October 2021

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Volume LXV, No. 2 • October 29, 2021 • Larkspur, CA

Kaylen Shaw, 2021 Homecoming Royal P.1

Photo by Avery Aguero

Redwood High School 395 Doherty Drive, Larkspur, CA 94939 www.redwoodbark.org Editors-in-Chief: Hollis Belger Taylor Elliott Kent Goodman Ryo Weng Art Consultants: Keely Ganong Brooke Leslie Calla McBride Business Managers: Samantha Michaels Keegan Williams Multimedia Editor: Caroline Scharf Survey Manager: Survey Manager: AnnaLise Sandrich Social Media Manager: Sydney Liebhauser Podcast Editor: Podcast Editor: Nathan Ash Sophie Smallhorn Video Editor Video Editors: Sterling Lazarus Hannah Morgan

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Copy Editors: Samantha Elegant (Head Copy) Ava Koblik (Head Copy) Natalie Tress (Head Copy) Rori Anderson Will Baker Chloe Bishop Kelly Chuang Sarah Goody Ella Kharrazi Kate McHugh Anna Royal Gemma Strauss Julia Fr Rori Anderson Reporters: Arjun Aujla Matt Benbow Peter Biss Sophia Buckholtz Gemma Favaloro Alex Fisch Justine Fisch Nina Geoghegan Sylvan Gordon-Wagen Chloe Craft Sabrina Kizer Kana Kojima Alyssa McCadden Lily Reese Gillian Reynolds Sofia Ruliffson John Seifer Claire Silva Madeline Sofnas Ani Svendsen Allie Vasquez Natalie Welch Dylan Zorn Caitlin Beard Alexandrea Coe

Opinion Editors: Stella Bennett Caroline Goodhart Ingrid Houtkooper Feature Editors: Casey Braff Bella Piacente Hannah Sellers Lifestyles Editors: Julia Frankus Annie Goldstein Sophie Smallhorn Sports Editors: Sam Kimball Declan McDaniels Dani Steinberg News Editors: Libby Hughes Shyla Lensing Abigail Shewmaker Review Editor Review Editor: Avery Aguero Ava Razavi Chris Vargelis Spanish Editor: Spanish Editor: Charlotte DeForrest

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Volume LXIV, No. 2 • October 29, 2021 • Larkspur, CA

People’s Park

11

Best hikes in Marin Sports Spotlight

19

WellnessSpecialist Specialist Wellness Stapleton Ballet

22

redwood high school ● 395 doherty dr., larkspur, ca 94939 ● volume LXIV, no. 2 ● october 29, 2021 ● www.redwoodbark.org

Redwood crowns first non-binary Homecoming Royal: Kaylen Shaw

By Gemma Strauss and Allie Vasquez “[Growing up] I didn’t coincide with what everyone thought a man should look like. Then I realized, why do I have to be a model of what anyone expects?” senior Kaylen Shaw, this year’s Homecoming Royal, said.

This year the Leadership class changed the homecoming ceremony to only crown one Homecoming Royal. The senior class nominated 12 seniors and three were nominated by faculty, and the whole student body voted for the final Royal. They made this change to one final Royal in an effort to neutralize gendered terms of “king” and “queen” and include students of all gender identities.

Shaw made Redwood history by becoming the first openly non-binary student to win the title of Homecoming Royal on Oct. 16, 2021. For the Homecoming Royal reveal, all of the candidates lined up on the field at halftime during the homecoming football game, with their individual boxes hiding a rose inside. The winner’s rose was white while the others were red.

Senior Raine Conti was nominated to the homecoming court, as she is known for her participation and work in the Redwood theater program. A self-identified ally of the LGBTQ+ community, Conti was thrilled for Shaw to be crowned Homecoming Royal.

“I was so happy when [Shaw] opened the box [with the] white rose. I think the entire school [was thrilled] because it was not only exciting for the winner, it’s just so exciting to have that representation,” Conti said.

Leadership teacher Melissa Boles saw how Shaw’s role solidified their place as a leader in the Redwood community.

“When [Shaw] won, they seemed surprised. And my guess is that the surprise was also genuine that they did not realize how many people look up to them. They’ve definitely become a figurehead,” Boles said.

According to Conti, Shaw has always been a role model

to students at Redwood. Known for pushing the societal boundaries of gender, specifically through style, Shaw defies traditional gender stereotypes. Over quarantine in 2020, Shaw explored fashion and broke traditional gender

stereotypes.

“I did think a lot about gender and gender roles historically, what masculinity looked like hundreds of years ago, and where that puts me as a person and my femininity. Then I just decided at one point that those things aren’t really tangible, femininity and masculinity; there’s not a real list to check off that makes you more feminine; what makes you more masculine? All of it is pretty much subjective,” Shaw said.

Will Fitzgerald, who has been close with Shaw since middle school, believes that Shaw’s win was welldeserved.

“I think that [Shaw deserved to win because they] have done a lot artistically and contributed to the social environment [at Redwood]. They always have this constant positive energy and ability to make everyone feel happier,” Fitzgerald said.

Fitzgerald also believes that their win brings up a bigger conversation about non-binary visibility at Redwood.

“I think that it [also] creates a space for correction and opportunity for people to start recognizing pronouns. For a lot of people that don’t have non-binary friends, they realize ‘oh, they use they/them pronouns,’” Fitzgerald said.

Conti also sees this as a positive reflection of Redwood’s values, and a step towards the school progressing even more with the LGBTQ+ community.

“This was a concrete example of a shift in the right direction,” Conti said. “I think it’s really great that the student body could band together and vote for somebody who just deserves it, especially somebody who identifies as non-binary. It is a progressive stance showing that ‘We [support this person.] That’s somebody that the entire school chose to represent Redwood for the whole year.’”

Photo by Avery Aguero

FACING THE CROWD of students in the stands, Kaylen Shaw is crowned the 2021 Homecoming Royal.

bark@redwoodbark.org

San Rafael declares a state of climate emergency

By Ella Kharrazi Following the climate emergency declarations made by the cities of Tiburon, Fairfax, Novato, San Anselmo and Corte Madera, San Rafael announced a climate emergency on Sept. 21. In a unanimous vote, the San Rafael City Council voted in favor of the declaration. The city further discussed its plans regarding climate action at a community forum held on Oct. 21, which San Rafael holds quarterly. San Rafael previously took action to mitigate climate change, and the declaration ensures the city will continue to prioritize sustainability. With its addition, San Rafael will specifically align their policies with the state of California. For example, they are making sure their greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to 40 percent below the 1990 level by 2030, as outlined by the state.

San Rafael City Council member Eli Hill emphasizes that San Rafael has been taking steps to decrease greenhouse gas emissions for several years now. The city received the 2021 Beacon Spotlight award for achieving 27 percent greenhouse gas reductions. “[The sustainability coordinator of San Rafael] recommended the council continue to do all the things that indicate we are taking real action and prioritizing our climate, so when we look at the time leading up to the declaration, we look at the priorities and goals the city has set,” Hill said.

San Rafael’s sustainability coordinator Cory Bytof also notes that the declaration has been in discussion for a few years now.

According to Bytof, the recent declaration acknowledged and recommitted to climate action, using it to reset San Rafael’s longterm climate goal. California’s former governor Jerry Brown signed an executive

order in 2018 pledging for the state to become carbon neutral by 2045. This goal was recognized in the San Rafael declaration.

In the Oct. 21 forum, Bytof noted that San Rafael is currently looking to adopt Senate Bill 1383, a new state law mandating composting edible food recovery from groceries and large restaurants. The city will have to buy back a certain amount of the compost created and find a use for it, such as repurposing the materials to prevent it from becoming waste. As of right now, the ordinance is being reviewed

by San Rafael’s legal department.

Joe Stewart, a teacher of Advanced Placement (AP) environmental science and sustainable agriculture, says he would not be surprised if Larkspur also declared a climate emergency in the future, but is not sure that a city declaration will necessarily change things for an entity such as

Photo by Ella Kharrazi

RISING SEA LEVELS are a significant concern for San Rafael, especially in the Canal area where many buildings will be lost.

Redwood.

“I doubt school administrators will look at a declaration and say, ‘Oh look, they said it is an emergency; let’s change everything about the school.’ I think it is much more likely that the city would make a mandate [following the declaration] that the school would then follow,” Stewart said.

Pamela Reaves, co-chair of Marin Conservation League’s Climate Change Working Group, says the declaration can support those promoting climate change.

“It can add muscle to staff, activists and electors who want to put money towards projects that will do the most good for mitigation and adaptation because we are seriously in trouble [in terms of climate change],” Reaves said.

Reaves further mentioned that the declaration shows the development of San Rafael’s City Council in addressing the climate crisis. “[The declaration] sets a tone that five years ago was not at all in the City Council.

They used to say things like ‘That’s important, but we have these other things to take care of,’” Reaves said. “Now, the City Council has a Climate Action Plan for 2030 and holds quarterly community forums to implement the plan. [The council now sees] that the world is burning around us and we are in a drought. The sea level is rising.”

Reaves is particularly concerned about sea levels rising in the San Rafael Canal, the area east of Francisco Blvd.

“That whole area is in danger if things are left as is. Housing and important industrial areas there will be lost, so decisions have to be made with people who live and work in the Canal area. It’s not like climate change is going to go away or the sea level will stop rising,” Reaves said.

Stewart and Hill both address the importance of education and

Photo by Ella Kharrazi

ON SEPT. 21, San Rafael’s City Council voted unanimously in favor of declaring a climate emergency. comprehension of the issue in confronting climate change. Stewart finds education to be a useful tool in making a difference.

“I think that the environment, in particular, is a really important thing for us to be aware of, to understand and to try to support, especially with the fires that we’ve been facing and seeing increased flooding and other major events that are directly related to climate change around the world,” Stewart said.

Hill’s goals for San Rafael include ensuring that, as a community, San Rafael is as informed as possible.

“I am most moved by the impact [climate change] will have on future generations,” Hill said. “I hope that knowledge will guide our decision-making for ourselves and for our future generations and that we have the opportunity to be able to measurably make these changes.” ekharrazi@redwoodbark.org

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Page 2 • News

October 29, 2021

Photo Survey What is your favorite afterschool snack and why?

“Strawberries because they are refreshing.”

Teddy Gove freshman

“Hot Cheetos because they’re damn good.”

Luke Piacente sophomore

“Pretzels because you can eat them with hummus and they are very delicious.”

“I like rice with vegetables because it’s warm and I can eat it quickly.”

Kate Giang

Annalea Sreba

junior

senior

Government shutdown avoided by continuing resolutions bill

By Dani Steinberg

By Dec. 3, if a government funding bill is not passed, the U.S. will face a government shutdown. On Thursday, Sept. 30, the overall government funding for every federal program, such as Medicare, discretionary spending to colleges and payment for federal employees, was set to expire. If the funding had ceased, another government shutdown, similar to the 2019 shutdown, would have ensued. To avoid this, President Joe Biden signed legislation on the same date, Sept. 30, just before current funding expired, that extended funding for all national programs until Dec. 3, otherwise known as a continuing resolution bill.

Government teacher Derek Denardo has been staying updated with the passing of the funding bill and reasons why the extension is necessary.

“They had no choice, the government would have had no money to pay any of it is bills so [the continuing resolution] had to be done,” Denardo said.

Denardo acknowledged the importance of the continuing resolution, but questioned the extension’s effectiveness.

“I’m concerned [that Congress] only gave themselves another two months,” Denardo said. “I don’t see how any

Photo by Dani Steinberg

ATTENTIVELY LISTENING TO club president Athena Raskin, Caroline Goodrich along with the rest of the Democrat Club learn about the debt ceiling.

and that, as seen before, causes catastrophe … It costs the country millions, even billions of dollars to [shutdown],” Haubold said.

While the continuing resolutions bill is only temporary, it provides members of the House of Representatives with more time to form an agreement. Representatives will decide how to handle the overall federal budget, which has been a point of contention between the two major political parties as the deadline to pass the funding approached.

Throughout the negotiations surrounding the federal budget, Democrats had hoped to combine the funding bill with an extension of the American debt ceiling. The Republicans only accepted limitedly expanding funding Image courtesy of Gerd Altmann for the federal government once the debt ceiling bill and THE U.S. LARGELY depends on government funding the federal funding were separated.

Junior Caroline Goodrich, a member of the Redwood for multiple programs, such as Medicare, to continue Democrat Club believes another government shutdown functioning. occurring due to the funding of these conflicts [that delayed funding] bill would be destructive to our are going to disappear in two months.” country.

Without the continuing resolutions Goodrich recounted the bill, the government would have closed 2019 government shutdown, on Friday, Oct. 1. Similarly, without and how, afterward, it took a debt extension to the American debt an extensive amount of time limit, which is how much money the for the country to recover country can borrow to assist in federal economically. programs, that president Biden signed “A government shutdown on Oct. 14, the country would have means there is no more reached its borrowing limit on Oct. funding for the government.

18, leading to a shutdown. Closing It is very embarrassing on the government would mean that the world stage,” Goodrich the U.S. would have no resources to said. “[Shutting down] causes pay employees, leading to millions millions of people to lose their becoming temporarily unemployed jobs. They have no pay, they without income until the government have nothing they can rely on Jack Haubold, reopens. because they don’t have their Junior State of America (JSA) club junior benefits.” president Jack Haubold conducted his While both the funding own research while also discussing bill and debt ceiling have the continuing resolutions bill with his received extensions into early fellow JSA members. He believes that expanding the funding for these essential programs was December, the possibility of a government shutdown remains. crucial. “[The continuing resolutions bill] is absolutely necessary… otherwise our government would shut down dsteinberg@redwoodbark.org

[The continuing resolutions bill] is absolutely necessary... otherwise our government would shut down.

Page 3 • News

www.redwoodbark.org

‘The Addams Family’ revitalizes the drama program

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By Sam Kimball and Ava Razavi After months of rehearsing, the Ensemble Production Company drama department (EPiC) premiered its first show of the 2021-2022 school year, “The Addams Family,” on Oct. 20. The play is an upbeat and energetic musical that follows a kooky family obsessed with death and their twisted shenanigans. Traditionally, Redwood plays exclusively cast drama students, but for this year’s edition, “The Addams Family” auditions were open to the entire school. This provided students with a unique taste of drama, from which they could decide whether or not to enroll.

Those who were seeking to join “The Addams Family” cast were requested to participate in a two-day long audition process, where they were asked to dance, read a scene and perform a song.

Freshman Gemma Fox, a long-time theatre student throughout middle school recently joined the drama program and was nervous about the audition process, especially since she was trying out as an underclassman. Fox attended both normal auditions and callbacks in order to be cast as a primary character.

“The normal auditions were more dance, and in the callbacks, we had to sing a song for a certain character … it was really nerve-wracking since there were a lot of seniors auditioning,” Fox said.

Despite her nerves, Fox was cast as Wednesday Addams, one of the leads in the play.

Senior Cal Olcott, a four-year drama student and an active performer in Redwood’s plays, is starring as Uncle Fester. He finds that musicals Berit Pigott, are particularly sophomore strenuous due to the multitasking they entail.

“A musical is a lot of extra work,” Olcott said. “Obviously, acting is difficult, singing is difficult [and] dancing is difficult.

Combining all three into one scene and one play is a lot harder than you might think when you look at it. Everyone’s [giving] their all.”

Sophomore Berit Pigott, doublee cast as Uncle Fester, described the difficulties of “The Addams Family” in particular. “‘The Addams Family’ itself is a very

Photo by Sam Kimball

REACHING OUT TOWARDS the audience, the musical’s ensemble cast, dressed as dead ancestors, start opening night on a high note. high-energy show, particularly for [the] many duties to fulfill behind the scenes a lot of students have [the] voice to make the production their own.” ensemble.

There’s throughout the process.

“During the performances, I was For the students in the drama a lot of creativity involved; every backstage making sure the props were all department, “The Addams Family” provided them day we’re doing in their places, with a sense something different,” everyone was in their costumes of community Pigott said. and connection Rehearsals took [and that] everyone they lacked place four days knew where they over the course a week, for two were going to be of distance months, and consisted and what they were learning. of choreography going to be doing,” “Being back sessions, vocal Berkowitz said.

Many cast is definitely lessons and scene claim nice, as the work for performers. members and drama program Students completed Berkowitz really suffered an array of tasks the other student managers because of each day before stage COVID-19,” they could rehearse are “running the which Olcott said. the show, forming a show,” unique to “There were daily routine over time. Students sign in is a lot of for attendance, receive announcements Redwood’s drama Cal Olcott, difficulties, but and instructions from stage managers and program. senior “What this actually being then break into groups to work on various program is able to just do scenes. what we signed However, cast members were not renowned for is up to do is a the only people present throughout this its input from process. Stage managers and students who students. The students are making the sets blast. I missed it a lot and I think everyone ran the show worked hard in preparation for and the costumes … there is a very heavy else did too.” opening night. Senior Katherine Berkowitz aspect of it being student-run,” Olcott said. was a stage manager for the show and had “It’s not just ‘you’re being told what to do,’ bark@redwoodbark.org

‘The Addams Family’ itself is a very high-energy show, particularly for the ensemble.

It’s not just ‘you’re being told what to do,’ a lot of students have [the] voice to make the production their own.

Photo by Ava Razavi

Photo by Sam Kimball

REHEARSING A DRAMATIC scene, leads Catherine Hackett and Asal Takesh stare off into the audience.

JUNIOR DELIA PICKART rises above the cast as she performs her lines.

Photo by Ava Razavi

Photo by Sam Kimball

Photo by Sam Kimball

SINGING IN UNISON, Gemma Fox, Asal Takesh and Patrick Cullen present “The Addams Family.”

STARRING IN HER first Redwood drama production, freshman Gemma Fox debuts as Wednesday Addams.

EMOTING IN HER role as Alice Beineke, senior Catherine Hackett performs her solo, “Waiting.”

October 29, 2021 bark Page 4 • News Student Racial Justice Task Force prioritizes youth

By Aanika Sawhney Cub Reporter On Oct. 20, 2021, San Andreas Principal David Luongo and San Andreas English teacher Cathy Flores facilitated the first meeting of their newly established Student Racial Justice Task Force (SRJTF). The organization aims to highlight student voices across the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD). Students throughout the district submitted their final applications for the SRJTF on Oct. 1.

Before the student-focused initiative arose, in the fall of 2020, TUHSD had already implemented its original Racial Justice Task Force. Following the ongoing spotlight on systemic racial inequalities occurring nationwide, local teachers, parents and community members collaborated in order to ignite positive change. However, as the community Racial Justice Task Force progressed, it became apparent to members of the committee that there was a lack of student input from the different TUHSD campuses.

In order to strengthen and prioritize student opinions,

Photo by Aanika Sawhney

CONTINUING COLLABORATIONS ON the newly formed SRJTF, Flores and Luongo also work together at San Andreas and on the District Equity Team.

Luongo and Flores came together to facilitate a studentbased group. Luongo emphasized how encouraging vulnerability from student experiences would cultivate a safe environment for meaningful discussions around race.

“A Student Racial Justice Task Force that lives on indefinitely is what we are trying to establish. Learning from the students in our work as we build [the SRJTF] is an opportunity to figure out where we focus. [The SRJTF] is about the relationships and [creating] a trusted space that is action-oriented,” Luongo said.

For accessibility and safety, student voices across the TUHSD will continue to meet virtually over Zoom.

Conversations to identify common issues surrounding inclusion, equity and diversity will work to initiate unified changes. As a Latina educator, Flores wants to embrace and welcome all races and cultures to participate. She plans to follow the student initiative within the SRJTF and support its goals district-wide.

“We have student groups on each campus that are doing things individually. We know there are some that might overlap on a committee here, or might overlap on a committee there, and we want to formalize those connections and build those bridges across student campuses,” Flores said.

Redwood junior Sienna Garsten is a member of SRJTF, and hopes to diversify her perspectives through listening to her peers of color. Garsten is a part of both the general district-wide Racial Justice Task Force and the Student Led Anti-Racism Movement (SLAM) course at Redwood.

