The Samohi Monday
October
17
2022
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Santa
Monica
High
School
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Volume
CXI
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Issue
Jayden Montanez (’24)
Jayden Montanez (’24) Photo Kira Bretsky Photo byby Kira Bretsky
Exploration Building to be completed in Fall 2024
Is college counseling fair? Let’s discuss
Meet the newest staff members on campus
News
Opinion
Student life
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page 5
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The ball is back on our field: football games return to Samo Opinion
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I
The Samohi
02 October 17, 2022
NEWS
School board candidates campaign for November election
Angela DiGaetano
Esther Hickman
Laurie Lieberman
Alicia Mignano
Stacy Rouse
Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein
Miles Warner
Photos obtained from candidate websites.
Ryan Kim
Staff Writer
On Nov. 8, Santa Monica will hold a general election for positions on the City Council, Rent Control Board, College Board and School Board. Five new people are running to be on the SMMUSD School Board, with two running as incumbents. Miles Warner, Esther Hickman, Alicia Mignano, Stacy Rouse and Angela DiGaetano are all new candidates, hoping to ensure that schools are able to prioritize both students and teachers on a grander scale. Warner, a real estate manager with two children in the district, is looking to bring lots of benefits to students. He would like to shift attention to causes such as better funding for art and suggests that “highrisk” kids who are struggling in any way should be heavily supported until they graduate. “If you look at our comparable districts, they tend to achieve better in standardized testing and ratings,” Warner said. “And it’s not because our kids aren’t smart or our teachers aren’t great…we’re not really using the financial resources as well as we could.” Hickman, a graduate of UCLA and mom of a kindergartener attending Edison Language Academy, thinks smaller classrooms would be beneficial because it would allow students to get to know each other better and also help teachers manage their work-
load. “I think the district is moving in the right direction, but we have to start to reimagine our budget so we can start to prioritize smaller class sizes and teacher retention and staff,” said Hickman at a recent candidate debate hosted by the Santa Monica Democratic Club. Hickman would like to determine the cause of the declining enrollment in community public schools. “I know it’s a national crisis but the declining enrollment of our engaged families here in Santa Monica and Malibu is very troubling and I’d like to see exit interviews for families. I want to know why families are leaving because they wouldn’t be leaving if the district were doing things right,” she said. Similarly, Mignano, a business owner, parents and leader in PTA meetings wishes to encourage more contribution and communication to the district. “As I didn’t have the support I needed during school, I want to make sure that students that don’t have the support now can have them,” Mignano said. “We have families that work with DLAC [District Language Learner Advisor Committee], and the communication style doesn’t always reach the families, so I want to help to make the parents engaged and help their children.”
Malibu resident Stacy Rouse, a psychology professor at Pepperdine is a long time volunteer and parent leader in the district. She wants to use this experience to represent Malibu on the School Board, especially since the only Board of Education member from Malibu, Craig Foster, decided not to run for reelection after eight years in the position. “We need a Malibu representative, and I have been working with parents and schools since 2012….My goals are to bring collaboration, starting with how kids learn and teachers teach from K-12, and that is why A Brighter Future chose to endorse me,” Rouse said. A Brighter Future is a non-partisan, political action committee made up of parents “frustrated with the mismanagement of [our] schools by the current SMMUSD School Board”, according to their website, abrighterfuturepac.org. It endorses and promotes Rouse, along with Warner, Hickman and Mignano, because they share similar goals. All candidates except for DiGaetano participated in a debate hosted by the Santa Monica Democratic Club, in which Laurie Liberman and Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein, previous members of the School Board, stated their cases. “For me, it’s about achieving a balance and making things as safe as can be, while
also not making students feel like they’re in a military zone. ” Liberman said. She explains that mental health for students is important and that available resources need to be clearer so that students know that they are there whenever they need help. As well as the suggestions he makes for the school district, Tahvildaran-Jesswein explains his credibility as a teacher. “We need to come together to decide a path forward and shine a light on it,” Tahvildaran-Jesswein said. “As a teacher at SMC, we are right at the precipice of seeing ethnic studies and diversity in our district’s Performing Arts and Music and Theater Arts.” Tahvildaran-Jesswein advocates for diversity, equality and inclusion, as well as improved public safety. From bigger classrooms and mental health, to better fundraising and college preparation for students, these candidates are ready to take on the School Board. “We’re all born and have the potential to reach our dreams and goals...to reach that, we push ourselves to receive an excellent education and excel,” Mignano said.
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Meet Samo’s new administrative staff Matilde Martinez-Navarrete
In her free time, Cruce loves hiking, skiing and playing with her two dogs Zuma, a Boxer, and Squiggles, a Boston Terrier. One day she hopes to travel to Australia or New Zealand. Her favorite moment as principal so far was seeing the pep rally come together and the event itself. “I loved the energy and the excitement and the pure joy of the pep rally,” Cruce said. “Just seeing our ASB students being able to pull that off and orchestrate it in a well organized way, but also to see the energy and the joy in the audience.”
News Editor
Sienna Bevan / The Samohi
Marae Cruce / Contributor
Ms. Cruce Samo’s former I House Principal Marae Cruce has taken on the role of principal, with 15 years of experience teaching at Samo. Before coming to Samo as a math teacher in 2007, Cruce taught two years of middle school in Kansas. She became I House Principal in 2020, and was recommended for her current role after the previous principal, Antonio Shelton, took on a job in the district as executive director of secondary education in 2022. Cruce describes some of her new roles as principal. “I coordinate and oversee all the efforts… on campus, helping support our teachers so that they can provide the best instruction and support our students…,” Cruce said. “Also there’s the community aspect — meeting with the community and our parents — so that we make sure that they’re informed about what’s going on on the campus and make sure that they understand how to support their students.” Cruce wants to support Samo’s teachers so that they may engage their students not only with a rigorous curriculum, but also in a way that will help them learn collaboration, communication and problem solving. Her favorite part of the job is the students, a sentiment she has carried since her days teaching math. “[I enjoy] any time I can get into a classroom interacting with students, seeing what’s going on in the classroom, if I get to help a student answer a question,” Cruce said. “One time I was observing a math class and I was able to help a student through a problem, so that was a highlight.”
Riya Khatod / The Samohi
Mr. Cuevas Jose Cuevas, the new O House Principal, spent the last eight years working at the Baldwin Park Unified School District as the assistant principal for Baldwin High and Sierra Vista. He lives in Santa Monica with his wife, Megan Cuevas, who teaches at Roosevelt Elementary School. “I was able to see the district in [my wife’s] eyes and wanted to become part of it,” Cuevas said. Cuevas wants to continue implementing policies and procedures that promote diversity, equity and inclusion. “I’m excited to be a part of such a prestigious high school and learning community, and I want to help students achieve whatever they want to accomplish,” Cuevas said. In his free time, Cuevas loves playing golf and watching “Stranger Things” or games of his favorite NFL team, the Kansas City Chiefs. He looks forward to getting to know the students of Samo and seeing them graduate and attend their university of choice. “I would love for alumni to come back and visit!” Cuevas said.
Dr. Hawkins After working as a classroom teacher for 20 years at the Long Beach Unified School District and four years at the central SMMUSD district office as the ACES (American Cultures/Ethnic Studies) coordinator, Satinder Hawkins has come to Samo as the new I House Principal. Taking over for Cruce, Hawkins is responsible for supervising the teachers and students assigned to I House. She also oversees Samo’s History Department, the visual arts team and the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) team. “One of the things I’m really excited about is that I’m going to be able to do a master schedule, which is this process at the high school where you basically set up all of the classes and you program students into those classes,” Hawkins said. “I’ve wanted to do that for a long time, and I’m gonna have the opportunity to do that here.” Hawkins is a self-described “mad, crazy reader.” She enjoys traveling around the world and learning about new cultures, and her favorite places she has gone to are Ethiopia and Kenya. Hawkins looks forward to working with teachers and students at Samo. “For me, being able to support teachers and students, to get the things that they need to do their job well, gives me a lot of satisfaction,” Hawkins said.
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The Samohi October 17. 2022 03
News
Record-breaking heat wave hits Samo classrooms Emi Yamashiro-Hergert Staff Writer
In September, a heat wave hit the Samo community hard when air conditioning broke down in several buildings across campus. Though the AC has since been fixed, the issue of rising temperatures still remains. The wave broke hundreds of records across the West. It lasted 12 days in California, with average temperatures peaking on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Santa Monica sweltered through weather in the upper 80s and 90s, but residents found respite when the heat broke on Saturday, Sept. 10. Blythe Domingue (’25) worries about the way weather will affect academic performance. “We can’t do as well in school when it’s that hot,” Domingue said. According to an email issued by District Superintendent Ben Drati, air conditioning broke down in the Innovation and Discovery buildings. Similar issues have affected Samo buildings in the past; for example, an article from 2017 describes how students were released from school early on Oct. 24 and 25 during a heat wave that reached 101°. The heat prompted Samo to install AC units in many buildings, as the intense classroom temperatures became a main reason for early release. In anticipation of Sept. 9 this year, the expected peak in Santa Monica temperatures, Drati’s email suggested the school day might be shortened if AC difficulties were not resolved. However, though the difficulties continued to disturb classroom climates, students attended school for the full day. Art teacher Amy Bouse expresses her concern about the situation. “It’s hard to understand how a community with so many resources could not be able to provide a comfortable working environment for youth and staff at this school,” Bouse said. Teachers all around campus experienced disruptions to their teaching and learning. Some
classrooms, especially those in the affected areas, were advised to relocate to different areas of Samo. However, classes in subjects such as science or art were especially challenged by relocations. Biology teacher Katrina Reyes, whose classroom is in the Innovation Building, was not able to move her class due to the lab
dents were still patient and did good work.” Still, the heat provoked irritation among members of the Samo community. Students found it difficult to focus, and heat-sensitive students often had to sit out during classes or go to the nurse’s office because of the harsh temperatures they faced in classrooms. The
Matilde Martinez-Navarrete / The Samohi Temperatures began to rise on the last days of August 2022, starting off the September heat wave. Santa Monica residents saw temperatures in the upper 80s and 90s, with the maximum even reaching 100 degrees on Sept. 9. The heat wave comes with the global pattern of rising temperatures, as just ten years ago the max temperatures during these same days never went above 82°F.
materials her lessons required. Bouse, whose classes took place in the similarly affected Business Building, had to exchange her painting curriculum for drawing lessons following a temporary relocation to the library. “We’ve learned through COVID and isolation that things don’t always go the way we wish them to go,” Bouse said. “I feel that stu-
likelihood of classes held under these conditions and of early dismissal days increases in the longer, hotter and more frequent heat waves to come. Buildings will become more dependent on central heating in the winter and AC during extreme heat conditions. Kara Best (’24) voices her annoyance about this kind of learning environment.
“There was a lot of frustration toward the school, not just frustration at the heat but frustration for how the facilities failed us,” Best said. “Nobody really thought about the art classes and nobody thought about the extracurriculars that were affected.” Despite the effects of the heat wave on their practices, the Samo girls’ cross country team has achieved success at meets during the pre-season. Their runs were shortened and made easier to help runners deal with heatcaused fatigue, and the usual sixth-period practices were sometimes replaced with optional runs as early as 5:00 AM. Maeko Gross (’25), a member of the girls’ varsity cross country team, recalls those early-morning runs. “We’re dedicated, for sure,” Gross said. “But to run before the heat made it worth it.” Extreme heat, or heat that is well above normal conditions, is the direct result of climate change. Average temperatures are expected to rise 4.4°—5.8°F by 2050, exacting disastrous loss of health, diversity and life on both humans and the environment. New legislation signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom aims to combat the climate crisis by protecting vulnerable individuals and communities, studying and raising awareness about environmental issues and creating an advance warning and ranking system for heat waves that will classify them in a model based on hurricane or wildfire alerts. Reyes reflects on these new laws. “I think it will take a while to see the benefits, but in the long run, the legislation will help California residents,” Reyes said. “We’re seeing a lot of the impacts [of climate change], just in our day-to-day lives.”
