March 2023

Find adventures in S.F., p. 16

Bridging gaps in restorative justice, p. 12

Photo by Cole Seifer

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Night of Blues returns, Mattern announces departure

By Aanika Sawhney

On March 3, the Covered Eating Area (CEA) was transformed by student musicians, the Music Boosters and parent volunteers into a bright atmosphere filled with instruments, voices and dancing. Applause erupted throughout the room at the end of each song and cheering for friends and family, laughter and celebration continued into the night.

Freshman jazz guitarist Annabel Lawson enjoyed the night on and off the stage. In her first year of jazz band Lawson

has practiced after school all year - even dedicating time during lunches and smart periods - in a mixed grade level group. The culmination of their work was the Night of Blues.

“I felt like I’m finally a part of something. I honestly feel really honored to play with such great musicians,” Lawson said.

Learning from music director John Mattern, Lawson grew as a musician in his class. The two parts of Jazz Band include the horns and rhythm section. In the Night of Blues, Lawson noted the “complexity”

and “music theory” involved in her role as a jazz guitarist and she embraces the “challenge.”

After a three year hiatus due to COVID-19, the music program came together to revitalize the annual Night of Blues. As one of the most popular Redwood events in the past, students, parents and staff gather from 7 to 10 p.m. to listen to a 30 song set. Timeless hits ranging from James Brown’s “I Feel Good,” to Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” reached a wide range of audience members, from students to parents. The performance highlighted talent from Advanced and Intermediate Performance Workshop (APW and IPW), Jazz Band and Symphonic Band Horns.

performance, a special sentiment around all of this year’s musicians’ first Night of Blues with Mattern and his last overall Night of Blues with Redwood lit up the room.

Mattern [understands] all of our levels. He’ll give us advice based on where we are at.

Annabel Lawson, freshman jazz guitarist

Junior Ian Krumwiede, a member of the APW class, has also developed his skills as a pianist. Playing percussion in the first song, Krumwiede transitioned to the bongos in “I Feel Good.”

“The first song was definitely a little nerve-wracking, but once you get in touch with the audience and you see their vibe, it’s a lot more exciting and you’re just happy to be up there and a lot more confident. Overall, the more songs that I played I got more confident, and it was a lot of fun to play with my friends and have my friends in the crowd and supporting [me],” Krumwiede said.

EXCLAIMING “MUSIC IS food for the soul,” Director of Music John Mattern proudly speaks during his final Night of Blues.

As the founder of the annual Night of Blues, John Mattern celebrated his final music direction of the event this year. With much anticipation leading up to the

“I think it’s really cool because Mattern [understands] all of our levels. He’ll give you advice based on where we are at and what we need to improve on specifically,” Lawson said.

Senior vocalist Julia Ginsburg has been in the music program for all four years of her high school career. Following the preparation for what would have been her first Night of Blues, it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It feels super fulfilling now to be able to finally perform and close out my senior year, something that I was so excited to do as a freshman,” Ginsburg said.

Lawson appreciated her first year with Mattern and looks forward to her future development as a musician at Redwood.

“I remember the conversation he gave to us about being a mediocre band versus being the greatest band we can be, and how there’s so much more than just practicing that goes into that, including [the need for] musicianship, [staying] with the time and [being] focused. I remember how passionately he spoke about it and how it moved me,” Lawson said.

asawhney@redwoodbark.org

NEWS Sleep week

BRIEFS

Data science

By Michael Seton

Tamalpais Union High School District’s (TUHSD) Math Task Force is exploring a potential new data science pathway as part of the district’s math curriculum starting in the 2024-25 school year. In August 2021, the UC Board of Admissions revised its policy to allow students to pursue courses other than a second year of algebra to fulfill the minimum UC admissions requirements. Instead of taking Intermediate, Advanced or Honors Advanced Algebra in their junior year, students could instead take a year-long Introduction to Data Science course as an upper-division math elective. The new Data Science pathway will teach students how to evaluate data and code in the “R” programming language. TUHSD’s Math Task Force will spend the next year developing the curriculum to run a pilot program during the 2024-25 school year.

Alaska oil ‘Cop City’

By Wyatt Turkington

On March 13, President Joe Biden passed the controversial Willow Project. The Willow Project plans to drill further into the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. According to CNN, the reserve is located on federally owned land that is projected to hold around 600 million barrels of oil. Drilling into this reserve would release 9.2 million metric tons of planet-warming carbon pollution every year, or an equivalent of 2 million gaspowered cars. On the other hand, the Willow Project would be responsible for “creating thousands of new jobs … and improving quality of life on the North Slope and across our state [Alaska],” according to the Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Environmental justice groups are currently attempting to challenge the new project in court, while some Alaskan native tribes and citizens see the Willow Project as a chance to grow their economy. The economic benefits could include increased profits and livelihoods for many citizens. However, considering the immense damage it will cause on the environment, it is questioned whether the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Progressions in the project and impact should be followed.

By Ben Choucroun

Atlanta’s “Cop City,” a proposed police training facility, has caused controversy since 2021. Activists, ranging from criminal justice reformists to anarchists, argue the 85-acre facility’s mock village and loud shooting ranges will cause overpolicing and environmental degradation in surrounding neighborhoods.

In January 2023, six protestors were arrested and charged with domestic terrorism, while another protestor, Tortuguita, was killed by police. Atlanta police assert Tortuguita had fired on officers, however, autopsies revealed Tortuguita died in a peaceful position, cross-legged with his hands in the air. Police body-cam footage has not been released, and arguments have arisen over whether charging non-violent protesters with domestic terrorism limits civil liberties.

Then, on March 5, 2023, several protesters destroyed construction equipment with rocks and molotov cocktails. Twenty-three demonstrators were subsequently jailed and charged with domestic terrorism. These recent arrests have intensified the protests surrounding the facility.

By Ava Razavi

Inspired by daylight savings, Leadership has dedicated a spirit week to celebrating and learning more about everyone’s favorite activity: sleep! Students were asked to engage in relaxing activities while also learning fun facts about sleep from posters hung up on the hallway walls. On Monday, March 13, everyone was invited to wear their most comfortable pajamas. The next day was Pi Day, where math-loving students competed to see who could list the most numbers of the value pi. Wednesday was all about relaxation with lavender sachets being crafted outside the Wellness Center. Hot chocolate and tea were passed out on Thursday during lunch. To end the week’s festivities, students were threatened with a pinch if they didn’t wear green – it was Saint Patrick’s Day!

arazavi@redwoodbark.org

wturkington@redwoodbark.org

bchoucroun@redwoodbark.org mseton@redwoodbark.org

Photo by Aanika Sawhney

Illustration by Carsen Goltz

Photo Survey

Women’s History Month edition:

Rising costs threaten Facilities Master Plan

By Michael Seton

In April 2022, the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) Board decided to move forward with a $394 million project to improve various TUHSD campuses, as described in a Facilities Master Plan (FMP). The FMP proposes various changes for Redwood including mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructure updates and new arts, music and cafeteria buildings. Then the TUHSD Board hired construction management firm Greystone West Company to flesh out the details, a process that was completed in January.

At the Jan. 24 TUHSD board meeting, Corbett Elsen, TUHSD’s assistant superintendent of business and operations, presented the impact of current market conditions and project changes on the FMP. Most significantly, Elsen indicated that the cost of the plan has increased dramatically to approximately $517 million. Several TUHSD board members, including Cynthia Roenisch, were surprised by this news.

“I have to say I’m stunned at the difference in the price between what we had in October when we approved the plan [and now],” Roenisch said.

Elsen explained this increase was caused by the need to comply with the American Disability Act, new energy building codes, higher construction and labor costs and bond issuance expenses to pay for this project. Todd Lee, president of Greystone West Company, provided more details about the $123 million discrepancy.

“You’ve got the perfect storm of recent escalation, post-COVID-19 changes and projections that were on the aggressive side in your FMP,” Lee said. “For example, the FMP assumed the addition of cooling to the existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. But due to COVID-19, the building code was altered, so you went from adding cooling to the existing heating systems to a wholesale replacement of the HVAC.”

Another recent change in the building

code is the requirement for all new buildings to be solar-powered and have a battery backup system. This will result in significant infrastructure work to provide electrical capacity for these new systems.

Despite these explanations, the board was still uncomfortable with the sizable increase in cost.

“Right out of the blocks we were hit by a 25 percent increase, so I think we all were just taken by surprise and need reassurance that [there aren’t] any other hidden issues,” Roenisch said. “I think it was timing. We all expected to see some changes, but not within months and of this magnitude.”

The increased cost means the size of the project will have to be reconsidered if $517 million of financing is not available. The original $394 million plan ranked certain FMP improvements as the top priority, second priority and third priority items. Roenisch expressed concerns about which priorities the project is likely to include

going forward.

“Have we done our due diligence to really refine this project, [since] maybe now it’s going to include only [items prioritized as] one and two?” Roenisch said. “Maybe we can’t include [items prioritized as] three.”

In response to the cost issue, TUHSD bond consultants Keygent Group presented bond funding alternatives to raise the necessary funds at the Feb. 7 board meeting. Keygent explained that the district’s current funding capacity would allow it to issue $517 million of new bonds. The next step in the process is for TUHSD polling consultant, Godbe Research, to test the local community’s receptivity to an increase in property taxes. These results should be available later this spring along with the final refinement of the FMP.

mseton@redwoodbark.org

Mill Valley, Tiburon to hire Climate Official

By Sam Sumski

In November 2022, the city of Mill Valley created a Climate Action Plan to achieve by the year 2030. The city has drafted a set of goals based on sustainability and preservation of the environment for future generations, including a net carbon reduction of 47 percent. In order to reach these goals, the cities of Tiburon and Mill Valley have joined together in hiring a Climate Official, who will be in charge of determining what the cities must do in order to reach the goal.

Vice Mayor of Mill Valley, Urban Carmel, has had a major role in the beginning stages of the climate fight for his city. Aiding and overseeing the Climate Action Plan, Carmel has high hopes for the Climate Official’s potential.

“We have specifically created this position in order to help with communication and spreading the word [about climate change],” Carmel said. “This official is essential to our plan to attack climate change and reduce carbon

emissions.”

The official will be splitting time between Tiburon and Mill Valley equally, as both cities have similar intentions regarding climate change. The two cities are delighted to have set their standards and goals at a difficult, but attainable, level.

“Every city across the state has goals and high marks they hope to achieve, and we are extremely proud that we set the bar so high at 47 percent reduction of carbon emissions — [which is] second in Marin,” Carmel said.

and how the ocean is rising. I think the majority of Mill Valley residents want to make a difference; they just might not know how,” Staude said.

reduce carbon emissions.

Urban Carmel, Vice Mayor of Mill Valley

Senior Planner Danielle Staude has also had a large hand in the process of Mill Valley’s Climate Action Plan. She explained the Climate Official will make a large impact on every resident in the city.

“We always hear about global warming

“This is where the Climate Official comes in to make the difference we need. Through communication and educating the public on how to make smart decisions that will impact the planet more beneficially, we can help our town reach the end goal.”

Staude and Urban both mentioned that reaching their ambitious 47 percent goal will not be easy, as 75 percent of Mill Valley and Tiburons’ carbon emissions come from transportation alone. While this number may currently appear very high, there has been an improvement over the past decade.

“In 2020, Mill Valley reduced its carbon footprint by 24 percent from 1990 levels. To reach the 2030 goal, we would need to reduce our footprint by another 23 percent in the next seven years,” Staude said.

Staude and Urban are both optimistic about the new position and the possibilities that are brought about in its hiring. Going into the future, there is a lot of work ahead, but with interviews coming to a close for the new Climate Official, the cities of Tiburon and Mill Valley have somebody to lead the charge.

“Who is a woman in your life that you look up to?”

Liam Healy freshman

“I look up to my mom because she’s really kind and donates a lot of her hard-earned money to charities.”

Izzy Babb sophomore

“I look up to my mom because she is very powerful and when she puts her mind to something, she gets it done.”

Salvatore Fierro junior

“The woman I look up to is my mom. … She did a lot to follow her passion throughout her life.

I think it is really remarkable all she has accomplished.”

Grace De Vita senior

because she is always looking out for me no matter what is going on in her own life.”

Infographic by Michael Seton

This official is essential to our plan to attack climate change and

LOOKING OVER MILL Valley, the community center projects a sustainable path to

Photo by Sam Kimball

Four superintendents turn over in Marin schools

Story and Infographic

by Kate DeForrest

In the last several months, the school districts of San Rafael City Schools, Mill Valley, Novato Unified and Sausalito Marin City have each announced that their current superintendents plan on departing their respective districts at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

In November 2022, San Rafael City Schools superintendent Jim Hogeboom said he planned on retiring at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

On Jan. 11, superintendent Kimberly Berman of the Mill Valley School District announced that she, too, would leave her position at the same time. Berman was one year into a three-year contract and no reason for her departure was given.

In early February, the Novato Unified School District stated that they hired

a new superintendent, Tracy Smith, to replace the retiring interim superintendent Jan La Torre-Derby.

Finally, Sausalito Marin City School District announced that current superintendent Itoco Garcia would step down at the end of the school year after a mutual agreement with the Board of Trustees.

The turnover in Marin school administrators is part of a larger trend, noticed Annie Sherman, president of the Board of Trustees in the Larkspur Corte Madera School District.

“This problem is not something that is specific to Marin. It’s something that we’re seeing nationwide,” Sherman said. “I think the pandemic was an extremely stressful time for superintendents [which may have contributed to some of their departures]. They were really making the decisions as far as when and how to get back in the

classroom. We were all very concerned about safety, so the stakes were extremely high.”

Sherman also noted that although many superintendents have announced their departure at the same time, they are all individual circumstances.

“I don’t think you can glean major generalizations from the departures of the superintendents. I think you really have to look at the individual districts and look at what the situation is in each district,” Sherman said.

Laura Myers is the Director of Curriculum and Instruction and Student Support Services for the Mill Valley School District. She noticed that turnover in administration is also common at this time of year to allow districts enough time to find a well-suited candidate before summer.

To find someone to fill an open

superintendent position at this time, it is common for a district’s administration, to hire a search firm that can broaden the search for candidates.

