Laguna Blanca School - 4125 Paloma Drive - Santa Barbara - California - 93110
Volume XVII
Monday, February 24, 2012
www.thefourthestate.net
Issue 4
From Painful Scars to Emotional Healing: The Girl Moves beyond the Picture By DARIA ETEZADI People often ask, “If a tree falls in a forest and there’s no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?” If soldiers were to target innocent civilians with bombs and explosions for 14 years, and if no one was there to record it, would it matter? But what if one person were there? What if one person wore a camera around his neck and took one photo of a young girl whose skin was burnt through and organs, scorched? Would it matter then? It did to Kim Phuc, “the Girl in the Picture.” Ms. Phuc came to Santa Barbara to share her story with the community with the help of Friendship Tours World Travel, an educational tour and community service program run by current and former Laguna Blanca faculty members. On the evening of Jan. 9, Ms. Phuc stood before a sold-out theater and reminisced about the day her photo shot through the world and
Application Fraud Runs Rampant By EVA DAVIS
PHOTOS: EVA DAVIS
raised awareness about the Vietnam War. “[Nick Ut] won the Pulitzer Prize, but he had already won my heart when he put down his camera and rushed me
to the hospital. He saved my life,” Ms. Phuc said before the captivated audience. Growing up, Kim Phuc spent her days bicycling through her hometown
in Vietnam and laughing with her friends outside the local village. “I still remember the fruit trees and animals all around. I felt safe and loved. Before the war,
I was never afraid. But, the first time the soldiers pounded on the door very loudly was the first time I felt fear.” Continued on Page 3
Seniors Revisit Gainey Ranch By MORGAN RAITH
PHOTO: Kyle Van de Kamer
SAY IT LOUD: Ms.Ginny Brush, Mr. Dug Uyesaka, Autumn Van Diver, Aija Mayrock, Mitsi Gamble, Allison Towbes, and Margaret Lazarovitz prepare to represent Laguna at the regional Poetry Out Loud competition.
Sophomores Advance in Poetry Competition
“The sea is calm tonight. / The tide is full, the moon lies far / upon the straights.” These are the first lines of the poem, “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold which were read by Laguna Blanca alum, Spencer Klavan who won the Poetry Out Loud state competition in 2009. Poetry Out Loud was brought to high schools all across the globe in 2006 and has progressively grown since then to about 365,000 participants in 2010-2011. Poetry Out Loud is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and U.S. state arts agencies.
By CATY LAFITTE Poetry Out Loud has been a tradition at Laguna Blanca for five years, and is organized by English teacher Ms. Bojana Hill. Before the competition students recited a poem in English class first. Then students were chosen to participate in the Poetry Out Loud assembly that took place on Feb. 8. “[I wish] for everyone to give his or her best and to enjoy the experience,” Ms. Hill said before the assembly. “I found the experience of participating in Poetry Out Loud to be very fun because I personally love poetry. Reciting my poem in front
Girl Farm Kitchen
Fresh off the farm, alumna Sara Barbour returns to campus and cooks. Page 3.
of the school helped me get over my stage fright,” sophomore Grace Woolf said. Students recited poems from “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost to “Richard Cory” by Edwin Arlington Robinson. Participating schools must choose at least two participants who will compete in the county competition and then have a chance to make it to the state competition. “I think Poetry Out Loud is a great opportunity for students to work on their public speaking skills, and the skills acquired from it will be helpful in many aspects of school,” sophomore Quentin Tedesco said.
Ms. Elliott’s New Book
Man and Monster is Ms. Elliott’s soon to be released book. Page 5.
Accompanied by a film crew, the senior class returned to the barn at the Gainey Vineyard to look back on their freshman year and create a video to be shown at the Laguna spring 2012 auction that highlights interdisciplinary and experiential learning. “We are here to mark this moment,” said Dr. Ashley Tidey to the class of 2012 as they sat basking in the barn light rays of sun shining through the wallboards of the ramshackle barn. The setting in the barn became famous from its use as a set in Gary Sinsie’s 1992 motion picture based on John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. The original impetus was for the class to make the trek through the grape vines to the old barn and reenact scenes from Steinbeck’s classic. The novel is a touchstone text in all of Dr. Tidey’s English 9 classes for making connections between English, Civilization, and Biology. “Dr. Tidey is able to immerse us in all other disciplines so we don’t just learn about English; we make connections,” said Kai Gamble ’12. On the senior class’s return to the barn on Feb. 9, Dr. Tidey read a
poem to her “chickens,” as she fondly calls her pupils, from Wendell Berry’s book Given. The poem inspired the seniors to reminisce about their time as scholars and friends together at Laguna. Dr. Tidey hadn’t originally planned for an elaborate set-up, but world famous photographer Dewey Nicks and his team of lighting and sound assistants filmed the experience. “I had always imagined bringing you back to re-take photos of your walking up the hill in the morning sunlight, your smaller backs away from us younger teachers, on your way to pick grapes, a part of the first group of kids we took on this interdisciplinary field trip three and a half years ago.” The original purpose of the visit had been to reflect and remember the academic endeavors that Dr. Tidey had shared with her students, some of whom she has taught since the seventh grade. The trip was planned to happen after AP exams, but on account of its hallmark characteristics to Laguna’s curriculum, it was pushed forward and filmed for exhibition at the spring auction.
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Alternative Intelligence
Coverage of the SBIFF including 1010-10. Page 11.
Sports and Religion
Teams headed to CIF. Page 13. Sailing with Savanna Brown. Page 14.
Appreciating non-traditional forms of intelligence. Page 6.
Over the past decade, the number of Chinese students pursuing higher education in the United States has skyrocketed to a total of 157,558, making up 23 percent of the country’s total international students. While such diversity is generally sought after, the serious issue of application fraud has been brought to light by Zinch, a website that connects students and colleges. The report states that there are three main reasons behind application fraud: extreme social pressure, overly-aggressive agents, and a high school that is either “too helpful” or “not helpful enough.” Through extensive investigations and interviews, Zinch discovered that about 90 percent of recommendation letters were written by hired agents, parents, or even the students themselves, rather than by instructors and guidance counselors. Even if the students are not using an agent, about 70 percent hire a service to write their college essays at prices upwards of $700. Additionally, in an attempt to appear to have strong leadership qualities, many students claim to have served on student councils without ever having run for office. Many Chinese families have also been taking advantage of financial aid programs by paying off employers and banks to write up false statements, thus taking scholarships from other students who truly need it. The high schools in China are also guilty of frequently changing transcripts and giving students higher grades to make both the individual and the school look good. To end their report, Zinch emphasized the importance of American universities taking the responsibility to be on the lookout for falsified applications and deny acceptance of students who have been dishonest.
The Evolution of Sugar Research into the number one diet destroyer. Page 15.
Sports
What athletes are bringing to the game. Page 7.
A New Nuclear Age
Global Leadership Connection Juniors attend leadership training conference at UCSB. Page 4.
The study of nuclear energy, its history, its power and its purpose . Pages 8-9.
The Girl Effect
A close up look at the charity that focuses on helping girls. Page 10
Love Is in the Air
Laguna’s cutest couple, biggest flirts, and more. Page 16.
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February 24, 2012
Staff Editorial
Global Rematch: the Nuclear Debate is Back, but Who Will Prevail? Thursday, Feb. 2 marked the beginning of a new energy era in America: for the first time since 1978, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission—voting 4-to-1—gave its approval for the construction of a new nuclear power plant. Later in the month, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the world that Iran would shortly reveal its recent nuclear advancements and asserted that Iran would not abandon its uranium enriching operations, despite global pressure. On the one hand, nuclear power can be harnessed as a clean and efficient source of energy; on the other hand, it can also be used for less peaceful pursuits, such as nuclear warfare. For our double page, we delved into this two-faced issue, contemplating both the pros and cons of nuclear energy in the United States of America and the global implications of our new nuclear age. Nuclear energy has been particularly controversial in recent times. While Southern Co. hopes to have its new
Georgia reactors operative by 2016, the face of nuclear power is still tarnished by the disaster that followed last year’s tsunami in Japan. Although the proposed site in Georgia is exponentially less susceptible to a similar natural disaster, there are still worries surrounding possible meltdowns or even the kind of human error that caused the Three Mile Island Accident. Even a small accident in Georgia could have devastating effects; however, nuclear power is not a pure negative.
have been frightening nuclear developments around the world, most of which have been concentrated in Iran. From the drive-by assassinations—via magnetic bomb— of key Iranian nuclear scientists to Ahmadinejad’s most recent statements, we clearly see the other, less attractive side of all things nuclear. The persistence of the Iranian nuclear program, coupled with Ahmadinejad’s denouncement of GRAPHIC: ZOE SERBIN the West, especially Israel and Ever-growing environmental concerns the United States have highlighted the clean potential— of America, foreshadows quite frightand mass-market productivity—of this ening possibilities. energy source. Furthermore, the techWhile we are far from the scope of nology has become safer since the Cold the Cuban Missile Crisis, the world is War era incidents. Still, many are timid on alert, with most eyes directed toto jump on the nuclear train, for rein- wards the Middle East. vigorating this industry brings back But do we have real power to promote memory of darker times. nuclear peace? In the gridlocked, paraIn other words, we, as a nation, need noid climate of nuclear politics, what to assess whether or not the risks out- function does abstract debate serve? weigh the returns. While we can’t change the mindsets On a global scale, nuclear talks have of world leaders, we can expose the fraconcerned less peaceful matters. There gility of all things nuclear.
Editor-in-Chief
Letter from the Editor
Jess Davis Managing Editor Andrew McCaffery Senior Editors
Dear Readers,
Anastasia Antonova
Consumers throughout the country have realized that now, more than ever, they need to be their own advocates. In the last few months, government agencies have failed to protect citizens from a number of health threats, and corporations have attempted overcharge customers by means of unfair hidden fees. These threats to consumers have motivated daring individuals to single-handedly take on some of America’s most powerful corporations and to demand better protection from our leaders. Their stories embody the idea that one person can bring about widespread, lasting change. The majority of these unexpected leaders are neither powerful nor wealthy, but they are passionate and fearless advocates for the general public. Last month, Verizon Wireless planned to charge a $2 convenience fee to customers who paid bills online or by phone. Infuriated by the idea that she would be penalized for paying what she owed, 22-year-old Molly Katchpole took action. In the comfort of her tiny one-bedroom apartment in Washington D.C., Katchpole created a petition online at Change.org. Within a mere few hours, she secured over 165,000 signatures, convincing Verizon to drop the fee. Katchpole, who recently graduated from Roger Williams University, was also behind the petition that persuaded Bank of America to drop its $5 monthly usage fee for debit cards. Stories like Molly Katchpole’s have intrigued the Fourth Estate Staff. Last issue, we explored the discovery of unsafe levels of arsenic in fruit juice. This health concern empowered consumers to demand that the FDA have higher standards (if you missed the article, read it online at www.thefourthestate. net). This issue, Olivia Berci further investigated the power of consumer activism (read the article on page 7). We hope that you find the stories surrounding this new trend of consumer self-advocacy as inspiring as we do.
Jess Davis
Caitlin Connor Helena Davila Jessie Dusebout Daria Etezadi Zoe Serbin Photo Editor Eva Davis LAYOUT EDITOR Morgan Raith Artist Zoe Serbin Web masters Elijah Bittleson Edward Conk VIDEO EDITOR Ben Furukawa Staff Jacqueline Berci Luisa Cameron Joey Eckert Caty Lafitte Clara Madsen Aija Mayrock Stephen McCaffery Elise Scheuermann Kaylee Strachan Kyle Van de Kamer Grace Woolf
Editor-in-Chief
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 and focuses on school events and student life. The Fourth Estate welcomes guest articles and letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and be no longer than 400 words. Drop letters off in the main office or e-mail to jess@everybodydancenow.org.
Olivia Berci
Editors reserve the right to edit for length, clarity, and/or taste. Anonymous letters may not be published. The Fourth Estate publishes seven issues per year, and reaches more than 500 students and faculty of Laguna Blanca School. We mail issues to our subscribers and advertisers, and we exchange papers with high schools across the country. The Fourth Estate dedicates itself to producing a high-quality publication both in print and on-
line that informs and entertains the student body. The Fourth Estate accepts both print and online advertising in either black and white or color. Contact Andrew McCaffery at andrewjmccaffery@aol.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.
