March 2018 by Sage Hill School

The

BOLT

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March 2018 Volume 18, Issue 6 lightningboltonline.com Sage Hill School 20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast, CA 92657

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Vaping Clouds Student Judgement Some Sage Hill Students Trade in Traditional Writing Utensils for Vape Pens

Miranda deBruyne and Michelle Hung It’s no secret that this school year has seen several run-ins with students vaping on campus, prompting concerns about a negative shift in Sage culture. On three separate occasions, faculty members caught three freshmen and one sophomore vaping in the bathroom. All were addressed as individual cases and resulted in a suspension of some length. In two other situations, faculty members thought they had just missed the act and immediately informed Jon Poffenberger, Dean of School Life, who searched both suspected individuals but came up with nothing. The 2017-18 Student Hand-

book cites “possessing, using, distributing or providing paraphernalia related to illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco on campus or at school related events (paraphernalia includes, but is not limited to, rolling papers, pipes, electronic cigarettes or any bottle or container used for holding alcoholic beverages)” as violations of the Sage Hill Honor Code. Student use of e-cigarettes is no revolutionary occurrence, but on-campus incidents in Sage’s past have been “very few and far between,” Poffenberger said. In reaction to the recent events, Poffenberger said he is “disappointed and confused that a student would take that risk on campus, but not surprised that

students are vaping.” According to senior Isabella Deckey, member of Honor Committee, the culture surrounding teenage vaping has increased in recent years due to larger availability of e-cigarette technology, as well as the age-old pressure to fit in that many teenagers feel. “I believe it has to do with a combination of things but specifically social pressures,” Deckey said. “Personally, I think students should consider that not only is it harmful to your health but it is also illegal under the age of 21.” Junior Eliza Feffer echoed Deckey’s speculations as to the cause of the vape culture. “I don’t think vape culture has impacted me personally, as I’m not someone who easily

gives in to peer pressure,” she said. “I think people choose to vape because of social pressures, but I also think it’s seen as something that’s normal now, so people have gotten desensitized to it.” Poffenberger stressed the school’s commitment to helping students deal with personal issues related to e-cigarette use. “I think it’s important to note that if a student has a nicotine addiction, the school will work on getting them help without it being disciplinary,” he said. “But if they get caught, then it becomes disciplinary.” In response to the incidents, Sage hosted a presentation on Feb. 13 at a Parent Association General Meeting and an

assembly for students on Feb. 16 focused on educating the community about the dangers of e-cigarettes, which include increased heart rate and blood pressure, lung disease and increased risk for diabetes. To parents, Poffenberger cautioned, “I’m not saying that your students vape, but if there’s a USB plugged in, take a second look at it and make sure it’s not a charger.” To faculty members, he encouraged all to keep their eyes open, and of course, to take plenty of bathroom breaks. “If you have to go to the bathroom, go to the bathroom!” he said. “Drink a lot of water, and if you see anything, just let me know.”

NHD: Connecting Past to Present ‘Conflict and Compromise’ Theme Inspires Student Research

NATIONAL HISTORY DAY PRESENTATION NIGHT Freshman exhibition in the gym Polina Mogilevsky On Feb 28, freshmen showcased their National History Day documentaries, websites and poster boards united under the theme “Conflict and Compromise.” Mindy Aguirre, Assistant Director for Inclusion and Out-

reach, opened NHD night. “The students are learning to think creatively and compassionately about the communities and civilizations they’re studying,” Aguirre said. Freshman Katie Mayhew created a website on Operation Eagle Claw, which was an operation issued by President Carter

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[Bonfire] is not utilized as much as it could have been. – JacquelineMcNeill

Editorial, Page 2

Academics, Page 3

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to rescue the 52 diplomats being held captive in the U.S. Embassy in Iran in 1980. “I chose my project because I didn’t know anything about it. It looked dramatic, like a story, and I [found it] interesting,” Mayhew said. Freshman Keon Jafari received an award for his docu-

AMANDA DUONG | The Bolt

mentary, The Current State of Iran. “I’m relating back to the 1970s Iranian Revolution, which happened because of foreign intervention, ” Keon said. Chris Farrish, Patterns of Civilization teacher, enjoyed the night.

