Laguna Blanca School - 4125 Paloma Drive - Santa Barbara - California - 93110
Volume XIX
Friday, November 30, 2012
www.thefourthestate.net
Issue 2
Shark Attacks Increase on the Coast
RESEARCH CENTER OPENS TO STUDENTS
T
By JESSIE DUSEBOUT
he moment everyone had been waiting for had
arrived. Students, parents, and faculty gathered on Merritt patio on Oct. 26 to listen to opening remarks from headmaster Mr. Paul Slocombe and from the new librarian Blake Dorfman. Mr. Slocombe thanked the two donor families whose financial support made the renovations possible: the Nylen Family and the Cappello Family. Special guests from the class of 1957, Ned Quakenbush, Dionne Warren, and Dick Welch, who built the original Isham Library, were welcomed back to campus to share in the activities. “The changes are unbelievable. The library has doubled in size,” said Dionne Warren. After the speeches, the official ribbon-cutting for the Isham Library & Nylen Academic Research Center took place. Seniors Brendon Nylen and Eddie Conk completed the honor of cut-
ting the ribbon. “It felt good to be a part of this momentous moment for the School,” said Eddie. The senior class of 2013 was allowed to enter first to see the new study space that includes couches, Mac computers, Kindles, a chess table, and a state of the art coffee machine. “I think the new library is a great addition to our School, and it is the perfect place to get work done,” said senior Courtney O’Donnell. The new setup allows for both individual and group studying as there are cubicles with power outlets to plug in computers and other electronics for the single studier along with big tables and couches for collaborative studiers. This new space will provide students with quickly growing academic workloads with all the resources they need to get their work done. The community made their way through the library and explored all of the new high-tech and practical additions. Students tried out the
By STEPHEN MCCAFFERY
PHOTOS: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA
Activities Galore: Sophomores Ryan Bickett and Cole Strachan enjoy a game of chess while freshmen Jacqueline Berci and Julieanna Bartling work on their laptops in the new research center. chess table and looked at Kindles. Following exploration of the Academic Research Center, students enjoyed an ice cream social. “I love the lounge areas where we can
talk and hang out with friends, but at the same time, it is easy to get work done at the tables and cubicles,” said sophomore Bryn Jewett.
“I really like the new computers because I know how to use them and they are useful for schoolwork,” said freshman Phoebe Madsen.
Think Now Speakers Program
Owls Bring Magic to Montecito Campus
By JESSIE DUSEBOUT
By CAITLIN CONNOR
As a part of the new ‘NOW’ Campaign Laguna launched ‘THINK NOW.” Renowned speakers from a wide variety of fields will be welcomed on campus to speak to the community. On Nov. 29, Lesson Planet CEO, Jim Hurley, lead the panel “Technology & Education: A Case for the iPad,” which highlighted how technology enhances learning and addressed questions like “Is an iPad worth the investment for my child?” On Dec. 17, nationally recognized college coaches will present in Merovick Gymnasium about the college recruitment process through a discussion titled “Navigating High School Sports & College Recruitment.” On Jan. 15, a panel conversation led by John Thurston (Admissions: Bowdoin College, Brown University, Carleton College) titled “The FourYear Countdown to College” will be held. On Jan. 29, join Shaun Tomson, co-producer of the film “Bustin’ Down The Door,” will hold casual conversion about the evolution of surfing as a sport, a culture, and a billion dollar industry.
A bit of magic and lots of fun drew the crowds to the Lower School for the annual Owls in Wonderland Event In early November, Laguna and Santa Barbara communities merged for a colorful event known as Owls in Wonderland. The “Alice in Wonderland” inspired carnival was filled with extravagant decorations, fun-filled booths, and over 350 young children in attendance. “It was a huge success, and the decor committee really knocked it out of the park,” said Director of Communications and participant Tara Broucqsault. The third annual event was comprised of parent, teacher, and student volunteers. These volunteers ran booths ranging from “Mad Science,” where students were able to mix science experiments with the Mad Hatter, capturing pictures of themselves with the Chesire Cat, to participating in a delicious tea party. In addition to running booths and setting the ambiance by decoration, volunteers participated in making the day magical by dressing up as characters from the “Alice in Wonderland.” Immediately upon entrance to the fair, children and attendees were thrust into this make believe world. “Kate Bergstrum [Drama Department Head] welcomed every guest in
Digging up Dirt on the New Composting Program
PHOTO: TARA BROUCQSAULT MUNCHING ON TREATS: Kindergartner Axel Muenke takes a break during the activities to enjoy a delicious treat. a magical, engaging way,” said Ms. Broucqsault. The focus this year was decorations rather than booths. Owls in Wonderland managed to draw a handful of
Shakespeare Takes the Stage
Community collaborates to revamp Students perform Shakespeare’s 37 plays, composting system. Page 2. all in a two-hour show. Page 4.
Meet Miles
Catching up with Laguna’s resident filmmaker. Page 5.
Attempting to Attain the Unattainable
Do students, push ourselves too hard to meet a standard set too high? Page 6.
Ace Recovers from Accident
Physics instructor Mr. Peter Angeloff hopes for a speedy recovery. Page 3.
Holy Smokes!
How the smoking industry has changed over the years. Page 7.
alumni. Mark Romanov, Laguna alum and UCSB ‘03 graduate, attended and filmed the event. He was able to capture the core reason it is put on every year.
Also in attendance was Austin Danson ‘11 who helped the ceramic booth. Owls in Wonderland serves a significant role in connecting Laguna to the outside community. With face painting and petting zoos, the fair allows Laguna to open its gates up to those who are wanting to participate. While, unfortunately, due to restrictions, the committee was unable to hang the advertising sign that graces the streets of Montecito, the event still managed to draw the attention of many. Science Department Head Ms. Staci Richard took her children to the event. “It was a nice opportunity for fifth graders who had just moved up to interact with the kids on the lower school campus.” It is evident that Owls in Wonderland will become a fully embraced tradition in the years to come. “Owls in Wonderland was fun especially for the little kids. My favorite part was helping them and being around them. I volunteered to help with the green screen which was challenging but really fun,” said seventh grader Brittany Cardilino
In a beach town where almost everyone swims in the ocean, sharks have never really been a big problem. Recently though, Francisco Javier Solorio, Jr. was killed by a Great White Shark off the Santa Barbara Coast while surfing at Surf Beach on Oct. 23. Although the Santa Barbara Coast is not known for shark attacks, this attack comes as no surprise. It is the seventh shark attack, and the first on a human this year. The attacks began July 24. When a mature sea lion was spotted at East Beach who had been attacked by a shark. The attack was confirmed to be done by a Great White Peter Howorth, Director of the Marine Mammal Center. Just a day later, a charter boat captain who had observed a Great White attacking a sea lion off Leadbetter Beach reported another attack. The attacks and sightings kept coming and Oct. 23, the first shark attack on a human of the year. Most recently, an adult harbor seal drifted onto Rincon Beach with Great White shark bites on Nov. 2. The sightings of Great White Sharks off the coast of Santa Barbara have raised many concerns of the safety of our local waters. More importantly, however, it serves as a reminder that we are trespassing into the sharks’ home whenever we step foot into the water. An avid surfer, Laguna eighth grader Shea Riley, co-founder of the newly formed Surf Club, gave his input on how he feels about the recent shark attacks and sightings off the Santa Barbara Coast, saying: “My feeling of safety didn’t change very much because I feel like there have always been just as many sharks, just now people know where and how to look for them, and some of the reports aren’t even very accurate. I’ve been reminded that the ocean is [the sharks’] home and that they were there in the first place. They also normally don’t go for humans unless they are very hungry, so I’m not scared.”
The Dubstep Revolution
The Glory Days
A Visit to the Farmer’s Market
A review of Santa Barbara’s hottest burger joint. Page 15.
Insights into the sounds of our generation. Pages 8 and 9.
Explore the fresh atmosphere of our local Farmer’s Market. Page 10.
By Any Means Necessary Sports have lost when they aim to win by at all cost. Page 13.
CIF-SS Playoffs Fall 2012 Page 13.
A commentary on the contrast between film industry then and now. Page 14.
Eureka!
Take a Tour of New Library
Follow Mr. Dorfman on a tour of the Library and Academic Research center. Page 16.
2
November 30, 2012
The News The Do’s and Don’ts of Composting
PHOTOS: MIEKE DELWICHE
ART: ZOE SERBIN
Digging up Dirt on the New Composting Program By DARIA ETEZADI
COMPOSTING: Science teacher Clara Svedlund holds a bin while Upper School math teacher James Tur empties the week’s collection of food items. Mr. Tur uses a shovel to even things out.
Beginning with an unsuccessful business endeavor by UCSB students, the year-old composting program has evolved into an active mission to promote environmentalism within the community. Launched in Nov. 2011, faculty members Ms. Katie Pointer, Mr. James Tur, and Ms. Clara Svedlund have been collaborating with the administration to develop the composting system into a more efficient, and student-run project, in an effort to “reduce our carbon footprint and be better stewards of the earth,” said Chemistry teacher, Ms. Pointer. “Hopefully, [students] will realize how much food they are wasting and make better choices about what they choose to eat.” As an environmental activist who used to be actively involved in organizations such as the Surf Rider Founda-
tion, Mr. Tur, Physics instructor and Academic Services advisor, also hopes the composting program will raise awareness about the impact students can have on the environment. “I know for me, the first time I heard about composting I laughed at it. I think if kids hear sooner and sooner at a younger age, they’re more likely to care about it later on,” he said. For Ms. Pointer, composting has been a family tradition. “My grandma has been composting for the last 85 years of her life and my mom composted when we had yard space to do it. So I grew up in that environment.” In an effort to extend this practice to the Laguna community, Ms. Pointer is also working toward strengthening the composting program. When comparing the success of the program last year to the progress made this year, “more students
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Daria Etezadi SENIOR EDITORS Anastasia Antonova Olivia Berci Caitlin Connor Helena Davila Jessie Dusebout Zoe Serbin PHOTO EDITOR Anastasia Antonova BUSINESS MANAGER Karinna Carrillo COPY EDITOR Clarissa Coburn Kaylee Strachan ARTISTS Maya Christian Zoe Serbin WEB MASTERS Elijah Bittleson Edward Conk VIDEO EDITOR Miles Crist STAFF MacKenna Connor Alex Hawker Clara Hillis Scott Johnston Caty Lafitte Margaret Lazarovits Stephen McCaffery Jennifer Rezek Kaylee Strachan Allison Lewis Towbes Kyle Van de Kamer FACULTY ADVISOR Patricia McHale, MJE
Dear Readers, It’s my favorite time of year again! Those few fleeting weeks in Santa Barbara when we can pull out puffy coats, sip on hot cocoa, and watch the frost gather on our windowpanes before we leave for school each morning. Every year, State Street lights up for the annual holiday parades, Starbucks releases its holiday coffee cups decorated with snowflakes and Christmas trees, and families plan elaborate ski trips up to Mammoth. But what I love most about the holiday season is that it defies every stereotype that is associated with the 21st Century. We are believed to belong to the generation that hides behind computers, cell phones, and iPads, in order to keep up with such a fast-paced work environment. In this issue, due to the prevalence of this technological stereotype, the Fourth Estate staff elected to explore the meaning of DubStep as a “digitized escape” and its influence on our generation (Pages 8&9). Yet once the leaves turn golden and we approach the final month of the year, we can finally take a breather from our hectic lives read a good book (that’s not on a school-related reading list), roast marshmallows with family, and spend lazy afternoons curled up by the fireplace. Hang in there, Owls!
Daria Etezadi
Editor-in-Chief
Student newspaper of Laguna Blanca School • 4125 Paloma Drive • Santa Barbara, CA 93110 • www.thefourthestate.net
The Fourth Estate is a public forum for student expression. It is written and produced solely by the journalism students. It represents the voice of the students. It covers topics, issues, and opinions of relevance to the Laguna Blanca School community. The Fourth Estate welcomes guest columns and letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and be no longer than 400 words.