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Exploration Building to be completed in Fall 2024 Addison Burns Staff Writer
Samo is just starting phase three of its construction plan. The first two stages of this plan were the Innovation and Discovery Buildings. Up next on the project are the Exploration Building and the Gold Gym, which are planned to open in Fall of 2024 and will provide students with new gym spaces and classrooms. Both of these buildings will be located just East of the football field, next to the Greek Amphitheater. The Innovation and Discovery Buildings were the first two phases of Samo’s new campus plan. The Innovation Building was a $55 million project that opened in 2016. In addition to 32 classrooms and 8 offices, it features an atrium with lockers, benches and decorative plants. The $155 million Discovery Building is the newest building on campus, which opened in 2021. This five-story, 260,000 square foot building features 38 classrooms, as well as many administrative offices, a large cafeteria, an Olympic size pool and a two-story parking garage. The Discovery Building has already received a leadership award from the Green California Schools Summit and an Honor Design Award from the Westside Urban Forum in the school category. It also got an Honorable Mention in the International Architecture Awards, and is a finalist in the World Architecture Festival to take place in November 2022 for the education category. Catherine Baxter, the former dean of students at Samo, helped oversee both the design, planning and timing of the construction of the Innovation and Discovery Buildings. She is currently working on the new construction phase which is the Gold Gym and the Exploration Building. “One of the things that’s really nice about Samo is our tradition, but we’re not living in the past, we’re evolving and developing with all the positives that are happening in our world,” Baxter said. The construction staff is on track for phase three of Samo’s new campus which is expected to cost about $120 million. The first part of this phase is the Gold Gym, which will take the place of the South Gym. With nearly 1,000 athletes at Samo, ample gym space will be adapted to accommodate them. This new gym will have two stories; two courts on the first floor and another court on the second floor. They will have pull-out bleachers that will seat 800 people. The
second floor will also include a dance and yoga studio with an indoor and outdoor workout area. Samo varsity basketball player Kalea Oshidari (’26) thinks that the new gym will be very beneficial to her and her team. “Practicing outdoors can be a hazard with the uneven blacktop, not to mention trying to shoot a basketball into the sun is very difficult,” Oshidari said. The Exploration Building is the second part of phase three. It will be home to the three academies: Project Based Learning engineering; Health, Medicine and Wellness; and Law, Government and Public Service. The other half of the building will be dedicated to visual and media art studios.
The new rooms will be double the size of the current art rooms, which only hold about 20 people. Art classes will include 2D art, 3D art, digital design, digital media and photography, and there will be workspaces specifically designed for each subject. By the end of this school year, Samo is hoping to see glimpses of the new buildings emerging from the ground. “I think when you provide spaces for teachers to be creative and innovative it sparks the joy of students to learn and develop to their fullest potential,” Baxter said. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners / Contributor The Gold Gym and the Exploration Building will be located next to the Greek Amphitheater. They will feature two indoor gyms, workout areas, art studios and many educational spaces.
The Samohi
04 October 17, 2022
News
Dr. Dre and Lil Baby promote Proposition 28 in Barnum Hall
Indigo Craane Opinion Editor
Grammy award-winning rappers Dr. Dre and Lil Baby dropped onto the Samo campus Oct. 7, to promote a ballot measure on the Nov. 8 election that, if passed, would guarantee state funding of approximately $1 billion per year for music and arts education in California public schools . As soon as the entrance to Barnum Hall opened after school, students who had chosen to attend the rally flooded the auditorium in order to get a front row view of the rap royalty. The celebrities’ appearance at Samo was all thanks to Fender Musical Instruments, which sponsored the after-school permitted assembly,featuring a staged conversation between former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent and lead advocate for Prop. 28 Austin Beutner, Beats Digital and Interscope Records Founder Jimmy Iovine, financial advisor Paul Wachter, Dre and Lil Baby, who had flown in that day from Atlanta, GA. The event was brought to Samo by the “Yes on Prop. 28” campaign in order to showcase the value of music education in California public schools. Student attendance was voluntary. “Ok. Listen,” Dre said, responding to Beutner’s questions. “I would not be sitting here today without arts and music. Dre went on to explain that only one in five
Indigo Craane / The Samohi
Paul Wachter, Lil’ Baby, Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre discuss the importance of art funding in schools.
public schools have funding for arts and music education and that our society might be missing out on the “next Beethoven or Basquiat.” “Y’all are lucky that you have all these [music and arts programs] available,” Dre said. “A lot of kids don’t have access.” After, when Beutner introduced Lil Baby, referring to him as the “next Beethoven”, the crowd
erupted into jumping, screeching superfans. Melee quelled by an army of security guards, Lil Baby testified that if he had had music education in his school, he would be “way further” in his career. “Get y’all parents to vote for it,” Lil Baby said. Lil Baby ended his pep talk by announcing that his new album is coming out soon and admitted
that he was rooting for the Atlanta Braves in the coming playoffs against the Dodgers. Speaker Paul Wachter, a Santa Monica local, has worked with artists such as Billy Idol and Drake to help them turn authentic ideas and artistry into businesses and encouraged the audience members to “do something authentic.” Iovine, who founded Beats Electronics in 2006 with Dre as his partner, explained how when he first started Beats, he found that he needed well-rounded employees who knew about cross-disciplinary learning and collaboration, which he said comes from having diversified education opportunities. But he said he mostly thinks music and arts education are necessary for the soul. “Without the soul engaged, you aren’t going to be the right kind of person,” Iovine said. At the end of the event, the panelists announced a surprise giveaway of Fender Acoustisonic Telecasters for ten individuals in the audience. Those who won, a mix of students and teachers alike, went backstage to meet the panelists face-to-face and receive their prize. “I couldn’t believe the guitar pick was under my seat,” Caleb Silver (’23) said. “To win that Fender guitar and meet Lil Baby… that was such a dream come true. He’s my idol.” thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
The results are in: Samo holds mock California election
Elleanor Quist / The Samohi
Students wait in line to vote during first period. Emi Yamashiro-Hergert Governor of California and United Staff Writer States Senator. On Thursday, Oct. 6, Samo stu“I’ve learned that voting takes a dents participated in the Califor- lot of research,” Tegan Blaine (’26) nia Student Mock Election, held said. “It really makes you feel like on campus during the school day. you did something. Even if it’s just The Mock Election program, private, like this, your opinion has developed by Secretary of State an impact.” Shirley Weber and SuperintenStudent voters checked in at a dent of Public Instruction Tony table in the Innovation Quad and Thurmond, aims to inspire middle were directed to a computer lab in and high school students through- the Discovery Building. Students out California to participate and voted on a Google Form survey remain active in the official US with cardboard screens put up voting process once they are of between computers to offer privaage. Participating Samo students cy during the process. Both staff received sample ballots in their members and students helped fahistory and freshman seminar cilitate the mock election. History classes, where teachers walked Department Chair Margaret Colthem through what they would be burn, ASB Director Sarah Paulis voting on. These issues included and I House Principal Satinder measures on the official General Hawkins organized and oversaw Election ballot, as well as votes for the event; student helpers, such as
Clairty Seymour (’23), stood at the check-in table or in the doorway of the computer lab to direct voters to the proper location or hand out “I Voted” stickers once they had cast their ballots. “The voting process is long and tedious but hopefully it will procure some good results,” Seymour said. “It shows how… even if we are fifteen and sixteen, we still have opinions on our democracy and ideals.” Over 1,700 students participated of the roughly 2,800 enrolled in social studies classes. An overwhelming majority of Samo students voted for Democratic candidates and favored ballot measures supporting the constitutional right to reproductive freedom, as well as additional funding for arts and music education in public schools. All California schools participating in the mock election turn in votes to the Secretary of State by Oct. 11. Data aggregated from each school will then be released on the program’s website starting at 5PM on Tuesday, Oct. 11 and finalized on Friday, Oct. 14, to show how students across the state voted. These votes are often compared to those of registered voters once the official election has occurred. “People who are young inherit the world,” Hawkins said. “Giving them a chance to understand how to be active in democracy in a healthy way, so they’re not jaded or cynical and to give them the sense that they can make a difference, is important.”
Riya Khatod Noor Memarzadeh
Editor-in-Chief
Sakura Amano
14%
86% Gavin Newsom (D)
News Editors
Matilde Martinez-Navarrete Elleanor Quist Opinion Editors
Indigo Craane Sara Javerbaum
Student Life Editor
Sydney Roker
Centerspread Editors
6.9% No
Yes Prop. 26: Legalize in-person gambling on tribal lands 59.3%
40.7%
Yes
No
Prop. 27: Legalize online gambling 51.7%
48.3% Yes
No
Prop. 28: Provide arts funding to schools 89.7%
10.3%
Yes
No
Prop. 29: Requiring doctors in kidney dialysis clinics 68%
32%
Yes No Prop. 30: Tax on income above $2 million for zero-emission vehicles and wildfire prevention initiative 79.9%
20.1% No
Yes 79.9%
Prop. 31: Prohibit the retail sale of certain flavored tobacco products 68.1%
31.9%
Yes
No Art by Ryan Kim and Ava Memarzadeh
Art Editor
Kira Bretsky
A&E Editor
Copy Editor
Sports Editors
Alex Padilla (D)
Prop. 1: CA Constitutional amendment to protect abortion access Prop. 1 93.1%
Social Media Editor
Hawene Alemayehu Aili Forster
86.5%
Mark P. Meuser (R)
Ava Memarzadeh Juliet Swimmer Kendra Martinez
Brian Dahle (R)
U.S. Senator U.S. Senator 13.5%
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Managing Editors
The 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 staff. We do not endorse advertisements placed in our paper.
Governor
Grace Gyepes Alani Kanan
Faculty Advisor
Kathleen Faas
Staff Writers Sienna Bevan, Violeta Buitrago, Addison Burns, Natalie Gazzana, Jewel Greene, Sofia Hume, Malia Kabwe, Ryan Kim, Declan Ney, Aaron Smollins, Olivia Stephansen, Audrey Strauss, Amilia Tejada, Cleo Topp, Taylor Witt, Emi Yamashiro-Hergert
OPINION
The Samohi October 17, 2022 05
Is private college counseling fair? Let’s discuss.
YES Natalie Gazzana Staff Writer
At Samo, being one person in a senior class of 700 students can be incredibly difficult. It is important to many students that they use all the resources available to get into the college they want. During the chaos of college applications, it’s important that students use all the resources available. Private counseling can better a student’s application. The pressure to get into a good college is so common that many students have a dream college they are determined to attend. Private counselors are able to help these students go exactly where they like, whereas the school counselors help students succeed generally. For some students, like Billie Waxler (’23) who has her focus on getting into University of Michigan, private counseling is incredibly beneficial. “When you have a private counselor it’s a lot more intimate and personal. It’s a one on one meeting instead of meeting with a school counselor who also has to meet with 200 other students,” Waxler said. Samo’s great music and arts programs guides many students to pursue a study/career path in the arts. The school counselors are not trained specifically on reviewing applications to art schools, trade schools and observatories. Private counselors who have expertise on these schools are the best option when it comes to student specific portfolios. In fact, most art schools require a portfolio in addition to the Common App essay and transcripts. The NYU Tisch School of the Arts requires multiple examples of your specified area of visual art, and the Los Angeles College of Music requires an audition video after they review your transcripts. It is only right that the artistic students who need advice when crafting their portfolio get the help they deserve. Georgia Press (’23) who has been working on her collaborative arts portfolio since summer with her counselor, shared how private counseling has improved her application process. “My counselor has helped me a lot with guidelines. She’s given me deadlines for
when certain recordings and parts of my application are due. I procrastinate a lot so having someone keeping me accountable to deadlines is really helpful,” Press said. For Press, as with many other students, private counseling has helped her stay on track with all her creative deadlines, versus the traditional Common App and Naviance deadlines. One benefit of the private counseling experience is that students with a tendency to procrastinate have personalized help all year around. The consistent access that students have to private counseling outweighs having to wait weeks and weeks for a short meeting. Since so many students around the world apply for college within the same time frame, many people hold different perspectives when it comes to counseling. One argument is that private counseling can be expensive, which is why some people say it provides an unfair advantage to students who can afford it. Although this provides a good point, there are alternatives offered for students coming from different incomes. Private college counseling ranges in price, depending on the counselor. Plus, many colleges offer free application reviews for prospective students. There are many different solutions available when it comes to the steep pricing of private counseling. In general, private counseling is a great option for students looking to apply to specific schools and stay on top of their deadlines. Students who take advantage of private counseling are intelligent and should not be punished for using the opportunities they are given.
