May 2014 by The Tam News

The Tam News — May 2014

Table of Contents

May 2014

News 4. Team Application Process Changes — Emma Boczek 5. Briefly — Haydn Wall, Sonja Hutson, Isabella Schloss & Nic Mosher 6. College Board Modifies SAT — Isabella Schloss Students Make Holocaust Museum — Isabella Schloss

Lifestyles 7. Feminism & Music with the Jetsonettes — Holly Parkin 8. The Rise of Chance the Rapper — Max Bayer How to Get a Job — Jasmine Cpauto 9. My Best Decision in High School — Meg Weisselberg Running the Trap: Undiscovered Artists — Cody DuaneMcGlashan

Feature

Opinion/Editorial

10. Body and Mind: Destigmatizing Eating Disorders — Bridget Lowry & Mae Puckett

13. Editorial — Staff 14. Writing Wrongs: Clothing is Genderless — Bella Levaggi 15. The Snapchat Problem — Daniel Carroll It’s Called “Social” Media for a Reason — Holly Parkin

Sports 16. Girls’ Soccer Defeats MC to Win MCALs — Randy Shapiro & Riley Kuffner 17. Swimming MCALs Season Wrap-up — Caroline Frost

May 2014 — The Tam News

Dear Reader, Feature articles always take a lot of work and care (most take over a month to write), but the writers for this issue’s feature on eating disorders took even more time and attention due to the sensitive nature of the story. Seniors Bridget Lowry and Mae Puckett took over three months to write the story, interviewing a top expert in the field. This type of attentiveness is extraordinarily important when writing sensitive stories, and equally as important when discussing sensitive issues such as eating disorders. Mae and Bridget started writing the article after “Jenna,” who requested anonymity, approached Mae upset because someone in her class was talking about how she thought girls overdramatized eating disorders. Jenna felt she couldn’t speak up, but was still hurt. This feature aims to shed light on the facts about eating disorders and try to stop these misconceptions, which can seriously hurt those living with an eating disorder. Whether it is eating disorders, another mental disorder, social issues, or a physical disability, we should all strive to talk respectfully about these sensitive topics. First and foremost, it’s imperative to be educated in order to create a supportive environment.

- Sonja Hutson

ON THE COVER: Tam student “Jenna” describes her experience struggling with an eating disorder. Cover by: Brent Ferguson

Correction: The title of last month’s feature, “Undocumented: Navigating Life Without Citizenship,” suggests that not having citizenship means one is undocumented and living illegally in the U.S. This is incorrect, as there are many ways to be a legal resident of the U.S. without being a citizen.

The Tam News

Volume IX, No. VIII May 2014 A publication of Tamalpais High School Established 1916

Tamalpais High School 700 Miller Avenue Mill Valley, CA 94941 www.thetamnews.org

Editors-in-Chief: Emma Boczek, Sonja Hutson & Emma Talkoff

Sections

Editors

Interns

News

Sarah Asch & Holly Parkin

Lifestyles Features

Cody Duane-McGlashan, Jasmine Caputo & Devon Stoeber Markita Schulman & Anna Vandergriff Tandis Shoushtary

Opinion

Jordan Blackburn & Bella Levaggi

Marina Furbush

Sports

Mae Puckett, Riley Kuffner, James Finn & Caroline Frost Business Team Declan Katz, Riley Kuffner & Dom Quaranta Anthony Mazzini

Photos

Nate Vogel

Graphics

Brent Ferguson & Cassie Jeong

Videos

Max Bayer, Riley Kuffner & Randy Shapiro

Chief Copy Editor

Cassie Jeong

Social Media

Jasmine Caputo

Claire Donohue, Joe Russell & Isabella Schloss Johanna Wong Caroline Frost & Daniel Zwiebach

Advisor: Jonah Steinhart Printer: WIGT Printing Reporters: Ariana Agnew, Elizabeth Archer, Erik Beltran, Avi Cahn, Devon Canepa, Daniel Carroll, Hannah Chorley, Isaac Cohen, Leo DiPierro Claire Donohue, Reis Dorit, Rachel Ermatinger, Robert Finn, Caroline Frost, Marina Furbush, Jackson Gathard, Lily Gutschmidt, Samantha Herdman, Gibson Katz, Kyle Kearney, Raqshan Khan, Ethan Lawrence, Weston Lazarus, Kevin Leake, Emily Long, Bridget Lowry, Kate Luebkeman, Anthony Mazzini, Paden McNiff, Hailey Miller, Camille Morgan, Nic Mosher, Casey O’Brien, Ben Olizar, Austin Peck, Jasmine Pena, Oliver Rosenfield, Joseph Russell, Isabella Schloss, Maddy Sebastien, Tandis Shoushtary, Devon Stoeber, Ra’Jahna’e Troupe, Cam Vernali, Nate Vogel, Haydn Wall, Meg Weisselberg, Johanna Wong, Ryder Wood, Peter Wynn, Hannah Yerington, & Daniel Zwiebach. Editorial Board: Emma Boczek, Cody Duane-McGlashan, Sonja Hutson, Bella Levaggi, Bridget Lowry, Kate Luebkeman, Mae Puckett, Markita Schulman, Randy Shapiro, Emma Talkoff & Meg Weisselberg.

The Tam News, a student-run newspaper, distributed monthly, is an open, public forum for student expression and encourages letters and article contributions. The Tam News reserves the right to edit submissions for length and content. All content decisions are made by student editors. The Tam News is published monthly, though dates may vary. The Tam News is nonprofit and any proceeds and contributions are used in the production of the newspaper and for journalism education. Additional information concerning contributions or advertising can be obtained by writing to the address provided above or through our website. Copyright © 2013 by The Tamalpais News. All rights reserved. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent.

