February 2020

What “Black Mamba” meant to Redwood students P. 11

Look back on the greatest moments of Kobe Bryant’s life P. 18

Illustration by Taylor Charles

Redwood High School 395 Doherty Drive, Larkspur, CA 94939 www.redwoodbark.org Editors-in-Chief: Drake Goodman Bella Roesler Eislyn Snyder Ryo Weng Art Consultants: Taylor Charles Sophia Rocha

Copy Editors: Audrey Hettleman (Head Copy) Isabel Ames Maxanne Anderson Martha Fishburne Maya Holland Nicole Johnson Olivia Kharrazi Alli Runnfeldt Shannon Watridge Jack Watson

Opinion Editors: Loughlin Browne Ella Green

Reporters​: Devin Bosley Grace Bouton Olivia Brekhus Emma Carpenter Greta Cifarelli Kalyn Dawes Mara Farese Francesca Fox Nicole Fuches Kylie Horstmeyer Emma Ingledew Alex Johnson Mia Kessinger Sol Ladetzky Audrey Lightfoot Emma Lightfoot Jack Pfeiffer Matthew Smalbach Bennett Vasquez

Sports Editors: Maria Alexander Charlie Ginsburg

Business Managers: Katie Parsons Skylar Strotz Survey Manager: Jenna Dahlin

Social Media Manager: Lauren Steele Podcast Editor: Jack Benbow Video Editor: Garrett Cook Multimedia Editor: Aaron Kim Senior Staff Writers: Sydney Steinberg Sarah Young

Feature Editors: Maddie Loebbaka Sofi Mincy Lifestyles Editors: Camille Ray Morgan Salzer

News Editors: Jacob Mandel Anna Silverman Review Editors: Jackson Epps Alix Salzer Spanish Editor: Mika Beberman

redwood

bark.

Volume LXII, No. 4 • February 7, 2020 • Larkspur, CA

14

Freshman Basketball Star

Podcast Reviews

18

Superstar Skiier

21

redwood high school ● 395 doherty dr., larkspur, ca 94939 ● volume LXII, no. 4 ● February 7, 2020 ● www.redwoodbark.org

Proposed Measure B parcel tax divides community Story and Infographic by Audrey Hettleman On March 3, 2020, Marin County will vote on Measure B, a parcel tax for the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD). If passed, the tax will add an additional $190 to the current annual rate of $455 taxed to eligible Marin County citizens that benefits the TUHSD. It will also ensure that the current rate does not expire. While many see this measure as necessary to ensure the success of TUHSD schools, others see it as a burden to taxpayers who already feel over-taxed.

The measure is outlined on the County of Marin website, where information is available for voters.

According to the County of Marin, TUHSD seeks to “maintain [high-quality programs and teaching staff] by adopting a measure renewing funding at the current $455 rate and adding $190 per parcel, providing $23 million annually for ten years....” Eligible taxpayers in this case do not include people 65 and older, although they can still vote on the issue.

According to Measure B chair Jennifer Ginsburg, passing Measure B is essential to ensuring the success of TUHSD schools.

“Measure B is important because it will prevent devastating cuts to the TUHSD. The existing local funding that we Jennifer Ginsburg, have right now Measure B Chair provides 17 percent of the district’s budget, and if we don’t pass Measure B and renew this essential funding, we’ll have significant cuts that would begin as soon as next year,” Ginsburg said.

Although the current parcel taxes do not expire until 2022, TUHSD Board President Leslie Harlander says that it is necessary to put the tax on the March 3 ballot in order to increase outreach and have the option of submitting the measure to the November ballot if the measure fails.

If the tax does not pass by 2022 and the current parcel tax established by a past Measure B in 2011 and Measure J in 2018 expires as well, the district will lose funding equivalent to the salary of 114 teachers, according to

Measure B is important because it will prevent devastating cuts to

Superintendent Tara Taupier.

Ginsburg understands that not every Marin resident has a connection to the school, but she still believes that the tax provides value to every county resident.

“Everyone benefits from outstanding public schools, and our excellent local schools attract families. And by investing in our schools and maintaining high quality education, we can protect strong property values,” Ginsburg said.

Mimi Willard, President of Marin Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers (COST) disagrees that the tax will benefit taxpayers. Willard represents a group of Marin taxpayers who feel the effects of “taxpayer exhaustion,” especially after endorsing Measure J only 16 months ago. According to Willard, the district has not demonstrated a need for the additional funds.

“We did not expect that the district would be back asking for another $190 just 16 months later,” Willard said. “We believe that the district never presented any kind of financial forecast or model to justify another $190 for ten years.”

According to Harlander, however, this information is not accurate; the district hired consulting firm DecisionInsight in 2016 and again in 2019 and found that enrollment levels would drop to the level they were in 2015 by 2029, a number high enough to warrant an additional parcel tax. This information was verified by Taupier.

According to Willard, COST is in favor of a parcel tax that taxes residents based on the square footage of their property, which would prevent cases like the one referenced by Willard below.

“There was a woman who came from Mill Valley to one of the Tam Union board meetings. She lives in a 500 square-foot house and has multiple sclerosis but isn’t low enough [in] income or old enough to qualify for an exemption, and she pays the exact same amount as the Corte Madera mall. It’s a problem; these flat parcel taxes fall on a fraction of what should be the taxpayer base,” Willard said.

According to Harlander, the district was advised not to pursue a square-footage-based tax due to potential legal consequences.

While leaders on both sides of the issue disagree over the specifics of the tax, both agree that it is crucial to contact all kinds of voters in Marin to draw support for their side. Ginsburg says that supporters are trying to reach both ends of the voting spectrum in terms of age.

“It’s important that we reach out to all kinds of voters in our community, not just the parents who have children who are students in the district, but to seniors who live in our community, too. I meant seniors 65 and older, but also seniors [in high school] who are eligible to vote now. This is their future and I hope we all join together to protect it, to protect our schools,” Ginsburg said. ahettleman@redwoodbark.org

Beloved Woody’s Yogurt Place closes after 19 years in Strawberry Village

By Audrey Lightfoot Over winter break, Marin community members were shocked to learn that Woody’s Yogurt Place, in Strawberry Village, Mill Valley, was set to close on Jan. 5, 2020. This ended the 22-year legacy of Woody’s Yogurt Place, more commonly known as “Woody’s.”

Co-owners and father-son duo Michael and Brian Woodson opened their first Woody’s Yogurt Place in 1998 on Main Street in Tiburon. In 2001, they moved their business to Strawberry Village.

Michael, the primary owner, opened the store to stay close to his family.

“My dad started the business because, at the time, he was caring for my grandmother. He wanted a business that he could operate that allowed him to stay close [to her],” Brian said. “As a family, we talked about something we could do, and the idea of an ice cream shop popped up.” However, the high rental cost of the store caused financial issues. The landlords raised their $100,000 yearly rent to $110,100 as of Feb. 1. In an effort to combat the rising rent, the Woodsons tried a variety of methods to increase their revenue, offering deals such as a lunch special and adjusting their prices, but their efforts weren’t enough.

“Ultimately, as a family we had to make the decision to close Woody’s, which was not a decision that we wanted to make.”

Junior Eloise Reese worked at Woody’s for four months before it closed and is now affected greatly because of the recent closing. She lost her job, as well as a place to spend time with friends and eat delicious ice cream.

“I really loved working with the other students from different high schools. I felt like I was part of the community [when working at Woody’s] because it has been [in Marin] for so long,” Reese said. “I was really sad and surprised [when I heard about the closing] because we only had a four-day notice, and I loved working there.”

Junior Graciana Ratto, a regular customer, was very upset once she heard Woody’s was closing. Ratto, like many kids in the county, grew up with Woody’s as her favorite ice cream store and was heartbroken to see it close. She was also at Woody’s the day of the closing. The line was out the door.

“Woody’s was a place I could always go. It was right by my house, so it was really easy [to visit]. Now, I forget that it’s not there, and it’s just sad, because [Woody’s] was pretty family-based, and a lot of kids went there,” Ratto said.

Although the loss of Woody’s will affect many locals, the Woodsons are hoping to open a new store outside of Strawberry.

“It is definitely the end of Woody’s at Strawberry Village; that I can say with 100 percent certainty. As far as continuing Woody’s, we sure are hopeful that we can

continue Woody’s, but when you close down a business, there are a lot of financial and legal things that you have to work through,” Brian said. “Perhaps in a year or so, we will be in a much better position to make the decision [to open again].”

Brian will miss a variety of aspects about Woody’s, but he is still optimistic he can recreate that same energy in a new

location. “[Woody’s] was a very special place and you can’t duplicate that, but you can definitely try to continue it somewhere else, and that is the hope,” Brian said.

alightfoot@redwoodbark.org

bark

Page 2 • News

February 7, 2020

Photo Survey What Redwood teacher would do the best job of hosting the Oscars?

“Ms. Long because she is the most chill teacher I have and she is so supportive of others.”

Oliver Mangat

“Mr. VP, no questions “Skip Lovelady, just because asked. He connects the he is such a lad and is a good best with his students and talker and pretty nice guy, he’s such a genuine people really personable.” person.”

Liv Holscher

freshman

sophomore

“Berko because he teaches drama and acting so he would be really good in that position.”

Adam Beltran junior

Olivia Lane senior

Open House changes to benefit future students

By Sarah Young

on-one talks with parents will benefit teachers as well as In the past, Redwood’s annual Open House was an students and parents. opportunity for students to showcase their work and for “Hopefully parents will get the information they need, parents to experience the everyday life of their child. This and we won’t be put on the spot about a certain student year, however, Open House changed to include eighth that should be in a one-on-one meeting,” Benjamin said. grade families as well as a new schedule similar to the “We still leave a lot of time for questions [in sessions].” course workshops current students had access to in Jan. Additionally, the Open House date has changed.

According to Ella Zimmerman, a current junior and site Normally scheduled in March, this year it moved to late council representative for the class of 2021, the changes January. According to White, the date change was intended were established to make Open House more beneficial to help students in their course selection for the following for both current and future students. year.

“The main concern people had [in the past] was that “We placed [Open House] there because we wanted there wasn’t a real purpose to Open House, and if there to do it prior to when students are selecting their courses was, we were not achieving it,” next year, including the eighth Zimmerman said. graders,” White said. “We also One of the biggest challenges wanted to provide some kind of with Open House in past years exposure to the eighth graders has been parents not using the because we don’t do student tours time appropriately, according to anymore.”

Assistant Principal and site council Student tours for eighth representative LaSandra White. graders, which most current “In some classrooms you Redwood students had the would see lines of parents lined up opportunity to attend, are no to talk to teachers about their kid. longer offered for a variety You can do that anytime, and it’s of reasons. According to a not really a confidential setting to message on the Redwood home Charlotte Fishburne, have a parent-teacher conference. page, “[Redwood’s] increasing We are trying to move away from incoming freshman enrollment has meant more that,” White said. frequent disruptions to classes, In an email sent to the Redwood students and school staff. It community on Jan. 8, 2020 by Principal David Sondheim, has also created more challenges organizing the tours. the goals for the redesigned Open House were to “build Additionally, middle school students are missing class the Redwood community, welcome incoming families, time to attend the tours when they should be in class.” showcase Redwood resources and programs and increase Although incoming freshmen will not have the student and parent awareness of academic and elective opportunity to experience Redwood through tours, opportunities prior to next year’s course scheduling.” Zimmerman is hoping to organize other ways outside of To meet these objectives, the night was restructured to Open House to further middle school students’ exposure include five blocks of time that allow both parents and to Redwood. students to learn more about classes in a presentation “We are thinking about doing a virtual reality format and then ask general follow-up questions. walkthrough experience and maybe getting Redwood Amy Benjamin, a current math teacher and site TV involved. We have brought that up to try to get eighth council representative, thinks moving away from one- graders here to see our school, as well as using Open House

as a way to weave them into that,” Zimmerman said.

Ross School eighth grader Charlotte Fishburne enjoyed the opportunity to come to Open House and see a glimpse of her next four years at Redwood.

“I think Open House helped because it introduced me to Redwood and now I feel more comfortable coming here next year,” Fishburne said. “I liked hearing about what the next years will be like.” syoung@redwoodbark.org

I liked hearing about what the next years will be like.

Meg Abbott The Alexander Family Callaway Allen Seth & Kelli Anderson Steve & Chris Anderson Susan & Mark Anderson Anonymous The Argov Family The Atkeson Family Joe Bailitz The Barcy Family Janine Barnes The Baylo Family Linda Behla Kathleen & John Belzer The Berger Family Joanna Berman Mandel Cynthia Blankenship Hannah, Lauren, & Ella Blazei Brad & Heather Bludau Fred & Mary Blum Jeffrey Bosley The Bosley Family Garsten Brad Garsten Kathleen & Bill Brady Elizabeth Brekhus Pam & Jason Brown Jennifer Browne Mona & Jonah Burlingame Kevin & Cheryl Butler Steve & Kristina Campodonico Mark Carlson The Carlson Family Thomas Chad Williams Jennifer Chou Kevin Cifarelli Robyn & Bruce Cohen Brian & Dana Cole

Donn & Melinda Conner Libby Conner The Conners Family Ed Conti Deborah & Kevin Cook The Croner-Palmer Family J Rick Cusick Jim & Robyn Dahlin The Dahlin Family The Dawes Family The Diener Family The Doctor Family The Donahue Family The Dubin Family Andrea Dyer & Mike Miller Mary Jane Elliott & Mohammad Diab Ronald & Carol Ellsweig Susan Ellsweig Jon Epps The Epps Family Naz & Brain Erickson The Erickson Family Tribolet Family Sara & Mike Fargo Tom Fischer & Cyndi Devereaux Harriette & Cary Fishburne Tallie & Tom Fishburne Ashley Fligel The Flores Family Suzanne & Brendan Fogarty Chris & Allison Fragakis Parker Frymier Mitra & Jan Fuches Kelly & Jonas Gerber Lynn Gerson The Gibbs Family Jennifer & Mike Ginsburg

Bark Patrons

Paul & Marcia Ginsburg Emily Glidden Cynthia Goodman The Goodman Family The Graff/Marrero Family The Grams Family Jennifer & Michael Green The Guthrie Family TJ’s Gym The Hackett Family Kirsten Hagen Allan & Nancy Herzog The Hettleman Family Leonard & Dolly Hom Joan Hornberger Caren Horstmeyer Kurt & Julie Houtkooper Brian & Erica Hunt Wendy & Rob Jessen The Johnson Family The Johnson Family Sylvia Jones Kristin Kasper Jon Kawamura & Elizabeth Foley John Kellerman Noah Kempler Jay Labourene The Ladetzky Family The Lanciault Family Brent & Jen Lauchle LifeWorks Learning Center Renée & Patrick Lee Jennifer Lefferts Naomi & Rob Leonard Lewis

Joy & John Lewis Joyce Linker The Loebbaka Family The MacLean Family Kayvan Malek Rene Mandel The Marlowe Family Erin & Chris Matthews Ashley Snyder McCulloch Thomas & Michelle McHugh The McInerney Family The McKechnie Family The McLeod Family Mary Lee Merrill Chris Michaels Mike & LouAnn Micucci Sabrina Middleton The Mincy Family Cindy Morris Liz Muller The Needhams The Nevitt Family The Newhard Family Annette Nielsen Rich Nielsen Mark & Donna Norstad The O’Shea Family James Parker The Parson Family Sharon Parsons Somax Performance Institute The Pfeiffer Family Lauren Pitts Cris Prescott Bruce Reed, Compass

Photo by Sarah Young

LISTENING TO ART teacher Lauren Bartone talk, future Redwood students and parents gain insight into Redwood life.

Education Group Lesley & Tim Reidy Mona-Helen Renney The Resney Sandrich Family Quinn Robbins The Rocha Family Matt & Paige Rodgers Sue & John Rogers Frank Rollo Stacy & Jack Rose Allison & Andy Ross The Royal Family Lori Runnfeldt Shari Seibert Christie Seidel Jill & Scott Sellers The Silverman Family The Sinatra Family Tom Sivertson Veronica Skelton Estus Tom & Nina Smallhorn The Snyder Family Victoria & Michael Song Lida & Kaveh Soofer Heather Staples & Mike Carlson The Steele Family The Steinberg Family Brian Sternberger & Family Corey Stodolnic Cris & Lorna Strotz The Strotz Family The Tantum Family The Taunton Family Alana Thalheimer Marylou Tierney The Tippo Family Dawn Valler & Peter Byck Carole Van Haaften

Vickie Vann & Steve Gregory Jason Vargelis Towns Wagner Family Helen & Jason Walters The Watridge Family James & Melanie Watson Mike & Holly Welch The Weng Family Grant Wheeler Joanne Whitt Chad & Megan Williams Mandy & Bryan Williams Liz Wilp Isolde & Aleck Wilson Libby Winston, State Farm Agent Lisa Wolcott Sarah Wolcott Kristin Wolcott Farese Annie Yates Patricia Young M Zeeman Robert & Carol Zlatunich The Zlot Family

If you would like to support the Redwood Bark, donations can be made by check and mailed to Redwood High School. Checks should be made payable to the Redwood Bark. See www. redwoodbark.org for an online payment option.

bark Ross undergrounding policy prioritizes fire safety Page 3 • News

www.redwoodbark.org

By Martha Fishburne In recent years, fires caused by downed power lines have ravaged California and the photos of burned wastelands and stark skylines are widespread. After being exposed to these stories, many people consider improvements they can make in their own communities to prevent such tragedies from occurring where they live.

In Ross, Calif., there has been an ongoing push headed by residents for the undergrounding of all power lines on the roads of Glenwood, Lagunitas, Fernhill and Norwood. As of Nov. 19, 2019, 78 residents out of 112 households in these districts have signed petitions supporting this proposed plan. The petitions require only 65 percent of residents to sign, but the predicted final percentage is over 70

percent.

The driving factors for the Undergrounding Policy are increased safety for residents, unrestricted views of the scenery and higher property values.

Lisa Williams, a Ross resident for over two decades, is in support of the Undergrounding Policy and says that she signed the petition mainly for safety as well as for the protection of the trees in Ross.

“We’ve lived here 23 years and moved to Ross because we love the trees in the town. We’ve seen how the trees have been cut because of PG&E and are concerned that that the trees are just going to get more destroyed,” Williams said.

Similar to Williams, Stephanie DiMarco, who pioneered the campaign with her neighbor Kris Kelley, is also

Photo by Martha Fishburne

STRETCHING IN NETWORKS from electric towers, current power lines are fire hazards for the community.

motivated by the natural beauty of Ross.

DiMarco was first inspired to push for underground utilities after a power surge from another street sparked a fire across the street from her house. Luckily, the fire occurred in the middle of the day, so a neighbor was able to put it out before it spread. Still, DiMarco recognizes that the damage could have been more severe under different conditions.

“If it had been windy and in the middle of the night, you could have seen the whole town go up in flames, just like it did in some of the towns north of us,” DiMarco said.

However, this plan is a multifaceted issue, as the undergrounding of power lines is expected to cost $20,000 for small properties and up to $150,000 for larger ones, not including the additional costs of attaching the power lines to the houses themselves. Ross residents are expected to pay for the undergrounding themselves, even those who are not in favor of the policy. While residents can pay off these costs over a 20 to 30 year period, the high prices can make it difficult for less wealthy homeowners to be onboard.

Julie McMillan, a Ross Town Council member, thinks that while this could become a polarizing issue, the council is doing everything in their power to not exclude lower-income voters.

“There is concern about this issue and if it’s about the haves and the have-nots.

And that could polarize the community.

We want to improve the community and we need to do it in a fair way so that people feel like it’s a community and not just a certain group of people kind of railroading it for everyone else,” McMillan said.

Although McMillan supports the policy, she recognizes that the process will be long and complicated, especially due to

PG&E prioritizing escaping bankruptcy and prevention rather than the process of undergrounding utilities.

Additionally, there has been a vocal minority who are taking a stand against the proposal. Ken Fineman, a Ross resident, has written four letters, totaling 32 pages, to the Ross Town Council regarding the Undergrounding Policy. Fineman is particularly opposed to Resolution No. 2112, which chartered the Town Policy for the construction of Underground Utility Districts, paid for by homeowners.

Although Fineman is not against the concept of the Underground Policy, he is concerned about the process for residents and implores that information be provided to residents within the district in a timely manner.

