The January Issue 2022

the

FOURTH

estate

THE GRATITUDE ISSUE: Celebrating the people, places, and opportunities that we have in our lives

LAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOL

4125 PALOMA DRIVE SANTA BARBARA, CA JANUARY 2022

NEWS

FEATURE

04 05 06 08 10 12

14 16 18 21

Letters from the Editors Businesses in COVID Lab Grown Diamonds UCSB’s Munger Hall The Authoritarian Threat Perils of Redistricting

Finally Federal Meghan Roarty Future of English Dept.

Clara Svedlund Tribute

THEME

OPINION

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31 32 34 36 38 40 42

New Years Comic Stance of the Staff Clubs Giving Back Feminism Timeline Gift of Education Winter Instagrams

Nuclear Energy PDA at School Price of our $equence Grade Inflation Humanities Coverage The Rough Draft Doc Marten’s Quality

LIFESTYLE

SPORTS

45 46 48 49 50 52

53 Girls Basketball 54 Game Day

International Flavors Violence at Concerts à La Mode Bon Appétit Taylor’s Version Most Important Meal

Cover shot by Frances Carlson, Madeleine Nicks, Hanna Masri, and Dare Fitzpatrick featuring Catie Fristoe ‘22, Noah Kamps ‘22, and Hudson Mayfield ‘23 at the Carpenteria Bluffs.

OUR TEAM EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Frances Carlson Madeleine Nicks

NEWS EDITORS Myles Hazen Luca D’Agruma

MANAGING EDITORS Dare Fitzpatrick Hanna Masri

FEATURE EDITOR Dare Fitzpatrick

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Claire Tolles

THEME EDITORS Frances Carlson Madeleine Nicks

FACULTY ADVISOR Trish McHale

OPINION EDITOR Hanna Masri

WEBSITE EDITOR Owen Noble

LIFESTYLE EDITORS Claire Tolles Alexandra Siegel

BUSINESS MANAGER Abby Kim EDITOR OF FUN Jackson Baltes MAGAZINE STAFF Jackson Baltes Annika Firlik Ada Green Milla Hirsch Aden Meisel Dionne Peterson Sofia Ramirez Jinling Wang Elli Westmacott Olivia Davenport

Letter from the Editors

W

e keep saying that the world is changing in a way that it never has before, that everything continues to feel crazier than we could imagine, that nothing like this will ever happen again. But each time, we’re proven wrong. It just keeps getting crazier.

After coming back from winter break, the reality of COVID-19 took on a new meaning for our school. Students transferred to Zoom in the highest number we’ve experienced since 2020. Our community found itself split between online and in-person.

Our administration worked hard to create the safest environment possible: masking is now required indoors and outdoors, and many students on campus have switched to K-N95s or double masking.

Even as we all strive to remain as safe and healthy as possible, this is an unprecedented amount of crazy.

Especially now, we feel immense gratitude to have a school to come to every day, to be able to talk to our teachers, and to spend time with our friends. For our staff, these changes meant creating an issue while never knowing who was going to be on Zoom or in the class. We set up editor Zoom hotlines, encouraged texting during class, and, in the words of adviser Trish McHale, “Deadline? Schmeadline.”

With that being said, we feel profoundly proud of the way our scrappy, dedicated staff has pulled together this issue and taken each challenge in stride and with a good sense of humor.

When we first brainstormed articles, we gravitated towards the issues that hit close to us personally, to our school, and our greater community. We didn’t shy away from tackling subjects like grade inflation or the disparity of humanities support (in our school and in our world). We visited UCSB’s controversial Munger Hall, took a closer look into Santa Barbara’s redistricting issues, and celebrated the new girls basketball team.

But, above all else, our community mourned the loss of our beloved Lower School teacher, Clara Svedlund. Ms. Svedlund was our science-teacher, emu-expert, apple-butter-chef, and Earth-day-goddess for five years. She handed us our diplomas during our Fourth grade graduation, and never failed to tell us how proud she was of us as she saw us grow up through our years at Laguna. We dedicate this issue to her, eternally grateful for the profound effect she had on us and our entire community.

Editors-in-Chief Frances Carlson and Madeleine Nicks 4 • NEWS

• MISSION STATEMENT The Fourth Estate is an open forum created for and by journalism students of Laguna Blanca Upper School. We hope to use this space to cover events, interviews and topics of interest in greater depth.

Our staff seeks to be a platform for creative expression and to report on events and ideas of importance to our readers and to focus on topics of significance and interest to inform and entertain the school community.

• LETTERS TO THE EDITORS The Fourth Estate welcomes guest columns and letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and must be no longer than 400 words. Editors reserve the right to edit for length, clarity and/or taste. Anonymous letters will not be published. The Fourth Estate reserves the right to reject advertising. Opinions expressed in this publication reflect the perspectives of the staff whose goal is to inform our readers with reliable information from which to base decisions and opinions. Editorials represent the voice of the staff and are voted on by the entire staff. Columns and commentaries are labeled as such and represent the opinion of the author. The Fourth Estate publishes four issues per year with a senior insert in the last issue.

• BYLINE POLICY When two or three people work on a story, all names will be listed. If an editor rewrites a majority of a story, the editor’s name will be listed.

• ADVERTISING POLICY The Fourth Estate accepts paid advertising and will accept ads from all sources and shall determine if any advertisement is not acceptable. Ads for illegal products or services will be rejected.

• CORRECTION POLICY The staff strives for accuracy. When factual errors occur, mistakes are found or brought to the attention of the staff, corrections will be printed in a corrections box in the next issue.

• COLOPHON This is the 27th volume of The Fourth Estate magazine and the first issue of 2022. Laguna Blanca School, 4125 Paloma Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93110.

Contacts are available at tmchale@lagunablanca. org, (805) 687-2461x0317 or via the website www. thefourthestate.net. Laguna Blanca has an EK-12 student population of approximately 400, and a faculty of approximately 60. The Fourth Estate is a general magazine, created on MAC computers on Adobe InDesign CC2021, using Avenir Next and Mencken font families. 300 copies are printed and distributed free for US students and faculty, and available at $30 for annual subscriptions. We are associated with NSPA, CSPA and JEA. thefourthestate.net

Pandemic Perseverance “Closed” signs appeared in almost every store window during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WORDS by MILLA HIRSCH AND JINLING WANG PHOTO by MILLA HIRSH

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rom March 2020 to January laid off, and within 10 days, collect- limit their inventory, the fluctuation 2021, close to 40,000 restau- ed $168,000 for local businesses. of demand has varied. rants closed in California. The “Maybe a hundred people orA second survey sent out by the road to normalcy has been rocky, dered gift cards, and I would say International Textile Manufacturers and an end is still far from sight. that around 12 of them came to Federation reported a 31 % decline The National Academy of Scienc- pick them up,” said Colling. “I feel for global textile orders in 2020. es states that 43 percent of busi- like they were doing that to make The Santa Barbara Better Tonesses in the United States tempo- more of a donation than even to gether Fund Small Business Grant rarily closed due to COVID-19. then come and use the gift card.”

Program funded $500,00 in March Many of those businesses reportThe Center for Disease Control 2020 for struggling businesses in ed that the challenges they faced and Prevention’s six-foot social dis- the community. derived from a significant concern tancing requirement forced busi“We closed on, I think like Satsurrounding the health nesses to incorporated new deurday the twentieth, of their employees.

March [2020]… so Local business ownwe ended up staying er of Merci Monteciclosed until May 1, to, Elizabeth Colling, and in that time, we experienced running applied for a PPP loan a cafe during the panand an EIDL loan,” demic first hand.

Colling said.

“We were so conFederal programs fused about what to like the Paycheck Prodo… I just immeditection Program (PPP) ately thought of just allowed many small the safety of my family businesses to pay and employees.” their employees by Montecito Country giving them loans for Mart is a small shoptheir paycheck costs. ping and dining comEIDL is a loan promunity center in Mongram that assists small tecito. struggling businesses.

The pandemic When vaccines bebrought people tocame more available A peek into Elizabeth Colling at work at her cafe, Merci Montecito. gether with the local during March 2021, it community who showed support signs. Many created outdoor areas allowed for more opportunities, in new ways as businesses lost rev- for customers to feel safer. higher customer capacity, and hirenue while in-person opportunities On May 22, 2020, State Street ing new employees. diminished. closed access for automobiles to People grew tired of quarantine, One group, The 93108 Fund, become a promenade and provide and isolation and began Tourists hosted the Montecito Cash Mob to safety for outdoor eating. returned to explore and shop in the help support the businesses that The International Monetary Fund Santa Barbara community. suffered. reports that the global GDP (gross “Locals, tourists, I feel like that This fund lasted from April to June domestic product) will decrease by summer was the turning point that 2020, with 257 generous contribu- 3 % because of the drastic impact of really took us to another level and tors. The fund raised $70,000 by of COVID-19. it has been so good for our sales,” May 2020 for employees who were While most shop owners had to Colling said.

thefourthestate.net

NEWS • 5

PAST

S

wedish electrical company, ASEA (Allmänna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget), invented a process in 1954 that created the first batch of lab-grown diamonds in the 1980s.

Later, General Electric researchers released their own successful synthetic diamond.

When other companies joined this trend in the 20th century, the diamond industry became a hotspot for innovation.

Diamonds form over billions of years, and they are getting harder and harder to find.

The equipment manufacturing company first made the first batch of lab-created diamonds, later releasing and marketing them commercially in the 1980s.

Recently, statistics show a 15 percent increase in market share for small gem-quality diamonds and a 7.5 percent increase in larger scale diamonds.

6 • NEWS

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ompanies cut diamonds into a variety of different shapes and classify them by color, clarity, and carat. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), only 30 percent of the diamonds mined worldwide are worth using.

Diamond mining—common in Russia, Australia, Botswana, and Angola—causes massive erosion, ecosystem destruction, and biodiversity loss. Further, mining releases harmful chemicals that contribute to air pollution and global warming.

Even the ocean is not safe from this diamond frenzy. Marine mining vessels suck gravel from the ocean floor in search of these precious gems, demolishing organisms hundreds of meters below the surface.

Aside from its environmental effects, diamond mining inflames conflicts within politically unstable countries. In diamond hotbeds like Sierra Leone, Botswana, and the Republic of Congo, armed men cross borders and murder laborers to steal raw diamonds.

Known as blood diamonds, these precious gems are then sold to insurgents to support deadly uprisings and or used as bribes in corrupt governments.

But diamond thieves are just one aspect of what makes diamond mining so deadly and dangerous.

With blatant disregard for human rights, mine owners employ laborers for less than a dollar per day to do grueling and life-threatening work.

The toxins released from the mining process leach into the water and mud, infecting the miners as they sift for gems. Hundreds of thousands of miners die each year from this kind of work, but there are always more to take their place. The Brilliant Earth organization estimates there are 1 million diamond miners toiling on the continent of Africa.

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DIAMOND DYNASTY Diamonds are a symbol of status, power, and wealth. Over the centuries, diamonds continue to remain in high demand, and are even more accessible due to today’s advanced technology.

WORDS by JINLING WANG ART by CLAIRE TOLLES

FUTURE

Lab grown diamonds are virtually indistinguishable from natural gems and sell for a tenth of the price according to CNBC. Lab-grown gems are more accessible to the public and at lower prices, which may increase consumption.

Scientists use one of two processes known as HPHT (High Pressure-High Temperature) or s the pitfalls of diamond CVD (chemical vapor deposition) to mining slowly come to the public’s attention, more and create synthetic diamonds.

By mimicking Earth systems, the more companies turn toward safer process condenses carbon atoms solutions. into a crystalline shape. Lab-grown According to the Washington diamonds are chemically and Post, Danish jewelery company aesthetically indistinguishable from Pandora switched exclusively to lab-grown diamonds in early 2021. natural diamonds.

A

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Since its invention in the 1960s, lab-growing technology advanced dramatically. Synthetic diamonds used in computers are stronger and more accurate than the previously-used natural diamonds.

“I definitely think that lab-grown diamonds are more sustainable because of the fossil fuels involved, but I also consider human beings a resource,” chemistry teacher Katie Pointer said. “The often cruel practices used for mining of natural diamonds is distressing to me as well.”

Switching to synthetic diamonds would eliminate these factors, and make the diamond industry more accessible, safe, and healthy for the planet.

NEWS • 7

Authoritarians Threaten Global Democracy Reactionary sentiment led by dictators and authoritarians is assaulting democratic institutions across the globe, rolling back decades of social and economic progress.

WORDS by LUCA D’AGRUMA and ADEN MEISEL ART by LUCA D’AGRUMA

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he 1990s were an era of democratization and liberalization, opening up the Soviet Bloc to western-style democracy and economies.

Globalization broadened the marketplace in the 2000s, as Asia entered into the world and liberalized its economies and politics. But now, democratization has relapsed. Across the world, waves of reactionary and authoritarian sentiment are crashing into vulnerable democracies.

In new and fragile democracies, reactionaries have seized power, and the tides are quickly rising in countries thought to be immune to illiberal politics.

Authoritarians like Viktor Lukashenko in Belarus, Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, and Victor Orbán in Hungary recently rose to power and quickly consolidated incredible authoritarian power within their government.

The Economist’s Global Democracy Index, which ranks and scores 167 countries annually on five core democracy indicators, found that only 8.4% of the world’s population live in “full democracy” while over a third lives in authoritarian nations.

In addition, the global score of 5.37/10 is the lowest since the index was founded in 2006.

8 • NEWS

“One of the largest threats to democracy is that leaders with authoritarian tendencies are elected and then start to erode the institutions from within,” AP United States History and AP Comparative Government and Politics instructor Dena Montague said.

“...leaders with authoritarian tendencies are elected and then start to erode the institutions from within.”

- Dena Montague “These leaders are very savvy about how they touch on people’s fears.”

Issues from migration to LGBTQ+ rights are the driving forces behind reactionary backlash, in addition to real economic concerns.

During the migrant crisis, when millions of refugees fled from northern Africa to Europe, Victor Orbán, the far-right German party AfD, and right wing French Presidential nominee

Marine Le Pen all capitalized on racist fears of Syrian migrants, insisting that the refugees would ruin their country’s culture.