After the first meeting on Oct. 20, Garsten emphasized their enthusiasm for taking future action.

“As the meetings progress, we will all learn from each other. It’s important [to have] students learning from other students and the staff learning from students,” Garsten said. “Everyone [at the meeting] there wants change to happen … and are adamant about getting the work done instead of just talking about it.”

She elaborates that the SRJTF will be a platform that can connect student voices directly to the TUHSD administration. Garsten feels the development of the SRJTF and the youth input within it will promote the spread

Photo by Aanika Sawhney

BUILDING OFF OF the SRJTF, Garsten plans to pursue other similar activism initiatives in her future career. of collective change throughout the district campuses.

Acknowledging Tam District’s white-dominant student body, Luongo further explained the role of comprehensive student representation in the SRJTF. “It’s important not only that we support and allow our students of color [and] families of color to thrive within our educational system, [but also to acknowledge] that it’s our responsibility as an educational system to create white allies for the students that we teach, educate and put out into the world as the next generation of leaders and influencers,” Luongo said.

The next SRJTF meeting will commence on Nov. 10.

Together as a committee led by student voices, they plan to expand the conversation of racial justice to spark change throughout the district. asawhney@redwoodbark.org

Tamiscal’s Pathways offers an educational alternative

By Julia Frankus Since January of 2020, 35 students from the Class of 2022 have left Redwood, which is 11 more than what was projected by the administration.

The current senior class began their freshman year in 2018 with 541 students.

Today this has now dwindled down to 490 students. Similarly, the current junior class began freshman year with 526 students and has now dropped down to 491 students. The majority of this population loss occurred after the COVID-19 pandemic began.

One reason for this may be the transfer of students to smaller schools like Tamiscal High School, an alternative school located next to Redwood. Tamiscal implements a different approach to learning that is more specific to students’ individual needs.

Former Redwood students Avery Grant and Alec Winterhalter transferred into Tamiscal’s Pathways Program at the start of this year. According to their website, Pathways is a “program to provide an alternative experience for high school students to help them transition to college and prepare for life after high school, while also helping them finish their graduation requirements.”

Each year, the program takes on 48 students, all seniors within the Tamalpais Union High School District, allowing them to have more time for internships, college classes and extracurricular activities.

Grant, now a senior, was planning on

The Belger Family Kristin Bennett The Bishop Family The Elliot Family The Ganong Family The Ginsburg Family The Glickman Family

Photo by Julia Frankus

LEARNING ABOUT PHYSIOLOGY, a class of three Pathways students listen as their teacher, Jon Black, lectures. spending the rest of her high school years Similar to Grant, Winterhalter enjoys the at Redwood until she heard about the independence that the program has given him and also found that his time at home Pathways Program.

“Being in the pandemic really opened during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced my eyes to a lot of my other interests,” how he viewed schooling at Redwood.

“During COVID-19 and online school, Grant said. “Going to school six hours a day didn’t seem right anymore because I I got a feel for a more flexible schedule and felt like I was so ready to go to college at being able to maintain my own time. Even the small things, such as being able to cook the end of my junior year.”

Upon transferring to Tamiscal, Grant when I want and eat when I want, were has seen a huge shift in her schedule. She important to me,” Winterhalter said.

Winterhalter says that his reason for went from going to school for six hours a day to doing less school while pursuing leaving Redwood did not have to do with two internships and taking college classes. any negative experiences at the school. He

BarkPatrons

Leonard and Dolly Hom Sylvia Jones The Lazarus Family The Lensing Family The McBride Family

The McHugh Family The Michaels Family Ann Morton The Sellers Family The Smallhorn Family

transferred because he found Tamiscal’s program to be a better fit for him. Grant feels similarly regarding the program, however, she admits that she did not have the best time at Redwood socially.

“I always felt like I had a hard time finding my group of people at Redwood. I think Redwood can be a little bit cliquey,” Grant said.

Principal David Sondheim is in charge of overall management of enrollment at the school. Sondheim explained how Redwood, being such a large school, is not always the perfect fit for all students.

“For those whom this is either too big of a school, too stressful of a school, [or who] might need individual attention or pursue something specific, I’m really glad that we have [other] options for students.” Sondheim said. “I don’t think it’s reasonable to assume that a big 2,000 person school is going to be the right school for every individual.”

Sondheim is very fortunate that students to have other options within the district because many might find that at smaller schools like Tamiscal, it is much easier to navigate and focus.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience with Pathways so far,” Grant said. “It’s a much better environment for me because it’s a small group of students and you build closer relationships with the students and the teachers.” jfrankus@redwoodbark.org

The Strotz Family Kathi Sullivan The Tupper Family The Zirpoli Family

If you would like to support the Redwood Bark, online donations can be made by using the Venmo QR code above and or by visiting www.redwoodbark.org. Payment by check should be made out to the Redwood Bark and mailed to Redwood High School.

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Page 5

Missing women in media: The white take the spotlight

By Ingrid Houtkooper On Sept. 11, 2021, Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old white woman from Florida, went missing. Nationwide, the disappearance of Petito has become a popular subject. While it is important that Petito’s case is covered and that we recognize her disappearance, it is also necessary that we take this case and reflect on its coverage in comparison to the hundreds of women of color who go missing every year. According to a 2013 study in the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, white women make up about one-third of the national population, but make up one-half of the news articles written by the Star Tribune, the Chicago Tribune, CNN and the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. The public is more aware of white women who have gone missing, been abducted or murdered, than we are of women of color who go through these same devastations. Women of color are entitled to the same attention and coverage as white women because their lives are just as important. However, this is not reflected in the media.

Petito, Patty Hearst, Jayme Closs and Elizabeth Smart are all white women who have gone missing and, as a result, made national news. Chances are you’ve heard these women’s names in your homes or on the street, but have you heard of Rajah McQueen, a 27-year-old Black woman who was last seen on June 26, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio? She has received very little news coverage and thus has attained nowhere near the amount of attention Petito has received. To compare, #rajahmcqueen on TikTok has only 5,148 views, while #gabbypetito has 1.4 billion views. Not only are both of these cases about women in their twenties, but both women are also suspected to have been in

abusive relationships at the time of their disappearances. Despite their similarities, Petito’s case gained the attention of millions more people.

Many might argue that the reason Petito’s case gained so much coverage was because of her social media presence and her “influencer” status. Petito frequently posted on Instagram and had recently started a YouTube channel, but this is no justification for her case attracting more attention than that of missing women of color. Although Petito had social media influence, the same can not be said of several other white women such as Sarah Everard, Patty Hearst and Elizabeth Smart who have gone missing and gained national attention. This shows that it is not these women’s social media influence that makes them get national attention. It’s their race.

In order for more missing women of color to get the attention they deserve, media companies need to start speaking up about students have never even the lives of women of color. heard of any specific According to a January 2021 women of color who report published by Wyoming’s have gone missing.

Missing and Murdered Illustration by Calla McBride The media’s lack of Indigenous Peoples Task Force, coverage of women of 21 percent of homicide victims in Wyoming color suggests that they prioritize the lives between 2000 and 2020 were Indigenous of white women. peoples, yet only 18 percent of Indigenous Although we must address the fact female victims received coverage. In that news publications do not pay enough contrast, 51 percent of white victims attention to women of color who go made the news. Additionally, according missing, we also need to reflect on how the to the National Crime Information Center, general public plays a role in only placing 268,884 women and girls were reported value in white women’s lives. According missing in the U.S. in 2020. Of this, 34 to the LA Times, Gina Masullo, Associate percent were Black females. Clearly, Professor of Journalism and Media at the hundreds of women of color go missing University of Texas at Austin, stated that, every year, but most people are incapable “The same reason why media coverage is of naming a single one of them. According different for white women than for women to an October Bark survey, 55 percent of of color is the same reason this is getting

so much attention … We live in a system that puts white women at a higher value.”

Because we, as a society, are so quick to digest the stories of white women who go missing and are so eager to try to solve their cases or bring awareness to them, the media continues to share these women’s stories due to their reception. If we could give the same attention to cases such as McQueen’s, what we see on the news and on social media would consequently change. It is not only the fault of the media for disproportionately highlighting missing white women, but it is also the public’s fault for continuing to solely focus on cases of white women.

Many women of color are left feeling unimportant and unvalued in comparison to white women due to the lack of acknowledgement women of color get when they go missing. Therefore, it is necessary that society comes together to reflect on our historic and current racist biases so we can move forward and begin to give women of color the same attention and value they deserve. ihoutkooper@redwoodbark.org

The terrifying prospects of a second war on terror

By Alex Fisch John Walker Lindh is a name that Redwood students may recognize. He attended Redwood and Tamiscal, converted to Islam at age 16, studied Arabic in Yemen at age 17 and fought for the Taliban until his capture at age 21. It is important to remember that Lindh joined the Taliban prior to 9/11, and that the intention of many who fought for the Taliban was in reaction to the repressive Northern Alliance, who had not been affiliated with the U.S. until 9/11. There is little to no evidence that Lindh was involved in any terrorist activity, yet some of America’s most powerful figures suggested as such in assertive public statements. The most emphatic of these statements was former Attorney General John Ashcroft accusing Lindh of direct attacks against the U.S. despite citing minimal evidence. The so-called “presumption of innocence” that is supposed to be enshrined in the constitution was not upheld at all.

Lindh was only one of the thousands of victims of expanded security measures post-9/11. It started with the infamous Patriot Act passed a mere 45 days after 9/11, expanding the use of National Security Letters and so-called “sneak-and-peek” searches. These measures essentially gave federal agencies permission to conduct search warrants without prior notice, view personal records without a judge’s approval and turn ordinary Americans into suspects. Over time, these terror measures were implemented globally in what became known as the “global war on terror.” What followed was a bevy of U.S. initiated torture, drone strikes and detention without trial.

All of this has become common knowledge among many human rights organizations, policymakers and especially journalists. Publications like The Guardian and The Intercept exposed secrets of intelligence agencies at a rate never seen before. Larger publications like The New York Times worked with whistleblowers like Julian Assange to shed light on these war crimes. These kinds of stories may be in distant memory, especially for younger generations, but it’s important to know that when these security measures are implemented, it becomes hard to draw the fine line between common-sense national security

measures and intrusive and unconstitutional measures. violation of the first amendment. These measures are not With this in mind, one would naturally be inclined to reject only dangerous, but they’re also completely unnecessary. these measures had they been proposed domestically, Domestic terrorism is already illegal, the attacks on Jan. 6 right? Well, as it turns out, that’s not the case. were planned out in the open (online, that is), In the past couple of months, the advocacy of and the police had a perfectly adequate enhanced national security measures domestically has amount of funding to thwart the attacks, become normalized. This new domestic war yet were unprepared. on terror has many similarities to the global The most significant war on terror, the most part of this development, obvious being that however, is the it was the willingness of result of a journalists not only flashpoint to be apathetic event. In towards the matter, 2001, it but to actively was 9/11. join the intelligence In 2021, community in pursuing it was the it. John Brennan and Jan. 6 Capital John Bolton have become riot. Let me frequent contributors to be clear: this is CNN and MSNBC; many not an attempt to downplay journalists have infiltrated either of these incidents. Both private messaging apps and several were incredibly consequential articles and segments have popped up events that understandably incited about the dangers of podcasts and independent fears among large swaths of the media in general. It is this kind of reporting that American population. In both cases, will be used to justify an eventual expansion of those fears were then capitalized upon the security state. While journalists are supposed by the intelligence community and Illustration by Calla McBride to be punching up and challenging America’s true politicians alike to advocate for power centers, it seems as if many have given in to enhanced national security measures with little to no their short-term interests of combating Trumpism. pushback. In the latter case, those new measures came None of this is to say that white supremacy and quick and fast. No-fly lists — one of the most draconian domestic violence are nonexistent. They were on clear and aspects of the first war on terror — have been reintroduced, full display on Jan. 6. Yet, an attitude of naivety towards President Biden immediately made it his priority to pass the intelligence community who did so much damage just new domestic terror legislation, 25,000 national guard a decade ago is not a way to combat that problem. No troops were quartered in Washington D.C. prior to the matter who the intended target of the intelligence agencies inauguration, and Congress approved a $2.1 billion is, we must accept the fact that these agencies are potential increase in Capitol police funding. The White House even threats in their own right, and are not to be instantly trusted. considered using private firms to monitor private online chatter of “extremist” groups. With no formal definition of who is and isn’t considered an extremist, this is a clear afisch@redwoodbark.org

bark Page 6 • Opinion Climate crises action

Story and Illustration by Hannah Morgan Trash cans pile up with recyclable water bottles.

Studio lights sap electricity. A stream of trucks and vans shuttling props and actors spew carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Behind the polished Hollywood projects presented to consumers, it is apparent that there is a true need for improvement of studios’ sustainability.

It is important to recognize and respond to the film industry’s massive carbon footprint by supporting productions that follow sustainability plans and have aligned themselves with green initiatives.

The British Film Institute (BFI), one of the leading bodies for promotion of film globally, states in their “Screen New Deal” plan, which lays out the groundwork for limiting the carbon footprint of the film industry, that an average day of filming on a general high-budget movie set is roughly the same as one person’s annual carbon footprint. Such levels of energy and resource consumption highlight the necessity of finding ways to reduce this industry’s impact on the environment.

Other organizations have taken it upon themselves to advocate for the reduction of this impact — like the Environmental Media Association (EMA) — which has been a powerful component of the film and television industry for the past 30 years. The third-party organization uses a system of Green Seals to award TV and other film projects that are up to par with its sustainability checklist and criteria.

The checklist to qualify for these awards is made up of a 200 point system. Items on the checklist include using renewable energy sources to power sets, using recycled or carbon neutral set materials and using leased transportation that has electric components. The EMA awards programs and movies that meet 75 of the 200 criteria checkpoints with a regular Green Seal. Film studios should be doing their part in reducing the film industry’s carbon footprint rather than solely focusing on the outcome of their film at all environmental costs.

Some may argue that the film industry is the least of the world’s worries compared to industrial corporations.

However, BFI predicts that the film industry will continue to grow due to an increase in revenue from 38 billion U.S. dollars in 2016 to 43 billion in 2019. Growth exhibited by film production creates a necessity to find solutions to their ever-increasing carbon footprint. In my own experience, when I have shot narrative videos, I’ve driven just myself as far as Point Reyes Station and back, using up gas and emitting carbon dioxide.

My transportation’s impact is minimal compared to the number of people involved in a large Hollywood production, showing how much one person’s impact and carbon footprint can be magnified into a substantial problem.

According to an October Bark survey, 58 percent of Redwood students say that they never consider the environmental impacts of watching television and movies. The first step in moving towards sustainability in an industry that permeates local, national and global communities is addressing how small actions can help in the fight against climate change and the deterioration of the Earth’s natural resources. “[The film industry] has a responsibility to engage the world with sustainability by demonstrating the art of the possible,” BFI says.

hmorgan@redwoodbark.org

October 29, 2021

Feminism isn’t a product to sell Story and Illustration by Caroline Scharf

media-friendly improvement on past feminist movements… but also because it draws focus away from the systemic [issues].”

Marketplace feminism is not advocating for change, as it places commercial viability over social justice while masquerading as progressive.

Some companies even profit off of feminism while lacking feminist values in their workplaces. Sophia Amoruso, founder of clothing brand “Nasty Gal,” is famous for coining the term “girlboss” and promoting feminism within the brand’s marketing and workplace. However, it was revealed that the company was accused of workplace toxicity and discriminatory practices against pregnant female employees. The Atlantic states, “Amoruso’s career at Nasty Gal was dogged by constant turnover, accusations of discrimination and abusive management.” While many companies might use feminism to look socially progressive, behind that facade may lie workplaces that are harmful to women.

However, there are people who believe that feminist imagery in advertisements has made feminism more visiable and culturally relevant. Supporters argue that advertisements reach more people and educate more consumers about feminism. According to Times Magazine, a survey conducted by the lifestyles website SheKnows found that 82 percent of women said that pro-female ads were important for younger generations to see. If more women are able to see empowering depictions of themselves, they may feel more inclined to stand up against gender inequality.

While it’s important for feminist messaging to be visible, commercials can easily water-down feminism. If people associate feminism with the phrases like “Girlboss” on television commercials, the movement will never progress; it will simply transform into a trend. These commercials are often performative and never move past simply promoting awareness of sexism. Sarah Banet-Weiser, professor of media and communication at the London School of Economics said, “That’s what I worry about with the [consumption of feminist products]: that it just stays about visibility.”

Instead, individuals should support reputable organizations that fight against gender inequality. People’s voices can be heard through their purchasing power by contributing to organizations such as United Nations (UN) Women which works to achieve women’s rights hands-on, not diminishing the movement to a trend. In order to keep the feminist movement intact, we must not “sell out” the movement for corporate interest.

When online shopping to find a new, trendy item to purchase, you might find yourself bombarded by advertisements for shirts, mugs and posters decorated with phrases like “Girl Boss” or “The Future is Female.” A few weeks ago I found myself in the same situation as I stumbled upon a brand on Instagram promoting a T-shirt with one word printed on the front: “feminist.” I continued scrolling through the Instagram shopping tab until I found another shirt from a different seller that said, “On Wednesdays, we smash the patriarchy,” a reference to the iconic “Mean Girls” line, “On Wednesdays we wear pink.” After one Google search for “feminist shirts,” I easily found websites like “shopbop” which were making money through vague feminist slogans. It surprised me how companies were using feminism to promote their brand. This commercialization of feminism takes away from the core goal of combating gender inequality and ultimately waters down the message.

Instead of supporting corporations that use feminist branding, individuals should support organizations that work to further the movement.

Over the past decade, there has been an increase in feminist visibility in advertising. According to Forbes, women drive around 70-80 percent of all consumer purchasing decisions, and in turn, many corporations use the concept of feminism as a way to advertise their products.

Companies who know that women make up a majority of their audience, use “empowering language” in order to appeal to a larger number of female consumers.

Many brands find success in using feminist jargin which has led to an increased amount of feminist language in brand marketing. Always’ 2014 “#LikeAGirl’’ campaign, which sought to evaluate gender stereotypes, gained over 3 million views on YouTube and received lots of media attention.

Commercials like this one inspired other companies to create products or campaigns with similar branding. In an October Bark survey, 79 percent of Redwood students reported having seen advertisements for products that include feminist imagery, demonstrating how this type of marketing has made the feminist movement more prevalent in commercial products.

These commercials may seem empowering, but they only present a surface-level understanding of feminism.

Instead of incentivizing women to fight for better wages or fair maternity leave, advertisements tend to center messages around vague ideas of empowerment and frame gender inequality as something that happens on an individual basis rather than a patriarchal system that keeps women unequal.

Corporations use this type of commercial feminism, cscharf@redwoodbark.org known by experts as marketplace feminism, in order to look progressive without actively advocating for systemic change.

Feminist author Andi Ziesler who has studied commercial feminism stated, “This kind of marketplace feminism is welcome not just because its optics are considered a

True Crime will be the death of morality

By Ava Razavi

From “Making a Murderer” to “Law and Order True Crime” to “Casefile,” true crime manages to hit the tops of charts, ranked as the third most-watched genre of television in 2020, according to the Statistica Research Department. The production of true crime entertainment should be terminated, to protect victims’ families, as well as consumers, from the negative impacts of true crime media.

Victims’ loved ones are forced to relive the horrors of the victim’s death regularly with the popularization of the true crime industry. Even worse, creators of true crime entertainment rarely ask victims’ families for permission before including them in their mediums. According to Time magazine, the team working on “I am a Killer” — a show about Lauren Haugen, who murdered her boyfriend — ignored the boyfriend’s family’s desires for them to halt production.

