Laguna Blanca School - 4125 Paloma Drive - Santa Barbara - California - 93110- thefourthestate@lagunablanca.org
Volume XVI
October 2009
Issue 1
Darfur: Still In Need
A follow-up interview with Rebecca Tinsley, a journalist and human rights activist who spoke at Laguna Blanca in 2008 about her organization Waging Peace. By ERIN STONE
Across the waters of the Atlantic, beside the Red Sea, in the arid expanse of western Sudan, violence and murder have reigned for the past twenty years. It all began, in 1989, with an ambitious colonel of the Sudanese Army who dreamt of power and lived by the word of the Koran. In a military coup, Omar Bashir, an extreme Islamic fundamentalist, led a group of army officers to overthrow the former Sudanese government of Prime Minister Sadiq alMahdi. Bashir was a harsh leader, banning free speech and torturing and killing his opponents. Then, in 2003, Darfurian rebels, mostly consisting of African farmers, flared against Khartoum, screaming of neglect. The Janjaweed, poor nomads became the main enemy of the rebel groups because, according to documentary evidence from Human Rights Watch, the Khartoum regime armed and paid the Janjaweed to kill the black African farmers in Darfur. “The Janjaweed has
had mild territorial disputes with the farmers in Darfur for centuries, but Khartoum exploited this by using the Janjaweed as their proxies. The Janjaweed are poor nomads, and so their motivation is purely financial because they are intermarried [with the black African farmers],” said Rebecca Tinsley, a journalist and human rights activist who spoke at Laguna Blanca in 2008 about her organization Waging Peace (a non-governmental organization that campaigns against genocide and human rights abuses in Sudan, Chad, and the Central African Republic). Khartoum’s motivation, however, comes from Islamist ideology. While the Darfurian people are moderate Muslims, the Khartoum regime is extremist, and thus rejects a separated government, and strives to control all aspects of a citizen’s life. “There are also centuries of Arab racism towards black Africans, whom some believe were only put on earth by Allah to be the slaves of the Arabs (so it says in the Koran),” Ms. Tinsley adds. Continued on page 3
Photo: Elliot Serbin
Gym Construction Nears Completion
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By JEFF NELSON
he construction process of renovating the Merovich Gymnasium is reaching its final months. The process started earlier this year, and is projected to be finished in January. The additions will ultimately provide three things: first, they will give more space for athletic teams to change, shower, store equipment, train in the weight room, have team meetings, get help from the trainer, and have access to coaches’ offices. Next, improvements will provide safer parking and improved traffic flow which will allow for easier pick up and drop off, and open more parking. The process of students trying to leave at the end of the day creates a daily challenge. Although lately things have improved, the new drop-off section will create a worryfree environment. Teacher and mom, Ms. Ashley Tidey said, “Since Ms. Paradis reviewed the do’s and don’ts of the ‘students-leaving-theparking-lot-at-lowerschool-bus-arival-timesituation’, it seems like things are going better.” Finally, it will open up room for three new
classrooms where the existing locker rooms are. The expansion of the gym is the third part of the newly approved Campus Improvement Plan. The first two projects were the Emmons Art Center and the Advanced Water Treatment System (recycles water from the gym for irrigation). Another improvement will be a new parking lot with 156 available spaces. Director of Finance & Operations Ms. Sue Smith said, “Ultimately parking capacity will sufficiently increase to allow the spine of parking between the MS and the US to be eliminated, creating more green space for the students.” The Development Department has been raising funds to help pay for the gym, parking expansion, and the previous projects. Ms. Smith said, “Our hopes are to have the majority of the costs of the gym covered by contributions from families who feel that athletics and teams are an important part of Laguna’s culture. Should the funds come in over multiple years (as capital pledges often do), we have a backup line of credit that will be utilized.”
Photos: Kathleen Winter Hurley
Headmaster Paul Slocombe addresses the entire Laguna Blanca community at the annual Jogathon Opening Ceremony. Senior Angelina Romasanta gets a lift from fellow seniors Jessie Ditmore and Dawson Ingersoll. In October, students laced up their running shoes for an afternoon of sun, fun, and music at the Annual K-12 Jogathon & Family BBQ. This spirited all-school tradition benefits the School’s athletic programs. The event was paid for by the generous contributions of LBS sponsors and began with a welcome address from Headmaster Mr. Paul Slocombe, which was followed by an impressive performance of the National Anthem by sixth graders Gabby Campbell,
Jogathon 2009 By ZOE SERBIN and Marissa and Serena Bonn. Runners of all ages sported decorated tshirts as they jogged around the track with encouragement from parents, teachers, and emcees Mr. Mike Biermann and Mr. Paul Chiment. Making laps with the students was the 2009 Featured Runner, new Upper School Dean of Students Mr. Tyler
Hodges. The event was punctuated with a barbecue dinner by Country Catering, music from the Upper School Jazz Band, and game booths which were run by Upper School student clubs raising money and awareness for various charities. Student Council ran the popcorn machine and the Art Club painted faces, while the Interact Club, Soc-
cer Club, CureFinders, Amnesty International, and Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation amused attendees with traditional carnival games and prizes. The most coveted prize for the children was the goldfish in a bag. “It was a great community building event. I thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Mr. Slocombe. He continues, “I thought everyone got engaged really well and I thought it was a really fun afternoon. I’m already looking forward to next year!”