“When migration happens, many times we see that these political leaders use the migration crisis as a way to consolidate power, by saying ‘these people are threatening us,’ and so you have all of these things start to perpetuate this idea of ‘us against them’,” said Montague.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported that “extreme anti-immigrant views have gained legitimacy and become part of the mainstream political debate over the past 10 years through a concerted push by anti-immigrant groups and political figures, including former President Trump, using stereotypes and outright bigotry to blame immigrants for various problems in America.”

“We also have a problem with social media. Unfortunately, Facebook allows for a lot of misinformation to thrive and so there’s a level of mistrust of the mainstream media,” Montague said.

Q-Anon and other conspiracies spread through alternative platforms, Whatsapp, and Twitter during 2020. thefourthestate.net

In 2018, Jair Bolsonaro was elected by capturing reactionary sentiment in Brazil. He campaigned on an extreme lawand-order platform and hard right social policy that aimed to fight the extreme lawlessness and violence that plagues Brazil.

Bolsonaro used allegations of voter fraud to change election rules, and as he was whipping up support, he staged a military parade in front of the Brazilian Federal Congress.

“An easier way to relate that to our own situation is that’s what we saw with Trump. So, in the American constitution there are many things laid out by law, and there’s a lot of things that are essentially customs,” Montague said “What an authoritarian leader will do is take advantage of the spaces that the government allows them to push the limits of the [law] and to go beyond the norms of democracy.”

thefourthestate.net

Masha Gessen, the author of “Surviving Autocracy” and a non-binary journalist who was forced to flee Russia after they were targeted by dictator Vladimir Putin, suspects American democracy is at extreme risk.

Gessen describes three stages in their New Yorker Opinion column: “autocratic attempt, autocratic breakthrough, and autocratic consolidation.”

“The attempt is a period when autocracy is still preventable— when it is no longer possible to reverse autocracy peacefully, the autocratic breakthrough has occurred,” Gessen said.

Gessen believes that the forces that tried to overthrow the 2020 election are characteristic of an autocratic attempt.

Authoritarianism impacts us in two ways according to senior George Nicks. “First, the domino effect. If it works well in one country, it starts to spread further and further, and then each

one of those regimes strengthens each other. The more authoritarianism there is in one country, the more authoritarianism there will be here.”

“Second, once these regimes start going, they start to doing some terrible stuff, and in the long term, there’s a moral argument too,” George said. “If we do something now, before things get out of hand, it will be much better than what we will have to do later, if things truly do get out of hand, and get really bad, like they have in the past.”

Authoritarianism is bred on resentment and inequality. To combat autocrats, countries must combat these issues.

Leaders must appeal to our humanity while keeping the “trains running on time” and fixing the issues that cause reactionary sentiment to undermine authoritarianism and save democracy.

NEWS • 9

A Dorm Without Windows: What is Munger Hall?

Billionaire Charles Munger designed UCSB’s newest dorm and people are not happy with it. Should this be allowed?

WORDS by ABBY KIM ART by CLAIRE TOLLES

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magine living in a small room with no windows, storage space, or adequate ventilation. While sounding fictional, this is the blueprint for Munger Hall, the newly designed University of California Santa Barbara dorm, that plans to hold 4,500 students.

UCSB is a well respected college with a 37% acceptance rate, well known academics, and a desirable location next to the beach.

Like many colleges, UCSB faced a housing shortage and had to build more dorms for their increasing student body.

“To address this crisis, in a disorganized and halfhearted way, they decided to build this massive dorm and amazingly give the power and final say of the building to a billionaire,” said UCSB professor and Laguna teacher Dena Montague.

“UCSB has had a housing crisis for several years.”

The billionaire Charles Munger, a 97-year-old investor and Vice President of Berkshire Hathaway, donated $200 million to the new building. However, there was a catch. Munger, who has little experience with architecture, requested to design the new UCSB dorm in return for his donation.

The deal was approved, and Munger took on the project. After its approval, Dennis McFadden, a consulting architect on UCSB’s Design Review Committee, resigned because he disapproved of Munger’s blueprint.

McFadden’s resignation letter

and the dorm’s blueprints were leaked, sparking public outrage.

Intense media attention focused on Munger and his blueprint for the dorms, which include small 10-footby-7-foot living quarters, rely heavily on artificial lighting, and have no windows.

During an interview for the New York Times, McFadden expresses that he was “disturbed” by a design that cram students into a 1.7-millionsquare-foot, 11-story building.

The majority of students would live in small rooms without windows, “wholly dependent on artificial light and mechanical ventilation,” McFadden said.

Munger Hall blueprints show that a majority of rooms do not have windows.

Because the dorms lack windows, there is also a lack of ventilation, an issue that is amplified due to COVID-19. Munger responded to public outcry by adding artificial

windows to the dorm layout, and ensured the public that a good ventilation system would be built.

In an interview with MarketWatch, he said, “I think the building will be a huge

success.”

Munger is not the only one who thinks Munger Hall will be successful. In response to backlash, The Current, UCSB’s official news site, held a Q&A with Munger to address the public’s concern over windows and ventilation and the number of exits and entrances.

Munger Hall’s original blueprint reveals two exits and entrances. In the Q&A, Munger states the revised blueprint features 15 smaller en-

tries. Despite responding to public concerns, The Current affirms that the construction of the building will continue.

Montague is also concerned about the new UCSB dorm. She shared her surprise at the administration’s approval of the design.

“Munger is not paying for a large portion of the building as well in the grand scheme of things. The overall cost is estimated to be $1.2 billion and he is donating only $200 million.”

According to Montague, Munger designed the dorm rooms to be small so students will not want to stay in their dorms constantly.

Montague is not the only UCSB professor concerned about Munger Hall.

Six UCSB professors created a petition to stop the construction of Munger Hall and gathered over 1,500 signatures.

Students also started petitions

against Munger Hall, gaining hundreds of signatures.

As more public attention focuses on Munger and people begin to take action, the future of Munger Hall is uncertain.

In addition to UCSB students, high school students are impacted by Munger Hall as it influences their college admission process. “If a college I were applying to made a dorm like Munger Hall, I would not consider going to that college anymore,” senior Ava Rice said.

“I would 100% reconsider that college,” said junior Claire Kellet.

“Personally, if I can’t even trust a

Six UCSB professors created a petition to stop the construction of Munger Hall and gathered over 1,500 signatures. college to follow basic safety measures, there is no way I would trust them with my education.”

As local and national students look towards going to college, dorm issues like this can severely impact their decisions.

Although UCSB affirmed their commitment to Munger Hall, it is not confirmed that the building will be built.

Because UCSB’s campus is next to the ocean, all new buildings must be vetted by the California Coastal Commission and UC Board of Regents.

Due to the explosion of public attention and protests, whether or not the building will be built is still in the air.

The Perils of Redistricting Redistricting throws the political balance of power into question as commissions and politicians redraw the lines.

WORDS by LUCA D’AGRUMA ART by CLAIRE TOLLES

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t the beginning of each decade, the slow moving levers of our democracy begin to chug steadily along.

The U.S. Census (a Goliath survey sent to every American household), concludes, and the Census Bureau releases the congressional apportionment, the process of dividing the 435 seats of the House of Representatives proportionally.

Then, states individually begin the process of redistricting, the procedure of drawing district maps. Redistricting is an extremely politically-charged task.

Gerrymandering, the process in which political parties or politicians manipulate district lines in order to favor themselves, is common. It’s effective because it reduces the amount of competitive districts and protects incumbents from the threat of losing re-election.

Gerrymandering “is a destruction of our democracy,” said Social Science Chair Kevin Shertzer.

“It’s a corruption of the people’s voice, and it’s those in power using the system to stay in power.”

According to Shertzer, since gerrymandering impacts the

12 • NEWS

legislative branch, it impacts the rest of the government, and the entire country because the legislature is supposed to balance out the rest of the branches, and has the power to enact laws that impact all of us.

Upsetting the constitutional balance has massive repercussions across our democracy, allowing parties and politicians to neglect their duties for reasons of self interest.

After the census webcast concludes, tens of thousands of redistricting analysts and political operatives scramble to begin analyzing the results of the census and start to plan to draw district maps for the next decade.

In states like California, Colorado, and Washington, cities, counties, and state governments begin the long selection and approval process for choosing members to draw their maps.

In other states, like North Carolina, Texas, and Illinois, politicians rush to meet with consultants, operatives, and political parties to draft maps from behind the scenes.

The process is both sluggish

and rushed: maps must be finalize mere months before the first primaries of the next midterm elec- tions, and every stakeholder from congressional incumbents to minority advocacy groups must wage an all-out effort to create the most advantageous plan that will be set in stone for the next decade of political battles.

California’s statewide independent redistricting commission released a draft congressional map on Nov. 10.

While Santa Barbara’s district is relatively unchanged from before, spanning San Luis Obispo to Ojai, the rest of the state has experienced major changes.

In 2018, Santa Barbara voters approved a measure to appoint thefourthestate.net

11 independent citizens to form a redistricting commission for the Board of Supervisors map so that redistricting could stay independent of political and special interests, in addition to allowing for an increase in public input and transparency.

“The independent aspect is that we’re not paid by the county, we don’t work for the county, we don’t have an affiliation with them, we don’t work for political parties, we’re just ordinary people who are looking to do something good for our community,”said Megan Turley, Vice Chair of the Commission.

When creating a map, commissioners are required to take into account several factors, race and the Voting Rights Act, individual communities of interest, contiguity, compactness, cohesiveness, topography, and geography.

“We cannot be racially gerrymandering our districts within the county…our [legal] expert

did determine that there is racially polarized voting, specifically in north county in this case. A lot of the Latinx community there does regularly vote together as a group for similar candidates, who white and other racial identities do not vote for,” Turley said.

“So it would be illegal for us to not draw at least one district where they are the majority of voters.”

Commissions have to take into account a myriad of concerns and voices, and not all of them can get what they want.

In the case of Santa Barbara, our commission has to make several tough choices.

“Santa Ynez Valley has expressed a lot of different opinions about being grouped historically with Isla Vista, and Santa Ynez valley on its own has about 20,000 residents,” Turley said.

“So it can’t create a district on its own, it has to be grouped with either other like minded communities of interest or a different community of interest… it’s a huge balancing act, and obviously people have very strong opinions on it.”

On Dec. 8, the commission adopted a final map, which includes Isla Vista in the second Santa Barbara-based seat, concluding the redistricting process.

WORDS TO KNOW

CRACKING - diluting voting power of a community across many districts PACKING - concentrating a community into one district so that it cannot influence others CONTIGUITY - each part of a district must be physically adjacent COMPACTNESS - constituents should reside as close as possible to one another COMMUNITY OF INTEREST - groups of people with common interests (could include racial, ethnic, or economic groups) thefourthestate.net

NEWS • 13

Finally Federal

As new federal holidays emerge, questions arise about their national significance.

WORDS by ALEXANDRA SIEGEL ART by OLIVIA DAVENPORT and CLAIRE TOLLES

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olidays are supposed to be celebratory and reflective, not controversial. Companies and schools question what holidays to celebrate, and with more holidays being added to the Federal Reserve observation list, this inquiry appears more than ever.

Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples’ Day are being given attention in ways they have not been before —because of recent federal recognition, or lack thereof. They have been celebrated in their respective communities for years, but are beginning to get attention on a national level.

These holidays commemorate certain people and significant dates that have altered United States history, for better or for worse. In recent years, the media and government have created a narrative about the importance of these events, and it is deemed crucial to understand these holidays and their ongoing significance to the American experience.

Today, there is a debate over the necessity of these recently anointed holidays, like Juneteenth. Amid protests against structural racism and police brutality, Juneteenth is celebrated in tradition as an act of resistance and recognition of racebased issues.

It is also known as a Freedom Day, and while it has been recognized in the African-American community

for over 150 years, it is now getting mainstream attention.

The holiday finds its roots in Galveston, Texas, where enslaved blacks learned about their right to freedom on June 19, 1865. The celebration started in Texas but quickly spread to other states, symbolizing the magnitude in which emancipation was acknowledged.

Juneteenth highlights the good and the bad of America’s past—it’s symbolic of liberation and freedom, but also critically examines consistent oppression and inequity that is deeply rooted in white supremacy.

Authors, professors, historians, and politicians are actively searching for ways to balance the negativity Juneteenth bears and the tradition and hope it symbolizes.

“There was a time where people were forced to be separated. Juneteenth and family reunions grow out of trauma and form a notion of togetherness,” said Annette Gordon-Reed, author and Harvard Law School professor of History.

“My hope is that this is a holiday that can reemphasize that we all have families and we all have communities.”

In her latest book, “On Juneteenth” Gordon-Reed speaks about the hardships that her ancestors endured through enslavement and after emancipation, and connects

it to her studies as a historian and professor. She and many others emphasize the importance of celebration, as an act of resistance and the ability it has to connect generations and races.

Camaraderie and togetherness are needed to restore peace and act against violence and racism —and we are seeing this through protests, demonstrations, and civil rights movements.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is another holiday emerging on the national landscape. Celebrated in October, this holiday falls on the same day as Columbus Day, a recognition of Christopher Columbus, who “discovered America.”

In recent decades, Columbus Day has been getting lots of criticism driven by the Native American community who are protesting it because of colonization of their land and people, and the consequences current Indigenous generations endure today.

In some states and cities across the nation, local governments and private companies have been replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, to acknowledge the land the United States was built on and show respect for native populations.

The frustration of Native Americans comes from the fact that Columbus Day is still one of the 12 holidays the U.S. government observes, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day is not.

To celebrate Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples’ Day is one thing, but knowing the context of the holiday is crucial as well.

Another aspect of this conversation has to do with education and the role it plays in teaching children

about United States history. Some may resist embracing these holidays due to a lack of understanding and context of their historical significance.

At the beginning of a child’s education, the ideals of freedom and discovery are taught through the events of Fourth of July and Columbus Day. Little is taught about the history of Juneteenth, and this could be because it was not a federal holiday in years past.

In a country that prides itself on being the “land of the free,” it is important to look at what the United States government classifies as Independence Day. Juneteenth and Fourth of July are both Independence Days, indicating that they share common traits and should be used to reflect upon the American values of freedom, liberty, and justice for all.