Not only are victims’ families impacted by the distribution of true-

crime entertainment, but the minds and behaviors of consumers also face harsh detriments. According to Glenn Sparks, a professor at Purdue University who has studied the effects of media violence, watching true crime can desensitize audiences to violence, making them more inclined to tolerate it in real life and most dangerously, make viewers more likely to engage in violence themselves. Aside from behavioral changes, there are also physical reactions to being exposed to heavy amounts of violence. Studies conducted by the Cleveland Clinic have shown that watching true crime television can lead to anxiety, heart palpitations, paranoia, agoraphobia (a fear of people) and more.

Nonetheless, true crime’s popularity has not faltered since its gain in popularity during the 1970s. On TikTok, many young teenage girls created content sexualizing Zac Efron’s portrayal of Ted Bundy in the movie “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.” Multiple video edits of Zac Efron were made in his role as Bundy. The comments were filled with, ” “Honestly, I

wouldn’t mind it if he killed me,” and “I would f*ck Zac Efron as Bundy.” Even worse, people began sexualizing Bundy himself; one user posted a TikTok with the text, “Say what you want about Ted Bundy, but look how hot he is,” followed by videos and photos of the serial killer responsible for killing and raping presumably more than 30 women.

Many are unaware of the issues regarding true crime and as a result, continue to watch these shows as a source of entertainment. This is because scientifically, true crime is entertaining.

According to Scott Bonn, a professor of criminology at Drew University, “The actions of a serial killer m a y be horrible to behold, but much of the public simply cannot look away due to the spectacle.” This can also be shown at Redwood with 64 percent of students watching or listening to true crime series according to the October Bark survey.

Despite the entertainment value of these shows, before we watch true crime, we should ask ourselves one simple question: Should our source of entertainment be derived from others’ tragedies?

Although press coverage of serial killers and homicides is necessary, the sensationalization of murders is harmful to victims, as well as viewers. When watching true crime, it is important to remember that the victims were real people with loved ones who led meaningful lives, and are not objects of entertainment to indulge in for pleasure.

Illustration by Justine Fisch and Calla McBride

arazavi@redwoodbark.org

Page 7 • Opinion

www.redwoodbark.org

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Redwood High School 395 Doherty Drive Larkspur, CA 94939 www.redwoodbark.org Editors-In-Chief Taylor Elliott Kent Goodman Hollis Belger

Addressing misgendering at TUHSD: Learning to become LGBTQIA+ allies

editorial

Pronouns: Ask, do not assume.

For most, the first day of school involves a plethora of name games and awkward icebreakers. While these activities aim to help us “get to know” our peers, oftentimes, they fall short of achieving one fundamental goal: understanding our classmates’ identities. A key part of this concept requires familiarizing ourselves with our classmates’ gender and pronouns. For many, this might seem trivial — but using the correct pronouns at all times is crucial.

Misgendering in our community extends far beyond introductions in the classroom. For example, Synergy, the platform used by Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) where teachers receive their class rosters, enables misgendering in the classroom by failing to include a pronoun category on students’ profiles. This, in turn, opens teachers up to misgendering their students since they cannot easily see what their pronouns are. In order to ensure that students’ identities are being respected, we need to address misgendering at Redwood by providing supportive resources for all students to more easily communicate their pronouns with their teachers and peers, as well as implementing pronoun education across TUHSD schools.

When it comes to Synergy, making sure that students’ identities are accurately represented is imperative for genderqueer visibility. While Synergy lacks the ability for students to list their pronouns, some school platforms do have this option. Canvas, an academic platform used by teachers to assign homework and tests, allows students to list their pronouns on their profile. Despite this, Canvas is still flawed for students to list their pronouns, as it only allows students to select from a drop down menu containing he/him, she/her and they/them pronouns, rather than provide their own.

As a result, teachers are forced to make assumptions about students’ pronouns and overall gender identities based on the incomplete information displayed on class rosters and grade books.

When teachers address their students using incorrect pronouns, students in the class are likely to repeat and follow. This cycle can have detrimental effects on students’ mental health. According to a 2015 study conducted by Portland State School of Public Health, being misgendered is associated with poor self-esteem and a negative social identity. Allowing students to list their pronouns through applications like Synergy and Canvas would provide resources for faculty to more easily see students’ preferred pronouns. In addition, teachers asking students for their preferred pronouns is a step everyone in our community can take to decrease the chances of misgendering individuals.

It is common for people to assume this issue is not as significant as there is a small population of non-binary students on campus. However, there is no denying its pervasiveness in our community. Shea McHugh, a sophomore who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, can vouch for the ubiquity of this shared experience among genderqueer students at Redwood.

“Every single trans or nonbinary person I know has at least five stories of people misgendering them [and] refusing to use their proper pronouns,” McHugh said.

McHugh says that even people who have only known them by they/them pronouns, continue to intentionally misgender them. McHugh’s experience is a prime example of the widespread problem of misgendering. According to a 2021 survey by the Trevor Project, a LGBTQ+ organization focused on suicide prevention, 49 percent of transgender and non-binary youth said their pronouns were not even respected in their own household.

“I wish that asking people for their pronouns was more normal. The first few days of school, teachers will [say,] ‘introduce yourself, say your name,’ and I’m like, ‘please just ask me for my pronouns,’” McHugh said.

In order to prevent these experiences being enabled across our campus, we must implement education to inform our students and staff about the importance of gender identity and pronoun usage. As a community, we can begin curating a welcoming learning environment for all students by replacing gendered vocabulary with more inclusive language. This can be facilitated by providing group seminars that hold focused discussions on respecting the gender identities of staff and students to better understand this concept.

Some argue it would be unrealistic to expect immediate comprehension of gender identity among our faculty when most have only been accustomed to the binary genders and their corresponding pronouns. However, this is not a valid excuse to continue misgendering students. No matter the age or generation and culture one grew up in, anyone can address someone by their correct pronouns out of compassion and respect. Everyday we subconsciously use gender-neutral language such as they/them pronouns to address someone.

For example, if a student left their backpack in a classroom, one would say, “They left their backpack in the classroom,” because the gender identity of the student is unknown. The definitions have always been there; it’s just a matter of applying them in a different context. It is the fact that people are either unaware or unwilling to be accepting of trans and non-binary people that furthers misgendering.

The TUHSD can start enacting systemic change by working with officials at school platforms to include a place on their platform where students can declare their own pronouns, but this is just the bare minimum. In order to initiate effective change over time, we must implement district-wide policies that regulate better education for students and staff around pronouns and gender identity. There is a dichotomy between the presented progressive image of Redwood and a school community whose underlying principles rely more on performative action than committing to initiate real change. By taking these realistic steps towards change on our campus and all TUHSD campuses we can amend these principles and cultivate a safer, more inclusive environment where all identities are validated.

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.

A BARK to Adele’s new album, stick to rowing.

“30,” coming out Nov. 19.

“Rumour Has It” her voice is A BARK to the Hoco rally. All better than ever. that booing from the seniors will last us ‘til Halloween!

A BITE to ED deadlines. It was just witchful thinking we’d be A BITE to admin prohibiting done by Halloween. storming the field at the rally. We are storming your office next!

A BARK to the unemployment rate dropping back to pre- A BARK to rainy weather. Over pandemic levels. Good jobs, and drought! folks.

A BITE to whomever scheduled A BITE to Olivia Jade being our homecoming game against on Dancing with the Stars. Just MC. The odds of us winning were

a major (M)is(C)alculation.

A BARK to Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya’s movie finally coming out. We are “Dune” waiting for it.

A BITE to Nicki Minaj refusing the vaccine because of super bass-less fears.

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.

Head Copy Editors Samantha Elegant Natalie Tress Ava Koblik Copy Editors Rori Anderson Will Baker Chloe Bishop Kelly Chuang Sarah Goody Ella Kharrazi Kate McHugh Anna Royal Gemma Strauss News Editors Libby Hughes Shyla Lensing Abigail Shewmaker Opinion Editors Stella Bennett Caroline Goodhart Ingrid Houtkooper Feature Editors Casey Braff Bella Piacente Hannah Sellers Sports Editors Sam Kimball Declan McDaniels Dani Steinberg Review Editors Avery Aguero Ava Razavi Chris Vargelis Lifestyles Editors Annie Goldstein Julia Frankus Sophie Smallhorn Spanish Editor Charlotte DeForrest Podcast Editor Nathan Ash Video Editors Sterling Lazarus Hannah Morgan Business Managers Samantha Michaels Keegan Williams Social Media Manager Sydney Liebhauser Survey Manager AnnaLise Sandrich Multimedia Editor Caroline Scharf Art Consultants Keely Ganong Brooke Leslie Calla McBride Reporters Arjun Aujla Caitlin Beard Matt Benbow Peter Biss Sophia Buckholtz Alexandrea Coe Chloe Craft Emilie Erickson Gemma Favalaro Alex Fisch Justine Fisch Nina Geoghegan Sylvan Gordon-Wagen Sabrina Kizer Kana Kojima Lily Reese Gillian Reynolds Sofia Ruliffson John Seifer Claire Silva Madeline Sofnas Ani Svendsen Allie Vasquez Natalie Welch Dylan Zorn Adviser Erin Schneider

POLICY: All editorials are unsigned and have been approved by the majority of the Bark staff.

October 29, 2021 bark Page 8 • Opinion The ideas in Disney Princess Movies are not (Al)add(in) up

luscious hair. As children grow up, they strive for this perfection and are disappointed when they realize it is When I was younger, any time my mom pulled out not achievable. While watching Sleeping Beauty, I was her camera, I clutched my fingers together in an effortless fascinated with the idea of “true love.” Although I never fist, tilted my head slightly to the right and smiled for the thought about it then, I can now see there are undertones photo. This was my go-to pose. Why? Because I idolized throughout Sleeping Beauty. the movie of the Like many of idea that being us, I tried to blonde, white mimic my and skinny favorite will get you Disney prince princess in charming. subtle ways.

This, in turn, After I first creates beauty watched the film, ideals and a reliance I imitated the way on physical appearance Aurora looked while for love. she was in a deep According to sleep and fantasized Middlebury Network, about being a blonde, 94 percent of princess films skinny, perfect princess. I mention physical appearance, with as had dreams about Prince Phillip, many as 114 references in one movie. With all because who doesn’t wish to be saved by of these references to physical attractiveness, a prince in shining armor? I even dressed up Disney films associate “beautiful” people as Aurora in my pink gown during our first visit with protagonists and “ugly” people with to Disneyland. To say the least, I was obsessed. antagonists. Look at Ariel or Rapunzel: However, I was not alone in both are beautiful protagonists, whereas the my obsession with these films. antagonists, Ursula and Mother Gothel, are villains and According to the Washington Post, are, therefore, designed to be “ugly.” Ursula, the villain 96 percent of girls and 87 percent in “The Little Mermaid” who steals Ariel’s heavenly of boys have watched some form voice, is illustrated as an overweight character of these movies. Additionally, 61 with grey skin and white hair. Disney deems percent of girls interact with Disney this less attractive because it doesn’t Princess merchandise once per adhere to their typical stick-thin, blonde week, whether it be dressing up hair and pale skin beauty guidelines. Due in princess gowns or coloring in to this portrayal by Disney, kids begin to a princess picture book. While associate good or evil characteristics with Disney Princess Movies may be physical appearance. entertaining for their millions Sarah Coyne, a professor at Brigham of young viewers, they also Young University, has studied these films set unrealistic expectations for and their impact on children in-depth. children and further enhance race After a one-year study of 198 preschoolers divisions in beauty standards. and kindergarteners, she found that young Each Disney princess has children do not show any signs of lower Illustration by Calla McBride a tiny waist, perfect skin and self-esteem or negative body image

By Stella Bennett

as a result of these films. Her research concluded that children are not old enough to feel self-conscious about their appearance. However, these films affect childrens’ mindsets in the long run. Coyne believes that if the study were to continue over a longer period of time, they would find that these movies can potentially harm a girl’s body image.

“Disney Princesses represent some of the first examples of exposure to the thin ideal,” Coyne said. “As women, we get it our whole lives, and it really does start at the Disney Princess Level — at age three and four.”

Furthermore, Disney designs the majority of their princesses to be white and associate skin color with their level of beauty. The common phrase in “Snow White,” “Mirror Mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” indirectly refers to skin tone by equating fair skin to beauty. In fact, the central theme of “Snow White” is based on skin tone. After all, her name is Snow White!

She is envied because of her pale skin, as her stepmother craves the purity and innocence typically represented by whiteness. This idea that white skin equates to beauty is internalized by children. Although the “Snow White” fairytale was originally written by the Brothers Grimm, Disney based their film on this tale and included its racist implications. Since then, Disney has created newer, more inclusive movies with racially diverse heroines such as Moana from “Moana” and Raya from “Raya and the Last Dragon,” however, that can not justify these older films as they continue to be streamed and present young children with unattainable goals. With these older biases, Disney creates harmful beauty standards which are overlooked and create negative connotations for their young audience.

Kids should not completely stop watching Disney Princess Movies, as they are a large part of many children’s youth. However, it is important to watch them consciously, realizing the biases and unachievable standards written into them. This solution is an important compromise and Coyne agrees.

“I think parents think the Disney Princess culture is safe. That’s the word I hear time and time again — ‘it’s safe,’” Coyne said. “But if we’re fully jumping in here and really embracing it, parents should really consider the long-term impact of princess culture.” sbennett@redwoodbark.org

bleslie@redwoodbark.org

español

Page 9

Hechar un vistazo a la comunidad de cantantes Por Charlotte DeForrest y Mayra Campos Montoya “Me encanta cantar. Siempre he cantado desde que era niña. Me encanta cantar porque es una forma de ser creativa y de expresarme y así yo aprendí el español cantando. Así que me gusta enseñar español a través de la música también,” dijo Melissa Zeiher, una profesora de español de Redwood.

El papá de Zeiher es guitarrista y ella fue inspirada por su música desde niña. A ella le gusta cantar tanto en inglés como en español, pero aprecia cantar en español porque le ayuda a aprender el idioma. Por ejemplo, cuando estaba en la universidad, cantar las canciones de Shakira le ayudaba a aprender a hablar español con mejor pronunciación.

“También me gusta cantar en inglés, pero me gusta el español porque enseño español y la música puede ser muy útil porque estás imitando directamente el acento o la pronunciación de nativo hablantes de español y además mejora la comprensión auditiva,” Zeiher dijo.

“Además [cantando en español] es divertido y hay muy lindos mensajes en

Imagen por Charlotte DeForrest

AQUI, LEYENDO CON su profesora, Adriana Trigueros Reyes se inspiró a comenzar a cantar por su padre.

mucha música en español. Mucha música en español tiene un mensaje más social o político o cultural, o de cosas que son más profundas que mucha música típica.”

Como Zeiher, a Adriana Trigueros Reyes, una estudiante de Redwood en el décimo grado, le encanta cantar en ambos idiomas. Le gusta cantar en español porque, a veces, las canciones son más culturales y divertidas. Ella se inspira mucho a cantar porque su padre es músico.

“Me gusta cantar porque es muy divertido y porque mi papá también canta.

Mi papá estuvo en una banda [“Pequeño Musical”] y siempre le ha gustado desde chiquito y después él me enseñó a cantar y me gustó también,” Trigueros Reyes dijo.

En el futuro, a ella le gustaría ser una música famosa y viajar a ciudades grandes para cantar y bailar. “[Cantar] da un buen ambiente. Con la energía que hay en el ambiente, puedes cantar con otras personas y así es divertido.

También, cuando hay fiestas, o música es una manera de conectarse y conocer a más gente,” dijo Trigueros Reyes.

Para avanzar este deseo, ella está aprendiendo a tocar la guitarra. Ahora, puede tocar “Ocean Eyes” de Billie Eilish

Imagen por Charlotte DeForrest

POSANDO EN EL aula, el lugar favorita de Yarhed Alonzo Lopez para contar es en clase.

Imagen por Charlotte DeForrest

ADRIANA TRIGUEROS REYES (a la derecha) y Yarhed Alonzo Lopez (a la izquierda) son estudiantes de Redwood a quienes les encantan cantar. y la canción las Mañanitas, entre otras.

También, escribió una canción para su padre por el día del papá.

Aunque él no escribe música como Trigueros Reyes, al compañero de clase de ella, a Yarhed Alonzo Lopez, también le encanta cantar. Él quiere aprender a tocar la guitarra porque piensa que la música es una buena manera de conectarse con la gente.

“Me gustaría aprender la guitarra porque siento que es un instrumento básico para comenzar a cantar canciones,” dijo Alonzo Lopez. “En el futuro quiero [cantar para] darles un conocimiento a la gente cómo de qué es lo que pasa y cómo te irá la música a conectarse con la gente.”

Uno de las mayores influencias de Alonzo Lopez es su madre, quien cantó en la iglesia cuando él era un niño en Guatemala. También, él se inspira a cantar por la banda Malacate, que Alonzo Lopez dice que canta sobre la vida diaria. Pero, su lugar favorito para cantar actualmente es en sus clases.

“Me gusta cantar porque es como

expresar mis sentimientos,” dijo Alonzo Lopez. “Me gusta cantar en la clase porque todos están aburridos y como voy a cantar, porque me voy a alegrar y se ríen de mí riéndose por lo que yo digo.”

Mientras todos tienen diferentes formas de expresar su música, en todo caso, Zeiher, Alonzo Lopez y Tringueroz Reyes piensan que el cantar es una manera buena para que las personas se conecten con otras y traigan creatividad y felicidad al mundo.

“La música me ayuda a conectarme con la gente porque están creando algo juntos cuando están cantando. Si alguien está tocando instrumentos y tú estás haciendo tu parte cantando, pues es una colaborativa y así se forma la comunidad.

Además, todos se expresan con todos y cuando uno se puede poner vulnerable con otra persona, eso crea confianza entre ellos y se forma una comunidad,” dijo Zeiher. cdeforrest@redwoodbark.org

Tamalpais Adult School: Un tipo diferente de estudiante Por Peter Biss y Miguel Cruz Cuando suena la última campana y los autobuses llegan al estacionamiento trasero, los pasillos y aulas del edificio Este de Redwood no se callan. En cambio los maestros dan paso a otro tipo de estudiante. Uno que, aunque no tiene la edad del típico estudiante de secundaria de California, camina por el campus a las 6:30 cada martes y jueves por la tarde con la misma dedicación, orgullo y ambición.

Samuel Chávez, quien se graduó de Redwood en el 2016, ha estado trabajando para la Tamalpais Adult School en 375 Doherty Dr. con estudiantes, a quienes él llama, los más increíbles trabajadores que ha conocido.

“Nuestro principal grupo demográfico es hispano latino [pero] hemos tenido estudiantes de Brasil, Ucrania, Rusia, Vietnam, China, Corea, Irán y diferentes países de África,” dijo Chávez. “Tienen hijos, tienen trabajos [y] la vida ocupada durante el día … [pero aún] tienen que hacer tiempo para la clase al final del día. Ves con lo que están lidiando y lo duro que están trabajando [y] quiero dar a este grupo.”

Luis, un maestro de Guatemala, quien ahora trabaja en un lavado de autos, es uno de esos estadounidenses soñadores que espera que su matrícula en la escuela de adultos del programa de “inglés como segunda lengua o lengua extranjera” (ESL) le permita regresar y luego enseñar a los estudiantes de su país.

“No quiero aprender [inglés] perfectamente, pero Dios me dará la fuerza y sabiduría y [yo espero] que algún día pueda ayudar a mucha gente. Con esfuerzo y todo el apoyo que reciba, volveré a Guatemala y enseñaré a los estudiantes toda la sabiduría que tengo, [y luego] seguiré difundiendo con la ayuda de Dios,” dijo Luis.

Su historia trajo lágrimas y los aplausos de los maestros y muchos de sus compañeros, en la sala 155.

Otra estudiante es Cristina, compañera de Luis, quien quiere aprender inglés por las oportunidades que le podría brindar a sus dos hijos. Su historia provocó el

mismo aplauso entusiasta y el apoyo de sus compañeros de clase. “[Lo que] tenemos aquí [en la Tamalpais Adult School] es una comunidad muy unida… maestros que tienen pasión [y] estudiantes que quieren aprender,” dijo Chávez.

