Professional Documents
Culture Documents
www.thefourthestate.net
Volume XIX
Issue 6
Assembled into four teams outside of the Merovick Gym, students each gave a team cheer as they prepared to participate in the third annual Laguna Blanca Field Day. Four Teams the Red Tide, the Blue Foo / Blues Clues, the (Green) Money, and the (Grey) Killer Whales competed in head-to-head competitions for fun and glory. Yet the stakes were higher than ever, as, for the first time, the name of the winning team would be engraved on a plaque in the gym. The first event was the Dunk Tank. Director of Upper School Academics & Student Life Tyler Hodges, Coach Dillan Bennett, Academic Services Assistant James Tur, and Coach Ray Robitaille volunteered to sit in the dunk tank while seniors and later, other representatives from each team took a shot at hitting the target and getting to dunk a faculty member. Senior Joey Eckert was the first to hit the target and send a teacher plunging into the tank. First everyone served volleyballs in an attempt to gain points by hitting the faculty members who were in the dunk tank. Being dunked feels refreshing, freshman Chris Costantino said. Next up was the Van Pack, where each team attempted to get all members into a van. In the end, each team was able to fit every member, making it more a contest of how many members showed up. The van smelled like teen spirit, said Social Science Instructor Kevin Shertzer. Following the Van Pack was the Relay Obstacle Course, which con-
GAME ON: Students give an all-out effort in a game of Tug of War above, and freshman Hunter Cong utilizes teammate Mr. Dorfmans screen in a rousing game of Basketball Match Up below.
Laguna Holds Its First Annual Sports Night and Inducts Its First Ever Hall of Fame Athlete
By STEPHEN MCCAFFERY A crowd of about 200 packed the Merovick Gymnasium for the first annual Laguna Sports Night to witness the unveiling of the athletic awards for the year and the induction of Chris Tamas 99 into the Laguna Blanca Athletic Hall of Fame. Lagunas student-athletes received a plethora of awards as the coaches from each team recognized the award winners. Junior Andrew Vignolo was recognized for his record setting performance against Ojai Valley during the football season. Andrew broke the all-time CIF-State record, which has stood for 90 years, for interceptions in a game with six interceptions. Around 20 student-athletes received the Scholar-Athlete Award, which is given to student-athletes who achieve a 3.75 unweighted GPA during the athletic season. Six student-athletes received the Triple Crown Athlete Award, which is given to the student-athletes who achieved a 3.75 unweighted GPA throughout the year while playing on three varsity sports teams. The recipients are freshmen Phoebe Madsen and Pierce ODonnell, sophomores Connor Curran and Stephen McCaffery, and juniors Clara Madsen and Tristan Prinz. Highlighting the night, Chris Tamas 99 became the first inductee to the Athletic Hall of Fame. Tamas was a standout volleyball and basketball player during his time at Laguna Blanca. As captain and setter of the 1999 Volleyball Team, he led the Owls to a 12-1 record while going undefeated in league and earning the #3 ranking in Division 3 CIF-SS. Their only regular season loss came against Division 2
By CAITLIN CONNOR Faced with challenges when he arrived, he was undeterred and determined to make a difference. Saying that he always enjoys a challenge, Mr. Slocombe remembers coming to Laguna for its warmth, the relationships of the students and an excellent teaching staff. One of the significant changes that he brought was reinstating Lagunas Cum Laude Society, an honors society for top students. Whether sitting outside during lunch, meeting with various faculty and administration members, or connecting with the students over surfing, he has certainly become a part of the Laguna family . Mr. Slocombe supported my efforts to broaden my global awareness and global education. He has made a huge impact on this community and he will certainly be missed, senior Daria Etezadi said.
A CHAMPION RETURNS: Highlighting the night, Chris Tamas 99 was the first inductee to the Laguna Blanca Athletic Hall of Fame. powerhouse San Marcos. Coordinator of Isham Library & Academic Research Center Mr. Blake Dorfman played on Tamas team during his freshman year. Mr. Dorfman described Tamas talent and ability, saying, Chris was an absolutely amazing setter. When he wanted to take over, he was just unbelievable. As a freshman when he was a senior, I would just look up to him in awe. Im very proud to say I played with Chris Tamas. Additionally, Tamas was a member of the 1998 CIF 1st Runner-Up Basketball team at Laguna. In his senior year, Tamas earned the title of MVP of the basketball team. After graduating, Tamas went on to play setter at the University of the Pacific, where he earned many honors, including the schools all-time assist leader, top-10 rankings in five other career and singleseason records, and an AllAmerican title. Tamas went on to play professionally from 2003-2009 in Holland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Cyprus, and Finland. Tamas was also a part of the US Olympic training team, who went on to win the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. His wife, Jennifer Joines Tamas, was a member of the silver medal winning Beijing Olympic Team USA. After his professional play, Tamas began coaching at UC Riverside as the setters coach and a recruiting assistant. In 2011, Tamas began coaching at the University of Minnesota. Currently, Tamas is the Assistant Womens Volleyball Coach and recruiting coordinator at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Chris was the Sports Editor for the Fourth Estate his senior year. It was great to give him a copy of his Senior Issue, said journalism adviser Trish McHale.
The News
Lagunas annual Grandparents Day is a tradition that began at the Lower School. A few years back, the event was expanded to the Middle and Upper Schools so that more grandparents could enjoy the experience. Pictured from top left: freshman Phoebe Madsen, sophomores Elia Doussineau and Bryn Jewett look for their photo, fifth grader Natalie McCaffery and sophomore Stephen McCaffery with their grandmother, sophomore Jack Espy and his grandmother, sixth grader Alex Koke and her grandmother, excited grandparents exiting Spaulding Auditorium head to classrooms to begin their day with their grandchildren.