“Seeking a way to achieve underground utilities is an admirable objective for Ross (improved aesthetics, fire minimization, fewer utility outages, etc.), but Resolution No. 2112, as currently drafted, is a nightmare. I don’t think Ross has an Elm Street, but if it did, I would call Resolution No. 2112 ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street,’” Fineman wrote in a letter sent to the Council on Aug. 6, 2019.

Despite the issues with the push for underground utilities, DiMarco believes that the Undergrounding Policy will ultimately improve the community.

“I would just encourage [those against underground power lines] to think about their property values and the safety of the community,” Dimarco said. “And it really is the fact that there’s such momentum and so many neighbors who want it. It really behooves us to bite the bullet and get it done.” mfishburne@redwoodbark.org

King tides reign over the futures of coastal communities

By Mara Farese Every winter, the moon comes closer to the earth and generates a larger pull on oceanic tides, causing irregular waves. This phenomenon creates staggeringly large “king tides,” whose waves flood city sidewalks and streets, interfering with daily life.

These abnormal tides can be attributed to the moon’s elliptical orbit, resulting in extreme tidal lows and highs during the winter months, specifically when the moon is closest to Earth in its orbit.

During these tidal anomalies, coastal communities in Marin County, such as Belvedere, are some of the most affected by flooding due to sea level rise. Belvedere’s town council has assumed the responsibility of facing this threat in preparation for upcoming years. Belvedere’s vice mayor, James Campbell, is one of the individuals in charge of planning. Campbell has lived by the water for years and has begun to realize the consequences that come with a desirable location.

“Living in a city that’s completely surrounded [by water]—it’s an island, basically—I look at the king tides as a kind of glimpse or window into the future, and that’s what sea level rise is going to be like for us. That’s going to be our normal high tide by 2030,” Campbell said.

In an effort to quell this issue, Belvedere’s council has recently begun major infrastructure improvements using its grant from the State Department of Water. The council’s course of action includes building a seawall, and they are currently partnered with an architect and an engineering company in order to create a sustainable town and build a barrier against the tide. As rising sea levels continue to be a threat throughout the next decade, seawalls and other barrier methods are seen as necessary investments for the future of Belvedere, according to James Campbell.

In addition to aquatic threats within residential areas, urban developments on the water are also affected, such as San Francisco’s Financial District. Peter Roopnarine, Curator of Geology at the California Academy of Sciences, studies how to apply the understanding of Earth’s past ecosystems when looking to the future. According to the California Ocean Protection Council, water is likely to rise another foot by 2050 along the San Francisco Bay shoreline, a rate that will continue to increase. With sea levels rising, Roopnarine predicts more water intrusion in urban areas.

“The normal impact [of flooding in urban areas] can

be a disruption of normal services and transportation, the occasional road might be flooded. Low lying structures can have water intrusion. And this is something we can expect to become more severe over the next century because of sea level rise,” Roopnarine said.

Not only do the king tides disrupt daily life, but they also interfere with the surfing culture of the San Francisco Bay Area. King tides make the currents stronger, leading to more hazardous conditions. Redwood senior Cassidy Fragakis is an avid surfer of eight years and surfs at many of the affected regions, and she has noticed increasingly worse conditions.

“The king tides, when they’re really high, it really just makes the waves all super mushy and really hard to surf.

There might be waves, but it won’t be surfable,” Fragakis

said.

Restrictions on some aquatic recreational activities as well as more rules about where houses can be built is becoming a reality in the foreseeable future, even with more advanced methods of prevention.

“Our sea level rise is affected by where the highpressure zones are, and we’ve been under a high pressure zone for a really long time. Once that [high pressure zone] moves, our sea level rise will be much quicker,” Campbell said. “The melting glaciers [and other factors show] that it’s very complicated. I think there’s a lot more factors than people realize that are contributing to sea level rise.” mfarese@redwoodbark.org

Photo by Mara Farese

SWELLING TO HEIGHTS they don’t normally reach, king tides increase flooding threats for residential areas on the coast, such as Belvedere in Marin.

opinion

Page 4

The polarity of politics: how a divided nation affects us all

By Ella Green Every Sunday morning, my phone rings with a call from Pennsylvania. My grandmother’s chipper voice greets me, excited to hear about my week. She tells me about her tennis matches and my grandfather’s frustrating snoring habits. She asks about my grades and extracurriculars. We catch up for nearly an hour before some other obligation leads to the end of the call. However, despite my love for her, I was embarrassed to admit to my friends that she voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and will likely write his name on her 2020 ballot. My grandmother is not racist, she is not homophobic and she is not xenophobic. She is from a small mining town in Northeastern Pennsylvania and felt that Trump was the only candidate in 2016 able to represent her community and others like her. Her intentions in voting for Trump were genuine and whether or not my political opinions align with hers is beside the point. The issue was that I was so concerned that revealing her voting choices would result in some sort of backlash that I did not feel comfortable telling my peers that my grandmother voted for the winning presidential candidate.

Living in politically homogeneous Marin, where 79 percent of the population voted for Hillary Clinton and only 16 percent voted for Trump in the 2016 election, it’s easy to believe that your political beliefs are only valid if you fall to the left, as most of your neighbors and classmates will likely feel the same. When a majority of the population in a specific area thinks similarly about most issues, a difference of opinion can almost guarantee retaliation. However, this isn’t limited to the left. The same could be said about Roberts County, Texas, the highest Trump supporting county in America, where 95 percent of the population voted for Trump in the 2016 election.

In a politically uniform community, questions about gun control, climate change, healthcare, the president and other heavily debated topics are only recognized and accepted if they are on one side. I am not a staunch conservative, unlike some of my family members, yet even as a moderate, I have felt attacked for expressing my beliefs and, as aforementioned, the beliefs of my

family members. The gray area appears to be fading as every issue is marked with two distinct approaches–– Republican or Democratic. According to Pew Research, polarization in the past two decades between the median Democrat and Republican has increased from 10 percent to 21 percent. This has left the moderate viewpoint more barren than at any other point in history besides the Civil War according to the Wall Street Journal. Moreover, 27 percent of Democrats see Republicans as a threat to the national well-being and 36 percent of Republicans hold the same belief about their counterparts.

This animosity rings especially true in our school.

Redwood High School, as most of the student body knows, has a large majority of left-leaning students. Although a mostly liberal populace would suggest that conservative students serve as the sole targets for aggression,

Illustration by Kalyn Dawes

students from all points on the political spectrum face onslaught from their peers for voicing their opinions in class. According to a survey conducted by Bark in Jan. of 2020, 57 percent of students have felt attacked for expressing their political beliefs. This shockingly high percentage clearly illustrates just how prevalent the issue is.

During May of last year, posters labeled “Hate has no home here” lined the hallways of Redwood. The message itself is hateful, and, while it is excluding “hate,” it points to an irony fundamental to most political issues. The “hate” the posters referred to was a video posted by a

Redwood student in which a political mockery, according to the Youtuber herself, was misinterpreted. The student ended up leaving Redwood after being verbally attacked both at school and online by strangers, peers, parents and others. In this case, the word “hate” reveals an underlying message that “hate” has become synonymous with that particular Redwood student and conservative students more broadly, demonstrating that our initial reactions are not to listen but rather to accuse. A particularly divisive issue such as abortion affirms this point. What one might perceive as wrong, such as not allowing women the right to choose what to do with their own bodies, others might see as necessary and preventing murder. Both sides have valid opinions. Both sides can be backed by reasoning.

Both sides have the right to be acknowledged.

Despite recent increases in polarity, it is important to address the fact that polarity has been a part of this country since its inception. From the time our founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, the United States has fought and split over a wide variety of issues, from how to appropriately write the Constitution to whether or not slavery should be legal to voting rights.

In a 2018 article, the New York Times even argued that the majority of Americans do not side with either political extreme. Despite this, according to the New York Times, a political extreme remains as only one percent of “progressive activists” support the president in contrast to an overwhelming 97 percent of “devoted conservatives” who support Trump.

Until both sides have the capacity to listen to one another and not assume that the other side is coming from a vile place, the political divide will only grow. Today, many from both sides only listen with the intention to try to refute. Listening with an open heart and open mind is the only way we can begin to understand one another. We must believe that it is everyone’s objective to do what is best for the country. Both sides desire peace and prosperity, regardless of their ideas of how to get there. egreen@redwoodbark.org

How Division III sports can offer a good balance for student-athletes

By Mia Kessinger

When high school student-athletes consider continuing their sport in college, many immediately picture themselves playing for a Division I school. After all, what athlete wouldn’t want to contribute to a team at the highest collegiate level?

While reasons for playing Division I can range from athletes aspiring to play professionally to wanting to partake in something they love, there is another underrated and perfectly feasible option for student-athletes of the latter desire: Division III sports.

Because Division III does not offer athletic scholarships for many top athletes, an academic scholarship is the ultimate goal. Despite this, Division III sports are still competitive, but also provide more time for athletes to participate in the “student” aspect of the student-athlete experience. In fact, many of the most highly rated academic schools in the country are in Division III, such as Amherst, Johns Hopkins and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Division I schools can also be a great fit for some student-athletes; however, for those who may not be looking to play past college, Division III is an excellent option. Therefore, any stigma surrounding it is unwarranted, as they are still a highly competitive division.

College athletics, regardless of division, are elite. According to a study conducted by the NCAA, only 3.4 percent of men’s high school basketball players play in college and over 40 percent of college players play at Division III schools. As only the very top athletes in every sport continue playing at the collegiate level, any college player is extremely talented in the sport they are pursuing.

Compared to Division I, where athletes often receive preferential treatment

by college admissions, it can be more difficult for students to be accepted into a Division III school if they do not achieve test scores or grade qualifications. This is due to admissions valuing grades equally or more than athletic talent. Therefore, in some ways, gaining the opportunity to play for a particular Division III program can be much more difficult than for many Division I or Division II schools. At the same time, for students who are attempting to gain entry to a top academic school, being a strong athlete can give them an edge among a highly competitive applicant pool.

In addition to Division III and

II schools do, it is still a highly demanding environment, often with much greater academic demands to balance.

Nonetheless, Division III’s “students first, athletes second” mindset allows students to have a more flexible schedule with practices, games and classes, especially throughout the off-season.

According to the NCAA, many coaches even encourage students to take a semester off to study abroad. The intense athletic environment at some Division I schools can lead to a limited amount of time for academics and other college experiences outside of their sport.

While not all Division I athletes feel this way, according to the Associated Press, when playing at the Division I University o f California, Los Angeles, f o r m e r basketball player Ed O’Bannon stated, “I was an athlete

Illustration by Nicole Johnson

Division I, Division II also offers studentathletes a chance of playing their sport at the NCAA level.

While Division II is similar to Division III in the way that the school size is typically smaller than Division I, the academic demands of student-athletes at Division III tend to be greater than Division II because there are no athletic scholarships. When a student attends a college on an athletic scholarship, they have an obligation to fulfill athletic requirements first and prioritize school second. However, athletics are no excuse for lack of academic performance.

Although Division III is not as competitive because they do not receive the very best recruits like some Division I and Division

masquerading as a student…

I was there strictly to play basketball.

I did, basically, the minimum to make sure I kept my eligibility academically so I could play.”

According to the Stack, an athletics and nutrition-based focused publication, a former soccer player at the Division III Pomona College, Natalie Babaresi, had the opposite experience of O’Bannon’s.

“Playing soccer at Pomona has not only challenged and improved my soccer skills but also has deepened my love and appreciation for the game. What’s more, playing at the Division III level

has permitted me to be a student-athlete in every sense of the word, meaning that my studies and academics take precedence over my athletic responsibilities, instead of the reverse,” Babaresi said.

Though seasons at Division III colleges are somewhat shorter, players still have a demanding and fulfilling schedule. For example, while a Pac-12 softball team might play 50-55 games before postseason, teams in the NESCAC (Division III) still compete in 30-35 regular season games and work out throughout the school year.

Although Division I and Division II programs have their drawbacks, one particular advantage are their athletic scholarships, which are not available at Division III schools. Without these scholarships, families with a lower socioeconomic status are at a disadvantage because they are less likely to be able to afford to put their kids through four years of college, creating an incentive for many to aim for Division I or Division II. However, despite the rules holding them back from giving out athletic scholarships, according to the NCAA, 80 percent of all student-athletes in Division III programs receive some form of academic grant or need-based scholarship, and institutional gift aid totals $17,000 on average.

Playing Division I college sports offers many exciting benefits, including the highest level of play and athletic scholarships.

That being said, Division III athletics are also compelling, albeit in different ways. Offering a healthy balance between athletics and academics for students looking to compete collegiately, Division III schools strengthen the true identity of a student-athlete.

mkessinger@redwoodbark.org

Page 5 • Opinion

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Your ‘sanitary pad’ is not as sanitary as you might think Story by Bella Roesler Let’s face it. Periods suck. Whether you’re waking up to destroyed bed sheets, trekking through the school day with debilitating pain or staining your favorite pair of underwear—god forbid you leak through those white jeans during class—it can be hard to look at the bigger picture: the products that are supposed to support us are making environmental matters worse by affecting everyone outside of our own vaginas.

According to Stanford Magazine, in the U.S. alone, 12 billion pads and seven million tampons pollute landfills annually. Most of these products end up clogging sewers, sitting in landfills or contributing to the millions of tons of plastics in our oceans. According to Terry’s Plumbing, a company who has had issues with tampon blockages, it takes up to six months for a tampon to decompose while the applicator itself can take over 20 years to break down. These facts are just a glimpse of the many ways unsustainable period products negatively affect our environment.

Over 200,000 tons of waste per year is being generated from single-use, toxic female hygiene products, according to Vice. A small car weighs about one ton, so 200,000 small cars are equivalent to the annual weight of used female hygiene products.

The solution to all this waste is simple. Now, more than ever, it is imperative to transition our cycles’ needs to alternative feminine hygiene products. Products such as menstrual cups, reusable period panties, reusable pads and organic tampons with no applicators exist and need to be used on a greater scale.

Reusable menstrual cups have increasingly gained popularity among women seeking a more sustainable lifestyle, as they are extremely eco-friendly. According to Household Wonders, a website about eco-friendly living, menstrual cups collect menstrual flow rather than absorbing it. They do not cause the vaginal dryness or irritation as tampons can, and some brands report that

their cups are safe and comfortable to wear during sex.

Reusable period underwear is also on the rise. According to Her, a ‘digital destination’ directed towards women, most brands of period underwear are highly absorbent and carry antibacterial properties, and they definitely don’t have the same uncomfortable diaper feeling as a pad.

These products significantly reduce waste and save money in the long run, as they can last for years.

The new wave of alternative feminine hygiene products does not end there, yet women still need to keep their vaginal health in mind when choosing sustainable products.

Sea sponges have been used as alternative menstrual sponges for ages.

While they are technically allnatural and organic, keeping a sponge in the vagina that is not registered with the Food and lllustration by Kalyn Dawes Drug Administration (FDA) is very unsafe.

According to gynecologist Dr. Jen Gunter, bits of the sponge could break off and become a nidus for bacteria, the sponge itself could have harmful bacteria and the sponge may cause abrasions during insertion and/or removal.

Additionally, Gunter stated that the FDA visited 500 retail establishments that manufactured these sponges to warn them of the risks and to prohibit marketing and selling the products. Many manufacturers relabeled their products for “cosmetic” use and continued selling them.

In addition to sea sponges’ harm on the vagina, tampons can also harm women’s bodies, as the cotton part of a non-organic tampon is full of toxic chemicals.

According to Well and Good, tampon manufacturers are not required to list ingredients on their packaging, and most tampons contain chemicals such as dioxin, chlorine and rayon. These chemicals are then absorbed into women’s bodies, which can cause reproductive and developmental impairment at certain levels, according to Mother Jones.

Harmful products like these are still in aisles of stores, waiting for uninformed customers to believe that this product is beneficial for both the environment and their

bark

menstrual purposes. If a product is labeled “organic,” “all-natural” or “sustainable” (i.e. sea sponges), that does not mean it is healthy for the body. Before purchasing any product, individuals must educate themselves about ingredients and potential harm, especially before it enters the vagina.

On that note, here are some medical-grade, ecofriendly period product companies that benefit women’s bodies and our environment: FLEX: FLEX menstrual cups and discs are made in the U.S. out of 100 percent medical grade silicone. They are FDA registered, hypoallergenic, BPA and phthalatefree and made without natural rubber latex. According to FLEX, customers feel like they are wearing nothing because the cup is so comfortable. 60 percent of customers report fewer period cramps when using the FLEX Disc and 80 percent report less dryness and irritation after switching.

Cora: Big-brand tampon companies often have undisclosed synthetic ingredients. Smaller companies like Cora are helping to change this toxic market. Cora Organic Cotton Non-Applicator Tampons are free of the plastic applicator. They are made from biodegradable 100 percent certified organic cotton, so they are bleach-free, pesticidefree, toxin-free, rayon-free, fragrance-free and non-GMO. According to Cora, their tampons are healthy, comfortable and highly absorbent.

Thinx: Thinx period underwear are washable and reusable, absorbing your period sustainably without any leaks. Thinx products are rigorously tested by REACH (European chemicals agency) and OEKO-TEX certified, which includes testing for a range of toxic chemicals like PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) that are linked to cancer and infertility issues. Thinx has all of their test reports published on their website to prove the accuracy of their health standards and display to customers.

Lunapads: These reusable, washable pads have been registered with the FDA since 2001. The pads last for about three to five years, but many people have used them for 10 years or more. All of their organic cotton yarns are subject to third party certification for sustainability and ethical farming purposes.

This information serves as a precedent to make educated purchasing decisions with physical and environmental health in mind. broesler@redwoodbark.org

kdawes@redwoodbark.org

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Page 6 • Opinion

February 7, 2020

Look on the bright side: the world didn’t end in 2019

By Shannon Watridge

IIllustration by Nicole Johnson

Global Warning: this is how news organizations should cover environmental issues

By Maria Alexander Who could forget the recent and tragic fires in the Amazon rainforest last fall? The BBC reported that at certain times, an area the size of a soccer field was cleared by fires every minute. Pretty significant, right?

Unfortunately, it seems that many news organizations have been able to move past the catastrophe with ease. Upon Googling “Amazon rainforest fire,” I was disappointed to find out that most of the articles that popped up on the first page were published around Aug. to Oct. of 2019.

Even finding an answer to if the rainforest was currently on fire was not a simple task.

When environmental disasters occur, news organizations should continue to update their readers on the status of the issue, regardless of the pressure to produce brand new stories to fill the 24-hour news cycle.

News media channels must also continue to emphasize climate change as a relevant cause of natural disasters when applicable, instead of undermining its role in such affairs.

In the case of the Amazon fire, around 26,000 fires were reported in August. And just because the burning has lessened or even stopped in many parts does not mean the news coverage has to end. Instead, there should be increased coverage on the long-term damage as research is released, as well as aid and resulting policy if applicable.

Additionally, news organizations often have a role in helping citizens across the globe find ways to donate. The end of a fire does not mean the victims can simply return back to their lives as normal. If media channels stop reporting after a few weeks, areas affected by climate disasters risk losing aid from concerned citizens.

While raising awareness is a major journalistic responsibility, it is equally important for them to educate the public on climate change. Although it seems that the idea of climate change has recently gained more traction in the media, it is still sometimes undermined altogether.

In a recent article from Forbes by Roger Pielke titled “The Inconvenient Facts on the Australian Bushfires,” Pielke lays out a misleading argument, stating, “We live in a time where every extreme weather or climate-related event is immediately associated with human caused climate change. Such associations are often not really about the science of climate, but rather a symbol used to exhort in the political battle over climate change.” Although irresponsible activity such as reports of individuals deliberately starting fires does contribute to Australia’s disaster, the main factors like a prolonged dry season and other extreme weather patterns can be scientifically traced to climate change, according to CNN. Providing updates is a way for news media to become less sensationalized. The condition of our Earth cannot be condensed into a few days’ worth of headlines. The impacts and how we respond to disasters like the fires in the Amazon or Australia must continue to be shared to spread awareness. News organizations must stop acting like these events are isolated; they are interconnected to each other and the wellbeing of the planet.

