The Samohi (2023-2024) Cycle 5

The Samohi

Wednesday, March 13, 2024 | Santa Monica High School | Volume CXII - Issue V

Read about The Phantom of the Opera on Page 12

Photo by Ryan Kim

Cover by Taylor Witt

PBL to move to Samo campus in fall of 2024

At the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, the Pathways for Project-Based Learning (PBL) will be moving to the Business building on Samo’s campus. The move will occur at the same time as the opening of the new Exploration building on campus, which will most likely happen in time for the fall semester; the staff in the Business building will transition to Exploration, as the moving of PBL will dis-

place them. The move was announced on Nov. 8 2023 in an email to PBL students and parents that detailed what life would be like at the start of next year, including the expansion of the Innovation Studio, a modern twist on the arts and crafts room, and access to more teachers and student-led clubs.

PBL Math teacher Patti Newton has echoed the intrigue of the new possibilities for students on the Samo campus and the stress of moving to different campuses.

“There’s a different feeling to being our own school and creating our own schedules,” Newton said. “We’ll still have those principles at the Samo campus and it will be the best of both worlds.”

PBL opened its doors at the start of the 2019-20 school year at the Michelle and Barack Obama Center for Inquiry and Exploration on the corner of Ocean Park Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard, a campus they shared with Olympic High School for the first three years of its existence. However, reconstruction of the nearby Santa Monica Alternative School House (SMASH) forced PBL and Olympic to move to a small part of the campus at Santa Monica College (SMC) for the foreseeable

future as the SMASH students and staff would occupy the Obama Center. PBL’s stay at SMC would prove to be temporary, however, as PBL’s part of their campus will be demolished as a part of the college’s reconstruction process.

PBL principal Nicole Nicodemus is hopeful that PBL’s move to Samo will help increase the school’s popularity among future high school students in SMMUSD.

“The district wanted to move us to the Samo campus because they wanted Samo students to be a part of PBL Pathway,”

FAFSA delays push back commitment dates

Taylor Witt Photo Editor

Release of the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) was delayed until early January of this year, which caused a butterfly effect of setbacks for critical dates and all financial-related information.

After much trial and error, the 2024-2025 Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) opened in late December. For all prior years, the program has opened on Oct. 1, to give students a healthy amount of time to complete the time-consuming application. Major changes to the process have been in the works since 2021 but were only implemented this school year. The biggest differences in the application process are the simplification and the change from Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) to the Student Aid Index (SAI).

The new format rid 46 questions, and should now take users around ten minutes to fill out. The form has allowed families to link their FAFSA directly to the IRS, granting quick access to past years’ tax information. The change from EFC to SAI has confused many senior students. For both assessments, the higher the student receives, the less financial aid is given, and vice versa. A significant difference is that families with multiple students currently attending higher education institutions will no longer receive additional financial aid. Compared to past years, a student with a sibling in college would receive a lower EFC since the family financially support multiple students with college tuition expenses. Jordan Stuart (’24) discusses the anxieties that many students are experiencing with the FAFSA.

SA made. FAFSA originally announced that at ‘sometime in December’ the form would be released. A complete revamp of the website resulted in technical difficulties, making multiple students unable to access the application. Delays in the release date were attributed to the Education Department’s lack of account for inflation. However, an estimated 1.3 million new students will be eligible for Pell Grants which can award up to about $6,500.

In early January, the website was inaccessible, with greyed-out boxes and messages saying the website was changing. Families were left in the aftermath of the mess, with very little information about the form. On the other side, colleges are also left to come up with aid offers at the same time as admission decisions. Everybody, college counselors included, was left in the dark when it came to updates and infor- mation. Samo College

to updates and infor- Samo College or, Er- nesto Flores, the impact of delays for students

Nicodemus said. “Many students didn’t want to be part of PBL because they were worried about missing out on opportunities with their friends and Samo, and our hope for this move is for that to no longer be as big of a barrier as it was in the past.” PBL students have almost always been on campus at some point in their daily schedule, as freshmen and sophomores have fifth and sixth periods at Samo, and juniors and seniors have first and second periods on campus as well. One of the main goals for this move is to increase PBL’s proximity to Samo student life and extracurriculars in sports, the arts, and government-related activities among other things.

PBL student Asa Colwell (’25) is optimistic about how the move will change the identity of PBL and how the Samo student body will further accept PBL students as their own.

“I feel like PBL has always been viewed as the ‘special school’ and that no one has given us a chance,” Colwell said. “PBL gives students a lot of chances to be creative and explore their interests and if people gave us a chance, they would get to see how great this program is.”

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commitment dates. All UCs besides UC Berkley and outof-state applicants will have commitment dates pushed to May 15. All 23 Cal State schools also followed suit on the delay. According to the New York Times, a minimum of 60 schools in the United States have delayed their commitment dates. While most private colleges do not rely on student information from the FAFSA and rather turn to the CSS Profile, not all are exempt. Current information on financial aid distribution is limited because aid packages have not been received by colleges yet, and there is no accurate estimation as to how much more or less students will receive. This sparks the question for many students if attending a higher education institution is even worth the financial burden. Stuart committed to Drexel University for athletics but without financial aid information, they’re offering only a vague estimate for tuition.

“It made me somewhat nervous because the school I committed to, Drexel, had their own response to it aside from other colleges, and so their response was somewhat mixed in terms of like, they told me to submit FAFSA even though it wasn’t going through to them on their end. And so it kind of just led to confusion and anxiety in that aspect of my college application process” Stuart said.

The delayed release of the form gave students and families less time to process and understand the changes FAF-

e Samohi is a monthly newspaper by, for and about Santa Monica High School students. Our goal is to empower the student body through information. We do not represent the views of the administration or sta . We do not endorse advertisements placed in our paper.

from different backgrounds.

“For those that have had issues, it’s been a massive mess,” Flores said. “And this goes from a late release to the FAFSA, issues with FAFSA accounts, students that are considered coming from mixed families, meaning parents are undocumented or don’t have a social security number literally cannot even work on the FAFSA, so that means they have incomplete FAFSAs at this time.”

The California State University (Cal State/CSU) and University of California (UC) systems have pushed back

Editor-in-Chief

Hawene Alemayehu

Managing Editor Sydney Roker

News Editors

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Ryan Kim

Centerspread Editor

Aili Forster

Opinion Editor Nika Nazarizadeh

Sports Editors

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Matilde Martinez-Navarrete

Student Life Editor

Emi Yamashiro-Hergert

A&E Editor Sara Javerbaum

“I mean, I have financial aid through the school for athletic commitment but not having that consideration will definitely make not only my decision for college, but my sister’s decision especially a lot harder because she’ll have to take into consideration the financial aid aspect, of it way more than I had to,” said Stuart.

Higher education school systems are generally strict when it comes to deadlines. If an important date is missed, students may not be granted entry to the school. Flores emphasizes the importance of staying in the loop when it comes to new information from schools.

massive aspect, and they don’t want to pressure people,”

“I think the universities themselves know finance is a massive aspect, and they don’t want to pressure people,” Flores said. “We know that they have timelines, but they need to be realistic since this is a business for them. So I highly doubt that there are many schools out there that will not push back their commitment dates… But it’s a case-by-case study, for our students applying all over the country, they must be checking their portals, checking their emails, and being up to date as far as when the schools want the FAFSA in by.”

Art Editor Audrey Strauss

Photo Editor Taylor Witt

Faculty Advisor Elizabeth Stapleton

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Staff Writers Violeta Buitrago, Addie Burns, Claire Harrison, Max Kehoe, Sia Kresch, Koi Lerner, Manny Lopez, Maggie Marks, Declan Ney, Dalia Puchalt, Louis Rotgin, Liam Sauer, Kamerin Shakir, Olivia Stephansen, Nathan Vasquez

Declan Ney Staff Writer

Taylor Witt / The Samohi

PBL has called SMC home since fall of 2022, with nine classes available to them.

Declan Ney/ The Samohi

PBL will be moving into the Business building at the start of the 2024-25 school year.

Samo’s new buildings revolutionize learning

Dalia Puchalt Staff Writer

SMMUSD has persevered in their attempt to revolutionize the learning process with the construction of Samo’s new buildings, the Exploration Building and Gold Gym.

neering academy—presently implemented on campus as Project Lead The Way—will move to the first floor of the Exploration Building and feature an impressive workshop that extends outdoors. The second floor and third floors will be occupied by two brand new academies: Health and Wellness will incorporate state-of-the-art

Now, it’s official: the new buildings are on schedule to open and become fully operational in Aug. for the upcoming fall semester. Over the course of the last few years, the extensive construction process piqued the interest of countless Samo students, and the majority of their questions were left unanswered. However, in the midst of a design process entirely reliant on discussion and evolution, it was only recently that an end was in sight.

The three-story Exploration Building will be situated on the southern end of campus, geographically replacing the late History Building. The eastern wing of the building will be home to multimedia and visual arts, leaving the bungalows and areas of the Business Building vacant. Film and Photography will reside on the ground floor, fully equipped with a dark room, extensive equipment storage and professional-grade sound booths. 3D art and 2D art will be respectively located on the second and third floors, both featuring designated outdoor creative spaces and adhering to rotating classroom models.

The western half of the building will host the Capstone program, now new and improved. Each floor of the building will be dedicated to one of three career academies, a project-based and highly innovative approach to learning that fills two periods of students’ schedules. The Engi -

technology into their learning process, and Law and Public Policy will be fully equipped with a law library and courtroom.

The building is technically four stories due to the three fully operational outdoor classrooms located on the roof, as well as the Brainstorm and Design Lab. This is one of many futuristic elements: the Health and Wellness Academy will utilize interactive holographic tables to visualize models in 3D space, and there is a designated multi-level “pitch space” for students to exhibit their educational breakthroughs to their peers, amphitheater-style.

Chief Operations Officer Carey Upton is optimistic that these new spaces will revolutionize the learning process for years to come.

“The new and improved facilities will give our students state-of-the-art spaces that allow them to fully grow and embrace their health, body and mind,” Upton said. “The design continues our transition from prior buildings featuring boxed-in learning spaces that restrict student creativity to flexible collaborative spaces that adapt to changing teaching and learning methods.”

The buildings are a result of Phase 3 of the district’s 40-year Samohi Campus Plan (SCP), phases 1 and 2 being the construction of the Discovery Building. Primary goals of the project are to clarify pathways

and campus circulation, provide adaptability for future needs, create dynamic environments for learning and replace inefficient facilities. The SCP is funded by Measure SMS, a community-approved bond allocating $485 million towards Santa Monica educational facilities. The design was a collaboration between design architects Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners and executive architects HED Architects.

As is typical of all modern Santa Monica construction projects, the Exploration Building has been constructed to be extremely sustainable, boasting a living wall and 14,000 square feet of solar panels that supply the entirety of the building’s power.

The building’s characteristic synthesis of interior and exterior space is not only advantageous on account of Santa Monica’s coastal climate, but proven to be healthier for students as well.

Coordination will be a daunting task for both students and staff in this new environment. No longer will teachers be assigned designated classrooms year round, or students limited to a singular workspace. The designers’ emphasis on the fluidity and diversity of spaces was intended to maximize the efficiency of learning, which will be put to the test upon the building’s opening. Scattered between classes are areas denominated “brainstorming spaces,”

ering optimism for the building’s unique characteristics.

“Students can expect that these learning spaces will be bright with natural light and designed to promote collaboration, exploration of content, and flexibility in setting,” Cruce said. “There will be small group breakout rooms, similar to Discovery, along with large spaces to explore your passions.”

Phase 3B of the SCP, the Gold Gym will act as a replacement for the South Gym (which will be demolished in the near future). The new gymnasium—located directly southwest of the Exploration Building—cleverly molds to the anatomy of the hill that it lies on, taking on a steplike structure. The bottommost level consists of a two-court volleyball and basketball practice gym with 750-seat pull-out bleachers, as well as an elevated auxiliary court. Looking down on the gymnasium through sound-proofed glass is the dance and cheer studio, fully furnished with floor-to-ceiling mirrors and sophisticated safety equipment. Yoga and weight lifting, along with the locker rooms, will be located on the basement levels.

In Phase 4 of the SCP, completion currently being anticipated for 2027, we can expect renovations of our current Business and English Buildings. Prospective amendments to the campus include the

featuring large whiteboards and plenty of natural light. With such a diverse array of environments, teachers will periodically need to communicate with one another to determine which space is best suited to their class for that day’s curriculum.

Principal Marae Cruce, who has held a seat on the Samohi Campus Planning Committee for many years, has unwav -

migration of the library to the English Building’s second floor, an improved space for student services such as journalism and yearbook in the Business Building and the construction of the new Black Box Theater. As of now, the projected finish line for the renovations is Fall 2047.

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Wave of prestigious colleges re-requiring SAT and ACT

Liam Sauer Staff Writer

Some prominent universities such as Harvard, Dartmouth and Yale have all decided to reinstate the SAT and or the ACT as requirements for any application to their school for the class of 2029.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, SAT and ACTs, formally a staple of admission into four-year colleges, became optional. According to Forbes in fall 2023, more than 80 percent of 4-year colleges do not require standardized tests. However, this significant change may be reversed, as many prestigious colleges and universities throughout the United States have started to revoke their test-optional policies.

After overviewing SAT and ACT data, many colleges found that the tests were racially discriminatory, unfair towards people of different socioeconomic statuses and an invalid measure of judging a student’s true academic abilities.

Ananda Searcy (‘25) offered an additional

perspective on the possible equity issues colleges could be missing.

“I get the point of trying to identify your high-performance students[...] but I feel like most of these colleges have a predominantly white community. And some of the students who aren’t white don’t have that level of education possibly. So I feel like doing that is slightly unfair,” Searcy said.

Many critics, including educators from the two thousand U.S. colleges that are test-optional, pointed to private SAT and ACT tutors as an additional inequity available to students who could afford them, broadening the disparity in test scores with lower income families at a disadvantage. Some educators found that, regardless of a student’s score, the tests do not accurately reflect students’ abilities.

