music Theory and his “This is always a problem in AP classes new elective, Garage Band. because there is an attrition by the time Though Ratcliff has never you get to the AP level,” Batarseh said. taught a garage band elective beHowever, Batarseh said she hopes to fore, he has taught similar courses offer the class in the future. throughout his career.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a “At Washington State Universigroup of classes so linguistically gifted,” ty, I was the jazz combo direcBatarseh said. tor,” Ratcliff said. “I overAlthough Batarseh said she saw a half a dozen is sad about not teaching groups. I (also) AP next year, she will apstarted the chamber preciate the lighter workJane Batarseh, Latin teacher music elective here load.

BY MEHDI LACOMBE

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR KEEPING US IN THE BLACK!

used by schools to gauge students’ academic skills in multiple fields.

Because of the schedule change, LaComb had to replan her 10th grade class on the two affected days.

“My high school class always has to come second, which isn’t fair to them,” LaComb said.

Taking over for LaComb is assistant head of school Tucker Foehl, who will be teaching alongside current 10th grade English teacher Brooke Wells.

Though this is his first time teaching at Country Day, Foehl has taught at other schools.

“I’ve taught English, history and interdisciplinary American and ethnic studies at both the high school and college level,” Foehl said.

Foehl said his previous experience teaching will help him take on this new endeavor.

“At the Baltimore School of the Arts, I taught as an administrator, and it was nice having a sort of refuge from my day,” Foehl said. “Having my class and a group of students is something I’m really looking forward to.”

Foehl added that he has wanted to teach for a long time but was unable to in past years due to the size of the high school.

“I wanted to offer some academic electives, but we can only offer a certain number of electives with the size of our student body,” Foehl said.

“I didn’t want to be potentially taking students from other electives.”

Foehl and Wells are working together to develop next year’s curriculum. According to Foehl, they are trying to tie the curriculum into the sophomore project by focusing on California throughout the year.

at Country Day.” “I’ll begin by directing, then by guiding, and In addition, Ratcliff ran a small music school eventually be just an adviser. The groups will in a music store in Boise, Idaho, overseeing rock gain independence through experience.”

This independence is one of the factors that and blues bands.

But teaching and directing music groups are makes the class appealing, according to freshman Sydney Turner. not the only experiences he has.

“I took choir every year in middle school Ratcliff co-authored “The Gabut didn’t take it this year, so I really miss rage Band” with Bill Hargrove, singing every day,” Turner said. “I want to a book about learning to play take more initiative in what I sing, so Gamusic. It was published in 1997. rage Band works for me.”

“The heart of the book is a Although the new elective appeals to blues-based method of learning some students, it doesn’t work as a replaceto play an instrument,” ment for AP Music Theory, junior Ratcliff said. “But it Chardonnay Needler said. also discusses “I’m frankly upset beforming a garage cause I was never told that band as well as Bob Ratcliff, music teacher it wouldn’t be offered my other aspects of senior year,” Needler said. recreational mu“Even though I could selfsicianship.”

Ratcliff noted that the elective won’t be study for the AP exam, getting an A in that taught like other music electives offered at class would’ve been a nice grade booster.

“Country Day doesn’t have many classes Country Day. based on specific interests, which is why I was The groups will have a set amount of time so excited to take that class.” they need to meet per week, but the schedule will be quite flexible, according to Ratcliff.

“We will have to meet as a class initially,” For more information on Ratcliff’s book Ratcliff said. “Once things get going, the stu“The Garage Band” and the writing prodents will divide into groups and then will meet cess, visit www.scdsoctagon.com. on their own schedule.

Anand Family, Anonymous, Barnard-Bahn Coaching and Consulting, Christian Family, Claire Family, Dahmani Family, Davies Family, Frankel Family, Lacombe Family, Needler Family, Schep-Smit Family, Scott Family, Situ Family, Zhang Family

The Octagon

May 8, 2018 • News

Rats: Furry critters nibble on scraps left behind in daily lunchtime rush This would happen about twice a year, he said, and the cleaning process would take a full there,” Waterson said. “I think we should hire an weekend. inspector to see what is going on under Ms. J’s Eventually, though, the maintenance departroom specifically.” ment sealed up all the holes and doorways.

And on April 27, a rat was seen running from They also laid traps throughout the MP Jacobsen’s room to the bushes near the parking room. In the storage room alone, there were at lot during break. least five traps, Ratcliff said.

Students have also spotted rats in the high Furthermore, he said he started “really crackschool gym. ing down” on always keeping doors closed.

Freshman Lili Brush said she saw a rat in the The rats went away, and Ratcliff said it has weight room during physical education near the been at least four years since he has seen signs end of the semester. of activity.

Brush was on the rowing machine when she So what attracts rats to campus? noticed a rat in the storage unit containing exHolman, Jacobsen and Ratcliff believe it’s the ercise balls above the machine. food.

P.E. teacher Michelle Myers said such inci“Why would (the rats) not be here?” Jacobdents aren’t uncommon. sen said. “There’s free food. Tons of it.”

When another student attempted Ratcliff agreed. to move an exercise ball in the weight “Everybody leaves food out,” he said. room after seeing a tail underneath it, “You walk through the quad at any Myers said, “a huge rat ran down the time, there’s trash everywhere. That’s wall.” the stuff these animals feed off. “(My students and I) would look for “It’s like leaving milk out for the (the rat), but we could only see neighbor cat. The cat’s gonna its tail,” Myers said. “It alget the milk, right?” ways came back.”

Though the garden also contains food, Holman Soon after the said that he has not incident, though, heard of any rat acmaintenance took tivity in the garden, care of the rat probnor has garden coJay Holman, director of the physical plant lem in that room ordinator Michael using traps, Myers Covey reported to said, and there has Holman that the garden’s produce has been not been a sighting since.

A few years ago, it was the MP room that was eaten.

Both Ratcliff and Jacobsen said that Country plagued by rodents, band director Bob Ratcliff Day’s proximity to the American River might said.

According to Ratcliff, rats entered the room also attract rats.

Rats often flock to rivers because they need a through open doors and holes in the wall.

Then they traveled underneath the false floor stable water source. “(Country Day) has river rats,” Ratcliff said. in the storage closet and, through the ventila“We’re close to the river, and it’s full of rats.” tion system, got everywhere in the MP room.

Holman added that the vacant lot adjacent In the fall, Ratcliff said, he would pull the public address (PA) system out, scrub every- to the rear of the school’s property might also increase the rat population. thing down and disinfect it.

3

(continued from page 1)

EN NS A AH NJ NI O A Y S HM C B DA I H IA AP AT GR D K AN

To fight the rats, Holman said, Country Day works with Western Exterminators, a company with offices in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. And the maintenance department addresses individual sightings as they occur.

Western Exterminators visits the campus every weekend, Holman said.

The company uses activity boxes (which can detect whether a rat has been near the box) as part of its weekly service to monitor the area for pests.

There has been only one recent incident of rat activity detected by the boxes, Holman said.

Snap traps or rat poison in a controlled box are also used in some cases, but are not part of the company’s weekly service, Holman said.

In addition, exterior trash receptacles with closed lids were added about 12 years ago to prevent rats from entering the trash cans in search of food.

Despite the rat sightings, Holman said the school won’t be changing its extermination methods.

“I believe we will continue on the same path that we have for the last 10 years,” Holman said.

“The number of pests on campus are nowhere near what they once were.”

But students can help solve the problem, Holman said. First, they need to store their lunches in lockers, not on the ground. And all remaining food after lunch should be deposited in the trash cans.

“If the rats do not find a readily available food source on campus, they will move elsewhere,” Holman said.

Jacobsen agreed.

“If the students don’t want rats around, then

they should do a better job of throwing their garbage out,” she said.

Jacobsen has another solution.

Years ago, she said, El Camino High School had a small stray cat population, according to her ex-husband, who taught at El Camino.

The cats presumably took care of the rodents on campus, because when the school got rid of the cats, the school’s population of mice and rats increased rapidly, she said.

A similar concept might work at Country Day. Still, there may be benefits to having rats on campus.

“If they’re not really hurting anybody, they do clean up - the students leave food around, and the rats eat the food,” Jacobsen said.

However, Holman said he doesn’t believe that there are any advantages.

“There may be benefits to having rats in the wild, but I think it’s safe to say that no one would feel those benefits extend to the school campus,” he said.

In the Octagon poll, 41 percent of high school students said they thought rats are a problem at Country Day. And there are more negative consequences.

Jacobsen said Student Council has stopped using its storage closet after the rat infestation last summer.

Thus, all Student Council supplies are stored in Jacobsen’s garage, which can be a problem because there are so many, she said.

Furthermore, Jacobsen said she doesn’t want to enter the closet anymore.