Climate change is in fact a reality that we now have to deal with. Although it is important to consider every aspect that causes the disasters we are seeing today, journalists should never downplay this truth. This is a heavy responsibility, but if carried out correctly, could lead to a more educated and aware public. malexander@redwoodbark.org

With even the slightest glance at the news, it seems as though the world is coming to an end. Gun violence, viruses, climate change and Trump’s antagonistic tweets plague social media outlets, influencing thousands of readers. Even at Redwood, the halls and classrooms are filled with disheartened students discussing the most recent atrocities. Living in affluent Marin County can sometimes feel like being isolated from the rest of the world, and this tends to play a significant role when it comes to the limited knowledge of occurrences outside of the county. Because of this, Marin residents rely on the news to provide an accurate portrayal of the state and events of the world.

However, this reliance has its flaws. According to Journalistic Studies Volume 20 (JSV), the media neglects to mention long-term positive trends, instead choosing to focus on sensational short-term events that are predominantly negative. This can cause a misperception of reality and negative views of the world for readers.

Despite what the media may dictate, according to the New York Times and Our World in Data, 2019 was the best year in human history in terms of mortality rates, literacy, women’s education, poverty levels and more. As readers, we need to take responsibility in understanding that the media tends to provide coverage on sensational events while neglecting Illustration by Kalyn Dawes longer-term trends and take that into account as we read and process the news. In addition, I understand that media outlets must strive to present an accurate representation of reality.According to the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in 1981, 42 percent of the global population lived in extreme poverty, whereas in 2018, a significantly lower estimate of 8.6 percent of the population lived in extreme poverty. Additionally, the world is approaching a 90 percent literacy rate, according to Our World in Data, and the New York Times states that the child mortality rate in 1990 was 12.58 million people compared to a much lower 5.42 million people in 2019 despite a rapid increase in global population. While this news should be expected, as science, technology and human rights are always progressing, it can be shocking to learn about how far humanity has come in so little time, especially when media outlets tend to spread the opposite message. According to JSV, “The media’s tendency to be strongly event-driven can be highly consequential as

the presentation of examples of engaging events rather than base-rate information is more vivid and attractive to readers or viewers.” This theory enforces the idea that media outlets specifically choose the more “interesting” articles to draw in potential readers. In turn, this affects readers’ perception of current events around the world because short-term news tends to sell more. For example, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), a constitutional amendment that formally acknowledges women’s right to equal treatment, has finally been ratified by 38 states as of Jan. 15, 2020. The ratification process was painfully slow and serves as a reminder of the 48 years of struggle to officially establish legal equality between all sexes. While this is an enormous accomplishment, it is overshadowed in the media by sensational stories that are more shortterm and therefore more likely to draw readers in. For example, I easily found countless top stories that deeply analyzed the British prince and princess’s decision to renounce their royalty, but I had to scroll to the bottom-most corner of news websites to track down any story about the ERA. Although the two events occurred within one week of one another, with the 38th ratification being more recent, the media’s coverage of the events remained disproportionately in favor of the royal scandal.According to JSV, when negative news is over-represented and exaggerated, the public tends to overestimate its frequency, leading them to make assumptions based on inaccurate information and pessimistic misconstructions of reality.

According to the same study, “Media exposure has been related to increased fear of and concern about crime despite declining trends in crime, social reality judgments regarding race, and reinforced imitation of suicide by frequent reportage on suicide.”

Some people may argue that news outlets cover the most buzzworthy and therefore the most important news.

However, positive long-term trends are just as relevant.

News outlets shouldn’t cut out the short-term events, but instead need to present to the public a balanced perspective of reality that is representative of both humanity’s progress and its problems.Citizens must keep in mind that the world is not completely falling apart and that there are mitigating trends that the media under-reports. We should take hope in our collective ability to create positive change as demonstrated by these long-term progressive trends. It’s important that we reflect on our evolution and allow it to inspire us to continue seeking solutions for the problems that still plague the world. swatridge@redwoodbark.org

Instant-runoff voting solves the electability conundrum

By Jackson Epps As the Democratic primaries and presidential election approach, candidates battle over crucial issues such as health care, foreign policy, the environment and electability. While policies and plans are crucial deciding factors when selecting a nominee for the presidential election, why do we consider electability just as important?

On Jan. 15, the New York Times published “Elizabeth Warren’s Smart Answer on ‘Electability’” days after yet another top tier performance debating her fellow candidates.

Although the opinion piece did mention the various plans and policies she supports, the author felt the need to focus on Warren’s electability (or lack thereof).

Winning elections is important, but the New York Times has opted out of writing a piece explaining why many of Warren’s plans are good or bad to instead focus on electability simply because our voting system is flawed.With our current voting system, voters choose just one candidate. But, in choosing just one candidate, voters give up a lot. If their preferred candidate is an independent without main party support, a third party candidate or a local write-in, they want to ensure their vote counts. But, since they can only choose one candidate, choosing one of these options forces a sacrifice: should I choose the lesser of two evils or “waste” my vote for someone who won’t win?

This conundrum is one that Americans have been a part of for far too long and one that has a tried and true solution.

Enter instant-runoff voting. Although this system has been successfully utilized nation-wide in Australian parliamentary elections since 1919, a few U.S. cities for local elections and in the 2018 congressional elections across Maine, instant-runoff is still a widely obscure and underappreciated solution to our ballot crisis.Perhaps it has failed to take off because the electorate and lawmakers are scared of the change adopting a new voting process it will entail. But, the main concern is that instant runoff voting is challenging to understand for voters as the ballots are arranged in an unfamiliar way. However, voters in Maine opted to use the system again for the presidential election

this year, further proving its success.

When using instant-runoff, voters rank candidates based on preference. Each voter has a first-position, second-position, third-position and so on. If there is an initial first-position candidate that has a majority of the votes, that candidate wins; otherwise, votes are counted by first eliminating the candidate with the least first-position votes. The votes of those who chose the eliminated candidate are now shifted to their second-position candidate, with these votes being counted as first-position in the second round. If there is still no majority, the process is repeated until there is one.

Switching voting methods nationwide would be a long, drawn out and complicated process, not to mention that instant runoff voting is confusing and would require thorough instruction. But, as using instant runoff would work within the existing electoral college system, the change would only be minor. In addition, the way votes are counted and candidates are eliminated doesn’t apply to the average voter.As long as voters understand they are ranking Illustration by candidates by preference, they are Kalyn Dawes not sacrificing for electability and are voting for their preferred candidate.

By ranking candidates, voters can ensure their vote will not be wasted. If their top candidate doesn’t receive many votes, their second most preferred candidate will receive them instead, eliminating the need to choose just one candidate only by party affiliation and electability.

Although eliminating electability is an important facet to the instant-runoff system, it also helps find the middle ground. Especially in an increasingly partisan time, it is imperative that our next president is well-respected by both sides. Using instant runoff, the candidate who is opposed by the least number of voters wins the election, providing a solution and a president that all of America can rally behind.

jepps@redwoodbark.org

Page 7 • Opinion

www.redwoodbark.org

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bark Redwood High School 395 Doherty Drive Larkspur, CA 94939 www.redwoodbark.org

TUHSD evaluations are not enough to guarantee quality teaching editorial “Protecting the bad apples rots our education to the core.”

We have all been there—sat in a class and thought to ourselves, “Why is this teacher here?” Whether they have just shared a story about their sex life, defamed a colleague or lazily handed out a worksheet they copy and pasted from a public Quizlet account, we sometimes doubt the intentions of our teachers and whether they truly want to help us succeed.

A reason some teachers may be slacking at top public schools such as Redwood is an over-simplified tenure evaluation process. Although permanent status, or tenure, solidifies job security, it also has the potential to demotivate educators. Potentially combatting this issue, the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) employs an evaluation process to ensure that teachers who have received tenure remain up-to-par. However, we believe that this infrequent and unsubstantial evaluation process needs significant reform.

At Redwood, tenure is determined through a two-year process of evaluations and check-ins. After receiving permanent status, a teacher is evaluated every other year for 10 years and then every third year from then on. Firing a tenured teacher is nearly impossible, according to the New York Post, but we believe that evaluations and frequent check-ins are important to ensure tenured teachers maintain the quality and maturity displayed before tenure was granted.

The current TUHSD tenure evaluations are not fully reflective of true circumstances in everyday classroom environments. During formal evaluations, a member of the administration ranks a teacher as “satisfactory,” “satisfactory with improvement needed” or “unsatisfactory.” Additionally, anonymous student surveys are administered as part of the evaluation process. The teacher then receives copies of the surveys, plans future goals based on the data and briefly discusses the evaluation with a member of the administration. Although these evaluations can be helpful to improve teaching strategies, they are not as thorough as we would like. If teachers were evaluated more often, it would be easier for administration to notice discrepancies and address issues.

With a simple three-point rating system, it must be difficult for the administration to identify specific areas a teacher could improve on. The evaluation criteria as outlined in the “Agreement Between the Governing Board of the Tamalpais Union High School District and the Tamalpais Federation of Teachers” includes vague clauses, leaving room for evaluators’ interpretations and allowing situations that concern students to slip through the cracks. Additionally, the post-evaluation conversation between the teacher and administration member can be brief and gloss over specific points noticed by the observer or brought up in student surveys. Therefore, we propose more frequent and in-depth evaluations that allow students to express their opinions and experiences in a constructive way that will be heard by administrators and teachers.

A BARK to the Polish farmer that was eaten by his own pigs.

Another win for the vegans!

A BITE to coronavirus, the worst thing from China to invade the Bay Area since Shen Yun ads.

A BARK to the 15% influx in Tinder activity each week leading up to Valentine’s day.

You might find the one, but it’s definitely not Chad who drinks Bang for breakfast.

A BITE to the kid who brought a fake gun to Tam. We know it’s almost Valentine’s Day but

Some areas that go unnoticed in evaluations are teachers sharing inappropriate anecdotes about their personal lives, berating students, putting down their fellow colleagues and failing to put in effort outside of class time to help students succeed. These incidents are likely unheard of in formal reviews, and we frequently experience such events, oftentimes from the same teachers. If these cases are reported or witnessed in an evaluation, there seems to be no action taken in terms of mentoring the teacher or giving some sort of consequence.

While anecdotes from a teacher’s personal life can be entertaining and sometimes relatable, they can easily cross the line with stories that include topics such as drunk driving or personal marriage problems.

Some teachers also overtly express their frustration by driving students to tears, throwing pencils or flipping desks, which have all occurred according to Redwood students. While we appreciate that teachers feel comfortable in the presence of students and can express their feelings, evaluations fail to notice that this expression is not always executed in a constructive way.

Teacher enthusiasm about the subject should also be made a priority when conducting student surveys and evaluations, as the current process does not accomplish that goal. The student survey could be improved; the majority of questions touch on content taught in class and how the teacher runs the class, but only one statement, “Teacher seems to enjoy teaching,” really showcases if the teacher wants to be there. We suggest questions that allow students to answer honestly and uncover more about not only the classroom environment, but also the teacher’s motivation. For example, adding statements such as, “Your academic goals are fully supported by teacher” or, “Teacher has made you or other students uncomfortable” would better indicate if a teacher is passionate about their work and upholds an appropriate classroom environment.

We recognize that the TUHSD attracts highly qualified teachers and that the ones we feel are complacent and inappropriate are a minority at Redwood. But just as our teachers give us pop quizzes, we suggest more frequent yet casual evaluations from administrators. We also suggest in-depth student evaluations happen more often to allow students to openly express their opinions. Both of these solutions would not only benefit teachers’ engagement, but students’ success.

Have an opinion regarding anything that appears in the Bark or in general? We encourage our readers to submit letters to the editor. Letters to the Bark should be 500 words or fewer, typed if possible and signed. They must be submitted to room 177 or in the Bark mailbox in the facility. They may also be emailed to bark@redwoodbark.org.

that’s not what we meant by shoot your shot.

A BARK to the new vine reboot “Byte” already beating TikTok in App Store downloads.

Renegade? More like retrograde.

A BITE to being alone on Valentine’s Day. Look forward to your cute good morning message from Team Snapchat.

A BARK to the man who quit his job to travel the world for a year with his ferret. We’re calling for a sequel: Ferret Bueller’s Year Off.

A BITE to the cop who pulled over a weiner-mobile in Wisconsin. He was already having a hard time.

A BARK to Lizzo for winning three Grammies. She’s got the “juice!”

A BITE to the “earfquake” in the Caribbean. We didn’t know Tyler, the Creator winning a Grammy would have such a seismic impact.

BARKS and BITES are the collective opinions of the BARK staff concerning relevant issues. BARKS are in praise of accomplishments, while BITES criticize decisions or events.

Editors-In-Chief Drake Goodman Bella Roesler Eislyn Snyder Ryo Weng Head Copy Editor Audrey Hettleman Copy Editors Isabel Ames Maxanne Anderson Martha Fishburne Maya Holland Nicole Johnson Olivia Kharrazi Alli Runnfeldt Shannon Watridge Jack Watson News Editors Jacob Mandel Anna Silverman Opinion Editors Loughlin Browne Ella Green Feature Editors Maddie Loebbaka Sofi Mincy Sports Editors Maria Alexander Charlie Ginsburg Review Editors Jackson Epps Alix Salzer Lifestyles Editors Camille Ray Morgan Salzer Spanish Editor Mika Beberman Podcast Editor Jack Benbow Video Editor Garrett Cook Business Managers Katie Parsons Skylar Strotz Social Media Manager Lauren Steele Survey Manager Jenna Dahlin Multimedia Editor Aaron Kim Art Consultants Taylor Charles Sophia Rocha Senior Staff Writers Sydney Steinberg Sarah Young Reporters Devin Bosley Grace Bouton Olivia Brekhus Emma Carpenter Greta Cifarelli Kalyn Dawes Mara Farese Francesca Fox Nicole Fuches Kylie Horstmeyer Emma Ingledew Alex Johnson Mia Kessinger Sol Ladetsky Audrey Lightfoot Emma Lightfoot Jack Pfeiffer Matthew Smalback Bennett Vasquez Adviser Erin Schneider POLICY: All editorials are unsigned and have been approved by the majority of the Bark staff.

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Opinión: Otra política de inmigración propuesta otro fracaso Por Nicole Fuches Desde julio a octubre durante el año pasado, los Estados Unidos (EEUU) firmaron los Acuerdos de cooperación de asilo con los países del triángulo del norte en Centroamérica: Honduras, El Salvador y Guatemala.

Estos contratos permiten a los EEUU enviar solicitantes de asilo centroamericanos que llegan a la frontera del sur a cualquier país del triángulo del norte. Actualmente, Guatemala es el único que ha recibido migrantes ahora porque los EEUU presionaron el país por amenazar su apoyo financiero, según el Washington Post.

A menudo, a estos solicitantes de asilo, muchos de los cuales están huyendo de la violencia, no se les dice adónde van. Para empeorar la situación, los refugiados tienen que decidir dentro de tres minutos si o no quedarse en Guatemala cuando llegan. Si no, tienen que repatriarse en 72 horas, según el Washington Post.

Ahora, los solicitantes de asilo mexicanos pueden estar sujetos a la misma política.

En solo este mes, este cambio puede impactar a unos 9 0 0 candidatos del asilo, según NBC. Es poco realista para la administración Trump expandir esta política porque ignora las leyes anteriores y los derechos humanos. También, ni siquiera satisfará la meta del Presidente Trump de frenar la inmigración. Es una cosa enviar solicitantes de asilo a sus países de origen, pero enviarlos a un país desconocido contra sus voluntades es inhumano. Nuestro país debe cumplir con su palabra y asegurar la estabilidad de solicitantes de asilo antes de dirigirles lejos para enfrentarse con una violencia indigna.

Según el American Civil Liberties Union, esta práctica es ilegal. Bajo las leyes de la administración

Clinton, los EEUU no pueden enviar a los solicitantes de los solicitantes de asilo mexicanos, este “tercer país” es asilo a países donde pueden enfrentarse a la persecución. poco adecuado para cuidar a sus necesidades. Por eso, No solo violaría nuestras leyes si enviáramos a la nueva propuesta no tiene sentido nada políticamente. solicitantes de asilo mexicanos a Centroamérica, sino El hecho de que se contradice la noción que los EEUU que la política se contradice. Aunque la administración representan una tierra de oportunidad solo sirve para Trump afirma que los mexicanos serían enviados a un demostrar la hipocresía de nuestro país.

Además, pondría el derecho de la seguridad de los “tercer país seguro,” Guatemala no lo es. La pandilla Mara Salvatrucha-13 tiene gran influencia en Guatemala mexicanos en peligro, añadiendo otra mancha al plan. En un artículo de y el país está Los Angeles Times, una clasificado solicitante de asilo que se c o m o llama Manuela Morales número tiene miedo por su vida 16 en y por la de sus dos hijos. Si son enviados las tasas de a Guatemala, ella cree que serían matados homicidios directamente por las pandillas simplemente deliberados, según por ser mexicanos. Muchos solicitantes de asilo están World Atlas. mudándose por razones de la familia Esta violación como Morales, no para causar la descarada de leyes violencia. anteriores hace que la política sea A pesar de estas complicaciones, inútil. Si se implementa, crearía el cambio a los Acuerdos de contradicciones dentro del sistema cooperación de asilo no de inmigración, dejándoles a muchos reducirá la inmigración solicitantes de asilo más inseguros de adónde ir. mexicana como lo Además, por enviarles a Ilustración por Sophia Rocha desea Trump. Según el un país peligroso, los EEUU los contrabandistas mostrarían al mundo que abandona sus Washington Post, les ofrecen sus servicios acuerdos. Esto dañaría la posición global de los usualmente veces. Por eso, algunos EEUU porque disuadirá diplomacia extranjera con a sus clientes tres inmigrantes mexicanos, que pueden comunicarse nuestros países vecinos, dejándonos aún más aislados.

Para colmo, Guatemala no está preparado para con sus contrabandistas con WhatsApp, no serían manejar la afluencia de migrantes que los EEUU disuadidos después de ser enviados lejos de la frontera. enviarían. Según CBS, el programa es “esquelético,” Con tal de que se mantengan en contacto con un contrabandista, tendrán una oportunidad de entrar en con menos de 12 funcionarios de asilo.

No solo sus problemas estructurales dejan los EEUU, desafiando las ambiciones de Trump.

Por eso, los EEUU están haciendo un error político.

Guatemala mal preparado para manejar unos miles de migrantes mexicanos, sino que el país no quiere Hacen hipocresías y refutan las vidas de ciudadanos aceptarlos. Alejandro Giammattei, el nuevo presidente globales, y para un esfuerzo casi imposible para parar la guatemalteco, no está de acuerdo con la idea de acoger fuerza de los solicitantes de asilo.

Si los EEUU quieren disuadir la inmigración, deben mexicanos, según CBS. Guatemala no ha confirmado nada sobre acoger buscar una ubicación segura para los solicitantes de asilo. solicitantes, probando que el propósito es inalcanzable, Con la seguridad, no solo se resolverán los problemas según Alejandra Mena, una portavoz de una institución de la administración Trump, sino que se evitará el error de inmigración del gobierno guatemalteco. Los EEUU diplomático que lleva la violación de muchos derechos han hecho este anuncio antes que la política entre en humanos. vigencia.

Así, si Guatemala no puede o no quiere mantener a nfuches@redwoodbark.org

Crítica: Los Grammys exhiben los mejores álbumes latinos en sus géneros Por Sophia Rocha

Cortesía de Amazon

Mejor Álbum Latino Tropical “OPUS” por Marc Anthony Cuando vi que el Mejor Álbum Latino Tropical era un premio en los Grammy, no tenía idea de cómo sonaría la música “tropical.” Tan pronto como toqué “play” en la primera pista de “OPUS,” supe exactamente en lo que me estaba metiendo. “Parecen Viernes” me presentó al mundo de la música tropical con un ritmo pegadizo, no tocado en la batería sino en la guitarra. Me imaginé sentado en la playa en un país latinoamericano cálido y sabía exactamente por qué se creó este género de música. Mientras escuchaba el resto del álbum, me sorprendió cuando “Si Pudiera” comenzó con su piano melódico y la voz áspera de Anthony. El tono inicialmente triste de esta canción, seguido por una acumulación al coro, se transformó en una montaña rusa emocional. La voz y las emociones de Anthony brillaron a lo largo de todo el álbum mientras se mantiene relativamente alegre con un ambiente tropical en todo momento.