With a lack of information, some non-African Americans are curious as to how they can celebrate Juneteenth, and “the answer is you celebrate just the way black people celebrate it. As an advance in human rights... It’s a family day,” Gordon-Reed said.

It will require a concerted effort to shine a light on these holidays through education and cultural moments for these holidays to take hold. The more press covers these holidays, the more opportunity there will be to teach younger generations about the importance of acknowledging our complicated past.

History can be distorted, twisted, and manipulated to share one side.

It is incumbent to share the collective story, so the next generation understands the cultural relevance of these holidays and their importance in our country’s narrative.

An Interview with Meghan Roarty A look into the life of AP Psychology instructor Meghan Roarty.

WORDS by MADELEINE NICKS PHOTO by FRANCES CARLSON

Q: What first inspired you to become a teacher?

A: I didn’t initially plan on becoming a teacher. I was studying in the graduate program at UCSB, studying psychology, and I thought I wanted to go into neuroscience research. And while I was there, I also had the chance to be a teaching assistant.

That’s when I first fell in love with teaching and realized I loved that a lot more than I did the actual research aspects of it.

I loved reading about the research, but getting to work so closely with students was incredibly rewarding for me. That’s where it all started.

Q: What do you believe the most important part of education is?

A: I think instilling the idea of being a life-long learner is really important. Learning for the intrinsic value, not solely for the extrinsic for the grade, for the college acceptance. But instead learning because you love to learn and because knowledge is power.

Throughout our lives, we still need to learn, and it doesn’t stop when we’re done with school. Empowering students to build certain skill sets that are important for after high school, like critical thinking skills.

Which, if you leave high school with those critical thinking skills, is really important.

Q: How long have you been at Laguna, and what was your first impression of the school?

A: This is my ninth year. I started out teaching psychology classes at City College. I was looking for another part-time position, and my husband said, “Maybe Laguna Blanca has some part-time positions?”

I went online, and they were looking for an AP Psych teacher, and so I emailed the Head of School at the time, and he said, ‘Yeah!’

So my first year I taught AP Psych and Bio, and I’ve been teaching AP Psych ever since.

My first impressions were the sense of community, and the relationship that teachers had with their students. I couldn’t believe that students were saying ‘thank you’ after every class. They were so appreciative and respectful and so eager to learn.

Q: What atmosphere do you try to create in your own classroom? Does it change every year?

A: I’ve noticed that the tone of the classroom is pretty similar year to year. And it doesn’t always start that way, sometimes it takes some warming up to get there. When students realize that it is a place where they can openly discuss and we can go off on tangents, I try to make it as warm and welcoming as possible, where students feel supported and they don’t feel embarrassed to ask questions.

A large part of it is the mutual respect between myself and students, and also between students and one another. Mutual respect is a really big part of that trust that goes on and being able to relax in class, and let your brain open up and absorb without constant…background anxiety of “will this be on the test?”

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Q: How do you feel psychology can ripple out to help students better operate in other subjects or just life in general?

A: I’m a strong supporter of psychology for all, whether or not it’s an AP. I just feel that understanding how the brain and body are intertwined is so important for understanding yourself, how you think and behave, knowing how powerful your thoughts are, and how powerful suggestion is.

I think it gives so much insight into how you process information and how that then basically affects your whole life. For other people as well, I think it helps build empathy.

Because you understand that other people have their own thoughts and beliefs, but also that sometimes when we try to explain the behavior of other people, we usually explain them in terms of “this is who they are, this is their disposition” and we’re not as sensitive to the situation.

That’s one of the things we learn about—that we do that, we have these cognitive tendencies. So, if we can be aware of those tendencies, it prevents us from then making these errors in judgment.

Q: You often let students have time during class to talk freely about their feelings or just tell stories. Why do you think open conversation is important—especially in an AP setting.

A: That’s one of the challenges: we could spend a whole semester on just [one unit], but there are certain things we have to cover. thefourthestate.net

Some of it I would rather have these open discussions and have students memorize certain things on their own from the textbook.

But when you have student-driven discussions, it fuels thinking and allows students to actually sit and think while hearing other people’s thoughts and ideas.

It allows us to understand that we don’t process information the same way and that it is important to see that we have differences in how we think, and it can also affirm your own thoughts or concerns.

And some stories are just fun, and it’s nice to have just joy and laughter.

A class without laughter is not joyful, and that’s not conducive to learning. We have to take a step back, and just be.

Q: What can we do to more actively practice gratitude on a daily basis?

A: Part of it is just stepping outside of ourselves. We’re so focused inwardly on what we’re going through and what we have to do.

When we’re so inwardly focused it’s hard to look outside ourselves to feel gratitude or to see places where we are grateful and appreciative of. We sometimes focus too much on the negative, and there’s always negativity in our lives. Our brains actually automatically process the negative more than the positive, so, especially when we’re younger, the negative thoughts and emotions are more easily recalled.

It’s like our brain already does have that default mode, so it takes a conscious effort to step outside yourself and try to find the positive.

We’re also more likely to feel gratitude when we feel better about ourselves and we’re in a good place. thefourthestate.net

Q: Are there any parts of emotional or behavioral intelligence that teenagers should be putting greater importance on?

A: I think for the emotional aspect, the idea of self-awareness and self-regulation, being able to regulate our own emotions, is really important. Throughout our lives, we are going to be thrown different things and stressful experiences, things will be tragic, we will go through hardships. If we have a sense of how to regulate our emotions in those situations, that will

help us tremendously. Even understanding what emotions are, and your emotions, and understanding that we can change how we appraise our emotions. We can feel sad or deeply troubled about an event, but how we appraise and process that sadness is important.

Are we processing it globally, does it mean everything in our life is tragic? Or is it specific to one thing, because that changes your mental set. And then, understanding the part of emotion that the brain is connected to physically. Physical

wellness helps mental wellness. If we’re not physically taking care of yourself, mentally we won’t be. And that’s part of emotional intelligence because we have to do all the things that are physically good for us because that will help us mentally. A part of emotional intelligence I think too is intrinsic motivation.

We sometimes focus too much on that external reward, it takes the joy away. And we need joy for every aspect of our life.

Q: How has becoming a mom changed the way that you teach?

A: The balance right now is perfect. I can’t even imagine not getting the chance to be here and not be a mom, or to be a mom and not be here. It’s so nice to have this balance. I’m lucky to do that because Laguna has been so supportive of that, and I have my mom and step-dad who are the best grandparents in the world and they take care of my babies when I’m here.

Becoming a mother, and now thinking about my kids when they grow up, and thinking of them as students in other classrooms, I just think ‘I want you to be able to have dinner with me!’ Those are the thoughts that cross my mind, and I know that when my students are studying for a test they’re not spending time with family. It circles back to balance. I think of the nurturing aspect of teaching, and I’ve always felt that with students, but I want to make sure they’re being taken care of the outside of school, and they have all these elements in their lives that they don’t feel they’re missing out on.

As we rush along, time flies fast, so I want students to be able to enjoy those moments without wanting to just get through it, but enjoy it as you go.

FEATURE • 17

The Future of the English Department An in-depth interview with English Department Head Victoria Dryden on the next steps and goals for the department.

WORDS and PHOTOS by MADELEINE NICKS Q: What are your responsibilities as the English department head?

A: One is administrative tasks and meetings, going to meetings, leading meetings, and meeting with parents, with teachers, observing teachers, interviewing prospective hires, offering faculty support, and taking on curricular leadership.

Those are the big areas. I think it is all about regrouping and recovery after the pandemic—how can we work together and collaborate in a way that was disrupted by COVID? Q: How much of a hand do you have in text selections? Or is it more collaborative?

Head of the English Department, Victoria Dryden in the Writing Center.

18 • FEATURE

A: The first thing I’m doing is asking every teacher per grade level to write a skill list detailing what skills are being focused on in that grade level.

And then, once that’s done, I want us to look horizontal and then vertical. After we do the skill progression, I’m trying to create a shared document on “how to teach writing” or “what we’re looking for in writing” that’s through the entire department.

So that everyone is using the same language, common structure for essays, and common expectations, and a progression.

In order for each teacher to choose a writing focus that builds on the focus from the previous year and then prepares the student for the following year.

There needs to be a collaborative, common idea with one form, similar rubrics, and similar objectives. And then, my big thing this year is a text audit.

To understand the world, you have to hear everybody’s perspective; traditionally, we haven’t. At least 15 or 20 years ago, it was one voice if you developed a curriculum. This is all about the canon and who created it, and why, and what voices were left out and why.

We need to understand our relationship to each other and our relationship to the community just as much as we understand who we are as individuals.

Q: What first made you passionate about teaching English?

A: I became an English teacher because I liked hearing stories and telling stories and getting lost in those stories.

But, later, I saw literature as a vessel for an understanding of what it means to be a human and using literature to understand other people and oneself and how one interacts with other people and then, politics and gender and religions and protests and revolutions, and dreams, and all the messy stuff of life.

Q: What are you changing, or hope to change, structurally about the department?

A: I feel like the nation is changing, at least from my perspective.

And so departments, education, and academia need to be fluid with that change. We are now at an integral point in history. We have to scramble to reassess what is being taught and how it’s being taught.

I don’t know that I’m structurally changing anything, except I think we all need to regroup and think about what we are doing, why, and how we are doing it.

As the SAT and standardized testing fades away, we can’t just keep plodding along and not be regrouping to realize how we must change to accommodate the changing world and to prepare students for college, because college is changing.

None of us can understand that yet. We do not know what the other side of the pandemic is going to look like yet. Students have lost years of learning from remote classrooms. Students have access to technology that changes perspectives and reality. The United States is becoming increasingly polarized.

Travel and global connections have been limited to some degree. thefourthestate.net

New movements and voices are emerging. There are so many changes that this generation of students will understand as their normal. And there are so many unknowns.

School now needs to adapt. You need to learn about people that are speaking right now. You need to know, understand, question, accept and reject what is being said and done. And literature both fiction and nonfiction opens up that exploration in a way that matters now.

Q: As the school continues to bolster our STEM programs, how do you think English can work to carve out more of a substantial place at the school?

A: I feel like there is so much to explore in the humanities. Using art or literature to bring change and fight oppression is something we’re existing in right now. But it’s always been a part of resistance, right?

Art, music, philosophy, literature… these are important aspects of society. How can we explore them at school? I see humanities as a way to connect with the community. I’d love to see Laguna do that through the Humanities program.

We can study and read and talk, but what about action? How can the English and Humanities program offer students a way to take what they know and learn and then apply it or rather experience it in the community that surrounds us?

How can our learning of art, philosophy, law, literature, and music become a tangible experience?

When I taught Humanities at my old school, every class I taught had some connection—some physical interaction with the community surrounding us OR a community we could interact with in some way.

I think STEM does that—there are internships and research programs and connections with UCSB. Humanities should have those opportunities and connections too.

Students need this and the community will benefit.

This is one way to enrich our lives. Students can exist within the thefourthestate.net

Dryden and senior Owen Pryor work on a recent essay, utilizing the peer tutoring support and enjoying the newly refurnished Writing Center.

intellectual, but then also step out of their comfort zone and connect the intellectual to action. It seems so off-balance to have one side that offers too much and have a couple of English choices that limit you as a student going into the world.

Q: Do you think we offer a wide enough variety of English AP classes?

A: My preference would be for more rigorous English electives rather than worrying about how many APs we have. I think everybody would be engaged, inspired, and challenged if they took really interesting, rigorous English electives. I think that’s what the school is moving towards too, as that is a topic of conversation that comes up a lot: Should we have more choice for students in English? My answer is yes.

Q: Why did you think it would be valuable to revive and strengthen the Writing Center?

A: I think student tutors are really important for the tutors themselves.

You learn a lot from peer editing while building your writer skills.

Collaboration with younger students is powerful. And the writing process is a process. And when you’re just in your class as students, my impression is that students often write the essay the day before it’s due, and often don’t revise because they’ve lost interest by the time

they get it back. I think the Writing Center could be that one-on-one instruction for the writing process. We are always learning from each other—and this is never more true than in the writing process. Writing is not supposed to be an isolated endeavor. It’s about connecting with other human beings through ideas. That’s what the vision is [for the Writing Center.]

Q: What’s something you are looking forward to for the department?

A: The English Department is trying to figure out when we will hold our full-day retreat with Lorena German (!) from Disrupt Texts to examine what we are teaching, why we are teaching it, and how we are teaching it. We will exam what voices and what perspectives we include in our curriculum and why. It is about critical thinking, discussion, challenging each other, opening our minds to different viewpoints and becoming viable contributors to the world.

I was so privileged to teach the now senior class my first year at Laguna. I want nothing more than all of you—all of our students—to be ready and to be prepared to accept, challenge, and sometimes change what you confronts you. There is more to be learned in the English classroom than reading of books from the established canon. My students have taught me that.

FEATURE • 19

A Tribute to Clara Svedlund To celebrate the life and invaluable contributions of our beloved science instructor Clara Svedlund, we asked students and colleagues to share their memories and thoughts. We love and miss you, Clara.

CATIE FRISTOE ‘22

“When I joined the Lower School in 1st grade, I was a shy, quiet student scared by the entirely new environment around me. But I made an immediate connection with Ms. Svedlund. I was in awe. She was cool… really cool. I knew that she was who I wanted to be when I grew up. Ms. Svedlund inspired me to be a scientist. She encouraged me to love the world around me no matter what, through thick and thin. Looking up to her is what sparked a love for biology and medicine that I will carry with me for my entire life.

I truly believe that I would not be the person I am today if I hadn’t spent the past 12 years looking up to a genius, and a compassionate role model like her.”

COURTNEY GUAY ART INSTRUCTOR

“During the last two school years, Clara taught in an outdoor classroom allowing us teachers to take a peek into how she was teaching her curriculum.

When I would witness her students have the “ah-ha” moment and exclaim how cool this new bit of thefourthestate.net

information was, she would always respond with, “I know, right?” For those who know her best, this was her catchphrase.

Empathetic in nature, Clara had a unique ability to match whatever your feelings were.

When I was happy, she was happy. When I cried, she would cry.

This compassion is such a rare and beautiful gift that very few people have.

She was a person who loved deeply: her family, her friends, her colleagues, and her students. Clara, you are forever loved and missed.”