“I don’t want to go in a dark closet to get some tablecloths for Student Council and have there be a crazy rat or a dead rat or rat poop on what I want to use!” she said.

WHO LET THE RAT OUT? Several students and faculty members have reported rat sightings across campus over the years. GRAPHIC BY ALLISON ZHANG

4

News • May 8, 2018

The Octagon

Absences: Handbook’s unclear on how to address students missing classes

(continued from page 1)

manded for missing copious English classes haven’t necessarily lost points. have asked me to bring a doctor’s or “Normally (that’s) just the threat,” dentist’s note because of all my ab- Wells said. “It’s rare that a student sences,” Gupta said. will continue to miss school without “Basically, they don’t believe I’m an appropriate excuse if they’re gonna actually going, so that’s why I have to lose points.” bring one.”

In an April 25 poll of 97 high Davies, meanwhile, has never had school students, although 23 said that to bring a doctor’s note this year to their grade had been somehow affectaccount for her absences. ed by missing class, only three in the As clear as it is that Gupta’s and entire school said that they had speDavies’s situations are on opposite cifically been penalized for missing ends of the spectrum, it’s also clear more than 10 periods of a single class that the attendance policy is designed in a semester. to account for such technicalities.

Also, although teachers are typi“We treat each case individually cally notified of absences, they don’t and confidentially depending on the always take action. circumstances of the absences,” head “Teachers have the local right to of high school Brooke Wells said. apply grade penalties if a student’s reWells, along with dean of student peated absences are affecting the class life Patricia Jacobsen and assistant environment,” Wells said. to head of high school Valerie Velo, Hinojosa, a new teacher this year, handles attendance issues in the high was the one who initially contactschool. ed Wells because he was concerned “Valerie (Velo) tracks absences, about what to do about student abMs. Jacobsen focuses on tardies and sences. unexcused absences, and Ms. Velo “There were some students that I and I work out patterns of absences,” noticed were missing a lot of class,” Wells said.

Hinojosa said.

If he finds a “I was wonderTeachers have “pattern” with a ing what recourse student in any class I had, so I asked the local right to - for example, conMr. Wells what apply grade penalties if a sistently missed the policy was test days or over 10 student’s repeated absencas a new teacher I absences in a single es are affecting the class didn’t know (anyclass - Wells said thing) other than environment.” he usually contacts that my students —Brooke Wells were absent a lot the teacher.

- (and) Mr. Wells “Once a pattern said it’s 10 (classof absences is established, we communicate among es) per semester, and that’s the cutoff.” the teaching teams (groups of teachAfter discovering the handbook ers who share many of the same stu- rule, Hinojosa then spoke to the sedents),” he said. niors in question about their absences.

“Teachers also have access to atten“None of them seemed very surdance information for their classes.” prised,” he said. “A lot of the students According to Wells, action against seemed to understand and just said, absences can include communication ‘Yeah, I know.’ with medical professionals, discus“Everyone seemed to think that sions with parents, loss of partici- it was reasonable. Like, ‘Yeah, you’re pation points, or loss of the right to not allowed to make up work for full make up missing work for full credit. credit after 10 absences.’”

“It depends on the type of offense However, Hinojosa noted that the and the reason for the absences,” he students didn’t usually seem to know explained. the rule for absences - just that they Wells said that the harshest form had been missing a lot of class. of punishment would be a student Hinojosa also said that he originot receiving credit for the class, nally wanted to give a harsher punwhich has rarely happened. ishment than the late-work penalty On the other hand, in Hinojosa’s Wells decided on. class, the punishment after 10 ab“I think my (idea) would have been sences is simply a loss of points; how- to just give zeros, but I think Mr. ever, even those who have been repri- Wells thought that was too severe,”

PEACE OUT Sophomore Héloïse Schep signs out of the high school office to teach at the Language Academy for Breakthrough Sacramento.

Schep has been teaching English literature there for three months. PHOTO BY JACK CHRISTIAN

he said.

According to senior Cameron Collins, Hinojosa initially gave him a zero on a reading quiz because he was absent the previous week and didn’t do the reading.

“I told (Hinojosa) I didn’t do the reading - I didn’t even know the assignment - but he said I had the entire weekend to do it,” Collins said.

After Collins spoke to Wells about the incident, however, Wells talked to Hinojosa, who allowed Collins to retake the quiz.

Wells said that he usually has the final say when it comes to attendance issues, as in this situation.

“It’s not completely up to the teacher,” he said.

Often the disciplinary action taken also depends on what the student has missed. According to Wells, missing class is especially detrimental in ones that have class participation as a core part of the grade, such as Hinojosa’s.

“Discussion classes - such as English and history - are negatively affected by people not being there,” he said.

Wells also said that other classes can be negatively affected, such as science classes because of labs.

Biology teacher Kellie Whited explained why absences can make labs more difficult.

“Often there is extensive set-up and clean-up required (and) chemicals that can’t be kept for a long period of time, or there’s a partner re-

quired to complete the lab, and there aren’t enough supplies for them to do the lab individually,” Whited said.

“Making up a lab requires a lot of time on the part of the student and the teacher and can be difficult to schedule.”

According to Wells, making a call on how to address an absence can be a “balancing act” in cases such as the one illustrated by Whited.

“We have to decide what’s fair to

the students who did come to school,” Wells said. “We have the right to determine whether to take action. It’s possible that the policy will be (used), but not always.

“We don’t want to punish you for being sick. But if you’re staying home because you’re a second-semester senior, your grades are gonna go down.

“It’s in the handbook. Everyone signs that. Whether you read it, that’s up to you.”

In an April 25 poll of 97 high schoolers, students were asked why they missed classes during the year and how they notified the school of their absences. (Students could list more than one reason.)

GRAPHIC BY MEHDI LACOMBE

The Octagon

May 8, 2018 • Feature

5

College opens door to campus debate

Alumni share stories of heated protests, death threats over ideological differences said.

However, she added that there are many - particularly those who are n “Politics,” a work of political phimembers of religious groups in nearlosophy, Aristotle said that man is by areas of red northeast Ohio - who a “political animal,” indicating that are “not okay” with what the students humans derive their identity and at Oberlin are doing. character from being involved in their Leavy said that there are a few men communities. (The word “politics” comes she can recognize, whom she’s seen from the word for a Greek city state, protesting on campus once or twice. “polis.”) This story is the last in a series “They have a big sign that says a list of four covering political issues in the of people, and then it says ‘are going classroom. to hell’ at the bottom,” she said.

“I think it’s homos, liars, cheaters, The college campus is undoubtedly liberals, atheists - all these people ‘are a platform of greater discovery and going to hell.’” exploration than a high school camThe student body responds consispus. This - combined with access to tently, she added, by having “tiny little new parts of the world, the maturity protests.” that comes with age and the political “Some people are sensitive and try tilt of many colleges and universities to explain why they’re wrong while - allows college students to be more some people just yell,” Leavy said. politically active.

“Anybody that walks by just joins In an April 23 Octagon survey of in, and they yell at them. There’s this 23 Country Day alumni from the one guy who plays trombone at (the past three years, 57 percent said their protesters) every time they open their college or university is “very politicalmouths, which is pretty ly active.” good. People do a lot For Isabelle I’ve never had of making out in front Leavy, ’17, at Oberof them to make them lin College in an experience uncomfortable.”

Oberlin, Ohio, this where a professor is And while Leavy means that students said that it’s not exactly dictating to you what are invested in the pleasant to walk around national political you should believe.” campus and hear in the scene.

—Emma Williams background, “You’re “Being a part of going to hell!” through the political clithe protesters’ megamate of the U.S. is phones, she added that “part of being kind of a big deal at Oberlin,” Leavy in a political climate is sometimes said. “Even way back when, we were getting a little attacked.” one of the first school to accept AfriClaire Bauman, ’09, who attended can-Americans and women.”

Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New Oberlin has a history of being fa- York, also had an experience on cammously progressive and liberal, Leavy pus with a religious group, the Westsaid, a spot of blue in red Ohio, and boro Baptist Church (WBC), in the that’s a big draw for politicians. spring of 2013, her senior year.

“Obviously, that makes everybody At the time, Bauman said, the a little bit involved,” she said.

WBC was picketing soldiers’ funerals Oberlin student groups often and on that “road trip” decided to stop schedule walkouts, speakers series by Vassar, a college known to be fairly progressive. and voting registration events.

“So of course the WBC hated us,” “The campus is great and very supportive, and everyone who works here she said.

“They made jabs at us. They said understands the political climate and is accommodating and kind,” Leavy we were an ‘Ivy League whorehouse,’

BY SAHEJ CLAIRE

I

UNITED FRONT A professor speaks at a Cornell University (Ithica, New York) student rally on May 1 to protest former vice president Dick Cheney speaking at their school about U.S. politics, an event hosted by the Cornell Republicans. PHOTO BY EMMA WILLIAMS

which everyone ultimately took as a question - instead, the white person she’s noticed Cornell’s professors compliment. And they disliked us be- has to figure it out for themselves, are more liberal, they do a good job cause we promoted a ‘faggot agenda,’ Miner said. of sharing the arguments from both to which we were like, ‘OK.’” The group gained national cov- sides.