Editors reserve the right to edit for length, clarity, and/or taste. Anonymous letters will not be published. The Fourth Estate publishes six issues per year, and prints 400 copies of each issue which are distributed to approximately 300 Middle and Upper School students, faculty, and staff. We mail issues to subscribers and advertisers, and exchange papers with high school journal-
are choosing to appropriately place their food waste than last year,” said Ms. Pointer. “It’s a familiarity thing; they’re used to seeing the yellow bins now.” Each time the faculty moves the bins down to the composting site and empties the contents at the Lower School, the teachers weigh the food waste to measure the progress of the program. “We have gotten 105 pounds of food waste, and the time before that 85 pounds,” said Ms. Clara Svedlund, Lower School science teacher. “The students seem to be doing better than they have in the past, but there’s still a lot of work to get it right,” said Mr. Tur. “In 10 years, our generation is going to be in charge, so I think it is important for us to take care of our plant so we can have a better future,” said sophomore Rebecca Brooks.
ism classes across the country. The Fourth Estate accepts both print and online advertising in either black and white or color. Contact Karinna Carrillo at karinna.carrillo@gmail.com for information about advertising and subscriptions. “Follow” us on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook. Visit our online paper for daily updates: www.thefourthestate. net.
Correction: In Issue One we mistakenly referred to Fernanda Cameron as Franchesca.
The News
US Club Updates
November 30, 2012
Mr. Angeloff Recovers from Motorcycle Accident
By KAYLEE STRACHAN Stand Up to Cancer This club has been holding bake sales to raise money. “With the Jogathon and the bake sale, we have raised about $130,” said sophomore Rebecca Brooks. Whale Wars Club Members have been using bake sales to raise money to save endangered whales. They have raised a little over $100 so far. “We like to save whales,” said club leader sophomore Jack Kinsler. Youth for Direct Relief They just finished their “30 Day Campaign” to raise money for pregnant women and mothers to have healthy childbirths in various third-world countries. They organized this campaign into a competition between the classes. “Right now we’re just having snack sales at the volleyball games and small fundraising things,” said junior Caty Lafitte. Service for Soldiers Leader Mitsi Gamble is working on coming up with another project to work on with other organizations. “I’m thinking about cell phones for soldiers and obviously the Wounded Warrior Project, but everything is still in the works.” Drama Club The club recently took a trip to see Out of the Box Theatre Company’s production of “John and Jen” at Center Stage Theater. “It was a fantastic show, and it was wonderful to see the group enjoy it as much as I did,” said Drama Club leader sophomore Allie Towbes. Interact Club They are holding their annual Foster Care Holiday Gift Drive. Students, faculty, and families volunteer to get holiday gifts for children in the foster care program. Dream Foundation Flower Empower Club teamed up with this organization to make and deliver bouquets for hospital patients. Volunteers participate at the Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. Halo Club Halo 4 was just released so this club is organizing tournaments to play the latest version of this game. Warhammer Club They continue to have weekly meetings and battles which are “epic.”
Students anxiously await the return of their legendary Physics teacher. By ZOE SERBIN
PHOTO: PAUL CHIMENT
DISCOVERY: Sophomore Parker Rusack directs a question, which he prepared in Leadership Class, to visiting Veteran Sergeants Bruce Dodson and Jose Ramirez during the Veteran’s Day assembly.
Veterans Visit Students for Assembly Presentation By MACKENNA CONNOR
In honor of Veteran’s Day, are very much against war,” and Major Ramirez have been students piled into the au- but that, “someone has to step back in the states for several ditorium to hear Sergeant in and stop the bullies.” years now, they will never forBruce Dodson and Major Both Sergeant Dodson and get their experiences from the Jose Ramirez speak about Major Ramirez discussed days they fought in the war. their past experiences as for- training for war. “One thing you’ll never former members of the United get is when you really take States military. and you have to “We don’t glorify war casualties Sergeant Dodson is a forlet the paramedics take them … we are very much and you have to move on . . . mer US Marine machine gunner, and reserve paraI was not ready for the death against war.” medic; he spent a Christmas and having it happen to my in Afghanistan, and was on men,” said Sergeant Dodson. -Major Jose active duty during 9/11. As he reflected on how his Major Jose Ramirez is a life was affected by his exRamirez former US Marine, whose posure to war and violence, first tour was in Vietnam Sergeant Dodson spoke during 1966 and 1967. about the difficulty of adjustWhile in Vietnam, the only ing to life in America after way to contact his family was They agreed that training being abroad for so long. to schedule an appointment helps prepare soldiers, but the On the other hand, Major with a hand radio operative. situations are never going to Ramirez had an easier time When asked about how war be exactly the same. creating a new life for himself affected his view of the world, “There are always experi- when he returned back home. he said, “It was very, very, ences that you aren’t prepared “It [the assembly] showed traumatic.” for… there’s always something why we should be proud of Major Jose Ramirez also that comes up. You just have to our veterans and the sacrifices talked about soldiers’ opinions do what you can at the time,” they have made to better our on war. Ramirez said. country,” said senior Brian “We don’t glorify war . . . we Though Sergeant Dodson Miguel.
Youth for DRI Raises Needed Funds By CLARA HILLIS & JENNIFER REZEK In the month of October both the Middle School and the Upper School participated in the 35-Day CamPHOTO: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA paign run by the newly launched Direct Relief Club to raise money for LAUNCHING THEIR EFFORTS: DRI leaders promote their club mothers and children in and sign up participants for the 35 Day Campaign. third-world countries. This year, the Upper School raised a total ey] directly to Direct Relief InClara believes that it is so amount of $311, and the Mid- ternational. important for students to be dle School raised $644. The For every $1 that we raise, informed about this cause beSchool’s grand total of $955. DRI donates $25, so it be- cause “so many people around Clara Madsen, one of the comes 25 times the amount we the world need help: food, leaders of the 35-day-cam- raised.” medical care, clean water. paign tells a little about what Direct Relief InternationThe more people [that are happens to the funds once it is al delivers medical supplies aware of this], the more help all raised: “We give [the mon- across the world. can be provided.”
It’s been almost two months since Physics teacher Mr. Peter Angeloff has roared onto campus on his motorcycle. The afternoon of Oct. 8, Angeloff left the faculty and staff professional development meeting in Hope Ranch and rode to the Chumash Casino area, where he was in an accident that will keep him from teaching until some time in January. “The only thing that I heard from him was that as he was following [a car] all of the sudden there was a car turning to the right and a car turning to the left and nowhere for him to go so he ended up laying down the bike,” said Señor Arturo Flores, Spanish teacher and Mr. Angeloff’s six-year riding partner. Mr. Angeloff sustained a number of injuries during the
“Sometimes when the horse dumps you, you just have to get back on the horse again.” -Señor Arturo Flores accident, including several bruised ribs, a mangled ankle, and internal bleeding in his spleen and one of his kidneys. He was held in the Intensive Care Unit for two weeks where he had surgery on his ankle, before being transferred to Mission Terrace Convalescent Hospital. “It all [depends] on the wound on his leg. It was one of those wounds that they weren’t sure whether they were going to have to replace the flesh, or whether it was going to stay alive,” Flores said. Angeloff is projected to return to the classroom, which is being taught by Mr. James Tur in his absence, around the end of the first semester in January. “He’s not supposed to put weight on his foot so he would need to return with crutches or with a wheelchair. I don’t know if he can use crutches because [of his ribs]” said Flores. This is not Angeloff’s first motorcycle accident. Two years ago, he was in a collision that injured his shoulder. Señor Flores doesn’t think it will keep him from riding again, however. “Sometimes when the horse dumps you, you just have to get back on the horse again.”
Upper School Participates in Mock Election By MACKENNA CONNOR On Nov. 6, students voted in advisories in the School’s mock election. “I think that voting is the most important part of a democracy,” said US History teacher Ms. Martha Elliott. Sophomore Rebecca Brooks was happy about being able to participate in the mock election. “I thought the mock election was a good way to get involved in the election without having to be of age to vote.” When Ms. Elliott set up the mock election for the Upper School, she tried to make it as lifelike as possible. “When I made the ballots, I made ballots that were based on the real ballot, and I just cut and pasted them onto it, so that’s what it’s going to look like when you’re 18 and you go to the polls and sign in.”
Ms. Elliott thinks it is important for students to know what is happening in the government. The mock election serves as an opportunity for students to learn how real elections and voting ballots work. “You should be interested… if you don’t vote you can’t complain so you might as well be a part of your democracy.” The results from the School’s mock election came out almost completely opposite from the results of the general public. “With the exception of a couple of propositions, the School voted in a totally different way than the general population,” Ms. Elliott said. The majority of students in the high school participated in this mock presidential election: about 93 percent.
GRAPHIC: ZOE SERBIN
4
November 30, 2012
News In Brief
The News
Four Seniors Gain National Merit Status By KARINNA CARRILLO Seniors Eddie Conk, Caitlin Connor, Daria Etezadi, and Alex Hawker were four of the 1.5 million students who took the Preliminary SAT and the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT). Of the 1.5 million entrants, 50,000 students with the highest Selection Index scores, which consist of the scores from critical reading, mathematics, and writing skills, are recognized in the NMSP. Qualified students are able to name two universities to which they would like to be referred by the NMSC. Though recognized students are part of the top 10 percent, Eddie Conk, Caitlin Connor, and Daria Etezadi were all recognized as commended students, who make up the top 5 percent. They were recognized for their “outstanding academic promise” (nationalmerit.org). Alex Hawker was recognized as a semifinalist. He represents the top 1 percent of students who took the exam and is among the highest scoring entrants in California. By qualifying as a semifinalist, Alex may advance as a finalist, and therefore, be considered for a National Merit Scholarship.
Las Palmas Goes Under Construction By JESSIE DUSEBOUT As families and students drove to the Upper School campus during late October, they were met with construction signs which notified them that from Oct. 29-Nov. 27 Las Palmas, the main road that leads to the Upper School campus, would be under construction and to expect 10 minute delays. During the first week, the strip of road in front of the gym entrance was repaved and drivers experienced long waits to get in and out of the parking lot. After this initial period the construction moved away from the school and to another part of Las Palmas. “Even though the construction only took one week, it felt like forever especially since I couldn’t leave campus during lunch,” said senior Daria Etezadi.
Literary Society Luncheon By MARGARET LAZAROVITS After eight juniors and seniors read about the life of Russian empress Catherine the Great, they had the chance to converse with the author at the Four Seasons Biltmore. Robert K. Massie is a Pulitzer Prize winning author for his work “Peter the Great: His Life and World.” In “Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman,” Massie assumes the role of a storyteller, not a biographer. At the luncheon, he recounted Catherine’s story in vivid detail. Questions followed. Laguna students were able to meet privately with the author for an hour after the luncheon. Instead of talking about the book, students took the opportunity to ask Mr. Massie about himself and his life. Mr. Massie explained that he grew up during the Civil Rights Movement. “I cared about what was going on in the world.” He also offered budding writers a piece of advice: “if you’re a writer, you can go anywhere and do anything.” “Mr. Massie was obviously brilliant and eager to share his knowledge of not just his subject matter but also his personal history which was fascinating,” said senior Clarissa
PHOTO: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA
Donating by the Drop: Mr. Blake Dorfman reclines as he donates blood in the United Blood Services van during the first few hours of the Laguna Blanca School annual blood drive.