BROOKE GREEN

3RD GRADE INSTRUCTOR “Clara, I have never met someone as observant, empathetic, and selfless as you.

You carried other people’s pain and difficulties so they wouldn’t have to. You were the first to volunteer to help anyone with anything.

You helped people appreciate nature and animals, and you dedicated your life to making the world a better place. You made everything easier, more enjoyable, and more meaningful. I will miss you and appreciate you, always.”

MOLLY MARKSTRUM MUSIC INSTRUCTOR

“Thoughts of you swirling around my head. Wishing to see you from all this dread.

Your warmth, your brightness held in my heart.

Your vision of the Earth; a safe piece of art.

You will always be part of everyone here, I promise to carry you along me In words of Clara, to each of her students: Have fun, and remember curiosity is key”

NICOLE KHODABANDEHLOU ‘22

“I will forever remember how Ms. Svedlund always had time to help me get though things, no matter how busy she was. She made learning fun by creating interactive experiments to give us a better understanding of what we were learning at the time.

What really stood out to me was how much time and effort she put in to make sure our class understood every topic that we went through.

She was so extremely caring, and I will miss seeing her around.”

FEATURE • 21

22 • THEME

thefourthestate.net

stance of the staff editorial Looking back on our past issues, we realized that many of our themes focus on looking to the future, persevering through difficult times, or trying to change our situation. For this issue, we wanted to completely shift our mentality toward enjoying the present, finding the pockets of joy throughout our daily lives, and making a meaningful effort to highlight members of our community who are giving back. To do this, we chose gratitude as our theme and central thread of our issue.

Throughout the process of building this issue, our staff kept arriving at the fact that we were happy to be on campus— to be learning in this environment, to be back with our teachers and classmates. Instead of simply telling you that we are grateful, we wanted to show you why. Here is a collection of our staff’s moments of gratitude, whether they are memories, teachers, fellow students, or certain classes.

“I am grateful for Ms. Roarty and the opportunity to take AP Psych with her; her warmth in the classroom environment makes me feel so comfortable in her class and her understanding nature makes me feel seen amidst the stress of senior year.“ “I am filled with gratitude for all of my coaches, teachers, and friends.

Despite being a new student, everyone has made me feel so welcome and appreciated from the second I stepped foot on Laguna’s campus.

From our soccer bus rides to Journalism work parties, I have felt so welcome in my new home.”

“I am thankful to Mr. Ary. Despite having an extremely busy schedule he is often available to help explain concepts to his students. Taking AP Calc BC, sometimes it can be difficult to understand a certain idea and Mr. Ary has helped me through these times.“ “I am grateful for the ability to be on campus and interact with my peers and teachers. The environment and support of campus is unmatched by the online experience and I’m truly happier when immersed in my courses on campus.“ thefourthestate.net

“I am grateful for Dr. Tidey for all her quirks to make English 9 interesting. Whether it is her genuine love towards teaching or her funny little names for her students, its hard to get bored in her class.”

“This year, I will be forever grateful for so many people, from my family, friends to teachers; however, I would like to spotlight a specific person: Ms. Pagels. Her love for teaching has made her classes so much more immersive and informative that it gives me a good insight into what I would like to pursue in the future.”

“I am grateful for my Journalism class. It is such a great class where I am learning new things about how to write for a magazine. Everyone is very welcoming and eager to help each other out. I am thankful for Ms. McHale who is always available to help me out using InDesign and making my pages.“ “I am indebted to Laguna’s college counseling department and their dedication to helping us find the right school. What I most appreciate is the availability and openness of the staff, and how they make the college search agenda not too rushed or hectic.”

“I’m thankful for Mr. Chiment and his Algebra 2/Trig Honors A class.

Many concepts can be extremely confusing, but we all go through it together until it makes enough sense. Some of my favorite memories are singing “Riptide” and “Last Christmas” with the amazing Mr. Chiment and my hilarious classmates.“ “This year has flown by so quickly, and I feel grateful for the old and new friends I have made along the way. In every class, I have at least one person who I can comfortably share a smile with, laugh with during funny situations, yet still have heartfelt discussions when we need one another.”

“There are very specific times in my Latin 5 class when we just can’t keep it together. Whether it is the story we are translating, a certain vocab word that we can’t remember, or the fact that Ms. Steeber put Windex in her hair, these classes never fail to make my day better. I am so grateful for the playfulness.”

THEME • 23

Club Highlights Student clubs on campus during the holiday season focus on making a difference and giving back to the community.

WORDS by ANNIKA FIRLIK Fellowship of Faith Club is run by juniors Molly Morouse and Grace Hoffacker. The club meets twice a month, and their faculty advisor is math teacher Jennifer Pardue.

“Fellowship of Faith is focused on providing a welcoming community for people to learn more about the Bible and the power of Faith,” said Molly. “We aim to share God’s love with our peers through games, food, and or a speech or lecture. Fellowship of Faith welcomed “multiple guest speakers who spoke about their testimony and journey with our partner organization, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA),” Molly said.

“Hearing the guest speaker’s testimony is very meaningful.”

Fellowship of Faith Club members gather for a lunch time meeting. Photo by Molly Morouse.

The Asian Student Union Club is led by juniors Alexandra Siegel and Abby Kim. They meet once a month, and their faculty advisor is art teacher Doug Uyesaka.

“The Asian Student Union Club was founded this year to educate people and celebrate Asian culture through cooking, games, and trivia,” said Alexandra.

So far this year, they “have met a couple of times and have made spring rolls, played a traditional Korean game, and done lots of trivia. [they] also enjoy snacks,” said Alexandra.

Members of the Asian Student Union gather for a club photo. Photo by Caden Weaver.

“We started Asian Student Union to expand students’ knowledge on different Asian cultures and to share the vast array of traditions each Asian society explores,” said Alexandra Siegel, co-president of the Asian Student Union.

24 • THEME

“Fellowship of Faith is focused on providing a welcoming community for people to learn more about the Bible and the power of Faith. We aim to share God’s love in a way that our peers can hear, understand, and apply,” said Molly Morouse, leader of Fellowship of Faith. thefourthestate.net

“The purpose of the Meditation Club is to give students an outlet during the school day, and to lower the collective stress level of students at the school,” said club leader senior Maura Jaye.

During the club meetings, the students engage in guided meditations. The Meditation Club meets twice a month and is advised by Bojana Hill.

“I find it really meaningful when people express their gratitude for me after my meditation, it warms my heart to know I made a difference in people's mental state, seeing them release stress and anxiety,” Maura said.

She started the club after leading a guided meditation for a class presentation, and she got so much great feedback from people saying it helped them and wanted her to continue.

Meditation Club members during a lunch time meditation led

by Maura Jaye. Photo by Maura Jaye.

Sock Club members organize clothing for their Alameda Park visit. Photo by Claire Kellet.

“I had a lot of connections with strangers that I never could have met. We would talk about living in a homeless shelter and other services that could be helpful for that. I learned so much about homelessness,” said Catie Fristoe, co-president of Sock Club. thefourthestate.net

The Sock Club is led by senior Catie Fristoe and junior Molly Morouse. Through her involvement with the club and its activities Catie said that she “[has] had a lot of connections with strangers that I never could have met. We would talk about living in a homeless shelter and other services that could be helpful for that. I learned so much about homelessness.”

The club started in 2015 with students handing out socks to people experiencing homelessness.

“The sock became a talking piece at the park so we could learn more,” said Catie.

The Sock Club has become a great place to help the local community and learn more about the struggles of homelessness. The club has an annual Warm Things Drive, and bake sales.

“I find it really meaningful when people express their gratitude for me after meditation.

It warms my heart to know I made a difference in people’s mental state,” said Maura Jaye, leader of the Meditation Club.

THEME • 25

Feminism through the Ages

Women’s battle for equality dates back centuries.

With each decade, we see change. An excellent way to celebrate the new year is to look back and appreciate the women who sacrificed to bring opportunities to women.

WORDS by SOFIA RAMIREZ ART by CLAIRE TOLLES

Seneca Falls Convention (1848) Women were denied fundamental rights, including property ownership, voting, financial independence, and education.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, an outspoken activist, organized the Seneca Falls Convention to advocate for women’s rights. Stanton and her supporters wrote the Declaration of Sentiments, which stated, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men and women are created equal.”

These values parrot the Declaration of Independence but with gender equality. The Convention received bad press and public criticism, but it marked the beginning of the revolutionary Suffrage Movement.

26 • THEME

First Female Presidential Candidate (1872) Equal rights activist Victoria Woodhull despised the gender norms that kept women from essential jobs.

In 1870, Woodhull and her sister, Lady Tennessee Celeste Claflin, Viscountess of Montserrat, also known as Tennie C., opened the first brokerage firm exclusively for women. Woodhull became a Suffrage leader and the first woman to run for president in 1872.

Although she did not win, she set a precedent for women in government. Woodhull bravely faced the backlash of her actions to move equality forward.

Though a woman has never won the presidency, America gets closer to this becoming a reality every year. thefourthestate.net

19th Amendment (1920) Since the Seneca Falls Convention (1848), women took to the streets and the court, declaring their right to vote.

The Suffrage Movement fostered the realization that women deserve a voice in economics and politics.

As women flooded the workforce, they demanded recognition as capable members of society.

In 1878, suffrage leaders proposed an amendment to the Constitution that allowed women to vote. Forty-two years later, in 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified.

Birth Control Legalized (1960) Although it’s still a controversial topic, women’s contraception has, until recently, been readily accessible and free of cost under most healthcare plans through the Affordable Care Act. In 1960, five years after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tested and authorized its use and legalized contraceptive, the fight continued.

Birth control for unmarried women was banned in 1965 in 26 states. Today, it is normalized across America, including for non-contraceptive purposes.

thefourthestate.net

First Woman in Space (1977) NASA began looking for female astronauts in 1977.

Thirty-two-year-old Sally Ride followed her dreams and applied. In 1983, the world witnessed her become the first woman in space. She inspired other women to follow her to the stars, including Judith Resnik (2nd & 4th woman in space), Kathryn D. Sullivan (3rd woman in space), and many others.

This fantastic achievement inspired women across all fields to take on challenging jobs and break through the glass ceiling.

Kamala Harris (2020) Following Hilary Clinton’s unsuccessful effort to take the presidential seat, America welcomed Kamala Harris to take her place beside Joe Biden to become the first female vice president.

Fifty-seven-year-old Kamala Harris grew up in Berkeley, CA, with an Indian mother and a Jamaican father.

Despite being a woman of color, she never let her mixed heritage or gender stop her from rising through the ranks and claiming her spot as Vice President of the United States of America.

THEME • 27

The Gift of Education Independent schools like Laguna provide enriching educations to their students. However, the high price tag introduces the problem of unequal opportunities in education for people of varying socioeconomic statuses.

WORDS by HANNA MASRI and DARE FITZPATRICK ART by CLAIRE TOLLES

W

e live in an unequal society. Whether it is based on race, income, or nationality, the social, economic, and governmental systems in the United States and the world are biased.

Many of our readers are privileged in terms of socioeconomic status. In addition to the wealth of the Laguna community, students have access to the gift of education.

Education is one of the most powerful tools. We get jobs to make a living and contribute to society through learning. As time has progressed, the standard of education evolved.

Our parents could find a job easier than we can with just a bachelor’s degree.

Going back even further, a high school diploma would be enough for a job in the 1950s.

A Laguna education is a gift. “The teachers are super supportive, and in general, the whole staff. I would say the education you get here is amazing,” junior Fiona Schroeder said. “With all of the resources, it’s just great the education you can accomplish here.”

Our community is lauded for its commitment to scholarship, balance, and character by parents and students alike.

“I feel very prepared for the future, and I feel that I have a tool set that will guide me gracefully through college and university and

28 • THEME

whatever comes next,” junior Claire Kellet said.

Once in college, alumni agree that their Laguna educations serve them well.

“I feel that my Laguna education has given me the tools to advocate for myself and seek help and guidance when I need it, which is especially important at a bigger school like University of Vermont,” alumna Grace Fitzpatrick ‘2020 said. “And after college, I know that this tool will be equally important.”

“I feel that my Laguna education has given me the tools to advocate for myself and seek help and guidance when I need it...And after college, I know that this tool will be equally important.”

- Grace Fitzpatrick ‘20 A Laguna education is exceptional owing in part because it is a small independent school where deeper relationships can be formed with teachers and advisors.

“We have much smaller class sizes, so you get a lot of one-on-one teacher time, a lot more access to college counselors,” senior Julianna

Seymour said.

These bonds not only increase the level of understanding but also can provide confidence in a student.

“I’ve formed such strong relationships with my teachers and peers because of experiences from the small classrooms and the close community at Laguna, and these relationships have definitely stayed with me through college,” Grace said.

Education is a gift, but it’s not a gift equally available to everyone.

More money affords one a better education, at both the high school and college level, so what happens to the people who can’t pay?

“Just going to Laguna, we have access to a private college counselor.

We have one counselor per 35 to 45 students, where at some schools it’s hundreds of students, or they don’t have [college counselors] at all,” senior Mike Janey said.

“In the general student body, we’re very privileged in what we can do. We have access to all of these things—college counseling, tutoring, all of these advantages. We have more opportunities to explore our interests.”

Educational inequality is so deeply rooted in systemic issues that it may seem impossible to solve.

Families who can’t afford to live in a good school district subsequently can’t send their child to the best public school, let alone send their thefourthestate.net

child to an independent school with tuition costing tens of thousands of dollars annually.

Without individualized attention from teachers, abundant resources, and enough support, students might not be prepared to enter selective colleges or to even apply out of fear of the price tag.

And so, they might end up not going to college at all for fear of the cost or lack of encouragement and support.

Therefore, most likely, they will not be able to secure a stable, high enough paying job, which is increasingly concerning, especially considering the rise in tuition of colleges and independent high schools.

Student loans are prevalent in the thefourthestate.net

United States and can put people into debt for years.

Because of the increasing standard of education in our world, jobs don’t come as easily to people with a bachelor’s degree as they once did.

Having a college degree doesn’t necessarily result in a job.

And so, what’s the solution? Our society can’t exist the way it is now, but there isn’t an easy answer.