Cortesía de Amazon

Mejor Álbum de Rock Latino, Urbano o Alternativo “El Mal Querer” por ROSALÍA Lo primero que noté sobre este álbum fueron los títulos de las canciones. Cada uno de ellos terminaban en “(Cap.),” seguido por un número, como los capítulos de un libro. Descubrí que Rosalía basó su álbum en un libro llamado “Flamenca” del siglo XIII que describe una relación condenada. El álbum empieza con “MALAMENTE (Cap. 1 Augurio),” que combina ritmos electrónicos con flamenco tradicional en una manera armoniosa. Otra canción que se destaca y puede atribuirse a la victoria del Grammy, en mi opinión, es “DE AQUÍ NO SALES (Cap. 4 Disputa).” Esta canción se abre con sonidos de motocicletas acelerando y sirenas de policía en el fondo para establecer el ritmo, algo que no he escuchado en ninguna canción.

Los trabajos de Rosalía en este álbum son algunos de los mejores—y también algunos de los más creativos—que he escuchado de ella.

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Mejor Álbum de Música Regional Mexicana “De Ayer Para Siempre” por Mariachi Los Camperos Voy a ser completamente honesta, no escucho mariachi. Pero desarrollé una nueva opinión, y debo decir que fui muy entretenida a lo largo del álbum.

Obviamente, el ritmo alegre asociado con el mariachi siempre estuvo presente y me hizo querer levantarme y bailar. La canción “Beautiful Maria” mostró la voz hermosa del cantante Ismael Hernández acompañada con los instrumentos más destacados como las trompetas y una guitarra rítmica. Sentí que mi corazón se sacudía con cada “grito” a medida que desarrollé más y más un amor para mariachi. Aunque cada canción sonaba bastante similar a la anterior, sé que el mariachi puede sonar así para un oído inexperto, como el mío, y aún así disfruté cada pista. “De Ayer Para Siempre” definitivamente mereció el Grammy. Me encontraré escuchando mariachi en el futuro debido a este álbum.

Cortesía de Amazon

Mejor Álbum Pop Latino “#ELDISCO” por Alejandro Sanz El álbum se centra en la melodía suave de una guitarra con un ritmo de batería lento en el fondo. Con los coros más alegres del álbum, “Mi Persona Favorita” fue mi canción preferida. Es la segunda canción del álbum y ganó dos Grammy Latinos este noviembre pasado, bien merecidos. La voz de Sanz en la canción coincide melódicamente con la de Camila Cabello, quien aparece en la pista. Otro punto destacado del álbum fue “Los Lugares,” donde Sanz cantó con Residente de la banda popular, Calle 13. “Los Lugares” sonaba más como una canción pop moderna que las otras canciones, y me sorprendió la capacidad de Sanz de mezclar un ritmo sólido y piano meloso.

En general, creo que este álbum merecía el Mejor Álbum Pop Latino, ya que combina de manera experta las formas tradicionales y modernas del pop. srocha@redwoodbark.org

feature

Page 9

Revisiting teacher segregation: a race to a solution

By Drake Goodman and Ryo Weng

“Raise your hand if you have had any teachers of color, aside from me, in high school,” English teacher Catherine Flores asked her class. Only two students raised their hands.

Currently, 80 percent of teachers employed in U.S. public schools are white.

While there has been a slight increase in racial diversity among teachers, the number of minority teachers is still low. According to data gathered by the Washington Post, only 7 percent of black students are enrolled in a district where the ratio of black teachers matches or exceeds the ratio of black students. Among Asian students, the ratio is 4.5 percent. Among Latino students, it is 0.1 percent.

Among white students, it is 99.7 percent.

Effect on student performance There are several ramifications to the large disparity in race and ethnicity of students compared to teachers. In a survey conducted by Bark in January, 60 percent of black, Native American, Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian students and 36 percent of Hispanic and Latino students self-reported that the lack of teacher racial diversity has negatively affected their learning experience. Conversely, only 14 percent of white students could say the same.

According to Dr. Seth Gershenson from American University and Dr. Nicholas Papageorge from Johns Hopkins University, when a black child has a black teacher between third and fifth grade, his or her eventual intent of attending a four-year college goes up by 19 percent, as reported from the IZA Labor Institute of Economics.

According to this study, students are more successful in school if they have a teacher of the same ethnicity.

Research and intuitive sense suggest explanations for this phenomenon. One reason is the “role model effect,” as Papageorge calls it, where seeing an individual that looks like oneself in a professional setting influences the level of education people aspire to

achieve. In other words, if people directly interact with a successful individual, they believe they have those same possibilities and can reach similar achievements.

Based on his experiences in education, Assistant Superintendent and Head of Human Resources Lars Christensen supports this notion.

“I do think that seeing a successful person [of color] standing in front of [students] matters…I think it serves as motivation, like, ‘Hey, I can do that too.’

I think it definitely improves performance, [and for me], it’s anecdotal, but I believe

with all my heart that it’s equally important for our large numbers of white students to see that,” Christensen said.

Another reason why students perform better with a teacher of the same race is the expectations of teachers. A study conducted by Dr. Patrick B. McGrady from the University of New Haven and Dr. John R. Reynolds from Georgia Institute of Technology found that white teachers tend to collectively view black students more negatively and Asian students more positively within a diversified classroom.

These presumptions affect how teachers educate and discipline their students.

Additionally, black students report that they feel happier at school, are more cared for by their teachers and have better communication when their teacher is also black.

According to Flores, a lack of racial diversity among teachers can lead to an ethnocentric mindset among students, which is detrimental to their future after high school.

“You need to be racially aware because these students are going to leave and they’re going to go to communities that aren’t necessarily extremely white. You need to know how to work with people and they’re going to work in jobs that aren’t one heterogeneous race,” Flores said.

Still, not all minority students have been affected by learning from someone who does not look like them.

Senior Nikita Khandheria attended an Indian and International school in India before attending Redwood, and she does not feel inhibited by the almost allwhite teaching staff she has had for the majority of her educational career. Rather than emphasize racial diversity among teachers, Khandheria prefers intellectual and experiential diversity.

“A lot of my teachers have been white, but they are all from different places…I feel like I’ve always gotten an experience where there is an integration of a lot of different cultures and types of people where nobody really thinks the same,” Khanderia said

Illustration by Elena Kim

Changing student demographics Despite 80 percent of the American teacher population being white, only roughly half the student population is Caucasian. This is a remarkable decrease compared to the student population in 2000, where Caucasian students made up 62 percent of total students in the country.

Ever since 2014, white students have been the minority group in American public schools compared to all students of color, according to the U.S. Department of Education, widening the gap between the racial make-up of students compared

to teachers.

This heterogeneity stems from the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and the now self-sustaining natural system of diversity. Despite such a dramatic change in demographics among students, teachers have not experienced a shift of the same magnitude.

People of color are less likely to enter and remain in the profession of

2017-2018 Student Demographics

teaching for a variety of reasons.

One in particular is the “invisible labor” that is required and often expected by teachers to keep up. This overtime work, especially without proper compensation, can often discourage minorities from pursuing a career in education.

Another root cause for the lack of minority teachers is potential bias in hiring practices if districts are placing an emphasis on hiring by race. Dr. Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, a social policy and economics professor at Northwestern University, believes that this systemic bias inhibits the desired outcome through her research. “[The indication] that qualified black teachers are not hired today just because of the color of their skin is crazy, and we should be having a conversation about that— not just about getting more African Americans to major in [education] and get a teaching certificate, but about our understanding of implicit bias in hiring,” Schanzenbach said.

Teacher diversity at Redwood T h e disproportionate relationship between teacher and student racial diversity applies to Redwood and the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) as well. During the 2017-2018 school year at Redwood, 86.1 percent of all teachers were white.

There are currently zero black teachers at Redwood and only a few teachers of other ethnicities.

To address the lack of racial diversity on the teaching staff, the district wants to include more minorities early on in the recruitment process, according to Christensen.

“Having a greater appreciation for the challenges people of color have particularly in a pretty white society is helpful…Last year, [for] example, we went with an East Coast recruitment platform called Nemnet, and they specialize in attracting

underrepresented candidates to various school districts. We were unsuccessful in securing any teachers through them, though,” Christensen said.

Even though the district is focusing on increasing racial diversity among its teachers, there are very few job openings and low financial resources.

“It is easier said than done, and we’re not hiding behind that.

We are actively working to find ways to attract candidates to this area,” Christensen said. “There’s a certain level of discomfort by stepping into an affluent white community. You don’t like to think so, but that’s the reality, and we’re working on ways to overcome that.”

Special Education teacher and former Redwood student Faye Kwan experienced this discomfort when interviewing for a job for the TUHSD. “I will say for me, coming back here, my interview was probably one of the most nerve-wracking interviews I’ve ever had. There was only one person of color on my panel of 12 people, and it really made me uncertain of how much I could be myself or what the racial consciousness was of this area,” Kwan said.

Some people, as Christensen used to, choose to be “colorblind” to provide an equal judgement toward all races.

However, as he continues to learn new lessons every day and undergo racial consciousness training, he has found it more beneficial to see color.

“By quote, ‘not seeing color,’ I don’t think I was giving appropriate attention to the challenges that people of color face in this world society,” Christensen said. “But I’d be lying if I said [the racial diversity among teachers] has yet to completely translate into different numbers. The efforts are there, but the results aren’t.”

Beyond the classroom While the correlation between teachers and students’ ethnicities is extremely prevalent in education, it expands further than the classroom. Other occupations in politics, law and STEM fields also exhibit similar impacts and discourage students from engaging in and pursuing certain areas of study.

One of the fundamental reasons for different races being disproportionately represented in certain fields is due to the systemic cycle of entering professions that seem familiar, and this is often derived by employees having similar appearances. According to Flores, if there is limited exposure in the first place, then it is difficult for individuals to enter certain fields.

An argument to address the racial gap by proportion is to hire by diversity, but there are concerns that this method would sacrifice merit and talent. Even when hiring teachers Especially outside of racially and culturally homogenous communities, diversity is becoming more prevalent in general. According to senior Kelly Chang, who attends Irvington High School with a vast majority Asian student body, being prepared for that change is important.

“I can say for my friends, some of my classmates and myself that we are kind of scared of what it’s like [outside of our current environment]. Most of us have stayed here since we were born,” Chang said. “We are kind of scared of [a majority white] environment and of being alienated. That’s just not what we’re used to.” bark@redwoodbark.org

February 7, 2020 bark Page 10 • Feature Judging judgment: What is implicit bias and why does it occur?

Story and Illustration by Morgan Salzer and Isabel Ames “We live in a racist culture. It is very hard for people…not to express unconscious racism. It’s something that we have to guard against diligently, particularly if we’re white,” Don Carney, director of Marin County’s youth court, a restorative justice program for minors, said.

Most people, especially in Marin, would say they are not explicitly racist.

So, where is Carney’s claim coming from? He is referring to our implicit bias, not our explicit bias. Implicit bias results from the tendency to process information based on unconscious associations and feelings, even when these are contrary to one’s conscious or declared beliefs.

Not all implicit bias is harmful. In a benign example, if one was instructed to draw a lumberjack, their implicit bias would tell them to draw a man with a bushy beard, wearing a plaid, buttonup shirt and suspenders, with an axe by his side. However, the implicit bias that creates the harmless lumberjack stereotype is the same that creates destructive stereotypes for race, s e x u a l i t y, religion and gender.

These stereotypes dominate institutions that were built to provide equal opportunities and treatment for everyone, especially our justice and education systems.

Because of this, Carney has made awareness of implicit bias a priority to prevent corruption from occurring in the court proceedings. According to Carney, minorities start feeling the harmful effects of implicit bias as soon as they begin their education. “[Implicit bias] begins really early— in preschool. Black males are the biggest targets [of implicit bias],” Carney said.

“They may not understand it, but they can feel it. Feeling [implicit bias] consistently leads to a young person feeling marginalized, picked on and angry. Then, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy because they’ve been picked on and labeled from such an early age. It creates real problems in the developmental capacities of the young black man.”

Senior Luigyna Parfait has expressed frustration at the level of implicit bias she faces in the school system based on the color of her skin.

“People judge people by the way they look, the way they talk and in their actions without actually getting to know that person,” Parfait said. “I feel like teachers judge me a little bit based on how I look before they get to know me and think I might not do well academically.”

According to recent data from the U.S. Department of Education, black children are 3.6 times more likely to be suspended from preschool than white children. Black children account for roughly 19 percent of all preschoolers, but make up nearly half of all preschoolers who get suspended.

As researcher Walter Gilliam suggested for NPR, teachers, both white and black, spend more time focused on their black students, expecting bad behavior.

Likewise, similar bias exists within the judicial system. A study conducted by the University of California, Davis in 2015 revealed that an unarmed black individual is 3.49 times more likely to be shot by police than their white counterparts. In some counties across California, that number can reach a ratio of 20:1, meaning black individuals face a risk factor 20 times greater than the average w h i t e individual.

I n an effort to combat t h i s behavior, many courts mandate implicit bias education a n d prevention training for jurors, judges and advocates. Senior Jake Blum volunteers for Marin County’s youth court.

He has led several implicit bias trainings for youth court volunteers and can attest to the importance of acknowledging one’s own biases.

“Race differences, age differences and class differences all have their own implicit biases—people can’t really apologize for it. That’s why it’s so important to recognize your implicit bias, especially important in youth court, because people come from all different walks of life into the program, and you really have to treat everyone the same,” Blum said.

Specifically, youth court participants have been trained through in-depth conversations on how their unprocessed judgments may affect respondents in court.

Furthermore, they have learned how to avoid situations in which these judgments may be unfairly propagated.

“Implicit bias can definitely

be dangerous, especially in a situation where someone’s fate is being decided by a group of people. If they’re thought of in a negative light by one of the jurors, then it can really derail the whole situation,” Blum said. “It’s much better for someone to either remove themselves from a situation where they know that they can’t be unbiased or for them to realize what their biases are and try to limit their thoughts against it.

In recent years, David Minhondo, teacher and advisor of the Students Organized For Anti-Racism (SOAR) club at Redwood High School, has observed how implicit biases can form in Marin.

“Because people are often wrapped up in their own homogenous bubbles, whether that’s your family, community or a place like Marin County—which is around 80 percent white—you don’t often have anything that pushes back on those messages or conveys more positive messages,” Minhondo said.

While recognizing implicit bias is important, it is also necessary to realize that everyone has it; it is inevitable. Seeing a stereotype or commonality perpetuated through music, media or community ideals is guaranteed to manifest into the subconscious—something that Minhondo wants to bring to people’s attention.

“It’s a human condition to be prejudiced, it’s an animalistic thing. You walk into a room, you see a person, you judge them within a millisecond. That is built into our DNA for survival—to see somebody big or weak or strong or small,” Minhondo said. “There are so many things we interpret about people that are built-in anthropologically to us. One of the worst things people can do is see implicit biases [and think] ‘something is wrong with me.’”

The importance in learning about implicit bias does not take root in abolishing the occurrence but instead in acknowledging one’s own inclinations a n d recognizing how they might affect others.

Though judgment is ingrained in human nature, the deriving actions remain fully under an individual’s conscious control and are aspects which can be improved after confronting the subject.

The first steps in recognizing and combating unjust bias can stem from an educational platform. Classes and clubs such as SOAR help dedicated students delve deeper into learning about the effects of racism; however, it is when such conversations are integrated into a typical classroom setting that these learnings reach an audience which may be severely lacking in such knowledge. English teacher Joe Gonzalez is a strong supporter of allowing students to learn this way.

“Ostensibly anything can lead to a conversation about race. But I find that students can intuit when it feels like this is being forced into a topic or a unit. I try to incorporate talk about race as it fits most appropriately into the unit. One way [to do this] is to be as personal as possible,” Gonzalez said. “For example, in my language of humor class, we talked about race as an experience that one has and so that’s a personalized way of thinking about how your race or an experience [because]

it can affect what you find funny.”

According to Gonzalez, allowing a situation in which biases are recognized and talked about in an area that lacks diversity such as Marin allows students to begin to understand why these judgments appear in the first place.

“I might be the only middle-class Hispanic person with a professional degree that [students] interact with on a daily basis, whereas most of their interactions with people of color are on the receiving end of some service. I go to Rustic Bakery: the people who are taking the money are white, the people who are working in the back are brown,” Gonzalez said. “That’s not a phenomenon that’s necessarily unique. What that means is that students have limited interaction with people who are different from them, and I try and have them think about that.”

Gonzalez’s tactic of facing bias headon is not an isolated occurrence but can be used when any member of society wishes to recognize their own biases.

Minhondo encourages such individuals in these situations to face hard truths about themselves.

“You have to actually internally view yourself and ask, ‘What do you believe and why do you believe it?’ That frightens many liberals because it forces them to recognize that, yes, although you may do these things that are good, you still have aspects about yourself that need improvement,” Minhondo said.

In the past decade, there has been a large increase in societal attention toward recognizing where disparities exist, exemplified through major movements such as #BlackLivesMatter. According to a HuffPost/YouGov study, members of the younger generations participate in more protests than any individual above the age of 30. Because of this, the ways in which implicit biases are proliferated by the media is beginning to change. Because of this, Minhondo expresses hope for the younger generations and their desire to relieve these disparities.

“I have a three-year-old daughter, and she is now growing up with shows that have people of color. She’s seeing people of color in powerful positions.

She’s seeing people of color in a way that I never saw people of color growing up,” Minhondo said. “The implicit biases that she has growing up—I don’t know what those are going to be, but they will be vastly different from [mine].”

bark@redwoodbark.org

Page 11 • Feature

www.redwoodbark.org

Memorializing life: the legacy of Kobe Bryant

By Alex Johnson

On Jan. 26, Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna (Gigi) and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif. Bryant’s death, which occured while on his way to his daughter’s basketball game, devastated many former and current Redwood students.

What stood out the most to those who idolized Bryant was his unmatched work ethic, competitive nature and incredible will to win, evident in his five National Basketball Association (NBA) championships, 15 All-Star appearances, four All-Star MVPs, two finals MVPs, one regular season MVP and pure determination on and off the court. Bryant made his young fans from his early years for the Los Angeles Lakers fall in love with the sport.

For senior Max Costa, Bryant was the reason he started playing basketball at six years old. As Costa got older, he started to realize that Bryant was much more than a basketball player to him.

“I got to the age where I started to understand what he stood for: his mentality, his competitiveness and his willingness to be the greatest possible [in] anything he did,” Costa said.

Throughout his time playing basketball, Costa experienced severe injuries such as a dislocated elbow, but played basketball through the pain because of his love for the sport, largely instilled in him by Bryant.

“If you want to have greatness in any aspect of your life, that’s the guy you look to and that’s what I have always done,” Costa said.

Like Costa, senior Cole Panzardi felt Bryant’s influence from a young age.

His first memory of Bryant was from watching game seven of the 2006 NBA

finals against the Boston Celtics. Even though Bryant and the Lakers ended up losing the game and ultimately the series, Panzardi fell in love with Bryant’s will to win and his intensity on the court.

From that moment on, Panzardi looked up to Bryant as his favorite sports figure, like many other kids around the world who had the chance to watch him compete. Similarly to Costa, Panzardi learned an extremely valuable lesson from Bryant.

“He was someone who would beat you on and off the court. After the game, on nights off and in the off-season, he would still be working. He sent the message that if you really work hard enough, you can achieve what you want to achieve,” Panzardi said.

The news of Bryant’s d e a t h reached much further than Redwood’s walls.

Redwood graduate and freshman at the University of Colorado Boulder, Evan Solter, was disheartened by the passing of the basketball legend. In an Instagram caption posted just hours after Bryant’s death, Solter opened up about how Bryant helped him through the tough times in his life.

“When I was doubted, he was the one that helped me prove them wrong. When I was tired, he was in my mind pushing me to go even harder,” Solter said.

While people across the globe mourned the tragic death of Bryant, eight other lives were lost on that Sunday morning. One was Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gigi, the only one of his four daughters to play basketball. Both Costa and Panzardi acknowledged that she was very advanced in her knowledge and skills for a 13-year-old. Panzardi saw her as someone who could go on to continue the Bryant basketball legacy.

“Someone who is the daughter of one of the hardest workers in sports history probably would have gone on to do great things,” Panzardi said.