Retraction: In The Fourth Estate issue published on Jan. 23 Coach Chris Foster was directly quoted on page 12 in the Girls Basketball article. Coach Chris Foster’s comments about his team were incorrectly placed inside of quotation marks. The remarks by the coach, in fact, came from a previous informal conversation which took place at the beginning of the basketball season, in mid-December, and thus were paraphrased. Correction: The Yosemite photos published in The Fourth Estate issue published on Jan. 23 were taken by Chris Johnson not Tyler Hodges.
Faculty Advisor Patricia McHale, MJE
The News
February 24, 2012
Doctor Delivers Anti-Drug Message
They’ve Got More Than the Bare Necessities By ANDREW McCAFFERY Laguna’s more vigilant Upper Schoolers might have noticed the recent end to what had become a Monday afternoon staple: a flock of eager, excited fourth, fifth, and sixth graders taking over campus. Despite arriving rowdy and restless, these youngsters were there on serious business: rehearsing their production of “The Jungle Book.” This afterschool activity, led by LS Music and MS/US chorus instructor, Ms. Kasia Roca, culminated in two showing on Feb. 3 and 4. The lead role, Mowgli (the frog), was played the first night by Sophia Bakaev ’18, and the second by Caylin Zimmerman ’18. Backing up these actresses was the Baloo-trio—Caitlin Gainey ’19, Kevin Khodabandehlou ’20, and Aidan O’Donnell ’18, the outrageous orangutang, King Louie—played by Natalie McCaffery ’20, and Shere Khan and his son—played by Madeleine Lazarovits ’18 and Alex Koke ’19, respectively. There was even a unit of elephants, a pack of wolves, a pair of vultures, and many others. Torri McMullen ’20, who played the role of Colonel Haiti, the leader of the elephant “battalion, particularly enjoyed the artistic component of the show. “Designing and creating the costumes was awesome,” she said. Spaulding Auditorium was transformed into a jungle for the shows, complete with tropical trees and vines. AmaRa PedrerosMontes ’20, a member of the wolf-pack, said her favorite part about the show was “getting to know the fifth and sixth graders.” Among other accomplishments, these young thespians learned how to perform with live musicians, guided by pianist Rebecca Scogan. They also learned to perform to CD-tracks. The crowd especially loved the psychedelic song “Trust in Me,” sung by Kaa, the persuasive python played by Mina Troise ’20.
By CLARA MADSEN
PHOTO: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA
DISHING UP: Dr. Charles Donelan’s AP English and Composition class enjoys homemade treats buffet style as a courtesy of visiting alumna, Sara Barbour.
To the City, to the Farm, and Home Again By ZOE SERBIN
Laguna alumna and Columbia graduate Sara Barbour returns to Laguna Blanca to speak with AP English Language students about the importance of food, life, and living organically after having documented her life on a farm in her blog “girl farm kitchen.”
O
n a chilly winter morning, ice cream is not the typical food of choice. However, most students didn’t pass up on the opportunity to try homemade lime sorbet from returning Laguna alumna Sara Barbour, class of ’07. With runny noses and frozen hands, they huddled in front of a large buffet table and loaded bowls with the sorbet, fresh quinoa, and nuts that Barbour had brought with her on her visit. Barbour’s visit to Dr. Charles Donelan’s AP English Language class was not just a momentary break from the hectic school schedule. It was an opportunity to connect the students’ curriculum to their lives. Earlier in September, Donelan’s class wrote personal essays reflecting on their favorite recipes, which were then posted on an AP English Language food blog originally based on Barbour’s, which has received attention from both the Los Angeles and New York Times. “I’d written about books and kindles just as a creative writing thing for one of my classes at Columbia, and I sent it to my parents’ friend who I’d had that same conversation with. He’s actually a writer for the
PHOTO: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA
Los Angeles Times and without telling me he sent it to the opinion desk. They emailed me saying ‘we want to publish [your article].’ That’s how it started,” Barbour said. By a seemingly random series of events, Barbour found her blog propelled into success overnight. “I had just launched my blog when [the article] came out and so it was crazy. I had them put [the web address] in [the article] and then 900 people looked at it that day. It really was amazing. All these things just fell into place pretty magically,” Barbour said.
“One thing that I really like that is very farmingredient-centric was a goat cheese vegetable lasagna. We had thin slices of zucchini, thin slices of egg plant, goat cheese that I made with our goat milk on the farm, and tomatoes… It’s really amazing to be able to do something like that.” After graduating from Columbia University and interning at O Magazine, she launched her food web blog “girl farm kitchen.” At this time, Barbour had also begun an apprenticeship at Love Apple Farms in Santa Cruz, California. “I’ve been reading food blogs religiously for a long time, and I began to think about starting my own when I started cooking and writing a lot. It all came together at the farm,” said Barbour. From there, she continued posting, and posting, and posting about her new, rural life, cooking with seasonal ingredients.
“You have to be really creative when you’re working with set ingredients because you have to prepare something different and interesting every time,” Barbour said. Students in Donelan’s AP English Language modeled their essays after Barbour’s posts, and were met with a feast of local, fresh ingredients Thursday Jan. 13. Their essays covered various food categories, ranging from beignets to lentil rice. “I’m always looking for ways to connect current students with distinguished alums and to discover the ways that people who go off to top schools end up using their educations. I thought Sara’s story of leaving publishing for farming was compelling, and I loved the tone and style of her blog. The clarity, the reverence, and the generosity of her character really shine through in everything she writes,” Dr. Donelan said. Now, Barbour has ended her apprenticeship and is looking to move to San Francisco, where she will continue to post on her blog site. Though the girl is off the farm, she will carry everything she learned in her back pocket to a new kitchen.
Moving past The Girl in the Picture Continued From Page 1 The Vietnam War marked a turning point in Ms. Phuc’s life—a point during which she was ripped away from her innocent childhood and thrown into a world of pain and suffering. The day she remembers the most is not the day her country was invaded by foreign powers that were determined to rid the world of communism. Rather, it was the day Captain John Plummer dropped a napalm bomb on an isolated Vietnam-
ese village—the same village Ms. Phuc and her family lived in. All it took was the push of a button and a falling capsule, and in one moment, 65 percent of her body was covered in third-degree burns. She was nine years old. “I had been left to die. But somehow I survived; somehow I found strength. Inside of me was a little girl who was determined to live,” said Ms. Phuc. Fourteen months and
“What I really enjoyed about Kim’s speech is that she gave life lessons about what she learned over the years. I thought most of it was inspiration, but I kind of expected it to be inspirational.” -Mr. Paul Chiment, Math Teacher
17 operations later, she returned home to be with her family and in hopes of beginning the long recovery process of physical and emotional healing. However, the government of Northern Vietnam had a different plan for her story and subjected Ms. Phuc to countless interviews, public statements, flashing cameras, and bodyguards for the next few years of her life. Whether she fled to Moscow to be with her husband, to South
America to pursue an education, or to Toronto to live in peace, someone always found Ms. Phuc and broke down the walls of the havens she had so carefully constructed. “I wanted to avoid that picture, but it seemed to me that that picture didn’t want to let me go,” Ms. Phuc said. As she stood before the community of Santa Barbara, Ms. Phuc made a point of explaining that she did not want to talk about her pain and suffering.
“I wish I could have gone to Kim Phuc’s presentation. She is such a strong, inspirational woman, and I really look up to her.” -Monica Watson, Junior
Instead, she used the evening as an opportunity to speak of the lessons she had learned during her lifetime and to demonstrate the power of love, education, teamwork, forgiveness, patience, freedom, and most importantly, peace. Before she walked off of the stage, Ms. Phuc said, “Almost 40 years ago, you’ll remember me as a little girl running from Napalm. Don’t see her as crying out in pain, see her as crying out for peace.”
“I remember back stage I was talking to her, and I told her that I was nervous. She said, ‘Kai, don’t worry I am more nervous than you!’ We laughed together and knew that everything was going to be alright.” -Kai Gamble, Senior
“This is about education; this is about being smart and making smart choices,” said Dr. Debra Weinstein. Dr. Weinstein came to Spaulding Auditorium on Feb. 2 and spoke to the students and faculty about the detrimental effects of drug use. Dr. Weinstein is currently an Emergency Medicine physician with a degree from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. She has been practicing at Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria for 11 years and has embarked on numerous medical missions to Haiti, Central America, Africa, and Mexico. Locally, Dr. Weinstein is a devoted chairperson of The Santa Ynez Valley Coalition to Promote Drug Free Youth. Dr. Weinstein brought students junior J.T Aubrey, sophomore Mariana Duran, and freshman Christian Kahmann on stage to demonstrate the correct steps in caring for an unconscious, under-the-influence peer. The audience learned the importance of immediately calling 911 after assessing the condition of their unconscious peer and techniques for safely positioning a vomiting individual. She made a point to share that in a high-risk
“Every 14 minutes someone dies from a prescription drug overdose.” situation with an underthe-influence peer, saving a life takes priority over the possibility of getting in trouble. Despite the information Dr. Weinstein shared about the world of illicit drugs and what to do in a potentially tragic situation involving drugs and alcohol, the majority of her speech covered the dangers of prescription drugs. Prescription drugs affect the center of the brain, which controls breathing. Consequently, when using prescription drugs for purposes not directed by the prescribing physician, the drugs can cause the lungs to stop working, which results in cardiac arrest and death. In fact, every fourteen minutes someone dies from a prescription drug overdose. Dr. Weinstein provided a list of websites and phone numbers where one can go to anonymously have questions answered. “I think it is important for young people to have a reliable resource to turn to for advice in situations that they may not feel comfortable discussing with their parents or teachers,” said junior Olivia Berci. “As a school we feel it is important to give students an assembly that is both engaging and informative. Dr. Weinstein’s assembly was one of the most engaging assemblies of the year. I was so pleased that so many students showed an interest in her presentation and asked her questions,” said Ms. Trish McHale, who coordinated the assembly.
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News
February 24, 2012
Juniors Attend Global Leadership Conference By ANASTASIA ANTONOVA
J
uniors entered the Corwin Pavilion at UCSB cautious and guarded with applications in their hands. Students dressed “smart casual,” handed in their applications, received work booklets, and name tags. “I am a positive person!” over 100 juniors shouted in unison in an opening “ice-breaker” activity at the Global Leadership Connection Conference on Feb. 9. After being treated to doughnuts they listened to “Leadership is a Choice,” a presentation by Carole Harder, the Executive Director of GLC. Ms. Harder talked about the importance of having a good attitude and self-esteem as valuable tools in achieving success. For the majority of the day, students participated in leadership activities, such as greeting new people, team building, and preparing skits. This is Laguna’s fourth year of participation in the conference, organized on campus by Ms. Trish McHale, journalism, public speaking, and community service advisor. Seven high schools from Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Lompoc,
PHOTO: Global Leadership staff
LEADERS IN TRAINING: Juniors gather together in front of the Corwin Pavilion at UCSB during the Global Leadership Connection Conference with GLC director Carol Harder.
“He’s the most
The essay reliable person ... prompts are even copied from the I wouldn’t want Common Applianyone else driving cation. Candidates also the kids” state their leadership positions in Chairman of the Federal and outside of school. Communications ComIn addition to Ms. mission (FCC), Dennis Harder’s presentation, Patrick. students heard a preMr. Patrick’s son Aussentation by former
tin ‘10 attended GLC the first year Laguna participated. He won the top award, including a $1,000 scholarship and an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C. in 2009. He currently attends the United States Naval Academy and credits his experiences in the conference with helping him
Former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Speaks to Students
Senior Advances in Speech Contest
and Santa Ynez each nominate up to 20 juniors each year to participate. Of the 20 juniors nominated from Laguna, 13 accepted and attended. Before attending the conference juniors complete a lengthy application that simulates the one they will fill out for college.