The first thing that people often think of is to lower college tuition.

But this doesn’t solve the issue.

First, what would the logistics of lowering college tuition be?

Second, this solution doesn’t acknowledge that the issue is dependent on other factors; and different

facets are dependent on it.

Lowering the price of college will reduce the cost of independent schools, which calls for a more standardized education system in the United States.

Following in the model of some of the happiest and most educationally successful countries in the world, such as Finland, the United States must adopt a free education system that does not cost a dime to provide education up until adulthood.

THEME • 29

#winterinstagrams PAGE by HANNA MASRI and DARE FITZPATRICK

Freshman Tallulah Staeger at Shoreline Park over winter break.

Senior Miles Sedlin mountain biking with Finn Hastings.

Senior Harrison Jones proudly poses by his motorcycle.

Sophomore Kendall Keshen in Central Park New York.

Senior Maud Christal this past Christmas on a boat.

Senior Ava Rice with friends enjoying Christmas decorations.

Junior Ashly Pryor bundled up in the freezing Montana snow.

The varsity girls soccer team stretching before a game.

30 • THEME

Paloma and Penelope McKean laugh at wearing matching dresses. thefourthestate.net

The Nuclear Option Nuclear power is the path to a greener future.

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WORDS by MYLES HAZEN ART by CLAIRE TOLLES

uclear energy provides a solution to renewables’ greatest problem: consistency. Solar energy doesn’t work without sunlight, and wind farms don’t work on calm days. Though cities can store renewable energy, this alone cannot make up for the energy shortage. Nuclear, however, provides constant energy without environmental limitations, but there are stigmas attached to this solution.

Contrary to popular opinion, nuclear energy production is perfectly safe. According to Our World In Data, coal kills 24.62 people per terawatt-hour. Contrast that with nuclear which causes 0.07 deaths per terawatt-hour. For context, Santa Barbara County used 2.76 terawatt-hours in 2020. However, what makes nuclear power extraordinary is that it is clean.

According to Our World in Data, nuclear-powered France produces 55g of CO2 per megawatt-hour of electricity, meanwhile, the United States produces 453g according to the EIA (Energy Information Administration). California produces 225g of CO2 per megawatt hour, according to California Independent System Operator. The only path to a habitable future is through nuclear energy.

Despite the benefits, nuclear energy has a dark side. “When nuclear goes bad, it can be catastrophic,” said Environmental Science teacher Erik Faust.

In April 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded, showering neighboring communities in radioactive isotopes and killing 50 people—another 4,000 died from exposure and cancer in following years. Though explosions like Chernobyl are rare, the death toll turned nuclear power into public enemy number one.

Waste disposal is another complicating factor. The byproducts of nuclear energy are toxic and need to be safely stored. However, plans to create nuclear waste storage facilities continue to be stonewalled in the Senate.

Nuclear power is also expensive. In the United States, nuclear energy’s cost is second only to coal, according to the IEA (International Energy Association). So why should Americans spend millions of tax dollars on a potentially lethal solution? Revolutionary breakthroughs address this question.

“If you look at the costs associated with nuclear reactors, they are pretty much gone with Nuclear 2.0,” said Faust.

With these new innovations “The possibility of meltdown is almost nonexistent” and since “[Nuclear 2.0] runs off of spent fuel,” said Faust, it practically eliminates the downsides of nuclear power.

Nuclear is essential to a green future. It is up to the new generation to change course, educate, campaign, vote, and fight for a greener future.

“I don’t see a way we can avoid the climate crisis without using nuclear power,” Faust said. thefourthestate.net

OPINION • 31

The Unspoken Line As COVID-19 fades and dances and social life come back, the student body and administration are posed with the question of what types of PDA is acceptable. What is crossing the line when there is no line?

WORDS by HANNA MASRI and MADELEINE NICKS ART by OLIVIA DAVENPORT

P

DA: Public displays of affection. Hugging, kissing, hand-holding.

While it’s a part of everyday life, PDA remains a complex and controversial topic when in a professional setting.

While people usually limit the idea of professionalism to the workplace, it can also apply to school life.

If school is preparing us for a professional setting, why do we feel it is socially acceptable to put our relationships on display at school if it’s not tolerated in the workplace?

Dating is almost entirely synonymous with high school. Stories in movies and TV have always favored the idea of finding love while at school.

In “High School Musical,” the film is focused on romance, dancing, and singing. Gabriella, the brainiac to end all brainiacs, did precisely one chemistry lab that stunned the entire student body (and, of course, made Troy Bolton fall in love with her).

Movies such as this, “Grease,” “10 Things I Hate About You,” and “Clueless,” created an idealized image of what high school is about: dramatic displays of public affection.

“I have actually had more issues with students before they’re a couple than when they’re a couple.

When people are metaphorically feeling each other out, and flirting seems to be much worse right before they become a couple than when they become a couple,” said science instructor Katie Pointer.

“Coming to the States, I thought that it was going to be like in the

32 • OPINION

thefourthestate.net

movies. Growing up in Germany, we don’t have all the football games and dances, which really romanticized high school in America,” junior Emma Schubert said.

“But, I must say, even though I expected there to be a lot of dating and cute prom-posals, there’s not as much as I thought there was going to be. People are a little awkward.

There’s definitely more dating and drama in Germany than there is in America.”

When parents or older siblings look back on teenage memories, they probably reminisce about who they went to dances with and why they broke up with their high school sweetheart before mentioning the classes and teachers that had significant impacts on their lives.

But the question remains: what PDA is okay at school and what isn’t?

The student handbook states that “public displays of intimate affection are considered inappropriate for a school setting,” which is the only reference to PDA, leaving much up for interpretation.

Of course, you can hug your friends without anyone blinking an eye, but where is the line drawn for romantic relationships?

Dancing around the subject leaves students confused about how to act and how to react.

If...guidelines are established students, teachers, and couples will be able to exist in a more fair and kinder environment.

The inclusion of the word “intimate” suggests that the PDA that is not acceptable is limited to that between romantic partners. Yet there is no written consequence for an act of “public displays of intimate affection.”

In failing to specify what is crossing the line, the handbook creates thefourthestate.net

an environment where the forms of affection one chooses to participate in are left up to the couple.

And, if students engage in something considered inappropriate, what are the consequences on an administrative level?

Unlike breaking the dress code, which has a straightforward and ordered discipline process, PDA is left to subjective forms of punishment because nothing concrete is outlined in the handbook. The natural consequence of PDA is how peers and teachers perceive it.

“Amongst the faculty and admin, I do not feel there is a culture of judgment against couples or relationships. I have to admit I don’t know what goes on amongst the students,” Pointer said.

“Over the years, what couples consider appropriate displays of affection on campus has varied from the benign like I would consider hand-holding a very appropriate form of affections. And then there was a couple years ago who would straight-up make out in front of my classroom every day, and that would make me a little uncomfortable. But that’s not the norm on campus, at least in my opinion.”

Because the administration does not have a defined set of standards regarding PDA, students feel no fear or hesitation when it comes to PDA. Nevertheless, they are met with harsh judgment for engaging in something the administration has deemed completely acceptable by lack of specification.

“I don’t think that it’s that big of a deal. From my point of view, I wouldn’t want to be displaying affection anyway. I think it’s common sense and self respect that people aren’t going to start making out at school. But there’s always exceptions,” said Emma.

It has created an environment where students feel comfortable judging and criticizing couples for displaying affection.

To eliminate this culture of gossip and criticism, the school must clearly articulate its position on PDA,

“People can definitely be too quick to judge sometimes. It is common for someone to make assumptions and jump to conclusions when they don’t really know the full story.”

- Frances Carlson ‘22 clearly outline what is appropriate and what crosses the line, and set up a system to clarify the school’s values in terms of public displays of affection. Ultimately, the administration needs to make its stance clear.

“At Laguna, and within the community, being in a committed relationship is the minority, to begin with,” said junior Molly Morouse.

“So since most people aren’t dating, anyone who even is a couple, even if they aren’t being affectionate, are still going to feel left out.”

Dancing around the subject leaves students confused about how to act and react.

If these guidelines are established, students, teachers, and couples will exist in a more fair and kinder environment.

“I think that people can definitely be too quick to judge sometimes,” said senior Frances Carlson. “It is common for someone to make assumptions and jump to conclusions when they don’t really know the full story. Relationships at school versus in private can be very different.”

“I feel like my relationship is very different outside of school than in school. We don’t have any classes together, and I usually have a meeting at lunch so we don’t really have time to interact that much on campus.”

If the faculty and administration stay in the grey area of acceptance, students can no longer feel it is their right to comment and decide what type of PDA is admissible.

OPINION • 33

The Price of Our $equence Controversy emerges as genetic testing companies capitalize from gene sequencing–in ways we may not have been aware of before.

WORDS by ADEN MEISEL ART by CLAIRE TOLLES

A

ccording to a Vox article by Rani Molla, 30 million people submitted DNA samples to genetic testing corporations— more than half of which went to Ancestry.com and 23&me. Genetic testing companies provide information to their customers, such as detecting susceptibility to genetic diseases and tracing ancestral ethnicity.

However, according to a Guardian article by Laura Spinney, these companies’ primary sources of revenue come not from selling DNA testing kits to the public but from selling their collected DNA samples to powerful third-party pharmaceutical companies. Genetic testing companies that sell DNA samples generate astronomical revenue.

As it turns out, submitted DNA samples can not only be sold but also federally repossessed. It is explicitly stated in U.S. legal code that, given they have been granted a warrant, federal officers withhold the right to extract the genetic information on any individual from genetic testing companies’ databases.

Should we as consumers think twice before surrendering our most confidential and private form of identity?

Anne Wojcicki, CEO of 23&me, said the company’s mission is to “help people access, understand and benefit from the human genome.” Thus far, according to a NewsScientist article by Jessica Hamzelou, they have sold over 10 million genetic testing kits, which has led to countless cases of the reunification of lost relatives.

34 • OPINION

“I would one-hundred percent recommend this service. I think it’s really cool to understand your past, and 23&me is a great source to do so,” sophomore Andreas McClintock said.

What brings media attention to these genetic testing companies is their ability to allow users to navigate their ancestry digitally for prices significantly lower than those you would see at genetic clinics.

“Companies such as 23&me have proliferated over the past decade, feeding people’s hunger to know who and where they come from,” Spinney said.

Sophomore Griffin Rick is one of many who took an Ancestry.com test.

“We wanted to see what parts of the family traced back to different parts of the world. I think it’s an interesting idea to try to see where you come from and find your origins. For those reasons, I think it’s a fantastic business idea too,” Griffin said.

Ancestry.com also provides historical records and documents relating to a user’s heritage. The information collected from DNA samples can be enough to determine physical traits, such as hair and eye color, and potentially genetic disorders.

23&me DNA test results, Spinney said, have the potential to reveal to the consumer whether they are susceptible to any “diseases their genes might predispose them to.”

However, according to Dr. Martin Schwartz, Professor of Medicine and Cell Biology at Yale, the current science behind predicting prospective health is still in its early stages.

“Unless there are singular polymorphisms [discontinuous genetic variations] that have been previously linked to specific diseases,” Schwartz said. “It is difficult to come by any notion of disease risk.” This is due to “the large majority of diseases that plague humanity being multigenic, where hundreds or thousands of polymorphisms contribute to the tendency to develop diseases.”

Additionally, there have been cases in which mistakes were made in the DNA sequencing process.

thefourthestate.net

“Companies like 23&me are not [heavily] regulated by the Food and Drug Administration [FDA], who would generally be looking at what techniques they’re using or how sterile the situation is,” former biology teacher Amanda Whalen said. “Going to a real geneticist, however, who uses a legitimate lab scenario where DNA is sequenced on a professional and individual level, would be more reliable.”

Possibly the most common misconception of these companies is that they generate revenue solely from selling DNA testing kits, when in fact, an entire market exists in which pharmaceutical giants buy and generate huge profits.

According to a Business Insider article by Erin Brodwin, 23&me announced in 2018 that it would “share consumers’ anonymized genetic data with pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline as part of a $300-million deal.”

Shockingly, according to Spinney, only one-third of the 86 thefourthestate.net

genetic testing companies offering services in 2018 “explained to customers how their data would be used.”

And even though 80% of users consent to their DNA being sold and further tested, on 23&me’s and Ancestry.com’s website, “It doesn’t even say ‘consent;’ it says ‘accept,’” Whalen said. “And those who do accept don’t even read the terms.”

Why do these DNA samples hold so much value in the eyes of pharmaceutical companies?

“The value is in the research,” Schwartz said. “It is in correlating particular features of DNA sequence with disease susceptibility [and supplying medicine to treat those diseases]. Due to this being possible, the potential of developing personalized medicine that people need is enormous.”

However, Schwartz said there is an “opportunity for misuse.” A future dilemma is a possibility that genetic data could be leaked to health insurance companies, which would increase monthly premiums of those who have ‘risky’ or ‘faulty’ genes, which is why DNA samples that are currently sold to big pharma are de-identified so that there is a real, testable sample but no name to link it to.

“I trust large corporations such as these wouldn’t make immoral decisions like that,” Andreas said.

The danger lies in the possibility of data theft and the security of the digital databases in which the collected DNA sequences are stored. “As far as some of the lesser-known genetic testing companies go, if you’re looking at the protection of that data, they’re not exactly hacker-proof,” Whalen said.

“I think in this day and age that it is a problem that we have all probably at least become aware of. Hopefully, these databases are secure,” Griffin said.

“These companies don’t have the luxury of being unethical,” said Schwartz.

They are still for-profit enter-

prises that require revenue to continue doing business. With no new revenue will come no new drugs, and the development and improvement of modern medicine would stall.

Regarding those who lawfully have access to these databases, another party is involved: the U.S. government. By obtaining a warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction, federal officers can access any individual’s submitted DNA sequence. As stated in Title 18 U.S. code § 2703 section (c) (1), “A governmental entity may require a provider of remote computing service to disclose a record or other information”… “when the governmental entity obtains a warrant.”

In a typical case, though, the government would only be inclined to use collected DNA sequences for court cases in which genetic evidence is subpoenaed.

In fact, as Schwartz said, “companies like 23&me don’t even ask for warrants; they freely cooperate with law enforcement most of the time just upon request.”