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NO Amilia Tejada Staff Writer
As the college application process begins for Samo’s seniors, stress and anxiety is heightened. The application process is overwhelming, leading some parents to invest in private college counselors for their children. Most Samo seniors rely on college counselors at the school due to the fact that private counselors come at a price most students can not afford. Is the access to the personalized help some students receive when having private counselors fair? Private college counselors provide yet another way that wealthy students gain an advantage in the college admissions process. Due to there being only three college counselors available for around 700 seniors, students at Samo need to make appointments months in advance in order to ask their counselors a question. Anjali Devgan (’23) discussed her difficulty scheduling time to talk with a college counselor. Art by Kira Bretsky “When you try to sign up for an appointment it says it’s blocked because there is no availability. My counselor answers my questions by email, it just takes a few days for them to answer,” Devgan said. When students do finally gain appointment time they are allotted a quick 45 minute window. Seemingly a long window, student’s questions continue to pop up throughout the application process and 45 minutes is simply not enough. This holds true, especially when considering the weekly visits students with private counselors receive. These time restraints mean that Samo students without private counseling are required to depend on themselves to navigate the strenuous college application process. Meanwhile, students with access to private counselors receive one
Is BeReal really about being real? Sienna Bevan Staff Writer
It’s 3:27 PM on a Sunday afternoon. You are doing nothing in a dirty, poorly lit room. With messed up mascara, hot cheeto dust on your cheeks and all, you look objectively hideous. A notification appears on your phone with two caution emojis: “Time to BeReal.” With two minutes on the clock and no urge whatsoever to capture your “real life” on camera, what do you do? Although the social media app BeReal has been around since 2019, most have only heard of it recently. Unlike other social media platforms, BeReal doesn’t have a permanent feed. Your “friends” are able to see your BeReal for the day only after they have posted theirs, and it disappears by the next daily notification. There is no
follower, friend, or even like count in the app. It also simultaneously takes pictures with both the front and back cameras to reveal what you are really doing. Now that the app’s popularity has enormously spiked, practically every teenager has it. Those who have BeReal know that the photo is meant to be taken within the first two minutes of the notification. However, it has progressed so that many users timeout taking their BeReal to highlight the best part of their day, contradicting the app’s purpose. BeReal was meant to be about being candid, but now it isn’t. BeReal user Marina Strube (’24) noted that sometimes she isn’t “real,” waiting for ideal times to take her BeReal. “...it seems like there’s more pressure to have it [BeReal] seem like other social media apps, like Instagram, and there’s also
more pressure to seem like your life is perfect,” Strube said. Instagram, one of the most popular social media platforms, is the epitome of not real. Many users meticulously curate their posts to make themselves aesthetically pleasing, displaying an inaccurate representation of their lives. BeReal was created because of this; to offer an alternative to typical social media. The ultimate fear however, is that BeReal is eventually going to become like Instagram. Social media in general is dangerous enough for teens as it is, especially now, with it becoming less and less authentic. Not only does it cause insecurities, but a false sense of reality. What does it say about society and social media in general when there is the need to create an app simply about “being real?” Instagram user Lauren Forsyth (’23)
on one attention without the fear of other students taking up their appointment time. If students wish to receive the treatment that private counselors grant, there is an outlandish price to pay. According to an article by U.S News, some college counselors charge over $200 per hour. Few students at Samo are able to afford this luxury. Not only expensive, college counseling works to strengthen the educational gap. A counselor demographics study done by Zippia concluded that around 70 percent of private college counselors are white. How are these counselors able to aid BIPOC students, when they can not relate to the experience of navigating the college application process as a person of color? Not to mention that the amount of students that have access to personal college counselors are disproportionately white students. This works to strengthen the white population of students in prestigious universities, creating little diversity on college campuses. In addition to private counselors, wealthy students have access to ACT and SAT tutors. These tutors will program equations into your calculator, provide practice tests, and teach you test taking strategies. Although many schools are test-optional today, having an exceptional test score can give you an extra edge in the competitive college application process. According to prepscholar.com, the average ACT or SAT tutor costs $40-200 per session. Compared to a flat cost of $50 for a self guided standardized testing workbook, the latter option is much more attractive for low income and middle class students. “Not everyone has enough money for private counselors and tutors. It’s not fair that students that can afford it get more priority just based on the amount they can pay,” Samantha Flores (‘23) said. Samo’s counselors work hard to manage all of their students but it does not compare to the private counseling that some students receive. Access to private counselors and tutors should be taken into consideration by college admissions teams in order to understand the different resources students have. This consideration will result in more fair admissions decisions and diverse student bodies.
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shares her concerns about social media’s impact on mental health. “It has a very bad impact on mental health just because you’re seeing what people want you to see. In reality no one’s life is perfect like that, that’s just what everyone wants you to think,” Forsyth said. Although BeReal may be the “realest” form of social media yet, it has the potential to become dangerous. It could easily become just another social media app where people curate their feeds into a highlight reel of life. We have gotten to the point of ingenuity on social media where we need an app to tell us to “be real.” And it is still not working. We need to start “being real” on social media, rather than only presenting ourselves how we want to be perceived. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Art by Kira Bretsky
The Samohi
06 October 17, 2022
Opinion
Appropriate or (religious) appropriation? Cleo Topp Staff Writer
There are an estimated four to ten thousand religions in the world and roughly eighty percent of the world population practices one or the other. However, some are much more popular than others, the largest being Christianity with around thirty percent of the world as its following. As some people practice certain beliefs and others none at all, you begin to see appropriation arise in some form or another. Signified by the statues of Buddha outside three million
dollar houses or the casual wearing of a cross around the neck of an atheist, borrowing from cultures you are not necessarily a part of is spreading across the states, and even at Samo. “Nowadays, especially in our community, I believe that religion as a whole has been frowned upon as intellectually inconsistent, incoherent, and incompetent thinking,” Charles Blanchard (’25) said. Because Christianity is so popular in the world, especially in America, it has become more mainstream. Similar to this, religions like Buddhism have been associated with aesthetically pleasing,“zen” lives that people want, but do not actually work to attain. With the popularization of certain religions growing, they begin to seep their way into the lives of people who do not devote their time or efforts into the beliefs, practices, and culture, and become less respected by the masses for the religious base, even in Santa Monica. Having been raised as a Christian her whole life, Wongiel Gebeyehu (’23) understands the popularity of Christianity and its influence on the culture of her community and others’. While Gebeyehu sees that Christianity is not oppressed as other religions, she also sees how it may have become less respected as something important, or even frowned upon in the eyes of the newer generation. “I feel like with other religions [than Christianity], if you were to wear something that was special to [them], it would be seen as more disrespectful,” Gebeyehu said. This idea that Gebeyehu talks about is seen in many examples. Namely, picture Halloween night. How many costumes
have you seen of a “sexy nun” versus “sexy rabbi”? What about on social media? You may have seen Addison Rae and other celebrities wearing a bikini with Christian references sewed into it, but not bikinis for other religions. Or simply picture daily life, think about how many people are wearing cross earrings compared to necklaces with the Star of David on them. How many actually follow Christian faith and how many actually practice other beliefs? As Christianity attains a large base of followers, people who do not practice the religion may feel more comfortable wearing items that have connections to the faith even while they are not faithful themselves. However, with any other religion, you discredit the time and value those who do practice the religion put into the faith. Each religion requires high amounts of dedication, faith, and community, and although some religions might be very popular or common in our society both in America and in Samo, it is important to separate yourself from the masses and allow these communities to thrive with the proper respect. Whether that means not claiming a religion you do not practice or not wearing cultural items that are not in your culture, even though so many others do,doing so would disrespect the commitment those followers are taking as you reap the benefits of the surface level without valuing the deeper level of faith that the religion takes. So, as you pick out your outfit tomorrow morning, maybe skip the cross earrings or clothes with another religion’s messages spread across them. As Halloween rolls around this year, it is important to get your costume just right. Whether you are going full-out or more casual, the best tip is to keep it respectful of the people and walks of life all around you. Not just for Halloween though, it is important to show respect for the commitment to all religions in the world by not taking religious items for yourself when you don’t have the beliefs or dedication as well.
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Art by Kira Bretsky
Power to empowerment clubs Emi Yashishiro-Hergert Staff Writer
When you think of the term “empowerment,” what comes to mind? A group of people on a stage, giving a speech about their cause? A gathering sequestered in a room, providing quiet support for issues they face? Empowerment takes these forms and more among Samo’s clubs. While providing a safe space to discuss problems is a key part of empowerment clubs, their focus for this year should be on developing the student voice by supporting mental well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic may be a reason for students’ reluctance to speak publicly. Even as pandemic restrictions lift, the impacts on anxiety and depression in teenagers remain just as profound. Regaining the confidence to speak out is a difficult feat for those who might suffer from heightened anxiety or depression. School psychologists Madison Braverman, Erica Greer and Susana Ponce-Jauregui highlight the difference in how each student readjusts to a relative sense of normalcy. “Every student has different needs and wants, so each student’s advocacy skills will be different. We hope students are able to advocate more after the pandemic personally and publicly,” Braverman said.
The Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) has long been a club focused inwards, according to club president Stella Faas (’23). It gives LGBTQ+ students a social space to share experiences and use preferred names and pronouns in a private setting away from potential abuse or bullying. While the GSA could work on finding safe and anonymous opportunities to help their students advocate if they want to, other clubs should follow its lead in providing connections between like-minded students in order to develop self confidence. Faas describes the integral first step toward effective assertion. “To make a big impact, you have to be stable and have a good idea of yourself before you try to put yourself out there. If not, then it’s not sustainable, it’s not healthy,” Faas said. Letters to our Leaders is a club oriented more toward outreach, advocating for the causes of each members’ choice via letters sent out to political representatives. As club president Finlay Ross (’25) puts it, we as students in America should take advantage of our fundamental right to free speech whenever we can. Combining this mission with opportunities to build members’ confidence may ensure Letters to our Leaders’
Sandy the Seagull
by Sofia Hume
efficacy in promoting their messages. The club Dear Asian Youth provides a social space for AAPI students, encouraging political activism and community engagement. President Sierra Yee (’23) gives insight on the importance of advocacy. “As students, a lot of the time it’s hard to feel like you have a voice. Acting as a group of people, we can really try to change something,” Yee said. As society heals from the pandemic, we must also begin to move forward. Activist clubs should regularly check in with the mental health of their members and take any opportunities to provide interpersonal connections. Clubs that focus on empowering their students should keep a tight hold on their value of safe spaces and open conversation; they should also work toward building their members’ confidence, if those members decide to advocate for a cause in the public eye.
Art by Kira Bretsky
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thesamohistudentewspaper@gmail.com
The Samohi October 17, 2022
Student Life
07
Meet Samo’s New 2022-2023 Staff Members Olivia Stephansen and Natalie Gazzana Staff Writers
In the 2022-2023 school year, Samo has diversified its faculty with a variety of staff members, ranging from promotions and new positions to new hires. Get to know some fun facts about Samo’s new staff ! Jordana Benone English Teacher
Rachel Berney H-House Advisor
Madison Braverman School Psychologist
Jason Daglis Special Education Teacher
Erin DeTura School Nurse
Lisa Dickens Science Teacher
Rose Fajans English Teacher
Travis Ford PE Teacher
Fajans loves to bike, hike, and read.