By DARIA ETEZADI
T
o most on campus, he is known as the father of Laguna alumnus Austin Patrick ’10; to the world, he has secured his legacy as the Associate Director of presidential personnel candidates and the former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. He was named chairman in 1987, replacing Mark S. Fowler, another Reagan appointee. Prior to his FCC appointment, Patrick had been a White House aide. Beyond newspaper clippings and sound bites, the Federal Communications Commission hasn’t been known to grab the attention of the average civilian. However, in an exclusive interview with Mr. Patrick, students in AP US Government and Politics class got a snapshot of the degree of influence the FCC holds in regulating communication airways. As explained by Mr. Patrick, the FCC is an
“independent regulatory industry” that regulates the “communications industry in the public interest” and is “independent of the legislative and executive branches.” In other words, this organization holds the task of ensuring that the information communicated via various media outlets is publicized for the purpose of catering to the public’s interests, whatever they may be. In an effort to discourage and reduce any bias in the media, the FCC passed the Fairness Doctrine in the mid-1900s. Although it “mandated that broadcast networks devote time to contrasting views on issues of public importance,” according to TIME Magazine, for the purpose of giving the public the chance to hear both points of a view regarding a controversial issue, Mr. Patrick viewed the doctrine as a violation of the first amendment right to “freedom of the press.” “The American people as a collective unit is wise. Over time, if given
qualify for acceptance. Senior Kai Gamble now follows in his footsteps after winning the same award and also being accepted this fall into the United States Naval Academy. In addition to the top award which goes to one boy and one girl annually, the conference awards other scholarships as well as SAT and ACT tutoring packages. To win scholarships, students must demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities. Students complete a résumé and participate in a formal interview with local professionals. They are scored on their performance and the quality their résumé. Interviews will take place Feb. 26 at Santa Barbara City College. This process will help in preparation for their future college interviews. Students found some activities more interesting than others. Attendee Brendon Nylen was most interested in the speakers, Karinna Carrillo most enjoyed her opportunity to meet new people. Although the entire process isn’t yet over, students generally agree that GLC has been a good experience. “The conference was
By JESSIE DUSEBOUT & DARIA ETEZADI
PHOTO: ANASTASIA ANTONOVA
Leadership at its Finest: Mr. Dennis Patrick speaks to juniors at the Global Leadership Connection in Corwin Pavilion. “America is about enough information, we can make the best deci- throwing the mud against sion. The worst thing you the wall and seeing can do now is tell people where it sticks,” said Mr. Patrick, who is currently what to listen to.” The solution was sim- serving as chairman of ple: abolish the Fairness a for-profit division of Geographic, Doctrine and therefore, National protect the constitution- in an effort to continue al rights of the American to strengthen America’s communications system. people.
The top award is $21,000, and senior Andrew McCaffery is one step closer to winning it. For the past 75 years, the Lions Club has been hosting a Scholarship Speech Competition aimed towards helping students “build confidence, self-esteem, and pride” by offering scholarship funds. Each year, the committee selects a speaking prompt that encourages students to think critically about unresolved controversial topics. The 2012 topic, “What can the America of yesterday teach the America of tomorrow” suggests many interpretations, but offers no clear cut answer. On Feb. 2 Andrew drove down to Carpinteria joined by his parents, his grandmother, Lise Poirier, and speech coach, Trish McHale, to deliver his speech to three judges and a room filled with Lion Club members. An experienced orator, Andrew won the Pacific
PHOTO: TRISH MCHALE
Southwest District level Optimist Club Oratorical Contest in Los Angeles on May 15 2011. He received a $2,500 scholarship for his speech, “If I Were the Leader of the Free World.” Andrew was the first speaker on the program. Normally, Laguna speakers compete against two contestants: one from Cate School and one from Carpinteria High, but Cate didn’t field a speaker this year so Andrew competed against the student speaker from Carpinteria High. “I didn’t know what her speech was going to be about, so that was a little nerve-wracking,” said Andrew. With the first district level win under his belt Andrew will advance to the next round on Mar. 1.
Ms. Pointer Tackles the Role of Registrar As the first semester is drawing to a close, freshmen are settling in, sophomores are preparing to become upperclassmen, juniors are stressing over SATs, APs, and the college application process, and seniors are embracing their role as second semester seniors. But, while faculty and students can progress through the years by looking towards tradition, Chemistry teacher, Ms. Katherine Pointer, has a new role: registrar. Students are likely to find Ms. Pointer in the admissions office ensuring that report cards get sent out in time or preparing transcripts to send to colleges. She will continue
By JESSIE DUSEBOUT teaching her three chemistry classes, including Chemistry, Chemistry Honors, and AP Chemistry. As registrar, she will maintain the current academic records and the graduation requirement database which includes developing course registration materials, building master semester schedules, coordinating the distribution of the schedules, reviewing transfer records, creating faculty and room assignment grids, ensuring graduation requirements are met, and keeping the website up to date with the schedules. When asked if it will be hard to balance the
demands of both jobs she said, “I will be very busy over the next few months. However, my students and teaching are my highest priorities, and I promise to fulfill my commitments within my classroom as well as I have in the past.” She plans to use her morning free periods to prepare for her classes and to meet with students and to work in the admissions office in the afternoon. While this is a big transition, Ms. Pointer has colleagues to help her. “Dr. Revells, Mr. Hodges, Ms. Balak, Ms. Martin, and Ms. Davis have all been very helpful in the adjustment period,” said Ms. Pointer.
Profile
5
February 24, 2012
Senior Earns Distinguished Rank of Eagle Scout By Elise Scheuermann After years of dedication and service, senior Andrew McCaffery rose to the level of Eagle Scout, the highest ranking in the Boy Scouts of America Program. The ceremony was held on the evening of Jan. 31. Andrew started his service as an eight-yearold in Webelos Scouts. Webelos stands for We’ll Be Loyal Scouts and is a young group for boys ages seven to ten. The purpose is to prepare young boys to become Boy Scouts when they are old enough. Andrew did this for two years before transferring
into the Boy Scouts program at age ten. Boy Scouts is one of the largest youth organizations in America and is based on six values: mentoring, lifelong learning, faith, service, healthy living, and building character. The Eagle Scout title is gained through earning 21 or more badges and being responsible for leading and planning a service project. For his service project Andrew created an organic garden in which he grew a variety of vegetables on the hill adjacent to the Seminar Room. He tended to the garden weekly and the produce he grew was used for soups that he donat-
ed to Transition House, a shelter for homeless families located in downtown Santa Barbara. Andrew worked on this project in conjunction with his church, All Saints by the Sea, which already was assisting the Transition House. He organized two soup drives and learned a lot about the challenges of recruiting volunteers. In addition to his service project, Andrew raised funds through a car wash. “Being involved with the Boy Scouts has helped create my moral foundation, as well as help unearth and shape my leadership skills,” reflected Andrew on the experience.
PHOTO: Courtesy of the McCaffery family
STANDING STRONG: Senior Andrew McCaffery celebrates the achievement of Eagle Scout surrounded by family from left: brother Stephen, father John, Andrew, younger sister Natalie, and mother Danielle.
More Than a Bus Driver
A Serial Killer Tells His Story Ms. Elliott’s book “Man and Monster” is set to be published by Penguin Books.
Students and faculty alike appreciate Alberto’s dedication.
By ANASTASIA ANTONOVA
By Clara Madsen
H
e stands outside in the early morning darkness welcoming sleepy athletes onto the bus, ready to safely transport them to their away games. He gives pep talks to team members as they gather their books and sports equipment and step off the bus ready to face their opponents. He can be found on the bleachers or on the sidelines of practically every sports match, cheering on every school team. Parents entrust him with the lives of their children as he safely drives them to and from school. Alberto Abrego-Hernandez has been driving buses since 1989, a little more than 21 years, and he has been driving Laguna’s buses for 11 of these years. In order to become a certified bus driver, California law required Alberto to complete a minimum of 20 hours of classroom training, 20 hours of the behindthe-wheel training, and a first aid course.
This amounts to about 50-60 hours of training and only after having met all of the eligibility requirements and passing all of the written exams can one attain a bus driver license. “I have driven on the bus with Alberto for four years and he is always really nice. We really appreciate him driving to all of our away games and he never complains about the late games and long drives,” sophomore Quentin Tedesco said. “It is an honor and a pleasure for me to transport the future leaders of the America coming from Laguna Blanca School. I enjoy every field trip and every sports activity because I feel part of it. Students are wonderful and most important respectful, kind, and cordial. Both the students and teachers are great,” Alberto said. “Alberto has been the bus driver for athletics since I’ve been here, so ten years now. He’s the most reliable person on staff, and everyone loves him. I wouldn’t want anyone else driv-
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PHOTO: KYLE VAN DE KAMER
A PROUD DRIVER: Alberto sitting in the captain’s chair of the “Big-Bus,” which is uses daily for the Montecito-Hope Ranch drives and sports travels. ing the kids. He knows the roads, he knows how to get around traffic, and we depend on him to determine our departure times. He takes so much pressure off of me. He’s a great individual; he’s nice and humble, and the kids love him,” said Athletic Director Mr. Mike Biermann. Alberto also plays a very important role in the academic program. For the many students who live far away from campus and who take the bus, Alberto fills in as
a surrogate parent, chatting with students about their homework or answering questions about current events. “Coming from Santa Ynez, it’s really great being able to take the bus because my parents are both busy during the day and can’t drive us both ways, five days a week and Alberto is so sweet,” sophomore Demari Braly said. “We wouldn’t be able to survive as a program without Alberto,” Mr. Biermann said.
Mr. Johnson Accepted into Local Art Show By HELENA DAVILA Beautiful abstract art is deceptively difficult to create. It’s a far cry from the scribbles you drew as a preschooler, and requires patience and a discerning artistic eye to create. Visual Arts Department Chair instructor Mr. Chris Johnson has both the patience and discerning artistic eye needed to create these beautiful works, and it shows. Mr. Johnson’s abstract work titled, “River Runs Through It,” was recently accepted into the Buenaventura Art Show. Out of over 300 hundred entries, Mr. Johnson’s work was among 70 select pieces that were accepted to be displayed.
He says of his paintings, “I draw my inspiration from everywhere; my paintings are meant to look different in different lights. The lavenders and the pinks look different in fluorescent light than they do in natural light. They’re meant to make you tilt your head and wonder a little bit when you see them.” Many of his more recent paintings, he says, experiment with geometric abstraction, mixing the fluidity of color with the solid lines of geometric shapes. Mr. Johnson has also recently landed a private show to exhibit a series of his abstract paintings in a private gallery that will be on display through April.
Of the paintings, he says, “A painting is a
window, and it brightens whatever wall it’s on.”
PHOTO: CHRIS JOHNSON
STANDING STRONG: One of Mr. Johnson’s acrylic paintings “Portal 11.”
t started out as just another court case, but turned into the story of how a kid can become a killer. In her soon to be published book, history instructor Ms. Martha Elliott describes the life of Connecticut serial killer Michael Ross. According to Ms. Elliott, “The greatest problem in publishing is finding an agent and publisher who believes in your work.” Man and Monster, her fourth book will be published by Penguin Books. The Good Guys, The Bad Guys and the First Amendment and Minnesota Rag, were books she helped Fred W. Friendly, her mentor and co-worker, write. In his acknowledgements, Friendly wrote that Ms. Elliott’s words were on every page. In their third collaboration, Ms. Elliott received coauthorship of The Constitution: That Delicate Balance. Set to release after the presidential inauguration, Man and Monster follows the same pattern as her past books in that it deals with controversial constitutional issues and court cases. At the time that Ms. Elliott found the story of Michael Ross, she was Editor-in-Chief and Publisher for the Connecticut Law Tribune. On death row for murdering and raping eight women, Ross wrote a letter to the newspaper, in which he explained why he was going to give up his right to appeal. His death sentence had been overturned because important information had been kept from the jury during his first trial, yet, in his letter, Ross said that he didn’t want to make the victims’ families go through the court system again and would rather face death. Ross confessed to the six murders that occurred in Connecticut. Connecticut law would
have spared him from a death sentence if the jury had believed he was mentally ill. Ms. Elliott read Ross’ letter and decided to write to him. She had to go through quite a process to talk to someone on death row— interviewing lawyers and many other people involved in the case—before finally being able to get on his call list. “After talking to him on the phone—it was New York in the dead of winter—was drenched in sweat because I was so afraid,” Ms. Elliott said. Despite that initial terror, she became less frightened after getting to know him and began to feel sorry for him. “He became my community service project, in a way.” She became a part of the rest of his life. He asked her for small favors, such as sending him Christmas packages or looking over cases of his fellow inmates. Ms. Elliott went to his execution—something she never thought she would do. She had begun working on the story for an article, “Why a Killer Wants to Die,” but later decided to write her book, Man and Monster. The book delves into not only the court case of Michael Ross, but also, the details of his life and execution—his traumatizing childhood, his mental illnesses, and his life on death row. Ms. Elliott says that there is a subtheme in her book, which she didn’t even realize was there while she was writing. Years before, she had buried a traumatic memory that happened in her college times at Williams. “On some level, as a victim, I wanted to understand why someone would hurt someone they don’t know.” All those years talking to Michael Ross were a healing process.