An IEEE Spectrum article by Thor Benson said that “the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has a DNA database called the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) that currently contains over 14 million DNA profiles.”

The world has moved from the thumbprint being the main identifying trait to it being the face, and now, DNA, which Whalen said was the “ultimate specification that brings personal identification to the next level.”

Ultimately, the decision is left to the consumer. It is their responsibility to conduct sufficient research before deciding whether to submit a sample of their DNA to either a for-profit entity or a genetic professional who performs sequencing on a more individual basis.

Moreover, despite the good intentions of genetic research companies, it is simply a matter of whether someone is willing to roll the dice with their identity at stake.

OPINION • 35

Prep ≠ Prep In independent schools today, grade inflation is more prevalent than ever. So, how well are “college preparatory” high schools actually preparing students for higher education?

WORDS and ART by HANNA MASRI and DARE FITZPATRICK

T

hink about your grades right now. How much of your grade in a given class is representative of mastery of material?

In the education system today, much of our composite grade in each class comes from completion and participation points, rather than formative assessments.

An A doesn’t necessarily translate to mastery of 90% or more of the material; rather, it could be representative of extra credit and homework completion.

Opinions on what a grade should represent vary, which is part of the reason why there are differences between the grading systems of teachers and classes.

“When you look at schools in general—public, private, parochial— the administration has so much authority over almost everything that occurs in a school, and the reason grading tends to be the perennial sore-spot of a school is because that tends to be a place where there is teacher autonomy,” said Head of Upper School Melissa Alkire.

“Teachers have to hit certain benchmarks in every other part of their practice, that grading tends to be universally a place of autonomy— that doesn’t necessarily mean there should be or shouldn’t be but that’s why there is a lot of dialogue about it.”

However, these disparities in earning grades can result in grade inflation, a problem which is com-

36 • OPINION

mon in independent schools today.

According to an Education Week article by Catherine Gewertz, grade inflation is more common in independent schools compared to private religious schools, suburban public schools, and urban public schools.

“We’re not graduating biologists from here.

We’re not graduating doctors. We’re graduating students, and part of being a student is having some space for mistakes and not having mistakes be something that crucifies you.”

- Melissa Alkire The motivation for the inflation can be, in part, attributed to anxious parents who expect high grades from their children in order to be accepted to selective colleges.

This inaccurate reflection of achievement can ultimately leave students unprepared for the material they will experience in college.

Grade inflation is a phenomenon in which students receive grades which are unrepresentative and

usually skewed higher.

A telltale sign of grade inflation is when a school has an average GPA of 3.0 or higher, translating to an average grade of a B or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Independent schools are notorious, since the 90s, for allowing grade inflation to persist.

According to Gewertz, because of the exponential rise in college tuition in the United States, beginning in the 1990s, the price of independent high schools rose in direct response to this rise.

This is reflected by the increases in GPA over the past 30 years. Gewertz cites a College Board study

by Michael Hurwitz and Jason Lee from University of Georgia who found that from 1998 to 2016 independent schools saw a higher rate of GPA increase than public schools with an 8% vs. a 0.6% increase, respectively.

Although this drastic jump in average GPAs could be, in part, due to different education systems, the large gap between the two suggest a confounding factor that is driving up GPAs in independent schools: grade inflation.

Laguna is no exception in terms of grade inflation. Classes have different policies for grades as the grading system is not strictly regulated.

“Currently there is not, at this school, a mandate that grades be made up of particular kinds of systems or protocols,” Alkire said. thefourthestate.net

“What is mandated is that [teachers] use a grade book, have consistent and clear policies that are communicated to their students, and that there are accurate calculations [of grades].”

This means that the point distributions for homework, tests, participation, in-class assignments, etc. are not the same in every department.

“At my previous school, there were common rubrics within departments—within there, there was still teacher autonomy,” Alkire said.

As point distributions are essentially unregulated, points for skills like participation, completion, and timeliness being applied liberally brings up the question of what grades actually represent.

“On the one hand [grades] tell the student where they are based on the expectations of the class in terms of content mastery to fulfilling base-level obligations,” math and science teacher Erik Faust said.

“I’m a big proponent that students should have the opportunity to master a subject,” Alkire said However, “Is content mastery all that matters? If you are a great teacher who never comes to school, can you be evaluated as a ‘great teacher?’ Grade tends to reflect not only mastery but also soft skills,” Faust said.

With these disparities in terms of what a grade “should” represent and what a grade does represent, how do colleges recognize grades?

A point of common consensus seems to be that grades aren’t completely accurate.

“Grades, in and of themselves, try to do too much,” Alkire said, Faust said, “Grades are usually the shorthand version of evaluation.”

The standards for getting into more challenging classes, like AP classes, are getting lower.

Students and parents often complain about not being placed in the course they want being a more challenging class because it will look better on their transcript.

They complain and get placed in thefourthestate.net

a more challenging class that may not fit their academic capabilities.

“I would say 90% of kids are there [in his classes] for college, they don’t want to be there,“ Faust said.

As standards for college get higher, the standards for harder high school classes that will get you into college get lower.

Grade inflation is a difficult problem to solve; some suggest that in addition to a list of letter grades on a transcript, a normal distribution with the percentiles each student is in within his/her class should be included so that colleges may see where in the population a certain student is in terms of grades.

“The best way to evaluate kids would be a written evaluation that has probably two pages worth of re-

quired metrics of labeling every student in your class one to 12—who’s the best at this, who’s the second best—and that for every single thing.

For progress, every skill, every content area,” Faust said.

However, this method might cause a divisive and overly competitive environment.

College admissions should assume a more holistic approach, considering each student based on a variety of factors.

“We’re not graduating biologists from here. We’re not graduating doctors. We’re graduating students, and part of being a student is having some space for mistakes and not having mistakes be something that crucifies you,” Alkire said.

OPINION • 37

Do Humanities Get the Coverage They Deserve?

With stronger representation of STEM in schools, could “humanities students” miss out on a comprehensive education before college?

A

WORDS by FRANCES CARLSON and DARE FITZPATRICK ART by MADELEINE NICKS

s our world becomes more dependent on technology and artificial intelligence, the future is increasingly geared towards STEM. Everyone seems to think that the solutions to the world’s problems lies in the hands of future engineers, computer scientists, or doctors.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, 21% of bachelors degrees earned in the 2018-2019 school year were in STEM disciplines, while an article of Jill Barshay’s of The Hechinger Report said only 4% of college students who graduated in 2020 earned degrees in the humanities.

“There are different trends that go into education throughout generations, and STEM is really big right now,” art instructor Dug Uyesaka said.

These trends are not only reflected in students’ choices for college majors, but also in many high schools’ core curriculum.

“I do feel there is an emphasis on STEM at Laguna. The school offers a significantly broader range of electives and AP courses that focus around math and the sciences,” sophomore Dylan Charney said.

“The humanities, on the other hand, is relegated to just the visual and performing arts when it comes to electives, with even those being relatively limited with little forward progress to be made.”

Laguna is somewhat known for being a STEM-focused school and is rated within the top two STEM-

38 • OPINION

based schools in Santa Barbara.

“There are huge investments being put into the STEM field, and more classes offered in the STEM because of those new classrooms being built and resources being added,” sophomore Lucy Wang said.

There isn’t an inherent issue with Laguna’s focus on STEM classes, other than the fact that Laguna does not claim to be a solely STEM school.

“The skills learned in the humanities empower all students to tackle the crucial philosophical questions.”

- Bojana Hill According to the school’s website, “Students receive an education tailored to maximize learning and foster an inquisitive mindset.”

“We have more math classes than all the art classes combined here at Laguna,” said sophomore Lyla Bollag. “Yes, this is a college preparatory school, but it should be more inclusive towards the people whose aspirations are geared towards the art world rather than the science/ mathematical world.”

The importance of the humanities in a high school education is relevant for all students, including those

who are STEM-inclined.

“Since technologies are developing at such a rapid pace, more than ever before, we need to slow down our thinking and practice wisdom.

The skills learned in the humanities empower all students to tackle the crucial philosophical questions,” English instructor Bojana Hill said.

The problem is that students who want to explore the humanities don’t have as much of an opportunity to do so as those who are inclined to study STEM subjects.

This is especially apparent when students build their schedules for the purpose of proving themselves to a college admissions board.

As inequitable as they are, AP classes play an important role in getting into highly-selective colleges, especially at a college-preparatory schools like Laguna.

Taking multiple rigorous classes in your field of interest and demonstrating success is a vital part of everyone’s application. While there is a fair number of humanities courses, many are electives.

“Kids can do independent directed studies [within the art department], which means more proactiveness from the student, and I think that is great for working with a particular teacher in a particular field. However, this isn’t as ‘formal’ as other classes, and not as developed as, say, the STEM program. It would be good to have some other higher offerings,” Uyesaka said.

So, students who are focused on impressing colleges might be less thefourthestate.net

inclined to fill their schedules with these electives when there is the option to take an array of science and math-based advanced placement classes, which will improve their transcripts for college.

This does not mean that the curriculum for any given humanities elective is any worse than that of an AP, but it does mean that selected colleges will not be as impressed with a one-semester non-honors course compared to a year-long AP course.

Laguna’s STEM APs range from various computer science courses to different levels of calculus to the natural sciences to many other, more nuanced, classes with 9 of the possible 12 AP STEM courses (75%) available.

The advanced courses in the humanities, on the other hand, are less abundant; while both AP English courses are offered, only four of the nine possible “history and social science” courses (44.4%), none of the “arts” courses, and only three of the eight “world languages and cultures” courses (37.5%) are offered.

Of course, the reason for these disparities is not due only to the tension between STEM and humanities; these numbers reflect the offerings of a small school.

Nevertheless, it can be frustrating for students who excel in the humanities, rather than STEM, to be unable to show their skills by achieving impressive grades in highly challenging courses that suit their interests.

The administration is making efforts to lessen the discrepancy between STEM and humanities offerings. thefourthestate.net

After the STEM Program proved successful, the Humanities Program was launched the following year.

While the new STEM building is up and running, a new Writing Center is also in the works.

“Classes I would like to see that emphasize the humanities are classes focusing on world religions, more defined art classes besides just Drawing and Painting, AP World History, and a class focusing solely on creative writing,” sophomore Cierra Rogers Nervo said.

In order to implement

higher-level classes with the consideration of a limited number of teachers, some of the electives that are now offered could potentially be replaced. Some of the more advanced art electives could be replaced with an AP Art and Design Program. The single semester Art History elective could be replaced with AP Art History. The music fundamentals elective could be replaced with AP Music Theory.

The lack of AP humanities class-

es and the abundance of electives promotes the assumption that humanities courses in general are of less importance than science and math classes. With this assumption, students might be inclined to pursue STEM and consider it to be of greater importance.

“Education is incomplete without the education in the humanities.

It’s essential to understand that the fate of the humanities—and its curriculum in high schools, as well as in universities—is inseparable from the future of human beings,” Hill said.

Upon entering higher education, students might not be as likely to study the humanities as a major, and therefore will not go into a career centered around the humanities.

“Students entering STEM, track higher and are making practical choices, as more career opportunities lie in technologies such as bionics, robotics, genetic engineering, and artificial intelligence,” Hill said.

“But the question becomes: What do we want to be? And how do we determine that? If these new technologies will make humans more robotic and less human, there will be no turning back.”

English teacher and Experiential Learning Coordinator, Ashley Tidey, who recently took over Humanities Research Program said, “I think we have to hold onto the idea that the future is bright for the humanities at Laguna. No doubt we have a long way to go, but I like to think that we are in the midst of a grassroots movement, slowly and steadily, forging a path that will validate its importance.”

OPINION •

39

The

ROUGH

Draft

For 150 years, the United States relied on the draft to strengthen the military. Recent debate has questioned the morality of the draft.

WORDS by ADA GREEN ART by CLAIRE TOLLES and ADA GREEN Do you think the United States should have a draft?

If the United States kept the draft should women have to register?

Can you think of any reason for which you would voluntarily join the military?

40 • OPINION

N

early every American male must register for the Selective Service within a month after his 18th birthday. The Selective Service, more commonly known as conscription or the draft, is a government bureau separate from the Department of Defense in charge of drafting soldiers into the armed forces.

The draft isn’t currently in place, but it’s in place for when the United States needs to conscript soldiers to fight. The U.S. draft has been controversial since the government first implemented it during the Civil War in 1863.

According to the Selective Service System website, the draft has been used on and off again in United States’ history: WWⅠ, WWII, the Cold War, and the Korean War. The most controversial use of the draft was during the Vietnam War. The draft faced significant backlash in the form of anti-war protests.

Twenty percent of soldiers in the Vietnam War were drafted, amounting to more than 1.8 million men.

In the mid-seventies, draft registration was suspended after the Vietnam War but was reinstated

once again in 1980. This was one of the first instances when the morality of the draft was seriously questioned.

Currently, all able-bodied American men ages 18-26 who are not incarcerated are required to register for the Selective Service. It is a felony not to register. There are extreme consequences for avoiding the process, including up to five years in prison or a $250,000 fine.

The official Selective Service System’s website says its mission statement is, “To register men and maintain a system that, when authorized by the President and Congress, rapidly provides personnel in a fair and equitable manner while managing an alternative service program for conscientious objectors.”

But is this system fair and equitable? Is it ethical to pull people out of their lives, away from their families, to risk their lives fighting for a cause in which they have no say?

The U.S. draft forces people into violence—including teenagers whose lives have hardly begun. It risks lives and causes severe, lifelong trauma. The system is outdated and inequitable because it only thefourthestate.net

applies to men. The inherent misogyny of the draft has existed since its origin.

While someone who is 18-yearsold is technically a legal adult, they are still a teenager. There are 18-year-old students at Laguna who are registered right now.

Is forcing teenagers into the military moral?

At 18, “You’re still developing, you’re still young, your brain isn’t fully developed, you haven’t hit your physical prime yet, so it’s early,” said Social Science chair, Kevin Shertzer.

“I don’t think they understand what they’re signing up for.”

Sixty-two percent of students interviewed could not come up with a reason why they would voluntarily join the military. It is no doubt terrifying for people to sign up to potentially risk their life and end others’.