The campus came together to erage, and Miner saw headlines like But in the days following President form a counter-protest, and the main “Whiteness group silences white Donald Trump’s election, an excepstreet in front of campus was closed people.” tional circumstance, Williams said in down for the protest. So when the “A student who was involved (in two of her classes the professors exfour WBC members showed up, they the Whiteness Group) was get- pressed the sentiment of “Don’t lose staked out an area at the closest in- ting regular death threats with peo- hope.” tersection off campus, and nearly ple yelling, ‘Our president is black!’

“My entire American Government the entire school participated in the and yelling the F-word through the and Politics class was just a big feelcounter-protest. phone, being like, ‘I know where you ings circle, where the professor would “The culminating event was form- live!’” Miner said. pass the mic around and people would ing a human love chain, I think it was “It was a national s--tstorm.” talk about how the election impacted called, around the main building on Another Kenyon student creat- them,” Williams said. “Some people campus,” Bauman said. “Hundreds of ed what Miner termed a “reaction- got very emotional.” students held hands around the en- ary publication” called the “Campus Williams added that it’s common tirety of the building.”

Constitutional” that generated blow- for professors to show up at political Bauman said the event provided back from many of the students. events and rallies on campus, which Vassar with a chance to unify.

“Their headlining article was can be “interesting.”

“It was really cool and inspiring,” ‘Male privilege does not exist and is At one “moment-of-silence” gathshe said. “Now I’ve lived in Chicago a dangerous concept to believe in,’” ering in the fall semester for an Affor four years, and I’ve gone to some Miner said. “People were just really rican-American student who was protests, women’s marches and an- incensed.” reportedly assaulted and called racial ti-Trump rallies because they’re popIn fact, many were angry enough slurs, Williams said it turned into a ular. I think having that really positive to boo the creator of the publication controversial event for a moment experience at Vassar was probably a publicly when he came to actor Pete when a professor started leading a part of that.”

Davidson’s stand-up comedy show in chant about Palestine.

What hit home, Bauman said, was Kenyon’s largest auditorium.

“The first part was Black Lives the importance of visibility and pubEmma Williams, ’15, also attends a Matter, that kind of thing, and everylic support. traditionally politically active school, one was totally on board,” she said.

“I didn’t graduate long ago, “But then he started but even when I was on camchanting about Palestine They said we were an ‘Ivy League pus - on an accepting campus and giving a very pro-Pal- transgender students weren’t estine message, and that whorehouse,’ which everyone ultinecessarily out or a large popumade some people uneasy. mately took as a compliment.” lation,” Bauman said. “Gender “It was a weird situ—Claire Bauman ation. I remember just nonconformity wasn’t necessarily a huge topic of conversation. kind of looking at my “The role that colleges can friend when he switched play in visibility and acceptance is Cornell University in Ithaca, New to a pro-Palestine chant. And I’m toimportant.”

York, where students are unafraid to tally fine with him doing it. It was just Visibility of race-based issues came make their opinions known, Wil- not the message that had been spread to the forefront this year at Kenyon liams said. about this particular gathering.”

College in Gambier, Ohio, where However, unlike Oberlin, where But in the classroom, Williams Grant Miner, ’15, is studying (though Leavy said she believes the student said, most professors try to keep leche has been at the University of Ex- body would not be particularly kind tures and discussions as balanced as eter in England for the past academic to conservative students, the predom- possible. What professors teach stuyear). Miner said the Snowden Mul- inantly liberal Cornell has a strong dents comes from written texts and is ticultural Center’s Whiteness Group group of conservatives who make backed by evidence, and if they make was formed there for students to “dis- their opinions known, especially their personal beliefs known, it’s alcuss the construction of whiteness about the political imbalance. most always in service of a discussion. and how it plays a part in oppression.”

“A concern that Cornell’s conser“I’ve never had an experience According to a Feb. 1 article in vative and Republican students have where a professor is dictating to you the Kenyon Collegian (“Whiteness raised before is that there are dispro- what you should believe,” Williams Group asks: How should we respond portionately more liberal professors said. to the play?”), the group explores on campus than there are conservative “It has the effect of making conver“what it means to be a white person professors,” Williams said. “They feel sations about political science, which while benefiting from societal privi- the ideology is imbalanced in terms can be kind of abstract sometimes, lege, as well as what it means to be of course material and teaching.” very real. If we didn’t talk about difa white ally to marginalized groups.”

As a government major, Williams ferent viewpoints, I think I would be The group also advises white stu- has spent lots of time in politically getting less from my classes than I am dents to not ask a person of color a focused classes and said that though now.”

6

Centerpoint

The new roommate

The Oc

Feeling stressed out in your dorm?

Just pat your lizard, snake - or porcupin

Dogs are sometimes brought to the Student Health Center, the on-camxams, end-of-term essays, pus site for therapy and resources on all-nighters, endless stacks of sexual and mental health, according to paper notes, llamas. All of these Fred Xu, ’17, who is a freshman there.

Furthermore, many students, inare quintessential aspects of the cluding Xu’s friend, Scott, apply to get students’ finals season experience at their own animals in their dorm. the University of California, Berkeley.

This shouldn’t be surprising conEspecially the llamas. sidering pet ownership in the U.S. has Berkeley, like many U.S. colleges, has warmed up to having support more than tripled since the ’70s, acanimals on campus for students who cording to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals need emotional or mental care.

But many colleges still don’t allow At least five times a semester, the pets in dorms. university pays over $700 to SoUC Santa Cruz, for example, has nora-based llama breeder George a “no-pets policy” - except for “fish in “Geo” Caldwell to have some of a 10-gallon or smaller aquarium,” achis cud-chewing compadres help cording to the UCSC Housing Policy stressed-out students calm down. page.

And llamas aren’t the only aniSo how is it that more and more mal on campus, according to Emma colleges, UC Santa Cruz included, are Brown, ’16, who is currently a sophowelcoming tail-wagging pals? more at Berkeley.

Yesterday’s banned Brown said that pets are being let in as in addition to the today’s “emotional supYou’ve got to llamas that come port animals” (ESAs). fill out a lot of for tests or special ESAs are, as defined events such as the forms and get permission by the UC Santa Cruz suicide-awareness resources page, “anior a recommendation walk, many students mals that individuals have their own ani- from a therapist or docwith disabilities utilize mals in their dorm tor back home.” for emotional support, rooms.

—Isabelle Leavy well-being, or com“One of the fort.” housing buildings These are different that’s for sophofrom the service animals, such as seemores is pet-accessible,” she said. “My ing-eye dogs, that have been allowed depressed friend was able to bring her by colleges for decades and can go cat there, which was really cool for her anywhere on campus with their disto keep her (spirits) up. abled owners. “(And) someone on my floor last According to the American Kennel year had a service dog for mental or Association, there is a difference beemotional support.” tween the aforementioned comfortAlthough the llamas are uniquely ing companions, ESAs, and service Berkeleyan, many other colleges both animals. ESAs may in fact provide allow students to bring their pets from support, but service dogs are specially home for support and plan ways to trained to perform certain tasks, such bring animals to students. as helping a blind person walk.

One such college is another UC As blind and physically disabled University of California, Santa Cruz. owners usually require a guide to trav-

BY CHARDONNAY NEEDLER

E

el around their campuses, service dogs going and look forward to,” Larrabee are typically allowed everywhere on said. campuses. ESAs, although not able to But the price for this positivity reap all the benefits of service-animal wasn’t cheap; Colorado College also status, are a loophole in has a $300 fee for universities’ “no-pet” polgetting a support icies. animal.

The amount And, according to Xu, Part of that monof puppies “anyone who wants to get ey, Larrabee said, is a support animal can get and dogs I see every to tag dogs with a one.” day and everywhere is special “support aniESAs are not limited mal” certification on huge.” to dogs and cats, either. their collars as well —Lauren Larrabee as insurance against Rabbits, snakes and rats have joined the any messes animals more mainstream cats make on the carpet. and dogs at Oberlin College in Ohio, But Xu’s friend Scott will pay a which Isabelle Leavy, ’17, is currently much lower fee - $40 - for the same attending. extras.