“Actualmente estoy cursando mi programa de credencial de enseñanza [en la Universidad Estatal de Sonoma] para poder convertirme en maestro. Quiero estar en el campo educativo. Quiero ser un factor [positivo] en la comunidad [porque] esto es lo que amo [y] en donde yo pertenezco.”

El director de la Tamalpais Adult School, Jamie Naish, está de acuerdo con Chávez en que la comunidad de estudiantes es un gran apoyo.

“Tenemos personas que han estado en la cárcel y que están fuera y tienen un nuevo tipo de visión sobre lo que quieren para sí mismos. Tenemos estudiantes que vienen con bebés recién nacidos y están tratando de terminar sus últimos cinco créditos… Hemos tenido personas inscritas en nuestro Programa General de Desarrollo Educativo (GED) que provino de países y entornos de vida donde no tenían agua corriente [y] con una educación que sería equivalente a nuestro sexto grado,” dijo Naish. “Son personas increíbles [que] simplemente trabajan, trabajan y trabajan.”

Pero si bien los miembros del personal han visto la dedicación y el compromiso de los estudiantes como Cristina y Luis, el estado de California, al menos durante la pandemia, ha descuidado el valor e impacto transformador de la educación de adultos.

“En tiempos normales, sin COVID, por lo general, atendemos a alrededor de 600 estudiantes al año… El año pasado, servimos alrededor de 482 estudiantes,” dijo Naish.

“El inglés ya es suficientemente difícil, y tratar de aprender el aspecto tecnológico además de eso, se convirtió en un obstáculo que detuvo mucho nuestro trabajo. Las personas a las que servimos son de bajos ingresos, a menudo no tienen Wifi o no tienen espacio privado para estar en la clase… algunos [viven] en sus autos… y no tenemos el financiamiento necesario como el resto de las escuelas

como las nuestras tienen [para] obtener un enrutador [o] distribuir Chromebooks.”

El programa de Educación para Adultos de California y la Ley de Oportunidades e Innovación de la Fuerza Laboral en subvención, que financia las 340 escuelas para adultos en todo el estado de California, nunca ha podido proporcionar los mismo recursos a los que han tenido acceso las escuelas secundarias como Redwood.

Esto hace a la pandemia más que una experiencia de aislamiento, argumenta Naish.

“Tenemos maestros con credenciales, tenemos personal con credenciales, todavía tenemos estudiantes que están dispuestos a aprender, estamos haciendo clases de lunes a jueves, ponemos la misma cantidad de esfuerzo en ello, pero se para por alto,” dijo Chávez. “Es fundamental animar a todos y ayudarlos a realizarse ya que hay recursos por ahí si algo sucediera en su vida que no les permitió a ellos seguir su educación.” pbiss@redwoodbark.org

Imagen de courtesía de la Tamalpais Adult School

LA ENTRADA PRINCIPAL de la Tamalpais Adult School, visible desde Redwood.

feature

Page 10

Recalibrating Redwood: A new take on relationship culture

By Casey Braff and Kelly Chuang “Well, it’s actually funny — the only reason I started talking to him was because my computer volume [wasn’t working for Zoom] and my computer shut off. He was the only person I knew in the class that I had on Snapchat, and I just started talking to him,” junior Theresa Schmidt said, recalling how she met her current boyfriend, Robby Dinowitz. “So technically [our relationship] would not have happened without COVID-19.”

These virtual interactions resulting from the shelter-in-place order in March 2020 became the norm for many high school students throughout the pandemic.

Long gone were the sly side conversations during geometry class and flirtatious strolls around the main building, and in came painfully awkward breakout rooms with only Snapchat and Instagram to offer human interaction. According to an October 2021 Bark survey, 68 percent of Redwood students said that they have used various social media platforms in order to form romantic relationships.

Among these students, senior Skylar Solle utilized social media to cultivate a relationship with her boyfriend Drew Samway, a senior at Archie Williams High School. The two began interacting in the midst of COVID-19’s first summer over Snapchat and officially became a couple in January 2021. Solle’s boyfriend is her neighbor, but without social media, they would have never started dating.

“I can walk to his house, but I would have no idea because he goes to a different school. [Besides] the fact that he was following me and I was following him, I literally would’ve had no idea who he was otherwise,” Solle said.

Before the era of Snapchats and Instagram DMs, Redwood relationships found other ways to flourish without conversing in person. Kathleen Cutter, Redwood Class of 1988, and Eric Cutter, Redwood Class of 1985, met and became friends during high school. When Eric went to the East Coast for college, the pair maintained their relationship by writing letters to each other.

“We started with a really solid friendship and I remember thinking back then, ‘oh my goodness, this guy is so amazing.’ The crush started back then, but we didn’t have a relationship. I fell hard when we started writing, so that’s sort of equivalent to social media or maybe how people are on online dating apps. Our relationship was built on those two, three years of letter-writing — that’s when I started dating him,” Kathleen said.

Kathleen and Eric did not start seriously dating with the intention of marriage until they both moved back to

the Bay Area when she was 28 and he was 32. Their new relationship was built on the strong foundations from their high school friendship, which would forge the path for their marriage two years later.

While the Cutters communicated and dated through letters, many teen couples today stay connected through social media.

However, social media has its downfalls due to how advancements of technology

true personality.

“It’s pretty crazy that I’ll ask someone, ‘How’d you meet your girlfriend?’ It’s like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know them. I started talking to them on Snapchat.’ For some people, it works out well, [and for others], you only know [the person you’re talking to] from how they see themselves because [their persona is] all online and not how others see them,” Cutter said.

Illustration by Brooke Leslie

allows users to be hyper-aware of what other people are doing.

“You can go into Snapchat and see someone’s location. Then you can be freaking out, tracking your significant other and be so aware,” Solle said. “There’s definitely a few downsides, but overall, I think it has [positive effects because] it gives me more ability to be able to talk to [Samway]. Some people are scared to have deep conversations in person, whereas over the phone, they might be more willing to open up.”

Kathleen also believes that social media is a way teens can explore relationships with the comfort of distance.

“When you’re in school all the time, you might not have that ability to step back,” Kathleen said. “You’re having fun, but you just don’t have that moment to go, ‘This is not healthy for me.’ [Think of] what’s healthy for you emotionally, mentally and physically in that space, and use [social media] as a breather.”

Kathleen and Eric’s son, junior Daegan Cutter, recognizes another issue with meeting people on social media: the ability to curate one’s image can fail to show one’s

Photo courtesy of Kathleen Cutter

KATHLEEN AND ERIC Cutter (far right) talk on the Redwood campus in 1985.

While COVID-19 led to the rise of one phenomenon — social media meet-cutes — it initiated the fall of another: hookups.

Found in the hallways of house parties and parking lots after sunset, hookup culture was commonplace in the pre-pandemic world. A 2019 Bark survey found that 26 percent of students were engaging in sexual activity while not being in a relationship, and according to this year’s October Bark survey, that number has dropped to 15 percent. Daegan has seen this cultural shift for himself and his friends.

“I haven’t heard about [hookups] too much this year to be honest. I would say in my experience, my friends are going towards long-term relationships,” Daegan said.

To Schmidt, it seems the distancing from past practices was fueled by a desire for human connection. As shutdowns and virtual schooling closed students within the confines of their own room, Schmidt observed that the isolation somewhat pushed individuals to seek out more than a hookup.

“I know a lot of people at some point got tired of not having relationships during COVID-19. You just wanted stability and you just wanted to be able to have someone,” Schmidt said. “Honestly, I think a lot of people got lonely… Pretty much everyone that I’m close with wants to be able to date someone and actually form bonds with them, because they couldn’t for so long, instead of just hooking up.”

Amidst September 2020’s strictest COVID-19 restrictions, seniors Callie Wilson and Jacob Smith began dating. But the inability to be in group settings may have been a blessing in disguise because they allowed Wilson and Smith to spend more time alone together.

“When COVID-19 happened, our parents were fine with us seeing each other …There was one point where we hung out every day straight for three months,” Smith said. “You couldn’t go out and do stuff with your friends, so we would hang out with each other at our houses. I would say COVID actually helped us become closer.”

Marin-based relationship expert and therapist Lisa Kift recognizes the security that serious relationships bring, particularly

for high schoolers. “[Dating] probably brought some comfort [during the pandemic] because there was such a great loss for all age groups. Just think of the high schoolers and those transitions [due to COVID-19].

To have that companionship and to have that deeper bond probably felt really good,” Kift said.

However, the vast transition from virtual to in-person schooling due to COVID-19 restrictions easing brought a whole new set of challenges for COVIDborn couples. For Wilson and Smith, having more people in their lives can be difficult. “[COVID-19] made us form a large dependence on each other, and so time apart could cause a strain on [our] relationship. Now that we’re back in school and around so many people, insecurities come up again and we’re not the only two people who see each other,” Wilson said.

As once-barren planners and calendars are now filled with meetings and countless assignments, the downtime couples once had is being erased. Life is back in full swing and has hit the senior couples especially hard. For Smith, the revival of sports has made it particularly difficult to find time to spend with Wilson.

“My schedule is negatively affecting our relationship in terms of time to hang out. With schoolwork, college applications, sports and then [Wilson’s] job, it’s hard to find time. There are very few days where we can hang out,” Smith said.

Kift believes that in order to ease the transition from breakout rooms to hallways, in-person school couples must pause and re-tune their relationship.

“Those that have been in relationships maybe almost become enmeshed with each other. Try to take a more balanced perspective on the ‘you,’ the ‘me’ and the ‘we’ of who you are. People probably got pretty tied up in each other and now you’ve got to recalibrate. In a way, it’s a rebalancing for relationships,” Kift said.

COVID-19 has robbed many upperclassmen of a “normal” high school experience, and meeting new people, or even dating someone, seems impossible after so much time in isolation. However, Kathleen recognizes the silver lining and offers her advice to current high schoolers.

“It’s not like you’re never going to be able to experience [a relationship], you just have to look for [connections] in different ways,” Kathleen said. “The mold was thrown out when COVID hit — you can create your own new thing. That’s what it looks like going forward; a totally different animal and you have to set it up for yourself. You are COVID pioneers … you are experiencing a whole new terrain for high school. The terrible thing is you don’t have a roadmap, but the beautiful thing is you don’t know what you could create.”

Photo by Casey Braff

COUPLE CALLIE WILSON and Jacob Smith laugh on the mosaic stage. bark@redwoodbark.org

bark People’s Park: A fight for the future and a fight for the past Page 11 • Feature

www.redwoodbark.org

population. And you should also realize that prior to the pandemic, nobody slept there before. So the park never Surrounded by the faint smell of urine and human was in the past and will not be in the future, whether we waste, the bright, abstract murals provide a colorful build or not, be a place where people can live.” contrast to the dried grass scattered with trash and Missing from Mogulof’s list of supporters, however, disheveled tents in a place many folks call home. are the unhoused themselves. Although she was not Where locals once happily spent their afternoons in comfortable stating her opinion on the latest People’s the sun, people now cross the street instead of walking Park project update, Lucy Love, a self-proclaimed “tree through the public park, choosing the longer and more hugger, tree lover and street mama,” has been in and inconvenient route over the chance of encountering an out of houselessness for the last 20 years. While she no unhoused individual. This is People’s Park. longer lives in the park due to safety reasons, the sense of A plot of land owned by the University of California community and physical nature there is a central part of (UC) Berkeley, just east of Telegraph Ave., bordered her life.

by Haste St., Bowditch St. and Dwight Way, People’s “The park is a symbol of Berkeley and of the homeless.

Park has been enjoyed by students and the public since I am inside and outside the park. I have to balance the the 1970s. Historically known for symbolizing the environmental and social interaction,” Love said. “I am counterculture movement and other radical political the regent of Regent Street, the original gentlewoman. activism, today, the park is occupied by many unhoused The [female] aunties and I hold the [park community] individuals. together. We make sure people eat, shower and take care Suddenly, this close-knit community, providing of themselves.” stability and shelter to nearly 50 people throughout The current project is not the first time that UC the pandemic, faces the threat of expulsion. On Sept. Berkeley has imposed on the lives of unhoused individuals.

30, UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ announced Love described a night back in 2019 where the university in an email to the UC Berkeley community that, after cut down several trees near and within People’s Park. nearly five decades of advocacy, the Board of Regents Love stood in front of three tree stumps on the edge of has finally approved plans to build the park and explained their spiritual student housing in place of the current significance and personal connection. unhoused encampment. UC Berkeley “I’m standing here by [who I call] initially introduced the building stumpy and there is a ley line [(a path proposal to combat their growing of some form of spiritual force)] to student housing crisis. The new another park. They are disabled like complex is set to provide more than me, but they are still alive,” Love said. one thousand undergraduate students While Berkeley is known worldwide with affordable housing on People’s for being the epicenter of addressing Park. After receiving pushback from social and environmental issues, their several interest groups, the plan has actions towards unhoused individuals since been adapted to include housing in the city speak otherwise. Within the for the unhoused and low-income past decade, Berkeley has worked to individuals who currently reside in the clear several unhoused encampments park, while still preserving a portion Dan Mogulof, and replaced the parks that housed of the land as open green space for the Assistant Vice Chancellor them with private residential and retail rest of the community. buildings. As a result, People’s Park Christ explained that these of UC Berkeley’s Office is one of the few refuges left from the changes to the original proposal are of Communications and otherwise polluted city. “consistent with the university’s Public Affairs Having spent much of her life longstanding commitment to, and without stable housing, Love has come concern for, unhoused members of to value the importance of spreading our community.” In a random sample kindness and positivity to everyone, survey conducted on undergraduate including her friends who live in the and graduate students of UC Berkeley, 68 percent of area. respondents supported the adapted plan for student “You can’t let them take the love away. Being on the housing construction on the site. streets, you discover love. You can be a motherfucker or a Despite majority support within the student body, mother lover,” Love said. heavy opposition to the project persists outside of the While many current inhabitants consider People’s Park university community. On the official People’s Park a suitable home, Mogulof says that in addition to providing Council website, there is a bolded red message stating: government checks, public showers and restrooms and “Student housing can be built elsewhere: The city and weekly food delivery, creating permanent housing for campus community must prevent UC Berkeley and people in need is the best solution for the unhoused. private corporations from decimating People’s Park’s “[Living in the park is] against the law, but the precious public community green gathering space. university also believes that we can and must as a society There are several alternative locations to build student and as a community do a lot better for unhoused people housing.” than offer them an outdoor place to put up a tent,” Mogulof Assistant Vice Chancellor in the university’s Office said. of Communications and Public Affairs, Dan Mogulof, Ari Neulight, the Homeless Outreach Coordinator works closely with campus leadership on external at UC Berkeley, explains that having a relatively large communications. As UC Berkeley proceeds with its unhoused population so close to campus, there exists a construction, Mogulof strives to reach a compromise that level of fear and desire to stay away from the perimeter of represents the wants and needs of Berkeley citizens.

People’s Park.

“It’s Berkeley. It’s America. It’s a diverse community “There really aren’t [any] students who go through with diverse perspectives and interests, and rarely is there People’s Park, as most students tend to avoid it. Most a construction project of any sort that doesn’t have some people probably know the park as a place where either opposition. We believe that by and large, the opposition is they have been told it is not safe, or they get alerts that a coming from people who are not really aware of all of the lot of the criminal activity, [including theft and drug use], plan’s elements,” Mogulof said. “[People’s Park] is an is coming from in and around the park area,” Neulight ever-changing said.

Some UC Berkeley students, including Megan Bosley, a junior at UC Berkeley and a class of 2018 Redwood alum, are not accustomed to living in an area with as many unhoused individuals, therefore, creating discomfort for them when walking through People’s Park.

“It’s not the same as walking in downtown Larkspur, [that’s] for sure,” Bosley said.

By Taylor Elliott and Natalie Tress

It’s Berkeley. It’s America. It’s a diverse community with diverse perspectives and interests...

Illustrations by Keely Ganong

Photo by Natalie Tress

EXPLAINING HOW TO help the unhoused, Love stands in front of People’s Park Kitchen Acknowledging the stark difference in the unhoused populations in Berkeley compared to Marin, Bosley has had to adapt in order to feel comfortable.

“I used to walk to school at Redwood or walk home even when it was dark, but now I definitely have to be cautious,” Bosley said. “I usually don’t walk alone at night, but if I have to, I do it at a time when a lot of students are leaving campus, [like] when the library’s closed, so everyone is forced to leave. Making sure someone is nearby, or you’re on the phone with your family members is always a good idea.”

Although unhoused populations are not as much of an issue in Marin, Alden Bevington, previously the primary liaison between the Anchorage community in Sausalito — an unhoused encampment — and the larger county and state, explained the negative effects of removing encampments like the current People’s Park project aims to do. “[When unhoused camps are cleared out], there’s a network where people hear through the grapevine that there’s another place they can go, and they just show up there. It’s just moving an issue from one place to another,” Bevington said. “Something to remember as well about clearing out these encampments is that a certain percentage of the population of these encampments are there as a protest against the economic system.”

Mogulof describes the public’s misconceptions about the effect of the new housing on Berkeley economics and businesses.

“There have been some who have claimed that somehow by putting up a new building for very lowincome people and another building for students will be gentrifying the neighborhood,” Mogulof said. “We just don’t understand that because it’s actually the exact opposite; by building more housing for students in Berkeley, it means they’re not competing for housing on the open market, and they were, therefore, not driving up the prices of that housing. And it’s exactly that [which] creates gentrification.”

Despite the concerns of residents and business owners, the unhoused community has made efforts to create a positive environment for themselves. Love explained how adjacent to People’s Park, fellow unhoused individuals have set up chess games on Telegraph Avenue, adding value to the Berkeley community.

“We take care of each other. Some people are angry, and that’s how they want to act, but for many of them, they realize that the cookie of love is better than the cookie of hate. Down in Ashby Square, my friends played drums, and people came from all over the world to hear them. It’s not all bad like the media and politicians paint us,” Love said. bark@redwoodbark.org

slensing@redwoodbark.org

another student who was being really aggressive, taking my stuff, calling me the N-word,” Raga said. “I resent the Redwood administration to this day because they didn’t know how to handle it. They told me to make a map of the school and find another way to get to my classes without seeing this person. It felt very much like an avoidance strategy, and that’s not going to do anything.”

Raga’s experience is not an anomaly among Black students. Junior Isabella Orlean is a multiracial Black student and has endured stereotypes and microaggressions as well. During her freshman year, Orlean was asked if she sold drugs solely based on her skin color. Some also assume she is unkind because of her features, a harmful stereotype that in uences her to actively talk softer so that people do not feel threatened with her presence. Because of this, as well as several other factors, Orlean has considered transferring too.

“I was going to transfer out sophomore year, but then COVID-19 happened. I wanted to transfer because it’s weird to have certain conversations with people [at Redwood] and there are certain things you can’t express because people won’t understand it,” Orlean said. “It would just be nice to be around people that can relate to you.”

Similar to Orlean, junior Chase Cordova has had to cope with microaggressions and elements of assimilation. With both white and Black parents, Cordova carries the weight of a mixed racial identity.

“When I came to Redwood, [racism] was the same as it was at [my middle school], but a little more amplified,” Cordova said. “People [would tell me] ‘Oh, you can 30 percent say the N-word’ because I’m 30 percent Black.”

Though Cordova never considered transferring, Redwood’s environment made her feel insecure in her own skin at the beginning of freshman year.

“My self-confidence completely plummeted. I know I love myself now, but [back] then, I just wanted to dye my hair blonde and straighten it. I didn’t want to draw any attention to myself I wanted to fit in as much as possible because people made it so obvious that I [was different],” Cordova said. “My parents were so sad, especially my mom. She tried to hide the straightener from me because I would straighten my hair so much. She would say, ‘Don’t get heat damage, your hair is so pretty,’ and I would

respond ‘No, I hate my curls.’”

