November Issue 2023

90 Years and Counting LAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOL

4125 PALOMA DRIVE SANTA BARBARA, CA

NOVEMBER, 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS NEWS Family Festival Lahaina’s Loss The Future of AI Policies Israel-Hamas War Science Research Alaska Trip

5 6-7 8 9 10-11

FEATURE Laguna ‘s 90th Anniversary Halloween Ms. Pointer in the Galapagos Welcome Back, Dr. Alldredge

13-15 16-17 18 19

OPINION Spring Musical as a Sport?

Staff Editorial The College Board Crisis Writers & Actors Strike Is Meritocracy Dead?

21 22-23 24-25 26 28-29

A&E à la mode: Gilmore Girls Fall Foods Fall Instagrams Barbie Oppenheimer

30 31 32 33 34-35

SPORTS Athlete of the Issue Coach Prime Fantasy Football Fall Sports Recap Sports Statistics

37 38 39 40-41 43

OUR TEAM FACULTY ADVISOR Trish McHale EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Dionne Peterson Lucy Wang Sofia Ramirez MANAGING EDITORS Ada Green Jackson Baltes

BUSINESS MANAGER Magdalena Amegaza A&E EDITOR Milla Hirsch NEWS EDITORS Lucia Camp Niccolo D’Agruma

OPINION EDITORS Christiana Cino Cierra Nervo

WEBSITE EDITOR Owen Noble

FEATURE EDITOR Jinling Wang

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Milla Hirsch

COPY EDITORS Dylan Charney JJ Stone SPORTS EDITOR Davis Ohanian MAGAZINE STAFF Alexia Acosta Lyla Bollag Jules Leclercq Daphne Shiebler Mason Siegel Elyse Weaver

A Letter from the Editors

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his is a moment we have dreaded and dreamed of, there is a mix of emotions we share at this moment in time: sheer dread, complete loss, and irresistible excitement.

We have all been on staff for years now, but this is the first issue that we can call one of our very own.

Believe us when we tell you that becoming the Editors-in-chief of this magazine that we love so dearly is a dream come true and a responsibility that we take on with joy, honor, and pride.

We speak on behalf of our staff when we say that it is impossible to tell you how much we all love and care about this magazine.

But if you have seen the staff ’s tireless faces during work parties, the hours they spent after school fixing the pages, the way they tear open the boxes and hold the magazines tight in their hands when they first arrive in our classroom, the way they criticize themselves over the littlest mistake, and the way their eyes light up when they talk about their articles, about the things they love, if you have seen all of these things, you will know how much we care.

And there is no other way to prove it to you other than telling you to simply read it. As editors, we ask you to read with diligence and to appreciate the aesthetic of the pages.

We ask you to read it with rigor, to think and ponder on the words, and to appreciate the love and passion the writers have for what they write.

Finally, we ask you to read it with indulgence, to know that there is a human behind every page and that this magazine is the product of triumphs and inevitably, of mistakes.

We will grieve, agonize, and punish ourselves over even one misplaced comma, over everything that we could have done better, but we also want to get out of that mindset, focus on the positives, and showcase the very best of this publication that we believe is one of quality and class.

So without further ado, we present to you with pride and excitement: The November Issue.

Dionne, Sofia, and Lucy

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 first issue and the 29th volume of The Fourth Estate. Laguna Blanca School, 4125 Paloma Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93110. Contacts are available at tmchale@lagunablanca.org, (805) 687-2461 x0317 or www.thefourthestate.net. Laguna Blanca School has an EK through 12th grade student population of 430 with 100 in the Lower School, 139 in the Middle School, and 191 in the Upper School. The Fourth Estate is an 8.5 by 11 general magazine, created on MAC computers using Adobe InDesign CC2021, Imperial URW and Mencken Standard font families and printed on glossy paper free for students and $30 for an annual subscription. The magazine is distributed to all Upper School students through the school’s advisory program and sent by mail to subscribers with 300 copies printed per issue. We are associated with NSPA, CSPA and JEA. thefourthestate.net

Family Festival

Owls show their school spirit in a school-wide event.

Lahaina’s Loss and Revival After the Maui Wildfire in August, residents and visitors share their memories of the town.

“

WORDS by MILLA HIRSCH & DAPHNE SHIEBLER

He could feel the hair on the back of his neck burning as he was speeding out of town to run from the fires,” upper school grandparent and Hawaii resident Joseph Pelletier said. “Waylon, one of my close work friends, was right in the fires when they started. He got on his Harley motorcycle and took off, going 70 mph towards Kaanapali. He had never seen so much fear and terror up close in his life.”

Around 6:35 a.m. on Aug. 8, a brush fire ignited near a fallen power which had fallen in high winds, leading to a wildfire across the residential areas of Lahaina.

An estimated 40 people climbed over the harbor’s seawall and jumped into the ocean, treading water for hours amidst the smoke and haze while clutching to their families.

The seas, once known as a calming presence in Lahaina, became a place of panic and refuge amidst the terror.

The wildfire killed 115 people, destroyed over 2,000 homes, and affected 800 businesses within the burn area.

Three months later, the Maui com-

munity is left in the ash with a long recovery ahead from the worst natural disaster in Hawaii’s history.

“Since childhood, I have spent a lot of time in Lahaina. It was a bit of a second home to me as my father had a place there since the ‘70s. We spent some holidays with a local family we were close with. I watched Lahaina change over the decades, but it always retained its soulfulness and one-of-a-kind nature,” said Upper School parent Stacie Hirsch.

“The landmarks never changed. You could always count on the talking bird inside the Pioneer Inn restaurant to greet you. My kids ran around the Banyan tree the same as I did when I was young. I loved the sounds the old wooden sidewalks would make when you walked over them. I developed a lot of sense memories from a very young age and felt very lucky that I got to share Lahaina with my kids as well.”

When Stacie first heard the news of the fire, it was a shock.

“I felt heartbroken. Seeing the images of the beloved town in its current state

was hard even to process, and in each of the stories I read of loss and survival, every new detail was inconceivable.

The images also reminded me of the mudslide we experienced here in our town, which looked like a war zone as well, so that memory bubbled up too,” Stacie said.

The loss of Lahaina came as a shock to everyone.

“When I looked it up, I saw how ravaged the town was, and the banyan tree was gone; all these buildings and homes were gone,” junior Jules Leclercq said.

“I was pretty blown away. I didn’t believe it when I heard about it from my mom and my friends, but when I saw the photos, it sank in.”

Everyone living in Hawaii, no matter the island, was greatly affected by the chaos of those tragic days and those following it. “I had so many amazing memories in that town. I never imagined one day the whole thing would be ashes,” Pelletier said. “[After the fire], people brought water and canned goods down to the harbor from the bigger islands to put it on boats to get all of it to

Lahaina burns while firefighters attack the blaze in an attempt to halt the spread of the fire.

Photo by Rebecca Hernandez (CC0 1.0): Firefighters entering the coastal flames.

6 • NEWS

thefourthestate.net

Lahaina. There was eventually an overwhelming amount of canned goods and water that everyone just started asking for money so they could start funding other things, like rebuilding.”

A pressing issue facing Maui residents is the future of their land and whether it will even remain theirs.

There are threats of rebuilding Lahaina in a way that does not prioritize the needs of the residents: merely days after the fire, developers swooped in with offers to buy burned land from survivors whose homes were damaged or destroyed.

The strain on available housing causes desperation, but it’s crucial for the well-being of the residents and places for them to live and rebuild.

The old town of Lahaina is gone but not forgotten.

“I visited Maui toward the beginning of the summer, late June and early July, and stayed on the southshore,” said Jules. “My most memorable experience in Lahaina was going to the big [banyan] tree. I had been there when I was a kid, five or six years ago, and I remembered the tree, so it was cool to see it again. It’s so sad that it’s gone now.”

The famous Ficus Benghalensis, or banyan fig tree, in front of the local courthouse, was planted in 1873 by the town’s sheriff.

It began as an eight-foot sapling rooted in the volcanic soil as a symbol of community. It is known famously as the largest tree in Hawaii.

The tree’s deep roots held a symbolic presence as a beloved park for both locals and tourists alike, standing over 60 feet in the air.

The scorched tree shows signs of revival as baby sprouts of green pop up amongst the charred bark.

Locals water the roots with the hope of rebuilding bits and pieces of Lahaina slowly and with care from everyone.

“The fires affected many local artists, too. One of my good friends, who was a local artist, had his entire shop burn down with all of his life works inside.

After he had lost everything, he decided the business was going to be too hard to rebuild and decided to shut down and move back to New York,” Pelletier said. “Some of the hardest parts now is seeing the families go back into the houses and finding nothing but ash where their beautiful homes used to stand.”

There are ways to support Maui’s recovery.

One way to effectively help is through funding, to give locals resources they need while they assess their living situations, and to provide means for businesses and such to re-open.

“The Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund is a good way to support,” Hirsch said.

“My friend Kristina McKean, who owns The Elephant Project in Santa Barbara, donated net proceeds of the month of the fires to the Maui Humane Society to help animals affected.”

A debate on whether tourism in Maui should begin or be halted out of respect for locals continues.

In the early stages of recovery, residents begged tourists to stay away from Maui as the priority was to find hotel rooms and Airbnbs for those who lost their homes.

However, the economy is stalled without tourists supporting local businesses.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority encourages travel to Maui but asks visitors to avoid the western areas of the island, including Lahaina.

“I wonder what it’s going to be like in the future. I wonder if they are going to rebuild Lahaina the same way it was before or if they’re going to rebuild it and make it a whole new town,” Jules said.

