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Volume LVIII, No. 3 • November 6, 2015 • Larkspur, CA
How many more? Editorial on p. 7
Graphic by Olivia Dominguez
Redwood High School 395 Doherty Drive, Larkspur, CA 94939 www.redwoodbark.org
Editors-In-Chief
Olivia Dominguez Shiriel King Abramson Bella McWhorter Matt Ross
Copy Editors
Review Editors
Kayla Aldridge Aaron Halford Macrae Sharp Rebecca Smalbach Caleigh Stephens
Julia Cherner Heidi Roenisch
Spanish Editors Madison Barsi Henry Tantum
News Editors
Camille Kawawa-Beaudan Megan Millard Gregory Block
Video Editor Hayden Blum
Social Media Manager
Feature Editors
Kylie Kvam
Annie Forsman Nicole Stock
Snapshot Editor Chloe Wintersteen
Opinion Editors Eric Ahern Geneva Gist
Web Developer/ Newsletter Kevin Makens Sam Slade
Sports Editors Ovie Crum Adam Kreitzman
Business Manager Sarah Kimball
Lifestyles Editors Hannah Blazei Ella Cook
Survey Manager Keely Jenkins
Adviser
Erin Schneider
Reporters
Isabella Alioto, Danny Avins, Michael Benz, Addison Brady, Kaylee Bushell, Emily Cerf, Catherine Conrow, Luke Dahlin, Sabrina Dong, Jason Fieber, Annie Fogarty, Jenna Herz, Andrew Hout, Max Josef, Maxime Kawawa-Beaudam, Isabelle Marmur, Robin Naylor, Anne Pritikin, Kendall Rhoads, Sam Sheridan, Sydney Soofer, Cosmo Taylor, Mary Winnick, Simone Wolberg, Pearl Zhong
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Políticas de Inmigración
395 doherty dr., larkspur, ca 94939
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volume LVIII, no. 3
Coding Gender Gap •
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November 6, 2015
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Football Success
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Universities to release new college application platform By Nicole Stock On Sept. 28, a group of 83 private and public colleges and universities announced their plan to form The Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success, a new system for applying to college. The Coalition application is designed to provide more access to colleges and universities, especially for low income students. It will incorporate an application for seniors applying to the Coalition schools, as well as a “locker” feature, which will allow students to store information, projects, and essays about themselves beginning their freshman year. The schools within the Coalition have promised to make education more affordable, and help streamline the application process when it comes to both admission and financial aid. The Coalition’s online tools, such as the digital portfolio and a collaboration platform—a resource which will be used to make communication between students, counselors, teachers, and mentors easier and more efficient—will be available for use beginning in April 2016 for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. Beginning in the summer of 2016, the college application portal will be available for use by Redwood’s incoming senior class. According to the The Coalition for Access, Affordability and Success, although it will be an alternative application to the Common Application, the participating schools will continue to accept applications filled out through the Common Application, much like many schools accept either the SAT or the ACT. College and Career Specialist Paula Vantrease recently heard about the Coalition at a conference, where only limited information about the new application system was provided. “They’re trying to provide access to all students. It’s not just the application piece, it’s going to be more than that,” Vantrease said. Vantrease said she’s in support of students keeping an ongoing list of their activities starting their freshman year, as it is helpful to have this information on hand for both college and job application processes.
news box. • Redwood Drama is performing Micetro from Nov. 10-14. • On Oct. 7, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that abolished the CAHSEE test as a graduation requirement.
Photoillustration by Nicole Stock
EIGHTY-THREE PRIVATE and public universities plan to form The Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success, an alternative college application system. “When you do [the activity] is the best time to record [it] instead of sitting down in your senior year and saying, ‘Okay what did I do in my freshman year?’ and trying to remember everything,” Vantrease said. Currently, among the 83 colleges and universities planning to use this new application are the Ivy League schools and other well known institutions, such as Stanford University. Vantrease said it is unclear why these schools are pulling away from the Common Application. However, she said that some colleges were disgruntled by the changes made to the Common Application three years ago. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Stanford University’s Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid, Richard Shaw, said the changes made to the Common Application in 2013 created a variety of technical difficulties for colleges and students during the application process, which was one reason that drove some colleges to look for an alternative. Additionally, the platform of the Common Application is more uniform across all of the participating institutions.
The vague nature of the prompts, combined with the strict word limit, was another revision that was implemented in 2013 that has been criticized, as it made the application more homogeneous among schools. The Coalition, however, will allow colleges to make their individual applications more distinct and have unique features, such as submitting a video in place of an essay, or other alternatives to the traditional application form. While the Coalition is currently comprised of more than 80 colleges and universities, it has been inviting other schools, both public and private, to join the new application system. The University of California school system, a public institution, was also invited to join the Coalition. However, they denied the offer, stating that this would interfere with the abundance of transfer students who they accept each year, because the new application system does not have tools for evaluating community college transfers.
• The Kansas City Royals beat the Mets and won the World Series. • Paul Ryan has been nominated to be the next Speaker of the House.
• An Illinois school district violated antidiscrimination laws by not allowing a transgender girl to shower in a girls’ locker room. • A Russian plane crashed over the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt on Saturday, Oct. 31 leaving all 224 passengers dead.
• China has ended their one child policy that has existed since the 1970s. • Canada’s new prime minister, Justin Trudeau, was sworn in on Nov. 4.
nstock@redwoodbark.org
Haunted house at Drake shut down due to controversial doll COMACAD had been working on the haunted house since the first day of school, spending time outside of school as well as in class. A student-built haunted house at Drake High School Brouillet also said that students spent their own money was shut down Friday after a controversial doll was to help create the haunted house and were waiting for found hanging from the ceiling. the administration to refund them––they are now unsure The doll, which had a black head and a white body, whether they will receive reimbursement. was hanging from a noose. The doll According to Brouillet, although was intended to look charred, fitting students understood the circumstances, with the haunted house’s theme the decision to take down the haunted of “Haunted Hospital,” according house was a difficult one for all of them. to district Superintendent David “I know personally I walked into the Yoshihara. room while they were tearing it down Controversy arose after people and it made me really sad to the point believed the doll looked like an of crying,” Brouillet said. “I saw other African-American child, Yoshihara COMACAD members crying because said. we worked really hard on this.” According to Drake junior Zoe The district shut down the haunted Brouillet, who is a member of the Zoe Brouillet, house out of fear of community uproar, class that designed and built the junior, Drake High School according to Yoshihara. Yoshihara haunted house, the doll was not acknowledged that although students intended to be racially offensive. put significant time and effort into “Our intention was not to creating the house, the house needed to offend anyone or to be racist. We be shut down in order to avoid more didn’t mean to hurt anyone and we deeply apologize,” conflict and to address safety concerns. Brouillet said. Although Yoshihara was not on site when the decision The class that designed the haunted house was not was made, he said he would have responded in a similar a typical one-period class. Known as COMACAD way. (Communication Academy), students in the class “On the one hand you have a very public image. You take English, economics, and digital communications have some of the community who are very angry that this in a three-period class, and sometimes work on occurred. You have others who also know that students put larger projects. According to Brouillet, students in a lot of hard work into this,” Yoshihara said. “I think that By Gregory Block
Our intention was not to offend anyone or to be racist.
the way that the situation played out as it did, I probably would have done the exact same thing.” According to Yoshihara, the next step in the process of dealing with the incident is for district staff to talk with people who were affected and people who were interested in what happened, including staff, parents, and other members of the community. Yoshihara said that if the media had not been involved, decisions may have been handled differently. However, he sees the situation as a learning moment for the district in order to avoid future conflicts regarding race, religion, and other cultural differences. “This is just an example of a racial one, but there certainly are religious ones that could be very sensitive to people and there certainly could be other instances where there is sensitivity to race and culture,” Yoshihara said. “Certainly it is unfortunate and I do regret that, but I think having conversations [with students and staff] will help.” Brouillet believes that the incident highlights a lack of student awareness about race in Marin. “I think it’s something that needs to be looked at more and something that needs to be considered more because it was something that I guess we just didn’t notice,” Brouillet said. “It was unintentional and it’s a sensitive topic to many people.” Drake principal Liz Seabury was unavailable for comment.
gblock@redwoodbark.org
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Page 2 • News
November 6, 2015
Photo Survey:
Which teacher would you invite to Thanksgiving dinner?
“Ms. Mortham because then she could paint a picture of Thanksgiving.”
Shane Fricke freshman
“Mr. Diaz because he apparently is a really good chef.”
Molly Kehoe sophomore
“Berko because he’s really chill and really fun.”
“Mr. Stewart would bring all the organic, farm fresh vegetables.”
junior
senior
Scott Smith
Yewon Ahn
Tamalpais High School principal announces resignation to accept new position By Emily Cerf Tamalpais High School Principal Dr. Julie Synyard announced her resignation from her position on Tuesday. She has been appointed as Assistant Superintendent for the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District, according to a press release sent via email from the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) on Wednesday. If approved by the TUHSD at a board meeting on Oct. 27, retired administrator Dr. David Brown will serve as interim principal at Tam for the remainder of the school year, beginning Nov. 10. This would be Brown’s first experience working as an administrator within the TUHSD. Brown will be present on campus three days a week, and the Assistant Principals and Assistant Superintendents will work together to fill the role the other two days. Brown has served as Executive Director of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, according to the press release. He has also served as as activities director, high school principal, and superintendent in a number of districts in Southern California and Napa Valley. Brown said that he wants to continue fostering the educational environment that exists at Tam. “[My goals are] to maintain the quality programs that are there and to work with the staff and students to provide the best environment possible for learning,” Brown said. He also mentioned that he will work to be a positive, non-intrusive force on campus. “I hope to find the opportunities to connect individually and with groups,” Brown said. “On the one hand, you don’t want administration to get in the way of quality
classroom instruction. I don’t want to be seen as someone demanding new programs and new opportunities. On the other hand, I do want to be supportive of teachers to make sure that any initiatives that are currently underway are carried forth. I won’t just sit and wait for the new principal to be selected.” TUHSD Superintendent David Yoshihara stated that Brown is well qualified to serve as interim principal, so the transition from one principal to the next will be smooth. “Certainly there will be some immediate effect, but we believe it will be minimized because the Tam staff is still all there, all the Assistant Principals are still there, so everybody else is still there,” Yoshihara said. “It’s like a big ship––even though your captain is leaving, we are bringing in another captain to steer the ship.” Additionally, Yoshihara believes that the everyday lives of the students will remain fairly unchanged through the transitional period. “When there is a change in the administration in the middle of the year it will certainly be felt, [but] on a day-today level, in your classrooms, in terms of your academics, [the change] is much more minimized.” Tam High junior Kendall Lafranchi is unsure about how the administrative shift will affect her. “I never really talk to the principal. I never really see the principal. I’m sure it affects teachers more directly,” Lafranchi said. “I’m not sure how it will affect me yet.” Forums regarding the selection of a new, permanent principal are scheduled to begin in early spring. These forums will call upon students, staff, parents, and the community to determine which professional and personal characteristics they want to see in a principal. “The district will conduct a full search process to fill
Photo courtesy of Tam News
FORMER TAM principal Dr. Julie Synyard resigned from her position Tuesday, Oct. 20.
that important position,” Yoshihara said. “These will be meetings where we involve parents, students, staff, and the community in looking into the personal and professional attributes they are looking for in their next principal. Therefore, the job description will be developed to incorporate what the stakeholders were asking for.” Principal Synyard was not available for comment. ecerf@redwoodbark.org
Lights, camera, improv: EPiC students prepare for ‘Micetro’ By Kendall Rhoads Eighteen daring students will perform “Micetro,” Advanced Drama’s latest production, from Nov. 10 through 14. The entirely improvised show is filled with several short games to entertain the audience. “Micetro” is a drama performance that has been produced for several years by EPiC. To begin the show, a group of junior and senior improvisers all come onstage to be introduced, each with their own song and improvised dance move. Afterwards, the improvisers play several different improv games to earn points and finally crown a final winner, otherwise known as the “Micetro.” The “Micetro” is determined by the volume of applause at the end of each game. Each game includes four improvisers who are randomly selected, along with the occasional audience member who joins the cast. All games are based off audience suggestions to make the show more interactive. The show involves a variety of games such as Objection, Slide Show, and My Movie. Objection is a debate game between improvisers, while Slide Show and My Movie involve reenacting a scene based on another improviser’s idea. The improvisors met for the two months prior to the show in order to master the art of improv and become more comfortable with each other, according to sophomore Ali Janku, the stage manager of “Micetro.” “We kind of over-prepare for the show
because it is improv. We play games, work on technique, and just warm them up for the show,” said Janku. “The preparation is really that there’s no preparation and that’s hardest part. Trusting yourself and having the confidence to just go for it is what makes the show great.” Performing improv is all about the improvisers knowing their way around the stage, and being able to to navigate out of a sticky situation while giving the scene some plot, according to Janku. Janku also believes that improvisers must be skilled at performing in many different genres. Senior improviser Ally Van Dorsten is performing in “Micetro” for a second year and says that there’s more to acting in the show than just being funny. “You have to train your brain to be able to think really quickly and not have something planned,” Van Dorsten said. Van Dorsten was first introduced to “Micetro” her sophomore year when she watched a show at the Redwood Little Theater. She was motivated by the humor of the cast as well as the confidence they had on stage, and wanted to become just as skilled. There are no expectations when walking on stage and creating a scene, according to Van Dorsten. “The key is to walk out on stage knowing that it could go terribly, or it could go awesome, all depending on the suggestions of the audience or which game you play. It’s so exhilarating walking onstage not knowing anything,” Van Dorsten said. When performing, Van Dorsten
believes she is well prepared. “I trust my process and try not to think about it. I’ve been practicing for months. I basically do whatever I can to keep confident. Worst thing that happens is that I do a terrible scene and move on,” Van Dorsten said. Besides just entertaining the audience, the “Micetro” cast is trying to showcase a different side of improv, one that is deeper and more heartfelt than just humor, according to Van Dorsten. “I know people go to “Micetro” to see
the show because it makes them smile and that it’s funny, but we are trying to get more people engaged than just hippy-dippy humor. I wish people were more cognizant of the fact that “Micetro” isn’t just a ton of naturally funny people,” Van Dorsten said. “Improvisers need to commit, and that’s what we’ve gotten good at.”