A study conducted by New York University on the experiences of Black students in predominantly white high schools found that Cordova’s story overlaps with so many others. The research revealed that Black teens felt consciously aware of their differences in comparison to their white peers and the report also found that this environment can “stunt their authentic selves in a community that appears unsupportive at times.”

Over the COVID-19 lockdowns though, Cordova had thoughtful conversations with her mom and began to love herself again for who she was, and not for how she felt the Redwood community wanted her to be.

“It’s so easy to feel self-conscious and insecure when you look different from everyone else, when everyone’s skinny, white, blonde and rich,” Cordova said. “But, you cannot take what other people say seriously. You’re beautiful.”

While Cordova spoke to the microaggressions, Orlean voiced not feeling comfortable around her peers and Raga explained the absence of action by the administration, there is not one reason why Black students may still feel unsafe in the white-lined halls of Redwood. And similarly, there is not one way to end this unwelcome atmosphere.

Cordova believes that more widespread education and antiracism seminars would help, suggesting that addressing ignorance could change the school’s environment. Raga, on the other hand, emphasized that racism should not be learned from a distance, as it sometimes is in Redwood; instead, it should be an active dismantling of ideas along with interactions with people of color.

“Growing up in Marin, a white, elitist, wealthy, socalled liberal area, a lot of people intellectualize racism.

They read it from the newspaper or watch the news, but they lack perspective on a human level. People would rather listen to a podcast than talk to someone who has experience,” Raga said. “We want white allies. But do white allies really want to go that far, to dive deep, break down their character and what they know to combat racism?”

LaSandra White, former Redwood assistant principal and current principal of Archie Williams, grew up in Marin herself and knows what it means to be one of the few Black kids surrounded by a sea of whiteness. But given her extensive experience in administration, she also understands the difficulty of fixing an already broken system.

“We need to be aware of the experience of [Black] students, especially when there is such a small number of them in a big, very white institution, and do everything we can to make them feel supported, welcome and included in the community,” White said. “And that’s not easy. It’s really not easy.”

Raga did ultimately decide to continue her studies at Redwood, but she still wonders why she chose to stay.

“I’m happy I stayed, to a degree, but obviously there’s moments where I’m out and about in Marin or I’m at a game and people ask, ‘Why did you stay?’ I could go on with this kumbaya speech,” Raga said. “But mainly, I don’t know why I stayed and I sometimes regret it, especially because high school is such a key part in growing up.

Seeing people that look like you and having conversations

that I probably couldn’t have at Redwood [is important].”

Today, Raga is part of the Leadership class as well as the Student-Leader Antiracist Movement class. She, along with Starbird and Cordova, who also are enrolled in Leadership, has tried to become more involved within our school to increase representation.

In the end, Starbird emphasized that though Redwood has prompted uncomfortable situations for him, it still provides a level of community.

“Obviously, there’s going to be some people that are always negative and there’s racial intentions behind whatever they say,” Starbird said. “But there’s also always going to be the people that want to listen and learn your story.”

As each of them look beyond high school, pondering on where they will go next, it’s still apparent that Redwood, and the greater county, have huge strides to take when it comes to handling race.

“I love Marin, but some things do need to change,” ordova said. “It’s not just for me, I’m fine for myself, but for the [Black] kids in the future.”

slensing@redwoodbark.org

"You cannot take what other people say seriously...

You’re

beautiful."

- CHASE

CORDOVA, JUNIOR

By Shyla Lensing People across Marin like to paint Redwood as an academically driven, athletically exceeding and a passionately overachieving environment. However, there’s another notoriety that often goes overlooked, yet some at Redwood know it all too well.

“Redwood has a [racist] reputation for a reason. It’s not a stereotype. It’s a history. That’s why that question of, ‘Why do you still go to Redwood?’ [is hard to answer].

And I honestly don’t know why,” Nanise Raga, a senior who identifies as Black Pacific Islander, said. “Sometimes I’m like, ‘I should have just gone [to Tam].’”

Raga is one of the few Black students left in the senior class of 2022. The African-American population

within the senior class is nearly half of what they once were as freshmen. Once comprising 1.5 percent of the entire school in the 2018-2019 academic year, AfricanAmerican students now only make up about 1.09 percent of the student population. “African-American” may exclude students who identify as Black under another ethnicity, like how Raga identifies as Black Pacific Islander, so the number of students that have left Redwood may be, in actuality, greater than the superficial statistics can encompass. So that begs the question: what about Redwood, its environment, bias and complacency, has made Black students feel unwelcome to the point of transferring?

If one starts at surface level by rewinding three years back, a former classmate of Raga’s, Sophia Totterman,

began creating widespread videos targeting historically marginalized groups.

According to Raga, they were a mix of Saturday Night Live and Fox News commentary with intent to be comedic, while presenting racist, antisemetic and Islamaphobic ideas.

Totterman’s videos, published on her YouTube page, @LtCorbis, quickly went viral, prompting controversial appearances on BuzzFeed and other popular news outlets. Even without their national recognition, the videos made Raga and other students of color feel unsafe.

“The comments that [Totterman] would make about Black and Jewish people were very offensive and hit close to home. A lot of [Black] students were very uncomfortable, ” Raga said.

However, given the liberties that social media platforms like YouTube grant their creators, there was little room for the Redwood administration to get involved. Totterman continuing to upload extremist videos nursed an unsettling atmosphere on campus, prompting many of the Black kids Raga knew to leave for Tamalpais High School (Tam) in Mill Valley or elsewhere. In fact, as Redwood’s class of 2022 African-American population has dropped from nine to five students, since 2018-2019, Tam has gained five.

Senior Yur Majesty Starbird is also Black, and similar to Raga, felt targeted by Totterman’s comments. Despite this, Starbird has found his place at Redwood, having spent the last four years on the football team.

“I think almost every minority student felt the same way,” Starbird said. “[My family did not] seriously talk about leaving, but there was a thought in my head. If I weren’t playing sports at Redwood, I would be at Tam.” Raga feels that this urge to transfer among Redwood’s Black student population was a result of more than just the triggering videos. Rather, it was a domino effect, tumbling from a collection of microaggressions, uncomfortable side looks in the halls and consistent racist comments.

“There would be little instances [of racism], and then [Totterman] really hit the target,” Raga said. “[Some] of the Black students realized how much of a mistake they made by going to Redwood. And then they said, ‘Okay, it’s time to go. It’s time to retreat.’”

Raga’s own personal experience at Redwood, and in Marin, illustrates these little instances. She’s found herself the victim of multiple racially motivated attacks in the past; ones that have made her question her presence in this community and her decision to stay at Redwood. “[Prior to the videos,] I had already had instances with

bark Page 14 • Feature College rankings: Relevant or relative?

By Chloe Craft and AnnaLise Sandrich Dozens of banners from different colleges and universities line the walls of Redwood’s College and Career Center, overlooking countless posters, pamphlets and brochures. Students come to the College and Career center during SMART periods, mornings, lunch and after school to meet with college representatives, attend information sessions and receive personalized feedback on their college applications.

Although the College and Career Center contains a wide variety of resources to help students learn about different colleges, students often focus on reputation and school standings. According to a recent Bark survey, 39 percent of Redwood students are somewhat influenced by college rankings and 38 percent of Redwood students are heavily influenced by college rankings. Redwood’s College and Career specialist Becky Bjursten, who advises students on the college research and application process, noticed the influence that college rankings and prestige have on students.

“There [can be] some pressure to look in certain directions or at certain schools. I think that [this pressure] is something that makes it harder emotionally to go through this process. It should be a fun process where you’re picking this great place that you get to live in for four years ... [where] you get to pursue something you’re really interested in,” Bjursten said.

A lot of applicants’ stress stems from within Redwood’s social atmosphere.

Enrollment in Advanced Placement (AP) courses is just one example of how Redwood fosters a culture of collegeoriented thinking.

Last year, 833 Redwood students enrolled in AP classes, and of the 1,724 AP tests given, 83 percent scored a three or higher. Junior Dylan Kleinfeld has felt this influence on his college search process.

“A lot of my good friends are quite wellperforming.

They’re always talking about going to these good and prestigious schools,” Kleinfeld said. “I feel like I have to catch up ...

I [feel like I] would let myself down if I ended up going to a low-end college that wasn’t known to be a very good college when all my friends go to nice [schools] and go off to have great lives.”

According to senior Isabella Lonning, Redwood’s community tends to pressure students to apply to colleges regardless of whether or not the school is a good fit or viable financial option.

“People [at Redwood] encourage you a lot to apply to Ivy League schools and super prestigious schools.

You’re almost looked down upon if you don’t want to go to these schools if you don’t think it’s worth it for you,” Lonning said. “My plan is to go to one of the [Universities of California (UC’s)], because they’re great schools and much more affordable. A lot of times when I tell people that, because I have good grades, they’re like, ‘Why aren’t you applying to more selective schools or more expensive private schools?’ This gets kind of annoying because I’m factoring in the cost and my future, not just the prestige of the school.”

According to Redwood alum and current UC Berkeley student Katherine Chuang, Redwood’s atmosphere was often fixated on how many AP classes a student takes, college applications and standardized testing scores — none of which she feels matter in college. Chuang recalls the competitive environment during her time at Redwood.

“All of that is so absurd to me to look back and think about why everyone cared so much. But I also understand because it’s high school, small things mean a lot,” Chuang said.

However, it is not just external factors that contribute to the pressure to achieve acceptance into high-ranking schools — internal perceptions of self-worth play a role as well. Chuang actually applied to University of California (UC) Berkeley twice. Disappointed by her rejection letter the first time, Chuang reluctantly began college at UC Santa Cruz. Unsatisfied with the lower level of rigor there, after her first quarter, she transferred to College of Marin. She then reapplied to Berkeley and transferred there as a junior.

“There was a part of me that was super bummed out when I didn’t get into Berkeley the first time, but here

October 29, 2021

I am today. I feel okay about it now, but I remember just Sept. 8, Forbes ranked UC Berkeley the number one subconsciously thinking that whatever college I decided to college in America. Shortly after, on Sept. 13, the U.S. go to [and] whatever colleges I got into defined my self- News and World Report ranked UC Berkeley 22nd in worth,” Chuang said.

National Universities.

However, not everyone is impacted by Assessing how well-suited rankings in this way. Former Redwood a college or university is student body president and current for a particular student UC Berkeley student Greg is a nearly impossible Dachtler based his applications task if one’s research on factors focused on is solely based the practical aspects of on rankings, universities, such as schools’ especially due to resources for students’ fields the discrepancy of study. In his case, he between lists. sought out schools that gave Instead, him the most extracurricular Bjursten suggests opportunities for his major looking at colleges in mechanical engineering holistically, without the with a concentration in influence of the aerospace. media’s evaluation.

“I really had my sights set on Cal Poly in According to San Luis Obispo,” Dachtler said. “They do a Dachtler, students’ social lot more hands-on instruction, and you get needs and desires for to learn a lot more about how engineering their best-fit college works in the real world.” are not represented in However, after an unexpected the quantitative factors acceptance to UC Berkeley, Dachtler media organizations ultimately decided to attend Berkeley consider in rankings. instead of Cal Poly. The decision was based “University not only on Berkeley’s extended ranking is a very subjective process, opportunities for engineering even though it seems like you would be using students but also on the student life data and numbers,” Dachtler said. “Your views on what and community environment. is important in a school won’t align perfectly with “I can think of very few whatever organization made the list of top universities. places that had the same breadth You’re not going to be prioritizing the same things.” of talent that you would find Even the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) encourages [at Berkeley],” Dachtler said. its readers to remember that, “The WSJ/Times Higher “But the social aspect of that Education rankings are intended to serve as a starting was really important [for point for families considering their options. The ‘best’ me]. That was absolutely school in the world might not be the best one for you.” what sold me on coming Bjursten suggests that students should consider the [to Berkeley] instead distance from home, specific academic programs and of going to Cal Poly or preferred learning environments in their college search anywhere else. [It was process. the] student life experience “If you’re influenced on your college list by other and how I felt when I was on campus.” people’s rankings, you might not end up with really Students may experience more success anywhere you want to go,” Bjursten said. “Figuring out when evaluating schools regardless of how you really feel about a school and where it ranks in prestige. Dachtler did not consider rankings terms of what’s the best thing for you has to do with so whatsoever when he enrolled at UC many factors that you’re not going to see on a U.S. News Berkeley. and World Report [list].”

“I hadn’t actually looked at university However, college rankings do have some potential to rankings before picking a college. I know now, be helpful if students use them to look at specific areas of course, being here, that Berkeley is ranked schools perform well in. Many media outlets that release as either the number one or number two public general rankings also create more specific lists that [university] in the country, and some rankings, focus on one feature or category. For example, Forbes like Forbes, have it listed as the number one university in creates lists of top public schools as well as top research the country,” Dachtler said. universities that could be beneficial to Dachtler’s mindset of selecting students. without prestige in mind aligns For Chuang, rankings with Bjursten’s perspective. are about understanding a “I just think [college school’s resources and rankings] are a way to create outcomes.

Chuang this hierarchy that’s not attends Haas School truly there,” Bjursten said. of Business, UC “I think a healthier way Berkeley’s premier to look at picking your undergraduate colleges is [to consider] b u s i n e s s what is the best fit for program, and has you.” found that going to According to Bjursten, such a highly regarded using college rankings to find and school has had significant benefits. evaluate the quality may be difficult “With [top ranked schools] given that different rankings measure comes prestige. It makes your different aspects. For example, resume look really good, causing according to the Wall Street Journal, lots of companies to want to hire rankings emphasize “outputs,” you. But the other aspect [that] I or how beneficial schools are honestly think goes hand-in-hand to students after they graduate. with prestige is all the resources Rankings are also based on four you get,” Chuang said. “At Haas, fundamental categories: student we have our own career center, outcomes, academic resources, counselors and advisors and student engagement and learning specific job recruiting events. So, Illustrations by Keely Ganong yes, in some ways I did pick it for environment. Forbes considered similar factors on its annual list, including debt and alumni salary. the prestige, but in a lot of other Additionally, Forbes factored in retention rates (the ways, it was because I really knew that this school would percentage of students who stay at the college after their prepare me so well for my professional life and offer me freshman year), academic success, graduation rates and so many resources to help me get there as well.” how many graduates made the Forbes American Leaders At the end of the day, Bjursten advises that students List. U.S. News and World Report takes debt, outcomes, prioritize what specific elements matter to them. resources, academic reputation, student excellence and “Whatever’s important to you is meaningful,” alumni engagement. Social life, athletics and other Bjursten said. “Just listen to your own voice because nonacademic factors were not considered U.S. News and it doesn’t have to be the best choice for anybody else World Report’s rankings. except for you.”

On Oct. 1, the Wall Street Journal released its general college rankings with Harvard, Stanford and MIT topping the list. UC Berkeley was ranked No. 36. By contrast, on bark@redwoodbark.org

review

Page 15

Trader Joe’s foods that ‘Boo’st fall spirit

By Nina Geoghegan

Stores are stocking all things pumpkin-spiced and Trader Joe’s is at the forefront with some autumn creations of their own. From pumpkin themed international foods to household classics with a Halloween spin, the store has proven its commitment to the fall season. Nonetheless, some flavors simply cannot be salvaged by using fall spirit as a seasoning. Because Trader Joe’s has such a wide selection, it is hard to know which products are the festively delicious needle in a haystack of frankensteined foods. To avoid subjecting your palette to something pumpkin-spice-spit-worthy, here are the tastiest fall releases at Trader Joe’s.

Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli: 9/10 These charmingly dual-colored pasta squares make for the perfect autumn dinner. Generously filled with a sweet and creamy texture, the ravioli burst with the advertised pumpkin taste. While it checks most of the boxes, it lacks one critical element: the “cheesy” flavor promised on the packaging. Fortunately, this cheese deficiency is easily forgotten when paired with their equally delightful Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce.

Mini Spicy Pumpkin Samosas: 7.5/10 This Trader Joe’s version of an overseas meal brings spice into both your fridge’s food selection and, quite literally, your mouth. Appropriately small and addictively spicy, the samosas are a must-buy, despite the faintness of the pumpkin and the lack of authenticity. However, like most frozen foods, they seem to be perpetually soggy no matter how you prepare them.

Pumpkin Ice Cream: 10/10 A true 10 out of 10, the seasonings of autumn are immaculately balanced, replicating the taste of pumpkin pie in a soft ice cream that never ices over. This dessert provides an indescribable experience. Each heavenly spoonful is a trip to all things wonderfully fall. Sorry dairy-free people!

Pumpkin Cheesecake: 8.5/10 For $6.99, this 30-ounce cake is quite the bargain. Once this masterpiece thaws, it makes the long defrosting period worth the wait. Spliced with a subtle hint of pumpkin, the rich cheese part of the cake sits atop an amazingly crumbly crushed graham cracker crust, making for a mouthwatering combination.

Pumpkin Flavored Joe Joe’s: 8/10 A highly favored Trader Joe’s classic, these sandwich cookies take a festive spin on snacking. Although the taste is more of a pumpkin spice rather than just plain pumpkin, they achieve the ultimate goal of being scrumptious.

Ghosts & Bats Crispy Potato Snacks: 10/10 Undoubtedly, this item is among one of the most heavily anticipated by customers every year. Aside from their adorably spooky shapes, these chips offer more than just visual excitement. With just the right amount of salt and a light potato essence, your hand will be magnetized to the bag.

Photo by Nina Geoghegan

RECEIVING A 10 out of 10 rating, the Pumpkin Ice Cream is a must try.

Pumpkin Spiced Teeny Tiny Pretzels: 7/10 These little yogurt-covered pretzels are another hit for the snack section. Although considerably tasty, they do not have much of a seasonal taste. Regardless, they are a musttry simply for their quick and yummy snackability.

Photo by Nina Geoghegan

STUNNING IN TASTE and visuals, the Pumpkin Cheesecake is a dessert worth your dime.

Orange, Black and Blech: Now that the stars of the season have been established, here are a couple of scares to steer clear of — no matter what the cashiers say! Kicking off Oct-ew-ber is the Pumpkin Hummus. The name in itself is a red flag but to make matters worse, it does not include the latter half of its title, aside from the consistency. Hummus should not be sweet; pumpkins should not be in hummus. I rest my case. Also unfortunately disappointing are the Pumpkin Empanadas. When compared to the picture on the box, these “empanadas” more closely resemble pale and hopelessly flat hot pockets. On the other hand, they certainly taste like pumpkin. This isn’t necessarily a good thing though, as the empanada was in desperate need of other spices. Additionally, the flavorless crust does little to help the generous filling of overly sweet mush. ngeoghegan@redwoodbark.org

By Ava Razavi Friday Night Flicks: The Bark’s newest review column highlights the best movies to watch on a night off.

From documentaries to movie-musicals, The Bark knows how to light-up your screens!

As Halloween draws near and colder weather creeps underneath your door, you may be looking for a spooky movie to watch under the covers. Instead of scrolling for hours on various streaming platforms for the perfect Friday night flick, you can use this list of Halloween movies to get you into the spooky spirit. To make your movie marathon even more pleasurable, they are perfectly ordered to create the ideal sinister movie queue for this Halloween weekend.

FILLING YOUR HEART with laughter and glee, “Beetlejuice” is the perfect lighthearted comedy.

SHOCKINGLY HORRIFYING, “GET Out” gives emough chills to last through your movie marathon.

ATTEMPTING TO SOLVE a mystery together, “The Addams Family” plot revolves around family and love.

“Hocus Pocus” As one of the most-watched and quintessential Halloween movies of all time, “Hocus Pocus” has earned its spot as first on this list. “Hocus Pocus” encompasses everything you need for your Halloween movie marathon: witches, black cats, spooky spells and cheesy dad-jokes.

Get ready to follow young teenager Max as he accidentally sets three witches free from their decades-old holding spot. Max, alongside his group of friends, attempts to return the witches back before they become immortal but comes across some hilarious roadblocks on their way. After viewing this movie for the millionth time, I can promise that “Hocus Pocus” will get you in the spooky spirit. Expect some laughs, some cringes and to end the movie with a smile on your face.