Community Rallies around Blood Donation Opportunity By OLIVIA BERCI Everyone who donates has a story. “I became a blood donor nearly eight years ago when I learned that my O negative blood is perpetually in high demand. O negative is the universal blood type, which means it’s the only type that can be used in every person, regardless of his or her own blood type. In emergency situations, when there’s no time to determine a patient’s blood type and treatment needs to be rendered immediately, O negative blood is used. Last year I was made aware that my blood type is even more rare and precious due to the fact that I am not a carrier of a common virus that infects people of all ages. It is called Cytomegalovirus (sy toe MEG a low vy rus), or CMV. Most CMV infections are “silent,” meaning most people who are infected with
CMV have no signs or symp- type that would suffice. It has always warmed my toms. However, CMV can cause heart to donate blood, knowdisease in people with a weak- ing that I am helping to save ened immune system and in a life. But now that I am called babies infected before birth. About 1 in 150 children is born upon to help newborn babies survive, I feel honored and with congeniprivileged tal (present at “I’ll never know his to have birth) CMV inthis type of fection. name nor meet him, blood; it is The fact that I am O nega- but in my heart I know truly a gift tive and do not that I am part of that that I am willing to carry CMV, my blood is the baby’s life by way of my share anytime it’s only type that blood.” needed. can be used in -Dana Martin I did not newborn bad o n a t e bies. Several months ago, I re- blood at the recent Laguna ceived my first call from the Blanca Blood Drive because I blood bank asking if I can was called upon to share my make a donation on a specific gift that same week. Another local newborn was date because a neonatal patient, two days old, was in des- in need of a transfusion. I’ll perate need of a blood transfu- never know his name nor meet sion, and my blood is the only him, but in my heart I know
that I am part of that baby’s life by way of my blood,” said Dana Martin, Middle and Upper School Assistant and Middle School Adviser. Two-time donor, senior Chris Burke said, “I decided to give blood again because it was a good experience last year, and I knew it was the right thing to do.” “It was my first time donating blood. My mom told me that when my dad donates, he passes out. I sort of brushed it off. I was pretty confident, but when I got to donating, I felt really sick. I almost had to stop, but I am so glad that I didn’t. It felt good to give back,” said senior Anastasia Antonova. Junior Margaret Lazarovits, who, at 15, was too young to donate, looks forward to donating next year.“I think it is a really good way to help people in need,” said Margaret.
Shakespeare Takes the Stage
I
By ZOE SERBIN
t may seem an impossible task to cram all 37 of William Shakespeare’s plays together in an hour and a half—plus intermission— but Laguna’s “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” pulled it off. Nov. 7, 8, and 9, students, teachers, parents, and friends gathered in the Spaulding Auditorium to watch a medley of Middle School students, high school students, and teachers channel their inner thespian. “The Complete Works” pulled actors from every walk of Laguna life, including cameo appearances from Middle and Upper School Assistant Ms. Dana Martin and Mr. Blake Dorfman, Coordinator of Isham Library & Academic Research Center. The show included six high school students and six mid-
dle school students, some of whom were taking to the stage for the first time. “The Complete Works” was the first production Ms. Kate Bergstrom directed since arriving at Laguna . “It was scary and exciting, much like a good roller coaster should be. The students really stepped it up to a level that was unprecedented in my book, so I’m very proud,” said Ms. Bergstrom, describing her experience. As Ms. Bergstrom stood in front of the crowd before the Saturday night performance, she said that if Shakespeare were to watch the show, “he would run away screaming.” And while “The Complete Works” handled serious topics such as murder, revenge, forbidden love, and cannibalism, it also managed to do so with wit, humor, and the occasional
PHOTO: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA
ACTING AT ITS FINEST: (From left to right) Maddy Lazarovits, Ms. Dana Martin, Erica Keane, and Connor Curran act out scenes from Shakespeare’s “History Plays.” well-placed breaking of the fourth wall. The actors were silly and spontaneous, even occasionally breaking character to laugh at the ridiculousness of the show.
Ms. Bergstrom called the show “both intellectually and improvisationally savvy—allowing the students to show off their creative, comedic and academic chops.”
Afghani Advocate Promotes Global Education Founder of Aid Afghanistan for Education (AAE), Ms. Hassina Sherjan, presented her program to “fight terrorism with education” in the Middle East. By DARIA ETEZADI Students heard about the value of education from Ms. Hassina Sherjan, an advocate for education, in a recent assembly. For 32 years, she has been fighting for the right of her people to go to school, to make a living for themselves, and to find freedom from the new regime that has taken over. Ms. Hassina Sherjan, founder of Aid Afghanistan for Education (AAE), has spent most of her life trying to make education more accessible to underprivileged families in Afghanistan. “Afghanis are hungry for education.” “It wasn’t always like this,” said Ms. Sherjan. Before Russia invaded her country in 1979, Afghani women and children were free to pursue an education, to become entrepreneurs, and to live their lives with minimal interference from the government. But even after the 10-year war came to an end, the vio-
lence did not as the Taliban assumed authority. “They promised the return of the king, and then they disarmed everyone and terrorized the people,” Ms. Sherjan said. “ . . . women couldn’t work and children couldn’t learn,” she said. So Ms. Sherjan fled to America, in order to launch AAE and find the necessary resources to help her people back in Afghanistan. She then returned to her country and “approached the Taliban in person” in 1999, requesting that the government grant her permission to set up a school system for “marginalized” Afghanis. Unmoved by her presentation, the Taliban refused to accommodate her. But Ms. Sherjan would not take “no” for an answer. “I established five clandestine classes in the homes of teachers” and “received financial support from the United States.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF “craftingpeace.com”
Peace Pillows: Manufactured and designed by Boumi, a craft company in Kabul, these peace pillows are apart of the “Crafting Peace with Boumi” collection. Over the years, Ms. Sherjan’s secret schools developed into a nationwide remedial education program that currently accommodates thousands of students across Afghanistan.
Some of AAE’s funds come from “Crafting Peace,” a craft company that has collaborated with AAE to promote creativity and business in war-struck countries.
Profile
November 30, 2012
NOW Program Aims to Attract Prospective Students T 10 TOP POINTS OF PRIDE:
he administration unveiled its new NOW campaign during this year’s Jogathon. Besides revealing the newly renovated Isham Library and Nylen Academic Research Center, Laguna has also introduced the latest technological advances into students’ daily life. The NOW campaign is all about the present, rather than the past. As Laguna goes through the process of rebranding and reinventing itself, Director of Admissions Ms. Joyce Balak and the administration are spearheading a new Student Ambassador Program. “The Student Ambassador Program was designed to involve students in the outreach to prospective families,” said Ms. Balak. Her office walls are covered with photos of students playing sports, attending classes, and generally milling around campus. A stuffed owl sits on bookcase, displaying her school pride. The room is full of spirit, which is fitting because it is the first
By ALLISON LEWIS TOWBES
LAGUNA BLANCA NOW 1. We inspire. 2. We lead. 3. We’re personal. 4. We’re sporty. 5. We score big. 6. We get in. 7. We’re resourceful. 8. We go beyond. 9. We serve. 10. We succeed ... long-term.
room any prospective student walks into. Touring students are given the full Laguna experience: they join classes and assemblies and eat lunch in the quad on their visiting day. But the most important part of the day is getting to know the student body. Each prospective
student is paired with a student ambassador, who is given the duty of promoting the school and determining whether it would be a good fit for the “shadow.” Ambassadors are nominated by the faculty. Once selected, they proceed with a training program. They are given a “fast facts” manual about Laguna and are
French Teacher Becomes a True Américaine
SPORTING SCHOOL SPIRIT: Ms. Balak in her office full of Owls and campus photos, showing off her Laguna NOW pride.
portunity to shadow a current ninth grader in order to gain insight into high school life at Laguna. “They think that what’s across the driveway is the same, which it isn’t,” Ms. Balak said. Step Up Day, a day when the eighth graders get to tour the high school, allows them to see what they will experience as at the Upper School. The goal of the program is twofold: for the prospective families, they get to hear positive messages from members of the Laguna commu-
nity. Ambassadors are learning leadership skills and giving back to the school. “I think students are the School’s best asset,” Ms. Balak said, “You live school life every day. You are the best people to speak about it.” For Ms. Balak, the program is key to letting prospective families see the joys of attending Laguna Blanca. “Here, I love it. One thing that really impressed me when I came here was the culture. I call it a culture of kindness.”
By HELENA DAVILA
PHOTO: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN: Madame Maillard proudly displays her US citizenship certificate.
500 people waiting to be tested. As many testers do, Mme. Maillard had a less than ideal testing experience. “The lady pronounced my name wrong, and after shouting it three times, I realized she was calling me. Then, in the testing room, I kept asking her to repeat the questions, which I don’t think she liked.” However, six spoken and one written questions later, and she and her husband passed the test. “What moved me the most [about the ceremony] was when we arrived two hours early. We
Independent Interns: Students Review, Write, and Report on the Arts By ANASTASIA ANTONOVA
Stacks of The Independent everywhere, writers rushing in and out for interviews, and just about everyone else conferring on articles and layouts—this is the office home to three Laguna students working for The Santa Barbara Independent. Seniors Clarissa Coburn and Helena Davila were asked during their junior year to write by their English Instructor Dr. Charles Donelan— who heads the Arts Section. While he witnessed Helena’s writing abilities through her mock-
PHOTO: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA
Miles Crist Makes Movie Magic
By ANASTASIA ANTONOVA An American citizen. To some, it means being able to work; to others it means finally finding a safe refuge. To my parents, it means stability. To French Instructor Madame Maud Maillard it means being part of this great melting-pot where dreams remain possible. It took her husband and Mme. Maillard 13 years to receive the certificate of citizenship. “We came in 1999 with my two-year-old daughter because my husband found a job here. We were attracted for many reasons, but we basically fell in love with the culture,” Mme. Maillard said. Less than one year ago they were allowed to make the request of becoming American citizens. They studied their presidents and American wars. “We had some fun, just practicing. We made it into a family game, using the flashcards and the CD.” On the first day of school, Sept. 5, Mme. Maillard and her husband drove down to Los Angeles to be among the
instructed on how to work with prospective students and parents alike. Ambassadors work open houses at other schools, give tours, and serve on information panels. The program contains students from fifth through twelfth grade, although the ambassadors do not serve on panels until seventh grade. In addition to the regular student ambassadors, there is also a new student ambassador advisory group. This group, made of two sophomores, two juniors, and four seniors, advises the younger ambassadors. “It’s a great new program because students get to give their point of view on open houses and shadowing,” said Brian Miguel, one of the senior ambassador advisors. Another main objective of the Ambassador Program is to help Laguna’s eighth graders to make a decision about where they want to attend high school. They have the op-
5
college essay assignment in AP English Language, Dr. Donelan invited Clarissa to join the “Indie” after discussing books read, both in and out of class, by Clarissa. Junior Margaret Lazarovits, however, approached Dr. Donelan herself. “I knew Cameron Platt did theater reviews, and they needed a replacement for when she graduated,” Margaret said, “I got more and more articles until my piece on Shadows—see August 15 issue! It felt really good to see my hard work published.”
thought that we would be the only ones there, but there were so many people that the line to get inside was wrapped around the building.” It was a short onehour ceremony. The judge told all the new citizens that they had achieved something and that they have responsibility and obligations for this country. He pounded the mallet, and as American flags went up and a recorded speech by President Obama played, citizens and their families alike cheered and cried. “We felt like pilgrims. We finally made it.” They have all found their niche. Clarissa took on book reviewing, since she’s always glued to one anyway. An anythingart-lover, Helena seeks out artists or galleries in the SB art community to cover. And Margaret, prolonging Cameron’s legacy, does theater critiques. Most anyone who’s seen her stage manage Laguna’s theater productions will assume that anyone who shouts that loud during rehearsal must have a passion for live theater. They’ve given as much to the Indie as the Indie to them. “It was less a learning experience than an expansion experience. “I got to choose out of a
The first time I heard around campus as Miles, the table and winding the name Miles Crist into his backpack. ‘the guy who makes rewas last year from Then, magically, a ally awesome movies.’ Laguna Blanca Journalnew film will appear on “I really like Alfred ism instructor Ms. Trish the Laguna website or Hitchcock’s “North by McHale. “This kid’s The Fourth Estate site. Northwest”,” he said. going places,” she said, Parents see it, stuThe 1959 thriller film as she clicked out of her dents find it, and teachisn’t exactly what most email and shut down the high school students ers show it in classschool’s computer for rooms, remarking the day. “This kid’s going over how neat it is. The movie she He doesn’t advertise places.” was referring to was his creations, creates a short film Miles -Ms. Trish McHale no fanfare about the had created during a magic that happens recent trip to Eubehind his computer rope. The film, titled “In screen, but next time would name as their Motion,” is a mash-up you watch a movie on most admired film, but of short clips shot from the school website, look the flawless cinematogvarious cars, elevators, for the name printed raphy and classic Hitchboats and hotel windows cock flair are what draw in small sans serif font that captures the esat the bottom of the Miles to this somewhat sence of a very bustling, screen. That name will sub-culture classic. yet subdued Europe. be Miles Crist. He’ll sit patiently “I started film makhunched over a coming when I was around puter screen cluttered nine,” he said. “I started with graphs and off with stop-motion editing software, shorts about Legos bewires draped cause I wanted to see the somewhat blocks moving around haphazby themselves.” ardly Miles now shoots with across a Canon 7D, and has become fondly known
PHOTO: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA Shooting the Scene: Miles works with his 7D Canon camera.
stack of books, but they weren’t genres I normally would pick up,” said Clarissa, whose favorite review was the one she wrote for “The End of Your Life Book Club,” a nonfiction book about the relationship between a mother and her son as she fights cancer. “I felt like I had something new and interesting to say.” Helena found her learning experiences frequently out on the scene. “As a reporter before I started working at The Independent, I learned how to interview better: To make it more like a conversation.” Yet, what’s a writer without her own style? “I really think about the book and get to say what I like,” Clarissa
said. “I use description. I recreate what I’ve seen,” Helena said. “I love character and scene analysis,” Margaret said. And, of course, Dr. Donelan, as the Arts
Editor, knows how special this opportunity is. “You have the responsibility of representing something real to people outside of school and instead of writing for a grade, you’re writing for an audience.”