The Tam News — May 2014

News

Team Application Process Undergoes Changes

by Emma Boczek

Sophomores applying to the Team program this year experienced changes in the program’s admission process, following the district’s near discontinuation of Team last school year. The new process will be lottery-based, though “we may have to adjust it for diversity,” first-year Team teacher Leonard Gucciardi said. In February of last year, the school board voted against eliminating Team, a one-year alternative education option for juniors within the district that includes internships, community service and wilderness experiences. At that time, Superintendent Laurie Kimbrel criticized Team as being too costly for the district and serving predominantly white and high-achieving students. In an email after the vote, the school board expressed a commitment to “a collaborative

May 2014 — The Tam News

effort between administration and the Team staff so that recruitment efforts can be expanded to encourage a greater variety of students to apply and so that acceptance criteria are explicit, transparent, and available to all stakeholders.” Gucciardi said the Team admissions process would account for many kinds of diversity. This is a shift from past years, in which Team teachers interviewed applicants in order to get “the pieces to fit together,” said Ford, who is serving his first year as a member of the school board. “We want all the schools to be represented, we want a wide range of grade point averages, we don’t necessarily want everyone with 4.0 grade point averages,” he said. “We want special education represented, we’d like ethnic diversity, sexual orientation diversity would be good.” According to current Team teacher

Nikole Denton, this means that in the future, “we’ll have buckets for different groups and we’ll pull from those buckets,” she said. “We think it’s less complicated and a more fair process,” Denton said. “We’ll see if it’s effective in giving us a balanced class.” According to Ford, the use of a lottery that accounts for diversity is “a direct response to concerns expressed by the board at last year’s re-evaluation of the program.” Ford also said that prior to the board’s re-evaluation of the program, parents of students rejected from Team had complained that the admissions process was too subjective. With the new lottery system, though a Team class cannot be carefully crafted through interviews, “rejected students will no longer feel personally rejected,” Ford said. Colby D’Onofrio, a current Tamiscal senior who entered Team last school year from Tam, said that the removal of interviews in favor of a more random selection could adversely affect the program. “The interview I think is crucial to the application process,” she said. “It is a chance for the teachers to really meet the student, who may be completely different than how they looked on paper.” Without interviews, D’Onofrio said that “the class will be kind of a gamble,” but she added that she was willing to give the new process a chance, since “change always seems sudden and unwanted.” Current Team student Madi Karcs is more optimistic about the success of the lottery system. “It’s definitely a new way to choose people... so nobody really knows if it will be efficient,” Karcs said. “But I do think that it seems like a fair way to determine who will be in Team next year.” To be eligible to apply, sophomores needed to attend one of three orientation meetings this semester. Applications, due on May 8, required sophomores to obtain two teacher letters of recommendation and write a short essay explaining why they want to be in Team. According to the Team website, applicants will be notified in mid-May of the results. ♦

News

B R I E F LY

Lapp Lifts Weights

by Haydn Wall

Physics teacher David Lapp will take on the role of weight training coach for the first time for the 2014-15 school year, in addition to his four physics classes. While in the past he has taken on a math class to fill the five-section requirement, this year the administration yielded to Lapp’s longstanding request to teach weight training. Increasing underclassman enrollment has led to more P.E. classes, and P.E. teachers can no longer accommodate a weight lifting class in their schedules. Lapp has high hopes for the class. “I want to have everyone look at their participation as a way of improving. We’re going to have journals so they’ll have a record of their progress week by week,” Lapp said. “I’m hoping that at the end of it, it won’t just be that they just went and worked out, but they actually see some progress.” Lapp also believes that the class doesn’t just have to be for athletes, stating that he hopes to “introduce students who maybe aren’t athletes but are just interested in giving it a go, and introduce them to something that they might find they have a lifelong passion for.” ♦

Tam Hires New AP

by Nic Mosher

After conducting multiple interviews on Friday, May 9, Tam has chosen Leah Herrera for a newly created third assistant principal (AP) position. Herrera will start work on July 1. Herrera currently works at the Arise Charter School in Oakland. Her work has included being a math teacher, math department teacher leader, and math teacher mentor. The board approved her hiring on May 14. “We decided to search for a third assistant principal because of a growth in enrollment,” Assistant Principal Brian Lynch said. “We needed someone else to help with day-today operations.” According to Lynch, Tam administration has been anticipating hiring another AP due to the rapid growth of Mill Valley Middle School, a feeder school, in recent years. Redwood, which has a larger student population than Tam, has had three APs for several years. ♦

New Pool Heaters to Save Energy

by Sonja Hutson

The Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) School Board approved three actions regarding energy efficiency at Tam on April 23. The actions included installation of high efficiency pool heaters from Lincoln Aquatics, applying for PG&E’s energy project financing to pay for the new heaters, and a contract with a clean energy consultant for the district. During a review of Tam’s pool heaters, Lincoln Aquatics discovered that the heaters would need to be replaced soon. Lincoln Aquatics suggested heaters that would meet the energy-saving criteria of a program offered by PG&E that gives rebates and interest-free financing. The new

heaters, which have a longer lifespan than the current heaters, will cost the district $128,635. The district is borrowing this money from PG&E, and intends to pay it back through payments of around $20,000 a year. The heaters are expected to pay for themselves in six years and then the district will keep the $20,000 a year that it saves from reduced energy costs. The energy consultant that the district will hire is paid for with money from the California Clean Energy Jobs Act. The consultant will “provide technical experience and knowledge in the development of energy projects, over-site, and project implementation,” Assistant Superintendent Lori Parrish said at the meeting. ♦

FEELIN’ HOT HOT HOT: The school board approved the installation of high efficiency pool heaters in the Tam pool. This action came in a larger motion to improve energy efficiency in our district. The heaters will be installed by Lincoln Aquatics. Photo by: Meg Weisselberg

Paul McCartney Closes Out Candlestick Park

by Isabella Schloss

After 54 years of concerts and games, San Francisco’s Candlestick Park is scheduled to shut down. To commemorate the closing of the stadium, musician Sir Paul McCartney will perform at the venue on August 14. This concert marks the end of his sold-out worldwide Out There tour. Tickets went on sale Monday May 5 at a face value of $50 to $275 for general admission, though Forbes Magazine is predicting them to be “the most expensive concert tickets of the summer.” This will be the ﬁrst time McCartney has played Candlestick Park since the ﬁnal Beatles performance on August 29, 1966. He was personally invited by San Francisco

Mayor Ed Lee after his Outside Lands gig in 2013. “Sir Paul McCartney is a class act, and I am very grateful that he’s coming back to Candlestick to help us give this iconic landmark the goodbye it deserves,” Lee told the SF Chronicle. “To add a concert like this, one that’s not only just great on a purely entertainment level, but one that is rooted in the city’s history and musical history, is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event.” The set list will include material from McCartney’s time in the Beatles as well as his solo career and his band Wings. The stadium is scheduled for demolition in 2015, and will be replaced by a shopping district. ♦