Alternative Perspectives

Winter Season CIF Results

Community, Page 4

Sports, Page 6

“I would like to say that all my favorite [projects] were from my classes but there were some pretty great ones out there tonight,” Farrish said When asked about the immigrant project, which sophomores do instead of National History Day where they interview an immigrant, Steven Schumacher, AP World History teacher, said, “We are building an archive of stories of immigration to the United States.” “A lot of the students are interviewing their family members so it helps me better understand the students in my class,” Schumacher said. Sophomore Kianna Dominick described the NHD night as “a little nerve-wracking, because people would just come up and talk to [her].” Overall, National History Day was another large success this year full of fascinating projects and interesting perspectives.

Opinion, Page 8

The Bolt March 2018 Sage Hill School

We are living in the generation of mass school shootings. In 2018 alone, there have been 17 school shootings. If the trend continues, there could be more than 100 school shootings throughout the year (Snopes.com). The first major documented school shooting in American history was at Columbine High School in 1999, beginning this era of school shootings. The most notable and recent attack was on Feb. 14, 2018 at Marjory Stoneman High School, with 17 students and faculty members killed by a gunman. School shootings have become so prevalent that school administrations have normalized lockdown drills, treating them like they are fire or earthquake drills, as if school shootings are just something to prepare for rather than be proactive against. Every time there is another school shooting, it restarts the debate on gun control, but usu-

Editorial

ally the conversation fizzles away after a few weeks. People typically send their “thoughts and prayers,” but never do anything past that. Between 1987 and 1996, Australia had four mass shootings, prompting them to pass stricter guns regulations. They haven’t had a single mass shooting since (Bigthink.com). Despite the clear success that Australia had from enacting tighter gun regulations, the United States government struggles to compromise on the issue. The Republican majority in both houses makes passing gun regulations difficult since conservatives stand by their constitutional right to bear arms. But the fact is that preventing school shootings should not be a red and blue issue. The priority of our government should be keeping students safe. It’s that simple. Because our government is failing to adequately address these frightening and apparent

threats, students are the ones stepping up to protect themselves. As members of generation Z, current high schoolers are known to be unified and realistic, giving themselves the unique capability to end the era of school shootings. Generation Z-ers are bringing gun control to the forefront of conversation, drawing the attention of legislators and the media. We have the influence to change “thoughts and prayers” into true action. As high schoolers ourselves, this is an issue that we need to care about. Students nationwide need to stand as a unified front to protect ourselves and each other from what our government is not. And it is important to note that our goal should not be to abolish the 2nd Amendment altogether. Rather, we want our legislators to compromise on a realistic and helpful solution to make schools safe again.

The best and most probable way to enact true change in terms of gun control is through the 2018 midterm congressional elections. We should encourage older generations to support candidates of either party who show willingness to reach a compromise on this vital issue. Because many students are not old enough to vote, there are other ways for us to take part in the movement to end gun violence in schools. Nationwide and here at Sage Hill, students are planning to participate in a walkout on March 14, the one month anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting. During 8:50-9:20 (E block), Sage students will walk out of their classes and gather in Town Square, where there will be an open-mic for short speeches. Students today truly have the unique capability to end gun violence in schools nationwide – now we just need to act on it.

THE BOLT

he Bolt, published seven times a year, is a student newspaper and serves the public forum at Sage Hill School. Its content - news, editorial, opinion, and feature - is protected by Education Code 48907, the state student rights law and the California Constitution which guarantees all citizens the right of freedom of speech and of the press. The Bolt accepts signed letters to the editor from members of the Sage Hill Community which may be posted as comments to our website, lightningboltonline.com, or addressed to editor-in-chief Hannah Woodworth and put in her mailbox on campus. These letters may not exceed 150 words or they will be edited for inclusion.

Editors-in-Chief Daniel Fishman (Online), Michelle Hung (Bolt), Niva Razin (Storm), Hannah Woodworth (Bolt) Editorial Board Jonathan Chance, Karli Davis, Amanda Duong, Genesis Gonzalez, Madison Harrison-Weiner, Sarah Kim, Jenny King, Trevor Klein, Isabella Mora Adviser Kelly Parker

Yuna Baek

Alexis Kelly

Halah Biviji

Valentina Lin

Lily Button

Sydney McCord

Ashwin Chona

Polina Mogilevsky

Miranda deBruyne

Rowan Oliphant

Jacob Gibbs

Cammi Phillips

Genesis Gonzalez

Haley Rosmann

Linda Hachim

Alicia Theoligides-Rodriguez

Lily Humphrey

The Bolt March 2018 Sage Hill School

Academics

BACK WITH BONFIRE

At the beginning of the year, Bonfire lit a spark at Sage. Did it catch fire? Lily Button At the beginning of the year, Bonfire lit a spark at Sage. Did it catch fire? The school-wide mobile app created lots of buzz after its debut at Town Meeting in September. Within the first month of its launch, 450 users joined, representing 80 different clubs and teams at Sage. “It was really exciting that someone from our campus created such a cool app that our clubs could use,” sophomore Polina Mogilevsky said. Juniors Ryan Simpson and