“I had so many amazing memories in that town, I never imagined one day the whole thing would be ashes.”

-Joseph Pelletier

thefourthestate.net

Floods Following Fires A recap of the global climate crises.

WORDS by CIERRA NERVO An influx of irregular weather patterns and natural disasters on a global scale are continually escalating, hinting at climate change. Extreme heat in Europe, China, and North America devastated multiple communities last summer, with certain U.S. regions reaching 125 F. Followed by the hottest August on The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 174-year record, 19 named storms swept across the globe.

Six occurred in the Atlantic Ocean, including two hurricanes; extremely unusual for the region.

In May, storms swamped an estimated 150,000 acres in Central Valley, devastating the production of a quarter of the nation’s food. As of October, the United States has experienced 23 climate disasters, the most ever in one year.

These include the Category 3 Hurricane Idalia in Florida, and the Category 4 Hurricane Hilary in the Pacific Coast of Mexico and Baja California, resulting in widespread floods and mudslides.

Hurricane Hilary hit Southern California with flash flooding, receiving more rain in 48 hours than typically seen in a full year.

The last time a tropical storm hit California was before hurricanes even had a naming system: 84 years ago.

These rare and unprecedented tropical storms, sweeping through the globe and making bizarre appearances on the West Coast, point to the decline in climate stability.

NEWS • 7

AI Regulating Reality Artificial Intelligence is ubiquitous. Is the United States falling behind in aiming to create regulations for its ethical use?

WORDS by NICCOLO D’AGRUMA PHOTO by JACKSON BALTES

E

leven million dollars were stolen through AI scams, along with 500,000 deepfake videos online in just 2023 alone.

AI is eroding truth itself. The misuse of AI alters how we see the world, giving everyone the power to change reality.

“If countries control their citizen’s internet, no one there will know that there is anything different. They believe that controlling AI will help them control that little world that they live in,” said math and computer science instructor Daniel Ary, who launched a Machine Learning class this year.

The threat lies not just in foreign powers but in misinformation, scams, and copyrights produced inside United States borders.

AI’s most recent rise in the media spotlight has simmered down, giving businesses and governments time to combat the growing issues that come with it. The EU, Canada, and other countries have already begun implementing regulations on AI, drastically curtailing AI misuse in their territories.

Regulations aim to ensure that AI is used responsibly, ethically, and morally; all technology requires third-party mediators between company and consumer.

A future where anyone can produce fake news with immense realism on their smartphone is not a faraway dream; it is here right now.

“I was not worried about deepfakes being used for malicious intent until I saw a deepfake of President Zelensky saying that the Ukraine forces surrendered,” sophomore William Wei said.

Deepfakes like this one are all over social media. They are used in financial fraud, fake news, conspiracies, bullying, and elicit content, and this is only the tip of the iceberg in exploiting AI.

Another pressing issue is using synthetic voices in scam calls. It takes roughly three minutes of audio to replicate someone’s voice successfully.

However, there are ways to stay protected.

“One thing we can do is to have a “safe word” with your family that you can use if you are in danger, which allowed a mother in a previous scam event to know that her daughter was all right,” William said.

Artificial deepfake voices can originate from your voice recordings on devices like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa that record a lot of this data.

While your data is assumed to be safe from scammers with these companies, you can never be too sure.

Once you share your voice or creative style, it is theirs forever, and unlike a password, your identity and original ideas cannot be remade.

AI art models are scraping thousands of original pieces off the internet without artists’ consent, undermining their creativity and professions, and the irony is that the models threatening artists’ liveliness are powered by their art. There will always be positives and negatives to AI art. Successfully regulating AI art is the first step in reducing AI abuse.

“The only way to regulate AI art is if it is taken on as a legal

issue and fought in court because right now, people have access to copyrighted art, and all they have to do is take a photograph of it and break it down to the pixel, and then they can use it to train generative art, based on the artist’s original style,” Ary said.

AI and its widespread applicability will alter the future of every profession for better or worse, but AI misuse will only grow if we do not put regulations in place.

“There are strong moral and ethical questions about how you want your world to be, and it will get even more dramatic in five years when these algorithms are tuned and when the algorithms start talking together. We will see a lot of changes in the future, not necessarily bad, but keep in mind this technology can fall into hands where it is used in a way that is not ethical,” Ary said.

Israel-Hamas War Hamas launched a series of air strikes on Israel from Gaza, resulting in thousands of Palestinians and Israeli civilian deaths as Israel and Hamas headed into full on war.

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WORDS by ADA GREEN & LUCY WANG ART by LUCY WANG

he sound of sirens echoed through the streets of Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 6:30 a.m. and became a battleground where, hours before, the streets had just been filled with the sounds of festivities. Thousands of Hamas rockets reigned down on Israel, leaving a trail of death and destruction as the world watched in horror.

While this particular attack came unexpectedly, the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians spans decades.

Prior to World War II, both the Jewish population and Muslim Palestinians were stateless peoples; neither had an established government. Both have an ancestral claim to this piece of land, where conflict has existed for millennia as the groups have fought over the territory.

Antisemitism peaked as Hitler rose to power, and after the Holocaust, the United Nations established Israel as an official country for the displaced Jewish population to settle and be protected.

“As I’ve personally experienced the harshness of antisemitism, it hurts to know that this is going on and causes pain for myself, my family, and everyone involved,” junior Katja Broomberg said.

Despite the efforts of independent groups trying to represent what could be called a Palestinian state — namely the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Hamas — Palestine remains stateless, with no officially recognized government.

The majority of Arab nations in the Middle East initially opposed the establishment of Israel back in 1948 and continued to oppose it throughout the last century.

“Israel has historically been surrounded by countries who believe it shouldn’t exist,” said Social Science Chair Kevin Shertzer.

With so many hostile neighbors, the Israeli military strengthened, substantially funded by the United States. Today, Israel remains one of the most powerful militaries in the Middle East and is one of the world’s 9 nuclear powers.

Israel is partitioned into two parts: the region of Palestine and the official Israeli territory. The Palestinian land is divided; Hamas controls the Gaza Strip, and the PLO controls the West Bank. Israel governs the rest of the territory, including the city of Jerusalem. Hamas, or the Islamic Resistance Movement, is a Palestinian militant group that does not represent Palestine as a whole. The majority of Western countries and Israel consider Hamas a terrorist group.

Hamas began firing thousands of rockets into southern and central Israel on the morning of Oct. 7 and went into homes, killing civilians. Fourteen hundred Israelis were killed, and 200 were taken to the Gaza Strip as hostages.

This attack came as a complete surprise to Israel and the rest of the world.

“The myth of Israeli security through intelligence and the military was shattered,” said upper school grandparent Rabbi Malka Drucker. “Suddenly the divisions in the country and the weakness of its defense showed the world that Israel couldn’t defend itself.”

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, delivered a statement in response to the attack.

“Israel is at war. We did not want this war. Although we did not start this war, we will finish it.” Netanyahu said. “We will exact a price that will be remembered by [Hamas] and Israel’s enemies for decades to come.”

Israel has launched a series of airstrikes and has stopped all supplies of electricity, water, gas, and food in the Gaza Strip.

“Both sides are using force to solve this issue, but you can’t kill an ‘idea’ with force,” Shertzer said. “It’s this cycle of violence that never ends. Both sides are being hurt; both sides are being killed. And yet they’re caught in this cycle of revenge and hatred.”

More than 2,800 Palestinians, including civilians, have been killed by the Israeli military, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Civilians are forced to evacuate from Northern Gaza — ½ of the population — to Southern Gaza in just one day, and families are being displaced as they seek shelter.

West Bank “I used to say Gaza is an open prison; now I say Gaza is an open grave,” said Wafa Elsaka, a Florida resident who is currently in Gaza, during an interview with the New York Times. “You think people are alive, they’re zombies. They are not alive, not just because they walk and talk; they’re alive, they are all traumatized.

Jerusalem And I know how to heal myself, but I can’t heal my heart anymore af- t e r this war.”

The atrocities of the past weeks have left Israelis, Gaza Strip Palestinians, and spectators all over the world in shock.

“Israel will never be the same. Perhaps the reckoning will lead to a change in Gaza’s leadership. Co-existence is the hope,” Drucker said.

Alaska Bound Six students embark on a 10-day benchmark study of Kukak Bay, Alaska.

WORDS by LUCIA CAMP PHOTOS by SRP STUDENTS After a 2 a.m. wake-up call, a grueling 2-hour bus ride, three flights, and a two-hour boat ride, the STEM Research Program (SRP) trip was officially underway. In August, seniors Andreas McClintock, Christiana Cino, Elyse Weaver, Griffin Rick, Kendall Keshen, and Lucas Acosta, along with Science Research Program Coordinator Staci Richard, spent 10 days on the 72-foot-long Endeavour floating in Kukak Bay on the Alaska Peninsula of the Katmai National Park and Preserve.

Kukak Bay with the Aleutian Range on the horizon.

Laguna alum Bill Urschel ‘74, the founder of the nonprofit Alaska Endeavour, hosted the group for their benchmark study, a research method for analyzing the environment.

“We chose one very specific area and did an analysis to allow scientists to have a point of comparison in the future,” Richard said.

The SRP’s Kukak Bay expedition focused on marine and riparian (land) mammals, marine invertebrates, birds, geology, botany, and mycology, with each student choosing a focus for their research.