The Tam News — May 2014

News

College Board Announces Changes to SAT

by Isabella Schloss

The College Board announced in late March its plan to redesign the SAT test, making it more connected to schoolwork and applicable to future education. Starting in spring 2016, the Board will make the essay portion optional, shrink the total score from 2400 to 1600 and eliminate vocabulary that College Board President David Coleman called a “wall of obscure words,” as reported by the New York Times. These changes are part of the College Board’s attempt to reduce discrimination against lower income students in the test and college application process. One major criticism of the SAT has been that it isn’t useful to students in their future education or careers. By connecting the exam to material that students learn in class, the College Board aims for the SAT to be a reliable predictor of future success. Coleman also stated that he was motivated by competition with the ACT, which is

more grammar-based rather than vocabulary-based. This has drawn more students to the ACT, as last year 1.8 million students took the ACT while 1.7 million took the SAT. Coleman also cited that only 20 percent of teachers believe that college admission tests are a fair measure of the work their students have done. “It is time for the College Board to say in a clearer voice that the culture and practice of costly test preparation that has arisen around admissions exams drives the perception of inequality and injustice in our country,” Coleman said. With the SATs being such a specialized test, students need thorough test prep to do well. This gives an advantage to students who can afford to pay for tutors, books or even online courses. This prompts the argument that you can essentially “buy” a higher test score. The average SAT score among those with a family income of $20,000-$40,000 is 1402 while the average score among those with

an income of $120,000-$140,000 is 1581. “Unequal test-prep access is a problem,” Coleman said. “It is a problem that it’s opaque to students what’s on the exam. It is a problem that the scoring is too complex”. One method to combat income inequality will provide students under a certain family income with four waivers, allowing them to apply to four colleges of their choice free of charge. “It will be interesting to see how [the new SAT] does,” junior Jessica Hudson said. “I think the testing as a whole... is not an accurate representation of a student’s knowledge.” The revised SAT test aims to motivate students to engage in class as this material is applied to standardized tests and level the playing field so that students of all economic status have the opportunity to go to college. “What this country needs is not more tests, but more opportunities,” Coleman said. “It is time for the College Board to move from measuring to acting.” ♦

Students Create Holocaust Museum

by Sammy Herdman

The Holocaust Museum, a project by history teacher Tim Morgan and English teacher Kate Lorch’s sophomore core classes, was displayed in the staff lounge room May 6 to May 8. Exhibits, which were put up around the room by students, focused on different aspects of the Holocaust, including survivors’ stories and the lives of teenagers during the Holocaust. Also posted around the room were index cards on which viewers were encouraged to post their opinions anonymously. One index card read, “I feel so lucky to live when and where I do. The Holocaust was a terrible time and should be commemorated.” This comment correlated directly with the focus question that Morgan and Lorch assigned their classes. The question, “In the next 15 years there will be no more survivors of the Holocaust. How should we commemorate them?” was posted in the entrance hallway of the museum. According to Morgan, this project came in the midst of a larger unit. “We had a Holocaust survivor come in,” Morgan said. “We thought that instead of having students come in front of the class, we’d do something to get them to have a better understanding, to teach empathy.” Sophomore Tommy Searle, who helped create an exhibit in the museum,

May 2014 — The Tam News

was impressed by the outcome. “I knew the ary part of it and in history we learned the basics, but I didn’t know the details of it, or more factual things,” Searle said. the stories. For anyone who didn’t know Additionally, having each student about [the Holocaust] or anyone who only put emphasis on one aspect of the Holohad an idea of it, [the exhibit] allowed caust to put up in the museum seemed to [the visitor] to understand the depth of it,” have benefits. “They did a great job, they Searle said. learned a lot. Not only from their focus but The photos of people who experienced they were able to check out each others,” the Holocaust along with letter and journal Morgan said. “I think that by inviting the entries with detailed accounts of the day- school, they put more effort into it.” ♦ to-day lives of the people struggling through the time period evoked quite a lot of emotion. “We wanted the kids to feel something in this unit,” Morgan said. According to Searle, the fact that the project was a joint core activity enhanced the learning experience. “In English I got a SURVIVAL BY CHANCE: To simulate the uncertainty of the Holocaust, good perspective one station included a dice game in which every turn brought a twist of of the writing fate. Pictured above, history teacher Tim Morgan explains the station and was able to to juniors Brett Jennings, Prentice Fairbrother, Colin Galeste, Lily Mark Photo by: Sarah Asch analyze the liter- and Jack Duncan.

Lifestyles

The Jetsonettes: Merging Music and Feminism

by Holly Parkin

Juniors Nichole Cochary and Daisy Meisler have found a way to bring two of their passions together, combining feminism and music through their band, the Jetsonettes. Founded in mid-2013, the Jetsonettes already have a growing set of original songs written and performed by Cochary and Meisler, who play guitar and bass, respectively. The two are a good match because they prefer to work together on their hobby rather than alone. “It’s better when you’re in a group or with other people, because it’s not like you’re just sitting by yourself playing music,” Meisler said. “It sounds better, and it’s definitely more fun.” The Jetsonettes post all of their music on their Facebook page, which they created shortly after forming the band as a means of sharing their songs. Cochary and Meisler describe the Jetsonettes as a “garage rock” band with elements of both “traditional and modern punk” sound, and cite influences such as The Modern Lovers, the Black Lips, the Orwells and Cherry Glazerr. “We both have slightly different music

tastes. It’s nice because that way not every song sounds the same, but we have different hints of various genres in our music,” Meisler said. “It’s different sounds in each song but they all kind of tie into the same style.” What sets the Jetsonettes apart from other student bands is their unique lyrical content. In their songs, the Jetsonettes include many recurring themes of feminism and what it is like to live as a girl in today’s world. Although their music is “for everyone,” according to Cochary, much of the Jetsonettes’ lyrical content is inspired by topics pertaining to women’s roles in society, as well as events in the songwriters’ lives. “One thing we’ve noticed is that at a lot of the concerts we’ve been to, either the whole band is guys, or the frontman is a guy, and they got a lot of attention, more than we ever see a female frontwoman getting,” she said. Even the history behind the band’s name stems from feminist ideas. According to Cochary, the inspiration for the Jetsonettes name came to her during a browse on a Wikipedia page for old TV shows, which included The “Jetsons,” a TV series from

TWO-WOMAN BAND: Juniors Nicole Cochary and Daisy Meisler are both vocalists, while also playing guitar and bass, respectively. Photo Courtesy of: The Jetsonettes Facebook

the 1960s. “I already wanted the name to end in –ettes,” Cochary said, claiming that the two words instantly clicked. “Even though I didn’t invent the name, I kind of see the –ettes as intentionally being a traditionally feminine thing,” Meisler

