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T U E S DAY, M A RC H 9, 2 0 21
Goleta Union reopens classrooms Students adjust to pandemic protocols at elementary schools
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey exposed the couple’s side of the story following their exit from the royal family.
Prince Harry, Meghan open up to Oprah Former royals talk about monarchy, UCSB expert discusses CBS interview By MADISON HIRNEISEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Oprah Winfrey’s bombshell interview with fellow Montecito residents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sparked waves of reaction all over the world and left locals buzzing in Santa Barbara Monday. Ms. Winfrey’s sit-down interview with the former royals exposed the couple’s rocky history with the monarchy since their grandiose wedding day in 2018. The royals made the decision to step back from their royal duties in January 2020, setting off a firestorm of media coverage as the couple sought to navigate their post-monarchy reality. Last month Prince Harry and Ms. Markle, who moved to Montecito last summer from Los Angeles, announced they would not resume their royal duties. Prince Harry was stripped of his royal patronages and honorary military titles, but he and Ms. Markle remain the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. In the televised interview with Ms. Winfrey, Ms. Markle admitted to feeling silenced by the royal family. She also said she went into her marriage with Harry “naively” and without much knowledge of what their union would entail. As British tabloid coverage intensified and the pressures of royal life bore down, Ms. Markle admitted to having suicidal thoughts while pregnant with her son, Archie. “That’s the sad irony about the last four years, is that I’ve advocated for so long for women to use their voice, and then I was silent,” Ms. Markle said during the interview, which aired Sunday night on CBS. “Were you silent or were you silenced?” Oprah asked. “The latter,” Ms. Markle replied. During the interview, Ms. Markle said she asked the palace for help regarding her mental state, but was denied any assistance. With tears in her eyes, Ms. Markle recalled the experience of facing the “unrelenting attacks” from the media as “almost unsurvivable.” The couple also recalled an incident with the royal family leading up to the birth of their
son, Archie, where the palace announced he would not receive a royal title or receive protection from palace security. Shocked and confused, Ms. Markle said Prince Harry tried to make sense of this while confronting concerns from the palace about the skin tone of his future son. “There were several conversations with Harry about how dark (Archie’s) skin might be when he is born,” Ms. Markle said. She did not reveal who specifically was raising these concerns, but admitted it was someone in the family. The “constant barrage” was the breaking point for the couple, and without receiving help from the royal family, they decided to step back from their duties, Prince Harry said. “My biggest fear and concern was history repeating itself, and I’ve said that before, on numerous occasions very publicly,” Prince Harry said. “And what I was seeing was history repeating itself but (it was) definitely far more dangerous because you add race in, and you add social media in.” The interview is now sending shockwaves from the U.S. to the U.K. and beyond, as spectators all over the world are voicing their reactions to the shocking expose of the royal family. Erika Rappaport, chair of the UCSB history department, told the News-Press that members of the royal family will likely face backlash, but a scandal is something they have weathered before. “I was thinking, in a way, it’s just replaying the same stories that we’ve seen over and over again,” Dr. Rappaport said. “Where some member, usually who has married into the family, shows how nutty the institution really is.” As an expert in modern British history, Dr. Rappaport said the royal family has “come back from much worse” in terms of criticism and scandal, pointing to explosive interviews from the late Princess Diana and the details of Prince Andrew’s involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. “(This interview) is going to be a low point, and they’ve had other low points,” Dr. Rappaport Please see INTERVIEW on A7
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By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Precautions abound at Hollister Elementary School as students returned Monday to campus for the first time in a year. “It’s thrilling,” Hollister Principal Abby Vasquez told the News-Press. “I’m so happy.” The school’s mascot, a hawk, flapped its wings waving at students and parents pulling into the parking lot. Principal Vasquez ushered students into lines to complete their health screening and temperature check at the Santa Barbara
school, which reopened Monday along with other K-6 schools in the Goleta Union School District. Then they slowly trickled into classrooms, guided by district staff members. It looked like a typical first day of school — except students already had a large stack of books. Backpacks were full and hung on hooks outside each classroom. Teachers personalized rooms Friday, a day the district gave them off to prepare, with the help of custodial staff. First-grade teacher Liz Larsen equipped each desk with a stool in addition to the chairs, in case students get antsy or need a taller seat.
The legs of desks rested on socially distanced velcro dots, a reminder to students not to move them. Ms. Larsen held up a six-foot foam rod that the district gave teachers. It serves as a visual for physical distancing. As young students excitedly looked for their classrooms, some were prone to walking by a friend. Dr. Mary Kahn, assistant superintendent of instructional services, gave gentle reminders to stay six feet apart. The transition to in-person learning had Please see reopen on A8
International Women’s Day celebrated virtually in SB By MADISON HIRNEISEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
Kerri Murray, right, moderated Monday’s ShelterBox event in honor of International Women’s Day. Ms. Murray, along with seven other women, discussed the notable achievements and contributions of women worldwide. In this photo, Ms. Murray is shown with her daughter, “American Idol” contestant Sophia Schuster.
Even an unprecedented pandemic year did not deter women from gathering in virtual spaces to recognize International Women’s Day, a holiday that celebrates the monumental accomplishments of women across societal realms. While in-person events and marches associated with International Women’s Day took a backseat this year due to COVID-19, a number of nonprofits and women’s groups did not forfeit the opportunity to celebrate. In Santa Barbara, the nonprofit ShelterBox hosted an online panel Monday to celebrate the holiday, inviting women from all over
the globe to share their success stories and discuss the way forward for women. “I feel like this is a birthday for all of us,” Kerri Murray, president and CEO of Santa Barbara-based ShelterBox, said during Monday’s virtual gathering. “This is a huge movement.” Ms. Murray gathered with seven other women in an online forum to discuss the notable accomplishments of women worldwide. This group included Marie Kagaju Laugharn, a longtime international development professional who played a key role in convincing seven African countries to ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention Treaty as a Please see WOMEN’S DAY on A7
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RAFAEL MALDONADO / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Liz Laresen, a first grade teacher at Hollister Elementary in Goleta, holds up a six-foot foam tube the district gave teachers. It is one of many precautions encouraging physical distancing.
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Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 12-18-27-28-34 Meganumber: 19
Monday’s DAILY 4: 0-3-4-0
Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 10-11-17-27-54 Meganumber: 20
Monday’s FANTASY 5: 5-11-15-31-38
Monday’s DAILY DERBY: 01-11-12 Time: 1:43.62
Saturday’s POWERBALL: 11-31-50-52-58 Meganumber: 18
Monday’s DAILY 3: 1-4-9 / Sunday’s Midday 5-4-7