“I think that that flexibility [of the test being optional] really opened the door for some students that may or may not be strong test takers, but can prove success or strong qualities elsewhere,” said Flores.

This was referred to by many in the college admissions community as “the big ex-

periment.” Yet, many of the aforementioned schools have recently announced their reversal of the test-optional policy. The decision was partly influenced by a study conducted by Brown and Dartmouth University, “Standardized Test Scores and Academic Performance at Ivy-Plus Colleges.” The study had three important findings: students with better standardized test scores had better college grades, a student’s GPA in high school does not equate to potential college success and students with similar standardized tests from different backgrounds still had similar college grades.

Despite the findings of this study, the majority of the colleges throughout the U.S. continue to align their policies with the equity-based argument against standardized tests.

Regardless of the effects of requiring the ACT and SAT, these tests will continue to impact college-bound students at Samo.

“It’s one of those deals where I tell students this is not something that should be taken lightly and because of that, I think it can bring about a lot of stress into a student’s life. I tell

students at least four to six weeks of some form of test prep. [...] Students need to prioritize their true life responsibilities,” Flores said. “If it’s required for a school that is your dream school, they will regret not applying to do it [SAT/ACT]. But if it’s not, I think it’s one of those stressors that we could do away with everything.”

Though actively studying for the SAT, the AVID Club President Himanshi Machhaal (’25) said that the position to re-require the standardized tests was misguided.

“Somebody might have bad extracurriculars, but an awesome GPA and an awesome SAT score can help the college determine if they’re the right fit for the college. Even though your GPA might be really good, SATs and ACTs can help boost your applications,” Machhall said. “However it should be optional because some people don’t do well due to the time limit provided in standardized tests and some people have test anxieties and a limited amount of time can have a huge impact on their performance on the test.”

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The dance studio in the Gold gym will look down upon three volleyball and basketball courts through a soundproofed window.

Catherine Baxter/ Contributor

Tthe exploration building’s construction, phase 4 of the samohi campus plan, is 79% completed. Aspects of the building strongly resemble Discovery.

Catherine Baxter/ Contributor

Santa Monica Airport sue for closure by 2028

Maggie Marks Staff Writer

While the Santa Monica Airport is projected to close by the end of 2028, its spaces ware being utilized in contemporary ways. Events such as Frieze, an art show and the People’s Choice Awards have occupied the hangars of the airport, whilst the tarmac is still active.

The airport has been an ongoing point of controversy, thus resulting in its impending demise. For years, residents surrounding the Santa Monica Airport identified themselves as NIMBYs, standing for Not In My Backyard. This is attributed to the strong animosity against having an operating airport constantly function above their house, primarily due to issues with noise complaints, accidents and pollution.

Due to a vote made in 2017 by the Santa Monica City Council, the airport is projected to close by Dec. 31, 2028. When the runway was shortened from 4,925 feet to 3,500 feet, resulting in the prevention of the majority of jets being able to

land, the city was allowed to close the airport. There has been advocation for the airport’s closure, dating back to the 1970s. The city is looking to redevelop the land into an open space, available for the public. This can entail the creation of parks and recreational areas. Real estate development on the land is currently prohibited unless approved by voters.

Graham Slater (’24) a resident near the Santa Monica Airport is looking forward to the prospect of the closure of the airport and hopes that the vast property is put to recreational use.

“In 2028, when the airport closes I hope it’s turned into a Fairground of some sort, maybe housing a museum or concert venue or more space for local businesses,” Slater said. “The amount of large-scale apartment complexes being built in Santa Monica is alarming to me as a local, who has grown up here watching this Large space become open to developers, makes me fear that another massive apartment unit will be put in, further increasing the crowdedness of Santa Monica.”

Despite its impending closure, the airport is still thriving, and currently has a bright future ahead, even after the closing. Constituting about 5 percent of the land of the city of Santa Monica, the future 227-acre site will be managed by architect firm Sasaki Associates.

Currently, the airport is used on the first and 4th Sunday of every month as a renowned vintage market, selling goods varying from jewelry, vintage clothing, paintings, textiles and more.

In the Barker Hanger, the 49th People’s Choice Awards was hosted by Simu Liu. There were nominees featured from topics such as film, television, music, and popular culture. This 35,000-foot entertainment venue provides ample space for events and has seen boxing matches, trade shows, and food and wine festivals.

By 2025, there will be the commencement of the “air taxi” at the Santa Monica Airport, a startup focusing on the develop-

ment of electric aircraft. Trips from Santa Monica to Malibu will be able to transport four passengers, plus a pilot for the price of an Uber. The incentive for bringing this market to Santa Monica is a safe, fast and clean transportation alternative.

In light of the proposition of air taxis, while Slater finds them to be unnecessary for residents, he believes that they can appeal to tourists visiting Santa Monica.

“As far as an air taxi to me, I don’t see any use in that. Although at high traffic hours, Malibu takes up to an hour to get to, I have never had trouble with that drive, and as a surfer, the ability to be in my car and take equipment with me to Malibu is essential to me. However, I could see the benefit of an air taxi for others, especially in regards to tourism.” Slater said.

In 2023, the Frieze art fair started its first year at the Barker Hanger. Its large and empty space was essential for displaying the art without distraction. Developed by the founders of Frieze magazine, the show has expanded over four cities, including London, New York, Los Angeles, and Seoul. The show took place at the Barker Hanger, and people flocked to the show and the airport. Starting the weekend of Feb. 29 to Mar. 3, the creators envisioned the site plan of the airport to be a gathering point, called a welcoming sanctuary centered on food, culture and community by Director of Frieze Mark Thomann.

Slater is an enthusiast of the productive uses of the spaces of the airport and is looking forward to seeing future events.

“I’m definitely in favor of the airport being revitalized to incorporate more events,” Slater said. “The Frieze art there seems very interesting to me and well put together and living nearby to the airport community events like art shows, flea markets, and even concert and musical events are definitely something that I support.”

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Important upcoming dates for the presidential election

Olivia Stephansen Staff Writer

The 2024 Presidential Election takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 5th. After the primaries, a voting process where voters indicate which candidate they want to represent their party, the two leading candidates for the Democratic and Republican parties are Joe Biden, the incumbent, and Former President Donald Trump. If both Biden and Trump win the nomination, they will be the first candidates to face off against each other twice since. These are the upcoming election dates:

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LA Hotel Strikes begins to end after negotiations

Sia Kresch Staff Writer

The hotel strike, which started on July 10 2023, began to reach closure in early January after successful negotiations with hotels.

Unite Here Local 11, an organization aimed at representing and fighting for workers, successfully helped negotiate improved wages, working conditions and enhanced employee benefits. They successfully reached an agreement with 34 hotels in Culver City, West Hollywood, Long Beach and Santa Monica.

The Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica was the second hotel to sign a deal with the union. After six months of strikes and protests, Fairmont employees received a wage increase that aligns with the price of housing, healthcare and inflation. This victory represents the union’s ability to garner widespread support and effectively meet the workers’ demands.

“We applaud the Fairmont Miramar for signing this historic agreement” Unite Here Local 11 co-president Kurt Persen stated in a press interview, “This victory once again demonstrates our member’s indomitable spirit and sends an unambiguous message to the remaining hotels that we will not stop fighting until we have one a living wage at all hotel.”

During protests, participants have used bullhorns and drums to share their message. This however has been a disturbance to some and resulted in a lawsuit filed against Unite Here Local 11 after complaints of noise from an early morning protest in Beverly Hills.

Rian Barenfeld (’26) witnessed the strikes firsthand.

“My grandparents’ apartment is close to a hotel, and I saw them protesting when I walked by. I also saw a strike at the hotel near the YMCA when I was driving by; they had drums and horns and were circling the front of the building. Both strikes were extremely noisy, and I could hear them from far away,” Barenfeld said.

According to the Los Angeles Times, union strikers have been injured by metal pellets fired by air rifles by anti-protestors and were roughed up by security guards. In the past, workers and supporters had been attacked while protesting outside properties in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

As the fight for better conditions continues, many begin to celebrate the hard work being put into the strikes, such as Housekeeping supervisor Diana Sanchez, who works at the InterContinental Downtown LA.

“We had a party in the cafeteria this morning. We are stronger today than when we went on our first strike,” Sanchez said to Unite Here Local 11.

Sanchez said she acknowledges that the fight is not over until all hotel workers can succeed with their goal. The strikes have created a strong sense of community between these employees and throughout the process, they

have grown stronger as a group. Once the contract gets ratified, the employees at the InterContinental Downtown LA will enjoy many benefits and improvements.

These include unprecedented wage increases to keep up with the escalating cost of housing, affordable family healthcare, improved retirement pensions, safe staffing and language improvements. These language improvements will help provide job opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals as well as protections for immigrant workers.

However, many private-equity-owned Aimbridge Hospitality hotels continue to refuse their worker’s demands. Cambridge, a movement launched by hotel employees to boycott Aimbridge Hospitality, resulted in Ambridge’s loss of operating contracts as two hotels based in LA.

Morena Hernandez, a housekeeper at the Hyatt Andaz, pledges to continue to fight until her fellow workers gain what they deserve. “My coworkers and I stuck together until we won what we deserved. We will keep fighting aside our sisters and brothers at the Hotel Maya, Hyatt Regency LAX and others until they win too,” Hernandez said.

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Unite Here Local 11 successfully helped negotiate improved wages and employee benefits.

New York Times / Contributor

Due to a vote made in 2017 by the Santa Monica City Council, the airport is projected to close by December 31st, 2028.

National Business Aviation Association / Contributor

Art by Audrey Strauss

OPINION

Recent tik tok trends and movies revolving around women’s empowerment have brought up the idea of a girls girl- the girl who brings up other women instead of pushing them down. A girl’s girl is the con dent girl that helps other girls out and is there to upli and empower women. But like most trends, is being a girls girl too good to be true? Are there actually women like this?

YES NO

Olivia Stephansen Staff Writer

The term refers to the idea of celebrating other women from their accomplishments, from getting a good grade on a test to making the varsity level team. Even if it is a smaller scale accomplishment, a girl’s girl would make the person feel like they just won the lottery. At the end of the day, it’s the little things that can make someone’s day and make them feel like their hard work is appreciated.

The feeling of joy watching other women succeed instead of feeling jealous of them plays a major part in being a girl’s girl. The same thing goes with running against other women in jobs or positions of power. Just because you run for the same position as another woman and they get it instead of you there, doesn’t mean you need to be rude to or talk badly about the woman saying that “she didn’t deserve it.” A girl’s girl would take note of the things that their “competition” did to reach their accomplishments and would learn from that in the future, turning jealousy into a building up of one another. While jealousy is a normal human feeling, instead of being jealous of one’s accomplishments, a girl’s girl would be genuinely happy for other’s achievements.

A big part of being a girl’s girl is not making another girl feel embarrassed. If you notice she has something in her teeth or her makeup isn’t fully rubbed in you help them fix it or tell them quietly not making a big deal about it because that happens to everyone. Embarrassment is one of the worst feelings when someone else, especially another

girl, is the person who makes you feel that way. Similar to the elementary school saying “do the right thing even though nobody else is watching,” girl’s girls are supposed to have eachothers backs especially if your friend or a girl isn’t there to defend herself.

While some may argue that upholding the expectations of being a girl’s girl is unrealistic, it is important to consider one’s personal experiences with other women. A bad experience with girls being selfish or rude does not define the entirety of women. Athena Barefoot (’27) proves the point that kind girls do exist, and that there are genuine girls who want to empower women.

“I was a new person at my camp last year so I was super nervous when I got there but my cabin was so welcoming and all the girls there came together to welcome me and make sure that I was having fun. They went out of their way to make me camp bracelets and it was so amazing to have a group of girls be there for me, for those three weeks,” Barefoot said.

Posts on TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms of people praising girls’ girls – women who are supportive of other women and see them as friends instead of competition – have spiked in popularity over the past year. Originally cast as the opposite of a girl who behaved only for male attention, going so far as to act at the cost of other women, a girl’s girl has evolved into an entirely new concept that leaves us wondering: is anyone truly a girl’s girl? The

At the base level, girl’s girls are seen as women who know and respect “girl code.” Under this criteria, there are many girls’ girls all over. But when more parameters are placed on being girls’ girls, the standards become unrealistic. A girl’s girl is someone who immediately tells you the store they got their clothes/perfume/jewelry from when complimented. She is also the person who hasn’t gossiped a day in her life In addition, she immediately tells someone they have something in their teeth or they need to fix their makeup the second it appears. If girls don’t adhere to these standards, they can be labeled as “out to get the other girls” and are no longer considered girl’s girls. While often, friends and family might point out these things, it is unreasonable to expect those you might or might not even know to do these things just because she is a girl. Even if some girls may not immediately tell

another if something is awry, or may tell a white lie in order to protect another person’s feelings, this does not mean that they have bad intentions. Different girls show that they care and help out in different ways, but being a girls’ girl for everyone around is not realistic. With all these rules about what makes someone a girl’s girl, no one can truly meet the standards to be one.

A girl’s girl is also someone who is not “boy crazy. In fact, they prioritize their female friends over those they are romantically interested in. While many girls value their female friendships and put great effort into them, it is unrealistic to expect girls to not equally value the time and work put into building romantic relationships. Just because a girl is having a love life doesn’t mean she is only seeking male validation, even if she might cut down on time with friends to do so.

While the definition of a girl’s girl might change to be defined more loosely or more generally, not “helping” a girl out does not make her a bad person, and doing so might have more to do with being a good person in general than someone only for the girls. I am not a boy’s girl, but I don’t know if I can consider myself to be a girl’s girl either, I am just a girl.

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Lights, Camera, Recycle: Is the movie industry running out of ideas?