ORIGINAL COVER ART: Nicole Cochary designed art work for her band, The Jetsonettes, while they work on their album. Photo Courtesy of: The Jetsonettes

said. “We’re both very into feminism and stuff like that, so I think our name reflects that a little bit.” Both Cochary and Meisler have high hopes for what the future holds for the Jetsonettes. According to the band members, they are currently keeping their focus on finishing a solid collection of songs before moving on to bigger goals. “Right now we’re trying to get an album done before the year ends, so we’re more focused on that rather than doing live performances,” Meisler said. Although they’ve set some good short term goals, Cochary and Meisler aren’t afraid to dream big for the band. “We talked about trying to get signed to a label,” Cochary said. “Once we make our album I’d love to send a demo to Burger Records or Autumn Tone or something like that.” Both the Jetsonettes’ style and the talents of the two girls are key selling points in their success. “I think there are a lot of bands that are a similar genre to us, but there aren’t a lot of female bands doing it, especially female vocalists,” Meisler said. “In the modern punk scene, it’s very male dominated and mostly always has been, so we have a fresh perspective as girls, with songs about being girls, and embracing it.” ♦

The Tam News — May 2014

Lifestyles

by Max Bayer

The Rise of Chance the Rapper

If you’re a hip-hop head, you probably know about Chance the Rapper. If not, it’s time you found out. The rise of Chance the Rapper is directly attributed to the success of his mixtapes “10 Day” and “Acid Rap.” You know you’re in for something different with “10 Day” when the slow beat and trumpet of “14,000 Minutes” leads into Chance’s high pitch, signature yelp. A few songs later, Chance displays his pursuit of fame on “Brain Cells” with the lyrics, “But I’ma throw a tantrum, ‘til I’m on every Samsung, Sanyo, and Handheld and Handgun.” On “Hey Ma”, he shows his respect to those who helped him get to where he is like his Auntie Toni, and what you can assume are family friends Ms. Moody, Monica, and Ava. After “10 Day,” the hype for Chance was legitimate, but he needed to gain more maturity before he truly made his mark on the industry. “Acid Rap” made that mark. The tape starts with “Good Ass Intro” and you can instantly feel the soul. “Even better than I was the last time…” plays melodically in the background, reminding the listener of the improvement Chance made between “10 Day” and “Acid Rap.” Between

by Jasmine Caputo

FROM THE MIXTAPES: Chance the Rapper’s independently released sophomore mixtape, “Acid Rap,” has recieved a lot of positive attention in the hip-hop community.

with these catchy tunes, Chance shows a more reflective side. The upstart Chicago rapper delves into his darker past on songs like “Acid Rain.” He mentions the death of his friend Rodney in the first verse as well

as his use of drugs to cope with this experience. The melodic and smooth “oohs” in the background set the tone for his soliloquy. “I think love is beautiful too/ building forts from broken dams, what a Hoover could do,” is a perfect example of Chance using his witty rhymes to send a message. As an avid fan of Chance, I have had the luxury of seeing him twice in concert, the most recent of which was a solo show at The Warfield. It was both interesting and sentimental for me to see this artist raising the palm of his hand through the entire show and his energy was unmatched by anyone I had seen before. With two mixtapes and what many expect will be an upcoming album, Chance has set himself up for one hell of a year. He is still unsigned, yet his popularity has soared. Chance The Rapper’s unique voice and lyricism have made him one of my favorite rappers. I can only hope his future projects resemble his original work. It is refreshing to see a guy becoming more successful while staying close to his roots and maintaining the style he had when he made it in the rap game. Chance the Rapper is the truth, and it’s only a matter of time before everyone knows it. ♦

How to Get Your First Job

It’s that time of year again— when it seems as if every high school student is trying to nail the best part-time job for the summer. Whether it’s your first time applying for a job or your sixth, it never hurts to review the preliminary steps before you put on the official t-shirt. 1. Create a Resume. Fill your resume with any past work experience, whether it be from a previous job, babysitting, or even community service. Along with stating your experience, give a short description of what each job entailed so your potential employer has an idea of the skills you’ve acquired. Another helpful tip is to look online at model resumes so you actually know what the final product is supposed to look like. If you want extended help, there are resources in the College and Career Center to shape your resume and find job listings. 2. Meet face to face. Instead of just dropping off your resume with the nearest adolescent wearing the

the two projects, Chance improved his lyricism, polished his instrumentals, and gained more confidence. Tracks like “Juice” and “Favorite Song” (which features Childish Gambino) have grown insanely popular since the mixtape’s release. But juxtaposed

May 2014 — The Tam News

store t-shirt, ask if there is a manager that you could speak with. This allows the person hiring to put a face to your name and recognize you as an actual human being rather than just an application. If there isn’t a manager or boss around, ask when the best time to come back would be. 3. Present yourself well. First impressions are extremely important. If you want an employer to trust you to represent their business, you need to present yourself as a responsible and mature person. Dress nicer than you would normally dress and make sure that you aren’t surrounded by friends, which could make you seem less professional. Lastly, be enthusiastic about the job and let the potential employer know that you like the store/restaurant/etc, and would love to be able to work there. 4. Be Patient. After you complete all of the above, all you can do is wait. If you really want this specific job, send an email following up and thanking the employer for considering you. If not, apply to various jobs to have more

odds of getting one of them. While this entire process may seem daunting to someone doing it for the first time, it is an important process to learn. Getting a job in high school teaches you responsibility, reliability, and money management. Even if you may not need a job for financial reasons, the lessons you learn will prepare you for other jobs and leadership positions in the future. ♦

Lifestyles

“My Best Decision in High School Was...” Story and photos by Meg Weisselberg

As high school wraps up, seniors are becoming nostalgic in addition to being eager to graduate. Upon asking a group of seniors what their best decision in high school was there seemed to be a common trend in their responses – extracurricular activities and electives. ♦

Saam Maroofi “To join leadership. Freshman year when I joined it created a place in my little niche. So I ended up being class president and now I’m the ASB President... Hopefully I can be someone’s boss someday.”

Natalia Salvatorelli “[ Joining] Peer Resource because I wanted to help students...It was great, it built a community with kids I thought never would get along with in my life, and I met a lot of good people along the way.”