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Former student and teacher run for school board
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While Owens was not a student at Redwood, she be getting together and talking more in depth about how taught special education students at Drake and Redwood. we can actually raise up those voices in a meaningful way.” She was also Tam’s newspaper adviser, and taught at San If students are to be listened to, they must be taken seriously, according to Powelson. A former Redwood student and a former teacher were Andreas before retiring in 2007. “I think my length of experience in the classroom with “I have a problem that often when the input of students in the mix for two available four-year terms in the local students and parents and staff really helps a lot because is taken into account, it is kind of tokenized and not taken elections on Tuesday. seriously,” Powelson said. Robbie Powelson, who attended Redwood for two school systems are very complicated,” Owens Both candidates said that their respective years, and Barbara Owens, who was a teacher in the said. “We have to support staff development, experiences of attending and teaching at district, said they would try to bring their perspectives as we want our teachers to get better at what they are doing. There are policies that we can help schools in the district would give them a fresh past members of the Redwood community to the board. perspective and allow them to develop a more Powelson’s experiences in the district, as well as those establish that support student attendance and acute understanding of what the district needs. of his friends and family, have led him to develop strong support student engagement.” Owens shares Powelson’s belief that more “People like myself were voiceless and opinions on topics such as the diversification of school student voice and input is important. families like mine didn’t have a say,” Powelson leadership and student focus. “We need to have a dialogue,” Owens said, said. “It’s just about empowering people. It’s “It’s fresh in my memory and I still see a lot of my what it comes down to.” friends and peers struggling with the same issues [that I referring to the relationship between students Powelson’s recent experiences in struggled with],” Powelson said, referring to his time as and school board members. “We need to make sure that we’re asking and that we are there to community-based srvices have also led him to a student. Robert Powelson realize the potential in Redwood’s community, In the middle of his sophomore year, Powelson hear what they have to say.” The TUHSD is in a transitional period Photo courtesy of the he said. Powelson is a member of the Marin dropped out of Redwood and received his diploma from after former Superintendent Laurie Mental Health Board and regularly attends an online school. Marin Independent Kimbrel resigned following her school board meetings. “That had to do with a lot of the Journal husband’s harassment of a district “One of the radical ideas I have is I think environmental problems in the district, parent on Facebook. Despite the recent that most of our students are very competent and if given including difficult social circumstances, turmoil, both candidates believe that with new the opportunity to excel, will do so,” Powelson said. “If substance use, and mental health problems,” superintendent David Yoshihara, the district is we can plug in students into boards and commissions in Powelson said. headed in the right direction. Part of creating the county, working on their own projects and supporting His struggles as a student inspired him to more positive change, though, is by continuing what they want to do, then we will have better education return to the district and run for a leadership to strive for more student focus, according to and it’s doable.” position. The key to understanding and Owens. According to Owens, her experience in collaborating addressing students’ needs is creating more “A lot of things have gone on in the district with teachers and students could help create a more student leadership roles within the district, in the past that have distracted teachers and transparent and trustworthy board. Powelson said. Barbara Owens professionals from the work that they really “It’s about the board operating together,” Owens “I think we need to be inviting more student Photo courtesy of the need to be doing and they needed to work really said. “I think it’s about working together, it’s about participation, not just at board meetings,” Marin Independent hard to stay focused on students,” Owens said. transparency, it’s about teaching, it’s about trust. Those are Powelson said. “The board [should] be more Journal “I want to make sure we maintain that focus on my hallmarks.” in touch with students, more visible, and students: student wellness, student well-being, TUHSD school board elections took place on Tuesday. supporting students’ goals or aspirations in the and achievement level.” Owens won the four-year term, along with Leslie Lundgren, district and outside of it.” The creation of wellness centers in the district is a step a third candidate for the position. Michael Futterman and According to Powelson, because the district leaders share similar opinions and come from similar backgrounds, toward more student participation, according to Powelson. Matt Nagle both ran for the one available two-year term As a member of the district’s wellness advisory board, he that Futterman was appointed to in 2014, and Nagle won. all student voices are not always heard. “Part of it is just paying attention [to subgroups],” has become interested in increasing student voice in the Powelson said. “I think a big problem that our district has community. “I want to learn more about how we can meaningfully is that subgroups that aren’t part of the mainstream get left engage with those students,” Powelson said. “We should gblock@redwoodbark.org to the wayside.” By Gregory Block
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November 6, 2015
‘In a Nutshell’ cracks open neo-futurist theater approach By Anne Fogarty “Let’s throw bologna at the wall and see what sticks,” said guest director Will Caldwell to drama students as he bounced a red rubber ball across the stage. “That is a saying, right?” The actors laughed, shaking their heads. “Well, now it is,” Caldwell said. For the past six weeks, the cast of the EPiC’s upcoming production, In A Nutshell, has been brainstorming ideas and collaboratively writing its own play. Nov. 4 to Nov. 7, the drama department will present the production for the first time, modeling it after ‘Too Much Light ‘Makes the Baby Go Blind, an interactive format created by Neo-futurists founder, Greg Allen. ‘In a Nutshell’ will feature the actors attempting to perform 30, unrelated, selfwritten plays in less than an hour. According to Erik Berkowitz, the artistic director of the drama department, the play’s unique format will allow the production to be interactive with the audience. “Each play has its own timing and pacing, but the whole thing is rushed and moving so they can beat the time,” Berkowitz said. There will be numbers hanging along a laundry line numbered 1-30, which correspond to the individual plays the actors will be performing, according to Berkowitz. “The audience calls out numbers, and based on what [the actors] hear, the actors start running the performance piece with that number,” Berkowitz said. Because of this impromptu structure, the actors will be unaware of the order in
which they will perform the plays until they are actually in the show. Once the actors hear their number called out, they will have to quickly grab the props and actors specified for the playlet. According to Caldwell, another feature of the interactive format is that some audience members will be called up to the stage and asked to move around––they’ll be able to talk to the actors. “A lot of theater has that fourth wall. You sit in silence and watch a play and clap for your friends. In [In a Nutshell] people are going to be pulled up on stage, asked questions. We might even go outside in the parking lot and light stuff on fire. It is the type of experience that only a theater show can give you,” Caldwell said. The individual plays are written by the cast members and production crew. Caldwell guided the drama students through the writing process using skills he acquired from his profession as an actor and writer for the San Francisco Neo-futurists, a branch of the Neo-futurist theater company that originated in Chicago in 1989. The Neo-futurist style takes a unique approach to theater, embracing complete reality rather than a fictional plot, according to Caldwell. “With this type of work we are trying to make you feel every conceivable emotion that you possibly can,” Caldwell said. Junior castmember Gaby McNell said that the actors will experience a new vulnerability, expressing their own beliefs on stage, rather than reading from a script. “One of the rules of ‘Too Much Light’ is that we can’t lie. It’s all based on our personal lives,” McNell said. “Everything is honest.” According to senior actor Claire Karner, the cast responded well to the new
Photo by Simone Wolberg
CARINA CASSISA REHEARSES her lines for the upcoming show ‘In a Nutshell.’ The show consists of student-written scenes performed in a random order. type of acting, gaining a new perspective on theater. “All that’s left after stripping away character and script is really what is true to you and what is important to you,” Karner said. The plays are extremely honest and diverse, according to McNell. While some are humorous, others are dark. While some are group pieces, others are monologues. The one thing that ties them all together is that the themes are pulled from the actors’ lives. “The things that we have been writing about are things that we haven’t talked about, that we haven’t shared with a group of people before,” Karner said. According to senior Carina Casissa, it was a majority of the cast’s first time
playwriting. Though they struggled to think of content at first, Caldwell inspired them by bringing in guest artists, leading writing exercises, and simply asking them about their days. The cast as a whole expressed extreme enthusiasm for the production, as it is Redwood’s first time presenting this selfwritten play. “It is going to be really great to see these kids creating varied, dynamic, fullyformed work. I think a lot of people will be very surprised at what could come out of a high school environment,” Caldwell said.
afogarty@redwoodbark.org
opinion
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Competitive college atmosphere discourages other options By Geneva Gist I’ve always assumed that I’ll go to a four year college after graduation. It’s not a hard decision––in fact, it’s barely a decision at all. For years I’ve only heard about top colleges––Harvard, Cal, Stanford. I’ve owned college gear since I was 8 years old, and it never occurred to me that there was any alternative. It seems like it hasn’t occurred to Redwood either. During Spirit Week, one of the days was “undergraduate” themed. Students wore all their college gear––all their four year college gear. But college isn’t about where you go, it’s about what you do, as we are so often told. Seeing as community college costs $3347 on average, according to a Washington Post article, it is a very economical option. Even with community college, your resume will say you graduated from the school to which you transfer. Going to a community college won’t have any effect on your future job. In the end, the only change will be in your bank account. But Redwood also seems to ignore another option—no college at all. Where there’s pressure to go to a four year institution, there’s an assumption you’ll at least go to a two year college. It’s not a bad thing that our school wants us to move on to higher education. There are great advantages and experiences to be had at college. But at the same time, students who want to pursue a career that doesn’t need a degree shouldn’t be blatantly ignored. “Undergraduate” day wasn’t fair to those who do not plan to attend college. It encapsulates a majority of the school’s outlook on college–that you should go to a four-year and that you should want to go.
Many students have a condescending tone when talking about community college, but that should not be case. I hear people talking about college every day. “Where are you applying?” and “What’s your top choice?” seem to be common conversation starters among seniors because we assume that everybody is going to college and we forget about other options. But that isn’t the case. Some of us aren’t ready for college. Some of us don’t have the money to go to college. Some of us don’t think college is worth it. And that’s okay. According to a 2013 New York Times article, though 70 percent of Americans went to a four-year college, only 53 percent ended up graduating. College is not an end-all to success and shouldn’t be viewed as such. We’ve lost sight of the purpose of education. School is no longer about curiosity and expanding our intellect, but about getting into college; to many of us, school is important not because we’re learning useful information, but because we are prepping for the next stage. It’s a stressful trudge to get to the next level, college, which will get us to our dream job. In our current system, it’s hard to imagine that high school could be anything other than college prep. That shouldn’t be the case. This isn’t college prep–this is education. We shouldn’t be told to get good grades to get into a good college when we could be told to work hard to get ready for the workforce or to learn important life skills. Four-year colleges can offer fabulous social experiences and a wonderful education. But these are experiences that you can get at a community college if you
so desire, especially if you live in a dorm or take advantage of opportunities on campus. Besides the social aspect, community college also provides education. You will learn no matter where you go. Ultimately, the teachers or professors are going to be able to teach you something, whether you go to Harvard or College of Marin. We are living in a constantly evolving world where some of the highest paying jobs can be learned online without ever setting foot on a college campus. The time for four-year assumptions has to come to an end. According to a 2013 American Association of Community Colleges analysis, 7.4 million US undergraduates were enrolled in
community colleges. It’s okay to not go to a four-year. Many students opt for this choice, and it shouldn’t be taboo. That can be hard, especially when the only thing most of us hear about when it comes to post-high school options are fouryear colleges. But this is our life and we ought to be able to live it as we want. If you want to go to a four-year, then that’s great. If you want to go to a two-year, then go right ahead. If you want to wait, or if you don’t want to go to college at all, then good for you. We should all follow our hearts’ desire, not what other people tell us to do. ggist@redwoodbark.org
Illustration by Chrstine Watridge
High school should prepare students for the future, not college By Eric Ahern In the multi-purpose room, a small group of students practice kicks and break-aways in “Women’s Self Defense,” a class designed to teach girls how to protect themselves in the dangerous world in which we live. In room 120, teachers Lisa Kemp and Stephanie Haver Castex walk students through recipes for pesto pasta, zesty tomato sauce, and the delicious Italian dessert, panna cotta. In room 183, Economics teacher Ann Tepovich breaks down the meaning and importance of a credit score and how to finance a car, as well as other relevant tips regarding finance and economics in “Money Matters.” On Wednesday, Oct. 14, as the majority of the junior class and a handful of sophomores took the PSAT, seniors and the few juniors that opted out of the free exam spent the morning in teacher-led workshops. Prior to the day of the PSAT, also known as its faculty-given nickname, “Wild Card Day,” seniors had the option of enrolling in three of approximately 30 courses that each lasted 70 minutes. These courses all taught valuable lessons that prepared students for the real world, however, they strayed from what has become valued in traditional education. This is because some students
Illustration by Eric Ahern
might not see how having learned to repair a mountain bike or how Bob Dylan influenced the ‘60s and ‘70s will help you succeed on the ACT. In my opinion, learning the practice of mindfulness, a course that was taught by teacher Britt Block in room 306, would prepare me for life after high school much more than being aware of what the cotangent of a 210° degree angle would. No offense to my Pre-Calculus teacher, but I would rather know how to eliminate the constant stress that teenagers combat than know that the answer is √3. Our time in high school is meant to be spent preparing for our future. However, over the years, it seems as if our time spent in high school has now become time spent solely preparing to get into a respectable university. Educators at Redwood often fail to acknowledge the fact that not every student who graduates from high school has plans to continue onto higher education, and the courses that are offered in this district tend to reflect this neglection. Courses similar to the ones that were made available on “Wild Card Day” should be offered to
“I may not know how to fix a tire, but at least I know that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell!”
students year-round. Teenagers should leave high school knowing how to survive in the world, not just how to get a diploma from a four-year university. Until that happens, teenagers should seek out and pursue any opportunities to prepare themselves for the real world that they are presented with. But here’s what scares me. It appeared that less than half of the senior class attended school on the day these courses were offered. As expected, students did not receive evaluations or grades for their work and participation on Wild Card Day, and to many this translated into “optional attendance.” This indicates that the only thing motivating the majority of Redwood students to come to school on any given day is the fact that they are going to be given a grade for the work they complete when they are present. These absences show the damage that our system of education and student evaluation has inflicted on the youth’s innate desire to learn. A study performed by the UC Berkeley’s Psychology department in 2011 showed that students learn and retain information much more efficiently when they want and choose to learn, rather than when they are forced to. However, it now appears that students have lost that desire to learn. A day that offers opportunities to be given skills that will relate to life beyond a diploma should not be treated as an opportunity to skip school. We could be looking at a vicious cycle that lurks below the surface. Schools don’t offer Wild Card-like courses and students choose not to attend them when they do, further inclining schools to not offer them. To solve this problem, schools need to understand that students are leaving their places of education without knowing how to be responsible and capable adults, and students need to understand that they should want to be responsible and capable adults.
eahern@redwoodbark.org
bark
Page 6 • Opinion
November 6, 2015
APUSH revisions detract from purpose of history By Matt Ross Last spring, while many current seniors were preparing for the AP U.S. History (APUSH) exam, critics voiced their complaints about the College Board’s newly updated APUSH course framework, which functions as a set of guidelines for teachers to use. The Republican National Committee (RNC), one of the foremost critics, claimed that the framework presented a “radically revisionist view of American history that emphasizes negative aspects of our nation’s history, while omitting or minimizing positive aspects.” The 2014 APUSH framework that came under fire had sought to shift away from rote memorization of facts and dates to focus on the development of critical thinking skills. The College Board defended its new framework by saying it was just an outline for the course, rather than a rigid curriculum; implementation of “key concepts” and “learning objectives” would be left to the discretion of individual teachers.
Illustration by Asha Cummings
The discontent with the 2014 framework evolved into public outcry for the College Board to make a more substantial change. The swell of dissatisfaction with the College Board’s initial response captured the attention of such notable politicians as Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson, as well as state legislators in a handful of states. The RNC called for a return to the “course’s traditional mission” that would allow “students to learn the true history of their country.” The College Board caved, issuing a new set of guidelines in July of 2015. The response from critics has been mixed, with some satisfied with the changes. Others, however, are still convinced the framework leans too far left on the political spectrum. The College Board’s critics were correct to encourage a non-biased view of American history. But that does not mean that historical events that shame us should be erased. The “true history” of one’s country includes everything—both the honorable and the dishonorable. History depends on perspective. When you look at everything with a closed mind, you can miss out on understanding the motivations behind people’s actions. AP U.S. History must remind us that we’re looking at American history through an American lens. Reflecting on uncomfortable times in our nation’s past through multiple viewpoints is not unpatriotic—it’s essential. Yet here we are, with curriculum that threatens to close our minds further. Do we simply want to read about wars we “won,” and why we’re “better” than other countries? When we approach history with an attitude of unfaltering American exceptionalism, we fail to examine ourselves critically; ignoring outside perspectives completely misses the point of learning our nation’s history.
As a country, we have committed our fair share of wrongdoings, and it would be a mistake to hide them from students who want to discover for themselves what it means to be American. American History courses are not meant to praise everything Americans have done. Exposing historical injustices is a crucial part of examining our nation’s evolution and transformation. Sometimes it’s unnerving, but we have to confront the consequences of our actions and hold our nation accountable for imperialism, nativism, and the negative outcomes of “Manifest Destiny.” Excising events out of the APUSH framework in an attempt to avoid discomforting discussions does not mean they did not happen. It is detrimental to students’ personal and academic development to shield them from the most shameful parts of our history by redirecting them toward the events and ideas that make us comfortable. Our nation will not advance by whitewashing the blemishes of its past; the progress we’ve made is a result of truly understanding where we have fallen short of our ideals and learning how we can improve. Rather than lecture students to be more patriotic and to respect authority without question, as some critics wish, we should encourage them to draw their own conclusions about our country’s history and to question authority, respectfully. This, in turn, ensures the sustainability of a healthy democracy. We do not want a citizenry that blindly supports the country without shaping its own views, clinging to American exceptionalism as its rationale. Our tendency to see things from only our point of view perpetuates the idea that the U.S. is better than all the rest. We must consider all perspectives and not just the one we find most convenient. So, let’s ask ourselves—by failing to provide our students with all of our history, are we encouraging them to develop their own beliefs and opinions, or are we doing them a disservice?
mross@redwoodbark.org
Sexism doesn’t end with a simple name change By Megan Millard In addition to the blistering heat uncommon to autumn, the week of Oct. 5 brought various festivities in the spirit of homecoming, with events ranging from couples trivia to boys’ and girls’ makeup. Klassy Kick-Off, previously known as Powderpuff, a game in which junior girls play senior girls in flag football, has been a homecoming activity well-known for its large patronage, as well as in recent years, controversy. The contention has arisen due to physical altercations that have broken out mid-game in recent years. In both 2012 and 2013, the games ended in a scuffle and consequently, Powderpuff was cancelled in 2014. Following the cancellation, the student body responded with an uproar in support of the reinstatement of this activity. Alas, the tradition prevailed this year, with the name changed from one sexist designation to another, and with the degrading nature of “Powderpuff” still present. If the initial purpose of this event was to level the playing field between girls and boys by allowing them to partake in such a “masculine” activity, then even the name “Powderpuff” discounted this purpose. By making the name sound so feminine, the gender of the players is highlighted and their ability to play the sport is discredited. To combat this, the name was changed this year to “Klassy Kick-Off,” another title that takes away the feasibility of a girl’s capacity to play what is traditionally considered a boy’s sport. If it is a football game, why can’t we just call it that? “Klassy Kick-Off,” or whatever name Leadership can devise to try to hide the sexism being endorsed, should be removed from the docket of homecoming week activities. It perpetuates the objectification of women with a stamp of approval from the administration. Upon my arrival at the game, hundreds
were already overwhelming the bleachers, covering the entirety of the chain link fence that separates the raised bleachers from the pavement. While both girls and boys were present in the bleachers, I was struck by the number of boys vocalizing offensive comments. As I scaled the stairs to the top bench, I heard one boy shout, “Throw a punch!” and another yell, “Pull her hair!” At the end of the spectacle, on my way back to class,
Illustration by Emma Winkler-Prins
I even heard comments like, “I didn’t see someone get knocked out and I’m pissed.” Decades ago, I am sure that Powderpuff was considered a success for feminists, as getting permission for girls to play a solely male sport was an exciting feat. But times have changed, and so has knowledge of gender equality. There are now girls across the country who get playing time on tackle football teams. The first known woman to play in the
United States was Luverne “Toad” Wise, who kicked an extra six points for the Escambia County High School in Alabama in 1939. Since Wise’s courageous step forward, there have been dozens of girls who have taken the initiative to become players on male-only teams. Now it seems that this may not be a requirement. In May of this year, Utah announced that it would be implementing one of the nation’s first tackle football league for girls, and other communities across the nation are looking to do the same. It is outrageous that 75 years after the first woman was recorded participating in football, at a time when women are participating in tackle football on a broader scale, Redwood, known for being exceptionally progressive, is permitting the regression of this progress. Many people don’t even think about it. I asked various female patrons at Klassy Kick-Off about their opinions and many questioned why I thought that women were being objectified. It has been so ingrained into our school culture that we look forward to it and voluntarily sign up for it. It is a tradition. If girls are genuinely interested in the spirit of the game, then our community should follow suit with Utah’s creation of a female league. We should also work to encourage girls who have passion for the sport to play along with the boys, as they have proven capable in the past. Gender-confining traditions are changing. If we had stuck with the regulations of the past, we would see fewer girls attending schools and working professionally. It is time for the tradition of “Klassy Kick-Off,” or whatever replacement name it is given, to be abolished.