Ford enjoys fishing and his favorite movie is Dark Knight.
Erica Greer School Psychologist
Crystal Jackson Special Education Teacher
Alyssa Pazzi English Teacher
Elda Platon Cruz Special Education Teacher
Susana Ponce Jauregui School Psychologist
Zachary Rosenau English Teacher
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Eddie Delgado Special Education Teacher
Delgado’s favorite show is The Simpsons.
DeTura is a self described “cat convert.”
Crystal Griffis Administrative Assistant
If Griffis was an animal, she would be a celebrity’s dog.
Jackson could watch the show Life Below Zero all day.
Benone has jumped off of hotels, trapezes, and cliffs.
Dickens loves to play volleyball in her free time.
Pazzi just moved to Santa Monica two months ago.
Berney loves exploring local neighborhoods.
Platon Cruz loves doing laundry and the smell of softener.
Braverman has been writing a book of questions since 2017.
Ponce Jauregui loves traveling and has been to 14 countries.
Daglis’s favorite sports team is Liverpool FC.
Greer’s favorite place that she has been is Disney.
Rosenau loves hiking state national parks.
Photos by: Kira Bretsky / The Samohi Sienna Bevan / The Samohi White’s Studios / Contributor
Lizzie Stapleton English Teacher
If Stapleton was an animal, she would be an elephant seal.
Ryan Tait Science Teacher
Tait can speak four languages.
Tracy Takahashi Special Education Teacher
Takahashi usually has a class pet, and once had a tarantula.
Samo library unveils literary road trip challenge Sienna Bevan
Lauren Takeshita M-House Advisor
One of Takeshita’s favorite shows is Good Trouble.
Yi Wang Chinese Teacher
Wang’s favorite food is dumplings.
Students promote the youth vote with voter registration drive Amilia Tejada
Staff Writer
Calling all readers for your next reading challenge: the Samo library is hosting a chapter of the “Read Around the U.S. Literary Roadtrip.” The library is holding the challenge in order to promote not only reading in general, but reading across US regions. The goal is to encourage students to learn about various cultures and lifestyles, specifically those they wouldn’t normally gravitate towards. There is a dire need for people to be exposed to different perspectives, especially with the polarization of the country. Samo librarian Dana Bartbell explained how English teachers often talk about books being mirrors or windows. The mirrors are books where readers see themselves, whereas windows are books that expose us to other worlds. Each student participating must read 50 books from each of the 50 states, as well as one from Washington D.C., one from any US territory and one road trip-themed book by graduation. The challenge is catered specifically toward each individual; there is no required list of books. Students are encouraged to read books of their own choice at
Kira Bretsky / The Samohi
an appropriate reading level. Those who complete their books by the end of senior year will earn a stole at graduation in recognition of their achievement. The inclusive design of the challenge makes it easy for anyone to participate, no matter their reading level or genre preferences, as long as they enroll by Nov. 15 of their junior year. Ryne Kapen (’25), a student interested in participating, shared his desire to learn about people who are different from him. “I really don’t know a lot about other cultures besides my own, so I think reading about them could expand my understanding,” Kapen said. The ultimate hope for the challenge is to build community for all readers and students alike. “Students can exchange ideas about books they read set in different states, or just come together at various points tode celebrate their accomplishments. And knowing who other readers are, I think that’s really important. So you could strike up conversations and maybe build friendships over it,” Bartbell said.
Scan this barcode for more information on Samo’s reading roadtrip! thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Staff Writer
From Sept. 19 to Sept. 23, students at Samo held their own voter registration drive. Under the leadership of Scarlett Tropea-Lester (’23) the Los Angeles High School Democrats (LAHSD), went around eleventh and twelfth grade history classrooms, encouraging their peers to pre-register to vote. In their presentations students were instructed on not only how to pre-register to vote, but why pre-registering to vote is so important. According to the Civics Center, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has the lowest voter registration rate in Los Angeles County, with only 34 percent of its students pre-registered to vote. To students at Samo like Drew Sievers (’25), this statistic is not acceptable. “Pre-registering to vote is so important because it gives people a voice and more power in local and national elections,,” Sievers said. Tropea-Lester has been a very active member of the political movement throughout her high school career. From leading protests for gun control to holding annual voter registration events, Tropea-Lester has made sure to make her political voice heard. Due to her hard work and advocacy, Tropea-Lester is on her way to becoming the first SMMUSD student to receive the State Seal of Civic Engagement. The State Seal of Civic Engagement recognizes high school students that have acted within the community to demonstrate their civic knowledge. Although this is a great honor, Tropea-Lester claims she didn’t do any
Kira Bretsky / The Samohi
LAHSD registers voters at lunch.
of this work for the award because she is most concerned with educating others. “Some people don’t participate because they don’t see the importance of pre-registering to vote, but I still feel introducing them to the idea of it is vital,” Tropea-Lester said. Tropea-Lester and her team set up a booth on Sept. 21 during lunch, handing out pre-voter registration forms and pins to Samo students. One student, Tatum Meyer (’23) was pleased to see that such an event was taking place. “Voting helps dictate the types of people and beliefs that are present in the government. I have strong political and social beliefs that I want to see represented. Everyone at Samo should pre-register to vote because teenagers need to get involved as it is one way we can demand the change we wish to see within our society,” Meyer said. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Grade slump or grade bump: Samo’s academic help Cleo Topp
Staff Writer It’s only October, but the homework is already piling up: history notes, pages of math and unit tests in three different subjects at the end of the week. As students take harder classes and more extracurriculars, falling behind on one assignment can lead to an endless cycle of catching up. Luckily, to save your grades – and your brain – Samo offers many resources for academic success. “Just going and asking for help, it may be a little help, it may be a lot of help, we don’t always know the answer, but we can usually direct students to a place where they can get additional help.” Dana Bartbell, Samo librarian, said. Perhaps the most obvious way to get help with your schoolwork is to reach out to your teachers, specifically by using flextime.
Flex-time is a convenient opportunity to retake assessments during school hours, ask questions about assignments, and generally receive help from someone who knows the material best. By using flex-time strategically, you can save time outside of school to work on other activities or schoolwork, or simply give yourself some free time. If you are still looking for help on campus, then you may want to use the library’s academic resources. Not only does the library house many logistical resources such as a printer, researching help, books on a variety of topics and more, but it also provides a quiet space to complete assignments and possibly get help with homework from teachers who proctor the after-school library program. While this does not provide one on one help as a tutoring lesson might, students are able to ask these teachers questions that
they might have while working on assignments in this space. The district can also provide online tutoring services through PAPER. Whether you want to upload an essay for review within 24 hours, or need to chat with someone online for immediate help solving a chemistry problem, PAPER is available to assist. Although memberships are currently only available for certain students, English teachers are advocating for their services to be accessible for everyone at Samo as they have been in past years. Students have expressed how helpful these resources have been. “Having these opportunities has really helped me excel in my school work and I think it’s important to provide it for other people,” Lily Mcmahon (’25) said. Another website would be Santa Monica Library Brainfuse HelpNow. Brainfuse is
open seven days a week from 1PM to 10PM at any Santa Monica Library location. With a Santa Monica Public Library card, anyone from 3rd through 12th grade can get help in a range of subjects. Through this program, students are connected one on one with a trained English or Spanish speaking tutor online for academic help. There are many resources available for Samo students on and off campus that are beneficial in staying caught up with schoolwork in this list and beyond. So, if you are struggling with any of your classes, feeling overwhelmed, or are simply looking for ways to stay on top of schoolwork, then these academic resources may be just right for you as they have been for many other students. thesamohinewspaper@gmail.com
Find “your people” by joining clubs at Samo Audrey Strauss Staff Writer
As Samo gets further into the 20222023 school year, it is time to look into joining clubs offered on campus. Whether you’re interested in getting involved in the community, honing a personal interest, or getting ahead in school, there is a club for everyone. Not only is joining clubs a fun and productive use of your time, it also has numerous different benefits. Being in clubs looks great on college applications, helps you connect with the Samo community and provides new opportunities to learn and grow. Most clubs meet during lunch or after school, usually weekly or biweekly, though it differs for each one.
There are a few categories of clubs: honors clubs, activity clubs and cultural clubs. Some cultural clubs include the Muslim Students Association, Chinese Cultural club and Jewish Student Union. Artistic clubs range from film to poetry, and there are plenty of sports and fundraising clubs as well. One of the best ways to get involved at Samo is to join a club, since they will all be filled with other students who are passionate about the topic. Once a part of a club, there are typically various leadership positions that students can apply to. Many students at Samo, including Aubrielle Gomez (’24), have already joined clubs at Samo and urge other students to do the same. “There’s a lot of really good clubs this
year. Joining them will open doors to meeting new people and building a sense of community at Samo. Joining clubs can be hard, but the best way to find something you like is to get out of your comfort zone, so I definitely think it is worth it,” Gomez said. On a large campus like Samo’s, it can be difficult to find similar people. One of the best things about clubs is that they make it easier to find like minded people. David Gottlieb, a French teacher at Samo, expressed the various benefits of joining a club. “At a big school, making new friends is hard. It’s beneficial to have places like clubs to bring students together. Plus, clubs look good on a college brag sheet,” Gottlieb said.
If you’re interested in joining clubs or just reviewing the club options, club row is the place to be. Club Row, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 4, will feature club leaders with booths set up and handouts to give out to promote their clubs. There, you can ask questions, see if anything catches your eye and sign up for the clubs that interest you. With a vast selection of clubs for everyone’s interests, there’s likely to be at least one that appeals to someone’s interests. The clubs main list, where all the clubs are posted with their room numbers, meeting times, frequency, and advisors will be posted via the Samo website shortly.
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Sofia Hume Staff Writer
As you enter Samo’s cafeteria you soon realize that you are not short of options when choosing what you would like to have for lunch. According to the head cook and baker, Angie Bustamante, there is a large variety of delicious meals prepared within Samo’s kitchen. From the looks of the lunch lines, Samo students are fans of this year’s meals. Here is an inside look into the lunch menu and what to expect daily.