Tizjohn Armstead “To graduate... I could have been a messup, I could have been a dropout. I decided to stay and do my [work] so I can graduate, and so I can have a good life... I’m going to be famous, a famous actor.”

by Cody Duane-McGlashan

MiMoSA (@tigranmimosa) Originally from Oakland but working out of Los Angeles, MiMoSA has been making unusual and relaxing music for a while. Recently though, he has gravitated more towards the trap scene with his newest album “Future Trill Vol. 1,” which features far more faster paced, snare filled songs than previous works. However, his range of influences has stayed intact. Listen To: “Faded”

Andrew Luce (@andrewlucemusic) Although he has fewer followers than the others on this list, 16-year-old Andrew Luce is arguably more talented. The San Francisco native first came onto the scene when he won a competition to perform at Snowglobe in Lake Tahoe, and has been tearing it up since. He almost exclusively produces remixes at the moment, but plans on making more original songs in the future. His distinct remixes range from an upbeat take on Wiz Khalifa’s “Work Hard, Play Hard” to a synth-filled remix of the Weekend’s “Drunk in Love” remix. He recently announced that he has joined the roster of Autonomous music. Listen To: “Andre Nickatina— Jelly (Andrew Luce Remix).” ♦

Running the Trap: Four Undiscovered Artists

Recently, Electronic Dance Music (EDM) has become a prominent part of teenage mainstream culture. Trap music seems to be growing in popularity, and perhaps it will soon replace dubstep or house as the most popular EDM subgenre. Trap draws heavily on traditionally hip-hop sounds, and usually features fast paced snare drums, deep bass, and melodic synthesizer. Big names like Diplo, Flosstradamus and Baauer consistently receive millions of plays on their songs, but many smaller artists have fewer followers on SoundCloud and often occupy the bottom half of festival billboards. The following are some of my favorite trap artists with fewer than 50,000 followers on SoundCloud. Dotcom (@dotcomestock) Chris Comstock has been making hardhitting dubstep and trap since 2006. His style, filled with driving bass and loud synth, is not for everyone. He specializes in remixes, and looking at his choice of covers (Chief Keef’s “Hate Bein’ Sober,” “Type of Way” and “Clappers”) one can tell he wants fans to (literally) “turn up.” Listen To: “Cashin’ Out” (Dotcom’s Festival Trap Remix)

Buku (@buku) Most of Buku’s work is original (as opposed to remixes) and unlike many of the other artists on this list, he sells most of his music on iTunes. But there is something about almost all of his songs that cause your body to involuntarily twerk. His music features unusual electronic sounds and rapid snare that are quite unique. He has gained popularity and was recently featured on “Sway in the Morning.” Listen To: “That Thang”

The Tam News — May 2014

Features

Body and Mind Understanding Eating Disorders by Bridget Lowry & Mae Puckett “The first time my mom realized that something was wrong was when I came home from school and I fainted on the porch. She was like, ‘Okay, let’s take you to the doctor.’ So that’s how it all started,” Jenna said. “I [would get] up really early, [and have] breakfast by myself. I didn’t really have breakfast. I didn’t eat. I wouldn’t

eat lunch. [I would think], ‘I’m gonna eat less,’ but then it got to be, ‘I’m not eating at all.’” Jenna, a Tam student who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the personal nature of her experience, has anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Her disordered eating began in middle school and stems from her issues with body image, one of the many factors that can influence an eating disorder. The two most common eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa (commonly referred to as anorexia and bulimia, respectively) often come from an intense fear of gaining weight, a desire for control, or a compulsion to self-harm, causing patients to avoid or “purge” food. Purging is when someone attempts to rid themselves of food they have already eaten by vomiting or abusing laxatives. If their illness is discovered, patients attempt to avoid treatment, according to Dr. Daniel Le Grange, a world-renowned specialist in eating disorders who worked in the field for more than 20 years. He is

May 2014 — The Tam News

currently employed at the University of Chicago, where he frequently works with adolescents and their parents. His philosophy focuses on early recognition of eating disorders and the importance of parents in the recovery process. “We have not had one teenager pick up the phone and say, ‘I think I have anorexia, can I please come to

because I was so underweight,” she said. “I remember locking myself in my room, not eating for days. It was a bad time.” Often, the kind of rebellion that Jenna expressed during her treatm e n t

“I think one of the dangers about anorexia and bulimia nervosa is that the onset is often very insidious.” Dr. Daniel Le Grange

your treatment facility?’ Not once. And that’s because that’s just not part of the illness,” Le Grange said. “The crucial part of treatment is not to try to convince the adolescent to get better, because you say that to someone with anorexia and they say… ‘I’ll take care of this myself.’” Jenna resisted treatment when her parents discovered her disorder. “I fought with everyone who was trying to beat my eating disorder. I fought with my parents and I fought with my doctors,” she said. Before her parents took her to the hospital, she yelled and swore at them. “I remember going to the hospital and on the way there I was like, ‘I’m done... I can’t do this.’ I tried to jump out of the car on the freeway, and then when I got there, I punched my doctor. He didn’t really get hurt because, obviously, I wasn’t strong at all. I was super underweight and my heart was barely beating, but I got pretty aggressive.” Jenna’s body image didn’t immediately improve. “I [felt like], ‘Oh my god, you’re ruining my life. I’m already fat and you’re making me get fatter,’ which was ridiculous

deters parents from pursuing treatment for their child, fearing that they are becoming their child’s worst enemy or hurting their child’s recovery. Le Grange believes that parents are a crucial part of the recovery process. “The main component of [treatment] is to involve parents as a resource and demonstrate that they are very effective in helping their kids get better again, whereas historically parents were often seen as part of the problem,” Le Grange said. “A lot of my work has been to look at parents as part of the solution.” According to Le Grange, one of the difficulties associated with treating eating disorders is recognizing the early signs and symptoms. It is important to diagnose the problem early and treat it immediately. Le Grange explains it as if the disease were a tumor. “If it’s diagnosed early… [and] the adolescent is 12 or 13 years old, then I explain to the parents that if we work really hard…then we can eradicate the tumor in six months or 12 months…The child can be symptom-free and well on [his or her] way to full recovery,” Le Grange said. “It’s

Features true for every illness that if you have the wrong treatment, or you don’t treat the [whole] package, or you don’t treat [it] immediately, or you treat half-heartedly, or you treat and get some results and then you stop, then you set the stage for a chronic presentation.” Some common symptoms of eating disorders include increasing exercise, decreasing food intake or suddenly changing diets. Adolescents developing an eating disorder may also become more involved in the kitchen to ensure that their food is cooked with minimal calories, and adolescents who are specifically developing bulimia may also show signs of binge eating and purging. Parents may notice large plates of food disappear overnight, their child going to the bathroom after every meal or signs of vomit on the toilet seat. However, these symptoms can be difficult to spot because sufferers tend to be invested in hiding their disease. “I think one of the dangers about anorexia and bulimia nervosa is that the onset is often very insidious,” Le Grange said. “So a lot of symptoms are sort of creeping in, and the parents are not aware, and we’re often not very good about spotting troubles in our own families because it’s too close to home to acknowledge it.” Eating disorders can also be difficult for families to recognize or acknowledge when they are falsely viewed as something a child chooses, rather than a mental disorder. “I think it’s always