And Lauren Larrabee, ’15, said that Fees aside, dogs are an integral part she’s “seen everything” - hamsters, of the culture on many campuses, essnakes, fish, lizards, rats and even a pecially Larrabee’s. porcupine - at Colorado College in “The amount of puppies and dogs I Colorado Springs. see every day and everywhere is huge,” However, whether the applicant she said. wants support from Fido or from Larrabee, who works at the Worner a fish, students must follow certain Campus Center (the front desk and steps, regardless of the college. switchboard of the campus), said that Leavy’s roommate, Julia, is current- one of her friends who ly in that process. works in the din“You’ve got to fill out a lot of forms ing hall brought and get permission or a recommenda- her Pomeranition from a therapist or doctor back an to Larrabee home,” Leavy explained. to hold at the In addition to filling out papers, desk for a few students must know the exact animal minutes. they want, arrange the animal’s shots, And the know the animal’s disease history, and front office, provide proof of need from a medical student dorms professional, sometimes just a signed and the great outletter. doors aren’t the These obstacles aside, getting an only places to find ESA isn’t free. dogs. At ColoraAlthough Julia hasn’t gone far do College, dogs enough in her application process to can also sit in on fork out the needed funds for her fur- lectures. ry friend ($300), that too will come.

Larrabee said Larrabee’s best friend, Erica, has some of her friends a Chihuahua mix named Frieda as regularly bring their her registered support animal for her support dogs, cats and mental health, “something to keep her bunnies to class - as

4 in 10 college students have “difficulty functioning due to depression”

long as they ask the professor ahead of time (a requirement even if the professor has previously brought his or her dog to class before).

Restrictions on ESA animals still exist, though.

“I can’t watch my friend’s dog or else I’ll get in trouble, which is a real bummer,” Larrabee said.

“One time, Frieda stayed in my dorm, and then I got written up for it because she was barking.”

Animals must also remain in crates when their owners are not in the room.

Leavy said that at Oberlin, support animals are allowed only outside and inside of dorms, not inside of any classrooms or libraries.

And since Oberlin is “cold and miserable” for most of the year, Leavy said she doesn’t see the animals often.

Also, at Berkeley, the school and students aren’t the only ones to bring puppies around.

Brown said that some sororities and fraternities raise money for philanthropies by getting a company to come and bring puppies to the quad and then charging people a dollar if they want to hold one.

“They’re puppies, though, so who would say no?” she said with a laugh. “Even if it was more than a dollar, they’re too cute and happy to resist.”

Thus even those without ESAs can enjoy the benefits of

May 8, 2018

es

ctagon

7

ne! having them.

“It’s super awesome to be around an animal and to hang out with it,” Larrabee said. “It brings so much happiness to everyone’s day; these guys are a distraction and something for us to take care of.”

But cuteness and cuddliness aside, are support animals worth the sometimes hundreds of dollars their owners have to spend?

According to Dr. Jessica Vando, ’92 (a clinical psychologist who specializes in depression, eating disorders and anxiety), the answer might very well JOLLY LLAMA Emma Brown, ’16, stands with two friends, a human and a llama, in UC Berkeley’s Memorial Glade. Llamas are often brought to the campus before finals and for special events, such as the suicide-awareness walk. The llamas have traveled across the state from Oakland Children’s Hospital to UC Merced. PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF BROWN be yes.

“Studies have found that simply Obviously, college students need their animal or not.”

Furthermore, neither pets nor Washington has a support-animal the act of petting animals releases an something for their mental health.

Vando agreed, adding that support ESAs live forever. policy analogous to other schools. automatic calming chemical response And, as Larrabee said, no animal is animals can also encourage students “Coping with the death of an anVando said that some of her own - serotonin, falatin and oxytocin out of bounds; ESAs can be anything to seek therapy. imal is incredibly hard,” Vando said. college-age patients have asked for which all help elfrom a prick“Animals can act as a catalyst in the “What if that happens during finals notes for support animals. evate moods,” she ly porcupine to therapy process, break the ice and reweek?”

“Times change and move,” she said. said.

Studies have found a scaled serpent duce the apprehension to go and seek If students don’t have their own but Even Country Day is proof of the “And that’s - “it’s all totally therapy,” she said. instead pet the llamas or dogs brought public’s increased credence in ESAs. that simply the act from only pet“It’s possible that a college student in from outside, they won’t have to The law-enforcement chaplains ting!” of petting animals releases an valid.”

“There’re studmight feel more comfortable saying deal with this hurdle. who came to the school after the death She added automatic calming chemical ies on how fish are they need a service dog for anxiety However, Vando said that method of seventh-grader Connor Burns in that research has calming and theras opposed to saying they need to go does not provide the same relief.

2015 were accompanied by a St. Berresponse serotonin, falatin proven that supapeutic,” she said. to therapy, as there is still stigma for “In the case of a personal support nard named Sophie; a year-and-a-half port animals can and oxytocin - which all help “Snakes are the mental health treatment.” animal, there is a real relationship,” later, the grief counselors brought in help with severe elevate moods.” same way.”

Benefits aside, Mathisen, who said she said. “In the other case, the ani- therapy dogs after pre-K assistant head injuries and —Jessica Vando Skeptics may she has been told she is eligible for an mals just help people de-stress and teacher Ariyana Jones’s death. even Alzheimer’s argue that all stuESA, has opted out. take a break, the same way taking a Though both of these were to help with recovering dents deal with “It’s hard to properly raise an aniyoga class or doing meditation would.” with tragic events, there’s no telling memories. stress and that not all students who mal in a dorm room,” she said.

“Of“They aren’t equivalent, but it’s a what the limits will be for ESAs in “They’re like members of people’s qualify for ESAs actually need them. tentimes, I don’t have the time or ensimilar idea.” the future. family,” she said.

Just imagine a high These “happy escapes” from reality, After all, many of these students are ergy to exercise them the way bringing their pets from home to dogs would need.” school quad brimming she added, have been shown to lower Animals can act as a catalyst in the thercampus, and Xu said he doesn’t see In addition, Mathisen, who with cats (instead of anxiety, give comfort and reduce loneapy process, break the ice and reduce the the difference between the support frequents New York City (an rats), in which dogs liness. animals and pets. almost four-hour drive from gambol over railings to apprehension to go and seek therapy. ” There’s no denying that college stuBut Alexa Mathisen, ’17, a freshWellesley), said that finding get to class with their dents need this zoologic escape.

—Vando students right after the The American College Health As- man at Wellesley College in Boston, dog-sitters would be stressful.

Vando acknowledged the bell rings. sociation revealed that in 2016, 58.4 said she disagrees.

“It isn’t up to someone else to de“logistical drawbacks.”

One thing’s for certain, though: Or maybe just llamas on the backpercent of students reported having cide whether someone ‘needs’ their “This is an animal you must care support animals are on the rise. field before finals, at least. “overwhelming anxiety”; 36.7 percent service animal or not,” Mathisen said. for,” she said.

Vando said that when she was a said they had “difficulty functioning “As someone who is good at hiding “Most college students have graduate student at the University (For a Q&A with llama breeder due to depression”; and 9.8 percent their own mental health issues, I think enough to deal with themselves, and of Washington in Seattle, “nobody George “Geo” Caldwell, go to admitted they had “seriously considit is hard to say when someone needs most work or have a part-time job.” had animals.” But now, University of www.scdsoctagon.com.) ered suicide.”

6 in 10 students have “overwhelming anxiety”

SOURCE: THE AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH ASSOCIATION 2016 STUDY GRAPHIC BY JACK CHRISTIAN PHOTOS USED

BY PERMISSION OF ANIMAL PLANET AND DOCUMENTARY TUBE

1 in 10 students has “seriously considered suicide”

8

Sports • May 8, 2018

The Octagon

Junior becomes boys’ singles league champ

BY SARINA RYE

T

he tennis team finished with a 1-7 record in league. However, junior Leo Eisner lost his first round (5-7, 4-6) at the section championships at the Oak Park Tennis Complex in Stockton on May 3.

Coach’s comment (per coach Jamie Nelson): “Each match has nine separate categories, (and) a team needs 14 players to compete in all nine categories. Country Day is small, and our roster has only nine active players.

“There are often conflicts with class work, and academics are most important. This season we often had players for only three or four categories.

“We did win our match (against) Encina (Preparatory High School) as they too had a small team.

“My focus is to encourage our players to participate in the morning practices with coach (Dave) Kuhn to work on improving their basic skills.”

Player’s perspective (per senior Nico Burns): “I was pretty disappointed with my performance. I didn’t practice nearly as much as I should have (because) my (private) coach retired last year, and I never brought my game back up to the level it was at last year. (Burns was undefeated last season and was the 2017 boys’ league singles champion).

“The season was really fun in terms of bonding with my teammates. A lot of the matches are really far away up to an hour and a half - so I got to spend a lot of time with them. It was great getting to know the freshmen before I graduate, especially since I haven’t interacted with them much otherwise this year.

“I’m really excited for Leo and proud that he was able to pull through at the singles tournament. He played great this season, and it was well-deserved.”