Editor-in-Chief
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Daria Etezadi SENIOR EDITORS Anastasia Antonova Olivia Berci Caitlin Connor Helena Davila Jessie Dusebout Zoe Serbin PHOTO EDITOR Anastasia Antonova BUSINESS MANAGER Karinna Carrillo COPY EDITOR Kaylee Strachan ARTISTS Zoe Serbin WEB MASTERS Elijah Bittleston Edward Conk FILM MAKER Miles Crist STAFF MacKenna Connor Alex Hawker Scott Johnston Caty Lafitte Margaret Lazarovits Stephen McCaffery Kaylee Strachan Allison Lewis Towbes Kyle Van de Kamer FACULTY ADVISOR Patricia McHale, MJE
Student newspaper of Laguna Blanca School 4125 Paloma Drive Santa Barbara, CA 93110 www.thefourthestate.net
The Fourth Estate is a public forum for student expression. It is written and produced solely by the journalism students. It represents the voice of the students. It covers topics, issues, and opinions of relevance to the Laguna Blanca School community. The Fourth Estate welcomes guest columns and letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and be no longer than 400 words.
Editors reserve the right to edit for length, clarity, and/or taste. Anonymous letters will not be published. The Fourth Estate publishes six issues per year, and prints 400 copies of each issue which are distributed to approximately 300 Middle and Upper School students, faculty, and staff. We mail issues to subscribers and advertisers, and exchange papers with high school journal-
ism classes across the country. The Fourth Estate accepts both print and online advertising in either black and white or color. Contact Trish McHale at tmchale@lagunablanca.org for information about advertising and subscriptions. Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Visit our online paper for daily updates: www.thefourthestate. net.
The News
PHOTO: TARA BROUCQSAULT Newly inducted students hold their Cum Laude Society certificates on the stage of Spaulding Auditorium following the induction ceremony. From left Clara Madsen, Anastasia Antonova, Justin Palmer, Margaret Lazarovits, Zoe Serbin, Bryana Schantz, Lindsay Ligon, and Chloe Brown.
During a special assembly on May 2, eight students were inducted into the prestigious Cum Laude Society by Headmaster and Chairman of our Cum Laude Chapter Paul Slocombe a Cum Laude member himself. Mr. Slocombe explained the significance behind being inducted into the Society . Cum Laude Society membership is considered the highest scholastic recognition at independent schools nationwide, and Laguna Blanca School is one of only 30 schools in the state of CA authorized to ad-
before I finally got hired. Now, Ariana is working at the place of her dreamsNickelodeonas a script coordinator for the show Sanjay & Craig. This years inductees are: seniors Bryana Schantz, Anastasia Antonova, Justin Palmer, and Zoe Serbin, and juniors Lindsay Ligon, Chloe Brown, Clara Madsen, and Margaret Lazarovits. Cum Laude members inducted last year as juniors Daria Etezadi, Alex Hawker and Brendon Nylen welcomed the new members into the society.
Journalism Staff Competes at the National Press Association Spring National Conference
By HELENA DAVILA ith laptops, pens, pencils, and reporters notebooks stowed safely under the seat in front of them, the Fourth Estate newspaper staff and the La Honda yearbook staff buckled up for their flight to San Francisco to attend the national JEA Journalism Conference. This annual conference is an opportunity for young journalists throughout the country to come together under one roof to share ideas, contacts, and newspapers. During the three-day-long conference, students attend various sessions all pertaining to the study of journalism. Each session is taught by professional journalists from universities, newspapers, websites, and news broadcasting stations nationwide. This year, the course topics varied from newspaper design to media literacy. The conference focuses not merely on high school journalism, but also aims to give students a broader view of
journalism, and an appreciation for varying mediums of journalism. The Fourth Estate staff participated in the Write-Off competitions. In these competitions, students are given a topic and two hours to produce their best work based on the given topic. The outstanding entries are then recognized in both the JEA conference website, and in the JEA conference award ceremony at the close of the conference. Recognition categories include: Superior, Excellent and Honorable Mention. Fourth Estate staff took home four awards: A&E page editor senior Anastasia Antonova took an Honorable Mention for Review Writing, staff writer junior Caty Lafitte was given an Honorable Mention for Feature Writing, and graphic artist senior Zoe Serbin was awarded a Superior certificate for her Editorial Cartoon. She received a Superior in this category last year
PHOTO: DELPHINE ANAYA A RISING STAR: Junior Caty Lafitte beams after winning an Honorable Mention in the Feature Writing section of the WriteOff Competitions. as well. The newspaper took a Best of Show ninth place award in the Broadsheet Small School (under 1,500) Division.
The News
like Connor Warren who did the entire lighting design is fantastic because thats how you learn. Ceramics and Photography instructor Mr. Chris Johnson built the set, and Bergstrom also brought in Rose Ary, the wife of math instructor Mr. Dan Ary, to design costumes. Rose Ary was my costume designer in high school, and [her daughter] Kelly and I did a show together at Dos Pueblos so Id known her family before I came to Laguna. Kelly had designed the Little Shop here before. They used a lot of their original costumes and added a lot of new elements for the characters. [Little Shop] was a total collaborative effort between teachers, students, and the community, Bergstrom said.