It is a common misconception that eating disorders are choices rather than diseases. “The lay public, and even professionals, will very seldom blame someone who has cancer, even someone whose cancer is directly related to their smoking. I’ve never heard people say, ‘You brought this on yourself,’ whereas you hear that all the time with eating disorders,” Le Grange said. “[They] didn’t cause the illness. [They] do strange things, but it’s not because [they’re] a bad person…You don’t blame someone who has schizophrenia when they hear voices, and you don’t [blame] someone who has an eating disorder when they buy laxatives... It often happens in eating disorders that people sort of tap dance around anorexia.” Jenna has felt this stigmatization. “I think that people should be more aware of not making comments [about eating disorders] because I hear that a lot. [People] make fun of girls who don’t eat a lot,” Jenna said. “You should try to help and have some sympathy for them because clearly they are going through a hard time.” Another aspect of the stigmatization that people with eating disorders face is a lack of understanding regarding the severity of the disease. Anorexia and bulimia both have high rates of fatality and are extremely serious diseases. Le Grange said, “The mortality rate for anorexia is primarily explained by complications of starvation, usually heart failure, or people become chronically unwell, [so they] become very depressed and commit sui“It often happens in eating disorders cide.” There are various that people sort of tap dance around causes of death that result anorexia.” from bulimia. “Every time Dr. Daniel Le Grange that [someone]

very difficult for parents. They say, ‘But [my daughter is] such a good girl,’ and no one disagrees that she’s a very good girl,” Le Grange said. “The illness doesn’t make her a bad person, it just gets [her] to do things [she] otherwise wouldn’t do.”

throws up, [they lose] important electrolytes and other body chemicals that are in the content of the vomit... [they] are ridding [their] body of these important chemicals. So [they], for instance, drop [their] potassium level, and a very low potassium level can lead to death,” Le Grange said. “Another [cause of death] would be if [they] induce vomiting [they] put stress on [their] esophagus. It’s a pipe and [if they] jerk the

pipe it can only last that long before [they] actually rupture [their] esophagus, and [they] can bleed to death.” Although the disease is extremely dangerous, it is possible to recover fully, especially if treatment begins early. “You really need specialist care and it needs to be intensive and quick,” Le Grange said. “If you recognize the illness early on, and you get good treatment early on, you don’t have to go through adolescent and young adulthood being unwell.” However, people who have had eating disorders are vulnerable to relapse. These relapses can be caused by a variety of factors. Relapses are often associated with periods of high stress, according to Le Grange. “If your way of coping with stress [is that when your] anxiety goes up, you stop eating because it somehow temporarily makes you feel better,” he said. Jenna’s recovery process has been difficult for her family and friends. “My relationship with my parents definitely changed. They don’t really trust me as much as they would have if I didn’t go through this,” she said. “It’s put a toll on [my friends]. It’s a very selfish disorder; you don’t really care about anyone else around you.” Jenna’s good friends have been instrumental in the recovery process. “I have a best friend and if I’m not doing [well], she can tell,” Jenna said. “She’ll be like, ‘You’re not doing good. You look horrible,’ and it’s not trying to be mean, it’s just being like, ‘Dude, you need to start eating more. You need to start taking care of yourself, because you do not look good.’... It actually helps.” However, in many cases, comments about appearance can trigger selfdestructive behavior such as restricting or purging.

The Tam News — May 2014

Features “People try to be nice and give me compliments but I can’t accept the compliments for what they are,” Jenna said. “I twist them in my mind and if people comment on what I look like and it’s positive, I always have self-confidence issues with what really matters. I get so many comments on how I look. It’s like, well, maybe how I look really does matter. That’s really not what I’m trying to focus on.” Jenna, like many other people with eating disorders, would equate losing weight with feeling better. This flawed logic turned into a never-ending cycle of weight loss where Jenna was never satisfied with her weight. “The stupid thing is, I always say, ‘I feel so big. I would feel better if I lost weight.’... [but] I could be at a very, very low weight and I’d still feel huge. Then [I] will [think] ‘I need to keep losing weight, I need to keep losing weight...’” Le Grange said that this mentality is common for sufferers of eating disorders. “It’s very paradoxical [to think that] you need to be thin to be good… The more weight you lose, the more you think you need to lose in order to feel good about yourself. You never feel good about yourself,” he said, adding that this mentality needs to be reversed so that the patient can begin the recovery process. “Having this illness doesn’t allow [the sufferer] to think rationally about this aspect of their life. Most of our patients are super smart kids, and they can discuss anything under the sun, from the recession in 2008 to national politics and so on. But when it comes to how much you need to eat to be healthy, that rationality goes out the window.”

One reason that the patient is unable to think rationally is that without sufficient food the brain doesn’t function properly. “Without weight gain, you don’t have enough glucose in your brain. You’re simply not going to be able to think in a way that’s going to allow you to understand how serious your illness is,” Le Grange said. Jenna experienced this kind of confusion during her treatment. Once she gained enough weight to have normal brain

May 2014 — The Tam News

function, she realized how severe her disease was. “When I finally got my thinking a little bit better, I looked in the mirror one day and [realized], ‘I’m too skinny.’” Jenna said this realization was surprising. “Before, I was yelling at everyone, saying ‘I’m so fat, why are you making me gain weight?’ and [then] I looked in the mirror like, ‘I can see all my bones.’” While the causes of eating disorders are unclear, people with certain personality traits are more likely to develop eating disorders. “What is very frustrating about eating disorders is that we don’t know what the causes are. We really don’t,” Le Grange said. “But there are some suggestions of what might be responsible for people developing anorexia. Usually people are born with a certain constellation of genes, like perfectionism and [fastidiousness] and [being] hard working. But there are tons of perfectionists out there who don’t develop anorexia. So that alone obviously cannot cause anorexia.” Le Grange cites genetics as a reason some adolescents develop eating disorders. “There are psychiatric illnesses where there is an established genetic link, and anorexia and bulimia are two of them,” Le Grange said. “The inheritability is quite high. If you have a first-degree relative with an eating disorder then you have at least a 50 percent chance that you could develop an eating disorder as well.” Children who develop eating disorders generally develop them during puberty. Many doctors have theorized about the reasons for this phenomenon, citing peer pressure, hormonal changes and social stressors as causes for the disease, but an “I was absolute conclu-