Costa added that, while he strongly

Illustrations by Piper Tonne

admired everything about Bryant, Gigi could have also been a figure for young girls and boys who got the chance to see her play professionally.

After Bryant’s death, the sports world lost more than an NBA legend, but also a huge advocate of women’s athletics. Bryant, who became a follower of women’s sports after becoming the father of four daughters, was very involved in the Women’s N a t i o n a l Basketball Association (WNBA) and W o m e n ’ s N a t i o n a l Collegiate A t h l e t i c A s s o c i a t i o n Cole Panzardi, (NCAA). Bryant Redwood senior became a mentor to many female basketball players and could be seen courtside at various WNBA and NCAA games with Gigi, who aspired to play at the University of Connecticut and progress to the WNBA. Being an advocate for women’s athletics also played a role in Bryant regaining the trust of the public after being charged with felony sexual assault in 2003. Although the civil suit was settled out of court in March of 2005, the public view of Bryant shifted. Bryant had recently welcomed his first daughter into the world and had been married to his wife, Vanessa, for two years at the time of the incident. According to the New York Times, the accuser’s name w a s leaked to the press multiple times, and was one of the reasons why she eventually dropped the case and settled it with Bryant out of court.

bark

The assault allegations knocked Bryant off his pedestal. Since his death, the debate over how much of an impact this incident should have on his legacy resurfaced.

Nevertheless, the recovery of his reputation could be attributed to the love he showed his wife and four daughters and his relentless promotion of women’s athletics.

F e m a l e professionals in the industry have also reflected on Bryant’s legacy.

Kelly Graves, head coach of the University of Oregon women’s basketball team, said that the world lost a great voice for women’s athletics.

Similarly, WNBA star Rebecca Lobo said that no NBA player supported the WNBA or women’s college basketball more than Bryant. He also continuously reminded the world that he did not need a son to carry on his basketball legacy.

“My friends say, ‘It takes a real man to make a boy.’ I [say], ‘It takes a king to make a princess. Get in line,’” Bryant said during an interview with Insider.

While Bryant and Gigi’s death was an extremely tragic moment for sports fans worldwide, it subsequently brought them together.

“It’s the one thing you can control,” Bryant said. “You are responsible for how people remember you—or don’t.

So don’t take it lightly.”

He was someone who would beat you on and off the court. He sent the message that if you really work hard enough, you can achieve what you want to achieve.

ajohnson@redwoodbark.org

Lacing drugs with drugs: the fatality of fentanyl

Story and Illustrations by Maxanne Anderson Weak pulse. Shallow breathing. Blue lips.

Pale skin. Loss of consciousness. These are all signs of opioid overdose, and a leading cause behind these overdoses is fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, meaning it does not occur naturally like other drugs in the opioid classification, such as morphine or codeine. Because it is manufactured in a laboratory and was originally developed as a powerful painkiller, fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and up to 100 times stronger than morphine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though Marin may not be at the center of the opioid epidemic, fentanyl is still present, causing overdoses to be a pressing concern, even within Redwood.

On Jan. 14, Wes Cedros, the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) senior director of student services, sent out an email to staff that opened with, “Opioid use and overdose is a serious problem facing our country, and the TUHSD community is not exempt from this risk.”

Cedros’ claim that overdose is a critical issue in our community was correct. In 2019, opioids were responsible for 30 deaths in the county, according to the California Department of Public Health.

One of these deaths was Trevor Leopold, a former Redwood student. Since Trevor’s passing on Nov. 17, 2019, his mother, Michelle Leopold, has worked diligently to raise awareness of fentanyl around the community.

“We’re choosing to say [Trevor] was poisoned by fentanyl because he didn’t choose to use fentanyl.

He thought he was using something else,” Michelle said. “Fentanyl is appearing in all drugs all of a sudden, and it’s getting worse and worse. It’s totally an epidemic.”

Cases such as Trevor’s are becoming increasingly common. Due to its potency and accessibility, drug dealers often spike other drugs, including cocaine and heroin, with illicitly manufactured fentanyl.

Jeff Peterson, a school resource officer and drug recognition expert for the Central Marin Police, has seen firsthand how people come in contact with fentanyl.

“An opioid that is ‘just’ heroin, or maybe even ‘just’ a prescription pill, could be laced with fentanyl,” Peterson said. “The people that are distributing [fentanyl] are mainly distributing it because it is so cheap to make and a little goes a long way. So they are lacing a lot of [other] drugs with [fentanyl] to make [them] more potent.”

Because fentanyl itself is so strong, drug dealers are able to make more products for cheaper while maintaining the same potency by lacing common recreational drugs.

Sueann Kim, an addiction psychiatrist at Kaiser

Permanente, has observed fentanyl in a wide range of drugs.

“We have seen fentanyl mixed in with cannabis. We have seen fentanyl mixed in with benzo[diazepines],” Kim said. “There is a significant danger [to] people not only going out there and seeking an opioid like heroin and then ending up getting fentanyl, but even [to] those who are not even seeking opioids getting exposed to fentanyl through other [drugs].”

In a study conducted by the Insight Safe Injection Facility in Vancouver, 86 percent of drugs in both pill and powdered forms tested positive for some level of fentanyl.

Taking substances that contain fentanyl can rapidly become lethal. Not only can a slightly higher dosage than intended cause overdose, but dealers often create fentanyl with unknown potency, according to Kim. “In order to get around detection of [fentanyl], those who manufacture [it illegally] will [purposefully] change the compound of the drug just slightly,” Kim said. “So the usual amount of fentanyl that someone [is] taking off the street may be a different compound of fentanyl [that is] much more potent and [puts] that person at an increased risk of overdose.”

These altered forms of fentanyl are called analogs, and they are often sold as heroin. However, Michelle stressed that fentanyl is not just a risk for heroin or other “hard” drug addicts.

“This is the beginning of the fentanyl [epidemic] where everybody is saying ‘It’s just an addict’s problem. It’s just killing addicts.’ It’s not just killing people that are taking heroin or smoking fentanyl or using fentanyl,” Michelle said. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better. That was one of the reasons why when Trevor died I said, ‘We can’t keep this quiet.’ We need to prevent other people from dying from fentanyl poisoning.”

While working the “graveyard” shift (from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.), Peterson said he has been on call for several situations involving fentanyl.

“I’ve been on a couple of calls where there have been overdoses and in all of the situations, they were revived by naloxone, and the paramedics got there quick enough to get [them] to the hospital and stabilize them,” Peterson said.

Naloxone, often referred to by the brand name Narcan, is an opioid antagonist in the form of a nasal

spray used to reverse overdoses. Currently, at least 20 out of 36 pharmacies in Marin carry naloxone, and since Dec. of 2017, the TUHSD has provided the opioid reversal on all of its campuses. According to Deborah Meshel, the district nurse, naloxone has no negative consequences, and it is a lifesaver when treating overdoses.

“If you [wrongly suspect] someone is having an opioid overdose...and you give [them] Narcan, it does not harm them. It just blocks the receptors to the brain so that the opioid cannot get into the brain, but if there is no drug in the system, then it does not [have any effect],” Meshel said.

Administering Narcan involves little more than inserting it into one’s nostril and pressing a plunger firmly. Meshel advocates that faculty members especially should be trained on how to administer naloxone so they can quickly assist someone having an overdose. Anyone interested in learning how to provide Narcan can contact Meshel by school phone or email.

“It takes time for the EMTs to get there. [Narcan] is super fast and easy to [use], so it is good if everybody gets trained on how to [use] it,” Meshel said.

Despite growing access to naloxone, the only surefire way to avoid overdose is to avoid using drugs. Peterson gave advice to anyone using or considering the use of opioids.

“Talk to an adult or talk to a friend. Tell somebody before you go down that road because it is just so easy to get yourself hurt in dealing with opioids, especially fentanyl,” Peterson said. “It hurts not only the person that is using the drug but [everyone] around them.”

Michelle had a similar sentiment due to her personal loss, expressing that it is no longer safe to assume a drug is clean. “[Trevor] loved skateboarding, snowboarding and skiing. He loved his pets. [He] loved his family…He had a huge heart,” Michelle said. “[There are] too many moms like me who have lost their kids recently to fentanyl poisoning. Do you really want to put your mom in the same boat as me?” manderson@redwoodbark.org

sports

Page 14

Mirrors in the dance studio: friend or foe?

Takeuchi-Ross has experienced firsthand the stress these standards can create.

“As a dancer, you study yourself so hard. Going “Our physical training is so that we can aesthetically create. Our bodies are instruments for conversation. We through the transition of seventh, eighth and ninth grade, have to create shapes and lines because it’s a visual art you go through the thought process of ‘why am I not that skinny? What happened? I was on the form, so we’re after a certain look. The right path; was it me that messed up?’ mirror [is] an excellent tool to distinguish [The fact that bodies change] was just how close we are to that look,” Christina something I had to realize,” TakeuchiJohnson, a three-year dance teacher at Ross said.

Marin Ballet, said.

Much like Takeuchi-Ross, Clare According to the International Girtler, a former Redwood student Association for Dance Medicine and current senior at San Marin High and Science, dancing in front of a School, has been dancing ballet for mirror allows for immediate feedback 15 years at Marin Ballet. While the and technique correction. For many ballet mirror has always been a tool ballerinas, it is a necessary tool in for correcting her technique, Girtler perfecting their skills. But when the tool Christina Johnson, became slightly more aware of her forces dancers to spend hours staring body in general as training intensified at their reflection, it can become a trap Marin Ballet teacher in high school. of self-critique sometimes difficult to “I definitely think [ballet dancers] escape.

Sloan Takeuchi-Ross, a senior at Novato High School, are hyper-aware of their bodies. We’re literally just looking started preparing to dance professionally when she was 11 at ourselves in the mirror, and even when we’re not, we years old. Once she reached this level, her teachers began can feel when something is off. I can tell when I’m out of asking what she and her peers’ meals consisted of. While shape and if I did gain or lose weight,” Girtler said.

Certain teachers at Girtler’s studio, including Johnson, the inquiries were presented as a way to live a healthier lifestyle, Takeuchi-Ross felt it was to foster the “perfect” avoid using mirrors at times, which Girtler says allows her ballet dancer’s body type: tall, skinny and built with lean to concentrate more on how she feels while dancing.

“When you’re in shape and you can do all the steps muscles.

“I think [the instructors thought] that in order to be correctly, it’s that mentality that makes you feel good a professional dancer, you had to fit a certain body type, about yourself, and it also enhances how you dance,” and if you didn’t fit that body type, it would be tricky to Girtler said. “It’s not what my body looks like; it’s how I feel and how I’m using it.” succeed in your career goal,” Takeuchi-Ross said.

Even in the midst of the sometimes critical dancing Ultimately, Takeuchi-Ross switched studios because environment, Girtler and Takeuchi-Ross have worked to of the body pressures.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s avoid letting body image stereotypes control how they see National Center for Biotechnology, ballet dancers have themselves.

In the dance world, Johnson understands the pros a risk three times higher for suffering from eating disorders compared to other athletes. Eating Disorder and cons of using mirrors. Even though the majority Hope, an online resource for struggling dancers, believes of combinations ballet dancers learn are for a final this is partially due to the fact that ballet dancers believe production, she believes that it is more important to feel maintaining a lower body weight will improve their skills. how the body moves while dancing, rather than see it. If

By Maya Holland

Our bodies are instruments for conversation.

Photo by Maya Holland

AT THE BEGINNING of her two-hour dance class at Marin Ballet, sophomore Maddie Redmond warms up at the barre. dancers have unhealthy perspectives, it can be physically and psychologically detrimental because the mirror can reflect a great deal of judgment. Due to this, she chooses to instruct her dancers while they are facing away from the mirror.

“I don’t use the mirror in the center because I want [students] to feel and experience what’s happening,” Johnson said. “The disconnect comes when you’re looking in the mirror because you’re not having the experience.

You’re having the experience of your reflection, which has already taken you out.” mholland@redwoodbark.org

Freshman Ains Fish shines on the boys’ basketball team

By Kylie Horstmeyer Standing at 6 feet, 5 inches, Ains Fish towers above most freshmen. However, his height is not the only thing that makes him unique. He is also a key member of the boys’ varsity basketball team.

Despite now being the starting power forward on the team, basketball wasn’t always his favorite sport. He was a promising baseball player until his mom signed him up for a basketball camp around the fifth grade. Since then, Fish claims the speed of basketball is why he enjoys playing so much.

“I like the pace of the game, it’s a lot faster than football and baseball because of how much constant running you do....

My favorite part is getting up and down the court. I’m not the fastest guy, but I like playing fast basketball,” Fish said.

Over the summer, Fish participated on the freshman summer league team, then

played in a few junior varsity tournaments before he was brought up to play on varsity in the fall. As Fish continued to improve, he found himself in the starting five.

Head coach Jay Demaestri was impressed with Fish’s skill level on top of his basketball IQ in the fall preseason and throughout tryouts.

“I always thought [Fish] definitely had the size to play at the varsity level, but he also has the mind. He is a true basketball player and understands how the game is played. [He is] not just physically imposing,” Demaestri said.

When the final roster was released, Fish was ecstatic and ready to begin the new season. Coming in as a freshman, he did not know what to expect, as he would be the youngest on the team. Thankfully, his teammates greeted him with open arms.

“I came into [this season] pretty excited because all the guys on the team have made me feel welcomed, and they’ve embraced

Photo by Kylie Horstmeyer

STANDING ON THE line, Ains Fish shoots a free throw.

[me] as just one of the guys on the team.

It’s been really fun so far,” Fish said.

Demaestri also believes that Fish is coachable and is always trying to learn new things about the game, which can take him to the next level as the season progresses and over the course of his basketball career. “[Fish] is a great player to coach... He’s worried about trying to figure out why things are happening, not just do it because coach says. I always preach, don’t be a robot, be a human being, ask questions.

You’ve got a question, ask it, and that’s what he does,” Demaestri said.

During the offseason, Fish plays for the North Bay Basketball Association for coach Michael Turner. Turner says Fish is extremely valuable because his game has so many dimensions to it. Turner adds that Fish’s natural ability to lead his team is another reason he is such an important player.

“Ever since I have coached him, [Fish] has been a natural leader. Our teams traditionally have gone the way he goes. If he’s playing well and he’s engaged, we do well. He is also very good at rebounding, being an inside force, scoring the ball and distributing. He does a little bit of everything,” Turner said.

According to junior teammate Tommy Quanstrom, Fish brings energy and effort while having fun with his teammates every practice. “[Ains] is a hard worker on the court.

He goes hard all the time and off the court, he’s fun to be around. All the guys hang out with each other [and] he’s just a fun kid [to be with].... He’s a goofball,” Quanstrom said.

As Fish continues to work on his game, he adds that over the next year, he is going to transition into being able to play more than one position expanding his game and making him even more of an asset.

“Right now, I’m more of a big [which means] I’m in the paint as a post player

Photo by Kylie Horstmeyer

AINS FISH DUNKS the ball at varsity basketball practice. doing post moves. This offseason, I’m going to try to switch to more of a guard and work on my driving and ball handling.”

Fish said.

Turner believes that if Fish keeps on track, works hard and focuses on improving every year, his future as a basketball player at Redwood is bright.

“Depending on how hard [Fish] works and puts into the game, I think he can be one of the better players to come out of Redwood. He has to develop to be more of a perimeter player, but I would anticipate [he will] and be disappointed if he didn’t end up becoming player of the year at some point,” Turner said.

khorstmeyer@redwoodbark.org

Page 15 • Sports

www.redwoodbark.org

Spikeball spikes interest nationally and locally

bark

By Eislyn Snyder It can be played on a stretch of warm sand, turf, grass, ice or, as some brave souls have proven, skis. With players from across the country, Spikeball has exceeded the boundaries of a typical sport such as football and soccer.

Viewed as volleyball and four square’s lovechild, the partner sport incorporates social yet competitive elements foreign to many other American games. The objective is simple: bounce the ball on the net.

While there are more intricacies to the sport than simply bouncing the ball, the game is pretty basic in functionality.

According to avid Spikeball player and junior Hugh Stevenson, the goal is to hit the ball on the net without touching the plastic sides in a way that prevents the other two-person team from spiking it back. Although the sport may seem straightforward in nature, Stevenson believes it is unique in comparison to traditional team sports.

“It’s definitely on the rise as a movement, even though it’s not technically a sport. Everyone that plays it seems to have a positive experience,” Stevenson said. “It’s very high-energy. You’re competing with your friends and against your friends, so there’s a lot of trash-talking, but there’s also a lot of congratulatory moments with your teammates.”

One of Stevenson’s friends and teammates, junior Miles Crook, finds that collaboration and commitment are the most vital aspects of the game.

“You won’t do well if you’re alone and don’t have chemistry with the other teammate. It’s about being willing to dive all out and knowing that your teammate [has] your back,” Crook said. “Everyone needs to try to make it fun.

If just one person doesn’t try, it won’t be fun.”

Stevenson and Crook’s Spikeball group outside of school, sometimes containing upwards of 10 individuals, has played for nearly 10 hours straight on certain occasions. Due to the game’s versatile nature, they are constantly discovering new variations they can take on the game, whether it be the terrain or different playing styles.

As seen on the official Spikeball Instagram, others have done so by playing on ice skates or in pools. One of the most memorable matches Stevenson and Crook’s group has played, however, was both unique and unintentional while still sticking to the game’s roots.

“We started playing Spikeball on the lawn, and this cop came by. He saw us playing and I guess he had played before, so he stopped by and asked if he could play with us. We said, ‘of course,’ so he called another officer for

Photo illustration by Sophia Rocha

HAVING GROWN IN popularity over the past few years, Spikeball is frequently played by students during lunch time and after school. backup and we started playing two on two with them,” Stevenson said. “Obviously we went a little easy on them because they haven’t played as much as we had, but it was probably the coolest Spikeball game I’ve ever played.”

While the sport is diverse in the ways it can be played, Crook acknowledges that a stereotype may be associated with the game.

“For people who don’t really know the game it kind of looks stupid. There’s this stereotype of the ‘bro-bro’ kind of guys playing it. But if you’re willing to give effort, anyone can play. We didn’t think there was [a stereotype] when we started playing, and we didn’t really care,” Crook said.

Stevenson’s experience has taught him that there’s an expectation for Spikeball players to put in a certain level of effort to enjoy themselves while playing.

“The stigma around it is you put in what you get out

of it. If you’re jumping and diving on the ground to save a ball, the performance that you’re going to put on and the results you’re going to get are much more fun than if you were just standing around not moving much,” Stevenson said.

Senior Charlie Tantum, a devoted Spikeball player for the past two years, appreciates the sport due to the lack of pressure associated with it.

“There’s not any stress around Spikeball. Sometimes you can stress out about giving away the ball in soccer or missing a shot in basketball, but in Spikeball even if you miss a shot, everyone can just mostly laugh it off. If you lose a game, it’s not the end of the world. You just keep playing,” Tantum said. esnyder@redwoodbark.org

Jaden Ramos inspires teammates on and off the mat

By Audrey Lightfoot When senior captain of the boys’ varsity wrestling team Jaden Ramos walks onto the mat he is instantly filled with determination and focus. For the next six minutes, his only thought is how to take down his opponent with the skills he has acquired throughout his past four years at Redwood.

Last year, Ramos finished an impressive fourth place in the North Coast Section (NCS) and is currently holding first place in NCS, as well as nineteenth place in the state of California.

Wrestling has been an instrumental part of Ramos’s life ever since he began the sport at the start of his freshman year.

Inspired by his previous interest in JiuJitsu and encouraged by his father, Ramos decided to take up another combat sport: wrestling.

“For six years, before my freshman year, I did jiu-jitsu. I just fell in love with a fighting sport and one-to-one combat,” Ramos said.

Once Ramos began wrestling he realized the two sports were completely different. Jiu-jitsu is relatively independent, while wrestling involves a strong team spirit, which Ramos enjoys.

“[Wrestling] was more than I expected because jiu-jitsu is [on] more of a [day to day] basis and you go to your own competitions whenever you want to. But with wrestling, it’s completely different.

You go to practice every day, it’s a high school sport and you have to compete every week. That was a big shock for me, but I got used to it, and I just fell in love with it,” Ramos said.