Modern life, in all its complexity, is almost exclusively inspired by one thing. Movies. Film since its birth in 1895 has been a cornerstone of day-to-day life. Movies in uence how people think, what they strive for, what they dream of and what they dread. us, the content in movies has become an integral part of how societies function. To not acknowledge the power they have over all of us, would just be ignoring reality. Here, the issue of low-quality lms not only becomes apparent, but dire. And low-quality lms, very plainly, are the lms of today. When every part of the industry recycles ideas, utilizes cliches, and refuses to come up with an intellectually unique idea, the viewers in turn become doomed to this same mediocrity. Disney over the last few decades has successfully monopolized almost every major franchise. e mega-corporation owns; 21st Century Fox, Marvel, Pixar, Lucas lm, ESPN, ABC, and essentially every former entertainment giant. So where past movies were made with variety, they now are solely approved and proposed by the same group of people. With this, new ideas go out the window.

Why, it might be asked, does this diversity really matter? e reason is that if movies establish beliefs, people need a diverse set of sources. Schindler’s List was one of the main forces helping eliminate holocaust denial throughout the world. Casablanca turned a semi-pro fascist US populace against the Nazis. Forrest Gump exempli ed the beauty of optimism and the interconnectedness of life. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest took part in the banning of tyrannical insane asylums. Rocky gave people a belief in determination towards a dream. Boyz-n-the-Hood changed the perception of the Black community’s struggle in America. Star Wars, yes star wars, showed the o en evil nature of imperial practices. Are movies like this still made? Yes. Are they created in the same volume, with the same variation of nuanced perspectives, and powerful messaging? No. e reason is very simple too.

If I’m Disney and I want to make the most money possible, why would I break the status quo? Why would I challenge the mundane, and risk o ending viewers, when I can push the same stu I know already works? With this realization, came the sequels, and with them the

carbon-copy crap that is ever present in lm. e new Jaws, the whole h phase of marvel, every disney sequel ever made, the new mean girls, all the transformers and the new creeds, are perfect examples of it. In 1981, just 16% of the most popular movies were sequels and remakes, compared to 80% in 2019. ese movies have infested the lm industry to the point where no new content and information can really get an adequate voice in the public. Yet, it is a necessity that viewers see present lms that help tackle presently pressing issues.

As much as I can complain, we are doing this to ourselves. According to Morning Consult, 53% of Americans want an addition to their favorite franchises rather than a brand new creation. Who can blame us though? e old movies o en had substance o en missing in today’s world. is article is not to say that the classics aren’t still great to watch. To the contrary, most of them have a meaning that overreaches generations. However, this creates a really large issue. If the premise that people build a good portion of their opinions on prescient events from cinema is true, which it pretty identi ably is, then we’re doomed. How will everyday people learn about the Uyghur Genocide, mass congressional corruption, Chinese and Russian authoritarianism, honor killings throughout the Middle East and the anti-unity messages pushed through are media today, when are major form of art and expression just ignores them. As the next generation, I implore every student of Samo to help with this disaster. Otherwise, I’ll promise you this; Transformers 16, as good as the CGI will be, isn’t gonna help x our problems.

Art by Audrey Strauss

Liam Sauer Staff Writer thesamohinews@gmail.com

entirety

answer is no.

Art by Audrey Strauss

Fleeting knowledge: e downsides of summer courses for retention

Koi Lerner Staff Writer

The urge to gain entrance into competitive colleges causes high-achieving students to sign up for every AP and extra curricular possible- even if that means these courses will interfere with their summer break. In contrast, some students struggle to pass their regular academic school year courses - which leads to their obligational attendance in summer school. Regardless of whether a student is taking summer courses to get ahead or catch up, is squeezing a year’s worth of curriculum into one month actually beneficial?

Summer classes are classes that students ious settings; such son at Samohi and SMC, or online through various schools. The commitment level required of the student varies depending on the course, how-

ever they are all set to be completed within a condensed time frame.

It is nearly impossible to teach the same curriculum from a year-long course in the span of a couple weeks. Thus, teachers often cut the curriculum of their summer courses. This leads to students having a less holistic understanding of the content, as they do not have all the information they need. Eleanor Smith (’25) experienced the disparity of knowledge between taking AP World History in the summer and her friends who took it during the academic school year.

“A lot of my friends who were in AP world would be talking about all these things, and I was like, I never learned that,” Smith said. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

The shortened schedule can also lead students to cram their work, as they’re trying to learn so much in so little time. Although the students may appear to be wellversed in the knowledge, they are likely to forget exactly what they learned soon after they learned it. It is understood that cramming is not an effective method for long-term learning. Even while completing an assessment, students may score lower than if they had more time to learn and understand the information. Not only are students’ grades being negatively impacted, Stanford University conducted a study that found cramming puts the brain under stress- pushing students beyond their limit. This can lead to even more stress, fatigue, frustration and even confusion.

Not only do students in summer courses have a lack

of time to learn, but the classes also cut into formative summer experiences. Kids tend to associate school with stress- as they’re under pressure to excel. Summer break is the time for students to pause and relax, it is a hiatus from school work. We as kids need this balance- too much stress can cause a multitude of issues, both physical and mental. Summer classes exacerbate the existing demands of school- all the while, they should be enjoying the fleeting moments of their childhood. Even faculty members, like M house counselor Lauren Takeshita, think summer is an important time to take a break.

“Summer is a great time to have fun…” Takeshita said. “Nurture your interests further and explore your hobbies.”

Ultimately there is no problem with taking courses during the school year, even if that means having a heavier workload. Shortened summer courses are not built for students to experience real learning- ultimately defeating the purpose. While some students may be able to thrive in summer courses, the most part- they cause more harm than good.

“It’s almost like peer pressure, right?” Takeshita said. “If you hear your friends are doing something, you want to do it, whether you like school or not.”

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Unlocking the future through technology

Violeta Buitrago Staff Writer

As society advances, so does technology, leading teenagers, adults and even senior citizens purchasing the latest iphone out on the market. But it doesn’t stop at the iphone. With new technological advancements such as the “Cyber Truck”, Tesla’s newest and most durable car, and Apple’s release of their goggles, “Apple Vision Pros”, people start to wonder, is technology going too far?

These developments and other technological advancements, like artificial intelligence, benefit our society. Technology allows us to live more efficient lives- from being able to send text messages to keeping organized, technology has made the lives of humans significantly easier. Overtime, inventions like the cellphone, AI or even the simple vacuum cleaner have continued to advance without harming people or causing less productive lives, so what makes new advancements a problem now?

The simple answer is, they are not. As Technology continues to expand, our lives continue to become easier

in many different aspects. Advancements in technology used in the medical field makes it easier to find what is wrong with your body and more possible to fight off many health issues. Additionally, it makes it easier to create and manage a business. With apps and websites that help you keep track and calculate different expenses/business data, people no longer have to use a calculator and a notepad. Things people do on a daily basis have also become easier such as ordering food, buying clothes or booking a ticket somewhere.

become

There has been recent skepticism about Apple vision pros and Cyber Trucks. However, Apple Vision Pros allow the world around you to become your phone and relive moments as realistically as possible. On the other hand, the Cyber Truck shows that there are new ways emerging to protect drivers- which can help reduce car crash deaths and accidents.

Technology becoming too advanced may be frightening because it feels too dys-

topian or can ruin the necessity for humans, but in reality it is not possible for technology to take over and innovations in technology are nothing but helpful and intriguing. Students like Julia Drozdz (’24) find new technological advances to be nothing but beneficial to

our society. in

“My dad’s business ‘Kuula’ revolves around the use of 360 cameras to take photos and make interactive tours which is really helpful because it lets people still get immersive tours of places they are unable to visit,” Drozdz said. “Which is why advancements in technology are important just like advancement for anything is important. It allows us to stay innovative and honestly just makes life easier as we go on.”

e un ltered truth about social media

Claire Harrison Staff Writer

As discourse about the most desirable body image, bullying, grooming, self-harm and unhealthy beauty standards ood our feeds on social media, tech giants seem to nd themselves entangled in messy court cases regarding the safety of their apps for teenagers. ese concerns have circulated for years, but as they make their way into the courtrooms, it raises the question of whether these legal battles come with good reason? We can ask the heartbroken parents who have lost their children to suicide a er exposure to o ensive content online.

On Jan. 31, ve tech executives testi ed regarding issues of child safety, speci cally the spread of sexual abuse material via their platforms. Within these courtrooms, parents of suicidal children faced company CEOs, holding photos of their children expressing a desperation for change. Facebook executive, Mark Zuckerburg, delivered an apology to the families of the victims.

“I’m sorry for everything you have all been through,” Zuckerberg said. “No one should go through the things that your families have su ered, and this is why we invested so much and are going to continue doing industry-leading e orts to make sure that no one has to go through the types of things that your families had to su er.”

However, the e ectiveness of apologies like this and the truth of his reassurances about a safer future remains questionable. Sim-

plistic apologies like these cannot undo the trauma caused by the poor decisions of social media CEOs. Zuckerberg, for example, has issued no reparations for any su ering families and seems to lack the genuine intent to do so. As companies continue to insist that changes will be instilled, unsafe content still in ltrates platforms and concerned parents are still waiting on solutions. We cannot rely on the potentiality of a safer future to fuel our hopes for the new generation, as change seems unlikely. Companies are reluctant to potentially jeopardize their revenue. ey’ve created a monopoly that thrives o of graphic or upsetting content as it draws in high engagement and becomes sensationalized online. Although not every case of a teen stumbling to the wrong part of social media resorts to death, it is undoubtedly harmful. Countless studies over the past decade have analyzed the phenomenon of social media and its addictive grasp on adolescents. Organizations like Science News, the National Institute of Health and BMC Physology have all come to a shared conclusion tying a very distinctive relationship between high social media usage and poor mental health.

However, the profound in uence of social media can be found outside of year-long studies and is observable in the content we consume daily. e pure nature of the content that children are presented with can be utterly disturbing. With trends promoting eating disorders, glori cation of sexual abuse, unhealthy age gaps in relationships and new self-deprecating trends circulating every month. Is this truly something our youth should have such

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easy accessibility to? High schoolers, who are already struggling with insecurities and fear of judgment are especially vulnerable. e relentless focus on physical appearance in social media only worsens this, as new terms are constantly emerging from it to make teens more conscious of their appearance and consider ways they can modify their looks instead of embracing their natural selves and truly enjoying their teenage years. Students such as Gelila Mihret (’26) make an e ort to block out this unwanted content.

“It matters what side of social media you are on,” Mihret said. “Social media is what you make it and you can customize it to what you want to see and what you don’t. You can’t stop them but you can stop yourself from seeing those things. It’s important to make sure that everything you see online is bene cial for you.”

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Art by Audrey Strauss

Art by Audrey Strauss

Student life

Meet the 2024-2025 ASB cabinet

During Flex-Time on February 21, Samo underwent its annual ASB executive board elections for the 2024-2025 school year. Two days later, the election results were announced. Join us in welcoming the cabinet-elect members for the 2024-25 school year!

Current ASB President Mary Wondwossen (‘24) will be passing her duties to Ethan Fitzgerald (’25) whose campaign speech included a persuasive rap performance about why students should vote for him. As president, Fitzgerald will be the face and leader of the organization since he will be responsible for planning and organizing activities in ASB such as pep rallies, Homecoming, spirit days and more.

“It was so amazing and a true honor to be elected as ASB President for Samo,” Fitzgerald said. “I am sincerely grateful for this very special opportunity to represent my fellow students.”

The role of vice president will be taken over by Ry Bardacke (’25) who won unopposed. Bardacke will have the duties of assisting Fitzgerald carry out his plans and ensuring that the rest of the cabinet is carrying out their responsibilities thoroughly. Bardacke mentions his hopes for next school year.

“We worked really well together last year and I am glad to have him back,” Bardacke said. “I want to expand the class and reorganize how we think about our committees right now.”

As executive secretary next school year, Tammy Ikumi (’25) will record notes and track the minutes of ASB meetings, as

well as helping to organize the events in hopes to increase student engagement with the school. These events, such as themed lunches in the Innovation Quad and Spirit Weeks, are important to continue as a sense of school spirit makes each Samo student’s experience at the school more enjoyable. Also, as a member of Samo’s pep squad, Ikumi believes school spirit is important to the school because it makes the high school experience even better for the students to remember. Ikumi

provides her hopes for next year’s school spirit.

“I would like more freshmen, sophomores and especially the juniors to be more active in pep rallies,” Ikumi said. “I feel like a lot of it is mostly seniors active during each rally.”

Sadie Gryczman (’26) will serve as the executive treasurer in the next school year. Gryczman will be in charge of fundraising and handling the finances of ASB. As treasurer, she will determine and monitor the costs of all ASB events. Gryczman gives insight into the cost of materials for dances such as Homecoming.

“Dance ticket prices are really expensive and not reasonable for some people and I feel like some of our investments just aren’t made public,” Gryczman said. “People should know exactly where the money is going.”

Finally, the executive student board member for next year will be Haley Castanaza (’26). As a student member of the board, Castanza will serve as the connection between the student body and school board. Haley Castanaza will be taking on these duties to help the issues around the school get fixed and to discuss similar topics around those issues with the board.

“I want to form connections with student board members so things can happen like maintenance in the bathrooms and improving a lot of the school’s issues,” Castanaza said. Overall, next year’s ASB executive cabinet is looking forward to improving Samo as a whole such as school spirit, school maintenance and transparency about funding. The Samo community is looking forward to another productive

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WASC and CAASPP: keeping Samo accountable

Koi Lerner Staff Writer

From Monday, February 12 to Wednesday, February 14, Samo was visited and evaluated by The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Additionally, juniors are in the middle of California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress Testing (CAASPP) — another metric attached to Samo. However, some question the real benefits these evaluations bring.

The WASC accreditation process kicks off with an initial visit which can last from one to three days, along with four and a half days of self-study reviews. The visiting committees include two to eight people, with one chairperson and additional committee members with a range of educational experience and expertise. On their visit, the committee reviews student performance data and classrooms in action and holds discussions with administrators, teachers, students, parents and other stakeholders. If the visiting committee finds the school up to standard, they can become WASC accredited. WASC accreditation in California enables schools to apply for additional funding. Samo H House Principal Tristan Komlos talks about why WASC accreditation is so important.