Art by Ava Memarzadeh
thesamohinewspaper@gmail.com Art by Kira Bretsky
Survival guide: The reality behind navigating Samo Sienna Bevan Staff Writer
Samo is about the size of a small college campus, making it difficult to navigate at times. With nine minutes in between classes, and sometimes needing to go from one side of campus to another, efficiency is key. Forget about walking with a friend or unraveling wired headphones to listen to music, passing periods are serious. One of the most dangerous occurrences would be getting caught in a stampede. Not just any stampede, but a Language Building stampede. The students leaving the Language Building want to get out as quickly as possible, and will therefore do anything it takes. Possible consequences of getting caught in the oncoming traffic are severe injuries and/or humiliation. Survivor of the stampede Phoebe Benun (’25) touches on her struggle through the sea of language-goers, with what must have been a tear forming in her eye. “You get tossed around for a good minute as you try to find a path, and then you eventually just ride the current all the way to your destination,” Benun said. The most important rule for traveling to the Language
Building is to walk with the flow of traffic. Always stay on the right side. The one exception to this is when going to the English Building. Imagine playing Crossy Roads in real life, except in this case, it’s rigged and there is no way to actually make it across. It takes perfect timing and ambition to cut across the stampede coming from the Language Building. When getting ready to make the turn, possibly hold out your left arm as a signal until traffic slows down and brace yourself for impact. As for going inside Language, grab a mask (KN95 or gas mask), hand sanitizer, helmet and be prepared for anything that comes your way. Liam Macmahon (’24) was reluctant to even talk about the building. “The Language Building is $#!%” MacMahon said, referring to his time navigating its halls. Contrary to the Language Building, students feel more affection towards the Discovery Building, if you aren’t including the dysfunctional air conditioning and alarm systems of course. Side stairs to Discovery may be the obvious shortcut, but they aren’t always the way to go. For the sake of everyone, walk single-file. When they get clogged, people are pushed against
each other and the safety of students is at risk. Aggression is shown and side-eye is thrown. Those with experience exercising on the Greeks might as well take the left side of the main Discovery stairs—the giant stairs. When going up them, get as much momentum as possible–take a running start and say a silent prayer if you must–and don’t look back. Meanwhile, the Innovation Building is a breeze. With three stairways, students can disperse themselves without having to worry about stampedes or running starts. In the case of a cross-campus trip, students may need an estimated arrival time. For the average walker at Samo, the trek will take approximately five minutes and 16.37 seconds. For those with rolly backpacks, plan ahead and take side routes. The cafeteria-runners, for those who don’t know, are the students who somehow manage to leave class early and make it to the lunch line before the fourth period bell rings. They don’t even need to worry about timing. As for the saggers, those whose pants somehow just can’t stay on, there’s no way you’ll make it to class in time. In other words, just get a belt. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Art by Kira Bretsky
The Samohi
10 October 17, 2022
Student life
Samo celebrates first school-wide pep rally since Feb. 2020 Natalie Gazzana Staff Writer
On Sept. 23, Samo students gathered to watch the first schoolwide pep rally in three years held in the Greek Amphitheater. The rally consisted of many activities with the goal of uniting Samo’s student body while simultaneously encouraging friendly competition, including a finish the lyrics game between different classes, a dance battle and involvement from Samo’s fall sports teams. In the first semester of 2019, young freshmen of the class of 2023 gathered in the Greeks to watch their first high school pep rally. Now, nearly four years later, freshman, sophomores and juniors were able to experience their first pep rally. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions of the last two years, pep rallies were unable to happen, so for many students, this was a new and exciting environment. In fact, for Holden Savage (’25), the pep rally was a new and welcomed competitive experience. “I liked the pep rally. I thought it was fun to see all of the sports teams and compete against the other grades,” Savage said. When students were first excused from their classroom and directed down to the Greeks, they were greeted by fellow classmates in designated class colors and ASB members Jessica Brown (’23) and Yo-
Taylor Witt / The Samohi
hannes Mihret (’23) on the stage. As the pep rally started, Brown and Mihret were joined by several sports teams, members of the Samo special education program and the Madrigals and Chamber choir ensembles, who sang Samo’s Hymn of Praise and the Star Spangled Banner. In addition, Samo took part in a trending ‘roller coaster’ cheer, run by several faculty members in an attempt to break a record previously set by a different school. Although the schoolwide pep rally was the first one in three years, there were many similarities to the ones held in 2019 and years prior. For example, as the fall sports teams walked the stage, some students, including varsity volleyball players Dylan Spanier (’23) and Catrina Zolkin (’23) made clear their class preference by using the mic to shout “Go ’23!” Some seniors might recollect the similarities to freshman year, when the seniors back then did the same for their graduating year. Although many seniors found excitement in the pep rally, some, like Matilda Kira Bretsky / The Samohi Spenelli (’23), thought that the pep rally was in Yohannes Mihret (’23) and Jessica Brown (’23), the need of more pep. “I think there wasn’t enough energy and par- pep rally emcees, pose for a picture. ticipation. We could’ve had more interactive activities, like having the students from the dance battle go down to the stage in front of everyone. That would have made the crowd roar,” Spenelli said. However, considering most students at Samo have never had a school-wide pep rally, it is expected that the first one back would lack a little bit of enthusiasm. As the first grading period came to an end at Samo, the pep rally was a fun and exciting way to start the school year. Welcomed competition between grade levels offered friendly animosity and reignited many students’ missing school spirit.
Samo’s class of 2026 shows their school spirit while cheering in the pep rally stands.
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Beyond the library with Ms. Bartbell Malia Kabwe Staff Writer
Dana Bartbell, Samo’s librarian of 22 years, gave some insight into the work she does for education inside and outside of Samo. Bartbell has increased her involvement in environmentalism by aiming to make Samo Library a green library. In addition, Bartbell participated in building libraries for the African Library Project and has started the Samohi Reads Road Trip Program. Malia Kabwe: Hi! I’m Malia Kabwe. Thank you for meeting with me for this interview. To begin, tell me a bit about yourself and how you came to be a librarian. Dana Bartbell: I was born and raised in LA and went to Saint Monica’s. I went to college at the University of San Diego. I changed majors a few times. I was a first generation college student trying to figure it out. After I graduated I had gotten married and was living in Pennsylvania. I had started teaching in New Jersey. I worked as a substitute teacher for about half a year. Then I receive an emergency teaching credential to teach English at a Central High School in Newark, New Jersey. I loved it, but I realized that I thought students needed the ability to evaluate information and the ability to critically assess the information sources that were coming at them. So that convinced me that I wanted to be a librarian. I started working at a college library, but I ultimately missed working with younger students. We moved back home to be around family and I was hired as the Samo librarian. I’ve been here for about 22 years. MK: What were your majors before you chose English? DB: I started out as a Biology major at the University of San Diego. I made the mistake that a lot of science majors do when they don’t have a particularly clear path. I got a really bad grade, as did many of my peers. But, when you are successful in high school that may prevent you from wanting to go forward. In reality, science is hard and there are many people who have to take classes two or three times. But, after Bio, I was undeclared for a while. I didn’t know what I wanted to be so I dropped out and worked. Eventually, I thought, well I love English. I didn’t know what I would want to do with it but I had a lot of English credits so I stuck with it.
MK: I’ve heard you are a part of the African Library Project (ALP) could you tell me a little bit about that? DB: A student here who graduated nine or ten years ago had created a library for the African Library Project. So, that’s how it first came on my radar. I’m also a big fan of the organization Project Drawdown, which seeks to help the environment and climate change by looking at things you can do worldwide to help support change. One of those things is raising literacy rates. So, I started by joining the African Library Project and did a book drive last fall. My first one was at a high school in Uganda. Then, I did a second one at a high school in Lesotho, a small country surrounded by South Africa. Right now I’m doing a Primary library in South Africa, The secondary librarians like the project as well so we decided to do another school in Uganda. So, this will be the fourth project I’ve been a part of. MK: How has working on the ALP affected the way you see working with more privileged students at Samo? DB: It’s so radically different because there are so many resources around that students may not always take advantage of. Whereas kids in other countries may not have the resources that we do and would love to have access to those resources. So seeing the gap between students who have these amazing resources to be successful and other students who are successful because they are working very hard despite not having a lot. I think it maybe influences me to help open students’ eyes up to what they have and why they should take advantage of those resources. MK: How did you get interested in climate change and climate training? DB: Growing up my parents took us camping and did a lot in the outdoors so that’s part of it. I remember going to Hawaii years ago and seeing a marine protected area. I went back years later and saw the lack of vibrancy because a lot of the coral had been bleached. I was shocked at how a protected area was so impacted by climate realities. Another thing is that growing up we didn’t have a lot of money and my father was a carpenter. So, we used to go to thrift stores and get furniture from different sorts of places so we didn’t
Kira Bretsky / The Samohi
Bartbell poses for a photo in her new classroom, a current ‘work in progress’ that will eventually become a phone-free room for students to and relax in.
have this new perfect home. When you’re a kid you don’t see that as a positive thing. But then you get older and you recognize the positive aspect is that you are around people who really make use of their resources and don’t throw things away to get the newest thing available. So, given all that, I went to get trained to be a climate reality leader with the Climate Reality Project run by Al Gore.
pers for Halloween. A lot of the stuff we get for the library is from Buy Nothing, or I buy from thrift stores. And there’s the freecycle box where I and other people bring in stuff that we think kids might want that’s in good usable condition.
MK: How do you apply that training to Samo and the library?
DB: What Stands in A Storm by Kim Cross. This is a “right now” book recommendation that I’m incorporating into the Samohi Reads Program. It’s a book that talks about a three-day period in April 2011 when there were an insane amount of tornadoes that touched down in Mississippi and Alabama. It’s horrifyingly frightful what the people had to endure and at the same time, there are these phenomenal stories of people reaching out and helping each other. Let’s see, I really loved the Inheritance Games, that was a fun book. There’s another book called The Other Black Girl, Im finding people either love it or hate it. That was a really interesting read about what you think is the dynamics of an office relationship, but it turns out to be so much more than that with a little sci-fi twist at the end.
DB: I just reached out last year to an organization that works to get libraries certified as green libraries. They didn’t have anything set up for high schoolers yet but I’ve been in communication with them to try to make Samo Library a green library. I’m also helping them shape the program for high schools to help schools think more about incorporating green practices. Another thing is Citizen Scientist. There are a lot of fascinating programs to help kids get involved in helping save wildlife, save the bees, and identify fires in African grasslands. There are so many amazing programs and during flex time and sometimes during lunch I’ll open the computer and get students interested. But, I might need to rebrand it and not call it Citizen Scientist to get more students involved. We also have a “Got Sneakers?” bag for students to fill with tennis shoes that they’re not using to be recycled. I just got a box to recycle candy wrap-
MK: What are your top three book recommendations?
MK: Okay, thank you so much for meeting with me. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
The Samohi October 17, 2022 11
Arts & Entertainment
Summer begins for the Symphony Orchestra with a New York tour Ryan Kim
Staff Writer
Music fills the halls of Carnegie Hall and as the symphony orchestra plays, the room is silent. Then as they finish, there’s only silence. As the orchestra takes a bow and leaves, applause fills the room, and cheers are heard from the audience. On June 16th, the Samo Symphony Orchestra went on a trip to New York and played 4 beautiful pieces at Carnegie hall leaving the audience stunned as they finished. This was the first trip that the orchestra has been able to go on since 2019 after COVID-19 hit. Naturally, everyone was excited and ready to perform in New York. As their trip reached its end, the students felt closer to the orchestra and glad to spend some time with the seniors before they went to college. Charlie Marin (’22) has explained what he thought and felt about the trip. “I think not having those trips really just made this one a lot more special. I wish covid didn’t cancel everything; however, this trip was still amazing and I can’t be anything but grateful that it happened,” Marin said. He explained that due to COVID-19, he was not able to go
on any field trips. However, New York was an unforgettable experience for him as it helped bond the orchestra and the seniors together more and the memories they made would not be forgotten. Both directors of the Samo orchestras explained what they both felt about the trip. “The trip was still different from pre-pandemic times and had hurdles like making sure no one got sick. But the fact we had the opportunity to perform outside Santa Monica was exciting. Some hadn’t
been to New York so we made sure to give them the experience of a different city,” Jason Aiello said. Aiello illustrates how important it was to make sure that the class was safe from COVID-19 and that the students would get a lifetime experience while performing. He described the trip as an unforgettable experience and a memorable trip for everyone. He also let the students explore the area and the places in New York. As the students explored New York, they went on several trips
such as going on a boat tour around the Statue of Liberty, going to art museums, watching Hadestown on Broadway, and eating at several restaurants. While touring around New York, the Symphony Orchestra performed at St. Malachy Cathedral where they performed in front of family and friends. Raeva Vasisht (’23) explained how the place and the environment felt to her. “It was our first performance on tour, and it gave us some reassurance that we were ready for Carn-
Jim Wang / Contributor
The Symphony Orchestra explored the city during the time they were in New York and part took in some fun activities.
egie. It was honestly so cathartic, the sound was so atmospheric, and at times it felt like you were almost floating,” Vashit said. As their trip reached the end, the orchestra performed at Carnegie Hall. There were many feelings such as sadness, nervousness, and reverence for the place during the time and Skylar Tuckett (’23) talks about what she thought after performing. “Carnegie Hall is such a renowned concert hall and I felt so honored to be able to play there alongside all of my friends and the Symphony Orchestra community,” Tuckett said. Tuckett described the performance as a breathtaking experience as well as a big motivator for her to do well in music. She felt that the experience helped bond with the orchestra and the seniors as well. As the students and teachers went back to Santa Monica, Vasisht leaves the seniors and the trip as her final thoughts. “This tour was important to the seniors, and we really wanted to share that experience with them. The trip and performance were incredible and the perfect way to say goodbye to the class of 2022,’’ Vasisht said.