“I chose marine and land mammals because I thought it would be a lot of fun to observe animals in their natural habitat and hike around a little bit,” Andreas said. “I think the subject started to focus on bears a lot just because of the sheer numbers out there.”

Students saw eagles, puffins, orcas, whales, otters, and even a white wolf, snapping photos whenever possible.

“Observation was the biggest skill. The initial idea was to study Kukak Bay, which is giant, so we really had to focus and narrow down our research questions,” Richard said.

The group gathers on the shore to begin a day of exploration and research.

Andreas and Kendall investigating in the field.

10 • NEWS

Taking a plunge in Kukak Bay in protective wet suits. thefourthestate.net

Andreas and Griffin pictured above with Captain Bill Urschel.

Griffin shows Elyse how to clean the fish.

Christiana and Lucas above dressed for their explorations.

Along with conducting research, SRP students were off the grid together on a small boat, getting to know each other better and connecting to the outdoors.

“It was a chance to step away and observe something bigger than ourselves, then contribute to our understanding of our world in a meaningful way. I think that understanding truly made my experience so special,” Griffin said.

Between their excursions, which included charging through rivers and plunging into the bay in giant red suits, the group had time to relax on the boat.

“Just being in the boat with everyone, either reading, napping on the couch in the “famous corner,” or having meals together, was so special for me to experience,” Kendall said.

One of the most memorable moments was when Elyse caught a 16.2-pound Lingcod.

“It was the biggest catch by far, and we really wanted to have it for dinner, but Elyse really felt bad, so out of mercy, she beat the living daylights out of it with a bat,” Griffin said.

“It was brutal; she missed four times, so the fish didn’t die.

Later, I taught her how to clean the fish, which was delicious.”

Students took on chores that rotated daily, including galley duty for cooking and cleanup, deck duty for vessel maintenance, and watch duty, where students tracked the weather and sea conditions. thefourthestate.net

Andreas, Elyse, Lucas and Urschel set off on an adventure with Bella, their four-legged companion.

“There was a lot of laughter, joy, and getting to know each other. It was unlike any other trip I’ve done with students in the past,” Richard said.

Conducting research in the outdoor field made for a different environment from the lab work students conducted in the previous two years of their SRP experience.

“The times when it was just Andreas and I walking on the river mouth, watching the bears live in their natural habitat and just peacefully observing or watching Bella (the captain’s dog) play with the sticks and run on the beach was such a beautiful thing,” Kendall said.

SRP students are preparing to publish a research paper describing their observations in Kukak Bay that will include tables, graphs, and photographs.

The positive feedback from this trip and Alaska Endeavour’s connection to Laguna means more trips are probable.

“I think it was an absolute success. More trips to Alaska are definitely a possibility,” Richard said.

Back in Santa Barbara, the wisdom students acquired from their 10 days aboard the Endeavour stays with them.

“It taught me that there is still a lot to learn. To be able to get out in the field and do meaningful research gave me perspective, both on what I know and what still is left to be understood.” Griffin said.

The Endeavor named after Captain James Cook’s ship on his first voyage of discovery to the South Pacific in 1768.

NEWS • 11

current project rendering

planning

architecture

interiors

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90 Years... and Counting

Edward Spaulding founded Laguna Blanca School.

Female students were introduced to the campus.

Student Council was formed.

1933

1942

1951

1962 The alumni association was founded to strengthen our school’s community.

1968

1970

1999

After civil rights was passed, the school admitted the first Black student.

Committees formed to conduct student polls.

The Lower School campus was bought in Montecito.

Physical Education Instructor & Coach Ray Robitaille

Q: Can you share a memorable experience or moment you’ve had at Laguna?

A: Well, a very memorable moment was back in 2004 when I was inducted into Laguna’s Walk of Fame up by Spaulding Auditorium. It was so nice that a school with the academic reputation that Laguna has, would also recognize the importance of physical fitness and athletics.

Q: In your opinion, what about this school’s community (faculty and staff) sets us apart from other private schools?

A: That has to be one of the most important aspects of education, the educator.

Laguna has done an incredible job over the past four plus decades, hiring great teachers who have a passion for their discipline and a love for working with young people.

Q: What about Laguna do you love (as the longest standing faculty member)?

A: Being part of that transformation from 1980 when I first arrived to coach and teach, to where we are now has been very gratifying for me. But more importantly, it’s the wonderful faculty, students and their families that I have come to know over the years. Laguna is a very special place!

Q: Can you share a memorable experience or moment you’ve had at Laguna?

A: One of my favorite moments was our 11th grade trip to Catalina. Our class was brought much closer together, and it was overall a super fun experience Q: In your opinion, what about this school’s community (faculty and staff) sets us apart from other private schools?

A: I think that the personal relationships that you build with the staff sets Laguna apart from other schools. They are always there to support you and put your needs first.

Q: Can you describe any unique opportunities or resources available at this school that have directly or indirectly benefited you?

A: The STEM program has benefited me by giving me real lab experience. I interned at a small startup and was given the opportunity to develop lab skills and my interest in chemistry.

Lower School Head Brooke Green

Senior Gabriel Lea

Q: Can you share a memorable experience or moment you’ve had at Laguna?

A: Watching students evolve as confident learners is a memory I treasure. Whether overcoming a fear of public speaking, breaking through frustrations when writing or solving math problems, or learning how to navigate friendships, watching students have that “Aha” moment and seeing the growth as they work through their personal goals is magical.

Q: In your opinion, what about this school’s community (faculty and staff) sets us apart from other private schools?

A: The employees at our school know the students very well and invest in each child’s academic and character development in a way unique to our community.

Q: Can you tell me about something memorable that you remember from when you were a student at Laguna?

A: When I was a student at Laguna, my advisor was my music teacher, Terri Ridilla. She helped cultivate in me a passion for music and traveling. I love the opera because of her Music History class, and my first time traveling out of the country was on a school-led spring trip to Prague to see the symphony and visit historical music sites.

INTERVIEWS by MAGZ AMEZAGA and PHOTOS by BRAD ELLIOTT

Happy Halloween §

Pointer Goes to the Galapagos Chemistry instructor Katherine Pointer went on a professional development trip this summer.

PAGE by SOFIA RAMIREZ & ADA GREEN PHOTOS by KATHERINE POINTER Q: How did you decide to go to the Galapagos?

A: So, I had some professional development money that I needed to spend as part of winning the Faculty Excellence Award a year ago. I wanted to do something that would push me out of my comfort zone and that seemed exciting.

Q: Did you go to take a class there?

A: Yes, so this was a trip specifically designed for science teachers which is professional development. We did some work before we left, and then we did some work while we were there on ways to teach science that are informed by environmental science, and by our experiences there. I was one of 16 science teachers.

Q: Was your group from the United States?

A: Fifteen were from the United States, and one was from Canada. Two of the teachers are teaching at international schools overseas.

Q: What was the most surprising thing that you learned there?

A: I had forgotten as an adult how life-giving it is to be curious. There are not a lot of opportunities as an adult to just

18 • FEATURE

go explore something totally new and learn again.

Q: Earlier you talked about how it tested your comfort zone. Could you elaborate on that?

A: We did a fair amount of hiking through the woods in intense mud, but that was on the one hand challenging, but it was also super fun because that was the day that we were in the national park looking for the Galapagos tortoises. It was an incredible day, even though going five miles through the mud was a bit of an adventure.

Q: Are you going to incorporate anything you learned on your trip into your teaching?

A: I think for me, most of the things that I took away will be more related to how I teach than the specific content. It also was an encouragement to incorporate more environmental science into my chemistry class when I can.

Q: What was your favorite thing that you saw?

A: I love marine science. I think the most special part for me was getting to go snorkeling a couple of times. The varieties of fish, getting to snorkel with sea turtles and sharks and rays, that was an incredible opportunity. thefourthestate.net

Anna Alldredge Named Head of Upper School During her eight years at Laguna, Anna Alldredge’s roles include Middle School English instructor, Director of Teaching and Learning, Interim Head of Lower School and currently Head of Upper School.

WORDS by ALEXIA ACOSTA PHOTO by BRAD ELLIOTT Q: What new or different things are you hoping to bring to the Upper School? What is your vision for the future?

A: Our Upper School is thriving and so many great things are already happening here. We are always looking at ways to deepen and expand our programs for our students, and seek more student feedback on what’s working well and what we could improve.

As we look ahead together, student voices will be a guiding force behind ongoing improvements and iterations to our Upper School.

Q: How do you want to engage with the student body as the new Head of Upper School?

A: I’m loving the lunches I’m having with all of our Upper School students in small groups. It’s been great just getting a chance to hang out a bit and hear how the year is going.

The more I can listen and learn, the more I can work to make this place the very best it can be for all of our students.

Being in our students’ classrooms and cheering them on at athletic games and shows are the absolute highlights of my days at work. My office is always open, and I have candy... so swing by and chat whenever.

Q: What is the thing that you miss the most about teaching?

A: What I miss most about teaching, I try to still cultivate within my work as a division head. As a teacher, I absolutely loved connecting with students, building a classroom community, and then doing meaningful, challenging, and transformational work together.

My students were often my very best teachers. I find that as Head of Upper School, I get to be a part of that same great stuff, just on a larger, division-wide scale.

Q: What are some differences you are experiencing being Head of the Upper School rather than the Lower School head?

A: It’s similar work in many ways, but quite different in others. I’m overseeing the faculty, students, and program of a division, and partnering with our families to support a positive and meaningful experience for all.

A division head, in that way, is very much the steward of the School’s mission and people, and that is the same at any divisional level.