The trauma from being pulled to fight in a war is significant. The National Council for Mental Wellbeing reports that 30 percent of active military personnel have a mental disorder and need mental health treatment.

The disorders include PTSD and extreme depression. According to the report, it is estimated that 22 veterans commit suicide every day.

“I don’t think it’s a thing the government should force anyone to do or have the power to do,” Shertzer said.

The Selective Service’s mission statement only includes men. As of January, the Selective Service does not require women to register for the draft.

This is a subject of much debate in the United States. Seventy-five percent of interviewed students believe women should be required to register, while 25 percent believe the law should stay the same.

The leading argument for pro-female registration is equal rights.

Women have worked far to be treated equally yet still face discrimination.

“I think that in order to achieve global equality, as well as equal pay, gender rights, and all other things thefourthestate.net

associated with that, that women should have a draft number,” said senior Mike Janey.

On the other hand, because the draft is so harmful and outdated, should it be opened up to all people?

“It’s simply not feminism to be forced to fight imperialistic wars that oppress other women across the globe,” said junior Luca D’Agruma.

Additionally, the staggering rate of sexual assault in the U.S. military further exemplifies this issue of inequality.

PBS NewsHour reports that an estimated that 20,000 military service members are sexually assaulted every year. While men are often victims, women are affected at a much higher rate.

According to Melinda Wener Moyer of The New York Times, one in four women in the military have reported experiencing sexual assault, and more than half report sexual harassment.

It is important to note that when the Selective Service uses the word “men,” it’s in reference to people assigned male at birth.

The Selective Service System explicitly states, “Individuals who are born male and changed their gender to female are still required to register.

Individuals born female and changed their gender to male are not required to register.”

The fact that the draft only applies to cisgender men is a glaring example of the inequality that still exists in the Selective Service System.

“It’s disrespectful and completely outdated to stereotype and categorize people OPINION • 41

as the gender that they were when they were born,” Mike said.

Draft expansion is no distant hypothetical. A bill was introduced to Congress in September that would require all Americans to register for the Selective Service if it’s passed, which could happen as early as 2022.

Military service can cause extreme psychological and physical harm from fighting in combat, witnessing death, and sexual assault. The current draft system has not adapted with modern social and personal changes.

Regardless of stance on whether or not the draft should be expanded, it is evident that this outdated system needs significant modifications to remain relevant in this rapidly evolving society.

Doc Martens Meltdown Doc Martens are back, and it seems they are here to stay. Students across the country are walking around campuses sporting Doc Martens’ 1460 boots. It is clear Docs are back but are Doc Martens worth the price?

WORDS and ART by JACKSON BALTES

Uncovering the Uppers Doc Martens, a trendy footwear brand, has grown in social collateral in recent years. Consumers like these shoes not only because they’re stylish but also because they’re comfortable and easy to break in. Sophomore Cierra Rogers Nervo said, “It only took me a week to break mine in.”

This is because the material used on Doc Martens is “not a very high quality leather,” said Weston Kay, owner of handmade leather goods company Rose Anvil.

Investigating the Insole The insole is made from a material called “fiberboard.” While its manufacturer, Texon, claims that it “gives world-class support to footwear designers, engineers and manufacturers,” this product is widely seen as poor quality across the industry.

According to Cobbler’s Plus Inc., “It’s basically pressed paper… definitely not a quality [material].”

Cobbler’s Plus Inc. further emphasized that fiberboard is to shoes as particle board is to carpentry—a notoriously unreliable material.

Observing the Outsole The rubber outsoles on Doc Martens may appear very durable at first glance. However, they are nowhere near as long-lasting as they seem.

“The sole and heel areas [wear] through the tread, so they [will get] very slippery,” Julie Derrick, owner of JD’s Shoe Repair in Portland, OR, stated in a 2020 interview with Art Insider. Considering that Doc Martens are sometimes worn as work boots, this not only presents a serious safety issue, but it also requires wearers to resole their boots more frequently or to buy a new pair altogether, which is not a very economical footwear solution and results in a greater overall price for the wearer over a long period of time.

42 • OPINION

thefourthestate.net

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International Flavors International foods find a home in the coastal town of Santa Barbara, California.

T

here weekly farmers markets, fresh seafood from the Pacific Ocean, nearby ranch land, and diverse restaurants.

A unique part about Santa Barbara’s landscape and attraction is that by using local ingredients and livestock, chefs can create diverse dishes using native ingredients.

Throughout California, there’s diversity shown through food and culinary arts.

WORDS by ALEXANDRA SIEGEL ART by CLAIRE TOLLES

With international chefs and diverse populations coming to the area, it is easy to find a variety of flavor profiles. Santa Barbara offers many ways to experience the world’s flavors, like international markets and food festivals. Sushi Bar in Montecito serves up a traditional omakase experience, Loquita in downtown Santa Barbara offers an interpretive twist on Spanish tapas, and Bibi Ji presents playful spins on

Indian classics and street food.

Whether you want a quick bite or a 17-course meal, Santa Barbara has plenty to offer when it comes to international flavors. Buena Onda, a local empanada restaurant offers authentic, handmade Argentinian empanadas. Matteas Requina, owner and founder of Buena Onda, shares his incredible story of coming to Santa Barbara in hopes of introducing his country and its food.

Interview with Matteas Requina Q: What inspired you to bring empanadas to the Santa Barbara area?

A: Since moving to Santa Barbara in 2002, [empanadas] were one of the things we missed the most from Argentina, and we couldn’t find any good places in the area.

After going down to Patagonia, in the southern end of South America, and traveling around with my mom’s Pollo empanadas in a cooler, that is when I realized we had to start making them because it was not only so good, but such an easy food for any occasion.

Q: How is American dining culture different from Argentinian?

A: Argentinian dining culture is very similar to Italian culture—lots of family gatherings, parties, and of course the must-have Sunday lunch with the whole family. In Argentina, breakfast is light and lots of sweet pastries, lunch, tea time at 5 p.m. and then dinner at 9 or 10 p.m., so very late! Also, BBQ (Asados) in Argentina are a big thing…you literally hang out around the BBQ eating. thefourthestate.net

Q: What are some ways you bring Argentinian culture to the community?

A: Through our food and our Tango events and asados (BBQ)…we are trying to bring a little bit of Buenos Aires to Santa Barbara. I think it’s important to have diversity, and I love it.

Q: What challenges did you face coming to America and opening a restaurant?

A: It’s definitely a challenge to understand how things work, especially since we had never done anything like this, but I must say if you have a good idea and you are passionate about it with hard work, anything is possible. We made our business from our kitchen at home and not a lot of money.

Q: What is your personal favorite empanada from Buena Onda?

LIFESTYLE • 45

A: The Carne empanada is by far my favorite. I can have it any time, and it never gets boring. Same with my mom’s Pollo empanada.

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The Astroworld catastrophe stunned the country and the music industry with it’s fatal outcome. Stemming from this event: an uprising of questions from the public asking how this could occur, especially at an event as well-known as Travis Scott’s Astroworld?

WORDS by ELLI WESTMACOTT ART by CLAIRE TOLLES

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he years of adolescence are supposed to be the exciting and experimental moments of life. The ones in which fear shouldn’t restrain us from living life to the fullest.

Imagine a teenage boy preparing to go to one of the most thrilling festivals in America.

He’s overjoyed and nervous with anticipation of the lively moments to come. Not worried about the safety of his body and life. Instead of enjoying the music and enticing atmosphere Astroworld is supposed to embody, he finds himself encapsulated in the crowd with no plausible way of escaping asphyxiation.

In November, this anxiety-inducing situation became a reality for fourteen-year-old John Hilgert and many of the 50,000 other people who attended the Astroworld Festival in Houston, Texas.

On Nov. 5, Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival took a turn for the worse when fans rushed the stage as Scott began his performance.

This destructive crowd surge resulted in the deaths of 10 people between 10 and 30 years old and injured hundreds more. In his article on Astroworld, Matt Sedensky talks to Scott’s fans and those who attended the event to get a perspective on the high anxiety which overcame the crowd.

“We’re all one. You’re moving with the crowd.

The crowd’s like water.

It’s like an ocean.”

- Steven Gutierrez The public’s laid-back approach to concert-going is now gone, lost like the lives swallowed by the chaos of As-

troworld’s crowd.

After this recent tragedy, questions arose asking how an occurrence as deadly as this could result from a crowd surge?

Firstly, to comprehend the catastrophic Astroworld events, it is essential to acknowledge the context.

Travis Scott based his Astroworld franchise at Six Flags amusement park, which used to be located in Houston.

2021’s Astroworld was not the first to end in violence; in 2019, three people were hospitalized with injuries from a minor stampede when the doors to the festival first opened.

Astroworld revolves around Travis Scott and his craft, though a lot of the hype around this festival also stems from the famous guest artists that Scott brings. The festival’s postponement, due to COVID-19, whipped

Scott’s fanbase into a frenzy of anticipation.

For many of the Travis Scott fans, this crowd surge was a way of expressing devotion and pent-up passion built up over the time-delayed.

Secondly, the organization that produced this festival, Live Nation, was accused of being understaffed and unorganized.

Many are suing Live Nation for not providing enough security for the event and for not having enough medical resources at hand for those who were comatose or undergoing cardiac arrest.

Lastly, when many human beings are enclosed in an extremely tight space, the horde begins to act as one, and the mob mentality takes over.

In her NPR podcast episode, Audie Cornish invites a large number of people, some witnesses, and some event managers from Live Nation.

Crowd safety specialist Keith Still spoke on the show about the science behind this traumatic event.

“So initially, you will see [the] crowd sway, and at that point, you should be trying to unwind the crowd density. However, once you get the crowd surge, you can then result in what’s called a progressive crowd collapse,” Still said. Uproarious

fast-paced concerts packed with people increase the risk of crowds surge.”

Astroworld isn’t the first concert to end in tragedy. Unfortunately, crowd brutality occurs every so often. In her NPR article, “Astroworld Festival, Rachel Treisman writes that the Astroworld event calls to mind other rare but traumatic incidents at concerts and festivals throughout the last half-century.

One of the more memorable concerts that went astray involved the Seattle-based rock band Pearl Jam in 2000.

The event, located at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark, led to a populous mosh pit held during the live music, leaving nine dead.

Most of the lives lost resulted

“Everyone failed to live up to what was needed in those hours before and in those days following the tragedy.”

-Stone Gossard from asphyxiation or trampling, but when lead singer Eddie Vetter was informed of the critical state of the crowd, the show was instantly halted, and the band did what they could to get the crowd to retreat.

Travis Scott did stop the show many times, but the miscommunication that traveled between Scott, producers, and security allowed the concert to go on.

For around 30 more arduous minutes, people were crowd surfed to paramedics and trampled to the point of death.

Although fingers are pointed at the organizers, one must address the nature of the audience.

While some concert-goers underwent cardiac arrest and asphyxiation, others pushed towards the stage and chanted in awe of the performance, which brings up another question: What do these deadly crowd surges say about human nature and the essence of concert culture?

Some of the differences in preoccupation within the crowd result from diversity where the crowd surge was hitting. However, people enjoyed themselves for a good 30 minutes while limp bodies were dragged through the crowd.

Some attribute the muddle of Astroworld to the extremity of rap culture, and others criticize the people encouraging the show during the deaths nearby. The music lived on, while seven of the lost ten lives faltered.

This fact is inconceivable, for most people assume that, in a situation that dire, one could rely on others.

Concerts and thrilling festivals like Astroworld and Roskilde are events where people can let go; they are freeing and riveting and safe places for fans to witness the emotional empowerment of live music. They’re not supposed to be events where parents fear their children will not return.

Before the music began, people pressed towards the stage, suffocating those near the front.

The waves of people surging the stage started before the music, so the crowd’s overly-passionate, almost violent nature was brewing from the beginning.

As leaves fall off trees and the temperature drops, winter is here. While most trees lose their leaves in winter, persimmon trees bear ripe, sweet persimmons. Junior Zola Peltz and her family have persimmon trees in their backyard that bear rich persimmons every year. “My family and I pick persimmons and eat them every winter.”

Her family grows Fuyu persimmons, her parents’ favorite, and they typically eat the fruit raw.

Have you ever eaten traditional Hanukkah food? Latkes are a popular Jewish food commonly served on Hanukkah. Sophomore Jake Gidney has fond memories of Latkes. “My Grandma and Great-Grandma use an old family recipe that originates from South Africa, and serve it at our annual Hanukkah party.”

He enjoys eating it with applesauce and other traditional Jewish food like briskets and jelly donuts.

Chinese New Year is a holiday that originates in China and is celebrated worldwide. A longstanding tradition in Chinese New Year is making dumplings.

Freshman Ryan Kim celebrates Chinese New Year. “I enjoy making dumplings from scratch with my family every Chinese New Year. It is my favorite food, and I enjoy eating it with Korean rice cake soup.”

WORDS and PHOTO by ABBY KIM ART by CLAIRE TOLLES

WORDS by MILLA HIRSCH PHOTOS by FRANCES CARLSON ART by CLAIRE TOLLES

This winter, Santa Barbara temperatures hit new lows, allowing students to break out their cold-weather gear.

Santa Barbara fashion is infused with flip-flops and jean shorts year-round.

“I love to have comfort in the wintertime,” said eighth-grader Ginger Finney.

Puffer jackets, notably North Face, dominate this fashion season. Ginger says she loves “the timeless big puffy ones.”

Other items often accompany the puffer look, including trendy shirts and tank tops.

“It’s good to layer, especially if it gets hot,” Ginger said.

A popular accoutrement to the look is new styles of knitwear. “I love Paloma Wool,” said senior Paloma McKean.

Brands like Paloma Wool and House of Sunny have turned knitwear into trendy pieces with lots of color and patterns. Navy, black, and beige are winter’s classic colors, but sage green made a pivotal appearance this year.

“I wear a lot of blues,” Paloma said. “I don’t wear very bright colors in the winter.”

Ginger likes darker colors; “darker greens or tan,” are

some of her favorites this season.

Green isn’t the only color to make its debut this winter. While brown was once unpopular, now it is “embraced on runways and in street style alike,” according to Vogue, and popular on most teen-clothing destinations and among countless media influencers.