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February 24, 2012
The Opinion
UNCLASSIFIED INTELLIGENCE
By EVA DAVIS We live in a society in which we are constantly being judged—and judging intelligences have undoubtedly helped teachers understand the value the various others—based on what other people believe to be our level of intelligence. It is talents a child has. accepted that those with the highest GPAs or standardized test scores are the It can’t be argued that incorporating MI in schools is directly damaging, but smartest and those with lower scores are simply less intelligent. This is not true some have argued that the theory leads to a false sense that learning has taken for a number of reasons—the most important being that intelligence cannot be place when it has not. Gardner has been at the forefront of arguing against the narrowed down to one single category. view of intelligence as a single capacity that is accurately measured by an IQ test. In fact, development psychologist Howard Gardner sectioned the idea of As a high school student, I am acutely aware of how our intellectual efficiency is intelligence into nine parts. In looking at each category of intelligence, it isn’t tested. We are expected to conform to one faculty of intelligence. Our value as difficult to associate yourself and the people you know with different types of students is classified based on what length of time can we concentrate, how well intelligence. Educational researchers have granted high praise to Gardner for we can memorize and regurgitate facts, or quickly we can process numbers. helping the public understand that intelligence is multifaceted, and multiple Is that fair?
Bodily-Kinesthetic
Musically Intelligent people have the capacity to hear and determine things that most non-musically intelligent people don’t think about very often. They have the ability to determine things such as pitch, rhythm, and tone, allowing them to identify, create, and reproduce music as demonstrated by composers, conductors, vocalists, and other musicians. Interestingly, there are strong ties between Musical Intelligence and Emotional Intelligence. Additionally, many Mathematically and Musically Intelligent people share common thought processes.
Spatial Intelligence calls for the ability to think in three dimensions. Spatially Intelligent individuals are proficient in image manipulation, design, spatial reasoning, mental imagery, and several artistic skills. Often times, they have extremely active imaginations, are fascinated by mazes and puzzles, and enjoy doodling.
Intrapersonal Intelligence is a relatively new concept, but is now frequently recognized. Intrapersonally Intelligent people spend a lot of time with themselves and are in tune with their own thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Often they are shy in their youth and mature into adults with jobs that involve evaluating and teaching others how to consider their own emotions. The most common of these occupations are psychologists, spiritual leaders, and philosophers.
Another class of intelligence that often earns those who possess it credit as an overall intelligent person is Linguistic Intelligence. These people are naturally good with words, both on paper and out loud. Poets, authors, journalists, and exceptional public speakers are all examples of Linguistically Intelligent people.
Interpersonal Intelligence is the ability to communicate with others both verbally and non-verbally. Those who are Interpersonally Intelligent are more sensitive to moods of other individuals as well as the mood of a group of people or entire room. They are patient and able to evaluate multiple options and perspectives, even when coping with stressful situations. Because of this, we often see Interpersonally Intelligent people holding jobs in which they utilize their specific skills to help others such as teachers, social workers, and motivational speakers.
This type of intelligence, along with one or two others, summarizes what the average person might think of when they hear the word “intelligence.” Those who are Logically-Mathematically Intelligent are able to use abstract and symbolic thought, have excellent reasoning skills, and have the ability to hypothesize and calculate mathematical operations. In everyday situations, these types of people excel in games and projects that involve strategy.
Existential Intelligence is a bit different than the other nine types because of the fact that it is largely a whole-brain function. This being said, not everyone is especially Existentially Intelligent. These people possess thought process that involves mostly abstract concepts and complicated subject matter such as the prospect of life and death or the meaning of life. When they ponder such things, the heart rate slows and blood flow to the parietal lobes (which provide the subjective sense of space and time) decreases. Existentially Intelligent people, such as philosophers, often spend a lot of time reading, talking with others, and asking lots of questions.
Let Autism SPEAK for ITSELF By OLIVIA BERCI Few things in the medical world rival autism as a magnet for controversy. Nearly everything about the disorder—its cause, treatment, the way it is diagnosed, how it is studied—has been a center of constant dispute for decades. Arguably, the one aspect of the condition that is indisputable is how enigmatic it still is. I spent last summer working in the neurology department at a Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 110 children have autism. In a child neurology department, diagnosing autism is systematic, routine, almost a daily drill, and the response of the families who hear their child’s diagnosis is almost equally unvarying. In 2006, the nation’s largest autism advocacy group, Autism Speaks, released a promotional video entitled “I am Autism,” created for a World Focus on Autism event that coincided with the opening of the U.N. General Assembly in September of that year.
People have many physical skills and are exceptionally proficient in tasks that require specific timing, hand-eye coordination, and other acute motor skills. We see this is in athletes (especially dancers), surgeons, crafts people, and martial artists.
Autistic self-advocates around the world spoke up against the video. The video opens with a series of images of children with autism playing to a voice over saying, “I am Autism…I know where you live…I live there too…I work faster than pediatric AIDS, cancer and diabetes combined…And if you are happily married, I will make sure that your marriage falls apart.” In 2006, Autistic Self-Advocacy Network president Ari Ne’eman said, “We don’t want to be portrayed as burdens or objects of fear and pity.” Autism carries a stigma. While our value as contributing members of society is all too heavily concerned with a conformed analysis of intellect, what is even more discomforting is how we deem those whose minds are different—whose minds we can’t reach and can’t understand, as being less. “The estimated prevalence of savant abilities in autism is ten percent, whereas the prevalence in the nonautistic population, including those with mental retardation, is less than one percent” (Autism Research Institute) On the Autism Research Institute’s website, one finds the story of a child who drew beautiful pictures of horses. Her drawings have been compared to those of Rembrandt. She lost her incredible drawing abilities when she started to learn to speak. The HBO movie, ‘Temple Grandin,’ was a big-winner at the Academy Awards. The biopic follows the journey of Temple Grandin who was born in 1947 in Boston. Her autism was diagnosed when she was four.
Naturalist Intelligence involves having the ability to recognize a wide variety of plant and animal species as well as feeling an overall connection with nature. People who are able to connect with animals or calm down an animal in distress are Naturally Intelligent or “Nature Smart.” Veterinarians, bee keepers, gardeners, and avid hikers and backpackers are all examples of people who are Naturally Intelligent.
At most, psychiatrists considered it a mental disorder caused by an unloving family. Ms. Grandin was nurtured at home and by a few teachers who helped her unlock her talents. Grandin credits autism for her achievements as an animal behaviorist. In her autobiography, “Thinking
What is even more discomforting is how we deem those whose minds are different - whose minds we can’t reach and can’t understand, as being less. in Pictures: My Life with Autism,” Ms. Grandin grants the reader the opportunity to experience the world as she does: as “fully-color movies, complete with sound, which run like a VCR tape in [her] head.” The documentary captures how overwhelming heightened sounds and sights are to an autistic girl who flinches at even the faintest sounds and cannot stand to be touched. Those outside her hyper-attuned world, all too often only hear her unmodulated voice and only see her lumbering gait. They view her as mind not as uniquely
gifted but as incongruent. Thirteen-year old Jake Barnett a college sophomore on full scholarship is a paid scientific researcher and is the subject of a profile on CBS News’ “60 Minutes.” A math and science prodigy he spends his free time working to disprove the Big Bang Theory. Jake told reporter Morley Safer, he “permanently” remembers every math problem he’s ever done. Jake’s photographic memory is obviously one of the keys to his genius, but his physics professor says that’s “not what makes him truly special...’what is more important is that he has the drive to learn more’” At age two, Jake began to regress he stopped speaking and making eye contact. He was diagnosed with autism. But, Jake, like so many others placed on the autism spectrum, is proud of his condition. “That, I believe, is the reason why I am in college and I am so successful.” Regular education and special education teachers alike are regularly asked to make “modifications for special education students that appear in their classroom without much warning or preparation” (Autism Research Institute). While I admire our educational system’s efforts to recognize every young student’s capacity to contribute to our world, I am still left with the feeling that we aren’t truly valuing every young mind, regardless of how they may be wired differently. Rather than “modifying” how we reach students diagnosed on the autism spectrum by aiming to control their impulses, educators need to focus on helping them to harness their unique intellect.
The Opinion
Value Your Education Laguna students are fortunate to be in small classes and to have one-onone attention from teachers. By JESS DAVIS “I hate it here.” These words—spoken by a Laguna student about school—made me reflect on education and my relationship towards it. Sure, there are many mornings when I wake up and want nothing more than to stay home; I sometimes resent school for the sleep-deprivation and stress that it causes. But in reality, I do value my education—I think that most Laguna students do, in spite of the occasional negative comments like the one above. New research shows that we, as Laguna students, have more reasons to be thankful for our education than ever. In a recent editorial in The New York Times, columnist Nicholas Kristof discussed the quantitative value of inspiring, capable teachers. Economists at Harvard and Columbia discovered that students who had a good fourth grade teacher earned roughly $25,000 more in their lifetime than students who did not.
We, as Laguna students, have more reasons to be grateful for our education than ever. The research also revealed that those students who had a good teacher were 1.25 percent more likely to pursue a higher education and were 1.25 percent less likely to have a teenage pregnancy. However, as research continues to demonstrate the necessity of capable teachers, the United States has plummeted in the ranks of international education standards. Out of 34 OCED countries, the United States is ranked 14th in reading, 17th in science, and 25th in mathematics. Budget cuts are hindering schools’ ability to adequately serve their students. According to the California Teachers Association, California has cut 20 billion dollars from school budgets over the past four years. Due to the lack of funds, classes that are not considered necessities have been cut. In Redwood City, physical education for kindergarten through fifth grade was eliminated, prompting parents to join together and hire a private company to send P.E. instructors to teach their children. Having transitioned from a larger public school, I fully understand the benefits of being able to attend a small private school. At Laguna, we enjoy small class sizes, a variety of class choices, and one-on-one attention from our teachers. While improving our education system in the United States will take innovative policy, money, time, and initiative; improving our learning environment at Laguna is a much more manageable task. We are fortunate to attend Laguna Blanca. We should recognize this, and take full advantage of the opportunities that we have as Laguna students. While it is tempting to engage in the ever-present whining about homework and sleep-deprivation, I am resolving reflect on the opportunities that I have because of my education rather than complaining. In light of our country’s recent setbacks in schooling, I believe that it has become increasingly important for us to value our education.
February 24, 2012
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Wired Protests Are Changing the World By OLIVIA BERCI The wired revolution has arrived. It has the power to shake dictatorships and subvert corporate America. Twenty-two year old Molly Katchpole, fed up with her bank’s push for a five-dollar monthly fee for debit card use, posted the following on a website called Change.org, “At some point we’ve got to say enough is enough. Please join me in telling Bank of America you’re fed up.” Over 300,000 people signed Katchpole’s petition, and Bank of America soon announced it was scraping the proposed fee. Molly has since taken on Verizon, and within 24 hours after Molly’s call to action was circulated, she won that battle too. Verizon dropped its online fee. Change.org, a campaignhosting website, has hundreds of success stories like Molly’s. The site allowed Lesbian women in a South African Township to force the government to fight “corrective rape.” The headphone producer Skullcandy discontinued stencils encouraging the use of toxic spray paint on cats. The Ecuador Ministry of Health investigated and closed ex-gay torture clinics. Earlier this month, a petition with over 250,000 signatures which had been gathered online was delivered to Apple’s flagship New York store, demanding better treatment for workers in China. This month, Karen Handel, the former GOP candidate for governor, resigned from her position at the Susan B. Komen for the Cure breast cancer advocacy nonprofit after an online uproar forced Komen to reverse a funding cut to Planned Parenthood. News of Komen’s decision incited outrage among Planned Parenthood’s supporters and they sprang into action.