Daniel Gamini designed Bonfire to improve communication by eliminating scattered social media sites and better acquainting students with clubs tailored to their interests. However, as the year progressed, fewer clubs remained active with communication on the app; consequently, its progress has taken a slight downfall. “It’s not utilized as much as it could have been,” freshman Jacqueline McNeill said. The creators are currently working to sustain their initial success. “I am developing features to

adapt to our school’s active environment…[we] remain dedicated to our goal and are pushing for a revamped app in the next few months,” Simpson said. He is currently designing a feature to improve the “usability” of the app and hopes to see more users join in the following months. His goal is to relight a spark on campus by getting the students fired up about the easy-to-use updates. Simpson and Gamini first developed the premise of Bonfire in 2016 after facing difficulties staying connected with members in their own clubs.

They viewed this problem as an opportunity to enhance efficiency in student collaboration. “We saw the potential of a mobile app dedicated entirely for student groups,” Simpson said. After attending business conferences, pitching their ideas to entrepreneurs and winning the UCI Startup Weekend, Simpson and Gamini put their plan into action; through design and code, they were able to publish Bonfire on the App Store, making it accessible for campus clubs and organizations around the world. They partnered with WVE Labs, a group of online de-

signers, to code the database. “It was really easy to use… if you knew nothing about technology you were able to figure it out,” freshman Sarah Fischer said. The application also received positive ratings online. Simpson and Gamini are determined to bring Bonfire to a new height. There have already been three updates to improve minor bugs and another version is expected soon. Let’s rekindle the flame and help Bonfire reignite the Sage community.

Jenny King | The Bolt

GAP YEAR PAMPHLETS Brochures describing gap year opportunities available to students.

To Gap or Not to Gap? An Alternative to a Sage Hill Student Tradition

Alexsis Kelly At Sage Hill, many students see the traditional path of going to college right out of high school as the only option. Whether because of pressure from parents, teachers or peers, taking gap time after senior year is something that many don’t even consider. “I don’t think that Sage necessarily discourages taking a gap year,” senior Lauren Park said. “But I definitely don’t feel like it’s encouraged. I’ve never heard my college counselor mention a gap year, and I’m the only one out of all my friends that’s considering it.” On Feb. 26, Sage Hill put on a gap year interest event through

USA Gap Year Fairs, an organization that assists students with finding an opportunity to pursue after high school that’s right for them. “The benefits of taking a gap year are that students give themselves the time to really figure out who they are, explore what they’re curious about, get a better sense of what they might want to study or [determine] what career paths they might want to seek out,” said Alia Paltos, director of USA Gap Year Fairs. “A gap year lets a student take more ownership over their education.” A common misconception about taking a gap year is that it may affect one’s admissions chances with their college of

choice. In actuality, the typical path for a gap year student still involves applying to college during senior year. “What we usually recommend is that students go through the process of applying to college while they’re here as a senior at Sage, and then once they’re accepted and have enrolled, then work with their college to do a deferral,” said Annalise Miyashiro, college counselor. Those unsure about where they want to go to college, or even if they want to go, may take a gap year to do some research and decide on the path that fits their preferences. Another concern among those considering a gap year is

that they may be left in the wake of those who opt to head to college right after senior year. “I had a student who asked whether he would feel behind or much older than his peers if he went to college a year late, but that’s just an internal perception of what we’re supposed to do,” Paltos said. “A lot of people go through a certain path because it’s what their parents tell them or what their teachers tell them, but I’ve never encountered a student that has regretted taking gap time.” Many are also apprehensive about taking time off from school because finding a gap year opportunity seems daunting, as many of the programs involve either domestic or inter-

national travel. “It’s relatively easy to visit colleges, but if you’re thinking about doing service work in Peru or language immersion in China, you really can’t visit those programs before you sign up for them,” Paltos said. “What USA Gap Year Fairs does is bring the program providers to communities across the United States to speak with families about their options.” Although a gap year may not be the right choice for everyone, for those who are looking for an experience outside of the traditional high school to college path, it may be just what they need to explore new possibilities.