“Mill Valley hired leadership associates to help them identify candidates to interview. It’s also very normal for [the agency] to gather input from all the stakeholders, the caregivers, the students and the staff to find out what their priorities are, and then [use that guidance] to help match the desired qualities of a candidate to the people that are applying. Then [the firm] recommends those people to be interviewed by the Board of Trustees, who interviews candidates and makes a decision on who to hire,” Myers said.

Because of the recent turnover of administration in Marin, other school districts could be affected by disruption of communication between schools as well as shared programs and services. But Myers finds that one of the biggest impacts, both negative and positive, is on those who work and attend schools in the district.

“[The departure of a superintendent] provides a sense of uncertainty for people, not knowing who’s coming next. And I think that can cause some unease. But I think that’s easily rectified when a new [superintendent] is announced,” Myers said. “Students often pick up on what the adults around them are experiencing … And having a new leader provides a new vision for the district, so that could eventually have a positive or negative impact on students depending on what the new person’s vision is.”

While there are no current impacts of new hires, the search for new superintendents continues in multiple Marin school districts. All four current superintendents plan to officially depart on June 30.

kdeforrest@redwoodbark.org

Ellen & Steve Taylor Richard Thalheimer

The Tribolet Family

The Tuatini Family

Kim Tully-Sutton

The Turkington Family

Dawn Valler

Nicole Vanderlee

Bella Von Pervieux

Caroline Wabl

Kimberly Wagner

Pere Wait

Charlotte Waldinger

Chantel Walker Samantha Walravens

The Weasler Family

Holly & Mike Welch

Kitty White

Dave & Lizzie Wiener

Family

Becky & Doug Scott

Jill Sellers

Christopher & Corinne Seton

Lida Shams

Sydney Shaw

Peter & Roberta Sherman

Wendy Shewmaker

Anna Rochester & Brian Shoichet

Jena Shore

The Sichel Family

Jennifer Sicklick

Mike & Alison Silva

Jace & Scott Sims

Nina Smallhorn

Karalyn Smith

Victoria & Michael Song

The Song Family

Lida & Kaveh Soofer

Jill & Seth Steinberg

Amanda Stephens

Deborah A. Lightfoot & Andrew P. Stone

Rachel Stone

Bonnie M. Stone

Barrie Stone

The Strotz Family

Kathi Sullivan

Kristina Svendsen

Anna Rochester & Brian Svendson

Nancy & Larry Wilson

Lindsay Wilson

Dean Wozniak

Wes Yee

Patricia & David Young

Pascal & Steffi Zata

Connie & Jeff Zlot

CalFresh emergency allotments ending

The CalFresh program, otherwise known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), provides monthly financial assistance to lowincome households. Those in the program can redeem benefits at select grocery stores, food distribution points and even some restaurants. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, CalFresh implemented new emergency allotments to combat the rising food insecurity brought on by the chaos of the pandemic.

For almost three years, these emergency allotments have allowed low-income households across the state of California to claim a minimum of $95 in additional benefits on a monthly basis. However, as the pandemic has come to an end, the government has slowly begun to decrease these allotments. Now, in March 2023, the final CalFresh emergency allotments will be issued as the recently passed Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 officially ends these benefits.

A concern with the end of these allotments is how families will proceed without the additional income assistance that has been a saving grace over the past three years. San Francisco resident and

CalFresh beneficiary Aspen Fernandez emphasized the usefulness of CalFresh emergency allotments these past years.

“I have [Supplemental Security Income (SSI)], so I’ve been on the allotments since [the COVID-19 pandemic]. It’s not just food [as] people think; CalFresh [supports] hospital bills and medical too, and with all the virus and my sensitivity to that, the extra money means a lot,” Fernandez said.

The versatility of the CalFresh program, with disability and childcare benefits, has softened the harsh blow dealt by constant global shutdowns and sickness. Due to the program’s varied benefits, it stands to reason that feelings of worry may accompany the end of emergency allotments as hard times continue.

“For a lot of people, the coronavirus is done, but that doesn’t mean things are just going to be easy now. Coronavirus is ending and the allotments are ending, but what I have to deal with isn’t [easy],” Fernandez said. There is a level of concern and unsureness with the ending of emergency allotments, as for residents like Fernandez, this income assistance has been a major asset in an unstable world. For some beneficiaries of CalFresh, however, the emergency allotments had to end eventually. Another

local CalFresh beneficiary, Andre Scallan, has a different perspective on the impending termination of the emergency allotments.

“Well, the emergency benefits are just that: for emergencies. [The government] can’t really pay emergency money forever; it just can’t,” Scallan said. Scallan also emphasized that while emergency allotments are ending, benefits will still be provided by the CalFresh program, just as they were before the onset of the pandemic.

By Pasha Fooman pfooman@redwoodbark.org

“Basically, what you get is an [Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)] card, and you use that at the store to spend the money from CalFresh. It’s the pandemic EBT part for COVID that’s ending soon, not CalFresh. That card isn’t going anywhere, and I can

still use it where I normally would after the whole [emergency allotments program] ends,” Scallan said.

While the government’s announcement may trouble some, CalFresh will remain very much operational, just as it was prepandemic. Qualifying local residents will still be able to use the CalFresh balance on their EBT cards, albeit without the increased financial security offered with additional emergency allotment money. Any low-income households currently on pandemic EBT programs can continue to receive grocery benefits uninterrupted by applying for CalFresh as soon as possible.

A look into Class of 2025 University of California admissions

By Sam Kimball

LOCATED IN NOVATO, San Rafael and Point Reyes, Marin Health and Human Services offices all offer the CalFresh program.

Photo courtesy of Marin Health and Human Services

It’s not just food [as] people think; CalFresh [supports] hospital bills and medical too.

Aspen Fernandez, CalFresh beneficiary

The power of a piercing

By Shyla Lensing

I’ve wanted a nose piercing for a long time. At first, it was a step in my planned senior year glow-up — no braces, no glasses and a piercing to the nostril. It felt cool and careless, two traits that had never quite fit me (example A: My name is SHYla). I hoped it would make me feel different and new, an adult woman leaving behind her awkward tween body.

Around 19 percent of women who have piercings in the U.S. have their nose pierced – across the internet, nose rings and studs, like other forms of body art, are declarations of individuality, adventure and new beginnings. They’ve become even more popular recently, with piercing studios across the U.S. seeing increased requests for nose ornaments.

When I finally confessed my nose ring desire to my mother, she was surprised. One, she didn’t think I was hygienic enough to keep it from getting it infected, and two, she was shocked I didn’t know the significance of nostril piercings, or the nathani, in our Indian culture.

Nose piercings have a long history, thought to be a part of South Asian culture for thousands of years. Though nostril rings and studs have also been recorded in indigenous African and Southern American cultures, they were first documented by Mughal emperors in the 16th century, and some note they’d been described in Sanskrit text decades before that. In India, especially Hindu communities, they served the purpose of signifying a woman was of marriageable age. Or, they gave women a cultural

identity, as nose piercings differed by religion, region, caste and class. No matter what the reason was behind the piercing, over all parts of the subcontinent, they held power, giving Indian women a sense of strength and agency.

I didn’t think too much about what my

conversation of whether the increased popularity of nose piercings in Western beauty has glossed over their history and symbolism.

Last month, I took a leap of faith and finally went into a piercing studio with my mom and sister. Sitting there, paper work

Female objectification isn’t empowerment

“She’s too young to be showing that much skin.” “That’s a completely inappropriate outfit.” “That’s too sexy.” These are among many common phrases repeated by those who criticize women’s sexuality.

Women are constantly condemned for what they wear and how they express their sexuality, specifically in terms of their sexual desires. Society encourages women to present themselves as attractive, but when a woman becomes too sexually promiscuous in the eye of the public, she is called a slut or a whore, bringing her reputation into question.

Men do not have to walk this thin line: they can be as expressive of their sexualities as they like without scrutiny. Shaming women for how they choose to express themselves physically hypersexualizes and reduces a woman’s power and control to their own self-expression.

To address conversations around womanhood, it’s important to not confuse objectification for empowerment. Society often fails to recognize that sexual empowerment includes seeing a woman for how they choose to express themselves through ownership of their body, while still acknowledging physical appearance as only one of many parts of a woman’s identity.

Director of Research and Education at the Glendon Association, Dr. Lisa Firestone, attributed society’s tendency to cast women into, what psychiatrist and author Estela Welldon described as,

“To put a woman into any of these categories is to deny essential aspects of who she is. Common opinions about female sexuality range from accusing women of being prudish or withholding sex, to being seductive and using their sexuality as a source of power or manipulation. These skewed views steer [society] away from seeing the reality that, just like men, women have a natural and healthy desire to be sexual,” Firestone said.

While women do have a biological tendency to engage in sexual behavior, just like men, research indicates a link between comfort and degree of sexual expression. A study from 1998 called “That Swimsuit Becomes You” identified the connection between self objectification and shame in young women. In the study, groups of students had to complete a math test wearing swimsuits or sweaters. Each group took the test in separate rooms; the girls wearing swimsuits performed worse than the girls in sweaters. However, among boys, there was no difference in performance depending on attire.

Obviously, swimsuits are more revealing than sweaters and this study demonstrates that when women don’t have the choice to wear something they are comfortable in, it impacts how they view themselves. Thus, we need to stop telling women how to dress and allow them to express their sexualities as they desire. For some, this may mean wearing more revealing clothes, if that is what they are most comfortable in.

Commentary surrounding the outfit

intends to promote modesty. In 2021, singer Olivia Rodrigo, who was 18 at the time, was shamed for her outfit at the Academy of Museum of Motion Pictures. Her dress featured a plunging neckline and cut-outs, which many people claimed she was too young to wear and was deemed inappropriate. These comments, while aimed to force modesty on a young adult woman, actually sexualized her by implying there was something wrong with the outfit, to begin with.

Some may argue that women empowering themselves through their choice of expression of sexuality sends the wrong message and that solely equating looks with empowerment reduces women to objects. This belief also teaches women to only focus on their looks rather than other parts of themselves. This argument fails to acknowledge the complexity of a woman’s identity: a woman can have power through her sexuality, personality and talents –these don’t have to be mutually exclusive, but can co-exist.

It’s important for society to allow women to feel comfortable and confident in their

internet the whole way there, learning, taking in the power of the little piece of metal in my nostril, penduluming between rue, love and anger.

The store was small, packed with shelves of ghatia, seven slightly different types of paratha and small tubes of henna. My mom just needed to grab some frozen batata vada before dinner, but I convinced her to buy some of the treats behind the counter. The woman there gave me a nod, choosing each ladoo and burfi carefully. And I saw it. In her nose, on the left, was a

I touched my own, new gold dot, and wholeheartedly loved it for the first time. Yes, because it’s cool, and I feel spontaneous and unpredictable for once, but also because I feel closer to me more than I have in so long — not the “cool new” Shyla, but closer to my culture, my namesake and the woman behind the counter who studied my piercing, smiling

The little piece of gold in my nostril has let me love the face, skin and heritage I’ve often wanted to hide. As the days passed since I got it, I feel more confident and beautiful, especially as I know what this piercing means to me and my ancestors. It’s a reminder of learning, but also of

So I leave you with this: what we choose to do with our bodies, the piercings, the ink, the jewels and the art, can make us feel powerful — in who we are, but also where we come from. Because in the end,

own bodies and self-defined sexuality; the key is to understand the difference between sexual empowerment and objectification. Sexual empowerment is seeing a woman as a whole person, someone who may choose to embrace their sexuality as a part of their identity and control their own body and actions. Sexual objectification is seeing a woman as an object, solely for their body and sexual traits, with disregard for the other components of their unique identity.

The overlap between empowerment and objectification has to do with power and who wields it. Empowerment gives power to the individual while objectification gives power to the oppressor.

In today’s world, women continue to receive mixed messages about their sexuality as society struggles to decide how to control women’s bodies, wanting them to be sexually desirable, but not slutty, and to have ownership of their sexuality. A woman’s body and sexuality belong to no one but herself, and therefore, the power to control a woman’s body and her sexuality is hers alone.

lhakimi@redwoodbark.org

Illustration by Carsen Goltz

Illustration by Calla McBride

Religious schools: Divine education or coercive patronage?

By Matthew Marotto

I have a confession: I’m not very religious. Although by heritage I’m halfCatholic and half-Jewish, aside from a few holidays, these designations seldom appear in my life and — in another confession — I’m glad they haven’t.

Many see immense value in religion, and rightly so. Even though I do not actively participate in religion, I wholeheartedly endorse many religious ethics. However, regardless of a religion’s positive messages, its promotion does not belong in schools, including private ones.

Places of education aren’t places of worship. The primary function of schooling, as Albert Einstein famously said, “is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.”

Herein lies the danger behind having, as of 2020, a growing student population of 3.5 million attending religious schools nationwide. Whether in a church, mosque, synagogue or any other place of worship, divine teachings consistently trump individual thinking.

When this transcends into classrooms via religious schools, the equating and emphasizing of preachings in relation to independent thought can harm student autonomy. And when divine teachings clash with academia, religious schools often irrationally favor scriptures over science.

Take the ongoing debate over creationism or the belief that divine acts constructed the universe, which the United States Supreme Court banned from public schools. Although scientificallybacked evolution is clearly preferred in a classroom environment, many religious schools promote creationism through

mandatory religious services and theology courses.

Per one local school’s website, where a

through education. To this day, Jesuits operate schools from Saint Ignatius in San Francisco to Georgetown University, subtly

in a secular republic, so, given their critical role in government, it didn’t in schools either.

Today, not only is this democratic virtue under increasing threat with the recent growth of religious schools, but so are personal freedoms.

Having attended public education my entire life, the opportunities afforded to me, to freely think and study, have greatly benefited who I am. I’ve never been forced, neither explicitly nor implicitly, to conform to any religion in regards to my studies or myself. All students deserve these opportunities.

While some desire a faith-based education or situationally prefer religious institutions, religious schools must not continue to prioritize prophecies over facts, nor indoctrination over teaching. This isn’t an attempt to degrade religions and the good they have done, but rather to ensure that all students are free to learn and express themselves. If religions truly care about their students and academic freedom, then they must withdraw their self-promotion from classrooms by secularizing core curriculum and graduation requirements.

for centuries where they indoctrinate impressionable students from kindergarten classrooms to lecture halls.