Laguna thespians bring a new level of professionalism to the theatre program in the Spring Musical.
ver the course of several months, students poured into Spaulding Auditorium for assembly and watched as, bit by bit, the stage transformed from a blank canvas to a fullfledged flower shop. When it was time for Little Shop of Horrors to take the stage on April 17-20, Skid Row had arrived in the Laguna theatre. Little Shop was theater teacher Ms. Kate Bergstroms second production since arriving in the fall of 2012, and her first musical production at Laguna. She said that she picked the show because of its deep connection to her childhood. I first saw Little Shop when I was in elementary school and I thought it was hilarious. I loved the idea of these monsters I was really into monsters coming to life, singing, and having not run-of the mill characters, Bergstrom said. Sophomore Connor Curran and eighth grader Travis Smillie both played the role of Seymour Krelborn. I thought both boys were immensely talented. Junior Allison Lewis Towbes took the stage for her third Laguna production as the iconic role of the busty, insecure Audrey. Little Shop is a unique show in that one of the main
TOP: Connur Curran makes a dive at the monsterous plant. MIDDLE: Maddie Sokolove, Valeria Rodriguez, and Julieanna Bartling pose for the curtain call. BOTTOM: The cast performs one final song together.
PHOTOS: LAGUNA PHOTO FILE
Raising Awareness: (Top) Eighth Grade student Eric Lindheim-Marx approaches the podium to ask Mr. Walser a question about his experiences in the foreign service. (Bottom) On behalf of the Leadership team, Junior Dalton Smith thanks Ambassador Ordway for taking the time to speak with the student body about International Affairs.
Profile
After years of hard work and dedication, senior Justin Palmer has achieved the coveted rank of Eagle Scout.
PHOTO: JAMES ROSENBERG Lead the Crowd: Above, now Eagle Scout Justin Palmer marches with his Boy Scout troop No. 26 in Santa Barbaras Fourth of July parade.
an Eagle are earning merit badges, he explained. The badges range from basic skills such as swimming and hiking, to more advanced tasks like finance and first aid. Scouts, I learned, are required to collect a staggering 21 of these badges before becoming an Eagle.
After collecting his 21 badges, Justin was asked to complete a final project. The project had to be completely self driven and designed, and had to benefit the local community. For Justins project, he rebuilt the gaga pit at his synagogue and added a walk-
way around it. For those of you who frequent the middle school, the round-ish sand-filled pit rimmed in wood is a gaga pit. The game is played similarly to handball, but instead of against a wall, the ball is kicked between players in the sandy pit.
I chose to do my project at my Temple because its a place where the community comes together, Justin said. In the coming weeks, Justin will complete his final interviews and will be well on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout. Certainly an accomplishment to be proud of.
PHOTO: TARA BROUCQSAULT Bidding Farewell: Below, before departing Ms. Laura Geier shares smiles with her fifth and sixth grade band members.
Bra burnings may be in decline, but the battle for gender equality continues.
was still in a stroller during my first walk in Washington, D.C. My mom, a hippy and a feminist during her college years, used to take me on marches against sexism on bright, sunny days in the city. So, in a way, Ive been a womens rights supporter from the start. A Huffington Post UK poll from April reported that 83.36 percent of female voters identified themselves as feminists. But what really defines a modern day feminist? What are her causes? In this day and age, American women arent fighting for voter suffrage or the right to wear skirts above their ankles. In this country, they are allowed to drive on our own and to make purchases without the consent of their husbands or fathers. Gone are the days of dowries and courtship. In place of these archaic battles are newer controversies for generation Y feminists to tackle. In 1960, after 40 years of debate, the FDA (the Food and Drug Administration) finally approved the first contraceptive pills. Up until that point in time, women did not have a legal, safe way of personally preventing unwanted or unplanned pregnancies. A year later, President John F. Kennedy, along with former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, founded the Presidents Commission on the Status of Women. The strides made by brave and well-spoken women in the 1960s, as well the efforts of the suffragettes 50 years earlier, directly mirror the work of feminists today. Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), which both affirmed the validity of a womans right to abortion, still cause controversy today. Abortion rights, Planned Parenthood, and birth control arent the only efforts supported by feminist activists. Only a few months ago, military officials announced that the long-time ban on women serving in combat situations had been lifted. The military does not have the luxury of discounting the nearly 11 percent of its forces who are women, wrote Op-Ed contributor for NY Times and former Army captain, Tanya L. Domi, They have risen to each challenge, with a sterling record in Grenada, Panama and the Persian Gulf. This ruling, however monumental in the battle
Feminism Today
By ALLISON LEWIS TOWBES
Opinion
for gender equality, has not been free from consequences. Although women pursuing careers in military positions theoretically have the same rights as their male counterparts, they still face verbal and sexual harassment from other soldiers and officials. The abuse, which has recently come to a boiling point in the media spurred by the 2012 Sundance documentary directed by Kirby Dick, The Invisible War (which exposed the harrowing experiences of female soldiers in American camps), makes progress in the desegregation of the military incredibly difficult. Generally speaking, eliminating sexual harassment has become another modern feminist cause. The Feminist Majority Foundation, a group dedicated to promoting equality between men and women, issued policy on the management of sexual harassment in the workplace, in schools, and in everyday life. While sexual harassment has been a pervasive problem for women throughout history, only in the past three decades have feminist litigators won definition of sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination and have women come forward in droves to demand remedies and institutional change, stated FMF officials. Other feminists efforts include dissuading common misconceptions and stereotypes. Women do not belong in the kitchen, and they are never asking for it. In this progressive era, women should not feel compelled to be homemakers; they have the opportunity hold powerful positions in their careers. The corporate ladder is theirs to climb, directly competing against men with the same qualifications. Although the number of bra burnings per year has lessened, the idea of feminism continues to grow among the younger generations.