PHOTO: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA Independent Writers: (Left to right) Clarissa Coburn, Margaret Lazarovits, and Helena Davila sit in the library reading some of their published articles.
6
November 30, 2012
Opinion
Happy Thanksgiving! (From our dysfunctional Fourth Estate family to yours.)
ART: ZOE SERBIN
Under the Pressure of Raising the Bar With high school students living in a constant state of competition, the pressure to succeed can be overwhelming and too much to handle. By ALLISON LEWIS TOWBES
The average Laguna student spends 45 percent of the day, approximately 11 hours, either at school or doing homework. Students typically spend another seven hours a day sleeping. The remaining six hours are devoted to everything else: after school sports, music lessons, tutoring sessions, play practice, community service, and for seniors, colleges applications. When these facts were shown to students, they seemed confused. “That’s too low,” said senior Karinna Carrillo, looking at the 45 percent figure representing the amount of time spent on school work. Clarissa Coburn, another senior, had her own viewpoint: “We spend 45 percent of our day at school or doing homework, but so much more time is dedicated to school than that. [We spend time] getting ready, coming to and from, thinking and planning.”
The APs
In past years, the College Board has said that taking five AP classes during a high school career is more than enough. However, according to a poll, the average Laguna student will take three AP courses as a junior, and three more the following year. Some go so far as to take five AP classes a year as a junior and five more as a senior. With 10 college-level classes under their belts by the time they graduate, it’s like they’ve already started college in high school. By the time senior Caitlin Connor graduates, she will have taken 11 AP courses. “I wanted to keep advancing,” said Caitlin, “And this was the only way I could.” I asked Caitlin whether her drive
are not learning how to live a balanced life,” said Ms. Rose Steeber, Laguna’s Academic Services Coordinator. As Ms. Steeber says, we all “walk around campus like zombies.”
The Goal
What all of this is about is getting into the college of our dreams. All of us know someone who’s terrified that they won’t get into the Ivy League school of their choice. We are all completely convinced that every other student in the country is better than us. We all have friends with higher GPAs, who are nationally ranked in their sport, who speak four languages, and who spend their Sundays serving soup to the homeless. Next to them, why would any college pick me? Take a deep breath. In the United States there are over 4,000 colleges with more than 18 million students.
I will be one of them. We all have qualities that set us apart from everyone else, so what’s the use in comparing myself to everyone else? We aren’t doing ourselves any favors when we go through high school in a stressed-out daze, trying to live up to expectations that exceed our abilities. Is working hard and having goals important? Of course. But is sacrificing our health and happiness in the pursuit of perfection worth it? No. So when I cry over my Physics homework, or lose sleep because I haven’t finished my English essay, I have to remind myself that there is more to life than school. There’s a time to put your nose to the grindstone, but there is also a time to shut down the computer and take a well-deserved break.
PHOTO: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA ART: ZOE SERBIN
The Hours
was internal, or if she got her disappoint the people who motivation from the world do.” Kaylee’s motivation around her? comes from the world “Both,” she said, “college around her; she works to the is a huge motivator. But the standards that other people way I was raised, you take set for her. No doubt many the hardest of Laguna courses you students feel can.” a similar We are a school of Of course, pressure, a overachievers. We there is pressure that thrive on going above is beyond another side and beyond the call to this story. their control. What happens But the real of duty. when we don’t question is meet those whether or expectations? not Laguna We all know that a C is students push themselves too average, yet sometimes the hard? Cs that we receive feel like Is it healthy for us to push failures. our capacity? It is almost as though The truth is that there classes get harder for us only are definite pros and because we demand greater unmistakable cons to this challenges. rigorous lifestyle. I know that I barely manage As we try to keep up with my three AP classes, given my our schoolwork, we are extracurriculars. learning time management Yet each time that I am and multitasking skills that reminded that some of my will be beneficial forever. peers take four or five, it is a Yet, at the same time, personal blow. I can’t help our constant effort takes a but wonder if I’m living up toll. We get stressed, we get to my potential, or if I’m a burned out, we lose sleep, disappointment? and all this leads to taking shortcuts on the work that we insist we can do. The “It’s a complex situation, Incentive but ultimately students are I’ve found that sacrificing their health and my entire world revolves around school. For one, it feels really rewarding to get a good grade, that much is obvious. At a young age, we recognize the differences between an A and a B, and we strive to reach our full potential as students. In an environment like Laguna, a place where highachieving students flourish, it is nearly impossible not to become competitive. But what is the prize? Why do we invest so much energy into something that is so time consuming? For each student, the answer is different. “I have two reasons why I’m motivated. One is that within myself I have a driving force. The other is that I will not let my environment close in and crush me. I push myself hard because I can’t let anyone else do it for me,” said junior Margaret Lazarovits. “It’s me against the environment.” For Margaret, and many others, the incentive to work hard is internal. They are driven by personal Average weight goals to succeed. of a Laguna Junior Kaylee student’s Strachan had a different backpack: 18 answer. pounds “Obviously I don’t want to fail, but I don’t have high expectations for myself. I just don’t want to ART: ZOE SERBIN
“Stress, paranoia, competition.” These are the words used by one Laguna student to describe how she feels about her schoolwork. Walking around campus, I hear similar themes echoing from other students in everyday conversations. There is generally no such thing as putting too much effort into our assignments. We are a school of overachievers. We thrive on going above and beyond the call of duty. But what are the motives behind our success-oriented attitudes, and what are the consequences? Is it really beneficial to push ourselves as hard as we do? Have we raised the bar too high?
The average Laguna student spends 10.84 hours at school or doing homework.
ART: ZOE SERBIN
In comparison, the average Laguna student spends 6.98 hours sleeping.
Opinion
7 STAFF EDITORIAL: SEX & DRUGS & DUBSTEP Boom International Trance Psychedelic Music Festival is a biennial weeklong festival by the Ponsul River in Portugal; 30,000 attend each year. KaZantip Republic lasts for 5-6 weeks during the summer in Ukraine, drawing over 150,000. The largest single-day electronic dance music event in America, the spin-off of the German Love parade draws an international crowd of over 120,000 to Oakland, CA every year. An annual two-day festival with rides and electronic music, the Electric Daisy Carnival is the biggest electronic festival outside of Europe, drawing a crowd of over 300,000 to Las Vegas, Nevada with the adage “dusk till dawn”. Sensation originated in and is held every year in the Amsterdam Arena (and in other countries around the world), and is renowned for its stage shows, acrobats, and fireworks, and for requiring all attendees to dress in white only. With an arena decorated to match, over 30,000 people attend every year. Monster Massive is a Halloween-themed, annual electronic musical festival held the weekend prior to Halloween night at the Los Angeles
Sports Arena. A host to some of the most esteemed artists in the electronic dance music scene, it drew over 65,000 in 2008 and 2009. The Ultra Music Festival, held annually at the Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami, Florida, is self-proclaimed “The world’s premiere electronic music festival”. Ultra worldwide has events scheduled in Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentine; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Ibiza, Spain; and Seoul, South Korea. Dance Valley is held annually in Spaarnwoude, Netherlands, attracting over 50,000. Nature One is held in Germany, takes place over three days, and attracts over 60,000. Global Gathering is held annually in Stratford-UponAvon, UK. It attracts over 250,000 each year and is known for its unparalleled LED screens. This is global. What emerged from the underground of South London in the 90s, has erupted into an electronica youth culture that pervades demographic, cultural, and geographic divides. A culture the millennial generation can claim as all their own
THIS IS GLOBAL.
is something unlike any other music scene that has preceded it. DJ’s rise to eminent celebrity, creating global fan bases by marking themselves, their albums, and their concerts. 20-year-old Porter Robinson is an American electronic dance music producer and DJ from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He originally released a variety of original singles on Glamara Records and Blue Fish Recordings. His first single, “Say My Name,” landed at #1 on Beatports Electro House chart. In the summer of 2011, he aligned himself with OWSLA, a new label operated by Skrillex. Touring internationally as a DJ, he has performed in 2011 at Ultra Music Festival, Electric Daisy Carnival (in three cities), Electric Zoo, South by Southwest, Global Dance Festival, Virgin Mobile Free Fest, Beyond Wonderland, Electric Forest, and Nocturnal Festival. Two years ago, Zedd, whose real name is Anton Zaslavski, was making beats in anonymity in Germany. Now, he is riding the dance world’s accelerated career track, recording with Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber. As the echo of the audience reverberated in the background, the 22-year old opened for prince of dubstep, 24-yearold Skrillex at the Red Rocks Amphitheater, over 100,000 dance-music fans followed the protégé’s every base drop
November 30, 2012
command and fist-pumping decree. Forbes recently ranked the annual earning of top DJ’s, lead by Tiësto at $22 million. The music industry is taking notice. The promoter behind the Hard festival franchise said, “the record labels are now all saying, ‘We’ve got to find the next Skrillex.’” Zedd was courted by Jimmy Iovine of Interscope Records (Eminem, Lady Gaga, U2). The rise of EDM also reflects a shift in the music career trajectory. Record labels are no longer the primary career makers. This young, hyperdigital generation is looking toward more prestigious prospects. These artists don’t need a puppet-master. Skrillex, already a three-time Grammy winner, is scoring for Disney. Last year, Universal paid $750,000 to release the Swedish DJ Avicii’s “Levels,” without the contracted options for more material. EDM has been criticized as not being music—not being art. To some its just new-found noise, but something about an age of music that most over 30 don’t understand has always granted a youth culture a powerful connection to identity. The search for a collective selfhood through electronica is the result of our century’s social, economic, cultural, and political forces. Zedd’s rise is typical of the EDM wave. He few up in Kaiserslautern, Germany, studied classical piano and played the drums before developing his own variant of electro house music. He translated his start of song writing at the piano into the computerized sounds and rattling bass that he’s now recognized for.
Another hot contender Madeon is an 18-year old French DJ whose rise to fame has also been fasttracked. Though its only recently mainstreamed, EDM has been able to link itself to popular radio-hits, seamlessly assimilating into a newage pop-culture. But there’s something darker that lies underneath the dazzling light shows and 64-button control pads. With this subculture that emerged around all-night dance parties, a mind-altering drug culture has also veered its head, sparking controversy and arguably curbing respect for the music’s artistry. The Electric Daisy Carnival was held at the Los Angeles Coliseum until a 15-year-old died of a drug overdoes in 2010. The death sparked a wave in the industry to place an 18+ age limit for many music festivals and a change in location to Las Vegas. The song “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll” was originally released as a Stiff Records single as the B-side with “Razzle in My Pocket” in 1977. The adage has lived on describe youth culture for generations. There has always been a drug and sex influence in newage music. Perhaps it is, and has for so long, been apart of the draw for youth in revolt. It doesn’t make it okay, but it also shouldn’t restrict the level of respect granted electronic music producers and DJs. Electronic music is so different—so alien, and some don’t like it, but for others, it is almost as if it’s a religion. The sound moves people. And just as rock and roll was, it’s powerful.