A notable example of this is the Catholic Jesuit order, which was established to combat the rise of competing denominations and convert new members

This threat poses a fundamental danger to democracies, where free, secular schools are essential. The consensus of America’s Founding Fathers was that educated voters were vital to a freethinking electorate capable of selecting the best candidates. Religion had no place

With the issues of today unlikely to disappear by some miracle, as even I feel the urge to pray, secular schools are more important than ever. To meet these challenges, generations of independent thinking students must be educated, and religious schools do not belong in that future.

mmarotto@redwoodbark.org

The holy grail of unbiased news does not exist

By Ben Choucroun

Throughout my academic life, I have been taught to always seek impartiality in news. I’m not alone. According to the March 2023 Bark survey, 67 percent of students believe that reading unbiased news is either very important or somewhat important. However, there are no perfectly unbiased news outlets in modern-day life. News outlets are influenced by the larger capitalist society that they exist in, which creates a staunchly pro-market, pro-American bias in most newspapers. Therefore, we should read articles from mainstream news outlets through a critical eye to recognize how the larger American capitalist system influences these news outlets.

Almost all mainstream news outlets in America — The New York Times, Fox News and CNN — are profit-driven enterprises and thus, are susceptible to the interests of their shareholders. These news outlets are less likely to publish articles critical of the capitalist system because they rely on capitalism to function. Why would the Washington Post write an article about the failures of capitalism when its owner, Jeff Bezos, is the second-richest man in the world?

Usually, the wealthy and powerful do not directly censor news outlets. Rather, media bias in the U.S. is a result of selfcensorship and unconscious biases. In the book “Manufacturing Consent,” social critics Noam Chomksy and Edward Herman note how journalists quickly internalize what they can and cannot say, and what will and will not be published. Editors’ decisions about which stories to print and what language to use also reflect

the internalized biases of the mainstream media. Pro-capitalism and pro-government stories will be published more often, while stories that present the downsides of capitalism or the horror of American imperialism will not be featured prominently.

For example, according to a 2023 study from the media watchdog group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), newspapers were twice as likely to talk about Russia’s use of Iranian drones to target Ukrainian civilians than they were of Israel’s use of American missiles to bomb Palestinian homes. Though the actual facts published are correct, the prioritization of certain stories over others creates a bias toward American imperialism and its ally’s disregard for human rights. News sources can also exhibit their biases by creating false dichotomies.

This was clearly present in reporting on the 2017 Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. In Charlottesville, left-wing anti-fascists battled hundreds of swastika-wearing Neo-Nazis and other members of the far-right, ending

with dozens injured and one anti-fascist demonstrator murdered. FAIR found that in the following month, newspapers critiqued both the Neo-Nazis and the anti-fascists

wing positions include a strong opposition to capitalism, imperialism and inequality. Meanwhile, many liberal politicians are often subservient to wealthy corporations, support attacks on countries such as Libya and Syria, and further the unequal capitalist status quo. The mainstream media is both slightly liberal-leaning and biased against leftist ideas.

Even when reading the news from seemingly reliable and mainstream news outlets like the Associated Press or Reuters, we must keep in mind the biases that these news articles publish. The Bark is no exception to this rule. Politically, I’m fairly left-wing, and though I constantly strive for impartiality, I understand that unconscious biases influence both the articles I publish and the articles published by the Bark staff.

For these reasons, reading the news with a critical eye and having an open mind to smaller, independent news sources is important. If we do so, we will be able to form our own opinions about world events without being influenced by the biases present in the media we consume. However, individual choices alone cannot change the fundamental issues inherent in capitalist media. Only transforming corporate media into genuine, workerrun enterprises and abolishing the larger capitalist economy in which they operate will be sufficient in stopping the procapitalism, pro-imperialism bias in our media.

is not left-wing, despite overlapping with leftist positions on some social issues. Left-

Illustration by Carsen Goltz

editorial Stop treating women like pawns

An ode to women

In the game of chess, the queen is the most powerful piece. She is vital to the game’s success, and without her, it can be difficult to win. While the king is known to be the most important piece to capture, its effect on the game is minimal. The queen is the strongest, yet still underappreciated.

To honor Women’s History Month, we’d like to take the time to celebrate some incredible women and their contributions to our world. As a community, it’s important to take a step back and remember the powerful, influential and overlooked women who are the backbone of society and our modern-day world.

When people think about innovators in today’s society, they often think of Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and other pioneers who are considered the creators of modern technology. What most people don’t consider is that behind the scenes of many innovations, there was usually a woman involved. Yet she’s rarely publicly credited.

This pattern of women’s credit being stolen is so common that it has a name: the Matilda effect. According to Scientific American, the Matilda effect is when women, specifically in the scientific community, do not receive recognition for their discoveries and work; instead the men in their field receive credit. The term was named after suffragist and abolitionist Matilda Joslyn Gage, who famously said, “Although women’s scientific education has been grossly neglected … some of the most important inventions of the world are due to her.” In the case of the Matilda effect, this refers to the fact that the patriarchy puts women at a natural disadvantage.

Hedy Lamarr invented frequency hopping technology and allowed for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to exist. Everyday people across the world mindlessly connect AirPods to their phones multiple times. The name you may think of in relation to this habit is Steve Jobs. However, Lamarr’s design was crucial to the creation of all Apple products. She did not receive any money for her invention despite her major contribution in the development, and was not largely recognized until after her death. Revolutionary in advancing wireless technology, the name Hedy Lamarr should ring through your ears every time you put on Bluetooth headphones.

Like Lamarr, many women have been overshadowed due to the patriarchal systems in their lives. Despite this, women outside of the science and technology field have also achieved major milestones in different ways.

the people’s politician.” She opened up a new set of doors for aspiring young women of color in the world of politics, encouraging a new generation to achieve their goals.

Dora Richter was one of the first recorded transgender people to undergo a male-to-female sex change. Early on, Richter identified more with feminine clothing and social norms. As she grew older she felt more drawn to fully living as a woman. Richter was arrested by authorities various times for cross-dressing. Nine years after her initial surgery, as technology progressed, Richter underwent surgery to fully transform her body to be biologically in line with her identity. After her passing, the story of Richter’s bravery and perseverance blazed a path of inspiration for many transgender women now and to come.

Kamala Harris was not only the first woman to be elected as Vice President (VP) of the United States but also the first woman of color to do so. Harris previously served as a Senator for California and has been in politics and public service for many years. She served as a Deputy District Attorney in Oakland, California and specialized in violence, drugs and sexual abuse. She continued her legacy of breaking norms for women of color by being elected as Attorney General of California in 2010 and, most recently, by becoming VP of the U.S.

Women can be recognized just as easily as men; it does not take energy to give credit where credit is due. When society repeatedly fails to acknowledge these women, we fail women everywhere. Recognizing the daily triumphs of women is necessary. All people should be acknowledged for the work they’ve done. Let’s remind ourselves that Women’s History Month is not the only time to highlight important women: women should be celebrated and appreciated every day because being a woman is powerful enough. Thriving and living in a system that is built for men will always be an accomplishment. You don’t need to invent Bluetooth or become Vice President to be a strong woman – your existence is plenty. Every day, a queen puts a king in checkmate and, without her, the game couldn’t have been won.

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

Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman elected into Congress in 1968. Chisholm advocated for civil rights for women and people of color – she even earned the nickname “Fighting Shirley.” Chisholm served seven terms in Congress and once said, “I am

A BARK to the Oscars. We’re glad the only hits we saw this year were the best films.

A BITE to the price of Outside Lands tickets. They cost more than a Lil Yachty.

A BARK to April. Time to fool you!

A BITE to the weather recently. Phuck that gopher Phil.

A BARK to college decisions coming out this month. This stress has us MARCHing to our email every day.

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 may also be emailed to bark@redwoodbark.org.

A BITE to Branson’s recent MCAL wins. This is a load of bull.

A BARK to prom coming up. Time to find a date PROMptly.

A BITE to the boys’ mullets; y’all need to re-LAX and get a new haircut.

A BARK to gingers who celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. “Irish” you had a good day!

A BITE to the rain. That walk to the portables is HAILA crazy.

A BARK to the Cardi B and Offset’s McDonalds’s Meal. Those ‘Bodak Yellow’ arches are looking good.

A BITE to men. It’s women’s history month.

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.

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Let’s talk about it: Women in reality TV

By Ava Razavi

I spend a shocking amount of time defending my affinity for reality TV. Almost every time I admit that watching “Too Hot to Handle” and “Love is Blind” brings me joy, I get the same reaction. People roll their eyes at me, often scoffing while whispering something misogynistic under their breath.

Other reality TV fans, which make up 40 percent of the U.S., and I fight back in response. Reality TV is fun! There are always weird unrelated challenges and sweet dates on the beach. Sometimes, there are celebrity appearances or a huge prize fund for a seemingly easy task — I’m talking to you, “Too Hot to Handle”; how hard is it to not have sex for four weeks when you could win $200,000?

But recently, it’s getting hard for me to defend reality TV. Here’s why: The treatment of women, especially Black women, in these shows is horrendous. So, let’s talk about it.

Most reality TV shows revolve around love – sorry, I meant lust. Shows like “The Bachelor” and “Love Island” pose as an environment where people can come together and find love with others who are ready for a relationship, but they’re not. Instead, they’re a place women are repeatedly shamed and stereotyped, simply for entertainment purposes.

I’ll be the first to admit that watching two women fight over the most mediocre man in the world, probably named Nick or Matthew or some other absurdly basic name, is amusing. But, when producers'

primary goal is to make women look stupid and capitalize off of their suffering, these harmless giggles from viewers turn into something a little more dangerous.

women throughout reality TV history. Too often the casting team only brings on one Black woman, almost as if they’re trying to fill a certain tiny quota. They are treated

reality show “Basketball Wives,” Shaunie O'Neal, finds the tokenized representation of Black women in reality TV to be problematic and offensive.

“The problem for me is when Black women are portrayed as only [bickering and aggressive] and labeled differently than their non-Black counterparts for the same type of behavior. That's when it becomes negative and damaging to our image,” she wrote in an article for CNN.

It’s clear that reality TV perpetuates an image of women that is inherently false and harmful. I’m not advocating for us to stop watching the genre as a whole, especially considering the few wonderful non-dating reality shows such as “The Great British Baking Show” and “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,” where people come together and do something they’re passionate about. What I ask of you fellow reality TV fans is to be mindful. Don’t buy into these toxic stereotypes of Black women and womanhood as a whole. Horrible people exist everywhere, but these traits of anger and vanity are not exclusive to any gender or race. Instead, see and appreciate women as the complex individuals they are!

‘Boys will be boys’ is out, holding men accountable is in

By Gillian Reynolds

By the time I was 15, I had been harassed more times than I could count on both hands; now, at 17, I’ve completely lost track. The catcalls, body commentary, wandering eyes and inappropriate sexual conversations entered my life at far too young an age and have only worsened. As I have grown older, one thing has become clear: it is rare for me to go out and not

disorienting and makes you ashamed of who you are as a woman, chipping away at the confidence to stand up for yourself. It often takes time to recognize harassment, sometimes days or even months. Many initially think, “Did I do something to provoke this?” Especially for women, who often have

but women have a natural instinct of placing those around them first. Because conversations around harassment are considered taboo, the act of reporting harassers proves an extremely difficult task. Fear of getting a peer in trouble, and oftentimes power dynamics, such as being harassed by a boss or teacher, make situations more complex. These worries allow harassment to go unreported, which leads to further desensitization. Thus, the 80 percent of harassment that goes unreported is a whole lot less astonishing when looking at the bigger

The normalization of harassment is what allows men to hurt women without consequences. These same men who commit atrocities against young women go on to become Chief Executive Officers and successful businessmen while facing zero repercussions for their

Don’t believe me?

Donald Trump had at least 18 women accuse him of inappropriate sexual behavior such as harassment and assault, and most of the accusers came forward with their accusations prior to his campaign. He then went on to be known history of sexual misconduct. There are no boundaries for men who victimize women, and there is often no punishment despite the massive trauma they leave with their victims. These men become role models for other young men and continue a cycle of

undermining allegations while giving Sure, not all men victimize women, and men also experience harassment. However, while it may not be all men, it is the majority of women. Eightyseven percent of women can relate to an experience of inappropriate sexual behavior, with women receiving 38 percent more harassment than men. However, a large majority of that percentage still doesn’t have access to resources that help them overcome their trauma.

Sexual harassment is not talked about enough in a way that teaches women how to respond and cope with being victims. There are few accessible resources on how to report sexual harassment and how to live with sexual trauma. More education in schools detailing coping skills for those who have been victimized, as well as curriculum to prevent harassment, should be prioritized. Additionally, there should be lessons for parents regarding how to have uncomfortable conversations with their children about sexual harassment.

Sometimes, after such an experience, the complete reconstruction of your identity as a female is necessary to recover the strength you once had and to dismantle the shame you feel. Mentally, it’s exhausting to recover from, and young teenage girls deserve to have professionals who can check in with them, help rebuild their confidence and deal with the aftermath of the trauma. Resources for learning about sexual harassment and coping with it are vital to stop this cycle of desensitization and show women how to overcome sexual trauma.

Illustration by Carsen Goltz

Illustration by Julia Frankus

feature feature

Halting the unimaginable: Youth suicide prevention

By Ava Razavi

Content warning: This article may evoke strong emotions as it discusses suicide, self-harm and mental illness. If this topic is sensitive to you, please proceed with caution.

Depression is a heavy blanket, weighing one down with every breath they take. It limits one’s vision — everything that should be joyful or at least mundane is overshadowed by the all-encompassing melancholy the world seems to possess.

The blanket feels impenetrable, making it seem impossible to ever imagine a life without its burden holding one down. Every day, and the routine it requires, feels like an impossible chore only worsened by the darkness the blanket brings.

Those inexperienced with depression would implore others to simply take the blanket off, knowing this would make them feel better. However, for those who struggle with severe depression, there is a certain twisted comfort in the world being dampened. It’s familiar. It’s warm. It’s silent. Most importantly, it’s solitary.

In this withdrawn state, a feeling of meaninglessness and despair accrues in the minds of depressed individuals. As the initial comfort of the blanket fades, misery sets in, and many turn to suicidal thoughts as a coping mechanism — an end to the seemingly eternal unimaginable pain and listlessness they are experiencing.

The Epidemic

In 2021, there were 48,183 confirmed suicide deaths in the U.S., according to the Centers for Diseases and Prevention — an almost 10 percent increase from 2015, making it the third leading cause of death for teenagers and middle-aged adults.