“The bottom line: if you don’t have WASC accreditation, your

niors will have taken five state tests — two math, two English and one science — spread out over three weeks with a schoolwide modified block schedule. The CAASPP is an adaptable test that gets more challenging for every answer a student gets right. The test intends to challenge a student’s ability to think critically. The data collected is used by state educators and legislative officials to make decisions concerning public education, one of which is funding. Higher school ranking can lead to more funding. It is also a mechanism by which quantitative data is gathered for a deeper look into school-wide academic progress and a way to compare Samo student progress to other schools. Komlos speaks on the future benefits of high state testing scores.

“The scores don’t go to colleges and universities,” Komlos said. “But if they know that the school itself has the majority of stu dents doing really well on something, it means that your diplo ma… might be doing its job better than that of another school.”

Some criticize the test for the strict barriers it builds up. The National Center for Fair and Open Testing (FairTest) advocates against state testing, explaining that it rewards quick answers to superficial questions. They believe these tests neither allow students to think creatively nor deeply. The test is also subjec tive, as humans choose what is on the test and the language of

Department of Education. Better state testing scores also mean that the diploma can weigh more than if it was from a school with a lower score. Even short term, it can affect juniors next year of high school. A student’s grade on the English assessment can determine which English class they can take in the upcoming year. Roshni Mejia, one of the English teachers distributing the test this year, explains her feelings on the dependence on the test to determine classes.

“I do think we need well rounded criteria in order to gauge our success as a department, teachers and school,” Mejia said. “[Testing] is just one piece to that puzzle and I do think that we are trying to do a better job of adding more pieces, like our district writing assessment. That’s a piece to the puzzle that shows mastery. Some students… show proficiency in a different way.”

St. Patrick’s Day is widely celebrated across the U.S. However, in Ireland, this holiday’s birth country, festivities Ireland is overtaken with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations every year on March 17. The holiday is celebrated in March to commemorate the day of the death of St. Patrick in 465 A.D. and was marked as a day of feast. St. Patrick is a significant figure partially due to a tale stating that he used his staff to ban ish all the snakes in Ireland to the sea.

St. Patrick is also the priest credit ed with bringing Christianity to a then Pagan-prac ticing Ireland. St. Pat rick was said to use sham rocks to teach the concept of the Holy Trinity to all of Ireland, which is part of the reason shamrocks have become a sym bol of luck. Other aspects of Irish history include

additional myths and tales regarding shamrocks. In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is essentially equivalent to the Fourth of July here in the U.S. The celebration is marked with many ceremonies, parties, and dedicated time off work. Today, St. Patrick’s Day falls in the middle of the Christian and Catholic practice of Lent, where people often fast or give something up during the 40 days. However, anyone participating will often dismiss their goal during St. Patrick’s Day and join in the festivities. Most of Ireland tends to quit some variety of food items, which means many sugar-filled kids and plenty of alcohol throughout the holiday. Parades occur in most major cities and counties

vikingssamohi via Instagram / Contributor

From left to right: Tammy Ikumi (’25), Haley Castanaza (’26), Ethan Fitzgerald (’25), Ry Bardacke (’25) and Sadie Gryczman (’26): the incoming cabinet members for next year’s ASB.

Nathan Vasquez Staff Writer

Accrediting Commission for Schools / Contributor

CAASPP & ELPAC / Contributor

Art by Sara Javerbaum

Recognizing subtle sexism in advertising

Sienna Bevan News Editor

Decades ago, an almost entirely naked woman could be seen advertising something not even remotely related, such as cigarettes, beer or a burger—exuding sex for the attention of the male audience. While sexism in today’s advertisements has become less overt, its subtle ongoing presence in modern-day mass commercial media continues to hold women back in society by marketing outdated feminine ideals.

Stereotypes create narratives of gender

roles: what a woman should be, what they should value and most importantly, what they are valued for. e slogan stamped on Silva ins cigarette advertisements in the 1960s, “Cigarettes are like women. e best ones are thin and rich,” doesn’t take much thought to decode—the value of women is dictated by super cial things, such as appearance. Expectations, such as those that link a woman’s beauty and her worth, then become internalized, making women ideal sales targets. e women in these ads are always wearing a smile, conveying the message that the product is selling a lasting happiness that can only come from achieving society’s idea of beauty. e female audience believes they have to conform to society’s gender

norms, as displayed in advertisements, and buy certain products as a result. Advertisements tell women what is wrong with their appearance in order to then sell a product that xes the supposed aw, playing on their insecurities.

Advertisements also paint a picture of the social construct that is “femininity.” If an advertisement portrays a woman with shaved legs, as desirable in the male gaze, shaved legs becomes the feminine standard. e ultimate goal of marketing insecurities in advertisements is a never-ending cycle of pro t; beauty standards are constantly changing, paving the way for new insecurities and therefore in uencing people to continue buying products. ere is an extreme juxtaposition between the purpose of the products being sold—to make women feel beautiful—and the e ect of the advertisements—to feed into insecurities.

According to an article in Marketing Week, even today, around 25% of women in ads are sexualized to some extent, with 85% of them still being presented as the conventionally attractive “good girl.” By utilizing stereotypes, advertisements portray women mainly as either sex objects or caretakers, usually depicted as “good girls” in both cases. Wom-

en aren’t the only subjects being sexualized in ads; products are sexualized, because sex sells. A 2009 Burger King advertisement marketing their “BK Super Seven Incher” shows a woman with her mouth wide open, ready to eat the burger (though she doesn’t appear to be feeding it to herself). In bold print, it reads, “It’ll blow your mind away.” An ad like this would be banned in an instant nowadays, as the sexualization in it is quite obvious.

Concealing sexism through stereotypes is not always as obvious, however. In car commercials women are o en seen driving young kids in family cars—exhibiting the caretaker stereotype. e mom is portrayed as a chau eur; she solely tends to her kids. On the other hand, men might be shown driving alone on a long, open road, conveying freedom. Take Matthew Mcconaughey, the face of Lincoln, who was named People Magazine’s “sexiest man alive” in 2005. In a 2014 Lincoln MKC commercial, Mcconaughey radiates power as he drives solo down a winding mountainous road, in a tuxedo with one hand on the wheel. Where the women in car commercials are o en portrayed as mothers of wives, the men are uncon ned. While men have been objecti ed in advertisements as well, they are still generally portrayed with power. Half-naked men can be seen pinning down women in several Dolce & Gabbana and Calvin Klein advertisements selling cologne— promising power and sex-appeal to their male

Exploring the gender bias in healthcare

Dalia Puchalt Staff Writer

In a society so brazenly proud and insistent of its sensitivity to women’s needs, there is a signi cant area in which we remain unenlightened: medicinal research. Despite major strides in recent years, the advancement of women’s health remains at a disadvantage, hindered by years of exclusion and discrimination in an industry so long dominated by the male perspective. To this day, women continue to su er from the shortcomings of the pharmaceutical industry, an industry that they are forced to support if they wish to live.

Consider the life of the middle-aged American woman. roughout the pregnancies of her children, she was readily supplied with a number of pregnancy books and insurance-covered ultrasounds, both of which were of interest to her husband. However, when her children were o to col-

lege and menopause struck, the woman had absolutely no resources to guide her, leaving her utterly perplexed by the sudden in ux of her emerging hormones. e startling lack of research in the realm of post-reproductive health—a University College London study revealed that over 60 percent of women were forced to turn to sources other than health professionals while experiencing menopause—can only be attributed to society’s reluctance to prioritize women’s health.

e National Women’s Health Network (NWHN) has long advocated for the increased participation of women in medical studies, which can be attributed to an extensive history of gender bias in medical trials. e perpetual exclusion of women in the development of countless prominent pharmaceuticals— many of which are still on shelves today—continues to be overlooked in the medical research community. In particular, women remain drastically underrepresented in the realm of cardiovascular health,

especially relative to the number of heart defects in the female population. Over a period of 30 years, a series of randomized clinical trials of drug therapy for heart attacks sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute were revealed to have studied less than 20 percent female participants.

it is in history that a study

neglects to consider the sex of their clinical subject. For instance: Rockefeller University’s 1986 study dedicated to the effects of obesity on women’s breast and uterine cancer—a ectionately nicknamed “the height of ludicrousness” in e Canadian Medi-

audiences. Whereas masculinity conveys strength, femininity is depicted as submissive. Unlike men, women are told to change themselves in order to achieve beauty and happiness. Now commercials empowering women have become more plentiful, promoting body positivity and depicting women as strong. But just because sexism in advertising has become less blatantly obvious, doesn’t mean there isn’t sexism—it’s just sneakier.

cal Association Journal—consisted of entirely male subjects. alidomide, a highly popular drug widely used in the 1960s among pregnant women for the treatment of nausea, was primarily tested on rodents and human male subjects, neither of which were pregnant. e result was a nationwide tragedy in which thousands of babies were born with considerable birth defects and missing limbs.

Furthermore, there has always been signi cant overlap between women’s pharmaceuticals and patriarchal expectations. A hotspot of religious discussion, the subject of contraceptives has divided America for centuries. It was in 1873 that the Comstock Act was passed, making the dissemination of birth control—and subsequently, its use—a federal o ense. While scientists labored to invent a pill that would later be known as Viagra, women were legally barred against the exploration of their sexuality, con ned to the life of motherhood that was expected of them. It was exactly a century later

that the Supreme Court ruled the use of contraceptives by unmarried people legal under federal law in the 1972 court case Eisenstadt v. Baird.

Today, this pattern of historical gender disparity has yielded persistent consequences. Although groups such as the American Medical Women’s Association continue to preach women’s medical rights, the tenacious gender imbalance in the pharmaceutical world limits their advocacy to a smaller platform. A 2019 Catalyst study revealed the signi cance of the power gap in the pharmaceutical industry, with only 20 percent of women holding executive positions. Nonetheless, numerous organizations continue to advocate for the increased inclusivity of women in leadership roles, clinical trials, polling and medical journalism, nally beginning to bridge a gap that has been cultivated for centuries.

Details as minute as color palettes can often be sexist. Pastels, normally associated with women’s products, are more submissive and youthful— as seen in the Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume ad. Dark colors, associated with men, convey power—as seen in the Chanel No. 5 fragrance ad.

Fashionista.com / Contributor

Baer Performance Marketing / Contributor

CR Fashion Book / Contributor

A perfect example of how both women and products are sexualized in ads, milk isn’t the focus of this ad—the naked model, Kate Moss, is. The caption also reads, “haven’t you heard that the waif look is out?” (waif meaning a thin, almost unhealthy looking person). Beauty standards are practically just trends in the world of advertising.

Medium.com / Contributor

Advertisements often promote beauty standards for women. This Silva Thins cigarette advertisement from the 1960s shows a man enjoying their “thin and rich” cigarette, which conveys that women have to conform to certain expectations to please men.

Breaking seams and stereotypes in women’s fashion

Sara Javerbaum A&E Editor

Submissiveness, passivity, docility. ese values have been instilled in women’s fashion ever since clothing transitioned from necessity to an opportunity for individuality. Our generation uses fashion as an outlet for self-expression and a way to exercise freedom. However, our female predecessors a luxury.

in the 19th century, a few brave women took the bold, and o en dangerous, step to wear pants. A sharp contrast from the restricting petticoats, steel hoops and corsets women wore on a regular basis, trousers o ered women a mobility–and thus a greater sense of autonomy–previously denied of them. Pants, historically, have been associated with masculinity and power. Popularized by and associated with trailblazers like Amelia Bloomer, the “bloomers” or pants of the 19th and 20th centuries became a symbol ning femininty. In New York

ries of laws under the Roman Republic that restricted female extravagance) 215 B.C.E. ruling that women could not wear more than a half ounce of gold to early American indecency laws, women’s fashion has always e and patrol women. In the face of oppression, women have found ways to overcome, and fashion is a central part of this progress for

Beginning

pants in public were arrested, not due to any speci c laws but merely because police o cers assumed that any woman wearing bloomers were “up to no good”. Our own state enacted laws designed to keep women in their place, formally outlawing women’s ability to dress comfortably. In 1863, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors passed a law that criminalized dressing in public in a way that “does not belong to his or her sex”. Over forty U.S. cities passed similar laws, resulting in anti-indecency laws that disproportionately targeted American women.

During the Roaring 20s, America shi ed to-

Samo introduces fem-lit course

Claire Harrison Staff Writer

In its rst year at Samo, feminist literature emerged as a standout course among one of the several senior English electives, each with an identity-based focus. e class delves into women’s literature and was originally formed by a passionate group of students, which stemmed from the Feminist Literature Club led by Lillian Topp (’23). Topp, along with fellow club leaders Halie Matsui (’23) and Emmy Brandenburg (’23) shared their vision with the English teacher, Elizabeth Waters, which eventually gained traction among Samo’s English department and SMMUSD administrators. rough much collaboration, they created a curriculum teaching students a nuanced understanding of feminism and the active presence of gender within historical and modern writing.

e Feminist Literature course allows students to see their everyday environment through a gender-focused lens, challenging them to consider how stereotypes and cultural ideals can affect their understanding of gender. e course is designed for all students, beyond just women. Waters hopes that the class will grow students’ understanding of the elements of gender and its part in our overall functionality as a human race.