mmillard@redwoodbark.org
Page 7 • Opinion
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E ditors -I n -C hief
Olivia Dominguez Shiriel King Abramson Bella McWhorter Matt Ross
Copy Editors
Kayla Aldridge Aaron Halford Macrae Sharp Rebecca Smalbach Caleigh Stephens
Amid atrocities, Americans must forgo their right to arms
editorial Put down your guns and pick up some sense
Barks & Bites
“It’s my son’s birthday today,” pleaded 30year old veteran Chris Mintz after he was shot three times by a shooter at Umpqua Community College in Oregon, who proceeded to shoot him four more times. Ten people died that day in a tragedy that could have been prevented—just one of many mass shootings that illustrate the need for more effective gun control laws. Mass shootings, particularly in schools, are not uncommon. Since 2013, there have been 142 school shootings in America. While gun violence may seem distant enough for us to feel safe in Marin County, in reality, Marin is just as vulnerable as any other place. In fact, it was about a month ago that a 67-year old hiker was shot to death on a popular hiking trail in Fairfax, a mere 20-minute drive from the school we attend every day. While bearing arms is a constitutional right, it is time for Americans to decide whether the loss is worth the gain. The proliferation of the constitutional right argument has devalued the Constitution. It is treated as a debating tool, a generic response to use when a speaker can’t think of anything better to say. “It’s a constitutional right,” has become too cliché. So to those using the constitutional argument, consider this: the Constitution was designed to be flexible. The Founding Fathers recognized that a stagnant government was no government at all. A responsive democracy had to be able to change with the times, they decided—and thus, Article V of the Constitution, which states that a two thirds majority of Congress can amend the Constitution, was drafted. The United States would not be static, but rather subject to change as large obstacles demanded. Today we face a large obstacle. Today, American children and adults are killed in classrooms. So, regardless of the fact that 18th century shopkeepers demanded the right to bear arms so that they could resist the standing armies of a nascent nation, we don’t need them today. The solution lies in stricter gun control laws that, firstly, require private sellers to use the NICS system; secondly, require states to more effectively update the NICS system with mental health records; and lastly, provide more monetary or other incentives for citizens in troubled neighborhoods to turn in guns. In recent years police forces have benefited heavily from military surplus programs. The Department of Defense has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars of extra military grade
A BARK to breast cancer awareness week. Marin may have the most diagnosed cancer cases in the country, but it also has the most warriors. A BITE to being considered “too old” to trick or treat. It looks like we’re all going to need new fake I.D.s. A BARK to teachers who use curves when grading exams. Real tests have curves. A BITE to our freshman selves. If only we did crew, we would be so much happier right now. A BARK to the Spanish section. ¡Ahora podemos leer en español!
weaponry to police departments. As the capacity of police departments to apply force for the general protection increases, it makes it less necessary for citizens to own firearms for their individual protection. This begs the question: Do we need assault rifles? Do we need military grade, fully automatic rifles? Do we need guns capable of firing up to 600 rounds per minute, guns designed more for the Afghan battlefield than for the American suburb? The Founding Fathers provided for the right to bear 18th century arms – muskets, which had to be reloaded one ball at a time. The right to bear modern firearms? Not so much. Granted, some restrictions are in place. Federally licensed gun dealers are required to use the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which, according to US Code, ensures that gun buyers have no past criminal record and have not “been committed to any mental institution.” But it might surprise many to learn just how ineffective––or sometimes nonexistent—gun restrictions are. The NICS database lacks the mental health records of many individuals whose mental health would prohibit them from owning guns, according to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Such was the case with Virginia Tech student Seung-Hui Cho, who was able to obtain a weapon because the state of Virginia failed to submit his mental records. Cho would go on to kill 32 fellow students in 2007, the second largest school shooting in the history of America. Even with the weaknesses of the NICS, a bigger issue looms: private sellers have no requirements to run background checks. Private individuals selling guns from their garage have no more restrictions than a Girl Scout troop selling cookies—it’s really that easy. While gun control opponents argue otherwise, guns are not necessities for most gun owners. And though some defend gun use as an aspect of American culture, why does that justify it? Being traditional doesn’t mean something is moral, it simply means that no one has questioned its morality. Part of progress is breaking away from tradition. It’s time for this tradition to end. Have an opinion regarding anything that appears in the Bark or in general? We encourage our readers to submit letters to the editor. Letters to the Bark should be 500 words or fewer, typed if possible and signed. They must be submitted to room 177 or the Bark mailbox in the facility. They may also be emailed to eic@redwoodbark.org.
A BITE to everyone who dressed up as a cat for Halloween. *sneeze* Sorry, we’re allergic to clichés. A BARK to Thanksgiving. We ’ v e n e v e r b e e n m o r e excited to feel so bloated. A BITE to everyone who is participating in No-Shave November. If we wanted to watch kids attempt to grow something, we’d head on over to Sust. Ag. A BARK to American veterans. Thank you for serving our country. A BITE to people who don’t dress up for Halloween.
“Nudist on strike” is not a real costume. A BARK to the recently removed solar panel equipment. Your presence gave us energy and your absence gives us parking spots. A BITE to the semester being halfway over. “It’s the beginning of the year” is no longer an acceptable excuse. 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.
News Editors
Camille Kawawa-Beaudan Megan Millard Gregory Block
Opinion Editors Eric Ahern Geneva Gist
Feature Editors Annie Forsman Nicole Stock
Sports Editors Ovie Crum Adam Kreitzman
Review Editors Julia Cherner Heidi Roenisch
Lifestyles Editors Hannah Blazei Ella Cook
Spanish Editors Madi Barsi Henry Tantum
Video Editor Hayden Blum
Website Developer Sam Slade
Business Manager Sarah Kimball
Social Media Manager Kylie Kvam
Snapshot Editor Chloe Wintersteen Survey Manager Keely Jenkins
Reporters
Isabella Alioto Danny Avins Michael Benz Addison Brady Kaylee Bushell Emily Cerf Catherine Conrow Luke Dahlin Sabrina Dong Jason Fieber Annie Fogarty Jenna Herz Andrew Hout Max Josef Maxime Kawawa-Beaudan Kevin Makens Isabelle Marmur Robin Naylor Anne Pritikin Kendall Rhoads Sam Sheridan Sydney Soofer Cosmo Taylor Mary Winnick Simone Wolberg Pearl Zhong
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Asha Cummings Christine Watridge Emma Winkler-Prins
Adviser
Erin Schneider P O L I C Y: A l l e d i t o r i a l s a r e unsigned and have been approved by the majority of the Bark staff.
español Carta de los editores: Bienvenidos a la sección en español Querido lector,
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Editors’ note: Welcome to the Spanish section Dear Reader,
Le escribimos para anunciar un proyecto nuevo del Bark, la sección en español. En esta sección, trataremos de presentar más opiniones y perspectivas de la comunidad hispana para proveer el periodismo relevante a los hispanohablantes de Redwood. Intentaremos incluir voces e historias que son, a veces, menos representadas en nuestra cultura en Redwood, para presentar una narrativa más completa de eventos actuales. Como nació esta idea? Fue inspirada por un estudiante hispano recién inmigrado que se acercó al Bark hace unos meses. Como tenía pocas habilidades en inglés, la sugirió para ser incluido. De ese modo, esperamos alcanzar a estudiantes así, y muchos más, cuando reportamos sobre tópicos apremiantes en nuestra comunidad local. Con esta sección, esperamos acercarnos más a nuestra meta periodística que ningún tema quedará sin cobertura. Esperamos que la encuentre valiosa. Sinceramente, Madi Barsi y Henry Tantum, editores de la sección en español Shiriel King Abramson, editora en jefe P.D. Solicitamos sus comentarios e ideas para este proyecto nuevo. Mande un correo electrónico a espanol@redwoodbark.org para sugerirlos.
We write to you to announce a new project of the Bark, the Spanish section. In this section, we will aim to present opinions and perspectives from the Hispanic community in an effort to provide journalism that is relevant to Spanish speakers at Redwood. We intend to include voices and stories that are less prominent in Redwood culture to present a more complete narrative of current events. How was this section inspired? Several months ago, a recently immigrated student approached the Bark to suggest we report in Spanish. With limited English abilities, but fluency in Spanish, he suggested that a Spanish section could make him, and others, feel more included. Through Spanish reporting, we hope to reach students like him, and many more, as we report on pressing issues in our local community. With the creation of this section, we hope to move closer toward our journalistic goal that no issue goes unreported. We hope you find it insightful and informative. Sincerely, Madi Barsi and Henry Tantum, Spanish Editors Shiriel King Abramson, Editor-in-Chief P.S. We invite your comments and ideas for this new project. Email spanish@redwoodbark.org to suggest them.
Estudiantes opinan sobre las políticas de inmigración de los EEUU, los hispanos sólo reflejan 23 por ciento de la población de violadores mientras los caucásicos reflejan 37 por Mientras la parte occidental de la ciento. frontera con México está a 545 millas Samuel Chávez, un estudiante en su de Marin, las políticas propuestas en las último año de Redwood, que emigró de El próximas elecciones de la presidencia Salvador, dijo que cree que los hispanos con respecto a la frontera y los temas tienen mucho más cuidado con sus acciones de la inmigración llegan muy cerca a por las posibles consecuencias graves. los corazones de algunos estudiantes de “En Redwood, no puedo hacer las Redwood. actividades que otras personas hacen Xenia Rodríguez, una estudiante en porque necesito tener más cuidado de mis su último año de Redwood que emigró a acciones. Tengo que ser más conservador,” los Estados Unidos de El Salvador cuando dijo Chávez. “No puedo ir a las fiestas, tenía 10 años, dijo que piensa que algunas no puedo ir a los bailes porque si hay un de las ideas propuestas con respeto a la problema malo, una decisión mala, yo inmigración son muy polémicas. Ella es podría tener que volver a El Salvador.” parte del 66 por ciento de los estudiantes Chávez dijo que piensa que las de Redwood que dijeron que están verificaciones de antecedentes penales son conscientes de las políticas propuestas necesarias para asegurar que las personas sobre la inmigración de los candidatos que quieren inmigrar no hayan cometido presidenciales, según una encuesta del un delito severo. Bark en octubre. También, Chávez dijo que él está de “Como soy una inmigrante acuerdo con las políticas de Trump sobre latinoamericana, yo me sentí ofendida la deportación de los criminales, y él dijo por el comentario de Donald Trump,” dijo que la gravedad del delito debe impactar el Rodríguez, refiriendo estatus de ciudadanía a la idea de Trump de de un criminal. la construcción de un Sin embargo, “gran muro” a lo largo Chávez dijo que la de la frontera. construcción de un Pero entre las muro no sería efectiva muchas ideas de porque muchos los candidatos inmigrantes viajan por presidenciales, la que avión. está recibiendo la Por otro lado, mayoría de la atención Gabe Di Donato, un de las noticias, estudiante en su último como BBC Mundo, Xenia Rodriguez, año de Redwood, dijo CNN, y más fuentes senior que él apoya la idea periodísticas, es la de de un gran muro, pero Trump: construir un no piensa que es la “gran muro” a lo largo solución para asegurar de la frontera. la frontera completamente. Aproximadamente 60 por ciento de los “Pienso que es un paso en reparar un estudiantes de Redwood dijeron que no problema grande, pero hay mucho más que apoyan la idea de un “gran muro.” necesita ocurrir,” dijo Di Donato. En su discurso cuando anunció su Además, Di Donato, cuyo padre es un decisión de competir el junio, cuando inmigrante de Italia, dijo que piensa que la él propuso su idea para el “gran muro” inmigración legal debe ser más fácil, pero por primera vez, Trump también hizo a los inmigrantes que llegaron ilegalmente comentarios sobre los tipos de personas no se les debe conceder amnistía. que él cree que vienen de México. “Cuando les damos la amnistía a “Están trayendo drogas. Están trayendo cinco millones de mexicanos que están crimen. Son violadores. Y algunos, asumo, aquí ilegalmente, estos podrían ser cinco son personas buenas,” dijo Trump. millones de inmigrantes legales viniendo Según el Bureau of Justice Statistics al país que hicieron cola y pasaron por el Por Madi Barsi y Nicole Stock
Me hizo triste pensar que alguien pudiera pensar tan mal de otra persona solo por su raza.
Ilustración de foto por Kayla Aldridge
proceso,” dijo Di Donato. Por otro lado de Rodríguez, Chávez dijo que sentía que no tenía el derecho de estar ofendido. “Nosotros tenemos nuestro propio país, y solo vinimos aquí por la seguridad. Estamos felices si ellos nos permiten a trabajar y alimentar a nuestras familias aquí y en nuestro propio país. Solo con esto, nosotros estaremos felices.” Rodríguez dijo que su familia era afortunada de poder venir a los Estados Unidos legalmente y por avión, y si la idea de Trump de un “gran muro” hubiera sido instalado, no habría afectado a su familia. Sin embargo, ella conoce a algunas personas a quienes esta estructura hubiera impactado. “He conocido a muchas personas que no estarían aquí debido a eso o algunos de ellos probablemente no estarían vivos si hubieran tratado de cruzar [la frontera] sabiendo los peligros de hacer esto.” También, Rodríguez dijo que la construcción de un muro solamente daría asistencia al corto plazo a los problemas sobre la inmigración porque todavía habría demanda de venir al país. Algunos inmigrantes creen que el proceso para hacerse ciudadano toma mucho tiempo y es muy caro. Rodríguez, por ejemplo, dijo que sus padres trabajaron
por diez años para finalizar su inmigración a los EEUU y para obtener el estatus de residencia. Ambos Rodriguez y Chávez dijeron que el proceso para ser ciudadano debe ser menos caro y tomar menos tiempo. “El costo podría llegar a decenas de miles [de dólares] y los hispanos no tienen tanto dinero, especialmente si son inmigrantes,” dijo Rodríguez. Además, a pesar de todo lo que ha dicho Trump de los inmigrantes, Rodríguez dijo que como el condado de Marin es un lugar que se inclina a la izquierda, ella no ha oído comentarios ofensivos sobre los inmigrantes. Sin embargo, ella dijo que ha visto comentarios ofensivos en las redes sociales. “Me hizo un poco triste pensar que alguien pudiera pensar tan mal de otra persona solo por su raza,” dijo Rodríguez.
bark@redwoodbark.org
Para ver más artículos, visite a redwoodbark.org/spanish
bark ACT vs. redesigned SAT: is there a preference among students? Page 9 • Feature
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By Pearl Zhong While seniors are finishing their last-minute testing for college apps, juniors have only just begun to prepare for SAT and ACT exams and are forced to confront the first administration of the redesigned SAT, which will roll out in March 2016. According to counselor Tami Wall, although colleges accept both ACT and SAT test scores, the SAT exam has historically been more popular. However, Wall said she is already observing a more equal balance between the two tests in the student body. “I think it’s really getting to a 50-50 statistic in what I’m seeing in our students,” Wall said. As for the first rollout of the redesigned SAT exam in March 2016, Wall said that it is difficult to predict whether the new SAT or ACT will attract more students. Junior Ashlyn D’Orazio prefers the ACT exam because she said it presents the questions in a straightforward fashion. Likewise, she does not want to study for something that doesn’t have previously established results. “I knew that the SAT was changing and I didn’t want to deal with that. No one really knows what [the SAT] is going to be like,” D’Orazio said. Four practice SAT tests are currently available on the College Board website to help students prepare for the redesigned test. Green Test Prep tutor Anthony-James Green said that the redesigned SAT exam is very similar to the ACT exam, so students will see little variety in test format and questions. “Before, there were two very different exams: The SAT as it’s standing now and the ACT exam. It offered students a bit of variety, and you could figure out which one you were best at and preferred. I’ve never had a student who hasn’t preferred one test to the other. But now, you pretty
Infographic by Pearl Zhong
much have two versions of the same test,” Green said. He also added that there is a higher preference for the ACT among students in the Green Test Prep database. However, Green believes this imbalance in preference will ultimately even out as people adjust to the new SAT and the old version fades away. “Right now, it’s just so crazy and tumultuous. People are just trying to stick with what they know is going to
come out and what they can predict,” Green said. According to Green, the current version of the SAT format is extremely unpopular, as both students and parents believe it to be random and unpredictable, unlike the ACT exam. “If you could get a perfect score on the ACT, you can pretty much get a perfect score on any ACT,” said Green. According to Wall, the College Board is making an effort to better align the new SAT with the Common Core curriculum. “It’s now reflecting more on what students are learning in the classroom,” said Wall. Wall encourages students to take the January 2016 SAT exam if they feel comfortable with the current version, or the June or October 2016 exams if they don’t wish to be the first to take the new exam. However, Wall recommends that students refrain from taking the March 2016 SAT exam, which is the first time the new SAT will be administered. “The [College Board] is going to have to work out bugs and trial and error, and there are going to be mistakes in the first national administration. Why should our students be within those scores, when they have many other applicable options on file? We don’t want our juniors to be the guinea pigs,” Wall said. According to College and Career Specialist Paula Vantrease, the redesigned SAT will return to being scored on its original 1600 point scale—800 points for critical reading and 800 points for math—as opposed to the current 2400 point scale, which includes another 800 points for writing. In addition, the redesigned SAT will not penalize students for incorrect answers and the writing portion will be optional, which mimics the format of the ACT exam. pzhong@redwoodbark.org
CEA follows trend by shifting menu to healthier options By Kayla Aldridge In August, the Sausalito Marin City School District became the first in the nation to serve all non-GMO and organic foods in their cafeterias. Though not quite as dramatic a shift, the Redwood Covered Eating Area, also known as the school cafeteria or CEA, has also experienced many changes in food quality, menu items, and ecofriendliness. Becky Lamet, a Nutritional Food Service staff member, has been working in the CEA for 12 years. “It’s really an exciting time in which we are able to transition into providing purer ingredients for students,” Lamet said. Elena Dibble has been the Director of Student Nutrition Services for the Tamalpais Union High School District since Aug. 2014. She and her colleagues have been working to shift the CEA’s food toward healthier, organic, nonGMO options for students. “We try and use local vendors as much as possible,” Dibble said. “We use Clover Stornetta, Redwood Bagel Company, and our produce companies are out of Milpitas but they source locally as much as they can.” Dibble noticed the gradual change toward providing healthier menu options when she first began working in the district. According to Dibble, the issue doesn’t lie in whether or not the CEA can provide organic and non-GMO products––it’s whether or not students would be willing to pay higher prices for the food. “We try and source organic [produce] when possible and we try and source nonGMO, but we also have to keep things affordable for students,” Dibble said. Lamet said the CEA management tried going completely organic before, but the cost of buying organic produce was too expensive and the change in taste wasn’t noticeable enough. “[The students] had no idea it was organic,” Lamet said. Though buying all organic produce
Photo by Kayla Aldridge
STUDENTS LINE UP outside the CEA window to order the new non-GMO and organic food items during lunch. and foods proved too expensive, the CEA is still trying to move toward healthier meal options. In 2012, the CEA began selling organic Three Twins Ice Cream, organic produce, and yogurt. Although Dibble works closely with the CEA management and student groups to provide the best menu choices, it’s been challenging to keep meals within the budget and also compliant with state regulations. The food in the CEA is both federally and state funded, so Dibble and her management must abide by both the federal and state health laws. “For the lunch, we have to have certain components for it to qualify. For example, we can’t serve a meal without milk––it has to come as a combo,” Dibble said. Because the CEA is mandated to follow certain health department laws, they often cannot keep much of their leftover food. “A lot of times we don’t have excess food. If it’s something that we can’t reuse, we have to throw heated food away,” Dibble said. “That’s Health Department law, that you can’t reserve food like that.” However, even with many regulations and restrictions, the CEA works to include new menu items when possible. “The menu doesn’t change a lot, but we always try and bring new foods in,” Dibble said. “I like to frequent local restaurants
to see what the trend is––that’s one of the reasons we brought in Three Twins Ice Cream.” According to Dibble, finding nonGMO and organic products is easier now than it was three or four years ago, which has helped the CEA transition toward healthier options. Along with becoming healthier, the CEA food has also become more expensive. Wage increases for employees and raised food prices have driven up the cost of food in the CEA. “There was a price increase in our breakfast and lunches [this year]. We
hadn’t had a price increase in six years,” Dibble said. “I’m hoping there won’t be a price increase next year since we already raised the prices this year.” In efforts to keep the food as fresh as possible, the CEA staff cooks a majority of its food from scratch. “For the rice bowls we make the rice in the mornings, [and] heat up the meat. We make all the pastas from scratch, sandwiches and salads are made daily, and our veggie sides are made daily,” Dibble said. “It’s all made and heated that day.” According to senior Chris Berreman, fourth year CEA employee, the biggest changes the CEA has undergone have been menu-related. “I think the menu changes are made with good intentions, but it’s definitely decreasing the popularity of the CEA, and it’s not really what the kids want,” Berreman said. According to Berreman, though using wooden utensils and boxed water is a positive step in the right direction in saving the environment, it’s not what students want. However, to avoid wasting food, the CEA has determined how much of each product to serve each day by analyzing trends in food purchasing.