Player’s perspective (per Eisner): “We could have been much better and involved as a team if we took it

TEAM BONDING Junior Leo Eisner, coach Jamie Nelson and freshman Ashwin Rohatgi attended the league championship on April 25 at Highlands High School. Freshman Ming Zhu and Rohatgi lost the doubles championship (6-10) and will not advance to section championships.

Eisner won the finals of the league championship (2-6, 6-3, 6-4). PHOTO BY ALESSANDRA RECCHIA

more seriously. I know that a majority of the teammates are in their junior year, and that is the most taxing year.

“Many students, including freshmen, opted out of coming to matches due to conflicting schedules with school and homework. It was very

surprising that we had only one match (against Golden Sierra High School) at which the entire team showed up.

“I really appreciate the way that our team treats tennis: a good time.

Unlike some schools, SCDS makes

sure to have fun during each minute of the match and remember that tennis is not all about winning.”

Top player: Eisner finished his undefeated season as the boys’ league singles champion.

Softball disbands after losing five games

BY KRISTINE SCHMITZ After not fielding a softball team since 2012, softball returned to SCDS in the spring of 2017. However the hopes for a second season have faded. First, the girls forfeited two of their seven games because there weren’t enough players; then the team, 0-5, was disbanded altogether.

The team initially had 17 girls sign up according to coach Scott Galati (father of Maddie,’ 12, and Aidan, ’16), but that enthusiasm didn’t last.

“When it came down to it, only 11 stayed with it and less than eight (put softball) as their number-one extracurricular, (so) we simply needed more players,” Galati said.

Athletic director Matt Vargo said poor communication was an issue that led to the team’s demise.

“We had to forfeit a game last minute as

the girls didn’t tell ( Galati) until last minute,” Vargo said.

Attendance communication was also an issue at practice.

According to Galati he sent out an email on a Sunday asking who couldn’t show up to practice the next day. Of 11 girls, only two emailed saying they couldn’t, but only two showed up to practice.

Vargo said a team meeting was held to talk to the girls about improving communication.

“If you can’t make a game, you can’t let the coach know the day of the game,” Vargo said at the meeting.

The following week only a handful of girls came to practice, and a second game had to be forfeited due to not enough players.

After the second forfeit, another meeting was held, where a consensus was reached by Vargo, Galati and the players that they should cancel the team and try again next year.

“It’s not fair to the other schools that are

booking fields and hiring umpires,” Vargo said.

“It’s not fair to the girls that are committed and showing up all the time. It’s not fair to the coaches volunteering their time.”

Galati said it’s hard to find enough players because most girls at SCDS are new to the game.

“It is intimidating to many of them, (so) it is hard for them to put softball as their number-one extracurricular,” Galati said.

The girls that did prioritize softball, such as sophomore Alyssa Valverde, are disappointed.

“I’m bummed (that) it got cancelled. I love playing softball and playing catcher,” Valverde said.

Galati hopes that more will turn out next year.

“I told the ladies I will coach them whenever they are ready,” Galati said. “It is a privilege and honor to coach such great kids.”

ON DECK Sophomore Savannah Rosenzweig takes a practice swing before the beginning of a game. PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF ROSENZWEIG

Track and field lacks membership, dedication

BY HÉLOÏSE SCHEP Sophomore Charles Thomas and juniors Joe Mo and Heidi Johnson have competed in seven meets.

ON THE RUN Junior Heidi Johnson competes in the triple jump event.

Her season record is 35 feet, 10.25 inches. PHOTO BY JAY JOHNSON

Coach’s comment (per coach Nick Domich): “Because (athletes) think track and field is an individual sport, many don’t show up to practice or meets.

We just have one serious athlete, Heidi Johnson. We started out with five (athletes), but now we have only three. If there’s a meet, I never know if people are

going to come.”

Player’s perspective (per junior Heidi Johnson): “The biggest challenge was probably membership. Other than that, I think this season has been fairly comparable to the last.

“I would still like to improve, but since I started working with Roosevelt Kent, the track and field coach at Rocklin High School, I’ve been able to train using their facilities and learned how to use the pits, and that’s important too.

“I also haven’t been injured all season!”

Player’s perspective (per sophomore Charles Thomas): “During a lot of our meets, it was cold or rainy, so the weather was definitely a challenge for us.”

Best meet: In the Sacramento Meet of Champions on April 28, Johnson (the only competitor) won the triple jump in the open section and placed in the finals for the long jump.

Sports Boosters’ Athletes of the Month Nate Jakobs

Amalie Fackenthal

Jakobs provided explosive offense to The things that set Fackenthal apart the baseball team, hitting several doufrom other swimmers are that she pays bles, triples and even two home runs. He attention to details, seeks out knowlprovided key defense through effective edge of the sport, and does not like to pitching, including a two-hit complete lose. Her biggest achievement is her game. He rallied the team by keeping growth in self-confidence. the bench alive.

Paid for by our generous Sports Boosters.

For information, please see SCDS homepage under the Quicklink “Parents.”

Biggest heartbreaker: No athlete qualified for the Stanford Invitational (on March 31), which Johnson competed in her freshman and sophomore year.

Though Johnson said the Invitational is fun, she said she wasn’t too upset about not qualifying because her qualifying results had to be sent in early in the season, when she said she didn’t have great marks.

“The upcoming part of the season, especially sectionals (Thursday, May 15), is much more important,” Johnson said.

The Octagon

May 8, 2018 • Sports

Golfers demolish Buckingham Charter by 68 strokes

the league finals match.

Going into the back nine, Snyder had a four-stroke lead over his Bradshaw opponent, he golf team has won the league chambut instead of testing his personal limits, he pionship for the eighth time in school opted for safety and steadiness, which helped history, setting up the top six - senior the team win. and team captain Miles Edwards (1), “(Edwards and I) just kept telling each junior Harrison Moon (4) and sophomores other, ‘Slow down and play smart,’” Snyder John Snyder (2), Jackson Crawford (3), Ted said.

Zhou (5) and David Situ (6) - to move on “If you play aggressively, it’s high-risk, to sectionals, which took place on May 7 at high-reward, but if you play conservatively, Diablo Grande Country Club in Patterson. it’ll turn out a lot better for the team.”

And the league championship game on “There’s no reason to be showy when you’re April 30 in the 18-hole Alister Mackenzie playing team golf.” course at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex wasn’t While the top six have worked on not a close game, according to Snyshowing off this season, less experienced der. players (such as sophomores Yumi Moon With a total of 447 strokes, If you play aggressively, it’s high-risk, and Emma Boersma) have stepped up the team had 68 fewer strokes and played in pivotal matches. high-reward, but if you play conservatively, than their second-place oppoYumi, for instance, had 63 strokes in a nent, Buckingham Charter High it’ll turn out a lot better for the team.” nine-hole match at Peach Tree Country School.

—John Snyder Club on April 23 - when Harrison and Snyder and Crawford tied as Situ weren’t able to play due to tests. the lowest scorers in the league, With Situ and Harrison back, there is finishing 10 over par.

With this blowout win at league champi- a positive way, talk on the green about pulls only one thing that the team needs to work onship and after winning all of their nine- (first shot of a hole), club selection, focus and on: consistency.

“We’ve got to continue making more accuhole matches since the season started on positivity,” Vargo added.

Vargo also said that captain Edwards has rate chips, getting the ball close to the hole,” March 12, it’s no wonder that coach Matt Vargo said the team “has a real shot” at se- done a “fantastic” job keeping the team mo- Situ said.

Up until now, the team has played with curing section championship, a feat Country rale up, allowing the team to “rally together” for common success. double-part pickups, which capped off bad Day has never accomplished.

Snyder, who was paired with Edwards scores at 20.

This year, many players - including Situ, Moon, Snyder, Crawford and Edwards - have throughout the season, agreed that they’re But at the upcoming sectionals, they won’t personal coaches; Snyder, like others, practic- playing as teammates instead of individuals. have that luxury. es on courses in El Dorado Hills.

“It’s difficult to have that team dynamic, “You can get a really bad hole and have Thus, Vargo said that the main thing he but it’s definitely there,” Snyder said. over 20,” Situ said. has worked on is the team’s mental preparedAnd teamwork was especially present at “I can’t afford to have any terrible holes.”

BY CHARDONNAY NEEDLER

T

PUTT-PUTT GOLF Sophomore Jackson Crawford takes a practice swing on the green after lining up his stroke. PHOTO BY HARRISON MOON

9

ness and attitude.

Although golf is primarily an individual sport, Vargo teamwork was still vital for their winning streak.

“In our pre-games, we all talk about how we’re feeling, how to stay positive and not getting down on yourself since there’s nothing you can do about a shot already taken,” Vargo said.

Before matches isn’t the only time for team encouragement. Most of the time, the top six split into groups of two and encourage each other along the way.