“I want [students] to be asking more complex questions about the world and how gender plays a role in it. I also want them to be equipped to advocate for equity when it comes to gender, particularly in areas in which women or nonbinary people are discriminated against,” Waters said. Feminist Literature presents students with a variety of works, integrating a good balance between non ction and historical writings with ctional pieces. Students are immersed in the works of in uential authors such as Simone de Beauvoir, an existentialist feminist philosopher who stressed the importance of complete freedom of choice. De Beauvoir strongly in uenced the second wave of global feminism for women in the 1960s, all the way to the contemporary voice of Roxane Gay, who provides an intersectional perspective to feminist literature.

e course covers pieces such as “ eir Eyes Were Watching God”, a novel written by Zora Neale Hurston, which follows the journey of Janie Crawford as she seeks independence and self-actualization while living as a Black woman in the southern United States. Along with “Women, Race and Class” by Angela Davis which analyzes our country’s feminist under the guise of whiteness and class divisions. However, the pursuit of feminist activism at Samo goes yond classroom con nements and is active in many Samo clubs. One of the most notable being ‘Products for All’ in which members ensure students have access to the necessary menstrual products within schools and educate their peers on women’s health.

wards a culture of mass production and excessive consumption– and the fashion industry followed suit. As women entered the workforce as a result of the Industrial Revolution, they had the newfound luxury of disposable income. For the rst time, women had the opportunity to spend on fashion, and their pentup individuality found release in materialism. Independent from their part in the workforce, young women around the world started to identify with “ apperism”. It was easy to identify a apper by

her drop-waist shi dress, short haircut, bold makeup and excessive accessories. However, bobbed hair and short skirts were not simply fashion choices. Rather, this rebellious behavior was a symbol for unapologetic femininity. During this era, women were nally comfortable in seeking joy, unrelated to men. Taught to only be seen as objects of sexual desire, but never to desire sex for themselves, women found themselves navigating a paradoxical societal expectation. e apper era, through bold fashion statements, acknowledged the contradictions of this double standard: challenging traditional norms and

sparking a sexual revolution. Despite the progress we’ve made, the specter of male gaze continues to loom over women’s fashion. All of this in mind, it’s important to acknowledge that there should never be shame in wanting to look good, or even to conform to societal norms. e emphasis should always be on choice. Women seem to be criticized for nearly everything we do, and nearly everything we do winds up being patrolled by men. So, if fashion can be your escape from the shackles male oppression, let it be that.

Especially at a school like Samo, where our dress code is so lenient, why do we neglect our privilege? A er thousands of years of oppression–on our bodies, on our fashion, on our speech, why do we still dress without our own preferences and desires in mind? Dress o -putting: wear those weird patterned tights, clothes that don’t accentuate your gure (or “too much” of your gure), etc. Please, for the love of God, wear what makes you happy. Do it for your ever-corseted ancestors, do it to spite your toxic ex if you must, or, ideally, do it for yourself!

My life as a salem witch

Max Kehoe Staff Writer

“We’re actively living in patriarchal systems. It’s important for me to challenge those systems and bring attention to them so that we can make shi s and correct them to better serve all people,” Waters said.

Art by Audrey Strauss

Art by Max Kehoe

Louis Rotgin Staff Writer

for what was right. She’s a great role model.”

– Allie Fuller (’27)

“My favorite historical woman is Elizabeth Cady Stanton because she held the first convention at Seneca Falls, which was for women’s rights, and she’s just an inspiration to all women who want to make a difference.”

– Becky Scholze (’26)

Louis Rotgin

Biography.com / Contributor

“My favorite historical woman is probably Marie Curie because she was an inspirational woman. Her inventions revolutionized modern medicine and we have a lot to thank her for.”

– Felipe Martini (’25)

“It’s hard to pick a specific person, but I would have to say that Joan Didion has left a large impression on me. By unapologetically sharing uncomfortable truths, her writing has transcended generations of women. Her essay ‘Goodbye to All That’ will stay with me forever.”

– Gigi Bazyler (’24)

No place like home for the (spring) holidays

Head inland for a day trip to Ojai.

Take a trip up north and enjoy the calming atmosphere of Ojai. A quaint town an hour and a half away from Santa Monica, explore the vast orange groves, take a trailride on horseback, or a hike in the Topatopa Mountains. If you want to stay in town, explore Bart’s Books- the world’s largest outdoor bookstore. If you visit on a Sunday, indulge in the locally grown produce the farmer’s market has to offer. To stay the night, there are many boutique hotels where you can book a stay.

Explore the Venice Canals, rent a paddle board, walk or bike around.

Experience Venice, Italy, in Venice, California at the Venice Canals. The Venice Canals, or Venice of America was founded in the early 1900s by developer Abbot Kinney. Today, you can enjoy the stretch of serenity on foot, paddling, or biking. Visitors are permitted to use their own non-motorized vessel to see the canals on the water. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on a bridge, or head over to Abbot Kinney Boulevard for some lunch.

Drive up PCH to camp at local-ish campsites like Malibu Creek or Leo Carillo.

Getting out of the city and indulging in nature is the epitome of Spring Break. What better way to do that then plan a local camping trip! Both Malibu Creek State Park and Leo Carrillo State Park are a 45 minute drive from Santa Monica. Go to reservations.gov to find an available campsite, pack your tent, sleeping bags, marshmallows, and some friends for a memorable night. The temperature does indeed drop at night, so make sure to bring warm layers and firewood. With hiking trails connected to both State Parks, enjoy the fresh air outside the city, and stay up to see stars not disrupted by Los Angeles smog.

Food markets, farmers markets, flea markets, oh my! You don’t need to leave LA to have a unique experience this spring break. Take advantage of your free time, and explore one of the many markets around the city. Sundays have the most options. Some recommendations include Smorgasburg food market downtown, 626 Night Market, Rose Bowl Flea Market, Long Beach Flea Market, Santa Monica Farmers Market, and the Mar Vista Farmers Market. All of these options hold endless flavors and goodies.

Rejoice and renew: Spring holidays

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Christmas? You probably think of a Christmas tree overflowing with presents and the colorful lights, while the religious meaning of the holiday takes the backburner. This also applies to religiously significant spring holidays such as Easter, Passover, Holi and Ramadan, which each contain profound historical and religious meanings that go beyond the contemporary public perception. Jewish-Muslim Alliance Club Co-President Rana Kurt (’26) talks about why she thinks it’s important to have cross-cultural knowledge of different holidays.

“A crucial aspect of culture is holidays,” Kurt said. “By teaching another culture about the holidays you celebrate, you are giving them a deeper understanding of important aspects of your community, valuable memories and personal traditions.”

Ramadan, which starts March 10 and goes through April 9, is an Islamic tradition considered the holy month of fasting. This time signifies the period in which Muhammad received the first revelations composing the religious text of Islam, the Quran. Although Ramadan is most widely known for its practice of fasting, practicing Muslims celebrate through that activity in addition to prayer, reflection and community.

One of the longest-celebrated spring holidays in Christian and Western culture is Easter. This year, the holiday falls on March 24 and concludes the “Passion of Christ,” a sequence of holidays including Lent, Holy Week and Good Friday. When people think of Easter they usually think of springtime, pastel colors, the easter bunny and large egg hunts for kids. Traditionally, Easter is a Christian holiday that recognizes the resurrection of Jesus following his crucifixion. Remembering this event is a way for many to renew daily hope that we have victory over our sins.

On March 25, the day after Easter, people all across India and the world will get together in celebration of Holi. The festival happens every Spring and is commonly known as “The Festival of Colors.” On this day, all social rankings regarding age, gender, status and caste are ignored; everyone is allowed to be covered in the brightly colored powder amd water. In a more religious context, Holi celebrates the eternal love and support of the deities Radha and Krishna, as well as emphasizing the triumph of good over evil as portrayed by the victory of the god Vishnu as Narasimha over Hiranyakashipu.

Passover, or “The Festival of Unleavened Bread,” is a Jewish holiday that starts on April 22 and ends on April 30. In celebration of Passover, people usually participate in large meals and special prayer services. Passover acknowledges the Hebrews’ release from slavery in Egypt. During their escape, they did not have time to leaven their bread — therefore, matzo, or unleavened (non-yeast) bread is eaten to acknowledge this time of hardship in Jewish history.

Co-President Sadie Gryczman (’26) discusses her opinions on how the real meanings of holidays are often overlooked.

“I think that holidays that are more commercialized than others are obviously more popular,” Gryczman said. “Holidays that have true religious meaning but aren’t as commercialized may be overlooked. I think it’s all about how the media perceives and publicizes them.”

Although these various spring holidays all have their origins, many people don’t understand their true religious meaning and the reasons they are celebrated. What students are taught in school or by their parents doesn’t always line up with the historical significance of holidays. These religious celebrations with highly complex backstories are typically obscured with more superfluous events with gifts, food and fun springtime activities. Although any opportunity to gather with family and loved ones is positive, it is still important to understand the real meanings and backstories of these highly significant holidays to better connect with history and celebrate generations of ancestors.

Addie Burns Staff Writer

Ryan Kim / The Samohi

“I would say my grandma. Her name was Mary Wilson — she was a famous singer. She was very supportive of [the feminist movement], she never took crap from anyone. She stood up

NBC News / Contributor

Louis Rotgin / The Samohi Britannica / Contributor

Maggie Marks Staff Writer

Art by Audrey Strauss

TimeOut / Contributor

Ojai Valley Inn / Contributor

Smorgasburg / Contributor

Venice Paparazzi / Contributor

/ The Samohi

Hawene Alemayehu / The Samohi

Vogue / Contributor

Celebrate St. Patrick’s with Cartoon Saloon films

Max Kehoe Staff Writer

This Saint Patrick’s Day, rather than simply sporting green, hone in on the celebration with Cartoon Saloon, a remarkable Irish-owned animation studio based in Kilkenny, Ireland. Since their establishment in the late 90s, co-founders Tomm Moore, Paul Young, and Nora Twomey have used their platform to bring Irish folktales to life. Each of their dozens of projects combines compelling storylines and gorgeous art to shine a light on an important part of Irish culture with the rest of the world.

Some of the most culturally rich stories include Cartoon Saloon’s “The Secret of Kells”, “Song of the Sea” and “Wolfwalkers”. These films, which can be found on various streaming services, not only capture and portray significant Irish folklore with stories of mythological selkies and man-

wolves of Ossory but do so in an easily digestible and entertaining way that makes learning about Irish culture fun. Each movie hones in on one central aspect of Irish mythology or history, though it doesn’t shy away from taking creative liberties within their interpretations. On the same note, many of their films address the complexities of Irish life, making every film flushed out and relatable for people from all walks of life.

While this article may be niche to some, Cartoon Saloon has been an integral part of my upbringing. My relationship with the studio initially began when I first watched “Song of the Sea”, as a young kid originally born in Ireland, desperate to learn anything and everything about Irish culture, I was hooked. Here stood an alluring movie that checked all the boxes of my fouryear-old self. The animated scenes of rural Ireland reminded me of long train and car rides along the Irish countryside. What transfixed me most of all was the delicate art style and well-executed retelling of Irish folktales.

Though I am biased, I truly believe that Irish mythology is endlessly fascinating and appeals to all ages. A large percentage of my love for Cartoon Saloon’s work is nostalgia-based, with their TV show “Puffin Rock” being yet another childhood staple, I’ve still found their work stunning now revisiting it as a teenager. The studio’s 2009 short film “Old Fangs” became a

new personal favorite after stumbling across it through writing this article. This short film is fantastic because it weaves a heartbreaking narrative with very little dialogue and also takes an uncommon approach to animation by cutting from animated parts to live-action shots of scenery that give the whole film a very authentic touch. These are only some of their many pieces, Cartoon Saloon has a plethora of watch-worthy pieces most of which address critical issues encased in riveting, touching tales. Cartoon Saloon is a impactful con tributor to exposing Irish stories to the rest of the world. Even learning about Irish culture is not of particular interest to your, their charming art form will pique your interest.

thesamohinews@gmail.com

American Fiction wins well-deserved Oscar

“American Fiction” is a remarkably thought-provoking film that challenges the level of consumerism, creativity (or lack there of) and “wokeness” that society has. Not nearly enough people are discussing this complex and touching movie, despite its five Academy Award nominations, People’s Choice Award win and the Best-Adapted Screenplay Oscar. These recognitions are huge accomplishments for first-time director Cord Jefferson.“American Fiction” is the perfect combination of hilarious satire, emotional generational family conflict, and calling out what the general pub lic deems to be politically correct in a fascinating manner.

The movie follows Monk (played by Jeffery Wright), a well-es tablished writer struggling to get published and creating intricate, insightful stories. However, to his dismay, it seems as though the only black authors getting published are those who play into white guilt and black trauma. As an act of rebellion against the so-called “wokeness” he is forced to deal with, he decides to write a stereo type-packed and poorly-written book to demonstrate to publica tions how ridiculous their conceptions of black stories are. Monk’s blatant joke quickly became a bestseller and soon his life spiraled into a secretive, uncomfortable, but wealthy, ordeal.

ily able to hide in their own narrative, but all brought together by blood, similar to any other family. The family content in the movie is highly sensitive and each actor did a phenomenal job portraying their roles, specifically Sterling K. Brown, who played Monk’s

Surprisingly, the mainly family-oriented plot is immensely overlooked in the film’s advertising, with the majority of the movie’s marketing leaning heavily toward the comic aspects of the film. Each character is almost disconnected from one another, all eas-

Fiction” leaves its viewers with a lingering question of whether or not a person can truly be creative in a capitalistic environment. The more Monk profits off the book, the less inclined he is to follow his original morals. At the end of the day, the average person is going to choose the option that puts food on the table. However, concerning art and creativity, should altering the original idea to make a living still be considered art? The whole point of art is to portray the endless hardships that the human mind must persevere through, and changing that appeal to a broader audience to benefit from capitalistic aspects uncovers its own conundrum. The film’s structure is unique, rather than following a traditional movie trajectory. The movie begins with a huge conflict, followed by exposition, and little climax or resolution. “American Fiction” also confronts racism in a fairly uncommon and straightforward manner, revealing how inadequate society can address racism at times. Actual representation can’t only be a minority’s trauma, it has to be their joy and their everyday lives as well, just as any other group of people who have media made about their race. Purely marketing on a group of people’s pain isn’t solving an inclusivity issue or necessarily improving it in the slightest.

The film only leaves the audience with a mundane resolve, with the idea that we will all keep living, breathing- going about our daily lives… Books will be released, representation will continue to shift as time moves on, and profit is made one way or another, the only thing everyone can control is what we all personally hold.

thesamohinews@gmail.com

Every little thing was just alright in “Bob Marley: One Love”

“Bob Marley: One Love”, released Feb 14, is a musical biopic that gives us a snapshot of a critical period of Marley’s life, starting from a time when he had begun to garner worldwide fame for his music, until shortly before his death from cancer in 1981.