Comm

The Bolt March 2018 Sage Hill School

TEDx: Learning Alter

Jonathan Stark

ROWAN OLIPHANT | The Bolt

The Learned Physicist

Trevor Klein

Jonathan Stark is passionate about particle physics and religion; in his talk, he explains how these two seemingly unrelated topics are, in fact, intertwined. Stark is a junior at Sage Hill with a passion for academics. Stark has played soccer and lacrosse at Sage Hill and he is an Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts of America. Stark believes that religion offers “temporary closure” on scientific questions we cannot yet answer. Thus, he believes we must have faith in the scientific process, and we will eventually find the answer. Stark will continue his study of the scientific method and religion and has a bright future ahead of him.

JONATHAN STARK claims that all religions can coexists.

Richard Garcia

Ali Rafatjoo

Trevor Klein

Ali Rafatjoo was once told he was too talkative to be a surgeon but his outgoing personality made him a perfect family doctor. Before his medical training, Rafatjoo was born in Iran then moved to France. After living in France, Rafatjoo moved to Orange County and attended Newport Christian High School. He went on to earn his bachelor’s and Doctor of Medicine degrees at UCI and opened up his practice in 1998. Rafatjoo has an alternative perspective when it comes to dealing with anxiety and depression. He rejects the common misconception that these conditions always stem from personal problems or shortcomings; rather, patients combating mental health issues have chemical imbalances in the brain that can be fixed

Kylie Schuyler

ROWAN OLIPHANT | The Bolt

The Supportive Perfectionist

ROWAN OLIPHANT | The Bolt

The Adorable Truth Seeker via medication just like any physical disease. With one daughter at Sage Hill, Rafatjoo continues to practice medicine to this day in Newport Beach. Patients have always adored him because off his effective methods and sense of humor. Trevor Klein

Kylie Schuyler’s commitment to serving young women throughout the world best reflects who she is. Schuyler, a mother of seven, works as a philanthropist fighting for gender equality. As a little girl, she saw others catching razor clams on one of her many family trips to the beach. She wanted to catch clams too, but her mother said it was not “ladylike.” At that young age she realized she wanted to break societal gender norms and embrace her true self. Schuyler went on to found nonprofit Global Girl’s Leading Our World (Global G.L.O.W.) and Le Nid, Inc/ California Bliss, a social enterprise. All of the profits they make go to Global G.L.O.W. Schuyler also holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and specializes in adolescent girls’ mental health. Schuyler will always fight for her own and other girls’ rights.

ROWAN OLIPHANT | The Bolt

ROWAN OLIPHANT| The Bolt

Trevor Klein Pediatrician, activist, jazz enthusiast, author and father, Richard Garcia, has an evident passion for his specialties and life in general. Garcia works as a health insurance executive and continues to write about his passions. Garcia grew up in Stockton, California and attended UC Berkeley where he continued his interests in writing and medicine. His colleagues and he wrote a collection of essays, On Race and Medicine: Inside Perspectives, which he edited. He went on to co-write and edit a second series of essays, Sick and Tired: Race, Medicine, and Jazz, incorporating his passion for Jazz. Garcia continues to push for racial equality in health care and is a father of three children, two of whom attend Sage Hill.

The Smooth Musician

Wende Zomnir

The Stylish Mom

ROWAN OLIPHANT | The Bolt

Trevor Klein As a little girl, Wende Zomnir’s priest told her that she was “hiding” her true self behind a mask of makeup. But Zomnir has a totally different perspective on makeup: she believes makeup is a tool of expression rather than a mask. Zomnir co-founded cosmetic brand Urban Decay in the mid-90s because she could not find makeup that was both expressive and high quality. She made her own provocative makeup and it was a success. Zomnir also brings an alternative perspective to being an employer. She has policies such as “dogs allowed” and a dress code of “selfexpression-a-must.” These foster a unique and creative atmosphere in the workplace. Zomnir is a beauty maverick and inspiration to everyone.

munity

The Bolt March 2018 Sage Hill School

rnative Perspectives

ROWAN OLIPHANT | The Bolt

TEDX SERVICE LEARNING GROUP Sage Hill students come together to host TEDx.