“They push themselves and each other in

Six swimmers compete in section championships

BY KESHAV ANAND The swim team has participated in six dual meets held at Jesuit High School. The team’s last meet was on April 26.

Based upon the times per individual swimmer, swimmers qualify for the San Joaquin section championships, May 10-12. Currently, six of seven athletes (senior Amalie Fackenthal, junior Joe Zales, sophomore Rebecca Waterson, and freshmen Sydney Turner, Athena Lin and Layla MoheyEldin) have qualified.

At section championships, each swimmer will compete in two individual events with the addition of a relay depending on gender.

Coach’s comment (per coach Brian Nabeta): “With more swimmers wanting to do well and practicing at their individual clubs, it has made the season good so far.

“Because of the freshman girls (Lin, MoheyEldin and Turner), it’s easier to put together faster relay teams.

“Our goal is to win the Division III section championships.

“Hopefully, with results from this year, we can attract more swimmers and enlarge the team.”

Player’s perspective (per Waterson): “We are supportive of each other, and we always are in a pretty good mood at meets.

“The girls relay for the IM (Individual Medley) and freestyle have been doing (a) fantastic (job).”

Player’s perspective (per Turner): “(My goal at section championships is) to make finals in both of my events (100 backstroke and 200 IM).

“It is important to make (finals at) section championships because it helps score points for your school, and colleges will scout you more.”

Player’s perspective (per Fackenthal): “I really am proud to see our swim team has grown, starting from the relay we had freshman year that qualified for section championships to this relay. I hope to be in the top final of section championships and even be a top contender.

“Swimming has finally become a recognized sport at Country Day. “My personal goal is to do the best I can at states this summer while being untapered (not resting for a meet). But for the team, I hope to have our relay possibly qualify for states as well. It would make Country Day history, and I would be so proud.”

DUGOUT BLUES The Cavs were defeated by the Buckingham Charter High School Knights, 3-13, on April 25. After the game coaches Chris Millsback and Gary Jakobs went over the team’s mistakes and how to improve their catching and throwing. PHOTO BY JACK CHRISTIAN

Baseball struggles to win game

BY LARKIN BARNARD-BAHN

At press time the baseball team had a 0-10 record in league and a 0-11 record overall. The Cavs had a doubleheader against Faith Christian School on May 7, and the team’s final game is on Wednesday, May 9, at 4 p.m. against Faith at Faith’s field.

Closest game: In an extra inning, the Cavs fell to Leroy Greene Academy, 6-7, on March 20.

Although junior Nate Jakobs said the umpires made unfair calls and two players didn’t play, both juniors Jack Christian and Jakobs pitched well, according to coach Chris Millsback.

JUST KEEP SWIMMIN’ Freshman Sydney Turner competes at a Country Day dual meet on April 18 at Jesuit High School. PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF TURNER

Player’s perspective (per junior Alex Rogawski): “Five seniors graduated (last year) - Emil (Erickson), Zane ( Jakobs), Aidan (Cunningham), Quin (LaComb) and Adam (Dean) - and (junior) Blake (Lincoln) isn’t playing anymore. Half of our starters haven’t even played baseball before! “(The freshmen) have all developed the ability to field and hit from nothing, (but) we aren’t

as consistent as the other teams.

“Morale isn’t affected too much (by our losses). It’s never fun to lose, but at least everyone is trying their best.”

Player’s perspective (per Jakobs): “It’s frustrating, but as players we need to accept that this year is a ‘rebuilding’ year, and we are all coming together as a team and learning. We should be a lot better next year.

“I’m proud of all the freshmen coming out to play a sport that they (had) never played and is really tough to learn. Unlike some other sports, you can’t fake it; you’re in the spotlight when it’s your turn.

“Also, I’m happy with how my season is turning out personally.

“I worked hard all off-season (on hitting) more flyballs and fewer ground balls, and it’s panning out in games.”

Top player: Jakobs is hitting .571, with two home runs and nine stolen bases, amounting to a 1.476 slugging percentage and a .710 on-base percentage.

10

Sports • May 8, 2018

The Octagon

Athletes consider coaches, facilities, flexibility in colleges “THE GAME CHANGER”

S

tanford University has had at least one athlete medal in every Olympic game that the U.S. has competed in since 1912, earning a total of 270 medals, according to a March 15 article in The Stanford Daily.

Senior Amalie Fackenthal, a competitive swimmer for DART at Sacramento, committed to Stanford on Nov. 8, when she signed her National Letter of Intent.

She plans on majoring in human biology with a concentration in psychology.

Just a year earlier she kicked off her recruitment process by creating an email account solely for communicating with swim coaches. This address, along with her phone number and ranking, was distributed to swim coaches through the website CollegeSwimming.

Fackenthal said she was emailed by at least one coach from every state. About 50 showed how serious they were by mentioning personal details, like meets she had attended or awards she had received, in their email. Fackenthal considered about 15 in earnest.

“A lot of coaches just shoot their shot to as many athletes as they can,” Fackenthal said. “They have no shame about doing it because if they’re a Division III school, they’ll still try for the number one player.”

Fackenthal was turned off from schools when coaches would try to sell the college to her, she said.

“I didn’t want to feel like I was a piece of meat,” she said. “Some schools would say ‘You would be a game-changer for us, so you would for sure receive some type of scholarship if you came.’”

Fackenthal said that Stanford’s high expectations

were more attractive.

“I wanted to feel like I had to earn it,” she said. “I know that sounds a little bit obnoxious, but it appeals to me if I have to work for it.”

Her interactions with Stanford’s coaches last spring on Junior Day, when recruits are invited for a campus visit, also played a role in Fackenthal’s decision.

“As soon as I talked to them, I knew this is the kind of coach I need,” she said. “I’ve known (DART coach) Brian (Nabeta) since I was 9. He’ll call out my mistakes, which seems mean in the moment, but I know it’s what I need. I like a coach that isn’t easy on you and tells you when you’re in the wrong.”

Stanford asks recruited athletes to complete the application from the previous year and submit it at the end of the summer.

“I started working in July and submitted on Aug. 20,” Fackenthal said. “They (accepted) me within a week.”

In September or October, Fackenthal and the rest of the recruited swim team were invited on an official all-expenses-paid trip to campus. Fackenthal said that though it’s intimidating being on her first all-woman team, the friendship and dedication she observed amongst the players give her confidence.

“You have to have a certain willpower and strength to be on that team,” she said. “During our visit we watched them do a super-hard dryland workout, and they were not having a good day. Their teamwork was way off.

“So after, they sat in a circle for 45 minutes and talked about their issues with that dryland and what they could have done better. They initiated that. They know what they have to do, which is cool.”

When it comes to college recruitment, the NCAA sets guidelines for college coaches and high school athletes that control when coaches can reach out, how many campus visits a student may take and when athletes may commit to a school, among other activities.

According to its website, the NCAA imposes such restrictions “to create an equitable recruiting environment that promotes student-athlete well-being.” In the last of a twopart series, SCDS athletes discuss their experiences with this process. ALL STORIES BY SONJA HANSEN - SEE MORE ONLINE AT WWW.SCDSOCTAGON.COM.

STILL SMILING Senior Amalie Fackenthal smiles back at her coach after completing her first Olympic trials cut in the 50-meter freestyle in March 2016. PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF FACKENTHAL

“THE JACK OF ALL TRADES”

FLY AWAY Junior Heidi Johnson participates in the long jump for the Sacramento Meet of Champions held at American River College on April 28. Johnson earned first place in triple jump and ninth in long jump. PHOTO BY JAY JOHNSON

“THE LONE WOLF” Junior Heidi Johnson has frequently found herself all by her lonesome at track and field meets in the past six years.

“It’s fine,” Johnson said, laughing. “I’m used to it, but sometimes I see other teams that are really big, and it looks really nice.

They warm up together, and they’re all hanging out between events.”

But she could soon partake in this camaraderie if her dreams of participating on a college track team come true.

Johnson, who specializes in triple jump and long jump and occasionally the 100or 200-meter dash, said she is aiming for Division III schools because they don’t require as much practice time, and she doesn’t think her current marks are Division I material.

Advising her through this process are her parents, Sue and Jay, as well as track and field coach Nick Domich. Domich is a long distance runner, but he has limited knowledge about jumping form, though he has learned about technical events over the years.

Johnson sought a private coach after injuring herself a few times during high jump and triple jump. Now she meets with Rocklin High School’s track coach Roosevelt Kent privately and focuses on jumping.

“I didn’t really know what I was doing,” she said.

No coaches have initiated contact yet, but during a spring break college tour through Oregon, Johnson made sure to visit each school’s coach and track.

“Several people told me I should try the heptathlon or pentathlon because I already do a variety of events,” she said. “If I tried doing the heptathlon (100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin throw and 800-meter dash), I think that would help because it’s definitely more valuable than saying ‘I just do triple jump.’”