The organization collected $400,000 in donations by mid-afternoon the day after Komen’s decision was announced, and within twenty four hours the donations replaced Komen’s entire annual grants of $700,000. Change.org’s leverage stems
spoke out against what it would actually accomplish. The bill would prevent Internet sites from linking to sites “dedicated to the theft of U.S. property,” but the problem is that not only would the pirated portion of the website be prohibited, the
allowed its browsers to search was the name of their elected representatives. Over eight million visitors used the site’s zip code tool to look up their elected representatives. After the blackout was over, Wikipedia issued a thank you, stating “More than 162 million people saw our message asking if you could imagine a world without free knowledge. You said no. You shut down Congress’ switchboards. You melted their servers. From all around the world your messages dominated social media and the news. Millions of people have spoken in defense of a free and open Internet.” SOPA and PIPA were forced to back into a Congressional shadow. Last year, Twitter needed to make upgrades to its site; however, they received a request from the State Department asking them to postpone making changes while people in Iran were using it to further a movement of protest. GRAPHIC/PHOTO:EVA DAVIS When one voice echoes through the rest of the world, from its collaboration with entire site would be impacted. there is limit to the difference Opponents have said it would one individual can affect. the most powerful forum for change we have today: social create an “Internet blacklist.” I am writing this article in Google and Wikipedia went a coffee shop; I am sitting media. Protest is happening at such a dark for twenty-four hours in next to a homeless man who speed that Corporate America protest. is changing his status on Wikipedia’s homepage read, Facebook. He is on an iPad is finding that it has to respond “Imaging a world without free disguised as a cardboard box. at a hyper-accelerated pace. In January, two pieces of knowledge. For over a decade, No one can avoid the power legislation: the Stop Online we have spent millions of hours social media has given to those b u i l d i n g who were once powerless. Piracy Act the largest (SOPA) in Wired protest has the capacity “I think there’s a lot of stuff the House that has yet to be conquered, encyclopedia to give all people a voice—even in human to voices some may deem as and its and I’m excited to help h i s t o r y . being worthless. S e n a t e conquer it!” Right now, companion As members of our wired -Molly Katchpole the U.S. is universe, bill, the we have the considering responsibility to recognize Protect IP AC (PIPA), were proposed legislation that could finally the value of every voice and to make it more difficult for damage the free and open to speak when something is sites to distribute pirated Internet.” wrong. In the words of Molly SOPA-related Twitter posts Katchpole, “I think there’s a copyrighted material. While SOPA and PIPA’s surfaced at a rate of a quarter- lot of stuff that has yet to be opponents recognize the million every hour. conquered, and I’m excited to The only thing Wikipedia help conquer it!” legislation’s intentions, they
Between the Cross and the End Zone By DARIA ETEZADI & JESSIE DUSEBOUT In the beginning, our Founding Fathers aimed to establish a nation that would protect its people from religious persecution. The first amendment guarantees citizens freedom of religion. Its purpose is to ensure that all people can worship as they chose and that the government not impose a “state” led religion. But today our nation is divided, and America can no longer claim to be “one nation under God” as it has been torn apart by those advocating for and against religious freedom. Athletes like Tim Tebow, who have boldly and publicly proclaimed their faith, have been discriminated against for doing so. Since Tebow has developed an impressive resume, including winning two National Championships and one Heisman Trophy, one would think that people would respect his ability and embrace him as a winner. However, while it is true that many love Tebow and applaud his hard work and dedication, it is also true that many mock him for his decision to exercise his first amendment right. Those who have coached him or played with him attest to the fact that Tebow is a hard worker who believes in the value of perseverance and endurance. In fact, Tebow embraces Tim Notke’s philosophy “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” But the sad truth is that the majority of Tebow’s fame has stemmed from his outspoken religious views rather than his work ethic. Critics disregard his success and use
his display of his Christian beliefs to disparage his athletic performance. As comedian Denis Leary said, “Jesus must be thinking even Judas had a better release than this guy.” By most measures of morality, Tebow’s belief system has made him a better person. So why has he become such a polarizing figure in our society? For one, Tebow is traveling on uncharted waters. Although he is not the first professional athlete to openly display his faith, he is the first to advocate for Christianity with such fervor. Consider Kurt Warner, quarterback for the Cardinals, who is the subtler Tebow equivalent. As a Christian athlete, Warner can relate to Tebow’s convictions. “You can’t help but cheer for a guy like that. I’d tell him, ‘Put down the boldness in regards to the words, and keep living the way you’re l i v i n g . Let your teammates do t h e
talking for you. Let them cheer on your testimony.’” As much as Warner’s advice might have made Tebow more popular with his critics, it is clear that the laws of our country grant every American the right to pursue religious beliefs so long as they do not jeopardize the safety of those around them. Yet, “Tebowing,” (the newly coined phrase defined as: to get down on one knee and pray in the middle of an event, such as a football game) and other similar religious expressions are met with much opposition. Some suggest that religion has no place in a football game or any public arena and wish he would just shut up. Regardless of our religious beliefs or lack of beliefs, how is kneeling down in prayer hurtful? How is quoting scripture in a press interview offensive? Why would painting a Bible verse stir up so much negative commotion? Is it really so bad that Tebow w o u l d rather h a v e
dinner with a child w i t h
cancer than hit the bar scene and use his fame to pick up girls? Should we really make fun of Tebow, and instead, look up to the famous people who live by the motto “sex, drugs and rock and roll” who end up destroying their lives and the lives of those around them? We should all admire Tim Tebow his accomplishments and respect his right to express his beliefs, rather than seek to destroy him or others with whom we disagree. It’s too bad we have discovered the last of the “new worlds.” If only we could find an undiscovered world and establish a new nation -- a nation that would go beyond religious understanding and instead seek to ensure religious freedom. We would write a document to “form a more perfect union, establish justice, and ensure domestic tranquility.” This nation would be a haven for those escaping religious persecution in other parts of the world. Oh, wait… we already did that. As it turns out our nation was founded on these principles and over time they were lost in translation. How dare we claim stake to the “land of the free” if we have forgotten the true meaning of freedom? What makes us any different than the countries that we fought so hard to rebel against 250 years ago? All of us, regardless of our religion or belief system, must be willing to stand up for the freedom and liberties that make the Untied States of America unique and the most remarkable country the world has ever known. For, at the end of the day, it is these values that will sustain us.
GRAPHIC: ZOE SERBIN
8
Double
THE NEW
NUCLEAR AGE OF
FEAR
22,000 nuclear warheads 9 countries in waiting One world to destroy LAYOUT: ZOE SERBIN
Nuclear Energy Has Too Much Room for Error
Why We Should Charge Ahead With Nuclear Energy By ANDREW McCAFFERY
By MORGAN RAITH
N
uclear technology is considered clean to some, but if we look behind the “clean” steam rising from the concrete smokestacks at any nuclear energy facility, there is fault to be found. The main source of a nuclear reactor’s oomph comes from the fission of uranium atoms. Uranium is a non-renewable resource that needs heavy machinery to be mined out of open pits. The fossil fuels used by trucks, excavators, and other mining machinery pollute the atmosphere, while the mines themselves cause irreversible damage to the habitats that once thrived there. One nuclear plant has the power to fuel an entire city, but is equally capable of rendering the surrounding watersheds and soils entirely useless. Since the end of the Cold War our government has been grappling with the logistics of cleaning up the hazardous waste accumulated from the production of nuclear weapons. Though elementally different in its production and use for bulbs and not bombs, nuclear energy technology is just as capable of causing environmental and civil catastrophes as nuclear weapons of mass destruction Today, we still haven’t implemented a proper solution for containing the annual 2,000 metric tons of toxic waste from modern nuclear power facilities in the U.S. If containment of nuclear waste fails, hundreds of acres
of land surrounding the facility are rendered uninhabitable, and if the waste gets into a waterway it can contaminate water supplies for a region as large as the entire Pacific Northwest. As we have seen in recent past with the incidents at Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and the Fukushima Daiichi Plant, this generation of nuclear power still is susceptible to natural disasters and ultimately unstable, when there is so much that we cannot predict or plan for. Human error is another problem surrounding nuclear power. The safe use of nuclear energy and proper disposal of toxic waste is entwined with thousands of things that can go wrong, no matter how bullet proof we think a system is. If engineers were capable of creating perfect facilities that operated and processed nuclear waste without fail, this would be a much better source of energy. We just aren’t ready for it yet. We still have so much to learn. Learning by mistakes is fine, but when those mistakes cause the destruction of cities, habitats, and water supplies it’s time to step back and think a little harder about what extra steps of precaution could have been taken. Instead of spending billions on new nuclear power facilities or updating and cleaning up the old ones, we should focus our attention on the ways that we can efficiently and safely harness inexhaustible forms of energy like solar and wind power.
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reserving the environment and reversing the effects of global warming are now, more than ever before, the headlining issues of today. If our intentions are to save the Earth, our primary goal should be to redesign the way we fuel our lives, literally. Gasoline is out of the question; it will run out. Coal is dirty, biofuels are inefficient, geothermal is small-scale oriented, and wind and solar power only work when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining. Natural gas has potential, but, like gasoline, will eventually be outdated. After exhausting these possibilities, practicality and sheer-process-of-elimination bring us to nuclear power. For some, the nuclear solution is sketchy, and for a multitude of reasons. Some claim that the technology is not ready; others cite safety concerns, both with reactors and the threat of terrorism. They are wrong. The technology is ready, and has been for the greater part of the last century. We’ve had plenty of time to refine this somewhat simple (at least, on the surface) method. In short, U-235 or U-238-the most common natural isotopes of Uranium, both of which are highly unstable—is allowed to decay, and the heat energy emitted from the reaction is used to boil water. The steam from this boiling builds up pressure, which is used to rotate turbines. These spinning turbines cause wire coils to induce a magnetic field,
thereby creating electricity. The opposing technology argument is moot. The only valid concerns lie in safety issues, but even these are being overdramatized. To clarify, there have only been three major nuclear safety issues in the history of nuclear power: the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, the Chernobyl disaster in ’86, and the Fukushima Daiichi disaster last year. Chernobyl was a result of a misgauging of back-up systems by the Soviets, Three Mile Island was due to poorly trained operators, and Fukushima Daiichi was a secondary result of an unforeseen, unprecedented natural disaster. There have been no problems in transporting fuel or radioactive waste, another source of worry among skeptics. For future nuclear power in the United States, we can easily avoid these mistakes. We can minimize human error through more rigorous training, and with periodic refresher courses for powerplant operators. As far as natural disasters go, there’s no way to predict the future, but we can avoid damage by tsunami, earthquake, flood, etc through strategic placement of plants. The case for nuclear power is further strengthened by its low environmental impacts: confirmed by the Nuclear Energy Institute, nuclear power plants neither emit carbon dioxide nor contributors to acid rain or smog.
What the Laguna Community Says...
“Nuclear research should be developed so it can be cleaner and safer. We should also use our existing facilities as they were intended and not let them sit empty without nuclear waste.” - Justin Palmer, Junior
“Nuclear energy is a great thing to have, it just needs to be controlled.”