ART: ANGUS WATTERS
Staff Editorial
As the school year winds to a close, students look back on and look forward to their high school experiences, yet many are afraid of the responsibilities that come with growing up.
If high schools a ladder, seniors are on the top rung, peaking up into the clouds. The rest of us, however, are eagerly biting at their heels, waiting for the moment when we take the next step. As new freshmen, we long to grow up. Little fish in a big sea, we step aside to let the imposing seniors walk past, full of respect and awe for the upperclassmen. Sophomores are confident navigating the familiar oceans. No longer the bottom of the food chain, sophomores are at ease, enjoying life in and out of the classroom. We dread junior year. As sophomores and freshmen, we watched the juniors struggle to remain afloat, drowning underneath the essays and labs. Only halfway through the high school experience, college, once so distant, now looms ahead. to be the best four years of responsibilities. Perhaps Then, in a blink the eye, our lives. Sometimes we its building up the courage we are seniors. forget to make that time to take on unknown Application season comes count. challenges. and goes. Acceptances, Yet every year a new No matter what the rejections and obstacles, we deferrals arrive rise to fill Growing up is inevitable, always by e-mail every the shoes vacated day. but the experiences weve by the grade ahead Prom dresses of us. had, the friends weve are purchased, A single year senior pranks can change a made, and the lessons pulled, and million things suddenly were about a person, weve learned actually graduating. mentally and make the road to adulthood both In between physically. the APs and Hair grows out enjoyable. football games, and braces come the assemblies off, but we are also and all-nighters, we are changing on the inside. growing up. group of eager-eyed We are learning what we Every birthday, someone freshman wander through need to be a senior, or a always asks: So, how does the archways and into junior, or whatever comes it feel to be another year the classrooms, ready to next. older? grow up, and every year As scared as we may be to We laugh, roll our eyes, graduating seniors leave, move up the ladder, we are and shrug it off, but in feeling as though theyve not unprepared. truth, we never really stop grown up too soon. To the eighth grader to ask ourselves that very Perhaps the most whos terrified of high question. difficult part is having school life, the senior who High school is supposed the guts to take on new wishes that time hadnt flown by so quickly, and every student in the middle: You are ready. Growing up is inevitable, but the experiences weve had, the friends weve made, and the lessons weve learned actually make the road to adulthood enjoyable. We come into our own. We move on when the time is right. So take this time to study and to play as much as you can. In a few days, seniors, who can still remember what it felt like to step into a kindergarten classroom for the first time, will be graduating. The procession marks the end of an era, but it also signifies the beginning of something new. We take snapshots to suspend occasions like these in time, letting the memories fill the gaps in between the Kodak moments.
Opinion
By MARGARET LAZAROVITS
Of course, thats not to say that high school cuts a clear path for the rest of your life, but what we do now is helping us to figure out who we are now, and who wed like to become.
GRAPHIC: ZOE SERBIN providing an explanation for why we are flighty creatures, more Kirk than Spock, as B.J. Casey, a neuroscientist at Cornell University, puts it. Not only do we act more impulsively and feel more intensely at this time, we also store memories more vividly than any other period of time in our lives; this phenomenon is better known as the reminiscence bump. Preferences we have now for anything which we believe is an integral part of our identity, as trivial as it may be, will stick with us for a good, long time. Part of what makes high school so uncomfortable is that all of us are maturing and changing at different rates and if life wasnt hard enough at this point, the educational system decides to throw a whole lot of maturing, changing strangers in one place. Were not-so-delicately ripped from the comfort and familiarity of those friends weve known for the entirety of our fourteen-year long lives and dropped into this mass of angsty, awkward teenagers. And then you ask yourself Does this mean that Im an angsty, awkward teenager too? Well that question doesnt
really matter since you are so overwhelmed by the bombardment of new faces bearing straight at you. And so, to sort yourself out from this mass, you decide to maybe check out a club or two. Perhaps sign up for the fall play. Or try out for the football team. Before you know it, youre labeled. Theatre. Sports. Art. Science. Okay, maybe at a small school like this we dont exactly have our own Breakfast Club, but we do define people by their interests. Its not derogatory, the interests you choose in adolescence will define yourself for the rest of your life, whether you like it or not.
So those labels could be looked at as a reminder of who you are, or even an insight into who you might become. Of course, thats not to say that high school cuts a clear path for the rest of your life, but what we do now is helping us to figure out who we are now, and who wed like to become. And therein lays the beauty of high school: using this awkward transition period to figure out who we are. Most of us just dont realize it because most of us see high school for its faade it projects on life: a totally unshakable reality of cliques and clichs. Winnie Holzman, creator of the mid-nineties teen drama My So-Called Life, puts it beautifully when she says that in high schoolwe know who looks down on us, who is above us, exactly who are friends and enemies are. We think that this absolute reality is just that. Absolute. Sure, weve given plenty of thought to the later years, which college were going to attend, what major well choose, where well live, but we spend so much time on the details, we give little time to the big picture: reality after high school. We wont have that same group of friends we hang out with every lunch. We wont have that structured class schedule we must abide by. Because that all changes once youve shaken the headmasters hand and accepted your diploma. Suddenly, the question changes and youre asking yourself Does this mean that Im a self-sufficient adult now? The answer to that question actually lays in the four years you spend in high school, the years that made you.