Ramos credits a lot of his success to his coaching staff. Head coach Lochlan McHale has been coaching wrestling for four years at Redwood and has had a massive impact on Ramos.

“We are really lucky to have some of the best coaches,” Ramos said. “[McHale] has been an amazing coach. Everything is planned meticulously [and] he is very on point with the schedule. He never misses anything [and] if he says he is going to do something he does it, so I am very lucky to have that level of organization.”

McHale, on the other hand, admires Ramos’ dedication to the sport. McHale feels that Ramos plays a significant role on the team, especially when it comes to mentoring and inspiring the younger wrestlers. “[Ramos] definitely acts as a role model on the team and also during the off-

Photo courtesy of Jaden Ramos

RAMOS PINS HIS competitor to the ground during one of his matches.

Photo courtesy of Jaden Ramos

FACING OFF AGAINST his opponent, Ramos gets set for his match. season. Once the season ends, our doors open up and we have workshops, guest coaches, all sorts of stuff and it is open to any wrestler,” McHale said. “We have kids all the way from six years old to [Ramos’] peers coming in. [Ramos] is always one of the first ones to jump in and help one of them.”

Fellow varsity wrestler junior Ben Olsan has been teammates with Ramos for three years and views him as a role model and mentor.

“Off the mat, [Jaden] is a really fun guy. He is goofy and extroverted. On the mat he is a completely different person. He is really focused and determined,” Olsan said.

According to Olsan, many of the younger wrestlers on the team also admire Ramos’ skills and attitude. “[Ramos] is someone I look up to and a lot of the younger wrestlers do too. He is someone that a lot of the freshmen try to practice with because he is just at another

level,’’ Olsan said. “He is very professional [and consistent] at everything he does, and he is able to go out there and compete every weekend.”

Ramos’s future after high school will continue to involve the sport of wrestling but beyond competing on the mat. Instead, Ramos hopes to help coach and spread his knowledge of the sport to support younger wrestlers.

“I might try to help by coaching kids.

I don’t know if I will do wrestling itself. It is a very hard sport. I have done it for four years and I think my body needs a little break,” Ramos said. “But I am planning to give back to the team. I definitely want to visit the team after this year and just see how they are doing.”

alightfoot@redwoodbark.org

February 7, 2020 bark Page 16 • Sports Unified basketball team overcomes high school athletic expectations

By Camille Ray “It’s about playing together: competing, practicing and working together as a team. We’re all trying to be unified and make memories and friendships through sports. It’s not about winning, it’s not about losing, it’s about the experience and what happens on the court,” Katie Peter, Redwood Special Day Classroom (SDC) teacher and supervisor of the Special Olympics Unified Basketball team, said.

This year, alongside Tamalpais, Drake, San Marin and San Rafael High Schools, as well as College of Marin’s Grant Grover team, Redwood’s special education students participated in their sixth annual Special Olympics tournament from Jan. 16 to 31. The co-ed Unified Basketball team, which operates under the Redwood Special Olympics club, is an all-inclusive program dedicated to providing special education students the

opportunity to pursue sports that are normally unavailable to them.

With practices every Wednesday at lunch, the club works diligently to strengthen their team chemistry and athletic ability. In hopes of further integrating SDC (room 175) into the Redwood community, the club also welcomes Redwood student volunteers to assist in their operations.

After joining her freshman year, Katherine Ritter, sophomore treasurer of the Special Olympics club, was stunned by the immediate sense of community and support from the students and teachers involved.

“It’s a really good community for kids to just be kids.

It’s also so rewarding to see kids grow each practice.

There’s nothing better than seeing a kid throw a ball into the hoop and the excitement on their face after,” Ritter said.

As president of the Special Olympics club, sophomore Liv Holscher also enjoys the opportunity to bond with

students who are usually isolated from Redwood events and activities. “[The students] are always so happy and care so much.

When I see them, they always ask how school is and how my tests went. They know so many things about you and give so much support. One of them even came to one of my sports games,” Holscher said. “We all love each other because we spend so much time together. They’re all some of my best friends.”

As president, Holscher is in charge of managing games, designing team apparel and contacting other schools to generate more participation. One of her goals is to collaborate with private schools such as Branson in hopes of expanding the Special Olympic program beyond the public school system.

With five sophomore and four freshmen volunteers, the team hopes to continue expanding its influence throughout the Redwood community. Aside from basketball, the team also competes in track meets and bowling tournaments.

Despite its current popularity, Peter found the process of creating the program difficult and believes that without the tremendous help of Athletic Director Jessica Piesch, the team may not have been able to develop successfully.

Peter commends the work Piesch has done for the program, as it fosters both integration and athletic opportunity for all.

“Acceptance, social inclusion and breaking the boundaries of what we set in our minds of what high school athletes should look like and how competitive it should be are really the most important parts of it all,” Peter said.

With a tremendous spike in participation this basketball season, Peter is hopeful Redwood students will continue to show their support for both the Unified Sports teams and the special education program.

“There’s so much energy. There’s so much joy. There’s so much momentum with it. Having other students come and watch the kids shoot, dribble and perform skills that we’ve been working on in practice is huge,” Peter said.

The Unified Basketball team is always looking for more volunteers and participants for both their Wednesday lunch practices and future tournaments this spring.

Photo by Camille Ray

WITH HER TEAMMATES cheering her on, Grace Carter prepares to shoot.

cray@redwoodbark.org

Senior Sarah Young sets sail to a promising future

By Bennett Vasquez Going into the final day of her regatta at Richmond Yacht Club, senior Sarah Young has a lot on her mind as she is tied for first place. She has been preparing the entire year with one goal in mind: to win the Leiter Cup. Even with the winds howling at 20 miles per hour and the choppy waves beginning to form white caps, Young sets sail to achieve her ambition.

Young began sailing when she was six years old at a summer camp. Her mother had grown up with the sport and wanted Young and her older brother to learn at an early age. Sailing did not pique her interest at first and the scarcity of other females racing competitively contributed to her initial distaste for it.

“It was hard for me to fit in at first in the sport. I was racing against all other guys and it made it hard to put my name out there,” Young said.

However, due to her coaches Thomas Simkalo and Parker Shinn and teammates Nicholas Sessions and Will Foox, she was influenced to continue with the sport. This eventually led her to become one of the top sailors in the nation and a Dartmouth University sailing commit. Young placed second at the U.S. girls’ championships (The Leiter Cup) and remains on the U-21 Olympic development team while she is also a captain of the Redwood sailing team. Additionally, she participated in the Youth World Championships and finished second in the U.S. Young has been able to use these competitive and prestigious regattas as a strategy to improve her mindset while sailing.

“I am more self-aware when I go into those kinds of competitions and am able to be more calm,” Young said.

Helping Young throughout her sailing career, Thomas Simkalo, Young’s Redwood coach of three years, is extremely impressed with her skills and ability to

Photo courtesy of Sarah Young

RANKING NO. 2 in the nation for girls under 19, Young typically dedicates 10 to 15 hours a week to sailing.

continually improve her sailing. Simkalo recognizes Young’s work ethic which has helped strengthen their bond.

“The whole Young family has this incredible mentality of hard work. They all seem to have this same tick in their head of ‘I’m going to work really hard’ and I really respect that. So [when] I’m working with Sarah, I can really trust she is going to do what is best for her,” Simkalo said.

According to Simkalo, Young’s driven persona is known to everyone at the San Francisco Yacht Club. Young has a different mindset than that of her peers both on and off the water.

“She is very consistent. That is what sets her apart from a lot of other people because there are other sailors that get off the water and immediately go chill with their friends. Sarah is still cleaning her boat, making sure her boat is not going to be leaking and that all of her lines are perfect with no salt corrosion,” Simkalo said.

Young also continually tries to improve her sailing even outside of the water.

She attends conferences to learn new techniques and strategies. Through these conferences, she is able to better relay the information back to her team so they can improve as a whole. “[Young] will help me learn new things about the laser because she is going to these talk clinics now that she is such a good sailor. It is really incredible to me that she has increased her skill level so quickly,” Simkalo said.

Redwood senior and co-captain Nicholas Sessions also speaks highly of Young. They have been sailing for eight years together. Sessions values Young’s poise and drive. Her competitive spirit is what propels the team to continually get better. “[Practice] is super competitive. So whenever we are racing we are taking it super seriously. When we are doing drills, [Young] is always the first one to start and really encourages everyone to get on task

Photo by Bennett Vasquez

YOUNG WILL BE joining the sailing team at Dartmouth University next year. and not waste any time because during the winter we have limited time on the water,” Sessions said.

Young is looking forward to the promising collegiate career in sailing she faces next year. Attending Dartmouth will open up new doors for which she hopes to explore and take advantage of.

“I am excited to go into college with a group of people who share a similar interest. Also to get to see [the campus] before classes start and have that experience while doing something I have done my whole life,” Young said.

bvasquez@redwoodbark.org

review

Page 17

Not all the Grammy performances were ‘Good as Hell’ Story and Infographic by Sol Ladetzky

With over 300 nominees, 84 categories and Alicia Keys hosting, it is not surprising that the 62nd annual Grammy Awards was a night filled with memorable moments. Billie Eilish swept all four major categories, Keys sang a parody of Lewis Capaldi’s “Someone You Loved” about the different nominees and Tyler, The Creator even brought his mom on stage to accept his award for Best Rap Album.

Aside from all the heartwarming aspects in this year’s Grammys, the show also highlighted the unexpected tragedy from earlier in the day. Not only is the Staples Center in Los Angeles the location of the Grammys, but it was also Kobe Bryant’s home court for 20 years. To honor his passing earlier that day, many artists dedicated their speeches and performances to him, held up his jersey or asked for a moment of silence. These memorials were a powerful part of the night, bringing both the live audience and TV viewers to tears.

Despite the loss of an influential member of society, the Grammys was still an exciting event to watch. Every year the performances remain some of the most thrilling parts of the event. The absurd outfits, dances, stage setups and lights all amounted to an astonishing show. While many of the performances exceeded their high expectations, others were fairly disappointing. Whether they were startling, mind-blowing, entertaining or inspiring, the extravagant performances by Lizzo, Tyler, The Creator, Lil Nas X and Demi Lovato were some of the most noteworthy moments of the night. Here’s why: started off his show with Boyz II Men and Charlie Wilson

as they sang an acapella version of “EARFQUAKE.” The mundane beginning of the performance quickly Lizzo kicked off the Grammys with a majestic transitioned into Tyler repeatedly shouting “Ooh ah” into medley of her hits “Cuz I Love You” and “Truth Hurts,” the microphone as he transitioned into “NEW MAGIC reminding everyone why she was nominated for eight WAND.” There seemed to be a lack of singing throughout awards. However, Lizzo’s attempt to rap parts of her this performance, as Tyler spent most of it screaming songs that are usually sung was subpar, distracting the and jumping around on stage. However, behind all the audience from her otherwise elevated voice. In between craziness, Tyler’s 27 clones helped create a cohesive dance, the songs, a male ballerina in a durag appeared on stage, which added more uniformity to the stage. Additionally, dancing to classical music. This transition felt abrupt, and the special effects in this performance were beyond the continuation of classical background music took away spectacular; Tyler literally set the stage ablaze, with red from the melody of “Truth Hurts.” As she played her flute strobe lights and a fire burning along the sides of houses the audience finally got the Lizzo they adore back. Her set up behind him. Nevertheless, Tyler’s performance felt energy shone as she said “Period!” when she finished. psychotic, and while parts of it were visually appealing, Lizzo topped the extravaganza off with five words that they most definitely were not to the ears. made her performance one to remember: “Welcome to the Grammys, bitch!” The outfits throughout this performance were definitely a highlight, from a sparkly black ball gown Incorporating remixes and a variety of singers, Lil Nas in the beginning to a striped bodysuit during the finale.

When Lizzo does what Lizzo does best, she puts on a X put an exciting twist on his most popular song, “Old breathtaking show. That being said, she has yet to find her Town Road.” While the beginning of his performance medley groove as her transition from one hit to the next was simple, as he sat on a couch strumming his guitar, the rest was the complete opposite. This was by far the fell short. most creative performance of the night as a mix of many different ideas came together perfectly. Nas was able to include Korean pop sensation BTS, Walmart-yodeling boy With a chaotic performance, Tyler, The Creator was by Mason Ramsey and producer Diplo as well as a rotating far the most disappointing performance of the night. Tyler stage, all without making his performance feel forced.

Lizzo

Lil Nas X

Tyler, The Creator

The major downside of Nas’ show was his unskilled dance moves. His awkward shimmies with Ramsey and jumps across the stage were unfit for the complexity of his performance. But, making up for his poor dancing was the stage design of this performance, ranging from a giant green skull to the inside of a pink barn. Besides his “dancing,” Nas’ cleverness shone in this performance, making it overall outstanding and breathtaking.

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato’s first appearance in the singing world after a year and a half hiatus was both heartwarming and spectacular. Wearing a white ballroom gown and backed only by a piano, Lovato’s powerful voice told the story of her overdose and the heartache that it entailed. She sang her new song, “Anyone,” written just days before her almost fatal overdose in July of 2018. Singing every word with passion, Lovato emanated her strength and personal growth. Not only were the lyrics inspiring, but Lovato’s choice to stand in the center of the audience with dramatic lighting and a simple stage setup stressed the importance and difficulty of this performance. By choking up at the beginning and the constant tears on her cheeks, Lovato continued to create an emotional experience for anyone listening. sladetzky@redwoodbark.org

‘Good News:’ Mac Miller has given us one last gift with ‘Circles’

By Loughlin Browne On Jan. 17, Mac Miller fans were given one more chance for closure when his family released “Circles,” a companion album to 2018’s “Swimming.” The album was completed by producer Jon Brion after Miller’s death from an accidental drug overdose halted the production of the album. Now it serves as a time capsule to the potential his career could have had.

His family made a statement in a Jan. 8 Instagram post announcing the album by saying “We are left to imagine where Malcolm was going and to appreciate where he was,” expressing that they believe Miller would have wanted them to share his work. “Circles” is Miller’s last impression on the world, a sample of what could have been.

Miller’s signature creativity is clear in the album, and listening to it is a calming experience. However, many of the songs on the album are not as catchy or memorable as some of his past music. The 12-song album holds little development, and while the songs are pretty and

Image Courtesy of Pitchfork

ON JAN. 8, Miller’s team posted about the release of “Circles” on Instagram. Pictured here in “I Can See,” Miller was known for his eccentric music videos. pleasant, they lack any serious deviation from each other. The album opener and title track “Circles” has a chill, ambient vibe with simple instrumentation, setting the tone for the rest of the album, which is considerably mellower than his previous work. “Good News,” the only single off the album, is mostly monotone and not very distinguishable from the other slow songs on the album like “Woods,” “Hands” and “Surf.”

The energy does pick up with the

second track, “Complicated,” a song that outlines the confusions in Miller’s life.

Lyrics like, “Some people say they want to live forever/ That’s way too long, I’ll just get through today,” and “Well, I’m way too young to be gettin’ old” reveal Miller’s infamous struggles with substance abuse, a looming theme throughout the album.

Familiar vocals take the forefront in most of the songs, and his melodies are sometimes reminiscent of the melodies in his older pieces. But when compared to

his past discography, “Circles” falls short.

This is particularly evident when its rather sparse arrangements are compared to the electronics, strings and pianos featured in “Swimming,” but that’s to be expected considering Miller wasn’t able to finish the production himself.

My favorite song on the album, “I Can See,” is more similar to his past work. Set to syncopated drums and an extraterrestrial, dreamy synth, it contains an anonymous female harmony that has been speculated by fans to be Miller’s ex, Ariana Grande who was featured in his previous song, “My Favorite Part.”

Although, like most posthumous albums, “Circles” isn’t quite as outstanding as Miller’s fully flushed out work, it is the perfect soundtrack for relaxing. Miller’s final album feels nostalgic, but it’s haunted by dramatic irony. As you listen to Miller’s voice, you can’t shake from your mind the knowledge that tragedy befell him so soon after he wrote these songs. lbrowne@redwoodbark.org

February 4, 2020 bark Page 18 • Review Looking back at the greatest moments of Kobe Bryant’s life

By Alex Johnson Just before noon on Sunday, Jan. 26, TMZ released the heartbreaking news that basketball legend, father and inspiration to all Kobe Bryant had been killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. Bryant was on the way to his own facility, Mamba Sports Academy, with his daughter, Gianna (GiGi), and seven others when the helicopter lost control and crashed into the mountainside. To Redwood students and sports fans around the globe, this news was truly devastating. In addition to Bryant being one of the best to ever play the sport of basketball, he was the fiercest competitor the sport has seen and a mentor to all. To commemorate the death of Bryant, we will be taking a look back at some of the greatest moments in his 41-year life.

Early Years Entering the National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft straight out of Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, 17-year-old Bryant was acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers.

In his 1996-97 rookie season, Bryant came off the bench and averaged a respectable 7.6 points per game (PPG) on only 15.5 minutes per game (MPG).

big role in this first finals win, averaging 15.6 PPG at the young age of 21. In the next two years, Bryant and the Lakers won two more championships to complete the “three-peat.” In those two series, Bryant averaged 24.6 PPG and 26.8 PPG, respectively, earning him a seven year $136 million contract the following summer after contemplating a move to the Los Angeles Clippers.

81 points In the 2005-2006 season, Bryant led the league in scoring with 35.6 PPG and put together one of the best performances in any NBA game ever seen. The Toronto Raptors visited Bryant and the Lakers at the Staples Center in late January where Bryant took control of the game and scored 81 points, 55 of which came in the second half and contributed to a blowout win. To this day, Bryant still has the second most points scored in a single NBA game ever, only behind Wilt Chamberlain who scored 100 in 1962.

MVP Coming off of two straight campaigns with the scoring title (most points), Bryant took over the league once again in the 2007-2008 season averaging 28.3 PPG, 5.4 assists per game (APG) Hardware and 6.3 rebounds per game (RBG). After leading In the 1999-2000 season, Bryant won his the Lakers to the NBA finals and losing to the first NBA championship with the Lakers Boston Celtics in six games, Bryant was named alongside star center Shaqille O’Neal and Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the NBA. While legendary coach Phil Jackson. While O’Neal this was his only time claiming the award, Bryant was the star of the show averaging close Illustration by Lilly Miller accumulated 18 All-Star selections, four Allto 40 PPG in the series, Bryant played a Star game MVPs, 15 All NBA selections, 12 All

Defensive selections and the fourth most points in NBA history with 33,643 throughout his 20 year career.

Final Ring In the 2009-10 season, Bryant captured his fifth and final championship ring averaging 28.6 PPG and eight RPG in the series. He was awarded Finals MVP for the second straight season and became one of 26 players in the NBA to ever earn five championship rings.

Mamba Out At the end of the 2015-16 season, Bryant geared up to play the final game of his NBA career in the Staples Center against the Utah Jazz. Averaging only 17.6 PPG that season, no one expected anything spectacular from Bryant in his retirement game. However, he shocked the world as he scored 60 points to defeat the Jazz and then proceeded to give his infamous post game speech, ending with, “Mamba out,” and a mic drop.

Oscar On March 4, 2018, Bryant won his first award outside of basketball when he received an Oscar for his animated short film “Dear Basketball.” This proved that Bryant was much more than an athlete and was truly a creative genius. His work ethic was unmatched and his will to win pushed everyone that knew him to be the very best.

While Bryant may have passed, his legacy, and words of wisdom and encouragement will live on forever. Rest in peace, Kobe.

ajohnson@redwoodbark.org

Cast a new light on the Bay Area with these podcasts Story and Infographic

by Mikaela Beberman From day-to-day life in San Quentin State Prison to mold inspection companies, Bay Area podcasts cover a wide array of themes. I’ve reviewed three of them based on several key points: creativity, engagement and production quality.

Ear Hustle*

My rating: Available on: Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic, Google Play, Stitcher, Pandora, RSS and Spotify *Rated explicit for foul language and mature content

Before I heard about Ear Hustle, I didn’t know that San Quentin prisoners produced a podcast. Once I started listening, I was not only amazed by the wide array of topics they cover, but I subsequently learned about the inner-workings of the U.S. criminal justice system through the podcast’s unique angle. The awardwinning podcast is hosted by Earlonne Woods, a former prisoner at San Quentin, and Nigel Poor, a visual artist. The two guide the listener across various themes such as sex trafficking and falling in love with prison volunteers. From the moment I first clicked the play button, I was drawn in by the intense theme music. The slow drum beats allow for smooth transitions between sources, while more suspenseful or sad beats are added to echo the mood of the stories, producing an anticipatory response. The sources go on reflective tangents about their narratives, something that also invites the listener to reflect on how the podcast humanizes criminals, leaving a lasting impression long after the episode ends.