- Brian Miguel, Junior
“We saw what happened in Japan - this stuff doesn’t go away. Until we have a solution to [the waste] I think we should not be building new [facilities]. Until we solve the problem of nuclear waste, we should slow down.” - Ms. Martha Elliott, History Teacher
Livi Since I was five years old the United States has been engaged in overseas warfare. I can’t remember a time that my country was not at war. I can’t remember a time that I wasn’t bombarded with images and messages about the horrors of the war so many young men and women were fighting abroad. But, I also can’t remember a time that I lived in fear of how those wars might affect me or my life directly. I’ve never lived in fear of our country’s armed engagement. During the 1950s, little towns neighboring Nevada woke up early in the morning to stand in wonder of the mushroom clouds rising above the atomic-bomb testing site. The Atomic Energy Commission assured the parents of these little towns not to fear the radioactive fallout that drifted over their heads. But the awe at the site of atomic explosion was coupled with a panic of nuclear war. Before the Soviet Union imploded and the Berlin Wall fell, our country lived in anxiety of mutual nuclear destruction. The threat of nuclear war was imminent, inciting nightmares among children and adults alike. Civil Defense publications encouraged civilians to build bomb shelters and Survivalism gained momentum. However, with the fall of communism, there was a shift in popular attitude. In the public eye, the United States became the only superpower, and the threat of nuclear war quickly diminished. A generation later, our daily lives are no longer
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February 24, 2012
The Divide between Nuclear War and Inner Peace
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characterized by a panic over nuclear war, but the awe inspired by those mushroom clouds has turned into trepidation. During the 1950s, parents held Geiger counters, a particle detector that measures ionizing radiation, over their children and marveled as the needle jumped. Recently, TIME Magazine cited studies that showed that an unusually high number of the children who lived in those little towns in Utah that neighbored the Nevada testing site eventually died of leukemia. The hysteria over it raining nuclear shells largely faded
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engagement becoming, arguably, an impending prospect with Iran, will we again be consumed with the fear of mutually assured destruction? Will nuclear war again incite nightmares among school children and adults alike? But would it be worse? Would we no longer marvel at the jumping needle of a Geiger counter. As Japan begins to stabilize after the nuclear crisis there, we now, more than ever before realize the gravity of atomic fallout. On the nuclear front, this past month, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists moved its Doomsday Clock warning of nuclear war to 11:56 Four minutes to the The threat of nuclear p.m. midnight when it believes nuclear war could break war was imminent, out. The Clock was set at inciting nightmares 11:58 in 1953 at the height of the Cold War (TIME). among children and What is stopping our adults alike.” world from clocking through those four minutes? Those who fear within the last twenty year. weapons of mass destruction However, the fear of the falling into what they deem repercussions of atomic to be the wrong hands are radiation has only skyrocketed. just as determined to see they And, within my lifetime, the don’t get them as our nations’ threat of atomic suitcase leaders are to maintain the bombs and atomic accidents superpower security having has disseminated into our such weapons grants them. national radar. The United States began Mark Thompson said in fighting a war against TIME magazine on January terrorism in 2001. Our nation 11, “…nuclear weapons was struck with panic when remain the crack cocaine of the two towers came crashing world leaders, crazy or not, down. But I was five years old, who want the security they and I can’t remember that seem to offer.” Rather than feeling of panic. I am only now being an omnipotent popular starting to fear war. Has that terror, nuclear warfare has, anxiety been inspired in me by in the last twenty years, been the looming threat of nuclear suppressed by the threat of power, or am I just now old world destruction. enough to process the concept However, with nuclear of war?
When, I was little I used to think of my ethnicity on a scale of 200 percent. I’m still not sure if I was trying to be clever or simply attempting to find out who I really was, but when asked the classic question “what are you?” I would respond in a high-pitched voice and proudly declare that I was 100 percent American and 100 percent Persian. As an Iranian American, I am torn between two worlds: the culturally rich American soil and the blood-stained Iranian battlefields. I am not conflicted about who I am, who I appear to be, or who I aim to be. Rather, I find myself divided by a sea of misunderstood characterizations, thoughtless generalizations, and shallow prejudices. I have little doubt that practically every single nonradical Muslim agrees that Ahmadinejad is dangerously passionate and frighteningly invested in his efforts to blow the United States and Israel off the face of the Earth. He is so desperate to turn everyone against his two greatest enemies that he is willing to try to convince the world that the Holocaust never happened -- that the Nazis did not carry out Hitler’s orders and murder over six million people during one of the worst genocides known to man. To put it bluntly, Ahmadinejad has lost his marbles. For whatever it is worth, Ahmadinejad did not come up with these ideas by himself. The Q’uran states that the key to the gates of Paradise can be acquired by ridding the world of all of its non-Muslim inhabitants in the name of Allah. Unfortunately, the Iranian government is largely, if not completely composed of radical Muslims leaders who firmly believe that their sole purpose in life is to destroy the “Big Satan,” and the “Little Satan,” also known as America
By DARIA ETEZADI and Israel. I think it is safe to assume that basically most people hold something against Iran’s political representatives and find little to no reason to place any trust in its authority. Yet, somehow, we have managed to take this almost universal truth and refer to it under the umbrella term “Iran,” thus associating an entire population of Iranians with a mob of Muslim radicals. Let me start by pointing out that the media needs to correct its constant use of inaccurate generalizations in its reports. Since the media has directed so much attention towards the War on Terror and the debate over nuclear power, I have seen the word “Iran” tossed around quite a bit in headlines, articles, and news briefs: “Iran Defiant in Face of Sanctions,” (International Herald Tribune); “Iran: We can attack U.S. Interests Anywhere,” (CBS News); “Analysts: Iran’s Nuclear Program Could Provoke War,” (Voice of America). We live in a society that is governed by political correctness, where we have gone from “blacks” to African Americans. I have to wonder why the media and the American people feel comfortable enough to turn Ahmadinejad and Iran into synonyms. Why don’t the American people notice or care that they are inadvertently blaming many innocent civilians who live powerless under a corrupt government? “Iran” is not Ahmadinejad. Rather, the country consists of a government and a people, and it pains me to see the majority of Iranians associated with the lunacy of their government. They are, in fact, a separate entity that has been deprived the opportunity to speak out and voice their opinions. As Americans, most of
us would have no way of knowing what it feels like to live in fear of being beaten with clubs, attacked with acidic sprays, electrocuted in a hidden government facility, or disposed of in the middle of nowhere by a band of ruthless officers. But I had hoped that we would have, at the very least, extended Iranians the courtesy to be represented properly in a country that advocates for both racial equality and freedom of the press. What scares me the most is knowing that our country stands potentially on the brink of war against one of the most ruthless governments in the world, and we as a people do not even know who we are up against. Iran’s government has literally shot down every uprising brought on by Iranian citizens without as much as a hesitation. Sometimes, I cry at night when I hear detailed reports about ordinary people who were brutally assaulted in the middle of the street just because they dared to speak out for justice. Furthermore, as they have demonstrated through their nuclear program, Ahmadinejad and his administration do not play by the rules. But, while my heart bleeds for the people in Iran who have never known the simple liberties and freedoms that we have grown so accustomed to, I would not dare to agree with “Iran’s” actions because that name is now affiliated with inhumanity, corruption, and destruction. At some point in Biology, they teach us that the heart is an organ divided within itself by a wall that separates the right side from the left. Just as I have come to realize that the heart was much more, I have come to understand that I am human – divided by who I was, who I am, and who I might have been.
GRAPHIC: KYLE VAN DE KAMER
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February 24, 2012
Middle School Graphics courtesy of THE GIRL EFFECT and LUISA CAMERON
From One Girl to the Next
By Jacqueline Berci
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ith over six million girls living in developing countries today, it is hard to know where to begin the process of helping girls escape these conditions. However, as the seventh-grade girls in Lindsey Woodard’s advisory discovered, you have to start somewhere—that somewhere is The Girl Effect. Ms. Woodard, English and history middle school teacher, came across The Girl Effect in a way that is very relatable to most of us—social media. While online, Ms. Woodard saw an ad on Facebook; just one click later, Ms. Woodard discovered The Girl Effect, a movement focused on bettering the lives of adolescent girls in developing countries. In the Middle School Advisory Program, it is required that students complete at least four community service hours as a group. While brainstorming ideas for their community service, Ms. Woodard’s advisory, a group of 12 and 13-year-old girls, elected to support The Girl Effect. “We considered a bunch of charities, it appealed to us because the goal of the charity is to start targeting girls when they are 12; these are contemporaries of my advisory—the girls in my advisory are this age now,” said Ms. Woodard. That is how this group of Laguna girls began their work for The Girl Effect. Some may think it’s odd to support a philanthropy that only benefits young women, but to this group of girls there was no debate about joining The Girl Effect. “I think it is important [to help these girls] because we can’t help everyone that has been in that situation, but we can help to try to stop it now,” said seventh grader Alex Bidwell. “I think this is a unique cause because we don’t have those types of problems here, and I think it is important to help those who do have those problems,” added Charlotte Thomas, also a seventh grader. By helping these girls, a ripple effect occurs that benefits not only the girls, but also their children, their children’s children, and eventually their country, and our world—it is a cycle and this is why it is vital to help these young women. Ms. Woodard thinks the reason they decided on The Girl Effect was because they “felt like it was a charity to which they could directly relate themselves. They were in a way shocked about what life was like for
some girls in developing nations, such as girls being married off to forty-yearold men when they are twelve or having children when they are 15. It all seems so overwhelming, but it is just reality for a lot of girls.” The young women in Ms. Woodard’s advisory have a very creative and fun way to raise money for the Girl Effect— selling Blenders smoothies! Whether you order the Tropical Fuzz or the Mocha, you are supporting The Girl Effect and making a difference in the world. “I would love if future advises would like to continue on with this charity, but it is totally dependent on their interests.” “It feels good to help!” said seventh grader, Ruth Chere Giorges. Ms. Woodard’s advisory plans on continuing their support of The Girl Effect with more Blenders fundraisers. “There was talk of a movie night to screen the video of the Girl Effect and to show the situation of these young women in order to make it known that not only their lives are miserable, but also their childrens’ lives are miserable by not having any job opportunities or education” said Ms. Woodard. Encouraging people to get involved, Ms. Woodard said, “I don’t believe the girls were aware of such conditions for girls around the world, I wasn’t aware of how bad it was—they were shocked. Hand in hand—the warmth, love, encouragement, and support of Laguna girls goes from one girl to the next as they help better the world one young girl at a time.
One Girl, One Solution By LUISA CAMERON
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irl. A word that has a distinct definition in our culture. Feminine, pretty, wealthy, has clothes, is going to school, has loving parents, plays sports, is happy . . . when we think of this word, we have a certain image in our heads. But chances are, that image isn’t anything like what 600 million girls are going through. Six. Hundred. Million. Girls. Living. In. Poverty. One-fourth of girls in developing countries are not in school. 75 percent of 15-24 year-olds are living with HIV in Africa. One of seven girls in developing countries marries before age 15. One-half of girls in developing countries become mothers before age 18. Imagine that scenario at Laguna Blanca. Picture all of the freshman girls marrying men and having a baby before they were seniors, not being able to go to school or follow their dreams, having to sell their bodies to support their families, getting HIV, and on top of all of that, living in poverty. Not what you imagined the life of a young girl to be like, right? But there is a solution. This solution is The Girl Effect. The Girl Effect is a movement; “it’s about the unique and indisputable potential of adolescent girls to end poverty for themselves and the world,” according to http://thegirleffect.org/learn/faq. Created by the Nike Foundation, the United Nations Foundation, the NoVo Foundation, and the Coalition for Adolescent Girls, this movement is all about supporting girls living in poverty and helping them become strong women in their communities. Through the Girl Effect, you can get a girl started and help her gain the respect she deserves. Here are the stories of two girls and how one of them broke the poverty cycle in her life, and how the other was trapped in the cycle forever. Kidan, age 13, lived in a rural village in Ethiopia. Her days were filled with domestic labor, and she had to walk miles to get wood and water for her family. Her dream was to become a doctor, but her mother had already arranged a marriage with a much older man in exchange for cattle. After marriage, Kidan’s chances of becoming a doctor were very slim. Her education would be stopped, her dreams would have to disappear along with her potential, and her children and grandchildren would most likely have to suffer as she did in poverty. On the other hand, Anita, age 20, turned her life around despite of her situation. Ever since she was a young girl, Anita had wanted to go to school, but her parents could not afford it. At age ten, she started her first business, tutoring other children. Five years later, Anita placed herself in a school and started a new job: beekeeping. A 15-year-old girl working with 40-year-old men wasn’t exactly ideal, but Anita worked hard and became her village’s first female beekeeper. When her parents arranged a marriage for her, she cleverly went on a hunger strike and delayed the marriage. Now, Anita is going to college, has started a women’s farmers club, and has trained 20 other girls in beekeeping. All of this just one girl accomplished in a small village in India with the help of The Girl Effect. Think of what 600 million could do. Why girls, you may ask? The answer is clear. “She’s the economic backbone of her family: the chore doer, the caretaker, the insurance policy. She’ll be the mother of the next generation. She will reinvest 90 percent of her income into her family, generating a powerful ripple effect. Her brother? Thirty to forty percent,” answers the Girl Effect. With education, health, and hope, a girl living in a developing country is able to do so many things — avoid child marriage, survive childbirth, be safe from contracting HIV, start a business, raise a healthy and happy family, and inspire others around her. And where do you come in? Just by reading this article, you’ve helped. Visit the Girl Effect’s website at www. thegirleffect.org. You can donate to the Girl Effect Fund online, or, you can write a check made payable to the GlobalGiving Foundation (mailing address online.) There are 600 million girls out there living in poverty. With your help and the help of the Girl Effect, those 600 million girls could change the world.