Should the production companies be held accountable for the actions of their audiences?
leven years ago, music promoter Pasquale Rotella produced a rave that set the stage for electronic dance music to surface from its Ecstasy-charged urban underground. It ended in the deaths of five people, all in consequence of overdose and drug-related car crashes during or shortly after the Nocturnal Wonderland concert in San Bernadino. Rotella is considered, to this day, the nations leading rave promoter, and, since 2006, at least 14 people who attended concerts produced by Rotella, and Reza Gerami, another major Los Angeles-based producer, have died from overdoses or other drug-related incidents (a New York Times investigation found earlier this year). Rotellas Insomniac Inc. and Geramis Go Ventures Inc. have served as a model for other promoters around the country. Insomniac and Go Ventures were among the first firms to bring raves to mainstream venuesfairgrounds, football stadiums venues that reach capacities of tens of thousands. Joshua Johnson, 18, died Sept. 2006 of Ecstasy toxicity after collapsing at Insomniac Inc.s Nocturnal Wonderland in San Bernadino. Michelle Lee, 20,
Double
America asks
By ALLISON LEWIS TOWBES almost everything in America, why cant it apply to marriage? Legal marriage allows for over 1,100 national benefits and responsibilities to which that gay and lesbian couples are not entitled. Is the love shared between two men really substandard to the love between a man and woman? No. Is it fair for a same sex couple to be treated that way? Of course not. Besides the obvious moral answer - we should care because our country is founded on the principle that everyone is equal no matter what race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, - there are several other practical answers. The average American wedding costs about $29,000. This money often goes to small, local businesses: caterers, florists, wedding planners and so on, not to mention the cost of a marriage license. Add to that the profit coming from joint income taxes, and the nations economy could benefit enormously. So what does America as a nation really have to lose by legalizing gay marriage? Some may believe that allowing homosexuals to marry will ruin the sanctity of marriage itself. But what is traditional marriage? In this day and age, the unconventional and unorthodox is everywhere. Accepting people means more than just tolerating their differences; it means treating everyone equally, no matter what race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation they are.
the fight for gay rights has Now, with the many advancem century, it seems as though Am be put to
why legalize
innesota, Rhode Island, and Delaware joined the list of states to legalize gay marriage on May 13, May 2, and May 7, respectively. These three states joined Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Maryland, Maine, and Washington, for a sum total of 12 states that allow marriage equality. In recent polls taken by public television broadcast networks, left-leaning CNN concluded that 53 percent of the general population was pro marriage equality, and even the far more conservative Fox News found that 46 percent wanted to legalize gay marriage in all states. Yet, despite the somewhat overwhelming support, Congress is hesitating to rewrite the long-standing, constitutional definition of marriage. Traditionally speaking, marriage has been defined as being between one man and one woman. Both the Bible and the Constitution agree with this definition, and antimarriage equality believers feel that the ancient tradition is being compromised. But ancient is exactly what this tradition is. Although historically important and valid at the time, some of the concepts in the Bible and the Constitution are undoubtedly dated. In a country obsessed with technological, educational, and financial progress, it is widely accepted that development is made by constant editing of the social norm. So if this idea applies to
e Page
been a long and valiant one. ments made in the early 21st merica demands that this fight o an end.
for equality
A
By OLIVIA BERCI
ge Is Legal
Legend
Same-sex marriage Unions granting rights similar to marriage Unions granting limited rights No recognition of same-sex unions
10
Feature
CHEFS: CATY LAFITTE, MARGARET LAZAROVITS, & KAYLEE STRACHAN PHOTOS: CATY LAFITTE
Feature
cross the nation, students enter the stress and paranoia of SAT testing rooms with facts and formulas racing through their heads. The last thing they need to worry about is their handwriting. Some students are thrown for a loop when they are instructed to sign an agreement in cursive. Waitso we actually had to remember those lessons from first grade about connecting our letters? Apparently so. Handwriting this agreement for the College Board certifies that this is actually you taking the test through your own unique writing. Writing the statement in cursive adds an element of formality. As high school students head off into adulthood, they will need to develop a signature for various formal purposes. Handwriting matters. Even legible handwriting thats messy can have its own ramifications, says Steve Graham, professor of education at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Graham explains that people judge the quality of your ideas based on your handwriting. He cites several studies indicating that good handwriting can take a generic classroom test score from the 50th percentile to the 84th percentile, while bad penmanship could tank it to the 16th. And even without strictly following cursive guidelines, adults have developed their own cross between print and cursive for everyday use.
11
By MARGARET LAZAROVITS Even though this is the 21st century and most of our words are digitalized, writing is still prevalent in our lives and it is able to convey emotions and feelings like no emoji ever could. When youre given a handwritten note, it reflects the time someone took to write it. Youre given the thought behind each word as it was chosen and written carefully. Youre given the sincere emotion behind each word as it flowed onto the paper. And handwriting does invoke a flow of emotion and thought. The process of free writing is used by professionals to clear up writers block or by teachers to get ideas moving for students. For those students about to go take the SAT, relax. Dont stress about the cursive because thats not a test question. Theres no right or wrong answer behind your handwriting. Look at it as practice for the times ahead when youre asked to give your John Hancock, or as prep to get any ideas flowing for the essay portion. But if the thought of joining letters still seems unnatural, eventually youll master that tricky lowercase z or odd uppercase Q, and youll create a style thats completely new. It might be grandiose or minimalist, but regardless, it will be yours. In an advisory poll students were asked to give handwriting samples. To the right are the results showing spacing, slant, and size differences and what each characteristic means. February. Lawrences already-impressive resume isnt why she has such a devoted and enamored following from such a diverse audience. Its a clich to speculate somebody on the big screen is down to earth, or grounded, or even sane. But Lawrence is handling the fame with as much grace and style as any seemingly normal person could. The days of bleached blonde hair and size zero dresses are out. Theres a desire for a new age of actress thats goofy, a little bit clumsy, and looks and acts like a real person should and Jennifer Lawrence is unknowingly leading the parade. Lawrence doesnt appear to be swayed by the glitz and the glamour. In fact, the most refreshing thing about her is that all of the fame thats been thrown at her just seems like a side thing she has to deal with in order to make films. She doesnt take herself too seriously, something thats a breath of fresh air in the most fickle society in the world. Asking Ryan Seacrest if there was food at the Oscars and mispronouncing Bill Clintons name while presenting him at the GLAAD Awards are just two of her shining moments. Very few people would have the guts and lack of self-consciousness to
Small Spacing
Small spacing between words suggests an attraction to highly social situations.