By HELENA DAVILA One of the first times I remember being overwhelmed by cigarette smoke was in the Frankfurt airport in Germany. Groups of men were clustered through the halls, their heads bent, muttering in foreign languages I didn’t understand. Each had a fat cigar clutched between sausage fingers, thick grey smoke curling from the burning end. I felt like I was going to pass out. The air hung heavy in the enclosed terminal, the haze of smoke almost visible. Europe is largely known as a nation of smokers. It seems to be a habit deeply woven into the culture, much like sports bars seem to be a part of America. When I returned to the US, it was a different world. The airports were clean and clear of loitering travelers with smoke curling from their parted lips as they waited patiently for their flight to be called. The streets were largely clear of cigarette butts, and the cigarette advertisements in magazines, newspapers and television were minimal. Yet, in recent years, there appears to have been a shift. Scroll the pages of Tumblr, flip through any glossy magazine, or drive past a few billboards, and you’re likely to see advertisements for cigarettes. Why is this? Why is it that suddenly smoking has become popular again, especially amongst American teens? Unlike Europe, smoking in America isn’t quite nearly as widely accepted. Largely in part, because scientists have researched, proved, and advertised that smoking really does kill. Since the year 2000, California has spent an estimated $20 million annually on anti-tobacco advertising, while New York alone spent about $10 million annually between 2003
and 2009. Yet, despite these efforts, statistics show that nearly one in four high school seniors and one in three young adults under 20 still smoke the stuff despite over half a century’s worth of federal warnings regarding tobacco. In 2003, the tobacco industry saw a nearly fifteen percent drop in sales from the previous year. To combat this drop, the tobacco companies took a slightly different approach to advertising. Teams of graphic designers, photographers, marketing agents and thinkers collaborated to make smoking cool again. Advertisements were released showing attractive young adults smoking and chewing tobacco. By 2009, there had been nearly an eight percent rise in the purchase of tobacco products, and the numbers keep rising. Last year, the Federal government in conjunction with the Center for Disease Control launched a $54 million dollar ad campaign to help thousands of addicts kick the habit for good. The graphic ad campaign showed diseased smokers living their everyday lives with lung, throat and jaw cancer caused by tobacco smoke. The ads which ran for twelve weeks in spring and early summer, were aimed to scare over 500,000 people to quit, and for 50,000 of those to kick the habit long term. The numbers are in, and the campaign worked. According to the CDC, the ads generated a staggering 192, 000 extra calls to the national toll-free quit line, 800-QUIT-NOW. That’s triple the site’s previous traffic. Thanks to the success of the campaign, the CDC has announced they plan to launch a similar slew of ads both on TV and in print. The ads from the CDC are slated to air this coming spring, and hopes remain high that they’ll be just as effective the second time around. The clock is ticking, addicts, and the help lines are open.
GRAPHIC: ZOE SERBIN
Double
8
THE DIGITIZED ESCAPE A Commentary
By DARIA ETEZADI
I
’m not going to lie. I didn’t like dubstep to begin with. The idea of a whole new genre dedicated to electronic music made me a little suspicious. But then I listened to “Internet Friends” by Knife Party and it hit me: while the songwriters music genres strive to communicate deep, profound messages that can touch someone or rock a generation, dubstep artists aren’t writing music that is supposed to be taken seriously.
In fact, they’re trying to achieve the opposite effect of most other genres. The point of dubstep is to pull its listeners away from reality for a brief moment, and immerse them in an amalgam of computer-generated sounds and vocals. Simply put, dubstep is just really fun to dance to. From another perspective, the mere act of trying to distract people from reality with light-hearted music is in itself, sending a message. Just the fact that we need
a break from “the real world” sheds light on the amount of heavy information we are constantly bombarded with on a daily basis. As someone who is in the middle of this tech revolution, I’ve begun to understand how overwhelming it is to have a universe of information right at our fingertips. It’s no wonder dubstep has become the genre that defines our generation, providing us with a digitized musical escape to the electronic reality we live in.
NOT MUSICAL AND NOT ORIGINAL A Commentary
By KAYLEE STRACHAN
T
he lights overwhelm my eyes. The noise creates a pounding in my head. This sensory overload is called a rave. Dubstep is the new sound of the technology-obsessed generation. It goes handin-hand with the digital age because this type of music is synthetic: it’s produced
electronically. Generally, the music is made up of different sounds that are strung together for what would be equivalent to a verse and then not repeated again, then, the next verse would be new. The sounds are computergenerated and are not always instrumental,
melodic, or harmonic. The lyrics, if any at all, are usually taken bits from other songs that are put into the computer and distorted in some way. Techno makes it very hard to sing along or try and play this music. Bands or individual artists cannot cover this music.
If a dubstep concert is someone sitting behind a laptop, can it really be considered music? Probably not, at least not in the original and literal sense. But then again that is probably what our grandparents thought back when rock and roll became the music of the generation.
LOCAL DJ REDEYE hosts monthly Dubstep concerts, open to all ages. Tickets starting at $25/$30, location and price subject to change. http://redeyelife.com
By MARGARET LAZAROVITS
In our culture, music is deeply engrained. It’s a unique way to express feelings and emotions that simply cannot be captured accurately in poetry or prose. As our culture has undergone some dramatic revolutions, consequently so has our music. In America particularly, music has changed drastically over the course of just a century. Each decade in the 1900s clearly has its own way that it fits into the world as a whole. For example, the 20s passed as one big party while the 30s and early 40s left many in poverty. Flappers, liquor and jazz were the sinful vices those brash all-night partygoers indulged in during the Jazz Age. America had just emerged victorious from the First World War, the economy was booming and everyone wanted to have a good time. However, after the stock market crashed, everything went downhill. Instead of an exuberant party, America sheltered the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. So, the swinging rhythms slowed down and lyrics became about those down on their luck.
November 30, 2012
Still, jazz influences were still widely seen. The early 50s held onto the melodic voices of jazz songbirds like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. However, the younger generation brought about a radically new change in music: rock n’ roll. Singers like Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly provided the sound of this generation. Teens and young adults into the 1960s were drawn into music followings that adults just couldn’t keep up with, from the British Invasion featuring the Beatles to Woodstock. With the 70s came disco fever and everyone caught it.
Yet another genre of music, hard rock, was gaining popularity in the 1970s, especially with teens. Even the kids portrayed in the Fox series That 70’s Show listen to the artists like Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper and AC/DC. Hard rock stayed strong throughout the 1980s and 90s, when alternative bands like R.E.M. started to gain popularity. In fact, the 80s saw a mixture of styles arise in the music industry. Everything from soft rock to infamous electronic was
9
listened to. A breakthrough that happened in the early 80s was the introduction of MTV. Teens would be able to see music videos played by hosts, known as video jockeys. Music was now readily available to the adolescent population. And MTV continued to provide a steady stream of music into the 2000s, when they featured the work of the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys. For the teens of 2012, history will brand us as the “Dubstep Generation.” Our culture is inexplicably drawn to the machine sounds emanating from that DJ behind a laptop obscured by the intense light show behind him. Everything from the authentic saxophone swing of Duke Ellington to the bubblegum-pop stylings of Blondie has been tossed aside and a new form of music has taken its place. Like rock ‘n roll in the 50s, adults do not quite understand the appeal of dubstep, but the alienation of an older generation is what makes it all the more appealing. In our digital age, it’s not surprising that even our music is capable of going high tech.
PAGE DESIGN AND GRAPHICS: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA AND ZOE SERBIN
Page
10
November 30, 2012
Feature
Local Roots LAYOUT & DESIGN: CATY LAFITTE PHOTOS: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA
Local venders from all over the Santa Barbara County come together in the plaza on the corner of Santa Barbara and Cota Streets to sell their fresh produce, from peaches, persimmons, carrots, tomatoes, strawberries & flowers, to artisan goat cheese, hummus and much more. Stop by every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to support your local farmers.
“Mama’s Preserves” Arroyo Grande, CA “Garcia Family Farm” Fresno County, CA
“The Garden Of....” Los Olivos, CA
Juan Darion
“Cortez Farm” Santa Maria, CA
“Drake Family Farms” Ontario, CA
“Tutti Fruitti Farms” Buelton and Lompoc, CA
“I really like the homemade cheese and I love how the farmer’s market is a nice community thing to go to and enjoy. Locally grown foods are the best.” Chloe Brown Junior
“My favorite thing about the farmer’s market is the free samples. Every time I go, I always get the smoked cheddar cheese.” Mr. Zack Moore Middle School Science Teacher
“My favorite part of the farmer’s market is the fresh juices and the sausage. We get supplies for our restaurant, The Crocodile, there. We get peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, and more.” Conrad Perry Junior
“Deleno Farms” Central Valley, CA
Steam-ing Ahead in Gaming By ALEX HAWKER I used to be a console gamer like you, but then I took Steam in the knee. Ever since I discovered Steam, I have been solidly a PC gamer, although I play on my Xbox 360 occasionally. Steam is a digital distribution platform created by Valve Corporation, a video games company that has produced the hit games Half Life, Team Fortress, Counter Strike, Portal, and more. The thing that is special about Steam is that it not only sells games, but it also provides a way to connect and chat with friends, to browse the web in-game, to sync saved games, settings, and screenshots to the Cloud, to protect users against cheating in multiplayer games, and to host mods to several games including The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. But one of the best features of Steam is its sales. Every day, Steam often puts games on sale for 50 percent to 75 percent off, sometimes even more. But the best sales occur during the middle of summer and in the later weeks of December, when Steam has its mega sales, and around a dozen different games are marked down 75 percent or more. If you have a decent computer, PC or Mac, Steam is an application you should have on it. Steam is available at http:// store.steampowered.com
PHOTO: Alex Hawker
IMAGE: Steam Application
Feature
November 30, 2012
WAR OF THE TABLETS
11
By ALEX HAWKER
The holiday season is almost upon us, and some of the most popular gift items are tablets. Whether it is for work, for play, for watching movies or reading books, tablets have become extremely popular. However, as a result of this popularity, a whole variety of tablets have emerged on the market, often resulting in confusion over which one is best for you. But fear not, for I have compiled a list of the pros and cons of some of the top tablets.
Best 10-inch Tablets Nexus 10 and iPad 4
10-inch tablet by Google
10-inch tablet by Apple
The iPad 4 and the Nexus 10 are both contenders for being the best 10-inch tablet. Despite the iPad having Apple’s high-resolution retina display, its screen is not widescreen, causing videos to be letterboxed or cropped. Additionally, while the iPad’s screen is an impressive 2048 by 1536, the Nexus 10 has an even better screen, not only being widescreen, but also having an amazing resolution of 2560 by 1600 and a density of 300 pixels per inch
– the same amount as print. App-wise, the iPad has a bit of a lead over the Nexus 10 due to the 275,000 apps it has optimized for tablets. Furthermore, the iPad can be expanded to a hard drive of 64 GB and has the option of 4g connectivity. In contrast, the Nexus 10 is $100 cheaper. So the question is, is a better screen and $100 worth more to you than the options of a larger hard drive, 4g, and Apple’s selection of apps?
For Work Surface RT (& Pro)
GRAPHIC: ALEX HAWKER
For Fun
Best 7-inch
Kindle Fire HD
Nexus 7
It’s a Trap! iPad Mini
10-inch tablet by Microsoft
7-inch tablet by Amazon
7-inch tablet by Google
7-inch tablet by Apple
Microsoft’s Surface Tablet excels in the workplace. Featuring a keyboard cover and integrated kickstand, the Surface can transform from a tablet for entertainment to laptop for typing and work. It also comes with fully featured Microsoft Office. Work takes up space, but the Surface’s micro-SD port also allows one to get hard drive on the cheap ($70 for an extra 64 GB). Additionally, the USB port allows one to use any USB device, from external hard drives to mice. However, the screen is quite poor, even if it is widescreen. Speaking of apps, the app selection is very limited, although it does have the popular ones and will expand over time. If this is a problem, however, Surface Pro is coming out in the future, which will work with all Windows applications: this means Photoshop, Skyrim, and more all on a tablet. The catch? It will likely cost around $1000.