Winter fashion in this town is more of a mindset than a necessity; it’s a lively time of year to experiment outside of one’s comfort zone.

After losing ownership of her original six albums, Taylor Swift is rerecording and re-releasing her own versions, giving the fans the ability to experience her music in a new way.

WORDS by HANNA MASRI and MADELEINE NICKS ART by CLAIRE TOLLES

I

t’s safe to say that we’re all crumpled pieces of paper lying here after listening to “Red (Taylor’s Version).”

An album that was first released in 2012 has undergone a modern re-recording, and the new version is the moststreamed album in a single day from a solo female artist with 90.8 million streams on Spotify.

For the non-Swifties of the world, it might seem unnecessary and repetitive for Swift to re-record her older albums, but she has her reasons.

The issue begins and ends with ownership.

When Swift started her career as a young teenager, she signed with the label Big Machine Records under Scott Borchetta.

Because of that original contract, the label technically

owned the masters to her first six albums.

In 2018, Swift left Big Machine Records and moved to Universal Music Group, where she could record and retain the rights of her future albums, starting with "Lover."

"In Taylor's re-recordings, the lyrics and sounds haven't changed, but it's the business aspect that's shifted. She has been fighting for years for the distribution of her work and the ownership of her music, and the re-recordings symbolize a new era of Taylor Swift," junior Alexandra Siegel said.

While Swift signed with Universal, a manager named Scott Samuel "Scooter" Braun bought Big Machine Records and Swift's masters along with it, which was a shocking and brutal surprise for Swift.

According to Swift in a Tumblr post, she had a turbulent pre-existing relationship with Braun, who bullied her for years through his clients, such as Kanye West.

Swift described this ownership as her "musical legacy [lying] in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it."

A series of scandals followed, flooding the internet. Braun and Borsheta blocked Taylor from performing or using her old music.

Swift attempted to negotiate the terms of the ownership, but her attempts did not change any-

50 • LIFESTYLE

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thing. So, to regain the rights to her work, Swift decided to painstakingly re-record all of her previous work: "Taylor Swift," "Fearless," "Speak Now," "Red," "1989," and "Reputation."

"The dispute between her old record label was confronted at the 2019 AMAs. I remember watching that in shock and amazement," Alexandra said.

"Out of the many times she has performed, this performance has stuck with me forever. It signifies her breaking her silence and expressing her issues with her old label and brings forth a new version of Taylor that I have not seen before."

She started with "Fearless (Taylor's Version)," the album that arguably launched her to her current level of fame.

The "Fearless" album, released in 2008, marks the beginning of Swift's notoriety.

Still connected with her country roots, the album featured songs such as "Love Story," "You Belong With Me," "Fifteen," and "The Way I Loved You," all of which have a pure, innocent, romantic feel which is synonymous with Swift's early image.

This is a perfect example of what the re-recordings allow Swift to do: revisit old songs with better production, a stronger voice, and more creative freedom, allowing a new generation of fans to appreciate and experience her music like it’s the first time.

The "Fearless" era is what many current high school students remember as their first experience with Swift. Along with these iconic songs were iconic music videos. thefourthestate.net

Swift re-released Fearless in April 2021, marking the beginning of Swift gaining ownership over her music.

On Nov. 12, she re-released "Red (Taylor's Version)," and took special care to listen to what fans thought was missing or deserved more attention in the original album from 2012.

Swift delivered authentic content that not only plays to her strengths but allows fans to experience the music in a new, more personal way.

"The Red tour was the first-ever concert I went to when I was nine years old," said junior Ashly Pryor.

"I think "Red" will always hold a special place in my heart. "Red" has a story-like quality that I love, and listening to the album and the songs 10 years later is a beautiful experience."

A significant benefit of the re-recordings is a new sound given to the songs. Swift's mature voice and sound allow for powerful but subtle differences in lyrics and style.

Swift sounded as young as she was in her previous recordings of these songs.

She approaches the lyrics with voice, confidence, and maturity in these new versions.

Possibly the most exciting part of Taylor's Versions is that she is releasing songs from her vault.

These are tracks that were written at the same time as the original album, but for whatever reason, were not ultimately included.

The most highly anticipated and teased vault track from "Red (Taylor's Version)" is a ten-minute version of the cult favorite heartbreak anthem, "All Too Well."

"The new "All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From the Vault)" is a whole novel in itself," said Ashly.

The song chronicles Swift's rumored tumultuous relationship with actor Jake Gyllenhaal, ten years her senior. While neither of them confirmed they were a couple at the time, Swift seems to be making history more clear now.

“Red has a story-like quality that I love, and listening to the album and the songs 10 years later is a beautiful experience.”

-Ashly Pryor ‘23 Instead of a classic music video, Swift instead decided to write, produce, and star in a short film depicting the emotional scenes of the song.

The film drops hints that seem to confirm more and more details about the alleged relationship, with the actors Sadie Sink and Dylan O'Brien being the age that Swift and Gyllenhaal were when they supposedly dating.

While the original song was never a single, Swifties quickly claimed it as one of Swift's most moving and popular songs.

The lyricism and depth of the 10-minute version extends the original narrative of the song and gives the fans a whole new and broader perspective of that time in Swift's life.

"Growing up I always loved TS. She was an icon and I looked up to her. Seeing a female superstar really inspired me as a young kid, “said junior Molly Morouse.

“These re-recordings are really nostalgic, because I loved "Red," and now that there's a rebirth of it, it's like a rebirth of my childhood.”

And the fans agree, as the song recently overtook Don McLean's "American Pie" to become the longest song to ever peak at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

This is a perfect example of what the re-recordings allow Swift to do: revisit old songs with better production, a stronger voice, and more creative freedom, allowing a new generation of fans to appreciate and experience her music like it's the first time.

LIFESTYLE • 51

The Most Important Meal Although it’s common knowledge that breakfast is important, only a third of Americans eat breakfast every day.

WORDS by DIONNE PETERSON ART by CLAIRE TOLLES

You might have heard the saying: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Although this saying may be common knowledge, over 40% of people don’t eat it. After all, it’s only one meal, right?

HISTORICAL CONTEXT The word breakfast comes from the historical term break fast, meaning to break one’s overnight fasting period. Breakfast started in the 19th century when middle-class men and women had to go to work; the only time to eat breakfast was much later in the morning. Some breakfast buffet items would be sausages, muffins, toast, marmalade, butter, jam, coffee, and tea.

Eating breakfast became a luxury. But towards the end of the 1800s, people were against this elaborate diet. As women entered the workforce, they had less time to make meals for themselves and their families. The new objective would be accessible and quick-paced foods.

NO TIME TO DINE In our fast-paced society many breakfast foods are made in the graband-go style, as time constraints limit a long nutrient-rich meal. But we shouldn’t overlook breakfast foods—although substitutes might include a quick bar or bagel, these breakfast foods are high in fiber and protein, which kick starts metabolism faster. They also provide essential nutrients such as calcium, iron, and fiber.

Breakfast might not seem like the most appealing meal in the morning, but it’s superbly beneficial for your body. When you decide whether or not to eat breakfast today, remember how much a nutritious meal can impact and improve an entire day.

Interview with Kevin Guay, History Teacher Q. How often do you eat breakfast during the week?

A. Everyday.

Q. Are you naturally hungry in the morning?

A. No, I am not naturally hungry in the morning. I actually don’t like eating breakfast. I only do it because I know it is beneficial for me.

Interview with Cyanne Blabey, Freshman Q. Do you think eating or not eating breakfast affects your performance at school?

A. I think so because I usually get hungry during the day before lunch, so I usually eat breakfast, which also makes me feel better.

Q. What time do you wake up?

Does it give you enough time to get dressed and eat?

A. I usually set my alarm for 6:45 a.m., which gives me enough time to get my stuff ready for school and have breakfast.

The Return of Girls Basketball After more than a decade, our athletic department welcomes girls basketball back.

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irls basketball returns! For the first time in 13 years, Laguna Blanca reintroduced girls basketball as a winter sport.

With a strong roster, the team looks forward to getting back to competitive game play this year.

According to Athletic Director Matt Steinhaus, the team did not have a full roster until late September which made scheduling games difficult.

“We had to work hard just to get our league games in because we announced that we had a team after everyone’s scheduling was done in the spring,” Steinhaus said.

Nevertheless, Steinhaus said he is “optimistic about getting the team into tournaments next year.”

In addition to the team’s future, examining its past is important.

Girls basketball was discontinued in 2011. “It became a numbers issue as more girls began to gravitate towards soccer,” said Coach Jason Donnelly.

Despite the interest of a few girls yearly, there were never enough girls to bring back the sport.

WORDS by ABBY KIM ART by CLAIRE TOLLES

Girls basketball returned this year mainly due to the enthusiasm of juniors Fiona Hernandez, Victoria Goldman, and Jaleya Calloway.

Fiona said their motivation for bringing back girls basketball came from the realization that, “We weren’t going to have a team to play on in high school. We worked really hard to recruit girls this year and were able to get a roster and coaches.”

The influx of new students this year made the recruitment process easier. While recruiting players was difficult, Fiona said recruiting coaches went smoothly.

Head Coach Anthony Ramirez played a key role in recruiting and rebuilding the team. After filling the roster, Ramirez accepted the offer of being head coach. The season started soon after.

“Practice has been getting better and better. There was no standard set for the team and scheduling was rough, so practice was hard,” Ramirez said.

“However, as the girls are becoming more comfortable and motivated to play, practice has become more involved and I am excited to see how this team can grow.”

Scheduling practice was just as strenuous as practice itself. Scheduling conflicts with the boys basketball team was the main problem.

“Our schedule was constantly changing, which makes it hard for people to make it to practice,” Victoria said.

The team brought the issue to Steinhaus. “We have a combination of increased enrollment, more participation, and fewer buildings.

This year we have more basketball teams, but only one indoor gym and one outdoor court,” Steinhaus said.“Everyone wants the best space at all times, but people have to accommodate.”

Both teams now have set practices and games. Despite these challenges, the revival of the girls basketball is “a monumental advance in the athletic program,” Victoria said.

Junior Jaleya Calloway and Freshmen Danica Rux and Frances Blevins

Get ready for game day with Laguna’s top athletes.

WORDS by ALEXANDRA SIEGEL and ELLI WESTMACOTT ART by CLAIRE TOLLES and ALEXANDRA SIEGEL

This winter, athletes from both soccer and basketball have busy seasons lined up.

In preparation for gameday, athletes have their individual pregame routines that help showcase their skills.

Junior Jenna Johnson and senior Foster Smith share their personal routines that best prepare them for gameday.

Q: What is the first thing you do in preparation for a game?

A: First I get dressed in proper attire. I put on my cleats, then I put pre-wrap on my forehead.

Q: Do you have a specific food or drink that you prefer before games?

A: I usually don’t eat before a game at all even if it’s in the morning. I feel like it just hurts my stomach, so I just don’t eat or drink anything beforehand. But after a game, I have blue Gatorade, which has to be blue, because I hate other types of Gatorade.

Q: What exercise drill best prepares you for a game?

A: Probably little sprints we do with our coach at Laguna. I also do those for my club and that really helps.

Junior Jenna Johnson started playing for Laguna freshman year.

54 • SPORTS

Q: Are there any full-team traditions you do before or after a game? What are the best team bonding activities?

A: For my club team, when we go in a huddle, we all have to touch our toes—even the coach does it!

For team bonding activities with my club, when we go on tournaments, we rent out a house and we stay there and we have dinners together, so that’s really good bonding.

Q: What are your favorite hype up songs?

A: I listen to my sister, Sadie’s, soccer playlist that she made for the team. Currently, my favorite song on the playlist is “Pursuit of Happiness” by Kid Cudi.

Q: How do you take care of your body before a game?

A: I have a hip injury, so I usually tape my hip with KT-Tape, or put creams on my hip and take three Advil.

Q: What’s your favorite memory before or during a game from this season so far?

A: My freshman year, we were on the way to a far-away game and our bus broke down! We had to stop at a gas station and we were 20 minutes late to the game. My mom was driving behind us and had to come pick us up and we all had to fit in this small little car to bring us to the game. That was funny.

thefourthestate.net

Q: What is the first thing you do in preparation for a game?

A: Well, first, I have to drink a lot of water, because the more water you drink before a game the more energetic you’re going to be. The entire day I’m not the same around my friends because I’m preparing and have to zone in and understand what the end goal is and manifest what I want to happen.

Q: Do you have a specific food or drink that you prefer before games? If so, why?

A: Anything that’s a lot of carbs; I usually like rice and chicken because it gives me the balance of protein and carbs so I can have as much energy as possible.

Q: Do you have any superstitious rituals that you do in preparation for a game?

A: I have to have my pregame music because that gets me in the spirit. I feel like most kids that are in athletics do, but it’s extremely important. One that’s always been my favorite that has a little history behind it is “Champion” by Nas, because ever since I was a freshman it is the pregame song that the entire team would listen to before our games.

Q: Are there any full-team traditions you do before or after a game? What are the best team bonding activities?

A: There’s no real tradition I remember, but getting dinner after the games is something we do now and always have done. It’s a great way to get closer with your teammates because after a win or loss it’s your time to reflect on that with your guys.

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Q: What exercise or drill best prepares you for a game?

A: I would say that line drill, as they call it now, is important because it works on your conditioning which is very important for basketball because its a lot of running.

Senior Foster Smith is a captain for Laguna’s boys basketball team.

Q: What’s your favorite memory from your high school basketball career?

A: I’d say my best memory has been making the playoffs with my team as a sophomore because it was very special. We went to a tiebreaker game, if anyone remembers, it’s a big shot, so it was a great memory that will stick with me forever.

Q: What NBA players do you look up to and take inspiration from?

Why? A: One of my favorites is Lebron James—of course one the best. He’s known to be a winner. To look up to someone as talented as him is pretty great.

Q: What basketball shoes do you wear and why do you like them?

A: My favorite shoes, in general, are Adidas basketball shoes because they are very comfortable and durable. I can’t wear Nike because they’re too heavy.

Q: Does your jersey number have a specific meaning to you?

A: My jersey number is the number 2. That’s what I’ve had since I was a freshman, so I have to make sure that it is my number every year or else it won’t feel the same.

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