place.” This phenomenon was critical to the progression of Jenna’s eating disorder. Going through puberty before some of her peers led to issues with body image. “Before my eating disorder, I was a total perfectionist with my grades and sports. But then it got to… the way I looked, making sure I didn’t eat,” Jenna said. “I was always really shy and self conscious and… I developed earlier so I was taller than all the girls and everyone would come up to me and say, ‘Oh my god, you look so big.’ They meant being tall, but I took that as, ‘Oh my god, [ Jenna], you’re so big and fat,’ which I wasn’t at all... I was fit, and I probably looked more like a woman compared to other sixth grade girls but I definitely wasn’t big, now that I look back on it.” Jenna’s disorder has gone through various stages. “I’ve been in and out of being better or worse for six years. I missed basically all of middle school, not only because I wasn’t there physically, but I wasn’t there mentally, and even if I was at school I couldn’t focus....I tried to hide it from everyone, but I realized as it got worse and worse I didn’t have a lot of friends. I mean, that’s all I was thinking about and people don’t really want to be around someone who’s brain-dead,” Jenna said. “I couldn’t have a conversation and…I just didn’t eat. I was lost most of the time, thinking about things that didn’t even make sense, just thinking about food all the time, thinking about how I [wasn’t] going to eat [that day].” Understanding these disorders is the

lost most of the time... just thinking about food all the time, thinking about how I’m not going to eat today.” Jenna

sion has not been reached. “[Puberty] seems to be another critical piece of the puzzle,” Le Grange said. “Of course, there’s no coincidence that 90 percent of people who develop anorexia develop it right around the time of puberty or early adolescence. If you are that vulnerable kid that developed or inherited that constellation of traits… and you get to adolescence and there’s this whole rapid change in the way your body works… that’s the second important piece that falls into

first step to getting rid of the stigmas that currently surround them, as well as creating a culture that encourages and aids recovery. Le Grange stressed the importance of informing people “about the seriousness of this illness, the importance of spotting the early signs, making sure you respond to them as a parent and [making] sure your kid gets into treatment fairly quickly.” ♦

Opinion/Editorial

EDITORIAL: The Stigma of Eating Disorders Fighting Misconceptions and Changing the Conversation

Representations in media and longheld stigmas have contributed to the impression that all eating disorders stem solely from negative body image or “feeling fat.” Along with this, there is also the expectation that men constantly prove their masculinity. For a man with an eating disorder, fighting the stereotype becomes another burden on top of his original battle to seek help. A girl who purges and binges is labeled as “dramatic” while a boy doing the same thing may be overlooked entirely. Unfortunately, these labels are rooted in a lack of education about eating disorders.While some main causes of eating disorders are low self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy and

desire for control, the disorders can also stem from depression or anxiety. Eating disorders can happen to men as well as to women. In fact, according to the National Eating Disorder Association, 10 million men in the U.S. have struggled with an eating disorder at some point in their life, yet many people are reluctant to acknowledge this demographic and the number may be even larger due to unreported cases in men. While many have assumed that eating disorders don’t have the severity of other disorders, they do occur on a psychological and physical level that can be severely damaging and potentially fatal. Eating disorders have the highest mortal-

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in k c a

& Slack in’

What’s Crackin’

What’s SLackin’

When the bass drops.

When the bass... doesn’t drop.

When your 2 a.m. essay gets a good grade. (Kudos to caffeine!)

Losing your planner and not knowing when class gets out.

Driving a Prius feels like driving a spaceship. (Takeoff in 3, 2, 1!)

The Lava House was sold. (Now where will we take profile pics?)

Samurai reopened. #sushifever

Late prom breeds extended prama.

Bay to Breakers starts an hour later this year. (Time to sleep in until 6 a.m.!)

Seniors only get six graduation tickets this year. (Do you like Grandpa or Aunt Susie more?)

Choker necklaces are making a comeback.

Having to find Number 2 pencils for standardized testing.

ity rate of any mental illness, according to the National Society of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. A common struggle for people who fall victim to these disorders, as in the case with many psychological disorders, is that whether or not they understand that what they are doing is irrational, their minds can’t defeat these destructive thoughts and actions. In 2011, Disney Channel pulled two episodes of the series “Shake it Up” after singer and Disney Channel actress Demi Lovato, who has been public about going through treatment for an eating disorder, criticized them for it. “Shake it Up” included character that said, “I could eat you all up–well if I ate!” followed by laughter. The female character delivering this “joke” was portrayed to be self-absorbed and frivolous, a stigma commonly attached to eating disorders. While Disney stated that it was not their intention to “make light of eating disorders,” it shows how easily jokes surrounding eating disorders can be worked into conversation and promote a stigma– even on a children’s network. Disney’s young audience may subconsciously take note of this stereotype and grow up with a misunderstanding of who eating disorders may affect. The idea that eating disorders only affect insecure teenage girls who think they aren’t pretty enough is far from the truth, and eating disorders are sometimes viewed as traditionally only affecting affluent, caucasian females. In reality, eating disorders affect many individuals, including women who do not conform to stereotypical gender roles and women of color as well as men. One of the biggest misconceptions is assuming that body image and eating disorders go hand and hand. With most eating disorders, an individual’s own image toward their body may play a role in their actions, but it is likely that there are other things happening on a deeper psychological level. That said, the stereotype of eating disorders being a “female disorder” is harmful because eating disorders need to be managed as early as possible or else they could be fatal. In order for every single person to get the help they need and deserve, the stereotype of who eating disorders affects needs to end. Attaching a profile to any disorder is wrong, especially in this case where proper, urgent care is necessary for recovery. ♦

The Tam News — May 2014

Opinion/Editorial

Writing Wrongs

He wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts and clothing is genderless

by Bella Levaggi

Graphic by: Cassie Jeong

Clothing keeps us warm in Marin’s uniquely irritating weather patterns, and I appreciate the way it keeps “everything under wraps.” But clothing is more than that. Our society prescribes ritual and meaning to it, based on myriad factors. Despite this all, though, I’d like to advocate the simple–though not simplistic– idea that clothing is inherently genderless. Whose idea was it that men have to wear pants and women dresses? Why do

we value strong silhouettes for the male figure and delicate ones for the female’s? Spoiler alert: the distinctions are arbitrary. Or, at least, they should be. There’s definitely been progress towards greater clothing freedom since the era of corsets and hoopskirts, but there’s still a ways to go. This is largely because clothing has close ties to gender identity (the gender you identify as, of which there are infinte options) and gender presentation (the way you choose to present your gender identity). My more masculine-of-center gender presentation has led to a great deal of anxiety when it comes to shopping in department stores (I typically prefer to buy clothing online for this reason). As I peruse racks of female-intended shirts with inexplicably “feminine” cuts, I inevitably end up gazing wistfully at the array of male-intended options. But issues with sizing and a fear of judgement keep me from pursuing them. The persisting belief in gender boxes contributes to a dearth of options for anyone whose desired clothing doesn’t exist for them. Facebook is still bloated with prom pictures. I’ve sifted through hundreds of snapshots of smiling tuxedos and