‘I ask myself and I am asking you to ask yourself…what can I do?’ - Richard Garcia Daniel Fishman Since the early 20th century, there has been a strong debate between modernists and fundamentalists about the nature of American society. Is there a single, right answer? Well, the answer to this question depends on how an individual sees the world. But in reality, the world is not strictly modernist or fundamentalist. The TEDx event on Friday, March 2 taught the Sage Hill community that there is no single, correct answer. Led by senior co-presidents Juliet Farkas and Brandon Tse and advised by Sage Hill President Gordon McNeill, TEDx is a student-run Service Learning group. They have been planning, organizing and coordinating this year’s event since last spring. “Our theme is Alternative Per-

spectives, and we hope our theme resonated and allowed each audience member to not only see the world in a different way,” Farkas said. The group meets every month on Service Learning days, and they have been anticipating this event all year. One feature about the event that sets it apart is its focus on the audience rather than on the speakers. “[The Service Learning group] loves watching the audience’s reactions to the speakers and loves seeing how different audience members interpret the speakers’ words in different ways,” Farkas said. Each speaker brought a unique alternative perspective that looked at a different element of society in a fresh, innovative way. Kylie Schuyler, founder of non-profit organization Global Girls

Leading Our World (G.L.O.W.), encouraged each audience member to find emotional courage, a term she defines as “the strength for you to share your heart with the world.” “Give yourself an ‘A’ – accept yourself, appreciate yourself, admit your imperfections and acknowledge the things that make you feel vulnerable,” she said. She stressed the idea of proper preparation in order to prevent failure for when life really matters. The most important message she conveyed is that each audience member should, “choose [themselves], choose courage, and choose to make a difference in the world. “The world is awaiting your gift,” Schuyler told the audience. Similarly, Richard Garcia, MD, a prominent doctor in Orange County

and author, challenged each audience member to make a difference in the world in any way they can. Garcia said, “I ask myself and I am asking you to ask yourself…what can I do?” The third speaker, Ali Rafatjoo, MD, spoke about the devastating effects of untreated chemical imbalances. He simplified the material for the audience and explained how a chemical imbalance in one’s brain, commonly known as a mental illness, can take over someone and turn them into a different person. “The point [of my speech] is to empower you to help somebody else who needs treatment or management or to address this chemical imbalance,” Rafatjoo said.

Sports Going for the Goals

The Bolt March 2018 Sage Hill School

Nothing but Net

Boys’ Varsity Basketball Advanced to CIF Playoffs after a Successful Season

The boys’ varsity basketball team endured a hard season, but still made CIF playoffs. They lost in the first round of CIFs to Mary Star of the Sea High School, 70-60, in a tough but close game. “With the majority of our team being mainly underclassmen, our main goal was to simply make the playoffs,” junior Alex Desbans said. “Throughout the season we won about as many games as we lost, and we fortunately accomplished our goal and qualified for the playoffs so I would say our season was a success.”

Narrowly qualifying for CIF playoffs, the team was placed against the No. 2 seed in its division. “We were the obvious underdogs and they expected to beat us easily, but for most of the game we were only down by a couple baskets,” Desbans said. “We unfortunately lost the game, but only barely, and had a few more of our shots gone in, we could have easily won. That said, our young team gained a lot of good playoff experience that will help us a lot next season.” - Karli Davis

LINDA HACHIM | The Bolt

CROWD FAVORITE The bleachers are packed for the boys’ varsity basketball team, one of the four teams from Sage Hill to make it to CIF this season.

GOOOOOOAAAL!!!! Boys’ Varsity Soccer Advanced to the First Round of CIF Playoffs after Winning the CIF Wild Card Game

ALICIA THEOLOGIDES RODRIGUEZ | The Bolt

BATTLE READY Sophomore Dylan Ray from the boys’ varsity soccer team fights for the ball in the team’s first CIF game.

The boys’ varsity soccer team won their CIF wild card game against Marshall 4-3, but lost to Santa Clara in a close game, 3-2, during the first official round of CIF playoffs. “Our first CIF game was a wild card game against Marshall High School. We were able to win in a back-and-forth game,” senior captain Chase Munger said. “Unfortunately we lost in the first round to Santa Clara to a golden goal in extra time.”