By the time a girl reaches age 12 and is living in poverty, her life could go two ways:
1. She gets a chance, gets educated, stays healthy, marries when she chooses, and raises a healthy family. OR... 2. Her chance never comes, she is illiterate, married off, is impregnated, and is vulnerable to HIV.
eading more and more R about The Girl Effect, it became evident to us that
we were very unaware of the living conditions that girls around the world. We began to wonder if our fellow Laguna Blanca Middle Schoolers were aware of these conditions; after taking a poll this is what we discovered:
Did You Know . . . 1. Did you know today, more than 600 million girls live in the thirdworld world country? 33 % know about these circumstances and are interested in helping 58 % know nothing about these conditions and were shocked 9 % were somewhat aware, but feel it was not their problem 2. Are you aware 14 million girls aged 15 to 19 give birth in third-world countries each year? 27 % know about these circumstances and are interested in helping 60 % know nothing about these conditions and were shocked 13 % were somewhat aware, but feel it was not their problem 3. Are you aware that one out of seven girls in third-world countries marries before age 15? 38 % know about these circumstances and are interested in helping 55 % know nothing about these conditions and were shocked 7 % were somewhat aware, but feel it was not their problem 55 out of 65 seventh and eight graders were polled
Health tion especially here in America? This argument came back to the public eye in 2003 when a company called McNeil Nutritionals began to advertise a sucralose-based sugar alternative called Splenda to the baking community, claiming that it was healthier than sugar and thus could help create healthier baked goods that were before considered unBy KYLE VAN DE KAMER healthy. Since 1793, sugar has been the obBy 2004, Splenda had gained incredject of harsh criticism from food crit- ible popularity among Americans and ics and health experts alike, and yet companies such as Starbucks and Mcwe all consume it to our heart’s con- Donalds began carrying it. This growtent on a daily basis, often with no ing popularity of sugar substitutes has shame of our glutinous ways. helped to inspire labs seeking to find the In 1793, a ship carrying just sugar negatives of sugar intake and by 2012, and rum ran aground in the Caribbe- the argument that sugar is bad for your an. After nine days, the five survivors health hit its peak in 2012 when Nature were rescued in near death conditions magazine published an article condonafter surviving on just sugar and rum. ing sugar as a toxic substance and that it Once this story hit Europe, a French should be regulated. Scientist named Francois Magendie Since this article came out, the sugar was filled with curiosity surround- debate has become a widespread topic in ing the journaleffects ism and “I think that in the future we will go of sugar t h e r e on the back to natural cane sugar, every time are ideas human we try to use a substitute we seem to f l o a t i n g body. around find a problem with it.” In his s u r -Junior Clarissa Coburn concluroundsion, he ing laws stated imposthat a diet of nothing was better than ing taxes on items where sugar has been a diet of just sugar and water and that added to the food. While some of these people could survive longer with just ideas are fairly understandable (such water than both water and sugar. as taxing companies who are known to Sugar was popularly titled as an put more sugar into their food products “anti-nutrient” and the sugar indus- more than their competition), on the try quickly hired scientists to redeem other hand, ideas such as applying taxes their precious and profitable sugar on products with high sugar concentrafrom the health scare caused by Ma- tion only in low income neighborhoods gendie. However, to this day, scien- are highly controversial. tists have been unsuccessful in findIn the end, the debate over sugar will ing any nutritional quality in sugar. continue to grow and the popularity of More bad press arose about sugar products such as Splenda will continue in 1929 after Sir Frederick Banting, to encourage people to not purchase the scientist who discovered insulin, sugar. Sugar likely isn’t going anywhere noticed that diabetes was very com- because of its attraction of being natural mon among sugar plantation owners compared to the chemical based sugar who had, of course, great access to substitutes on the market. Sugar has not processed sugar. However, the work- yet been replaced as an ingredient for ers of the sugar field who chewed on recipes that call for it. the unprocessed sugar cane had no The reason that sugar is not going anytraces of diabetes. So why hasn’t all where is that the vast majority of sweets the bad press been effective at limit- we consume are made with sugar and as ing the amount of sugar put into our long as we are satisfying our sweet tooth foods and what is it about processed with no regrets, sugar will continue to be sugar that has caused such an addic- a part of our every day lives.
February 24, 2012
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The Evolution of Sugar
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Photo: Anastasia Antonova
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Sports
February 24, 2012
Winter Sports Season Updates
Varsity Boys Basketball By JOEY ECKERT
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PHOTO: Andrew Mccaffery
GOING UP STRONG: Sophomore Andrew Vignolo goes into the paint looking to draw a foul. The boys basketball team came out and defeated Providence Hall 79-35 at Westmont on Jan. 28. They broke Providence Hall’s defense and went on to run them out of the gym, beating the Lions by 44 points. Senior Brandon Bickett was the top scorer with 21 points, but not trailing by much, sophomore Andrew Vignolo scored 20, junior J.T. Aubrey scored 16, and senior Justin Shand added 10 points. The Owls’ record improves to 7-4 on the season while Providence Hall is 6-8. Next, the Owls face a tough match up with Beasant Hill. Fans thought Laguna’s Owls played a good game but just fell short to a tall and strong basketball team from Besant Hill. The game was jump-started with 6 quick points from the 3 point shooting junior J.T. Aubrey who finished the night with 15 points off of five 3 pointers. The team shot 3 pointers all night with seniors Logan Elder and Brandon Bickett making four 3 pointers and combining for a total of 30 points. Although the Owls shot the lights out from behind the arc, Besant Hills’ strength and size were too much for the Owls to handle in the end. Their top scorers were two tall forwards Yuri Howard at 6’4’’ and Lukas Huberman at 6’5’’ who gave the Owls
Girls Varsity Soccer
problems inside and combined for 47 total points. A post-game feeling of disappointment was evident among the players. “We played very well and had it in our hands, but we let it slip away. If we had rebounded a little better on the defensive side of the ball and turned the ball over less, we might have been the ones on top,” sophomore Andrew Vignolo said. After the disappointing loss, the Owls’ record is 7-5 on the season. They face another tough match up against Fairmont Preparatory, whose record is 15-2 on the season. Next, the Owls traveled down to Mater Dei to play in the Nike Extravaganza showcase facing the Fairmont Prep Huskies. They kept up with the Huskies for most of the first half only trailing by 4 points at halftime. The Huskies’ shooting kept the Owls out of range, resulting in a 19 point loss 59-40. With an 8-7 record, the Owls played their last game, at home against Dunn looking for a playoff berth. They routed Dunn 56-29. After the victory the Owls improve to 9-7. Top scorers in the Dunn game were Senior Brandon Bickett 17 points and J.T. Aubrey 15 points. The Owls went on to face Pacifica Christian in Santa Monica. After making a comeback, and tying the score at 27, the boys lost first round CIF 46-56.
By CAITLIN CONNOR
he girls soccer team was able to overcome preseason complications and have a successful season. With huge wins after the turnaround, the team kept its CIF bid, and was crowned Condor League Champions with a 5-1 league record and they went 7-4 overall. In the pre-season, Laguna lost to Cate, but during the season they pounced all over the Lady Rams. With a 2-1 lead at the half, seniors Elise Scheuermann and Becca Braly, along with freshman Madison Bonser, each scored goals. PHOTO: JAMiE ROSENBerg Senior Fiona Jessup and sophomore Nadia Belton were DRIBBLING THROUGH: Senior mid fielder McKenzie key defensive play- Scarborough strides through the Earwig defense en route to the goal. ers. The girls also had a comeback victory The girls then played Thacher again, against Thacher after trailing 0-1 at the winning 3-1 after Becca’s early goal, Tihalf. Big shooters senior McKenzie Scar- ana’s goal in the next five minutes, and borough, sophomore Tiana Bonn, and then another score by Becca. Scoring two goals in the first half, the Becca Braly all scored to gain a 3-1 team raced past Dunn to earn a 3-0 vicwin. The team went on to sail past Dunn tory and the Condor League title. Thanks to superb defense from sophin another Condor League match. After senior Ari Rodriguez’s goal from omore goalkeeper Mitsi Gamble and 25 yards out, the game was tied at 1-1. defender Fiona, the offensive players McKenzie scored two in a row, creating were able to score the goals they needa 3-1 advantage and sealing the win for ed. They now advance into their CIF season. Laguna. The girls play their first round against Fiona faithfully maintained her defensive position, limiting Dunn’s op- Oxford Academy in a home game on Feb. 17 at home. portunities to score a goal.
Letter Perfect Stationery & Paper, Ink
Boys Varsity Soccer By CAITLIN CONNOR After a tough campaign, the young boys soccer team ended their season with a 2-9 record. Their last game, however, ended on a surprisingly high note with the boys second win, which came against Ojai Valley School. The 3-0 victory was carried by freshman Ryan Bickett, who had the first and third goals. This win was a turnaround from their earlier match up, in which the boys lost to OVS 0-5. Senior sweeper Tanner Dalton made huge defensive moves which crushed the Spuds’ chances at goal. Sophomore Cuyler Zimmerman scored the second
goal of the game just before the half. The team’s first win came against Midland. Tense, 0-0 at the half, freshmen Ryan Bickett and Connor Curran scored goals, bringing the home game to a close with a 3-0 win. Despite the high of their first win, the boys could not hold on to the momentum: the Owls lost 0-8 to a very experienced Thacher team. The boys then went on to play Cate, who was ranked number one in the league. However, this 0-7 loss did not reflect upon how tough and close the match actually was. The boys look to improve their game for next year.
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Holiday Cards and Decorations Gift Wrap - Greeting Cards - Home Garden Personalized Stationery -Calligraphy - Paper Goods PHOTO: JAMIE ROSENBERG
Frustration: Sophomore Kiyan Mashhoon comes close to scoring in a oneon-one play with the Midland goalie.
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CIF Schedule DATE OPPONENT
LOCATION
TIME
Sports
February 24, 2012
13
Savanna Brown Sails Past the Competition at the Orange Bowl By STEPHEN McCAFFERY
BOYS BASKETBALL 2/15
Pacifica Christian Santa Monica
2/17
Oxford Academy Home
7:15 p.m. 3:00 p.m.
Spring Sports Schedule By KAYLEE STRACHAN
DATE OPPONENT
LOCATION
TIME
BOYS LACROSSE 3/6 Robert Louis Stevenson Home
4:00 p.m.
3/14
Midland
Midland
3:30 p.m.
3/17
Dunn School
Home
2:00 p.m.
3/21
Ojai Valley
Ojai
4:00 p.m.
GOLF 2/29 Villanova Prep
Villanova
3:00 p.m.
BOYS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL 2/25 Bishop Diego
Home
9:00a.m.
2/28 Hueneme
Hueneme 5:00p.m.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAVANNA BROWN Trapping Out: Out on trapeze, Savanna flattens the boat and prevents a leeward capsize.
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hen Savanna Brown was nine years old, her parents enrolled her in the sailing summer camp at Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club in Maine. She’s been out on the water ever since. Throughout all four years of high school, Savanna’s been an active member of the Laguna Blanca Sailing team by racing almost every weekend in regattas around Southern California. Savanna also competes outside of school. Savanna has garnered several sailing awards including the following: 3rd out of 76 at the 2011 Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta, 2nd out of 33 at the c420 Pacific Coast Championships, 3rd out of 60 last year at the Shadden Series, and she currently holds 2nd out of 33 in the Perry Series. Other honors that Savanna has earned are: Most Outstanding Women’s Skipper – an award given by the Santa Barbara Youth Foundation, and the Crew Cup – an award given by the Southport Yacht Club for best crew of the season.