To Live or not to Live: The Healthcare Debate By DEVIN NIGRO We have a crisis. According to the United States Census Bureau, about 46 million Americans are uninsured. The question is whether or not universal healthcare is economically feasible. According to the World Health Organization, the present system is the most expensive on earth, costing more per person than in any other nation. It was even estimated by Senator Dick Durbin that the average family pays an extra $1,000 per year in insurance premiums to cover the uninsured. President Obama’s initiatives have evoked a great deal of public opinion not only on the political issue of healthcare, but also on the philosophical issue of whether or not healthcare is a right. Both sides bring up valid arguments. Some argue universal healthcare will decrease the profit motive, and therefore the rate of medical innovation. On the other hand, proponents of universal healthcare argue otherwise. For instance, Sabin Russell argues that “removing profit as a motive will increase the rate of medical innovation,” citing the reduction of research into developing new antibiotics by pharmaceutical companies for profitoriented reasons. Sides also differ based on the issue of whether or not universal healthcare would be more cost-effective. For instance, according to the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons,
universal healthcare causes the government to “greatly increase taxes as costs rise year over year.” Conversely, according to Physicians for a National Health Program, about 60 percent of the health system is already paid for by taxes, and that the total cost per individual would decrease with universal healthcare. At Laguna, the healthcare debate is firing up people’s emotions as well. Art instructor Mr. Dug Uyesaka said he “agrees with the main points of the plan.” Senior Cooper Thomas said, “I like most of the plan, but I think the Democrats are trying too hard to appease the Republicans by compromising too much.” On the other end of the spectrum, senior Ben Abrams argued that “with the present economic condition, it would be too risky to make these changes,” and that “Obama’s plan promotes harmful ideals that lean toward a state of planned economy and could contribute to further economic ruin.” Others expressed more skepticism in stating an opinion, when asked, Mr. Peter Angeloff said, “I don’t know his plan.” No matter what one’s opinion is on the subject, however, the healthcare debate has arguably engaged more Americans in a topic than we have seen in many years. The debate will obviously continue.
Teen Job Opportunities Are Going Down the Drain By ARABELLA WATTERS The recession, which has been hurting the economy While in the past part time and summer jobs have for nearly a year, is having a huge impact on American been virtually ubiquitous, as the unemployment unemployment statistics. rate sky rockets, and increasingly more adults who The national employment rate is now at 9.7 percent, have been fired from their careers search for lowing and is expected to rise to 10 percent by the end of paying jobs, the slots open for teenagers in the work next year. Although the unemployment rate was at a place are dwindling. sixteen-year record high in August, Although she herself does not at 10.3 percent, it has fortunately work, Julia Kent, junior talks dipped back down. When he went in to about her brother’s experience Hopes for the statistic’s return to submit his resume, job-hunting. “My brother applied its 5 percent low, will not be fulfilled there was a huge line of to tons and tons of different places. until 2014. people. There are just so When he went in to submit his Hugh corporate cutbacks in many people competing resume, there was a huge line of companies such as General Motors, for jobs. people. There are so many people Chrysler, and Ford have eliminated competing for jobs.” thousands of jobs, leaving countless With the large influx of people Americans steady income. searching for work, there is barely enough space for In the past year, the U.S. job force has lost over teenagers to get a foot into the door of the career 5.8 million workers in the auto industry, as well as arena. Flavia Costea, junior, however was successful lower paying jobs such as landscapers, carpenters, in finding a job after a long search; she now works maids, clerks, and cooks. While the quick loss of jobs part time at Pinkberry, a frozen yogurt chain in is daunting for millions of adults in the work force, downtown Santa Barbara. “It was hard for me to find it also affects many high school students across the job because most places are only hiring people the country. Laguna Blanca students are generally sixteen and older. But I am paid a fair amount. It is affluent, many are still affected by the recession. enough for me to pay for things.”