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Be prepared to be scared: Here are the best horror movies! Sofia Hume Staff Writer
With this October finally here, it’s the perfect time to begin thinking about what makes the scary season so special. The most important question of the season being: what are the best horror movies? Not just any old movie categorized as horror will be making it onto this meticulously crafted list. No, that would be too easy. You’ll notice that the films that’ve made the cut can also be recognized as cinematic masterpieces and are films that leave you shaking in your seat but also wanting more.
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American Psycho directed by Mary Harron
A perfectionist. A businessman. A narcissistic psychopath. Patrick Bateman. The man who needed to kill in order to be satisfied. As an audience you share an intimate relationship with Mr. Batemen, being able to hear his inner dialogue, witnessing truly how disturbing his conscience is. The thoughts behind each kill, the emotions, or the lack thereof. Successfully played by actor Chritian Bale, it’s hard to watch this film and think you’re not actually looking in on a madman at work. A high maintenance individual who likes to keep the “perfect” image, it’s not hard to believe that he escapes unconvicted every time.
The Birds directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Though maybe not the scariest of the five films listed, this movie does not go without being understood as groundbreaking for its time. “The Birds”, one of Alfred Hitchcock’s many successes in the film industry, lead the way with its at the time breathtaking special effects and horrifying series of events. What was meant to be a quick, perhaps romantic, trip to Bodega Bay from San Francisco for one Melanie Daniels. Soon became a long stay accompanied by attacks from birds, the cause of their violent behavior unexplainable. Now this movie might not leave you sleepless with nightmares, but don’t be surprised if you flinch whenever a crow flies overhead after watching this film.
Photo from lionsgate.com
Jaws directed by Steven Spielberg
Photo from uphe.com
Dunuuuh.. Dunuuuh... Dunuh Dunuh.... Dunuh Dunuh Dunuh Dunuh..... Everyone knows it, when you hear the sound you practically see the enormously large shark fin cutting through the dark blue water. Or you imagine someone definitely in need of a bigger boat. The movie ”Jaws” brought a new sense of fear to the cinema, not just the kind that’s jump scares make you leap from your seat, but the type of fear that prevents you from stepping foot into the ocean for weeks. As you get to know the civilians living in Amity Island, you also begin to understand their growing fear. Hoping that whenever there is an underwater perspective shot, whoevers swimming gets out of the water fast.
Photo from uphe.com
The Shining directed by Stanley Kubrick
IT directed by Andrés Muschietti
Photo from warnerbros.com
It’s no surprise that every halloween you can’t go without spotting a red balloon, a little kid in a yellow raincoat, or a clown for that matter. “IT”, a movie based off of one of Stephen King’s fan favorite books, has come out in a few different directors interpretations over the years. Though the film released in 2017 tends to be the most popular. With its realistic cgi, and funny cast that ease you through the 2hr 26min horror film, you can’t help laughing when someone breaks an arm or rushes to get a puff of their inhaler. Set up like a coming of age, you create emotional bonds with the loser club’s members as they take on their terrifying adventure. Fearing for their lives and cheering whenever having successes against the antagonist Pennywise.
Photo from warnerbros.com
The movie that has references in an endless amount of other projects, consisting of Nemo, Toy Story, Coco, and even an episode of The Simpsons, has stayed a pop culture phenomenon since its release 42 years ago. So when you hear someone yell, “Here’s Johnnyy!”. It doesn’t take one long to picture a man’s face pushing its way through a hole in the wall, a set of twins wearing matching blue dresses and white knee socks, or the words red rum spelt backwards. “The Shining”, a story following what at first seems like a completely innocent family’s stay at a hotel, due to their father seeking a writer’s oasis. Quickly becomes their journey experiencing the torment and psychological tricks brought upon them by their stay in the colonial revival style brick resort. Leaving its audience fearful to ever enter a room labeled 237.
The Samohi
12 October 17, 2022
Arts & Entertainment
Takashi Murakami is stepping on the tail of success Indigo Craane Opinion Editor
“Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow”, Takashi Murakami’s exhibit in downtown Los Angeles’ Broad Museum, is a trip. For a more accurate description, it is like a frenetic Disneyland for the eyes. Takashi Murakami is a famed Japanese artist best known for the art movement he started called “Superflat.” Greatly influenced by Japanese manga and anime, the style combines the charm of commercial graphic design with the aesthetic of fine art, producing a hybrid art new to the art industry. The term is also used to describe the shallow consumer culture post-World War II. Murakami became one of the most influential contemporary artists of this decade. Tran-
Indigo Craane / The Samohi
Ar tist Murakami depicts his unique style of ar t through his charcacter, “Nurse Ko2”.
scending a multi-generational platform, Murakami has been a subject amongst art connoisseurs, popular celebrity icons and even hype-beasts. He has even
collaborated with rapper Kanye West, alongside having a fashion line with designer Louis Vuitton. “Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow” displayed all of Broad’s collections of his works alongside other immersive installations. 18 pieces in total, the exhibit features a range of art forms, varying from wallpaper works to sculptures to paintings. However, the centerpiece was Murakami’s monumental 82-foot-long painting, “In the Land of the Dead, Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow.” The piece was so long that it had to be split in two and put across both walls of a hall-like room. Inspired by the Chinese mythology of Daoist immortals, Murakami made this piece as a response to the disasters that struck Japan in 2011: a tsunami, earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear plant melt-
Movie
Don’t Worry Darling: a comically charged thriller
Malia Kabwe Staff Writer
“Don’t Worry Darling”, directed by Olivia Wilde was released on Sept. 23. This phycological thriller aims to explore the way gender roles affect interpersonal relationships. Much of the publicity regarding the movie was rooted in drama and the prospect of seeing Harry Styles in a sex scene. However, the movie does prove itself to be much more interesting than the drama. The film follows protagonist Alice (Florence Pugh) and her husband Jack (Harry Styles). Alice and Jack move into a nice suburban town called Victory. They both are living their American dream lives before Alice begins to notice the holes and inconsistencies in their paradise. While the movie has a fascinating premise of simulations, desperation, and misogyny, the message is skewed in some ways. One reason is the common debate that the movie is a white woman’s version of “Get Out”. I agree with parts of this critique considering the distinct similarities between the two films. Similarities being the critique of social issues using a surrealist situation. However, that statement may give Wilde a bit too much credit. This movie is good, “Get Out” is almost great in my opinion. And as someone who is used to re-experiencing black media through a white lens, the similarities are not surprising, just painfully unoriginal. Now, the performances in the film existed in a wide spectrum. Pugh, who also starred in “Midsommar” and seen in “Little Women”, exhibited a truly amazing performance. Styles, however, simply could not keep up. Many of Styles’ performances were met with literal laughter from the audience. While his performance was not awful, next to a more experienced actress like Pugh he seemed comical. It was almost distracting from the movie’s premise which was other-
Photo from dontworrydarling.movie
wise very serious. One second we would watch a suicide scene and the next laughing at Styles’ portrayal of an angry husband. The timeline was very strong with some lagging towards the end that occurs in many psychological thrillers. However, there are great sprinkles of comedy throughout which make it seem less slow. There were a few inconsistencies that I noticed were brushed off due to the stylization of the film. Wilde introduces two new characters (Jack and Alice’s new neighbors) into the movie that seem to have no real purpose for the plot. Margaret’s (Kiki Lane) character was also a little empty considering she was such a propeller for the rest of the story. Despite its shortcomings, “Don’t Worry Darling” was still entertaining. I think that Wilde made a brave choice by writing a psychological thriller after her hit comedy “Booksmart”. If you want to have a quick laugh and feel thrilled, “Don’t Worry Darling” is worth a watch.
Indigo Craane / The Samohi
The “Flower Mantago” represents an explosion of mushrooms that results in a sculpture of stems.
down. The pieces displayed in the exhibit range all of Murakami’s career, but even then, each piece is
unmistakable “Murakami.” Using large-scale canvas, cartoon characters and bright colors, alongside elements from modern Japanese culture, Murakami uses these joyful components to approach heavy subjects of grief, tragedy and war. At first glance, his piece is bright and nearly like eye candy. However, on a closer look, there can be gruesome images of warfare, devils and even death. The first opening reception since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Murakami exhibit at the Broad brought a crowd that had a range of all ages. Although the showcase closed on Sept. 25, it marks a welcome of a disturbing style to the art world.
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TV Show
She-Hulk: Hulk smash or Hulk pass? Olivia Stephansen Staff Writer
The new Disney Plus show released on Aug. 18, “She-Hulk” is based on the Marvel comics by Stan Lee and John Buscema. The show takes place a few years after Endgame in Los Angeles. She-Hulk (Tatiana Maslay) is a lawyer who works with cases involving superheroes until one day an accident causes her to become one herself. Her cousin Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) is a well-known superhero otherwise known as the Hulk. To be blunt, this show was boring and the characters were very bland with very little personality. The show represents some real-world problems, including sexism. The most obvious example of this is when the public did not want to see She-Hulk become a superhero simply because she is female. This is very believable considering how many people to this day don’t want to see women in power and are very discharging to-
ward women. However, the show is missing out in other categories. The show is not very realistic or believable. For example, She-Hulk is able to fully control her alter personality and powers after only a short amount of time. Which doesn’t seem likely considering how long it took Hulk to be able to control his powers. Hulk serves as a huge mentor to his cousin by helping and teaching her to be able to control her powers. Although the other characters were disappointing such as Dennis Bukowski who referred to women as “it”, the show needs to provide a deeper meaning to gender inequity and how this is wrong. Another issue with the characters is many not knowing as much about She-Hulk’s previous life compared to other superheroes considering her back story didn’t go into very much detail. Making it difficult for fans to relate and get to know a different side of her before the accident. The show is very disorganized by constantly switching up storylines. Going from focusing on one character to the next makes it harder to follow along. Overall this show didn’t put most fans on the edge of their seats wondering what is going to happen next. This can be a good show to watch in the background while doing homework or chores, it is also a show that can also give a lot of girls hope to follow their dreams since there is a female lead which isn’t the case for a lot of Marvel movies. A question a lot of marvel fans are wondering is if She-Hulk will be seen in new marvel movies or if this will just be a one-hit wonder for her. There are not a lot of connections between the show to other Marvel films, and a lot of fans did not enjoy the show so Marvel would receive backlash if She-Hulk is in upcoming films.