“Beetlejuice” To continue your movie marathon, I recommend an older, yet still enjoyable, Halloween movie, “Beetlejuice.” The antagonist, Beetlejuice, a spirit stuck in limbo that only has one way to get back into the living world: by making someone repeat his name three times. Throughout the movie, Beetlejuice makes many desperate attempts to complete his task until he finds Lydia, a young teen grieving the death of her mother. Lydia and Beetlejuice come together to create a comedic clash of the living and dead while managing to tackle serious topics such as loss and suicide.

This movie reminds you what the fall season is all about: green hair and family.

Despite being an older movie, I would be dead before I found someone that does not enjoy “Beetlejuice.”

“Get Out” If you are searching for a movie to get your heart pumping, look no further than “Get Out.” This thriller is guaranteed to prepare you for all the jumpscares you may encounter on Halloween night. Chris, a Black man in a relationship with a white woman named Rose, goes on a weekend getaway with Rose and her odd parents.

Almost immediately, Chris recognizes that something suspicious is occurring in the household, but by the time he realizes he needs to “Get Out,” it is too late. Daniel Kaluuya showcases extreme talent and emotion in his performance as Chris who manages to express one of the hardest emotions possible — gut-dropping horror — seemingly effortlessly. “Get Out” left me with enough goosebumps to last me through Thanksgiving.

“The Addams Family” Finally, to end your spooky marathon, a viewing off “The Addams Family” should do the trick. A movie filled with adult jokes and catchy songs, it follows the Addams family, a closely-knit group, as they humorously try to solve the mystery of a man who entered their home claiming to be a long-lost brother. With a low fear factor, the movie is suitable for kids while remaining entertaining for adults due to the family’s advanced humor. The Addams make for the best Friday night companions.

This movie left me with a sense of warmth and happiness, making me wish I could watch it again. Finishing off with “The Addams Family,” your movie marathon will have ended on the perfect note.

Image courtesy of Warner Brothers

Image courtesy of Universal Pictures

Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures

arazavi@redwoodbark.org

October 29, 2021 bark Page 16 • Review Deep roots and thick rough: TPC Harding Park Story and photos by Will Baker Home to the 2020 PGA Championship, Tournament Players Club (TPC) Harding Park in San Francisco’s western quarter functions as one of the top public golf courses in the Bay Area. Undeniably, there is an allure to playing the same holes where Collin Morikawa won his first major championship in August of 2020. While the course’s illustrious past is a sure way to attract golfers, the course itself is one of a kind, living up to its high expectations.

The front nine begins snaking through the interior of the property with little elevation change. Despite this flatness, Harding’s first-half layout is anything but inconspicuous. The trademark thick rough that is constant throughout the round penalizes even the slightest miss off of the tee. Conservatism is not the answer to finding these narrow fairways, though, as the sheer length of most holes forces an aggressive first shot. With its tight fairway bending slightly to the right, hole two is a testament to the necessity for precision off the tee. The hole doglegs about 260 yards from the tee, leaving the average golfer with a small landing zone

PARALLEL TO A row of Monterey cypress, holes one and nine provide the backdrop for Harding’s pretee practice green.

where the slightest imperfection will result in a buried or blocked-off second shot.

The towering Monterey cypress trees lining the fairways pose another challenge to Harding’s patrons. The thick branches consume errant and even on-line shots, adding to the already mounting pre-swing anxiety that characterizes a day at Harding. These trees are used as barriers through the entirety of the course and accompany the lush shrub on the banks of the adjoining Lake Merced.

In the evening sun, western-facing holes are lit up through the trees’ limbs, dramatically showcasing the club’s concave greens and routing.

The hardest hole in my experience, as well as golfers’ collective experience, is the number-one handicap hole four. Playing at 606 yards from the championship tees, the hole offers a grueling test that pits players against a sharp dogleg left (with cypresses ensuring no corners are cut) and one of the slimmest fairways of the round. In every capacity, this hole is the epitome of Harding Park’s front nine, as the protected fairway glides on and on to a green that requires a precise short game and carefully placed approach.

Harding’s back nine opens up the course to a more unique

PERCHED ABOVE LAKE Merced, the short par four 16th serves as a highlight of the round.

routing. It forms the outer edges of the development and allows for more creativity in play than the front.

The sloping fairways, protected greens and gettable par fours and fives allow the course to take on a whole new tone in its final stretch.

The 16th, the location of Morikawa’s now famous eagle en route to his first major, is a standout.

The short hole’s green is reachable in one by most pros but is a foolish expectation for the vast majority of the golfing population. Still, the slight dogleg right gives players a chance for the rare wedge approach for a green in regulation. The hole is on the southwesternmost part of the course and features views of Lake Merced’s rowers as well as the accompanying sunset on the Pacific Ocean.

The final hole is a testament to the balance of difficulty and enjoyment that Image courtesy of OpenClipart Harding is able to strike. Drives on 18 must carry a swale of lake water and lake weeds to set up for a midrange approach shot to an elevated green surrounded closely by bunkering and rough. With the prongs of Sutro Tower in the background, TPC Harding Park ends picturesquely. The long round has come with its flaws though. The greens are slightly war-torn with ball marks, and pace of play is often slow, as is typical of public courses. Still, the accessibility of such a course that combines great holes with pro-level difficulty and unmatched San Franciscan scenery makes TPC Harding Park an essential destination for local and traveling golfers.

wbaker@redwoodbark.org

You haven’t lived until you’ve seen ‘No Time to Die’

By Matt Benbow

“No Time To Die,” the newest James Bond movie directed by Cary Joji Fukanaga, was released on Oct. 8, 2021, after being delayed for over a year due to COVID-19. Starring Daniel Craig, the film tells the story of James Bond, a former agent from MI6, the British intelligence agency. Bond meets a former friend Felix Leiter, played by Jeffery Wright, who warns him of a mission that requires the best 00 agent — Bond himself. Leaving his tranquil, retired life in Jamaica, Bond departs to help the CIA and MI6 rescue a kidnapped scientist, who turns out to be far more dangerous than expected. Bond and other 00 agents travel from Jamaica to the murky woods of the Netherlands to overcome a series of treacherous obstacles. On their journey, they encounter a mysterious villain named Safin, played by Rami Malek, who has access to advanced technology that can kill anyone using their DNA. Bond and new 00 agent Nomi, played

by Lashana Lynch, put their lives on the

Image courtesy of AZ Big Media

DEVISING A PLAN, James Bond (Daniel Craig) attempts to get out of a trap set up by Safin (Rami Malek).

line to save the world.

Although many actors have played the role of Bond, Craig, widely accepted as one of the best James Bonds, does an impeccable job. He brings a new level of intensity to the film by incorporating a substantial amount of action and dangerous stunts with motorcycles and hand-to-hand combat. Craig’s stunts in “No Time To Die” are unlike any Bond film ever; his hardworking attitude and passionate emotion in the role of James Bond makes him one of the best actors. Unfortunately, this will be Craig’s final James Bond movie, although the series will likely be perpetuated with new actors, as the Bond franchise switches actors regularly.

Lynch’s performance of Nomi, a new 00 agent in the MI6, is outstanding. Lynch made history as the first Black female 00 agent in a James Bond movie to play a lead role. In her preparation for the film, the actress made it her mission to use her voice and be a spokesperson for her race and sex. Lynch has inspired others to speak up and be a part of their own conversations with race, gender and culture. During her role of Nomi, she plays an astonishing role with power, quirkiness and secretiveness, setting a high standard for future Bond movies. Bond and Nomi meet in Jamaica, where they are introduced to each other and gradually find respect for one another throughout the film. Nomi was always on the hunt for Safin, and with Bond’s help, the two function as a dynamic duo to protect the world from Safin. With “No Time to Die” being the first Bond movie to have a female in a lead role, the importance of her performance in the film is special.

As Bond fans leave the theater, they’ll be left with only content and inspiration.

James Bond’s “No Time To Die” is a high-quality film and does not let Image courtesy of Esquire fans down. It includes beautiful scenery, emotion, action and intensity, and is bound PREPARING FOR AN intense mission with James Bond, Nomi (Lashana Lynch) is to keep you on the edge of your seat the ready to put her life on the line for the sake of the world. entire film. With highs and lows, your mind is engaged from start to finish. This movie is a must-see if you love tension, mystery mbenbow@redwoodbark.org and suspense.

Page 17 • Review

www.redwoodbark.org

Young Thug’s new album is ‘Icy Hot’

By Rori Anderson Jeffrey Lamar Williams, otherwise known as Young Thug, released his long-awaited album “Punk” on Oct. 15.

Originally set to release in January or February of 2020, fans have anxiously anticipated the album that succeeds Young Thug’s two collaborative albums released in the past year.

“Punk” consists of 20 songs featuring collaborations with major artists Drake, Travis Scott, Doja Cat and Post Malone, among others. The features make each song unique and stand out on their own.

For example, “Love You More (with Nate Ruess, Gunna & Jeff Bhasker)” is a shockingly mellow song that relaxes the listener with its peaceful and rhythmic tempo. Ruess’ melodic vocals provide a break from the other more upbeat rap songs in the discography. This is a common theme in the album as Thug switches up the tempo of his music, improving the diversity of the album and making it more engaging to listeners.

In an interview conducted in October 2021, Thug said that “Punk” is “just real life stories,” and some of the album’s lyrics are much deeper than others.

Songs like “Die Slow” have emotional undertones, as he sings about his personal life growing up. In the interlude, he raps, “My momma had broke up with my dad for having another kid on her.” In other songs, Thug’s lyrics show a much different side of him. In “Hate The Game” for example, Thug uses explicit language and innuendo to express the wild side of his life as a celebrity.

One problem with Thug’s lyricism is its repetition. While his language in some songs is extremely catchy, the consistency of repeated lyrics throughout the album make this tactic noticeable and predictable. In the song “Yeah Yea Yea,” the chorus consists of only the word “yea” repeated over and over again. While the other verses of the song brought listeners in with their fun lyrics, the chorus overwhelmed those sections and made the whole song sound basic.

bark

The main problem with this album is its ending. Despite not being an avid listener of Hip Hop/Trap music, I thoroughly enjoyed most of the songs on the album. However, the final song, “Day Before (with Mac Miller),” seemed boring and slow due to the melancholy and unchanging instrumentals throughout the song. To make matters worse, the song, and therefore the album, ended with whale-like noises. It makes an overall strong and engaging album end on a very low note, which was disappointing.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the album and enjoyed many of the songs. I can’t wait to sing along to “Hate The Game” and “Icy Hot” in my car with the windows down. Others like “Recognize Real” are better to listen to on a rainy night. Thug fans and new listeners alike are sure to find a song on “Punk” that they can add to their favorite playlist.

Image courtesy of 300 Entertainment

YOUNG THUG CHANNELS Octavio Campo for the “Punk” album cover.

roanderson@redwoodbark.org

Image courtesy of 300 Entertainment

Image courtesy of NPR

ANNOUNCING THE TRACKLIST of his album, Young Thug lets his listeners know how many collaborations there are.

TURNING AROUND AFTER his NPR Tiny Desk Concert, Young Thug reveals the release date of his album “Punk.”

Power outages: Check what’s in your pantry Story and Illustration by Peter Biss California needed the rain more than ever, with 87.9 percent of the state in an “Extreme Drought,” 45.7 percent in an “Exceptional Drought” and the risk of wildfires ever present. What they didn’t need however, was excessive flooding, heavy winds and power outages which affected over 20,000 Marin County residents on the week of Oct. 24. According to PG&E’s general announcement and 2021 Wildfire Mitigation Plan Report, future Public Safety Power Shut Offs in Marin County and the larger Bay Area are a real possibility if extreme weather conditions, like the atmospheric river, become the norm. To get ready for these possible outcomes, here is a list of flood-ready foods that can be easily stored and prepared during a power outage.

Canned Bean Salad Most homes are stocked with miscellaneous canned goods, making the classic corn and black bean salad an enjoyable, widely accessible and versatile meal during a power outage. The Middle Eastern Balela, a chickpea salad, is commonly made with olives, tomatoes, chopped vegetables and olive oil. The classic three-bean American salad is most often made with garbanzo beans, kidney beans, cannellini beans or quinoa. Whatever you decide to put in your salad, this flood-ready food option is probably healthier than alternative dried goods. But something to consider when planning this meal is that additives such as fresh vegetables with expiration dates should be incorporated into your bean salad before non-perishables.

Shelf-stable Milk and Cereal Of all the foods you can make during a power outage, shelf-stable milk with your favorite cereal might offer the greatest deal of comfort. If brand cereals like Frosted Flakes, Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Special K aren’t to your liking, consider trying a bowl of overnight oats, which can be made by adding either shelf-stable milk or water to a jar of rolled oats the night before consumption. When using shelf-stable milk, it’s most important to remember that once opened, it does not last, making it your responsibility to purchase serving size containers or to find other ways to keep expirable foods cold without power.

Spam Sandwich During World War II, Spam was a staple food on the front lines and in every household across the U.S. It comes pre-cooked, doesn’t need to be refrigerated and has a long shelf-life, making it the ideal crisis food. Consider having a sliced Spam sandwich with your choice of condiments for a flood-ready option that’s both cheap and reliable.

Shelf-stable milk, Spam and canned goods should be in everyone’s pantry on account of their use and versatility during emergency situations. Non-perishables, contrary to popular belief, do not always have to taste bad; you just need to plan ahead and be prepared before PG&E cuts the power. pbiss@redwoodbark.org

October 29, 2021 bark Page 18 • Review Are these 1980s movies classics or just old fashioned?

Growing up, I loved watching movies my parents recommended from their teenage years. Something about the style and “old-timey” feel allowed me to connect more with them. Looking back as a teenager in 2021, these movies, which I once adored, feel completely foreign. What may have been acceptable then is absurdly offensive and completely backwards now.

guy” throughout the film. Additionally, Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling), the stereotypical cute guy that Sam and the audience are meant to swoon over, is unsurprisingly misogynistic. He justifies rape, as he proudly admits his ability to “violate his girlfriend ten different ways” if he wanted to. These horrifying attempts at humor generalize the Asian community as well as romanticize sexual abuse and harassment.

“Sixteen Candles” (1984): “Sixteen Candles,” the classic John Hughes movie, contains the three Ms of a 1980s movie: memorable hairstyles, Molly Ringwald and majorly offensive characters and content. In the movie, Sam Baker (Molly Ringwald) wakes up in anticipation of her 16th birthday, only to find that her entire family has forgotten about it. To many ‘80s teenagers, this movie’s moments were an essential part of their childhood, such as when the freshman geek (Anthony Michael Hall) tries to get Sam’s attention but instead makes a fool of himself, flashing his brace-filled smile in the process. This movie may, at first glance, seem to be a generic romantic comedy.

However, it is impossible to ignore its underlying issues. Gedde Watanabe’s character, Long Duk Dong, portrays all of Hollywood’s racist stereotypes of Asian men. He is degraded by the undiversified characters and deemed the “weird Chinese

“Heathers” (1988): “Heathers” is the story of Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder), a member of the most popular school clique, “The Heathers.”

Veronica becomes dissatisfied with her friends when she meets the mysteriously intriguing new boy, J.D. (Christian Slater).

As she becomes enamored with her new boyfriend, she realizes how miserable her life as a “Heather” has been. Reflecting on the emotional trauma that the leader of the group, Heather Chandler (Kim Walker), has inflicted upon her and the rest of the school, Veronica gains the courage to stand up to her and struggles to make her school a better place. Taking advantage of this, J.D. manipulates Veronica into pursuing criminal activity by forging suicide notes after murdering various classmates.

Watching this movie as a teenager in 2021 is substantially difficult, as it glorifies death, suicide and toxic relationships among high school students. As J.D. reveals himself

By Justine Fisch

Image courtesy of Universal Pictures

LAUGHING AT HIS girlfriend’s state, Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling) tells the geek (Anthony Michael Hall), “She’s totally gone, have fun.”

Image courtesy of New World Pictures

SNEERING AT A student that they nicknamed Martha “Dumptruck,” Veronica and the Heathers further enforce ‘80s high school stereotypes. to be a murderous sociopath, he sexually assaults and attempts to kill Veronica on multiple occasions. Rather than serving as a warning for teenagers, suicide is romanticized, as the overwhelming news and media coverage increases the popularity of those who have passed and popularizes suicide among the other high school students.

“The Goonies” (1985): A group of adventurous kids, the selfproclaimed “Goonies,” are pitted against a property development company that plans to destroy their homes to build a country club. The day of their eviction, they discover an old map that supposedly leads to the treasure of the infamous pirate, “One-Eyed Willy.” Hoping this map can lead them to the money needed to keep their homes, they face the Fratelli criminals and encounter many obstacles as they race to find the treasure. Many ‘80s teen movie stereotypes are incorporated throughout this film, from full denim outfits to oblivious police officers who do not trust the teenagers’ calls for help. During the movie, the group encounters the Fratellis’ brother, Sloth. This controversial character is restrained using zoo chains and is physically and emotionally abused by the rest of his family. What is most disturbing is that Sloth, depicted as a misunderstood monster, is meant to represent someone with brain damage or birth defects. What is meant to be a lighthearted film of childhood

adventure does not take away from the use of Sloth as comic relief and the offensive and false interpretation of someone with cognitive disabilities.

It is easy to be blinded by old trends and fun-loving characters in ‘80s films.

Some could even be seen as progressive for their time. However, unless you want to spend a night infuriated over offensive and stereotypical characters, I would recommend skipping these ones.

Image courtesy of Warner Brothers

EXAMINING THE MAP they found, the kids plan to find the hidden treasure.

jfisch@redwoodbark.org

Back-from-the-dead: 2021’s best Halloween house-sitters Photos and Story by Chloe Bishop As October reaches its end and Halloween approaches, it is safe to say that Marin residents have fully embraced the spirit of a “spooky season,” as many Redwood students would call it. Driving around Larkspur, students see front yards adorned with pumpkins, bushes and trees covered by larger-than-life spider webs, and lawns scattered with creepy critters. However, those that are lucky, or unlucky if you will, may pass by certain homes where decorations are tremendous, and are bound to frighten those who are not expecting them. Decorating homes for holidays is no small task, and these homes within the district have proven to be at the top of the list. These featured decorations are a nod to those who are filling our community with the most THIS HOME HAS all types of Halloween creatures, SMIRKING AT VIEWERS, a startling skeleton creepily including a cat, a purple skeleton, ghosts and more. hangs over a sharp fence. spirit and us with the most fear this Halloween season.

Use the QR Code below to see more photos.

STANDING TALL OVER the greenery of its home, a A ZOMBIE RISES from the ground, presenting a purple-lit ghoul points out at those passing by. frightening expression. cbishop@redwoodbark.org

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Nico Tribuzio hitches his way to varsity football success Story and Photo by Caroline Goodhart “My favorite thing is running as fast as I can and trying to make a play. I like the feeling [that] if I mess this up, it’s on me, but if I do this well, then I get to celebrate it. I like having that pressure,” senior Nico Tribuzio said.

This year, Tribuzio has been a standout player on Redwood’s varsity football team, excelling as a wide receiver and cornerback, totaling 21 receptions, 351 receiving yards, eight touchdowns and upwards of 25 tackles. Redwood’s Sept. 25 faceoff against Novato High School marked one of his most impressive performances.

Tribuzio had three receptions for 127 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Varsity quarterback Brady Weingart credits Tribuzio’s speed as one of the main factors in his success.

“My first impression [of Tribuzio was], ‘fast.’ You step on that field, [and] he is faster than everybody on it, every time,” Weingart said.

This speed has allowed Tribuzio to beautifully haul in a number of deep passes this year, and dodging defenders is a simple task when taking into account his elite shiftiness. During Redwood’s faceoff against Tamalpais High School (Tam), Tribuzio scored on an 89-yard kick return, bursting through Tam’s special teams unit on his way to the endzone.