Johnson lunged forward eagerly when the topic of running on an official college track was introduced.

“Almost any school I go to will have better facilities, which will be nice!” she said, ferociously nodding her head. “They’ll also have jumps coaches, so I’ll get more help.”

Junior Nate Jakobs has discovered a correlation between his positions as soccer goalkeeper and baseball outfielder, and it’s not just because both roles involve sweating out in the grass, at times removed from the action.

“You use a lot of raw athleticism, and it’s not so perfect like a shortstop in baseball or a forward in soccer,” Jakobs said.

“It’s more just getting to the ball however you can.

“There’s a lot of carryover with the footwork as well.”

Jakobs aims to continue this mad scramble for the ball at Division III schools, where he hopes to play baseball and soccer.

“Getting enough playing time and being a big contributor is ultimately my goal,” he said. “My plan is to get into a school based on academics and baseball and make the (baseball) coach aware that I might play soccer.”

Because soccer is a fall sport and baseball a spring one, Jakobs said he expects there won’t be any conflicts, but he would drop soccer if any major problems arose.

“I’m a few years removed from that world, but for baseball, you can only train so much of the year because it takes a toll on your body, especially your shoulder,” he said. “But there is conditioning and weight-training all year.”

Four baseball coaches have approached Jakobs in person, he said, and one messaged him online.

Jakobs used to have an account on Next College Student Athlete, a recruitment website, but gave up on it once he decided it was a money-making scheme.

(A subscription costs $80-$300 a month).

Jakobs has sent other coaches statistics on his height, weight, exit velocity (how fast the ball comes off his bat), arm strength and running speed, as well as a recommendation from his summer coach, his GPA, SAT and ACT scores, and video clips.

“Baseball videos are filmed during practice instead of games,” Jakobs said. “They just want to see your form and raw ability. Jakobs has also updated coaches on mechanical and sta-

tistical improvements, including his swing.

“In baseball your swing is really important because it’s very technical,” Jakobs said. “If you have a good swing, that can get you anywhere on its own. I went from not taking a big step with my front foot to taking what’s called a leg kick.”

As he practiced, Jakobs studied the swings of major league hitters like the Toronto Blue Jays’ Josh Donaldson and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Turner.

But even with the vampedup swing, Jakobs said that he is an outlier because very few top players wait until junior year to get recruited.

“Just recently there was a softball player who committed the day before her 12th birthday to a Division I school,” he said.

HOME RUN Junior Nate Jakobs practices his swing. PHOTO BY GARY JAKOBS

The Octagon

May 8, 2018 • Opinion

OCTAGON STAFF

“100 degrees” by Mohini Rye

My Angle

PRINT EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Annya Dahmani Katia Dahmani Sonja Hansen

By Jackson Margolis

ONLINE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Sahej Claire Chardonnay Needler

Dear LeBron James, apologies are in order

DESIGN CHIEFS Mohini Rye Allison Zhang BUSINESS MANAGER Larkin Barnard-Bahn NEWS EDITOR Jack Christian FEATURE EDITOR Mohini Rye OPINION EDITOR Allison Zhang PRINT SPORTS EDITOR Jake Longoria ONLINE SPORTS EDITOR Bryce Longoria SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Bri Davies PHOTOGRAPH EDITOR Jacqueline Chao MULTIMEDIA EDITORS Jake Longoria Harrison Moon Bryce Longoria, assistant David Situ, assistant

REPORTERS Keshav Anand Sarina Rye Kristine Schmitz Spencer Scott Elise Sommerhaug Ming Zhu GRAPHIC ARTISTS Jacqueline Chao Mohini Rye PHOTOGRAPHERS Jacqueline Chao Shimin Zhang ADVISER Patricia Fels The OcTagOn is sacramenTO cOunTry Day’s high-schOOl newspaper. iTs purpOse is TO prOviDe a reliable sOurce Of infOrmaTiOn On evenTs cOncerning The high schOOl in Or-

Der TO infOrm anD enTerTain The enTire schOOl cOmmuniTy.

The

sTaff sTrives

fOr accuracy anD freeDOm frOm bias in iTs sTOries.

significanT

will be nOTeD anD cOrrecTeD.

The OcTagOn

errOrs

shall publish maTerial

ThaT The sTaff Deems in The besT inTeresT Of The schOOl cOmmuniTy.

The

sTaff

recOgnizes The impOrTance Of having accuraTe anD reliable infOrmaTiOn in OrDer TO be well infOrmeD anD On which TO base DecisiOns anD OpiniOns.

The OcTagOn

will publish all Timely

anD relevanT news, subjecT TO The excepTiOns:

fOllOwing

ObsceniTy;

slanDerOus Or libelOus maTerial; ma-

Terial cOnTrary TO The besT inTeresTs Of The schOOl cOmmuniTy, as juDgeD

by The newspaper sTaff anD aDviser.

eDiTOrials

shall be apprOveD by The

eDiTOrial bOarD.

cOlumns/cOmmen-

Taries shall be labeleD as such anD represenT The OpiniOn Of The auThOr Only.

in

The inTeresT Of represenTing all

pOinTs Of view, leTTers TO The eDiTOr

shall be publisheD, space permiTTing, unless OTherwise requesTeD by The auThOr.

all

leTTers musT be signeD

anD cOnfOrm TO The abOve resTricTiOns On publisheD maTerial.

EDITORIAL: Change the absence policies, let seniors leave campus!

S

PAGE EDITORS Jack Christian Annya DahmanI Katia Dahmani Anna Frankel Sonja Hansen Mehdi Lacombe Jackson Margolis Mohini Rye Héloïse Schep Allison Zhang

The

sTaff

reTains The righT TO make changes in

tudents at Country Day spend about 1,260 hours a year at school, assuming a seven-hour school day for 180 days. Still, 1,260 hours constitutes only 21 percent of waking hours in an entire year.

For a few students, however, the percentage is even lower due to continuous absences from school.

If a student has 10 or more absences in a single class per semester, “the parents may be officially notified, and the student’s semester grade may be negatively affected,” according to the high school handbook.

For unexcused tardies, the handbook also states, six in one quarter will warrant a letter to the student’s parents that is placed in the student’s file.

Nine unexcused tardies will result in a lunch detention. “(And) if the student is marked ‘tardy unexcused’ again that quarter, the student may be subject to in-school or at-home suspension,” according to the handbook.

Essentially, a student may be suspended for 10 or more unexcused tardies in one quarter. However, these policies for absences and tardies are enforced sporadically at best, and sometimes it takes up to a month for students and their parents to be even notified about an unexcused absence.

We understand that it’s hard

to keep track of every single high school student and their whereabouts for the day.

But to prevent the long wait and lack of communication before students are notified about absences or tardies, why not email students and parents every Friday if a student has missed class without an excuse?

This consistent schedule will keep students and parents in the loop and prevent a large buildup of absences that’s unknown to the student.

This would also be important if students are punished for their absences, as many don’t keep track of their attendance records.

Yes, CavNet does allow for easier access to attendance records for students. But the issue of vague policies that differ in their enforcement for each student remains.

Each student’s situation is treated “individually and confidentially depending on the circumstances of the absences,” head of high school Brooke Wells said.

Because of the lack of a reliably enforced set of rules, consistent weekly emails would keep students informed about how many classes they have missed and whether there will be disciplinary action for those absences.

Furthermore, every single year, the chief offenders of these unexcused absences

are seniors. Senior year is a breeze. Especially in the second semester, seniors have few homework assignments and multiple free periods or dropped classes a day, leaving them hours to waste in the library.

This almost excessive amount of free time leads seniors to be tempted to leave campus. However, because seniors are required to sign out and submit proof that they have their parents’ permission to leave, they often forego signing out altogether so that they don’t have to deal with the hassle of calling their parents.

Signing out is of the utmost importance because the school is legally responsible for its students and must know their location in case of an emergency.

To give seniors incentive to sign out, seniors should have the option of submitting a permission slip from their parents at the beginning of the year that allows them to leave campus. If a senior’s grades start to slip, parents could revoke their permission to keep their student on campus.

Seniors would still need to sign out but would not have to waste time trying to get a hold of a parent, grandparent, guardian, neighbor, postman or anybody else who could permit them to slip off campus for a quick Jamba Juice!

CAMPUSCORNER What are you doing for your senior seminar?

“I’m going to the (Access Leisure/ Paralympic Sport) seminar. I chose this seminar because I’m an athlete, and I wanted to watch and help out with people that aren’t as blessed. I’m looking forward to watching how (the disabled) move around the (basketball) courts and utilize their skills.”

“I’m handing out clothing at the Sacramento Food Bank and helping with other family services. This wasn’t my first choice. I wanted to do the (Explorit) Science Center, but it was removed (as an option). I’m looking forward to helping people out. Helping people out is pretty cool. And I’m working from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.”