Photo from marvel.com
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Movie
Manic pixie dream “Pearl”
Taylor Witt Staff Writer
Ti West’s “Pearl’’, released Sept. 16 is a villainous prequel to “X” which was released earlier this March. Pearl (Mia Goth) takes on the classic trope of a deep descent into madness. We watch her go from dancing with a pitchfork to doing unspeakable things with said pitchfork to an unknowing goose. For a majority of the film, gore happens to be the least of disturbing images shown; nudity and explicit scenes, (watch out for that scarecrow!) run rampant. West’s “Pearl” is claimed to be a female version of the 2000’s “American Psycho”. While some of the plot may align, “Pearl” is a character deep dive into the psyche of a lonesome farm
girl. West sets the scene in Texas, 1918. During the influenza pandemic and a war on another land, Pearl’s husband is sent away to fight, leaving Pearl with her strict mother and incapacitated father. Pearl’s only dream is to be a dancer in the movies she sees in theaters when sneaking away from home. When she finds out there is an audition, she informs her mother who reacts poorly to the news which consequently starts her unhinged rampage. “Female rage” is something that the media today has been discussing more and more frequently. Anger has been something women are commonly taught to suppress, especially in the entertainment industry, women are portrayed as submissive and
rarely play the antagonist. West explores this idea by making a female man-hunting, psychotic
Photo from a24films.com
killer. Before the most climactic part of the film happens, Pearl unravels her entire psyche in a six-minute rant to her sister-inlaw. While the movie isn’t very suspenseful and the killer isn’t putting on a facade the entire time, this movie offers a different take on the typical slasher horror. The popularity of this movie comes down to the romanticization of the ‘farmer’s daughter’ aesthetic and technicolor “Wizard of Oz” look. Director West claims the movie critiques how the entertainment industry sells sex under the guise of something more family-friendly. However, West gives into this narrative leaving the viewer awkwardly shuffling in their seat during a scene where Pearl has pretend fornication
with a scarecrow. If this movie is at the top of your watch list, I’d reconsider seeing it with your family. Many loose ends are left with this film which is admissible since the movie was released six months after “X”. Though, the set design and poignant acting makes up for the small mishaps. Goth’s portrayal of the female rage and emotion is both remarkable and frightening. If you loved “Pearl” and “X” you’ll be pleased to know that Ti West is hard at work on another addition to the series.
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The Samohi October 17, 2022 13
SPORTS
The ball is back on our field: Football games return to Samo
Jewel Greene Staff Writer
This year Samo will no longer hold football games at Santa Monica College (SMC). It has become far too expensive to continue hosting at SMC and playing at Samo is not only free, but also allows for one less sport to have to pay bus fees to transport teams to a location
the SMC football field. Varsity football player Ivan Levant (’24), reflects on the move from SMC and its effects on the team. “Samo football will finally own its own field, possibly resulting in epic wins being held at its own viking field games moving from the former SMC stadium onto Samo football field,’’ Levant said. The move has brought along a new sense of
Samo pep squad at the second home game back on campus on Sept.2
and back. The move has prompted an increase in attendance at Samo football games. Could this be the revival of Samo spirit? It was established this summer that Samo football players will no longer be playing on
Kira Bretsky/The Samohi
community, with more students and parents being able to come to the games. It’s encouraging for players when they have a crowd cheering them on as they play. Varsity cheerleader Hayley Kaufman (’23) is excited by the
new connection between the crowd and the strong feelings towards how the recent inplayers. crease in audience members altered the way “When the games were being held at SMC the team performs. it was harder to connect with the audience “Although they make you nervous at first it due to COVID-19 arrangements that separat- gives you something to play for and because ed the audience from the players,” Kaufman said. Kaufman has been on the cheer team since freshman year, but this year is her first full year cheering on the Samo campus. Kaufman expresses her thoughts on the dynamic of the crowd and field. “It’s something special to be cheering on your own field, a lot of energy comes from the crowd, without the crowd, who would we be cheering for?,” Kaufman said. Kira Bretsky/The Samohi Hundreds of students Varsity football huddles up on the home field . attend each game adorned in blue and neon face paint and clothes demonstrating Samo’s the football team has tried to popularize the increase in school spirit following the years of essence of playing on Samo ground, it brings distance learning. Samo student Rickell Lewis an extra level of focus you need to obtain and (’24) believes that holding football games at nervousness you naturally have to play,” Seals Samo is a great way for entertainment after said. The positive impacts of the move were clear school. “It’s so crowded at high school games, it’s way in the first football game of the season that more convenient for students and faculty to was held at Samo on Aug. 28. Hundreds of go to an on-campus game. All they have to do students attended in support of the team, earning Samo their first win of the season. In is stay after school until it starts,” Lewis said. Along with the convenience of having games the upcoming home games, parents, students, nearby, the energy of having a larger crowd players and faculty are hoping to create more also affects the game play. Griffin Seals (’24), a energetic and memorable experiences like wide receiver on Samo Varsity football shares this. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
The divide between collegiate sport divisions Aaron Smollins Staff Writer
To be recruited to a Division I or II athletic program is an accomplishment for any highschool student athlete. According to the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), the percentage that differentiates Division I and II in any sport is extremely low. To put it into context, seven percent of high school athletes play a varsity sport in college across all three divisions. The probability of continuing your athletic and academic career at a Division I and II university are about the same, falling at about two percent. However, there are some differences in both the recruiting process and the workload when comparing the two divisions. Coleen Davenport, athletic director at Samo touches on the hardships of playing at the Division I level. “The workload as a Division I athlete is a lot. When in the recruiting process you have to think about if it is a legitimate option. Division II is the way to go if you are looking for a more balanced college experience,” Davenport said. Many athletes who are striving to play at the collegiate level and to play Division I envision playing in grand stadiums with thousands of people watching in the crowd. At the Division II level, however, schools may not have as big of a student population as Division I schools so games have less attendance. This is something that affects students’ decisions when looking into Division II schools for their sport. Multisport student athlete Brielle Minor (‘23) talks about her point of view on the Division I and II recruiting processes. “Recruiting is definitely a very interesting experience with lots of turns. I’d say the main difference between the two is what fits best for you. Division I also seems to have an earlier commitment period than Division II so you have to
get after it definitely. Overall I think it’s important to love the school as well as the sport no matter what division,” Minor said.
There is also a misconception that the skill level needed for Division I and Division II are drastically different.
Davenport explains the tendency of athletes to overlook Division II. “Many student athletes overlook Division II and other levels seeking NIL (Name Image Likeness) deals in Division I athletics. Student athletes have lost their vision of having a balance and use Division I as a stepping stone to become professional,” Davenport says. Many people are under the impression that only Division I athletes can earn NIL deals which allow athletes to partner with brands and companies to profit off of themselves. This belief is false as NIL deals apply to all athletes in all divisions. The rigor of Division I’s workload, daily practicing, and being on TV comes with a lot of pressure. Some find it hard to juggle the rigorous practices with general school studies. Davenport uses her experience at a Division II school and having family members play at the Division I level to describe the differences between the two. “You have to consider the pressure and criticism you will face playing on live TV in front of thousands of viewers multiple times a week. Being at a Division I school is a job and as someone who has family who have experienced Division I athletics, it is not as pretty as it looks on TV,” Davenport said. Regardless of the division you play at, making a Division I or Division II athletic roster puts you among the elite athletes in the country. Depending on where your priorities are, being at a Division II school may be a better choice in regards to keeping an academic and athletic balance. Division I however is more rigorous and the workload can easily become overwhelming. In any division, the overall college experience is different when playing a sport, but in order to accomplish professional aspirations, sacrifices must be made to reach the next level.
Sofia Hume/The Samohi
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The Samohi
14 October 17, 2022
Sports
Not like other sports: a look into some of Samo’s niche athletes Audrey Strauss Staff Writer
While Samo offers many popular sports at school, there is a variety of sports that are not offered at Samo that many students participate in. These sports call for having different equipment, routines and commitments. Whether it’s horseback riding, rowing, fencing, or anything else, many students on campus are a part of these niche sports. Maggie Purcell (’24) has been rock climbing since she was seven, and started competing at eleven. Purcell climbs with the organization USA Climbing, which is a non-profit nationwide program. At the gym where Purcell climbs, she has gotten the chance to expand her social circle. “A couple of people on my team go to Samo, but most are from Pali high or private schools,” Purcell said. Last year, Purcell and her team all made it into nationals. The organization is sets up so that teams move up together in competitions like regionals, nationals, divisionals and so
Sadie O’Connell / Contributor
Sadie O’Connell (’25) (right) and her partner after one of their Irish dance competitions.
did last year. Another student, Sadie O’Connell (’25), Irish dances at the Power Academy of Irish Dance. Starting when she was seven years old, O’Connell has participated in many competitions, even winning 14th place in a regional competition (California, Oregon and Washington) in 2019. “It’s definitely pretty diverse. Not only are there competitions and classes, there’s also shows and Irish festivals.” O’Connell said. O’Connell is in the champs level of her dance school,
which is the higher level of two. In the lower, dancers compete in seven categories of dance, while in champs they focus on three. October 8th, O’Connell will be performing in a local competition. “I’ve competed with teams in the past, but now I’m only doing solo competitions.” O’Connell said. Irish Dance means a lot to O’Connell, especially as it is a less common sport in California. It connects her to her Irish heritage, and she’s always happy to share her knowledge on the sport with anyone who’s curious. Shannon Stuart (’25) has been rowing with the California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey for two years, with two hour practices five days a week. According to Stuart, the sport is both physically and mentally taxing, meaning that if a rower doesn’t enjoy it, they will not get very far. “I like the competitive nature of it. And we are a smaller team, so we are all really close,” Stuart said. Stuart and her team typically compete in Long Beach against other teams from around the area, but they also go to bigger races from time to time, like an upcoming race in Boston she and some of her teammates will be attending. Many college scouts attend the race as well, which is another big draw of the sport, since that can lead to scholarships. “On the two days of the week that we don’t have practice, we usually get a workout from the coach to do at home.” Stuart said. All the practice pays off, as Stuarts’ team placed first in nationals last year. Now in her third year of rowing, Stuarts’ success is likely just starting, and it seems she and her team will have many more wins to come. Taking initiative to join a sport is a big responsibility, but these students and many others put in the work to participate in them. A sport not being offered at Samo shouldn’t hold anyone back from joining-- it’s never too late to discover something you could be passionate about.
Maggie Purcell / Contributor
Maggie Purcell (’24) climbing in a mock competition in San Diego.
on. Besides major competitions, climbing is scored separately for each individual. The rock climbers climb on their own, score on their own and rely on their own skills. “I find it really fun. There’s a lot of problem-solving involved, and I get to do a sport and be active.” Purcell said. It’s the beginning of a new season for Purcell, and right now she’s training to prepare for the rest of the year. With a chance to go to nationals and beyond, it’s a crucial time for her and her team to get ready to do just as well as they
Shannon Stuart (’25) (far left) and her team approaching finish line in her at Sarasotaw
Shannon Stuart / Contributor
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Female coaches left behind in the fight for equality Addison Burns Staff Writer
Throughout history, women have been discriminated against in sports. In almost all cases, they receive less money than men do, and are represented in stereotypical ways that promote misogyny. The misogyny faced by female athletes also follows into the women’s coaching world. At Samo, the head coach of the girls’ and boys’ cross country team is Coach Tania Fischer. She is on a committee called the Women’s Runners Coaches Collectives, a non-profit organization that promotes women coaching in all sports. As a female coach and professional athlete, Fischer has had many experiences with being disrespected in the sports world. “Take our staff for example, there are three women coaches, myself, the softball coach, and the volleyball coach. There’s 23 sports and there is three women coaches so that alone just shows you there’s a discrepancy there” Fischer said. According to History.com, in 1972, Title IX was passed which prohibits gender discrimination in funded educational programs such as sports. Although this protected women in academics as well, it majorly impacted women in sports. The act resulted in an increase of women participation in playing and leading sports. Before Title IX, there were 300,000 women playing sports at a high school and college level. According to NBC Sports, by 2019, about 3.5 million women nationwide were playing sports in high school.
However, the act did the opposite for women coaches. According to Forbes, prior to Title IX women held 90 percent of head coaching positions for college teams, and now women only hold about 41.1 percent. Instead of increasing the amount of women coaches, Title IX decreased the amount. Due to the popularity of women in sports a n d Title IX, female
coaching salaries have increased. As a result, many men have started to take those positions which in turn has led to the sharp decrease of women coaches.
According to The Sport Journal, female coaches often have more to prove than male coaches do. Women have to work much harder while also receiving lower pay and tolerating stereotypes. These harsh expectations come from people doubting the knowledge and abilities of women coaches. Coach Jenny Forster has been coaching softball at Samo for three years. Forster has also noticed the inconsistency between the respect for women in comparison to men in sports. “I am, however, always frustrated by the amount of support for women’s sports at all levels. It feels like people only think of men’s sports and there are so many female athletes at all levels who should be celebrated.” Forster said. It doesn’t matter the level of play, gender discrimination can be seen at the highest proffesional levels and on the high school level as well. Even as women athletes and coaches continue to make impressive achievements they still undergo many hardships regarding sexism. All in all, discrimination does not only happen to the female athletes, it can also happen to coaches and even to women who hold powerful positions.