That being said, my entire career has been focused on working with teenagers in secondary schools, and my other seven years at Laguna have all been here at Hope Ranch campus.

In that way, this role does feel like a return “home” for me. I am grateful to have gained experience across all three divisions, because I’m always thinking about how we can connect our EK-12 students and learn from one another.

Our Lower School students and faculty are amazing, and it’s so special to know that those students will eventually be in my division yet again — just a few years down the road when they are closer to my height as 9th graders.

This fall, it’s been fabulous to be around the witty banter of high school students again. I missed y’all last year!

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

A: We are so lucky to work with the amazing students that we do. Please drop by anytime - my door’s always open. Come by and hang out anytime.

Scan to read the full interview with Dr. Alldredge

Is the Musical a Sport?

Participating in the spring musical counts as an alternative to Laguna’s mandatory sports requirement, but the option to avoid participating in athletics is not without controversy.

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WORDS by ELYSE WEAVER ART by LUCY WANG

pper School students are required to participate in sports to fulfill graduation requirements, which is typically done through one season of school sports per year or through completing a regulated number of hours in independent athletics.

Alternatively, students have the option to participate in the spring musical to fulfill this requirement. While many take part in this extracurricular, not all students support the policy. Some athletic students see the spring musical as a “cop-out” for the sports requirement.

The most prominent differences critics see between the musical and athletics are the physical and the competitive aspects. Still, those actually in theater do not see it to be completely different.

“Sports and theater have way more in common than I think people see at face value.”

-Dana Caldwell “I think there’s a lot of overlap in what we get out of those things. Collaboration, team building…showing up for your team…prioritizing, learning how to manage your time…pushing yourself and your limits…showing up for something greater than yourself,” said Dana Caldwell, the Performing Arts Chair. “With theater, we’re working for months on end with one weekend to get it right. And so, in that way, the stakes are a lot higher because we don’t have the opportunities to fail and try again. So much work happens in a theater that goes unseen for months on end…I think a lot of work goes unseen.”

Most participants of the musical consider the theater to take as much effort as physical athletics and an adequate alternative source to building cooperation and drive.

For both cast and crew, it is UC-accredited as a sport.

Rehearsals for the musical entail choreography, singing, blocking, and acting and thefourthestate.net

are of a similar time commitment to many Laguna sports–with rehearsals often requiring multiple hours all five days of the school week and time spent in the theater on weekends.

“It takes precision, a lot of practice, and generally requires some physical exertion, which I’ve seen in some of these plays,” said social science instructor and girls basketball coach Charlie Aslesen.

“Before seeing some of these plays, I’d be like, that’s not like a physical thing. But after seeing “Beauty and the Beast,” I’d be like, people are running around, and people are carrying each other and all of these things.”

Additionally, student-athletes think it is unfair that they still have to fulfill their own performing art requirements.

“I just think it’s unfair that I have to do a theater requirement if they don’t have to do a sport. If it’s a musical and you’re dancing, that’s a physical activity. Theater–I’ve never done theater–but I understand that it takes a toll on you, and I understand both of them are mentally and physically taxing in different ways,” said girls volleyball captain senior Sarah Woodhouse.

“I understand other people are not competitive, but I just think it’s a good thing to experience [competitive sports] at least once in your life, and high school is the time to do that,” Sarah said.

Just as some students are not competitive, not all students are creative. The UC’s admission requirements ask for two semesters of one discipline falling under the category of either visual or performing art. However, Laguna’s graduation requirements ask for an additional semester of another art discipline, which correlates with Laguna’s goal to produce multifaceted students, as it pushes students to step out of their comfort zones and develops the value of creative expression.

A competitive sports requirement would have a similar effect but instead, instill a competitive drive in students.

“If I do two sports or three sports in a year…I should be exempt from a theater requirement,” Sarah said.

Laguna’s arts requirement allows students to avoid competition-based sports but makes them participate in both performing and visual art classes.

While it is challenging to balance student comfort with new experiences, students have different strengths and interests, and it’s important to allow them similar choices.

OPINION • 21

Senior Dog Day Senior Dog Day is one of the school year’s highlights, bringing students and faculty together inside and outside of the classroom to enjoy the companionship of their furry friends.

22 • OPINION

thefourthestate.net

Stance of the Staff A celebratory message for the School’s 90th birthday from the staff of the Fourth Estate.

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inety years ago, in 1933, a small Country Day school named Laguna Blanca opened its doors for the first time. It was the beginning of one of the most respected educational institutions in Santa Barbara — and a place that many of us call home.

Although starting with one campus and only 40 and 6 faculty members, the School, over the last 90 years, has grown.

We now have two campus locations with 430 students —100 in Lower School, 139 in Middle School, and 191 in Upper School.

What makes Laguna stand out amongst other independent schools are its core values that Laguna continues to uphold, celebrate, and embody: scholarship, character, balance, and community.

These values have been passed down from generation to generation, decade to decade.

They are a testament to Laguna’s history and culture, as these values shape and continue to shape each individual — student, teacher, or faculty member. These values stay with members after leaving the School.

Scholarship, defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is described as “academic study or achievement; learning of a high level.”

However, at Laguna, it encompasses so much more — it’s not only a dedication to academics but also to uphold the most significant merit, to push oneself to one’s academic threshold, and then to excel even after.

It means going beyond just being “good” and

thefourthestate.net

always trying to be better and get better.

Character does not just mean being a good person, but it’s learning how to cultivate integrity, compassion, and consideration for others, both for peers and faculty alike.

At Laguna, character is one of the School’s most important values — it means continuously striving to be a better person than one was yesterday and consistently trying to create a positive impact on our community.

When describing our School, teachers and students alike think of words like “vigorous,” “academically challenging,” and “high achieving.”

Yet, although our School is known for its academic vigor, Laguna strives to cultivate an environment where students can balance high academic expectations and offer other activities, such as athletics, arts, and other extracurriculars.

And lastly, community — the value that can encapsulate the core of Laguna. It’s where students and faculty members can foster and build strong connections.

This essential partnership enables students’ intellects to be challenged and educated and faculty’s teaching experiences to become enriched.

Laguna’s community is built upon scholarship, character, and balance — without these, our community could never have been as strong as it is.

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, it stands as a testament and acknowledgment of Laguna’s educational and communal impact, which will continue to withstand for centuries to come.

OPINION • 23

The College Board Crisis The College Board lost 50 students’ Advanced Placement Tests from four different classes, frustrating students, parents, and faculty, and resulting in students losing their entire scores.

WORDS by CHRISTIANA CINO & LUCIA CAMP PHOTOS by JACKSON BALTES

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our score is in progress and should be available by the end of July. You’ll be notified by email when your score is available.

This was the misleading notification 50 students received when they attempted to view their AP Scores on July 5.

On July 28, Head of School Ron Cino sent an email stating that the College Board lost the free response (FRQ) portions of specific Advanced Placement (AP) tests and that students should expect to receive an email from the College Board in the following days.

The lost tests included AP Psychology, AP English Literature, AP Comparative Government and Politics, and AP United States History.

Students had three options: receive a projected score based on the multiple-choice section, retake the AP test lost, or cancel the score altogether. The projected scores relied on the portions of the test that were not lost, so families

eagerly waited to receive clarifying answers from the College Board.

“What was missing from the testing materials were the free response booklets,” Liv Gonzalez, Registrar and College Counseling Coordinator said.

“For any affected student, it was only the free-response booklet. The multiple choice was received no problem; scantrons were received, disks were received.”

Students, parents, and teachers were upset with the situation after a year of working hard and teaching to learn the material in and outside of school.

“The writing portion of my AP Literature test was lost, and they did not give me a projected score for that multiple choice, so I had to retake the writing portion. They [College Board] also lost my AP Psychology writing portion, but I got a projected score,” Elli Westmacott ‘23 said.

Elli retook the test in early September after receiving a lost test notifica-

Current seniors Tanner Murphy and Annika Firlik working in AP Environmental Science.

24 • OPINION

tion. She was planning to leave for college two weeks later, so her decision was last-minute.

“I retook the test because I needed the credits for college, and I’m going to an out-of-state college, which means those credits count for a lot of money. I did not want to take the class in college all over again,” Elli said.

Juniors and seniors spent countless hours preparing for their AP tests in late April and early May. “I spent an entire year writing inclass essays, meeting with my teacher, and trying to perfect my reading skills for one test. After taking that test, I felt really good about my submission, and finding out they lost all that hard work was really painful,” Elli said.

In August, the College Board sent an official letter explaining the next steps students could take in handling their tests. There was minimal time to review the options and to review testing material before the students were required to sign on the dotted line.

“I did not have access to my Laguna student drive anymore because they got rid of all of my work when I graduated, so I had to go online and try to find as many resources as I could. I reviewed every single book we read during the year, and I had to meet with my AP Lit teacher over the summer and review basically everything we could within a small time period before the test,” Elli said.

Although it is unclear how or when the tests disappeared, Laguna followed thefourthestate.net

all the appropriate steps to send them back to the College Board.

“As the AP Testing Coordinator, I followed all of the steps given to me by the College Board to send all of these materials back,” said Gonzalez.

“I am not sure where this happened.

It could’ve happened with UPS, it could’ve happened with the College Board, it could’ve happened with education testing services.”

This is not the first time the College Board has lost students’ AP tests. Students faced similar challenges in other schools, including Chamblee High School in Georgia and schools in Palm Beach, Georgia.