The 37th Annual Orange Bowl Youth International Regatta hosted by the Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami, Florida was the most recent of Savanna’s regatta experiences. During the last week of winter break, Savanna (Santa Barbara Yacht Club) and her skipper Jack Jorgensen (Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, Long Beach, CA) took to the waters of Biscayne Bay to race against 75 other Club 420s. Brown and Jorgensen placed 3rd, a great accomplishment for such a large, international competition. Looking towards the future, Savanna said, “I plan to sail extensively throughout college and beyond. I plan on attending a nationally ranked sailing college, like Boston College, my top choice. My favorite part of the sport is having friends and knowing people from all over the world. I could travel almost anywhere in the country and have at least one person I know there from sailing. Sailing a social sport that you keep up for the rest of your life.”
3/8 Channel Islands Home
5:00 p.m.
JV Boys Basketball
3/14 Orcutt Academy Orcutt
5:00 p.m.
By JOEY ECKERT
3/20 Providence Hall Home
5:00 p.m.
3/21 Dunn
4:00 p.m.
Dunn
BOYS TENNIS 3/1 Malibu
Home
3:00 p.m.
3/7 Besant Hill
Home
3:30 p.m.
3/12 San Marcos
SMHS
3:00 p.m.
3/13 Orcutt Academy
Home
3:30 p.m.
3/21 Cate School
Home
3:00 p.m.
BOYS JV VOLLEYBALL 2/28 Hueneme
Hueneme
3/8 Channel Islands Home
4:00 p.m. 3:45 p.m.
The JV basketball team startOwls tied the game up and OVS ed the season off with 5 straight was unable to take another shot, losses but have since rebounded sending the game to overtime. starting with their first win out The only points in the first scoring the Dunn Earwigs 343 minutes came from Eli Bit24. tleston sinking two free throws; The Owls didn’t take their foot however with only 8 seconds to off the gas winning their next two go the spuds hit a baseline jumpgames to make it three straight. shot, tying the game up. Their two last wins were decided With 8 seconds and countby 3 points or less. ing on the clock the ball was inThe first of the two was a win bounded and lobbed to Eli, who over the Ojai Valley Spuds. The caught the ball turned and hit Owls kept up with the Spuds a three-pointer at the buzzer to through the first half, but were win the game. eventually faced with a 10 point The Owls then went on to deficit. beat the Thacher Toads to make The Owls then went on a 10-2 it their third straight win. The JV run and ended up down by 2 PHOTO: JAMIE ROSENBERG boys will finished off the season with only seconds to go. Thanks Bringing the heat: facing a home game against Dunn. to an incredible running floater Sophomore Dalton Smith demolishes The game ended with a win for the from freshman Spenser Wyatt, the the Dunn Defense. Owls.
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A&E
February 24, 2012
Students Win 10-10-10 Once Again By EVA DAVIS
E
very year, the two weeks of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival are eventful and fast-paced, whirling with the the excitement of celebrities and a wide array of films. In an effort to expose Santa Barbara students to the film industry and the festival itself, the SBIFF held the first 10-10-10 competition in 2001. Students enrolled in Santa Barbara high schools and colleges are invited to submit either a 10 page writing sample or a five-minute video displaying their film-making talent. Those who enter writing samples are considered for the 10 screenwriting positions to be matched up with the directing talents of the 10 film-makers. The young film crews are then give 10 days (during the festival) to shoot and edit a 10-minute short film to be shown on the last day of the film festival. Two Laguna students were cho-
sen to take part in 10-10-10. Freshman Miles Crist created a film entitled Ella. For the second year in a row, sophomore Aija Mayrock was selected for her screenwriting skills. In addition to writing the script for her film Diego, Aija was called upon to direct a project in place of a student who had dropped out at the last minute. Both Diego and Ella were two of the youngest students in this year’s 10-10-10 competition, going up against not only older high schoolers, but college-level students as well. In addition to being one of the youngest film-makers, Miles took on several roles that other students were able to divide among departments such as sound, lighting, and editing, making himself into a oneman production crew. Students from Brooks Institute, Santa Barbara City College, and San Marcos won the top three awards, each earning a $1,000 gift certificate to Samy’s Camera.
Top to Bottom: 10-10-10 finalists gather together after screenings at the Lobero, Writer’s Panel, also at the Lobero, discuss their latest movies,viewers enter the Arlington to see Splinters, the press cover the festival, students interviewing Danielle Robinson and Adam Pesce of Splinters.
Alumni Find Culture in Rural Surf Village By HELENA DAVILA Surf culture. What comes to mind? Probably the shores of Australia, South Africa, Spain and Costa Rica. The last thing on your list? Papua New Guinea. When I was told to cover Splinters, I was told it was a surf documentary directed by Laguna alumnus, Adam Pesce. After collecting my press badge and looking up show times, I arrived at the Granada expecting endless shots of surfers showing off their tricks, and maybe an interview. How wrong I was. Splinters, is in fact, not shot in Australia, South Africa, Spain or Costa Rica, but in the small village of Vanimo located in rural Papua New Guinea. “I grew up surfing in Santa Barbara, and that’s where my love of the sport came from. When I took a documentary film course in college, I developed an interest in film and combined it with my passion for surfing.” said producer Adam Pesce ‘98. The documentary chronicles the evolution of the small village Vanimo whose culture thrives almost entirely on surfing. Villagers aged seven to seventy carve wooden surfboards out of abandoned canoes and call them ‘splinters,’ hence the film’s name. When news reached Vanimo that a surfing competition would be held to recruit four local surfers to become professionals, the entire village was turned on its end. Adam Pesce was there to cover it: “I started studying world politics, and combined with my love of surfing and major in international relations, these things kind of culminated into what became Splinters.” The documentary captures not only the thriving surf culture of Pap-
ua New Guinea, but also Vanimo’s intimate details, giving the viewer a unique glimpse into an otherwise guarded culture. The film, praised for its brutal honesty and fresh concept, has been screened everywhere from Sweden to San Francisco since its inception in 2010. It has accrued several noteable awards including Surfer Magazine’s “Best Surf Film of 2011,” and Best Documentary at the 2011 Surfer Poll Awards in Oahu, the 2011 London Surf Film Festival and the 2011 Hawaii International Film Festival. “A big part of the film was being present in the village, and being aware of everything that was happening at the time, and a critical part of that was learning the language,” Pesce said. Splinters is distinct among other classic surf films in that it offers not only a documentary of surfers and their culture, but introduces the viewer to the surfer’s personal lives, their family, their closest friends and mentors. Pesce claims not to have set out to shoot a surf film, but serendipitously ended up throwing together his compiled cuts of film and signing a movie deal. The anthropological feel of the documentary gives Spinters a fresh face in the surf world, and offers far more than generally expected. It goes beyond the boards and the waves and delves deeper into the crevices of Vanimo, revealing the pressures of the imminent surf competition, and all of its conflicts. The documentary not only captures its subjects surfing, but also reveals their private lives, highs and lows, connecting the audience to the people of Papua New Guinea.
PHOTOS: Anastasia Antonova, Helena davila, trish mchale
Lifestyle
paninis!
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Summer Tan: It’s deadlier than you think By CATY LAFITTE
By HELENA DAVILA
The Italian Feeling adventurous? Inspired by Italian cuisine and classic Italian street food, this panini marries easy to find ingredients in unusual pairs, creating a unique sandwich for those wanting something a little more exciting than a PB&J for lunch. What you need: •French roll •Pork Chorizo •Red onions •Balsamic Vinegar •Olive Oil •Turkey deli meat
The Bistro Crisp apples combined with melting brie create a flavor profile that brings a fresh face to the world of paninis. Be sure to julienne your apples for extra crunch, and add the arugula after grilling the sandwich to prevent the greens from wilting. What you need: •Ciabatta bread •Turkey deli meat •Arugula •Brie cheese •Apple
Post Thanksgiving Medley Inspired by Thanksgiving left-overs, this Panini combines classic Thanksgiving foods like turkey and cranberry sauce with fresh brie cheese to create a Thanksgiving inspired sandwich good for any time of year! What you need: •Ciabatta bread •Cranberry sauce •Turkey deli meat •Fresh brie cheese
February 24, 2012
Photos: Helena Davila
Rediscovering the Timepiece
That perfect, bronze summer tan you long for all year round may be more deadly than you expected. Last year, 69,000 U.S. citizens were diagnosed with the most dangerous form of skin cancer: melanoma. According to a new study by San Diego State University, researchers have found that in many places there are more tanning salons than Starbucks or McDonalds. However, outdoor tanning in the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays is not the only popular way for teens and young adults to get their skin color the way they want it. Artificial tanning from tanning beds and tanning lamps are just as popular as natural tanning. Recent studies from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) prove that indoor tanning leads not only to premature skin aging, but also increases your chances of a skin cancer diagnosis. Dermatologists say that those who use a tanning bed before the age of 20 can as much as double their risk of getting melanoma. Califor“Tanning is nia has had a law prohibiting kids a lot more 14 and under from using tanning serious than beds, but kids aged people think. from 15-17 could artificially tan I use selfwith their parents’ permission. tanner now, As of Jan. 1, California because it is the first state to make looks the it illegal for teens younger than 18 same and is to use tanning beds a lot safer.” altogether. Sophomore Grace - Bryana Woolf has used an instant tanning product Schantz ‘11 Fake Bake, as opposed to a tanning bed. “It’s better for your skin because it doesn’t use ultra violet rays. Tanning beds are a skin cancer risk while Fake Bake is a cosmetic product,” Grace said. The American Academy of Dermatology supports this law due to their recent research on melanoma. “We commend Gov. Brown, Sen. Ted Lieu and the other members of the California legislature for their efforts to help reduce future incidence of skin cancer by protecting youth from the dangers of indoor tanning,” said Dr. Ronald L. Moy, President of the American Academy of Dermatology. On the other hand, the Indoor Tanning Association (ITA) believes the ban will hurt businesses and cost people jobs all across America. The ITA also argues that there is no agreement between researchers that non-burning exposure to natural or artificial UV light has any effect on the development of skin cancer. Even though there are still debates between the ITA and the American Academy of Dermatology, the law has been signed and is now in effect.
Students are choosing to glance upon their wrists instead of their mobile phones for the tick of the hour, while finding love for watches once again in new designer styles. By Grace Woolf Jet-setters who once ditched their wrist watches for the sleek screen of a cell phone are rediscovering their forgotten time keepers. The tables have begun to turn, and watches are back on campus. Although it seems girls may use their watches more as an accessory, guys have more practical uses for their watches. In early 1900s the wristwatch was originally called the “Wristlet,” and was largely marketed to women but was never considered a serious timepiece. That all changed when World War I came along, and men needed an easier way to keep track of time, so they strapped their pocket watches to their wrists with leather straps. Over time, the wristwatch has become a mark of style. Laguna students and fashion trend setters alike have taken notice of this re-occurring trend and are beginning to sport the classic accessory again. “I feel watches are both practical and a great accessory. They can also make one look more studious and create a more accomplished look,” said sophomore Margaret Hartmann, an avid fashion trend-setter. Watches are a great way to effortlessly complete an outfit of any style. “Watches have gone beyond telling time. Adults can wear them to make a statement or show off. You see all the rappers with watches with huge diamonds in them. They are obviously not wearing them to tell time but rather to make a statement about their wealth. I guess people now prefer to wear them as a fashion accessory instead of using them to tell time,” freshman Sam Brown said. Laguna’s fashion conscious trend-setters clearly keep pace with the larger fashion industry and its ever-changing trends. Watchmakers like Rolex and Cartier are famed for their classic timepieces, but now trendier fashion houses such as Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors have introduced their own takes on the accessory. Spotted both in the courtyards of Laguna Blanca and on the streets of the world’s most fashion forward cities, watches are definitely here to stay.
“I feel watches are both practical and a great accessory. They can also make one look more studious, while creating a more accomplished look,” said sophomore Margaret Hartmann.
Photos: Helena Davila
Back Page
February 24, 2012
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The Season of Love Layout by Zoe Serbin Photos by Anastasia Antonova and Elliot Serbin
Bachelors
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