While women attempt suicide more often, men are four times more likely to be successful in their attempts, according to a study published in BioMed Central Psychiatry. This is partially due to traditional gender norms that do not support men seeking mental health services as they are hesitant to share their emotions and feel it threatens their masculinity.

Ryan Plumb, a Bay Area Community Resources intern who provides counseling services in Redwood’s Wellness Center, notes that men’s social support systems are in part at fault for their depression and suicide rates.

“The way men relate to each other isn't in sharing feelings. A lot of times toxic masculinity will say ‘you’re a girl’ or [men] make fun of that kind of thing, so men learn, ‘do not share your feelings, that’s shameful.’ Whereas women tend to have better social awareness and connection,” Plumb said. “Men are [taught] to be this one representation where we're strong and independent, we've got things under control and we're very goal oriented. All those ideas [society] has of the male gender make it difficult for men to reach out when they're in pain.”

Isolation and alienation make men see the world in a darker way than it actually is. Plumb often works with students to recognize how one’s mind can often warp reality in a dangerous manner.

“If you were to wear blue-colored glasses your entire life, you would see the world blue, and you would think the world was blue because you've never known what it is like to not have those glasses. [Similarly], if we perceive the world as a negative, harmful, dangerous and sad [place], then the representation in our brain of what the world is outside of our head is going to be colored by that perception. Sometimes we develop this mismatch where the world isn’t actually that blue. We've just gotten so used to seeing it with glasses on that we can’t conceive of it any other way,” Plumb said. “When people get

to be suicidal, they only see that world that they've created in their mind. It's real for them. There’s no other alternative.”

The majority of suicidal people feel burdened by the distorted way they perceive the world. Katrina Southard, the Wellness Coordinator for Archie Williams High School’s Wellness Center, mostly encounters students who feel overwhelmed by their life.

“[Many students endure a] more passive feeling; They're just fed up with all these different aspects of their life and they wish they didn't have to do it anymore. It's a feeling of ‘it'd be kind of nice if I could just skip over this [or] if I could just not wake up,’” Southard said.

As more people begin to fall victim to suicidal thoughts, many point the finger at a major change in society within the last two decades: technology. Southard worries about the impacts of excessive social media and internet usage by teens.

“[Teenagers] turn to the internet for some sort of connection. Somebody who doesn't have a lot of other support in their life can end up down some confusing dark roads,” Southard said. “The

fictionally or interpersonally, which makes suicide forum participants more likely to attempt suicide themselves.

The Stigma

Talking about suicide is uncomfortable; often feelings of shame, guilt and grief dominate conversations, enforcing a poor view of suicide victims and survivors. The stigmas surrounding suicidal people and the reasons behind their suicidality are often judgemental, creating a hostile environment for survivors to speak up about their experiences.

“People feel ashamed that they're [suicidal] or it almost feels like a personal failure to get to that point, and it's really not. Unfortunately, depression is very common. It's the number one thing that people see therapists for,” Plumb said.

Southard finds that despite general stigmas around mental illnesses having lessened within the past decade, there is still a strong negative connotation around conversations about depression and suicide.

“When you're comparing depression and anxiety, which

noticed, one should have an open and judgment-free conversation with their peers about their mental state. Coming up with a safety plan such as calling a crisis line together, recommending a therapist, reducing access to lethal means and, in dire conditions, calling emergency services are all actionable responses to supporting a suicidal loved one. Every suicidal person is different and experiences unique feelings; it’s vital to listen to the individual and hear what they need in order to support them in the best way.

Crisis Management

Mental health crisis intervention is categorized as something that provides immediate, temporary help to individuals who are experiencing an event that is producing emotional, mental and physical distress. Extreme concerns such as repeated refusal to share how one is feeling and a planned-out suicide attempt should be responded to with external resources such as crisis lines.

Buckelew Programs, a mental health organization, receives and responds to calls from the mental health crisis number (988) in Marin. Callers who report feelings of suicidal ideation or are attempting suicide are greeted by a suicide prevention counselor who is prepared to mitigate the

These counselors then assess whether the caller requires additional resources such as sending the Marin Mobile Crisis Team, which includes behavioral clinicians who can speak in person to the individual or even place them under a 72-hour psychiatric hospital watch.

The Programs Manager at Buckelew Programs, Steve Diamond, recommends people reach out to 988 in a mental health crisis unless they are at risk for imminent physical harm, or have begun their suicide attempt. In these situations, emergency services are required and 911 should be In order to ensure comfort and trust for the caller, counselors emphasize connection and empathy. The counselor then works with the caller to get them in the safest mindset possible.

“At the crisis point, who are the safe people you can call? What are the safe places for you to go? And what are some safe activities you can use to de-escalate yourself during that moment?” Diamond

share their emotions. Of the 547 sites that the suicidal individuals frequented, almost 100 provided information on how to die by suicide.

One particularly popular site, which receives 6 million page views a month, was investigated by The New York Times. They were able to identify 45 people who died by suicide after posting on the site, but they encountered dozens more people who posted a “goodbye” comment and were never heard from again in the online community.

While the reasons behind suicide are complex for every individual, it is clear the invention and accessibility of pro-suicide sites have worsened the suicide epidemic. Suicide is impulsive; research has shown within an hour of entering a suicidal crisis, over 70 percent of people feel regret — these sites weaponize the impulsivity of the act by providing distinct instructions on how to kill oneself and showering those who decide to take their life with support.

Moreover, these forums exacerbate someone’s desire to attempt suicide due to a phenomenon known as suicide contagion. Multiple scholarly works have identified a higher rate of suicide after being exposed to suicide virtually,

due to fear that they will place the idea of suicide in their heads for the first time. Southard disputes this notion.

“Talking about suicide doesn't make somebody more likely to do it, if anything, being able to talk about it and not have it packed up in this shameful feeling is more helpful,” Southard said. “If you're just sitting by yourself with the feeling of being depressed … giving voice to that, is going to help you process [your depression].”

When opening spaces for peers to share their emotions, Plumb finds value in active listening and learning the nature of people.

“The thing that everybody wants is to feel like they're seen and heard for who they really are, and that they're appreciated. They want to know that they matter,” Plumb said. “If that's the case, just listen and be there.”

Active listening is key to recognizing when a peer is in a suicidal mindset. Four out of five suicide victims showed warning signs prior to their death such as experiencing social isolation, vocalizing suicidal threats, saying they are a burden, purchasing lethal products, giving away prized possessions, increasing substance use and calling people to say goodbye.

When these signs are repeatedly

Plumb recognized the anxieties that can be associated with reaching out for help and calling a crisis clinic. He recommended breaking down barriers prior to a crisis by having the 988 contacts on one’s phone or even calling to check out how the system works.

“If someone gets to the point where they're so low and the little barrier [to calling 988] is just the thing that keeps them from help, think about ‘what can I do to reduce that barrier?’” Plumb said. “Reducing every kind of speed bump so that it's effortless to almost fall into getting help is a good thing.”

Despite the extremely personal and societal hurdles humans naturally face, Southard asserts that suicide is not inevitable.

“Suicide is a very preventable form of death. I'd like to think that everyone who feels suicidal, [or] died by suicide could have been helped, or there's hope for them,” Southard said.

There is no doubt that the world is equally as cruel as it can be kind, sometimes it feels as if the universe is intentionally targeting one person. However, the correct response to agony is not suicide, according to Plumb, it’s acceptance.

“The human condition is hard,” Plumb said. “We're flawed beings; that's okay.”

Illustration by Calla McBride

Concerning trends and evolving interactions:

Have Snapchat’s features provided opportunities to socialize? Or to stalk?

By Matthew Marotto

It is perhaps the most defining social aspect of the 21st century, and it’s everywhere. It affects everyone. It features seemingly everything. And with a medium so advanced and complex, stemming from the apps themselves to their real world consequences, the implications of social media are immense.

By Rori Anderson and Elsa Block

Snapchat is a social media platform that allows people to chat as well as send pictures and videos (known as snaps) with their friends. In 2020, over 85 million people in the U.S. used the app. That is a large percentage of the U.S. that can readily communicate with each other through Snapchat. That percentage is likely even higher for teenagers as Snapchat is incredibly popular among younger age groups.

One notable feature of the app is Snapchat Map, or Snap Map, which allows users to share their location with others on one central map. This feature can be altered for users to select certain friends to see their location. While Snap Map can have its benefits, local therapist

Julie Greenberg notes that more often than not, it fosters feelings of insecurity.

“If someone is already in a low mood and then they see on Snap Map that their friends are hanging out, it could increase symptoms [of anxiety, depression and a fear of missing out (FOMO)],” Greenberg said.

Margot Johnson, a Redwood alumni, looked into how Snap Map at schools in Marin affected students differently for her Advanced Placement Research project. Johnson found that the larger student body of Redwood made students feel anxious about social situations and that Snap Map added to this anxiety because it meant students could see what more people were doing, leading to increased FOMO.

“[Experiencing feelings of FOMO] doesn’t even have to do with whether you really want to be doing what other people are doing—it’s more that you’re just not invited, or you’re not there. That’s what makes people anxious. Snap Map basically feeds that anxiety because it makes [the viewer] so aware of what everybody else is doing,” Johnson said.

Greenberg also noticed how social media in general can influence teens’ desire to fit in – meaning Snap Map likely exacerbates this desire even more.

“Needing to be liked and accepted is a very normal desire for anyone, especially in high school when [teenagers] are trying

to learn their self-identity and how to be a part of a group, [as well as] learning where they fit in that group. Not being invited may somehow make [teens] feel like they are accepted less,” Greenberg said. “Fear of missing out can make teens feel more self-conscious and it can lower their self-esteem. If [teens] feel like they are not being invited, they can start to have negative thoughts about themselves. These negative thoughts can alter their behaviors and they might feel more self-conscious, [possibly leading them] to reach out less.”

A commonly used feature on Snap Map is choosing who can view your location. Users have the option to set their location to ghost mode (where their location is off for everyone), select certain friends to see where they are, or turn their location on for everyone they have added on the app. While monitoring who can view one’s location can increase a teens’ safety, Greenberg notes that limiting who has your location can sometimes intentionally cause harm.

“There [are] a lot of situations where [choosing who can and can’t see your location] can be misused. For example, if somebody just broke up with someone, and they want to make them feel hurt. They want to show that other person that they were with a bunch of people, and that they were happy and fine. If somebody is using it as a way to get back at somebody [else], this can be hurtful in a way for people that creates anxiety and depression,” Greenberg said.

Another way this can be intensified is through Snapchat Premium, a subscriptionbased upgrade to Snapchat that was released June 2022 and allows users to pay $3.99 a month to have access to exclusive features. Senior Chase Cordova has Snapchat Premium and has seen the difference in the ways it can be used.

“If you click on anyone who has [their] Snap Map on, you can see [exactly] where they’ve gone for the past 24 hours,” Cordova said.

The location-sharing upgrade and other aspects of Snapchat Premium could change teenagers’ social life in high school by giving them more information.

“With the new updates, it kind of keeps on getting crazier and crazier. [For

example,] if you press on a group, you can get directions to where they are. It’ll give you driving location [and] walking location. I think that is a really scary feature. It also could add to the FOMO or [even] the stalking part of it,” Cordova said.

Johnson had similar thoughts about Snapchat Premium when she first heard about it.

“I think that sounds like hell. … [Snapchat Premium] is basically doing the stalking for you,” Johnson said.

Scary as it is, Snap Map has a prominent place in Redwood’s own community: 53 percent of students check their Snap Maps at least once each day, according to a March 2023 Bark survey. Students use it in various ways, from looking to see who is around them to checking who is with big groups of people. According to freshman Nina Erwig, many people allot chunks of time to scrutinize Snap Map everyday.

“I check Snap Maps whenever I’m bored; I probably check it around seven times a day. … I look to see if certain locations are full of people, or if there are big groups of people together [and] who’s in them,” Erwig said. “Usually when I’m going to certain places, I will turn my location off if I don’t want people to know I’m there. If I know that a bigger group is there, I’ll turn my location off so people know I’m not associated with them. If I’m with my friends, usually if one person turns [their location] off, everyone will turn it off. It’s really calculated.”

Over 250 million people use Snapchat each month. The app has reached multiple millions of people and has been around for over 10 years. That impact alone is vast and immeasurable – add in Snap Map, and Snapchat becomes even more evasive, almost alarmingly so, in society, especially among teenagers. Johnson touched on how that was changing Generation Z’s relationships and mental health.

“[Snap Map] causes conflict between our generation because we’re able to really see everything everyone else is doing. And so it can make people feel jealous or left out or have their feelings hurt,” Johnson said.

Many teenagers are aware of all of these issues, and still choose to use Snapchat every single day. They use Snap Map to see where their friends, crushes and even enemies are at any time. Knowing all this information gives teenagers power, but can also cause harm that is still being unraveled today.

bark@redwoodbark.org

Nowhere is this impact more pronounced than in the lives of high school aged adolescents, who spend a daily average of eight hours and 39 minutes on screens, much of it on social media. Having increased by 17 percent from 2019 to 2021, the duration of screen time usage by teenagers is rapidly expanding — even as an increasing number of studies find that social media has major risks.

Adding to this research was a recently released report

That sounds like hell. ... [Snapchat Premium] is basically doing the stalking for you.

Margot Johnson, alumna

interactions: A new social media reality

by the Center for Disease Control, which found that among teenage girls, “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” increased by 60 percent from 2011 to 2021.

The timing of this marked change points to a potential culprit. The popular social media app Snapchat was released in 2011; today, it is used by 59 percent of teenagers. Likewise, according to the Pew Research Center, rates of Instagram use amongst teenagers have risen from 52 percent in 2015 to 62 percent in 2022.

With the ongoing rise of social media, this correlation is of growing concern. To examine this evolving issue, the Bark explores the effect of a uniquely impactful social media platform, SnapChat, and, generally, how social media affects everyone’s interactions.

Pixelated communications in an era of

By Lili Hakimi

Originally introduced in 1975 by Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese, the Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT) explained a “theoretical perspective for dealing with the initial entry stage of interpersonal interaction.”

According to the URT, people gather information in three ways: passive, active and interactive strategies. An example of a passive strategy could be observing someone from a distance, an example of an active strategy could be googling someone and an interactive strategy could be a faceto-face interaction where basic information is exchanged, thus, reducing uncertainty.