“It is unfortunate, and it happens quite often. They have processes in place that they follow in the event materials are lost or damaged,” Gonzalez said.

The loss of the tests was difficult for students and faculty alike. Navigating this situation, including how to communicate the circumstances to parents and students, caused difficulty.

“This has been challenging for me. In my 6 years of doing all of this work, this has never happened to me, and it killed me,” Gonzalez said.

“Just to know that an entire week’s worth of materials had been lost or damaged or whatever the case may be, especially after the hours of sweat put into that, and for it to all just be gone was the worst. It is mind-boggling that they somehow misplaced or managed to not accurately or properly handle our materials. When I say they, I mean it as a broad term, so it’s ‘they,’ the College Board, UPS, etc…”

Current senior Sarah Woodhouse faced the decision of whether or not to retake the Free Response Question (FRQ) section of her AP Psychology test after the College Board lost it.

Current seniors Paloma Lujan and Natalie Bianchi conversing in class.

“They projected my score from my multiple choice. I thought I did a really good job on the FRQ, so I think I would have definitely gotten a higher

not students will receive their scores, and taking further action is not an option.

“I didn’t like the College Board before, but this definitely doesn’t help. Currently, my SAT that I took in August is missing as well, which is very frustrating,” Sarah said.

Current senior Amelie Dalporto was one of the students who discovered that the College Board did not have her AP United States History (APUSH) test.

“I was only missing APUSH, but I knew people who were missing all of theirs. We were all upset because we spent a long time studying,” Amelie said.

After receiving an email from the College Board stating that they had lost her entire test, Amelie and her family searched for answers.

“We emailed the College Board, and it took a month to get a response. They said they had half of my test, so I accepted the projected score,” Amelie said.

This event stunted trust in the College Board and the standardized testing process in general. After losing their scores, students have had time to reflect and prepare themselves for another year of AP classes and testing, as credit is one of the few ways to save time and money in college.

“I hope it doesn’t happen again. It’s definitely a little nerve-wracking that something like that is possible,” Amelie said. “I’m just preparing for it in case it happens again. I know what to do now.”

“After taking that test, I felt really good about my submission, and finding out they lost all that hard work was really painful.”

- Elli Westmacott ‘23

thefourthestate.net

score if they hadn’t lost it,” said Sarah.

The FRQ on AP Psychology typically makes up 33% of a student’s score and has the potential to significantly impact whether a student scores a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.

“I chose to just keep my projected score,” said Sarah. “Honestly, I didn’t want to retake it. I had already moved on from AP Psych. I didn’t want to study all over again.”

In 2020, the College Board faced a class-action lawsuit for unfair testing practices, and their lawyers reduced it to arbitration.

This is due to the contract that students sign before sitting for exams, which prevents them from taking legal action after taking the exam.

After taking an AP exam, it is entirely up to the College Board whether or

OPINION • 25

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Hollywood on Hold

Hollywood’s writers-actors strike ended after five months of battling streaming services over unfair wages and the use of artificial intelligence in film. What does this mean for new film releases and fan-favorite shows?

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or the first time in 60 years, Hollywood writers and actors went on strike in retaliation against unfair wages and artificial intelligence programs replacing script-writers and voice actors.

The strike put thousands of people out of work, along with shutting down major talk shows, postponing movie releases, and canceling seasons that were set to come out within the next two years.

“Writers and actors are extremely underpaid,” senior Owen Noble said.

“Thinking about college, I’ve been seriously considering film. The only reason holding me back is that it’s not only incredibly difficult to get into the industry, but even if you do, it’s near impossible to make a living.”

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) — representing 11,500 screenwriters went on strike on May 2. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) followed on July 14.

WGA and SAG-AFTRA represent the major streaming services, such as Netflix, Disney, Paramount, Universal Studios, and others.

Hollywood productions came to a halt when actors walked off sets and writers refused to continue with scripts — picket lines formed outside of big studios in Hollywood.

Talk shows, such as Jimmy Fallon’s “The Tonight Show,” went off the air following the delay of film releases.

WORDS by CIERRA NERVO ART by DIONNE PETERSON Even this year’s Tony Awards commenced without writers or any written material.

Many popular television series were put on hold during the strike, such as season five of “Stranger Things,” season two of “The Last Of Us,” season two of “House of the Dragon,” and season six of “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

Directors postponed numerous upcoming movies, such as the “Avatar” series and the Marvel continuations.

Warner Bros delayed the releases of “The Batman II,” “Dune: Part Two,” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.”

Most of the criticism studios received was directed towards major streaming services and millionaire/billionaire chief executives for not paying their workers the sufficient wages they deserve.

“Streaming services should definitely be paying people more in residuals,” Eleanor said. “It’s unfair that [the productions] become their property and that actors, who put so much work and time into these projects, do not get to see accurate rewards for it.”

Chief Executive officers (CEOs) of large streaming services did not initially want to give in to the union’s demands.

Disney CEO and multi-millionaire Bob Iger referred to the writer’s contract demands as “unrealistic.’

The CEO’s initial plan was to ignore the strike until the writers started “losing their apartments,” an anonymous executive said.

This was until they realized that the strikers would not put up an easy fight and that viewers were ready to see their favorite shows again.

The Hollywood shutdown ended on Sept. 26 when the WGA board members approved a contract agreement with studios.

“This deal could have been made six months ago,” said David Scarpa, Writers Guild of America member. “It was just a matter of, in a sense, testing whether or not we had the fortitude to sustain a strike for six months or however long.”

While the writers are getting back to work, many actors are still on strike with no negotiations in sight, meaning a slow return of upcoming releases.

“We will certainly see a drought in movies for a while,” Owen said. “Viewership will dwindle, and as someone who works at a theater, I figure a lot of theaters will be in trouble. I don’t blame the striking workers for that. I blame the companies.”

Most upcoming movies and television series still need to be back on track, with their release dates postponed.

The exploitation of artists in the film world will continue to put viewers’ favorite experiences at risk. As technology advances, so will the use of AI in the art world. The lasting effects of the strikes reflect a historic halt in Hollywood production.

A Commentary on College Admissions: Is Meritocracy Dead?

After the Supreme Court ruling that struck down Affirmative Action, prestigious institutions are under scrutiny to end favoring children of alumni and donors.

WORDS by JINLING WANG ART by DIONNE PETERSON

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he nation ruptured in division on June 29 after the Supreme Court’s final landmark ruling against affirmative action in higher education. Stemming from Regents of the University of California v. Bakke in 1978, the fractured Supreme Court came at a mixed decision when finalizing the enactment of affirmative action, allowing racial preferences in college admissions.

The Bakke story draws similarities to Brown v. Board of Education (1954) and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed racial discrimination and segregation in education systems.

However, as of 2023, the Supreme Court’s decision to upend the equal protection law in Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard and SSFA v. UNC officially denounced the use of race as a marker for consideration when granting admissions to colleges and universities.

With the effective elimination of affirmative action, the Court’s decision rescinds this historical precedent that has aided African-American and Latinx communities in applying to selective institutions.

“That the major institutions that support affirmative action will continue to do their best to keep their classes diverse and how they will do that will vary from institution to institution, but the commitment is still there to diversity,” said Associate Director of College Counseling Lalitha Otterness.

With protests against the Supreme Court’s ruling beginning to rise among these underrepresented groups, students see the harsh societal realities of

28 • OPINION

inequality and racial discrimination in higher education.

Both Harvard and UNC were unable to justify their use of race in which their programs include “racial stereotyping,” which had no foreseeable end based on CNN’s coverage of Affirmative action.

The opinion Chief Justice Roberts released did not blatantly overturn past cases regarding race-based affirmative action.

Instead it gave way to a new approach in which applicants mention their race and how that has affected their lives in their personal statements, which may be considered during the application process.

As these competitive institutions have primarily catered to accepting white applicants for the last century, universities have begun to progress in achieving racial parity on school campuses that recognize the importance of diversity and representation.

Lisa Johnson, the founder of Private School Village, an LA-based organization that assists Black and brown families from independent schools, talked about her gut-wrenching reaction in a recent interview with Town and Country.

“Even though we could have seen this coming a mile away, I don’t think many of us thought it would happen this quickly,” Johnson said.

“We’re just three and a half years away from George Floyd’s death. I think we had a moment of hope that America was more fully acknowledging racial inequities.”

However, for some, affirmative action is seen as a double-edged sword.

Race-blind admissions have disadvantaged several Asian-American families, and hope for that to change.

Christopher Rim, the founder of a college consultancy in Manhattan, Command Education, was in disbelief at the notifications in his email the day the verdict to eliminate affirmative action was placed, as Asian American families flooded his inbox with parents wanting him to guide their kids in the college application process.

These families understood the advocacy work done by Students for Fair Admissions, an anti-affirmative action non-profit whose lawsuit against Harvard and UNC changed the course of the Supreme Court’s ruling.

The SFFA’s suit disclosed that schools have been discriminating against Asian Americans.

Although they had higher GPAs and standardized test scores, they did not earn as many points regarding subjective measures such as character and grit.

Just weeks after the Supreme Court’s (SCOTUS’) ruling on affirmative action, liberals and conservatives pushed to limit the benefits applicants receive as children alumni.

Calling for action against legacy admissions, the Department of Education formally began a civil rights investigation into Harvard’s long-known practice of preferential treatment toward legacy applicants, composed mainly of thefourthestate.net

white and privileged students.

With institutions such as Harvard favoring children of alum and children of donors, legacy students have been given boosts during their application process due to their family’s connection to the school.