The Kindle Fire HD was made for entertainment, featuring the best speakers (Stereo with Dolby audio), the best Wi-Fi (dual antennas) to allow for streaming videos and downloading media faster, and a nice widescreen display to view entertainment on. For when a 7-inch screen isn’t big enough, it also has a micro-HDMI port to connect it to a TV. Additionally, with Amazon Prime, a $79 per year service that also gives free two-day shipping, one also receives a free Kindle Book every month and free movies. There are some problems though: unless you pay $15, the lock screen is an ad; however, there are sometimes coupons, so it can be good too. A more major problem is that Kindles can only get Amazon apps, not those published on Google Play, without significant work. In the end though, for those who like entertainment, the Kindle Fire HD is a great buy.
While it may not have the best speakers, Wi-Fi, or a micro-HDMI port that the Kindle Fire HD has, the Nexus 7 makes up for this and more with its other features. For starters, it features a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, which is much faster than the Kindle’s dual core processor, making it faster and allowing it to play apps smoother and with better graphics. On the topic of apps, the Nexus 7 doesn’t only have access to Amazon’s apps with only a slight bit of work, but it also has access to the much larger selection of Google Play apps, giving it a lot access to a lot more apps. It is also much more customizable, featuring widgets and live wallpapers. The display matches that of the Kindle Fire HD. Finally, it also features NFC, so it can send things to nearby devices with NFC. Overall, the Nexus 7’s speed, app selection, and customizability make it the best 7-inch tablet.
While it is the only main 7-inch tablet to have the option of 4g, a back-facing camera, and the option of 64 GB of hard drive, the iPad Mini is sunk by its significant, ironic problems. While Apple has been creating retina displays for its iPads and Macs, the iPad Mini has the worst screen of the 7-inch tablets, and it isn’t even widescreen, resulting in letterboxing or cropping of widescreen movies. While Apple has dominated the music industry with its iPod, the iPad Mini only has one speaker, while other tablets have stereo speakers. But its biggest problem is the price. While other 7-inch tablets are $200, the iPad Mini starts at $329, costs double for every hard drive expansion, and if one wants 4g, it will cost an additional $130, without which there is no GPS. For the price, you might as well get the full-sized iPad 4.
12
Sports
November 30, 2012
Beach Volleyball Set for Laguna By SCOTT JOHNSTON
V
olleyball, the ocean, soft sand, fun, and friends. Sounds like a pretty good time right? This spring, a new beach volleyball program is being offered to Upper School girls. The new team was brought together by the director of the Laguna Blanca volleyball program and boy’s varsity volleyball coach, Dillan Bennett. Fourteen girls will be playing, eight of whom were on this year’s varsity volleyball team. The team will be practicing at East Beach when the season starts in early March, and runs through the beginning of May. Laguna will be going up against teams that compete in CIF Division 1 such as Harvard Westlake, Mira Costa, El Segundo High, Long Beach High, and Mater Dei. Coach and founder of the team, Dillan Bennett said, “We are going to be going up against the best, and I think we have a good enough core group to really contend at that high level of sand volleyball.” “For me, volleyball started on the beach and now that sand volleyball is a collegiate sport, I feel that it is important to offer our high school level athletes a chance to play a collegiate sport in their future. So by setting up a sand volleyball program, we are providing them with another opportunity to, in a sense, double up. You can get an indoor scholarship playing somewhere, and now you can get a sand scholarship. By adding another option, it’s another chance for someone to get into the college they want,” said Bennett. Members of the team are very excited for the season to start. Junior Grace Woolf, who has participated in the John Lee beach volleyball camps during past summers, said, “I really love beach volleyball, and I thought that it would be a really fun experience to hang out with friends, meet new people, and get better at volleyball.” A beach volleyball team is made up of six players, with a format similar to tennis. In a game, each team will first have their best pair of players play the other competitors best pair, then the second pairs, and then the third. The teams accumulate points based on how they play and the team with the most points wins the match. Laguna will have two groups of six players because of the amount of interest the new sport has generated. “I think beach volleyball is a lot more fun… and it can make your indoor game a lot better because it is so much harder playing in the sand, so it makes you a stronger and better player while preparing you for indoor volleyball,” said Grace. Sophomores Maddie Bonser and Bryn Jewett are also very excited for the season. Maddie said, “We like volleyball at Laguna, and we like being at the beach, so we thought that it would be a great opportunity.” Bryn and Maddie agree that if they could only play hard court or beach volleyball, they would chose beach, “without a doubt.” Laguna will be the first school in the Santa Barbara area to have a beach volleyball team, and the furthest north team in the league. Coach Bennett said, “We are ahead of the game as far as organization goes. I would foresee other schools in our area doing this within two or three years, which would give us a considerable jump on the competition.” The possibility of also having a boys sand volleyball team next fall season is in the works, and coach Bennett hopes that next year Laguna will be sporting both boys and girls beach teams. Upper school boys are already excited for the possibility of having their own team. Sophomore Spenser Wyatt played setter and outside hitter for boys junior varsity team last season team and upon hearing about the prospect of a boys sand team, he said, “I think that it would be a great opportunity for a lot of guys. It would be a great experience and would help tremendously for the indoor volleyball season.”
Girls Volleyball JV (Blue) Record: 7-2 (4-0) JV (White) Record: 9-1 (7-0) Both JV teams went undefeated in Condor League play, exhibiting a promising future for the varsity squad in years to come. Varsity Record: 15-7 (7-1) The Varsity Owls were Condor League Champions for the eleventh straight year. The Owls’ season ended in the semifinals with a loss to Rolling Hills Prep.
GRAPHIC: ZOE SERBIN
Fairness of Athletic Teams A Sports Commentary By CAITLIN CONNOR Like many young kids, I grew up with high hopes of becoming a professional athlete. I begged my mom to send me to a tennis academy, which would bring me closer to that goal. Yet, like many of my fellow students who had similar dreams, I came to outgrow mine. Instead, I set my sights on academics and accepted my physical shortcomings. Like myself, Laguna students as a whole have a focus on academics. Yet many of us still cling to our passion for sports. From the national standpoint, it is rare that one is able to attend a school where a student is able to maintain both a rigorous academic and athletic schedule. Like the nation, Laguna struggles to be inclusive and fair in picking sports teams. Like the nation, many of Laguna’s community members look down on all junior varsity teams. Despite our potential ability to be fair, athletes are extremely competitive in the race for a spot on a varsity team.
While it is always a goal to be the best team, and to go far into CIF rounds, it is a common compliant on campus that sports are biased. More often than not, it seems, coaches are playing off of statistics and stature, rather than effort, value, and dedication. There seems to be no pride in being on a junior varsity team. “Nobody values JV because it is not the best, and therefore not worth the time,” said junior JV team member Kaylee Strachan. Although there are not many junior varsity sports at Laguna, all second string, junior varsity, and alternative players work as hard as any of our topnotch players. Each sport requires time, two-hour practices and multi-hour games. Each sport requires effort, both on a team and on an individual basis. Yet these same players are rarely recognized for their efforts. The topic of junior varsity and second-string sports is not only a dilemma at school, but also a problem nation wide. Media coverage of these teams is
Featured Athlete
Boys Varsity Soccer Gets a New Coach
By CAITLIN CONNOR
E
veryone worked in unison during the Girls Volleyball CIF Quarterfinals, but one person who stood out throughout the season was junior middle Grace Woolf. During the home game against the third seed Bellarmine-Jefferson, with end scores of 25-15, 25-18, 25-12, Grace set an early tone for the team by grinding hits up the middle. As the match continued Grace recorded 10 blocks. In the first round CIF match against Santa Clara, 25 – 10, 25 – 16, 25 – 16, Grace again achieved the team high of 11 kills. “Grace is a crucial player on the team. She is an amazing teammate who always knows when to bring up the team spirit if needed. I am really going miss her and the team next year,” said senior opposite Jessie Dusebout. Throughout the season Grace has been setting a pace for the team by recording kill after kill. Even through all the hectic practices Grace maintains a high GPA and is always motivated. “I really like her personality and attitude on the court and the way she is really motivated. She has been playing great lately... If our team is not feeling confident, we go to Grace because we know she will get a kill. She really keeps our energy up,” said teammate junior Chloe Richman
By STEPHEN MCCAFFERY
PHOTO: KEN SCIALLO
PERFECT FORM: Top notch middle blocker Grace Woolf serves up a storm en route to helping lead the Lady Owls to victory and an appearance in the CIF semifinals.
Fall Sports 2012 Wrap-Up
Football (2-5, 1-4)
The Owls were plagued by injury for the second year in a row early in the season. However, the team kept fighting and improving. With only 3 seniors leaving, only one of which made it out of the season uninjured, the Owls return 5 starters on both defense and offense for the 2013 season, which is shaping up to be a bright, favorable season.
infrequent, most of the attention being stilted toward the successes and even losses of top teams while the successes and victories of others is forgotten. Newspapers have a finite amount of space and can only cover a limited number of sports and games, thus ,it is natural that the space should be allotted to the best teams. “To many of my fellow teammates it is almost a shame to be on a junior varsity team, or to be second string. I would say it’s hard to keep working when we are rarely recognized for our efforts,” said sophomore MacKenna Connor. At a school like Laguna, even though we have the opportunity to value everyone, and to be inclusive, it still seems that the game is taken too seriously. The point is to play. The outcome not rendering life or death. It is a game. A game where many coaches seem too worried to remember all of the players. While the goal is to win, maybe we should reconsider the lengths we are willing to go for a bragging right and a plastic trophy.
Cross-Country
The team’s motto is“Train Smart. Race Hard” - David Silverander, Head Coach (‘01). This motto worked, as shown clearly in this year’s results. Ojai Valley Invitational: Cooper Farrell (‘15) 1st, Michael Hawker (‘16) 3rd, Alex Hawker (‘13) 10th. Midland League Meet: Cooper Farrell 10th, Michael Hawker 12th, Connor Curran (‘15) 57th. Thacher League Meet: Cooper Farrell 10th, Michael Hawker 12th, Alex Hawker 39th.
The new head coach for the Boys Varsity Soccer Team is Scott Williams. Coach Scott Williams played for 4 years at Westmont College and has been serving for 2 years as assistant coach under Dave Wolf at Westmont College for the Men’s Soccer Team. Prior to his hiring, Coach Williams coached the Junior Varsity Boys Soccer Team at Santa Barbara High School for 2 years. Coach Williams heard a good amount of positive talk about the Laguna Blanca Soccer program, so he thought it was a “great opportunity” when offered the job by Athletic Director Mike Biermann. Coach Williams’ goals for the season involve “firstly, getting a winning record” and raising “each individual to a higher level of play” than when they first began the season. Like every other coach in the sports world, Coach Williams has a coaching philosophy. Williams strives to coach a team to be “a disciplined team that can keep the ball – a team that works together and doesn’t rely on one player to score all the goals.” Assistant Coach Henri Sarmiento will be assisting Coach Williams with the boys varsity team this year. The coaching duo of Williams and Sarmiento appears promising for the future of Laguna Blanca soccer. Girls Tennis (2-6, 2-4) Led by #1 singles player, Senior captain Caitlin Connor, and the #1 doubles team of Lucie and Margaret Hartmann, the Owls pulled off two big wins over Dunn School, with scores of 15-3 and 14-4. Caitlin Connor, sophomore Libby Hasse, and the Hartmann sisters qualified for individuals in the CIF-SS Playoffs. Caitlin and Libby will join together as a doubles team for the playoffs.