In addition to speed, reliability is an asset that makes Tribuzio such a key component in both Redwood’s defense and offense. When catching passes from Weingart, his consistency comes into play and

helps the team gain yards. “[Tribuzio and I] have a really good relationship.

We’ve got a lot of chemistry and I trust him. If he’s even slightly open, I just trust him to catch the ball,” Weingart said.

While a lot can be said about Tribuzios’s aptitude in the game, his leadership as a captain makes him a valuable resource for the team.

“He’s a lead by example kind of guy,” Weingart said.

“He gets vocal when he gets fired up, but really he just leads by example. Every day he’s giving full effort in practice and everybody feeds off of his energy.”

Varsity head coach Allen Talley views Tribuzio’s leadership in a similar light and believes this silent maturity makes him a great example for the younger players.

“He’s hardworking, gets the job done and does whatever you need him to do,” Talley said. “He’s a leader. He’s kind of a quiet leader, but he’s a leader.

Everybody looks up to him.”

The legacy of Tribuzio’s leadership is part of a bigger trend on the football team — upperclassmen always place a great deal of importance on mentoring and including younger players. Similar to Tribuzio’s current role as a leader on the team, varsity wide receiver and cornerback from the class of 2021, Zach Ginsburg, left a remarkable impression. Tribuzio explained that during the seven on seven scrimmages the boys held during COVID-19, Ginsburg helped him in mastering many skills.

“I was getting destroyed by him. He would just catch every ball on me, and make good moves,” Tribuzio said.

“I’d always ask how he did that, or [ask] for him to break down [moves] for me, and he would do it every time. He was super nice about helping me out and wanting me to get better. I still watch his highlights to see what he did, so I can try to model my game after some of those things.”

Undoubtedly, Tribuzio will leave a legacy similar to Ginsburg’s, a legacy that has been in the making since he set foot on the field freshman year, with his hard work, dedication and determination.”

BREAKING DOWN HIS steps, Tribuzio dodges an Archie Williams defender. cgoodhart@redwoodbark.org

New sprint country team makes strides for offseason Story and Photos by Hannah Sellers School. As a freshman at Redwood, he joined the cross country team but quickly In a season reigned by five kilometer realized that his strength lay in short races and long distance runners, a new distance running. From there, he continued group has stepped onto the track and on as a four-year varsity track and field asserted their place in fall sports. Upon athlete specializing in the 100 and 200 its arrival, Redwood welcomes the first meter dashes. “sprint country” team.

“My favorite thing about track and Cross country coach Nicole Graydon, field is the ability to go all out in the short popularly called “Coach G” by her sprints,” Rasmussen said. “All of the effort runners, created the sprint country team that you put into training is released as a subsection of cross country in within a 10 to 12 second period of power.” order to give track and field athletes a Rasmussen hopes to see the sprinters structured opportunity to train in the build up stamina throughout the fall, offseason. To maximize her attention and go onto win to the Marin California on the in-season cross country runners, Athletic League (MCAL) championship Graydon hired Miller Rasmussen, a Class in the spring. In the three-month sprint of 2021 Redwood graduate, to manage country season, Rasmussen is focusing the sprint country team through its first on the needs of individual athletes and season. Just months ago, Rasmussen emphasizing strong technique and running led Redwood’s track and field team to form. success as the senior team captain. Now, “I’ve been asking a lot of the athletes he gladly returns to Redwood’s Basham what their personal goals are and then I track, hoping to give back to the team get them started on the process of actually that supported him throughout his four achieving them,” Rasmussen said. “I’d years at Redwood. say this is equally important, if not more “It is really neat to have a different important than winning MCALs, because perspective on the team,” Rasmussen when you focus on personal improvement, said. “Working with Coach G, seeing the larger goal usually falls in place.” how dedicated she is in developing the Junior Logan Jackson enjoys having a team and helping me make this program recent alum as her coach who recognizes a reality — it is an amazing thing to see firsthand the demands of high school. the same team, but from the other side.” “[Rasmussen] can relate to us as Rasmussen first began running track students and understands when school work during his time at Del Mar Middle takes priority,” Jackson said. “He’s really able to build off his own experience on the track team and tells us on challenging runs, ‘this is going to be hard, but I’ll give you extra rest because I remember struggling.’”

During this time in the previous years, Jackson would have played on the court with her club volleyball team. Jackson, never before a runner, joined the track and field team last spring hoping to replace volleyball with something less competitive while still exercising and meeting new people. When the sprint country team began practicing in the fall, Jackson eagerly joined.

“Sprint country is a place for me to do the thing that I love with people I like to RETURNING TO REDWOOD to coach hang out with,” Jackson said. “I’ve made sprint country, Miller Rasmussen many new friends through the team, and it gives me a space vent about stress and builds off his four years of track.

PRACTICING “HIGH-KNEES,” junior Logan Jackson (middle) warms up alongside team captain and senior Lucy Carruthers (left). school.” new.’”

While Jackson primarily participates On the team, Soofer finds herself much in field events during the track season, she more excited about running than she was in sees the short distance training through previous cross country seasons. sprint country as a way to refine her “In sprint country, it’s okay if you’re technique long term. She also feels that the not good. I used to care so much about my team atmosphere is supportive regardless times, but now I know that all of that does of one’s running ability. not matter as long as I put my best foot “I’m not necessarily the fastest runner, forward and have fun when I run,” Soofer but I do sprint country because I want to said. improve,” Jackson said. “Everyone is Rasmussen works hard to promote really friendly and it is not a judgemental the uplifting team culture that Soofer and nor harsh community. We all start at Jackson value. As a recent graduate, he different places, but we all want to get knows what kind of coaching runners need better.” to give them a leg up both on the track and Similarly to Jackson, senior Devon in school. While Rasmussen strives to keep Soofer recently transitioned to short practices enjoyable, he emphasizes the distance running and finds the sprint importance of improving the team’s times, country team to be a great program for form and technique. new sprinters. Soofer joined Redwood’s “One thing that Coach G taught me cross country team sophomore year, after was to be kind but enforce the standard transferring from the Drew School in when you’re in practice [that] you should San Francisco, intending to give herself be working hard,” Rasmussen said. “You a routine form of exercise and a space to can socialize, you can have fun and I’ll meet others. She continued cross country be respectful if you have an injury or if through junior year but never truly enjoyed you are too tired to the point of hurting distance running. yourself. It’s totally fine to take a break, “Joining sprint country was a super but if you’re messing around, you have to spontaneous decision for me,” Soofer said. get back to work. You’re here to have fun, “I signed up for cross-country, but on the but you’re also here to train.” first day of practice I told myself, ‘you know what? I’m going to try something hsellers@redwoodbark.org

bark

Page 20 • Sports

October 29, 2021

Alum Jake Curhan signs with the Seahawks, shatters expectations

By Kent Goodman and Declan McDaniels Setting up at the 10-yard line, the offensive linemen glare across the line of scrimmage as they position their hands in the dirt, looking to facilitate a score against their rival. As the ball is snapped, the right side of the line explodes towards the defenders in front of them, and No. 71 drives his man into the ground. This ferocious block opens up a gap for the running back, and he bursts into the endzone. The boisterous crowd booms as the 2019 Cal Bears score the necessary touchdown at the end of the first quarter to gain momentum in an eventual 24-20 victory against the Stanford Cardinals. No. 71, the offensive lineman who made the necessary block to ensure the win, was none other than 2016 Redwood alum Jake Curhan.

After a phenomenal four-year performance at the University of California (UC) Berkeley, Jake entered the National Football League (NFL) by earning a Seattle Seahawks roster spot on Aug. 31, 2021, making him the third ever Redwood alum to play in the NFL. Although his impressive skills and abilities on the field are indisputable now, Jake had struggled when he first picked up the sport during his freshman year.

“I wasn’t good my first two years … because just being [6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 270 pounds] doesn’t mean you’re good at football,” Jake said.

“Finding the confidence to believe that I was good at what I was doing helped [my success] because playing offensive line is not a comfortable thing to do. You don’t know if you’re doing it right, and I can say that at this point I definitely wasn’t doing it right.”

While his career had a slow beginning, Jake was able to rapidly improve and was offered a position on the Redwood varsity team during his sophomore year, later becoming the starting right tackle (the far-right offensive lineman). Jake attributes much of his success to the teammates he played beside who motivated him to leave everything he had on the field.

“There was a good group of guys that were dedicated to football and wanted to play in college … so we spent a lot of time every off-season working and lifting,” Jake said. “Just having older guys who helped me and believed in me was really [beneficial] … especially playing on the offensive or defensive line.”

During Jake’s senior year at Redwood, he played nearly 100 percent of the game as both offensive and defensive tackle. In the 2016 season, the team made the playoffs for the first time in years, and Jake was voted Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) Lineman of the Year.

While he was monumental on the football field, Jake was also a valuable contributor on campus.

Not only was he a member of Peer Resource, but he also participated in the Environmental Action Club for three years and received an Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar award.

Raving about Jake’s character, physical education teacher Todd Van Purseum reminisces about the immense impact Jake had on the students and people around him.

Photo courtesy of the National Football League

“Since he stepped foot on [campus], he was one of the most memorable students I’ve ever had the fortunate opportunity to come across. He enriched the experience of other humans on this campus just [with] his positively contagious presence,” Van Purseum said.

Because of his robust extracurriculars and vast intellectual capacity, Jake aspired to attend an academically focused university. After choosing UC Berkeley because of their high caliber football, education and close proximity to home, Jake wanted to acclimate to college-level football, so he made the decision to graduate from Redwood a semester early his senior year. He says his decision was immensely beneficial, allowing him extra time to situate himself with higher-level football.

Cal Bears’ offensive line coach Angus McClure says Jake was able to be successful on the field due to his vast amount of football knowledge. “[Jake’s] a really special player because he has not only [the] athletic talent and size for his position, but he has a high football IQ, meaning he’s a very intelligent player. I knew right away in my early conversations with Jake that not only was he going to be a leader, but he was going to be able to help other [offensive linemen] learn the playbook,” McClure said.

Jake was more than just a captain on the field, though; he was an influential figure on UC Berkeley’s campus too. In fact, he, along with other Pac-12 football players, threatened to opt out of his 2020 season if their demands for fair compensation, enhanced safety and improved social injustice conditions for college athletes were not met.

With COVID-19 on the rise at the time, the movement was increasingly important and gained national recognition. By the end, the movement resulted in increased COVID-19 testing for players and ultimately prevented an outbreak within Pac-12, since several athletes tested positive. Jake’s mom, Mandi Curhan, commended him for maintaining his morals and beliefs throughout the process. “[Jake] stood up to justice, and he doesn’t ever fold to peer pressure,” Mandi said. “I’m very proud of him for that, and I’m very impressed that even though he wanted to be in the NFL, he didn’t let it jeopardize [his values].”

Jake’s strong values were carried into football too.

Cal Bears’ tight end Collin Moore, who attended San Marin High School and has known Jake since sixth grade, claims that much of Jake’s success was derived from his unyielding work ethic and passion for football. “[Jake] was always a guy that never missed a voluntary workout, was always showing up early, never missed a rep [and] never skipped a lift. He would always do the extra little things that ultimately help propel you to become an NFL player like he is now,” Moore said.

Although Jake solely played right tackle during his time at UC Berkeley, he was pushed to learn other positions for the Senior Bowl, a college football all-star game for seniors that occurs after the season ends.

Coach McClure explains the ability to play on both sides of the field is wildly impressive and generally compares it to being a switch hitter in baseball.

Yet, the path to becoming sufficient on all sides of the field was not simple, and Jake had to invest many hours into training until he was confident.

“The difference between the positions is at tackle, you are working with a lot of space, but at guard, you are working with no space.

So, it took me a really long time to figure out and start getting comfortable without space, and I’m still working on getting more comfortable,” Jake said.

Because of Jake’s high football IQ, he is now able to play four of five offensive line positions, becoming a valuable asset coming out of UC Berkeley. Alongside Jake’s ability to play on all sides of the field, he now stands at 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 316 pounds; both were key contributors to his 4th-7th round draft projection going into the NFL Scouting Combine.

The combine is generally an event that highlights players’ talents and potential impact on an NFL team through a number of drills and physical tests. However, because of COVID-19, the combine had to be truncated, changing the assessment to solely evaluating the medical athletes’ and conditions injury potential.

Unfortunately, Jake’s medical assessment came back poor due to a minor heart issue. Although he was projected to be a top 25 drafted linemen prior to the combine, this caused him to not be selected

in the draft, despite the fact that tests from medical professionals concluded that his conditions would not affect his play. Thankfully, the negative evaluation did not prevent NFL teams from keeping interest as the Seahawks quickly signed him as an undrafted free agent. Despite not being selected in the draft, Jake was excited about his chance to compete for a roster spot on a team that valued him as a player.

“Seattle just seemed like the best place for me to go. It’s a really great organization and they have a track record of giving undrafted guys a chance to make the team and make the roster, whereas a lot of [other teams] don’t necessarily give you the time of day,” Jake said.

After proving his skills and grit in training camp over the summer, he was awarded a spot on the Seahawks’ 53 man roster. To date, he has played in five games, mainly contributing via special teams and as an offensive tackle. On Oct. 25, Jake solidified his backup spot as the Seahawks’ right tackle in Seattle after beating out veteran Cedric Ogbuehi. While Jake is still an amateur in the NFL, Moore is extraordinarily optimistic about Jake’s future. “[Jake] is going to keep doing what he is doing. Jake has honestly found a way to overcome every obstacle, … so I won’t be surprised if 10 years from now Jake showed up to my wedding still an NFL player,” Moore said. “Regardless of how well he does in the NFL, just being able to make it there, especially being a kid from Marin where sports isn’t the number one priority, is extremely impressive.” bark@redwoodbark.org

bark Opinion: It’s game over for lower-income athletes Page 21 • Sports

www.redwoodbark.org

Story and Illustration by Maddie Sofnas With more and more high school athletes trying to earn spots on college rosters, the prevalence of club teams traveling to tournaments in order to be seen by college coaches has greatly increased. This creates an economic gap that further segregates the rich and poor due to a pay-to-play aspect in club sports. If we want to ensure equality in the recruiting process, we must make scholarships for lower-income athletes more accessible, bringing forth more opportunities.

According to the Next College Student Athlete (NCSA), 90 percent of student-athletes who compete at the college level participated on a club team during the recruiting process. With club teams ranging in price from $700 to $35,000 a year, many parents cannot afford for their children to play. These families get less college exposure, which significantly decreases their chances of playing a sport at the collegiate level.

Tom Farrey, executive director of The Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society program, stated “when you have that kind of system, parents start spending a lot of money. That’s where you get them on the right club teams, hiring private trainers and doing whatever it takes -- buying them the $300 special bat -- to have them succeed at sports. It effectively pushes aside a lot of kids on the lower end of the income distribution.”

This issue is heavily prevalent in higher-income communities as they can afford to get the “best” equipment and have weekly private training sessions.

For example, if someone has a $300 baseball bat, it is going to hit the ball much farther than a $50 bat. This creates unfair advantages to the lower-income families who can not afford it and as a result, will likely have to work harder to be at the same level. In some cases, kids won’t be able to play because of the expensive costs of equipment. The average cost of lacrosse gear is about $565 which doesn’t even include the traveling or club fees.

Project Play, an initiative of the nonprofit organization Aspen Institute, creates change through leadership, dialogue and community action, to help bring awareness to the inequalities of youth sports. Their study found that, of families earning more than $100,000 a year, 69 percent of those children played a sport. However, in families earning less than $25,000 a year, just 34 percent participated in a sport.

In comparison, Marin County’s household income was $115, 246 in 2019, according to the United States Census Bureau.

Furthermore, an October Bark survey found that 72 percent of Redwood students play a sport, and of that, 79 percent have been, or are currently, on a club sports team. With this being such a large percentile, it further proves the Aspen Institute’s findings as it will create advantages for athletes in Marin to play at the collegiate level. The Redwood Class of 2021 had 24 athletes go on to play at the collegiate level, and the Class of 2022 and 2023 both already have multiple commits.

With more opportunities for college camps and showcases available, club teams have increased prices over the years. According to USA Today, youth sports have become a $19 billion industry as of 2020, and are expected to grow to $77.6 billion by 2026. As the industry booms, the prices begin to rise. More upper and middleclass kids are playing and filling up spots on teams. Roster spots then become limited, which leads to price increases throughout the nation. This drives lower-income families farther away, as less and less will be able to afford it in the next few years.

Former goalkeeper for the United States women’s national soccer team from 2000-2016 Hope Solo revealed at the Hashtag Sports Conference that if she was a kid today, her family would not have been able to afford for her to play soccer. Solo believes that sports’ increasing prices is a prevalent issue, and the reason the U.S. has seen poor results in international soccer play. The U.S. men’s soccer team has never won a medal and has continuously failed to qualify for the Olympics since 2008. The favored U.S. women’s team also failed to bring home the gold in 2021. Solo believes this is due to the U.S.’ dividing racial and economic classes.

“We have alienated the Hispanic communities. We have alienated our Black communities. We have alienated the underrepresented communities, even rural communities, so soccer in America right now is a rich white kid sport,” Solo said. “No wonder we are not qualifying for the World Cup when we have alienated a huge population of really talented youth soccer players. And that’s the state of the game right now.”

I am on a club softball team located out of Concord, Calif., and I see these inequalities firsthand. One of my former teammates’ parents could barely afford to take her to our tournament in Colorado. They both had to

pick up double shifts and work on the weekends, so she could attend the tournament. The family drove to the majority of the out-of-state tournaments throughout the season to save money. She told me she would feel awful if she didn’t play softball in college because of all the money and time it has cost, and that it would almost be a waste. While many younger athletes strive to play at the college level, only seven percent receive the opportunity, according to the NCAA. Many lower and middle-class parents have to sacrifice time and dedication, so their kids can have the chance to play at the next level. But what about the kids who still can not afford it?

Scholarship programs need to be offered alongside these club sports teams, ultimately giving everyone a fair opportunity to play. None of the club teams I have been a part of have publicly offered scholarships to players, which counteracts the goal of the team: to build the best lineup possible. For club sports, the organization cares only about the money they produce and will do whatever is needed to maximize profits.

Although many Marin County club teams do not offer scholarships, North Bay Basketball Academy (NBBA) is an exception. They partnered with Kimo Bear Project, a non-profit organization that provides kids with cancer with a Kimo bear during treatment. Through the partnership, Kimo Bear is now helping NBBA athletes in need of financial aid and is providing scholarships. More club teams need to follow NBBA’s efforts to address the pay-to-play mentality. Student-athletes, whose families can afford club team fees, travel expenses and private lessons — which can range from thousands of dollars — have a noticeable advantage. Closing this significant equity gap is possible with supporting partnerships.

Programs such as the Junior Giants have donated over $34.5 million to provide kids the opportunity to play baseball, and the funds have built fields in the Bay Area as well as other parts of California, Nevada and Oregon. Other programs such as Every Kid Sports and All Kids Play provide scholarships and opportunities for young athletes, allowing them to participate in sports. Club teams should be teaming up with bigger companies, like NBBA teaming up with Kimo Bear, so low-income kids can have equal opportunities t o continue their sports careers into college.

“It’s not enough to change the dynamics of soccer in America unless somebody from the top helps. This means U.S. soccer and the $100 million in surplus funds needs to be distributed throughout amateur soccer,” Solo said.

By club teams not stepping up, they are putting low-income athletes at a disadvantage, a disadvantage that will damage the entire sports industry.

msofnas@redwoodbark.org

THE

RedZone Welcome to the RedZone, a podcast that features different athlete perspectives on a variety of Redwood’s sports. This month, hosts Keegan Williams and Nathan Ash interview three varsity runners on the cross country team. The interviewees, juniors Lulu Baker and Daegan Cutter, and sophomore Drew Markovich, reveal their experiences running for the team this year, offer insight on their respective leadership positions and describe how they are using their roles to positively impact their teammates. Go Giants!