Art by Kira Bretsky
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The Samohi October 17, 2022 15
Sports
Girls’ Golf goes clubbing: 2022 season begins Sydney Roker
Student Life Editor
Samo’s girls’ golf team is looking to continue their upward trajectory during the remainder of the season. With new leadership under Head Coach Roshni Mejia, returning players from previous seasons, and a batch of new players, the team has already seen improvement in their performances this season compared to last. “We are nearing the end of the season, so going into this season I was just looking to improve as a team. We wanted to lose by smaller margins. We even got close to almost winning a match this season! It was the best feeling in the world and really inspired us as a team,” Mejia said. With the team’s improved performances thus far, they are optimistic about their remaining matches. Varsity player Kara Best (’24) touched on the team’s goals to progress toward CIF Championships.
“This year we got a lot of new members, so our JV team is learning how to play and practice while the Varsity girls are competing in the league. So far in the league, we’ve been doing better than we have in years, and we want to keep improving as CIF comes up,” Best said. Despite the lack of a golf course at Samo, the team has learned to adjust to their schedule of multiple commutes per week to both their practices at Rancho Park and to away games. When asked about her goals for the final part of the golf season, Mejia said she hopes her team will stay determined, and continue to be open to learning and growing. “I am so proud of the strides they have made as a team. They have direction, focus and just are such a great positive energy to be around,” Mejia said.
David Zolkin/Contributor
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Kara Best (’24)/Contributor
Girls’ Golf (Cash Henton (’25), Frances Aguilar (’25), Sienna Morgan (’23), Kara Best (’24), Nataly Lopez (’24), Leila Chammaa (’23), Maya Knauf (’23)) poses for a team picture before ther first game of the season.
Girls’ tennis returns and are ready to serve
Aaron Smollins Staff Writer
The Samo Girls Tennis Teams’ season began in early September where the Vikings faced the Beverly Hills Tigers in a nonleague game. Ready for redemption after a tough 2021-2022 season, this year’s Girls Tennis Team captained by Jasmine trail (’23) and Haile Matsui (’23) are led by head coach Shaun Simone. Co-Captain, Jasmine Trail (’23) seems optimistic for how she wants the season to play out. “I’m hoping that we play hard and do our best,but most importantly that we work as a team and encourage each other,” Trail said. Coach Shaun Simone hopes that the Girls Tennis Team can turn things around and have an overall better season than last year. So far, the team has defeated Venice High School in a non-league game and lost against Redondo Union, Mira Costa, Palos Verdes, Peninsula and Beverly Hills. “This season we hope to qualify for the CIF Team Tournament in November. Teams must have a .500 win percentage in order to qualify and last year we were right be-
low the mark. With returning sophomores Meleja Horelick and Avey Thompson leading the Varsity team again this year, at first and second singles respectively, I believe our chances are better now with some experience,” Simone said. In order to do so, more coaching has been added to the team, for greater instruction and more productive practices. Assistant coaches were also needed due to the head coach, Simone, leaving for paternity leave. Duing Simone’s one month hiatus, junior varsity coach Katharina Valentiner and new assistant coach Stanford Poon. “It is also important to note that we recently hired an Assistant Coach to help during practices. It was necessary to expand our coaching staff in order to have practices run more efficiently considering our competition in the Bay League. We need as much support as possible,” Simone said. The girls Vikings are ready to play hard and leave it all on the court this season. The team’s next home game will be against Mira Costa on Tuesday Oct.18.
Aaron Smollins/The Samohi
Avelaine Thompson (’25) in the first league game of the seaon against Redondo Union on Sept.22. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Waterpolo finds their stroke in the new season
Alani Kanan Copy Editor
The Boys’ Varsity Waterpolo team is off to a great start following their strong last season. Even with the boys jumping into a higher division( division III) last year, it has not stopped their athletic performance. The team’s transition to their Olympic-sized Drake pool has also been a huge asset to the developing team.
The boys have shown their teamwork through the first home game of the season, beating Venice High School with a final score of 29-0. Team captain Emmanuel Cascione (’24), describes the team’s dynamic and his thoughts on the upcoming season. “I’m excited for CIFS this upcoming season and we’ve been doing pretty well so far and there’s always room for improvement. We were a little lost without communication among our team at first but we’ve improved drastically and we are only getting better.” Casione said. The team is excited about the upcoming league season, and so is Coach Matthew Flanders (’89) who touches on his hopes for the upcoming season. “We had a bit of a rocky start, but are improving. Our goals are to win the league, make CIF, and win CIF. Every year the goals are the same,” Flanders said. The varsity team is filled with both juniors and seniors. Some key players to look out for this season are returning All-American Darragh Flanders (’24), team captain Cascione, and Giacamo Rivers-Alteri (’23). “I’m excited for the challenging matches this upcoming season and the new memories I will make with the team,” Rivers-Alteri said. The team’s next league game will be on Oct.18 against Culver City High School. Kira Bretsky/The Samohi
Boys’ Waterpolo in a game against Redondo Union on Oct.4., which ended in a score of 10-13
Kira Bretsky/The Samohi
Emanuel Cascione (’23) gets ready to pass the ball.
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The Samohi
16 October 17, 2022
Sports
Cross Country fires through a new course Matilde Martinez-Navarrete Staff Writer
The Samo cross country team hit the ground running at Cool Breeze, their first meet of the year, on Sept. 3. However, Coach Tania Fischer has been training her athletes since June. “Once school starts, our season starts,” Fischer said. “If you don’t train in the summer, basically you will be really far behind.” Last year, the team joined the Bay League, matching them against Culver City, Redondo Union, Mira Costa, Palos Verdes and Peninsula High School. The latter four are regulars at the CIF state championships, putting Samo up against cross-country powerhouses. “The Bay League is the toughest league in Southern California,” Fischer said. “It was a little overwhelming our first year, but this year I think we’re better prepared,” Samo ran at Cool Breeze during the extreme heat warning from Sept.’s heat wave, but they came ready with cold water and towels to keep themselves as cool as possible. Fischer commented that the athletes she spoke to said it didn’t feel that bad when they were running thanks to the heat training they did beforehand. The boys’ varsi-
ty team placed third overall and the girls’ placed eleventh, but Fischer has high hopes for them once League starts. “My goal is that the girls come close and that they feel like they belong in the League… that they have confidence, and that they know they can run with the best.” Fischer said. “Our boys have already proved it [at Cool Breeze].” Samo broke records at Cool Breeze too. Colin McCormick (’23) became Samo boys’ ninth-fastest three-mile runner ever at Cool Breeze with 16 minutes and four seconds. First timer Phoebe Benun (’22) ran Samo girls’ third-fastest three miles ever at Cool Breeze with 18 minutes and six seconds. “Last year I ran track, but let’s just say cross country races are a whole lot more confusing, and I’m still trying to get used to havTania Fischer / Contributor ing almost no idea where I’m going as I head Girls’ Varsity Cross Country poses with third place plaque after a two mile race at Palos Verdes. around each turn,” Benun said. “I was talking to people after the race… “Their confidence has been slowly coming Benun and McCormick went on to beat when Fischer let us know that we placed together, and I think that the key, especially their personal records at the Woodbridge first, which was followed by a long period of in cross country, is that you run as a group meet a couple of weeks later with a time of jumping, screaming, hugging and numerous because you can’t win a cross country meet 17 minutes and 36 seconds and 15 minutes pictures,” Benun said. “This was a big mo- if you’re all spread out,” Fischer said. “So the and 29 seconds, respectively. Benun placed ment for our team, and I’ll remember that idea is that if you train together, you race tofirst in her race, and the rest of the girls’ team race for a long time.” gether. It’s worked so far.” pulled through to win first place overall, League is set to start on Oct. 12, but Fischer while the boys’ team got fourth. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com is pleased with the teams’ results thus far.
Girls’ Volleyball sets up for a slamming season
Addison Burns Staff Writer
Coming off a tough 2021-2022 season, the Samo girls volleyball team hopes to get back to their pre COVID-19 success. Last year the team finished 2-14 for their total overall games played and 1-9 in their official league games. This season, they are trying to match their 2018 and 2019 seasons where they ended 9-1 in league both years.
Kira / The Samohi
Girls’ volleyball team celebrates after winning the point.
Returning seniors for varsity include Catrina Zolkin (’23), Grace Neumann (’23), Dylan Spanier (’23), Sophie Christmas (’23), Scarlett Mickel (’23), Violet Rist (’23) and Aika Hughes (’23). The captains this year are Spanier, Zolkin and Christmas. Rising players for the 22-23 season include Bibiana Peterson (’24), Cherysh Henley (’24), Anastasia Rho (’24), Emerson Werger (’24) and Jane Robinson (’25). Liane Sato, the varsity head coach, reports on the team’s goals for the upcoming season. “We are in the toughest league so our goal is to take advantage of the opportunity to compete against the best teams in the state. Kira Bretsky / The Samohi The Varsity team is excited about Bibiana Peterson (’24) spikes the ball over the blockers of the opposing team. competing against the best teams to keep working hard everyday in the gym and in class,” and continuing to create a positive and exciting culture Sato said. for our younger players,” Sato said. The 22-23 season runs through Oct. 22, and the Vikings Overall, they want to continue to improve both their are hoping to extend their season and make it to the CIF strengths and weaknesses to have the best season possible. playoffs this year. “The goals we have for our program is for our players thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com
Football kicks off into the new season Declan Ney Staff Writer
The Samo Varsity football team kicked off their 2022-23 CIF season on Aug. 19. The Vikings only won one game in the 2021-22 season, and are looking to bounce back after the previous year. There have been some noticeable changes from last year’s squad, most specifically a new coaching staff that has been able to get along with the players and force a strong chemistry. Along with the new coaches, the team moved
from the Santa Monica College (SMC) stadium, where home games were held in the past, to the football field on campus. Head coach Carter Paysinger talks about the team’s biggest strengths going into the season. “Our strengths right now in addition to having good athletes is the leadership that our seniors are bringing,” Paysinger said. Samo students and parents came together on Sept. 2 at the campus’ football field to watch the Samo Vikings battle the West Torrance Warriors. Support from the Samo crowd flooded the field.
Kira Bretsky / The Samohi
Caden McCallum (’24) and Makhi Franklin (’23) encourage one another during halftime.
In the second home game against Fairfax High School on Sept. 16, the Vikings defense forced a three and out on the first drive of the game while their offense responded by driving down the field. On the Lions ensuing drive, Samo recovered a fumble by the Fairfax offense and returned it all the way for a touchdown. Defensive lineman Jayden Montanez (’24) touches on the team’s dynamic and the preparation for the season. “I think these guys have been working really hard all year with us and we believe in them,” Montanez said. The team has lived up to expectations to start the season, rebounding from a 41-14 loss to Calabasas with a 33-14 win over El Segundo in their second consecutive road game. Montanez shares his hopes for the team this season. “We’re not where we want to be but I think we can do enough to make the playoffs,” Montanez said. The excitement for this year’s version of Samo’s Varsity football team has filled the air in the student section at most home games since more students are able to attend games held at Samo as opposed to at SMC. With all the pieces coming together, it’s bound to be an exciting season on the gridiron in Santa Monica. Wide receiver Gus
Reyman (’23) touches on his expectations for the year and appreciation for the new staff members. “I think we have a good team but our record doesn’t show that. We’re more disciplined and we have a tremendous amount of respect for the new coaching staff,” Reyman said.
Kira Bretsky / The Samohi
Samuel Lipshy (’23) protects the ball during home game on Sept. 2 against West Torrance High School. thesamohistudentnewspaper@gmail.com