kaldridge@redwoodbark.org
November 6, 2015 bark Page 10 • Feature Data shows gender divide persists in coding classes By Simone Wolberg Out of 76 computer programming students at Redwood, only 13 are girls. There are 15 students in AP Computer Science A, none of whom are girls. Technology teachers William Crabtree and David Goldsmith believe this gender divide is perpetuated by a failure of district leadership. Three years ago, the Tamalpais Union High School District dropped Redwood’s applied technology school-wide requirement. In doing so, the district allowed cultural stereotypes to influence the course choices of both male and female students, according to Crabtree and Goldsmith. “The district got rid of the requirement, with [ex-superintendent Laurie Kimbrel] referring to our generation as being ‘digital natives,’ which is probably one of the most misguided statements ever,” Crabtree said. “Redwood students aren’t digital natives, they are digital users who aren’t creating any kind of marketable and usable program. Girls and boys alike should be required to learn these skills, so that they don’t opt themselves out for silly reasons like stereotypes.” Goldsmith and Crabtree have pushed for a revised computer requirement that would incorporate coding into the curriculum. “Our former assistant superintendent said students get these coding-like skills in other classes, but they don’t,” Goldsmith said. “In the past four years the district heads never took our revised requirements to the board. All we ask for is a semester of learning.” Redwood’s applied technology classes became an optional elective with the removal of the district-wide technology requirement, formerly called “Intro to Computers.” While computer programming was not an official part of “Intro to Computers,” Goldsmith said he taught students the basics of coding within that class. “The requirement gave every boy
Graphic Courtesy of: Piktochart Data Courtesy of: Patricia Segovia
and girl an opportunity to learn how to code, among other essential tech skills,” Goldsmith said. However, even when the requirement existed, few students enrolled in computer programming classes. During the 2009-10 school year, only three males were enrolled in AP Computer Science A and no one took Computer Programming 3, 4, 5, or 6. In Computer Programming 1, there were 17 students, none of whom were girls. This reflects a statewide trend. Of the 4,964 students who took the 2013 AP Computer Science A test, only 21.64 percent were females, the College Board found. Nationally, there is a similar standard. According to Code.org, a non-profit technology organization, nine out of ten schools don’t offer computer science classes, and in 28 out of 50 states, computer science doesn’t count for math
Infographic by Simone Wolberg
or science credit. Redwood does not credit its computer science classes. Robin Hauser Reynolds, Tiburonbased director of the documentary, “Code: Debugging the Gender Gap,” observes and documents these frustrations. The documentary screened at the U.S. Capitol building and the Department of State, in addition to local venues such as the Mill Valley Film Festival. “Some of the resistance in schools across the U.S. is that coding doesn’t really fit perfectly into any of the core subjects,” Reynolds said. “Rather than trying to create a separate class, coding could be used as a tool in many different subjects. In science class, for example, you could run a piece of code to analyze a data set.” Locally, A.E. Kent Middle School is pioneering this effort. Reed Maltzman, a former eBay executive, teaches “Coding 7,” a coding class for 7th graders. Last year,
23 children enrolled—13 were boys and 10 were girls. The same number enrolled this year, with a breakdown of 15 boys and eight girls. In a similar effort, hundreds of elementary schools are integrating coding applications, such as Kodable, into their curricula. According to Reynolds, these multiplatformed applications and local efforts alone will not convince those influenced by cultural stereotypes to change their minds. “Less than 18 percent of women are in computer science related fields. One factor is the stereotype of the programmer,” Reynolds said. “A lot of girls think of programmers as a nerdy boy or man who likes to work alone in a basement. Girls don’t see themselves fitting in that.” Crabtree expressed a similar sentiment. “There’s a misperception that all coders are anti-social nerds which stems from bad advice. Advice typically comes from parents, friends, teachers, counselors, and by and large most of those people don’t know how to code,” Crabtree said. A lack of girl role models also contributes to the divide, Reynolds believes. “In pop culture and mass media we see few, if any women figureheads in the coding industry,” Reynolds said. Meanwhile, national attempts to close the coding gender gap have been more successful. In 2013, Code.org launched the annual “Hour of Code” campaign to advocate for more computer science education. After the first week, more than half of the 15 million student participants were girls. This upsurge in girl participation proves there’s already great interest, Reynolds said. “Right at this very moment there are 500,000 unfilled software engineering jobs in the U.S.A,” Reynolds said. “If just a handful of the seven million girls who participated in ‘Hour of Code’ loved it and pursued it as a career, we’d be set.” swolberg@redwoodbark.org
Drama therapy proves to alleviate emotional distress By Simone Wolberg In a 2010 production of the Sound of Music, senior Sofia Cassidy enters the stage as Maria, singing a cheerful melody, smiling wide. She forgets her troubles and thoughts of her parent’s divorce. In that moment, she is just Maria. “My parents’ divorce hit me really hard,” Cassidy said. “Going on stage, singing such happy songs, taking on such cheerful characters who inspire so many kids, [that] was my lifeline. It helped me forget about what was going on at home, to try and focus on something new and positive.” Along with Cassidy, other Advanced Drama students have reaped similar benefits. “When I’m feeling angry or depressed, I can just come to the drama room, into an accepting community, and just act as myself,” senior Ann Caindec said. The use of drama as a therapy is reflective of a particular school of drama called Neo-Futurism, where actors ‘play’ themselves exclusively. Advanced Drama’s upcoming production, “In a Nutshell,” is based on this idea. “There’s no asking the audience to suspend their disbelief, it’s something that I think a lot of people will respect and enjoy,” said junior Kate Kiehfuss. “You can make a play about your depression, for example, just by standing on stage with a balloon in hand and letting it go. It only has to mean something to you –– it helps me listen to whatever impulse is in me.” Drama’s therapeutic qualities have not only benefitted theater students, but also inmates, high risk youth, and hospital patients. In the psychiatric world, this is known as “drama therapy.” “Drama therapy is a way to buffer trauma, to create a preferred story or a way to discuss trauma in a safe way,” said Dr. Myriam D. Savage, Southern California Chapter President of the North American Drama Therapy Association, an association established 36 years ago. Savage said she prefers drama therapy to typical counseling because it allows for deeper introspection and greater patient-to-therapist trust.
Photo by Simone Wolberg
JUNIOR KATE KIEHFUSS recites an original slam poem for the upcoming Advanced Drama production, “In a Nutshell.” “You may be doing a role that is so close to home that you understand it, or [be] so removed that you understand it in a ‘role reversal.’ It gives you perspective,” Savage said. “Trust-building is inherent in the process. You aren’t sitting behind a desk with a counselor, rather, you are up and about, making masks and costumes together, reciting lines.” Through decades of observational studies, Savage has seen that the collaborative nature of drama therapy improves the confidence and overall mental health of children, inmates, and disabled patients. “Working together, just being witnessed is powerful,” Savage said. “There’s more of a reward to the risk. I’ve worked with mentally unstable patients for decades, and I’ve seen drama therapy change people,” Savage said. Senior Benedict Conran similarly believes that drama helps release repressed feelings. “Drama allows you to speak of things that are taboo,
things that you’ve kept inside, without actually exposing your personal connection to the subject,” Conran said. Locally, the Marin Shakespeare Company, a theater company, offers weekly Shakespeare classes at San Quentin Prison. According to the company website, the inmates rehearse each Shakespeare play for about 8 months and are joined by a few outside actors in the final months, some of whom are students training for a master’s degree in drama therapy. These efforts culminate in an annual performance, which was on Oct. 23 this year. In addition to performing Shakespeare plays, the inmates have written and performed autobiographical stories. Their plays revolve around compelling events from their personal lives. Some of the scripts are publicly available on the Marin Shakespeare Company website. While San Quentin Prison continues to support drama therapy, other prisons have yet to accept it, Savage said. “Sometimes there is a reluctance to give inmates therapeutic resources for reasons like, ‘Oh they’re criminals who don’t deserve this,’ or ‘It’s too expensive,’” Savage said. “But in reality, if you want to prevent inprison violence and someday reintegrate these people into society, they will need a safe therapy.” This hesitance to implement drama therapy is also found in schools, often due to a lack of funding or interest, according to Savage. “They think that counselors are enough, but they aren’t. Drama therapy is more effective in preventing violent outbursts in high-risk children,” Savage said. “This actually saves the schools money in the long term –– you likely won’t have angry kids destroying school property.” The National Association for Drama Therapy is currently working with a few interested congressmen to implement nationwide trauma intervention programs in schools, Savage said. “People who have access to theater programs don’t realize how privileged they are,” Savage said. “Drama unlocks repressed thoughts; it gives way to whole new beginnings.” swolberg@redwoodbark.org
bark Gender gap by the numbers within AP, elective classes www.redwoodbark.org
By Mary Winnick Amid growing attention to gender-related issues in education, the Bark decided to investigate which classes at Redwood are heavily dominated by one gender, and why that may be. The gender gap in AP and Honors classes is most prevalent in AP Economics, Honors Pre Calculus, and Honors Physics, which tend to be male-dominated, and in AP Literature Composition, and AP Spanish Language, which tend to be female-dominated. Additionally, Leadership, Peer Resource, and Link Crew, non-departmental classes, have seen many more girls than boys interested in the classes, according to their teachers.
Leadership, Peer Resource & Link Crew In 2003, an article in Bloomberg Business called “The New Gender Gap” predicted that the 21st century could be the first “female century,” meaning females would take more leadership positions over males. Is that prediction correct? For many years, Redwood has seen a higher number of girls who want to participate in Leadership, Link Crew and Peer Resource, according to teachers David Plescia, Erik Berkowitz, and Jessica Skieresz. The struggle to make classes gender-balanced has become difficult because there are fewer boys than girls willing to participate. In classes such as Peer Resource, where there are many applicants and few spots, it is easier for teachers to procure an equal number of girls and boys in the class. Jessica Skieresz has been teaching Peer Resource for seven years, and has continuously seen more girls than boys apply for the class. This year, 14 boys applied to be in Peer Resource out of 45 total applicants. “I’ve always just assumed that because Peer Resource is a class about social and emotional awareness and issues, that girls are just much more willing to talk about those things and address those issues, and that boys are maybe a little less inclined,” Skieresz said. When students applied for the class last spring, the ratio of girls to boys was approximately three to one. In the future, Skieresz doesn’t expect to see a big change. “I’ve always thought it might have something to do with who is in the class to begin with and what connections they have to boys,” Skieresz said. “There might be greater interest from certain groups of kids because ‘so and so’ is in it and they loved it, so it seems like a possibility, or something they want to experience too.” Psychology teacher Jon Hirsch offered a possible explanation for why these classes attract more girls. “The prefrontal cortex growth spurt happens on average earlier for females. This means the judgment center of your brain, the section that can manage priorities, self control, and abstract thinking, undergoes its growth spurt a little bit earlier in women,” Hirsch said.
Page 11 • Feature
A study in 2009 by the University of Iowa offers class,’” Tepovich said. “The following year the classes another explanation. It showed that the prefrontal cortex were much more balanced.” is also involved with social cognition and interpersonal In Jessica Crabtree’s Honors Pre Calculus class, judgment and is proportionally larger in females compared there have been a higher number of boys enrolled since to males. 2012, when she started teaching the class again after Peer Resource is not the only class with a gender teaching at Drake. This year, there are 17 girls and 36 imbalance Leadership has also faced challenges to balance boys in the class. out the gender gap. In the 15 years that David Plescia has While boys have disproportionately enrolled in taught the class, only two Associated Student Body (ASB) these math-based classes, AP Spanish Language teacher presidents have been boys. Deborah McCrea has seen more girls than boys take her This year, there are more male class class since she started teaching it officers than there have been in the past, five years ago. There are 50 girls but they are still heavily outnumbered by and 27 boys enrolled across all female officers. Out of the 25 total officer of McCrea’s sections this year. positions, eight are filled by boys, creating “We want students to be a three to one ratio of girls to boys in officer aware of their options so we positions. send AP students into all of the According to Plescia, interviews for 7-8 Spanish classes to present applicants to Leadership are conducted by about what the class is like and former and current ASB officers, who do what kind of things we do. I their best to pick the people they believe always make sure there is a boy are best suited to make decisions on behalf Matt Davis, and a girl presenting because if of the student body. you are a boy, it might motivate Sexuality Specialist “We do try and get an accurate you more to imagine yourself representation of the student body, but in being in the class,” McCrea said. the end, the people most suited for the class AP English Literature and are accepted regardless of the gender,” said senior and Composition has been consistently girl heavy as well. current ASB Vice President Kendra Loo. Currently there are 36 girls and 15 boys enrolled Link Crew teacher Erik Berkowitz has also noticed a in the class. Winkler has been teaching AP English gender gap between boys and girls in his class. Literature and Composition for roughly 12 years and “It is sometimes harder for guys to risk involvement,” has always noticed more girls in his classes. Berkowitz said. “There are always guys in the program “This year, we dropped all entrance requirements and the guys do work just as hard as the girls and they for AP Lit, but that doesn’t seem to have affected the are just as good at it. I think that there is something that choice on the part of male students,” Winkler said. is more socially acceptable for the young women to get While there hasn’t been any specific data to support involved than for the guys.” why some classes have more of one gender, Pediatric Link Crew is composed of two different groups: A Neurologist Audrey Foster-Barber suggested that social larger group of roughly 65 students who just participate norms can impact the choices of girls and boys. in orientation, and a smaller group of students who meet “There isn’t a direct reflection of differences in Wednesdays before school in a formal class. Both the male and female abilities, [but rather] a reflection of orientation group and the class have more girls than boys the societal norms, expectations, what is valued for enrolled. a female or a male,” Foster-Barber said. “There are Berkowitz hopes that the new house system at certainly differences between the male and female Redwood will make people of all genders more willing to brains when it comes to communications, but not when get involved in school activities like Link Crew. it comes to calculations and learning the rote rules of science.” Honors and AP Classes Dominican University Professor Matt Davis, a specialist in human sexuality, also said that children’s Overall, more girls than boys enroll in AP and Honors choices are influenced by gender stereotypes. classes at Redwood. This year, 891 girls and 784 boys “As soon as we are born and labeled male or female, enrolled, and these numbers include those who take more we are kind of brainwashed into ‘these are the things than one AP or Honors class. that men do’ and ‘these are the things that women do,’” In AP Economics class, Honors Physics, and Honors Davis said. “These stereotypes have an influence on our Pre Calculus, however, the trend is flipped. hobbies, interests, and careers.” Currently, there are 81 boys and 48 girls enrolled across Another theory by Linda Gorman from the National five sections of AP Economics, though AP Economics Bureau of Economic Research posits that a teacher’s teacher Ann Tepovich said that imbalance was more gender may encourage or discourage the student from predominant seven years ago, when there were only three performing well. Reading teachers, for example, are girls out of 27 total students in her class. mostly women, which is why a large fraction of boys “The following year we tried gender-specific underperform in English classes, the theory states. advertising. I held a meeting of information just for girls to try and say Econ is a great class and it’s not just a ‘boy mwinnick@redwoodbark.org
Stereotypes have an influence on our hobbies, interests, and careers.