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Behind the curtains of Stapleton Ballet’s Nutcracker

By Annelisa Svendsen For families across the country, the upcoming holiday season is incomplete without attending a production of the ballet classic, “The Nutcracker.” Every year, the Stapleton School of the Performing Arts (SSPA) puts on their own “The Nutcracker” starring many ballerinas who are students at Redwood.

The dazzling sets, glimmering costumes and mesmerizing pirouettes transport the audience to a whole new world. However, what people do not see are the months of hard work and preparation by the dancers, directors and volunteers in order to make “The Nutcracker” a magical experience.

Starting as early as July, “The Nutcracker” workshops are held, providing dancers with practice on the roles they plan to audition for. Casting is posted about a week after auditions are held, usually sometime around mid-September.

Sacrificing much of her summer, Sophia

Photo by Annelisa Svendsen

DANCING THE ROLE of Clara, SSPA student Stella Pisaturo, works hard to perfect her choreography.

Acker, junior and dancer of eight years at Stapleton Ballet, appreciates the significant amount of time it takes to participate in “The Nutcracker.”

“A girl my age usually has two to three roles, which means we are rehearsing four to six times a week on top of our regular classes. As the production reaches the performance date, Stapleton [Ballet] starts to piece the scenes together to eventually rehearse the whole act,” Acker said.

While dancers continue their rehearsals, parents of dancers volunteer to alter and personalize over 150 costumes in order for them to properly fit each dancer.

This long process starts in September and continues until Dec. 4. Jennifer Hafner, mom to Ava Hafner and former Stapleton Ballet dancers, Ruby and Cally Hafner, will spend up to eight hours customizing costumes for just one dancer. “[SSPA] usually has about 10 people who are on the costume team, some are new and some have been doing it for a few years. In the past couple weeks, I have probably spent 40 hours working with the Snow Trio costumes, ripping out the hook and the eyes on the back and adjusting measurements in order to fit the girls properly,” Hafner said.

Hafner doesn’t just volunteer because she enjoys sewing, but because she understands the value of having highquality costumes onstage.

“I want every dancer to feel as though they are a million bucks when they appear on that stage,” Hafner said. “Having a costume that looks good and feels good gives them confidence and enhances their dancing.”

Stapleton Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” experience would not be possible without the company’s founder, Virginia Stapleton. Initially, Stapleton, previously

Photo courtesy of Maya Frahoud

WITH A ROARING audience, SSPA’s 2019 Nutcracker comes to an end as dancers take their final bow. a professional dancer at the San Francisco Ballet, never intended on opening her own studio. However, after teaching children at San Anselmo Recreation for many years, she was inspired to start SSPA. “As the business continued to grow, my dreams all of a sudden kicked in.

‘Maybe we could do a production here and there, and maybe we could put on ‘[The] Nutcracker?’’ I was right, and our first ‘[The] Nutcracker’ production was in 1988, and it is still thriving today,” Stapleton said.

Stapleton relies on many unsung heros to produce a successful show. The post distribution volunteers move sets and organize program ads that bring in additional revenue to support the studio’s growth, allowing dancers to have a solid dance foundation and friendships that will last a lifetime. Acker reflects on relationships she has made from participating in eight years of “The Nutcracker” performances.

“I continue to dance in ‘The Nutcracker’

every year because it’s a great community.

When we aren’t dancing we will usually eat together at the cafe next door, allowing us to spend time together even when we aren’t dancing,” Acker said. “A lot of the dancers don’t go to my school or are in the grades below or above us, but while we dance we put everything aside and really just have fun doing something we all love together.”

After watching their months of hard work go by in an instant, Acker, along with many other dancers, is left with feelings of pride and nostalgia. .

“After the final curtain closes, many seniors will hug each other because it’s their last year. Before the show everyone has nervous excitement and after, people have a sense of relief, but also [a] longing to do it all again,” Acker said. “It’s not just your hard work, it’s everyone’s. It takes a team to produce a ballet so full of life.” asvendsen@redwoodbark.org

Junior musical artist Jasmine Estreba builds her fan base

By Caitlin Beard

A woman watched intently, her breath suspended as she witnessed the remarkable musical talent pouring out of two girls gathered a couple feet away. Sitting on a picnic blanket with a guitar balanced in her lap, Jasmine Estreba accompanied her cousin’s beautiful voice, blending seamlessly in an original arrangement of “Glitter” by BENEE and “Backyard Boy” by Claire Rosinkranz. As their performance drew to an end, the woman approached the cousins enthusiastically, encouraging them to share their talent online. Motivated by the encounter, Jasmine made a TikTok account and has gone viral multiple times.

A couple months and many TikToks later, her mom’s nursing job moved the family from Modesto to Larkspur, bringing Jasmine’s musical gifts to Redwood.

Since she started posting on her TikTok in January 2021, Jasmine’s music has gathered attention from many professionals in the music industry. In fact, an original song she wrote, “rollercoaster,” received almost one million views on the platform. After the video went viral, Jasmine

Photo courtesy Jasmine Estreba

HOPING TO PROMOTE “rollercoaster,” Jasmine eats a funnel cake, as a subtle reference to the amusement park metaphor in her song.

received many texts and emails from professionals in the music industry offering to take her on as a client.

“It was my fourth video, something very early. I wrote [“rollercoaster”] within thirty minutes. It was the week of Valentine’s Day,” Jasmine said.

Jasmine began songwriting at the age of 10 and challenges herself to write every day. Over the last six years, Jasmine approximates that she’s written about 70 songs in total.

Her talent and ambition impressed a Los Angeles music manager, Arnand Troy, to the point that he recruited her as a client. Through his management, she has been able to collaborate with another up-and-coming artist, Jensen Mcrae.

“We got to write a song together. [Mcrae] studied at USC, and she was giving me so many tips about music and writing,” Jasmine said. “If anything came from [“rollercoaster”], it was the opportunities that I get to [learn] about music.”

Over the last decade, Jasmine has learned seven different instruments, including cello, electric bass, upright bass, percussion, ukulele, guitar and piano. Aside from her vast mastery of instruments, what separates Jasmine the most from other musicians is her song-writing aptitude.

James Estreba, Jasmine’s twenty-two year old brother and one of her biggest supporters, shares her musical talent and has co-written almost 20 songs with her. She values her brother as a huge inspiration to continue songwriting and developing as an artist.

“What really … made me start writing was my brother. … He was just about to leave for college, and he was the only person that I had grown up with, so the first song I ever wrote was about him leaving,” Jasmine said.

James feels that music has strengthened their relationship despite the six-year age gap.

“We used to fight a lot,” James said. “Once I came into sixth grade, my sister was in first grade, and that’s when I started playing piano and she started singing. I would accompany her for all of her talent shows, and we used to perform at coffee shops together in Modesto.”

Due to their strong relationship, Jasmine chose James to be the executive producer and co-songwriter on her music management team that she’s building, along with manager Armand Troy and producer Tim Suby, whose notable works include “Monopoly” by Ariana Grande and

Photo courtesy of Jasmine Estreba

SIBILINGS JAMES (LEFT) and Jasmine (right), both talented musicians and songwriters, have written over 20 songs together.

“Coffee Bean” by Travis Scott.

Jasmine’s long-time best friend, Lucille Lacuna, was not surprised by the positive reaction to Jasmine’s music.

“She just has the personality of someone that would get famous,” Lacuna said. “She’s very bold and outgoing and not afraid to express herself through music or speech.”

Over the next couple months, Jasmine will develop an Extended Play (EP), a musical recording slightly shorter than a full album, with the help of her brother, producer and manager.

“I listen to a lot of folk and pop music. A lot of my songs have just been me and the guitar, but for this EP I’m trying to break out of that. I don’t want it to just be me and the guitar. I think I can do more than that,” she said.

Her Tik Tok can be found @jjasminemae, and “rollercoaster” is streaming on Spotify and Apple Music now. Stay tuned for her upcoming EP. cbeard@redwoodbark.org

Page 23 • Lifestyles

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Senior Elena Wang steals the spooky spotlight

By Nina Geoghegan On Halloween, dressing up is the norm; wearing animal ears or plastic fangs won’t solicit more than a passing glance. It is a day full of sugared-out kids, costumes of every imaginable type and in senior Elena Wang’s case, art. Whether it involves gluing burlap to her face or crafting a foot tall hat, Wang’s extreme costumes show skill in the form of a Halloween thrill.

According to Wang, her ensembles have become an “identifier” for her. Her close friend and fellow senior Raine Conti said that dressing up for Halloween has become a tradition and an expectation from people for Wang.

“People are always on the lookout because they know [Wang’s] going to go above and beyond,” Conti said.

In Wang’s situation, going “above and beyond” requires serious commitment.

Coming to school in a complete costume and makeup takes Wang Photo courtesy of Elena Wang hours to put on, meaning she wakes up long before school starts.

As a formerly timid, new student at the Neil Cummins Elementary School in fourth grade, Wang’s costumes initially helped her to come out of her shell.

“I was really shy, and Halloween was the first time that people recognized me or I stood out in any way,” Wang said.

Immediately, Wang’s first Halloween in the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District left an impact.

“My first impression of her was in fourth grade. It was Halloween and I’d never talked to her before, but I remember she was already decked out as an elementary school kid,” Conti said.

Wang has been dressing up in elaborate costumes since she was in kindergarten and over the course of the years, their significance has grown with her.

At first, she enjoyed the attention dressing up came with. As time went on, Wang grew to love the craft and hopes the costumes will be gratifying for those around her, as well.

“It’s a lot of satisfaction to have an artistic project that people get joy out of. It’s something people can think about and remember with almost a childish sense,” Wang said.

Wang is not alone in keeping the fabulously frightening tradition. She and the same crew from middle school have been putting together group costumes every year.

“As we get older, people don’t want to dress up as much. [Groups are] a motivator and more of a ‘wow’ factor than just one person,” Wang said.

Senior Zeeva Chaver values the togetherness created by the tradition.

She also appreciates Wang’s willingness to go big.

“It was a symbol to me of being a part of a group and it was a constant, fun thing that brought us all together,” Chaver said.

“Without [Elena being] really invested in it I would honestly just treat it like any other day.”

Even within the group, Wang’s costumes still outshine her friends’. Chaver considers herself to be a supporting piece with Wang being the focal point. Cheering on her talent and doing their best to maximize her creativity, Wang’s friends always make room for Elena to go all out.

According to her friends, the group effort to show off Wang’s handiwork is well earned.

“I’ve known her for a long time. She’s definitely one of the most hard-working people I’ve ever met and that comes across in her Halloween costumes,” Conti said. “When she finds things that she’s passionate about, she really dedicates herself and never gives less than 100 percent.”

bark

As an artistic individual, costume-making is one of her many distinct qualities, and allows her personality to shine through.

“It feels very ‘Elena’. It reminds me of how she moves through the entire world. Whenever she approaches anything she’s like, ‘What’s the coolest way I can do it?

What’s the most interesting, the most complex way that I can produce something that’s challenging?’” Chaver said.

The finer details of this year’s look are best left to be revealed the day of. Here’s a hint though, think “ocean.”

Photo courtesy of Elena Wang

SPORTING A FOOT-and-a-half tall hat, Wang dresses as the Mad Hatter her freshman year. ngeoghegan@redwoodbark.org

Solomon Fragakis has an eye for the action

By Keely Ganong

Awake before the sunrise, Solomon Fragakis, a current junior at Tamiscal and former Redwood student, loads his car with his morning necessities: a surfboard, wetsuit, wax, camera bag, camera body, lens, an extra lens and one more lens with a really good zoom. He gets to the beach, suits up and shreds. Fragakis often surfs with company, joined by other early morning adventurers.

Halfway through, he runs back to his car to grab his camera. Returning to the ocean soon after, Fragakis returns with a different intention, rather than to shred, he aims to shoot video. He films his friends showing off their skills, capturing everything from break to barrel. Packing up his equipment and getting on the road, he hopes to make it back in time for his first class.

Fragakis is an adventure sport enthusiast, whether it’s surfing, snowboarding or mountain biking, he lives for the thrill. Fragakis also lives for film. Blending the two, he cinematically captures the action.

It hasn’t always been that way, though. For most of his life, Fragakis has been the one in front of the camera doing these sports. It wasn’t until last February, when snowboarding in the half-pipe at Mammoth Mountain that his role changed. Fragakis fell and dislocated his shoulder.

Photo courtesy of Solomon Fragakis

OPENING UP FILMING opportunities, Fragakis shoots at Kelly Slater’s Wave Pool.

“​​I was out for six weeks, and I didn’t really know what to do with my life. I decided to pick my camera back up and try to make something,” Fragakis said.

The injury sparked his inspiration to create videos; with more free time, Fragakis began filming his friends and capturing their pursuit in sport. Finding surfers, mountain bikers and rock climbers, Fragakis filmed a range of adventures. Two months later, he found himself with over 300 gigabytes of footage.

“I found that I could actually make a 20-minute movie with the stuff I had filmed,” Fragakis said.

Over the next three months, he did exactly that. By July, the 16-year-old made his debut and released his movie, “What We’re Chasing.” Featuring six local athletes, the movie tells a story of the feeling of freedom that these talented individuals chase in Marin.

Noah Sargent, a local surfer, was featured in the film during the first segment. Working closely with Fragakis during the filming process, Sargent witnessed his talent.

“When Solomon first showed me the edit I was speechless, fully speechless.

I had no expectations, so when he threw it all together, it was pretty shocking to see what he had created in such little time,” Sargent said.

Fragakis had a unique drive and focus to reach a professional standard.

Most nights he worked tirelessly from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. in order to perfect every detail. Owen Wright, a close friend and fellow surfer also featured in “What We’re Chasing,” saw how committed Fragakis was to perfecting the movie.

“When he was filming his movie, I remember he was just on a non-stop grind of editing and filming. I would ask him if he was tryna go surf but he’d be like ‘nah I have to edit’,” Wright said.

Fragakis was deliberate with the shots he chose because he strived for a seamless and engaging product. Inspired

by action sports films that he grew up watching, Fragakis wanted to mesmerize his audience in the same way.

“Since I was young, I’ve always idolized these skiing, snowboarding and biking movies. I would rewatch them over, and over again, just unable to take my eyes off of them. I wanted to make something like that but mix all the sports together rather than sticking to one genre,” Fragakis said.

Setting out on the feat to make a movie, Fragakis did not know what he would face. He encountered computer crashes and loss of footage, but he did not give up.

“I can tell he’s very persistent in gaining a level of excellence in his work. He keeps working until he gets exactly what he wants,” Wright said.

After releasing “What We’re Chasing”, Fragakis’ connections multiplied. The movie acted as a doorway into more filming opportunities as clients were able to see what he was capable of and trust his talent.

Fragakis sometimes encountered judgments about his potential, but he was able to disprove them.

“Definitely because I’m younger, people don’t really think I can do that much. No one realizes what’s going on while I’m filming but then they’re really impressed when they see what I can create,” Fragakis said.

For Fragakis, this is only the beginning.

Bigger film projects are on the horizon and the filmmaker will continue searching for opportunities to record the adventure.

“I think everyone wants to better themselves. And I think [Fragakis], especially with how he’s already improving, doesn’t want to stop. No one wants to just stop and reach their peak. He’s definitely determined,” Sargent said. kganong@redwoodbark.org

Scan the QR code to watch “What We’re Chasing” Photo courtesy of Solomon Fragakis

Power in pink: Women warriors in our community

By Samantha Elegant

“[Breast cancer] is the number one thing on your mind at all times. You run into people in the market or you talk to your friends or your coworkers. ‘What did you do last weekend? How are you? Have you seen any great movies?’ And all you’re thinking about is cancer, cancer, cancer,” breast cancer survivor and Redwood parent Jennifer Ginsburg said.

Jennifer was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2013, after mammograms and biopsies revealed a malignant, or cancerous, growth.

“That was a tremendous shock to me. I was 42, which is considered pretty young.

I had no immediate history of breast cancer in my family,” Jennifer said. “[I was] really overwhelmed with what to do next because you don’t know what to do next.”

Jennifer found the breast cancer treatment process to be very “counterintuitive.” It was not until the end of November, 10 days after removing both breasts in a bilateral mastectomy, that the pathology results came back to provide information about the tumor. As an “actionoriented” person, this experience of waiting was extremely challenging for Jennifer.

“When a doctor tells you that you have cancer, the first thing you want to do is get it taken out. You don’t want to walk around the world knowing that there is cancer growing inside of your body,” Jennifer said.

However, Jennifer’s experience impacted more than just herself; it also affected her children, two Redwood alums and current junior Julia Ginsburg.

“At least for my brothers [Zach and Charlie Ginsburg] and I, it was just a really strange concept to grasp,” Julia said. “Even though it was stage one breast cancer and my mom was going to be okay, just the thought of my mom having cancer really scared me.

[I thought], ‘What if my mom is going to die?’”

Thankfully, Jennifer has now recovered and says she was lucky to have many supportive family members and friends during that difficult time.

“You really see the people, the power of your world and how your friends can stand up for you. [You see] how unbelievably generous and giving they can be when you need it,” Jennifer said.

Sophomore Charlotte Brod’s mother, Kacey Brod, is another local breast cancer survivor. She discovered she had the BRCA2 gene in 2010, putting her at high risk of getting ovarian cancer, breast cancer, melanoma or pancreatic cancer. In 2015,

Brod had a swollen lymph node under her arm that was classified as aggressive, stage two breast cancer.

“Cancer is a very interesting thing, just from a psychological standpoint. When you get the diagnosis, people react in different ways and a lot of times people don’t know how to react and they don’t know what to say,” Brod said.

Brod’s reaction, however, was that due to her genetic predisposition, it was just “a matter of time.” Nonetheless, having the BRCA2 gene allowed her to be part of a University of California San Francisco study where she went through an alternative chemotherapy process. In total, she went through 16 rounds of chemotherapy, had a double mastectomy, an oophorectomy and multiple lymph nodes removed.

Brod found that after this arduous experience, she became more empathetic towards others going through breast cancer.

She now speaks and offers her knowledge to people who are currently being diagnosed or treated for cancer. “[Breast cancer is] hard to navigate.

There’s no manual on how to go through this so talking to people who have gone through it, who

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Ginsburg

have had relatively positive experiences, can be really helpful,” Brod said.

Like Brod, Jennifer also feels connected to current breast cancer fighters and past survivors.

“It’s a sisterhood that I never wanted to be in. But I’m in it for life and I take that very seriously,” Jennifer said.

Despite not having breast cancer, Redwood parent Dana Linkersteele was also diagnosed with the BRCA2 gene. As a result, in July 2019 she had a double mastectomy, an oophorectomy and a hysterectomy to prevent developing cancer. Linkersteele said that although for many this decision could have been difficult, for her it was easy.

“I love my children. I love my husband. I love my life. And I want to do anything that I possibly can to ensure that I can live as long in the life as possible,” Linkersteele said.

Having now recovered, the big conversation in Linkersteele’s family surrounds her two daughters, senior Sarah Steele and Redwood alum Lauren Steele. The family must decide when it is an appropriate time to get the daughters tested and were suggested to wait until they are between 23 and 25. Thinking beyond her children, Linkersteele said more people should be informed about the gene and its implications.

“I think [in the] bigger picture, [it is important] to make sure people are educated and aware about BRCA and the risk factors for BRCA, and whether they actually have breast cancer or the gene, [to help] people that I know make decisions as someone who went through it,” Linkersteele said.

Although Jennifer, Brod and Linkersteele have hopefully gotten past the most difficult parts of their experiences and now support others by sharing their knowledge about breast cancer and the BRCA gene, that does not mean it no longer affects them. “[Breast cancer] absolutely impacts my life each and every day.

Still, this many years later, there’s no way to go through an experience like breast cancer … [without it shaping] you forever. Bad. Ugly. All of it. There are certain blessings that come with it. There are hard times that come with it.

But mostly the way that I look at my life now is before cancer and after cancer,” Jennifer said. selegant@redwoodbark.org