The URT implies that humans are uncomfortable with uncertainty and that we actively try to reduce uncertainty when meeting new people. By attempting to predict the trajectory of an interaction, we begin to warm up to the other person and feel more comfortable around them.

Uncertainty reduction occurs during the initial stages of interaction, but over the past several years, technology has altered how we attempt to reduce skepticism about people we don’t know. Due to social media, the way we form new social relationships and maintain current ones has changed enormously. Social media has forced our brains to engage in an entirely new mode of communication, one that we weren’t designed for.

Platforms like Facebook and Instagram embody the URT by encouraging users to share a lot of personal information.

Social media invites users to interact with people they don’t know. This normally results in people being more direct and disclosing more information about themselves since they have a screen to hide behind.

Dr. Allan Gold, has worked at Del Mar Middle School for 47 years and has a doctoral degree in educational psychology, has observed a change in kids’ interactions, specifically how kids’ relationships have altered as a result of social media.

“[Kids] use social media as a tool

for creating relationships, and it is not just an in-person relationship anymore. Kids will have contact with people on the other side of the country or [other] countries. There is a vulnerability there. But you also don’t have to interact with people on a daily basis. Does it mean there is an advantage? Is it necessarily bad to have a friend across the country? Probably not. But it [begs the question]: is it a friendship because you only have one kind of interaction with them?” Gold said.

we see the full human being.

“You empathize or sympathize at the very least on a much different level. [Social media] has not caused more conflict, but it has diminished the desire to work towards conflict resolution,” Steinberg said.

According to Steinberg, social media impacts our interactions with ourselves, especially when it comes to the younger generation.

Are they friendships if you only have one kind

Allan Gold, educational psychologist

For Rabbi Paul Steinberg, who has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a doctoral degree in education, he believes that social media has limited the effort we put into forming relationships.

“[Social media] has short-changed the deep work of real relationship building. In other words, when you have [in-person] conversations, you have to look people in the eye and you don’t have a limited number of words. There is feedback you get from people that is not merely written. Facial expressions, the sound of somebody’s voice, how somebody says something, all of those things are really important forms of human communication,” Steinberg said.

Both Gold and Steinberg have observed social media’s impact on conflict and conflict resolution, primarily due to misinterpretation of content and a lack of impulse control.

“You are communicating without social-emotional feedback when you are just looking at [someone’s] words or pictures. It is easier to objectify [someone], dehumanize [someone], become more volatile, raise the stakes of conflict and be more comfortable settling into conflict,” Steinberg said.

With in-person disputes, Steinberg says

“There is a certain trauma [Generation Z] has experienced because of the heightened issues around conflict, bullying, body shaming, political divisiveness and [fear of missing out due to social media.] …

It’s a question for [Generation Z] as to whether the generation is going to have some of the coping skills, resilience and grit,” Steinberg said. “[When kids go off to college], all of a sudden they are on their own, and for the first time, they get a bad grade or their boyfriend breaks up with them, and they are in the nurse’s office because they physically can’t handle the emotions they’re having. Social media contributed to this because some of the social-emotional development has not been as full-throated.”

When it comes to mitigating the effects of social media, Gold says that schools have a big responsibility.

“It used to be less than 10 years ago that if there was an incident that happened online outside of school we would say ‘Oh well it’s not at school, so we can’t do anything about it.’ That’s changed because [social media] has so much impact on kids’ feelings at school. I feel a responsibility to tackle it,” Gold said.

Steinberg notes the immense impact of social media and technology over such a short amount of time, given that historical trends usually take hundreds of years to establish permanent advancements in society.

“2007 was when the iPhone was created. It’s only been in existence for 16 years and has changed everything,” Steinberg said. “Steve Jobs said it was going to change the world. He was right.” lhakimi@redwoodbark.org

[Social media] has short-changed the deep work of real relationship building.

Paul Steinberg, psychology degree holder

of interaction?

Illustrations by Carsen Goltz and Calla McBride

mmarotto@redwoodbark.org

Privilege and prisons: Looking into rehabilitation

By Stella Bennett and Dani Steinberg

Located over the hills in San Rafael, Marin’s juvenile hall is home to a maximum of 190 detained youth in the county at a time. Juvenile detention and rehabilitation is an alternative to the Marin County Jail for residents under the age of 18 and is a large system with multiple steps that work towards preventing and educating troubled youths who have committed illegal actions. According to a March 2023 Bark survey, 50 percent of students have not been educated on juvenile detention in Marin, showing that this complex organization needs more attention.

The Juvenile Justice System in Marin

Within the courtroom of Judge Beverly Wood, an integral component of Marin’s juvenile justice system shapes the futures of minors. Although often overlooked, this stage in Marin’s juvenile justice system manages incarceration, which has a rate of 2.1 minors for every 1,000 — only 0.6 lower than the state average.

Beyond the courtroom, Marin has adopted a highly individualized rehabilitation system. As a juvenile, minors go to a hearing with a presiding judge, who will decide the consequences. Judge Wood, who has been on the bench for 13 years, is one of these judges and specializes in Marin youth cases. She outlined the multiple levels of rehabilitation Marin offers from divergence — making a plan with the court to live a law-abiding life — to detention centers.

“I have to pick each case individually; I can’t cookie-cutter kids,” Wood said. “Each kid is addressed individually. You always start with the lowest level, and if that doesn’t work, you step it up.”

Along with divergence and juvenile hall, Wood states that other potential rehabilitation methods include becoming a ward of the court (formal probation), community service, enhanced education and/or mental health mentoring. In Marin, Wood acknowledged that the most common cases are drug-related, but even then, there is not a strict regimen to follow.

“Substance abuse is not a straight line, and some of these kids have serious issues; maybe they have had a lot of trauma in their life or predisposition to substance abuse,” Wood said.

Although substance abuse is viewed as a less severe misdemeanor from the court, with repercussions ranging from probation

such as juvenile hall.

Doubts surrounding the juvenile hall system and its prison-like environment spurred a 2020 announcement by Governor Gavin Newsom of the closure of four youth halls by June 2023, and alternatives — such as camps or minimally restrictive centers — should be arranged. However, Wood claims that these juvenile centers are established for valid reasons.

“There are some very dangerous [kids] out there. One of the things the judicial system has to look at is community safety. … Juvenile hall is secure for a reason,” Wood said. “The idea is you keep [youth] in this secure facility to rehabilitate with the hope that, when they’re done, they can be safe [in the community].”

Additionally, these secure facilities are organized to protect minors from dangerous situations. Each case has different severities which illustrate why the whole system cannot just be dismissed. Although Marin’s juvenile system has made efforts to deal with individual cases, many believe reforms are still necessary.

Alternative: Youth Transforming Justice

Don Carney is the founder of the Youth Transforming Justice (YTJ) program in Marin, previously known as Youth Court, and a participant in the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission in Marin. Through YTJ, Carney offers minors in Marin an alternative to spending time in juvenile hall.

Rather than appearing before a judge, minors who have admitted to smaller crimes — oftentimes involving possession of drugs or alcohol — meet with a group of peers. During this meeting, student volunteers ask the minor specific questions regarding their incident and their life. From the answers the youth provides, the peers are then able to suggest a community service mandate. Once the minor successfully meets the hours and completes a few additional steps, their infraction is removed from their record.

“We are not playing law and order; we are not mimicking the legal system. What we are doing is providing a structure for young people who are troubled, to get support from other young people,” Carney said.

Former Redwood student Aidan Reese went through the Youth Court process after a minor incident with local police. Reese experienced the effectiveness of YTJ and continued to volunteer his time after his allotted community service hours were

“The main goals are primarily to give young people a second chance. The goal is to do restorative justice rather than punitive justice. The focus is on more, ‘Why did you commit these crimes? How could you do something different in the

To fully complete the YTJ program, the minor must attend and participate in their hearing which also involves the minors’ guardians. The minor will then continue attending hearings, volunteer with the organization and complete any other individualized steps to

With a 95 percent completion rate and a largely guided process, the majority of kids who enter the program do not relapse, resulting in a recidivism rate of only six

Before beginning the transformative justice program, Carney worked at a Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)

focusing on support work for minors who were on probation. During this time, Carney realized that the zero tolerance policy — which automatically expel or suspend students who take part in specific actions, such as smoking at school, regardless of the context or rationale for that behavior — in Marin schools was the main factor causing an overflow of young students into the probation department.

“I had middle schoolers being expelled for dumb s**t and being put in [the juvenile hall] population with some very sophisticated kids who had long criminal histories. … It was disastrous,” Carney said.

In 2004, Carney began YTJ with his YMCA and group home experience in mind, working to create a program that prevented the issues he observed.

“When we started Youth Court, juvenile hall [in Marin] had about 45 beds and generally it was full. Today, the juvenile hall has about six to eight kids in it regularly,” Carney said.

Carney has put immense work into this program which Reese appreciates, recognizing the importance of keeping youth out of the system.

“Making sure that people don’t get caught up in the criminal justice system at a young age [is another goal of YTJ] because … that’s something that can be a really bad cycle,” Reese said. “The goal is to … give [minors] a chance to make the right decisions when they’re younger, and not let the one time they break a rule or make a mistake define them for the rest of their life.”

Missouri Model

The Missouri Model is an alternative method to juvenile detention, which utilizes therapeutic and rehabilitative methods to ensure youths make positive and permanent behavioral changes.

These methods have entered the Bay Area over the past decade, with the Santa Clara juvenile system now including home-style facilities, individualized treatment and family involvement throughout the treatment. These reforms in Santa Clara generated an immediate increase in successful transitions into new communities and a decrease in violence within juvenile facilities.

Social studies and street law teacher Jon Hirsch is familiar with Marin’s juvenile rehabilitation system through his work to help former juvenile hall inmates, and has noticed some of its flaws.

“When you get to a place where there’s a serious offender or someone who doesn’t have a support structure at home, they are lumped together in a way where I worry that they don’t have the kinds of positive role models and influences that they need,” Hirsch said.

When thinking about ways to resolve such issues, Hirsch is an advocate for implementing the Missouri Model in the juvenile hall system countywide.

“The Missouri Model of juvenile justice is something that more states are starting to adopt because of its focus on small groups. Kids are less likely to get lost in the shuffle [with] small groups that are close to home [compared to larger juvenile centers]. [Minors] can have a feeling of community connection, which is extremely important,” Hirsch said.

Implementing programs similar to the Missouri Model in Marin, as partially seen in the YTJ, could be an effective option for reform to the system in an individualized and educational way.

Project Avary

Multiple systems, such as YTJ, have developed ways to reshape youth to stop them from recommitting crimes. However,

they

work with kids who have already participated in illegal activities. Project Avary, a program based in the Bay Area, works to stop the cycle of incarceration by supporting children with incarcerated parents. Natasha Blakely works as an outreach coordinator for Project Avary and recalled how the organization began, dating back to the 90s. “[Project Avary] started back in 1999 by a chaplain who worked at San Quentin. He saw youth coming in to visit their incarcerated loved ones, and over time, he started to see those same youth being incarcerated themselves,” Blakely said.

Since the program began, it has greatly expanded and works to fight for its simple but crucial objectives.

“[Our initiative is] important because there are so many programs for those who have been incarcerated but usually, the youth don’t have any programs to get the assistance that they need with what they go through,” Blakely said. “A lot of times [minors with incarcerated loved ones] use that stigma to suffer in silence and feel shame for the crimes that their loved ones committed.”

Initially, the program held in-person camps for youth, but moved online due to COVID-19. Although this was a major shift, the company still works to break these stigmas in the minds of youths.

“Project Avary helps [youths] to see that they are not their parents’ mistakes, and they become anything they want. … All of these different activities expose them to so many different things in the world [than] what they’ve experienced at home,” Blakely said.

With firsthand experience, Blakely has learned the importance of growing and finds that healing is rooted in having fun. Project Avary implements this idea in their activities — such as rock climbing, snowboarding and hiking — and works to help kids improve their health and gain confidence while having fun.

“[Having fun] builds community and stronger bonds while providing a place for [youth] to share their experiences, creating a safe zone. We have what’s called ‘real talk,’ where [the kids] can share their experiences judgment free … Sometimes sensitive topics come up, and we can work with them and make moves according to the situation,” Blakely said.

From YTJ to the Missouri Model to Project Avary, initiatives around the world are expanding to help new generations stay out of the system and escape the incarceration cycle. Although Marin’s juvenile justice system prides itself on being progressive, it is important to acknowledge areas of growth and improvement as society continues to change and new obstacles arise.

Illustration by Carsen Goltz

Coasts divided over AP African American Studies

Redwood sees opportunity while Florida censors the new college-level course

By Chloe Bishop

Not even four months in, 2023 has been filled with political turmoil. As politicians from the left battle for gun reform, conservative politicians have focused on an entirely different debate in the classroom.

Following its first semester of testing in the U.S., Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has threatened to ban the Advanced Placement African American Studies (APAAS) curriculum statewide due to its “woke indoctrination of students.”

Just a few days later, the College Board released a unit-by-unit breakdown of the updated APAAS course, excluding many of the “controversial” and modern topics it originally incorporated. Contemporary aspects of the curriculum, such as lessons that cover Black Lives Matter and Black Queer Studies, were omitted.

Some of these topics considered more “woke” were offered as optional areas of study for an end-of-course research project. Despite its release timeline, the College Board claims these adjustments were not made in response to Governor DeSantis but rather their independent doing.

Sara Adams, a Florida resident and high school senior, finds that despite overwhelming right-wing attitudes in the government, most state residents she knows do not support the curriculum changes.

“What started this was [the debate over] critical race theory a couple of years ago, [and] then the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill got passed, which was more of DeSantis pushing his agenda onto schools. Now with APAAS, it just seems that [DeSantis] is in a position of power where, if someone tries to defy his point of view, his automatic decision is to ban it,” Adams said.

Although Adams plans to attend college out of state to avoid educational restrictions, she worries about the students behind her.