The movie, set between 1976 and 1978, captures the making of the 1977 album, “Exodus”, and also features work from a number of Marley’s other iconic albums, such as “Kaya and Uprising”. The singing heard throughout the soundtrack and recreated concert scenes is a unique blend of Kingsley Ben-Adir, the actor who skillfully plays Marley, and archived recordings of Marley and the picts Marley’s bravery in with a concert to promote peace—the “One Love Peace Concert”—only months after being shot in an attempted assassination. And it tells us something about

musical biopic

the religion that informed Bob Marley’s purpose as a human and reggae musician—to spread justice and unity throughout the world.

The film manages to successfully convey the hypnotic effect Marley’s music has on his fans worldwide. It offers a glimpse as to how he turned his Rastafarian inspired and bible-quoting lyrics into songs that have captivated millions for decades. Developed in Jamaica in the 1930s, Rastafarianism has been described as “a religion of resistance,” or “a revolutionary ideology,” (Deepak Sarma, Case Western Reserve) in response to the oppression Black people faced; it was a melding of modern Pan-Africanism and Christianity. The movie provides context into Marley’s early life, offering the audience flashbacks to key moments into the stars lifetime—when he falls in love with his future wife, Rita, his introduction to the Rastafarian faith, moments from an impoverished childhood that would inform his efforts to stand up against poverty and the Wailers first break as a band. However, the movie doesn’t present Rastafarianism in a three-dimensional way, not fully delving to the guts of the religion.

“Bob Marley: One Love” captures Marley, not only as a musician, but also as a person, husband and father. Although in this regard it could have done more to reveal his thoughts and his shortcomings as a husband and father to children from a number of different women outside of his marriage. There are hints of Marley’s marital infidelity in the movie, but the complexity of his life is generally treated superficially. In the film, Rita Marley was the only person that ever put Bob in his place, grounding him whenever necessary. Lashana Lynch, the true star of the film, delivers as a moving and powerful perfomance as Rita, a key member of the Wailers and later a stand-alone musician in her own right. Ultimately, the movie delivers the message that Rita was Marley’s foundation and one

love of the movie’s title.

The final scene, and arguably one of the most powerful, allows “Bob Marley: One Love “to finish on a high note. After his performance at the 1978 One Love Peace Concert in Jamaica—at a time when Jamaica was engulfed by violence from a bitter political war—Marley called the country’s two chief political rivals onto the stage and had them join hands before the crowd, embracing a message of unity and redemption. Marley’s Redemption Song plays as a flashback is shown of young Marley walking with Haile Selassie, the former emperor of Ethiopia, who represents God on earth for Rastafarians and a father figure for Marley who hadn’t known his white father.

Although “Bob Marley: One Love”, could have given us a better understanding of the intricacy of Marley’s life, it is an entertaining film and does him justice as one of the pioneers of the reggae genre. While Marley himself was prodigious, his performing mesmerizing and his music timeless and influential, as conveyed in the biopic, the movie itself wasn’t a work of art; “Bob Marley: One Love” is undoubtedly a good movie, but not award-winning work. Because the film was a family project, two of the producers being Rita and Ziggy Marley (his son), they may not have provided enough of a critical view of Marley. It was a bit thin, only scraping the surface of a man who was decidedly more complex than we really see in the film. To understand the real Bob Marley, in order to carry on his legacy, requires knowing all sides of the story—flaws and all. As Marley said in “No Woman, No Cry”, “In this great future, you can’t forget your past.” thesamohinews@gmail.com

The film takes its biggest turn when Monk makes a profit off the terrible book. Everything changes when money comes into account- because money can change lives… and minds. “American

Max Kehoe Staff Writer

Tracings of Cartoon Saloon characters by Dalia Puchalt

Art by Audrey Strauss

“American Fiction” via NPR / Claire Folger

Sienna Bevan News Editor

Unmasking Samo theatre’s “The Phantom of the Opera”

“Working with the tech crew was pretty amazing,” Huls said. “They’re dedicated kids and were determined to pull off the

And though the opera doesn’t rely as much on props as other musicals, the set design was still a critical part of the produc

Christine’s friend Meg, played by Julia Orsoloni (’24), provided angelic voices, Erik and Raoul added depth and harmonies to the songs. While their singing was

their software for the play, the tech team ran all the cues and changes necessary for the show. Huls was amazed by the talent and efficiency of the tech crew.

thesamohinews@gmail.com

Advanced Photo prepares for cummulative exhibit

Manny Lopez Staff Writer

On March 21, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., students taking Advanced Photography will host a photo exhibition in the Roberts Art Gallery. While the class itself is instructed by Martin Ledford, this exhibit is fully student-run and has been in the works for months. In the beginning of the year, students formed small groups of 3 to 5 peers, working together on building a website and promotional booklet. These groups would photograph students in and outside of the class to add to their portfolio, working together to create a portrait business. After months of growing their collections, the Advanced Photography class is finally ready to present their work to their family and friends. Whether it’s a headshot of a fellow student or a landscape, all photos are welcome at the showcase.

The Advanced Photography class is designed to give students a taste of what a career in photography can look like in the real world, and much of the curriculum is focused on helping students find their artistic voice. In both periods of the Advanced Photography class, students are granted more

leeway, as Ledford has full trust in his students. Ledford shares his thoughts about the jump to advanced photography and its differences.

“Advanced photography is for people who want to be photographers, and don’t just want traditional assignments. The class still has assignments, but they are not just based on a weekly grade, they are more to set you up for after college,” Ledford said.

of the gallery on a social media platform, while the installment team prepares the gallery itself. Brooklyn Duncans (’24) shares her experience being a leader in the classroom.

“It can get stressful when you have an assignment due and you’re not completely happy with the work you’ve produced and know you could do better with more time. The gallery is so special because a lot of my peers in advanced photography don’t get to show their work as often as in other arts programs, but this gallery is a way for their friends, families, faculty, and fellow students to see the work they’re most proud of,” Duncans said. “People should expect to see a gallery full of individuality and diversity and work that showcases what the advanced photographers of Samohi love to do.”

The Roberts Art gallery itself has been preparing for the last few weeks, with the gallery being repainted and measured to accommodate the amount of art going inside. Each student group plans to display three to five photographs, working tirelessly to ensure the success of the exhibit. Reaching out to other classes for help, Samo’s Digital Design class has spent the last few weeks designing campaign flyers for the gallery.

Samo Orchestra leaves sold-out audience in awe

(’24), a violinist for the Philharmonic Orchestra, and his fellow musicians had been working on these compositions since before their winter concert. Now, Behzadi looks back on the night with pride as he recalls his favorite moment of the concert.

“My favorite part was easily ‘Finlandia,’” Behzadi said. “I have been listening to it on repeat. Playing it in Barnum brought this immense warmth to me that I have never felt with another piece. I love the dramatic [and] dynamic changes that Sibelius

Like many other compositions that night, “Finlandia,” Philharmonic’s third piece, featured lively and jovial melodies. It seemed that as the night progressed, each performance was more animated and energetic than the last. Sinfonia Orchestra surprised the audience by playing the entirety of its first piece, “Finale from Symphony No. 12,” standing up. Before intermission, the Chamber Orchestra serenaded the audience with rousing the fourth and fifth movements of “Serenade for Strings, Op. 22.” Philharmonic’s set also featured a fifteen-minute long funeral march. To finish the night, Symphony Orchestra played Brahms’ lyrical and triumphant “Symphony No. 2 in

As the 2023-2024 school year rapidly comes to an end, every

concert is a countdown to the seniors’ eventual departure. Behzadi reflects on his time in the Orchestra Program.

“It was melancholic but not terribly sad be cause I know I will continue whipping out my violin on stages in college,” Behzadi said. “Though, I am savoring it and I know that Beethoven, Sibelius, and Franz Von Sup pé was the best way to top off my high school repertoire.

Several Samo musicians will take the stage again on Saturday, March 16, for Stairway to the Stars. The following week, Symphony Or chestra will depart on its tour of Germany, where they are set to play in Leipzig and Berlin. The Orchestra Program will perform together once again on May 2 at their annual Pops Concert.

Student leaders and committee heads hold fellow students responsible and keep the class on track. The class has created seven different committees for the gallery in preparations for the gallery. The social media team, for example, posts the details

Photograph by Riley Geller (’24)

Julliett Rojas (’25) performs on stage as Carlotta.

All photos by Ryan Kim / The Samohi

Photograph by Kyra Coulam (’24)

Photograph by Finlay Ross (’25)

All photos by Ryan Kim / The Samohi

Brooke Aron (’24) performs as Christine Daaé

Joia Massee (’24) plays the upright bass.

Sports

Samo stays golden with spirited poms

Violeta Buitrago Staff Writer

Samo’s “Golden Poms’’ are an advanced dance team and an integral part of the school community. This team performs at each pep rally, football game and basketball game throughout the year. Being a part of this team of advanced dancers consists of practices throughout the week, after school commitments and the skill of dancing.

During the fall and winter seasons, this team focuses on creating new routines and learning cheers for home and away games for Samo football and basketball games. During the spring they focus on refining their skills and technique for the next year’s tryouts as well as conditioning to stay in shape. Pom captain Melody Roohani (’24) shares about her pom experience.

“My Samo experience wouldn’t be the

same without pom, it made every single day at school so much better, and I loved being a part of such a spirited and positive environment,” Roohani (’24).

The “Golden Poms” also perform at community events such as “locals night”. They also conducted an activity called “Future

Vikings” where kids from grades first through sixth were able to learn the skills needed in cheer and pom. They then performed in a basketball game together at the end.

Tryouts for this team occur on March 25 from four to eight in the evening with a necessary parent session and mandatory clinics the previous weekend. Choreographer Valentina Manco (’24) shares how her time on pom has been.

“The past four years on the team have been so fun and enjoyable, I have built a family with the girls on the team and that’s so special to me,” Manco said. “There have been struggles along the way and things have gotten so hard, but I wouldn’t trade this team for anything. If you’re interested in dance and have dedication, try out for pom.”

HOTLB: What’s to come in March Madness

Nathan Vasquez Staff Writer

thesamohinews@gmail.com

As the NCAA men’s basketball season is ending, it also means that it is the beginning of the most popular collegiate tournament: “March Madness”. March Madness is a college basketball tournament containing a bracket of the 68 best teams competing for the same goal of winning a national championship. Many sports fans watch this tournament because of the shocking upsets that occur in the tournament by lower-seeded teams. Every year there is always one school that makes a deep run in the tournament which sports fans like to call a “Cinderella run,” such as the 2008 Davidson team that was led by NBA superstar Stephen Curry. Curry had a historical performance throughout this tournament.

“I have been a Kansas fan through and through and through, Bill Self is an amazing coach. They have an amazing team. They fought real hard last year and brought a lot of kids back, and I think they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.” -Bryn Boyd

“I think if

“I think Kentucky are gonna win, they got the pieces to make it happen. They have two future lottery picks that are freshmen coming off the bench. They are going to win the title or get bounced out the first round, no in between.” -Xavier Sheldon (’25)

“I believe Marquettes gonna win because of two words…Tyler Kolek, maybe a defensive team like Houston or an older team like Kansas can make it happen but I got Marquette winning it all.” -Luke Hecht (’24)

“Teams have to be able to defend because they’re gonna play teams that they don’t normally see in the regular season and they have to prepare for offenses that aren’t in their conference, so teams that can adjust to that and play defense against those teams are the ones that are going to be successful.” -Lance Radford

think

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Color guard continues to compete in spring season

Staff Writer

Color guard is a performing art that incorporates contemporary and jazz fundamentals along with anything that implements color and story into performances. For this, they use equipment varieties such as flags, rifles and sabers.

In the fall, Samo’s Color Guard team performs with the marching band in a competitive circuit known as the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA). The team had a successful season this fall, placing 2nd at the SCSBOA championships with the marching band and 4th in their own category.

Co-Captains Rayah Todorov (’25) and Yada Taepanicharoen (’25) have the responsibility of keeping their team disciplined and orderly, scheduling weekend practices and communicating between their team and instructors. Todorov explained that it took a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve such a high placement this past fall.

“Every week we just moved one step closer to performing a near-perfect show,” Todorov said. “We of course had our ups and downs, but through encouragement and perseverance, we were able to overcome a surplus of our problems.”

In the spring, the team prepares for their own shows and competes in a circuit known as the Winter Guard Association of Southern California (WGASC).

The team had a successful outing at their first competition of the season, which took place at Rowland Highschool on March 2.

“We scored second at the venue for our division and had a wonderful time competing again,” Todorov said.

After a great start to the season, the Color Guard team is preparing for yet another successful run.

“Yada and I are really hoping we can continue to increase morale and positivity,” Todorov said.

“We are aiming for gold this semester, and, hopefully, be able to go up a skill division by next year.”

thesamohinews@gmail.com

Louis Rotgin

“I

Arizona is gonna win because the final four and the championship games are in Arizona.” -Kalea Oshidari (’26)

Princeton wins the Ivy League, they will make a deep run into the playoffs.” -Caden McCallum (’24)

Ava Crampton (’25) performs with Color Guard as they use flags to dance alongside Marching Band in the fifth competition of the Marching Band season on November 11, 2023.

Samohi Band - Flickr / The Samohi

Lucia Castro (’25) and Samo’s future Golden Poms dance and cheer together at Future Vikings event on September 30, along with others from the current Samo Pom and Cheer pro-

@samohipom / Contributor

Samo’s Golden Poms perform at the Winter Pep Rally on January 27, bringing spirit and cheer to the Samo students in the audience.