YASMIN GUPTA, SENIOR

CARLOS NUNEZ, SENIOR

grammar anD puncTuaTiOn anD TO abriDge leTTers fOr space cOnsiDeraTiOns.

11

It was July 7, 2010, and I was at California Pizza Kitchen - unaware that I was moments away from witnessing an event that would force me to reidentify one of my greatest heroes as a backstabbing villain.

That day I was with family friends, sitting at the kids’ table and staring at the television screen as I waited for my mac and cheese.

And as I glanced at the television, my eyes enlarged when I saw the only NBA player I could identify - my hero, LeBron James - standing on a stage between two other athletes I didn’t know Then I saw “The King” take off his jumpsuit to reveal an obnoxiously bright red jersey with the word “Heat” smack dab in the middle.

I had no idea what was going on at first. Heck, the only teams I knew by name were the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers, (who at the time I thought played in their rival’s city, Boston,) but my friend Alex knew exactly what had just unfolded.

Staring blankly at the screen for what seemed like an eternity, he then turned to me and said, “He’s bad now.

LeBron’s bad.”

Hating LeBron gained popularity from there. Like everyone - besides those living in Miami - I viewed him as a traitor to his hometown (Cleveland, where he played for the Cavaliers for seven years) and as a jerk for publicizing it on a TV special known as “The Decision.”

Taking my hatred further, I rooted against him for the four years that he was in the NBA finals with the Heat, and I was overjoyed the two years he lost.

However, through maturity and research, I have discovered that I was wrong about the whole thing.

See, unlike Kevin Durant, LeBron is not a snake. Unlike Durant in Oklahoma City, LeBron had no chance of winning a title with the Cavaliers since there was no other All-Star caliber player on the team.

Therefore, LeBron, I’m sorry. I was overly judgmental, and you were just trying to win a championship.

I hope that we can get past this, and if so, I’d like to extend an olive branch in the form of an invitation.

LeBron Raymone James Sr., I want you to come to Sacramento, man. I want you to be the face of the Kings.

I get that at first it might seem crazy. Why on earth would the greatest NBA player in the history of the game want to come to the Farm-to-Fork Capital when he can get more publicity, money and fans in a city like Houston or Los Angeles?

Because, LeBron, Lady Birdville is perfect for you. After growing up in Akron, Ohio, you know what it’s like to live in a city with a small-town feel that’s connected to other major cities.

Also, after listening to my classmate Jackson Crawford’s sophomore project, I learned that Golden 1 Center is the most advanced arena in the world.

Therefore, if you are The King, shouldn’t you play in the most lavish court?

And let’s face it. To close out your career, wouldn’t it feel better to join a team that - with the proper push could win it all than a team where you get coaching advice from LaVar Ball?

After all, it just makes sense, The King should play for the Kings.

12

Backpage • May 8, 2018

The Octagon

Seniors check out their future ‘homes’ Despite their youth, innocence, students live to tell the tales...

Seniors Lily Brown, Sahej Claire, Smita Sikaria, Ulises Barajas, Sonja Hansen, Carlos Nunez and Lea Gorny attended classes, spoke with professors and experienced school spirit at the colleges they have committed to in order to get a better sense of their school or to guide their final decision. BY ANNA FRANKEL AND JACKSON MARGOLIS

Lily Brown

I think it was super exciting to see how many incoming freshmen were there. (UCLA) said there (were) something like 16,000 admitted students (attending).

I’m an ethnomusicology major. Seeing how large the music program actually is (was probably the most unexpected thing).

I went in thinking it was going to be pretty small, but it’s actually a good size. I (also) met a few students from the music program which was really cool Seeing all the school spirit was cool (too).

(The best part was) meeting people. The first person I actually met was from San Francisco, and I still talk to him, which is pretty cool. I got to know more about the new BU general-education program which they are offering next year. I’m getting to know Boston.

It was my first time (visiting) after I had applied Early Decision. I was surprised that I actually really liked it.

Boston University

Smita Sikaria UCLA

Sahej Claire The best part about it for me was that I was able to experience living in a dorm. I had visited campus before, but I had never taken an actual tour before this weekend.

So staying in the dorms was really nice, as well as seeing the student culture of where you are going to live, where you are going to spend your time and who you might hang out with.

I was still debating between whether I wanted to (be) in an all-freshmen dorm or a four-class dorm, so it helped me decide what I wanted, which is the four-class dorm.

I also really enjoyed getting to know not just the students who are already there, but also the people who are going to be my classmates next year. Every (class has) a Facebook group that is created for the admitted students, and people do generally post on there. You get a decent sense of what people are like, but social media is always different from real life.

Admit Weekend is a different experience because in high school any (school) trip is very structured. You know what you should be doing at any given point in time. You know (when you have) free time and when it ends.

Whereas Admit Weekend has all these events that you can go to, but they are by no means required. There (were) some people who went just to hang out and meet people.

As part of Admit Weekend they have these things called academic expos, which are like sample classes to give you a taste of what Stanford academics are like. One of my room hosts actually had a physics class on Friday, and I am in Physics C right now so they (were) doing the same stuff that we are doing.

I quite enjoyed it, and it helped that I actually understood what was going on.

These are all really smart people who have done amazing things and have gotten into this great institution, (but) they are also really normal.

It’s a general thought that Stanford is really good, so it is hard to imagine that not everyone is the next CEO or startup founder.

I don’t think it was surprising, necessarily, but it was interesting to see that these people are surviving here.

Stanford University

Lea Gorny I committed right after I visited. Seeing the campus and the kids that are going and getting to check out the housing made me more confident that I wanted to go there.

They had specific open houses for the programs I was interested in, so I got to go to those and talk with representatives from those specific departments.

The most exciting part was talking face-toface with (a representative from) the English literature department. I got to meet this super-nice lady, who walked me through everything and (told me about) what I can do this year and the programs (they) have coming up.

My favorite part was just getting excited.

I was surprised (about) how huge the campus was. I had driven through (it before), but (the majority of ) it is hidden in the redwoods. It was kind of weird to take a walking tour because there was so much stuff that I didn’t even realize was there. It was really surprising.

Ulises Barajas

UC Santa Cruz

They have around six (admitted students days), so not that many students go to each. You have to register beforehand.

When I got there, there was an introductory info session, and on the screen for each student, they had (for example) “Congratulations, Smita Sikaria from Folsom, California.”

That was pretty cool because there were only around 100 students there (and everyone’s names) got shown on the big screen, which was pretty unexpected.

Carnegie (They also have) a full admitted students weekend where you stay overnight, but it was sold out by the time I went Mellon to register. (This one) was more information than fun. They University didn’t have any events where you could socialize with people who were going there. It was more like - this is what housing looks like, this is what the engineering college is about, this is a student panel. I learned a lot about the little technicalities you need to know about, so it saved me a lot of reading.

Also, I wasn’t sure about the campus so I took a bunch of tours just for admitted students, which were fun.

Carlos Nunez

I was really surprised when the president (of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) gave a speech because she had all of these qualifications.

She had like four Ph.D.s.

Also I went to the activities fair, so that was really interesting. There was a gamRensselaer ing club, and I thought it was going to be for video games, but then it was for board Polytechnic games. I can’t remember a lot of (the clubs) now, but there Institute were a lot of them.

I didn’t stay overnight because it was just for one day, but I did get to see the dorms. I talked to Kevin (Huang, ’17) and saw his dorm. It was pretty spacious for (one) person.

(Since his visit Nunez has decided to attend Santa Clara University instead).

The weather is nicer here. I also wanted to stay closer to home.

Sonja Hansen The Stanford band came and played for us. We heard screaming, and then they all ran into the fountain area. One guy was playing an inflatable saxophone. There was a guy dressed up like a banana, and the band leader was dressed like a wrestler. The saxophone players started playing their instruments upside down.

And then immediately after their concert, they yelled “Fountain hop!” and tried to get everyone one to go into the fountain with them. But everyone was still kind of awkward because it was our first day, so I don’t think that many people actually did (it).

It was just a funky little thing, and it introduced us to the character of the school. You wouldn’t see something like that at Harvard.

I thought it was going to be (kind of ) unscheduled, but there was actually a lot more group time than I was expecting.

There was this Egyptian guy, and he was talking about how he lived in a really bad neighborhood in Egypt. This one time he was showing these tourists around, and these fighters started shooting at them so they had to hide underneath a car.

I told him my parents had their first date (in Egypt) and he said, “Why haven’t you gone?” I said, “Oh, we thought that that area was a little too hot and unrestful.” So then he said, “When we go, I’ll bring a gun if that will make you feel more comfortable.”

And this is within about 20 minutes of meeting him!

Stanford University