This onslaught of investigations coincided after Wesleyan University joined a growing number of institutions such as Johns Hopkins, Amherst, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, eliminating legacy admissions to achieve more equality in admissions.

A study conducted by Opportunity Insights, a team of economists from Harvard, reported that between 1999

and 2015, prestigious private colleges favored wealthy families, as one in six students attending an Ivy League college has a parent in the top 1% bracket earning more than $600,000 a year.

With a high percentage of legacy students coming from affluent politicians or celebrities, institutions such as Harvard or Stanford look fondly upon these students and their parents’ donations to their alma mater.

By accepting legacy students, selective institutions can preserve their prestige, which ushers into the next generation of legacies incentivized to continue to donate.

Students from the upper-middle to the lower class with solid test scores, extracurriculars, and high GPAs are often overlooked compared to their wealthy, influential, mid-decent academic counterparts.

Julie Park, an associate professor from the University of Maryland College Park, phrases it as “being a legacy is kind of like getting the Disney FastPass to go to the front of the line.”

Two months after the affirmative action ruling, institutions have gone thefourthestate.net

under fire again for practicing legacy admissions, as protests and education experts have expressed concern over the lack of diversity on campus if these selective institutions continue catering to privileged applicants.

Despite the ban on race-blind admissions, the Biden Administration still hopes for universities to stay committed to diversity by instead looking at a student’s personal experience through supplemental questions on students’ culture, background, or experiences.

With several universities re-emphasizing their commitment to racial diversity, legacy admissions are still heavily related to race as most legacies historically are white from wealthy households.

As students are at the pinnacle of their academic journey, the stress and pressures of college admissions are now burdened by either the benefits or disadvantages of affirmative action and legacy admissions, as many high school students and families planning to apply to these “elite” colleges are left confused.

After the Supreme Court’s ruling banning race-conscious preferences in admissions, some hope the same ban will apply to legacy admissions since it appears the odds are against people of color and those with a lower socioeconomic status.

“I do think that there are arguments on both sides of the table as to whether it is a good or a bad thing, I mean, certainly, for the more selective institutions and families that have a deeper connection with those institutions because they attended, it may be very disappointing, but at the same time,” Otterness said, “These institutions very much believe in open access and equity.”

Although most schools are tightlipped regarding acceptances, prestigious schools such as Princeton still practice legacy admissions.

It reported that 10% of Princeton’s class of 2026 were children of alums, which accounted for 38,019 applicants, of which only 2,617 were accepted, with an undergraduate acceptance rate of 4%.

On the other hand, schools like Amherst have eliminated legacy admissions and have observed changes in the demographics of their incoming class before this change.

Their legacy percentage was 11% and then declined to 6%, which stopped the legacy boost, allowing more underrepresented groups, like first-generation students, a chance.

Defined by Merriam-Webster, meritocratic systems are built on “people who are chosen and moved into positions of success, power, and influence based on their demonstrated abilities and merit.” This is a function of education where students deserve admissions solely based on their skill and sheer ability achievements.

It seems that meritocracy is being put to death, as privileged children reap the advantages.

However, the long-lasting traditions of legacy admissions are simply anti-meritocratic, opposing the principles of this nation and several universities that believe “hard work equilibrates.”

While some may think of college admissions as a meritocracy, it is not, and it never was.

College admissions have been embittered by numerous exceptions to ‘merit.’

There is no utopia for fair college admissions, and there may never be.

OPINION • 29

What’s in Season?

A dive into two local bakeries, well-loved in the Santa Barbara community.

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WORDS by ELYSE WEAVER & ALEXIA ACOSTA ART by ALEXIA ACOSTA

ree’Osh bakery was founded by a French couple, Nelly and Pierre Henry, in 2015. Pierre, born in Brittany, France, was surrounded by bread culture all his life. He worked at a bank as a Customer Relationship Project Consultant, but realized life was too short to waste. He started to bake and trained in Ferrandi, the School of Culinary Arts in Paris. Nelly and Pierre began to travel abroad, settling in Montecito in 2015, and opened a French bakery right here in Santa Barbara: Q: How have you managed maintaining your vision for your company and competing against both inflation and chain corporations?

A: As we grow Bree’Osh, our vision is to create careers and quality jobs within our company. We will build strong relationships with employees, flour producers (@cairnspringmill) / suppliers (@ penryorchardsspecialities, @sunriseorganicfarms, @avilandsonsfarm…) and customers to positively impact our communities and our industry.

Maintaining our vision for our artisanal bakery while competing against inflation and chain corporations has been challenging. We’ve focused on our commitment to crafting high-quality, unique baked goods that stand out from chain corporation.

We use long and natural fermentation (Levain), premium ingredients and locally-sourced as much as possible (except for the butter which is from France) to maintain exceptional taste and authenticity.

Building strong relationships with our customers has been our main priority. We listen to their feedback, adapt to their preferences, and provide personalized experiences that large chains often struggle to deliver.

Bree’Osh Bakery Café 2700 De La Vina St Santa Barbara & 1150 Coast Village Road, Montecito

Poached Pear Tart

PHOTO by PIERRE HENRY

Lilac Pâtisserie 1017 State Street For those in need of a gluten free option, State Street’s Lilac Pâtisserie is a great alternative. Lilac manages to remain completely gluten free without compromising taste or texture.

Even customers without dietary restrictions can enjoy Lilac, as their various cakes, pastries, and sandwiches are just as delicious as their glutinous counterparts.

Carrot Spice Cake PHOTO by Lilac Pâtisserie Scan to read more about Bree’Osh

á la mode - Gilmore Girls Edition Take this character quiz to discover who you’re most like! Tally up your results and check the answer key on the bottom.

PAGE by MILLA HIRSCH & CHRISTIANA CINO

1. What would you wear to

3. How would you spend your ideal Friday night?

5. What’s your love language?

a. A flannel jacket b. Baby tee c. Fisherman sweater d. Matching set

a. Working b. Watching movies and ordering in c. Cuddling up with a book d. Hosting a dinner party

a. Acts of service b. Words of affirmation c. Gift giving d. Quality time

2. What is your coffee order?

4. What is your dream job?

6. What’s your ideal morning?

a. Decaf coffee b. Black coffee c. Macchiato d. Cappuccino

a. Running a diner b. Running an inn c. Being a journalist d. Socialite

a. Sharing a nice breakfast b. Sleeping in late c. Meeting a friend for a stroll d. Heading to the country club

a casual breakfast?

Luke Danes

Loreali Gilmore

Rory Gilmore

Emily Gilmore

“where you lead, I will follow”

Answer Key:

a = Luke Danes, b = Lorelai Gilmore, c = Rory Gilmore, d = Emily Gilmore

|

#fallinstagrams PAGE by DIONNE PETERSON

Senior Girls Volleyball players flash pre-game peace signs.

Senior Jesus Arriaga strikes a pose on summer vacation.

Juniors Sydney Fisher (left) and Ada Ray (right) hug for the picture.

Junior Chloe Gidney smiles for a sunset.

Junior Ethan Carrington practicing his football skills.

Sophomores Kira Rameson and Lina Smith share a laugh at Catalina.

Juniors Bridger Baltes and Olivia De Ponce pre-homecoming.

Seniors Lucas Acosta and Kendall Keshen take a 0.5 photo.

Junior girls group together before Homecoming.

32 • A&E

thefourthestate.net

WORDS by OWEN NOBLE & SOFIA RAMIREZ ART by OWEN NOBLE ntertaining, artistic, and complex are just a few of the words students used to describe the 2023 summer blockbuster, “Barbie.” Thanks to Barbies extensive history the movie caught the eyes of the entire world.

While Mattel has never been one to shy away from unrealistic body standards, they really took it one step further when they debuted “Slumber Party Barbie,” who came equipped with a pink scale and a diet book with a singular phrase: “DON’T EAT!” Nearly 50 years later, Mattel released a new line of Barbies with unique body shapes. They even proclaimed themselves as “The Most Diverse Doll Line.”

Despite the rebranding, nobody could deny the beauty standards Barbie ingrained into young children.

A box office smash and critical darling, 2023’s “Barbie” is beyond a popular movie.

Director Greta Gerwig chose to address the controversies head-on.

“You represent everything wrong in our culture, sexualized capitalism, unrealistic physical ideals” a character yells, “[Barbie] set the feminist movement back 50 years.”

Gerwig in no way disputes these critiques, instead running with them.

Barbie initially represents the feminine ideal: skinny, happy, and plastic.

She is perfect in every way, until she isn’t.

Gerwig chooses to subvert this ideal by making Barbie a “real girl,” dealing with depression, cellulite, and the perils of aging.

The story is the emotional core of the film, and its main

they’re trying to win back their power through seducing men and using their ‘female wiles’, to me that’s pathetic…

[It reinforces] the idea that that’s how women are powerful.”

Regardless of the film’s messages, a lot of appeal — especially for teenage fans — is the comedic element.

“While it did have a lot of important social commentary about women’s roles and feminism… there was a lot of irony,” senior Amelie Dalporto said.

Gerwig satirizes masculine and feminine ideals, portraying masculinity as compensation borne of insecurity.

Ken isn’t the brightest, but feels responsible to be powerful and in While it did have a lot of charge, dismissing the ideas of othimportant social commentary ers to do so.

He doesn’t just want to be the about women’s roles and best — he has to be. feminism… there was a lot of Barbie, on the other hand, seeks a different kind of perfection. She irony. longs to be pretty, perfect, and pink.