Martin Ledford / Contributor

Sports culture: Why it’s more than just a game

Addie Burns Staff Writer

It can be agreed upon that sports has turned into a sort of religion in the United States. For many, there is much more behind sports than just playing and watching the game itself. The fan bases and traditions behind each sports team and players make a significant difference in sports culture. Oftentimes people only remember the violent or extreme actions within fan culture; they often overlook the positive aspects of sports such as the impact fans have on athletics. In general, people’s love and loyalty towards various teams and athletes play a large role in how appreciated and relevant sports are today.

Sports fans sometimes take their fandom to very extreme levels, but they can also keep it very subtle. To some, being a fan could just mean supporting the team or wearing the players’ jerseys during games. Some become super fans and form obsessions with their teams to the point where their wins and losses influence their moods. Especially with the increase in sports broadcasting and media coverage, sports fans have become more and more prominent in modern society. Samo student Sebastian Madero (’27) discusses both the ups and downs of being an avid FC Barcelona fan.

“It’s pretty sad to be a Barça fan right now because you see the team that used to win every game week in and week out, and then you look at the current team who can’t even beat a relegation team, and whos conceding 30 goals in 20 games,” Madero said. “It’s honestly depressing seeing the team that was once the best in the world being in such poor form.”

The reason for fandom is quite simple: the feeling or sense of belonging. Identi fying with a team can allow their success to feel like your own success and losses to feel like your own. This is how Madero feels as FC Barcelo na continues to lose against teams that have moved to an in ferior league. As soon as that team be comes a part of a fan’s person ality, it leads to emotional at tachment. For most peo

ple, their choice of team usually depends on where they live or grew up, and those traditions that get passed down through generations. These types of fans are known as a “ride-or-die” sports fan, meaning that no matter what they will always support

team is successful. Their rivalries also bring people together and build school spirit. Whether it’s the Penn State white out game, the FSU war chant, or the USC and UCLA rivalry, all these traditions contribute to the overall community atmosphere of college football.

Sometimes however, fans can take their support to extreme levels. A person’s emotional attachment to a certain team can become so intense that a single loss could cause them to get aggressive, feel depressed, or even suicidal. Additionally, some sports fans tend to get violent with rival sports fans, some have even been detained or arrested for their ac -

From chanting fans to painted faces, the entertainment brought by fans for their favorite teams builds excitement and anticipation for whatever is on the field. Fans’ everlasting support and enthusiasm for teams around the world have positively contributed to the overall sports ex -

Samo alumni Greg Morena gives winter sports athletes NIL course to learn crucial money management skills

Manny Lopez Staff Writer

After their seasons ended, Samo’s winter sports student-athletes were introduced to a seven-week course about Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). It is organized by Greg Morena (’96), a Samo alumni who also coached football and track at Samo from 1997 to 2001. The course is laid out into multiple weeks, with each session focusing on a different task to lay out a plan to create a business. The class is split up into three different groups: Group 1 is filled with athletes who plan to play their sport at the next level; Group 2 has athletes with mixed feelings, some wanting to play at the college level and some not planning to play after high school; and those in Group 3 are the athletes that don’t plan on taking their sporting ability past the high school level. Each group can create their business plan with a workaround of five thousand dollars. Andy Sparks (’27), a football player and track runner at Samo, believes that the seven-week course will prepare him for his future in athletics

“This course is gonna really show us how we can make money through our name,” Sparks

said. “Over the weeks, [Morena] has given us a base and plan to show us real-world situations and what could happen.”

The athletes get a certain amount of funding and are supposed to make a company to increase their initial funds. They have the freedom to make whatever they feel is profitable with their allotted money, which can range from a sports app to even editing software. Morena, who was unable to make money during his time as a collegiate athlete, is passing down knowledge he wished he had during his time playing football at Cal State Northridge. Morena believes his money mismanagement stemmed, in part, from a lack of education about finances. Now he is sharing his experience playing professional football and knowing how to manage his earnings with the next generation of Samo athletes.

“It’s what I missed when I played college football, and I didn’t know these things and I had to learn through those mistakes and because of that,” Morena said. “I created a non-profit and I’ve been helping out at Samohi [since] before I graduated college.”

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Samo student wins silver

and gold in 2024 Pan-

American Fencing Championships in Brazil

Kamerin

Shakir Staff Writer

In February, Alexander Moses (’24) traveled to Brazil to compete in the junior category of the 2024 Pan-American Fencing Championship. He earned silver in the individual épée and gold in the team épée alongside teammates Alexander Fray, Daniel Chirashnya and Samuel Imrek.

“I was nervous but surpassed the nerves and overall had a great experience,” Moses said. Moses has been fencing for six years. He explains his training and his mindset on the day of the competition.

“It was hard to become the winner I am today,” Moses said. “I had to train constantly. Ironically, that day I was just having fun; it felt very natural, therefore it felt great.” Moses’ fencing career is hardly over. We’ll be sure to see more of him soon.

“I will continue to fence in college and hopefully one day make it to the Olympic Games,” Moses said.

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Winter sports student-athletes sit together in the cafeteria for their NIL class, where they are learning money management skills that will be essential if they decide to pursue their sport in college

Manny Lopez / The Samohi

Art by Matilde Martinez-Navarrete

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Boys’ volleyball off to a promising start under new coach

Liam Sauer Staff Writer

The Samo boys’ varsity volleyball team began their long anticipated season, winning 3 straight sets against their opponents at Torrance High School on February 20th. This was an optimistic start for the team, being led by the new head varsity coach Pete Barazza. The volleyball team at Samo has a great legacy they’re carrying on. The program has included olympians, collegiate coaches, international players and many more. Barazza sees this potential in his own players and is determined to foster this spirit in them within the ongoing season.

Liam Sauer

“There’s a responsibility to be mindful of [the team’s history], to try to coach, support and cultivate the student athletes so that they are performing at their highest levels possible,” Barazza said.

Barazza is very impressed with how his team is doing so far, not only in competition, but through their general positive demeanor.

“We have a good team, a talented group of guys here. I’m impressed by the way they respect each other on the court,” Barazza said. “They’re invested in being mindful of taking direction so that they can give themselves a chance to compete with positive outcomes.”

Maceio Gifford, the varsity team setter also sees a lot of opportunity for this season.

“My goal personally for this season is to hopefully take this team to the CIF playoffs because in my time, we have never made the playoffs… This year is looking like the most promising so I think as a team, we need to really focus on getting top three placement in the league.”

While Barazza believed the team had a nice kickoff, he was adamant that there is still more to be worked on throughout the season.

“I think it gave us a chance to see some of the minutiae that needs to be addressed,” Barazza said. “Fine tuning from the way we transition. But overall, I’m happy that we won our opening game here. And with lots of things to look forward to.”

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Girls’ beach volleyball makes waves in the 2024 season

After only two years as an official Samo sport, Samo girls’ beach volleyball team is gearing up for their third season in CIF. In their 2023 season, the team placed fourth in the Bay League after a tough loss against Mira Costa, Beverly Hills and Palos Verdes, but a successful win against Redondo. The girls began practicing on the sand immediately following the end of the indoor volleyball season under the guidance of Coach Liane Sato. The team’s official season began on Feb. 21 in a game against Palos Verdes, which ended in a loss. Prior to this game however, there was one pre-season round-robin scrimmage against Long Beach Jordan, Peninsula and Gahr on Feb.7. These games gave the girls a headstart to the season and a chance to figure out their game play. In addition to this, the girls trained through run-

ning and coordination workouts and watched collegiate-level volleyball games at UCLA and LMU. Bibi Peterson (’24) reflects on the initial games of her last high school season.

“We did very well, especially considering we are playing really skilled teams. We’ve been really good about serving tough, which is critical,” Peterson said.

Following a non-league win against Marymount on Feb.22, the second official game of the season was on Feb. 28 against Beverly Hills which also ended in a victory. On March.3 the team lost against Mira Costa in a home game, and on March.12, will play against Beverly Hills again.

The varsity team consists of starters Peterson, Jane Robinson (’25), Jasmine Martinez (’26), Arianna Ballard (’26), Alex Neuman (’25), Jasmine Talledo (’25), Camille benoit (’25), Charlotte Wenneker (’27), Jordyn Scanell (’26) and Annika Lindquist (’25). As beach volleyball is only played with two players on each team, each pair of part-

Swimming on track to meet goals

Sia Kresch Staff Writer

The Samo boys’ and girls’ swim team has begun their 2024 season. After the team lost many of their experienced swimmers after their 2022 season, their 2023 season was bound to prove a challenge. However, Samo was able to pull through, finishing with an overall third place standing at the end of last season. As this year’s new members have had a chance to integrate into the team and experience what it is like to swim at a competitive level, the team is prepared to crush their competition in this upcoming season.

This year, the team’s overall goal is to work on getting faster and dropping time in their competitions. To do this, they plan on dedicating more time and effort into practicing. Part of achieving this goal is going to the weight rooms to get stronger. To lead the team in preparation for this season is boys’ team captain Chase Douglass (’24) and girls team captains Nyla Redgard (’24) and Serena Wu (’24).

“We make sure everyone is on time and act as role models for the team,” Douglass said.

These captains play an important role in helping navigate the team to meet these goals.

“At practice, we lead them through the sets and at meets we make sure everyone knows what they’re swimming and what event they’re doing,” Regard stated.

Also leading the team is Head Coach Matthew Flanders. Flanders looks forward to continuing the success of the swim team for this new season.

“Our goals remain the same; Qualify as many swimmers as possible for the league meet and Qualify as many kids for CIF,” Flanders said.

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ners are chosen in the preseason and typically play together for the rest of the season, which creates a close bond between the players.

“The team dynamic is great, everyone really likes each other which is super important for doubles,” Peterson said.

Practicing from 2:30 to 4:45 everyday at the Ocean Park beach volleyball courts, the team follows an intensive schedule. Practices consist of scrimmages and drills, and often involve workouts as well – despite the sand already being a tough workout. With this practice however, the team is in good shape, and their successful start to the season is sure to be a foreshadowing of the upcoming games. The teams next and last home game is held on March.13 against Redondo Union, followed by one more away game on March.14, which will conclude the 2024 season before CIF.

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Boys’ golf begins league season with a win in the first competition

Sara Jauverbaum A&E Editor

Following their win of 204-236 in their match on March 5 against West Torrance, Samo’s Boys’ Golf team, lead by captain Luke Khosla (’25) and Head Coach Bart Burdick, is looking forward to more wins in the rest of the 2024 season. Coach Burdick is proud of the work his team has already put in, and hopes to emphasize practice as the season goes on.

“We’re off to a good start to the season, but we’re focused on getting even better as the year progresses,” Burdick said.

Reflecting on last year’s 3rd place finish in the Bay League, the team is looking to continue their upward trajectory in the remainder of the 2023 season. Without on-campus facilities to train on, the ded -

icated team must commute to either Rancho Park or Penmar golf course every day after fifth period, practicing for nearly 3 hours a day to improve on their swing mechanics and overall skill. Following a difficult, though rewarding season, Khosla has high hopes for the future of the boys’ golf team.

“Last season was tough,” Khosla noted. “We were a young team with no seniors going up against a strong league. We were nowhere near satisfied and we were immediately looking forward to becoming a contender next season. This season we have a strong, well rounded squad that will absolutely be a contender for the Bay League title.”

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Track optimistic after record-breaking pre-season

Manny Lopez Staff Writer

During the 2022-2023 track season, Samo’s track stars set records, advancing individuals and relay teams into CIF. Last season, the 4x200 team of Lucas Milk (’24), Dylan Hanvey (’23), Spencer Hotch (’24), and Gus Reyman (’23) broke the school record twice for a final time of 1:29.03. The Samo team appeared in multiple prestigious track meets including The Arcadia , the Redondo, and the Mt. SAC Invitationals where the team proved themselves against other highly ranked runners.

This upcoming season is also Head Coach Tania Fischer’s last run with the team. After this season, which the team refers to as the “Farewell Tour”, Fischer plans to retire after 30 years of coaching at Samo.

“This is going to be my last track season before I retire, and it is bittersweet! We have so much talent this year.” Fischer said. “Our young dynamic team along with our senior leadership, are looking to shine at the CA State meet this year. I couldn’t be prouder of

this group of athletes and my coaching staff. The future is bright. #farewell tour”

The track team is looking forward to breaking more records this season, and sending more people to represent Samo in CIF. Last year, the team sent individuals Milk and Hotch for the 400m, Matilde Martinez-Navarrete (’24) in the 800m, Gus Reyman (’23) in the 200m, and Phoebe Benun (’24) for the 3200m to CIF Prelims. Reign Snowden (’24) who threw a personal record of 98 feet, and claimed the crown of back to back bay league champion. Zinnia Weybright (’24) jumped over 5 feet and set a new personal record. The 4x200m team, consisting of Reyman, Milk, Hotch, and Dylan Hanvey (’23) also took their talents to CIF Prelims. The girls 4x800m team, consisting of Martinez, Cleo Topp (’25), Phoebe Benun (’25), and Maeko Gross (’25) also qualified for CIF Masters. Track captain David Ervin (’24) shares his upcoming goals for the season.

“This year on track we are really looking to give our best shot at a lot of things. The boys team is looking to shoot for a 4x800m school record. We are really trying to finish this year off strongly

and our track seasons off well. This is also our head coach’s last season ever, and we are really trying to give her a good season to finish on.”

Aili Forster Centerspread Editor

Aili Forster / The Samohi

Camille Benoit (’25) spikes the ball to her teammates while doing drills at practice on the beach after school on March 11.

/ The Samohi

Maceo Gifford (’24) sets the ball for Colin Hughes (’25) and Ali Badr (’25) in a game against Torrance on February 20 to secure a 3-0 win, starting their season off strong.

David Hunzicker / Contributor

Zinnia Weybright (’24) races against top teams in southern California at the Redondo Invitational on March 9, jumping over hurdles and leaving her competition behind.

Sia Kresch / The Samohi Samo competed against Venice High School in many events on March 1 to place first overall.

Baseball starts out first in Bay Leage and third in CIF-SS

Nika Nazarizadeh Opinion Editor

As the spring sports season has begun for the 2024 school year, Samo varsity boys’ baseball team has started their season with high hopes. With a new hitting coach this year, Coach Lyle Greene, the team is confident that their season will be quite successful.