Large Spacing
Right Slant
Writing with a right slant are usually more empathetic and in touch with their feelings.
Straight Slant
Handwriting with straight slant belongs to a person who is guided more by logic than emotions, but there is a balance between the two.
Small Size
Miniscule handwriting reveals great attention to detail and high levels of concentration.
Average Size
Average Size: Average size handwriting indicates enough concentration to focus on the task at hand, but not enough to get lost in the details.
Source: Is Personality Written in Our Handwriting? By Vicki Santillano photo bomb Sarah Jessica Parker on the red carpet. She trips while walking on stage to collect her Oscar for Best Female Actress. Somehow, she makes it look controlled and poisedand is even able to make a classy but selfdeprecating joke about it when she receives a standing ovation: You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell down and its embarrassing but thank you. Another thing that makes Lawrence an appealing role model is her body type. The media is clouded and flooded with images of twig-like women that seem to disappear from sidelong. Lawrence isnt obsessed about attaining the unrealistic and unhealthy standard that women in Hollywood are expected to match: I can think of plenty of things that taste as good as skinny feels: potatoes, bread, Philly cheese steaks. What people gravitate towards is someone who can be real and vulnerable in front of them. Lawrence does this through her acting, but also through her existence. She just seems like a normal person finding their footing in the chaos of Hollywood, and watching her struggle through interviews and red carpets is even more entertaining than watching her on the big screen.
Before Laguna, two beloved members of our community were reigning beauties at their former high schools.
Homecoming Queens
Kate Bergstrom
High School: Dos Pueblos High School, Santa Barbara, CA Graduating Year: 2006 Favorite Memory: My favorite memory of Homecoming was being out on the football field with my father and hearing my name called. My dad and I looked at each other thinking we both heard wrong. I had to pretend I knew how to walk in heels at the time all the way out to the center of the field, and then I tried to make a big goofy dramatic exit, blowing kisses and saying they like me, they really like me but was totally unable to conceal my genuine happiness and shock. I also got to slow-dance with the hunky captain of the football team. With brother Mike as escort, Homecoming Queen-to-be Tara Proveaux is presented at the Pep Rally Assembly.
Tara Broucqsault
High School: Susquehannock High School, Glen Rock, PA Graduating Year: 1987 Favorite Memory: My favorite memory would have to be when my twin brother, Michael, escorted me at the Homecoming Pep Rally. My boyfriend had already graduated from high school, so I asked my brother to escort me. Michael surprised me and gave me a bouquet of flowers in front of the entire school. Everyone in the gymnasium awwwd the moment; I felt very special.
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By SCOTT JOHNSTON The Laguna Blanca Boys Varsity Volleyball team finished regular season play on a 14-game win streak, taking the Condor League title with an overall record of 15-2 and a Condor League record of 8-0. After spring break, the team started off with clean sweeps over Mission Prep, Besant Hill, and Providence Hall. In two of those matches, junior middle blocker Andrew Vignolo led the team in kills. Laguna then travelled to Cate for a rivalry match. Coach Dillan Bennett decided to switch things up and run a 6-2, a system in which 2 of the 6 players in the rotation will set. Junior Colton Johnson had the best stat line of the night. He had 8 kills, 10 digs, and 5 aces, as the Owls dismantled the Rams in 3 games. Sophomore Spenser Wyatt was then brought up to the varsity squad after the junior varsity season ended. His impact was felt instantly, as he started at setter against their match versus Dunn. The Owls continued their streak with another sweep over the Earwigs. Laguna then played an important game against the Bishop Diego Garcia Cardinals. The Owls came out on top in four close games. Senior captain JT Aubery led the way with 9 kills and 24 digs. On the win, coach Bennett said, This was the best I have seen this team play defense all season. Not many teams can get 87 digs and 20 blocks in a match With that said, we still have a lot of things to work on if we want to be a team to contend for a CIF title. Next on the schedule was a game
Sports
PHOTO: THOMAS SLOAN ROOFED: Seniors Eli Bittleston and JT Aubery put up a big block against rival Cate. against Besant Hill, a team that the Owls had no trouble with. Once again, the new addition of setter Spenser Wyatt made a big difference. He finished with 13 digs, 19 assists, and an ace. Coach Bennett said, Its quite amazing how fast he is picking this game up as a setter. It really comes as no surprise because of his overall sports IQ. He is probably the smartest sports brain we have on campus. Laguna would finish the regular season at home against Cate on senior night. The team swept the Rams while honoring seniors JT Aubery and Eli Bittleston. Sophomore Stephen McCaffery carried the team with 12 kills, 6 digs, and 3 aces, while passing a season high 2.5. The Owls played their first CIF playoff game against the Holy Martyrs Armens. They won the match in only three sets. Stephen McCaffery led the team with 13 kills, followed by JT Aubery with 10 kills. Laguna hosted the second round of CIF in Merovick Gymnasium against Mary Star of the Sea, who upset the #2 Owls in four sets. The game scores were 20-25, 18-25, 25-14, 14-25. Colton Johnson had 12 kills and Ryan Bickett had 30 digs on the night.