With their new head coach, Joe Franco, the team had a victorious and enjoyable season and finished third in league. “I believe this season was a successful year for the team. We were able to book a spot in CIF,” senior captain Sallar Tahbaz said. “As a senior, I can’t wait to come back and see what the team can accomplish next year.” - Karli Davis

Just for Kicks

Girls’ Varsity Soccer Team Awarded Fourth Place in the League after Competing in the CIF Wild Card Game The girls’ varsity soccer team finished league in fourth place and lost 5-0 to Cathedral City High School in during a wild card CIF game. Though they only made it to the wild card round of CIFs, they had an incredible season filled with unforgettable memories. “I think our season went well,” senior captain Taylor Magliarditi said. “We got fourth, which was good, but we were striving for better. Even though we weren’t second in league, which was our goal, we

had a great team and grew a lot.” The team took a two-hour bus ride to Palm Springs on Feb. 13 to compete in the CIF wild card game, but experienced a disappointing loss. “Although the last game didn’t go as we wanted to, we were all able to come together and work really hard,” junior captain Olivia Lowe said. “On the field I could see all the hard work everyone put in during season and how much fun everyone had.” - Karli Davis

ALICIA THEOLOGIDES RODRIGUEZ | The Bolt

PUSHING AHEAD Sophomore Anika Nielsen dribbles the ball toward the goal in a home game against Capo Valley Christian.

Slam Dunk!

Girls’ Varsity Basketball Finished Second Place in League

ALICIA THEOLOGIDES RODRIGUEZ | The Bolt

LEADING THE WAY Senior Kenna Knollenberg has had a tremendous four years on the girls’ varsity basketball team and has been an inspiration to her teammates.

The girls’ varsity basketball team finished second place in league and made it to the second round of CIF playoffs, losing to Bell Gardens, 48-33, in a tough game. “I think the season went really well,” junior Nadia Akbari said. “I’m honestly so proud of how hard we worked and what we were able to accomplish this year.” The team was fortunate to have its first CIF game on home court. With an immense amount

of support and an intense game, the girls beat Laguna Hills High School, 45-43. “We played Bell Gardens and Laguna Hills and the games went super well,” senior captain Kate Knollenberg said. “I think our team came together and we played for each other, which made the games super fun. I am glad that my last games went the way they did because my team had my back and we left the court with pride. - Karli Davis

Arts Spotlight: Ashwin Chona Art is more than a painting or a theatrical performance; art is the expression of human creativity and imagination. Senior Ryan Spataro is an aspiring actor who embodies what art should be: an expression of human beauty and emotion. “When I came to the Sage Open House and saw the theater performance in the Black Box, I was instantly drawn to the stage by the connection I [felt] with the amazing actors,” Spataro said. Sage’s combination of strong arts and academics convinced Spataro to apply, who also considered the Orange County School of the Arts. The culture in the Arts department at Sage created by the teachers and students left a lasting impact on Spataro. “After watching that performance, I knew that Sage was the place where I felt that I would thrive in the arts.” During his time at Sage, Spataro has explored the different disciplines of the arts and grown as an artist in all aspects of the arts. “Mrs. Robinson gave me a foundation in ballet. Ms. Hanson gave me the foundations for acting. Ms. Eddy gave me the foundations in vocal performance. They have all given to me everything the arts has to offer and helped me to grow,” Spataro said. There is more to acting

The Bolt March 2018 Sage Hill School

‘I want people to [take away a different emotion after watching me perform]’

than performing in plays. An actor uses all his experiences and emotions to create a production that moves the audience. “I want people to [take away a different emotion after watching me perform],

vate lessons with an acting, voice and tap coach to attain this goal. Acting has become a strong part of his identity and something that he wants to do in college and in the future. “I have been preparing

and is now waiting to hear back from colleges. “I really hope to go to college for musical theater, but I have been interning for wigmaker Victoria Wood, who makes lots of wigs for 20th Century Fox and Paramount, and I am also considering taking a gap year and working for a

year with her on Hollywood productions,” Spataro said. For Spataro, makes him feel good and experience different emotions. Even if performance art is not in his future, Spataro hopes to continue to be involved in the arts in any way he can.

MADISON’S MOVIE REVIEW

Lords of Dogtown (2005)

Madison Harris-Weiner

Courtesy of Ryan Spataro

whether it is being touched by something that happened in my performance with a dramatic peace or in a comedy feeling that my performance just brighten their day or changed their perspective,” Spataro said. Since he was seven, he has worked with theater academies and taken pri-

for the National Unified Auditions all of last year and this year leading up to the auditions,” Spataro said. Spataro was recently in Chicago for the Unified auditions and performed 15 auditions for schools in a week. Then, Spataro performed five more auditions for schools in Los Angeles