Transgender
Teenagers
breaking the Boundaries of Binary By Robin Naylor
lesson, and nobody took it seriously. It was extremely vague,” Klein said. “They gave us this little diagram. It was a person, and it said “The Genderbread Person” and they tried to tell us about the gender spectrum, but it didn’t make sense to a lot of people–– it didn’t make sense to me then either.” Social Issues, the social studies class taught to all freshmen, covers sex education, but some don’t see it that way. “Social Issues was probably the worst. They spent less than five minutes talking about trans people,” Evan said. “I don’t want kids to have to do a report on it or anything because sometimes when you bring attention to things like that in class, students treat it really negatively, and it gives them more reason to joke about it sometimes.” As the sole teacher teaching Social Issues this semester, Stephen Hart said he makes sure to include gender issues in his curriculum. Hart wasn’t yet teaching at Redwood when Evan was a freshman. “I wouldn’t say that even I cover it at length. However, I do devote usually about a week to talking about issues regarding gender and sexual orientation. I don’t think we’ve ever talked in depth about the experience of being transgender. It’s more so about acknowledging that there are other ways to identify outside the gender binary.” Klein also thought that the Social Issues lesson on transgender issues was too terse. “It was vague. A lot of my classmates didn’t understand it and [the teacher] didn’t check for comprehension of it. It was just pushed away after that day, which I think was kind of odd,” Klein said. “There could have been kids in that room struggling their own gender identity. Maybe they needed that information.” As transgender issues become more publicized and transgender people gain the courage to come out, resources for transgender youth are increasingly easy to find. “It’s really nice to have people come in and speak, so maybe a genderqueer person
happy.’ Not gonna lie, I cried like a baby.” Klein has yet to tell their parents about their identity. “I’ve come out to most of my friends. I have not come out to my family yet, but they’ll find out at some point. I’m just nervous it’ll change their opinion of me,” Klein said.
could have come in and talked about it, or someone who even has a family member or relative who’s genderqueer. That would have really opened people’s eyes, and make them see like, ‘Oh this is a person who’s dealt with that,’” Klein said. “Right now it’s just not really out there in the curriculum, and if you want to really know about something you have to go out and learn it yourself. Not all people necessarily have the motivation to do that.” The Gay Transgender Straight Alliance club (GTSA) is another source to which students can turn with questions. Evan, however, didn’t feel comfortable joining the club because he said there was a social stigma. “The GTSA of a school has the power
Some days I feel like a boy, sometimes I feel like both. It’s really fluid.
Infographic by Sam Sheridan
Going to Toys ‘R Us as a 7-year-old was like winning a free ticket to the VIP section of Outside Lands. You walk in, smell the cheap plastic, and run toward the Hot Wheels Cars. But the store clerk is in your way. He points to the sign of the toy car aisle, and gives you that same look that campus security gives you when you walk in late to first period. The aisle is astoundingly blue, from shelves, to tiles, to packaging. Your mom is dragging you to the pink-haired Polly Pockets, and for the first time you understand what sets boys and girls apart. When it begins, it’s just the colors on the blankets you receive at the hospital when you’re born. Then it’s the toys you play with in kindergarten. Then you’re in AP Literature while your guy friend is in AP Economics, and he’s the one to ask you to prom with an explosion of pink glitter and roses. But what if you feel wrong in this mold? As a recent Bark survey revealed, for 7 percent of Redwood students, the question of gender isn’t as simple as the blue or pink blanket assigned to them at birth. They are facing questions of identity that go beyond the status quo: They identify as transgender. A person’s sex is the biological and physiological characteristics that make them male or female, while gender is the behavior, attitudes and feelings that society aligns with either biological sex, according to The American Psychological Association. “I came out as trans the beginning of junior year, ” said senior Franchy Mascaro, who generally prefers the pronouns “they” and “them” instead of gender specific pronouns. “There are different varieties of [transgender] like female to male, male to female, all that stuff, and I figured out that I was more genderfluid.” Genderfluid and genderqueer are two
said. “But I was never quite comfortable people deal with everyday.” The widely viewed T.V show “Orange as [a girl]. When I grew up I realized there was this whole other community of trans is the New Black,” for example, shows the coming out process of a trans woman people. ” Mascaro and Klein said they have as one rocked by turmoil and dejection, generally been accepted at Redwood for setting a distressing expectation for teens their gender identities. Others, however, coming out today. “I thought I was gonna get kicked out. face adversity. “Evan,” a senior at Tamiscal who I have a lot of friends who are trans–– wished to remain anonymous, transferred they’re trans-boys, trans-girls, they’re all from Redwood before his junior year these different binary stuff––and the first because he felt judged for being a thing they tell me is, ‘My parent’s didn’t get it at first,’” Mascaro said. transgender boy. Trans teens face the unique challenge “We’re standing on our number in P.E, of telling their loved and we had a sub that ones that an integral part day, and the sub looked of their identity does at me, looked at the not match the world’s name on the list, looked perception of them. at me again,” Evan “Freshman year, said. “He looks at me, I told my mom, ‘All looks down and kind of these changes that does this double take. were happening to my And he’s like, ‘Are body through puberty you…’ and then he says were making me really my birth name. And uncomfortable,’” Evan I’m like, ‘Yes…’ and he Franchy Mascaro, said. “And she said, goes, ‘Oh I thought you senior ‘All girls feel that way, were a boy.’” you’ll be fine.’ I never At Redwood, brought it up for years this case of mistaken identity was not uncommon for Evan, after that.” For those who are genderqueer, coming who, at the time of the interaction, went by a gender neutral nickname and appeared out to loved ones can double as a lesson androgynous, as he was not yet “out” as about the gender spectrum. “Some days I do feel like a girl, like the transgender. “I guess the social pressure kind of got girl I was born into, but some days I don’t– to me, eventually. So when people would –I feel like nothing, like I don’t have either. ask me, ‘Are you a boy?’ I’d be like, Some days I feel like a boy, sometime I feel ‘What, are you kidding?’ I’d act really like both, it’s really fluid,” Mascaro said. Mascaro came out to their dad before upset over it, but I didn’t actually feel that upset over it,” Evan said. “What began to coming out to their mom because they felt upset me was when people said things like that their mom’s strict Catholic upbringing would prevent her from accepting them. ‘Young lady.’” Mascaro’s father’s reaction was better According to a recent Bark survey, 20 percent of Redwood students don’t than they expected. “My dad’s like, ‘Really that’s all? Like consider a transgender woman a “real” you’re worried about telling me that, that’s woman. YOU?’” Mascaro said. “I freaked out for Coming out nothing because he told me that ‘I’ll always Teens who fall under the transgender love you no matter what, as long as you’re
of the many terms used to describe people whose gender lies outside of the binary. “Binary” is the term that describes the two fixed gender categories of girl or boy. Transgender, an umbrella term, refers to people who transition from girl to boy and vice versa as well as those who identify outside the gender binary. Sophomore Talia Klein is non-binary, and also prefers the pronouns “they” and “them.” Some days, Klein identifies as a girl, and some days they do not. Klein said that the transgender community was the first place where they could feel comfortable in their own skin. “When I was younger I never really felt like I fit in as a girl. It’s what everyone else was doing and I was born female,” Klein
umbrella often face a difficult transition period of coming out to their friends and family. Popular media’s portrayal of the process does not help, Klein said. Many movies and TV shows depict the transition period for trans youth as rough, so this perceived experience is one trans youth in real life come to expect for themselves. “I think that portraying a trans person, like say Caitlyn Jenner, is not representing the trans community as it really needs to be represented because, in her case, her transition was made easier by resources that she had,” Klein said. “Trans people don’t really have that many representatives in the media that are accurate to people’s everyday struggles and the things that
In School
Although the Bay Area has historically been known as a safe haven for people of varying sexual and gender identities, young adults figuring out their identities say they are subject to conflicting messages in school. “We weren’t really taught about it until eighth grade, and it was a one-day
Terms Genderfluid: Genderfluid individuals may have different gender identities at different times. Non-binary: Non-binary is an umbrella term that refers to any gender identity that doesn’t fit into the gender binary of male or female. Genderqueer: Genderqueer is also an umbrella term that refers to non-normative gender identity, and might be used by someone who wants to identify as non-binary but does not want to go into specifics about their gender identity. Transgender: An umbrella term that covers all gender identities outside of society’s constructs of gender. It is widely used to describe someone who wishes to identify as the opposite gender assigned to them. Cisgender: Someone who is not transgender, whose assigned sex and gender match up. Source: Nonbinary.org Photos by Robin Naylor
WITHIN THE TRANSGENDER community, senior Franchy Mascaro (above) identifies as genderfluid and sophomore Talia Klein (below) identifies as non-binary. to basically make or break some of these students lives,” Evan said. “Nobody would talk about [the club] and I was afraid of the stigma of what would happen if I did go there because then everyone would know that I was a ‘lesbian.’ I showed up once. And then I left, because they talked about how they felt and that’s it.” The president of the GTSA, senior Matthew Moser, thinks that the club is best utilized as a “safe space.” “While we may talk about our feelings, it’s not about what us, as the [club officers] want. It’s about what the people in the club want because we are here to help them,” he said. “ There is no social stigma coming to this club. We’re open to anyone regardless of gender or sexuality, anyone questioning, or who just wants someone to talk to–– that’s what we’re here for.”
Bullying
It is not a new phenomenon for students with different identities to face negative reactions from peers. Though many may believe that bullying doesn’t occur at Redwood, 29 percent of the total student body reported being bullied at school in a recent Bark survey. “I would get really paranoid about people whispering about me because it would happen all the time, like everyday in all my classes,” Evan said. According to a study done by the National Center of Transgender Inequality in 2011, 82 percent of transgender youth feel unsafe at school. “P.E. was a time where it was
particularly bad. I was walking out of the locker room, and there were these two people, a guy and a girl, who referred to me as ‘it,’” Evan said. “I’m a freshman, I’m 14. I’m just like, ‘That’s never happened before, oh my god.’” The “coming out” process can be emotionally draining for teens whose peers do not understand what it means to be transgender. Klein said they have had people “give a type of look” that conveyed they didn’t understand and “didn’t try to understand” Klein’s identity when Klein told people about their pronouns. “It made me feel kind of unwelcomed and uncomfortable. It was not a good feeling overall when you find that this is who you are, it’s your identity, and you’re sharing it with other people and they just reject you for it,” Klein said. Some in the trans community stress the importance of asking for someone’s pronouns upon meeting them. “I think a good thing to do is just when you meet someone, ask what their pronouns are. That’s something really respectful, and it’s nice if you’re going to be referring to someone to use the correct pronoun,” Klein said. Switching from one pronoun to another is an integral part of being transgender, and when friends and family acknowledge the switch, it can be a subtle way for them to show they accept someone’s transition, according to Klein. “Both sides of my family are from Peru, ” Mascaro said. “They were like, ‘We can’t really say your pronouns in Spanish,
but we’ll respect your wishes.’ Spanish is hard with ‘they.’ They just kind of say ‘she,’ and I’m like, ‘That’s fine, I get it. It’s hard for you guys, but you’re trying and I can see that.’” Mascaro came out to their teachers last year, and says that their teachers were all very accommodating of their new pronouns. Not everyone is so understanding, as Evan remembers. “The spring of freshman year, I think it was the day where the taunting was really bad, I tried to explain to someone who I knew, what ‘they’ pronouns were,” Evan said.“ They said, “‘What, are you two people? That’s a plural pronoun, that doesn’t make any sense to me. That’s weird.’ They basically completely invalided an essential part of my identity, and I was horrified.”
Depression
LGBT youth are six times more likely to have serious depression than non-LGBT kids, according to the Center for Disease Control. “I took a lot of pills with the intent to kill myself when I was 14, when I was 15, and once when I was 16,” Evan said. 41 percent of transgender people attempt suicide at least one time in their lives, according to a study by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “Thankfully nothing bad happened. I just kind of threw up a lot. I never went to the hospital because the first few times, nobody knew about it,” Evan said. “I felt
like it was worth it to not exist rather than be who I was supposed to be because I did not know anybody like me,” An April 2011 study published by the Williams Institute found that 0.3 percent of the population identified as transgender. “I knew they were out there, but I knew that they would get murdered or beat up upon being found out, or oversexualized in some groups, [or called] “tranny.” I was afraid that I would be the next target,” Evan said. There was an 11 percent increase in homicides experienced by LGBT communities from 2013 to 2014, according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. “I had thought about suicide. And my dad was like, listen, ‘The bad stuff that’s happening now, don’t take it as a way to end it all, take it as a way to say [expletive] you to all the haters who say you can’t be trans or you can’t be a certain way, or you have to look a certain way. Tell them [expletive] you for surviving all this shit, because this is tough shit,’” Mascaro said. “And so I did. Here I am today!”
rnaylor@redwoodbark.org For the full story visit www.redwoodbark.org.
November 6, 2015 bark Page 14 • Sports Volleyball continues hot streak despite key injury By Kaylee Bushell It was all smiles and celebrations among the girls’ varsity volleyball team. It seemed as if nothing was in the way of the Giants’ perfect record—not even Branson, who they defeated for the first time in two years. With just a few weeks until MCAL playoffs, the Giants are now trying to recover from losing one of their key starters. Just after the Giants’ game against Branson, junior Claire Jackson sprained her ankle at a tournament, benching her for the rest of the season. Jackson was one of the team’s “twin towers,” along with junior McKenzie Cooke. According to senior captain Lily Barber, the two were a major factor in the team’s success. “They both are aggressive outside hitters with really big arms on the court. Together they were the twin towers,” Barber said. While it was a devastating loss, the team will utilize its depth to make up for it. According to Barber, the team will quickly be able to adjust to the loss of Jackson heading into the remaining weeks of the season play. Sophomore Niquee D’Ancona has stepped up to fill Jackson’s place as an outside hitter, keeping the team together before the next big game. “Claire was such a strong player overall and I am trying hard to fill in. It has been a big step up so far,” D’Ancona said. D’Ancona also said the team has been very encouraging and supportive, telling her what to work on and what she has been doing well. Currently, the team is undefeated with a 10-0 record in MCALs and a 25-4 record overall. The team hopes to maintain its winning streak so it can finish first in MCALs for the first time in a while. “It was definitely a really devastating experience for all of the girls when Claire got injured, but we’ve all seemed to bounce back, filling the hole,” Barber said. According to Barber, D’Ancona is a strong hitter with a lot of potential. “She’s younger, but can pick up to the speed of play, getting more aggressive like Claire in a short period of time. She has done a good job stepping up to the plate,” Barber said. According to Barber, D’Ancona’s skills are already at a high level despite being a sophomore. “She has really good ball control and a strong arm, which is what we needed,” Barber said. The team’s last big game against Marin Catholic ended
Photo by Kaylee Bushell
SENIOR MARGUERITE SPAETHLING serves the ball during the Giants’ game against Marin Catholic on game night. Redwood is currently first place in MCAL with a strong core of upperclassmen. in a victory for Redwood, finishing in three quick sets. “We already saw our Freshman and JV teams lose, so it was our turn to take home the win. We just went out there like any other game and we beat them before, so we knew we could do it,” D’Ancona said. According to Barber, Redwood already had a leg up heading into the game because Marin Catholic’s libero injured her knee and didn’t play. Senior captain Marguerite Spaethling also believes the team will come out strong and is extremely confident in their future success. “We have to keep going strong and not let up,” Spaethling said. “We know we have the potential.” Both Barber and Spaethling have high expectations for the team and hope they can repeat their NCS run last year as well as take the MCAL pennant. According to both captains, everyone will be putting in
more effort and cleaning up their play, tweaking the little things. Spaethling also is looking to enforce her leadership on the court. “As a captain I try and be a role model player-that clutch player who will step up whenever the time comes. I need to be a force out on the court,” Spaethling said. Right now, as the team is still recovering from the loss of Jackson, Spaethling says the best thing for the team at this point is for everyone to stay focused. “We need to try and not lose a set with the less competitive teams. It is all going to come down to the end results,” Spaethling said. With both strong upperclassmen and underclassmen, the team hopes they will finish out the season well. kbushell@redwoodbark.org
Freshman contributes to cross country’s successful run the advice given to him. “He knows when to press, when to relax, when to step up to a situation, After running a mile in just six minutes and when to back off. He has great race and 50 seconds in fifth grade, freshman instincts,” Schmitt said. Anderson considers senior Andy Liam Anderson discovered his talent for Ehrenberg his role model because of running. Anderson is currently ranked third Ehrenberg’s abilities and attitude. “At practices on the men’s varsity [Ehrenberg] really cross country team. pushes the team to do He placed fourth out better. He works really of 194 runners in the hard and because of that freshman/sophomore he does really well,” division at the De La Anderson said. Salle Invitational and Likewise, Ehrenberg 99th of 231 seeded values having Anderson runners at the Stanford on the team, and believes Invitational. that his abilities are a His passion for vital addition to the racing cross country Laura Schmitt, success of the team. sparks from the cross country coach “Normally we don’t independence he feels put pressure on freshman while he runs. to succeed and we “You are really racing yourself so you have to push don’t rely on their success for the team’s yourself. [Racing] is really more about success,” Ehrenberg said. “But with Liam pushing yourself, whereas with a lot of we have some piece of mind that he will other team sports, you are comparing contribute. He handles his position with huge maturity.” yourself to other people,” Anderson said. This year, Anderson hopes to make the Anderson trains every day after school with his team. His workouts are varied, top 180 at state and plans to run track and so while some days he runs mile repeats, field in the spring. In the future, Anderson would like to win NCS by his junior year other days he will run for 50 minutes. According to cross country head coach and his division at state before he graduates. “He will get everything out of the sport Laura Schmitt, Anderson’s success stems that he should because he works that hard,” from his poise and self-confidence. “He carries himself with dignity, and it Schmitt said. is obvious that whatever he does, he will be good at it,” Schmitt said. According to Schmitt, Anderson is easy to coach because he immediately applies skimball@redwoodbark.org By Sarah Kimball
He’ll get everything out of the sport that he should because he works that hard.