Bay Curious My rating: Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, NPR One, Stitcher, RSS and Spotify Ever wondered about the wild parrots of San Francisco? Or why we hate the word “Frisco”? Bay Curious, a KQED podcast, answers these questions and more. The podcast stands out by taking questions from listeners and investigating them. The people whose questions are chosen even get featured in the podcast, creating an interactive relationship between creator and listener. This podcast was conceptualized by Olivia Allen-Price, the producer and host of Bay Curious.

The peppy theme song and Allen-Price’s engaged voice all contribute to the bright mood of the podcast. Bay Curious is also a sonic experience, which effectively sets the scene for the listener. In one episode, Allen-Price explores the origins of the Bay Area favorite Dutch crunch bread, and visits a bakery where she records the sounds around her. She even provides a few seconds of bread ASMR, adding a humorous spin to the podcast. The one downside to the podcast is that sometimes the conversations can drag on. Aside from its minor faults, Bay Curious teaches the listener to think deeper about both the history and current events in the Bay Area with a fun twist, making it the perfect podcast to listen to on the go.

Rightnowish My rating: Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, NPR One, Stitcher, RSS and Spotify Like Bay Curious, Rightnowish is a

KQED podcast, but hosted by Pendarvis Harshaw. It covers local projects in the East Bay, especially art, and investigates how they impact the community–– particularly people of color. Harshaw is a great conversationalist who easily makes his sources comfortable and fully engaged in the podcast. While Rightnowish does cover intriguing topics, such as Oakland’s Latinx game developers and masculinity, Harshaw does not go into as much depth as the other two podcasts. This is possibly due to the fact that the episodes are shorter, but the uniqueness of his topics invites further elaboration, which is something Harshaw should take more advantage of. There was also an editing mishap in one episode that interrupted the flow of conversation.

Rightnowish seems to target artists and people from the East Bay as its audience more than anyone else, making Ear Hustle and Bay Curious the better choices for North Bay listeners.

mbeberman@redwoodbark.org

bark Give back to your community through the best organizations in Marin Page 19 • Review

www.redwoodbark.org

By Maddie Loebbaka Whether you are a freshman looking for the perfect community service program or a senior searching for a new project, finding a good organization to volunteer for can be difficult. Many organizations require their volunteers to be at least 18 years old or have a lengthy time commitment that is hard to balance with a demanding school schedule. I’m here to help! After navigating the ins and outs of the Marin philanthropy world for six years, I want to share my knowledge to make the process easy and rewarding!

Bridge the Gap For the academically inclined, Bridge the Gap College Prep in Marin City is the dream volunteering gig. Bridge the Gap is a tutoring program for underprivileged youth in the Marin City area with the goal to send all kids in the program to college, and so far, they’ve been 100 percent successful! They offer general tutoring for younger grades in subjects such as math and English, as well as more specialized tutoring for older age groups, such as essay writing and résumé building. In the tutoring program, you are matched with one student in first through eighth grade that you tutor throughout the school year.

With the tutoring programs taking place on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in both after-school and oneon-one evening sessions the program can cater to all types of schedules. The program also hosts “Fab Fridays” once a month where students in Marin City and Sausalito are encouraged to come and hang out with friends, enjoy tasty food and play games with volunteers.

I have worked with the program for six years now and each day I come in, whether it be as a tutor or a friend, the experience brightens my day. I’ve had the opportunity to work with kids from both elementary and middle school and was able to let the volunteer coordinator, Pam Flores, know what subjects I specialize in and was ready to teach. Bridge the Gap caters to the volunteer’s needs and specifications while still maintaining a focus on the student, making it a perfect fit for many students.

Hooves for Harmony Hooves for Harmony is the perfect balance for connecting with animals

and children. If you are looking to help in an impactful way, look no further than Morning Star Ranch in Novato. This equestrian-therapy program provides free sessions for children, whether it stems from socioeconomic stress, mental disabilities or speech, using horseback riding to encourage communication in children with special needs. No prior experience with horses is needed for the program—though it is recommended—so the program is available to all. The only setback with this organization is the distance from the Redwood area. Some might find the 30-minute drive too long for an early Sunday morning, but the experience will make up for it. Being able to get the hands-on experience of helping groom and prepare the horses and then spending quality time with the children participating in the program will have a meaningful impact on your day and the community.

Leading the horses and speaking to the kids in need provides a perfect setting to spend time in nature with friendly animals, surrounded by children that love to tell jokes. At Hooves for Harmony, one of the most special aspects of the program is when you can feel the participant begin to open up and become comfortable with the volunteers and the animals through riding the horse and speaking with caring volunteers.

Milo Foundation Some of the most commonly thought of animal volunteering options are the Marin Humane Society and Guide Dogs for the Blind, which both require volunteers to be 18 years or older and commit to a required number of volunteer hours. If those requirements don’t work for you, the Milo Foundation is a great alternative! Milo is a successful animal shelter with the goal of rescuing at-risk animals and matching them with suitable homes. They accept volunteers of all ages and no experience is required. The only prerequisite to volunteer is to attend a volunteer orientation that happens about once a month that volunteers are only required to attend one time. After you have been to an orientation and are a registered volunteer, you can stop by whenever you are available, perfect for students with busy schedules. The most common activities are simply taking dogs on walks or playing with the animals, which are great stress relievers as well!

The only downside to the Milo Foundation

Photo courtesey of Hooves for Harmony

ENJOYING THE FRESH air and connecting with the horses, riders get the most out of their experience at Hooves for Harmony. is its location: Point Richmond, which is a fair distance away from Marin. However, the drive is not as long as it seems, as it is only about 20 minutes from Redwood. The main issue with the commute is having to pay the bridge tolls after crossing the Richmond Bridge. Despite the commute, working with the organization is well worth it. From what I have experienced, the staff at the Milo Foundation is one of the kindest around and is always looking for a helping hand. They appreciate all the help they can get, no matter how much time you can volunteer. However, the most valuable aspect of Milo is the time spent with the animals, especially if you’re a dog-person!

Special Olympics The Special Olympics hosts a legendary annual event where special needs athletes from across Northern California can compete in track and field, tennis and swimming. Although this is the largest and most noteworthy event of the year for the organization, there are many other times they look for help from volunteers, such as their Bowling Championship in the wintertime, the Basketball Regionals during the spring and the Polar Plunge in the cold month of February. The mission of the Special Olympics is to provide athletic opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities so that they can

enjoy the same freedoms as neurotypical people do. On the Northern California Special Olympics website (sonc.org/ getinvolved), the events are clearly presented so that opportunities are always happening. Special Olympics is a popular place to volunteer, so make sure to check the calendar in advance—at least a few months ahead—to snag a highly coveted spot. This organization is great for those who love working with people and are ready to dedicate a few hours in the sun to a good cause. There are many options for volunteering, whether it be as a referee, scorekeeper or simply someone who chats with the athletes. The Special Olympics’ strength is the extensive connections you can make with both the participating athletes and your fellow volunteers.

At the end of the day, what matters most in philanthropy is going out there and doing the hard work. Any organization can be fun as long as you go in with the right attitude. Nonetheless, these organizations are the best to maximize your experience, but more importantly, the positive impact you have on the community while volunteering.

mloebbaka@redwoodbark.org

A Valentine’s Day playlist for any relationship status

By Emma Lightfoot

As Feb. 14 approaches, many students worry about who they will celebrate the day with. Whether in the beginning of a new relationship, in love or in the middle of a break up, Valentine’s Day should always be experienced alongside music. Playlists catered to one’s specific relationship status can help enhance the spirit of the holiday. Here is every song you’ll need to fall in or out of love this Valentine’s Day. Just met: • “Fallin’ for You” - Colbie Caillat • “I’m Yours” - Jason Mraz • “All to Myself” - Dan + Shay • “Beautiful Crazy”- Luke Combs • “Our Song” - Taylor Swift • “Happily” - One Direction • “Catching Feelings” - Justin Bieber • “Butterflies” - Kacey Musgraves • “You Belong With Me” - Taylor Swift • “Just the Way You Are” - Bruno Mars Head over heels in love: • “Love on Top” - Beyoncé • “No One” - Alicia Keys

• • • • • • • •

“Perfect” - Ed Sheeran “You & I” - One Direction “Love Story” - Taylor Swift “You Make It Easy” - Jason Aldean “All Your’n” - Tyler Childers “Say You Won’t Let Go” - James Arthur “One and Only” - Adele “All of Me” - John Legend

Better off without them: • “This Love” - Maroon 5 • “Somebody That I Used to Know” - Gotye • “Cry Me a River” - Justin Timberlake • “Me and My Broken Heart” - Rixton • “Tears Dry On Their Own” - Amy Winehouse • “Love Yourself” - Justin Bieber • “Forget You” - CeeLo Green • “Better Now” - Post Malone • “Ridin’ Solo” - Jason Derulo • “Survivor” - Destiny’s Child elightfoot@redwoodbark.org

February 7, 2020 bark Page 20 • Review ‘Dolittle:’ the worst thing to happen to cinema since ‘Cats’ and uncomfortable performance. He plays the character as some sort of mix of the Mad Hatter and Jack Sparrow, but only combines the worst parts of each role. He stumbles about the screen toting an inconsistent Scottish accent that draws audience members right out of the film and into their heads where they wonder why they shoveled over $12 to see the collapse of Downey’s career.

Aided immensely by Downey’s performance, the film is overly crass and relies on humor that could be found on an elementary school playground. In defense of the film, some might say that it is made for kids, therefore allowing it to be of lower quality and to cater to three year olds. But in an age when Pixar can create award-winning animated films for kids like “Toy Story” and “Inside Out,” “Dolittle” has no excuse. In an especially unwatchable scene towards the end of its hour and a half runtime, Dolittle shoves his hand up a dragon’s butt, grabs a suit of metal armor and pulls it out which releases a fart that blows him backward at least two feet. The scene is baffling. Someone had to write the scene, multiple executives had to approve it, the set had to be built and lit, Downey had to act in it and an editing team had to spend weeks creating a computer-generated dragon butt. The infamous dragon scene is also the climax of a mystery woven throughout the story that was easily predictable from the first time it was lazily introduced.

With major missteps in front of and behind the camera, “Dolittle” is a sad glimpse into Hollywood’s darker and more misguided sectors. The only redeemable quality is the knowledge that the film will inevitably lose millions of dollars at the global box office.

By Garrett Cook After years of struggling with addiction and depression, acclaimed actor Robert Downey Jr. made a roaring comeback to his established acting career by playing the lead role in 2009’s “Iron Man.” Due to critical and commercial success, the film spawned a 22film franchise dubbed the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Led by Downey, the franchise follows a group of superheroes called The Avengers and has become the highest-grossing franchise of all time, according to Box Office Mojo. Downey had the leading role in nine of the films, so one could reasonably assume his aspirations after leaving the MCU would be high. However, that would be wrong, as he decided to produce and star in a new film called “Dolittle.”

Crude, boring and without human touch, “Dolittle” is an expensive mistake that should be avoided by audiences at all costs. Led by Downey’s career-low performance, the film is horrendously predictable and practically unwatchable.

“Dolittle” is set in early Victorian England and follows the adventures of John Dolittle who has a peculiar gift that allows him to communicate with animals. After hearing that the Queen of England has fallen ill, Dolittle, his apprentice and a band of animals embark on a perilous journey to find a hidden island that holds the cure to save the Queen.

Usually while watching a bad film, there is one main flaw that serves as the source of its mediocracy.

For instance, a lackluster script was mostly responsible for bringing down 2018’s “Aquaman,” an otherwise entertaining film. But, in the case of “Dolittle,” every aspect of the movie plummeted in a downward spiral after the first six minutes. That said, there was one flaw that was the most recognizable: Downey’s misguided

Images Coutesy of Universal Pictures

SITTING WITH HIS animal patients, Robert Downey Jr. strikes a pose for the 2020 ‘Dolittle’ film.

gcook@redwoodbark.org

The Eagles’ Greatest Hits album continues to fly high before final tour

By Aaron Kim After their debut in 1971, the Eagles became one of the most iconic American bands of all time. They cemented their legacy in country rock and brought to life several hit songs that, even now, are frequently heard in places from bustling cities to open countryside to foreign nations. Now, 49 years after the start of their career, the group will perform at the Chase Center on April 11 and 12 in their final tour. To commemorate the end of an era, let us remember some of their most iconic songs, specifically in their legendary and best-selling album of the 20th century: “The Eagles Greatest Hits 1971-1975.”

“Take It Easy” “Take It Easy” seems to be the motto for how the Eagles have lived their life so far. From when they first met in the 1970s until now, they embodied an easy-going, content attitude effectively portrayed through the song. With the laidback connotation in lyrics such as “I’m

standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona/ it’s such a fine sight to see,” “Take It Easy” is the perfect sing-along tune that can mold to any mood or experience. However, the song belongs in one place more than any other: the road. The adventurous and carefree attitudes make any road trip into an adventure, even if it is just a drive up to Costco.

constantly out of town spending his money.

The lyrics reveal the internal conflict she faces between the guilt and satisfaction she derives from cheating and mentions how her husband can see through her lies.

These elaborate lyrics turn the song from a meaningless compilation of lyrics to a story. “Lyin’ Eyes” is one for the ages and is a song that will melt hearts.

“Witchy Woman” As the second single released from their first album, “Witchy Woman” marks the beginning of the Eagles’ reign and songwriting career for lead singer Don Henley. As Henley describes it, the song is “the kind of stuff they play when the Indians ride up on the ridge while the wagon train passes below. It had a haunting quality.” The song differs from the typical relaxing tune of the Eagles to convey a more exciting atmosphere.

“Already Gone” “Already Gone” is the most upbeat song in the album, utilizing catchy lyrics such as “Cause I’m already gone/And I’m feelin’ strong/I will sing this vict’ry song” and a significant electric guitar presence to capture the lively mood of Southern California in the 1970s. Playing the song allows the listener to experience (or relive) the excitement of the time period.

“Lyin’ Eyes” Headed by Glenn Frey, their second lead vocalist, “Lyin’ Eyes” tells the story of a woman cheating on her husband who is

“Desperado” “Desperado” is so incredibly pure.

The lyrics, which focus on the importance of love and community and the emotions felt without them, along with the nostalgic melodies of piano and violin, make it my all-time favorite. Matching Henley’s powerful vocals with the timid presence of both the piano and violin allows the listener to internalize the words and emotion in Henley’s lyrics. It is empowering, moving and emotional, everything you could ever want from a thoughtful song.

“One of These Nights” If I had to choose one song to showcase the talent of each Eagles member, it would be “One of These Nights.” It has it all: Henley and Frey’s compatible voices, Randy Meisner’s high vocal range and an incredible guitar solo. The song is more than pleasing to the ear; it makes a statement about the time period by referring to incidents such as Watergate and the beginnings of disco music. For both its message and sound, “One of These Nights” is a powerhouse.

Image Coutesy of Rolling Stone

“Tequila Sunrise” True relaxation and peace can be difficult to achieve, but one way to get there is by wearing a pair of headphones with “Tequila Sunrise” playing. The gentle guitar paired with the band’s blend of

breathy voices makes the song calm and simple. Although the song tells a story of a troubled man longing for a woman, “Tequila Sunrise” remains a soothing and somewhat nostalgic hit.

I’m standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona/it’s such a fine sight to see.

The Eagles,

“Take it easy”

“Take It to the Limit” Although Henley and Frey headed the majority of the group’s hits, Meisner, primarily a guitarist, held a secret weapon that was revealed on “Take It to the Limit”: his high-pitched voice. A perfect example of the Southern California sound, a mix of country, rock and folk.

The song is one you can sing along to and, at the same time, reflect on.

“Peaceful Easy Feeling” Similar to “Take It Easy,” “Peaceful Easy Feeling” is the perfect song to blast driving down an open countryside. Once you listen to it a few times, you’ll never forget the catchy lyrics and masterful melody. It can transform any mood into (you guessed it) a peaceful easy feeling.

“The Best of My Love” “The Best of My Love” is a song that has the potential to evoke emotions like no other. Inspired by Henley’s break up with his girlfriend, the song appeals to all the broken hearts. With lyrics such as “You see it your way and I see it mine/ but we both see it slippin’ away,” the song shows a deeper level of thought and understanding. akim@redwoodbark.org

lifestyles

Page 21

Face to Face: How many genders are there?

By Isabel Ames Face-to-Face is a feature that allows two members of the Redwood community to grill each other, argue or simply converse about a relevant issue or event. We provide the topic, and they do the rest. This month’s participants are junior Julian Sidon, who identifies as male, and senior Leila Malone, who indentifies as nonbinary, discussing how many genders there are.

Quotes have been edited for concision.

How many genders are there?

Julian Sidon: I think there are two genders.

Leila Malone: I think it’s a complicated question because gender is really on a spectrum compared to sex, which is more black and white. You hear a lot of LGBT people say gender is a construct, which I don’t believe is true.

It’s more that gender roles are a construct. The main gender groups are male, female and then there’s intersex, where you can have aspects of both genders. [Intersex] is generally pretty rare. Then there’s agender, or non-binary, which is the lack of gender.

What’s the difference between sex and gender, if there is any?

JS: I don’t think there’s a difference. I’m not convinced that anyone can use any classification and compel the rest of society to use that classification. That goes against your first amendment rights. People can think what they want, but they either fall into male or female on their legal documents. I just think that those feelings are separate from gender and sex, which I still feel are essentially the same thing. The definition has been very recently changed, but I don’t think that that’s right. I think that it’s just a feeling. Gender is a hard line. Sex is a hard line. Possibly gender identity is more open to the spectrum that [Leila] talked about.

LM: Sex is what you came out as, what your biological

organs are, what your prominent sex hormone is, whether it’s testosterone or estrogen/progesterone. Gender is more of an identity than what is ingrained in you. However, gender and gender identity, I believe, are two different things. If you are born female, and you realize that you feel like you were born in the wrong body, and you identify as a male, and you’re going through that process of transition, then you have the right to say, ‘Hey, I identify as male.

Can you please use he/him pronouns out of respect?’ But

Photo by Isabel Ames

I think there has to be some kind of hardline where legally you should fall under these categories.

Is it disrespectful to mis-gender someone who identifies as a gender other than their biological sex? Why or why not?

JS: I would argue that it is disrespectful if you’re continually doing this against their will. I think it’d be more respectful to just use their name or use they/them, whichever they prefer. But I think that when you take it across the legal line, that is still freedom of speech, and the fact that people are being put out of business and shamed

for this is a little bit outlandish, unconstitutional.

LM: Yeah. It is disrespectful to mis-gender someone if it’s been a repeated issue.

Is it okay to assume someone’s gender?

LM: You can assume until you know different. Unless you correct me, I’m going to continue to assume.

JS: Yes, I would agree. People will automatically make assumptions. That’s the way it is. No one comes and sits down and asks me, ‘What are your pronouns? What is your gender?’ That isn’t how society works. If someone else feels that they’re being disrespected, you can work with that.

How should bathroom laws be enforced for transgender and non-binary people?

JS: I think that you should go to the bathroom that you were assigned at birth. I don’t think that the community as a whole should have to feel uncomfortable or bend to you. Many people don’t really mind, but there’s definitely people that do mind and I think that you should just stick to what you are biologically. The more [politically correct] thing to do for institutions is to have gender neutral bathrooms and private bathrooms. Out of respect for everyone, if it is an institution, then they should try to accommodate everyone.

LM: I think it really depends on how you appear because the most important thing, no matter what, is to make yourself comfortable. Use [the bathroom] you want to use unless you’re making someone upset. I think gender neutral bathrooms are a very easy way to say ‘anyone can come here no matter what.’ Rather than saying, ‘Go in this one or go on this one, choose and just go.’ Ideally every place of business, and especially every school because of Title IX, should have a gender neutral bathroom. iames@redwoodbark.org

The down low on skier Max Osterman’s downhill

By Katie Parsons “I would definitely say I’m an adrenaline seeker.