“In Florida, they’re already getting rid of teaching [about] the Trail of Tears. Segregation and most of the Civil War is just taught as states’ rights versus federal rights. [And now] you’re only going to be able to learn about certain people. You can maybe learn about Martin Luther King Jr., but you’ll never be able to learn about a figure like Malcolm X,” Adams said. “I [also] don’t think it just affects Black issues. It affects all issues like Native American [removal] or the treatment of Japanese Americans in World War II. Anything that contradicts white people and or makes white people

To avoid revisionist teaching, Redwood Government and AP U.S. History teacher Lindsey Kornfeld feels the updated outline released by College Board was unjustly

“As a teacher, it’s my job to tell people what happened, and if what happened makes people uncomfortable, then shouldn’t we learn about it more?”

Kornfeld said.

“Someone in one of my government classes said something like, ‘Why only learn the good parts about your country? If you truly love it, you need to fix the parts that are bad,’ and that was a perfect way to put into words how I feel.”

Further, for Kornfeld, a high school education is about more than facts and memorization — it is about the skills

one builds by cooperating and engaging with others in a learning environment, particularly in the debatable topics that the College Board excluded from the updated version of the APAAS course outline.

“If we [want students to have] an understanding of how to be a productive, forward-moving citizen, we need a wellrounded view of what actually happened,” Kornfeld said. “If you walk out of a school without that, how does the country continue to move forward and make progress?”

Kornfeld disputes Governor DeSantis’ allegations that the curriculum has any intentional malice and sees numerous benefits to the program, one of which being its research component.

Unlike most other AP history courses, the APAAS score from the College Board consists of both a 1200-1500-word research paper regarding a student’s topic of choice relating to the course as well as a sit-down exam with 60 multiple choice questions and four free-response questions. The framework gives a variety of topics to research such as Black conservatism and the legacy of redlining.

“There is no reason this [curriculum] should be controversial. This is a factual history class, and these are things that actually happened. What the Florida Governor is afraid of is white kids feeling like they’re at fault for this, but that’s not how the College Board has it written. It’s written like AP U.S. History, [but] it gives you topics that you wouldn’t [normally] be inclined to write about or to teach about if you were in a school that was less open to these ideas,” Kornfeld said.

At a district level, Kornfeld understands there is a push to further diversity in curriculum, and she acknowledges that adopting APAAS could be an important step towards that goal. Redwood Assistant Principal and AP Coordinator Lisa Kemp shares a similar view about the future implementation of APAAS topics. For a new AP course to be approved, the proposal must go through the Curriculum Council and the District Board.

“We’re not Florida. This course would not be rejected because of the content,” Kemp said. “In fact, one of the things that would support its adoption is that, as of the 2025-2026 school year, the freshman curriculum will be Ethnic Studies instead of World Cultures and Social Issues to comply with a state mandate. … It’d be cool for upperclassmen to revisit some of those concepts they get introduced to in freshman year in Ethnic Studies and dive deeper than the [introductory] course would offer.”

However, the District Board is typically skeptical about funding new electives without confirmation that students are eager to enroll, which Kemp believes could go either way. She finds more students enroll in AP science or math courses than in AP social studies courses but acknowledges the allure of the unique specificity of APAAS.

Kornfeld also considers the distinctiveness of the course a positive attribute. “There’s always value in adopting something that’s focused. If we’re looking at the history department as a whole, minus our electives, they’re broad-spectrum courses, so you’re not diving into African American movements in the same way,” Kornfeld said. “There’s always value in more learning.”

cbishop@redwoodbark.org

We’re not Florida. This course would not be rejected because of the content.

Lisa Kemp, assistant principal

Illustrations by Calla McBride

A guide to the best picture nominees from the Oscars

By Claire Silva

“Top Gun: Maverick” 4/5

In 1986, Tony Scott blew everyone away with the iconic “Top Gun,” starring Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. Nearly 40 years later, Cruise and Kilmer returned to dominate “Top Gun: Maverick,” which catches up with Cruise’s character Maverick, who is now a test pilot for the Navy after being an aviator for 30 years and ends up training the flight school’s most skilled graduates.

The beauty of “Top Gun: Maverick” lies between the similarities and differences with its derivative. The 2022 version obviously has a more immersive action experience — there is rarely a dull moment when flying. The film would be a masterpiece on its own, but when its relation to the original “Top Gun” is considered, the movie becomes magical. Maverick’s heartfelt moments with Iceman (Kilmer) perfectly draw attention to their past without labeling the recent movie as just a sequel. Watching “Top Gun: Maverick” just felt good — that’s the easiest way to put it.

“Women Talking” 4.5/5

Evidently, “Women Talking” is not an incredibly complicated premise or even title. However, its simplicity is its beauty. The women of a rural, religious colony meet to discuss the sexual abuse they endured for years. The survivors must decide whether to stay and fight or leave before the men of the colony return.

In “Women Talking,” each individual’s process of healing and clarification is delicately conveyed through conversation and connection to each other. The dedication to healing is what makes the movie so noteworthy. Yet, it may be the reason some have trouble connecting with this film. It’s been called “flat,” “dull” and “whiny,” according to Google Reviews. In “Women Talking,” the suffering is assumed and the reaction is described, a component that tends to be the critics’ least favorite part.

So, if you want to see an action movie consisting of abuse and trauma then skip “Women Talking.” But if you want to be guided through the minds of incredibly wise, yet repressed women, give it a try.

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” 4.5/5

Never before have everything bagels and taxes played such large roles in an Oscar-nominated film. They do, however, play a large role in many people’s everyday lives, including protagonist Evelyn Wang’s (Michelle Yeoh). Wang is a Chinese immigrant and mother who is summoned into the multiverse to save everything, everywhere from the evil Jobu Tupaki. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is absurd and humorous, while somehow remaining philosophical.

Wang battles seemingly every person she’s encountered while amidst her journey through dimensions, which opens her eyes to the decisions she’s made. The film uses the multidimensional factor to convey the message of the importance of appreciation of who you are and who you

love. The film generally accomplishes this — some scenes, especially in the latter half, are chill-evoking and may drag tears from a viewer’s eyes. Unfortunately, some of the heartfelt scenes get lost in the absurdity. If creators Daniel Kwan and Daniel Schenairt had thoroughly integrated more meaningful moments into ridiculousness or focused on the existing meaningful moments, the film may have landed better. That said, it would be nothing without its humor. Even those who are hesitant to embark on a journey as unfamiliar as this should at least sit down and have a little fun.

“The Banshees of Inisherin” 4/5

The value of kindness is oftentimes not conveyed through the friendship of two middle-aged Irish men. Pádraic Súilleabhá (Colin Farrell) is devastated when his best friend, Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson), decides to abandon their friendship one day due to Súilleabhá’s “dullness.” The film is a dialectic of the emotional repression that occurs when a friend gets bored with another friend.

There is nothing especially miraculous about this movie’s premise, which explains its four (fingers) out of five rating. The plot isn’t particularly thrilling or philosophical. Yet, for some reason, it’s still engaging for most. Despite its sorrowful story, most scenes carry a sliver of humor. Both Farrell’s acting and eyebrows are also notable while the beauty of Ireland keeps viewers’ eyes stuck to the screen. And, the film’s lack of an inventive plot doesn’t mean it’s uneventful. Entertainment is not scarce as the plot becomes more and more surprising. “The Banshees of Inisherin” won’t be the most mind-tripping or actionpacked movie you’ll watch this awards season, but it very possibly could be your favorite.

of the upper class is entertaining, but unfortunately not funny enough to get one through the nearly 2 and a half hour-long film. “Triangle of Sadness” is a fun way to spend an evening, as long as you bring a barf bag.

“The Fabelmans” 5/5

Making a movie about making movies is a bold choice. Luckily, Steven Spielberg has the ability and right to do so. “The Fabelmans” is a coming-of-age story inspired by Spielberg’s childhood that follows Sammy Fabelman, who uses filmmaking to understand and tell the stories of the people around him.

Critics of “The Fabelmans” claim that Spielberg is coasting on his reputation. Sure, the movie may not have been as successful if it wasn’t followed by the Spielberg name. Yet, the relationship between protagonist Sammy and Spielberg is truly insignificant. And, it does not take away from the movie’s awe. It’s cheesy and full of motivational quotes yearning to be repeated by viewers. But I truly enjoyed every second.

“Elvis” 4/5

guilty of anything. By the movie’s end, one may be convinced that Blanchett was a former conductor reincarcerated into an actor. Yet, “Tár” is not much more than a good performance. The story isn’t thought-provoking and does not make for a spectacular viewing.

“All Quiet on the Western Front” 3/5

“All Quiet on the Western Front” follows Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) as he enlists in World War I for the Germans and discovers the true trenches of war. Bäumer enters the war hopeful to emerge a hero but becomes devastated as he uncovers what it really means to be immersed in war. In general, “All Quiet on the Western Front” is well done. It’s beautifully written and shot. Kammerer delivers a moving performance — his acting phenomenally conveys the crossroads of guilt and determination.

While the film is impressively filmed, it falls short when delivering its message. Because “All Quiet on the Western Front” is based on an anti-war book from the 1920s, its effect has lessened. During the book’s time, media containing war material was rare, resulting in a jarred reaction from the audience. Now, because war is much more understood and accessible, war media doesn’t have the same effect. To be truly meaningful, war movies must do more than be well-made. Unfortunately, “All Quiet on the Western Front” does not do more — besides its cast and cinematography, the film is not particularly special.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” 3.5/5

“Triangle

of Sadness” 3/5

“Triangle of Sadness,” directed by Ruben Östlund, illustrates what happens when a social hierarchy is flipped upside down. The film follows the relationship between influencers Yaya (Charlbi Dean Kriek) and Carl (Harris Dickinson) in a threepart structure. In part one, the audience is introduced to the shallowness that lies beneath the typical celebrity relationship. Parts two and three allow watchers to follow Carl and Yaya onto a luxury cruise filled with socialites and the uber-rich which, expectedly, leads to disaster.

Three very different words can be used to summarize “Triangle of Sadness:” fun, nausea and classism. The first part presents the audience with a glimpse into a world most are excluded from. Most find people who are out-of-touch entertaining. Both the fun and the throwing up begin in the next section. The ridiculousness of two dozen millionaires being trapped in each other’s craze allows for quite a few laughs. The most comical scene is 30 minutes of the guests flailing amidst their seasickness.

Östlund mastered the combination of comedy and social commentary in his movie. The constant diminishing

Austin Butler’s portrayal of Elvis may go down in history as one of the most convincing performances of all time, and for good reason. This biopic illustrates the story of Elvis Presley and follows him through his astronomical career. Whether you’re an Elvis fanatic or someone who enjoys good music, “Elvis” is worth watching. Director Baz Luhrmann excels in creating a film that successfully transforms time. Hair, music and setting usher the audience back to the 50s and 60s. Butler adds to this with his voice and stage presence, which are both perfect replications of Elvis, explaining the connection many viewers have felt with the film.

However, that connection may begin to fade when nearing the end of the twoand-a-half-hour film. “Elvis” is overstuffed with subplots and when a musical number occurs you might feel thankful that an elongated scene of dialog has concluded. Despite its length, “Elvis” is a necessary watch.

“Tár” 3.5/5

“Tár” follows Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett), a well-known composerconductor as she works to elevate her career using the Berlin Symphony and receives reputation-damaging backlash about her personal life. Tár leans on her family while navigating the difficulties presented as a societal figure.

“Tár’s” strongest appeal is Blanchett’s acting. In addition to conducting an orchestra, she can conduct a screen. She maintains a stern expression that only turns playful with her daughter, Petra (Mila Bogojevic), and her music. She has mastered the look of guilt while actively trying to deny she could ever be

Those who loved the original “Avatar” will love the new one. It jumps back into the life of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoë Saldana) and their family in Pandora, following Jake as he fights against the threat of the humans. Watching the children developing similarities to their parents encourages the nostalgic tone present throughout the film. As expected, the technology and visual effects used are spectacular and enhance the watching experience, regardless of the storyline.

Those who only liked the original “Avatar” may be less likely to thoroughly enjoy its sequel. Despite its pockets of reminiscence and visually enthralling techniques, it’s difficult to ignore its length. Its duration, three hours and 12 minutes, taints the worthiness that lies within the plot. It seems like director James Cameron chose to ignore that entertainment and attachment to a storyline are irrelevant if the audience has to constantly pinch themselves to stay awake. Yet, those who are invested in what happens to Jake and Neytiri may be able to forgive its length and remain determined to absorb all “Avatar” material possible.

Make sure to add more movies to your repertoire by watching “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and more from the 2023 Oscars list.

“EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL at Once” sweeps the Oscars with seven wins.

Image courtesy of A24 Studios

Illustration by Carsen Goltz

Places for prom attire: Affordability, uniqueness, quality

By Natalie

Even though prom may seem far away, it is never too early to begin the search for the perfect prom dress or tux. While the options seem endless, there are few places that take into account affordability, uniqueness and quality. It is a struggle to track down spots that check all three of those boxes, however after a long search, I have found the top shops for this prom season.

Welch as low as $60. Bipty also carries a wide range of styles and constantly releases new dresses for rent. While you may not be able to hold onto the dress forever, it is a sustainable and cost-conscious way to wear the dress of your dreams.

Meshki

Meshki, an online boutique finds a way to create luxury dresses without an alarmingly high price tag. They are known for their classy and elegant style and manage to maintain exceptional quality

Louis Thomas Fine Men’s Apparel

nwelch@redwoodbark.org

Illustrations by Calla McBride

Satire: How to choose the college of your dreams

By Anna Royal

Congratulations, Class of 2023! It is finally that time of year when colleges make

decisions. You may be wondering which factors to consider when deciding from the colleges that have accepted you. Rather than focusing on the boring aspects about college that everyone else focuses on — tuition, majors and programs — think about the widely overlooked factors in a school that will lead you to true happiness

You may have heard your local real estate agent praise this phrase, and for good reason. When considering your college, it is important to consider your hobbies and preferred climate. Having acclimated to Marin weather and habits for the past couple years, strike off any colleges that do not offer beach access or a nearby ski resort, yacht club or country club (bonus for a golf course!). Anywhere with an average temperature below 70 degrees may lead to seasonal depression, so it’s best to stick to colleges in the warmer parts of the country — pretty much California

Remember, Greek life is the key to your social life! A school with weak Greek life is never the right choice. Choose colleges at the top of the best Greek life rankings such as Florida State University, University of Alabama, University of Georgia or really anywhere in the South. You spend 75 percent of your time at college outside of the classroom; make sure you can spend that time wisely at a good fraternity or sorority at

Food

Coming from the Bay Area, food should be a high priority on your list when considering a college. Continuing Marin’s organic, non-GMO diet is essential for good health while away at college. Ensure the dining hall food is edible and held to a high standard before saying yes to the college. More importantly, consider the restaurants and cafés on campus; colleges without Chick-fil-A or Starbucks should be low on your list.