- Amelie Dalporto ‘24 These contrasting desires offer the majority of the film’s comedy, The movie culminates (spoiler) with laughing at the absurdity of these conthe Barbies using the Kens’ jealousy cepts. Although the film has its conagainst each other, using the power of troversies, there is no doubt that this being their long-term-low-commitblockbuster will change the discussion ment-distance-girlfriends. around feminism and Barbie herself.

Critical reactions to this story are incredibly disparate; some, like AP Lang teacher Victoria Dryden, argue that it was unsuccessful.

“I think it amplified [the] superficiality that’s put on women and looks in society… specifically that one scene where they’re all listening to the guitars, and so feminist message.

Throughout the movie “Barbie” is forced to come to terms with the fact that feminine perfection is unattainable, initially reacting with anger before coming to terms and accepting our messy reality.

The “B” plot of the movie is very different, following Ken as he discovers the wonders of the patriarchy.

Misunderstanding the patriarchy on a conceptual level, Ken turns Barbie World into a macho-horse-filled hellscape via brainwashing other Barbies.

“

”

Destroyer of Worlds Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” tells the life story of the theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and examines the consequences of the atomic bomb.

“

WORDS by ADA GREEN & LUCY WANG ART by LUCY WANG

Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to men. For this, he was chained to a rock and tortured for eternity.”

“Oppenheimer,” directed by Christopher Nolan and based on Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin’s biography “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer,” premiered this summer, captivating audiences worldwide and grossing over $930 million.

In the film, Nolan compared J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb, to Prometheus, the fabled Greek antihero, for giving humans a source of power they never meant to have.

The film tells the life story of the physicist: his brilliance, complex romantic life, politics, and tortured conscience.

The three-hour feature film invites people to question the ethical repercussions of one of the world’s most powerful scientific discoveries and the danger Oppenheimer’s creation poses nearly 80 years later.

The film boasts an impressive cast of superstars, including Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, and Cillian Murphy in the title role.

“Cillian Murphy gave a great performance. He should get the Oscar for the movie,” junior Carson Stewart said. “Personally I couldn’t see anybody else getting it.”

Nolan’s creative choices — including unique use of color grading, delayed sound, intentional lengthy silence, and unnerving musicality — brought to life the internal and external trials Oppenheimer faced before, during, and after the use of

his world-changing creation.

The film intercuts between two defining periods in Oppenheimer’s life. Nolan used coloring to distinguish between the running plots, and Oppenheimer’s young adult life through the use of his bomb in full color, contrasting the heavily biased investigation for his political stance in black-and-white.

The film did not glorify Oppenheimer’s achievement; rather, the early part of the film highlighted his limits as a physicist and a human being, prone to errors; he was

“Mr. President, I feel I have blood on my hands.”

-Oppenheimer clumsy in physics labs, attempted to poison his professor, and cheated on his wife. “[The movie] really touched on every possible aspect and all the niche details of his life,” Carson said.

Oppenheimer himself is a paradox with contradictions; he is tormented by the eagerness for peace and the cruel means to achieve it.

As the director of the Manhattan Project and the Los Alamos Laboratory, Oppenheimer held himself most responsible for the creation of the atomic bomb and struggled to live with the moral burden of creating the most destructive weapon the world had ever seen.

“No other country has ever used [atomic bombs], at least on cities or people. What a horrific decision,” Social Science Chair Kevin Shertz-

er said. Oppenheimer, alongside with other scientists and politicians, insisted on using the weapon on a city instead of dropping it on the ocean, believing that the world would only understand its power after experiencing it, hoping that this would not only bring an end to World War II, but all future wars.

“We want it to be so destructive so they won’t ever do this again,” Shertzer said.

The film reached its climax during the Trinity Test, the first detonation of the nuclear weapon, named after the Holy Sonnets by John Donne, ‘Batter my heart, three person’d God.’ An ominous mushroom cloud rose to the sky, bright as a thousand radiant suns, blindingly white, rolling out as it grew larger. It seemed to hang in the sky forever.

The sound reached people’s ears moments after: a deafening roar that rumbled and echoed through the mountains.

The bomb worked, and the world was changed forever, having unleashed an unprecedented method of destruction. Oppenheimer watched the explosion as he murmured to himself, “Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds,” quoting from the Hindu scripture, “The Bhagavad Gita” to describe his own doing.

Oppenheimer firmly believed in the necessity of using the weapon.

However, it’s also clear that the guilt afterwards frightened him and completely consumed him, as evidenced in him telling Truman: “Mr. President, I feel I have blood on my hands.”

Unimpressed and annoyed, Tru-

man called Oppenheimer a “crybaby.”

One key point of the film was to highlight the ignorance and apathy the general public — in Oppenheimer’s time and today — holds towards the use of nuclear weapons.

“People have no idea what nuclear energy is,” Shertzer said.

“They have no idea. And that belief is pervasive.”

The film showed Oppenheimer’s “victory” speech to a cheering crowd of Americans, desensitized to the tens of thousands of lives the bomb had immediately taken; the deafening roar they made is no less powerful than the Trinity Test itself.

Oppenheimer himself seemed to understand the gravity of his creation and the devastation it caused and therefore refused to help the U.S. government with subsequent nuclear projects.

For refusing to contribute to the new projects, the government targeted Oppenheimer, launching a private hearing into his previous political ties to communism to cover his anti-nuclear views.

“He was unbelievably famous. So for him to be going against nuclear energy would not bode well for what they wanted to do,” Shertzer said. “So they bogusly discredited him and dragged his name through the mud.”

Although more and more people are beginning to understand that the use of nuclear weapons could obliterate the planet, modern slang throws around the use of “bomb” in a euphemistic, or even positive light. “‘Blonde bombshell’ and it’s the bomb — these are all terms that come from the bomb that bested American culture,” Shertzer said.

And yet these terms are used without a second thought to the horrors of their effects. Think about that the next time you “bomb” your math test.

The final line of the film is spoken by Oppenheimer, admitting to none other than Albert Einstein that the creation

of the atomic bomb set off a chain reaction that could bring the world to destruction.

The film found a double meaning in Oppenheimer’s sentiment. Not only was the nuclear reaction so devastating, but the proof that the atomic bomb exists — that humans can harness the destructive capabilities of nuclear energy — ignited a race of global superpowers to maintain control of such a weapon.

Nine countries have nuclear weapons that have the potential to demolish the planet if used. Because of Oppenheimer’s creation, the human race lives closer to its own self-destruction than ever before.

How could the use of nuclear power, something of such destructive and brutal nature, possibly be morally justified? Some pin the guilt on the fact that nobody i s entirely responsible.

Oppenheimer, his team of scientists, President Truman, government and military officials, the pilot — all these people played a part and none are solely responsible. Others — like

President Truman — put the power in God’s hands. They claimed that He gave Americans the power of the bomb, so they had the right to use it.

“We thank God that [the nuclear bomb] has come to us, instead of to our enemies; and we pray that He may guide us to use it in His ways and for His purposes,” Truman said in the Radio Report on the Potsdam Conference.

Still others justify the use of the bomb by claiming that dropping it was the only way to end World War II, ultimately saving lives.

“You could justify that in World War II by saying that the Japanese wouldn’t surrender,” Shertzer said.

“There’s some truth to that — in fact, there’s a lot of truth to that.

But you could make a similar justification for any conflict. And then we arrive at a place where nuclear bombs are going off all over the place and we’re done. It’s a really dangerous type of thinking.”

Trying to justify extreme violence leads closer to abandoning safety measures and laws.

After he witnessed such destruction, Oppenheimer tried to teach the world that in the future, ethics must go hand in hand with science before humans annihilate themselves.

J. Robert Oppenheimer, self-proclaimed “destroyer of worlds,” understood the magnitude of his actions when it was too late. Like Prometheus, O p p e n heimer gave h u m a n s something that perhaps they were never supposed to have: the potential to destroy themselves.

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SPENCER HLAVATY

Athlete of the Issue An award-winning athlete, scholar, and team captain, Spencer Hlavaty is the embodiment of what it means to be a scholar-athlete and the exemplification of excellence on and off the field.

INTERVIEW by DAVIS OHANIAN

Q: What goals does your team hope to achieve this season?

A: The team’s goal is obviously an undefeated record, league champions, and winning the CIF Championship in our division.

Q: Who has inspired you in being a better quarterback?

A: A true inspiration for me is definitely Coach Escobar, as he has always believed in me and my leadership to guide this team to a successful season.

Q: What are some things your team, as a whole, has improved upon this season?

A: As a whole, our team has taken our defense to another level. Almost every game, we have had numerous takeaways, which leads to more possessions and success for our offense as well.

Q: What are some individual goals you want to accomplish before the end of your senior season?

A: I have a goal to throw a touchdown to all of my receivers, which is so far going very well. A few individual goals for me would definitely be to join the First Team All League, and possibly even win the MVP of the Tri-Valley league.

Q: How has your family helped shape the Laguna program?

A: I would say my parents are very involved in the program, bringing a lot of new attributes to Laguna football and athletics as a whole including social media promotions and new graphical ideas that continue to promote our program.

Q: What does it mean to be committed to playing college football along with other senior teammates going through the same process?

A: Playing college football is definitely a blessing, as I know that this is not the last time I am playing football, and I get to play with my best friend Gabriel Lea for one last year. I am very honored to be playing for Laguna, and am excited to see what the future holds for me.

Q: What teachers helped shaped you as a student-athlete?