PHOTOS: SAM BROWN, COLE STRACHAN LINE DRIVE: Sophomores Cole Strachan, Sam Brown, and Jack Kinsler tee of on the 4th hole at La Cumbre Country Club. The three sophomores were influential in the teams undefeated season run. scoring, the Owls shot 190 behind Sam Browns 3-under 33 and Cole Strachan and Travis Fristoes 2-over 38. Cole Strachan and captain Kiyan Mashhoon qualified for the CIF Free Lance Individual Qualifier. The team, however, did not qualify for the CIF Playoffs, despite the undefeated season. The CIF Free Lance Individual Qualifier was held at the Rio Hondo Golf Club in Downey. Kiyan shot a 6-over 78, and Cole shot an 88. Neither Cole nor Kiyan made the cut for the next round of CIF.
PHOTO: MILES CRIST BACKHAND: Junior Ben Furukawa smashes a backhand shot over the net.
By CAITLIN CONNOR Beating Cate in a match full of deIt was pretty amazing to achieve feats, surprises, and forehand winners, something our tennis team hasnt the Owls stunned the Condor League done since 2003 and to break Cates by snatching the leagues title, a first decade long win streak said senior for Laguna boys tennis in a decade. doubles player Justin Palmer. The match, resulting in a 10-8 victory, The title allowed the Owls to move was no walk in the park. on to the CIF-SS playoffs. After an upset by the sophomore In the well fought match first round team of Martin Barnick and Jack match, the boys team came up from Espy, the team had a 4-2 standing behind to best Westminster in a 9-9 going into the second set of matches. tie by only five games. Benji and EdIt was not until the third round that die were again able to sweep three Cate was able to even the score 8-8. doubles sets. The doubles teams won Seniors doubles team Eddie Conk and six of their nine sets total while Ben Benji Sorensen were able to bring in Furukawa took 2 of 3 sets. three wins for the team. Junior Tristan Following the win against Prinz was able to score a 6-1 win over Westminster,Laguna had home court Cates number one singles player, advantage playing Santa Ynez at the breaking the tie 9-8, but it was felMunicipal Tennis Courts. The boys low junior Ben Furukawa who battled couldnt hold in the tough match from a deficit for the 6-4 win that against the #8 Pirates losing 12-6. secured the title. This win improved Beginning with a 4-1 lead, the Owls Laguna to a 12-2 overall, and undefought a hard battle that ended their feated 8-0 league record. CIF run.
Sports
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Spring Season
Boys Volleyball: MVP: JT Aubery Most Improved: Elijah Bittleston Coachs Award: Pierce ODonnell Boys Golf: Ace Cup: Kiyan Mashhoon Best Round: Sam Brown (3-under 33) Best Total Round Score: Cole Strachan Boys Lacrosse: MVP: Quentin Tedesco Most Improved: Darwin Miguel Coachs Award: Cameron Morello Boys Tennis: #1 Singles: Ben Furukawa #1 Doubles: Benji Sorensen and Eddie Conk
Winter Season
Boys Basketball: MVP: JT Aubery Coachs Award: Eddie Conk Best Defensive Player: Stephen McCaffery Girls Soccer: Offensive MVP: Bryn Jewett
PHOTOS: ANGUS WATTERS, DAWN LAFITTE, GEOF WYATT, PAUL CHIMENT, SCOTT JOHNSTON, STEPHEN MCCAFFERY, TARA BROUCQSAULT
A Season to Remember:
During the spring season of 2013, Laguna Blancas athletic teams went above and beyond expectations and the surrounding hype. The Varsity Boys Volleyball and Boys Tennis teams were Champions of the Condor League, with both squads posting 8-0 records in league play. Boys Golf completed their second consecutive undefeated season, finishing at 7-0.
PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS CHAMPS: Kevin Ware cuts down the net after Louisvilles emotional championship victory over the University of Michigan. By STEPHEN MCCAFFERY Two Condor League Champions. The Boys Tennis team started their An undefeated season. A 14-game win season with a 6-game win streak, instreak. The spring sports season of cluding key wins over Bishop Diego, 2013 will be one to remember for La- Rio Mesa, and Cate. After dropping two guna Blanca. consecutive competitions, the Owls reComing into the 2013 spring sea- bounded and closed the regular season, there was a great amount of hype son with a 7-game win streak and an around the Boys 8-0 Condor League Volleyball, Golf, and record, resulting Our season was Tennis teams. Surein being crowned ly, the teams lived one of the best La- the Condor League up to that hype. Champions. The F u r t h e r m o r e , guna has ever had . Boys Tennis team Lagunas Boys La. . I am very proud ended the regular crosse returned. season ranked #9 in to be a part of it Captain Quentin TeCIF-SS Division 4. desco said, the laSophomore Jack JT Aubery crosse team showed Espy said, I felt like tremendous growth as the season went throughout the seaon we started to get son. This became exto know each other tremely clear when we beat Ojai Valley better as players and people, which 11-2 at the end of the season after los- helped us to click and beat down the ing to them in our first game. other teams. Boys Volleyball entered the season After completing an undefeated seaas the #2-ranked team in CIF-SS Divi- son last year, the golf team did just that sion 5. The golf team was coming off of again in 2013, posting a 7-0 record. an undefeated 2012 campaign, and the The Golf team also broke the Laguna tennis team was returning the majority Blanca team scoring record by shootof its top-ranked players. ing 190 against Ojai Valley in their final The Boys Volleyball team held on to regular season match. their #2 ranking for the whole season, Cole Strachan and Kiyan Mashhoon, posting a 15-2 (8-0 Condor League) re- two key members of the Golf team cord and achieving a 14-game regular qualified for the CIF Free Lance Qualiseason win streak. Laguna earned key fier but failed to make the cut to move victories over Carpinteria High School onto the next round. and Bishop Diego High School, both The Boys Volleyball and Tennis Division 2 programs, and Santa Ynez teams both entered CIF ranked in the High School, a Division 4 program. top 10 of their respective divisions. Additionally, the Owls successfully The volleyball team was upset in swept every Condor League opponent the second round of the CIF-SS Play3-0, earning the title of the 2013 Con- offs by Mary Star of the Sea. The tendor League Champions. nis teams CIF run was also stopped Our season was one of the best short in the second round of CIF-SS, as Laguna has ever had. We had a great they dropped their match 6-12 to Santa record and it said a lot about how we Ynez. played and won as a team. All in all, Collectively, the four Laguna Varit was a great season, and I am very sity Teams compiled a regular-season proud to be a part of it, said JT Au- record of 38-8, resulting in an %82.6 bery, senior captain and MVP of the winning percentage and an undefeated Boys Varsity Volleyball team. Condor League record of 16-0.