Photo by Sarah Kimball
FRESHMAN LIAM ANDERSON warms up before a cross country practice. Anderson has been a standout runner in his first year as a high school cross country athlete.
bark Football enters new winning era under Coach Talley Page 15 • Sports
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By Adam Kreitzman The scoreboard read 61-13 in favor of Redwood as time expired in the fourth quarter of a blowout win over Drake, marking the first time in seven years that the varsity football team has achieved a winning season and qualified for NCS. The stout defense coupled with a monstrous rushing attack headed by junior Nick Calzaretta were once again the storylines of the Giants’ victory. According to first-year head coach Allen Talley, their ability to run the ball was the main catalyst for the impressive turnaround this season. “This year we were able to build an identity of running the football,” Talley said. “Our opponents would always come into the game focused on trying to stop the run, but they still couldn’t stop it.” Talley added that the versatility they have at the running back position allowed them to thrive on the ground. “Obviously we have Nick [Calzaretta] who can do a bit of everything, but we also have a power back in [junior] Kyle Fulton and a change-of-pace speed back in [senior] Jono Chu,” Talley said. “It keeps the defense off-balance so that they do not know what to expect from us.” According to Calzaretta, the new coaching staff this year has done a masterful job. “Week in and week out the coaches have done a very good job of preparing us for the upcoming game,” Calzaretta said. “I think that [coaching] has been the main reason for our success this season.” The team faced adversity early on in the season, dropping their first two games and watching both Calzaretta and senior Enzo Tallerico, their top two offensive players, temporarily go down with injuries. However, they were able to turn things around with a 14-7 win against Terra Linda, and channeled the momentum into their next slate of games when Calzaretta and Tallerico were healthy. Junior Trevor Foehr assumed the new role of starting quarterback Alex Wilson, after the 0-2 start, and has led them to a 5-2 junior record in their last seven games. “Trevor has always had the physical tools to be successful,” said senior Jake Curhan, a three-year varsity player and Cal commit on the offensive line. “He has developed into a very good game manager this year, and he still has the potential to improve down the line.” Junior safety Alex Wilson echoed Curhan’s praise of Foehr. “We have definitely surrounded him with support as he has adapted to a new position that he has only played for two years now,” Wilson said. “He has definitely
Photo by Adam Kreitzman
SENIOR JAKE CURHAN raises his hands up while pass-rushing to try and block a pass during their 61-13 win against Drake on Oct. 31. Curhan, one of the team captains, has been a two-way player this year on both sides of the line. stepped up and worked hard this year and it is showing on the field.” The football program has been trending upwards as of late and is in a good place under Talley, according to Curhan. “Since the team relies upon a lot of juniors, they will return a lot of starters next year,” Curhan said. “They are just going to continue to get better and better, and I think this group will be able to do something special.” According to Talley, the consistency of the team on a weekly basis allowed them to string together some impressive wins. “Other than a couple of hiccups, we played well every week, which is very important if you want to be a good football team,” Talley said. Talley added that the effort put forth by the team this year is vital to how the program will fare in the future. “The seniors have tried to start something this year, and hopefully the juniors on this team will carry that over to next year and continue to get better,” Talley said. According to Wilson, being a junior-
A ton of juniors have stepped up this year to fill in the holes.
Photo by Adam Kreitzman
JUNIOR NICK CALZARETTA breaks a tackle before exploding for a long gain, one of many during Redwood’s game against Drake.
heavy team hasn’t kept them from place at Redwood on Saturday. With a exceeding preseason expectations. win, the Giants would likely finish at third “We lost a ton of players last year, place in MCAL, and continue their current including almost the entirety of our momentum into NCS playoffs. defensive starters,” Wilson said. “A ton of As for what the future holds, Wilson juniors have stepped up this year to fill in the was optimistic about how the program will holes. I think part of the fare in the future under reason we have played Talley. well is because a lot of “I think he’ll be able us have been teammates to carry the team far in since middle school and the near future,” Wilson we are familiar with said. “Especially with one another. We have the coaching assistants incredible chemistry he brought in, he should and it has made a huge be able to develop the difference out on the younger kids into good field.” football players.” Wilson credited Talley said that the Talley with bringing Allen Talley, increased effort of the in a coaching staff that head football coach players bodes well for could elevate the team the future. to the next level. “The kids are the “Talley is a huge reason for everything motivator, and he has brought with him a good that has happened this year,” Talley bunch of coaches with tons of coaching said. “As long as we can keep up the experience,” Wilson said. participation and hard work we will be able Wilson singled out offensive to have success.” coordinator Christopher Augusto, a former Curhan hopes to defeat Marin Catholic assistant under Jeff Tedford at Cal, as a in his final MCAL regular season game. coach who has stepped in and strengthened “We have never beaten Marin Catholic the offense. in my time at Redwood,” Curhan said. “To “Coach Augusto established a new be able to go out with a win against Marin offensive system that has worked really Catholic would be pretty special.” well this year so far,” Wilson said. “The Next year, they will have 17 returning offensive revival has been one of the most starters, including impact players such as important parts to our run in MCAL this Wilson, Foehr, Calzaretta, and Fulton. year. Our defense has always been strong, According to Curhan, Calzaretta is but adding an extra strength to our team the most effective offensive player in the allowed us to win some games with our league. offense instead of having to hold teams to “He has really come into his own this a low amount of points.” year,” Curhan said. “He has become a Before NCS playoffs, the team will beast out of the backfield that is almost have a huge matchup with rival Marin impossible to bring down without multiple Catholic, the top-ranked team in MCAL. people. I think that he is easily the best Despite recent struggles against Marin running back in the enitrety of MCAL, its Catholic in years past, Wilson believes they not even close.” present a tough matchup for the reigning Wilson said that the ceiling on the MCAL champions. team’s potential is very high. “We are riding a huge wave of “I think we are just going to keep momentum this year, and I think we improving next year,” Wilson said. “If all definitely have a shot to take down [Marin goes as planned we will be able to do some Catholic],” Wilson said. damage in MCAL and hopefully go down However, Wilson acknowledged that in the record books next season.” the upcoming game will be very tough. “Marin Catholic has a very good team, but I am confident in our team and we are all very aware of the magnitude of this game,” Wilson said. The final regular season game will take akreitzman@redwoodbark.org
The kids are the reason for everything good that’s happened.
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Montoya shines as natural leader in the water By Keely Jenkins Senior Charlotte Montoya had never played a season of water polo before her sophomore year, but that didn’t stop her from making the varsity team and eventually being selected as one of two team captains this year. Montoya was selected to be team captain by coach Kirsten Frazer, who required the girls to email her a paragraph about why they thought they should be captain. Montoya was chosen because she stepped up as a leader during the 2014 season after the team’s former team captain was unable to be present at every practice and game due to other engagements, according to Frazer. “Charlotte’s the kind of person who is a natural leader and she thrives in that leadership role, so it was just very fitting for her personality and her commitment to the team,” Frazer said. A swimmer, track and field thrower, former basketball player, and volleyball player, Montoya has played “almost every sport under the sun.” She began playing water polo after a shoulder injury, which impaired her ability to continue her volleyball career. Montoya hadn’t considered joining water polo until her friend, Sophie Parker, recommended it to her. According to Parker, though Montoya did not get much playing time her first year, she still got more than other players who had been playing for several years. “In her first game she scored two goals, which was impressive,” Parker said. The 2013 season was difficult for the entire team. According to Montoya, the overwhelming loss of senior players forced
the coach to place sophomores as well as upperclassmen on the varsity team. At the end of the season, the team was 12th in a league of 13. Despite this, Montoya remained optimistic about the future, believing it was still an important year because it would allow the team to bond and build communication. “She would comfort us and tell us it would be better the next time and then that next year we did way better than the year before. I think she had a lot to do with it,” Parker said. “She definitely shows a lot of emotional support for our whole team.” In the 2014 season, the team ascended the rankings by placing sixth out of 13 teams, a significant improvement from the prior year. According to Parker, Montoya’s leadership during the losses was very effective, and contributed to her supportive nature as a team captain. During a recent loss in a tournament game, Montoya pulled the team aside to comfort the players. According to Parker, a lack of subs had caused the referee to end the game early, which disappointed the girls who had shown up wanting to play. “It was terrible and half our team was crying,” Parker said. “She held a team meeting while we were in the pool without our coach, and told us no matter what our coach said, we needed to stay strong.” Parker also praised Montoya’s selflessness, dedication, inclusiveness, and humor––she said these qualities make her a natural leader and easy to trust. Frazer values Montoya’s ability to balance being friendly and firm with the team. Montoya, she claimed, was skilled at being the peer voice of the team.
SPORTS SPOTLIGHT
Photo by Keely Jenkins
“She puts in the time and she works really hard so they have a level of respect for her as their peer. They listen to her and that makes an effective captain,” Frazer said. “She helps motivate the team since there is a certain amount they listen to me, but I am somewhat like a parent to them so it’s sometime more effective if it comes from one of them.” What did not come as innately as leadership was translating the skills from other sports to water polo. Montoya said that she struggled with combining ball handling and swimming, both skills she acquired from previous sports. “The swimming came naturally and the ball handling came naturally, but putting the two together definitely took me time to really get it down,” Montoya said. “I am still working on it.” Instead, her strengths lie in assisting shooters and defending the goal, which is a result of years of swimming and basketball, Montoya said. She considers basketball the sport that supported her defensive abilities, since it’s similar to guarding. Swimming,
on the other hand, trained her to have the stamina to keep up with the other varsity water polo players. Frazer, who has known Montoya for two years, commented that Montoya has evolved to become more confident in the pool and is able to predict where help is needed. This capability has helped make her a strong player as well as good leader, she said. “I can yell from the pool deck, but you really need someone in the water who’s also a leader and I think she really developed that this year,” Frazer said. “What she did last year, leading them a little bit here and there, helped her have confidence to do it even more so this year.” The girls’ water polo season ended on Tuesday, Oct. 28. The girls’ varsity team beat Tam, despite being the underdogs. After their win, the girls celebrated their victory, but not before Montoya made sure they each thanked and shook hands with the Tam team. kjenkins@redwoodbark.org
Experience carries wrestling team into optimistic season By Jason Fieber
The wrestling team began the 2015-2016 season optimistically, hoping to build on its previously successful year that ended the 41-year MCAL championship drought. Wrestling walked away with a win in last year’s MCAL dual meet championship for the first time since 1973. The team also competed at the NCS dual meet championship and went 2-2, winning wrestling’s first NCS match in Redwood history. “It’s hard to explain [the feeling],” fourth-year wrestler Riley Dow said. “It’s so awesome because our team is now going to be remembered in Redwood history, hopefully forever.” Head coach Alan Morris believes that Redwood is “the team to beat” in MCALs, and holds high expectations for the team. “Our sights are set on the NCS dual meet championship,” Morris said. “This year I think we have a really good shot at placing third.” The team was successful last year, and Morris said that he expects the team to perform even better this year. He attributes the likelihood of their success to the team’s overall experience. “This year we have the broadest base of experience that we have ever had,” Morris said. “In wrestling, experience is critical. Even if you are a fantastic athlete, it takes two years before you really get a feel for what is going on.” Dow added that having experience is crucial when competing in a match. “It’s just being in situations and learning from those situations,” Dow said. “All that experience just builds on itself and allows you to make smart decisions.” The team will begin this season Riley Dow, with a strong group of upperclassmen senior who Morris hopes will carry them to success. “Last year we had two seniors [who graduated]. This year we will have three seniors and a solid group of juniors,” Morris said. In his nine years coaching, Morris said he has seen great improvement in the team as a whole and has great confidence in its success.
Photo courtesy of Alan Morris
JUNIOR SIMON ERMOLOV faces off against his opponent. Ermolov was one of many wrestlers who contributed to Redwood’s successful season last year. “This is the best team that we have had in the last eight years,” Morris said. Dow said that this is the best and smartest team that he has played on in his career. Morris said that this improvement can be attributed to a renewed interest in the sport, which has increased as individual wrestlers began to compete at the NCS level in recent seasons. “Our outstanding athletes have had success and that gave us a little more visibility,” Morris said. However, new athletes alone would not be enough to bolster the team, according to Morris. “Even if you are a great athlete when you first come out to the wrestling team, you are going to pay your dues,” Morris said. Dow added that, through training, Morris is able to improve the performance of both new and returning athletes.
Our team is now going to be remembered in Redwood history...
This system helped elevate the team from an inexperienced one to one with NCS aspirations. Morris foresees particular strength and success in the middleweight division, and believes the lightweight division will be successful as well due to help from new additions. He said the heavyweight division has been a hole in the team in the past, but hopes to see a boost from new contenders. The team’s biggest weapon is its ability to pin it’s opponents, according to Morris. In wrestling it is more beneficial to pin an opponent than to simply demonstrate control during a match. “Since our team is very good at pinning we try to make up for the holes in our lineup by dominating the matches that we wrestle,” Morris said. Morris added that his teamates are able to use techniques that emphasize pins in order to establish this match dominance. According to Dow, a strong bond among members of the team has lead to much of its success. jfieber@redwoodbark.org
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Offensive duo motivates boys’ varsity water polo
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By Sydney Soofer Junior Francesco Cico drives the ball down the side of the pool, dodging defenders left and right. Junior hole set Wyatt Barker calls for the ball, and like it’s second nature, Cico lobs the ball right into Barker’s hands. Without hesitation, Barker launches the ball into the top right hand corner of the cage and the ball sinks into the back of the net. Redwood secures its lead, and both players and spectators can feel the vibrant energy emitted from Cico and Barker. This scenario is a common occurrence for the varsity water polo team, which is currently 10-2 in the standings. “Our energy pushes each other and translates to our teammates,” Cico said. “When T-bone [Barker] and I are pumped for a game, the energy level will definitely rise for the entire team and we ultimately play better.” Cico has been a key player on the team, a varsity starter since his freshman year. He brings a sense of steadiness and experience to the squad. By contrast, Barker is a first-year varsity water polo player. Despite his inexperience on varsity, he performs strongly in the “hole set” position, an offensive position in front of the goal that is very difficult. “[Barker] adds a lot of depth to the team,” Cico said. “He hasn’t been coached by Rudy for as long as the rest of us have, so he brings a different and fresh perspective
Photo by Sydney Soofer
JUNIORS WYATT BARKER and Francesco Cico, two of the water polo team’s top players, have been playing together for a number of years. Their chemistry has helped propel the team to North Coast Section. of water polo.” The duo has been teammates and friends since the third grade, giving them a “leg up” from their fellow team mates because of their deep chemistry. “I feel like I always know what he is going to do before he does it,” Cico said. “I can always count on him to come through.” Barker echoed Cico’s sentiment, reinforcing the strength of their relationship.
“I’m willing to put [myself] on the line for Cico in order for him to step up his game and play well,” Barker said. Redwood is currently third place in Marin County, behind Drake and Tam. Despite the strong leadership and skills that Cico and Barker possess, they were not able to pull through a win against the #1 seed, Drake. However, Redwood managed to beat Tam 14-8 in the MCAL playoffs. Drake has always been a strong team,
and a challenge for Redwood to beat. “In the Drake game we were both super pumped to play against our friends and play good competition,” Barker said “That was by far the best game we ever played. Even though we didn't win, we fought as hard as we could.” Redwood is hoping to secure a win in its next game Saturday, Nov. 7, in NCS. ssoofer@redwoodbark.org
Girls’ tennis falls just short in MCAL championship By Heidi Roenisch and Henry Tantum Bright lights. A silenced crowd. Match point—the winner breaks the tie and takes home the pennant. Redwood’s season up to this point had been one of unrivaled success, with an undefeated MCAL record and an overall record of 15-1. They had cruised past rivals Tam and Branson easily during the regular season, and swept the MCAL semifinals against Marin Catholic without losing a single match. A lightning fast serve. A flurry of forehands. Finally, a backhand baseline winner sends Tam stampeding on to the court, celebrating their upset victory. After nine matches, five and a half hours, and a venue relocation, the girl’s varsity tennis team was edged out by Tam 5-4 in the MCAL finals on Oct. 29, ruining their undefeated season and preventing them from winning back-to-back league championships. Tam, the no. 2 seed, upset the top-seeded Redwood team in a marathon match that ended after a close third set in the doubles match between Redwood sophomores Molly Kehoe and Christine Watridge, and Tam’s Sara Tierney and Kendall Hiti. According to junior Natalie Epstein, the loss was more surprising than upsetting. “We had beaten them twice before in the regular season so I think that there was sort of an expectation that we would be able to win even when we started losing the early matches,” Epstein said. The completion of the final two matches was suspended at 6:15 p.m. due to darkness and moved from Tam High School to The Club at Harbor Point, a facility with lights. The location change proved unlucky for Redwood as they proceeded to lose both matches and ultimately the pennant. According to Epstein, who was midway through a doubles match when the decision was made to move to The Club at Harbor Point, the location change was a disadvantage to her and her doubles partner, Geneva Gist. “Geneva and I had a lot of momentum after we won the game [at Tam], so I think the change in location was more harmful than helpful for us,” Epstein said. “It slowed down our momentum and allowed the other team to strategize.” Redwood started slowly, losing three of the first four matches, including losses by the third and fourth ranked singles players Jacqueline Massey-Blake and Devon Cusack. However, a quick succession of wins from Lauren Wolfe, Abby Mullins, and Lindsay Thornton seemed to shift the momentum in favor of the Giants. According to head coach Marlies Zeisler, the team could have won the title if they had come into the game more prepared.