As the first bluesy notes of Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child” float lazily onto the screen, “Locals Only” is sprayed graffiti-style across the frame, boldly announcing that this is Dogtown - a seedy slice of rich culture, a “ghetto by the sea” whose 1970s surfer subculture gave way to the Zephyr skateboard team. Dubbed the Z-Boys, this group of Venice Beach natives lived and breathed skateboarding, mastering it with revolutionary style and technique and pioneering the sport’s modern form. With a defiant and edgy spirit, Lords of Dogtown documents the first days of the maverick team and the group of reckless teenagers who found a home with, and paved a future for, skateboarding. Lords of Dogtown is an essential for skaters as well as ‘70s aficionados but director Catherine Hardwicke also brings mass appeal to a story about a fringe group. Written by original Zephyr member Stacy Peralta, Dogtown closely follows the narrative of the 2001 documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys but it allows itself room to have a whole lot of fun along the way. Its foremost focus is on the gang-like brotherhood of the team and though the development of individual character motives isn’t always deep, the passion that holds the team together through its first competitions drives the film forward. Most of the boys come from troubled homes and it’s clear that the thrill of a good wave isn’t the only thing they’re chasing. Under the eccentric idiosyncrasies of father-figure and Zephyr surf shop owner Skip Engblom the boys find something of a home - a second home that is - away from the sidewalks and waves they mark as their own. Skateboarding rode out a short craze with an easygoing image in the 1960s but with the invention of gripping urethane wheels, the Zephyr team infused the sport with their rough-and-tumble rebellious style of surfing, touching the pavement to spin aerials just like surfing a blue wave. When their cutting-edge tricks outgrew their neighborhood streets they turned to swimming pools, breaking into house pools left empty by the

1976 drought and skating their walls in the style now known as ‘vert’. The team stormed competitions, shocking judges with tricks that tore up the flat tabletop better suited for the mellow skating of the previous decade. And it wasn’t just their tricks; their long hair, heavy competition music and tough, defiant, unruly approach gave a new face to the sport. For the Z-Boys, it wasn’t a weekend hobby, it was a career, and long before they found celebrity within a sport they had spearheaded, they made it a lifestyle. Dogtown lets audiences in on a tight subculture, making you fall in love with the sport regardless of prior knowledge or interest. It’s lens has a dual focus, making it a sport film but never dwelling on that fact by also emphasizing the brotherhood, humor and relationships of the characters. The cast, led by Heath Ledger’s quirky Skip and Emile Hirsch’s troubled Jay, is natural and sincere, comfortable in their roles and with each other and most importantly right at home on the rugged Venice streets and on their boards. With uneven camerawork, fast cuts that move swiftly to compliment the skaters, a heavy rock soundtrack, gritty production design and a textured finish, director Catherine Hardwicke gives the film an edgy vibe that captures the time and culture in a way that creates an aesthetic without exploitation. It bursts with a contagious love for the sport, the culture and the time it illustrates and though nostalgic undertones run throughout, its energy and personality feel bold and modern. Celebrity soon drives the Z-Boys to big-name endorsements that turn passion into profit and promise of grander things than simple street skating and a hole-in-the-wall surf shop. But as the pro skater industry erupts, the Zephyr team, once pioneers, become one of many. There is a sadness that comes with this but also a sense of bittersweet inevitability. The final scene closes on a melancholy note of sentiment for simpler times but also of triumph for what these friends accomplished together and for the waves and streets they conquered.

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The Bolt March 2018 Sage Hill School

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Hollywood’s Diversity Dilemma Why Misrepresentation Is an Issue That Can’t Be Ignored

Sydney McCord The idea that representation matters in the entertainment industry is not a new one. Ever since the 2016 Academy Awards when the controversial #oscarssowhite began trending, this topic of conversation has remained prevalent. The hashtag’s main gripe centered around the fact that for the second year in a row, all 20 actors and actresses nominated for Oscars in the lead and supporting actor categories were white. This incident got people talking. The dialogue not only focused on the underrepresentation of minorities in television and films, but also on their misrepresentation on other media platforms, such as web series and magazines. I would argue that the main reason for this dubbed “whitewash” at the Oscars and in Hollywood in general, comes back to the fact that often times minorities are cast in lesser roles that perpetuate a variety of stereotypes, that in turn are believed by other groups in the real world. Black actors repeatedly play thugs or drug dealers while black actresses portray girls that are particularly rough around the edges and overuse urban slang words. It has become a rarity to find an actor or actress of color portraying a main character with depth and substance that doesn’t strengthen already offensive clichés. Because of the types of characters minorities are forced to embody, audiences begin to associate the real people that they interact with on a daily basis with the characters they watch on TV. “The more TV you watch, the more media you consume, the more likely it is that media ― almost like radiation ― builds up,” Darnell Hunt, director of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA, told The Huffington Post. “And that accumulated effect is to make you feel that what you’re seeing is somewhat normal.” These abnormalities, therefore, generate serious repercussions for individ-