Campus aesthetic

What do the dorms, buildings and bathrooms look like? You’ll want to make sure your home for the next four years is luxurious and pristine. Marble bathrooms, dorms with hardwood flooring and buildings out of a 16th century European city are typically a good standard to look for. A good question to ask is, “Would I post a picture of myself here on Instagram?” If not, the campus may be too ugly and will not be a sustainable living option. Also, nice amenities such as newly updated saunas, gyms, pools and study areas are some of the most important factors in picking a college. As a Marinite, these everyday activities are essentials one simply cannot live without!

Sports

If it’s not DI, it’s not the one for you. Excellent sports teams are the only way a school can have good spirit. Football and basketball games are prime parts of the college experience; without these sports you’ll have a depressing, miserable four years. Consider the mascot — is it intimidating enough, or is it an embarrassing rodent? Sorry, but schools with an orange, slug, tree, bee, anteater, a big red blob (sorry Western Kentucky University) or any type of vegetable (looking at you, Delta State) as their mascot simply won’t cut it. Additionally,

consider the school colors you’ll be decked out in for four years. Do you look good in blue or red? Perhaps, purple or orange? Remember, if the school colors wash you out or clash with your skin or eye coloring, do not attend!

Status Symbol

Is your school wealthy and glamorous enough to be considered a status symbol? This is an important question to ask yourself, especially after living in Marin. A fantastic example of this is the University of Southern California (USC). Complete with an on-campus Lululemon pop-up, juice bar, yoga studio and designer products for sale at their bookstore, USC is the Monte Carlo of universities, a reputation your future college should share. It’ll be like you never left Marin, because why would you ever want to leave? The student body at USC is also a notable feature that one should strive for in whichever college they choose. Inspirational athletes such as the influential Olivia Jade are the wonderful, honest types of students you will discover at these high-status symbol schools. The connections you will be able to make with the large number of social media influencers attending these schools is an invaluable opportunity that will take you far in whichever career path you choose and provide you with true friendships!

In sum, it is important to consider all six of these factors before hitting send on your commitment to a college. Remember, the rest of your life, future successes and happiness depends on these six factors, so choose wisely applicants. Good luck with college decision season, seniors!

Illustration by Carsen Goltz

You will like these mochi donuts a ‘hole’ lot

Story and Photos by Coco Boyden

Deep in the heart of Japantown lies a small food stand painted white, with accents of gold that make Mochills’ logo pop. Here you can find some of the best mochi donuts in the Bay Area. Mochill, located in the Japan Center Malls on Post street, features new flavors every week. They describe mochi donuts on their website as, “chewy treats made from rice flour [that have] more texture and are lighter than traditional American donuts,” and the description does not fall short. A box of six donuts is $18 and a box of 12 costs $32. The donuts are shaped like rings, with each one containing eight identical spheres of dough and their own unique toppings to match their respective flavors. Though it may seem like a trek, these donuts are most definitely worth the trip.

Fruity Pebbles: 9/10

Peering through the glass at the many flavor options, the Fruity Pebbles donut immediately caught my eye. Its array of

rainbow-colored flakes on top of a white glaze made it stand out from the rest. My mouth bursted with flavors as I took my first bite. Clearly outshining a dull bowl of Fruity Pebbles, the donut exceeded because of its crunch, fluff and smooth texture.

Brownie Crumble: 10/10

Even for those whose first choice isn’t chocolate, Mochill perfectly executed this brownie wonder. Brownies’ wide appeal and appreciation cater to most people; meaning this flavor is hugely popular. The crumbled chunks of rich chocolate brownie sitting on top of the donut complemented the donut perfectly.

Cinnamon Sugar: 6/10

Unfortanately, the Cinnamon Sugar doughnut did not exceed expectations like the rest. The flavoring of the cinnamon was not nearly where it needed to be and it left my mouth feeling sandy as it was coated in overpowering sugar. If you consider yourself a churro lover then this is definitely a flavor worth trying, however, if you are not, there are many other options

on the menu that will better suit your tastebuds. Despite feeling a bit let down, this doughnut was still enjoyable.

Black Sesame: 5/10

I was not the biggest fan. There was not enough flavor and it tasted more like a bagel than a doughnut. Consistency was pure and reliable but, I wish I chose matcha as my sixth donut to try out for this week’s flavors. The donut’s divergence from the sweet theme was intriguing, but overall was a letdown.

Strawberry: 8/10

This was the most out-of-pocket donut I have ever had. It really was such a surprise eating this. Going into it, I didn’t know what to expect. As I was mid-first bite, the first thing that popped into my mind was “flavor bomb.” A sharp tang of dominant strawberry spiked my interest and hooked me in for more. It wasn’t too “strawberry” and had a skillful amount of crunch to it.

Cookies N’ Cream: 10/10

Impeccable. Truly beyond comparison.

There was a perfect yet subtle amount of Oreo flavoring and the crunch of the Oreo topping made it all the more enjoyable. Additionally, the glossy frosting flawlessly mimicked the famous Oreo cream. Your taste buds will burst and leave you begging for more. If you’re looking to save this for later after having a couple of bites, don’t bother. It’s too irresistible.

These mochi donuts give a muchneeded, new perspective to the world of desserts. As each donut bursts with unique flavors, there’s no chance that anyone will grow bored of this treat. Whether you like sweet or savory desserts, there is no doubt that everyone will find a flavor they can enjoy. Not only are these delicious confections enjoyable to eat alone, but also to share with friends and family, as they are easy to split and meant to be enjoyed by the dozen.

cboyden@redwoodbark.org

Juice and Jamaican food: New ferry building eats

Story and Photos by Gabriella Rouas

The energy, movement and mouthwatering scents floating through the San Francisco Ferry Building give an exciting assurance about what awaits your taste buds. The food stalls and restaurants swarmed by hungry commuters or fascinated travelers are bound to produce tasty and interesting products for all. Built in 1889, the Ferry Building continues to diversify the food and beverages they offer, constantly showcasing new restaurants, stalls and stores. This creates an everchanging atmosphere full of new foods and experiences. The Ferry Building is an amazing place to visit to try food from all cultures as well as experience the hustle and bustle of San Francisco.

Peaches Patties

The traditional Jamaican restaurant Peaches Patties opened Jan. 20 and has made a splash in the Ferry Building food scene! Dishes bursting with flavor and spicy goodness provide a doorway into the food of another culture and a way to keep expanding your palate. This food stall located outside the building offers a variety of different Jamaican dishes.

Beef Filled Patties

Surrounded by a light flakey crust, the beef is an explosion of savory spice that melts in your mouth. The beef pattie comes with a side of hot sauce, which, if your tastebuds are strong, may be a nice touch. Even without the hot sauce, the spicy meat manages to enhance the flavor instead of drowning out your mouth with spice. The restaurant also offers curry chicken, rustic mushroom and spinach patties; a wide variety!

Sorrel (Jamaican Hibiscus Drink)

This was a perfectly refreshing drink that had the power to calm taste buds after the beef pattie. The bright color and the lovely hibiscus flavor offered a refreshing alternative to the soft drinks that usually accompany meals. However, the hibiscus was very overpowering and could use some watering down, as the drink was slightly too sweet to finish.

Rasta Stew Meal

The stew meal was an incredibly filling variety of foods that each offered their own aspects to the dish. The vegan stew was filled with different beans, tomatoes and onions, providing a very nutritious meal. The stew was seasoned to perfection, each bite packing a new punch. Instead of being spicy, the stew offered a variety of different ingredients combined into a soothing bite with the rice mixed in. Although the side of plantains and vegetables was enjoyable, the real star of the dish was the stew which overpowered the sides.

Juice House Co.

The new Juice House Co. Ferry Building location accompanied its three existing stores on Feb. 3, offering a wide variety of health-conscious beverages. A beautiful sleek exterior perfectly displayed the different colors and variety of juices. With a menu of cold-pressed juices, elixirs, kombucha and nut mylk, customers are bound to find something they enjoy. The enthusiastic staff provided insights into their favorite drinks and their authentic love for the product.

Elixir: Beauty Shot

The Beauty Shot was poured from a glass pitcher into a reusable shot glass, showing how the brand values its sustainability. The shot was composed of moringa, dandelion, cilantro, lemon and parsley, creating a healthy combination. The shot was not too overpowering and gave a refreshing burn to the throat. Overall the shot provided a nice refresh with health benefits that did not overwhelm taste buds.

Popeye Power Juice

This juice was a refreshing blend of celery, cucumber, spinach, parsley and lemon which combined into a refreshing green drink. This juice was not too tart and included a smooth blend of nutritious ingredients. An apple could be a wonderful addition to the drink to balance out the heavy notes of cucumber and spinach but still maintain the nutritional value of the drink.

The San Francisco Ferry Building continues to raise the bar and the food and drinks available to its hungry clientele.

The employees are friendly and willing to converse about the brand and the product they are selling. The new inclusions are definitely worth the trip, and the Ferry Building overall is always a wonderful and exciting place to be!

grouas@redwoodbark.org

POPEYE POWER JUICE

SORREL

sports sports

Kaley Mathews sets up her future with commitment to UCLA

By Jordan Kimball

As a four-year varsity athlete, Kaley Mathews has lifted Redwood volleyball to a new level. With her height and athleticism, Mathews has always had an advantage over others on the court, but the work she puts in on her own time is what really makes her a stand-out player.

Mathews began playing volleyball at 10 years old, thanks to her sister’s interest. They started with indoor volleyball, practicing as often as they could. When Mathews turned 11, she played beach volleyball for the first time, once again with her sister. Mathews was always a big fan of the beach, and getting to play there made her fall in love with the sport.

As Mathews grew up, she continued to play volleyball and began to thrive with her fiery spirit and competitiveness. Even though this trait could help her, it sometimes hurt her as well, forcing Mathews to learn how to use her emotions

“I give a lot of credit to [my coaches]. They changed me from an angry player to a motivated player,” Mathews said. “I am now able to channel that spirit and turn it into

With her intensity, Mathews could lead her teammates by motivating and encouraging them whenever possible.

Mathews’ longtime teammate and friend, Emma McDermott, acknowledged how this has helped elevate Redwood to

the next level.

“[Mathews] puts a lot out on the court. She emotionally connects to the game and gives it her all and when others see that, it motivates them to do the same,” McDermott said.

Mathews has had some exciting experiences throughout her young volleyball career, such as being on the national team for beach volleyball and winning the national championship. With these moments, Mathews has been able to see that hard work and dedication pay off.

“Being a member of the national team was one of my best experiences. I was able to meet other girls from all across the country, and we all shared the same goal and determination to succeed,” Mathews said.

In addition to beach volleyball, Mathews also helped Redwood capture the 2021 state championship for indoor volleyball. She continued her phenomenal high school career in her senior season and led the team in many categories, such as serving aces, hitting percentage and assists. With Mathews being a setter, it is extremely important that she forms a connection with the hitters. Outside hitter McDermott believes that their relationship with each other has led to their success throughout the years.

“The trust that I have for her is excellent. Even just seeing her walk down the halls and [thinking] ‘That’s my teammate, and we have so many memories together’ has made me have a better connection with her not only off the court, but on it as well,” McDermott said.

Over time, Mathews has worked extremely hard to get to where she is now, and colleges instantly reached out to her once the commitment process began, leaving her with tough decisions. After day one of recruiting, Mathews had seven full-ride offers, but all for indoor volleyball.

“I checked my emails and saw many indoor volleyball

offers when recruitment started. I wasn’t upset but was still hoping for a beach volleyball offer somewhere in Southern California,” Mathews said.

As Mathews dug deeper and kept persisting in beach volleyball, she finally got an offer from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) beach volleyball program, one of the country’s best teams.

“It was a dream come true to receive that offer,” Mathews said. “It felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders and that my hard work had paid off.” Mathews will leave Redwood with an everlasting impact as she continues her volleyball career at UCLA, but what she has accomplished will not be forgotten by her friends and teammates.

“She is a great leader, very supportive and a great person to be around. Without her, [Redwood volleyball] would be nowhere near where we are now,” McDermott said. “She shows respect, a love for the game and competitiveness, which will translate into the future of Redwood volleyball for years to come.”

jkimball@redwoodbark.org

Sports are spring-ing into action as the seasons begin

bark@redwoodbark.org

CELEBRATING A PLAY, Kaley Mathews (left) leads her teammates by motivating and encouraging them.

Photos courtesy of South Lake Sports Pics

GLIDING THROUGH THE water, junior Mikey Razavi takes a breath while practicing his freestyle.

OBSTRUCTING A PASS, junior Maya Mihara defends during a game against Head-Royce School.

BOYS’ VARSITY TENNIS sweeps Archie Williams 7-0 on March 1, their first match of the season.

SWATTING AN OPPONENT, junior Jake Vasquez attempts to regain possession.

lacrosse drill while searching for an open teammate.

Censorship evolves within student cheering sections

By Mayson Weingart

In 1987, there were no official Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) rules regulating fans’ behavior at sports events. With this freedom, a group of Redwood students came together to form an energetic group known as the “Unknown Animals,” who wore face paint to sporting events and cheered rambunctiously. The group’s name was coined from their loud energy and animalistic behavior, which they showed off by wearing no shirts and covering their bodies and faces with red paint. Redwood alumnus Dave Allen graduated in 1987 and started the group when he attended a basketball game during his freshman year.

“One day, a couple of my friends and I randomly decided to stop by [a basketball game]. There wasn’t a huge student section, but it was enough to get our attention. It was weird to see teenagers having an opinion on a game, whether it was positive, negative or encouraging. It was the first time I realized the influence that students can have on a game; we could be like the sixth man on the court,” Allen said.

After that moment, Allen and his friends were committed to making an impact. Beginning sophomore year, they would brainstorm cheers and pass out copies of their chants to other students, with the hope that their spirit would help athletic teams succeed.

“Energy, support and camaraderie; that’s what we were aiming for. People were having fun and nobody was getting hurt. There were so many positives: It brought people to the games — which the players loved — more people started going to girls’ games and we learned how to unify and be supportive, which is so important,” Allen said.