Sports
November 30, 2012
The Win-At-All-Costs Mentality What sports have become and what they have lost
By STEPHEN MCCAFFERY Lance Armstrong, once a hero and role model for cancer patients and athletes around the world, has tarnished his legend and story with his abuse with doping. As a result of the Armstrong investigation, the International Cycling Union authorized the sanctions of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, stripping Armstrong of his seven Tour de France title and banning him from professionally competing in the sport of cycling for life. In the wake of this investigation, an extremely important reminder steps into the spotlight: the win-atall-coasts mentality has fractured the morals and character aspects of sports. We see pay-to-play examples such as, the SMU football scandal resulting in the “Death Penalty,” the Fab Five (or Ed Martin) scandal, and the Reggie Bush scandal (2005). We see academic misconduct scandals such as, the Florida State academic cheating scandal, again the Reggie Bush scandal (2001), and the Butch Davis scandal at North Carolina University. However, currently the most popular scandal in sports comes in the range of illegal drug use. The win-atall-costs mentality has fired up the popularity of illegal drug enhancement use in sports. From stimulants to steroids to prescriptions, the doping practice has dramatically increased in activity during the last decade. On the issue of the increasing popularity of abuse, Head Coach of the Laguna Blanca Football Team Shane Lopes, says, “First of all, athletes are training for there sports at a higher level. Secondly, access to performing enhancing drugs (PES) extends across U.S. borders and is difficult to track. Thirdly, drug screenings do not test all PES. As a result, athletes are at a higher risk of succumbing to the temptation of using illegal substances to improve their athletic abilities.” The drug scandals picked up speed starting in 2003 with the infamous
Barry Bonds scandal. Yes, Bonds is the all-time home-run king, but he got there by cheating the system. This case clearly influenced a ‘loss’ to sports brought upon by the win-at-allcosts mentality. After all the negative publicity, the hate, the humiliation, the embarrassment of Barry Bonds, the use of illegal enhancements did not stop. The dire longing for victory had corrupted the minds of those athletes who we look up to as role models. Following Bonds came Jose Canseco in 2005, Gary Sheffield in 2006, Roger Clemens in 2008, and Alex Rodriguez in 2009. Coach Lopes also touched upon the issue of the declining emphasis on character in sports because of doping, saying, “the use of illegal substances in sports negates the idea that character-building is of greater or equal importance to performance results and winning. Much like anything, as the popularity increases, individuals are more apt to become desensitized to the idea and may find themselves rationalizing why it is justifiable to use PES.” These doping scandals, leading up the most current with Lance Armstrong, undoubtedly point out that the pressing thirst for triumph and success have overrun and blanketed the character aspects and morality of sports. This mentality has manipulated role models into felons, heroes into villains, and love and pride into hatred and shame. At a Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Luncheon in September, Westmont Cross-Country and Track & Field Head Coach Russell Smelley touched upon the discussion of character in athletics, asking us: “So what has athletics become? How well can you perform? Get whomever you can to do the job and we’ll get these outside people to do the character stuff . . . I’m sad to see in this world that character is not the most important thing about athletics but winning and performance is.”
TOP ATHLETES WHOSE CAREERS HAVE BEEN RUINED BY DOPING ABUSES 1. LANCE ARMSTRONG
2. BARRY BONDS
3. ALEX RODRIGUEZ
13
Winds Pick Up for the Sailing Team By SCOTT JOHNSTON
The sailing team is turning over a new leaf. This year, the Laguna Blanca sailing team has four members. Led by senior captain Cassidy Shevitz and junior Cuyler Zimmerman, the team is on its way to smooth sailing. With new freshman members Carson Shevitz and Cameron Morello joining the team, the team is relatively inexperienced and is still adjusting to the new season. Practices are on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Harbor by Marina 1, along with Santa Barbara High and Dos Pueblos sailing teams. All three teams practice under the same coach. Laguna’s first competition was in October in Monterey. The team sailed in junior varsity, also known as silver fleet, and finished in the middle of the pack. Last year, the team sailed in varsity, or gold fleet, but switched to junior varsity this year because of the young, inexperienced state of the team. The team sails on CFJs, which are two person boats. One person, the skipper, mans the larger sail and steers, while the other, the crew, controls the jib, the smaller sail at the front of the boat. Laguna has competitions in Newport, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and more. There are around 50 schools from all over California at a given competition. “The thing I like most about sailing is the competitions because you get to meet a variety of different people from all over and create life long friendships, though sailors can get very competitive, it’s nice to see familiar faces on the water” said Cassidy. Next year the team will need a new member to field a full team and will be advertising and looking. “Even if I am in college I will make sure of it,” said Cassidy.
Ways to Bond through Different Means By JESSIE DUSEBOUT & KAYLEE STRACHAN
Team bonding is a tough task. Starting off the season travelling to an away tournament or match is the main way to promote quick and effective bonding as players are thrown together and forced to interact with each member, no matter their position on the team. Prepare for the important game or performance by hosting a carb-load dinner the night before. Have a player host the meal at their house and make a pasta dish that will give the team energy before the big day. The morning of the event, have upperclassmen pick up younger players and get together for a breakfast to strategize and build confidence for the day is also a great way to come together as a unit.
Keep pra c throwin tice interesting g in a Fr by id or creati ng tradit ay fun day io the team looks for ns that importa ward to n is engaged t to keep everyon . Traditio e days, for ns for bir e th the playe xample, will kee p rs lookin future an g d trying into the their bes t.
Nothing is more motivational than watching “Remember the Titans” or “Miracle on Ice” as a group and seeing other teams come together to overcome the odds. Movie night can spark the team to work hard and to believe in themselves. Make sure to provide blankets and pop up GRAPHIC: ZOE SERBIN some popcorn!
win fter a g a e t a gettin elebr t to c l event by other u o o G an fu lr for ccess or su m togethe ty like bow i a v the te r fun acti o l a e m ing.
Volunteer as a group to give back to the community. Cleaning up a park or stacking cans at a food bank can inspire leadership and get everyone working together.
Promote school and community spirit by wearing team apparel the day of a match or event.
rigoals pe Set teamthroughout odically n that can o the seas d back on. e k o lo ns will be spiratio work a e s e h T age team encour ation. ic and ded
CIF-SS Playoffs Fall 2012 By STEPHEN MCCAFFERY
The Laguna Blanca Girls Volleyball Team and the doubles teams from Girls Tennis of Lucie and Margaret Hartmann and Libby Hasse and Caitlin Connor advanced into the 2012 Fall CIF-SS Playoffs. The Girls Volleyball team enters CIF with a 12-6 (7-1) record and a Condor League Championship under their belt. Led by Middle-Hitter Grace Woolf, 11 kills, and defensive specialists Chloe Richman, 11 digs, the Owls opened
CIF play sweeping Santa Clara Saints in 3 (25-10, 25-16, 25-16). In the 2nd round against the Gladstone Gladiators, the lady Owls, once again, soared to victory in 3 (2522, 25-19, 25-15) ushered by Clara Madsen’s 16 digs, 8 kills, and 3 aces. On Saturday the 10, Laguna Blanca hosted the Bellarmine-Jefferson High School Guards at the packed Merovick
Gymnasium, and, for the third straight time, the Owls won in 3 (25-15, 2518, 25-12) with exceptional play from Grace Woolf, 10 kills, and Bella Taron, 20 digs. For the semifinal round, the Laguna traveled down to Torrance to play the Rolling Hills Prep Huskies. Despite Hannah White’s team-high 15 kills and Bella Taron’s 15 digs, the Huskies ended the Owls champion-
ship run winning in 5 (25-27, 25-19, 25-22, 21-25, 10-15). Captain of the Girls Tennis Team senior Caitlin Connor (12-5) will pair up with sophomore Libby Hasse (12-13) for the playoffs The Hartmann sisters doubles team (20-4), the #1 doubles team for Laguna will also participate. Both teams find out their opponents from the draw the day of the tournament (Nov. 19). The draw is based upon the teams’ records.
14
November 30, 2012
A&E
Mourning Hollywood’s Glory Days By KYLE VAN DE KAMER
By ALEX HAWKER
F
ilm is a medium that changes with each decade and generation. Cultural trends find their way onto the big screen and many of those films define that era for future generations to look back on. One thing that doesn’t change are the genres. Yes, they morph or even join with another to create the basis of a film, but the core elements of each specific genre can still be found within any blockbuster picture. Ever since Hollywood became big business in the 70s, cult classics have been produced almost on a yearly basis. Films such as “ A Clockwork Orange,” “Jaws,” “The Godfather I & II,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “National Lampoon’s Animal House” and “Star Wars” set the standard for how modern films should be made: full of character, wit, and groundbreaking originality. These films defined each of these genres to the point where we still look back on them today as timeless examples of cinematic storytelling. The 70s and 80s were a time of massive sets and massive budgets. Actors, directors, and producers weren’t given large checks like they are today and sequels, prequels, and remakes were rarely filmed unless the producers were sure it could stand up to the original. However, times have changed and today we find ourselves facing a film industry full of sequels, remakes, 3-D versions, and generally unoriginal, stereotypical movies. Each decade has unfortunately added original films to the list that producers can decide to resurrect and
ART: KYLE VAN DE KAMER profit from. Hollywood has changed, and not for the better. One can no longer simply pitch an idea and hope that it gains attention. It has become a business that seeks risk-free and low-cost investments, which has led to the rise in sequels, remakes and oddly similar movies within each genre. Since the 70s, each generation has had its own “classic” in each genre. For teenage angst movies it was “National Lampoon’s Animal House” in the 70s, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” in the 80s, and for our generation, “Superbad.” Each of these films follow the same premise of teenagers going out of control.
However, each one goes about it in a different way that reflects the culture of that decade. But, since “Superbad” came out, this genre has become completely worn out of original ideas cultivating into films such as “Project X,” a thoughtless film lacking a real plot. Not only is Hollywood continuing to make films at this low standard, but combine this with the numerous remakes such as “Spiderman,” whose original was made only ten years ago, and the “Hangover II,” we have no choice but to revert to independent films and be refreshed by the timeless originality that so defined the glory days of film during the 70s and 80s.
The Sounds of Greece Travel to Santa Barbara By MARGARET LAZAROVITS When teens attend a concert on a Friday night, they usually are pumped to see an alternative band or dubstep DJ. But on Oct. 19, two students were excited to hear the exotic music of Greece sung and played in a concert called, “Labyrinth: An Evening of Original Compositions and Traditional Music From Greece” at UCSB’s MultiCultural Center. Accompanied by their instructor Ms. Laura Geier, senior Anastasia Antonova and freshman Armon Ghodoussi marveled at the skill and talent of the performers. First to perform was the Kitka Women’s Choir who brought a blend of voices and arrangements of Greek folk songs and lullabies. Although mainly a cappella performance, there was light use of percussion, like the doumbek, a drum Armon and other members are learning to play in the Multicultural Beat. Armon also appreciated the complex rhythms. “The change and rhythms and beats while still maintaining the same structure, while playing the doumbek were pretty cool,” he said. Next, was a collaboration of several musicians, featuring the lyra players Ross Daly and Kelly Thoma. Seeing the two lyres played together was Ms. Geier’s favorite part. “I thought the musicians who came to town, Ross Daly and Kelly Thoma, were incredibly talented because I think the uniqueness of those instruments was something really unique for the community to hear…I was impressed by their skill level and by their improvisation,” she said.
Along with the two lyres, violinist Kaila Flexer, and multi-instrumentalist Gari Hegedus, who together are the band Teslim, and bassist Miles Jay performed. They kept the energy high and alive through each piece. With a variety of instruments, an authentic, unique sound was created. “There were some in-between notes. There was a different scale and different notes in general,” Armon said. These scales and notes created unexpected musical turns, keeping the audience interested. And the audience could see that the musicians enjoyed playing. “It’s like they weren’t there performing, they were there jamming out together and there happened to be an audience watching,” said Anastasia. For the last performance, the Kitka Choir joined forces with Daly, Thoma, Jay and Teslim for an unforgettable experience. Having gone to the concert myself, I can say that I had never seen or heard anything like the music played that night nor the sheer passion exhibited. Everyone on stage connected with everyone else and with the audience. “All of cultural folk music is very communal,” said Anastasia, “it’s not just one person singing and instruments behind them; everyone plays a part.” And that is how our Multicultural Beat ensemble operates. For the musicians who went, it was very inspiring to see that the music we are playing is still appreciated and respected, as evidenced by the full house. Ms. Geier is working on booking a performance date and venue for the
Beat sometime in early December. Meanwhile, she keeps finger on Santa Barbara’s Multicultural pulse, looking for more musical opportunities for her students.