Spring 2013
There are 6 minutes and 42 seconds left in the first half of the Duke vs. Louisville regional final game. Junior Tyler Thornton from Duke receives a pass and pulls up for a three point shot. He drains the shot, bringing Duke within a single point. As he backpedals to play defense, he turns, grimaces, and covers his eyes. Louisville players fall to the ground. They are visibly distraught and shaken up. Kevin Ware lies on the sideline, surprisingly calmly, with the bone in his right leg sticking about 2 inches out of his skin. After the initial shock of losing a valued member of the team, the other Louisville players huddle together, and then rush to Wares side. Through tears, Ware said, Just win it for me, yall. And Louisville would do just that. Louisville went on to win the game 85-63, riding a powerful wave of emotion. The team beat Wichita State in the Final Four and then Michigan in the national championship, capturing the title. Although Louisville was the number-one overall seed going into the tourney, many thought that they would fall somewhere along the way. But once Kevin Wares gruesome injury shocked the nation, many a nonbeliever changed his or her mind and began to root for the Cardinals. I think that Kevin Wares injury had a huge impact on the Louisville
team because it gave them even more to play for. It made them want to play and win for their teammate that didnt get a chance to do so, junior Quentin Tedesco said. An injury to an important player typically results in one of two things. Either the team falls apart and loses because of the key loss, or it pulls together and succeeds off of raw emotion. With the injury, Louisville lost a guard in an already thin backcourt. This injury could have spelled defeat for a team prone to foul trouble, but Kevin Ware wouldnt let that happen. The motivation spawned from the broken leg and Wares handling of it catapulted the Louisville Cardinals to greatness. The run was truly a complete team effort, with no one player carrying the load throughout the tourney. When youre on a real team, its like you become a family, and when a teammate goes down with an injury, especially a serious one, its a hard thing to deal with. You feel for them, theyve worked so hard and its all gone. From that point on you make it a point to win for that teammate, its sort of a rallying point for your team for the rest of the season, sophomore Spenser Wyatt said. Louisville did just that. They rallied around a gruesome sports injury and turned it into a launching pad for success and inspiration, demonstrating not only the teams great fortitude and resilience, but also Kevin Wares.
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A&E
Above, junior Alexa Zangrillo, seniors Tess Elder and Chanelle Jansens soak up the sun and sounds of the Coachella music festival. Below, seniors Jessie Dusebout, Olivia Berci and friends listen to Youth Lagoon while they enjoy the intimate atmosphere of the SoHo concert venue.
Lifestyle
Top Ten Road Trippin Songs
Whether its a family car ride up the coast or a five minute drive to the beach, heres a guide to your summer playlist.
By MARGARET LAZAROVITS
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1. Lost in California by Stamps 2. These Days by Dr. Dog 3. Smoky Light by Derek James 4. Anna Sun by Walk the Moon 5. Color On the Walls (Dont Stop) by Foster the People 6. Safe in LA by Gold Motel 7. Its Time by Imagine Dragons 8. Mermaids by Jinja Safari 9. And We Danced by Macklemore 10. Fader by Temper Trap
Long summer days stretch ahead with lots of time to read those books we couldnt find any time to read during the school year.
By KAYLEE STRACHAN
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult is a thrilling novel about a life turned upside down when a young woman discovers her father is not the man he says he is. The story takes them on a journey through a trial filled with lies, heartache, and fresh starts.
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Fire and Ice, Book 1) is a fantastical bookseries about warriors, tribes, and royals that must venture on treacherous missions in a competition to win the wicked battle in the game of thrones.
The Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell is a nonfiction book that takes place in Afghanistan about Operation Redwing, written as an eyewitness account by the only survivor of US Navy SEAL Team 10.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed is an autobiography documenting the fear and fortitude of a woman who, with nothing more to lose, hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State.
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Tired of watching the same, blockbuster movies? Try one of these classic films!
BY MILES CRIST
From Alfred Hitchcocks stylish thriller North by Northwest to Federico Fellinis critically acclaimed drama 8 1/2, these vintage masterpieces are sure to keep you entertained. For a post World War II film noir, check out Carol Reeds gorgeously photographed The Third Man, starring Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten. Or, for a more romance themed movie, see Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys or Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief. No matter what your interests, these classic films will captivate both cinephiles and casual moviegoers alike.