uals. Specifically, the consequence of repeatedly seeing someone who looks like you in cliché and objectionable roles compels you to see yourself as similar to the character they bring to life. On the other hand, if an actor or actress portrays your experience through a character that possesses authentic feelings, emotions and ambitions, you are able to envision those qualities in yourself. This phenomenon is known as symbolic annihilation and was coined in the 1960s by George Gerber. Before his passing, Gerber was a journalist and professor of communication who earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from University of California Berkeley and his master’s and doctorate degrees in communication from the University of Southern California. During his studies, Gerber described the effects of minorities only being represented by one-dimensional and inauthentic character tropes. “Representation in the physical world signifies social existence,” Gerber said. “Absence means symbolic annihilation.” Furthermore, part of the reason why this is such a large issue in today’s entertainment industry is the drastic underrepresentation of marginalized people in films and television. Therefore these actors and actresses are compelled more often than not to play characters that grossly misrepresent their real experiences. And although it may seem that this is an isolated issue that is solely relevant to racial minorities, this is certainly not the case. The LGBTQ+ community, women and other marginalized groups are victims to the harsh realities of stereotypical characters. In 2016, the University of Southern California, Annenberg conducted a study that evaluated more than 21,000 characters in 414 television shows, 109 films and 305 broadcasts and digital series over the course of a year. Their findings augment the obvious

underrepresentation of minorities in the media, as of the 11,194 speaking characters that could be determined for apparent sexuality, 224 were either gay, lesbian or bisexual, while only seven were transgender. Additionally nearly 80 percent of this already small selection were white. From the pool of 11,306 speaking characters that were evaluated, 33.5 percent were female and 66.5 percent were male. Specifically in films, women only accounted for 28.7 percent of all speaking roles. After reviewing this data, it’s not a secret that Hollywood has major inclusion issues. But why should we really care? At times, the stereotypical characters can add humor to the plot or advance the journey of the main character, such as in “Scott’s Tots,” an episode in season 6 of NBC’s hit comedy series, The Office. In this episode, protagonist Michael Scott fasly promises to fund the college tuitions of several African American high school students. The problem is that when Michael can’t keep his promise, the misery, anger and disappointment experienced by the African American high school students is only another zany antic to add to Michael’s list of never ending shenanigans. No real resolution is offered for the students, and therefore they represent and perpetuate an ever-present offensive stereotype that still plagues African American communities today. All in all, correct representation can exist in a variety of ways and it truly does matter. The offensive portrayal of African American youth in “Scott’s Tots” is just the tip of the iceberg. But aside from all the times the media got it wrong, there are certainly instances where they nailed certain characters. For me it was Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope in Scandal, Viola Davis as Annalise Keating in How to Get Away with Murder and more recently Yara Shahidi as Zoey Johnson in Grownish. It’s not solely because these characters are powerful black women

-- well, not only that. It’s more so the fact that they are authentic characters that embody real experiences, not in their day-to-day activities per say, but in the way they live with a unapologetic mannerisms and emotions that are at times extremely flawed yet genuine in the real world. Bouncing back from the 2016 Oscars, the 2018 awards, aired live on Sunday March 4. Although no people of color were awarded acting recognitions, the event was still a huge victory for inclusion, as a variety of presenters and those who did win awards shed an important light on inclusion issues and the progress that is being made. Behind the camera, African American writer Jordan Peele won Best Original Screenplay for “Get Out.” Additionally, Mexican American director Guillermo del Toro was awarded Best Director for his work on “The Shape of Water.” This film was nominated for 13 total awards and came home with four, including Best Picture. Adrian Molina, the co-director of Pixar’s hit film “Coco,” which won awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, used his acceptance speech to bring attention to the representation question in Hollywood. “[We] worked very hard to show that films about communities of color, films that come from particular places, have resonance that can reach across the world” Molina said. “You’ve seen that with ‘Coco,’ you’ve seen that with ‘Black Panther,’ and I think you’re going to see it with a lot of other films in the future.” In my opinion, we need a lot more of these types of characters and films -those that erase biases and preconceived notions, and instead embody the influential people we see positively impacting our communities and our world. And although these characters are becoming more common in films and TV shows, with the increased diversity of directors, writers and producers, there is still a long ways to go until the inclusion problem is truly solved.