A: A few teachers who have help shaped me as a student-athlete would be Erik Faust, who I even workout with, as well as Katie Pointer and Staci Richard, who are always flexible during my time out of class. All these teachers make sure I get the right amount of necessary academic assistance to succeed on and off the field - the embodiment of a student-athlete.

PHOTO by JACKSON BALTES

Coach Prime Hall of Fame football player, award-winning high school coach, religious influencer, and multi-millionaire, Coach Deion Sanders is revitalizing the Colorado football program.

WORDS by MASON SIEGEL & JULES LECLERCQ ART by DIONNE PETERSON

I

n the world of college football, change is inevitable. Coaches come and go, but every so often, a figure emerges who promises to revolutionize the game.

At the University of Colorado Boulder, that figure is Deion Sanders, also known as Coach Prime. He is no stranger to the spotlight, portraying excellence through his many accolades and influential persona.

As a former NFL superstar, twotime Super Bowl champion, and Pro Football Hall of Famer, his name is synonymous with excellence in the world of football.

His journey at CU Boulder isn’t just about personal glory – it’s about changing the game, one play at a time.

Coach Prime’s charisma is captivating, transforming how prominent high school recruits view the program.

The university tripled its win total from last year in only five games.

Coach Prime said to the team in his opening remarks, “We got a few positions already taken care of because I’m bringing my luggage with me — and it’s Louis [Vuitton]. I’m comin’, and when I get here, it’s gonna be changed.”

21

Through such a transformative environment, public recognition of the program has influenced elite recruits to perceive Boulder as a place where they can develop their talent under the guidance of a football legend.

Coach Prime is breaking stereotypes – 56 out of 89 players are Black. Albeit Coach Prime’s impact on the football field, his charismatic approach revolutionized the economic approach at the university and surrounding city.

According to LinkedIn, “The economic impact of Coach Prime for Boulder, CO to-date has been estimated at over $18M.” Coach Prime has not only generated capital and attention for the university, but such a persona has increased ticket sales by nearly 300%, increasing the average ticket price from $70 to nearly $285, with some tickets marked as nearly $850.

Coach Prime increased in-person attendance at the games and online viewership.

The University of Colorado vs. Colorado State game drew 9.3

million viewers – the fifth-most viewed regular season college football game in ESPN history, intriguing fans nationwide.

This is just the start for the bright future of CU Boulder’s football program as they have been a major player in conference realignment — financially stimulated deals that are transforming the world of college football forever. According to current CU Boulder line backer, Noah Young “The Coach Prime effect has created more boldness and hype around the city, while also making me more humble and pushing myself.”

Coach Prime’s impact altered the course of Colorado football — recruits and fans all across the country are captivated by such a phenomenal season and will continue to watch as Prime makes a permanent mark on football.

LBS Fantasy Friends Faculty start Fantasy Football League, allowing teachers to bond beyond the classroom.

T

WORDS by JULES LECLERCQ

eachers have started to share another passion beyond the classroom that might come as a surprise to some or already be everyday life for others: Fantasy Football.

Teachers have come together in their own Fantasy Football league, a competitive endeavor to add some intrigue and anticipation to the current NFL season.

“It originated from a conversation between math instructor Brett McGarry and myself. Some other teachers overheard, and the rest is fantasy,” history instructor Kevin Guay said.

The LBS Fantasy Friends League is comprised of nine Laguna faculty members.

Guay has been playing fantasy football for the last 10 years. As commissioner, he was faced with the task of generating a punishment and prize for the league.

“I want to make a trophy the winner can keep in their office or classroom for the year,” said Guay. Ultimately, Guay decided on no punishment, and a trophy for the winner. His goal is to

add a level of competitiveness to the league for current and future members.

“Despite my obvious athletic physique, I never played sports in high school or college. It’s as close as I can come to playing a sport,” Guay said.

Teachers, such as social science instructor Charlie Aslesen, also explained the reason why they joined the LBS Fantasy Friends League.

They, similarly to Guay, weren’t able to or didn’t have the time to play real and organized sports anymore.

Other faculty members said their reasons for joining the league was to have a way to communicate and have fun with each other outside of Laguna Blanca.

“It’s fun and we should do more with our coworkers outside of work, and I’m all on board for stuff like that,” Dean of Students Blake Dorfman said.

Some league members such as Dorfman, see fantasy football as an

Jeff Seaton’s unprecedented pick prompted Blake Dorfman to create a funny poster, which he signed as Rams wideout Puka Nacua. thefourthestate.net

BLAKE DORFMAN

KEVIN GUAY outlet to relieve everyday stress.

“We have stressful jobs sometimes, and having an outlet and a fun way to interact outside of school is really important for colleagues.”said Dorfman.

As a result of the LBS Fantasy Friends League’s late draft, injured superstars such as four time pro-bowler Nick Chubb went undrafted. In great contrast to their high draft position preceding the season.

The late start also led to some interesting picks, such as the Rams’ fifth-round selection Puka Nacua going #2 overall to Chief Financial Officer Jeff Seaton’s team.

Fantasy Football has always been something that brings people together and that has been visible in the Fantasy Friends League as colleagues have come together over a joint interest: the intrigue of weekly football.

SPORTS •39

Fall Sports - a Recap of Success At the end of the sports season, athletes reflect on their unprecedented seasons with statistics and anecdotal evidence.

INTERVIEWS by DAVIS OHANIAN PHOTOS by JACKSON BALTES

Natalie Bianchi - Girls Volleyball

Q: How has the team adjusted to all-time high participation?

A: Everyone has adjusted very well and has been fully committed right when we started in August, which has made the team this year very strong. We all come to practice early and ready to either get started right away or begin setting up the net.

Q: What has the team learned from some tough losses this season?

A: We are playing much better teams this year than we did last year, so the games are definitely more competitive. Although the stats show we have lost more than we have won, that is not a reflection of the effort and skill of play going on.

With these losses we have learned just how good of a team we are and have learned that we can push ourselves to be right there and compete with the other teams.

The team gathers for a photo shoot before practice.

Danica Damiani - Girls Tennis

Q: Now that Coach Santiago is in his second year, what has been his impact?: A: Coach Santiago has made the group of girls a strong team both physically and mentally. He has incorporated different workouts and drills into our practices, and has also held discussions after each game to heighten our success rate. He puts his all into our team and coaches us through each point, which has led us to be 4-1 so far this season.

Q: How are you looking to build upon last year’s success in the playoffs?

A: I am looking to build upon last year's success in the playoffs by continuing to work on my mental game and keep motivating our team to be on the winning streak we are.

The varsity team huddles before the point in Merovick Gym.

Junior Liam Knezevic gets up for the kill in a home game.

Tyson Deveze - Boys Beach Volleyball

Sophomore Sage Holcombe goes up for the kill.

40 • SPORTS

Q: What does being co-captains with Drew and Liam mean to you?

A: Drew is a senior, and Liam and I are in our second-tolast year of volleyball, and being co-captains allows us all to make an impact on the team Q: What are some big rivalry matchups that have stuck with you throughout the season?

A: Our game with San Marcos stands out to me as a result of both our matchups against them being battles. thefourthestate.net

Boys Football Team on the Road to the Playoffs Off to an undefeated start to the season, the Laguna Blanca football team is looking to send seniors off with a state title.

U

WORDS by DAVIS OHANIAN PHOTOS by JACKSON BALTES

p until Oct. 27, the football team had an undefeated start of the season as they strive for a league championship and a memorable season for graduating se-

niors.

"Playing College football is definitely a blessing, as I know that this is not the last time I am playing football," said starting quarterback senior Spencer. "I am very honored to be playing for Laguna, and am excited to see what the future holds for me'" Although the promise of college football for Spencer, and other players like fellow seniors Gabriel Lea and Cole Sharpton. "The team maintains the road to excellence," junior Ethan Carrington said. "Ever since the hiring of Coach Escobar, he has made incredible changes to the program, hiring assistant coaches that love the game as much as we do. Coach Esco gets the team closer and closer everyday no matter conditioning or watching film," Ethan said.

Even though it is only his third year in the program, twoway player Gabriel continues to make his name known through his breakaway touchdowns and interceptions.

"Three years ago, we all started off barely knowing anything about football, not even knowing how to catch passes. We've all worked very hard for three years and that culmination of hard work has led to the success of this season," Gabriel said.

"Also, the addition of new freshmen and sophomores has helped us along the way." Such additions have continued as the Owls keep winning, capping off an undefeated season, going 3-0 in league play.

A perceived grassroots movement has led to success — with thrilling victories for the Owls to pile on.

"It has to be beating Windward in overtime," Gabriel said about his favorite overtime win. "It’s exciting to beat them in such a contested game with intensity on both sides of the ball."

Sitting 8-0, the Owls have officially captured the Tri-Valley league title — a first during the post-COVID era.

Now entering the CIF Southern Section Playoffs, the Owls are looking to cap off an undefeated regular season with a state championship — a first for the team in the school's history.

According to Mason Siegel, a junior wide receiver and defensive back, "Our hard work has led to a tremendous season - the hiring of more assistant coaches has led to greater development within our positional groups and taking the next step for this team." thefourthestate.net

Carson Stewart breaks out of the backfield into the open field.

Sam Narva fights for a first down against Amino Robinson.

Senior team captains Spencer Hlavaty, James Couvillion, and Gabriel Lea run out for the coin toss.

SPORTS • 41

Fall Sports Statistics Right before playoffs, statistics demonstrate the success of Laguna athletics this season and highlight individual accomplishments.

PAGE by DAVIS OHANIAN and MASON SIEGEL

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.”

- Andy Warhol