Music around Town with Ms. Geier SOhO: “If you want to listen to jazz and blues and a lot of songwriters and up-andcoming artists, Soho is the best place to see live music.”
Granada: “If you’re looking for classical music, I would say the Granada Theatre. They get a lot of conductors and guest artists.” Cold Springs Tavern: “They have barbecue on Sundays and you can go and listen to the blues artists who play there on Sundays.” Santa Barbara Bowl: “The Santa Barbara Bowl is an awesome venue for just also professional musicians: Jazz, rock, funk, anything you can think of, it comes to the Bowl.”
GRAPHICS: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA
Students Participate in Sculpture Competition A special community event featuring sculptures from Martin Kersels’ “Charm” series includes a student sculpture contest. By MACKENNA CONNOR
By HELENA DAVILA Happy Dot for over one year,” Suemae said. After mastering Happy Dot, you move on to Dancing Happy Dot, Bone stroke and so on. Every Sumi painting uses the same simple strokes. Since immigrating to the US when she was in her early teens, Suemae has remained an active participant in the local art community. She has been featured as ‘Artist of the Month’ in Gallery 113 downtown, and sells many of her paintings and painted greeting cards locally. Suemae also teaches courses in Sumi painting with SBCC’s Adult Education program. Many of Suemae’s paintings are traditional, black and white ink paintings of orchids and chrysanthemums, yet others are influenced by Western aesthetics, with more color and modern composition. Though perhaps the art students may never study under a great master painter, a lesson from Suemae’s training and perspective offered students a different scope through which to view the world of painting.
“Zap!” A laser grazes Master Chief’s helmet while he returns fire. Suddenly, the Promethean Knight leaps at him with its sword, as Master Chief prepares to fire his shotgun. After a 5 year break, “Halo’s” central character, John-117, the Master Chief, and his AI companion, Cortana, return in “Halo 4.” From the moment one starts the game, “Halo 4” presents its beautiful musical score, continuing “Halo’s” tradition of great music. Not only is the sound beautiful, but the graphics are too. Not just looking better than the previous games, but also featuring spectacular vistas, some amazing special effects, and much better character faces and expressions, which has helped the storytelling immensely. Speaking of story, “Halo 4’s” campaign is top notch. Unlike previous “Halo” games, 343 Industries focused on the story, and it shows: the story is much more emotional, with the protagonists being fleshed-out characters rather than an invincible duo. As good as the story is, the game play is even better. “Halo 4” enhances the core “Halo” experience with new enemies, new weapons, and a whole range of amazing set pieces, including an outer-space battle on the exterior of a space ship. Replacing the survival mode Firefight, “Halo 4” instead packs Spartan Ops, an extra episodic cooperative campaign. Although the missions are only 10-15 minutes long, five more will be released every week, for a total of 50 free missions. “Halo’s” competitive multiplayer is also back and better than ever. Although it adds kill-cams and load outs, the heart of the “Halo” experience is still there, and the addition of the new campaign weapons and several new multiplayer features enhance the experience. Newcomers might find it hard at first, but it becomes a rewarding experience as you get better and stop being destroyed, and instead start destroying foes from all corners of the Earth. Much might have changed while Master Chief was in cryostasis, but “Halo 4” adapts to the modern day while retaining what made it good.
UCSB’s Multicultural Center: “If you want to see musicians from all around the country or just see styles that you wouldn’t normally see I would say the Multicultural Center. ”
Art Class Brushes up on its Chinese Painting “Let your brush dance across the page,” Suemae Lin Willhite said as her goat hair brush dipped its way in and out of the black ink and onto the thin rice paper, leaving clean, controlled strokes behind. She made it look easy. Suemae is a Chinese painter. She specializes in classical Chinese ink painting, known as Sumi. Several weeks ago, Suemae came to campus visit the high school art classes. For the day, students set aside their usual pencils and paints, and picked up ink and Chinese brushes. Students quickly learned everything in Sumi is different. The posture is different, the brush is different, even the way the is brush held is different. Each stroke has a name. The most basic stroke is the ‘Happy Dot,’ a quick kiss between brush and paper that leaves a small teardrop shaped dot behind. “If you were studying under a master painter in China, you could stay on
Halo 4 Review
PHOTO: HELENA DAVILA
Dancing Brushes: Suemae Lin Willhite shows art instructor Ms. Anaya the style of Chinese painting.
On Nov. 10, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art partnered with internationally known American contemporary artist Martin Kersel for a contest for high school and college students. Participants in the assemblage contest were provided fabricated objects including wood, chicken wire, fake fur, a decorative chain, a light bulb, and a “mystery element.” In addition to these provided items, students were allowed to bring one quart-sized zip lock bag to TSA standards filled with items brought from outside. The students, who were in teams of four according to their school, had an hour and a half to build a sculpture using both provided objects and the items students brought themselves. The Laguna Blanca team consisted of sophomores Kela Johnson, Katie Carrillo, Monica Criley, and myself. “I thought that the sculpture contest was a great opportunity to be an artist, even if you don’t know what you’re doing. I had fun figuring out what to make on the spot and enjoying the experience with friends,” said Monica. “I enjoyed the experience and I’m really proud of the way we worked as a team,” Kela said. In the end, Laguna took the Public Choice Award.
Lifestyle
November 30, 2012
15
Braid Bead & Tie
By HELENA DAVILA
Friendship bracelets are different than regular jewelry. When I was in the first grade, a girl ran up to me and gave me my first friendship bracelet. It was simple, a twisted piece of red string knotted in a tentative braid. I didn’t really know her, but the gesture was so sweet and unexpected that I was touched. The bracelets I wear today each have a different story; one is from my cousin, the other I made myself as a replacement for one that was given to me by a friend. These bracelets have been with me since my freshman year, three years ago, I haven’t taken them off – ever. Recently, I began noticing the bracelets that other people wear; both girls and guys. Some are tattered, hanging by a single thread, others are new, decorated with pretty knots and shining beads. One of my favorite bracelets that I’ve had was made of white butcher twine, though I must say, in my experiences with friendship bracelets, silk thread by far lasts the
PHOTOS: HELENA DAVILA
Clockwise from Top Left: Senior Bryana Schantz, bracelet worn 3 months; Senior Marla Bonser, 3 months; Sophomore Parker Rusack, 18 months; Sophomore Juliana Ozur, 13 months and 24 months; Sophomore Libby Hasse, 24 months and 3 months. longest, and retains its color the longest. When I graduated the sixth grade, I crocheted strands of the twine and gave one to each of my friends as a going away present. I wore the bracelet for nearly a year before it fell off. The simple string was a great way to be reminded of my friends from grade school as I transitioned into the rather new and unfamiliar world of middle school.
I began asking people about their bracelets, wondering if theirs held similar meaning, or were worn the same way I wear mine. “Mine’s fireproof!” senior Bryana Schantz said as she proudly thrust out her arm for me to see. Looped around her wrist is an intricately woven rope made for her by Laguna Blanca alum, Tucker Atterbury, before he went off to college last year. Others wear bracelets that
Eureka!
were gifts from friends and family, some are just pretty bracelets made from leather and beads. Through my inquiries, I’ve learned that each bracelet is unique. Each carries a small meaning or attachment with it that means something to the wearer. And most, like mine, are worn day in and day out until they fall off on their own. How the tradition of friendship bracelets began, I do not know. But what I
do know is that friendship bracelets are different from regular jewelry. They aren’t the silver plated tennis bracelet worn only for special occasions, and they aren’t the cute watch you got for Christmas. Friendship bracelets are simple. They’re tattered, faded and twisted bits of string tied around a wrist, yet many carry more meaning and more stories than any other bracelet.
PHOTO: DARIA ETEZADI
The Cutest Burger Joint in Town (with a little twist) By DARIA ETEZADI
I
squeezed through the door, making my way through the crowd of chatty couples, vibrant families, and die-hard sports fanatics. The waitress instantly recognized me and led my mom and me through the restaurant and straight to our table. I browsed through the menu, intrigued by the “Tempura Blue Lake Green Beans” and “Your Mama’s 80’s Style Taco Salad.” But what really caught my eye was on the back: Eureka! Burgers. Be-
tween the “ Cowboy Burger” made with shoestring onion rings and barbecue sauce, and the “Fig Marmalade Burger,” made with melted goat cheese and minced tomato, the range of burgers covers practically every region and culture I can think of. As tempting as everything sounded, I settled for my usual order: a “Maui Wowi Burger” on a beet veggie patty, with a side of homemade sweet potato fries. My mom, feeling a little adventurous, ordered the Fish Tacos. While I waited for the server to return with my order, I glanced around the restaurant. Cheers erupted from the middle of the room as NFL Chargers scored a touchdown in the final play; the bar bustled with activity as friends reconnected and waited to be
seated. There was so much commotion that I found myself yelling over the noise in order to make myself heard. But the familial, home-y ambiance was a nice contrast to the small town atmosphere of a typical restaurant in Santa Barbara. The waitress returned with my order. My veggie burger, made with a beet patty, was so tall it looked like the Tower of Pisa. As my mom gave me a nod of approval from her end, I reached for my fries. fresh from the oven, glazed with honey and dusted with cinnamon. From the service to the food quality, Eureka! Burger is now my new favorite hangout spot. Stop by to see why this really is the cutest burger joint in town!
A Slice of New York By KYLE VAN DE KAMER
PHOTO: KYLE VAN DE KAMER
Driving down Figueroa Street during lunch hour, one’s nose is curiously enticed by the smell wafting from the doors of Norton’s Deli. Only half a block from State Street, this small establishment turns into a busy, go-to place for lunch as business men, construction workers, and other members of the community enjoy New York style deli sandwiches. The piled-high sandwiches are filled with delectable meat, Russian dressing, and Swiss cheese, all served between two slices of rye
Breakfast Vs. Dinner
When asked if you’re an early bird or a night owl, exactly
25%
of you responded you were early birds. The rest? You’re all night owls. GRAPHIC: ZOE SERBIN
bread. Kosher it is not, but you can certainly still see the Jewish New York deli influence from timeless establishments such as Katz’s and Carnegie Deli, arguably the birthplaces of deli food. From the checkerboardframed menu to the metalrimmed tables, Norton’s is just about as close as you can get to being in New York during lunch hour. The cramped and bustling environment only adds to the experience. Considering the quality and quantity, the sandwiches are relatively reasonable at only $8.59 for a full and $6.25 for a half. From a hot dog piled high with pastrami to a fresh garden salad, Norton’s has
something to satisfy everyone. Place your order with a side of beer battered onion rings and a Dr. Brown’s black cherry soda, you really can’t go wrong. Norton’s has become a Santa Barbara staple. It’s the only deli that comes close to the cramped, bustling with energy ‘Mom and Pop’ delis found in New York. By bringing something new and unique to the restaurant scene of Santa Barbara, Norton’s has garnered a consistent customer turnout and the recognition from Food Network Chef Guy Fieri. Simply put, good luck trying to find a local deli more authentically, more reasonably, and more classically New York, than Norton’s Deli.
Back Page
November 30, 2012
16
Take a tour of the new Isham Library & Nylen Academic Research Center! Meet Mr. Blake Dorfman, your tour guide! Blake Dorfman ‘02 has returned to campus to run the newly designed Nylen Academic Research Center, which has a number of great new features! See all of them below. PAGE DESIGN BY ANASTASIA ANTONOVA AND ZOE SERBIN PHOTOS: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA
THE MEDIA
11 Mac
A kitchenette with a coffee machine, fridge, microwave, and sink.
8
Cubicles for individual study time!
Desktop Computers
4 Paperwhite Kindles
2
60-inch Plasma Screen TVs, playing News and Sports. Come in during lunch to flip through the channels.
10 Magazine
subscriptions
2 Newspaper
subscriptions
“We still want the library to be a place for quiet study and it has been, but we also wanted an area where students can relax and socialize: where the Laguna community can come together.”
Check, mate!
Have nothing to do during your free periods? Pop by for an exhilarating game of chess!
Checking Out Books Although the renovations have made the library look more like a technology haven, we still have all our books! Most of the books have been moved. Just make a request to Mr. Dorfman and he will run out and get exactly what you need. It’s that easy!