Photo by Heidi Roenisch
JUNIOR LINDSAY THORNTON returns a serve during the MCAL finals against Tam. Redwood went on to lose the match by a score of 5-4, despite beating Tam in the regular season by a score of 8-1. “[Tam] came out ready to play and we didn’t. Some of our girls fought, but not like I’ve seen them fight,” Zeisler said. “We were overconfident because we beat [Tam] 8-1 last time we played them. We practiced hard, but maybe we could have been more serious.” Epstein believes that although the Redwood team did not win MCALs again this year, the team was still more talented than that of last year. “I think overall we have more depth all the way down the ladder [than last year]. Even though we didn’t play like we did last year, I think overall we had maybe a better team,” Epstein said. However, the Giants two best singles players, Lauren Wolfe and Abby Mullins, will graduate this year, as well as sixth ranked Geneva Gist. Despite these losses, Redwood will gain Lise Swain, the 51st ranked female player in California (Tennis Recruiting Network). Swain was ineligible to play this year after transferring from St. Ignatius in January. Epstein believes that the team will remain competitive
next year if they are willing to put in the effort. “We are losing a couple of our top players so everyone will have to really step up and work hard over the offseason,” Epstein said. “But I think we will definitely have a strong team again [next year] if everyone is willing to work hard.” Zeisler believes that by rearranging their lineup, Redwood could fare well in North Coast Sectionals (NCS). “NCS allows us to put some of our great singles players in doubles, which makes us very strong. That’s actually what [Tam Coach] Bill Washauer did. He took his No. 5 singles player and moved her up to No. 2 doubles. That made a huge difference,” Zeisler said. Seedings for NCS playoffs, which consists of four singles and three doubles entries that advance independently of their team, will be announced Nov. 7-8.
bark@redwoodbark.org
November 6, 2015 bark Page 18 • Sports Marin Rowing places at Head of the Charles race By Ovie Crum Since 1965, the Head of the Charles race has welcomed over 400,000 spectators and 11,000 athletes to the twoday international rowing competition, located in Boston, Mass. This year, the Marin Rowing youth varsity eight boats had extremely successful races, with the girls placing second and the boys placing first out of the 85 boats in their respective groups. Redwood seniors James Ash, Brandon Levy, Mark Levinson, Haley Tong, Nina Segedin and juniors Caroline Noble and Mckenna Bonkowski rowed in the competition as part of the Marin Rowing varsity eight boats, along with several students from other local high schools. Though only the varsity eight boats made the trip to Boston, the Marin Rowing program is home to rowers of many skill levels. Those chosen to compete in the Head of the Charles have been racing for three to four years and began preparation for this particular race at the beginning of the school year, according to Noble. The rowers for both the girls’ and boys’ varsity eight boat are selected through erg tests Photo by Kaylee Bushell and seat racing, Noble said. Erg testing takes place on a stationary THE GIRLS’ VARSITY boat, including Redwood students Caroline Noble, Haley Tong and Nina Segedin, rows during practice in erging machine while seat racing is tested preparation for the Head of the Charles race in Boston. on the water. When seat racing, individual all the turns down. You hear a lot about Levy said. rowers are switched in and out of the boat according to Levy. Many of the rowers had raced Head the course and can look at a map but it’s Because the competition is a head race, to see who can row the fastest. boats do not race alongside each other. However, some rowers are placed of the Charles before, which Levinson different being there,” Tong said. According to Levy, the Head of the Instead, their start times are determined into specific seats in the boat because of believes contributed to the success of Charles race course is very difficult to by past results, and staggered by ten their racing style, according to coxswain Marin Rowing this year. “Last year we maneuver. However, he said he felt more seconds. Boats do not know how well Tong. had really high prepared having attended the race last year they are doing in relation to other teams “Caroline is in her expectations and ended as well. until the results are announced, since no seat because of her up not having a great Since it’s a two boats start at the rhythm, because in the race, but I think this coxswain’s job to same time. Because of stroke seat you have to year was a lot different steer the boat and their results from last set the rhythm,” Tong because we went into direct the rowers, the year, the girls’ boat was said. “And then there is it with a more humble difficulty of the course the fifth to start, and the the bow seat, who has view,” Levinson said. can change their boys’ was the second to to have a really good The boys’ varsity performance. Head start. technique because it’s eight boat arrived in of the Charles’s “It was a good a lot about setting the Boston on Wednesday course has 90 degree feeling throughout the boat [balancing the Brandon Levy, Oct. 14, while the girls’ turns and five bridges race, although you know boat] back there, and senior arrived on Thursday, over its 400 meter how you did relative to then in the middle it is Mark Levinson, Oct. 15. The space length, which, the boats ahead of you about who is the most senior in arrivals was due to according to Levy, is and behind you. As much powerful. So there are the coaches’ different an extremely difficult as we felt confident there roles to fill within each estimates about how much time they course. was still that feeling of seat.” The boys’ varsity uncertainty,” Levy said. Segedin and Noble are the best at needed to prepare. The boys were able to practice on the boat has placed first in their division almost Marin Rowing’s season is just setting the rhythm while Bonkowski was chosen because of her power, according to course on both Thursday and Friday, while every year since they entered the race in beginning. They will be training throughout the girls could only practice once because 2010. The one exception to their winning the winter, and will be participating in Tong. “It’s about the eight people who flow of their later arrival. The Masters races, streak is last year’s race, where they placed local regattas, but their next big race, the made of boats made up of athletes who are second. San Diego Crew Classic, will not occur the best together,” Noble said. Their past performance in the until April 2016. While rowers are picked because they past collegiate level, occurred on Saturday. perform well on specific tests, coxswains, Therefore no boats were able to practice on competition was a great incentive when the boys raced, according to Levy. like Levy and Tong, are chosen by their the course that day. The time spent on the course is vital to “Coming back from last year we team members and coaches. Sometimes they are chosen by a simple vote but other the coxswain’s success, according to Tong. wanted to keep Marin’s winning streak “[Experience] on the waterway is really going, that was one of our goals during this times it is more obvious who the most experienced coxswain on the team is, important for a coxswain because you get race was to win and keep the streak going,” ocrum@redwoodbark.org
One of our goals during this race was to win and keep the streak going.
This year was a lot different; we went into it with a more humble view.
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‘He Named Me Malala’ proves an inspirational must-see By Sabrina Dong The documentary, “He Named Me Malala,” released on Oct. 22, is based on the autobiography “I am Malala.” It focuses on the inspiring story of Malala Yousafzai, who bravely spoke out against the Taliban and continues to fight valiantly for female education. The movie is elegantly filmed and offers a refreshing look at the story of Malala and her impact on education in the developing world. The film not only chronicles Malala’s life after leaving Pakistan, her recovery after being shot in the face by the Taliban, and her winning of the Nobel Peace Prize, but also gives viewers a sense of her personality and spirit, through telling stories of her new life in England and recounts of her recovery. Davis Guggenheim, the director of the successful documentary, “Waiting For ‘Superman,’” allowed Malala’s story to be expertly woven through a variety of personal interviews, clips of her daily life, snippets of her various speeches and news appearances, and beautiful animations. Malala’s story began in 2009, when she agreed to write an anonymous blog for the BBC Urdu service, documenting the violence of the Taliban in Swat Valley and the destruction of schools. The Taliban, a destructive Islamic group in Afghanistan, had heavy influence on daily life in the Swat Valley, banning media and limiting women’s freedoms including the right for
females to attend school. Despite all of her accomplishments, After being revealed as the author of Malala, like many teens has to work hard to the blog, Malala and some of her friends complete her homework and maintain her were shot by the Taliban on a school bus grades, she fights with her brothers, on their way home. Suffering she worries about making friends a wound in the head, she at school, and she has crushes. and her family moved to Malala’s sweet and England for safety where lovable personality shines she recovered from the throughout the entire film injury that cost her the through clips that show ability to have full motion her enthusiastically in the left side of her face talking about her favorite and to hear in her left ear. rugby and cricket players Despite this, Malala and her bashful attitude continues to speak out when talking about boys. against the Taliban and The film also offers advocate for the a rare glimpse at the education of girls personality of the people across the world. in Malala’s family. At the age of After moving 17, she became to England, the youngest her mother person to win especially the Nobel struggled Peace Prize, to fit into in 2014. Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures Western The film culture, does an excellent job emphasizing that coping with the foreign language and being although Malala is an international figure separated from her friends in Pakistan. of hope and bravery who has done great Malala and her two brothers, Kushal and work for the fight for education, she is still Atal, playfully tease each other often. Her only a teenager. By alternating between brothers call her a “book addict,” because shots of her progress as a female education she spends so much time studying. Despite advocate and snippets of her daily life, the her diligent study habits and academic makers of the documentary give the viewer success in Pakistan, Malala struggles in her a greater sense of Malala’s personality. new English school, but works very hard
to improve, which exemplifies Malala’s incessant perseverance despite obstacles she faces. Although Malala’s story is well known and has been told through many news platforms and her autobiography, this documentary gives a fresh look at Malala and her influence as an advocate and beacon of hope for girls everywhere. Leaving the film, I felt a more personal connection to Malala. The difference between simply reading her story through news articles and biographies and watching the documentary, hearing her tell it, is significant. The film beautifully captures Malala’s spirit and personality. At the end of the movie, the whole theatre applauded. The documentary leaves you with a lingering feeling of inspiration and hope for the future of education in developing countries. However, this movie may be difficult to see because it is playing in a very limited number of theatres. The film is no longer showing in Marin but it is playing in various theatres in San Francisco. It is also currently avaliable for streaming on Netflix. Despite the limited theatre choice, “He Named Me Malala” qualifies as an inspiring must-see this fall.
sdong@redwoodbark.org
Not so ‘Wiped Out!’ by The Neighbourhood’s new album By Rebecca Smalbach In a departure from the alt-rock feeling of its first album, “I Love You,” The Neighbourhood reaches for a more R&B inspired vibe on its new album, “Wiped Out!” Don’t be fooled by the exclamation point––this album is just as melancholy as the group’s debut album was. However, “Wiped Out!” has teen-angst written all over it. With melodramatic lyrics like “I tried to write your name in the rain/The rain never came” from the song “Daddy Issues,” and predictable lyrics like “I still got a crush, that’s obvious/If nobody’s around, what’s stopping us?” from “Single,” it seems as if many of the songs in this album are a high schooler’s first attempt at a love poem—a bad love poem. These lyrics are redeemed, if only slightly, by the musical backing on “Wiped Out!” Unlike the album “I Love You,” where the majority of the songs had the same laid-back rock or light rap sound, “Wiped Out!” is composed of a patchwork of genres. From their take on pure pop in “Single” to the balladesque “Baby Came Home 2/Valentines” with heavy backing vocals, each song is distinctive. No two songs sound like they come from the same album, but all of the songs still have a sound unique to the The Neighbourhood: soothing with an edgy undercurrent. This is especially evident with the songs “Cry Baby” and “The Beach,” both of which have somnolent vocals with over-produced backing from live instruments. By contrast, “Greetings from Califournia” is one of the more upbeat songs on the album, with funky background drums that offer a nice break from the monotonous trap beats that back the rest of the songs on the album. Another break from monotony comes in the form of the opening track of “Wiped Out!” though this break is not of the pleasant variety. Called “Moment of Silence,” this track is 34 seconds of silence, and I found it unbearably pretentious. It could have been marginally improved if it had been moved to the middle of the album as an interlude, an option that is growing in popularity among other artists like Alt-J and Lana Del Rey. The Neighbourhood makes another mistake with their song order by putting the best song on the album, “R.I.P. 2 My Youth,” last on the tracklist. The clear standout on “Wiped Out!,” “R.I.P. 2 My Youth” is a successful attempt by The Neighbourhood to blend its old sound from “I Love You” with the R&B style as popularized by The Weeknd. With lyrics like “Put me in the dirt, let me dream with
Photo courtesy of Columbia Records
“WIPED OUT!” The Neighbourhood’s sophomore album, lacks the cohesive feel that was so impressive about the band’s first album, “I Love You.” It was released Oct. 30. the stars/Throw me in a box with the oxygen off,” “R.I.P. 2 My Youth” is everything toward which the rest of the album strives, both in terms of its lyrical sophistication and its distinctive yet catchy sound. Most important, it achieves emotional depth with its lyrics, and unlike the rest of the songs on “Wiped Out!” it also has a memorable hook that could achieve success on the airwaves. “Wiped Out!” shows that The Neighbourhood is not afraid to experiment with its sound, though these experiments can be hit or miss.
Little by little, The Neighbourhood is maturing as a band, though this album proves that the group still has room to grow. However, standout songs like “R.I.P. 2 My Youth” mean that when The Neighbourhood does eventually hit its stride, it will do so with great success. For now, fans will have to be satisfied with the jumble of genres to be found on “Wiped Out!” and hope that The Neighbourhood’s next album will be more cohesive.
rsmalbach@redwoodbark.org
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bark
Recent smartphone apps aid productivity, safety By Kylie Kvam
Companion (iOS & Android): Companion is an application that lets friends and family know you made it safely from point A to point B. No matter where you are in the world, the app will allow your friends and family to be assured of your safety. A live map is shared with your chosen companion to give them progress updates on your location, even if they don’t have the app downloaded. The app asks you how you are doing until you reach your destination, and if the user doesn’t respond within 15 seconds, the app notifies your companion. One convenient feature within the app is that you can dial 9-1-1 if there is an emergency and your phone’s GPS automatically sends your location to the nearest dispatcher. Another feature is the “I Feel Nervous” button which is popular on college campuses because it will notify on-campus police to check out the area. This app is great if you want to have that extra sense of security for when you are on your own.
Flashgap (iOS & Android): The most favorable of the apps reviewed, Flashgap solves the elusive problem of sharing photos instantaneously with friends. What is one of the hardest parts about going to an event with a group? Sharing the photos if not everyone in the group is able to use Airdrop. Flashgap is there to solve the problem. It works by creating a shared photo album with friends in the following way: Throughout an event, you take photos within the app. Once the photo is taken, it disappears after three seconds of capturing, but returns the following day at 12 p.m. in a compilation of all the photos from that event in your group’s Flashgap. The app also allows you to shoot 15-second videos. For those who frequently use Snapchat, Flashgap will feel like second nature.
giftext (iOS): Tired of boring text message conversations? Spice up your chat with a gif! The free app, giftext, is able to encapsulate your message with an animated photo. Sadly, at this time this app is only available for iOS devices. Within the app there are options to upgrade the amount of gifs available at the small price of $0.99, but if you are really into gif-to-text incorporation there is the option to pay $2.99 to have giftext Pro. Within the app you can search for anything, and it will pull up a plethora of gifs from the internet. You can also efficiently save your favorite gifs in a separate tab so you can share your gif of the cat jumping out of the window with all your friends.
Google Keep (iOS & Android): Now available on the iOS platform, Google Keep is the ultimate accomplishment in digital personal organization. The handy app allows you to set reminders, take notes, make check lists, pin photos, and hold audio all in one place––and it even syncs data with all of your devices so that you never lose track of your notes. For those who are detail-oriented, this app even allows people to color code and label their notes to keep their “bulletin board” organized. Infographic by Kylie Kvam and Sam Sheridan
kkvam@redwoodbark.org
‘Steve Jobs’ reveals the visionary’s blind spot: empathy By Anne Pritikin Taking the audience backstage before three major product launches, “Steve Jobs” reveals the harsh interactions and struggling relationships between the legendary man who changed the future and the co-workers who walked in his shadow. Michael Fassbender excels at playing the formidable Steve Jobs, but it is really the supporting actors who carry the movie––Kate Winslet plays his defiant, Polish “work wife” and Michael Stuhlbarg plays the nerdy, heartfelt genius Andy Hertzfeld. Seth Rogen is fantastic as the affable Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and plays this serious role better than his signature comedic ones. All the action, rather unrealistically, takes place in the moments leading up to a product unveiling––as described by a frustrated Jobs in the movie, “Five minutes before every launch people get drunk and tell me what’s wrong with me.” The film, which moves at an uneven, hectic pace, offers an entertaining and at times excessively contrived, up-close portrait of Jobs; highly dramatized frantic snippets reveal the motives behind his actions and aspects of his personality: perfectionism and narcissism. “Steve Jobs” is directed by Danny Boyle with a clean, sleek precision reminiscent of Apple’s signature design. The screenplay, by Aaron Sorkin, is charged with entertaining, snappy dialogue, although the story takes more than a few liberties with the facts of Jobs’ life. The movie is very loosely based on Walter Isaacson’s biography of the icon, but on screen, factual accuracy seems to be of little concern, as most of the conversations between Jobs and his employees reveal his character rather than an accurate record of
Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
“STEVE JOBS,” STARRING Michael Fassbender as the late visionary, proved clever, though contrived. The film was released on Oct. 9. events. The film documents Jobs’ leadership during Apple’s digital revolution and explores his relationship with his daughter, Lisa, whom at first he adamantly denies is his, even after a positive paternity test. He prolongs a sadistic connection with his ex-girlfriend (played by a tearful, but talented Katherine Waterston) at the expense of having any relationship with Lisa. Only in the very last minutes of the movie does Jobs desperately attempt to mend his hurtful actions of the past. Finally the audience’s patience is rewarded when viewers witness Jobs’ compassion soften his cold exterior. Although this scene is appealing for sentimental reasons, it feels like a last-ditch effort by the movie’s creators to imbue Jobs with a shred of humanity and it comes off as too little, too late, further emphasizing how unrealistically fast their conflicted
relationship is resolved. The film is separated into three 40-minute sections, beginning with the 1984 Macintosh launch, moving on to the unveiling of the absurdly priced NeXTcube in 1988, and finishing off a decade later with the highly-anticipated release of the iMac; the audience sees Jobs transition from a bowtie-touting, long-haired man to the familiar black turtleneck-clad icon. Through the three different chapters, the film emphasizes Jobs’ flaws, at times portraying his genius as a curse to those around him, but also as the propelling force behind the creation of revolutionary technology. As his workers struggle to meet his perfectionistic demands, Jobs relishes criticizing them with witty derision. He has no misgivings about attacking his workers personally and he appears to be comfortable with constant discord. The acting and dialogue so skillfully capture
Jobs’ unappealing personality that viewers may find themselves disliking the film when in fact they are simply responding to the character revealed. His vindictive nature is on full display during the second segment. By this time, Jobs has been fired from Apple, kicked off the board, and is in sore need of a comeback after the Macintosh flop. However, an empire needs its emperor (Apple is suffering in the absence of its co-creator) and through the NeXTcube’s software, Jobs sets into motion the machinations to ensure his reinstatement at the company. In one of the most compelling scenes, Jobs’ strategy is revealed in a manner that allows the audience to see through a window into his mind and view what an unemotional, calculating place it can be. While the endearing character of Wozniak balances Jobs’ malice, Winslet’s Joanna Hoffman acts as his caretaker and coaxes out his hidden sliver of humanity, although the audience may question its existence. Perhaps the most clever aspect of the movie was the idea to shoot each of the three segments in a different format: glossy polished digital for the launch of the iMac, the unveiling of the NeXT cube in classic and clean 35mm, and the Macintosh release in slightly grainy 16mm. As Wozniak pleads with Jobs to acknowledge the Apple II computer team at his latest launch, Jobs refuses with stubborn steadfastness, prompting Wozniak to declare, “You can be decent and gifted at the same time.” One question lingers after the credits scroll by. If Steve Jobs were decent, or at least more so, would he be as interesting? As much a genius? As legendary? apritikin@redwoodbark.org
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Get pumped: Best pumpkin pies for the fall season By Sam Sheridan With fall in full swing and Thanksgiving just around the corner, there’s no better way to enjoy the season than with a pumpkin pie. There are a plethora of pumpkin pies avaliable, but finding the perfect pie is no small task. The Bark set out to find the best in Marin by reviewing pies from Beckmann’s, Rustic Bakery, Upper Crust, and Safeway based on flavor, texture, aesthetics, and price.