[Skiing] definitely feeds that. I like the freedom; I can do whatever I want. If I’m feeling relaxed, I can have a chill day, or if I’m feeling energetic, I can push myself to the limit,” junior Max Osterman said.

Osterman clicked into his first pair of skis at the age of three and has been skiing competitively for the Squaw Valley competitive team since the winter of 2018. During the winter season, typically from late Nov. to April, Osterman attends practices every weekend, leaving Corte Madera on Friday afternoons and returning on Sunday evenings. “[Weekend practices] have definitely had an impact on my social life. I don’t get to hang out with my friends nearly as much as I used to, but I love skiing, so it’s worth it for me,” Osterman said.

Being on the ski team is not only a large commitment for the skier but for parents as well. According to Max’s father, Garth Osterman, Max’s appreciation for skiing makes it worth it.

“Any parent is going to tell you that it’s really tough, but [Max] makes it that much easier because he is so committed. You can never get [him] to wake up early for any other sporting event. But he will wake up as early as he needs to ski. It is the one thing that he’s like, ‘Yes, I want to do this,’” Garth said.

Living in Marin provides some challenges for Max as he isn’t able to ski every day like the majority of his teammates who live in Tahoe. However, according to Max’s coach, Colin Gordon, his inability to ski as frequently has fueled his desire to improve and keep up with his peers.

“For those that have to commute and don’t get to ski as much as the rest of the team, it’s a disadvantage. But I think it makes [Max] that much more fired up,” Gordon said. “He’s been able to progress a bunch. He gets a lot more confident and skilled and is getting better every day.”

According to Max, one of his greatest accomplishments was landing his double backflip on Dec. 8, 2019.

Training for advanced tricks is extremely dangerous and can often result in injury, which Max has experienced first-hand. In the winter of 2015, Max was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance after suffering a major fall in Sun Valley, Idaho.

“He couldn’t move and [the doctors were] worried about his neck and spine. It was extremely emotional. It was the first time we experienced what could happen if he hurt himself,” Garth said.

JUNIOR MAX OSTERMAN completed his first double backflip in December of 2019.

However, even after this experience, Max has not let fear overpower his drive.

“Fear is a big thing, but I just kind of learned to not let it get to me. The more worried I am at the top [of the run], the better it feels when I land [a trick]. I kind of use that fear to push myself and get better,” Max said.

Max’s teammate, Jack Lyons, lives in Tahoe and has been on the ski team for nearly eight years. According to Lyons, Max came into the season nervous but has since gained a new confidence that has enabled him to outperform his competition in races and become a ‘hype beast’ for the team. “[In the beginning], [Max] didn’t want to try as much stuff as I wanted to. Once he gained confidence, we started to feed off each other and do crazy stuff... Max is more advanced than me now, I would say,” Lyons said.

Max’s confidence in skiing has not only impacted his performance on the slopes but his character overall.

“The first time I saw him around the mountain, it gave him so much confidence to be on Squaw competitive team with the way he smiled and how he handled himself,” Garth said. “That confidence translates to everything. I think he’s always been a confident kid, but [skiing] has

Photo Courtesy of Garth Osterman

really created a maturity.”

In a typical practice, Max and his teammates ski a variety of runs on the mountain with their coach to enhance skills and practice new tricks. Although Max enjoys working alongside his teammates during practice, the independence of skiing alone in competitions allows him to hold himself more accountable.

“I would say that the team aspect is a lot different for me. For skiing, you’re on a team, but it’s not like other sports playing on the field with other kids,” Max said.

“You’re on a team, but you’re also kind of by yourself… and I like that. If I make a mistake, it’s on me.”

Although Max’s time on a competitive team has been relatively short thus far, he hopes to continue skiing in the long term.

“In the future, I hope to get better. Getting a sponsor and competing [professionally] is what I’m working towards,” Max said. “I just want to continue what I love doing.”

kparsons@redwoodbark.org

bark Page 22 • Lifestyles Beyond skin deep: uncovering the meaning under the ink

By Olivia Kharrazi For thousands of years, humans have tattooed their bodies, permanently decorating their skin with art. Scientists have found evidence of tattoos dating back to circa 3250 B.C. Though the art itself and the motives behind it varies depending on the individual, there is always a story hidden beneath the ink. To unearth the deeper meanings behind tattoos in our community, both students and teachers shared the stories behind their tattoos.

azi Photo by Olivia Kharr

JOHNSTON’S SENIOR SPENCER te to his time in tattoo ser ves as a tribu the Team program.

SPENCER JOHNSTON Senior Spencer Johnston got his tattoo on his 18th birthday, an illustration of the infinite knot on the side of his calf.

“For me, [the symbol] represents the duality of the rational mind and the irrational heart,” Johnston said.

Beneath the inked knot are the words “GO LIGHT,” representing Johnston’s time at Team, a program for juniors in the Tamalpais Union High School District incorporating academics, outdoor experiences and community service.

“It was the best year of my life so far.

All of the backpacking and hiking trips were really a challenge, both physically and mentally, but I really got to learn about myself and the world around us,” Johnston said. “It was just such a good community that really had a big impact on me.”

The words on Johnston’s tattoo come from “For the Children,” a Gary Snyder poem that one of his Team teachers read to his class.

The poem is about raising kids, and although Johnston does not have kids himself, the poem still holds meaning for him.

“The whole line is ‘stay together/learn the flowers/go light,’ and that reminds me of Team and all the things we would do

together. [My teacher] would always stop off on the trail to show us the flowers and their names and stuff like that,” Johnston said.

Not only do tattoos remind individuals about important aspects of their lives, but Johnston believes tattoos provide a sense of identity for each individual.

“We like to put ourselves in groups or communities as people. I think that’s just human nature, and this, for me, tags back to Team, so that helps me to identify myself,” Johnston said.

SAMANTHA MAURO Math teacher Samantha Mauro got her latest tattoo on her forearm only a few months ago after years of contemplating what she wanted.

The forearm piece displays four poppies, representing her hometown in San Diego, growing next to a redwood tree, representing Northern California.

Not only do the plants themselves symbolize important places in her life, but each of the four poppies and the redwood represents someone important to her.

“The redwood represents my husband, and then the poppies represent my mom, my dad, my sister and one of my grandmas.

They all know who each other are. They know which one is theirs,” Mauro said.

Mauro has a total of four tattoos, and although if she could go back in time she would not get some of them again, she still has an appreciation for what they represent.

Photo by O EACH PL livia Kharra ANT IN Samantha math teach zi Mauro’s er represents tattoo an influenti latest al person in life. her

“I think they’re really good timestamps of where you were in your life at that point and kind of represent, ‘Oh, that’s what I was into when I was 18, that’s what I was into when I was 21, this is what I was into at 28,’” Mauro said.

NICOLE GRAYDON Physical education teacher Nicole Graydon has a total of eight tattoos on her body, many of which represent her interests in life.

Three of her tattoos are representative of her love for taekwondo, and a wave featured on her ankle is a tribute to her love of rowing and surfing.

Photo

by Olivia Kharrazi THE LAVENDER IN teacher Nicole Graydon’s arm tatto o represents the lavender found in he r childhood home.

She also has an outline of the state of California on her inner ankle, a tattoo she got with her friend who moved to Miami.

A watercolor of lavender flowers is painted on her right arm, due to its abundance around the house she grew up in.

Loopy letters above the watercolor spell the word “LOVE.” On her calf is a heart with a peace sign drawn within it, a tattoo she got for her brother.

Graydon’s multitude of tattoos spawned from the significant part art has played in her life: her father, both her brothers and her aunts from her mother’s side of the family were all artists.

She and her brother have their late father’s logo, the letter “g,” that he used when he was an artist. Below the symbol is the word “dynamo,” written in her father’s handwriting. This tattoo was Graydon’s first, as it was important to her that she got something that honored him.

“When I was 18, my dad wrote me a

February 7, 2020

letter for a scholarship I was applying to and the first line was ‘There is a human dynamo who lives in my house.’ That really meant a lot to me, so I got that tattooed. My dad died of suicide when I was 21, so I got those for him,” Graydon said.

CAMILLE DUPUY Senior Camille Dupuy got her first tattoo over spring break in Hawaii when she was 17.

The tattoo is a small lavender plant on her ankle in honor of her mom, who accompanied her to the parlor because she was underaged.

“Whenever [my mom] sees lavender, she picks it. It makes me think of her,” Dupuy said.

Her second tattoo, a paper airplane on her wrist, commemorates her late grandfather who was an airplane pilot.

Though most of her family do not have tattoos, Dupuy had discussed the topic with both her family and her friends before deciding to get inked. She got the tattoo with Mahoney when she turned 18.

“I think [tattoos are] a really cool way to express yourself. And you can do it in more hidden ways…They kind of [use the outside to] show more of what’s on the inside,” Dupuy said.

ia Kharrazi

Photo by Oliv

s two LE DUPUY ha rent IL M A C R IO SEN a diffe presentative of tattoos, each re e. person in her lif

With an increasing prevalence of tattoos among young people, using one’s skin as a canvas preserves stories, making them everlasting. Whether it be to commemorate treasured memories or to represent a significant person, tattoos are unique ways to externally express one’s identity.

okharrazi@redwoodbark.org

Page 23• Lifestyles

www.redwoodbark.org

Corbin Mason tears up local waters with expertise

By Sofi Mincy It is a crisp, early morning at the beach. The marine layer hangs low, sliding down the coastal cliffs in blankets that hug the sea. The winter air pierces through a slick wetsuit, slowly numbing the body. Any lingering symptoms of morning drowsiness quickly fade as a set of waves roll in begin to grow. Cron, the local nickname for Rodeo Beach, looks welcoming: low tide, glassy water and sharp, right-breaking waves. Senior Corbin Mason heads for the ocean without hesitation.

Growing up in a family of surfers, the ocean has always been familiar to Mason. He was introduced early on by his father at Cron, but discovered his love for the sport with longtime friends Zan Curleigh and Ray Holmberg, seniors at Redwood and Drake respectively. In fact, before Curleigh and Holmberg, Mason refused to even enter the water when his family went to the beach.

“I hated surfing until sixth [or] seventh grade. [My family] would drive me to the beach and [while] they would all surf, I would literally sit in the car because I hated it that much,” Mason said. “[Then] I just started going out [with friends] and loved it.”

Northern California winters are known to bring larger swells that form longer sets and bigger waves. Discomfort in these harsh conditions quickly turned into skill and ease as Mason refined his craft. His level of confidence in the sport has only increased with time.

“I would definitely say when I first started surfing, my dad would push me kind of hard even when the waves were pretty big. I would get scared and then I wouldn’t want to go out again unless [the waves] were super small. That held me back a little bit. But then, once I got comfortable with it, it actually helped,” Mason said. “We started taking [the sport] more seriously, started going on surf trips together and then it really took over our lives.”

Northern California’s close proximity to the Farallon Islands offers potential for shark encounters, another one of the many dangers in the local surf. Despite knowing this, Mason and Holmberg are fueled by their passion to continue surfing. “[Mason’s stepdad saw a] 20-foot great white 10

minutes before we paddled out. He asked us if we cared or not, [and we didn’t]. He told [Mason] he was joking, but the whole time we knew there were great whites swimming around us, and we just stayed out and surfed [anyway],” Holmberg said.

Junior year, Mason and Curleigh decided to join the Half Moon Bay Surf Team, competing in the shortboard division. The added element of competition pushed the

Photo Courtesy of Zan Curleigh

A MEMBER OF the Tamalpais District’s Pathways program, Mason always finds time to surf after class. two to practice almost every day of the week, traveling south to Half Moon Bay three of those days. Whoever performed the best during their Half Moon Bay practices was added to the competition roster. Because of this added

bark

pressure, Curleigh finds competitive surfing both a mental and physical challenge.

“It’s like two different sports, free surfing and competitive surfing. It’s a lot more strategic when you’re surfing competitively because you only have 15 minutes and they score your best two waves, so you have to really think ahead. ‘Do I want to go for this wave?’ ‘Do I want to go for this one?’ ‘What should I do?’” Curleigh said.

Mason hopes to continue his surfing career in college with the Loyola Marymount University surf team, which he has committed to. As of now, he still surfs almost every day for the Tam Surf team and National Surf Scholastics Association (NSSA), both part of the Santa Cruz Scholastic Surf League. Even though Tam’s team is a more laid back program open to all Tamalpais Union High School students, members have the opportunity to compete down in Santa Cruz once a month, or whenever the swell is best.

At a particular competition in Santa Cruz, Mason finished in fourth place out of 60 other surfers.

Through Mason’s success in surfing, the ocean has become his second home. Wanting to share his experiences and knowledge with others, Mason traveled down to Mexico with some friends during spring break of his junior year.

“Last spring break I went down with a couple of my friends. They brought [equipment] down and we put on a clinic for kids in Mexico,” Mason said. “We taught them how to compete and what the techniques for [competing] are. For the kids who didn’t know how to surf, we taught them how.”

Whether it’s his friends and family or others who simply love the ocean, Mason has found a way to unify the people around him through surfing. Even Holmberg, who grew up surfing with Mason, continues to look up to him today.

“His surfing [and how good he’s gotten] is pretty inspiring. I’ve never been as good as he has, and he always inspires me to get better. I look at what he does in the water and try to improve what I do,” Holmberg said. smincy@redwoodbark.org

Ian Leifer’s fascination for film fuels motivation for Redwood TV

By PJ Pfeiffer “For me, videography came out of boredom. In third grade, I was on my iPad and there was this app where you could edit videos, and I accidentally matched the music to the video. I was just mesmerized…I guess it progressed from there to get more and more advanced, and my curiosity didn’t stop,” Ian Leifer, junior filmer and executive producer for Redwood TV (RTV), said.

After re-discovering videography during his eighth grade year-abroad trip to Spain, Leifer was inspired to become more involved and comfortable with film. In Barcelona, Leifer often played soccer with his friend. However, having no previous experience playing soccer, Leifer used his beginner level videography skills to film his friend playing the sport instead, as a way to immerse himself with that aspect of Spanish culture.

“I decided that [my friend and I] would start a YouTube channel. It was kind of silly, but it was fun because he would play soccer and do trick shots, and I would be

able to film videos of him. I think that from that experience, I learned how to edit better and how to film,” Leifer said.

Leifer’s involvement in Spain gave him ample opportunity to realize both his natural and potential skills. He began to understand how to integrate aspects of his surroundings to fuel his fascination for filming.

Leifer has since progressed his skills, tackling RTV and a variety of personal projects, focusing on broadening his skills in and out of school to produce a variety of film genres.

“Last year, I filmed a five minute documentary about suicide in the Bay Area and suicide prevention,” Leifer said. “Right now I’m working on my first feature film called ‘Opposite of Bliss.’ I’m working with some college students on it in San Francisco, and we’re making an hour and a half film.”

Leifer also mentioned that one reason he loves filming is that it gives him an opportunity to capture events around him, whether that be current issues or sports montages. It also gives him the ability to

Photo Courtesy of Ian Leifer

LEIFER (RIGHT) TAKES a break with actor, junior Jack Sinatra, while filming “The Audition.”

Photo Courtesy of Ian Leifer

PEERS WATCH LEIFER (middle) film the opening shot for his short film “Dear Shelby,” made during a San Francisco film summer camp in 2018. work closely with others and create a sense of community with his peers.

Due to his fervor for videography, Leifer submitted an application for RTV at the end of his freshman year and was accepted into the program. Junior Bella Sanchez joined RTV at the same time as Leifer and has spent hours working alongside him. With strict deadlines every week, Sanchez applauds Leifer’s ability to persevere through the rigorous work while also finding the time to assist his peers. “[Leifer] does a lot of the scheduling [which] really helps us stay organized…

He does a lot of work and tries to get everything done. During filming, Ian is almost always there,” Sanchez said.

Leifer co-produces RTV with juniors Connor Moon and Miranda Ward along with senior Garrett Cook, who all collectively run the class.

“Being an executive producer means that you are responsible for running and managing Redwood TV and making sure the workflow is efficient while everybody is happy and productive. You also have to make sure everything that comes out on

Thursday is at the highest quality that it can possibly be at,” Leifer said.

Ward regularly works with Leifer to ensure every segment is polished and ready to be viewed. She believes he brings a great presence to the class through his dedication to the entire film process. “[Leifer is] determined, creative, motivated, funny and nice…. He’s been to almost every single shoot that we’ve ever done. He does a lot of work [for RTV],” Ward said.

In the future, Leifer hopes to continue filming projects for RTV while also improving his videography skills with the hope of eventually producing more of his own films.

“I just want to get better and keep on finding ways to use a camera to tell stories,” Leifer said. “I’m very honored that I have this position and that I’ve been able to continue doing something that I’ve loved to do my entire life.”

ppfeiffer@redwoodbark.org

The Benyon sisters are ‘Just Dancing’ their way through life Story and photos by Francesca Fox

After waking up early, applying a full face of makeup, styling their hair and driving two hours, senior Skye Benyon and junior Jenna Benyon arrive at the dance competition they spent countless hours preparing for. Skye may shake with nerves for her ballet solo while Jenna shows no sign of anxiety for her jazz piece. Unlike other siblings, their shared commitment to competitive dance gives them a unique opportunity to spend a large amount of their free time supporting one another.

Growing up in Sydney, Australia, the Benyon sisters began taking preparatory ballet classes at the age of three and have been dancing together ever since. In 2008, their family moved to California because of their dad’s work, returned to Australia in 2011 and moved back to Marin in 2014.

Skye believes the extra time she spends with her sister at dance helped her through moving.

“Moving countries is really hard, and doing it three times was not fun,” Skye person [close to my age] who was [also] going through it that I could spend a lot of time with.”

Almost immediately after both times they moved to Marin, Jenna and Skye enrolled at Just Dance Academy (JDA) in San Rafael. They currently take ballet, contemporary, jazz and pointe classes, in addition to being a part of JDA’s competitive dance team which competes three times a year. While they have normal dance classes throughout the week, they dedicate an additional six hours on Saturdays preparing for competitions.

According to their dance teacher and choreographer Jenna Jones, dancing on a competitive team requires a more intense dancer because they are held to a higher standard. competition [dance], and we do expect dancers to have a very strong level of technique,” Jones said. “They also need to have a very strong work ethic because we allow zero to minimal absences for the competition rehearsals.”

Jones says that dance teachers strive closer towards perfection with their competition dancers because judges notice the subtle mistakes in performances nondancers might miss.

“When we have our regular dance recitals, [the students are] performing for family and friends, but when you go to competition, all of the [judges and] people in the audience are dancers,” Jones said.

“They know exactly what it means if you’re sickling your foot or if the timing is slightly off.”

Because of this added pressure, competitions can sometimes be an intimidating and stressful experience for Skye and Jenna.

“Competitions are kind of terrifying, not going to lie,” Skye said. “What scares me, personally, is the fear of letting myself down, doing worse than I know I could, letting down my teachers [and] letting down my friends in a group piece.”

While competitions can be scary for Skye, Jenna feels less intimidated because she considers JDA’s team less competitive than others.

“I used to have anxiety as a child, but now I don’t get scared backstage,” Jenna said. “I feel better seeing Skye, but I don’t really get nervous anymore [because] nobody really cares [about winning]. I’m just there for the experience.”

When it comes to feeling anxious during competitions, having each other eases some of the stress.

“If I’m backstage, it really helps to see and hug [Jenna],” Skye said. “Just

[knowing] that she’s there and that she supports me grounds me and makes me feel calm.”

Freshman Luca Bernardini has danced years. According to Bernardini, they have been a vital part of the competitive team.

“Jenna is loud and does more hardhitting jazz dances, and Skye is quiet and does more ballet,” Bernardini said. “They [both] are so encouraging and supportive.

They support everybody and scream for everybody in a good way.” differences contribute to the team’s dynamic.

“Skye’s strengths are classical ballet and contemporary, and she’s relatively quiet in class: very respectful and very focused. She’s just a super easy-going, great student,” Jones said. “Jenna is great in a different way. I would say her strength cheering other people on [and is] wild and fun.”

With the second semester of her senior year underway, Skye has decided she in college but does not intend to major in dance. In the meantime, Skye and Jenna will savor the last few months they have dancing together. ffox@redwoodbark.org