dresses, bow ties and necklaces. The way that our mindset towards clothing has evolved currently allows me to use these nouns as a way to imply the genders of prom attendees. This gendered approach implicitly leaves those of us who “broke the rules” out of the conversation. More than anything, it’s important to establish the freedom to choose one’s own clothing without judgement or fear. It doesn’t matter if you identify as a girl and love skirts or a boy and love polos. These are your preferences, and are protected under the idea that clothing is ungendered. But the real reason we need to embrace greater clothing neutrality is for those who don’t conform to the binary in regards to presentation or idenity. These are the people whose lives are made uncomfortable and dangerous by The Gender Box. If we lived in a society that embraced genderless clothing, then anyone could approach fashion based solely on unpolluted personal style and gender presentation-based preference. I want to see a world with more people rocking colored skinny ties and flowerprint crop tops, reglardless of gender.♦

people posting pointless garbage; it keeps people wanting to post witty and beautiful things that can earn them well-deserved recognition. But with the Snapchat Story, there isn’t a way to recognize cool, meaningful posts (besides sending them a personal Snap or coming up to them in person, but that’s, like, way too much work). The lack of quantitative feedback results in social media at its worst: people blatantly showing off what they are doing in order to impress their friends without caring about the actual quality of the post. A typical example of an awful FOMO-causing snap is when a friend posts a 10-second video panorama at a party of him and his friends “turning up” and appearing to have a great time. I have many things to say about this type of Snap, which I see all too often: 1) After viewing this type of story, I immediately suffer from symptoms of FOMO and begin to look around at what I’m doing with shame and regret. 2) There is absolutely no benefit in seeing such a Snap. It doesn’t entertain me

in the least, and I’m not even impressed. The only thing that this Snap does is make it seem like the poster is trying to show that he is cool and goes to parties. There is nothing worse than when you are stuck at home one weekend and you open Snapchat and see eight Snap stories of different parties or fun things that you are missing. Of course, good Snapchat Stories do exist. Sometimes the lack of a “Like” button even allows people to post videos and pictures that have much more of an edgy humor. Filming your friend picking his nose or an intoxicated stranger getting his groove on in public places is always hilarious, and the Snapchat Story allows you to do that without causing any permanent harm or embarrassment. However, most of the time Snapchat Stories make it even harder for us teens to live in the moment and be satisfied with our lives. Instead of trying to make each other jealous, let’s enjoy the presence of the people around us. Take a photo, put it away, and maybe save it for later. Besides, who doesn’t love a good TBT? ♦

Snap Out of It: The Problem with Snapchat

by Daniel Carroll

Who doesn’t love receiving a Snapchat? There is nothing more fun than opening a snap from a friend, only to see a hilariously ugly face or masterful little illustration. However, last October, Snapchat changed forever, through the addition of the “My Story” feature. My Story allows users to post what they have been doing via snaps that are available for all friends to see for exactly 24 hours. Seems harmless, right? Wrong! From personal experience and observation, the “My Story” feature is responsible for hundreds of thousands of cases of a serious condition found especially in teenagers known as FOMO, or Fear of Missing Out. But doesn’t all social media cause FOMO? How are Snapchat Stories any worse than, say, Instagram or Facebook? The answer lies in everyone’s favorite icon: the “Like” button. In a world where the “Like” button is blamed as the cause for so much self-deprecation and inadequacy, it is actually completely necessary. The Like button cuts down on the number of

May 2014 — The Tam News

Opinion/Editorial

They Call it “Social” Media for a Reason

by Holly Parkin

Scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed the other day, I came across a link to a video by a Mr. Gary Turk titled “Look Up: A Spoken Word Film for an Online Generation.” Turk’s five-minute sermon spoke out against social media and the technology to which mankind has become “slaves.” Claiming that “this media we call social is anything but,” Turk detailed a theoretical story of a man never meeting the love of his life on the street, simply because he was too wrapped up in his cellphone to look up and say hello. However, by the end of the video, I felt more annoyed than inspired. Turk is one of many to jump on the anti-social media bandwagon that has grown alongside the empires of Facebook and Twitter. It’s always the same old story – social media distracts us, it keeps us addicted to a screen, i t creates insecurities, and so on and so forth. I like social media because I can choose whether or not I want to use it. Do anti-social networking activists truly believe that humans have become completely devoid of interaction with one another? That people no longer fall in love or have meaningful discussions? All of this is just as present in today’s society as it was 50 years ago. People still have discussions around the dinner table, people still make new friends, people still fall in love every day. And in some cases, thanks to social media and messaging, these types of important interactions can be had across miles

and miles with the simple click of a button. That’s not to say that Turk and other critics of social media don’t have a point. It’s true, there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to converse with someone who’s constantly on their phone, perusing their Instagram feed or sending Snapchats (and I’ll admit, I’ve been both on the receiving and giving end of this more than a few times). But everything needs to be taken in moderation, social network- i n g

Tumblr, I never would have had the chance to get to know people from Seattle, New York, Germany, England and Sweden. Although social media haters claim that these types of platforms are limiting our interactions with one another, I have found that such quick and easy communication has only broadened my social circle, and made it easier to keep in contact with the friends I have. And maybe I would rather use my trusty Google Maps app to find my way around a city than ask a stranger for directions, the only benefit to the latter being the .0001 percent chance that they end up being my soulmate. After finishing “Look Up,” I was immediately hit by an overwhelming sense of irony surrounding the film’s popularity. The one place that had consistently led me to this video was none other than what Turk was actively speaking against in his video–Facebook. Without social Graphic by: Johanna Wong media, Turk would not have had included. Children don’t need to be entirely as much widespread success with “Look dependent on iPads for entertainment, and Up.” Facebook and likely dozens of other schools don’t need to resort exclusively to social networking platforms all contributed laptops or other devices to keep education to Turk’s Internet fame, so it seems hypoprogressive. But that doesn’t mean this tech- critical for him to denounce such entities. nology can’t be helpful. There have just alTurk’s film is merely another example ways been critics who try to find the fault in in which the anti-social media bandwagtechnology and claim it is destroying society. on fails, and doesn’t add anything new to Social networking is, without a doubt, the age-old anti-technology argument. more of an assistance in my life than a hinThen again, if these people have derance. Without Facebook or text mes- such a huge problem with social mesaging, there would be no way for me to dia, maybe they should just take to the quickly and effectively contact relatives and Internet and complain to their milfriends living far away, or even those living lions of followers about it. As Turk has on the other side of Mill Valley. Without shown us, it’s a clear road to success. ♦

The Tam News — May 2014

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May 2014 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Tam News

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