Although Allen and others in the “Unknown Animals” were wellintentioned, they occasionally clashed with the administration over the profanity used in cheers, the way they dressed and the face paint that they wore.

“At first, [the administration] told us that we were being too physical. Then they told us we weren’t allowed to wear face paint anymore. Then we couldn’t do certain cheers. Then we couldn’t wear certain things,” Allen said. “When we

would ask them, ‘Why not?’ they never had an answer. It made us upset that they were trying to control us. We felt like they were hurting our freedom of speech [but] all we were doing was expressing ourselves.”

Now, this issue has expanded past administration and become an aspect of the game that is overseen by MCAL rules.

According to the Redwood website, students are not allowed to have “face paint except a small school logo” or “costumes except for school mascots.”

MCAL commissioner Susie Woodall, who oversees the board of athletic directors and board of principals across the league, sees the rules as necessary due to a decline in fan behavior.

“We’ve [come] to a place where people’s behaviors are not respectful towards others. There have been situations within [student] sections where there has been really bad behavior, like when it’s racially motivated,” Woodall said. “It’s just sad to me. There are times where I think we’ve truly lost what competition is all about. It’s just about having fun participating in a sport that you really love.”

As Woodall has been working for MCAL since 2000, she has seen many situations over the years that resulted in negative outcomes due to inappropriate behavior from fans, and she believes that sportsmanship regulations work to prevent these circumstances.

“We’re not trying to stop anybody’s freedom of anything. It’s just, when you put [over] 1,000 people in a gym for a basketball game, you want to make sure that everybody who’s there is safe, and we can’t take any risks with that. Some people may want to say, [by limiting] face paint,

costumes and cheers we’re trying to take all the fun out of it; it’s quite the opposite. We want everybody to have a good time, but they need to be safe in doing it,” Woodall said.

However, for senior Colin McGrath, an active participant in cheers during athletic events, the current regulations limit the support that he and his peers can express, which he acknowledges as an aspect that needs to be altered.

“The rules limit creativity. When we can’t wear certain clothes or face paint, it’s a limitation of free speech and personal representation, especially when it is not causing any harm to anyone at the event,” McGrath said.

During his time at Redwood, Allen also felt limited by the regulations, which were not associated with MCAL at the time. He admitted to occasionally using excessive profanity in certain cheers, but still felt constricted by the administration.

From 1987 until now, MCAL rules have changed, but the energy that the “Unknown Animals” carried has had a lasting impact on student sections. However, for Allen, he sees improvement from his years at Redwood.

“When I look at student sections at games now, it feels unreal. For me, it’s like that spirit that started with the ‘Unknown Animals’ has never died, which is why I think it’s so awesome,” Allen said. “You’re only in high school once, and you have to take advantage of those years.”

mweingart@redwoodbark.org

Looking at the new rules for the 2023 MLB season

By Robert Lapic

The 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) season will look a little different from previous years, and not just because of the new players. The MLB has decided to introduce three new rules aimed to shorten game time and increase excitement.

Last season, an average baseball game was three hours and three minutes long. The MLB has decided to introduce a pitch clock to quicken the pace of play. Pitchers will now have 15 seconds between pitches and must start their delivery before time expires. If they do not meet the allotted time, an automatic ball will be called.

Alternatively, if there’s a runner on base, pitchers have 20 seconds between pitches. Pitchers aren’t the only ones affected by this adjustment since catchers must be in the catcher’s box with nine seconds remaining, and hitters must be ready to hit with eight seconds left on the clock. Last year, the MLB tried out the pitch clock in the minor leagues and found it reduced game time by an average of 25 minutes. The MLB hopes the pitch clock will have the same effect on their major league games.

To allow for more game action, the MLB has made two changes: banning the defensive shift and increasing the base size from 15 to 18 square inches. A defensive

shift is when players leave their ‘normal’ positions and often go to the opposite side of the infield because that’s where the ball is typically hit. This change in the defensive positioning reduces hits and action from the audience. Now, infielders must have both feet in the infield and only two players are allowed on each side of second base. Finally, the MLB is trying to encourage more stealing by implementing the bigger bases. According to Bleacher Report, some of the top base stealers, such as Trea Turner, could potentially steal 10 more bases this year due to the increase in size.

There has been no indication if these

rules will be adopted in other leagues, like high school or college. However, other leagues already have different rules than the MLB; for instance, high school games are only seven innings long, and, in college players are allowed to use metal bats. Ultimately, just because the MLB adopted these changes doesn’t mean other leagues will.

rlapic@redwoodbark.org

Photo courtesy of Bark archives, 1987

Infographic by Robert Lapic

lifestyles lifestyles

Bun in the Oven bakes for reproductive rights

By Ella Kharrazi

Every other Sunday at the Bon Air shopping center, sophomore Skylar Bramlette and her fellow Bun in the Oven club members work to uplift the moods of shoppers by selling baked goods in support of reproductive rights. Their carts are filled to the brim with trays of homemade pastries, and colorful posters attract customers. Following the overturn of Roe v. Wade in June of 2022, Bramlette was eager to take action to uphold women’s rights. It was not until the spring semester of 2023 that she founded the club, which holds a name that embodies both the baking and reproductive rights aspects of the club.

Bramlette appreciates how the club combines these two topics, as it allows her to blend her love for baking with an important objective.

“I realized things were changing in a negative way [after Roe v. Wade was overturned], and I wanted to make a difference,” Bramlette said. “Baking has been one of my hobbies since I can remember, so I figured if I could start selling the things I baked, I could raise awareness and money for this cause.”

Club member and sophomore Natalie Lawlor expressed similar sentiments regarding the union of two subjects she is passionate about. Lawlor joined the club at the onset of its creation, seeking a way to aid those without reproductive rights.

“I think [Bun in the Oven] is great because I love baking, and we can bake for reproductive rights and help people get access to birth control internationally,” Lawlor said. “It’s important that you have the right to do what you want with your

body and to prepare yourself if you want birth control.”

The club’s bake sales have already proven to be a success, as the first sale on Feb. 12 raised $239. All of the profits go to Planned Parenthood, a sexual and reproductive services provider, as well as Saving Mothers, a global nonprofit organization “dedicated to eradicating preventable maternal deaths and birth related complications among marginalized women.”

Bramlette meets several supporters of their mission at every bake sale, some of whom donate without purchasing any baked goods.

“A lot of people, especially adults, come up and [say], ‘We love your cause. We think this is important, and it affects our children and our grandchildren, so here’s a donation.’ They usually give either $10 or $20, and they don’t buy anything. That is really inspiring because it [represents that] what we are fighting for is more important than what we are selling. It is very nonmaterialistic, and it makes us proud,” Bramlette said.

A few memorable interactions stood out to Bramlette at their first bake sale, as people described the motives behind their donations.

“We had this one [adult] whose mother actually worked at Planned Parenthood for 12 years [come] up and give us $2 for every year his mother worked at Planned Parenthood. ... It was sweet, and it [showed that] everybody cares, even though it probably won’t affect them as directly as it affects future generations,” Bramlette said.

In addition to the bake sales, Bun in the Oven has hosted an event on National

the kits are mailed back to Saving Mothers for shipment out to these locations.

For more information regarding these events, Bun in the Oven holds meetings every Friday during lunch in room 706. Bramlette encourages anyone, regardless of prior knowledge or baking talent, to join them at the meetings and bake sales.

Bramlette claims the club to be a “win-win,” as making and eating baked

everyone, no matter your gender or your identity. ... It’s going to start affecting us very soon, and I want to protect as many people’s rights as possible and encourage people to do the same because we’re all human and should be treated that way.”

ekharrazi@redwoodbark.org

Kickin’ it with Ernesto Diaz and Jonathan Hirsch

By Sofia Ruliffson

“In my view, the true advancement in martial arts is a story of yourself [on the] inside. You do it because you want to understand yourself. It’s about knowing who you are, knowing how to control your wishes, your movements, your energy, how you react to things and so on,” said Ernesto Diaz, Redwood mathematics and Advanced Placement (AP) Research teacher.

Martial arts have been an integral part of many cultures for centuries. Some of the earliest documented martial arts practices date back to ancient China, where techniques such as kung fu and tai chi were developed, while other forms originated in Japan and Southeast Asia. These different types of martial arts each carry several benefits that are not limited to physical fitness and self-defense. For those who dedicate themselves to the practice, martial arts can become a way of life, shaping their bodies, minds and spirits.

Jonathan Hirsch, a Redwood social studies teacher, enjoys the art and is currently a practitioner.

The process of obtaining a black belt in martial arts typically involves several years of dedicated training, progressing through colored belts, passing promotion tests, fulfilling time requirements, passing a rigorous black belt test and continuing

education to maintain the rank. Hirsch has put in an enormous amount of time, commitment and hard work to receive his black belt, which represents a mastery of the art and a deep understanding of its principles.

“For me, [martial arts] was so much more; I always saw this big picture,” Hirsch said. “It wasn’t about the belt, [and] it wasn’t about the ego boost. It was about growth and applying [martial arts] to my life. I think the people who stick with [practicing martial arts] have to have that growth mindset because the belts get harder and harder to attain.”

Diaz practices a different type of martial art called aikido, which originated in Japan. Aikido is a martial art that focuses on using an opponent’s energy and movements against them, rather than using brute force. It emphasizes blending with an attacker’s movements and redirecting their momentum, rather than meeting force with force. Aikido techniques typically involve joint locks, throws and pins, and can be practiced both for self-defense and as a means of physical and spiritual development. Diaz recently received his fourth-degree black belt after practicing for the past 32 years, which is the highest level one can go in any form of martial arts and is extremely difficult to receive. Diaz was first introduced to this form of art from his father.

“My father was a black belt in judo and

karate. Some of the earliest memories that I have of him are teaching me to control my heartbeat through breathing, and that’s how he began to introduce me to martial arts,” Diaz said. “When I was at least seven or eight, I began to train judo and left about after a year or two [because] it was very competitive and very aggressive. [However], much later when I was about 28 I was going through a very difficult time in my life and my father felt that I needed to do something to bring balance, and he felt that the answer was martial arts.”

Martial arts carry an important role in serving not only physical health benefits, but also mental benefits. Both Hirsch and Diaz reflect on how rewarding it can be to participate in this form of art.

“[Practicing martial arts] was lifechanging in ways that I never could have imagined. I got introduced to a style of meditation called Qigong that has been transformative. It’s helped me see ways to approach different situations and learn that there are times to yield and to use Kung Fu as a kind of metaphor,” Hirsch said.

The two have combined their knowledge together on some occasions, and at one point held a self-defense class for students at Redwood to participate in. Hirsch went into depth about how his time practicing with Diaz has been a moment for him to reflect on his work as a martial artist.

“[When we practiced a few times together], It’s something that we share just in terms of our growth and our process. I have so much respect for [Diaz] as a martial artist and what he’s taught me, since he has been doing it for longer than I have,” Hirsch said.

In addition to the mental benefits of martial arts, Diaz explained the other values the art has offered him.

“It allows me to maintain a sense of balance and equilibrium regardless of what happens in the class. It also is associated with my idea that my job here is to protect integrity and the safety of my students physically, emotionally and otherwise,” Diaz said. “[Practicing] is a matter of sensing and being grounded. For me as a father, it has allowed me to pass some values to my children. They have seen me [training] since they were born. [It’s] part of our family life.”

[Practicing martial arts] was life-changing in ways that I never could have imagined.

Jonathan Hirsch, social studies teacher

CONCENTRATING ON THE movements of Aikido, Diaz begins his routine for martial arts.

Photo courtesy of Ernesto Diaz

Gavin Newsom speaks with the Bark

By Mia Ginsburg

Before he was the leader of the fifth largest economy in the world, Governor Gavin Newsom was a Redwood student, just like us. The Bark was lucky enough to receive a one-on-one interview with him to learn more about his journey from Redwood to the governorship.

Although he wasn’t class president as one might expect, he was a stellar athlete, specifically at baseball. Newsom was a Bark Prep of the Year in 1985 and his coach, Phil Roark (of Phil Roark Gym), described him as “reliable and trustworthy.” Despite his leadership skills and interest in politics, Newsom did not envision that he would grow up to be one of the most influential people in our state.

“I never saw myself as governor. I never saw myself as mayor. I never saw myself in political office. But, I always saw myself involved in politics. It was the pathway to academic interest because I was able to [use it to find] a major in college. School was horrible because it was what everyone [wanted me to do],” Newsom said.

differently because I overcompensated. I always thought I was a little bit different in terms of having a visual capacity. I am more creative.”

While having a unique way of seeing the world had a positive impact on his life, school was not easy for him due to his learning disability. Newsom was frequently selfconscious when he had to read in front of his class which helped him grow a thick skin.

“I worked harder than anybody. I’m not smarter than you. But I’m going to work, with grit and resilience. I know how to fail, and I know [how to] get back up. I was embarrassed all my life. Every time I opened my mouth

own way to achieve success by working many jobs to support his family. He persevered through adversity and focused on overcoming his academic struggles. Meanwhile, his father was a judge with various political connections. This is what made Newsom first learn he was interested in politics, as it was a way to relate with his father.

“Politics is in my family. My relationship to politics was my father in that respect, and my desire, to sort of connect with him in a deeper way,” Newsom said. “I don’t need a therapist to tell me I wanted to connect to my dad.”

Although politics was a way to have something in common with his dad, his interest in reading and fiction was a fork in the road for them and represented the differences in their

“My dad, before he was a judge, was an English professor at Stanford. He was the exact opposite [of me]. I mean, he would never read a nonfiction book ... what would be the point? And so it was a great irony. He had a son, his exact opposite in terms of reading for pleasure or even experiencing great prose,” Newsom said.

Newsom has had his life shaped by California politics and has shaped California politics back. He hopes to continue his work, bettering both his state and the U.S. at large. He feels that California is responsible for leading the way toward progressive policies on key

“[The U.S. should follow] our leadership on LGBTQ rights, they have to take our leadership on climate, they have to take our leadership in terms of advancing and celebrating backward majority minority stake. They have to take our leadership on equal pay, on every issue. We, [California], set precedents for our country,” Newsom

I’m not smarter than you. But I’m going to work, with grit and resillience. I know how to fail, and I know how to get back up.

Gavin Newsom, Governer of California

Photo courtesy of Justin Sullivan mginsburg@redwoodbark.org