With Co-Captains Jackson Klein (’24) and Robert Munoz (’24) leading the team this season, they are confident that the chemistry with-

in the team will continue to make a positive impact on the boys’ playing abilities.

“A big part of our success last year was our chemistry with our teammates,” Klein said. “This season that mindset has carried us over through team bonding exercises and building an open and fun environment.”

The varsity team is run by Head Coach Jordan Sigman, who has high hopes and expectations for the players for this season.

“Building on the foundation of last year’s team, this year’s team should have even more success,” Sigman said. “We are a talented group that has a ton of potential and as long as we all stay focused, positive and together we should have a successful baseball season.”

With new varsity players and returners, the team has a strong lineup. Juniors Manuel Lares (’25), Brady Satinover (’25) and Issac Liberman (’25) are expected to

be powerful starters for the team. Sigman is also confident in returning varsity seniors Sage Douglass (’24), Spencer Levin (’24) and Jacob Myrow (’24) to run the bases and play solid defense.

“Our goals this season are the same for every season,” Sigman said. “Our number one goal is always to get better everyday. Our other two goals are to win league and to win CIF.”

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Samo softball is optimistic for the season to come

Violeta Buitrago Staff Writer

The 2024 spring season has begun, with Samo’s softball team coming in full force. On Feb. 14 Samo’s Softball team had their first game of the season against Schurr with a final score of 2-3. So far the team has a 6-3-1 win to lose streak and have played a total of 10 games. Player Haley Bennett-Riehl (’24) talks about the team’s successes this season.

“We are doing a lot better than I thought we

were going to and I am really proud, but we definitely have a long way to go,” Bennet-Riehl said.

Last year, the team had 10-13 wins to losses and finished fourth in the Bay League. Head Coach Jenny Forster shares more about last season.

“Overall, I think that last season ended up being a bit disappointing,” Forster said. “We had a very successful season two years ago and had higher expectations for last season given the talent that we had.”

As the team enters a new season, the team has a strong start and is very confident of their capa-

bilities. Forster is optimistic about the upcoming games.

“We have gone out and played solid games of softball in every outing and continue to improve game to game,” Forster said. “We have enough talent to be competitive in every game we play this season and the number of wins we end up with will come down to our ability to stay focused and not beat ourselves.”

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Boys’ lacrosse starts strong after last year’s championship

Audrey Strauss Art Editor

Boys’ lacrosse is winding up for their ’24 spring season. Starting off strong, the team won their first game against Agora, pulling through after a close match with a 11-10 score on Feb. 13. Unfortunately, their win was followed up by two losses to Mira Costa on Feb. 21 and Notre Dame on Feb. 23, with close scores of 5-6 and 11-12. However, the then team won against St. John Bosco on March 5 13-7, followed by a 11-10 win against Oaks Christian on March 6. Goalie Jasper Ford (’24) reflects on their recent games.

“Right now our weakness is that we’re

getting injured often—we have so many starters out right now and it’s really killing us,” Ford said. “We’ve played a lot of difficult teams that we would’ve beaten with our starting team, but our teamwork is good and we all trust each other, and that’s one of our strong suits.”

Last season, the lacrosse team had one of their most successful years yet. They placed first in the Ocean League, making it to CIF championships and eventually winning the whole thing. The season ended with a 74 percent win rate for Samo, having won 17 games and lost 6. When reflecting on his team’s strengths, Ford feels optimistic about what is to come.

“Last year we had a lot of very talented seniors, which was a contributing factor to why we won a championship,” Ford said. “With those seniors gone, we’re trying to rebuild the team. Hanging in there and trying to get as far as we can in the playoffs is the goal.”

Coming up, the team hopes to keep its winning streak going in their games against Peninsula on March 13 and against Santiago on March 15.

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Girls’ lacrosse looking to regroup with a new roster

Claire Harrison Staff Writer

Samo’s girls’ lacrosse team is officially in season. The team began with a game against Notre Dame High School, resulting in a loss by 9 points as the scores totaled 5-16. Additionally, they competed against Saugus High School on Feb. 20, ultimately leading to a tie of 14-14. Following these games, they are working hard and gearing up for their best performance going into the 2024 season. On March 2, the team earned their first win of the season in a tournament at the Rose Bowl against Millikan High in an 8-4 game, along

with a loss of 2-13 against Yorba Linda.

Reflecting on the 2022-23 season, which marked historical achievements for the team making it to the second round of CIF and placing themselves at the top of the Ocean League for the very first time, the team is keeping up a strong mindset. Tate Daley (’26), who plays on defense, shares insights on the team’s collective goals and adjustments for the new season.

“Going into this season, we are hoping to maintain a better stamina,” Daley said. “We also have four captains now instead of two, as well as a very high amount of new freshman and

sophomore players.”

With many star players such as Jessica Brown (’23), the team’s previous co-captain and star backer, and defense having graduated, the team is always looking for new stand-out players. One of the many up-and-coming star players is Isabella Van Bilderbeek (’26) who has been starting most games, despite encountering several injuries. Ultimately, it’s expected to be an interesting year for Samo’s girls’ lacrosse as they are constantly striving towards their best performance and to maintain the top rankings achieved last season.

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Boys’ tennis aims for CIF this season

The Samo Boys’ Tennis team finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 1-5-1 and a league record of 0-4-1. After an unfortunate run last season, the team is determined to turn it around and prove themselves this spring. Coach

Shaun Simone explains that pre-season has been full of hard work and constant effort to ensure a great season ahead.

“We’ve worked on refining our techniques, enhancing our strategies and strengthening our teamwork,” Simone said. “Additionally, we’ve emphasized fitness and conditioning, as well as match play, to ensure that our players are physically prepared for the challenges ahead.”

Varsity Captain Ryan Chen (’25) believes that this team is full of leadership and potential and that a great season is ahead.

“The team is looking really solid this year, with a strong set of freshmen and everybody stepping up,” Chen said. “This season we plan to qualify

for CIFs and beat teams like Redondo and Mira Costa who we were very close against in the past.”

The boys’ hard work paid off in their successful season opener. On Thursday, Feb. 29, Samo defeated Venice 16-2 in a non-league match at home.

Although the team is focused on having a winning season, and they’ve already had a great start, there is more to the team than the scoresheet. “Ultimately, our goal is to create memorable experiences, celebrate achievements, and forge lifelong connections through the sport of tennis,” Simone said.

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Louis Rotgin Staff Writer

Co-Captain David Zhao (’24) sends a serve in a doubles match against Venice High School on Feb. 29, which Samo ended up winning 16-2. The boys’ tennis team hopes to carry this momentum into future matches.

Louis Rotgin / The Samohi

Sydney Ong (’25) [left] and Tehmina Zarin (’24) [right] run down the Belmar field in their match against Chaminade High School on Feb. 28.

Claire Harrison / The Samohi

Talia Yermian (’25) steps up to bat during Samo’s game against Torrance. They tied 2-2

Violeta Buitrago / The Samohi

Jackson Klein (’24) threw his third consecutive shutout on March against Peninsula. Samo won the match 2-0.

Violeta Buitrago / The Samohi

Henry Owen Miyoshi Grebler (’25) cradles the ball in a game against Oaks Christian

@swellfotoblue / Contributor

Student life

Meet the 2024-2025 ASB cabinet

During Flex-Time on February 21, Samo underwent its annual ASB executive board elections for the 2024-2025 school year. Two days later, the election results were announced. Join us in welcoming the cabinet-elect members for the 2024-25 school year!

Current ASB President Mary Wondwossen (‘24) will be passing her duties to Ethan Fitzgerald (’25) whose campaign speech included a persuasive rap performance about why students should vote for him. As president, Fitzgerald will be the face and leader of the organization since he will be responsible for planning and organizing activities in ASB such as pep rallies, Homecoming, spirit days and more.

“It was so amazing and a true honor to be elected as ASB President for Samo,” Fitzgerald said. “I am sincerely grateful for this very special opportunity to represent my fellow students.”

The role of vice president will be taken over by Ry Bardacke (’25) who won unopposed. Bardacke will have the duties of assisting Fitzgerald carry out his plans and ensuring that the rest of the cabinet is carrying out their responsibilities thoroughly. Bardacke mentions his hopes for next school year.

“We worked really well together last year and I am glad to have him back,” Bardacke said. “I want to expand the class and reorganize how we think about our committees right now.”

As executive secretary next school year, Tammy Ikumi (’25) will record notes and track the minutes of ASB meetings, as

well as helping to organize the events in hopes to increase student engagement with the school. These events, such as themed lunches in the Innovation Quad and Spirit Weeks, are important to continue as a sense of school spirit makes each Samo student’s experience at the school more enjoyable. Also, as a member of Samo’s pep squad, Ikumi believes school spirit is important to the school because it makes the high school experience even better for the students to remember. Ikumi

provides her hopes for next year’s school spirit.

“I would like more freshmen, sophomores and especially the juniors to be more active in pep rallies,” Ikumi said. “I feel like a lot of it is mostly seniors active during each rally.”

Sadie Gryczman (’26) will serve as the executive treasurer in the next school year. Gryczman will be in charge of fundraising and handling the finances of ASB. As treasurer, she will determine and monitor the costs of all ASB events. Gryczman gives insight into the cost of materials for dances such as Homecoming.

“Dance ticket prices are really expensive and not reasonable for some people and I feel like some of our investments just aren’t made public,” Gryczman said. “People should know exactly where the money is going.”

Finally, the executive student board member for next year will be Haley Castanaza (’26). As a student member of the board, Castanza will serve as the connection between the student body and school board. Haley Castanaza will be taking on these duties to help the issues around the school get fixed and to discuss similar topics around those issues with the board.

“I want to form connections with student board members so things can happen like maintenance in the bathrooms and improving a lot of the school’s issues,” Castanaza said. Overall, next year’s ASB executive cabinet is looking forward to improving Samo as a whole such as school spirit, school maintenance and transparency about funding. The Samo community is looking forward to another productive

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WASC and CAASPP: keeping Samo accountable

Koi Lerner Staff Writer

From Monday, February 12 to Wednesday, February 14, Samo was visited and evaluated by The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Additionally, juniors are in the middle of California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress Testing (CAASPP) — another metric attached to Samo. However, some question the real benefits these evaluations bring.

The WASC accreditation process kicks off with an initial visit which can last from one to three days, along with four and a half days of self-study reviews. The visiting committees include two to eight people, with one chairperson and additional committee members with a range of educational experience and expertise. On their visit, the committee reviews student performance data and classrooms in action and holds discussions with administrators, teachers, students, parents and other stakeholders. If the visiting committee finds the school up to standard, they can become WASC accredited. WASC accreditation in California enables schools to apply for additional funding. Samo H House Principal Tristan Komlos talks about why WASC accreditation is so important.

“The bottom line: if you don’t have WASC accreditation, your

niors will have taken five state tests — two math, two English and one science — spread out over three weeks with a schoolwide modified block schedule. The CAASPP is an adaptable test that gets more challenging for every answer a student gets right. The test intends to challenge a student’s ability to think critically. The data collected is used by state educators and legislative officials to make decisions concerning public education, one of which is funding. Higher school ranking can lead to more funding. It is also a mechanism by which quantitative data is gathered for a deeper look into school-wide academic progress and a way to compare Samo student progress to other schools. Komlos speaks on the future benefits of high state testing scores.

“The scores don’t go to colleges and universities,” Komlos said. “But if they know that the school itself has the majority of stu dents doing really well on something, it means that your diplo ma… might be doing its job better than that of another school.”

Some criticize the test for the strict barriers it builds up. The National Center for Fair and Open Testing (FairTest) advocates against state testing, explaining that it rewards quick answers to superficial questions. They believe these tests neither allow students to think creatively nor deeply. The test is also subjec tive, as humans choose what is on the test and the language of

Department of Education. Better state testing scores also mean that the diploma can weigh more than if it was from a school with a lower score. Even short term, it can affect juniors next year of high school. A student’s grade on the English assessment can determine which English class they can take in the upcoming year. Roshni Mejia, one of the English teachers distributing the test this year, explains her feelings on the dependence on the test to determine classes.

“I do think we need well rounded criteria in order to gauge our success as a department, teachers and school,” Mejia said. “[Testing] is just one piece to that puzzle and I do think that we are trying to do a better job of adding more pieces, like our district writing assessment. That’s a piece to the puzzle that shows mastery. Some students… show proficiency in a different way.”

St. Patrick’s Day is widely celebrated across the U.S. However, in Ireland, this holiday’s birth country, festivities Ireland is overtaken with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations every year on March 17. The holiday is celebrated in March to commemorate the day of the death of St. Patrick in 465 A.D. and was marked as a day of feast. St. Patrick is a significant figure partially due to a tale stating that he used his staff to ban ish all the snakes in Ireland to the sea.

St. Patrick is also the priest credit ed with bringing Christianity to a then Pagan-prac ticing Ireland. St. Pat rick was said to use sham rocks to teach the concept of the Holy Trinity to all of Ireland, which is part of the reason shamrocks have become a sym bol of luck. Other aspects of Irish history include

additional myths and tales regarding shamrocks. In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is essentially equivalent to the Fourth of July here in the U.S. The celebration is marked with many ceremonies, parties, and dedicated time off work. Today, St. Patrick’s Day falls in the middle of the Christian and Catholic practice of Lent, where people often fast or give something up during the 40 days. However, anyone participating will often dismiss their goal during St. Patrick’s Day and join in the festivities. Most of Ireland tends to quit some variety of food items, which means many sugar-filled kids and plenty of alcohol throughout the holiday. Parades occur in most major cities and counties

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From left to right: Tammy Ikumi (’25), Haley Castanaza (’26), Ethan Fitzgerald (’25), Ry Bardacke (’25) and Sadie Gryczman (’26): the incoming cabinet members for next year’s ASB.

Nathan Vasquez Staff Writer

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Art by Sara Javerbaum