Beckmann’s Beckmann’s pumpkin pies are baked in Santa Cruz and can be found at Woodlands and other markets for $19.99. Each pie is prepared with three leaf-shaped sugar cookies on top that provide an extra sweet treat. Though aesthetically pleasing, the cookies make the pie significantly more difficult to cut into even slices. The crust is dry and flakey with a more-than-subtle taste of butter. The pie has muted tones of nutmeg and cinnamon that add more flavor to the ordinarily plain pumpkin pie, and a dash of ginger that is evocative of holiday season gingerbread houses. There is a light savory taste that can easily be complemented with the addition of whipped cream. Beckmann’s sets the standards for a pumpkin pie.
Rustic Bakery Rustic Bakery offers delicious pies both by the slice and by the pie, for $5 and $45 respectively. Rustic’s pies are visually appealing, with decorative leaves made of crust adorning the top of the pie. When served in the bakery, the slice of pie comes with a large dollop of whipped cream on the side. Rustic’s pumpkin pie lacks the variety of flavors Beckmann’s offers, but makes up for it with its superb aerated and fluffy texture. It sits upon a thin, soft crust that doesn’t distract from the pure pumpkin flavor. Though it’s worth the money for one slice, the tremendous sum of $45 is too much to pay for the full pie.
Photo by Sam Sheridan
BECKMANN’S PUMPKIN PIES, baked in Santa Cruz, come with three leaf-shaped sugar cookies on top and costs $19.99 per pie. It was ranked as the best pie overall, while Safeway was ranked as the worst.
Safeway
Upper Crust
Safeway’s pumpkin pies have the best bang for their buck. A decently sized pie only costs $7, which is a steal when compared to the cost at places like Rustic Bakery. However, while the price may be an upside, the overall taste is definitely a downside. The pie was disappointingly dry, a noticeable flaw when compared to Upper Crust or Beckmann’s. Safeway’s pies also lack the aesthetic appeal provided by Rustic, and the flavor displayed by Beckmann’s. This leaves the pie extraordinarily average, and while most pumpkin pies don’t taste bad, this one is noticeably worse than the others.
Upper Crust pumpkin pies are baked locally in San Rafael. These pies are only sold whole, with a small pie for $9.99 or a large pie for $19.99. The pies have a dense interior that feels much thicker than Beckmann’s and Rustic’s. Upper Crust pies also have a moist texture, giving it an almost pudding-esque feel. The pies lack subtle notes of spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger, making them dull. Despite the lack of flavor, this pie has a satisfying texture. ssheridan@redwoodbark.org
Bark Beats By Pearl Zhong
Revival Selena Gomez “Revival” is confident and upbeat, with summer beach club vibes. Gomez certainly has matured since her days as a Disney star as this album shows a greater complexity in themes compared to her last album,“ For You.” Gomez seems to have revealed her true self, especially in her lyrics, as she sings in the title track: “Showing up, no more hiding, the light inside me is bursting, shining.” Gomez also incorporates a bit of her Latin American heritage in the song “Body Heat,” with the addition of a few Latin beats. Recommended: “Survivors” “Survivors” is powerful and personal, as Gomez expresses her gratitude toward someone who has “built her from a broken heart.” Her mellow vocals are perfectly paired with deep house beats. The chorus catches you by surprise, as Gomez experiments with high-pitched synthesizer beats as the lyrics “We are survivors” repeat and eventually fade out as the song ends.
Confident Demi Lovato Much like Selena Gomez, Lovato exhibits maturity, and “Confident” is certainly a powerhouse album to match her transition to serious artist. Although some tracks lack originality in terms of sound, the lyrics are very sentimental, derived from many of Lovato’s personal experiences. The album is comprised of Lovato’s impressive vocals, runs, and belts. She includes hints of different genres with edgy R&B tracks like “Mr. Hughes,” and passionate ballads like “Father.” Recommended: “Yes” One of the slower songs on the tracklist, “Yes” features subtle and simple instrumentals, minimizing any distractions from Lovato’s powerful voice. The chorus is fresh, catchy, and includes traces of R&B-inspired melodies. The track peaks with Lovato’s signature high notes, concluding with the repetition of the word “yes,” easing the listener into the end of the track.
Stories
Avicii
Avicii maintains his ‘country-EDM’ style even after the success of hit-single “Wake Me Up,” as a bulk of the tracks like “Trouble” and “Sunset Joe” consists of folk guitar. “Stories” differs from typical EDM albums with monotonous of powerhouse tracks and intense drops. To spice things up, he provides mixes with a milder sound. He also explores different genres, as shown in the track “Can’t Catch Me,” which features a refreshing blend of reggae, EDM, and tropical house. However, aside from a few standout tracks, the album is bland, as the majority of the beats and melodies are dull and unoriginal. Recommended: “The Nights” “The Nights” is the quintessential, “live life to the fullest” anthem with a catchy chorus composed of a group of voices. This track features Avicii’s signature country EDM style with folk violin and guitar to contrast computerized beats. With a rousing tune, the song distinguishes itself from the rest of the album.
Pentatonix Pentatonix The a capella group Pentatonix has gained recognition in the past few years by performing covers of hit songs. The group released their first self-titled album comprised of original songs, along with a few covers that include Justin Bieber’s “What Do You Mean.” Ranging from blues to pop, their ability to alter and use their voices by beatboxing or creating sound effects is unique, regardless of genre. However, the album lacks a certain oomph, as the melodies are overused and the lyrics are cliche. Despite this, the group’s use of their voices is impressive, and the harmonies are intricate and well thought-out. Recommended: “Cracked” Although this track sounds suspiciously like One Republic’s “Love Runs Out,” Pentatonix adds a unique twist with complex runs, especially at the bridge where a series of blues riffs are included. The beat is simple, yet it works very well with this piece by adding energy and confidence to the track.
bark
Page 22• Lifestyles
Random Facts 7
years have passed since Redwood football had its last winning season.
are enrolled in 13 girls Redwood’s computer programing classes.
was the 5.5 hours duration of the girls’
varsity MCAL tennis final against Tam.
7
Redwood students participated in the Head of the Charles crew race.
of 20 percent Redwood students
don’t consider a transgender woman a real woman.
of Redwood 7 percent students identify as transgender.
November 6, 2015
Student ballerinas prepare for ‘The Nutcracker’ show By Emily Cerf Several Redwood students are devoting much of their time to rehearsing for a show that many consider an essential part of the holiday season: “The Nutcracker.” Ballet is year round, but many dancers say they spend more time at the studio when they are rehearsing for a show. During production time for “The Nutcracker,” an advanced dancer at a local studio can expect to spend about 20 hours a week in classes and in rehearsal, according to many of the dancers. This level of dedication means that the dancers often have to miss out on things that many might consider typical for teenagers, such as attending school events or spending time with friends. “You just really have to stay focused and you kind of have to prioritize what you want to have in your life,” said junior Caitlyn Reed, a ballet dancer at Stapleton Ballet. “You can’t always go out on a Friday night because you have ballet, and you have class the next morning. So there are some sacrifices that you have to make from basic teenage stuff.” In the end, Reed believes that what she gains from ballet is well worth what she loses. “Everything that I have learned from ballet, everything that it has taught me and how it’s shaped me as a person is far more important to me than other things that people see that I’m missing,” Reed said. “I don’t see it as a loss because I feel like it’s better for me.” Junior Tiffany Dong, a dancer at Marin Ballet, said that she can’t spend as much time with friends when she’s rehearsing for a production. “Social life-wise, I have had to turn down parties and hanging out with friends,” Dong said. Along with balancing ballet and a social life, Reed said it can be challenging to complete schoolwork due to the number of hours spent at the studio. “It’s really difficult because we get
Photo by Emily Cerf
JUNIOR CAITLYN REED (right) rehearses for her role in Stapleton Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” as a member of the Snow Trio. home at 8:30 or 9 at night and have to get all of our homework done,” Reed said. According to freshman Kaitlin McGrath, a dancer at Stapleton Ballet, her large commitment to dance has taught her to balance her time well. “I know that I don’t have a lot of time so it motivates me to get everything done while I can,” McGrath said. Dong also has learned to manage her schedule as the stress of junior year increases. “As a junior, to be dealing with SATs and ACTs and trying to get my GPA up and also dealing with a kind of big role [is stressful],” Dong said. Besides trying to balance life at school with life in the studio, the dancers agreed that ballerinas also have to deal with the tension that comes with the process of auditioning for roles in “The Nutcracker.”
“The whole time the teachers are prepping you and saying it can be anybody’s game, but you know there are always going to be two people who are happy and 15 people who are going to go away unhappy,” Reed said. McGrath said that the dancers don’t let the tension get in the way of the close bonds they share. “Auditions are always really competitive, but at the end we are always really good friends,” McGrath said. At Marin Ballet, dancers are evaluated throughout a longer period of time in their classes, according to Dong. “Everyone’s always trying to do their best, trying to be as perfect as possible,” Dong said. ecerf@redwoodbark.org
Page 23 • Lifestyles
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Face-to-Face: Should controversial school mascots be banned? By Sydney Soofer
Ann Caindec: I think those terms are derogatory because they are outdated. There might have been a time where it was socially acceptable to call a school mascot that, but in today’s times I don’t think it’s right. Some people really identify with their cultures, so by putting down a culture even if it’s not intentional, you’re still putting them down. It’s still offensive. How far is too far—are certain names more offensive than others? VL: I think if it is a name that is specifically degrading a race, ethnicity, or type of person then it’s gone too far. I’ve never really been affected by it so it is hard for me to understand these names’ offensiveness. I think we should focus on the sport, not who the mascot is. AC: When it’s blatantly derogatory or racist, or a term that people don’t use anymore because it’s so outdated and
AC: I agree with that. In TV and movies, you always see pep rallies and homecoming as a super big thing and everyone is supportive of their mascot. At Redwood however, it’s a lot more hidden than I would’ve expected, given that we are such a big student body with so much spirit.
TO
FACE
Violet Loo - vs Ann Caindec
Do you think schools with controversial mascots, such as the “Redskins,” should change their mascot? Violet Loo: I don’t believe it’s derogatory in any way because they aren’t saying Redskins to specifically offend people of that race. What it gets down to is that it’s really focused on what the sport is and how you celebrate the sport, not what the mascot is.
school. People don’t celebrate it as much as we should.
FACE
Face-to-Face is a feature that allows two members of the Redwood Community to grill each other, argue or simply converse about a relevant issue or event. We provide the topic, and they do the rest. This month’s participants are sophomore Violet Loo and senior Ann Caindec. They debate Gov. Jerry Brown’s recent passing of the law that prohibits public schools in California from using the term “Redskins” as a team name or mascot. The law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2017.
bark
offensive to a group of people, that’s where I would draw the line. In general, I think naming teams after groups of people is derogatory because it’s making them a poster of something. They are people, not posters. What is the role of a mascot in school? VL: [The purpose of] a school mascot or a mascot in general is to get people hyped up––if they’re not hyped up about the sport, then they can find something else to get excited about. I think a mascot is very important in a school because it represents the school culture and what the school bases its colors off of. AC: I would agree. I think that mascots play an important role in a school because they boost school spirit and give the school something to unify behind and to celebrate. As long as the mascot isn’t racist or derogatory, I think it’s completely fine. What role does our school mascot (“Big Red”) play at Redwood? VL: I think the Redwood Giant is very hidden at our
VL: [Giving Big Red a more prevalent role] would probably get more people to come out to the football games and support our school a little more if people felt more connected to a mascot. How do you feel about Gov. Jerry Brown passing a law to prohibit public schools from using the term “Redskins” as a team name or mascot? VL: I don’t think it’s okay because schools like Justin Siena or other schools that have [Redskins as a name] have had that name for so long. In taking something away from them like that, you would have to start a whole new community. AC: I think this law is perfectly acceptable, because the term “Redskins” is outdated and it’s derogatory, and rallying people behind something that’s derogatory, to me, has negative connotations. Yes, it sucks that certain schools are going to have to change their mascot, but as long as they keep the same level of school spirit, they should be able to bounce back and put [their school spirit] behind a new mascot. Because like you said, it’s about the sport, not the mascot, so it shouldn’t matter what it is.
ssoofer@redwoodbark.org
New district superintendent promises first to listen and learn give—financially, but also in participating.” Yoshihara, who grew up in Merced, California and graduated as an engineering On July 1, Dr. David Yoshihara assumed major from UC Berkeley, discovered his the office of TUHSD Superintendent interest in education through a field studies after the resignation of the district’s class during his senior year of college. He previous superintendent last spring. refers to the time he spent at an inner-city Yoshihara moved from southern middle school as a defining moment in his California earlier this year to assume life, a time when he discovered a true passion. This experience led him to pursue a his position at the TUHSD. Due to his unfamiliarity with both the district career in the field of education, and after and the area, he said that his goal beginning as a math teacher in the Central for this semester is simply to listen. Valley, he continued to expose himself to a variety of other posts “Sometimes it’s in a variety of districts. tempting for new Most recently, leadership to come Yoshihara came from in and do a bunch of the San Gabriel Unified things and then leave,” School District in Yoshihara said. “I’d Los Angeles County. much rather spend the While he realizes time to learn about this the similarities in community and what achievement levels, he makes the community also acknowledges the great, and see where diversity differences they would like to go in between the TUHSD the next couple years.” and the San Gabriel Yoshihara aims to District, which ask questions directly has a much larger to the students, parents, Dr. David Yoshihara, Chinese population. and staff in the district Superintendent Yoshihara is not to find out what is only an educator working well and what they want to change. and administrator, but also a father of According to Yoshihara, he is four children, an avid reader, and a lover already intrigued by the base of students, of the outdoors. Not only does he enjoy parents, and the larger community that observing students inside the classroom, serve as the foundation for this district. but he also tries to get to know his students “Students here are very independent. outside the classroom, whether it be on They possess a sense of maturity and a sense the sports field or on the drama stage. The two main factors that attracted of intellect that allows them to engage at a very high level,” Yoshihara said. “I think we Yoshihara to the TUHSD were both have a community of parents that believe in the excitement of working with a high their schools, and you can see that in the school-only district, as well as a basic facilities we have, in the parents who come aid district. In a basic aid district, to events, and the amount of support they the school receives funds based on By Hannah Blazei
Anything, anytime, if there are any questions, people know I have an open-door policy.
Photo by Hannah Blazei
DR. DAVID YOSHIHARA sits in his office located in the district offices on campus. He is working to aid communication and offer equal opportunity to all students. local property taxes rather than state funding based on individual attendance. Yoshihara acknowledges the great success and pride that is fostered at Redwood and he has high hopes to expand the same opportunities to the other schools in the TUHSD. “I know that Redwood has a lot to be proud of from its drama, to its sports, to its academics—certainly that is something I have borne witness to here,” Yoshihara said. Yoshihara made it clear that he intends to provide each school with equal resources and opportunities. “I think sometimes, to the dismay of other schools, people do wonder ‘Why Redwood?’ from the Wellness Center, to the solar panels.”
Yoshihara said that if there is a way he can expand these opportunities to the other schools in the district, he hopes that the students and staff share their ideas with him. To promote the accessibility that he advertises, Yoshihara will be holding student forums at every school on a monthly basis during lunch, giving students an opportunity to check in with him, introduce themselves, and ask questions. Yoshihara said this was a successful practice in his previous school district. “Anything, anytime, if there are any questions, people know I have an open-door policy,” Yoshihara said. hblazei@redwoodbark.org
Schulberg lives childhood fantasy of baubles and ballgowns ensuring that every detail is perfect. “Their whole job is making sure the girls and boys can’t tell,” Schulberg said. “You should look exactly like [the characters] and “When I’m Cinderella, I’m not Claire,” be exactly like them.” Schulberg said she has had to study every junior Claire Schulberg said. “When I’m Cinderella I kind of forget about my life as aspect of Cinderella to get completely in character. a high schooler and it’s like another life.” “The first weekend after I got the job, Schulberg has worked with the highschooler run company Once Upon a Song [Ferguson] sent me this crash course of since late September, and dresses up as videos of Cinderella. I would nitpick and Cinderella, her assigned princess and see everything that she did from her hand movements to her facial one of her personal expressions so that you favorites. really are the character,” Founded by Eden Schulberg said. “You have Ferguson, a student to convince [the kids] that at Terra Linda High the person they see on the School, Once Upon screen is actually who they a Song provides are meeting in person.” storybook characters She has to slip into the for events such as mind of the princess, and children’s birthday truly become the character, parties, fairs, and according to Schulberg. parades. “When you put on Since Schulberg the costume and the is relatively new to wig and everything, the job, she has not you are this person,” yet gone to a birthday Claire Schulberg, said Schulberg. “You party, but she has junior can’t think attended a 6-hour fair about what in San Anselmo, where she spent the day interacting with children. homework you have or what’s “The majority of the fairs is taking going on after school, you pictures, talking with the kids,” Schulberg have to think about what your said. “I remember my cheeks hurt so much character is, and from smiling the whole day.” It was a long hot tiring day, especially in a ballgown, according to Schulberg. She handed out flyers and candy and walked the length of the parade, and some of the princesses sang songs. “You are a like a celebrity,” Schulberg said. “You walk and people just know who you are from the colors or the hair, and all these little kids come up to you.” When Schulberg starts working at birthday parties, she will spend about an hour doing crafts, singing, and interacting with the children, according to Schulberg. Ferguson and her mother make and order wigs and elaborate costumes, By Caleigh Stephens
You can’t think about homework you have...you have to think about what your character is, and be who she is.
Photo courtesy of Claire Schulberg
be who she is.” Schulberg describes a responsibility to meet the high expectations that the children and parents have for her character. “There’s this job you have to fulfill of convincing kids that you are [the character],” Schulberg said. “Whatever princess I am, she’s popular and has this huge following and you have to live up to these kids’ expectations for who she is.” It is a role reversal of sorts, as Schulberg is now in the shoes of the princess she looked up to and idolized when she was younger. Schulberg is an Advanced Drama student, and believes that the job has helped her greatly with her acting skills. “It is really good training because you are playing a character for a different audience than you usually perform to,” Schulberg said. “This is a way not only to play a character, but convince people you actually are a character.”
cstephens@redwoodbark.org